sheritepper.necromancer nine-第32部分

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cannot　be　long　now。　We　have　blundered　about　in　here　for　the　better　part　of　two　days　at　least。　Time　grows　short；　and　I　am　glad　of　it。　I　could　not　bear　much　more　of　this。〃
　I　felt　it；　too；　the　being　without　sunlight；　without　passage　of　day　and　night。　I　wondered　if　this　was　how　ghosts　felt　in　the　grave；　separated　not　only　from　life　but　from　time　as　well。　This　led　to　other　thoughts　of　gloom　and　destruction；　from　which　Mavin　had　to　rouse　me　when　Manacle　came　from　his　quarters　for　the　final　time。
　We　had　no　doubt　he　came　out　prepared　for　ceremony。　There　were　stripes　of　gold　upon　his　sleeves　and　his　high　square　cap　was　splattered　with　gold　as　well。　Shear　and　Flogshoulder　came　behind；　also　decorated；　and　we　went　in　procession　down　and　down　corridors　toward　a　distant　gate。　It　was　truly　down；　as　though　toward　a　valley；　and　it　was　into　a　valley　we　came　to　see　the　first　light　of　dawn　rouging　the　heights　before　us；　brightening　the　cliffs　with　morning　while　the　forests　lay　still　in　night　below。　Here　was　a　green　meadow　crisscrossed　with　metal　tracks；　heaped　with　mounds　of　wrack　and　jetsam　（or　so　they　appeared）；　with　a　blackened　tower　standing　at　its　center；　silvered　at　its　tip。　A　tiny　opening　gaped　high　in　the　side　of　the　tower；　like　a　missing　tooth；　and　a　tall　spidery　ladder　stood　beneath　it。　Upon　the　valley　floor　small　groups　of　techs　removed　covers　from　machines　which　had　been　covered　against　the　depredations　of　time　and　weather。　Near　the　tower　was　a　machine　similar　in　every　respect　to　that　one　which　had　so　changed　Himaggery　and　Windlow。
　〃The　blues；〃　whispered　Mavin。　〃See；　they　are　carrying　the　blues　into　the　tower。〃
　She　was　right。　Some　of　the　techs　were　carrying　boxes　of　the　blues　to　the　tower　where　a　lower　section　had　been　opened　into　some　large　cargo　space。　There　were　no　Tallmen　on　the　field。　We　would　have　to　take　the　form　of　techs；　and　I　looked　at　them　closely　with　my　Shifter's　eyes　before　fading　back　into　the　shadows　to　take　their　shape。　Even　as　we　emerged　onto　the　field；　the　wagons　of　bodies　came　out　of　the　tunnels　to　clatter　their　way　toward　the　tower。　We　went　purposefully　after　it；　looking　neither　right　nor　left；　intent　upon　our　pawnish；　techish　duties。
　When　we　arrived　at　the　tower；　we　began　helping　with　the　loading。　Mavin　went　up　into　that　cargo　space；　then　I。　We　lifted　body　after　body　into　it；　stacking　them；　within　moments　ceasing　to　think　of　them　as　bodies　at　all。　They　were　only　things。　When　the　tech　outside　put　Windlow's　feet　into　my　hands　for　a　moment　I　forgot　what　I　was　doing。　Mavin　brought　me　to　myself。
　〃Here；　pass　him　to　me。　I　have　found　a　place　to　hide　them。〃
　So　then　I　did　double　duty　while　she　dragged　Windlow　away　somewhere；　then　Himaggery；　when　he　emerged　from　the　general　pile。
　When　the　tech　outside　thrust　up　the　last　body　to　me　where　I　stood　inside　the　tower；　he　said；　〃Those　who　follow　Quench；　in　the　southeast　portal；　as　soon　as　the　ceremony　starts　。。。〃　then　turned　away　from　me　as　though　he　had　not　spoken；　waiting　for　no　answer。　I　had　sense　enough　to　step　back　out　of　the　light。　When　I　turned；　Mavin　was　there；　nodding。
　〃I　heard　him；〃　she　said。　〃I　told　you；　Peter。　Mutiny。　It　will　happen　during　the　ceremony；　when　all　the　magicians　are　here。　Mark　me；　it　will　happen。　Now　e　see　where　I　have　put　it。　　The　tower　seemed　small　from　outside；　but　from　within　it　was　a　warren　of　twisting　halls　and　tiny　cubbies；　many　no　bigger　than　closets；　with　mattressed　shelves　which　were　obviously　beds。　So　it　was　a　ship。　A　ship。　How　could　it　be？　I　turned　to　Mavin　with　the　question　on　my　lips。
　〃Not　a　water…going　ship；　Peter。　Think！　Put　together　the　pieces。　You　spent　long　enough　with　Himaggery　to　have　learned　to　do　that。〃
　She　showed　me　where　she　had　put　them；　in　one　of　the　little　cubbies；　half　hidden　behind　a　huge　pipe　which　seemed　to　run　the　entire　height　of　the　place；　from　tip　to　base。　At　that　moment　I　wanted　only　to　lie　down　beside　the　cold　bodies　and　sleep；　but　she　dragged　me　around　the　pipe　and　into　it；　where　stairs　wound　up　and　up　to　some　dizzying　termination。
　〃We　need　to　find　a　place　to　watch　from；〃　she　said；　dragging　me　along　behind　her。　So　we　went；　up　and　up；　ing　at　last　to　that　open　place　we　had　seen　from　the　tunnel　mouth。　The　spidery　stairs　were　just　outside。　Far　below　on　the　grass　the　magicians　were　assembling。
　Now；　how　can　I　make　you　see　what　we　saw；　Mavin　and　I？　I　must；　for　in　what　we　saw　was　much　of　old　Windlow's　conjecture　and　Himaggery's　purpose；　much　of　my　confusion　and　Mavin's　effort。　It　was　in　that　ceremony　we　learned　what　we　were；　and　why；　and　I；　all　unwitting　of　what　was　to　e；　was　only　sleepy；　lonely；　and　a　little　afraid　of　what　might　happen　at　any　time。　So　let　me　step　outside　of　that　and　tell　you　what　you　would　have　seen；　had　you　been　there。
　On　a　grassy　hill　were　rows　of　the　young　magicians；　ordered　inexplicably　by　one　who　stood　before　them；　each　holding　a　book　before　him。　Here　and　there　upon　the　grass　groups　of　the　magicians　stood　about；　chatting　with　one　another。　The　sun　came　down；　lighting　all　with　a　kind　of　innocent　glory。　The　young　magicians　began　to　sing。　I　had　never　heard　music　like　that　before。　It　soared　and　pierced；　made　me　want　to　laugh　and　cry。　Some　of　the　voices　were　as　high；　almost；　as　women's　voices；　others　a　rumbling　bass；　muttering　like　drums。　I　had　thought　these　magicians　wholly　without　honor　or　sense。　Now　I　had　to　revise　my　opinion。　Whatever　they　lacked；　they　did　not　lack　art。　Perhaps　it　was　this　art　that　had　kept　them　alive。　I　looked　down　from　my　high　perch　to　see　Manacle　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder；　the　tears　flowing　down　his　face；　a　face　lit　from　within　with　a　kind　of　exaltation。　　
　After　the　singing　came　a　blare　of　trumpets。　This　came　from　a　machine　somewhere。　The　sound　was　inglorious　pared　to　what　had　gone　before。　Manacle　came　up　the　ladder；　slowly；　puffing　a　little　as　he　climbed。　Below　him　the　groups　of　magicians　drew　away　to　seat　themselves。　I　counted　them　while　he　climbed；　perhaps　a　thousand。　Not　many　to　rattle　in　a　place　of　such　size。　Of　that　thousand；　there　were　only　fifty　or　sixty　young　ones；　and　one　or　two　were　very　young　indeed；　being　carried　by　their　fathers　who　pointed　out　each　step　of　the　ceremony。　　Mavin　and　I　took　the　shapes　of　the　place　around　us；　were　invisible　when　Manacle　stepped　from　the　high　ladder　into　the　tower。　Once　there　he　closed　the　door　behind　him；　then　waited　for　some　signal　from　without。　It　came　in　a　second　blare　of　trumpets；　and　a　hideous；　monstrous　machine…like　roaring　which　built　into　an　unbearable　level　of　sound　before　fading　away。　I　heard　Manacle　murmur；　〃The　sound　of　the　ship　landing。　Now。　The　ship　has　landed。〃　He　thrust　the　door　before　him　open　and　went　out　onto　the　ladder。
　See　it　now；　this　tiny　man　upon　this　high　place；　all　in　gold…decked　black；　his　fellows　gathered　below　and　staring　upward；　pale　faces　like　saucers　there；　silence；　and　respect　from　every　eye。　Hear　him　cry　out　in　a　voice　changed　and　made　dramatic；　〃Behold　the　planet。　I；　Capan　Barish；　have　brought　signtists　and　Searchers　from　afar　upon　a　sacred　mission。　e　forth！　e　forth！〃
　Then　see　the　machines　reach　into　the　shiptower　and　remove　the　bodies　of　the　young　magicians　who　were　playing　the　part；　all　covered　with　paint　to　appear　gray　and　hard。　See　the　machines　take　blues　from　the　ship；　clatter　and　clamor　across　the　grass　to　the　great；　garlanded　resurrection　contrivance；　decked　with　flowers　and　fluttering　with　ribbons　of　silver　and　gold；　all　dancing　in　the　light　wind　of　morning。　See　the　young　magicians　laid　upon　the　slab　with　the　blues；　from　which　they　leap　up；　shouting；　wiping　the　paint　from　their　faces　as　Manacle　es　down　from　his　high　place；　slow　step　by　slow　step；　all　in　dignity　and　purpose　to　greet　each　one　of　them　and　drop　a　black　gown　over　each　clean…wiped　head。　Then　see　them　move　away　across　the　meadow　while　the　machine　goes　on　unloading；　real　bodies　this　time；　and　Manacle　begins　his　slow　climb　up　the　spidery　ladder　once　more。　As　he　climbed；　the　singing　began　again；　and　I　found　myself　wishing　he　would　not　climb　so　fast　if　the　singing　might　go　on　while　he　climbed　forever。　Silly。　Yes；　but　it　was　what　I　thought　and　what　you　would　have　thought　had　you　heard　it。
　Then　was　an　unexpected　interruption。　Manacle　came　through　the　entry　and　back　into　the　ship　to　make　inexplicable　clicks　and　bangs；　opening　and　shutting　something。　In　a　short　time　he　was　back；　leading　by　the　hand　one　of　the　consecrated　monsters。　　No。　Leading　by　the　hand　a　young　woman。　She　was　naked　to　the　waist；　her　high　breasts　tilted　and　goosefleshed　in　the　chill；　her　empty　face　staring　outward　at　nothing。　Manacle　led　her　out　upon　the　ladder；　crying；　〃Behold；　the　monster！　Toward　which　all　your　Search　shall　be　that　Home　be　kept　inviolate！〃　Then　he　took　her　down　the　stairs　to　a　pit　they　had　prepared　for　her　somewhere　below。　I　did　not　see　that；　could　not。　When　he　had　led　her　out；　I　had　remembered。　They　were　Didir's　memories；　burned　into　me　outside　that　room　of　the　defenders；　as　real　to　me　as　my　own。　I　remembered　the　landing；　the　huge　sound　of　the　engines；　fires　guttering　blackly　at　the　base　of　the　ship；　green　hills　in　early　light。　I　had　been　half　naked；　just　wakened　by　Captain；　as　he　had　promised；　before　any　of　the　others。　He　supported　me　with　one　arm；　gesturing　out　at　the　world；　〃Behold；　little　monster。　A　world　for　you；　and　for　me；　and　for　our　children　and　our　children's　children。〃　And　I；　Didir；　had　said；　〃The　researchers　will　not　let　us　have　this　world；〃　and　he　had　replied；　〃Some　day。〃　　
　It　had　been　the　sight　of　the　girl's　body　and　the　gold…striped　uniform　which　had　stormed　the　old　memory；　the　sound　of　a　male　voice；　lustful；　adoring；　confident。　It　was　only　a　memory；　but　it　collapsed　me；　and　I　came　to　myself　with　Mavin　shaking　me；　saying；　〃Peter！　What　ails　you？　e　to；　boy。　Manacle　is　ing　back　up　the　ladder。〃　So；　I　drew　myself　together　and　we　hid　ourselves　once　more；　fortuitously；　as　it　happened。　Before　Manacle　arrived；　someone　else　came　up　the　hidden　stair。　Quench。
　Quench；　scuttering　into　the　place　and　hiding　himself　all　in　one　swift　motion　as　though　he　had　practiced　it　twenty　times　before。　I　heard　Manacle　arriving；　heard　the　singing　begin　again；　slow；　ceremonial；　mighty　and　premonitory。　Some　great　climactic　thing　was　to　happen　now。　The　music　made　that　clear。
　But　all　that　happened　was　that　Manacle　shut　the　door　behi