mc.eatersofthedead-第21部分

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　I　was　not　disposed　to　embark　upon　another　venture　of　warfare；　and　was　much　amazed　that　the　Northmen　did　not　reflect　such　a　view；　springing　as　it　did　from　the　fatigue　of　my　body。　Herger　said　of　this：　〃It　is　always　thus；　now　and　in　Valhalla；〃　which　is　their　idea　of　heaven。　In　this　heaven；　which　is　to　them　a　great　hall；　warriors　battle　from　dawn　to　dusk；　then　those　who　are　dead　are　revived；　and　all　share　a　feast　in　the　night；　with　endless　food　and　drink；　and　then　upon　the　day　they　battle　again；　and　those　who　die　are　revived；　and　there　is　a　feast；　and　this　is　the　nature　of　their　heaven　through　all　eternity。32　Thus　they　never　count　it　strange　to　do　battle　day　upon　day　while　on　the　earth。
　Our　direction　of　travel　was　determined　by　the　trail　of　blood　the　retreating　horsemen　had　left　from　the　night。　The　hounds　led；　racing　along　this　red　dripping　trail。　We　paused　but　once　upon　the　flat　plain；　to　retrieve　a　weapon　dropped　by　the　departing　demons。　Here　is　the　nature　of　the　weapon：　it　was　a　hand　axe　with　a　haft　of　some　wood；　and　a　blade　of　chipped　stone　bound　to　the　haft　with　hide　thongs。　The　edge　of　this　axe　was　exceedingly　sharp；　and　the　blade　fashioned　with　skill；　as　much　as　if　this　stone　were　some　gemstone　to　be　chiseled　to　delight　a　rich　lady's　vanity。　Such　was　the　degree　of　workmanship；　and　the　weapon　was　formidable　for　the　sharpness　of　its　edge。　Never　have　I　seen　such　an　object　before　on　the　face　of　all　the　earth。　Herger　told　me　that　the　wendol　made　all　their　tools　and　weapons　of　this　stone；　or　so　the　Northmen　believe。
　Yet　we　traveled　onward　with　good　speed；　led　by　the　barking　dogs；　and　their　barking　cheered　me。　At　length　we　came　to　the　hills。　We　rode　into　the　hills　without　hesitation　or　ceremony；　each　of　the　warriors　of　Buliwyf　intent　upon　his　purpose；　a　silent　and　grim…faced　pany　of　men。　They　held　the　marks　of　fear　upon　their　faces；　and　yet　no　man　paused　or　faltered；　but　pressed　onward。
　Now　it　was　cold　in　the　hills；　in　the　forests　of　dark　green　trees；　and　a　chill　wind　blew　at　our　clothing；　and　we　saw　the　hissing　breath　of　the　steeds；　and　white　plumes　of　breath　from　the　running　dogs；　and　we　pressed　onward　still。　After　some　travel　until　the　middle　period　of　the　day；　we　arrived　at　a　new　landscape。　Here　was　a　brackish　tarn；　no　moor；　or　heath…a　desolate　land；　most　resembling　a　desert；　yet　not　sandy　and　dry；　but　damp　and　soggy；　and　over　this　land　lay　the　faintest　wisps　of　mist。　The　Northmen　call　this　place　the　desert　of　dread。33
　Now　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes　that　this　mist　lay　upon　the　land　in　small　pockets　or　clusterings；　like　tiny　clouds　seated　upon　the　earth。　In　one　area；　the　air　is　clear；　then　in　another　place　there　are　small　mists　that　hang　near　the　ground；　rising　to　the　height　of　a　horse's　knees；　and　in　such　a　place　we　would　lose　sight　of　the　dogs；　who　were　enveloped　in　these　mists。　Then；　a　moment　later；　the　mist　would　clear；　and　we　would　be　in　another　open　space　again。　Such　was　the　landscape　of　the　heath。
　I　found　this　sight　remarkable；　but　the　Northmen　took　it　to　be　nothing　special；　they　said　the　land　in　this　region　has　many　brackish　pools　and　bubbling　hot　springs；　which　rise　from　rents　in　the　ground；　in　these　places；　a　small　fog　collects；　and　remains　there　all　the　day　and　night。　They　call　this　the　place　of　steaming　lakes。
　The　land　is　difficult　for　horses；　and　we　made　slower　progress。　The　dogs　also　ventured　more　slowly；　and　I　noted　that　they　barked　less　vigorously。　Soon　our　pany　had　changed　wholly：　from　a　gallop；　with　yelping　dogs　in　the　forefront；　to　a　slow　walk；　with　silent　dogs　hardly　willing　to　lead　the　way；　and　instead　falling　back　until　they　were　underfoot　the　horses；　thus　causing　some　occasional　difficulty。　It　was　still　very　cold；　indeed　colder　than　before；　and　I　saw　here　and　there　a　small　patch　of　snow　upon　the　ground；　though　this　was；　by　my　best　reckoning；　the　summer　period。
　At　a　slow　pace；　we　proceeded　for　a　goodly　distance；　and　I　had　wonder　that　we　should　be　lost；　and　never　find　our　way　back　through　this　heath。　Now　at　a　place　the　dogs　halted。　There　was　no　difference　in　the　terrain；　or　any　mark　or　object　upon　the　ground；　yet　the　dogs　stopped　as　if　they　had　arrived　upon　some　fence　or　palpable　obstruction。　Our　party　halted　at　this　place；　and　looked　about　in　this　direction　and　that。　There　was　no　wind；　and　no　sounds　were　here；　not　the　sound　of　birds　or　of　any　living　animal；　but　only　silence。
　Buliwyf　said；　〃Here　begins　the　land　of　the　wendol；〃　and　the　warriors　patted　their　steeds　upon　the　necks　to　fort　them；　for　the　horses　were　skittish　and　nervous　in　this　region。　So　also　were　the　riders。　Buliwyf　kept　his　lips　tight；　Ecthgow's　hands　trembled　as　he　held　the　reins　of　his　horse；　Herger　was　gone　quite　pale；　and　his　eyes　darted　to　this　way　and　that；　so　also　the　others　in　their　way。
　The　Northmen　say；　〃Fear　has　a　white　mouth；〃　and　now　I　saw　that　this　is　true；　for　they　were　all　pale　around　the　lips　and　mouth。　No　man　spoke　of　his　fear。
　Now　we　left　the　dogs　behind；　and　rode　onward　into　more　snow；　which　was　thin　and　crunching　underfoot；　and　into　thicker　mists。　No　man　spoke；　save　to　the　horses。　At　each　step　these　beasts　were　more　difficult　to　prod　onward；　the　warriors　were　obliged　to　urge　them　with　soft　words　and　sharp　kicks。　Soon　we　saw　shadowy　forms　in　the　mist　ahead　of　us；　which　we　approached　with　caution。　Now　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes　this：　on　either　side　of　the　path；　mounted　high　on　stout　poles；　were　the　skulls　of　enormous　beasts；　their　jaws　opened　in　a　posture　of　attack。　We　continued；　and　I　saw　these　were　the　skulls　of　giant　bears；　which　the　wendol　worship。　Herger　said　to　me　that　the　bear　skulls　protect　the　borders　of　the　land　of　the　wendol。
　Now　we　sighted　another　obstacle；　gray　and　distant　and　large。　Here　was　a　giant　rock；　as　high　as　a　horse's　saddle；　and　it　was　carved　in　the　shape　of　a　pregnant　woman；　with　bulging　belly　and　breasts；　and　no　head　or　arms　or　legs。　This　rock　was　spattered　with　the　blood　of　some　sacrifices；　verily　it　dripped　with　streaks　of　red；　and　was　gruesome　to　look　upon。
　No　man　spoke　of　what　was　observed。　We　rode　on　apace。　The　warriors　drew　out　their　swords　and　held　them　in　readiness。　Now　here　is　a　quality　to　the　Northmen：　that　previously　they　showed　fear；　but　having　entered　into　the　land　of　the　wendol；　close　to　the　source　of　the　fear；　their　own　apprehensions　disappeared。　Thus　do　they　seem　to　do　all　things　backward；　and　in　perplexing　manner；　for　verily　they　now　appeared　at　ease。　It　was　only　the　horses　that　were　ever　more　difficult　to　prod　onward。
　I　smelled；　now；　the　rotting…carcass　odor　that　I　had　smelled　before　in　the　great　hall　of　Rothgar；　and　as　it　reached　my　nostrils　anew；　I　was　faint　of　heart。　Herger　rode　alongside　me　and　said　in　a　soft　voice；　〃How　do　you　fare？〃
　Not　being　capable　of　concealing　my　emotions；　I　said　to　him；　〃I　am　afraid。〃
　Herger　replied　to　me：　〃That　is　because　you　think　upon　what　is　to　e；　and　imagine　fearsome　things　that　would　stop　the　blood　of　any　man。　Do　not　think　ahead；　and　be　cheerful　by　knowing　that　no　man　lives　forever。〃
　I　saw　the　truth　of　his　words。　〃In　my　society；〃　I　said；　〃we　have　a　saying　which　is：　'Thank　Allah；　for　in　his　wisdom　he　put　death　at　the　end　of　life；　and　not　at　the　beginning。'　〃
　Herger　smiled　at　this；　and　laughed　briefly。　〃In　fear；　even　Arabs　speak　the　truth；〃　he　said；　and　then　rode　forward　to　tell　my　words　to　Buliwyf；　who　also　laughed。　The　warriors　of　Buliwyf　were　glad　for　a　joke　at　that　time。
　Now　we　came　to　a　hill　and；　reaching　the　crest；　paused　and　looked　down　upon　the　encampment　of　the　wendol。　Here　is　how　it　lay　before　us；　as　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes：　there　was　a　valley；　and　in　the　valley　a　circle　of　rude　huts　of　mud　and　straw；　of　poor　construction　as　a　child　might　erect；　and　in　the　center　of　the　circle　a　large　fire；　now　smoldering。　Yet　there　were　no　horses；　no　animals；　no　movement；　no　sign　of　life　of　any　kind；　and　this　we　saw　through　the　shifting　gauze　of　the　mist。
　Buliwyf　dismounted　his　steed；　and　the　warriors　did　likewise；　myself　among　them。　In　truth；　my　heart　pounded　and　I　was　short　of　breath　as　I　looked　down　at　the　savage　encampment　of　the　demons。　We　spoke　in　whispers。　〃Why　is　there　no　activity？〃　I　inquired。
　〃The　wendol　are　creatures　of　the　night　even　as　owls　or　bats；　Herger　replied；　〃and　they　sleep　during　the　hours　of　the　day。　So　are　they　sleeping　now；　and　we　shall　descend　into　their　pany；　and　fall　upon　them；　and　slay　them　in　their　dreams。〃
　〃We　are　so　few；〃　I　said；　for　there　were　many　huts　below　which　I　perceived。
　〃We　are　enough；〃　Herger　said；　and　then　he　gave　me　a　draught　of　mead；　which　I　drank　gratefully；　with　praise　to　Allah　that　it　is　not　forbidden；　or　even　disapproved　of。34　In　truth；　I　was　finding　my　tongue　hospitable　to　this　very　substance　I　once　thought　vile；　thus　do　strange　things　cease　to　be　strange　upon　repetition。　In　like　fashion；　I　no　longer　attended　the　hideous　stench　of　the　wendol；　for　I　had　been　smelling　it　a　goodly　time　and　I　no　longer　was　aware　of　the　odor。
　The　North　people　are　most　peculiar　in　the　matter　of　smelling。　They　are　not　clean；　as　I　have　said；　and　they　eat　all　manner　of　evil　food　and　drink；　and　yet　it　is　true　that　they　value　the　nose　above　all　parts　of　the　body。　In　battle；　the　loss　of　an　ear　is　no　great　matter；　the　loss　of　a　finger　or　toe　or　a　hand　little　more；　and　such　scars　and　injur