tw.thestoneoffarewell-第132部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。〃　
　　Ingen　vaulted　into　the　saddle。　His　patient　mount　stirred　as　if　awakening。
　　The　snow　swirled；　blowing　through　the　empty　night　where　a　moment　before　a　man；　a　horse；　and　a　dog　had　stood。
　　
　　
　　The　afternoon　light　was　failing；　the　translucent　walls　of　Jiriki's　house　gradually　growing　darker。　Aditu　had　brought　a　meal　of　fruit　and　warm　bread　to　Simon's　room；　an　act　of　kindness　for　which　he　would　have　been　even　more　appreciative　had　she　not　stayed　to　annoy　him。　It　was　not　that　Simon　did　not　enjoy　Aditu's　pany　or　admire　her　exotic　beauty：　it　was；　in　fact；　her　very　beauty　and　shamelessness　that　disturbed　him；　making　it　especially　difficult　to　concentrate　on　such　mundane　tasks　as　eating。
　　Aditu　trailed　a　finger　up　his　backbone　once　more。　Simon　nearly　choked　on　a　mouthful　of　bread。
　　〃Don't　do　that！〃
　　The　Sitha…woman　made　an　interested　face。　〃Why　not？　Does　it　cause　you　pain？〃
　　〃No！　Of　course　not。　It　tickles。〃　He　turned　away　sulkily；　inwardly　regretting　his　lack　of　manners…but　not　much。　He　was　feeling；　as　he　usually　did　around　Aditu；　quite　flummoxed。　Jiriki；　for　all　his　alien　ways；　had　never　made　Simon　think　of　himself　as　a　cloddish　mortal：　beside　Aditu；　Simon　felt　himself　to　be　made　of　mud。
　　She　was　attired　today　in　little　but　feathers　and　jeweled　beads　and　a　few　strips　of　fabric。　Her　body　gleamed　with　scented　oils。
　　〃Tickles？　But　is　that　bad？〃　she　asked。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　hurt　you　or　make　you　unfortable；　Seoman。　It　is　just　that　you　are　so…〃　she　searched　for　the　proper　word；　〃…so　unusual；　and　I　have　seldom　been　near　your　kind。〃　She　seemed　to　be　enjoying　his　disfiture。　〃You　are　very　wide　here。。。〃　She　ran　a　finger　from　one　of　his　shoulders　to　the　other；　sighing　as　this　occasioned　another　muffled　yelp。　〃It　is　clear　you　are　not　made　like　our　folk。〃
　　Simon；　who　had　slid　out　of　reach　once　more；　grunted。　He　was　unfortable　around　her；　that　was　a　simple　fact。　Her　presence　had　begun　to　make　him　feel　as　though　he　had　some　kind　of　damnable　itch；　and　in　his　solitude　he　had　e　to　both　yearn　for　and　yet　fear　her　arrivals。　Every　time　he　stole　a　glance　at　her　slim　body；　displayed　with　an　immodesty　that　still　shocked　him　to　the　depths　of　his　being；　he　found　himself　remembering　the　thundering　sermons　of　Father　Dreosan。　Simon　was　astonished　to　discover　that　the　priest；　whom　he　had　always　thought　an　idiot；　had　been　right　after　all…the　devil　did　make　snares　for　the　flesh。　Just　watching　Aditu's　lissome；　catlike　movements　filled　Simon　with　a　squirming　consciousness　of　sin。　It　was　the　more　terrible；　he　knew；　because　Jiriki's　sister　was　not　even　of　his　own　kind。
　　As　the　priest　had　taught；　Simon　tried　to　keep　the　pure　face　of　Elysia　the　Mother　of　God　before　him　when　he　was　confronted　by　the　temptation　of　flesh。　Back　in　the　Hayholt　Simon　had　seen　that　face　in　hundreds　of　paintings　and　sculptures；　in　countless　candlelit　shrines；　but　now　he　was　alarmed　to　find　his　memory　turning　traitor。　In　recollection；　the　eyes　of　Usires'　sainted　mother　seemed　more　playful　and　more　feline　　　　　than　could　possibly　be　proper　or　holy。
　　Despite　this　disfort；　in　his　loneliness　he　was　still　grateful　to　Aditu　for　all　her　attentions；　however　perfunctory　he　sometimes　thought　them　to　be；　and　however　careless　of　Simon's　feelings　her　teasing　sometimes　became。　He　was　most　grateful　for　the　meals。　Jiriki　was　seldom　at　home　of　late；　and　Simon　was　more　than　a　little　uncertain　about　which　of　the　fruits；　vegetables；　and　less　familiar　plants　growing　in　the　prince's　extensive　forest　gardens　could　be　safely　eaten。　There　was　no　one　but　the　prince's　sister　on　whom　he　could　rely。　Even　among　the　first　family…the　〃Root　and　Branch〃　as　Jiriki　had　phrased　it…there　seemed　to　be　nothing　like　servants。　Everyone　tended　for　themselves；　as　befitted　the　Sithi's　solitary　habits。　Simon　knew　that　the　Sithi　kept　animals；　or　rather；　that　the　valley　was　full　of　animals　that　came　when　they　were　called。　The　goats　and　sheep　must　allow　themselves　to　be　milked　for　the　meals　Aditu　brought　him　often　included　fragrant　cheeses；　but　the　Sithi　seemed　to　eat　no　meat。　Simon　often　thought　longingly　about　all　those　trusting　animals　wandering　the　paths　of　Jao　e…Tinukai'i。　He　knew　he　would　never　dare　do　anything　about　it；　but…　Aedon'…wouldn't　a　leg　of　mutton　be　a　fine　thing　to　have！
　　Aditu　poked　him　again。　Simon　stolidly　ignored　her。　She　got　up　and　walked　past　the　nest　of　soft　blankets　that　was　Simon's　bed；　stopping　before　the　billowing　blue　wall。　The　wall　had　been　scarlet　when　Jiriki　first　brought　him；　but　Simon's　Sitha　host　had　somehow　changed　its　color　to　this　more　soothing　cerulean。　When　Aditu　brushed　it　with　her　long…　fingered　hand；　the　fabric　slid　away　like　a　drawn　curtain；　revealing　another；　larger　room　beyond。
　　〃Let　us　return　to　our　game；〃　she　said。　〃You　are　too　serious；　manchild。〃　
　　〃I　will　never　be　able　to　learn　it；〃　Simon　muttered。
　　〃You　do　not　apply　yourself。　Jiriki　claims　you　have　a　good　mind…　although　my　brother　has　been　wrong　before。〃　Aditu　reached　into　a　fold　in　the　wall　and　produced　a　crystal　sphere　which　began　to　glow　at　her　touch。　She　placed　it　on　a　simple　tripod　of　wood；　letting　its　light　spread　through　the　darkened　room；　then　took　a　carved　wooden　case　from　beneath　the　colorful　shent　board　and　removed　the　polished　stones　that　served　as　playing　pieces。　〃I　think　I　had　just　made　myself　an　acre　of　Woodlarks。　e；　Seoman；　play　and　don't　pout。　You　had　a　good　idea　the　other　day；　a　very　clever　idea…fleeing　that　which　you　truly　sought。〃　She　stroked　his　arm；　making　the　hairs　stand　up；　and　gave　him　one　of　her　strange　Sithi　smiles；　full　of　impenetrable　significance。
　　〃Seoman　has　other　games　to　play　tonight。〃
　　Jiriki　stood　in　the　doorway；　dressed　in　what　appeared　to　be　ceremonial　attire；　an　intricately　embroidered　robe　in　varied　shades　of　yellow　and　blue。　He　wore　soft　gray　boots。　His　sword　Indreju　dangled　at　his　hip　in　a　scabbard　of　the　same　gray　stuff；　and　three　long　white　heron　feathers　were　braided　into　his　hair　〃He　has　received　a　summons。〃
　　Aditu　carefully　set　the　pieces　on　the　board。　〃I　shall　have　to　play　by　myself；　then…unless　you　are　staying。　Willow…switch。〃　She　gazed　from　beneath　lowered　lids。
　　Jiriki　shook　his　head。　〃No；　sister　I　must　be　Seoman's　guide。〃
　　〃Where　am　I　going？〃　Simon　asked。　〃Summoned　bv　who？〃
　　〃By　First　Grandmother。〃　Jiriki　lifted　his　hand　and　made　a　brief　but　solemn　gesture。　〃Amerasu　the　Ship…Born　has　asked　to　see　you。〃
　　
　　Walking　in　silence　beneath　the　stars；　Simon　thought　about　the　things　he　had　seen　since　leaving　the　Hayholt。　To　think　that　once　he　had　feared　he　would　live　and　die　a　castle…drudge！　Was　there　to　be　no　end　to　the　strange　places　he　must　go；　to　the　strange　people　he　must　meet？　Amerasu　might　be　able　to　help　him；　but　still　he　was　growing　weary　of　strangeness。　Then　again；　he　realized　with　a　flutter　of　panic；　if　Amerasu　or　some　other　did　not　e　to　his　aid；　the　lovely　but　limited　vistas　of　Jao　e…Tinukai'i　might　be　all　he　would　ever　see　again。
　　But　the　strangest　thing；　he　thought　suddenly；　was　that　no　matter　where　he　went　or　what　he　saw；　he　always　seemed　to　remain　the　same　old　Simon…a　little　less　mooncalfish；　perhaps；　but　not　very　different　from　the　clumsy　kitchen　boy　who　had　lived　at　the　Hayholt。　Those　distant；　peaceful　days　seemed　utterly　gone；　vanished　without　hope　of　reclamation；　but　the　Simon　who　had　lived　them　was　still　very　much　present。　Morgenes　had　told　him　once　to　make　his　home　in　his　own　head。　That　way；　home　could　never　be　taken　from　him。　Was　this　what　the　doctor　meant？　To　be　the　same　person　no　matter　where　you　went；　no　matter　what　madness　occurred？　Somehow；　that　didn't　seem　quite　right。
　　〃I　will　not　burden　you　with　instructions；〃　Jiriki　said　suddenly；　startling　him。　〃There　are　special　rites　to　be　performed　before　meeting　the　First　Grandmother；　but　you　do　not　know　them；　nor　could　you　perform　all　of　them　even　if　they　were　told　to　you。　I　do　not　think　that　cause　to　worry；　however。　I　believe　Amerasu　wishes　to　see　you　because　of　who　you　are　and　what　you　have　seen；　not　because　she　wishes　you　to　watch　you　perform　the　Six　Songs　of　Respectful　Request。〃
　　〃The　six　what？〃
　　〃It　is　not　important。　But　remember　this：　although　First　Grandmother　is　of　the　same　family　as　Aditu　and　myself；　we　are　both　children　of　the　Last　Days。　Amerasu　Ship…Born　was　one　of　the　first　speaking　creatures　to　set　foot　on　Osten　Ard。　I　say　this　not　to　frighten；〃　he　added　hurriedly；　seeing　Simon's　distressed；　moonlit　expression；　〃but　only　to　have　you　know　she　is　different　even　than　my　father　and　mother。〃
　　The　silence　returned　as　Simon　pondered　this。　Could　the　handsome；　sad…faced　woman　he　had　seen　really　be　one　of　the　oldest　living　things　in　the　world？　He　did　not　doubt　Jiriki；　but　his　own　wildest　thoughts　stretched　to　their　limits　still　could　not　enpass　the　prince's　words。　
　　
　　The　winding　path　led　them　across　a　stone　bridge。　Once　over　the　river；　they　made　their　way　into　the　more　heavily　wooded　part　of　the　valley。　Simon　did　his　best　to　take　note　of　what　paths　they　took；　but　found　that　the　memories　quickly　melted　away；　insubstantial　as　starlight。　He　remembered　only　that　they　crossed　several　more　streams；　each　seeming　slightly　more　melodious　than　the　last；　until　they　finally　entered　into　a　part　of　the　forest　that　seemed　quieter。　Among　these　thickly　knotted　trees　even　the　cricket　songs　were　hushed。　The　tree　branches　swayed；　but　the　wind　was　silent。
　　When　they　finally　stopped；　Simon　found　to　his　surprise　that　they　stood　before　the　tall；　cobwebbed　tree　he　had　found　in　his　first　attempt　at　escape。　Faint　lights　shone　through　the　tangle　of　silken　threads；　as　though　the　great　tree　wore　a　glowing　cloak。
　　〃I　was　here　before；〃　Simon　said　slowly。　The　warm；　still　air　made　him　feel　at　once　drowsy　and　yet　keenly　alert。
　　The　prince　looked　at　him　and　said　nothing；　but　led　him　toward　the　oak。　Jiriki　set　his　hand　to　the　moss…covered　door；　set　so　deeply　into　the　bark　that　the　tree　might　have　grown　around　it。
　　〃We　have　permission。〃　he　said　quietly。　The　door　swung　silently　inward。　
　　Beyond　the　doorway　was　an　impossible　thing：　a　narrow　hallway　that　stretched　away　before　him；　as　silk…tangled　as　the　front　of　the　oak…house。　Tiny　lights　no　larger　than　fireflies　burned　within　the　matted　threads；　filling　the　passageway　with　their　flick