tp.wyrd sisters-第33节

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　They　drifted　between　the　timbers　of　the　bridge。　Granny　Weatherwax　alighted　cautiously　on　the　greasy　planking　and　adjusted　her　dress。
　'Yes。　Well；'　she　added；　nonchalantly。
　'Better　than　Black　Aliss；　everyone'll　say；'　Nanny　Ogg　went　on。
　'Some　people　will　say　anything；'　said　Granny。　She　peered　over　the　parapet　at　the　foaming　torrent　far　below；　and　then　up　at　the　distant　outcrop　on　which　stood　Lancre　Castle。
　'Do　you　think　they　will？'　she　added；　nonchalantly。
　'Mark　my　words。'
　'Hmm。'
　'But　you've　got　to　plete　the　spell；　mind。'
　Granny　Weatherwax　nodded。　She　turned　to　face　the　dawn；　raised　her　arms；　and　pleted　the　spell。
　
　It　is　almost　impossible　to　convey　the　sudden　passage　of　fifteen　years　and　two　months　in　words。
　It's　a　lot　easier　in　pictures；　when　you　just　use　a　calendar　with　lots　of　pages　blowing　off；　or　a　clock　with　hands　moving　faster　and　faster　until　they　blur；　or　trees　bursting　into　blossom　and　fruiting　in　a　matter　of　seconds　。　。　。
　Well；　you　know。　Or　the　sun　bees　a　fiery　streak　across　the　sky；　and　days　and　nights　flicker　past　jerkily　like　a　bad　zoetrope；　and　the　fashions　visible　in　the　clothes　shop　across　the　road　whip　on　and　off　faster　than　a　lunchtime　stripper　with　five　pubs　to　do。
　There　are　any　amount　of　ways；　but　they　won't　be　required　because；　in　fact；　none　of　this　happened。
　The　sun　did　jerk　sideways　a　bit；　and　it　seemed　that　the　trees　on　the　rimward　side　of　the　gorge　were　rather　taller；　and　Nanny　couldn't　shake　off　the　sensation　that　someone　had　just　sat　down　heavily　on　her；　squashed　her　flat；　and　then　opened　her　out　again。
　This　was　because　the　kingdom　did　not；　in　so　many　words；　move　through　time　in　the　normal　flickering　sky；　high…speed　photography　sense　of　the　word。　It　moved　around　it；　which　is　much　cleaner；　considerably　easier　to　achieve；　and　saves　all　that　travelling　around　trying　to　find　a　laboratory　opposite　a　dress　shop　that　will　keep　the　same　dummy　in　the　window　for　sixty　years；　which　has　traditionally　been　the　most　time…consuming　and　expensive　bit　of　the　whole　business。
　The　kiss　lasted　more　than　fifteen　years。
　Not　even　frogs　can　manage　that。
　The　Fool　drew　back；　his　eyes　glazed；　his　expression　one　of　puzzlement。
　'Did　you　feel　the　world　move？'　he　said。
　Magrat　peered　over　his　shoulder　at　the　forest。
　'I　think　she's　done　it；'　she　said。
　'Done　what？'
　Magrat　hesitated。　'Oh。　Nothing。　Nothing　much；　really。'
　'Shall　we　have　another　try？　I　don't　think　we　got　it　quite　right　that　time。'
　Magrat　nodded。
　This　time　it　lasted　only　fifteen　seconds。　It　seemed　longer。
　
　A　tremor　ran　through　the　castle；　shaking　the　breakfast　tray　from　which　the　Duke　Felmet；　much　to　his　relief；　was　eating　porridge　that　wasn't　too　salty。
　It　was　felt　by　the　ghosts　that　now　filled　Nanny　Ogg's　cottage　like　a　rugby　team　in　a　telephone　box。
　It　spread　to　every　henhouse　in　the　kingdom；　and　a　number　of　hands　relaxed　their　grip。　And　thirty…two　purple…faced　cockerels　took　a　deep　bream　and　crowed　like　maniacs；　but　they　were　too　late；　too　late　。　。　。
　
　'I　still　reckon　you　were　up　to　something；'　said　Granny　Weatherwax。
　'Have　another　cup　of　tea；'　said　Nanny　pleasantly。
　'You　won't　go　and　put　any　drink　in　it；　will　you；'　Granny　said　flatly。　'It　was　the　drink　what　did　it　last　night。　I　would　never　have　put　myself　forward　like　that。　It's　shameful。'
　'Black　Aliss　never　done　anything　like　it；'　said　Nanny；　encouragingly。　'I　mean；　it　was　a　hundred　years；　all　right；　but　it　was　only　one　castle　she　moved。　I　reckon　anyone　could　do　a　castle。'
　Granny's　frown　puckered　at　the　edge。
　'And　she　let　all　weeds　grow　over　it；'　she　observed　primly。
　'Right　enough。'
　'Very　well　done；'　said　King　Verence；　eagerly。　'We　all　thought　it　was　superb。　Being　in　the　ethereal　plane；　of　course；　we　were　in　a　position　to　observe　closely。'
　'Very　good；　your　graciousness；'　said　Nanny　Ogg。　She　turned　and　observed　the　crowding　ghosts　behind　him；　who　hadn't　been　granted　the　privilege　of　sitting　at；　or　partly　through；　the　kitchen　table。
　'But　you　lot　can　bugger　off　back　to　the　outhouse；'　she　said。　'The　cheek！　Except　the　kiddies；　they　can　stay；'　she　added。　'Poor　little　mites。'
　'I　am　afraid　it　feels　so　good　to　be　out　of　the　castle；'　said　the　king。
　Granny　Weatherwax　yawned。
　'Anyway；'　she　said；　'we've　got　to　find　the　boy　now。　That's　the　next　step。'
　'We　shall　look　for　him　directly　after　lunch。'
　'Lunch？'
　'It's　chicken；'　said　Nanny。　'And　you're　tired。　Besides；　making　a　decent　search　will　take　a　long　time。'
　'He'll　be　in　Ankh…Morpork；'　said　Granny。　'Mark　my　words。　Everyone　ends　up　there。　We'll　start　with　Ankh…Morpork。　You　don't　have　to　search　for　people　when　destiny　is　involved；　you　just　wait　for　them　in　Ankh…Morpork。'
　Nanny　brightened　up。　'Our　Karen　got　married　to　an　innkeeper　from　there；'　she　said。　'I　haven't　seen　the　baby　yet。　We　could　get　free　board　and　everything。'
　'We　needn't　actually　go。　The　whole　point　is　that　he　should　e　here。　There's　something　about　that　city；'　said　Granny。　'It's　like　a　drain。'
　
　'It's　five　hundred　miles　away！'　said　Magrat。　'You'll　be　away　for　ages！'
　'I　can't　help　it；'　said　the　Fool。　'The　duke's　given　me　special　instructions。　He　trusts　me。'
　'Huh！　To　hire　more　soldiers；　I　expect？'
　'No。　Nothing　like　that。　Not　as　bad　as　that。'　The　Fool　hesitated。　He'd　introduced　Felmet　to　the　world　of　words。　Surely　that　was　better　than　hitting　people　with　swords？　Wouldn't　that　buy　time？　Wouldn't　it　be　best　for　everybody；　in　the　circumstances？
　'But　you　don't　have　to　go！　You　don't　want　to　go！'
　'That　doesn't　have　much　to　do　with　it。　I　promised　to　be　loyal　to　him…'
　'Yes；　yes；　until　you're　dead。　But　you　don't　even　believe　that！　You　were　telling　me　how　much　you　hated　the　whole　Guild　and　everything！'
　'Well；　yes。　But　I　still　have　to　do　it。　I　gave　my　word。'
　Magrat　came　close　to　stamping　her　foot；　but　didn't　sink　so　low。
　'Just　when　we　were　getting　to　know　one　another！'　she　shouted。　'You're　pathetic！'
　The　Fool's　eyes　narrowed。　'I'd　only　be　pathetic　if　I　broke　my　word；'　he　said。　'But　I　may　be　incredibly　ill…advised。　I'm　sorry。　I'll　be　back　in　a　few　weeks；　anyway。'
　'Don't　you　understand　I'm　asking　you　not　to　listen　to　him？'
　'I　said　I'm　sorry。　I　couldn't　see　you　again　before　I　go；　could　I？'
　'I　shall　be　washing　my　hair；'　said　Magrat　stiffly。
　'When？'
　'Whenever！'
　
　Hwel　pinched　the　bridge　of　his　nose　and　squinted　wearily　at　the　wax…spattered　paper。
　The　play　wasn't　going　at　all　well。
　He'd　sorted　out　the　falling　chandelier；　and　found　a　place　for　a　villain　who　wore　a　mask　to　conceal　his　disfigurement；　and　he'd　rewritten　one　of　the　funny　bits　to　allow　for　the　fact　that　the　hero　had　been　born　in　a　handbag。　It　was　the　clowns　who　were　giving　him　trouble　again。　They　kept　changing　every　time　he　thought　about　them。　He　preferred　them　in　twos；　that　was　traditional；　but　now　there　seemed　to　be　a　third　one；　and　he　was　blowed　if　he　could　think　of　any　funny　lines　for　him。
　His　quill　moved　scratchily　over　the　latest　sheet　of　paper；　trying　to　catch　the　voices　that　had　streamed　through　his　dreaming　mind　and　had　seemed　so　funny　at　the　time。
　His　tongue　began　to　stick　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　He　was　sweating。
　This　iss　My　Little　Study；　he　wrote。　Hey；　with　a　Little　Study　youe　could　goe　a　Long　Way。　And　I　wishe　youed　start　now。　Iffe　You　can't　leave　yn　a　Cab　then　leave　yn　a　Huff。　Iffthates　too　soone；　thenn　leave　yn　a　minute　and　a　Huff。　Say；　have　you　Gott　a　Pensil？　A　crayon？…
　Hwel　stared　at　this　in　horror。　On　the　page　it　looked　nonsensical；　ridiculous。　And　yet；　and　yet；　in　the　thronged　auditorium　of　his　mind　。　。　。
　He　dipped　the　quill　in　the　inkpot；　and　chased　the　echoes　further。
　Seconde　Clown：　Atsa　right；　Boss。
　Third　Clowne：　＇businesse　with　bladder　on　stick＇　Honk。　Honk。
　Hwel　gave　up。　Yes；　it　was　funny；　he　knew　it　was　funny；　he'd　heard　the　laughter　in　his　dreams。　But　it　wasn't　right。　Not　yet。　Maybe　never。　It　was　like　the　other　idea　about　the　two　clowns；　one　fat；　one　thin　。　。　。　Thys　ys　amain　Dainty　Messe　youe　have　got　me　into；　Stanleigh　。　。　。　He　had　laughed　until　his　chest　ached；　and　the　rest　of　the　pany　had　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。　But　in　his　dreams　it　was　hilarious。
　He　laid　down　the　pen　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　It　must　be　nearly　midnight；　and　the　habit　of　a　lifetime　told　him　to　spare　the　candles　although；　for　a　fact；　they　could　afford　all　the　candles　they　could　eat　now；　whatever　Vitoller　might　say。
　Hour　gongs　were　being　struck　all　across　the　city　and　nightwatchmen　were　proclaiming　that　it　was　indeed　midnight　and　also　that；　in　the　face　of　all　the　evidence；　all　was　well。　Many　of　them　got　as　far　as　the　end　of　the　sentence　before　being　mugged。
　Hwel　pushed　open　the　shutters　and　looked　out　at　Ankh…Morpork。
　It　would　be　tempting　to　say　the　twin　city　was　at　its　best　this　time　of　year；　but　that　wouldn't　be　entirely　correct。　It　was　at　its　most　typical。
　The　river　Ankh；　the　cloaca　of　half　a　continent；　was　already　pretty　wide　and　silt　laden　when　it　reached　the　city's　outskirts。　By　the　time　it　left　it　didn't　so　much　flow　as　exude。　Owing　to　the　accretion　of　the　mud　of　centuries　the　bed　of　the　river　was　in　fact　higher　than　some　of　the　low　lying　areas　and　now；　with　the　snow　melt　swelling　the　flow；　many　of　the　low…rent　districts　on　the　Morpork　side