uleg.thetombsofatuan-第6部分

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nd　thorn　and　thistle。　The　great　rock　wall　reared　up　thrice　her　height　to　the　left；　to　the　right　the　hill　shelved　away　into　a　shallow；　arid　valley；　which　soon　rose　again　towards　the　foothills　of　the　western　range。　She　looked　over　all　the　ground　nearby；　and　saw　nothing　that　she　had　not　seen　before。
　　〃Under　the　red　rocks；　mistress。〃
　　A　few　yards　down　the　slope　an　outcropping　of　red　lava　made　a　stair　or　little　cliff　in　the　hill。　When　she　went　down　to　it　and　stood　on　the　level　before　it；　facing　the　rocks；　Arha　realized　that　they　looked　like　a　rough　doorway；　four　feet　high。
　　〃What　must　be　done？〃
　　She　had　learned　long　ago　that　in　the　holy　places　it　is　no　use　trying　to　open　a　door　until　you　know　how　the　door　is　opened。
　　〃My　mistress　has　all　the　keys　to　the　dark　places。〃
　　Since　the　rites　of　her　ing　of　age；　Arha　had　worn　on　her　belt　an　iron　ring　on　which　hung　a　little　dagger　and　thirteen　keys；　some　long　and　heavy；　some　small　as　fishhooks。　She　lifted　the　ring　and　spread　the　keys。　〃That　one；〃　Kossil　said；　pointing；　and　then　placed　her　thick　forefinger　on　a　crevice　between　two　red；　pitted　rock…surfaces。
　　〃The　key；　a　long　shaft　of　iron　with　two　ornate　wards；　entered　the　crevice。　Arha　turned　it　to　the　left；　using　both　hands；　for　it　was　stiff　to　move；　yet　it　turned　smoothly。
　　〃Now？〃
　　〃Together…〃
　　Together　they　pushed　at　the　rough　rock　face　to　the　left　of　the　keyhole。　Heavily；　but　without　catch　and　with　very　little　noise；　an　uneven　section　of　the　red　rock　moved　inward　until　a　narrow　slit　was　opened。　Inside　it　was　blackness。
　　Arha　stooped　and　entered。
　　Kossil；　a　heavy　woman　heavily　clothed；　had　to　squeeze　through　the　narrow　opening。　As　soon　as　she　was　inside　she　backed　against　the　door　and；　straining；　pushed　it　shut。
　　It　was　absolutely　black。　There　was　no　light。　The　dark　seemed　to　press　like　wet　felt　upon　the　open　eyes。
　　They　crouched；　almost　doubled　over；　for　the　place　they　stood　in　was　not　four　feet　high；　and　so　narrow　that　Arha's　groping　hands　touched　damp　rock　at　once　to　right　and　left。
　　〃Did　you　bring　a　light？〃
　　She　whispered；　as　one　does　in　the　dark。
　　〃I　brought　no　light；〃　Kossil　replied；　behind　her。　Kossil's　voice　too　was　lowered；　but　it　had　an　odd　sound　to　it；　as　if　she　were　smiling。　Kossil　never　smiled。　Arha's　heart　jumped；　the　blood　pounded　in　her　throat。　She　said　to　herself；　fiercely：　This　is　my　place；　I　belong　here；　I　will　not　be　afraid！
　　Aloud　she　said　nothing。　She　started　forward；　there　was　only　one　way　to　go。　It　went　into　the　hill；　and　downward。
　　Kossil　followed；　breathing　heavily；　her　garments　brushing　and　scraping　against　rock　and　earth。
　　All　at　once　the　roof　lifted：　Arha　could　stand　straight；　and　stretching　out　her　hands　she　felt　no　walls。　The　air；　which　had　been　close　and　earthy；　touched　her　face　with　a　cooler　dampness；　and　faint　movements　in　it　gave　the　sense　of　a　great　expanse。　Arha　took　a　few　cautious　steps　forward　into　the　utter　blackness。　A　pebble；　slipping　under　her　sandaled　foot；　struck　another　pebble；　and　the　tiny　sound　wakened　echoes；　many　echoes；　minute；　remote；　yet　more　remote。　The　cavern　must　be　immense；　high　and　broad；　yet　not　empty：　something　in　its　darkness；　surfaces　of　invisible　objects　or　partitions；　broke　the　echo　into　a　thousand　fragments。
　　〃Here　we　must　be　beneath　the　Stones；〃　the　girl　said　whispering；　and　her　whisper　ran　out　into　the　hollow　blackness　and　frayed　into　threads　of　sound　as　fine　as　spiderweb；　that　clung　to　the　hearing　for　a　long　time。
　　〃Yes。　This　is　the　Undertomb。　Go　on。　I　cannot　stay　here。　Follow　the　wall　to　the　left。　Pass　three　openings。〃
　　Kossil's　whisper　hissed　（and　the　tiny　echoes　hissed　after　it）。　She　was　afraid；　she　was　indeed　afraid。　She　did　not　like　to　be　here　among　the　Nameless　Ones；　in　their　tombs；　in　their　caves；　in　the　dark。　It　was　not　her　place；　she　did　not　belong　here。
　　〃I　shall　e　here　with　a　torch；〃　Arha　said；　guiding　herself　along　the　wall　of　the　cavern　by　the　touch　of　her　fingers；　wondering　at　the　strange　shapes　of　the　rock；　hollows　and　swellings　and　fine　curves　and　edges；　rough　as　lace　here；　smooth　as　brass　there：　surely　this　was　carven　work。　Perhaps　the　whole　cavern　was　the　work　of　sculptors　of　the　ancient　days？
　　〃Light　is　forbidden　here。〃　Kossil's　whisper　was　sharp。　Even　as　she　said　it；　Arha　knew　it　must　be　so。　This　was　the　very　home　of　darkness；　the　inmost　center　of　the　night。
　　Three　times　her　fingers　swept　across　a　gap　in　the　plex；　rocky　blackness。　The　fourth　time　she　felt　for　the　height　and　width　of　the　opening；　and　entered　it。　Kossil　came　behind。
　　In　this　tunnel；　which　went　upward　again　at　a　slight　slant；　they　passed　an　opening　on　the　left；　and　then　at　a　branching　way　took　the　right：　all　by　feel；　by　groping；　in　the　blindness　of　the　underearth　and　the　silence　inside　the　ground。　In　such　a　passageway　as　this；　one　must　reach　out　almost　constantly　to　touch　both　sides　of　the　tunnel；　lest　one　of　the　openings　that　must　be　counted　be　missed；　or　the　forking　of　the　way　go　unnoticed。　Touch　was　one's　whole　guidance；　one　could　not　see　the　way；　but　held　it　in　one's　hands。
　　〃Is　this　the　Labyrinth？〃
　　〃No。　This　is　the　lesser　maze；　which　is　beneath　the　Throne。〃
　　〃Where　is　the　entrance　to　the　Labyrinth？〃
　　Arha　liked　this　game　in　the　dark；　she　wanted　a　greater　puzzle　to　be　set　her。
　　〃The　second　opening　we　passed　in　the　Undertomb。　Feel　for　a　door　to　the　right　now；　a　wooden　door；　perhaps　we've　passed　it　already…〃
　　Arha　heard　Kossil's　hands　fumbling　uneasily　along　the　wall；　scraping　on　the　rough　rock。　She　kept　her　fingertips　light　against　the　rock；　and　in　a　moment　felt　the　smooth　grain　of　wood　beneath　them。　She　pushed　on　it；　and　the　door　creaked　open　easily。　She　stood　for　a　moment　blind　with　light。
　　They　entered　a　large　low　room；　walled　with　hewn　stone　and　lighted　by　one　fuming　torch　hung　from　a　chain。　The　place　was　foul　with　the　torch…smoke　that　had　no　outlet。　Arha's　eyes　stung　and　watered。
　　〃Where　are　the　prisoners？〃
　　〃There。〃
　　At　last　she　realized　that　the　three　heaps　of　something　on　the　far　side　of　the　room　were　men。
　　〃The　door　isn't　locked。　Is　there　no　guard？〃
　　〃None　is　needed。〃
　　She　went　a　little　farther　into　the　room；　hesitant；　peering　through　the　smoky　haze。　The　prisoners　were　manacled　by　both　ankles　and　one　wrist　to　great　rings　driven　into　the　rock　of　the　wall。　If　one　of　them　wanted　to　lie　down；　his　chained　arm　must　remain　raised；　hanging　from　the　manacle。　Their　hair　and　beards　had　made　a　matted　tangle　which；　together　with　the　shadows；　hid　their　faces。　One　of　them　half　lay；　the　other　two　sat　or　squatted。　They　were　naked。　The　smell　from　them　was　stronger　even　than　the　reek　of　smoke。
　　One　of　them　seemed　to　be　watching　Arha；　she　thought　she　saw　the　glitter　of　eyes；　then　was　not　sure。　The　others　had　not　moved　or　lifted　their　heads。
　　She　turned　away。　〃They　are　not　men　any　more；〃　she　said。
　　〃They　were　never　men。　They　were　demons；　beast…spirits；　who　plotted　against　the　sacred　life　of　the　Godking！〃　Kossil's　eyes　shone　with　the　reddish　torchlight。
　　Arha　looked　again　at　the　prisoners；　awed　and　curious。　〃How　could　a　man　attack　a　god？　How　was　it？　You：　how　could　you　dare　attack　a　living　god？〃
　　The　one　man　stared　at　her　through　the　black　brush　of　his　hair；　but　said　nothing。
　　〃Their　tongues　were　cut　out　before　they　were　sent　from　Awabath；〃　Kossil　said。　〃Do　not　speak　to　them；　mistress。　They　are　defilement。　They　are　yours；　but　not　to　speak　to；　nor　to　look　at；　nor　to　think　upon。　They　are　yours　to　give　to　the　Nameless　Ones。〃
　　〃How　are　they　to　be　sacrificed？〃
　　Arha　no　longer　looked　at　the　prisoners。　She　faced　Kossil　instead；　drawing　strength　from　the　massive　body；　the　cold　voice。　She　felt　dizzy；　and　the　reek　of　smoke　and　filth　made　her　sick；　yet　she　seemed　to　think　and　speak　with　perfect　calm。　Had　she　not　done　this　many　times　before？
　　〃The　Priestess　of　the　Tombs　knows　best　what　manner　of　death　will　please　her　Masters；　and　it　is　hers　to　choose。　There　are　many　ways。〃
　　〃Let　Gobar　the　captain　of　the　guards　hew　off　their　heads。　And　the　blood　will　be　poured　out　before　the　Throne。〃
　　〃As　if　it　were　a　sacrifice　of　goats？〃　Kossil　seemed　to　be　sneering　at　her　lack　of　imagination。　She　stood　dumb。　Kossil　went　on；　〃Besides；　Gobar　is　a　man。　No　man　can　enter　the　Dark　Places　of　the　Tombs；　surely　my　mistress　remembers　that？　If　he　enters；　he　does　not　leave。。。〃
　　〃Who　brought　them　here？　Who　feeds　them？〃
　　〃The　wardens　who　serve　my　temple；　Duby　and　Uahto；　they　are　eunuchs　and　may　enter　here　on　the　services　of　the　Nameless　Ones；　as　I　may。　The　Godking's　soldiers　left　the　prisoners　bound　outside　the　wall；　and　I　and　the　wardens　brought　them　in　through　the　Prisoner's　Door；　the　door　in　the　red　rocks。　So　it　is　always　done。　The　food　and　water　is　lowered　from　a　trapdoor　in　one　of　the　rooms　behind　the　Throne。〃
　　Arha　looked　up　and　saw；　beside　the　chain　from　which　the　torch　hung；　a　wooden　square　set　into　the　stone　ceiling。　It　was　far　too　small　for　a　man　to　crawl　through；　but　a　rope　lowered　from　it　would　e　down　just　within　reach　of　the　middle　prisoner　of　the　three。　She　looked　away　again　quickly。
　　〃Let　them　not　bring　any　more　food　or　water；　then。　Let　the　torch　go　out。〃
　　Kossil　bowed。　〃And　the　bodies；　when　they　die？〃
　　〃Let　Duby　and　Uahto　bury　them　in　the　great　cavern　that　we　passed　th