grrm.astormofswords-第215部分

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the　Wall；　not　even　in　dreams。〃　The　direwolf　had　no　answer；　but　he　licked　Jon's　face　with　a　tongue　like　a　wet　rasp；　and　his　eyes　caught　the　last　light　and　shone　like　two　great　red　suns。
　Red　eyes；　Jon　realized；　but　not　like　Melisandre's。　He　had　a　weirwood's　eyes。　Red　eyes；　red　mouth；　white　fur。　Blood　and　bone；　like　a　heart　tree。　He　belongs　to　the　old　gods；　this　one。　And　he　alone　of　all　the　direwolves　was　white。　Six　pups　they'd　found　in　the　late　summer　snows；　him　and　Robb；　five　that　were　grey　and　black　and　brown；　for　the　five　Starks；　and　one　white；　as　white　as　Snow。
　He　had　his　answer　then。
　Beneath　the　Wall；　the　queen's　men　were　kindling　their　nightfire。　He　saw　Melisandre　emerge　from　the　tunnel　with　the　king　beside　her；　to　lead　the　prayers　she　believed　would　keep　the　dark　away。　〃e；　Ghost；〃　Jon　told　the　wolf。　〃With　me。　You're　hungry；　I　know。　I　could　feel　it。〃　They　ran　together　for　the　gate；　circling　wide　around　the　nightfire；　where　reaching　flames　clawed　at　the　black　belly　of　the　night。
　The　king's　men　were　much　in　evidence　in　the　yards　of　Castle　Black。　They　stopped　as　Jon　went　by；　and　gaped　at　him。　None　of　them　had　ever　seen　a　direwolf　before；　he　realized；　and　Ghost　was　twice　as　large　as　the　mon　wolves　that　prowled　their　southron　greenwoods。　As　he　walked　toward　the　armory；　Jon　chanced　to　look　up　and　saw　Val　standing　in　her　tower　window。　I'm　sorry；　he　thought。　I'm　not　the　man　to　steal　you　out　of　there。
　In　the　practice　yard　he　came　upon　a　dozen　king's　men　with　torches　and　long　spears　in　their　hands。　Their　sergeant　looked　at　Ghost　and　scowled；　and　a　couple　of　his　men　lowered　their　spears　until　the　knight　who　led　them　said；　〃Move　aside　and　let　them　pass。〃　To　Jon　he　said；　〃You're　late　for　your　supper。〃
　〃Then　get　out　of　my　way；　ser；〃　Jon　replied；　and　he　did。
　He　could　hear　the　noise　even　before　he　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps；　raised　voices；　curses；　someone　pounding　on　a　table。　Jon　stepped　into　the　vault　all　but　unnoticed。　His　brothers　crowded　the　benches　and　the　tables；　but　more　were　standing　and　shouting　than　were　sitting；　and　no　one　was　eating。　There　was　no　food。　What's　happening　here？　Lord　Janos　Slynt　was　bellowing　about　tumcloaks　and　treason；　Iron　Emmett　stood　on　a　table　with　a　naked　sword　in　his　fist；　Three…Finger　Hobb　was　cursing　a　ranger　from　the　Shadow　Tower　。　。　。　some　Eastwatch　man　slammed　his　fist　onto　the　table　again　and　again；　demanding　quiet；　but　all　that　did　was　add　to　the　din　echoing　off　the　vaulted　ceiling。
　Pyp　was　the　first　to　see　Jon。　He　grinned　at　the　sight　of　Ghost；　put　two　fingers　in　his　mouth；　and　whistled　as　only　a　mummer's　boy　could　whistle。　The　shrill　sound　cut　through　the　clamor　like　a　sword。　As　Jon　walked　toward　the　tables；　more　of　the　brothers　took　note；　and　fell　quiet。　A　hush　spread　across　the　cellar；　until　the　only　sounds　were　Jon's　heels　clicking　on　the　stone　floor；　and　the　soft　crackle　of　the　logs　in　the　hearth。
　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　shattered　the　silence。　〃The　tumcloak　graces　us　with　his　presence　at　last。〃
　Lord　Janos　was　red…faced　and　quivering。　〃The　beast；〃　he　gasped。　〃Look！　The　beast　that　tore　the　life　from　Halfhand。　A　warg　walks　among　us；　brothers。　A　WARG！　This　。　。　。　this　creature　is　not　fit　to　lead　us！　This　beastling　is　not　fit　to　live！〃
　Ghost　bared　his　teeth；　but　Jon　put　a　hand　on　his　head。　〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　tell　me　what's　happened　here？〃
　Maester　Aemon　answered；　from　the　far　end　of　the　hall。　〃Your　name　has　been　put　forth　as　Lord　mander；　Jon。〃
　That　was　so　absurd　Jon　had　to　smile。　〃By　who？〃　he　said；　looking　for　his　friends。　This　had　to　be　one　of　Pyp's　japes；　surely。　But　Pyp　shrugged　at　him；　and　Grerm　shook　his　head。　It　was　Dolorous　Edd　Tollett　who　stood。　〃By　me。　Aye；　it's　a　terrible　cruel　thing　to　do　to　a　friend；　but　better　you　than　me。〃
　Lord　Janos　started　sputtering　again。　〃This；　this　is　an　outrage。　We　ought　to　hang　this　boy。　Yes！　Hang　him；　I　say；　hang　him　for　a　tumcloak　and　a　warg；　along　with　his　friend　Mance　Rayder。　Lord　mander？　I　will　not　have　it；　I　will　not　suffer　it！〃
　Cotter　Pyke　stood　up。　〃You　won't　suffer　it？　Might　be　you　had　those　gold　cloaks　trained　to　lick　your　bloody　arse；　but　you're　wearing　a　black　cloak　now。〃
　〃Any　brother　may　offer　any　name　for　our　consideration；　so　long　as　the　man　has　said　his　vows；〃　Ser　Denys　Mallister　said。　〃Tollett　is　well　within　his　rights；　my　lord。〃
　A　dozen　men　started　to　talk　at　once；　each　trying　to　drown　out　the　others；　and　before　long　half　the　hall　was　shouting　once　more。　This　time　it　was　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　who　leapt　up　on　the　table；　and　raised　his　hands　for　quiet。　〃Brothers！〃　he　cried；　〃this　gains　us　naught。　I　say　we　vote。　This　king　who　has　taken　the　King's　Tower　has　posted　men　at　all　the　doors　to　see　that　we　do　not　eat　nor　leave　till　we　have　made　a　choice。　So　be　it！　We　will　choose；　and　choose　again；　all　night　if　need　be；　until　we　have　our　lord　。　。　。　but　before　we　cast　our　tokens；　I　believe　our　First　Builder　has　something　to　say　to　us。〃
　Othell　Yarwyck　stood　up　slowly；　frowning。　The　big　builder　rubbed　his　long　lantern　jaw　and　said；　〃Well；　I'm　pulling　my　name　out。　If　you　wanted　me；　you　had　ten　chances　to　choose　me；　and　you　didn't。　Not　enough　of　you；　anyway。　I　was　going　to　say　that　those　who　were　casting　a　token　for　me　ought　to　choose　Lord　Janos　。　。　。〃
　Ser　Alliser　nodded。　〃Lord　Slynt　is　the　best　possible　。　。　。〃
　〃I　wasn't　done；　Alliser；〃　Yarwyck　plained。　〃Lord　Slynt　manded　the　City　Watch　in　King's　Landing；　we　all　know；　and　he　was　Lord　of　Harrenhal　。　。　。〃
　〃He's　never　seen　Harrenhal；〃　Cotter　Pyke　shouted　out。
　〃Well；　that's　so；〃　said　Yarwyck。　〃Anyway；　now　that　I'm　standing　here；　I　don't　recall　why　I　thought　Slynt　would　be　such　a　good　choice。　That　would　be　sort　of　kicking　King　Stannis　in　the　mouth；　and　I　don't　see　how　that　serves　us。　Might　be　Snow　would　be　better。　He's　been　longer　on　the　Wall；　he's　Ben　Stark's　nephew；　and　he　served　the　Old　Bear　as　squire。〃　Yarwyck　shrugged。　〃Pick　who　you　want；　just　so　it's　not　me。〃　He　sat　down。
　Janos　Slynt　had　turned　from　red　to　purple；　Jon　saw；　but　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　had　gone　pale。　The　Eastwatch　man　was　pounding　his　fist　on　the　table　again；　but　now　he　was　shouting　for　the　kettle。　Some　of　his　friends　took　up　the　cry。　〃Kettle！〃　they　roared；　as　one。　〃Kettle；　kettle；　KETTLE！〃
　The　kettle　was　in　the　corner　by　the　hearth；　a　big　black　potbellied　thing　with　two　huge　handles　and　a　heavy　lid。　Maester　Aemon　said　a　word　to　Sam　and　Clydas　and　they　went　and　grabbed　the　handles　and　dragged　the　kettle　over　to　the　table。　A　few　of　the　brothers　were　already　queueing　up　by　the　token　barrels　as　Clydas　took　the　lid　off　and　almost　dropped　it　on　his　foot。　With　a　raucous　scream　and　a　clap　of　wings；　a　huge　raven　burst　out　of　the　kettle。　It　flapped　upward；　seeking　the　rafters　perhaps；　or　a　window　to　make　its　escape；　but　there　were　no　rafters　in　the　vault；　nor　windows　either。　The　raven　was　trapped。　Cawing　loudly；　it　circled　the　hall；　once；　twice；　three　times。　And　Jon　heard　Samwell　Tarly　shout；　〃I　know　that　bird！　That's　Lord　Mormont's　raven！〃
　The　raven　landed　on　the　table　nearest　Jon。　〃Snow；〃　it　cawed。　it　was　an　old　bird；　dirty　and　bedraggled。　〃Snow；〃　it　said　again；　〃Snow；　snow；　snow〃　It　walked　to　the　end　of　the　table；　spread　its　wings　again；　and　flew　to　Jon's　shoulder。
　Lord　Janos　Slynt　sat　down　so　heavily　he　made　a　thump；　but　Ser　Alliser　filled　the　vault　with　mocking　laughter。　〃Ser　Piggy　thinks　we're　all　fools；　brothers；〃　he　said。　〃He's　taught　the　bird　this　little　trick。　They　all　say　snow；　go　up　to　the　rookery　and　hear　for　yourselves。　Mormont's　bird　had　more　words　than　that。〃
　The　raven　cocked　its　head　and　looked　at　Jon。　〃Corn？〃　it　said　hopefully。　When　it　got　neither　corn　nor　answer；　it　quorked　and　muttered；　〃Kettle？　Kettle？　Kettle？〃
　The　rest　was　arrowheads；　a　torrent　of　arrowheads；　a　flood　of　arrowheads；　arrowheads　enough　to　drown　the　last　few　stones　and　shells；　and　all　the　copper　pennies　too。
　When　the　count　was　done；　Jon　found　himself　surrounded。　Some　clapped　him　on　the　back；　whilst　others　bent　the　knee　to　him　as　if　he　were　a　lord　in　truth。　Satin；　Owen　the　Oaf；　Halder；　Toad；　Spare　Boot；　Giant；　Mully；　Ulmer　of　the　Kingswood；　Sweet　Donnel　Hill；　and　half　a　hundred　more　pressed　around　him。　Dywen　clacked　his　wooden　teeth　and　said；　〃Gods　be　good；　our　Lord　mander's　still　in　swaddling　clothes。〃　Iron　Emmett　said；　〃I　hope　this　don't　mean　I　can't　beat　the　bloody　piss　out　of　you　next　time　we　train；　my　lord。〃　Three…Finger　Hobb　wanted　to　know　if　he'd　still　be　eating　with　the　men；　or　if　he'd　want　his　meals　sent　up　to　his　solar。　Even　Bowen　Marsh　came　up　to　say　he　would　be　glad　to　continue　as　Lord　Steward　if　that　was　Lord　Snow's　wish。
　〃Lord　Snow；〃　said　Cotter　Pyke；　〃if　you　muck　this　up；　I'm　going　to　rip　your　liver　out　and　eat　it　raw　with　onions。〃
　Ser　Denys　Mallister　was　more　courteous。　〃It　was　a　hard　thing　young　Samwell　asked　of　me；〃　the　old　knight　confessed。　〃When　Lord　Qorgyle　was　chosen；　I　told　myself；　'No　matter；　he　has　been　longer　on　the　Wall　than　you　have；　your　time　will　e。'　When　it　was　Lord　Mormont；　I　thought；　'He　is　strong　and　fierce；　but　he　is　old；　your　time　may　yet　e。'　But　you　are　half　a　boy；　Lord　Snow；　and　now　I　must　return　to　the　Shadow　Tower　knowing　that　my　time　will　never　e。〃　He　smiled　a　tired　smile。　〃Do　not　make　me　die　regretful。　Your　uncle　was　a　great　man。　Your　lord　father　and　his　father　as　well。　I　shall　expect　full　as　much　of　you。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　Cotter　Pyke。　〃And　you　can　start　by　telling　those　king's　men　that　it's　done；　and　we　want　our　bloody　supper。〃
　〃Supper；〃　screamed　the　raven。　〃Supper；　supper。〃
　The　king's　men　cleared　the　door　when　they　told　them　of　the　choosing；　and　Three…Finger　Hobb　and　half　a　dozen　helpers　went　trotting　off　to　the　kitchen　to　fetch　the　food。　Jon　did　not　wait　to　eat。　He　walked　across　the　castle；　wondering　if　he　were　dreaming；　with　the　raven　on　his　shoulder　and　Ghost　at　his　heels。　Pyp；　Grenn；　and　Sam　trailed　after　him；　chattering；　but　he　hardly　heard　a　word　until　Grenn　whispered；　〃Sam　did　it；〃　and　Pyp　said；　〃Sam　did　it！〃　Pyp　had　brought　a　wineskin　with　him；　and　he　took　a　long　drink　and　chanted；　〃Sam；　Sam；　Sam　the　wizard；　Sam　the　wonder；　Sam　Sam　the　marvel　man；　he　did　it。　But　when　did　you　hide　the　raven　in　the　kettle；　Sam；　and　how　in　seven　hells　could　you　be　certain　it　would　fly　to　Jon？　It　would　have　mucked　up　everything　if　the　bird　had　decided　to　per