men of iron(铁人)-第11章
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The room was a perfect circle of about twenty feet across； and was piled
high with an indistinguishable mass of lumberrude tables； ruder chairs；
ancient chests； bits and remnants of cloth and sacking and leather； old
helmets and pieces of armor of a by…gone time； broken spears and pole…
axes； pots and pans and kitchen furniture of all sorts and kinds。
A straight beam of sunlight fell through a broken shutter like a bar of
gold； and fell upon the floor in a long streak of dazzling light that
illuminated the whole room with a yellow glow。
〃By 'r Lady！〃 said Gascoyne at last； in a hushed voice； 〃here is Father
Time's garret for sure。 Didst ever see the like； Myles？ Look at yon arbalist；
sure Brutus himself used such an one！〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃but look at this saddle。 Marry； here be'st a rat's
nest in it。〃
Clouds of dust rose as they rummaged among the mouldering mass；
setting them coughing and sneezing。 Now and then a great gray rat would
shoot out beneath their very feet； and disappear； like a sudden shadow； into
some hole or cranny in the wall。
〃Come；〃 said Myles at last； brushing the dust from his jacket； 〃an we
tarry here longer we will have chance to see no other sights； the sun is
falling low。〃
An arched stair…way upon the opposite side of the room from which
they had entered wound upward through the wall； the stone steps being
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lighted by narrow slits of windows cut through the massive masonry。
Above the room they had just left was another of the same shape and size；
but with an oak floor； sagging and rising into hollows and hills； where the
joist had rotted away beneath。 It was bare and empty； and not even a rat
was to be seen。 Above was another room； above that； another； all the
passages and stairways which connected the one story with the other being
built in the wall； which was； where solid； perhaps fifteen feet thick。
From the third floor a straight flight of steps led upward to a closed
door； from the other side of which shone the dazzling brightness of
sunlight； and whence came a strange noisea soft rustling； a melodious
murmur。 The boys put their shoulders against the door； which was fastened；
and pushed with might and mainonce； twice； suddenly the lock gave way；
and out they pitched headlong into a blaze of sunlight。 A deafening
clapping and uproar sounded in their ears； and scores of pigeons； suddenly
disturbed； rose in stormy flight。
They sat up and looked around them in silent wonder。 They were in a
bower of leafy green。 It was the top story of the tower； the roof of which
had crumbled and toppled in； leaving it open to the sky； with only here and
there a slanting beam or two supporting a portion of the tiled roof；
affording shelter for the nests of the pigeons crowded closely together。
Over everything the ivy had grown in a mantling sheeta net…work of
shimmering green； through which the sunlight fell flickering。
〃This passeth wonder；〃 said Gascoyne； at last breaking the silence。
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； 〃I did never see the like in all my life。〃 Then；
〃Look； yonder is a room beyond； let us see what it is； Francis。〃
Entering an arched door…way； the two found themselves in a beautiful
little vaulted chapel； about eighteen feet long and twelve or fifteen wide。 It
comprised the crown of one of the large massive buttresses； and from it
opened the row of arched windows which could be seen from below
through the green shimmering of the ivy leaves。 The boys pushed aside the
trailing tendrils and looked out and down。 The whole castle lay spread
below them； with the busy people unconsciously intent upon the matters of
their daily work。 They could see the gardener； with bowed back； patiently
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working among the flowers in the garden； the stable…boys below grooming
the horses； a bevy of ladies in the privy garden playing at shuttlecock with
battledoors of wood； a group of gentlemen walking up and down in front
of the Earl's house。 They could see the household servants hurrying hither
and thither； two little scullions at fisticuffs； and a kitchen girl standing in
the door…way scratching her frowzy head。
It was all like a puppetshow of real life； each acting unconsciously a
part in the play。 The cool wind came in through the rustling leaves and
fanned their cheeks； hot with the climb up the winding stair…way。
〃We will call it our Eyry；〃 said Gascoyne 〃and we will be the hawks
that live here。〃 And that was how it got its name。
The next day Myles had the armorer make him a score of large spikes；
which he and Gascoyne drove between the ivy branches and into the
cement of the wall； and so made a safe passageway by which to reach the
window niche in the wall。
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CHAPTER 11
THE TWO friends kept the secret of the Eyry to themselves for a little
while； now and then visiting the old tower to rummage among the lumber
stored in the lower room； or to loiter away the afternoon in the windy
solitudes of the upper heights。 And in that little time； when the ancient
keep was to them a small world unknown to any but themselvesa world
far away above all the dull matters of every…day lifethey talked of many
things that might else never have been known to one another。 Mostly they
spoke the crude romantic thoughts and desires of boyhood's timechaff
thrown to the wind； in which； however； lay a few stray seeds； fated to fall
to good earth； and to ripen to fruition in manhood's day。
In the intimate talks of that time Myles imparted something of his
honest solidity to Gascoyne's somewhat weathercock nature； and to
Myles's ruder and more uncouth character Gascoyne lent a tone of his
gentler manners； learned in his pagehood service as attendant upon the
Countess and her ladies。
In other things； also； the character and experience of the one lad
helped to supply what was lacking in the other。 Myles was replete with old
Latin gestes； fables； and sermons picked up during his school life； in those
intervals of his more serious studies when Prior Edward had permitted him
to browse in the greener pastures of the Gesta Romanorum and the
Disciplina Clericalis of the monastery library； and Gascoyne was never
weary of hearing him tell those marvellous stories culled from the crabbed
Latin of the old manuscript volumes。
Upon his part Gascoyne was full of the lore of the waiting…room and
the antechamber； and Myles； who in all his life had never known a lady；
young or old； excepting his mother； was never tired of lying silently
listening to Gascoyne's chatter of the gay doings of the castle gentle…life；
in which he had taken part so often in the merry days of his pagehood。
〃I do wonder；〃 said Myles； quaintly； 〃that thou couldst ever find the
courage to bespeak a young maid； Francis。 Never did I do so； nor ever
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could。 Rather would I face three strong men than one young damsel。〃
Whereupon Gascoyne burst out laughing。 〃Marry！〃 quoth he； 〃they be
no such terrible things； but gentle and pleasant spoken； and soft and
smooth as any cat。〃
〃No matter for that；〃 said Myles； 〃I would not face one such for
worlds。〃
It was during the short time when； so to speak； the two owned the
solitude of the Brutus Tower； that Myles told his friend of his father's
outlawry and of the peril in which the family stood。 And thus it was。
〃I do marvel；〃 said Gascoyne one day； as the two lay stretched in the
Eyry； looking down into the castle court…yard below〃I do marvel； now
that thou art 'stablished here this month and more； that my Lord doth never
have thee called to service upon household duty。 Canst thou riddle me why
it is so； Myles？〃
The subject was a very sore one with Myles。 Until Sir James had told
him of the matter in his office that day he had never known that his father
was attainted and outlawed。 He had accepted the change from their earlier
state and the bald poverty of their life at Crosbey…Holt with the easy
carelessness of boyhood； and Sir James's words were the first to awaken
him to a realization of the misfortunes of the house of Falworth。 His was a
brooding nature； and in the three or four weeks that passed he had
meditated so much over what had been told him； that by…and…by it almost
seemed as if a shadow of shame rested upon his father's fair fame； even
though the attaint set upon him was unrighteous and unjust； as Myles
knew it must be。 He had felt angry and resentful at the Earl's neglect； and
as days passed and he was not noticed in any way； his heart was at times
very bitter。
So now Gascoyne's innocent question touched a sore spot； and Myles
spoke with a sharp； angry pain in his voice that made the other look
quickly up。 〃Sooner would my Lord have yonder swineherd serve him in
the household than me；〃 said he。
〃Why may that be； Myles？〃 said Gascoyne。
〃Because；〃 answered Myles； with the same angry bitterness in his
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voice； 〃either the Earl is a coward that feareth to befriend me； or else he is
a caitiff； ashamed of his own flesh and blood； and of me； the son of his
one…time comrade。〃
Gascoyne raised himself upon his elbow； and opened his eyes wide in
wonder。 〃Afeard of thee； Myles！〃 qu
