grrm.astormofswords-第75章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　away　his　tears。　Now　I　know　how　Tyrion　has　felt；　all　those　times　they　laughed　at　him。
　After　the　second　time　he　fell　from　the　saddle；　they　bound　him　tight　to　Brienne　of　Tarth　and　made　them　share　a　horse　again。　One　day；　instead　of　back　to　front；　they　bound　them　face…to…face。　〃The　lovers；〃　Shagwell　sighed　loudly；　〃and　what　a　lovely　sight　they　are。　'Twould　be　cruel　to　separate　the　good　knight　and　his　lady。〃　Then　he　laughed　that　high　shrill　laugh　of　his；　and　said；　〃Ah；　but　which　one　is　the　knight　and　which　one　is　the　lady？〃
　If　I　had　my　hand；　you'd　learn　that　soon　enough；　Jaime　thought。　His　arms　ached　and　his　legs　were　numb　from　the　ropes；　but　after　a　while　none　of　that　mattered。　His　world　shrunk　to　the　throb　of　agony　that　was　his　phantom　hand；　and　Brienne　pressed　against　him。　She's　warm；　at　least；　he　consoled　himself；　though　the　wench's　breath　was　as　foul　as　his　own。
　His　hand　was　always　between　them。　Urswyck　had　hung　it　about　his　neck　on　a　cord；　so　it　dangled　down　against　his　chest；　slapping　Brienne's　breasts　as　Jaime　slipped　in　and　out　of　consciousness。　His　right　eye　was　swollen　shut；　the　wound　inflamed　where　Brienne　had　cut　him　during　their　fight；　but　it　was　his　hand　that　hurt　the　most。　Blood　and　pus　seeped　from　his　stump；　and　the　missing　hand　throbbed　every　time　the　horse　took　a　step。
　His　throat　was　so　raw　that　he　could　not　eat；　but　he　drank　wine　when　they　gave　it　to　him；　and　water　when　that　was　all　they　offered。　Once　they　handed　him　a　cup　and　he　quaffed　it　straight　away；　trembling；　and　the　Brave　panions　burst　into　laughter　so　loud　and　harsh　it　hurt　his　ears。　〃That's　horse　piss　you're　drinking；　Kingslayer；〃　Rorge　told　him。　Jaime　was　so　thirsty　he　drank　it　anyway；　but　afterward　he　retched　it　all　back　up。　They　made　Brienne　wash　the　vomit　out　of　his　beard；　just　as　they　made　her　clean　him　up　when　he　soiled　himself　in　the　saddle。
　One　damp　cold　morning　when　he　was　feeling　slightly　stronger；　a　madness　took　hold　of　him　and　he　reached　for　the　Dornishman's　sword　with　his　left　hand　and　wrenched　it　clumsily　from　its　scabbard。　Let　them　kill　me；　he　thought；　so　long　as　I　die　fighting；　a　blade　in　hand。　But　it　was　no　good。　Shagwell　came　hopping　from　leg　to　leg；　dancing　nimbly　aside　when　Jaime　slashed　at　him。　Unbalanced；　he　staggered　forward；　hacking　wildly　at　the　fool；　but　Shagwell　spun　and　ducked　and　darted　until　all　the　Mummers　were　laughing　at　Jaime's　futile　efforts　to　land　a　blow。　When　he　tripped　over　a　rock　and　stumbled　to　his　knees；　the　fool　leapt　in　and　planted　a　wet　kiss　atop　his　head。
　Rorge　finally　flung　him　aside　and　kicked　the　sword　from　Jaime's　feeble　fingers　as　he　tried　to　bring　it　up。　〃That　wath　amuthing；　Kingthlayer；〃　said　Vargo　Hoat；　〃but　if　you　try　it　again；　I　thall。　take　your　other　hand；　or　perhapth　a　foot。〃
　Jaime　lay　on　his　back　afterward；　staring　at　the　night　sky；　trying　not　to　feel　the　pain　that　snaked　up　his　right　arm　every　time　he　moved　it。　The　night　was　strangely　beautiful。　The　moon　was　a　graceful　crescent；　and　it　seemed　as　though　he　had　never　seen　so　many　stars。　The　King's　Crown　was　at　the　zenith；　and　he　could　see　the　Stallion　rearing；　and　there　the　Swan。　The　Moonmaid；　shy　as　ever；　was　half…hidden　behind　a　pine　tree。　How　can　such　a　night　be　beautiful？　he　asked　himself。　Why　would　the　stars　want　to　look　down　on　such　as　me？
　〃Jaime；〃　Brienne　whispered；　so　faintly　he　thought　he　was　dreaming　it。　〃Jaime；　what　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Dying；〃　he　whispered　back。
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃no；　you　must　live。〃
　He　wanted　to　laugh。　〃Stop　telling　me　what　do；　wench。　I'll　die　if　it　pleases　me。〃
　〃Are　you　so　craven？〃
　The　word　shocked　him。　He　was　Jaime　Lannister；　a　knight　of　the　Kingsguard；　he　was　the　Kingslayer。　No　man　had　ever　called　him　craven。　Other　things　they　called　him；　yes；　oathbreaker；　liar；　murderer。　They　said　he　was　cruel；　treacherous；　reckless。　But　never　craven。　〃What　else　can　I　do；　but　die？〃
　〃Live；〃　she　said；　〃live；　and　fight；　and　take　revenge。〃　But　she　spoke　too　loudly。　Rorge　heard　her　voice；　if　not　her　words；　and　came　over　to　kick　her；　shouting　at　her　to　hold　her　bloody　tongue　if　she　wanted　to　keep　it。
　Craven；　Jaime　thought；　as　Brienne　fought　to　stifle　her　moans。　Can　it　be？　They　took　my　sword　hand。　Was　that　all　I　was；　a　sword　hand？　Gods　be　good；　is　it　true？
　The　wench　had　the　right　of　it。　He　could　not　die。　Cersei　was　waiting　for　him。　She　would　have　need　of　him。　And　Tyrion；　his　little　brother；　who　loved　him　for　a　lie。　And　his　enemies　were　waiting　too；　the　Young　Wolf　who　had　beaten　him　in　the　Whispering　Wood　and　killed　his　men　around　him；　Edmure　Tully　who　had　kept　him　in　darkness　and　chains；　these　Brave　panions。
　When　morning　came；　he　made　himself　eat。　They　fed　him　a　mush　of　oats；　horse　food；　but　he　forced　down　every　spoon。　He　ate　again　at　evenfall；　and　the　next　day。　Live；　he　told　himself　harshly；　when　the　mush　was　like　to　gag　him；　live　for　Cersei；　live　for　Tyrion。　Live　for　vengeance。　A　Lannister　always　pays　his　debts。　His　missing　hand　throbbed　and　burned　and　stank。　When　I　reach　King's　Landing　I'll　have　a　new　hand　forged；　a　golden　hand；　and　one　day　I'll　use　it　to　rip　out　Vargo　Hoat's　throat。
　The　days　and　the　nights　blurred　together　in　a　haze　of　pain。　He　would　sleep　in　the　saddle；　pressed　against　Brienne；　his　nose　full　of　the　stink　of　his　rotting　hand；　and　then　at　night　he　would　lie　awake　on　the　hard　ground；　caught　in　a　waking　nightmare。　Weak　as　he　was；　they　always　bound　him　to　a　tree。　It　gave　him　some　cold　consolation　to　know　that　they　feared　him　that　much；　even　now。
　Brienne　was　always　bound　beside　him。　She　lay　there　in　her　bonds　like　a　big　dead　cow；　saying　not　a　word。　The　wench　has　built　a　fortress　inside　herself。　They　will　rape　her　soon　enough；　but　behind　her　walls　they　cannot　touch　her。　But　Jaime's　walls　were　gone。　They　had　taken　his　hand；　they　had　taken　his　sword　hand；　and　without　it　he　was　nothing。　The　other　was　no　good　to　him。　Since　the　time　he　could　walk；　his　left　arm　had　been　his　shield　arm；　no　more。　It　was　his　right　hand　that　made　him　a　knight；　his　right　arm　that　made　him　a　man。
　One　day；　he　heard　Urswyck　say　something　about　Harrenhal；　and　remembered　that　was　to　be　their　destination。　That　made　him　laugh　aloud；　and　that　made　Timeon　slash　his　face　with　a　long　thin　whip。　The　cut　bled；　but　beside　his　hand　he　scarcely　felt　it。　〃Why　did　you　laugh？〃　the　wench　asked　him　that　night；　in　a　whisper。
　〃Harrenhal　was　where　they　gave　me　the　white　cloak；〃　he　whispered　back。　〃Whent's　great　tourney。　He　wanted　to　show　us　all　his　big　castle　and　his　fine　sons。　I　wanted　to　show　them　too。　I　was　only　fifteen；　but　no　one　could　have　beaten　me　that　day。　Aerys　never　let　me　joust。〃　He　laughed　again。　〃He　sent　me　away。　But　now　I'm　ing　back。〃
　They　heard　the　laugh。　That　night　it　was　Jaime　who　got　the　kicks　and　punches。　He　hardly　felt　them　either；　until　Rorge　slammed　a　boot　into　his　stump；　and　then　he　fainted。
　It　was　the　next　night　when　they　finally　came；　three　of　the　worst；　Shagwell；　noseless　Rorge；　and　the　fat　Dothraki　Zollo；　the　one　who'd　cut　his　hand　off。　Zollo　and　Rorge　were　arguing　about　who　would　go　first　as　they　approached；　there　seemed　to　be　no　question　but　that　the　fool　would　be　going　last。　Shagwell　suggested　that　they　should　both　go　first；　and　take　her　front　and　rear。　Zollo　and　Rorge　liked　that　notion；　only　then　they　began　to　fight　about　who　would　get　the　front　and　who　the　rear。
　They　will　leave　her　a　cripple　too；　but　inside；　where　it　does　not　show　〃Wench；〃　he　whispered　as　Zollo　and　Rorge　were　cursing　one　another；　〃let　them　have　the　meat；　and　you　go　far　away。　It　will　be　over　quicker；　and　they'll　get　less　pleasure　from　it。〃
　〃They'll　get　no　pleasure　from　what　I'll　give　them；〃　she　whispered　back；　defiant。
　Stupid　stubborn　brave　bitch。　She　was　going　to　get　herself　good　and　killed；　he　knew　it。　And　what　do　I　care　if　she　does？　If　she　hadn't　been　so　pigheaded；　I'd　still　have　a　hand。　Yet　he　heard　himself　whisper；　〃Let　them　do　it；　and　go　away　inside。〃　That　was　what　he'd　done；　when　the　Starks　had　died　before　him；　Lord　Rickard　cooking　in　his　armor　while　his　son　Brandon　strangled　himself　trying　to　save　him。　〃Think　of　Renly；　if　you　loved　him。　Think　of　Tarth；　mountains　and　seas；　pools；　waterfalls；　whatever　you　have　on　your　Sapphire　Isle；　think　。　。　。〃
　But　Rorge　had　won　the　argument　by　then。　〃You're　the　ugliest　woman　I　ever　seen；〃　he　told　Brienne；　〃but　don't　think　I　can't　make　you　uglier。　You　want　a　nose　like　mine？　Fight　me；　and　you'll　get　one。　And　two　eyes；　that's　too　many。　One　scream　out　o'　you；　and　I'll　pop　one　out　and　make　you　eat　it；　and　then　I'll　pull　your　fucking　teeth　out　one　by　one。〃
　〃Oh；　do　it；　Rorge；〃　pleaded　Shagwell。　〃Without　her　teeth；　she'll　look　just　like　my　dear　old　mother。〃　He　cackled。　〃And　I　always　wanted　to　fuck　my　dear　old　mother　up　the　arse。〃
　Jaime　chuckled。　〃There's　a　funny　fool。　I　have　a　riddle　for　you；　Shagwell。　Why　do　you　care　if　she　screams？　Oh；　wait；　I　know。〃　He　shouted；　〃SAPPHIRES；〃　as　loudly　as　he　could。
　Cursing；　Rorge　kicked　at　his　stump　again。　Jaime　howled。　I　never　knew　there　was　such　agony　in　the　world；　was　the　last　thing　he　remembered　thinking。　it　was　hard　to　say　how　long　he　was　gone；　but　when　the　pain　spit　him　out；　Urswyck　was　there；　and　Vargo　Hoat　himself。　〃Thee'th　not　to　be　touched；〃　the　goat　screamed；　spraying　spittle　all　over　Zollo。　〃Thee　hath　to　be　a　maid；　you　foolth！　Thee'th　worth　a　bag　of　thapphireth！〃　And　from　then　on；　every　night　Hoat　put　guards　on　them；　to　protect　them　from　his　own。
　Two　nights　passed　in　silence　before　the　wench　finally　found　the　courage　to　whisper；　〃Jaime？　Why　did　you　shout　out？〃
　〃Why　did　I　shout　'sapphires；'you　mean？　Use　your　wits；　wench。　Would　this　lot　have　cared　if　I　shouted　'rape'？
　〃You　did　not　need　to　shout　at　all。〃
　〃You're　hard　enough　to　look　at　with　a　nose。　Besides；　I　wanted　to　make　the　goat　say'thapphireth。〃'　He　chuckled。　〃A　good　thing　for　you　I'm　such　aliar。　An　honorable　man　would　have　told　the　truth　about　the　SapphireIsle。〃
　〃All　the　same；〃　she　said。　〃I　thank　you；　ser。〃
　His　hand　was　throbbing　again。　He　ground　his　teeth　and　said；　〃A　Lannister　pays　his　debts。　That　was　for　the　river；　and　those　rocks　you　dropped　on　Robin　Ryger。〃
　The　goat　wanted　to　make　a　show　of　parading　him　in；　so　Jaime　was　made　to　dismount　a　mile　from　the　gates　of　Harrenhal。　A　rope　was　looped　around　his　waist；　a　second　around　Brienne's　wrists；　the　ends　were　tied　to　the　pommel　of　Vargo　Hoat's　saddle。　They　stumbled　along　side　by　side　behind　the　Qohorik's　striped　zorse。
　Jaime's　rage　kept　him　walking。　The　linen　that　covered　the　stump　was　grey　and　stinking　with　pus。　His　phantom　fingers　screamed　with　every　step。　I　am　stronger　than　they　know；　he　told　himself。　I　am　still　a　Lannister。　I　am　still　a　knight　of　the　Kingsguard。　He　would　reach　Harrenhal；　and　then　King's　Landing。　He　would　live。　And　I　will　pay　this　debt　with　interest。
　As　they　approached　the　clifflike　walls　of　Black　Harren's　monstrous　castle；　Brienne　squeezed　his　arm。　〃Lord　Bolton　holds　this　castle。　The　Boltons　are　bannermen　to　the　Starks。〃
　〃The　Boltons　skin　their　enemies。〃　Jaime　remembered　that　much　about　the　northman。　Tyrion　would　have　known　all　there　was　to　know　about　the　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort；　but　Tyrion　was　a　thousand　leagues　away；　with　Cersei。　I　cannot　die　while　Cersei　lives；　he　told　himself。　We　will　die　together　as　we　were　born　together。
　The　castleton　outside　the　walls　had　been　burned　to