sheritepper.necromancer nine-第9部分
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〃I go east from here； to Kiquo； and to the high bridge only recently restored though it was eighty years ago in the great cataclysm that it fell。 I go to seek mysteries； my boy。 You go to seek mysteries of your own。 Well； then； good journey and good chance to you。〃 And he went away； not looking back； leaving me to press down the further slope toward the city I could see beneath me iii the westering sun of late afternoon。
Smoke lay above it like a pall through which the towers reached； like the snouts of beasts seeking upward for air。 My eyes watered； just looking at it。 If there were not wind before evening； it would be thick as soup in that bowl which held the city of Betand； the City which Fears the Unborn。
3。 Perlplus
It took several hours to reach the city； and a wind had e softly from the north to greet me as I rode by the outskirts of the place； inns and caravansaries； stables and eating houses； taverns and stews。 I decided to have a meal before entering the city。 There was a place there called the Devil's Uncle； and it seemed as good as any other from the point of cleanliness and better than most from its smell。 The stable boy took my beast without making any signs at all； which I took either as a sign of sophistication or of total ignorance。 Either many Necromancers came here or none did。 It did not matter much which。
Once within； I saw a few curious faces； one or two down… turned mouths； but no ward…of…evil signs。 I ordered wine and roast fowl and a dish of those same stewed ferns Riddle had fed me on the outward journey； evidently a local delicacy。 They were not laggard with the food； nor was I in eating it。 No one there paid me much attention until I was almost finished and had only half a glass left in the jug。 Then a wide…mouthed Trader sat opposite me and showed me his palms。 I raised mine courteously； and let him talk。
〃Laggy Nap； fellow…traveler；〃 he greeted me。 〃Trader by Talent； philosopher by inclination。 What brings one so young and horridsome to the city of Betand？〃
I did not know whether to be offended； which I was； or pretend to be amused。 I chose the latter as having the lesser consequence。
〃Merely one who would travel through Betand on his way to somewhere else；〃 I said。 At which he laughed； repeating my remark to some others who also laughed。 I supposed there was something entertaining in the intent to travel through Betand； so ordered wine for those around and asked； all innocence； if the city were accounted so amusing by all who went there。
〃Oh； sir。〃 said the Trader； 〃it is my amusement to ask new wanderers whether they intend to go through Betand； and then to offer them a meal at my expense at the Travelers' Joy； which is on the other side of the city。 You can tell me then whether you were amused； and I will be entertained by your account。〃 He fixed a glittering eye upon me； seeming to look further than I would have wished。 He was a man with down…slanting brows and deep furrows between his eyes； wide…mouthed； as I have said； with a long； angry…looking nose against which his eyes snuggled a bit too closely。 His eyes belied his mouth； the one being all motion and laughter while the others were cold and full of accounts。
〃You do not wish to tell me why I will be。。。 amused？〃 I asked him。 He merely chuckled； elbowed some of those around him； and together they engaged in laughter of a mocking sort。 Almost my hand sought Dorn in the pouch at my belt； but I decided against it。 No point in stirring up trouble。 I took my leave of them and went on toward the walls； a gaping gate full of torchlight before me。
I began to identify myself； to give some sort of name such as 〃Urburd of Dornes〃 or 〃Dornish of Calber。〃 Chance and I had made up a whole list of them to be used as needed。 The guardsman gave me no time。 He laid a hand upon my arm and said intently； 〃Sir； you are nobody here。 If you would not be charged with a grave offense； remember that。 You are nobody。〃
He passed me on to another guardsman who gazed me in the eye with equal intensity； seeming unafraid of the death's…head。 〃Who are you now； sir？〃
〃I am 。。。 nobody？〃 I said； wondering what fools' game they played and whether I was the fool for playing it with them。
〃Surely； surely；〃 said the second guardsman。 〃Go through this gate； sir。 Leave your horse in the stables there。 The matron will meet you。〃
He had no sooner spoken； directing me to a little postern gate in the rough wall； when there came a howling out of the night as though a chase pack of fustigars was lost in a lonely place and crying for their kind and kindred。 He blanched； made the sign of evil…ward； thrust his hands over his ears。 I； too； sought to block my ears； for the cry went up in a keening scream； up and up into an excruciating silence。 〃Quickly。〃 He pushed me。 〃Go！〃
I went。 The woman who met me on the other side was plump and motherly； hands thrust beneath her apron； chivvying me along as though I had been her pet goose。
〃Well sir；〃 she said。 〃What kind of woman would you prefer？ There are several in the waiting house tonight。 Three I would call a bit matronly for you； for you walk like a lad no matter the horrid face on you。 Necromancer or no； boy you are； or I'll eat my muffin pan。 Well； not them； then。 I've one virgin girl scared out of her wits。 You'd do me a favor； you would； to take that one。 Nice enough she is； but as unschooled as any nit and vocal along of it
I had no idea what she was speaking of。 〃I would be glad to do you any service； madam。〃
〃Good enough； then；〃 she said； stopping at the first door and opening it only long enough to call within。 〃Sylbie； e out here； lass。 Nobody is here。〃
A small time passed before the girl came out； a pale girl with soft brown hair and eyes swollen with crying。 She gave me one glance and shrieked as though ghost bit。
〃Oh； stuff and foolishness；〃 said the Matron。 〃Sylbie； it is only a guise。 e now； you've seen Gamesmen all your life。 Must you scritch at the lad； and him only a boy （as I can tell by his walk） to make him sorry he said he'd favor you？ You could go back and wait for one of those drovers to quit drinking in the Devil's Uncle would you rather？〃
〃N…n…no； Madam Wilderly；〃 she stuttered。 〃It's only that it was very unexpected。
At that the howling began again； and we all leaned against the stone as it rushed on us out of the empty streets； shrieking and moaning； then dwindling away down the throbbing alleys once more。 It was a horrid sound。
〃The unborn；〃 said the Matron in explanation。 〃We are haunted； sir； as you must have heard。〃
〃I had heard；〃 I said weakly。 I had； too； but the reality made the stories dim。 I would have gone mad if I had had to listen to that howling for more than a short time。 These thoughts were halted by the matron's instructions。
〃Just in there； sir； Sylbie。 You'll find a nice room to the left at the top of the stairs。 Wine all warm by the fire and a bit of supper to help you get acquainted。 The Midwife will be around in the morning； just to check has the law been plied with。〃 And with that she was off down the street in the direction we had e。
The girl led me up the stairs； I still wondering what went on。 The girl seemed to know； and I assumed she would tell me。 Besides； once within a room I could take off the death's…head mask and wash my face； thus showing her a face which would not frighten her。 I did so； and when I took the towel away； she handed me a cup of wine。 She was no longer crying； but she looked frightened still。
〃Well；〃 I said。 'Suppose you tell me what all this Game is； Sylbie。 I will not harm you； so you need not make dove's eyes at me。
〃Don't you know？〃 she asked。 〃About Betand？ I thought everyone for a thousand leagues around must know about Betand。〃
〃I did not。 Even the man I was traveling with； who had heard of Betand； was not sure of the cause of its fame。 You are referred to in our part of the world as 'The City Which Fears The Unborn'。 Not very explanatory。〃
〃Oh； but very descriptive； sir。 It is the unborn you heard howling in the streets。 It has driven some mad and others into despair。 My own mother tried to drown herself from the constant horror of it。 We cannot sleep by nig
