tw.togreenangeltower2-第105部分

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〃Yes？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　it　is　not　just　some　secret　goal　he　has　that　he　wishes　to　conceal。　Perhaps　he　also　tries　to　hide　the　secret　of　the　Three　Swords。〃
　　　　　　　Tiamak　felt　a　glimmer　of　understanding。　〃But　if　all　the　contention　between　Josua　and　the　High　King　has　been　arranged　just　to　keep　us　from　understanding　how　to　use　the　swords；　it　might　mean　that　the　answer　is　quite　simple…something　we　would　quickly　see　if　we　were　not　distracted。〃
〃Exactly！〃　Strangyeard；　in　pursuit　of　an　idea；　had　lost　his　usual　reticence。　〃Exactly。　Either　there　is　something　so　simple　that　we　could　not　fail　to　see　it　if　we　were　not　caught　up　in　the　day…to…day　struggle；　or　there　is　someone　or　someplace　vital　to　us　that　we　cannot　reach　as　long　as　this　war　between　brothers　continues。〃
　　　　　　　They　Who　Watch　and　Shape；　marveled　Tiamak；　it　is　good　to　have　someone　to　share　my　thoughts　with…someone　who　understands；　who　questions；　who　searches　for　meaning！　For　a　moment　he　did　not　even　miss　his　home　in　the　swamp。　Aloud；　he　said：　〃Wonderful；　Strangyeard。　It　is　something　well　worth　considering。〃
The　archivist　colored；　but　spoke　confidently。　〃I　remember　when　we　were　first　fleeing　Naglimund；　Deornoth　said　that　the　Norns　seemed　to　wish　to　keep　us　from　going　certain　directions…at　that　time　it　was　deeper　into　Aldheorte。　Instead　of　trying　to　kill　us；　or　capture　us；　they　seemed　to　try　to　。。。　drive　us。〃　The　priest　wiped　absently　at　his　chill…reddened　nostrils；　not　yet　recovered　from　the　sojourn　on　deck。　〃I　think　perhaps　they　were　keeping　us　from　the　Sithi。〃
　　　　　　　Tiamak　put　the　pages　he　was　holding　down：　there　would　be　time　enough　for　them　later。　〃So　perhaps　there　is　something　the　Sithi　know…perhaps　even　they　do　not　realize　it！　He　Who　Always　Steps　on　Sand；　how　1　wish　we　had　questioned　young　Simon　more　closely　about　his　time　with　the　immortals。〃　Tiamak　stood　up　and　moved　toward　the　cabin　door。　〃I　will　go　tell　Sludig　that　we　wish　to　talk　to　Aditu。〃　He　stopped。　〃But　I　do　not　know　how　she　could　cross　from　one　ship　to　another。　The　seas　are　so　dangerous　now。〃　Strangyeard　shrugged。　〃It　will　do　no　harm　to　ask。〃　Tiamak　paused；　tilting　back　and　forth　with　the　ship's　movement；　then　abruptly　sat　down　again。　〃It　can　wait　until　the　morning；　when　it　would　be　a　safe　crossing。　There　is　much　we　can　do　first。〃　He　picked　up　the　parchments　again。　〃It　could　be　anything；　Strangyeard…anything！　We　must　think　back　on　all　the　places　we　have　been；　the　people　we　have　met。　We　have　been　reacting　to　only　what　was　in　front　of　us。　Now　it　is　up　to　you　and　me　to　think　on　what　we　did　not　see　while　we　were　busy　watching　the　spectacle　of　pursuit　and　war。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　should　talk　to　others；　too。　Sludig　himself　has　seen　much；　and　certainly　Isgrimnur　and　Josua　should　be　questioned。　But　we　do　not　even　know　what　questions　to　ask。〃　The　priest　sighed　and　shook　his　head　mournfully。　〃Merciful　Aedon；　but　it　is　a　pity　that　Geloe　is　not　here　with　us。　She　would　know　where　to　begin。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　she　is　not；　as　you　said；　and　neither　is　Binabik。　So　we　must　do　it　on　our　own。　This　is　our　fearful　duty；　just　as　it　is　Camaris'　task　to　swing　a　sword；　and　Josua's　to　bear　the　burdens　of　leadership。〃　Tiamak　looked　at　the　untidy　mess　of　writings　in　his　lap。　〃But　you　are　right：　it　is　hard　to　know　where　to　begin。　If　only　someone　could　tell　us　more　about　the　forging　of　these　swords。　If　only　that　knowledge　had　not　been　lost。〃
　　　　　　　As　the　two　sat；　lost　for　a　moment　in　glum　silence；　the　Niskie's　voice　rose　again；　cutting　through　the　clamor　of　the　storm　like　a　sharp　blade。

　　　　　　　At　first　the　very　size　of　the　thing　prevented　Miriamele　from　understanding　what　it　was。　Its　dawn…colored　brilliance　and　massive　velvety　petals；　the　dew　drops　sparkling　like　glass　globes；　even　the　thorns；　each　one　a　great　spike　of　dark　curving　wood；　all　seemed　things　that　must　be　absorbed　and　considered　individually。　It　was　only　after　a　long　while…or　what　seemed　a　long　while…that　she　could　prehend　that　the　vast　thing　spinning　slowly　before　her　eyes　was　。。。　a　rose。　It　revolved　as　though　its　stem　were　being　twirled　by　gigantic　yet　invisible　fingers；　its　scent　was　so　powerful　that　she　felt　the　whole　universe　choked　in　perfume；　and　yet　even　as　it　smothered　her；　it　filled　her　with　life。
　　　　　　　The　wide；　unbroken　plain　of　grass　above　which　the　rose　turned　began　to　shudder。　The　sod　buckled　upward　beneath　the　mighty　bloom；　gray　stones　appeared；　tall　and　angular；　pushing　up　through　the　earth　like　moles　nosing　toward　sunlight。　As　they　burst　free；　and　as　she　saw　for　the　first　time　that　the　long　stones　were　joined　at　the　bottom；　she　realized　that　what　she　saw　was　a　huge　hand　pushing　up　from　below　the　world's　surface。　It　lifted；　grass　and　clotted　dirt　tumbling　away；　the　stony　fingers　spread　wide；　encircling　the　rose。　A　moment　later　the　hand　closed　and　squeezed。　The　huge　rose　ceased　turning；　then　slowly　vanished　in　the　crushing　grip。　A　single　wide　petal　scudded　slowly　from　side　to　side　as　it　floated　to　the　ground。　The　rose　was　dead。。。。
　　　　　　　Miriamele　struggled　up；　blinking；　her　heart　rattling　inside　her　chest。　The　cavern　was　dark　but　for　the　faint　pink　glow　of　a　few　of　the　dwarrow's　crystals；　as　it　had　been　when　she　had　drifted　off　to　sleep。　Nevertheless；　she　could　tell　something　was　different。
　　　　　　　〃Yis…fidri？〃　she　called。　A　shape　detached　itself　from　the　wall　nearby　and　moved　toward　her；　head　bobbing。
　　　　　　　〃He　still　has　not　returned；〃　said　Yis…hadra。
〃What　happened？〃　Miriamele's　head　was　throbbing　as　though　she　had　been　struck　a　blow。　〃Something　just　happened。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was　very　strong；　this　one。〃　Yis…hadra　was　clearly　upset：　her　immense　eyes　were　wider　than　usual　and　her　long　fingers　twitched　spasmodically。　〃Some　。。。　change　is　happening　here…a　change　in　the　bones　of　the　earth　and　in　the　heart　of　Asu'a。〃　She　sought　for　words。　〃It　has　been　happening　for　some　time。　Now　it　grows　stronger。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　kind　of　change？　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　do　not　know。　But　we　will　do　nothing　until　Yis…fidri　and　the　others　are　e　back。〃
　　　　　　　'The　whole　place　is　falling　down　around　our　ears　。。。　and　you're　not　going　to　do　anything？！　Not　even　run　away？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　。。。　falling　down。　The　changing　is　different。〃　Yis…hadra　laid　a　trembling　hand　on　Miriamele's　arm；　〃Please。　My　people　are　frightened。　You　make　it　worse。〃
　　　　　　　Before　Miriamele　could　say　anything　else；　a　strange　silent　rumble　moved　through　her；　a　sound　too　low　to　hear。　The　entire　chamber　seemed　to　shift…for　a　moment；　even　Yis…hadra's　odd；　homely　face　became　something　unliving；　and　the　roseate　light　from　the　dwarrow's　batons　deepened　and　chilled　to　glaring　white；　then　azure。　Everything　seemed　to　be　skewed。　Miriamele　felt　herself　slipping　away　sideways；　as　though　she　had　lost　her　grip　on　the　spinning　world。
　　　　　　　A　moment　later；　the　crystal　lights　warmed　again　and　the　cavern　was　once　more　as　it　had　been。
Miriamele　took　several　shaky　breaths　before　she　could　speak。　〃Something　。。。　very　bad　。。。　is　happening。〃
　　　　　　　Yis…hadra　rose　from　her　crouch；　swaying　unsteadily。　〃I　must　see　to　the　others。　Yis…fidri　and　I　try　to　keep　them　from　being　too　fearful。　Without　the　Shard；　without　the　Pattern　Hall；　there　is　little　left　to　hold　us　together。〃
　　　　　　　Shivering；　Miriamele　watched　the　dwarrow　go。　The　mass　of　stone　all　around　her　felt　like　the　confining　walls　of　a　tomb。　Whatever　Josua　and　old　Jarnauga　and　the　others　had　feared　was　now　happening。　Some　wild　power　was　coursing　through　the　stones　beneath　the　Hayholt　just　as　blood　ran　through　her　own　body。　Surely　there　was　only　a　little　time　left。
　　　　　　　Is　this　where　it　will　end　for　me？　she　wondered。　Down　here　in　the　dark；　and　never　knowing　why？

　　　　　　　Miriamele　did　not　remember　falling　asleep　again；　but　she　awakened…more　gently　this　time…sitting　upright　along　the　cavern　wall；　pillowed　against　the　hood　of　her　cloak。　Her　neck　was　sore；　and　she　rubbed　it　for　a　moment　until　she　saw　someone　squatting　by　her　pack；　a　dim　outline　in　the　faint　rose　light　of　the　dwarrow…crystals。
　　　　　　　〃You　there！　What　are　you　doing？〃
　　　　　　　The　figure　turned；　eyes　wide。　〃You　are　awake；〃　the　troll　said。
　　　　　　　〃Binabik？〃　Miriamele　stared　for　a　moment；　dumbfounded；　then　sprang　to　her　feet　and　ran　to　him。　She　caught　him　up　in　a　hug　that　squeezed　out　a　breathless　laugh。　〃Mother　of　Mercy！　Binabik！　What　are　you　doing？　How　did　you　get　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　dwarrows　found　me　wandering　on　the　stairs；〃　he　said　as　she　set　him　down。　〃I　have　been　here　a　little　time。　I　did　not　want　to　wake　you；　but　I　am　full　of　hunger；　so　I　have　been　searching　in　the　packs。。。。〃
〃There's　a　little　trait…bread　left；　I　think；　and　maybe　some　dried　fruit。〃　She　rummaged　through　her　belongings。　〃I　am　so　happy　to　see　you…I　didn't　know　what　had　bee　of　you！　That　thing；　that　monk！　What　happened？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　killed　him…or　perhaps　I　was　releasing　him。〃　Binabik　shook　his　head。　〃I　cannot　say。　He　was　himself　for　a　moment；　and　warned　that　the　Norns　were　。。。　what　did　he　say？　。。。　'false　beyond　believing'。〃　He　took　the　piece　of　hard　bread　Miriamele　offered。　〃I　knew　him　as　a　man　once；　Simon　and　I　met　him　in　St。　Hoderund's　ruins。　We　were　not　being　friends；　Hengfisk　and　I…but　to　look　into　his　eyes。。。　！　Such　a　terrible　thing　should　not　be　done　to　anyone。　Our　enemies　have　much　to　be　answering　for。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　of　the　dwar