mc.eatersofthedead-第23章
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The Northmen bathe wounds with ocean seawater； believing this water to possess more curative powers than spring water。 Such bathing with seawater is not agreeable to the wound。 In truth I groaned and at this； Rethel laughed and spoke to a slavewoman： 〃He is still an Arab。〃 Here I was ashamed。
Also the Northmen will bathe wounds in the heated urine of cows。 This I refused； when it was offered me。
The North people think cow urine an admirable substance； and store it up in wooden containers。 In the ordinary way of things； they boil it until it is dense and stinging to the nostrils； and then employ this vile liquid for washing； especially of coarse white garments。31
Also I was told that； upon one time or another； the North people may be engaged in a long sea voyage and have at hand no supplies of fresh water； and therefore each man drinks his own urine； and in this way they can survive until they reach shore。 This I was told but never saw； by the grace of Allah。
Now Herger came to me； for the conference of the warriors was at an end。 The slavewoman attending me had made my wounds burn most distractingly； yet I was determined to maintain a Northman show of great cheer。 I said to Herger； 〃What trifling matter shall we undertake next？〃
Herger looked to my wounds； and said to me； 〃You can ride well enough。〃 I inquired where I would be riding； and in truth at once lost all my good cheer； for I had great weariness； and no strength for aught but resting。 Herger said： 〃Tonight； the glowworm dragon will attack again。 But we are now too weak； and our numbers too few。 Our defenses are burned and destroyed。 The glowworm dragon will kill us all。〃
These words he spoke calmly。 I saw this； and said to Herger： 〃Where； then； do we ride？〃 I had in mind that by reason of their heavy losses； Buliwyf and his pany might be abandoning the kingdom of Rothgar。 In this I was not opposed。
Herger said to me： 〃A wolf that lies in its lair never gets meat； or a sleeping man victory。〃 This is a Northman proverb； and from it I took a different plan： that we were going to attack on horseback the mist monsters where they lay； in the mountains or the hills。 With no great heart I inquired of Herger when this should be； and Herger told me in the middle part of the day。
Now I saw also that a child entered the hall； and carried in his hands some object of stone。 This was examined by Herger； and it was another of the headless stone carvings of a pregnant woman； bloated and ugly。 Herger shouted an oath； and dropped the stone from his trembling hands。 He called upon the slavewoman； who took the stone and placed it in the fire； where the heat of the flames caused it to crack and splinter into fragments。 These fragments were then thrown into the sea； or so I was informed by Herger。
I inquired what was the meaning of the carved stone； and he said to me； 〃That is the image of the mother of the eaters of the dead； she who presides over them； and directs them in the eating。〃
Now I saw that Buliwyf； who stood in the center of the great hall； was looking up at the arm of one of the fiends； which still hung from the rafters。 Then he looked down at the two bodies of his slain panions； and at the waning Rethel； and his shoulders fell； and his chin sank to his chest。 And then he walked past them and out of the door； and I saw him put on his armor； and take up his sword； and prepare for battle anew。
THE DESERT OF DREAD
BULIWYF CALLED FOR SEVEN STURDY HORSES； AND IN the early part of the day we rode from the great hall of Rothgar out into the flat plain； and thence toward the hills beyond。 With us also were four hounds of pure white color； great animals which I should count nearer to wolves than dogs； so fierce was their demeanor。 This made the totality of our attacking forces； and I believed it a weak gesture against so formidable an opponent； yet the Northmen place great faith upon surprise and a sly attack。 Also； by their own reckoning they are each man the equal of three or four of any other。
I was not disposed to embark upon another venture of warfare； and was much amazed that the Northmen did not reflect such a view； springing as it did from the fatigue of my body。 Herger said of this： 〃It is always thus； now and in Valhalla；〃 which is their idea of heaven。 In this heaven； which is to them a great hall； warriors battle from dawn to dusk； then those who are dead are revived； and all share a feast in the night； with endless food and drink； and then upon the day they battle again； and those who die are revived； and there is a feast； and this is the nature of their heaven through all eternity。32 Thus they never count it strange to do battle day upon day while on the earth。
Our direction of travel was determined by the trail of blood the retreating horsemen had left from the night。 The hounds led； racing along this red dripping trail。 We paused but once upon the flat plain； to retrieve a weapon dropped by the departing demons。 Here is the nature of the weapon： it was a hand axe with a haft of some wood； and a blade of chipped stone bound to the haft with hide thongs。 The edge of this axe was exceedingly sharp； and the blade fashioned with skill； as much as if this stone were some gemstone to be chiseled to delight a rich lady's vanity。 Such was the degree of workmanship； and the weapon was formidable for the sharpness of its edge。 Never have I seen such an object before on the face of all the earth。 Herger told me that the wendol made all their tools and weapons of this stone； or so the Northmen believe。
Yet we traveled onward with good speed； led by the barking dogs； and their barking cheered me。 At length we came to the hills。 We rode into the hills without hesitation or ceremony； each of the warriors of Buliwyf intent upon his purpose； a silent and grim…faced pany of men。 They held the marks of fear upon their faces； and yet no man paused or faltered； but pressed onward。
Now it was cold in the hills； in the forests of dark green trees； and a chill wind blew at our clothing； and we saw the hissing breath of the steeds； and white plumes of breath from the running dogs； and we pressed onward still。 After some travel until the middle period of the day； we arrived at a new landscape。 Here was a brackish tarn； no moor； or heath…a desolate land； most resembling a desert； yet not sandy and dry； but damp and soggy； and over this land lay the faintest wisps of mist。 The Northmen call this place the desert of dread。33
Now I saw with my own eyes that this mist lay upon the land in small pockets or clusterings； like tiny clouds seated upon the earth。 In one area； the air is clear； then in another place there are small mists that hang near the ground； rising to the height of a horse's knees； and in such a place we would lose sight of the dogs； who were enveloped in these mists。 Then； a moment later； the mist would clear； and we would be in another open space again。 Such was the landscape of the heath。
I found this sight remarkable； but the Northmen took it to be nothing special； they said the land in this region has many brackish pools and bubbling hot springs； which rise from rents in the ground； in these places； a small fog collects； and remains there all the day and night。 They call this the place of steaming lakes。
The land is difficult for horses； and we made slower progress。 The dogs also ventured more slowly； and I noted that they barked less vigorously。 Soon our pany had changed wholly： from a gallop； with yelping dogs in the forefront； to a slow walk； with silent dogs hardly willing to lead the way； and instead falling back until they were underfoot the horses； thus causing some occasional difficulty。 It was still very cold； indeed colder than before； and I saw here and there a small patch of snow upon the ground； though this was； by my best reckoning； the summer period。
At a slow pace； we proceeded for a goodly distance； and I had wonder that we should be lost； and never find our way back through this heath。 Now at a place the dogs halted。 There was no difference in the terrain； or any mark or object upon the ground； yet the dogs stopped as if they had arrived upon some fence or palpable obstruction。 Our party halted at this pl
