tp.lightfantastic-第26节

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　She　left　the　words　hanging；　and　walked　away。
　'Well；　here's　another　fine　mess；'　said　Rincewind。　He　had　another　pull　at　the　ropes　that　bound　him。　There　was　a　rock　behind　him；　and　if　he　could　bring　his　wrists　up　…　yes；　as　he　thought；　it　lacerated　him　while　at　the　same　time　eing　too　blunt　to　have　any　effect　on　the　rope。
　'But　why　us？'　said　Twoflower。　'It's　to　do　with　that　star；　isn't　it？'
　'I　don't　know　anything　about　the　star；'　said　Rincewind。　'I　never　even　attended　astrology　lessons　at　the　University！'
　'I　expect　everything　will　turn　out　all　right　in　the　end；'　said　Twoflower。
　Rincewind　looked　at　him。　Remarks　like　that　always　threw　him。
　'Do　you　really　believe　that？'　he　said。　'I　mean；　really？'
　'Well；　things　generally　do　work　out　satisfactorily；　when　you　e　to　think　about　it。'
　'If　you　think　the　total　disruption　of　my　life　for　the　last　year　is　satisfactory　then　you　might　be　right。　I've　lost　count　of　the　times　I've　nearly　been　killed　…'
　'Twenty…seven；'　said　Twoflower。
　'What？'
　'Twenty…seven　times；'　said　Twoflower　helpfully。　'I　worked　it　out。　But　you　never　actually　have。'
　'What？　Worked　it　out？'　said　Rincewind；　who　was　beginning　to　have　the　familiar　feeling　that　the　conversation　had　been　mugged。
　'No。　Been　killed。　Doesn't　that　seem　a　bit　suspicious？'
　'I've　never　objected　to　it；　if　that's　what　you　mean；'　said　Rincewind。　He　glared　at　his　feet。　Twoflower　was　right；　of　course。　The　Spell　was　keeping　him　alive；　it　was　obvious。　No　doubt　if　he　jumped　over　a　cliff　a　passing　cloud　would　cushion　his　fall。
　The　trouble　with　that　theory；　he　decided；　was　that　it　only　worked　if　he　didn't　believe　it　was　true。　The　moment　he　thought　he　was　invulnerable　he'd　be　dead。
　So；　on　the　whole　it　was　wisest　not　to　think　about　it　at　all。
　Anyway；　he　might　be　wrong。
　The　only　thing　he　could　be　certain　of　was　that　he　was　getting　a　headache。　He　hoped　that　the　Spell　was　somewhere　in　the　area　of　the　headache　and　really　suffering。
　When　they　rode　out　of　the　hollow　both　Rincewind　and　Twoflower　were　sharing　a　horse　with　one　of　their　captors。
　Rincewind　perched　unfortably　in　front　of　Weems。　who　had　sprained　an　ankle　and　was　not　in　a　good　mood。　Twoflower　sat　in　front　of　Herrena　which；　since　he　was　fairly　short；　meant　that　at　least　he　kept　his　ears　warm。　She　rode　with　a　drawn　knife　and　a　sharp　eye　out　for　any…walking　boxes；　Herrena　hadn't　quite　worked　out　what　the　Luggage　was；　but　she　was　bright　enough　to　know　that　it　wouldn't　let　Twoflower　be　killed。
　After　about　ten　minutes　they　saw　it　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　It's　lid　lay　open　invitingly。　It　was　full　of　gold。
　'Go　round　it；'　said　Herrena。
　'But　…'
　'It's　a　trap。'
　'That's　right；'　said　Weems；　white…faced。　'You　take　it　from　me。'
　Reluctantly　they　reined　their　horses　around　the　glittering　temptation　and　trotted　on　along　the　track。　Weems　glanced　back　fearfully；　dreading　to　see　the　chest　ing　after　him。
　What　he　saw　was　almost　worse。　It　had　gone。
　Far　off　to　one　side　of　the　path　the　long　grass　moved　mysteriously　and　was　still。
　Rincewind　wasn't　much　of　a　wizard　and　even　less　of　a　fighter；　but　he　was　an　expert　at　cowardice　and　he　knew　fear　when　he　smelt　it。　He　said；　quietly；　'It'll　follow　you；　you　know。'
　'What？'　said　Weems；　distractedly。　He　was　still　peering　at　the　grass。
　'It's　very　patient　and　it　never　gives　up。　That's　sapient　pearwood　you're　dealing　with。　It'll　let　you　think　it's　forgotten　you；　then　one　day　you'll　be　walking　along　a　dark　street　and　you'll　hear　these　little　footsteps　behind　you　…　shlup；　shlup；　they'll　go；　then　you'll　start　running　and　they'll　speed　up；　shlupshlupSHLUP…'
　'Shut　up！'　shouted　Weems。
　'It's　probably　already　recognised　you；　so　…'
　'I　said　shut　up！'
　Herrena　turned　around　in　her　saddle　and　glared　at　them。　Weems　scowled　and　pulled　Rincewind's　ear　until　it　was　ight　in　front　his　mouth；　and　said　hoarsely；　I'm　afraid　of　nothing；　understand？　This　wizard　stuff；　I　spit　on　it。'
　'They　all　say　that　until　they　hear　the　footsteps；'　said　Rincewind。　He　stopped。　A　knifepoint　was　pricking　his　ribs。
　

　Nothing　happened　for　the　rest　of　the　day　but；　to　Rincewind's　satisfaction　and　Weems'　mounting　paranoia；　the　Luggage　showed　itself　several　times。　Here　it　would　be　perched　incongruously　on　a　crag；　there　it　would　be　half…hidden　in　a　ditch　with　moss　growing　over　it。
　By　late　afternoon　they　came　to　the　crest　of　a　hill　and　looked　down　on　the　broad　valley　of　the　upper　Smarl；　the　longest　river　on　the　Disc。　It　was　already　half　a　mile　across；　and　heavy　with　the　silt　that　made　the　lower　valley　the　most　fertile　area　on　the　continent。　A　few　wisps　of　early　mist　wreathed　its　banks。
　'Shlup；'　said　Rincewind。　He　felt　Weems　jerk　upright　in　the　saddle。
　'Eh？'
　'Just　clearing　my　throat；'　said　Rincewind；　and　grinned。　He　had　put　a　lot　of　thought　into　that　grin。　It　was　the　sort　of　grin　people　use　when　they　stare　at　your　left　ear　and　tell　you　in　an　urgent　tone　of　voice　that　they　are　being　spied　on　by　secret　agents　from　the　next　galaxy。　It　was　not　a　grin　to　inspire　confidence。　More　horrible　grins　had　probably　been　seen；　but　only　on　the　sort　of　grinner　that　is　orange　with　black　stripes；　has　a　long　tail　and　hangs　around　in　jungles　looking　for　victims　to　grin　at。
　'Wipe　that　off；'　said　Herrena；　trotting　up。
　Where　the　track　led　down　to　the　river　bank　there　was　a　crude　jetty　and　a　big　bronze　gong。
　'It'll　summon　the　ferryman；'　said　Herrena。　'If　we　cross　here　we　can　cut　off　a　big　bend　in　the　river。　Might　even　make　it　to　a　town　tonight。'
　Weems　looked　doubtful。　The　sun　was　getting　fat　and　red；　and　the　mists　were　beginning　to　thicken。
　'Or　maybe　you　want　to　spend　the　night　this　side　of　the　water？'
　Weems　picked　up　the　hammer　and　hit　the　gong　so　hard　that　it　spun　right　around　on　its　hanger　and　fell　off。
　They　waited　in　silence。　Then　with　a　wet　clinking　sound　a　chain　sprang　out　of　the　water　and　pulled　taut　against　an　iron　peg　set　into　the　bank。　Eventually　the　slow　flat　shape　of　the　ferry　emerged　from　the　mist；　its　hooded　ferryman　heaving　on　a　big　wheel　set　in　its　centre　as　he　winched　his　way　towards　the　shore。
　The　ferry's　flat　bottom　grated　on　the　gravel；　and　the　hooded　figure　leaned　against　the　wheel　panting。
　'Two　at　a　time；'　it　muttered。'　That'sh　all。　Jusht　two；　with　horshesh。'
　Rincewind　swallowed；　and　tried　not　to　look　at　Twoflower。　The　man　would　probably　be　grinning　and　mugging　like　an　idiot。　He　risked　a　sideways　glance。
　Twoflower　was　sitting　with　his　mouth　open。
　'You're　not　the　usual　ferryman；'　said　Herrena。　'I've　been　here　before；　the　usual　man　is　a　big　fellow；　sort　of　…'
　'It'sh　hish　day　off。'
　'Well；　okay；'　she　said　doubtfully。　'In　that　case　…　what's　he　laughing　at？'
　Twoflower's　shoulders　were　shaking；　his　face　had　gone　red；　and　he　was　emitting　muffled　snorts。　Herrena　glared　at　him；　then　looked　hard　at　the　ferryman。
　'Two　of　you　…　grab　him！'
　There　was　a　pause。　Then　one　of　the　men　said；　'What；　the　ferryman？'
　'Yes！'
　'Why？'
　Herrena　looked　blank。　This　sort　of　thing　wasn't　supposed　to　happen。　It　was　accepted　that　when　someone　yelled　something　like　'Get　him！'　or　'Guards！'　people　jumped　to　it；　they　weren't　supposed　to　sit　around　discussing　things。
　'Because　I　said　so！'　was　the　best　she　could　manage。　The　two　men　nearest　to　the　bowed　figure　looked　at　each　ther；　shrugged；　dismounted；　and　each　took　a　shoulder。　The　ferryman　was　about　half　their　size。
　'Like　this？'　said　one　of　them。　Twoflower　was　choking　for　breath。
　'Now　I　want　to　see　what　he's　got　under　that　robe。'　The　two　men　exchanged　glances。　'I'm　not　sure　that…'　said　one。
　He　got　no　further　because　a　knobbly　elbow　jerked　into　his　stomach　like　a　piston。　His　panion　looked　down　incredulously　and　got　the　other　elbow　in　the　kidneys。
　Cohen　cursed　as　he　struggled　to　untangle　his　sword　from　his　robe　while　hopping　crabwise　towards　Herrena。　Rincewind　groaned；　gritted　his　teeth；　and　jerked　his　head　backwards　hard。　There　was　a　scream　from　Weems　and　Rincewind　rolled　sideways；　landed　heavily　in　the　mud；　scrambled　up　madly　and　looked　around　for　somewhere　to　hide。
　With　a　cry　of　triumph　Cohen　managed　to　free　his　sword　and　waved　it　triumphantly；　severely　wounding　a　man　who　had　been　creeping　up　behind　him。
　Herrena　pushed　Twoflower　off　her　horse　and　fumbled　for　her　own　blade。　Twoflower　tried　to　stand　up　and　caused　the　horse　of　another　man　to　rear；　throwing　him　off　and　bringing　his　head　down　to　the　right　level　for　Rincewind　to　kick　it　as　hard　as　possible。　Rincewind　would　be　the　first　to　call　himself　a　rat；　but　even　rats　fight　in　a　corner。
　Weems'　hands　dropped　onto　his　shoulder　and　a　fist　like　a　medium…sized　rock　slammed　into　his　head。
　As　he　went　down　he　heard　Herrena　say；　quite　quietly；　'Kill　them　both。　I'll　deal　with　this　old　fool。'
　'Roight！'　said　Weems；　and　turned　towards　Twoflower　with　his　sword　drawn。
　Rincewind　saw　him　hesitate。　There　was　a　moment　of　silence；　and　then　even　Herrena　could　hear　the　splashing　as　the　Luggage　surged　ashore；　water　pouring　from　it。
　Weems　stared　at　it　in　horror。　His　sword　fell　from　his　hand。　He　turned　and　ran　into　the　mists。　A　moment　later　he　Luggage　bounded　over　Rincewind　and　followed　him。
　Herrena　lunged　at　Cohen；　who　parried　the　thrust　and　grunted　as　his　arm　twinged。　The　blades　clanged　wetly；　and　then　Herrena　was　forced　t