grrm.astormofswords-第43部分

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　wings；　though　the　eagle　was　not　in　sight。　Half　his　world　was　black。　〃My　eye；〃　he　said　in　sudden　panic；　raising　a　hand　to　his　face。
　〃It's　only　blood；　Jon　Snow。　He　missed　the　eye；　just　ripped　your　skin　up　some。〃
　His　face　was　throbbing。　Tormund　stood　over　them　bellowing；　he　saw　from　his　right　eye　as　he　rubbed　blood　from　his　left。　Then　there　were　hoofbeats；　shouts；　and　the　clacking　of　old　dry　bones。
　〃Bag　o'　Bones；〃　roared　Tormund；　〃call　off　your　hellcrow！〃
　〃There's　your　hellcrow！〃　Rattleshirt　pointed　at　Jon。　〃Bleeding　in　the　mud　like　a　faithless　dog！〃　The　eagle　came　flapping　down　to　land　atop　the　broken　giant's　skull　that　served　him　for　his　helm。　〃I'm　here　for　him。〃
　〃e　take　him　then；〃　said　Tormund；　〃but　best　e　with　sword　in　hand；　for　that's　where　you'll　find　mine。　Might　be　I'll　boil　your　bones；　and　use　your　skull　to　piss　in。　Har！〃
　〃Once　I　prick　you　and　let　the　air　out；　you'll　shrink　down　smallern　that　girl。　Stand　aside；　or　Mance　will　hear　o'　this。〃
　Ygritte　stood。　〃What；　is　it　Mance　who　wants　him？〃
　〃I　said　so；　didn't　I？　Get　him　up　on　those　black　feet。〃
　Tormund　frowned　down　at　Jon。　〃Best　go；　if　it's　the　Mance　who's　wanting　you。〃
　Ygritte　helped　pull　him　up。　〃He's　bleeding　like　a　butchered　boar。　Look　what　Orell　did　t'　his　sweet　face。〃
　Can　a　bird　hate？　Jon　had　slain　the　wildling　Orell；　but　some　part　of　the　man　remained　within　the　eagle。　The　golden　eyes　looked　out　on　him　with　cold　malevolence。　〃I'll　e；〃　he　said。　The　blood　kept　running　down　into　his　right　eye；　and　his　cheek　was　a　blaze　of　pain。　When　he　touched　it　his　black　gloves　came　away　stained　with　red。　〃Let　me　catch　my　garron。〃　It　was　not　the　horse　he　wanted　so　much　as　Ghost；　but　the　direwolf　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　He　could　be　leagues　away　by　now；　ripping　out　the　throat　of　some　elk。　Perhaps　that　was　just　as　well。
　The　garron　shied　away　from　him　when　he　approached；　no　doubt　frightened　by　the　blood　on　his　face；　but　Jon　calmed　him　with　a　few　quiet　words　and　finally　got　close　enough　to　take　the　reins。　As　he　swung　back　into　the　saddle　his　head　whirled。　I　will　need　to　get　this　tended；　he　thought；　but　not　just　now　Let　the　King…　beyond…　the…　Wall　see　what　his　eagle　did　to　me。　His　right　hand　opened　and　closed；　and　he　reached　down　for　Longclaw　and　slung　the　bastard　sword　over　a　shoulder　before　he　wheeled　to　trot　back　to　where　the　Lord　of　Bones　and　his　band　were　waiting。
　Ygritte　was　waiting　too；　sitting　on　her　horse　with　a　fierce　look　on　her　face。　〃I　am　ing　too。〃
　〃Be　gone。〃　The　bones　of　Rattleshirt's　breastplate　clattered　together。　〃I　was　sent　for　the　crow…e…down；　none　other。〃
　〃A　free　woman　rides　where　she　will；〃　Ygritte　said。
　The　wind　was　blowing　snow　into　Jon's　eyes。　He　could　feel　the　blood　freezing　on　his　face。　〃Are　we　talking　or　riding？〃
　〃Riding；〃　said　the　Lord　of　Bones。
　It　was　a　grim　gallop。　They　rode　two　miles　down　the　column　through　swirling　snows；　then　cut　through　a　tangle　of　baggage　wayns　to　splash　across　the　Milkwater　where　it　took　a　great　loop　toward　the　east。　A　crust　of　thin　ice　covered　the　river　shallows；　with　every　step　their　horses'hooves　crashed　through；　until　they　reached　the　deeper　water　ten　yards　out。　The　snow　seemed　be　falling　even　faster　on　the　eastern　bank；　and　the　drifts　were　deeper　too。　Even　the　wind　is　colder。　And　night　was　falling　too。
　But　even　through　the　blowing　snow；　the　shape　of　the　great　white　hill　that　loomed　above　the　trees　was　unmistakable。　The　Fist　of　the　First　Men。　Jon　heard　the　scream　of　the　eagle　overhead。　A　raven　looked　down　from　a　soldier　pine　and　quorked　as　he　went　past。　Had　the　Old　Bear　made　his　attack？　Instead　of　the　clash　of　steel　and　the　thrum　of　arrows　taking　flight；　Jon　heard　only　the　soft　crunch　of　frozen　crust　beneath　his　garron's　hooves。
　In　silence　they　circled　round　to　the　south　slope；　where　the　approach　was　easiest。　It　was　there　at　the　bottom　that　Jon　saw　the　dead　horse；　sprawled　at　the　base　of　the　hill；　half　buried　in　the　snow。　Entrails　spilled　from　the　belly　of　the　animal　like　frozen　snakes；　and　one　of　its　legs　was　gone。　Wolves；　was　Jon's　first　thought；　but　that　was　wrong。　Wolves　eat　their　kill。
　More　garrons　were　strewn　across　the　slope；　legs　twisted　grotesquely；　blind　eyes　staring　in　death。　The　wildlings　crawled　over　them　like　flies；　stripping　them　of　saddles；　bridles；　packs；　and　armor；　and　hacking　them　apart　with　stone　axes。
　〃Up；〃　Rattleshirt　told　Jon。　〃Mance　is　up　top。〃
　Outside　the　ringwall　they　dismounted　to　squeeze　through　a　crooked　gap　in　the　stones。　The　carcass　of　a　shaggy　brown　garron　was　impaled　upon　the　sharpened　stakes　the　Old　Bear　had　placed　inside　every　entrance。　He　was　trying　to　get　out；　not　in。　There　was　no　sign　of　a　rider。
　Inside　was　more；　and　worse。　Jon　had　never　seen　pink　snow　before。　The　wind　gusted　around　him；　pulling　at　his　heavy　sheepskin　cloak。　Ravens　flapped　from　one　dead　horse　to　the　next。　Are　those　wild　ravens；　or　our　own？　Jon　could　not　tell。　He　wondered　where　poor　Sam　was　now。　And　what　he　was。
　A　crust　of　frozen　blood　crunched　beneath　the　heel　of　his　boot。　The　wildlings　were　stripping　the　dead　horses　of　every　scrap　of　steel　and　leather；　even　prying　the　horseshoes　off　their　hooves。　A　few　were　going　through　packs　they'd　turned　up；　looking　for　weapons　and　food。　Jon　passed　one　of　Chett's　dogs；　or　what　remained　of　him；　lying　in　a　sludgy　pool　of　halffrozen　blood。
　A　few　tents　were　still　standing　on　the　far　side　of　the　camp；　and　it　was　there　they　found　Mance　Rayder。　Beneath　his　slashed　cloak　of　black　wool　and　red　silk　he　wore　black　ringmail　and　shaggy　fur　breeches；　and　on　his　head　was　a　great　bronze…and…iron　helm　with　raven　wings　at　either　temple。　Jarl　was　with　him；　and　Harma　the　Dogshead；　Styr　as　well；　and　Varamyr　Sixskins　with　his　wolves　and　his　shadowcat。
　The　look　Mance　gave　Jon　was　grim　and　cold。　〃What　happened　to　your　face？〃
　Ygritte　said；　〃Orell　tried　to　take　his　eye　out。〃
　〃It　was　him　I　asked。　Has　he　lost　his　tongue？　Perhaps　he　should；　to　spare　us　further　lies。〃
　Styr　the　Magnar　drew　a　long　knife。　〃The　boy　might　see　more　clear　with　one　eye；　instead　of　two。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　keep　your　eye；　Jon？〃　asked　the　King…beyond…theWall。　〃If　so；　tell　me　how　many　they　were。　And　try　and　speak　the　truth　this　time；　Bastard　of　Winterfell。〃
　Jon's　throat　was　dry。　〃My　lord　。　。　。　what　。　。　。〃
　〃I　am　not　your　lord；〃　said　Mance。　〃And　the　what　is　plain　enough。　Your　brothers　died。　The　question　is；　how　many？〃
　Jon's　face　was　throbbing；　the　snow　kept　ing　down；　and　it　was　hard　to　think。　You　must　not　balk；　whatever　is　asked　of　you；　Qhorin　had　told　him。　The　words　stuck　in　his　throat；　but　he　made　himself　say；　〃There　were　three　hundred　of　us。〃
　〃Us？〃　Mance　said　sharply。
　〃Them。　Three　hundred　of　them。〃　Whatever　is　asked；　the　Halfhand　said。　So　why　do　I　feel　so　craven？　〃Two　hundred　from　Castle　Black；　and　one　hundred　from　the　Shadow　Tower。〃
　〃There's　a　truer　song　than　the　one　you　sang　in　my　tent。〃　Mance　looked　to　Harma　Dogshead。　〃How　many　horses　have　we　found？〃
　〃More'n　a　hundred；〃　that　huge　woman　replied；　〃less　than　two。　There's　more　dead　to　the　east；　under　the　snow；　hard　t'　know　how　many。〃　Behind　her　stood　her　banner　bearer；　holding　a　pole　with　a　dog's　head　on　it；　fresh　enough　to　still　be　leaking　blood。
　〃You　should　never　have　lied　to　me；　Jon　Snow；〃　said　Mance。
　〃I　。　。　。　I　know　that。〃　What　could　he　say？
　The　wildling　king　studied　his　face。　〃Who　had　the　mand　here？　And　tell　me　true。　Was　it　Rykker？　Smallwood？　Not　Wythers；　he's　too　feeble。　Whose　tent　was　this？〃
　I　have　said　too　much。　〃You　did　not　find　his　body？〃
　Harma　snorted；　her　disdain　frosting　from　her　nostrils。　〃What　fools　these　black　crows　be。〃
　〃The　next　time　you　answer　me　with　a　question；　I　will　give　you　to　my　Lord　of　Bones；〃　Mance　Rayder　promised　Jon。　He　stepped　closer。　〃Who　led　here？〃
　One　more　step；　thought　Jon。　Another　foot。　He　moved　his　hand　closer　to　Longclaw's　hilt。　If　I　hold　my　tongue　。　。　。
　〃Reach　up　for　that　bastard　sword　and　I'll　have　your　bastard　head　off　before　it　clears　the　scabbard；〃　said　Mance。　〃I　am　fast　losing　patience　with　you；　crow。〃
　〃Say　it；〃　Ygritte　urged。　〃He's　dead；　whoever　he　was。〃
　His　frown　cracked　the　blood　on　his　cheek。　This　is　too　hard；　Jon　thought　in　despair。　How　do　I　play　the　turncloak　without　being　one？　Qhorin　had　not　told　him　that。　But　the　second　step　is　always　easier　than　the　first。　〃The　Old　Bear。〃
　〃That　old　man？〃　Harma's　tone　said　she　did　not　believe　it。　〃He　came　himself　？　Then　who　mands　at　Castle　Black？〃
　〃Bowen　Marsh。〃　This　time　Jon　answered　at　once。　You　must　not　balk；　whatever　is　asked　of　you。
　Mance　laughed。　〃If　so；　our　war　is　won。　Bowen　knows　a　deal　more　about　counting　swords　than　he's　ever　known　about　using　them。〃
　〃The　Old　Bear　manded；〃　said　Jon。　〃This　place　was　high　and　strong；　and　he　made　it　stronger。　He　dug　pits　and　planted　stakes；　laid　up　food　and　water。　He　was　ready　for　。　。　。〃
　〃。　。　me？〃　finished　Mance　Rayder。　〃Aye；　he　was。　Had　I　been　fool　enough　to　storm　this　hill；　I　might　have　lost　five　men　for　every　crow　I　slew　and　still　counted　myself　lucky。〃　His　mouth　grew　hard。　〃But　when　the　dead　walk；　walls　and　stakes　and　swords　mean　nothing。　You　cannot　fight　the　dead；　Jon　Snow。　No　man　knows　that　half　so　well　as　me。〃　He　gazed　up　at　the　darkening　sky　and　said；　〃The　crows　may　have　helped　us　more　than　they　know。　I'd　wondered　why　we'd　suffered　no　attacks。　But　there's　still　a　hundred　leagues　to　go；　and　the　cold　is　rising。　Varamyr；　send　your　wolves　sniffing　after　the　wights；　I　won't　have　them　taking　us　unawares。　My　Lord　of　Bones；　double　all　the　patrols；　and　make　certain　every　man　has　torch　and　flint。　Styr；　Jarl；　you　ride　at　first　light。〃
　〃Mance；〃　Rattleshirt　said；　〃I　want　me　some　crow　bones。〃
　Ygritte　stepped　in　front　of　Jon。　〃You　can't　kill　a　man　for　lying　to　protect　them　as　was　his　brothers。〃
　〃They　are　still　his　brothers；〃　declared　Styr。
　〃They're　not；〃　insisted　Ygritte。　〃He　never　killed　me；　like　they　told　him。　And　he　slew　the　Halfhand；　we　all　saw。〃
　Jon's　breath　misted　the　air。　If　I　lie　to　him；　he'll　know　He　looked　Mance　Rayder　in　the　eyes；　opened　and　closed　his　burned　hand。　〃I　wear　the　cloak　you　gave　me；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃A　sheepskin　cloak！〃　said　Ygritte。　〃And　there's　many　a　night　we　dance　beneath　it；　too！〃
　Jarl　laughed；　and　even　Harma　Dogshead　smirked。　〃Is　that　the　way　of　it；　Jon　Snow？〃　asked　Mance　Rayder；　mildly。　〃Her　and　y