tw.togreenangeltower2-第154节

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It　was　the　angel　of　the　towertop；　fallen　to　the　earth。　He　poured　a　handful　of　puddle　water　over　the　high…boned　face；　clearing　the　eyes。　They　were　open；　but　no　life　was　in　them。　It　was　a　tumbled　statue；　nothing　more。
Simon　stood　up　and　wiped　his　hands　on　his　breeches。　Let　someone　else　drag　it　from　the　muck　and　take　it　home。　Let　it　sit　in　the　corner　of　someone's　cottage　and　whisper　to　them　beguiling　stories　of　the　depths　and　heights。
But　as　he　trudged　away　across　the　mons　yard；　turning　his　back　on　the　wreckage　of　the　tower；　the　angel's　voice…Leieth's　voice…came　back　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃These　truths　are　too　strong；〃　she　had　said；　〃the　myths　and　lies　around　them　too　great。　You　must　see　them　and　you　must　understand　for　yourself。　But　this　has　been　your　story。〃
　　　　　　　And　she　had　showed　him　important　things　indeed。　The　proof　of　that；　at　least　in　part；　lay　scattered　over　a　thousand　cubits　of　ground　behind　him。　But　there　had　been　more；　something　that　had　teased　at　the　edge　of　his　understanding；　but　which　time　and　circumstance　had　kept　him　from　pondering。　Now　the　curious　thread　of　memory　came　back　to　him；　and　would　not　be　denied。　He　had　e　closest　to　seeing　it　in　the　throne　room。。。。
　　　　　　　His　footsteps　echoed　across　the　tiles。　There　was　no　other　sound。　This　was　a　place　no　one　had　yet　e　to　scavenge…the　mute　specter　of　the　Dragonbone　Chair　was　enough　to　raise　fearful　hackles　in　the　best　of　times；　and　these　had　not　been　the　best　of　times。
　　　　　　　The　afternoon　light；　warmer　than　the　last　time　he　had　been　here；　spilled　down　from　the　windows　and　gave　a　little　color　to　the　strew　of　fading　banners；　although　the　malachite　kings　were　still　cloaked　in　their　own　black　stone　shadows。　Simon　remembered　a　void　of　spreading　nothingness　and　hesitated；　his　heart　pounding；　but　he　swallowed　his　momentary　fear　and　stepped　forward。　That　blackness　was　gone。　That　king　was　dead。
In　full　daylight　the　great　throne　looked　less　daunting　than　he　remembered　it。　The　great　toothy　mouth　still　menaced；　but　some　vitality　it　had　once　had　seemed　gone。　There　was　nothing　in　the　eye　sockets　but　cobwebs。　Even　the　massive　cage　of　wired　bones　sagged　in　places；　and　it　was　clear　that　some　were　missing；　although　none　lay　around　the　chair。　Simon　had　a　dim　recollection　of　seeing　yellowed　bones　somewhere　else；　but　pushed　it　away：　something　different　had　caught　his　attention。
　　　　　　　Eahlstan　Fiskerne。　He　stood　before　the　stone　statue　and　examined　it；　trying　to　find　the　thing　that　would　scratch　the　itching　spot　in　his　memory。　When　he　had　seen　the　martyr…king's　face　in　his　Dream　Road　vision；　there　had　been　something　familiar　about　it。　In　the　throne　room　before；　on　his　way　to　the　tower；　he　had　thought　the　resemblance　was　to　the　statue　he　had　looked　at　so　often。　But　now　he　knew　there　was　something　else　familiar　about　the　face。　It　was　much　like　another；　one　he　had　also　seen　many　times…in　Jiriki's　mirror；　in　reflecting　ponds；　in　the　shiny　surface　of　a　shield。　Eahlstan　looked　much　like　Simon。
He　lifted　his　hand　and　stared　at　the　golden　ring；　remembering。　The　Fisher　King's　people　had　gone　into　exile；　and　Prester　John　had　later　e　to　claim　the　killing　of　the　dragon　and　with　it　the　throne　of　Erkynland。　Morgenes　had　entrusted　him　with　the　ring　that　told　that　secret。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　your　story；〃　the　angel　had　said。　Who　else　to　entrust　with　the　knowledge　and　record　of　Eahlstan's　house　than　。。　。　Eahlstan's　heir？
　　　　　　　As　he　stood　before　the　statue；　the　sudden；　certain　knowledge　splashed　him　like　cold　water；　raising　goosebumps　of　fear　and　wonder。

　　　　　　　Much　of　the　afternoon　slid　by　as　Simon　paced　back　and　forth　across　the　empty　throne　room；　lost　in　thought。　He　was　staring　at　Eahlstan's　statue　again　when　he　heard　a　noise　in　the　doorway　behind　him。　He　turned　to　see　Duke　Isgrimnur　and　a　few　others　filing　into　the　chamber。
　　　　　　　The　duke　looked　him　over　carefully。　〃Ah。　So　you　know；　do　you？〃
　　　　　　　The　young　man　said　nothing；　but　his　face　was　full　of　conflicting　emotions。　Isgrimnur　observed　Simon　carefully；　wondering　how　this　could　be　the　same　person　as　the　stripling　brought　to　him　on　the　plains　south　of　Naglimund　a　year　before；　draped　like　a　sack　across　the　saddle　of　a　riderless　horse。
　　　　　　　He　had　been　tall　even　then；　although　surely　not　this　tall；　and　the　thick　reddish　beard　had　been　only　soft　boy…whiskers…but　there　was　more　to　the　change。　Simon　had　developed　an　air　of　calm；　a　stillness　that　might　have　been　either　strength　or　unconcern。　Isgrimnur　worried　more　than　a　little　about　what　the　boy　might　have　bee：　what　had　happened　to　Simon　seemed　to　have　changed　that　stripling　of　a　year　ago　beyond　reclaiming；　almost　beyond　recognizing。　His　childhood　had　been　burned　away；　and　now　only　manhood　remained。
〃I　think　I　have　realized　some　things；　yes；〃　Simon　said　at　last。　He　carefully　smoothed　all　expression　from　his　face。　〃But　I　do　not　think　they　matter　very　much…even　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　made　a　nonmittal　sound。　〃Well。　We　have　been　looking　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Here　I　am。〃
As　the　group　moved　forward；　Simon　nodded　toward　the　duke；　then　greeted　Tiamak；　Strangyeard；　Jiriki；　and　Aditu。　As　Simon　said　a　few　quiet　words　to　the　Sithi；　Isgrimnur　saw　for　the　first　time　how　like　them　the　young　man　had　bee；　at　least　at　this　moment…reserved；　careful；　stow　to　speak。　The　duke　shook　his　head。　Who　would　ever　have　imagined　such　a　thing？
〃Are　you　well；　Simon？〃　asked　Strangyeard。
　　　　　　　The　youth　shrugged　and　offered　a　half…smile。　〃My　wounds　are　healing。〃　He　turned　to　Isgrimnur。　〃Jeremias　brought　me　your　message。　I　would　have　e　to　your　tent；　you　know；　but　Jeremias　insisted　you　would　e　to　me　when　you　were　ready。〃　He　looked　around　the　small　pany；　his　face　closed　and　careful。　〃It　looks　like　you're　ready　now；　but　you've　e　a　long　way　up　from　camp　to　find　me。　Do　you　have　more　questions　to　ask？〃
　　　　　　　〃Among　other　things。〃　The　duke　watched　the　others　seat　themselves　on　the　stone　floor　and　made　a　face。　Simon　smiled　with　good…natured　mockery　and　motioned　to　the　Dragonbone　Chair。　Isgrimnur　shook　his　head；　shuddering。
〃Very　well；　then。〃　Simon　collected　a　stack　of　fallen　banners　and　put　them　down　on　the　step　below　the　throne　dais。
　　　　　　　With　only　one　good　arm；　Isgrimnur　took　a　little　time　to　lower　himself　to　the　makeshift　seat；　but　he　was　determined　to　do　it　without　leaning　on　anyone。　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you　up　and　around；　Simon；〃　he　said　when　he　could　talk　without　breathing　hard。　〃You　did　not　look　well　this　morning。〃
The　young　man　nodded　and　eased　down　beside　him。　He　moved　slowly；　too；　nursing　many　hurts；　but　Isgrimnur　knew　he　would　heal　soon。　The　duke　could　not　help　feeling　a　sharp　twinge　of　envy。　〃Where　are　Binabik　and　Miriamele？〃　asked　Simon。
　　　　　　　〃Binabik　will　be　here　soon；〃　Strangyeard　offered。　〃And　。。。　and　Miriamele　。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　youth's　calm　evaporated。　〃She's　still　here；　isn't　she？　She　hasn't　run　off；　or　been　hurt？〃
Tiamak　waved　his　hand。　〃No；　Simon。　She　is　in　camp　and　healing；　just　as　you。　But　she　。　。　。〃　He　turned　to　Isgrimnur；　seeking　help。
　　　　　　　〃But　there　are　things　to　be　discussed　without　Miriamele　here；〃　the　duke　said　bluntly。　〃That　is　all。〃
Simon　absorbed　this。　〃Very　well。　I　have　questions。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　nodded。　〃Ask　them。〃　He　had　been　expecting　this　since　he　saw　Simon　standing　in　mute　absorption　before　the　statue　of　Eahlstan。
　　　　　　　〃Binabik　said　yesterday　that　bringing　the　swords　was　a　trick；　a　'false　messenger'…that　Pryrates　and　the　Storm　King　wanted　them　all　the　time。〃　Simon　pushed　at　one　of　the　sodden　banners　with　the　heel　of　his　boot。　〃They　needed　them　so　they　could　turn　back　time　to　before　Ineluki's　last　spell；　before　all　the　wards　and　prayers　and　whatnot　had　been　laid　on　the　Hayholt。〃
　　　　　　　〃All　of　us　outside　saw　the　castle　change；〃　the　duke　said　slowly；　caught　off　balance　by　Simon's　question。　He　had　been　certain　the　youth　would　want　to　ask　about　his　newly…discovered　history。　〃Even　as　we　fought　against　the　Norns；　the　Hayholt　just　。。。　melted　away。　There　were　strange　towers　everywhere；　and　fires　burning。　I　thought　I　saw　。　。　。　ghosts；　I　suppose　they　were…ghosts　of　Sithi　and　Rimmersmen　in　ancient　costume。　They　were　at　war；　right　in　the　midst　of　our　own　battle。　What　else　could　it　have　been？〃　The　clean　afternoon　light　flooding　in　through　the　high　windows　suddenly　made　it　all　seem　unreal　to　Isgrimnur。　Just　days　ago；　the　world　had　been　gripped　by　sorcerous　madness　and　deadly　winter　storms。　Now　a　bird　twittered　outside。
　　　　　　　Simon　shook　his　head。　〃I　believe　that。　I　was　there。　It　was　worse　inside。　But　why　did　they　need　us　to　bring　the　swords？　Bright…Nail　was　less　than　a　league　away　from　Pryrates　for　two　years。　And　surely；　if　they　had　really　tried；　they　could　have　taken　Thorn；　either　when　we　were　ing　back　from　Yiqanuc　or　when　it　was　lying　on　a　stone　slab　in　Leavetaking　House　up　on　Sesuad'ra。　It　doesn't　make　sense。〃
Jiriki　spoke　up。　〃Yes；　this　is　perhaps　the　hardest　matter　of　all　to　understand；　Seoman。　I　can　explain　some　of　it。　As　we　were　struggling　with　Utuk'ku　at　the　Pool　of　Three　Depths；　much　of　her　thought　was　revealed　to　us。　She　did　not　shield　herself；　but　rather　used　that　strength　in　her　fight　to　capture　and　use　the　Pool。　She　believed　there　was　little　at　that　point　we　could　do　even　if　we　understood　the　truth。〃　His　slow　hand…spread　seemed　a　gesture　of　regret。　〃She　was　correct。〃