mc.eatersofthedead-第25章
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bare； except for a large throne…like chair； carved of a single piece of enormous wood。 This chair had a high fanning back； carved into the shape of snakes and demons。 At the foot of the chair were littered bones of skulls； and upon the arms of the chair； where its owner might rest his hands there was blood and remnants of whitish cheesy substance； which was human brain material。 The odor of this room was ghastly。
Placed all around this chair there were small pregnant stone carvings； such as I have described before； these carvings formed a circle or perimeter about the chair。
Herger said； 〃This is where she rules；〃 and his voice was low and awed。
I was not able to prehend his meaning； and was sick in heart and stomach。 I emptied my stomach upon the soil。 Herger and Buliwyf and the others were also distressed； though no man purged himself； but rather they took glowing embers from the fire and set the huts aflame。 They burned slowly； for they were damp。
And thus we climbed up the hill； mounted our horses； and left the region of the wendol； and departed the desert of dread。 And all the warriors of Buliwyf were now sad of aspect； for the wendol had surpassed them in cunning and cleverness； abandoning their lair in anticipation of the attack； and they would count the burning of their dwellings no great loss。
THE COUNSEL OF THE DWARF
WE RETURNED AS WE HAD E； BUT RODE WITH greater speed； for the horses now were eager； and eventually came down from the hills and saw the flat plain and； in the distance； at the ocean's edge； the settlement and the great hall of Rothgar。
Now Buliwyf veered away and led us in another direction； toward high rocky crags swept by the ocean winds。 I rode alongside Herger and inquired the reason for this； and he said we were to seek out the dwarves of the region。
At this I was much surprised； for the men of the North have no dwarves among their society； they are never seen in the streets； nor do any sit at the feet of kings； nor are any to be found counting money or keeping records or any of the things that we know of dwarves。36 Never had any Northman mentioned dwarves to me； and I had presumed that so giant a people37 would never produce dwarves。
Now we came to a region of caves； hollowed and windswept； and Buliwyf dismounted from his horse； and all the warriors of Buliwyf did likewise； and proceeded by foot。 I heard a hissing sound； and verily I saw puffs of steam issue from one and another of these several caves。 We entered one cave and there found dwarves。
They were in appearance thus： of the ordinary size of dwarf； but distinguished by hands of great size； and bearing features that appeared exceedingly aged。 There were both male and female dwarves and all had the appearance of great age。 The males were bearded and solemn； the women also had some hair upon the face； so they appeared manlike。 Each dwarf wore a garment of fur or sable； each also wore a thin belt of hide decorated with bits of hammered gold。
The dwarves greeted our arrival politely； with no sign of fear。 Herger said these creatures have magic powers and need fear no man on earth； however； they are apprehensive of horses； and for this reason we had left the mounts behind us。 Herger said also that the powers of a dwarf reside in his thin belt； and that a dwarf will do anything to retrieve his belt if it is lost。
Herger said this also： that the appearance of great age among the dwarves was a true thing； and that a dwarf lived beyond the span of any ordinary man。 Also he said to me that these dwarves are virile from their earliest youth； that even as infants they have hair at the groin； and members of unmon size。 Indeed； it is in this way that the parents first e to know that their infant child is a dwarf； and a creature of magic； who must be taken to the hills to live with others of his kind。 This done； the parents give thanks to the gods and sacrifice some animal or other； for to give birth to a dwarf is accounted high good fortune。
This is the belief of the North people； as Herger spoke it； and I do not know the truth of the matter； and report only what was told to me。
Now I saw that the hissing and steam issued from great cauldrons； into which hammered…steel blades were plunged to temper the metal； for the dwarves make weapons that are highly prized by the Northmen。 Indeed； I saw the warriors of Buliwyf looking about the caves eagerly； as any woman in a bazaar shop selling precious silks。
Buliwyf made inquiries of these creatures； and was directed to the topmost of the caves； wherein sat a single dwarf； older than all the others； with a beard and hair of purest white； and a creased and wrinkled face。 This dwarf was called 〃tengol；〃 which means a judge of good and evil； and also a soothsayer。
This tengol must have had the magical powers that all said he did； for he immediately greeted Buliwyf by his name； and bade him sit with him。 Buliwyf sat； and we gathered a short distance away； standing。
Now Buliwyf did not present the tengol with gifts； the Northmen make no obeisance to the little people； they believe that the favors of the dwarves must be freely given； and it is wrong to encourage the favors of a dwarf with gifts。 Thus Buliwyf sat； and the tengol looked at him； and then closed his eyes and began to speak； rocking back and forth as he sat。 The tengol spoke in a high voice as a child； and Herger told me the meaning was thus：
〃O Buliwyf； you are a great warrior but you have met your match in the monsters of the mist； the eaters of the dead。 This shall be a struggle to the death； and you shall need all your strength and wisdom to overe the challenge。〃 And he went on in this manner for some good time； rocking back and forth。 The import was that Buliwyf faced a difficult adversary； which I already knew well enough and so did Buliwyf himself。 Yet Buliwyf was patient。
Also I saw that Buliwyf took no offense when the dwarf laughed at him； which frequently he did。 The dwarf spoke： 〃You have e to me because you attacked the monsters in the brackish marsh and tarn； and this availed you nothing。 Therefore you e to me for advice and admonishment； as a child to his father； saying what shall I do now； for all my plans have failed me。〃 The tengol laughed long at this speech。 Then his old face turned solemn。
〃O Buliwyf；〃 he said； 〃I see the future； but I can tell you no more than you already know。 You and all your brave warriors gathered your skill and your courage to make an attack upon the monsters in the desert of dread。 In this you cheated yourself； for such was not a true hero's enterprise。〃
I heard these words with astonishment； for it had seemed heroic work enough for me。
〃No； no； noble Buliwyf；〃 the tengol said。 〃You set out upon a false mission； and deep in your hero's heart you knew it was unworthy。 So； too； was your battle against the glowworm dragon Korgon unworthy； and it cost you many fine warriors。 To what end are all your plans？〃
Still Buliwyf did not answer。 He sat with the dwarf and waited。
〃A hero's great challenge；〃 the dwarf said； 〃is in the heart； and not in the adversary。 What matter if you had e upon the wendol in their lair and had killed many of their number as they slept？ You could kill many； yet this would not end the struggle； any more than cutting off the fingers will kill the man。 To kill the man； you must pierce the head or the heart； and thus it is with the wendol。 All this you know； and need not my counsel to know it。〃
Thus the dwarf； rocking back and forth； chastised Buliwyf。 And thus Buliwyf accepted his rebuke； for he did not reply； but only lowered his head。
〃You have done the work of a mere man；〃 the tengol continued； 〃and not a proper hero。 A hero does what no man dares to undertake。 To kill the wendol； you must strike at the head and the heart： you must overe their very mother； in the thunder caves。〃
I did not understand the meaning of these words。
〃You know of this； for it has always been true； through all the ages of man。 Shall your brave warriors die； one by one？ Or shall you strike at the mother in the caves？ Here is no prophecy； only the choice of a man or a hero。〃
Now Buliwyf made some response； but it was low； and lost to me
