red eve-第48章

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asked　in　his　cold　voice：

〃Who　am　I；　Eve　Clavering？〃

〃The　Man　who　came　to　visit　me　in　my　dream　at　Avignon　and　told　me　that
I　should　live；〃　she　answered　slowly。

〃And　who　say　you　that　I　am；　Andrew　Arnold；　priest　of　Christ　the　God？〃

〃He　whom　I　visited　in　my　youth　in　far　Cathay；〃　answered　the　old　knight
in　an　awed　whisper。　〃He　who　sat　beside　the　pool　behind　the　dragon…
guarded　doors　and　was　named　Gateway　of　the　Gods。　He　who　showed　to　me
that　we　should　meet　again　in　such　a　place　and　hour　as　this。〃

〃Whence　come　you　now；　priest　and　woman；　and　why？〃

〃We　come　from　Avignon。　We　fled　thence　from　one　who　would　have　done
this　maiden　grievous　wrong。　He　followed　us。　Not　an　hour　gone　he
overtook　us　with　his　knaves。　He　set　them　on　to　seize　this　woman；
hanging　back　himself。　Old　as　I　am　I　slew　them　both　and　got　my　death　in
it；〃　and　he　touched　the　great　wound　in　his　side　with　the　hilt　of　the
broken　sword。　〃Our　horses　were　the　better；　we　fled　across　the　swamp
for　Blythburgh；　he　hunting　us　and　seeking　my　life　and　her　honour。　Thus
we　found　you　as　it　was　appointed。〃

Murgh　turned　his　eyes。　Following　their　glance；　for　the　first　time　they
saw　Hugh　de　Cressi　and　near　him　Grey　Dick　labouring　at　the　grave。　Eve
stretched　out　her　arms　and　so　stood　with　head　thrown　back；　the　light
of　the　daybreak　shining　in　her　lovely　eyes　and　on　her　outspread　hair。
Hugh　opened　his　lips　to　speak　but　Murgh　lifted　his　hand　and　pointed
behind　them。

They　turned　and　there；　not　twenty　paces　from　them；　clad　in　armour　and
seated　on　a　horse　was　Edmund　Acour；　Count　de　Noyon；　Seigneur　of
Cattrina。

He　saw；　then　wheeled　round　to　fly。

〃Archer；　to　your　work！〃　said　Murgh；　〃you　know　it。〃

Ere　the　words　had　left　his　lips　the　great　black　bow　was　bent　and　ere
the　echoes　died　away　the　horse；　struck　in　its　side　by　the　keen　arrow；
sank　dying　to　the　ground。

Then　Murgh　beckoned　to　the　rider　and　he　came　as　a　man　who　must。　But；
throwing　down　the　bow；　Grey　Dick　once　more　began　to　labour　at　the
grave　like　one　who　takes　no　further　heed　of　aught　save　his　allotted
task。

Acour　stood　before　Murgh　like　a　criminal　before　his　judge。

〃Man；〃　said　the　awful　figure　addressing　him；　〃where　have　you　been　and
what　have　you　done　since　last　we　spoke　together　in　the　midday　dark　at
Venice？〃

Now；　dragged　word　by　slow　word　from　his　unwilling　lips；　came　the
answer　of　the　traitor's　heart。

〃I　fled　from　the　field　at　Venice　because　I　feared　this　knight；　and
you；　O　Spirit　of　Death。　I　journeyed　to　Avignon；　in　France；　and　there
strove　to　possess　myself　of　yonder　woman　whom　here　in　England；　with
the　help　of　one　Nicholas；　I　had　wed；　when　she　was　foully　drugged。　I
strove　to　possess　myself　of　her　by　fraud　and　by　violence。　But　some
fate　was　against　me。　She　and　that　aged　priest　bribed　the　knave　whom　I
trusted。　He　caused　a　dead　man　and　woman　dressed　in　their　garments　to
be　borne　from　their　lodging　to　the　plague　pit　while　they　fled　from
Avignon　disguised。〃

Here　for　a　moment　Grey　Dick　paused　from　his　labours　at　the　grave　and
looked　up　at　Hugh。　Then　he　fell　to　them　again；　throwing　out　the　peaty
soil　with　both　hands。

〃My　enemy　and　his　familiar；　for　man　he　can　scarcely　be；〃　went　on
Acour；　pointing　first　to　Hugh　and　then　to　Dick；　〃survived　all　my　plans
to　kill　them　and　instead　killed　those　whom　I　had　sent　after　them。　I
learned　that　the　woman　and　the　priest　were　not　dead；　but　fled；　and
followed　them；　and　after　me　came　my　enemy　and　his　familiar。　Twice　we
passed　each　other　on　the　road；　once　we　slept　in　the　same　house。　I　knew
them　but　they　knew　me　not　and　the　Fate　which　blinded　me　from　them；
saved　them　also　from　all　my　plots　to　bring　them　to　their　doom。　The
woman　and　the　priest　took　ship　to　England；　and　I　followed　in　another
ship；　being　made　mad　with　desire　and　with　jealous　rage；　for　there　I
knew　my　enemy　would　find　and　win　her。　In　the　darkness　before　this　very
dawn　I　overtook　the　woman　and　the　priest　at　last　and　set　my　fellows　on
to　kill　the　man。　Myself　I　would　strike　no　blow；　fearing　lest　my　death
should　come　upon　me；　and　so　I　should　be　robbed　of　her。　But　God　fought
with　His　aged　servant　who　in　his　youth　was　the　first　of　knights。　He
slew　my　men；　then　fled　on　with　the　woman；　Eve　of　Clavering。　I
followed；　knowing　that　he　was　sore　wounded　and　must　die；　and　that　then
the　beauty　which　has　lured　me　to　shame　and　ruin　would　be　mine；　if　only
for　an　hour。　I　followed；　and　here　at　this　place　of　evil　omen；　where
first　I　saw　my　foe；　I　found　/you/；　O　Incarnate　Sword　of　Vengeance。〃

Murgh　unfolded　his　bare　arms　and　lifted　his　head；　which　was　sunk　upon
his　breast。

〃Your　pardon；〃　he　said　gently；　〃my　name　is　Hand　of　Fate　and　not　Sword
of　Vengeance。　There　is　no　vengeance　save　that　which　men　work　upon
themselves。　What　fate　may　be　and　vengeance　may　be　I　know　not　fully；
and　none　will　ever　know　until　they　have　passed　the　Gateway　of　the
Gods。　Archer　the　grave　is　deep　enough。　Come　forth　now　and　let　us　learn
who　it　is　decreed　shall　fill　it。　Knights；　the　hour　is　at　hand　for　you
to　finish　that　which　you　began　at　Crecy　and　at　Venice。〃

Hugh　heard　and　drew　his　sword。　Acour　drew　his　sword　also；　then　cried
out；　pointing　to　Grey　Dick：

〃Here　be　two　against　one。　If　I　conquer　he　will　shoot　me　with　his　bow。〃

〃Have　no　fear；　Sir　Thief　and　Liar；〃　hissed　Grey　Dick；　〃for　that　shaft
will　not　be　needed。　Slay　the　master　if　you　can　and　go　safe　from　the
squire；〃　and　he　unstrung　his　black　bow　and　hid　it　in　its　case。

Now　Hugh　stepped　to　where　Red　Eve　stood；　the　wounded　Sir　Andrew
leaning　on　her　shoulder。　Bending　down　he　kissed　her　on　the　lips；
saying：

〃Soon；　very　soon；　my　sweet；　whom　I　have　lost　and　found　again；　you　will
be　mine　on　earth；　or　I　shall　be　yours　in　heaven。　This；　then；　in
greeting　or　farewell。〃

〃In　greeting；　beloved；　not　in　farewell；〃　she　answered　as　she　kissed
him　back；　〃for　if　you　die；　know　that　I　follow　hard　upon　your　road。　Yet
I　say　that　yonder　grave　was　not　dug　for　you。〃

〃Nay；　not　for　you；　son；　not　for　you；〃　said　Sir　Andrew　lifting　his
faint　head。　〃One　fights　for　you　whom　you　do　not　see；　and　against　Him
Satan　and　his　servant　cannot　stand；〃　and　letting　fall　the　sword　hilt
he　stretched　out　his　thin　hand　and　blessed　him。

Now　when　Acour　saw　that　embrace　his　jealous　fury　prevailed　against　his
fears。　With　a　curse　upon　his　lips　he　leapt　at　Hugh　and　smote；　thinking
to　take　him　unawares。　But　Hugh　was　watching；　and　sprang　back；　and　then
the　fray　began；　if　fray　it　can　be　called。

A　wild　joy　shining　in　his　eyes；　Hugh　grasped　his　long　sword　with　both
hands　and　struck。　So　great　was　that　blow　that　it　bit　through　Acour's
armour；　beneath　his　right　arm；　deep　into　the　flesh　and　sent　him
staggering　back。　Again　he　struck　and　wounded　him　in　the　shoulder；　a
third　time　and　clove　his　helm　so　that　the　blood　poured　down　into　his
eyes　and　blinded　him。

Back　reeled　Acour；　back　to　the　very　edge　of　the　grave；　and　stood　there
swaying　to　and　fro。　At　the　sight　of　his　helplessness　Hugh's　fury
seemed　to　leave　him。　His　lifted　sword　sank　downward。

〃Let　God　deal　with　you；　knave；〃　he　said；　〃for　I　cannot。〃

For　a　while　there　was　silence。　There　they　stood　and　stared　at　the
smitten　man　waiting　the　end；　whatever　it　might　be。　They　all　stared
save　Murgh；　who　fixed　his　stony　eyes　upon　the　sky。

Presently　it　came。　The　sword；　falling　from　Acour's　hand　into　the
grave；　rested　there　point　upward。　With　a　last　effort　he　drew　his
dagger。　Dashing　the　blood　from　his　eyes；　he　hurled　it　with　all　his
dying　strength；　not　at　Hugh；　but　at　Red　Eve。　Past　her　ear　it　hissed；
severing　a　little　tress　of　her　long　hair；　which　floated　down　on　to　the
snow。

Then　Acour　threw　his　arms　wide　and　fell　backwardfell　backward　and
vanished　in　the　grave。

Dick　ran　to　look。　There　he　lay　dead；　pierced　through　back　and　bosom　by
the　point　of　his　own　sword。

For　one　brief　flash　of　time　a　black　dove…shaped　bird　was　seen　hovering
round　the　head　of　Murgh。

〃Finished！〃　said　Dick　straightening　himself。　〃Well；　I　had　hoped　to　see
a　better　fight；　but　cowards　die　as　cowards　live。〃

Leaning　on　Red　Eve's　shoulder　Sir　Andrew　limped　to　the　side　of　the
grave。　They　both　looked　down　on　that　which　lay　therein。

〃Daughter；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃through　many　dangers　it　has　come　about
as　I　foretold。　The　bond　that　in　your　drugged　sleep　bound　you　to　this
highborn　knave　is　severed　by　God's　sword　of　death。　Christ　have　pity　on
his　sinful　soul。　Now；　Sir　Hugh　de　Cressi；　come　hither　and　be　swift；
for　my　time　is　short。〃

Hugh　obeyed；　and　at　a　sign　took　Eve　by　the　hand。　Then；　speaking　very
low　and　as　quickly　as　he　might　for　all　his　life　was　draining　from　him
through　the　red　wound　in　his　side；　the　old　priest　spoke　the　hallowed
words　that　bound　these　two　together　till　death　should　part　them。　Yes；
there　by　the　graveside；　over　the　body　of　the　dead　Acour；　there　in　the
red　light　of　the　morning；　amidst　the　lonely　snows；　was　celebrated　the
strangest　marriage　the　world　has　ever　seen。　In　nature's　church　it　was
celebrated；　with　the　grim；　grey　Archer　for　a　clerk；　and　Death's　own
fearful　minister　for　congregation。

It　was　done　and　with　uplifted；　trembling　hands　Sir　Andrew　blessed　them
boththem　and　the　fruit　of　their　bodies　which　was　to　be。　He　blessed
them　in　the　name　of　the　all…seeing　God　he　served。　He　bade　them　put
aside　their　grief　for　those　whom　they　had　lost。　Soon；　he　said；　their
short　day　done；　the　lost　would　be　found　again；　made　glorious；　and　with
them　himself；　who；　loving　them　both　on　earth；　would　love　them　through
eternity。

Then；　while　their　eyes　grew　blind　with　tears；　and　even　the　fierce
archer　turned　aside　his　face；　Sir　Andrew　staggered　to　where　he　stood
who　in　the　Land　of　Sunrise　had　been　called　Gateway　of　the　Gods。　Before
him　he　bent　his　grey　and　ancient　head。

〃O　thou　who　dwellest　here　below　to　do　the　will　of　heaven；　to　thee　I
come　as　once　thou　badest　me；〃　he　said；　and　was　silent。

Murgh　let　his　eyes　rest　on　him。　Then　stretching　out　his　hand；　he
touched　him　very　gently　on　the　breast；　and　as　he　touched　him　smiled　a
sweet　and　wondrous　smile。

〃Good　and　faithful　servant；〃　he　said；　〃thy　work　is　done　on　earth。　Now
I；　whom　all　men　fear；　though　I　be　their　friend　and　helper；　am　bidden
by　the　Lord　of　life　and　death　to　call　thee　home。　Look　up　and　pass！〃

The　old　priest　obeyed。　It　seemed　to　those　who　watched　that　the
radiance　on　the　face　of　Murgh　had　fallen　upon　him　also。　He　smiled；　he
stretched　his　arms　upward　as　though　to　clasp　what　they　might　not　see。
Then　down　he　sank　gently；　as　though　upon　a　bed；　and　lay　white　and
still　in　the　white；　still　snow。



The　Helper　turned　to　the　three　who　remained　alive。

〃Farewell　for　a　little　time；〃　he　said。　〃I　must　be　gone。　But　when　we
meet　again；　as　meet　we　shall；　then　fear　me　not；　for　have　you　not　seen
that　to　those　who　love　me　I　am　gentle？〃

Hugh　de　Cressi　and　Red　Eve　made　no　answer；　for　they　knew　not　what　to
say。　But　Grey　Dick　spoke　out　boldly。

〃Sir　Lord；　or　Sir　Spirit；〃　he　said；　〃save　once　at　the　beginning；　when
the　arrow　burst　upon　my　string；　I　never　feared　you。　Nor　do　I　fear　your
gifts；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　grave　and　to　dead　Sir　Andrew；　〃which　of
late　have　been　plentiful　throughout　the　world；　as　we　of　Dunwich　know。
Therefore　I　dare　to　ask　you　one　question　ere　we　part　for　a　while。　Why
do　you　take　one　and　leave　another？　Is　it　bec