fs.thefirstbookofswords-第46节
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isconnected scenes and meaningless impressions。 He knew that these were remnant of a time when his intelligence； brain； and body had been very different from what they were now。 But certainly Draffut's memory of the past few thousand years was sharp and clear。 He could recall very well the days when Ardneh and Orcus had fought each other。 And in those days； not one of these currently boasting； sword…making upstarts who called themselves gods and goddesses had walked the earth。 They bore names from the remote past of human myth； but who were they？ By what right did they plan for themselves games that involved for humanity the horror of wars？ Draffut could no longer delay finding out。
He had climbed only a little way up the first slopes of the real mountain when he found his way blocked by a slow stream of lava； three or four meters wide。 The air above the lava writhed with heat。 And in the night and the hellglow on the far side of the molten stream； visible amid swirling fumes and boiling air； there stood a two…legged figure far too large to be human； even if a human could have stood there and lived。 The figure was roughly the same size as Draffut himself； and it was regarding Draffut； and waiting silently。
In the raging heat he could see nothing of the figure clearly but its presence。 He stopped； and called a salutation to it； using an ancient tongue that either Ardneh or Orcus would have understood at once。 There was no reply。
Now Draffut summoned up what he could of his old powers； concentrating them in his right hand。 Then he bent down and thrust that hand into the sluggish； crusting； seething stream of lava。 Without allowing himself to be burned； he scooped up a dripping handful of the molten rock。 With another exertion of his will he gave the handful of magma temporary life； so that what had been dead rock quickened and soared aloft in the hot； rising air； making a small silent explosion of living things exquisite as butterflies。
Still the figure that waited beyond the lava…stream would not move or speak。 But now another like itself had joined it； and as Draffut watched yet another and another one appeared。 The gods were assembling to watch what he was doing； to judge him silently。
He wanted more than that from them。 He stood erect and brushed his hands clean of smoking rock。 It was impossible to tell from the silent observation whether the onlookers were impressed by what he had done。
In a carrying roar he challenged them： 〃Why do you not tell humanity the truth？ Are you afraid of it？〃
There was a stir among the group； images wavering in the heat。 With the noise of the earth itself pervading all； Draffut could not tell what they might be saying among themselves。 At last a voice； larger than human； boomed back at him： 〃Tell them yourself； you shaggy dog。〃
Another voice followed； high clear tones that must be those of a goddess： 〃We know well what you used to be； Beast…Lord； when first you followed your human masters into the cave of the Lake of Life； fifty thousand years ago and more。 Do not pretend to grandeur now。〃
And yet another voice； belligerent and male： 〃Yes； tell them yourself … but will they believe what they are told by a dog； the son of a bitch？ Never mind that some of them now think you are a god。 We can fix that！〃
Draffut could feel the fervor of his anger growing； growing； till it was hotter than the lava that made the earth burn just in front of him。 He roared back： 〃I have as much right to be a god as any of you do。 More！ Tell the human world what you really are！〃
Beyond the wavering heat； their numbers were still increasing。 Another voice mocked him： 〃You tell them what we really are。 Ha； haaa！〃
〃I would tell them。 I will tell them； when I know。〃
〃Ha； haaa！ We are the gods； and that is all ye need to know。 It is no business of a son of a bitch to challenge gods。〃
In a single stride Draffut moved forward across the stream of lava。 And now he could see the last speaker plainly enough to be able to recognize him。 〃You are Vulcan。 And now you are going to give me some answers； about the swords。〃
Vulcan answered boldly enough； with an obscene insult。 But at the same time he appeared to shrink back a little within the group。 There was wrangling and shoving among the deities； amid a cloud of smoke and dust。 Then another figure； pushing Vulcan aside； stepped forward from behind him。 Now the shape of a gigantic and muscular man； carrying a great spear； his head covered with a helm； stood limned against a fresh flow of red…hot lava spilling down a slope。
〃I am traveling west from here；〃 said Mars。 His voice was one that Draffut had not heard before； all drums and trumpets and clashing metal。 〃War draws me there。 I see a beseiged castle； and one in the attacking army who offers me sacrifice with skilful magic。 I think it is time for me to answer the prayers of one of my devoted worshippers。〃
From the group behind the speaker there came a discordant chorus of varied ments on this announcement。 Draffut noted that they ranged from applause to enthusiastic scorn。
Mars ignored them all。 He did not turn his terrible gaze from Draffut； who stood right in his way。 Mars said： 〃I am going to that castle； there to spend some time in killing humans for amusement。〃
Draffut said simply： 〃No； that you will not do。〃
At this point someone in the rear rank of the gods threw a burning boulder straight at Draffut。 It seemed to e with awesome slowness through the air； and it was accurately aimed。 Catching it strained his great strength； but from some reserve he drew the power to hurl it back … not at its unseen thrower。 Instead Draffut aimed it straight for Mars； just as the long spear leveled for a throw。 Rock and spear met in mid…air； to explode in a million screaming fragments。
Another spear already in his hand； the God of War strode forward to do battle。
Chapter 18
Dame Yoldi herself had told Mark several times that she considered his survival vitally important； and that she meant for that reason to keep him in parative safety at her side as much as possible when the fighting started。 Thus it happened that they were together on the high roof of Sir Andrew's castle； in early morning light； when the first attack of the Gray Horde broke like a dirty wave against the walls。
The defenders were as ready as they could be for the assault； for there had been no way for the attackers to achieve surprise。 On the previous day； Sir Andrew's enchantress had announced that the speed and direction of the larvae's advance could be only approximately controlled by the magicians of Yambu。 For the past few days； Yoldi and several of her assistants had attempted to interfere with the enemy magic； and turn the larvae against those who had raised them。 But that effort had failed； and Dame Yoldi was necessarily concentrating upon other matters now。 She said that in any case the larvae would not be able to remain active for more than a few days。 Once raised from the swamp； they drew no nourishment； no energy of any kind； from their environment。 This made them difficult to interfere with； and almost impossible to poison； but also awkward for their masters to control。 However； for the few days that their pseudo…life endured they were an almost invincible army； immune to weariness and fear。
Their massed howling； like distant wind； could be heard in the castle for more than an hour before their first charge at the walls。 Therefore the defenders were alerted and in place when the hundred scaling ladders of the Horde were raised。
As the light grew full； Mark could see from his high vantage point how Ben was taking part in the fighting atop the eastern wall； using his great strength behind a pole to topple scaling ladders back as fast as the handless； clumsy larvae below could prop them up； there were no humans to be seen at all in the first wave of attackers。
And Barbara was on the wall west of the guard towers and the main gate； one of a pany of men and women armed with bows and slings。 Their missiles went hailing thickly down into the sea of the attackers； but Mark could not see that they did much damage。 An arrow might penetrate a larva's shell； but the thing kept advancing anyway； pushing up another ladder and then climbing to the attack。 A slung stone might crack a carapace； but the hit figure came on anyway； until a leg joint was broken too badly to let it walk； or its arms disabled to the point where it could no longer climb a ladder。
The hundred ladders carried forward to the walls in that first attack； Mark decided； must have been made for the larvae by their human masters and allies。 Last night he had heard Nestor talking in the castle； describing in detail what he had seen of the larvae at close range； and what kind of fighting might be expected when their horde swept to the assault on the castle walls。
Sir Andrew had listened very carefully to the same account。 The knight had then sat alone for a while； the picture of grim thought； and then had issued orders； disposing of his defense forces as best he might。 Mark had got the impression； listening； that all the experts on han
