tw.togreenangeltower2-第125章

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m　I　could　see　gray　sky。
　　　　　　　〃Then　the　tower　shook　again；　so　strongly　that　we　fell　down　on　the　stairs。　It　kept　shaking；　it　was　almost　impossible　to　regain　our　feet；　but　we　did　at　last。　When　we　had　scrambled　down　a　few　more　paces；　the　twisting　of　the　staircase　suddenly　opened　onto　nothing。　The　side　of　the　tower　wall　had　gone；　fallen　away　outward：　I　could　see　it　lying　in　great　shards；　spread　out　on　the　snow　beneath；　white　on　white。　A　great　chunk　of　the　staircase　had　gone　with　it；　so　that　there　was　a　gap　many　paces　across；　and　beneath　lay　a　fall　of　twenty　cubits　onto　darkness　and　broken　stone。〃
　　　　　　　Tiamak　paused　for　a　moment。　〃What　happened　next　is　strange。　Had　I　stayed　in　my　swamp；　I　would　not　believe　this　tale　from　someone　else。　But　I　have　seen　things　that　have　changed　what　I　believe　is　possible。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　nodded　somberly。　〃As　have　I。　Go　on；　man。〃
〃We　were　stopped　at　the　gap；　staring　hopelessly　at　the　bits　of　rubble　working　loose　from　the　ragged　edge　and　tumbling　down　into　shadows。〃
　　　　　　　〃　'So　here　it　ends；'　Miriamele　said。　I　must　say　that　she　did　not　sound　particularly　upset。　She　was　fey；　Isgrimnur。　She　had　worked　as　hard　as　any　of　us　to　stay　alive；　but　she　seemed　to　do　it　only　to　help　the　rest　of　us。
〃　'It　is　not　over　。　。。'　Cadrach　said。　The　monk　sank　to　his　knees　beside　the　edge　of　the　pit　and　spread　his　hands　flat　over　the　nothingness。　The　tower　was　quivering　itself　apart；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　the　man　was　praying…　although　I　admit　I　could　think　of　nothing　better　to　do　at　that　point。　As　he　did；　he　twisted　his　face　like　a　man　lifting　a　heavy　load。　At　last　he　looked　over　his　shoulder　to　Miriamele。　'Now　cross；'　he　said。　His　voice　was　strained。
〃　'Cross？'　She　stared　at　him。　There　was　anger　on　her　face；　strong　anger。　'What　final　trick　of　yours　is　this？'
　　　　　　　〃　'You　once　said　。。。　only　trust　me　again　。。。　when　stars　shone　at　midday；'　the　monk　said　softly。　Every　word　was　an　effort。　I　could　barely　hear　him；　and　1　could　not　understand　what　he　intended　or　what　he　was　talking　about。　'You　saw　them；'　he　said。　'They　were　there。'
〃She　looked　at　him　for　what　seemed　like　a　dreadfully　long　time　as　the　tower　trembled。　Then　she　gently　set　Simon's　shoulders　down　and　took　a　step　toward　the　pit。　I　reached　out　to　pull　her　back；　but　Binabik　stopped　me。　He　had　a　strange　look　on　his　face。　So　did　she；　for　that　matter。　So　did　Cadrach。
　　　　　　　〃Miriamele　closed　her　eyes；　then　stepped　out　from　the　edge。　I　was　certain　that　she　would　fall　down　and　be　killed；　and　I　may　have　shouted　something；　but　she　walked　out　onto　the　solid　air　as　though　the　stone　steps　were　still　there。　Isgrimnur；　there　was　nothing　beneath　her　feet！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　believe　you；〃　the　duke　grunted。　〃I　have　been　told　Cadrach　was　once　a　mighty　man。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　opened　her　eyes　and　did　not　look　down；　but　turned　to　Binabik　and　me　and　beckoned　us　to　bring　Simon。　For　the　first　time；　there　was　something　lively　in　her　face　again；　but　it　was　not　happiness。　We　wrestled　Simon　down…he　was　groaning　by　then；　awakening…and　she　reached　up　and　took　his　feet；　then　began　to　back　away　over　the　nothingness。　I　could　not　believe　what　she　was　doing…what　I　was　about　to　do！　I　slitted　my　eyes　so　I　could　see　only　Miriamele　moving　carefully　downward；　and　followed　her。　Binabik　was　beside　me；　holding　Simon's　other　shoulder。　He　looked　between　his　feet；　but　then　looked　up　again　very　quickly。　Even　a　mountain…troll　has　some　limits；　it　seems。
　　　　　　　〃It　took　us　a　long　time。　There　were　still　things　like　steps　beneath　us；　we　could　not　see　them；　and　we　had　no　idea　how　far　to　either　side　they　extended；　so　we　went　very　carefully。　The　tower　was　making　deep　moaning　noises　now；　as　though　its　roots　were　being　plucked　from　the　ground。　If　I　live　a　thousand　years；　Isgrimnur；　I　will　never　forget　walking　across　nothingness　and　trying　to　stay　on　my　feet　as　everything　pitched　and　tipped！　He　Who　Always　Steps　on　Sand　was　truly　with　us。　Truly。
　　　　　　　〃At　last　we　reached　a　place　where　there　was　real　stone。　As　I　stepped　onto　it　and　let　out　my　breath；　I　looked　back。　Cadrach　was　on　the　far　side　still。　His　face　was　gray　as　ashes　and　his　sides　were　heaving。　He　looked　like　a　drowning　man　before　he　sinks　the　last　time。　What　strength　did　it　take　him　to　do　what　he　had　done？　Nearly　all；　it　seemed。
　　　　　　　〃Miriamele　turned　and　called　to　him　to　cross；　but　he　only　lifted　his　hand　and　sat　back。　He　could　barely　speak。　'Go　on；'　he　said。　'You　are　not　safe　yet。　That　was　all　I　had。'　He　smiled…smiled；　Isgrimnur！…and　said：　'I　am　not　the　man　I　was。'
　　　　　　　'The　princess　cursed　him　and　cursed　him；　but　more　rock　was　tumbling　free；　and　Binabik　and　I　shouted　that　there　was　nothing　to　be　done；　that　if　Cadrach　could　not；　he　could　not。　Miriamele　looked　down　at　Simon；　then　back　at　the　monk。　At　last　she　said　something　I　could　not　hear；　then　reached　down　for　Simon's　feet。　As　we　hurried　down　the　stairwell；　I　looked　back　and　saw　Cadrach　sitting　beside　the　broken　edge；　and　the　light　from　the　gray　sky　shone　on　him　through　the　broken　wall。　His　eyes　were　closed。　He　might　have　been　praying；　or　just　waiting。　
　　　　　　　〃We　went　down　another　flight；　and　then　Simon　was　fighting　to　be　let　free。　We　set　him　down；　since　we　could　not　carry　him　against　his　will…he　is　quite　strong！…but　neither　could　we　wait　to　see　if　his　wits　were　about　him。　Binabik　pulled　at　his　wrist；　talking　to　him　all　the　while；　and　he　stumbled　along　with　us。
〃Dust　was　so　thick　from　crumbling　stone　that　I　could　barely　breathe；　and　now　there　was　fire；　too；　a　blaze　which　had　burned　away　one　of　the　inner　doors　and　was　filling　the　stairwell　with　smoke。　Beyond　the　windows　we　could　see　other　pieces　of　the　tower's　upper　stories　topple　past。　Simon　pointed　to　one　of　the　windows　and　shouted　we　must　go　there。　We　thought　he　was　addled；　but　he　grabbed　Miriamele　and　dragged　her　toward　it。
　　　　　　　〃He　was　not　addled；　or　at　least　in　this　he　was　not；　for　outside　the　window　was　a　porch　of　stone…perhaps　it　has　some　drylander　name…and　beyond　it　the　edge　of　a　wall。　It　was　still　a　long　drop　to　the　ground；　but　the　wall　was　not　far　away；　only　a　little　farther　than　I　am　tall。　But　the　tower　was　shaking　itself　to　pieces；　and　we　almost　fell　from　the　porch。　More　pieces　were　dropping。　Simon　suddenly　bent　down　and　grabbed　at　Binabik；　said　something　to　him…then　flung　him　through　the　air！　I　was　astonished！　The　troll　landed　on　the　edge　of　the　wall；　slipped　a　little　on　the　snow；　but　held　his　balance。　Miriamele　went　next；　jumping　without　help；　Binabik　kept　her　from　sliding　off　when　she　landed。　Then　Simon　urged　me；　and　I　held　my　breath　and　jumped。　I　would　have　fallen　if　the　other　two　had　not　been　waiting；　because　the　stone　porch　had　begun　to　tip　downward　as　I　went；　and　I　almost　did　not　leap　far　enough。　
　　　　　　　〃Now　Simon　stood；　trying　to　find　his　balance；　and　Miriamele　was　screaming　at　him　to　hurry；　hurry；　and　Binabik　was　shouting；　too。　Simon　leaped　and　landed；　and　as　he　did；　most　of　the　porch　dropped　away；　crashing　into　the　snow　beneath。　We　all　three　caught　at　him　and　pulled　him　to　safety　before　he　toppled　off　the　wall。
〃A　few　moments　later　the　entire　tower　collapsed　in　on　itself　with　a　noise　like　nothing　I　have　ever　heard；　louder　than　any　thunderstorm　。。。　but　you　heard　it。　You　know。　Pieces　of　stone　bigger　than　this　tent　smashed　past　us；　but　none　hit　the　wall。　Most　of　the　tower　fell　inward；　and　a　cloud　of　dust　and　snow　and　streaming　smoke　rose　up　as　high　as　the　tower　had　reached；　then　spread　out　across　the　castle　grounds。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'：
　　　　　　　Tiamak　took　a　deep　breath。　〃We　stood　for　a　long　time　staring。　It　was　as　though　I　watched　a　god　die。　I　learned　later　what　Miriamele　and　the　others　had　seen　in　the　towertop；　and　that　must　have　been　stranger　still。　When　we　could　think　of　moving　again；　Simon　led　us　down　through　the　throne　room；　past　that　astounding　chair　of　bones；　and　out　to　meet　you　and　the　rest。　I　thanked　my　Wran　deities　that　the　fighting　was　all　but　over…I　could　not　have　lifted　a　hand　if　a　Norn　had　put　a　knife　to　my　neck。〃　He　sat　for　a　while；　shaking　his　head。　Isgrimnur　cleared　his　throat。　〃So　nothing　could　have　survived；　then。　Even　if　Josua　or　Camaris　lived　until　the　end；　they　would　have　been　crushed。〃
〃We　will　never　know　from　what　remains　in　that　rubble；〃　Tiamak　said。　〃I　cannot　think　we　could　recognize　。。。〃　He　remembered　Isorn。　〃Oh；　Isgrimnur；　please；　please　forgive　me。　I　forgot。〃
Isgrimnur　shook　his　head。　〃The　doors　to　the　antechamber　came　open　a　short　while　before　the　end…I　suppose　Pryrates'　dying　put　an　end　to　his　deviltry；　his　magical　wall　or　whatever　it　was。　Some　of　the　soldiers　nearby　pulled　out　those　of　the　fallen　they　could　before　the　tower　began　to　collapse。　I；　at　least；　have　my　son's　body。〃　He　looked　down；　struggling　for　posure；　then　sighed。　〃Thank　you；　Tiamak。　I　am　sorry　to　make　you　remember。〃
Tiamak　laughed　shakily。　〃I　have　not　been　able　to　stop　talking　about　it。　We　are　all　of　us　in　this　camp　babbling　away　at　each　other　like　children；　and　have　been　since　the　tower　fell；　since　。　。。　since　everything　happened。〃
The　duke　stood；　slowly　and　painfully。　〃I　see　Strangyeard　ing。　The　others　will　meet　us。　Will　you　e　along；　Tiamak？　These　are　important　matters；　and　I　would　like　you　to　be　with　us　when　we　talk。　We　need　you　wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　The　Wrannaman　gently　bowed　his　head。　〃Of　course；　Isgrimnur。　Of　course。〃

　　　　　　　Simon　wandered　through　the　rubble　of　the　Inner　Bailey　The　melting　snow　had　shrunk　away　to　reveal　patches　of　dead　grass；　and　here　and　there　a　freshet　of　new　plant　lift　which　the　sorcerous　winter　had　not　destroyed。　The　different　hues　of　green　and　brown　were　soothing　to　his　eyes　He　had　seen　enough　of　black；　ice…white；　and　blood…red　to　last　him　several　lifetimes。
　　　　　　　He　only　wished　that　everything　followed　such　ordinary　patterns　of　renewal。　It　was　a　short　two　days　since　the　tower　had　fallen　and　the　Storm　King　had　been　vanquished；　a　time　when　he　and　his　friends　should　have　been　rejoicing　over　their　victory；　yet　here　he　was；　wandering　and　brooding。
He　had　slept　through　the　night　and　the　first　day　after　their　escape；　a　thick；　bone…weary　slumber。　Binabik　had　e　to　him　the　second　night；　telling　him　stories；　explaining；　miserating；　then　finally　sitting　with　him　in　silence　until　Simon　fell　asleep　once　more。　Others　had　visited　him　throughout　the　morning　of　this　second　day；　friends　and　acquaintances　reaching　out；　proving　to　themselves　that　he　lived；　just　as　the　sight　of　these　visitors　showed　Simon　that　the　world　still　made　a　kind　of　sense。
　　　　　　　But　Miriamele　had　not　e。
When　the　unclouded　sun　had　begun　to　slide　down　past　noon；　he　had　nerved　himself　to　go　and　see　her。　Binabik　had　assured　him　the　night　before　that　she　lived　and　was　not　badly　hurt；　so　he　did　not　fear　for　her　health；　but　the　troll's　reassurances　had　only　made　his　other　unhappiness　stronger。　If　she　was　well；　why　had　she　not　e　to　him　or　sent　a　message？
　　　　　　　He　had　found　her　at　her　tent；　in　conversation　with　Aditu；　who　earlier　that　morning　had　been　one　of　his　own　visitors。　Miriamele　had　greeted　him　in　a　friendly　enough　fashion；　and　had　exclaimed　sorrowfully　over　his　various　wounds；　as　he　had　over　hers；　but　when　he　expressed　his　sadness　over　the　deaths　of　her　uncle　and　father；　she　had　suddenly　grown　cold　and　remote。
　　　　　　　Simon　wanted　to　believe　it　was　no　more　than　the　justifiable　bitterness　of　someone　who　had　lived　through　a　terribl