tw.thestoneoffarewell-第135部分

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　　Something　touched　her　arm；　startling　her。　She　whirled　to　find　the　wrinkled　face　of　Gan　Itai　gazing　up　into　hers。　The　Niskie's　usual　look　of　wily　good　humor　was　absent。
　　〃Girl；　I　need　to　speak　to　you；〃　the　old　one　said。
　　〃Wh…what？〃　Something　in　the　Niskie's　expression　was　alarming。
　　〃I　had　a　dream。　A　dream　about　you…and　about　bad　times。〃　Gan　Itai　ducked　her　head；　then　turned　and　looked　out　to　sea　before　turning　back。　〃The　dream　said　you　were　in　danger；　Miri　。。。〃
　　The　Niskie　broke　off；　looking　past　Miriamele's　shoulder。　The　princess　leaned　forward。　Had　she　misheard；　or　had　Gan　Itai　been　about　to　call　her　by　her　true　name？　But　that　could　not　be：　no　one　beside　Cadrach　knew　who　she　was；　and　she　doubted　that　the　monk　would　have　told　anyone　on　the　ship…what　such　news　might　bring　was　too　unpredictable；　and　Cadrach　was　trapped　out　on　the　ocean　just　as　she　was。　No；　it　must　have　been　only　the　Niskie's　odd　way　of　speaking。
　　〃Ho'　Lovely　lady！〃　A　cheerful　voice　rang　up　from　dockside。　〃It　is　a　wet　morning；　but　perhaps　you　would　like　to　see　Vinitta？〃
　　Miriamele　whirled。　Aspitis　stood　at　the　base　of　the　gangplank　with　his　men…at…arms。　The　earl　wore　a　beautiful　blue　cloak　and　shiny　boots。　His　hair　danced　in　the　wind。
　　〃Oh；　yes！〃　she　said；　pleased　and　excited。　How　wonderful　it　would　be　to　get　off　this　ship！　〃I'll　be　right　down！〃
　　When　she　turned；　Gan　Itai　had　vanished。　Miriamele　frowned　slightly；　puzzled。　She　suddenly　thought　of　the　monk　sitting　stone…faced　in　the　cabin　they　shared　and　felt　a　twinge　of　pity　for　him。
　　〃Shall　I　bring　Brother　Cadrach？〃　she　called　down。
　　Aspitis　laughed。　〃Certainly！　We　may　find　use　in　having　a　holy　man　with　us　who　can　talk　us　out　of　temptations！　That　way　we　may　e　back　with　a　few　cintis…pieces　left　in　our　purses！〃
　　Miriamele　ran　downstairs　to　tell　Cadrach。　He　looked　at　her　oddly；　but　drew　on　his　boots；　then　carefully　chose　just　the　right　heavy　cloak　before　following　her　back　up　the　ladder。
　　The　wind　rose　and　the　rainshowers　became　heavier。　Although　at　first　it　was　enough　merely　to　walk　along　the　busy　waterfront　with　the　handsome；　sociable　earl　beside　her；　soon　Miriamele's　excitement　at　being　off　the　ship　began　to　wear　away。　Despite　the　pushing　crowd；　Vinitta's　narrow　streets　seemed　sad　and　gray。　When　Aspitis　bought　her　a　chain　of　bluebells　from　a　flower　seller　and　tenderly　hung　them　around　her　neck；　she　found　it　all　she　could　do　to　smile　for　him。
　　 It　is　the　weather；　she　guessed。　This　unnatural　weather　has　turned　high　summer　into　a　dismal　gray　murk　and　put　the　cold　right　into　my　bones。
　　She　thought　of　her　father　sitting　alone　in　his　room；　of　the　chilly；　distant　face　he　sometimes　wore　like　a　mask…a　mask　that　he　had　e　to　wear　more　and　more　frequently　in　her　last　months　in　the　Hayholt。　Cold　bones　and　cold　hearts；　she　sang　quietly　to　herself　as　the　Earl　of　Eadne　led　his　party　down　Vinitta's　rain…slicked　byways。
　　
　　Cold　bones　and　cold　hearts
　　Lie　in　the　rain　in　battle's　wake；
　　On　chilly　beach　by　Clodu…lake；
　　'Til　Aedon's　trumpet　calls　。　。
　　
　　Just　before　noon　Aspitis　took　them　into　an　eating　hall；　where　Miriamele　immediately　felt　her　flagging　spirits　begin　to　revive。　The　hall　had　a　high　ceiling；　but　the　three　large　fire　pits　kept　it　warm　and　cheery　while　at　the　same　time　filling　the　air　with　smoke　and　the　smell　of　roasting　meat。　Many　others　had　decided　the　hall　might　be　a　nice　place　to　be　on　this　bitter　morning：　the　rafters　echoed　with　the　tumult　of　diners　and　drinkers。　The　master　of　the　hall　and　his　several　assistants　were　being　worked　to　the　utmost；　thumping　jugs　of　beer　and　bowls　of　wine　onto　the　wooden　tables；　then　snatching　the　proffered　coins　in　a　single　continuous　movement。
　　A　crude　stage　had　been　set　up　at　the　hall's　far　end。　At　the　moment　a　boy　was　jugghng　between　acts　of　a　puppet　play；　doing　his　best　to　keep　several　sticks　in　the　air　while　suffering　the　drunken　jests　of　spectators；　using　his　feet…his　only　available　extremities…to　stop　the　occasional　coin　that　came　bouncing　up　onto　the　stage。
　　〃Will　you　have　something　to　eat；　fair　lady？〃　Aspitis　asked。　When　Miriamele　nodded　shyly；　he　dispatched　two　of　his　men…at…arms。　His　other　guardsmen　unceremoniously　removed　a　large　family　from　one　of　the　pitted　tables。　Soon　the　original　pair　of　soldiers　returned　with　a　crackling　haunch　of　lamb；　bread；　onions；　and　a　generous　supply　of　wine。
　　A　bowlful　soon　drove　away　much　of　Miriamele's　chill；　and　she　found　that　the　morning's　walk　had　given　her　a　considerable　appetite。　The　noon　bell　had　scarcely　rung　before　her　food　was　gone。　She　readjusted　her　position　on　the　seat；　trying　to　avoid　an　unladylike　belch。
　　〃Look；〃　she　said；　〃they're　starting　the　puppet　play。　Can　we　watch？〃
　　〃Certainly。〃　Aspitis　said；　waving　his　hand　generously。　〃Certainly。　You　will　forgive　me　if　I　do　not　e　with　you。　I　have　not　finished　my　meal。　Besides；　it　looks　like　a　Usires　play。　You　will　not　think　me　disrespectful　if　I　say　that；　living　in　the　lap　of　Mother　Church；　I　see　them　frequently　enough…in　all　varieties；　from　the　grandest　to　the　meanest。〃　He　turned　and　signaled　one　of　his　men　to　acpany　her。　〃It　is　not　a　good　idea　for　a　well…dressed　gentle　lady　like　yourself　to　go　unprotected　among　the　milling　crowd。〃
　　〃I　am　done　eating；〃　Cadrach　said；　standing。　〃I　will　e　too；　Lady　Marya。〃　The　monk　fell　in　beside　the　earl's　guardsman。　
　　The　play　was　in　full　swing。　The　spectators；　especially　the　children；　shrieked　with　delight　as　the　puppets　capered　and　smacked　each　other　with　their　slapping…sticks。　Miriamele；　too；　laughed　as　Usires　tricked　Crexis　into　bending　over；　then　delivered　a　kick　in　the　seat　to　the　evil　Imperator；　but　her　smile　soon　faded。　Instead　of　his　usual　horns；　Crexis　wore　what　looked　like　a　crown　of　antlers。　For　some　reason　this　filled　her　with　unease。　There　was　also　something　panicky　and　desperate　in　Usires'　high…pitched　voice；　and　the　puppet's　painted；　upturned　eyes　seemed　unutterably　sad。　She　turned　to　find　Cadrach　looking　at　her　somberly。
　　〃So　we　labor　to　build　our　little　dams；〃　the　monk　said；　barely　audible　above　the　shouting　throng；　〃while　the　waters　rise　all　around　us。〃　He　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree　above　his　gray　vestments。
　　Before　she　could　ask　him　what　he　meant；　a　rising　howl　from　the　crowd　drew　her　attention　back　to　the　puppet　stage。　Usires　had　been　caught　and　hung　wrongside…up　on　the　Execution　Tree；　wooden　head　dangling。　As　Crexis　the　Goat　prodded　the　helpless　savior；　another　puppet　appeared；　rising　from　the　darkness。　This　one　was　clothed　all　in　orange　and　red　tatters　of　cloth；　as　it　swayed　from　side　to　side　in　an　eerie　dance；　the　rags　swirled；　as　though　the　puppet　were　covered　with　licking　flames。　Its　head　was　a　black；　faceless　knob；　and　it　carried　a　small　wooden　sword　the　color　of　mud。
　　〃Here　es　the　Fire　Dancer　to　throw　you　down　into　the　dark　earth！〃　Crexis　squealed。　The　Imperator　did　a　little　dance　of　joy。
　　〃I　do　not　live　by　the　sword；〃　the　puppet　Usires　said。　〃A　sword　cannot　harm　that　which　is　God　within　me；　that　which　is　silence　and　peace。〃　Miriamele　almost　believed　she　could　see　its　motionless　lips　mouthing　the　words。
　　〃You　can　be　silent　forever；　then…and　worship　your　God　in　pieces！〃　the　Imperator　shouted　triumphantly　as　the　faceless　Fire　Dancer　began　to　hack　with　its　sword。　The　laughing；　screaming　crowd　grew　louder；　a　sound　like　hounds　at　the　kill。　Miriamele　felt　dizzy；　taken　as　though　with　a　sudden　fever。　Fear　growing　within　her；　she　turned　away　from　the　stage。　
　　Cadrach　no　longer　stood　beside　her。
　　Miriamele　turned　to　the　guardsman　on　the　other　side。　The　soldier；　seeing　her　questioning　look；　whirled　in　search　of　the　monk。　Cadrach　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　　A　search　of　the　eating　hall　by　Aspitis　and　his　men　turned　up　no　trace　of　the　Hernystirman。　The　earl　marched　his　party　back　to　the　Eadne　Cloud　through　the　windswept　streets；　his　furious　mood　mirroring　the　angry　skies。　He　was　silent　all　the　long　walk　back　to　the　ship。
　　
　　
　　Sinetris　the　fisherman　looked　the　new　arrival　up　and　down。　The　stranger　was　a　full　head　taller　than　him；　broad　as　a　gate；　and　soaking　wet　from　the　rain　that　hammered　on　the　ceiling　of　the　boat　stall。　Sinetris　weighed　the　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　circling　slowly　around　this　newer　until　he　could　address　the　man　from　outside　the　tiny　shelter。　The　disadvantages　of　such　a　plan　were　clear：　it　was　the　kind　of　day　today　that　made　even　the　hardiest　shiver　by　the　fire　and　praise　God　for　roofs。　Also；　it　was　Sinetris'　own　stall；　and　it　seemed　terribly　unfair　that　he　should　have　to　go　outside　so　that　this　stranger　could　growl　and　champ　and　suck　up　all　the　air　while　the　fisherman　stood　miserably　in　the　storm。
　　The　advantages；　however；　were　equally　clear。　If　he　were　outside；　Sinetris　could　run　for　his　life　when　this　panting　madman　finally　became　murderous。　
　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　saying；　Father。　There　are　no　boats　out　today。　You　see　how　it　is。〃　Sinetris　gestured　out　at　the　sheeting　rain；　flung　almost　sideways　by　the　force　of　the　wind。
　　 The　religious　man　stared　at　him　furiously。　The　gigantic　monk；　if　that　was　indeed　what　he　was；　had　gone　quite　red　and　mottled　in　the　face；　and　his　eyebrows　twitched。　Strangely　enough；　Sinetris　thought　the　monk　seemed　to　be　growing　a　beard：　his　whiskers　were　longer　than　even　a　week's　razorless　travel　would　cause。　To　the　best　of　the　fisherman's　knowl…　edge；　Aedonite　monks　did　not　wear　beards。　Then；　again；　this　one　was　some　kind　of　barbarous　northerner　by　his　accent；　a　Rimmersman　or　some
　　such：　Sinetris　supposed　that　those　born　beyond　the　River　Gleniwent　would　　be　capable　of　just　about　any　eccentricity。　As　he　looked　at　the　ragged　whiskers　and　the　chafed　pmk　skin　gleaming　beneath；　his　unwholesome　opinion　of　the　monk　grew　more　pronounced。　This　was　definitely　a　man　with　whom　to　have　as　little　to　do　as　possible。
　　〃I　don't　think　you　understand　me；　fisherman；〃　the　monk　hissed；　leaning　forward　and　squinting　in　a　truly　frightening　way。　〃I　have　e　nearly　through　Hell　itself　to　get　this　far。　I'm　told　that　you　are　the　only　one　who　would　take　his　boat　out　in　such　bad　weather…and　that　the　reason　is　because　you　overcharge。〃　A　beefy　hand　closed　on　Sinetris'　arm；　occasioning　a　squeal　of　shock。　〃Splendid。　Cheat　me；　rob　me；　I　don't　care。　But　I'm　going　down