tp.lightfantastic-第27节

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　Herrena　lunged　at　Cohen；　who　parried　the　thrust　and　grunted　as　his　arm　twinged。　The　blades　clanged　wetly；　and　then　Herrena　was　forced　to　back　away　as　a　cunning　upward　sweep　from　Cohen　nearly　disarmed　her。
　Rincewind　staggered　towards　Twoflower　and　tugged　at　him　ineffectually。
　'Time　to　be　going；'　he　muttered。
　'This　is　great！'　said　Twoflower。　'Did　you　see　the　way　he　…'
　'Yes；　yes；　e　on。'
　'But　I　want　…　I　say；　well　done！'
　Herrena's　sword　spun　out　of　her　hand　and　stood　quivering　in　the　dirt。　With　a　snort　of　satisfaction　Cohen　brought　his　own　sword　back；　went　momentarily　crosseyed；　gave　a　little　yelp　of　pain；　and　stood　absolutely　motionless。
　Herrena　looked　at　him；　puzzled。　She　made　an　experimental　move　in　the　direction　of　her　own　sword　and　when　nothing　happened　she　grasped　it；　tested　its　balance；　and　stared　at　Cohen。　Only　his　agonised　eyes　moved　to　follow　her　as　she　circled　him　cautiously。
　'His　back's　gone　again！'　whispered　Twoflower。　'What　can　we　do？'
　'We　can　see　if　we　can　catch　the　horses？'
　'Well；'　said　Herrena；　'I　don't　know　who　you　are　or　why　you're　here；　and　there's　nothing　personal　about　this；　you　understand。'
　She　raised　her　sword　in　both　hands。
　There　was　a　sudden　movement　in　the　mists　and　the　dull　thud　of　a　heavy　piece　of　wood　hitting　a　head。　Herrena　looked　bewildered　for　a　moment；　and　then　fell　forward。
　Bethan　dropped　the　branch　she　had　been　holding　and　looked　at　Cohen。　Then　she　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulders；　stuck　her　knee　in　the　small　of　his　back；　gave　a　businesslike　twist　and　let　him　go。
　An　expression　of　bliss　passed　across　his　face。　He　gave　an　experimental　bend。
　'It's　gone！'　he　said。　'The　back！　Gone！'
　Twoflower　turned　to　Rincewind。
　'My　father　used　to　remend　hanging　from　the　top　of　a　door；'　he　said　conversationally。
　

　Weems　crept　very　cautiously　through　the　scrubby；　mist…laden　trees。　The　pale　damp　air　muffled　all　sounds；　but　he　was　certain　that　there　had　been　nothing　to　hear　for　the　past　ten　minutes。　He　turned　around　very　slowly；　and　then　allowed　himself　the　luxury　of　a　long；　heartfelt　sigh。　He　stepped　back　into　the　cover　of　the　bushes。
　Something　nudged　the　back　of　his　knees；　very　gently。　Something　angular。
　He　looked　down。　There　seemed　to　be　more　feet　down　there　than　there　ought　to　be。
　There　was　a　short；　sharp　snap。
　

　The　fire　was　a　tiny　dot　of　light　in　a　dark　landscape。　The　moon　wasn't　up　yet；　but　the　star　was　a　lurking　glow　on　the　horizon。
　'It's　circular　now；'　said　Bethan。　'It　looks　like　a　tiny　sun。　I'm　sure　it's　getting　hotter；　too。'
　'Don't；'　said　Rincewind。　'As　if　I　hadn't　got　enough　to　worry　about。'
　'What　I　don't　understand；'　said　Cohen；　who　was　having　his　back　massaged；　'ish　how　they　captured　you　without　ush　hearing　it。　We　wouldn't　have　known　at　all　if　your　Luggage　hadn't　kept　jumping　up　and　down。'
　'And　whining；'　said　Bethan。　They　all　looked　at　her。
　'Well；　it　looked　as　if　it　was　whining；'　she　said。　'I　think　it's　rather　sweet；　really。'
　Four　pairs　of　eyes　turned　towards　the　Luggage；　which　was　squatting　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire。　It　got　up；　and　very　pointedly　moved　back　into　the　shadows。
　'Eashy　to　feed；'　said　Cohen。
　'Hard　to　lose；'　agreed　Rincewind。
　'Loyal；'　suggested　Twoflower。
　'Roomy；'　said　Cohen。
　'But　I　wouldn't　say　sweet；'　said　Rincewind。
　'I　shuppose　you　wouldn't　want　to　shell　it？'　said　Cohen。
　Twoflower　shook　his　head。　'I　don't　think　it　would　understand；'　he　said。
　'No；　I　shupposhe　not；'　said　Cohen。　He　sat　up；　and　bit　his　lip。　'I　wash　looking　for　a　preshent　for　Bethan；　you　shee。　We're　getting　married。'
　'We　thought　you　ought　to　be　the　first　to　know；'　said　Bethan；　and　blushed。
　Rincewind　didn't　catch　Twoflower's　eye。
　'Well；　that's　very；　er　…'
　'Just　as　soon　as　we　find　a　town　where　there's　a　priest；'　said　Bethan。　'I　want　it　done　properly。'
　'That's　very　important；'　said　Twoflower　seriously。　'If　there　were　more　morals　about　we　wouldn't　be　crashing　into　stars。'
　They　considered　this　for　a　moment。　Then　Twoflower　said　brightly；　'This　calls　for　a　celebration。　I've　got　some　biscuits　and　water；　if　you've　still　got　some　of　that　jerky。'
　'Oh；　good；'　said　Rincewind　weakly。　He　beckoned　Cohen　to　one　side。　With　his　beard　trimmed　the　old　man　could　easily　have　passed　for　seventy　on　a　dark　night。
　'This　is；　uh；　serious？'　he　said。　'You're　really　going　to　marry　her？'
　'Share　thing。　Any　objections？'
　'Well；　no；　of　course　not；　but　…　I　mean；　she's　seventeen　and　you're；　you're；　how　can　I　put　it；　you're　of　the　elderly　persuasion。'
　'Time　I　shettled　down；　you　mean？'
　Rincewind　groped　for　words。　'You're　seventy　years　older　than　her；　Cohen。　Are　you　sure　that　…'
　'I　have　been　married　before；　you　know。　I've　got　quite　a　good　memory；'　said　Cohen　reproachfully。
　'No；　what　I　mean　is；　well；　I　mean　physically；　the　point　is；　what　about；　you　know；　the　age　difference　and　everything；　t's　a　matter　of　health；　isn't　it；　and　…'
　'Ah；'　said　Cohen　slowly；　'I　shee　what　you　mean。　The　strain。　I　hadn't　looked　at　it　like　that。'
　'No；'　said　Rincewind；　straightening　up。　'No；　well；　that's　only　to　be　expected。'
　'You've　given　me　something　to　think　about　and　no　mishtake；'　said　Cohen。
　'I　hope　I　haven't　upset　anything。'
　'No；　no；'　said　Cohen　vaguely。　'Don't　apologishe。　You　were　right　to　point　it　out。'
　He　turned　and　looked　at　Bethan；　who　waved　at　him；　and　then　he　looked　up　at　the　star　that　glared　through　the　mists。
　Eventually　he　said；　'Dangerous　times；　these。'
　'That's　a　fact。'
　'Who　knows　what　tomorrow　may　bring？'
　'Not　me。'
　Cohen　clapped　Rincewind　on　the　shoulder。　'Shome…timesh　we　jusht　have　to　take　rishks；'　he　said。　'Don't　be　offended；　but　I　think　we'll　go　ahead　with　the　wedding　anyway　and；　well；'　he　looked　at　Bethan　and　sighed；　'we'll　just　have　to　hope　she's　shtrong　enough。'
　

　Around　noon　the　following　day　they　rode　into　a　small；　mud…walled　city　surrounded　by　fields　still　lush　and　green。　There　seemed　to　be　a　lot　of　traffic　going　the　other　way；　though。　Huge　carts　rumbled　past　them。　Herds　of　livestock　ambled　along　the　crown　of　the　road。　Old　ladies　stomped　past　carrying　entire　households　and　haystacks　on　their　backs。
　'Plague？'　said　Rincewind；　stopping　a　man　pushing　a　handcart　full　of　children。
　He　shook　his　head。　'It's　the　star；　friend；'　he　said。　'Haven't　you　seen　it　in　the　sky？'
　'We　couldn't　help　noticing　it；　yes。'
　They　say　that　it'll　hit　us　on　Hogswatchnight　and　the　seas　will　boil　and　the　countries　of　the　Disc　will　be　broken　nd　kings　will　be　brought　down　and　the　cities　will　be　as　lakes　of　glass；'　said　the　man。　'I'm　off　to　the　mountains。'
　'That'll　help；　will　it？'　said　Rincewind　doubtfully。
　'No；　but　the　view　will　be　better。'
　Rincewind　rode　back　to　the　others。
　'Everyone's　worried　about　the　star；'　he　said。　'Apparently　there's　hardly　anyone　left　in　the　cities；　they're　all　frightened　of　it。'
　'I　don't　want　to　worry　anyone；'　said　Bethan；　'but　hasn't　it　struck　you　as　unseasonably　hot？'
　'That's　what　I　said　last　night；'　said　Twoflower。　'Very　warm；　I　thought。'
　'I　shuspect　it'll　get　a　lot　hotter；'　said　Cohen。　'Let'sh　get　on　into　the　city。'
　They　rode　through　echoing　streets　that　were　practically　deserted。　Cohen　kept　peering　at　merchants'　signs　until　he　reined　his　horse　and　said；　'Thish　ish　what　I've　been　looking　for。　You　find　a　temple　and　a　priesht；　I'll　join　you　shortly。'
　'A　jeweller？'　said　Rincewind。
　'It's　a　shuprishe。'
　'I　could　do　with　a　new　dress；　too；'　said　Bethan。
　'I'll　shteal　you　one。'
　There　was　something　very　oppressive　about　the　city；　Rincewind　decided。　There　was　also　something　very　odd。
　Almost　every　door　was　painted　with　a　large　red　star。
　'It's　creepy；'　said　Bethan。　'As　if　people　wanted　to　bring　the　star　here。'
　'Or　keep　it　away；'　said　Twoflower。
　'That　won't　work。　It's　too　big；'　said　Rincewind。　He　saw　their　faces　turned　towards　him。
　'Well；　it　stands　to　reason；　doesn't　it？'　he　said　lamely。
　'No；'　said　Bethan。
　'Stars　are　small　lights　in　the　sky；'　said　Twoflower。　'One　fell　down　near　my　home　once　…　big　white　thing；　size　of　a　house；　glowed　for　weeks　before　it　went　out。'
　'This　star　is　different；'　said　a　voice。　'Great　A'Tuin　has　climbed　the　beach　of　the　universe。　This　is　the　great　ocean　of　space。'
　'How　do　you　know？'　said　Twoflower。
　'Know　what？'　said　Rincewind。
　'What　you　just　said。　About　beaches　and　oceans。'
　'I　didn't　say　anything！'
　'Yes　you　did；　you　silly　man！'　yelled　Bethan。　'We　saw　your　lips　going　up　and　down　and　everything！'
　Rincewind　shut　his　eyes。　Inside　his　mind　he　could　feel　the　Spell　scuttling　off　to　hide　behind　his　conscience；　and　muttering　to　itself。
　'All　right；　all　right；'　he　said。　'No　need　to　shout。　I　…　I　don't　know　how　I　know；　I　just　know　…。'
　'Well；　I　wish　you'd　tell　us。'
　They　turned　the　corner。
　All　the　cities　around　the　Circle　Sea　had　a　special　area　set　aside　for　the　gods；　of　which　the　Disc　had　an　elegant　sufficiency。　Usually　they　were　crowded　and　not　very　attractive　from　an　architectural　point　of　view。　The　most　senior　gods；　of　course；　had　large　and　splendid　temples；　but　the　trouble　was　that　later　gods　demanded　equality　and　soon　the　holy　areas　were　sprawling　with　lean…to's；　annexes；　loft　conversions；　sub…basements；　bijou　flatlets；　ecclesiastical　infilling　and　trans…temporal　timesharing；　since　no　god　wo