tw.thestoneoffarewell-第94部分

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ere　it　is　that　thoughts　may　wander　that　have　been　cast　out　on　the　scales　of　the　Greater　Worm　or　on　the　other　Witnesses。　It　could　be　that　somewhere　　　　　or　somewhen　you　will　hear　these　words　and　know　of　your　family　and　your　people。
　　〃Also；　I　have　need　just　to　speak　with　you；　my　beloved　son；　though　you　have　been　long　absent。
　　〃You　know　that　your　brother　blamed　himself　for　your　terrible　wounding。　When　you　went　away　at　last　into　the　West　in　search　of　heart's…ease；　he　became　cold　and　discontented。
　　〃I　will　not　tell　you　all　the　story　of　the　maraudings　of　the　ship…men；　those　fierce　mortals　from　across　the　sea。　Some　hint　of　their　ing　you　had　before　you　went　away；　and　some　would　say　that　it　was　these　Rimmersmen　who　struck　the　greatest　blow　against　us；　for　they　threw　down　Asu'a；　our　great　house；　and　those　of　us　who　survived　were　driven　into　exile。　Some　would　say　that　the　Rimmersmen　were　our　greatest　foes；　yet　others　might　say　that　our　most　terrible　wound　came　when　your　brother　Ineluki　raised　his　hand　against　your　father；　Iyn'imigato…your　father；　my　husband…and　slew　him　there　in　the　great　hall　of　Asu'a。
　　〃Still　others　would　say　our　shadow　first　grew　in　the　deeps　of　time；　in　Venyha　Do'sae；　the　Lost　Garden；　and　that　we　brought　it　with　us　in　our　hearts。　They　would　say　that　even　those　born　here　in　our　new　land…like　you；　my　son…came　into　the　world　with　that　shadow　already　staining　your　innermost　selves；　so　that　there　has　been　no　innocence　anywhere　since　the　world　was　young。
　　〃And　that　is　the　problem　with　shadows；　Hakatri。　At　first　consideration　they　seem　to　be　quite　simple…a　matter　only　of　something　that　stands　before　the　light。　But　that　which　is　shadowed　from　one　side　may　from　another　angle　show　as　a　brilliant　reflection。　What　is　covered　by　shadow　one　day　may　die　in　harsh　sunlight　another　day；　and　the　world　will　be　lessened　by　its　passing。　Not　everything　that　thrives　in　shadow　is　bad；　my　son。。。〃
　　
　　Pelippa's　Bowl。。。　Pelippa's　Bowl。。。
　　Tiamak　was　finding　it　difficult　to　think。　He　repeated　the　name　distractedly　a　few　more　times；　having　momentarily　forgotten　what　it　meant；　then　realized　he　was　looking　at　a　swinging　signboard　that　bore　the　painted　image　of　a　golden　bowl。　He　squinted　at　it　woozily　for　a　few　moments；　unable　to　remember　exactly　how　he　had　wound　up　in　this　spot；　then　began　looking　around　for　a　place　to　tie　his　boat。
　　The　sign　of　the　Bowl　hung　over　the　door　of　a　large　but　rather　undistinguished…looking　inn　in　a　backwater　section　of　the　warehouse　dis…　trict。　The　rickety　structure　seemed　to　sag　between　two　larger　buildings；　like　a　drunk　with　a　crony　at　each　elbow。　An　armada　of　small　and　medium…sized　flatboats　bobbed　in　the　waterway　below；　tied　at　the　building's　crude　wharf　or　lashed　directly　to　the　pilings　that　held　the　building　and　its　slovenly　fellows　above　water。　The　inn　was　surprisingly　quiet；　as　if　both　the　guests　and　ostlers　were　sleeping。
　　Tiamak's　fever　had　returned　strongly　and　his　exertions　had　left　him　very　little　strength。　He　balefully　regarded　the　rope　ladder　that　depended　from　the　landing。　It　was　badly　tangled：　even　reaching　up　with　the　steering　pole　he　came　short　of　the　lowest　rung　by　a　good　cubit。　He　considered　jumping　to　make　up　the　last　bit　of　distance；　but　even　in　his　diminished　state　Tiamak　realized　that　when　one　was　too　weak　to　swim；　there　would　be　few　things　more　foolish　than　jumping　up　and　down　in　a　small　boat。　At　last；　stymied；　he　called　hoarsely　for　assistance。
　　If　this　was　one　of　Morgenes'　favorite　hostelries；　he　thought　muzzily　some　time　later；　then　the　doctor　had　a　high　tolerance　for　slackness。　He　renewed　his　braying　cry；　marveling　at　the　pained　quality　of　his　own　voice　as　it　echoed　through　this　unfrequented　area　of　Kwanitupul。　At　last；　a　white…haired　head　appeared　in　the　doorway　above　and　remained　there　for　long　moments；　regarding　Tiamak　as　though　he　were　some　interesting　but　unsolvable　puzzle。　At　last　the　head's　owner　left　the　safety　of　the　doorway　and　came　forward。　It　was　an　old　Perdruinese　or　Nabbanai　man；　tall　and　well…built；　whose　handsome　pink　face　wore　the　simple　expression　of　a　young　child。　He　stopped　and　squatted　at　the　edge　of　the　landing；　looking　down　at　Tiamak　with　a　pleasant　smile。
　　〃The　ladder！〃　Tiamak　waved　his　steering　pole。　〃I　can't　reach　the　ladder！〃
　　The　old　man　looked　kindly　from　Tiamak　to　the　ladder；　then　seemed　for　some　time　to　reflect　gravely　on　the　whole　question。　At　last　he　nodded；　his　smile　widening。　Tiamak；　despite　extreme　weariness　and　the　pain　of　his　throbbing　leg；　found　himself　smiling　back　at　this　strange　old　bird。　After　this　exchange　of　unspoken　good　cheer　had　gone　on　for　some　little　while；　the　man　abruptly　turned　and　disappeared　back　into　the　doorway。
　　Tiamak　howled　despairingly；　but　the　old　man　reappeared　a　few　moments　later　with　a　boat…hook　clutched　in　his　long…fingered　hand　which　he　used　to　jiggle　the　ladder　free；　it　uncoiled　the　rest　of　the　way　and　the　bottom　splashed　into　the　green　water。　Tiamak；　after　a　moment　of　mud…　died　deliberation；　took　a　few　things　from　the　boat　and　began　to　climb。　The　Wrannaman　found　he　had　to　stop　twice　during　the　short　three…fathom　trip　to　rest。　His　crocodile…bitten　leg　was　burning　with　a　pain　like　fire。
　　By　the　time　he　reached　the　top　his　head　was　reeling　worse　than　it　had　all　day。　The　old　man　had　gone；　but　when　Tiamak　dragged　the　heavy　door　open　and　hobbled　through　he　found　him　again；　now　sitting　in　the　corner　of　an　enclosed　courtyard　on　a　pile　of　blankets　that　looked　as　though　they　served　as　his　bed；　surrounded　by　skeins　of　rope　and　various　other　tools。　Most　of　the　space　in　the　damp　courtyard　was　taken　by　a　pair　of　upturned　boat…hulls。　One　had　been　badly　slashed；　as　though　by　a　sharp　rock。　The　other　was　half…painted。
　　As　Tiamak　made　his　way　around　the　jars　of　white　paint　that　cluttered　the　path　across　the　courtyard；　the　old　man　smiled　foolishly　at　him　once　more；　then　settled　back　into　his　blankets　as　though　to　fall　asleep。
　　The　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　courtyard　led　into　the　inn　itself。　This　bottom　floor　seemed　to　contain　only　a　dowdy　mon　room　with　a　handful　of　stools　and　a　few　long　tables。　A　sour…faced　Perdruinese　woman；　heavy…armed　and　with　gray…shot　hair；　stood　pouring　beer　from　one　jug　to　another。　
　　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　said。
　　Tiamak　paused　in　the　doorway　〃Are　you。。。〃　he　at　last　remembered　the　former　nun's　name；　〃Xorastra？〃
　　The　woman　made　a　face。　〃Dead　three　years。　She　was　my　aunt。　Mad　as　a　mudlark。　Who　are　you？　You're　a　swamp　man；　aren't　you？　We　don't　take　beads　or　feathers　here　for　payment。〃
　　〃I　need　a　place　to　stay。　My　leg　is　injured。　I　am　a　friend　of　Father　Dinivan　and　of　Doctor　Morgenes　Ercestres。〃
　　〃Never　heard　of　them。　Blessed　Elysia；　but　you　do　speak　decent　Perdruinese　for　a　savage；　don't　you！　We　have　no　rooms　available。　You　can　sleep　with　old　Ceallio　out　there。　He's　simple…minded　but　he　does　no　harm。　Six　cintis　a　night；　nine　if　you　want　food。〃　She　turned　away；　gesturing　absently　at　the　courtyard　beyond。
　　As　she　finished　speaking　a　trio　of　children　thundered　down　the　stairs；　smacking　at　each　other　with　switches；　laughing　and　shrieking。　They　almost　knocked　Tiamak　down　as　thev　pushed　past　him　and　went　through　into　the　courtyard。
　　〃I　must　have　help　with　my　leg。。。　〃　Tiamak　swayed　as　dizziness　washed　over　him。　〃Here。〃　He　reached　into　his　belt…pouch　and　pulled　out　the　two　gold　Imperators　he　had　been　saving　for　years。　He　had　brought　them　with　him　for　just　such　an　emergency；　and　what　good　would　money　be　to　him　if　he　died？　〃Please；　I　have　gold。〃
　　Xorastra's　niece　turned。　Her　eyes　bulged。　〃Rhiappa　and　her　large　Pirates！〃　she　swore。　〃Look　at　that；　now！〃
　　〃Please；　good　lady；　I　can　bring　you　back　many　more　of　these。〃　He　couldn't；　but　there　was　a　much　better　chance　this　woman　would　help　keep　him　alive　if　she　thought　he　could。　〃Just　get　a　barber　or　a　healer　to　see　to　my　leg；　and　give　me　food　and　a　place　to　sleep。〃
　　Her　mouth；　still　gaping　in　surprise　at　the　appearance　of　the　glittering　golden　coins；　widened　even　further　as　Tiamak　pitched　over　at　her　feet；　senseless　as　a　stone。
　　
　　
　　〃。。。But　although　not　everything　that　thrives　in　shadow　is　bad；　Hakatri；　still　much　that　hides　in　darkness　does　so　to　keep　its　evil　hidden　from　all　eyes。〃
　　Simon　was　beginning　to　lose　himself　in　this　strange　dream；　to　feel　as　though　it　were　to　him　that　the　patient；　pained　voice　spoke。　He　felt　bad　for　having　been　so　long　absent；　for　bringing　further　suffering　to　such　a　high　yet　afflicted　soul。
　　〃Your　brother　has　long　hidden　his　plans　beneath　a　cloak　of　shadow。　The　year…end　was　danced　countless　times　after　Asu'a's　fall　before　we　had　even　a　hint　that　he　still　lived…if　his　spectral　existence　can　be　called　life。　Long　he　plotted　in　darkness；　hundreds　of　years　of　black…minded　deliberation　before　the　first　steps　were　taken。　Now；　with　his　plan　marching　forward；　there　is　so　much　still　hidden　in　shadow。　I　think　and　I　watch；　I　wonder　and　I　guess；　but　the　subtlety　of　his　design　eludes　my　old　eyes。　I　have　seen　many　things　since　first　I　saw　leaves　fall　in　Osten　Ard；　but　I　cannot　make　sense　of　this。　What　does　he　plan？　What　does　your　brother　Ineluki　mean　to　do。。。　？〃
　　
　　The　stars　　seemed　very　naked　over　Stormspike；　gleaming　white　as　polished　bone；　cold　as　knobs　of　ice。　Ingen　Jegger　thought　them　very　beautiful。　He　stood　beside　his　horse　on　the　road　before　the　mountain。　The　bitter　wind　whistled　through　the　ivory　muzzle　of　his　snarling；　dog…faced　helm。　Even　his　Norn…stallion；　bred　in　the　world's　blackest；　coldest　stables；　was　doing　its　best　to　duck　the　brutal　sleet　that　the　wind　flung　like　arrows…but　Ingen　Jegger　was　exalted。　The　shrill　of　the　wind　was　a　lullabye；　the　sting　of　freezing　sleet　a　caress。　Ingen's　mistress　had　set　mm　a　great　task。
　　〃No　other　Queen's　Hunter　has　ever　been　granted　such　a　responsibility；〃　she　had　told　him　as　the　indigo　light　of　the　Well　filled　the　Chamber　of　the　Harp。　As　she　spoke；　the　groans　of　the　Singing　Harp…a　great；　translucent　and　ever…changing　thing　cloaked　by　the　mists　of　the　Well…had　made　the　very　stones　of　Stormspike　shudder。　〃We　have　brought　you　back　from　the　outlands　of　Death's　Country。〃　Utuk'ku's　glittering　mask　threw　back　the　Well's　blue　radiance　so　fiercely　that　her　face　was　obscured；　as　though　a　flame　burned　between　sh