sk.thegunslinger-第26节

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ng　face。　Cort's　bad　eye　now　bulged　blindly　from　its　socket。
The　boy　delivered　a　kick　to　Cort's　temple；　connecting　solidly。　It　should　have　ended　it；　his　leg　had　been　numbed　by　Cort's　only　blow；　but　it　still　should　have　ended　it。　It　did　not。　For　a　moment　Cort's　face　went　slack；　and　then　he　lunged；　grabbing　for　the　boy's　foot。
The　boy　skipped　back　and　tripped　over　his　own　feet。　He　went　down　asprawl。　He　heard；　from　far　away　the　sound　of　Jamie's　scream。
Cort　was　up；　ready　to　fall　on　him　and　finish　it。　He　had　lost　his　advantage。　For　a　moment　they　looked　at　each　other；　the　teacher　standing　over　the　pupil；　with　gouts　of　blood　pouring　from　the　left　side　of　his　face；　the　bad　eye　now　closed　except　for　a　thin　slit　of　white。　There　would　be　no　brothels　for　Cort　this　night。
Something　ripped　jaggedly　at　the　boy's　hand。　It　was　the　hawk；　David；　tearing　blindly。　Both　wings　were　broken。　It　was　incredible　that　he　still　lived。
The　boy　grabbed　him　like　a　stone；　unmindful　of　the　jabbing；　diving　beak　that　was　taking　the　flesh　from　his　wrist　in　ribbons。　As　Cort　flew　at　him；　all　spread…eagled；　the　boy　threw　the　hawk　upward。
〃Hai！　David！　Kill！〃
Then　Cort　blotted　out　the　sun　and　came　down　atop　of　him。
The　bird　was　smashed　between　them；　and　the　boy　felt　a　calloused　thumb　probe　for　the　socket　of　his　eye。　He　turned　it；　at　the　same　time　bringing　up　the　slab　of　his　thigh　to　block　Cort's　crotch…seeking　knee。　His　own　hand　flailed　against　the　tree　of　Cort's　neck　in　three　hard　chops。　It　was　like　hitting　ribbed　stone。
Then　Cort　made　a　thick　grunting。　His　body　shuddered。　Faintly；　the　boy　saw　one　hand　flailing　for　the　dropped　stick；　and　with　a　jackknifing　lunge；　he　kicked　it　out　of　reach。　David　had　hooked　one　talon　into　Cort's　right　ear。　The　other　battered　mercilessly　at　the　teacher's　cheek；　making　it　a　ruin。　Warm　blood　splattered　the　boy's　face；　smelling　of　sheared　copper。
Cort's　fist　struck　the　bird　once；　breaking　it's　back。　Again；　and　the　neck　snapped　away　at　a　crooked　angle。　And　still　the　talon　clutched。　There　was　no　ear　now；　only　a　red　hole　tunneled　into　the　side　of　Cort's　skull。　The　third　blow　sent　the　bird　flying；　clearing　Cort's　face。
The　boy　brought　the　edge　of　his　hand　across　the　bridge　of　Cort's　nose；　breaking　the　thin　bone。　Blood　sprayed。
Cort's　grasping；　unseeing　hand　ripped　at　the　boy's　buttocks　and　Roland　rolled　away　blindly；　finding　Cort's　stick；　rising　to　his　knees。
Cort　came　to　his　own　knees；　grinning。　His　face　was　curtained　with　gore。　The　one　seeing　eye　rolled　madly　in　its　socket。　The　nose　was　smashed　over　to　a　haunted；　leaning　angle。　Both　cheeks　hung　in　flaps。
The　boy　held　his　stick　like　a　baseball　player　waiting　for　the　pitch。
Cort　double…feinted；　then　came　directly　at　him。
The　boy　was　ready。　The　ironwood　swung　in　a　flat　arc；　striking　Cort's　skull　with　a　dull　thudding　noise。　Cort　fell　on　his　side；　looking　at　the　boy　with　a　lazy　unseeing　expression。　A　tiny　trickle　of　spit　came　from　his　mouth。
〃Yield　or　die；〃　the　boy　said。　His　mouth　was　filled　with　wet　cotton。
And　Cort　smiled。　Nearly　all　consciousness　was　gone；　and　he　would　remain　tended　in　his　cottage　for　a　week　afterward；　wrapped　in　the　blackness　of　a；　but　now　he　held　on　with　all　the　strength　of　his　pitiless；　shadowless　life。
〃I　yield；　gunslinger。　I　yield　smiling。〃
Cort's　clear　eye　closed。
The　gunslinger　shook　him　gently；　but　with　persistence。　The　others　were　around　him　now；　their　hands　trembling　to　thump　his　back　and　hoist　him　to　their　shoulders；　but　they　held　back；　afraid；　sensing　a　new　gulf。　Yet　it　was　not　as　strange　as　it　could　have　been；　because　there　had　always　been　a　gulf　between　this　one　and　the　rest。
Cort's　eye　fluttered　open　again；　weakly。
〃The　key；〃　the　gunslinger　said。　〃My　birthright；　teacher。　I　need　it。〃
His　birthright　was　the　guns　　not　the　heavy　ones　of　his　father；　weighted　with　sandalwood　　but　guns；　all　the　same。　Forbidden　to　all　but　a　few。　The　ultimate；　the　final　weapon。　In　the　heavy　vault　under　the　barracks　where　he　by　ancient　law　was　now　required　to　abide；　away　from　his　mother's　breast；　hung　his　apprentice　weapons；　heavy　cumbersome　things　of　steel　and　nickel。　Yet　they　had　seen　his　father　through　his　apprenticeship；　and　his　father　now　ruled　at　least　in　name。
〃Is　it　so　fearsome；　then？〃　Cort　muttered；　as　if　in　his　sleep。　〃So　pressing？　I　feared　so。　And　yet　you　won。〃
〃The　key。〃
〃The　hawk　。　。　。　a　fine　ploy。　A　fine　weapon。　How　long　did　it　take　you　to　train　the　bastard？〃
〃I　never　trained　David。　I　friended　him。　The　key。〃
〃Under　my　belt；　gunslinger。〃　The　eye　closed　again。
The　gunslinger　reached　under　Cort's　belt；　feeling　the　heavy　press　of　his　belly；　the　huge　muscles　there　now　slack　and　asleep。　The　key　was　on　a　brass　ring。　He　clutched　it　in　his　hand；　restraining　the　mad　urge　to　thrust　it　up　to　the　sky　in　a　salutation　of　victory。
He　got　to　his　feet　and　was　finally　turning　to　the　others　when　Cort's　hand　fumbled　for　his　foot。　For　a　moment　the　gunslinger　feared　some　last　attack　and　tensed；　but　Cort　only　looked　up　at　him　and　beckoned　with　one　crusted　finger。
〃I'm　going　to　sleep　now；〃　Cort　whispered　calmly。　〃Perhaps　forever；　I　don't　know。　I　teach　you　no　more；　gunslinger。　You　have　surpassed　me；　and　two　years　younger　than　your　father；　who　was　the　youngest。　But　let　me　counsel。〃
〃What？〃　Impatiently。
〃Wait。〃
〃Huh？〃　The　word　was　startled　out　of　him。
〃Let　the　word　and　the　legend　go　before　you。　There　are　those　who　will　carry　both。〃　His　eyes　flicked　over　the　gunslinger's　shoulder。　〃Fools；　perchance。　Let　the　word　go　before　you。　Let　your　shadow　grow。　Let　it　grow　hair　on　its　face。　Let　it　bee　dark。〃　He　smiled　grotesquely。　〃Given　time；　words　may　even　enchant　an　enchanter。　Do　you　take　my　meaning；　gunslinger？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Will　you　take　my　last　counsel？〃
The　gunslinger　rocked　back　on　his　heels；　a　hunkered；　thinking　posture　that　foreshadowed　the　man。　He　looked　at　the　sky。　It　was　deepening；　purpling。　The　heat　of　the　day　was　failing　and　thunderheads　in　the　west　foretold　rain。　Lightning　tines　jabbed　the　placid　flank　of　the　rising　foothills　miles　distant。　Beyond　that；　the　mountains。　Beyond　that；　the　rising　fountains　of　blood　and　unreason。　He　was　tired；　tired　into　his　bones　and　beyond。
He　looked　back　at　Cort。　〃I　will　bury　my　hawk　tonight；　teacher。　And　later　go　into　lower　town　to　inform　those　in　the　brothels　that　will　wonder　about　you。〃
Cort's　lips　parted　in　a　pained　smile。　And　then　he　slept。
The　gunslinger　got　to　his　feet　and　turned　to　the　others。　〃Make　a　litter　and　take　him　to　his　house。　Then　bring　a　nurse。　No；　two　nurses。　Okay？〃
They　still　watched　him；　caught　in　a　bated　moment　that　was　not　yet　able　to　be　broken。　They　still　looked　for　a　corona　of　fire；　or　a　werewolf　change　of　features。
〃Two　nurses；〃　the　gunslinger　repeated；　and　then　smiled。　They　smiled。
〃You　god…damned　horse　drover！〃　Cuthbert　suddenly　yelled；　grinning。　〃You　haven't　left　enough　meat　for　the　rest　of　us　to　pick　off　the　bone！〃
〃The　world　won't　move　on　tomorrow；〃　the　gunslinger　said；　quoting　the　old　adage　with　a　smile。　〃Allen；　you　butter…ass。　Move　your　freight〃
Allen　set　about　making　the　litter；　Thomas　and　Jamie　went　together　to　the　main　hall　and　the　infirmary。
The　gunslinger　and　Cuthbert　looked　at　each　other。　They　had　always　been　the　closest　　or　as　close　as　they　could　be　under　the　particular　shades　of　their　characters。　There　was　a　speculative；　open　light　in　Cuthbert's　eyes；　and　the　gunslinger　controlled　only　with　great　difficulty　the　need　to　tell　him　not　to　call　for　the　test　for　a　year　or　even　eighteen　months；　lest　he　go　west。　But　they　had　been　through　a　great　deal　together；　and　the　gunslinger　did　not　feel　he　could　risk　it　without　an　expression　that　might　be　taken　for　patronization。　I've　begun　to　scheme；　he　thought；　and　was　a　little　dismayed。　Then　he　thought　of　Marten；　of　his　mother；　and　he　smiled　a　deceiver's　smile　at　his　friend。
I　am　to　be　the　first；　he　thought；　knowing　it　for　the　first　time；　although　he　had　thought　of　it（in　a　bemused　way）　many　times　before。　I　am　to　be　first
〃Let's　go；〃　he　said。
〃With　pleasure；　gunslinger。〃
They　left　by　the　east　end　of　the　hedge…bordered　corridor；　Thomas　and　Jamie　were　returning　with　the　nurses　already。　They　looked　like　ghosts　in　their　heavy　white　robes；　crossed　at　the　breast　with　red。
〃Shall　I　help　you　with　the　hawk？〃　Cuthbert　asked。
〃Yes；〃　the　gunslinger　said。
And　later；　when　darkness　had　e　and　the　rushing　thundershowers　with　it；　while　huge；　phantom　caissons　rolled　across　the　sky　and　lightning　washed　the　crooked　streets　of　the　lower　town　in　blue　fire；　while　horses　stood　at　hitching　rails　with　their　heads　down　and　their　tails　drooping；　the　gunslinger　took　a　woman　and　lay　with　her。
It　was　quick　and　good。　When　it　was　over　and　they　lay　side　by　side　without　speaking；　it　began　to　hail　with　a　brief；　rattling　ferocity。　Downstairs　and　far　away；　someone　was　playing　Hey　Jude　ragtime。　The　gunslinger's　mind　turned　reflectively　inward。　It　was　in　that　hail…splattered　silence；　just　before　sleep　overtook　him；　that　he　first　thought　that　he　might　also　be　the　last。
The　gunslinger　did　not；　of　course；　tell　the　boy　all　of　this；　but　perhaps　most　of　it　had　e　through　anyway。　He　had　already　realized　that　this　was　an　extremely　perceptive　boy；　not　so　different　from　Cuthbert；　or　even　Jamie。
〃You　asleep？〃　the　gunslinger　asked。
〃No。〃
〃Did　you　understand　what　I　told　you？〃
〃Understand　it？〃　The　boy　asked；