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！
The body of the male child had been chewed by some fiendish teeth； upon the soft flesh of the back of the thigh。 So also had been chewed the area of the shoulder。 This very horror I saw with my own eyes。
The warriors of Buliwyf were grim…countenanced and glowering as they departed the farmhouse。 They continued to pay much heed to the soft earth about the house； noting that there were no hoofmarks of horses； this was a matter of significance to them。 I did not understand why。 Nor was I much attentive； still feeling faint of heart and sick of body。
As we crossed the fields； Ecthgow made a discovery which was of this nature： it was a small bit of stone； smaller than a child's fist； and it was polished and carved in crude fashion。 All the warriors crowded around to examine it； I among them。
I saw it to be the torso of a pregnant female。 There was no head； no arms； and no legs； only the torso with a greatly swollen belly and； above that； two pendulous swollen breasts。18 I accounted this creation exceedingly crude and ugly； but nothing more。 Yet the Northmen were suddenly overe and pale and tremulous； their hands shook to touch it； and finally Buliwyf flung it to the ground and shattered it with the handle of his sword； until it lay in splintered stone fragments。 And then were several of the warriors sick； and purged themselves upon the ground。 And the general horror was very great； to my mystification。
Now they set off for the great hall of King Rothgar。 No man spoke during our travel； which was the better part of an hour； every one of the Northmen seemed to be wrapped in bitter and consuming thought； and yet they showed no fear anymore。
At length； a herald upon a horse met us and barred our path。 He noted the arms we carried and the bearing of the pany and of Buliwyf； and shouted a warning。
Herger said to me； 〃He craves to know our names； and curtly； too。〃
Buliwyf made some answer to the herald； and from his tone I knew that Buliwyf was in no mood for courtly pleasantries。 Herger said to me： 〃Buliwyf tells him we are subjects of King Higlac； of the kingdom of Yatlam； and we are on an errand to the King Rothgar； and would speak to him。〃 And Herger added； 〃Buliwyf says that Rothgar is a most worthy king；〃 but the tone of Herger conveyed the opposite sense of the matter。
This herald bade us continue to the great hall and wait outside while he told the King of our arrival。 This we did； although Buliwyf and his party were not pleased at such treatment； there was grumbling and muttering； for it is the Northman's way to be hospitable and this did not seem gracious； to be kept outside。 Yet they waited； and also removed their weapons； their swords and spears； but not their armor； and they left the weapons outside the doors to the hall。
Now the hall was surrounded on all sides by several dwellings in the fashion of the North people。 These were long with curved sides； as at Trelburg； but they differed in the arrangement； for there were no squares here。 Nor were there fortifications or earthworks to be seen。 Rather； from the great hall and the long houses about it； the ground sloped to a long flat green plain； here and there a farmhouse； and then； beyond； the hills and the edge of a forest。
I inquired of Herger whose long houses were these； and he said to me； 〃Some belong to the King； and others are for his royal family； and others for his nobles； and also for the servants and lower members of his court。〃 He said also that it was a difficult place； though I did not prehend his meaning in this。
Then we were allowed entry into the great hall of King Rothgar； which verily I say is to be counted one of the marvels of all the world； and all the more for its presence in the crude North country。 This hall is called； among the Rothgar peoples； by the name of Hurot； for the Northmen give the names of people to the things of their life； to the buildings and boats and especially to the weapons。 Now I say： this Hurot； the great hall of Rothgar； was as large as the Caliph's main palace； and richly inlaid with silver and even some gold； which is most rare in the North。 On all sides were designs and ornaments of the greatest splendor and richness of artistry。 It was truly a monument to the power and majesty of King Rothgar。
This King Rothgar sat at the distant end of Hurot Hall； a space so vast that he was so far we could hardly discern him。 Standing behind his right shoulder was the same herald who had halted us。 The herald made a speech； which Herger told me was thus： 〃Here； O King； is a band of warriors from the kingdom of Yatlam。 They are newly arrived from the sea； and their leader is a man of the name Buliwyf。 They beg leave to tell you of their errand； O King。 Do not forbid them entry； they have the manner of earls； and from his bearing their chieftain is a mighty warrior。 Greet them as earls； O King Rothgar。〃
Thus we were bid approach the King Rothgar。
King Rothgar appeared a man near death。 He was not young； his hair was white； his skin was very pale； and his face was grooved with； sorrow and fear。 He regarded us with suspicion； wrinkling his eyes； or perhaps he was near blind； I do not know。 Finally he broke into speech； which Herger says was thus： 〃I know of this man； for I have sent for him on a hero's mission。 He is Buliwyf； and I knew him as a child； when I traveled across the waters to the kingdom of Yatlam。 He is the son of Higlac； who was my gracious host； and now this son es to me in my time of need and sorrow。〃
Rothgar then called for the warriors to be summoned to the great hall； and gifts brought； and celebrations made。
Buliwyf then spoke； a long speech that Herger did not translate for me； since to speak when Buliwyf spoke would be a disrespect。 However； the meaning was this： that Buliwyf had heard of the troubles of Rothgar； that he was sorry for these troubles； and that his own father's kingdom had been destroyed by these same troubles； and that he had e to save the kingdom of Rothgar from the evils that had beset them。
Still； I did not know what the Northmen called these evils； or how they thought of them； though I had viewed the handiwork of the beasts that tore men to pieces。
King Rothgar spoke again； in some haste。 I took from the manner of his speaking that he wished to say some words before all his warriors and earls arrived。 He said thus （from Herger）： 〃O Buliwyf； I knew your father when I was myself a young man； new to my throne。 Now I am old and heartsick。 My head bows。 My eyes weep with shame to acknowledge my weakness。 As you see； my throne is almost a barren spot。 My lands are being a wild place。 What the fiends have wrought to my kingdom I cannot say。 Often at night； my warriors； brave with drink； swear to topple the fiends。 And then when the bleak light of dawn creeps over the misty fields； we see bloody bodies everywhere。 Thus is the sorrow of my life； and I shall speak no more of it。〃
Now a bench was brought out and a meal set before us； and I inquired of Herger what was the meaning of the 〃fiends〃 of which the King spoke。 Herger was angry； and said I was never to ask again。
That evening there was a great celebration； and King Rothgar and his Queen Weilew； in a