cacb.thefarkingdoms-第26部分

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　On　another　day　a　sea　lizard　broke　surface。　It　was　huge　and　old　with　long　trails　of　barnacles　streaming　from　its　side。　At　first　the　men　said　this　was　lucky。　But　it　followed　us；　and　they　grew　wary；　casting　dark　looks　back。　It　trailed　us　for　a　long　time；　and　the　looks　became　curses　before　the　sea　lizard　disappeared。　But　the　men　did　not　forget。
　Just　after　that　the　seas　changed　color　and　shape　as　we　entered　a　region　of　great　depths。　The　sailors　whispered　that　there　was　no　bottom　here　and　an　angry　god　dwelt　in　the　vast　reaches…a　god　whose　name　no　man　had　heard　and　lived。　The　captain　laughed　at　the　talk；　mocked　it　as　superstitious　blathering；　unworthy　of　a　true　sailor。　But　I　caught　a　hollowness　in　the　mockery　and　saw　him　finger　his　talisman。　He　did　nothing　to　stop　the　whispers。
　Despite　the　fears　of　the　seamen；　nothing　in　particular　occurred　during　our　voyage　across　the　deep。　But　I　understood　their　nervousness。　In　the　time　we　traveled　in　those　waters；　we　saw　never　a　living　thing…no　fish；　or　sea　lizards；　or　even　a　wayward　bird。　It　was　as　if　we　had　e　upon　a　watery　desert。　So　when　a　seaman　spotted　another　sail　one　day　and　gave　the　cry；　we　rushed　to　the　bulwarks　rather　than　hastily　preparing　to　take；　flight。　L'ur　made　the　excuse　of　checking　his　position　and　buying　fresh　food　and　steered　for　the　stranger；　with　the　two…hands…clasped　flag　of　friendship　flying　from　our　mast。　The　ship　was　lateen　rigged　like　our　own；　but　with　three　sails。　It　stayed　its　course　as　we　closed；　making　no　attempt　to　tack　nearer　or　to　flee。　We　cried　out　that　we　were　friends。　No　one　answered。　As　we　came　within　a　spearcast　of　the　ship　and　could　see　its　decks　clearly；　we　realized　there　was　no　one　to　answer。　The　ship's　sails　drew　taut　and　the　snap　and　crack　they　gave　in　the　wind　echoed　eerily。　We　saw　with　a　jolt　that　the　rudder　had　been　shipped。　Who　was　steering；　and　how？　〃Wizardry；〃　I　heard　a　seaman　hiss。
　L'ur　barked　orders　to　pull　away；　but　it　was　too　late　to　prevent　us　from　skimming　closer　to　the　strange　ship's　side。　The　deck　was　spattered　with　a　terrible　gore；　fresh　gore…with　red　blood　pocking　the　deck　and　more　blood　dripping　down　the　mainmast。　But　there　was　not　a　corpse　to　be　seen；　much　less　the　sobs　of　wounded　men。　We　fled　in　terror；　L'ur　screaming　and　the　seamen　dashing　about　to　do　his　bidding　as　if　the　Dark　Seeker　had　loosed　his　hounds。　The　Kittiwake　leaped　away　from　the　ghost　ship；　and　when　we　had　sailed　a　great　distance；　L'ur　hove　to　for　consultation。
　Some　of　the　men　said　it　was　the　work　of　an　evil　wizard。　Others　said　it　was　men。　The　men　they　imagined　were　half　pirate；　half　demon；　who　crept　up　on　innocent　seamen　to　make　a　meal　of　their　flesh　or　to　carry　them　away　to　eating　pens。　At　Janos'　urging；　Cassini　stilled　his　quaking　guts　enough　to　give　a　little　speech　about　kinder　gods　and　gentler　men。　There　was　little　passion　to　his　talk；　so　it　was　unconvincing；　less　from　Cassini's　illness　than　his　own　fear。　He　seemed　to　be　trying　to　e　to　terms　as　to　what　manner　of　things　he　would　encounter；　and　be　expected　to　overe；　as　the　expedition　continued。　He　could　see　how　little　his　words　meant；　so　he　called　for　a　sacrifice　to　the　gods　of　this　region。　This　started　a　quarrel。　Some　said　we　should　sacrifice　to　our　own　gods　as　well；　so　as　not　to　make　them　jealous。　Some　said　we　should　make　sacrifice　only　to　our　own；　or　they　would　abandon　us　permanently。　There　was　only　a　small　pig　to　kill…the　ship's　mascot。　Cassini　wisely　stayed　with　his　first　judgment；　placating　the　near　rather　than　the　far。　The　pig　squealed　as　he　cut　its　throat；　and　he　bled　it　into　a　copper　bowl　engraved　with　arcane　symbols。
　〃That'll　do　no　good；〃　I　heard　a　man　say。
　〃We'll　need　a　better　gift　than　that；〃　another　said。
　〃It's　just　our　poor　pig；〃　someone　said　quite　near。
　〃That's　all　our　luck　he's　killin'；〃　came　a　grumble。
　I　heard　someone　say；　〃It's　the　redhead　who's　to　blame。　Every…one　knows　red　hair's　bad　luck　on　a　ship。〃　Janos'　hand　gripped　my　elbow；　and　I　gave　no　indication　I　had　heard。　As　he　pulled　me　away　I　heard　a　final　ment。　〃It　oughta　be　him；　'stead　of　the　pig。　That'd　change　our　luck。〃
　〃I　see　what　you　meant　about　my　red　hair；〃　I　groaned。　〃It's　always　been　a　curse　to　me。〃
　〃It's　foolish　to　mourn　a　thing　you　were　born　with；〃　Janos　soothed。　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　there　are　kingdoms　with　nothing　but　redheaded　people；　and　it　is　the　poor　black…haired　fellow　who's　cursed。〃
　〃What　should　I　do？〃　I　asked。
　〃Don't　trouble　yourself。　We're　only　a　few　days　out　of　Redond。　Why　stir　a　pot　to　boil；　when　a　simmer　does　no　harm？　Besides；　we　have　our　own　men；　good；　loyal　Orissan　soldiers　the　seamen　would　not　dare　challenge。〃　He　eyed　me；　grim　despite　his　words。　〃But　keep　your　knife　ready。　In　case　someone　es　at　you　in　the　night。〃
　Cassini　pleted　the　sacrifice；　pouring　the　blood　and　a　mixture　of　sorcerous　ingredients　on　the　seas；　and　calling　to　the　gods　in　a　loud　voice　that　we　were　peaceful　men　who　would　soon　be　quit　of　their　kingdom。　We　set　sail　again；　and　the　spirits　of　the　men　seemed　somewhat　eased。　The　muttering　ceased；　although　my　hair　still　drew　looks。　The　crew　became　almost　cheery　as　we　entered　a　region　everyone　said　was　always　blessed　with　steady　winds。　L'ur　changed　course　to　make　a　straight　run　for　Redond；　speeding　over　the　waves　like　the　fish　with　wings。　That　afternoon　the　wind　died。
　L'ur　told　his　men　not　to　worry；　it　was　only　a　temporary　lull；　and　reassured　them　about　the　well…known　reliability　of　the　winds　in　these　parts。　We　remained　becalmed　all　that　night。　In　the　morning　we　leaped　up；　ready　for　the　fresh　winds　of　the　new　day。　They　never　arrived。　The　late　afternoon　winds　failed　as　well。　Nor　did　the　night　breezes　bless　us　with　their　kiss。　The　following　morning　the　sun　dawned　close　and　hot。　Our　heads　ached　as　the　still　day　wore　on。　The　seamen's　horny　feet　blistered　and　stuck　to　the　deck；　skin　ing　off　if　they　pulled　too　hard。　There　was　not　a　cloud　in　that　blazing　sky　to　give　us　hope　of　fresh　winds　rushing　in　over　the　horizon。
　L'ur　came　to　me　in　the　late　afternoon。　〃It's　time　you　got　your　Evocator　to　get　out　the　wind　spirits；〃　he　said。　〃I've　never　had　need　of　'em　in　these　parts；　and　would　have　advised　we　keep　'em　for　a　nasty　bit　just　off　Redond。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　cloudless　skies　and　shook　his　head。　〃Somethin's　cursed　us；　sure；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　think　we　ought　to　get　off　quick。〃
　I　huddled　with　Janos　and　Cassini。　One　paid　a　dear　price　for　a　good　bag　of　wind　spirits；　making　many　old　witchwornen　a　handsome　living　in　the　ports　where　they　plied　their　trade；　capturing　errant　wind　spirits　in　a　sorcerous　sack；　then　selling　them　to　sailors　for　use　when　the　wind　failed。　The　bags　were　so　costly；　however；　they　were　used　only　in　emergency。　We　all　agreed　that　an　emergency　had　e。
　Cassini　made　quite　a　ceremony　of　it；　chalking　a　pentagram　on　the　deck　just　behind　the　beaked　prow。　He　purified　the　area　around　the　pentagram；　sprinkling　ashes　made　of　rare　spices　and　the　cremated　parts　of　equally　rare　creatures。　He　donned　his　best　robe　and　fetched　the　sack　containing　the　wind　spirits。　All　of　us　gathered　as　he　lifted　his　hands　and　cried　out　to　Te…Date　in　a　loud　voice。　He　summoned　the　wayfarer's　god　for　half　an　hour；　and　then　spent　most　of　an　hour　more　praising　Te…Date's　name　and　enlisting　his　sympathy　for　our　plight。　The　heat　was　intolerable；　but　no　one　plained；　fearing　to　interfere　and　cause　failure。　We　bore　with　his　long　exaltation；　propping　up　our　fellows　who　had　been　overe　by　the　sun。　I　remember　well　that　blazing　sky　and　Cassini's　sonorous　words　beseeching　it。　Not　one　small　cloud　paid　a　visit。
　Finally；　the　moment　came。　Cassini　laid　the　bag　on　the　deck；　gripped　the　drawstring；　and　gave　a　hard　tug；　stepping　back　quickly　to　avoid　the　blast　of　the　emerging　wind　spirits。　There　are　tales　of　men　being　killed　by　the　fury　of　their　escape。　There　was　no　fury　on　that　day。　Instead　of　a　great　cloud　rushing　to　the　skies　to　spawn　the　winds；　a　sickly　gasp　belched　from　the　sack。　It　collapsed　on　the　deck；　a　poor；　flat；　dead　thing　with　no　hope　for　us。　Cassini　stood　there　in　dismay；　mouth　agape；　a　fool　decked　in　Evocator's　robes。　The　crew　shouted　in　surprise。
　One　of　the　men　brazenly　tramped　into　the　sacred　pentagram　and　picked　up　the　bag。　I　did　not　know　his　name；　but　he　had　the　cropped　ears　of　a　man　who　had　paid　a　price　for　thievery。　He　looked　at　the　seal　dangling　from　the　string　and　hooted　in　angry　disbelief。　〃I'm　knowin'　this　mark；〃　Crop　Ear　shouted；　〃and　its　maker's　a　great　cheat。　Sells　her　spirits　right　cheap；　she　does。　Puny　things　that　won't　make　a　spit　of　a　cloud。〃　He　turned　to　me　and　shook　the　sack　at　me　in　accusation。　〃The　Redhead's　a　tightfist；　boys；〃　he　cried。　〃Rather　make　our　women　widows　than　pay　fair　price　for　fair　merchandise。〃　The　crew　bellowed　anger；　ignoring　L'ur's　pleads　for　calm。　Some　of　them　put　hands　on　their　knives　and　shouted　for　my　red　scalp　to　appease　the　gods。
　Janos　barked　an　order；　and　suddenly　Sergeant　Maeen　and　the　soldiers　were　there。　Swords　scraped　from　their　scabbards；　and　the　crew　fell　silent。　Janos　leaped　on　a　keg。　〃Hear　me　well；　men　of　Kittiwake〃　he　shouted。　〃If　one　of　you　lays　a　hand　on　this　man；　I　will　order　our　soldiers　to　slay　you　all。　We　are　close　enough　to　Redond　that　lack　of　your　seaman's　skills…such　as　they　are…will　not　stay　our　hand；　I　promise　you。〃　Maeen　clanged　sword　against　shield　to　punctuate　the　remarks。　The　soldiers　did　the　same；　and　the　ringing　of　war　metal　against　war　metal　made　the　crew　cowards。　They　crept　back　in　silence。
　〃The　wind　will　e；　when　the　wind　will　e；〃　Janos　said。　〃We　have　plenty　of　food　and　drink　and　only　the　heat　to　bear。　Te…Date　will　bless　us　soon。　He　is　obviously　busy　now　with　the　distress　of　others　who　are　in　real　danger。　But　he　will　e　to　us　by　and　by。　Has　he　not　been　called　by　a　great　Orissan　Evocator？　Te…Date　would　never　ignore　such　a　blessed　one。　Now；　go　about　your　business　and　leave　us　be。〃
　〃You　heard　'im；　you　whoresons；〃　L'ur　bellowed。　〃There's　plenty　to　do　to　bide　the　time。　And　if　you　can't　find　work；　I'll　find　somethin'　for　you。〃
　The　sailors　dispersed；　and　L'ur　set　some　of　them　on　the　buckets；　heaving　hi　seawater　and　flooding　the　decks　to　cool　us　off。　I　looked　for　the　crop…eared　man　who'd　accused　me；　but　didn't　see　him。　Janos　jumped　down　from　the　keg　and　went　to　Cassini；　with　me　just　behind　him。　The　Evocator's　face　was　white；　and　his　ey