tw.togreenangeltower2-第67节

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　　　　　　　Binabik　looked　at　her　but　did　not　speak。　〃But　you　do　not　have　to　e　with　me。〃　Disliking　the　sound　of　her　voice；　she　added：　〃It　might　be　better　if　you　don't。　Maybe　if　Simon　finds　his　way　out　he　will　e　to　this　place。　Someone　should　wait　for　him。　And　anyway；　this　is　not　your　duty；　Binabik。　He's　my　father；　but　he's　your　enemy。〃
　　　　　　　The　troll　shook　his　head。　〃When　we　e　to　the　place　at　which　no　back…turning　can　happen；　then　I　will　decide。　This　is　not　seeming　a　safe　spot　to　me　for　waiting。〃　He　looked　briefly　over　to　the　distant　Hayholt；　in　the　evening　light　the　castle　was　only　a　blackness　that　contained　no　stars。　〃But　perhaps　I　could　stay　hidden　somewhere　with　Qantaqa　and　e　at　certain　times　to　look。〃　He　made　an　open…handed　gesture。　〃Still；　it　is　too　soon　for　such　thinking。　I　do　not　even　know　what　plan　you　have　made　for　your　castle　entrance。〃　He　turned　and　waved　toward　the　invisible　keep。　〃You　may　have　some　way　for　persuading　your　father　the　king；　but　you　would　not　be　taken　to　him　if　you　present　yourself　at　the　gate；　I　am　thinking。　And　if　Pryrates　is　receiving　you；　he　may　decide　it　is　of　more　convenience　for　you　to　be　dead　and　not　interfere　with　his　plans　for　your　father。　You　would　bee　vanished。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　twitched　involuntarily。　〃I　am　not　stupid；　Binabik；　no　matter　what　my　uncle　and　others　may　think。　I　have　some　ideas　of　my　own。〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　spread　his　palms。　〃I　do　not　think　you　are　anything　like　being　stupid；　Miriamele。　I　am　not　knowing　anyone　who　thinks　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。〃　She　got　to　her　feet　and　walked　across　the　damp　grass　toward　her　pack。　Rain　was　ing　down　in　a　light　mist。　After　rummaging　in　the　bag；　she　found　the　bundle　she　had　sought　and　carried　it　back　to　the　small　fire。　〃I　spent　a　long　time　on　Sesuad'ra　making　these。〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　unrolled　the　bundle；　then　slowly　smiled。　〃Ah。〃　
　　　　　　　〃And　I　copied　them　onto　hides　as　well；〃　she　said　with　more　than　a　little　pride；　〃because　I　knew　they　would　last　that　way。　I　saw　those　scrolls　you　and　Sis　。。。　Sis　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sisqinanamook；〃　Binabik　said；　frowning　over　the　skins。　〃Or　'Sisqi'　is　easier　for　lowlander　tongues。〃　His　face　went　blank　for　a　moment；　then　his　features　resumed　life　and　he　looked　up　at　Miriamele。　〃So　you　copied　the　maps　that　Count　Eolair　was　bringing。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did。　He　said　that　they　were　of　the　old　dwarrow　tunnels。　Simon　came　out　of　the　castle　through　them；　so　I　thought　that　might　be　a　way　to　get　back　in　without　being　caught。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　all　being　tunnels。〃　Binabik　stared　at　the　meandering　lines　drawn　on　the　skins。　〃The　old　Sithi　castle　is　beneath　the　Hayholt；　and　it　was　of　great　largeness。〃　He　squinted。　〃These　are　not　easy　for　reading；　these　maps。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wasn't　sure　what　any　of　it　meant；　so　I　copied　it　all；　even　the　little　drawings　and　marks　on　the　side；〃　Miriamele　said　humbly。　〃I　only　know　that　these　are　the　right　maps　because　I　asked　Father　Strangyeard。〃　She　felt　a　sudden　bite　of　fear。　〃They　are　the　right　maps；　aren't　they？〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　nodded　slowly；　black　hair　bouncing　against　his　forehead。　〃They　are　looking　like　maps　of　this　place；　indeed…see；　there　is　what　you　call　the　Kynslagh。〃　He　pointed　to　a　large　curving　crescent　at　the　edge　of　the　topmost　map。　〃And　this　must　be　Swertclif　which　lies　beneath　us　even　now。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　leaned　forward　to　look；　following　Binabik's　small　finger　with　eager　attention。　A　moment　later；　she　felt　a　wash　of　intense　sadness。　〃If　that's　where　we　are；　the　spot　where　Simon　fell　through　has　no　tunnels。〃　
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。〃　Binabik　sounded　genuinely　unsure；　〃But　all　maps　and　charts　are　being　made　at　particular　times；　Miriamele。　Just　as　likely　it　is　that　other　tunnels　have　been　made　since　the　drawing　of　this　thing。〃
　　　　　　　〃Elysia；　Mother　of　Mercy；　I　hope　that's　true。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　where　was　Simon　emerging　from　his　tunnels？〃　Binabik　asked。　〃I　seem　to　have　a　memory　that　it　was。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　the　lien…yard；　just　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall　from　Erchester；〃　Miriamele　finished　for　him。　〃I　saw　him　there；　but　he　ran　away　when　I　called　to　him。　He　thought　I　was　a　ghost。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　are　many　tunnelings　that　seem　to　emerge　around　that　place。　But　these　were　made　long　before　Erchester　and　the　rest　were　being　built。　I　am　doubting　these　landmarks　still　remain。〃　He　looked　up　as　Qantaqa　returned　from　her　hunting；　her　shaggy　pelt　pearled　with　rain。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　I　know　more　or　less　where　he　must　have　e　up；〃　Miriamele　said。　〃We　can　look；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　we　will　do。〃　Binabik　stretched。　〃Now；　one　more　night　we　will　be　sleeping　in　this　place。　Then　down　to　the　horses。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　they've　had　enough　to　eat。　We　didn't　expect　to　leave　them　this　long。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　be　promising　you　that　if　they　were　finishing　the　grass；　the　next　thing　they　chewed　through　would　be　the　leather　traces　that　held　them。　The　horses　will　not　suffer　for　want　of　finding　food；　but　we　may　not　be　finding　the　horses。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　shrugged。　〃As　you　are　always　saying；　there's　nothing　we　can　do　about　it　until　we　get　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　say　it　because　it　has　a　great　truthfulness；〃　Binabik　replied　gravely。

　　　　　　　Rachel　the　Dragon　knew　what　she　would　find；　but　her　resignation　did　not　make　it　less　of　a　blow。　For　the　eighth　day　in　a　row；　the　food　and　water　she　had　put　out　were　untouched。
　　　　　　　Offering　a　sad　prayer　for　patience　to　Saint　Rhiappa；　Rachel　gathered　up　those　things　that　would　not　keep　and　put　them　in　her　sack。　She　would　eat　the　small　apple　and　the　bit　of　hardening　bread　tonight。　She　replaced　the　neglected　offerings　with　fresh　ones；　then　lifted　the　lid　on　the　bowl　of　water　to　make　sure　it　was　still　clean　and　drinkable。
　　　　　　　She　frowned。　Where　was　that　poor　man　Guthwulf？　She　hated　to　think　of　him　wandering　blind　in　the　darkness；　unable　to　find　his　way　back　to　the　regular　meals　that　she　had　been　providing　him。　She　was　half…tempted　to　go　and　look　for　him…had　in　fact　roamed　a　little　wider　than　normal　in　the　last　few　days…but　knew　that　it　would　be　inviting　trouble。　　The　farther　down　into　these　tunnels　she　went；　the　greater　the　chance　that　she　would　fall　and　hit　her　head；　or　tumble　into　a　hole。　Then　she　would　be　helpless。　She　might　worry　about　blind　Guthwulf；　but　no　one　at　all　was　worrying　about　old　Rachel。
　　　　　　　These　thoughts　made　her　frown　deepen。　Just　as　such　things　might　happen　to　her；　so　might　they　have　happened　to　Guthwulf。　He　might　be　only　a　few　furlongs　away；　lying　injured。　The　thought　of　someone　needing　her　care　when　she　could　not　give　it　was　like　an　itch　inside　of　her；　a　hot　frustration。　Once　she　had　been　the　mistress　of　all　the　castle　servants；　a　queen　of　sorts；　now　she　could　not　even　do　what　was　necessary　for　one　poor　sightless　madman。
　　　　　　　Rachel　shouldered　her　bag　and　stumped　back　up　the　stairs；　heading　toward　her　hidden　sanctuary。　When　she　had　pulled　aside　the　tapestry　and　pushed　the　door　inward　on　its　well…oiled　hinges；　she　lit　one　of　her　lanterns　and　looked　around。　In　a　way；　it　was　almost　restful　living　in　such　a　solitary　fashion：　the　place　was　so　small　it　was　easy　to　keep　clean；　and　since　only　she　came　there；　she　knew　that　everything　was　done　in　just　the　right　way。
　　　　　　　Rachel　set　the　lamp　on　the　stool　she　used　as　a　table　and　pulled　her　chair　next　to　it；　wincing。　The　damp　was　in　her　bones　tonight；　and　her　extremities　ached。　She　did　not　feel　much　like　sewing；　but　there　was　little　else　to　do；　and　it　was　still　at　least　an　hour　before　the　time　she　would　go　to　bed。　Rachel　was　determined　not　to　lose　her　routine。　She　had　always　been　one　to　wake　up　just　moments　before　the　horn　blare　of　the　night　sentries　giving　over　duty　to　the　ing　watch；　but　these　days　only　her　morning　trip　upstairs　to　get　water　from　the　room　with　an　outside　window　helped　her　retain　a　connection　with　the　world　beyond。　She　did　not　want　anything　to　strain　the　tenuous　contact　with　her　old　life；　so　she　would　sew　for　at　least　an　hour　before　she　allowed　herself　to　lie　down；　no　matter　how　her　fingers　cramped。
　　　　　　　She　took　out　her　knife　and　cut　the　apple　into　small　sections。　She　ate　it　carefully；　but　when　she　was　finished　her　teeth　and　gums　hurt；　so　she　dipped　the　heel　of　bread　into　her　water　cup　to　soften　before　she　ate　it。　Rachel　grimaced。　Everything　hurt　tonight。　There　was　a　storm　ing；　that　seemed　sure…her　bones　told　her。　It　didn't　seem　fair。　There　had　only　been　a　few　days　in　the　past　week　when　she　had　actually　been　able　to　see　sunlight　out　of　the　window　upstairs；　and　now　even　that　was　to　be　snatched　away。
　　　　　　　Rachel　found　her　needlework　hard　going。　Her　mind　kept　flittering　away；　something　that　normally　would　not　have　affected　her　stitchery　at　all；　but　which　tonight　was　causing　her　to　stop　for　long　moments　between　every　few　movements　of　the　needle。
What　would　things　have　been　like　if　Pryrates　hadn　't　e？　she　wondered。
　　　　　　　Elias　might　not　have　been　a　wonderful　king　like　his　sainted　father；　but　he　was　strong　and　shrewd　and　capable。　Perhaps　he　would　have　outgrown　his　churlishness　and　his　bad　panions；　the　castle　would　have　remained　in　her　control；　the　long　tables　snowy　with　their　spotless　cloths；　the　flagstones　swept　and　mopped　to　a　high　gleam。　The　chambermaids　would　be　working　industriously…under　Rachel's　stern　gaze；　everyone　worked　industriously。　Well；　almost　everyone　。。。
　　　　　　　Yes；　Simon。　If　the　red　priest　hadn't　e　to　blight　t