sheritepper.necromancer nine-第8节

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o　the　north；　the　other　winding　to　the　east　among　the　crags。
　〃Well；〃　he　said　to　me。　〃We　are　near　Betand。　We　e　to　the　parting　of　ways；　Peter。　I　am　thankful　for　your　pany　thus　far。　If　you　will　slit　your　eyes　you　will　see　the　roofs　of　the　city　away　to　the　northwest；　and　I　wish　you　well　in　your　journey。〃
　I　was　sorry　to　part　from　him。　Truth　to　tell；　I　had　never　been　really　alone　before　the　brief　trip　from　Schooltown　to　Bannerwell；　and　I　did　not　like　it　much。　It　was　not　fear　I　felt；　but　something　else。　A　kind　of　lostness；　of　being　singular　of　my　kind。　As　though　there　were　none　near　to　greet　me　as　fellow。　Of　course；　the　Necromancer's　hood　had　much　to　do　with　that。　Nonetheless；　I　had　been　grateful　for　his　pany　and　said　so。　We　sat　a　time　there　on　the　pass；　saying　nothing　much　except　to　let　one　another　know　we　would　be　less　fortable　on　the　journey　after　we　parted。　At　last；　as　I　was　about　to　run　out　of　polite　phrases　and　begin　to　choke；　he　patted　me　upon　one　shoulder。
　〃I　go　east　from　here；　to　Kiquo；　and　to　the　high　bridge　only　recently　restored　though　it　was　eighty　years　ago　in　the　great　cataclysm　that　it　fell。　I　go　to　seek　mysteries；　my　boy。　You　go　to　seek　mysteries　of　your　own。　Well；　then；　good　journey　and　good　chance　to　you。〃　And　he　went　away；　not　looking　back；　leaving　me　to　press　down　the　further　slope　toward　the　city　I　could　see　beneath　me　iii　the　westering　sun　of　late　afternoon。
　Smoke　lay　above　it　like　a　pall　through　which　the　towers　reached；　like　the　snouts　of　beasts　seeking　upward　for　air。　My　eyes　watered；　just　looking　at　it。　If　there　were　not　wind　before　evening；　it　would　be　thick　as　soup　in　that　bowl　which　held　the　city　of　Betand；　the　City　which　Fears　the　Unborn。
　
　
　
　3。　Perlplus
　It　took　several　hours　to　reach　the　city；　and　a　wind　had　e　softly　from　the　north　to　greet　me　as　I　rode　by　the　outskirts　of　the　place；　inns　and　caravansaries；　stables　and　eating　houses；　taverns　and　stews。　I　decided　to　have　a　meal　before　entering　the　city。　There　was　a　place　there　called　the　Devil's　Uncle；　and　it　seemed　as　good　as　any　other　from　the　point　of　cleanliness　and　better　than　most　from　its　smell。　The　stable　boy　took　my　beast　without　making　any　signs　at　all；　which　I　took　either　as　a　sign　of　sophistication　or　of　total　ignorance。　Either　many　Necromancers　came　here　or　none　did。　It　did　not　matter　much　which。
　Once　within；　I　saw　a　few　curious　faces；　one　or　two　down…　turned　mouths；　but　no　ward…of…evil　signs。　I　ordered　wine　and　roast　fowl　and　a　dish　of　those　same　stewed　ferns　Riddle　had　fed　me　on　the　outward　journey；　evidently　a　local　delicacy。　They　were　not　laggard　with　the　food；　nor　was　I　in　eating　it。　No　one　there　paid　me　much　attention　until　I　was　almost　finished　and　had　only　half　a　glass　left　in　the　jug。　Then　a　wide…mouthed　Trader　sat　opposite　me　and　showed　me　his　palms。　I　raised　mine　courteously；　and　let　him　talk。
　〃Laggy　Nap；　fellow…traveler；〃　he　greeted　me。　〃Trader　by　Talent；　philosopher　by　inclination。　What　brings　one　so　young　and　horridsome　to　the　city　of　Betand？〃
　I　did　not　know　whether　to　be　offended；　which　I　was；　or　pretend　to　be　amused。　I　chose　the　latter　as　having　the　lesser　consequence。
　〃Merely　one　who　would　travel　through　Betand　on　his　way　to　somewhere　else；〃　I　said。　At　which　he　laughed；　repeating　my　remark　to　some　others　who　also　laughed。　I　supposed　there　was　something　entertaining　in　the　intent　to　travel　through　Betand；　so　ordered　wine　for　those　around　and　asked；　all　innocence；　if　the　city　were　accounted　so　amusing　by　all　who　went　there。
　〃Oh；　sir。〃　said　the　Trader；　〃it　is　my　amusement　to　ask　new　wanderers　whether　they　intend　to　go　through　Betand；　and　then　to　offer　them　a　meal　at　my　expense　at　the　Travelers'　Joy；　which　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　city。　You　can　tell　me　then　whether　you　were　amused；　and　I　will　be　entertained　by　your　account。〃　He　fixed　a　glittering　eye　upon　me；　seeming　to　look　further　than　I　would　have　wished。　He　was　a　man　with　down…slanting　brows　and　deep　furrows　between　his　eyes；　wide…mouthed；　as　I　have　said；　with　a　long；　angry…looking　nose　against　which　his　eyes　snuggled　a　bit　too　closely。　His　eyes　belied　his　mouth；　the　one　being　all　motion　and　laughter　while　the　others　were　cold　and　full　of　accounts。
　〃You　do　not　wish　to　tell　me　why　I　will　be。。。　amused？〃　I　asked　him。　He　merely　chuckled；　elbowed　some　of　those　around　him；　and　together　they　engaged　in　laughter　of　a　mocking　sort。　Almost　my　hand　sought　Dorn　in　the　pouch　at　my　belt；　but　I　decided　against　it。　No　point　in　stirring　up　trouble。　I　took　my　leave　of　them　and　went　on　toward　the　walls；　a　gaping　gate　full　of　torchlight　before　me。
　I　began　to　identify　myself；　to　give　some　sort　of　name　such　as　〃Urburd　of　Dornes〃　or　〃Dornish　of　Calber。〃　Chance　and　I　had　made　up　a　whole　list　of　them　to　be　used　as　needed。　The　guardsman　gave　me　no　time。　He　laid　a　hand　upon　my　arm　and　said　intently；　〃Sir；　you　are　nobody　here。　If　you　would　not　be　charged　with　a　grave　offense；　remember　that。　You　are　nobody。〃
　He　passed　me　on　to　another　guardsman　who　gazed　me　in　the　eye　with　equal　intensity；　seeming　unafraid　of　the　death's…head。　〃Who　are　you　now；　sir？〃
　〃I　am　。。。　nobody？〃　I　said；　wondering　what　fools'　game　they　played　and　whether　I　was　the　fool　for　playing　it　with　them。
　〃Surely；　surely；〃　said　the　second　guardsman。　〃Go　through　this　gate；　sir。　Leave　your　horse　in　the　stables　there。　The　matron　will　meet　you。〃
　He　had　no　sooner　spoken；　directing　me　to　a　little　postern　gate　in　the　rough　wall；　when　there　came　a　howling　out　of　the　night　as　though　a　chase　pack　of　fustigars　was　lost　in　a　lonely　place　and　crying　for　their　kind　and　kindred。　He　blanched；　made　the　sign　of　evil…ward；　thrust　his　hands　over　his　ears。　I；　too；　sought　to　block　my　ears；　for　the　cry　went　up　in　a　keening　scream；　up　and　up　into　an　excruciating　silence。　〃Quickly。〃　He　pushed　me。　〃Go！〃
　I　went。　The　woman　who　met　me　on　the　other　side　was　plump　and　motherly；　hands　thrust　beneath　her　apron；　chivvying　me　along　as　though　I　had　been　her　pet　goose。
　〃Well　sir；〃　she　said。　〃What　kind　of　woman　would　you　prefer？　There　are　several　in　the　waiting　house　tonight。　Three　I　would　call　a　bit　matronly　for　you；　for　you　walk　like　a　lad　no　matter　the　horrid　face　on　you。　Necromancer　or　no；　boy　you　are；　or　I'll　eat　my　muffin　pan。　Well；　not　them；　then。　I've　one　virgin　girl　scared　out　of　her　wits。　You'd　do　me　a　favor；　you　would；　to　take　that　one。　Nice　enough　she　is；　but　as　unschooled　as　any　nit　and　vocal　along　of　it　　　　　
　I　had　no　idea　what　she　was　speaking　of。　〃I　would　be　glad　to　do　you　any　service；　madam。〃
　〃Good　enough；　then；〃　she　said；　stopping　at　the　first　door　and　opening　it　only　long　enough　to　call　within。　〃Sylbie；　e　out　here；　lass。　Nobody　is　here。〃
　A　small　time　passed　before　the　girl　came　out；　a　pale　girl　with　soft　brown　hair　and　eyes　swollen　with　crying。　She　gave　me　one　glance　and　shrieked　as　though　ghost　bit。
　〃Oh；　stuff　and　foolishness；〃　said　the　Matron。　〃Sylbie；　it　is　only　a　guise。　e　now；　you've　seen　Gamesmen　all　your　life。　Must　you　scritch　at　the　lad；　and　him　only　a　boy　（as　I　can　tell　by　his　walk）　to　make　him　sorry　he　said　he'd　favor　you？　You　could　go　back　and　wait　for　one　of　those　drovers　to　quit　drinking　in　the　Devil's　Uncle　would　you　rather？〃　　　　　
　〃N…n…no；　Madam　Wilderly；〃　she　stuttered。　〃It's　only　that　it　was　very　unexpected。
　At　that　the　howling　began　again；　and　we　all　leaned　against　the　stone　as　it　rushed　on　us　out　of　the　empty　streets；　shrieking　and　moaning；　then　dwindling　away　down　the　throbbing　alleys　once　more。　It　was　a　horrid　sound。
　〃The　unborn；〃　said　the　Matron　in　explanation。　〃We　are　haunted；　sir；　as　you　must　have　heard。〃
　〃I　had　heard；〃　I　said　weakly。　I　had；　too；　but　the　reality　made　the　stories　dim。　I　would　have　gone　mad　if　I　had　had　to　listen　to　that　howling　for　more　than　a　short　time。　These　thoughts　were　halted　by　the　matron's　instructions。
　〃Just　in　there；　sir；　Sylbie。　You'll　find　a　nice　room　to　the　left　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Wine　all　warm　by　the　fire　and　a　bit　of　supper　to　help　you　get　acquainted。　The　Midwife　will　be　around　in　the　morning；　just　to　check　has　the　law　been　plied　with。〃　And　with　that　she　was　off　down　the　street　in　the　direction　we　had　e。
　The　girl　led　me　up　the　stairs；　I　still　wondering　what　went　on。　The　girl　seemed　to　know；　and　I　assumed　she　would　tell　me。　Besides；　once　within　a　room　I　could　take　off　the　death's…head　mask　and　wash　my　face；　thus　showing　her　a　face　which　would　not　frighten　her。　I　did　so；　and　when　I　took　the　towel　away；　she　handed　me　a　cup　of　wine。　She　was　no　longer　crying；　but　she　looked　frightened　still。
　〃Well；〃　I　said。　'Suppose　you　tell　me　what　all　this　Game　is；　Sylbie。　I　will　not　harm　you；　so　you　need　not　make　dove's　eyes　at　me。
　〃Don't　you　know？〃　she　asked。　〃About　Betand？　I　thought　everyone　for　a　thousand　leagues　around　must　know　about　Betand。〃　
　〃I　did　not。　Even　the　man　I　was　traveling　with；　who　had　heard　of　Betand；　was　not　sure　of　the　cause　of　its　fame。　You　are　referred　to　in　our　part　of　the　world　as　'The　City　Which　Fears　The　Unborn'。　Not　very　explanatory。〃
　〃Oh；　but　very　descriptive；　sir。　It　is　the　unborn　you　heard　howling　in　the　streets。　It　has　driven　some　mad　and　others　into　despair。　My　own　mother　tried　to　drown　herself　from　the　constant　horror　of　it。　We　cannot　sleep　by　night　because　of　the　howling；　and　we　cannot　sleep