fs.thesecondbookofswords-第31节
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ip； as if to facilitate the easy leap； no more than a long stride； facilitate between them。 The intervening space was deep enough to almost swallow up their light beams； but less than two meters wide。 The other opening was also equipped with handgrips； elementary metal studs； set into masonry sockets on both sides of it。
The Sword urged them straight ahead； across the slowly misaligning gap。 Doon leaped out first； and landed lightly on the step。 He at once moved up another step； into the other tunnel； which appeared to slope downward sharply from just inside its entrance。 With his hand that did not hold the Sword； he motioned imperiously for the others to lose no time in following。
Ben took a step forward； that would have been followed by a jump； but for the sudden drag of Ariane's hand upon his sleeve。 He halted his movement and turned to meet her eyes； saw them for a moment looking entranced and almost sightless。
In the moment when Ben delayed； Hubert； with the crossbow jouncing lightly on his back leaped out and landed。
Under Hubert's feet the first step of stone fell free at one end like a trapdoor； slamming back against the wall。 His hands； grabbing in reflex for the iron studs； for anything to hold； clutched at flat slippery stone。 The metal projections； moving in concert with the falling stone； had slid back into their sockets。 Hubert's fingers banged helplessly at the smooth surface and were gone； as he fell with a maddened scream into the gap between the walls。
Doon had spun around and tried to grab him； but no human being could have moved quickly enough。 Nor could any of the people who were still on the inner； slow…turning wall react in time。 Mark； looking down into the narrow chasm； could see Hubert's Old World headlamp turning and bouncing； bouncing and turning again； receding with the body that still wore it。 The man's screams had already ceased。 The light flashed and flickered in its spinning fall； at one instant revealing fantastic rock formations that in the next instant were again plunged into darkness。
The light bounced once more and was still。 The beam； as bright as ever； shone steadily now on more sharp rocks； and also on what looked like a boneyard of the fallen； a scattering of white distant splinters and what might have been round skulls。
The survivors had not a moment to spend in pondering Hubert's fate； not with the relentless rotation of the inner wall steadily carrying the tunnel mouths apart。 Some internal mechanism had already brought the trapdoor shelf back up into its innocent…looking raised position。 Doon； on the far side of the gap； caught one end of a rope thrown him by Ben； and braced himself well back in the descending tunnel。 With Ben holding the other end of the rope； Mitspieler was the first to cross with its insurance； gripping a loop as he jumped and landed on the step； which this time held its load solidly。 Mitspieler scrambled on to where Doon stood； and helped him to hold the far end of the rope。
〃The Sword didn't warn us！〃 Ariane plained； as if surprised at some friend's treachery。 Meanwhile she landed safely in her turn。
〃That is not its function！〃 the Baron snapped at her； as she appeared beside him to help him hold the rope。 And in the next instant Mark was safely over。 Indosuaros was next。 And Ben； holding his own of the rope； and with the monkbird fluttering dumbly round his head； was last to cross。 The hinged step supported his bulk solidly； as it had done for everyone but Hubert。
The six survivors； gathered now on the side of the gap that they hoped was toward the treasure； looked back to watch the mouth of the tunnel they had just quitted turn slowly out of sight behind a flange of rock。
〃We'll not have long to wait for a passage to open when we e back；〃 said Doon。 There was great confidence in his voice； as if Mark's idea of the turning tunnels had been his all along； more； as if he； Doon； had proven that it was right； beyond all possibility of doubt。 〃There are twelve or more of those rotating tunnels； we calculated。 So if yon great wheel turns only twice a day； there should never be need to wait more than an hour for an alignment。 We can be sure of that。〃
Whether they were all sure of it or not； no one said anything。 At the moment there was only one thing in Ben's mind： with the vanishing of the last crescent of the other tunnel； there was no immediate possibility of turning back。
The Baron added： 〃When we e back； we might be in a hurry。 So before we go on we'd better figure out just how this damned trap…step works。〃 He spoke in a businesslike tone。 And he began cautious experimentation； which soon revealed that the step remained rock solid as long as no one was standing on the step just above it … where Doon himself had been standing when Hubert made his fatal jump。 A substantial weight upon the second step evidently released some kind of hidden latch that let the first step swing down the instant it was burdened。
〃I suppose the priests and the Whitehands have that little game memorized … or they don't forget it more than once； when they e this way two at a time。 Well； we know it now。 Let's move on。〃
Although there seemed to be only one possible way to go from here； Doon used the Sword。 It pointed them forward； through the descending tunnel； and they followed it。 After that short； steep descent they were plunged into a maze of tunnels； passages interconnecting sometimes by holes in floor and overhead as well as ordinary doorways。 There were doors； some closed； some standing open。 On doors and walls alike strange symbols had been carved and painted。
Wayfinder ignored the symbols and the doors alike； and chose an open way。 Again； as always； Doon led the others with his Sword in hand。 He looked more carefully now at the stone floor before he trod on it； and those behind him looked at it again in turn。
Once or twice in the maze the Baron paused； and ordered Ariane to send the monkbird on ahead。 Each time it came back soon； and said little。 She had trouble interpreting what it said； and presently they gave up trying to use it altogether。
Now suddenly there was only one tunnel again。 It curved sharply； first to the right； then back to the left again。 From beyond that final bend a light appeared； that looked to Ben like cheerful daylight。 Moving forward； he could hear running water； and then the songs of birds。
Chapter 12
In the last meters of its length； the curving tunnel's smooth interior gave way to rough rock； so that the passage appeared to be turning into a natural cave。 Mark； emerging behind Doon from the cave's mouth； blinked in what appeared to be sunlight； filtered through the foliage of majestic treetops some meters overhead。 The air was warm； and a fresh breeze stirred the high branches。 Birds flitted among them； and along the ran ace of the red rock cliff from which the cave emerged。 The sound of rushing water； as from a small waterfall or tumbling stream； came from somewhere near at hand but out of sight。 The forest grew up close to the cliff。 Its grassy； open floor was some meters below the rocky shelf on which the six intruders gathered in front of the cave's mouth。 From that shelf a barely discernible path wound down； among boulders of the reddish rock； to disappear as soon as it got in among the trees。 The highest portion of the cliff was masked by branches of the towering trees； which also effectively concealed most of the sky； but so bright was that seeming sky that the effect was not gloom； but wele shade。 Mark raised a hand to turn off his headlamp； and saw that everyone else was doing likewise。
〃We have reached the sealing of magic；〃 Mitspieler announced； in a deep solemn voice。 He spoke so rarely that everyone tended to look at him when he did。 〃Given the correct password； we could walk through it as easily as the Blue Temple priests must do。 Master； do you think it is worthwhile for us to try again to divine what that word is？〃
Indosuaros glanced at him； sighed； and shook his head。 〃We have tried that often enough； and learned nothing。〃
Doon said impatiently： 〃The Sword will guide us through。〃
Indosuaros agreed。 〃But； as we have seen； it cannot warn of traps。 In this sealing； that task will be up to me。 It will not be easy； and I want to rest before we start。〃
The Baron considered。 〃Agreed。 We can all use a rest at this point； if we can find a suitable place。〃
The two wizards looked out over the scene and conferred together in low voices for a few moments。 Then Indosuaros announced： 〃We can at least go down to the foot of the cliff safely。 I suppose no one needs warning that not everything you will see here conforms to reality。 I can tell you already that the grass and trees are real； at least for the most part； though I suppose they must be magically maintained。 We are of course still inside a cave。 This is a very large room just how large I cannot tell as yet … and naturally lightless。 What you perceive as sun and sky and wind are all artifacts of wizardry； and just what reality they may conceal I cannot yet be certain。 But we can go forward in safety for a little way at least。〃
〃Wh
