cspector.worldwithoutend-第14部分

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st。　Nightmares　from　the　future。　We　stood　there；　trembling；　and　chanted　the　old　words。　Words　of　power。　Until　our　voices　grew　hoarse　and　our　throats　were　raw　and　our　legs　would　barely　support　us。
　
　At　last　we　stopped。
　
　Abruptly；　the　air　was　still　and　silent。
　
　I　released　Caimbeul's　hand　and　turned
　Below　us；　at　the　base　of　the　hill　where　the　cairns　stood；　was　what　we'd　called。
　
　They　looked　up　at　us　expectantly。　Their　eyes　refleeted　red　iridescence。　Black　coats　melted　into　black　night。
　
　In　the　distance；　I　heard　the　howling　of　the　hounds　and　wolves。　The　gabriel　ratchets。　Their　cries　were　lonely；　as　though　they　realized　that　they'd　been　abandoned　by　the　steeds　which　led　them。　At　their　head　was　a　tall；　cloaked　form。　Though　I　knew　that　this　was　the　apparition　who　tended　the　beasts；　its　appearance　was　so　close　to　Ysrthgrathe's　that；　for　a　moment；　I　thought　my　enemy　had　e　for　me。
　
　A　long；　bony　arm　appeared　from　the　depths　of　the　apparition's　cloak。　It　beckoned　us。　I　glanced　for　a　moment　at　Caimbeul。　His　lips　were　set　in　a　hard　line。
　
　〃You　don't　have　to　e；〃　I　said。　〃What？〃　he　replied。　〃And　miss　all　the　fun？〃
　
　At　the　bottom　of　the　hill　we　were　gestured　to　two　horses。　These　were　the　horses　of　the　ancient　Tuatha　de　Danaan。　Created　from　fire；　not　earth；　and　able　to　live　for　hundreds　of　years。　I　had　not　ridden　one　in　a　thousand　years。
　
　As　we　tried　to　mount　the　horses；　they　began　to　dance　away　and　reached　back　every　now　and　again　to　nip　us　with　their　long；　yellow　teeth。　I　grabbed　a　handful　of　long　mane　to　help　pull　myself　up。　I　hoped　I　would　have　enough　strength　left　in　me　for　the　ride　I　knew　was　ahead。
　
　There　was　no　noise　as　we　mounted。　No　rattle　of　harnesses。　No　sound　at　all。　I　turned　to　the　master　of　the　horses；　who　stood　looking　at　me。　〃To　the　Seelie　Court；〃　I　shouted　over　the　din。　The　apparition　nodded。
　
　Just　then；　I　had　a　strange　tingling　sensation；　as　if　someone　unseen　was　watching　me。　I　looked　around；　and　there；　in　the　distance；　atop　one　of　the　far　hills；　were　the　hounds；　stags　and　wolves。　They　swirled　together；　writhing　like　a　thousand　snakes；　and　disappeared　from　my　sight。　I　shuddered　at　their　terrible　power。
　
　The　horses　lunged　forward；　jerking　us　in　our　seats。　From　then　on　we　were　no　longer　in　control。　As　if　we　ever　truly　had　been。
　
　We　thundered　down　bare　fields　and　into　muddy　flats。　Fences　were　hurdled　without　a　falter。　Streams　and　meadows　slipped　away。　Sparks　flew　as　hooves　struck　rocky　expanses。　Lather　foamed　up　on　the　horses；　but　they　never　slowed。　My　cheeks　became　chilled　and　chapped；　my　hands　ached　from　holding　onto　the　reins。　Tears　streamed　from　my　eyes。
　
　We　overtook　cars　on　the　road；　causing　accidents。　Still　we　did　not　slow。
　
　Then　we　were　at　the　shore。　We　pounded　across　the　sand；　plumes　of　it　spraying　into　the　air。　Then　into　the　tide；　never　slowing　as　we　rode　up　and　over　the　water。　Galloping　across　the　top　of　the　ocean　as　though　it　were　a　puddle。
　
　Across　the　water　I　saw　a　misty　turquoise　glow。　As　we　came　closer；　I　saw　that　there　was　an　island　surrounded　by　this　light。　In　moments　we　were　on　the　beach　thundering　across　the　sand。
　
　This　was　not　one　of　the　Aran　Islands；　for　we　had　passed　those　as　we　sped　across　the　bay。　This　was　one　of　the　isles　of　fable。　From　legends　I　had　helped　create　and　had　forgotten　in　the　long　expanse　of　time。
　
　This　place　must　be　Hy…Breasail；　the　island　believed　to　rise　from　the　sea　only　once　every　seven　years。　I　barely　had　time　to　realize　this　before　the
　
　Horses　surged　across　the　beach　and　went　crashing　into　the　forest。
　
　A　path　opened　up　before　us。　Whether　it　was　there　to　begin　with　or　the　Horses　created　it　as　they　went；　I　cannot　say。　The　trail　began　to　climb　upward。　We　plunged　on　through　the　forest；　shattering　the　silence　with　our　passing；　At　last　we　burst　forth　into　a　great　open　plain　and　stopped。
　
　Though　it　was　autumn　in　Tir　na　nog；　here　spring　held　sway。　I　could　smell　it　in　the　air；　could　feel　the　warm　and　gentle　caress　of　the　breeze。　It　was　balm　to　my　sore；　chapped　face。
　
　I　looked　about　and　saw　a　castle　perched　on　a　cliff　above　us。　So　much　a　part　of　the　island　it　was　that　there　was　no　telling　where　the　castle　began　and　the　rock　it　sat　upon　ended。　As　I　watched；　lights　appeared　on　the　pathway　below　the　castle。　They　bobbed　and　floated　downward　toward　us。
　
　Closer　and　closer　they　came；　and　we　waited　for　them；　silent　and　patient。
　
　At　last　they　appeared　on　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　riming　it　in　gold　and　silver　light。
　
　Such　a　congregation　of　the　Sleagh　Maith。　It　almost　made　me　forget　my　own　mission；　so　good　was　it　to　gaze　upon　them　again。　The　sprites　and　sprig…gars；　brownies　and　hags；　boogies；　leprechauns；　gnomes；　and　goblins　all　clustered　around；　throwing　their　crooked　shadows　against　the　rocky　cliff　behind　them。
　
　I　could　hear　their　shrill　cries　and　nasty　whispers。　They　knew　who　I　was　even　if　there　were　those　who　would　have　it　otherwise。　There　was　but　a　moment　for　these　impressions。　They　parted　and　a　procession　of　elves　appeared。　Each　was　dressed　in　tight…fitting　dun…colored　leather　garments。　Some　bad　tattoos　marking　their　arms　and　faces。　Others　had　datajacks　glistening　in　shaved　skulls。　I　ignored　them　as　they　surrounded　us。
　
　I　glanced　over　at　Caimbeul。　He　was　a　bit　paler　than　normal；　but　after　the　night　we'd　had　so　far；　that　was　to　be　expected。　He　looked　up　at　me　and　gave　a　little　smile。　I　found　myself　smiling　back；　oddly　happy　at　that　moment。
　
　〃This　is　hardly　a　laughing　matter；〃　came　a　voice　from　beyond　the　edge　of　the　faerie　light。　All　the　elves　and　faeries　bowed　down　immediately。　I　squinted　into　the　darkness。　A　ghost…like　form　moved　forward。　As　it　stepped　into　the　ring　of　light；　I　saw　that　it　was　a　woman。　She　was　dressed　in　a　white　flowing　gown。　Her　fiery　hair　was　pulled　back　severely　from　her　face；　but　left　to　cascade　down　her　back　almost　to　her　heels。　The　brilliant　blue　eyes　were　unchanged。　The　skin　as　pale　and　white　as　milk。
　
　Alachia。
　
　Silence　stretched　out　between　us。　I　hadn't　seen　her　in　the　flesh　since　1941。
　
　〃So；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃You've　e。　And　the　hard　way；　too。〃
　〃Well；　we　can't　all　have　the　prerogatives　of　age。　I　wish　to　speak　to　Lady　Brane　Deign；〃　I　said。　〃She　rules　here　now。〃
　
　Alachia　smiled。　It　was　chilling。
　
　〃Power　is　a　fluid　thing；〃　she　said。　〃You'd　do　well　to　remember　that。〃
　
　Once　that　sort　of　remark　from　her　would　have　frightened　me。　But　that　was　far　in　the　past。　Now　there　was　a　larger　threat　at　work。　Not　just　to　me；　but　to　the　survival　of　the　world。　And　then；　I　was　older　now；　too。
　
　〃Perhaps　you　should　mind　your　own　advice；〃　I　said。　〃You've　let　so　much　pass　through　your　own　hands。〃
　〃Caimbeul；〃　she　said　brightly；　ignoring　my　last　remark。　〃How　good　it　is　to　see　you　again。　But　really；　you　need　to　improve　your　choice　of　panions。　You　know　what　they　say　about　the　pany　you　keep。〃
　
　She　slipped　past　me　and　took　his　arm；　leading　him　away　from　me　toward　the　castle。
　
　〃Do　e；　Aina；〃　she　called　over　her　shoulder。　〃We　mustn't　keep　Lady　Brane　waiting。〃
　
　I　watched　her　lead　him　into　the　night　until　all　I　saw　was　the　white　blur　of　her　dress。
　She　opens　her　eyes。　The　world　is　upside…down。　No；　it's　her　perspective　that's　off。　But　isn't　that　always　the　way　of　it？
　
　Sitting　up；　she　sees　that　she's　been　lying　on　the　ground。　The　fall　leaves　covering　her　rustle　and　slide　away；　revealing　her　naked　body。　How　she　came　to　be　here　in　this　wood　she　doesn't　remember。　But　she　thinks　she　should　know。
　
　Then　es　the　pain。
　
　It　burns　and　stings　like　a　thousand　hornets。　Her　skin　is　on　fire　and　she　cannot　stop　it。　As　she　looks　on；　small；　round　welts　appear　on　her　flesh。　Sharp　points　burst　through　the　welts；　puckering　the　skin。
　
　Thorns。
　No　mortal　being　could　have　traversed　the　path　to　　Lady　Brane　Deigh's　castle。　But　then；　it　wasn't　designed　for　mortals。　The　Sleagh　Meath　loved　any　thing　that　might　confuse　or　baffle　mortals　and　so　If　took　great　delight　in　the　corkscrew　turns；　disappearing　paths；　and　other　annoying　tricks　to　fool　the　unwary　traveler。
　
　But　I　had　seen　all　these　games　before。　The　Seelie　Court　was　but　another　incarnation　of　something　much　older　and　more　sinister。