grrm.astormofswords-第240章

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etween　elbow　and　shoulder。　〃Shut　UP！〃　the　Mountain　howled　at　the　stableboy's　scream；　and　this　time　he　swung　the　blade　sideways；　sending　the　top　half　of　the　lad's　head　across　the　yard　in　a　spray　of　blood　and　brains。　Hundreds　of　spectators　suddenly　seemed　to　lose　all　interest　in　the　guilt　or　innocence　of　Tyrion　Lannister；　judging　by　the　way　they　pushed　and　shoved　at　each　other　to　escape　the　yard。
　But　the　Red　Viper　of　Dome　was　back　on　his　feet；　his　long　spear　in　hand。　〃Elia；〃　he　called　at　Ser　Gregor。　〃You　raped　her。　You　murdered　her。　You　killed　her　children。　Now　say　her　name。〃
　The　Mountain　whirled。　Helm；　shield；　sword；　surcoat；　he　was　spattered　with　gore　from　head　to　heels。　〃You　talk　too　much；〃　he　grumbled。　〃You　make　my　head　hurt。〃
　〃I　will　hear　you　say　it。　She　was　Elia　of　Dome。〃
　The　Mountain　snorted　contemptuously；　and　came　on　。　。　。　and　in　that　moment；　the　sun　broke　through　the　low　clouds　that　had　hidden　the　sky　since　dawn。
　The　sun　of　Dorne；　Tyrion　told　himself；　but　it　was　Gregor　Clegane　who　moved　first　to　put　the　sun　at　his　back。　This　is　a　dim　and　brutal　man；　but　he　has　a　warrior's　instincts。
　The　Red　Viper　crouched；　squinting；　and　sent　his　spear　darting　forward　again。　Ser　Gregor　hacked　at　it；　but　the　thrust　had　only　been　a　feint。　Off　balance；　he　stumbled　forward　a　step。
　Prince　Oberyn　tilted　his　dinted　metal　shield。　A　shaft　of　sunlight　blazed　blindingly　off　polished　gold　and　copper；　into　the　narrow　slit　of　his　foe's　helm。　Clegane　lifted　his　own　shield　against　the　glare。　Prince　Oberyn's　spear　flashed　like　lightning　and　found　the　gap　in　the　heavy　plate；　the　joint　under　the　arm。　The　point　punched　through　mail　and　boiled　leather。　Gregor　gave　a　choked　grunt　as　the　Domishman　twisted　his　spear　and　yanked　it　free。　〃Elia。　Say　it！　Elia。　of　Dome！〃　He　was　circling　spear　poised　for　another　thrust。　〃Say　it！〃
　Tyrion　had　his　own　prayer。　Fall　down　and　die；　was　how　it　went。　Damn　you；　fall　down　and　die！　The　blood　trickling　from　the　Mountain's　armpit　was　his　own　now；　and　he　must　be　bleeding　even　more　heavily　inside　the　breastplate。　When　he　tried　to　take　a　step；　one　knee　buckled。　Tyrion　thought　he　was　going　down。
　Prince　Oberyn　had　circled　behind　him。　〃ELIA　OF　DORNE！〃　he　shouted。　Ser　Gregor　started　to　turn；　but　too　slow　and　too　late。　The　spearhead　went　through　the　back　of　the　knee　this　time；　through　the　layers　of　chain　and　leather　between　the　plates　on　thigh　and　calf。　The　Mountain　reeled；　swayed；　then　collapsed　face　first　on　the　ground。　His　huge　sword　went　flying　from　his　hand。　Slowly；　ponderously；　he　rolled　onto　his　back。
　The　Dornishman　flung　away　his　ruined　shield；　grasped　the　spear　in　both　hands；　and　sauntered　away。　Behind　him　the　Mountain　let　out　a　groan；　and　pushed　himself　onto　an　elbow。　Oberyn　whirled　cat…quick；　and　ran　at　his　fallen　foe。　〃EEEEELLLLLLIIIIIAAAAA！〃　he　screamed；　as　he　drove　the　spear　down　with　the　whole　weight　of　his　body　behind　it。　The　crack　of　the　ashwood　shaft　snapping　was　almost　as　sweet　a　sound　as　Cersei's　wail　of　fury；　and　for　an　instant　Prince　Oberyn　had　wings。　The　snake　has　vaulted　over　the　Mountain。　Four　feet　of　broken　spear　jutted　from　Clegane's　belly　as　Prince　Oberyn　rolled；　rose；　and　dusted　himself　off。　He　tossed　aside　the　splintered　spear　and　claimed　his　foe's　greatsword。　〃If　you　die　before　you　say　her　name；　ser；　I　will　hunt　you　through　all　seven　hells；〃　he　promised。
　Ser　Gregor　tried　to　rise；　The　broken　spear　had　gone　through　him；　and　was　pinning　him　to　the　ground。　He　wrapped　both　hands　about　the　shaft；　grunting；　but　could　not　pull　it　out。　Beneath　him　was　a　spreading　pool　of　red。　〃I　am　feeling　more　innocent　by　the　instant；〃　Tyrion　told　Ellaria　Sand　beside　him。
　Prince　Oberyn　moved　closer。　〃Say　the　name！〃　He　put　a　foot　on　the　Mountain's　chest　and　raised　the　greatsword　with　both　hands。　Whether　he　intended　to　hack　off　Gregor's　head　or　shove　the　point　through　his　eyeslit　was　something　Tyrion　would　never　know。
　Clegane's　hand　shot　up　and　grabbed　the　Dornishman　behind　the　knee。　The　Red　Viper　brought　down　the　greatsword　in　a　wild　slash；　but　he　was　off…balance；　and　the　edge　did　no　more　than　put　another　dent　in　the　Mountain's　vambrace。　Then　the　sword　was　forgotten　as　Gregor's　hand　tightened　and　twisted；　yanking　the　Dornishman　down　on　top　of　him。　They　wrestled　in　the　dust　and　blood；　the　broken　spear　wobbling　back　and　forth。　Tyrion　saw　with　horror　that　the　Mountain　had　wrapped　one　huge　arm　around　the　prince；　drawing　him　tight　against　his　chest；　like　a　lover。
　〃Elia　of　Dorne；〃　they　all　heard　Ser　Gregor　say；　when　they　were　close　enough　to　kiss。　His　deep　voice　boomed　within　the　helm。　〃I　killed　her　screaming　whelp。〃　He　thrust　his　free　hand　into　Oberyn's　unprotected　face；　pushing　steel　fingers　into　his　eyes。　〃Then　I　raped　her。〃　Clegane　slammed　his　fist　into　the　Dornishman's　mouth；　making　splinters　of　his　teeth。　〃Then　I　smashed　her　fucking　head　in。　Like　this。〃　As　he　drew　back　his　huge　fist；　the　blood　on　his　gauntlet　seemed　to　smoke　in　the　cold　dawn　air。　There　was　a　sickening　crunch。　Ellaria　Sand　wailed　in　terror；　and　Tyrion's　breakfast　came　boiling　back　up。　He　found　himself　on　his　knees　retching　bacon　and　sausage　and　applecakes；　and　that　double　helping　of　fried　eggs　cooked　up　with　onions　and　fiery　Dornish　peppers。
　He　never　heard　his　father　speak　the　words　that　condemned　him。　Perhaps　no　words　were　necessary。　I　put　my　life　in　the　Red　Viper's　hands；　and　he　dropped　it。　When　he　remembered；　too　late；　that　snakes　had　no　hands；　Tyrion　began　to　laugh　hysterically。
　He　was　halfway　down　the　serpentine　steps　before　he　realized　that　the　gold　cloaks　were　not　taking　him　back　to　his　tower　room。　〃I've　been　consigned　to　the　black　cells；〃　he　said。　They　did　not　bother　to　answer。　Why　waste　your　breath　on　the　dead？
　
　CHAPTER　71
　DAENERYS
　
　Dany　broke　her　fast　under　the　persimmon　tree　that　grew　in　the　terrace　garden；　watching　her　dragons　chase　each　other　about　the　apex　of　the　Great　Pyramid　where　the　huge　bronze　harpy　once　stood。　Meereen　had　a　score　of　lesser　pyramids；　but　none　stood　even　half　as　tall。　From　here　she　could　see　the　whole　city：　the　narrow　twisty　alleys　and　wide　brick　streets；　the　temples　and　granaries；　hovels　and　palaces；　brothels　and　baths；　gardens　and　fountains；　the　great　red　circles　of　the　fighting　pits。　And　beyond　the　walls　was　the　pewter　sea；　the　winding　Skahazadhan；　the　dry　brown　hills；　burnt　orchards；　and　blackened　fields。　Up　here　in　her　garden　Dany　sometimes　felt　like　a　god；　living　atop　the　highest　mountain　in　the　world。
　Do　all　gods　feel　so　lonely？　Some　must；　surely。　Missandei　had　told　her　of　the　Lord　of　Harmony；　worshiped　by　the　Peaceful　People　of　Naath；　he　was　the　only　true　god；　her　little　scribe　said；　the　god　who　always　was　and　always　would　be；　who　made　the　moon　and　stars　and　earth；　and　all　the　creatures　that　dwelt　upon　them。　Poor　Lord　of　Harmony。　Dany　pitied　him。　it　must　be　terrible　to　be　alone　for　all　time；　attended　by　hordes　of　butterfly　women　you　could　make　or　unmake　at　a　word。　Westeros　had　seven　gods　at　least；　though　Viserys　had　told　her　that　some　septons；　said　the　seven　were　only　aspects　of　a　single　god；　seven　facets　of　a　single　crystal。　That　was　just　confusing。　The　red　priests　believed　in　two　gods；　she　had　heard；　but　two　who　were　eternally　at　war。　Dany　liked　that　even　less。　She　would　not　want　to　be　eternally　at　war。
　Missandei　served　her　duck　eggs　and　dog　sausage；　and　half　a　cup　of　sweetened　wine　mixed　with　the　juice　of　a　lime。　The　honey　drew　flies；　but　a　scented　candle　drove　them　off。　The　flies　were　not　so　troublesome　up　here　as　they　were　in　the　rest　of　her　city；　she　had　found；　something　else　she　liked　about　the　pyramid。　〃I　must　remember　to　do　something　about　the　flies；〃　Dany　said。　〃Are　there　many　flies　on　Naath；　Missandei？〃
　〃On　Naath　there　are　butterflies；〃　the　scribe　responded　in　the　mon　Tongue。　〃More　wine？〃
　〃No。　I　must　hold　court　soon。〃　Dany　had　grown　very　fond　of　Missandei。　The　little　scribe　with　the　big　golden　eyes　was　wise　beyond　her　years。　She　is　brave　as　well。　She　had　to　be；　to　survive　the　life　she's　lived。　One　day　she　hoped　to　see　this　fabled　isle　of　Naath。　Missandei　said　the　Peaceful　People　made　music　instead　of　war。　They　did　not　kill；　not　even　animals；　they　ate　only　fruit　and　never　flesh。　The　butterfly　spirits　sacred　to　their　Lord　of　Harmony　protected　their