grrm.astormofswords-第171章

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　He　put　his　shoulder　to　the　one　barrel　with　Grenn；　while　Kegs　and　Owen　were　wrestling　with　another。　Together　they　rocked　it　back　and　forth　to　break　the　grip　of　the　ice　that　had　formed　around　its　bottom。　〃The　bugger　weighs　a　ton；〃　said　Grenn。
　〃Tip　it　over　and　roll　it；〃　Jon　said。　〃Careful；　if　it　rolls　over　your　foot　you'll　end　up　like　Spare　Boot。〃
　Once　the　barrel　was　on　its　side；　Jon　grabbed　a　torch　and　waved　it　above　the　surface　of　the　Wall；　back　and　forth；　just　enough　to　melt　the　ice　a　little。　The　thin　film　of　water　helped　the　barrel　roll　more　easily。　Too　easily；　in　fact；　they　almost　lost　it。　But　finally；　with　four　of　them　pooling　their　efforts；　they　rolled　their　boulder　to　the　edge　and　stood　it　up　again。
　They　had　four　of　the　big　oak　barrels　lined　up　above　the　gate　by　the　time　Pyp　shouted；　〃There's　a　turtle　at　our　door！〃　Jon　braced　his　injured　leg　and　leaned　out　for　a　look。　Hoardings；　Marsh　should　have　built　hoardings。　So　many　things　they　should　have　done。　The　wildlings　were　dragging　the　dead　giants　away　from　the　gate。　Horse　and　Mully　were　dropping　rocks　down　on　them；　and　Jon　thought　he　saw　one　man　go　down；　but　the　stones　were　too　small　to　have　any　effect　on　the　turtle　itself。　He　wondered　what　the　free　folk　would　do　about　the　dead　mammoth　in　the　path；　but　then　he　saw。　The　turtle　was　almost　as　wide　as　a　longhall；　so　they　simply　pushed　it　over　the　carcass。　His　leg　twitched；　but　Horse　caught　his　arm　and　drew　him　back　to　safety。　〃You　shouldn't　lean　out　like　that；〃　the　boy　said。
　〃We　should　have　built　hoardings。〃　Jon　thought　he　could　hear　the　crash　of　axes　on　wood；　but　that　was　probably　just　fear　ringing　in　his　ears。　He　looked　to　Grenn。　〃Do　it。〃
　Grerm　got　behind　a　barrel；　put　his　shoulder　against　it；　grunted；　and　began　to　push。　Owen　and　Mully　moved　to　help　him。　They　shoved　the　barrel　out　a　foot；　and　then　another。　And　suddenly　it　was　gone。
　They　heard　the　thump　as　it　struck　the　Wall　on　the　way　down；　and　then；　much　louder；　the　crash　and　crack　of　splintering　wood；　followed　by　shouts　and　screams。　Satin　whooped　and　Owen　the　Oaf　danced　in　circles；　while　Pyp　leaned　out　and　called；　〃The　turtle　was　stuffed　full　of　rabbits！　Look　at　them　hop　away！〃
　〃Again；〃　Jon　barked；　and　Grerm　and　Kegs　slammed　their　shoulders　against　the　next　barrel；　and　sent　it　tottering　out　into　empty　air。
　By　the　time　they　were　done；　the　front　of　Mance's　turtle　was　a　crushed　and　splintered　ruin；　and　wildlings　were　spilling　out　the　other　end　and　scrambling　for　their　camp。　Satin　scooped　up　his　crossbow　and　sent　a　few　quarrels　after　them　as　they　ran；　to　see　them　off　the　faster。　Grenn　was　grinning　through　his　beard；　Pyp　was　making　japes；　and　none　of　them　would　die　today。
　On　the　morrow；　though　。　。　。　Jon　glanced　toward　the　shed。　Eight　barrels　of　gravel　remained　where　twelve　had　stood　a　few　moments　before。　He　realized　how　tired　he　was　then；　and　how　much　his　wound　was　hurting。　I　need　to　sleep。　A　few　hours；　at　least。　He　could　go　to　Maester　Aemon　for　some　dreamwine；　that　would　help。　〃I　am　going　down　to　the　King's　Tower；〃　he　told　them。　〃Call　me　if　Mance　gets　up　to　anything。　Pyp；　you　have　the　Wall。〃
　〃Me？〃　said　Pyp。
　〃Him？〃　said　Grenn。
　Smiling；　he　left　them　to　it　and　rode　down　in　the　cage。
　A　cup　of　dreamwine　did　help；　as　it　happened。　No　sooner　had　he　stretched　out　on　the　narrow　bed　in　his　cell　than　sleep　took　him。　His　dreams　were　strange　and　formless；　full　of　strange　voices；　shouts　and　cries；　and　the　sound　of　a　warhorn；　blowing　low　and　loud；　a　single　deep　booming　note　that　lingered　in　the　air。
　When　he　awoke　the　sky　was　black　outside　the　arrow　slit　that　served　him　for　a　window；　and　four　men　he　did　not　know　were　standing　over　him。　One　held　a　lantern。　〃Jon　Snow；〃　the　tallest　of　them　said　brusquely；　〃pull　on　your　boots　and　e　with　us。〃
　His　first　groggy　thought　was　that　somehow　the　Wall　had　fallen　whilst　he　slept；　that　Mance　Rayder　had　sent　more　giants　or　another　turtle　and　broken　through　the　gate。　But　when　he　rubbed　his　eyes　he　saw　that　the　strangers　were　all　in　black。　They're　men　of　the　Night's　Watch；　Jon　realized。　〃e　where？　Who　are　you？〃
　The　tall　man　gestured；　and　two　of　the　others　pulled　Jon　from　the　bed。　With　the　lantern　leading　the　way　they　marched　him　from　his　cell　and　up　a　half　turn　of　stair；　to　the　Old　Bear's　solar。　He　saw　Maester　Aemon　standing　by　the　fire；　his　hands　folded　around　the　head　of　a　blackthorn　cane。　Septon　Cellador　was　half　drunk　as　usual；　and　Ser　Wynton　Stout　was　asleep　in　a　window　seat。　The　other　brothers　were　strangers　to　him。　All　but　one。
　Immaculate　in　his　fur…trimmed　cloak　and　polished　boots；　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　turned　to　say；　〃Here's　the　tumcloak　now；　my　lord。　Ned　Stark's　bastard；　of　Winterfell。〃
　〃I'm　no　tumcloak；　Thorne；〃　Jon　said　coldly。
　〃We　shall　see。〃　in　the　leather　chair　behind　the　table　where　the　Old　Bear　wrote　his　letters　sat　a　big；　broad；　jowly　man　Jon　did　not　know。　〃Yes；　we　shall　see；〃　he　said　again。　〃You　will　not　deny　that　you　are　Jon　Snow；　I　hope？　Stark's　bastard？〃
　〃Lord　Snow；　he　likes　to　call　himself。〃　Ser　Alliser　was　a　spare；　slim　man；　pact　and　sinewy；　and　just　now　his　flinty　eyes　were　dark　with　amusement。
　〃You're　the　one　who　named　me　Lord　Snow；〃　said　Jon。　Ser　Alliser　had　been　fond　of　naming　the　boys　he　trained；　during　his　time　as　Castle　Black's　master…at…arms。　The　Old　Bear　had　sent　Thorne　to　Eastwatch…by…the…Sea。　These　others　must　be　Eastwatch　men。　The　bird　reached　Cotter　Pyke　and　he's　sent　us　help。　〃How　many　men　have　you　brought？〃　he　asked　the　man　behind　the　table。
　〃It's　me　who'll　ask　the　questions；〃　the　jowly　man　replied。　〃You've　been　charged　with　oathbreaking；　cowardice；　and　desertion；　Jon　Snow。　Do　you　deny　that　you　abandoned　your　brothers　to　die　on　the　Fist　of　the　First　Men　and　joined　the　wildling　Mance　Rayder；　this　self…styled　King…beyondthe…Wall？〃
　〃Abandoned　。　。　。　？〃　Jon　almost　choked　on　the　word。
　Maester　Aemon　spoke　up　then。　〃My　lord；　Donal　Noye　and　I　discussed　these　issues　when　Jon　Snow　first　returned　to　us；　and　were　satisfied　by　Jon's　explanations。〃
　〃Well；　I　am　not　satisfied；　Maester；〃　said　the　jowly　man。　〃I　will　hear　these　explanations　for　myself。　Yes　I　will！〃
　Jon　swallowed　his　anger。　〃I　abandoned　no　one。　I　left　the　Fist　with　Qhorin　Halfhand　to　scout　the　Skirling　Pass。　I　joined　the　wildlings　under　orders。　The　Halfhand　feared　that　Mance　might　have　found　the　Horn　of　Winter　。　。　。〃
　〃The　Horn　of　Winter？〃　Ser　Alliser　chuckled。　〃Were　you　manded　to　count　their　snarks　as　well；　Lord　Snow？〃
　〃No；　but　I　counted　their　giants　as　best　I　could。〃
　〃Ser；〃　snapped　the　jowly　man。　〃You　will　address　Ser　Alliser　as　ser；　and　myself　as　m'lord。　I　am　Janos　Slynt；　Lord　of　Harrenhal；　and　mander　here　at　Castle　Black　until　such　time　as　Bowen　Marsh　returns　with　his　garrison。　You　will　grant　us　our　courtesies；　yes。　I　will　not　suffer　to　hear　an　anointed　knight　like　the　good　Ser　Alliser　mocked　by　a　traitor's　bastard。〃　He　raised　a　hand　and　pointed　a　meaty　finger　at　Jon's　face。　〃Do　you　deny　that　you　took　a　wildling　woman　into　your　bed？〃
　〃No。〃　Jon's　grief　over　Ygritte　was　too　fresh　for　him　to　deny　her　now。　〃No；　my　lord。〃
　〃I　suppose　it　was　also　the　Halfhand　who　manded　you　to　fuck　this　unwashed　whore？〃　Ser　Alliser　asked　with　a　smirk。
　〃Ser。　She　was　no　whore；　ser。　The　Halfhand　told　me　not　to　balk；　whatever　the　wildlings　asked　of　me；　but　。　。　。　I　will　not　deny　that　I　went　beyond　what　I　had　to　do；　that　I　。　。　。　cared　for　her。〃
　〃You　admit　to　being　an　oathbreaker；　then；〃　said　Janos　Slynt。
　Half　the　men　at　Castle　Black　visited　Mole's　Town　from　time　to　time　to　dig　for　buried　treasures　in　the　brothel；　Jon　knew；　but　he　would　not　dishonor　Ygritte　by　equating　her　with　the　Mole's　Town　whores。　〃I　broke　my　vows　with　a　woman。　I　admit　that。　Yes。〃
　〃Yes；　m'lord！〃　When　Slynt　scowled；　his　jowls　quivered。　He　was　as　broad　as　the　Old　Bear　had　been；　and　no　doubt　would　be　as　bald　if　he　lived　to　Mormont's　age。　Half　his　hair　was　gone　already；　though　he　could　not　have　been　more　than　forty。
　〃Yes；　my　lord；〃　Jon　said。　〃I　rode　with　the　wildlings　and　ate　with　them；　as　the　Halfhand　manded　me；　and　I　shared　my　furs　with　Ygritte。　But　I　swear　to　you；　I　never　turned　my　cloak。　I　escaped　the　Magnar　as　soon　as　I　could；　and　never　took　up　arms　against　my　brothers　or　the　realm。〃
　Lord　Slynt's　small　eyes　studied　him。　〃Ser　Glendon；〃　he　manded；　〃bring　in　the　other　prisoner。〃
　Ser　Glendon　was　the　tall　man　who　had　dragged　Jon　from　his　bed。　Four　other　men　went　with　him　when　he　left　the　room；　but　they　were　back　soon　enough　with　a　captive；　a　small；　sallow；　battered　man　fettered　hand　and　foot。　He　had　a　single　eyebrow；　a　widow's　peak；　and　a　mustache　that　looked　like　a　smear　of　dirt　on　his　upper　lip；　but　his　face　was　swollen　and　mottled　with　bruises；　and　most　of　his　front　teeth　had　been　knocked　out。
　The　Eastwatch　men　threw　the　captive　roughly　to　the　floor。　Lord　Slynt　frowned　down　at　him。　〃Is　this　the　one　you　spoke　of？〃
　The　captive　blinked　yellow　eyes。　〃Aye。〃　Not　until　that　instant　did　Jon　recognize　Rattleshirt。　He　is　a　different　man　without　his　armor；　he　thought。　〃Aye；〃　the　wildling　repeated；　〃he's　the　craven　killed　the　Halfhand。　Up　in　the　Frostfangs；　it　were；　after　we　hunted　down　Vother　crows　and　killed　them；　every　one。　We　would　have　done　for　this　one　too；　only　he　begged　P　his　worthless　life；　offered　t'　join　us　if　we'd　have　him。　The　Halfhand　swore　he'd　see　the　craven　dead　first；　but　the　wolf　ripped　Qhorin　half　t'　pieces　and　this　one　opened　his　throat。〃　He　gave　Jon　a　cracktooth　smile　then；　and　spat　blood　on　his　foot。
　〃Well？〃　Janos　Slynt　demanded　of　Jon　harshly。　〃Do　you　deny　it？　Or　will　you　claim　Qhorin　manded　you　to　kill　him？〃
　〃He　told　me　。　。　。〃　The　words　came　hard。　〃He　told　me　to　do　whatever　they　asked　of　me。〃
　Slynt　looked　about　the　solar；　at　the　other　Eastwatch　men。　〃Does　this　boy　think　I　fell　off　a　turnip　wagon　onto　my　head？〃
　〃Your　lies　won't　save　you　now；　Lord　Snow；〃　warned　Ser　Alliser　Thorne。　〃We'll　have　the　truth　from　you；　bastard。〃
　〃I've　told　you　the　truth。　Our　garrons　were　failing；　and　Rattleshirt　was　close　behind　us。　Qhorin　told　me　to　pretend　to　join　the　wildlings。　'You　must　not　balk；　whatever　is　asked　of　you；'　he　said。　He　knew　they　would　make　me　kill　him。　Rattleshirt　was　going　to　kill　him　anyway；　he　knew　that　too。〃
　〃So　now　you　claim　the　great　Qhorin　Halfhand　feared　this　creature？〃　Slynt　looked　at　Rattleshirt；　and　snorted。
　〃All　men　fear　the　Lord　o'　Bones；〃　the　wildling　grumbled。　Ser　Glendon　kicked　him；　and　he　lapsed　back　into　silence。
　〃I　never　said　that；〃　Jon　insisted。
　Slynt　slammed　a　fist　on　the　table。　〃I　heard　you！　Ser　Alliser　had　your　measure　true　enough；　it　seems。　You　lie　through　your　bastard's　teeth。　Well；　I　will　not　suffer　it。　I　will　not！　You　might　have　fooled　this　crippled　blacksmith；　but　not　Janos　Slynt！　Oh；　no。　Janos　Slynt　does　not　swallow　lies　so　easily。　Did　you　think　my　skull　was　stuffed　with　cabbage？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　your　skull　is　stuffed　with。　My　lord。〃
　〃Lord　Snow　is　nothing　if　not　arrogant；〃　said　Ser　Alliser。　〃He　murdered　Qhorin　just　as　his　fellow　turncloaks　did　Lord　Mormont。　it　would　not　surprise　me　to　learn　that　it　was　all　part　of　the　same　fell　plot。　Benjen　Stark　may　well　have　a　hand　in　all　this　as　well。　For　all　we　know；　he　is　sitting　in　Mance　Rayder's　tent　even　now。　You　know　these　Starks；　my　lord。〃
　〃I　do；〃　said　Janos　Slynt。　〃I　know　them　too　well。〃
　Jon　peeled　off　his　glove　and　show