grrm.astormofswords-第133章

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　nothing　here　but　death。
　Across　the　yard；　one　of　the　bowmen　on　the　roof　of　the　old　Flint　Barracks　had　unlaced　his　breeches　and　was　pissing　through　a　crenel。　Mully；　he　knew　from　the　man's　greasy　orange　hair。　Men　in　black　cloaks　were　visible　on　other　roofs　and　tower　tops　as　well；　though　nine　of　every　ten　happened　to　be　made　of　straw。　〃The　scarecrow　sentinels；〃　Donal　Noye　called　them。　Only　we're　the　crows；　Jon　mused；　and　most　of　us　were　scared　enough。
　Whatever　you　called　them；　the　straw　soldiers　had　been　Maester　Aemon's　notion。　They　had　more　breeches　and　jerkins　and　tunics　in　the　storerooms　than　they'd　had　men　to　fill　them；　so　why　not　stuff　some　with　straw；　drape　a　cloak　around　their　shoulders；　and　set　them　to　standing　watches？　Noye　had　placed　them　on　every　tower　and　in　half　the　windows。　Some　were　even　clutching　spears；　or　had　crossbows　cocked　under　their　arms。　The　hope　was　that　the　Therms　would　see　them　from　afar　and　decide　that　Castle　Black　was　too　well　defended　to　attack。
　Jon　had　six　scarecrows　sharing　the　roof　of　the　King's　Tower　with　him；　along　with　two　actual　breathing　brothers。　Deaf　Dick　Follard　sat　in　a　crenel；　methodically　cleaning　and　oiling　the　mechanism　of　his　crossbow　to　make　sure　the　wheel　turned　smoothly；　while　the　Oldtown　boy　wandered　restlessly　around　the　parapets；　fussing　with　the　clothes　on　straw　men。　Maybe　he　thinks　they　will　fight　better　if　they're　posed　just　right。　Or　maybe　this　waiting　is　fraying　his　nerves　the　way　it's　fraying　mine。
　The　boy　claimed　to　be　eighteen；　older　than　Jon；　but　he　was　green　as　summer　grass　for　all　that。　Satin；　they　called　him；　even　in　the　wool　and　mail　and　boiled　leather　of　the　Night's　Watch；　the　name　he'd　gotten　in　the　brothel　where　he'd　been　born　and　raised。　He　was　pretty　as　a　girl　with　his　dark　eyes；　soft　skin；　and　raven's　ringlets。　Half　a　year　at　Castle　Black　had　toughened　up　his　hands；　however；　and　Noye　said　he　was　passable　with　a　crossbow。　Whether　he　had　the　courage　to　face　what　was　ing；　though　。　。　。
　Jon　used　the　crutch　to　limp　across　the　tower　top。　The　King's　Tower　was　not　the　castle's　tallest…the　high；　slim；　crumbling　Lance　held　that　honor；　though　Othell　Yarwyck　had　been　heard　to　say　it　might　topple　any　day。　Nor　was　the　King's　Tower　strongest…the　Tower　of　Guards　beside　the　kingsroad　would　be　a　tougher　nut　to　crack。　But　it　was　tall　enough；　strong　enough；　and　well　placed　beside　the　Wall；　overlooking　the　gate　and　the　foot　of　the　wooden　stair。
　The　first　time　he　had　seen　Castle　Black　with　his　own　eyes；　Jon　had　wondered　why　anyone　would　be　so　foolish　as　to　build　a　castle　without　walls。　How　could　it　be　defended？
　〃It　can't；〃　his　uncle　told　him。　〃That　is　the　point。　The　Night's　Watch　is　pledged　to　take　no　part　in　the　quarrels　of　the　realm。　Yet　over　the　centuries　certain　Lords　mander；　more　proud　than　wise；　forgot　their　vows　and　near　destroyed　us　all　with　their　ambitions。　Lord　mander　Runcel　Hightower　tried　to　bequeathe　the　Watch　to　his　bastard　son。　Lord　mander　Rodrik　Flint　thought　to　make　himself　King…beyond…theWall。　Tristan　Mudd；　Mad　Marq　Rankenfell；　Robin　Hill　。　。　。　did　you　know　that　six　hundred　years　ago；　the　manders　at　Snowgate　and　the　Nightfort　went　to　war　against　each　other？　And　when　the　Lord　mander　tried　to　stop　them；　they　joined　forces　to　murder　him？　The　Stark　in　Winterfell　had　to　take　a　hand　。　。　。　and　both　their　heads。　Which　he　did　easily；　because　their　strongholds　were　not　defensible。　The　Night's　Watch　had　nine　hundred　and　ninety…six　Lords　mander　before　Jeor　Mormont；　most　of　them　men　of　courage　and　honor　。　。　。　but　we　have　had　cowards　and　fools　as　well；　our　tyrants　and　our　madmen。　We　survive　because　the　lords　and　kings　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms　know　that　we　pose　no　threat　to　them；　no　matter　who　should　lead　us。　Our　only　foes　are　to　the　north；　and　to　the　north　we　have　the　Wall。〃
　Only　now　those　foes　have　gotten　past　the　Wall　to　e　up　from　the　south；　Jon　reflected；　and　the　lords　and　kings　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms　have　forgotten　us。　We　are　caught　between　the　hammer　and　the　anvil。　Without　a　wall　Castle　Black　could　not　be　held；　Donal　Noye　knew　that　as　well　as　any。　〃The　castle　does　them　no　good；〃　the　armorer　told　his　little　garrison。　〃Kitchens；　mon　hall；　stables；　even　the　towers　。　。　。　let　them　take　it　all。　We'll　empty　the　armory　and　move　what　stores　we　can　to　the　top　of　the　Wall；　and　make　our　stand　around　the　gate。〃
　So　Castle　Black　had　a　wall　of　sorts　at　last；　a　crescent…shaped　barricade　ten　feet　high　made　of　stores；　casks　of　nails　and　barrels　of　salt　mutton；　crates；　bales　of　black　broadcloth；　stacked　logs；　sawn　timbers；　firehardened　stakes；　and　sacks　and　sacks　of　grain。　The　crude　rampart　enclosed　the　two　things　most　worth　defending；　the　gate　to　the　north；　and　the　foot　of　the　great　wooden　switchback　stair　that　clawed　and　climbed　its　way　up　the　face　of　the　Wall　like　a　drunken　thunderbolt；　supported　by　wooden　beams　as　big　as　tree　trunks　driven　deep　into　the　ice。
　The　last　few　moles　were　still　making　the　long　climb；　Jon　saw；　urged　on　by　his　brothers。　Grenn　was　carrying　a　little　boy　in　his　arms；　while　Pyp；　two　flights　below；　let　an　old　man　lean　upon　his　shoulder。　The　oldest　villagers　still　waited　below　for　the　cage　to　make　its　way　back　down　to　them。　He　saw　a　mother　pulling　along　two　children；　one　on　either　hand；　as　an　older　boy　ran　past　her　up　the　steps。　Two　hundred　feet　above　them；　Sky　Blue　Su　and　Lady　Meliana　（who　was　no　lady；　all　her　friends　agreed）　stood　on　a　landing；　looking　south。　They　had　a　better　view　of　the　smoke　than　he　did；　no　doubt。　Jon　wondered　about　the　villagers　who　had　chosen　not　to　flee。　There　were　always　a　few；　too　stubborn　or　too　stupid　or　too　brave　to　run；　a　few　who　preferred　to　fight　or　hide　or　bend　the　knee。　Maybe　the　Therms　would　spare　them。
　The　thing　to　do　would　be　to　take　the　attack　to　them；　he　thought。　With　fifty　rangers　well　mounted；　we　could　cut　them　apart　on　the　road。　They　did　not　have　fifty　rangers；　though；　nor　half　as　many　horses。　The　garrison　had　not　returned；　and　there　was　no　way　to　know　just　where　they　were；　or　even　whether　the　riders　that　Noye　had　sent　out　had　reached　them。
　We　are　the　garrison；　Jon　told　himself；　and　look　at　us。　The　brothers　Bowen　Marsh　had　left　behind　were　old　men；　cripples；　and　green　boys；　just　as　Donal　Noye　had　warned　him。　He　could　see　some　wrestling　barrels　up　the　steps；　others　on　the　barricade；　stout　old　Kegs；　as　slow　as　ever；　Spare　Boot　hopping　along　briskly　on　his　carved　wooden　leg；　half…mad　Easy　who　fancied　himself　Florian　the　Fool　reborn；　Dornish　Dilly；　Red　Alyn　of　the　Rosewood；　Young　Henly　（well　past　fifty）；　Old　Henly　（well　past　seventy）；　Hairy　Hal；　Spotted　Pate　of　Maidenpool。　A　couple　of　them　saw　Jon　looking　down　from　atop　the　King's　Tower　and　waved　up　at　him。　others　turned　away。　They　still　think　me　a　tumcloak。　That　was　a　bitter　draft　to　drink；　but　Jon　could　not　blame　them。　He　was　a　bastard；　after　all。　Everyone　knew　that　bastards　were　wanton　and　treacherous　by　nature；　having　been　born　of　lust　and　deceit。　And　he　had　made　as　many　enemies　as　friends　at　Castle　Black　。　。　。　Rast；　for　one。　Jon　had　once　threatened　to　have　Ghost　rip　his　throat　out　unless　he　stopped　tormenting　Samwell　Tarly；　and　Rast　did　not　forget　things　like　that。　He　was　raking　dry　leaves　into　piles　under　the　stairs　just　now；　but　every　so　often　he　stopped　long　enough　to　give　Jon　a　nasty　look。
　〃No；〃　Donal　Noye　roared　at　three　of　the　Mole's　Town　men；　down　below。　〃The　pitch　goes　to　the　hoist；　the　oil　up　the　steps；　crossbow　bolts　to　the　fourth；　fifth；　and　sixth　landings；　spears　to　first　and　second。　Stack　the　lard　under　the　stair；　yes；　there；　behind　the　planks。　The　casks　of　meat　are　for　the　barricade。　Now；　you　poxy　plow　pushers；　NOW！〃
　He　has　a　lord's　voice；　Jon　thought。　His　father　had　always　said　that　in　battle　a　captain's　lungs　were　as　important　as　his　sword　arm。　〃It　does　not　matter　how　brave　or　brilliant　a　man　is；　if　his　mands　cannot　be　heard；〃　Lord　Eddard　told　his　sons；　so　Robb　and　he　used　to　climb　the　towers　of　Winterfell　to　shout　at　each　other　across　the　yard。　Donal　Noye　could　have　drowned　out　both　of　them。　The　moles　all　went　in　terror　of　him；　and　rightfully　so；　since　he　was　always　threatening　to　rip　their　heads　off。
　Three…quarters　of　the　village　had　taken　Jon's　warning　to　heart　and　e　to　Castle　Black　for　refuge。　Noye　had　decreed　that　every　man　still　spry　enough　to　hold　a　spear　or　swing　an　axe　would　help　defend　the　barricade；　else　they　could　damn　well　go　home　and　take　their　chances　with　the　Therms。　He　had　emptied　the　armory　to　put　good　steel　in　their　hands；　big　double…bladed　axes；　razor…sharp　daggers；　longswords；　maces；　spiked　morningstars。　Clad　in　studded　leather　jerkins　and　mail　hauberks；　with　greaves　for　their　legs　and　gorgets　to　keep　their　heads　on　their　shoulders；　a　few　of　them　even　looked　like　soldiers。　In　a　bad　light。　If　you　squint。
　Noye　had　put　the　women　and　children　to　work　as　well。　Those　too　young　to　fight　would　carry　water　and　tend　the　fires；　the　Mole's　Town　midwife　would　assist　Clydas　and　Maester　Aemon　with　any　wounded；　and　Three…Finger　Hobb　suddenly　had　more　spit　boys；　kettle　stirrers；　and　onion　choppers　than　he　knew　what　to　do　with。　Two　of　the　whores　had　even　offered　to　fight；　and　had　shown　enough　skill　with　the　crossbow　to　be　given　a　place　on　the　steps　forty　feet　up。
　〃It's　cold。〃　Satin　stood　with　his　hands　tucked　into　his　armpits　under　his　cloak。　His　cheeks　were　bright　red。
　Jon　made　himself　smile。　〃The　Frostfangs　are　cold。　This　is　a　brisk　autumn　day。〃
　〃I　hope　I　never　see　the　Frostfangs　then。　I　knew　a　girl　in　Oldtown　who　liked　to　ice　her　wine。　That's　the　best　place　for　ice；　I　think。　In　wine。〃　Satin　glanced　south；　frowned。　〃You　think　the　scarecrow　sentinels　scared　them　off；　my　lord？〃
　〃We　can　hope。〃　It　was　possible；　Jon　supposed　。　。　。　but　more　likely　the　wildlings　had　simply　paused　for　a　bit　of　rape　and　plunder　in　Mole's　Town。　Or　maybe　Styr　was　waiting　for　nightfall；　to　move　up　under　cover　of　darkness。
　Midday　came　and　went；　with　still　no　sign　of　Therms　on　the　kingsroad。　Jon　heard　footsteps　inside　the　tower；　though；　and　Owen　the　Oaf　popped　up　out　of　the　trapdoor；　red…faced　from　the　climb。　He　had　a　basket　of　buns　under　one　arm；　a　wheel　of　cheese　under　the　other；　a　bag　of　onions　dangling　from　one　hand。　〃Hobb　said　to　feed　you；　in　case　you're　stuck　up　here　awhile。〃
　That；　or　for　our　last　meal。　〃Thank　him　for　us；　Owen。〃
　Dick　Follard　was　deaf　as　a　stone；　but　his　nose　worked　well　enough。
　The　buns　were　still　warm　from　the　oven　when　he　went　digging　in　the　basket　and　plucked　one　out。　He　found　a　crock　of　butter　as　well；　and　spread　some　with　his　dagger。　〃Raisins；〃　he　announced　happily。　〃Nuts；　too。〃　His　speech　was　thick；　but　easy　enough　to　understand　once　you　got　used　to　it。
　〃You　can　have　mine　too；〃　said　Satin。　〃I'm　not　hungry。〃
　〃Eat；〃　Jon　told　him。　〃There's　no　knowing　when　you'll　have　another　chance。〃　He　took　two　buns　himself　。　The　nuts　were　pine　nuts；　and　besides　the　raisins　there　were　bits　of　dried　apple。
　〃Will　the　wildlings　e　today；　Lord　Snow？〃　Owen　asked。
　〃You'll　know　if　they　do；〃　said　Jon。　〃Listen　for　the　horns。〃
　〃Two。　Two　is　for　wildlings。〃　Owen　was　tall；　towheaded；　and　amiable；　a　tireless　worker　and　surprisingly　deft　when　it　came　to　working　wood　and　fixing　catapults　and　the　like；　but　as　he'd　gladly　tell　you；　his　mother　had　dropped　him　on　his　head　when　he　was　a　baby；　and　half　his　wits　had　leaked　out　through　his