tw.togreenangeltower2-第56章
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〃It's not the glory…it's in case anything happens。。。 I don't want you hurt because of my stupid idea。〃
〃Your idea？ Simon； there is no blame here。 I am doing what I think is being best。 And I am thinking there is nothing inside here to hurt anyone。〃 He paused。 〃But if you wish 。。。〃 He stepped aside。
Simon lowered himself to his hands and knees； then took the torch from the troll's small hand and pushed it into the hole before him。 In the flickering light he could see the great muddy sweep of Sea…Arrow's hull； the boat was curved like a huge dead leaf； like a cocoon 。。。 as though something within it was waiting to be reborn。
Simon sat up and shook his head。 His heart was hammering。
Mooncalf！ What are you afraid of？ Prester John was a good man。
Yes； but what if his ghost was angry about what had happened to his kingdom？ And surely no spirit liked its grave being robbed。
Simon took in a gulp of air； then slowly eased himself through the hole in the side of the mound。 He slid down the crumbling slope of the pit until he touched the boat's hull。 The dome of spars and mud and white root tendrils stretching overhead seemed a sky created by a feeble； half…blind god。 When he finally took another breath； his nostrils filled with the smells of soil and pine sap and mildew； as well as stranger scents he could not identify； some of them as exotic as the contents of Judith me Kitchen Mistress' spice jars。 The sweet strength took him by surprise and set him choking。 Binabik popped his head through the hole。
〃Are you well？ Is there badness to the air？〃
Simon regained his breath。 〃I'm well。 I just 。。。〃 He swallowed。 〃Don't worry。〃
Binabik hesitated； then withdrew。
Simon looked at the side of the hull for what seemed a very long time。 Because of the way it was wedged in the pit； the wales rose higher than his head。 Simon could not see a way to climb with one hand； and the torch was too thick to be carried fortably in his mouth。 After a moment in which he was strongly tempted to turn and clamber back out again and let Binabik solve the problem； he wedged the butt of the torch in beside one of the mound timbers； then threw his hands over the wale and pulled himself up； kicking his feet in search of a toehold。 The wood of Sea…Arrow's hull felt slimy beneath his fingers but held his weight。
Simon pulled the top half of his body over the wale and hung there for a moment； balanced； the edge of the boat pushing up against his stomach like a fist。 The sweet； musty odor was very strong。 Looking down； he almost cursed…biting back words that might be unlucky and were certainly disrespectful…when he realized that he had placed the torch too low for its light to reach into the boat's hull。 All he could see beneath him were ill…defined lumps of shadow。 Of course； he thought； it should be simple enough to find a single body and the sword it held； even in darkness： he could do it by touch alone。 But there was not a chance in the world that Simon was going to try that。
〃Binabik！〃 he shouted。 〃Can you e help me？〃 He was proud of how steady his voice sounded。
The troll clambered over the lip of the hole and slid down the incline。 〃Are you trapped somehow？〃
〃No； but I can't see anything without the torch。 Can you get it for me？〃
As Simon hung over the dark hull； the wooden wale trembled。 Simon had a moment's fear that it might collapse beneath him； a fear that was not made less by a quiet creaking that drifted through the underground chamber。 Simon was almost certain that the noise came from the tormented wood…the king's boat had been two years in the wet ground； after all…but it was hard not to imagine a hand 。。。 an ancient； withered hand 。。。 reaching up from the shadowed hull。。。。
〃Binabik！？〃
〃I am bringing it； Simon。 It was higher than I could be reaching。〃
〃Sorry。 Just hurry； please。〃
The light on the roof of the barrow changed as the flame was moved。 Simon felt a tapping on his foot。 Balancing as carefully as he could； he swung his legs around； pivoting until he was lying with his stomach along the length of the wale and could reach down and take the torch from Binabik's upstretched hand。 With another silent prayer…and his eyes half…shut for fear of what he might see…Simon turned and leaned over the void of the inner hull。
At first it was hard to see anything。 He opened his eyes wider。 Small stones and dirt had worked loose from the barrow ceiling and covered much of Sea…Arrow's contents…but the detritus of the grave had not covered everything。
〃Binabik！〃 Simon cried。 〃Look！〃
〃What！？〃 The troll； alarmed； rushed along the hull to a spot where the boat touched the wall of the barrow； then clambered up； nimble as on a high Mintahoq trail。 Balancing lightly atop the wale； he worked his way over until he was near Simon。
〃Look。〃 Simon gestured with the shaking torch。
King John Presbyter lay in the bosom of Sea…Arrow； surrounded by his funeral gifts； clad still in the magnificent raiment in which he had been buried。 On the High King's brow was a golden circlet； his hands were folded on his chest； resting on his long snowy beard。 John's skin； but for a certain waxy translucency； looked as firm as the flesh of a living man。 After several seasons in the corrupting earth； he seemed to be only sleeping。
But； terrifyingly strange as it was to see the king whole and uncorrupted； that was not all that had made Simon cry out。
〃Kikkasut！〃 Binabik swore； no less surprised than Simon。 A moment later he had clambered down into the hull of the boat。
A search of the grave and its effects confirmed it： Prester John still lay in his resting place on Swertclif…but Bright…Nail was gone。
11
Heartbeats
''Just because Varellan is my brother does not mean I will suffer stupidity；〃 Duke Benigaris snarled at the knight who kneeled before him。 He smacked his open palm on the arm of his throne。 'Tell him to hold firm until I arrive with the Kingfishers。 If he does not； I will hang his head from the Sancellan's gate…wall！〃
〃Please； my lord；〃 said his armorer； who was hovering just to one side； 〃I beg you； do not thrash about so。 I am trying to measure。〃
〃Yes； do sit still；〃 added his mother。 She occupied the same low but ornate chair she had when her husband ruled in Nabban。 〃If you had not been making such a pig of yourself； your old armor would still fit。〃
Benigaris stared at her； mustache twitching with fury。 〃Thank you； Mother。〃
〃And do not be so cruel to Varellan。 He is hardly more than a child。〃
〃He is a dawdling； simpering halfwit…and it is you who spoiled him。 Who talked me into letting him lead the troops at the Onestrine Pass； in any case？〃
Dowager Duchess Nessalanta waved her hand in airy dismissal。 〃Anyone could hold that pass against a ragtag mob like Josua's。 I could。 And the experience will do him good。〃
The duke jerked his arm free of the armorer's grasp and slammed it on the chair arm once more。 〃By the Tree； Mother！ He has given up two leagues in less than a fortnight； despite having several thousand foot soldiers and half a thousand knights。 He is falling back so fast that by the time I ride out the front door； I will probably trip over him。〃
〃Xannasavin says there is nothing to fret about；〃 she replied； amused。 〃He has examined the skies carefully。 Benigaris； please calm yourself。 Be a man。〃
The duke's stare was icy。 His jaw worked for a momenf before he spoke。 〃One of these days； Mother； you will push me too far。〃
〃And what will you do…throw me into the cells？ Cut off my head？〃 Her look bee fierce。 〃You need me。 Not to mention the respect you owe the one who bore you。〃
Benigaris scowled； took a deep breath； then turned his attention back to the knight who had delivered young Varellan's message。 〃What do you wait for？〃 he demanded。 〃You heard what I had to say。 Now go and tell him。〃
The knight rose and made an elaborate bow； then turned and walked from the throne room。 The ladies in colorful dresses who were talking quietly near the door watched him go； then hudd
