grrm.astormofswords-第141节

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he　castles　are　stone　and　wood。　There　are　tall　towers　and　deep　vaults　and　a　huge　longhall　with　a　great　fire　burning　in　the　hearth；　day　and　night。　It's　so　hot　in　there；　Gilly；　you'll　hardly　believe　it。〃
　〃Could　I　stand　by　the　fire？　Me　and　the　boy？　Not　for　a　long　time；　just　till　we're　good　and　warm？〃
　〃You　can　stand　by　the　fire　as　long　as　you　like。　You'll　have　food　and　drink；　too。　Hot　mulled　wine　and　a　bowl　of　venison　stewed　with　onions；　and　Hobb's　bread　right　out　of　the　oven；　so　hot　it　will　burn　your　fingers。〃　Sam　peeled　a　glove　off　to　wriggle　his　own　fingers　near　the　flames；　and　soon　regretted　it。　They　had　been　numb　with　cold；　but　as　feeling　returned　they　hurt　so　much　he　almost　cried。　〃Sometimes　one　of　the　brothers　will　sing；〃　he　said；　to　take　his　mind　off　the　pain。　〃Dareon　sang　best；　but　they　sent　him　to　Eastwatch。　There's　still　Halder；　though。　And　Toad。　His　real　name　is　Todder；　but　he　looks　like　a　toad；　so　we　call　him　that。　He　likes　to　sing；　but　he　has　an　awful　voice。〃
　〃Do　you　sing？〃　Gilly　rearranged　her　furs；　and　she　moved　the　babe　from　one　breast　to　the　other。
　Sam　blushed。　〃I　。　。　。　I　know　some　songs。　When　I　was　little　I　liked　to　sing。　I　danced　too；　but　my　lord　father　never　liked　me　to。　He　said　if　I　wanted　to　prance　around　I　should　do　it　in　the　yard　with　a　sword　in　my　hand。〃
　〃Could　you　sing　some　southron　song？　For　the　babe？〃
　〃If　you　like。〃　Sam　thought　for　a　moment。　〃There's　a　song　our　septon　used　to　sing　to　me　and　my　sisters；　when　we　were　little　and　it　was　time　for　us　to　go　to　sleep。　'The　Song　of　the　Seven/　it's　called。〃　He　cleared　his　throat　and　softly　sang：
　The　Father's　face　is　stern　and　strong；　he　sits　and　judges　right　from　wrong。
　He　weighs　our　lives；　the　short　and　long；　and　loves　the　little　children。
　The　Mother　gives　the　gift　of　life；　and　watches　over　every　wife。
　Her　gentle　smile　ends　all　strife；　and　she　loves　her　little　children。
　The　Warrior　stands　before　the　foe；　protecting　us　where　e'er　we　go。
　With　sword　and　shield　and　spear　and　bow；　he　guards　the　little　children。
　The　Crone　is　very　wise　and　old；　and　sees　our　fates　as　they　unfold。
　She　lifts　her　lamp　of　shining　gold；　to　lead　the　little　children。
　The　Smith；　he　labors　day　and　night；　to　put　the　world　of　men　to　right。
　With　hammer；　plow；　and　fire　bright；　he　builds　for　little　children。
　The　Maiden　dances　through　the　sky；　she　lives　in　every　lover's　sigh；
　Her　smiles　teach　the　birds　to　fly；　and　give　dreams　to　little　children。
　The　Seven　Gods　who　made　us　all；　are　listening　if　we　should　call。
　So　close　your　eyes；　you　shall　not　fall；　they　see　you；　little　children；
　Just　close　your　eyes；　you　shall　not　fall；　they　see　you；　little　children。
　Sam　remembered　the　last　time　he'd　sung　the　song　with　his　mother；　to　lull　baby　Dickon　to　sleep。　His　father　had　heard　their　voices　and　e　barging　in；　angry。　〃I　will　have　no　more　of　that；〃　Lord　Randyll　told　his　wife　harshly。　〃You　ruined　one　boy　with　those　soft　septon's　songs；　do　you　mean　to　do　the　same　to　this　babe？〃　Then　he　looked　at　Sam　and　said；　〃Go　sing　to　your　sisters；　if　you　must　sing。　I　don't　want　you　near　my　son。〃
　Gilly's　babe　had　gone　to　sleep。　He　was　such　a　tiny　thing；　and　so　quiet　that　Sam　feared　for　him。　He　didn't　even　have　a　name。　He　had　asked　Gilly　about　that；　but　she　said　it　was　bad　luck　to　name　a　child　before　he　was　two。　So　many　of　them　died。
　She　tucked　her　nipple　back　inside　her　furs。　〃That　was　pretty；　Sam。　You　sing　good。〃
　〃You　should　hear　Dareon。　His　voice　is　sweet　as　mead。〃
　〃We　drank　the　sweetest　mead　the　day　Craster　made　me　a　wife。　It　was　summer　then；　and　not　so　cold。〃　Gilly　gave　him　a　puzzled　look。　〃Did　you　only　sing　of　six　gods？　Craster　always　told　us　you　southrons　had　seven。〃
　〃Seven；〃　he　agreed；　〃but　no　one　sings　of　the　Stranger。〃　The　Stranger's　face　was　the　face　of　death。　Even　talking　of　him　made　Sam　unfortable。　〃We　should　eat　something。　A　bite　or　two。〃
　Nothing　was　left　but　a　few　black　sausages；　as　hard　as　wood。　Sam　sawed　off　a　few　thin　slices　for　each　of　them。　The　effort　made　his　wrist　ache；　but　he　was　hungry　enough　to　persist。　If　you　chewed　the　slices　long　enough　they　softened　up；　and　tasted　good。　Craster's　wives　seasoned　them　with　garlic。
　After　they　had　finished；　Sam　begged　her　pardon　and　went　out　to　relieve　himself　and　look　after　the　horse。　A　biting　wind　was　blowing　from　the　north；　and　the　leaves　in　the　trees　rattled　at　him　as　he　passed。　He　had　to　break　the　thin　scum　of　ice　on　top　of　the　stream　so　the　horse　could　get　a　drink。　I　had　better　bring　her　inside。　He　did　not　want　to　wake　up　at　break　of　day　to　find　that　their　horse　had　frozen　to　death　during　the　night。　Gilly　would　keep　going　even　if　that　happened。　The　girl　was　very　brave；　not　like　him。　He　wished　he　knew　what　he　was　going　to　do　with　her　back　at　Castle　Black。　She　kept　saying　how　she'd　be　his　wife　if　he　wanted；　but　black　brothers　didn't　keep　wives；　besides；　he　was　a　Tarly　of　Horn　Hill；　he　could　never　wed　a　wildling。　I'll　have　to　think　of　something。　So　long　as　we　reach　the　Wall　alive；　the　rest　doesn't　matter；　it　doesn't　matter　one　little　bit。
　Leading　the　horse　to　the　longhall　was　simple　enough。　Getting　her　through　the　door　was　not；　but　Sam　persisted。　Gilly　was　already　dozing　by　the　time　he　got　the　garron　inside。　He　hobbled　the　horse　in　a　corner；　fed　some　fresh　wood　to　the　fire；　took　off　his　heavy　cloak；　and　wriggled　down　under　the　furs　beside　the　wildling　woman。　His　cloak　was　big　enough　to　cover　all　three　of　them　and　keep　in　the　warmth　of　their　bodies。
　Gilly　smelled　of　milk　and　garlic　and　musty　old　fur；　but　he　was　used　to　that　by　now。　They　were　good　smells；　so　far　as　Sam　was　concerned。　He　liked　sleeping　next　to　her。　it　made　him　remember　times　long　past；　when　he　had　shared　a　huge　bed　at　Hom　Hill　with　two　of　his　sisters。　That　had　ended　when　Lord　Randyll　decided　it　was　making　him　soft　as　a　girl。　Sleeping　alone　in　my　own　cold　cell　never　made　me　any　harder　or　braver；　though。　He　wondered　what　his　father　would　say　if　he　could　see　him　now。　I　killed　one　of　the　Others；　my　lord；　he　imagined　saying。　I　stabbed　him　with　an　obsidian　dagger；　and　my　Sworn　Brothers　call　me　Sam　the　Slayer　now　But　even　in　his　fancies；　Lord　Randyll　only　scowled；　disbelieving。
　His　dreams　were　strange　that　night。　He　was　back　at　Horn　Hill；　at　the　castle；　but　his　father　was　not　there。　It　was　Sam's　castle　now。　Jon　Snow　was　with　him。　Lord　Mormont　too；　the　Old　Bear；　and　Grerm　and　Dolorous　Edd　and　Pyp　and　Toad　and　all　his　other　brothers　from　the　Watch；　but　they　wore　bright　colors　instead　of　black。　Sam　sat　at　the　high　table　and　feasted　them　all；　cutting　thick　slices　off　a　roast　with　his　father's　greatsword　Heartsbane。　There　were　sweet　cakes　to　eat　and　honeyed　wine　to　drink；　there　was　singing　and　dancing；　and　everyone　was　warm。　When　the　feast　was　done　he　went　up　to　sleep；　not　to　the　lord's　bedchamber　where　his　mother　and　father　lived　but　to　the　room　he　had　once　shared　with　his　sisters。　Only　instead　of　his　sisters　it　was　Gilly　waiting　in　the　huge　soft　bed；　wearing　nothing　but　a　big　shaggy　fur；　milk　leaking　from　her　breasts。
　He　woke　suddenly；　in　cold　and　dread。
　The　fire　had　burned　down　to　smouldering　red　embers。　The　air　itself　seemed　frozen；　it　was　so　cold。　In　the　corner　the　garron　was　whinnying　and　kicking　the　logs　with　her　hind　legs。　Gilly　sat　beside　the　fire；　hugging　her　babe。　Sam　sat　up　groggy；　his　breath　puffing　pale　from　his　open　mouth。　The　longball　was　dark　with　shadows；　black　and　blacker。　The　hair　on　his　arms　was　standing　up。
　It's　nothing；　he　told　himself。　I'm　cold；　that's　all。
　Then；　by　the　door；　one　of　the　shadows　moved。　A　big　one。
　This　is　still　a　dream；　Sam　prayed。　Oh；　make　it　that　I'm　still　asleep；　make　it　a　nightmare。　He's　dead；　he's　dead；　I　saw　him　die。　〃He's　e　for　the　babe；〃　Gilly　wept。　〃He　smells　him。　A　babe　fresh…born　stinks　o'　life。　He's　e　for　the　life。〃
　The　huge　dark　shape　stooped　under　the　lintel；　into　the　hall；　and　shambled　toward　them。　in　the　dim　light　of　the　fire；　the　shadow　became　Small　Paul。
　〃Go　away；〃　Sam　croaked。　〃We　don't　want　you　here。〃
　Paul's　hands　were　coal；　his　face　was　milk；　his　eyes　shone　a　bitter　blue。　Hoarfrost　whitened　his　beard；　and　on　one　shoulder　hunched　a　raven；　pecking　at　his　cheek；　eating　the　dead　white　flesh。　Sam's　bladder　let　go；　and　he　felt　the　warmth　running　down　his　legs。　〃Gilly；　calm　the　horse　and　lead　her　out。　You　do　that。〃
　〃You…〃　she　started。
　〃I　have　the　knife。　The　dragonglass　dagger。〃　He　fumbled　it　out　as　he　got　to　his　feet。　He'd　given　the　first　knife　to　Grenn；　but　thankfully　he'd　remembered　to　take　Lord　Mormont's　dagger　before　fleeing　Craster's　Keep。　He　clutched　it　tight；　moving　away　from　the　fire；　away　from　Gilly　and　the　babe。　〃Paul？〃　He　meant　to　sound　brave；　but　it　came　out　in　a　squeak。　〃Small　Paul。　Do　you　know　me？　I'm　Sam；　fat　Sam；　Sam　the　Scared；　you　saved　me　in　the　woods。　You　carried　me　when　I　couldn't　walk　another　step。　No　one　else　could　have　done　that；　but　you　did。〃　Sam　backed　away；　knife　in　hand；　sniveling。　I　am　such　a　coward。　〃Don't　hurt　us；　Paul。　Please。　Why　would　you　want　to　hurt　us？〃
　Gilly　scrabbled　backward　across　the　hard　dirt　floor。　The　wight　turned　his　head　to　look　at　her；　but　Sam　shouted　〃NO！〃　and　he　turned　back。　The　raven　on　his　shoulder　ripped　a　strip　of　flesh　from　his　pale　ruined　cheek。　Sam　held　the　dagger　before　him；　breathing　like　a　blacks