fs.thesecondbookofswords-第26部分

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ere；　when　we　e　back。〃　And　he　trotted　back　up　the　crooked　stair　to　scrutinize　the　great　rock　carefully。　Ben　had　already　explained　to　everyone　how　he　had　used　that　door　to　get　away。
　　　Now　Doon　sighed；　dissatisfied。　He　scowled　at　the　rock　as　if　it　offended　him。　〃Ben；　tell　me　this。　The　priests　must　e　here　on　inspection　tours　from　time　to　time；　to　see　that　their　treasure's　safe。　Don't　they？〃
　　　〃I　suppose　they　must；〃　Ben　answered；　climbing　the　stairs　too。　〃But　I　never　heard　anything　about　it。〃
　　　〃Well；　you　say　it　can't　be　opened　from　the　inside。　That　officer　would　have　opened　it　if　he　could；　and　pursued　you。　Right？〃
　　　〃I　don't　think；〃　said　Ben；　〃that　I　could　lift　it　alone；　from　inside；　if　my　life　depended　on　it。　And　only　one　person　can　get　at　it　from　inside；　there's　room　only　for　one。〃
　　　〃I　doubt　that　the　priests　leave　this　open　behind　them　when　they　e。　And　I　doubt　they　e　with　half　a　dozen　slaves　each　time；　to　wait　outside　and　lift　this　for　them　when　they　want　to　leave。〃　Again　Doon　sighed。　〃Once　we　are　well　down　and　in；　of　course；　we　may　discover　some　alternate　way　out。　Or　we　may　not。　Now　I　have　stonecutting　tools；　but。。。　〃　Just　looking　at　the　rock；　Doon　shook　his　head。　Then　he　made　a　gesture　of　giving　up。　〃Indosuaros？　I　know　our　plan　was　not　to　leave　any　magic　traces　of　our　passage；　so　near　the　surface　anyway。　But　to　seal　ourselves　into　this　cave　without　a　known　way　out　would　be　even　worse。〃
　　　The　wizard　had　to　agree；　gloomily。　〃I　fear　that　you　are　right。〃　Then　Indosuaros　held　a　hurried；　whispered　conference　with　Mitspieler；　after　which　the　two　of　them　drew　objects　from　a　pack。　Soon　they　were　standing　just　outside　the　upper　doorway；　rubbing　at　the　huge　rock　with　what　looked　to　Ben　like　raw　slices　of　some　kind　of　vegetable。
　　　All　this　time　Ariane　was　content　to　remain　in　the　lower　cave；　occupying　her　time　by　petting　the　monkbird　and　whispering　to　it　soothingly。　She　showed　little　or　no　sign　of　fear。
　　　When　the　magicians　had　finished　their　treatment　of　the　rock；　Doon　summoned　Ben　to　pull　it　down　and　close　the　door。　It　felt　to　Ben　as　if　the　mass　of　the　stone　were　now　greatly　diminished；　when　he　tried；　he　was　able　to　catch　it　falling；　halfway　closed；　and　push　it　up　again　very　easily。　One　after　another；　all　the　members　of　the　party　now　tried　lifting　it　open　from　inside；　and　all　could　manage　it。
　　　With　everyone　inside　the　cave　at　last；　and　the　outer　door　closed；　Doon　gathered　his　party　around　the　large　slot　in　the　lower　floor。
　　　〃This　is　where　we　put　the　treasure　down；〃　said　Ben。　〃And　where　I　saw　the　Whitehands　reach　for　it。〃
　　　The　wizard　Indosuaros　smiled；　as　if　he　were　now　determined　to　be　reassuring。　〃They　e　this　close　to　the　surface　only　to　receive　treasure；　as　they　did　on　the　night　when　you　were　here。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　　Ben's　answer　was　an　arrogant　look；　that　said　the　sources　of　the　wizard's　knowledge　were　doubtless　beyond　Ben's　grasp；　and　were　not　really　any　of　his　business　anyway。
　　　〃It　would　be　a　neat　trick；〃　offered　Hubert；　〃if　we　could　capture　one　of　those　to　serve　us　as　a　guide。　They　must　know　a　quick　way　to　the　treasure。　Trust　those　who　have　to　carry　it　to　know　the　shortest　way。〃
　　　〃If　we　meet　one　of　them；〃　muttered　Doon　abstractedly；　〃we'll　ask　him。〃　The　Baron　had　braced　his　body　directly　above　the　aperture；　and　was　looking　intently　down　into　it　with　the　aid　of　a　beam　from　his　headlamp。　〃There　are　steps　carved　into　the　side　here；〃　he　announced。　〃And　it　doesn't　look　far　down。　I　don't　think　I'll　need　a　rope　…　but　let　me　have　one；　just　in　case。　Two　of　you　hold　it　up　here。〃
　　　Mark　and　Ben　gripped　one　of　the　thin；　supple　coils；　and　paid　out　an　end。　Doon　sheathed　Wayfinder　and　in　a　moment　had　vanished；　sliding　down。
　　　The　line　went　slack　in　their　hands　almost　at　once。　〃I'm　down；〃　the　Baron's　voice　called　up　to　them　softly。　〃e　ahead。〃　Ben；　looking　down　through　the　aperture；　could　see　the　Baron's　headlamp　moving　about　just　a　short　distance　below。　In　the　augmented　light；　the　series　of　niches　for　steps　and　grips；　carved　in　the　side　of　the　short　shaft；　stood　out　plainly。　One　side　of　the　shaft　joined　with　a　wall　of　the　chamber　below；　and　the　steps　went　down　nearly　to　that　lower　floor。
　　　Ben　followed　his　leader；　and　soon　the　whole　party　was　down。　The　chamber　in　which　they　now　found　themselves　was　about　the　same　size　and　shape　as　the　one　they　had　just　descended　from；　and　again　there　was　a　single　lower　exit。　This　time；　though；　the　exit　was　a　tunnel　mouth；　cut　in　the　side　of　the　cave　approximately　opposite　the　entrance　shaft。　The　tunnel　was　narrow；　and　just　about　high　enough　for　a　moderately　tall　man　to　walk　into　it　erect。　Ben　expected　that　Mark　would　have　to　watch　his　head。
　　　Again　Doon　led　the　way；　the　others　following　necessarily　in　single　file。　After　first　twisting　to　the　right；　the　tunnel　bent　back　to　the　left；　while　continuously　and　ever　more　steeply　descending。　As　the　steepness　increased；　carved　grips　and　steps　appeared　again　in　sides　and　floor。
　　　They　had　followed　this　passage　for　no　more　than　a　few　score　meters；　when　Doon　stopped；　calling　softly　back　to　the　others　that　the　tunnel　ahead　turned　into　a　perfectly　vertical　shaft。
　　　The　Baron　refused　the　suggestion　of　a　rope；　and　simply　continued　to　work　his　way　lower；　by　means　of　the　plentiful　niches　provided　in　the　shaft's　sides。　Ben　followed　cautiously。　Above　and　behind　him；　Indosuaros　looked　down　and　ahead　with　eyes　half…closed；　as　if　he　were　groping　his　way　along　by　the　use　of　senses　beyond　the　normal。　After　Indosuaros　was　Ariane；　the　monkbird　riding　unhooded　on　her　shoulder；　clinging　tightly　to　her　shirt。　Hubert　was　next；　then　Mark；　with　Mitspieler　bringing　up　the　rear。
　　　Again　there　was　an　easy　egress　from　the　lower　end　of　the　shaft。　It　ended　a　little　more　than　a　meter　above　a　circular　dais　that　was　two　or　three　meters　wide；　and　raised　perhaps　a　meter　above　the　floor　of　the　surrounding　room。
　　　The　lower　end　of　the　shaft　was　finished　in　what　looked　like　ancient　masonry；　with　hairline　gaps　showing　between　blocks；　so　that　Ben　marveled　as　he　let　go　of　the　last　grip　that　it　had　not　all　e　crashing　down　with　his　weight　on　it。
　　　But　soon　all　seven　members　of　the　expedition　were　safely　down　out　of　the　shaft；　and　standing　round　the　dais。　They　were　in　a　squat　cylinder　of　a　room；　perhaps　ten　meters　across；　larger　than　either　of　the　two　rooms　above。　Here　the　stone　wall；　floor；　and　ceiling　were　all　carved　quite　smoothly　into　a　regular　shape。　Twelve　dark　doorways　were　more　or　less　regularly　spaced　round　the　circumference　of　the　circular　wall。　From　near　the　center　of　the　room　it　was　not　possible　to　throw　a　beam　of　light　very　far　into　any　of　the　twelve　apertures；　as　the　passages　beyond　all　curved　sharply　after　a　few　meters；　turning　down　or　sideways　or　both。　Each　tunnel；　at　the　start　at　least；　was　wide　enough　for　only　one　person　to　enter　it　fortably　at　a　time。
　　　〃We　have　reached　the　third　sealing；〃　said　Doon。　And　he　raised　his　Sword　in　a　salute；　as　if　to　a　worthy　foe。
Chapter　11
　　　Doon　was　standing　near　the　round　wheel…hub　of　the　dais；　turning　his　body　slowly；　aiming　Wayfinder　to　determine　which　of　the　dark　tunnels　they　ought　to　follow。　Mark；　watching　the　Baron's　face；　saw　him　for　once　frowning　at　what　his　guide　told　him。
　　　Indosuaros；　gazing　over　Doon's　shoulder；　prodded。　〃There　seems　no　doubt　about　it；　does　there？　The　Sword　says　that's　the　one　to　take。〃　And　the　magician　pointed　with　a　long；　gnarled　forefinger　at　a　tunnel。
　　　All　the　more　irritated　by　this　advice；　Doon　moved　the　Sword。　〃But　first；　a　moment　ago；　it　indicated　this　other　passage；　over　here。　I'm　sure　of　it。　And　now　it　doesn't。〃
　　　〃It　certainly　does　not；〃　Indosuaros　agreed。　He　paused；　then　added：　〃Your　hand　may　have　been　shaking；　man。　Or　perhaps　the　light　was　unsteady　for　a　moment。〃
　　　〃My　hand　did　not　shake！　And　I　really　don't　need　any　light　to　feel　the　vibration　in　the　blade。〃
　　　Ben　chimed　in：　〃There　could　be　a　smaller　amount　of　treasure　at　the　end　of　the　passage　where　it　first　pointed；　and　a　larger　at　the　end　of　this　one。　Anyway；　I'd　read　the　augury　so。〃
　　　〃Or；〃　suggested　Ariane；　〃one　treasure　that's　being　moved　about；　even　as　you　attempt　to　get　a　bearing　on　it？〃　There　was　something　like　enjoyment　in　her　voice；　that　did　not　fade　even　when　Doon　glared　at　her。
　　　〃I　doubt　we're　very　near　to　any　treasure　yet；〃　the　Baron　growled。
　　　And　the　magician　again：　〃Either　trust　your　Sword　or　not；　is　all　I　can　advise　you。　If　you're　going　to　trust　it　no　longer；　then　I'll　start　to　try　to　find　our　way　by　other　means。〃　Why；　he's　jealous　of　the　Sword；　thought　Mark。
　　　The　Baron　evidently　thought　the　same。　〃You'll　start　to　try？　Why　no；　I　think　we'll　trust　this　god…forged　metal　yet　awhile。　And　we'll　take　the　way　it　showed　me　first。〃　The　two　men　stared　at　each　other　for　a　moment。
　　　〃Some　of　us　could　try　one　way　and　some　another；〃　Hubert　offered；　though　not　as　if　he　really　thought　it　was　a　good　idea。
　　　Doon　gave　him　a　brief　glare　too。　〃No；　I'll　not　divide　my　forces。　Not　yet　anyway。　We'll　take　the　way　Wayfinder　showed　me　first。〃
　　　Mark；　having　some　experience　of　using　Coinspinner　for　guidance；　thought　that　the　point　called　for　more　discussion。　But　that　too　would　have　its　dangers；　and　he　kept　quiet；　and　read　agreement　in　Ben's　eyes。　Mark　met　Ariane's　gaze　too；　and　thought　he　saw　the　beginning　there　of　a　realistic　concern。　And　in　her　eyes　as　well　were　other　things　less　easy　to　interpret。
　　　The　party　entered　the　tunnel　that　Doon　had　chosen。　They　were　moving　in　single　file　as　before；　and　once　more　Mark　found　himself　next　to　last；　just　in　front　of　the　silent　Mitspieler；　and　behind　Hubert。　Mark　had　to　stoop　his　back　or　bend　his　neck　almost　continuously　to　keep　his　headlamp　from　scraping　on　the　roof　of　the　passage　as　he　moved。　If　this　goes　on　for　very　long；　he　thought；　I'll　have　to　take　the　lamp　off　and　carry　it　in　my　hand。　Or　depend　on　others'　lights　while　we're　in　here　…　this　passage　was　at　least　a　little　wider　than　the　last　one；　though　it　still　lacked　room　for　two　to　go　fortably　abreast。
　　　The　tunnel　curved　sharply　from　left　to　right　and　back　again；　while　constantly　descending。　But　here　the　slope　of　the　descent　never　became　as　steep　as　it　had　in　the　previous　tunnel；　and　the　roug