fs.thesecondbookofswords-第57部分
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ng up them。
Again the distant voice called： 〃Your last chance to surrender！〃
Ben had mechanically strapped on the first Sword； Doomgiver； that Mark had handed him； and now； while they balanced awkwardly atop the leaning shelves； Mark gave him Shieldbreaker to hold； saying： 〃Fight them if they e。〃
Ben nodded numbly。 〃What are you doing？〃
For answer； Mark turned to press Stonecutter against the wall of stone； feeling the blade e alive in his grip as he did so。 Like Shieldbreaker； this Sword generated a hammering vibration； but Stonecutter's was heavier and slower than that of the Sword of Force。 When Mark pressed Stonecutter against the wall； the point sank right in； as if the stone it touched had turned to so much butter。
The first piece he cut free； an awkward cone the size of a man's head； came sliding out。 It fell heavily between the two men's feet； bounced from the angled； tilted surface of the top shelf； and crashed down to the floor below。
〃You're carving steps？ To where？〃
〃It'll have to be more than steps。〃
The next pieces that Mark cut out were larger。 Quickly their crashing fall became an almost continuous sound。 Mark was cutting them at an upward angle； so that each block when loosened slid free of its own weight。 This meant that the men had to keep their feet out of the way； it also meant that the hole now rapidly deepening in the wall was angled upward。 But that was all right； they wanted to go up anyway。 Rough…cut pyramids and lopsided cones continued to fall free at an encouraging rate。
Soon Mark had to widen the mouth of his excavation； to be able to step up into it and continue to reach the receding workface； while still keeping his feet and Ben's out of the way of falling blocks。
Ben was ing out of shock a little； belatedly getting the idea。 〃We can cut a tunnel； and get out！〃 〃So I hope。 If we have time。 Watch your feet！〃
There were renewed cries for their surrender； ing from somewhere cautiously out of sight。 Ben and Mark were now pletely inside their ascending mine； and the Old World lights somehow registered their departure； and turned themselves off。 One headlamp； tuned to a dim glow； gave enough light to work with。
There was a rush of invisible feet below。
Ben said： 〃Let me cut for a while。 Take your bow and lob an arrow or two at them。〃
Now； for just a moment； it was Ben who had two Swords in hand at once。 Seeing his expression change； Mark said to him： 〃It'll be all right。 Go on。〃
With Ben's hand driving the heavy Sword； the work of tunneling went even faster。 The tunnel grew； wide enough to let them keep clear of the sliced…out pieces as they fell； its surface rough…hewn to give them footing and handgrips where needed。 The blocks； hewn out as easily as so many puffs of smoke； still came falling and crashing down like the heavy stone they were。 The constant barrage of their falling had already broken down the tilted wooden shelves； splintering them and pounding their load of treasure into twisted metal and debris； beneath the fast…growing pile of the rock itself。
Now the enemy below was lighting torches； trying to get a better look at what was going on； the presence of Whitehands evidently did not trigger the Old World ceiling lights。 Mark fired all his remaining arrows but one at torch…lights； and heard cries of pain。 Now he could hear the Whitehands climbing on the talus of rock that grew under the strange new opening in the wall； but more rock continued to fall upon them there； crushing them and beating them back。
Ben had begun to bend the tunnel around a corner。 Already the whole opening was some five or six meters deep； and still growing fast。 Presently the bend began to afford them … the protection that Ben had foreseen they'd need； when the first flung stones began to fly up from below； they could make themselves safe around its angle。 The Whitehands； like the cave's regular garrison of soldiers； were used to fighting in the dark or by poor light when they fought at all； and bows or slings were not in mon use among them。
As the work progressed； each loosened piece of rock slid and fell for a greater distance； building up a greater speed； before it struck anything or anyone。 The blocks swept the tunnel clean of climbing Whitehands faster than they could be made to enter it。 Before long the attempt was abandoned； and the yells of the wounded were heard no more。
The carving and crashing down of rock； the climbing； went on for a long time。 Rock dust began to choke the two men's nostrils。 The beams of their headlamps were white now with the fog of it。
Pausing to try to breathe； Ben asked： 〃What if we're below the level of the sea when we e out？〃
〃I don't think we can be。 Or the cave down there would be already flooded。〃 As he spoke； Mark hoped that he was right。
〃How do we know where we'll e out？〃
〃We don't。 Keep going up； and we'll e out somewhere。 Unless you've got a better idea。〃
Mark took another turn at digging。 Again touching Stonecutter and Shieldbreaker at the same time； he wondered aloud： 〃Why didn't Blue Temple ever use these Swords？〃
〃You don't know Blue Temple。 If it's valuable it's treasure； and if it's treasure you bury it in a hole in the ground so you don't risk losing it。 We'll hear Benambra screaming all the way up to the surface when he sees what's gone。〃
And at last； without warning； the cutting Sword broke through； broke upward into clear space； and what had to be daylight； though it was dim and indirect。 The two men muttered and marveled more than they had for jewels and gold。 Some fine dirt trickled down。
Mark quickly widened the hole； then climbed up through it。 Ben followed。 They were standing in a narrow； cavelike fissure that ran horizontally toward the light； and in the opposite direction from it。 Walking； climbing toward the light； they soon got a glimpse of misty sky。 Now they could smell the ocean； and hear the steady waves。
At a couple of places Mark had to use Stonecutter to carve a secure step； or widen the fissure so they could squeeze through。
They emerged at last upon a narrow ledge； in living sunshine； halfway between the clifftop and the sea。
Chapter 17
Blinking and squinting in the mild sunlight that contended with clouds of blowing mist； they emerged from the crevice into full view of the sea。 Mark realized that it must be early morning。 The air was warm； and summer had evidently not yet departed。 Beyond the first reach of water； slate gray and shaded blue； the opposite headland was half in sunshine； half in shadow。
〃What's that？〃 asked Ben； cocking his head。 There had been some kind of distant clash and cry。
〃It sounded like a fight。 But it didn't e from behind us； in the cave。〃
〃No。 Maybe from on top of the cliff？〃
The sound was not repeated。 〃Anyway we're going down。 Get to the shore； and then try our charm…words to bring in Indosuaros' ship。〃
They began to work their way down； carefully。 Rounding a bulge of the cliff； they came upon a broader ledge； and stopped。 A marvel lay before them； halfwreathed in mist。
The giant figure had fallen sprawled out； in a prone position。 It was crumpled and broken over rock； and as dead as any corpse that Mark had ever seen。 The Phrygian cap had fallen off； the great head was turned to one side； the sightless gaze bored at a surface of rock only centimeters from the face。
〃It's Hermes。〃 Ben whispered it。
There was a long pause before Mark whispered： 〃Yes。
〃But … he's dead。〃
〃Yes。 〃
The two living men looked at each other as wildly as if it were a dead friend that they had found； and more fearfully。
〃Doon boasted that he had slain a god。〃
〃But … if a god is mortal … what does it mean？〃
They looked at each other and could see no answer。
Small wreaths of smoke； or steam； were rising from the figure； as if it might be beginning to dissolve into the sea…mist that had e to lave around it。 In the middle of the naked back there was a raw； fresh wound。 It was just of a size； thought Mark； to have been made by the thrust of a broadblade
