grrm.astormofswords-第37章

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ithout　them；　I　see　no　hope。　I　am　willing　to　give　Lord　Walder　whatever　he　requires　。　。　。　apologies；　honors；　lands；　gold　。　。　。　there　must　be　something　that　would　soothe　his　pride　。　。　。〃
　〃Not　something；〃　said　Catelyn。　〃Someone。〃
　
　CHAPTER　15
　JON
　
　〃Big　enough　for　you？〃　Snowflakes　speckled　Tormund's　broad　face；　melting　in　his　hair　and　beard。
　The　giants　swayed　slowly　atop　the　mammoths　as　they　rode　past　two　by　two。　Jon's　garron　shied；　frightened　by　such　strangeness；　but　whether　it　was　the　mammoths　or　their　riders　that　scared　him　it　was　hard　to　say。　Even　Ghost　backed　off　a　step；　baring　his　teeth　in　a　silent　snarl。　The　direwolf　was　big；　but　the　mammoths　were　a　deal　bigger；　and　there　were　many　and　more　of　them。
　Jon　took　the　horse　in　hand　and　held　him　still；　so　he　could　count　the　giants　emerging　from　the　blowing　snow　and　pale　mists　that　swirled　along　the　Milkwater。　He　was　well　beyond　fifty　when　Tormund　said　something　and　he　lost　the　count。　There　must　be　hundreds。　No　matter　how　many　went　past；　they　just　seemed　to　keep　ing。
　In　Old　Nan's　stories；　giants　were　outsized　men　who　lived　in　colossal　castles；　fought　with　huge　swords；　and　walked　about　in　boots　a　boy　could　hide　in。　These　were　something　else；　more　bearlike　than　human；　and　as　wooly　as　the　mammoths　they　rode。　Seated；　it　was　hard　to　say　how　big　they　truly　were；　Ten　feet　tall　maybe；　or　twelve；　Jon　thought。　Maybe　fourteen；　but　no　taller。　Their　sloping　chests　might　have　passed　for　those　of　men；　but　their　arms　hung　down　too　far；　and　their　lower　torsos　looked　half　again　as　wide　as　their　upper。　Their　legs　were　shorter　than　their　arms；　but　very　thick；　and　they　wore　no　boots　at　all；　their　feet　were　broad　splayed　things；　hard　and　horny　and　black。　Neckless；　their　huge　heavy　heads　thrust　forward　from　between　their　shoulder　blades；　and　their　faces　were　squashed　and　brutal。　Rats'　eyes　no　larger　than　beads　were　almost　lost　within　folds　of　horny　flesh；　but　they　snuffled　constantly；　smelling　as　much　as　they　saw。
　They're　not　wearing　skins；　Jon　realized。　That's　hair。　Shaggy　pelts　covered　their　bodies；　thick　below　the　waist；　sparser　above。　The　stink　that　came　off　them　was　choking；　but　perhaps　that　was　the　mammoths。　And　foramun　blew　the　Horn　of　Winter；　and　woke　giants　from　the　earth。　He　looked　for　great　swords　ten　feet　long；　but　saw　only　clubs。　Most　were　just　the　limbs　of　dead　trees；　some　still　trailing　shattered　branches。　A　few　had　stone　balls　lashed　to　the　ends　to　make　colossal　mauls。　The　song　never　says　if　the　horn　can　put　them　back　to　sleep。
　One　of　the　giants　ing　up　on　them　looked　older　than　the　rest。　His　pelt　was　grey　and　streaked　with　white；　and　the　mammoth　he　rode；　larger　than　any　of　the　others；　was　grey　and　white　as　well。　Tormund　shouted　something　up　to　him　as　he　passed；　harsh　clanging　words　in　a　tongue　that　Jon　did　not　prehend。　The　giant's　lips　split　apart　to　reveal　a　mouth　full　of　huge　square　teeth；　and　he　made　a　sound　half　belch　and　half　rumble。　After　a　moment　Jon　realized　he　was　laughing。　The　mammoth　turned　its　massive　head　to　regard　the　two　of　them　briefly；　one　huge　tusk　passing　over　the　top　of　Jon's　head　as　the　beast　lumbered　by；　leaving　huge　footprints　in　the　soft　mud　and　fresh　snow　along　the　river。　The　giant　shouted　down　something　in　the　same　coarse　tongue　that　Tormund　had　used。
　〃Was　that　their　king？〃　asked　Jon。
　〃Giants　have　no　kings；　no　more'n　mammoths　do；　nor　snow　bears；　nor　the　great　whales　o'　the　grey　sea。　That　was　Mag　Mar　Tun　Doh　Weg。　Mag　the　Mighty。　You　can　kneel　to　him　if　you　like；　he　won't　mind。　I　know　your　kneeler's　knees　must　be　itching；　for　want　of　some　king　to　bend　to。　Watch　out　he　don't　step　on　you；　though。　Giants　have　bad　eyes；　and　might　be　he　wouldn't　see　some　little　crow　all　the　way　down　there　by　his　feet。〃
　〃What　did　you　say　to　him？　Was　that　the　Old　Tongue？〃
　〃Aye。　I　asked　him　if　that　was　his　father　he　was　forking；　they　looked　so　much　alike；　except　his　father　had　a　better　smell。〃
　〃And　what　did　he　say　to　you？〃
　Tormund　Thunderfist　cracked　a　gap…toothed　smile。　〃He　asked　me　if　that　was　my　daughter　riding　there　beside　me；　with　her　smooth　pink　cheeks。〃　The　wildling　shook　snow　from　his　arm　and　turned　his　horse　about。　〃it　may　be　he　never　saw　a　man　without　a　beard　before。　e；　we　start　back。　Mance　grows　sore　wroth　when　I'm　not　found　in　my　accustomed　place。〃
　Jon　wheeled　and　followed　Tormund　back　toward　the　head　of　the　column；　his　new　cloak　hanging　heavy　from　his　shoulders。　It　was　made　of　unwashed　sheepskins；　worn　fleece　side　in；　as　the　wildlings　suggested。　It　kept　the　snow　off　well　enough；　and　at　night　it　was　good　and　warm；　but　he　kept　his　black　cloak　as　well；　folded　up　beneath　his　saddle。　〃Is　it　true　you　killed　a　giant　once？〃　he　asked　Tormund　as　they　rode。　Ghost　loped　silently　beside　them；　leaving　paw　prints　in　the　new…fallen　snow。
　〃Now　why　would　you　doubt　a　mighty　man　like　me？　It　was　winter　and　I　was　half　a　boy；　and　stupid　the　way　boys　are。　I　went　too　far　and　my　horse　died　and　then　a　storm　caught　me。　A　true　storm；　not　no　little　dusting　such　as　this。　Har！　I　knew　I'd　freeze　to　death　before　it　broke。　So　I　found　me　a　sleeping　giant；　cut　open　her　belly；　and　crawled　up　right　inside　her。　Kept　me　warm　enough；　she　did；　but　the　stink　near　did　for　me。　The　worst　thing　was；　she　woke　up　when　the　spring　e　and　took　me　for　her　babe。　Suckled　me　for　three　whole　moons　before　I　could　get　away。　Har！　There's　times　I　miss　the　taste　o'　giant's　milk；　though。〃
　〃If　she　nursed　you；　you　couldn't　have　killed　her。〃
　〃I　never　did；　but　see　you　don't　go　spreading　that　about。　Tormund　Giantsbane　has　a　better　ring　to　it　than　Tormund　Giantsbabe；　and　that's　the　honest　truth　o'　it。〃
　〃So　how　did　you　e　by　your　other　names？〃　Jon　asked。　〃Mance　called　you　the　Horn…Blower；　didn't　he？　Mead…king　of　Ruddy　Hall；　Husband　to　Bears；　Father　to　Hosts？〃　It　was　the　horn　blowing　he　particularly　wanted　to　hear　about；　but　he　dared　not　ask　too　plainly。　And　foramun　blew　the　Horn　of　Winter；　and　woke　giants　from　the　earth。　Is　that　where　they　had　e　from；　them　and　their　mammoths？　Had　Mance　Rayder　found　the　Horn　of　Joramun；　and　given　it　to　Tormund　Thunderfist　to　blow？
　〃Are　all　crows　so　curious？〃　asked　Tormund。　〃Well；　here's　a　tale　for　you。　It　were　another　winter；　colder　even　than　the　one　I　spent　inside　that　giant；　and　snowing　day　and　night；　snowflakes　as　big　as　your　head；　not　these　little　things。　It　snowed　so　hard　the　whole　village　was　half　buried。　I　was　in　me　Ruddy　Hall；　with　only　a　cask　o'　mead　to　keep　me　pany　and　nothing　to　do　but　drink　it。　The　more　I　drank　the　more　I　got　to　thinking　about　this　woman　lived　close　by；　a　fine　strong　woman　with　the　biggest　pair　of　teats　you　ever　saw。　She　had　a　temper　on　her；　that　one；　but　oh；　she　could　be　warm　too；　and　in　the　deep　of　winter　a　man　needs　his　warmth。
　〃The　more　I　drank　the　more　I　thought　about　her；　and　the　more　I　thought　the　harder　me　member　got；　till　I　couldn't　suffer　it　no　more。　Fool　that　I　was；　I　bundled　meself　up　in　furs　from　head　to　heels；　wrapped　a　winding　wool　around　me　face；　and　set　off　to　find　her。　The　snow　was　ing　down　so　hard　I　got　turned　around　once　or　twice；　and　the　wind　blew　right　through　me　and　froze　me　bones；　but　finally　I　e　on　her；　all　bundled　up　like　I　was。
　〃The　woman　had　a　terrible　temper；　and　she　put　up　quite　the　fight　when　I　laid　hands　on　her。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　carry　her　home　and　get　her　out　o'　them　furs；　but　when　I　did；　oh；　she　was　hotter　even　than　I　remembered；　and　we　had　a　fine　old　time；　and　then　I　went　to　sleep。　Next　morning　when　I　woke　the　snow　had　stopped　and　the　sun　was　shining；　but　I　was　in　no　fit　state　to　enjoy　it。　All　ripped　and　torn　I　was；　and　half　me　member　bit　right　off；　and　there　on　me　floor　was　a　she…bear's　pelt。　And　soon　enough　the　free　folk　were　telling　tales　o'　this　bald　bear　seen　in　the　woods；　with　the　queerest　pair　o'　cubs　behind　her。　Har！　〃　He　slapped　a　meaty　thigh。　〃Would　that　I　could　find　her　again。　She　was　fine　to　lay　with；　that　bear。　Never　was　a　woman　gave　me　such　a　fight；　nor　such　strong　sons　neither。〃
　〃'What　could　you　do　if　you　did　find　her？〃　Jon　asked；　smiling。　〃You　said　she　bit　your　member　off。〃
　〃Only　half。　And　half　me　member　is　twice　as　long　as　any　other　man's。〃　Tormund　snorted。　〃Now　as　to　you　。　。　。　is　it　true　they　cut　your　members　off　when　they　take　you　for　the　Wall？〃
　〃No；〃　Jon　said；　affronted。
　〃I　think　it　must　be　true。　Else　why　refuse　Ygritte？　She'd　hardly　give　you　any　fight　at　all；　seems　to　me。　The　girl　wants　you　in　her；　that's　plain　enough　to　see。〃
　Too　bloody　plain；　thought　Jon；　and　it　seems　that　half　the　column　has　seen　it。　He　studied　the　falling　snow　so　Tormund　might　not　see　him　redden。　I　am　a　man　of　the　Night's　Watch；　he　reminded　himself。　So　why　did　he　feel　like　some　blushing　maid？
　He　spent　most　of　his　days　in　Ygritte's　pany；　and　most　nights　as　well。　Mance　Rayder　had　not　been　blind　to　Rattleshirt's　mistrust　of　the　〃crow…e…over；〃　so　after　he　had　given　Jon　his　new　sheepskin　cloak　he　had　suggested　that　he　might　want　to　ride　with　Tormund　Giantsbane　instead。　Jon　had　happily　agreed；　and　the　very　next　day　Ygritte　and　Longspear　Ryk　left　Rattleshirt's　band　for　Tormund's　as　well。　〃Free　folk　ride　with　who　they　want；〃　the　girl　told　him；　〃and　we　had　a　bellyful　of　Bag　o'　Bones。〃
　Every　night　when　they　made　camp；　Ygritte　threw　her　sleeping　skins　down　beside　his　own；　no　matter　if　he　was　near　the　fire　or　well　away　from　it。　Once　he　woke　to　find　her　nestled　against　him；　her　arm　across　his　chest。　He　lay　listening　to　her　breathe　for　a　long　time；　trying　to　ignore　the　tension　in　his　groin。　Rangers　often　shared　skins　for　warmth；　but　warmth　was　not　all　Ygritte　wanted；　he　suspected。　After　that　he　had　taken　to　using　Ghost　to　keep　her　away。　Old　Nan　used　to　tell　stories　about　knights　and　their　ladies　who　would　sleep　in　a　single　bed　with　a　blade　between　them　for　honor's　sake；　but　he　thought　this　must　be　the　first　time　where　a　direwolf　took　the　place　of　the　sword。
　Even　then；　Ygritte　persisted。　The　day　before　last；　Jon　had　made　the　mistake　of　wishing　he　had　hot　water　for　a　bath。　〃Cold　is　better；〃　she　had　said　at　once；　〃if　you've　got　someone　to　warm　you　up　after。　The　river's　only　part　ice　yet；　go　on。〃
　Jon　laughed。　〃You'd　freeze　me　to　death。〃
　〃Are　all　crows　afraid　of　gooseprickles？　A　little　ice　won't　kill　you。　I'll　jump　in　with　you　tprove　it　so。〃
　〃And　ride　the　rest　of　the　day　with　wet　clothes　frozen　to　our　skins？〃　he　objected。
　〃Jon　Snow；　you　know　nothing。　You　don't　go　in　with　clothes。〃
　〃I　don't　go　in　at　all；〃　he　said　firmly；　just　before　he　heard　Tormund　Thunderfist　bellowing　for　him　（he　hadn't；　but　never　mind）。
　The　wildlings　seemed　to　think　Ygritte　a　great　beauty　because　of　her　hair；　red　hair　was　rare　among　the　free　folk；　and　those　who　had　it　were　said　to　be　kissed　by　fire；　which　was　supposed　to　be　lucky。　Lucky　it　might　be；　and　red　it　certainly　was；　but　Ygritte's　hair　was　such　a　tangle　that　Jon　was　tempted　to　ask　her　if　she　only　brushed　it　at　the　changing　of　the　seasons。
　At　a　lord's　court　the　girl　would　never　have　been　considered　anything　but　mon；　he　knew。　She　had　a　round　peasant　face；　a　pug　nose；　and　slightly　crooked　teeth；　and　her　eyes　were　too　far　apart。　Jon　had　noticed　all　that　the　first　time　he'd　seen　her；　when　his　dirk　had　been　at　her　throat。　Lately；　though；　he　was　noticing　some　other　things。　When　she　grinned；　the　crooked　teeth　didn't　seem　to　matter。　And　maybe　her　eyes　were　to