mc.eatersofthedead-第15部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The old man continued thus： 〃In olden days； the black mist was feared by all the Northmen of every region。 Since my father and his father and his father before； no Northman has seen the black mist； and some of the young warriors counted us old fools to remember the ancient tales of their horror and depredations。 Yet the chiefs of the Northmen in all the kingdoms； even in Norway； have always been prepared for the return of the black mist。 All of our towns and our fortresses are protected and defended from the land。 Since the time of the father of my father's father； our peoples have thus acted； and never have we seen the black mist。 Now it has returned。〃
I inquired why the black mist had returned； and he lowered his voice to speak this reply： 〃The black mist has e from the vanity and weakness of Rothgar； who has offended the gods with his foolish splendor and tempted the fiends with the siting of his great hall； which has no protection from the land。 Rothgar is old and he knows he will not be remembered for battles fought and won； and so he built this splendid hall； which is the talk of all the world； and pleases his vanity。 Rothgar acts as a god； yet he is a man； and the gods have sent the black mist to strike him down and show him humility。〃
I said to this old man that perhaps Rothgar was resented in the kingdom。 He replied thus： 〃No man is so good as to be free from all evil； nor so bad as to be worth nothing。 Rothgar is a just king and his people prospered all of his life。 The wisdom and richness of his rule are here； in Hurot Hall； and they are splendid。 His only fault is this； that he forgot defense； for we have a saying among us： 'A man should never move a step from his weapons。' Rothgar has no weapons； he is toothless and weak； and the black mist seeps freely over the land。〃
I desired to know more； but the old man was tired； and turned away from me； and soon was asleep。 Verily； the food and drink of Rothgar's hospitality were much； and many of the number of earls and nobles were drowsy。
Of the table of Rothgar I shall say this： that every man had a tablecloth and plate； and spoon and knife； that the meal was boiled pork and goat； and some fish； too； for the Northmen much prefer boiled meat to roasted。 Then there were cabbages and onions in abundance； and apples and hazelnuts。 A sweetish fleshy meat was given me that I had not tasted before； this； I was told； was elk； or rain…deer。
The dreadful foul drink called mead is made from honey； then fermented。 It is the sourest； blackest； vilest stuff ever invented by any man； and yet it is potent beyond all knowing； a few drinks； and the world spins。 But I did not drink； praise Allah。
Now I noticed that Buliwyf and all his pany did not drink that night； or only sparingly； and Rothgar took this as no insult； but rather acknowledged it as the natural course of things。 There was no wind that night； the candles and flames of Hurot Hall did not flicker； and yet it was damp； and chill。 I saw with my own eyes that out of doors the mist was rolling in from the hills； blocking the silvered light of the moon； cloaking all in blackness。
As the night continued； King Rothgar and his Queen departed for sleep； and the massive doors of Hurot Hall were locked and barred； and the nobles and earls remaining there fell into a drunken stupor and snored loudly。
Then Buliwyf and his men； still wearing their armor； went about the room； dousing the candles and seeing to the fires； that they should burn low and weak。 I asked Herger the meaning of this； and he told me to pray for my life； and to feign sleep。 I was given a weapon； a short sword； but it was little fort to me； I was not a warrior and knew it full well。
Verily； all the men feigned sleep。 Buliwyf and his men joined the slumbering bodies of the King Rothgar's earls； who were truly snoring。 How long we waited I do not know； for I think I slept awhile myself。 Then all at once I was awake； in a manner of unnatural sharp alertness； I was not drowsy but instantly tense and alert； still lying on a bearskin cloth on the floor of the great hall。 It was dark night； the candles in the hall burned low； and a faint breeze whispered through the hall and fluttered the yellow flames。
And then I heard a low grunting sound； like the rooting of a pig； carried to me by the breeze； and I smelled a rank odor like the rot of a carcass after a month； and I feared greatly。 This rooting sound； for I can call it none else； this grumbling； grunting； snorting sound； grew louder and more excited。 It came from outdoors； at one side of the hall。 Then I heard it from another side； and then another； and another。 Verily the hall was surrounded。
I sat up on one elbow； my heart pounding； and I looked about the hall。 No man among the sleeping warriors moved； and yet there was Herger； lying with his eyes wide open。 And there； too； Buliwyf； breathing in a snore； with his eyes also wide open。 From this I gathered that all the warriors of Buliwyf were waiting to do battle with the wendol； whose sounds now filled the air。
By Allah； there is no fear greater than that of a man when he does not know the cause。 How long I lay upon the bearskin； hearing the grunting of the wendol and smelling their foul odors！ How long I waited for I knew not what； the start of some battle more fearsome in the prospect than it could be in the fighting！ I remembered this： that the Northmen have a saying of praise that they carve upon the tombstones of noble warriors； which is this： 〃He did not flee battle。〃 None of the pany of Buliwyf fled that night； though the sounds and the stink were all around them； now louder； now fainter； now from one direction； now another。 And yet they waited。
Then came the most fearsome moment。 All sounds ceased。 There was utter silence； except for the snoring of the men and the low crackle of the fire。 Still none of the warriors of Buliwyf stirred。
And then there was a mighty crash upon the solid doors of the hall of Hurot； and these doors burst open； and a rush of reeking air gutted all the lights； and the black mist entered the room。 I did not count their number： verily it seemed thousands of black grunting shapes； and yet it might have been no more than five or six； huge black shapes hardly in the manner of men； and yet also manlike。 The air stank of blood and death； I was cold beyond reason； and shivered。 Yet still no warrior moved。
Then； with a curdling scream to wake the dead； Buliwyf leapt up； and in his arms he swung the giant sword Runding； which sang like a sizzling flame as it cut the air。 And his warriors leapt up with him； and all joined the battle。 The shouts of the men mingled with the pig…grunts and the odors of the black mist； and there was terror and confusion and great wracking and rending of the Hurot Hall。
I myself had no stomach for battle； and yet I was set upon by one of these mist monsters； who came close to me； and I saw gleaming red eyes…verily I saw eyes that shone like fire； and I smelled the reek； and I was lifted bodily and flung across the room as a child flings a pebble。 I struck the wall and fell to the ground； and was greatly dazed for the next period； so all around me was more confused than true。
I remember； most distinctly； the touch of these monsters upon me； especially the furry aspect of the bodies； for these mist monsters have hair as long as a hairy dog； and as thick； on all parts of their bodies。 And I remember the fetid smell of the breath of the monster who flung me。
The battle raged for how long I cannot know； but it concluded most suddenly of a moment。 And then the black mist was gone； slunk away； grunting and panting and stinking； leaving behind destruction and death that we could not know until we had lighted fresh tapers。
Here is how the battle waged。 Of the pany of Buliwyf； three were dead； Roneth and Halga； both earls； and Edgtho； a warrior。 The first had his chest torn open。 The second had his spine broken。 The third had his head torn off in the manner I had already witnessed。 All these warriors were dead。
Wounded were two others； Haltaf and Rethel。 Haltaf had lost an ear； and Rethel two fingers of his right hand。 Both men were not mortally injured； and made no plaint； for it is the Northman way to bear the wounds of battle cheerfully； and to praise above all the retaining of life。
As for Buliwyf and Herger and all the others； they were soaked in blood as if they had bathed in it。 Now I shall say what many will not believe； and yet it was so： our pany had killed not one of the mist monsters。 Each had slunk away； some perhaps mortally wounded； and yet they had escaped。
Herger said thus： 〃I saw two of their number carrying a third； who was dead。〃 Perhaps this was so； for all generally agreed upon it。 I learned that the mist monsters never leave one of their kind to the society of men； but rather will risk great dangers to retrieve him from human purview。 So also will they go to extreme lengths to keep a victim's head； and we could not find the head of Edgtho in any place； the monsters had carried it off with them。
Then Buliwyf spoke； and Herger told me his words thus： 〃Look； I have retained a trophy of the night's bloody deeds。 See； here is an arm of one of the fiends。〃
