cacb.thefarkingdoms-第30部分
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nd he was a sailor as well。 Black Shark and his people had easily accepted our assurances that these Lycanthians…L'ur included…were of that new and astonishing breed； Reformed Lycanthians； like the Holy Crop Ear。 The soldiers had suffered only small injuries； and Sergeant Maeen was tending to them as we sat by the fire and reconsidered our future。 But I was not totaling my good fortune as I sat there finishing my meal。 Instead I gloomed into the fire； contemplating disaster。 〃Can you build another ship？〃 I asked the captain。
〃Aye；〃 he said。 〃It can be done。 Nothin' like the Kittiwake； a course。 But it'll be a sound craft。 Got a whole forest of pepper trees about； and that's prized timber for ship building。 I'll not have time to age the wood； but it's more'n sturdy enough green for our needs。〃
〃I'm sorry about Kittiwake；〃 I said。 〃But I'll make it up when we get back。〃 L'ur smiled； relieved； which had been my intention。 I needed his full support。 〃How long will it take to build a new ship？〃
〃Two； maybe three months；〃 L'ur said。 〃These be per'lous waters…as we've all witnessed。 So we must take a care in the buildin'。 The new craft'll need to be better'n just seaworthy if we're to make Redond。〃
〃That is not so long a trial；〃 Cassini said。 Under the circumstances he seemed oddly cheery。 〃We'll be home soon enough； with all of Orissa to praise our names。〃
〃How can you say that？〃 I cried。 〃We've been wrecked before I've even begun my Finding。〃
〃Oh； I think the oracle was clear when it foretold our troubles；〃 Cassini said。 〃But it also hinted at success。 And here we are； on the Pepper Coast； where no Orissan has ever gone。 You said yourself the trade opportunities are fabulous。 The captain has just spoken of the worth of the timber。 And there'll be precious metals and we've seen wonderful animals and birds to delight the people at home。 You've found your fortune； my friend； Amalric。 There is no need to search further。〃
〃But 。。。 the Far Kingdoms 。。。 they're lost to us；〃 I said。 〃I can't guarantee my father will fund another expedition。 And I doubt your superiors will approve another。〃
〃No；〃 Cassini said。 〃I am sure they won't。 To go further； they'll say； would be to defy the oracle。 But don't you see？ We no longer have need of the Far Kingdoms。〃
I didn't answer。 Yes； there was much profit to be had on these shores。 Exclusive profit and fame of sorts for the Anteros。 Although our journey had not been pleted； this was the first new area opened to Orissa in many a year。 But this meant nothing to me。 All I could think of was the flash of golden sunlight that beckoned from beyond the black fist。 Beckoned me still to the Far Kingdoms。
〃You can keep your gold； Cassini；〃 Janos rasped。 〃And you can keep all the huzzahs from the good folk of Orissa。 I； for one； intend to go on。〃
Although I knew he was behaving like a fool； my heart jumped into the light when I heard Janos speak。 〃It is not for you to decide； Captain Greycloak；〃 Cassini said。 〃This expedition cannot continue without my blessing； even if it were possible。 Which it most definitely is not。〃
Janos was so angry； I thought he was going to draw his knife。 I quickly broke in。 〃Hold on； Janos。 And you； too； Cassini； if you please。 There's no need for hard words between us。 Just as there is no need for a quick decision。 Why don't we consider for a few days 。。。 when our condition will be clearer。〃
〃I have no need for further clarity；〃 Cassini said； refusing to let it drop。
〃Oh； you don't； do you？〃 Janos retorted。 〃Well； let me ask you this。 How do you propose we feed ourselves for three months？〃
Cassini began； 〃The Shore People…〃
〃Manage quite well； thank you；〃 Janos interrupted。 〃And they have a little extra to spare； besides。〃 He indicated the remains of the roasted crab。 〃But these are fisherfolk。 Actually； not even that。 They live on what they can pluck from the rocks； or dive for beneath the surf。 They plant a little grain here and there and harvest a bit of fruit and nuts。 But that is not near enough to feed us all for three months or more。〃
〃We have our supplies；〃 Cassini protested。
Janos snorted。 〃Dried goods。 And a few treats from home。 But that was just to stretch things。 We were going to live off the land； remember？ And don't say we can do the same here； because we can't。 With all of us added to their numbers； the shore's bounty will soon bee scanty。 And you will notice the fruit and nuts don't grow in orchards； but are scattered thinly about the forest… which is the way of all life in these climes。 Plus hunting will make scarce return as well after a month or so。 The Shore People will soon find us poor guests。 The presence of the seamen might be borne； because they can help with the fishing。 But the three of us； and the soldiers； are hardly famous hunters who can provide more than we would consume。 Mark my words； they'll kill us rather than face famine。〃
〃How can you know all this？〃 Cassini sputtered。 〃We have only been here a few hours。 It is not possible to make such an assessment。〃
I leaped in before the quarrel could continue。 〃I asked you both to let a few days pass；〃 I said； making sure I spoke with force。 〃This is still my Finding。 Financed by my father。 And I insist on that time to contemplate。〃
〃I won't…〃 Cassini began； but I cut him off with an impatient wave of my hand。
〃I trust you enough to know you will do what is best at the time；〃 I said。 〃So leave it be。〃
Both men remained quiet after that。 Cassini drew into a corner of the tent to brood； while Janos went outside to count the stars； perhaps。 Or consult with Maeen。 I stayed by the fire with L'ur； realizing now was not a good time to reason further with my friend。 L'ur fell quickly asleep after the argument； and there was a smile pasted on the sleeping face。 He mumbled things； like 〃board feet。〃 And 〃mind the mast〃 A happy craftsman； contemplating the work ahead。 Ah； well； at least he had a goal： to build a ship in three months。 L'ur was the only happy man that night。
After a time my own thoughts drove me out。 I found Janos hunched on a rock； listening to the lonely surf pound the shore。 I made no greeting； but sat beside him； haunted by my own thoughts。 〃Thank you 。。。 for the delayed decision；〃 Janos finally said； with effort。 I made no answer； because the reprieve was false。 When the time came there would be few choices for the picking。 Then he asked； 〃I wonder what your father would say； if he were here？〃
〃Go back； I expect。 My father usually takes the long view。〃
〃Not always；〃 Janos said。 〃He still regrets listening to his own father； and not seeking the Far Kingdoms himself； long ago。〃
〃He had no choice but to obey；〃 I answered。
Janos sighed。 〃Your father is a much better man than I will ever be。 He said it would make him happy if he went to his grave knowing his own son achieved what had been denied him。 For me； that would be no satisfaction at all。〃 He gave me a grim smile。 〃I would curse him because I was not first。〃
〃What will you do；〃 I asked； 〃if 。。。 our worse fears e true？〃
Janos hesitated； then； 〃I'd rather not think on it just now；〃 he said。 〃But I must warn you。 I will not give up easily。 Give me half a chance and I'll carry this expedition on my own back if I have to。〃
〃Be careful with Cassini；〃 I warned。 〃He can do us much harm。〃
Janos patted his knife。 〃Not as much as I can do him；〃 he said。 His words chilled me。 This was not meaningless angry talk； to be forgotten on the morrow。
〃You won't hear an Antero defend an Evocator；〃 I said。 〃But you should know that Cassini is only trying to put a happy mask on our failure。 He needs a victory。 He's practicing what he'll say in Orissa。 Remember； his own career is at stake here。〃
〃Careers be damned；〃 Janos snarled。 But he seemed to instantly regret the outburst and fell silent for a moment。 Then he asked； 〃What about you； Amalric？ What of your own career？〃
〃I feel much as you do；〃 I said。 〃Yes； there are riches here。 And yes； I could put a happy mask on as well and boast of this success before all Orissa。 But 。。。〃 My voice trailed off。
A bark of harsh laughter from Janos。 〃You've been bitten as well； haven't you； my friend？ Afflicted with the Far Kingdoms disease。 Before long； you'll be sorry we ever met。〃 The moon broke from behind a cloud； bathing Janos in an unholy glow。 〃There is no cure for this malady；〃 he said。 His finger stabbed out。 〃Except one。〃 I didn't need to look。 He was pointing east to the Far Kingdoms。
Black Shark came to us the next day。 He wore no armor； but instead was dressed as a mon man in a plain； brown tunic of bark cloth。 The only mark of office was a shaman's eye daubed on his forehead。 He was nervous； humble； almost； if such a fierce man could ever be humble。
There was no preamble。 〃I have e to ask a great boon for my people；〃 he said。 〃We have no right to ask it。 For our trouble is of our own doing。 An unpardonable sin mitted by us long ago。〃
I could not imagine what sin might trouble cannibal folk； but I made appropriate noises about the great service they had performed for us； and promised we would do what we could。 Black Shark turned to Janos。 〃You have shown much skill with ghosts；〃 he said。 Cassini coughed at this； but Black Shark didn't appear to notice。 〃We thought that skill might help us。〃
〃Please go on；〃 Janos said。 〃Although I must beg your understanding that it was his〃…he motioned at Cassini…〃enchanted net I threw。 However； as outsiders we might have a clearer view of the causes of your misfortune。〃
Black Shark was pleased by Janos' modesty。 He called for pillows of sea grass and shells brimming with some heady liquid for our refreshment。 We settled down to hear his tale。 〃It was in my grandmother's time；〃 Black Shark began。 〃She was a young woman and had not yet delivered her first child。 We were a happy people then； and the sea blessed us with its bounty； and the forests 〃 delivered much fruit as well； so there was always plenty for the Shore Folk to eat and drink their fill。 The world was a kindlier place in that time； and our enemies were few。 Then one day the Shaman； who was her father； called the people together in this very place〃…Black Shark's hand indicated the spot where we sat…〃and warned them the
