grrm.astormofswords-第32章

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　〃I'll　make　her　my　love　and　we'll　rest　in　the　shade；　heigh…ho；　heigh…ho。　The　song　swelled　louder　with　every　word。
　Hot　Pie　opened　his　arms。　The　cabbages　fell　to　the　ground　with　soft　thumps。　〃We　have　to　hide。〃
　Where？　The　burned　cottage　and　its　overgrown　garden　stood　hard　beside　the　banks　of　the　Trident。　There　were　a　few　willows　growing　along　the　river's　edge　and　reed　beds　in　the　muddy　shallows　beyond；　but　most　of　the　ground　hereabouts　was　painfully　open。　I　knew　we　should　never　have　left　the　woods；　she　thought。　They'd　been　so　hungry；　though；　and　the　garden　had　been　too　much　a　temptation。　The　bread　and　cheese　they　had　stolen　from　Harrenhal　had　given　out　six　days　ago；　back　in　the　thick　of　the　woods。　〃Take　Gendry　and　the　horses　behind　the　cottage；〃　she　decided。　There　was　part　of　one　wall　still　standing；　big　enough；　maybe；　to　conceal　two　boys　and　three　horses。　If　the　horses　don't　whinny；　and　that　singer　doesn't　e　poking　around　the　garden。
　〃What　about　you？〃
　〃I'll　hide　by　the　tree。　He's　probably　alone。　If　he　bothers　me；　I'll　kill　him。　Go！〃
　Hot　Pie　went；　and　Arya　dropped　her　carrots　and　drew　the　stolen　sword　from　over　her　shoulder。　She　had　strapped　the　sheath　across　her　back；　the　longsword　was　made　for　a　man　grown；　and　it　bumped　against　the　ground　when　she　wore　it　on　her　hip。　It's　too　heavy　besides；　she　thought；　missing　Needle　the　way　she　did　every　time　she　took　this　clumsy　thing　in　her　hand。　But　it　was　a　sword　and　she　could　kill　with　it；　that　was　enough。
　Lightfoot；　she　moved　to　the　big　old　willow　that　grew　beside　the　bend　in　the　road　and　went　to　one　knee　in　the　grass　and　mud；　within　the　veil　of　trailing　branches。　You　old　gods；　she　prayed　as　the　singer's　voice　grew　louder；　you　tree　gods；　hide　me；　and　make　him　go　past。　Then　a　horse　whickered；　and　the　song　broke　off　suddenly。　He's　heard；　she　knew；　but　maybe　he's　alone；　or　if　he's　not；　maybe　they'll　be　as　scared　of　us　as　we　are　of　them。
　〃Did　you　hear　that？〃　a　man's　voice　said。　〃There's　something　behind　that　wall；　I　would　say。〃
　〃Aye；〃　replied　a　second　voice；　deeper。　〃What　do　you　think　it　might　be；　Archer？〃
　Two；　then。　Arya　bit　her　lip。　She　could　not　see　them　from　where　she　knelt；　on　account　of　the　willow。　But　she　could　hear。
　〃A　bear。〃　A　third　voice；　or　the　first　one　again？
　〃A　lot　of　meat　on　a　bear；〃　the　deep　voice　said。　〃A　lot　of　fat　as　well；　in　fall。　Good　to　eat；　if　it's　cooked　up　right。〃
　〃Could　be　a　wolf。　Maybe　a　lion。〃
　〃With　four　feet；　you　think？　Or　two？〃
　〃Makes　no　matter。　Does　it？〃
　〃Not　so　I　know。　Archer；　what　do　you　mean　to　do　with　all　them　arrows？〃
　〃Drop　a　few　shafts　over　the　wall。　Whatever's　hiding　back　there　will　e　out　quick　enough；　watch　and　see。〃
　〃What　if　it's　some　honest　man　back　there；　though？　Or　some　poor　woman　with　a　little　babe　at　her　breast？〃
　〃An　honest　man　would　e　out　and　show　us　his　face。　Only　an　outlaw　would　skulk　and　hide。〃
　〃Aye；　that's　so。　Go　on　and　loose　your　shafts；　then。〃
　Arya　sprang　to　her　feet。　〃Don't！〃　She　showed　them　her　sword。　There　were　three；　she　saw。　Only　three。　Syrio　could　fight　more　than　three；　and　she　had　Hot　Pie　and　Gendry　to　stand　with　her；　maybe。　But　they're　boys；　and　these　are　men。
　They　were　men　afoot；　travel…stained　and　mud…specked。　She　knew　the　singer　by　the　woodharp　he　cradled　against　his　jerkin；　as　a　mother　might　cradle　a　babe。　A　small　man；　fifty　from　the　look　of　him；　he　had　a　big　mouth；　a　sharp　nose；　and　thinning　brown　hair。　His　faded　greens　were　mended　here　and　there　with　old　leather　patches；　and　he　wore　a　brace　of　throwing　knives　on　his　hip　and　a　woodman's　axe　slung　across　his　back。
　The　man　beside　him　stood　a　good　foot　taller；　and　had　the　look　of　a　soldier。　A　longsword　and　dirk　hung　from　his　studded　leather　belt；　rows　of　overlapping　steel　rings　were　sewn　onto　his　shirt；　and　his　head　was　covered　by　a　black　iron　halfhelm　shaped　like　a　cone。　He　had　bad　teeth　and　a　bushy　brown　beard；　but　it　was　his　hooded　yellow　cloak　that　drew　the　eye。　Thick　and　heavy；　stained　here　with　grass　and　there　with　blood；　frayed　along　the　bottom　and　patched　with　deerskin　on　the　right　shoulder；　the　greatcloak　gave　the　big　man　the　look　of　some　huge　yellow　bird。
　The　last　of　the　three　was　a　youth　as　skinny　as　his　longbow；　if　not　quite　as　tall。　Red…haired　and　freckled；　he　wore　a　studded　brigantine；　high　boots；　fingerless　leather　gloves；　and　a　quiver　on　his　back。　His　arrows　were　fletched　with　grey　goose　feathers；　and　six　of　them　stood　in　the　ground　before　him；　like　a　little　fence。
　The　three　men　looked　at　her；　standing　there　in　the　road　with　her　blade　in　hand。　Then　the　singer　idly　plucked　a　string。　〃Boy；〃　he　said；　〃put　up　that　sword　now；　unless　you're　wanting　to　be　hurt。　It's　too　big　for　you；　lad；　and　besides；　Anguy　here　could　put　three　shafts　through　you　before　you　could　hope　to　reach　us。〃
　〃He　could　not；〃　Arya　said；　〃and　I'm　a　girl。〃
　〃So　you　are。〃　The　singer　bowed。　〃My　pardons。〃
　〃You　go　on　down　the　road。　just　walk　right　past　here；　and　you　keep　on　singing；　so　we'll　know　where　you　are。　Go　away　and　leave　us　be　and　I　won't　kill　you。〃
　The　freckle…faced　archer　laughed。　〃Lem；　she　won't　kill　us；　did　you　hear？〃
　〃I　heard；〃　said　Lem；　the　big　soldier　with　the　deep　voice。
　〃Child；〃　said　the　singer；　〃put　up　that　sword；　and　we'll　take　you　to　a　safe　place　and　get　some　food　in　that　belly。　There　are　wolves　in　these　parts；　and　lions；　and　worse　things。　No　place　for　a　little　girl　to　be　wandering　alone。〃
　〃She's　not　alone。〃　Gendry　rode　out　from　behind　the　cottage　wall；　and　behind　him　Hot　Pie；　leading　her　horse。　In　his　chainmail　shirt　with　a　sword　in　his　hand；　Gendry　looked　almost　a　man　grown；　and　dangerous。　Hot　Pie　looked　like　Hot　Pie。　〃Do　like　she　says；　and　leave　us　be；〃　warned　Gendry。
　〃Two　and　three；〃　the　singer　counted；　〃and　is　that　all　of　you？　And　horses　too；　lovely　horses。　Where　did　you　steal　them？〃
　〃They're　ours。〃　Arya　watched　them　carefully。　The　singer　kept　distracting　her　with　his　talk；　but　it　was　the　archer　who　was　the　danger。　If　he　should　pull　an　arrow　from　the　ground　。　。　。
　〃Will　you　give　us　your　names　like　honest　men？〃　the　singer　asked　the　boys。
　〃I'm　Hot　Pie；〃　Hot　Pie　said　at　once。
　〃Aye；　and　good　for　you。〃　The　man　smiled。　〃It's　not　every　day　I　meet　a　lad　with　such　a　tasty　name。　And　what　would　your　friends　be　called；　Mutton　Chop　and　Squab？〃
　Gendry　scowled　down　from　his　saddle。　〃Why　should　I　tell　you　my　name？　I　haven't　heard　yours。〃
　〃Well；　as　to　that；　I'm　Tom　of　Sevenstreams；　but　Tom　Sevenstrings　is　what　they　call　me；　or　Tom　o'　Sevens。　This　great　lout　with　the　brown　teeth　is　Lem；　short　for　Lemoncloak。　It's　yellow；　you　see；　and　Lem's　a　sour　sort。　And　young　fellow　me　lad　over　there　is　Anguy；　or　Archer　as　we　like　to　call　him。〃
　〃Now　who　are　you？〃　demanded　Lem；　in　the　deep　voice　that　Arya　had　heard　through　the　branches　of　the　willow。
　She　was　not　about　to　give　up　her　true　name　as　easy　as　that。　〃Squab；　if　you　want；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　care。〃
　The　big　man　laughed。　〃A　squab　with　a　sword；〃　he　said。　〃Now　there's　something　you　don't　often　see。〃
　〃I'm　the　Bull；〃　said　Gendry；　taking　his　lead　from　Arya。　She　could　not　blame　him　for　preferring　Bull　to　Mutton　Chop。
　Tom　Sevenstrings　strummed　his　harp。　〃Hot　Pie；　Squab；　and　the　Bull。　Escaped　from　Lord　Bolton's　kitchen；　did　you？〃
　〃How　did　you　know？〃　Arya　demanded；　uneasy。
　〃You　bear　his　sigil　on　your　chest；　little　one。〃
　She　had　forgotten　that　for　an　instant。　Beneath　her　cloak；　she　still　wore　her　fine　page's　doublet；　with　the　flayed　man　of　the　Dreadfort　sewn　on　her　breast。　〃Don't　call　me　little　one！〃
　〃Why　not？〃　said　Lem。　〃You're　little　enough。〃
　〃I'm　bigger　than　I　was。　I'm　not　a　child。〃　Children　didn't　kill　people；　and　she　had。
　〃I　can　see　that；　Squab。　You're　none　of　you　children；　not　if　you　were　Bolton's。〃
　〃We　never　were。〃　Hot　Pie　never　knew　when　to　keep　quiet。　〃We　were　at　Harrenhal　before　he　came；　that's　all。〃
　〃So　you're　lion　cubs；　is　that　the　way　of　it？〃　said　Tom。
　〃Not　that　either。　We're　nobody's　men。　Whose　men　are　you？〃
　Anguy　the　Archer　said；　〃We're　king's　men。〃
　Arya　frowned。　〃Which　king？〃
　〃King　Robert；〃　said　Lem；　in　his　yellow　cloak。
　〃That　old　drunk？〃　said　Gendry　scornfully。　〃He's　dead；　some　boar　killed　him；　everyone　knows　that。〃
　〃Aye；　lad；〃　said　Tom　Sevenstrings；　〃and　more's　the　pity。〃　He　plucked　a　sad　chord　from　his　harp。
　Arya　didn't　think　they　were　king's　men　at　all。　They　looked　more　like　outlaws；　all　tattered　and　ragged。　They　didn't　even　have　horses　to　ride。　King's　men　would　have　had　horses。
　But　Hot　Pie　piped　up　eagerly。　〃We're　looking　for　Riverrun；〃　he　said。　〃How　many　days'　ride　is　it；　do　you　know？〃
　Arya　could　have　killed　him。　〃You　be　quiet；　or　I'll　stuff　rocks　in　your　big　stupid　mouth。〃
　〃Riverrun　is　a　long　way　upstream；〃　said　Tom。　〃A　long　hungry　way。　Might　be　you'd　like　a　hot　meal　before　you　set　out？　There's　an　inn　not　far　ahead　kept　by　some　friends　of　ours。　We　could　share　some　ale　and　a　bite　of　bread；　instead　of　fighting　one　another。〃
　〃An　inn？〃　The　thought　of　hot　food　made　Arya's　belly　rumble；　but　she　didn't　trust　this　Tom。　Not　everyone　who　spoke　you　friendly　was　really　your　friend。　〃It's　near；　you　say？〃
　〃Two　miles　upstream；〃　said　Tom。　〃A　league　at　most。〃
　Gendry　looked　as　uncertain　as　she　felt。　〃What　do　you　mean；　friends？〃　he　asked　warily。
　〃Friends。　Have　you　forgotten　what　friends　are？〃
　〃Shama　is　the　innkeep's　name；〃　Tom　put　in。　〃She　has　a　sharp　tongue　and　a　fierce　eye；　I'll　grant　you　that；　but　her　heart's　a　good　one；　and　she's　fond　of　little　girls。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　little　girl；〃　she　said　angrily。　〃Who　else　is　there？　You　said　friends。〃
　〃Shama's　husband；　and　an　orphan　boy　they　took　in。　They　won't　harm　you。　There's　ale；　if　you　think　you're　old　enough。　Fresh　bread　and　maybe　a　bit　of　meat。〃　Tom　glanced　toward　the　cottage。　〃And　whatever　you　stole　from　Old　Pate's　garden　besides。〃
　〃We　never　stole；〃　said　Arya。
　〃Are　you　Old　Pate's　daughter；　then？　A　sister？　A　wife？　Tell　me　no　lies；　Squab。　I　buried　Old　Pate　myself；　right　there　under　that　willow　where　you　were　hiding；　and　you　don't　have　his　look。〃　He　drew　a　sad　sound　from　his　harp。　〃We've　buried　many　a　good　man　this　past　year；　but　we've　no　wish　to　bury　you；　I　swear　it　on　my　harp。　Archer；　show　her。〃
　The　archer's　hand　moved　quicker　than　Arya　would　have　believed。　His　shaft　went　hissing　past　her　head　within　an　inch　of　her　ear　and　buried　itself　in　the　trunk　of　the　willow　behind　her。　By　then　the　bowman　had　a　second　arrow　notched　and　drawn。　She'd　thought　she　understood　what　Syrio　meant　by　quick　as　a　snake　and　smooth　as　summer　silk；　but　now　she　knew　she　hadn't。　The　arrow　thrummed　behind　her　like　a　bee。　〃You　missed；〃　she　said。
　〃More　fool　you　if　you　think　so；〃　said　Anguy。　〃They　go　where　I　send　them。〃
　〃That　they　do；〃　agreed　Lem　Lemoncloak。
　There　were　a　dozen　steps　between　the　archer　and　the　point　of　her　sword。　We　have　no　chance；　Arya　realized；　wishing　she　had　a　bow　like　his；　and　the　skill　to　use　it。　Glumly；　she　lowered　her　heavy　longsword　till　the　point　touched　the　ground。　〃We'll　e　see　this　inn；〃　she　conceded；　trying　to　hide　the　doubt　in　her　heart　behind　bold　words。　〃You　walk　in　front　and　we'll　ride　behind；　so　we　can　see　what　you're　doing。〃
　Tom　Sevenstrings　bowed　deeply　and　said；　〃Before；　behind；　it　makes　no　matter。　e　along；　lads；　let's　show　them　the　way。　Anguy；　best　pull　up　those　arrows；　we　won't　be　needing　them　here。〃
　Arya　sheathe