cspector.worldwithoutend-第11部分

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turies　finally　worn　me　down？　I　knew　they　had　for　some　of　the　others。　Some　until　they　resorted　to　terrible　means　to　stop　the　emptiness。
　
　'But　I　had　a　reason　to　live。　I　knew　my　purpose。　It　was　a　sacred　task。　To　keep　the　world　safe。　To　protect　it。　To　protect　the　people　in　it。　Or　so　I'd　told　myself。
　
　As　I　started　for　the　tombs；　Caimbeui　grabbed　my　arm。
　〃Are　you　certain　this　is　the　only　way？〃　he　asked。
　
　I　turned　and　looked　at　him。　In　the　flat　red　twilight　his　face　looked　like　the　very　vision　of　Lucifer。　A　dark；　yet　beautiful；　angel。
　
　〃Why；　Caimbeui；　I　almost　think　you　care；〃　I　said。
　He　frowned。　〃Don't　be　flip；〃　he　said。　〃If　Ysrthgrathe　has　found　you。。。　how　can　you　be　safe？〃
　
　I　reached　up　and　touched　his　face。　I　can't　describe　how　it　felt；　only　that　it　felt　like　him。　Like　Caimbeui。　My　flesh　remembered　his　as　surely　as　it　might　remember　the　smoothness　of　velvet　or　the　scratch　of　sandpaper。
　
　〃Nothing　is　safe　anymore；〃　I　replied。　〃Besides；　I've　been　alive　for　so　long；　it　might　be　good　to　rest。　Don't　you　ever　want　to　just。。。　stop？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　An　angry　look　crossed　his　face；　and　he　pulled　away　from　me。　〃It's　always　better　to　be　alive。　Life　is　better　than　death。〃
　
　I　wanted　to　stay　and　argue　with　him；　but　there　was　no　time。　It　almost　made　me　laugh。　After　so　many　years；　to　have　no　time。
　
　Instead；　I　turned　and　began　walking　to　the　caims。　
　The　sun　had　disappeared　and　the　sky　was　fading　from　scarlet　into　plum。　The　wind　had　died　down；　and　the　air　was　still。　No　birds　sang。　No　leaves　rustled。　No　animal　noises　carried　to　me。
　
　Once　I　reached　the　cairns；　I　turned　to　see　if　Caimbeui　had　followed　me。　He　was　a　shadow　against　the　fading　light。　I　held　my　hands　out　to　him　and；　after　a　moment；　he　took　them。　Though　I　didn't　need　him　to　call　up　the　Hunt；　I　wanted　him　to　be　there　with　me。
　
　I　closed　my　eyes　and　relaxed。　In　my　youth；　I　had　learned　magic　as　part　of　the　fabric　of　life。　I　saw　it　not　as　a　force　to　be　manipulated；　but　as　integral　to　life　itself。　A　thread　broken　here　could　cause　something　there　to　unravel。　Pulling　threads　together　could　create　something　where　there　had　been　nothing。
　
　But　the　mages　today　saw　magic　as　something　else。　Their　way　of　seeing　the　world　was　strange　and　alien　to　me。　I　objected　to　any　kind　of　cybernetic　enhancement。　Machines　can't　create。　They　can　only　do　what　they're　told。
　
　As　I　began　to　chant　the　words　to　the　spell；　I　opened　my　eyes。　The　moon　was　dark　and　the　stars　had　yet　to　appear。　I　couldn't　see　Caimbeui's　face；　but　could　just　make　out　the　shape　of　him　before　me。
　
　My　eyes　adjusted；　and　gradually　I　could　see　again。　The　granite　of　the　cairns　glowed　ghostly　pale。　Caimbeul's　face　looked　as　though　it　floated　in　the　air；　unattached　to　his　body。　He　joined　me　in　saying　the　words　to　the　spell。　It　was　a　strange　duet；　our　words　conjuring　up　the　Hunt。　I　blew　the　whistle；　and　it　made　no　sound　that　either　I　or　anyone　else　in　this　world　could　hear。
　
　
　At　first　there　was　nothing　but　our　voices　breaking　the　silence。　Then　the　wind　began。　It　howled　across　the　open　fields　and　whistled　through　the　tombs。　Caimbeui's　hair　was　pulled　free　of　his　ponytail　and　whipped　across　his　face。　The　ground　began　to　tremble。
　
　The　magic　flowed　through　me。　Into　me。　It　filled　me　and　shook　me。　My　muscles　screamed　with　the　agony　of　trying　to　hold　this　power。　To　mold　it　to　my　will。　Sweat　broke　out　across　my　face。　It　ran　down　my　back　and　streamed　over　my　breasts。
　
　It　was　terrible；　this　force。　This　chaos　and　madness　which　threatened　to　engulf　me。　It　wracked　my　muscles。　I　felt　as　though　it　would　rip　me　apart。　Tear　from　me　my　soul。　That　it　would　allow　the　insanity　of　the　past　to　e　and　claim　me　again。
　
　In　the　distance　I　could　hear　the　thundering　of　hooves。　I　raised　my　voice；　barely　able　to　hear　myself。　Barely　able　to　force　the　words　from　my　throat。　Caimbeul's　words　were　snatched　away　by　the　wind　as　he　uttered　them。
　
　The　magic　trembled　in　me；　flew　around　me；　pulled　at　the　world　and　drew　things　from　me。　Terrible　things。　Apparitions　from　the　past。　Nightmares　from　the　future。　We　stood　there；　trembling；　and　chanted　the　old　words。　Words　of　power。　Until　our　voices　grew　hoarse　and　our　throats　were　raw　and　our　legs　would　barely　support　us。
　
　At　last　we　stopped。
　
　Abruptly；　the　air　was　still　and　silent。
　
　I　released　Caimbeul's　hand　and　turned
　Below　us；　at　the　base　of　the　hill　where　the　cairns　stood；　was　what　we'd　called。
　
　They　looked　up　at　us　expectantly。　Their　eyes　refleeted　red　iridescence。　Black　coats　melted　into　black　night。
　
　In　the　distance；　I　heard　the　howling　of　the　hounds　and　wolves。　The　gabriel　ratchets。　Their　cries　were　lonely；　as　though　they　realized　that　they'd　been　abandoned　by　the　steeds　which　led　them。　At　their　head　was　a　tall；　cloaked　form。　Though　I　knew　that　this　was　the　apparition　who　tended　the　beasts；　its　appearance　was　so　close　to　Ysrthgrathe's　that；　for　a　moment；　I　thought　my　enemy　had　e　for　me。
　
　A　long；　bony　arm　appeared　from　the　depths　of　the　apparition's　cloak。　It　beckoned　us。　I　glanced　for　a　moment　at　Caimbeul。　His　lips　were　set　in　a　hard　line。
　
　〃You　don't　have　to　e；〃　I　said。　〃What？〃　he　replied。　〃And　miss　all　the　fun？〃
　
　At　the　bottom　of　the　hill　we　were　gestured　to　two　horses。　These　were　the　horses　of　the　ancient　Tuatha　de　Danaan。　Created　from　fire；　not　earth；　and　able　to　live　for　hundreds　of　years。　I　had　not　ridden　one　in　a　thousand　years。
　
　As　we　tried　to　mount　the　horses；　they　began　to　dance　away　and　reached　back　every　now　and　again　to　nip　us　with　their　long；　yellow　teeth。　I　grabbed　a　handful　of　long　mane　to　help　pull　myself　up。　I　hoped　I　would　have　enough　strength　left　in　me　for　the　ride　I　knew　was　ahead。
　
　There　was　no　noise　as　we　mounted。　No　rattle　of　harnesses。　No　sound　at　all。　I　turned　to　the　master　of　the　horses；　who　stood　looking　at　me。　〃To　the　Seelie　Court；〃　I　shouted　over　the　din。　The　apparition　nodded。
　
　Just　then；　I　had　a　strange　tingling　sensation；　as　if　someone　unseen　was　watching　me。　I　looked　around；　and　there；　in　the　distance；　atop　one　of　the　far　hills；　were　the　hounds；　stags　and　wolves。　They　swirled　together；　writhing　like　a　thousand　snakes；　and　disappeared　from　my　sight。　I　shuddered　at　their　terrible　power。
　
　The　horses　lunged　forward；　jerking　us　in　our　seats。　From　then　on　we　were　no　longer　in　control。　As　if　we　ever　truly　had　been。
　
　We　thundered　down　bare　fields　and　into　muddy　flats。　Fences　were　hurdled　without　a　falter。　Streams　and　meadows　slipped　away。　Sparks　flew　as　hooves　struck　rocky　expanses。　Lather　foamed　up　on　the　horses；　but　they　never　slowed。　My　cheeks　became　chilled　and　chapped；　my　hands　ached　from　holding　onto　the　reins。　Tears　streamed　from　my　eyes。
　
　We　overtook　cars　on　the　road；　causing　accidents。　Still　we　did　not　slow。
　
　Then　we　were　at　the　shore。　We　pounded　across　the　sand；　plumes　of　it　spraying　into　the　air。　Then　into　the　tide；　never　slowing　as　we　rode　up　and　over　the　water。　Galloping　across　the　top　of　the　ocean　as　though　it　were　a　puddle。
　
　Across　the　water　I　saw　a　misty　turquoise　glow。　As　we　came　closer；　I　saw　that　there　was　an　island　surrounded　by　this　light。　In　moments　we　were　on　the　beach　thundering　across　the　sand。
　
　This　was　not　one　of　the　Aran　Islands；　for　we　had　passed　those　as　we　sped　across　the　bay。　This　was　one　of　the　isles　of　fable。　From　legends　I　had　helped　create　and　had　forgotten　in　the　long　expanse　of　time。
　
　This　place　must　be　Hy…Breasail；　the　island　believed　to　rise　from　the　sea　only　once　every　seven　years。　I　barely　had　time　to　realize　this　before　the
　
　Horses　surged　across　the　beach　and　went　crashing　into　the　forest。
　
　A　path　opened　up　before　us。　Whether　it　was　there　to　begin　with　or　the　Horses　created　it　as　they　went；　I　cannot　say。　The　trail　began　to　climb　upward。　We　plunged　on　through　the　forest；　shattering　the　silence　with　our　passing；　At　last　we　burst　forth　into　a　great　open　plain　and　stopped。
　
　Though　it　was　autumn　in　Tir　na　nog；　here　spring　held　sway。　I　could　smell　it　in　the　air；　could　feel　the　warm　and　gentle　caress　of　the　breeze。　It　was　balm　to　my　sore；　chapped　face。
　
　I　looked　about　and　saw　a　castle　perched　on　a　cliff　above　us。　So　much　a　part　of　the　island　it　was　that　there　was　no　telling　where　the　castle　began　and　the　rock　it　sat　upon　ended。　As　I　watched；　lights　appeared　on　the　pathway　below　the　castle。　They　bobbed　and　floated　downward　toward　us。
　
　Closer　and　closer　they　came；　and　we　waited　for　them；　silent　and　patient。
　
　At　last　they　appeared　on　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　riming　it　in　gold　and　silver　light。
　
　Such　a　congregation　of　the　Sleagh　Maith。　It　almost　made　me　forget　my　own　mission；　so　good　was　it　to　gaze　upon　them　again。　The　sprites　and　sprig…gars；　brownies　and　hags；　boogies；　leprechauns；　gnomes；　and　goblins　all　clustered　around；　throwing　their　crooked　shadows　against　the　rocky　cliff　behind　them。
　
　I　could　hear　their　shrill　cries　and　nasty　whispers。　They　knew　who　I　was　even　if　there　were　those　who　would　have　it　otherwise。　There　was　but　a　moment　for　these　impressions。　They　parted　and　a　procession　of　elves　appeared。　Each　was　dressed　in　tight…fitting　dun…colored　leather　garments。　Some　bad　tattoos　marking　their　arms　and　faces。　Others　had　datajacks　glistening　in　shaved　skulls。　I　ignored　them　as　they　surrounded　us。
　
　I　glanced　over　at　Caimbeul。　He　was　a　bit　paler　than　normal；　but　after　the　night　we'd　had　so　far；　that　was　to　be　expected。　He　looked　up　at　me　and　gave　a　little　smile。　I　found　myself　smiling　back；　oddly　happy　at　that　moment。
　
　〃This　is　hardly　a　laughing　matter；〃　came　a　voice　from　beyond　the　edge　of　the　faerie　light。　All　the　elves　and　faeries　bowed　down　immediately。　I　squinted　into　the　darkness。　A　ghost…like　form　moved　forward。　As　it　stepped　into　the　ring　of　light；　I　saw　that　it　was　a　woman。　She　was　dressed　in　a　white　flowing　gown。　Her　fiery　hair　was　pulled　back　severely　from　her　face；　but　left　to　cascade　down　her　back　almost　to　her　heels。　The　brilliant　blue　eyes　were　unchanged。　The　skin　as　pale　and　white　as　milk。
　
　Alachia。
　
　Silence　stretched　out　between　us。　I　hadn't　seen　her　in　the　flesh　since　1941。
　
　〃So；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃You've　e。　And　the　hard　way；　too。〃
　〃Well；　we　can't　all　have　the　prerogatives　of