tw.thestoneoffarewell-第121部分

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imes　her　liquid　words　seemed　arrows　that　flew　outward　to　spark　and　sting；　other　times　an　array　of　gems　that　dazzled　with　smoldering　colors。　Through　it　all　ran　a　deeper　melody　that　never　entirely　disappeared；　a　melody　which　seemed　to　speak　of　peaceful　green　depths；　of　sleep；　and　of　the　ing　of　a　heavy；　forting　silence。
　　Miriamele　awakened　with　a　little　start。　When　she　lifted　her　head；　it　was　to　see　Gan　Itai　regarding　her　curiously　from　the　forecastle。　Now　that　the　Niskie　had　stopped　singing；　the　roar　of　the　ocean　seemed　curiously　flat　and　tuneless。
　　〃What　are　you　doing；　child？〃
　　Miriamele　was　oddly　embarrassed。　She　had　never　been　so　near　a　singing　Niskie　before。　It　almost　seemed　that　she　had　been　spying　on　some　very　private　thing。
　　〃I　came　out　on　deck　to　get　some　air。　I　was　having　supper　with　Earl　Aspitis　and　felt　sick。〃　She　took　a　breath　to　still　her　shaking　voice。　〃You　sing　wonderfully。〃
　　Gan　Itai　smiled　slyly。　〃That　is　true；　or　the　Eadne　Cloud　would　not　have　made　so　many　safe　voyages。　e；　sit　by　me　and　talk。　I　need　not　sing　for　a　while；　and　the　late　watches　are　lonely。〃
　　Miriamele　climbed　up；　seating　herself　beside　the　Niskie。　〃Do　you　get　tired；　singing？〃　she　asked。
　　Gan　Itai　laughed　quietly。　〃Does　a　mother　grow　tired　raising　her　children？　Of　course；　but　it　is　what　I　do。〃
　　Miriamele　stole　a　glance　at　Gan　Itai's　wrinkled　face。　The　Niskie's　eyes　peered　our　from　beneath　her　white　brows；　fixed　on　the　spray　and　swells。
　　〃Why　did　Cadrach　call　you　Tinook　。　。〃　She　tried　to　remember　the　word。
　　〃Tmukeda'ya。　Because　that　is　what　we　are：　Ocean　Children。　Your　guardian　is　learned。〃
　　〃But　what　does　it　mean？〃
　　〃It　means　we　always　lived　on　the　ocean。　Even　in　the　far…away　Garden；　we　dwelt　always　at　land's　end。　It　has　only　been　since　we　came　to　this　place　that　some　of　the　Navigator's　Children　have　been　changed。　Some　have　left　the　sea　entirely；　which　is　as　hard　for　me　to　understand；　as　if　someone　were　to　stop　breathing　and　claim　that　was　a　good　way　to　live。〃　She　shook　her　head；　pursing　her　thin　lips。
　　〃Where　are　your　people　from？〃
　　〃Far　away。　Osten　Ard　is　only　our　most　recent　home。〃
　　Miriamele　sat　for　a　while；　thinking。　〃I　always　thought　that　Niskies　were　just　like　Wrannamen。　You　look　very　much　like　Wrannamen。〃
　　Gan　Itai　laughed　sibilantly。　〃I　have　heard；〃　she　said；　〃that　though　they　are　different；　some　animals　grow　to　look　like　each　other　because　they　do　the　same　things。　Perhaps　the　Wrannamen；　like　the　Tinukeda'ya；　have　bowed　their　heads　for　too　long。〃　She　laughed　again；　but　Miriamele　did　not　think　it　was　a　happy　laugh。　〃And　you；　child；〃　the　Niskie　said　at　last；　〃it　is　your　turn　to　answer　questions。　Why　are　you　here？〃
　　Miriamele　stared；　caught　off　balance。　〃What？〃　
　　〃Why　are　you　here？　I　have　thought　about　what　you　said；　and　I　am　not　sure　I　believe　you。〃
　　〃Earl　Aspitis　does；〃　Miriamele　said；　a　little　defiantly。
　　〃That　may　be　true；　but　I　am　altogether　different。〃　Gan　Itai　turned　her　gaze　on　Miriamele。　Even　in　the　dim　lamplight；　the　Niskie's　eyes　glittered　hke　anthracite。　〃Speak　to　me。〃
　　Miriamele　shocked　her　head　and　tried　to　pull　away；　but　a　thin；　strong　hand　closed　on　her　arm。　〃I　am　sorry；〃　Gan　Itai　said。　〃I　have　frightened　you。　Let　me　put　your　mind　at　case。　I　have　decided　that　there　is　no　harm　in　you…no　harm　to　the　Eadne　Cloud；　at　least；　which　is　what　I　care　about。　I　am　considered　peculiar　among　my　folk　because　I　judge　quickly。　When　1　like　something　or　someone；　I　like　it。〃　She　chuckled　dryly。　〃I　have　decided　that　I　like　you；　Marya…if　that　is　your　name。　It　shall　be　your　name　for　now；　if　you　wish。　You　need　never　fear　me；　not　old　Gan　Itai。〃
　　Bewildered　by　the　night；　by　wine；　and　by　this　latest　of　many　unusual　feelings；　Miriamele　began　to　weep。
　　〃Now；　child；　now　。。。〃　Gan　Itai's　gentle；　spidery　hand　patted　her　back。
　　〃I　have　no　home。〃　Miriamele　fought　her　tears。　She　felt　herself　on　the　verge　of　saying　things　she　should　not　say；　no　matter　how　much　she　wished　to　be　unburdened。　〃I　am　。　。　a　fugitive。〃
　　〃Who　pursues　you？〃
　　Miriamele　shook　her　head。　Spray　arched　high　over　the　bow　as　the　ship　nosed　down　into　another　trough。　〃I　cannot　say；　but　I　am　in　terrible　danger。　That's　why　I　had　to　hide　on　the　boat。〃
　　〃And　the　monk？　Your　learned　guardian？　Is　he　not　in　danger；　too？〃
　　Miriamele　was　brought　up　short　by　Gan　Itai's　question。　There　was　much　she　had　not　had　time　to　think　about。　〃Yes；　I　suppose　he　is。〃
　　The　Niskie　nodded；　as　if　satisfied。　〃Fear　not。　Your　secret　is　safe　with　me。〃
　　〃You　won't　tell　Aspitis　。　。　the　earl？〃
　　Gan　Itai　shook　her　head。　〃My　own　allegiances　are　more　plex　than　you　can　know。　But　I　cannot　promise　you　he　will　remain　ignorant。　He　is　a　clever　one；　Eadne　Cloud's　master。〃
　　〃I　know。〃　Miriamele's　reply　was　heartfelt。
　　The　mounting　storm　flung　down　another　wash　of　rain。　Gan　Itai　leaned　forward；　staring　out　into　the　wind…tossed　sea。　〃House　of　Ve；　they　do　not　stay　down　long！　Curse　them；　but　they　are　strong！〃　She　turned　to　Miriamele。　〃I　think　it　is　time　for　me　to　sing　once　more。　It　would　probably　be　good　for　you　to　get　below　deck。〃
　　Miriamele　awkwardly　thanked　the　Niskie　for　her　panionship；　then　stood　and　made　her　way　down　the　slippery　ladder　and　off　the　forecastle。　Thunder　growled　like　a　beast　hunting　them　through　the　darkness。　She　wondered　suddenly；　desperately；　if　she　had　been　a　fool　to　open　her　heart　to　this　strange　creature。
　　At　the　hatchway　she　stopped；　cocking　her　head。　In　the　black　night　behind　her；　Gan　Itai's　song　had　been　lifted　against　the　storm　once　more；　a　slender　ribbon　offered　to　hold　back　the　angry　sea。
　　
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　　Dogs　of　Erchester
　　
　　JOSUA'S　pany　rode　north　along　the　banks　of　the　river　Stefflod；　heading　upstream　from　the　juncture　with　the　Ymstrecca　through　grassland　rumpled　with　low　hills。　Soon　the　downs　began　to　rise　higher　on　either　side；　so　that　the　prince's　folk　found　themselves　traveling　through　a　meadowed　river…valley；　a　wide　trough　of　land　with　the　watercourse　at　its　center。
　　The　Stefflod　wound　along　beneath　the　somber　sky；　shining　dully　as　a　vein　of　tarnished　silver。　Like　the　Ymstrecca；　its　song　at　first　seemed　muffled；　but　Deornoth　thought　this　river　had　a　queer　undertone　to　its　murmuring；　as　though　it　hid　the　voices　of　a　great　whispering　throng。　Sometimes　the　noise　of　the　water　seemed　to　rise　in　what　was　almost　a　thread　of　melody；　clear　as　a　succession　of　pealing　bells。　A　moment　later；　as　Deornoth　strained　to　hear　what　it　was　that　had　captured　his　attention；　nothing　sounded　but　the　mutter　and　rush　of　moving　water。
　　The　light　playing　upon　the　Stefflod's　surface　was　just　as　dreamily　inconstant。　Despite　the　overcast；　the　water　glimmered　at　times　as　though　cold…burning　stars　were　rolling　and　bumping　along　the　river's　bottom。　At　other　moments　the　gleam　heightened　to　a　sparkle　like　a　froth　of　jewels。　Then…just　as　suddenly；　whether　the　sun　was　showing　or　cloud…hidden…　the　waterway　would　again　bee　dark　and　unreflective　as　lead。
　　〃Strange；　isn't　it？〃　Father　Strangyeard　said。　〃For　all　the　things　we've　seen；　my　goodness；　the　world　still　has　more　to　show　us；　doesn't　it？〃
　　〃There's　something　very。。。　alive　about　it。〃　Deornoth　squinted。　A　curl　of　light　seemed　to　wriggle　on　the　river's　agitated　skin；　like　a　radiant　fish　struggling　against　the　current。
　　〃Well；　it　is　all　。。。　hmmm　。。。　all　part　of　God；〃　Strangyeard　said；　making　the　sign　of　the　Tree　on　his　breast；　〃so　of　course　it　is　alive。〃　He　squinted　too；　frowning　slightly。　〃But　I　do　know　what　you　mean；　Sir　Deornoth。〃
　　The　valley　that　had　gradually　risen　around　them　seemed　to　take　much　of　its　character　from　the　river。　Willow　trees　stood　sleepily　beside　the　water…course；　shivering　as　they　bent　to　the　cold　water　like　women　washing　their　hair。　As　the　riders　traveled　farther；　the　river　widened　and　slowed。　Thickets　of　reeds　appeared　along　the　banks；　resplendent　with　birds　who　shrieked　from　their　bowers　to　warn　all　their　tribe　that　strangers　walked　the　land。
　　Strangers；　Deornoth　thought。　That　is　what　we　suddenly　seem　here。　As　if　we　have　passed　out　of　the　lands　meant　for　our　folk　and　crossed　over　into　someone　else's　domain。　He　remembered　Geloe's　words　on　that　night；　weeks　back；　when　they　had　first　met　her　in　the　forest：
　　〃Sometimes　you　men　are　like　lizards；　sunning　on　the　stones　of　a　crumbled　house；　thinking：　'what　a　nice　basking　spot　someone　built　for　me。'　〃　The　witch　woman　had　frowned　as　she　spoke。
　　She　told　us　we　were　in　Sithi　lands；　he　recalled。　Now　we　are　again　entering　their　fields；　that　is　all。　That　is　why　things　seem　so　strange。
　　Somehow　this　did　not　dispel　his　unsettled　feeling。
　　
　　They　made　camp　in　a　meadow。　The　low　grass　was　dotted　here　and　there　with　fairy…rings；　as　the　woman　Ielda　had　called　them；　perfect　circles　of　small　white　toadstools　that　shone　faintly　against　the　dark　turf　as　twi…　light　came　on。　Duchess　Gutrun　did　not　like　the　idea　of　sleeping　so　near　to　these　rings；　but　Father　Strangyeard　sensibly　pointed　out　that　the　people　of　Gadrinsett　said　the　whole　of　this　land　belonged　to　the　〃fairies；〃　so　the　proximity　of　a　mushroom　ring　meant　little。　Gutrun；　more　concerned　for　the　safety　of　the　child　Leieth　than　herself；　gave　in　with　reservations。
　　A　small　fire；　made　with　willow　branches　they　had　gathered　during　the　journey；　helped　to　dispel　some　of　the　strangeness。　The　prince's　party　ate　and　talked　quietly　long　into　the　evening。　Old　Towser；　who　had　been　sleeping　so　long　and　so　deeply　during　the　journey　that　he　hardly　seemed　one　of　their　pany　anymore；　but　more　like　a　piece　of　baggage；　awak…　ened　and　lay　staring　at　the　night　sky。
　　〃The　stars　aren't　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　so　quietly　that　none　heard　him。　He　repeated　himself　more　loudly。　Josua　came　to　kneel　beside　him；　taking　the　jester's　trembling　hand　in　his。
　　〃What　is　it；　Towser？〃
　　〃The　stars；　they　aren't　right。〃　The　old　man　pulled　his　fingers　free　from　the　prince's　grip　and　gestured　upward。　〃There's　the　Lamp；　but　it's　got　one　star　more　than　it　should。　And　where's　the　Crook？　It　shouldn't　be　gone　'til　harvest　time。　And　there's　others　there　I　don't　know　at　all。〃　His　lip　quivered。　〃We're　all　dead。　We've　gone　through　into　the　Shadow　Land　like　my　grandmother　used　to　tell　of。　We're　dead。〃
　　〃e；　now；〃Josua　said　gently。　〃We　are　not　dead。　We