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第8部分

mc.eatersofthedead-第8部分

小说: mc.eatersofthedead 字数: 每页4000字

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ailors agreed with the Northmen; in the matter of uneasiness7 within the wrapping of mist; so; also; he said all seafarers are made anxious of any mist or fog; because such a condition increases the peril of travel upon the waters。
 I said this was sensible; but that when the mist lay upon the land and not the water; I did not understand the reason for any fear。 To this the interpreter replied; 〃The fog is always feared; whenever it es。〃 And he said that it made no difference; on land or water; according to the Northman view。
 And then he said to me the Northmen did not; truly; much fear the mist。 Also the interpreter said that he; as a man; did not fear the mist。 He said that it was only a minor matter; of slight consequence。 He said; 〃It is as a minor ache inside a limb joint; which may e with fog; but no more important。〃
 By this I saw that my interpreter; among the others; denied all manner of concern for the fog; and feigned indifference。
 Now it happened that the mist did not lift; although it abated and became thin in the after…part of the day; the sun appeared as a circle in the sky; but also it was so weak that I could look directly to its light。
 In this same day there arrived a Northman boat; containing a noble of their own race。 He was a young man with a thin beard; and he traveled with only a small party of pages and slaves; and no women among them。 Thus I believed he was no trader; for in this area the Northmen principally sell women。
 This same visitor beached his boat; and remained standing with it until nightfall; and no man came near to him; or greeted him; although he was a stranger and in plain sight to all。 My interpreter said: 〃He is a kin of Buliwyf; and will be received at the night banquet。〃
 I said; 〃Why does he stay at his ship?〃
 〃Because of the mist;〃 answered the interpreter。 〃It is the custom he must stand in view for many hours; so all can see him and know he is no enemy ing from the mist。〃 This the interpreter said to me with much hesitation。
 At the night banquet; I saw the young man e into the hall。 Here was he warmly greeted and with much display of surprise; and in this most especially by Buliwyf; who acted as if the young man had just arrived; and had not been standing by his ship many hours。 After the several greetings; the youth spoke a passionate speech; which Buliwyf attended with unusual interest: he did not drink and dally with the slave girls; but instead in silence heard the youth; who spoke in a high and cracking voice。 At the finish of the tale; the youth seemed about to have tears; and was given a cup of drink。
 I inquired of my interpreter what was said。 Here was the reply: 〃He is Wulfgar; and he is the son of Rothgar; a great king in the North。 He is kin of Buliwyf and seeks his aid and support on a hero's mission。 Wulfgar says the far country suffers a dread and nameless terror; which all the peoples are powerless to oppose; and he asks Buliwyf to make haste to return to the far country and save his people and the kingdom of his father; Rothgar。〃
 I inquired of the interpreter the nature of this terror。 He said to me; 〃It has no name which I can tell。〃8 The interpreter seemed much disturbed by Wulfgar's words; and so also were many of the other Northmen。 I saw on the countenance of Buliwyf a dark and gloomy expression。 I inquired of the interpreter details of the menace。
 The interpreter said to me: 〃The name cannot be said; for it is forbidden to speak it; lest the utterance of the name call forth the demons。〃 And as he spoke I saw that he was fearful just to think upon these matters; and his pallor was marked; and so I ended my inquiry。
 Buliwyf; sitting at the high stone throne; was silent。 Verily the assembled earls and vassals and all the slaves and servants were silent; also。 No man in the hall spoke。 The messenger Wulfgar stood before the pany with his head bowed。 Never had I seen the merry and rambunctious North people so subdued。
 Then into the hall entered the old crone called the angel of death; and she sat beside Buliwyf。 From a hide bag she withdrew some bones…whether human or animal I do not know…and these bones she cast upon the ground; speaking low utterances; and she passed her hand over them。
 The bones were gathered up; and cast again; and the process repeated with more incantations。 Now again was the casting done; and finally she spoke to Buliwyf。
 I asked the interpreter the meaning of her speech; but he did not attend me。
 Then Buliwyf stood and raised his cup of strong drink; and called to the assembled earls and warriors; making a speech of some good length。 One by one; several warriors stood at their places to face him。 Not all stood; I counted eleven; and Buliwyf pronounced himself satisfied with this。
 Now also I saw that Thorkel appeared much pleased by the proceedings and assumed a more kingly bearing; while Buliwyf paid him no heed; or showed any hatred of him; or even any interest; although they were formerly enemies a few minutes past。
 Then the angel of death; this same crone; pointed to me and made some utterance; and then she departed the hall。 Now at last my interpreter spoke; and he said: 〃Buliwyf is called by the gods to leave this place and swiftly; putting behind him all his cares and concerns; to act as a hero to repel the menace of the North。 This is fitting; and he must also take eleven warriors with him。 And so; also; must he take you。〃
 I said that I was on a mission to the Bulgars; and must follow the instructions of my Caliph; with no delay。
 〃The angel of death has spoken;〃 my interpreter said。 〃The party of Buliwyf must be thirteen; and of these one must be no Northman; and so you shall be the thirteenth。〃
 I protested I was not a warrior。 Verily I made all the excuses and pleadings that I could imagine might have effect upon this rude pany of beings。 I demanded that the interpreter convey my words to Buliwyf; and yet he turned away and left the hall; saying this last speech: 〃Prepare yourself as you think best。 You shall leave on the morning light。〃
 
 THE JOURNEY TO THE FAR COUNTRY

 IN THIS MANNER WAS I PREVENTED FROM CONTINUING my travels to the kingdom of the Yiltawar; King of the Saqaliba; and thus was I unable to discharge the trust of al…Muqtadir; mander of the Faithful and Caliph of the City of Peace。 I gave such instructions as I could to Dadir al…Hurami; and also to the ambassador; Abdallah ibn…Bastu al…Hazari; and also to the pages Takin and Bars。 Then I took my leave of them; and how they fared further I never knew。
 For myself; I counted my condition no different from a dead man。 I was on board one of the Northman vessels; and sailing up the Volga River; northward; with twelve of their pany。 The others were named thus:
 Buliwyf; the chief; his lieutenant or captain; Ecthgow; his earls and nobles; Higlak; Skeld; Weath; Roneth; Halga; his warriors and brave fighters; Helfdane; Edgtho; Rethel; Haltaf; and Herger。9 And also I was among them; unable to speak their language or to understand their ways; for my interpreter had been left behind。 It was only happenstance and the grace of Allah that one of their warriors; Herger; should be a man of parts and knowing some of the Latin tongue。 Thus I could understand from Herger what meant the events that transpired。 Herger was a young warrior; and very merry; he seemed to find jest in everything; and especially in my own gloom at the departure。
 These Northmen are by their own accounting the best sailors in the world; and I saw much love of the oceans and waters in their demeanor。 Of the ship there is this: it was as long as twenty…five paces; and as broad as eight and a little more than that; and of excellent construction; of oak wood。 Its color was black at every place。 It was fitted with a square sail of cloth and trimmed with sealskin ropes。10 The helmsman stood upon a small platform near the stern and worked a rudder attached to the side of the vessel in the Roman fashion。 The ship was fitted with benches for oars; but never were the oars employed; rather we progressed by sailing alone。 At the head of the ship was the wooden carving of a fierce sea monster; such as appears on some Northman vessels; also there was a tail at

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