grrm.astormofswords-第34章

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。　If　he　stood　too　long　his　legs　shook；　and　sometimes　he　fell　prey　to　uncontrollable　fits　of　coughing　and　brought　up　gobs　of　bloody　phlegm。　It　is　nothing；　he　told　himself。　Surely　the　gods　did　not　bring　me　safe　through　flre　and　sea　only　to　kill　me　with　a　flux。
　As　he　listened　to　the　pounding　of　the　oarmaster's　drum；　the　thrum　of　the　sail；　and　the　rhythmic　swish　and　creak　of　the　oars；　he　thought　back　to　his　younger　days；　when　these　same　sounds　woke　dread　in　his　heart　on　many　a　misty　mom。　They　heralded　the　approach　of　old　Ser　Tristimun's　sea　watch；　and　the　sea　watch　was　death　to　smugglers　when　Aerys　Targaryen　sat　the　Iron　Throne。
　But　that　was　another　lifetime；　he　thought。　That　was　before　the　onion　ship；　before　Storm's　End；　before　Stannis　shortened　my　fingers。　That　was　before　the　war　or　the　red　et；　before　I　was　a　Seaworth　or　a　knight。　I　was　a　different　man　in　those　days；　before　Lord　Stannis　raised　me　high。
　Captain　Khorane　had　told　him　of　the　end　of　Stannis's　hopes；　on　the　night　the　river　burned。　The　Lannisters　had　taken　him　from　the　flank；　and　his　fickle　bannermen　had　abandoned　him　by　the　hundreds　in　the　hour　of　his　greatest　need。　〃King　Renly's　shade　was　seen　as　well；〃　the　captain　said；　〃slaying　right　and　left　as　he　led　the　lion　lord's　van。　It's　said　his　green　armor　took　a　ghostly　glow　from　the　wildfire；　and　his　antlers　ran　with　golden　flames。〃
　Renly's　shade。　Davos　wondered　if　his　sons　would　return　as　shades　as　well。　He　had　seen　too　many　queer　things　on　the　sea　to　say　that　ghosts　did　not　exist。　〃Did　none　keep　faith？〃　he　asked。
　〃Some　few；〃　the　captain　said。　〃The　queen's　kin；　them　in　chief。　We　took　off　many　who　wore　the　fox…and…flowers；　though　many　more　were　left　ashore；　with　all　manner　of　badges。　Lord　Florent　is　the　King's　Hand　on　Dragonstone　now。〃
　The　mountain　grew　taller；　crowned　all　in　pale　smoke。　The　sail　sang；　the　drum　beat；　the　oars　pulled　smoothly；　and　before　very　long　the　mouth　of　the　harbor　opened　before　them。　So　empty；　Davos　thought；　remembering　how　it　had　been　before；　with　the　ships　crowding　every　quay　and　rocking　at　anchor　off　the　breakwater。　He　could　see　Salladhor　Saan's　flagship　Valyrian　moored　at　the　quay　where　Fury　and　her　sisters　had　once　tied　up。　The　ships　on　either　side　of　her　had　striped　Lysene　hulls　as　well。　In　vain　he　looked　for　any　sign　of　Lady　Marya　or　Wraith。
　They　pulled　down　the　sail　as　they　entered　the　harbor；　to　dock　on　oars　alone。　The　captain　came　to　Davos　as　they　were　tying　up。　〃My　prince　will　wish　to　see　you　at　once。〃
　A　fit　of　coughing　seized　Davos　as　he　tried　to　answer。　He　clutched　the　rail　for　support　and　spat　over　the　side。　〃The　king；〃　he　wheezed。　〃I　must　go　to　the　king。〃　For　where　the　king　is；　I　will　find　Melisandre。
　〃No　one　goes　to　the　king；〃　Khorane　Sathmantes　replied　firmly。　〃Salladhor　Saan　will　tell　you。　Him　first。〃
　Davos　was　too　weak　to　defy　him。　He　could　only　nod。
　Salladhor　Saan　was　not　aboard　his　Valyrian。　They　found　him　at　another　quay　a　quarter　mile　distant；　down　in　the　hold　of　a　big…bellied　Pentoshi　cog　named　Bountiful　Harvest；　counting　cargo　with　two　eunuchs。　One　held　a　lantern；　the　other　a　wax　tablet　and　stylus。　〃Thirty…seven；　thirtyeight；　thirty…nine；〃　the　old　rogue　was　saying　when　Davos　and　the　captain　came　down　the　hatch。　Today　he　wore　a　wine…colored　tunic　and　high　boots　of　bleached　white　leather　inlaid　with　silver　scrollwork。　Pulling　the　stopper　from　a　jar；　he　sniffed；　sneezed；　and　said；　〃A　coarse　grind；　and　of　the　second　quality；　my　nose　declares。　The　bill　of　lading　is　saying　forty…three　jars。　Where　have　the　others　gotten　to；　I　am　wondering？　These　Pentoshi；　do　they　think　I　am　not　counting？〃　When　he　saw　Davos　he　stopped　suddenly。　〃Is　it　pepper　stinging　my　eyes；　or　tears？　Is　this　the　knight　of　the　onions　who　stands　before　me？　No；　how　can　it　be；　my　dear　friend　Davos　died　on　the　burning　river；　all　agree。　Why　has　he　e　to　haunt　me？〃
　〃I　am　no　ghost；　Salla。〃
　〃What　else？　My　onion　knight　was　never　so　thin　or　so　pale　as　you。〃　Salladhor　Saan　threaded　his　way　between　the　jars　of　spice　and　bolts　of　cloth　that　filled　the　hold　of　the　merchanter；　wrapped　Davos　in　a　fierce　embrace；　then　kissed　him　once　on　each　cheek　and　a　third　time　on　his　forehead。　〃You　are　still　warm；　ser；　and　I　feel　your　heart　thumpetythumping。　Can　it　be　true？　The　sea　that　swallowed　you　has　spit　you　up　again。〃
　Davos　was　reminded　of　Patchface；　Princess　Shireen's　lackwit　fool。　He　had　gone　into　the　sea　as　well；　and　when　he　came　out　he　was　mad。　Am　I　mad　as　well？　He　coughed　into　a　gloved　hand　and　said；　〃I　swam　beneath　the　chain　and　washed　ashore　on　a　spear　of　the　merling　king。　I　would　have　died　there；　if　Shayala's　Dance　had　not　e　upon　me。〃
　Salladhor　Saan　threw　an　arm　around　the　captain's　shoulders。　〃This　was　well　done；　Khorane。　You　will　be　having　a　fine　reward；　I　am　thinking。　Meizo　Mahr；　be　a　good　eunuch　and　take　my　friend　Davos　to　the　owner's　cabin。
　Fetch　him　some　hot　wine　with　cloves；　I　am　misliking　the　sound　of　that　cough。　Squeeze　some　lime　in　it　as　well。　And　bring　white　cheese　and　a　bowl　of　those　cracked　green　olives　we　counted　earlier！　Davos；　I　will　join　you　soon；　once　I　have　bespoken　our　good　captain。　You　will　be　forgiving　me；　I　know。　Do　not　eat　all　the　olives；　or　I　must　be　cross　with　you！〃
　Davos　let　the　elder　of　the　two　eunuchs　escort　him　to　a　large　and　lavishly　furnished　cabin　at　the　stem　of　the　ship。　The　carpets　were　deep；　the　windows　stained　glass；　and　any　of　the　great　leather　chairs　would　have　seated　three　of　Davos　quite　fortably。　The　cheese　and　olives　arrived　shortly；　and　a　cup　of　steaming　hot　red　wine。　He　held　it　between　his　hands　and　sipped　it　gratefully。　The　warmth　felt　soothing　as　it　spread　through　his　chest。
　Salladhor　Saan　appeared　not　long　after。　〃You　must　be　forgiving　me　for　the　wine；　my　friend。　These　Pentoshi　would　drink　their　own　water　if　it　were　purple。〃
　〃It　will　help　my　chest；〃　said　Davos。　〃Hot　wine　is　better　than　a　press；　my　mother　used　to　say。〃
　〃You　shall　be　needing　presses　as　well；　I　am　thinking。　Sitting　on　a　spear　all　this　long　time；　oh　my。　How　are　you　finding　that　excellent　chair？　He　has　fat　cheeks；　does　he　not？〃
　〃Who？〃　asked　Davos；　between　sips　of　hot　wine。
　〃Illyrio　Mopatis。　A　whale　with　whiskers；　I　am　telling　you　truly。　These　chairs　were　built　to　his　measure；　though　he　is　seldom　bestirring　himself　from　Pentos　to　sit　in　them。　A　fat　man　always　sits　fortably；　I　am　thinking；　for　he　takes　his　pillow　with　him　wherever　he　goes。〃
　〃How　is　it　you　e　by　a　Pentoshi　ship？〃　asked　Davos。　〃Have　you　gone　pirate　again；　my　lord？〃　He　set　his　empty　cup　aside。
　〃Vile　calumny。　Who　has　suffered　more　from　pirates　than　Salladhor　Saan？　I　ask　only　what　is　due　me。　Much　gold　is　owed；　oh　yes；　but　I　am　not　without　reason；　so　in　place　of　coin　I　have　taken　a　handsome　parchment；　very　crisp。　It　bears　the　name　and　seal　of　Lord　Alester　Florent；　the　Hand　of　the　King。　I　am　made　Lord　of　Blackwater　Bay；　and　no　vessel　may　be　crossing　my　lordly　waters　without　my　lordly　leave；　no。　And　when　these　outlaws　are　trying　to　steal　past　me　in　the　night　to　avoid　my　lawful　duties　and　customs；　why；　they　are　no　better　than　smugglers；　so　I　am　well　within　my　rights　to　seize　them。〃　The　old　pirate　laughed。　〃I　cut　off　no　man's　fingers；　though。　What　good　are　bits　of　fingers？　The　ships　I　am　taking；　the　cargoes；　a　few　ransoms；　nothing　unreasonable。〃　He　gave　Davos　a　sharp　look。　〃You　are　unwell；　my　friend。　That　cough　。　。　。　and　so　thin；　I　am　seeing　your　bones　through　your　skin。　And　yet　I　am　not　seeing　your　little　bag　of　fingerbones　。　。　。〃
　Old　habit　made　Davos　reach　for　the　leather　pouch　that　was　no　longer　there。　〃I　lost　it　in　the　river。〃　My　luck。
　〃The　river　was　terrible；〃　Salladhor　Saan　said　solemnly。　〃Even　from　the　bay；　I　was　seeing；　and　shuddering。〃
　Davos　coughed；　spat；　and　coughed　again。　〃I　saw　Black　Betha　burning；　and　Fury　as　well；〃　he　finally　managed；　hoarsely。　〃Did　none　of　our　ships　escape　the　fire？〃　Part　of　him　still　hoped。
　〃Lord　Steffon；　Ragged　Jenna；　Swift　Sword；　Laughing　Lord；　and　some　others　were　upstream　of　the　pyromancers'pissing；　yes。　They　did　not　burn；　but　with　the　chain　raised；　neither　could　they　be　flying。　Some　few　were　surrendering。　Most　rowed　far　up　the　Blackwater；　away　from　the　battling；　and　then　were　sunk　by　their　crews　so　they　would　not　be　falling　into　Lannister　hands。　Ragged　Jen