rh.theassassinsapprentice-第8部分

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e　swollen　body　of　a　cow　that　had　washed　up　at　the　last　tide。　We　visited　a　new　fishing　boat　under　construction　at　a　dock　littered　with　curling　shavings　and　strong　smelling　pitch　spills。　A　fish…smoking　rack　left　carelessly　untended　furnished　a　midday　repast　for　a　half　dozen　of　us。　If　the　children　I　was　with　were　more　ragged　and　boisterous　than　those　who　passed　at　their　chores；　I　did　not　notice。　And　had　anyone　told　me　I　was　passing　the　day　with　a　pack　of　beggar　brats　denied　entrance　to　the　keep　because　of　their　light…fingered　ways；　I　would　have　been　shocked。　At　the　time　I　knew　only　that　it　was　suddenly　a　lively　and　pleasant　day；　full　of　places　to　go　and　things　to　do。
　　　　　　　There　were　a　few　youngsters；　larger　and　more　rambunctious；　who　would　have　taken　the　opportunity　to　set　the　newer　on　his　ear　had　Nosy　not　been　with　me　and　showing　his　teeth　at　the　first　aggressive　shove。　But　as　I　did　not　show　any　signs　of　wanting　to　challenge　their　leadership；　I　was　allowed　to　follow。　I　was　suitably　impressed　by　all　their　secrets；　and　I　would　venture　to　say　that　by　the　end　of　the　long　afternoon；　I　knew　the　poorer　quarter　of　town　better　than　many　who　had　grown　up　above　it。
　　　　　　　I　was　not　asked　for　a　name；　but　simply　was　called　Newboy。　The　others　had　names　as　simple　as　Dirk　or　Kerry；　or　as　descriptive　as　Nitpicker　and　Nosebleed。　The　last　might　have　been　a　pretty　little　thing　in　better　circumstances。　She　was　a　year　or　two　older　than　I；　but　very　outspoken　and　quick…witted。　She　got　into　one　dispute　with　a　big　boy　of　twelve；　but　she　showed　no　fear　of　his　fists；　and　her　sharp…tongued　taunts　soon　had　everyone　laughing　at　him。　She　took　her　victory　calmly　and　left　me　awed　with　her　toughness。　But　the　bruises　on　her　face　and　thin　arms　were　layered　in　shades　of　purple；　blue；　and　yellow；　while　a　crust　of　dried　blood　below　one　ear　belied　her　name。　Even　so；　Nosebleed　was　a　lively　one；　her　voice　shriller　than　the　gulls　that　wheeled　above　us。　Late　afternoon　found　Kerry；　Nosebleed；　and　me　on　a　rocky　shore　beyond　the　net　menders'　racks；　with　Nosebleed　teaching　me　to　scour　the　rocks　for　tight…clinging　sheel。　These　she　levered　off　expertly　with　a　sharpened　stick。　She　was　showing　me　how　to　use　a　nail　to　pry　the　chewy　inmates　out　of　their　shells　when　another　girl　hailed　us　with　a　shout。
　　　　　　　The　neat　blue　cloak　that　blew　around　her　and　the　leather　shoes　on　her　feet　set　her　apart　from　my　panions。　Nor　did　she　e　to　join　our　harvesting；　but　only　came　close　enough　to　call；　〃Molly；　Molly；　he's　looking　for　you；　high　and　low。　He　waked　up　near　sober　an　hour　ago；　and　took　to　calling　you　names　as　soon　as　he　found　you　gone　and　the　fire　out。〃
　　　　　　　A　look　mixed　of　defiance　and　fear　passed　over　Nosebleed's　face。　〃Run　away；　Kittne；　but　take　my　thanks　with　you。　I'll　remember　you　next　time　the　tides　bare　the　kelpcrab　beds。〃
　　　　　　　Kittne　ducked　her　head　in　a　brief　acknowledgment　and　immediately　turned　and　hastened　back　the　way　she　had　e。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　in　trouble？〃　I　asked　Nosebleed　when　she　did　not　go　back　to　turning　over　stones　for　sheels。
　　　　　　　〃Trouble？〃　She　gave　a　snort　of　disdain。　〃That　depends。　If　my　father　can　stay　sober　long　enough　to　find　me；　I　might　be　in　for　a　bit　of　it。　More　than　likely　he'll　be　drunk　enough　tonight　that　not　a　one　of　whatever　he　hurls　at　me　will　hit。　More　than　likely！〃　she　repeated　firmly　when　Kerry　opened　his　mouth　to　object　to　this。　And　with　that　she　turned　back　to　the　rocky　beach　and　our　search　for　sheel。
　　　　　　　We　were　crouched　over　a　many…legged　gray　creature　that　we　found　stranded　in　a　tide　pool　when　the　crunch　of　a　heavy　boot　on　the　barnacled　rocks　brought　all　our　heads　up。　With　a　shout　Kerry　fled　down　the　beach；　never　pausing　to　look　back。　Nosy　and　I　sprang　back；　Nosy　crowding　against　me；　teeth　bared　bravely　as　his　tail　tickled　his　cowardly　little　belly。　Molly　Nosebleed　was　either　not　so　fast　to　react　or　resigned　to　what　was　to　e。　A　gangly　man　caught　her　a　smack　on　the　side　of　the　head。　He　was　a　skinny　man；　red　nosed　and　rawboned；　so　that　his　fist　was　like　a　knot　at　the　end　of　his　bony　arm；　but　the　blow　was　still　enough　to　send　Molly　sprawling。　Barnacles　cut　into　her　wind…reddened　knees；　and　when　she　crabbed　aside　to　avoid　the　clumsy　kick　he　aimed　at　her；　I　winced　at　the　salty　sand　that　packed　the　new　cuts。
　　　　　　　〃Faithless　little　musk　cat！　Didn't　I　tell　you　to　stay　and　tend　to　the　dipping！　And　here　I　find　you　mucking　about　on　the　beach；　with　the　tallow　gone　hard　in　the　pot。　They'll　be　wanting　more　tapers　up　at　the　keep　this　night；　and　what　am　I　to　sell　them？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　three　dozen　I　set　this　morning。　That　was　all　you　left　me　wicking　for；　you　drunken　old　sot！〃　Molly　got　to　her　feet　and　stood　bravely　despite　her　brimming　eyes。　〃What　was　I　to　do？　Burn　up　all　the　fuel　to　keep　the　tallow　soft　so　that　when　you　finally　gave　me　wicking；　we'd　have　no　way　to　heat　the　kettle？〃
　　　　　　　The　wind　gusted　and　the　man　swayed　shallowly　against　it。　It　brought　us　a　whiff　of　him。　Sweat　and　beer；　Nosy　informed　me　sagely。　For　a　moment　the　man　looked　regretful；　but　then　the　pain　of　his　sour　belly　and　aching　head　hardened　him。　He　stooped　suddenly　and　seized　a　whitened　branch　of　driftwood。　〃You　won't　talk　to　me　like　that；　you　wild　brat！　Down　here　with　the　beggar　boys；　doing　El　knows　what！　Stealing　from　the　smoke　racks　again；　I'll　wager；　and　bringing　more　shame　to　me！　Dare　to　run；　and　you'll　have　it　twice　when　I　catch　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　must　have　believed　him；　for　she　only　cowered　as　he　advanced　on　her；　putting　up　her　thin　arms　to　shield　her　head　and　then　seeming　to　think　better　of　it；　and　hiding　only　her　face　with　her　hands。　I　stood　transfixed　in　horror　while　Nosy　yelped　with　my　terror　and　wet　himself　at　my　feet。　I　heard　the　swish　of　the　driftwood　knob　as　the　club　descended。　My　heart　leaped　sideways　in　my　chest　and　I　pushed　at　the　man；　the　force　jerking　out　oddly　from　my　belly。
　　　　　　　He　fell；　as　had　the　keg　man　the　day　before。　But　this　man　fell　clutching　at　his　chest；　his　driftwood　weapon　spinning　harmlessly　away。　He　dropped　to　the　sand；　gave　a　twitch　that　spasmed　his　whole　body；　and　then　was　still。
　　　　　　　An　instant　later　Molly　unscrewed　her　eyes；　shrinking　from　the　blow　she　still　expected。　She　saw　her　father　collapsed　on　the　rocky　beach；　and　amazement　emptied　her　face。　She　leaped　toward　him；　crying；　〃Papa；　Papa；　are　you　all　right？　Please；　don't　die；　I'm　sorry　I'm　such　a　wicked　girl！　Don't　die；　I'll　be　good；　I　promise　I'll　be　good。〃　Heedless　of　her　bleeding　knees；　she　knelt　beside　him；　turning　his　face　so　he　wouldn't　breathe　in　sand；　and　then　vainly　trying　to　sit　him　up。
　　　　　　　〃He　was　going　to　kill　you；〃　I　told　her；　trying　to　make　sense　of　the　whole　situation。
　　　　　　　〃No。　He　hits　me；　a　bit；　when　I　am　bad；　but　he'd　never　kill　me。　And　when　he　is　sober　and　not　sick；　he　cries　about　it　and　begs　me　not　be　too　bad　and　make　him　angry。　I　should　take　more　care　not　to　anger　him。　Oh；　Newboy；　I　think　he's　dead。〃
　　　　　　　I　wasn't　sure　myself；　but　in　a　moment　he　gave　an　awful　groan　and　opened　his　eyes　a　bit。　Whatever　fit　had　felled　him　seemed　to　have　passed。　Dazedly　he　accepted　Molly's　self…accusations　and　anxious　help；　and　even　my　reluctant　aid。　He　leaned　on　the　two　of　us　as　we　wove　our　way　down　the　rocky　beach　over　the　uneven　footing。　Nosy　followed　us；　by　turns　barking　and　racing　in　circles　around　us。
　　　　　　　The　few　folk　who　saw　us　pass　paid　no　attention　to　us。　I　guessed　that　the　sight　of　Molly　helping　her　papa　home　was　not　strange　to　any　of　them。　I　helped　them　as　far　as　the　door　of　a　small　chandlery；　Molly　sniffling　apologies　every　step　of　the　way。　I　left　them　there；　and　Nosy　and　I　found　our　way　back　up　the　winding　streets　and　hilly　road　to　the　keep；　wondering　every　step　at　the　ways　of　folk。
　　　　　　　Having　found　the　town　and　the　beggar　children　once；　they　drew　me　like　a　magnet　every　day　afterward。　Burrich's　days　were　taken　up　with　his　duties；　and　his　evenings　with　the　drink　and　merriment　of　the　Springfest。　He　paid　little　mind　to　my　ings　and　goings；　as　long　as　each　evening　found　me　on　my　pallet　before　his　hearth。　In　truth；　I　think　he　had　little　idea　of　what　to　do　with　me；　other　than　see　that　I　was　fed　well　enough　to　grow　heartily　and　that　I　slept　safe　within　doors　at　night。　It　could　not　have　been　a　good　time　for　him。　He　had　been　Chivalry's　man；　and　now　that　Chivalry