fs.thefirstbookofswords-第26章

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h　riddles。〃　And　too　much　in　need　of　help。　Indeed；　the　feeling　of　strength　and　well…being　that　Nestor　had　experienced　when　the　giant　first　touched　him　was　rapidly　declining　into　weariness　again。
　　　The　other　gazed　at　him　for　a　moment　in　silence；　and　then　in　silence　waded　out　of　the　swamp。　The　mud　of　the　swamp　would　not　stick　to　his　fur；　which　still　glimmered　faintly；　radiant　on　the　edge　of　vision。　He　paced　back　in　the　direction　of　the　center　of　the　island；　where　stood　the　temple。
　　　Nestor；　following；　had　to　trot　in　his　effort　to　keep　up。　He　cried　to　the　giant's　back：　〃You　are　no　demon；　surely？〃
　　　The　other　answered　without　turning；　maintaining　his　fast　pace。　〃I　surely　am　not。〃
　　　Nestor　surprised　himself；　and　ran。　Almost　staggering　with　the　effort；　he　got　ahead　of　the　giant　and　confronted　him　face　to　face。　With　his　path　thus　blocked；　the　giant　halted。　Nestor　was　breathing　hard；　as　if　from　a　long　run；　or　as　if　he　had　been　fighting。　Leaning　on　his　sword；　he　said：　〃Before　I　saw　Hermes　face　to　face；　I　did　not　believe　in　the　gods　at　all。　But　I　have　seen　him；　and　I　believe。　And　now　when　I　see　…　well；　slay　me　for　it　if　you　will。。。〃
　　　Surprising　himself　again；　he　went　down　on　one　knee　before　the　other。　He　had　the　feeling　that　his　heart；　or　something　else　vital　inside　him；　was　about　to　burst；　overloaded　by　feelings　he　did　not；　could　not；　understand。
　　　The　giant　rumbled：　〃I　will　not　slay　you。　I　will　not　knowingly　kill　any　human　being。〃
〃。。。but　whether　you　admit　you　are　a　god　or　not；　I　know　you。　I　recognize　you　from　a　hundred　prayers　and　stories。　You　are　the　Beastlord；　God　of　Healing；　Draffut。〃
Chapter　10
　　　The　high　gray　walls　of　Kind　Sir　Andrew's　castle　were　growing　higher　still；　and　darkening　into　black　against　the　sunset。　Mark　watched　their　slow　approach　from　his　place　in　the　middle　of　the　wagon's　seat。　Barbara；　slumping　tiredly　for　once；　was　at　his　right；　and　Ben　at　his　left　with　driver's　reins　in　hand。
　　　Now　that　their　road　had　emerged　from　the　forest　and　brought　the　castle　into　view；　Barbara　stirred；　and。　broke　a　silence　that　had　lasted　for　some　little　time。　〃I　guess　we're　as　ready　as　can　be。　Let's　go　right　on　in。〃
　　　No　one　else　said　anything　immediately。　From　its　battered　cage　back　in　the　wagon's　covered　rear；　the　battered　dragon　chirped。　Ben　looked　unhappy　about　their　imminent　arrival；　but　he　twitched　the　reins　without　argument　and　clucked　to　the　team；　trying　to　rouse　the　limping；　weary　loadbeasts　to　an　enthusiasm　he　obviously　did　not　feel　himself。　Earlier　in　the　day　Ben　had　suggested　that　they　ought　to　travel　more　slowly　though　they　were　late　already；　delaying　their　arrival　at　Sir　Andrew's　fair　for　one　more　day；　giving　Nestor　one　more　chance　to　catch　up　with　them　before　they　got　there。　But　Ben　hadn't　argued　this　idea　very　strongly。　Mark　thought　now　that　neither　Ben　nor　Barbara　really　believed　any　longer　that　Nestor　was　going　to　catch　up　with　them　at　all。
　　　As　for　Mark　himself；　he　pretty　well　had　to　believe　that　Nestor　was　going　to　meet　them　somewhere；　with　Townsaver　in　hand。　Otherwise　Mark's　sword　was　truly　lost。
　　　It　had　been　pretty　well　established；　in　the　few　days　that　the　three　of　them　had　been　traveling　without　Nestor；　that　Barbara　was　now　the　one　in　charge。　She　was　little　if　any　older　than　Ben　was　…　Mark　guessed　she　was　about　seventeen　…　and　probably　not　half　Ben's　weight。　But　such　details　seemed　to　have　little　to　do　with　determining　who　was　in　charge。　Barbara　had　stepped　in　and　made　decisions　when　they　had　to　be　made；　and　had　held　the　little　group　and　the　enterprise　together。
　　　Before　they'd　left　the　place　where　the　wagon　had　tipped；　shed　had　them　cut　off　the　ears　of　the　freshly　dead　landwalker；　and　nail　them　to　the　front　of　the　wagon　as　trophies　to　show　their　hunting　prowess。　Later　she'd　got　Ben　and　Mark　to　tighten　up　all　the　loosened　wagon　parts　as　well　as　possible；　and　then　to　help　her　wash　and　mend　the　cloth　cover。　All　their　clothes　had　been　washed　and　mended　too；　since　the　great　struggle　in　the　mud。　Mark　thought　that　the　outfit　looked　better　now　that　it　had　when　he'd　joined　up。
　　　After　the　fight　they'd　traveled　as　fast　as　they　could　for　some　hours。　Then；　when　they'd　reached　a　secluded　spot　along　a　riverbank；　Barbara　had　decreed　a　layover　for　a　whole　night　and　a　day。　The　animals　had　been　given　a　chance　to　eat　and　drink　and　rest；　and　their　hurts　had　been　tended。　Medicine　of　supposed　magical　power　had　been　applied　to　Mark's　burned　face；　and　it　had　seemed　to　help；　a　little。　That　night　Ben　had　made　his　one　real　effort　to　assert　himself；　deciding　that　he　wanted　to　sleep　in　the　wagon　too。　But　it　had　been　quickly　established　who　was　now　in　mand。　Ben　had　wound　up　snoring　on　the　ground　again。
　　　A　small　hidden　partment　directly　under　the　wagon's　seat　held　a　secret　hoard　of　coin；　tightly　wrapped　in　cloth　to　keep　it　from　jingling　when　the　wagon　moved。　Ben　and　Barbara　knew　already　of　the　existence　of　this　cache；　and　during　that　day　of　rest　they'd　brought　out　the　money　in　Mark's　presence　and　counted　it　up。　It　amounted　to　no　fortune；　in　fact　to　less　than　Mark　had　sometimes　seen　in　his　father's　hands　back　at　the　mill。　Nestor's　success　in　hunting　dragons　evidently　hadn't　paid　him　all　that　well　in　terms　of　money　…　or　else　Nestor　had　already　squandered　the　bulk　of　his　payment　somehow；　or　had　contrived　to　hide　it　or　invest　it　somewhere　else。　He　had　been　paying　both　Ben　and　Barbara　small　wages；　amounts　agreed　upon　in　advance。　They　said　that　beyond　that　he　dad　never　discussed　money　with　either　of　them。
　　　As　soon　as　the　coins　were　counted；　Barbara　wrapped　them　tightly　up　again　and　stuffed　them　back　into　their　hiding　place　and　closed　it　carefully。　〃We'll　use　this　only　as　needed；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　others　solemnly：　〃If　Nestor　es　back；　he'll　understand。〃
　　　Ben　nodded；　looking　very　serious。　All　in　all　it　was　a　solemn　moment；　a　pledging　of　mutual　trust　amid　shared　dangers；　at　least　that　was　how　it　impressed　Mark。　Before　he　had　really　thought　out　what　he　was　going　to　do；　he　found　himself　telling　Ben　and　Barbara　his　own　truthful　story；　even　including　his　killing　of　the　seneschal；　and　his　own　right　name。
　　　〃Those　soldiers　of　the　Duke's　were　really　after　me；〃　he　added。　〃And　my　sword。　Maybe　they　got　the　sword；　I　still　keep　hoping　that　Nestor　has　it；　and　that　he's　going　to　meet　us　somewhere。　Anyway；　even　if　we're　over　the　border　now　the　Duke　will　probably　still　be　after　me。　You　two　have　a　right　to　know　about　it　if　I'm　going　to　go　on　traveling　with　you。　And　I　don't　know　where　else　I'd　go。〃
　　　The　other　two　exchanged　looks；　but　neither　of　them　showed　great　surprise　at　Mark's　revelation。　Mark　thought　that　Ben　actually　looked　somewhat　relieved。
　　　Barbara　said：　〃We　were　talking　about　you　…　Mark　…　and　we　kind　of　thought　that　something　like　that　was　going　on。　Anyway；　your　leaving　us　now　wouldn't　help　us　any。　We're　going　to　need　you；　or　someone；　when　we　get　to　the　fair；　to　help　us　run　the　show。　And　if　we　still　manage　to　get　a　hunting　contract　we're　going　to　need　all　kinds　of　help。〃
　　　Ben　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　know　for　a　fact　that　the　Duke　wanted　to　get　his　hands　on　Nestor；　too。　I　don't　know　exactly　why；　but　Nestor　was　worried　about　it。　It　made　him　nervous　to　cut　through　the　Duke's　territory；　but　we　didn't　have　much　choice　about　that　if　we　were　going　to　get　down　to　Sir　Andrew's　from　where　we　were　up　north。〃
　　　And　here　they　were　at　Sir　Andrew's　now；　or　very　nearly　so。　Just　ahead；　vague　in　the　twilight；　was　the　important　intersection　that　the　castle　had　been　built　to　overlook。　And　just　beyond　that　intersection；　which　at　the　moment　was　empty　of　traffic；　a　side　road　wound　up　to　the　castle；　and　to　the　broad　green　where　the　fair　sprawled　like　something　raised　by　enchantment　in　the　beginning　twilight。　The　fairgrounds　were　ing　alive　with　torches　against　the　dusk。　They　stirred　with　a　multitude　of　distant　voices；　and　the　sounds　of　peting　musicians。
　　　As　the　wagon　creaked　its　way　toward　the　crossroads；　Mark　left　his　seat　and　went　back　under　the　cover。　He　had　agreed　with　the　others　that　it　would　be　wise　for　him　to　stay　out　of　sight　as　much　as　feasible　until　they　knew　whether　or　not　the　Duke　was　actively　seeking　him　this　far　south。　He　felt　the　change　in　the　wheels'　progress　when　Ben　turned　off　the　main　road。　Then。　looking　forward　through　a　small　opening　in　the　cover；　Mark　saw　that　people　were　already　trotting　or　riding　out　from　the　fairgrounds　to　meet　the　wagon　when　it　was　still　a　couple　of　hundred　meters　down　the　side　road　that　wound　up　from　the　intersection。
　　　One　of　those　riding　in　the　lead　was　the　marshal　of　the　fair；　a　well…dressed　man　identifiable　by　the　colors　of　his　jerkin；　Sir　Andrew's　orange　and　black。　The　marshal　silently　motioned　for　the　wagon　to　follow　him；　and　rode　ahead；　guiding　it　through　the　busy　fairgrounds　to　a　reserved　spot　near　the　center。　Mark；　staying　in　the　wagon　out　of　sight；　watched　the　blurred　bright　spots　of　torches　move　past；　glowing　through　the　wagon　cover　on　both　sides。　Sounds　surrounded　the　wagon　too　…　of　voices；　music；　animals；　applause。　Barbara　had　thought　that　the　end　of　daylight　would　signal　the　fair's　closing　for　the　day；　but　obviously　she　had　been　wrong。
　　　When　the　marshal　had　led　them　to　their　assigned　site；　he　rode　close　to　the　wagon　and　leaned　from　his　saddle　to　peer　inside。　Mark　went　on　with　what　he　was　doing；　feeding　the　captive　dragon　from　the　replenished　frog…crock　…　if　the　authorities　here　were　really　going　to　search　for　him；　he　would　have　no　hope　of　hiding。　But　the　marshal　only　stared　at　Mark　blankly　for　a　moment；　then　withdrew　his　head。
　　　Mark　heard　the　official's　voice　asking：　〃Where's　Nestor？〃
　　　Ben　gave　the　answer　they　had　planned：　〃If　he's　not　here　somewhere　already；　he'll　be　along　in　a　day　or　two。　He　was　dickering　over　some　new　animals。　A　team；　I　mean。〃
　　　〃Looks　like　you　could　use　one。　Well；　Sir　Andrew　wants　to　see　him；　mind　you　tell　him　as　soon　as　he　gets　here。　There's　a　hunting　contract　to　be　discussed。〃
　　　Barbara：　〃Yessir；　we'll　remind　him　soon　as　we　see　him。　It　shouldn't　be　long　now。〃
　　　The　marshal　rode　away；　shouting　at　someone　else　about　garbage　to　be　cleaned　up。　The　three　who　had　just　arrived　in　the　wagon　immediately　got　busy；　unpacking；　tending　to　the　animals；　and　setting　up　the　tent　in　which　they　meant　to　exhibit　the　dragon。　Their　assigned　space　was　a　square　of　trodden　grass　about　ten　meters　on　a　side；　and　the　wagon　had　to　be　maneuvered　into　the　rear　of　this　space　in　order　to　make　room　for　the　big　tent　at　the　front。　Their　neighbor　on　one　side　was　the　pavilion　of　a　belly…dancer；　with　a　crowd…drawing　preliminary　show　that　went　on　every　few　minutes　out　front…Ben's　attention　kept　wandering　from　his　tasks；　and　once　he　tried　to　feed　a　frog　to　a　loadbeast。　In　the　exhibitor's　space　on　the　far　side；　a　painted　lean…to　advertised　and　presumably　housed　a　supposedly　magical　fire…eater。　The　two　remaining　sides　of　the　square　were　open；　bordering　grassy　lanes　along　which　traffic　could　pass　and　customers；　if　any；　could　approach。　Along　these　lanes　a　few　interested　spectators　were　already　gathering；　to　watch　the　dragon…folk　get　settled。　They　had　hoped　to　be　able　to　set　up　after　dark；　unwatched；　but　there　was　no　hope　of　that　now。　Nor　of　Mark's　remaining　unobserved；　so　he　did　not　try。
　　　The　tent　in