sk.everythingseventual-第42部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　who　made　it　was　unarmed；　next　to　naked；　and　hung　in　the　air　because　his　back　couldn't　yet　bear　the　weight　of　his　body。
　　'Where's　Sister　Jenna？'　he　asked。
　　'Oooo；'　Sister　Coquina　said；　raising　her　eyebrows。　'We　like　her；　do　we？　She　makes　our　heart　go　。　。　。'　She　put　her　hand　against　the　rose　on　her　breast　and　fluttered　it　rapidly。
　　'Not　at　all；　not　at　all；'　Roland　said；　'but　she　was　kind。　I　doubt　she　would　have　teased　me　with　a　spoon；　as　some　would。'
　　Sister　Coquina's　smile　faded。　She　looked　both　angry　and　worried。　'Say　nothing　of　that　to　Mary；　if　she　es　by　later。　Ye　might　get　me　in　trouble。'
　　'Should　I　care？'
　　'I　might　get　back　at　one　who　caused　me　trouble　by　causing　little　Jenna　trouble；'　Sister　Coquina　said。　'She's　in　Big　Sister's　black　books；　just　now；　anyway。　Sister　Mary　doesn't　care　for　the　way　Jenna　spoke　to　her　about　ye　。　。　。　nor　does　she　like　it　that　Jenna　came　back　to　us　wearing　the　Dark　Bells。'
　　This　was　scarcely　out　of　her　mouth　before　Sister　Coquina　put　her　hand　over　that　frequently　imprudent　organ；　as　if　realizing　she　had　said　too　much。
　　Roland；　intrigued　by　what　she'd　said　but　not　liking　to　show　it　just　now；　only　replied；　'I'll　keep　my　mouth　shut　about　you；　if　you　keep　your　mouth　shut　to　Sister　Mary　about　Jenna。'
　　Coquina　looked　relieved。　'Aye；　that's　a　bargain。'　She　leaned　forward　confidingly。　'She's　in　Thoughtful　House。　That's　the　little　cave　in　the　hillside　where　we　have　to　go　and　meditate　when　Big　Sister　decides　we've　been　bad。　She'll　have　to　stay　and　consider　her　impudence　until　Mary　lets　her　out。'　She　paused；　then　said　abruptly；　'Who's　this　beside　ye？　Do　ye　know？'
　　Roland　turned　his　head　and　saw　that　the　young　man　was　awake；　and　had　been　listening。　His　eyes　were　as　dark　as　Jenna's。
　　'Know　him？'　Roland　asked；　with　what　he　hoped　was　the　right　touch　of　scorn。　'Should　I　not　know　my　own　brother？'
　　'Is　he；　now；　and　him　so　young　and　you　so　old？'　Another　of　the　sisters　materialized　out　of　the　darkness：　Sister　Tamra；　who　had　called　herself　one…and…twenty。　In　the　moment　before　she　reached　Roland's　bed；　her　face　was　that　of　a　hag　who　will　never　see　eighty　again　。　。　。　or　ninety。　Then　it　shimmered　and　was　once　more　the　plump；　healthy　countenance　of　a　thirty…year…old　matron。　Except　for　the　eyes。　They　remained　yellowish　in　the　corneas；　gummy　in　the　corners；　and　watchful。
　　'He's　the　youngest；　I　the　eldest；'　Roland　said。　'Betwixt　us　are　seven　others；　and　twenty　years　of　our　parents'　lives。'
　　'How　sweet！　And　if　he's　yer　brother；　then　ye'll　know　his　name；　won't　ye？　Know　it　very　well。'
　　Before　the　gunslinger　could　flounder；　the　young　man　said；　'They　think　you've　forgotten　such　a　simple　hook　as　John　Norman。　What　culleens　they　be；　eh；　Jimmy？'
　　Coquina　and　Tamra　looked　at　the　pale　boy　in　the　bed　next　to　Roland's；　clearly　angry　。　。　。　and　clearly　trumped。　For　the　time　being；　at　least。
　　'You've　fed　him　your　muck；'　the　boy　（whose　medallion　undoubtedly　proclaimed　him　John；　Loved　of　family。　Loved　of　GOD）　said。　'Why　don't　you　go；　and　let　us　have　a　natter？'
　　'Well！'　Sister　Coquina　huffed。　'I　like　the　gratitude　around　here；　so　I　do！'
　　'I'm　grateful　for　what's　given　me；'　Norman　responded；　looking　at　her　steadily；　'but　not　for　what　folk　would　take　away。'
　　Tamra　snorted　through　her　nose；　turned　violently　enough　for　her　swirling　dress　to　push　a　draught　of　air　into　Roland's　face；　and　then　took　her　leave。　Coquina　stayed　a　moment。
　　'Be　discreet；　and　mayhap　someone　ye　like　better　than　ye　like　me　will　get　out　of　hack　in　the　morning；　instead　of　a　week　from　tonight。'
　　Without　waiting　for　a　reply；　she　turned　and　followed　Sister　Tamra。
　　Roland　and　John　Norman　waited　until　they　were　both　gone；　and　then　Norman　turned　to　Roland　and　spoke　in　a　low　voice。　'My　brother。　Dead？'
　　Roland　nodded。　'The　medallion　I　took　in　case　I　should　meet　with　any　of　his　people。　It　rightly　belongs　to　you。　I'm　sorry　for　your　loss。'
　　'Thankee…sai。'　John　Norman's　lower　lip　trembled；　then　firmed。　'I　knew　the　green　men　did　for　him；　although　these　old　biddies　wouldn't　tell　me　for　sure。　They　did　for　plenty；　and　scotched　the　rest。'
　　'Perhaps　the　Sisters　didn't　know　for　sure。'
　　'They　knew。　Don't　you　doubt　it。　They　don't　say　much；　but　they　know　plenty。　The　only　one　any　different　is　Jenna。　That's　who　the　old　battle…axe　meant　when　she　said　'your　friend。'　Aye？'　Roland　nodded。　'And　she　said　something　about　the　Dark　Bells。　I'd　know　more　of　that；　if　would　were　could。'
　　'She's　something　special；　Jenna　is。　More　like　a　princess…someone　whose　place　is　made　by　bloodline　and　can't　be　refused…than　like　the　other　Sisters。　I　lie　here　and　look　like　I'm　asleep…it's　safer；　I　think…but　I've　heard　em　talking。　Jenna's　just　e　back　among　em　recently；　and　those　Dark　Bells　mean　something　special　。　。　。　but　Mary's　still　the　one　who　swings　the　weight。　I　think　the　Dark　Bells　are　only　ceremonial；　like　the　rings　the　old　Barons　used　to　hand　down　from　father　to　son。　Was　it　she　who　put　Jimmy's　medal　around　your　neck？'
　　'Yes。'
　　'Don't　take　it　off；　whatever　you　do。'　His　face　was　strained；　grim。　'I　don't　know　if　it's　the　gold　or　the　God；　but　they　don't　like　to　get　too　close。　I　think　that's　the　only　reason　I'm　still　here。'　Now　his　voice　dropped　all　the　way　to　a　whisper。　'They　ain't　human。'
　　'Well；　perhaps　a　bit　fey　and　magical；　but　。　。　。'
　　'No！'　With　what　was　clearly　an　effort；　the　boy　got　up　on　one　elbow。　He　looked　at　Roland　earnestly。　'You're　thinking　about　hubberwomen；　or　witches。　These　ain't　hubbers；　nor　witches；　either。
　　They　ain't　human！'
　　'Then　what　are　they？'
　　'Don't　know。'
　　'How　came　you　here；　John？'
　　Speaking　in　a　low　voice；　John　Norman　told　Roland　what　he　knew　of　what　had　happened　to　him。　He；　his　brother；　and　four　other　young　men　who　were　quick　and　owned　good　horses　had　been　hired　as　scouts；　riding　drogue…and…forward；　protecting　a　long…haul　caravan　of　seven　freight　wagons　taking　goods…seeds；　food；　tools；　mail；　and　four　ordered　brides…to　an　unincorporated　township　called　Tejuas　some　two　hundred　miles　farther　west　of　Eluria。　The　scouts　rode　fore　and　aft　of　the　goods…train　in　turn…and…turn…about　fashion；　one　brother　rode　with　each　party　because；　Norman　explained；　when　they　were　together　they　fought　like　。　。　。　well　。　。　。
　　'Like　brothers；'　Roland　suggested。
　　John　Norman　managed　a　brief；　pained　smile。　'Aye；'　he　said。
　　The　trio　of　which　John　was　a　part　had　been　riding　drogue；　about　two　miles　behind　the　freight　wagons；　when　the　green　mutants　had　sprung　an　ambush　in　Eluria。
　　'How　many　wagons　did　you　see　when　you　got　there？'　he　asked　Roland。
　　'Only　one。　Overturned。'
　　'How　many　bodies？'
　　'Only　your　brother's。'
　　John　Norman　nodded　grimly。　'They　wouldn't　take　him　because　of　the　medallion；　I　think。'
　　'The　muties？'
　　'The　Sisters。　The　muties　care　nothing　for　gold　or　God。　These　bitches；　though　。　。　。'　He　looked　into　the　dark；　which　was　now　almost　plete。　Roland　felt　lethargy　creeping　over　him　again；　but　it　wasn't　until　later　that　he　realized　the　soup　had　been　drugged。
　　'The　other　wagons？'　Roland　asked。　'The　ones　not　overturned？'
　　'The　muties　would　have　taken　them；　and　the　goods；　as　well；'　Nor…man　said。　'They　don't　care　for　gold　or　God；　the　Sisters　don't　care　for　goods。　Like　as　not　they　have　their　own　foodstuffs；　something　I'd　as　soon　not　think　of。　Nasty　stuff　。　。　。　like　those　bugs。'
　　He　and　the　other　drogue　riders　galloped　into　Eluria；　but　the　fight　was　over　by　the　time　they　got　there。　Men　had　been　lying　about；　some　dead　but　many　more　still　alive。　At　least　two　of　the　ordered　brides　had　still　been　alive；　as　well。　Survivors　able　to　walk　were　being　herded　together　by　the　green　folk…John　Norman　remembered　the　one　in　the　bowler　hat　very　well；　and　the　woman　in　the　ragged　red　vest。
　　Norman　and　the　other　two　had　tried　to　fight。　He　had　seen　one　of　his　pards　gutshot　by　an　arrow；　and　then　he　saw　no　more…someone　had　cracked　him　over　the　head　from　behind；　and　the　lights　had　gone　out。
　　Roland　wondered　if　the　ambusher　had　cried　'Booh！'　before　he　had　struck；　but　didn't　ask。
　　'When　I　woke　up　again；　I　was　here；'　Norman　said。　'I　saw　that　some　of　the　others…most　of　them…had　those　cursed　bugs　on　them。'
　　'Others？'　Roland　looked　at　the　empty　beds。　In