tw.thestoneoffarewell-第14部分

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　　〃And　what；〃　Nunuuika　asked　scornfully；　〃might　you　have　had　to　decide　about？　What　choice　could　have　turned　you　into　an　oath…breaker…you；　who　had　already　climbed　far　beyond　the　snows　to　which　you　were　accustomed；　whose　betrothal…spear　had　been　chosen　by　one　high　above　you？〃
　　〃My　master　Ookequk　made　a　promise　to　Doctor　Morgenes　of　the　Hayholt；　a　very　wise　man　of　Erkynland。　With　my　master　dead；　I　felt　it　was　my　place　to　keep　his　promise。〃
　　Uammannaq　leaned　forward；　his　beard　wagging　with　surprise　and　anger。　〃You　thought　a　promise　to　a　lowlander　more　important　than　wedding　a　child　of　the　House　of　the　Ancestor…or　the　bringing　of　summer？　Truly；　Binabik；　those　who　said　you　had　learned　madness　at　fat　Ookequk's　knee　were　right！　You　turned　your　back　on　your　people　for　。。。　for　Utku？〃
　　Binabik　shook　his　head　helplessly。　〃It　was　more　than　that；　Uammannaq；　Herder　of　the　Qanuc。　My　master　had　fears　of　grave　danger；　not　just　to　Yiqanuc　but　to　all　the　world　below　the　mountains　as　well。　Ookequk　feared　a　winter　ing　far　worse　than　any　we　have　experienced；　one　that　would　leave　the　Ice　House　hard…frozen　for　a　thousand　black　years。　And　it　was　far　more　than　only　evil　weather　that　Ookequk　foresaw。　Morgenes；　the　old　man　in　Erkynland；　shared　his　fears。　It　was　because　of　these　dangers　that　the　promise　seemed　important。　Because　of　this；　too…because　I　believe　my　master's　worries　are　justified…I　would　again　break　my　oath　if　I　had　no　other　choice。〃
　　Sisqinanamook　had　returned　her　gaze　to　Binabik　once　more。　Simon　hoped　to　see　a　softening　of　her　expression；　but　her　mouth　was　still　clenched　in　a　firm；　bitter　line。　Her　mother　Nunuuika　slapped　a　palm　on　the　butt　of　her　spear。
　　〃This　is　no　argument　at　all！〃　the　Huntress　exclaimed。　〃Not　at　all。　If　I　feared　loose　snow　in　the　upper　passes；　should　I　then　never　leave　my　cave；　letting　my　children　starve？　This　is　as　much　as　saying　that　your　people　and　the　mountain　home　that　gave　you　nurture　mean　nothing　to　you。　You　are　worse　than　a　drunkard；　who　at　least　says　'I　should　not　drink；〃　but　falls　again　into　bad　ways　by　weakness。　You　stand　before　us；　bold　as　a　robber　of　others'　saddlebags；　and　say：　'I　will　do　it　again。　My　oath　means　nothing。'　〃　She　shook　her　spear　in　rage。　The　gathered　assembly　hissed　its　agreement。　〃You　should　be　put　to　death　immediately。　If　your　madness　infects　others；　the　wind　will　howl　in　our　empty　caves　before　a　generation　passes。〃
　　Even　as　Binabik　finished　his　dull　rendering　of　this　last；　Simon　stood　up；　shaking　with　anger。　His　face　ached　where　the　scar　had　been　burned　across　his　cheek；　and　every　throb　brought　back　the　memory　of　Binabik　clinging　to　the　frost…worm's　back；　shouting　for　Simon　to　run；　to　save　himself　while　the　troll　fought　on　alone。
　　〃No！〃　Simon　cried　furiously；　surprising　even　Haestan　and　Sludig；　who　had　been　listening　dumbfoundedly　to　every　strange　detail　of　the　exchange。
　　〃No！〃　Simon　steadied　himself　with　his　stool。　His　head　was　whirling。　Binabik；　dutifully；　turned　to　his　masters　and　his　betrothed　and　began　explaining　the　red…haired　lowlander's　words。
　　〃You　don't　understand　what　is　happening；〃　Simon　began；　〃or　what　Binabik　has　done。　Here　in　these　mountains；　the　world　is　far　away…but　there　is　danger　that　can　reach　you。　In　the　castle　where　I　lived　once；　it　seemed　to　me　that　evil　was　only　something　talked　about　by　the　priests；　and　that　even　they　did　not　truly　believe　in　it。　Now　I　know　better。　There　are　dangers　all　around　us　and　they　are　growing　stronger　every　day！　Don't　you　see？　Binabik　and　I　have　been　chased；　chased　by　this　evil　all　through　the　great　forest　and　across　the　snows　below　these　mountains。　It　followed　us　even　to　the　dragon…mountain！〃
　　Simon　stopped　for　a　moment；　dizzied；　breathing　swiftly。　He　felt　as　though　he　held　some　squirming　thing　that　was　wriggling　out　of　his　grip。　What　can　I　say？　I　must　sound　like　a　madman。　Look；　Binabik　tells　them　what　I've　said　and　they　stare　at　me　as　though　I'm　barking　like　a　dog！　I　will　get　Binabik　killed　for　certain！
　　Simon　groaned　quietly　and　began　again；　trying　to　marshal　his　nearly　unmanageable　thoughts。　〃We　are　all　in　danger。　A　terrible　power　is　in　the　north…I　mean；　no；　we're　in　the　north　now　。。。〃　He　hung　his　head　and　tried　to　think　for　a　moment。　〃To　the　north；　but　also　to　the　west　of　here。　There's　a　huge　mountain　of　ice。　The　Storm　King　lives　there…but　he's　not　alive。　Ineluki　is　his　name。　Have　you　heard　of　him？　Ineluki？　He　is　terrible！〃
　　He　leaned　forward；　his　balance　abruptly　uncertain；　and　goggled　at　the　alarmed　faces　of　Herder　and　Huntress　and　their　daughter　Sisqinanamook。
　　〃He　is　terrible　。　。　。〃he　said　again；　staring　straight　into　the　troll　maiden's　dark　eyes。
　　Binabik　called　her　Sisqi；　he　thought　disjointedly。　He　must　have　loved　her　。　。　。
　　Something　seemed　to　grab　his　mind　and　shake　it；　as　a　hound　shakes　a　rat。　Suddenly　he　was　tumbling　forward；　down　a　long；　spinning　shaft。　The　dark　eyes　of　Sisqinanamook　deepened　and　grew；　then　changed。　A　moment　later；　the　troll　woman　was　gone；　her　parents；　Simon's　friends；　and　all　of　Chidsik　ub　Lingit　vanished　with　her。　But　the　eyes　remained；　transmuted　now　into　another　grave　stare　that　slowly　filled　his　field　of　vision。　These　brown　eyes　belonged　to　one　of　his　own　kind…the　child　who　had　haunted　his　dreams　。。。　a　child　he　finally　recognized。
　　Leieth；　he　thought。　The　little　girl　we　left　in　the　house　in　the　forest；　because　her　wounds　were　so　awful。　The　girl　we　left　with　。　。　。
　　〃Simon；〃　she　said；　her　voice　reverberating　oddly　in　his　head；　〃this　is　my　last　opportunity。　My　house　will　soon　fall　and　I　will　flee　into　the　forest…but　first　there　is　something　I　must　tell　you。〃
　　Simon　had　never　heard　the　girl　Leieth　speak。　The　reedy　tones　seemed　fitting　for　a　child　her　age…but　something　about　the　voice　was　wrong：　it　was　too　solemn；　too　articulate　and　heavy　with　self…knowledge。　The　pace　and　the　phrasing　sounded　like　a　grown　woman's；　like　。　。　。
　　〃Geloe？〃　he　said。　Although　he　did　not　think　he　actually　spoke；　he　heard　his　voice　echo　out　through　some　empty　place。
　　〃Yes。　I　have　no　time　left。　I　could　not　have　reached　you；　but　the　child　Leieth　has　abilities　。　。　。　she　is　like　a　burning…glass　through　which　I　can　narrow　my　will。　She　is　a　strange　child；　Simon。〃　Indeed；　the　nearly　expressionless　child's　face　that　spoke　the　words　did　seem　somehow　different　than　that　of　any　other　mortal　child。　There　was　something　in　the　eyes　that　saw　through　him；　beyond　him；　as　though　he　himself　were　insubstantial　as　mist。
　　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　〃In　my　house；　but　not　long。　My　fences　have　been　thrown　down　and　my　lake　is　jull　of　dark　things。　The　powers　at　my　door　are　too　strong。　Rather　than　stand　against　such　gale　winds；　I　will　flee　to　fight　another　day。
　　〃What　I　have　to　tell　you　is　this：　Naglimund　is　fallen。　Elias　has　won　the　day…but　the　real　victor　is　He　of　whom　we　both　know；　the　dark　one　in　the　north。　Josua；　however；　is　alive。〃
　　Simon　felt　a　chilly　twist　of　fear　in　his　stomach。　〃And　Miriamele？〃
　　〃She　who　was　Marya…and　also　Malachias？　I　know　only　that　she　is　gone　from　Naglimund：　more　than　that；　friendly　eyes　and　ears　cannot　tell　me。　Now　I　must　say　something　else：　you　must　remember　it　and　think　of　it；　since　Binabik　of　Yiqanuc　has　closed　himself　to　me。　You　must　go　to　the　Stone　of　Farewell。　That　is　the　only　place　of　safety　from　the　growing　storm…safety　for　a　little　while；　anyway。　Go　to　the　Stone　of　Farewell。〃
　　〃What？　Where　is　this　stone？〃　Naglimund　fallen？　Simon　felt　despair　settle　into　his　heart。　Then　all　was　truly　lost。　〃Where　is　the　stone；　Geloe？〃
　　Without　warning　a　black　wave　crashed　through　him；　sudden　as　a　blow　from　a　giant　hand。　The　little　girl's　face　disappeared；　leaving　only　a　gray　void。　Geloe's　parting　words　floated　in　his　head。
　　〃It　is　the　only　place　of　safety　。　。　。　Flee！　。　。　。　the　storm　is　ing　。。。〃
　　The　gray　slid　away；　like　waves　receding　down　a　beach。
　　He　found　himself　staring　into　the　shimmering；　transparent　yellow　light　of　a　pool　of　blazing　oil。　He　was　on　his　knees　in　the　cavern　of　Chidsik　ub　Lingit。　Haestan's　fearful　face　was　bent　close　to　his。
　　〃What　devils　ye；　lad？〃　the　guardsman　asked；　supporting　Simon's　heavy　head　with　a　shoulder　as　he　helped　him　up　onto　a　stool。　Simon　felt　as　though　his　body　were　made　of　rags　and　green　twigs。
　　〃Geloe　said　。。。　she　said　a　storm　。　。　。　and　the　Stone　of　Farewell。　We　must　go　to　the　Stone　of　Fare　。。。〃　Simon　trailed　off；　looking　up　to　see　Binabik　kneeling　before　the　dais。　〃What's　Binabik　doing？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Waitin'　th'　word；〃　Haestan　said　gruffly。　〃When　y'fell　swoonin'；　he　said　would　fight　no　longer。　Spoke　t'king　an'　queen　some　while；　now　he　be　waitin'。〃
　　〃But　that's　not　right！〃　Simon　tried　to　rise；　but　his　legs　buckled　beneath　him。　His　head　hummed　like　an　iron　pot　struck　by　a　hammer。　〃Not。。。　right。〃
　　〃　'Tis　th'　will　o'　God；〃　Haestan　murmured　unhappily。
　　Uammannaq　turned　from　a　whispered　colloquy　with　his　wife　to　stare　at　the　kneeling　Binabik。　He　said　something　in　the　guttural　Qanuc…tongue　that　sent　a　windy　moan　through　the　spectators。　The　Herder　lifted　his　hands　to　his　face；　slowly　covering　his　eyes　in　a　stylized　gesture。　The　Huntress　solemnly　repeated　the　gesture。　Simon　felt　a　chill　descend；　heavier　and　bleaker　even　than　winter's　cold。　He　knew　beyond　doubt　that　his　friend　had　been　given　a　judgment　of　death。
　　
　　4
　　A　Bowl
　　of　Calamint　Tea
　　
　　SUNLIGHT　filtered　through　the　swollen　clouds；　falling　mutedly　on　a　great　party　of　horses　and　armored　men　riding　up　Main　Row　toward　the　Hayholt。　The　light　of　their　bright　banners　was　dulled　by　uneven　shadow；　and　the　click　of　the　horse's　hooves　died　in　the　muddy　road；　as　though　the　brave　army　rode　silently　along　the　bottom　of　the　ocean。　Many　of　the　soldiers　held　their　eyes　downcast。　Others　peered　out　from　the　shadow　of　their　helms　like　men　who　feared　to　be　recognized。
　　Not　all　appeared　so　dismayed。　Earl　Fengbald；　soon　to　be　a　duke；　rode　at　the　head　of　the　king's　party　beneath　Ellas'　green　and　sable　dragon…banner　and　his　own　silver　falcon。　Fengbald's　long　black　hair　spilled　down　his　back；　held　only　by　a　scarlet　band　knotted　around　his　temples。　He　smiled　and　waved　a　gauntleted　fist　in　the　air；　eliciting　cheers　from　the　several　hundred　spectators　lining　the　roadway。
　　Riding　close　behind；　Guthwulf　of　Utanyeat　restrained　a　sco