gc.shadowslinger-第10部分

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　　〃All　right。　But　this　time　you're　a　helper；　not　a　partner。〃　Shed　swallowed　and　nodded。　〃Put　the　old　woman　to　bed；　then　e　back　downstairs。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Shed　whispered。
　　〃Good。　Now　go　away。　You　irritate　me。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Shed　retreated。　He　couldn't　look　anyone　in　the　eye　the　rest　of　that　day。
　　A　bitter　wind　howled　down　the　Port　valley；　freckled　with　flakes　of　snow。　Shed　huddled　miserably；　the　wagon　seat　a　bar　of　ice　beneath　him。　The　weather　was　worsening。　〃Why　tonight？〃　he　grumbled。
　　〃Best　time。〃　Raven's　teeth　chattered。　〃We're　not　likely　to　be　seen。〃　He　turned　into　Chandler's　Lane；　off　which　innumerable　narrow　alleyways　ran。　〃Good　hunting　territory　here。　In　this　weather　they　crawl　back　in　the　alleys　and　die　like　flies。〃
　　Shed　shivered。　He　was　too　old　for　this。　But　that　was　why　he　was　here。　So　he　wouldn't　have　to　face　the　weather　every　night。
　　Raven　stopped　the　wagon。　〃Check　that　passageway。〃
　　Shed's　feet　started　aching　the　instant　he　put　weight　on　them。　Good。　At　least　he　felt　something。　They　weren't　frozen。
　　There　was　little　light　in　the　alley。　He　searched　more　by　feel　than　sight。　He　found　one　lump　under　an　overhang；　but　it　stirred　and　muttered。　He　ran。
　　He　reached　the　wagon　as　Raven　dumped　something　into　the　bed。　Shed　averted　his　eyes。　The　boy　couldn't　have　been　more　than　twelve。　Raven　concealed　the　body　with　straw。　〃That's　one。　Night　like　this；　we　ought　to　find　a　load。〃
　　Shed　choked　his　protests；　resumed　his　seat。　He　thought　about　his　mother。　She　wouldn't　last　one　night　in　this。
　　Next　alley　he　found　his　first　corpse。　The　old　man　had　fallen　and　frozen　because　he　couldn't　get　up　again。　Aching　in　his　soul；　Shed　dragged　the　body　to　the　wagon。
　　〃Going　to　be　a　good　night；〃　Raven　observed。　〃No　petition。　The　Custodians　won't　e　out　in　this。〃　Softly：　〃I　hope　we　can　make　the　hill。〃　　Later；　after　they　had　moved　to　the　waterfront　and　each　had　found　another　corpse；　Shed　asked；　〃Why're　you　doing　this？〃
　　〃I　need　money；　too。　Got　a　long　way　to　travel。　This　way　I　get　a　lot；　fast；　without　much　risk。〃
　　Shed　thought　the　risks　far　greater　than　Raven　would　admit。　They　could　be　torn　apart。　〃You're　not　from　Juniper；　are　you？〃
　　〃From　the　south。　A　shipwrecked　sailor。〃
　　Shed　did　not　believe　it。　Raven's　accent　was　not　at　all　right　for　that；　mild　though　it　was。　He　hadn't　the　nerve　to　call　the　man　a　liar；　though；　and　press　for　the　truth。
　　The　conversation　continued　by　fits　and　starts。　Shed　didn't　uncover　anything　more　of　Raven's　background　or　motives。
　　〃Go　that　way；〃　Raven　told　him。　〃I'll　check　over　here。　Last　stop；　Shed。　I'm　done　in。〃
　　Shed　nodded。　He　wanted　to　get　the　night　over。　To　his　disgust；　he　had　begun　seeing　the　street　people　as　objects；　and　he　hated　them　for　dying　in　such　damned　inconvenient　places。
　　He　heard　a　soft　call；　turned　back　quickly。　Raven　had　one。　That　was　enough。　He　ran　to　the　wagon。
　　Raven　was　on　the　seat；　waiting。　Shed　scrambled　up；　huddled；　tucked　his　face　away　from　the　wind。　Raven　kicked　the　mules　into　motion。
　　The　wagon　was　halfway　across　the　bridge　over　the　Port　when　Shed　heard　a　moan。　〃What？〃　One　of　the　bodies　was　moving！　〃Oh。　Oh；　shit；　Raven。　。　。　。〃
　　〃He's　going　to　die　anyway。〃
　　Shed　huddled　back　down；　stared　at　the　buildings　on　the　north　bank。　He　wanted　to　argue；　wanted　to　fight；　wanted　to　do　anything　to　deny　his　part　in　this　atrocity。
　　He　looked　up　an　hour　later　and　recognized　nothing。　A　few　large　houses　flanked　the　road；　widely　spaced；　their　windows　dark。　〃Where　are　we？〃
　　〃Almost　there。　Half　an　hour；　unless　the　road　is　too　icy。〃
　　Shed　imagined　the　wagon　sliding　into　a　ditch。　What　then？　Abandon　everything　and　hope　the　rig　couldn't　be　traced？　Fear　replaced　loathing。
　　Then　he　realized　where　they　were。　There　wasn't　anything　up　here　but　that　accursed　black　castle。　〃Raven。　。。。〃
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　　〃You're　head　for　the　black　castle。〃
　　〃Where'd　you　think　we　were　going？〃
　　〃People　live　there？〃
　　〃Yes。　What's　your　problem？〃
　　Raven　was　a　foreigner。　He　couldn't　understand　how　the　black　castle　affected　Juniper。　People　who　got　too　close　disappeared。　Juniper　preferred　to　pretend　that　the　place　did　not　exist。
　　Shed　stammered　out　his　fears。　Raven　shrugged。　〃Shows　your　ignorance。〃
　　Shed　saw　the　castle's　dark　shape　through　the　snow。　The　fall　was　lighter　on　the　ridge；　but　the　wind　was　more　fierce。　Resigned；　he　muttered；　〃Let's　get　it　over　with。〃
　　The　shape　resolved　into　battlements；　spires；　towers。　Not　a　light　shown　anywhere。　Raven　halted　before　a　tall　gate；　went　forward　on　foot。　He　banged　a　heavy　knocker。　Shed　huddled；　hoping　there　would　be　no　response。
　　The　gate　opened　immediately。　Raven　scrambled　onto　the　wagon's　seat。　〃Get　up；　mules。〃
　　〃You're　not　going　inside？〃
　　〃Why　not？〃
　　〃Hey。　No　way。　No。〃
　　〃Shut　up；　　Shed。　　You　want　your　money；　you　help　unload。〃
　　Shed　stifled　a　whimper。　He　hadn't　bargained　for　this。
　　Raven　drove　through　the　gate；　turned　right；　halted　be…neath　a　broad　arch。　A　single　lantern　battled　the　darkness　clotting　the　passageway。　Raven　swung　down。　Shed　followed；　his　nerves　shrieking。　They　dragged　the　bodies　out　of　the　wagon　and　swung　them　onto　stone　slabs　nearby。　Then　Raven　said；　〃Get　back　on　the　wagon。　Keep　your　mouth　shut。〃　The　one　body　stirred。　Shed　grunted。　Raven　pinched　his　leg　savagely。　〃Shut　up。〃
　　A　shadowy　shape　appeared。　It　was　tall；　thin；　clad　in　loose　black　pantaloons　and　a　hooded　shirt。　It　examined　each　body　briefly；　seemed　pleased。　It　faced　Raven。　Shed　glimpsed　a　face　all　of　sharp　angles　and　shadows；　lustrous；　olive；　cold；　with　a　pair　of　softly　luminous　eyes。　〃Thirty。　Thirty。　Forty。　Thirty。　Seventy；〃　it　said。　Raven　countered；　〃Thirty。　Thirty。　Fifty。　Thirty。　One　hundred。〃
　　〃Forty。　Eighty。〃
　　〃Forty…five。　Ninety。〃
　　〃Forty。　Ninety。〃
　　〃Done。〃
　　They　were　dickering！　Raven　was　not　interested　in　quibbling　over　the　old　people。　The　tall　being　would　not　advance　his　offer　for　the　youth。　But　the　dying　man　was　negotiable。
　　Shed　watched　the　tall　being　count　out　coins　at　the　feet　of　the　corpses。　That　was　a　damned　fortune！　Two　hundred　twenty　pieces　of　silver！　With　that　he　could　tear　the　Lily　down　and　build　a　new　place。　He　could　get　out　of　the　Buskin　altogether。
　　Raven　scooped　the　coins　into　his　coat　pocket。　He　gave　Shed　five。　〃That's　all？〃
　　〃Isn't　that　a　good　night's　work？〃
　　It　was　a　good　month's　work；　and　then　some。　But　to　get　only　five　of。　。。。
　　〃Last　time　we　were　partners；〃　Raven　said；　swinging　onto　the　driver's　seat。　〃Maybe　we　will　be　again。　But　tonight　you're　a　hired　hand。　Understand？〃　There　was　a　hard　edge　to　his　voice。　Shed　nodded；　beset　by　new　fears。
　　Raven　backed　the　wagon。　Shed　felt　a　sudden　chill。　That　archway　was　hot　as　hell。　He　shuddered；　feeling　the　hunger　of　the　thing　watching　them。
　　Dark；　glassy；　jointless　stone　slid　past。　〃My　god！〃　He　could　see　into　the　wall。　He　saw　bones；　fragments　of　bones；　bodies；　pieces　of　bodies；　all　suspended　as　if　floating　in　the　night。　As　Raven　turned　toward　the　gate；　he　saw　a　staring　face。　〃What　kind　of　place　is　this？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　Shed。　I　don't　want　to　know。　All　I　care　is；　they　pay　good　money。　I　need　it。　I　have　a　long　way　to　go。〃
　　
　　　Chapter　Twelve：　THE　BARROWLAND
　　
　　The　Taken　called　the　Limper　met　the　pany　at　Frost。　We'd　spent　a　hundred　and　forty…six　days　on　the　march。　They　were　long　days　and　hard；　grinding；　men　and　animals　going　on　more　by　habit　than　desire。　An　outfit　in　good　shape；　like　ours；　is　capable　of　covering　fifty　or　even　a　hundred　miles　in　a　day；　pushing　hell　out　of　it；　but　not　day　after　week　after　month；　upon　incredibly　miserable　roads。　A　smart　mander　does　not　push　on　a　long　march。　The　days　add　up；　each　leaving　its　residue　of　fatigue；　till　men　begin　collapsing　if　the　pace　is　too　desperate。
　　Considering　the　territories　we　crossed；　we　made　damned　good　time。　Between　Tome　and　Frost　lie　mountains　where　we　were　lucky　to　make　five　miles　a　day；　deserts　we　had　to　wander　in　search　of　water；　rivers　that　took　days　to　cross　using　makeshift　rafts。　We　were　fortunate　to　reach　Frost　having　lost　only　two　men。
　　The　Captain　shone　with　a　glow　of　acplishment…till　the　military　governor　summoned　him。
　　He　assembled　the　officers　and　senior　nons