cacb.thefarkingdoms-第55部分

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　pulled　my　wife　and　babe　back　into　the　bed　and　held　them　in　my　arms。　When　the　morning　came；　the　rain　had　stopped；　and　when　I　awoke　the　first　thought　that　came　to　my　mind　was　that　Emilie　had　never　cried。
　At　the　waterfront　the　river　was　back　to　near　normal。　The　damage　was　heavy…but　not　so　bad　as　I　had　feared。　Some　docks　had　been　stripped　away；　warehouses　crushed；　boats　and　ships　wrecked；　but　few　lives　had　been　lost。　As　we　gathered　to　aid　our　fellow　Orissans　and　dig　away　the　debris；　I　thought　it　could　have　been　worse。　I　looked　at　the　marks　the　retreating　waters　had　left；　and　they　had　reached　only　halfway　to　the　old　scars。
　I　was　one　of　the　few；　however；　who　was　grateful。　On　the　way　home　I　heard　bitter　grumbling　about　the　state　of　things　in　Orissa。　I　was　wearing　rough　clothing　for　the　day's　work　and　had　a　cap　on　my　head　to　cover　my　red　hair；　so　no　one　recognized　me。
　〃I　hear　in　the　Far　Kingdoms　the　Evocators　got　spells　that　keep　a　river's　temper　sweet；〃　one　man　said。
　〃Won't　do　us　no　good；〃　another　replied。　〃You　just　watch。　When　Cap'n　Greycloak　gets　back；　our　lice…ridden　lot　will　do　him　in。　They　swear　to　Te…Date　there　ain't　nothin'　for　us　in　the　Far　Kingdoms　。。。　No　matter　what　the　cap'n　found。〃
　〃Hang　Greycloak；〃　an　old　woman　barked。　〃He's　the　cause　of　our　troubles。　He's　nothin'　but　a　blowhard。〃
　〃Get　out　of　here　with　your　nastiness；〃　the　first　man　shot　back。　〃Greycloak's　the　only　luck　we　still　got。　Him　and　Lord　Antero　with　all　that　lucky　red　hair。　Weren't　for　them　we'd　have　no　chance　at　all。〃
　They　began　to　squabble；　and　I　moved　on　before　I　was　spotted。　For　the　first　time　in　months　I　began　to　worry。　I'd　always　known　that　much　was　hanging　in　the　balance　with　the　second　expedition。　But　I'd　believed　the　goal　was　all　but　won　with　such　a　mighty　force　to　overe　the　trials　of　that　hard　and　distant　land。　But　now　I　thought　of　all　the　twists　and　turns　that　had　arisen　in　that　first　journey。　Our　sorcery　failing；　the　mysterious　Watchers；　the　deadly　terrain；　the　tricks　and　traps　any　wizard　who　opposed　us　could　lay；　and　I　realized　that　failure　was　a　definite　possibility。
　But　when　I　returned　home　to　Deoce's　warm　greeting　and　saw　my　infant　daughter's　smiling　face；　I　brushed　all　doubt　aside。　There　had　to　be　a　future　for　such　as　them；　a　future　much　brighter　than　even　my　father　had　dreamed　for　me。　How　could　the　gods　fail　such　a　pair…much　less；　all　the　mothers　and　babes　of　Orissa？　It　will　all　be　fine；　I　told　myself　。。。　just　fine。
　The　bleak　mood　deepened　as　we　approached　the　Month　of　Harvest。　The　heavy　rains　and　floods　had　washed　away　much　of　the　seed　and　tender　plants　that　had　been　set　out　in　the　field。　Already　we　were　facing　lean　times　and　rising　food　prices。　To　add　to　this　gloom；　all　news　of　Janos　and　the　second　expedition　ceased。　It　was　as　if　they　had　simply　disappeared。　But　I　assured　everyone…　myself　included…that　it　was　merely　because　they　had　traveled　so　far　that　news　was　much　slower　in　reaching　us。
　Just　at　harvest　time；　no　more　than　a　few　days　before　farmers　customarily　went　into　the　fields…disaster　struck　again。　This　time　it　came　in　the　guise　of　an　unseasonal　wind；　which　swept　down　from　the　mountains。　It　was　hot　and　dry　and　unceasing。　It　sucked　all　life　from　the　furrows；　killing　most　of　what　the　rains　had　left　for　our　tables。　The　Magistrates　ordered　an　emergency　tax　on　all　households；　businesses；　and　goods　to　buy　grain　from　abroad。　The　Evocators　took　to　the　fields　and　chanted　and　cast　endless　spells。　Still　the　winds　blew；　and　they　kept　blowing　until　one　day　they　died　of　their　own　will。
　The　city　was　astonished　by　the　Evocators'　continued　lack　of　success。　For　all　our　lives　they　had　protected　us　from　the　evils　of　the　natural　world；　as　well　as　the　spiritual。　What　had　happened？　Why　were　we　being　so　unlucky？　If　things　didn't　change　soon；　the　Lycanthians　would　begin　to　get　notions　not　to　our　liking。
　Some　time　later；　part　of　the　reason　was　provided　indirectly　by　my　friend；　Malaren。　He　came　to　me　saying　that　one　of　the　Magistrates　wanted　a　private　word。　The　Magistrate's　name　was　Ecco；　he'd　been　a　strong；　but　quiet　supporter　of　our　cause；　so　I　agreed　without　hesitation。　We　met　the　following　night。　Ecco　was　an　older　man；　but　with　more　wrinkles　and　gray　hair　than　his　age　warranted。　His　eyes　and　step　were　young；　as　were　his　views。　A　successful　trader　before　he　joined　the　ranks　of　the　Magistrates；　he　got　quickly　to　the　point。
　〃If　you　have　had　any　word　from　Captain　Greycloak；〃　he　said；　'It　would　be　of　great　benefit　to　us　all　。。。　no　matter　what　the　nature　of　that　word。〃
　〃Honestly；　sir；〃　I　answered；　〃I　have　heard　no　more　than　anyone　else　in　Orissa；　which　is　nothing。　But　there　is　nothing　strange　in　this　lack　of　news；　after　all；　the　Season　of　the　Storms　is　upon　us；　and　Janos　would　certainly　seek　shelter　to　weather　it　out。〃
　He　stared　at　me　hard　for　a　moment；　eyes　probing　for　dishonesty。　Finding　none；　he　lowered　them　and　sighed。　'Then　there　is　no　help　there　for　us。〃
　〃What　is　the　trouble；　sir？　In　particular；　I　mean。　For　obviously　there　is　trouble　of　all　kinds　in　Orissa　these　days。〃
　〃You　swear　to　tell　no　one　what　I　am　about　to　say？〃　I　swore　it。　He　nodded；　satisfied；　and　said；　〃I　fear　collapse。　Our　people　are　fast　losing　all　faith　in　us。　We　have　had　minor　fighting　in　the　streets；　as　you　know；　and　other　trouble　that　es　from　a　rebellious　mood。　And　who　can　blame　them？　Why；　when　we　can't　even　get　the　rains　and　the　harvest　right；　why　should　they　trust　us？　Still；　I　love　this　city　for　all　its　ills；　and　I　would　rather　die　on　the　rack　than　see　it　injured。〃
　〃Why　aren't　the　Evocators　doing　anything　about　it？〃　I　asked。　〃You　Magistrates　meet　with　them　regularly；　do　you　not？　What　do　they　have　to　say　for　themselves？〃
　〃If　you　mean　Jeneander　and　Cassini；〃　he　replied　with　disgust；　〃then　they　have　nothing　to　say。　They　e　to　our　sessions　and　spout　empty　promises；　collect　their　tithing；　and　depart。〃
　〃What　of　Gamelan？〃　I　asked。　〃And　the　other　Evocators？〃
　〃They　have　stopped　ing；　or　have　been　stopped　from　ing…I　do　not　know　which。　But；　I　can　tell　you　this；　there　is　a　battle　being　waged　in　the　palace　of　the　Evocators；　and　anyone　who　could　be　our　friend　is　not　among　the　present　winners。〃
　〃But　there　must　be　something　more　than　a　simple　power　struggle；〃　I　said。　〃Jeneander　is　a　fool；　and　Cassini　a　liar。　But　they　are　skilled　Evocators。　Why　can't　they　help　us？　I　don't　think　it　is　a　conspiracy；　mind　you；　for　they　would　be　damaging　themselves　as　much　as　us。〃
　〃I　know　of　no　facts；〃　Ecco　said；　〃and　I　hesitate　in　participating　in　the　spread　of　rumor。〃
　〃Hesitate　no　more；　sir；〃　I　replied。　〃Not　if　rumor　suggests　explanation。〃
　〃You　have　heard；　or　witnessed　the　strange　doings　at　the　palace　of　the　Evocators？〃　he　asked。　I　said　I　had。　〃Well；　this　rumor　arises　from　those　odd　lights　and　odors　and　such。　It　is　said　by　some　that　Cassini　and　his　fellows　are　engaged　in　wicked　magic。　For　what　purpose；　the　rumors　do　not　indicate。　However；　what　is　said；　is　that　the　practice　of　that　black　sorcery　has　drained　the　city　of　its　natural　magical　energy。　And　this　is　why　all　the　spells　cast　in　our　behalf　have　failed；　or　are　so　weak　that　they　might　as　well　be　failures。〃
　〃Do　you　believe　these　tales？〃　I　asked。
　Ecco　gave　another　sigh；　long　and　weary。　〃No。　I　suppose　I　don't。　But　it　certainly　is　tempting；　for　it　would　explain　much。〃
　〃And　it　would　also　relieve　Orissa　of　any　guilt　that　we　have　somehow　offended　the　gods；〃　I　said。
　〃There　is　that。　However；　there　is　no　way　of　finding　out；　so　it　is　pointless　to　speculate。〃
　Ecco　drained　the　brandy　I　had　given　him　and　rose　to　go。　〃If　you　hear　from　Captain　Greycloak　。。。〃
　〃I　will　inform　you　immediately；〃　I　said。　And　he　was　gone…　leaving　a　long　trail　of　unanswered　questions。
　There　was　nothing　that　could　be　done　but　hope。　But　hope　was　a　mother　with　withered　dugs　that　year；　for　the　bad　times　continued　without　relief。　Just　before　the　first　frost　came　the　worst　blow　of　all。
　It　was　on　one　of　those　idyllic；　early　winter　evenings　in　Orissa；　when　it　is　just　cold　enough　to　enjoy　a　fire；　with　perhaps　a　small　storm　outside　to　give　the　windows　a　gentle　rattle　and　send　you　to　a　warm　bath　and　early　bed。　Deoce　and　I　made　sleepy　love　in　the　big　feather　bed；　afterward…feeling　not　a　care　in　the　world…I　arose　to　add　more　fuel　to　the　fire　and　to　fix　us　both　a　hot　brandy　drink。　I　noticed　her　face　was　flushed　when　I　handed　her　the　drink；　but　thought　it　was　from　our　lovemaking。　As　I　turned　to　get　my　own；　she　gave　a　gasp；　and　the　tumbler　crashed　to　the　floor。
　I　whirled　back；　full　of　concern。　〃What　is　wrong；　dear？〃　She　gave　no　answer；　but　gripped　her　head；　her　face　was　twisted　in　pain。　〃You　are　sick；〃　I　said　in　alarm。　〃I'll　fetch　a　healer　in　a　moment。〃
　Her　reply　was　weak。　〃No；　Amalric。　Please；　there's　a　storm　and　you'll　get　cold　and　wet。〃
　〃Nonsense。〃　I　hurried　to　put　on　my　clothes。　She　tried　to　get　up　to　protest　again；　but　then　another　wave　of　pain　struck　her；　and　she　gave　such　an　awful　moan　that　I　shouted　for　young　Spoto；　the　chambermaid；　to　e　and　watch　her　while　I　rode　for　help。
　The　storm　had　worsened；　it　had　a　sharp　chill　to　it；　and　bits　of　hail　nibbled　at　my　face　as　I　thundered　down　the　road。　It　was　quite　dark　by　the　time　I　reached　the　healer's　house；　but　I　could　make　out　the　glowing　symbol　of　his　Evocator's　license。　He　was　eating　a　late　supper；　but　came　without　plaint；　and　before　long　we　were　riding　back　down　that　road。　This　time　the　storm　was　driving　straight　into　our　teeth；　and　we　had　to　fight　the　horses　through　the　hail　and　sleet。　But　soon　we　arrived　at　the　villa；　and　I　rushed　the　healer　to　my　lady's　chamber。
　Deoce　lay　groaning　in　the　big　feather　bed。　I　knew　the　pain　must　be　fierce；　for　she　was　not　one　who　plained；　preferred；　in　fact；　to　ignore　her　ailments　away。　She　opened　her　eyes　when　we　came　in；　they　lay　large　and　unnaturally　bright　in　her　head。　The　healer　got　out　his　things；　and　I　went　to　the　bed　and　kissed　her；　her　fever　was　so　hot　the　kiss　burned　my　lips。
　〃It's　just　a　winter　chill；〃　Deoce　said；　trying　to　reassure　me。　She　made　a　weak　smile　and　reached　to　pat　my　hand；　but　she　gave　a　low　cry　of　pain　and　let　the　hand　fall。　〃By　the　gods　of　the　Salcae；　I　feel　awful；〃　she　said。　〃I　ache　in　every　bone　and　there　is　a　great　hammering　in　my　head。〃
　I　forced　a　cheery　smile。　〃There　you　are；　then。　A　winter's　chill；　exactly。　You