카넬리아 (도서)/9권

제9회　카넬리아

끊어져 가는 도력등의 깜빡이는 빛이 하수 표면에 얇은 빛을 달리게 하고 있었다. 그 앞을 바람 소리를 남기며 시스터가 앞지르고 있었다. 발끝 저편의 어둠으로 멀어져 가는 그녀의 그림자를 쫓아 나는 숨을 헐떡이며 발을 움직인다.

칠요교회의 성당을 목표로 나와 시스터는 쉬지 않고 이끼 낀 돌 위를 달리고 있었다. 역에서 성당까지 지상에서는 3블록 정도의 거리다. 수문 끝에서 배수구를 오르면 성당 앞의 광장으로 나갈 수 있다.

멀리서 도력등의 빛이 보인다. 시스터는 고개를 이쪽으로 향해 오른손을 뻗어 다음 블록에서 우회전이라고 알려준다. 그대로 그녀는 무언가에 대비하듯 양 어깨를 빙글빙글 돌렸다. 시스터 카넬리아는 앞으로 벌어질 일이 보였을지도 모른다.

깜박이는 조명 아래 카넬리아의 몸이 모퉁이로 사라진다. 한 번, 두 번, 세 번, 계속해서 둔탁한 충돌 소리가 나고, 무언가가 물속으로 떨어졌다. 골목을 돈 나의 눈에 들어온 것은 기묘한 자세로 누워있는 2명의 남자로, 나도 모르게 길 가장자리로 몸을 피한다. 시스터는 아무 일도 없었던 것처럼 변함없는 보폭으로 달렸다.

「카넬리아다！」

뒤에서 들리는 노성에 나는 뒤를 돌아보았다. 한 명의 남자가 모퉁이의 시체 근처에 누워서 피가 흐르는 입으로 소리를 치고 있었다.

「카넬리아가 있다！」

시스터는 뒤돌아보려 하지 않았다. 얼굴을 앞으로 돌려 그녀를 따랐다.

수문까지 곧게 뻗은 수로가 사각형의 어둠에 덮힌 채 기다리고 있었다. 카넬리아는 상당히 지친 나의 보조를 맞춰준다.

「저 녀석들 본격적으로 들어오는 거 같네」그녀는 허공을 응시한 채 말했다.

「아까 저 녀석, 옛 동료？」

카넬리아는 나에게 적갈색의 눈동자를 향했다. 「유격사한테서 들었어？」 나는 고개를 끄덕이고 그 이상은 물어볼 수 없었다. 도력등의 불빛 속에서 움직이는 자신의 발 그림자를 바라보며 오로지 앞으로 몸을 나아가게 했다.

「여관에서 싸운 여자 기억해？」

갑자기 시스터가 입을 열었다.

「내가 엽병을 그만둔 건 그런 식으로 죽고 싶지 않았기 때문이야」

나는 카넬리아의 옆얼굴을 올려다보았다. 「그런 식으로 죽는 게 아니라」 그렇게 시스터는 되풀이하고 「어차피 죽을 거라면 무언가를 위해 싸우고, 살았다는 증거를 남기고 죽고 싶어」

정체를 알 수 없는 위험을 느끼며 나는 그녀의 옆을 계속 달렸다. 문득 호흡하는 중간중간, 희미한 물소리를 들은 생각이 들어 뒤를 돌아보았다.

「토비, 당신도 느꼈어？」 시스터는 천천히 속도를 줄여 마침내 멈춰 선다.

「녀석들의 후속 부대가 온 것 같아」

우리는 2개의 수로가 십자 모양으로 교차하는 지점에 도착했다. 악취를 풍기는 넓은 물줄기 너머로 흐리게 비치는 수문이 보인다. 습기 찬 벽에 등을 붙이고 나는 잠시 숨을 골랐다.

「아무래도 매복이 있는 거 같네」 시스터는 강 건너를 노려보고 뒤로 얼굴을 돌렸다.「하지만 우회할 시간이 없어」

두 번, 세 번, 그녀는 날카로운 소리를 내며 깊게 호흡한다. 나는 땀이 밴 손으로 도력기(오브먼트)를 들고 가방 손잡이를 손목에 둘렀다. 언제나처럼 구두를 확인한 시스터가 몸을 일으킨다. 달라붙을 듯한 어둠 속으로 우리는 숨을 멈추고 단숨에 뛰어 들어갔다.

Chapter 9 - Carnelia

The flicker of dying orbal lamps mounted at equidistant lengths along the sewer walls sent thin streaks of light across the surface of the rippling flow of filthy sewage. Passing in front of these one by one, Sister Carnelia sped down the stone sidewalk as the sound of her body cutting through the racing tunnel winds trailed out behind her. Panting and out of breath, I continued to move my feet toward the darkness which lay before me as I chased after Sister Carnelia's flickering shadow.

Wayworn, yet without a moment of repose, we headed unrelentingly with our sights set on the cathedral of the Septian Church. We moved swiftly across the moss-covered stone pavement, the clacking of our heels echoing in the dimly lit underground.

Above ground, the walking distance on the city roads from the railway station to the cathedral was about three blocks. If we made our way up through the drainage ditch just beyond the sluice gate, we would find ourselves in the public square outside the massive sanctuary.

Up ahead, the light of another orbal lamp came into view. Turning her head in my direction and without a word, Sister Carnelia extended her right hand outward in a wide motion indicating that we would be turning that way at the next corner. Then, as if preparing for something she rolled both shoulders in a grinding motion and relieved the last of her tension with a pop of the neck. It seemed to me as though she knew all too well what was lurking within the tenebrous conduit ahead.

Under the unsteady and sporadic coruscation of light, the body of Sister Carnelia surged around the corner and disappeared from view. One, two, three went the walloping echoes, followed by the sound of something being rolled into the channel of filthy sludge. As I turned the corner, the first things which leapt into my sight were the contorted figures of two men on the ground whom I barely missed treading on. Sister Carnelia, who was by this time several steps ahead, continued to run at her usual pace as if nothing had happened during the preceding seconds.

'It's Carnelia!' came an angry (but noticeably wavering) voice from behind.

I glanced to my rear to locate its source, and there I found a man who had dragged himself from the fecal-filled liquid, now lying next to his dead comrades, yelling with his dying breath as blood leaked out of his open mouth.

'Carnelia, she's down here!' he managed to croak before falling silent and still. Sister Carnelia paid no attention nor made any effort to look back. I turned my face forward and followed her example.

The walls of the conduit leading directly to the sluice gate squared out into an ominous mouth of darkness, seemingly waiting for its next unsuspecting meal. Sister Carnelia gradually slowed her pace to match mine as I had by this time become completely exhausted and out of breath.

'It looks like these guys are dead serious about getting their hands on that item this time,' she said as she focused her eyes on the darkness before us.

'So were those men old friends of yours or something?' I inquired.

Sister Carnelia turned to face me with her darkened scarlet eyes. 'Is that what you heard from those bracers the other day?' she asked. I nodded my head and questioned her no further. With head slightly turned down I forced myself onward, eyes fixed on tips of my boots.

Unexpectedly, Sister Carnelia opened her mouth and said, 'Do you remember that woman you had a run-in with back at the inn?' I nodded slightly.

'The whole reason I gave up my life as a mercenary is because I didn't want to meet a tragic end like that,' she continued. 'A life of no meaning. Forgotten by all...'

I looked up at Sister Carnelia, and seeing a slight show of emotion in the side of her face, heard her repeat the same line of words a few times more before finishing her thought.

'If I'm going to cash in my life's chips, then I think it's best that I fight for something worth fighting for. At least that way, I'd be able to leave a legacy of my existence behind.'

Taking in her words, I ran steadily beside her as I felt a sense of nondescript apprehension slowly begin to creep over me. During the short intervals between breaths, it suddenly seemed as if I were hearing the faint sound of sloshing water from behind which caused me to prick up my ears and turn my head in its direction.

'So you noticed it too, huh, Toby?' Sister Carnelia slowed her step until finally coming to a complete stop. 'They've blockaded us from behind, so there's no turning back now,' she said, the direness of our situation heavy in her voice.

We had arrived at an intersection where the conduit we were in and another crossed paths and just beyond the wide, fetid flow of sewage water before us, I could see the dimly lit sluice gate. I placed my back against the damp bricks of the nearest wall and for a moment, tried to catch my breath.

'They're probably lying in wait for us,' Sister Carnelia assessed stolidly after glaring across the flowing sewage of the merged channels and then turning her head to the rear and narrowing her eyes again. 'And, unfortunately this time, we won't be able to circumvent them.'

With a sound of composure revealing her utmost resolve, Sister Carnelia took in a few deep breaths. I laid hand on my orbment, gripping it in the palm of my sweaty hand, and then wrapped the strap of my bag securely around my opposite wrist. And as always, Sister Carnelia checked her boots before standing upright. Then, taking a few steps back and holding my breath, I raced forward and darted into the stygian flow of waste.

第９回　カーネリア

切れかけた導力灯の明滅が、汚水の波面に細い光を走らせていた。その前を、風音を残してシスターが駆け抜ける。足先から彼方の闇へ、斜めに遠ざかっていく彼女の影を追い、僕は息を切らして足を動かし続ける。

七耀教会の聖堂めざし、僕とシスターは休むことなく苔むした石畳の上を走っていた。鉄道の駅から聖堂まで、地上の街路を行けば３街区ほどの距離だ。水位調整用の水門の先から排水溝を上れば、聖堂前の広場に出られる。

遠くにまた導力灯の光が見えてくる。シスターは首をこちらに向けて、大きく右手を横に伸ばし、次の角で右折だと教えてくれる。そのまま彼女は、何かに備えるように両肩をぐるぐると回した。シスター・カーネリアには、この先の出来事が見えていたのかも知れない。

またたく照明の下、カーネリアの体が角の向こうへと消える。１つ、２つ、３つ。続けさまに鈍い衝突音がして、何かが水中に転げ落ちる。角を曲がった僕の目に飛び込んできたのは、奇妙な姿勢で横たわる２人の男で、思わず道の端へと身をかわす。数歩先を行くシスターは、何事もなかったように相変わらずの歩幅で走り続けている。

「カーネリアだ！」

背後からの怒声に僕は振り向いた。１人の男が、角の死体のそばに這いつくばったまま、血の色をした口を開けて叫んでいた。

「カーネリアがいるぞ！」

シスターは振り返ろうとしなかった。顔を前に向けると、僕もそれに従った。

水門までまっすぐに続く水路が、四角い闇となって待ち受けていた。ずいぶんバテて来た僕に、カーネリアは歩調を合わせてくれる。

「連中、かなり本腰を入れてるみたい」彼女は宙の一点を見据えたまま言った。

「さっきのは、昔の仲間？」

カーネリアは僕に赤茶色の瞳を向けた。

「遊撃士から聞いたの？」僕はうなずき、もうそれ以上は聞かなかった。導力灯の明かりの中で動く自分の足の影を見つめながら、ひたすら前へと体を進めた。

「宿屋でやりあった女のこと、覚えてる？」

不意にシスターが口を開いた。

「あたしが傭兵を辞めたのは、あんな風に死にたくなかったからよ」

僕はカーネリアの横顔を見上げた。「あんな風に、消えてなくなるんじゃなくて」そうシスターは繰り返し、「どうせ死ぬなら何かのために戦って、生きた証しを立てて、それから死ぬの」

得体の知れない危うさを感じながら、僕は彼女の横を走り続けた。ふと自分の呼吸の合間に、かすかな水音を聞いた気がして、後ろを振り返った。

「トビー、あんたも気づいた？」シスターはゆっくり歩をゆるめ、やがて立ち止まる。

「後ろから、連中の後詰めが来てるのよ」

２つの水路が十字にぶつかる交差点に、僕らはたどり着いた。悪臭を放つ幅の広い水流の向こうに、薄暗く照らされた水門が見える。湿ったレンガの壁に背をつけ、僕はしばらく息を整えた。

「たぶん、待ち伏せされてるわ」シスターは対岸をにらみ、それから背後へ顔を向けた。「でも、迂回してる時間はないわね」２度３度と、彼女は鋭い音を立てて深く呼吸する。僕は汗ばむ手で導力器(オーブメント)を手に取り、バッグの持ち手を手首に手繰る。いつものように靴を確かめ、シスターが体を起こす。

粘りつくような闇色の流れの中へと、僕らは息を止めて一気に駆け込んでいった。