tw.togreenangeltower2-第124章

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too　strong。　He　will。　。。　not。。　。　let　me　。。。go。。。。〃
His　head　began　to　sag。　Emberlight　bloomed　in　the　cavern　of　his　mouth。
Miriamele　shouted　wordlessly　and　lifted　her　arms。　Simon　felt　rather　than　saw　some　fleeting　thing　snap　past　him。　　A　feathered　white　shaft　sprouted　from　Elias'　breast。　For　a　heartbeat　the　king's　eyes　were　his　own　once　more　and　his　gaze　locked　with　Miriamele's。　Then　his　features　twisted。　A　roar　louder　than　thunder　tore　from　the　king's　gaping　mouth　and　Elias　toppled　backward　into　shadow。　The　roar　became　an　echoing；　impossibly　loud　shriek　that　seemed　to　have　no　ending。
　　　　　　　For　a　fleeting　instant　Simon　felt　an　impossibly　cold　something　scrabbling　at　the　place　where　the　dragon's　blood　had　entered　his　heart；　seeking　to　find　refuge　in　him　if　its　other　host　was　denied　to　it。　The　thing's　hunger　was　all…swallowing　and　desperate。
　　　　　　　No。　You　do　not　belong　here。　Simon's　thought　echoed　Binabik's　words。
The　clawing　thing　fell　away；　shrieking　soundlessly。
Flames　climbed　up　and　outward　where　the　king　had　stood；　mushrooming　beneath　the　roof　of　the　bellchamber。　A　terrible　cold　blackness　was　at　the　center　of　them；　but　as　Simon　watched　in　shattered　awe；　it　began　to　fragment　into　darting　shadows。　The　world　tipped　again；　and　the　tower　shuddered。　Bright…Nail　throbbed　in　his　grip；　then　dissolved　in　a　whirl　of　black；　a　moment　later；　he　was　holding　only　dust。　He　lifted　his　trembling　hand　near　his　face　to　stare　at　the　sifting　powder；　then　stopped；　astonished。
　　　　　　　He　could　move　again！
　　　　　　　A　chunk　of　stone　from　the　ceiling　overhead　crashed　down　beside　him；　spattering　him　with　sharp　fragments。　Simon　took　a　reeling　step。　The　chamber　was　afire；　as　though　the　stones　themselves　were　burning。　One　of　the　blackened　bells　tumbled　from　the　cluster　at　the　ceiling　and　crashed　to　the　floor；　smashing　a　crater　in　the　stone　tiles。　Shadowy　figures　moved　around　him；　their　motions　distorted　by　the　walls　of　flame。
　　　　　　　A　voice　was　calling　his　name；　but　he　stood　at　the　center　of　fiery　chaos　and　saw　no　direction　in　which　to　turn。　The　swirling　sky　appeared　in　a　jagged　opening　above　his　head　as　more　stone　fell。　Something　struck　him。

33
Hidden　from　the　Stars

　　　　　　　Tiamak　stood　awkwardly；　waiting。　The　duke　listened　patiently　to　the　two　Thrithings…men；　then　nodded　and　replied；　they　turned　and　walked　through　the　melting　snow　toward　their　horses；　leaving　the　duke　and　the　Wrannaman　alone　beside　the　fire。
　　　　　　　When　Isgrimnur　looked　up　and　saw　his　visitor；　he　did　his　best　to　smile。　'Tiamak；　what　are　you　doing　standing　there？　Aedon's　Mercy；　man；　sit　down。　Warm　yourself。〃　The　duke　tried　to　beckon；　but　his　arm　sling　prevented　it。　
　　　　　　　Tiamak　limped　over　and　sat　down　on　the　log。　For　a　moment　he　held　his　hands　before　the　flames　without　speaking；　then　said：　〃I　am　so　sorry　about　Isorn。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　turned　his　red…rimmed　eyes　away　and　stared　across　the　foggy　headland　toward　the　Kynslagh。　It　was　a　long　time　before　he　spoke。　〃I　do　not　know　how　I　will　tell　my　Gutrun。　She　will　be　heartbroken。〃
The　silence　stretched。　Tiamak　waited；　unsure　whether　he　should　say　more。　He　knew　Isgrimnur　far　better　than　he　had　known　the　duke's　tall　son；　whom　he　had　met　only　once；　in　Likimeya's　tent。
〃He　was　not　the　only　one　to　die；〃　Isgrimnur　said　at　last。　He　rubbed　at　his　nose。　〃And　there　are　the　living　to　be　taken　care　of。〃　He　picked　up　a　stick　and　tossed　it　into　the　fire；　then　blinked　at　it　with　an　intent　fury。　Tears　glinted　on　his　eyelashes。　The　silence　grew　again；　swelling　to　almost　frightening　proportions　before　Isgrimnur　broke　it。　〃Ah；　Tiamak；　why　wasn't　it　me？　His　life　was　ahead。　I　am　old。　My　life　is　over。〃
　　　　　　　The　Wrannaman　shook　his　head。　He　knew　there　was　no　answer　to　that　question。　No　one　could　plumb　the　reasoning　of　They　Who　Watch　and　Shape。　No　one。
　　　　　　　The　duke　dragged　his　sleeve　across　his　eyes；　then　cleared　his　throat。　〃Enough。　Time　for　mourning　will　e。〃　He　turned　back　to　Tiamak；　and　the　Wrannaman　for　the　first　time　saw　the　truth　of　Isgrimnur's　words：　the　duke　was　old；　a　man　long　past　his　prime。　Only　his　great　vitality　had　masked　it；　and　now；　as　though　the　struts　had　been　kicked　from　beneath　him；　he　sagged。　Tiamak　felt　anger　that　such　a　good　man　should　suffer。
　　　　　　　But　everyone　has　suffered；　he　told　himself。　Now　is　the　time　to　gather　strength；　to　try　to　understand　and　to　decide　what　es　next。
　　　　　　　〃Tell　me　what　happened；　Tiamak。〃　The　duke　forced　himself　to　sit　upright；　restoring　a　semblance　of　self…discipline　he　clearly　needed。　〃Tell　me　what　you　saw。〃
　　　　　　　〃Surely　I　have　little　to　say　that　you　。　。　。〃　the　Wrannaman　began。
〃Just　tell　me。〃　Isgrimnur　shifted　his　broken　arm　to　a　more　fortable　position。　〃We　have　a　while　before　Strangyeard　can　e　and　join　us；　but　I　imagine　you　have　spoken　to　him　already。〃
Tiamak　nodded。　〃When　I　was　putting　salve　on　his　wounds。　Everyone　has　stories　to　tell；　and　none　of　them　pleasant　to　hear。〃　He　posed　himself　for　a　moment；　then　began。　〃I　traveled　with　the　Sithi　for　what　seemed　a　long　time　before　we　found　Josua。。。。〃
〃So　you　believe　Josua　was　dead　already？〃　The　calmness　of　the　duke's　deep　voice　was　belied　by　the　unhappy　nervousness　of　his　free　hand；　which　passed　in　and　out　of　his　beard；　tugging　and　plucking。　His　beard　looked　thinner　and　shabbier；　as　though　he　had　pulled　at　it　too　often　in　recent　days。
　　　　　　　Tiamak　nodded　sadly。　〃He　was　struck　very　hard　on　the　neck　by　the　king's　sword。　There　was　a　terrible　noise　when　it　hit；　a　snapping；　and　then　the　blood。。。　。〃　The　small　man　shuddered。　〃He　could　not　have　survived　it。〃
Isgrimnur　brooded　for　a　moment；　then　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　well。　I　thank　Usires　Aedon　in　His　mercy　that　at　least　Josua　did　not　suffer。　An　unhappy　man；　though　I　loved　him。　An　unhappy　ending。〃　He　looked　up　at　a　shout　in　the　distance；　then　turned　his　gaze　back　to　the　Wrannaman。　〃And　you　were　then　knocked　senseless　yourself。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　remember　nothing　after　I　heard　the　bell　again。。。　until　I　awakened。　I　was　still　in　the　place　where　the　bells　hung；　but　I　did　not　know　it　at　first。　All　I　could　see　was　that　I　was　surrounded　by　a　whirlpool　of　fire　and　smoke　and　strange　shadows。
　　　　　　　〃I　tried　to　climb　to　my　feet；　but　my　head　was　spinning　and　my　legs　would　not　work　properly。　Someone　caught　at　my　arm　and　dragged　at　me　until　I　could　rise。　At　first　1　thought　I　had　gone　mad；　because　no　one　was　there。　Then　I　looked　down　and　saw　that　it　was　Binabik　who　had　helped　me。
〃　'Hurry；'　he　told　me；　'this　place　is　falling　into　pieces。'　He　pulled　at　me　again…I　was　dazed　and　did　not　entirely　understand　him。　Smoke　was　everywhere　and　the　floor　was　pitching　beneath　my　feet　with　loud　grinding　noises。　As　I　stood　wavering；　another　shape　appeared。　It　was　Miriamele；　and　she　was　dragging　a　body　across　the　floor　with　great　effort。　It　took　me　a　moment　to　see　through　the　dust　and　ashes　that　it　was　the　young　man　Simon。
〃　'I　killed　him；'　Miriamele　was　saying　over　and　over。　Tears　were　streaming　down　her　face。　I　did　not　understand　why　she　thought　she　had　killed　Simon　when　I　could　see　his　fingers　moving；　　his　chest　rising　and　falling。　Binabik　hastened　to　help　her　and　they　pulled　Simon　across　the　floor　toward　the　stairwell。　I　followed　them。　A　moment　later　the　tower　shook　again　and　a　great　chunk　of　stone　fell　down　and　shattered　on　the　spot　where　I　had　stood。〃　Tiamak　reached　down　and　pointed　at　the　cloth　wrapped　around　his　leg。　〃A　piece　flew　free　and　cut　me；　but　not　badly。〃　He　straightened　up。
　　　　　　　〃Miriamele　wanted　to　go　back　for　Josua；　but　the　floor　was　shaking　powerfully　now；　and　more　pieces　of　the　ceiling　and　walls　were　crumbling。　Binabik　was　doubtful；　and　they　began　to　argue。　My　wits　were　ing　back。　I　told　them　that　the　king　had　broken　Josua's　neck；　that　I　had　seen　it　happen。　Miriamele　was　hard　to　understand…she　seemed　to　be　half…asleep；　despite　the　tears…but　she　had　begun　to　say　something　about　Camaris　when　one　of　the　bells　broke　loose　and　smashed　down　through　the　floor。　We　could　hear　it　clang　as　it　struck　on　something　below。　Smoke　was　everywhere。　I　was　coughing；　and　my　eyes　were　as　wet　as　Miriamele's。　I　did　not　much　care　at　the　moment；　but　I　felt　sure　that　we　would　be　burned　or　smashed　to　death；　that　I　would　never　know　what　had　happened　to　cause　all　this。
〃Binabik　grabbed　Miriamele's　arm；　pointing　to　the　ceiling；　shouting　that　there　was　no　time。　Simon　would　be　difficult　enough　to　carry。　She　fought　him　for　a　moment；　but　her　heart　was　not　in　it。　The　three　of　us　picked　Simon　up　as　best　we　could…he　was　limp；　it　made　him　very　difficult　to　carry…and　we　scuttled　into　the　stairwell。
〃The　smoke　was　not　so　thick　down　below　the　first　turn。　The　fire　seemed　to　burn　only　in　the　bellchamber；　although　I　heard　Binabik　say　something　that　made　it　sound　as　if　the　whole　tower　had　been　in　flames　just　instants　before。　But　even　if　it　was　easier　to　breathe；　I　was　still　certain　we　would　not　survive　to　reach　the　ground：　the　tower　was　pitching　like　a　tree　in　a　strong　wind。　I　have　heard　that　in　days　long　past　one　or　two　of　the　southernmost　islands　of　Firannos　Bay　disappeared　because　the　earth　shook　so　hard　that　the　sea　swallowed　them。　If　that　is　true；　their　last　moments　must　have　felt　like　this。　We　could　barely　keep　on　our　feet　in　the　narrow　stairwell。　Several　times　1　was　thrown　against　one　of　the　walls；　and　we　were　lucky　we　only　dropped　poor　Simon　twice。　Stone　was　shivering　down　and　dust　was　everywhere；　choking　me　as　thoroughly　as　the　smoke　had。〃
Tiamak　paused　and　pressed　his　fingers　against　his　temples。　His　head　hurt。　Remembering　the　desperate　flight　down　the　stairs　made　it　ache　almost　as　badly　as　it　had　then。
〃We　had　gone　down　a　little　farther…it　was　fearfully　difficult　to　make　our　way；　and　the　very　steps　seemed　to　be　breaking　apart　beneath　our　feet…when　a　figure　appeared　out　of　the　dust　below　us。　It　was　smeared　with　ash　and　grime　and　blood；　and　its　eyes　stared。　At　first　I　thought　it　some　horrible　demon　that　Pryrates　had　summoned；　but　Miriamele　cried　'Cadrach！'；　and　I　recognized　him。　I　was　astonished；　of　course…I　had　no　idea　how　he　of　all　people　had　appeared　in　this　place。　I　could　hardly　hear　him　above　the　groaning　and　rumbling　of　the　tower；　but　he　said：　'I　waited　for　you'　to　no　one　in　particular；　then　turned　and　led　us　down　the　stairs。　I　was　angry　and　frightened；　and　I　could　not　help　wondering　why　he　did　not　offer　to　help　carry　Simon；　who　was　a　terrible　load　for　a　young　woman；　a　troll；　and　a　small　man　like　me　to　bear。　Simon　was　now　beginning　to　move　a　little　more；　mumbling　to　himself　and　struggling　weakly。　It　made　him　even　more　difficult　to　carry。
　　　　　　　〃Then　there　was　a　time　I　can　hardly　remember。　We　went　as　fast　as　we　could；　but　there　seemed　little　chance　we　would　escape　before　the　tower　collapsed　pletely。　We　were　still　very　high　up；　maybe　ten　times　a　man's　height。　As　we　passed　one　of　the　windows；　1　saw　the　tower's　spire　hanging　crookedly；　as　if　the　whole　tower　bowed　from　the　waist。　You　notice　strange　things　at　such　times；　I　suppose；　and　I　saw　that　the　bronze　angel　at　the　spire's　tip　had　its　arms　extended　as　though　it　was　poised　to　fly　away；　Suddenly　the　whole　spire　shivered；　broke　loose；　and　fell　down　out　of　sight。
　　　　　　　〃There　were　cracks　in　the　walls　of　the　stairwell　wide　enough　to　put　your　arm　into；　Isgrimnur。　Through　some　of　them　I　could　see　gray　sky。
　　　　　　　〃Then　the　tower　shook　again；　so　strongly　that　we　fell　down　on　the　st