cacb.thefarkingdoms-第39部分

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　I　am　not　saying　we　were　as　good　as　new　that　night；　or　even　refreshed；　but　our　spirits　were　much　lighter。　When　one　of　the　beasts　howled；　Lione　mocked　it　with　a　howl　of　his　own；　and　soon　all　the　men　were　howling；　until　the　only　sounds　we　heard　in　the　desert　were　our　own。
　Deoce　sat　near　me　as　we　ate；　and　after　a　time　we　attempted　conversation。　She　pointed　at　me；　said　my　name；　and　gestured　about　She　repeated　my　name；　but　this　time　with　a　question　to　the　tone。　〃Ah；〃　I　said。　〃You　want　to　know　where　I　e　from。〃　I　pointed　west。　She　frowned　at　this　and　shook　her　head；　as　if　this　was　not　possible。　So　I　nodded；　firm；　and　pointed　west　once　again。　As　she　thought　on　this；　I　spoke　her　name；　and　gestured　about　as　she　had。　Where　did　she　e　from？　She　pointed　south　and　flashed　her　fingers　at　me　several　times；　indicating　much　distance。　I　raised　both　hands　in　a　question；　pointed　south　again；　then　back　to　where　we　had　encountered　the　nomads。　〃What　happened？〃　I　asked。　〃How　did　you　e　into　their　pany？〃　Deoce　shook　her　head；　puzzled　at　my　meaning。　So　I　pointed　at　her　wrists；　mimed　manacles　and　chain；　and　again　lifted　my　hands　in　question。　Her　lovely　eyes　cleared　as　she　understood。　She　chattered　heatedly　in　her　own　language；　then　frustrated；　she　made　walking　motions　with　her　fingers　in　the　sand。　Her　face　took　on　the　look　of　blissful　innocence；　and　she　hummed　as　if　she　hadn't　a　care　in　the　world。　She　was　acting　out　the　beginning　of　her　journey；　making　motions　to　indicate　many　panions　and　a　strong　guard。　Then　she　suddenly　took　the　part　of　the　nomads；　face　crafty；　evil；　lurking。　And　I　realized　the　nomads　were　lying　in　ambush　when　her　party　went　past　Then　she　mimed　a　leap　forward；　made　noises　of　battle；　took　on　the　roles　of　soldiers　waging　a　fierce　fight　and　then　threw　her　arms　about　herself　to　indicate　her　capture。　She　tapped　both　wrists　to　indicate　the　manacles　and　made　motions　of　walking　again。　This　time　with　a　look　of　terrible　despair。　She　sighed；　acted　out　a　stifled　sob。　Deoce　pointed　east　This　was　the　direction　the　slavers　were　taking　her。　She　made　motions　of　a　purse　full　of　coin　exchanging　hands。　I　understood　she　was　to　be　taken　to　some　far　place　to　be　sold。
　Even　in　the　baggy　trousers　and　puffed　shirt；　with　a　thin　line　of　sand　about　her　lips；　Deoce　was　a　remarkably　beautiful　woman。　She　would　have　fetched　a　handsome　price　for　that　nomad　chieftain。
　We　were　silent　for　a　time；　as　each　of　us　struggled　to　think　how　to　continue　our　conversation。　〃Perhaps　I　can　help；　my　friend；〃　Janos　said。　I　hadn't　heard　him　approach　and　looked　around　with　mild　surprise。　He　handed　me　a　small；　wooden　writing　box　and　crouched　by　my　side。　〃I　have　some　experience　in　these　matters；　if　you　recall。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　that　you　can　help；〃　I　said。　〃Our　languages　seem　to　have　no　similarities　that　I　can　grasp。〃
　Janos　laughed。　〃I　told　you　once　before；　my　dear　Amalric；　that　the　best　dictionary　is　one　that　you　can　bed。〃
　I　was　shocked　at　this　suggestion。　〃Oh；　e；　now；　Janos。　I　wouldn't　take　advantage　of　the　girl。　She　is　obviously　from　good　family。　As　good；　or　better　than　my　own；　I　warrant。　And　she　is　clearly　a　virgin。　It　would　be　wrong　for　me〃。
　〃It　would　be　wrong　for　you　to　act　as　if　you　were　home　in　peaceful；　dull　Orissa；　just　now；　Amalric。　This　is　life。　Real　life。〃　He　gestured　about　the　wilderness。　'Take　it　as　you　find　it；　my　friend。　Or　you　will　regret　it　the　rest　of　your　days。〃
　I　wanted　to　protest；　but　Janos　turned　to　address　Deoce。　〃My　friend　thinks　you　are　a　most　lovely　woman；　lady；〃　he　said　in　our　tongue。　〃He　believes　you　are　a　princess。　And；　perhaps　you　are。　Amalric　is　almost　a　prince；　so　you　would　make　a　good　match。〃
　Deoce　frowned　a　little　at　the　mystery　of　his　words；　but　she　smiled　and　nodded　as　he　spoke；　chattering　back　in　her　own　language。　She　pointed　at　the　writing　box；　and　Janos　opened　it　to　display　clean　pads　of　linen　and　writing　implements。　Deoce　laughed　and　drew　them　out；　quickly　catching　on　to　his　intent。　She　plucked　at　her　sleeve；　said　a　word；　then　repeated　that　word　。。。　slowly　。。。　and　wrote　it　down　on　the　linen。　She　handed　it　to　me；　motioning　for　me　to　do　the　same。　〃Sleeve；〃　I　said。　〃Slee…〃
　〃Don't　be　so　single…minded；　my　merchant　friend；〃　Janos　admonished。　〃She　obviously　means　the　whole　garment。　If　you　go　on　like　that；　you'll　be　all　night　discussing　small　parts　of　clothing。　From　stitch　to　cuff　to　collar。〃
　〃You　think　she　means　the　whole　shirt？〃　I　asked；　feeling　foolish。
　〃Count　on　it；〃　Janos　said。
　Deoce　was　looking　back　and　forth　as　we　debated。　She　seemed　impatient。　She　tugged　at　the　front　of　her　shirt　and　said　the　same　word　she'd　said　before　and　pointed　at　that　word　on　the　linen。　〃Shirt；〃　I　said。　〃Shirt。〃　I　wrote　the　word　down。　Deoce　clapped　her　hands　in　delight。　She　grasped　a　leg　of　her　trousers。　'Trousers；〃　I　said。　And　Deoce　repeated　after　me　。。。　'Trousers。〃
　Janos　got　up。　〃It　gets　even　more　interesting；〃　he　said；　〃when　you　get　past　clothing　。。。　to　anatomy。〃
　I　blushed　like　fury；　sure　Deoce　could　understand　the　tone　of　his　ment。　I　turned；　thinking　of　some　way　to　apologize　for　my　friend's　lusty　remarks；　but　found　a　look　of　wonder　on　Deoce's　face。　Her　fingers　rose；　tentative；　and　touched　my　hair；　my　face。　She　said　a　word。　I　didn't　need　a　dictionary。　The　only　word　it　could　be　was　。。。　red。
　As　Janos　strode　into　the　darkness　he　called　back；　〃I　don't　know　why　you　thought　you　had　to　use　a　love　potion　on　the　fair　Melina；　Amalric。　That　fiery　hair　of　yours　is　potion　enough　for　most　women。〃
　Deoce　patted　my　hand　for　attention。　〃Me…li…na？〃　she　asked。　〃Melina？〃　She　made　motions　for　me　to　write　the　word　on　the　pad。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Let's　leave　Melina　for　another　lesson；〃　I　said。　〃Much　later。〃
　Gentler　country　greeted　us　at　the　end　of　the　next　day's　trek。　We　found　a　creek　slashing　through　a　narrow　gully；　with　trees　and　brush　forming　a　thin　line　on　either　side。　Later；　the　creek　grew　into　a　stream；　with　thicker　vegetation　to　soothe　us。　The　water　came　from　a　great　solitary　butte；　which　lifted　from　the　plains。　The　maps　showed　the　butte　with　a　heavy　X　marked　in　its　center；　possibly　and　hopefully　indicating　a　place　to　rest。　We　were　all　too　trail　weary　to　question　the　logic　of　finding　fort　in　such　a　place。　Even　with　water　tumbling　from　the　rocks；　the　butte　seemed　as　desolate　as　the　plain。　Janos　put　Maeen　and　his　men　at　the　ready　in　case　the　butte　was　occupied；　and　as　the　sun　dipped　for　its　dark　coverlets；　we　struggled　to　the　top。
　A　marvel　awaited。　The　butte　was　hollow　in　its　core；　with　thick　walls　to　protect　everything　within　from　the　outside　elements。　The　crater　was　filled　from　wall　to　wall　with　trees　and　flowering　plants；　with　streams　crisscrossing　it。　We　could　see　animals　drinking　by　those　streams；　and　in　the　dying　light　the　sky　was　alive　with　thousands　of　birds　calling　and　swooping　through　dense　clouds　of　fat　insects。
　Deoce　gave　a　small　cry　of　amazement　and　pointed　to　one　of　the　pools　of　water　scattered　about　this　pocket　paradise。　We　all　looked　and　saw　a　half…dozen　slender　antelope　playing　in　the　water。　Among　them　were　two　tigers。　The　tigers　were　splashing　about　and　rolling　on　their　backs；　kicking　claws　in　the　air　in　mock　bat　like　kittens。　They　paid　no　attention　to　their　natural　prey。　A　wonderful　feeling　of　peace　and　joy　spread；　and　I　had　a　sudden　urge　to　race　to　join　them　in　play。　Deoce　drew　smile　lines　on　her　face　and　said　something　in　her　language。　I　smiled　back　into　the　sparkling　eyes。　〃Happy；〃　I　said。　〃Very　happy。〃
　〃Happy；〃　she　repeated。　Then　added；　〃Yes　。。。　Happy。　Deoce　very　happy。〃　It　was　her　first　full　statement　in　Orissan。
　Darkness　and　caution　kept　us　from　going　further　that　night。　It　was　too　far　and　the　footing　along　the　crater's　rim　was　too　dangerous。　In　the　morning　Maeen　sent　Lione　and　a　few　men　to　scout　the　area　to　make　sure　no　enemies　lurked　about。　There　was　little　conversation　while　we　waited；　all　of　us　were　content　to　loll　about　and　study　the　place　at　our　ease。　Deoce　and　I　spent　several　hours　adding　words　to　our　dictionaries；　pointing　out　different　creatures　and　flowers　and　trees。
　Lione　returned　just　before　nightfall。　He　and　the　other　men　were　grinning　and　joking；　behaving　more　like　gamboling　lambs　than　soldiers。　〃The　only　trouble　we'll　have　here；　Cap'n；〃　he　said　to　Janos；　〃is　gettin'　up　enough　foolishness　to　leave。〃　He　painted　a　wonderful　picture　of　their　day's　adventure。　There　was　life　aplenty：　animals　with　hooves　and　paws；　fur　and　scale；　blunt…toothed　grazers　and　fanged　flesh　eaters；　shade　trees；　fruit　trees；　and　every　variety　of　flowering　plant；　with　acpanying　sippers　of　nectar。　〃Near　as　we　c'd　figger；〃　Lione　said；　〃only　thing　missin'　is　men。　No　sign　of　people　ever　bein'　about。　Oh；　yeah。　One　other　thing。　Big　thing；　really。　Those　tigers　and　deer　we　saw　playin'　yesterday？〃　Janos　nodded。　〃It's　like　that　all　over　the　valley。　Things　that　oughta　duck　and　hide　walk　'bout　bold　as　you　please。　An'　things　that　oughta　be　stalkin'　and　killin'　pay　never　no　mind。〃
　〃But　how　do　they　eat？〃　I　asked　the　question　for　all　of　us。
　Lione's　eyes　grew　wide　with　wonder　as　he　considered　how　to　answer。　〃That's　the　craziest　thing。　It　was　peaceful　like　I　said；　all　day。　But　just　'fore　we　got　back；　every　thin'　changed。　Deer　spooked　and　bolted。　Tigers　bolted　a'ter　'em。　Same　with　th'　other　critters。　Things　that　make　a　good　dinner　started　lookin'　for　a　place　to　hide；　an'　things　that　kills　and　eats　for　a　livin'　went　lookin'　for　'em。　But　oddest　damn　thing；　was　the　hunters　seemed　to　take　on'y　what　they　could　eat。。。　'n'　no　more。　Then；　all　of　a　sudden；　th'　whole　motion　stops。　An'　things　got　all　peaceful　like　before。〃　He　scratched　his　head；　a　silly　grin　pasted　to　his　face。　〃Now　ain't　that　th'　damndest　thing　you　ever　heard　of？〃
　I　looked　at　Cassini；　a　little　uneasy　at　this　peacefulness。　〃A　spell？〃
　Cassini　thought；　then　shook　his　head。　〃I　have　no　feeling　of　another　。。。　presence；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　do　have　a　sense　of　。。。　wellness？　Yes。　That's　it。　Wellness。　But　what　its　source　is；　I　cannot　say。　Although　I　suspect　all　the　spells　I　have　been　casting　to　assure　our　safety　have　finally　e　together　to　protect　us。〃　He　gestured　at　the　thick　walls　of　the　crater。　〃Possibly　the　structure　of　this　place　has　helped　to　concentrate　my　spells。〃
　Janos　snorted。　〃So　all　these　creatures　suddenly　became　tame　when　you　stood　upon　the　rim？　Blessed　in　the　presence　of　the　Master　Evoc