grrm.astormofswords-第170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！


arrows　had　caught　Red　Alyn　of　the　Rosewood　in　the　leg。　You　could　still　see　his　body　at　the　foot　of　the　Wall；　if　you　cared　to　lean　out　far　enough。　Jon　had　to　think　that　it　was　better　for　them　to　smile　at　Pyp's　jest　than　to　brood　over　Alyn's　corpse。
　The　mantlets　were　slanting　wooden　shields；　wide　enough　for　five　of　the　free　folk　to　hide　behind。　The　archers　pushed　them　close；　then　knelt　behind　them　to　loose　their　arrows　through　slits　in　the　wood。　The　first　time　the　wildlings　rolled　them　out；　Jon　had　called　for　fire　arrows　and　set　a　half　…dozen　ablaze；　but　after　that　Mance　started　covering　them　with　raw　hides。　All　the　fire　arrows　in　the　world　couldn't　make　them　catch　now。　The　brothers　had　even　started　wagering　as　to　which　of　the　straw　sentinels　would　collect　the　most　arrows　before　they　were　done。　Dolorous　Edd　was　leading　with　four；　but　Othell　Yarwyck；　Tumberjon；　and　Watt　of　Long　Lake　had　three　apiece。　It　was　Pyp　who'd　started　naming　the　scarecrows　after　their　missing　brothers；　too。　〃It　makes　it　seem　as　if　there's　more　of　us；〃　he　said。
　〃More　of　us　with　arrows　in　our　bellies；〃　Grenn　plained；　but　the　custom　did　seem　to　give　his　brothers　heart；　so　Jon　let　the　names　stand　and　the　wagering　continue。
　On　the　edge　of　the　Wall　an　ornate　brass　Myrish　eye　stood　on　three　spindly　legs。　Maester　Aemon　had　once　used　it　to　peer　at　the　stars；　before　his　own　eyes　had　failed　him。　Jon　swung　the　tube　down　to　have　a　look　at　the　foe。　Even　at　this　distance　there　was　no　mistaking　Mance　Rayder's　huge　white　tent；　sewn　together　from　the　pelts　of　snow　bears。　The　Myrish　lenses　brought　the　wildlings　close　enough　for　him　to　make　out　faces。　Of　Mance　himself　he　saw　no　sign　this　morning；　but　his　woman　Dalla　was　outside　tending　the　fire；　while　her　sister　Val　milked　a　she…goat　beside　the　tent。　Dalla　looked　so　big　it　was　a　wonder　she　could　move。　The　child　must　be　ing　very　soon；　Jon　thought。　He　swiveled　the　eye　east　and　searched　amongst　the　tents　and　trees　till　he　found　the　turtle。　That　will　be　ing　very　soon　as　well。　The　wildlings　had　skinned　one　of　the　dead　mammoths　during　the　night；　and　they　were　lashing　the　raw　bloody　hide　over　the　turtle's　roof；　one　more　layer　on　top　of　the　sheepskins　and　pelts。　The　turtle　had　a　rounded　top　and　eight　huge　wheels；　and　under　the　hides　was　a　stout　wooden　frame。　When　the　wildlings　had　begun　knocking　it　together；　Satin　thought　they　were　building　a　ship。　Not　far　wrong。　The　turtle　was　a　hull　turned　upside　down　and　opened　fore　and　aft；　a　longhall　on　wheels。
　〃It's　done；　isn't　it？〃　asked　Grenn。
　〃Near　enough。〃　Jon　shoved　away　the　eye。　〃It　will　e　today；　most　like。　Did　you　fill　the　barrels？〃
　〃Every　one。　They　froze　hard　during　the　night；　Pyp　checked。〃
　Grenn　had　changed　a　great　deal　from　the　big；　clumsy；　red…necked　boy　Jon　had　first　befriended。　He　had　grown　half　a　foot；　his　chest　and　shoulders　had　thickened；　and　he　had　not　cut　his　hair　nor　trimmed　his　beard　since　the　Fist　of　the　First　Men。　It　made　him　look　as　huge　and　shaggy　as　an　aurochs；　the　mocking　name　that　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　had　hung　on　him　during　training。　He　looked　weary　now；　though。　When　Jon　said　as　much；　he　nodded。　〃I　heard　their　axes　all　night。　Couldn't　sleep　for　all　the　chopping。〃
　〃Then　go　sleep　now。〃
　〃I　don't　need…〃
　〃You　do。　I　want　you　rested。　Go　on；　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　sleep　through　the　fight。〃　He　made　himself　smile。　〃You're　the　only　one　who　can　move　those　bloody　barrels。〃
　Grenn　went　off　muttering；　and　Jon　returned　to　the　far　eye；　searching　the　wildling　camp。　From　time　to　time　an　arrow　would　sail　past　overhead；　but　he　had　learned　to　ignore　those。　The　range　was　long　and　the　angle　was　bad；　the　chances　of　being　hit　were　small。　He　still　saw　no　sign　of　Mance　Rayder　in　the　camp；　but　he　spied　Tormund　Giantsbane　and　two　of　his　sons　around　the　turtle。　The　sons　were　struggling　with　the　mammoth　hide　while　Tormund　gnawed　on　the　roast　leg　of　a　goat　and　bellowed　orders。　Elsewhere　he　found　the　wildling　skinchanger；　Varamyr　Sixskins；　walking　through　the　trees　with　his　shadowcat　dogging　his　heels。
　When　he　heard　the　rattle　of　the　winch　chains　and　the　iron　groan　of　the　cage　door　opening；　he　knew　it　would　be　Hobb　bringing　their　breakfast　as　he　did　every　morning。　The　sight　of　Mance's　turtle　had　robbed　Jon　of　his　appetite。　Their　oil　was　all　but　gone；　and　the　last　barrel　of　pitch　had　been　rolled　off　the　Wall　two　nights　ago。　They　would　soon　run　short　of　arrows　as　well；　and　there　were　no　fletchers　making　more。　And　the　night　before　last；　a　raven　had　e　from　the　west；　from　Ser　Denys　Mallister。　Bowen　Marsh　had　chased　the　wildlings　all　the　way　to　the　Shadow　Tower；　it　seemed；　and　then　farther；　down　into　the　gloom　of　the　Gorge。　At　the　Bridge　of　Skulls　he　had　met　the　Weeper　and　three　hundred　wildlings　and　won　a　bloody　battle。　But　the　victory　had　been　a　costly　one。　More　than　a　hundred　brothers　slain；　among　them　Ser　Endrew　Tarth　and　Ser　Aladale　Wynch。　The　Old　Pomegranate　himself　had　been　carried　back　to　the　Shadow　Tower　sorely　wounded。　Maester　Mullin　was　tending　him；　but　it　would　be　some　time　before　he　was　fit　to　return　to　Castle　Black。
　When　he　had　read　that；　Jon　had　dispatched　Zei　to　Mole's　Town　on　their　best　horse　to　plead　with　the　villagers　to　help　man　the　Wall。　She　never　returned。　When　he　sent　Mully　after　her；　he　came　back　to　report　the　whole　village　deserted；　even　the　brothel。　Most　likely　Zei　had　followed　them；　straight　down　the　kingsroad。　Maybe　we　should　all　do　the　same；　Jon　reflected　glumly。
　He　made　himself　eat；　hungry　or　no。　Bad　enough　he　could　not　sleep；　he　could　not　go　on　without　food　as　well。　Besides；　this　might　be　my　last　meal。　It　might　be　the　last　meal　for　all　of　us。　So　it　was　that　Jon　had　a　belly　full　of　bread；　bacon；　onions；　and　cheese　when　he　heard　Horse　shout；　〃IT'S　ING！〃
　No　one　needed　to　ask　what　〃it〃　was。　Nor　did　Jon　need　the　maester's　Myrish　eye　to　see　it　creeping　out　from　amongst　the　tents　and　trees。　〃It　doesn't　really　look　much　like　a　turtle；〃　Satin　mented。　〃Turtles　don't　have　fur。〃
　〃Most　of　them　don't　have　wheels　either；〃　said　Pyp。
　〃Sound　the　warhorn；〃　Jon　manded；　and　Kegs　blew　two　long　blasts；　to　wake　Grenn　and　the　other　sleepers　who'd　had　the　watch　during　the　night。　If　the　wildlings　were　ing；　the　Wall　would　need　every　man。　Gods　know；　we　have　fewenough。　Jon　looked　at　Pyp　and　Kegs　and　Satin；　Horse　and　Owen　the　Oaf；　Tim　Tangletongue；　Mully；　Spare　Boot；　and　the　rest；　and　tried　to　imagine　them　going　belly　to　belly　and　blade　to　blade　against　a　hundred　screaming　wildlings；　in　the　freezing　darkness　of　that　tunnel；　with　only　a　few　iron　bars　between　them。　That　was　what　it　would　e　down　to；　unless　they　could　stop　the　turtle　before　the　gate　was　breached。
　〃It's　big；〃　Horse　said。
　Pyp　smacked　his　lips。　〃Think　of　all　the　soup　it　will　make。〃　The　jape　was　stillborn。　Even　Pyp　sounded　tired。　He　looks　half　dead；　thought　Jon；　but　so　do　we　all。　The　King…beyond…the…Wall　had　so　many　men　that　he　could　throw　fresh　attackers　at　them　every　time；　but　the　same　handful　of　black　brothers　had　to　meet　every　assault；　and　it　had　worn　them　ragged。
　The　men　beneath　the　wood　and　hides　would　be　pulling　hard；　Jon　knew；　putting　their　shoulders　into　it；　straining　to　keep　the　wheels　turning；　but　once　the　turtle　was　flush　against　the　gate　they　would　exchange　their　ropes　for　axes。　At　least　Mance　was　not　sending　his　mammoths　today。　Jon　was　glad　of　that。　Their　awesome　strength　was　wasted　on　the　Wall；　and　their　size　only　made　them　easy　targets。　The　last　had　been　a　day　and　a　half　in　the　dying；　its　mournful　trumpetings　terrible　to　hear。
　The　turtle　crept　slowly　through　stones　and　stumps　and　brush。　The　earlier　attacks　had　cost　the　free　folk　a　hundred　lives　or　more。　Most　still　lay　where　they　had　fallen。　In　the　lulls　the　crows　would　e　and　pay　them　court；　but　now　the　birds　fled　screeching。　They　liked　the　look　of　that　turtle　no　more　than　he　did。
　Satin；　Horse；　and　the　others　were　looking　to　him；　Jon　knew；　waiting　for　his　orders。　He　was　so　tired；　he　hardly　knew　any　more。　The　Wall　is　mine；　he　reminded　himself。　〃Owen；　Horse；　to　the　catapults。　Kegs；　you　and　Spare　Boot　on　the　scorpions。　The　rest　of　you　string　your　bows。　Fire　arrows。　Let's　see　if　we　can　burn　it。〃　It　was　likely　to　be　a　futile　gesture；　Jon　knew；　but　it　had　to　be　better　than　standing　helpless。
　Cumbersome　and　slow…moving；　the　turtle　made　for　an　easy　shot；　and　his　archers　and　crossbowmen　soon　turned　it　into　a　lumbering　wooden　hedgehog　。　。　。　but　the　wet　hides　protected　it；　just　as　they　had　the　mantlets；　and　the　flaming　arrows　guttered　out　almost　as　soon　as　they　struck。　Jon　cursed　under　his　breath。　〃Scorpions；〃　he　manded。　〃Catapults。〃
　The　scorpions　bolts　punched　deep　into　the　pelts；　but　did　no　more　damage　than　the　fire　arrows。　The　rocks　went　bouncing　off　the　turtle's　roof；　leaving　dimples　in　the　thick　layers　of　hides。　A　stone　from　one　of　the　trebuchets　might　have　crushed　it；　but　the　one　machine　was　still　broken；　and　the　wildlings　had　gone　wide　around　the　area　where　the　other　dropped　its　loads。
　〃Jon；　it's　still　ing；〃　said　Owen　the　Oaf。
　He　could　see　that　for　himself。　Inch　by　inch；　yard　by　yard；　the　turtle　crept　closer；　rolling；　rumbling　and　rocking　as　it　crossed　the　killing　ground。　Once　the　wildlings　got　it　flush　against　the　Wall；　it　would　give　them　all　the　shelter　they　needed　while　their　axes　crashed　through　the　hastily…repaired　outer　gates。　Inside；　under　the　ice；　they　would　clear　the　loose　rubble　from　the　tunnel　in　a　matter　of　hours；　and　then　there　would　be　nothing　to　stop　them　but　two　iron　gates；　a　few　half…frozen　corpses；　and　whatever　brothers　Jon　cared　to　throw　in　their　path；　to　fight　and　die　down　in　the　dark。
　To　his　left；　the　catapult　made　a　thunk　and　filled　the　air　with　spinning　stones。　They　plonked　down　on　the　turtle　like　hail；　and　caromed　harmlessly　aside。　The　wildling　archers　were　still　loosing　arrows　from　behind　their　mantlets。　One　thudded　into　the　face　of　a　straw　man；　and　Pyp　said；　〃Four　for　Watt　of　Long　Lake！　We　have　a　tie！　〃　The　next　shaft　whistled　past　his　own　ear；　however。　〃Fie！〃　he　shouted　down。　〃I'm　not　in　the　tourney！〃
　〃The　hides　won't　burn；〃　Jon　said；　as　much　to　himself　as　to　the　others。　Their　only　hope　was　to　try　and　crush　the　turtle　when　it　reached　the　Wall。　For　that；　they　needed　boulders。　No　matter　how　stoutly　built　the　turtle　was；　a　huge　chunk　of　rock　crashing　straight　down　on　top　of　it　from　seven　hundred　feet　was　bound　to　do　some　damage。　〃Grenn；　Owen；　Kegs；　it's　time。〃
　Alongside　the　warming　shed　a　dozen　stout　oaken　barrels　were　lined　up　in　a　row。　They　were　full　of　crushed　rock；　the　gravel　that　the　black　brothers　customarily　spread　on　the　footpaths　to　give　themselves　better　footing　atop　the　Wall。　Yesterday；　after　he'd　seen　the　free　folk　covering　the　turtle　with　sheepskins；　Jon　told　Grerm　to　pour　water　into　the　barrels；　as　much　as　they　would　take。　The　water　would　seep　down　through　the　crushed　stone；　and　overnight　the　whole　thing　would　freeze　solid。　It　was　the　nearest　thing　to　a　boulder　they　were　going　to　get。
　〃Why　do　we　need　to　freeze　it？〃　Grerm　had　asked　him。　〃Why　don't　we　just　roll　the　barrels　off　the　way　they　are？〃
　Jon　answered；　〃If　they　crash　against　the　Wall　on　the　way　down　they'll　burst；　and　loose　gravel　will　spray　everywhere。　We　don't　want　to　rain　pebbles　on　the　whoresons。〃
　He　put　his　shoulder　to　the　one　barrel　with　Grenn；　while　Kegs　and　Owen　were　wrestling　with　another。　Together　they　rocked　it