uleg.thefarthestshore-第13章

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pt；　would　he　too　be　able　to　follow　Hare　into　his　dream　and　e　to　the　place；　the　secret　way？　Perhaps　he　could。　It　seemed　quite　possible　now。　But　he　was　to　guard　the　door。　He　and　Sparrowhawk　had　scarcely　spoken　of　it；　but　both　were　aware　that　in　having　them　e　back　at　night　Hare　might　have　planned　some　ambush；　he　had　been　a　pirate；　he　knew　robbers。　They　had　said　nothing；　but　Arren　knew　that　he　was　to　stand　guard；　for　while　the　mage　made　this　strange　journey　of　the　spirit　he　would　be　defenseless。　But　like　a　fool　he　had　left　his　sword　on　board　the　boat；　and　how　much　good　would　his　knife　be　if　that　door　swung　suddenly　open　behind　him？　But　that　would　not　happen：　he　could　listen　and　hear。　Hare　was　not　speaking　any　more。　Both　men　were　utterly　silent；　the　whole　house　was　silent。　Nobody　could　e　up　those　swaying　stairs　without　some　noise。　He　could　speak；　if　he　heard　a　noise：　shout　aloud；　and　the　trance　would　break；　and　Sparrowhawk　would　turn　and　defend　himself　and　Arren　with　all　the　vengeful　lightning　of　a　wizard's　rage。。。　When　Arren　had　sat　down　at　the　door；　Sparrowhawk　had　looked　at　him；　only　a　glance；　approval：　approval　and　trust。　He　was　the　guard。　There　was　no　danger　if　he　kept　on　guard。　But　it　was　hard；　hard　to　keep　watching　those　two　faces；　the　little　pearl　of　the　lampflame　between　them　on　the　floor；　both　silent　now；　both　still；　their　eyes　open　but　not　seeing　the　light　or　the　dusty　room；　not　seeing　the　world；　but　some　other　world　of　dream　or　death。。。　to　watch　them　and　not　to　try　to　follow　them。。。
　　There；　in　the　vast；　dry　darkness；　there　one　stood　beckoning。　e；　he　said；　the　tall　lord　of　shadows。　In　his　hand　he　held　a　tiny　flame　no　larger　than　a　pearl；　held　it　out　to　Arren；　offering　life。　Slowly　Arren　took　one　step　toward　him；　following。
　
　Magelight
　
　　Dry；　his　mouth　was　dry。　There　was　the　taste　of　dust　in　his　mouth。　His　lips　were　covered　with　dust。
　　Without　lifting　his　head　from　the　floor；　he　watched　the　shadow…play。　There　were　the　big　shadows　that　moved　and　stooped；　swelled　and　shrank；　and　fainter　ones　that　ran　around　the　walls　and　ceiling　swiftly；　mocking　them。　There　was　a　shadow　in　the　corner　and　a　shadow　on　the　floor；　and　neither　of　these　moved。
　　The　back　of　his　head　began　to　hurt。　At　the　same　time；　what　he　saw　came　clear　to　his　mind；　in　one　flash；　frozen　in　an　instant：　Hare　slumped　in　a　corner　with　his　head　on　his　knees；　Sparrowhawk　sprawled　on　his　back；　a　man　kneeling　over　Sparrowhawk；　another　tossing　gold　pieces　into　a　bag；　a　third　standing　watching。　The　third　man　held　a　lantern　in　one　hand　and　a　dagger　in　the　other；　Arren's　dagger。
　　If　they　talked；　he　did　not　hear　them。　He　heard　only　his　own　thoughts；　which　told　him　immediately　and　unhesitatingly　what　to　do。　He　obeyed　them　at　once。　He　crawled　forward　very　slowly　a　couple　of　feet；　darted　out　his　left　hand　and　grabbed　the　bag　of　loot；　leapt　to　his　feet；　and　made　for　the　stairs　with　a　hoarse　yell。　He　plunged　downstairs　in　the　blind　dark　without　missing　a　step；　without　even　feeling　them　under　his　feet；　as　if　he　were　flying。　He　broke　out　onto　the　street　and　ran　full…speed　into　the　dark。
　　The　houses　were　black　hulks　against　the　stars。　Starlight　gleamed　faintly　on　the　river　to　his　right；　and　though　he　could　not　see　where　the　streets　led；　he　could　make　out　street…crossings　and　so　turn　and　double　on　his　track。　They　had　followed　him；　he　could　hear　them　behind　him；　not　very　far　behind。　They　were　unshod；　and　their　panting　breathing　was　louder　than　their　footfalls。　He　would　have　laughed　if　he　had　had　time；　he　knew　at　last　what　it　was　like　to　be　the　hunted　instead　of　the　hunter；　the　quarry　instead　of　the　leader　of　the　chase。　It　was　to　be　alone　and　to　be　free。　He　swerved　to　the　right　and　dodged　stooping　across　a　high…parapetted　bridge；　slipped　into　a　side　street；　around　a　corner；　back　to　the　riverside　and　along　it　for　a　way；　across　another　bridge。　His　shoes　were　loud　on　the　cobblestones；　the　only　sound　in　all　the　city；　he　paused　at　the　bridge　abutment　to　unlace　them；　but　the　strings　were　knotted；　and　the　hunt　had　not　lost　him。　The　lantern　glittered　a　second　across　the　river；　the　soft；　heavy；　running　feet　came　on。　He　could　not　get　away　from　them。　He　could　only　outrun　them；　keep　going；　keep　ahead；　and　get　them　away　from　the　dusty　room；　far　away。。。
　　They　had　stripped　his　coat　off　him；　along　with　his　dagger；　and　he　was　in　shirt…sleeves；　light　and　hot；　his　head　swimming；　and　the　pain　in　the　back　of　his　skull　pointing　and　pointing　with　each　stride；　and　he　ran　and　he　ran。。。　The　bag　hindered　him。　He　flung　it　down　suddenly；　a　loose　gold　piece　flying　out　and　striking　the　stones　with　a　clear　ring。　〃Here's　your　money！〃　he　yelled；　his　voice　hoarse　and　gasping。　He　ran　on。　And　all　at　once　the　street　ended。　No　cross…streets；　no　stars　before　him；　a　dead　end。　Without　pausing　he　turned　back　and　ran　at　his　pursuers。　The　lantern　swung　wild　in　his　eyes；　and　he　yelled　defiance　as　he　came　at　them。
　
　　There　was　a　lantern　swinging　back　and　forth　before　him；　a　faint　spot　of　light　in　a　great；　moving　greyness。　He　watched　it　for　a　long　time。　It　grew　fainter；　and　at　last　a　shadow　passed　before　it；　and　when　the　shadow　went　on　the　light　was　gone。　He　grieved　for　it　a　little；　or　perhaps　he　was　grieving　for　himself；　because　he　knew　he　must　wake　up　now。
　　The　lantern；　dead；　still　swung　against　the　mast　to　which　it　was　fixed。　All　around；　the　sea　brightened　with　the　ing　sun。　A　drum　beat。　Oars　creaked　heavily；　regularly；　the　wood　of　the　ship　cried　and　creaked　in　a　hundred　little　voices；　a　man　up　in　the　prow　called　something　to　the　sailors　behind　him。　The　men　chained　with　Arren　in　the　after　hold　were　all　silent。　Each　wore　an　iron　band　around　his　waist　and　manacles　on　his　wrists；　and　both　these　bonds　were　linked　by　a　short；　heavy　chain　to　the　bonds　of　the　next　man；　the　belt　of　iron　was　also　chained　to　a　bolt　in　the　deck；　so　that　the　man　could　sit　or　crouch；　but　could　not　stand。　They　were　too　close　together　to　lie　down；　jammed　together　in　the　small　cargo…hold。　Arren　was　in　the　forward　port　corner。　If　he　lifted　his　head　high；　his　eyes　were　on　a　level　with　the　deck　between　hold　and　rail；　a　couple　of　feet　wide。
　　He　did　not　remember　much　of　last　night　past　the　chase　and　the　dead…end　street。　He　had　fought　and　been　knocked　down　and　trussed　up　and　carried　somewhere。　A　man　with　a　strange；　whispering　voice　had　spoken；　there　had　been　a　place　like　a　smithy；　a　forge…fire　leaping　red。。。　He　could　not　recall　it。　He　knew；　though；　that　this　was　a　slave…ship；　and　that　he　had　been　taken　to　be　sold。
　　It　did　not　mean　much　to　him。　He　was　too　thirsty。　His　body　ached　and　his　head　hurt。　When　the　sun　rose　the　light　sent　lances　of　pain　into　his　eyes。
　　Along　in　midmorning　they　were　given　a　quarter…loaf　of　bread　each　and　a　long　drink　from　a　leather　flask；　held　to　their　lips　by　a　man　with　a　sharp；　hard　face。　His　neck　was　clasped　by　a　broad；　gold…studded　leather　band　like　a　dog's　collar；　and　when　Arren　heard　him　speak　he　recognized　the　weak；　strange；　whistling　voice。
　　Drink　and　food　eased　his　bodily　wretchedness　for　a　while　and　cleared　his　head。　He　looked　for　the　first　time　at　the　faces　of　his　fellow　slaves；　three　in　his　row　and　four　close　behind。　Some　sat　with　tbeir　heads　on　their　raised　knees；　one　was　slumped　over；　sick　or　drugged。　The　one　next　to　Arren　was　a　fellow　of　twenty　or　so　with　a　broad；　flat　face。　〃Where　are　they　taking　us？〃　Arren　said　to　him。
　　The　fellow　looked　at　him　…their　faces　were　not　a　foot　apart…　and　grinned；　shrugging；　and　Arren　thought　he　meant　he　did　not　know；　but　then　he　jerked　his　manacled　arms　as　if　to　gesture　and　opened　his　still…grinning　mouth　wide　to　show；　where　the　tongue　should　be；　only　a　black　root。
　　〃It'll　be　Showl；〃　said　one　behind　Arren；　and　another；　〃Or　the　Market　at　Amrun；〃　and　then　the　man　with　the　collar；　who　seemed　to　be　everywhere　on　the　ship；　was　bending　above　the　hold；　hissing；　〃Be　still　if　you　don't　want　to　be　shark　bait；〃　and　all　of　them　were　still。
　　Arren　tried　to　imagine　these　places；　Showl；　the　Market　of　Amrun。　They　sold　slaves　there。　They　stood　them　out　in　front　of　the　buyers；　no　doubt；　like　oxen　or　rams　for　sale　in　Berila　Marketplace。　He　would　stand　there　wearing　chains。　Somebody　would　buy　him　and　lead　him　home　and　they　would　give　him　an　order；　and　he　would　refuse　to　o