cacb.thefarkingdoms-第12部分

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　And　Janos　asked；　〃What　would　convince　you　a　dream　is；　in　fact；　real？〃
　His　ment　gave　me　a　jolt；　which　I　hid；　as　I　suddenly　remembered　another　dream：　the　dream　of　the　man　with　one　eye　in　the　river　cavern…the　nightmare　that　had　plagued　me　since　meeting　Melina。　It　was　as　if　the　spring　day　had　suddenly　turned　chill。　Then　I　forced　my　mind　away　from　that　dream　and　pondered　Janos'　question。　〃I　don't　know；　really。　And　I'm　not　trying　to　sound　like　some　savant　creaking　about　whether　a　man　dreams　he　is　a　butterfly　or　a　butterfly　dreams　he's　a　man。　Pain？　I've　bled　in　dreams。　That　they　seem　to　continue　on　forever？　I've　dreamed　most　of　a　life　on　occasion。〃
　〃I　will　offer　three　arguments；　but　not　as　the　logicians　teach　us　to　do；〃　Janos　replied。　〃I'll　start　with　the　most　crushing。　This。〃　He　lifted　a　thin　chain　from　around　his　neck　and　handed　it　to　me。　A　device　dangled　from　it：　a　small；　broken　statuette　of　a　dancing　maiden；　her　arms　stretched　above　her　head；　perhaps　one　of　her　hands　had　once　held　a　twisting　scarf　or　veil。　The　statuette　had　been　broken　at　the　woman's　hips。　It　might　have　been　made　of　silver　or　some　other　semiprecious　metal；　but　it　was　badly　tarnished　now。　The　workmanship；　however；　was　exquisite：　the　maiden's　face　was　alight　in　happiness；　and；　I　thought；　if　I　could　put　a　jeweler's　pane　on　the　figurine；　I　would　be　able　to　distinguish　every　detail　of　her　face　and　arms。　〃A　pretty；〃　I　finally　said。　〃But　I've　seen　equal　craftsmanship　in　the　shops　of　our　metal…crafting　masters。〃
　〃Touch　it。〃　I　did…and　the　statue　came　to　life。　The　chain　seemed　to　vanish；　and　the　half　woman　danced　on　an　invisible　platform　before　my　eyes。　Instead　of　tarnished　silver；　her　skin　was　soft　ivory　and　tipped　with　crimson；　her　hair　was　black；　her　sheer　gown　violet。　I　took　my　finger　away；　and　once　more　I　was　holding　a　dirty；　shattered　figurine。
　〃That　I　have　never　seen　or　heard　of；〃　I　admitted。
　〃Nor　anyone　else　in　these　lands；〃　Janos　said。　〃I　have　consulted　priests　and　Evocators；　and　none　of　them　know　the　spells　necessary　to　make　such　a　bauble。　In　fact；　one　fool　told　me　it　violated　all　of　the　laws　of　thaumaturgy…so　it　must　be　black　sorcery。　He　ordered　me　to　give　it　to　him　so　that　he　could　'purify'　it。　I　took　it　back　and　told　him　what　he　might　well　face　if　he　mentioned　the　statue　to　anyone。〃
　〃Where　did　you　get　it？〃
　〃My　father　gave　it　to　me　as　a　gift　on　my　first　birthing　day。　It　was　not　broken　then。　When　I　was　six　he　told　me　where　it　came　from。　My　mother　said　it　had　cost　him　three　war　mounts…stallions　whose　lineage　went　back　to　the　Horsegod　himself。〃
　〃Your　father　said　it　came　from　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃　I　guessed。
　〃Yes。〃
　I　was　silent；　thinking　again　of　those　peasant　tales　of　the　mysterious　eastern　lands　beyond。　How　great　sorcerers　ruled　and　how　they　could　even　make　battle　magic　that　could　stand　against　the　strongest　counterspells。　How　the　streets　and　statues　were　solid　gold。　Here　was　hard　evidence　of　some　master　wizard's　work；　something　the　most　adept　Evocator　of　Orissa　would　herald　as　his　lifetime　achievement　and　deem　worthy　of　a　king's　wedding　gift。
　〃How　was　it　broken；　if　I　may　ask？〃
　Janos's　face　was　still。　〃This　is　not　the　day　for　such　a　tale；〃　he　said。
　I　changed　the　subject。　〃Your　first　premise　carries　weight；〃　I　said；　handing　the　maiden　back　to　Janos。　〃But　just　to　be　stubborn　I　must　bring　up　the　counter　that　no　one　knows　of　every　conjurer　in　the　world。　Not　just　ones　from　still　undiscovered　cities；　but　those　whose　weird　it　is　to　live　in　solitary　haunts…in　jungles　or　mountains。〃
　〃True。　But　not　that　powerful　a　rejoinder。　My　second　and　third　arguments　have　less　substance；　and　I　cannot　give　you　anything　to　hold　in　your　hand。　But　hear　them　out。　You've　heard　them　call　me　a　Lycanthian。　But　I　am　not；　even　though　I　spent　years　in　their　service。　In　truth　I　e　from　another　land；　across　the　Narrow　Sea　from　Lycanth；　in　Valaroi。　A　land　of　high　mountains　and　small　glens。　Kostroma。〃
　〃I　have　never　heard　of　it；〃　I　confessed。
　〃No。　You　would　not　have。〃　He　started　to　elaborate；　then　changed　his　mind。　〃Not　far　from　my　family's　stronghold　was　a　traders'　route。　They　paid　tribute　to　my　father；　and　he　provided　soldiery　to　keep　them　safe　from　those　without　law。　Where　they　paid　tribute；　they　held　a　bazaar。　This　would　be　twice；　sometimes　three　times　a　year；　and　for　us；　those　fairs　were　as　big　an　excitement　as　the　Day　of　Sowing。　My　father　would　sometimes　invite　one　of　the　traders　to　our　home。　He　would　feed　and　guest　the　man　lavishly。　Not　just　out　of　courtesy；　but　because　this　was　the　only　means　for　our　out…of…the…way　land　to　learn　of　the　world　beyond。　Among　the　stories　they　told　were　of　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃
　〃I　must　interrupt　you　here；〃　I　said。　〃Surely　you　aren't　telling　me　you　trust　the　word　of　traders？　We　are　renowned　for　swearing　a　yard　of　goods　was　custom…woven　for　a　high　priestess'　mystery；　if　it　means　we　can　knock　the　price　up　a　copper　or　two。〃
　〃Nevertheless；〃　Janos　said；　〃it　was　most　interesting　listening　to　their　tales。　And　not　one　of　them　ever　said　he　had　visited　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Nor　did　any　claim　to　have　even　seen　their　border　posts。　But　all　who　had　traveled　to　the　east　had　seen　their　trade　goods。　Luxury　items　that　had　passed　from　hand　to　hand；　their　price　increasing　at　each　step。　Sometimes　they　would　even　cautiously　show　such　a　bauble　to　us；　something　that　would　be　well　beyond　the　modest　profit　my　father's　herds　earned：　lutes　that　when　strummed　by　a　stable　boy　would　make　him　seem　a　fine　troubadour；　a　gown；　or　even　a　veil；　that　would　turn　the　most　coarse　serving　wench　into　a　dazzling　seductress。　And　there　were　other　things…like　my　little　dancing　maiden…that　were　even　more　marvelous。　Incantations　beyond　any　we　knew　of；　and　to　this　day　they　are　still　beyond　any　I　have　ever　encountered　in　my　travels。〃
　I　said　nothing：　Janos　may　have　thought　this　second　premise　but　idle　gossip；　but　it　wasn't　to　the　son　of　a　merchant　prince；　We；　too；　had　heard　of…and　sometimes　seen…devices　that　struck　wonder　into　our　hearts；　even　if　none　were　as　exotic　as　Janos'　tiny　dancer。　And　it　would　be　claimed　that　they　were　from　the　Far　Kingdoms；　which　always　produced　guffaws　all　around。　Since　it　was　known　that　there　were　wizards　of　great　power　hidden　in　the　lonely　places；　these　goods　were　generally　ascribed　to　one　or　another　of　them。　But　why；　I　suddenly　wondered；　was　it　considered　more　logical　to　believe　in　a　sorcerer　hiding　in　a　swamp；　a　conjuror　in　a　jungle；　an　enchanter　on　another　mountaintop；　rather　than　to　theorize　there　might　be　a　single　source　for　these　fineries？
　I　asked　Janos　the　same　question。　〃That's　easy　to　answer；〃　he　said。　〃Since　when　does　any　man　or　woman　like　to　think　that　there　is　a　person　or　place　more　gifted；　more　civilized；　than　where　they　e　from？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Yes。　Certainly　my　father　has　reminded　me　often　enough　that　when　I　go　afield　I　should　not　brag　loudly　on　the　wonders　of　Orissa。　Boasting　like　that；　even　if　it's　true；　gets　nothing　but　resentment　from　bumpkins；　even　if　they　pretend　to　be　awed　as　you　boast。　Your　argument　is　doing　better　than　I　thought　it　would；　Captain　Greycloak。　What　is　your　third　premise？〃
　〃Perhaps　we　should　find　another　wineshop　before　I　tell　it　to　you；　since　it　seems　to　slide　more　easily　down　the　craw　with　lubrication。　And　rightly　the　tale　should　be　told　only　when　everyone　is　somewhat　pickled；　and　it　is　a　stormy　midnight　outside。〃
　〃A　ghost　story？　I'm　partial　to　them；〃　I　said。
　〃Ghosts？　I　don't　know。　You　can　call　them　what　you　want。　But　this　is　a　tale　that　happened　to　me　personally。〃
　We　found　a　shop　with　its　own　arbor　and　an　agreeably　smiling　maid　to　serve　the　shop's　fine　vintage。
　〃There　were　times；〃　Janos　said；　〃when　our　haruspex　would　dream　the　moment　had　e　to　sacrifice　a　particular　animal；　one　that　would　be　chosen　from　my　family's　own　herds。　Mostly　the　entrails　would　reveal　nothing；　but　on　occasion　the　diviner　would　see　something　terrible。　At　that　time　he　would　order　a　curfew。　All　men　and　women；　girls　and　boys　of　our　valley　would　have　to　be　inside　from　dusk　to　dawn。　The　flocks　would　be　abandoned；　the　watch…towers　unmanned　for　as　long　as　four　nights。
　〃Our　people　would　huddle　at　fireside；　shutters　or　curtains　drawn　tight。　Sometimes　。。。　rarely　。。。　there　would　e　a　thunder；　the　same　thunder　a　cavalry　patrol　makes　outriding　in　a　swift　patrol。　There　were　those　who　swore　they　could　hear　the　creak　of　harness　and　even　the　clatter　of　hooves　against　the　cobbles　as　the　patrol　crossed　one　of　our　few　paved　squares。　But　at　dawn　there　would　be　no　hoof　marks　in　the　roadway。　Nothing　at　all。〃
　〃What　was　out　there　in　the　night？〃　I　wondered。　〃Or　was　it　just　thunder？　The　gods　know　I　convinced　myself　often　enough；　lying　awake　as　a　boy；　that　I　heard　all　manner　of　demons　in　the　street　outside　our　villa；　or　sometimes　on　the　roof　just　above　my　balcony；　where　they　were　waiting　to　pounce。　But　I'd　like　to　think　that　I　would　have　been　foolish　enough　to　slip　out　unnoticed　to　see　those　ghost　horsemen。〃
　〃I　did　just　that。〃　Janos　half　smiled；　a　smile　of　approval　for　my　imagined　audacity。　〃I　let　myself　down　from　my　bedchamber　with　a　rope　I'd　stolen　from　the　guardroom　earlier　that　day；　when　the　prophet　shouted　his　latest　warning。〃
　〃But　of　course　the　horsemen　didn't　materialize　that　time；〃　I　guessed。
　〃That　was　not　what　happened　at　all。　I'd　cleverly　listened　to　all　the　tales　and　carved　a　small　map　of　the　area　around　our　citadel。　On　it　I'd　marked　where　the　riders　had　been　reported　most　frequently。　One　such　place　was　a　narrow　pass；　about　eight　spearcasts…we　measured　things　in　that　way　in　Kostromo；　which　would　have　been　about　one…third　of　a　league…beyond　one　of　my　father's　byres。　I　hid　myself　in　an　olive　tree　below　the　pass。　The　moon　was　just　past　half。　Then　I　waited。　I　don't　know　for　how　long。　Being　perhaps　eight　or　nine；　probably　I　would　have　slept；　in　spite　of　my　excitement。　The　noise　woke　me。　Just　as　the　herdsmen　had　said；　I　heard　crashing　horses'　hooves。〃
　〃But　you　saw　nothing。〃
　〃Nothing　in　the　pass；〃　Janos　said；　looking　down　into　his　goblet　as　if　it　were　an　oracle's　pool；　giving　him　a　vision　of　the　past。　〃But　I　saw　something…two　somethings…ride　to　the　hilltop　overlooking　that　pass。　Two　riders。　Men；　I　thought　them　to　be。　They　wore　armor…or　at　any　rate　I　saw　the　gleam　of　plate　and　spears。　High…roached　helms。　Even　their　mounts　seemed　protect