按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃There is nothing to his sorcery； it is mere tricking；〃 the girl said； raising her voice。 〃He is buried； and my Masters are waiting for his soul。 And the rest does not concern you； priestess！〃
This time she had gone too far。 Others could hear； Penthe and a couple of other girls； Duby； and the priestess Mebbeth； all were in hearing distance。 The girls were all ears； and Kossil was aware of it。
〃All that happens here is my concern； mistress。 All that happens in his realm is the concern of the Godking； the Man Immortal； whose servant I am。 Even into the places underground and into the hearts of men does he search and look； and none shall forbid him entrance！〃
〃I shall。 Into the Tombs no one es if the Nameless Ones forbid it。 They were before your Godking and they will be after him。 Speak softly of them； priestess。 Do not call their vengeance on you。 They will e into your dreams； they will enter the dark places in your mind； and you will go mad。〃
The girl's eyes were blazing。 Kossil's face was hidden； drawn back into the black cowl。 Penthe and the others watched； terrified and enthralled。
〃They are old；〃 Kossil's voice said； not loud； a whistling thread of sound out of the depths of the cowl。 〃They are old。 Their worship is forgotten； save in this one place。 Their power is gone。 They are only shadows。 They have no power any more。 Do not try to frighten me； Eaten One。 You are the First Priestess； does that not mean also that you are the last？。。。 You cannot trick me。 I see into your heart。 The darkness hides nothing from me。 Take care； Arha！〃
She turned and went on； with her massive； deliberate steps； crushing the frost…starred weeds under her heavy； sandaled feet； going to the white…pillared house of the Godking。
The girl stood； slight and dark； as if frozen to earth； in the front courtyard of the Big House。 Nobody moved； nothing moved； only Kossil； in all the vast landscape of court and temple； hill and desert plain and mountain。
〃May the Dark Ones eat your soul； Kossil！〃 she shouted in a voice like a hawk's scream； and lifting her arm with the hand stretched out stiff； she brought the curse down on the priestess' heavy back； even as she set foot on the steps of her temple。 Kossil staggered； but did not stop or turn。 She went on； and entered the Godking's door。
Arha spent that day sitting on the lowest step of the Empty Throne。 She dared not go into the Labyrinth； she would not go among the other priestesses。 A heaviness filled her； and held her there hour after hour in the cold dusk of the great hall。 She stared at the pairs of thick pale columns going off into the gloom at the distant end of the hall； and at the shafts of daylight that slanted in from holes in the roof； and at the thick…curling smoke from the bronze tripod of charcoal near the Throne。 She made patterns with the little bones of mice on the marble stair； her head bowed； her mind active and yet as if stupefied。 Who am I？ she asked herself； and got no answer。
Manan came shuffling down the hall between the double rows of columns； when the light had long since ceased to shaft the hall's darkness； and the cold had grown intense。 Manan's doughy face was very sad。 He stood at a distance from her； his big hands hanging； a torn hem of his rusty cloak dangled by his heel。
〃Little mistress。〃
〃What is it； Manan？〃 She looked at him with dull affection。
〃Little one； let me do what you said。。。 what you said was done。 He must die； little one。 He has bewitched you。 She will have revenge。 She is old and cruel； and you are too young。 You have not strength enough。〃
〃She can't hurt me。〃
〃If she killed you； even in the sight of all； in the open； there is none in all the Empire who would dare punish her。 She is the High Priestess of the Godking； and the Godking rules。 But she won't kill you in the open。 She will do it by stealth； by poison； in the night。〃
〃Then I will be born again。〃
Manan twisted his big hands together。 〃Perhaps she will not kill you；〃 he whispered。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃She could lock you into a room in the。。。 down there。。。 As you have done with him。 And you would be alive for years and years； maybe。 For years。。。 And no new Priestess would be born； for you wouldn't be dead。 Yet there would be no Priestess of the Tombs； and the dances of the dark of the moon would not be danced； and the sacrifices would not be made； and the blood not poured out； and the worship of the Dark Ones could be forgotten； forever。 She and her Lord would like it to be so。〃
〃_They_ would set me free； Manan。〃
〃Not while they are wrathful at you； little mistress；〃 Manan whispered。
〃Wrathful？〃
〃Because of him。。。 The sacrilege not paid for。 Oh little one； little one！ They do not forgive！〃
She sat in the dust of the lowest step； her head bowed。 She looked at a tiny thing that she held on her palm； the minute skull of a mouse。 The owls in the rafters over the Throne stirred a little； it was darkening towards night。
〃Do not go down into the Labyrinth tonight；〃 Manan said very low。 〃Go to your house； and sleep。 In the morning go to Kossil； and tell her that you lift the curse from her。 And that will be all。 You need not worry。 I will show her proof。〃
〃Proof？〃
〃That the sorcerer is dead。〃
She sat still。 Slowly she closed her hand； and the fragile skull cracked and collapsed。 When she opened her hand it held nothing but splinters of bone and dust。
〃No；〃 she said。 She brushed the dust from her palm。
〃He must die。 He has put a spell on you。 You are lost； Arha！〃
〃He has not put any spell on me。 You're old and cowardly； Manan； you're frightened by old women。 How do you think you'd e to him and kill him and get your ‘proof'？ Do you know the way clear to the Great Treasure； that you followed in the dark last night？ Can you count the turnings and e to the steps； and then the pit； and then the door？ Can you unlock that door？。。。 Oh； poor old Manan； your wits are all thick。 She has frightened you。 You go down to the Small House now； and sleep； and forget all these things。 Don't worry me forever with talk of death。。。 I'll e later。 Go on； go on； old fool； old lump。〃 She had risen； and gently pushed Manan's broad chest； patting him and pushing him to go。 〃Good night； good night！〃
He turned； heavy with reluctance and foreboding； but obedient； and trudged down the long hall under the columns and the ruined roof。 She watched him go。
When he had been gone some while she turned and went around the dais of the Throne； and vanished into the dark behind it。
The Ring of Erreth…Akbe
In the Great Treasury of the Tombs of Atuan； time did not pass。 No light； no life； no least stir of spider in the dust or worm in the cold earth。 Rock； and dark； and time not passing。
On the stone lid of a great chest the thief from the Inner Lands lay stretched on his back like the carven figure on a tomb。 The dust disturbed by his movements had settled on his clothes。 He did not move。
The lock of the door rattled。 The door opened。 Light broke the dead black and a fresher draft stirred the dead air。 The man lay inert。
Arha closed the door and locked it from within； set her lantern on a chest； and slowly approached the motionless figure。 She moved timorously； and her eyes were wide； the pupils still fully dilated from her long journey through the dark。
〃Sparrowhawk！〃
She touched his shoulder； and spoke his name again； and yet again。
He stirred then； and moaned。 At last he sat up； face drawn and eyes blank。 He looked at her unrecognizing。
〃It's I； Arha… Tenar。 I brought you water。 Here； drink。〃
He fumbled for the flask as if his hands were numb； and drank； but not deeply。
〃How long has it been？〃 he asked； speaking with difficulty。
〃Two days have passed since you came to this room。 This is the third night。 I couldn't e earlier。 I had to steal the food …here it is…〃 She got out one of the flat gray loaves from the bag she had brought； but he shook his head。
〃I'm not hungry。 This。。。 this is a deathly place。〃 He put his head in his hands and sat unmoving。
〃Are you cold？ I brought the cloak from the Painted Room。〃
He did not answer。
She put the cloak down and stood gazing at him。 She was trembling a little； and her eyes were still black and wide。
All at once she sank down on her knees； bowed over； and began to cry； with deep sobs that wrenched her body； but brought no tears。
He got down stiffly from the chest； and bent over her。 〃Tenar…〃
〃I am not Tenar。 I am not Arha。 The gods are dead； the gods are dead。〃
He laid his hands on her head； pushing back the hood。 He began to speak。 His voice was soft； and the words were in no tongue she had ever heard。 The sound of them came into her heart like rain falling。 She grew still to listen。
When she was quiet he lifted her； and set her like a child on the great chest where he had lain。 He put his hand on hers。
〃Why did you weep； Tenar？〃
〃I'll tell you。 It doesn't matter what I tell you。 You can't do anything。 You can't help。 You're dying too； aren't you？ So it doesn't matter。 Nothing matters。 Kossil； the Priestess of the Godking； she was always cruel； she kept trying to make me kill you。 The w