tp.wyrd sisters-第16部分

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　'Yes；　I　already　said。'
　'I　didn't　mean　the　people；　I　meant　the　kingdom。'
　Granny　explained。　Nanny　interrupted　a　few　times　with　brief　questions。　It　didn't　occur　to　her　to　doubt　anything　she　heard。　Granny　Weatherwax　never　made　things　up。
　At　the　end　of　it　she　said；　'Well。'
　'My　feelings　exactly。'
　'Fancy　that。'
　'Quite　so。'
　'And　what　did　the　animals　do　then？'
　'Went　away。　It　had　brought　them　there；　it　let　them　go。'
　'No　one　et　anyone　else？'
　'Not　where　I　saw。'
　'Funny　thing。'
　'Right　enough。'
　Nanny　Ogg　stared　at　the　setting　sun。
　'I　don't　reckon　a　lot　of　kingdoms　do　that　sort　of　thing；'　she　said。　'You　saw　the　theatre。　Kings　and　such　are　killing　one　another　the　whole　time。　Their　kingdoms　just　make　the　best　of　it。　How　e　this　one　takes　offence　all　of　a　sudden？'
　'It's　been　here　a　long　time；'　said　Granny。
　'So's　everywhere；'　said　Nanny；　and　added；　with　the　air　of　a　lifetime　student；　'Everywhere's　been　where　it　is　ever　since　it　was　first　put　there。　It's　called　geography。'
　'That's　just　about　land；'　said　Granny。　'It's　not　the　same　as　a　kingdom。　A　kingdom　is　made　up　of…all　sorts　of　things。　Ideas。　Loyalties。　Memories；　It　all　sort　of　exists　together。　And　then　all　these　things　create　some　kind　of　life。　Not　a　body　kind　of　life；　more　like　a　living　idea。　Made　up　of　everything　that's　alive　and　what　they're　thinking。　And　what　the　people　before　them　thought。'
　Magrat　reappeared　and　began　to　lay　the　fire　with　the　air　of　one　in　a　trance。
　'I　can　see　you've　been　thinking　about　this　a　lot；'　said　Nanny；　speaking　very　slowly　and　carefully。　'And　this　kingdom　wants　a　better　king；　is　that　it？'
　'No！　That　is；　yes。　Look…'　she　leaned　forward　…　'it　doesn't　have　the　same　kind　of　likes　and　dislikes　as　people；　right？'
　Nanny　Ogg　leaned　back。　'Well；　it　wouldn't；　would　it；'　she　ventured。
　'It　doesn't　care　if　people　are　good　or　bad。　I　don't　think　it　could　even　tell；　any　more　than　you　could　tell　if　an　ant　was　a　good　ant。　But　it　expects　the　king　to　care　for　it。'
　'Yes；　but；'　said　Nanny　wretchedly。　She　was　being　a　bit　afraid　of　the　gleam　in　Granny's　eye。　'Lots　of　people　have　killed　each　other　to　bee　king　of　Lancre。　They've　done　all　kinds　of　murder。'
　'Don't　matter！　Don't　matter！'　said　Granny；　waving　her　arms。　She　started　counting　on　her　fingers。　'For　why；'　she　said。　'One；　kings　go　round　killing　each　other　because　it's　all　part　of　destiny　and　such　and　doesn't　count　as　murder；　and　two；　they　killed　for　the　kingdom。　That's　the　important　bit。　But　this　new　man　just　wants　the　power。　He　hates　the　kingdom。'
　'It's　a　bit　like　a　dog；　really；'　said　Magrat。　Granny　looked　at　her　with　her　mouth　open　to　frame　some　suitable　retort；　and　then　her　face　softened。
　'Very　much　like；'　she　said。　'A　dog　doesn't　care　if　its　master's　good　or　bad；　just　so　long　as　it　likes　the　dog。'
　'Well；　then；'　said　Nanny。　'No…one　and　nothing　likes　Felmet。　What　are　we　going　to　do　about　it？'
　'Nothing。　You　know　we　can't　meddle。'
　'You　saved　that　baby；'　said　Nanny。
　'That's　not　meddling！'
　'Have　it　your　way；'　said　Nanny。　'But　maybe　one　day　he'll　e　back。　Destiny　again。　And　you　said　we　should　hide　the　crown。　It'll　all　e　back；　mark　my　words。　Hurry　up　with　that　tea；　Magrat。'
　'What　are　you　going　to　do　about　the　burghers？'　said　Granny。
　'I　told　them　they'll　have　to　sort　it　out　themselves。　Once　we　use　magic；　I　said；　it'd　never　stop。　You　know　that。'
　'Right；'　said　Granny；　but　there　was　a　hint　of　wistfulness　in　her　voice。
　'I'll　tell　you　this；　though；'　said　Nanny。　'They　didn't　like　it　much。　They　was　muttering　when　they　left。'
　Magrat　blurted　out；　'You　know　the　Fool；　who　lives　up　at　the　castle？'
　'Little　man　with　runny　eyes？'　said　Nanny；　relieved　that　the　conversation　had　returned　to　more　normal　matters。
　'Not　that　little；'　said　Magrat。　'What's　his　name；　do　you　happen　to　know？'
　'He's　just　called　Fool；'　said　Granny。　'No　job　for　a　man；　that。　Running　around　with　bells　on。'
　'His　mother　was　a　Beldame；　from　over　Blackglass　way；'　said　Nanny　Ogg；　whose　knowledge　of　the　genealogy　of　Lancre　was　legendary。　'Bit　of　a　beauty　when　she　was　younger。　Broke　many　a　heart；　she　did。　Bit　of　a　scandal　there；　I　did　hear。　Granny's　right；　though。　At　the　end　of　the　day；　a　Fool's　a　Fool。'
　'Why　d'you　want　to　know；　Magrat？'　said　Granny　Weather…wax。
　'Oh　。　。　。　one　of　the　girls　in　the　village　was　asking　me；'　said　Magrat；　crimson　to　the　ears。
　Nanny　cleared　her　throat；　and　grinned　at　Granny　Weatherwax；　who　sniffed　aloofly。
　'It's　a　steady　job；'　said　Nanny。　'I'll　grant　you　that。'
　'Huh；'　said　Granny。　'A　man　who　tinkles　all　day。　No　kind　of　husband　for　anyone；　I'd　say。'
　'You　…　she'd　always　know　where　he　was；'　said　Nanny；　who　was　enjoying　this。　'You'd　just　have　to　listen。'
　'Never　trust　a　man　with　horns　on　his　hat；'　said　Granny　flatly。
　Magrat　stood　up　and　pulled　herself　together；　giving　the　impression　that　some　bits　had　to　e　quite　a　long　way。
　'You're　a　pair　of　silly　old　women；'　she　said　quietly。　'And　I'm　going　home。'
　She　marched　off　down　the　path　to　her　village　without　another　word。
　The　old　witches　stared　at　one　another。
　'Well！'　said　Nanny。
　'It's　all　these　books　they　read　today；'　said　Granny。　'It　overheats　the　brain。　You　haven't　been　putting　ideas　in　her　head；　have　you？'
　'What　do　you　mean？'
　'You　know　what　I　mean。'
　Nanny　stood　up。　'I　certainly　don't　see　why　a　girl　should　have　to　be　single　her　whole　life　just　because　you　think　it's　the　right　thing；'　she　said。　'Anyway；　if　people　didn't　have　children；　where　would　we　be？'
　'None　of　your　girls　is　a　witch；'　said　Granny；　also　standing　up。
　'They　could　have　been；'　said　Nanny　defensively。
　'Yes；　if　you'd　let　them　work　it　out　for　themselves；　instead　of　encouragin'　them　to　throw　themselves　at　men。'
　'They're　good…lookin'。　You　can't　stand　in　the　way　of　human　nature。　You'd　know　that　if　you'd　ever…'
　'If　I'd　ever　what？'　said　Granny　Weatherwax；　quietly。
　They　stared　at　one　another　in　shocked　silence。　They　could　both　feel　it；　the　tension　creeping　into　their　bodies　from　the　ground　itself；　the　hot；　aching　feeling　that　they'd　started　something　they　must　finish；　no　matter　what。
　'I　knew　you　when　you　were　a　gel；'　said　Nanny　sullenly。　'Stuck…up；　you　were。'
　'At　least　I　spent　most　of　the　time　upright；'　said　Granny。　'Disgustin'；　that　was。　Everyone　thought　so。'
　'How　would　you　know？'　snapped　Nanny。
　'You　were　the　talk　of　the　whole　village；'　said　Granny。
　'And　you　were；　too！　They　called　you　the　Ice　Maiden。　Never　knew　that；　did　you？'　sneered　Nanny。
　'I　wouldn't　sully　my　lips　by　sayin'　what　they　called　you；'　shouted　Granny。
　'Oh　yes？'　shrieked　Nanny。　'Well；　let　me　tell　you；　my　good　woman…'
　'Don't　you　dare　talk　to　me　in　that　tone　of　voice！　I'm　not　anyone's　good　woman…'
　'Right！'
　There　was　another　silence　while　they　stared　at　one　another；　nose　to　nose；　but　this　silence　was　a　whole　quantum　level　of　animosity　higher　than　the　last　one；　you　could　have　roasted　a　turkey　in　the　heat　of　this　silence。　There　was　no　more　shouting。　Things　had　got　far　too　bad　for　shouting。　Now　the　voices　came　in　low　and　full　of　menace。
　'I　should　have　known　better　than　to　listen　to　Magrat；'　growled　Granny。　'This　coven　business　is　ridiculous。　It　attracts　entirely　the　wrong　sort　of　people。'
　'I'm　very　glad　we　had　this　little　talk；'　hissed　Nanny　Ogg。　'Cleared　the　air。'
　She　looked　down。
　'And　you're　in　my　territory；　madam。'
　'Madam！'
　Thunder　rolled　in　the　distance。　The　permanent　Lancre　storm；　after　a　trip　through　the　foothills；　had　drifted　back　towards　the　mountains　for　a　one…night　stand。　The　last　rays　of　sunset　shone　livid　through　the　clouds；　and　fat　drops　of　water　began　to　thud　on　the　witches'　pointed　hats。
　'I　really　don't　have　time　for　all　this；'　snapped　Granny；　trembling。　'I　have　far　more　important　things　to　do。'
　'And　me；'　said　Nanny。
　'Good　night　to　you。'
　'And　you。'
　They　turned　their　backs　on　one　another　and　strode　away　into　the　downpour。
　
　The　midnight　rain　drummed　on　Magrat's　curtained　windows　as　she　thumbed　her　way　purposefully　through　Goodie　Whemper's　books　of　what；　for　want　of　any　better　word；　could　be　called　natural　magic。
　The　old　woman　had　been　a　great　collector　of　such　things　and；　most　unusually；　had　written　them　down；　witches　didn't　normally　have　much　use　for　literacy。　But　book　after　book　was　filled　with　tiny；　meticulous　handwriting　detailing　the　results　of　patient　experiments　in　applied　magic。　Goodie　Whemper　had；　in　fact；　been　a　research　witch。＇10＇
　Magrat　was　looking　up　love　spells。　Every　time　she　shut　her　eyes　she　saw　a　red…and…yellow　figure　on　the　darkness　inside。　Something　had　to　be　done　about　it。
　She　shut　the　book　with　a　snap　and　looked　at　her　notes。　First；　she　had　to　find　out　his　name。　The　old　peel…the…apple　trick　should　do　that。　You　just　peeled　an　apple；　getting　one　length　of　peel；　and　threw　the　peel　behind　you；　it'd　land　in　the　shape　of　his　name。　Millions　of　girls　had　tried　it　and　had　inevitably　been　disappointed；　unless　the　loved　one　was　called　Scscs。　That　was　because　they　hadn't　used　an　unripe　Sunset　Wonder　picked　three　minutes　before　noon　on　the　first　frosty　day　in　the　autumn　and　peeled　left…handedly　using　a　silver　knife　with　a　blade　less　than　half　an　inch　wide；　Goodie　had　done　a　lot　of　experimenting　and　was　quite　explicit　on　the　subject。　Magrat　always　kept　a　few　by　for　emergencies；　and　this　probably　was　one。
　She　took　a　deep　breath；　and　threw　the　peel　over　her　shoulder。
　She　turned　slowly。
　I'm　a　witch；　she　told　herself。　This　is　just　another　spell。　There's　nothing　to　be　frightened　of。　Get　a　grip　of　yourself；　girl。　Woman。
　She　looked　down；　and　bit　the　back　of　her　hand　out　of　nervousness　and　embarrassment。
　'Who'd　have　thought　it？'　she　said　aloud。
　It　had　worked。
　She　turned　back　to　her　notes；　her　heart　fluttering。　What　was　next？　Ah；　yes　…　gathering　fern　seed　in　a　silk　handkerchief　at　dawn。　Goodie　Whemper's　tiny　handwriting　went　on　for　two　pages　of　detailed　botanical　instructions　which；　if　carefully　followed；　resulted　in　the　kind　of　love　potion　that　had　to　be　kept　in　a　tightly…stoppered　jar　at　the　bottom　of　a　bucket　of　iced　water。
　Magrat　pulled　open　her　back　door。　The　thunder　had　passed；　but　now　the　first　grey　light　of　the　new　day　was　drowned　in　a　steady　drizzle。　But　it　still　qualified　as　dawn；　and　Magrat　was　determined。
　Brambles　tugging　at　her　dress；　her　hair　plastered　against　her　head　by　the　rain；　she　set　out　into　the　dripping　forest。
　The　trees　shook；　even　without　a　breeze。
　
　Nanny　Ogg　was　also　out　early。　She　hadn't　been　able　to　get　any　sleep　anyway；　and　besides；　she　was　worried　about　Greebo。　Greebo　was　one　of　her　few　blind　spots。　While　intellectually　she　would　concede　that　he　was　indeed　a　fat；　cunning；　evil…smelling　multiple　rapist；　she　nevertheless　instinctively　pictured　him　as　the　small　fluffy　kitten　he　had　been　decades　before。　The　fact　that　he　had　once　chased　a　female　wolf　up　a　tree　and　seriously　surprised　a　she…bear　who　had　been　innocently　digging　for　roots　didn't　stop　her　worrying　that　something　bad　might　happen　to　him。　It　was　generally　considered　by　everyone　else　in　the　kingdom　that　the　only　thing　that　might　slow　Greebo　down　was　a　direct　meteorite　strike。　Now　she　was　using　a　bit　of　elementary　magic　to　follow　his　trail；　although　anyone　with　a　sense　of　smell　could　have　managed　it。　It　had　led　her　through　the　damp　streets　and　to　the