fs.thefirstbookofswords-第22章
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t ready for harvest alternated with woodlands and pastures。 Nestor had driven through one small village already。
〃Sometime tomorrow；〃 said Nestor shortly。 〃Maybe sooner。〃 The fog had lifted pletely now； and he was busier than ever being sharp…eyed。 When Mark asked some more questions about the dragon； he was told that they were taking it to the fair on Sir Andrew's green； where it ought to earn some coin as an exhibit。 It would also； Mark gathered； serve to advertise Nestor's skill in the hunt。 Sir Andrew was a Fen Marcher； which meant he had territory abutting the Great Swamp。 He and some of his tributary towns； Mark was told； had chronic dragon problems。
Mark； thinking about it； had trouble picturing one man； however strong and skilled and brave； just going out and hunting dragons as if they were rabbits。 From the stories he'd heard； real dragon hunts were vast enterprises involving numbers of trained beasts and people。 And Nestor might be brave and skilled； but he didn't look all that strong。 Ben； of course； looked strong enough for two at least。
As the afternoon passed； Nestor drove more slowly； and appeared to be even more anxious about seeing what was on the winding road ahead of him。 Passing a pack toting peddler who was ing from the other direction； he slowed still more to ask the man a question： 〃Soldiers？〃
The wink and faint nod that he got in return were apparently all the answer Nestor needed。 He turned off the road at the next feasible place； and jounced across an unfenced field to a side lane。
〃Just as soon not meet any of the Duke's soldiers；〃 he muttered； as if someone had asked him for an explanation。 〃There's a creek down this way somewhere。 Maybe the water's low enough to ford。 On the other side's Blue Temple land； if I remember right。〃
There was no problem in finding the creek which meandered across flat and largely neglected farmland。 Locating a place where it could readily be forded was somewhat harder。 Nestor sent Ben and Barbara to scout on foot； upstream and down； and eventually succeeded。 Once on the other side； he sighed with relief and drove the wagon as deep as possible into a small grove； not stopping till he was out of sight of Duke Fraktin's side of the stream。 Then he announced that it was time to set up camp。 Ben and Barbara immediately swung into a well…practiced routine； tending the loadbeasts and starting to gather some wood for a fire。
As Mark began to lend a hand； Nestor called him aside。 〃Einar； you e with me。 We need some more frogs for the dragon； and I've a special way of catching them that I want to show you。〃
〃All right。 I'll bring my bow； maybe we'll see a rabbit。〃
〃It'll be getting dark for shooting。 But fetch it along。〃
From the back of the wagon Nestor dug out what looked to Mark like a rather ordinary fishnet； of moderately fine mesh。 On the wooden rim were symbols that Mark supposed might have some magical significance； though often enough such decorative efforts had no real power behind them。 With Nestor carrying the net beside him； Mark trudged into the trees； an arrow nocked on his bow。 They followed the general slope of the land back down to the creek bed。
As they walked； Nestor asked： 〃Einar； what's your uncles name？ The one who's armorer for Sir Andrew。 I might know him。〃
〃His name's Mark。〃 At least he said it quickly； this was one answer he hadn't thought out in advance。
〃No。 I don't know him。〃 A cloudy twilight was oozing up out of the low ground。 They had reached the creek bank without spotting any rabbits or other game； and Mark put away his bow and arrow。
〃Anyway；〃 said Nestor； 〃that sword of yours didn't look like it needed a lot of work。〃 He was studying the stream as he spoke； and it was impossible to tell from his voice what he was thinking。 Stepping carefully now from one stone to another； he worked his way out near the middle of the stream； where he positioned his net in a strong flow of water； catching the wooden frame on rocks so it would be held in place。 He straightened up； stretching his back； still seeming to study the water's flow。 〃Didn't you say that your uncle was going to work on it？〃
Mark hesitated； finally got out a few lame words。
Nestor did not seem to be paying very close attention to what he said this time。 〃Or； maybe you've given some thought to selling your sword at the fair。 That would be a good time and place； if you mean to sell it。 Honest business dealings are more likely under Sir Andrew's eye than elsewhere。 There might even be one or two people there who could buy such a thing。〃
〃I wouldn't know how to sell it。 And anyway； I wouldn't want to。 It was my father's。〃 All of that was the truth； which made it a relief to say。
〃A sword like that； I suppose it must have some special powers； as well as being beautiful to look at。〃 Nestor was still gazing at the stream。
Mark was silent。
Nestor at last looked at him directly。 〃Would you get it now？ Bring it here； and let me have a look at it？〃
Mark could think of no decent way to refuse。 He turned away wordlessly and trudged back to the wagon。 He could grab his sword when he got there and run away again； but sooner or later he was going to have to trust someone。
He found Ben and Barbara engaged in what looked like a tricky business。 They had removed the dragon's cage from the wagon and were cleaning the cage while its occupant shrilled at them and tried to claw and bite them。 They looked at Mark curiously when he climbed into the wagon； and again when he emerged with his wrapped sword in hand。 But they said nothing to him。
Darkness was thickening in the grove when Mark brought the sword back to Nestor； who was sitting on a rock beside the stream and appeared to be lost in meditation。 But the wiry man roused quickly enough； took the sword on his lap and undid its wrappings carefully。 There was still enough light for a fairly close inspection。 Nestor sighted along the edge of the blade； and then tried it with a leaf。 Brushed lightly along the upright edge； the leaf fell away in two neat halves。
With one finger Nestor traced the subtle pattern on the hilt。 Then； acting as if he had reached a decision； he let Mark hold the sword for a moment and got to his feet。 Lifting his net from the water； he peered into the mass of small； struggling creatures it had captured。 The net held； thought Mark； a surprising weight of swimming and crawling things； perhaps the magical symbols round the rim really were effective。
Nestor plunged his hand into the mass； pulled out one wriggling thing； and let the rest sag back into the water。 〃Baby dragon；〃 he said； holding up a fistful of feebly squirming gray for Mark's inspection。 There were no wings； and the creature was vastly smaller than the one back in the cage。 〃You find 'em in a lot of the streams hereabouts。 There's a million； ten million； hatched for every one that ever grows big enough to need hunting。〃
Then he surprised Mark by taking Townsaver back again。 Nestor held the blade extended horizontally； flat side up； and on that small plain of metal he set the hatchling dragon。 Freed of his grip； it hissed an infinitesimal challenge； and lashed a tiny tail。 Nestor rotated the blade； slowly turning it edge…side up； somehow the creature continued to cling on。 Its scales； though no bigger than a baby's fingernails and paper…thin； could protect it from that cutting edge。 It hissed again as the sword pleted a half…rotation； once more giving the dragon a flat space to rest upon。
Nestor contemplated this result for a moment； as if it were not at all what he had been expecting。 Then with a small flick of his wrist he dashed the tiny creature to the ground； and in the next moment he killed it precisely with the sword； letting the weight of the weapon fall behind the point。 Nestor handled the sword； thought Mark； as if it had been in his hand for years。
〃One less to grow up；〃 said Nestor； turning his thoughtful gaze toward Mark。 With the sword point still down in the soil at his feet； he leaned the hilt back to Mark； giving the sword back。 〃First dragon this sword has ever killed； do you
