cacb.thefarkingdoms-第79部分

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akening。　I　would　go　last；　he　said；　to　make　certain　the　pace　did　not　slacken。
　Then　cold；　cold　Reason　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder。　I　turned；　angered　by　his　unsummoned　presence；　and　asked　what　it　was　he　wanted。　But　I　saw　the　answer　in　the　hard　mirrors　of　Reason's　eyes。　Janos'　plan　was　sound　enough；　but　it　must　be　turned　from　tail　to　head；　for　if　Janos　was　wrong；　and　error　plucked　him　from　us；　we　would　all　be　helpless　before　the　wizard's　wrath。　I　must　go　first；　Reason　demanded；　and　Janos　last。。。　if　I　survived。　Then　the　mirrors　melted；　and　I　found　myself　gazing　into　Halab's　sad；　knowing　eyes。　He　whispered　words　of　courage　and　warmed　Reason's　chill　message　until　it　was　easier　to　hold。　Halab　stayed　with　me　as　I　went　to　Janos　and　stopped　him　as　he　was　about　to　mount　the　belt。　When　I　presented　my　logic；　Halab　grinned　in　encouragement。　Janos　argued；　but　at　last　he　admitted　I　was　right。　Rare　emotion　nearly　overcame　him。　I　saw　tears　well；　and　as　he　turned　to　hide　them；　saw　the　tremble　of　his　beard。　Then　he　embraced　me　and　whispered　that　I　was　the　only　one　who　had　believed　him　from　the　beginning。　He　called　me　friend　and　brother　and　thanked　me　for　my　faith。　I　let　him　keep　that　lie　as　my　gift；　knowing　that　when　he　put　it　in　the　chest　he　kept　to　hold　such　treasures；　my　gift　would　find　little　pany。　For　all　the　time　I　knew　Janos；　I　never　heard　him　call　another　man　or　woman　friend。　I　see　now　that　Janos　was　a　man　who　liked　but　never　loved；　save　once；　and　his　curse　robbed　that　of　any　value。　So　I　let　him　believe　the　lie　of　my　faith：　but　when　he　reached　out；　it　was　Halab's　hand　I　grasped；　and　when　he　led　me　to　the　clacking　belt；　it　was　Halab；　not　Janos；　who　whispered　my　redheaded　luck　would　confound　the　soul　eater。　Finally　it　was　Janos　who　stepped　away；　while　Halab　crouched　beside　me　as　the　conveyer　swept　me　toward　the　flames。
　I　was　hurled　into　a　heat　that　had　form　and　substance。　It　stole　the　air　before　I　could　breathe　it；　sapped　my　strength　before　I　could　gather　it。　The　heat　was　a　hammer　that　cracked　me　like　an　egg　with　its　first　blow；　with　its　second；　it　crushed　me　into　a　trembling　mass　that　knew　only　pain　and　fear。　Fire　spat　and　roared；　and　I　was　swept　into　a　tunnel　of　blue…flamed　serpents　that　struck　from　every　side。　I　felt　my　flesh　peel　away　so　the　flames　could　attack　naked　nerve；　and　when　they　were　ash；　the　wizard's　furnace　boiled　off　my　blood　and　cracked　my　bones　to　sear　the　marrow。　Everything　that　made　me；　even　my　screams；　was　slowly　consumed　by　that　fire。　At　last；　all　I　had　left　were　eyes　to　see　the　demon's　twitching　maw；　ears　to　hear　the　clatter　of　its　fangs；　and　a　mind　whose　only　thoughts　were　painful　present　and　fearful　future。　Then　Halab　leaned　over；　blocking　the　demon　from　view。　He　sang　a　song；　the　song　I　favored　most　as　a　child；　and　banished　all　the　sounds　I　dreaded。　He　stroked　my　tormented　body；　and　I　felt　bone　and　blood　and　flesh　reform。　Then　he　told　me　there　was　only　a　little　way　to　go　。。。　a　small　bit　of　pain　to　endure　。。。　and　we　were　done。　I　felt　a　great　easing；　and　a　familiar　sense　of　self　returned。　With　that　return　I　realized　my　soul　had　left　me　for　a　time。　We　gave　it　a　joyous　wele；　my　body　and　I。　A　moment　later；　I　leaped　off　the　belt；　as　strong　and　fresh　as　I　have　ever　been　in　my　life。　I　shouted　to　my　friends　across　the　great　fiery　expanse　to　hurry　to　me；　we　had　a　wizard　to　fight。
　Sergeant　Maeen　was　next；　then　the　others　came　one　by　one。　But　as　each　passed　through　the　furnace；　under　the　hungry　demon；　I　saw　no　sign　of　the　suffering　I　had　experienced：　they　lay　immobile；　as　if　in　peace。　Later　they　said　they'd　felt　the　same　torment　and　fears　as　I；　but　a　ghostly　presence　joined　them　on　the　belt；　easing　their　passage　and　curing　their　pain。　They　said　the　ghost　looked　much　like　me。　Then　it　was　Janos'　turn。　He　vaulted　onto　the　belt　and　rode　it　standing　up；　his　legs　braced　wide；　arms　crossed　on　his　chest　as　if　in　defiance。　But　I　saw　his　face　creased　with　deep　concentration　and　knew　brave　posturing　was　not　what　he　was　about　Suddenly；　his　whole　body　gave　off　a　golden　light。　The　blue　flames　stirred　higher　and　hotter；　and　the　demon　shrieked　from　frustrated　hunger；　but　they　were　powerless　against　the　golden　glow。　Then　the　flames　drew　in；　withering　into　decreasing　smallness　until　they　were　embers　。。。　and　winked　out。　Above　us；　the　demon　was　silent；　teeth　frozen　in　death's　grimace；　red　maw　still　and　turning　to　gray。　Janos；　now　a　great　thief　of　magic；　bounded　off　the　grate　when　he　reached　the　end。　But　before　we　could　rash　up　with　congratulations；　a　voice　large　enough　to　fill　that　vast　chamber　seared　the　air　with　its　fury。
　〃What　have　you　done；　Greycloak？〃　It　was　Mortacious。　The　sorcerer　had　wakened。　The　voice　boomed　again。　〃Wait　for　me；　little　wizard。　I'm　ing　to　you。〃
　Janos　did　not　wait；　nor　did　we。　We　ran　from　that　place　as　fast　as　we　could　into　the　cold　night。　We　raced　down　the　cobbled　road；　weapons　ready。　Behind　us　I　heard　an　explosion。　I　looked　back　and　saw　the　door　to　the　wizard's　palace　had　been　blown　away　by　some　powerful　force。　Through　that　smoking　portal　came　an　enormous　ball　of　fire　as　blue　as　the　flames　in　that　furnace。　The　ball　shot　jagged　lightning　and　exploded　the　pebbles　on　the　road　as　it　passed　over　them。　The　wizard's　voice　cracked　out　at　us　from　inside　that　fiery　ball。　〃Run；　little　wizard；　ran。〃　Laughter　followed；　cackling　and　crackling　at　our　backs。
　If　his　words　were　a　mand；　we　had　no　quarrel；　added　strength　surged；　and　I　ran　even　faster　than　before。　We　sped　down　the　avenue　they'd　marched　us　along；　past　the　one…eyed　dwellings；　with　dead　men　for　occupants。　Our　pace　began　to　slow　as　our　limbs　wearied　from　the　mad　pursuit。　Mortacious'　gleeful　laughter　grew　wilder　as　the　gap　narrowed。　The　fiery　ball　he　rode　cast　our　shadows　far　ahead　of　us；　and　oh；　how　we　ached　to　be　those　distant；　fleeing　shadows。　I　heard　Janos'　labored　breathing　beside　me；　he　seemed　to　stumble；　but　only　bent　to　scoop　up　a　pebble。　Then　he　was　gone　and　I　turned　back；　thinking　he'd　fallen。　Instead　he　was　standing　in　Mortacious'　path。　As　I　ran　to　his　side；　he　drew　his　sword　and　knocked　the　pebble　against　the　blade。　A　spark　leaped　from　the　ringing　metal。　He　struck　again；　and　this　time　the　spark　he　drew　was　longer…arcing　toward　the　fireball　that　raced　down　on　us。
　Mortacious　cried　out；　〃I　have　you；　little　wizard。〃　But　the　third　time　Janos　struck；　the　spark　exploded　off　the　blade。　As　it　arced　outward；　it　exploded　again　and　became　a　great　shower　of　jagged　stars　that　rained　across　the　path　of　our　hunter。　Then　they　were　falling　on　the　ball；　and　it　burst　apart　with　a　thunderclap；　hurling　Mortacious　from　its　center。　He　tumbled　end　over　end；　then　crashed　onto　the　road。
　The　wizard　was　still　for　a　moment；　his　robe　a　red　puddle　around　him。　If　it　had　been　a　moment　longer；　he　would　have　had　us；　because　we　were　about　to　charge　and　finish　him　off。　The　robe　jerked；　then　ballooned　into　immense　red　wings。　We　wheeled　and　ran　as　the　wings　carried　Mortacious　aloft；　and　he　loosed　a　howl　that　shattered　the　air　like　glass。　It　was　a　call　to　the　hunt；　and　as　we　sped　to　catch　our　rades；　the　call　was　answered。　Out　of　the　one…eyed　dwellings　poured　the　wizard's　slaves。　They　sniffed　our　living　blood　and　bounded　after　us。　We　rounded　the　last　turn　before　the　harbor　with　that　voiceless　wolf　pack　at　our　heels；　their　winged　master　soaring　overhead；　urging　them　on。　Our　rades　were　struggling　to　free　boats　to　carry　us　away。　But　they　stopped　when　they　saw　us　racing　down　the　hill　with　the　horror　at　our　backs。　It　was　too　late　to　do　anything　but　fight。
　I　heard　Sergeant　Maeen　bark　orders　as　Janos　and　I　plunged　into　their　ranks　to　momentary　safety；　and　I　felt　the　shock　as　our　friends　absorbed　the　fury　of　the　first　wave　and　drove　it　back。　We　formed　a　battle　line　across　one　of　the　docks；　forcing　our　enemies　to　attack　in　small　groups。　In　the　night　sky；　Mortacious　circled；　gathering　his　slaves　for　the　final　assault。　It　would　be　a　repeat　of　that　fight　in　the　chamber；　but　against　these　odds　there　was　no　hope　of　an　identical　result。　We　hauled　tar　barrels　out　of　a　caulking　barge　and　fired　the　docks　as　they　came　for　us。　It　was　a　fire　of　this　world；　not　the　next；　that　met　their　charge。　Fueled　by　tar　and　old；　dry　wood；　instead　of　spells；　it　became　a　fast…moving　inferno　that　rushed　down　on　them　like　a　raging　river。　It　burned　their　legs　from　under　them　and　melted　their　weapons　in　the　ashes　of　their　remains。　With　no　will　of　their　own　to　heed　pain's　warning；　they　continued　to　advance；　each　rank　waiting　in　patient　turn　for　the　others　to　be　hurled　against　our　fiery　shield　and　be　consumed。　Above　them；　Mortacious　cursed　their　ashes　and　called　more　of　his　warrior　slaves　to　take　their　place。
　The　shore　bristled　with　their　numbers；　and　still　more　hurried　down　the　road　to　them。　Mortacious　was　building　a　bridge　of　their　ashes　and　fire…burst　bones。　Soon　there　would　be　enough　for　them　to　scramble　across　and　take　us。　But　they　would　have　to　hurry；　for　this　fire　had　no　master　to　mand　it：　on　one　side　it　was　our　shield；　on　the　other　it　was　our　enemy　as　well；　feeding　on　the　dock　we　stood　on　and　driving　us　into　the　sea。　Mortacious　sent　men　into　the　water；　swimming　along　the　burning　dock　to　e　up　at　our　backs。　The　wizard　drifted　closer；　mocking　our　hopeless　folly　with　his　laughter。
　A　hand　reached　up　through　broken　boards　to　grasp　Janos'　foot　I　leaped　forward　with　a　shout　of　warning　and　cut　off　the　hand　with　my　sword。　Janos　saw　it；　flopping　on　the　dock。　Mortacious　cackled　and　swept　down　at　us。　Janos　plucked　up　the　writhing　hand；　pressed　his　sword　grip　against　the　twisting　fingers；　and　they　held　firm。　He　threw　the　blade　upward　with　all　his　might。　With　the　hand　gripped　hard　on　its　hilt；　the　sword　made　an　eerie　spear：　a　phantom　seemed　to　guide　it　as　it　hurtled　toward　Mortacious。　His　laughter　stopped　jn　midcackle　as　it　took　him　in　the　eye。　He　plummeted　out　of　the　sky；　howling　angry　pain；　and　splashed　into　the　water。　We　saw　him　sink　beneath　the　waves；　but　the　sight　gave　us　small　pleasure　as　we　turned　back　to　face　his　men。　They　were　scrambling　over　the　bridge　of　carnage　up　the　burning　dock。　We　knew　as　we　braced　ourselves　that　their　master　would　rise　from　the　sea　again　to　urge　them　on。
　I　made　peace　with　the　gods　who　formed　me　and　sent　a　last　thanks　to　Halab。　A　smoking　brute　plunged　out　of　the　fire；　and　I　raised　my　sword　to　meet　him。
　Then