tw.thestoneoffarewell-第146部分

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　　The　Mist　Lamp　throbbed。　The　white　mountain　loomed　closer；　steaming　beneath　the　cold　black　skies。　Then；　suddenly；　it　began　to　fade　back　into　darkness。　A　few　moments　later　it　was　gone；　leaving　only　sable　emptiness。　
　　A　long　interval　passed。　Simon；　who　had　been　hanging　on　the　Sitha　woman's　every　word；　felt　suddenly　adrift。　The　crackling　tension　in　the　air　was　back；　stronger　than　ever。
　　〃Oh！〃　Amerasu　gasped；　startled。
　　All　around　Simon　the　Sithi　were　shifting；　murmuring；　as　questioning　turned　to　uneasiness　and　the　seeds　of　fear　began　to　grow　inside　them。　A　gleam　of　silver　appeared　in　the　center　of　the　Mist　Lamp；　then　spread　outward　like　oil　on　a　pond；　filling　the　darkened　silhouette。　The　silver　smeared　and　ran　until　it　became　a　face；　a　woman's　face；　unmoving　but　for　pale　eyes　that　peered　from　the　darkened　slits。
　　Simon　watched　the　silver　mask　helplessly；　his　eyes　smarting　as　they　filled　with　frightened　tears。　He　could　not　look　away。　She　was　so　old　and　strong　。。。　so　strong　。。。
　　〃It　has　been　many　turns　of　the　year；　Amerasu　ic'e…Sa'onserei。〃　The　Norn　Queen's　voice　was　surprisingly　melodious；　but　the　sweetness　could　not　entirely　hide　the　vast　corruption　beneath。　〃If　has　been　long；　granddaughter。　Are　you　ashamed　of　your　northern　kin；　that　you　have　not　invited　us　back　among　you　before？〃
　　〃You　mock　me；　Utuk'ku　Seyt…Hamakha。〃　There　was　a　quaver　in　Amerasu's　voice；　a　frightening　note　of　dismay。　〃All　know　the　reasons　for　your　exile　and　the　separation　of　our　families。〃　
　　〃You　always　loved　righteousness；　little　Amerasu。〃　The　scorn　in　the　Norn　Queen's　voice　made　Simon　feel　as　though　a　fever　ran　through　him。　〃But　the　righteous　soon　bee　meddlers；　and　so　it　has　always　been　with　your　Song…reaching　clan。　You　would　not　scourge　the　mortals　from　the　Sand；　which　might　have　saved　all。　And　even　after　they　have　destroyed　the　Gardenborn；　you　cannot　leave　the　mortals　be。〃　Utuk'ku's　breath　hissed　in　and　out。　〃Ah；　I　see；　there　is　one　among　you　even　now！〃
　　Simon's　heart　seemed　to　grow；　pushing　up　into　his　throat　until　he　could　scarcely　breathe。　Those　terrible　eyes　staring　at　him…why　didn't　Amerasu　make　her　go　away？！　He　wanted　to　shout；　to　run；　but　could　not。　The　Sithi…folk　around　him　seemed　equally　nerveless；　struck　to　stone。
　　〃You　oversimplify；　grandmother；〃　Amerasu　said　at　last。　〃When　do　you　not　simply　lie。〃
　　Utuk'ku　laughed；　and　the　sound　was　something　that　could　set　stones　to　weeping。
　　〃Fool！〃　she　cried。　〃I　oversimplify？　You　have　overreached。　You　have　long　concerned　yourself　with　the　doings　of　mortals；　hut　you　have　missed　the　most　important　things。　That　will　prove　your　death！〃　
　　〃I　know　what　you　plan！〃　Amerasu　said。　〃You　may　have　taken　from　me　what　remains　of　my　son；　but　even　through　death；　I　have　discerned　his　mind。　I　have　seen　。。。〃
　　 〃Enough'〃　Utuk'ku's　angry　cry　blew　through　the　Yasira；　a　chill　gust　of　wind　that　bent　the　grass　and　set　the　butterflies　to　panicky　fluttering。　〃Enough。　You　have　spoken　your　last　and　condemned　yourself。　It　is　death！〃
　　Ternfyingly；　Amerasu　began　to　quiver　in　the　dim　light；　struggling　against　some　invisible　restraint；　her　eyes　wide；　her　mouth　moving　without　sound。
　　〃And　you　will　not　interfere　further…any　of　you！〃　The　Norn　Queen's　voice　was　rising　to　a　dreadful　pitch。　〃The　false　peace　is　over！　Over！　Nakkiga　renounces　you　all！〃
　　All　around　the　Yasira　the　Sithi　were　shouting　with　amazement　and　anger。　Likemeya　rushed　forward　to　the　darkened　figure　of　Amerasu；　even　as　Utuk'ku's　face　shimmered　and　vanished　from　the　Mist　Lamp。　The　Witness　fell　dark　for　a　moment；　but　only　a　moment。　A　tiny　spot　of　red　kindled　in　the　Lamp's　center；　a　small　spark　which　grew　steadily　until　it　was　a　rippling　blaze　that　outlined　the　startled　features　of　Jiriki's　parents　and　mute　Amerasu　with　scarlet　light。　Two　dark　holes　opened　in　the　flame；　lightless　eyes　in　the　face　of　fire。　Simon　felt　himself　seized　in　a　grip　of　frozen　horror；　clutched　so　tight　by　it　that　his　muscles　quivered。　Chill　dread　beat　outward　from　that　wavering　face；　as　heat　would　rise　from　an　ordinary　fire。　Amerasu　stopped　struggling；　being　as　still　as　if　she　had　turned　to　stone。
　　Another　blackness　gaped　in　the　billowing　flame；　beneath　the　empty　eyes。　Bloodless　laughter　issued　forth。　Sickened；　Simon　struggled　desperately　to　get　away…he　had　seen　this　horror…mask　before。
　　The　Red　Hand！　He　meant　it　to　be　a　shout；　but　fear　choked　his　words　into　helpless；　whistling　breath。
　　Likimeya　stepped　forward；　her　husband　beside　her；　helping　to　shield　Amerasu。　She　raised　her　arms　before　the　Mist　Lamp　and　the　fiery　thing　that　surged　within　it。　A　kind　of　silvery　glow　surrounded　her。　〃Go　back　to　your　shriveled　mistress　and　dead　master；　Corrupted　One；〃　she　cried。　〃You　are　not　one　of　us　any　more。〃
　　 The　flame…thing　laughed　again。　〃No。　We　are　more；　far　more！　The　Red　Hand　and　its　master　have　grown　strong。　Ail　of　creation　must　fall　beneath　the　Storm　King's　shadow。　Those　who　betrayed　us　will　squeak　and　chitter　in　that　darkness！〃
　　〃You　have　no　power　here！〃　Shima'onari　cried；　grasping　his　wife's　upraised　hand。　The　glow　around　the　two　of　them　intensified；　until　the　fog　of　silvery　moonlight　had　grown　to　enpass　the　fiery　face　as　well。　〃This　place　is　beyond　you！　Go　back　to　your　cold　mountain　and　black　emptiness！〃
　　〃You　do　not　understand！〃　the　thing　exulted。　〃We；　of　all　who　ever　lived；　have　returned　from　Unbeing。　We　have　grown　strong。　Grown　strong！〃
　　Even　as　the　hollow　voice　echoed　through　the　Yasira；　overwhelming　the　Sithi…folk's　cries　of　rage　and　alarm；　the　thing　in　the　Mist　Lamp　suddenly　billowed　outward；　expanding　into　a　vast　pillar　of　flame；　its　shapeless　head　flung　back　in　a　thundering　cry。　It　spread　its　blazing　arms　wide；　as　though　to　grasp　all　before　it　in　a　crushing；　burning　embrace。
　　As　the　sun…hot　fires　leaped　up；　the　butterflies　clinging　to　the　silken　threads　overhead　began　to　puff　into　flame。　A　million　of　them　seemed　to　spring　into　the　air　at　once；　a　great　cloud　of　fire　and　smoking　wings。　Burning；　they　flew　through　the　air　like　cinders；　careening　into　the　shout…　ing　Sithi；　crumbling　as　they　struck　the　trunk　of　the　great　ash　tree。　The　Yasira　was　in　chaos；　plunged　in　a　blackness　shot　with　spinning；　whirling　sparks。
　　The　towering　thing　at　the　room's　center　laughed　and　blazed；　but　gave　no　light。　It　seemed　instead　to　suck　all　brightness　into　its　own　interior；　so　that　it　fattened　and　grew　taller　still。　A　wild；　writhing　knot　of　bodies　leaped　around　it；　the　heads　and　waving　arms　of　clamoring　Sithi…folk　silhouetted　against　the　red　blaze。
　　Simon　looked　around　in　panic。　Jiriki　was　gone。
　　Another　sound　was　now　rising　through　the　chaos；　swelling　until　it　equaled　the　terrible　mirth　of　the　Red　Hand　creature。　It　was　the　raw…　throated　baying　of　a　hunting　pack。
　　A　horde　of　pale　shapes　came　flooding　into　the　Yasira。　White　hounds　were　suddenly　everywhere；　their　slit　eyes　reflecting　the　hellish　light　of　the　thing　at　the　chamber's　center；　their　howling　red　mouths　snapping　and　barking。
　　〃Ruakha；　ruakha　Zida'…yei！〃　Simon　heard　Jiriki　shouting　somewhere　nearby。　〃T'si　e…isi'ha　as…Shao　Irigu！〃
　　Simon　moaned；　searching　desperately　for　some　weapon。　A　lithe　white　shape　vaulted　past　him；　carrying　something　in　its　dripping　mouth。
　　Jingizu。
　　A　memory　forced　itself　into　Simon's　head。　As　though　the　blaze　without　had　kindled　a　blaze　within；　a　burning　tongue　of　remembrance　leaped　up　inside　him　the　black　depths　beneath　the　Hayholt；　a　dream　of　tragedy　and　ghostly　fire。
　　Jingizu。　The　heart　of　all　Sorrow。
　　The　tempest　of　disorder　rose　and　grew　wilder；　a　thousand　throats　wailing　in　the　spark…flurrying　darkness；　a　broil　of　flailing　limbs　and　terrified　eyes　and　the　maddening　voices　of　the　Stormspike　pack。　Simon　tried　to　stand；　then　quickly　threw　himself　back　to　the　ground。　The　scrambling　Sithi　had　found　their　bows；　arrows　were　flying　through　the　smoky　air；　visible　only　as　streaks　of　light。
　　A　hound　stumbled　toward　Simon　and　sagged　to　the　ground　at　his　feet；　a　blue…fletched　arrow　through　its　neck。　Revolted；　Simon　crawled　away　from　the　corpse；　feeling　the　grass　and　the　parchment　ashes　of　butterflies　between　his　fingers。　His　hand　closed　upon　a　rock；　which　he　lifted　and　clutched。　He　crept　forward　like　a　blind　mole　toward　where　the　heat　and　noise　were　greatest；　driven　by　nothing　he　could　describe；　helplessly　reliving　something　he　might　have　experienced　in　a　dream；　a　vision　of　spectral　figures　that　ran　in　fearful　panic　while　their　home　died　in　flames。
　　A　huge　beast；　the　largest　hound　Simon　had　ever　seen；　had　driven　Shima'onari　back　toward　the　trunk　of　the　great　ash　tree；　forcing　the　lord　of　the　Sithi　up　against　the　blackened　and　smoldering　bark。　Shima'onari's　robe　was　smoking。　Weaponless；　Jiriki's　father　held　the　dog's　massive　head　in　his　bare　hands；　struggling　to　keep　the　clashing　jaws　from　his　face。　Strange　lights　flickered　around　them；　blue　and　glaring　red。　
　　Near　where　his　father　struggled；　Jiriki　and　several　others　had　sur…　rounded　the　bellowing　fire…creature。　The　prince　was　a　small　figure　stand…　ing　before　the　beast　of　the　Red　Hand；　his　witchwood　sword　Indreju　a　black　tongue　of　shadow　held　upraised　against　the　shimmering　flames。
　　Simon　lowered　his　head　and　crawled　forward；　still　struggling　toward　the　center　of　the　Yasira。　The　din　was　deafening。　Bodies　pushed　past　him；　some　of　the　Sithi　racing　forward　to　help　Jiriki　fight　the　invader；　others　running　like　maddened　creatures；　their　hair　and　clothes　afire。
　　A　sudden　blow　flung　Simon　to　the　turf。　One　of　the　dogs　was　upon　him；　his　corpselike　snout　thrusting　for　his　throat；　blunt　claws　scraping　at　his　arms　as　he　tried　frantically　to　twist　out　from　under　it。　He　groped　unseeing　until　he　found　the　stone　that　had　slipped　from　his　grasp；　then　struck　at　the　creature's　head。　It　yelped　wetly　and　dug　its　teeth　into　his　shirt；　gouging　his　shoulder　as　it　tried　to　reach　his　neck。　He　struck　again；　struggled　to　free　his　weary　arm；　then　brought　the　stone　down　once　more。　The　dog　went　limp　and　slid　down　his　chest。　Simon　rolled　over　and　kicked　the　body　away。
　　A　scream　abruptly　shuddered　out；　overtopping　the　tumult；　and　a　wintry　wind　howled　through　the　Yasira；　a　freezing　gale　that　seemed　to　pass　right　through　him。　Fanned　by　that　wind；　the　fiery　figure　at　the　center　of　the　chamber　grew　ev