tw.thestoneoffarewell-第139部分
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They rode past countless remnants of the vast and long untenanted city。 Fragments of old walls shimmered in the undergrowth； masses of pale； crumbled brick forlorn as lost sheep； in other spots the foundations of eroded towers lay exposed； curved and empty as ancient jawbones； choked with parasitic moss。 Unlike Da'ai Chikiza； the forest had done more than grow into Enki…e…Shao'saye： there was virtually nothing left of this city but faint traces。 The forest； it seemed； had always been a part of the place； but over the millennia it had bee a destroyer； smothering the elaborate stonework in a mass of snaking foliage； enfolding it with roots and branches that patiently unmade even the matchless products of the Sithi builders； returning all to mud and damp sand。
There was little inspiration in the crumbling ruins of Enki…e…Shao'saye。 They seemed only to demonsrate that even the Sithi were bound within the sweep of time； that any work of hands； however exalted； must e at last to ignoble result。
Binabik and Sludig found a clearer path running beside the river bank and began to make better time； winding their way through the rain…soaked forest。 They heard nothing but the sounds of their own passage and were glad of it。 Just as the troll had predicted； the land began to slope more acutely； falling away toward the southwest。 Despite its swerving course； the river was moving in that direction as well； the water gaining speed and being possessed of what almost seemed like enthusiasm。 It positively threw itself at its banks； as if desiring to be everywhere at once； the gouts of water that flew up at obstructions in the river bed seemed to leap higher than they normally should； as though this watercourse； granted a temporary life； labored to prove to some stern riverine deities its fitness for continued survival。
〃Almost out of the forest；〃 Binabik panted from Qantaqa's bobbing back。 〃See how the trees are now thinning？ See； there is light between them ahead！〃
Indeed； the stand of trees just before them seemed poised at the outermost rim of the earth。 Instead of more mottled green foliage； beyond them lay only a wall of fathomless； featureless gray； as though the world's builders had run short of inspiration。
〃You are right； little man；〃 Sludig said excitedly。 〃Forest's end！ Now； if we are within a short ride of this sanctuary of yours； we may shake those whoreson giants after all！〃
〃Unless my scrolls are none of them correct；〃 Binabik replied as they cantered down the last length of slope。 〃It is not much distance from forest's edge to the Stone of Farewell。〃
He broke off as they reached the final line of trees。 Qantaqa stopped abruptly； head held low； sniffing the air。 Sludig reined up alongside。 〃Blessed Usires；〃 the Rimmersman breathed。
The slope abruptly fell away before them； dropping at a much steeper angle to the wide valley below。 Sesuad'ra loomed there； dark and secretive in its shroud of trees； a bony thrust of stone standing far above the valley bottom。 Its height was particularly apparent because it was entirely surrounded by a flat plain of water。
The valley was flooded。 The Stone of Farewell； a great fist that seemed to defy the rain…lashed skies； had bee an island in a gray and restless sea。 Binabik and Sludig were perched at the forest's edge only a half…league away from their goal； but every cubit of valley floor that lay between was covered by fathoms of floodwater。
Even as they stared； a roar echoed through the forest behind them； distant but still frighteningly close。 Whatever magic remained to Enki…e… Shao'saye was too weak to discourage the hungry giants。
〃Aedon； troll； we are caught like flies in a honey jar；〃 Sludig said； a tremor of fear creeping into his voice for the first time。 〃We are backed against the edge of the world。 Even if we fight and stave off their first attack； there is no escape！〃
Binabik stroked Qantaqa's head。 The wolf's hackles were up； she whimpered beneath his touch as though she ached to return the challenge floating down the wind。 〃Peace； Sludig； we must be thinking。〃 He turned to squint down the precipitous slope。 〃I fear you are right about one thing。 We are never to be leading horses down this grade。〃
〃And what would we do at the bottom； in any case？〃 Sludig growled。 Rain dribbled from his beard…braids。 〃That is no mud puddle！ This is an ocean！ Did your scrolls mention that？！〃
Binabik waggled his head angrily。 His hair hung in his eyes； pasted to his forehead by the rain。 〃Look up； Sludig； look up！ The sky is full of water； and it is all being dropped down on us； courtesy of our enemy。〃 He spat in disgust。 〃This is perhaps bee an ocean now； but a week ago it was a valley only； just as the scrolls say。〃 A worried look crossed his face。 〃I am wondering if Josua and the rest were caught in low ground！ Daughter of the Snows； what a thought！ If so； we might as well make our stand in this place…at the world's end； as you call it。 Thorn's journey will stop here。〃
Sludig flung himself down out of the saddle； skidding briefly in the mud。 He strode to the lead packhorse and detached the bundled length of the black sword。 He hefted it easily； carrying it back to Binabik m one hand。 〃Your 'living sword' seems eager for battle；〃 he said sourly。 'I am half…tempted to see what it can do； though it may turn anvil…heavy on me in midstroke。〃
〃No；〃 Binabik said shortly； 〃My people are not fond of running from a fight； but neither is it time for us to be singing Croohok death…songs and be going happily to glorious defeat。 Our quest is not yet given over。〃
Sludig glowered。 〃Then what do you say； troll？ Shall we fly to that far rock？〃
The little man hissed in frustration。 〃No； but first we can look for some other way for getting down。〃 He gestured at me river thundering past them； which disappeared down the steep wooded slope。 〃This is not the only waterway。 It could be that others will lead us down in a more gradual path to the valley。〃
〃And then what？〃 Sludig demanded。 〃Swim？〃
〃If necessary。〃 As Binabik spoke； the hunting cry of their pursuers rose again； setting the horses to milling and bumping in panic。 〃Take the horse； Sludig；〃 Binabik said。 〃There is still chance we may win free。〃
〃If so； you are a magical troll indeed。 I will name you a Sithi and you can live forever。〃
〃Do not joke here；〃 Binabik said。 〃Do not mock。〃 He slid from Qantaqa's back； then whispered something in the wolf's ear。 With a bound； she was away through the dripping vegetation； tracking eastward along the face of the slope。 Sludig and the troll followed as best they could； cutting a trail that the horses could follow。
Qantaqa； swift as a racing shadow now that the weight of her rider had been lifted from her back； soon found an angled traverse down the cliffside。 Despite the sticky； treacherous footing； they were able to make their way slowly down from the high promontory； gradually approaching the lowest edge of the forest； now the shore of a wind…tormented sea。
The forest did not e to a sudden ending； but rather disappeared into the rain…rippled water。 In some places the tops of submerged trees still protruded above the surface； little islands of rippling leaves。 Naked branches thrust up from the gray flood beside them like the hands of drowning men。
Sludig's horse pulled up just at the water's edge and the Rimmersman vaulted down to stand ankle…deep in muddy water。 〃I am not sure I see the improvement； troll；〃 he said； surveying the scene。 〃At least before we were on high ground。〃
〃Cut branches；〃 Binabik said； clambering through the mud toward him。 〃Long ones； as many as you can be finding。 We will build a raft。〃
〃You are mad！〃 Sludig snapped。
〃Perhaps。 But you are the strong one； so you must be the cutter。 I have rope in the packs for binding the limbs together； and I can do that。 Hurry！〃
Sludig snorted； but set himself to work。 Within moments his sword was smacking dully against wood。
〃If my axes had not been lost on this foolish quest；〃 he panted； 〃I could build you a whole longhouse in the time it will take me to chop a tree with this poor blade。〃
Binabik said nothing； intent on lashing together the rough spars Sludig had already knocked loose。 When he had finished with what was available； he went searching for loose wood。 He discovered another tributary nearby that dropped down into a narrow gulley before emptying at last into the greater flood。 A treasure trove of loose limbs had accumulated m the narrowest spot。 Binabik grabbed them up by the armful； hurrying back and forth between the river and the place where Sludig labored。
〃Qantaqa cannot swim so far；〃 Binabik grunted as he carried the last useful batch。 His eyes had drifted to the distant bulk of Sesuad'ra。 〃But I cannot be leaving her to find her own way。 There is no way for knowing how long this storm will last。 She might never find me again。〃 He dumped the wood； frowning； then bent to his knots once more； his fingers threading loops of slender cord around the damp wood。 〃I cannot make this raft big enough for all three； not and take that of our belongings which we must be saving。 There is no time。〃
〃Then we will take turns being in the water；〃 Sludig said。 He shuddered； staring at the rain…pocked flood。 〃Elysia； Mother of God； but I hate the thought of it。〃
〃Clever Sludig！ You are right。 We need only make it big enough for one of us to rest while the other two are swimming； and we will go into the water one after the other。〃 Binabik allowed himself a thin smile。 〃You Rimmersmen have not lost all your seagoing blood； I see。〃 As he redoubled his efforts； a furious groan rolled through the woods。 They looked up； startled； to see a massive white shape on the promontory only a few short furlongs away。
〃God curse them！〃 Sludig moaned； hacking frenziedly at a slender trunk。 〃Why do they pursue us！ Do they seek the sword？〃
Binabik shook his head。 〃Almost done；〃 he said。 〃Two more long ones I am needing。 〃
The white figure on the hillside above quickly became several figures； a pack of furious ghosts that raised their long arms against the storming sky。 The giants' voices rolled and boomed across
