uleg.thetombsofatuan-第15部分
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〃True enough；〃 said her prisoner。
She wanted no more talk of Erreth…Akbe； sensing a danger in the subject。 〃He was a dragonlord； they say。 And you say you're one。 Tell me； what is a dragonlord？〃
Her tone was always jeering； his answers direct and plain； as if he took her questions in good faith。
〃One whom the dragons will speak with；〃 he said； 〃that is a dragonlord； or at least that is the center of the matter。 It's not a trick of mastering the dragons； as most people think。 Dragons have no masters。 The question is always the same； with a dragon： will he talk with you or will he eat you？ If you can count upon his doing the former； and not doing the latter； why then you're a dragonlord。〃
〃Dragons can speak？〃
〃Surely！ In the Eldest Tongue； the language we men learn so hard and use so brokenly； to make our spells of magic and of patterning。 No man knows all that language； or a tenth of it。 He has not time to learn it。 But dragons live a thousand years。。。 They are worth talking to； as you might guess。〃
〃Are there dragons here in Atuan？〃
〃Not for many centuries； I think； nor in Karego…At。 But in your northernmost island； Hur…at…Hur； they say there are still large dragons in the mountains。 In the Inner Lands they all keep now to the farthest west； the remote West Reach； islands where no men live and few men e。 If they grow hungry； they raid the lands to their east； but that is seldom。 I have seen the island where they e to dance together。 They fly on their great wings in spirals； in and out； higher and higher over the western sea； like a storming of yellow leaves in autumn。〃 Full of the vision； his eyes gazed through the black paintings on the walls； through the walls and the earth and the darkness； seeing the open sea stretch unbroken to the sunset； the golden dragons on the golden wind。
〃You are lying；〃 the girl said fiercely； 〃you are making it up。〃
He looked at her； startled。 〃Why should I lie； Arha？〃
〃To make me feel like a fool； and stupid； and afraid。 To make yourself seem wise； and brave； and powerful； and a dragon…lord and all this and all that。 You've seen dragons dancing； and the towers in Havnor； and you know all about everything。 And I know nothing at all and haven't been anywhere。 But all you know is lies！ You are nothing but a thief and a prisoner； and you have no soul； and you'll never leave this place again。 It doesn't matter if there's oceans and dragons and white towers and all that； because you'll never see them again； you'll never even see the light of the sun。 All I know is the dark； the night underground。 And that's all there really is。 That's all there is to know； in the end。 The silence； and the dark。 You know everything； wizard。 But I know one thing … the one true thing！〃
He bowed his head。 His long hands； copper…brown； were quiet on his knees。 She saw the fourfold scar on his cheek。 He had gone farther than she into the dark； he knew death better than she did； even death。。。 A rush of hatred for him rose up in her； choking her throat for an instant。 Why did he sit there so defenseless and so strong？ Why could she not defeat him？
〃This is why I have let you live；〃 she said suddenly； without the least forethought。 〃I want you to show me how the tricks of sorcerers are performed。 So long as you have some art to show me； you'll stay alive。 If you have none； if it's all foolery and lies； why then I'll have done with you。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Very well。 Go on。〃
He put his head in his hands a minute； and shifted his position。 The iron belt kept him from ever getting quite fortable； unless he lay down flat。
He raised his face at last and spoke very seriously。 〃Listen； Arha。 I am a Mage； what you call a sorcerer。 I have certain arts and powers。 That's true。 It's also true that here in the Place of the Old Powers； my strength is very little and my crafts don't avail me。 Now I could work illusion for you； and show you all kinds of wonders。 That's the least part of wizardry。 I could work illusions when I was a child； I can do them even here。 But if you believe them； they'll frighten you； and you may wish to kill me if fear makes you angry。 And if you disbelieve them； you'll see them as only lies and foolery； as you say； and so I forfeit my life again。 And my purpose and desire； at the moment； is to stay alive。〃
That made her laugh； and she said； 〃Oh； you'll stay alive awhile； can't you see that？ You are stupid！ All right； show me these illusions。 I know them to be false and won't be afraid of them。 I wouldn't be afraid if they were real； as a matter of fact。 But go ahead。 Your precious skin is safe； for tonight； anyhow。〃
At that he laughed； as she had a moment ago。 They tossed his life back and forth between them like a ball； playing。
〃What do you wish me to show you？〃
〃What can you show me？〃
〃Anything。〃
〃How you brag and brag！〃
〃No；〃 he said； evidently a little stung。 〃I do not。 I didn't mean to； anyway。〃
〃Show me something you think worth seeing。 Anything！〃
He bent his head and looked at his hands awhile。 Nothing happened。 The tallow candle in her lantern burned dim and steady。 The black pictures on the walls； the bird…winged； flightless figures with eyes painted dull red and white； loomed over him and over her。 There was no sound。 She sighed； disappointed and somehow grieved。 He was weak； he talked great things； but did nothing。 He was nothing but a good liar； and not even a good thief。 〃Well；〃 she said at last； and gathered her skirts together to rise。 The wool rustled strangely as she moved。 She looked down at herself； and stood up in startlement。
The heavy black she had worn for years was gone； her dress was of turquoise…colored silk； bright and soft as the evening sky。 It belled out full from her hips； and all the skirt was embroidered with thin silver threads and seed pearls and tiny crumbs of crystal； so that it glittered softly； like rain in April。
She looked at the magician； speechless。
〃Do you like it？〃
〃Where…〃
〃It's like a gown I saw a princess wear once； at the Feast of Sunreturn in the New Palace in Havnor；〃 he said； looking at it with satisfaction。 〃You told me to show you something worth seeing。 I show you yourself。〃
〃Make it… make it go away。〃
〃You gave me your cloak；〃 he said as if in reproach。 〃Can I give you nothing？ Well； don't worry。 It's only illusion； see。〃
He seemed not to raise a finger； certainly he said no word； but the blue splendor of silk was gone； and she stood in her own harsh black。
She stood still awhile。
〃How do I know；〃 she said at last； 〃that you are what you seem to be？〃
〃You don't；〃 said he。 〃I don't know what I seem； to you。〃
She brooded again。 〃You could trick me into seeing you as…〃 She broke off； for he had raised his hand and pointed upward； the briefest sketch of a gesture。 She thought he was casting a spell； and drew back quickly towards the door； but following his gesture； her eyes found high in the dark arching roof the small square that was the spy hole from the treasury of the Twin Gods' temple。
There was no light from the spy hole； she could see nothing； hear no one overhead there； but he had pointed； and his questioning gaze was on her。
Both held perfectly still for some time。
〃Your magic is mere folly for the eyes of children；〃 she said clearly。 〃It is trickery and lies。 I have seen enough。 You will be fed to the Nameless Ones。 I shall not e again。〃
She took her lantern and went out； and sent the iron bolts home firm and loud。 Then she stopped there outside the door and stood dismayed。 What must she do？
How much had Kossil seen or heard？ What had they been saying？ She could not remember。 She never seemed to say what she had intended to say to the prisoner。 He always confused her with his talk about dragons； and towers； and giving names to the Nameless； and wanting to stay alive； and being grateful for her cloak to lie on。 He never said what he was supposed to say。 She had not even asked him about the talisman； which she still wore； hidden against her breast。
That was just as well； since Kossil had been listening。
Well； what did it matter； what harm could Kossil do？ Even as she asked herself the question she knew the answer。 Nothing is easier to kill than a caged hawk。 The man was helpless； chained there in the cage of stone。 The Priestess of the Godking had only to send her servant Duby to throttle him tonight； or if she and Duby did not know the Labyrinth this far； all she need do was blow poison…dust down the spy hole into the Painted Room。 She had boxes and phials of evil substances； some to poison food or water； some that drugged the air； and killed； if one breathed that air too long。 And he would be dead in the morning； and it would all be over。 There would never be a light beneath the Tombs again。
Arha hastened through the narrow ways of stone to the entrance from the Undertomb； where Manan waited for her； squatting patient as an old toad in the dark。 He was uneasy about her visits to the prisoner。 She would not let him e with her all the way； so they had settled on this promise。 Now she was glad that he was there at hand。 Him； at least； she could trust。
〃Manan； listen。 You are to go to the Painted Room； right now。 Say to the man that you're taking him to be buried alive beneath the Tombs。〃 Manan's little eyes lit up。 〃Say that aloud。 Unlock the chain； and take him to…〃 She halted； for she had not yet decided where she could best hide the prisoner。
〃To the Undertomb；〃 said Manan； eagerly。
〃No； fool。 I said to say that； not do it。 Wait…〃
What place was safe from Kossil and Kossil's spies？ None but the deepest places underground； the holiest and most hidden places of the domain of the Nameless； where she dared not e。 Yet would Kossil not dare almost anything？ Afraid of the dark places she might be； but she was one who would subdue her fear to gain her ends。 There was no telling how much of the plan of the Labyrinth she might actually have learned； from Thar； or from the Arha of the previous life； or even from secret explorations of her own in past yeas； Arha suspected her of knowing more than she pretended to know。 But there was one way she surely could not have learned； th
