grrm.astormofswords-第45章

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　〃Get　up。〃　Grenn's　voice；　harsh　and　husky。　He　loomed　over　Sam；　his　blacks　crusty　with　snow。　〃There's　no　resting；　the　Old　Bear　said。　You'll　die。〃
　〃Grenn。〃　He　smiled。　〃No；　truly；　I'm　good　here。　You　just　go　on。　I'll　catch　you　after　I've　rested　a　bit　longer。〃
　〃You　won't。〃　Grenn's　thick　brown　beard　was　frozen　all　around　his　mouth。　It　made　him　look　like　some　old　man。　〃You'll　freeze；　or　the　Others　will　get　you。　Sam；　get　up！〃
　The　night　before　they　left　the　Wall；　Pyp　had　teased　Grenn　the　way　he　did；　Sam　remembered；　smiling　and　saying　how　Grenn　was　a　good　choice　for　the　ranging；　since　he　was　too　stupid　to　be　terrified。　Grenn　hotly　denied　it　until　he　realized　what　he　was　saying。　He　was　stocky　and　thick…necked　and　strong…Ser　Alliser　Thorne　had　called　him　〃Aurochs；〃　the　same　way　he　called　Sam　〃Ser　Piggy〃　and　Jon　〃Lord　Snow〃…but　he　had　always　treated　Sam　nice　enough。　That　was　only　because　of　Jon；　though。　If　it　weren't　for　Jon；　none　of　them　would　have　liked　me。　And　now　Jon　was　gone；　lost　in　the　Skirling　Pass　with　Qhorin　Halfhand；　most　likely　dead。　Sam　would　have　cried　for　him；　but　those　tears　would　only　freeze　as　well；　and　he　could　scarcely　keep　his　eyes　open　now。
　A　tall　brother　with　a　torch　stopped　beside　them；　and　for　a　wonderful　moment　Sam　felt　the　warmth　on　his　face。　〃Leave　him；〃　the　man　said　to　Grenn。　〃If　they　can't　walk；　they're　done。　Save　your　strength　for　yourself；　Grenn。〃
　〃He'll　get　up；〃　Grenn　replied。　〃He　only　needs　a　hand。〃
　The　man　moved　on；　taking　the　blessed　warmth　with　him。　Grenn　tried　to　pull　Sam　to　his　feet。　〃That　hurts；〃　he　plained。　〃Stop　it。　Grenn；　you're　hurting　my　arm。　Stop　it。〃
　〃You're　too　bloody　heavy。〃　Grenn　jammed　his　hands　into　Sam's　armpits；　gave　a　grunt；　and　hauled　him　upright。　But　the　moment　he　let　go；　the　fat　boy　sat　back　down　in　the　snow。　Grenn　kicked　him；　a　solid　thump　that　cracked　the　crust　of　snow　around　his　boot　and　sent　it　flying　everywhere。　〃Get　up！〃　He　kicked　him　again。　〃Get　up　and　walk。　You　have　to　walk。〃
　Sam　fell　over　sideways；　curling　up　into　a　tight　ball　to　protect　himself　from　the　kicks。　He　hardly　felt　them　through　all　his　wool　and　leather　and　mail；　but　even　so；　they　hurt。　I　thought　Grenn　was　my　friend。　You　shouldn't　kick　your　friends。　Why　won't　they　let　me　be？　I　just　need　to　rest；　that's　all；　to　rest　and　sleep　some；　and　maybe　die　a　little。
　〃if　you　take　the　torch；　I　can　take　the　fat　boy。〃
　Suddenly　he　was　jerked　up　into　the　cold　air；　away　from　his　sweet　soft　snow；　he　was　floating。　There　was　an　arm　under　his　knees；　and　another　one　under　his　back。　Sam　raised　his　head　and　blinked。　A　face　loomed　close；　a　broad　brutal　face　with　a　flat　nose　and　small　dark　eyes　and　a　thicket　of　coarse　brown　beard。　He　had　seen　the　face　before；　but　it　took　him　a　moment　to　remember。　Paul。　Small　Paul。　Melting　ice　ran　down　into　his　eyes　from　the　heat　of　the　torch。　〃Can　you　carry　him？〃　he　heard　Grenn　ask。
　〃I　carried　a　calf　once　was　heavier　than　him。　I　carried　him　down　to　his　mother　so　he　could　get　a　drink　of　milk。〃
　Sam's　head　bobbed　up　and　down　with　every　step　that　Small　Paul　took。　〃Stop　it；〃　he　muttered；　〃put　me　down；　I'm　not　a　baby。　I'm　a　man　of　the　Night's　Watch。〃　He　sobbed。　〃Just　let　me　die。〃
　〃Be　quiet；　Sam；〃　said　Grenn。　〃Save　your　strength。　Think　about　your　sisters　and　brother。　Maester　Aemon。　Your　favorite　foods。　Sing　a　song　if　you　like。〃
　〃Aloud？〃
　〃In　your　head。〃
　Sam　knew　a　hundred　songs；　but　when　he　tried　to　think　of　one　he　couldn't。　The　words　had　all　gone　from　his　head。　He　sobbed　again　and　said；　〃I　don't　know　any　songs；　Grenn。　I　did　know　some；　but　now　I　don't。〃
　〃Yes　you　do；〃　said　Grenn。　〃How　about　'The　Bear　and　the　Maiden　Fair'　everybody　knows　that　one。　A　bear　there　was；　a　bear；　a　bear！　All　black　and　brown　and　covered　with　hair！〃
　〃No；　not　that　one；〃　Sam　pleaded。　The　bear　that　had　e　up　the　Fist　had　no　hair　left　on　its　rotted　flesh。　He　didn't　want　to　think　about　bears。　〃No　songs。　Please；　Grerm。〃
　〃Think　about　your　ravens；　then。〃
　〃They　were　never　mine。〃　They　were　the　Lord　mander's　ravens；　the　ravens　of　the　Night's　Watch。　〃They　belonged　to　Castle　Black　and　the　Shadow　Tower。〃
　Small　Paul　frowned。　〃Chett　said　I　could　have　the　Old　Bear's　raven；　the　one　that　talks。　I　saved　food　for　it　and　everything。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　forgot；　though。　I　left　the　food　where　I　hid　it。〃　He　plodded　onward；　pale　white　breath　ing　from　his　mouth　with　every　step；　then　suddenly　said；　〃Could　I　have　one　of　your　ravens？　just　the　one。　I'd　never　let　Lark　eat　it。〃
　〃They're　gone；〃　said　Sam。　〃I'm　sorry。〃　So　sorry。　〃They're　flying　back　to　the　Wall　now。〃　He　had　set　the　birds　free　when　he'd　heard　the　warhorns　sound　once　more；　calling　the　Watch　to　horse。　Two　short　blasts　and　a　long　one；　that　was　the　call　to　mount　up。　But　there　was　no　reason　to　mount；　unless　to　abandon　the　Fist；　and　that　meant　the　battle　was　lost。　The　fear　bit　him　so　strong　then　that　it　was　all　Sam　could　do　to　open　the　cages。　Only　as　he　watched　the　last　raven　flap　up　into　the　snowstorm　did　he　realize　that　he　had　forgotten　to　send　any　of　the　messages　he'd　written。
　〃No；〃　he'd　squealed；　〃oh；　no；　oh；　no。〃　The　snow　fell　and　the　horns　blew；　ahooo　ahooo　ahooooooooooooooooooo；　they　cried；　to　horse；　to　horse；　to　horse。　Sam　saw　two　ravens　perched　on　a　rock　and　ran　after　them；　but　the　birds　flapped　off　lazily　through　the　swirling　snow；　in　opposite　directions。　He　chased　one；　his　breath　puffing　out　his　nose　in　thick　white　clouds；　stumbled；　and　found　himself　ten　feet　from　the　ringwall。
　After　that　。　。　。　he　remembered　the　dead　ing　over　the　stones　with　arrows　in　their　faces　and　through　their　throats。　Some　were　all　in　ringmail　and　some　were　almost　naked　。　。　。　wildlings；　most　of　them；　but　a　few　wore　faded　blacks。　He　remembered　one　of　the　Shadow　Tower　men　shoving　his　spear　through　a　wight's　pale　soft　belly　and　out　his　back；　and　how　the　thing　staggered　right　up　the　shaft　and　reached　out　his　black　hands　and　twisted　the　brother's　head　around　until　blood　came　out　his　mouth。　That　was　when　his　bladder　let　go　the　first　time；　he　was　almost　sure。
　He　did　not　remember　running；　but　he　must　have；　because　the　next　he　knew　he　was　near　the　fire　half　a　camp　away；　with　old　Ser　Ottyn　Wythers　and　some　archers。　Ser　Ottyn　was　on　his　knees　in　the　snow；　staring　at　the　chaos　around　them；　until　a　riderless　horse　came　by　and　kicked　him　in　the　face。　The　archers　paid　him　no　mind。　They　were　loosing　fire　arrows　at　shadows　in　the　dark。　Sam　saw　one　wight　hit；　saw　the　flames　engulf　it；　but　there　were　a　dozen　more　behind　it；　and　a　huge　pale　shape　that　must　have　been　the　bear；　and　soon　enough　the　bowmen　had　no　arrows。
　And　then　Sam　found　himself　on　a　horse。　It　wasn't　his　own　horse；　and　he　never　recalled　mounting　up　either。　Maybe　it　was　the　horse　that　had　smashed　Ser　Ottyn's　face　in。　The　horns　were　still　blowing；　so　he　kicked　the　horse　and　turned　him　toward　the　sound。
　In　the　midst　of　carnage　and　chaos　and　blowing　snow；　he　found　Dolorous　Edd　sitting　on　his　garron　with　a　plain　black　banner　on　a　spear。　〃Sam；〃　Edd　said　when　he　saw　him；　〃would　you　wake　me；　please？　I　am　having　this　terrible　nightmare。〃
　More　men　were　mounting　up　every　moment。　The　warhorns　called　them　back。　Ahooo　ahooo　ahooooooooooooooooooo。　〃They're　over　the　west　wall；　m'lord；〃　Thoren　Smallwood　screamed　at　the　Old　Bear；　as　he　fought　to　control　his　horse。　〃I'll　send　reserves　。　。　。〃
　〃NO！〃　Mormont　had　to　bellow　at　the　top　of　his　lungs　to　be　heard　over　the　horns。　〃Call　them　back；　we　have　to　cut　our　way　out。〃　He　stood　in　his　stirrups；　his　black　cloak　snapping　in　the　wind；　the　fire　shining　off　his　armor。　〃Spearhead！〃　he　roared。　〃Form　wedge；　we　ride。　Down　the　south　face；　then　east！〃
　〃My　lord；　the　south　slope's　crawling　with　them！〃
　〃The　others　are　too　steep；〃　Mormont　said。　〃We　have　…
　His　garron　screamed　and　reared　and　almost　threw　him　as　the　bear　came　staggering　through　the　snow。　Sam　pissed　himself　all　over　again。　I　didn't　think　I　had　any　more　left　inside　me。　The　bear　was　dead；　pale　and　rotting；　its　fur　and　skin　all　sloughed　off　and　half　its　right　arm　burned　to　bone；　yet　still　it　came　on。　Only　its　eyes　lived。　Bright　blue；　just　as　fon　said。　They　shone　like　frozen　stars。　Thoren　Smallwood　charged；　his　longsword　shining　all　orange　and　red　from　the　light　of　the　fire。　His　swing　near　took　the　bear's　head　off。　And　then　the　bear　took　his。
　〃RIDE！〃　the　Lord　mander　shouted；　wheeling。
　They　were　at　the　gallop　by　the　time　they　reached　the　ring。　Sam　had　always　been　too　frightened　to　jump　a　horse　before；　but　when　the　low　stone　wall　loomed　up　before　him　he　knew　he　had　no　choice。　He　kicked　and　closed　his　eyes　and　whimpered；　and　the　garron　took　him　over；　somehow；　somehow；　the　garron　took　him　over。　The　rider　to　his　right　came　crashing　down　in　a　tangle　of　steel　and　leather　and　screaming　horseflesh；　and　then　the　wights　were　swarming　over　him　and　the　wedge　was　closing　up。　They　plunged　down　the　hillside　at　a　run；　through　clutching　black　hands　and　burning　blue　eyes　and　blowing　snow。　Horses　stumbled　and　rolled；　men　were　swept　from　their　saddles；　torches　spun　through　the　air；　axes　and　swords　hacked　at　dead　flesh；　and　Samwell　Tarly　sobbed；　clutching　desperately　to　his　horse　with　a　strength　he　never　knew　he　had。
　He　was　in　the　middle　of　the　flying　spearhead　with　brothers　on　either　side；　and　before　and　behind　him　as　well。　A　dog　ran　with　them　for　a　ways；　bounding　down　the　snowy　slope　and　in　and　out　among　the　horses；　but　it　could　not　keep　up。　The　wights　stood　their　ground　and　were　ridden　down　and　trampled　underhoof。　Even　as　they　fell　they　clutched　at　swords　and　stirrups　and　the　legs　of　passing　horses。　Sam　saw　one　claw　open　a　garron's　belly　with　its　right　hand　while　it　clung　to　the　saddle　with　its　left。
　Suddenly　the　trees　were　all　about　them；　and　Sam　was　splashing　through　a　frozen　stream　with　the　sounds　of　slaughter　dwindling　behind。　He　turned；　breathless　with　relief　。　。　。　until　a　man　in　black　leapt　from　the　brush　and　yanked　him　out　of　the　saddle。　Who　he　was；　Sam　never　saw；　he　was　up　in　an　instant；　and　galloping　away　the　next。　When　he　tried　to　run　after　the　horse；　his　feet　tangled　in　a　root　and　he　fell　hard　on　his　face　and　lay　weeping　like　a　baby　until　Dolorous　Edd　found　him　there。
　That　was　his　last　coherent　memory　of　the　Fist　of　the　First　Men。　Later；　hours　later；　he　stood　shivering　among　the　other　survivors；　half　mounted　and　half　afoot。　They　were　miles　from　the　Fist　by　then；　though　Sam　did　not　remember　how。　Dywen　had　led　down　five　packhorses；　heavy　laden　with　food　and　oil　and　torches；　and　three　had　made　it　this　far。　The　Old　Bear　made　them　redistribute　the　loads；　so　the　loss　of　any　one　horse　and　its　provisions　would　not　be　such　a　catastrophe。　He　took　garrons　from　the　healthy　men　and　gave　them　to　the　wounded；　organized　the　walkers；　and　set　torches　to　guard　their　flanks　and　rear。　All　I　need　do　is　walk；　Sam　told　himself；　as　he　took　that　first　step　toward　home。　But　before　an　hour　was　gone　he　had　begun　to　struggle；　and　to　lag　。　。　。
　They　were　lagging　now　as　well；　he　saw。　He　remembered　Pyp　saying　once　how　Small　Paul　was　the　strongest　man　in　the　Watch。　He　must　be；　to　carry　me。　Yet　even　so；　the　snow　was　growing　deeper；　the　ground　more　treacherous；　and　Paul's　strides　had　begun　to　shorten。　More　horsemen　passed；　wounded　men　who　looked　at　Sam　with　dull　incurious　eyes。　Some　torch　bearers　went　by　as　well。　〃You're　falling　behind；〃　one　told　them。　The　next　agreed。