tw.thestoneoffarewell-第23部分
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only used for things of great power； messages and spells that were for certain eyes only。〃 He again ran his fingers over the knot； his brow wrinkled in thought。 Sisqi stared at the scroll； her eyes bright。
〃Well； that's last of th'damnable things；〃 Haestan said。 〃If that be somethin' y'want； little man； bring it with。 We've no more time for wastin'。〃
Binabik hesitated for a moment； caressing the knot gently while he looked once more around the cavern； then slipped the knotted scroll into his sleeve。 〃Time it is；〃 he agreed。 He gestured the others to the cavern doorway ahead of him； extinguishing the torch in a depression in the stone floor as he followed them out。
The rest of the troll's panions had stopped； huddled before the cave like a herd of wind…rattled sheep。 Sedda； the moon； had at last vanished in the west behind Sikkihoq； but the night was suddenly full of light。
A large troop of trolls was moving toward them。 Faces grim in their hoods； spears and firebrands in their hands； they had fanned out around Ookequk's cave and now held the path on both sides。 Even in force； the trolls were so quiet that Simon could hear the burning hiss of their torches before the sound of a single footfall reached him。
〃Chukku's Stones；〃 Binabik said bleakly。 Sisqi dropped back to take his arm； her eyes wide in the torchlight； her mouth set in a grim line。
Uammannaq the Herder and Nunuuika the Huntress guided their rams forward。 They both wore belted robes and boots。 Their black hair flowed loose； as though they had dressed hurriedly。 As Binabik stepped forward to meet them； armed trolls moved in behind him； hemming his panions in a thicket of spears。 Sisqinanamook stepped out of the encirclement to join him； standing at his side with her chin lifted defiantly。 Uammannaq avoided his daughter's eyes； staring down instead at Binabik。
〃So； Binbinaqegabenik；〃 he said。 〃you will not stand and face the justice of your people？ I had thought more of you than that； however low your birth。〃
〃My friends are innocent。〃 Binabik replied。 〃I held your daughter as hostage until the Rimmersman Sludig had made it to safety with the others。〃
Nunuuika rode forward until her mount stood shoulder to shoulder with her husband's。 〃Please credit us with some wisdom； Binabik； even though we are not either of us as clever as your master was。 Who sent the guards away？〃
She peered down at Sisqi。 The Huntress' face was cold； but showed a trace of harsh pride。 〃Daughter； I thought you were a fool when you determined to marry this wizardling。 Now…well； I will say at least thai you are a loyal fool。〃
She turned to Binabik。 〃Because you have recharmed my daughter； do not think you will escape your sentence。 The Ice House is unmelted。 Winter has killed the Spring。 The Rite of Quickening went unperformed…and instead you return to us with childish tales。 Now you are back hatching devil…tricks in your master's cave that your pet wolf has guarded for you。〃 Nunuuika was in the grip of a rising fury。 〃You have been judged； oath…breaker。 You will go to the ice cliffs of Ogohak Chasm and you will he thrown over！〃
〃Daughter； go back to our home；〃 Uammannaq growled。 〃You have done great wrong。〃
〃No！〃 Sisqi's cry caused a stir among the watching trolls。 〃I have listened to my heart； yes； but listened to what wisdom I have gained as well。 The wolf has kept us jrom Ookequk's house…but that has not been to Binbiniqegabenik's benefit。〃 She pulled the thong…tied scroll from Binabik's sleeves and thrust it forward。 〃This I found there。 None of us thought to see what Ookequk had left behind。〃
〃Only a fool hurries to rummage in the effects of a Singing Man；〃 Uammannaq said； but his expression had subtly changed。
〃But Sisqi；〃 Binabik said； nonplussed； 〃we do not know what the scroll contains！ It could be a spell of great peril； or 。 。 。〃
〃I have a good idea；〃 Sisqi said grimly。 〃Do you see whose knot this is？〃 she asked； handing the scroll to her mother。
The Huntress looked at it briefly and made a dismissive gesture as she handed it to her husband。 〃It is Ookequk's knot； yes 。。。〃
〃And you know what kind of knot as well； Mother；〃 Sisqi turned to her father。 〃Has it been opened？〃
Uammannaq frowned。 〃No … 。 。〃
〃Good。 Father； open it and read it； please。〃
〃Now？〃
〃If not now； when？ After the one to whom I am pledged has been executed？〃
Sisqi's breath hung in the air after her angry rejoinder。 Uammannaq carefully picked the knot and removed the black thong； then slowly unrolled the sheet of hide； beckoning for one of the torch…bearers to move nearer。
〃Binabik；〃 Simon shouted from behind a circle of spear…heads； 〃what is happening？〃
〃Stay； all of you； and do nothing for a moment；〃 Binabik called to him in Westcrling。 〃I will tell you all when I can。〃
〃Know this；〃 Uammannaq read。
〃。 。 。 That I am Ookequk； Singing Man of Mintahoq； of Chugik； Tutusik。 Rinsenatuq； Sikkihoq and Namyet； and all other mountains of Yiqanuc。〃
The Herder read slowly； with long； squint…eyed pauses as he puzzled out the sense of the blackened runes。
〃I go on a long journey； and in such times that I cannot know I will e hack。 So； I lay my death…song on this hide； thai it can he my voice when I am gone。〃
〃Clever； clever； Sisqi；〃 Binabik said quietly as her father's voice droned； 〃it is you who should have been Ookequk's student； not me！ How could you know！？〃
She waved a hand to quiet him。 'I am a daughter of Chidsik ub Lingit； where all the petitions for judgment e from all the mountajns。 Do you think I would not recognize the knot used on a death testament？〃
〃I must warn those who remain after me；〃 Uammannaq continued with Ookequk's words； 〃。 。 。 That I have seen the ing of a great cold darkness； the like of which my people haw never seen。 If is a dreadjul winter that will e from the shadow of Vihyuyaq； the mountain of the immortal Cloud Children。 It will blast the lands of Yiqanuc like a black wind from the Lands of the Dead； cracking the very stone of our mountains in cruel fingers 。。。〃
As the Herder read these words； several of the listening trolls cried out； hoarse voices echoing down the night…shrouded mountainside。 Others swayed； so that the torchlight flickered。
〃My student； Binbinaqegahenik； I will bring with me on my journey。 In the time that remains I will instruct him in the small things and long stories that may help our people in this foul time。 There are other ones beyond Yiqanuc who have prepared lamps against this ing darkness。 I go to add my light to theirs； small as it may shine against the storm that threatens。 If I cannot return； young Binbinaqegabenik will e in my stead。 I ask you to honor him as you would me； for he is eager in his learning。 One day he may grow to be a greater Singing Man than I。
〃Now I end my death song。 I give my farewell to mountain and sky。 It has been good to he here。 It has been good to he one of the Children of Lingit； and to live my life on the beautiful mountain Mintahoq。〃
Uammannaq lowered the scroll； blinking。 A low wail bubbled up among the watchers in response to the Singing Man Ookekuq's final song。
〃He did not have enough time。〃 Binabik murmured。 Tears welled in his eyes。 〃He was taken away too quickly and told me nothing…or at least not enough。 Oh； Ookequk； how we will miss you！ How could you have left your people with no wall between them and the Storm King but an untrained weakling like Binabik！〃 He dropped to his knees and touched his forehead to the snow。
An awkward silence fell； pierced only by the lamenting wind。
〃Bring the lowlanders；〃 Nunuuika said to the spearmen； then turned a stiff； painful glance on her daughter。 〃We will all go to the House of the Ancestor。 There is much to think about。〃
Simon awakened slowly； and stared at the inconstant shadows on the craggy ceiling of Chidsik ub Lingit for a long time while he tried to remember where he was。 He felt a little better now； more clearheaded； but the scar on his cheek stung like fire。
He sat up。 Sludig and Haestan were leaning against the wall a short distance away； sharing a skin of some drink and a muttered conversation。
Simon untangled himself from his cloak and looked around for Binabik。 His friend was near the center of the room； squatting before the Herder and Huntress as if in supplication。 For a moment Simon was fearful； but others squatted there too； Sisqinanamook among them。 As he listened to the rise and fall of guttural voices； he decided it seemed more a council than a judgment。 Other small groups of trolls were discernible here and there in the deep shadows； crouched in little circles throughout the vast stone room。 A few scattered lamps burned like bright stars in a sky full of thunderheads。
Simon curled up again； wriggling to find a smooth place on the floor。 How terribly strange； to be in this place！ Would he ever have a home again； a place where he would wake up every morning in the same bed； unsurprised to find himself there？
He drifted slowly back into half…sleep； into a dream of cold mountain passes and red eyes。
〃Simon…friend！〃 It was Binabik； gently shaking him。 The troll looked drawn； the circles under his eyes visible even in the half…light； but he was smiling。 〃It is time for waking。〃
〃Binabik；〃 Simon said groggily； 〃what is happening？〃
〃I have brought for you a bowl of tea and some tidings。 It appears I am no longer bound for an unfortunate plunging；〃 the troll grinned。 〃No longer are Sludig and myself to be thrown into Ogohak Chasm。〃
〃But that's wonderful！〃 Simon gasped。 He felt his heart ache inside him； a fierce wrench of released tension。 He leaped to embrace the small man and his sudden lunge toppled the troll。 The tea puddled on the stone。
〃You have been too long in the pany of Qantaqa；〃 Binabik laughed； extricating himself。 He looked pleased。 〃You have gained her liking for the giving of exuberant greetings。〃
Other heads in the room turned to watch this strange spectacle。 Many Qanuc tongues muttered in amazement at the mad and lanky lowlander who hugged trolls as if he were a clansman。 Simon saw the stares and ducked his head in embarrassme
