tp.wyrd sisters-第21节

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'and　that　means　something　horrible's　going　to　happen。　You　know　what　she's　like　when　she　loses　her　temper。　We'll　never　hear　the　last　of　it；　miz。'
　'Where　were　you　going？'　demanded　Magrat。
　To　fetch　our　Jason　and　our　Wane　and　our　Darron　and　our…'
　'Wait　a　moment。'
　'Oh；　Mss　Magrat；　suppose　they　try　to　torture　her？　You　know　what　a　tongue　she's　got　on　her　when　she　gets　angry…'
　'I'm　thinking；'　said　Magrat。
　'He's　put　his　own　bodyguards　on　the　gates　and　everything…'
　'Look；　just　shut　up　a　minute；　will　you；　Shawn？'
　'When　our　Jason　finds　out；　he's　going　to　give　the　duke　a　real　seeing…to；　miz。　He　says　it's　about　time　someone　did。'
　Nanny　Ogg's　Jason　was　a　young　man　with　the　build　and；　Magrat　had　always　thought；　the　brains　of　a　herd　of　oxen。　Thick…skinned　though　he　was；　she　doubted　whether　he　could　survive　a　hail　of　arrows。
　'Don't　tell　him　yet；'　she　said　thoughtfully。　'There　could　be　another　way　。　。　。'
　'I'll　go　and　find　Granny　Weatherwax；　shall　I；　miz？'　said　Shawn；　hopping　from　one　leg　to　another。　'She'll　know　what　to　do；　she's　a　witch。'
　Magrat　stood　absolutely　still。　She　had　thought　she　was　angry　before；　but　now　she　was　furious。　She　was　wet　and　cold　and　hungry　and　this　person　…　once　upon　a　time；　she　heard　herself　thinking；　she　would　have　burst　into　tears　at　this　point。
　'Oops；'　said　Shawn。　'Um。　I　didn't　mean。　Whoops。　Um　。　。　。'　He　backed　away。
　'If　you　happen　to　see　Granny　Weatherwax；'　said　Magrat　slowly；　in　tones　that　should　have　etched　her　words　into　glass；　'you　can　tell　her　that　I　will　sort　it　all　out。　Now　go　away　before　I　turn　you　into　a　frog。　You　look　like　one　anyway。'
　She　turned；　hitched　up　her　skirts；　and　ran　like　hell　towards　her　cottage。
　
　Lord　Felmet　was　one　of　nature's　gloaters。　He　was　good　at　it。
　'Quite　fortable；　are　we？'　he　said。
　Nanny　Ogg　considered　this。　'Apart　from　these　stocks；　you　mean？'　she　said。
　'I　am　impervious　to　your　foul　blandishments；'　said　the　duke。　'I　scorn　your　devious　wiles。　You　are　to　be　tortured；　I'll　have　you　know。'
　This　didn't　appear　to　have　the　required　effect。　Nanny　was　staring　around　the　dungeon　with　the　vaguely　interested　gaze　of　a　sightseer。
　'And　then　you　will　be　burned；'　said　the　duchess。
　'Okay；'　said　Nanny。
　'Okay？'
　'Well；　it's　bloody　freezing　down　here。　What's　that　big　wardrobe　thing　with　the　spikes？'
　The　duke　was　trembling。　'Aha；'　he　said。　'Now　you　realise；　eh？　That；　my　dear　lady；　is　an　Iron　Maiden。　It's　the　latest　thing。　Well　may　you…'
　'Can　I　have　a　go　in　it？'
　'Your　pleas　fall　on　deaf　。　。　。　'　The　duke's　voice　trailed　off。　His　twitch　started　up。
　The　duchess　leaned　forward　until　her　big　red　face　was　inches　away　from　Nanny's　nose。
　'This　insouciance　gives　you　pleasure；'　she　hissed；　'but　soon　you　will　laugh　on　the　other　side　of　your　face！'
　'It's　only　got　this　side；'　said　Nanny。
　The　duchess　fingered　a　tray　of　implements　lovingly。　'We　shall　see；'　she　said；　picking　up　a　pair　of　pliers。
　'And　you　need　not　think　any　others　of　your　people　will　e　to　your　aid；'　said　the　duke；　who　was　sweating　despite　the　chill。　'We　alone　hold　the　keys　to　this　dungeon。　Ha　ha。　You　will　be　an　example　to　all　those　who　have　been　spreading　malicious　rumours　about　me。　Do　not　protest　your　innocence！　I　hear　the　voices　all　the　time；　lying　。　。　。　'
　The　duchess　gripped　him　ferociously　by　the　arm。　'Enough；'　she　rasped。　'e；　Leonal。　We　will　let　her　reflect　on　her　fate　for　a　while。'
　'。　。　。the　faces　。　。　。　wicked　lies　。　。　。　I　wasn't　there；　and　anyway　he　fell　。　。　。　my　porridge；　all　salty　。　。　。'　murmured　the　duke；　swaying。
　The　door　slammed　behind　them。　There　was　a　click　of　locks　and　a　thudding　of　bolts。
　Nanny　was　left　alone　in　the　gloom。　A　flickering　torch　high　on　the　wall　only　made　the　surrounding　darkness　more　forbidding。　Strange　metal　shapes；　designed　for　no　more　exalted　purpose　than　the　destruct…testing　of　the　human　body；　cast　unpleasant　shadows。　Nanny　Ogg　stirred　in　her　chains。
　'All　right；'　she　said。　'I　can　see　you。　Who　are　you？'
　King　Verence　stepped　forward。
　'I　saw　you　making　faces　behind　him；'　said　Nanny　Ogg。　'All　I　could　do　to　keep　a　straight　face　myself。'
　'I　wasn't　making　faces；　woman；　I　was　scowling。'
　Nanny　squinted。　'Ere；　I　know　you；'　she　said。　'You're　dead。'
　'I　prefer　the　term　〃passed　over〃；'　said　the　king。
　'I'd　bow＇11＇；'　said　Nanny。　'Only　there's　all　these　chains　and　things。　You　haven't　seen　a　cat　around　here；　have　you？'
　'Yes。　He's　in　the　room　upstairs；　asleep。'
　Nanny　appeared　to　relax。　'That's　all　right；　then；'　she　said。　'I　was　beginning　to　worry。'　She　stared　around　the　dungeon　again。　'What's　that　big　bed　thing　over　there？'
　'The　rack；'　said　the　king；　and　explained　its　use。　Nanny　Ogg　nodded。
　'What　a　busy　little　mind　he's　got；'　she　said。
　'I　fear；　madam；　that　I　may　be　responsible　for　your　present　predicament；'　said　Verence；　sitting　down　on　or　at　least　just　above　a　handy　anvil。　'I　wished　to　attract　a　witch。'
　'I　suppose　you're　no　good　at　locks？'
　'I　fear　they　would　be　beyond　my　capabilities　as　yet　。　。　。　but　surely…'　the　ghost　of　the　king　waved　a　hand　in　a　vague　gesture　which　enpassed　the　dungeon；　Nanny　and　the　manacles　…　'to　a　witch　all　this　is　just　so　much…'
　'Solid　iron；'　said　Nanny。　'You　might　be　able　to　walk　through　it；　but　I　can't。'
　'I　didn't　realise；'　said　Verence。　'I　thought　witches　could　do　magic。'
　'Young　man；'　said　Nanny；　'you　will　oblige　me　by　shutting　up。'
　'Madam！　I　am　a　king！'
　'You　are　also　dead；　so　I　wouldn't　aspire　to　hold　any　opinions　if　I　was　you。　Now　just　be　quiet　and　wait；　like　a　good　boy。'
　Against　all　his　instincts；　the　king　found　himself　obeying。　There　was　no　gainsaying　that　tone　of　voice。　It　spoke　to　him　across　the　years；　from　his　days　in　the　nursery。　Its　echoes　told　him　that　if　he　didn't　eat　it　all　up　he　would　be　sent　straight　to　bed。
　Nanny　Ogg　stirred　in　her　chains。　She　hoped　they　would　turn　up　soon。
　'Er；'　said　the　king　uneasily。　'I　feel　I　owe　you　an　explanation　。　。　。'
　
　'Thank　you；'　said　Granny　Weatherwax；　and　because　Shawn　seemed　to　be　expecting　it；　added；　'You've　been　a　good　boy。'
　'Yes'm；'　said　Shawn。　'M'm？'
　'Was　there　something　else？'
　Shawn　twisted　the　end　of　his　chain…mail　vest　out　of　embarrassment。　'It's　not　true　what　everyone's　been　saying　about　our　mam；　is　it；　m'm？'　he　said。　'She　doesn't　go　round　putting　evil　curses　on　folk。　Except　for　Daviss　the　butcher。　And　old　Cakebread；　after　he　kicked　her　cat。　But　they　wasn't　what　you'd　call　real　curses；　was　they；　m'm？'
　'You　can　stop　calling　me　m'm。'
　'Yes；　m'm。'
　'They've　been　saying　that；　have　they？'
　'Yes；　m'm。'
　'Well；　your　mam　does　upset　people　sometimes。'
　Shawn　hopped　from　one　leg　to　another。
　'Yes；　m'm；　but　they　says　terrible　things　about　you；　m'm；　savin'　your　presence；　m'm。'
　Granny　stiffened。
　'What　things？'
　'Don't　like　to　say；　m'm。'
　'What　things？'
　Shawn　considered　his　next　move。　There　weren't　many　choices。
　'A　lot　of　things　what　aren't　true；　m'm；'　he　said；　establishing　his　credentials　as　early　as　possible。　'All　sorts　of　things。　Like；　old　Verence　was　a　bad　king　and　you　helped　him　on　the　throne；　and　you　caused　that　bad　winter　the　other　year；　and　old　Norbut's　cow　dint　give　no　milk　after　you　looked　at　it。　Lot　of　lies；　m'm；'　he　added；　loyally。
　'Right；'　said　Granny。
　She　shut　the　door　in　his　panting　face；　stood　in　thought　for　a　moment；　and　retired　to　her　rocking　chair。
　Eventually　she　said；　once　more；　'Right。'
　A　little　later　she　added；　'She's　a　daft　old　besom；　but　we　can't　have　people　going　round　doing　things　to　witches。　Once　you've　lost　your　respect；　you　ain't　got　a　thing。　I　don't　remember　looking　at　old　Norbut's　cow。　Who's　old　Norbut？'
　She　stood　up；　took　her　pointed　hat　from　its　hook　behind　the　door　and；　glaring　into　the　mirror；　skewered　it　in　place　with　a　number　of　ferocious　hatpins。　They　slid　on　one　by　one　by　one；　as　unstoppable　as　the　wrath　of　God。
　She　vanished　into　the　outhouse　for　a　moment　and　came　back　with　her　witch's　cloak；　which　served　as　a　blanket　for　sick　goats　when　not　otherwise　employed。
　Once　upon　a　time　it　had　been　black　velvet；　now　it　was　just　black。　It　was　carefully　and　slowly　fastened　by　a　tarnished　silver　brooch。
　No　samurai；　no　questing　knight；　was　ever　dressed　with　as　much　ceremony。
　Finally　Granny　drew　herself　up；　surveyed　her　dark　reflection　in　the　glass；　gave　a　thin　little　smile　of　approval；　and　left　via　the　back　door。
　The　air　of　menace　was　only　slightly　dispelled　by　the　sound　of　her　running　up　and　down　outside；　trying　to　get　her　broomstick　started。
　
　Magrat　was　also　regarding　herself　in　the　mirror。
　She'd　dug　out　a　startlingly　green　dress　that　was　designed　to　be　both　revealing　and　clinging；　and　would　have　been　if　Magrat　had　anything　to　display　or　cling　to；　so　she'd　shoved　a　couple　of　rolled…up　stockings　down　the　front　in　an　effort　to　make　good　the　more　obvious　deficiencies。　She　had　also　tried　a　spell　on　her　hair；　but　it　was　naturally　magic…resistant　and　already　the　natural　shape　was　beginning　to　assert　itself　（a　dandelion　clock　at　about　2pm）。
　Magrat　had　also　tried　makeup。　This　wasn't　an　unqualified　success。　She　didn't　have　much　practice。　She　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　she'd　overdone　the　eyeshadow。
　Her　neck；　fingers　and　arms　between　them　carried　enough　silverware　to　make　a　full…sized　dinner　service；　and　over