grrm.astormofswords-第72章

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uld　be　plenty　good　enough　for　him；　I'd　say。　Me　as　well。〃
　〃He'd　best　not；〃　said　Lem。　〃That's　all　I　got　to　say。　He'd　best　not；　and　you're　a　bloody　fool。〃
　Arya　rode　between　Harwin　and　Anguy　as　the　outlaws　moved　down　the　streets　where　her　father　once　had　fought。　She　could　see　the　sept　on　its　hill；　and　below　it　a　stout　strong　holdfast　of　grey　stone　that　looked　much　too　small　for　such　a　big　town。　But　every　third　house　they　passed　was　a　blackened　shell；　and　she　saw　no　people。　〃Are　all　the　townfolk　dead？〃
　〃Only　shy。〃　Anguy　pointed　out　two　bowmen　on　a　roof；　and　some　boys　with　sooty　faces　crouched　in　the　rubble　of　an　alehouse。　Farther　on；　a　baker　threw　open　a　shuttered　window　and　shouted　down　to　Lem。　The　sound　of　his　voice　brought　more　people　out　of　hiding；　and　Stoney　Sept　slowly　seemed　to　e　to　life　around　them。
　In　the　market　square　at　the　town's　heart　stood　a　fountain　in　the　shape　of　a　leaping　trout；　spouting　water　into　a　shallow　pool。　Women　were　filling　pails　and　flagons　there。　A　few　feet　away；　a　dozen　iron　cages　hung　from　creaking　wooden　posts。　Crow　cages；　Arya　knew。　The　crows　were　mostly　outside　the　cages；　splashing　in　the　water　or　perched　atop　the　bars；　inside　were　men。　Lem　reined　up　scowling。　〃What's　this；　now？〃
　〃Justice；〃　answered　a　woman　at　the　fountain。
　〃What；　did　you　run　short　o'　hempen　rope？〃
　〃Was　this　done　at　Ser　Wilbert's　decree？〃　asked　Tom。
　A　man　laughed　bitterly。　〃The　lions　killed　Ser　Wilbert　a　year　ago。　His　sons　are　all　off　with　the　Young　Wolf；　getting　fat　in　the　west。　You　think　they　give　a　damn　for　the　likes　of　us？　It　was　the　Mad　Huntsman　caught　these　wolves。〃
　Wolves。　Arya　went　cold。　Robb's　men；　and　my　father's。　She　felt　drawn　toward　the　cages。　The　bars　allowed　so　little　room　that　prisoners　could　neither　sit　nor　turn；　they　stood　naked；　exposed　to　sun　and　wind　and　rain。　The　first　three　cages　held　dead　men。　Carrion　crows　had　eaten　out　their　eyes；　yet　the　empty　sockets　seemed　to　follow　her。　The　fourth　man　in　the　row　stirred　as　she　passed。　Around　his　mouth　his　ragged　beard　was　thick　with　blood　and　flies。　They　exploded　when　he　spoke；　buzzing　around　his　head。　〃Water。〃　The　word　was　a　croak。　〃Please　。　。　。　water；。。〃
　The　man　in　the　next　cage　opened　his　eyes　at　the　sound。　〃Here；〃　he　said。　〃Here；　me。〃　An　old　man；　he　was；　his　beard　was　grey　and　his　scalp　was　bald　and　mottled　brown　with　age。
　There　was　another　dead　man　beyond　the　old　one；　a　big　red…bearded　man　with　a　rotting　grey　bandage　covering　his　left　ear　and　part　of　his　temple。　But　the　worst　thing　was　between　his　legs；　where　nothing　remained　but　a　crusted　brown　hole　crawling　with　maggots。　Farther　down　was　a　fat　man。　The　crow　cage　was　so　cruelly　narrow　it　was　hard　to　see　how　they'd　ever　gotten　him　inside。　The　iron　dug　painfully　into　his　belly；　squeezing　bulges　out　between　the　bars。　Long　days　baking　in　the　sun　had　burned　him　a　painful　red　from　head　to　heel。　When　he　shifted　his　weight；　his　cage　creaked　and　swayed；　and　Arya　could　see　pale　white　stripes　where　the　bars　had　shielded　his　flesh　from　the　sun。
　〃Whose　men　were　you？〃　she　asked　them。
　At　the　sound　of　her　voice；　the　fat　man　opened　his　eyes。　The　skin　around　them　was　so　red　they　looked　like　boiled　eggs　floating　in　a　dish　of　blood。　〃Water　。　。　。　a　drink　。　。　。〃
　〃Whose？〃　she　said　again。
　〃Pay　them　no　mind；　boy；〃　the　townsman　told　her。　〃They're　none　o'　your　concern。　Ride　on　by。〃
　〃What　did　they　do？〃　she　asked　him。
　〃They　put　eight　people　to　the　sword　at　Tumbler's　Falls；〃　he　said。　〃They　wanted　the　Kingslayer；　but　he　wasn't　there　so　they　did　some　rape　and　murder。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　toward　the　corpse　with　maggots　where　his　manhood　ought　to　be。　〃That　one　there　did　the　raping。　Now　move　along。〃
　〃A　swallow；〃　the　fat　one　called　down。　〃Ha'　mercy；　boy；　a　swallow。〃　The　old　one　slid　an　arm　up　to　grasp　the　bars。　The　motion　made　his　cage　swing　violently。　〃Water；〃　gasped　the　one　with　the　flies　in　his　beard。
　She　looked　at　their　filthy　hair　and　scraggly　beards　and　reddened　eyes；　at　their　dry；　cracked；　bleeding　lips。　Wolves；　she　thought　again。　Like　me。　Was　this　her　pack？　How　could　they　be　Robb's　men？　She　wanted　to　hit　them。　She　wanted　to　hurt　them。　She　wanted　to　cry。　They　all　seemed　to　be　looking　at　her；　the　living　and　the　dead　alike。　The　old　man　had　squeezed　three　fingers　out　between　the　bars。　〃Water；〃　he　said；　〃water。〃
　Arya　swung　down　from　her　horse。　They　can't　hurt　me；　they're　dying。　She　took　her　cup　from　her　bedroll　and　went　to　the　fountain。　〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing；　boy？〃　the　townsman　snapped。　〃They're　no　concern　o'　yours。〃　She　raised　the　cup　to　the　fish's　mouth。　The　water　splashed　across　her　fingers　and　down　her　sleeve；　but　Arya　did　not　move　until　the　cup　was　brimming　over。　When　she　turned　back　toward　the　cages；　the　townsman　moved　to　stop　her。　〃You　get　away　from　them；　boy　…
　〃She's　a　girl；〃　said　Harwin。　〃Leave　her　be。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　Lem。　〃Lord　Beric　don't　hold　with　caging　men　to　die　of　thirst。　Why　don't　you　hang　them　decent？〃
　〃There　was　nothing　decent　'bout　them　things　they　did　at　Tumbler's　Falls；〃　the　townsman　growled　right　back　at　him。
　The　bars　were　too　narrow　to　pass　a　cup　through；　but　Harwin　and　Gendry　offered　her　a　leg　up。　She　planted　a　foot　in　Harwin's　cupped　hands；　vaulted　onto　Gendry's　shoulders；　and　grabbed　the　bars　on　top　of　the　cage。　The　fat　man　turned　his　face　up　and　pressed　his　cheek　to　the　iron；　and　Arya　poured　the　water　over　him。　He　sucked　at　it　eagerly　and　let　it　run　down　over　his　head　and　cheeks　and　hands；　and　then　he　licked　the　dampness　off　the　bars。　He　would　have　licked　Arya's　fingers　if　she　hadn't　snatched　them　back。　By　the　time　she　served　the　other　two　the　same；　a　crowd　had　gathered　to　watch　her。　〃The　Mad　Huntsman　will　hear　of　this；〃　a　man　threatened。　〃He　won't　like　it。　No；　he　won't。〃
　〃He'll　like　this　even　less；　then。〃　Anguy　strung　his　longbow；　slid　an　arrow　from　his　quiver；　nocked；　drew；　loosed。　The　fat　man　shuddered　as　the　shaft　drove　up　between　his　chins；　but　the　cage　would　not　let　him　fall。　Two　more　arrows　ended　the　other　two　northmen。　The　only　sound　in　the　market　square　was　the　splash　of　falling　water　and　the　buzzing　of　flies。
　Valar　morghulis；　Arya　thought。
　On　the　east　side　of　the　market　square　stood　a　modest　inn　with　whitewashed　walls　and　broken　windows。　Half　its　roof　had　burnt　off　recently；　but　the　hole　had　been　patched　over。　Above　the　door　hung　a　wooden　shingle　painted　as　a　peach；　with　a　big　bite　taken　out　of　it。　They　dismounted　at　the　stables　sitting　catty…corner；　and　Greenbeard　bellowed　for　grooms。
　The　buxom　red…haired　innkeep　howled　with　pleasure　at　the　sight　of　them；　then　promptly　set　to　tweaking　them。　〃Greenbeard；　is　it？　Or　Greybeard？　Mother　take　mercy；　when　did　you　get　so　old？　Lem；　is　that　you？
　Still　wearing　the　same　ratty　cloak；　are　you？　I　know　why　you　never　wash　it；　I　do。　You're　afraid　all　the　piss　will　wash　out　and　we'll　see　you're　really　a　knight　o'　the　Kingsguard！　And　Tom　o'　Sevens；　you　randy　old　goat！　You　e　to　see　that　son　o'　yours？　Well；　you're　too　late；　he's　off　riding　with　that　bloody　Huntsman。　And　don't　tell　me　he's　not　yours！〃
　〃He　hasn't　got　my　voice；〃　Tom　protested　weakly。
　〃He's　got　your　nose；　though。　Aye；　and　t'other　parts　as　well；　to　hear　the　girls　talk。〃　She　spied　Gendry　then；　and　pinched　him　on　the　check。　〃Look　at　this　fine　young　ox。　Wait　till　Alyce　sees　those　arms。　Oh；　and　he　blushes　like　a　maid；　too。　Well；　Alyce　will　fix　that　for　you；　boy；　see　if　she　don't。〃
　Arya　had　never　seen　Gendry　turn　so　red。　〃Tansy；　you　leave　the　Bull　alone；　he's　a　good　lad；〃　said　Tom　Sevenstrings。　〃All　we　need　from　you　is　safe　beds　for　a　night。〃
　〃Speak　for　yourself；　singer。〃　Anguy　slid　his　arm　around　a　strapping　young　serving　girl　as　freckly　as　he　was。
　〃Beds　we　got；〃　said　red…haired　Tansy。　〃There's　never　been　no　lack　o'　beds　at　the　Peach。　But　you'll　all　climb　in　a　tub　first。　Last　time　you　lot　stayed　under　my　roof　you　left　your　fleas　behind。〃　She　poked　Greenbeard　in　the　chest。　〃And　yours　was　green；　too。　You　want　food？〃
　〃If　you　can　spare　it；　we　won't　say　no；〃　Tom　conceded。
　〃Now　when　did　you　ever　say　no　to　anything；　Tom？〃　the　woman　hooted。　〃I'll　roast　some　mutton　for　your　friends；　and　an　old　dry　rat　for　you。　It's　more　than　you　deserve；　but　if　you　gargle　me　a　song　or　three；　might　be　I'll　weaken。　I　always　pity　the　afflicted。　e　on；　e　on。　Cass；　Lanna；　put　some　kettles　on。　Jyzene；　help　me　get　the　clothes　off　them；　we'll　need　to　boil　those　too。〃
　She　made　good　on　all　her　threats。　Arya　tried　to　tell　them　that　she'd　been　bathed　twice　at　Acorn　Hall；　not　a　fortnight　past；　but　the　red…haired　woman　was　having　none　of　it。　Two　serving　wenches　carried　her　up　the　stairs　bodily；　arguing　about　whether　she　was　a　girl　or　a　boy。　The　one　called　Helly　won；　so　the　other　had　to　fetch　the　hot　water　and　scrub　Arya's　back　with　a　stiff　bristly　brush　that　almost　took　her　skin　off。　Then　they　stole　all　the　clothes　that　Lady　Smallwood　had　given　her　and　dressed　her　up　like　one　of　Sansa's　dolls　in　linen　and　lace。　But　at　least　when　they　were　done　she　got　to　go　down　and　eat。
　As　she　sat　in　the　mon　room　in　her　stupid　girl　clothes；　Arya　remembered　what　Syrio　Forel　had　told　her；　the　trick　of　looking　and　seeing　what　was　there。　When　she　looked；　she　saw　more　serving　wenches　than　any　inn　could　want；　and　most　of　them　young　and　ely。　And　e　evenfall；　lots　of　men　started　ing　and　going　at　the　Peach。　They　did　not　linger　long　in　the　mon　room；　not　even　when　Tom　took　out　his　woodharp　and　began　to　sing　〃Six　Maids　in　a　Pool。〃　The　wooden　steps　were　old　and　steep；　and　creaked　something　fierce　whenever　one　of　the　men　took　a　girl　upstairs。　〃I　bet　this　is　a　brothel；〃　she　whispered　to　Gendry。
　〃You　don't　even　know　what　a　brothel　is。〃
　〃I　do　so；〃　she　insisted。　〃It's　like　an　inn；　with　girls。〃
　He　was　turning　red　again。　〃What　are　you　doing　here；　then？〃　he　demanded。　〃A　brothel's　no　fit　place　for　no　bloody　highborn　lady；　everybody　knows　that。〃
　One　of　the　girls　sat　down　on　the　bench　beside　him。　〃Who's　a　highborn　lady？　The　little　skinny　one？〃　She　looked　at　Arya　and　laughed。　〃I'm　a　king's　daughter　myself。〃
　Arya　knew　she　was　being　mocked。　〃You　are　not。〃
　〃Well；　I　might　be。〃　When　the　girl　shrugged；　her　gown　slipped　off　one　shoulder。　〃They　say　King　Robert　fucked　my　mother　when　he　hid　here；　back　before　the　battle。　Not　that　he　didn't　have　all　the　other　girls　too；　but　Leslyn　says　he　liked　my　ma　the　best。〃
　The　girl　did　have　hair　like　the　old　king's；　Arya　thought；　a　great　thick　mop　of　it；　as　black　as　coal。　That　doesn't　mean　anything；　though。　Gendry　has　the　same　kind　of　hair　too。　Lots　of　people　have　black　hair。
　〃I'm　named　Bella；〃　the　girl　told　Gendry。　〃For　the　battle。　I　bet　I　could　ring　your　bell；　too。　You　want　to？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said　gruffly。
　〃I　bet　you　do。〃　She　ran　a　hand　along　his　arm。　〃I　don't　cost　nothing　to　friends　of　Thoros　and　the　lightning　lord。〃
　〃No；　I　said。〃　Gendry　rose　abruptly　and　stalked　away　from　the　table　out　into　the　night。
　Bella　turned　to　Arya。　〃Don't　he　like　girls？〃
　Arya　shrugged。　〃He's　just　stupid。　He　likes　to　polish　helmets　and　beat　on　swords　with　hammers。〃
　〃Oh。〃　Bella　tugged　her　gown　back　over　her　shoulder　and　went　to　talk　with　Jack…Be…Lucky。　Before　long　she　was　sitting　in　his　lap；　giggling　and　drinking　wine　from　his　cup。　Greenbeard　had　two　girls；　one　on　each　knee。　Anguy　had　vanished　with　his　freckle…faced　wench；　and　Lem　was　gone　as　well。　Tom　Sevenstrings　s