fs.thesecondbookofswords-第49节

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　　　〃Ah。〃　Radulescu　thought　a　moment；　then　pointed。　〃You'll　find　them　down　that　way。。。　if　you　should　be　planning　to　kill　me　when　you　have　them；　remember　that　I　haven't　shown　you　the　way　out　yet。〃
　　　Ben　turned　away　without　answering。　His　two　panions　followed　him；　leaving　Radulescu　to　the　contemplation　of　his　treasure。
　　　His　solitary　munion　with　the　crystal　dancer　did　not　last　for　long。　Presently　he　looked　up　again；　to　see　the　two　surviving　deserters　from　the　garrison　standing　in　the　doorway　gazing　at　him。　Their　eyes　were　almost　blank；　and　they　had　their　swords　in　hand。
　　　They　didn't　look　at　Radulescu　for　long；　the　surrounding　roomful　of　treasure　was　obviously　more　to　their　liking。
　　　〃e　in；　gentlemen；　e　in；〃　said　the　Colonel；　stretching　a　point　in　the　interests　of　harmony。　〃e　in　and　help　yourselves。　There's　plenty　here　for　us　all。〃
　　　Dmitry's　eyes　came　back　to　Radulescu；　then　fell　to　what　Radulescu　was　holding　in　his　hands。　〃Give　me　that　one；〃　Dmitry　said。
　　　〃No。〃　The　officer　backed　up　a　step。　And　noted；　with　hardly　more　than　irritation；　that　the　one　called　Willem　was　shifting　his　position　as　if　to　e　at　him　from　one　side。　〃And　if　you're　thinking　of　attacking　me；　remember。。。〃
　　　But　before　he　could　get　the　next　word　out；　Dmitry's　drawn　sword　was　thrusting　at　his　chest。
　　　Ben　and　Ariane　and　Mark　were　already　a　good　distance　away　from　the　room　of　crystal　statuary　when　the　bubbling　scream　reached　their　ears。　They　turned　their　heads　at　the　sound；　but　no　one　thought　of　stopping；　still　less　of　going　back。
　　　Ariane　spoke　her　first　words　in　some　time。　〃The　seventh　sealing。。。　we've　reached　it　now。〃
　　　The　others　looked　at　her。
　　　〃The　greed　of　robbers。。。　the　old　song　hints　at　it。〃　Then　she　clenched　her　eyes　shut；　and　walked　leaning　on　Ben　for　guidance　and　support。　〃Gods　and　demons；　but　my　head　hurts。　It's　bad。〃
　　　〃I　don't　wonder。〃　And　Ben　kissed　her　softly　as　they　kept　walking；　and　wished　that　they　could　stop　to　let　her　rest。　But　he　knew　better。
　　　They　passed　more　chambers　filled　with　crystal；　and　long　rooms　occupied　by　one　special　rack　after　another；　holding　tapestries。　When　they　came　to　rooms　of　jewels；　Ben　detoured　for　a　moment　to　grab　up　a　handful　and　stuff　a　pocket　with　them。　Next　was　a　hall　lined　with　shelves　filled　with　glass　jars；　containing　unknown　powders　and　liquids；　all　brilliantly　lighted　to　allow　for　easy　inspection　by　someone　simply　walking　past。　There　were　labels　on　the　jars　and　on　the　shelves；　but　written　in　a　language　or　a　code　that　was　unreadable　to　Ben。
　　　And　now　there　was　another　lighted　room　ahead。　It　was　very　near　to　the　wall　of　living　rock　that　formed　one　end　of　the　treasure…cave。
　　　They　peered　into　the　bright　room　through　the　partition　that　made　one　of　its　walls；　arid　was　posed　of　racks　of　glittering　weaponry。　Inside　the　room　they　gazed　upon　a　mad　variety　of　other　weapons　still。　These　were　not　made；　most　of　them；　merely　for　use；　gold　again　here；　silver　again；　gems　in　profusion。　Ben　thought　he　saw　a　poniard　worked　from　a　single　emerald；　and　arrowheads　of　diamond。
　　　Toward　the　far　side　of　the　room　there　stood　a　great　tree…like　wooden　rack；　no　thing　of　art　or　value　in　itself；　but　good　to　hold　display。　It　had　twelve　wooden　branches；　and　from　each　branch　there　hung　a　woven　belt　and　sheath；　each　of　the　twelve　a　different　color。　Nine　of　the　tree's　branches　…　Ben　counted　quickly　…　and　nine　of　the　sheaths　were　empty。
　　　And　three　were　weighted　down　with　Swords；　heavy　fruit　with　only　the　black　hilts　visible。
　　　Baron　Doon　was　standing　alone　in　the　middle　of　the　chamber　of　weapons；　and　holding　one　more　Sword　in　his　hands。　The　hilt　was　concealed　in　his　two…handed　grip；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　the　perfection　of　that　blade；　it　could　have　e　from　nowhere　but　Vulcan's　forge。
　　　The　Baron　had　his　head　bent　low　over　the　weapon；　and　seemed　to　be　mumbling　something　to　it。　He　stood　with　feet　braced　wide　apart；　legs　tensed；　as　if　he　wanted　to　be　ready　to　strike　instantly　some　prodigious　blow。
　　　Mark's　hand　had；　gripped　Ben's　arm；　enjoining　silence。　Ben's　eyes　flicked　up　again　to　the　three　Swords　that　were　still　hanging　on　the　tree；　seeking　the　white　symbols　on　the　hilts。　Mark；　he　thought；　probably　knew　what　they　all　were　…　Dame　Yoldi　had　taught　him　years　ago　…　but　Ben　himself　didn't　recognize　any　of　these。　One　looked　like　a　tiny　white　wedge；　splitting　a　white　block；　a　second　was　just　a　simple　circle；　a　rounded　line　returning　upon　itself。　And　the　hilt　of　the　third　Sword　was　turned　away；　making　it　impossible　for　Ben　to　see　its　symbol；　like　the　hilt　itself；　the　sheath　and　belt　that　held　that　one　were　black。
　　　Doon's　mumbling　voice　suddenly　rose　louder；　and　for　a　moment　Ben　thought　that　the　three　of　them　watching　through　the　rack　of　arms　had　been　discovered。　But　if　Doon　was　aware　of　their　presence　there　he　did　not　care　about　it。　He　went　on　mumbling　…　not　to　himself；　Ben　realized。　It　was　some　ritual　that　he　was　chanting；　the　same　few　words　over　and　over：
　　　〃。。。　for　thy　heart；　for　thy　heart；　who　hast　wronged　me！　For　thy　heart。。。　〃
　　　Standing　in　the　middle　of　the　open　floor；　Doon　bowed　toward　the　one　dark　doorway　of　the　room；　a　gesture　apparently　directed　toward　no　one　and　nothing。　Then　he　turned；　and　in　the　same　motion　crouched；　crouched　down　and　in　the　same　motion　continued　turning；　so　that　in　an　instant　he　had　bee　a　spinning　dancer。　And　now　it　was　as　if　the　Sword　in　his　hands　had　somehow　been　activated；　and　it　was　dragging　him　around。　The　blade；　held　out　in　his　extended　arms；　turning　ever　more　swiftly；　became　a　blur。　Quickly　the　whine　of　its　passage　through　the　air　acquired　an　unnatural　timbre。　It　swelled　and　hummed；　the　noise　of　some　great　flying　insect。
　　　Above　this　whine；　the　last　words　of　Doon's　grim　chant　came　through：　〃…thy　heart…who　hast…wronged　me！〃　And　with　that　Doon　released　the　Sword　…　or　it；　perhaps；　let　go　of　him。
　　　He　staggered　and　fell　down　in　his　tracks。　The　great　whine　vanished　abruptly　from　the　air；　as　did　the　Sword　itself。　At　the　speed　with　which　it　had　leapt　from　Doon's　hands；　it　must　have　struck　one　of　the　partitions　or　solid　walls　that　formed　the　room；　or　whirred　out　through　the　open　doorway。　But　it　had　done　neither。　It　was　simply　gone。
　　　For　a　long　moment　there　was　only　silence　in　the　cave。　Then。。。
　　　The　cry；　when　it　came；　even　muffled　by　great　distance　and　by　walls　of　rock；　was　truly　unlike　anything　that　Ben　in　his　whole　life　had　ever　heard　before。　For　a　moment　he　could　think　only　that　the　earth　itself　must　be　in　torment。　Or　that　the　gods　were　fighting　again　among　themselves；　and　some　landquake　was　ing　to　bring　the　whole　headland　crumbling　down；　carrying　all　the　caves　and　creatures　and　treasure　inside　it　into　the　sea。　The　cry　went　on　and　on；　beyond　the　capacity　of　any　human　lungs　to　have　sustained　it。
　　　Then　silence　fell　again。
　　　Then　Doon　was　laughing。
　　　He　sat　there　in　the　center　of　the　floor；　just　as　the　Sword　had　dropped　him；　with　his　legs　crumpled　awkwardly　underneath　his　body；　and　he　laughed。　His　mirth　was　loud；　and　hideous；　and　to　Ben　it　sounded　at　least　half　mad。　And　yet　it　was　also　the　most　human　sound　that　he　had　uttered　since　he　had　faced　Hermes。
　　　Mark　moved　at　last。　He　was　into　the　weapons　room；　and　past　Doon；　and　standing　beside　the　tree　of　Swords；　before　the　Baron　took　notice　of　the　fact　that　he　was　no　longer　alone。
　　　Doon　did　not　appear　to　care　much。　〃Not　many　men；〃　he　began　to　say　…　and　then　his　laughter　burst　up　again；　and　he　had　to　pause　to　conquer　it　before　he　could　continue。　〃Not　many　men　…　have　ever　slain　a　god。　Hey；　am　I　right？〃　He　looked　at　Mark；　and　then　at　Ben　and　Ariane；　who　now　stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　room。　〃But　here　was　Farslayer　…　here；　waiting　for　me。　Even　the　gods　must　be　subject　to　the　tricks　of　Fate〃
　　　〃Farslayer；〃　Mark　echoed；　in　a　voice　that　held　wonder；　and　concern。
　　　The　Baron　got　to　his　feet；　his　eyes　glittering；　and　turned　toward　Mark。　〃The　Sword　of　Vengeance；〃　said　Doon。　〃You　who　know　the　Swords　will　know　what　has　just　happened。〃
　　　It　was　at　that　moment　that　Ariane　collapsed；　quite　softly　and　without　fuss。　Ben；　who　was　standing　right　at　her　side；　was　only　just　in　time　to　catch　her。　He　lowered　her　gently　to　the　floor；　and　bent　over　her　in　anguish。
　　　A　girl's　fainting　or　dying　was　of　no　consequence　to　Doon。　〃One　god　is　dead；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　my　own　god　now；　with　these。〃　He　took　a　determined　step　toward　the　tree　of　Swords；　and　stopped　just　as　suddenly　as　he　had　moved。　One　of　the　three　Swords　that　hung　there　had　e　sighing　out　of　its　black　sheath　into　the　hands　of　Mark；　and　Mark　now　stood　confronting　him。　〃All　three　of　these　are　going　to　Sir　Andrew。〃　〃Oh？　Ah？〃
　　　〃Yes。。。　if　you're　willing　to　e　with　them；　he　needs　good　fighting　men；　as　much　or　more　than　he　needs　any　metal。〃
　　　The　Baron　squinted　at　him。　Then　asked；　almost　happily：　〃Which　one　do　you　have　there　in　your　hands；　young　man？　I　took　no　plete　inventory　when　I　came　in；　not　after　I　had　seen　the　one　I　needed。〃
　　　〃I　have　the　one　that　I　need　now；〃　said　Mark。　And　the　Sword　in　his　hands　had　e　to　some　kind　of　life；　for　it　was　throbbing　faintly。　Ben　could　hear　it；　though　it　was　almost　too　low　to　hear：　the　tap　tap　tapping　as　of　some　distant　but　determi