sheritepper.necromancer nine-第14节
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The way led upward。 From a lonely height I could look back along the trail to see a small trail of dust on the eastern horizon。
Was that Laggy Nap？ Izia？ Was there something I should have done which I had not？ Within me was a kind of consultation。 and voices came to tell me there was nothing I could have done； not then； that there were more urgent things for me to do。 Still； I felt the queasiness of one who leaves a needful task undone。 Though I tried not to think of her； she was much in my mind。
And still in my mind in the evening。 I watched from beside my fire； waiting for evidence of shadow men。 I saw nothing； heard nothing except an occasional interruption of insect sounds as though something might have walked among them。 Morning came； gray and dripping； and I rode on west to another evening and another fire。 I reached out to Trandilar； begged her for a blandishment； a beguilement to charm birds； small beasts； whatever might be within sight or smell of me。 She let it flow through me and breathe into the air； a perfume； a subtle fragrance of desire。 Watching quiet greeted it； a silent attention。 I could not say how I knew they were there； but I knew it。 I slept at last； weary with waiting for them to e to me。
In the morning I journeyed beside a stream which became a small river。 I had e high onto a tilted upland that slanted down toward the west； and the river I followed was fed from all sides by swiftly flowing rivulets making conversational noises over the polished stones of their beds。 By day's end I began to smell something strange； a vast wetness； like that of the Gathered Waters； but different in some way I could not describe。 Suddenly； the air before me was full of rainbows； the river plunged away through a notch in the land； and I could see the waters below； a mighty sea stretching beyond sight into the west。 The evening wind was in my face； thrusting the waters onto the beach below in long bers of white。 A twisting path wound down the face of the cliffs； and at the bottom the beaches reached away north and south in a smooth curve into which the elevated land behind me dropped and vanished。 Some little distance to the north was an inlet bordered with trees； a grassy bank； a pool of still water over which white flowers nodded their heads and devil's needles dipped glassy wings。 The horse stumbled with tiredness； I licked lips wet with salt and almost fell when I dismounted。 There was no sound but water talk； yet I knew something was watching me； had been watching me for days。 I was too weary to eat so only pulled the saddle from the horse and rolled myself into a blanket to sleep dreamlessly。
It was dark when I woke； dark lit by a half moon。 Some sound had wakened me； some cry。 I stared across the moonlit waters to see a boat； a long； low boat like those carried on larger ships。 It seemed empty； but I had heard a cry。 The boat showed only as an outline against a kind of glow； a subtle luminescence； nebulous and equivocal。 It drifted toward me； grated on the pebbles of the beach and rocked there； each wave threatening to carry it out once more。 In my sleep…befuddled mind it seemed fortuitous； a boat to carry me west。 I stumbled out of my blanket； still half asleep； intending to pull the boat further onto the shore。
Then； as I stumbled toward the boat； an anguished keening came out of the dark； and I was stopped； unable to move further。 There were little arms about my legs； thrusting me back； tugging at me； moving me away from the boat。 Between me and the impalpable glow； I could see their figures outlined。 Two or three of them carried something among them； a balk of timber perhaps…something bulky。 They went close to the boat； heaved their burden high and ran wildly away。 The bulky burden fell within the boat。
And the boat tilted upward； rose into the air； became the end of an enormous pillar to which it was attached； a monstrous； flexible arm upon which it was only a leaf…shaped tip； one among many mighty tentacles thrashing upward in a maelstrom of sinew to tangle themselves around the 〃boat〃 and carry it beneath the surface。 The little fingers pushed me back； back； and from the waters those tentacles came once more； questing across the pebbles with palpable anger to find the prey they had been denied。 Against the watery glow I thought I saw a nimbus outlining an eye； rounder than the moon and as cold； peering enormously at the small shadowy figures which capered on the pebbled shore and hooted as they danced。
They were quadrumanna； the four…handed ones； shadow people； silky…furred； with ears like delicate wings upon their heads and sharp little teeth which glinted in the half light of the stars。 All through the hooting and warbling they never ceased to tug at me； back away from the water's edge； back to the place I had slept。 As we went they acted out the rage of the water creature。 letting their long； supple arms twist like the tentacles； dropping them onto the pebbles in an excess of artful rage。 〃Hoc； hoc； boor； ocr； ocr。〃 Others gathered from the streamside until I was surrounded by a jigging multitude。 All sleep had been driven away。 I fed sticks into a hastily kindled fire； watching the celebration。
One of them brought me a fruit； which I ate； and this moved others to bring me bits of this and that； some of which smelled and tasted good； others which I could not bring myself to put in my mouth。 They learned quickly。 If I rejected a thing； they brought no more of it。 After a time the excitement dwindled。 and they gathered in crouching rows to watch me。 I reached to the nearest； patted…him （or her； or it） saying； 〃Friend。〃 They liked that。 Several mimicked my word in my own voice； and others took it up； 〃Friend； rend； end； end； end。〃 At this； a silvery one from among them was moved to stand and e to my side； to strike his chest with an open hand。 〃Proom；〃 he said。 〃Proom。 Proom。〃
I tapped his chest； said 〃Proom；〃 then struck my own。 〃Peter。〃
〃Peter； eater； ter； ter；〃 they murmured； enchanted。
The grizzled one waved at the waters； at the tremulous surface； mimed a swimming stroke； raised his hands in the writhing mime of tentacles。 〃D'bor。〃
I pointed to the waves and repeated the word。 He nodded。 It seemed to be going well from his point of view。
〃D'bor； nononononono；〃 he said proudly； miming swimming once more。 〃nonononono。〃
I laughed。 〃Nonononono。〃 I agreed； at which we both nodded； satisfied。 Mavin's words came to me。 〃Walk on fire； but do not swim in water。〃 Surely。 Water was a nonononono。
Well then； walk on fire I would； if I could find any。 I fed sticks to the fire； building the blaze high； then stood to point both hands toward it in a hierarchic gesture before walking around it； one hand over my eyes； peering into the darkness north； west； south； and east； then pointing to the fire once more。 They conferred among themselves； a quiet gabble。 The grey one pointed to the fire； 〃Thruf；〃 he said。 Then he turned toward the north。 〃Thruf；〃 he said again； indicating something big； bigger； huge。
I mimicked his mime； used his word。 〃Thruf；〃 made walking motions。 The soft gabbling continued among them； and several got up to e after me； following； walky…walky in the soft grass； going nowhere。 They giggled。 Evidently several would go with me； when I went。 Time enough to go when the sun came up； or so I thought。 They thought otherwise。 The ones who had appointed themselves； or had been appointed； for all I knew； took up my belongings and went to get my horse； standing nose to nose with the beast as each made whiffling noises of intimate interrogation and reply。 Nothing would do but that I mount the animal and go along quietly as they led him。 Well enough。 If I put my mind to it； I could almost sleep in the saddle。 So we went； along the pebbled shoreline of the waters…though well back from the edge…toward the north。 The sky grew dim； milky with dawn； and my guides showed consternation amounting almost to agitation。 There was an abrupt halt to forward movement； a casting about from place to place； then a long 〃hoor…oor…oor〃 from a forested slope。 The others followed it and brought me to a cave let； dark as a nostril in the side of the mountain。 They laid my belongings down； made quick forays into the wood for dry branches and twigs； piled these beside the wall of the hill； then vanished within the darkness to a trailing 〃hoor…oor…oor…oor。〃 I decided this meant hello； goodbye； and here…I…am。 I called softly after them。 The answer was silence。
So。 I was abandoned for the daylight hours。 Their huge eyes and winglike ears should have told me they were creatures of the dark。 I had the day before me and was not sleepy； so I went fishing。 It took half the day to make a proper fish spear and half the afternoon to spear fish enough for the troop。 I had a nap and built the fire up before they appeared at dusk。 I was not long in doubt whether they liked fish； for there was much smacking of narrow lips； rubbing of round bellies； and hooting of a melodious kind。 When they had eaten every scrap of skin and sniffed the bones several times； they urged me into the saddle once more to ride throughout the night。 Again； they led while I slept； waking only a little now and again to see a changed h
