tw.togreenangeltower2-第113部分

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　shadow　of　his　hand　leaped　across　the　wall。　He　leaned　close；　still　moving　slowly　and　stealthily；　as　though　any　moment　the　dragon　might　suddenly　roar　back　to　life…but　the　man；　like　Simon；　could　see　the　ragged　holes　where　the　dragon's　eyes　had　been；　the　withered；　blackened　tongue　that　lolled　from　the　gaping　mouth。
　　　　　　　The　man　reached　down　and　reverently　touched　the　human　skull　that　lay　beside　the　dragon's　breastbone　like　a　pearl　from　a　broken　necklace。　The　rest　of　the　bones　were　scattered　close　by。　They　were　blackened　and　warped。
Looking　at　them；　Simon　suddenly　remembered　Igjarjuk's　scalding　blood；　and　felt　a　pang　of　sadness　for　the　poor　wretch　who　had　slain　this　creature　and　received　his　own　death。　For　slain　it　he　had；　it　seemed；　the　only　bones　which　still　hung　together　were　a　forearm　and　hand；　and　they　were　wrapped　around　the　hilt　of　a　sword　driven　nearly　to　the　hilt　in　the　dragon's　belly。
　　　　　　　The　spearman　stared　at　this　odd　sight　for　a　long　time；　then　at　last　lifted　his　head；　looking　wildly　around　the　cavern　as　though　in　fear　someone　might　be　watching。　His　face　was　somber；　but　his　eyes　gleamed　feverishly。　In　that　instant　Simon　almost　recognized　him；　but　the　grayness　of　his　thoughts　was　not　entirely　dispersed；　when　the　fair…haired　man　turned　back　to　the　skeleton；　the　recognition　faded。
　　　　　　　The　man　dropped　his　spear　and　detached　the　skeletal　hand　from　the　sword's　hilt　with　trembling　care。　One　of　the　fingers　broke　loose。　The　man　held　it　for　a　moment；　his　expression　unreadable；　then　kissed　the　bone　and　tucked　it　into　his　shirt。　When　the　hilt　was　freed；　the　man　put　his　torch　down　on　the　stone；　then　took　the　sword　in　a　firm　grip。　He　placed　his　boot　against　the　dragon's　arching　breastbone　and　pulled。　Muscles；　rippled　on　his　arms　and　cords　stood　out　in　his　neck；　but　the　sword　did　not　e　free。　He　rested　for　a　moment；　then　spat　on　his　palms　and　gripped　the　sword　again。　At　last　it　slid　out；　leaving　a　puckered　hole　between　the　gleaming　red　scales。
　　　　　　　The　man　lifted　the　sword　before　him；　his　eyes　wide。　At　first　Simon　thought　the　blade　a　simple；　almost　crude　piece　of　work；　but　its　lines　were　clean　and　graceful　beneath　the　char　of　dragon's　blood。　The　man　regarded　it　with　an　admiration　so　frank　that　it　was　almost　greedy；　then　lowered　it　abruptly　and　looked　around　again；　as　though　still　afraid　someone　might　be　watching。　He　picked　up　the　torch　and　began　to　move　back　toward　the　chamber's　arched　doorway；　but　stopped　to　stare　at　the　dragon's　leg　and　clawed　front　foot。　After　a　long　moment's　consideration；　he　kneeled　and　began　sawing　away　with　the　blackened　sword　at　the　leg's　narrowest　point；　just　in　front　of　the　wing…spur。
　　　　　　　It　was　hard　labor；　but　the　man　was　young　and　powerfully　built。　As　he　worked；　he　looked　up　anxiously；　staring　into　the　shadows　of　the　vast　room　as　though　a　thousand　scornful　eyes　were　watching　him。　Sweat　was　trickling　down　his　face　and　limbs。　He　seemed　possessed；　as　though　some　wild　spirit　had　taken　hold　of　him；　when　he　had　sawed　almost　halfway　through　the　thing　he　suddenly　stood　and　began　hacking　with　the　sword；　smashing　at　the　arm　with　blow　after　blow　until　bits　of　tissue　spun　away　on　all　sides。　Simon；　still　a　helpless　but　fascinated　observer；　saw　that　the　man's　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　that　his　youthful　face　was　contorted　in　a　grimace　of　pain　and　horror。
　　　　　　　Finally　the　last　of　the　flesh　parted　and　the　claw　rolled　free。　Shivering　like　a　terrified　child；　the　man　shoved　the　sword　through　his　belt；　then　hefted　the　huge　claw　up　onto　his　shoulder　as　though　it　were　a　side　of　beef。　His　face　still　full　of　misery；　he　staggered　out　of　the　chamber　and　disappeared　up　the　tunnel。
〃He　felt　the　Sithi　ghosts；〃　the　angel　whispered　to　him。　Simon　had　been　so　caught　up　in　the　man's　private　torment　that　he　was　startled　by　her　voice。　〃He　felt　them　shame　him　for　his　lie。〃
〃I　don't　understand。〃　Something　was　tickling　his　memory；　but　he　had　been　in　the　gray　for　so　long。。。。　〃What　was　that？　And　who　was　the　other　one…the　skeleton；　the　one　who　killed　the　dragon？〃
〃That　is　part　of　your　story；　Simon。〃　And　suddenly　the　cavern　was　gone　and　they　were　in　nothingness　once　more。　〃There　is　much　still　to　show　you　。。。　and　there　is　very　little　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　I　don't　understand！〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　must　go　deeper　still。〃
The　gray　wavered；　then　dissolved　into　another　of　the　visions　that　had　e　to　him　in　sleep　upon　the　Tan'ja　Stairs。
　　　　　　　A　large　room　opened　before　him；　A　few　candles　made　all　the　light；　and　shadows　hung　in　the　corners。　The　room's　sole　occupant　sat　in　a　high…backed　chair　at　the　room's　center；　surrounded　by　a　scatter　of　books　and　scrolls。　
　　　　　　　Simon　had　glimpsed　this　person　during　his　stairwell　dream。　As　in　that　earlier　vision；　the　man　sat　in　the　chair　with　a　book　spread　open　in　his　lap。　He　was　past　middle　age；　but　in　his　calm；　thoughtful　features　there　still　remained　a　trace　of　the　child　he　had　once　been；　an　innocent　sweetness　only　slightly　diminished　by　a　long　hard　life。　His　hair　had　mostly　gone　to　gray；　although　it　still　held　darker　streaks　and　much　of　his　short　beard　remained　light　brown。　He　wore　a　circlet　on　his　brow。　His　clothes；　though　simple　in　form；　were　well…made　and　of　good　cloth。
　　　　　　　As　with　the　man　in　the　dragon's　lair；　Simon　felt　a　twinge　of　recognition。　Before　the　dream；　he　had　never　seen　this　person…yet；　in　some　way；　he　knew　him。
　　　　　　　The　man　looked　up　from　his　reading　as　two　other　figures　entered　the　room。　One；　an　old　woman　with　her　white　hair　caught　up　in　a　ragged　scarf；　came　forward　and　kneeled　at　the　man's　feet。　He　put　his　book　aside；　then　stood　and　gave　the　woman　his　hand　to　help　her　up。　After　saying　a'　few　words　that　Simon　could　not　hear…as　with　the　dragon…dream；　all　these　shapes　seemed　voiceless　and　remote…the　man　walked　across　the　chamber　and　squatted　beside　the　old　woman's　panion；　a　little　girl　of　seven　or　eight　years。　She　had　been　crying；　her　eyes　were　puffy　and　her　lip　trembled　with　anger　or　fright。　She　avoided　the　man's　gaze；　pulling　fitfully　at　her　reddish　hair。　She；　too；　wore　simple　clothing；　an　unadorned　dark　dress；　but　despite　her　disarray　she　looked　well　cared　for。　Her　feet　were　bare。
　　　　　　　At　last　the　man　reached　out　his　arms　for　her。　She　hesitated；　then　flung　herself　at　him　and　buried　her　face　against　his　chest；　crying。　Tears　came　to　the　man　as　well；　and　he　held　her　for　a　long　time；　stroking　her　back。　At　last；　with　clear　reluctance；　he　let　her　go　and　stood。　The　girl　ran　from　the　room。　The　man　watched　her　go；　then　turned　to　the　old　woman。　Without　saying　another　word；　he　slipped　a　thin　golden　ring　from　his　finger　and　gave　it　to　her；　she　nodded　and　wrapped　her　fingers　around　it　as　he　leaned　down　and　kissed　her　forehead。　She　bowed　to　him；　then；　as　if　her　own　posure　was　fast　slipping；　she　turned　and　hurried　away。
　　　　　　　After　a　long　moment　the　man　walked　to　a　book…covered　chest　that　lay　beside　the　wall；　opened　it；　and　withdrew　a　sheathed　sword。　Simon　recognized　it　immediately：　he　had　seen　that　sparsely　decorated　hilt　only　moments　before；　standing　in　a　dragon's　breast。　The　man　held　the　sword　carefully；　but　did　not　look　at　it　for　more　than　a　moment；　instead；　he　cocked　his　head　as　though　he　heard　something。　He　made　the　Tree　sign　with　slow　deliberatrbn；　lips　moving　in　what　might　have　been　prayer；　then　returned　to　his　seat。　He　set　the　sword　across　his　lap；　then　picked　up　his　book　and　opened　it；　spreading　it　atop　the　sword。　But　for　the　set　of　his　jaw　and　the　faintest　tremor　in　his　fingers　as　he　turned　the　pages；　he　might　have　been　thinking　only　of　a　good　night's　sleep…but　Simon　knew　that　he　was　waiting　for　something　far　different。　The　scene　wavered　and　dissipated　like　smoke。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　see？　Do　you　understand　now？〃　the　angel　asked；　impatient　as　a　child。
　　　　　　　Simon　felt　as　though　he　groped　at　a　large　sack。　Something　was　inside　it；　and　he　could　feel　strange　corners　and　significant　bumps；　but　just　when　he　thought　he　knew　what　it　contained；　his　imagination　failed。　He　had　been　in　the　gray　fog　a　long　time。　Thinking　was　difficult…and　it　was　hard　to　care。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　Why　can't　you　just　tell　me；　angel？〃　〃It　is　not　the　way。　These　truths　are　too　strong；　the　myths　and　lies　around　them　too　great。　They　are　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　walls　I　cannot　explain；　Simon。　You　must　see　the