tw.togreenangeltower2-第148节

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sky　opened　before　him；　dotted　with　tiny；　cold　stars；　as　though　Green　Angel　Tower　had　torn　free　of　its　moorings　and　now　floated　above　the　storm。　He　stared；　teeth　clenched　against　the　bell's　fading　echoes。　After　three　heartbeats　the　black　sky　clotted　with　gray　and　red　and　the　tower　was　surrounded　by　storm　once　more。
　　　　　　　Something　tugged　at　his　thoughts；　fighting　against　Bright…Nail's　unslackening　pull。
This　。。。　is　。。。　wrong。　The　joy　that　he　had　shared；　the　feeling　that　he　would　somehow　make　things　right；　ebbed　away。　Something　bad　is　happening…something　very　bad！
　　　　　　　But　he　was　already　moving　again；　mounting　the　stairs　toward　the　dim　glow。　He　was　not　the　master　of　his　own　body。
　　　　　　　He　struggled。　His　limbs　felt　distant；　numb。　He　slowed　himself；　then　managed　to　stop；　shuddering　in　the　freezing　wind　that　blew　down　the　stairwell。　Tiny　whiskers　of　ice　hung　from　the　walls；　and　his　breath　clouded　about　his　head；　but　he　could　feel　an　even　greater　coldness　lurking　somewhere　above　him…a　coldness　that　somehow　thought。
　　　　　　　He　fought　for　a　long　time　on　the　stairs；　struggling　to　regain　control　of　his　own　arms　and　legs…a　struggle　against　nothing　visible　that　went　unobserved　except　by　the　cold；　inhuman　presence。　He　could　feel　its　hungry　attention　as　the　sweat　beading　on　his　skin　froze　and　fell　tinkling　onto　the　steps。　Steam　rose　from　his　overheated　body；　and　where　the　warmth　left；　deadening　chill　crept　in。
　　　　　　　The　cold　took　Simon　at　last；　filling　him。　It　moved　him　like　a　puppet　on　a　stick。　He　jerked　and　began　to　stagger　upward　once　more；　screaming　silently　from　the　prison　of　his　skull。
He　stepped　up　out　of　the　stairwell　and　into　the　vaporous　bellchamber；　the　ice…blanketed　walls　glimmered　and　sparkled。　Storm　clouds　surrounded　the　high　windows　and　light　and　shadow　moved　sluggishly；　as　though　the　cold　gripped　them；　too。
　　　　　　　Miriamele　and　Binabik　stood　beside　the　door；　writhing　slowly；　caught　somehow　like　flies　struggling　in　amber。　His　eyes　widened　as　he　saw　them　and　his　heart　thudded　painfully　behind　his　ribs；　but　he　could　not　call　out　or　even　stop　his　feet　from　carrying　him　forward。　Miriamele　opened　her　mouth　and　made　a　muffled　noise。　Tears　filled　his　eyes；　and　for　a　moment　her　pale　face　held　him　like　a　tamp　in　a　dark　room…but　the　thing　that　gripped　him　would　not　be　denied。　It　swept　him　past　his　friends　like　a　river　current；　tugging　him　toward　the　cluster　of　pillars　at　the　center　of　the　chamber。
　　　　　　　Beneath　the　frost…furred　bells　three　figures　waited；　one　kneeling。　The　part　of　Bright…Nail　that　had　entangled　itself　with　him　danced　and　leaped　。。。　but　the　still…Simon　part　quailed　as　Elias　turned　toward　him　with　a　face　like　a　dead　man's。　The　mottled　gray　sword　in　his　two　fists　lay　against　black　Thorn；　and　where　they　touched　there　was　nullity；　an　emptiness　that　hurt　Simon's　mind。
　　　　　　　Shivering；　Camaris　turned　to　Simon；　his　hair　and　brows　powdery　with　ice。　The　old　man's　eyes　stared　in　abject　misery。
　　　　　　　〃My　fault　。。。〃　he　whispered　through　chattering　teeth。
　　　　　　　Pryrates　had　watched　Simon's　lurching　entrance。　Now　the　priest　nodded；　smiling　tightly。　〃I　knew　you　were　in　the　tower　somewhere；　kitchen　boy…you　and　the　last　of　the　swords。〃
Simon　felt　himself　drawn　closer　to　the　place　where　Thorn　and　Sorrow　met。　Through　Bright…Nail；　whose　song　coursed　inside　him；　he　could　feel　the　music　of　the　other　two　swords　as　well：　the　dancing　throb　of　life　that　was　within　all　of　them　grew　stronger　as　the　moment　of　their　joining　approached。　Simon　felt　it　like　the　speeding　current　of　a　river's　narrows；　but　he　could　also　feel　that　there　was　a　barrier　that　somehow　kept　the　blades　apart。　Although　two　of　them　were　touching；　and　only　a　few　cubits　stood　between　them　and　the　third；　they　all　remained　as　widely　separated　as　they　had　ever　been。
　　　　　　　But　what　was　different　now；　what　Simon　felt　deeply　and　wordlessly　in　his　mind's　inmost；　was　that　soon　there　would　be　a　great　change。　Some　mighty　universal　wheel　lay　loose　on　its　axle；　ready　to　turn；　and　when　it　did　all　the　barriers　would　fall；　all　the　walls　would　vanish。　The　swords　sang；　waiting。
Before　he　knew　it；　he　was　stepping　forward。　Bright…Nail　clicked　against　the　other　two　blades。　The　shock　of　contact　traveled　not　just　through　Simon；　but　through　the　room　as　well。　The　black　emptiness　where　the　swords　met　deepened；　a　hole　into　which　the　entire　world　might　fall　and　perish。　The　light　changed　all　around：　the　star…glow　seeping　in　through　the　windows　deepened；　turning　the　chamber　bloody；　and　then　the　dreadful　bell　tolled　a　fifth　time。
　　　　　　　Simon　trembled　and　cried　out　as　the　tower　shook　and　the　energies　of　the　swords；　still　pent　but　fighting　now　for　release；　traveled　through　him。　His　heart　stuttered；　hesitated；　and　almost　stopped。　His　vision　blurred　and　darkened；　then　gradually　came　back。　He　was　inextricably　caught　in　something　that　burned　like　fire；　that　dragged　like　a　lodestone。　He　tried　desperately　to　pull　away；　but　a　supreme　effort　only　made　him　sway　gently；　caught　on　Bright…Nail's　hilt　like　a　fish　dying　on　a　hook。　The　bell's　echoes　died　out。
　　　　　　　Even　through　the　music　of　the　swords；　Simon　could　sense　the　chill　presence　he　had　felt　on　the　stairs　growing　stronger；　vast　and　weighty　as　a　mountain；　cold　as　the　gaps　between　stars。　It　was　closer　now；　but　at　the　same　time　it　hovered　just　beyond　some　inprehensible　wall。
　　　　　　　Elias；　who　seemed　almost　unmoved　by　the　exuberating　power　of　the　swords；　raked　Simon　with　mad　green　eyes。　〃I　do　not　know　this　one；　Pryrates；〃　he　murmured；　〃…although　there　is　something　familiar　about　him。　But　it　does　not　matter。　All　the　bargains　have　been　kept。〃
　　　　　　　〃Indeed。〃　The　priest　moved　past；　so　close　that　his　robe　touched　Simon's　arm。　A　buried　part　of　Simon　shrieked　with　disgust　and　fury；　but　no　sound　passed　his　quivering　lips：　he　was　now　little　more　than　something　that　held　Bright…Nail。　The　sword's　vaulting　spirit；　connected　now　to　its　brothers；　uncaring　of　human　struggles　and　human　hatreds；　waited　only　for　whatever　would　happen　next；　eager　as　a　dog　expecting　to　be　fed。
　　　　　　　〃All　bargains　are　kept；〃　Pryrates　rasped　as　he　took　a　place　beside　the　king's　shoulder；　〃and　all　is　now　set　in　motion。　Soon　Utuk'ku　the　Eldest　will　have　harnessed　the　Pool　of　Three　Depths。　Then　we　will　have　pleted　the　Fifth　House；　and　all　will　change。〃　He　looked　at　Simon　and　his　eyes　glittered。　〃This　one　you　do　not　know　is　Morgenes'　kitchen…whelp；　Highness。〃　Pryrates　grinned。　〃This　is　satisfying。　I　saw　what　you　did　to　Inch；　boy。　Very　thorough　work。　You　saved　me　some　tiresome　effort。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　felt　a　powerful　rage　bubbling　up　inside　him。　In　the　red　light　the　priest's　smug　face　seemed　to　hang　bodilessiy；　and　for　a　moment　Simon　could　see　nothing　else。　He　struggled　to　move　his　limbs；　to　pull　Bright…Nail　away　from　its　brothers　so　he　could　smash　out　the　murderer's　life；　but　he　was　helpless。　The　flame　of　anger　blazed　without　release；　so　hot　that　Simon　felt　sure　it　would　scorch　him　to　ashes　from　within。
　　　　　　　The　tower　rocked　again　to　the　thunderous　voice　of　the　bell。　Simon　stared；　even　as　the　floor　shook　before　him　and　his　ears　popped；　but　the　bronze　bells　at　the　center　of　the　chamber　did　not　move。　Instead；　a　ghostly　shape　appeared；　a　bell　of　sorts；　but　long　and　cylindrical。　For　a　moment；　as　the　phantom　bell　vibrated；　Simon　saw　flames　sheeting　again　outside　the　windows；　the　sky　gone　endlessly　black。
　　　　　　　When　the　noise　had　died；　Pryrates　lifted　his　hands。　〃She　has　conquered。　It　is　time。〃
The　king　lowered　his　head。　〃God　help　me；　I　have　waited　long。〃
〃Your　waiting　is　over。〃　The　priest　crossed　his　arms　before　his　face；　then　lowered　them。　〃Utuk'ku　has　captured　the　Pool　of　Three　Depths。　The　swords　are　here；　waiting　only　for　the　Words　of　Unmaking　to　release　that　which　binds　them；　then　the　force　that　was　prisoned　within　them　will　sing　free　and　bring　you　everything　that　you　have　desired。〃
　　　　　　　〃Immortality？〃　asked　Elias；　shy　as　a　child。
〃Immortality。　A　life　that　outlasts　the　stars。　You　sought　your　dead　wife；　Highness；　but　you　found　something　far　greater。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　。。。　do　not　speak　of　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rejoice；　Elias；　do　not　grieve！〃　Pryrates　brought　his　palms　together　and　lightning　scratched　across　the　sky　outside　the　tall　windows。　〃You　feared　you　would　have　no　heir　when　your　disobedient　daughter　ran　away…but　you　yourself　will　be　your　own　inheritor。　You　will　never　die！〃
Elias　lifted　his　head；　his　eyes　shut　as　though　he　basked　in　a　warming　sun。　His　mouth　trembled。
　　　　　　　〃Never　die；〃　he　said。
〃You　have　gained　powerful　friends；　and　in　this　hour　they　will　pay　you　back　for　all　your　suffering。〃　Pryrates　stepped　away　from　the　king　and　thrust　his　red…sleeved　arm　toward　the　ceiling。　〃I　invoke　the　First　House！〃
　　　　　　　The　great　invisible　bell　sounded　again；　crashing　like　a　hammer　in　a　god's　smithy。　Flames　ran　through　the　betlchamber；　capering　across　the　icy　walls。　〃On　Thisterborg；　among　the　ancient　stones；〃　Pryrates　intoned；　〃one　of　the　Red　Hand　is　waiting。　For　his　master　and　you　he　uses　the　power　of　that　place　and　opens　a　crack　into　the　between…places。　He　unfolds　the　first　of　the　A…Genay'asu'e　and　brings　forth　the　First　House。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　sensed　the　cold；　dreadful　something　that　waited　growing　stronger。　It　was　all　around　Green　Angel　Tower；　drawing　nearer；　like　a　hunting　beast　ing　s