tw.thestoneoffarewell-第11部分

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e　wolf　onto　a　narrow　shelf　in　the　mountainside。
　　The　rocky　porch；　dotted　with　patches　of　dimly　gleaming　snow；　stood　before　a　large；　black　crevice。　Qantaqa　jogged　forward　and　stopped　before　it；　sniffing。　She　turned　to　regard　Simon；　her　shaggy　head　tipped　at　an　angle；　then　barked　once　inquiringly　and　slipped　into　blackness。　Simon　decided　there　must　be　a　cave　hidden　in　the　shadows。　He　was　wondering　whether　he　should　follow　her…letting　a　wolf　lead　him　on　a　foolish　hike　along　the　mountainside　was　one　thing；　but　letting　her　lead　him　into　a　lightlcss　cavern　in　the　middle　of　the　night　was　another　thing　entirely…　when　a　trio　of　small　dark　shapes　appeared　out　of　the　blackness　of　the　cliff　face　before　him；　startling　Simon　so　badly　that　he　almost　stepped　backward　off　the　stone　porch。
　　Differs！　he　thought　wildly；　scrabbling　on　the　barren　ground　for　some　weapon。　One　of　the　shapes　stepped　forward；　raising　a　slender　spear　toward　him　as　if　in　warning。　It　was　a　troll；　of　course…they　were　quite　a　bit　larger　than　the　subterranean　Bukken；　when　calmly　examined…but　still　he　was　frightened。　These　Qanuc　were　small　but　well…armed；　Simon　was　a　stranger　wandering　about　at　night；　perhaps　in　some　sacred　place。
　　The　nearest　troll　pushed　back　a　fur…ringed　hood。　Pallid　moonlight　shone　on　the　face　of　a　young　woman。　Simon　could　see　little　of　her　features　but　the　whites　of　her　eyes；　but　he　was　sure　her　expression　was　fierce　and　dangerous。　Her　two　panions　moved　up　beside　her；　muttering　in　what　seemed　like　angry　voices。　He　took　a　step　backward　down　the　pathway；　feeling　carefully　for　a　safe　foothold。
　　〃I'm　sorry。　I'm　just　going；〃　he　said；　realizing　even　as　he　spoke　that　they　could　not　understand　him。　Simon　cursed　himself　for　not　having　Binabik　or　Jiriki　teach　him　some　words　of　troll　speech。　Always　regretting；　always　too　late！　Would　he　be　a　mooncalf　forever？　He　was　tired　of　the　position。　Let　someone　else　take　it　on。
　　〃I'm　just　going；〃　he　repeated。　〃I　was　following　the　wolf。　Following。。。　the　。。。　wolf。〃　He　spoke　slowly；　trying　to　make　his　voice　sound　friendly　despite　his　tightened　throat。　One　misunderstanding　and　he　might　be　plucking　one　of　those　wicked…looking　spears　out　of　his　midsection。
　　The　troll　woman　watched　him。　She　said　something　to　one　of　her　panions。　The　one　addressed　took　a　few　steps　toward　the　shadowed　cave…mouth。　Qantaqa　growled　menacingly　from　somewhere　within　the　echoing　depths　and　the　troll　quickly　scuttled　away　again。
　　Simon　took　another　step　back　down　the　path。　The　trolls　watched　him　in　silence；　their　small　dark　forms　poised　and　watchful；　but　they　made　no　move　to　hinder　him。　He　turned　his　back　on　them　slowly　and　helped　himself　down　the　trail；　picking　his　way　among　the　silvered　rocks。　After　a　moment　the　three　trolls；　Qantaqa；　and　the　mysterious　cave　were　all　out　of
　　sight　behind　him。
　　He　made　his　way　downslope　alone　in　dreaming　moonlight。　Halfway　back　to　the　main　trail　he　had　to　stop　and　sit；　elbows　on　trembling　knees。　He　knew　that　his　exhaustion　and　even　his　fear　would　eventually　recede；　but　he　could　imagine　no　cure　for　such　loneliness。
　　
　　
　　〃I　am　truly　sorry；　Seoman；　but　there　is　nothing　to　be　done。　Last　night　Reniku；　the　star　we　call　Summer…Lantern；　appeared　above　the　horizon　at　sundown。　1　have　stayed　too　long。　I　can　remain　no　longer。〃
　　Jiriki　sat　cross…legged　atop　a　rock　on　the　cave's　vast　porch；　staring　down　into　the　mist…carpeted　valley。　Unlike　Simon　and　Haestan；　he　wore　no　heavy　clothing。　The　wind　plucked　at　the　sleeves　of　his　glossy　shirt。
　　〃But　what　will　we　do　about　Binabik　and　Sludig？〃　Simon　flung　a　stone　into　the　depths；　half…hoping　it　would　wound　some　fog…hidden　troll　below。
　　〃They'll　be　killed　if　you　don't　do　something！〃
　　〃There　is　nothing　I　could　do；　in　any　circumstance；〃　Jiriki　said　quietly。　〃The　Qanuc　have　a　right　to　their　justice。　I　cannot　honorably　interfere。〃
　　〃Honor？　Hang　honor；　Binabik　won't　even　speak！　How　can　he　defend　himself？〃
　　The　Sitha　sighed；　but　his　hawkish　face　remained　impassive。　〃Perhaps　there　is　no　defense。　Perhaps　Binabik　knows　he　has　wronged　his　people。〃
　　Haestan　snorted　his　disgust。　〃We　dunna　even　know　th'　little　man's
　　crime。〃
　　〃Oath…breaking；　I　am　told；〃　Jiriki　said　mildly。　He　turned　to　Simon。　〃I　must　go；　Seoman。　The　news　of　the　Norn　Queen's　Huntsman　attacking　the　Zida'ya　has　upset　my　people　very　much。　They　wish　me　home。　There　is　much　to　discuss。〃　Jiriki　brushed　a　strand　of　hair　from　his　eye。　〃Also；　when　my　kinsman　An'nai　died　and　was　buried　on　Urmsheim；　a　responsibility　fell　upon　me。　His　name　must　now　be　entered　with　full　ceremony　in　the　Book　of　Year…Dancing。　I；　of　all　my　people；　can　least　shirk　that　responsibility。　It　was；　after　all；　Jiriki　i…Sa'onserei　and　no　other　who　brought　him　to　the　place　of　his　death…and　it　was　much　to　do　with　me　and　my　willfulness　that　he　went。〃　The　Sitha's　voice　hardened　as　he　clenched　his　brown　fingers　into　a　fist。　〃Do　you　not　see？　I　cannot　turn　my　back　on　An'nai's　sacrifice。〃
　　Simon　was　desperate。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　your　Dancing　Book…but　you　said　that　we　would　be　allowed　to　speak　for　Binabik！　They　told　you　so！〃
　　Jiriki　cocked　his　head。　〃Yes。　The　Herder　and　Huntress　so　agreed。〃
　　〃Well；　how　will　we　be　able　to　do　that　if　you　are　gone？　We　can't　speak　the　troll…tongue　and　they　can't　understand　ours。〃
　　Simon　thought　he　saw　a　look　of　bewilderment　flit　briefly　across　the　Sitha's　imperturbable　face；　but　it　passed　so　swiftly　he　was　not　sure。　Jiriki's　flake…gold　eyes　caught　and　held　his　gaze。　They　stared　at　each　other　for　long　moments。
　　〃You　are　right；　Seoman；〃　Jiriki　said　slowly。　〃Honor　and　heritage　have　pincered　me　before；　but　never　quite　so　neatly。〃　He　dropped　his　head　down　and　stared　at　his　hands；　then　slowly　lifted　his　eyes　to　the　gray　sky。　〃An'nai　and　my　family　must　forgive　me。　J'asu　pra…peroihin！　The　Book　of　Year…Dancing　must　then　record　my　disgrace。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　will　stay　while　Binabik　ofYiqanuc　has　his　day　at　court。〃
　　Simon　should　have　exulted；　but　instead　felt　only　hollowness。　Even　to　a　mortal；　the　Sitha　prince's　unhappiness　was　profoundly　apparent；　Jiriki　was　making　some　terrible　sacrifice　that　Simon　could　not　understand。　But　what　else　could　be　done？　They　were　all　caught　here　on　this　high　rock　beyond　the　known　world；　all　prisoners…at　least　of　circumstance。　They　were　ignorant　heroes；　friends　to　oath…breakers　。　。　。
　　A　chill　dashed　up　Simon's　backbone。　〃Jiriki！〃　he　gasped；　waving　his　hands　as　if　to　clear　a　way　for　the　sudden　inspiration。
　　Would　it　work？　Even　if　it　did；　would　it　help？
　　〃Jiriki；〃　he　said　again；　more　quietly　this　time；　〃I　believe　I　have　thought　of　something　that　will　let　you　do　what　you　need　to　and　help　Binabik　and　Sludig；　too。〃
　　Haestan；　hearing　the　tightness　in　Simon's　voice；　put　down　the　stick　he　had　been　carving　and　leaned　forward。　Jiriki　raised　an　expectant　eyebrow。
　　〃You　will　only　need　to　do　one　thing；〃　Simon　said。　〃You　must　go　with　me　to　see　the　king　and　queen…the　Herder　and　the　Huntress。〃
　　
　　
　　After　they　had　spoken　to　Nunuuika　and　Uammanaq；　gaining　the　pair's　grudging　acceptance　of　their　proposal；　Simon　and　Jiriki　walked　back　in　mountain　twilight　from　the　House　of　the　Ancestor。　The　Sitha　wore　a　faint　smile。
　　〃You　continue　to　surprise　me；　young　Seoman。　This　is　a　bold　stroke。　I　have　no　idea　if　it　will　help　your　friend；　but　it　is　a　beginning；　nevertheless。〃
　　〃They　would　never　have　agreed　if　you　hadn't　asked；　Jiriki。　Thank　you。〃
　　The　Sitha　made　a　plicated　gesture　with　his　long　fingers。　〃There　is　still　a　brittle　respect　between　the　Zida'ya　and　some　of　the　Sunset　Children…chiefly　the　Hernystiri　and　the　Qanuc。　Five　desolate　centuries　cannot　so　easily　overwhelm　the　millennia　of　grace。　Still；　things　have　changed。　You　mortals…Lingit's　children；　as　the　trolls　say…are　in　ascendancy。　It　is　not　my　people's　world　any　longer。〃　His　hand　reached　out；　touching　lightly　on　Simon's　arm　as　they　walked。　〃There　is　also　a　bond　between　you　and　me；　Seoman。　I　have　not　forgotten　that。〃
　　Simon；　trudging　along　at　the　side　of　an　immortal；　could　think　of　no　reply。
　　〃I　ask　only　that　you　understand　this：　my　kin　and　I　are　now　very　few。　I　owe　you　my　life…twice；　in　fact；　to　my　great　distress…but　my　obligations　to　my　people　greatly　outweigh　even　the　value　of　my　own　continued　existence。　There　are　some　things　that　cannot　be　wished　away；　young　mortal。　I　hope　for　Binabik's　and　Sludig's　survival；　of　course　。　。　。　but　I　am　Zida'ya。　1　must　take　back　the　story　of　what　happened　on　the　dragon…mountain：　the　treachery　of　Utuk'ku's　minions　and　the　passing　of　An'nai。〃
　　He　stopped　suddenly　and　turned　to　face　Simon。　In　the　violet…tinged　evening　shadows；　with　his　hair　blowing；　he　seemed　a　spirit　of　the　wild　mountains。　For　a　moment；　Simon　perceived　Jiriki's　immense　age　in　his　eyes；　and　felt　he　could　almost　grasp　that　great　ungraspable；　the　vast　duration　of　the　prince's　race；　the　years　of　their　history　like　grains　of　sand　on　a　beach。
　　〃Things　are　not　so　easily　ended；　Seoman；〃　Jiriki　said　slowly；　〃even　by　my　leaving。　It　is　a　very　unmagical　wisdom　that　tells　me　we　shall　meet　again。　The　debts　of　the　Zida'ya　run　deep　and　dark。　They　carry　with　them　the　stuff　of　myth。　I　owe　you　such　a　debt。〃Jiriki　again　flexed　his　fingers　in　a　peculiar　sign；　then　reached　into　his　thin　shirt　and　produced　a　flat；　circular　object。
　　〃You　have　seen　this　before；　Seoman；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　my　mirror…a　scale　of　the　Greater　Worm；　as　its　legend　has　it。〃
　　Simon　took　it　from　the　Sitha's　outstretched　palm；　marveling　at　its　surprising　lightness。　The　carved　frame　was　cool　beneath　his　fingers。　Once　this　mirror　had　shown　him　an　image　of　Miriamele；　another　time；　Jiriki　had　produced　the　forest…city　of　Enki…e…Shao'saye　from　its　depths。　Now；　only　Simon's　own　somber　reflection　stared　back；　murky　in　the　half…light。
　　〃I　give　it　to　you。　It　is　has　been　a　talisman　of　my　family's　since　Jenjiyana　of　the　Nightingales　tended　fragrant　gardens　in　the　shade　of　Seni　Anzi'in。　Away　from　me；　it　will　no　longer　be　anything　but　a　looking　glass。〃　Jiriki　raised　his　hand。　〃No；　that　is　not　quite　true。　If　you　must　speak　with　me；　or　have　need　of　me…true　need…tell　the　mirror。　I　will　hear　and　know。〃　Jiriki　pointed　a　stern　finger　at　the　speechless　Simon。　〃But　do　not　think　to　summon　me　in　a　puff　of　smoke；　as　in　on