grrm.astormofswords-第2章

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nnen　and　old　Dywen；　to　keep　them　from　sniffing　after　their　trail。　They'd　been　caching　food　for　a　fortnight；　and　Sweet　Donnel　and　Clubfoot　Karl　would　have　the　horses　ready。　With　Mormont　dead；　mand　would　pass　to　Ser　Ottyn　Wythers；　an　old　done　man；　and　failing。　He'll　be　running　for　the　Wall　before　sundown；　and　he　won't　waste　no　men　sending　them　after　us　neither。
　The　dogs　pulled　at　him　as　they　made　their　way　through　the　trees。　Chett　could　see　the　Fist　punching　its　way　up　through　the　green。　The　day　was　so　dark　that　the　Old　Bear　had　the　torches　lit；　a　great　circle　of　them　burning　all　along　the　ringwall　that　crowned　the　top　of　the　steep　stony　hill。　The　three　of　them　waded　across　a　brook。　The　water　was　icy　cold；　and　patches　of　ice　were　spreading　across　its　surface。　〃I'm　going　to　make　for　the　coast；〃　Lark　the　Sisterman　confided。　〃Me　and　my　cousins。　We'll　build　us　a　boat；　sail　back　home　to　the　Sisters。〃
　And　at　home　they'll　know　you　for　deserters　and　lop　off　your　fool　heads；　thought　Chett。　There　was　no　leaving　the　Night's　Watch；　once　you　said　your　words。　Anywhere　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　they'd　take　you　and　kill　you。
　Ollo　Lophand　now；　he　was　talking　about　sailing　back　to　Tyrosh；　where　he　claimed　men　didn't　lose　their　hands　for　a　bit　of　honest　thievery；　nor　get　sent　off　to　freeze　their　life　away　for　being　found　in　bed　with　some　knight's　wife。　Chett　had　weighed　going　with　him；　but　he　didn't　speak　their　wet　girly　tongue。　And　what　could　he　do　in　Tyrosh？　He　had　no　trade　to　speak　of；　growing　up　in　Hag's　Mire。　His　father　had　spent　his　life　grubbing　in　other　men's　fields　and　collecting　leeches。　He'd　strip　down　bare　but　for　a　thick　leather　clout；　and　go　wading　in　the　murky　waters。　When　he　climbed　out　he'd　be　covered　from　nipple　to　ankle。　Sometimes　he　made　Chett　help　pull　the　leeches　off。　One　had　attached　itself　to　his　palm　once；　and　he'd　smashed　it　against　a　wall　in　revulsion。　His　father　beat　him　bloody　for　that。　The　maesters　bought　the　leeches　at　twelve…for…apenny。
　Lark　could　go　home　if　he　liked；　and　the　damn　Tyroshi　too；　but　not　Chett。　If　he　never　saw　Hag's　Mire　again；　it　would　be　too　bloody　soon。　He　had　liked　the　look　of　Craster's　Keep；　himself　。　Craster　lived　high　as　a　lord　there；　so　why　shouldn't　he　do　the　same？　That　would　be　a　laugh。　Chett　the　leechman's　son；　a　lord　with　a　keep。　His　banner　could　be　a　dozen　leeches　on　a　field　of　pink。　But　why　stop　at　lord？　Maybe　he　should　be　a　king。　Mance　Rayder　started　out　a　crow。　I　could　be　a　king　same　as　him；　and　have　me　some　wives。　Craster　had　nineteen；　not　even　counting　the　young　ones；　the　daughters　he　hadn't　gotten　around　to　bedding　yet。　Half　them　wives　were　as　old　and　ugly　as　Craster；　but　that　didn't　matter。　The　old　ones　Chett　could　put　to　work　cooking　and　cleaning　for　him；　pulling　carrots　and　slopping　pigs；　while　the　young　ones　warmed　his　bed　and　bore　his　children。　Craster　wouldn't　object；　not　once　Small　Paul　gave　him　a　hug。
　The　only　women　Chett　had　ever　known　were　the　whores　he'd　bought　in　Mole's　Town。　When　he'd　been　younger；　the　village　girls　took　one　look　at　his　face；　with　its　boils　and　its　wen；　and　turned　away　sickened。　The　worst　was　that　slattern　Bessa。　She'd　spread　her　legs　for　every　boy　in　Hag's　Mire　so　he'd　figured　why　not　him　too？　He　even　spent　a　morning　picking　wildflowers　when　he　heard　she　liked　them；　but　she'd　just　laughed　in　his　face　and　told　him　she'd　crawl　in　a　bed　with　his　father's　leeches　before　she'd　crawl　in　one　with　him。　She　stopped　laughing　when　he　put　his　knife　in　her。　That　was　sweet；　the　look　on　her　face；　so　he　pulled　the　knife　out　and　put　it　in　her　again。　When　they　caught　him　down　near　Sevenstrearns；　old　Lord　Walder　Frey　hadn't　even　bothered　to　e　himself　to　do　the　judging。　He'd　sent　one　of　his　bastards；　that　Walder　Rivers；　and　the　next　thing　Chett　had　known　he　was　walking　to　the　Wall　with　that　foulsmelling　black　devil　Yoren。　To　pay　for　his　one　sweet　moment；　they　took　his　whole　life。
　But　now　he　meant　to　take　it　back；　and　Craster's　women　too。　That　twisted　old　wildling　has　the　right　of　it。　If　you　want　a　woman　to　wife　you　take　her；　and　none　of　this　giving　her　flowers　so　that　maybe　she　don't　notice　your　bloody　boils。　Chett　didn't　mean　to　make　that　mistake　again。
　It　would　work；　he　promised　himself　for　the　hundredth　time。　So　long　as　we　get　away　clean。　Ser　Ottyn　would　strike　south　for　the　Shadow　Tower；　the　shortest　way　to　the　Wall。　He　won't　bother　with　us；　not　Wythers；　all　he'll　want　is　to　get　back　whole。　Thoren　Smallwood　now；　he'd　want　to　press　on　with　the　attack；　but　Ser　Ottyn's　caution　ran　too　deep；　and　he　was　senior。　It　won't　matter　anyhow　Once　we're　gone；　Smallwood　can　attack　anyone　he　likes。　What　do　we　care？　If　none　of　them　ever　returns　to　the　Wall；　no　one　will　ever　e　looking　for　us；　they'll　think　we　died　with　the　rest。　That　was　a　new　thought；　and　for　a　moment　it　tempted　him。　But　they　would　need　to　kill　Ser　Ottyn　and　Ser　Mallador　Locke　as　well　to　give　Smallwood　the　mand；　and　both　of　them　were　well…attended　day　and　night　。　。　。　no；　the　risk　was　too　great。
　〃Chett；〃　said　Small　Paul　as　they　trudged　along　a　stony　game　trail　through　sentinels　and　soldier　pines；　〃what　about　the　bird？〃
　〃What　bloody　bird？〃　The　last　thing　he　needed　now　was　some　muttonhead　going　on　about　a　bird。
　〃The　Old　Bear's　raven；〃　Small　Paul　said。　〃if　we　kill　him；　who's　going　to　feed　his　bird？〃
　〃Who　bloody　well　cares？　Kill　the　bird　too　if　you　like。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　no　bird；〃　the　big　man　said。　〃But　that's　a　talking　bird。　What　if　it　tells　what　we　did？〃
　Lark　the　Sisterman　laughed。　〃Small　Paul；　thick　as　a　castle　wall；〃　he　mocked。
　〃You　shut　up　with　that；〃　said　Small　Paul　dangerously。
　〃Paul；〃　said　Chett；　before　the　big　man　got　too　angry；　〃when　they　find　the　old　man　lying　in　a　pool　of　blood　with　his　throat　slit；　they　won't　need　no　bird　to　tell　them　someone　killed　him。〃
　Small　Paul　chewed　on　that　a　moment。　〃That's　true；〃　he　allowed。　〃Can　I　keep　the　bird；　then？　I　like　that　bird。〃
　〃He's　yours；〃　said　Chett；　just　to　shut　him　up。
　〃We　can　always　eat　him　if　we　get　hungry；〃　offered　Lark。
　Small　Paul　clouded　up　again。　〃Best　not　try　and　eat　my　bird；　Lark。　Best　not。〃
　Chett　could　hear　voices　drifting　through　the　trees。　〃Close　your　bloody　mouths；　both　of　you。　We're　almost　to　the　Fist。〃
　They　emerged　near　the　west　face　of　the　hill；　and　walked　around　south　where　the　slope　was　gentler。　Near　the　edge　of　the　forest　a　dozen　men　were　taking　archery　practice。　They　had　carved　outlines　on　the　trunks　of　trees；　and　were　loosing　shafts　at　them。　〃Look；〃　said　Lark。　〃A　pig　with　a　bow。〃
　Sure　enough；　the　nearest　bowman　was　Ser　Piggy　himself；　the　fat　boy　who　had　stolen　his　place　with　Maester　Aemon。　just　the　sight　of　Samwell　Tarly　filled　him　with　anger。　Stewarding　for　Maester　Aemon　had　been　as　good　a　life　as　he'd　ever　known。　The　old　blind　man　was　undemanding；　and　Clydas　had　taken　care　of　most　of　his　wants　anyway。　Chett's　duties　were　easy：　cleaning　the　rookery；　a　few　fires　to　build；　a　few　meals　to　fetch　。　。　。　and　Aemon　never　once　hit　him。　Thinks　he　can　just　walk　in　and　shove　me　out；　on　account　of　being　highborn　and　knowing　how　to　read。　Might　be　IT　ask　him　to　read　my　knife　before　I　open　his　throat　with　it。　〃You　go　on；〃　he　told　the　others；　〃I　want　to　watch　this。〃　The　dogs　were　pulling；　anxious　to　go　with　them；　to　the　food　they　thought　would　be　waiting　at　the　top。　Chett　kicked　the　bitch　with　the　toe　of　his　boot；　and　that　settled　them　down　some。
　He　watched　from　the　trees　as　the　fat　boy　wrestled　with　a　longbow　as　tall　as　he　was；　his　red　moon　face　screwed　up　with　concentration。　Three　arrows　stood　in　the　ground　before　him。　Tarly　nocked　and　drew；　held　the　draw　a　long　moment　as　he　tried　to　aim；　and　let　fly。　The　shaft　vanished　into　the　greenery。　Chett　laughed　loudly；　a　snort　of　sweet　disgust。
　〃We'll　never　find　that　one；　and　I'll　be　blamed；〃　announced　Edd　Tollett；　the　dour　grey…haired　squire　everyone　called　Dolorous　Edd。　〃Nothing　ever　goes　missing　that　they　don't　look　at　me；　ever　since　that　time　I　lost　my　horse。　As　if　that　could　be　helped。　He　was　white　and　it　was　snowing；　what　did　they　expect？〃
　〃The　wind　took　that　one；〃　said　Grenn；　another　friend　of　Lord　Snow's。　〃Try　to　hold　the　bow　steady；　Sam。〃
　〃It's　heavy；〃　the　fat　boy　plained；　but　he　pulled　the　second　arrow　all　the　same。　This　one　went　high；　sailing　through　the　branches　ten　feet　above　the　target。
　〃I　believe　you　knocked　a　leaf　off　that　tree；〃　said　Dolorous　Edd。　〃Fall　is　falling　fast　enough；　there's　no　need　to　help　it。〃　He　sighed。　〃And　we　all　know　what　follows　fall。　Gods；　but　I　am　cold。　Shoot　the　last　arrow；　Samwell；　I　believe　my　tongue　is　freezing　to　the　roof　of　my　mouth。〃
　Ser　Piggy　lowered　the　bow；　and　Chett　thought　he　was　going　to　start　bawling。　〃It's　too　hard。〃
　〃Notch；　draw；　and　loose；〃　said　Grenn。　〃Go　on。〃
　Dutifully；　the　fat　boy　plucked　his　final　arrow　from　the　earth；　notched　it　to　his　longbow；　drew；　and　released。　He　did　it　quickly；　without　squinting　along　the　shaft　painstakingly　as　he　had　the　first　two　times。　The　arrow　struck　the　charcoal　outline　low　in　the　chest　and　hung　quivering。　〃I　hit　him。〃　Ser　Piggy　sounded　shocked。　〃Grenn；　did　you　see？　Edd；　look；　I　hit　him！〃
　〃Put　it　between　his　ribs；　I'd　say；〃　said　Grenn。
　〃Did　I　kill　him？〃　the　fat　boy　wanted　to　know。
　Tollett　shrugged。　〃Might　have　punctured　a　lung；　if　he　had　a　lung。　Most　trees　don't；　as　a　rule。〃　He　took　the　bow　from　Sam's　hand。　〃I've　seen　worse　shots；　though。　Aye；　and　made　a　few。〃
　Ser　Piggy　was　beaming。　To　look　at　him　you'd　think　he'd　actually　done　something。　But　when　he　saw　Chett　and　the　dogs；　his　smile　curled　up　and　died　squeaking。
　〃You　hit　a　tree；〃　Chett　said。　〃Let's　see　how　you　shoot　when　it's　Mance　Rayder's　lads。　They　won't　stand　there　with　their　arms　out　and　their　leaves　rustling；　oh　no。　They'll　e　right　at　you；　screaming　in　your　face；　and　I　bet　you'll　piss　those　breeches。　one　o'　them　will　plant　his　axe　right　between　those　little　pig　eyes。　The　last　thing　you'll　hear　will　be　the　thunk　it　makes　when　it　bites　into　your　skull。〃
　The　fat　boy　was　shaking。　Dolorous　Edd　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃Brother；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃just　because　it　happened　that　way　for　you　doesn't　mean　Samwell　will　suffer　the　same。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Tollett？〃
　〃The　axe　that　split　your　skull。　Is　it　true　that　half　your　wits　leaked　out　on　the　ground　and　your　dogs　ate　them？〃
　The　big　lout　Grenn　laughed；　and　even　Samwell　Tarly　managed　a　weak　little　smile。　Chett　kicked　the　nearest　dog；　yanked　on　their　leashes；　and　started　up　the　hill。　Smile　all　you　want；　Ser　Piggy。　We'll　see　who　laughs　tonight。　He　only　wished　he　had　time　to　kill　Tollett　as　well。　Gloomy　horsefaced　fool；　that's　what　he　is。
　The　climb　was　steep；　even　on　this　side　of　the　Fist；　which　had　the　gentlest　slope。　Partway　up　the　dogs　started　barking　and　pulling　at　him；　figuring　that　they'd　get　fed　soon。　He　gave　them　a　taste　of　his　boot　instead；　and　a　crack　of　the　whip　for　the　big　ugly　one　that　snapped　at　him。　Once　they　were　tied　up；　he　went　to　report。　〃The　prints　were　there　like　Giant　said；　but　the　dogs　wouldn't　track；〃　he　told　Mormont　in　front　of　his　big　black　tent。　〃Down　by　the　river　like　that；　could　be　old　prints。〃
　〃A　pity。〃　Lord　mander　Mormont　had　a　bald　head　and　a　great　shaggy　grey　beard；　and　sounded　as　tired　as　he　looked。　〃We　might　all　have　been　better　for　a　bit　of　fresh　meat。〃　The　raven　on　his　shoulder　bobbed　its　hea