fs.thethirdbookofswords-第24部分

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esque；　magnificent；　as　real　as　any　woman　he　had　ever　seen；　stood　across　the　ashes　of　the　fire；　holding　in　her　strong　right　arm　a　Sword。
　The　goddess　was　looking　down　at　Kristin；　who　was　asleep　sitting　beside　Mark；　the　hunting　shirt　half　open　at　her　breast。
　〃I　am　Aphrodite；〃　the　goddess　said　to　Mark。　〃I　was　called；　I　had　to　e　to　you；　and　now　I　see　I　must　do　something。　How　sweet；　the　mortal　child；　to　give　you　everything。　She　is　restoring　your　life　to　you；　and　giving　you　her　entire　life　as　well　in　the　process；　and　I　hope　you　appreciate　it。　But　men　never　do；　I　suppose。〃
　Mark　said；　〃I　understand。〃
　〃Do　you？　No；　you　don't。　You　really　don't。　But　perhaps　one　day　you　will。〃
　And　the　goddess　approached　the　two　of　them　with　long　unhurried　steps；　meanwhile　raising　the　Sword　in　her　right　hand。　Mark；　alarmed；　sat　bolt　upright。　Before　he　could　do　more；　the　Sword　in　Aphrodite's　hand　was　thrusting　straight　for　Kristin's　sleeping　back。
　The　Sword　in　its　swift　passage　made　a　sound　like　a　gasp　of　human　breath。　Mark　saw　the　wide；　bright　steel　vanish　into　Kristin's　back　and　emerge　quite　bloodlessly　between　her　breasts；　to　plunge　straight　on　into　his　own　heart　as　he　sat　beside　her。　He　cried　out　once；　with　a　pang　more　intense　than　that　of　any　wound　that　he　had　ever　felt；　and　then　he　fell　back　dead。
　But　then　he　realized　that　he　was　only　dreaming　he　was　dead。
　Actually；　he　thought　now；　he　was　waking　up。
　He　was　lying　on　his　back；　that　much　was　real　and　certain。　And　the　endless　pain　in　his　head　was　gone　at　last。　It　was　too　much　trouble；　his　eyelids　were　much　too　heavy；　to　try　to　open　his　eyes　to　discover　if　he　was　asleep　or　dead。
　With　a　sigh　of　contentment；　knowing　the　inexpressible　fort　of　pain's　cessation；　he　shifted　his　position　slightly；　and　quickly　fell　into　a　natural　sleep。
　When　Mark　awoke　again；　he　thought　that　daylight　was　fading。　Had　it　really　been　dawn　before；　when　the　goddess　and　her　Sword　appeared？　That　might　have　been　a　dream。　But　this；　Kristin　and　himself；　was　real。　The　hunting　shirt　was　cast　aside　now；　but　she　was　here；　inside　the　cloak　that　enfolded　both　of　them。
　It　was　as　if　her　blood　flowed　now　in　his　veins；　giving　healing；　and　his　blood　crossed　into　her　body　too；　giving　and　receiving　life。
　Into　her　body。　His　own　life　flowing　。。。
　It　was　morning　again　when　he　awoke；　gently　but　at　last　pletely；　at　first　accepting　without　wonder　the　pressure　of　the　warm　smooth　body　beside　his　own。　Then　he　began　to　remember　things；　and　wonder　rapidly　unfolded。
　In　an　instant　he　was　sitting　upright；　raising　both　hands　to　his　head。　He　was　still　caked　with　old；　dried　blood　and　dirtier　even　than　he　remembered；　and　he　felt　thirsty　and　ravenously　hungry；　but　the　pain　and　fever　were　entirely　gone。　Kristin；　as　grimy　and　worn…looking　as　he　felt；　but　alive　and　safe　and　warm；　was　snuggled　naked　beside　him　in　an　exhausted　sleep。
　The　sun　was　about　an　hour　high。　Nearby　were　the　ashes　of　a　long…dead　fire。　They　were　camped　in　a　grove；　with　running　water　murmuring　somewhere　just　out　of　sight。　Mark　could　not　recognize　the　place　at　all　or　remember　their　arriving　at　it。
　A　little　distance　away　stood　the　two　riding　beasts；　looking　lean　and　hard…used；　but　at　the　moment　contentedly　munching　grass。　Someone　had　taken　off　their　saddles　and　tethered　them　for　grazing。
　Mark　stood　up；　the　cape　of　black　and　gold　that　had　been　his　only　cover　falling　back。　Again　he　raised　a　hand　to　his　forehead。　He　dared　to　probe　more　firmly　with　a　finger。　There　was　no　longer　any　trace　of　a　wound；　except　for　the　dried　blood。
　Kristin　stirred　at　his　feet；　and　he　looked　down　and　saw　that　his　movement　had　awakened　her；　her　eyes　were　open；　marveling　at　him。
　〃You　have　been　healed；〃　she　said。　It　was　as　if　she　had　been　half…expecting　such　an　oute；　but　still　it　surprised　and　almost　frightened　her。
　〃Yes。〃　He　was　almost　frightened　himself；　at　his　own　suddenly　restored　well…being。　He　was　almost　reluctant　to　move；　afraid　to　break　the　healing　spell。　〃You　did　it　for　me。〃
　〃Mark。〃　It　was　as　if　she　were　trying　out　the　name；　speaking　it　for　the　first　time。　Then　she　asked　a　question　that　to　Mark；　at　the　moment；　did　not　seem　in　the　least　incongruous：　〃Do　you　love　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　gave　his　reply　at　once；　gravely　certain　without　having　to　think　about　it。　But　then　he　seriously　considered　the　question　and　his　answer。　He　knelt　beside　Kristin；　and　looked　at　her　and　touched　her　with　awe；　as　if　she　herself　were　the　great；　true　question　that　required　his　best　reply。
　〃Yes；〃　he　repeated。　〃I　love　you　more；　I　think；　than　my　own　life　…　if　this　that　has　happened　to　us　es　from　some　enchantment；　still　it　is　so。〃
　〃I　love　you　more　than　life；〃　she　said；　and　took　his　hand　and　kissed　it；　then　held　it　to　her　breast。　〃I　thought。。。〃　〃。。。What？〃
　She　shook　her　head；　as　if　dismissing　something；　and　then　sat　up　beside　him。　〃I　feared　that　my　enchantment　would　not　save　you　…　though　it　was　the　best　that　I　could　do。　I　thought　we　were　both　lost。〃
　They　stared　at　each　other。　Mark　broke　the　short　silence。　〃I　dreamed　that　Aphrodite　was　here　with　us。〃
　Kristin　for　some　reason　thought　it　necessary　to　consider　this　statement　very　solemnly。　It　struck　Mark　that　they　were　gazing　at　each　other　like　two　children；　just　beginning　to　discover　things　about　the　world；　and　both　gravely　shocked　at　what　they　learned。　He　had　thought　he　knew　something　of　the　world　before　now；　but　evidently　there　was　still　much　he　did　not　know。
　Then　what　Kristin　was　saying　seized　his　full　attention。　〃I　dreamed；　too；　that　she　was　here。　And　that　she　was　about　to　kill　both　of　us；　with　one　of　the　Swords。〃
　Mark　stared　at　her。　Then　he　jumped　up　out　of　the　nest　again；　naked　in　the　morning's　chill；　and　went　scrambling　about　to　find　Sightblinder。　The　Sword　lay　nearby；　in　plain　view。　In　a　moment　he　had　it　in　his　hands。
　And　froze；　staring　at　the　hilt。　The　little　white　symbol　was　not　an　eye。　It　was　an　open　human　hand。
　Kristin　was　beside　him；　leaning　on　his　shoulder　in　a　certain　way　it　was　as　trusting　and　intimate　a　contact　as　any　that　had　gone　before。　She　whispered：　〃That's　Woundhealer；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃　〃She's　left　it　with　us。〃
　〃And　taken　Sightblinder　in　exchange。〃　They　stared　at　each　other　in　wonder；　in　something　like　panic。　He　began　a　frantic　search　of　the　nearby　area；　but　the　Sword　of　Stealth　was　gone。　It　was　an　alarming　thought　that　Woundhealer　was　going　to　be　useless　if　Vilkata's　troops　encountered　them。
　Kristin　was　already　pulling　Mark's　deteriorated　shirt　on　over　her　head。　The　garment　was　dirtier　than　she　was；　and　beginning　to　show　holes。　〃We've　got　to　get　moving。　All　thanks　to　Aphrodite；　but　she's　taken　our　protection　with　her。〃
　All　the　dressing　and　packing　they　could　do　took　only　moments。　And　moments　after　that　they　had　got　the　animals　ready　and　were　on　their　way。
　Kristin　indicated　a　course。　〃Tasavalta　lies　in　this　direction。　We'll　keep　our　eyes　open　as　we　go；　and　find　some　fruit。　I've　been　able　to　gather　enough　food　here　and　there　to　keep　us　going　so　far。〃
　The　country　around　them　and　its　vegetation　were　changing　as　they　progressed。　The　season　was　advancing　too；　more　wild　fruits　ing　into　ripeness。　Kristin　appeared　expert　on　the　subject　of　what　parts　of　what　plants　could　be　eaten；　she　had　more　lore　in　that　subject　than　Mark　did；　particularly　here　close　to　her　homeland。　He　mented　on　the　fact；　while　marveling　silently　to　himself　that　it　had　taken　him　so　long　to　realize　how　beautiful　she　was。
　〃I　have　been　trained　in　the　white　magic。　Sorcery　and　enchantment　were　to　have　been　my　life。〃
　〃Were　to　have　been？〃
　〃I　have　made　a　different　disposition　of　my　life　now。〃　And　suddenly　she　rode　close　beside　him；　very　close；　and　leaned　sideways　in　her　saddle　to　kiss　him　fiercely。
　He　said；　〃You　were　a　virgin；　before　last　night　…　yes；　you　were　to　have　been　consecrated　to　the　white　magic；　weren't　you？　Or　to　Ardneh。〃
　Her　expression　told　him　that　was　so。
　〃I　begin　to　understand。　You　have　given　me　what　was　to　have　gone　to　Ardneh。〃　prehension　grew　in　him　slowly。　〃That　was　why；　how；　Aphrodite　came　to　heal　me。　You　summoned　her。〃
　〃Goddesses　go　where　they　will。　I　could　only　try。　What　else　could　I　do？　I　discovered　that　I　loved　you。〃
　Mark　put　his　arm　around　her　as　they　rode　side　by　side。　The　embrace　at　first　was　only　tender。　But　soon　tenderness　grew　violent　in　its　own　way。　They　stopped　the　animals　beside　a　thicket　and　dismounted。
　When；　after　some　little　time；　they　were　riding　on　again；　solemnity　had　given　way　to　silliness；　again　and　again　they　had　to　reprove　themselves　for　not　watching　what　they　were　about；　warn　themselves　to　stay　alert。　Love　had　granted　a　feeling　of　invulnerability。
　At　about　midday　they　came　to　a　decent　stream。　By　now　they　had　got　pretty　well　beyond　the　worst　damage　done　by　Vilkata's　foragers；　though　the　countryside　was　still　deserted；　the　visible　houses　abandoned　as　far　as　could　be　seen　in　passing。
　The　stream；　of　clean；　swift　water；　was　a　marvel；　and　washing　at　this　stage　almost　as　great　a　relief　as　being　able　to　drink　their　fill。　Kristin's　hair　emerged　from　the　worst　of　its　covering　of　grime　to　reveal　itself　as　naturally　fair。　Whatever　color　had　appeared　would　have　been；　in　Mark's　eyes；　the　only　perfect　one。
　Bathing　together　soon　led　to　other　activities；　self…limiting　in　duration；　there　was