fs.thesecondbookofswords-第58部分

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w；　fresh　wound。　It　was　just　of　a　size；　thought　Mark；　to　have　been　made　by　the　thrust　of　a　broadbladed　Sword。
　　　He　said　aloud：　〃It　was　Farslayer　that　Doon　threw；　with　a　spell　from　the　old　Song　of　Swords。　It　must　have　done　this。　But　where　is　it　now？〃
　　　〃And　where　are　the　other　two　Swords；　Dragonslicer　and　Wayfinder；　that　Hermes　took　from　us？〃
　　　They　counted　the　empty　sheaths　that　were　fringed　around　the　fallen　giant's　waist。　Whatever　the　number　had　been　before；　now　there　were　only　ten；　and　all　were　empty。
　　　Mark　made　a　violent　motion　with　his　hand；　rejecting　the　whole　situation。　〃Let's　leave　this。　The　death　of　gods　is　not。。。　let's　move　on　down；　there's　nothing　for　us　here。〃
　　　〃Except　it　seems　that　Hermes　will　not　be　ing　after　us；　to　take　away　the　Swords　that　we　have　now。〃
　　　They　went　on　down　the　cliff。　It　was；　as　elsewhere　on　this　face；　a　difficult　climb　but　not　impossible。
　　　They　had　just　gotten　down　to　where　the　slope　began　to　gentle；　when　a　Blue　Temple　infantry　patrol　sprang　upon　them　in　ambush；　leaping　out　of　shadows　and　caves　and　fog。　Ben　had　just　time　to　cry　a　moment's　warning；　he　had　felt　Shieldbreaker　e　suddenly　to　life　in　his　fist。　It　thudded　loudly；　and　when　the　warbeast　leaped　at　him；　chopped　its　life　out　with　the　first　stroke。
　　　The　rush　of　another　of　the　trained　animals　had　knocked　Mark　down；　Stonecutter　in　his　hands　only　wounded　the　beast；　and　he　almost　despaired　of　his　life　before　Shieldbreaker's　blur　passed　over　him　to　kill　it。　He　lay　there；　still　half…stunned；　knowing　that　men　in　blue　and　gold　were　crowding　in。　Shieldbreaker　raised　its　voice；　in　a　sound　like　the　hammering　of　Vulcans　forge；　and　their　shattered　ranks　went　reeling　back。
　　　Then　more　help　was　arriving；　in　the　form　of　fighting　men　in　black　and　orange；　the　enemy　fled　scattering；　crying　out　as　if　they　expected　help　of　their　own　to　be　at　hand。　Mark　saw　the　helmeted　head　of　one　of　his　rescuers　bending　over　him；　and　then　the　helmet　was　lifted　to　reveal　a　broad；　strong；　familiar　face。　The　mustache　and　beard　were　of　sandy　gray。　The　strong；　slow　voice　of　Sir　Andrew　himself　was　asking　Mark　how　he　did。
　　　Helped　to　sit　up；　Mark　recovered　enough　to　deliver　a　quick　report。　He　outlined　their　raid　on　the　Blue　Temple　treasury；　and　described　how　they　had　just　gotten　out　of　it。　He　concluded：　〃We've　got　with　us　all　the　Swords　that　were　there　…　except　one。　And　there'll　be　no　use　in　your　trying　to　get　back　into　the　hoard　now　…　unless　you've　brought　your　whole　army　with　you。〃　He　paused　there；　not　understanding　how　Sir　Andrew　had　e　to　be　here　at　all。
　　　〃Hmf；　hah；　yes。　Hyrcanus　has　done　that；　it　seems。〃　Sir　Andrew　threw　back　his　head；　gazing　up　the　cliff。　〃Perhaps　the　Chairman　suspected　that　his　great　secret　was　out。　Well；　let　us　not　fall　victim　to　greed。　You　have　there　all　that　we　really　hoped　to　get。〃　The　knight　turned　to　a　waiting　officer。　〃Sound　the　horn；　call　in　our　ships。〃
　　　Mark；　helped　to　his　feet；　was　able　to　move　without　help；　feeling　only　minor　injuries。　Another　familiar　face；　that　of　Dame　Yoldi；　loomed　into　sight。　Her　sturdy　frame　was　dressed　in　man's　clothing；　prudently　ready　for　cliff…climbing　and　bat。　Mark　began　to　blurt　out　to　her　the　tale　of　slain　Hermes。　At　the　first　words　the　enchantress　hushed　him；　then　drew　him　and　Ben　close　to　her　and　Sir　Andrew；　so　that　she　and　the　knight　could　hear　the　news　privately　even　as　they　made　their　way　down　the　remainder　of　the　slope。
　　　As　Mark　related　what　had　happened　to　Hermes；　he　could　see　the　three　longships；　orange　and　black　at　their　mastheads；　appearing　out　of　the　mist。　The　oarsmen　were　pulling　hard　in　light　surf；　and　the　ships'　prows　had　grated　in　sand　before　the　shore　party　reached　the　water。
　　　Mark　was　saying：　〃I　knew　that　Farslayer　and　the　other　Swords　were　powerful；　of　course。　But　I　never　expected。。。　〃　He　let　it　die　away。
　　　〃Nor　would　any　of　us；〃　said　Dame　Yoldi。　She　looked　shaken；　and　repeated：　〃Nor　would　any　of　us。〃
　　　Sir　Andrew　asked　the　two　men：　〃And　you　saw　him　before？　He　took　Dragonslicer；　then　it　was　gone　again？〃
　　　Ben　and　Mark　both　nodded。
　　　There　was　no　time　for　much　discussion　now。　They　waded　into　light　waves　with　the　rest　of　the　patrol　that　had　gone　ashore；　and　reached　for　gunwales。
　　　Barbara　came　jumping　from　a　ship　into　the　water　to　greet　them；　wrapping　her　arms　round　Ben。　Quickly　she　explained　how；　instead　of　returning　to　the　carnival；　she　had　taken　Mark's　goldpiece　on　to　Sir　Andrew；　together　with　the　story　of　the　treasure…hoard。　Ben　when　saying　goodbye　to　her　had　told　her　of　its　location。
　　　There　was　sunlight　bright　upon　the　opposite　headland　as　the　longships　pulled　out　to　sea。　Ben　was　gazing　in　that　direction。
　　　〃What　do　you　see？〃　Barbara　asked　him。
　　　〃I。。。　nothing。〃
　　　Mark　looked。　Someone　standing　there；　perhaps？　But　the　impression　faded。　It　was　much　too　far　off　to　be　sure。
　　　Ben　was　pouring　jewels　from　his　pocket；　joylessly；　into　Barbara's　outstretched　hands；　while　her　eyes　questioned　him。
Mark　stood　watching。　For　the　moment　he　was　quite　alone。
THE　END