mc.eatersofthedead-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


；　with　mouth　and　jaws　large　and　prominent；　and　of　an　ugly　aspect；　also　their　heads　were　larger。　than　the　heads　of　normal　men。　Their　eyes　were　sunk　deep　in　their　heads；　the　brows　were　large；　and　not　by　virtue　of　hairy　brows；　but　of　bone；　also　their　teeth　were　large　and　sharp；　although　it　is　true　the　teeth　of　many　were　ground　down　and　flattened。
　In　other　respects　of　their　bodily　features　and　as　to　the　organs　of　sex　and　the　several　orifices；　they　were　also　as　men。42　One　of　the　creatures　was　slow　to　die；　and　with　its　tongue　formed　some　sounds；　which　had　to　my　ear　a　quality　of　speech；　but　I　cannot　know　if　this　was　so；　and　I　tell　it　again　with　no　conviction　of　the　matter。
　Now　Buliwyf　surveyed　these　four　dead　creatures；　with　their　thick　matted　fur；　then　we　heard　a　ghostly；　echoing　chant；　a　sound　rising　and　falling　in　time　to　the　thunder　pounding　of　the　surf；　and　this　sound　came　from　the　recesses　of　the　cave。　Buliwyf　led　us　into　the　depths。
　There　we　came　upon　three　of　the　creatures；　prostrate　upon　the　ground；　faces　pressed　to　the　earth　and　their　hands　raised　in　supplication　to　an　old　creature　lurking　in　the　shadows。　These　suppliants　were　chanting；　and　did　not　perceive　our　arrival。　But　the　creature　saw　us；　and　screamed　hideously　at　our　approach。　This　creature　I　took　to　be　the　mother　of　the　wendol；　but　if　she　was　female；　I　saw　no　sign；　for　she　was　old　to　the　point　of　being　sexless。
　Buliwyf　alone　fell　upon　the　suppliants　and　killed　them　all；　while　the　mother…creature　moved　back　into　the　shadows　and　screamed　horribly。　I　could　not　see　her　well；　but　this　much　is　true：　that　she　was　surrounded　by　serpents；　which　coiled　at　her　feet；　and　upon　her　hands；　and　around　her　neck。　These　serpents　hissed　and　flicked　their　tongues；　and　as　they　were　all　about　her；　upon　her　body　and　also　on　the　ground；　none　of　the　warriors　of　Buliwyf　dared　make　an　approach。
　Then　Buliwyf　attacked　her；　and　she　gave　a　fearful　scream　as　he　plunged　his　dagger　deep　into　her　breast；　for　he　was　heedless　of　the　snakes。　Many　times　he　struck　the　mother　of　the　wendol　with　his　dagger。　Never　did　this　woman　collapse；　but　always　did　she　stand；　though　the　blood　poured　from　her　as　if　from　a　fountain；　and　from　the　several　wounds　Buliwyf　inflicted　upon　her。　And　all　the　time　she　screamed　a　most　frightful　sound。
　Then　at　the　last　she　toppled；　and　lay　dead；　and　Buliwyf　turned　to　face　his　warriors。　Now　we　saw　that　this　woman；　the　mother　of　the　eaters　of　the　dead；　had　wounded　him。　A　silver　pin；　such　as　a　pin　for　hair；　was　buried　in　his　stomach；　this　same　pin　trembled　with　each　heartbeat。　Buliwyf　plucked　it　forth；　and　there　was　a　gush　of　blood。　Yet　he　did　not　sink　to　his　knees　mortally　wounded；　but　rather　he　stood　and　gave　the　order　to　leave　the　cave。
　This　we　did；　by　the　second　and　landward　entrance；　this　entrance　had　been　guarded；　but　all　the　wendol　guards　had　fled　before　the　screams　of　their　dying　mother。　We　departed　without　harassment。　Buliwyf　led　us　from　the　caves；　and　back　to　our　horses；　and　then　did　he　collapse　upon　the　ground。
　Ecthgow；　with　a　face　of　sadness　most　unmon　among　the　Northmen；　directed　the　fashioning　of　a　stretcher43　and　with　this　we　carried　Buliwyf　back　across　the　fields　to　the　kingdom　of　Rothgar。　And　all　the　while　Buliwyf　was　of　good　cheer；　and　merry；　many　of　the　things　he　spoke　I　did　not　prehend；　but　one　time　I　heard　him　say：　〃Rothgar　will　not　be　happy　to　see　us；　for　he　must　set　out　yet　another　banquet；　and　by　now　he　is　a　most　depleted　host。〃　The　warriors　laughed　at　this　and　other　words　of　Buliwyf。　I　saw　their　laughter　was　honest。
　Now　we　came　to　the　kingdom　of　Rothgar；　where　we　were　greeted　with　cheers　and　happiness；　and　no　sadness；　although　Buliwyf　was　direly　injured；　and　his　flesh　turned　gray；　and　his　body　shook；　and　his　eyes　were　lit　by　the　gleam　of　a　sick　and　fevered　soul。　These　signs　did　I　know　full　well；　and　so；　too；　did　the　North　people。
　A　bowl　of　onion　broth　was　brought　for　him；　and　he　refused　it；　saying；　〃I　have　the　soup　illness；　do　not　trouble　yourselves　on　my　account。〃　Then　he　called　for　a　celebration；　and　insisted　that　he　preside　over　it；　sitting　propped　up　on　a　stone　couch　at　the　side　of　King　Rothgar；　and　he　drank　mead　and　he　was　merry。　I　was　near　to　him　when　he　said　to　King　Rothgar；　in　the　midst　of　the　festivities；　〃I　have　no　slaves。〃
　〃All　of　my　slaves　are　your　slaves；〃　Rothgar　said。
　Then　Buliwyf　said；　〃I　have　no　horses。〃
　〃All　of　my　horses　are　yours；〃　Rothgar　answered。　〃Think　no　more　on　these　matters。〃
　And　Buliwyf；　his　wounds　bound；　was　happy；　and　he　smiled；　and　the　color　returned　to　his　cheeks　that　evening；　and　indeed　he　seemed　to　grow　stronger　with　each　passing　minute　of　the　night。　And　although　I　would　not　have　thought　it　possible；　he　ravished　a　slave　girl；　and　afterward　he　said　to　me；　as　a　joke；　〃A　dead　man　is　no　use　to　anyone。〃
　And　then　Buliwyf　fell　into　a　sleep；　and　his　color　became　more　pale　and　his　breathing　more　shallow；　I　feared　he　should　never　awake　from　this　sleep。　He　may　also　have　thought　this；　for　as　he　slept　he　held　his　sword　gripped　tight　in　his　hand。
　
　THE　DEATH　THROES　OF　THE　WENDOL

　SO　ALSO　I　FELL　INTO　A　SLEEP。　HERGER　AWAKENED　ME　with　these　words：　〃You　are　to　e　quickly。〃　Now　I　heard　the　sound　of　distant　thunder。　I　looked　to　the　bladder　window44　and　it　was　not　yet　dawn；　but　I　grabbed　up　my　sword；　in　truth　I　had　fallen　asleep　in　my　armor；　not　caring　to　remove　it。　Then　I　hastened　outside。　It　was　the　hour　before　dawn；　and　the　air　was　misty　and　thick；　and　filled　with　the　thunder　of　distant　hoofbeats。
　Herger　said　to　me；　〃The　wendol　e。　They　know　of　the　mortal　wounds　of　Buliwyf；　and　they　seek　a　final　revenge　for　the　killing　of　their　mother。〃
　Each　of　the　warriors　of　Buliwyf；　myself　among　them；　took　a　place　at　the　perimeter　of　the　fortifications　that　we　had　drawn　up　against　the　wendol。　These　defenses　were　poor；　yet　we　had　none　else。　We　peered　into　the　mists　to　glimpse　the　horsemen　galloping　down　upon　us。　I　expected　great　fear；　but　I　did　not　feel　this；　for　I　had　seen　the　aspect　of　the　wendol　and　I　knew　them　to　be　creatures；　if　not　men；　then　like　enough　to　men　as　monkeys　are　also　like　men；　but　I　knew　them　to　be　mortal；　and　they　could　die。
　Thus　I　had　no　fear；　save　the　expectation　of　this　final　battle。　In　this　manner　was　I　alone；　for　I　saw　that　the　warriors　of　Buliwyf　displayed　much　fear；　and　this　despite　their　pains　to　conceal　it。　Verily；　as　we　had　killed　the　mother　of　the　wendol；　who　was　their　leader；　so　also　had　we　lost　Buliwyf；　who　was　our　own　leader；　and　there　was　no　cheerfulness　while　we　waited　and　heard　the　thunder　approach。
　And　then　I　heard　a　motion　behind　me；　and　upon　my　turning；　I　saw　this：　Buliwyf；　pale　as　the　mist　itself；　garbed　in　white　and　bound　in　his　wounds；　stood　erect　upon　the　land　of　the　kingdom　of　Rothgar。　And　on　his　shoulders　sat　two　black　ravens；　one　to　each　side；　and　at　this　sight　the　Northmen　screamed　of　his　ing；　and　they　raised　their　weapons　into　the　air　and　howled　for　the　battle。45
　Now　Buliwyf　never　spoke；　nor　did　he　look　to　one　side　or　another；　nor　did　he　give　sign　of　recognition　to　any　man；　but　he　walked　with　measured　pace　forward；　beyond　the　line　of　the　fortifications；　and　there　he　awaited　the　onslaught　of　the　wendol。　The　ravens　flew　off；　and　he　gripped　his　sword　Runding　and　met　the　attack。
　No　words　can　describe　the　final　attack　of　the　wendol　in　the　dawn　of　the　mist。　No　words　will　say　what　blood　was　spilled；　what　screams　filled　the　thick　air；　what　horses　and　horsemen　died　in　hideous　agony。　With　my　own　eyes　I　saw　Ecthgow；　with　his　arms　of　steel：　verily　his　head　was　lopped　off　by　a　wendol　sword　and　the　head　bounced　upon　the　ground　as　a　bauble；　the　tongue　still　flicking　in　the　mouth。　Also　I　saw　Weath　take　a　spear　through　his　chest；　in　this　way　was　he　pinned　to　the　ground；　and　there　writhed　like　a　fish　taken　from　the　sea。　I　saw　a　girl　child　trampled　by　the　hooves　of　a　horse　and　her　body　crushed　flat　and　blood　pouring　from　her　ear。　Also　I　saw　a　woman；　a　slave　of　King　Rothgar：　her　body　was　cut　in　twain　cleanly　while　she　ran　from　a　pursuing　horseman。　I　saw　many　children　likewise　killed。　I　saw　horses　rear　and　plunge；　their　riders　dismounted；　to　be　fallen　upon　by　old　men　and　women；　who　slew　the　creatures　as　they　lay　stunned　on　their　backs。　Also　I　saw　Wiglif；　the　son　of　Rothgar；　run　from　the　fray　and　conceal　himself　in　cowardly　safety。　The　herald　I　did　not　see　that　day。
　I　myself　killed　three　of　the　wendol；　and　suffered　a　spear　in　the　shoulder；　which　pain　was　like　a　plunge　into　fire；　my　blood　boiled　the　length　of　my　arm　and　also　inside　my　chest；　I　thought　I　should　collapse；　and　yet　I　fought　on。
　Now　the　sun　burst　through　the　mist；　and　the　dawn　was　full　upon　us；　and　the　mist　slipped　away；　and　the　horsemen　disappeared。　In　the　broad　light　of　day；　I　saw　bodies　everywhere；　including　many　bodies　of　the　wendol；　for　they　had　not　collected　their　dead。　This　truly　was　the　sign　of　their　end；　for　they　were　in　disarray　and　could　not　again　attack　Rothgar；　and　all　the　people　of　the　kingdom　of　Rothgar　knew　this　meaning　and　rejoiced。
　Herger　bathed　my　wound；　and　was　elated；　until　they　carried　the　body　of　Buliwyf　into　the　great　hall　of　Rothgar。　Buliwyf　was　dead　a　score　over：　his　body　was　hacked　by　the　blades　of　a　dozen　adversaries；　his　visage　and　form　were　soaked　in　his　own　still…warm　blood。　Herger　saw　this　sight　and　burst　into　tears；　and　hid　his　face　from　me；　but　there　was　no　need；　for　I　myself　felt　tears　that　misted　my　sight。
　Buliwyf　was　laid　before　King　Rothgar；　whose　duty　it　was　to　make　a　speech。　But　the　old　man　was　not　able　to　do　such　a　thing。　He　said　only　this：　〃Here　is　a　warrior　and　a　hero　fit　for　the　gods。　Bury　him　as　a　great　king；〃　and　then　he　left　the　hall。　I　believe　he　was　ashamed；　for　he　himself　had　not　joined　in　the　battle。　Also　his　son　Wiglif　had　run　like　a　coward；　and　many　had　seen　this；　and　called　it　a　womanly　act；　this　also　may　have　abashed　the　father。　Or　there　may　be　some　reason　which　I　do　not　know。　In　truth；　he　was　a　very　old　man。
　Now　it　happened　that　in　a　low　voice　Wiglif　spoke　to　the　herald：　〃This　Buliwyf　has　done　us　much　service；　all　the　greater　for　his　death　at　the　concluding　of　it。〃　Thus　he　spoke　when　his　father　the　King　had　departed　the　hall。
　Herger　heard　these　words；　and　I　also　did；　and　I　was　the　first　to　draw　my　sword。　Herger　said　to　me；　〃Do　not　battle　this　man；　fo