grrm.astormofswords-第118章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oned。　He　doesn't　look　much　like　a　lord。　But　then；　she　didn't　look　much　like　a　lady　either。
　Once　they　were　beyond　the　town　and　out　in　the　river　proper；　the　current　grew　much　stronger。　Through　the　grey　haze　of　rain　Arya　could　make　out　a　tall　stone　pillar　on　the　far　shore　that　surely　marked　the　ferry　landing；　but　no　sooner　had　she　seen　it　than　she　realized　that　they　were　being　pushed　away　from　it；　downstream。　The　oarsmen　were　rowing　more　vigorously　now；　fighting　the　rage　of　the　river。　Leaves　and　broken　branches　swirled　past　as　fast　as　if　they'd　been　fired　from　a　scorpion。　The　men　with　the　poles　leaned　out　and　shoved　away　anything　that　came　too　close。　It　was　windier　out　here；　too。　Whenever　she　turned　to　look　upstream；　Arya　got　a　face　full　of　blowing　rain。　Stranger　was　screaming　and　kicking　as　the　deck　moved　underfoot。
　If　I　jumped　over　the　side；　the　river　would　wash　me　away　before　the　Hound　even　knew　that　I　was　gone。　She　looked　back　over　a　shoulder；　and　saw　Sandor　Clegane　struggling　with　his　frightened　horse；　trying　to　calm　him。　She　would　never　have　a　better　chance　to　get　away　from　him。　I　might　drown；　though。　Jon　used　to　say　that　she　swam　like　a　fish；　but　even　a　fish　might　have　trouble　in　this　river。　Still；　drowning　might　be　better　than　King's　Landing。　She　thought　about　Joffrey　and　crept　up　to　the　prow。　The　river　was　murky　brown　with　mud　and　lashed　by　rain；　looking　more　like　soup　than　water。　Arya　wondered　how　cold　it　would　be。　I　couldn't　get　much　wetter　than　I　am　now　She　put　a　hand　on　the　rail。
　But　a　sudden　shout　snapped　her　head　about　before　she　could　leap。　The　ferrymen　were　rushing　forward；　poles　in　hand。　For　a　moment　she　did　not　understand　what　was　happening。　Then　she　saw　it：　an　uprooted　tree；　huge　and　dark；　ing　straight　at　them。　A　tangle　of　roots　and　limbs　poked　up　out　of　the　water　as　it　came；　like　the　reaching　arms　of　a　great　kraken。　The　oarsmen　were　backing　water　frantically；　trying　to　avoid　a　collision　that　could　capsize　them　or　stove　their　hull　in。　The　old　man　had　wrenched　the　rudder　about；　and　the　horse　at　the　prow　was　swinging　downstream；　but　too　slowly。　Glistening　brown　and　black；　the　tree　rushed　toward　them　like　a　battering　ram。
　It　could　not　have　been　more　than　ten　feet　from　their　prow　when　two　of　the　boatmen　somehow　caught　it　with　their　long　poles。　One　snapped；　and　the　long　splintering　craaaack　made　it　sound　as　if　the　ferry　were　breaking　up　beneath　them。　But　the　second　man　managed　to　give　the　trunk　a　hard　shove；　just　enough　to　deflect　it　away　from　them。　The　tree　swept　past　the　ferry　with　inches　to　spare；　its　branches　scrabbling　like　claws　against　the　horsehead。　Only　just　when　it　seemed　as　if　they　were　clear；　one　of　the　monster's　upper　limbs　dealt　them　a　glancing　thump。　The　ferry　seemed　to　shudder；　and　Arya　slipped；　landing　painfully　on　one　knee。　The　man　with　the　broken　pole　was　not　so　lucky。　She　heard　him　shout　as　he　stumbled　over　the　side。　Then　the　raging　brown　water　closed　over　him；　and　he　was　gone　in　the　time　it　took　Arya　to　climb　back　to　her　feet。　One　of　the　other　boatmen　snatched　up　a　coil　of　rope；　but　there　was　no　one　to　throw　it　to。
　Maybe　he'll　wash　up　someplace　downstream；　Arya　tried　to　tell　herself；　but　the　thought　had　a　hollow　ring。　She　had　lost　all　desire　to　go　swimming。　When　Sandor　Clegane　shouted　at　her　to　get　back　inside　before　he　beat　her　bloody；　she　went　meekly。　The　ferry　was　fighting　to　turn　back　on　course　by　then；　against　a　river　that　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　carry　it　down　to　the　sea。
　When　they　finally　came　ashore；　it　was　a　good　two　miles　downriver　of　their　usual　landing。　The　boat　slammed　into　the　bank　so　hard　that　another　pole　snapped；　and　Arya　almost　lost　her　feet　again。　Sandor　Clegane　lifted　her　onto　Stranger's　back　as　if　she　weighed　no　more　than　a　doll。　The　boatmen　stared　at　them　with　dull；　exhausted　eyes；　all　but　the　bent…backed　man；　who　held　his　hand　out。　〃Six　dragons；〃　he　demanded。　〃Three　for　the　passage；　and　three　for　the　man　I　lost。〃
　Sandor　Clegane　rummaged　in　his　pouch　and　shoved　a　crumpled　wad　of　parchment　into　the　boatman's　palm。　〃There。　Take　ten。〃
　〃Ten？〃　The　ferryman　was　confused。　〃What's　this；　now？〃
　〃A　dead　man's　note；　good　for　nine　thousand　dragons　or　nearabouts。〃　The　Hound　swung　up　into　the　saddle　behind　Arya；　and　smiled　down　unpleasantly。　〃Ten　of　it　is　yours。　I'll　be　back　for　the　rest　one　day；　so　see　you　don't　go　spending　it。〃
　The　man　squinted　down　at　the　parchment。　〃Writing。　What　good's　writing？　You　promised　gold。　Knight's　honor；　you　said。〃
　〃Knights　have　no　bloody　honor。　Time　you　learned　that；　old　man。〃　The　Hound　gave　Stranger　the　spur　and　galloped　off　through　the　rain。　The　ferrymen　threw　curses　at　their　backs；　and　one　or　two　threw　stones。　Clegane　ignored　rocks　and　words　alike；　and　before　long　they　were　lost　in　the　gloom　of　the　trees；　the　river　a　dwindling　roar　behind　them。　〃The　ferry　won't　cross　back　till　morning；〃　he　said；　〃and　that　lot　won't　be　taking　paper　promises　from　the　next　fools　to　e　along。　If　your　friends　are　chasing　us；　they're　going　to　need　to　be　bloody　strong　swimmers。〃
　Arya　huddled　down　and　held　her　tongue。　Valar　morghulis；　she　thought　sullenly。　Ser　flyn；　Ser　Meryn；　King　Joffrey；　Queen　Cersei。　Dunsen；　Polliver；　Raff　the　Sweetling；　Ser　Gregor　and　the　Tickler。　And　the　Hound；　the　Hound；　the　Hound。
　By　the　time　the　rain　stopped　and　the　clouds　broke；　she　was　shivering　and　sneezing　so　badly　that　Clegane　called　a　halt　for　the　night；　and　even　tried　to　make　a　fire。　The　wood　they　gathered　proved　too　wet；　though。　Nothing　he　tried　was　enough　to　make　the　spark　catch。　Finally　he　kicked　it　all　apart　in　disgust。　〃Seven　bloody　hells；〃　he　swore。　〃I　hate　fires。〃
　They　sat　on　damp　rocks　beneath　an　oak　tree；　listening　to　the　slow　patter　of　water　dripping　from　the　leaves　as　they　ate　a　cold　supper　of　hardbread；　moldy　cheese；　and　smoked　sausage。　The　Hound　sliced　the　meat　with　his　dagger；　and　narrowed　his　eyes　when　he　caught　Arya　looking　at　the　knife。　〃Don't　even　think　about　it。〃
　〃I　wasn't；〃　she　lied。
　He　snorted　to　show　what　he　thought　of　that；　but　he　gave　her　a　thick　slice　of　sausage。　Arya　worried　it　with　her　teeth；　watching　him　all　the　while。　〃I　never　beat　your　sister；〃　the　Hound　said。　〃But　I'll　beat　you　if　you　make　me。　Stop　trying　to　think　up　ways　to　kill　me。　None　of　it　will　do　you　a　bit　of　good。〃
　She　had　nothing　to　say　to　that。　She　gnawed　on　the　sausage　and　stared　at　him　coldly。　Hard　as　stone；　she　thought。
　〃At　least　you　look　at　my　face。　I'll　give　you　that；　you　little　she…wolf。　How　do　you　like　it？〃
　〃I　don't。　It's　all　burned　and　ugly。〃
　Clegane　offered　her　a　chunk　of　cheese　on　the　point　of　his　dagger。　〃You're　a　little　fool。　What　good　would　it　do　you　if　you　did　get　away？　You'd　just　get　caught　by　someone　worse。〃
　〃I　would　not；〃　she　insisted。　〃There　is　no　one　worse。〃
　〃You　never　knew　my　brother。　Gregor　once　killed　a　man　for　snoring。　His　own　man。〃　When　he　grinned；　the　burned　side　of　his　face　pulled　tight；　twisting　his　mouth　in　a　queer　unpleasant　way。　He　had　no　lips　on　that　side；　and　only　the　stump　of　an　ear。
　〃I　did　so　know　your　brother。〃　Maybe　the　Mountain　was　worse；　now　that　Arya　thought　about　it。　〃Him　and　Dunsen　and　Polliver；　and　Raff　the　Sweetling　and　the　Tickler。〃
　The　Hound　seemed　surprised。　〃And　how　would　Ned　Stark's　precious　little　daughter　e　to　know　the　likes　of　them？　Gregor　never　brings　his　pet　rats　to　court。〃
　〃I　know　them　from　the　village。〃　She　ate　the　cheese；　and　reached　for　a　hunk　of　hardbread。　〃The　village　by　the　lake　where　they　caught　Gendry；　me；　and　Hot　Pie。　They　caught　Lommy　Greenhands　too；　but　Raff　the　Sweetling　killed　him　because　his　leg　was　hurt。〃
　Clegane's　mouth　twitched。　〃Caught　you？　My　brother　caught　you？〃　That　made　him　laugh；　a　sour　sound；　part　rumble　and　part　snarl。　〃Gregor　never　knew　what　he　had；　did　he？　He　couldn't　have；　or　he　would　have　dragged　you　back　kicking　and　screaming　to　King's　Landing　and　dumped　you　in　Cersei's　lap。　Oh；　that's　bloody　sweet。　I'll　be　sure　and　tell　him　that；　before　I　cut　his　heart　out。〃
　It　wasn't　the　first　time　he　had　talked　of　killing　the　Mountain。　〃But　he's　your　brother；〃　Arya　said　dubiously。
　〃Didn't　you　ever　have　a　brother　you　wanted　to　kill？〃　He　laughed　again。　〃Or　maybe　a　sister？〃　He　must　have　seen　something　in　her　face　then；　for　he　leaned　closer。　〃Sansa。　That's　it；　isn't　it？　The　wolf　bitch　wants　to　kill　the　pretty　bird。〃
　〃No；〃　Arya　spat　back　at　him。　〃I'd　like　to　kill　you。〃
　〃Because　I　hacked　your　little　friend　in　two？　I've　killed　a　lot　more　than　him；　I　promise　you。　You　think　that　makes　me　some　monster。　Well；　maybe　it　does；　but　I　saved　your　sister's　life　too。　The　day　the　mob　pulled　her　off　her　horse；　I　cut　through　them　and　brought　her　back　to　the　castle；　else　she　would　have　gotten　what　Lollys　Stokeworth　got。　And　she　sang　for　me。　You　didn't　know　that；　did　you？　Your　sister　sang　me　a　sweet　little　song。〃
　〃You're　lying；〃　she　said　at　once。
　〃You　don't　know　half　as　much　as　you　think　you　do。　The　Blackwater？　Where　in　seven　hells　do　you　think　we　are？　Where　do　you　think　we're　going？〃
　The　scorn　in　his　voice　made　her　hesitate。　〃Back　to　King's　Landing；〃　she　said。　〃You're　bringing　me　to　Joffrey　and　the　queen。〃　That　was　wrong；　she　realized　all　of　a　sudden；　just　from　the　way　he　asked　the　questions。　But　she　had　to　say　something。
　〃Stupid　blind　little　wolf　bitch。〃　His　voice　was　rough　and　hard　as　an　iron　rasp。　〃Bugger　Joffrey；　bugger　the　queen；　and　bugger　that　twisted　little　gargoyle　she　calls　a　brother。　I'm　done　with　their　city；　done　with　their　Kingsguard；　done　with　Lannisters。　What's　a　dog　to　do　with　lions；　I　ask　you？〃　He　reached　for　his　waterskin；　took　a　long　pull。　As　he　wiped　his　mouth；　he　offered　the　skin　to　Arya　and　said；　〃The　river　was　the　Trident；　girl。　The　Trident；　not　the　Blackwater。　Make　the　map　in　your　head；　if　you　can。　On　the　morrow　we　should　reach　the　kingsroad。　We'll　make　good　time　after　that；　straight　up　to　the　Twins。　It's　going　to　be　me　who　hands　you　over　to　that　mother　of　yours。　Not　the　noble　lightning　lord　or　that　flaming　fraud　of　a　priest；　the　monster。〃　He　grinned　at　the　look　on　her　face。　〃You　think　your　outlaw　friends　are　the　only　ones　can　smell　a　ransom？　Dondarrion　took　my　gold；　so　I　took　you。　You're　worth　twice　what　they　stole　from　me；　I'd　say。　Maybe　even　more　if　I　sold　you　back　to　the　Lannisters　like　you　fear；　but　I　won't。　Even　a　dog　gets　tired　of　being　kicked。　If　this　Young　Wolf　has　the　wits　the　gods　gave　a　toad；　he'll　make　me　a　lordling　and　beg　me　to　enter　his　service。　He　needs　me；　though　he　may　not　know　it　yet。　Maybe　I'll　even　kill　Gregor　for　him；　he'd　like　that。〃
　〃He'll　never　take　you；〃　she　spat　back。　〃Not　you。〃
　〃Then　I'll　take　as　much　gold　as　I　can　carry；　laugh　in　his　face；　and　ride　off。　if　he　doesn't　take　me；　he'd　be　wise　to　kill　me；　but　he　won't。　Too　much　his　father's　son；　from　what　I　hear。　Fine　with　me。　Either　way　I　win。　And　so　do　you；　she…wolf。　So　stop　whimpering　and　snapping　at　me；　I'm　sick　of　it。　Keep　your　mouth　shut　and　do　as　I　tell　you；　and　maybe　we'll　even　be　in　time　for　your　uncle's　bloody　wedding。〃
　
　CHAPTER　48
　JON
　
　The　mare　was　blown；　but　Jon　could　not　let　up　on　her。　He　had　to　reach　the　Wall　before　the　Magnar。　He　would　have　slept　in　the　saddle　if　he'd　had　one；　lacking　that；　it　was　hard　enough　to　stay　ahorse　while　awake。　His　wounded　leg　grew　ever　more　painful。　He　dare　not　rest　long　enough　to　let　it　heal。　Instead　he　ripped　it　open