cacb.thefarkingdoms-第4部分

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　the　torment　she　must　be　suffering。　For　I　immediately　made　her　the　heroine　of　that　song。　And　I　burned　with　the　need　to　fort　her　and　take　the　place　of　that　handsome　captain。　As　did　every　other　man　in　the　room。
　Melina；　as　I　have　said；　was　wonderfully　skilled。
　Her　charming　smile　of　thanks　singled　each　of　us　out。　She　leaned　forward　as　if　to　speak；　and　the　room　was　silent。　Instead；　a　graceful　arm　stretched　out。　A　perfect　finger　pointed　to　Butala。　An　old　woman；　draped　in　a　rich　red　robe；　emerged　from　the　curtained　entryway　beside　the　statue。　She　wore　a　golden；　tasseled　sash　about　her　waist。　She　was　one　of　the　hetaerae　guild's　Evocators。
　〃Greetings；　my　lords；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　oddly　youthful　for　such　withered　cheeks。　〃All　praise　Butaia。〃
　〃All　praise　Butala；〃　we　responded　in　the　traditional　return　chant。　〃May　our　loins　be　strong；　and　the　wombs　of　our　women　fertile　and　deep。〃
　I　glanced　over　my　shoulder　and　saw　with　great　disappointment　that　Melina　was　gone。　The　Evocator's　words　brought　me　back。　〃You　gentlemen　will　be　pleased　to　know　I　have　just　cast　the　bones；　and　the　omens　are　favorable：　tonight　will　be　a　most　special　evening。　Butala　is　pleased　with　the　worthiness　and　piety　of　the　gathering。　She　has　signaled　to　me　she　will　permit　Melina　to　reveal　a　sacred　dance　few　have　been　fortunate　enough　to　witness。〃
　〃All　praise　Butala；〃　we　all　chanted。　The　voices　of　the　other　men　were　as　thick　as　mine。　The　Evocator　slapped　her　hands　together。　The　statue　of　Butala　moved；　a　graceful　swivel　of　the　torso；　arms　splaying　wide；　head　going　back。　A　rich；　colored　liquid　spurted　from　the　statue's　breasts。　Two　slave　women　ankled　forward；　burnished　hips　swaying。　They　caught　the　liquid　in　a　large　golden　bowl。　In　a　few　moments　it　was　brimming；　and　the　twin　fountains　stopped。　The　women　passed　among　us；　offering　the　bowl　to　each　man。　When　it　came　to　me　I　obediently　bent　my　head；　smelling　a　thick；　pleasing；　musky　odor。　I　drank。　The　liquid　went　down　smooth　and　sweet；　lighting　a　warm　fire　in　my　belly。　The　warmth　spread；　and　I　felt　my　blood　stir　and　all　my　senses　snap　into　full；　clear　life。
　Another　clap　from　the　Evocator；　and　a　thick　cloud　of　red　smoke　burst　from　the　incense　brazier。　It　smelled　of　roses　and　violets；　and　my　flesh　tingled　in　anticipated　pleasure。　The　curtain　of　billowing　silk　parted。　We　saw　nothing　in　the　dark　alcove　except　stringed　instruments　and　pipes　abandoned　on　the　floor　by　the　never…seen　musicians。
　The　Evocator　clapped　again。　〃Oh；　beautiful　Butala；〃　she　intoned；　〃grant　us　music　as　sweet　as　your　womb。〃　She　crooked　a　finger　at　the　instruments。　〃Play；〃　she　manded。　We　sat　in　gaping　wonder　as　the　instruments　rose　from　the　floor。　Pipes　and　harps　and　dulcimers　alike　swayed　gracefully。　Two　small　gilded　drums　danced　on　either　side。　Strings　were　plucked　by　invisible　fingers。　Small；　padded　hammers　coaxed　beauteous　sounds　from　the　dulcimers。　Pipes　fluted　visions　of　woodland　bowers。　Drams　tat…tat…torted　the　rhythms　of　love。
　Melina　came　out　of　the　gloom　like　a　ghost　from　the　mountains　of　the　gods。　Torches　flared　up　on　either　side；　lighted　by　invisible　hands。　Her　naked　flesh　shone　pure　gold。　We　saw　the　startling　perfection　of　her　smooth　body　for　so　quick　a　moment　one　couldn't　be　sure　it　wasn't　the　sacred　drink　and　our　imaginations。　Suddenly　Melina　was　covered　from　toe　to　crown　with　writhing　shapes　of　many　colors。　She　stood　quite　still　for　one；　two；　then　three　heartbeats。　We　saw　images　of　men　and　women　coupling；　other　figures　in　playful　chase；　women　embracing　other　women　as　lovers；　handsome　boys　doing　the　same；　and　wonderfully　twisted　binations　of　both　sexes。　Melina　turned　in　a　slow　pirouette；　body　alive　with　other　scenes　of　living　erotica。
　The　music　shifted　and　Melina　began　to　dance。　First　a　slow；　swaying　shuffle；　hips　rotating；　arms　weaving；　long；　firm　legs　moving　gracefully。　Melina's　dance　quickened；　as　did　the　music　and　spirit　forms　at　play　on　her　body。　She　kicked　and　twirled　and　shook　her　breasts　and　hips　until　I　thought　I　would　go　mad　with　lust。　I　felt　the　heat　rise　in　the　other　men。　The　room　became　stifling　with　our　must。　When　we　could　bear　no　more；　Melina　stopped。　She　held　a　pose　to　make　a　sculptor　weep。　The　images　were　gone；　and　we　could　see　her　in　all　her　glory。　My　eyes　fed　on　her　like　a　starving　man；　on　her　lips；　breasts；　and　smooth；　shaved　vulva　outlined　in　henna。　Then　the　alcove　went　black。　We　turned　to　look　at　one　another；　mouths　dry；　eyes　aching　in　their　sockets　。。。　our　balls　as　hard　as　stones。
　〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　said　that　wondrous　voice；　〃did　I　please　you？〃　Our　heads　swiveled。　There；　lounging　on　the　couch；　was　Melina；　dressed　in　pantaloons　and　jerkin　as　before。　Only　a　slight　sheen　coating　her　body　hinted　that　she　had　danced　that　incredible　dance。
　〃All　praise　Butala；〃　we　shouted。　The　applause　was　deafening。　Men　tumbled　forward　to　praise　her　art。　There　was　a　loud　and　constant　jangling　of　coins　and　the　clink　of　rare　gems　as　gift　after　gift　was　flung　at　her　feet。　Leego　floated　among　the　men；　smiling；　patting　them　on　the　back；　and　coaxing　even　more　gifts。　I　couldn't　help　myself。　I　jumped　to　my　feet；　hands　fumbling　for　the　only　gift　I　had：　my　father's　fat　purse　of　gold。　I　muscled　through　the　crowd　around　her；　elbowing　my　petitors　aside　as　if　my　strength　were　twice　that　of　a　normal　man。　She　lifted　her　eyes　to　meet　mine　and　I　stood　before　her。　I　saw　a　glint　of　pleasure。　Sensuous　lips　curled　in　smile。　I　dropped　the　purse　on　top　of　the　other　gifts。　The　sound　of　its　fall　was　pleasingly　heavy。
　〃Ah　。。。　it　is　my　handsome　young　man　with　the　fiery　hair；〃　she　said。　Her　voice　was　warm　and　weling。　But　her　hot　perfume　rose　to　smite　me　dumb。　All　I　could　do　was　nod。
　〃Amalric　Antero；　it　is　not？〃　There　was　no　music　as　lovely　as　my　name　upon　those　lips。
　I　bowed。　〃At　your　service；　my　lady；〃　I　said。
　She　laughed　at　my　stiff　formality。　But　it　was　not　meant　to　be　unpleasant。　Still；　I　flushed。　Melina's　white；　perfect　teeth　gleamed。　〃Oh；　do　please　call　me　Melina。　All　my　gentlemen　friends　do。　My　very　close　Mends；　that　is。〃　Her　fingers　touched　my　hand　and　I　trembled　at　that　touch。　〃And　I　can　see　as　well　as　any　diviner；　young　Amalric；　you　and　I　are　destined　to　be　。。。　close　friends。〃
　I'm　not　sure　what　I　stuttered。　But　she　giggled　as　if　I　were　the　greatest　wit　of　all　Orissa。　〃Tell　me；〃　she　said；　〃is　your　hair　real？　Or　is　it　some　clever　cosmetic　the　young　bravos　of　Orissa　now　affect？〃
　〃It's　quite　real；　I　assure　you；　my…uh　。。。　Melina。　Upon　my　honor。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　shouldn't　take　your　word　for　it；〃　she　teased。　〃After　all；　there　are　more　interesting　ways　of　proving　it；　young　Amalric。〃　The　glint　in　her　eyes　told　me　it　was　not　my　sprinkle　of　chest　hair　she　hinted　at。　〃I　could　also　learn　if　it　is　true　what　knowledgeable　women　say　about　redheaded　men　and　their　ardor。〃
　If　I　was　dumb　before；　now　my　tongue　had　been　ripped　out。　I　wanted　to　shout　to　the　gods　to　let　me　prove　it　now。　Now！　I　would　show　her　true　ardor。　Not　the　fraudulent　love　these…these　beasts　offered。　Before　I　could　recover；　Leego　pressed　forward。　With　him　was　a　middle…aged　man　of　distinguished　bearing。　I　recognized　him　as　one　of　my　father's　wealthiest　petitors。
　〃If　you　please；　my　dear　Melina；〃　Leego　said；　〃I　want　to　introduce　a　very　special　admirer　of　yours。〃
　The　man　stepped　forward；　his　eyes　eager。　Before　I　could　hear　the　exchange　I　started　to　rush　away。　I　knew　this　was　the　man　chosen　to　enjoy　Melina's　favors　that　night。　The　gift　he　had　presented　would　beggar　mine　and　those　from　most　of　the　other　men　hi　the　room。　If　I　don't　leave　now；　I　thought；　I'll　kill　him　where　he　stands。
　Melina's　voice　stopped　me。　〃One　moment；　Amalric。〃
　I　turned；　afraid　to　lift　my　eyes；　because　I　knew　they　would　betray　my　feelings。　But　I　couldn't　help　it。　I　had　to　see　her　once　more。　For　the　first　time　I　noticed　the　color　of　her　eyes。　They　were　as　green　as　stones　from　the　hot　forests　of　the　north。
　〃What　is　it；　Melina？〃　I　husked。
　〃You　will　e　again；　won't　you？　Please　promise　me　you　shall。〃
　My　answer　was　hot；　unguarded。　〃I　would　lay　my　life　down　as　a　gift；　fair　Melina；〃　I　said；　〃to　win　another　invitation　from　you。〃
　She　did　not　answer。　If　she　had　I'm　sure　I　would　have　slit　my　throat　for　being　such　a　fool。　Instead　she　kissed　one　of　her　perfect　fingers　and　laid　it　against　my　hand。　〃I'll　be　waiting；　Amalric；〃　she　whispered。　〃My　handsome；　redheaded　man。〃
　I　don't　remember　how　I　got　home。　But　I　felt　so　godlike　after　those　words；　I'm　certain　I　must　have　discovered　the　power　to　levitate。
　AFTER　THAT　NIGHT　I　went　to　see　Melina　at　every　opportunity。　Which　meant　anytime　I　had　weaseled　enough　coin　to　buy　a　suitable　gift。　Leego　made　it　very　clear　I　would　be　unwele　without　one。　I　blamed　him　for　this；　not　my　fair　Melina。　I　was　certain　she　wanted　me　for　myself；　not　for　something　so　crassly　material　as　gold。　What　could　he　know　of　the　higher　feelings　that　beat　in　both　our　breasts？　He　was　a　Procurer；　after　all；　interested　only　in　the　profits　the　hetaerae　guild　said　was　his　right。　And　I　knew　he　must　be　the　most　greedy　individual　of　his　money…grubbing　trade。
　I　tried　desperately　to　ignore　Melina's　wild　swings　of　mood。　One　moment　only　/　seemed　to　matter。　The　next　I　would　be　dust　at　her　feet。　I　wallowed　in　her　humiliations；　the　rich　gifts　she　scorned；　the　cold　looks；　her　ostentatious　displays　of　affection　to　other　men。　I　put　my　gifts　at　her　feet　with　the　others。　Bore　her　scorn。　Bore　her　jokes　at　my　expense。　Bore　Leego's　increasingly　mocking　manner。
　I　spent　all　I　had。　Then　I　sold　my　possessions。　I　lied　to　my　father　and　begged　sum　after　sum。　When　he　refused　me；　I　borrowed　from　my　friends　so　heavily　they　began　to　avoid　my　pany。　For　soon　as　I　would　despair；　Melina　would　bee　warm；　casting　long　haunting　looks；　stroking　me　and　petting　me　until　I　was　on　fire　with　desire。　She　would　praise　me　loudly　to　the　other　men；　make　a　trinket　I　had　delivered　into　a　treasure　trove；　or　plain　she　was　weary　and　ached　from　her　work…I　dared　not　imagine　how　she　came　by　those　aches　and　pains…and　beg　me　to　massage　her。　Many　a　time　I　was　her　slave　and　worked　her　limbs　into　suppleness。　She　would　groan　under　my　hands　as　if　lit　by　passion。　She　would　turn　slightly　and　allow　my　hands　to　brush　against　her　secret　places。　Then　she　would　send　me　away　with　promises　burning　hi　her　eyes。　So　I　always　returned；　richly　laden　and　eager。　This　time；　I　wou