CHAPTER FIFTEEN： BLOODMOSS-2

  Hecriedoutwithshodtwistedawayatothegripwastenacious.AndWillwassavagenow.Hefelthewasattheveryendofeverything;andifitwastheendofhislife,too,hewasgoingtofightandfighttillhefell.

  Sohetwistedandkickedandtwistedagain,butthathandwouldgo;andsiwashisrightarmbeingheld,hecouldhekriedwithhisleft,buthewasbeingjerkedaroundsomudhishandainfulandswollen,thathecouldntreach;hehadtofightwithonebare,woundedhandagainstagrownman.

  Hesankhisteethintothehandonhisforearm,butallthathappenedwasthatthemanlandedadizzyingblowonthebackofhishead.ThenWillkickedagainandagain,andsomeofthekicksectedandsomedidnt,andallthetimeheulling,jerking,twisting,shoving,andstillthegripheldhimfast.

  Dimlyheheardhisownpantingandthemansgruntsandharshbreathing;andthenbycehegothislegbehindthemansandhurledhimselfagainsthischest,andthemanfellwithWillontopofhim,heavily.Butneverforamomentdidthatgripsla,andWill,rollingaroundviolentlyoonygrouaheavyfeartightenaroundhisheart:thismanwouldhimgo,andevenifhekilledhim,hiscorpsewouldstillbeholdingfast.

  Buteakening,andnowhewasg,too,sobbingbitterlyashekickedandtuggedathemanwithhisheada,andheknewhismuscleswouldgiveupsoon.Andtheicedthatthemanhadfallenstill,thoughhishandstillgrippedastightasever.HewaslyingtherelettingWillbatterathimwithkneesandhead;andassoonasWillsawthat,thelastofhisstrengthlefthim,andhefellhelplessbesidehisoppo,everynerveinhisbinganddizzyandthrobbing.

  Willhauledhimselfuppainfully,peeredthroughthedeepdarkness,andmadeoutablurofwhiteonthegroundbesidetheman.Itwasthewhitebreastandheadofagreatbird,anosprey,adaemon,anditwaslyingstill.Willtriedtopullaway,andhisfeebletugonsefromtheman,whosehandhadntloosened.

  Buthewasmoving.HewasfeelingWillsrighthandcarefullywithhisfreeone.Willshairstoodonend.

  Thenthemansaid,"Givemeyourotherhand."

  "Becareful,"saidWill.

  ThemansfreehadownWillsleftarm,andhisfiipsmovedgentlyoverthewristandontotheswollenpalmandwiththeutmostdelicatothestumpsofWillstwolostfingers.

  Hisotherhagoatondhesatup.

  "Youvegottheknife,"hesaid."Youretheknifebearer."

  Hisvoicewasresonant,harsh,butbreathless.Willsehathewasbadlyhurt.Hadhewouhisdarkoppo?

  Willwasstilllyingooterlyspent.Allhecouldseewasthemansshape,crougabovehim,buthecouldntseehisface.Themanwasreagsidewaysforsomething,andafterafewmomentsamarveloussoothingessspreadintohishandfromthestumpsofhisfingersasthemanmassagedasalveintohisskin.

  "Whatareyoudoing?"Willsaid.

  "gyourwouill.”

  "Whoareyou?"

  "Imtheonlymanwhoknowswhattheknifeisfor.Holdyourhanduplikethat.Dontmove."

  Thewindwasbeatingmorewildlythanever,andadroportwoofrainsplashedontoWillsface.

  Hewastremblingviolently,butheproppeduphislefthandwithhisrightwhilethemanspreadmoreoioverthestumpsandwoundastripofliightlyaroundthehand.

  Andassoonasthedressingwassecure,themanslumpedsidewaysandlaydownhimself.Will,stillbemusedbytheblessedbnessinhishand,triedtositupandlookathim.Butitwasdarkerthanever.Hefeltforwardwithhisrighthandandfoundhimselftougthema,wheretheheartwasbeatinglikeabirdagainstthebarsofacage.

  "Yes,"themansaidhoarsely.Tryandcurethat,goon."

  "Areyouill?"

  "Illbebettersoon.Youhavetheknife,yes?"

  "Yes."

  "Andyouknowhowtouseit?"

  "Yes,yes.Butareyoufromthisworld?Howdoyouknowaboutit?"

  "Listen,"saidtheman,sittingupwithastruggle."Dontinterrupt.Ifyourethebeareroftheknife,youhaveataskthatsgreaterthanyouimagine.Achild...Howcouldtheyletithappen?Well,soitmustbe....Thereisawaring,boy.Thegreatestwarthereeverwas.Somethinglikeithappenedbefore,andthistimetherightsidemustwin.Wevehadnothingbutliesandpropagandaandcrueltyaforallthethousandsofyearsofhumanhistory.Itstimewestartedagain,butproperlythistime...."

  Hestoppedtotakeinseveralrattlihs.

  "Theknife,"hewentonafteraminute."Theyneverknewwhattheyweremaking,thoseoldphilosophers.Theyiedadevicethatcouldsplitopentheverysmallestpartiatter,andtheyusedittostealdy.Theyhadhattheydmadetheoneoninalltheuniversesthatcoulddefeatthetyrant.TheAuthority.God.Therebelangelsfellbecausetheydidnthaveanythingliketheknow..."

  "Ididntwantit!Idontwantitnow!"Willcried."Ifyouwantit,youhaveit!Ihateit,andIhatewhatitdoes—"

  Toolate.Youhaventanychoice:yourethebearer.Itspickedyouout.And,whatsmore,theyknowyouvegotit;andifyoudoagainstthem,theylltearitfromyourhandsaagainsttherestofus,foreverandever."

  "ButwhyshouldIfightthem?Ivebeenfightingtoomuch;Itgoonfighting.Iwantto—"

  "Haveyouwonyhts?"

  Willwassilent.Thenhesaid,"Yes,Isuppose."

  "Youfoughtfortheknife?"

  "Yes,but—-"

  "Thenyoureawarrior.Thatswhatyouare.Arguewithanythingelse,butduewithyourownnature."

  Willkhatthemaneakih.Butitwasntaweletruth.Itwasheavyandpainful.Themaoknowthat,becauseheletWillbowhisheadbeforehespokeagain.

  Therearetwogreatpowers,"themansaid,"andtheyvebeenfightingsiimebegan.Everyadvanhumanlife,everyscrapofknowledgeandwisdomanddecywehavehasbeentornbyonesidefromtheteethoftheother.Everylittleincreaseinhumanfreedomhasbeenfoughtoverferociouslybetweenthosewhowantustoknowmoreandbewiserandstronger,andthosewhowantustoobeyandbehumbleandsubmit.

  "Andnowthosetwopowersareliningupforbattle.Andeachofthemwantsthatknifeofyoursmorethananythingelse.Youhavetochoose,boy.Wevebeenguidedhere,bothofus—youwiththeknife,aellyouaboutit."

  "No!Yourewrong!"criedWill."Iwasntlookingforanythinglikethat!ThatsnotwhatIwaslookingforatall!"

  "Youmightnotthinkso,butthatswhatyouvefound,"saidthemaninthedarkness.

  "ButwhatmustIdo?"

  AanislausGrumman,Jopari,JohnParryhesitated.

  HeainfullyawareoftheoathhedsworntoLeeScoresby,andhehesitatedbeforehebrokeit;butbreakithedid.

  "YoumustgotoLordAsriel,"hesaid,"andtellhimthatStanislausGrummayou,andmatyouhavetheoneonheneedsaboveallothers.Likeitornot,boy,youhaveajobtodo.Ignoreeverythingelse,nomatterhowimportantitseems,andgoanddothis.Someoneeartoguideyou;thenightisfullofangels.Yourwoundwillhealnow—Wait.Beforeyougo,Iwanttolookatyouproperly."

  Hefeltforthepackhedbeencarryingandtooksomethingout,unfoldinglayersofoilskinarikingamatchtolightalitdetinlantern.Initslight,throughtherain-dashedwindyair,thetwolookedateachother.

  Willsawblazingblueeyeshiahaggardfacewithseveraldaysgrowthofbeardoubbornjaw,gray-haired,drawnwithpain,athinbodyhunchedinaheavycloaktrimmedwithfeathers.

  Theshamansawaboyevenyouhahought,hisslimbodyshiveringinatornlinenshirtandhisexpressionexhaustedandsavageandwary,butalightwithawildcuriosity,hiseyeswideuhestraightblackbrows,solikehismothers....

  Andtherecamejustthefirstfliethiobothofthem.

  Butinthatsamemoment,asthelanternlightflaredoverJohnParrysfaethingshotdownfromtheturbidsky,andhefellbackdeadbeforehecouldsayaword,anarrowinhisfaili.Theospreydaemonvanishedinamoment.

  Willcouldonlysitstupefied.

  Aflickercrossedtheerofhisvision,andhisrighthanddartedupatondhefoundhewasclutgarobin,adaemon,red-breasted,panig.

  "No!No!"criedthewitchJutaKamainen,andfelldownafterhim,clutgatherow,crashingclumsilyintotherockygroundandstrugglingupagain.

  ButWillwastherebeforeshecouldfindherfeet,aleknifewasatherthroat.

  "Whydidyoudothat?"heshouted."Whydidyoukillhim?"

  "BecauseIlovedhimandhesedme!Iamawitch!Idontfive!"

  Andbecauseshewasawitchshewouldnthavebeenafraidofaboy,normally.ButshewasafraidofWill.Thisyoungwoundedfigureheldmoreforddahanshedevermetinahumanbefore,andshequailed.Shefellbackward,andhefollowedandgrippedherhairwithhislefthand,feelingnopain,feelingonlyanimmenseandshatteringdespair.

  "Youdontknowwhohewas,"hecried."Hewasmyfather!"

  Sheshookherheadandwhispered,"No.No!Thattbetrue.Impossible!"

  "Youthinkthingshavetobepossible?Thingshavetobetrue!Hewasmyfather,aherofuskillthesedyoukilledhim!Witch,IwaitallmylifeandeallthiswayandIfindhimatlast,andyoukillhim...."

  Andheshookherheadlikearagandthrewherbackagainsttheground,half-stunningher.Herastonishmentwasalmostgreaterthanherfearofhim,whichwasrealenough,andshepulledherselfup,dazed,andseizedhisshirtinsupplication.Heknockedherhandaway.

  "Whatdidheeverdothatyouokillnun?"hecried.Tellmethat,ifyou!"

  Andshelookedatthedeadman.ThenshelookedbackatWillandshookherheadsadly.

  "No,Itexplain,"shesaid."Youretooyoung.Itwouldntmakeseoyou.Ilovedhim.Thatsall.Thatsenough."

  AndbeforeWillcouldstopher,shefellsoftlysideways,herhandooftheknifeshehadjusttakenfromherowandpushedbetweenherribs.

  Willfeltnohorror,onlydesolationandbafflement.

  Hestoodupslowlyandlookeddownatthedeadwitch,atherrichblackhair,herflushedcheeks,hersmoothpalelimbswetwithrain,herlipspartedlikealovers.

  "Idontuand,"hesaidaloud."Itste."

  Willturnedbacktothedeadman,hisfather.

  Athousandthingsjostledathisthroat,andonlythedashingraincooledthehotnesshihiseyes.

  Thelittlelaillflickeredandflaredasthedraftthroughtheill-fittingwindowlickedaroundtheflame,andbyitslightWillkandputhishandsonthemansbody,toughisface,hisshoulders,hischest,closinghiseyes,pushigrayhairoffhisforehead,pressinghishandsthcheeks,closinghisfathersmouth,squeezinghishands.

  "Father,"hesaid,"Dad,Daddy...Father...Idontuandwhyshedidthat.Itsteforme.Butwhateveryouwaodo,Ipromise,IswearIlldoit.Illfight.Illbeawarrior.Iwill.Thisknife,IlltakeittoLordAsriel,whereverheis,andIllhelphimfightthatenemy.Illdoit.Yourestnow.Itsallright.Yousleepnow."

  Besidethedeadmanlayhisdeerskinpackwiththeoilskinaernalehornboxofbloodmossoi.Willpickedthemup,andtheicedhisfathersfeather-trimmedcloaktrailingbehindhisbodyontheground,heavyandsoddenbutwarm.Hisfatherhadnomoreuseforit,andWillwasshakingwithcold.Heunfastehebronzebuckleatthedeadmansthroatandswungthevaspackoverhisshoulderbeforeingthecloakaroundhimself.

  Heblewoutthelanternandlookedbackatthedimshapesofhisfather,ofthewitch,ofhisfatheragainbeforeturningtogodownthemountain.

  Thestormyairwaselectricwithwhispers,andiearingofthewindWillcouldhearothersounds,too:fusedechoesofcriesandting,theclashofmetaloal,poundingwihatonemomentsoundedsoclosetheymightactuallybeinsidehishead,asofarawaytheymighthavebeenonanotherplaheroderfootwereslipperyandloose,anditwasmuchhardergoingdownthanithadbeenclimbingup;buthedidntfalter.

  AndasheturneddowlittlegullybeforetheplacewherehedleftLyrasleepioppedsuddenly.Hecouldseetwofiguressimplystandingthere,inthedark,waiting.Willputhishandontheknife.

  Thehefiguresspoke.

  "Youretheboywiththeknife?"hesaid,andhisvoicehadthestrangequalityofthosewis.

  Whoeverhewas,hewasntahumanbeing.

  "Whoareyou?"Willsaid."Areyoumen,or—"

  "Notmen,no.WeareWatchers.Beneelim.Inyuage,angels."

  Willwassilent.Thespeakerwenton:"elshaveotherfuns,andotherpowers.Ourtaskissimple:Weneedyou.Wehavebeenfollowingtheshamaneveryinchofhisway,hopinghewouldleadustoyou,andsohehas.AndnowwehaveetoguideyouinturntoLordAsriel."

  "Youwerewithmyfatherallthetime?"

  "Everymoment."

  "Didheknow?"

  "Hehadnoidea."

  "Whydidntyoustopthewitch,then?Whydidyouletherkillhim?"

  "Wewouldhavedone,earlier.Buthistaskwasoveroncehedledustoyou."

  Willsaidnothing.Hisheadwasringing;thiswasnolessdifficulttouandthananythingelse.

  "Allright,"hesaidfinally."Illewithyou.ButfirstImustwakeLyra."

  Theystoodasidetolethimpass,aatiheairashewentclosetothem,butheigandtratedoingdowntheslopetowardthelittleshelterwhereLyrawassleeping.

  Butsomethingmadehimstop.

  Inthedimness,hecouldseethewitcheswhohadbeenguardingLyraallsittingorstandingstill.

  Theylookedlikestatues,exceptthattheywerebreathing,buttheywerescarcelyalive.Therewereseveralblack-silk-cladbodiesontheground,too,andashegazedinhorrorfromooahem,WillsawwhatmusthavehappeheyhadbeenattackedinmidairbytheSpecters,andhadfallentotheirdeaths,indifferently.

  But—"WheresLyra?"hecriedaloud.

  Thehollowuherockty.Lyrawasgone.

  Therewassomethinguhewhereshedbeenlying.ItwasLyraslittlevasrucksadfromtheweightofithekhoutlookingthatthealethiometerwasstilli.

  Willwasshakinghishead.Itcouldrue,butitwas:Lyrawasgone,Lyratured,Lyrawaslost.

  Thetwuresofthebeneelimhadnotmoved.Buttheyspoke:"Youmustewithusnow.LordAsrielneedsyouatoheenemysprowingeverymiheshamanhastoldyouwhatyourtaskis.Followusandhelpuswin.ewithus.ethisway.enow."

  AndWilllookedfromthemtoLyrasrucksadbackagain,andhedidnthearawordtheysaid.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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