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！
and sharp as a tusk； bleak as bone。
〃Nakkiga；〃 Amerasu said from the darkness。 〃The mountain the mortals call Stormspike。 The home of Utuk'ku； who hides her agedness behind a silver mask； unwilling to admit that the shadow of death can touch her； too。 She fears Unbeing more than any other of our race； though she is the eldest who still lives…the last of the Gardenborn。〃 Amerasu laughed quietly。 〃Yes； my great…grandmother is very vain。〃 For a moment there was a flash of metal； but the Mist Lamp blurred and the mountain reappeared。 〃1 can feel her；〃 Amerasu said。 〃Like a spider； she waits。 No fire of justice burns within her as it burns in Ineluki； however mad he has bee。 She wishes only to destroy all who remember how she was humbled in the dim； dim past when our peoples broke asunder。 She gave my son's raging spirit a home； together they have fed each other's hatred。 Now they are ready to do what they have plotted for so many centuries。 Look！〃
The Mist Lamp throbbed。 The white mountain loomed closer； steaming beneath the cold black skies。 Then； suddenly； it began to fade back into darkness。 A few moments later it was gone； leaving only sable emptiness。
A long interval passed。 Simon； who had been hanging on the Sitha woman's every word； felt suddenly adrift。 The crackling tension in the air was back； stronger than ever。
〃Oh！〃 Amerasu gasped； startled。
All around Simon the Sithi were shifting； murmuring； as questioning turned to uneasiness and the seeds of fear began to grow inside them。 A gleam of silver appeared in the center of the Mist Lamp； then spread outward like oil on a pond； filling the darkened silhouette。 The silver smeared and ran until it became a face； a woman's face； unmoving but for pale eyes that peered from the darkened slits。
Simon watched the silver mask helplessly； his eyes smarting as they filled with frightened tears。 He could not look away。 She was so old and strong 。。。 so strong 。。。
〃It has been many turns of the year； Amerasu ic'e…Sa'onserei。〃 The Norn Queen's voice was surprisingly melodious； but the sweetness could not entirely hide the vast corruption beneath。 〃If has been long； granddaughter。 Are you ashamed of your northern kin； that you have not invited us back among you before？〃
〃You mock me； Utuk'ku Seyt…Hamakha。〃 There was a quaver in Amerasu's voice； a frightening note of dismay。 〃All know the reasons for your exile and the separation of our families。〃
〃You always loved righteousness； little Amerasu。〃 The scorn in the Norn Queen's voice made Simon feel as though a fever ran through him。 〃But the righteous soon bee meddlers； and so it has always been with your Song…reaching clan。 You would not scourge the mortals from the Sand； which might have saved all。 And even after they have destroyed the Gardenborn； you cannot leave the mortals be。〃 Utuk'ku's breath hissed in and out。 〃Ah； I see； there is one among you even now！〃
Simon's heart seemed to grow； pushing up into his throat until he could scarcely breathe。 Those terrible eyes staring at him…why didn't Amerasu make her go away？！ He wanted to shout； to run； but could not。 The Sithi…folk around him seemed equally nerveless； struck to stone。
〃You oversimplify； grandmother；〃 Amerasu said at last。 〃When do you not simply lie。〃
Utuk'ku laughed； and the sound was something that could set stones to weeping。
〃Fool！〃 she cried。 〃I oversimplify？ You have overreached。 You have long concerned yourself with the doings of mortals； hut you have missed the most important things。 That will prove your death！〃
〃I know what you plan！〃 Amerasu said。 〃You may have taken from me what remains of my son； but even through death； I have discerned his mind。 I have seen 。。。〃
〃Enough'〃 Utuk'ku's angry cry blew through the Yasira； a chill gust of wind that bent the grass and set the butterflies to panicky fluttering。 〃Enough。 You have spoken your last and condemned yourself。 It is death！〃
Ternfyingly； Amerasu began to quiver in the dim light； struggling against some invisible restraint； her eyes wide； her mouth moving without sound。
〃And you will not interfere further…any of you！〃 The Norn Queen's voice was rising to a dreadful pitch。 〃The false peace is over！ Over！ Nakkiga renounces you all！〃
All around the Yasira the Sithi were shouting with amazement and anger。 Likemeya rushed forward to the darkened figure of Amerasu； even as Utuk'ku's face shimmered and vanished from the Mist Lamp。 The Witness fell dark for a moment； but only a moment。 A tiny spot of red kindled in the Lamp's center； a small spark which grew steadily until it was a rippling blaze that outlined the startled features of Jiriki's parents and mute Amerasu with scarlet light。 Two dark holes opened in the flame； lightless eyes in the face of fire。 Simon felt himself seized in a grip of frozen horror； clutched so tight by it that his muscles quivered。 Chill dread beat outward from that wavering face； as heat would rise from an ordinary fire。 Amerasu stopped struggling； being as still as if she had turned to stone。
Another blackness gaped in the billowing flame； beneath the empty eyes。 Bloodless laughter issued forth。 Sickened； Simon struggled desperately to get away…he had seen this horror…mask before。
The Red Hand！ He meant it to be a shout； but fear choked his words into helpless； whistling breath。
Likimeya stepped forward； her husband beside her； helping to shield Amerasu。 She raised her arms before the Mist Lamp and the fiery thing that surged within it。 A kind of silvery glow surrounded her。 〃Go back to your shriveled mistress and dead master； Corrupted One；〃 she cried。 〃You are not one of us any more。〃
The flame…thing laughed again。 〃No。 We are more； far more！ The Red Hand and its master have grown strong。 Ail of creation must fall beneath the Storm King's shadow。 Those who betrayed us will squeak and chitter in that darkness！〃
〃You have no power here！〃 Shima'onari cried； grasping his wife's upraised hand。 The glow around the two of them intensified； until the fog of silvery moonlight had grown to enpass the fiery face as well。 〃This place is beyond you！ Go back to your cold mountain and black emptiness！〃
〃You do not understand！〃 the thing exulted。 〃We； of all who ever lived； have returned from Unbeing。 We have grown strong。 Grown strong！〃
Even as the hollow voice echoed through the Yasira； overwhelming the Sithi…folk's cries of rage and alarm； the thing in the Mist Lamp suddenly billowed outward； expanding into a vast pillar of flame； its shapeless head flung back in a thundering cry。 It spread its blazing arms wide； as though to grasp all before it in a crushing； burning embrace。
As the sun…hot fires leaped up； the butterflies clinging to the silken threads overhead began to puff into flame。 A million of them seemed to spring into the air at once； a great cloud of fire and smoking wings。 Burning； they flew through the air like cinders； careening into the shout… ing Sithi； crumbling as they struck the trunk of the great ash tree。 The Yasira was in chaos； plunged in a blackness shot with spinning； whirling sparks。
The towering thing at the room's center laughed and blaze