grrm.astormofswords-第82章

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　〃She　wants　to　e；〃　Sam　said。　〃She　begged　me　。　。　。〃
　Mormont　raised　a　hand。　〃I　will　hear　no　more　of　this；　Tarly。　You've　been　told　and　told　to　stay　well　away　from　Craster's　wives。〃
　〃She's　his　daughter；〃　Sam　said　feebly。
　〃Go　see　to　Barmen。　Now。　Before　you　make　me　wroth。〃
　〃Yes；　my　lord。〃　Sam　hurried　off　quivering。
　But　when　he　reached　the　fire；　it　was　only　to　find　Giant　pulling　a　fur　cloak　up　over　Barmen's　head。　〃He　said　he　was　cold；〃　the　small　man　said。　〃I　hope　he's　gone　someplace　warm；　I　do。〃
　〃His　wound　。　。　。〃　said　Sam。
　〃Bugger　his　wound。〃　Dirk　prodded　the　corpse　with　his　foot。　〃His　foot　was　hurt。　I　knew　a　man　back　in　my　village　lost　a　foot。　He　lived　to　nine…and…forty。〃
　〃The　cold；〃　said　Sam。　〃He　was　never　warm。〃
　〃He　was　never　fed；〃　said　Dirk。　〃Not　proper。　That　bastard　Craster　starved　him　dead。〃
　Sam　looked　around　anxiously；　but　Craster　had　not　returned　to　the　hall。　if　he　had；　things　might　have　grown　ugly。　The　wildling　hated　bastards；　though　the　rangers　said　he　was　baseborn　himself；　fathered　on　a　wildling　woman　by　some　long…dead　crow。
　〃Craster's　got　his　own　to　feed；〃　said　Giant。　〃All　these　women。　He's　given　us　what　he　can。〃
　〃Don't　you　bloody　believe　it。　The　day　we　leave；　he'll　tap　a　keg　o'　mead　and　sit　down　to　feast　on　ham　and　honey。　And　laugh　at　us；　out　starving　in　the　snow。　He's　a　bloody　wildling；　is　all　he　is。　There's　none　o'　them　friends　of　the　Watch。〃　He　kicked　at　Bannen's　corpse。　〃Ask　him　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃
　They　burned　the　ranger's　corpse　at　sunset；　in　the　fire　that　Grenn　had　been　feeding　earlier　that　day。　Tim　Stone　and　Garth　of　Oldtown　carried　out　the　naked　corpse　and　swung　him　twice　between　them　before　heaving　him　into　the　flames。　The　surviving　brothers　divided　up　his　clothes；　his　weapons；　his　armor；　and　everything　else　he　owned。　At　Castle　Black；　the　Night's　Watch　buried　its　dead　with　all　due　ceremony。　They　were　not　at　Castle　Black；　though。　And　bones　do　not　e　back　as　wights。
　〃His　name　was　Bannen；〃　Lord　mander　Mormont　said；　as　the　flames　took　him。　〃He　was　a　brave　man；　a　good　ranger。　He　came　to　us　from　。　。　。　where　did　he　e　from？〃
　〃Down　White　Harbor　way；〃　someone　called　out。
　Mormont　nodded。　〃He　came　to　us　from　White　Harbor；　and　never　failed　in　his　duty。　He　kept　his　vows　as　best　he　could；　rode　far；　fought　fiercely。　We　shall　never　see　his　like　again。〃
　〃And　now　his　watch　is　ended；〃　the　black　brothers　said；　in　solemn　chant。
　〃And　now　his　watch　is　ended；〃　Mormont　echoed。
　〃Ended；〃　cried　his　raven。　〃Ended。〃
　Sam　was　red…eyed　and　sick　from　the　smoke。　When　he　looked　at　the　fire；　he　thought　he　saw　Bannen　sitting　up；　his　hands　coiling　into　fists　as　if　to　fight　off　the　flames　that　were　consuming　him；　but　it　was　only　for　an　instant；　before　the　swirling　smoke　hid　all。　The　worst　thing　was　the　smell；　though。　If　it　had　been　a　foul　unpleasant　smell　he　might　have　stood　it；　but　his　burning　brother　smelled　so　much　like　roast　pork　that　Sam's　mouth　began　to　water；　and　that　was　so　horrible　that　as　soon　as　the　bird　squawked　〃Ended〃　he　ran　behind　the　hall　to　throw　up　in　the　ditch。
　He　was　there　on　his　knees　in　the　mud　when　Dolorous　Edd　came　up。　〃Digging　for　worms；　Sam？　Or　are　you　just　sick？〃
　〃Sick；〃　said　Sam　weakly；　wiping　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃The　smell　。　。　。〃
　〃Never　knew　Bannen　could　smell　so　good。〃　Edd's　tone　was　as　morose　as　ever。　〃I　had　half　a　mind　to　carve　a　slice　off　him。　If　we　had　some　applesauce；　I　might　have　done　it。　Pork's　always　best　with　applesauce；　I　find。〃　Edd　undid　his　laces　and　pulled　out　his　cock。　〃You　best　not　die；　Sam；　or　I　fear　I　might　succumb。　There's　bound　to　be　more　crackling　on　you　than　Bannen　ever　had；　and　I　never　could　resist　a　bit　of　crackling。〃　He　sighed　as　his　piss　arced　out；　yellow　and　steaming。　〃We　ride　at　first　light；　did　you　hear？　Sun　or　snow；　the　Old　Bear　tells　me。〃
　Sun　or　snow。　Sam　glanced　up　anxiously　at　the　sky。　〃Snow？〃　he　squeaked。　〃We　。　。　。　ride？　All　of　us？〃
　〃Well；　no；　some　will　need　to　walk。〃　He　shook　himself。　〃Dywen　now；　he　says　we　need　to　learn　to　ride　dead　horses；　like　the　Others　do。　He　claims　it　would　save　on　feed。　How　much　could　a　dead　horse　eat？〃　Edd　laced　himself　back　up。　〃Can't　say　I　fancy　the　notion。　Once　they　figure　a　way　to　work　a　dead　horse；　we'll　be　next。　Likely　I'll　be　the　first　too。　'Edd'　they'll　say；　'dying's　no　excuse　for　lying　down　no　more；　so　get　on　up　and　take　this　spear；　you've　got　the　watch　tonight。'　Well；　I　shouldn't　be　so　gloomy。　Might　be　I'll　die　before　they　work　it　out。〃
　Might　be　we'll　all　die；　and　sooner　than　we'd　like；　Sam　thought；　as　he　climbed　awkwardly　to　his　feet。
　When　Craster　learned　that　his　unwanted　guests　would　be　departing　on　the　morrow；　the　wildling　became　almost　amiable；　or　as　close　to　amiable　as　Craster　ever　got。　〃Past　time；〃　he　said；　〃you　don't　belong　here；　I　told　you　that。　All　the　same；　I'll　see　you　off　proper；　with　a　feast。　Well；　a　feed。　My　wives　can　roast　them　horses　you　slaughtered；　and　I'll　find　some　beer　and　bread。〃　He　smiled　his　brown　smile。　〃Nothing　better　than　beer　and　horsemeat。　If　you　can't　ride　'em；　eat　'em；　that's　what　I　say。〃
　His　wives　and　daughters　dragged　out　the　benches　and　the　long　log　tables；　and　cooked　and　served　as　well。　Except　for　Gilly；　Sam　could　hardly　tell　the　women　apart。　Some　were　old　and　some　were　young　and　some　were　only　girls；　but　a　lot　of　them　were　Craster's　daughters　as　well　as　his　wives；　and　they　all　looked　sort　of　alike。　As　they　went　about　their　work；　they　spoke　in　soft　voices　to　each　other；　but　never　to　the　men　in　black。
　Craster　owned　but　one　chair。　He　sat　in　it；　clad　in　a　sleeveless　sheepskin　jerkin。　His　thick　arms　were　covered　with　white　hair；　and　about　one　wrist　was　a　twisted　ring　of　gold。　Lord　mander　Mormont　took　the　place　at　the　top　of　the　bench　to　his　right；　while　the　brothers　crowded　in　knee　to　knee；　a　dozen　remained　outside　to　guard　the　gate　and　tend　the　fires。
　Sam　found　a　place　between　Grenn　and　Orphan　Oss；　his　stomach　rumbling。　The　charred　horsemeat　dripped　with　grease　as　Craster's　wives　turned　the　spits　above　the　firepit；　and　the　smell　of　it　set　his　mouth　to　watering　again；　but　that　reminded　him　of　Barmen。　Hungry　as　he　was；　Sam　knew　he　would　retch　if　he　so　much　as　tried　a　bite。　How　could　they　eat　the　poor　faithful　garrons　who　had　carried　them　so　far？　When　Craster's　wives　brought　onions；　he　seized　one　eagerly。　One　side　was　black　with　rot；　but　he　cut　that　part　off　with　his　dagger　and　ate　the　good　half　raw。　There　was　bread　as　well；　but　only　two　loaves。　When　Ulmer　asked　for　more；　the　woman　only　shook　her　head。　That　was　when　the　trouble　started。
　〃Two　loaves？〃　Clubfoot　Karl　plained　from　down　the　bench。　〃How　stupid　are　you　women？　We　need　more　bread　than　this！〃
　Lord　mander　Mormont　gave　him　a　hard　look。　〃Take　what　you're　given；　and　be　thankful。　Would　you　sooner　be　out　in　the　storm　eating　snow？〃
　〃We'll　be　there　soon　enough。〃　Clubfoot　Karl　did　not　flinch　from　the　Old　Bear's　wrath。　〃I'd　sooner　eat　what　Craster's　hiding；　my　lord。〃
　Craster　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃I　gave　you　crows　enough。　I　got　me　women　to　feed。〃
　Dirk　speared　a　chunk　of　horsemeat。　〃Aye。　So　you　admit　you　got　a　secret　larder。　How　else　to　make　it　through　a　winter？〃
　〃I'm　a　godly　man　。　。　。〃　Craster　started。
　〃You're　a　niggardly　man；〃　said　Karl；　〃and　a　liar。〃
　〃Hams；〃　Garth　of　Oldtown　said；　in　a　reverent　voice。　〃There　were　pigs；　last　time　we　e。　I　bet　he's　got　hams　hid　someplace。　Smoked　and　salted　hams；　and　bacon　too。〃
　〃Sausage；〃　said　Dirk。　〃Them　long　black　ones；　they're　like　rocks；　they　keep　for　years。　I　bet　he's　got　a　hundred　hanging　in　some　cellar。〃
　〃Oats；〃　suggested　Ollo　Lophand。　〃Corn。　Barley。〃
　〃Corn；〃　said　Mormont's　raven；　with　a　flap　of　the　wings。　〃Corn；　corn；　corn；　corn；　corn。〃
　〃Enough；〃　said　Lord　mander　Mormont　over　the　bird's　raucous　calls。　〃Be　quiet；　all　of　you。　This　is　folly。〃
　〃Apples；〃　said　Garth　of　Greenaway。　〃Barrels　and　barrels　of　crisp　autumn　apples。　There　are　apple　trees　out　there；　I　saw　'em。〃
　〃Dried　berries。　Cabbages。　Pine　nuts。〃
　〃Corn。　Corn。　Corn。〃
　〃Salt　mutton。　There's　a　sheepfold。　He's　got　casks　and　casks　of　mutton　laid　by；　you　know　he　does。〃
　Craster　looked　fit　to　spit　them　all　by　then。　Lord　mander　Mormont　rose。　〃Silence。　I'll　hear　no　more　such　talk。…
　〃Then　stuff　bread　in　your　cars；　old　man。〃　Clubfoot　Karl　pushed　back　from　the　table。　〃Or　did　you　swallow　your　bloody　crumb　already？〃
　Sam　saw　the　Old　Bear's　face　go　red。　〃Have　you　forgotten　who　I　am？　Sit；　eat；　and　be　silent。　That　is　a　mand。〃
　No　one　spoke。　No　one　moved。　All　eyes　were　on　the　Lord　mander　and　the　big　clubfooted　ranger；　as　the　two　of　them　stared　at　each　other　across　the　table。　It　seemed　to　Sam　that　Karl　broke　first；　and　was　about　to　sit；　though　sullenly　。　。　。
　　。　。　。　but　Craster　stood；　and　his　axe　was　in　his　hand。　The　big　black　steel　axe　that　Mormont　had　given　him　as　a　guest　gift。　〃No；〃　he　growled。　〃You'll　not　sit。　No　one　who　calls　me　niggard　will　sleep　beneath　my　roof　nor　eat　at　my　board。　Out　with　you；　cripple。　And　you　and　you　and　you。〃　He　jabbed　the　head　of　the　axe　toward　Dirk　and　Garth　and　Garth　in　turn。　〃Go　sleep　in　the　cold　with　empty　bellies；　the　lot　o'　you；　or　。　。　。〃
　〃Bloody　bastard！〃　Sam　heard　one　of　the　Garths　curse。　He　never　saw　which　one。
　〃Who　calls　me　bastard？〃　Craster　roared；　sweeping　platter　and　meat　and　wine　cups　from　the　table　with　his　left　hand　while　lifting　the　axe　with　his　right。
　〃It's　no　more　than　all　men　know；〃　Karl　answered。
　Craster　moved　quicker　than　Sam　would　have　believed　possible；　vaulting　across　the　table　with　axe　in　hand。　A　woman　screamed；　Garth　Greenaway　and　Orphan　Oss　drew　knives；　Karl　stumbled　back　and　tripped　over　Ser　Byarn　lying　wounded　on　the　floor。　One　instant　Craster　was　ing　after　him　spitting　curses。　The　next　he　was　spitting　blood。　Dirk　had　grabbed　him　by　the　hair；　yanked　his　head　back；　and　opened　his　throat　ear　to　ear　with　one　long　slash。　Then　he　gave　him　a　rough　shove；　and　the　wildling　fell　forward；　crashing　face　first　across　Ser　Byam。　Byam　screamed　in　agony　as　Craster　drowned　in　his　own　blood；　the　axe　slipping　from　his　fingers。　Two　of　Craster's　wives　were　wailing；　a　third　cursed；　a　fourth　flew　at　Sweet　Donnel　and　tried　to　scratch　his　eyes　out。　He　knocked　her　to　the　floor。　The　Lord　mander　stood　over　Craster's　corpse；　dark　with　anger。　〃The　gods　will　curse　us；〃　he　cried。　〃There　is　no　crime　so　foul　as　for　a　guest　to　bring　murder　into　a　man's　hall。　By　all　the　laws　of　the　hearth；　we…〃
　〃There　are　no　laws　beyond　the　Wall；　old　man。　Remember？〃　Dirk　grabbed　one　of　Craster's　wives　by　the　arm；　and　shoved　the　point　of　his　bloody　dirk　up　under　her　chin。　〃Show　us　where　he　keeps　the　food；　or　you'll　get　the　same　as　he　did；　woman。〃
　〃Unhand　her。〃　Mormont　took　a　step。　〃I'll　have　your　head　for　this；　you…〃　Garth　of　Greenaway　blocked　his　path；　and　Ollo　Lophand　yanked　him　back。　They　both　had　blades　in　hand。　〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　Ollo　warned。　Instead　the　Lord　mander　grabbed　for　his　dagger。　Ollo　had　only　one　hand；　but　that　was　quick。　He　twisted　free　of　the　old　man's　grasp；　shoved　the　knife　into　Mormont's　belly；　and　yanked　it　out　again；　all　red。　And　then　the　world　went　mad。
　Later；　much　later；　Sam　found　himself　sitting　crosslegged　on　the　floor；　with　Mormont's　head　in　his　lap。　He　did　not　remember　how　they'd　gotten　there；　or　much　of　anything　else　that　had　happened　after　the　Old　Bear　was　stabbed。　Garth　of　Greenaway　had　killed　Gar