tw.thestoneoffarewell-第4部分

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　　The　Doctor　used　to　say　that　no　one　ever　knows　what　will　e　to　them…〃don't　build　on　expectation；〃　he　said　that　all　the　time。　Who　would　ever　have　though！　someday　I　would　see　such　things　as　this；　have　such　adventures？　No　one　knows　what　will　e　to　them。　。　。　。
　　He　felt　a　twinge　of　pain　along　his　face；　then　a　needle　of　cold　in　his　gut。
　　The　Doctor；　as　was　so　often　the　case；　had　spoken　nothing　but　the　truth。
　　
　　Inside；　the　great　cavern　was　full　of　trolls　and　dense　with　the　sweetly　sour　odors　of　oil　and　fat。　A　thousand　yellow　lights　blazed。
　　All　around　the　craggy；　high…ceilinged　stone　room；　in　wall…niches　and　in　the　very　floor；　pools　of　oil　bloomed　with　fire。　Hundreds　of　such　lamps；　each　with　its　floating　wick　like　a　slender　white　worm；　gave　the　cavern　a　light　that　far　outshone　the　gray　day　outside。　Hide…jacketed　Qanuc　filled　the　room；　an　ocean　of　black…haired　heads。　Small　children　sat　pickaback；　like　seagulls　floating　placidly　atop　the　waves。
　　At　the　room's　center　an　island　of　rock　protruded　above　the　sea　of　troll　folk。　There；　on　a　raised　stone　platform　hewn　from　the　very　stuff　of　the　cavern　floor；　two　smallish　figures　sat　in　a　pool　of　fire。
　　It　was　not　exactly　a　pool　of　pure　flame；　Simon　saw　a　moment　later；　but　a　slender　moat　cut　into　the　gray　rock　all　the　way　around；　filled　with　the　same　burning　oil　that　fueled　the　lamps。　The　two　figures　at　the　center　of　the　ring　of　flames　reclined　side　by　side　in　a　sort　of　hammock　of　ornately…figured　hide　bounded　by　thongs　to　a　frame　of　ivory。　The　pair　nested　unmoving　in　the　mound　of　white　and　reddish　furs。　Their　eyes　were　bright　in　their　round；　placid　faces。
　　〃She　is　Nunuuika　and　he　is　Uammannaq；〃　Jiriki　said　quietly；　〃…they　are　the　masters　of　the　Qanuc　。　。　。〃
　　Even　as　he　spoke；　one　of　the　two　small　figures　gestured　briefly　with　a　hooked　staff。　The　vast；　packed　horde　of　troll　folk　drew　back　to　either　side；　pressing　themselves　even　closer　together；　forming　an　aisle　that　stretched　from　the　stone　platform　to　the　place　where　Simon　and　his　panions　stood。　Several　hundred　small；　expectant　faces　turned　toward　them。　There　was　much　whispering。　Simon　stared　down　the　open　length　of　cavern　floor；　abashed。
　　〃Seems　clear　enough；〃　Haestan　growled；　giving　him　a　soft　shove。　〃Go　on；　then；　lad。〃
　　〃All　of　us；〃　Jiriki　said。　He　made　one　of　his　oddly…articulated　gestures　to　indicate　that　Simon　should　lead　the　way。
　　Both　the　echoing　whispers　and　the　scent　of　cured　hides　seemed　to　increase　as　Simon　made　his　way　toward　the　king　and　queen　。　。　。　…Or　the　Herdsman　and　Huntress；　he　reminded　himself。　Or　whatever。　
　　The　air　in　the　cavern　suddenly　seemed　stiflingly　thick。　As　he　struggled　to　get　a　deep　breath　he　stumbled　and　would　have　fallen　had　not　Haestan　caught　at　the　back　of　his　cloak。　When　he　reached　the　dais　he　stood　for　a　moment　staring　at　the　floor；　struggling　with　dizziness；　before　looking　up　to　the　figures　on　the　platform。　The　lamplight　glared　into　his　eyes。　He　felt　angry；　although　he　didn't　know　at　whom。　Hadn't　he　more　or　less　just　gotten　out　of　bed　today　for　the　first　time？　What　did　they　expect？　That　he　would　leap　right　out　and　slay　some　dragons？
　　The　startling　thing　about　Uammannaq　and　Nunuuika；　he　decided；　was　that　they　looked　so　much　alike；　as　though　they　were　twins。　Not　that　it　wasn't　instantly　obvious　which　was　which：　Uammannaq；　on　Simon's　left；　had　a　chin　beard　that　hung　from　his　chin；　knotted　with　red　and　blue　thongs　into　a　long　braid。　His　hair　was　braided　as　well；　held　in　intricate　loops　upon　his　head　with　bs　of　black；　shiny　stone。　As　he　worried　at　his　beard　gently　with　small；　thick　fingers；　his　other　hand　held　his　staff　of　office；　a　thick；　heavily　carved　ram…rider's　spear　with　a　crook　at　one　end。
　　His　wife…if　that　was　the　way　things　worked　in　Yiqanuc…held　a　straight　spear；　a　slender；　deadly　wand　with　a　stone　point　sharpened　to　translucency。　She　wore　her　long　black　hair　high　on　her　head；　held　in　place　with　many　bs　of　carved　ivory。　Her　eyes；　gleaming　behind　slanting　lids　in　a　plump　face；　were　flat　and　bright　as　polished　stone。　Simon　had　never　had　a　woman　look　at　him　in　quite　that　cold　and　arrogant　way。　He　remembered　that　she　was　called　Huntress；　and　felt　out　of　his　depth。　By　contrast；　Uammannaq　seemed　far　less　threatening。　The　Herder's　heavy　face　seemed　to　sag　in　loose　lines　of　drowsiness；　but　there　was　still　a　canny　edge　to　his　glance。
　　After　the　brief　moment　of　mutual　inspection；　Uammannaq's　face　creased　in　a　wide　yellow　grin；　his　eyes　nearly　disappearing　in　a　cheerful　squint。　He　lifted　his　two　palms　toward　the　panions；　then　pressed　his　small　hands　together　and　said　something　in　guttural　Qanuc。
　　〃He　says　you　are　wele　to　Chidsik　Ub　Lingit　and　to　Yiqanuc；　the　mountains　of　the　trolls；〃　Jiriki　translated。　Before　he　could　say　more；　Nunuuika　spoke　up。　Her　words　seemed　more　measured　than　Uammannaq's；　but　were　no　more　intelligible　to　Simon。　Jiriki　listened　to　her　carefully。
　　〃The　Huntress　also　extends　her　greetings。　She　says　you　are　quite　tall；　but　unless　she　is　very　mistaken　in　her　knowledge　of　the　Utku　people；　you　seem　young　for　a　dragon…slayer；　despite　the　white　in　your　hair。　Utku　is　the　troll　word　for　lowlanders；〃　he　added　quietly。
　　Simon　looked　at　the　two　royal　personages　for　a　moment。　〃Tell　them　that　I'm　pleased　to　have　their　wele；　or　whatever　should　be　said。　And　please　tell　them　that　I　didn't　slay　the　dragon…likely　only　wounded　it…and　that　I　did　it　to　protect　my　friends；　just　as　Binabik　of　Yiqanuc　did　for　me　many　other　times。　〃
　　When　he　finished　the　long　sentence　he　was　momentarily　out　of　breath；　bringing　a　rush　of　dizziness。　The　Herder　and　Huntress；　who　had　been　watching　curiously　as　he　spoke…both　had　frowned　slightly　at　the　mention　of　Binabik's　name…now　turned　expectantly　to　Jiriki。
　　The　Sitha　paused　for　a　moment；　considering；　then　rattled　off　a　long　stream　of　thick　trollish　speech。　Uammannaq　nodded　his　head　in　a　puzzled　way。　Nunuuika　listened　impassively。　When　Jiriki　had　finished；　she　glanced　briefly　at　her　consort；　then　spoke　again。
　　Judging　by　her　translated　reply；　she　might　not　have　heard　Binabik's　name　at　all。　She　plimented　Simon　on　his　bravery；　saying　that　the　Qanuc　had　long　held　the　mountain　Urmsheim…Yijarjuk；　she　called　it…as　a　place　to　be　avoided　at　all　costs。　Now；　she　said；　perhaps　it　was　time　to　explore　the　western　mountains　again；　since　the　dragon；　even　if　it　had　survived；　had　most　likely　disappeared　into　the　lower　depths　to　nurse　its　wounds。
　　Uammannaq　seemed　impatient　with　Nunuuika's　speech。　As　soon　as　Jiriki　finished　relaying　her　words　the　Herder　responded　with　some　of　his　own；　saying　that　now　was　hardly　the　time　for　such　adventures；　after　the　terrible　winter　just　passed；　and　with　the　evil　Croohokuq…the　Rimmersmen…so　malevolently　active。　He　hastened　to　add　that　of　course　Simon　and　his　panions；　the　other　lowlander　and　the　esteemed　Jiriki；　should　stay　as　long　as　they　wished；　as　honored　guests；　and　that　if　there　was　anything　he　or　Nunuuika　could　grant　them　to　ease　their　stay；　they　had　only　to　ask。
　　Even　before　Jiriki　finished　converting　these　works　to　the　Westerling　speech；　Simon　was　shifting　his　weight　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　anxious　to　respond。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　told　Jiriki；　〃there　is　something　they　can　do。　They　can　free　Binabik　and　Sludig；　our　panions。　Free　our　friends；　if　you　would　do　us　a　favor！〃　he　said　loudly；　turning　to　the　fur…swaddled　pair　before　him；　who　regarded　him　with　inprehension。　His　raised　voice　caused　some　of　the　trolls　crowded　around　the　stone　platform　to　murmur　uneasily。　Simon　dizzily　wondered　if　he　had　gone　too　far；　but　for　the　moment　was　beyond　caring。
　　〃Seoman；〃　Jiriki　said；　〃I　promised　myself　that　I　would　not　mistranslate　or　interfere　in　your　speech　with　the　lords　ofYiqanuc；　but　I　ask　you　now　as　a　favor　to　me；　do　not　ask　this　of　them。　Please。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃
　　〃Please。　As　a　favor。　I　will　explain　later；　I　ask　you　to　trust　me。〃
　　Simon's　angry　words　spilled　out　before　he　could　control　them。　〃You　want　me　to　desert　my　friend　as　a　favor　to　you？　Haven't　I　already　saved　your　life？　Didn't　I　get　the　White　Arrow　from　you？　Who　owes　the　favors　here？〃
　　Even　as　he　said　it　he　was　sorry；　fearing　that　an　unbreachable　barrier　had　suddenly　grown　between　himself　and　the　Sitha　prince。　Jiriki's　eyes　burned　into　his。　The　audience　began　to　fidget　nervously　and　mutter　among　themselves；　sensing　something　amiss。
　　The　Sitha　dropped　his　gaze。　〃I　am　ashamed；　Seoman。　I　ask　too　much　of　you。〃
　　Now　Simon　felt　himself　sinking　like　a　stone　into　a　muddy　pool。　Too　fast！　It　was　too　much　to　think　about。　All　he　wanted　was　to　lie　down　and　not　know　anything。
　　〃No；　Jiriki；〃　he　blurted　out；　〃I'm　ashamed。　I'm　ashamed　of　what　I　said。　I'm　an　idiot。　Ask　the　two　of　them　if　I　can　speak　to　them　tomorrow。　I　feel　sick。〃　Suddenly　the　dizziness　was　horribly　real；　he　felt　the　whole　cavern　tilt。　The　light　of　the　oil　lamps　wavered　as　though　in　a　stiff　wind。　Simon's　knees　buckled　and　Haestan　caught　his　arms；　holding　him　up。
　　Jiriki　turned　quickly　to　Uammannaq　and　Nunuuika。　A　rumble　of　fascinated　consternation　ran　through　the　trollish　throng。　Was　the　red…crested；　storklike　lowlander　dead？　Perhaps　such　long　thin　legs　were　not　capable　of　bearing　weight　for　long；　as　some　had　suggested。　But　then；　why　were　the　other　two　lowlanders　still　standing　upright？　Many　heads　were　shaken　in　puzzlement；　many　whispered　guesses　exchanged。
　　〃Nunuuika；　keenest　of　eye；　and　Uammannaq；　surest　of　rein：　the　boy　is　still　sick　and　very　weak。　〃Jiriki　spoke　quietly。　The　multitude；　cheated；　by　his　soft　speech；　leaned　forward。　〃I　ask　a　boon；　on　the　primeval　friendship　of　our　people。〃
　　The　Huntress　inclined　her　head；　smiling　slightly。　〃Speak；　Elder　Brother；〃　she　said。
　　〃I　have　no　right　to　interfere　in　your　justice；　and　will　not。　I　do　ask　that　the　judgment　of　Binabik　of　Mintahoq　not　go　forward　until　his　panions…including　the　boy　Seoman…have　a　chance　to　speak　in　his　behalf。　And　that　the　same　be　granted　also　for　the　Rimmersman；　Sludig。　This　I　ask　of　you　in　the　name　of　the　Moon…woman；　our　shared　roof。〃　Jiriki　bowed　slightly；　using　only　his　upper　body。　There　was　no　suggestion　of　subservience。
　　Uammannaq　tapped　the　shaft　of　his　spear　with　his　fingers。　He　looked　to　the　Huntress；　his　expression　troubled。　At　last　he　nodded。　〃We　cannot　refuse　this