grrm.astormofswords-第75部分

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　〃They　sleep；〃　a　woman　said。　〃They　all　sleep。〃　The　voice　was　very　close。　〃Even　dragons　must　sleep。〃
　She　is　standing　over　me。　〃Who's　there？〃　Dany　peered　into　the　darkness。　She　thought　she　could　see　a　shadow；　the　faintest　outline　of　a　shape。　〃What　do　you　want　of　me？〃
　〃Remember。　To　go　north；　you　must　journey　south。　To　reach　the　west；　you　must　go　east。　To　go　forward　you　must　go　back；　and　to　touch　the　light　you　must　pass　beneath　the　shadow。〃
　〃Quaithe？〃　Dany　sprung　from　the　bed　and　threw　open　the　door。　Pale　yellow　lantern　light　flooded　the　cabin；　and　Irri　and　Jhiqui　sat　up　sleepily。　〃Khaleesi？〃　murmured　Jhiqui；　rubbing　her　eyes。　Viserion　woke　and　opened　his　jaws；　and　a　puff　of　flame　brightened　even　the　darkest　corners。　There　was　no　sign　of　a　woman　in　a　red　lacquer　mask。　〃Khaleesi；　are　you　unwell？〃　asked　Jhiqui。
　〃A　dream。〃　Dany　shook　her　head。　〃I　dreamed　a　dream；　no　more。　Go　back　to　sleep。　All　of　us；　go　back　to　sleep。〃　Yet　try　as　she　might；　sleep　would　not　e　again。
　If　I　look　back　I　am　lost；　Dany　told　herself　the　next　morning　as　she　entered　Astapor　through　the　harbor　gates。　She　dared　not　remind　herself　how　small　and　insignificant　her　following　truly　was；　or　she　would　lose　all　courage。　Today　she　rode　her　silver；　clad　in　horsehair　pants　and　painted　leather　vest；　a　bronze　medallion　belt　about　her　waist　and　two　more　crossed　between　her　breasts。　Irri　and　Jhiqui　had　braided　her　hair　and　hung　it　with　a　tiny　silver　bell　whose　chime　sang　of　the　Undying　of　Qarth；　burned　in　their　Palace　of　Dust。
　The　red　brick　streets　of　Astapor　were　almost　crowded　this　morning。　Slaves　and　servants　lined　the　ways；　while　the　slavers　and　their　women　donned　their　tokars　to　look　down　from　their　stepped　pyramids。　They　are　not　so　different　from　Qartheen　after　all；　she　thought。　They　want　a　glimpse　of　dragons　to　tell　their　children　of；　and　their　children's　children。　It　made　her　wonder　how　many　of　them　would　ever　have　children。
　Aggo　went　before　her　with　his　great　Dothraki　bow。　Strong　Belwas　walked　to　the　right　of　her　mare；　the　girl　Missandei　to　her　left。　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　was　behind　in　mail　and　surcoat；　glowering　at　anyone　who　came　too　near。　Rakharo　and　Jhogo　protected　the　litter。　Dany　had　manded　that　the　top　be　removed；　so　her　three　dragons　might　be　chained　to　the　platform。　Irri　and　Jhiqui　rode　with　them；　to　try　and　keep　them　calm。　Yet　Viserion's　tail　lashed　back　and　forth；　and　smoke　rose　angry　from　his　nostrils。　Rhaegal　could　sense　something　wrong　as　well。　Thrice　he　tried　to　take　wing；　only　to　be　pulled　down　by　the　heavy　chain　in　Jhiqui's　hand。　Drogon　coiled　into　a　ball；　wings　and　tail　tucked　tight。　Only　his　eyes　remained　to　tell　that　he　was　not　asleep。
　The　rest　of　her　people　followed：　Groleo　and　the　other　captains　and　their　crews；　and　the　eighty…three　Dothraki　who　remained　to　her　of　the　hundred　thousand　who　had　once　ridden　in　Drogo's　khalasar。　She　put　the　oldest　and　weakest　on　the　inside　of　the　column；　with　the　nursing　women　and　those　with　child；　and　the　little　girls；　and　the　boys　too　young　to　braid　their　hair。　The　rest…her　warriors；　such　as　they　were…rode　outside　and　moved　their　dismal　herd　along；　the　hundred…odd　gaunt　horses　that　had　survived　both　red　waste　and　black　salt　sea。
　I　ought　to　have　a　banner　sewn；　she　thought　as　she　led　her　tattered　band　up　along　Astapor's　meandering　river。　She　closed　her　eyes　to　imagine　how　it　would　look：　all　flowing　black　silk；　and　on　it　the　red　three…headed　dragon　of　Targaryen；　breathing　golden　flames。　A　banner　such　as　Rhaegar　might　have　borne。　The　river's　banks　were　strangely　tranquil。　The　Worm；　the　Astapori　called　the　stream。　It　was　wide　and　slow　and　crooked；　dotted　with　tiny　wooded　islands。　She　glimpsed　children　playing　on　one　of　them；　darting　amongst　elegant　marble　statues。　On　another　island　two　lovers　kissed　in　the　shade　of　tall　green　trees；　with　no　more　shame　than　Dothraki　at　a　wedding。　Without　clothing；　she　could　not　tell　if　they　were　slave　or　free。
　The　Plaza　of　Pride　with　its　great　bronze　harpy　was　too　small　to　hold　all　the　Unsullied　she　had　bought。　instead　they　had　been　assembled　in　the　Plaza　of　Punishment；　fronting　on　Astapor's　main　gate；　so　they　might　be　marched　directly　from　the　city　once　Daenerys　had　taken　them　in　hand。　There　were　no　bronze　statues　here；　only　a　wooden　platform　where　rebellious　slaves　were　racked；　and　flayed；　and　hanged。　〃The　Good　Masters　place　them　so　they　will　be　the　first　thing　a　new　slave　sees　upon　entering　the　city；〃　Missandei　told　her　as　they　came　to　the　plaza。
　At　first　glimpse；　Dany　thought　their　skin　was　striped　like　the　zorses　of　the　jogos　Nhai。　Then　she　rode　her　silver　nearer　and　saw　the　raw　red　flesh　beneath　the　crawling　black　stripes。　Flies。　Flies　and　maggots。　The　rebellious　slaves　had　been　peeled　like　a　man　might　peel　an　apple；　in　a　long　curling　strip。　One　man　had　an　arm　black　with　flies　from　fingers　to　elbow；　and　red　and　white　beneath。　Dany　reined　in　beneath　him。　〃What　did　this　one　do？〃
　〃He　raised　a　hand　against　his　owner。〃
　Her　stomach　roiling；　Dany　wheeled　her　silver　about　and　trotted　toward　the　center　of　the　plaza；　and　the　army　she　had　bought　so　dear。　Rank　on　rank　on　rank　they　stood；　her　stone　halfmen　with　their　hearts　of　brick；　eight　thousand　and　six　hundred　in　the　spiked　bronze　caps　of　fully　trained　Unsullied；　and　five　thousand　odd　behind　them；　bareheaded；　yet　armed　with　spears　and　shortswords。　The　ones　farthest　to　the　back　were　only　boys；　she　saw；　but　they　stood　as　straight　and　still　as　all　the　rest。
　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz　and　his　fellows　were　all　there　to　greet　her。　Other　well…born　Astapori　stood　in　knots　behind　them；　sipping　wine　from　silver　flutes　as　slaves　circulated　among　them　with　trays　of　olives　and　cherries　and　figs。　The　elder　Grazdan　sat　in　a　sedan　chair　supported　by　four　huge　copper…skinned　slaves。　Half　a　dozen　mounted　lancers　rode　along　the　edges　of　the　plaza；　keeping　back　the　crowds　who　had　e　to　watch。　The　sun　flashed　blinding　bright　off　the　polished　copper　disks　sewn　to　their　cloaks；　but　she　could　not　help　but　notice　how　nervous　their　horses　seemed。　They　fear　the　dragons。　And　well　they　might。
　Kraznys　had　a　slave　help　her　from　her　saddle。　His　own　hands　were　full；　one　clutched　his　tokar；　while　the　other　held　an　omate　whip。　〃Here　they　are。〃　He　looked　at　Missandei。　〃Tell　her　they　are　hers　。　。　。　if　she　can　pay。〃
　〃She　can；〃　the　girl　said。
　Ser　Jorah　barked　a　mand；　and　the　trade　goods　were　brought　forward。　Six　bales　of　tiger　skins；　three　hundred　bolts　of　fine　silk。　jars　of　saffron；　jars　of　myrrh；　jars　of　pepper　and　curry　and　cardamom；　an　onyx　mask；　twelve　jade　monkeys；　casks　of　ink　in　red　and　black　and　green；　a　box　of　rare　black　amethysts；　a　box　of　pearls；　a　cask　of　pitted　olives　stuffed　with　maggots；　a　dozen　casks　of　pickled　cave　fish；　a　great　brass　gong　and　a　hammer　to　beat　it　with；　seventeen　ivory　eyes；　and　a　huge　chest　full　of　books　written　in　tongues　that　Dany　could　not　read。　And　more；　and　more；　and　more。　Her　people　stacked　it　all　before　the　slavers。
　While　the　payment　was　being　made；　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz　favored　her　with　a　few　final　words　on　the　handling　of　her　troops。　〃They　are　green　as　yet；〃　he　said　through　Missandei。　〃Tell　the　whore　of　Westeros　she　would　be　wise　to　blood　them　early。　There　are　many　small　cities　between　here　and　there；　cities　ripe　for　sacking。　Whatever　plunder　she　takes　will　be　hers　alone。　Unsullied　have　no　lust　for　gold　or　gems。　And　should　she　take　captives；　a　few　guards　will　suffice　to　march　them　back　to　Astapor。　We'll　buy　the　healthy　ones；　and　for　a　good　price。　And　who　knows？　In　ten　years；　some　of　the　boys　she　sends　us　may　be　Unsullied　in　their　turn。　Thus　all　shall　prosper。〃
　Finally　there　were　no　more　trade　goods　to　add　to　the　pile。　Her　Dothraki　mounted　their　horses　once　more；　and　Dany　said；　〃This　was　all　we　could　carry。　The　rest　awaits　you　on　the　ships；　a　great　quantity　of　amber　and　wine　and　black　rice。　And　you　have　the　ships　themselves。　So　all　that　remains　is　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　the　dragon；〃　finished　the　Grazdan　with　the　spiked　beard；　who　spoke　the　mon　Tongue　so　thickly。
　〃And　here　he　waits。〃　Ser　Jorah　and　Belwas　walked　beside　her　to　the　litter；　where　Drogon　and　his　brothers　lay　basking　in　the　sun。　Jhiqui　unfastened　one　end　of　the　chain；　and　handed　it　down　to　her。　When　she　gave　a　yank；　the　black　dragon　raised　his　head；　hissing；　and　unfolded　wings　of　night　and　scarlet。　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz　smiled　broadly　as　their　shadow　fell　across　him。
　Dany　handed　the　slaver　the　end　of　Drogon's　chain。　In　return　he　presented　her　with　the　whip。　The　handle　was　black　dragonbone；　elaborately　carved　and　inlaid　with　gold。　Nine　long　thin　leather　lashes　trailed　from　it；　each　one　tipped　by　a　gilded　claw。　The　gold　pommel　was　a　woman's　head；　with　pointed　ivory　teeth。　〃The　harpy's　fingers；〃　Kraznys　named　the　scourge。
　Dany　turned　the　whip　in　her　hand。　Such　a　light　thing；　to　bear　such　weight。　〃Is　it　done；　then？　Do　they　belong　to　me？〃
　〃It　is　done；〃　he　agreed；　giving　the　chain　a　sharp　pull　to　bring　Drogon　down　from　the　litter。
　Dany　mounted　her　silver。　She　could　feel　her　heart　thumping　in　her　chest。　She　felt　desperately　afraid。　Was　this　what　my　brother　would　have　done？　She　wondered　if　Prince　Rhaegar　had　been　this　anxious　when　he　saw　the　Usurper's　host　formed　up　across　the　Trident　with　all　their　banners　floating　on　the　wind。
　She　stood　in　her　stirrups　and　raised　the　harpy's　fingers　above　her　head　for　all　the　Unsullied　to　see。　〃IT　IS　DONE！〃　she　cried　at　the　top　of　her　lungs。　〃YOU　ARE　MINE！〃　She　gave　the　mare　her　heels　and　galloped　along　the　first　rank；　holding　the　fingers　high。　〃YOU　ARE　THE　DRAGON'S　NOW！　YOU'RE　BOUGHT　AND　PAID　FOR！　IT　IS　DONE！　IT　IS　DONE！〃
　She　glimpsed　old　Grazdan　turn　his　grey　head　sharply。　He　hears　me　speak　Valyrian。　The　other　slavers　were　not　listening。　They　crowded　around　Kraznys　and　the　dragon；　shouting　advice。　Though　the　Astapori　yanked　and　tugged；　Drogon　would　not　budge　off　the　litter。　Smoke　rose　grey　from　his　open　jaws；　and　his　long　neck　curled　and　straightened　as　he　snapped　at　the　slaver's　face。
　It　is　time　to　cross　the　Trident；　Dany　thought；　as　she　wheeled　and　rode　her　silver　back。　Her　bloodriders　moved　in　close　around　her。　〃You　are　in　difficulty；〃　she　observed。
　〃He　will　not　e；〃　Kraznys　said。
　〃There　is　a　reason。　A　dragon　is　no　slave。〃　And　Dany　swept　the　lash　down　as　hard　as　she　could　across　the　slaver's　face。　Kra