grrm.astormofswords-第143节

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es。　〃But　if　you're　stupid　enough　to　try　again；　I'll　hurt　you。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　just　kill　me　like　you　did　Mycah？〃　Arya　had　screamed　at　him。　She　was　still　defiant　then；　more　angry　than　scared。
　He　answered　by　grabbing　the　front　of　her　tunic　and　yanking　her　within　an　inch　of　his　burned　face。　〃The　next　time　you　say　that　name　I'll　beat　you　so　bad　you'll　wish　I　killed　you。〃
　After　that；　he　rolled　her　in　his　horse　blanket　every　night　when　he　went　to　sleep；　and　tied　ropes　around　her　top　and　bottom　so　she　was　bound　up　as　tight　as　a　babe　in　swaddling　clothes。
　It　has　to　be　the　Blackwater；　Arya　decided　as　she　watched　the　rain　lash　the　river。　The　Hound　was　Joffrey's　dog；　he　was　taking　her　back　to　the　Red　Keep；　to　hand　to　Joffrey　and　the　queen。　She　wished　that　the　sun　would　e　out；　so　she　could　tell　which　way　they　were　going。　The　more　she　looked　at　the　moss　on　the　trees　the　more　confused　she　got。　The　Blackwater　wasn't　so　wide　at　King's　Landing；　but　that　was　before　the　rains。
　〃The　fords　will　all　be　gone；〃　Sandor　Clegane　said；　〃and　I　wouldn't　care　to　try　and　swim　over　neither。〃
　There's　no　way　across；　she　thought。　Lord　Beric　will　catch　us　for　sure。　Clegane　had　pushed　his　big　black　stallion　hard；　doubling　back　thrice　to　throw　off　pursuit；　once　even　riding　half　a　mile　up　the　center　of　a　swollen　stream　。　。　。　but　Arya　still　expected　to　see　the　outlaws　every　time　she　looked　back。　She　had　tried　to　help　them　by　scratching　her　name　on　the　trunks　of　trees　when　she　went　in　the　bushes　to　make　water；　but　the　fourth　time　she　did　it　he　caught　her；　and　that　was　the　end　of　that。　It　doesn't　matter；　Arya　told　herself；　Thoros　will　find　me　in　his　flames。　Only　he　hadn't。　Not　yet；　anyway；　and　once　they　crossed　the　river　。　。　。
　〃Harroway　town　shouldn't　be　far；〃　the　Hound　said。　〃Where　Lord　Roote　stables　Old　King　Andahar's　two…headed　water　horse。　Maybe　we'll　ride　across。〃
　Arya　had　never　heard　of　Old　King　Andahar。　She'd　never　seen　a　horse　with　two　heads　either；　especially　not　one　who　could　run　on　water；　but　she　knew　better　than　to　ask。　She　held　her　tongue　and　sat　stiff　as　the　Hound　turned　the　stallion's　head　and　trotted　along　the　ridgeline；　following　the　river　downstream。　At　least　the　rain　was　at　their　backs　this　way。　She'd　had　enough　of　it　stinging　her　eyes　half…blind　and　washing　down　her　cheeks　like　she　was　crying。　Wolves　never　cry；　she　reminded　herself　again。
　It　could　not　have　been　much　past　noon；　but　the　sky　was　dark　as　dusk。　They　had　not　seen　the　sun　in　more　days　than　she　could　count。　Arya　was　soaked　to　the　bone；　saddle…sore；　sniffling；　and　achy。　She　had　a　fever　too；　and　sometimes　shivered　uncontrollably；　but　when　she'd　told　the　Hound　that　she　was　sick　he'd　only　snarled　at　her。　〃Wipe　your　nose　and　shut　your　mouth；〃　he　told　her。　Half　the　time　he　slept　in　the　saddle　now；　trusting　his　stallion　to　follow　whatever　rutted　farm　track　or　game　trail　they　were　on。　The　horse　was　a　heavy　courser；　almost　as　big　as　a　destrier　but　much　faster。　Stranger；　the　Hound　called　him。　Arya　had　tried　to　steal　him　once；　when　Clegane　was　taking　a　piss　against　a　tree；　thinking　she　could　ride　off　before　he　could　catch　her。　Stranger　had　almost　bitten　her　face　off。　He　was　gentle　as　an　old　gelding　with　his　master；　but　otherwise　he　had　a　temper　as　black　as　he　was。　She　had　never　known　a　horse　so　quick　to　bite　or　kick。
　They　rode　beside　the　river　for　hours；　splashing　across　two　muddy　vassal　streams　before　they　reached　the　place　that　Sandor　Clegane　had　spoken　of。　〃Lord　Harroway's　Town；〃　he　said；　and　then；　when　he　saw　it；　〃Seven　hells！〃　The　town　was　drowned　and　desolate。　The　rising　waters　had　overflowed　the　riverbanks。　All　that　remained　of　Harroway　town　was　the　upper　story　of　a　daub…and…wattle　inn；　the　seven…sided　dome　of　a　sunken　sept；　two…thirds　of　a　stone　roundtower；　some　moldy　thatch　roofs；　and　a　forest　of　chimneys。
　But　there　was　smoke　ing　from　the　tower；　Arya　saw；　and　below　one　arched　window　a　wide　flat…bottomed　boat　was　chained　up　tight。　The　boat　had　a　dozen　oarlocks　and　a　pair　of　great　carved　wooden　horse　heads　mounted　fore　and　aft。　The　two…headed　horse；　she　realized。　There　was　a　wooden　house　with　a　sod　roof　right　in　the　middle　of　the　deck；　and　when　the　Hound　cupped　his　hands　around　his　mouth　and　shouted　two　men　came　spilling　out。　A　third　appeared　in　the　window　of　the　roundtower；　clutching　a　loaded　crossbow。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　he　shouted　across　the　swirling　brown　waters。
　〃Take　us　over；〃　the　Hound　shouted　back。
　The　men　in　the　boat　conferred　with　one　another。　One　of　them；　a　grizzled　grey…haired　man　with　thick　arms　and　a　bent　back；　stepped　to　the　rail。　〃It　will　cost　you。〃
　〃Then　I'll　pay。〃
　With　what？　Arya　wondered。　The　outlaws　had　taken　Clegane's　gold；　but　maybe　Lord　Beric　had　left　him　some　silver　and　copper。　A　ferry　ride　shouldn't　cost　more　than　a　few　coppers　。　。　。
　The　ferrymen　were　talking　again。　Finally　the　bent…backed　one　turned　away　and　gave　a　shout。　Six　more　men　appeared；　pulling　up　hoods　to　keep　the　rain　off　their　heads。　Still　more　squirmed　out　the　holdfast　window　and　leapt　down　onto　the　deck。　Half　of　them　looked　enough　like　the　bent…backed　man　to　be　his　kin。　Some　of　them　undid　the　chains　and　took　up　long　poles；　while　the　others　slid　heavy　wide…bladed　oars　through　the　locks。　The　ferry　swung　about　and　began　to　creep　slowly　toward　the　shallows；　oars　stroking　smoothly　on　either　side。　Sandor　Clegane　rode　down　the　hill　to　meet　it。
　When　the　aft　end　of　the　boat　slammed　into　the　hillside；　the　ferrymen　opened　a　wide　door　beneath　the　carved　horse's　head；　and　extended　a　heavy　oaken　plank。　Stranger　balked　at　the　water's　edge；　but　the　Hound　put　his　heels　into　the　courser's　flank　and　urged　him　up　the　gangway。　The　bent…backed　man　was　waiting　for　them　on　deck。　〃Wet　enough　for　you；　ser？〃　he　asked；　smiling。
　The　Hound's　mouth　gave　a　twitch。　〃I　need　your　boat；　not　your　bloody　wit。〃　He　dismounted；　and　pulled　Arya　down　beside　him。　One　of　the　boatmen　reached　for　Stranger's　bridle。　〃I　wouldn't；〃　Clegane　said；　as　the　horse　kicked。　The　man　leapt　back；　slipped　on　the　rain…slick　deck；　and　crashed　onto　his　arse；　cursing。
　The　ferryman　with　the　bent　back　wasn't　smiling　any　longer。　〃We　can　get　you　across；〃　he　said　sourly。　〃It　will　cost　you　a　gold　piece。　Another　for　the　horse。　A　third　for　the　boy。〃
　〃Three　dragons？〃　Clegane　gave　a　bark　of　laughter。　〃For　three　dragons　I　should　own　the　bloody　ferry。〃
　〃Last　year；　might　be　you　could。　But　with　this　river；　I'll　need　extra　hands　on　the　poles　and　oars　just　to　see　we　don't　get　swept　a　hundred　miles　out　to　sea。　Here's　your　choice。　Three　dragons；　or　you　teach　that　hellhorse　how　to　walk　on　water。〃
　〃I　like　an　honest　brigand。　Have　it　your　way。　Three　dragons　。　。　。　when　you　put　us　ashore　safe　on　the　north　bank。〃
　〃I'll　have　them　now；　or　we　don't　go。〃　The　man　thrust　out　a　thick；　callused　hand；　palm　up。
　Clegane　rattled　his　longsword　to　loosen　the　blade　in　the　scabbard。　〃Here's　your　choice。　Gold　on　the　north　bank；　or　steel　on　the　south。〃
　The　ferryman　looked　up　at　the　Hound's　face。　Arya　could　tell　that　he　didn't　like　what　he　saw　there。　He　had　a　dozen　men　behind　him；　strong　men　with　oars　and　hardwood　poles　in　their　hands；　but　none　of　them　were　rushing　forward　to　help　him。　Together　they　could　overwhelm　Sandor　Clegane；　though　he'd　likely　kill　three　or　four　of　them　before　they　took　him　down。　〃How　do　I　know　you're　good　for　it？〃　the　bent…backed　man　asked；　after　a　moment。
　He's　not；　she　wanted　to　shout。　instead　she　bit　her　lip。
　〃Knight's　honor；〃　the　Hound　said；　unsmiling。
　He's　not　even　a　knight。　She　did　not　say　that　either。
　〃That　will　do。〃　The　ferryman　spat。　〃e　on　then；　we　can　have　you　across　before　dark。　Tie　the　horse　up；　I　don't　want　him　spooking　when　we're　under　way。　There's　a　brazier　in　the　cabin　if　you　and　your　son　want　to　get　warm。〃
　〃I'm　not　his　stupid　son！〃　said　Arya　furiously。　That　was　even　worse　than　being　taken　for　a　boy。　She　was　so　angry　that　she　might　have　told　them　who　she　really　was；　only　Sandor　Clegane　grabbed　her　by　the　back　of　the　collar　and　hoisted　her　one…handed　off　the　deck。　〃How　many　times　do　I　need　to　tell　you　to　shut　your　bloodymouth？　〃　He　shook　her　so　hard　her　teeth　rattled；　then　let　her　fall。　〃Get　in　there　and　get　dry；　like　the　man　said。〃
　Arya　did　as　she　was　told。　The　big　iron　brazier　was　glowing　red；　filling　the　room　with　a　sullen　suffocating　heat。　It　felt　pleasant　to　stand　beside　it；　to　warm　her　hands　and　dry　off　a　little　bit；　but　as　soon　as　she　felt　the　deck　move　under　her　feet　she　slipped　back　out　through　the　forward　door。
　The　two…headed　horse　eased　slowly　through　the　shallows；　picking　its　way　between　the　chimneys　and　rooftops　of　drowned　Harroway。　A　dozen　men　labored　at　the　oars　while　four　more　used　the　long　poles　to　push　off　whenever　they　came　too　close　to　a　rock；　a　tree；　or　a　sunken　house。　The　bent…backed　man　had　the　rudder。　Rain　pattered　against　the　smooth　planks　of　the　deck　and　splashed　off　the　tall　carved　horseheads　fore　and　aft。　Arya　was　getting　soaked　again；　but　she　didn't　care。　She　wanted　to　see。　The　man　with　the　crossbow　still　stood　in　the　window　of　the　roundtower；　she　saw。　His　eyes　followed　her　as　the　ferry　slid　by　underneath。　She　wondered　if　he　was　this　Lord　Roote　that　the　Hound　had　mentioned。　He　doesn't　look　much　like　a　lord。　But　then；　she　didn't　look　much　like　a　lady　either。
　Once　t