Note/L10N/KDQ/2.03/Books/povssglasskagouti3?
povssglasskagouti3 
原文
<font face=1><br>
<DIV align="center">Milbereth and the Glass Kagouti
<p>
By Lopnigart the King
<p>
Part 3 Roscyxa
<p>
<DIV align="left"><IMG src="Book/fancy_font/s_61x62.dds" width=51 height=61>he rounded the first bend and froze. In front of her, blocking the path, was the ugliest looking woman she had ever seen. The expression on the creature's face was pure malevolence. Milbereth knew at once that she was in serious trouble. As far as she knew the only sure way of disposing of witches was inside ovens found in gingerbread cottages. There was a rumour that one had been flattened when a house landed on her but neither option was a possibility at that juncture. Milbereth turned on her heel and sped back towards the house. There were others there.
<p>
Or rather, there had been. As she raced into the garden there was no longer any sign of Laire. With a bit of luck she could get into the house and get help from the agent. Milbereth flung herself at the door.
<p>
Had she bothered to turn around she might have noticed that the witch had not followed her but Milbereth was in the grip of atavistic fear. Danger lurked outside. A home, any home, was a safe haven. She burst into the empty hall and slammed the door shut behind her, resting her head against it, panting with exertion and fear.
<p>
There was a cackle behind her and Milbereth squealed in shock. The witch was already there. So too was Albanic, and it was immediately clear that there would be no help from him. Milbereth grabbed for the door handle again.
<p>
The witch twitched her fingers and Milbereth was paralysed.
<p>
"Meddling in affairs that don't concern you?" The evil creature turned her warty face towards the agent. "I won't mark her physically. When I leave she'll be yours to do as you like with."
<p>
Things were looking grim; and grimmer still when she noticed the form of Laire equally paralysed on the staircase above her. Albanic was rubbing his fingers over her cheek. His hot repulsive breath blew into her face.
<p>
"She's not so young, but she'll do!"
<p>
The door was thrown open violently. Rand stood in the doorway. His eyes were fixed on the witch. "I thought I detected your foul presence on the air. Leave her alone. She's just a visitor."
<p>
"Not just a visitor." The witch was not the slightest bit perturbed by the new arrival. "She knows of the glass kagouti."
<p>
How had the witch discovered that? Surely Laire had not talked of it?
<p>
It was as if Milbereth had spoken the question aloud.
<p>
"Yes, my dear, you are not the only one to have searched Hawle; prevented by magical means to enter only one house. When chance became available I took it, as did you. At least I did so using legal means. We met, if you recall. I was using a spell of illusion at the time so I will excuse you for not recognising me."
<p>
If the witch was untroubled by the presence of Rand the same could not be said for Albanic. He had moved away from Milbereth as soon as he realised who was in the doorway. He had taken something from his pocket. Unable to move Milbereth had assumed it was a weapon but as he moved into her line of vision she could see it was rolled up papers. Was he hoping to use it as a rudimentary cosh?
<p>
The witch was still talking. "I am the only one who will get their hands on that kagouti. I know you don't have it but I believe you know where it is. It will be less painful for you if you tell me."
<p>
Milbereth's vocal chords were paralysed as much as the rest of her. Was she supposed to try to answer with her eyes?
<p>
Rand moved forward menacingly but Albanic stepped in his way. "Don't try anything. This is a list of properties for sale."
<p>
Rand blenched. It had to be a truly fearsome weapon, whatever it looked like. Was it the weight of the lies it contained? Despite his obvious worry, Rand kept advancing.
<p>
The witch grunted. "Why are you wasting my time?"
<p>
Rand threw himself at Albanic, legs and arms whirling in a display of martial arts that would have made Milbereth gasp if she had been able to. The roll of paper flew out of the hapless agent's hands. Rand grabbed it and charged at Albanic with every intention of using it against him. The unpleasant odour emanating from the man was becoming stronger. Stale urine, Milbareth recognised, an animal's. Was it that of a horse? Did the man sleep in a stable?
<p>
Albanic was cowering now, a gibbering wreck. Yet even if he was out of action it was all due to Rand keeping him there. Milbereth was still at the mercy of the witch.
<p>
Then disaster struck. The witch twitched her fingers and both Albanic and Rand were as still as statues.
<p>
"The last person I interviewed here did not stay the course. Are you going to tell me where it is?"
<p>
Milbereth was not particularly brave and would certainly have done so had she known. As it was she could not even speak. Roscyxa must have realised her plight. She had her voice back.
<p>
"I don?t know," she gasped.
<p>
"Come, come! You but waste my time."
<p>
Milbereth could think of nothing more than to repeat the words more desperately than ever.
<p>
The witch stared at her. "You are clearly prepared to keep me in the role of inquisitor for longer than I am willing to play it. Let see if you enjoy watching me torment? him!"
<p>
Rand was thrown viciously hard across the room. No sound came from him but his face showed his agony. The witch flicked her fingers so he was pinned against the ceiling. Then she let him fall onto the furniture. Milbereth felt sick. Rand had come to protect her. Now he needed protection and she had no clue what she could do. She yelled, trying for time, "Leave him. Leave him. I will tell you what I know."
<p>
With a vindictive twitch that must have given Rand a blow to the solar plexus, the witch abandoned her games with the ferryman.
<p>
"So. Where is it?"
<p>
Milbereth faced the witch. "If you examine my mind, you will find that I am telling the truth. If you will not believe me, if you insist upon tearing me limb from limb, such is my fate. But do not hurt this youth further or my spirit will torment you for eternity. I do not know where your precious glass kagouti is. I wish I'd never heard of it!"
<p>
"My kagouti?" Of all the words the witch might have reacted to these seemed the oddest. "You are the one trailing half way across the known world looking for it!"
<p>
"Yes. And I don't even know why."
<p>
"I do. I understand it well because I feel the pull of it myself. Something left undone, unfinished, incomplete - it draws you on. It is a need, an obsession."
<p>
The witch's face was glowing. Somehow, somewhere beneath the warts and wrinkles, the hairs and misshapen features, Milbereth could make out the face of a woman that looked very much like herself. Shocked at the image she blurted: "But why? It doesn't matter!"
<p>
This time, as she said it aloud, she understood that in fact it didn't matter. A life was not a wasted one because you did not do everything. In a well-lived existence there would be many little failures but they did not negate the validity of the life itself. Why allow one mishap to eclipse the true purpose of living?
<p>
Milbereth's assertion had angered the witch. Any faint resemblance she imagined to herself had vanished.
<p>
"You seek to play games with me, stupid woman! You cannot win. I will take you to the point of death if I must but you will tell me where to find the kagouti!"
<p>
Milbereth saw how obsession had made the witch blind and deaf to anything other than what she wanted to hear. There was to be no escape. It seemed more than ironical that Milbereth realised how this experience was teaching her a salutary lesson but would not give her the chance to put it into effect.
<p>
She closed her eyes. There was a dull explosion and she waited for a blast of pain. None came. She opened her eyes cautiously. At first she saw no difference. Then she noticed that the witch's hand, raised in the act of casting a spell, was not moving. She on the other hand was no longer paralysed.
<p>
She turned to look behind her and was amazed to find she was staring into the face of Emmenthaler himself. The old wizard released Laire and Rand from their paralysis. He left Roscyxa and Albanic as they were.
<p>
Laire came running over. "Proopser, I knew you would save us. You always do in the end."
<p>
The old wizard clearly had affection for the sprite because he patted her head and smiled indulgently. "I am old, my dear. Time catches up with all of us in the end, even wizards. Only airy sprites like you can look forward to immortality. And as I will not be around to save you forever, you must find a way to save yourself!"
<p>
Emmenthaler turned to Milbereth. "Here we are. You are free to move. Are you going to resume your search for the kagouti?"
<p>
Whilst not being quite sure as to why, Milbereth knew that the search for the kagouti was a thing of the past. However she did not immediately answer the wizard, using her re-acquired mobility to run across to Rand to find out how badly he was hurt.
<p>
The wizard chuckled. "You know, my dear, I found that kagouti, a year or so after I thought I'd lost it. I came to tell you but you were so full of everything you'd done to find it I didn't have the heart to tell you. I was going to put it somewhere and let you discover it. Except, wherever I thought of putting it, you had already visited. I came to see that this search was dominating your thoughts. I remembered Roscyxa and what obsession had driven her to become. I wanted you to see."
<p>
He glanced at the paralysed figures and snapped his fingers. They disappeared. He smiled at Laire and she too vanished.
<p>
"Don't worry. They were never real, just phantoms of my conjuring. But this rough magic I now abjure. You must go back to Hawle and live a proper life. Oh, and by the way, Rand is real enough if that means anything to you. What you have experienced is not in vain. Life is not all strawberries and cream. Indeed you cannot truly savour the good things of life unless you have also tasted the bad. Now, be off with you."
<p>
Emmenthaler was gone in a puff of smoke.
<p>
Rand began: "Milbereth, I just wanted to ask?"
<p>
She interrupted. "I am going back to Hawle. After everything that's happened here I'd like a travelling companion. Are you up to it? Oh, and if you want to call me Arminda, I won't object."
<p>
A year later they were married.
<p>
There is of course a moral to this tale other than the obvious one of never trust a wizard. If you are going to spend a lot of time and effort doing something, make sure you're the one who'll benefit. Why suffer grief and heartache for someone else? They'll never thank you for it!
<p>
訳文
<font face=1><br>
<DIV align="center">Milbereth and the Glass Kagouti
<p>
By Lopnigart the King
<p>
Part 3 Roscyxa
<p>
<DIV align="left"><IMG src="Book/fancy_font/s_61x62.dds" width=51 height=61>he rounded the first bend and froze. In front of her, blocking the path, was the ugliest looking woman she had ever seen. The expression on the creature's face was pure malevolence. Milbereth knew at once that she was in serious trouble. As far as she knew the only sure way of disposing of witches was inside ovens found in gingerbread cottages. There was a rumour that one had been flattened when a house landed on her but neither option was a possibility at that juncture. Milbereth turned on her heel and sped back towards the house. There were others there.
<p>
Or rather, there had been. As she raced into the garden there was no longer any sign of Laire. With a bit of luck she could get into the house and get help from the agent. Milbereth flung herself at the door.
<p>
Had she bothered to turn around she might have noticed that the witch had not followed her but Milbereth was in the grip of atavistic fear. Danger lurked outside. A home, any home, was a safe haven. She burst into the empty hall and slammed the door shut behind her, resting her head against it, panting with exertion and fear.
<p>
There was a cackle behind her and Milbereth squealed in shock. The witch was already there. So too was Albanic, and it was immediately clear that there would be no help from him. Milbereth grabbed for the door handle again.
<p>
The witch twitched her fingers and Milbereth was paralysed.
<p>
"Meddling in affairs that don't concern you?" The evil creature turned her warty face towards the agent. "I won't mark her physically. When I leave she'll be yours to do as you like with."
<p>
Things were looking grim; and grimmer still when she noticed the form of Laire equally paralysed on the staircase above her. Albanic was rubbing his fingers over her cheek. His hot repulsive breath blew into her face.
<p>
"She's not so young, but she'll do!"
<p>
The door was thrown open violently. Rand stood in the doorway. His eyes were fixed on the witch. "I thought I detected your foul presence on the air. Leave her alone. She's just a visitor."
<p>
"Not just a visitor." The witch was not the slightest bit perturbed by the new arrival. "She knows of the glass kagouti."
<p>
How had the witch discovered that? Surely Laire had not talked of it?
<p>
It was as if Milbereth had spoken the question aloud.
<p>
"Yes, my dear, you are not the only one to have searched Hawle; prevented by magical means to enter only one house. When chance became available I took it, as did you. At least I did so using legal means. We met, if you recall. I was using a spell of illusion at the time so I will excuse you for not recognising me."
<p>
If the witch was untroubled by the presence of Rand the same could not be said for Albanic. He had moved away from Milbereth as soon as he realised who was in the doorway. He had taken something from his pocket. Unable to move Milbereth had assumed it was a weapon but as he moved into her line of vision she could see it was rolled up papers. Was he hoping to use it as a rudimentary cosh?
<p>
The witch was still talking. "I am the only one who will get their hands on that kagouti. I know you don't have it but I believe you know where it is. It will be less painful for you if you tell me."
<p>
Milbereth's vocal chords were paralysed as much as the rest of her. Was she supposed to try to answer with her eyes?
<p>
Rand moved forward menacingly but Albanic stepped in his way. "Don't try anything. This is a list of properties for sale."
<p>
Rand blenched. It had to be a truly fearsome weapon, whatever it looked like. Was it the weight of the lies it contained? Despite his obvious worry, Rand kept advancing.
<p>
The witch grunted. "Why are you wasting my time?"
<p>
Rand threw himself at Albanic, legs and arms whirling in a display of martial arts that would have made Milbereth gasp if she had been able to. The roll of paper flew out of the hapless agent's hands. Rand grabbed it and charged at Albanic with every intention of using it against him. The unpleasant odour emanating from the man was becoming stronger. Stale urine, Milbareth recognised, an animal's. Was it that of a horse? Did the man sleep in a stable?
<p>
Albanic was cowering now, a gibbering wreck. Yet even if he was out of action it was all due to Rand keeping him there. Milbereth was still at the mercy of the witch.
<p>
Then disaster struck. The witch twitched her fingers and both Albanic and Rand were as still as statues.
<p>
"The last person I interviewed here did not stay the course. Are you going to tell me where it is?"
<p>
Milbereth was not particularly brave and would certainly have done so had she known. As it was she could not even speak. Roscyxa must have realised her plight. She had her voice back.
<p>
"I don?t know," she gasped.
<p>
"Come, come! You but waste my time."
<p>
Milbereth could think of nothing more than to repeat the words more desperately than ever.
<p>
The witch stared at her. "You are clearly prepared to keep me in the role of inquisitor for longer than I am willing to play it. Let see if you enjoy watching me torment? him!"
<p>
Rand was thrown viciously hard across the room. No sound came from him but his face showed his agony. The witch flicked her fingers so he was pinned against the ceiling. Then she let him fall onto the furniture. Milbereth felt sick. Rand had come to protect her. Now he needed protection and she had no clue what she could do. She yelled, trying for time, "Leave him. Leave him. I will tell you what I know."
<p>
With a vindictive twitch that must have given Rand a blow to the solar plexus, the witch abandoned her games with the ferryman.
<p>
"So. Where is it?"
<p>
Milbereth faced the witch. "If you examine my mind, you will find that I am telling the truth. If you will not believe me, if you insist upon tearing me limb from limb, such is my fate. But do not hurt this youth further or my spirit will torment you for eternity. I do not know where your precious glass kagouti is. I wish I'd never heard of it!"
<p>
"My kagouti?" Of all the words the witch might have reacted to these seemed the oddest. "You are the one trailing half way across the known world looking for it!"
<p>
"Yes. And I don't even know why."
<p>
"I do. I understand it well because I feel the pull of it myself. Something left undone, unfinished, incomplete - it draws you on. It is a need, an obsession."
<p>
The witch's face was glowing. Somehow, somewhere beneath the warts and wrinkles, the hairs and misshapen features, Milbereth could make out the face of a woman that looked very much like herself. Shocked at the image she blurted: "But why? It doesn't matter!"
<p>
This time, as she said it aloud, she understood that in fact it didn't matter. A life was not a wasted one because you did not do everything. In a well-lived existence there would be many little failures but they did not negate the validity of the life itself. Why allow one mishap to eclipse the true purpose of living?
<p>
Milbereth's assertion had angered the witch. Any faint resemblance she imagined to herself had vanished.
<p>
"You seek to play games with me, stupid woman! You cannot win. I will take you to the point of death if I must but you will tell me where to find the kagouti!"
<p>
Milbereth saw how obsession had made the witch blind and deaf to anything other than what she wanted to hear. There was to be no escape. It seemed more than ironical that Milbereth realised how this experience was teaching her a salutary lesson but would not give her the chance to put it into effect.
<p>
She closed her eyes. There was a dull explosion and she waited for a blast of pain. None came. She opened her eyes cautiously. At first she saw no difference. Then she noticed that the witch's hand, raised in the act of casting a spell, was not moving. She on the other hand was no longer paralysed.
<p>
She turned to look behind her and was amazed to find she was staring into the face of Emmenthaler himself. The old wizard released Laire and Rand from their paralysis. He left Roscyxa and Albanic as they were.
<p>
Laire came running over. "Proopser, I knew you would save us. You always do in the end."
<p>
The old wizard clearly had affection for the sprite because he patted her head and smiled indulgently. "I am old, my dear. Time catches up with all of us in the end, even wizards. Only airy sprites like you can look forward to immortality. And as I will not be around to save you forever, you must find a way to save yourself!"
<p>
Emmenthaler turned to Milbereth. "Here we are. You are free to move. Are you going to resume your search for the kagouti?"
<p>
Whilst not being quite sure as to why, Milbereth knew that the search for the kagouti was a thing of the past. However she did not immediately answer the wizard, using her re-acquired mobility to run across to Rand to find out how badly he was hurt.
<p>
The wizard chuckled. "You know, my dear, I found that kagouti, a year or so after I thought I'd lost it. I came to tell you but you were so full of everything you'd done to find it I didn't have the heart to tell you. I was going to put it somewhere and let you discover it. Except, wherever I thought of putting it, you had already visited. I came to see that this search was dominating your thoughts. I remembered Roscyxa and what obsession had driven her to become. I wanted you to see."
<p>
He glanced at the paralysed figures and snapped his fingers. They disappeared. He smiled at Laire and she too vanished.
<p>
"Don't worry. They were never real, just phantoms of my conjuring. But this rough magic I now abjure. You must go back to Hawle and live a proper life. Oh, and by the way, Rand is real enough if that means anything to you. What you have experienced is not in vain. Life is not all strawberries and cream. Indeed you cannot truly savour the good things of life unless you have also tasted the bad. Now, be off with you."
<p>
Emmenthaler was gone in a puff of smoke.
<p>
Rand began: "Milbereth, I just wanted to ask?"
<p>
She interrupted. "I am going back to Hawle. After everything that's happened here I'd like a travelling companion. Are you up to it? Oh, and if you want to call me Arminda, I won't object."
<p>
A year later they were married.
<p>
There is of course a moral to this tale other than the obvious one of never trust a wizard. If you are going to spend a lot of time and effort doing something, make sure you're the one who'll benefit. Why suffer grief and heartache for someone else? They'll never thank you for it!
<p>
