uleg.thetombsofatuan-第7部分

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　　〃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　through；　the　Undertomb；〃　the　girl　said；　her　voice　being　quick　and　high。　〃They　must　do　it　in　the　dark。　My　Masters　will　eat　the　bodies。〃
　　〃It　shall　be　done。〃
　　〃Is　this　well；　Kossil？〃
　　〃It　is　well；　mistress。〃
　　〃Then　let　us　go；〃　Arha　said；　very　shrill。　She　turned　and　hurried　back　to　the　wooden　door；　and　out　of　the　Room　of　Chains　into　the　blackness　of　the　tunnel。　It　seemed　sweet　and　peaceful　as　a　starless　night；　silent；　without　sight；　or　light；　or　life。　She　plunged　into　the　clean　darkness；　hurried　forward　through　it　like　a　swimmer　through　water。　Kossil　hastened　along；　behind　her　and　getting　farther　behind；　panting；　lumbering。　Without　hesitation　Arha　repeated　the　missed　and　taken　turnings　as　they　had　e；　skirted　the　vast　echoing　Undertomb；　and　crept；　bent　over；　up　the　last　long　tunnel　to　the　shut　door　of　rock。　There　she　crouched　down　and　felt　for　the　long　key　on　the　ring　at　her　waist。　She　found　it；　but　could　not　find　the　keyhole。　There　was　no　pinprick　of　light　in　the　invisible　wall　before　her。　Her　fingers　groped　over　it　seeking　lock　or　bolt　or　handle　and　finding　nothing。　Where　must　the　key　go？　How　could　she　get　out？
　　〃Mistress！〃
　　Kossil's　voice；　magnified　by　echoes；　hissed　and　boomed　far　behind　her。
　　〃Mistress；　the　door　will　not　open　from　inside。　There　is　no　way　out。　There　is　no　return。〃
　　Arha　crouched　against　the　rock。　She　said　nothing。
　　〃Arha！〃
　　〃I　am　here。〃
　　〃e！〃
　　She　came；　crawling　on　hands　and　knees　along　the　passage；　like　a　dog；　to　Kossil's　skirts。
　　〃To　the　right。　Hurry！　I　must　not　linger　here。　It　is　not　my　place。　Follow　me。〃
　　Arha　got　to　her　feet；　and　held　onto　Kossils　robes。　They　went　forward；　following　the　strangely　carven　wall　of　the　cavern　to　the　right　for　a　long　way；　then　entering　a　black　gap　in　the　blackness。　They　went　upward　now；　in　tunnels；　by　stairs。　The　girl　still　clung　to　the　woman's　robe。　Her　eyes　were　shut。
　　There　was　light；　red　through　her　eyelids。　She　thought　it　was　the　torchlit　room　full　of　smoke　again；　and　did　not　open　her　eyes。　But　the　air　smelt　sweetish；　dry　and　moldy；　a　familiar　smell；　and　her　feet　were　on　a　staircase　steep　almost　as　a　ladder。　She　let　go　Kossil's　robe；　and　looked。　A　trapdoor　was　open　over　her　head。　She　scrambled　through　it　after　Kossil。　It　let　her　into　a　room　she　knew；　a　little　stone　cell　containing　a　couple　of　chests　and　iron　boxes；　in　the　warren　of　rooms　behind　the　Throne　Room　of　the　Hall。　Daylight　glimmered　gray　and　faint　in　the　hallway　outside　its　door。
　　〃The　other；　the　Prisoner's　Door；　leads　only　into　the　tunnels。　It　does　not　lead　out。　This　is　the　only　way　out。　If　there　is　any　other　way　I　do　not　know　of　it；　nor　does　Thar。　You　must　remember　it　for　yourself；　if　there　is　one。　But　I　do　not　think　there　is。〃　Kossil　still　spoke　in　an　undertone；　and　with　a　kind　of　spitefulness。　Her　heavy　face　within　the　black　cowl　was　pale；　and　damp　with　sweat。
　　〃I　don't　remember　the　turnings　to　this　way　out。〃
　　〃I'll　tell　them　to　you。　Once。　You　must　remember　them。　Next　time　I　will　not　e　with　you。　This　is　not　my　place。　You　must　e　alone。〃
　　The　girl　nodded。　She　looked　up　into　the　older　woman's　face；　and　thought　how　strange　it　looked；　pale　with　scarcely　mastered　fear　and　yet　triumphant；　as　if　Kossil　gloated　over　her　weakness。
　　〃I　will　e　alone　after　this；〃　Arha　said；　and　then　trying　to　turn　away　from　Kossil　she　felt　her　legs　give　way；　and　saw　the　room　turn　over。　She　fainted　in　a　little　black　heap　at　the　priestess'　feet。
　　〃You'll　learn；〃　Kossil　said；　still　breathing　heavily；　standing　motionless。　〃You'll　learn。〃
　
　Dreams　and　Tales
　　
　　Arha　was　not　well　for　several　days。　They　treated　her　for　fever。　She　kept　to　her　bed；　or　sat　in　the　mild　autumn　sunlight　on　the　porch　of　the　Small　House；　and　looked　up　at　the　western　hills。　She　felt　weak　and　stupid。　The　same　ideas　occurred　to　her　again　and　again。　She　was　ashamed　of　having　fainted。　No　guard　had　been　set　upon　the　Tomb　Wall；　but　now　she　would　never　dare　ask　Kossil　about　that。　She　did　not　want　to　see　Kossil　at　all：　never。　It　was　because　she　was　ashamed　of　having　fainted。
　　Often；　in　the　sunlight；　she　would　plan　how　she　was　going　to　behave　next　time　she　went　into　the　dark　places　under　the　hill。　She　thought　many　times　about　what　kind　of　death　she　should　mand　for　the　next　set　of　prisoners；　more　elaborate；　better　suited　to　the　rituals　of　the　Empty　Throne。
　　Each　night；　in　the　dark；　she　woke　up　screaming；　〃They　aren't　dead　yet！　They　are　still　dying！〃
　　She　dreamed　a　great　deal。　She　dreamed　that　she　had　to　cook　food；　great　cauldrons　full　of　savory　porridge；　and　pour　it　all　out　into　a　hole　in　the　ground。　She　dreamed　that　she　had　to　carry　a　full　bowl　of　water；　a　deep　brass　bowl；　through　the　dark；　to　someone　who　was　thirsty。　She　could　never　get　to　this　person。　She　woke；　and　she　herself　was　thirsty；　but　she　did　not　go　and　get　a　drink。　She　lay　awake；　eyes　open；　in　the　room　without　windows。
　　One　morning　Penthe　came　to　see　her。　From　the　porch　Arha　saw　her　approach　the　Small　House　with　a　careless；　purposeless　air；　as　if　she　just　happened　to　be　wandering　that　way。　If　Arha　had　not　spoken　she　would　not　have　e　up　the　steps。　But　Arha　was　lonely；　and　spoke。
　　Penthe　made　the　deep　bow　required　of　all　who　approached　the　Priestess　of　the　Tombs；　and　then　plopped　down　on　the　steps　below　Arha　and　made　a　noise　like　〃Phewph！〃　She　had　gotten　quite　tall　and　plump；　anything　she　did　turned　her　cherry　pink；　and　she　was　pink　now　from　walking。
　　〃I　heard　you　were　ill。　I　saved　you　out　some　apples。〃　She　suddenly　produced　a　rush　net　containing　six　or　eight　perfect　yellow　apples；　from　somewhere　under　her　voluminous　black　robe。　She　was　now　consecrated　to　the　service　of　the　Godking；　and　served　in　his　temple　under　Kossil；　but　she　wasn't　yet　a　priestess；　and　still　did　lessons　and　chores　with　the　novices。　〃Poppe　and　I　sorted　the　apples　this　year；　and　I　saved　the　very　best　ones　out。　They　always　dry　all　the　really　good　ones。　Of　course　they　keep　best；　but　it　seems　such　a　waste。　Aren't　they　pretty？〃
　　Arha　felt　the　pale　gold　satin　skins　of　the　apples；　looked　at　the　twigs　to　which　brown　leaves　still　delicately　clung。　〃They　are　pretty。〃
　　〃Have　one；〃　said　Penthe。
　　〃Not　now。　You　do。〃
　　Penthe　selected　the　smallest；　out　of　politeness；　and　ate　it　in　about　ten　juicy；　skillful；　interested　bites。
　　〃I　could　eat　all　day；〃　she　said。　〃I　never　get　enough。　I　wish　I　could　be　a　cook　instead　of　a　priestess。　I'd　cook　better　than　that　old　skinflint　Nathabba；　and　besides；　I'd　get　to　lick　the　pots。。。　Oh；　did　you　hear　about　Munith？　She　was　supposed　to　be　polishing　those　brass　pots　they　keep　the　rose　oil　in；　you　know；　those　long　thin　sort　of　jars　with　stoppers。　And　she　thought　she　was　supposed　to　clean　the　insides　too；　so　she　stuck　her　hand　in；　with　a　rag　around　it；　you　know；　and　then　she　couldn't　get　it　out。　She　tried　so　hard　it　got　all　puffed　up　and　swollen　at　the　wrist；　you　know；　so　that　she　really　was　stuck。　And　she　went　galloping　all　over　the　dormitories　yelling；　‘I　can't　get　it　off！　I　can't　get　it　off！'　And　Punti's　so　deaf　now　he　thought　it　was　a　fire；　and　started　screeching　at　the　other　wardens　to　e　and　rescue　the　novices。　And　Uahto　was　milking　and　came　running　out　of　the　pen　to　see　what　was　the　matter；　and　left　the　gate　open；　and　all　the　milch…goats　got　out　and　came　charging　into　the　courtyard　and　ran　into　Punti　and　the　wardens　and　the　little　girls；　and　Munith　waving　this　brass　pot　around　on　the　end　of　her　arm　and　having　hysterics；　and　they　were　all　sort　of　rushing　around　down　there　when　Kossil　came　down　from　the　temple。　And　she　said；　‘What's　this？　What's　this？〃'
　　Penthe's　fair；　round　face　took　on　a　repulsive　sneer；　not　at　all　like　Kossil's　cold　expression；　and　yet　somehow　so　like　Kossil　that　Arha　gave　a　snort　of　almost　terrified　laughter。
　　〃'What's　this？　What's　all　this？'　Kossil　said。　And　then…and　then　the　brown　goat　butted　her…〃　Penthe　dissolved　in　laughter；　tears　welled　in　her　eyes。　〃And　M…Munith　hit　the；　the　goat　with　the　p…ppot〃
　　Both　girls　rocked　back　and　forth　in　spasms　of　giggling；　holding　their　knees；　choking。
　　〃And　Kossil　turned　around　and　said；　‘What's　this？　What's　this？'　to　the　…　to　the　…　to　the　goat。。。〃　The　end　of　the　tale　was　lost　in　laughter。　Penthe　finally　wiped　her　eyes　and　nose；　and　absentmindedly　started　on　another　apple。
　　To　laugh　so　hard　made　Arha　feel　a　little　shaky。　She　calmed　herself　down；　and　after　a　while　asked；　〃How　did　you　e　here；　Penthe？〃
　　〃Oh；　I　was　the　sixth　girl　my　mother　and　father　had；　and　they　just　couldn't　bring　up　so　many　and　marry　them　all　off。　So　when　I　was　seven　they　brought　me　to　the　Godking's　temple　and　dedicated　me。　That　was　in　Ossawa。　They　had　too　many　novices　there；　I　guess；　because　pretty　soon　they　sent　me　on　here。　Or　maybe　they　thought　I'd　make　a　specially　good　priestess　or　something。　But　they　were　wrong　about　that！〃　Penthe　bit　her　apple　with　a　cheerful；　rueful　face。
　　〃Would　you　rather　not　have　been　a　priestess？〃
　　〃Would　I　rather！　Of　course！　I'd　rather　marry　a　pigherd　and　live　in　a　ditch。　I'd　rather　anything　than　stay　buried　alive　here　all　my　born　days　with　a　mess　of　women　in　a　perishing　ol