tp.wyrd sisters-第20部分

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e　it　was　in　constant　danger　of　falling　in　half。　They　were　undoubtedly　powerful；　but　。　。　。
　Magrat　shook　her　head　regretfully；　went　over　to　the　kitchen　dresser　and　took　out　the　breadknife。　Something　told　her　that　at　times　like　these　a　good　sharp　breadknife　was　probably　the　best　friend　a　girl　could　have。
　
　'I　spy；　with　my　little　eye；'　said　Nanny　Ogg；　'something　beginning　with　P。'
　The　ghost　of　the　king　stared　wearily　around　the　dungeons。
　'Pliers；'　he　suggested。
　'No。'
　'Pilliwinks？'
　'That's　a　pretty　name。　What　is　it？'
　'It's　a　kind　of　thumbscrew。　Look；'　said　the　king。
　'It's　not　that；'　said　Nanny。
　'Choke…pear？'　he　said　desperately。
　'That's　a　C；　and　anyway　I　don't　know　what　it　is；'　said　Nanny　Ogg。　The　king　obligingly　indicated　it　on　the　tray；　and　explained　its　use。
　'Definitely　not；'　said　Nanny。
　'Smouldering　Boot　of　Punishment？'　said　the　king。
　'You're　a　bit　too　good　at　these　names；'　said　Nanny　sharply。　'You　sure　you　didn't　use　them　when　you　were　alive？'
　'Absolutely；　Nanny；'　said　the　ghost。
　'Boys　that　tell　lies　go　to　a　bad　place；'　warned　Nanny。
　'Lady　Felmet　had　most　of　them　installed　herself；　it's　the　truth；'　said　the　king　desperately；　he　felt　his　position　to　be　precarious　enough　without　having　any　bad　places　to　worry　about。
　Nanny　sniffed。　'Right；　then；'　she　said；　slightly　mollified。　'It　was　〃pinchers〃。'
　'But　pinchers　is　just　another　name　for　pi…'　the　king　began；　and　stopped　himself　in　time。　During　his　adult　life　he'd　been　afraid　of　no　man；　beast　or　bination　of　the　two；　but　Nanny's　voice　brought　back　old　memories　of　schoolroom　and　nursery；　of　life　under　strict　orders　given　by　stern　ladies　in　long　skirts；　and　nursery　food　…　mostly　grey　and　brown　…which　seemed　indigestible　at　the　time　but　now　appeared　a　distant　ambrosia。
　'That's　five　to　me；'　said　Nanny　happily。
　'They'll　be　back　soon；'　said　the　king。　'Are　you　sure　you'll　be　all　right？'
　'If　I'm　not；　precisely　how　much　help　can　you　be？'　said　Nanny。
　There　was　the　sound　of　bolts　sliding　back。
　
　There　was　already　a　crowd　outside　the　castle　as　Granny's　broomstick　wobbled　uncertainly　towards　the　ground。　They　went　quiet　as　she　strode　forward；　and　parted　to　let　her　pass。　She　had　a　basket　of　apples　under　her　arm。
　'There's　a　witch　in　the　dungeons；'　someone　whispered　to　Granny。　'And　foul　tortures；　they　say！'
　'Nonsense；'　said　Granny。　'It　couldn't　be。　I　expect　Nanny　Ogg　has　just　gone　to　advise　the　king；　or　something。'
　'They　say　Jason　Ogg's　gone　to　fetch　his　brothers；'　said　a　stallholder；　in　awe。
　'I　really　advise　you　all　to　return　home；'　said　Granny　Weatherwax。　'There　has　probably　been　a　misunderstanding。　Everyone　knows　a　witch　cannot　be　held　against　her　will。'
　'It's　gone　too　far　this　time；'　said　a　peasant。　'All　this　burning　and　taxing　and　now　this。　I　blame　you　witches。　It's　got　to　stop。　I　know　my　rights。'
　'What　rights　are　they？'　said　Granny。
　'Dunnage；　cowhage…in…ordinary；　badinage；　leftovers；　scrommidge；　clary　and　spunt；'　said　the　peasant　promptly。　'And　acornage；　every　other　year；　and　the　right　to　keep　two…thirds　of　a　goat　on　the　mon。　Until　he　set　fire　to　it。　It　was　a　bloody　good　goat；　too。'
　'A　man　could　go　far；　knowing　his　rights　like　you　do；'　said　Granny。　'But　right　now　he　should　go　home。'
　She　turned　and　looked　at　the　gates。　There　were　two　extremely　apprehensive　guards　on　duty。　She　walked　up　to　them；　and　fixed　one　of　them　with　a　look。
　'I　am　a　harmless　old　seller　of　apples；'　she　said；　in　a　voice　more　appropriate　for　the　opening　of　hostilities　in　a　middle…range　war。　'Pray　let　me　past；　dearie。'　The　last　word　had　knives　in　it。
　'No…one　must　enter　the　castle；'　said　one　of　the　guards。　'Orders　of　the　duke。'
　Granny　shrugged。　The　apple…seller　gambit　had　never　worked　more　than　once　in　the　entire　history　of　witchcraft；　as　far　as　she　knew；　but　it　was　traditional。
　'I　know　you；　Champett　Poldy；'　she　said。　'I　recall　I　laid　out　your　grandad　and　I　brought　you　into　the　world。'　She　glanced　at　the　crowds；　which　had　regathered　a　little　way　off；　and　turned　back　to　the　guard；　whose　face　was　already　a　mask　of　terror。　She　leaned　a　little　closer；　and　said；　'I　gave　you　your　first　good　hiding　in　this　valley　of　tears　and　by　all　the　gods　if　you　cross　me　now　I　will　give　you　your　last。'
　There　was　a　soft　metallic　noise　as　the　spear　fell　out　of　the　man's　fearful　fingers。　Granny　reached　and　gave　the　trembling　man　a　reassuring　pat　on　the　shoulder。
　'But　don't　worry　about　it；'　she　added。　'Have　an　apple。'
　She　made　to　step　forward；　and　a　second　spear　barred　her　way。　She　looked　up　with　interest。
　The　other　guard　was　not　a　Ramtopper；　but　a　city…bred　mercenary　brought　up　to　swell　the　ranks　depleted　in　recent　years。　His　face　was　a　patchwork　of　scar　tissue。　Several　of　the　scars　rearranged　themselves　into　what　was　possibly　a　sneer。
　'So　that's　witches'　magic；　is　it？'　said　the　guard。　'Pretty　poor　stuff。　Maybe　it　frightens　these　country　idiots；　woman；　but　it　doesn't　frighten　me。'
　'I　imagine　it　takes　a　lot　to　frighten　a　big　strong　lad　like　you；'　said　Granny；　reaching　up　to　her　hat。
　'And　don't　you　try　to　put　the　wind　up　me；　neither。'　The　guard　stared　straight　ahead；　and　rocked　gently　on　the　balb　of　his　feet。　'Old　ladies　like　you；　twisting　people　around。　It　shouldn't　be　stood　for；　like　they　say。'
　'Just　as　you　like；'　said　Granny；　pushing　the　spear　aside。
　'Listen；　I　said…'　the　guard　began；　and　grabbed　Granny's　shoulder。　Her　hand　moved　so　quickly　it　hardly　seemed　to　move　at　all；　but　suddenly　he　was　clutching　at　his　arm　and　moaning。
　Granny　replaced　the　hatpin　in　her　hat　and　ran　for　it。
　
　'We　will　begin；'　said　the　duchess；　leering；　'with　the　Showing　of　the　Implements。'
　'Seen　'em；'；　said　Nanny。　'Leastways；　all　the　ones　beginning　with　P；　S；　I；　T　and　W。'
　'Then　let　us　see　how　long　you　can　keep　that　light　conversational　tone。　Light　the　brazier；　Felmet；'　snapped　the　duchess。
　'Light　the　brazier；　Fool；'　said　the　duke。
　The　Fool　moved　slowly。　He　hadn't　expected　any　of　this。　Torturing　people　hadn't　been　on　his　mental　agenda。　Hurting　old　ladies　in　cold　blood　wasn't　his　cup　of　tea；　and　actually　hurting　witches　in　blood　of　any　temperature　whatsoever　failed　to　be　an　entire　twelve…course　banquet。　Words；　he'd　said。　All　this　probably　came　under　the　heading　of　sticks　and　stones。
　'I　don't　like　doing　this；'　he　murmured　under　his　breath。
　'Fine；'　said　Nanny　Ogg；　whose　hearing　was　superb。　'I'll　remember　that　you　didn't　like　it。'
　'What's　that？'　said　the　duke　sharply。
　'Nothing；'　said　Nanny。　'Is　this　going　to　take　long？　I　haven't　had　breakfast。'
　The　Fool　lit　a　match。　There　was　the　faintest　disturbance　in　the　air　beside　him；　and　it　went　out。　He　swore；　and　tried　another。　This　time　his　shaking　hands　managed　to　get　it　as　far　as　the　brazier　before　it；　too；　flared　and　darkened。
　'Hurry　up；　man！'　said　the　duchess；　laying　out　a　tray　of　tools。
　'Doesn't　seem　to　want　to　light…'　muttered　the　Fool；　as　another　match　became　a　fluttering　streak　of　flame　and　then　went　out。
　The　duke　snatched　the　box　from　his　trembling　fingers　and　caught　him　across　the　cheek　with　a　handful　of　rings。
　'Can　no　orders　of　mine　be　obeyed？'　he　screamed。　'Infirm　of　purpose！　Weak！　Give　me　the　box！'
　The　Fool　backed　away。　Someone　he　couldn't　see　was　whispering　things　he　couldn't　quite　make　out　in　his　ear。
　'Go　outside；'　hissed　the　duke；　'and　see　that　we　are　not　disturbed！'
　The　Fool　tripped　over　the　bottom　step；　turned　and；　with　a　last　imploring　look　at　Nanny；　scampered　through　the　door　He　capered　a　little　bit；　out　of　force　of　habit。
　'The　fire　isn't　pletely　necessary；'　said　the　Duchess。　'It　merely　assists。　Now；　woman；　will　you　confess？'
　'What　to？'　said　Nanny。
　'It's　mon　knowledge。　Treason。　Malicious　witchcraft。　Harbouring　the　king's　enemies。　Theft　of　the　crown…'
　A　tinkling　noise　made　them　look　down。　A　blood…stained　dagger　had　fallen　off　the　bench；　as　though　someone　had　tried　to　pick　it　up　but　just　couldn't　get　the　strength　together。　Nanm　heard　the　king's　ghost　swear　under'its　breath；　or　what　would　have　been　its　breath。
　'…and　spreading　false　rumours；'　finished　the　duchess。
　'…salt　in　my　food…'　said　the　duke；　nervously；　staring　at　the　bandages　on　his　hand。　He　kept　getting　the　feeling　that　there　was　a　fourth　person　in　the　dungeon。
　'If　you　do　confess；'　said　the　duchess；　'you　will　merely　be　burned　at　the　stake。　And；　please；　no　humorous　remarks。'
　'What　false　rumours？'
　The　duke　closed　his　eyes；　but　the　visions　were　still　there　'Concerning　the　accidental　death　of　the　late　King　Verence。'　he　whispered　hoarsely。　The　air　swirled　again。
　Nanny　sat　with　her　head　cocked　to　one　side；　as　though　listening　to　a　voice　only　she　could　hear。　Except　that　the　duke　was　certain　that　he　could　hear　something　too；　not　exactly　a　voice；　something　like　the　distant　sighing　of　the　wind。
　'Oh；　I　don't　know　nothing　false；'　she　said。　'I　know　you　stabbed　him；　and　you　gave　him　the　dagger。　It　was　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。'　She　paused；　head　cocked；　nodded；　and　added；　'Just　by　the　suit　of　armour　with　the　pike；　and　you　said；　〃If　it's　to　be　done；　it's　better　if　it's　done　quickly〃；　or　something；　and　then　you　snatched　the　king's　own　dagger；　the　very　same　what　is　now　lying　on　the　floor；　out　of　his　belt　and…'
　'You　lie！　There　were　no　witnesses。　We　made　。　。　。　there　was　nothing　to　witness！　I　heard　someone　in　the　dark；　but　there　was　no…one　there！　There　couldn't　have　been　anyone　seeing　anything！'　screamed　the　duke。　His　wife　scowled　at　him。
　'Do　shut　up；　Leonal；'　she　said。　'I　think　within　these　four　walls　we　can　dispense　with　that　sort　of　thing。'
　'Who　told　her？　Did　you　tell　her？'
　'And　calm　down。　No…one　told　her。　She's　a　witch；　for　goodness　sake；　they　find　out　about　these　things。　Second　glance；　or　something。'
　'Sight；'　said　Nanny。
　'Which　you　will　not　possess　much　longer；　my　good　woman；　unless　you　tell　us　who　else　knows　and　indeed；　assist　us　on　a　number　of　other　matters；'　said　the　duchess　grimly。　'And　you　will　do　so；　believe　me。　I　am　skilled　in　these　things。'
　Granny　glanced　around　the　dungeon。　It　was　beginning　to　get　crowded。　King　Verence　was　bursting　with　such　angry　vitality　that　he　was　very　nearly　apparent；　and　was　furiously　trying　to　get　a　grip　on　a　knife。　But　there　were　others　behind　…　wavering；　broken　shapes；　not　exactly　ghosts　but　memories；　implanted　in　the　ver