tp.guards!guards!-第32部分

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　〃Have　the　Demons　of　Infinity　been　bound　with　many　chains？〃
　〃Damn；〃　said　Brother　Plasterer；　〃there's　always　something。〃
　Brother　Watchtower　sagged。　〃Just　once　it　would　be　nice　if　we　could　get　the　ancient　and　timeless　rituals　right；　wouldn't　it。　You'd　better　get　on　with　it。〃
　〃Wouldn't　it　be　quicker；　Brother　Watchtower；　if　I　just　did　it　twice　next　time？〃　said　Brother　Plasterer。
　Brother　Watchtower　gave　this　some　grudging　consideration。　It　seemed　reasonable。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Now　get　back　down　there　with　the　others。　And　you　should　call　me　Acting　Supreme　Grand　Master；　understand？〃
　This　did　not　meet　with　what　he　considered　to　be　a　proper　and　dignified　reception　among　the　brethren。
　〃No　one　said　anything　to　us　about　you　being　Acting　Supreme　Grand　Master；〃　muttered　Brother　Doorkeeper。
　〃Well；　that's　all　you　know　because　I　bloody　well　am　because　Supreme　Grand　Master　asked　me　to　open　the　Lodge　on　account　of　him　being　delayed　with　all　this　coronation　work；〃　said　Brother　Watchtower　haughtily。　〃If　that　doesn't　make　me　Acting　Supreme　Grand　bloody　Master　I'd　like　to　know　what　does；　all　right？〃
　〃I　don't　see　why；〃　muttered　Brother　Doorkeeper。　〃You　don't　have　a　grand　title　like　that。　You　could　just　be　called　something　like；　well　。　。　。　Rituals　Monitor。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　said　Brother　Plasterer。　〃Don't　see　why　you　should　give　yourself　airs。　You　ain't　even　been　taught　the　ancient　and　mystic　mysteries　by　monks；　or　anything。〃
　〃We've　been　hanging　around　for　hours；　too；〃　said　Brother　Doorkeeper。　〃That's　not　right。　I　thought　we'd　get　rewarded。。。〃
　Brother　Watchtower　realized　that　he　was　losing　control。　He　tried　wheedling　diplomacy。
　〃I'm　sure　Supreme　Grand　Master　will　be　along　directly；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　not　spoil　it　all　now；　eh？　Lads？　Arranging　that　fight　with　the　dragon　and　everything；　getting　it　all　off　right；　that　was　something；　wasn't　it？　We've　been　through　a　lot；　right？　It's　worth　waiting　just　a　bit　longer；　okay？'
　The　circle　of　robed　and　cowled　figures　shuffled　in　grudging　agreement。
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Fair　enough。〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃If　you　say　so。〃
　It　began　to　creep　over　Brother　Watchtower　that　something　wasn't　right；　but　he　couldn't　quite　put　a　name　to　it。
　〃Uh；〃　he　said。　〃Brothers？〃
　They；　too；　shifted　uneasily。　Something　in　the　room　was　setting　their　teeth　on　edge。　There　was　an　atmosphere。
　〃Brothers；〃　repeated　Brother　Watchtower；　trying　to　reassert　himself；　〃we　are　all　here；　aren't　we？〃
　There　was　a　worried　chorus　of　agreement。
　〃Of　course　we　are。〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃Yes！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　There　it　was　again；　a　subtle　wrongness　about　things　that　you　couldn't　quite　put　your　finger　on　because　your　finger　was　too　scared。　But　Brother　Watchtower's　troublesome　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a　scrabbling　sound　on　the　roof。　A　few　nubs　of　plaster　dropped　into　the　circle。
　〃Brothers？〃　repeated　Brother　Watchtower　nervously。
　Now　there　was　one　of　those　silent　sounds；　a　long；　buzzing　silence　of　extreme　concentration　and　just　possibly　the　indrawing　of　breath　into　lungs　the　size　of　haystacks。　The　last　rats　of　Brother　Watchtower's　self…confidence　fled　the　sinking　ship　of　courage。
　〃Brother　Doorkeeper；　if　you　could　just　unbolt　the　dread　portal。。。〃　he　quavered。
　And　then　there　was　light。
　There　was　no　pain。　There　was　no　time。
　Death　strips　away　many　things；　especially　when　it　arrives　at　a　temperature　hot　enough　to　vaporize　iron；　and　among　them　are　your　illusions。　The　immortal　remains　of　Brother　Watchtower　watched　the　dragon　flap　away　into　the　fog；　and　then　looked　down　at　the　congealing　puddle　of　stone；　metal　and　miscellaneous　trace　elements　that　was　all　that　remained　of　the　secret　headquarters。　And　of　its　occupants；　he　realized　in　the　dispassionate　way　that　is　part　of　being　dead。　You　go　through　your　whole　life　and　end　up　a　smear　swirling　around　like　cream　in　a　coffee　cup。　Whatever　the　gods'　games　were；　they　played　them　in　a　damn　mysterious　way。
　He　looked　up　at　the　hooded　figure　beside　him。
　〃We　never　intended　this；〃　he　said　weakly。　〃Honestly。　No　offence。　We　just　wanted　what　was　due　to　us。〃
　A　skeletal　hand　patted　him　on　the　shoulder；　not　unkindly。
　And　Death　said；　congratulations。
　。。。
　　
　Apart　from　the　Supreme　Grand　Master；　the　only　Elucidated　Brother　to　be　away　at　the　time　of　the　dragon　was　Brother　Fingers。　He'd　been　sent　out　for　some　pizzas。　Brother　Fingers　was　always　the　one　sent　out　for　takeaway　food。　It　was　cheaper。　He'd　never　bothered　to　master　the　art　of　paying　for　things。
　When　the　guards　rolled　up　just　behind　Errol；　Brother　Fingers　was　standing　with　a　stack　of　cardboard　boxes　in　his　hands　and　his　mouth　open。
　Where　the　dread　portal　should　have　been　was　a　warm　melted　patch　of　assorted　substances。
　〃Oh；　my　goodness；〃　said　Lady　Ramkin。
　Vimes　slid　down　from　the　coach　and　tapped　Brother　Fingers　on　the　shoulder。
　〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃did　you　by　any　chance　see　what。。。〃
　When　Brother　Fingers　turned　towards　him　his　face　was　the　face　of　a　man　who　has　hang…glided　over　the　entrance　to　Hell。　He　kept　opening　and　shutting　his　mouth　but　no　words　were　ing　out。
　Vimes　tried　again。　The　sheer　terror　frozen　in　Brother　Fingers's　expression　was　getting　to　him。
　〃If　you　would　be　so　kind　to　acpany　me　to　the　Yard；〃　said　Vimes；　〃I　have　reason　to　believe　that　you。。。〃　He　hesitated。　He　wasn't　entirely　certain　what　it　was　that　he　had　reason　to　believe。　But　the　man　was　clearly　guilty。　You　could　tell　just　by　looking　at　him。　Not；　perhaps；　guilty　of　anything　specific。　Just　guilty　in　general　terms。
　〃Mmmmmuh；〃　said　Brother　Fingers。
　Sergeant　Colon　gently　lifted　the　lid　of　the　top　box。
　〃What　do　you　make　of　it；　Sergeant？〃　said　Vimes；　stepping　back。
　〃Er。　It　looks　like　a　Klatchian　Hots　with　anchovies；　sir；〃　said　Sergeant　Colon　knowledgeably。
　〃I　mean　the　man；〃　said　Vimes　wearily。
　〃Nnnnn；〃　said　Brother　Fingers。
　Colon　peered　under　the　hood。　〃Oh；　I　know　him；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃Bengy　'Lightfoot'　Boggis；　sir。　He's　a　capo　de　monty　in　the　Thieves'　Guild。　I　know　him　of　old；　sir。　Sly　little　bugger。　Used　to　work　at　the　University。〃
　〃What；　as　a　wizard？〃　said　Vimes。
　〃Odd　job　man；　sir。　Gardening　and　carpentry　and　that。〃
　〃Oh。　Did　he？〃
　〃Can't　we　do　something　for　the　poor　man？〃　said　Lady　Ramkin。
　Nobby　saluted　smartly。　〃I　could　kick　him　in　the　bollocks　for　you　if　you　like；　m'lady。〃
　〃Dddrrr；〃　said　Brother　Fingers；　beginning　to　shake　uncontrollably；　while　Lady　Ramkin　smiled　the　iron…hard　blank　smile　of　a　high…born　lady　who　is　determined　not　to　show　that　she　has　understood　what　has　just　been　said　to　her。
　〃Put　him　in　the　coach；　you　two；〃　said　Vimes。　〃If　it's　all　right　with　you；　Lady　Ramkin。。。〃
　〃Sybil；〃　corrected　Lady　Ramkin。　Vimes　blushed；　and　plunged　on；〃。。。it　might　be　a　good　idea　to　get　him　indoors。　Charge　him　with　the　theft　of　one　book；　to　wit；　The　Summoning　of　Dragons。　〃
　〃Right　you　are；　sir；〃　said　Sergeant　Colon。　〃The　pizzas're　getting　cold；　too。　You　know　how　the　cheese　goes　all　manky　when　it　gets　cold。〃
　〃And　no　kicking　him；　either；〃　Vimes　warned。　〃Not　even　where　it　doesn't　show。　Carrot；　you　e　with　me。〃
　〃DDddrrraa；〃　Brother　Fingers　volunteered。
　〃And　take　Errol；〃　added　Vimes。　〃He's　driving　himself　mad　here。　Game　little　devil；　I'll　give　him　that。〃
　〃Marvellous；　when　you　e　to　think　about　it；〃　said　Colon。
　Errol　was　trotting　up　and　down　in　front　of　the　ravaged　building；　whining。
　〃Look　at　him；〃　said　Vimes。　〃Can't　wait　to　get　to　grips。〃　His　gaze　found　itself　drawn；　as　though　by　wires；　up　to　the　rolling　clouds　of　fog。
　It's　in　there　somewhere；　he　thought。
　〃What　we　going　to　do　now；　sir？〃　said　Carrot；　as　the　carriage　rattled　off。
　〃Not　nervous；　are　you？〃　said　Vimes。
　〃No；　sir。〃
　The　way　he　said　it　jogged　something　in　Vimes's　mind。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃you're　not；　are　you？　I　suppose　it's　being　brought　up　by　the　dwarfs　that　did　it。　You've　got　no　imagination。〃
　〃I'm　sure　I　try　to　do　my　best；　sir；〃　said　Carrot　firmly。
　〃Still　sending　all　your　pay　home　to　your　mother？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃You're　a　good　boy。〃
　〃Yessir。　So　what　are　we　going　to　do；　Captain　Vimes？〃　Carrot　repeated。
　Vimes　looked　around　him。　He　walked　a　few　aimless；　exasperated　steps。　He　spread　his　arms　wide　and　then　flopped　them　down　by　his　sides。
　〃How　should　I　know？〃　he　said。　〃Warn　people；　I　guess。　We'd　better　get　over　to　the　Patrician's　palace。　And　then。。。〃
　There　were　footsteps　in　the　fog。　Vimes　stiffened；　put　his　finger　to　his　lips　and　pulled　Carrot　into　the　shelter　of　a　doorway。
　A　figure　loomed　out　of　the　billows。
　Another　one　of　'em；　thought　Vimes。　Well；　there's　no　law　about　wearing　long　black　robes　and　deep　cowls。　There　could　be　dozens　of　perfectly　innocent　reasons　why　this　person　is　wearing　long　black　robes　and　a　deep　cowl　and　standing　in　front　of　a　melted…down　house　at　dawn。
　Perhaps　I　should　ask　him　to　name　just　one。
　He　stepped　out。
　〃Excuse　me；　sir。。。〃　he　began。
　The　cowl　swung　around。　There　was　a　hiss　of　indrawn　breath。
　〃I　just　wonder　if　you　would　mind。。。After　him；　lance…constable！。。。　''
　The　figure　had　a　good　start。　It　scuttled　along　the　street　and　had　reached　the　corner　before　Vimes　was　halfway　there。　He　skidded　around　it　in　time　to　see　a　shape　vanish　down　an　alley。
　Vimes　realized　he　was　running　alone。　He　panted　to　a　halt　and　looked　back　just　in　time　to　see　Carrot　jog　gently　around　the　corner。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　he　wheezed。
　〃Sergeant　Colon　said　I　wasn't　to　run；〃　said　Carrot。
　Vimes　looked　at　him　vaguely。　Then　slow　prehension　dawned。
　〃Oh；〃　he　said。　〃I；　er；　see。　I　don't　think　he　meant　in　every　circumstance；　lad。〃　He　stared　back　into　the　fog。　〃Not　that　we　had　much　of　a　chance　in　this　fog　and　these　streets。〃
　〃Might　have　been　just　an　innocent　bystander；　sir；〃　said　Carrot。
　〃What；　in　Ankh…Morpork？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃We　should　have　grabbed　him；　then；　just　for　the　rarity　value；〃　said　Vimes。
　He　patted　Carrot　on　the　shoulder。　〃e　on。　We'd　better　get　along　to　the　Patrician's　palace。〃
　〃The　King's　palace；〃　corrected　Carrot。
　〃What？〃　said　Vimes；　his　train　of　thought　temporarily　shunted。
　〃It's　the　King's　palace　now；〃　said　Carrot。　Vimes　squinted　sideways　at　him。
　He　gave　a　short；　mirthless　laugh。
　〃Yeah；　that's　right；〃　he　conceded。　〃Our　dragon…killing　king。　Well　done　that　man。〃　He　sighed。　〃They're　not　going　to　like　this