mck.harpistinthewind-第8部分

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lit　water；　her　face　was　a　dark　profile　between　the　warning　fires。　Morgon's　eyes　moved　to　the　ship。　The　dead　were　leaving　it；　the　dark　maw　of　its　hold　would　remain　open　to　take　him　away　from　Hed。　His　mind　tangled　suddenly　with　a　thousand　things　he　wanted　to　say　to　Eliard；　but　none　of　them　had　the　power　to　dispel　that　ship。　Finally；　he　realized；　they　were　alone　again　on　the　dock；　the　dead　were　dispersed　into　Hed；　and　there　was　nothing　left　for　him　to　do　but　leave。　He　turned　to　Eliard。　The　sky　was　growing　very　dark　in　the　final；　interminable　hour　before　dawn。　A　low　wind　moaned　among　the　breakers。　He　could　not　see　Eliard's　face；　only　sense　his　massiveness　and　the　vague　mass　of　land　behind　him。　He　said　softly；　his　heart　aching；　the　image　of　the　land　drenched　gold　under　the　summer　sun　in　his　mind's　eye；　〃I'll　find　a　way　back　to　Hed。　Somehow。　Somewhere。〃
　　　　　　　Eliard；　reaching　into　the　darkness；　touched　his　face　with　a　gentleness　that　had　been　their　father's。　Tristan　was　still　clinging　to　him；　Morgon　held　her　tightly；　kissed　the　top　of　her　hair。　Then　he　stepped　back；　stood　suddenly　alone　in　the　night　feeling　the　wood　shiver　under　his　feet　in　the　roiling　water。
　　　　　　　He　turned；　found　his　way　blindly　up　the　ship's　ramp；　back　down　into　the　black　hull。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　IV
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　THE　SHIP　FOUND　A　QUIET　BERTH　IN　THE　CAITHNARD　harbor　near　dawn。　Morgon　heard　the　anchor　splash　in　still　water　and　saw　through　the　lattice　of　the　hatch　covers　squares　of　pearl…grey　sky。　Raederle　was　asleep。　He　looked　at　her　a　moment　with　an　odd　mixture　of　weariness　and　peace；　as　if　he　had　brought　some　great　treasure　safely　out　of　danger。　Then　he　sagged　down　on　the　spice　sacks　and　went　to　sleep。　The　clamor　on　the　docks　at　midmorning；　the　stifling　noon　heat　in　the　hold　hardly　troubled　his　dreams。　He　woke　finally　at　late　afternoon　and　found　Raederle　watching　him；　covered　with　floating　spangles　of　sunlight。
　　　　　　　He　sat　up　slowly；　trying　to　remember　where　he　was。　She　said；　〃Caithnard。〃　Her　arms　were　crooked　around　her　knees；　her　cheek　was　crosshatched　with　weave　from　the　sacking。　Her　eyes　held　an　odd　expression　he　had　to　puzzle　over；　until　he　realized　that　it　was　simply　fear。　His　throat　made　a　dry；　questioning　sound。　She　answered　him　softly。
　　　　　　　〃Now　what？〃
　　　　　　　He　leaned　back　against　the　side；　gripped　her　wrist　lightly　a　moment；　then　rubbed　his　eyes。　〃Bri　Corbett　said　he　would　find　horses　for　us。　You'll　have　to　take　the　pins　out　of　your　hair。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？　Morgon；　are　you　still　asleep？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　His　eyes　fell　to　her　feet。　〃And　look　at　your　shoes。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked。　〃What's　the　matter　with　them？〃
　　　　　　　〃They're　beautiful。　So　are　you。　Can　you　change　shape？〃
　　　　　　　〃Into　what？〃　she　asked　bewilderedly。　〃A　hoary　old　hag？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　You　have　a　shape…changer's　blood　in　you；　you　should　be　able　to。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　expression　in　her　eyes；　of　fear；　torment；　loathing；　stopped　him。　She　said　distinctly；　〃No。〃
　　　　　　　He　drew　breath；　fully　awake；　cursing　himself　silently。　The　long　road　sweeping　across　the　realm；　straight　towards　the　setting　sun；　touched　him；　too；　then；　with　an　edge　of　panic。　He　was　silent；　trying　to　think；　but　the　stale　air　in　the　hold　seemed　to　fill　his　brain　with　chaff。　He　said；　〃We'll　be　on　the　road　to　Lungold　for　a　long　time；　if　we　ride。　I　thought　to　keep　the　horses　just　until　I　could　teach　you　some　shape。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　change　shape。　I'll　ride。〃
　　　　　　　〃Raederle；　look　at　yourself；〃　he　said　helplessly。　〃Traders　from　all　over　the　realm　will　be　on　that　road。　They　haven't　seen　me　for　over　a　year；　but　they'll　recognize　you；　and　they　won't　have　to　ask　who　the　man　beside　you　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃So。〃　She　kicked　her　shoes　off；　pulled　the　pins　out　of　her　hair　and　shook　it　down　her　back。　〃Find　me　another　pair　of　shoes。〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　at　her　wordlessly　as　she　sat　in　a　billow　of　wrinkled；　richly　embroidered　cloth；　the　fine；　dishevelled　mass　of　her　hair　framing　a　high…boned　face　that；　even　tired　and　white；　looked　like　something　out　of　an　ancient　ballad。　He　sighed；　pushing　himself　up。
　　　　　　　〃All　right。　Wait　for　me。〃
　　　　　　　Her　voice　checked　him　briefly　as　he　climbed　the　ladder。　〃This　time。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　He　spoke　to　Bri　Corbett；　who　had　been　waiting　patiently　all　day　for　them　to　wake。　The　horses　Bri　had　found　were　on　the　dock；　there　were　some　supplies　packed　on　them。　They　were　placid；　heavy…hooved　farmhorses；　restless　at　being　tethered　so　long。　Bri；　as　the　fact　and　implications　of　the　long　journey　began　filling　his　mind；　gave　Morgon　varied；　impassioned　arguments；　to　which　he　responded　patiently。　Bri　ended　by　offering　to　e　with　them。　Morgon　said　wearily；　〃Only　if　you　can　change　shape。〃
　　　　　　　Bri　gave　up。　He　left　the　ship；　returned　an　hour　later　with　a　bundle　of　clothes；　which　he　tossed　down　the　hatch　to　Morgon。　Raederle　examined　them　expressionlessly；　then　put　them　on。　There　was　a　dark　skirt；　a　linen　shift；　and　a　shapeless　over…tunic　that　went　to　her　knees。　The　boots　were　of　soft　leather；　good　but　plain。　She　coiled　her　hair　up　under　the　crown　of　a　broad…brimmed　straw　hat。　She　stood　still　resignedly　for　Morgon's　inspection。
　　　　　　　He　said；　〃Pull　the　hat　brim　down。〃　She　gave　it　a　wrench。　〃Stop　laughing　at　me。〃　〃I'm　not；〃　he　said　soberly。　〃Wait　till　you　see　what　you　have　to　ride。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　aren't　exactly　inconspicuous。　You　may　be　dressed　like　a　poor　farmer；　but　you　walk　like　a　land…ruler；　and　your　eyes　could　quarry　stone。〃
　　　　　　　〃Watch；〃　he　said。　He　let　himself　grow　still；　his　thoughts　shaping　themselves　to　his　surroundings：　wood；　pitch；　the　vague　murmur　of　water　and　indistinct　rumblings　of　the　harbor。　His　name　seemed　to　flow　away　from　him　into　the　heat。　His　face　held　no　discernible　expression；　for　a　moment　his　eyes　were　vague；　blank　as　the　summer　sky。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　aren't　aware　of　yourself；　few　people　will　be　aware　of　you。　That's　one　of　a　hundred　ways　I　kept　myself　alive　crossing　the　realm。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　startled。　〃I　almost　couldn't　recognize　you。　Is　it　illusion？〃
　　　　　　　〃Very　little　of　it。　It's　survival。〃
　　　　　　　She　was　silent。　He　saw　the　conflict　of　her　thoughts　in　her　face。　She　turned　away　without　speaking　and　climbed　up　the　ladder　to　the　deck。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　sun　was　burning　into　night　at　the　far　edge　of　the　realm　as　they　bade　farewell　to　Bri　and　began　to　ride。　Great　shadows　from　masts　and　piled　cargo　loomed　in　their　path　across　the　docks。　The　city；　a　haze　of　late　light　and　shadow；　seemed　suddenly　unfamiliar　to　Morgon；　as　if；　on　the　verge　of　taking　a　strange　road；　he　became　a　stranger　to　himself。　He　led　Raederle　through　the　twists　of　streets；　past　shops　and　taverns　he　had　known　once；　toward　the　west　edge　of　the　city；　down　one　cobbled　street　that　widened　as　it　left　the　city；　wore　out　of　its　cobblestones；　widened　again；　rutted　with　centuries　of　cartwheels；　widened　again　and　ran　ahead　of　them　through　hundreds　of　miles　of　no…man's…land；　until　it　angled　northward　at　the　edge　of　the　known　realm　towards　Lungold。
　　　　　　　They　stopped　their　horses；　looking　down　it。　Tangled　shadows　of　oak　faded　as　the　sun　set；　the　road　lay　tired；　grey；　and　endless　in　the　dusk。　The　oak　fanned　over　their　heads；　branches　nearly　joined　across　the　road。　They　looked　weary；　their　leaves　dulled　with　a　patina　of　dust　kicked　up　by　the　cartwheels。　The　evening　was　very　quiet；　the　late　traffic　had　already　wound　its　way　into　the　city。　The　forests　blurred　grey　in　the　distance；　and　then　dark。　From　the　greyness　an　owl　woke　and　sang　a　riddle。
　　　　　　　They　began　to　ride　again。　The　sky　turned　black；　and　the　moon　rose；　spilling　a　milky　light　through　the　forest。　They　rode　the　moon　high；　until　their　shadows　rode　beneath　them　on　a　tangle　of　black　leaves。　Then　Morgon　found　the　leaves　blurring　together　into　one　vast　darkness　under　his　eyes。　He　reined；　Raederle　stopped　beside　him。
　　　　　　　There　was　the　sound　of　water　not　far　away。　Morgon；　his　face　coated　with　a　mask　of　dust；　said　tiredly；　〃I　remember。　I　crossed　a　river；　ing　south　out　of　Wind　Plain。　It　must　follow　the　road。〃　He　turned　his　horse　off　the　road。　〃We　can　camp　there。〃
　　　　　　　They　found　it　not　far　from　the　road；　a　shallow　streak　of　silver　in　the　moonlight。　Raederle　sank　down　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　while　Morgon　unsaddled　the　horses　and　let　them　drink。　He　brought　their　packs　and　blankets　to　a　clear　space　among　the