gc.thewhiterose-第9部分

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r　not；　he　struck　back。　He　slew　the　villains；　among　them　the　Limper's　most　petent　people。　Then　our　path　kept　crossing　the　Limper's。　Each　time　something　worsened　the　weather　between　us　。　。　。
　　　In　the　confusion　after　Juniper；　Limper　thought　to　settle　with　us。　I　engineered　an　ambush。　He　charged　in。　〃I　would　have　bet　anything　I　killed　him。〃　I　tell　you；　at　that　moment　I　was　as　rattled　as　ever　I　have　been。　I　was　on　the　precipice　of　panic。
　　　One…Eye　noticed。　〃Don't　get　hysterical；　Croaker。　We　survived　him　before。〃
　　　〃He's　one　of　the　old　ones；　idiot！　One　of　the　real　Taken。　From　times　when　they　had　real　wizards。　And　he's　never　really　been　allowed　to　go　full　speed　at　us　before。　And　with　all　that　help。〃　Eight　Taken　and　five　armies　to　assault　the　Plain　of　Fear。　Seldom　were　there　more　than　seventy　of　us　here　in　the　Hole。
　　　My　head　filled　with　terrible　visions。　Those　Taken　might　be　second…rate；　but　they　were　so　many。　Their　fury　would　fire　the　Plain。　Whisper　and　the　Limper　have　campaigned　here　before。　They　are　not　ignorant　of　the　Plain's　perils。　In　fact；　Whisper　battled　here　both　as　a　Rebel　and　as　Taken。　She　won　most　of　the　most　famous　battles　of　the　eastern　war。
　　　Reason　reasserted　itself　but　did　little　to　brighten　tomorrow。　Once　I　thought；　I　reached　the　inescapable　conclusion　that　Whisper　knows　the　Plain　too　well。　Might　even　have　allies　out　here。
　　　Darling　touched　my　shoulder。　That　was　more　calming　than　any　words　from　friends。　Her　confidence　is　contagious。　She　signed；　〃Now　we　know；〃　and　smiled。
　　　Still；　time　has　bee　a　hanging　hammer　about　to　fall。　The　long　wait　for　the　et　has　been　rendered　irrelevant。　We　have　to　survive　right　now。　Trying　for　a　bright　side；　I　said；　〃The　Limper's　true　name　is　somewhere　in　my　document　collection。〃
　　　But　that　recalled　my　problem。　〃Darling；　the　specific　document　I　want　is　not　there。〃
　　　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　Unable　to　speak；　she　has　developed　one　of　the　most　expressive　faces　I've　ever　seen。
　　　〃We　have　to　have　a　sit…down。　When　you　have　time。　To　go　over　exactly　what　happened　to　those　papers　while　Raven　had　them。　Some　are　missing。　They　were　there　when　I　turned　them　over　to　Soulcatcher。　They　were　there　when　I　got　them　back　from　her。　I　am　sure　they　were　there　when　Raven　took　them。　What　happened　to　them　later？〃
　　　〃Tonight；〃　she　signed。　〃I　will　make　time。〃　She　seemed　distracted　suddenly。　Because　I　mentioned　Raven？　He　meant　a　lot　to　her；　but　you'd　think　the　edge　would　be　off　by　now。　Unless　there　was　more　to　the　story　than　I　knew。　And　that　was　plenty　possible。　I　really　have　no　idea　what　their　relationship　became　in　the　years　after　Raven　left　the　pany。　His　death　certainly　bothers　her　still。　Because　it　was　so　pointless。　I　mean；　after　surviving　everything　the　shadow　threw　his　way；　he　drowned　in　a　public　bath。
　　　The　Lieutenant　says　there　are　nights　she　cries　herself　to　sleep。　He　does　not　know　why；　but　he　suspects　Raven　is　at　the　root。
　　　I　have　asked　her　about　those　years　when　they　were　on　their　own；　but　she　will　not　tell　the　tale。　The　emotional　impression　I　get　is　one　of　sorrow　and　grave　disappointment。
　　　She　pushed　her　troubles　away　now；　turned　to　Tracker　and　his　mutt。　Behind　them；　the　men　Elmo　caught　on　the　bluff　squirmed。　Their　turn　was　ing。　They　knew　the　reputation　of　the　Black　pany。
　　　But　we　did　not　get　to　them。　Nor　even　to　Tracker　and　Toadkiller　Dog。　For　the　watch　above　shrieked　another　alert。
　　　This　was　getting　tiresome。
　　　The　rider　crossed　the　stream　as　I　entered　the　coral。　Water　splashed。　His　mount　staggered。　It　was　covered　with　foam。　Never　again　would　it　run　well。　It　hurt　me　to　see　an　animal　so　broken。　But　its　rider　had　cause。
　　　Two　Taken　darted　about　just　beyond　the　bound　of　the　null。　One　flung　a　violet　bolt。　It　perished　long　before　it　reached　us。　One…Eye　cackled　and　raised　a　middle　finger。　〃Always　wanted　to　do　that。〃
　　　〃Oh；　wonder　of　wonders；〃　Goblin　squeaked；　looking　the　other　way。　A　number　of　mantas；　big　blue…blacks；　soared　off　the　rosy　bluffs；　caught　updrafts。　Must　have　been　a　dozen；　though　they　were　hard　to　count；　maneuvering　as　they　did　to　avoid　stealing　one　another's　wind。　These　were　giants　of　their　kind。　Their　wings　spanned　almost　a　hundred　feet。　When　they　were　high　enough；　they　dove　at　the　Taken　in　pairs。
　　　The　rider　halted；　fell。　He　had　an　arrow　in　his　back。　He　remained　conscious　just　long　enough　to　gasp；　〃Tokens！〃
　　　The　first　manta　pair；　seeming　to　move　with　slow　stately　grace；　though　actually　they　streaked　ten　times　faster　than　a　man　can　run；　ripped　past　the　nearer　Taken　just　inside　Darling's　null。　Each　loosed　a　brilliant　lightning　bolt。　Lightning　could　speed　where　Taken　witchery　would　not　survive。
　　　One　bolt　hit。　Taken　and　carpet　reeled；　glowed　briefly。　Smoke　appeared。　The　carpet　twisted　and　spun　earthward。　We　sent　up　a　ragged　cheer。
　　　The　Taken　regained　control；　rose　clumsily；　drifted　away。
　　　I　knelt　by　the　messenger。　He　was　little　more　than　a　boy。　He　was　alive。　He　had　a　chance　if　I　got　to　work。　〃A　little　help　here！　One…Eye。〃
　　　Manta　pairs　ripped　along　the　boundary　of　the　null；　blasting　away　at　the　second　Taken。　This　one　evaded　effortlessly；　did　nothing　to　fight　back。　〃That's　Whisper；〃　Elmo　said。
　　　〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　She　knows　her　way　around。
　　　One…Eye　grumbled；　〃You　going　to　help　this　kid　or　not；　Croaker？〃
　　　〃All　right。　All　right。〃　I　hated　to　miss　the　show。　It　was　the　first　I　had　seen　so　many　mantas；　the　first　I　had　seen　them　support　us。　I　wanted　to　see　more。
　　　〃Well；〃　said　Elmo；　while　calming　the　boy's　horse　and　going　through　his　saddlebags；　〃another　missive　for　our　esteemed　annalist。〃　He　proffered　another　oilskin　packet。　Baffled；　I　tucked　it　under　my　arm；　then　helped　One…Eye　carry　the　messenger　down　into　the　Hole。
　　　
　　　Chapter　Ten：BOMANZ'S　STORY
　　　
　　　Croaker：
　　　Jasmine's　squeal　rattled　the　windows　and　doors。　〃Bomanz！　You　e　down　here！　e　down　right　now；　you　hear　me？〃
　　　Bomanz　sighed。　A　man　couldn't　get　five　minutes　alone。　What　the　hell　did　he　get　married　for？　Why　did　any　man？　You　spent　the　rest　of　your　life　doing　hard　time；　doing　what　other　people　wanted；　not　what　you　wanted。
　　　〃Bomanz！〃
　　　〃I'm　ing；　dammit！　Damned　woman　can't　blow　her　nose　without　me　there　to　hold　her　hand；〃　he　added　sotto　voce。　He　did　a　lot　of　talking　under　his　breath。　He　had　feelings　to　vent；　and　peace　to　maintain。　He　promised。　Always；　he　promised。
　　　He　stamped　downstairs；　each　footfall　a　declaration　of　irritation。　He　mocked　himself　as　he　went：　You　know　you're　getting　old　when　everything　aggravates　you。
　　　〃What　do　you　want？　Where　are　you？〃
　　　〃In　the　shop。〃　There　was　an　odd　note　in　her　voice。　Suppressed　excitement；　he　decided。　He　entered　the　shop　warily。
　　　〃Surprise！〃
　　　His　world　came　alive。　Grouchiness　deserted　him。　〃Stance！〃　He　flung　himself　at　his　son。　Powerful　arms　crushed　him。　〃Here　already？　We　didn't　expect　you　till　next　week。〃
　　　〃I　got　away　early。　You're　getting　pudgy；　Pop。〃　Stancil　opened　his　arms　to　include　Jasmine　in　a　three…way　hug。
　　　〃That's　your　mother's　cooking。　Times　are　good。　We're　eating　regular。　Tokar's　been　。　。　。　〃　He　glimpsed　a　faded；　ugly　shadow。　〃So　how　are　you？　Back　up。　Let　me　look　at　you。　You　were　still　a　boy　when　you　left。〃
　　　And　Jasmine：　〃Doesn't　he　look　great？　So　tall　and　healthy。　And　such　nice　clothes。〃　Mock　concern。　〃You　haven't　been　up　to　any　funny　business；　have　you？〃
　　　〃Mother！　What　could　a　junior　instructor　get　up　to？〃　He　met　his　father's　eye；　smiled　a　smile　that　said　〃Same　old　Mom。〃
　　　Stancil　was　four　inches　taller　than　his　father；　in　his　middle　twenties；　and　looked　athletic　despite　his　profession。　More　like　an　adventurer　than　a　would…be　don；　Bomanz　thought。　Of　course；　times　changed。　It　had　been　eons　since　his　own　university　days。　Maybe　standards　had　changed。
　　　He　recalled　the　laughter　and　pranks　and　all…night；　dreadfully　serious　debates　on　the　meaning　of　it　all；　and　was　bitten　by　an　imp　of　nostalgia。　What　had　bee　of　that　mentally　quick；　foxy　young　Bomanz？　Some　silent；　unseen　Guardsman　of　the　mind　had　interred　him　in　a　barrow　in　the　back　of　his　brain；　and　there　he　lay　dreaming；　while　a　bald；　jowly；　potbellied　gnome　gradually　usurped　him　。　。　。　They　steal　our　yesterdays　and　leave　us　no　youth　but　that　of　our　children　。　。　。
　　　〃Well；　e　on。　Tell　us　about　your　studies。〃　Get　out　of　that　self…pitying　mindset；　Bomanz；　you　old　fool。　〃Four　years　and　nothing　but　letters　about　doing　laundry　and　debates　at　the　Stranded　Dolphin。　Stranded　he　would　be　in　Oar。　Before　I　die　I　want　to　see　the　sea。　I　never　have。〃　Old　fool。　Dream　out　loud　and　that's　the　best　you　can　do？　Would　they　really　laugh　if　you　told　them　the　youth　is　still　alive　in　there　somewhere？
　　　〃His　mind　wanders；〃　Jasmine　explained。
　　　〃Who　are　you　calling　senile？〃　Bomanz　snapped。
　　　〃Pop。　Mom。　Give　me　a　break。　I　just　got　here。〃
　　　Bomanz　gobbled　air。　〃He's　right。　Peace。　Truce。　Armistice。　You　referee；　Stance。　Two　old　warhorses　like　us　are　set　in　their　ways。〃
　　　Jasmine　said；　〃Stance　promised　me　a　surprise　before　you　came　down。〃
　　　〃Well？〃　Bomanz　asked。
　　　〃I'm　engaged。　To　be　married。〃
　　　How　can　this　be？　This　is　my　son。　My　baby。　I　was　changing　his　diapers　last　week　。　。　。　Time；　thou　unspeakable　assassin；　I　feel　thy　cold　breath。　I　hear　thine　iron…shod　hooves　。　。　。
　　　〃Hmph。　Young　fool。　Sorry。　Tell　us　about　her；　since　you　won't　tell　us　about　anything　else。〃
　　　〃I　would　if　I　could　get　a　word　in。〃
　　　〃Bomanz；　be　quiet。　Tell　us　about　her；　Stance。〃
　　　〃You　probably　know　something　already。　She's　Tokar's　sister；　Glory。〃
　　　Bomanz's　stomach　plunged　to　the　level　of　his　heels。　Tokar's　sister。　Tokar；　who　might　be　a　Resurrectionist。
　　　〃What's　the　matter　now；　Pop？〃
　　　〃Tokar's　sister；　eh？　What　do　you　know　about　that　family？〃
　　　〃What's　wrong　with　them？〃
　　　〃I　didn't　say　anything　was。　I　asked　you　what　you　know　about　them。〃
　　　〃Enough　to　know　I　want　to　marry　Glory。　Enough　to　know　Tokar　is　my　best　friend。〃
　　　〃Enough　to　know　if　they're　Resurrectionists？〃
　　　Silence　slammed　into　the　shop。　Bomanz　stared　at　his　son。　Stancil　stared　back。　Twice　he　started　to　respond；　changed　his　mind。　Tension　rasped　the　air。　〃Pop　。　。　。　〃
　　　〃That's　what　Besand　thinks。　The　Guard　is　watching　Tokar。　And　me；　now。　It's　the　time　of　the　et；　Stance。　The　tenth　passage。　Besand　smells　some　big　Resurrectionist　plot。　He's　making　life　hard。　This　thing　about　Tokar　will　make　it　worse。〃
　　　Stancil　sucked　spittle　b