grrm.astormofswords-第48节

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step　their　horses'hooves　crashed　through；　until　they　reached　the　deeper　water　ten　yards　out。　The　snow　seemed　be　falling　even　faster　on　the　eastern　bank；　and　the　drifts　were　deeper　too。　Even　the　wind　is　colder。　And　night　was　falling　too。
　But　even　through　the　blowing　snow；　the　shape　of　the　great　white　hill　that　loomed　above　the　trees　was　unmistakable。　The　Fist　of　the　First　Men。　Jon　heard　the　scream　of　the　eagle　overhead。　A　raven　looked　down　from　a　soldier　pine　and　quorked　as　he　went　past。　Had　the　Old　Bear　made　his　attack？　Instead　of　the　clash　of　steel　and　the　thrum　of　arrows　taking　flight；　Jon　heard　only　the　soft　crunch　of　frozen　crust　beneath　his　garron's　hooves。
　In　silence　they　circled　round　to　the　south　slope；　where　the　approach　was　easiest。　It　was　there　at　the　bottom　that　Jon　saw　the　dead　horse；　sprawled　at　the　base　of　the　hill；　half　buried　in　the　snow。　Entrails　spilled　from　the　belly　of　the　animal　like　frozen　snakes；　and　one　of　its　legs　was　gone。　Wolves；　was　Jon's　first　thought；　but　that　was　wrong。　Wolves　eat　their　kill。
　More　garrons　were　strewn　across　the　slope；　legs　twisted　grotesquely；　blind　eyes　staring　in　death。　The　wildlings　crawled　over　them　like　flies；　stripping　them　of　saddles；　bridles；　packs；　and　armor；　and　hacking　them　apart　with　stone　axes。
　〃Up；〃　Rattleshirt　told　Jon。　〃Mance　is　up　top。〃
　Outside　the　ringwall　they　dismounted　to　squeeze　through　a　crooked　gap　in　the　stones。　The　carcass　of　a　shaggy　brown　garron　was　impaled　upon　the　sharpened　stakes　the　Old　Bear　had　placed　inside　every　entrance。　He　was　trying　to　get　out；　not　in。　There　was　no　sign　of　a　rider。
　Inside　was　more；　and　worse。　Jon　had　never　seen　pink　snow　before。　The　wind　gusted　around　him；　pulling　at　his　heavy　sheepskin　cloak。　Ravens　flapped　from　one　dead　horse　to　the　next。　Are　those　wild　ravens；　or　our　own？　Jon　could　not　tell。　He　wondered　where　poor　Sam　was　now。　And　what　he　was。
　A　crust　of　frozen　blood　crunched　beneath　the　heel　of　his　boot。　The　wildlings　were　stripping　the　dead　horses　of　every　scrap　of　steel　and　leather；　even　prying　the　horseshoes　off　their　hooves。　A　few　were　going　through　packs　they'd　turned　up；　looking　for　weapons　and　food。　Jon　passed　one　of　Chett's　dogs；　or　what　remained　of　him；　lying　in　a　sludgy　pool　of　halffrozen　blood。
　A　few　tents　were　still　standing　on　the　far　side　of　the　camp；　and　it　was　there　they　found　Mance　Rayder。　Beneath　his　slashed　cloak　of　black　wool　and　red　silk　he　wore　black　ringmail　and　shaggy　fur　breeches；　and　on　his　head　was　a　great　bronze…and…iron　helm　with　raven　wings　at　either　temple。　Jarl　was　with　him；　and　Harma　the　Dogshead；　Styr　as　well；　and　Varamyr　Sixskins　with　his　wolves　and　his　shadowcat。
　The　look　Mance　gave　Jon　was　grim　and　cold。　〃What　happened　to　your　face？〃
　Ygritte　said；　〃Orell　tried　to　take　his　eye　out。〃
　〃It　was　him　I　asked。　Has　he　lost　his　tongue？　Perhaps　he　should；　to　spare　us　further　lies。〃
　Styr　the　Magnar　drew　a　long　knife。　〃The　boy　might　see　more　clear　with　one　eye；　instead　of　two。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　keep　your　eye；　Jon？〃　asked　the　King…beyond…theWall。　〃If　so；　tell　me　how　many　they　were。　And　try　and　speak　the　truth　this　time；　Bastard　of　Winterfell。〃
　Jon's　throat　was　dry。　〃My　lord　。　。　。　what　。　。　。〃
　〃I　am　not　your　lord；〃　said　Mance。　〃And　the　what　is　plain　enough。　Your　brothers　died。　The　question　is；　how　many？〃
　Jon's　face　was　throbbing；　the　snow　kept　ing　down；　and　it　was　hard　to　think。　You　must　not　balk；　whatever　is　asked　of　you；　Qhorin　had　told　him。　The　words　stuck　in　his　throat；　but　he　made　himself　say；　〃There　were　three　hundred　of　us。〃
　〃Us？〃　Mance　said　sharply。
　〃Them。　Three　hundred　of　them。〃　Whatever　is　asked；　the　Halfhand　said。　So　why　do　I　feel　so　craven？　〃Two　hundred　from　Castle　Black；　and　one　hundred　from　the　Shadow　Tower。〃
　〃There's　a　truer　song　than　the　one　you　sang　in　my　tent。〃　Mance　looked　to　Harma　Dogshead。　〃How　many　horses　have　we　found？〃
　〃More'n　a　hundred；〃　that　huge　woman　replied；　〃less　than　two。　There's　more　dead　to　the　east；　under　the　snow；　hard　t'　know　how　many。〃　Behind　her　stood　her　banner　bearer；　holding　a　pole　with　a　dog's　head　on　it；　fresh　enough　to　still　be　leaking　blood。
　〃You　should　never　have　lied　to　me；　Jon　Snow；〃　said　Mance。
　〃I　。　。　。　I　know　that。〃　What　could　he　say？
　The　wildling　king　studied　his　face。　〃Who　had　the　mand　here？　And　tell　me　true。　Was　it　Rykker？　Smallwood？　Not　Wythers；　he's　too　feeble。　Whose　tent　was　this？〃
　I　have　said　too　much。　〃You　did　not　find　his　body？〃
　Harma　snorted；　her　disdain　frosting　from　her　nostrils。　〃What　fools　these　black　crows　be。〃
　〃The　next　time　you　answer　me　with　a　question；　I　will　give　you　to　my　Lord　of　Bones；〃　Mance　Rayder　promised　Jon。　He　stepped　closer。　〃Who　led　here？〃
　One　more　step；　thought　Jon。　Another　foot。　He　moved　his　hand　closer　to　Longclaw's　hilt。　If　I　hold　my　tongue　。　。　。
　〃Reach　up　for　that　bastard　sword　and　I'll　have　your　bastard　head　off　before　it　clears　the　scabbard；〃　said　Mance。　〃I　am　fast　losing　patience　with　you；　crow。〃
　〃Say　it；〃　Ygritte　urged。　〃He's　dead；　whoever　he　was。〃
　His　frown　cracked　the　blood　on　his　cheek。　This　is　too　hard；　Jon　thought　in　despair。　How　do　I　play　the　turncloak　without　being　one？　Qhorin　had　not　told　him　that。　But　the　second　step　is　always　easier　than　the　first。　〃The　Old　Bear。〃
　〃That　old　man？〃　Harma's　tone　said　she　did　not　believe　it。　〃He　came　himself　？　Then　who　mands　at　Castle　Black？〃
　〃Bowen　Marsh。〃　This　time　Jon　answered　at　once。　You　must　not　balk；　whatever　is　asked　of　you。
　Mance　laughed。　〃If　so；　our　war　is　won。　Bowen　knows　a　deal　more　about　counting　swords　than　he's　ever　known　about　using　them。〃
　〃The　Old　Bear　manded；〃　said　Jon。　〃This　place　was　high　and　strong；　and　he　made　it　stronger。　He　dug　pits　and　planted　stakes；　laid　up　food　and　water。　He　was　ready　for　。　。　。〃
　〃。　。　me？〃　finished　Mance　Rayder。　〃Aye；　he　was。　Had　I　been　fool　enough　to　storm　this　hill；　I　might　have　lost　five　men　for　every　crow　I　slew　and　still　counted　myself　lucky。〃　His　mouth　grew　hard。　〃But　when　the　dead　walk；　walls　and　stakes　and　swords　mean　nothing。　You　cannot　fight　the　dead；　Jon　Snow。　No　man　knows　that　half　so　well　as　me。〃　He　gazed　up　at　the　darkening　sky　and　said；　〃The　crows　may　have　helped　us　more　than　they　know。　I'd　wondered　why　we'd　suffered　no　attacks。　But　there's　still　a　hundred　leagues　to　go；　and　the　cold　is　rising。　Varamyr；　send　your　wolves　sniffing　after　the　wights；　I　won't　have　them　taking　us　unawares。　My　Lord　of　Bones；　double　all　the　patrols；　and　make　certain　every　man　has　torch　and　flint。　Styr；　Jarl；　you　ride　at　first　light。〃
　〃Mance；〃　Rattleshirt　said；　〃I　want　me　some　crow　bones。〃
　Ygritte　stepped　in　front　of　Jon。　〃You　can't　kill　a　man　for　lying　to　protect　them　as　was　his　brothers。〃
　〃They　are　still　his　brothers；〃　declared　Styr。
　〃They're　not；〃　insisted　Ygritte。　〃He　never　killed　me；　like　they　told　him。　And　he　slew　the　Halfhand；　we　all　saw。〃
　Jon's　breath　misted　the　air。　If　I　lie　to　him；　he'll　know　He　looked　Mance　Rayder　in　the　eyes；　opened　and　closed　his　burned　hand。　〃I　wear　the　cloak　you　gave　me；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃A　sheepskin　cloak！〃　said　Ygritte。　〃And　there's　many　a　night　we　dance　beneath　it；　too！〃
　Jarl　laughed；　and　even　Harma　Dogshead　smirked。　〃Is　that　the　way　of　it；　Jon　Snow？〃　asked　Mance　Rayder；　mildly。　〃Her　and　you？〃
　It　was　easy　to　lose　your　way　beyond　the　Wall。　Jon　did　not　know　that　he　could　tell　honor　from　shame　anymore；　or　right　from　wrong。　Father　forgive　me。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　Mance　nodded。　〃Good。　You'll　go　with　Jarl　and　Styr　on　the　morrow；　then。　Both　of　you。　Far　be　it　from　me　to　separate　two　hearts　that　beat　as　one。〃
　〃Go　where？〃　said　Jon。
　〃Over　the　Wall。　It's　past　time　you　proved　your　faith　with　something　more　than　words；　Jon　Snow。〃
　The　Magnar　was　not　pleased。　〃What　do　I　want　with　a　crow？〃
　〃He　knows　the　Watch　and　he　knows　the　Wall；〃　said　Mance；　〃and　he　knows　Castle　Black　better　than　any　raider　ever　could。　You'll　find　a　use　for　him；　or　you're　a　fool。〃
　Styr　scowled。　〃His　heart　may　still　be　black。〃
　〃Then　cut　it　out。〃　Mance　turned　to　Rattleshirt。　〃My　Lord　of　Bones；　keep　the　column　moving　at　all　costs。　If　we　reach　the　Wall　before　Mon　mont；　we've　won。〃
　〃They'll　move。〃　Rattleshirt's　voice　was　thick　and　angry。
　Mance　nodded；　and　walked　away；　Harma　and　Sixskins　beside　him。
　Varamyr's　wolves　and　shadowcat　followed　behind。　Jon　and　Ygritte　were　left　with　Jarl；　Rattleshirt；　and　the　Magnar。　The　two　older　wildlings；　looked　at　Jon　with　ill…concealed　rancor　as　Jarl　said；　〃You　heard；　we　ride　at　daybreak。　Bring　all　the　food　you　can；　there'll　be　no　time　to　hunt。　And　have　your　face　seen　to；　crow。　You　look　a　bloody　mess。〃
　〃I　will；〃　said　Jon。
　〃You　best　not　be　lying；　girl；〃　Rattleshirt　said　to　Ygritte；　his　eyes　shiny　behind　the　giant's　skull。
　Jon　drew　Longclaw。　〃Get　away　from　us；　unless　you　want　what　Qhorin　got。〃
　〃You　got　no　wolf　to　help　you　here；　boy。〃　Rattleshirt　reached　for　his　own　sword。
　〃Sure　o'　that；　are　you？〃　Ygritte　laughed。
　Atop　the　stones　of　the　ringwall；　Ghost　hunched　with　white　fur　bristling。　He　made　no　sound；　but　his　dark　red　eyes　spoke　blood。　The　Lord　of　Bones　moved　his　hand　slowly　away　from　his　sword；　backed　off　a　step；　and　left　them　with　a　curse。
　Ghost　padded　beside　their　garrons　as　Jon　and　Ygritte　descended　the　Fist。　It　was　not　until　they　were　halfway　across　the　Milkwater　th