cacb.thefarkingdoms-第51部分
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d。 〃I find it all quite exciting。 Quite。 But； everyone knows I believe Orissa has bee a dreary old hag with a scraggly beard。 It is my father； and my father's ilk； you must sway。 He thinks Orissa is still a fine beauty。 And well he should。 He does not have to lift a finger； and gold pours off his ships。 He does not care a whit when I tell him his sons and daughters will not have it so easy； and it will be harder still for his grandchildren。〃
〃But he must see that in a single stroke we can vastly increase our city's influence；〃 I argued。 〃And it isn't just profit and influence at stake。 Why； think of all the knowledge to be gained； man！ By all accounts the people of the Far Kingdoms have much to offer us。 Their very existence amid so much adversity shows that in many things they must be our superiors。〃
〃That is exactly what frightens him the most；〃 Malaren replied。 〃At the nonce； my father is a large serpent in shallow waters。 He feeds at will with no effort。 But how will he measure up when he meets his counterparts in the Far Kingdoms？ What if they are twice his size 。。。 or more？〃
〃But it isn't just up to us；〃 I said。 〃We cannot make the Far Kingdoms disappear into legend again by merely turning away。 Lycanth； I assure you； will be quick to step into that gap if we do。 And then I can guarantee his shallow kingdom will be quickly overe。 His profits； nay his very life； will be threatened。 Believe me； the Lycanthians won't be patient enough to allow him to die in dignity and then confront his children。〃
Malaren mused a bit； then nodded。 〃Your final argument；〃 he said； 〃has not been stressed enough。 Let me take it to him。 Then we'll see。〃
Shortly after that； Cassini's friends staged an elaborate but very private banquet to honor him。 No one knew what transpired； so secretive were the proceedings； but the following week； all sorts of rumors attacking Janos sprang up。 It was charged that he was in the pay of Lycanth。 In fact； he was the son of one of the Archons； and practiced black magic to confound the good people of Orissa。
Janos seemed unconcerned by these attacks。 When I urged him to fight back； to reply to these slanders； he refused。 〃Cassini is behind it all； as everyone knows；〃 he said。 〃All I can do is repeat what we have already charged： that he is a cowardly； self…serving liar。 Unfortunately； I think the more I repeat it； the more chance I have that same charge will be tied to me。〃
〃Then what do you propose to do？〃
〃Stay the course；〃 Janos replied。 〃Every day that passes sees another group swayed to our side。 Moreover； I have been so overwhelmed by requests to volunteer for the next expedition； I was going to ask you for funds to set up some means to handle them all。 I am a soldier； not clerk； but by whatever bloodless god who favors clerks； I swear I shall never malign their breed again。 My quarters are overflowing with all sorts of scrolls and documents and whereases and wherefores。〃
〃Consider it done；〃 I said。 〃I can loan you someone； plus space at one of our offices。 However； aren't you a little ahead of yourself？ The second expedition hasn't even been officially approved； much less a man to lead it。〃
〃I know that；〃 Janos said。 〃But I plan to go on as if this could never be in question。 Too many people believe in this thing。 There's no sense in giving our opponents an opening。〃
〃That is an excellent attitude to take；〃 I said。 〃However； when you speak of all the people who are opposing your quest； there is one group who are small in number but wield vast influence。 And that is the Evocators。 They are plainly behind Cassini。 I suppose they don't have any choice； since to condemn him would be to risk condemnation of themselves。 However； no matter how many in Orissa agree with us； in the end the Evocators can block us pletely。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 Janos asked； and I could tell he doubted it。 〃Why； in not much more time； if the great Te…Date himself stood in the way of the mon folk； I fear they would rip him apart to get to the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃Perhaps you are right；〃 I said。 〃Although I think you have much too rosy a view。 Still； the Evocators are a powerful force。 And they cannot be ignored； or in the end we may lose much more than a second expedition。〃
It was Rali who proved my fears； although well…founded； were exaggerated。 I was relaxing in the public bath when I got the news。 It was one of those rare days when I was able to flee the pressures of business and politics for a good workout at the gymnasium； and now I was easing weary muscles in the steam room。 It was late in the day； and besides the slave who tended the hot rocks； there were only a few men about。 As my tensions eased； and I was considering more personal matters； such as slipping home for a tumble with Deoce； I heard the bath keeper voice loud protest。
〃You can't go in there！〃
〃Get out of my way； you flea；〃 came a booming reply。 The boom was unmistakably Rali's。
〃e back tomorrow；〃 the flea responded。 'Tomorrow is Ladies' Day。 Today is for men only。〃
〃Oh； don't be such a bother。 There's nothing in there I haven't seen before。〃
There was a scuffle； a yelp of pain； and Rali made her entrance。 She saw me through the steam and walked over； ignoring horrified looks from the other men。 I patted the spot beside me on the stone bench； enjoying their disfort as my sister once again turned custom on its head。 〃I've been searching for you all morning； Amalric；〃 she said。 She glanced around the room； the men looked quickly away。 None of them knew what to do。 They believed themselves humbled whether they stayed or fled。
〃In fact； I'm so weary from looking；〃 she finally said； 〃I think I'll join you。〃
With that； she kicked off her sandals； shed her tunic； and in a wink she was naked and plumping her lovely haunches down on the bench。 〃More steam；〃 she shouted to the attendant。 He quickly plied。 Just as quickly； all but two or three of the men fled。
Rali sprawled out； legs splayed wide。 One of the remaining men dared to ogle her。 Instead of clapping her legs together and covering her breasts； Rali stared back at him； hard。 〃It would eat you alive； little man；〃 she snarled。 He ran； and before another drop of sweat could fall from my brow； the others had followed him。 I laughed until my sides ached。
〃Good；〃 Rali snorted。 〃I need privacy for the tale I have e to tell。 But first。。。 some wine； brother dear； to slake my thirst。〃
I poured wine and she drank it down。 Then she lifted a big jug of cold water and drenched herself。 The water ran over the floor and into the rock pit； sending up a mighty blast of steam。
〃Now； what is the news； sister； that puts you into such a state you relish bullying these poor men？〃
〃Oh； balls； Amalric。 It'll give them something to talk about。 Spice up their dull lives。 If their women are fortunate； I'll have aroused their men so； they'll speed home to prove they are men； after all。〃
〃Quit being clever； please；〃 I said。 〃The news； if you will。 The news。〃 I refilled her goblet； and she plunged into the story without further prompting。
〃There is a young woman in my troop；〃 she said； 〃whose mother has served for many years as a floor scrubber to the Evocators。 She has cleaned their halls for so long； they have ceased to notice her。 Since this woman was wise enough to see her daughter ought to be steered into our pany； instead of joining another generation of stone scourers； I think you will agree the Evocators' attitude was not good thinking。 In fact； she so resents it； she has bee my willing ear to many of their discussions。〃
I straightened on the bench； this was indeed good fortune。 The Maranon Guard was sworn to remain neutral in all affairs of the city； therefore it was necessary for them to have many 〃ears；〃 as my sister put it； to avoid any hint of playing favorites。 'Tell me more； oh wise and beautiful sister；〃 I said。
Rali laughed； gave my arm a numbing clout； and resumed her story。 〃There was a meeting of the Council of Elders yesterday noon。 Cassini was there； as was his mentor； Jeneander。 Our floor scrubber found a nice； dirty spot just outside and listened。 She said it was plain from the voices…they got quite angry； apparently…the nature of the meeting was a debate； and the subject of this debate was the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃So things are ing to a head；〃 I said； grimly。 〃They are marshaling their forces against us。〃
〃Far from it〃 was my sister's surprising answer。 〃It might be difficult to believe； but the Evocators are as divided as the rest of Orissa。 To the public； they are supportive of Cassini。 But only because he is one of their own and many feel they must stand by him。 In private； however； the issue has broken into several warring camps。 At the moment； those siding with Cassini hold sway； but； from what our brave floor scrubber says； their grip is slippery。 For the loudest proponent of all for the expedition and Janos is Gamelan himself。〃
I nearly fell to the floor。 〃But 。。。 he's the oldest of them。 And surely the most hidebound and the most bent on protecting the Evocators' sphere。〃
〃So； I would have guessed as well；〃 Rali said。 〃However； from his remarks； just the opposite is true 。。。 except for the age part； for there is no denying Gamelan is old。 Anyway； he apparently gave an impassioned speech； saying Orissa is threatened by stagnation from within and fierce enemies from without。 Not only should a second expedition be launched as soon as possible； but Janos should lead it because its success is so important。〃
〃What about Cassini？〃 I was nearly sputtering in amazement。
〃Gamelan apparently has no use for him。 He declared quite openly Cassini has not only humiliated the Evocators； but also undermined the people's faith in them。〃
I couldn't help but laugh。 〃Faith？ Why； it's more fear than faith。〃
〃Well 。。。 yes。 However； the point is Gamelan is on our side。 I never thought I'd live to see the day when an Evocator supported the Anteros。〃
〃Nor did I；〃 I said。 〃What was the oute of the debate？〃
〃Gamelan lost； of course。 Cassini is still their man。 However； our hard…working spy said the victory was so narrow it could change at a moment's notice。 So it seems to me； all we have to do is find a way to quietly assist that change。〃 I had n
