tw.togreenangeltower2-第47部分
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ess and the need to sleep。
Simon again felt the awkward distance that existed now between himself and Miriamele。 He still did not quite know what to feel about the things she had told him。 She was no maiden； and it was by her own choice。 That was painful enough； but the way she had told him； the manner in which she had lashed out at him as though to punish； was even more infuriatingly confusing。 Why was she so kind to him sometimes； so hateful at others？ He would have liked to believe that she was playing the e…hither； go…away games that young court women were taught to play with men； but he knew her too well： Miriamele was not one for that kind of frippery。 The only solution that he could find to this puzzle was that she truly wanted him for a friend； but was afraid that Simon wanted more。
I do want more； he thought miserably。 Even if I won't ever have it。
He did not fall asleep for a long time； but instead lay listening to the water pattering through the leaves to the forest floor。 Huddled beneath his cloak； he probed at his unhappiness as he might at a wound； trying to find out how much pain came with it。
By the middle of the next afternoon they climbed out of the valley； leaving Hasu Vale behind。 The forest still stretched out at their right hands like a great green blanket； vanishing only at the horizon。 Before them was the hilly grass country that lay between the Old Forest Road and the headlands at Swertclif。
Simon could not help wishing that this journey with Binabik and Miriamele could be more like the first heady days they had traveled together after leaving Geloe's lake house； so many months ago。 The troll had been full of songs and silliness during that journey； even the princess…pretending then to be the servant girl Marya…had seemed excited and happy to be alive。 Now the three of them went forward like soldiers marching toward a battle they did not expect to win； each immersed in private thoughts and fears。
The empty； rolling country north of the Kynslagh did not inspire much cheer in any case。 It was fully as dreary and lifeless as Hasu Vale； equally as wet； but did not afford the hiding places and security to be found in the densely forested valley。 Simon felt that they were terribly exposed； and could not help marveling at the astonishing courage…or stupidity； or both…of walking virtually unarmed into the High King's gateyard。 If there were left any scrap of the panions or their tale when these dark times had someday passed； surely it would make a wonderful； unbelievable song！ Some future Shem Horsegroom； perhaps； might tell some wide…eyed scullion： 〃Do ye listen； lad； whilst I tell ye of Brave Simon and his friends； them who rode open…eyed and empty…handed into the very Jaws of Darkness。。。。〃
Jaws of Darkness。 Simon liked that。 He had heard that in a song of Sangfugol's。
He suddenly thought of what that darkness really meant…the things he had seen and felt； the dreadful； clutching shadows waiting beyond the light and warmth of life…and his skin went shudderingly cold from head to foot。
It took them two days to ride across the hilly meadow…lands； two days of mist and frequent cold rains。 No matter which direction they traveled； the winds seemed always to be blowing into their faces。 Simon sneezed the entirety of the first night and felt warm and unstable as melting candle wax。 He was a bit recovered by morning。
In mid…afternoon of the second day； the headlands of Swertclif appeared before them； the raw edge of the high； rocky hill on whose summit the Hayholt perched。 As he stared into the twilight； Simon thought he could see an impossibly slim white line looming beyond Swertclif's naked face。
It was Green Angel Tower； visible even though it stood the better part of a league beyond the nearest side of the hill。
Simon felt something tingle up his back； lifting the hairs on the nape of his neck。 The tower； the great shining spike that the Sithi had built when the castle was theirs； the tower where Ineluki had lost his earthly life…it was waiting； still waiting。 But it was also the site of Simon's own boyhood wanderings and imaginings。 He had seen it； or something like it； in so many dreams since he had left his home that now it almost seemed like just another dream。 And below it； out of sight beyond the cliff； lay the Hayholt itself。 Tears welled up in Simon； but only dampened his eyes。 How many times had he yearned for those mazy halls； the gardens and scullion hiding…holes； the warm corners and secret pleasures？
He turned to look at Miriamele。 She； too； was staring fixedly into the west； but if she thought of the pleasures of home； her face did not show it。 She looked like a hunter who had finally run a dangerous but long…sought quarry to ground。 He blinked； ashamed that she might see him tearful。
〃I wondered if I'd ever see it again；〃 he said quietly。 A flurry of rain struck his face and he wiped his eyes； grateful for the excuse。 〃It looks like a dream； doesn't it？ A strange dream。〃
Miriamele nodded but said nothing。
Binabik did not hurry them away。 He seemed content to wait and let Qantaqa nose the ground while Simon and Miriamele sat and silently gazed。
〃Let us make camp；〃 he said finally。 〃If we are riding another short time； we can find shelter at the base of the hills。〃 He gestured toward Swertclif's massive face。 〃Then in the morning we will have better light for 。。。 whatever we may be doing。〃
〃We're going to John's barrow；〃 Simon said； more firmly than he felt。 〃At least that's what I'm doing。〃
Binabik shrugged。 〃Let us be riding。 When we have a fire and food will be time for making of plans。〃
The sun vanished behind Swertclif's broad hump long before evening。 They rode forward in cold shadow。 Even the horses seemed uneasy： Simon could feel Homefinder's unwillingness； and thought that if he allowed her she would turn and race in the opposite direction。
Swertclif waited like an infinitely patient ogre。 As they drew closer； the great dark hill seemed to blot out the sky as well as the sun； spreading and swelling until it seemed they could not turn away from it even if they tried。 From the slope of its outermost foothills； they saw a flash of gray…green to the south； just beyond the cliffs…the Kynslagh； visible for the first time。 Simon felt a pang of joy and regret； as he remembered the familiar； soothing song of the gulls and thought of the fisherman…father he had never known。
At last； when the hill's almost perpendicular face stood above them like a vast wall； they made camp in a ravine。 The winds were less here； and Swertclif itself blocked much of the rain。 Simon smiled grimly at the thought that the ogre's waiting was over： he and his panions were going to sleep in its lap tonight。
No one wanted to be first to speak of what they would do tomorrow。 The making of the fire and the preparation of a modest supper were undertaken with a minimum of conversation and little of the fellowship that usually enlivened the evenings。 Tonight Miriamele did not seem angry but preoccupied； and even Binabik was hesitant in his actions； as though his thoughts were elsewhere。
Simon felt surprisingly calm； almost cheerful； and was disappointed that his panions did not share his mood。 This was a dangerous place； of course； and the next day's doings would be fearful…he was not letting himself think too much about where the sword was and what needed to be done to find it…but at least he was doing something。 At least he was performing the kind of task for which he had been knighted。 And if it worked…oh； glory！ If it worked； surely Miriamele would see that taking the sword to Josua would be more important than trying to convince her mad father to halt a war that was doubtless already beyond his power to stop。 Yes； surely when they had Bright…Nail…think of it； Bright…Nail！ Prester John's famous sword！…in hand； Miriamele would realize that they had obtained the greatest prize they could hope for； and he and Binabik could coax her back to the parative safety of her uncle's camp。
Simon was considering these ideas and letting his meal settle when Binabik finally began to speak。
〃Once we are climbing this hill；〃 the troll said slowly； 〃we will be having great difficulty to turn back。 We are having no knowledge whether there are soldiers above…perhaps Elias has placed guards for protecting his father's sword and tomb。 If we are going any farther westward； we will be ing to where people in that great castle can be seeing us。 Do you have certainness…real； real true certainness！…that you both want this？ Please think before you are speaking。〃
Simon did as his friend asked。 After a while； he knew what he wished to say。 〃We are here。 The next time we are so close to Bright…Nail； there may be men fighting everywhere。 We may never be able to get near it。 So I think it would be foolish not to try to take it now。 I'm going。〃
Binabik looked at Simon； then slowly nodded。 〃So we will go to take the sword。〃 He turned to the princess。 〃Miriamele？〃
〃I have little to say about it。 If we need to use the Three Swords； then that wi
