tw.thestoneoffarewell-第30部分

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　　〃Are　you　mad？〃　Lenti　roared；　dropping　his　oar　and　leaping　upright。
　　Cadrach　disappeared　under　a　wash　of　jade　water。
　　Miriamele　stood　to　shout　after　him。　The　boat　rocked；　dropping　Lenti　back　down　into　his　seat；　one　of　his　blades　slipped　from　his　hands；　diving　into　the　bay　like　a　silvery　fish。　〃You　faithless　rogue！〃　she　screamed　at　the　monk；　who　was　not　currently　in　view。　〃Damn　you　to　hell！〃
　　Cadrach　broke　the　surface；　spewing　a　great　plume　of　salty　water。　〃I'll　drown！〃　he　gurgled。　〃Drown！　Help　me！〃　He　slid　back　under。
　　〃So　drown；　you　traitor！〃　Miriamele　shouted；　then　shrieked　as　Lenti　grabbed　her　arm　and　dragged　her　down　onto　her　seat；　twisting　it　cruelly　in　the　process。
　　〃Mad　bitch！〃　he　shouted。
　　〃Let　him　die；〃　she　panted；　struggling　to　pull　free。　〃What　do　you　care？〃
　　He　reached　out　and　slapped　her　on　the　side　of　the　head；　bringing　fresh　tears　to　her　eyes。　〃Master　said　carry　two　to　Nabban…side；　you　mad　bitch。　Show　up　with　one；　that's　the　end　of　me。〃
　　Meanwhile；　Cadrach　had　bobbed　up　spluttering　once　more；　thrashing　and　making　noises　that　indeed　sounded　as　though　they　came　from　a　drowning　man。　Streawe's　other　servant；　wide…eyed；　had　continued　to　pull　at　his　oar；　so　that　by　lucky　accident　the　little　boat　was　now　ing　about；　turning　toward　where　Cadrach　splashed　and　shouted。
　　The　monk　saw　them　ing；　panic　in　his　bulging　eyes。　He　began　to　strain　toward　them；　but　his　untutored　movements　dipped　him　forward　so　that　his　head　sank　beneath　the　waves　once　more。　A　moment　later　he　was　up　again；　the　look　of　panic　on　his　face　even　more　raw。
　　〃Help！〃　he　screeched　breathlessly；　flinging　his　arms　about　in　a　paroxysm　of　horror。　〃Something's。。。　！　Something's　in　here。。。　〃
　　〃Aedon　and　the　saints！〃　Lenti　snarled；　leaning　over　the　side；　fighting　to　keep　his　own　balance。　〃What　now；　sharks？〃
　　Miriamele　huddled　sobbing　in　the　bow；　uncaring。　Lenti　snatched　up　the　tie…rope　and　flung　it　toward　the　monk。　Cadrach　did　not　see　it　at　first　as　he　beat　wildly　against　the　water；　but　in　a　few　moments　his　arm　had　bee　tangled　in　one　of　the　coils。
　　〃Grab　it；　you　fool！〃　Lenti　shouted。　〃Grab　hold！〃
　　At　last　the　monk　did；　grasping　the　rope　with　both　hands。　He　was　hauled　through　the　water　toward　the　boat；　legs　kicking　like　a　frog's。　When　Lenti　had　pulled　him　close　enough；　the　other　servant　let　go　of　his　oar　and　leaned　forward　to　help。　After　a　couple　of　failed　attempts　and　a　great　deal　of　cursing　they　managed　to　heave　his　sodden　weight　up　over　the　wale。　The　rowboat　pitched。　Cadrach　lay　in　the　bottom；　choking　and　vomiting　bay　water。
　　〃Take　your　cloak　and　dry　him　off；〃　Lend　told　Miriamele　as　the　monk　subsided　at　last　into　hoarse　breathing。　〃If　he　goes　and　dies；　I'll　have　you　swimming　all　the　way　to　shore。〃
　　She　grudgingly　plied。
　　
　　The　brown　and　sable　hills　of　Nabban's　northeastern　coast　rose　steadily　before　them。　The　sun　was　climbing　toward　noon；　burnishing　the　surface　of　the　bay　with　a　fierce；　coppery　glare。　The　two　men　rowed；　the　boat　rocked　back　and　forth；　and　the　oarlocks　creaked　and　creaked　and　creaked。
　　Miriamele　was　still　furious；　but　it　had　bee　a　flat；　hopeless　anger。　The　eruption　was　over；　the　fires　burning　down　to　ashen　coals。
　　How　could　I　have　been　so　foolish？　she　wondered。　I　trusted　him…worse；　I　was　even　beginning　to　like　him！　I　enjoyed　his　pany；　half…drunken　though　it　usually　was。
　　Only　a　few　moments　before；　as　she　had　shifted　position　on　the　bench；　she　had　heard　something　clinking　in　the　pocket　of　Cadrach's　robe。　When　removed；　this　proved　to　be　a　purse　embossed　with　the　seal　of　Count　Streawe；　half　full　of　silver　quints…pieces　and　a　pair　of　gold　Imperators。　This　indisputable　proof　of　the　monk's　treachery　momentarily　brought　back　her　rage。　She　considered　pushing　him　back　overboard；　suffering　Lenti's　punishment　if　necessary；　but　after　a　little　deliberation　she　decided　that　she　was　no　longer　angry　enough　to　kill　him。　In　fact；　Miriamele　was　a　little　surprised　that　her　earlier　fury　had　burned　as　hotly　as　it　had。
　　She　looked　down　at　the　monk；　who　lay　curled　in　exhausted；　fitful　sleep；　his　head　propped　on　the　bench　beside　her。　Cadrach's　mouth　was　open；　his　breath　ing　in　little　gasps　as　though　even　in　his　dreams　he　battled　for　air。　His　pink　face　was　being　even　pinker。　Miriamele　lifted　her　hand　and　peered　upward　at　the　sun　through　shielding　fingers。　It　had　been　a　cold　summer；　but　here　in　the　middle　of　the　water　the　sun　beat　down　mercilessly。
　　Without　thinking　about　it　too　much；　she　took　her　threadbare　cloak　and　draped　it　over　Cadrach's　forehead；　shading　his　face。　Lenti；　watching　silently　from　the　rowing　bench；　scowled　and　shook　his　head。　In　the　bay　beyond　his　shoulder；　Miriamele　saw　something　smooth　break　the　water；　then　slip　sinuously　back　into　the　deeps。
　　For　a　while　she　watched　the　gulls　and　pelicans　whirling　through　the　air；　returning　to　the　coastal　rocks　to　land　with　a　great　back…flapping　of　wings。　The　gulls'　cold　cries　reminded　her　of　Meremund；　her　childhood　home　on　the　coast　of　Erkynland。
　　I　could　stand　on　the　southern　wall　there　and　watch　the　rivermen　pushing　up　and　down　the　Gleniwent。　From　the　western　wall　I　could　see　the　ocean。　I　was　a　princess；　trapped　by　my　position；　yet　I　had　every　thing　I　wanted。　Now　look　at　me。
　　She　snorted　in　disgust；　occasioning　another　unpleasant　stare　from　Lenti。　Now　I'm　free　to　adventure；　she　thought；　and　I'm　more　a　prisoner　than　ever。　I　go　about　in　disguise；　yet　thanks　to　this　traitorous　monk；　I　am　better…announced　than　I　ever　was　at　court。　People　I　hardly　know　deliver　me　from　hand　to　hand　like　a　favorite　trinket。　And　Meremund　is　lost　to　me　forever；　unless　。　。　。
　　The　wind　ruffled　her　shorn　hair。　She　felt　quite　hollow。
　　Unless　what？　Unless　my　father　changes？　He　will　never　change。　He　has　destroyed　Uncle　Josua…killed　Josua！　Why　should　he　ever　turn　back？　Nothing　will　ever　be　as　it　was。　The　only　hope　of　things　getting　better　died　with　Naglimund。　All　their　plans；　the　old　Rimmersman　Jamauga's　legends；　the　talk　of　magical　swords　。　。　。　and　all　the　people　who　lived　theregone。　So　what　is　left？　Unless　Father　changes　or　dies；　I　will　be　a　fugitive　forever。　But　he　will　never　change。　And　if　he　dies…what　is　left　of　me；　I'll　die；　too。　Staring　out　at　the　Bay　of　Emettin's　metallic　sheen；　she　thought　about　her　father　as　he　once　had　been；　remembering　the　time　when　she　had　been　three　years　of　age　and　he　had　first　lifted　her　onto　a　horse。　Miriamele　could　picture　that　moment　as　clearly　as　if　it　had　been　only　days　ago　instead　of　her　whole　life。　Elias　had　grinned　with　pride　as　she　clung；　terrified；　to　what　seemed　a　monster's　back。　She　had　not　fallen；　and　she　had　stopped　crying　as　soon　as　he　swung　her　back　down。
　　How　can　one　person；　even　a　king；　let　such　ugliness　loose　on　the　land　as　my　father　has？　He　loved　me；　once。　Perhaps　he　still　does…but　he　has　poisoned　my　life。　Now　he　seeks　to　poison　all　the　world。　The　waves　slapped　as　the　rocks　drew　nearer；　gold…capped　by　the　late　morning　sun。
　　Lenti　and　the　other　servitor　unshipped　the　oars；　using　them　to　guide　the　boat　between　the　craggy　rocks　that　thrust　up　on　every　side。　As　they　came　close　to　the　shore　and　the　water　became　more　translucent；　Miriamele　again　saw　something　break　the　surface　close　by。　There　was　a　brief　shimmer　of　glossy　gray　before　it　vanished　with　a　splash；　then　reappeared　a　moment　later　on　the　far　side　of　the　boat；　a　long　stone's　throw　away。
　　Lenti　saw　her　staring　and　turned　to　look　over　his　shoulder。　What　he　saw　brought　a　look　of　fear　to　his　stolid　face。　After　a　muttered　exchange；　he　and　his　panion　redoubled　their　efforts；　hurrying　the　boat　in　toward　shore。　
　　〃What　is　it；〃　the　princess　asked；　〃a　shark？〃
　　Lenti　did　not　look　up。　〃Kilpa；〃　he　snapped；　rowing　hard。
　　Miriamele　stared；　but　now　saw　only　low　waves　breaking　into　spray　against　the　rocks。　〃Kilpa　in　the　Bay　of　Emettin？〃　she　said　incredulously。　〃Kilpa　never　e　in　so　far！　They　are　deep…sea　dwellers。〃
　　〃Not　nowadays；〃　Lenti　growled。　〃Been　deviling　ships　all　along　the　coast。　Any　fool　knows　so。　Now　be　quiet！〃　He　panted；　pulling　at　the　oars。　Disquieted；　Miriamele　continued　to　stare。　Nothing　else　disturbed　the　bay's　placid　surface。
　　When　the　keel　rasped　on　sand；　Lenti　and　the　other　rower　leaped　out　and　quickly　dragged　the　boat　up　onto　the　beach。　Together　they　lifted　Cadrach　out　and　dumped　him　unceremoniously　onto　the　ground；　where　he　lay；　quietly　moaning。　Miriamele　was　left　to　shift　for　herself。　She　waded　the　half…dozen　steps　with　her　monk's　robe　held　high。
　　A　man　in　a　priest's　black　cassock　was　picking　his　way　down　to　the　beach　by　the　steep　cliff　path。　He　reached　the　bottom　and　came　striding　across　the　sand　toward　them。
　　〃I　suppose　this　is　the　slave　trader　I　am　to　be　delivered　to？〃　Miriamele　said　in　her　frostiest　tone　as　she　squinted　at　the　approaching　figure。　Lenti　and　his　panion；　staring　nervously　at　the　bay；　did　not　reply。
　　〃Ho；　there！〃　the　black…robed　man　called。　His　voice　was　loud　and　cheerful　above　the　sea's　somnolent　roar。
　　Miriamele　looked　at　him；　then　looked　again；　astonished。　She　took　a　couple　of　steps　toward　the　newer。　〃Father　Dinivan？〃　she　asked　haltingly。　〃Could　it　be　you？〃
　　〃Princess　Miriamele！〃　he　said　happily。　〃Here　you　are。　I　am　so　glad。〃　His　wide；　homely　smile　made　him　look　like　a　young　boy；　but　the　curly　hair　around　his　shaven　scalp　was　touched　with　gray。　He　dropped　briefly　to　a　knee　before　rising　to　look　her　over　carefully。　〃I　wouldn't　have　known　you　from　much　farther　away　than　this。　I　was　told　you　were　traveling　as　a　boy…quite　effective。　And　you've　turned　your　hair　black。〃
　　Miriamele's　mind　was　awhirl；　but　a　great　burden　seemed　abruptly　lifted　from　her　spirit。　Of　all　those　who　had　visited　her　father's　households　in　Meremund　and　the　Hayholt；　Dinivan　had　been　one　of　the　few　who　had　been　a　real　friend；　giving　her　truth　where　others　offered　only　flattery；　bringing　her　both　outland　gossip　and　good　advice。　Father　Dinivan　was　chief　secretary　to　Lector　Ranessin；　the　master　of　Mother　Church；　but　he　had　always　been　so　humble　and　forthing　that　Miriamele　often　had　to　remind　herself　of　the　exalted　position　he　held。
　　〃But　。　。　。　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　said　at　last。　〃Have　you　e　to　。。。　to　what？　To　save　me　from　the　slave　traders？〃
　　Dinivan　laughed。　〃I　am　the　slave　trader；　my　lady。〃　He