tw.thestoneoffarewell-第72部分

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　　〃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　drinking　skin；　but　Sludig　shook　his　head　and　put　it　back　in　his　saddle　bag。
　　〃　'Friend？〃　Simon　asked；　puzzled。
　　　 〃　'Vren；'　I　am　thinking　he　said；〃　Binabik　replied。　〃It　is　a　Hyrkanian　name；　and　I　am　thinking　he　might　be　a　Hyrka。〃
　　〃Look　at　that　black　hair；〃　Sludig　said。　〃The　color　of　his　skin；　too。　He　is　a　Hyrka；　or　I　am　no　Rimmersman。　But　what　is　he　doing　alone　in　the　snow？〃
　　The　Hyrkas；　Simon　knew；　were　a　footloose　people　accounted　good　with　horses　and　skilled　in　games　at　which　other　people　lost　money。　He　had　seen　many　at　the　great　market　in　Erchester。　〃Do　the　Hyrkas　live　out　here；　in　the　White　Waste？〃
　　Sludig　frowned。　〃I've　never　heard　of　such…but　I　have　seen　many　things　of　late　I　would　have　never　believed　in　Elvritshalla。　I　thought　they　lived　mainly　in　the　cities　and　on　the　grasslands　with　the　Thrithings…folk。〃
　　Binabik　reached　up　and　patted　the　boy　with　a　small　hand。　〃So　have　I　been　taught；　although　there　are　some　who　also　are　living　beyond　the　Waste；　in　the　empty　steppe…lands　to　the　east。〃
　　After　they　had　ridden　farther；　Sludig　dismounted　again　to　search　for　signs　of　habitation。　He　returned；　shaking　his　head；　and　went　to　Vren。　The　child's　brown　eyes　gazed　unflinchingly　back　at　him。　〃Where　do　you　live？〃　the　Rimmersman　asked。
　　〃With　Skodi；〃　was　the　reply。
　　〃Is　that　near？〃　Binabik　asked。　The　boy　shrugged。　〃Where　are　your　parents？〃　The　gesture　was　repeated。
　　The　troll　turned　to　his　panions。　〃Perhaps　Skodi　is　the　name　of　his　mother。　Or　it　might　be　a　name　of　some　other　town　name　near　to　Grinsaby…village。　It　is　also　being　possible　he　has　strayed　from　a　caravan　of　wagons…although　these　roads；　I　have　sureness；　are　not　much　used　at　the　best　of　times。　How　could　he　survive　long　in　fearful　winter　days　like　these。。。〃　He　shrugged　a　movement　oddly　similar　to　the　child's。
　　〃Will　he　stay　with　us？'　Simon　asked。　Sludig　made　an　exasperated　noise　but　said　nothing。　Simon　turned　on　the　Rimmersman　angrily。　〃We　can't　leave　him　here　to　die！〃
　　Binabik　waved　a　placating　finger。　〃No；　do　not　fear　that　we　would。　In　any　case；　I　suspect　that　there　must　be　more　people　than　Vren　who　are　living　here。〃
　　Sludig　stood　up。　〃The　troll　is　right：　there　must　be　folk　here。　Anyway；　the　idea　of　taking　a　child　with　us　is　foolish。〃
　　〃That　is　what　some　were　saying　of　Simon；〃　Binabik　responded　quietly。　〃But　I　am　having　agreement　with　your　first　statement。　Let　us　find　his　home。　〃
　　〃He　can　ride　with　me　for　a　while；〃　Simon　said。　The　Rimmersman　made　a　wry　face；　but　handed　over　the　unresisting　child。　Simon　wrapped　the　boy　in　his　cloak　as　Sludig　had　done。
　　〃Sleep　now；　Vren；〃　he　whispered。　The　wind　moaned　through　the　ruined　houses。　〃You're　with　friends；　now。　We'll　take　you　home。　〃
　　The　boy　stared　back　at　him；　solemn　as　a　petty　cleric　at　a　public　ceremony。　A　small　hand　snaked　out　from　beneath　the　jacket　to　pat　Homefmder's　back。　With　Vren's　slender　form　resting　against　his　chest；　Simon　took　his　reins　in　one　hand　so　he　could　drape　an　arm　around　the　boy's　midsection。　He　felt　very　old　and　very　responsible。
　　Will　I　ever　be　a　father？　he　wondered　as　they　cramped　on　through　the　gathering　dark。　Have　sons？　He　thought　about　it　for　a　moment。　Daughters？
　　All　the　people　he　knew；　it　seemed；　had　lost　their　fathers…Binabik's　in　a　snowslide；　Prince　Josua's　to　old　age。　Jeremias　the　chandler's　boy；　Simon　remembered；　had　lost　his　to　the　chest…fever。　Princess　Miriamele's　sire　might　as　well　be　dead。　He　thought　about　his　own　father；　drowned　before　he　was　born。　Were　fathers　just　that　way；　like　cats　and　dogs；　making　children　and　then　going　away？
　　〃Siudig！〃　he　called；　〃do　you　have　a　father？〃
　　The　Rimmersman　turned；　an　irritated　expression　on　his　face。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that；　boy？〃
　　〃I　mean　is　he　alive？〃
　　〃For　all　I　know；〃　the　Rimmersman　snorted。　〃And　little　I　care；　either。　The　old　devil　could　be　in　Hell　and　it　would　not　bother　me。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　snow…shrouded　road。
　　I　will　not　be　a　father　tike　that；　Simon　decided　clutching　the　child　a　little　closer。　Vren　moved　uneasily　beneath　Simon's　cloak。　〃I'll　stay　with　my　son。　We'll　have　a　home；　and　I　won't　go　away。　〃
　　But　who　would　be　the　mother？　A　series　of　confusing　images；　random　as　snowflakes；　flurried　before　his　mind's　eye。　Miriamele　distant　on　her　tower　balcony　at　the　Hayholt；　the　maid　Hepzibah；　cross　old　Rachel；　and　angry…eyed　Lady　Vorzheva。　And　where　would　his　home　be？　He　looked　around　at　the　vast　whiteness　of　the　Waste　and　the　approaching　shadow　of　Aldheorte。　How　could　anyone　hope　to　stay　in　one　place　in　this　mad　world？　To　promise　that　to　a　child　would　be　a　lie。　Home？　He　would　be　lucky　to　find　a　place　to　get　out　of　the　wind　for　a　night。
　　His　unhappy　laugh　set　Vren　to　squirming；　Simon　pulled　the　cloak　tighter　around　them　both。
　　
　　As　they　approached　the　eastern　outskirts　of　Grinsaby　they　still　had　not　seen　a　living　soul。　Neither　had　there　been　any　evidence　of　recent　habitation　They　had　questioned　Vren　closely；　but　had　been　unable　to　elicit　any　information　other　than　the　name　〃Skodi〃。
　　〃Is　Skodi　your　father？〃　Simon　asked。　
　　〃It　is　a　woman's　name；〃　Sludig　offered。　〃A　Rimmerswoman's　name。〃
　　Simon　tried　again。　〃Is　Skodi　your　mother？〃
　　The　boy　shook　his　head。　〃I　live　with　Skodi；〃　he　said；　his　words　so　clear　despite　the　accent　that　Simon　wondered　again　if　the　boy　was　not　older　than　they　had　guessed。
　　There　were　still　a　few　desolate　settlements　perched　among　the　low　hills　along　the　White　Way；　but　they　were　appearing　more　and　more　infrequently。　Night　had　e　on；　filling　the　spaces　between　trees　with　inky　shadows。　The　pany　had　ridden　too　long…and　too　far　past　eating…time　by　Simon's　reckoning。　Darkness　now　made　their　search　impractical。　Binabik　was　just　setting　a　pitchy　pine　limb　alight　to　use　as　a　torch　when　Simon　saw　a　gleam　of　light　through　the　forest；　some　distance　from　the　road。
　　〃Look　there！〃　he　cried。　〃I　think　it's　a　fire！〃　The　distant　white…blanketed　trees　seemed　to　glow　redly。
　　〃Skodi's　house！　Skodi's　house'〃　the　boy　said；　bouncing　so　that　Simon　had　to　restrain　him。　〃She'll　be　happy！〃
　　The　pany　sat　for　a　moment；　eyeing　the　flickering　light。
　　〃We　go　carefully；〃　Sludig　said；　flexing　the　fingers　that　clutched　his　Qanuc　spear。　〃It　is　a　damned　odd　place　to　live。　We　have　no　assurance　these　folks　will　be　friendly。〃
　　Simon　felt　a　sudden　inner　chill　at　Sludig's　words。　If　only　Thorn　were　reliable　enough　for　him　to　carry　at　his　side！　He　felt　his　bone　knife　in　its　scabbard　and　was　reassured。
　　〃I　will　ride　ahead；〃　Binabik　said。　〃I　am　smaller　and　Qantaqa　is　more　quiet。　We　will　go　to　have　a　look。〃　He　murmured　a　word；　the　wolf　slid　off　the　road　through　the　long　shadows；　her　tail　waving　like　a　puff　of　smoke。
　　A　few　minutes　passed。　Simon　and　Sludig　rode　slowly　along　the　snowy　downs；　not　talking。　Staring　at　the　warm　light　that　shimmered　in　the　treetops；　Simon　had　fallen　into　a　sort　of　shallow　dream　when　he　was　startled　by　the　troll's　abrupt　reappearance。　Qantaqa　grinned　hugely；　her　red　tongue　hanging　from　her　mouth。
　　〃It　is　an　old　abbey；　I　am　thinking；〃　Binabik　said；　his　face　almost　hidden　in　the　darkness　of　his　hood。　〃There　is　a　bonfire　in　the　dooryard　and　several　people　who　are　around　it；　but　they　look　to　be　children。　I　was　seeing　no　horses；　no　sign　of　anyone　waiting　to　ambush。〃
　　They　rode　quietly　forward　to　the　crest　of　a　low　hill。　The　fire　burned　before　them　at　the　bottom　of　a　tree…lined　clearing；　surrounded　by　small；　dancing　silhouettes。　Behind　them　loomed　the　red…tinted　stone　walls　and　cracked　mortar　of　the　abbey。　It　was　an　old　building　that　had　suffered　beneath　the　weather's　rough　handling；　the　long　roof　had　collapsed　in　several　places；　the　holes　gaping　at　the　stars　like　mouths。　Many　of　the　surrounding　trees　also　seemed　to　have　pushed　their　limbs　right　through　the　small　windows；　as　though　trying　to　escape　the　cold。
　　As　they　sat　looking；　Vren　slithered　free　beneath　Simon's　arm　and　hopped　down　from　the　saddle；　tumbling　into　the　snow。　He　stood；　shaking　like　a　dog；　then　pelted　down　the　hill　toward　the　bonfire。　Some　of　the　small　shapes　turned　at　his　approach　with　glad　cries。　Vren　stood　among　them　for　a　moment；　waving　his　arms　excitedly；　then　pushed　through　the　abbey's　front　door　and　disappeared　into　the　warm　glow。
　　When　long　moments　had　passed　and　no　one　came　back　out　again；　Simon　looked　inquiringly　at　Binabik　and　Sludig。
　　〃It　is　certainly　seeming　to　be　his　home；〃　Binabik　said。
　　　 〃Should　we　go　on　our　way？〃　Simon　asked；　hoping　they　would　say　no。　Sludig　looked　him　over；　then　grunted　in　exasperation。
　　〃It　would　be　foolish　to　pass　the　chance　of　a　warm　night。〃　the　Rimmersman　said　grudgingly。　〃And　we　are　ready　to　make　camp。　But　no　word　of　who　we　are　or　what　we　do。　We　are　soldiers　run　away　from　the　garrison　at　Skoggey；　should　any　ask。〃
　　Binabik　smiled。　〃I　approve　of　your　logic；　although　I　am　doubting　I　can　be　mistaken　for　a　Rimmersman　warrior。　Let　us　go　and　see　Vren's　home。〃
　　They　cantered　down　into　the　dell。　The　small　figures；　perhaps　half　a　dozen　m　all；　had　resumed　their　dancing　game；　but　as　Simon　and　the　others　approached　they　paused　and　fell　silent。　They　were　only　raggedly…dressed　children；　as　Binabik　had　suggested。
　　All　eyes　now　turned　to　the　new　arrivals。　Simon　felt　himself　subjected　to　a　thorough　scrutiny。　The　children　seemed　to　range　in　age　from　three　or　four　up　to　Vren's　age　or　a　little　older；　and　seemed　to　be　of　no　one　type。　There　was　a　little　girl　who　shared　Vren's　black　hair　and　dark　eyes；　but　also　two　or　three　others　so　fair　they　could　be　nothing　but　Rimmersgarders。　All　wore　expressions　of　wide…eyed　caution　As　Simon　and　his　friends　dismounted；　heads　turned　almost　in　unison　to　watch。　No　one　spoke。
　　〃Hello；〃　Simon　said。　The　boy　nearest　him　stared　sullenly；　his　face　lapped　m　firelight。　〃Is　your　mother　here？〃　The　boy　continued　to　stare。
　　〃The　child　we　brought　went　inside；〃　Sludig　said　〃That　is　undoubtedly　where　the　grown　folk　are。〃　He　hefted　his　spear　thoughtfully　and　a　half…dozen　pairs　of　eyes　warily　followed　his　movement。　The　Rimmersman　took　the　spear　with　him　toward　the　abbey　door　which　Vren　had　swung　shut　behi