fs.thethirdbookofswords-第6章
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f to slow to a panting halt。 The fight was definitely over。
In the workshop； only three sets of lungs were breathing still。
The lady； pulling her robe around her properly once more （even amid surrounding blood； terror； and danger； that momentary vision of her body was still with Denis； he thought that it would always be。） Now she let herself slide down slowly until she was sitting on the floor with her back against one of the upset benches。 Evidently more angered then terrified by the experience； she said to her husband acidly； 〃You are quite； quite sure； are you； that they represent the Watch？〃
Coutenay； still on his feet； looking stupid； breathing heavily； could only mumble something。
Once more there came the sound of pounding on a door； acpanied by urgent voices。 But this time the noise was originating within the house。 The door that closed off the ascending stair was being rattled and shaken； while from behind it a man's voice shouted： 〃Mistress！ Master！ Denis； are you all right？ What's going on？〃
The master of the house cast down his long iron ladle。 He stood for a moment contemplating his own bloodied hands as if he wondered how they might have got that way。 Denis saw an unprecedented tremor in those hands。 Then Courtenay drew a deep breath； raised his head； and called back； almost calmly； 〃It's all right； Tarim。 A little problem； but we've solved it。 Be patient for a moment and I'll explain。〃
In an aside he added： 〃Denis； help me get these。。。 no； you're hurt yourself。 Sit down first and bind that up。 Barb； you help me with these visitors。 Drag 'em around behind that bench and we'll throw a tarp over 'em。〃
Denis； in mild shock now with his wound； took a moment to register the unfamiliar name。 Barb？ Never before had he heard the master； or anyone else； call the lady that。。。 it wasn't going to be easy； he realized； to bind up his own arm unaided。 Anyway； the wound didn't look like it was going to kill him。
Courtenay； while keeping busy himself； was still giving orders。 〃Now close the street door。〃 He dropped a dead man where he wanted him； and pulled out a heavy tarpaulin from its storage。 〃No； wait； let Tarim see it standing open。 We'll say some brigands got in somehow； and。。。〃
Tarim and the other awakened staff were presently allowed to e crowding in。 Whether they fully believed the vague story about brigands or not； they took their cue from their master's manner and were too wise to question it。 The outer door was closed and barred。 Tarim himself had to be dissuaded from standing watch in the workshop for the rest of the night； and eventually he and all the others were on their way back to bed。
Alone in the workshop again； the three who had done the fighting exchanged looks。 Then they got busy。
Courtenay began a preliminary clean…up； while the mistress applied a bandage to Denis's forearm； following his directions。 Her small fingers； soft； white； and pampered； did not shrink from bloody contact。 They managed the bandaging quite well； using some of the cloth that had been brought for the first patient。
When the job was done； her fingers held his arm a moment more。 Her dark eyes； for the first time ever （he thought） looked at him with something more than the wish to be pleasant to a servant。 She said； very quietly but very seriously； 〃You saved my life； Denis。 Thank you。〃
It was almost as if no woman had ever touched him or spoken to him before。 Denis muttered something。 He could feel the blood flowing back into his face。 What foolishness； he told himself。 He and this lady could never。。。
A quick look at the stranger now occupying Denis's bed showed that the fight in the next room had not disturbed him。 He was still unconscious； breathing shallowly。 Denis； looking at him； came round to the opinion that nothing was likely to disturb this man again。 With two wounded men now on hand； the mistress announced that she was going upstairs to search more thoroughly for medical materials。
The master said to his lady； 〃I'll e up with you； we have to talk。 Denis can manage here for a few moments。〃
The two of them climbed in thoughtful silence； past the level where Tarim and other workers slept； past the next floor also。 Reaching the topmost level of the house； they passed through another door and entered a domain of elegance。 This began with a wood…paneled hall； lit now by the flame of a single candle in a wall sconce。 Here the lady turned in one direction； going to rummage in her private stocks for medical materials。 The master turned down the hall the other way； heading for a closet where he expected to find a fresh； unbloodied robe。
Before he reached the room that held the closet； he was intercepted by the toddling figure of a knee…high child； an apparition followed almost immediately by that of an apologetic nurse。
〃Oh sir； you're hurt；〃 the nurse protested。 She was a buxom girl； almost a grown woman now。 And at the same time the child demanded： 〃Daddy！ Tell story now！〃 At the age of two and a half； the little girl fortunately already showed much more of her mother's than her father's looks。 Brazenly wide awake； as if something about this particular night delighted her； she waited in her silken nightdress； small stuffed toy in hand。
The man spoke to the nursemaid first。 〃I'm all right； Kuan…yin。 The blood is nothing。 I'll put Beth back to bed； you go see if you can help your mistress find what she's looking for。〃
The nurse looked at him for a moment。 Then； like the other employees； wise enough to be incurious tonight； she moved away。
The huge man； who for the past four years had been trying to establish an identity as Master Courtenay； wiped drying gore from his huge hands onto a robe already stained。 With hands now steady； and almost clean； he bent to carefully pick up the living morsel he had discovered he valued more than his own life。
Carrying his daughter back to the nursery； he passed a window。 Through genuine glass and rainy night he had a passing view of the high city walls some hundreds of meters distant。 The real watch were keeping a fire burning atop the wall。 Another light； smaller and steadier； was visible in a slightly different direction； one of the upper windows glowing in the Lord Mayor's palace。 It looked as if someone was having a busy night there too； the observer could only hope that there was no connection。
Fortune was smiling on the huge man now； for he was able to remember the particular story that his daughter wanted； and to get through the telling of it with reasonable speed。 The child had just gone back to sleep； and the father was just on his way out of the nursery； shutting the door with infinite care behind him； when his wife reappeared； still wearing her stained white robe。
〃We have a moment；〃 she whispered； and drew him aside into their own bedroom。 When that door too had been softly closed； and they were securely alone； she added： 〃I've already taken the medicine downstairs to Denis。 He thinks that the man is probably going to die。。。 there's no doubt； is there； that he's the courier we're expecting？〃
〃I don't suppose there's much doubt about that； no。〃
The lady was slipping out of her bloodied robe now； and throwing it aside。 In the very dim light that came in through the barred window from those distant watchfires； her husband beheld her shapely body as a curved warmed silver candlestick； a pale ghost hardly thickened at all by having borne one child。 Once he had loved this woman hopelessly； and then another love had e to him； and gone again； dissolved in death。 Sometimes he still saw in dreams a cascade of bright red hair。。。 his love for his darkhaired wife still existed； but it was very different now。
As she dug into a chest to get another robe； she told him calmly； 〃One of those we killed tonight cried out； something like： 'Greetings to Ben of Purkinje； from the Blue Temple。' I'm sure that Denis heard it too。〃
〃We're going to have to trust Denis。 He's proved tonight he's loyal。 I think he saved your life。〃
〃Yes；〃 the lady agreed； in a remote voice。 〃Either trust him … or else kill him too。 Well。〃 She dismissed that thought； though not before taking a moment in which to examine it with deliberate care。 Then she looked
