uleg.thetombsofatuan-第17部分

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　　The　golden　fleck　veered　westward　towards　the　mountains；　out　of　sight。　Sunrise　gilded　the　eaves　of　the　Small　House。　Sheep　bells　clanked；　down　in　the　folds。　The　smells　of　woodsmoke　and　buckwheat　porridge　from　the　kitchen　chimneys　drifted　on　the　fine；　fresh　wind。
　　〃I　am　so　hungry。。。　How　did　he　know？　How　did　he　know　my　name？。。。　Oh；　I've　got　to　go　eat；　I'm　so　hungry。。。〃
　　She　pulled　up　her　hood　and　ran　off　to　breakfast。
　
　　Food；　after　three　days　of　semi…fasting；　made　her　feel　solid；　gave　her　ballast；　she　didn't　feel　so　wild　and　lighthearted　and　frightened。　She　felt　quite　capable　of　handling　Kossil；　after　breakfast。
　　She　came　up　beside　the　tall；　stout　figure　on　the　way　out　of　the　dining　hall　of　the　Big　House；　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　have　done　away　with　the　robber。。。　What　a　fine　day　it　is！〃
　　The　cold　gray　eyes　looked　sidelong　at　her　from　the　black　hood。
　　〃I　thought　that　the　Priestess　must　abstain　from　eating　for　three　days　after　a　human　sacrifice？〃
　　This　was　true。　Arha　had　forgotten　it；　and　her　face　showed　that　she　had　forgotten。
　　〃He　is　not　dead　yet；〃　she　said　at　last；　trying　to　feign　the　indifferent　tone　that　had　e　so　easily　a　moment　ago。　〃He　is　buried　alive。　Under　the　Tombs。　In　a　coffin。　There　will　be　some　air；　the　coffin　isn't　sealed；　it's　a　wooden　one。　It　will　go　quite　slowly；　the　dying。　When　I　know　he　is　dead　then　I'll　begin　the　fast。〃
　　〃How　will　you　know？〃
　　Flustered；　she　hesitated　again。　〃I　will　know。　The。。。　My　Masters　will　tell　me。〃
　　〃I　see。　Where　is　the　grave？〃
　　〃In　the　Undertomb。　I　told　Manan　to　dig　it　beneath　the　Smooth　Stone。〃　She　must　not　answer　so　quickly；　in　that　foolish；　appeasing　tone；　she　must　be　on　her　dignity　with　Kossil。
　　〃Alive；　in　a　wooden　coffin。　That's　a　risky　thing　with　a　sorcerer；　mistress。　Did　you　make　sure　his　mouth　was　stopped　so　he　cannot　say　charms？　Are　his　hands　bound？　They　can　weave　spells　with　the　motion　of　a　finger；　even　when　their　tongues　are　cut　out。〃
　　〃There　is　nothing　to　his　sorcery；　it　is　mere　tricking；〃　the　girl　said；　raising　her　voice。　〃He　is　buried；　and　my　Masters　are　waiting　for　his　soul。　And　the　rest　does　not　concern　you；　priestess！〃
　　This　time　she　had　gone　too　far。　Others　could　hear；　Penthe　and　a　couple　of　other　girls；　Duby；　and　the　priestess　Mebbeth；　all　were　in　hearing　distance。　The　girls　were　all　ears；　and　Kossil　was　aware　of　it。
　　〃All　that　happens　here　is　my　concern；　mistress。　All　that　happens　in　his　realm　is　the　concern　of　the　Godking；　the　Man　Immortal；　whose　servant　I　am。　Even　into　the　places　underground　and　into　the　hearts　of　men　does　he　search　and　look；　and　none　shall　forbid　him　entrance！〃
　　〃I　shall。　Into　the　Tombs　no　one　es　if　the　Nameless　Ones　forbid　it。　They　were　before　your　Godking　and　they　will　be　after　him。　Speak　softly　of　them；　priestess。　Do　not　call　their　vengeance　on　you。　They　will　e　into　your　dreams；　they　will　enter　the　dark　places　in　your　mind；　and　you　will　go　mad。〃
　　The　girl's　eyes　were　blazing。　Kossil's　face　was　hidden；　drawn　back　into　the　black　cowl。　Penthe　and　the　others　watched；　terrified　and　enthralled。
　　〃They　are　old；〃　Kossil's　voice　said；　not　loud；　a　whistling　thread　of　sound　out　of　the　depths　of　the　cowl。　〃They　are　old。　Their　worship　is　forgotten；　save　in　this　one　place。　Their　power　is　gone。　They　are　only　shadows。　They　have　no　power　any　more。　Do　not　try　to　frighten　me；　Eaten　One。　You　are　the　First　Priestess；　does　that　not　mean　also　that　you　are　the　last？。。。　You　cannot　trick　me。　I　see　into　your　heart。　The　darkness　hides　nothing　from　me。　Take　care；　Arha！〃
　　She　turned　and　went　on；　with　her　massive；　deliberate　steps；　crushing　the　frost…starred　weeds　under　her　heavy；　sandaled　feet；　going　to　the　white…pillared　house　of　the　Godking。
　　The　girl　stood；　slight　and　dark；　as　if　frozen　to　earth；　in　the　front　courtyard　of　the　Big　House。　Nobody　moved；　nothing　moved；　only　Kossil；　in　all　the　vast　landscape　of　court　and　temple；　hill　and　desert　plain　and　mountain。
　　〃May　the　Dark　Ones　eat　your　soul；　Kossil！〃　she　shouted　in　a　voice　like　a　hawk's　scream；　and　lifting　her　arm　with　the　hand　stretched　out　stiff；　she　brought　the　curse　down　on　the　priestess'　heavy　back；　even　as　she　set　foot　on　the　steps　of　her　temple。　Kossil　staggered；　but　did　not　stop　or　turn。　She　went　on；　and　entered　the　Godking's　door。
　
　　Arha　spent　that　day　sitting　on　the　lowest　step　of　the　Empty　Throne。　She　dared　not　go　into　the　Labyrinth；　she　would　not　go　among　the　other　priestesses。　A　heaviness　filled　her；　and　held　her　there　hour　after　hour　in　the　cold　dusk　of　the　great　hall。　She　stared　at　the　pairs　of　thick　pale　columns　going　off　into　the　gloom　at　the　distant　end　of　the　hall；　and　at　the　shafts　of　daylight　that　slanted　in　from　holes　in　the　roof；　and　at　the　thick…curling　smoke　from　the　bronze　tripod　of　charcoal　near　the　Throne。　She　made　patterns　with　the　little　bones　of　mice　on　the　marble　stair；　her　head　bowed；　her　mind　active　and　yet　as　if　stupefied。　Who　am　I？　she　asked　herself；　and　got　no　answer。
　　Manan　came　shuffling　down　the　hall　between　the　double　rows　of　columns；　when　the　light　had　long　since　ceased　to　shaft　the　hall's　darkness；　and　the　cold　had　grown　intense。　Manan's　doughy　face　was　very　sad。　He　stood　at　a　distance　from　her；　his　big　hands　hanging；　a　torn　hem　of　his　rusty　cloak　dangled　by　his　heel。
　　〃Little　mistress。〃
　　〃What　is　it；　Manan？〃　She　looked　at　him　with　dull　affection。
　　〃Little　one；　let　me　do　what　you　said。。。　what　you　said　was　done。　He　must　die；　little　one。　He　has　bewitched　you。　She　will　have　revenge。　She　is　old　and　cruel；　and　you　are　too　young。　You　have　not　strength　enough。〃
　　〃She　can't　hurt　me。〃
　　〃If　she　killed　you；　even　in　the　sight　of　all；　in　the　open；　there　is　none　in　all　the　Empire　who　would　dare　punish　her。　She　is　the　High　Priestess　of　the　Godking；　and　the　Godking　rules。　But　she　won't　kill　you　in　the　open。　She　will　do　it　by　stealth；　by　poison；　in　the　night。〃
　　〃Then　I　will　be　born　again。〃
　　Manan　twisted　his　big　hands　together。　〃Perhaps　she　will　not　kill　you；〃　he　whispered。
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃She　could　lock　you　into　a　room　in　the。。。　down　there。。。　As　you　have　done　with　him。　And　you　would　be　alive　for　years　and　years；　maybe。　For　years。。。　And　no　new　Priestess　would　be　born；　for　you　wouldn't　be　dead。　Yet　there　would　be　no　Priestess　of　the　Tombs；　and　the　dances　of　the　dark　of　the　moon　would　not　be　danced；　and　the　sacrifices　would　not　be　made；　and　the　blood　not　poured　out；　and　the　worship　of　the　Dark　Ones　could　be　forgotten；　forever。　She　and　her　Lord　would　like　it　to　be　so。〃
　　〃_They_　would　set　me　free；　Manan。〃
　　〃Not　while　they　are　wrathful　at　you；　little　mistress；〃　Manan　whispered。
　　〃Wrathful？〃
　　〃Because　of　him。。。　The　sacrilege　not　paid　for。　Oh　little　one；　little　one！　They　do　not　forgive！〃
　　She　sat　in　the　dust　of　the　lowest　step；　her　head　bowed。　She　looked　at　a　tiny　thing　that　she　held　on　her　palm；　the　minute　skull　of　a　mouse。　The　owls　in　the　rafters　over　the　Throne　stirred　a　little；　it　was　darkening　towards　night。
　　〃Do　not　go　down　into　the　Labyrinth　tonight；〃　Manan　said　very　low。　〃Go　to　your　house；　and　sleep。　In　the　morning　go　to　Kossil；　and　tell　her　that　you　lift　the　curse　from　her。　And　that　will　be　all。　You　need　not　worry。　I　will　show　her　proof。〃
　　〃Proof？〃
　　〃That　the　sorcerer　is　dead。〃
　　She　sat　still。　Slowly　she　closed　her　hand；　and　the　fragile　skull　cracked　and　collapsed。　When　she　opened　her　hand　it　held　nothing　but　splinters　of　bone　and　dust。
　　〃No；〃　she　said。　She　brushed　the　dust　from　her　palm。
　　〃He　must　die。　He　has　put　a　spell　on　you。　You　are　lost；　Arha！〃
　　〃He　has　not　put　any　spell　on　me。　You're　old　and　cowardly；　Manan；　you're　frightened　by　old　women。　How　do　you　think　you'd　e　to　him　and　kill　him　and　get　your　‘proof'？　Do　you　know　the　way　clear　to　the　Great　Treasure；　that　you　followed　in　the　dark　last　night？　Can　you　count　the　turnings　and　e　to　the　steps；　and　then　the　pit；　and　then　the　door？　Can　you　unlock　that　door？。。。　Oh；　poor　old　Manan；　your　wits　are　all　thick。　She　has　frightened　you。　You　go　down　to　the　Small　House　now；　and　sleep；　and　forget　all　these　things。　Don't　worry　me　forever　with　talk　of　death。。。　I'll　e　later。　Go　on；　go　on；　old　fool；　old　lump。〃　She　had　risen；　and　gently　pushed　Manan's　broad　chest；　patting　him　and　pushing　him　to　go。　〃Good　night；　good　night！〃
　　He　turned；　heavy　with　reluctance　and　foreboding；　but　obedient；　and　trudged　down　the　long　hall　under　the　columns　and　the　ruined　roof。　She　watched　him　go。
　　When　he　had　been　gone　some　while　she　turned　and　went　around　the　dais　of　the　Throne；　and　vanished　into　the　dark　behind　it。
　
　The　Ring　of　Erreth…Akbe
　　
　　In　the　Great　Treasury　of　the　Tombs　of　Atuan；　time　did　not　pass。　No　light；　no　life；　no　least　stir　of　spider　in　the　dust　or　worm　in　the　cold　earth。　Rock；　and　dark；　and　time　not　passing。
　　On　the　stone　lid　of　a　great　chest　the　thief　from　the　Inner　Lands　lay　stretched　on　his　back　like　the　carven　figure　on　a　tomb。　The　dust　disturbed　by　his　movements　had　settled　on　his　clothes。　He　did　not　move。
　　The　lock　of　the　door　rattled。　The　door　opened。　Light　broke　the　dead　black　and　a　fresher　draft　stirred　the　dead　air。　The　man　lay　inert。
　　Arha　closed　the　door　and　locked　it　from　within；　set　her　lantern　on　a　chest；　and　slowly　approached　the　motionless　figure。　She　moved　timorously；　and　her　eyes　were　wide；　the　pupils　still　fully　dilated　from　her　long　journey　through　the　dark。
　　〃Sparrowhawk！〃
　　She　touched　his　shoulder；　and　spoke　his　name　again；　and　yet　again。
　　He　stirred　then；　and　moaned。　At　last　he　sat　up；　face　drawn　and　eyes　blank。　He　looked　at　her　unrecognizing。
　　〃It's　I；　Arha…　Tenar。　I　brought　you　water。　Here；　drink。〃
　　He　fumbled　for　the　flask　as　if　his　hands　were　numb；　and　drank；　but　not　deeply。
　　〃How　long　has　it　been？〃　he　asked；　speaking　with　difficulty。
　　〃Two　days　have　passed　since　you　came　to　this　room。　This　is　the　third　night。　I　couldn't　e　earlier。　I　had　to　steal　the　food　…here　it　is…〃　She　got　out　one　of　the　flat　gray　loaves　from　the　bag　she　had　brought；　but　he　shook　his　head。
　　〃I'm　not　hungry。　This。。。　this　is　a　deathly　place。〃　He　put　his　head　in　his　hands　and　sat　unmoving。
　　〃Are　you　cold？　I　brought　the　cloak　from　the　Painted　Room。〃
　　He　did　not　answer。
　　She　put　the　cloak　down　and　stood　gazing　at　him。　She　was　trembling　a　little；　and　her　eyes　were　still　blac