bl.necroscope2-第12部分

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　first；　perhaps　even　a　little　afraid…were　on　the　point　of　drawing　their　own　weapons　but　he　stopped　them　with　a　word；　sheathed　his　sword。　If　anything；　this　was　a　simple　show　of　defiance；　a　gesture　which　in　one　move　showed　his　strength　and　possibly　his　contempt。　Certainly　it　showed　his　fearlessness。　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　said。　〃You　e　like　a　wolf　in　the　night。〃
　The　newer　was　slender；　almost　fragile…seeming。　He　was　dressed　all　in　black；　with　a　heavy　black　cape　draped　about　his　shoulders　and　falling　to　below　his　knees。　There　could　be　weapons　concealed　under　the　cape；　but　he　kept　his　hands　in　view；　resting　them　on　his　thighs。　He　now　ignored　old　Arvos；　looked　at　the　three　Wallachs。　His　dark　eyes　merely　fell　upon　Thibor's　henchmen　and　moved　on；　but　they　rested　on　Thibor　himself　for　long　moments　before　he　answered：　〃I　am　from　the　house　of　the　Ferenczy。　My　master　sent　me　out　to　see　what　manner　of　men　would　visit　him　this　night。〃　He　smiled　a　thin　smile。　His　voice　had　a　soothing　effect　on　the　Voevod；　strangely；　his　unblinking　eyes　also；　which　now　reflected　moonlight。　Thibor　found　himself　wishing　there　was　more　natural　light。　There　was　that　about　the　features　of　this　one　which　repulsed　him。　He　felt　that　he　gazed　upon　a　misshapen　skull；　and　wondered　that　this　didn't　disturb　him　more。　But　he　was　held　as　by　some　mysterious　attraction；　like　a　moth　to　the　devouring　flame。　Yes；　attracted　and　repulsed　at　one　and　the　same　time。
　As　that　idea　dawned…that　he　was　falling　under　some　strange　malaise　or　enticement…he　drew　himself　more　upright；　forced　himself　to　speak。　〃You　may　tell　your　master　I'm　a　Wallach。　Also　that　I　e　to　speak　of　important　things；　of　summonses　and　responsibilities。〃
　The　man　in　the　cape　drew　closer　and　the　moon　shone　fully　in　his　face。　It　was　a　man's　face　after　all　and　not　a　skull；　but　there　was　that　which　was　wolfish　about　it；　an　almost　freakish　longness　of　jaws　and　ears。　〃My　master　supposed　it　might　be　so；〃　he　said；　a　certain　hard　edge　creeping　into　his　voice。　〃But　no　matter…what　will　be　will　be；　and　you　are　but　a　messenger。　Before　you　pass　this　point；　however；　which　is　a　boundary；　my　master　must　be　sure　that　you　e　of　your　own　free　will。〃
　Thibor　had　regained　his　self…control。　〃No　one　dragged　me　up　here；〃　he　snorted。
　〃But　you　were　sent。。。？〃
　〃A　strong　man　may　only　be　〃sent〃　where　he　wishes　to　go；〃　the　Wallach　answered。
　〃And　your　men？〃
　〃We're　with　Thibor；〃　said　the　hunched　one。　〃Where　he　ventures；　we　venture…willingly！〃
　〃Even　to　see　one　who　sends　out　wolves　to　do　his　bidding；〃　Thibor's　second　panion；　the　apish　one；　added。
　〃Wolves？〃　The　stranger　frowned　and　cocked　his　head　on　one　side　quizzically。　He　glanced　sharply　all　about；　then　smiled　his　amusement。　〃My　master's　dogs；　you　mean？〃
　〃Dogs？〃　Thibor　was　certain　he'd　seen　wolves。　Now；　however；　the　idea　seemed　ridiculous。
　〃Aye；　dogs。　They　came　out　to　walk　with　me；　for　it's　a　fine　night。　But　they're　not　used　to　strangers。　See；　they've　run　off　home。〃
　Thibor　nodded；　and　eventually　he　said：　〃So；　you've　e　to　meet　us　half…way；　then。　To　walk　with　us　and　show　us　the　way。〃
　〃Not　I；〃　the　other　shook　his　head。　〃Arvos　can　do　that　well　enough。　I　came　only　to　greet　you　and　to　count　your　numbers…also　to　ensure　that　your　presence　here　was　not　forced。　Which　is　to　say；　that　you　came　of　your　own　free　mind　and　will。〃
　〃I　say　again；〃　Thibor　growled；　〃who　could　force　me？〃
　〃There　are　pressures　and　there　are　pressures；〃　the　other　shrugged。　〃But　I　see　you　are　your　own　man。〃
　〃You　mentioned　our　numbers。〃
　The　man　in　the　cape　raised　his　eyebrows。　They　peaked　like　gables。　〃For　your　acmodation；〃　he　answered。　〃What　else？〃　And　before　Thibor　could　reply：　〃Now　I　must　go　on　ahead…to　make　preparation。〃
　〃I'd　hate　to　crowd　your　master's　house；〃　said　Thibor　quickly。　〃Bad　enough　to　be　an　unexpected　guest；　but　worse　far　if　others　are　obliged　to　vacate　their　rightful　positions　to　make　room　for　me。〃
　〃Oh；　there's　room　enough；〃　the　other　answered。　〃And
　you　were　not　entirely　unexpected。　As　for　putting　others　out：　my　master's　house　is　a　castle；　but　it　shelters　fewer　human　souls　than　you　have　here。〃　It　was　as　if　he'd　read　Thibor's　mind　and　answered　the　question　he'd　found　there。
　Now　he　inclined　his　head　towards　the　old　Szgany。　〃Be　warned；　however；　that　the　path　along　the　cliff　is　loose　and　the　way　a　little　perilous。　Be　on　your　guard　for　rock　falls！〃　And　once　more　to　Thibor　he　said；　〃Until　later；　then。〃
　They　watched　him　turn　and　make　off　after　his　master's　〃dogs〃　across　the　narrow；　jumbled；　boulder…strewn　plain。
　When　he'd　gone　into　the　shadows；　Thibor　grabbed　Arvos　by　the　neck。　〃No　retainers？〃　he　hissed　into　the　old　gypsy's　face。　〃No　servants？　What；　and　are　you　a　simple　liar　or　a　very　great　liar？　The　Ferenczy　could　harbour　an　army　up　there！〃
　Arvos　tried　to　snatch　himself　back　and　found　the　Wallach's　grip　like　iron　on　his　throat。　〃A。。。　a　manservant　or　two；〃　he　choked。　〃How　was。。。　was　I　to　know？　It's　been　many　a　year。。。〃　Thibor　released　him；　thrust　him　away。
　〃Old　man；〃　he　warned；　〃if　you'd　see　another　day；　just　be　sure　you　guide　us　carefully　along　this　perilous　cliff　path。〃　And　so　they　had　crossed　the　stony　depression　to　the　cliff；　and　started　up　the　narrow　way　carved　in　its　sheer　face。。。
　
　
　Chapter　Three
　The　path　clung　to　the　black　rock　of　the　cliffs　like　a　silver　snake　under　the　moon。　Its　surface　was　wide　enough　to　take　a　small　cart；　no　more；　but　in　places　the　rim　had　fallen　away；　and　then　the　track　narrowed　to　little　more　than　the　width　of　a　man。　And　it　was　in　just　such　narrow　spots　that　the　night　breeze　off　the　forests　picked　up　to　a　bluster；　seeming　to　tug　at　and　threaten　the　men　who　toiled　up　like　insects　towards　that　unknown　aerie　which　was　their　destination。
　〃How　long　is　this　damned　path；　anyway？〃　Thibor　snarled　at　the　Gypsy；　after　maybe　half　a　mile　of　slow；　careful　climbing。
　〃The　same　distance　again；〃　Arvos　at　once　replied；　〃but　steeper　from　now　on。　Once　they　brought　carts　up　here；　I'm　told；　but　that　was　a　hundred　years　or　more　ago　and　the　way　has　not　been　well　kept。〃
　〃Huh！〃　Thibor's　apish　aide　snorted。　〃Carts？　I　wouldn't　bring　goats　up　here！〃
　At　that　the　other　Wallach；　the　hunched　one；　gave　a　start　and　pressed　more　closely　to　the　cliff。　〃I　wouldn't　know　about　goats；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely；　〃but　if　I'm　not　mistaken　we　have　pany　of　sorts：　the　Ferenczy's　〃dogs〃！〃
　Thibor　looked　ahead　to　where　the　path　vanished　round　the　curve　of　the　cliff。　Silhouetted　against　the　starry　void　of　space；　hump…shouldered　wolf…shapes　stood　with　muzzles　lifted；　ears　pointed　and　eyes　ferally　agleam。　But　there　were　only　two　of　them。　Gasping　his　shock；　then　a　harsh　curse；　Thibor　looked　back　into　the　deepest　shadows…and　saw　the　other　two；　or　rather；　he　saw　their　triangular　moon…silvered　eyes。　〃Arvos！〃　he　growled；　gathering　his　wits；　reaching　for　the　old　gypsy。　〃Arvos！〃
　The　sudden　rumbling　might　well　have　been　thunder；　except　the　air　was　crisp　and　dry　and　what　few　clouds　there　were　scudded　rather　than　boiled；　and　thunder　seldom　makes　the　ground　shudder　beneath　a　man's　feet。
　Thibor's　thin；　hunched　friend　was　hindmost；　bringing　up　the　rear　at　a　point　where　the　path　was　the　merest　ledge。　It　required　but　a　step　to　bring　him　to　safety。　〃Rock　fall！〃　he　cried　hoarsely；　making　to　leap　forward。　But　as　he　sprang；　so　the　boulders　rained　down　and　swept　him　away。　It　was　as　quick　as　that：　he　was　there…arms　straining　forward；　face　gaping　white　in　the　light　of　the　moon…and　he　was　gone。　He　did　not　cry　out：　clubbed　by　boulders；　doubtless　he'd　been　unconscious　or　dead　even　as　he　fell。
　When　the　last　pebble　and　plume　of　dust　had　fallen　and　the　rumbling　was　an　echo；　Thibor　stepped　to　the　rim　and　looked　down。　There　was　nothing　to　see；　just　darkness　and　the　glint　of　the　moon　on　distant　rocks。　Up　and　down　the　trail；　of　wolves　there　was　no　sign。
　Thibor　turned　to　where　the　old　gypsy　shivered　and　clung　to　the　face　of　the　cliff。
　〃A　rock　fall！〃　The　old　man　saw　the　look　on　his　face。　〃You　can't　blame　me　for　a　rock　fall。　If　he'd　jumped　instead　of　shouting　his　warning。。。〃
　Thibor　nodded。　〃No；〃　he　agreed；　brows　black　as　the　night　itself；　〃I　can't　blame　you　for　a　rock　fall。　But　from　now　on　blame　doesn't　e　into　it。　From　now　on　if　there's　any　problem　at　all…from　whatever　cause　or　quarter…I'll　ju