cacb.thefarkingdoms-第71部分

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re；　when　the　second　expedition　was　wintering　below　in　Wahumwa；　I　asked　how　far　he　had　gotten　before　being　driven　back；　by　snowstorms；　I　assumed。
　〃I　did　not　reach　this　point；〃　Janos　said。　〃Not　by　far。　However；　it　was　not　snow　that　blocked　my　way；　but　gales　and　driven　ice　storms。　In　the　winter；　hard　winds　blew　across　these　peaks；　so　snow　didn't　cling　to　the　rocks　for　long。〃
　Our　passage　was　easy：　it　would　not　take　an　athlete　to　negotiate　this　defile；　I　noted　with　pleasure；　since　few　traders　maintain　their　bodies　with　anything　other　than　roasts　and　vintage　wine。　It　would　also　be　simple　for　heavily　burdened　beasts；　even　horses；　to　cross　this　range；　beasts　carrying　Orissa's　trade　goods　to　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Rock　slides　had　tumbled　from　the　heights；　and　boulders　littered　the　ground；　but　since　the　pass　was　almost　two　spearcasts　wide；　it　was　simple　to　avoid　these　obstacles。　There　was　a　small　waterfall　splashing　down；　and　I　saw　where　someone　had　laid　rocks　to　make　a　pool。　This　route　had　been　traveled　before　。　。。　and　would　be　again。
　Our　path　led　up　and　around　the　mountain。　We　could　no　longer　see　the　valley　and　the　cursed　city　behind　us。　The　way　grew　narrower。　I　began　to　worry　that　perhaps　we　were　following　a　blind　alley；　in　spite　of　the　pool　we　had　seen；　but　was　relieved　to　see　the　pass　widen　up　ahead。
　Janos　was　walking　in　front　of　the　column；　and　I　was　just　behind　him；　the　rest　of　the　party　and　the　animals　strung　behind。　I　spun　as　gravel　clattered　from　above；　one　of　our　archers　had　a　shaft　nocked　and　was　already　looking　up。　We　saw　nothing　but　bare　gray　rocks。　Probably　it　was　nothing；　but　we　became　more　cautious。　Where　the　pass　widened；　it　also　steepened；　and　I　found　myself　breathing　hard。　The　track　crested　ahead；　and　I　resolved　we　would　pause　when　we　reached　that　crest；　where　two　boulders　sat　in　the　center　of　the　passage。　Eagerness　ran　through　our　veins；　but　as　Maeen　had　told　us　over　and　over　again；　haste　produces　only　〃accidents；　ambushes；　and　wedlock　…　all　of　which　are　to　be　avoided。〃　Proof　came　shortly。　Panting；　I　was　paying　less　attention　to　anything　but　my　next　step　when　someone　shouted　a　warning。　I　saw　one　of　those　two　huge　boulders　at　the　crest　rolling　toward　us。　It　picked　up　speed；　crashing　from　side　to　side　of　the　pass；　as　it　hurtled　down。　But　the　warning　had　been　timely；　and　we　were　able　to　pull　ourselves　and　our　animals　out　of　its　way　with　no　damage。　The　boulder　rumbled　into　the　distance　and　was　gone。　I　hurried　to　Janos。
　〃Boulders；〃　he　said；　pointing　out　the　obvious；　〃do　not　move　of　themselves。〃
　He　ordered　all　archers　to　string　their　bows；　and　put　four　of　them　behind　me；　each　with　instructions　to　scan　a　particular　area　above　us。　He　also　brought　Lione　up；　to　march　as　second　man　in　the　party。　We　moved　to　the　crest；　hoping　to　see　the　land　open　out　and　reveal　the　great　cities　of　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Instead；　we　saw　more　mountains　and　the　pass　climbing　on　into　the　distance。
　We　examined　the　ground　carefully　where　that　boulder　had　sat　for　so　many　aeons　before　choosing　its　moment。　There　were　no　scratch　marks　from　a　lever　or　pry　bar　that　would　indicate　a　human　agency　had　sent　it　careening　down。　Perhaps　purely　coincidence　or；　I　was　beginning　to　suspect；　sorcery。　Perhaps　we'd　been　located　by　our　unseen　enemies。　But　none　of　us；　especially　Janos；　felt　any　brush　of　wizardry。　We　moved　cautiously　through　the　gorge。　The　pass　closed　once　more　into　a　deep…V　choke　ahead；　then　the　defile　opened；　climbing　toward　another　false　crest。　We　were　just　in　the　middle　of　the　narrow　way　when　the　heavens　rumbled。　I　thought　thunder　and　looked　up　at　the　clouded　sky。　Then　I　saw　its　cause：　an　avalanche　was　cascading　down　on　us。　I　shouted；　one　of　myriad　cries；　and　broke　into　a　run；　knowing　I　must　escape　the　trap；　I　must　flee　to　where　the　draw　opened　again　as　house…size　stones　and　monstrous　slabs　rambled　down。　The　last　of　us…Maeen　bravely　bringing　up　the　rear…had　just　cleared　the　danger　area　when　the　slide　crashed　across　the　pass；　rocks　shattering　in　demonic　cacophony。
　Slowly　the　crashing　stopped；　the　ringing　echoes　died　across　the　mountains；　and　the　dust　settled。　Ashamed　of　my　moment　of　fear；　I　collected　myself　and　did　a　fast　count。　Te…Date　be　praised…and　I　determined　to　make　real　sacrifice　once　on　the　other　side　of　these　mountains…all　of　us　had　survived；　as　had　all　our　beasts　of　burden。　The　avalanche　had　been　launched　a　little　late。　No　one　was　willing　to　believe　in　two　accidents　from　above　just　minutes　apart。　At　least　we　were　safe　here…the　rock　walls　that　gently　sloped　up　on　either　side　of　us　were　scoured　clean　of　boulders。　I　was　about　to　ask　Janos　how　we　would　continue…was　there　a　soldierly　plan　on　moving　through　passes；　as　there　seemed　to　be　for　everything　else…when　there　came　a　bellow　like　the　mountains　themselves　were　shouting。
　That　is　when　we　saw　the　giant。　It　is　mon　for　large　men　to　be　called　giants；　and　for　any　tribe　whose　height　exceeds　the　norm　to　be　called　giants。　But　this　was　truly　such　a　being。　Even　allowing　for　the　magnification　from　the　mountain　air；　he　was　three　times　the　height　of　a　tall　Orissan；　and　at　least　as　broad　as　a　man　was　tall　across　his　chest。　At　first　he　might　have　been　taken　for　some　enormous　ape；　since　he　appeared　to　be　fur…covered。　He　was　a　bit　more　than　a　spearcast　in　front　of　us。　Weapons　came　up；　and　the　giant　ducked　behind　a　boulder。　He　shouted　once　more；　in　his　unknown　tongue；　and　it　might　have　been　a　lonely　mountain　wind。　As　we　jumped　for　cover　of　our　own；　I　found　I　had　recovered　my　calm。
　Coldly；　I　was　considering　what　had　occurred。　〃I　wager；〃　I　said；　〃he　is　telling　us　to　go　back；　to　get　out　of　'his'　mountains。〃
　Janos　nodded　agreement　and　barked　orders…of　course　the　military　had　a　procedure　for　opposed　movement　through　a　pass。　〃There　will　be　more　than　one；〃　he　was　telling　Maeen。　〃Most　likely　they　will　be　up　above；　providing　cover　for　their　rade。〃
　Maeen　nodded　understanding　as　Janos　laid　out　the　plan。　I　said　nothing；　but　listened　with　half　my　mind；　while　considering　my　first　thought；　it　still　made　sense。　Janos　had　detailed　three　men；　including　himself；　Maeen；　and　the　closest　thing　we　had　to　a　mountaineer…our　wall…climbing　music　teacher；　Hebrus…for　a　special　duty；　and　given　the　others　specific　orders　as　to　what　to　do　and　when　to　do　it。
　〃We　are　ready；　Lord　Antero；〃　he　said；　reverting　to　military　formality　as　he　not　infrequently　did　when　problems　loomed　and　our　soldiers　were　within　earshot。　〃Will　you　take　charge　of　the　main　party？　The　three　of　us　will　signal　when　in　position　and　wait　for　your　reply。〃
　〃Janos　。。。　you　may　think　me　either　mad；　or　suddenly　stricken　with　sentiment；〃　I　said。　〃e　aside。〃
　I　drew　him　away　and　laid　out　my　very　different　strategy。　He　frowned。　〃I　do　not　like　it；〃　he　said；　after　he'd　given　my　scheme　a　polite　few　seconds　of　pretended　consideration。　〃If　you　are　attacked　。。。　all　that　we　have　acplished　so　far　will　be　ruined。〃
　〃No；　it　will　not　be；〃　I　said。　〃If　the　worst　occurs；　then　you　are　in　charge　of　the　expedition　and　may　take　any　measures　necessary。　You　will　not　be　questioned　later。　I　left　such　orders　with　Rali；　my　brothers；　and　with　Ecco。　You　not　only　can　speak　with　my　voice；　but　for　the　people　of　Orissa；　as　well；　to　as　great　a　degree　as　I　am　empowered。〃
　Janos　looked　away。　His　voice　was　thick　with　emotion。　〃You　。。。　you　have　honored　me；　and　my　family；　beyond　measure。　But〃…　and　he　turned　back…　〃what　happens　if　that　overgrown　gibbon　up　there　does　harm　to　you？　What　an　imbecile　thing　to　have　happen；　when　we　are　this　close　to　our　dreams。〃
　〃I　am　not　that　worried；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃I　have　two　good　reasons。　First；　that　creature　warned　us　rather　than　immediately　trying　to　obliterate　our　party。　I　also　wonder　if　that　avalanche　was　in　fact　intended　to　strike；　or　was　in　fact　a　first　caution？　Second；　I　refuse　to　be　terrified　of　someone　who　is　naked。〃
　There　was　a　third　reason　I　did　not　mention。　The　annihilation　of　the　nomads　still　bothered　me。　I　did　not　see　my　mission　in　life　was　opening　the　Far　Kingdoms　by　cutting　a　wasteland　as　I　went。
　〃I　still　think　you　are　being　unwise；〃　Janos　said。
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said。　〃I　am　being　unwise。　Now；　what　I　wish　you　to　do　is　as　you　had　planned；　except　you　are　to　wait　for　a　signal　from　me…or　for　that　creature　to　attack…before　striking。　Now　it　will　be　even　more　imperative　the　three　of　you　not　be　seen　as　you　move。〃
　〃There　shall　be　no　problem　there；〃　Janos　said。　〃But　I　must　warn　you；　my　friend；　if　you　are　killed　in　this　absurd　bit　of　benevolence；　I　shall　speak　to　you　very　harshly。〃
　I　grinned；　clapped　him　on　the　back；　and　set　the　plan　in　motion。　Janos；　Maeen；　and　Hebrus　slid　to　the　rear　and　then　disappeared　up　a　narrow　ravine；　while　the　rest　of　us　milled　about　as　a　distraction。　We　waited　for　nearly　an　hour。　The　giant　made　no　further　move；　other　than　shouting　once　more　for　us　to　retreat。　Beyond　that；　he　seemed　content　to　wait　until　winter　arrived　to　drive　us　away。　This　I　found　to　be　another　indication　that　the　creature　might　not　be　wholly　malevolent。　I　spent　my　time　sorting　through　various　packs；　trying　to　decide　what　might　work　with　giants；　never　having　dealt　with　the　breed　before。　I　also　remembered　one　immutable　characteristic　all　giants　seemed　to　have　in　every　tale　my　nurses　told；　and　was　further　cheered。
　At　last　our　keenest…eyed　man；　who　we　had　set　to　keep　watch　on　a　certain　scrubby　bush；　reported　it　had　moved　。。。　slightly。　I　stripped　off　my　coat　and　weapons　belt　and　rolled　up　my　shirtsleeves；　shivering　in　the　mountain　wind。　I　walked　forward　with　the　leather　case　that　contained　my　chosen　items。　The　giant　sprang　to　alertness　and　shouted　at　me。　I　did　not　reply；　but　walked　very　slowly　onward。　He　bristled　and　wavered；　exactly　like　a　house　cat　not　sure　whether　to　flee　or　not。　The　closer　I　got；　the　less　pretty　my　friend　appeared。　His　thick　body　hair　curled　around　him　like　a　flea…bitten　pelt；　and　from　his　constant　scratching；　I　am　sure　he　had　them　roaming　on　his　body。　He　was　misshapen；　with　larger　hands　and　feet　than　even　his　monster　body　entitled　him　to。　His　head　was　equally　massive　and　elongated；　with　a　lantern　jaw。　Yellow　teeth；　fangs　rather；　hung　over　his　lower　lip。　He　rose　to　his　full　height；　brandishing　an　enormous　club。　It　looked　to　have　been　the　trunk　of　a　young　tree；　its　branches　ripped　off　and　the　bark　crudely　polished　off　against　rocks。　I　came