grrm.astormofswords-第101节

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　〃Bloody　bastard！〃　Sam　heard　one　of　the　Garths　curse。　He　never　saw　which　one。
　〃Who　calls　me　bastard？〃　Craster　roared；　sweeping　platter　and　meat　and　wine　cups　from　the　table　with　his　left　hand　while　lifting　the　axe　with　his　right。
　〃It's　no　more　than　all　men　know；〃　Karl　answered。
　Craster　moved　quicker　than　Sam　would　have　believed　possible；　vaulting　across　the　table　with　axe　in　hand。　A　woman　screamed；　Garth　Greenaway　and　Orphan　Oss　drew　knives；　Karl　stumbled　back　and　tripped　over　Ser　Byarn　lying　wounded　on　the　floor。　One　instant　Craster　was　ing　after　him　spitting　curses。　The　next　he　was　spitting　blood。　Dirk　had　grabbed　him　by　the　hair；　yanked　his　head　back；　and　opened　his　throat　ear　to　ear　with　one　long　slash。　Then　he　gave　him　a　rough　shove；　and　the　wildling　fell　forward；　crashing　face　first　across　Ser　Byam。　Byam　screamed　in　agony　as　Craster　drowned　in　his　own　blood；　the　axe　slipping　from　his　fingers。　Two　of　Craster's　wives　were　wailing；　a　third　cursed；　a　fourth　flew　at　Sweet　Donnel　and　tried　to　scratch　his　eyes　out。　He　knocked　her　to　the　floor。　The　Lord　mander　stood　over　Craster's　corpse；　dark　with　anger。　〃The　gods　will　curse　us；〃　he　cried。　〃There　is　no　crime　so　foul　as　for　a　guest　to　bring　murder　into　a　man's　hall。　By　all　the　laws　of　the　hearth；　we…〃
　〃There　are　no　laws　beyond　the　Wall；　old　man。　Remember？〃　Dirk　grabbed　one　of　Craster's　wives　by　the　arm；　and　shoved　the　point　of　his　bloody　dirk　up　under　her　chin。　〃Show　us　where　he　keeps　the　food；　or　you'll　get　the　same　as　he　did；　woman。〃
　〃Unhand　her。〃　Mormont　took　a　step。　〃I'll　have　your　head　for　this；　you…〃　Garth　of　Greenaway　blocked　his　path；　and　Ollo　Lophand　yanked　him　back。　They　both　had　blades　in　hand。　〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　Ollo　warned。　Instead　the　Lord　mander　grabbed　for　his　dagger。　Ollo　had　only　one　hand；　but　that　was　quick。　He　twisted　free　of　the　old　man's　grasp；　shoved　the　knife　into　Mormont's　belly；　and　yanked　it　out　again；　all　red。　And　then　the　world　went　mad。
　Later；　much　later；　Sam　found　himself　sitting　crosslegged　on　the　floor；　with　Mormont's　head　in　his　lap。　He　did　not　remember　how　they'd　gotten　there；　or　much　of　anything　else　that　had　happened　after　the　Old　Bear　was　stabbed。　Garth　of　Greenaway　had　killed　Garth　of　Oldtown；　he　recalled；　but　not　why。　Rolley　of　Sisterton　had　fallen　from　the　loft　and　broken　his　neck　after　climbing　the　ladder　to　have　a　taste　of　Craster's　wives。　Grenn　。　。　。
　Grerm　had　shouted　and　slapped　him；　and　then　he'd　run　away　with　Giant　and　Dolorous　Edd　and　some　others。　Craster　still　sprawled　across　Ser　Byam；　but　the　wounded　knight　no　longer　moaned。　Four　men　in　black　sat　on　the　bench　eating　chunks　of　burned　horsemeat　while　Ollo　coupled　with　a　weeping　woman　on　the　table。
　〃Tarly。〃　When　he　tried　to　speak；　the　blood　dribbled　from　the　Old　Bear's　mouth　down　into　his　beard。　〃Tarly；　go。　Go。〃
　〃Where；　my　lord？〃　His　voice　was　flat　and　lifeless。　I　am　not　afraid。　It　was　a　queer　feeling。　〃There's　no　place　to　go。〃
　〃The　Wall。　Make　for　the　Wall。　Now。〃
　〃Now；〃　squawked　the　raven。　〃Now　Now〃　The　bird　walked　up　the　old　man's　arm　to　his　chest；　and　plucked　a　hair　from　his　beard。
　〃You　must。　Must　tell　them。〃
　〃Tell　them　what；　my　lord？〃　Sam　asked　politely。
　〃All。　The　Fist。　The　wildlings。　Dragonglass。　This。　All。〃　His　breathing　was　very　shallow　now；　his　voice　a　whisper。　〃Tell　my　son。　Jorah。　Tell　him；　take　the　black。　My　wish。　Dying　wish。〃
　〃　Wish？　〃　The　raven　cocked　its　head；　beady　black　eyes　shining。　〃　Corn？　the　bird　asked。
　〃No　corn；〃　said　Mormont　feebly。　〃Tell　Jorah。　Forgive　him。　My　son。　Please。　Go。〃
　〃It's　too　far；〃　said　Sam。　〃I'll　never　reach　the　Wall；　my　lord。〃　He　was　so　very　tired。　All　he　wanted　was　to　sleep；　to　sleep　and　sleep　and　never　wake；　and　he　knew　that　if　he　just　stayed　here　soon　enough　Dirk　or　Ollo　Lophand　or　Clubfoot　Karl　would　get　angry　with　him　and　grant　his　wish；　just　to　see　him　die。　〃I'd　sooner　stay　with　you。　See；　I'm　not　frightened　anymore。　Of　you；　or　。　。　。　of　anything。〃
　〃You　should　be；〃　said　a　woman's　voice。
　Three　of　Craster's　wives　were　standing　over　them。　Two　were　haggard　old　women　he　did　not　know；　but　Gilly　was　between　them；　all　bundled　up　in　skins　and　cradling　a　bundle　of　brown　and　white　fur　that　must　have　held　her　baby。　〃We're　not　supposed　to　talk　to　Craster's　wives；〃　Sam　told　them。　〃We　have　orders。〃
　〃That's　done　now；〃　said　the　old　woman　on　the　right。
　〃The　blackest　crows　are　down　in　the　cellar；　gorging；〃　said　the　old　woman　on　the　left；　〃or　up　in　the　loft　with　the　young　ones。　They'll　be　back　soon；　though。　Best　you　be　gone　when　they　do。　The　horses　run　off；　but　Dyah's　caught　two。〃
　〃You　said　you'd　help　me；〃　Gilly　reminded　him。
　〃I　said　Jon　would　help　you。　Jon's　brave；　and　he's　a　good　fighter；　but　I　think　he's　dead　now。　I'm　a　craven。　And　fat。　Look　how　fat　I　am。　Besides；　Lord　Mormont's　hurt。　Can't　you　see？　I　couldn't　leave　the　Lord　mander。〃
　〃Child；〃　said　the　other　old　woman；　〃that　old　crow's　gone　before　you。　Look。〃
　Mormont's　head　was　still　in　his　lap；　but　his　eyes　were　open　and　staring　and　his　lips　no　longer　moved。　The　raven　cocked　its　head　and　squawked；　then　looked　up　at　Sam。　〃Corn？〃
　〃No　corn。　He　has　no　corn。〃　Sam　closed　the　Old　Bear's　eyes　and　tried　to　think　of　a　prayer；　but　all　that　came　to　mind　was；　〃Mother　have　mercy。　Mother　have　mercy。　Mother　have　mercy。〃
　〃Your　mother　can't　help　you　none；〃　said　the　old　woman　on　the　left。　〃That　dead　old　man　can't　neither。　You　take　his　sword　and　you　take　that　big　warm　far　cloak　o'　his　and　you　take　his　horse　if　you　can　find　him。　And　you　go。〃
　〃The　girl　don't　lie；〃　the　old　woman　on　the　right　said。　〃She's　my　girl；　and　I　beat　the　lying　out　of　her　early　on。　You　said　you'd　help　her。　Do　what　Ferny　says；　boy。　Take　the　girl　and　be　quick　about　it。〃
　〃Quick；〃　the　raven　said。　〃Quick　quick　quick。〃
　〃Where？〃　asked　Sam；　puzzled。　〃Where　should　I　take　her？〃
　〃Someplace　warm；〃　the　two　old　women　said　as　one。
　Gilly　was　crying。　〃Me　and　the　babe。　Please。　I'll　be　your　wife；　like　I　was　Craster's。　Please；　ser　crow。　He's　a　boy；　just　like　Nella　said　he'd　be。　If　you　don't　take　him；　they　will。〃
　〃They？〃　said　Sam；　and　the　raven　cocked　its　black　head　and　echoed；　〃They　They　They〃
　〃The　boy's　brothers；〃　said　the　old　woman　on　the　left。　〃Craster's　sons。　The　white　cold's　rising　out　there；　crow。　I　can　feel　it　in　my　bones。　These　poor　old　bones　don't　lie。　They'll　be　here　soon；　the　sons。〃
　
　CHAPTER　34
　ARYA
　
　Her　eyes　had　grown　accustomed　to　blackness。　When　Harwin　pulled　the　hood　off　her　head；　the　ruddy　glare　inside　the　hollow　hill　made　Arya　blink　like　some　stupid　owl。
　A　huge　firepit　had　been　dug　in　the　center　of　the　earthen　floor；　and　its　flames　rose　swirling　and　crackling　toward　the　smoke…stained　ceiling。　The　walls　were　equal　parts　stone　and　soil；　with　huge　white　roots　twisting　through　them　like　a　thousand　slow　pale　snakes。　People　were　emerging　from　between　those　roots　as　she　watched；　edging　out　from　the　shadows　for　a　look　at　the　captives；　stepping　from　the　mouths　of　pitch…black　tunnels；　popping　out　of　crannies　and　crevices　on　all　sides。　in　one　place　on　the　far　side　of　the　fire；　the　roots　formed　a　kind　of　stairway　up　to　a　hollow　in　the　earth　where　a　man　sat　almost　lost　in　the　tangle　of　weirwood。
　Lem　unhooded　Gendry。　〃What　is　this　place？〃　he　asked。
　〃An　old　place；　deep　and　secret。　A　refuge　where　neither　wolves　nor　lions　e　prowling。〃
　Neither　wolves　nor　lions。　Arya's　skin　prickled。　She　remembered　the　dream　she'd　had；　and　the　taste　of　blood　when　she　tore　the　man's　arm　from　his　shoulder。
　Big　as　the　fire　was；　the　cave　was　bigger；　it　was　hard　to　tell　where　it　began　and　where　it　ended。　The　tunnel　mouths　might　have　been　two　feet　deep　or　gone　on　two　miles。　Arya　saw　men　and　women　and　little　children；　all　of　them　watching　her　warily。
　Greenbeard　said；　〃Here's　the　wizard；　skinny　squirrel。　You'll　get　your　answers　now。〃　He　pointed　toward　the　fire；　where　Tom　Sevenstrings　stood　talking　to　a　tall　thin　man　with　oddments　of　old　armor　buckled　on　over　his　ratty　pink　robes。　That　can't　be　Thoros　of　Myr。　Arya　remembered　the　red　priest　as　fat；　with　a　smooth　face　and　a　shiny　bald　head。　This　man　had　a　droopy　face　and　a　full　head　of　shaggy　grey　hair。　Something　Tom　said　made　him　look　at　her；　and　Arya　thought　he　was　about　to　e　over　to　her。　Only　then　the　Mad　Huntsman　appeared；　shoving　his　captive　down　into　the　light；　and　she　and　Gendry　were　forgotten。
　The　Huntsman　had　turned　out　to　be　a　stocky　man　in　patched　tan　leathers；　balding　and　weak…chinned　and　quarrelsome。　At　Stoney　Sept　she　had　thought　that　Lem　and　Greenbeard　might　be　tom　to　pieces　when　they　faced　him　at　the　crow　cages　to　claim　his　captive　for　the　lightning　lord。　The　hounds　had　been　all　around　them；　sniffing　and　snarling。　But　Tom　o'　Sevens　soothed　them　with　his　playing；　Tansy　marched　across　the　square　with　her　apron　full　of　bones　and　fatty　mutton；　and　Lem　pointed　out　Anguy　in　the　brothel　window；　standing　with　an　arrow　notched。　The　Mad　Huntsman　had　cursed　them　all　for　lickspittles；　but　finally　he　had　agreed　to　take　his　prize　to　Lord　Beric　for　judgment。
　They　had　bound　his　wrists　with　hempen　rope；　strung　a　noose　around　his　neck；　and　pulled　a　sack　down　over　his　head；　but　even　so　there　was　danger　in　the　man。　Arya　could　feel　it　across　the　cave。　Thoros…if　that　was　Thoros…met　captor　and　captive　halfway　to　the　fire。　〃How　did　you　tak