grrm.astormofswords-第183部分
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〃The castle does them no good；〃 the armorer told his little garrison。 〃Kitchens； mon hall； stables； even the towers 。 。 。 let them take it all。 We'll empty the armory and move what stores we can to the top of the Wall； and make our stand around the gate。〃
So Castle Black had a wall of sorts at last； a crescent…shaped barricade ten feet high made of stores； casks of nails and barrels of salt mutton； crates； bales of black broadcloth； stacked logs； sawn timbers； firehardened stakes； and sacks and sacks of grain。 The crude rampart enclosed the two things most worth defending； the gate to the north； and the foot of the great wooden switchback stair that clawed and climbed its way up the face of the Wall like a drunken thunderbolt； supported by wooden beams as big as tree trunks driven deep into the ice。
The last few moles were still making the long climb； Jon saw； urged on by his brothers。 Grenn was carrying a little boy in his arms； while Pyp； two flights below； let an old man lean upon his shoulder。 The oldest villagers still waited below for the cage to make its way back down to them。 He saw a mother pulling along two children； one on either hand； as an older boy ran past her up the steps。 Two hundred feet above them； Sky Blue Su and Lady Meliana （who was no lady； all her friends agreed） stood on a landing； looking south。 They had a better view of the smoke than he did； no doubt。 Jon wondered about the villagers who had chosen not to flee。 There were always a few； too stubborn or too stupid or too brave to run； a few who preferred to fight or hide or bend the knee。 Maybe the Therms would spare them。
The thing to do would be to take the attack to them； he thought。 With fifty rangers well mounted； we could cut them apart on the road。 They did not have fifty rangers； though； nor half as many horses。 The garrison had not returned； and there was no way to know just where they were； or even whether the riders that Noye had sent out had reached them。
We are the garrison； Jon told himself； and look at us。 The brothers Bowen Marsh had left behind were old men； cripples； and green boys； just as Donal Noye had warned him。 He could see some wrestling barrels up the steps； others on the barricade； stout old Kegs； as slow as ever； Spare Boot hopping along briskly on his carved wooden leg； half…mad Easy who fancied himself Florian the Fool reborn； Dornish Dilly； Red Alyn of the Rosewood； Young Henly （well past fifty）； Old Henly （well past seventy）； Hairy Hal； Spotted Pate of Maidenpool。 A couple of them saw Jon looking down from atop the King's Tower and waved up at him。 others turned away。 They still think me a tumcloak。 That was a bitter draft to drink； but Jon could not blame them。 He was a bastard； after all。 Everyone knew that bastards were wanton and treacherous by nature； having been born of lust and deceit。 And he had made as many enemies as friends at Castle Black 。 。 。 Rast； for one。 Jon had once threatened to have Ghost rip his throat out unless he stopped tormenting Samwell Tarly； and Rast did not forget things like that。 He was raking dry leaves into piles under the stairs just now； but every so often he stopped long enough to give Jon a nasty look。
〃No；〃 Donal Noye roared at three of the Mole's Town men； down below。 〃The pitch goes to the hoist； the oil up the steps； crossbow bolts to the fourth； fifth； and sixth landings； spears to first and second。 Stack the lard under the stair； yes； there； behind the planks。 The casks of meat are for the barricade。 Now； you poxy plow pushers； NOW！〃
He has a lord's voice； Jon thought。 His father had always said that in battle a captain's lungs were as important as his sword arm。 〃It does not matter how brave or brilliant a man is； if his mands cannot be heard；〃 Lord Eddard told his sons； so Robb and he used to climb the towers of Winterfell to shout at each other across the yard。 Donal Noye could have drowned out both of them。 The moles all went in terror of him； and rightfully so； since he was always threatening to rip their heads off。
Three…quarters of the village had taken Jon's warning to heart and e to Castle Black for refuge。 Noye had decreed that every man still spry enough to hold a spear or swing an axe would help defend the barricade； else they could damn well go home and take their chances with the Therms。 He had emptied the armory to put good steel in their hands； big double…bladed axes； razor…sharp daggers； longswords； maces； spiked morningstars。 Clad in studded leather jerkins and mail hauberks； with greaves for their legs and gorgets to keep their heads on their shoulders； a few of them even looked like soldiers。 In a bad light。 If you squint。
Noye had put the women and children to work as well。 Those too young to fight would carry water and tend the fires； the Mole's Town midwife would assist Clydas and Maester Aemon with any wounded； and Three…Finger Hobb suddenly had more spit boys； kettle stirrers； and onion choppers than he knew what to do with。 Two of the whores had even offered to fight； and had shown enough skill with the crossbow to be given a place on the steps forty feet up。
〃It's cold。〃 Satin stood with his hands tucked into his armpits under his cloak。 His cheeks were bright red。
Jon made himself smile。 〃The Frostfangs are cold。 This is a brisk autumn day。〃
〃I hope I never see the Frostfangs then。 I knew a girl in Oldtown who liked to ice her wine。 That's the best place for ice； I think。 In wine。〃 Satin glanced south； frowned。 〃You think the scarecrow sentinels scared them off； my lord？〃
〃We can hope。〃 It was possible； Jon supposed 。 。 。 but more likely the wildlings had simply paused for a bit of rape and plunder in Mole's Town。 Or maybe Styr was waiting for nightfall； to move up under cover of darkness。
Midday came and went； with still no sign of Therms on the kingsroad。 Jon heard footsteps inside the tower； though； and Owen the Oaf popped up out of the trapdoor； red…faced from the climb。 He had a basket of buns under one arm； a wheel of cheese under the other； a bag of onions dangling from one hand。 〃Hobb said to feed you； in case you're stuck up here awhile。〃
That； or for our last meal。 〃Thank him for us； Owen。〃
Dick Follard was deaf as a stone； but his nose worked well enough。
The buns were still warm from the oven when he went digging in the basket and plucked one out。 He found a crock of butter as well； and spread some with his dagger。 〃Raisins；〃 he announced happily。 〃Nuts； too。〃 His speech was thick； but easy enough to understand once you got used to it。
〃You can have mine too；〃 said Satin。 〃I'm not hungry。〃
〃Eat；〃 Jon told him。 〃There's no knowing when you'll have another chance。〃 He took two buns himself 。 The nuts were pine nuts； and besides the raisins there were bits of dried apple。
〃Will the wildlings e today； Lord Snow？〃 Owen asked。
〃You'll know if they do；〃 said Jon。 〃Listen for the horns。〃
〃Two。 Two is for wildlings。〃 Owen was tall； towheaded； and amiable； a tireless worker and surprisingly deft when it came to working wood and fixing catapults and the like； but as he'd gladly tell you； his mother had dropped him on his head when he was a baby； and half his wits had leaked out through his ear。
〃You remember where to go？〃 Jon asked him。
〃I'm to go to the stairs； Donal Noye says。 I'm to go up to the third landing and shoot my crossbow down at the wildlings if they try to climb over the barrier。 The third landing； one two three。〃 His head bobbed up and down。 〃If the wildlings attack； the king will e and help us； won't he？ He's a mighty warrior； King Robert。 He's sure to e。 Maester Aemon sent him a bird。〃
There was no use telling him that Robert Baratheon was dead。 He would forget it； as he'd forgotten it before。 〃Maester Aemon sent him a bird；〃 Jon agreed。 That seemed to make Owen happy。
Maester Aemon had sent a lot of birds 。 。 。 not to one king； but to four。 Wildlings at the gate； the message ran。 The realm in danger。 Send all the help you can to Castle Black； Even as far as Oldtown and the Citadel the ravens flew； and to half a hundred mighty lords in their castles。 The northern lords offered their best hope； so to them Aemon had sent two birds。 To the Umbers and the Boltons； to C
