cspector.worldwithoutend-第9部分

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ucceed；　we　take　you　to　the　Court。　If　　you　fail；　well；　that　will　be　your　lookout；　won't　it？〃
　〃And　who　decides　whether　I　win　or　lose？〃　
　〃Why　that；　dear　mother；　you　will　have　to　figure　out　for　yourself。〃　
　
　With　that；　the　boat　sped　away　from　me。　It　left　　barely　a　ripple　in　the　water　and　the　mist　closed　m　around　it；　hiding　it　from　my　sight。　I　stepped　forward；　J　the　edge　of　the　lake　touching　my　toes。　What　now？　I　　wondered。　
　　〃Well；　that　was　helpful；〃　said　Caimbeul。
　　I　spun　about；　ready　to　give　him　a　cutting　remark　　when　behind　me　something　burst　forth　from　the　water　and　grabbed　me。
　
　In　a　flash　I　was　being　pulled　down　into　the　blackness。　The　water　was　freezing　and　I　hadn't　caught　a　breath。　I　fought　against　the　urge　to　inhale。　My　eyes　were　open；　but　I　couldn't　see　much。　I　looked　down　and　saw　that　I　was　being　held　by　a　each…uisge。　My　legs　were　helplessly　stuck　to　its　chest　and　forelegs。　Its　clawed　hands　were　clasped　about　my　thighs。　The　head　was　that　of　a　horse　with　razor…sharp　teeth。
　
　It　would　pull　me　down　into　the　water　until　I　drowned　and　then　feast　upon　my　flesh；　except　for　my　liver；　which　it　would　no　doubt　spit　up　at　Caimbeul's　feet。　It　was　a　prospect　I　didn't　relish。
　
　I　let　myself　go　limp；　playing　dead；　hoping　this　would　slow　its　descent。　It　did。　Then　I　jerked　my　arms　apart　and　uttered　the　words。　Between　my　hands　a　whirling　of　water　started。　It　began　to　glow　and　lit　the　each…uisge　with　blue　light。　The　water　spun　faster　and　faster　until　it　narrowed　into　a　fine；　laser…like　point。　I　pointed　it　downward　at　the　each…uisge's　head。　There　was　the　muffled　sound　of　a　shriek；　and　then　the　creature's　head　disappeared。　Its　claws　went　slack　on　my　thighs；　but　I　was　still　stuck　to　its　chest。
　
　My　lungs　were　burning　and　spots　floated　before　my　eyes。　The　dead　weight　of　the　each…uisge　was　pulling　me　down。　I　had　a　panicky　moment　as　I　started　to　inhale　some　water。　With　every　ounce　of　power　left　in　my　arms；　I　swam　up　to　the　surface。　Just　as　I　thought　I　would　never　reach　it；　I　broke　through。　The　air　hurt　as　I　gasped。　I　floundered　for　a　moment　before　Caimbeui　grabbed　me　by　my　collar　and　pulled　me　from　the　water。
　
　He　laid　me；　none　too　gently；　on　the　stony　bank。　I　coughed　up　water　and　hacked　out　some　bile。　My　legs　felt　heavy；　and　I　realized　the　each…uisge　was　still　stuck　to　them。
　
　〃Cut　it　off；〃　I　said。
　〃That　won't　work。　You'll　have　pieces　of　it　stuck　to　your　pants　forever。〃
　〃Well；　it's　better　than　dragging　the　whole　thing　along　with　me；〃　I　said；　coughing　up　more　water。
　〃Take　off　your　pants；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh；　fragging　hell；〃　I　said。　I　unbuttoned　my　jeans　and　skinned　them　off。　It　took　a　while　between　the　wet　and　the　each…uisge。
　〃And　so　that　was　the　test？〃　he　asked。
　〃N…n…no；〃　I　stammered。　My　teeth　were　chattering　and　gooseflesh　had　broken　out　over　my　body。　〃T…t…that　was　a　warning。　They're　serious　about　the　test。〃
　〃Well；〃　he　said；　looking　chagrined　that　he　hadn't　helped；　〃we'd　better　get　you　out　of　those　wet　things。〃
　
　He　wrapped　his　arms　around　me。　I　let　myself　lean　against　him　and　take　in　his　warmth　and　scent。　It　was　good　to　be　there；　if　only　for　a　moment。
　She　can't　move。　Legs　and　arms　like　lead。　But　she　hears。。。　things。
　
　Things　rustling　beyond　her　line　of　sight。　Things　with　evil　intentions。
　
　〃What　next？〃　Caimbeui　asked。
　
　I　was　sitting　in　the　back　seat　of　the　car　pulling　dry　clothes　on。　My　coat　and　boots　were　ruined；　so　I　wadded　them　up　in　a　towel　I'd　taken　from　the　hotel。　Under　normal　circumstances　I　wouldn't　have　indulged　in　that　sort　of　petty　larceny；　but　these　weren't　normal　times。
　
　Caimbeui　was　driving。　We　were　heading　southwest　away　from　The　Bun…en。　I　pulled　a　heavy　gray　sweater　over　my　head；　then　slid　on　black　jeans。　Sneakers　were　next；　after　which　I　climbed　over　the　front　seat　to　the　passenger　side。
　
　〃Better？〃　he　asked。
　〃Drier；　at　least；〃　I　replied。　〃But　that　brackish　smell　is　going　to　stay　with　me　for　a　while。〃
　〃Not　just　you。〃
　〃My　apologies；〃　I　said。　〃Next　time　a　each…uisge　decides　to　have　me　for　a　snack　I'll　be　sure　to　tell　it　not　to　get　you　wet　at　the　same　time。〃　
　〃I'd　appreciate　that；〃　he　replied。
　〃De　nada；　babycakes。〃
　〃You　know　I　hate　it　when　you　call　me　babycakes。〃
　〃Like　I　said；　'Life　is。。。'　〃　〃I　know。　I　know。〃
　
　We　stopped　in　a　small　town　south　of　The　Burren　for　food。　It　was　fast　approaching　dusk　and　I　wanted　to　be　out　in　the　countryside　as　soon　as　possible。　The　air　was　tanged　with　sea　salt　and　humidity。　Though　it　wasn't　that　cold；　the　damp　seemed　to　seep　into　my　bones；　making　them　ache。
　
　Leaving　the　car　at　the　restaurant　where　we'd　eaten；　we　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　town。　The　road　out　of　town　was　little　more　than　dirt　and　cobblestones。　It　had　played　hell　on　the　suspension　of　the　rental。　I　imagined　Caimbeui　was　making　a　running　ledger　in　his　head　of　all　the　expenses　of　the　trip。　When　this　penurious　streak　had　e　on　him　I　didn't　know。
　
　〃Look；〃　he　said；　grabbing　my　arm　and　pointing。　Off　to　one　side　of　the　road　was　a　grove　of　trees。　It　was　shaded　purple　and　gray　in　the　twilight。　A　fog　had　rolled　in　from　the　sea　and　made　everything　look　fuzzy　and　insubstantial。　Surrounding　the　grove　were　a　series　of　tiny　flickering　lights　that　bobbed　and　floated　three　meters　above　the　ground。
　
　Then　I　heard　the　faint；　delicate　tones　of　music。　A　flute　and　recorder；　I　thought。　Perhaps　a　viola　thrown　in　there。
　
　〃Ignis　fatuus；〃　I　said。　〃Will…o'…the…wisps。〃　
　The　flower　necklace　I'd　made　while　we　were　walking　The　Burren　was　waterlogged；　but　still　serviceable。　I'd　rescued　it　from　my　coat　after　we'd　reached　the　car。　Now　I　put　it　around　my　neck。
　
　〃I　can't　believe　you're　using　that；〃　Caimbeui　said。
　〃Whatever　works。〃
　〃Primrose　necklaces　to　reveal　faeries？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃And　you'd　better　put　yours　on。　I　don't　want　to　lose　you。〃
　
　He　snorted。
　
　〃I　know　it　hasn't　occurred　to　you　before。　Harte…quin；〃　I　said。　〃But　you　don't　know　everything。　Some　magic　isn't　plex…some　is　made　up　of　simple　things。　And　sometimes；　that's　the　most　potent　magic。　Because　it's　so　obvious　that　everyone　overlooks　it。〃
　〃But　I　thought　this　was　to　allow　humans　to　see　faerie；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh；　e　now；〃　I　replied。　〃How　many　humans　were　ever　able　to　see　faerie　without　their　permission；　help　or　no？　No；　this　magic　is　from　before　human　memory。〃
　
　He　pulled　the　necklace　from　his　pocket。　It　was　wilted　and　droopy。　With　a　sigh；　he　slipped　it　over　his　neck。　It　hung　there　limp　and　pathetic；　faded　green　and　pink　against　his　black　leather　jacket。
　
　Sucker。
　
　I　hid　my　smile　and　went　back　to　following　the　lights。　Every　time　I　thought　we　were　about　to　catch　up；　they　moved　away。　This　went　on　undl　my　pa…tierce　began　to　wear　thin。　Then；　all　at　once；　we　were　at　the　top　of　a　hill。
　
　A　group　of　oak　trees　stood　to　one　side；　their　leaves　mostly　gone。　A　circle　of　toadstools　ringed　around　the　trees。　Inside　the　ring；　the　lights　flickered　and　bobbed　about。　They　melted　and　changed　shape；　and　eventually　I　saw　what　I　had　e　for。
　
　Dancing　around　the　ring　were　an　assortment　of　the　strange　and　fearful　creatures　of　faerie。　Please；　no　laughing。　I　know　that　in　recent　times　the　idea　of　faerie　has　e　to　mean　something　other；　and　much　more　pleasant；　than　what　it　really　was。　But　since　the　Awakening；　I　suspect　that　Disney　notion　has　flown　out　the　door。
　
　For　the　most　part　they　were　dressed　in　rags　or　pieces　of　plants。　Their　thin；　sinewy　bodies　were　pulled　and　bent　into　grotesque　shapes。　With　their　mouths　opened　to　smile；　they　revealed　rows　of　sharp；　pointed　teeth。　Some　sported　wings　while　others　had　antennae　flowing　back　from　their　brows。　They　all　had　the　pointed　ears　that　we　elves　share。　Giving　rise；　no　doubt；　to　the　rumors　that　they　are　our　descendants。
　
　Spriggans　danced　with　leprechauns　while　fir　darrigs　tripped　the　unwary。　Goblins　and　pixies　tried　to　swing　each　other　out　of　the　circle。　They　whirled　and　danced　and　laughed。　The　shadows　they　cast　flickered　and　strobed。　It　was　Dante's　vision　of　Hell。
　
　One　of　the　dancers　broke　from　the　group　and　ran　over　to　us。　It　grabbed　my　hand　and　pulled　me　forward。
　
　〃Wele；　mother；〃　it　said。　〃We've　been　waiting　for　you。〃
　〃What　of　my　friend？〃　I　asked
　〃He　is　of　no　account　right　now。〃
　
　We　were　in　the　center　of　the　ring。　The　sharp；　wizened　faces　of　the　faeries　jerked　in　and　out　of　shadow。　I　had　thought　they　were　much　smaller　than　me　at　first；　but　now　I　saw　we　were　the　same　height。　Or　perhaps　I　was　shrinking。　Like　Alice。
　
　My　feet　moved　along　with　the　music　now。　I　looked　down　and　saw　my　jeans　and　sweater　were　gone；　replaced　by　a　long　flowing　gown　made　of　silver　silk。　We　spun　around　and　around　and　suddenty。。。
　
　I　am　on　the　deck　of　a　large　ship。　It　floats　in　the　sky。　Magic　propels　it。　Magic　that　brings　both　good　and　evil　to　this　world。
　
　I'm　dancing　here。
　
　Dancing　with　trolls。　We　sail　through　the　dark　night　sky；　laughing　and　dancing　like　children。　One　of　the　trolls　is　old　and　wizened。　He　wears　a　long　robe　embroidered　with　patterns。　His　flesh　is　wrinkled　and　thick　like　an　elephant's。　But　he　is　kind。　And　he　is　my　friend。
　
　The　faces　of　these　trolls　flash　before　me；　the　memory　of　them　clear　and　bright　as　day。　I'd　thought　I'd　forgotten　them。　But　no；　that　was　just　a　story　I　told　myself。
　
　Now　I'm　standing'on　the　deck　of　the　ship。　It　is　the　afternoon。　The　ship　is　in　the　middle　of　a　battle。　The　trolls　are　fighting；　but　where　is　my　friend？　I　go　to　look　for　him。
　
　I　find　him　below…deck　lying　in　a　pool　of　blood。　He's　broken　his　leg。　I　have　some　knowledge　of　healing　and　I　try　to　help　him。　But　I've　brought　more　than　my　healing　magic　along　on　this　trip。　I've　brought　him：　Ysrthgrathe。
　
　I　know　what　happens　next。　I've　played　it　out　in　my　head　so　many　times　that　I　think　I've　grown　numb　from　it。
　
　But　I'm　wrong。
　
　There　are　some　things　you　never　get　used　to。
　
　The　faeries　danced　around　me；　laughing。　Cruel　tricks　are　their　stock　and　trade。
　
　〃Did　you　like　the　dance；　mother？〃　one　of　the　spriggans　asked。
　
　I　couldn't　answer　because　there　was　no　breath　in　my　chest。　Tears　stung　my　eyes。　But　I　kept　dancing。
　
　I　couldn't　stop。
　
　There's　a　car。　She's　driving　it　through　rain…slicked　streets。　The　headlights　make　yellow　beams　against　the　oily　pav