fs.thefirstbookofswords-第25章

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　was　embodied　in　a　sword。　And　other　word　had　reached　me；　through　other　means；　of　other　swords　that　were　said　to　have　been　made　by　the　gods。。。　I　have　good　reason　to　want　to　know　about　these　things。〃
　　　Nestor　thought　that　possibly　he　was　being　used　to　the　burden　of　that　dark　gaze。　Now　he　could　meet　it　once　again。　〃You　are　a　friend　of　dragons；　then；　and　talk　to　them。〃
　　　The　giant　hesitated。　〃'Friend'　is　perhaps　not　the　right　word　for　it。　But　in　some　sense　I　talk　to　them；　and　they　to　me。　I　talk　with　everything　that　lives。　Now；　I　would　ask　you　to　answer　a　few　more　questions　for　me；　in　turn。〃
　　　〃I'll　try。〃　〃Good。　There　is　an　old　prophecy。。。　what　do　you　know　of　the　Gray　Horde？〃
　　　Nestor　looked　back　blankly。　〃What　should　I　know？　I　have　never　heard　the　words　before。　What　do　they　mean？〃
　　　His　interrogator　considered。　〃e　with　me　and　I　will　show　you　a　little　of　their　meaning。〃　With　that；　the　towering　figure　turned　and　paced　away　toward　the　temple。　Nestor　followed；　sword　in　hand。　He　smiled　briefly；　faintly；　at　the　enormous　furred　back　moving　before　him；　the　other　had　not　thought　twice　about　turning　his　back　on　a　strange　man　with　a　drawn　sword。　Not　that　Nestor　was　going　to　think　even　once　about　making　a　treacherous　attack。　Even　if　he'd　had　something　to　gain　by　it；　he　would　as　soon　have　contemplated　taking　a　volcano　by　surprise。
　　　The　front　entrance　of　the　temple　was　high　enough　for　the　giant　to　walk　into　it　without　stooping。　Now；　once　inside；　Nestor　observed　that　the　building　had　indeed　been　constructed　of　some　hardened　and　preserved　wood　…　traces　of　the　grain　pattern　were　still　visible。　He　thought　that　it　must　be　very　old。　Much　of　the　roof　had　fallen　in；　but　the　ceiling　was　still　intact　in　some　of　the　rooms。　So　it　was　in　the　high　chamber　where　Nestor's　guide　now　stopped。　Here　it　was　already　quite　dark　inside。　As　Nestor's　eyes　adapted　to　the　gloom；　the　fantastic　carvings　that　filled　the　walls　seemed　to　materialize　out　of　the　darkness　like　ghosts。
　　　The　giant；　his　body　outlined　in　the　night　by　his　own　faintly　luminous　fur；　had　halted　beside　a　large　open　tank　that　was　built　into　the　center　of　the　floor。　The　reservoir　was　surrounded　by　a　low　rim　of　the　same　preserved　wood　from　which　the　floor　and　walls　were　made；　and　Nestor　thought　that　it　was　probably　some　kind　of　ritual　vat　or　bath。
　　　Moving　a　little　closer；　he　saw　that　the　vat　was　nearly　filled　with　liquid。　Perhaps　it　was　only　water；　but　in　the　poor　light　it　looked　black。
　　　From　a　shelf　his　guide　took　a　device　that　Nestor；　having　seen　its　like　once　or　twice　before；　recognized　as　a　flameless　Old　World　lantern；　powered　by　some　force　of　ancient　technology。　The　giant　focussed　its　cold；　piercing　beam　down　into　the　black　vat。　Something　stirred　beneath　that　inky　surface；　and　in　another　moment　the　shallowness　of　the　tank　was　demonstrated。　The　liquid　it　contained　was　no　more　than　knee…deep　on　the　smallish；　man…shaped　figure　that　now　rose　awkwardly　to　its　feet　inside。　Dark　water；　bright…gleaming　in　the　beam　of　light；　ran　in　rivulets　from　the　gray　naked　surface　of　the　figure。　Its　hairless；　sexless　body　reminded　Nestor　at　once　of　the　curved　exoskeleton　of　some　giant　insect。　He　did　not　for　a　moment　take　it　as　truly　human；　though　it　was　approximately　of　human　shape。
　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Nestor　demanded。　He　had　backed　up　a　step　and　was　gripping　his　sword。
　　　〃Call　it　a　larva。〃　His　guide's　vast　voice　was　almost　hushed。　〃That　is　an　old　word；　which　may　mean　a　ghost；　or　a　mask；　or　an　unfinished　insect　form。　None　of　those　are　exact　names　for　this。　But　I　think　that　all　of　them　in　different　ways　e　close。〃
　　　〃Larva；〃　Nestor　repeated。　The　sound　of　the　word　at　least　seemed　to　him　somehow　appropriate。　He　observed　the　larva　carefully。　Once　it　had　got　itself　fully　erect；　it　stood　in　the　tank　without　moving；　arms　hanging　at　its　sides。　When　Nestor　leaned　closer；　peering　at　it；　he　thought　that　the　dark　eyes　under　the　smooth　gray　brow　fixed　themselves　on　him；　but　the　eyes　were　in　heavy　shadow　and　he　could　not　be　sure。　The　mouth　and　ears　were　tiny；　puckered　openings；　the　nose　almost　non…existent　and　lacking　nostrils。　Apparently　the　thing　did　not　need　to　breathe。　Nestor　thought　it　looked　like　a　mummy。　〃Is　it　dead？〃　he　asked。
　　　〃It　has　never　been　alive。　But　all　across　the　Great　Swamp　the　life　energies　of　the　earth　are　being　perverted　to　produce　others　like　it。　Out　there　under　the　surface　of　the　swamp　thousands　of　them　ate　being　formed；　grown；　raised　by　magical　powers　that　I　do　not　understand。　But　I　fear　that　they　are　connected　somehow　with　the　god…game；　and　the　swords。　And　I　know　that　they　are　meant　for　evil。〃
　　　The　god…game　again。　Nestor　had　no　idea　what　he　ought　to　say；　and　so　he　held　his　peace。　He　thought　he　could　tell　just　from　looking　at　the　figure　that　it　was　meant　for　no　good　purpose。　It　did　not　really　look　like　a　mummy；　he　decided；　but　more　like　some　witch's　mannikin；　fabricated　only　to　facilitate　a　curse。　Except　that；　in　Nestor's　limited　experience　at　least；　such　mannikins　were　no　bigger　than　small　dolls；　and　this　was　nearly　as　big　as　Nestor　himself。　Looking　at　the　thing　more　closely　now；　he　began　to　notice　the　crudity　of　detail　with　which　it　had　been　formed。　Surely　it　would　limp　if　it　tried　to　walk。　He　could　see　the　poor；　mismatched　fit　of　the　lifeless　joints；　how　clumsily　they　bulked　under　the　smooth　covering　that　was　not　skin；　or　scale；　or　even　vegetable　bark。
　　　The　giant's　hand　reached　out　to　pluck　the　figure　from　the　tank。　He　stood　it　on　the　temple　floor　of　hardened　wood；　directly　in　front　of　Nestor。　As　the　hand　released　it；　the　figure　made　a　slight　independent　movement；　enough　to　correct　its　standing　balance。　Then　it　was　perfectly　still　again。　Now　Nestor　could　see　that　its　eyes　under　the　gray　brows　were　also　gray；　the　color　of　old　weathered　wood；　but　still　inanimate　as　no　wood　ever　could　have　been。　The　eyes　were　certainly　locked　onto　Nestor　now；　and　they　made　him　feel　unfortable。
　　　And　only　now；　with　an　inward　shock；　did　Nestor　see　that　the　figure's　arms　did　not　end　in　hands　but　instead　grew　into　weapons；　the　right　arm　terminated　in　an　ugly　blade　that　seemed　designed　as　an　instrument　of　torture；　and　the　left　in　a　crude；　barbed　hook。　There　were　no　real　wrists；　and　the　weapons　were　of　one　piece　with　the　chitinous…looking　material　of　the　forearms。　And　the　bald　head　was　curved　and　angled　like　a　helm。
　　　With　a　faint　inward　shudder　Nestor　moved　back　another　step。　Had　he　not　been　carrying　the　sword；　he　might　have　retreated　farther　from　the　figure。　Now　he　made　his　voice　e　out　with　an　easy　boldness　that　he　was　far　from　feeling：　〃I　give　up；　oh　giant　who　wishes　to　be　nameless。　What　is　this　thing？　You　said　'a　larva'；　but　that　name　answers　nothing。　I　swear　by　the　Great　Worm　Yilgarn　that　I　have　never　seen　the　like　of　it　before。〃
　　　〃It　is　one　cell　of　the　Gray　Horde；　which；　as　I　said；　is　spoken　of　in　an　old　prophecy。　If　you　are　not　familiar　with　that　prophecy；　believe　me　that　I　cannot　very　well　explain　it　to　you　now。〃
　　　〃But　thousands　of　these；　you　say；　are　being　grown　in　the　swamp。　By　whom？　And　to　what　end？〃
　　　The　giant　picked　up　the　two…legged　thing　like　a　toy　and　laid　it　back　into　the　tank　again。　He　pressed　it　down　beneath　the　surface　of　the　liquid；　which　looked　to　Nestor　like　swamp…water。　No　breath…bubbles　rose　when　the　larva　was　submerged。　The　vast　figure　in　glowing　fur　turned　off　the　bright　light　and　replaced　the　lantern　on　the　shelf。　He　watched　the　tank　until　its　surface　was　almost　a　dark　mirror　again。　Then　once　more　he　said　to　Nestor：　〃e　with　me。〃
　　　Nestor　followed　his　huge　guide　out　of　the　temple。　This　time　he　was　led　several　hundred　paces　across　the　wooded　island　and　into　the　true　swamp　at　its　far　edge。　A　gibbous　moon　was　rising。　By　its　light　Nestor　watched　the　furred　giant　wade　waist　deep　into　the　still　water；　seeking；　groping　with　his　legs　for　something　on　the　bottom。　He　motioned　unnecessarily　that　Nestor　should　remain　on　solid　ground。
　　　For　a　full　minute　the　giant　searched。　Then　he　suddenly　bent　and　plunged　in　an　arm；　big　enough　to　have　strangled　a　landwalker；　to　its　fullest　reach。　With　a　huge　splash　he　pulled　out　another　larva。　It　looked　very　much　like　the　one　in　the　tank　inside　the　temple；　except　that　the　two　forearms　of　this　one　were　connected；　grown　into　one　piece　with　a　transverse　straight　gray　shaft　that　went　on　past　the　left　arm　to　end　in　a　spearhead。
　　　The　larva　let　out　a　strange　thin　cry　when　it　was　torn　up　from　the　muck；　and　spat　a　jet　of　bright　water　from　its　tiny　mouth。　Then　it　lay　as　limp　as　a　broken　puppet　in　the　huge　furry　hand。
　　　The　giant　shook　it　once　in　Nestor's　direction；　as　if　to　emphasize　to　the　man　the　fact　of　its　existence。　The　larva　made　no　response　to　the　shaking。　〃This　outh　cannot　breathe；〃　the　giant　said。　〃Or　even　eat　or　drink；　much　less　speak；　or　sing。　It　can　only　whine　as　you　have　just　heard；　or　howl。　It　can　only　make　noises　that　I　think　are　intended　to　inspire　human　terror。〃
　　　Nestor　gestured　helplessly　with　the　sword　that　he　still　carried。　〃I　do　not　understand。〃
　　　〃Nor　do　I；　as　yet。　I　had　feared　for　a　time　that　the　gods　themselves；　or　some　among　them；　were　for　their　own　reasons　causing　these　things　to　e　into　existence。　Just　as；　for　their　own　reasons；　some　of　the　gods　decided　that　you　should　be　given　great　power　to　kill　dragons。　But　so　far　I　can　discover　no　connection　between　the　two　gifts。　So　I　do　not　know　if　it　is　the　gods　who　are　raising　these　larvae；　or　some　magician　of　great　power。　Whoever　is　doing　it；　I　must　find　a　way　to　stop　it。　The　life　energies　of　the　land　about　the　swamp　will　be　exhausted　to　no　good　purpose。　Already　the　crops　in　nearby　fields　are　failing；　human　beings　are　sickening　with　hunger。〃
　　　Nestor；　looking　at　the　larva；　tried　to　think。　〃I　believe　I　can　tell　you　one　thing。　I　doubt　that　the　gods　had　any　hand　in　making　these。　Because　the　swords　made　by　the　gods　are　beautiful　things　in　themselves；　whatever　the　purpose　behind　them　may　be。〃　And　Nestor　raised　the　weapon　in　his　right　hand。
　　　The　giant；　looking　at　the　sword；　rumbled　out　what　might　have　been　a　quotation：
　　　　　　　　　　　〃Gong　roads　the　Sword　of　Fury　makes
　　　　　　　　　　　Hard　walls　it　builds　around　the　soft。。。　〃
　　　Nestor　waited　for　more　that　did　not　e。　Then　he　lowered　the　sword；　and　suddenly　demanded：　〃Why　do　you　deny　that　you　are　a　god　yourself？〃
　　　The　enormous　furred　fist　tightened。　The　gray　carapace　of　the　larva　resisted　that　pressure　only　for　a　moment；　then　broke　with　an　ugly　noise。　Gray　foulness　in　a　variety　of　indistinct　shapes　gushed　from　the　broken　torso。　What　Nestor　could　see　of　the　spill　in　the　moonlight　reminded　him　more　of　dung　than　of　anything　else。　The　gray　limbs　twitched。　Wildly；　the　spear　waved　once　and　was　still。
　　　The　giant　cast　the　wreckage　from　him　with　a　splash；　then　washed　his　hands　of　it　in　the　black　water　of　the　swamp。　He　said：　〃I　am　too　small　and　weak　by　far；　to　be　a　proper　god　for　humankind。〃
　　　Nestor　was　almost　angry。　〃You　are　larger　than　Hermes　was；　and　I　did　not　doubt　the　divinity　of　Hermes　for　a　moment　once　I　had　seen　him。　Nor　have　I　any　doubts　about　you。　Is　this　some　riddle　with　which　you　are　testing　me？　If　so；　I　am　too　tired　and　worn　right　now　to　deal　with　riddles。〃　And　too　much　in　need　of　help。　Indeed；　the　feeling　of　strength　and　well…being　that　Nestor