tw.thestoneoffarewell-第133部分

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s　no　larger　than　fireflies　burned　within　the　matted　threads；　filling　the　passageway　with　their　flickering　light。　Simon；　who　could　have　sworn　guiltlessly　on　a　holy　Tree　that　nothing　lay　behind　the　spreading　oak　but　more　trees；　took　a　step　back　through　the　doorframe　to　see　where　such　a　hallway　could　possibly　be　hidden…could　it　pass　down　into　the　ground；　somehow？…but　Jiriki　took　his　elbow　and　gently　steered　him　across　the　threshold　once　more。　The　door　fell　shut　behind　them。
　　They　were　pletely　surrounded　by　lights　and　silken　webs；　as　though　they　moved　through　the　clouds　and　among　the　stars。　The　curious　sleepiness　was　still　upon　Simon：　every　detail　was　sharp　and　clear；　but　he　had　no　idea　how　long　they　spent　walking　in　the　scintillant　passage。　They　came　at　last　to　a　more　open　place；　a　chamber　that　smelled　of　cedar　and　plum　blossoms　and　other　scents　more　difficult　to　identify。　The　minute　and　inconstant　lights　were　fewer　here；　and　the　wide　room　was　full　of　long；　shuddery　shadows。　From　time　to　time　the　walls　creaked；　as　though　he　and　Jiriki　stood　in　the　hold　of　a　ship；　or　inside　the　trunk　of　a　tree　far　larger　than　any　Simon　had　ever　seen。　He　heard　a　sound　as　of　water　slowly　dripping；　like　the　last　drops　of　a　rainstorm　trickling　from　willow　branches　into　a　pool。　Half…visible　shapes　lined　the　dark　walls；　things　shaped　like　people；　they　might　have　been　statues；　for　they　were　certainly　very　still。
　　As　Simon　stared；　his　eyes　not　yet　adjusted　to　the　diminished　light；　something　brushed　against　his　leg。　He　jumped　and　cried　out；　but　a　moment　later　the　flickering　lights　showed　him　a　waving　tail　that　could　only　belong　to　a　cat；　the　creature　swiftly　vanished　into　the　darkness　along　the　walls。　Simon　caught　his　breath。
　　Strange　as　the　place　was；　he　decided；　there　was　nothing　truly　frightening　about　it。　The　shadowy　chamber　had　an　air　of　warmth　and　serenity　unlike　anything　he　had　experienced　thus　far　in　Jao　e…Tinukai'i。　Judith；　the　Hayholt's　plump　kitchen　mistress；　would　almost　have　called　it　cozy。
　　〃Wele　to　my　house；〃　a　voice　said　from　the　darkness。　The　pinpricks　of　light　grew　brighter　around　one　of　the　shadowy　figures；　revealing　a　white…haired　head　and　the　back　of　a　tall　chair。　〃e　closer；　manchild。　I　can　see　you　there；　but　I　doubt　you　can　see　me。〃
　　〃First　Grandmother　has　very　sharp　sight；〃　Jiriki　said；　Simon　thought　he　could　detect　a　trace　of　amusement　in　the　Sitha's　voice。　He　stepped　forward。　The　golden　light　revealed　the　ancient　yet　youthful　face　he　had　seen　in　Jiriki's　mirror。
　　〃You　are　in　the　presence　of　Amerasu　y'Senditu　no'e…Sa'onserei；　the　Ship…Born；〃　intoned　Jiriki　from　behind　him。　〃Show　respect；　Seoman　Snowlock。〃
　　 Simon　felt　no　punction　about　doing　so。　He　kneeled　on　wobbling　legs　and　lowered　his　head　before　her。
　　〃Stand　up；　mortal　boy；〃　she　said　quietly。　Her　voice　was　deep　and　smooth。　It　rugged　at　Simon's　memory。　Had　their　short　contact　through　the　mirror　burned　itself　so　deeply　on　his　mind？〃　〃Hmmm；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　are　taller　even　than　my　young　Willow…switch。　Will　you　find　the　manchild　a　stool；　Jiriki；　so　I　do　not　have　to　stare　up　at　him？　Get　yourself　one；　too。〃
　　When　Simon　was　seated　beside　Jiriki；　Amerasu　inspected　him　carefully。
　　Simon　felt　suddenly　tongue…tied；　but　curiosity　vied　with　shyness。　He　stole　return　glances　while　doing　his　best　to　avoid　her　almost　frighteningly　deep　eyes。
　　She　was　much　as　he　remembered　her：　shining　white　hair；　skin　tight…stretched　over　her　fine　bones。　Other　than　the　measureless　depths　of　her　stare；　the　only　hint　of　the　immense　age　to　which　Jiriki　had　alluded　was　in　the　careful　deliberation　with　which　she　assayed　every　movement；　as　though　her　skeleton　were　fragile　as　dried　parchment。　Still；　she　was　very　beautiful。　Caught　in　the　web　of　her　regard；　Simon　imagined　that　in　the　dawn　of　the　world　Amerasu　might　have　been　as　terrifyingly；　blindingly　splendid　to　look　upon　as　the　face　of　the　sun。
　　〃So；〃　she　said　finally。　〃You　are　out　of　your　depths；　little　fish。〃
　　Simon　nodded。
　　〃Are　you　enjoying　your　visit　to　Jao　e…Tinukai'i？　You　are　one　of　the　first　of　your　kind　to　e　here。〃
　　Jiriki　sat　up　straighter。　〃One　of　the　first；　wise　Amerasu？　Not　the　first？〃
　　She　ignored　him；　keeping　her　gaze　fixed　on　Simon。　He　felt　himself　drawn　gently　but　helplessly　into　her　spell　of　mand；　a　wriggling　fish　pulled　inexorably　toward　the　water's　blinding　surface。　〃Speak；　manchild。　What　do　you　think？〃
　　〃I。。。　I　am　honored　to　visit；〃　he　said　at　last；　then　swallowed。　His　throat　was　very　dry。　〃Honored。　But。。。　but　I　don't　want　to　stay　in　this　valley。　Not　forever。〃
　　Amerasu　leaned　back　in　her　chair。　He　felt　himself　held　more　loosely；　though　the　power　of　her　presence　was　still　strongly　upon　him。　〃I'm　not　surprised。〃　She　took　a　long　breath；　smiling　sadly。　〃But　you　would　have　to　be　prisoned　here　a　long　while　before　you　would　be　as　weary　of　this　life　as　I　am。〃
　　Jiriki　stirred。　〃Should　I　leave；　First　Grandmother？〃
　　His　question　gave　Simon　a　faint　tremor　of　fright。　He　could　feel　the　Sitha…woman's　great　kindness　and　great　pain…but　she　was　so　fearfully　strong！　He　knew　that　if　she　wished；　she　could　keep　him　here　forever；　just　with　the　power　of　her　voice　and　those　pelling；　labyrinthine　eyes。　
　　〃Should　1　leave？〃　Jiriki　asked　again。
　　〃I　know　it　pains　you　to　hear　me　speak　so；　Willow…switch；〃　Amerasu　said。　〃But　you　are　dearest　of　all　my　young　ones　and　you　are　strong。　You　can　hear　truth。〃　She　shifted　slowly　in　her　chair；　long…fingered　hand　settling　on　the　breast　of　her　white　robe。　〃You；　too；　manchild；　have　known　loss。　That　is　in　your　face。　But　though　every　loss　is　grave；　the　lives　as　well　as　losses　of　mortals　appear　and　fade　as　swiftly　as　the　seasons　turn　the　leaves。　I　do　not　mean　to　be　cruel。　Neither　do　I　seek　pity…but　not　you　or　any　other　mortal　has　seen　the　dry　centuries　roll　past；　the　hungry　millennia；　seen　the　very　light　and　color　sucked　out　of　your　world　until　nothing　remains　but　juiceless　memories。〃　Strangely；　as　she　spoke　her　face　seemed　to　grow　more　youthful；　as　though　her　grief　were　the　most　vital　thing　left　in　her。　Now　Simon　could　see　much　more　than　a　hint　of　her　former　splendor。　He　lowered　his　head；　unable　to　speak。
　　〃Of　course　you　have　not；〃　she　said；　a　slight　tremor　in　her　voice。　〃I　have。　That　is　why　I　am　here；　in　the　dark。　It　is　not　that　I　fear　the　light；　or　that　I　am　not　strong　enough　to　stand　day's　brightness。〃　She　laughed；　a　sound　like　a　whipoorwill's　mournful　call。　〃No；　it　is　only　that　in　darkness　I　can　see　the　lost　days　and　faces　of　the　past　more　clearly。〃
　　Simon　looked　up。　〃You　had　two　sons；〃　he　said　quietly。　He　had　realized　why　her　voice　seemed　so　familiar。　〃One　of　them　went　away。〃
　　Amerasu's　face　hardened。　〃Both　of　them　are　gone。　What　have　you　told　him；　Jiriki？　These　are　not　tales　for　the　small　hearts　of　mortals。〃
　　〃I　told　him　nothing。　First　Grandmother。〃
　　She　leaned　forward　intently。　〃Tell　me　of　my　sons。　What　old　legends　do　you　know？〃
　　Simon　swallowed。　〃One　son　was　hurt　by　a　dragon。　He　had　to　go　away。　He　was　burned…like　me。〃　He　touched　his　own　scarred　cheek。　〃The　other。。。　the　other　is　the　Storm　King。〃　As　he　whispered　this　last；　Simon　looked　around；　as　though　something　might　step　toward　him　out　of　the　deep　shadows。　The　walls　creaked　and　water　dripped；　but　that　was　all。
　　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃
　　〃I　heard　your　voice　in　a　dream。〃　Simon　searched　for　words。　〃You　spoke　in　my　head　for　a　long　time　when　I　was　sleeping。〃　
　　The　Sitha…woman's　beautiful　face　was　grave。　She　stared　at　him　as　though　something　hidden　within　him　threatened　her。　〃Do　not　be　afraid；　manchild；〃　she　said　at　last；　reaching　out　with　her　slender　hands。　〃Do　not　fear。　And　forgive　me。〃
　　Amerasu's　cool；　dry　fingers　touched　Simon's　face。　The　lights　streamed　like　shreds　of　lightning；　then　flickered　and　faded；　dropping　the　chamber　into　utter　darkness。　Her　grip　seemed　to　tighten。　The　blackness　sang。
　　There　was　no　pain；　but　somehow　Amerasu　was　inside　his　head；　a　forceful　presence　so　intimately　connected　to　him　at　that　moment　that　he　felt　shockingly；　terrifyingly　raw；　an　exposure　far　more　profound　than　any　merely　physical　nakedness。　Sensing　his　terror；　she　calmed　him；　cradling　his　secret　self　like　a　panicking　bird　until　he　was　no　longer　afraid。　First　Grandmother　then　began　to　pick　delicately　through　his　memories；　probing　him　with　gentle　but　purposeful　thoroughness。
　　Dizzy　snatches　of　thought　and　dream　fluttered　past；　swirling　like　flower　petals　in　a　windstorm…Morgenes　and　his　countless　books；　Miriamele　singing；　seemingly　meaningless　fragments　of　conversation　from　Simon's　days　in　the　Hayholt。　The　night　of　Thisterborg　and　the　dreadful　gray　sword　spread　through　his　mind　like　a　dark　stain；　followed　by　the　silver　face　of　Utuk'ku　and　the　three　swords　from　his　vision　in　the　house　of　Geloe。　Plump　Skodi　and　the　thing　that　had　laughed　in　the　courtyard　flames　whirled　and　melted　into　the　lunacy　of　the　Uduntree　and　the　emotionless　eyes　of　the　great　white　worm　Igjarjuk。　Thorn　was　there；　too；　a　black　slash　across　the　light　of　recollection。　As　the　memories　flew　by；　he　again　felt　the　burning　pain　of　the　dragon's　blood　and　the　fearful　sense　of　connection　to　the　spinning　world；　the　sickening　vastness　of　the　hope　and　pain　of　all　living　things。　At　last；　like　the　tatters　of　a　dream；　the　pictures　faded。
　　The　lights　came　back　slowly。　Simon's　head　was　cradled　in　Jiriki's　lap。　The　wound　on　his　cheek　was　throbbing。
　　 〃Forgive　me；　First　Grandmother；〃　Jiriki　said　as　though　from　a　great　distance；　〃but　was　that　necessary？　He　would　have　told　you　all　he　knew。〃
　　Amerasu　was　silent　for　a　long　time。　When　she　spoke；　it　was　with　great　effort。　Her　voice　seemed　older　than　before。　〃He　could　not　have　told　me　all；　Willow…switch。　Those　things　that　to　me　seem　most　important；　he　is　not　even　aware　that　he　knows。〃　She　turned　her　eyes　down　to　Simon；　her　face　full　of　weary　kindness。　〃I　am　truly　sorry；　manchild。　I　had　no　right　to　plunder　you　that　way；　but　I　am　old　and　frightened　and　I　have　little　patience　left。　Now；　I　am　more　frightened　than　ever。〃
　　She　tried　to　pull　herself　up。　Jiriki　reached　out　to　help；　and　she　rose　unsteadily　from　her　chair　and　vanished　into　the　shadows。　She　returned　a　moment　later　with　a　cup　of　water；　which　she　held　to　Simon's　lips　with　her　own　hands。　He　drank　thirstily。　The　water　was　co