按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e a fountain； and then plunged down； raising a tail that was cleft in two； like the forked tongue of a snake。 Yet it was enormous； each section of the tail being broader than the largest palm frond。
Now I saw another monster； and another； and another after that； there appeared to be four and perhaps six or seven。 Each behaved as his fellows； curving through the water； spitting à fountain； and raising a giant tail split in two。 At the sight； the Northmen shouted to Odin for aid； and not a few of their number fell to their knees on the deck trembling。
Verily I saw with my own eyes the sea monsters all about us in the ocean； and then； after some time had passed； they were gone and we did not see them again。 The warriors of Buliwyf resumed their sailing efforts； and no man spoke of the monsters； but I was much afraid long afterward； and Herger told me that my face was white as the face of a North person； and he laughed。 〃What does Allah say to this？〃 he asked of me； and to that I had no answer。16
In the evening； we beached and made a fire； and I inquired of Herger if the sea monsters ever attacked a ship on the sea； and if so； what was the manner of it； for I had seen the heads of none of these monsters。
Herger answered by calling Ecthgow； one of the nobles and the lieutenant of Buliwyf。 Ecthgow was a solemn warrior who was not merry except when drunk。 Herger said that he had been on a ship that was attacked。 Ecthgow said this to me： that the sea monsters are larger than anything on the surface of the land； and larger than any ship on the sea； and when they attack they ride under a ship and lift it in the air； and toss it aside like a bit of wood； and crush it with their forked tongue。 Ecthgow said that there had been thirty men on his ship； and only he and two others beside had survived； by the graciousness of the gods。 Ecthgow spoke in an ordinary manner of talking； which for him was very serious； and I believed him to be speaking the truth。
Also Ecthgow told me that the Northmen know that the monsters attack ships because they desire to mate with the ship； mistaking it for one of their own。 For this reason； the Northmen do not build their ships over…large。
Herger said to me that Ecthgow is a great warrior renowned in battle； and that he is to be believed in all things。
For the next two days； we sailed among the islands of the Dan country； and then on the third day we crossed a passage of open water。 Here I was afraid to see more of the sea monsters； but we did not； and eventually arrived at the territory called Venden。 These lands of Venden are mountainous and forbidding； and the men of Buliwyf in his boat approached with some trepidation and the killing of a hen； which was thrown into the ocean thus： the head was thrown from the bow of the ship； and the body of the hen was thrown from the stern； near the helmsman。
We did not beach directly on this new land of Venden； but sailed along the coast； ing at last to the kingdom of Rothgar。 I first saw it thus。 High upon a cliff； manding a view of the raging gray sea； was a huge great hall of wood； strong and imposing。 I said to Herger it was a magnificent sight； but Herger and all his pany； led by Buliwyf； were groaning and shaking their heads。 I inquired of Herger why this was so。 He said； 〃Rothgar is called Rothgar the Vain； and his great hall is the mark of a vain man。〃
I said； 〃Why do you speak thus？ Because of its size and splendor？〃 For verily； as we came closer； I saw that the hall was richly ornamented with carvings and silver chasing； which sparkled from a distance。
〃No；〃 said Herger。 〃I say that Rothgar is vain because of the way he has placed his settlement。 He dares the gods to strike him down； and he pretends he is more than a man； and so he is punished。〃
Never have I seen a more impregnable great hall； and I said to Herger； 〃This hall cannot be attacked； how can Rothgar be struck down？〃
Herger laughed at me； and said thus： 〃You Arabs are stupid beyond counting； and know nothing of the ways of the world。 Rothgar deserves the misfortune that has e to him； and it is only we who shall save him； and perhaps not even so。〃
These words puzzled me further。 I looked at Ecthgow； the lieutenant of Buliwyf； and saw that he stood in the boat and made a brave face； and yet his knees trembled； and it was not the stiffness of the wind that made them tremble so。 He was afraid； they were all afraid； and I did not know why。
THE KINGDOM OF ROTHGAR IN THE LAND OF VENDEN
THE SHIP WAS BEACHED AT THE TIME OF THE afternoon prayer； and I begged the forgiveness of Allah for not making supplication。 Yet I had not been able to do so in the presence of the Northmen； who thought my prayers to be a curse upon them； and threatened to kill me if I prayed in their sight。
Each warrior in the boat dressed in the garments of battle； which were thus： first； boots and leggings of rough wool； and over this a coat of heavy fur； which reached to the knees。 Over this they placed coats of mail； which all had save me。 Then each man took his sword and clasped it to his belt； each man took up his white shield of hide； and his spear； each man placed a helmet of metal or leather upon his head；17 in this all the men were the same except for Buliwyf； who alone carried his sword in his hand； so large was it。 The warriors looked up to the great hall of Rothgar； and marveled at its gleaming roof and skilled workmanship； and agreed that there was none like it in the world； with its lofty gables and rich carving。 Yet there was no respect in their speech。
At length we decamped from the ship； and traveled a road paved in stone up to the great hall。 The clanking of swords and the clatter of mail raised a goodly noise。 After we had gone some short distance； we saw by the roadway the severed head of an ox； set upon a stick。 This animal was freshly killed。
All the Northmen sighed and made sad faces at this portent； though it had no meaning to me。 I was by now adjusted to their custom of killing some beast at the slightest nervousness or provocation。 Yet this oxhead had especial significance。
Buliwyf looked away； across the fields of the lands of Rothgar； and saw there an isolated farming house； of the sort that is mon in Rothgar lands。 The walls of this house were of wood； and sealed with a paste of mud and straw； which must be replenished after the frequent rains。 The roof is thatched material and wood also。 Inside the houses there is only an earthen floor and a hearth； and the dung of animals； for the farm people sleep with their animals indoors for the warmth afforded by their bodies； and then they burn the dung for fires。
Buliwyf gave an order that we should go to this farmhouse； and so we set out across the fields； which were verdant but soggy with dampness underfoot。 Once or twice the pany halted to examine the ground before continuing on； but they never saw anything that mattered to them。 I myself saw nothing。
Yet again Buliwyf halted his pany； and pointed to the dark earth。 Verily； I saw with my own eyes the bare imprint of a foot…indeed； of many feet。 They were flat and uglier than anything known to creation。 At each toe； there was the sharp digging mark of a horned nail or claw； thus the shape appeared human； but yet not human。 This I saw with my own eyes； and could scarcely believe the witness of my sight。
Buliwyf and his warriors shook their heads at the sight； and I heard them repeat one word over and over： 〃wendol〃 or 〃wendlon；〃 or some such。 The meaning of the name was not known to me； and I sensed that Herger should not be asked at this moment； for he was as apprehensive as all the rest。 We pressed on to the farmhouse； now and again seeing more of these horned footprints in the earth。 Buliwyf and his warriors walked slowly； but it was not caution； no man drew his weapon； rather it was some dread that I did not prehend and yet felt with them。
At length we came to the farming dwelling and entered it。 In the farmhouse I saw； with my own eyes； this sight： there was a man； of young age and graceful proportion； whose body had been torn limb from limb。 The torso was here； an arm there； a leg there。 Blood lay in thick pools upon the floor； and on the walls；