tp.lightfantastic-第28章

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star　climbed　slowly　into　the　sky　until　the　whole　of　it　was　several　degrees　above　the　edge　of　the　world。
　They　pulled　Rincewind　into　the　safety　of　a　doorway。　The　crowd　hardly　noticed　them；　but　ran　on；　terrified　as　lemmings。
　'The　star's　got　spots　on；'　said　Twoflower。
　'No；'　said　Rincewind。　'They're　。　。　。　things。　Things　going　around　the　star。　Like　the　sun　goes　around　the　Disc。　But　they're　close　in；　because；　because　。　。　。'　he　paused。　'I　nearly　know！'
　'Know　what？'
　'I've　got　to　get　rid　of　this　Spell！'
　'Which　way　is　the　University？'　said　Bethan。
　'This　way！'　said　Rincewind；　pointing　along　the　street。
　'It　must　be　very　popular。　That's　where　everyone's　going。'
　'I　wonder　why？'　said　Twoflower。
　'Somehow；'　said　Rincewind；　'I　don't　think　it's　to　enroll　for　evening　classes。'
　In　fact　Unseen　University　was　under　siege；　or　at　least　those　parts　of　it　that　extruded　into　the　usual；　everyday　dimensions　were　under　siege。　The　crowds　outside　its　gates　were；　generally；　making　one　of　two　demands。　They　were　demanding　that　either　a）　the　wizards　should　stop　messing　about　and　get　rid　of　the　star　or；　and　this　was　the　demand　favoured　by　the　star　people；　that　b）　they　should　cease　all　magic　and　mit　suicide　in　good　order；　thus　ridding　the　Disc　of　the　curse　of　magic　and　warding　off　the　terrible　threat　in　the　sky。
　The　wizards　on　the　other　side　of　the　walls　had　no　idea　how　to　do　a）　and　no　intention　of　doing　b）　and　many　had　in　fact　plumped　for　c）；　which　largely　consisted　of　nipping　out　of　hidden　side　doors　and　having　it　away　on　their　toes　as　far　as　possible；　if　not　faster。
　What　reliable　magic　still　remained　in　the　University　was　being　channelled　into　keeping　the　great　gates　secure。　The　wizards　were　learning　that　while　it　was　all　very　fine　and　impressive　to　have　a　set　of　gates　that　were　locked　by　magic；　it　ought　to　have　occurred　to　the　builders　to　include　some　sort　of　emergency　back…up　device　such　as；　for　example；　a　pair　of　ordinary；　unimpressive　stout　iron　bolts。
　In　the　square　outside　the　gates　several　large　bonfires　had　been　lit；　for　effect　as　much　as　anything　else；　because　the　heat　from　the　star　was　scorching。
　'But　you　can　still　see　the　stars；'　said　Twoflower；　'the　ther　stars；　I　mean。　The　little　ones。　In　a　black　sky。'
　Rincewind　ignored　him。　He　was　looking　at　the　gates。　A　group　of　star　people　and　citizens　were　trying　to　batter　them　down。
　'It's　hopeless；'　said　Bethan。　'We'll　never　get　in。　Where　are　you　going？'
　'For　a　walk；'　said　Rincewind。　He　was　setting　off　determinedly　down　a　side　street。
　There　were　one　or　two　freelance　rioters　here；　mostly　engaged　in　wrecking　shops。　Rincewind　took　no　notice；　but　followed　the　wall　until　it　ran　parallel　to　a　dark　alley　that　had　the　usual　unfortunate　smell　of　all　alleys；　everywhere。
　Then　he　started　looking　very　closely　at　the　stonework。　The　wall　here　was　twenty　feet　high；　and　topped　with　cruel　metal　spikes。
　'I　need　a　knife；'　he　said。
　'You're　going　to　cut　your　way　through？'　said　Bethan。
　'Just　find　me　a　knife；'　said　Rincewind。　He　started　to　tap　stones。
　Twoflower　and　Bethan　looked　at　each　other；　and　shrugged。　A　few　minutes　later　they　returned　with　a　selection　of　knives；　and　Twoflower　had　even　managed　to　find　a　sword。
　'We　just　helped　ourselves；'　said　Bethan。
　'But　we　left　some　money；'　said　Twoflower。　'I　mean；　we　would　have　left　some　money；　if　we'd　had　any　…'
　'So　he　insisted　on　writing　a　note；'　said　Bethan　wearily。
　Twoflower　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height；　which　was　hardly　worth　it。
　'I　see　no　reason…'　he　began；　stiffly。
　'Yes；　yes；'　said　Bethan；　sitting　down　glumly。　'I　know　you　don't。　Rincewind；　all　the　shops　have　been　smashed　open；　there　was　a　whole　bunch　of　people　across　the　street　helping　themselves　to　musical　instruments；　can　you　believe　that？'
　'Yeah；'　said　Rincewind；　picking　up　a　knife　and　testing　its　blade　thoughtfully。　'Luters；　I　expect。'
　He　thrust　the　blade　into　the　wall；　twisted　it；　and　stepped　ack　as　a　heavy　stone　fell　out。　He　looked　up；　counting　under　his　breath；　and　levered　another　stone　from　its　socket。
　'How　did　you　do　that？'　said　Twoflower。
　'Just　give　me　a　leg　up；　will　you？'　said　Rincewind。　A　moment　later；　his　feet　wedged　into　the　holes　he　had　created；　he　was　making　further　steps　halfway　up　the　wall。
　'It's　been　like　this　for　centuries；'　his　voice　floated　down。　'Some　of　the　stones　haven't　got　any　mOrtar。　Secret　entrance；　see？　Watch　out　below。'
　Another　stone　cracked　into　the　cobbles。
　'Students　made　it　long　ago；'　said　Rincewind。　'Handy　way　in　and　out　after　lights　out。'
　'Ah；'　said　Twoflower；　'I　understand。　Over　the　wall　and　out　to　brightly…lit　tavernas　to　drink　and　sing　and　recite　poetry；　yes？'
　'Nearly　right　except　for　the　singing　and　the　poetry；　yes；'　said　Rincewind。　'A　couple　of　these　spikes　should　be　loose…'　There　was　a　clang。
　'There's　not　much　of　a　drop　this　side；'　came　his　voice　after　a　few　seconds。　'e　on；　then。　If　you're　ing。'
　

　And　so　it　was　that　Rincewind；　Twoflower　and　Bethan　entered　Unseen　University。
　Elsewhere　on　the　campus…
　The　eight　wizards　inserted　their　keys　and；　with　many　a　worried　glance　at　one　another；　turned　them。　There　was　a　faint　little　snicking　sound　as　the　lock　slid　open。
　The　Octavo　was　unchained。　A　faint　octarine　light　played　across　its　bindings。
　Trymon　reached　out　and　picked　it　up；　and　none　of　the　others　objected。　His　arm　tingled。
　He　turned　towards　the　door。
　'Now　to　the　Great　Hall；　brothers；'　he　said；　'if　I　may　lead　the　way　…'
　And　there　were　no　objections。
　He　reached　the　door　with　the　book　tucked　under　his　rm。　It　felt　hot；　and　somehow　prickly。
　At　every　step　he　expected　a　cry；　a　protest；　and　none　came。　He　had　to　use　every　ounce　of　control　to　stop　himself　from　laughing。　It　was　easier　than　he　could　have　imagined。
　The　others　were　halfway　across　the　claustrophobic　dungeon　by　the　time　he　was　through　the　door；　and　perhaps　they　had　noticed　something　in　the　set　of　his　shoulders；　but　it　was　too　late　because　he　had　crossed　the　threshold；　gripped　the　handle；　slammed　the　door；　turned　the　key；　smiled　the　smile。
　He　walked　easily　back　along　the　corridor；　ignoring　the　enraged　screams　of　the　wizards　who　had　just　discovered　how　impossible　it　is　to　pass　spells　in　a　room　built　to　be　impervious　to　magic。
　The　Octavo　squirmed；　but　Trymon　held　it　tightly。　Now　he　ran；　putting　out　of　his　mind　the　horrible　sensations　under　his　arm　as　the　book　shape…changed　into　things　hairy；　skeletal　and　spiky。　His　hand　went　numb。　The　faint　chittering　noises　he　had　been　hearing　grew　in　volume；　and　there　were　other　sounds　behind　them　…　leering　sounds；　beckoning　sounds；　sounds　made　by　the　voices　of　unimaginable　horrors　that　Trymon　found　it　all　too　easy　to　imagine。　As　he　ran　across　the　Great　Hall　and　up　the　main　staircase　the　shadows　began　to　move　and　reform　and　close　in　around　him；　and　he　also　became　aware　that　something　was　following；　something　with　skittery　legs　moving　obscenely　fast。　Ice　formed　on　the　walls。　Doorways　lunged　at　him　as　he　barrelled　past。　Underfoot　the　stairs　began　to　feel　just　like　a　tongue　。　。　。
　Not　for　nothing　had　Trymon　spent　long　hours　in　the　University's　curious　equivalent　of　a　gymnasium；　building　up　mental　muscle。　Don't　trust　the　senses；　he　knew；　because　they　can　be　deceived。　The　stairs　are　there；　somewhere　…　will　them　to　be　there；　summon　them　into　being　as　you　climb　and；　boy；　you　better　get　good　at　it。　Because　this　isn't　all　imagination。
　

　Great　A'Tuin　slowed。
　With　flippers　the　size　of　continents　the　skyturtle　fought　the　pull　of　the　star；　and　waited。　There　would　not　be　long　to　wait　。　。　。
　

　Rincewind　sidled　into　the　Great　Hall。　There　were　a　few　torches　burning；　and　it　looked　as　though　it　had　been　set　up　for　some　sort　of　magical　work。　But　the　ceremonial　candlesticks　had　been　overturned；　the　plex　octograms　chalked　on　the　floor　were　scuffed　as　if　something　had　danced　on　them；　and　the　air　was　full　of　a　smell　unpleasant　even　by　Ankh…Morpork's　broad　standards。　There　was　a　hint　of　sulphur　to　it；　but　that　underlay　something　worse。　It　smelt　like　the　bottom　of　a　pond。
　There　was　a　distant　crash；　and　a　lot　of　shouting。
　'Looks　like　the　gates　have　gone　down；'　said　Rincewind。
　'Let's　get　out　of　here；'　said　Bethan。
　'The　cellars　are　this　way；'　said　Rincewind；　and　set　off　through　an　arch。
　'Down　there！'
　'Yes。　Would　you　rather　stay　here？'
　He　took　a　torch　from　its　bracket　on　the　wall　and　started　down　the　steps。
　After　a　few　flights　the　walls　stopped　being　panelled　and　were　bare　stone。　Here　and　there　heavy　doors　had　been　propped　open。
　'I　heard　something；'　said　Twoflower。
　Rincewind　listened。　There　did　seem　to　be　a　noise　ing　from　the　depths　below。　It　didn't　sound　frightening。　It　sounded　like　a　lot　of　people　hammering　on　a　door　and　shouting　'Oi！'
　'It's　not　those　Things　from　the　Dungeon　Dimensions　you　were　telling　us　about；　is　it？'　said　Bethan。
　They　don't　swear　like　that；'　said　Rincewind。　'e　on。'
　They　hurried　along　the　dripping　passages；　following　the　screamed　curses　and　deep　hacking　coughs　that　were　somehow　reassuring；　anything　that　wheezed　like　that；　the　listeners　decided；　couldn't　possibly　represent　a　danger。
　At　last　they　came　to　a　door　set　in　an　alcove。　It　looked　strong　enough　to　hold　back　the　sea。　There　was　a　tiny　grille。
　'Hey！'　shouted　Rincewind。　It　wasn't　very　useful；　but　he　couldn't　think　of　anything　better。
　There　was　a　sudden　silence。　Then　a　voice　from　the　other　side　of　the　door　said；　very　slowly；　Who　is　out　there？'
　Rincewind　recognised　that　voice。　It　had　jerked　him　from　daydreams　into　terror　on　many　a　hot　classroom　afternoon；　years　before。　It　was　Lemuel　Panter；　who　had　once　made　it　his　personal　business　to　hammer　the　rudiments　of　scrying　and　summoning　into　young　Rincewind's　head。　He　remembered　the　eyes　like　gimlets　in　a　piggy　face　and　the　voice　saying　'And　now　Mister　Rincewind　will　e　out　here　and　draw　the　relevant　symbol　on　the　board'　and　the　million　mile　walk　past　the　waiting　class　as　he　tried　desperately　to　remember　what　the　voice　had　been　droning　on　about　five　minutes　before。　Even　now　his　throat　was　going　dry　with　terror　and　randomised　guilt。　The　Dungeon　Dimensions　just　weren't　in　it。
　'Please　sir；　it's　me；　sir；　Rincewind；　sir；'he　squeaked。　He　saw　Twoflower　and　Bethan　staring　at　him；　and　coughed；　'Yes；'　he　added；　in　as　deep　a　voice　as　he　could　manage。　That's　who　it　is。　Rincewind。　Right。'
　There　was　a　susurration　of　whispers　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。
　'Rincewind？'
　'Prince　who？'
　'I　remember　a　boy　who　wasn't　any…'
　'The　spell；　remember？'
　'Rincewind？'
　There　was　a　pause。　Then　the　voice　said；　'I　suppose　the　key　isn't　in　the　lock；　is　it？'
　'No；'　said　Rincewind。
　'What　did　he　say？'
　'He　said　no。'
　'Typical　of　the　boy。'
　'Um；　who　is　in　there？'　said　Rincewind。
　'The　Masters　of　Wizardry；'　said　the　voice；　haughtily。
　'Why？'
　There　was　another　pause；　and　then　a　conference　of　embarrassed　whispers。
　'We；　uh；　got　locked　in；'　said　the　voice；　reluctantly。
　'What；　with　the　Octavo？'
　Whisper；　whisper。
　'The　Octavo；　in　fact；　isn't　in　here；　in　fact；'　said　the　voice　slowly。
　'Oh。　But　you　are？'　said　Rincewind；　as　politely　as　possible　while　grinning　like　a　necrophiliac　in　a　morgue。
　'That　would　appear　to　be　the　case。'
　'Is　there　anything　we　can　get　you？'　said　Twoflower　anxiously。
　'You　could　try　getti