tp.wyrd sisters-第43节

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　Granny　hesitated。
　'He　was　probably　suspicious　of　you；'　she　concluded。　'He　was　probably　too　overe　to　speak；　really。'
　She　put　down　the　bowl　of　beans　and　looked　thoughtfully　at　the　trees。
　'Have　you　got　any　family　still　working　up　at　the　castle？'　she　said。
　'Shirl　and　Daff　help　out　in　the　kitchens　since　the　cook　went　off　his　head。'
　'Good。　I'll　have　a　word　with　Magrat。　I　think　we　should　see　this　theatre。'
　
　'Perfect；'　said　the　duke。
　'Thank　you；'　said　Hwel。
　'You've　got　it　exactly　spot　on　about　that　dreadful　accident；'　said　the　duke。　'You　might　almost　have　been　there。　Ha。　Ha。'
　'You　weren't；　were　you？'　said　Lady　Felmet；　leaning　forward　and　glaring　at　the　dwarf。
　'I　just　used　my　imagination；'　said　Hwel　hurriedly。　The　duchess　glared　at　him；　suggesting　that　his　imagination　could　consider　itself　lucky　it　wasn't　being　dragged　off　to　the　courtyard　to　explain　itself　to　four　angry　wild　horses　and　a　length　of　chain。
　'Exactly　right；'　said　the　duke；　leafing　one…handedly　through　the　pages。　'This　is　exactly；　exactly；　exactly　how　it　was。'
　'Will　have　been；'　snapped　the　duchess。
　The　duke　turned　another　page。
　'You're　in　this　too；'　he　said。　'Amazing。　It's　a　word　for　word　how　I'm　going　to　remember　it。　I　see　you've　got　Death　in　it；　too。'
　'Always　popular；'　said　Hwel。　'People　expect　it。'
　'How　soon　can　you　act　it？'
　'Stage　it；'　corrected　Hwel；　and　added；　'We've　tried　it　out。　As　soon　as　you　like。'　And　then　we　can　get　away　from　here；　he　said　to　himself；　away　from　your　eyes　like　two　raw　eggs　and　this　female　mountain　in　the　red　dress　and　this　castle　which　seems　to　act　like　a　magnet　for　the　wind。　This　is　not　going　to　go　down　as　one　of　my　best　plays；　I　know　that　much。
　'How　much　did　we　say　we　were　going　to　pay　you？'　said　the　duchess。
　'I　think　you　mentioned　another　hundred　silver　pieces；'　said　Hwel。
　'Worth　every　penny；'　said　the　duke。
　Hwel　left　hurriedly；　before　the　duchess　could　start　to　bargain。　But　he　felt　he'd　gladly　pay　something　to　be　out　of　this　place。　Bijou；　he　thought。　Gods；　how　could　anyone　like　a　kingdom　like　this？
　
　The　Fool　waited　in　the　meadow　with　the　lake。　He　stared　wistfully　at　the　sky　and　wondered　where　the　hell　Magrat　was。　This　was；　she　said；　their　place；　the　fact　that　a　few　dozen　cows　also　shared　it　at　the　moment　didn't　appear　to　make　any　difference。
　She　turned　up　in　a　green　dress　and　a　filthy　temper。
　'What's　all　this　about　a　play？'　she　said。
　The　Fool　sagged　on　to　a　willow　log。
　'Aren't　you　glad　to　see　me？'　he　said。
　'Well；　yes。　Of　course。　Now；　this　play　。　。　。'
　'My　lord　wants　something　to　convince　people　that　he　is　the　rightful　King　of　Lancre。　Himself　mostly；　I　think。'
　'Is　that　why　you　went　to　the　city？'
　'Yes。'
　'It's　disgusting！'
　The　Fool　sat　calmly。　'You　would　prefer　the　duchess's　approach？'　he　said。　'She　just　thinks　they　ought　to　kill　everyone。　She's　good　at　that　sort　of　thing。　And　then　there'd　be　fighting；　and　everything。　Lots　of　people　would　die　anyway。　This　way　might　be　easier。'
　'Oh；　where's　your　spunk；　man？'
　'Pardon？'
　'Don't　you　want　to　die　nobly　for　a　just　cause？'
　'I'd　much　rather　live　quietly　for　one。　It's　all　right　for　you　witches；　you　can　do　what　you　like；　but　I'm　circumscribed；'　said　the　Fool。
　Magrat　sat　down　beside　him。　Find　out　all　about　this　play；　Granny　had　ordered。　Go　and　talk　to　that　jingling　friend　of　yours。　She'd　replied；　He's　very　loyal。　He　might　not　tell　me　anything。　And　Granny　had　said；　This　is　no　time　for　half　measures。　If　you　have　to；　seduct　him。
　'When's　this　play　going　to　be；　then？'　she　said；　moving　closer。
　'Marry；　I'm　sure　I'm　not　allowed　to　tell　you；'　said　the　Fool。　'The　duke　said　to　me；　he　said；　don't　tell　the　witches　that　it's　tomorrow　night。'
　'I　shouldn't；　then；'　agreed　Magrat。
　'At　eight　o'clock。'
　'I　see。'
　'But　meet　for　sherry　beforehand　at　seven…thirty；　i'faith。'
　'I　expect　you　shouldn't　tell　me　who　is　invited；　either；'　said　Magrat。
　'That's　right。　Most　of　the　dignitaries　of　Lancre。　You　understand　I'm　not　telling　you　this。'
　'That's　right；'　said　Magrat。
　'But　I　think　you　have　a　right　to　know　what　it　is　you're　not　being　told。'
　'Good　point。　Is　there　still　that　little　gate　around　the　back；　that　leads　to　the　kitchens？'
　'The　one　that　is　often　left　unguarded？'
　'Yes。'
　'Oh；　we　hardly　ever　guard　it　these　days。'
　'Do　you　think　there　might　be　someone　guarding　it　at　around　eight　o'clock　tomorrow？'
　'Well；　I　might　be　there。'
　'Good。'
　The　Fool　pushed　away　the　wet　nose　of　an　inquisitive　cow。
　'The　duke　will　be　expecting　you；'　he　added。
　'You　said　he　said　we　weren't　to　know。'
　'He　said　I　mustn't　tell　you。　But　he　also　said；　〃They'll　e　anyway；　I　hope　they　do。〃　Strange；　really。　He　seemed　in　a　very　good　mood　when　he　said　it。　Um。　Can　I　see　you　after　the　show？'
　'Is　that　all　he　said？'
　'Oh；　there　was　something　about　showing　witches　their　future。　I　didn't　understand　it。　I　really　would　like　to　see　you　after　the　show；　you　know。　I　brought…'
　'I　think　I　might　be　washing　my　hair；'　said　Magrat　vaguely。　'Excuse　me；　I　really　ought　to　be　going。'
　'Yes；　but　I　brought　you　this　pres…'　said　the　Fool　vaguely；　watching　her　departing　figure。
　He　sagged　as　she　disappeared　between　the　trees；　and　looked　down　at　the　necklace　wound　tightly　between　his　nervous　fingers。　It　was；　he　had　to　admit；　terribly　tasteless；　but　it　was　the　sort　of　thing　she　liked；　all　silver　and　skulls。　It　had　cost　him　too　much。
　A　cow；　misled　by　his　horns；　stuck　its　tongue　in　his　ear。
　It　was　true；　the　Fool　thought。　Witches　did　do　unpleasant　things　to　people；　sometimes。
　Tomorrow　night　came；　and　the　witches　went　by　a　roundabout　route　to　the　castle；　with　considerable　reluctance。
　'If　he　wants　us　to　be　here；　I　don't　want　to　go；'　said　Granny。　'He's　got　some　plan。　He's　using　headology　on　us。'
　'There's　something　up；'　said　Magrat。　'He　had　his　men　set　fire　to　three　cottages　in　our　village　last　night。　He　always　does　that　when　he's　in　a　good　mood。　That　new　sergeant　is　a　quick　man　with　the　matches；　too。'
　'Our　Daff　said　she　saw　them　actors　practisin'　this　morning；'　said　Nanny　Ogg；　who　was　carrying　a　bag'of　walnuts　and　a　leather　bottle　from　which　rose　a　rich；　sharp　smell。　'She　said　it　was　all　shouting　and　stabbing　and　then　wondering　who　done　it　and　long　bits　with　people　muttering　to　themselves　in　loud　voices。'
　'Actors；'　said　Granny；　witheringly。　'As　if　the　world　weren't　full　of　enough　history　without　inventing　more。'
　'They　shout　so　loud；　too；'　said　Nanny。　'You　can　hardly　hear　yourself　talk。'　She　was　also　carrying；　deep　in　her　apron　pocket；　a　lump　of　haunted　castle　rock。　The　king　was　getting　in　free。
　Granny　nodded。　But；　she　thought；　it　was　going　to　be　worth　it。　She　hadn't　got　the　faintest　idea　what　Tomjon　had　in　mind；　but　her　inbuilt　sense　of　drama　assured　her　that　the　boy　would　be　bound　to　do　something　important。　She　wondered　if　he　would　leap　off　the　stage　and　stab　the　duke　to　death；　and　realised　that　she　was　hoping　like　hell　that　he　would。
　'All　hail　wossname；'　she　said　under　her　breath；　'who　shall　be　king　here；　after。'
　'Let's　get　a　move　on；'　said　Nanny。　'All　the　sherry'll　be　gone。'
　The　Fool　was　waiting　despondently　inside　the　little　wicket　gate。　His　face　brightened　when　he　saw　Magrat；　and　then　froze　in　an　expression　of　polite　surprise　when　he　saw　the　other　two。
　'There's　not　going　to　be　any　trouble；　is　there？'　he　said。　'I　don't　want　there　to　be　any　trouble。　Please。'
　'I'm　sure　I　don't　know　what　you　mean；'　said　Granny　regally；　sweeping　past。
　'Wotcha；　jinglebells；'　said　Nanny；　elbowing　the　man　in　the　ribs。　'I　hope　you　haven't　been　keeping　our　girl　here　up　late　o'nights！'
　'Nanny！'　said　Magrat；　shocked。　The　Fool　gave　the　terrified；　ingratiating　rictus　of　young　men　everywhere　when　confronted　by　importunate　elderly　women　menting　on　their　intimately　personal　lives。
　The　older　witches　brushed　past。　The　Fool　grabbed　Magrat's　hand。
　'I　know　where　we　can　get　a　good　view；'　he　said。
　She　hesitated。
　'It's　all　right；'　said　the　Fool　urgently。　'You'll　be　perfectly　safe　with　me。'
　'Yes；　I　will；　won't　I；'　said　Magrat；　trying　to　look　around　him　to　see　where　the　others　had　gone。
　'They're　staging　the　play　outside；　in　the　big　courtyard。　We'll　get　a　lovely　view　from　one　of　the　gate　towers；　and　no…one　else　will　be　there。　I　put　some　wine　up　there　for　us；　and　everything。'
　When　she　still　looked　half…reluctant　he　added；　'And　there's　a　cistern　of　water　and　a　fireplace　that　the　guards　use　sometimes。　In　case　you　want　to　wash　your　hair。'
　The　castle　was　full　of　people　standing　around　in　that　polite；　sheepish　way　affected　by　people　who　see　each　other　all　day　and　are　now　seeing　each　other　again　in　unusual　social　circumstances；　like　an　office　party。　The　witches　passed　quite　unremarked　among　them　and　found　seats　in　the　rows　of　benches　in　the　main　courtyard；　set　up　before　a　hastily　assembled　stage。
　Nanny　Ogg　waved　her　bag　of　walnuts　at　Granny。
　'Want　one？'　she　said。
　An　alderman　of　Lancre　shuffled　past　her　and　pointed　politely　to　the　seat　on　her　left。
　'Is　anyone　sitting　here？'　he　said。
　'Yes；'　said　Nanny。
　The　alderman　looked　distractedly　at　the　rest　of　the　benches；　which　were　filling　up　fast；　and　then　down　at　the　clearly　empty　space　in　front　of　him。　He　hitched　up　his　robes　with　a　determined　expressio