amc.masterharperofpern-第56部分

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　chafing　them　until　she　moaned　and　tried　to　draw　them　away　from　him；　they　were　pink　with　his　ministrations。
　　　Now　he　had　enough　warm　water　and　soaked　a　towel；　passing　it　from　one　hand　to　the　other　before　he　pulled　back　the　fur　and　laid　it　against　her　chilled　legs　for　a　few　moments；　coaxing　warmth　back　into　them。
　　　The　blueness　was　leaving　her　skin　by　the　time　he　got　her　to　drink　all　her　soup；　but　she　lay　limply　under　the　fur；　drained　by　even　the　slight　effort　required　to　swallow。　Under　them　the　little　ship　rocked　gently；　pulling　at　the　anchor　chain；　then　following　the　sea　as　it　was　pulled　back　again。　He　got　in　the　bunk　beside　her；　covering　them　both　with　the　other　fur；　and　at　last　allowed　himself　the　luxury　of　sleep。
　　　An　urgent　need　to　relieve　himself　was　what　brought　Robinton　back　to　consciousness。　He　couldn't　move　easily；　partly　because　of　the　weight　of　Kasia　across　him　and　partly　because　of　the　resistance　of　tired　muscles。　It　took　him　a　few　moments　to　remember　why　he　had　slept　so　deeply。　Startled；　he　looked　out　of　the　little　round　porthole　and　saw　a　shadowed　shore　through　the　mist　that　swirled　on　the　surface。　Little　waves　splashed　against　the　side　of　the　ship；　and　she　rode　easily　on　the　anchor。
　　　Trying　not　to　groan　as　he　forced　abused　muscles　to　work；　he　slid　out　from　under　Kasia　and　all　but　fell　off　the　bunk。　Kasia　didn't　move；　but　her　face　wasn't　quite　so　white　and　her　lips　were　no　longer　blue…tinged。　He　tucked　the　fur　about　her　firmly　and　staggered　up　the　steps；　throwing　open　the　hatch。　The　air　was　chill　and　dank　with　fog；　and　the　deck　was　littered　with　sea　wrack。　He　went　hand…over…hand　from　the　cabin　housing　to　the　rail　to　get　to　the　side　and　relieve　himself　…　and　it　was　indeed　a　relief。
　　　Curious；　he　peered　through　the　fog　to　see　where　they　had　fetched　up；　but　he　could　see　little　detail　on　the　shore　…　if　there　was　a　shore。
　　　Some　of　the　inlets　were　nothing　but　shallow　pockets　eroded　from　the　cliff　by　the　sea。　Whatever！　This　one　had　saved　their　lives。
　　　He　went　below　again。
　　　The　brazier　had　gone　out；　the　charcoal　was　all　ashes。　He　got　more　and　started　another　fire；　warming　his　hands　as　the　charcoal　began　to　burn。　Kasia　moaned；　stirred；　and　then　coughed。　Fearful　of　fever；　he　felt　her　forehead　but　it　was　cold。　So　were　her　cheeks。　Too　cold。
　　　He　filled　the　kettle　from　the　cistern　and　put　it　to　heat　on　one　side　of　the　grill　over　the　charcoal；　then　set　the　soup　kettle　on　the　other　half。　Panting　from　even　that　little　bit　of　exercise；　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bunk　and　took　deep；　slow　breaths。　A　shiver　ran　down　his　back；　and　he　realized　that　he　was　almost　as　cold　as　Kasia。
　　　When　the　klah　was　made　and　the　soup　warm　enough　to　be　helpful；　he　roused　her；　stuffing　pillows　and　the　cadsaks　behind　her　for　support。　She　turned　her　head　restlessly；　batting　at　him；　and　coughed　again　…　a　little；　almost　apologetic　bark。
　　　〃Kasia；　wake　up。　You　need　to　eat；　love。〃
　　　She　shook　her　head；　her　expression　petulant　even　with　her　eyes　firmly　shut。
　　　He　talked　her　eyes　open　and　made　her　drink；　and　she　gave　him　a　weak　little　smile　and　then　went　back　to　sleep　again。
　　　That　seemed　a　very　sensible　idea；　so　he　finished　his　soup　and　climbed　back　under　the　furs。　Her　arms　were　cold　under　his　hands　and　he　rubbed　them；　breaking　off　only　when　even　that　effort　proved　exhausting。
　　　They　slept　again。
　　　Robinton　began　to　feel　real　concern　when　the　second　long　sleep　revived　him　but　seemed　to　have　little　effect　on　Kasia's　terrible　lethargy。　And　the　cold　was　increasing。　The　wooden　hull　offered　no　protection　against　the　cold's　insidious　draining　of　their　body　warmth。　He　had　dressed　her　in　the　warmest　clothes　and　heated　the　kettle　time　and　time　again；　wrapping　it　well　and　settling　it　securely　near　her　feet　which；　in　spite　of　the　heavy　socks；　were　like　ice　to　the　touch。　He　forced　her　to　drink　and；　when　she　plained　that　her　stomach　was　bursting　with　all　he　had　made　her　drink；　he　found　a　way　to　hold　her　over　a　bucket　to　relieve　herself。
　　　The　fog　had　lifted　sufficiently　for　him　to　see　that　sheer　cliffs　surrounded　the　little　cove；　with　no　discernible　track　up　them　to　find　help。　But　he　did　not　feel　confident　in　himself　to　sail　the　ship　out　into　the　sea。　Also；　he　had　absolutely　no　idea　where　they　were：　on　Tillek's　coast　or　the　bleak　western　end　of　High　Reaches；　or　if　they'd　been　blown　further　down　the　coast　of　Fort。
　　　He　gave　them　both　another　day　and；　when　that　dawn　rose　frostily　clear　and　even　klah　gave　him　no　warmth；　he　roused　her　to　give　him　what　instructions　she　could　from　the　bunk。
　　　〃If　I　leave　the　hatch　open；　can　you　see　enough　to　tell　me　if　I'm　doing　anything　wrong？〃　he　pleaded　with　her　when　she　seemed　unable　to　grasp　his　concern。　They　had　little　food　left；　almost　no　charcoal；　and　without　that　small　heat　to　warm　the　cabin　they　would　surely　freeze　in　the　night。
　　　〃They'll　e。　Search；〃　she　murmured。
　　　〃They　won't　see　us。　We've　got　to　stand　out　to　sea　where　the　sail　will　be　visible。〃
　　　〃You're　able　for　that；　Rob；〃　she　said　with　the　hint　of　a　smile。
　　　〃You　can　do　more　than　you　think　you　can。〃
　　　〃Then　so　can　you；〃　he　said　bluntly；　fear　driving　him。
　　　She　shook　her　head　sadly　and　closed　her　eyes　again。
　　　He　watched　her；　thinking　how　valiantly　she　had　fought　the　storm。　But　now　the　storm　was　over　and　she　looked　to　him；　her　spouse；　to　keep　his　promise　to　care　for　her。　Only　he　hadn't　thought　he'd　be　put　to　such　a　test　quite　this　soon。
　　　〃All　right；　if　that's　the　way　it's　to　be；　I'll　just　have　to　do。〃
　　　With　fear　making　his　feet　heavier；　he　thudded　up　on　deck。　The　surrounding　cliffs　had　an　ominous　look　about　them。　What　had　been　a　refuge　now　seemed　a　prison。
　　　〃We'll　just　have　to　get　out　into　the　open　sea；〃　he　told　himself。　〃I　can　do　that　much。〃　He　licked　his　finger　and　held　it　up；　but　felt　only　the　faintest　touch　of　a　breeze。　Fortunately　it　was　blowing　down　from　the　cliffs　and　out　to　sea。　They　had　been　mightily　lucky　to　throw　down　the　anchor　when　they　did；　for　the　ship　would　have　been　mashed　against　the　cliff　had　it　sailed　much　further。
　　　He　couldn't　make　up　his　mind　whether　to　hoist　the　sail　first；　or　the　anchor。　At　last　he　decided　that　if　the　sail　was　up；　the　ship　might　move　towards　the　open　sea　once　the　anchor　let　it。
　　　He　managed　both；　but　was　panting　by　the　time　he　reached　the　cockpit　and　took　the　tiller　bar　in　his　hands。
　　　〃I've　hoisted　the　sail；　Kasia；　and　the　anchor；　though　I　could　blow　and　get　more　use　of　the　sail。〃
　　　She　murmured　something　that　sounded　encouraging　and；　sure　enough；　the　little　ship　slowly　eased　forward　and　passed　the　sheltering　arm　of　the　cove。　The　sea　was　almost　too　calm　when　he　saw　its　vast　expanse。　Once　the　ship　was　clear　of　the　shelter；　though；　the　breeze　picked　up　and　the　sail　filled。
　　　〃Right　or　left；　Kasia？　I've　no　idea　where　we　are。〃
　　　〃Starboard　。。。　right；　Rob。　Go　right。〃　He　had　to　ask　her　three　times　to　repeat　her　instructions　more　loudly　so　that　he　could　hear　her　weakened　voice　clearly。
　　　〃I'm　shrieking　nowwwww；〃　she　protested；　and　her　face　came　into　his　range　of　vision　as　she　lifted　herself　off　the　bunk。
　　　That　was　better；　he　thought；　than　lying　there　like　a　cut　of　wool。
　　　〃Right；〃　he　roared　back　at　her。　〃I'm　going　right。　Starboard。〃　And　almost　immediately　he　had　to　correct　the　ship　as　he　saw　the　jagged　reef　he　had　been　about　to　sail　into。　Panic　gripped　him；　and　he　struggled　to　keep　his　bowels　from　loosening。
　　　〃Stupid　dimwit；〃　he　admonished　himself。　〃Watch　where　you're　going。〃
　　　When　he　judged　they　were　well　enough　past　the　rocks；　he　changed　his　seat　and　threw　the　tiller　over　to　port　…　he　remembered　that　much　of　Captain　Gostol's　afternoon　lesson。　And　then　he　grabbed　for　the　sheet　to　keep　the　wind　in　the　sail。
　　　The　speed　of　the　sloop　picked　up；　and　he　rather　enjoyed　the　pull　of　sheet　and　tiller　in　his　hand。　At　least　he　was　doing　something。
　　　It　was　midday；　to　judge　by　the　sun's　position；　and　the　high　cliffs　along　which　the　ship　sailed　were　totally　unfamiliar　to　him。
　　　〃We've　got　nothing　but　cliffs；　Kasia。　Where　could　we　be？〃　He　saw　her　raise　herself　up　and　shake　her　head。　〃Keep　on。〃
　　　So　he　did；　until　the　pleasure　left　the　occupation　and　fatigue　began　to　run　along　both　arms　as　the　sun　dropped　slowly　in　the　awesomely　vast　western　sea。　The　cliffs　continued　unbroken。　Had　they　found　refuge　in　the　one　cove　along　this　entire　coast？　Would　they　find　another　one　for　tonight？　He　doubted　he　could　stand　a　longer　watch。　And　he　ought　to　eat　something；　and　be　sure　that　Kasia　did　too。
　　　〃What　do　I　do；　Kasia？　What　do　I　do？〃
　　　〃Sail　on；〃　she　cried　back　at　him。
　　　The　sea　was　calm　as　night　fell；　and　the　breeze　died　also。　So；　lashing　the　tiller　as　he'd　once　seen　Captain　Gostol　do　for　a　quick　moment　of　relief；　he　clattered　down　into　the　cabin；　startling　Kasia　awake。
　　　〃There's　nothing　but　cliff；〃　he　protested　as　he　started　the　last　of　the　charcoal。　He'd　have　to　feed　her　something。　It　had　been　hours　since　the　last　cup　of　soup　and　some　hard　crackers　he'd　found　in　the　cupboard。　He　must　have　some　klah　to　stay　awake。
　　　〃It　will　have　to　give　to　beach　soon　then；　Rob。　I'm　so　sorry；　love。　So　very　sorry。〃　And　she　wept　piteously。
　　　He　forted　her　while　the　water　heated。　〃You　kept　us　afloat　all　during　the　storm　and　used　up　all　your　strength；　my　love。　Don't　cry。　Please　don't　cry。　We　can't　have　the　furs　all　wet　on　you。〃
　　　His　cajolery　made　her　smile　and　sniff；　and　brash　away　her　tears。
　　　〃But　I　can't　do　anything　to　help。。。〃
　　　〃That's　all　right。　I'm　fine。　I　just　don't　know　what　I'm　doing。〃　He　imbued　the　plaint　with　as　much　humour　as　he　could。　Then　he　left　her　with　more　soup；　and　took　his　and　the　klah　up　to　the　cockpit。
　　　The　night　was　clear　and　very　cold。　But　the　wind　picked　up；　blowing　almost　steadily　from　the　south　…　and　that；　he　felt；　was　to　their　advantage。　Surely；　if　they　got　close　enough　to　Tillek；　there'd　be　fishing　ships　out　on　a　night　like　this。　Or　maybe　even　someone　looking　for　them？
　　　〃No；　you　two　got　yourself　into　this。　You　can　get　yourself　out　of　this；〃　he　told　himself　firmly　and　dragged　the　bad…weather　gear　more　tightly　about　his　body；　trying　to　keep　warm。　〃Got　yourself　in；　get　yourself　out。〃　He　turned　the