uleg.thefarthestshore-第18部分

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　　〃An　enemy；　my　lord？〃　said　Arren。
　　Sparrowhawk　nodded。
　　〃When　she　talked　about　the　Great　Man；　the　King　of　Shadows…？〃
　　Sparrowhawk　nodded　again。　〃I　think　so；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　we　must　e　not　only　to　a　place；　but　to　a　person。　This　is　evil；　evil；　what　passes　on　this　island：　this　loss　of　craft　and　pride；　this　joylessness；　this　waste。　This　is　the　work　of　an　evil　will。　But　a　will　not　even　bent　here；　not　even　noticing　Akaren　or　Lorbanery。　The　track　we　hunt　is　a　track　of　wreckage；　as　if　we　followed　a　runaway　cart　down　a　mountainside　and　watched　it　set　off　an　avalanche。〃
　　〃Could　she　…Akaren…　tell　you　more　about　this　enemy…　who　he　is　and　where　he　is；　or　what　he　is？〃
　　〃Not　now；　lad；〃　the　mage　said　in　a　soft　but　rather　bleak　voice。　〃No　doubt　she　could　have。　In　her　madness　there　was　still　wizardry。　Indeed　her　madness　was　her　wizardry。　But　I　could　not　hold　her　to　answer　me。　She　was　in　too　much　pain。〃
　　And　he　walked　on　with　his　head　somewhat　hunched　between　his　shoulders；　as　if　himself　enduring；　and　longing　to　avoid；　some　pain。
　　Arren　turned；　hearing　a　scuffle　of　feet　behind　them　on　the　road。　A　man　was　running　after　them；　a　good　way　off　but　catching　up　fast。　The　dust　of　the　road　and　his　long；　wiry　hair　made　aureoles　of　red　about　him　in　the　westering　light；　and　his　long　shadow　hopped　fantastically　along　the　trunks　and　aisles　of　the　orchards　by　the　road。　〃Listen！〃　he　shouted。　〃Stop！　I　found　it！　I　found　it！〃
　　He　caught　up　with　them　in　a　rush。　Arren's　hand　went　first　to　the　air　where　his　sword　hilt　might　have　been；　then　to　the　air　where　his　lost　knife　had　been；　and　then　made　itself　into　a　fist；　all　in　half　a　second。　He　scowled　and　moved　forward。　The　man　was　a　full　head　taller　than　Sparrowhawk；　and　broadshouldered：　a　panting；　raving；　wild…eyed　madman。　〃I　found　it！〃　he　kept　saying；　while　Arren；　trying　to　dominate　him　by　a　stern；　threatening　voice　and　attitude；　said；　〃What　do　you　want？〃　The　man　tried　to　get　around　him；　to　Sparrowhawk；　Arren　stepped　in　front　of　him　again。
　　〃You　are　the　Dyer　of　Lorbanery；〃　Sparrowhawk　said。
　　Then　Arren　felt　he　had　been　a　fool；　trying　to　protect　his　panion；　and　he　stepped　aside；　out　of　the　way。　For　at　six　words　from　the　mage；　the　madman　stopped　his　panting　and　the　clutching　gesture　of　his　big；　stained　hands；　his　eyes　grew　quieter；　he　nodded　his　head。
　　〃I　was　the　dyer；〃　he　said；　〃but　now　I　can't　dye。〃　Then　he　looked　askance　at　Sparrowhawk　and　grinned；　he　shook　his　head　with　its　reddish；　dusty　bush　of　hair。　〃You　took　away　my　mother's　name；〃　he　said。　〃Now　I　don't　know　her；　and　she　doesn't　know　me。　She　loves　me　well　enough　still；　but　she's　left　me。　She's　dead。〃
　　Arren's　heart　contracted；　but　he　saw　that　Sparrowhawk　merely　shook　his　head　a　little。　〃No；　no；〃　he　said；　〃she's　not　dead。〃
　　〃But　she　will　be。　She'll　die。〃
　　〃Aye。　That's　a　consequence　of　being　alive；〃　the　mage　said。　The　Dyer　seemed　to　puzzle　this　over　for　a　minute；　and　then　came　right　up　to　Sparrowhawk；　seized　his　shoulders；　and　bent　over　him。　He　moved　so　fast　that　Arren　could　not　prevent　him；　but　Arren　did　e　up　very　close；　and　so　heard　his　whisper；　〃I　found　the　hole　in　the　darkness。　The　King　was　standing　there。　He　watches　it；　he　rules　it。　He　had　a　little　flame；　a　little　candle　in　his　hand。　He　blew　on　it　and　it　went　out。　Then　he　blew　on　it　again　and　it　burned！　It　burned！〃
　　Sparrowhawk　made　no　protest　at　being　held　and　whispered　at。　He　simply　asked；　〃Where　were　you　when　you　saw　that？〃
　　〃In　bed。〃
　　〃Dreaming？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Across　the　wall？〃
　　〃No；〃　the　Dyer　said；　in　a　suddenly　sober　tone；　and　as　if　unfortable。　He　let　the　mage　go；　and　took　a　step　back　from　him。　〃No；　I…　I　don't　know　where　it　is。　I　found　it。　But　I　don't　know　where。〃
　　〃That's　what　I'd　like　to　know；〃　said　Sparrowhawk。
　　〃I　can　help　you。〃
　　〃How？〃
　　〃You　have　a　boat。　You　came　here　in　it　and　you're　going　on。　Are　you　going　on　west？　That's　the　way。　The　way　to　the　place　where　he　es　out。　There　has　to　be　a　place；　a　place　here；　because　he's　alive…　not　just　the　spirits；　the　ghosts；　that　e　over　the　wall；　not　like　that；　…you　can't　bring　anything　but　souls　over　the　wall；　but　this　is　the　body；　this　is　the　flesh　immortal。　I　saw　the　flame　rise　in　the　darkness　at　his　breath；　the　flame　that　was　out。　I　saw　that。〃　The　man's　face　was　transfigured；　a　wild　beauty　in　it　in　the　long；　red…gold　light。　〃I　know　that　he　has　overe　death。　I　know　it。　I　gave　my　wizardry　to　know　it。　I　was　a　wizard　once！　And　you　know　it；　and　you　are　going　there。　Take　me　with　you。〃
　　The　same　light　shone　on　Sparrowhawk's　face；　but　left　it　unmoved　and　harsh。　〃I　am　trying　to　go　there；〃　he　said。
　　〃Let　me　go　with　you！〃
　　Sparrowhawk　nodded　briefly。　〃If　you're　ready　when　we　sail；〃　he　said；　as　coldly　as　before。
　　The　Dyer　backed　away　from　him　another　step　and　stood　watching　him；　the　exaltation　in　his　face　clouding　slowly　over　until　it　was　replaced　by　a　strange；　heavy　look；　it　was　as　if　reasoning　thought　were　laboring　to　break　through　the　storm　of　words　and　feelings　and　visions　that　confused　him。　Finally　he　turned　around　without　a　word　and　began　to　run　back　down　the　road；　into　the　haze　of　dust　that　had　not　yet　settled　on　his　tracks。　Arren　drew　a　long　breath　of　relief。
　　Sparrowhawk　also　sighed；　though　not　as　if　his　heart　were　any　easier。　〃Well；〃　he　said。　〃Strange　roads　have　strange　guides。　Let's　go　on。〃
　　Arren　fell　into　step　beside　him。　〃You　won't　take　him　with　us？〃　he　asked。
　　〃That's　up　to　him。〃
　　With　a　flash　of　anger　Arren　thought：　It's　up　to　me；　also。　But　he　did　not　say　anything；　and　they　went　on　together　in　silence。
　　They　were　not　well…received　on　their　return　to　Sosara。　Everything　on　a　little　island　like　Lorbanery　is　known　as　soon　as　it　is　done；　and　no　doubt　they　had　been　seen　turning　aside　to　the　Dyers'　House　and　talking　to　the　madman　on　the　road。　The　innkeeper　served　them　uncivilly；　and　his　wife　acted　scared　to　death　of　them。　In　the　evening　when　the　men　of　the　village　came　to　sit　under　the　eaves　of　the　inn；　they　made　much　display　of　not　speaking　to　the　foreigners　and　being　very　witty　and　merry　among　themselves。　But　they　had　not　much　wit　to　pass　around　and　soon　ran　short　of　jollity。　They　all　sat　in　silence　for　a　long　time；　and　at　last　the　mayor　said　to　Sparrowhawk；　〃Did　you　find　your　blue　rocks？〃
　　〃I　found　some　blue　rocks；〃　Sparrowhawk　replied　politely。
　　〃Sopli　showed　you　where　to　find　'em；　no　doubt。〃
　　Ha；　ha　ha；　went　the　other　men；　at　this　masterstroke　of　irony。
　　〃Sopli　would　be　the　red…haired　man？〃
　　〃The　madman。　You　called　on　his　mother　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃I　was　looking　for　a　wizard；〃　said　the　wizard。
　　The　skinny　man；　who　sat　nearest　him；　spat　into　the　darkness。　〃What　for？〃
　　〃I　thought　I　might　find　out　about　what　I'm　looking　for。〃
　　〃People　e　to　Lorbanery　for　silk；〃　the　mayor　said。　〃They　don't　e　for　stones。　They　don't　e　for　charms。　Or　arm…wavings　and　jibber…jabber　and　sorcerers'　tricks。　Honest　folk　live　here　and　do　honest　work。〃
　　〃That's　right。　He's　right；〃　said　others。
　　〃And　we　don't　want　any　other　sort　here；　people　from　foreign　parts　snooping　about　and　prying　into　our　business。〃
　　〃That's　right。　He's　right；〃　came　the　chorus。
　　〃If　there　was　any　sorcerer　around　that　wasn't　crazy；　we'd　give　him　an　honest　job　in　the　sheds；　but　they　don't　know　how　to　do　honest　work。〃
　　〃They　might；　if　there　were　any　to　do；〃　said　Sparrowhawk。　〃Your　sheds　are　empty；　the　orchards　are　untended；　the　silk　in　your　warehouses　was　all　woven　years　ago。　What　do　you　do；　here　in　Lorbanery？〃
　　〃We　look　after　our　own　business；〃　the　mayor　snapped；　but　the　skinny　man　broke　in　excitedly；　〃Why　don't　the　ships　e；　tell　us　that！　What　are　they　doing　in　Hort　Town？　Is　it　because　our　work's　been　shoddy？…〃　He　was　interrupted　by　angry　denials。　They　shouted　at　one　another；　jumped　to　their　feet；　the　mayor　shook　his　fist　in　Sparrowhawk's　face；　another　drew　a　knife。　Their　mood　had　gone　wild。　Arren　was　on　his　feet　at　once。　He　looked　at　Sparrowhawk；　expecting　to　see　him　stand　up　in　the　sudden　radiance　of　the　magelight　and　strike　them　dumb　with　his　revealed　power。　But　he　did　not。　He　sat　there　and　looked　from　one　to　another　and　listened　to　their　menaces。　And　gradually　they　fell　quiet；　as　if　they　could　not　keep　up　anger　any　more　than　they　could　keep　up　merriment。　The　knife　was　sheathed；　the　threats　turned　to　sneers。　They　began　to　go　off　like　dogs　leaving　a　dog…fight；　some　strutting　and　some　sneaking。
　　When　the　two　were　left　alone　Sparrowhawk　got　up；　went　inside　the　inn；　and　took　a　long　draft　of　water　from　the　jug　beside　the　door。　〃e；　lad；〃　he　said。　〃I've　had　enough　of　this。〃
　　〃To　the　boat？〃
　　〃Aye。〃　He　put　down　two　trade…counters　of　silver　on　the　windowsill　to　pay　for　their　lodging；　and　hoisted　up　their　light　pack　of　clothing。　Arren　was　tired　and　sleepy；　but　he　looked　around　the　room　of　the　inn；　stuffy　and　bleak；　and　all　a…flitter　up　in　the　rafters　with　the　restless　bats；　he　thought　of　last　night　in　that　room　and　followed　Sparrowhawk　willingly。　He　thought；　too；　as　they　went　down　Sosara's　one；　dark　street；　that　going　now　they　would　give　the　madman　Sopli　the　slip。　But　when　they　came　to　the　harbor　he　was　waiting　for　them　on　the　pier。
　　〃There　you　are；〃　said　the　mage。　〃Get　aboard；　if　you　want　to　e。〃
　　Without　a　word；　Sopli　got　down　into　the　boat　and　crouched　beside　the　mast；　like　a　big；　unk