fs.thesecondbookofswords-第31部分

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　　　Mark　wondered　aloud　if　their　lights　were　going　to　be　noticed。
　　　Doon　sniffed。　〃No　need　to　worry　about　that；　I'd　say。　Anything　that's　here　already　knows　that　we're　here　too。〃
　　　They　examined　Indosuaros　again；　and　as　far　as　any　of　them　could　tell；　the　wizard　was　sleeping　almost　normally；　though　he　looked　ill。　By　general　agreement　it　was　decided　to　let　him　sleep　until　morning　…　no　one　voiced　any　doubt　that　morning　was　going　to　e。
　　　Night　in　the　forest　deepened　further；　to　an　utter　blackness　that　would　have　been　unnatural　in　the　world　above。　The　headlamps　were　adjusted　to　throw　a　diffuse　illumination　and　set　on　the　ground　spaced　around　the　party；　so　that　they　provided　light　on　the　surrounding　woods　while　leaving　their　owners　in　partial　shadow。　The　circle　included　Indosuaros；　as　well　as　the　four　wakeful　people　who　took　turns　talking　and　dozing　through　the　night。
　　　It　was　a　long　night；　and　for　a　long　time　in　the　middle　of　it　Ben　found　himself　awake；　with　Ariane's　hand　closed　tightly　in　his。　The　two　of　them　were　lying　chastely　side　by　side；　and　her　eyes　would　watch　his　for　a　while　and　then　close　in　rest　or　slumber。　Doon　and　Mark　both　dozed；　on　either　side　of　them；　and　Indosuaros　nearby　faintly　snored。　Ben's　right　hand　kept　the　girl's　right　hand　enfolded。　Her　hand　was　large　and　strong；　and　he　could　feel　the　calluses　here　and　there　on　it　that　testified　she　had　not　been　brought　up　in　a　palace。　Most　of　the　time　he　was　not　thinking　consciously　of　anything；　but　was　only　conscious　of　her　hand；　and　all　the　strange　miracle　of　life　that　flowed　inside　it。　He　was　glad　that　she　could　sleep；　and　after　a　long　time　he　slept　himself。
　　　When　he　woke；　the　air　felt　a　little　cooler；　and　Mark　was　crawling　here　and　there　and　turning　off　the　lights。　Dawn；　or　some　analogue　of　it；　was　once　more　brightening　the　sky　above　the　trees。
　　　Presently　Doon　was　sitting　up　too；　and　Ariane。　In　the　morning　light；　swiftly　brightening　now；　they　all　looked　haggard；　the　men's　beards　growing　untrimmed　and　unkempt。　Indosuaros　looked　catastrophic。　The　others　took　turns　trying　to　rouse　him；　first　gently　and　then　vigorously；　but　he　could　not　be　made　to　open　his　eyes　or　utter　anything　but　moans。
　　　Doon　shook　him　brutally；　and　slapped　his　face。　〃What's　the　trouble　with　you；　man？　What　can　we　do？〃
　　　There　was　only　an　incoherent　mumble　in　reply。
　　　Doon；　more　to　himself　than　to　the　others；　muttered：　〃I　don't　know　whether　to　leave　him　here　or　not。〃　Ariane　protested。　〃You　can't　do　that。〃　〃We　may　have　to。　Do　you　think　we　can　carry　him？〃　〃And　what　about　Mitspieler？〃
　　　〃If　he's　not　back　by　now；　I　don't　think　he's　ing　back。〃
　　　〃The　next　question；〃　said　Mark；　〃is　which　way　are　we　going　when　we　do　move？　Are　we　still　trying　to　find　the　treasure；　or　are　we　going　to　turn　around　and　try。。。〃
　　　Doon　cut　him　off。　〃We　are　going　to　find　the　treasure。　We　are　going　to　help　ourselves　to　it；　and　then　we　are　going　to　find　the　way　out　again。　I　say　so；　and　the　Sword　is　mine；　and　in　my　hands。　Anyone　who　says　otherwise　is　going　to　have　to　fight　me。〃　He　glared　at　them　each　in　turn；　and　Wayfinder　had　e　into　his　hands；　so　quickly　and　naturally　that　it　seemed　to　have　been　there　all　along。
　　　Ben　asked：　〃And　will　you　fight　all　of　us　at　once？〃
　　　The　Baron　looked　at　them；　one　after　another；　a　long　moment　for　each。　〃I　will　fight　none　of　you　unless　I　have　to；〃　he　said　then；　in　a　reasoning　voice。　〃Look　here；　lads；　and　you；　girl；　it's　madness　for　us　to　talk　of　fighting　each　other　now。　But　I　think　it　would　be　equal　madness　to　split　up；　or　to　try　to　turn　back　now　that　we've　e　this　far。　For　all　we　know；　there　may　be　some　easier　exit　up　ahead。〃
　　　He　paused　for　a　few　moments；　taking　counsel　with　the　Sword　again；　and　with　himself。　Then　he　said：　〃The　three　of　you　wait　here　a　little　longer；　with　Indosuaros。　I'll　go　alone　and　scout　ahead　a　little　…　I　have　a　hunch　we　may　be　almost　at　the　end　of　this　damned　woods。〃
　　　〃You　just　said　that　we　should　not　split　up。〃
　　　〃The　separation　will　be　very　brief。　I'll　not　go　more　than　a　hundred　paces　before　I　turn　back　…　see；　the　Sword　now　directs　me　right　along　the　bed　of　the　stream；　it　hasn't　done　that　before。　So；　wait　for　me　unless　you　prefer　to　leave　the　wizard　where　he　lies；　and　e　along。〃
　　　The　others　looked　at　one　another。　〃We'll　wait；　then；〃　said　Mark。
　　　Ben　added：　〃At　least　for　a　reasonable　time。〃
　　　〃Wait。　I'll　not　go　far；　and　I'll　be　back。〃　And　Doon　splashed　away　downstream；　the　Sword　evidently　guiding　him；　as　he　had　claimed；　right　along　the　current's　curving　course。　When　he　had　gone　about　forty　meters　the　density　of　the　intervening　forest　hid　him　from　their　eyes；　and　the　endless　murmur　of　the　stream　drowned　the　sound　made　by　his　splashing　feet。
　　　The　others　gathered　once　more　around　Indosuaros。　〃We've　got　to　wake　him；〃　Ariane　declared。　〃Or　else　we　really　will　be　forced　to　leave　him　here。〃
　　　The　magician's　frame　inside　his　robes　now　looked　incredibly　wasted；　but　when　they　tried　to　move　him　he　felt　abnormally　heavy。　His　breathing　was　now　barely　perceptible；　his　face　was　wizened　and　shrunken；　and　his　eyelids　as　well　as　his　lips　had　the　look　of　being　pinched　together　by　invisible　clamps。
　　　Ben　turned　round　suddenly；　crouching；　motioning　the　others　to　be　silent。　〃Someone's　ing。。。　or　something；〃　he　whispered。　〃From　upstream。　Look　out。〃
　　　They　grasped　their　weapons　and　waited　motionless；　concealed　in　such　cover　as　was　immediately　available。　In　another　moment；　Doon's　unmistakable　figure　had　e　into　view；　Sword　held　out　before　him　like　a　challenge　to　the　world；　splashing　toward　them　from　upstream。
　　　The　Baron　was　if　anything　more　surprised　than　they　were。　〃What　is　this？　What　made　you　e　here？〃
　　　〃We've　not　moved　a　centimeter；　Doon。　Look　…　the　wizard　is　resting　under　the　same　tree　as　before。〃
　　　At　first；　Doon　could　not　believe　it。　〃But　…　I've　kept　going　downstream　ever　since　I　left　you。〃　And　for　a　moment　Ben　thought　that　the　little　man　might　fling　his　Sword　away。
　　　Before　any　further　debate　could　begin；　another　approaching　figure　was　sighted。　Everyone　seemed　to　discover　it　at　almost　the　same　time。　When　first　seen；　in　the　distance；　it　appeared　to　flit　and　jump　among　the　trees；　as　if　it　were　part　of　a　mirage。　As　it　drew　closer；　it　could　be　seen　first　to　be　human；　and　then　to　be　a　man；　and　next　to　bear　in　one　hand　some　kind　of　sword；　with　which　it　groped　about　as　if　for　guidance。　And　lastly；　as　it　came　near；　it　could　be　recognized　as　Mitspieler；　walking　simply　and　normally。
　　　Before　any　one　else　could　say　anything；　Indosuaros　had　roused　himself；　and　propped　himself　up　on　one　elbow。　With　a　faint；　glad　cry　he　turned　toward　the　approaching　man。　〃Master！〃
　　　Mitspieler's　wiry；　graying　form　was　unchanged；　except　that　now　he　wore　something　that　Ben　had　never　seen　before；　an　ornate　belted　scabbard。　At　close　range　it　was　easy　to　see　that　the　weapon　in　Mitspieler's　hand　was　one　of　the　Twelve　Swords；　but　with　his　grip　upon　the　hilt　there　was　no　way　to　tell　which　one　it　was。
　　　As　he　approached　he　ignored　the　first　burst　of　questions　directed　at　him；　and　at　once　bent　down　over　Indosuaros；　who　had　fallen　back　again　and　was　flat　on　the　ground。
　　　A　long　moment　later　Mitspieler　straightened　up　again。　〃I　fear　there　is　nothing　I　can　do　for　you　now；〃　he　told　the　supine　man；　who　did　not　react　and　might　not　have　heard。
　　　〃What　Sword　is　that　you　carry？〃　demanded　Doon。　His　voice　was　suddenly　suspicious。　An　instant　later　the　Baron's　hand　grabbed　for　the　weapon　at　his　own　side；　but　that　vanished　even　as　he　grasped　the　hilt；　turned　to　nothingness　right　before　Ben's　watching　eyes。
　　　For　a　moment　Doon　stared　blankly　at　the　empty　claw　of　his　right　hand。　Then　he　would　have　sprung　to　the　attack；　with　his　dagger　or　barehanded；　but　for　the　fact　that　the　Sword；　in　Mitspieler's　suddenly　capablelooking　fist；　was　pointing　straight　at　him。
　　　〃Do　not　lunge　upon　the　point；　Baron。　I　may　not　be　able　to　heal　you　if　you　do。　Hear　me！〃　And　the　voice　of　the　graying　man　boomed　out　with　a　sudden　authority。　〃Yes；　I　have　the　Sword　of　Wisdom　here。　I　hope　that　it　will　be　back　in　your　hand　before　we　leave　this　sealing；　so　you　can　use　it　when　we　reach　the　next　…　but　before　I　give　it　back；　I　require　that　you　hear　me。〃
　　　Doon　mastered　himself。　〃Then　speak　on；　and　quickly。〃
　　　〃I　borrowed　Wayfinder　a　short　time　ago；　under　the　pretext　of　testing　it。　To　replace　it　in　your　scabbard　I　left　a　phantom　sword　of　my　own　creation　…　of　course　the　phantom　could　not　really　guide　you　anywhere。　But　I　needed　the　real　Sword　to　go　ahead　on　my　own　reconnaissance；　and　I　foresaw　that　you　would　not　lend　it　to　me　willingly。〃
　　　Doon　nodded　grim　agreement。　〃In　that　you　read　the　future　well。。。　what　is　your　real　name？〃
　　　〃Mitspieler　will　still　do。　And　his　name〃　…　the　speaker　threw　a　moment's　glance　to　one　side　and　down　…　〃is　really　Indosuaros。。。　now　listen　to　me；　all　of　you。　The　god　whose　presence　brushed　us　yesterday　was　really　Hades。　I　have　just　been　trying　to　look　for　him；　to　see　where　he　has　gone；　but　I　was　unsuccessful。　I　think　that　he　has　left　the　caves　pletely　now。　In　any　case；　the　way　ahead　now　seems　clear　for　us　to　go　on。。。　I　take　it　you　are　all　still　ready　to　go　on？〃
　　　〃We　are　ready；〃　the　Baron　told　him。　〃Give　me　the　Sword。〃
　　　〃There　is　one　thing　more。〃
　　　〃I　thought　there　might　be。　Well；　speak。〃
　　　〃The　treasure　I　seek；〃　Mitspieler　said；　〃is　not　gold　or　jewels；　and　it　is　not　with　the　gold　in　the　vaults　below　the　demon…sealing；　but　only　on　the　next　level　down　from　this　one。　I　want　you　to　swear；　Baron；　on　your　honor　and　on　your　hope　of　wealth；　that　you　will　help　me　get　it。　I；　in　my　turn；　swear　now　most　solemnly　and　on　my　oaths　of　magic；　that　if　you　help　me　I　will　then　go　with　you　and　help　you　however　I　can；　to　reach　the　last　level　and　to　prosper　there。〃　He　swung　his　gaze　away　from　Doon；　to　let　it　rest　on　Mark　and　Ben　and　Ariane　in　turn。　〃I　swear　the　same　to　each　of　you；　if　you　will　help　me　first。〃
　　　Doon　was　shaking　his　head　in　doubt。　He　squinted　at　Mitspieler　as　if　the　man　were　hard　to　see。　The　Baron　said：　〃You　and　I　are　now　to　trust　each　other's　pledges？　Now；　after　you've　stolen　my　Sword？　After　you've　lied　to　us　all　along；　about。。。〃　and　he　gestured　sharply　toward　the　fallen