tw.togreenangeltower2-第159部分
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o have startled him no more than the fall of a tumbling leaf。 Without thinking； Miriamele lifted her bow； straightened the arrow； drew； and fired。 She aimed for the widest pan of the priest's body； but the shaft flew high。 It seemed a miracle when she saw Pryrates stumble backward。 When she saw that the arrow stood from his throat； she was too dumbfounded at her own shot even to feel joy。 The priest fell and rolled bonelessly down the few remaining steps to the antechamber floor。
〃Chukku's Stones！〃 the troll gasped。 〃You have ended him。〃
〃Uncle Josua！〃 she shouted。 〃Where are you？ Camaris！ It's a trick！ They wanted us to bring the swords！〃
I've killed him！ The thought was a quiet bloom of exultation deep inside her。 I've killed the monster！
〃The sword must not be going any farther；〃 cried Binabik。
The old knight took a few lurching steps toward them； but even with Pryrates facedown on the floor； dead or dying； Camaris still seemed in the grip of some terrible power。 Of Josua there was no sign； but for the old man； all in the chamber lay motionless。
Before anyone could speak again a bell rang in the tower high above； monstrously loud； lower and deeper than any bell Miriamele had ever heard。 The very stones of the wide room shuddered； and she felt its tolling strike into her bones。 For an instant the antechamber seemed to melt away； the waterstained tapestries replaced by walls of gleaming white。 Lights glittered everywhere； like fireflies。 As the cry of the bell faded； the illusion flickered and disappeared。
As Miriamele struggled to regain her wits； a figure rose slowly near the foot of the stairs； grasping at the stone arch for support。 It was Josua； his cloak hanging raggedly； his thin shirt torn at the neck。
〃Uncle Josua！〃 Miriamele hastened toward him。
He stared at her； eyes wide and； for a brief moment； unprehending。 〃You live；〃 he said at last。 〃Thank God。〃
〃It's a trick；〃 she said even as she threw her arms around him。 The small return of hope； when the greatest perils still remained； was painful as a knife…wound。 〃The false messenger…that was the rhyme about the swords！ It was a trick。 They wanted the swords here； wanted us to bring them！〃
He gently disengaged himself。 A trickle of blood showed along his high hairline。 〃Who wanted the swords？ I do not understand。〃
〃We were fooled； Prince Josua。〃 Binabik came forward。 〃It has been the planning of Pryrates and the Storm King all along that the swords should be brought here。 I am thinking the blades will be used in some great magic。〃
〃We didn't find Bright…Nail；〃 Miriamele said urgently。 〃Do you have it？〃
The prince shook his head。 'The barrow was empty。〃
〃Then there's hope！ It's not here！〃
Josua opened his mouth to reply； but a loud moan of pain from Camaris stopped him。
〃Ah； God； why do You torment me？〃 the old man cried。 He lifted his free hand to his head as though he had been struck by a stone。 〃It is wrong…that answer is wrong！〃
The prince's face was full of startled concern。 〃We must take him out of this place。 Something in the sword drew him here。 While he still has his wits about him； we must get him outside again。〃
〃But Pryrates was making some barrier around the tower；〃 said Binabik anxiously。 〃Our only hope is that now 。。。〃
〃This is my punishment！〃 cried Camaris。 〃Oh； my God； there is too much blackness； too much sin。 I am sorry 。。。 so sorry'〃
Josua took a step toward him； then leaped away again as Thorn flickered through the air。 The prince backed toward the stairwell； trying to keep himself between Camaris and whatever called him so powerfully。
〃The thing Pryrates has begun is not yet being finished；〃 Binabik shouted。 〃The sword must not be going further！〃
Josua danced back from another awkward blow。 He held Naidel before him； but seemed reluctant even to use it for defense； as though fearing he might hurt the old man。 Miriamele； full of fluttering panic； knew that the prince would be killed if he did not resist with all his power。
〃Uncle Josua！ Fight back！ Stop him！〃
As Josua backed up the wide stairway and Camaris reached the bottom step； Binabik bolted from her side。 He leaped across the motionless bodies lying before the stairs and threw himself at the back of the old knight's legs； knocking Camaris down。 As Miriamele hurried forward to help the troll； another figure came up beside her。 She was amazed to see that it was the Wrannaman； Tiamak。
〃Take one of his arms； Lady Miriamele。〃 The marsh man's eyes were wide with fear and his voice shook； but he was already reaching down。 〃I will take the other。〃
Although Binabik had wrapped both his arms and legs around the old knight's knees； Camaris was already beginning to rise。 Miriamele grasped at the hand that sought to pull Binabik loose； but it slipped from her sweating grip。 She clutched again at his upper arm and this time hung on as Camaris' long muscles bunched beneath her。 A moment later all four of them tumbled to the floor again； landing among the scatter of bodies。 Miriamele found herself staring down into the half…open eyes of Isorn； whose slack face was as white as one of the Norns。 A scream tried to force its way out of her； but she was clinging so fiercely to Camaris' flailing arm that she could not think much about Isgrimnur's son。 There was only the scent of fear； sweat and rolling bodies。
She caught a glimpse of Josua； who stood a short distance away on the stairs。 Camaris again began to climb to his feet； dragging his attackers up with him。
〃Josua；〃 she panted。 〃He'll 。。。 get away from us！ Kill him 。。。 if you have to 。。。 but stop him！〃
The prince only stared。 Miriamele could feel the old knight's tremendous strength。 He would shake them off in a few moments。
〃Kill him； Josua！〃 she screamed。 Camaris was half…standing now； but Tiamak was draped around his sword arm； the knight's chest and stomach were unprotected。
〃Something！〃 Binabik grunted in pain； struggling to hold Camaris' legs together。 〃Be doing something！〃
But Josua only took a hesitant step forward； Naidel hanging slack in his hand。
Miriamele let go with one arm and hurriedly groped for Camaris' sword belt。 When she had it； she slid off his arm and grasped the belt with both hands； then braced her legs against the bottom step and pulled backward as hard as she could。 The old man swayed for a moment； but the tangling weight of Tiamak and Binabik were making his movements clumsy and he could not keep his balance。 He tottered； then fell backward as heavily as an axed tree。
Miriamele's legs were caught beneath the knight。 His collapse knocked the breath from her。 When Camaris stirred after a long moment； she knew she did not have the strength to pull him down again。
〃Ah； God；〃 the knight murmured to the ceiling。 〃Free me from this song！ I do not wish to go…but it is too strong for me。 I have paid and paid。。。。〃
Josua seemed almost as wracked with torment as Camaris。 He took another step downward； then paused before backing up again。 〃Merciful God；〃 said the prince。 〃Merciful God。〃 He straightened； blinking。 〃Keep Camaris there as long as you can。 I think I know who is waiting at the top of the stairs。〃 He turned away。
〃e back； Josua！〃 cried Miriamele。 〃Don't go！〃
〃There is no time left；〃 he called over his shoulder as he mounted upward。 〃I must get to him while I can。 He is waiting for me。〃
She suddenly realized who he meant。 〃No；〃 she whispered。
Camaris was still lying on the floor； but Binabik had not let go of the knight's legs。 Tiamak had been flung to one side； he crouched at the foot of the stairs； rubbing a bruised arm and staring at Camaris with fearful anticipation。
〃Tiamak； follow him；〃 pleaded Miriamele。 〃Follow my uncle。 Hurry！ Don't let them kill each other。〃
The Wrannaman's eyes widened。 He looked at her； then back to Camaris； his face solemn as a frightened child's。 At last he clambered to his feet and hobbled up the stairs after Josua； who had already disappeared into the shadows。
Camaris drew himself into a sitting position。 〃Let me up。 I do not wish to hurt you； whoev
