cacb.thefarkingdoms-第31部分

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together　in　this　very　place〃…Black　Shark's　hand　indicated　the　spot　where　we　sat…〃and　warned　them　there　were　ill　omens　bubbling　in　the　village　cooking　pot。　The　odor　was　not　right；　he　said；　and　when　he　poked　into　the　pot　with　a　stick；　a　two…headed　seal　pup　came　to　the　top。
　〃How　it　got　there；　no　one　could　say。　But　they　all　agreed　it　could　not　have　been　placed　in　the　pot　by　one　of　us；　because　who　would　wish　such　a　thing　on　their　own　folk？　People　were　afraid　and　cried　out　for　the　Shaman　to　tell　them　what　they　must　guard　against。　He　could　not　say；　for　the　bad　magic　in　that　foul　pot　had　confounded　his　powers　of　vision。　People　fell　to　guessing　what　manner　of　ill　to　expect。　Some　said　it　would　be　a　fierce　storm　that　would　leap　upon　us。　Others　said　we　should　see　to　our　weapons；　for　it　could　only　mean　an　attack　from　our　enemies…the　Dalree…　who　dwell　not　many　leagues　from　here。〃
　Black　Shark　gave　us　a　look　of　deep　sincerity。　〃You　should　know　you　are　most　fortunate　to　have　e　to　our　shores；〃　he　said。　〃The　Dalree　are　evil　folk　who　care　nothing　for　a　stranger's　life。　They　are　fierce　men　and　will　not　even　honor　those　they　have　killed　by　eating　their　flesh。〃
　Cassini　coughed　again。　It　might　have　been　a　laugh。　I　refilled　Black　Shark's　shell；　so　he　wouldn't　notice　any　rudeness。
　〃But　it　wasn't　the　Dalree　we　had　to　fear；　although　my　grandmother　said　precautions　were　taken　and　offerings　made。　The　tide　returned　and　departed　many　times　over　until　even　the　Shaman　had　nearly　forgotten　the　omen。　One　morning；　just　before　the　sun　drove　the　fog　spirits　from　the　beach；　the　village　heard　a　loud　thundering。　It　was　the　storm；　they　thought；　e　at　last。　Not　the　Dalree。　Everyone　rushed　out　to　shriek；　wail；　and　whirl　about　as　the　Shaman　had　instructed。　This　way；　he　said；　the　storm　would　believe　its　brother　was　attacking　us；　and　would　seek　out　others　to　make　miserable。　Such　as　the　Dalree。〃
　Out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　Cassini　nod　in　appreciation。　Rare　approval　from　an　Evocator　of　Orissa。　〃But　there　was　not　a　cloud　in　sight；　and　my　people　soon　realized　the　thunder　was　not　the　drumming　of　a　storm。　And　the　sound　didn't　e　from　the　sea；　but　from　the　land　at　our　backs。〃
　Black　Shark　gestured；　and　we　all　turned　to　look　at　the　high　bluffs　beyond　a　stand　of　trees。　〃To　the　east；〃　he　said；　〃just　past　those　bluffs；　there　is　a　canyon。　An　abyss　with　no　known　bottom。　And　behind　that　canyon；　there　is　a　cliff　so　steep；　that　not　even　a　devil　could　climb　it。　From　thence；　my　lords；　came　the　sound。
　〃The　Shaman　ordered　the　warriors　to　gird　for　a　fight；　and　he　sent　a　party　of　our　bravest　men　to　learn　the　nature　of　the　threat。　When　they　came　to　the　abyss；　they　saw　no　one　about；　and　the　thunder　had　ceased。　Everyone　marveled　at　the　mystery　and　made　ready　to　return。　Before　they　could；　alas；　the　drumming　started　up　again。　They　saw　nothing　at　first；　then　one　of　them　gave　a　shout　and　pointed　to　the　cliff。　They　saw　metal　flashing　from　atop　that　cliff。　The　cliff；　as　I　said；　no　man　could　climb。　But　there　were　men　there　just　the　same…as　that　flash　of　metal　will　witness。　Men；　and　horses　as　well。〃
　Janos　leaned　forward；　brow　furrowed　in　concentration；　and　I　suddenly　remembered　the　tale　he　had　told　of　his　own　childhood　encounter　with　ghostly　horsemen。　Black　Shark　noticed。　〃You　know　of　men　like　this？〃
　〃I　am　not　certain；〃　Janos　said。　〃Were　they　armored？'
　〃Yes；　they　were　armored。　Both　the　men　and　the　horses　they　sat　astride。　The　helms　were　oddly　shaped；　the　witnesses　said。　Like　this　。。。〃　With　a　finger；　Black　Shark　traced　a　high…roached　helm　in　the　air。　Exactly　like　the　helms　Janos　had　described。
　〃What　happened？〃　I　asked。
　〃Nothing　at　first；〃　Black　Shark　said。　〃They　seemed　to　be　just　watching；　or　at　least　that　is　the　way　it　was　reported　later。　Most　of　the　men　had　sense　to　know　sorcerers　when　they　saw　them；　so　they　flung　themselves　on　the　ground　and　made　abasement。　Then　they　fled　before　their　presence　could　anger　those　mighty　horsemen。　But；　alas；　one　man　was　not　so　wise。　My　grandmother　said　he　was　one　of　the　older　warriors；　who　was　jealous　of　the　success　of　the　younger　men。　Instead　of　abasing　himself　and　fleeing…as　would　have　been　proper…he　shouted　a　challenge。　One　of　the　warriors　looked　at　him；　and　he　took　insult　and　flung　his　spear。〃
　Black　Shark　moaned　at　the　folly。　〃The　cliff　was　too　high　for　this　to　be　a　threat；〃　he　said；　〃but　this　was　no　obstacle　to　the　gods　who　hate　the　Shore　Folk。　The　man's　horse　took　fright　and　reared；　and　the　sorcerer　fell　into　the　abyss；　which　was　too　deep　for　his　panions　to　retrieve　the　corpse。　They　rode　off　without　giving　him　proper　burial。　And　his　bones　lie　there　to　this　day；　a　curse　on　all　our　lives。〃
　Moved　by　his　own　tale；　Black　Shark　sniffled；　then　drained　his　cup。　〃Our　luck　fled　that　day；〃　he　continued。　〃All　trade　ceased；　and　only　pirates；　or　Lycanthian　thieves　came　to　these　shores。　And　do　you　know…〃　He　leaned　closer；　voice　lowered　for　a　heartfelt　admission。　〃…terrible　lies　have　been　told　about　us。　And　there　are　many　who　fear　us　because　of　those　demon…whispered　lies。〃
　〃You　don't　say？〃　Janos　answered；　betraying　not　one　sign　of　mockery。　〃Such　gentle…natured　folk　as　yourselves？〃
　Black　Shark　nodded　sadly；　eyes　red　from　drink。　〃It　isn't　right；　but　what　can　we　do？　We　have　no　luck。〃
　〃What　if　we　retrieved　the　remains　of　that　warrior？〃　Janos　asked。　〃You　could　build　a　shrine　and　bury　his　remains　beneath　that　shrine　to　put　the　wizard's　ghost　to　rest。〃
　Black　Shark's　eyes　welled　with　tears。　He　was　almost　too　moved　to　speak；　but　his　nod　was　pitifully　eloquent。　'That　is　what　。。。　we　hoped　。。。〃　he　choked。
　Janos　looked　at　me　and　then　Cassini。　〃What　do　you　say；　my　friends？　How　can　we　deny　these　good　people？〃
　
　THE　MOON　HID　its　face　that　night　as　they　led　us　through　the　forest。　It　was　unnaturally　quiet。　We　heard　no　buzz　of　flesh　biters　nor　even　the　cough　of　a　hunting　direcat。　It　was　as　if　all　the　forest　creatures　had　learned　of　our　quest　and　were　in　hiding。　Black　Shark　and　his　men　took　us　as　far　as　the　bluffs。　Then　he　begged　our　forgiveness　and　drew　a　whip　of　sea　grass　from　a　pouch。　He　lashed　us　lightly　with　the　whip；　one　by　one；　so　any　offense　we　mitted　would　not　be　blamed　on　the　Shore　People。　They　slipped　away　into　the　night。　Cassini　looked　after　them；　an　odd　gleam　in　his　eye。　〃The　whipping　will　do　no　good；〃　he　said；　voice　low；　〃if　those　wizards　are　powerful　as　he　says。〃　He　opened　the　pack　he　brought　with　him　and　drew　out　the　things　we　had　spent　all　day　preparing。
　'Then　you　give　credence　to　his　tale　of　the　curse？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　would　be　a　fool　if　I　didn't〃　was　his　only　answer。　Janos　grunted。　I　knew　he　believed。　The　description　of　the　Watchers　on　horseback　was　too　close　to　what　he　had　witnessed　as　a　child。　We　stripped　to　the　skin　and　blackened　ourselves　with　charcoal　dust　so　as　to　avoid　any　evil　eye　that　might　fall　upon　us。　Cassini　whispered　a　spell　to　further　trick　any　ghosts。　We　slung　the　bundles　of　grass　rope　over　our　shoulders　and　climbed　up　the　steep　slope　of　the　bluff。　I　was　proud　of　my　rades　that　night。　Janos　moved　ahead；　silent　as　a　panther；　marking　the　way。　Cassini　followed；　brave　as　you　please；　a　gold　disc　held　ready　to　turn　back　any　spell　hurled　our　way。　His　long　bout　with　seasickness　and　his　general　hateful…ness　had　made　me　forget；　in　our　days　at　the　gymnasium；　Cassini　had　a　well…earned　reputation　as　a　brave　man。　As　for　me；　I　won't　say　I　was　brave；　but　merely　too　young　and　stupid　to　know　fear。
　Atop　the　bluff　was　a　broad；　rocky　plain。　But　instead　of　a　jumble　of　boulders　and　sharp　stones　to　test　our　feet；　the　ground　under　us　seemed　as　smooth　as　wizard…cast　glass。　The　way　became　easy；　and　we　moved　at　a　faster　pace。　We　could　barely　see　a　hand　before　our　face；　but　we　could　sense　that　great　cliff　Black　Shark　had　described　bulking　near。　The　gods　must　have　smiled；　for　the　moon　suddenly　brightened　behind　its　cloudy　veil；　and　we　came　to　a　jerky　stop　with　the　abyss　yawning　at　our　very　feet。
　〃We　must　be　insane；〃　I　whispered；　〃to　attempt　this　at　night。〃
　〃Enter　darkness　from　darkness；〃　Cassini　whispered　back。　〃That　is　the　rule。〃
　〃At　any　rate；〃　Janos　said　in　a　normal　voice；　that　made　us　jump；　〃we'll　soon　settle　the　argument　over　whether　a　ghost　can　or　cannot　see　at　night。〃
　〃Shush；〃　Cassini　hissed。　〃He　might　hear。〃
　〃I'd　almost　rather　he　did；〃　Janos　said；　〃If　we　creep　up　on　him；　he's　sure　to　think　we're　his　enemy。〃　But　this　came　as　a　whisper　just　the　same。　Cassini　motioned　for　the　bulky　pack　I　carried。　I　upended　it；　and　a　thick　bunch　of　dry　weed　tumbled　out。　Cassini　uncorked　a　flask　he　carried　on　a　string　tied　about　his　naked　hips　and　slowly　poured　a　foul…smelling　liquid　on　the　weed。　He　whispered　an　enchantment；　and　I　saw　something　glow　deep　inside　the　mass　of　weed。　A　flame　flickered；　and　as　it　burst　into　a　roaring　flame；　Cassini　quickly　kicked　the　whole　mass　over　the　side。
　We　watched　it　fall；　but　instead　of　diminishing　from　our　view；　the　fire　grew　larger　until　it　seemed　to　fill　the　rift　from　side　to　side。　Then　it　bounced；　exploded　into　black；　greasy　smoke；　and　came　to　rest。　Apparently　the　abyss　was　not　so　bottomless　after　all。　I　peered　down。　My　stomach　gave　a　lurch；　for　bottomless　or　not；　it　was　still　a　great　distance。　Janos　uncoiled　his　rope。　〃I'll　go　first；〃　he　said；　to　my　relief。
　〃What　if　this　isn't　the　right　spot？〃　I　asked。　Janos　merely　pointed。　Beyond　the　fire　I　saw　my　answer　in　a　flash　of　metal。　It　must　be　the　warrior。
　Going　second　was　small　consolation。　We　had　to　tie　all　three　ropes　together；　and　it　was　still　short　by　at　least　the　height　of　three　men。　But　before　I　could　ment；　Janos　looped　our　lifeline　about　a　boulder　and　swung　over　the　side。　He　quickly　slid　down；　reached　the　end；　kicked　away　from　the　side；　and　dropped。　I　heard　him　whisper　a　chant　and　saw　the　glow　of　light　beads。　I　followed；　my　hands　slipping　on　the　sweat　Janos'　grip　had　left。　It　should　have　been　easy。　I　was　skilled　at　such　things；　as　I　mentioned　before；　but　I　was　no　more　than　a　third　of　the　way　down　when　hopelessness　struck　me。　I　looked　down；　and　suddenly　the　light　on　the　canyon　floor　seemed　immeasurably　far。　The　gap　of　three　men's　height　suddenly　became　twenty；　then　a　hundred。　The　surface　of　the　rope　turned　to　slime；　and　I　plunged　down　at　a　great　speed。　I　kicked　out　to　slow　my　fall；　but　the　rock　my　feet　shattered　into　pebbles　and　dust。
　Janos　sh