cspector.worldwithoutend-第36部分

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　Slowly；　I　began　to　relax。　There　were　mostly　military　types　in　the　restaurant。　Some　civilians；　but　they　looked　to　be　locals。　It　was　an　old…fashioned　Mom　and　Pop　kind　of　place。　Mostly　vegan　dishes；　with　one　or　two　meat　entrees　for　the　non…elver　types。　Given　the　makeup　of　the/trowd；　I　suspected　they　didn't　do　a　lot　of　business　with　the　beef。
　
　No　one　gave　us　much　of　a　second　glance。　A　little　odd；　unless　they　were　used　to　seeing　strangers。　
　
　Caimbeui　ordered　some　wine；　but　I　declined。　I　wanted　to　be　as　sharp　as　possible　until　we　made　it　out　of　the　Tir。　We　lingered　a　bit　over　dessert；　but　then　it　was　time　to　head　back　to　the　airstrip。
　
　Our　driver　had　apparently　gotten　something　from　the　kitchen；　because　the　cab　smelled　of　eggplant　ratatouille。
　
　I　shut　my　eyes　as　the　cab　headed　away　from　the　restaurant　and　down　the　hill。　I　must　have　dozed　off　for　a　moment；　because　the　next　thing　I　remember　was　being　thrown　to　the　floor。　Caimbeui　was　cursing；　the　driver　was　screaming。
　
　〃What's　happening？〃　I　yelled　as　I　pushed　myself　off　the　floor。
　〃Keep　going！〃　shouted　Caimbeui。
　
　The　driver　didn't　answer　but　continued　to　scream。　I　poked　my　head　up；　trying　to　see　what　was　going　on。　The　driver　reached　forward　and　pulled　something　from　under　the　seat。　A　gun。　Still　yelling；　he　began　to　fire　it　through　the　window。　Just　as　he　shot；　I　looked。
　
　There；　illuminated　by　the　cab's　headlights；　was　Ysrthgrathe　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　Then　the　glass　shattered；　and　he　was　broken　into　a　million　fragmented　images。
　
　I　grabbed　the　door　handle　and　yanked。　It　flew　open　and　I　fell　out　after　it；　sprawling　on　the　rough　asphalt　of　the　road　on　my　hands　and　knees。
　
　〃Ah；　Aina；〃　Ysrthgrathe　said。　〃Don't　you　remember？　You　don't　have　to　kneel　to　me。〃
　
　I　pushed　myself　off　the　ground。　There　were　scrapes　on　my　hands。　The　blood　welled　out　of　them　and　stung。　In　the　distance　I　could　hear　something。　I　thought　it　sounded　like　a　baby's　cry。　Then　I　realized　it　was　the　driver。
　
　〃Most　annoying；　that　noise；〃　said　Ysrthgrathe。　In　a　flash；　he　slid　across　the　small　distance　between　him　and　the　driver's　door。　Ripping　the　door　off　its　hinges；　he　then　pulled　the　driver　out　by　his　neck。　Slowly；　he　began　to　squeeze。
　
　The　driver's　face　turned　red；　then　purple。　His　eyes　began　to　bulge；　and　he　grabbed　frantically　at　his　neck。　His　feet　began　to　spasm　and　became　entangled　in　Ysrthgrathe's　robe。
　
　〃This　is　certainly　sweet；〃　said　Ysrthgrathe。　〃But　it　really　isn't　up　to　my　usual。　Of　course；　I　have　only　the　faintest　memories　of　that；　now。　You　have　deprived　me　for　so　long。　And　you're　not　nearly　as　fond　of　this　one　as　you　might　be。　Perhaps　the　other。。。〃
　
　He　closed　his　hand　then；　and　I　heard　the　bones　in　the　driver's　neck　snap　and　pop　like　firecrackers。　Then　Ysrtbgrathe　tossed　him　away　like　a　used…up　toy。
　
　Caimbeui　emerged　from　the　back　of　the　passenger　side　of　the　cab　then。　He　had　a　black　eye　and　a　nasty　cut　on　his　lip。　It　was　beginning　to　swell；　making　his　mouth　look　lopsided。　It　looked　like　he　hadn't　fully　recovered　his　senses。
　
　〃Go；〃　I　said。　〃He　wants　me。〃
　Caimbeui　shook　his　head。　〃He　can't　possibly　deal　with　both　of　us。　Not　now。〃
　〃You　should　listen　to　her；〃　said　Ysrthgrathe。　〃But　then；　I　wouldn't　have　as　much　fun　if　you　leave。　I　can　taste　how　she　cares　for　you。　Her　fear　for　your　safety　is　so　sweet；　but　really；　I　must　have　more。〃
　
　With　that；　he　pushed　his　arms　forward。　A　solid　beam　of　black　energy　shot　out　from　them。　It　hit　Caimbeui　full　in　the　chest；　sending　him　flying　backwards。　I　heard　him　cry　out　in　pain　and　could　smell　the　odor　of　burning　clothes　and　skin。
　
　〃No！〃　I　shouted。
　
　His　eyes　glowed　and　he　smiled。　Another　lash　of　energy　cracked　like　whip　and　I　heard　the　bones　of
　
　Caimbeul's　legs　snap。　〃No！〃　I　screamed　again。　Was　he　going　to　break　Caimbeui　bone　by　bone？
　
　Then　there　was　a　roaring　in　my　ears；　like　the　sound　of　jet　engines。　The　blood　was　warm　in　my　hands。　It　tickled　me。　Calling　to　me。　Asking　me　to　e　and　play　again。　To　use　it　as　I　once　had。
　
　I　dug　my　nails　into　my　palms；　wincing　slightly；　and　then　I　spoke　the　words。　A　language　long　dead　to　this　modern　world。　My　mother　tongue；　that　had　never　left　me　and　that　would　always　be　my　secret　heart。
　
　Ribbons　of　blood　danced　from　my　fingertips　and　wove　themselves　around　Ysrthgrathe。　He　roared　in　anger　at　this；　but　I　laughed。　Oh；　I　had　been　careful　for　so　long。　It　felt　wonderful　to　let　the　power　out。　To　revel　in　it　again。　I　let　it　take　hold　of　me。　Slide　through　me。　Pill　me。　Fill　the　void　inside。
　
　Soon；　Ysrthgrathe　was　encased　in　a　blood…cocoon。　Using　one　hand　to　control　the　cocoon；　with　the　other　I　began　to　cast　another　spell。　But　Ysrthgrathe　wasn't　so　easily　controlled。　He　shot　into　the　air；　dragging　　me　along。　We　flew　above　the　trees；　and　the　upper　branches　scratched　and　scraped　at　my　legs。
　
　I　grabbed　at　the　blood　ribbons　with　both　hands　to　steady　myself。　What　is　he　up　to？　I　wondered。　I　looked　about　and　saw　that　he　was　flying　us　straight　toward　Crater　Lake。
　
　If　we　went　much　further；　we'd　be　shot　down　by　the　Tir　military　for　certain。　Cursing；　I　let　go　of　the　blood　ribbons。　Ysrthgrathe　shot　ahead；　and　I　fell。　I　was　battered　and　bruised　by　tree　limbs。　It　took　me　a　moment　before　I　could　cast　a　flying　spell。
　
　I　flew　up　to　the　top　of　the　trees　and　peered　around。
　
　〃Looking　for　me？〃　came　Ysrthgrathe's　voice　above　me。
　
　I　looked　up。　His　head　was　free　from　the　cocoon；　but　the　rest　of　his　body　was　still　encased。　He　spat　out　some　words；　and　the　cocoon　shattered。　It　sent　drops　of　blood　flying　everywhere。　My　face　and　clothes　were　spattered　with　it。
　
　〃What's　that　old　saying？〃　Ysrthgrathe　asked。　〃Fool　me　once；　shame　on　you。　Fool　me　twice；　shame　on　me？〃
　
　I　didn't　reply；　just　furiously　tore　at　my　wrist　with　my　teeth。　How　I　yearned　for　a　knife　at　that　moment。　Oh；　for　the　power　I'd　lost。　For　the　power　to　e。
　
　〃This　is　most　annoying；〃　Ysrthgrathe　said。　〃You've　changed。　You're　not　at　all　like　you　were　before。
　〃Where　is　your　fear？　It　was　so　sweet　and　delicious。　Your　pain？　Your　agony？　Have　you　forgotten　　the　dark　years　of　your　torment　already？　I　remember　them　as　if　they　were　yesterday。
　〃Your　pain；　my　pleasure。　Think　of　what　I　can　offer　you。　Don't　you　recall？　The　power。　Imagine　what　you　could　be　here　with　that　power　now。　They　would　be　forced　to　listen　to　you。　You　could　make　them　bend　to　your　will。　They　would　have　to　do　your　bidding。〃
　
　And　I　was　tempted。
　
　It　had　been　so　many　years　since　I'd　felt　anything　close　to　the　sensation　of　the　power。　Such　a　unity　of　self　and　soul。　Body　and　mind。　Maybe　only　the　absinthe　had　e　close。　But　even　that　joy　was　fleeting。
　
　My　blood　sang　to　be　used。　To　be　taken　again。
　
　From　Crater　Lake　I　could　feel　the　pull　of　even　greater　power。　It　sang　to　me。
　Take　me。
　Use　me。
　
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃Think　of　it。　This　world　can't　even　imagine　what　the　power　is。　They　play　at　magic　like　a　game。　They　don't　understand。　But　you　do；　Aina。　You've　always　understood　the　true　nature　of　the　gift。　It's　in　your　blood。　Take　my　gift。〃
　
　I　foolish　mistake。
　
　I　hadn't　thought　him　so　clumsy。　So　obvious。　To　go　over　old　ground　again。
　
　〃Oh；　dear；〃　I　said。　〃What　was　it　you　said？　Fool　me　once。。。〃
　
　The　blood　had　been　running　into　my　palms。　It　writhed；　then　began　to　whirl。　It　bubbled　over　my　fingertips　and　began　to　slide　toward　the　ground。　It　wanted　me　to　use　it。
　
　It　craved　that。
　
　I　craved　that。
　
　So　I　let　us　have　what　we　wanted。
　
　From　over　the　horizon；　the　blue　glow　from　Crater　Lake　became　brighter。　The　power　surged　into　me。　And　this　time；　this　time；　I　didn't　refuse　it。
　
　The　spell　burst　out　of　me。　It　sang　and　jumped　from　my　lips。　Insects　flew　into　the　sky　in　a　great　cloud。　The　bones　of　long…dead　animals　rose　up　and　began　to　circle　about　Ysrthgrathe。　The　insects　joined　them；　and　soon　the　blood　danced　out　of　my　hands　and　mingled　with　the　bones　and　insects。
　
　Surrounding　Ysrthgrathe。　Encasing　him。
　
　〃Aina；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　a　soft　whisper；　but　somehow　I　could　hear　it　above　the　buzzing　of　the　wasps。　It　was　inside　me。　In　my　mind；　like　someone　lurking　at　a　window。　〃Aina；　don't　turn　me　away。　I　shan't