tw.thestoneoffarewell-第37部分

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　　〃What's　going　on？〃　Simon　asked。
　　〃It　was　language…the　difference　between　tongues。　You　said：　Stone　of　Farewell。〃
　　〃That's　what　Geloe　told　me；〃　he　answered　defensively。　
　　〃Of　course。　But　Ookequk's　scrolls　are　not　in　the　language　you　and　I　are　now　speaking。　Some　are　copied　from　original　Nabbanai；　some　are　in　Qanuc…tongue；　and　some　few　in　the　original　speech　of　the　Sithi。　I　was　looking　for　'Stone　of　Farewell；'　but　in　Sithi　language；　it　would　be　named　'Leavetaking　Stone'…a　small　difference；　but　one　that　makes　much　differentness　in　the　finding　of　it。　Now　wait。〃
　　He　began　to　read　swiftly　through　the　scrolls；　his　lips　moving　as　he　followed　the　movement　of　his　stubby　finger　from　one　line　to　another。　Sisqi　returned；　bearing　two　bowls　of　soup。　One　she　sat　beside　Binabik；　who　was　too　preoccupied　to　do　more　than　nod　his　thanks。　The　other　bowl　she　offered　to　Simon。　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　he　bowed　his　head　as　he　took　it。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　wondering　if　he　should　call　her　by　name。
　　Sisqinanamook　started　to　say　something　in　reply；　then　stopped　as　if　she　could　not　remember　the　appropriate　words。　For　a　moment　she　and　Simon　stared　at　each　other；　an　inclination　toward　friendship　hindered　by　their　inability　to　converse。　At　last；　Sisqi　bowed　in　return；　then　snuggled　in　next　to　Binabik；　asking　him　a　quiet　question。
　　〃Chash；〃　he　replied；　〃that　is　correct；〃　then　went　silent　again；　searching。　〃Ho　ho！〃　he　cried　at　last；　thumping　his　palm　on　his　hide…suited　leg。　〃This　is　the　answer。　We　have　found　it！〃
　　〃What？〃　Simon　leaned　in。　The　scroll　was　covered　with　strange　marks；　little　drawings　like　the　feet　of　birds　and　the　tracks　of　snails。　Binabik　was　pointing　at　one　symbol；　a　square　with　rounded　corners；　full　of　dots　and　slashes。
　　〃Sesuad'ra；〃　the　little　man　breathed；　stretching　the　word　out　as　if　examining　fine　cloth。　〃Sesuad'ra…Leavetaking　Stone。　Or；　as　Geloe　spoke　it；　the　Stone　of　Farewell。　A　Sithi　thing　it　is；　as　I　guessed。〃
　　〃But　what　is　it？〃　Simon　stared　at　the　runes；　but　could　not　imagine　getting　meaning　from　it　as　he　could　from　Westerling　script。　Binabik　squinted　at　the　scroll。　〃It　is　the　place；　this　is　saying；　where　covenant　was　broken　when　the　Zida'ya　and　Hikeda'ya…the　Sithi　and　the　Norns…split　asunder　to　be　going　their　separate　ways。　It　is　a　place　of　power　and　of　great　sorrow。〃
　　 〃But　where　is　it？　How　can　we　go　there　if　we　don't　know　where　it　is？〃
　　 〃It　was　once　being　part　of　Enki…e…Shao'saye；　the　Summer…City　of　the　Sithi。〃
　　〃Jiriki　told　me　about　that；〃　Simon　said；　suddenly　excited。　〃He　showed　it　to　me　in　the　mirror。　The　mirror　he　gave　me。　Maybe　we　could　find　it　there！〃　He　fumbled　in　his　pack；　searching　for　Jiriki's　gift。
　　〃No　need；　Simon；　no　need！〃　Binabik　laughed。　〃A　fool　I　would　truly　be…and　the　poorest　apprentice　Ookequk　could　ever　be　having…if　I　did　not　know　of　Enki…e…Shao'saye。　It　was　one　of　the　Nine　Cities；　great　in　beauty　and　lore。〃
　　〃Then　you　know　where　the　Stone　of　Farewell　is？〃
　　〃Enki…e…Shao'saye　was　at　the　southeast　edge　of　the　great　forest　Aldheorte。〃　Binabik　frowned。　〃So　it　is　not　near；　obviously。　Many　weeks　of　journeying　we　will　have。　Where　the　city　was　standing　is　on　the　far　side　of　the　forest　from　us；　above　the　flat　lands　of　the　High　Thrithings。〃　His　expression　brightened。　〃But　we　are　knowing　now　our　destination。　That　is　good。　Sesuad'ra。〃　He　savored　the　word　again　reflectively。　〃I　have　never　seen　it；　but　words　of　Ookequk　e　to　me。　It　is　a　strange　and　grim　place；　as　legend　speaks。〃
　　 〃I　wonder　why　Geloe　chose　it？〃　Simon　said。
　　〃Perhaps　there　was　no　other　choosing　she　could　make。〃　Binabik　turned　his　attention　to　his　cold　soup。
　　
　　
　　The　rams；　understandably　enough；　did　not　like　to　walk　with　Qantaqa　behind　them。　Even　after　several　days；　the　smell　of　the　wolf　still　troubled　them　deeply；　so　Binabik　continued　to　ride　ahead。　Qantaqa　picked　her　way　deftly　along　the　steep；　narrow　trails；　the　ram…riders　following　after；　talking　or　singing　quietly　among　themselves；　keeping　their　voices　low　so　as　not　to　wake　Makuhkuya；　the　avalanche　goddess。　Simon；　Haestan；　and　Sludig　trooped　along　at　the　rear；　trying　to　stay　out　of　the　hoof…ruts　and　thereby　keep　the　snow　from　creeping　in　over　the　tops　of　their　well…oiled　boots。
　　Where　Mintahoq　was　rounded　like　an　old　man　bent　by　years；　Sikkihoq　was　all　angles　and　steep　sides。　The　troll…paths　clung　to　the　mountain's　back；　winding　far　out　to　swing　around　icy　columns　of　rock；　then　passing　out　of　the　sunlight　in　the　mountain's　own　shadow；　following　the　inside　line　of　a　vertical　crevice　that　dropped　away　beyond　the　path　into　mist　and　snow。
　　Trudging　down　the　narrow　trails　hour　after　hour；　constantly　wiping　the　fluttering　snow　from　his　eyes；　Simon　found　himself　praying　they　would　reach　the　bottom　soon。　Returning　strength　or　no；　he　was　not　meant　for　mountain　life。　The　thin　air　hurt　his　lungs　and　made　his　legs　feel　heavy　and　weak　as　sodden　loaves　of　bread。　When　he　tried　to　sleep　at　the　end　of　the　day；　his　muscles　were　so　painfully　tight　they　almost　seemed　to　hum。　
　　The　very　heights　in　which　they　traveled　also　disturbed　him。　He　had　always　thought　of　himself　as　a　fearless　climber；　but　that　had　been　before　he　left　Hayholt　for　the　wide　world。　Now；　Simon　found　it　much　easier　to　keep　his　eyes　fastened　to　the　back　of　Sludig's　brown　boots　as　they　lifted　and　fell　than　to　look　elsewhere。　When　his　gaze　swung　away　to　the　leaning　masses　of　stone　above　them　or　the　empty　depths　below；　he　found　it　difficult　to　remember　level　ground。　Somewhere；　he　reminded　himself；　there　were　places　where　a　person　could　turn　and　walk　in　any　direction　without　risking　a　death…fall。　He　had　lived　in　such　a　place；　so　they　must　still　exist。　Somewhere　mile　after　flat　mile　lay　like　a　deep　carpet；　waiting　for　Simon's　feet。
　　They　had　stopped　at　a　wider　place　to　rest。　Simon　helped　Haestan　take　off　his　pack；　then　watched　as　the　guardsman　slumped　down　onto　a　snow…dampened　stone；　breathing　so　heavily　that　he　soon　surrounded　himself　with　a　fog　of　vapors。　Haestan　slipped　his　hood　off　for　a　moment；　then　shivered　as　the　high　wind　struck　him。　He　quickly　pulled　it　back　on。　Ice　crystals　glimmered　in　his　dark　beard。
　　〃S'cold；　lad；〃　he　said。　〃Bitter。〃　He　suddenly　looked　old。
　　〃Do　you　have　a　family；　Haestan？〃　Simon　asked。
　　The　guardsman　paused　for　a　moment　as　if　taken　aback；　then　laughed。　〃Of　sorts。　I've　a　woman；　a　wife；　but　no　little'uns。　First　baby　died；　we've　gotten　none　since。　I've　not　seen　her　since　'fore　winter。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃She　be　safe；　though。　Gone　t'live　with　folk　in　Hewenshire…　Naglimund　be　too　dangerous；　told　her。　War　in'。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Now　if　y'r　witch　woman　speaks　true；　war's　over　an'　Prince　Josua　lost。〃
　　〃But　Geloe　said　he　escaped；〃　Simon　put　in　hurriedly。
　　〃Aye；　that　be　somethin'。〃
　　They　sat　in　silence　for　a　while；　listening　to　the　wind　among　the　rocks。　Simon　looked　down　at　the　sword　Thorn　lying　atop　Haestan's　pack；　gleaming　blackly；　dotted　with　melting　snowftakes。　〃Is　the　sword　too　heavy　for　you？　I　could　carry　it　for　a　while。〃
　　Haestan　considered　him　for　a　moment　before　grinning。　〃Y'r　wele　to　it；　Simon…lad。　Y'should　have　sword；　what　with　that　first　manly　beard　an'　all。　Thing　is；　hard　t'say　if　it　be　any　good　as　a　sword；　if　y'take　my　meaning。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　know　how　it　changes。〃　He　remembered　Thorn　in　his　own　hands。　At　first　it　had　been　cold　and　heavy　as　an　anvil。　Then；　as　he　stood　poised；　balanced　on　the　cliff's　edge　staring　into　the　dragon's　milky　blue　eyes；　it　had　bee　light　as　a　birch…staff。　The　glossy　blade　had　seemed　inspirited；　as　though　it　breathed。　〃It's　almost　like　it's　alive。　Like　an　animal　or　something。　Is　it　heavy　for　you　now？〃
　　Haestan　shook　his　head；　looking　up　at　the　flurrying　snow。　〃No；　lad。　Seems　it　wants　t'go　where　we're　goin'。　Thinks　it　be　goin'　home；　mayhap。〃
　　Simon　smiled　to　hear　them　both　talking　about　a　sword　as　though　it　were　a　dog　or　a　horse。　Still；　there　was　an　undeniable　tension　to　the　thing；　like　a　spider　still　in　a　web；　or　a　fish　hanging　suspended　in　the　cold　darkness　of　a　river　bottom。　He　looked　at　it　again。　The　sword；　if　it　was　alive；　was　a　wild　thing。　The　blackness　of　it　devoured　light；　leaving　only　a　thin　residue　of　reflection；　sparkling　crumbs　in　a　miser's　beard。　A　wild　thing；　a　dark　thing。
　　〃It's　going　where　we're　going；〃　Simon　said；　then　considered　for　a　moment。　〃But　that's　not　going　to　be　home。　Not　my　home。〃
　　
　　As　he　lay　that　night　in　a　narrow　cavern　which　was　little　more　than　a　nick　in　Sikkihoq's　muscular　stone　back；　Simon　dreamed　of　a　tapestry。　It　was　a　moving　tapestry；　hanging　on　a　wall　of　absolute　blackness。　In　it；　as　in　the　religious　pictures　of　the　Hayholt's　chapel；　a　great　tree　stood；　arms　rising　to　heaven。　This　tree　was　white　and　smooth　as　Harcha　marble。
　　Prince　Josua　hung　upon　it　head　down；　like　Usires　Aedon　Himself　in　His　suffering。
　　A　shadowy　figure　stood　before　Josua；　driving　nails　into　him　with　a　great；　gray　hammer。　Josua　did　not　speak　or　cry　out；　but　his　followers　all　around　were　moaning。　The　prince's　eyes　were　wide　with　patient　suffering；　like　the　carved　face　of　Usires　that　had　hung　on　the　wall　of　Simon's　boyhood　home　in　the　servant's　quarters。
　　Simon　could　not　bear　to　see　any　more。　He　thrust　himself　through　into　the　tapestry　itself　and　ran　at　the　shadow…figure。　As　he　ran；　he　felt　a　weighty　something　dangling　in　his　hand。　He　lifted　his　arm　to　swing　it；　but　the　murky　thing　reached　up　and　caught　his　hand；　pulling　Simon's　weapon　away。　He　had　been　holding　a　black　hammer。　But　for　its　color；　it　was　the　twin　of　the　gray。
　　〃Better；〃　the　thing　said。　It　hefted　the　ebony　mallet　in　its　other　shadowy　hand　and　began　once　more　to　drive　nails。　This　time　Josua　screamed　with　each　blow；　screamed　and　screamed。。。
　　
　　。。。　Simon　awakened　to　find　himself　shivering　in　darkness；　the　raspy　breathing　of　his　traveling　panions　all　around　him；　vying　with　the　wind　that　moaned　as　it　searched　the　mountain　passes　outside　the　cavern。　He　wanted　to　waken　Binabik；　or　Haestan；　or　Sludig…anybody　who　could　speak　to　him　in　his　own　tongue…but　could　not　find　any　of　them　in　the　dark；　and　knew　even　in　his　fear　that　he　should　not　startle　the　others　awake。
　　He　lay　down　once　more；　listening　to　the　crooning　wind。　He　was　afraid　to　go　back　to　sleep；　afraid　he　would　hear　those　aw