cacb.thefarkingdoms-第18部分

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　his　favorite　adventures。
　I　kept　wondering…what　had　I　missed？　A　moment　before　my　Finding　had　been　denied。　Now　it　had　been　heartily　approved　and　was　being　blessed　with　toasts　of　my　father's　best　wine。　In　other　words；　where　had　I　gone　right？　What　had　I　said　to　change　the　notoriously　stubborn　mind　of　one　Paphos　Karima　Antero？　Then　I　understood；　at　least　partly。　His　refusal　had　been　a　test。　It　wasn't　what　I　had　said　that　won　the　day；　but　the　heartfelt　passion　of　my　defense。　It　was　a　ploy　I　have　used　many　times　myself　since　that　day。　It　has　served　me　well。
　〃There　is　one　matter　we　need　to　be　absolutely　certain　of　from　the　beginning；〃　I　heard　my　father　tell　Janos。
　〃And　what　is　that；　sir？〃　Janos　asked。
　〃In　my　experience；　one　of　the　greatest　causes　for　an　expedition's　failure　is　that　a　clear　line　of　authority　and　responsibility　is　not　drawn。〃
　〃Your　wisdom　is　much　greater　than　mine；〃　Janos　said。　〃So　I　would　not　presume　to　argue　such　a　thing。　Especially　since　my　own　small　experience　bears　your　words　out　as　plete　and　total　truth。〃
　〃Good；〃　my　father　said。　〃Then　you　will　not　quarrel　with　my　first　and　only　rule。　In　all　matters　relating　to　the　safety　of　the　expedition；　you　will　be　in　charge。　My　son　will　in　no　way　interfere　with　your　dealings　with　the　soldiers。
　〃However　。。。　In　all　matters　of　business；　of　budget；　or　of　trade；　my　son's　word　is　law。　It　is　his　Finding。　His　expedition。　And　he　shall　answer　to　me　at　the　end　for　success　or　failure。　Is　this　agreed？〃
　〃Without　the　slightest　hesitation；　sir；〃　Janos　said。
　My　father　turned　to　me。　〃Amalric　。。。　If　there　is　to　be　argument　about　this；　NOW　is　the　time。　You　don't　want　to　leave　it　until　you're　in　the　desert　and　a　horde　of　demons　es　charging　over　the　dunes。　So　。。。　Do　you　agree　as　well？〃
　I　was　still　too　gripped　by　emotion　to　do　more　than　nod　vigorously　and　croak　my　acceptance。
　Janos　broke　in。　〃If　I　may　be　so　bold；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　a　small　proviso　of　my　own。〃
　His　words　rocked　me。　What　was　he　doing？　My　father　had　already　agreed。　Why　was　Janos　pressing　for　more？　I　was　certain　my　father　would　cancel　his　approval　on　the　spot。
　〃And　what　would　that　be；　Captain？〃　I　heard　my　father　answer；　amazed　at　the　jovial　tone　of　his　voice。
　〃I　only　want　to　know　your　own　opinion　of　our　ultimate　goal；　sir。　For　I　must　warn　you；　that　I　will　risk　anything　we　have　won；　once　we　near　that　destination。　But；　if　you　think　it　is　only　a　fable　we　seek　。。。　now　is　the　time　for　us　to　part　pany。〃
　That's　torn　it；　I　thought。　My　father　was　not　a　man　for　fables。　I　was　getting　my　way；　I　thought；　only　because　he　thought　there　was　a　good　chance　of　profit　in　the　voyage。　It　didn't　matter　what　the　goal　was；　as　long　as　there　was　a　chance　for　trade　along　the　way。　And　now　all　his　good　will　would　be　dashed　by　Janos'　ultimatum。　Still；　I　was　curious　how　he　would　react。　I　remembered　it　was　a　question　I　had　asked　。。。　and　gotten　no　answer。
　I　expected　to　see　fury　in　my　father's　face。　Instead；　it　was　gentle；　reflective　if　anything。　〃That's　fair；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　would　want　to　know　the　same　if　I　were　in　your　boots。〃　He　refilled　his　glass　and　sipped。　〃We　share　a　mon　dream；　Captain；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃The　Far　Kingdoms　have　held　me　in　their　spell　since　I　was　a　child。〃
　He　must　have　heard　me　gasp；　for　he　turned　his　head　and　gave　me　an　odd；　twisted　smile。　〃I've　never　told　anyone　this；〃　he　said　to　me。　〃But　I　once　sat　where　you　sit　now；　son。　Pleading　with　my　own　father　to　go　on　such　an　expedition　to　the　east。　He　refused　me。　And　I　have　regretted　it　every　day　since　that　moment。〃
　I　stumbled　for　words。　A　moment　ago；　in　my　thoughts；　I　was　accusing　my　father　of　being　a　profit…hungry　merchant；　with　a　soul　too　small　for　fables　or　dreams。　〃But　。。。　How　could　he？　Everyone　knows　you　were　a　great　voyager。　Why；　many　of　our　trade　routes　would　not　exist　if　it　weren't　for　you。〃
　My　father　waved　the　praise　away。　〃Anyone　could　have　done　the　same。　This　is　not　humility　speaking；　for　the　gods　know　I　am　not　a　humble　man。　The　fact　is；　few　young　men　set　out　on　really　important　Findings　in　my　day。　So　it　was　easy　to　stand　out　in　so　small　a　pany。　I　saw　then　Orissa's　world　was　shrinking；　not　expanding。　And　it　has　only　grown　worse　since　our　victory　over　Lycanth。　Now　it　takes　small　effort　to　be　a　rich　man。　We　only　have　to　ply　the　nice；　safe　ports　of　the　past。　Which　is　why　there　have　been　so　few　important　explorations　since　my　time。　And　this　is　the　reason　I　give　my　blessing。　If　Orissa　does　not　seek；　then　soon　it　will　not　exist。〃
　〃Then　you　do　believe　in　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃　I　asked。
　My　father　hesitated　for　a　long　moment。　Then；　〃Let　me　put　it　this　way　。。。　I　prefer　to　believe。　There　must　always　be　a　place　for　seekers　to　seek。　We　are　all　born　with　the　curse　of　a　yearning　heart。　And　if　the　answer　is　only　an　extra　crust　of　bread　snatched　from　our　brethren；　then　what　is　the　point　of　it　all？　So　I　give　you　my　blessing；　son。　And　you；　too；　good　captain。　Seek　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Find　them；　if　you　can。　By　the　gods；　if　the　Far　Kingdoms　do　exist；　I　will　go　to　my　grave　a　happy　man；　knowing　an　Antero　breathed　their　air。〃　He　raised　his　goblet　to　his　lips　and　drank　it　dry。　〃Is　that　answer　enough；　Captain？〃　he　asked；　briskly。
　〃More　than　I　could　have　ever　asked；　sir；〃　Janos　answered；　his　voice　as　respectful　as　I　would　ever　hear　it。　〃I　thank　you。〃
　〃No　thanks　required；〃　my　father　said。　He　turned　to　me。　〃It　is　settled；　then。　Now；　all　that　impedes　you　is　permission　from　the　Council　of　Evocators。〃
　My　heart　gave　a　jott。　I　had　forgotten　about　the　Evocators。　No　trading　expedition　was　permitted　without　their　approval；　and　that　approval　could　not　be　won　unless　money　and　promises　of　more　money　exchanged　hands。　Even　this　was　no　guarantee　that　the　omens　would　be　favorable。　Especially　for　a　venture　like　this；　a　venture　I　had　boasted　to　my　father　was　far　from　the　ordinary　Findings　of　my　peers。　There　would　be　a　casting。　How　the　Evocators　would　read　those　bones　was　always　in　doubt。　Especially　for　an　Antero。
　My　father　read　my　face　and　refilled　our　glasses。　〃Let　me　see　how　I　can　help　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　few　debts　owed　that　are　far　past　repayment。　Meanwhile　。。。〃　He　lifted　his　goblet。　'To　the　Far　Kingdoms！〃
　'To　the　Far　Kingdoms；〃　we　echoed。　As　we　drank　I　looked　across　my　goblet　at　Janos。　He　was　smiling；　but　the　smile　seemed　uncertain。　At　least　I　wasn't　the　only　one　worrying　about　the　Council　of　Evocators。
　
　IN　THE　DAYS　of　my　Finding　the　budgeting　of　an　expedition　was　done　by　what　we　merchantmen　called　the　Rule　of　Three。　One　part　of　the　cost　went　to　equipment；　the　second　to　the　men　of　the　party；　and　the　third　for　the　gods。　Profits　of　a　successful　expedition　were　divided　by　me　Rule　of　Four：　two　parts　for　the　merchant　and　backers；　one　part　for　the　members　of　the　expedition　or　their　survivors　at　home；　and　the　final　part　was　once　again　for　the　gods。　The　Evocators　collected　the　gods'　coin；　and　it　was　the　joke　at　the　time　that　the　eldest　Evocator　threw　all　the　coins　into　the　air。　Whatever　stayed　up　remained　with　the　gods。　Whatever　fell　to　the　floor　was　for　the　Evocators。
　Unfortunately　for　the　purposes　of　true　accounting；　neither　rule　was　pletely　accurate。　The　cost　of　just　securing　an　appointment　before　the　Council　could　add　up　to　a　small　river　of　silver　as　the　merchant　slipped　〃gifts〃　to　Evocator　clerks　and　priestly　aides。　An　even　more　princely　〃gift〃　would　have　to　be　given　to　one　of　the　members　of　the　Council　to　champion　the　merchantman's　cause　before　his　colleagues。　There　was　no　getting　around　this；　although　it　was　rumored　many　had　tried；　been　caught；　and　then　banned　from　all　trade　for　life…assuming　the　Evocators　had　been　kind　enough　to　leave　the　errant　trader　a　life　to　suffer。
　Next　came　lengthy　and　expensive　purification　rites；　and　then　a　Casting　of　the　Bones　by　one　of　the　supplicants。　A　good　omen　was　not　necessarily　assured；　even　if　that　small　river　of　coin　were　a　flood。　For　sometimes　an　ill　omen　was　so　powerful　it　was　impossible　to　deny。　But　a　bad　omen　was　guaranteed　if　the　merchantman　was　niggardly　in　distributing　the　〃gifts。〃　As　〃for　the　four　rules　of　profit　division；　a　wise　merchant　sweetened　the　part　collected　by　the　Evocators　with　more　handfuls　of　silver…privately　disbursed。　This　was　to　get　past　another　Orissan　law；　which　stated　that　every　object　borne　by　the　returning　expedition　must　be　tested　for　spiritual　purity。　It　was　also　a　given；　and　no　amount　of　〃gifting〃　could　circumvent　this；　that　anything　that　advanced　sorcerous　knowledge　automatically　belonged　to　the　Evocators。　Any　book；　talisman；　powder；　or　potion　that　met　this　definition　had　to　be　immediately　turned　over　to　the　Council。　The　penalty　for　breaking　this　law　was　death。
　Since　my　Finding　was　for　the　explicit　purpose　of　mapping　a　route　through　the　mysterious　and　deadly　barriers…some　physical；　some　sorcerous…that　so　narrowed　our　world　at　that　time；　a　great　deal　of　attention　would　be　paid　to　this　law。　The　Council　of　Evocators　would　require　brassbound　guarantees　if　it　was　to　permit　our　expedition　to　the　legendary　Far　Kingdoms。
　But　my　father　was　an　experienced　and　masterful　hand　in　such　things。　In　the　art　of　wooing　the　Evocators；　Paphos　Karima　Antero　had　few　masters。　Despite　his　unpopularity　with　the　Council；　he　was　so　knowledgeable　in　negotiating　the　crooks　and　alcoves　of　its　administrative　maze；　he　rarely　failed　to　win　his　way　and　at　a　better　price　than　most。　A　stroke　of　a　quill　in　a　ledger　book　or　its　absence　can　sometimes　have　powerful　results。　So　as　I　worried　over　my　future　from　the　perspective　of　a　youth　looking　up　at　an　enormous　mountain　that　must　be　mastered；　my　father　went　to　work…　dropping　a　word　here；　a　purse　there；　and　cashing　in　old　favors　owed。
　Finally　the　day　came。　It　was　early　summer；　a　time　of　morning　mists　and　warm　afternoon　suns。　The　scent　of　orange　and　budding　rosemary　pleasured　the　air。　The　sunlight　seemed　exceptionally　bright。　We　waited　in　the　gardens　behind　the　Evocators'　Palace。　We　wore　the　pure　white　robes　of　supplicants　and　were　freshly　scrubbed　and　anointed　with　purification　oils。　Our　innards　were　growling　with　emptiness　from　the　three…day　fast　and　purging　required　for　the　rites。　My　tension　was　heightened　by　my　father's　last　words　as　we　left　the　house。　〃Be　on　your　guard；〃　he'd　warned。　〃Do　exactly　as　you　are　told　。。。　and　nothing　more。　The　destination　you　chose　for　your