tw.togreenangeltower2-第46部分
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ght。 Very concerned with not being a meal for something large； we Qanuc are。〃 He paused。 〃And the time is wrong； also。 We would have been a day or two days at least behind you then。 No； it was doubtless one of the things you were guessing； a bandit or a forest cotsman。〃 Still； he considered for a few moments before continuing with his tale。
〃In any manner； Qantaqa and I followed you。 We were forced to make our hunting secret…I had no wish for riding Qantaqa into a large town like Stanshire…so I could only have hope that you were ing out of these places again。 We wandered about on the outskirts of the large settlements trying to find your track。 Several times I thought that I had made it too difficult for Qantaqa's scenting； but always she found you again。〃 He scratched his head； contemplating。 〃I suppose that if you had not emerged； I would have then been forced to go searching for you。 I am glad I did not need to do that thing…I would have had to leave Qantaqa out in the wildlands； and I would have myself been an easy target for Fire Dancers or frightened villagers who had never been seeing a troll。〃 He smiled slyly。 〃The people of Stanshire and Falshire have still not seen a troll。〃
〃When did you find us？〃
〃If you think on it； Simon； you will be guessing very easily。 I had no reason to hide from you； so I would have been greeting you as soon as I came upon you…unless some reason there was not to。〃
Simon considered。 〃Because we were with someone you didn't know？〃
The troll nodded； satisfied。 〃Exactly。 A young man and woman may be traveling in Erkynland and speaking to strangers without too much attention。 A troll may not。〃
〃So it must have been when we were with that man and woman…the Fire Dancers。 We met other people； but we were alone each time afterward。〃
〃Yes。 I came upon you here in Hasu Vale…I had been making camp in this very cave the night before…and followed you and that pair up into the hills。 Qantaqa and I were watching all from the trees。 We saw the Fire Dancers。〃 He frowned。 〃They have bee numerous and unafraid…by spying on other travelers along the road and listening to their gossip I was learning that。 So I saw what these Fire Dancers did； and when they were taking you to the hilltop； I freed your horses and followed。〃 He grinned； pleased with his own cleverness。
〃Thank you； Binabik；〃 Miriamele said。 Some of her earlier frosty manner had disappeared。 〃I haven't said that yet。〃
He smiled and shrugged。 〃We all are doing what we can when we are able。 As I was once before telling Simon； we three have saved each other's lives enough times that the tallying is no longer important。〃 As he picked up a hank of moss and began to scrub his bowl； Qantaqa strode silently into the cavern。 Her fur was wet； she shook herself； sending a fine spray of droplets everywhere。
〃Ah。〃 Binabik placed the bowl on the floor before the wolf。 〃You may be performing this task； then。〃 As Qantaqa's pink tongue scoured out the last bits of stew； the troll stood up。 〃So； that is the telling。 Now； if we are going carefully； I think we can leave this place today。 We will stay away from the road until Hasu Vale is being safely behind。〃
〃And the Fire Dancers won't find us？〃 Miriamele asked。
〃After the last night's doings； I am doubting that there are many left； or that they are wishing to do much of anything but hide。 I am thinking that the Storm King's servant gave them as much fright as it gave to you。〃 He bent to begin picking up。 〃And now their chieftain is dead。〃
〃That was one of your black…tipped darts；〃 Simon said； remembering Maefwaru's puzzled expression as he clutched at his throat。
〃It was。〃
〃I'm not sorry。〃 Simon went to tie up his bedroll。 〃Not sorry at all。 So you're really going to e with us。〃
Binabik thumped his chest with the heel of his hand。 〃I am not believing what you do is wise or good。 But I cannot be letting you go off when I might be able to help you survive。〃 He frowned； pondering。 〃I wish there was some way for sending a message back to the others。〃
Simon remembered the trolls in Josua's camp； and especially Sisqi； the loved one Binabik must have left behind to e here。 The magnitude of the little man's sacrifice struck him and he was suddenly ashamed。 Binabik was right： Simon and Miriamele were behaving like wayward children。 But one look at the princess convinced him that she could no more be talked out of this than the waves could be argued out of crashing onto the beach…and he could not imagine himself leaving her to face her fate alone。 Like Binabik； he was trapped。 He sighed and picked up the bedroll。
Either Binabik was a good guide or the Fire Dancers had； in fact； given up looking for them。 They saw nothing living during their afternoon's journey through the damp； thick…forested hills of Hasu Vale except for a few jays and a single black squirrel。 The woods were densely crowded with trees and ground plants； and every trunk was blanketed in spongy moss； but the land still seemed strangely inactive； as though everything that lived there slept or waited silently for the intruders to pass。
An hour after sunset they made camp beneath a rocky overhang； but the acmodations were far less pleasant than the dry and secret cave。 When the rains came and water ran streaming down the hillside； Simon and the others were forced to huddle as far back under the overhang as they could。 The horses； appearing none too pleased； were tethered at the front where they were intermittently lashed by rain。 Simon hoped that since horses often stood in fields during bad weather； they would not suffer too badly； but he felt obscurely guilty。 Surely Homefinder； a knight's panion； deserved better treatment？
After she hunted； Qantaqa came and curled herself against all three of them as they huddled in a row； making up with the warmth she provided for the strong smell of damp wolf that filled the shelter。 They fell asleep at last； then awakened at dawn； stiff and sore。 Binabik did not want to light a fire in such an exposed place； so they ate a little dried meat and some berries the troll gathered； then set out again。
It was a difficult day's traveling； the hillsides and dales slippery with mud and wet moss； the rain blowing up in sudden squalls that lashed them with water and slapped branches into their faces； when the rain ceased； the mist crept back in； hiding treacherous pitfalls。 Their progress was achingly slow。 Still； Simon was impressed that his trollish friend could find a Way at all with no sun visible and the road far away and out of sight。
Sometime after noon Binabik led them along the hillside past the outskirts of the town of Hasu Vale itself。 It was difficult to make out much more through the close…knit trees than the shapes of some rough houses； and…when the mist was momentarily cleared by a stiff wind…the snaking course of the road； a dark streak some furlongs away。 But the town seemed just as muted and lifeless as the forest： nothing but gray mists rose around the smoke holes of the cottages； and there was no sign of people or animals。
〃Where has everyone gone？〃 Miriamele asked。 〃I have been here。 It was a lively place。〃
〃Those Fire Dancers；〃 Simon said grimly。 〃They've scared everyone away。〃
〃Or perhaps it is the things with which the Fire Dancers have been making celebration on the hilltops at night；〃 Binabik pointed out。 〃It is not necessary； I am thinking； to see those things； as you two were seeing； to know that something is wrong。 It is a feeling in the air。〃
Simon nodded。 Binabik was right。 This entire area felt much like Thisterborg； the haunted hill between the forest and Erchester； the place where the Anger Stones stood 。。。 the place where the Norns had given Sorrow to King Elias。。。。
He did not like thinking about that horrible night； but for some reason the memory suddenly seemed important。 Something was pulling at him； scattered thoughts that wanted to be fit together。 The Norns。 The Red Hand。 Thisterborg。。。。
〃What's that？〃 Miriamele cried in alarm。 Simon jumped。 Homefinder startled beneath him and slipped a little in the mud before finding her footing。
A dark shape had appeared in the mist before them； gesticulating wildly。 Binabik leaned forward against Qantaqa's neck and squinted。 After a long； tense moment； he smiled。 〃It is nothing。 A rag caught by the wind。 Someone's lost shin； I am thinking。〃
Simon squinted； too。 The troll was correct。 It was a tattered bit of clothing wrapped around a tree； the sleeves fluttering in the wind like pennants。
Miriamele made the sign of the Tree； relieved。
They rode on。 The town vanished into the thick greenery behind them as quickly and pletely as if the wet； silent woods had swallowed it。
They camped that evening in a sheltered gully at the base of the valley's western slope。 Binabik seemed preoccupied； Simon and Miriamele were both quiet。 They ate an unsatisfying meal and made some small talk； then everyone took refuge in the darkness and the need to sleep。
Simon again felt the awkward distance that existed now between hi
