red eve-第58节

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clouds　hid　the　stars。

〃Let　us　bide　here　a　while；〃　said　Grey　Dick　as　their　horses　blundered
through　the　thick　reeds。　〃It　will　soon　be　sunrise；　and　if　we　go　on　in
this　gloom　we　shall　fall　into　some　boghole　or　into　the　river；　which　I
hear　running　on　our　left。〃

So　they　halted　their　weary　horses　and　sat　still；　for　in　his
wretchedness　Hugh　cared　not　what　he　did。

At　length　the　east　began　to　lighten；　turning　the　sky　to　a　smoky　red。
Then　the　rim　of　the　sun　rising　out　of　the　white…flecked　ocean；　threw
athwart　the　desolate　marsh　a　fierce　ray　that　lay　upon　the　snows　like　a
sword　of　blood。　They　were　standing　on　the　crest　of　a　little　mound；　and
Dick；　looking　about　him；　knew　the　place。

〃See；〃　he　said；　pointing　toward　the　river　that　ran　near　by；　〃it　is
just　here　that　you　killed　young　Clavering　this　day　two　years　ago。
Yonder　also　I　shot　the　French　knights；　and　Red　Eve　and　you　leapt　into
the　Blythe　and　swam　it。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Hugh；　looking　up　idly；　〃but　did　you　say　two　years；　Dick？
Nay；　surely　'tis　a　score。　Why；〃　he　added　in　a　changed　voice；　〃who　may
that　be　in　the　hollow？〃　and　he　pointed　to　a　tall　figure　which　stood
beneath　them　at　a　distance；　half…hidden　by　the　dank　snow…mists。

〃Let　us　go　and　see；〃　said　Dick；　speaking　almost　in　a　whisper；　for
there　was　that　about　this　figure　which　sent　the　blood　to　his　throat
and　cheeks。

He　drove　the　spurs　into　his　tired　horse's　sides；　causing　it　to　leap
forward。

Half　a　minute　later　they　had　ridden　down　the　slope　of　the　hollow。　A
puff　of　wind　that　came　with　the　sun　drove　away　the　mist。　Dick　uttered
a　choking　cry　and　leapt　from　his　saddle。　For　there；　calm；　terrible；
mighty；　clothed　in　his　red　and　yellow　cap　and　robe　of　ebon　furs；　stood
he　who　was　named　Murgh　the　Fire；　Murgh　the　Sword；　Murgh　the　Helper；
Murgh；　Gateway　of　the　Gods！

They　knelt　before　him　in　the　snow；　while；　screaming　in　their　fright；
the　horses　fled　away。

〃Knight　and　Archer；〃　said　Murgh；　in　his　icy　voice；　counting　with　the
thumb　of　his　white…gloved　right　hand　upon　the　hidden　fingers　of　his
left。　〃Friends；　you　keep　your　tryst；　but　there　are　more　to　come。　Have
patience；　there　are　more　to　come。〃

Then　he　became　quiet；　nor　dared　they　ask　him　any　questions。　Only　at　a
motion　of　his　arm　they　rose　from　their　knees　and　stood　before　him。

A　long　while　they　stood　thus　in　silence；　till　under　Murgh's　dreadful
gaze　Hugh's　brain　began　to　swim。　He　looked　about　him；　seeking　some
natural　thing　to　feed　his　eyes。　Lo！　yonder　was　that　which　he　might
watch；　a　hare　crouching　in　its　form　not　ten　paces　distant。　See；　out　of
the　reeds　crept　a　great　red　fox。　The　hare　smelt　or　saw；　and　leaped
away。　The　fox　sprang　at　it；　too　late；　for　the　white　fangs　closed
emptily　behind　its　scut。　Then　with　a　little　snarl　of　hungry　rage　it
turned　and　vanished　into　the　brake。

The　hare　and　the　fox；　the　dead　reeds；　the　rising　sun；　the　snowoh；
who　had　told　him　of　these　things？

Ah！　he　remembered　now；　and　that　memory　set　the　blood　pulsing　in　his
veins。　For　where　these　creatures　were　should　be　more　besides　Grey　Dick
and　himself　and　the　Man　of　many　names。

He　looked　toward　Murgh　to　see　that　he　had　bent　himself　and　with　his
gloved　hand　was　drawing　lines　upon　the　snow。　Those　lines　when　they
were　done　enclosed　the　shape　of　a　grave！

〃Archer；〃　said　Murgh；　〃unsheath　your　axe　and　dig。〃

As　though　he　understood；　Dick　obeyed；　and　began　to　hollow　out　a　grave
in　the　soft　and　boggy　soil。

Hugh　watched　him　like　one　who　dreams；　wondering　who　was　destined　to
fill　that　grave。　Presently　a　sound　behind　caused　him　to　turn　his　head。

Oh！　certainly　he　was　mad；　for　there　over　the　rise　not　a　dozen　yards
away　came　the　beautiful　ghost　of　Eve　Clavering；　clad　in　her　red　cloak。
With　her　was　another　ghost；　that　of　old　Sir　Andrew　Arnold；　blood
running　down　the　armour　beneath　his　robe　and　in　his　hand　the　hilt　of　a
broken　sword。

Hugh　tried　to　speak；　but　his　lips　were　dumb；　nor　did　these　ghosts　take
any　heed　of　him；　for　their　eyes　were　fixed　elsewhere。　To　Murgh　they
went　and　stood　before　him　silent。　For　a　while　he　looked　at　them；　then
asked　in　his　cold　voice：

〃Who　am　I；　Eve　Clavering？〃

〃The　Man　who　came　to　visit　me　in　my　dream　at　Avignon　and　told　me　that
I　should　live；〃　she　answered　slowly。

〃And　who　say　you　that　I　am；　Andrew　Arnold；　priest　of　Christ　the　God？〃

〃He　whom　I　visited　in　my　youth　in　far　Cathay；〃　answered　the　old　knight
in　an　awed　whisper。　〃He　who　sat　beside　the　pool　behind　the　dragon…
guarded　doors　and　was　named　Gateway　of　the　Gods。　He　who　showed　to　me
that　we　should　meet　again　in　such　a　place　and　hour　as　this。〃

〃Whence　come　you　now；　priest　and　woman；　and　why？〃

〃We　come　from　Avignon。　We　fled　thence　from　one　who　would　have　done
this　maiden　grievous　wrong。　He　followed　us。　Not　an　hour　gone　he
overtook　us　with　his　knaves。　He　set　them　on　to　seize　this　woman；
hanging　back　himself。　Old　as　I　am　I　slew　them　both　and　got　my　death　in
it；〃　and　he　touched　the　great　wound　in　his　side　with　the　hilt　of　the
broken　sword。　〃Our　horses　were　the　better；　we　fled　across　the　swamp
for　Blythburgh；　he　hunting　us　and　seeking　my　life　and　her　honour。　Thus
we　found　you　as　it　was　appointed。〃

Murgh　turned　his　eyes。　Following　their　glance；　for　the　first　time　they
saw　Hugh　de　Cressi　and　near　him　Grey　Dick　labouring　at　the　grave。　Eve
stretched　out　her　arms　and　so　stood　with　head　thrown　back；　the　light
of　the　daybreak　shining　in　her　lovely　eyes　and　on　her　outspread　hair。
Hugh　opened　his　lips　to　speak　but　Murgh　lifted　his　hand　and　pointed
behind　them。

They　turned　and　there；　not　twenty　paces　from　them；　clad　in　armour　and
seated　on　a　horse　was　Edmund　Acour；　Count　de　Noyon；　Seigneur　of
Cattrina。

He　saw；　then　wheeled　round　to　fly。

〃Archer；　to　your　work！〃　said　Murgh；　〃you　know　it。〃

Ere　the　words　had　left　his　lips　the　great　black　bow　was　bent　and　ere
the　echoes　died　away　the　horse；　struck　in　its　side　by　the　keen　arrow；
sank　dying　to　the　ground。

Then　Murgh　beckoned　to　the　rider　and　he　came　as　a　man　who　must。　But；
throwing　down　the　bow；　Grey　Dick　once　more　began　to　labour　at　the
grave　like　one　who　takes　no　further　heed　of　aught　save　his　allotted
task。

Acour　stood　before　Murgh　like　a　criminal　before　his　judge。

〃Man；〃　said　the　awful　figure　addressing　him；　〃where　have　you　been　and
what　have　you　done　since　last　we　spoke　together　in　the　midday　dark　at
Venice？〃

Now；　dragged　word　by　slow　word　from　his　unwilling　lips；　came　the
answer　of　the　traitor's　heart。

〃I　fled　from　the　field　at　Venice　because　I　feared　this　knight；　and
you；　O　Spirit　of　Death。　I　journeyed　to　Avignon；　in　France；　and　there
strove　to　possess　myself　of　yonder　woman　whom　here　in　England；　with
the　help　of　one　Nicholas；　I　had　wed；　when　she　was　foully　drugged。　I
strove　to　possess　myself　of　her　by　fraud　and　by　violence。　But　some
fate　was　against　me。　She　and　that　aged　priest　bribed　the　knave　whom　I
trusted。　He　caused　a　dead　man　and　woman　dressed　in　their　garments　to
be　borne　from　their　lodging　to　the　plague　pit　while　they　fled　from
Avignon　disguised。〃

Here　for　a　moment　Grey　Dick　paused　from　his　labours　at　the　grave　and
looked　up　at　Hugh。　Then　he　fell　to　them　again；　throwing　out　the　peaty
soil　with　both　hands。

〃My　enemy　and　his　familiar；　for　man　he　can　scarcely　be；〃　went　on
Acour；　pointing　first　to　Hugh　and　then　to　Dick；　〃survived　all　my　plans
to　kill　them　and　instead　killed　those　whom　I　had　sent　after　them。　I
learned　that　the　woman　and　the　priest　were　not　dead；　but　fled；　and
followed　them；　and　after　me　came　my　enemy　and　his　familiar。　Twice　we
passed　each　other　on　the　road；　once　we　slept　in　the　same　house。　I　knew
them　but　they　knew　me　not　and　the　Fate　which　blinded　me　from　them；
saved　them　also　from　all　my　plots　to　bring　them　to　their　doom。　The
woman　and　the　priest　took　ship　to　England；　and　I　followed　in　another
ship；　being　made　mad　with　desire　and　with　jealous　rage；　for　there　I
knew　my　enemy　would　find　and　win　her。　In　the　darkness　before　this　very
dawn　I　overtook　the　woman　and　the　priest　at　last　and　set　my　fellows　on
to　kill　the　man。　Myself　I　would　strike　no　blow；　fearing　lest　my　death
should　come　upon　me；　and　so　I　should　be　robbed　of　her。　But　God　fought
with　His　aged　servant　who　in　his　youth　was　the　first　of　knights。　He
slew　my　men；　then　fled　on　with　the　woman；　Eve　of　Clavering。　I
followed；　knowing　that　he　was　sore　wounded　and　must　die；　and　that　then
the　beauty　which　has　lured　me　to　shame　and　ruin　would　be　mine；　if　only
for　an　hour。　I　followed；　and　here　at　this　place　of　evil　omen；　where
first　I　saw　my　foe；　I　found　/you/；　O　Incarnate　Sword　of　Vengeance。〃

Murgh　unfolded　his　bare　arms　and　lifted　his　head；　which　was　sunk　upon
his　breast。

〃Your　pardon；〃　he　said　gently；　〃my　name　is　Hand　of　Fate　and　not　Sword
of　Vengeance。　There　is　no　vengeance　save　that　which　men　work　upon
themselves。　What　fate　may　be　and　vengeance　may　be　I　know　not　fully；
and　none　will　ever　know　until　they　have　passed　the　Gateway　of　the
Gods。　Archer　the　grave　is　deep　enough。　Come　forth　now　and　let　us　learn
who　it　is　decreed　shall　fill　it。　Knights；　the　hour　is　at　hand　for　you
to　finish　that　which　you　began　at　Crecy　and　at　Venice。〃

Hugh　heard　and　drew　his　sword。　Acour　drew　his　sword　also；　then　cried
out；　pointing　to　Grey　Dick：

〃Here　be　two　ag