《发现者之石三部曲（英文版）》作者：[美]Kate Novak

土耳其

2011-10-2006:52上传
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2011-10-2006:53上传
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Prelude

Shewoketothenoiseofdogs—twodistinctbarkingsbeneathheropeninnwindow.Ahigh-pitchedyipconfrontedadeep,throatygrowl.Aliaslayonthetan-stainedcottonsheetsandpicturedalong-hairedpuppycastoutfromitswealthyowner'shousehold,fendingoffsomehugeboxerorVassanwolfhound.

Aswithmenandothersavageraces,theshowofforcewasasimportanttothedogsasforceitself.Theyippingcaninewasovermatched,yetitsbarkingwentonforwhatseemedtoAliasaneternity.Finally,thedogwiththedeepergrowlreachedtheendofitspatienceandsnarledsavagely.ThesoundoftopplingtrashbroughtAliasfullyawake.

Sheopenedhereyes,listeningforadyingsquealfromthesmallerdog,butsurprisinglythenextthingsheheardwasaseriesofdeepyelpsfromthelargedog.Thesoundfadedawayasthelargedogfledfromthewindow.

Aliasthrewoffthelightblanketandswungherfeettothefloor.Sheroseandimmediatelyregrettedit.Herheadfeltasthoughmoltenleadhadbeenpouredbehindhereyes,andhermouthwasasdryasthesandsofAnauroch.

Sheblinkedinthereddishlight.Isitdawnortwilightshewondered.Pressingtheheelsofherpalmsintohereyes,sheyawned.Throughtheopenwindow,theseabreezesfromtheLakeofDragonswaftedintotheroom,alongwiththefar-offcriesoffishermenreturningwiththeircatch.

Twilight,then,shedecided.Sheshookherhead,tryingtoclearthecobwebs.Musthavesleptthroughtheday,shethought.WhendidIgethereForthatmatter,where'shereAndwhatwasIdoingbeforeIcamehere

Aliassnortedderisively.Whatshe'dbeendoingwasobvious.Thiswasn'tthefirsttimeshe'dawakenedinastrangeplaceafteradrunkencelebration.

Nonetheless,hersurroundingsseemedfamiliar.TheinnwasbuiltinthesamefashionasahundredothersatthisendoftheSeaofFallenStars,andherroomheldthetypicaltrappingsabedcobbledtogetherofamixedpileofwood,toppedwithastrawtickandsheetsthathadn'tbeenaggressivelywashedinmonths;asmallsecond-handdressingtable;asinglestraight-backedchairdrapedwithherarmorandclothing;asmallragrugatthefootofthebed;abrassoillampchainedtothetable;achamberpot;andasingledoor.Thewindow,insetwithcolorlesscirclesofcrownglassthatletinthelightofthesettingsun,openedinwardonsidehingesthatcreakedlightlyinthebreeze.