cspector.worldwithoutend-第11部分
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ucceed； we take you to the Court。 If you fail； well； that will be your lookout； won't it？〃
〃And who decides whether I win or lose？〃
〃Why that； dear mother； you will have to figure out for yourself。〃
With that； the boat sped away from me。 It left barely a ripple in the water and the mist closed m around it； hiding it from my sight。 I stepped forward； J the edge of the lake touching my toes。 What now？ I wondered。
〃Well； that was helpful；〃 said Caimbeul。
I spun about； ready to give him a cutting remark when behind me something burst forth from the water and grabbed me。
In a flash I was being pulled down into the blackness。 The water was freezing and I hadn't caught a breath。 I fought against the urge to inhale。 My eyes were open； but I couldn't see much。 I looked down and saw that I was being held by a each…uisge。 My legs were helplessly stuck to its chest and forelegs。 Its clawed hands were clasped about my thighs。 The head was that of a horse with razor…sharp teeth。
It would pull me down into the water until I drowned and then feast upon my flesh； except for my liver； which it would no doubt spit up at Caimbeul's feet。 It was a prospect I didn't relish。
I let myself go limp； playing dead； hoping this would slow its descent。 It did。 Then I jerked my arms apart and uttered the words。 Between my hands a whirling of water started。 It began to glow and lit the each…uisge with blue light。 The water spun faster and faster until it narrowed into a fine； laser…like point。 I pointed it downward at the each…uisge's head。 There was the muffled sound of a shriek； and then the creature's head disappeared。 Its claws went slack on my thighs； but I was still stuck to its chest。
My lungs were burning and spots floated before my eyes。 The dead weight of the each…uisge was pulling me down。 I had a panicky moment as I started to inhale some water。 With every ounce of power left in my arms； I swam up to the surface。 Just as I thought I would never reach it； I broke through。 The air hurt as I gasped。 I floundered for a moment before Caimbeui grabbed me by my collar and pulled me from the water。
He laid me； none too gently； on the stony bank。 I coughed up water and hacked out some bile。 My legs felt heavy； and I realized the each…uisge was still stuck to them。
〃Cut it off；〃 I said。
〃That won't work。 You'll have pieces of it stuck to your pants forever。〃
〃Well； it's better than dragging the whole thing along with me；〃 I said； coughing up more water。
〃Take off your pants；〃 he said。
〃Oh； fragging hell；〃 I said。 I unbuttoned my jeans and skinned them off。 It took a while between the wet and the each…uisge。
〃And so that was the test？〃 he asked。
〃N…n…no；〃 I stammered。 My teeth were chattering and gooseflesh had broken out over my body。 〃T…t…that was a warning。 They're serious about the test。〃
〃Well；〃 he said； looking chagrined that he hadn't helped； 〃we'd better get you out of those wet things。〃
He wrapped his arms around me。 I let myself lean against him and take in his warmth and scent。 It was good to be there； if only for a moment。
She can't move。 Legs and arms like lead。 But she hears。。。 things。
Things rustling beyond her line of sight。 Things with evil intentions。
〃What next？〃 Caimbeui asked。
I was sitting in the back seat of the car pulling dry clothes on。 My coat and boots were ruined； so I wadded them up in a towel I'd taken from the hotel。 Under normal circumstances I wouldn't have indulged in that sort of petty larceny； but these weren't normal times。
Caimbeui was driving。 We were heading southwest away from The Bun…en。 I pulled a heavy gray sweater over my head； then slid on black jeans。 Sneakers were next； after which I climbed over the front seat to the passenger side。
〃Better？〃 he asked。
〃Drier； at least；〃 I replied。 〃But that brackish smell is going to stay with me for a while。〃
〃Not just you。〃
〃My apologies；〃 I said。 〃Next time a each…uisge decides to have me for a snack I'll be sure to tell it not to get you wet at the same time。〃
〃I'd appreciate that；〃 he replied。
〃De nada； babycakes。〃
〃You know I hate it when you call me babycakes。〃
〃Like I said； 'Life is。。。' 〃 〃I know。 I know。〃
We stopped in a small town south of The Burren for food。 It was fast approaching dusk and I wanted to be out in the countryside as soon as possible。 The air was tanged with sea salt and humidity。 Though it wasn't that cold； the damp seemed to seep into my bones； making them ache。
Leaving the car at the restaurant where we'd eaten； we walked to the edge of the town。 The road out of town was little more than dirt and cobblestones。 It had played hell on the suspension of the rental。 I imagined Caimbeui was making a running ledger in his head of all the expenses of the trip。 When this penurious streak had e on him I didn't know。
〃Look；〃 he said； grabbing my arm and pointing。 Off to one side of the road was a grove of trees。 It was shaded purple and gray in the twilight。 A fog had rolled in from the sea and made everything look fuzzy and insubstantial。 Surrounding the grove were a series of tiny flickering lights that bobbed and floated three meters above the ground。
Then I heard the faint； delicate tones of music。 A flute and recorder； I thought。 Perhaps a viola thrown in there。
〃Ignis fatuus；〃 I said。 〃Will…o'…the…wisps。〃
The flower necklace I'd made while we were walking The Burren was waterlogged； but still serviceable。 I'd rescued it from my coat after we'd reached the car。 Now I put it around my neck。
〃I can't believe you're using that；〃 Caimbeui said。
〃Whatever works。〃
〃Primrose necklaces to reveal faeries？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃And you'd better put yours on。 I don't want to lose you。〃
He snorted。
〃I know it hasn't occurred to you before。 Harte…quin；〃 I said。 〃But you don't know everything。 Some magic isn't plex…some is made up of simple things。 And sometimes； that's the most potent magic。 Because it's so obvious that everyone overlooks it。〃
〃But I thought this was to allow humans to see faerie；〃 he said。
〃Oh； e now；〃 I replied。 〃How many humans were ever able to see faerie without their permission； help or no？ No； this magic is from before human memory。〃
He pulled the necklace from his pocket。 It was wilted and droopy。 With a sigh； he slipped it over his neck。 It hung there limp and pathetic； faded green and pink against his black leather jacket。
Sucker。
I hid my smile and went back to following the lights。 Every time I thought we were about to catch up； they moved away。 This went on undl my pa…tierce began to wear thin。 Then； all at once； we were at the top of a hill。
A group of oak trees stood to one side； their leaves mostly gone。 A circle of toadstools ringed around the trees。 Inside the ring； the lights flickered and bobbed about。 They melted and changed shape； and eventually I saw what I had e for。
Dancing around the ring were an assortment of the strange and fearful creatures of faerie。 Please； no laughing。 I know that in recent times the idea of faerie has e to mean something other； and much more pleasant； than what it really was。 But since the Awakening； I suspect that Disney notion has flown out the door。
For the most part they were dressed in rags or pieces of plants。 Their thin； sinewy bodies were pulled and bent into grotesque shapes。 With their mouths opened to smile； they revealed rows of sharp； pointed teeth。 Some sported wings while others had antennae flowing back from their brows。 They all had the pointed ears that we elves share。 Giving rise； no doubt； to the rumors that they are our descendants。
Spriggans danced with leprechauns while fir darrigs tripped the unwary。 Goblins and pixies tried to swing each other out of the circle。 They whirled and danced and laughed。 The shadows they cast flickered and strobed。 It was Dante's vision of Hell。
One of the dancers broke from the group and ran over to us。 It grabbed my hand and pulled me forward。
〃Wele； mother；〃 it said。 〃We've been waiting for you。〃
〃What of my friend？〃 I asked
〃He is of no account right now。〃
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