tw.thestoneoffarewell-第52部分

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　　As　he　watched　his　own　face　in　the　upturned　mirror；　it　suddenly　seemed　that　he　could　again　see　that　misty　sky；　tatters　of　cloud　floating　across　the　mirror's　surface　obscuring　his　features。　A　fog　seemed　to　be　drifting　past　him；　and　he　could　no　longer　separate　himself　from　the　image　in　the　looking　glass。　He　wavered　dizzily；　as　though　he　were　falling　into　the　reflection。　The　noises　of　the　camp　diminished　and　then　disappeared　as　the　mist　became　a　solid　and　featureless　curtain　of　gray。　It　was　all　around　him；　shutting　away　the　light。。。
　　The　gray　mist　slowly　dissolved；　like　steam　escaping　from　beneath　a　pot　lid；　but　as　it　cleared　he　saw　that　the　face　before　him　was　no　longer　his　own。　Staring　back　at　him　through　narrowed　eyes　was　a　woman…a　beautiful　woman　who　was　both　old　and　young　at　the　same　time。　The　lines　of　her　face　were　shifting；　as　though　she　gazed　up　through　rippling　water。　Her　hair　was　white　beneath　a　circlet　of　gemlike　flowers；　her　stare　burned　like　molten　gold；　the　eyes　bright　and　reflective　as　a　cat's。　She　was　old；　he　somehow　knew；　very　old；　but　there　was　little　about　her　face　that　spoke　of　age；　only　a　tightness　in　the　line　of　her　jaw　and　mouth；　a　brittleness　to　her　features　as　though　the　skin　was　stretched　close　against　the　bone。　Her　eyes　were　glorious　with　ancient　knowledge　and　imprisoned　memory。　Her　high　cheekbones　and　smooth　forehead　made　her　look　like　a　statue。。。
　　A　statue。。。？　His　thoughts　were　a　jumble；　but　Simon　knew　he　had　seen　a　statue　that　looked　like　this　woman。。。　he　had　seen　such　a　face　。　。　。　seen　it　in　。。。　in　。。。
　　〃Please　answer　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　e　to　you　a　second　time。　Do　not　ignore　me　again！　Please　forget　your　ancient　grievances；　however　justified。　Ill　will　has　stood　too　long　between　our　house　and　that　of　Ruyan　Ve。　Now　we　have　a　mon　enemy。　I　need　your　help！〃
　　Her　voice　was　faint　in　his　head；　as　though　it　echoed　down　a　long　corridor；　but　even　so；　she　wielded　a　manding　power…like　Valada　Geloe's；　but　in　some　way　deeper；　smoother；　with　none　of　the　witch　woman's　rough　but　reassuring　edges。　This　one　was　as　different　from　Geloe　as　the　forest…woman　herself　was　from　Simon。
　　〃I　do　not　have　the　strength　I　once　wielded；〃　the　woman　pleaded。　〃And　what　little　I　have　may　be　needed　against　the　Shadow　in　the　North…and　you　must　know　of　that　shadow。　Tinukeda'yei！　Children　of　the　Garden；　please　answer！〃　The　woman's　voice　faded　on　an　imploring　note。　There　was　a　long　moment　of　silence；　but　if　reply　was　made；　Simon　did　not　hear　it。　Suddenly；　the　flake…gold　eyes　seemed　to　see　him　for　the　first　time。　The　musical　voice　abruptly　took　on　a　note　of　suspicion　and　concern。　〃Who　is　this？　A　mortal　child？〃
　　Frozen　in　alarm；　Simon　said　nothing。　The　face　in　the　mirror　stared；　then　Simon　could　feel　something　reaching　out　to　him　through　the　mist；　a　force　as　diffuse　but　powerful　as　the　sun　hidden　behind　clouds。
　　〃Tell　me。　Who　are　you？〃
　　Simon　tried　to　answer；　not　because　he　wanted　to；　but　because　it　was　impossible　not　to　try　with　such　pelling　words　echoing　in　his　head。　Something　prevented　him。
　　〃You　are　traveling　in　places　not　meant　for　you；〃　the　voice　said。　〃You　do　not　belong　here。　Who　are　you？〃
　　He　struggled；　but　found　that　something　was　throttling　his　responses　as　surely　as　fingers　on　his　throat　would　choke　off　words。　The　face　before　him　rippled　as　a　pallid　blue　light　began　to　shine　through　it；　fraying　the　image　of　the　beautiful　old　woman。　A　wave　of　cold　passed　through　him　that；　it　seemed；　might　turn　his　very　innards　to　black　ice。
　　A　new　voice　spoke；　harsh；　chilling。
　　〃Who　is　he？　He　is　a　meddler；　Amerasu。〃
　　The　first　face　was　now　entirely　gone。　A　gleam　of　silver　swam　upward　through　the　mirror's　gray　depths。　A　face　appeared；　all　gleaming　metal；　expressionless　and　immobile。　He　had　seen　that　face　on　the　Dream　Road　and　had　felt　the　same　sick　dread。　He　knew　the　name：　Utuk'ku；　Queen　of　the　Norns。　Try　as　he　might　to　look　away；　he　could　not。　He　was　held　in　an　unshakable　grip。　Utuk'ku's　eyes　were　invisible　in　the　mask's　black　depths；　but　he　felt　their　stare　on　his　face　like　freezing　breath。
　　〃The　manchild　is　a　meddler。〃　Each　word　came　sharp　and　cold　as　an　icicle。　〃As　are　you；　granddaughter。　And　meddlers　will　not　prosper　when　the　Storm　King　es。。。〃
　　The　thing　in　the　silver　mask　laughed。　Simon　felt　hammerblows　of　frost　against　his　heart。　A　poisonous　cold　began　climbing　inexorably　upward；　from　fingers　to　hand；　to　arm。　Soon　it　would　reach　his　face；　like　a　deadly　kiss　from　silvery；　frost…glittering　lips。。。
　　Simon　dropped　the　mirror；　tumbling　after　it。　The　ground　seemed　a　league　away；　the　fall　endless。　Somebody　was　screaming。　He　was　screaming。
　　Sludig　helped　Simon　to　his　feet；　where　he　swayed；　panting。　After　a　moment　he　shook　off　the　Rimmersman's　hands。　He　felt　wobbly；　but　wanted　to　stand　on　his　own。　The　trolls　had　gathered　around　and　were　muttering　among　themselves；　clearly　confused。
　　〃What　has　happened；　Simon？〃　Binabik　asked；　pushing　his　way　through　to　his　side。　〃Are　you　hurt　by　something？〃　Sisqi；　still　holding　Binabik's　hand；　stared　up　at　the　strange　lowlander　as　though　trying　to　read　his　malady　in　his　eyes。
　　〃I　saw　faces　in　Jiriki's　mirror；〃　Simon　said；　shivering　uncontrollably。
　　Sisqi　held　up　his　cloak；　which　he　took　gratefully。　〃One　of　them　was　the　Norn　Queen。　She　could　see　me；　too；　I　think。〃
　　Binabik　spoke　to　the　other　ram…riders；　gesturing　with　his　hands。　They　turned　and　wandered　back　to　the　fire。　Stocky　Snenneq　waved　his　spear　at　the　sky　as　though　taunting　an　enemy。
　　Binabik　fixed　Simon　with　his　brows。　〃Tell　it　to　me。〃
　　Simon　related　all　that　had　happened　from　the　moment　he　first　lifted　the　mirror。　As　he　described　the　first　face　Binabik　frowned　in　concentration；　but　when　the　recitation　was　finished　the　troll　only　shook　his　head。
　　〃The　Norn　Queen　we　are　knowing　all　too　well；〃　Binabik　growled。　〃It　was　her　hunters　who　arrowed　me　at　Da'ai　Chikiza　and　I　have　not　been　forgetting　that　gift。　But　thinking　of　who　the　other　might　be；　I　have　unsureness。　You　say　that　Utuk'ku　called　her　'granddaughter'？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　And　the　Norn　Queen　called　her　something　else；　too。　A　name…but　I　can't　remember　it。〃　Some　of　the　details；　once　spoken　aloud；　were　not　so　sure　in　his　mind　as　they　had　been　moments　before。
　　〃Then　it　is　someone　of　one　of　the　ruling　houses；　Sithi　or　Norn。　If　Jiriki　were　now　with　us；　he　would　be　knowing　in　an　instant　who　it　was　and　what　her　words　meant。　You　say　she　seemed　to　be　at　pleading　with　someone？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　But　Binabik；　Jiriki　told　me　that　the　mirror　was　nothing　but　a　mirror　now！　He　said　the　magic　was　gone；　unless　I　wanted　to　call　him…and　I　didn't　try　to　call　him！　I　truly　didn't！〃
　　〃Calm；　Simon；　is　how　you　must　be。　I　am　having　no　doubts　of　what　you　say。　Jiriki　himself　may　have　misunderstood　the　nature　of　the　mirror's　powers…or；　it　is　being　possible；　many　things　may　be　changing　just　since　Jiriki　has　gone　from　us。　In　either　way；　I　think　it　best　you　are　leaving　the　mirror；　or　at　the　least　not　using　it　more。　That　is　a　suggestion；　only…it　is　your　gift　to　do　as　you　like。　Remember；　please；　it　may　bring　danger　for　all。〃
　　Simon　looked　at　the　mirror；　which　lay　facedown　on　the　rock。　He　picked　it　up　and　brushed　dust　from　its　surface　without　looking　at　it；　then　slid　it　into　his　cloak　pocket。　〃I　won't　leave　it；〃　he　said；　〃because　it　was　a　gift。　Also；　we　may　need　Jiriki　someday。〃　He　patted　it。　The　frame　was　still　warm。　〃But　I　won't　use　it　until　then。〃
　　Binabik　shrugged。　〃The　deciding　is　yours。　e　back　to　the　fire　and　make　yourself　warm。　Tomorrow　we　are　riding　with　dawn's　appearance。〃
　　
　　After　an　early　start；　the　ragged　troop　reached　Blue　Mud　Lake　in　the　late　afternoon　of　the　following　day。　Nestled　among　the　foothills　of　Sikkihoq；　the　lake　was　a　dark　blue　mirror；　flat　as　the　glass　in　Simon's　pocket；　fed　by　two　cataracts　that　spilled　from　the　icy　heights。　The　noise　of　their　falling　was　deep　and　sonorous　as　the　breathing　of　gods。
　　As　the　party　crossed　through　the　last　pass　above　the　lake　and　the　quiet　rumble　of　the　water　rose；　the　trolls　reined　up　their　mounts。　The　wind　had　abated。　The　steaming　breath　of　rams　and　riders　hung　in　the　air。　Simon　could　see　fear　written　in　every　trollish　face。
　　〃What's　wrong？〃　he　asked　nervously；　expecting　at　any　moment　to　hear　the　bellowing　voices　of　giants。
　　〃I　think　they　had　hoped　Binabik　was　wrong；〃　Sludig　said。　〃Perhaps　they　were　hoping　to　find　springtime　hidden　here。〃
　　Simon　saw　little　that　was　unusual。　The　sheltering　hills　were　thatched　with　snow　and　many　of　the　trees　that　surrounded　the　lake　were　bare　of　leaf。　The　evergreens　were　mantled　in　white；　like　cottonwool　spears。
　　Many　of　the　trolls　brought　the　heels　of　their　hands　to　their　chests；　as　if　what　they　saw　spoke　more　eloquently　of　trouble　than　any　words　of　Binabik　or　his　master　Ookequk。　As　they　spurred　their　mounts　along　the　narrow　trail；　Simon　and　Sludig　trudged　forward　once　more；　following　the　tracks　of　the　rams　into　the　lake　valley。　Another　flurry　of　snow　came　sifting　down　from　Sikkihoq。
　　They　made　camp　at　a　great　cavern　on　the　lake's　northwestern　banks。　The　cave　was　surrounded　by　well…worn　pathways。　The　massive　stone　fire　pit；　nearly　brimful　with　frozen　ash；　testified　to　the　generations　of　trolls　who　had　camped　there。　Soon　a　huge　fire；　the　biggest　they　had　made　since　leaving　Mmtahoq；　was　burning　by　the　lakeside。　As　darkness　fell　and　the　stars　began　to　kindle；　the　flames　threw　wild　shadows　on　the　rocky　faces　of　the　hills。
　　Simon　was　sitting　near　the　fire　oiling　his　boots　when　Binabik　found　him。　At　the　troll's　bidding；　he　put　the　boots　back　on　and　took　a　burning　brand　from　the　blaze；　then　followed　Binabik　away　into　the　darkness。　They　walked　along　the　edge　of　the　hillside　for　a　furlong；　circling　around　the　lakeshore　until　they　reached　another　cave；　its　high　entranceway　almost　hidden　behind　a　stand　of　spruces。　A　strange　whistling　noise　came　from　within。　Simon　knitted　his　brows　in　apprehension；　but　Binabik　only　smiled　and　waved　at　him　to　follow；　pushing　back　a　low…hanging　branch　with　his　walking　stick　so　taller　Simon　could　enter　without　catching　his　torch　in　the　trees。
　　The　cavern　was　thick　with　the　smell　of　animals；　but　it　was　a　familiar　smell。　Simon　lifted　the　brand　so　the　light　splashed　the　farthest　depths　of　the　cavern。　Six　hors