tw.thestoneoffarewell-第71部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


nks　for　a　windbreak　while　Binabik；　with　the　help　of　his　yellow　fire…powder；　set　flame　to　damp　wood　and　began　to　boil　water　for　broth。　The　weather　was　so　unremittingly　foul　and　cold　that　after　sharing　the　thin　soup；　they　all　curled　up　in　their　cloaks　and　lay　shivering。　The　wind　was　too　loud　for　any　but　shouted　conversation。　Despite　the　proximity　of　his　friends；　Simon　was　alone　with　his　cheerless　thoughts　until　sleep　came。
　　
　　Simon　woke　with　Qantaqa's　steaming　breath　on　his　face。　The　wolf　whined　and　nudged　him　with　her　great　head；　rolling　him　halfway　over。　He　sat　up；　blinking　in　the　weak　rays　of　morning　sun　filtering　into　the　copse。　Snow　drifts　had　piled　against　the　woven　branches；　making　a　wall　that　kept　the　wind　at　bay；　so　the　smoke　from　Binabik's　campfire　rose　almost　undisturbed。
　　〃Good　morning；　Simon…friend；〃　Binabik　said。　〃We　have　survived　through　the　storm。〃
　　Simon　gently　pushed　Qantaqa's　head　out　of　his　side。　She　made　a　noise　of　frustration；　then　backed　away。　Her　muzzle　was　red…daubed。
　　〃She　has　been　unsettled　all　the　morning；〃　Binabik　laughed。　〃I　am　thinking　that　the　many　frozen　squirrels　and　birds　and　such　who　have　tumbled　from　the　trees　have　fed　her　well；　however。〃
　　〃Where's　Sludig？〃
　　〃He　is　seeing　to　the　horses。〃　Binabik　poked　at　the　fire。　〃I　convinced　him　to　take　them　downslope　in　the　open；　so　the　horses　would　not　be　stepping　on　my　morning　meal　or　your　face。〃　He　lifted　a　bowl。　〃This　is　the　last　of　the　broth。　Since　our　dried　meat　is　now　almost　finished；　I　suggest　you　enjoy　it。　Meals　may　be　scarce　if　our　own　hunting　must　be　relied　on。〃
　　Simon　shivered　as　he　wiped　a　handful　of　snow　on　his　face。　〃But　won't　we　reach　the　forest　soon？〃
　　Binabik　patiently　offered　the　bowl　again。　〃Just　so；　but　we　will　be　traveling　along　it　rather　than　through。　It　is　a　route　more　circuitous　but　less　time…consuming；　since　we　will　not　be　cutting　through　underbrush。　Also；　in　this　frozen　summer　there　may　be　few　animals　who　are　not　sleeping　in　their　dens　and　nests。　Thus；　if　you　are　not　soon　taking　this　soup　from　my　hands；　I　will　drink　it　myself。　I　am　no　more　interested　in　starving　than　you；　as　well　as　a　great　deal　more　sensible。〃
　　〃Sorry。　Thank　you。〃　Simon　hunched　over　the　bowl；　enjoying　a　deep　breath　of　the　rising　scent　before　he　drank。
　　〃You　may　be　washing　the　bowl　when　you　have　finished；〃　the　troll　sniffed。　〃A　nice　bowl　is　a　luxurious　thing　to　have　on　a　journey　of　such　dangerousness。〃
　　Simon　smiled。　〃You　sound　like　Rachel　the　Dragon。〃
　　〃I　have　not　met　this　Dragon…Rachel；〃　Binabik　said　as　he　stood　up；　brushing　snow　from　his　breeches；　〃but　if　she　was　given　charge　of　you；　she　must　have　been　a　person　of　great　patientness　and　kindness。〃
　　Simon　chortled。
　　
　　They　reached　the　crossroads　in　late　morning。　The　meeting　of　the　two　roads　was　marked　only　by　a　gaunt　finger　of　stone　set　upright　in　the　frozen　ground。　Gray…green　lichen；　seemingly　impervious　to　frost；　clung　to　it　grimly。
　　〃The　Old　Tumet'ai　Road　runs　through　the　forest。〃　Binabik　gestured　to　the　barely　distinguishable　path　of　the　south　road；　which　coiled　away　through　a　stand　of　firs。　〃Since　I　am　thinking　it　is　nevermore　used　and　likely　quite　overgrown；　we　should　instead　follow　the　White　Way。　Perhaps　we　will　find　some　deserted　habitations　where　we　may　be　finding　supplies。〃
　　The　White　Way　proved　a　slightly　newer　road　than　the　one　leading　from　the　ancient　site　of　Tumet'ai。　There　were　a　few　marks　of　recent　human　visitation…a　rusted　and　broken　iron　wheel…rim　dangling　from　a　roadside　branch；　where　it　had　doubtless　been　thrown　by　an　irate　wagon　owner；　a　sharpened　spoke　perhaps　used　as　a　tent…spike；　discarded　by　the　shoulder；　a　circle　of　charred　stones　half…covered　in　snow。
　　〃Who　lives　out　here？'　Simon　asked。　〃Why　is　there　a　road　at　all？〃
　　〃There　were　once　several　small　settlements　east　of　St。　Skendi's　monastery；〃　Sludig　said。　〃You　remember　Skendi's…the　snow…buried　place　we　passed　on　our　way　to　the　dragon…mountain。　There　were　even　a　few　towns　here…Sovebek；　Grinsaby；　some　others；　as　I　remember。　I　think　also　that　a　century　or　so　ago；　people　traveled　this　way　around　the　great　forest　when　they　came　north　from　the　Thrithings；　so　there　may　have　been　a　few　inns；　too。〃
　　〃In　days　more　than　a　century　gone；〃　Binabik　intoned；　〃this　part　of　the　world　was　being　much　traveled。　We　Qanuc…some　of　us；　that　is　to　say…traveled　farther　south　in　summer；　sometimes　to　the　edges　of　the　lowlander　countries。　Also；　the　Sithi　themselves　were　everywhere　in　their　wandering。　It　is　only　in　these　late　and　sad　days　that　all　this　land　has　bee　empty　of　voices。〃
　　〃It　does　seem　empty　now；〃　Simon　said　〃It　seems　like　no　one　could　live　here　anymore。〃
　　They　followed　the　winding　course　of　the　road　through　the　short　afternoon。　The　trees　were　gradually　being　thicker　here　at　the　forest's　edge；　in　spots　growing　so　closely　about　the　road　that　it　seemed　as　if　the　panions　had　already　entered　Aldheorte；　whether　they　wished　to　or　not。　At　last　they　came　to　another　standing　stone；　this　one　leaning　for…lornly　by　the　roadside；　with　no　crossing　or　other　possible　landmark　m　sight。　Sludig　dismounted　to　take　a　closer　look。
　　〃There　are　runes　on　it；　but　faint　and　weathered。〃　He　peeled　back　some　of　the　fiozen　moss。　〃I　think　they　say　that　Grinsaby　is　nearby。〃　He　looked　up；　smiling　in　his　frosty　beard。　〃Someplace　with　a　roof　or　two；　perhaps；　even　if　nothing　else。　That　would　be　a　nice　change。〃　His　step　a　little　springier；　the　Rimmersman　vaulted　back　into　his　saddle。　Simon；　too；　was　heartened。　Even　a　deserted　town　would　be　a　vast　improvement　over　the　fortless　waste。
　　The　words　of　Binabik's　song　came　back　to　him。　You　have　slipped　into　cold　shadows　。。。　He　felt　a　moment's　pang　of　loneliness。　Perhaps　the　town　would　not　be　deserted；　after　all。　Maybe　there　would　be　an　inn　with　a　fire；　and　food　。　。　。
　　As　Simon　yearned　for　the　forts　of　civilization；　the　sun　vanished　for　good　behind　the　forest。　The　wind　rose　and　the　early　northern　twilight　came　down　upon　them。
　　
　　There　was　still　light　in　the　sky；　but　the　snowy　landscape　had　turned　blue　and　gray；　soaking　up　shadow　like　a　rag　dipped　m　ink。　Simon　and　his　panions　were　nearly　ready　to　stop　and　make　camp；　and　were　discussing　the　subject　in　loud　voices　over　the　monotonous　wind　when　they　came　upon　the　first　outbuildings　of　Grinsaby。
　　As　if　to　disappoint　even　Sludig's　modest　hopes；　the　roofs　of　these　abandoned　cottages　had　collapsed　under　the　weight　of　snow。　The　pad…　docks　and　gardens　were　also　long　untended；　knee…deep　in　swirling　white。　Simon　had　seen　so　many　emptied　towns　m　his　northern　sojourn　that　it　was　hard　to　believe　that　the　Frostmarch　and　the　Waste　had　once　been　inhabited；　that　people　had　led　their　lives　here　just　as　they　did　in　the　green　fields　of　Erkynland。　He　ached　for　his　own　home；　for　familiar　places　and　familiar　weather。　Or　had　winter　already　crawled　over　the　entire　land？
　　They　rode　on。　Soon　Grinsaby's　deserted　houses　began　to　appear　m　greater　profusion　on　either　side　of　the　road　Binabik　had　named　the　White　Way。　Some　still　bore　traces　of　their　once…residents…a　rusted　axe　with　a　rotted　handle　standing　in　a　chopping　block　before　a　snow…buried　front　door；　an　upright　broom　sticking　out　of　the　roadside　drifts　like　a　flag　or　the　tail　of　a　frozen　animal…but　most　of　the　dwellings　were　as　empty　and　desolate　as　skulls。
　　〃Where　do　we　stop？〃　Sludig　called。　〃I　think　we　may　not　find　a　roof　after　all。〃
　　〃We　may　not；　so　let　us　be　looking　for　good　walls；〃　Binabik　replied。　He　was　about　to　say　more　when　Simon　tugged　at　his　arm。
　　〃Look！　It　is　a　troll！　Sludig　was　right！〃　Simon　pointed　off　to　the　side　of　the　road；　where　a　short　figure　stood　motionless　but　for　its　wind…flung　cloak。　The　last　rays　of　sunlight　had　found　a　thin　spot　m　the　forest　fringe　behind　Grinsaby；　throwing　the　stranger　into　relief。
　　〃Be　looking　yourself；〃　Binabik　said　grumpily；　but　his　eyes　were　fixed　warily　on　the　stranger。　〃It　is　no　troll。〃　The　figure　beside　the　road　was　very　small；　wearing　a　thin　hooded　cloak。　Bare；　bluish　skin　showed　where　the　breeches…legs　failed　to　meet　the　top　of　his　boots。
　　〃It's　a　little　boy。〃　After　amending　his　earlier　identification；　Simon　steered　Homefinder　toward　the　edge　of　the　road。　His　two　panions　followed。　〃He　must　be　freezing　to　death！〃
　　As　they　rode　toward　him；　the　child　looked　up；　snow　flecking　his　dark　brows　and　lashes。　He　stared　at　the　approaching　trio；　then　turned　and　began　to　run。
　　〃Stop；〃　Simon　called；　〃we　won't　hurt　you！〃
　　〃Hatad；　kunde！〃　Sludig　shouted。　The　retreating　form　stopped　and　turned；　staring。　Sludig　rode　a　few　ells　closer；　then　climbed　down　from　his　horse　and　walked　forward　slowly。　〃Vjer　sommen　marroven；　kunde；〃　he　said；　extending　a　hand。　The　boy　stared　at　him　suspiciously；　but　made　no　further　move　toward　flight。　The　child　seemed　to　be　no　more　than　seven　or　eight　years　old　and　thin　as　the　handle　of　a　butter　churn；　judging　by　the　bits　of　him　showing。　His　hands　were　full　of　acorns。
　　〃I'm　cold；〃　the　boy　said　in　fair　Westerling。
　　Sludig　looked　surprised；　but　smiled　and　nodded。　〃e　on；　then；　lad。〃　He　gently　took　the　acorns　and　poured　them　into　his　cloak　pocket；　then　gathered　up　the　unresisting　child　in　his　strong　arms。　〃It's　all　right；　then。　We'll　help　you。〃　The　Rimmersman　placed　the　dark…haired　stranger　on　the　front　of　his　saddle；　wrapping　his　cloak　around　him　so　that　the　boy's　head　seemed　to　grow　from　Sludig's　now…broad　belly。　〃Can　we　find　a　place　to　make　camp　now；　troll？〃　he　growled。
　　Binabik　nodded。　〃Of　course。〃
　　He　urged　Qantaqa　ahead。　The　boy　watched　the　wolf　with　wide　but　unworried　eyes　as　Simon　and　Sludig　spurred　after。　Snow　was　rapidly　filling　in　the　hollow　where　the　boy　had　stood。
　　As　they　rode　on　through　the　empty　town；　Sludig　brought　out　his　skin　of　kangkang　and　let　the　newer　have　a　short　drink。　The　boy　coughed；　but　otherwise　seemed　unsurprised　by　the　bitter　Qanuc　liquor。　Simon　decided　he　might　be　older　than　first　appearance　made　him　seem：　there　was　a　precision　to　his　movements　that　made　him　seem　less　like　a　child。　Some　of　his　apparent　youth；　Simon　guessed；　might　be　due　to　his　large　eyes　and　slender　frame。
　　〃What's　your　name；　lad？〃　Sludig　asked　at　last。
　　The　boy　looked　him　over　calmly。　〃Vren；〃　he　said　at　last；　the　word　fluidly　and　oddly　accented。　He　tugged　at　the　d