登陆注册
5238900000008

第8章 CHAPTER V(3)

This Hallblithe deemed wonderful, that no less out on the open heath and brow of the land than in the shut-in cave, all that tumult of the wind had fallen, and the cloudless night was calm, and with a little air blowing from the south and the landward.

Therewithal was Fox done with his loud-voiced braggart mood, and spoke gently and peaceably like to a wayfarer, who hath business of his to look to as other men. Now he pointed to certain rocks or low crags that a little way off rose like a reef out of the treeless plain; then said he: "Shipmate, underneath yonder rocks is our resting-place for to-night; and I pray thee not to deem me churlish that I give thee no better harbour. But I have a charge over thee to bring thee safe thus far on thy quest; and thou wouldst find it hard to live among such housemates as thou wouldst find up yonder amongst our folks to-night. But tomorrow shalt thou come to speech with him who will deal with thee concerning the ransom."

"It is enough," said Hallblithe, "and I thank thee for thy leading: and as for thy rough and uncomely words which thou hast given me, I pardon thee for them: for I am none the worse of them: forsooth, if I had been, my sword would have had a voice in the matter."

"I am well content as it is, Son of the Raven," quoth Fox; "I have done my bidding and all is well."

"Tell me then who it is hath bidden thee bring me hither?"

"I may not tell thee," said Fox; "thou art here, be content, as I am."

And he spake no more till they had come to the reef aforesaid, which was some two furlongs from the place where they had come from out of the cave. There then they set forth their supper on the stones, and ate what they would, and drank of that good strong wine while the horn bare out. And now was Fox of few words, and when Hallblithe asked him concerning that land, he had little to say. And at last when Hallblithe asked him of that so perilous house and those who manned it, he said to him:

"Son of the Raven, it avails not asking of these matters; for if I tell thee aught concerning them I shall tell thee lies. Once again let it be enough for thee that thou hast passed over the sea safely on thy quest; and a more perilous sea it is forsooth than thou deemest. But now let us have an end of vain words, and make our bed amidst these stones as best we may; for we should be stirring betimes in the morning." Hallblithe said little in answer, and they arrayed their sleeping places cunningly, as the hare doth her form, and like men well used to lying abroad.

Hallblithe was very weary and he soon fell asleep; and as he lay there, he dreamed a dream, or maybe saw a vision; whether he were asleep when he saw it, or between sleeping and waking, I know not.

But this was his dream or his vision; that the Hostage was standing over him, and she as he had seen her but yesterday, bright-haired and ruddy-cheeked and white-skinned, kind of hand and soft of voice, and she said to him: "Hallblithe, look on me and hearken, for I have a message for thee." And he looked and longed for her, and his soul was ravished by the sweetness of his longing, and he would have leapt up and cast his arms about her, but sleep and the dream bound him, and he might not. Then the image smiled on him and said: "Nay, my love, lie still, for thou mayst not touch me: here is but the image of the body which thou desirest. Hearken then. I am in evil plight, in the hands of strong-thieves of the sea, nor know I what they will do with me, and I have no will to be shamed; to be sold for a price from one hand to another, yet to be bedded without a price, and to lie beside some foe-man of our folk, and he to cast his arms about me, will I, will I not: this is a hard case. Therefore to-morrow morning at daybreak while men sleep, I think to steal forth to the gunwale of the black ship and give myself to the gods, that they and not these runagates may be masters of my life and my soul, and may do with me as they will: for indeed they know that I may not bear the strange kinless house, and the love and caressing of the alien house- master, and the mocking and stripes of the alien house-mistress.

Therefore let the Hoary One of the sea take me and look to my matters, and carry me to life or death, which-so he will. Thin now grows the night, but lie still a little yet, while I speak another word.

"Maybe we shall meet alive again, and maybe not: and if not, though we have never yet lain in one bed together, yet I would have thee remember me: yet not so that my image shall come between thee and thy speech-friend and bed-fellow of the kindred, that shall lie where I was to have lain. Yet again, if I live and thou livest, I have been told and have heard that by one way or other I am like to come to the Glittering Plain, and the Land of Living Men. O my beloved, if by any way thou mightest come thither also, and we might meet there, and we two alive, how good it were! Seek that land then, beloved! seek it, whether or no we once more behold the House of the Rose, or tread the floor of the Raven dwelling. And now must even this image of me sunder from thee. Farewell!"

Therewith was the dream done and the vision departed; and Hallblithe sat up full of anguish and longing; and he looked about him over the dreary land, and it was somewhat light and the sky was grown grey and cloudy, and he deemed that the dawn was come. So he leapt to his feet and stooped down over Fox, and took him by the shoulder, and shook him and said: "Faring-fellow, awake! the dawn is come, and we have much to do."

Fox sat up and growled like a dog, and rubbed his eyes and looked about him and said: "Thou hast waked me for nought: it is the false dawn of the moon that shineth now behind the clouds and casteth no shadow; it is but an hour after midnight. Go to sleep again, and let me be, else will I not be a guide to thee when the day comes." And he lay down and was asleep at once. Then Hallblithe went and lay down again full of sorrow: Yet so weary was he that he presently fell asleep, and dreamed no more.

同类推荐
  • 家诫要言

    家诫要言

    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。
  • 升仙传

    升仙传

    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。
  • 题侯仙亭

    题侯仙亭

    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。
  • 木笔杂抄

    木笔杂抄

    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。
  • 灵宝六丁秘法

    灵宝六丁秘法

    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。
热门推荐
  • 田园福妃

    田园福妃

    宋轻云到了古代,十个月后当娘?为了生存、养娃,拼命赚钱,不知不觉竟成了远近闻名的地主婆!这感觉爽!本想安安静静的渡过余生,不想被某王爷死缠烂打......做王妃还是当地主婆,鱼和熊掌也能兼得?
  • 唐诗宋词全鉴

    唐诗宋词全鉴

    唐诗和宋词是中国传统文化的珍贵遗产,是一座浩大的文学艺术殿堂,也是中国文学史上令人仰叹的高峰。它能丰富人的知识,陶冶人的情操,充实人的精神。本书精选了唐诗宋词中最具代表性的篇章,通过作者简介、原文、注释、鉴赏几个版块,进行了精准的阐释,便于读者更好地领悟唐诗宋词的美学内涵,由此增强内在的人文修养。
  • 狼烟

    狼烟

    《狼烟》以冻土狼烟中,四兄弟的感情纠葛为线索,一段充满诡异的独特故事,离奇的土匪绑架;罕见的胡子传奇,赌徒的隐秘世界;演绎了形形色色中下层人物的百态人生……刺刀下,更多的生命穿越滚滚狼烟接受血与火的考验……
  • 繁华的故事

    繁华的故事

    《繁华的故事》这本书主要收集了在我想你的时候,等待,漫漫前路,吉他,金刚腿等几十首诗。
  • 玄幻无敌帝皇

    玄幻无敌帝皇

    混沌之域,神魔并起!然太古时代,太古神魔大战,战波使大陆化为兆亿尘埃,埋葬神魔。无数纪元过后,混沌与秩序再演,世间重有神邸诞生,无数宗门,帝国林立,万族空前繁荣。然世间偏落一角,一尊来自洪荒太古时代的无敌魔帝复苏了!叶倾城:“人间万邪,我为君主!横扫天下,睥睨江湖!邪君所至,神嚎鬼哭;一笑乾坤,一眼今古!”
  • 重臣嫡女

    重臣嫡女

    穿越女一直自我标榜:万人迷+女主角=幸运女神。所有和穿越女作对的:赠送一套杯具。所有俊美的少年郎们:爱慕她!爱慕她!爱慕她。投湖自尽的重臣嫡女,某一天突然醒来,发现庶妹未长成,阴谋未算计,一切都还来得及。而今原住民嫡女要让穿越女知道什么叫作了就得死。目标:了尽冤仇,嫁娶作妇过上幸福日子……
  • 燕魏杂记

    燕魏杂记

    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。
  • 羯鼓录

    羯鼓录

    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。
  • 杀手圣医

    杀手圣医

    郊外梅花林。季华离缩了缩颈脖,几乎快把头缩进那披肩的狐裘里去了。只见季华离懒散道:“你们都动作快点,大冬天的、赶紧的。”在地上捡着落叶的两人苦不堪言,“唉、我顾迹居然沦落到为你打下手的境地。。。”“你得了吧、每次我酿的梅花酿不都你喝的最多!”季华离淡淡道。“那你自己怎么不捡,要我们两个捡。你不捡就得了,干嘛要我们捡地上的?直接上梅花树上摘不就行了吗?。”顾迹有些愤愤不平。“阿弥陀佛、上天有好生之德,何故无原伤其根叶?”顾迹被气笑了、你一个杀手说这些话合适吗?半响、“诺、都在这了。”顾迹递上花篮。“这么少、酿出来的酒都不够你一个人喝。”“可地上完好的只有这一些。”“那你不会摘树上的吗?”“呵...”这时、只见树上传来轻笑声。————————————————夜色微笼,季华离要悠闲地漫步于繁华街道上。“唉、这将军府好生无趣,晚饭还必须一大桌人围在一起吃饭、...”“这就算了,干嘛菜都还那么难吃。。”“不行、要去打打牙祭。。”“记得我有到过一个地方,那里鱼塘好像都是玉潭鱼...”“诶、、是哪儿呢?有点想不起来了。。”季华离一边走一边嘀咕...“想起来了!!”季华离加快脚步,慢慢地施展轻功、往暗王府方向而去。当天晚上,鱼塘边上一堆鱼骨。。。季华离只记得将近吃完要走时、身后似有人咆哮的声音。。ps:本文一对一。男强女强,爽文无虐。欢迎收藏~
  • 重生之逆天狂少

    重生之逆天狂少

    重生醒来,却发现自己来到了一个陌生的武者世界,且看修仙狂少林亦然逆天而行,碾压一切。