cacb.thefarkingdoms-第22部分

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ued　on。　I　turned　as　we　rounded　a　bend　and　looked　for　the　last　time　back　at　the　woman；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　road　as　if　she　were　one　of　the　figures　of　doomed　men　in　a　frieze　along　the　Street　of　the　Gods。
　Janos　rode　up　beside　Cassini。　〃An　interesting　spell。〃
　〃It　is；〃　he　agreed。　〃A　simple　one　。。。　and　it　helps　immensely　if　there　is　a　simple　mind　for　it　to　work　upon。〃
　I　puzzled：　Cassini　did　not　make　sense；　spells　worked　the　same　on　all；　Magistrate　to　peasant；　lord　to　slave　。。。　Did　they　not？　My　thoughts　came　back　to　the　present　as　the　wheels　of　the　charabanc　clattered　and　my　horse's　shoes　rang。
　We　were　no　longer　on　the　dirt　track；　but　on　a　stone…paved　road。　There　was　a　log　barrier　across　the　road；　and；　beside　it；　a　low　building。　Out　of　the　building　ran　five　soldiers。　They　stopped　beside　the　road　and　stood　to　attention。　They　were　smartly　dressed；　clean；　and　handled　their　weapons　as　if　they　were　familiar　with　their　use。　One　of　them；　I　guessed　their　officer　or　sergeant；　shouted　for　us　to　stop。　Customs。
　〃Who　are　your　passengers？〃　the　man　asked。
　〃Lord　Amalric　Antero。　A　merchant　of　Orissa。　And　his　retinue。〃
　A　scowl　flickered　on　the　man's　face。　〃Pass　。。。　wait。〃　He　walked　to　Janos　and　looked　at　him　carefully。　He　started　to　say　something；　then　stopped；　and　stepped　back。　〃Pass。　Wele　to　Lycanth；〃　he　said；　his　tone　as　weling　as　the　one　used　to　the　tax　collector。
　The　charabanc　moved　on；　and　I　kicked　my　horse　forward　until　I　rode　close　to　Janos。　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃
　〃The　fellow　recognized　me；〃　he　said。　〃He　was　about　to　question　me　as　to　what　a　Lycanthian　officer　was　doing　in　the　retinue　of　an　Orissan　slimeworm。　Then　he　thought　better…perhaps　I'm　a　spy；　returning　from　an　assignment。〃
　〃So　he　would　not　have　heard　that　you　left　the　Lycanthian　Army。〃
　〃Sometimes　Lycanthian　soldiers　are　discharged　or　even　drummed　out　dishonorably　to　begin　a　secret　assignment。〃
　Now　I　blush　at　my　naivete；　but　on　that　day　I　actually　gaped　and　asked；　〃Lycanth　does　things　like　that？〃　To　Janos　credit　he　merely　nodded　soberly；　instead　of　showing　any　scorn　for　someone　so　innocent。　Buildings　rose　up　around　us。　We　were　in　Lycanth。
　
　WE　FOUND　AN　inn　and　began　our　final　preparations。　The　soldiers　were　told　nothing　about　our　direction　of　travel　and　certainly　not　of　our　dreamed　goal　of　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Their　duties　would　be　to　guard　our　gold　and　give　any　assistance　needed。　Eanes　was　to　be　our　majordomo；　and　Cassini　would　be　charged　with　gathering　charms　and　other　magical　supplies；　such　as　our　wind　spirits。　I　was　to　secure　a　ship　to　carry　us　across　the　Narrow　Sea　to　the　most　distant　Valaroian　port　Janos　was　familiar　with。　Examining　his　chart；　I　was　once　more　shocked　by　how　little　was　known　about　this　region：　our　intended　destination；　the　port　of　Redond；　was　but　two　finger…breadths　east　of　Lycanth　across　the　sea；　just　east　of　the　port　was　the　Pepper　Coast；　of　evil　rumor。　All　else　was　a　mystery：　there　were　no　markings　on　that　portion　of　the　map；　no　cities；　no　demarcations　for　tribes　or　nations；　and　beyond　the　Pepper　Coast　was　a　great　mountain　range　that　Janos　had　sketched　on　the　map。　It　was　a　mountain　range　known　but　to　him；　since　his　homeland　of　Kostroma　lay　somewhere　in　its　fasts。
　〃There　are　stories　I　heard　in　Lycanth；〃　he'd　told　me；　〃that　claim　the　Archons　have　secretly　sent　explorers　east；　beyond　Redond；　beyond　even　the　Pepper　Coast。　But　I　never　found　a　man　who　truthfully　laid　claim　to　having　been　on　such　an　expedition；　so　I　discounted　the　tales。〃
　Sergeant　Maeen　was　in　charge　of　securing　our　weaponry；　guided　by　Janos；　so　that　we　would　not　appear　ostentatiously　Orissan。　The　rest　of　our　supplies…horses　or　mules；　provisions；　tenting；　and　the　like　we　would　buy　or　have　made　in　Redond。
　Janos　told　me　privately　he　had　other　matters　to　arrange　to　assure　the　success　of　our　expedition…matters　that　someone　of　my　station　would　be　unwise　to　involve　himself　in。　He　said　I　was　not　to　take　alarm　at　his　irregular　ings　and　goings；　or　some　of　the　people　he　might　be　doing　business　with。　It　was　well　he　warned　me；　if　he　hadn't；　I　would　have　bellowed　for　Maeen　and　the　Lycanthian　watch　when　I　first　saw　the　man　shamble　into　the　inn's　courtyard。　I　have　learned　over　the　years　that　the　man　or　woman　to　be　wariest　of　may　have　the　features　of　a　god　or　goddess　and　the　benevolent　manners　of　a　holy　one；　whereas　the　real　saint　may　have　the　outward　semblance　of　a　monster。　But　Greif　looked　the　villain　he　was。　Eanes　was　the　first　to　notice　him。　He　whistled　softly　and　asked　me　to　take　note　of　the　man　below　us。　〃Surely；〃　Eanes　said；　〃he　is　rich。　Mothers　must　reserve　his　services　months　in　advance　to　frighten　their　babes　into　good　behavior。〃　Greif　was　but　an　inch　or　so　taller　than　me；　but　twice　the　mass。　He　had　the　solid；　heavily　built　body　of　a　porter　or　brewer。　But　if　he'd　worked　either　trade；　the　reasons　for　his　discharge　were　obvious：　Greif's　ears　had　been　cropped…&　sign　here；　as　in　Orissa；　of　a　thrice…convicted　thief。　His　arms　were　misshapen；　bent。　At　first　I　thought　he'd　been　crippled；　then　I　saw；　below　the　rolled　sleeves　of　his　soiled　silk　finery；　the　seared　scars　that　came　from　the　rack's　bindings。
　I　shouted　down；　asking　him　his　business。　He　said　he　was　seeking　a　Captain　Janos　Greyctoak；　a　man　who　once　served　Lycanth。　His　voice　was　a　mellow　bass　that　might　have　served　a　prayer　caller　well。　Eanes　asked　his　name。
　〃Greif。〃
　〃Well　chosen；〃　my　bodyslave　murmured。　〃And　your　business？〃
　〃Private　。。。　with　the　captain；〃　the　man　said。
　Janos　came　out　of　his　chambers　onto　the　balcony。　〃I　am　Greycloak。　Who　sent　you？〃　The　man　did　not　answer…at　least　not　verbally。　Instead　his　hand　moved　in　front　of　him；　secretively；　in　three　fast　motions。
　〃Up　here；　fellow；〃　Janos　said。　〃Eanes。　We'll　have　wine。〃　The　villain　may　have　seen　the　torture　chamber…but　he　was　hardly　a　cripple。　He　went　up　the　stairs　like　I'd　seen　great　apes　from　the　north　scramble　up　their　cages　in　Orissa's　gardens。　His　tunic　flipped　up　momentarily；　and　I　saw　the　sheath　of　some　hidden　weapon。　Janos　called　him　into　his　chamber；　where　they　stayed　for　two　hours。　Then　Janos　came　out　and　asked　me　for　a　double　measure　of　gold　coins。　I　hesitated；　liking　little　any　business　with　this　Greif；　but　realized　I　was　being　foolish。　Certainly；　in　the　days　to　e　we　would　no　doubt　be　dealing　with　villains　who　would　make　us　fondly　remember　Greif　as　a　saintly　virgin。
　
　I　HAD　MY　OWN　troubles　to　grind　my　teeth　about；　because　what　I'd　thought　to　be　a　simple　matter　of　hiring　a　ship　was　turning　into　an　elaborate　negotiation。　It　was　a　long；　sleek　ship；　fitted　with　what　a　dockside　idler　told　me　was　a　lateen　sail；　which　was　now　furled　around　a　yard　that　had　been　lowered　to　the　deck。　The　large；　sweeping；　two…man　rudder　was　mounted　on　the　ship's　side；　and　its　bow　curved　up　to　a　gull's　beak；　surely　a　good　omen　for　something　I　wished　to　cleave　the　seas　smoothly　and　rapidly。　It　was　partially　decked　at　the　bow　and　stern；　although　the　quarters　would　be　cramped。　The　ship　was　either　new　or　exceptionally　well　kept。　Of　greatest　interest　to　me；　since　I　feared　my　stomach　would　be　tender　on　my　first　sea　passage；　it　had　an　outrigger　along　its　left　side；　hung　from　two　graceful　curving　beams。　I　found　my　way　from　deck　to　deck　across　the　three　ships　between　it　and　the　dock。　A　man　was　waiting　for　me。　He　looked　as　I　imagined　all　sailors　to　be…barefoot　and　bareheaded；　wearing　a　shapeless　wool　waistcoat　and　knee　breeches。
　He　noted　my　dress　and　nodded　respectfully。　〃My　lord。　You　wish　passage？〃
　The　man　introduced　himself　as　L'ur；　master　and　owner　of　the　Kittiwake。　Before　he　even　addressed　himself　to　my　opening　bid；　he　insisted　on　showing　me　around　his　ship。　I　knew　little　about　ships　then；　but　now　I　know　a　great　deal；　strictly　perforce；　about　the　damnable　inventions；　owning　far　more　of　them　than　a　man　could　count　in　a　day。　I　frankly　think　it　quite　adequate　to　call　a　ship　a　boat；　the　bow　the　pointy　end；　and　the　stern　the　arse；　and　have　done　with　all　of　the　nonsensical　labels　seamen　use。　Finally　we　returned　to　the　rear　of　the　ship；　what　he　called　the　quarterdeck；　and　he　sent　for　vile　wine。　I　watered　mine　heavily。　He　said　he'd　considered　my　wishes　and　that　he　would　be　honored　to　convey　us　to　Redond。　He　named　the　price　。。。　in　gold　。。。　in　advance。　I　hope　I　kept　from　sputtering　his　resinous　swill　over　his　deck；　and　told　him　I　merely　wanted　to　charter　his　little　plaything；　not　purchase　it　outright。　He　smiled　as　if　I　were　jesting　and　mournfully　spoke　of　the　dangers　of　the　Pepper　Coast。
　I　asked　him　what　were　the　dangers；　specifically〃？　His　gloomy　list　was　impressive：　he　mentioned　rocks　that　changed　their　locations　from　voyage　to　voyage；　great　whirlpools；　sea　monsters；　pirates；　lee　cliffs　with　nary　a　landing　safe　to　beach　on；　storms　blowing　up　from　a　clear　sky；　no　doubt　brought　on　by　some　great　and　evil　Evocator　somewhere　on　the　Pepper　Coast；　stars　not　consistent　in　their　courses；　so　no　navigator　could　be　sure　of　his　location。　After　piling　up　this　fearful　heap；　he　said；　〃My　ship　is　fast。　And　I　will　hire　the　most　skilled　men　possible；　men　able　to　work　a　sling　or　a　ballista　as　well　as　furl　a　sail。　And　I　hope　some　of　your　retinue　know　which　end　of　an　arrow　is　to　be　nocked。〃
　That　was　how　it　began。　Each　day　I　would　travel　to　the　docks；　and　we　would　bargain　and　lie；　back　and　forth；　to　and　fro。　By　the　time　we　had　struck　a　deal　for　ship　and　crew…about　twice　what　I'd　offered；　half　on　departure　day；　half　on　arrival　at　Redond…I　was　willing　and；　I　think；　able；　to　strap　all　fourteen　of　my　party　on　my　back；　plus　our　money　chests；　and　swim　to　that　damned…of…the…gods　Valaroi。　Nothing；　I　should　add；　has　changed　the　way　seamen　do　business；　from　that　long…ago　day　to　this。
　The　day　before　I　finally　wore　L'ur　out；　something　most　odd　happened。　Greif　was　waiting　when　I　came　back　to　the　inn。　He　was　carrying　a　closely　tied　bag；　which　held　some　of　the　〃preciouses〃　…　his　word　…　he'd　secured　for　Janos。　I　offered　to　accept　them；　but　he　refused　…　Captain　Greycloak　had　insisted　that　Greif　would　be　paid　by；　and　answer　to；　only　him。　I　thought　of　snapping　back　that　I　was　Janos'　employer；　and　certainly　there　should　be　no　secrets　from　me；　but　realized　I　was　tired　from　the　endless　haggling　with　L'ur。　Out　of　mon　politeness　I　offered　Greif　wine。　He　accepted　and　we　found　a　corner　of　the　inn's　mon