uleg.thetombsofatuan-第6部分

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　　〃Is　this　the　Labyrinth？〃
　　〃No。　This　is　the　lesser　maze；　which　is　beneath　the　Throne。〃
　　〃Where　is　the　entrance　to　the　Labyrinth？〃
　　Arha　liked　this　game　in　the　dark；　she　wanted　a　greater　puzzle　to　be　set　her。
　　〃The　second　opening　we　passed　in　the　Undertomb。　Feel　for　a　door　to　the　right　now；　a　wooden　door；　perhaps　we've　passed　it　already…〃
　　Arha　heard　Kossil's　hands　fumbling　uneasily　along　the　wall；　scraping　on　the　rough　rock。　She　kept　her　fingertips　light　against　the　rock；　and　in　a　moment　felt　the　smooth　grain　of　wood　beneath　them。　She　pushed　on　it；　and　the　door　creaked　open　easily。　She　stood　for　a　moment　blind　with　light。
　　They　entered　a　large　low　room；　walled　with　hewn　stone　and　lighted　by　one　fuming　torch　hung　from　a　chain。　The　place　was　foul　with　the　torch…smoke　that　had　no　outlet。　Arha's　eyes　stung　and　watered。
　　〃Where　are　the　prisoners？〃
　　〃There。〃
　　At　last　she　realized　that　the　three　heaps　of　something　on　the　far　side　of　the　room　were　men。
　　〃The　door　isn't　locked。　Is　there　no　guard？〃
　　〃None　is　needed。〃
　　She　went　a　little　farther　into　the　room；　hesitant；　peering　through　the　smoky　haze。　The　prisoners　were　manacled　by　both　ankles　and　one　wrist　to　great　rings　driven　into　the　rock　of　the　wall。　If　one　of　them　wanted　to　lie　down；　his　chained　arm　must　remain　raised；　hanging　from　the　manacle。　Their　hair　and　beards　had　made　a　matted　tangle　which；　together　with　the　shadows；　hid　their　faces。　One　of　them　half　lay；　the　other　two　sat　or　squatted。　They　were　naked。　The　smell　from　them　was　stronger　even　than　the　reek　of　smoke。
　　One　of　them　seemed　to　be　watching　Arha；　she　thought　she　saw　the　glitter　of　eyes；　then　was　not　sure。　The　others　had　not　moved　or　lifted　their　heads。
　　She　turned　away。　〃They　are　not　men　any　more；〃　she　said。
　　〃They　were　never　men。　They　were　demons；　beast…spirits；　who　plotted　against　the　sacred　life　of　the　Godking！〃　Kossil's　eyes　shone　with　the　reddish　torchlight。
　　Arha　looked　again　at　the　prisoners；　awed　and　curious。　〃How　could　a　man　attack　a　god？　How　was　it？　You：　how　could　you　dare　attack　a　living　god？〃
　　The　one　man　stared　at　her　through　the　black　brush　of　his　hair；　but　said　nothing。
　　〃Their　tongues　were　cut　out　before　they　were　sent　from　Awabath；〃　Kossil　said。　〃Do　not　speak　to　them；　mistress。　They　are　defilement。　They　are　yours；　but　not　to　speak　to；　nor　to　look　at；　nor　to　think　upon。　They　are　yours　to　give　to　the　Nameless　Ones。〃
　　〃How　are　they　to　be　sacrificed？〃
　　Arha　no　longer　looked　at　the　prisoners。　She　faced　Kossil　instead；　drawing　strength　from　the　massive　body；　the　cold　voice。　She　felt　dizzy；　and　the　reek　of　smoke　and　filth　made　her　sick；　yet　she　seemed　to　think　and　speak　with　perfect　calm。　Had　she　not　done　this　many　times　before？
　　〃The　Priestess　of　the　Tombs　knows　best　what　manner　of　death　will　please　her　Masters；　and　it　is　hers　to　choose。　There　are　many　ways。〃
　　〃Let　Gobar　the　captain　of　the　guards　hew　off　their　heads。　And　the　blood　will　be　poured　out　before　the　Throne。〃
　　〃As　if　it　were　a　sacrifice　of　goats？〃　Kossil　seemed　to　be　sneering　at　her　lack　of　imagination。　She　stood　dumb。　Kossil　went　on；　〃Besides；　Gobar　is　a　man。　No　man　can　enter　the　Dark　Places　of　the　Tombs；　surely　my　mistress　remembers　that？　If　he　enters；　he　does　not　leave。。。〃
　　〃Who　brought　them　here？　Who　feeds　them？〃
　　〃The　wardens　who　serve　my　temple；　Duby　and　Uahto；　they　are　eunuchs　and　may　enter　here　on　the　services　of　the　Nameless　Ones；　as　I　may。　The　Godking's　soldiers　left　the　prisoners　bound　outside　the　wall；　and　I　and　the　wardens　brought　them　in　through　the　Prisoner's　Door；　the　door　in　the　red　rocks。　So　it　is　always　done。　The　food　and　water　is　lowered　from　a　trapdoor　in　one　of　the　rooms　behind　the　Throne。〃
　　Arha　looked　up　and　saw；　beside　the　chain　from　which　the　torch　hung；　a　wooden　square　set　into　the　stone　ceiling。　It　was　far　too　small　for　a　man　to　crawl　through；　but　a　rope　lowered　from　it　would　e　down　just　within　reach　of　the　middle　prisoner　of　the　three。　She　looked　away　again　quickly。
　　〃Let　them　not　bring　any　more　food　or　water；　then。　Let　the　torch　go　out。〃
　　Kossil　bowed。　〃And　the　bodies；　when　they　die？〃
　　〃Let　Duby　and　Uahto　bury　them　in　the　great　cavern　that　we　passed　through；　the　Undertomb；〃　the　girl　said；　her　voice　being　quick　and　high。　〃They　must　do　it　in　the　dark。　My　Masters　will　eat　the　bodies。〃
　　〃It　shall　be　done。〃
　　〃Is　this　well；　Kossil？〃
　　〃It　is　well；　mistress。〃
　　〃Then　let　us　go；〃　Arha　said；　very　shrill。　She　turned　and　hurried　back　to　the　wooden　door；　and　out　of　the　Room　of　Chains　into　the　blackness　of　the　tunnel。　It　seemed　sweet　and　peaceful　as　a　starless　night；　silent；　without　sight；　or　light；　or　life。　She　plunged　into　the　clean　darkness；　hurried　forward　through　it　like　a　swimmer　through　water。　Kossil　hastened　along；　behind　her　and　getting　farther　behind；　panting；　lumbering。　Without　hesitation　Arha　repeated　the　missed　and　taken　turnings　as　they　had　e；　skirted　the　vast　echoing　Undertomb；　and　crept；　bent　over；　up　the　last　long　tunnel　to　the　shut　door　of　rock。　There　she　crouched　down　and　felt　for　the　long　key　on　the　ring　at　her　waist。　She　found　it；　but　could　not　find　the　keyhole。　There　was　no　pinprick　of　light　in　the　invisible　wall　before　her。　Her　fingers　groped　over　it　seeking　lock　or　bolt　or　handle　and　finding　nothing。　Where　must　the　key　go？　How　could　she　get　out？
　　〃Mistress！〃
　　Kossil's　voice；　magnified　by　echoes；　hissed　and　boomed　far　behind　her。
　　〃Mistress；　the　door　will　not　open　from　inside。　There　is　no　way　out。　There　is　no　return。〃
　　Arha　crouched　against　the　rock。　She　said　nothing。
　　〃Arha！〃
　　〃I　am　here。〃
　　〃e！〃
　　She　came；　crawling　on　hands　and　knees　along　the　passage；　like　a　dog；　to　Kossil's　skirts。
　　〃To　the　right。　Hurry！　I　must　not　linger　here。　It　is　not　my　place。　Follow　me。〃
　　Arha　got　to　her　feet；　and　held　onto　Kossils　robes。　They　went　forward；　following　the　strangely　carven　wall　of　the　cavern　to　the　right　for　a　long　way；　then　entering　a　black　gap　in　the　blackness。　They　went　upward　now；　in　tunnels；　by　stairs。　The　girl　still　clung　to　the　woman's　robe。　Her　eyes　were　shut。
　　There　was　light；　red　through　her　eyelids。　She　thought　it　was　the　torchlit　room　full　of　smoke　again；　and　did　not　open　her　eyes。　But　the　air　smelt　sweetish；　dry　and　moldy；　a　familiar　smell；　and　her　feet　were　on　a　staircase　steep　almost　as　a　ladder。　She　let　go　Kossil's　robe；　and　looked。　A　trapdoor　was　open　over　her　head。　She　scrambled　through　it　after　Kossil。　It　let　her　into　a　room　she　knew；　a　little　stone　cell　containing　a　couple　of　chests　and　iron　boxes；　in　the　warren　of　rooms　behind　the　Throne　Room　of　the　Hall。　Daylight　glimmered　gray　and　faint　in　the　hallway　outside　its　door。
　　〃The　other；　the　Prisoner's　Door；　leads　only　into　the　tunnels。　It　does　not　lead　out。　This　is　the　only　way　out。　If　there　is　any　other　way　I　do　not　know　of　it；　nor　does　Thar。　You　must　remember　it　for　yourself；　if　there　is　one。　But　I　do　not　think　there　is。〃　Kossil　still　spoke　in　an　undertone；　and　with　a　kind　of　spitefulness。　Her　heavy　face　within　the　black　cowl　was　pale；　and　damp　with　sweat。
　　〃I　don't　remember　the　turnings　to　this　way　out。〃
　　〃I'll　tell　them　to　you。　Once。　You　must　remember　them。　Next　time　I　will　not　e　with　you。　This　is　not　my　place。　You　must　e　alone。〃
　　The　girl　nodded。　She　looked　up　into　the　older　woman's　face；　and　thought　how　strange　it　looked；　pale　with　scarcely　mastered　fear　and　yet　triumphant；　as　if　Kossil　gloated　over　her　weakness。
　　〃I　will　e　alone　after　this；〃　Arha　said；　and　then　trying　to　turn　away　from　Kossil　she　felt　her　legs　give　way；　and　saw　the　room　turn　over。　She　fainted　in　a　little　black　heap　at　the　priestess'　feet。
　　〃You'll　learn；〃　Kossil　said；　still　breathing　heavily；　standing　motionless。　〃You'll　learn。〃
　
　Dreams　and　Tales
　　
　　Arha　was　not　well　for　several　days。　They　treated　her　for　fever。　She　kept　to　her　bed；　or　sat　in　the　mild　autumn　sunlight　on　the　porch　of　the　Small　House；　and　looked　up　at　the　western　hills。　She　felt　weak　and　stupid。　The　same　ideas　occurred　to　her　again　and　again。　She　was　ashamed　of　having　fainted。　No　guard　had　been　set　upon　the　Tomb　Wall；　but　now　she　would　never　dare　ask　Kossil　about　that。　She　did　not　want　to　see　Kossil　at　all：　never。　It　was　because　she　was　ashamed　of　having　fainted。
　　Often；　in　the　sunlight；　she　would　plan　how　she　was　going　to　behave　next　time　she　went　into　the　dark　places　under　the　hill。　She　thought　many　times　about　what　kind　of　death　she　should　mand　for　the　next　set　of　prisoners；　more　elaborate；　better　suited　to　the　rituals　of　the　Empty　Throne。
　　Each　night；　in　the　dark；　she　woke　up　screaming；　〃They　aren't　dead　yet！　They　are　still　dying！〃
　　She　dreamed　a　great　deal。　She　dreamed　that　she　had　to　cook　food；　great　cauldrons　full　of　savory　porridge；　and　pour　it　all　out　into　a　hole　in　the　ground。　She　dreamed　that　she　had　to　carry　a　full　bowl　of　water；　a　deep　brass　bowl；　through　the　dark；　to　someone　who　was　thirsty。　She　could　never　get　to　this　person。　She　woke；　and　she　herself　was　thirsty；　but　she　did　not　go　and　get　a　drink。　She　lay　awake；　eyes　open；　in　the　room　without　windows。
　　One　morning　Penthe　came　to　see　her。　From　the　porch　Arha　saw　her　approach　the　Small　House　with　a　careless；　purposeless　air；　as　if　she　just　happened　to　be　wandering　that　way。　If　Arha　had　not　spoken　she　would　not　have　e　up　the　steps。　But　Arha　was　lonely；　and　spoke。
　　Penthe　made　the　deep　bow　required　of　all　who　approached　the　Priestess　of　the　Tombs；　and　then　plopped　down　on　the　steps　below　Arha　and　made　a　noise　like　〃Phewph！〃　She　had　gotten　quite　tall　and　plump；　anything　she　did　turned　her　cherry　pink；　and　she　was　pink　now　from　walking。
　　〃I　heard　you　were　ill。　I　saved　you　out　some　apples。〃　She　suddenly　produced　a　rush　net　containing　six　or　eight　perfect　yellow　apples；　from　somewhere　under　her　voluminous　black　robe。　She　was　now　consecrated　to　the　service　of　the　Godking；　and　served　in　his　temple　under　Kossil；　but　she　wasn't　yet　a　priestess；　and　still　did　lessons　and　chores　with　the　novices。　〃Poppe　and　I　sorted　the　apples　this　year；　and　I　saved　the　very　best　ones　out。　They　always　dry　all　the　really　good　ones。　Of　course　they　keep　best；　but　it　seems　such　a　waste。　Aren't　they　pretty？〃
　　Arha　felt　the　pale　gold　satin　skins　of　the　apples；　looked　at　the　twigs　to　which　brown　leaves　still　delicately　c