gc.shadowslinger-第50部分

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ll　wrong；〃　I　shouted。　〃Been　going　on　a　while。〃
　　I　did　not　feel　as　optimistic　as　I　pretended。　I　did　not　want　it　to　go　on。　I'd　wanted　them　to　hit　quick；　hurt　the　Limper；　and　fade　away；　doing　enough　damage　to　make　him　retreat　to　the　inn　to　lick　his　wounds。
　　We　hustled　the　animals　into　the　barn　and　headed　for　our　hiding　places。　I　muttered；　〃You　know；　we　wouldn't　be　in　this　spot　if　Raven　had　killed　him　when　he　had　a　chance。〃　Way　back；　when　I　had　helped　capture　Whisper；　when　she　was　trying　to　bring　Limper　over　to　her　side；　Raven　had　had　a　fantastic　opportunity　to　finish　him　off。　He　had　not　been　able；　though　he　had　had　grievances　against　the　Taken。　His　mercy　had　e　back　to　haunt　us　all。
　　Pawnbroker　went　into　the　pig　shed；　where　we　had　installed　a　crude；　light　ballista　built　as　part　of　our　earlier　plan。　Goblin　cast　a　weak　spell　that　made　him　seem　like　just　another　hog。　I　wanted　him　to　stay　out　of　it　if　possible。　I　doubted　the　ballista　would　get　used。
　　Goblin　and　I　raced　upstairs　to　watch　the　road　and　the　ridgeline　to　the　east。　Once　he　broke　off；　which　he　had　not　done　when　he　was　supposed　to；　Silent　would　fake　in　the　direction　taken　by　the　southerners；　retreat　through　the　wood　to　that　ridge；　watch　what　happened　at　the　inn。　It　was　my　hope　that　some　of　the　Limper's　men　would　keep　after　the　southerners。　I　hadn't　told　those　guys　that。　I　hoped　they　had　sense　enough　to　keep　running。
　　〃Ho！〃　Goblin　said。　〃There's　Silent。　He　made　it。〃
　　The　men　appeared　briefly。　I　could　not　tell　who　was　who。　〃Only　three　of　them；〃　I　muttered。　That　meant　four　had　not　made　it。　〃Damn！〃
　　〃It　had　to　work；〃　Goblin　said。　〃Else　they　wouldn't　be　up　there。〃
　　I　did　not　feel　reassured。　I　hadn't　had　many　shots　at　field　mand。　I　hadn't　learned　to　deal　with　the　feelings　that　e　when　you　know　men　have　been　killed　trying　to　carry　out　your　orders。
　　〃Here　they　e。〃
　　Riders　left　the　woods；　ing　up　the　Shaker　Road　amidst　lengthening　shadows。　〃I　make　it　six　men；〃　I　said。　〃No。　Seven。　They　must　not　have　gone　after　those　guys。〃
　　〃Looks　like　they're　all　hurt。〃
　　〃Element　of　surprise。　The　Limper　with　them？　Can　you　tell？〃
　　〃No。　That　one。　。　。　。　That's　Asa。　Hell；　that's　old　Shed　on　the　third　horse；　and　the　innkeeper　next　to　last。〃
　　A　slight　positive；　then。　They　were　half　as　strong　as　they　had　been。　I'd　lost　only　two　of　seven　mitted。
　　〃What　do　we　do　if　the　Limper　ain't　with　them？〃　Goblin　asked。
　　〃Take　what　es　to　us。〃　Silent　had　vanished　off　the　far　ridge。
　　〃There　he　is；　Croaker。　In　front　of　the　innkeeper。　Looks　like　he's　unconscious。〃
　　That　was　too　much　to　hope。　Yet　it　did　indeed　look　like　the　Taken　was　out。　〃Let's　get　downstairs。〃
　　I　watched　through　a　cracked　shutter　as　they　turned　into　the　yard。　The　only　member　of　the　group　uninjured　was　Asa。　His　hands　were　bound　to　his　saddle；　his　feet　to　his　stirrups。　One　of　the　injured　men　dismounted；　released　Asa；　held　a　knife　on　him　while　he　helped　the　others。　A　variety　of　injuries　were　evident。　Shed　looked　like　he　shouldn't　be　alive　at　all。　The　innkeeper　was　in　better　shape。　Just　seemed　to　have　been　knocked　around　a　lot。
　　They　made　Asa　and　the　fat　man　get　the　Limper　off　his　animal。　I　nearly　gave　myself　away　then。　The　Taken　was　missing　most　of　his　right　arm。　He　had　several　additional　wounds。　But；　of　course；　he　would　recover　if　he　remained　protected　by　his　allies。　The　Taken　are　tough。
　　Asa　and　the　fat　man　started　toward　the　door。　Limper　sagged　like　a　wet　rope。　The　man　who　had　covered　Asa　pushed　the　door　open。
　　The　Limper　wakened。　〃No！〃　he　squeaked。　〃Trap！〃
　　Asa　and　the　innkeeper　dropped　him。　Asa　began　heeling　and　toeing　it；　eyes　closed。　The　innkeeper　whistled　shrilly。　His　dogs　came　raging　out　of　the　barn。
　　Goblin　and　One…Eye　cut　loose。　I　jumped　out　and　went　for　the　Limper　as　he　tried　to　gain　his　feet。
　　My　blade　bit　into　the　Limper's　shoulder　above　the　stump　of　his　right　arm。　His　remaining　fist　came　up　and　brushed　me　across　the　belly。
　　The　air　exploded　out　of　me。　I　nearly　passed　out。　I　settled　to　the　ground；　heaving　my　guts　out；　only　vaguely　aware　of　my　surroundings。
　　The　dogs　boiled　over　the　Limper's　men；　mauling　them　savagely。　Several　hit　the　Taken。　He　hammered　them　with　his　fist；　each　blow　leaving　an　animal　dead。　Goblin　and　One…Eye　charged　out；　hit　nim　with　everything　they　had。　He　shed　their　spells　like　rainwater；　punched　One…Eye；　turned　on　Goblin。
　　Goblin　ran。　The　Limper　trundled　after　him；　weaving；　the　surviving　mastiffs　snapping　at　his　back。
　　Goblin　raced　toward　the　pig　shed。　He　went　sprawling　before　he　reached　it；　twitched　feebly　in　the　mire。　Limper　rolled　up　behind　him；　fist　raised　for　the　kill。
　　Pawnbroker's　shaft　split　his　breastbone；　stood　three　feet　out　of　his　back。　He　stood　there　swaying；　a　ragged　little　man　in　brown　picking　at　the　shaft。　His　whole　will　seemed　to　focus　upon　that。　Goblin　wriggled　away。　Inside　the　shed　Pawn　cranked　the　ballista　back　and　dropped　another　javelin　into　its　trough。
　　Whomp！　This　one　ripped　all　the　way　through　the　Limper。　It　knocked　him　off　his　feet。　The　dogs　went　for　his　throat。
　　I　regained　my　breath。　I　looked　for　my　sword。　Vaguely；　I　was　aware　of　screeching　from　a　patch　of　blackberries　along　a　ditch　two　hundred　feet　north。　A　lone　dog　trotted　back　and　forth；　snarling。　Asa。　He　had　ducked　into　the　only　cover　available。
　　I　got　my　feet　under　me。　The　fat　man　helped　One…Eye　get　up；　then　snagged　a　fallen　weapon。　We　three　closed　in　on　the　Limper。　He　lay　in　the　mire；　twisted　slightly　sideways；　his　mask　slipped　so　we　could　see　the　ruined　face　it　had　concealed。　He　could　not　believe　what　was　happening。　Feebly；　he　waved　at　the　dogs。
　　〃All　for　nothing；〃　I　told　him。　〃The　papers　haven't　been　here　for　months。〃
　　And　the　fat　man：　〃This　is　for　my　brother。〃　He　swung　his　weapon。　He　was　so　badly　bruised；　and　getting　so　stiff；　that　he　did　not　get　much　into　it。
　　The　Limper　tried　to　strike　back。　He　did　not　have　anything　left。　He　realized　that　he　was　going　to　die。　After　all　those　centuries。　After　having　survived　the　White　Roses；　and　the　anger　of　the　Lady　after　he　had　betrayed　her　in　the　battle　at　Roses　and　in　the　Forest　of　Cloud。
　　His　eyes　rolled　up　and　he　went　away；　and　I　knew　he　was　yelling　for　Mama's　help。
　　〃Kill　him　quick；〃　I　said。　〃He's　calling　the　Lady。〃
　　We　hacked　and　slashed　and　chopped。　The　dogs　snarled　and　bit。　He　would　not　die。　Even　when　we　ran　out　of　energy；　a　spark　of　life　remained。
　　〃Let's　drag　him　around　front。〃
　　We　did。　And　I　saw　Shed；　lying　on　the　ground　with　men　who　used　to　be　brothers　in　the　Black　pany。　I　looked　up　at　the　waning　light；　saw　Silent　approaching；　followed　by　Hagop　and　Otto。　I　felt　a　numb　pleasure　because　those　two　had　survived。　They　had　been　best　friends　for　as　long　as　I　could　recall。　I　could　not　picture　one　surviving　without　the　other。
　　〃Bullock's　gone；　eh？〃
　　The　fat　man　said；　〃Yeah。　Him　and　this　Shed。　You　should　have　seen　them。　They　jumped　into　the　road　and　pulled　the　sorcerer　off　his　horse。　Bullock　chopped　his　arm　off。　Between　them　they　killed　four　men。〃
　　〃Bullock？〃
　　〃Somebody　split　his　head　open。　Like　hitting　a　melon　with　a　cleaver。''
　　〃Kingpin？〃
　　〃Got　trampled　to　death。　But　he　got　his　licks　in。〃
　　I　levered　myself　down　beside　Shed。　One…Eye　did　the　same。　〃How'd　they　catch　you？〃　I　asked　the　innkeeper。
　　〃Too　fat　to　run　fast。〃　He　managed　a　feeble　smile。　〃Never　was　meant　to　be　a　soldier。〃
　　I　smiled。　〃What　do　you　think；　One…Eye？〃　A　glance　told　me　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　for　Shed。
　　One…Eye　shook　his　head。
　　Goblin　said；　〃Two　of　these　guys　are　still　alive；　Croaker。　What　you　want　we　should　do？〃
　　〃Take　them　inside。　I'll　patch　them　up。〃　They　were　brothers。　That　the　Taken　had　twisted　them　and　made　them　enemies　did　not　make　them　less　deserving　of　my　help。
　　Silent　came　up；　looming　tall　in　the　twilight。　He　signed；　〃A　maneuver　worthy　of　the　Captain；　Croaker。〃
　　〃Right。〃　I　stared　at　Shed；　moved　more　than　I　thought　I　should　be。
　　A　man　lay　before　me。　He　had　sunk　as　low　as　any　I'd　ever　known。　Then　he　had　fought　his　way　back；　and　back；　and　had　bee　worthy。　A　man　far　better　than　I；　for　he　had　located　his　moral　polestar　and　set　his　course　by　it；　though　it　had　cost　his　life。　Maybe；　just　a　little；　he　had　repaid　his　debt。
　　He　did　another　thing　by　getting　himself　killed　in　a　fight　I　did　not　consider　his。　He　became　a　sort　of　patron　saint　of　mine；　an　example　for　days　to　e。　He　set　a　high　standard　in　his　last　few　days。
　　He　opened　his　eyes　before　the　end。　He　smiled。　〃Did　we　do　it？〃　he　asked。
　　〃We　did　it；　Shed。　Thanks　to　you　and　Bullock。〃
　　〃Good。〃　Still　smiling；　he　closed　his　eyes。
　　Hagop　hollered；　〃Hey；　Croaker。　What　you　want　to　do　about　this　Asa　creep？〃
　　Asa　was　still　in　the　blackberries；　yelling　for　help。　The　dogs　had　the　patch　surrounded。
　　〃Put　a　couple　javelins　in　him；〃　One…Eye　muttered。
　　〃No；〃　Shed　said　in　a　tiny　whisper。　〃Let　him　be。　He　was　my　friend。　He　tried　to　get　back；　but　they　caught　him。　Let　him　go。〃
　　〃Ah　right；　Shed。　Hagop！　Dig　him　out　and　turn　him　loose。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃You　heard　me。〃　I　looked　back　at　Shed。　〃Okay；　Shed？〃
　　He　didn't　say　anything。　He　couldn't。　But　he　was　smiling。
　　I　got　up　and　said；　〃At　least　somebody　died　the　way　he　wanted。　Otto。　Get　a　damned　shovel。〃
　　〃Aw；　Croaker。　。　。　。〃
　　〃Get　a　goddamned　shovel　and　get　to　work。　Silent；　One…Eye；　Goblin；　inside。　We　got　plans　to　make。〃
　　The　light　was　nearly　gone。　By　the　Lieutenant's　estimate　it　would　be　but　hours　before　the　Lady　reached　Meadenvil。
　　
　　　Chapter　Forty…Nine：　ON　THE　MOVE
　　
　　〃We　need　rest；〃　One…Eye　protested。
　　〃There　won't　be　any　rest　till　we're　dead；〃　I　countered。　〃We're　on　the　other　side　now；　One…Eye。　We　did　what　the　Rebel　couldn't。　We've　done　in　the　Limper；　the　last　of　the　original　Taken。　She'll　be　after　us　hard　as　soon　as　she's　cleaned　up　these　black　castle　leavings。　She　has　to。　If　she　doesn't　get　us　fast；　every　Rebel　in　five　thousand　miles　will　get　worked　up　to　try　something。　There　are　only　two　Taken　left；　and　only　Whisper　worth　much。〃
　　〃Yeah。　I　know。　Wishful　thinking。　Can't　stop　a　man　wishing；　Croaker。〃
　　I　stared　at　the　necklace　Shed　had　worn。　I　had　to　leave　it　for　the　Lady；　yet　the　silver　in　it　might　bee　a　lifesaver　down　the　long　road　we　had　to　travel。　I　screwed　up　my　courag