uleg.thefarthestshore-第13部分

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　　At　the　feet　of　the　radiant　man　a　dark　shape　was　crouched。
　　Arren　tried　to　speak　and　could　not。　Clothed　in　that　majesty　of　light；　the　Archmage　came　to　him　and　knelt　down　on　the　deck。　Arren　felt　the　touch　of　his　hand　and　heard　his　voice。　He　felt　the　bonds　on　his　wrists　and　body　give　way；　all　through　the　hold　there　was　a　rattling　of　chains。　But　no　man　moved；　only
　Arren　tried　to　stand；　but　he　could　not；　being　cramped　with　long　immobility。　The　Archmage's　strong　grip　was　on　his　arm；　and　with　that　help　he　crawled　up　out　of　the　cargo…hold　and　huddled　on　the　deck。
　　The　Archmage　strode　away　from　him；　and　the　misty　splendor　glowed　on　the　unmoving　faces　of　the　oarsmen。　He　halted　by　the　man　who　had　crouched　down　by　the　port　rail。
　　〃I　do　not　punish；〃　said　the　hard；　clear　voice；　cold　as　the　cold　magelight　in　the　fog。　〃But　in　the　cause　of　justice；　Egre；　I　take　this　much　upon　myself：　I　bid　your　voice　be　dumb　until　the　day　you　find　a　word　worth　speaking。〃
　　He　came　back　to　Arren　and　helped　him　to　get　to　his　feet。　〃e　on　now；　lad；〃　he　said；　and　with　his　help　Arren　managed　to　hobble　forward；　and　half…scramble；　half…fall　down　into　the　boat　that　rocked　there　below　the　ship's　side：　Lookfar；　her　sail　like　a　moth's　wing　in　the　fog。
　　In　the　same　silence　and　dead　calm　the　light　died　away；　and　the　boat　turned　and　slipped　from　the　ship's　side。　Almost　at　once　the　galley；　the　dim　mast…lantern；　the　immobile　oarsmen；　the　hulking　black　side；　were　gone。　Arren　thought　he　heard　voices　break　out　in　cries；　but　the　sound　was　thin　and　soon　lost。　A　little　longer；　and　the　fog　began　to　thin　and　tatter；　blowing　by　in　the　dark。　They　came　out　under　the　stars；　and　silent　as　a　moth　Lookfar　fled　through　the　clear　night　over　the　sea。
　　Sparrowhawk　had　covered　Arren　with　blankets　and　given　him　water；　he　sat　with　his　hand　on　the　boy's　shoulder　when　Arren　fell　suddenly　to　weeping。　Sparrowhawk　said　nothing；　but　there　was　a　gentleness；　a　steadiness；　in　the　touch　of　his　hand。　fort　came　slowly　into　Arren：　warmth；　the　soft　motion　of　the　boat；　heart's　ease。
　　He　looked　up　at　his　panion。　No　unearthly　radiance　clung　to　the　dark　face。　He　could　barely　see　him　against　the　stars。
　　The　boat　fled　on；　charm…guided。　Waves　whispered　as　if　in　surprise　along　her　sides。
　　〃Who　is　the　man　with　the　collar？〃
　　〃Lie　still。　A　sea…robber；　Egre。　He　wears　that　collar　to　hide　a　scar　where　his　throat　was　slit　once。　It　seems　his　trade　has　sunk　from　piracy　to　slaving。　But　he　took　the　bear's　cub　this　time。〃　There　was　a　slight　ring　of　satisfaction　in　the　dry；　quiet　voice。
　　〃How　did　you　find　me？〃
　　〃Wizardry；　bribery。。。　I　wasted　time。　I　did　not　like　to　let　it　be　known　that　the　Archmage　and　Warden　of　Roke　was　ferreting　about　the　slums　of　Hort　Town。　I　wish　still　I　could　have　kept　up　my　disguise。　But　I　had　to　track　down　this　man　and　that　man；　and　when　at　last　I　found　that　the　slaver　had　sailed　before　daybreak；　I　lost　my　temper。　I　took　Lookfar　and　spoke　the　wind　into　her　sail　in　the　dead　calm　of　the　day　and　glued　the　oars　of　every　ship　in　that　bay　fast　into　the　oarlocks…　for　a　while。　How　they'll　explain　that；　if　wizardry's　all　lies　and　air；　is　their　problem。　But　in　my　haste　and　anger　I　missed　and　overpassed　Egre's　ship；　which　had　gone　east　of　south　to　miss　the　shoals。　Ill　done　was　all　I　did　this　day。　There　is　no　luck　in　Hort　Town。。。　Well；　I　made　a　spell　of　finding　at　last；　and　so　came　on　the　ship　in　the　darkness。　Should　you　not　sleep　now？〃
　　〃I'm　all　right。　I　feel　much　better。〃　A　light　fever　had　replaced　Arren's　chill；　and　he　did　indeed　feel　well；　his　body　languid　but　his　mind　racing　lightly　from　one　thing　to　another。　〃How　soon　did　you　wake　up？　What　happened　to　Hare？〃
　　〃I　woke　with　daylight；　and　lucky　I　have　a　hard　head；　there's　a　lump　and　a　cut　like　a　split　cucumber　behind　my　ear。　I　left　Hare　in　the　drug…sleep。〃
　　〃I　failed　my　guard…〃
　　〃But　not　by　falling　asleep。〃
　　〃No。〃　Arren　hesitated。　〃It　was…　I　was…〃
　　〃You　were　ahead　of　me；　I　saw　you；〃　Sparrowhawk　said　strangely。　〃And　so　they　crept　in　and　　tapped　us　on　the　head　like　lambs　at　the　shambles；　took　gold；　good　clothes；　and　the　salable　slave；　and　left。　It　was　you　they　were　after；　lad。　You'd　fetch　the　price　of　a　farm　in　Amrun　Market。〃
　　〃They　didn't　tap　me　hard　enough。　I　woke　up。　I　did　give　them　a　run。　I　spilt　their　loot　all　over　the　street；　too；　before　they　cornered　me。〃　Arren's　eyes　glittered。
　　〃You　woke　while　they　were　there…　and　ran？　Why？〃
　　〃To　get　them　away　from　you。〃　The　surprise　in　Sparrowhawk's　voice　suddenly　struck　Arren's　pride；　and　he　added　fiercely；　〃I　thought　it　was　you　they　were　after。　I　thought　they　might　kill　you。　I　grabbed　their　bag　so　they'd　follow　me；　and　shouted　out　and　ran。　And　they　did　follow　me。〃
　　〃Aye…　they　would！〃　That　was　all　Sparrowhawk　said；　no　word　of　praise；　though　he　sat　and　thought　a　while。　Then　he　said；　〃Did　it　not　occur　to　you　I　might　be　dead　already？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Murder　first　and　rob　after；　is　the　safer　course。〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　of　that。　I　only　thought　of　getting　them　away　from　you。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃Because　you　might　be　able　to　defend　us；　to　get　us　both　out　of　it；　if　you　had　time　to　wake　up。　Or　get　yourself　out　of　it；　anyway。　I　was　on　guard；　and　I　failed　my　guard。　I　tried　to　make　up　for　it。　You　are　the　one　I　was　guarding。　You　are　the　one　that　matters。　I'm　along　to　guard；　or　whatever　you　need…　it's　you　who'll　lead　us；　who　can　get　to　wherever　it　is　we　must　go；　and　put　right　what's　gone　wrong。〃
　　〃Is　it？〃　said　the　mage。　〃I　thought　so　myself；　until　last　night。　I　thought　I　had　a　follower；　but　I　followed　you；　my　lad。〃　His　voice　was　cool　and　perhaps　a　little　ironic。　Arren　did　not　know　what　to　say。　He　was　indeed　pletely　confused。　He　had　thought　that　his　fault　of　falling　into　sleep　or　trance　on　guard　could　scarcely　be　atoned　by　his　feat　of　drawing　off　the　robbers　from　Sparrowhawk：　it　now　appeared　that　the　latter　had　been　a　silly　act；　whereas　going　into　trance　at　the　wrong　moment　had　been　wonderfully　clever。
　　〃I　am　sorry；　my　lord；〃　he　said　at　last；　his　lips　rather　stiff　and　the　need　to　cry　not　easily　controlled　again；　〃that　I　failed　you。　And　you　have　saved　my　life…〃
　　〃And　you　mine；　maybe；〃　said　the　mage　harshly。
　　〃Who　knows？　They　might　have　slit　my　throat　when　they　were　done。　No　more　of　that；　Arren。　I　am　glad　you　are　with　me。〃
　　He　went　to　their　stores…box　then　and　lit　their　little　charcoal　stove　and　busied　himself　with　something。　Arren　lay　and　watched　the　stars；　and　his　emotions　cooled　and　his　mind　ceased　racing。　And　he　saw　then　that　what　he　had　done　and　what　he　had　not　done　were　not　going　to　receive　judgment　from　Sparrowhawk。　He　had　done　it；　Sparrowhawk　accepted　it　as　done。　〃I　do　not　punish；〃　he　had　said；　cold…voiced；　to　Egre。　Neither　did　he　reward。　But　he　had　e　for　Arren　in　all　haste　across　the　sea；　unleashing　the　power　of　his　wizardry　for　his　sake；　and　he　would　do　so　again。　He　was　to　be　depended　on。
　　He　was　worth　all　the　love　Arren　had　for　him；　and　all　the　trust。　For　the　fact　was　that　he　trusted　Arren。　What　Arren　did；　was　right。
　　He　came　back　now；　handing　Arren　a　cup　of　steaming　hot　wine。　〃Maybe　that'll　put　you　to　sleep。　Take　care；　it'll　scald　your　tongue。〃
　　〃Where　did　the　wine　e　from？　I　never　saw　a　wineskin　aboard…〃
　　〃There's　more　in　Lookfar　than　meets　the　eye；〃　Sparrowhawk　said；　sitting　down　again　beside　him；　and　Arren　heard　him　laugh；　briefly　and　almost　silently；　in　the　dark。
　　Arren　sat　up　to　drink　the　wine。　It　was　very　good；　refreshing　body　and　spirit。　He　said；　〃Where　are　we　going　now？〃　
　　〃Westward。〃
　　〃Where　did　you　go　with　Hare？〃
　　〃Into　the　darkness。　I　never　lost　him；　but　he　was　lost。　He　wandered　on　the　outer　borders；　in　the　endless　barrens　of　delirium　and　nightmare。　His　soul　piped　like　a　bird　in　those　dreary　places；　like　a　seagull　crying　far　from　the　sea。　He　is　no　guide。　He　has　always　been　lost。　For　all　his　craft　in　sorcery　he　has　never　seen　the　way　before　him；　seeing　only　himself。〃
　　Arren　did　not　understand　all　of　this；　nor　did　he　want　to　understand　it；　now。　He　had　been　drawn　a　little　way　into　that　〃darkness〃　of　which　wizards　spoke；　and　he　did　not　want　to　remember　it；　it　was　nothing　to　do　with　him。　Indeed　he　did　not　want　to　sleep；　lest　he　see　it　again　in　dream　and　see　that　dark　figure；　a　shadow　holding　out　a　pearl；　whispering；　〃e。〃
　　〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　his　mind　veering　away　rapidly　to　another　subject；　〃why…〃
　　〃Sleep！〃　said　Sparrowhawk　with　mild　exasperation。　〃I　can't　sleep；　my　lord。　I　wondered　why　you　didn't　free　the　other　slaves。〃
　　〃I　did。　I　left　none　bound　on　that　ship。〃
　　〃But　Egre's　men　had　weapons。　If　you　had　bound　them…〃
　　〃Aye；　if　I　had　bound　them？　There　were　but　six。　The　oarsmen　were　chained　slaves；　like　you。　Egre　and　his　men　may　be　dead　by　now；　or　chained　by　the　others　to　be　sold　as　slaves；　but　I　left　them　free　to　fight　or　bargain。　I　am　no　slavetaker。〃
　　〃But　you　knew　them　to　be　evil　men…〃
　　〃Was　I　to　join　them　therefore？　To　let　their　acts　rule　my　own？　I　will　not　make　their　choices　for　them；　nor　will　I　let　them　make　mine　for　me！〃
　　Arren　was　silent；　pondering　this。　Presently　the　mage　said；　speaking　softly；　〃Do　you　see；　Arren；　how　an　act　is　not；　as　young　men　think；　like　a　rock　that　one　picks　up　and　throws；　and　it　hits　or　misses；　and　that's　the　end　of　it。　When　that　rock　is　lifted；　the　earth　is　lighter；　the　hand　that