tp.wyrd sisters-第17部分

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amp　streets　and　to　the　open　gates　of　the　castle。
　She　gave　the　guards　a　nod　as　she　went　through。　It　didn't　occur　to　either　of　them　to　stop　her　because　witches；　like　beekeepers　and　big　gorillas；　went　where　they　liked。　In　any　case；　an　elderly　lady　banging　a　bowl　with　a　spoon　was　probably　not　the　spearhead　of　an　invasion　force。
　Life　as　a　castle　guard　in　Lancre　was　extremely　boring。　One　of　them；　leaning　on　his　spear　as　Nanny　went　past；　wished　there　could　be　some　excitement　in　his　job。　He　will　shortly　learn　the　error　of　his　ways。　The　other　guard　pulled　himself　together；　and　saluted。
　'Mornin'；　Mum。'
　'Mornin'；　our　Shawn；'　said　Nanny；　and　set　off　across　the　inner　courtyard。
　Like　all　witches　Nanny　Ogg　had　an　aversion　to　front　doors。　She　went　around　the　back　and　entered　the　keep　via　the　kitchens。　A　couple　of　maids　curtsied　to　her。　So　did　the　head　housekeeper；　whom　Nanny　Ogg　vaguely　recognised　as　a　daughter…in…law；　although　she　couldn't　remember　her　name。
　And　so　it　was　that　when　Lord　Felmet　came　out　of　his　bedroom　he　saw；　ing　along　the　passage　towards　him；　a　witch。　There　was　no　doubt　about　it。　From　the　tip　of　her　pointed　hat　to　her　boots；　she　was　a　witch。　And　she　was　ing　for　him。
　
　Magrat　slid　helplessly　down　a　bank。　She　was　soaked　to　the　skin　and　covered　in　mud。　Somehow；　she　thought　bitterly；　when　you　read　these　spells　you　always　think　of　it　being　a　fine　sunny　morning　in　late　spring。　And　she　had　forgotten　to　check　what　bloody　kind　of　bloody　fern　it　bloody　was。
　A　tree　tipped　a　load　of　raindrops　on　to　her。　Magrat　pushed　her　sodden　hair　out　of　her　eyes　and　sat　down　heavily　on　a　fallen　log；　from　which　grew　great　clusters　of　pale　and　embarrassing　fungus。
　It　had　seemed　such　a　lovely　idea。　She'd　had　great　hopes　of　the　coven。　She　was　sure　it　wasn't　right　to　be　a　witch　alone；　you　could　get　funny　ideas。　She'd　dreamed　of　wise　discussions　of　natural　energies　while　a　huge　moon　hung　in　the　sky；　and　then　possibly　they'd　try　a　few　of　the　old　dances　described　in　some　of　Goodie　Whemper's　books。　Not　actually　naked；　or　sky　clad　as　it　was　rather　delightfully　called；　because　Magrat　had　no　illusions　about　the　shape　of　her　own　body　and　the　older　witches　seemed　solid　across　the　hems；　and　anyway　that　wasn't　absolutely　necessary。　The　books　said　that　the　old…time　witches　had　sometimes　danced　in　their　shifts。　Magrat　had　wondered　about　how　you　danced　in　shifts。　Perhaps　there　wasn't　room　for　them　all　to　dance　at　once；　she'd　thought。
　What　she　hadn't　expected　was　a　couple　of　crochety　old　women　who　were　barely　civil　at　the　best　of　times　and　simply　didn't　enter　into　the　spirit　of　things。　Oh；　they'd　been　kind　to　the　baby；　in　their　own　way；　but　she　couldn't　help　feeling　that　if　a　witch　was　kind　to　someone　it　was　entirely　for　deeply　selfish　reasons。
　And　when　they　did　magic；　they　made　it　look　as　ordinary　as　housekeeping。　They　didn't　wear　any　occult　jewellery。　Magrat　was　a　great　believer　in　occult　jewellery。
　It　was　all　going　wrong。　And　she　was　going　home。
　She　stood　up；　wrapped　her　damp　dress　around　her；　and　set　off　through　the　misty　woods　。　。　。
　。　。　。　and　heard　the　running　feet。　Someone　was　ing　through　them　at　high　speed；　without　caring　who　heard　him。　and　over　the　top　of　the　sound　of　breaking　twigs　was　a　curious　dull　jingling。　Magrat　sidled　behind　a　dripping　holly　bush　and　peered　cautiously　through　the　leaves。
　It　was　Shawn；　the　youngest　of　Nanny　Ogg's　sons；　and　the　metal　noise　was　caused　by　his　suit　of　chain　mail；　which　was　several　sizes　too　big　for　him。　Lancre　is　a　poor　kingdom；　and　over　the　centuries　the　chain　mail　of　the　palace　guards　has　had　to　be　handed　down　from　one　generation　to　another；　often　on　the　end　of　a　long　stick。　This　one　made　him　look　like　a　bulletproof　bloodhound。
　She　stepped　out　in　front　of　him。
　'Is　that　you；　Mss　Magrat？'　said　Shawn；　raising　the　flap　of　mail　that　covered　his　eyes。　'It's　mam！'
　'What's　happened　to　her？'
　'He's　locked　her　up！　Said　she　was　ing　to　poison　him！　And　I　can't　get　down　to　the　dungeons　to　see　because　there's　all　new　guards！　They　say　she's　been　put　in　chains…'　Shawn　frowned　…　'and　that　means　something　horrible's　going　to　happen。　You　know　what　she's　like　when　she　loses　her　temper。　We'll　never　hear　the　last　of　it；　miz。'
　'Where　were　you　going？'　demanded　Magrat。
　To　fetch　our　Jason　and　our　Wane　and　our　Darron　and　our…'
　'Wait　a　moment。'
　'Oh；　Mss　Magrat；　suppose　they　try　to　torture　her？　You　know　what　a　tongue　she's　got　on　her　when　she　gets　angry…'
　'I'm　thinking；'　said　Magrat。
　'He's　put　his　own　bodyguards　on　the　gates　and　everything…'
　'Look；　just　shut　up　a　minute；　will　you；　Shawn？'
　'When　our　Jason　finds　out；　he's　going　to　give　the　duke　a　real　seeing…to；　miz。　He　says　it's　about　time　someone　did。'
　Nanny　Ogg's　Jason　was　a　young　man　with　the　build　and；　Magrat　had　always　thought；　the　brains　of　a　herd　of　oxen。　Thick…skinned　though　he　was；　she　doubted　whether　he　could　survive　a　hail　of　arrows。
　'Don't　tell　him　yet；'　she　said　thoughtfully。　'There　could　be　another　way　。　。　。'
　'I'll　go　and　find　Granny　Weatherwax；　shall　I；　miz？'　said　Shawn；　hopping　from　one　leg　to　another。　'She'll　know　what　to　do；　she's　a　witch。'
　Magrat　stood　absolutely　still。　She　had　thought　she　was　angry　before；　but　now　she　was　furious。　She　was　wet　and　cold　and　hungry　and　this　person　…　once　upon　a　time；　she　heard　herself　thinking；　she　would　have　burst　into　tears　at　this　point。
　'Oops；'　said　Shawn。　'Um。　I　didn't　mean。　Whoops。　Um　。　。　。'　He　backed　away。
　'If　you　happen　to　see　Granny　Weatherwax；'　said　Magrat　slowly；　in　tones　that　should　have　etched　her　words　into　glass；　'you　can　tell　her　that　I　will　sort　it　all　out。　Now　go　away　before　I　turn　you　into　a　frog。　You　look　like　one　anyway。'
　She　turned；　hitched　up　her　skirts；　and　ran　like　hell　towards　her　cottage。
　
　Lord　Felmet　was　one　of　nature's　gloaters。　He　was　good　at　it。
　'Quite　fortable；　are　we？'　he　said。
　Nanny　Ogg　considered　this。　'Apart　from　these　stocks；　you　mean？'　she　said。
　'I　am　impervious　to　your　foul　blandishments；'　said　the　duke。　'I　scorn　your　devious　wiles。　You　are　to　be　tortured；　I'll　have　you　know。'
　This　didn't　appear　to　have　the　required　effect。　Nanny　was　staring　around　the　dungeon　with　the　vaguely　interested　gaze　of　a　sightseer。
　'And　then　you　will　be　burned；'　said　the　duchess。
　'Okay；'　said　Nanny。
　'Okay？'
　'Well；　it's　bloody　freezing　down　here。　What's　that　big　wardrobe　thing　with　the　spikes？'
　The　duke　was　trembling。　'Aha；'　he　said。　'Now　you　realise；　eh？　That；　my　dear　lady；　is　an　Iron　Maiden。　It's　the　latest　thing。　Well　may　you…'
　'Can　I　have　a　go　in　it？'
　'Your　pleas　fall　on　deaf　。　。　。　'　The　duke's　voice　trailed　off。　His　twitch　started　up。
　The　duchess　leaned　forward　until　her　big　red　face　was　inches　away　from　Nanny's　nose。
　'This　insouciance　gives　you　pleasure；'　she　hissed；　'but　soon　you　will　laugh　on　the　other　side　of　your　face！'
　'It's　only　got　this　side；'　said　Nanny。
　The　duchess　fingered　a　tray　of　implements　lovingly。　'We　shall　see；'　she　said；　picking　up　a　pair　of　pliers。
　'And　you　need　not　think　any　others　of　your　people　will　e　to　your　aid；'　said　the　duke；　who　was　sweating　despite　the　chill。　'We　alone　hold　the　keys　to　this　dungeon。　Ha　ha。　You　will　be　an　example　to　all　those　who　have　been　spreading　malicious　rumours　about　me。　Do　not　protest　your　innocence！　I　hear　the　voices　all　the　time；　lying　。　。　。　'
　The　duchess　gripped　him　ferociously　by　the　arm。　'Enough；'　she　rasped。　'e；　Leonal。　We　will　let　her　reflect　on　her　fate　for　a　while。'
　'。　。　。the　faces　。　。　。　wicked　lies　。　。　。　I　wasn't　there；　and　anyway　he　fell　。　。　。　my　porridge；　all　salty　。　。　。'　murmured　the　duke；　swaying。
　The　door　slammed　behind　them。　There　was　a　click　of　locks　and　a　thudding　of　bolts。
　Nanny　was　left　alone　in　the　gloom。　A　flickering　torch　high　on　the　wall　only　made　the　surrounding　darkness　more　forbidding。　Strange　metal　shapes；　designed　for　no　more　exalted　purpose　than　the　destruct…testing　of　the　human　body；　cast　unpleasant　shadows。　Nanny　Ogg　stirred　in　her　chains。
　'All　right；'　she　said。　'I　can　see　you。　Who　are　you？'
　King　Verence　stepped　forward。
　'I　saw　you　making　faces　behind　him；'　said　Nanny　Ogg。　'All　I　could　do　to　keep　a　straight　face　myself。'
　'I　wasn't　making　faces；　woman；　I　was　scowling。'
　Nanny　squinted。　'Ere；　I　know　you；'　she　said。　'You're　dead。'
　'I　prefer　the　term　〃passed　over〃；'　said　the　king。
　'I'd　bow＇11＇；'　said　Nanny。　'Only　there's　all　these　chains　and　things。　You　haven't　seen　a　cat　around　here；　have　you？'
　'Yes。　He's　in　the　room　upstairs；　asleep。'
　Nanny　appeared　to　relax。　'That's　all　right；　then；'　she　said。　'I　was　beginning　to　worry。'　She　stared　around　the　dungeon　again。　'What's　that　big　bed　thing　over　there？'
　'The　rack；'　said　the　king；　and　explained　its　use。　Nanny　Ogg　nodded。
　'What　a　busy　little　mind　he's　got；'　she　said。
　'I　fear；　madam；　that　I　may　be　responsible　for　your　present　predicament；'　said　Verence；　sitting　down　on　or　at　least　just　above　a　handy　anvil。　'I　wished　to　attract　a　witch。'
　'I　suppose　you're　no　good　at　locks？'
　'I　fear　they　would　be　beyond　my　capabilities　as　yet　。　。　。　but　surely…'　the　ghost　of　the　king　waved　a　hand　in　a　vague　gesture　which　enpassed　the　dungeon；　Nanny　and　the　manacles　…　'to　a　witch　all　this　is　just　so　much…'
　'Solid　iron；'　said　Nanny。　'You　might　be　able　to　walk　through　it；　but　I　can't。'
　'I　didn't　realise；'　said　Verence。　'I　thought　witches　could　do　magic。'
　'Young　man；'　said　Nanny；　'you　will　oblige　me　by　shutting　up。'
　'Madam！　I　am　a　king！'
　'You　are　also　dead；　so　I　wouldn't　aspire　to　hold　any　opinions　if　I　was　you。　Now　just　be　quiet　and　wait；　like　a　good　boy。'
　Against　all　his　instincts；　the　king　found　himself　obeying。　There　was　no　gainsaying　that　tone　of　voice。　It　spoke　to　him　across　the　years；　from　his　days　in　the　nursery。　Its　echoes　told　him　that　if　he　didn't　eat　it　all　up　he　would　be　sent　straight　to　bed。
　Nanny　Ogg　stirred　in　her　chains。　She　hoped　they　would　turn　up　soon。
　'Er；'　said　the　king　uneasily。　'I　feel　I　owe　you　an　explanation　。　。　。'
　
　'Thank　you；'　said　Granny　Weatherwax；　and　because　Shawn　seemed　to　be　expecting　it；　added；　'You've　been　a　good　boy。'
　'Yes'm；'　said　Shawn。　'M'm？'
　'Was　there　something　else？'
　Shawn　twisted　the　end　of　his　chain…mail　vest　out　of　embarrassment。　'It's　not　true　what　everyone's　been　saying　about　our　mam；　is　it；　m'm？'　he　said。　'She　doesn't　go　round　putting　evil　curses　on　folk。　Except　for　Daviss　the　butcher。　And　old　Cakebread；　after　he　kicked　her　cat。　But　they　wasn't　what　you'd　call　real　curses；　was　they；　m'm？'
　'You　can　stop　calling　me　m'm。'
　'Yes；　m'm。'
　'They've　been　saying　that；　have　they？'
　'Yes；　m'm。'
　'Well；　your　mam　does　upset　people　sometimes。'
　Shawn　hopped　from　one　leg　to　another。
　'Yes；　m'm；　but　they　says　terrible　things　about　you；　m'm；　savin'　your　presence；　m'm。'
　Granny　stiffened。
　'What　things？'
　'Don't　like　to　say；　m'm。'
　'What　things？'
　Shawn　considered　his　next　move。　There　weren't　many　choices。
　'A　lot　of　things　what　aren't　true；　m'm；'　he　said；　establishing　his　credentials　as　early　as　possible。　'All　sorts　of　things。　Like；　old　Verence　was　a　bad　king　and　you　helped　him　on　the　throne；　and　you　caused　that　bad　winter　the　other　year；　and　old　Norbut's　cow　dint　give　no　milk　after　you　looked　at　it。　Lot　of　lies；　m'm；'　he　added；　loyally。
　'Right；'　said　G