tw.togreenangeltower2-第43部分

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　　　　　　　Swertclif　waited　like　an　infinitely　patient　ogre。　As　they　drew　closer；　the　great　dark　hill　seemed　to　blot　out　the　sky　as　well　as　the　sun；　spreading　and　swelling　until　it　seemed　they　could　not　turn　away　from　it　even　if　they　tried。　From　the　slope　of　its　outermost　foothills；　they　saw　a　flash　of　gray…green　to　the　south；　just　beyond　the　cliffs…the　Kynslagh；　visible　for　the　first　time。　Simon　felt　a　pang　of　joy　and　regret；　as　he　remembered　the　familiar；　soothing　song　of　the　gulls　and　thought　of　the　fisherman…father　he　had　never　known。
　　　　　　　At　last；　when　the　hill's　almost　perpendicular　face　stood　above　them　like　a　vast　wall；　they　made　camp　in　a　ravine。　The　winds　were　less　here；　and　Swertclif　itself　blocked　much　of　the　rain。　Simon　smiled　grimly　at　the　thought　that　the　ogre's　waiting　was　over：　he　and　his　panions　were　going　to　sleep　in　its　lap　tonight。
　　　　　　　No　one　wanted　to　be　first　to　speak　of　what　they　would　do　tomorrow。　The　making　of　the　fire　and　the　preparation　of　a　modest　supper　were　undertaken　with　a　minimum　of　conversation　and　little　of　the　fellowship　that　usually　enlivened　the　evenings。　Tonight　Miriamele　did　not　seem　angry　but　preoccupied；　and　even　Binabik　was　hesitant　in　his　actions；　as　though　his　thoughts　were　elsewhere。
　　　　　　　Simon　felt　surprisingly　calm；　almost　cheerful；　and　was　disappointed　that　his　panions　did　not　share　his　mood。　This　was　a　dangerous　place；　of　course；　and　the　next　day's　doings　would　be　fearful…he　was　not　letting　himself　think　too　much　about　where　the　sword　was　and　what　needed　to　be　done　to　find　it…but　at　least　he　was　doing　something。　At　least　he　was　performing　the　kind　of　task　for　which　he　had　been　knighted。　And　if　it　worked…oh；　glory！　If　it　worked；　surely　Miriamele　would　see　that　taking　the　sword　to　Josua　would　be　more　important　than　trying　to　convince　her　mad　father　to　halt　a　war　that　was　doubtless　already　beyond　his　power　to　stop。　Yes；　surely　when　they　had　Bright…Nail…think　of　it；　Bright…Nail！　Prester　John's　famous　sword！…in　hand；　Miriamele　would　realize　that　they　had　obtained　the　greatest　prize　they　could　hope　for；　and　he　and　Binabik　could　coax　her　back　to　the　parative　safety　of　her　uncle's　camp。
　　　　　　　Simon　was　considering　these　ideas　and　letting　his　meal　settle　when　Binabik　finally　began　to　speak。
　　　　　　　〃Once　we　are　climbing　this　hill；〃　the　troll　said　slowly；　〃we　will　be　having　great　difficulty　to　turn　back。　We　are　having　no　knowledge　whether　there　are　soldiers　above…perhaps　Elias　has　placed　guards　for　protecting　his　father's　sword　and　tomb。　If　we　are　going　any　farther　westward；　we　will　be　ing　to　where　people　in　that　great　castle　can　be　seeing　us。　Do　you　have　certainness…real；　real　true　certainness！…that　you　both　want　this？　Please　think　before　you　are　speaking。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　did　as　his　friend　asked。　After　a　while；　he　knew　what　he　wished　to　say。　〃We　are　here。　The　next　time　we　are　so　close　to　Bright…Nail；　there　may　be　men　fighting　everywhere。　We　may　never　be　able　to　get　near　it。　So　I　think　it　would　be　foolish　not　to　try　to　take　it　now。　I'm　going。〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　looked　at　Simon；　then　slowly　nodded。　〃So　we　will　go　to　take　the　sword。〃　He　turned　to　the　princess。　〃Miriamele？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　little　to　say　about　it。　If　we　need　to　use　the　Three　Swords；　then　that　will　mean　I　have　failed。〃　She　smiled；　but　it　was　a　smile　Simon　did　not　like　at　all。　〃And　if　I　fail　to　convince　my　father；　I　doubt　that　whatever　happens　afterward　will　mean　much　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　The　troll　made　a　close…handed　gesture。　〃There　is　never　sure　knowledge。　I　will　help　you　as　I　can；　and　Simon　will　also；　I　am　not　doubting　that…but　you　must　not　give　up　any　chance　of　ing　out　again。　Thinking　of　this　sort　will　make　you　careless。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　be　very　happy　to　e　out　again；〃　said　Miriamele。　〃I　want　to　help　my　father　understand　so　that　he　will　cease　the　killing；　then　I　want　to　say　farewell　to　him。　I　could　never　live　with　him　after　what　he　has　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　hoping　that　you　get　the　thing　you　are　wishing　for；〃　Binabik　replied。　〃So…first　we　are　to　go　swordsearching；　then　we　will　decide　what　can　be　done　for　helping　Miriamele。　For　such　weighty　efforts；　I　have　need　of　sleep。〃
　　　　　　　He　lay　down；　curling　against　Qantaqa；　and　pulled　his　hood　over　his　face。　Miriamele　continued　to　stare　into　the　campfire。　Simon　watched　her　awkwardly　for　a　short　while；　then　pulled　his　own　cloak　tight　around　him　and　lay　back。　〃Good　night；　Miriamele；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope　。。。　I　hope。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　do　I。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　threw　his　arm　over　his　eyes　and　waited　for　sleep。
　　　　　　　He　dreamed　that　he　sat　atop　Green　Angel　Tower；　perched　like　a　gargoyle。　Someone　was　moving　beside　him。
　　　　　　　It　was　the　angel　herself；　who　had　apparently　left　her　spire　and　now　seated　herself　beside　him；　laying　a　cool　hand　on　his　wrist。　She　looked　strangely　like　the　little　girl　Leieth；　but　made　of　rough　bronze　and　green　with　verdigris。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　long　way　down。〃　The　angel's　voice　was　beautiful；　soft　but　strong。
　　　　　　　Simon　stared　at　the　tiny　rooftops　of　the　Hayholt　below　him。　〃It　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　not　what　1　mean。〃　The　angel's　tone　was　gently　chiding。　〃I　mean　down　to　where　the　Truth　is。　Down　to　the　bottom；　where　things　begin。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　understand。〃　He　felt　curiously　light；　as　though　the　next　puff　of　wind　might　send　him　sailing　off　the　tower　roof；　whirling　like　a　leaf。　It　seemed　that　the　angel's　grip　on　his　arm　was　the　only　thing　that　held　him　where　he　sat。
　　　　　　　〃From　up　here；　the　matters　of　Earth　look　small；〃　she　said。　〃That　is　one　way　to　see；　and　a　good　one。　But　it　is　not　the　only　one。　The　farther　down　you　go；　the　harder　things　are　to　understand…but　the　more　important　they　are。　You　must　go　very　deep。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　how　to　do　that。〃　He　stared　at　her　face；　but　despite　its　familiarity　it　was　still　lifeless；　just　a　casting　of　rough　metal。　There　was　no　hint　of　friendship　or　kindness　in　the　stiff　features。　〃Where　should　I　go？　Who　will　help　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃Deep。　You。〃　The　angel　suddenly　stood；　as　her　hand　released　him；　Simon　felt　himself　beginning　to　float　free　of　the　tower。　He　clutched　a　curving　bit　of　the　roof　and　clung。　〃It　is　hard　for　me　to　talk　to　you；　Simon；〃　she　said。　〃I　may　not　be　able　to　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　can't　you　just　tell　me？〃　he　cried。　His　feet　were　floating　off　the　edge；　his　body　fluttered　like　a　sail；　trying　to　follow。　〃Just　tell　me！〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　so　easy。〃　The　angel　turned　and　slowly　rose　back　to　her　plinth　atop　the　tower　roof。　〃If　I　can　e　again；　I　will。　But　it　is　only　possible　to　talk　clearly　about　less　important　things。　The　greatest　truths　lie　within；　always　within。　They　cannot　be　given。　They　must　be　found。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　felt　himself　tugged　free　of　his　handhold。　Slowly；　like　a　cartwheel　spun　loose　from　its　axle；　he　began　to　revolve　as　he　floated　out。　Sky　and　earth　moved　alternately　past　him；　as　though　the　world　were　a　child's　ball　in　which　he　had　been　imprisoned；　a　ball　now　sent　rolling　by　a　vengeful　kick。。。。
　　　　　　　Simon　awakened　in　faint　moonlight；　sweating　despite　the　chill　night　air。　The　dark　bulk　of　Swertclif　hung　above　him　like　a　warning。

　　　　　　　The　next　day　found　Simon　considerably　less　certain　about　things　than　he　had　been　the　night　before。　As　they　readied　for　the　climb；　he　found　himself　worrying　over　the　dream。　If　Amerasu　had　been　right；　if　Simon　had　truly　bee　more　open　to　the　Road　of　Dreams；　could　there　be　a　meaning　to　what　he　had　been　told　by　the　dream　angel？　How　could　he　go　deeper？　He　was　about　to　climb　a　tall　hill。　And　what　answer　was　within？　Some　secret　that　even　he　didn't　know？　It　just　didn't　make　sense。
　　　　　　　The　pany　set　out　as　the　sun　began　to　warm　in　the　sky。　For　the　first　part　of　the　morning　they　rode　up　through　the　foothills；　mounting　Swertclif's　lower　reaches。　As　the　lower；　gentler　slopes　fell　away　behind　them；　they　were　forced　to　dismount　and　lead　the　horses。
　　　　　　　They　stopped　for　a　mid…morning　meal…a　little　of　the　dried　fruit　and　bread　that　Binabik　had　brought　with　him　from　Josua's　camp　stores。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　thinking　it　is　time　to　leave　the　horses　behind　us；〃　said　the　troll。　〃If　Qantaqa　is　still　wishing　to　e；　she　will　climb　on　her　own　instead　of　carrying　me　upon　her　back。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　had　not　thought　about　having　to　leave　Homefinder。　He　had　hoped　there　would　be　a　way　to　ride　to　the　summit；　but　the　only　level　path　was　the　one　on　the　far　side　of　Swertclif；　the　funeral　road　that　led　across　the　top　of　the　headland　from　Erchester　and　the　Hayholt。
　　　　　　　Binabik　had　brought　a　good　quantity　of　rope　in　his　saddlebag；　he　sacrificed　enough　of　it　for　Simon　and　Miriamele　to　leave　their　mounts　tied　on　long　tethers　to　a　low；　wind…curled　tree　within　reach　of　a　natural　rocky　pool　full　of　rainwater。　The　two　horses　had　ample　room　to　graze　during　the　half　a　day　or　more　they　would　be　required　to　wait。　Simon　laid　his　face　against　Homefinder's　neck　and　quietly　promised　her　he　would　be　back　as　soon　as　he　could。
　　　　　　　〃Any　other　things　there　are　that　need　doing？〃　asked　Binabik；　Simon　stared　up　at　the　pinnacle　of　Swertclif　and　wished　he　could　think　of　something　that　would　forestall　the　climb　a　little　longer。　〃Then　let　us　be　going；〃　the　troll　said。
　　　　　　　Swertclif's　eastern　face　was　not　as　sheerly　vertical　as　it　seemed　from　a　distance。　By　traversing　diagonally；　the　pany；　with　Qantaqa　trailing　behind；　were　even　able　occasionally　to　walk　upright；　although　more　often　than　not　they　went　crouching　from　handhold　to　cautious　handhold。　In　only　one　spot；　a　narrow　chink　between　the　cliff　face　and　a　standing　stone；　did　Simon　feel　any　worry；　but　he　and　his　two　panions　inched　through　while　Qantaqa；　who　had　found　some　private　wolfish　path；　stood　on　the　far　side　with　her　tongue　dangling　pinkly；　watching　their　struggles　with　apparent　amusement。
　　　　　　　A　few　hours　after　noon　the　skies　darkened　and　the　air　grew　heavy。　A　light　rain　swept　across　the　cliff　face；　wetting　the　climbers　and　worrying　Simon。　It　was　not　so　bad　where　they　were；　but　it　looked　to　get　more　difficult　very　soon；　and　there　was　nothing　pleasant　about　the　idea　of　trying　to　cross　some　of　the　steeply　angled　stones　if　they　were　slick　with　rain。　But　the　small　shower　passed；　and　although　the　clouds　remained　threatening；　no　larger　storm　seemed　imminent。
　　　　　　　The　climb　did　grow　steeper；　but　it　was　better　than　Simon　had　feared。　Binabik　was　leading；　and　the　little　man　was　as　surefooted　as　o