fs.thesecondbookofswords-第36节

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ee　where　the　current　tumbled　precipitously　into　a　cave　that　opened　just　at　the　cliffs'　base。
　　　Looking　higher　on　the　rocky　wall；　he　tried　to　locate　the　entrance　through　which　they　had　e　into　this　realm　of　magic；　at　what　now　seemed　like　some　time　in　the　remote　past。　The　cliffs　looked　very　much　the　same；　but　if　the　entrance　cave　was　actually　here　he　could　not　see　it。
　　　Doon　now　led　them　wading　into　the　shallow　water。　They　followed　the　course　of　the　stream　bed　almost　to　the　cave；　before　stepping　out　onto　a　dry　path；　that　switchbacked　its　way　down　into　the　earth　beside　the　stream。　The　water　disappeared　now　into　a　jumble　of　rocks；　though　the　tumbling　roar　of　it　stayed　with　them。
　　　The　stream　reappeared　near　the　bottom　of　the　dark　cliff；　its　channel　now　bee　a　plex　of　artificial　basins　and　waterfalls；　followed　by　a　paved　ditch　at　the　bottom。
　　　As　the　false　sunlight　faded　out　pletely　behind　the　expedition；　another　kind　of　light　came　into　view；　ahead　of　them。　It　took　them　some　time　to　get　down　near　its　source。
Chapter　13
　　　The　reddish　light　ahead　emanated　from　fierce　torch…like　flames；　flames　that　sprang　from　many　vents　high　on　the　sides　of　another　great　cave。　These　torch…flames　appeared　to　consume　invisible　fuel；　as　if　they　fed　on　jets　of　gas　flowing　somehow　from　inside　the　earth。　So　large　was　this　cave　that　only　parts　of　it　were　effectively　illuminated　by　this　strange　light；　its　size　was　therefore　hard　to　estimate；　but　certainly　it　was　enormous。
　　　Here　again　the　stream　vanished。　This　time　its　disappearance　had　an　air　of　permanence；　as　it　dove　into　a　broad　pipe　or　conduit　of　what　looked　like　ancient　masonry；　with　its　intake　covered　by　a　heavy；　rusted　grill；　and　from　this　point　on　even　the　sound　of　the　stream　faded；　until　soon　it　was　altogether　gone。
　　　And　here　the　path　pleted　its　descent　into　this　new　cave；　across　a　fan　of　fallen　rubble。　Mark　could　make　out　sections　of　high　wall　still　standing　on　either　side　of　the　path。　It　appeared　that　some　defensive　works　had　once　stood　here；　had　been　breached　by　some　powerful　attack；　and　then　had　never　been　repaired。　And　indeed　the　dark　hillside　that　the　party　was　now　descending　looked　in　the　headlamps'　beams　like　some　dream　of　an　old　battlefield；　with　fragments　of　old　bones　and　rusted　weapons　mingled　with　the　earth　and　the　fallen　stones　of　the　wall。
　　　Now；　from　somewhere　ahead；　a　new　sound　was　suddenly　audible。　It　was　dull　and　thick；　heavy　and　rhythmic；　loud　as　a　great　slow　drum；　ominous　as　a　troubled　heart。
　　　〃Our　presence　has　been　noted；　I'm　afraid；〃　Mitspieler　mented　on　hearing　it。　〃I　will　do　what　I　can；　but　I　advise　you　to　be　ready　to　fight。〃
　　　At　a　distance　of　twenty　meters　or　so　ahead；　the　cave's　illumination　was　somewhat　brighter。　There　the　walls　narrowed　in；　bringing　the　towering　gas…flames　a　little　closer　on　either　hand。　At　about　the　same　place；　the　slope　of　the　rubbled　hillside　gentled；　until　there　ceased　to　be　a　slope　at　all。　The　drum；　if　such　it　was；　continued　sounding　somewhere　in　the　distance。　It　was　acpanied　now　by　other　dull；　booming　sounds；　that　made　Mark　think　of　the　stone　lids　of　sarcophagi　falling　back。　He　wished　that　image　had　not　e　to　him；　for　now　in　the　middle　distance；　beyond　the　narrowing　of　the　cave；　he　could　see　long　rows　of　what　might　be　couches；　or；　in　the　poor　light；　elevated　coffins。　He　saw；　or　imagined　that　he　saw；　draped　human　forms　recumbent　upon　some　of　these；　or　perhaps　in　them。　And　he　thought　or　imagined　that　some　of　these　forms　were　stirring　into　action　as　the　great　war　drum　quickened　its　beat　slightly。。。
　　　。。。　but　there　were　two　drums；　Mark　realized　now；　and　probably　no　sarcophagi…lids　at　all。　He　thought　of　focusing　his　lamp's　beam　into　the　distance　to　make　sure；　but　decided　not　to　risk　disturbing　whoever　might　be　there　with　a　bright　light。
　　　Doon　and　his　four　followers　continued　their　advance。　But　now；　directly　in　their　path；　just　at　the　place　where　the　cave　narrowed　and　the　flames　were　brighter；　a　limping　human　form　appeared　to　bar　their　way。　This　figure；　armed　with　shield　and　spear　and　helmet；　was　quickly　joined　by　another　and　another。　More　appeared；　until　there　were　ten　in　all；　all　in　motley　clothing　and　irregularly　armed　and　armored。　Unmatching　uniforms；　faded　or　shredded；　hung　upon　unhealthy…looking　bodies；　some　scrawny　and　some　bloated。　The　thin　men　were　so　thin　that　for　a　moment　Mark　feared　that　he　and　his　panions　were　about　to　encounter　skeletons　animated　by　some　new　power　of　magic；　but　this　impression　passed　as　they　drew　closer。
　　　The　force　assembled　to　oppose　them　acted　more　effectively　than　their　first　appearance　had　suggested。　When　their　leader　barked　a　short　mand　it　was　vigorously　executed。　Their　weapons；　drawn　and　presented　now；　were　in　some　cases　little　more　than　bars　of　rust；　but　they　were　held　in　firm　readiness。
　　　He　who　acted　the　part　of　their　officer　now　slouched　a　step　forward　from　the　center　of　the　patchwork　line。　〃The　password！〃　he　demanded；　facing　toward　Doon's　advancing　group。　His　voice　was　a　dry　croak；　as　if　the　throat　that　formed　it　might　not　have　been　used　for　a　long　time。。。　〃Give　me　the　password！〃
　　　〃In　a　moment〃　Doon　called　back；　quite　calmly。　〃I　have　it　here　in　hand。〃　He　brandished　Wayfinder。　In　the　near　darkness　at　Mark's　right；　Ariane's　sling　had　begun　whining　its　dull　song　of　warning；　and　the　hope　passed　briefly　through　his　mind　that　she　might　be　as　good　as　Barbara　with　that　weapon。　Mark　had　his　bow　in　hand　already；　and　had　dropped　his　pack。　Now　he　reached　back　to　draw　an　arrow　from　his　quiver。　He　saw　Ben's　Sword　e　out。　And　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　Mitspieler　start　to　raise　one　hand；　and　disappear。
　　　The　opposing　leader　snapped　out　another　mand；　and　his　ragged　rank　of　followers　charged　to　the　attack。　They　made　their　move　with　evident　good　discipline　and　determination；　though　not　with　overwhelming　energy　or　speed。　Mark　was　able　to　get　off　two　shots；　scoring　hits　with　both；　before　he　had　to　drop　his　bow　and　defend　himself　at　close　quarters　with　his　long　knife。　A　moment　later　the　spearman　who　was　menacing　him　had　his　thin　legs　cut　out　from　under　him　by　Ben's　Dragonslicer。
　　　Two　more　of　the　enemy　had　already　been　chopped　down　by　the　Baron；　and　the　two　struck　by　Mark's　arrows　were　out　of　action。　From　the　hands　of　one　of　these　Ariane　had　seized　a　mace；　and　she　was　making　the　air　perilous　around　her　with　inexpert　swings。
　　　The　first　clash　was　over；　and　Doon's　party　had　managed　to　get　through　it　without　injury。　Six　or　eight　of　the　enemy　were　still　on　their　feet　…　they　must；　thought　Mark；　have　received　some　reinforcement　that　he　had　not　noticed　during　the　skirmish　…　and　they　had　retreated　now　to　some　little　distance；　dragging　wounded　with　them。　Even　as　they　were　trying　to　reform　their　rank；　some　invisible　force　began　to　strike　at　them。　One　after　another　were　felled；　as　by　blows　from　an　unseen　hand。　As　the　third　man　went　down；　the　rest　scattered　in　fear　and　confusion。　They　cried　out　alarms　as　they　dispersed　back　into　the　shadowed　depths　of　the　enormous　cave；　among　the　rows　of　couches。
　　　In　the　area　that　they　had　just　quitted；　a　human　form　now　seemed　to　materialize　out　of　the　air。　It　was　Mitspieler；　the　wizard　was　holding　a　bloodied　dagger　in　one　hand　as　he　came　strolling　back　to　his　panions。
　　　〃I　think；〃　he　called　to　them；　〃that　the　help　they　cry　for　may　be　some　little　time　in　arriving。　But　it　will　e　in　great　numbers　when　it　does；　so　we　should　waste　no　time。　Baron　…　and　the　rest　of　you　as　well；　I　now　hold　you　to　your　pledge。　Loan　me　the　Sword　again；　or　else　bend　your　own　will　upon　it；　to　help　me　find　what　I　am　looking　for。〃
　　　The　Baron；　like　his　followers；　was　picking　up　the　backpack　he　had　dropped　to　fight。　He　hesitated　only　briefly　before　answering。　〃And　what　is　that？〃
　　　〃I　am　trying　to　locate　a　certain　member　of　the　garrison；　who　came　here　as　a　robber　like　ourselves；　but　more　than　a　century　ago。　Most　likely　he　is　in　one　of　these　barracks…beds；　but　the　rows　of　them　look　endless；　and　it　could　take　a　long　time　to　find　him　without　the　Sword。〃
　　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Doon　resignedly；　and　gripped　Wayfinder　with　both　hands；　as　if　preparing　to　deal　some　mighty　blow。　He　stared　at　the　Sword。　〃Let　Wayfinder　lead　us　to　him；　whoever　and　wherever　he　is　…　and　then　on　to　the　gold。〃　And　he　swung　the　blade's　point　in　an　arc；　until　the　power　in　it　signaled　to　him。
　　　Headlamps　probing　ahead；　the　five　raced　in　the　indicated　direction；　between　long　rows　of　coffin…couches；　and　into　dim　regions　that　were　farther　from　the　torch…flames　on　the　receding　walls。　Gradually　the　enormous　size　of　this　cavern　was　being　more　apparent。　The　bed…pedestals；　some　of　which　bore　the　dead　or　sleeping　forms　of　warriors；　when　seen　close　at　hand　were　not　quite　like　normal　beds　and　not　like　biers　…　Mark　was　suddenly　reminded　of　the　worm…addicts'　couches　in　the　basement　of　the　Red　Temple。
　　　〃The　garrison　is　enormous；〃　he　mented　as　they　trotted　through　it。　〃Where　did　they　all　e　from？〃
　　　Mitspieler；　panting　as　he　kept　pace；　answered。　〃From　parties　like　our　own。　Some　large；　some　small；　all　ing；　like　us；　to　pillage　the　Blue　Temple。〃
　　　〃So　many？〃
　　　〃It's　been　going　on　for　centuries；　since　before　any　of　us　were　born。。。　They　are　bound　by　strong　magic　in　t