cacb.thefarkingdoms-第74部分

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　hogshead　of　wine；　and　then　debate　the　matter　at　length。〃　〃At　that　time；〃　Janos　said；　amused；　〃it　will　be　too　late。〃　
　〃Well；　sir；　then　we'll　have　the　answer；　won't　we？　Meantime；　we　have　the　loads　ready；　if　you　two　philosophers　are　ready　to　travel。〃
　The　canoes　were　launched；　loaded；　and　we　made　up　crews…　making　certain　someone　with　water　experience　was　on　each　craft。　The　hardest　thing　was　leaving　our　faithful　animals　behind。　There　was　provenance　enough；　and　one　of　the　drovers　said　many　of　the　plants　around　favored　mild　weather；　so　he　doubted　winter　would　turn　the　valley　into　a　frozen　wasteland。　We　had　seen　no　predators　that　might　batten　off　the　animals；　and　I　knew　few　hunting　beasts　are　stupid　or　hungry　enough　to　attack　the　wily　ass。　Our　journey　had　brought　our　asses　nothing　but　exhaustion；　thirst；　pain；　and　even　death。　Here；　they　could　grow　fat　and　breed　and　even　bray；　as　Janos　lifted　the　spell　of　silence　they　had　been　burdened　with。　But　still；　when　we　cast　off；　and　four　of　the　beasts　stood　on　the　dockside；　gray　liquid　eyes　sorrowing　after　us；　and　we　heard　one　great　bleat　as　we　floated　out　of　sight；　we　were　silent　with　guilt
　The　river　grew　mightily；　as　other　streams　foamed　down　from　their　own　birthplaces　and　joined　it。　Our　boats　flew　downstream；　tossing　and　pitching；　spray　cascading　until　sometimes　we　could　not　make　out　our　proper　course。　Again；　our　speed　was　both　fast　and　slow。　We　hurtled　down　cascades；　desperately　fending　the　boats　away　from　knife…deep　boulders　with　our　paddles；　or　sliding　down　league…long　chutes　like　otters　down　mud　slides。　Twice　boats　capsized；　and　we　spent　hours　fishing　packs　and　men　from　the　churning　waters。　By　Te…Date's　grace；　no　one　drowned。
　Sometimes　we　were　forced　to　beach　our　craft　and　laboriously　portage　them　and　the　packs　around　rapids　or　falls　too　dangerous　to　chance。　Three　or　four　times　we　had　to　leave　the　river　entirely；　and　use　ropes　to　haul　our　craft　up　and　down　cliffs　to　navigable　waters。　Despite　these　difficulties；　we　not　only　suffered　no　new　injuries；　but　our　wounded　men　were　being　as　good　as　new。　Then；　slowly；　as　the　river　grew　broader　and　deeper；　it　became　calmer。　Strangely；　we　still　saw　no　sign　of　life…not　even　abandoned　villages。　Here　and　there　were　granite　docks　such　as　the　one　we'd　begun　this　part　of　our　journey　from；　but　the　stone　roads　leading　away　from　these　landings　were　overgrown　and　forgotten。　The　country　was　green　and　appeared　fertile。　We　could　not　understand　why　men　had　abandoned　this　land。　Then　we　found　both　man　and　a　suggested　reason　for　the　desolation。
　Our　ears　made　the　first　discovery：　first　came　great　booms；　as　of　low　thunder。　Then　crashes；　as　if　we　were　about　to　e　on　a　great　foundry。　Finally；　we　heard　shouts　and　screams。　We　rounded　a　bend　。。。　and　the　river　turned　to　blood。　A　causeway　stretched　from　one　bank　of　the　river　to　a　small　islet　about　three　quarters　of　the　way　across。　From　the　islet　a　wide　bridge　arched　to　the　shore。　The　current　quickened；　pulling　us　to　that　shore；　in　moments　we　would　be　swept　under　that　bridge。
　But　that　was　not　what　we　noticed　first。　First　came　the　bodies。　We　had　happened　on　the　final　moments　of　a　battle…a　battle　that　was　being　waged　without　any　of　its　batants　taking　notice　of　our　six　tiny　canoes。　There　were　bodies　all　along　the　causeway；　stacked　on　the　islet；　and　then　high…piled　on　the　bridge　itself。　Bloody　war　had　been　waged　across　this　river。　On　the　far　shore；　backs　against　a　cliff；　the　last　defenders…or　attackers；　as　they　may　have　begun…were　going　down　into　death。　I　saw　a　banner　so　bloody　I　could　not　make　out　its　device。　There　were　warriors　in　a　death　stand　around　it。　I　saw　a　huge　man　hewing　with　a　two…handed　sword。　He　had　lost　his　helm　or　scorned　its　use；　and　I　could　see　the　white　gold　of　his　hair　and　beard　gleam　in　the　sun。　A　king？　A　nobleman？　Around　him　were　what　I　imagined　the　last　of　his　housecarls；　and　their　attackers　swept　against　them　again　and　again；　like　storm　waves　on　a　shore。　Then　the　blond　man　fell；　and　his　banner　swayed　and　went　down；　and　there　were　shouts　of　victory。
　Men　in　my　boat　were　gaping；　swearing；　groaning；　and　one　or　two　puking。　The　water　around　us　was　dark；　and　crimson　stained　the　stonework　before　us。　〃Eyes　in　the　boat　and　on　your　paddling；〃　I　ordered。　〃Pay　heed；　or　we'll　be　swept　into　the　abutments。　Those　with　gods；　pray　we　remain　unnoticed。〃
　Janos'　boat　swept　up　beside　mine　as　the　current　raced　us　under　the　bridge。　Above　me　a　man　dangled　over　the　parapet；　and　I　saw　his　eyes　stare　beyond　and　his　spirit　leave　just　in　my　single　glance。　Then　we　were　past。　I　thought　I　heard　shouts　from　the　bridge；　and　someone　said　later　that　an　arrow　had　been　sent　after　us；　but　the　river　slipped　around　yet　another　bend；　and　trees　reached　up　on　its　banks；　and　we　were　safely　away。
　We　sailed　on　until　nearly　dark　before　beaching　our　craft　on　a　small　island　in　midstream；　dragging　the　canoes　well　into　the　brush　and　out　of　sight。　All　of　us　were　fearful　and　wondering…to　see　no　living　sign　for　so　long　and　then　e　on　such　a　savage　scene。
　〃Savages　is　right；〃　Lione　put　in。　〃P'raps　y'　din't　see；　but　there　was　squads　of　them；　goin'　right　a'ter　th'　soldiers；　workin'　wi'　long　daggers　t'　make　sure　none　a　th'　wounded　might　want　doctorin'。　Movin'　from　one　t'　another；　like　they'd　been　dutied　off　for　th'　job。〃
　〃Soldiers　loot；〃　Maeen　said。
　〃They　weren't　lootin'；〃　Lione　said　stubbornly。　〃Just　killin'。〃
　〃The　end　of　a　feud；〃　I　suggested。
　〃Or　maybe；〃　Janos　said　darkly；　〃these　Disputed　Lands　are　well　and　truly　named；　if　the　only　victory　which　counts　is　that　of　the　worm。〃
　〃At　any　rate；〃　I　said；　trying　to　put　as　cheery　a　note　on　the　day　as　I　could；　〃now　we　know　why　the　Far　Kingdoms　have　not　sent　out　emissaries　or　traders；　if　they　must　travel　through　lands　ruled　by　butchers　like　those。〃
　Men　brightened　at　this。
　〃And　now　we　are　reaching　some　form　of　civilization；　barbaric　though　it　appears；〃　I　went　on。　〃The　mouth　of　this　river；　and　the　Far　Kingdoms　themselves；　must　be　very　close。〃　I　was；　of　course；　guessing　at　this　last。
　But　a　day　and　a　half　later；　we　did　find　civilization。　Or　rather；　civilization　found　us。　Four　long　war　galleys　swept　out　from　an　inlet。　I　counted　twenty　oars　on　each　side　of　the　green　craft；　and　on　their　foredecks　stood　armed　men。　The　prow　of　each　craft　had　two　ballistae　mounted；　and　they　were　aiming　directly　at　our　canoes。　We　were　well　and　truly　trapped。　A　spade…bearded　man　wearing　armor　and　helmet　hailed　us。
　〃Wele；　travelers；〃　he　shouted。　〃Wele；　guests。〃　His　smile　was　not　only　mirthless；　but　quite　unweling　as　well。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE　
　The　Wizard　of　Souls
　IT　WAS　A　city　like　no　other：　all　sound　muted；　all　color　unnaturally　bright。　The　dwellings　were　of　pale　stone；　with　only　small　black　holes　for　doors　to　mar　their　faceless　features。　Red　streamers；　en…trailing　down　from　green…lacquered　posts；　lined　both　sides　of　the　eerie　avenue。
　Our　〃hosts〃　had　refused　to　answer　any　questions　as　we　sailed　to　the　city's　port。　In　fact；　they　made　no　ment　of　any　kind　and　looked　away　when　we　addressed　them；　as　if　we　did　not　exist。　At　the　port　we　were　handed　over　to　a　troop　of　waiting　soldiers；　manded　by　a　dark…visaged　captain。　Our　weapons　and　other　belongings　were　put　on　a　cart；　which　followed　as　they　marched　us　down　the　city's　main　thoroughfare。　We　led　the　small　parade；　twenty　anxious　panions　of　the　road　knotted　together　for　strength　of　spirit。　The　soldiers　flanked　around；　herding　us　to　our　fates。　Our　new　hosts　were　as　silent　as　the　others；　except　for　the　drum　of　their　boot　steps；　dull　clank　of　armor；　and　the　prickles　at　our　necks；　you　would　not　have　known　they　were　present。
　There　were　few　people　about；　and　those　men　and　women　we　saw　moved　with　no　apparent　purpose；　or　stood　motionless　as　stones；　staring　as　we　went　past　There　was　no　logic　to　their　costumes：　some　wore　rough　mon　togas；　others　white　silk　of　the　rich；　mixed　in　were　men　in　partial　soldier's　harness；　farmers　dressed　for　the　field；　and　beggars　in　rags。　A　child　looked　at　me　as　we　went　by。　I　smiled　and　she　smiled　back；　my　stomach　gave　a　wrench；　for　this　innocent　had　no　nose。　I　began　to　notice　that　many　others　were　maimed　in　some　way：　an　arm　missing；　or　wooden　blocks　for　feet。
　I　heard　Maeen　whisper；　〃There　goes　an　unlucky　lot。〃
　Janos　leaned　close　and　said；　low；　〃When　we　reach　our　destination；　follow　my　lead。〃
　The　avenue　curved；　then　ran　arrow　straight　for　a　tall；　blocky　building　with　a　huge　red　chimney　on　its　crown。　The　chimney　belched　sparks　and　black　smoke；　and　a　nauseating　odor　greased　the　air。　As　we　came　closer；　I　realized　the　building　was　larger　than　I　thought。　Another　lumped　in　front　of　it：　a　structure　curved　like　a　hive　and　with　a　circular　door。　A　man　stepped　out　of　the　entrance。　He　wore　a　fine　red　tunic　with　a　small；　black　badge　of　authority　on　his　breast。　He　lifted　a　hand　in　greeting；　the　hand　was　thumbless　and　pebbled　with　finger　stumps。
　He　spoke　in　a　voice　accustomed　to　mand。　〃Good　day；　gentle　wayfarers。　My　master　bids　you　wele　and　kindly　offers　his　renowned　hospitality。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Janos　said。　〃And　who　might　your　kind　master　be？〃
　〃Why；　his　name　is　known　to　all；〃　our　greeter　replied。　〃It　is　Lord　Mortacious。　Ruler　of　this　city；　and　all　the　lands　of　Gomalalee。〃
　〃Forgive　our　ignorance；　gentle　sir；〃　Janos　said。　〃But　we　hail　from　a　land　so　distant；　not　even　your　exalted　master's　name　has　reached　our　shores。　It　will　be　our　honor　that　we　shall　be　the　first　to　speak　it　to　the　multitudes　when　we　return　safely　to　our　hearths。〃
　The　man　replied；　〃It　will　be　your　joy；　then；　to　meet　him　for　the　first　time。　e。　My　master　awaits　at　table。〃
　We　followed：　nineteen　silent　men；　praying　for　all　the　gods　to　aid　Janos'　wit。　I　heard　the　hiss　of　the　great　chimney　overhead　and　smelled　the　foul　smoke。　Our　guide　led　us　to　the　banquet　hall　and　flung　wide　the　doors。　The　room　was　long　and　narrow　and　lighted　so　brightly　my　eyes　were　pained。　The　only　decoration　was　more　of　those　obscene　red　streamers　mounted　on　the　high　walls。　From　one　end　of　the　room　to　the　other　ran　a　heavy　blackwood　banquet　table。　The　table　was　heaped　with　many　dishes　to　tempt　the　palate：　roasts　of　a　variety　of　flesh；　platters　of　whole　baked　fish；　mounds　of　rich；　dark　breads；　and　large　crystal　decanters　of　heavy　crystal；　filled　with　a　red　wine　so　heady　its　sweet　odor　filled　the　room。