grrm.astormofswords-第154部分

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ited；　his　striped　lance　held　upright。　The　charger　tossed　his　head　impatiently　and　pawed　the　sandy　earth。　As　massive　as　he　was；　the　eunuch　looked　small　beside　the　hero　on　his　horse。
　〃A　chivalrous　man　would　dismount；〃　said　Arstan。
　Oznak　zo　Pahl　lowered　his　lance　and　charged。
　Belwas　stopped　with　legs　spread　wide。　In　one　hand　was　his　small　round　shield；　in　the　other　the　curved　arakh　that　Arstan　tended　with　such　care。　His　great　brown　stomach　and　sagging　chest　were　bare　above　the　yellow　silk　sash　knotted　about　his　waist；　and　he　wore　no　armor　but　his　studded　leather　vest；　so　absurdly　small　that　it　did　not　even　cover　his　nipples。　〃We　should　have　given　him　chainmail；〃　Dany　said；　suddenly　anxious。
　〃Mail　would　only　slow　him；〃　said　Ser　Jorah。　〃They　wear　no　armor　in　the　fighting　pits。　It's　blood　the　crowds　e　to　see。〃
　Dust　flew　from　the　hooves　of　the　white　charger。　Oznak　thundered　toward　Strong　Belwas；　his　striped　cloak　streaming　from　his　shoulders。　The　whole　city　of　Meereen　seemed　to　be　screaming　him　on。　The　besiegers'　cheers　seemed　few　and　thin　by　parison；　her　Unsullied　stood　in　silent　ranks；　watching　with　stone　faces。　Belwas　might　have　been　made　of　stone　as　well。　He　stood　in　the　horse's　path；　his　vest　stretched　tight　across　his　broad　back。　Oznak's　lance　was　leveled　at　the　center　of　his　chest。　its　bright　steel　point　winked　in　the　sunlight。　He's　going　to　be　impaled；　she　thought　。　。　。　as　the　eunuch　spun　sideways。　And　quick　as　the　blink　of　an　eye　the　horseman　was　beyond　him；　wheeling；　raising　the　lance。　Belwas　made　no　move　to　strike　at　him。　The　Meereenese　on　the　walls　screamed　even　louder。　〃What　is　he　doing？〃　Dany　demanded。
　〃Giving　the　mob　a　show；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。
　Oznak　brought　the　horse　around　Belwas　in　a　wide　circle；　then　dug　in　with　his　spurs　and　charged　again。　Again　Belwas　waited；　then　spun　and　knocked　the　point　of　the　lance　aside。　She　could　hear　the　eunuch's　booming　laughter　echoing　across　the　plain　as　the　hero　went　past　him。　〃The　lance　is　too　long；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。　〃All　Belwas　needs　do　is　avoid　the　point。　Instead　of　trying　to　spit　him　so　prettily；　the　fool　should　ride　right　over　him。〃
　Oznak　zo　Pahl　charged　a　third　time；　and　now　Dany　could　see　plainly　that　he　was　riding　past　Belwas；　the　way　a　Westerosi　knight　might　ride　at　an　opponent　in　a　tilt；　rather　than　at　him；　like　a　Dothraki　riding　down　a　foe。　The　flat　level　ground　allowed　the　charger　to　get　up　a　good　speed；　but　it　also　made　it　easy　for　the　eunuch　to　dodge　the　cumbersome　fourteen…foot　lance。
　Meereen's　pink…and…white　hero　tried　to　anticipate　this　time；　and　swung　his　lance　sideways　at　the　last　second　to　catch　Strong　Belwas　when　he　dodged。　But　the　eunuch　had　anticipated　too；　and　this　time　he　dropped　down　instead　of　spinning　sideways。　The　lance　passed　harmlessly　over　his　head。　And　suddenly　Belwas　was　rolling；　and　bringing　the　razor…sharp　arakh　around　in　a　silver　arc。　They　heard　the　charger　scream　as　the　blade　bit　into　his　legs；　and　then　the　horse　was　falling；　the　hero　tumbling　from　the　saddle。
　A　sudden　silence　swept　along　the　brick　parapets　of　Meereen。　Now　it　was　Dany's　people　who　were　screaming　and　cheering。
　Oznak　leapt　clear　of　his　horse　and　managed　to　draw　his　sword　before　Strong　Belwas　was　on　him。　Steel　sang　against　steel；　too　fast　and　furious　for　Dany　to　follow　the　blows。　It　could　not　have　been　a　dozen　heartbeats　before　Belwas's　chest　was　awash　in　blood　from　a　slice　below　his　breasts；　and　Oznak　zo　Pahl　had　an　arakh　planted　right　between　his　ram's　horns。　The　eunuch　wrenched　the　blade　loose　and　parted　the　hero's　head　from　his　body　with　three　savage　blows　to　the　neck。　He　held　it　up　high　for　the　Meereenese　to　see；　then　flung　it　toward　the　city　gates　and　let　it　bounce　and　roll　across　the　sand。
　〃So　much　for　the　hero　of　Meereen；〃　said　Daario；　laughing。
　〃A　victory　without　meaning；〃　Ser　Jorah　cautioned。　〃We　will　not　win　Meereen　by　killing　its　defenders　one　at　a　time。〃
　〃No；〃　Dany　agreed；　〃but　I'm　pleased　we　killed　this　one。〃
　The　defenders　on　the　walls　began　firing　their　crossbows　at　Belwas；　but　the　bolts　fell　short　or　skittered　harmlessly　along　the　ground。　The　eunuch　turned　his　back　on　the　steel…tipped　rain；　lowered　his　trousers；　squatted；　and　shat　in　the　direction　of　the　city。　He　wiped　himself　with　Oznak's　striped　cloak；　and　paused　long　enough　to　loot　the　hero's　corpse　and　put　the　dying　horse　out　of　his　agony　before　trudging　back　to　the　olive　grove。
　The　besiegers　gave　him　a　raucous　wele　as　soon　as　he　reached　the　camp。　Her　Dothraki　hooted　and　screamed；　and　the　Unsullied　sent　up　a　great　clangor　by　banging　their　spears　against　their　shields。　〃Well　done；〃　Ser　Jorah　told　him；　and　Brown　Ben　tossed　the　eunuch　a　ripe　plum　and　said；　〃A　sweet　fruit　for　a　sweet　fight。〃　Even　her　Dothraki　handmaids　had　words　of　praise。　〃We　would　braid　your　hair　and　hang　a　bell　in　it；　Strong　Belwas；〃　said　Jhiqui；　〃but　you　have　no　hair　to　braid。〃
　〃Strong　Belwas　needs　no　tinkly　bells。〃　The　eunuch　ate　Brown　Ben's　plum　in　four　big　bites　and　tossed　aside　the　stone。　〃Strong　Belwas　needs　liver　and　onions。〃
　〃You　shall　have　it；〃　said　Dany。　〃Strong　Belwas　is　hurt。〃　His　stomach　was　red　with　the　blood　sheeting　down　from　the　meaty　gash　beneath　his　breasts。
　〃It　is　nothing。　I　let　each　man　cut　me　once；　before　I　kill　him。〃　He　slapped　his　bloody　belly。　〃Count　the　cuts　and　you　will　know　how　many　Strong　Belwas　has　slain。〃
　But　Dany　had　lost　Khal　Drogo　to　a　similar　wound；　and　she　was　not　willing　to　let　it　go　untreated。　She　sent　Missandei　to　find　a　certain　Yunkish　freedman　renowned　for　his　skill　in　the　healing　arts。　Belwas　howled　and　plained；　but　Dany　scolded　him　and　called　him　a　big　bald　baby　until　he　let　the　healer　stanch　the　wound　'with　vinegar；　sew　it　shut；　and　bind　his　chest　with　strips　of　linen　soaked　in　fire　wine。　Only　then　did　she　lead　her　captains　and　manders　inside　her　pavilion　for　their　council。
　〃I　must　have　this　city；〃　she　told　them；　sitting　crosslegged　on　a　pile　of　cushions；　her　dragons　all　about　her。　Irri　and　Jhiqui　poured　wine。　〃Her　granaries　are　full　to　bursting。　There　are　flgs　and　dates　and　olives　growing　on　the　terraces　of　her　pyramids；　and　casks　of　salt　fish　and　smoked　meat　buried　in　her　cellars。〃
　〃And　fat　chests　of　gold；　silver；　and　gemstones　as　well；〃　Daario　reminded　them。　〃Let　us　not　forget　the　gemstones。〃
　〃I've　had　a　look　at　the　landward　walls；　and　I　see　no　point　of　weakness；〃　said　Ser　Jorah　Mormont。　〃Given　time；　we　might　be　able　to　mine　beneath　a　tower　and　make　a　breach；　but　what　do　we　eat　while　we're　digging？　Our　stores　are　all　but　exhausted。〃
　〃No　weakness　in　the　landward　walls？〃　said　Dany。　Meereen　stood　on　a　jut　of　sand　and　stone　where　the　slow　brown　Skahazadhan　flowed　into　Slaver's　Bay。　The　city's　north　wall　ran　along　the　riverbank；　its　west　along　the　bay　shore。　〃Does　that　mean　we　might　attack　from　the　river　or　the　sea？〃
　〃With　three　ships？　We'll　want　to　have　Captain　Groleo　take　a　good　look　at　the　wall　along　the　river；　but　unless　it's　crumbling　that's　just　a　wetter　way　to　die。〃
　〃What　if　we　were　to　build　siege　towers？　My　brother　Viserys　told　tales　of　such；　I　know　they　can　be　made。〃
　〃From　wood；　Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。　〃The　slavers　have　burnt　every　tree　within　twenty　leagues　of　here。　Without　wood；　we　have　no　trebuchets　to　smash　the　walls；　no　ladders　to　go　over　them；　no　siege　towers；　no　turtles；　and　no　rams。　We　can　storm　the　gates　with　axes；　to　be　sure；　but　。　。　。〃
　〃Did　you　see　them　bronze　heads　above　the　gates？〃　asked　Brown　Ben　Plumm。　〃Rows　of　harpy　heads　with　open　mouths？　The　Meereenese　can　squirt　boiling　oil　out　them　mouths；　and　cook　your　axemen　where　they　stand。〃
　Daario　Naharis　gave　Grey　Worm　a　smile。　〃Perhaps　the　Unsullied　should　wield　the　axes。　Boiling　oil　feels　like　no　more　than　a　warm　bath　to　you；　I　have　heard。〃
　〃This　is　false。〃　Grey　Worm　did　not　return　the　smile。　〃These　ones　do　not　feel　burns　as　men　do；　yet　such　oil　blinds　and　kills。　The　Unsullied　do　not　fear　to　die；　though。　Give　these　ones　rams；　and　we　will　batter　down　these　gates　or　die　in　the　attempt。〃
　〃You　would　die；〃　said　Brown　Ben。　At　Yunkai；　when　he　took　mand　of　the　Second　Sons；　he　claimed　to　be　the　veteran　of　a　hundred　battles。　〃Though　I　will　not　say　I　fought　bravely　in　all　of　them。　There　are　old　sellswords　and　bold　sellswords；　but　no　old　bold　sellswords。〃　She　saw　that　it　was　true。
　Dany　sighed。　〃I　will　not　throw　away　Unsullied　lives；　Grey　Worm。　Perhaps　we　can　starve　the　city　out。〃
　Ser　Jorah　looked　unhappy。　〃We'll　starve　long　before　they　do；　Your　Grace。　There's　no　food　here；　nor　fodder　for　our　mules　and　horses。　I　do　not　like　this　river　water　either。　Meereen　shits　into　the　Skahazadhan　but　draws　its　drinking　water　from　deep　wells。　Already　we've　had　reports　of　sickness　in　the　camps；　fever　and　brownleg　and　three　cases　of　the　bloody　flux。　There　will　be　more　if　we　remain。　The　slaves　are　weak　from　the　march。〃
　〃Freedmen；〃　Dany　corrected。　〃They　are　slaves　no　longer。〃
　〃Slave　or　free；　they　are　hungry　and　they'll　soon　be　sick。　The　city　is　better　provisioned　than　we　are；　and　can　be　resupplied　by　water。　Your　three　ships　are　not　enough　to　deny　them　access　to　both　the　river　and　the　sea。〃
　〃Then　what　do　you　advise；　Ser　Jorah？〃
　〃You　will　not　like　it。〃
　〃I　would　hear　it　all　the　same。〃
　〃As　you　wish。　I　say；　let　this　city　be。　You　cannot　free　every　slave　in　the　world；　Khaleesi。　Your　war　is　in　Westeros。〃
　〃I　have　not　forgotten　Westeros。〃　Dany　dreamt　of　it　some　nights；　this　fabled　land　that　she　had　never　seen。　〃If　I　let　Meereen's　old　brick　walls　defeat　me　so　easily；　though；　how　will　I　ever　take　the　great　stone　castles　of　Westeros？〃
　〃As　Aegon　did；〃　Ser　Jorah　said；　〃with　fire。　By　the　time　we　reach　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　your　dragons　will　be　grown。　And　we　will　have　siege　towers　and　trebuchets　as　well；　all　the　things　we　lack　here　。　。　。　but　the　way　across　the　Lands　of　the　Long　Summer　is　long　and　grueling；　and　there　are　dangers　we　cannot　know。　You　stopped　at　Astapor　to　buy　an　army；　not　to　start　a　war。　Save　your　spears　and　swords　for　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　my　queen。　Leave　Meereen　to　the　Meereenese　and　march　west　for　Pentos。〃
　〃Defeated？〃　said　Dany；　bristling。
　〃When　cowards　hide　behind　great　walls；　it　is　they　who　are　defeated；　Khaleesi；〃　Ko　Jhogo　said。
　Her　other　bloodriders　concurred。　〃Blood　of　my　blood；〃　said　Rakharo；　〃when　cowards　hide　and　burn　the　food　and　fodder；　great　khals