cspector.worldwithoutend-第8部分

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　We　worked　our　way　across　the　maze　of　streets　that　led　to　St。　Stephen's　Green。　Nestled　next　to　ancient　stone　buildings　were　brick　flats　put　up　in　the　nineteen…hundreds　next　to　chip…implanting　shops。　Dublin　wasn't　a　flash　city　like　New　York　or　LA。　She　crept　up　on　you　and　worked　her　charms　in　subtler　ways。　A　hint　of　the　past　here。　A　bit　of　the　future　there。
　
　Once　we　were　in　St。　Stephen's　I　relaxed　a　little。　I　was　certain　no　one　was　tailing　us：　the　old　woman　had　turned　off　on　Bride　Street。　Since　then；　the　crowd　thickened　and　thinned；　but　no　one　seemed　at　all　in…forested　in　Caimbeui　and　me。
　
　〃Where　do　you　want　to　stay？〃　Caimbeui　asked。
　〃Stephen's　Hall？〃
　〃Do　they　have　a　decent　security　rating？〃
　〃Good　enough；〃　I　said。　〃It's　not　like　we're　going　underground。〃
　
　The　hotel　overlooked　St。　Stephen's　Green　with　its　emerald　grass　and　drooping　willows。　We　checked　in　and　followed　the　troll　bell　boy　up　to　our　suite。
　
　We　left　a　wake…up　call　for　six。　*　*　*
　
　The　rains　came　at　four。　I　woke　to　a　crash　of　thur…der　and　the　sound　of　hail　hitting　the　windows。　For　a　moment　I　was　disoriented　and　thought　I　was　back　in　the　kaer。　A　suffocating　darkness　pressed　against　me。　But　then　I　saw　the　night　sky　as　Caimbeui　opened　the　drapes。
　
　〃Where　did　this　e　from？〃　he　wondered　aloud。
　〃If　I　were　more　superstitious；〃　I　said；　〃I　would　say　it　was　a　sign。〃
　〃A　sign？〃
　〃Yes。　They　know　we're　here。　But　it's　more　likely　this　is　the　Doineann　Draoidheil。〃
　
　He　didn't　say　anything　to　that。　Knowing　he　was　watching　there　at　the　window　made　me　feel　safe。　And　as　I　drifted　back　to　sleep；　I　smiled。
　Tonight　she　doesn't　dream。
　Bells。
　
　I　swam　up　from　the　murky　depths　and　realized　before　I　opened　my　eyes　that　it　was　the　telephone。　Couldn　't　they　afford　to　replace　these　fraggin'　antiques？　I　thought。　Swatting　at　the　phone；　I　managed　to　drag　it　from　its　cradle　and　sent　the　base　crashing　to　the　floor。　Damn　things；　I　never　got　used　to　them　when　they　appeared　and　now　that　they　were　obso…lets；　I　was　still　plagued　with　them。
　
　〃Whazzit？〃
　
　〃Your　wake…up　call。〃　The　voice　was　puterized　and　preternaturally　perky。　I　hate　that。
　
　I　let　the　receiver　drop。　It　missed　the　base　and　thudded　on　the　carpet。　Burrowing　further　into　the　covers；　I　let　the　lovely　blackness　drag　me　down　again。
　
　〃Aina；〃　said　Caimbeui；　pulling　the　covers　off　me。　〃Time　to　get　up。〃
　
　I　lay　there　for　a　moment　not　moving。　It　occurred　to　me　that　though　we　Elders　weren't　supposed　to　mortally　wound　one　another；　there　was　always　a　first　time　for　everything。　Instead；　I　rolled　onto　my　back　　and　glared　at　him　in　what　I　hoped　would　be　a　frightening　manner。
　
　〃That　won't　work；〃　he　said。　He　was　dressed　in　black。　His　hair　was　pulled　back　into　that　annoying　ponytail。　At　least　he'd　laid　off　dyeing　it　red　for　a　while。　〃I'm　not　even　a　little　intimidated　by　your　bad　moods。　I　lived　with　them　for　years。　They　just　don't　impress　me　anymore。〃
　
　I　muttered　something　unintelligible；　hoping　it　would　be　taken　for　a　scathing　remark。　But　it　wasn't。　He　knew　me　too　well。
　
　Stumbling　to　the　bathroom；　I　hoped　that　there　was　at　least　hot　water　for　a　shower。
　
　We　rented　a　car　and　made　our　way　west　from　Dublin　out　of　Dublin　County　through　Kildare　to　Of…faly　and　into　Galway。　A　heavy　mist　lay　over　the　land　making　the　greens　muted　and　soft。　Much　of　the　land　had　gone　wild。　I　knew　this　was　part　of　the　Awakening。
　
　The　land　was　going　back　to　what　it　was　before　humans　had　put　their　mark　upon　it。　Remnants　of　that　earlier　time　existed　before　the　Awakening。　The　Giant's　Causeway　in　Antrim　was　one　such　place。　Some　said　it　was　cooling　lava　that　produced　the　hexagon…shaped　stones　leading　from　the　mountains　down　to　the　sea；　but　I　knew　better。
　
　〃How　are　you　going　to　find　the　Court？〃　Caimbeui　asked。　〃They　could　be　anywhere。〃
　〃Yes；　but　those　who　know　where　they　are　keep　to　certain　places。　We're　going　there。〃
　〃To　the　tombs？〃
　〃Yes；　and　other　places。〃　〃You　know　how　I　hate　the　tombs。〃　〃Life　is　suffering；　Caimbeul。　Didn't　you　know　that？〃
　
　Because　of　the　fog；　it　took　us　four　hours　to　reach　The　Bun…en。　The　land　here　was　wilder　than　other　areas　of　the　Tfr。　Perhaps　because　the　people　who　lived　in　this　part　of　Ireland　had　never　been　far　from　their　Celtic　roots。　Even　before　the　Awakening；　Gaelic　was　the　primary　language　for　large　sections　of　Galway。
　
　As　we　passed；　I　saw　fingers　of　gray　rock　clawing　up　through　the　thin　soil。　Dark　green　thorn　trees　twisted　against　the　fierce　ocean　wind。　Sheer　cliffs　dropped　down　to　rocky　seashores。
　
　The　Burren　was　a　flat　plain　of　gray　limestone　rock。　Deep　fissures　cut　down　into　the　slabs　of　stone；　scarring　the　rock。　The　only　things　that　grew　there　were　wildflowers　that　sprang　up　between　the　cracks。
　
　I　parked　the　car　and　we　started　up　the　Burren。　Once　there　would　have　been　tourists　clambering　over　the　outcroppings。　Now　there　was　a　stillness　that　hung　in　the　air　and　seeped　slowly　into　my　bones。
　
　〃e　on；〃　I　said　softly。
　
　We　made　our　way；　for　once　not　bickering　about　how　fast　or　slow　one　or　the　other　was　going。　I　stopped　every　so　often　to　pluck　flowers　that　grew　from　the　crevices。　I　wove　them　into　necklaces　as　we　walked。　I　kept　one　for　myself　and　handed　one　to　Caimbeul。　He　gave　me　a　skeptical　look；　but　slipped　his　into　his　pocket。
　The　mist　was　getting　thicker　and　thicker　as　we　walked。　I　stumbled　over　the　uneven　rock　and　wished　I'd　thought　to　bring　a　walking　stick。　Then　we　were　upon　it。　A　large　fissure　in　the　rock。　It　was　large　enough　for　one　of　us　to　slip　through　at　a　time。
　
　〃Well；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　going　down。　You　can　wait　here　for　me　if　you　want。〃
　Caimbeul　gave　a　disgusted　snort。
　〃You　think　they'll　listen　to　you　without　me？〃　he　asked。
　
　I　looked　up　at　him　then；　deep　into　his　forest…green　eyes。　We　knew　each　other　well；　Caimbeul　and　I；　and　I　knew　this　ploy　for　what　it　was。
　
　〃Oh　yes；　dear　Harlequin；〃　I　replied。　〃I　think　they　will　listen　to　me　very　well。　They　know　who　I　am。〃
　
　It　was　cool　in　the　cave。　We　were　crawling　on　our　stomachs　down　a　long　passageway　with　only　a　small　light　to　lead　us。　I'd　cast　the　spell　once　we'd　found　ourselves　in　this　narrowing　corridor　and　I　couldn't　hold　my　flashlight　any　longer。
　
　〃Remind　me　to　tell　you　how　much　I　enjoy　crawling　through　a　cave　in　my　very　best　shoes　and　coat；〃　Harlequin　said。
　〃Don't　plain；〃　I　replied。　〃It　could　be　worse。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　He　ran　into　my　heels　and　gave　a　little　oomph。
　〃It　could　be　wet。〃
　〃Oh；　what　a　lovely　thought。〃
　
　Just　then　I　crawled　around　a　er　and　popped　out　into　a　large　cavem。　Stalactites　and　stalagmites　grew　down　from　the　ceiling　and　up　from　the　floor。　
　In　the　center　of　the　cavern　was　a　lake。　Its　surface　was　mirror　perfect　and　black　as　night。
　
　I　turned　around　and　helped　Caimbeui　as　he　too　crawled　out。　There　was　dirt　and　dust　covering　his　clothes。　He　slapped　at　it；　but　it　didn't　help。　When　he　looked　up　at　me　again；　I　could　see　the　annoyance　in　his　face。　I　put　my　finger　to　my　mouth；　then　pointed　at　the　lake。
　
　I　walked　away　from　him　toward　the　edge　of　the　water。　The　only　sound　was　the　crunch　of　stones　under　my　boots。　As　I　reached　the　edge　of　the　lake；　I　leaned　over　and　picked　up　a　small　stone。　Straightening；　I　spoke；
　
　〃Hear　me；　Fin　Bheara；　King　of　the　Daoine　Sidhe；　King　of　the　Dead。　It　is　Aina。　I　would　speak　with　you。〃
　
　My　voice　rang　out　and　echoed　against　the　silent　rocks。　For　a　long　moment　there　was　nothing。　No　answering　sound。　Then；　there　was　a　grinding　noise。　The　ground　trembled　and　I　stumbled　a　bit　before　regaining　my　balance。
　
　The　water　began　to　bubble　and　boil。　Steam　rose　from　the　surface　and　soon　blanketed　the　entire　room。　From　the　water　rose　a　boat。　It　was　made　of　wood　and　gold。　A　throne　was　affixed　in　the　center　of　the　deck。　Sitting　in　it　was　the　spirit　who　liked　to　be　known　as　Finvarra。
　
　He　was　as　I　remembered；　perhaps　even　larger　than　before。　The　power　of　the　Awakening　had　seeped　into　his　veins　as　well　as　mine。
　
　The　boat　moved　toward　the　shore　where　I　stood；　cutting　smoothly　through　the　water；　leaving　only　the　slightest　wake　to　mar　the　perfect　sheen。　I　could　see　no　oarsmen　or　sails；　but　that　is　the　way　of　faerie。　It　stopped　about　a　meter　from　shore　and　rested　there。　〃Greetings；　Finvarra；〃　I　said。　〃You　do　me　a　great　honor。〃
　
　He　laughed。　It　was　harsh　and　grating；　and　yet　it　sounded　like　music　to　me。
　
　〃Aina；〃　he　said。　〃Sweet　mother。　How　may　I　help？〃
　〃I　would　find　the　Seelie　Court；　Finvarra；〃　I　replied。　〃Though　to　hear　some　tell　it；　I　am　no　longer　considered　a　power　in　Tir　na　nog。〃
　〃e　down　from　there；　Caimbeui；〃　Finvarra　said。　〃You　make　me　nervous　lurking　about。〃
　I　heard　Caimbeui　curse　as　he　slipped　and　slid　his　way　toward　us。
　〃You　haven't　answered　my　question；〃　I　said。　〃Where　is　the　Seelie　Court？〃
　
　Finvarra　leaned　back　on　his　throne　and　studied　me。　I　returned　the　favor。　His　gray　eyes　were　as　piercing　as　ever　and　the　sharp　planes　of　his　face　were　more　cruel　than　kind。　A　thin　gold　circlet　rested　on　his　brow。　Long　thin　hands　rested　on　bony　knees。　His　clothing；　made　of　leaves　and　bark　and　animal　pelts；　reminded　me　of　what　we'd　worn　in　Blood　Wood　all　those　centuries　ago。
　
　Then　I　noticed　that　lying　at　his　feet　was　a　young　woman。　She　was　dressed　in　a　tight　purple　dress　with　thigh…high　black　patent　leather　boots。　Part　of　her　head　was　shaved　so　the　datajack　she'd　had　implanted　could　be　easily　accessed。　She　seemed　to　be　asleep。
　
　〃Up　to　your　old　tricks　again；〃　I　said
　〃This　nothing；〃　he　said。　〃A　harmless　amusement。〃　
　〃What　would　Oonagh　say？〃　I　knew　I　had　to　play　J　along。
　〃What　she　doesn't　know。。。　Besides；　this　is　all　rather　off　the　point。　You　wish　to　know　where　the　Seelie　Court　is　currently　residing。〃
　〃Yes。〃　
　〃Perhaps　they　don't　wish　to　be　found。〃
　〃No。　I　suspect　they　don't。　And　I　suspect　I　know　why　they　don't　want　to　hear　from　me。〃　Finvarra　smiled　at　me。　His　teeth　were　yellow　and；　very　long。　
　　〃Now　we're　getting　somewhere；〃　he　said。　〃Perhaps　I　can　help　you。　If　you　are　willing　to　do　something　for　me。〃
　　〃And　what　might　that　be？〃　I　asked。　
　　〃A　test；〃　he　replied。　〃A　simple　challenge　of　your　will。　My　subjects　will　be　more　than　happy　to　administer　it。　If　you　succeed；　we　take　you　to　the　Court。　If　　you　fail；