sheritepper.necromancer nine-第38节
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ound us lay in piles as high as my shoulders； five or six bodies high； men and women together； stacked in endless rows。 In one area to the side of the entry； Mavin and Himaggery found body after body of those they had known。 Here were those Mavin had mentioned to me； but many others as well。
〃And all of their minds…their memories； all； gone？ Out there？ In the aeries of Gamesmasters； to be used as teaching aids for children？〃 Himaggery sounded unbelieving； but we assured him it was true。
〃Then what threatened us and worked against us was not the Council at all？ It was these old men in this moldy place？ Abducting us one by one and storing us away like fish？〃 Again we assured him this was true。
〃Then we have only to tell the world what has gone on here； and it will stop。 The Traders can be watched。〃
〃That may be true；〃 I said。 〃But there may be more to it than that。 It was these old men who abducted and kept you； true。 But Quench said it was the Council told them who to take and keep。 And it is to the Council that Quench has gone； gone with every tech in the place。〃
〃And；〃 said Mavin； 〃I would wager with every book they could lay hands on。〃
We had not yet gone into the largest part of the cavern； a place from which a chill wind came to assure us of egress somewhere。 It was then； as we were readying ourselves to find it； that the first rumble came； shivering the rock about us and dropping dust and ice onto our heads from far above。 The shaking went on。 Rock grated and twisted beneath us。
〃We have taken too long；〃 shouted Mavin。 〃Through the large cavern； quickly〃
But we were not allowed to go。 We had no sooner stepped within the large cavern than he came from behind a pile of bodies； Demon helmed； all in silver； a strange device cradled in his arms； its ominous tip pointed toward me。 〃Peter； the Necromancer；〃 he said。 〃I told them you were not dead！ I would not let you be dead！ Not you； Peter。 Not until I could do it myself！ I call Game； and Move。 Necromancer Nine！〃
Himaggery leapt to one side； behind a pile of bodies。 Well； he was older than I。 He had more experience with this kind of thing。 On the other side； Mavin Shifted into something quick and fierce； and the corner of my eye saw her fade into an aisle。 Well； she； too was a more experienced Shifter than I。 I did not move。 The tip of the thing which pointed at me said do not move； and I understood its language。 〃What have you there； Huld？〃 I asked him； almost conversationally。 I was not unafraid。 I was simply too surprised to act frightened。
〃A thing Nitch made for me； Peter。 Was that not kind of him？ It was when you all thought me bottled up in Bannerwell。 Do not trust Immutables to do your bottling for you； Peter。 They do not do it well。 They have no skill in foxing or outfoxing； any Gamesman could outwit them； as I did。 I had another place to go； a better place。 I found Nitch as he traveled between Schooltown and that place of the magicians。 Nitch。 It was Nitch who was responsible for what happened to Mandor； Peter。 Remember that。 What happened to him was just。〃
〃What happened to him？〃 I had put one hand into my pocket； feeling desperately for…for what？ Shattnir could do me no good in this cold place。 Those around me were not dead to be raised by Dorn。 And neither would e to me in any case。
〃Why； he died；〃 he said； pretending surprise。 〃After he had made me the things I wanted； told me the things I wanted to know； given me the books he had。 He made this shield； like the one you had in Schooltown。 This weapon； like no other you have ever seen。 Oh； Peter； with this weapon there will be no Gaming against Huld。 No。 All the Gaming will be as I choose。〃 He stroked the thing exultantly。 〃After I dispose of your family。〃
He drew out the word to make it an obscenity。 Until that moment； I had not thought of them as my family； but they were。 Himaggery。 Mavin。 My own kind。 My fingers still groped in my pocket。 Habit； not hope。
And closed around a Gamesman； closed to feel a warm； wonderful certainty rise through me； soft and gentle； kind as summer； the voice whispering as familiar； almost； as my own。 〃Peter。 Why are you standing here？ Valor is all well and good； but shouldn't you be elsewhere if you can manage it？〃
It was Windlow。 I almost laughed aloud before remembering the threat。 Yes； I know that is foolish。 It was only an instant thing； as quickly suppressed。 I let Windlow go and burrowed deep to close around a figure I had not tried until then。 Old as Didir； powerful as she； her mate and coeval； Tamor。 Grandfather Tamor。 Towering Tamor。
There was no hesitation。 The block； whatever it might have been； had been healed。 Perhaps Windlow had healed it。 Tamor came into me like a hawk stooping； and I was looking down on Huld as he peered at the place I had been。 There was no sensation of flying as I had often thought there would be。 No； I was simply lying high upon the air； above Huld； seeing Mavin and Himaggery moving stealthily toward him around barriers of chill bodies。
〃Huld！〃 I cried。
He pointed the device up； released a bolt of force which blistered past me and melted stone and hanging ice from the arched ceiling far above。 Liquid rock fell past me； hardening as it came； and Huld ran from the lethal rain even as I swooped away to another part of the cavern。 More stone and ice rained down。 This was no result of Huld's weapon。 This was more of the same quaking we had felt before。 Mavin waved to attract my attention； pointed to the far end of the great cavern。 I nodded to show her that I understood。 I should have watched Huld； not Mavin； for another bolt from the weapon came toward me； touched me agonizingly； and splashed against the ice。 〃All right；〃 said Tamor from within。 〃Keep your eyes open； boy。 Shall we rescue your friend？〃 Himaggery did look lonely and lost； sprawled out below me between two piles of bodies。 We swooped down； not at all birdlike； to grab him and lift him high in a long shallow glide which took us toward the cavern end。 I heard Huld screaming in fury。 He had known of some of my Talents。 He had not known of them all。 Well； how could he have done？ I had not known of them myself。
〃You will not get away；〃 he was screaming at me。 〃I've closed that way out。 I knew you'd e here； e where the bodies of your allies lay。 I knew you'd try to get them。 It's the kind of Gamish stupidity they taught you； boy。〃
〃Even if you escape； it won't stop me。 I'll e after you again； and yet again。 I have allies； too。 And plans。 And the world will not hold us both as Masters； so you will serve my Game。〃
〃Tchuck。〃 Tamor made a tsking sound in my head。 〃That kind of hysterical threat is unbeing。 undignified。 I do not like being called Grandfather to that。〃 We were away on another long。 swooping glide that broke twice to escape bolts from Huld's weapon。 A great slab of stone turned red behind us and slid toward the floor； half flowing。 Without thinking； I reached for Shattnir and felt her run into me like wine； reaching out toward the melted stone to draw its heat and power into every fiber。 We stayed there； hidden behind the bodies； until I heard Huld ing； then rose once more； lying flat； skimming like an arrow behind the stacked bodies toward the chill wind。 Himaggery gasped。 I was holding him under one Shifted arm； huge and hairy as a pombi's leg。 Well； he should have been used to Shifter ways。 In order to get me upon my mother he should have known her rather well。
The shaking of the cavern was constant。 I heard Huld shout something； away behind me； then another shout which sounded like fear。 He had either been under a falling chunk of rock or had been narrowly missed。 I didn't care which。 The opening of the cavern was before me。 Mavin was already there。 The entrance was covered by a narrow grill which sizzled with the same force Huld's weapon had used。 Mavin spread her hands wide in con…sternation。 She could not Shift to go through the narrow openings without frying herself。 Within me； Shattnir laughed。 The laughter of Shattnir had nothing of humor in it。 It was not an experience； then or thereafter； which I greatly enjoyed。 All the heat of the great melted slab went into the bolt which broke the grill； melted it in its turn； and spread its broken shards over half the mountain side。 Mavin fled through the opening； out and down； knowing I would follow。 Around us the earth clamored； no longer quivering but heaving to and fro in long； hideous waves。 I flew through the opening into nubilous air； high into gray cloud to see the white wings of a huge bird slide through the gloom beneath me。 Then we saw it； Himaggery and I。 Away to the southeast； where the shiptower might have been； a ball of flame； swelling； swelling into a little sun； a cloud rising from it lit from below； bloody and skull…shaped in the murk； fires within it； lightnings playing upon its top。 The wind took us then； tumbling us over and over in the high air on the face of a hot wind which Shattnir merely sucked into me and stored away。 The earth roared； heaved； and fell in mighty undulations。 I saw a mountain tremble； throw back its head and laugh into roaring fragments as we spun through the air again； rolling on the wind。 Wild fire licked and crackled and eventually
