tw.thestoneoffarewell-第147部分

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ure　at　the　center　of　the　chamber　grew　even　larger　for　a　moment；　then　fell　back　into　itself　in　a　burst　of　billowing　flame。　There　was　a　sound　like　thunder；　then　Simon　felt　a　great　percussive　slap　against　his　ears　as　the　creature　of　the　Red　Hand　vanished　in　a　rain　of　hissing　sparks。　Another　rush　of　wind　threw　Simon　and　many　others　flat　on　the　ground　as　air　hurried　to　fill　the　space　where　the　blazing　thing　had　been。　After　that；　a　strange　sort　of　quiet　came　down　over　the　Yasira。
　　Stunned；　Simon　lay　on　his　back　staring　upward。　The　sheen　of　natural　twilight　slowly　returned；　gleaming　through　the　mighty　tree　whose　limbs　were　now　empty　of　living　butterflies；　but　studded　with　their　blackened　remains。　Groaning；　Simon　clambered　up　onto　his　shaky　legs。　All　around　him　the　inhabitants　of　Jao　e…Tmukai'i　were　still　milling　in　shocked　disorder。　Those　Sithi　who　had　found　spears　and　bows　were　putting　an　end　to　the　remaining　dogs。
　　Had　that　terrible　scream　been　the　fire…creature's　death　shriek？　Had　Jiriki　and　the　others　somehow　destroyed　it？　He　stared　into　the　cloudy　murk　in　the　middle　of　the　chamber；　trying　to　see　who　it　was　that　stood　beside　the　Mist　Lamp。　He　squinted　and　took　a　step　forward。　Amerasu　was　there。。。　and　someone　else。　Simon　felt　his　heart　lurch。
　　A　figure　with　a　helmet　made　in　the　image　of　a　snarling　dog　stood　at　First　Grandmother's　shoulder；　wreathed　m　the　smoke　curling　up　from　the　scorched　earth。　One　of　this　intruder's　leather…clad　arms　was　around　her　waist；　clutching　her　slight；　sagging　form　as　closely　as　it　might　hold　a　lover。　The　other　hand　slowly　lifted　the　hound…helm　free；　revealing　the　tanned　mask　of　Ingen　Jegger。
　　〃Niku'a！〃　he　shouted。　〃Yinva！　e　to　me！〃　The　huntsman's　eyes　gleamed　scarlet；　reflecting　the　smoldering　bark　of　the　great　tree。
　　Near　the　trunk　of　the　ash；　the　huge　white　hound　rose　unsteadily。　Its　fur　was　scorched　and　blackened；　its　ragged　maw　all　but　toothless。　Shima'onari　remained　unmoving　on　the　ground　where　the　beast　had　crouched；　a　bloodied　arrow　clutched　in　the　Sithi…lord's　fist。　The　dog　took　a　step；　then　fell　clumsily　and　rolled　onto　its　side。　Innards　gleamed　from　the　opening　in　its　belly　as　Niku'a's　broad　chest　moved　slowly　up　and　down。
　　The　huntsman　eye's　widened。　〃You've　killed　him！〃　Ingen　screamed。　〃My　pride！　The　best　of　the　kennels！〃　He　carried　Amerasu　before　him　as　he　took　a　few　steps　toward　the　dying　hound。　First　Grandmother's　head　bobbed　limply。　〃Niku'a！〃　Ingen　hissed；　then　turned　and　looked　slowly　around　the　Yasira。　The　Sithi　stood　unmoving　all　around；　their　faces　blood…stained　and　ash…smeared　as　they　silently　returned　the　huntsman's　stare。
　　Ingen　Jegger's　thin　mouth　contorted　in　sorrow。　He　lifted　his　eyes　to　the　scorched　limbs　of　the　ash　tree　and　the　gray　sky　above。　Amerasu　was　pinned　against　his　chest；　her　white　hair　curtaining　her　face。
　　〃Murder！〃　he　cried；　then　there　was　a　long　moment　of　silence。
　　〃What　do　you　want　from　First　Grandmother；　mortal？〃
　　It　was　Likemeya　who　spoke　so　calmly。　Her　white　dress　was　smeared　with　ashes。　She　had　e　to　kneel　beside　her　fallen　husband；　and　she　held　his　reddened　hand　in　hers。　〃You　have　caused　enough　heartache。　Let　her　go。　Leave　this　place。　We　will　not　pursue　you。〃
　　Ingen　stared　at　her　as　at　some　long…forgotten　landmark　seen　after　a　hard　journey。　His　frown　stretched　into　a　ghastly　smile　and　he　shook　Amerasu's　helpless　form　until　her　head　wobbled。　He　lifted　his　hound…helm…the　fist　that　clutched　it　was　crimson…drenched…and　waved　it　in　mad　joy。　
　　〃The　forest　witch　is　dead！〃　he　howled。　〃I　have　done　it！　Praise　me；　mistress；　I　have　done　your　bidding！〃　He　lifted　his　other　hand　to　the　skies；　letting　Amerasu　slump　to　the　ground　like　a　discarded　sack。　Blood　shone　dully　on　her　gray　robe　and　golden　hands。　The　translucent　hilt　of　the　crystal　dagger　stood　out　from　her　side。　〃I　am　immortal！〃　cried　the　Queen's　Huntsman。
　　Simon's　choked　gasp　echoed　in　the　terrible　silence。
　　Ingen　Jegger　slowly　turned。　Recognizing　Simon；　the　huntsman　curled　his　mouth　in　a　lipless　smile。　〃You　led　me　to　her；　boy。〃　
　　An　ash…darkened　figure　rose　from　the　smoking　clutter　at　Ingen's　feet。　
　　〃Venyha　s'anh！〃　Jiriki　shouted；　and　drove　Indreju　squarely　into　the　huntsman's　midsection。
　　Driven　backward　by　the　impact　of　Jiriki's　blow；　Ingen　at　last　staggered　to　a　halt；　bending　over　the　length　of　the　blade　which　had　been　wrenched　from　its　owner's　hand。　He　gradually　straightened；　then　coughed。　Blood　dribbled　from　his　mouth　and　stained　his　pale　beard；　but　his　smile　remained。　〃The　time　of　the　Dawn　Children　。。。　is　over；〃　he　rasped。　There　was　a　humming　sound。　Suddenly；　a　half…dozen　arrows　stood　in　Ingen's　broad　trunk；　sprouting　on　all　sides　like　hedgehog　quills。
　　〃Murder！〃
　　It　was　Simon　who　shouted　this　time。　He　leaped　to　his　feet；　his　heartbeat　sounding　loud　as　war…drums　in　his　ears；　he　felt　the　whipsong　breath　of　the　second　volley　of　arrows　as　he　ran　forward　toward　the　huntsman。　He　swung　the　heavy　stone　which　he　had　clutched　for　so　long。
　　〃Seaman！　No！〃　shouted　Jiriki。
　　The　huntsman　slid　to　his　knees；　but　remained　upright。　〃Your　witch。。。　is　dead；〃　he　panted。　He　raised　a　hand　toward　the　approaching　Simon。　〃The　sun　is　setting　。。。〃
　　More　arrows　leaped　across　the　Yasira　and　Ingen　Jegger　slowly　topped　to　the　ground。
　　Hatred　burst　out　like　a　flame　in　Simon's　heart　as　he　stood　over　the　huntsman；　and　he　raised　the　stone　high　in　the　air。　Ingen　Jegger's　face　was　still　frozen　in　an　exultant　grin；　and　for　the　thinnest　moment　his　pale　blue　eyes　locked　with　Simon's。　An　instant　later　Ingen's　face　disappeared　in　a　smash　of　red　and　the　huntsman's　body　was　rolled　across　the　ground　by　the　force　of　the　blow。　Simon　clambered　after　him　with　a　wordless　cry　of　rage；　all　his　pent　frustration　flooding　out　in　a　maddening　surge。
　　They've　taken　everything　from　me。　They　laughed　at　me。　Everything。
　　The　fury　turned　into　a　kind　of　wild　glee。　He　felt　strength　flowing　through　him。　At　last！　He　brought　the　rock　down　upon　Ingen's　head；　lifted　it　and　smashed　it　down　again；　then　over　and　over　uncontrollably　until　hands　pulled　him　away　from　the　body　and　he　slid　down　into　his　own　red　darkness。
　　
　　Khendraja'aro　brought　him　to　Jiriki。　The　prince's　uncle；　as　all　the　other　citizens　of　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　was　dressed　in　dark　mourning　gray。　Simon；　too；　wore　pants　and　shirt　of　that　color；　brought　to　him　by　a　subdued　Aditu　the　day　after　the　burning　of　the　Yasira。
　　Jiriki　was　staying　in　a　house　not　his　own；　a　dwelling　of　pink；　yellow；　and　pale　brown　circular　tents　that　Simon　thought　looked　like　giant　beehives。　The　Sitha…woman　who　lived　there　was　a　healer；　Aditu　had　told　him。　The　healer　was　taking　care　that　Jiriki's　burns　were　given　proper　care。
　　Kehndraja'aro；　his　face　a　stiff；　heavy　mask；　left　Simon　at　the　house's　wind…whipped　entranceway　and　departed　without　a　word。　Simon　entered　as　Aditu　had　directed　and　found　himself　in　a　darkened　room　lit　only　by　a　single　dim　globe　on　a　wooden　stand。　Jiriki　was　propped　up　in　a　great　bed。　His　hands　lay　upon　his　chest；　bandaged　with　strips　of　silky　cloth。　The　Sitha's　face　was　shiny　with　some　oily　substance；　which　served　only　to　accentuate　his　otherworldly　appearance。　Jiriki's　skin　was　blackened　in　many　places；　and　his　eyebrows　and　some　of　his　long　hair　had　been　scorched　away；　but　Simon　was　relieved　to　see　that　the　Prince　did　not　seem　badly　scarred。
　　〃Seoman；〃　Jiriki　said；　and　showed　a　trace　of　smile。　〃How　are　you？〃　Simon　asked　shyly。　〃Are　you　hurting？〃
　　The　prince　shook　his　head。　〃I　do　not　suffer　much；　not　from　these　burns；　Seoman。　In　my　family　we　are　made　of　stern　stuff…as　you　may　remember　from　our　first　meeting。〃　Jiriki　looked　him　up　and　down。　〃And　how　is　your　own　health？〃
　　Simon　felt　awkward。　〃I'm　well。〃　He　paused。　〃I'm　so　sorry。〃　Facing　the　calm　figure　before　him；　he　was　ashamed　by　his　own　animality；　ashamed　to　have　bee　a　screaming　brute　before　the　eyes　of　all。　That　memory　had　weighed　heavily　on　him　in　the　days　just　passed。　〃It　was　all　my　fault。〃　
　　Jiriki　hastened　to　raise　his　hand；　then　eased　it　back　down；　conceding　only　a　small　grimace　of　pain。　〃No；　Seoman；　no。　You　have　done　nothing　for　which　you　should　apologize。　That　was　a　day　of　terror；　and　you　have　suffered　far　too　many　of　those。〃
　　〃It's　not　that；〃　Simon　said　miserably。　〃He　followed　me！　Ingen　Jegger　said　he　followed　me　to　find　First　Grandmother！　I　led　her　murderer　here。〃
　　Jiriki　shook　his　head。　〃This　was　planned　for　some　time；　Seoman。　Believe　me；　the　Red　Hand　could　not　lightly　send　one　of　their　own　into　the　fastness　of　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　even　for　the　few　moments　it　lasted。　Ineluki　is　not　yet　so　strong。　That　was　a　well…conceived　attack；　one　long　considered。　It　took　a　great　deal　of　power　from　both　Utuk'ku　and　the　Storm　King　to　acplish　it。　
　　〃Do　you　think　it　a　coincidence　that　First　Grandmother　should　be　silenced　by　Utuk'ku　just　before　she　could　reveal　Ineluki's　design？　That　the　Red　Hand　creature　should　force　its　way　through　just　then；　at　a　tremendous　expense　of　spell…bought　strength？　And　do　you　think　the　huntsman　Ingen　was　just　wandering　in　the　wood　and　suddenly　decided　to　kill　Amerasu　the　Ship…Born？　No；　I　do　not　think　so；　either…although　it　is　true　that　he　may　have　stumbled　on　your　trail　before　Aditu　brought　you　here。　Ingen　Jegger　was　no　fool；　and　it　would　have　been　far　easier　for　him　to　track　a　mortal　than　one　of　us；　but　he　would　have　found　his　way　into　Jao　e…Tinukai'i　somehow。　Who　can　know　how　long　he　waited　beyond　the　Summer　Gate　once　he　had　found　it；　waiting　for　his　mistress　to　set　him　upon　her　enemies　at　just　the　right　moment？　It　was　a　war　plan；　Seoman；　precise　and　more　than　a　little　desperate。　They　must　have　feared　First　Grandmother's　wisdom　very　much。〃
　　Jiriki　lifted　his　bandaged　hand　to　his　face；　touching　it　for　a　moment　to　his　forehead。　〃Do　not　take　the　blame　upon　yourself；　Seoman。　Amerasu's　death　was　ordained　in　the　black　pits　below　Nakkiga…or　perhaps　even　when　the　Two　Families　parted　at　Sesuad'ra；　thousands　of　years　ago。　We　are　a　race　that　nurses　its　hurts　a　long　time　in　silence。　You　were　not　at　fault。〃
　　〃But　why！？〃　Simon　wanted　to　believe　Jirki's　words；　but　the　horrible　sense　of　loss　that　had　threatened　to　overwhelm　him　several　times　already　that　morning　would　not　go　away。
　　〃Why？　Because　Amerasu　had　seen　into　Ineluki's　secret