登陆注册
10435200000016

第16章

Dana scrambled up the steep ridge, past warning signs staked in the earth. DANGER. DO NOT CLIMB. ABSEILING PROHIBITED. Didn't Gabe say these cliffs claimed at least one life a year? She found a trail too narrow for human traffic, most likely forged by the sika deer that ran wild on the upper slopes. The way was rough going. She had to push through bracken taller than herself, and the ground was wet and slippery. Higher up, she stumbled over knotted roots and patches of gorse that pricked her. Whenever she slowed down, the invisible hands hauled her upward. She was now glad of their help. She would never have made it without them.

The silvery mist had begun to recede from the valley, but the deathly silence remained, unnerving her. On her right, the waterfall hung eerily still, as if made of glass. Alert for any sound, she instantly heard the small stone that fell behind her as it clattered over the rock. She looked back quickly. Some distance below, the green sea of bracken wavered, though no wind blew. Her heart skipped a beat. Was something following her? For a moment she thought of running back to her father, but she knew he couldn't help.

A voice called from above.

"Hurry, Dana! Hurry!"

The Lady sounded distressed.

The invisible hands were more insistent now, dragging her over rock and through nettles and briar. As she crashed through a clump of fraughan bushes the bilberries burst, staining her clothes and skin red. Dana didn't object. Panic coursed through her. She had to get to the top. She had to reach safety.

She was almost at the summit when life returned to the park. Like the roar of a wave, the sounds broke over her—the rush of the waterfall, the chatter of birds, the cries of children playing. The invisible hands were gone. The Lady stood above her, extending a slender arm to help her onto the ledge.

"Something's after me!" Dana said, gasping for breath.

The Lady peered down the slope with a frown. "I feel I know this thing and yet I do not. What can this import?"

Despite her manner of speech, she looked like a normal young woman in khaki shorts and a halter top, with leather sandals on her feet. A blond ponytail jutted from the back of her white baseball cap, and she wore stylish sunglasses.

"I have sent the others to investigate," she continued, "but it has already taken flight."

Though her voice was calm, she looked worried.

"What—?" Dana began, but stopped when a cry rang out below.

"Dana! Where are you?"

It was Gabe. He sounded surprised.

"That's me Da," she said with a pang.

The Lady drew her quickly away from the ridge and into the woods beyond the waterfall. Her grip was firm, reminding Dana of the invisible hands.

Gabriel's shouts were coming faster now, echoing that mix of concern and annoyance peculiar to parents.

Dana stopped to look back.

The Lady's grasp loosened as she, too, stopped to listen. A wistfulness came over her features. "I had a father once…" Then she bit her lip. "This is all wrong." She shook her head. "What am I doing? How can I send you into the mountains alone? How can I put you in peril?"

Now Dana was the one who was doing the pulling. She clutched the young woman's arm and hurried her through the trees. Behind them, Aradhana had begun to call too and Gabriel's cries were growing more frantic. She had to escape them. It wouldn't be long before they tried to climb the ridge. Any misgivings Dana had were dissolved by the Lady's wavering. The fear of losing her wish made her all the more adamant.

"You can't back out now! This was your idea! You got me into this!"

Deeper in the woods, beyond earshot of Gabe's cries, Dana slowed down.

"Yes, it is my fault." The Lady's sigh was like a breeze in the branches overhead. "I have lured you to this. And when I'm like… Them… I don't have a problem with it. That's just the way things are done. They use mortals for their own ends without thinking about it. Yet I have human feelings sometimes."

They had come to the heart of the wood. The Lady linked arms with Dana in a more casual manner. Dana noticed how the briars and brambles gave way before them. Deer peeked shyly from behind the trees. An otter slid from the riverbank and into the water. The air was filled with trills as songbirds swooped around them in arabesques of flight. When they passed a clump of wild rose, a flurry of pink petals showered their path.

At first her companion seemed oblivious to their surroundings. Then Dana glimpsed something different at the corner of her eye: a vision of the Lady in a flowing green gown and a crown of white flowers, waving graciously to all around her.

But it was an ordinary young woman who argued with her.

"Look, you're just a kid. I should find someone else to do the job. Someone older. It's usually teenagers who go on these missions."

Dana almost choked. She recognized the tone in the older girl's voice, the same one her father had used when he told her they were going to Canada. The finality of the adult who held all the power; the certainty that they knew best. A rebellious fury surged through her.

"You made a pact! You promised! I want my wish and I'll do anything to get it. I'm nearly thirteen. I'm as good as any teenager. You can't take this away from me!"

The Lady hesitated. It was obvious she wanted to be convinced. "The High King says you are the one… He says mortals always underestimate their young."

"He's right!" Dana insisted. "We can always do more, just no one lets us. I can do this! I know I can!"

The Lady looked no happier. They had reached the edge of the forest. As they stepped from the trees, they looked out over a landscape of heathered hills that swelled into the distance like a green grassy ocean. They had arrived at the threshold of the Wicklow Mountains.

And the way was barred.

A great gray standing stone blocked their path. The monolith was scored with a hieroglyphic script that curved like the hills themselves.

The Lady rested her hand upon the stone.

"It declares the borders of the Mountain Kingdom closed. There are more around the perimeter. How long they have stood here we do not know. The mountain folk are a solitary people and rarely mingle with the High Court or the rest of fairy-kind. There are spells on the stones to keep intruders out, but even if there weren't, we would defer to their wishes. Every kingdom in Faerie sets its own laws."

She gazed into the distance.

"Do you know of the mountain called Lugnaquillia?"

"The highest in the chain," Dana said, nodding. "Da and I climbed it last summer."

The Lady looked pleased, and a little relieved.

"Lugnaquillia is the site of the palace of our Tánaiste, Lugh of the Mountain, Lugh of the Wood."

Dana blenched. From where they stood, Lugnaquillia was at the farthest point of the range, beyond many peaks and valleys. It would take days to get there. And that meant she would have to spend nights in the mountains alone. A hard task for anyone, never mind a twelve-year-old who didn't have a tent or enough provisions.

"Right, I'm off to Lugnaquillia," she said, with forced heartiness. She couldn't let the Lady see her fear. The mission was already hanging on a knife-edge. "To find Lugh of the Mountain, Lugh of the Wood. What's the message?"

Looking anxious again, the Lady frowned at Dana.

Dana held her breath, doing her best to appear relaxed and unconcerned.

The Lady spoke carefully.

"A shadow of the Destroyer has entered the land. Where is the light to bridge the darkness?"

Dana was baffled.

"What does it mean?" she asked, a quaver in her voice.

"The Tánaiste will know. The message is for him. Your mission is simply to carry it to him."

But the Lady's unease was peaking. Her eyes were dark with concern.

Dana shivered, feeling suddenly cold. Slipping off her knapsack, she took out her anorak and pulled it on.

The older girl began to fuss over her, tightening the hood on Dana's head and tucking in stray strands of hair.

"Keep your ears covered. The winds will be colder out in the open. Have you brought food and drink? Travel always westward. Into the setting sun."

"I know what to do," Dana said, backing away from her. "I'm all right."

She wanted to leave immediately, before the other could change her mind.

The Lady brightened suddenly.

"Wait, I almost forgot! I can give you something! It's tradition. A special gift. To help you on your way."

Dana half expected her to produce a Swiss Army knife from the pockets of her khaki shorts; but instead it was a little golden box with a jeweled clasp. Inside was a red pomade that smelled of apples.

"Close your eyes," the Lady said. As she dabbed the sweet-smelling balm onto Dana's eyelids, she explained its use. "This will let you see what mortals cannot. Your eyes will pierce the veil that cloaks our world. You will know that Faerie is all around you. And those who think they are hidden will be made visible, yet they will assume you are blind. This will give you time to judge friend from foe."

A chill ran through Dana. There would be other enemies besides the shadow she had spoken of? It wasn't a question Dana could raise, for fear that the older girl would get upset again. She was clutching Dana's hands, reluctant to let her go.

"Okay, I'm off!" said Dana, breaking away. "Goodbye!"

And hurrying down the trail that led into the mountains, she didn't stop to look back till she was some distance away.

There stood the Lady in the shade of the forest with boughs of oak leaves overhead like a green canopy. Her gown shimmered with dappled light. Her long fair hair was wreathed in white hawthorn.

"My blessings go with you," she called out in a silvery voice. "May you be of good courage as you follow the greenway."

同类推荐
  • 渴望 (吸血鬼日志系列#10)

    渴望 (吸血鬼日志系列#10)

    在《渴望》(《吸血鬼传承》系列#2)中,十六岁的斯嘉丽·潘恩努力想弄明白自己正变成什么。她古怪的行为使新男朋友——布雷克疏远她,她努力道歉,努力想使他明白。但问题是,她都不明白自己正在发生什么。同时,新来的男孩,神秘的赛奇,走进她生命中。他们的生命之路持续交叉,并且虽然她极力避免,虽然她最好的朋友玛利亚反对(她确信斯嘉丽正在抢走赛奇),他径直追逐着她。斯嘉丽发现自己被赛奇迷住。他把她带进他的世界,带着她穿过他家富有历史感的河中大楼的大门。随着他们关系的深化,她开始了解更多他神秘的过往,他的家庭,还有他必须保守的秘密。在哈德逊一座隐秘的岛屿上,他们一起度过了她能想象的最浪漫的时光,而且她确信自己找到了生命的真爱。但是随后,她震惊地知道了赛奇最大的秘密——他也不是人类,而且他活着的时间只剩下几个星期了。悲剧的是,就在命运将最爱带到她生命中时,似乎又注定要把他带走。当斯嘉丽回到高中学校派对并参加舞会时,她以与朋友们发生争吵而告终,被朋友排除在圈子外。同时,薇薇安集结受欢迎的女孩将她的生活推入地狱,而引发了一场不可避免的冲突。斯嘉丽被迫想逃遁,她与父母的关系越来越糟,并不久便发现身边处处是压力。她生命中唯一的光是赛奇。但是他仍然保守着一些秘密,同时布雷克重新出现,决心继续追求她。同时,凯特琳决心要找到治疗斯嘉丽吸血鬼瘟疫的办法。她所发现的东西引她踏上寻找解药、深入善本古籍图书馆和书店的旅途,并且她会不惜一切代价找到它。但这也许太晚了。斯嘉丽正在迅速转变,几乎无法控制自己正在变成的东西。她想和赛奇厮守在一起,但命运似乎注定要将他们两个人分开。随着本书在激动人心和令人震惊的转折中达到高潮,斯嘉丽将要作出一个决定性的选择——一个将会永远改变世界的选择。她将愿意为爱情作多大冒险?
  • Dam Busters
  • Life's a Bitch and Then You Change Careers
  • Arcanum 101

    Arcanum 101

    Fifteen-year-old Tomas Torres, the son of an immigrant family who are just barely making it, gets picked up by the police for doing some work for the local padrone (collector). For this work, Tomas has made $1000 a week, a lot of money by anyone's count. But what is the work? What is Tomas arrested for? Arson, but arson that cannot be explained. Tomas has a most unusual gift: he is a fire-starter--he can start fires with sheer force of will that flame from the tips of his fingers. More, he can will fireballs to hurl at his enemies or opponents, and he can incinerate any evidence. But the courts decide they have enough to convict young Tomas and send him off to a school (which Tomas believes to be a kind of jail): St. Rhiannon's School for the Gifted and Exceptional Student.
  • The Storyteller

    The Storyteller

    Anna and Abel couldn't be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It's a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet.
热门推荐
  • 幸福的法则

    幸福的法则

    这是一本类似于《菜根谭》的书,书中并没有一个贯穿始终的主线,只是一则则充满哲理的小品,内容涵盖了自然、艺术、修养、生活甚至还有企业管理等各个层面。虽然它没有一个固定的主题,但是它的目标是明确的,就是告诉人们究竟如何才能幸福地生活。读这本书的感觉,有点像在看央视纪录片频道的《浮生一日》节目,时而讲迪拜,时而讲菲律宾,时讲而父子亲情,时而讲乳酪美食,看似没有丝毫联系的事物之间,却又存在着相同的感动。总之,它的重点不在于陈述,而在于感受,然后就是伦理学最重视的,也是最重要的——知而行之。
  • King Henry VIII

    King Henry VIII

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 网游之剑士无双

    网游之剑士无双

    回了信息,接着又问了地图和坐标。于是我就召唤着天翼火狼朝着她那里赶去。等到了地方之后,果然,在叶晴的带领下开始打BOSS……
  • 施伟小说专辑

    施伟小说专辑

    “当时——五百年前都是野兽吃人,我误认为野兽是整个地球的主宰呢,呵呵,我搞错了!后来才知晓人类才是地球的主宰,近一百年来野兽不是被消灭了,就是被捉进动物园关在笼子里供人观赏。”“那么,你朋友是不是钻到人的肚子里去了?”“很难说……”虫子懊恼地说,“可是,你们地球人很可怕,连大型猛兽都被消灭了,我可不敢……”“哈哈,你说你不敢钻到人的身子里?”“是的,后来我发现牛是人类最忠实的朋友,为人类贡献最大的动物,我就钻进它的肚子。没想到,你们还是把它杀了吃肉,当它不能再替你们干活的时候。”张士藩想起捡到虫子的那天,村里一头老牛被杀了家里还分到肉呢,他不好意思了,眼睛都不敢再看虫子。
  • 儿科医生说:当我的孩子生病时

    儿科医生说:当我的孩子生病时

    《儿科医生说:当我的孩子生病时》是陈英医生结合自己在公立医院及港式医疗机构的十余年丰富儿科临床经验,以及对国际儿科医疗先进知识技能的不断学习,写就的集大成之作。书中囊括了每个0~6岁儿童几乎都会遇到的5大类儿科常见病、5种意外伤害,以及成长必备的6大关键营养元素保健、6大疫苗接种须知等家长最需要的知识。
  • 闯都市

    闯都市

    一位事业受挫的青年,找不到工作时无奈选择了去做搬运工,正是这次改变了他的命运,使他在职场和商场的打拼成为商业大亨,在商场中是否会一帆风顺,又会经历那些事情呢?
  • 宋朝法律史论

    宋朝法律史论

    《宋朝法律史论》收录了篇关于宋朝法律史的论文,其中包括:“论宋朝法律文化特征”、“论宋代的讼学”、“宋代立法简论”等。
  • 低于海平面:荷兰生活手记

    低于海平面:荷兰生活手记

    这是一本随笔集子,是一本作者的出国手记。作者跟随丈夫来到荷兰,用一个最平凡普通的中国人的眼睛看西方,从吃饭穿衣,点点滴滴中感受东西方的差异,经历了好奇、感叹、敬佩和反思,从中看到了差距,感受到了冲击,也不乏忧虑和感慨,同时也学会了如何敬重生命,珍爱生活。
  • 蓝色国土:向960万说不

    蓝色国土:向960万说不

    中国的国土面积,除了960万平方公里的领土,还有享有完全主权的领海和专属经济区。新世纪的中国人,必须更新国土概念,走出黄土地,驶向蓝海洋!
  • 失宠妻子的秘密

    失宠妻子的秘密

    外人只看到她的光鲜,漂亮又有个有钱的帅气老公,但只有她知道她老公从来不正眼看过她一眼,她曾经爱过,挽回过,可是那个男人却依旧远去,哭累了,死心了,她选择用最淡漠的心态去面对这场没有爱情不能解脱的政治联婚……一次身份曝光,让她和他再次见面,面对最熟悉的陌生人,她和他的爱情又该何去何从……