tp.wyrd sisters-第7节

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　'So　glad。　It　is　always　a　pleasure　to　meet　a　true　connoisseur。　Olwyn　Vitoller；　at　your　service。　Manager　of　this　band　of　vagabonds；'　said　the　man　and；　removing　his　moth…eaten　hat；　he　treated　her　to　a　low　bow。　It　was　less　an　obeisance　than　an　exercise　in　advanced　topology。
　The　hat　swerved　and　jerked　through　a　series　of　plex　arcs；　ending　up　at　the　end　of　an　arm　which　was　now　pointing　in　the　direction　of　the　sky。　One　of　his　legs；　meanwhile；　had　wandered　off　behind　him。　The　rest　of　his　body　sagged　politely　until　his　head　was　level　with　Granny's　knees。
　'Yes；　well；'　said　Granny。　She　felt　that　her　clothes　had　grown　a　bit　larger　and　much　hotter。
　'I　thought　you　was　very　good；　too；'　said　Nanny　Ogg。　'The　way　you　shouted　all　them　words　so　graciously。　I　could　tell　you　was　a　king。'
　'I　hope　we　didn't　upset　things；'　said　Magrat。
　'My　dear　lady；'　said　Vitoller。　'Could　I　begin　to　tell　you　how　gratifying　it　is　for　a　mere　mummer　to　learn　that　his　audience　has　seen　behind　the　mere　shell　of　greasepaint　to　the　spirit　beneath？'
　'I　expect　you　could；'　said　Granny。　'I　expect　you　could　say　anything；　Mr　Vitoller。'
　He　replaced　his　hat　and　their　eyes　met　in　the　long　and　calculating　stare　of　one　professional　weighing　up　another。　Vitoller　broke　first；　and　tried　to　pretend　he　hadn't　been　peting。
　'And　now；'　he　said；　'to　what　do　I　owe　this　visit　from　three　such　charming　ladies？'
　In　fact　he'd　won。　Granny's　mouth　fell　open。　She　would　not　have　described　herself　as　anything　much　above　'handsome；　considering'。　Nanny；　on　the　other　hand；　was　as　gummy　as　a　baby　and　had　a　face　like　a　small　dried　raisin。　The　best　you　could　say　for　Magrat　was　that　she　was　decently　plain　and　well…scrubbed　and　as　flat…chested　as　an　ironing　board　with　a　couple　of　peas　on　it；　even　if　her　head　was　too　well　stuffed　with　fancies。　Granny　could　feel　something；　some　sort　of　magic　at　work。　But　not　the　kind　she　was　used　to。
　It　was　Vitoller's　voice。　By　the　mere　process　of　articulation　it　transformed　everything　it　talked　about。
　Look　at　the　two　of　them；　she　told　herself；　primping　away　like　a　couple　of　ninnies。　Granny　stopped　her　hand　in　the　process　of　patting　her　own　iron…hard　bun；　and　cleared　her　throat　meaningfully。
　'We'd　like　to　talk　to　you；　Mr　Vitoller。'　She　indicated　the　actors；　who　were　dismantling　the　set　and　staying　well　out　of　her　way；　and　added　in　a　conspiratorial　whisper；　'Somewhere　private。'
　'Dear　lady；　but　of　a　certain；'　he　said。　'Currently　I　have　lodgings　in　yonder　esteemed　watering　hole。'
　The　witches　looked　around。　Eventually　Magrat　risked；　'You　mean　in　the　pub？'
　It　was　cold　and　draughty　in　the　Great　Hall　of　Lancre　Castle；　and　the　new　chamberlain's　bladder　wasn't　getting　any　younger。　He　stood　and　squirmed　under　the　gaze　of　Lady　Felmet。
　'Oh；　yes；'　he　said。　'We've　got　them　all　right。　Lots。'
　'And　people　don't　do　anything　about　them？'　said　the　duchess。
　The　chamberlain　blinked。　'I'm　sorry？'　he　said。
　'People　tolerate　them？'
　'Oh；　indeed；'　said　the　chamberlain　happily。　'It's　considered　good　luck　to　have　a　witch　living　in　your　village。　My　word；　yes。'
　'Why？'
　The　chamberlain　hesitated。　The　last　time　he　had　resorted　to　a　witch　it　had　been　because　certain　rectal　problems　had　turned　the　privy　into　a　daily　torture　chamber；　and　the　jar　of　ointment　she　had　prepared　had　turned　the　world　into　a　nicer　place。
　'They　smooth　out　life's　little　humps　and　bumps；'　he　said。
　'Where　I　e　from；　we　don't　allow　witches；'　said　the　duchess　sternly。　'And　we　don't　propose　to　allow　them　here。　You　will　furnish　us　with　their　addresses。'
　'Addresses；　ladyship？'
　'Where　they　live。　I　trust　your　tax　gatherers　know　where　to　find　them？'
　'Ah；'　said　the　chamberlain；　miserably。
　The　duke　leaned　forward　on　his　throne。
　'I　trust；'　he　said；　'that　they　do　pay　taxes？'
　'Not；　exactly　pay　taxes；　my　lord；'　said　the　chamberlain。
　There　was　silence。　Finally　the　duke　prompted；　'Go　on；　man。'
　'Well；　it's　more　that　they　don't　pay；　you　see。　We　never　felt；　that　is；　the　old　king　didn't　think　。　。　。　Well；　they　just　don't。'
　The　duke　laid　a　hand　on　his　wife's　arm。
　'I　see；'　he　said　coldly。　'Very　well。　You　may　go。'
　The　chamberlain　gave　him　a　brief　nod　of　relief　and　scuttled　crabwise　from　the　hall。
　'Well！'　said　the　duchess。
　'Indeed。'
　'That　was　how　your　family　used　to　run　a　kingdom；　was　it？　You　had　a　positive　duty　to　kill　your　cousin。　It　was　clearly　in　the　interests　of　the　species；'　said　the　duchess。　'The　weak　don't　deserve　to　survive。'
　The　duke　shivered。　She　would　keep　on　reminding　him。　He　didn't；　on　the　whole；　object　to　killing　people；　or　at　least　ordering　them　to　be　killed　and　then　watching　it　happen。　But　killing　a　kinsman　rather　stuck　in　the　throat　or　…　he　recalled　…　the　liver。
　'Quite　so；'　he　managed。　'Of　course；　there　would　appear　to　be　many　witches；　and　it　might　be　difficult　to　find　the　three　that　were　on　the　moor。'
　'That　doesn't　matter。'
　'Of　course　not。'
　'Put　matters　in　hand。'
　'Yes；　my　love。'
　Matters　in　hand。　He'd　put　matters　in　hand　all　right。　If　he　closed　his　eyes　he　could　see　the　body　tumbling　down　the　steps。　Had　there　been　a　hiss　of　shocked　breath；　down　in　the　darkness　of　the　hall？　He'd　been　certain　they　were　alone。　Matters　in　hand！　He'd　tried　to　wash　the　blood　off　his　hand。　If　he　could　wash　the　blood　off；　he　told　himself；　it　wouldn't　have　happened。　He'd　scrubbed　and　scrubbed。　Scrubbed　till　he　screamed。
　
　Granny　wasn't　at　home　in　public　houses。　She　sat　stiffly　to　attention　behind　her　port…and…lemon；　as　if　it　were　a　shield　against　the　lures　of　the　world。
　Nanny　Ogg；　on　the　other　hand；　was　enthusiastically　downing　her　third　drink　and；　Granny　thought　sourly；　was　well　along　that　path　which　would　probably　end　up　with　her　usual　dancing　on　the　table；　showing　her　petticoats　and　singing　'The　Hedgehog　Can　Never　be　Buggered　at　All'。
　The　table　was　covered　with　copper　coins。　Vitoller　and　his　wife　sat　at　either　end；　counting。　It　was　something　of　a　race。
　Granny　considered　Mrs　Vitoller　as　she　snatched　farthings　from　under　her　husband's　fingers。　She　was　an　intelligent…looking　woman；　who　appeared　to　treat　her　husband　much　as　a　sheepdog　treats　a　favourite　lamb。　The　plexities　of　the　marital　relationship　were　known　to　Granny　only　from　a　distance；　in　the　same　way　that　an　astronomer　can　view　the　surface　of　a　remote　and　alien　world；　but　it　had　already　occurred　to　her　that　a　wife　to　Vitoller　would　have　to　be　a　very　special　woman　with　bottomless　reserves　of　patience　and　organisational　ability　and　nimble　fingers。
　'Mrs　Vitoller；'　she　said　eventually；　'may　I　make　so　bold　as　to　ask　if　your　union　has　been　blessed　with　fruit？'
　The　couple　looked　blank。
　'She　means…'　Nanny　Ogg　began。
　'No；　I　see；'　said　Mrs　Vitoller；　quietly。　'No。　We　had　a　little　girl　once。'
　A　small　cloud　hung　over　the　table。　For　a　second　or　two　Vitoller　looked　merely　human…sized；　and　much　older。　He　stared　at　the　small　pile　of　cash　in　front　of　him。
　'Only；　you　see；　there　is　this　child；'　said　Granny；　indicating　the　baby　in　Nanny　Ogg's　arms。　'And　he　needs　a　home。'
　The　Vitollers　stared。　Then　the　man　sighed。
　'It　is　no　life　for　a　child；'　he　said。　'Always　moving。　Always　a　new　town。　And　no　room　for　schooling。　They　say　that's　very　important　these　days。'　But　his　eyes　didn't　look　away。
　Mrs　Vitoller　said；　'Why　does　he　need　a　home？'
　'He　hasn't　got　one；'　said　Granny。　'At　least；　not　one　where　he　would　be　wele。'
　The　silence　continued。　Then　Mrs　Vitoller　said；　'And　you；　who　ask　this；　you　are　by　way　of　being　his…？'
　'Godmothers；'　said　Nanny　Ogg　promptly。　Granny　was　slightly　taken　aback。　It　never　would　have　occurred　to　her。
　Vitoller　played　abstractly　with　the　coins　in　front　of　him。　His　wife　reached　out　across　the　table　and　touched　his　hand；　and　there　was　a　moment　of　unspoken　munion。　Granny　looked　away。　She　had　grown　expert　at　reading　faces；　but　there　were　times　when　she　preferred　not　to。
　'Money　is；　alas；　tight…'　Vitoller　began。
　'But　it　will　stretch；'　said　his　wife　firmly。
　'Yes。　I　think　it　will。　We　should　be　happy　to　take　care　of　him。'
　Granny　nodded；　and　fished　in　the　deepest　recesses　of　her　cloak。　At　last　she　produced　a　small　leather　bag；　which　she　tipped　out　on　to　the　table。　There　was　a　lot　of　silver；　and　even　a　few　tiny　gold　coins。
　'This　should　take　care　of…'　she　groped　…　'nappies　and　suchlike。　Clothes　and　things。　Whatever。'
　'A　hundred　times　over；　I　should　think；'　said　Vitoller　weakly。　'Why　didn't　you　mention　this　before？'
　'If　I'd　had　to　buy　you；　you　wouldn't　be　worth　the　price。'
　'But　you　doh't　know　anything　about　us！'　said　Mrs　Vitoller。
　'We　don't；　do　we？'　said　Granny；　calmly。　'Naturally　we'd　like　to　hear　how　he　gets　along。　You　could　send　us　letters　and　suchlike。　But　it　would　not　be　a　good　idea　to　talk　about　all　this　after　you've　left；　do　you　see？　For　the　sake　of　the　child。'
　Mrs　Vitoller　looked　at　the　two　old　women。
　'There's　something　else　here；　isn't　there？'　she　said。　'Something　big　behind　all　this？'
　Granny　hesitated；　and　then　nodded。
　'But　it　would　do　us　no　good　at　all　to　know　it？'
　Another　nod。
　Granny　stood　up　as　several　actors　came　in；　breaking　the　spell。　Actors　had　a　habit　of　filling　all　the　space　around　them。
　'I　have　other　things　to　see　to；'　she　said。　'Please　excuse　me。'
　'What's　his　name？'　said　Vitoller。
　'Tom；'　said　Gra