red eve-第31章

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devil！　Tear　the　wizard　to　pieces！　Death　is　behind　him！　He　brings
death！　Kill；　kill；　kill！〃

A　score　of　knives　flashed　in　the　air；　only　this　time　Grey　Dick　set　no
arrow　on　his　string。　Their　holders　ran　forward；　then　the　Man　lifted
his　hand；　in　which　was　no　weapon；　and　they　stopped。

Now　he　spoke　in　a　low　voice　so　cold　that；　to　Hugh's　excited　fancy；　the
words　seemed　to　tinkle　like　falling　ice　as　one　by　one　they　came　from
his　lips。　He　spoke　in　Italianperfect　Italian　of　Veniceand　young
Day；　whose　teeth　where　chattering　with　fear；　translated　his　words。

〃Is　this　your　welcome　to　a　stranger；〃　he　said；　〃the　companions　of
whose　voyage　have　unhappily　met　with　misfortune？〃　Here　with　a　faint
motion　of　his　fingerless　glove　he　indicated　the　dead　who　lay　all　about
the　decks　of　that　fatal　ship。　〃Would　you；　men　of　Venice；　kill　a　poor；
unarmed　stranger　who　has　travelled　to　visit　you　from　the　farthest　East
and　seen　much　sorrow　on　his　way？〃

〃Ay；　we　would；　sorcerer！〃　shouted　one。　〃Our　brothers　were　in　that
ship；　which　we　know；　and　you　have　murdered　them。〃

〃How　did　you　learn　Italian　in　the　farthest　East？〃　asked　another。

Then　for　the　second　time；　like　hounds　closing　in　on　a　stag　at　bay；
they　sprang　toward　him　with　their　poised　knives。

Again　he　lifted　his　hand；　again　the　semi…circle　halted　as　though　it
must；　and　again　he　spoke。

〃Are　there　none　here　who　will　befriend　a　stranger　in　a　strange　land？
None　who　are　ashamed　to　see　a　poor；　unarmed　stranger　from　the　East
done　to　death　by　these　wolves　who　call　themselves　children　of　the
white　Christ　of　Mercy？〃

Now　Hugh　touched　Dick　upon　the　shoulder。

〃Rise　and　come；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　our　fate〃；　and　Dick　obeyed。

Only　after　he　had　translated　the　Man's　words；　David　fell　down　flat
upon　the　quay　and　lay　there。

They　stepped　to　the　yellow…capped　Man　and　stood　on　each　side　of　him；
Hugh　drawing　his　sword　and　Dick　the　battle…axe　that　he　carried　beneath
his　robe　of　silk。

〃We　will；〃　said　Hugh　shortly；　in　English。

〃Now　there　are　three　of　us；〃　went　on　the　Man。　〃The　stranger　from　the
East　has　found　defenders　from　the　West。　On；　defenders；　for　I　do　not
fight　thus；〃　and　he　folded　his　arms　across　his　broad　breast　and　smiled
with　the　awful　eyes。

Hugh　and　Dick　knew　no　Italian；　yet　they　both　of　them　understood；　and
with　a　shout　leaped　forward　toward　those　hungry　knives。　But　their
holders　never　waited　for　them。　Some　sudden　panic　seized　them　all；　so
that　they　turned　and　ranran　straight　across　the　wide　Place　of　Arms
and　vanished　into　the　network　of　narrow　streets　by　which　it　was
surrounded。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XIII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MURGH'S　ARROW

Hugh　and　Dick　came　back。　Something　seemed　to　call　them　back；　although
no　blow　had　been　struck。　The　Man　stood　where　they　had　left　him；
staring　at　nothing　in　particular。　Apparently　he　was　engaged　in
meditation。

〃Thanking　his　gods　because　they　have　saved　him　from　sudden　death；〃
muttered　Grey　Dick。　〃If　he's　got　any　gods！〃　he　added　doubtfully。

Now　the　three；　or　rather　the　four　of　them；　for　David　Day　had
recovered；　and　once　more　stood　upon　his　feet　from　time　to　time
glancing　at　the　stranger's　costume　with　a　frightened　eye；　were　left
alone　upon　the　great　place　with　no　company　save　the　shipful　of　dead
behind　them　and　the　wild；　white　moon　above。　The　silence　that；　save　for
the　soughing　sound　for　which　they　could　not　account；　was　intense；
oppressed　them；　as　also　did　the　heat。

Grey　Dick　coughed；　but　the　Man　took　no　notice。　Then　he　dropped　his　axe
with　a　clatter　on　the　marble　flooring　of　the　quay　and　picked　it　up
again；　but　still　the　Man　took　no　notice。　Evidently　his　Eastern
imperturbability　was　not　to　be　disturbed　by　such　trifles。　What　was
worse；　or　so　thought　Dick；　his　master　Hugh　had　fallen　into　a　very
similar　mood。　He　stood　there　staring　at　the　Man；　while　the　Man　stared
over　or　through　himat　nothing　in　particular。

Grey　Dick　felt　aggrieved。　An　arrow　had　burst　to　pieces　unaccountably
in　his　bow；　numbing　his　arm　and　wounding　him　on　the　chin；　and　now　he
was　outpaced　at　his　own　game　of　cold　silence。　He　grew　angry　and　dug
David　in　the　ribs　with　his　elbow。

〃Tell　that　foreigner；〃　he　said；　〃that　my　master　and　I　have　saved　his
life。　Those　Italian　cut…throats　have　run　away；　and　if　he　is　a
gentleman　he　should　say　'thank　you。'〃

David　hesitated；　whereon　Dick　gave　him　another　dig；　harder　than　the
first；　and　asked　if　he　heard　what　he　said。　Then　David　obeyed；
addressing　the　Man　as　〃Most　Illustrious〃　as　though　he　were　the　Doge；
and　ending　his　speech　with　a　humble　apology　in　case　he　should　have
interrupted　his　pious　thanksgiving。

The　Man　seemed　to　awake。　Taking　no　notice　of　Day；　he　addressed　himself
to　Dick；　speaking　in　English　and　using　just　that　dialect　of　it　to
which　he；　Dick；　had　been　accustomed　from　his　childhood　in　the
neighbourhood　of　Dunwich。　Not　even　the　familiar　Suffolk　whine　was
forgotten。

〃You　and　your　master　have　saved　my　life；　have　you？〃　he　said。　〃Well；
neighbour；　why　did　you　try　to　save　my　life　by　shooting　at　me　with　that
great　black　bow　of　yours；　which　I　see　is　made　of　Eastern　woods？〃　He
stared　at　the　case　in　which　it　was　now　again　hidden　as　though　tanned
leather　were　no　obstacle　to　his　sight；　then　went　on：　〃Do　not　answer：　I
will　tell　you　why。　You　shot　at　me　because　you　were　afraid　of　me；　and
fear　is　ever　cruel；　is　it　not？　Only　something　happened　to　your　arrow；
something　that　has　never　happened　to　any　arrow　of　yours　before。　Oh；
yes；　you　have　saved　me　from　the　Italian　cut…throats；　and　being　a
gentleman　I　thank　you　very　much。　Only　why　did　the　arrow　burst　in　your
bow？〃　and　he　smiled　with　those　dreadful　eyes　of　his。

Now；　feeling　overwhelmed　for　the　second　time　that　night；　Grey　Dick　sat
himself　down　upon　a　quay　post。　It　was　clear　to　him　that　to　argue　with
this　person　in　a　yellow　cap　who　talked　Suffolk　so　well　was　quite
useless。　Why；　then；　waste　breath　which　was　probably　his　last？

Everybody　seemed　to　be　falling　into　meditation　again；　when　the　Man；
shifting　his　head　slowly；　began　to　consider　Hugh。

〃What　is　your　name　and　which　is　your　country；　O　my　second　saviour？〃　he
asked；　still　speaking　in　English。　Only　now　the　English　was　of　a
different　and　more　refined　sort　to　that　which　he　had　used　when　he
addressed　Dick；　such　English；　for　instance；　as　came　from　the　lips　of
Sir　Geoffrey　Carleon　or　from　those　of　the　lords　of　Edward's　Court。

〃I　am　Sir　Hugh　de　Cressi　of　Dunwich；　in　the　county　of　Suffolk；　in
England；〃　answered　Hugh　slowly。

〃England。　I　have　heard　of　England；　and　Dunwich；　I　have　heard　of
Dunwich。　Indeed；　I　travel　thither；　having　an　appointment　with　an　old
friend　in　that　town。〃

Now　a　light　came　into　Hugh's　bewildered　face；　but　he　said　nothing。

〃I　seem　to　have　touched　some　chord　of　recollection　in　your　mind；　O　my
saviour　of　Dunwich；〃　said　the　Man。　〃Look　at　me　and　tell　me；　who　am　I？〃

Hugh　looked；　and　shook　his　head。

〃I　never　saw　you　before；　nor　any　one　at　all　like　you；〃　he　answered。

〃No；　no；　you　never　saw　me；　though　I　have　been　very　near　to　you　once　or
twice。　Yet；　your　pardon；　look　again。〃

Hugh　obeyed；　and　this　time；　for　a　second　only；　perceived　that　the
Man's　head　was　surrounded　by　a　multitude　of　doves。　Two　endless　lines
of　doves；　one　line　black　and　the　other　line　white；　stretched　from　his
right　shoulder　and　from　his　left　shoulder；　till　miles　away　they　melted
into　the　lofty　gloom　of　the　sky　that　was　full　of　the　soughing　sound　of
their　wings。

Now　he　knew；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　fell　upon　his　knees　to
a　man；　or　to　what　bore　the　semblance　of　man。

〃You　are　named　Murgh；　Gate　of　the　Gods；〃　he　said。　〃Murgh；　whom　old　Sir
Andrew　saw　in　that　courtyard　over　which　the　iron　dragons　watch　in　the
country　called　Cathay；　that　courtyard　with　the　pool　of　water　and　the
many　doors。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　the　Man　in　a　new　voice；　a　great　voice　that　seemed　to
fill　the　air　like　the　mutter　of　distant　thunder。　〃I　am　Murgh；　Gateway
of　the　Gods；　and　since　you　have　striven　to　defend　Murgh；　he　who　is　the
friend　of　all　men；　although　they　know　it　not；　will　above　all　be　your
friend　and　the　friend　of　those　you　love。〃

He　stretched　out　his　long　arms　and　laid　his　white…gloved　hands　for　an
instant；　one　of　them　upon　Hugh's　head　and　one　on　the　shoulder　of　Grey
Dick；　who　sat　upon　the　pillar　of　stone。

Hugh　muttered；　〃I　thank　you；〃　not　knowing　what　else　to　say。　But　in　his
heart　he　wondered　what　kind　of　friendship　this　mighty　and　awful　being
would　show　to　him　and　his。　Perhaps　he　might　hold　that　the　truest
kindness　would　be　to　remove　him　and　them　from　the　miseries　of　a　sinful
world。

If　Murgh　read　his　thoughts　he　only　answered　them　with　that　smile　of
his　cold　eyes　which　was　more　awful　than　the　frown　of　any　mortal　man。
Turning　his　head　slowly　he　began　to　contemplate　Dick　sitting　on　his
stone。

〃If　I　had　a　son；〃　he　said；　〃by　that　face　of　yours　you　might　be　he。〃

〃Perchance；〃　answered　Dick；　〃since　I　never　knew　for　certain　who　my
father　was。　Only　I　have　always　heard　that　Life　begets；　not　Death。〃

〃Death！　You　honour　me　with　a　great　name。　Well；　life　and　death　are　one；
and　you　and　I　are　one　with　the　moon　and　the　stars　above　us；　and　many
other　things　and　beings　that　you　cannot　see。　Therefore　the　begetter
and　the　begotten　are　one　in　the　Hand　that　holds　them　all。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Dick；　〃and　so　my　bow　and　I　are　one：　I've　often　thought
it。　Only　you　nearly　made　me　one　with　my　own　arrow；　which　is　closer
kinship　than　I　seek；〃　and　he　touched　the　cut　upon　his　chin。　〃Since　you
are　so　wise；　my　father；　or　my　son；　tell　me；　what　is　this　Hand　that
holds　them　all？〃

〃Gladly。　Only　if　I　do；　first　I　must　ask　you　to　die；　thensay　in　a
minute　or　twoyou　shall　know。〃

Dick　peered　at　him　doubtfully；　and　said：

〃If　that　be　so；　I　think　I'll　wait　for　the　answer；　which　I　am　sure　to
learn　soon　or　late。〃

〃Ah！　Many　men　have　thought　the　same；　and　you　have　sent　some　to　seek
it；　have　you　not；　being　so　good　an　archer。　For　instance；　that　was　a
long　shaft　you　shot　before　Crecy　fray　at　the　filthy　fool　who　mocked
your　English　host。　Doubtless　now　he　knows　the　answer　to　your　riddle。〃

〃Who　told　you　of　that？〃　asked　Dick；　springing　up。

〃A　friend　of　mine　who　was　in　the　battle。　He　said　also　that　your　name
was　Richard　the　Archer。〃

〃A　friend！　I　believe　that　you　were　there　yourself；　as；　if　you　are
Death；　you　may　well　have　been。〃

〃Perhaps　you　are　right；　Richard。　Have　I　not　just　told　you　that　we　all
are　one；　yes；　even　the　slayer　and　the　slain。　Therefore；　if　my　friend
did　you　call　him　Death？was　there；　I　was　there；　if　you　were　there　I
was　there　and　it　was　my　hand　that　drew　yonder　great　black　bow　of　yours
and　my　eye　that　guided　the　straight　shaft　which　laid　the　foulmouthed
jester　low。　Why；　did　you　not　say　as　much　yourself　when　your　master
here　bade　farewell　to　his　father　in　the　ship　at　Calais？　What　were　the
words？　Oh；　I　remember　them。　You　wondered　how　One　I　may　not　name；〃　and
he　bowed　his　solemn　head；　〃came　to　make　that　black　bow　and　yours　and
you　'the　death　that　draw　it。'〃

Now　at　length　Grey　Dick's　courage　gave　out。

〃Of　no　man　upon　earth　am　I　afraid；〃　he　said。　〃But　from　you；　O　god　or
devil；　who　read　the　secret　hearts　of　men　and　hear　their　secret　words；
my　blood　flows　backward　as　it　did　when　first　my　eyes　fell　on　you。　You
w