cacb.thefarkingdoms-第93部分

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ith　these　powers；　we　can　bring　about　a　Golden　Age；　a　Golden　Age　such　as　man　passed　through　before；　and　then　was　found　unworthy　to　live　in。　In　a　few　years　we　shall　have　all　the　wisdom　these　lands　possess；　and　then　we　can　step　beyond　them。　We　are　a　young　people；　and　they　are　old；　tired；　and　set　in　their　ways。　I　see　Vacaan；　Irayas；　and　Raveline　as　a　false　dawn；　a　harbinger　of　a　new；　fresh　age；　an　age　beyond　gold。〃
　〃Well　said；〃　I　replied。　〃But　this　is　not　the　time　for　a　battle　oration。　Consider　reality。　Do　you　really　think　Orissa　could　rise　up　against　the　rule　of　the　Far　Kingdoms？　I　look　about　me　at　all　these　happy；　contented　faces；　like　so　many　purebred　cows　who　do　not　realize　their　sole　purpose　is　to　breed　more　cattle　and　eventually　grace　their　master's　table。　Do　you　think　these　people　of　Vacaan　will　ever　revolt？　And　if　they　do；　what　would　their　chances　be？　Do　you　want　to　see　Orissans；　the　people　you've　taken　as　your　own；　bee　like　these　cud…chewing　cattle？〃
　〃Would　they　be　worse　off？〃　Janos　asked。　〃Do　not　answer　hastily。　Think　of　that　slum　we　walked　through　when　we　returned　to　Orissa。　Cheapside。　Have　you　seen　anything　near　its　poverty　since　we've　been　in　these　lands？　And　Cheapside　is　far　from　the　worst　in　Orissa。　I　shall　not　even　mention　Lycanth's　seething　tenements。　I　believe　that　if　you　offered　most　Orissans　a　choice　between　the　golden　chains　of　this　land；　and　what　they　now　live　with　。。。　they　would　loudly　be　shouting　for　the　blacksmith；　his　hammer；　and　shackles。〃
　I　held　my　angry　retort；　poured　wine；　and　forced　myself　to　sip。　Then　I　became　even　angrier。　〃I　remember；　years　ago；　in　the　desert；　when　we　freed　Deoce　and　tried　to　free　the　other　slaves　the　nomads　had　taken　。。。　and　how　furious　you　were　at　those　who　chose　to　return　to　their　chains。　So　now　you　think　it　acceptable　wisdom　to　seek　out　the　slaver？　Hold；　sir。　I　have　another　statement。　You　said　most　Orissans　would　choose　to　be　ruled　by　the　Far　Kingdoms　if　they　were　richly　rewarded。　What　of　the　others　…　those　you　think　to　be　a　minority？　What　of　men　like　Ecco；　Gamelan；　or　even　Maeen　and　the　other　soldiers　here　in　Irayas？　They'll　think　it　a　capital　jest　when　we　tell　them　what　their　pains　have　produced。　And　what　of　the　women？　What　of　that　little　chambermaid；　Spoto？　What　of　my　sister；　Rah'？　And　Otara；　her　lover？　Or　the　other　Maranon　Guards？　Do　you　think　they　will　cheerfully　invite　tyranny？　What　will　Raveline　do　with　them？〃
　〃All　kings　have　laws　to　support　their　rule；〃　Janos　said；　a　bit　weakly。　〃Is　Vacaan's　law；　where　those　who　rebel　simply　vanish；　more　evil　than　the　Kissing　of　the　Stones？　Or　even　the　Archons'　Calling？〃
　〃As　to　the　first；〃　I　said；　〃yes。　No　one　is　executed　in　Orissa　without　an　open　trial。　As　to　Lycanth；　I　cannot　answer。　Especially　since　I　have　not　spoken　to　anyone　who　has　been　disappeared；　and　know　not　what　agonies　were　connected　with　their　going。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　Janos　said　slowly；　〃we　should　summon　such　a　spirit　and　ask　him。　Although　I　warn　you　the　dead　speak　in　awful　tongues。〃　Then　he　made　a　slight　shift　in　course。　〃Say　you　are　right　in　your　doom　crying。　What　plan　do　you　have？〃
　I　took　several　deep　breaths；　again　to　calm　myself。　〃I　have　but　the　beginnings　of　one；　and　wele　your　additions　…　or　even　an　alternate　proposal；〃　I　said。　〃I　would　suggest　both　of　us　temporize　with　Raveline。　Make　vague　promises　such　as　any　merchant　does　when　a　shipment　is　overdue。　It　was　my　impression　that　King　Domas　has　already　decided　to　allow　some　trade　to　mence。　Now；　since　you　say　Raveline　is　a　creature　of　momentary　enthusiasms；　perhaps　we　should　use　that　agreement　as　a　way　for　us　to　return　to　Orissa。　Once　in　our　homeland；　I　think　it　absolutely　imperative　we　immediately　put　my　plan　of　a　few　days　ago　into　action。　You；　Janos；　must　take　the　entire　Evocators'　Guild　in　hand；　and　begin　preparation。　But　not　for　an　immediate　war；　nor　for　war　at　all。　I　am　thinking　aloud　as　I　speak；　admittedly；　but　I　cannot　see　how　Raveline　could　mount　an　attack；　either　magical　or　physical；　against　us；　when　his　people　have　no　interest　beyond　their　own　noses。　Further；　I　agree　that　these　Vacaanese　are　terribly　hidebound。　I　think　we　should　trade　with　them；　and　learn　everything　we　can。　I　think　you　should　be　in　charge　of　synthesizing　this　knowledge。〃　I　suddenly　ran　out　of　words　and　slumped　back　in　my　chair。　〃Beyond　those　thoughts　。。。　no；　I　have　no　precise　plan；　especially　since　Raveline；　in　fact；　has　not　even　proposed　attacking　our　lands。〃
　〃But　he　will；　in　one　form　or　another；〃　Janos　said　firmly。　〃However；　in　the　end；　it　shall　e　to　naught。〃　He　pulled　me　to　my　feet　and　led　me　across　the　chamber　to　a　circular　mirror。　〃Look　in　this　glass；　my　friend。　Look　at　us。　When　we　met；　you　were　a　boy；　and　I　was　a　youth　whose　greatest　responsibility　was　a　pany　of　spear　throwers。　Now　we　have　reached　the　Far　Kingdoms；　and　in　our　grasp　is　all　the　power；　all　the　wisdom；　the　gods　which　do　not　exist　are　reputed　to　hold。　All　that　stands　between　us　is　one　person；　someone　I　know　can　be　dealt　with；　at　the　proper　time；　and　I　cannot　make　my　point　too　strongly。　If　we　cock　a　snook　at　Raveline　now；　and　flee　for　the　border　。。。　I　doubt　we　shall　even　make　it　as　far　as　the　Pepper　Coast。　So　we　die　in　some　wasteland　。。。　and　Orissa　returns　to　its　unchanging　obstinancy。　Amalric　Antero；　we　were　chosen　to　bring　Orissa　into　a　new　age；　and　you　must　realize　it。　If　we　must　temporize　with　this　Raveline　for　a　space　。。。　well；　so　be　it。　We　are　both　still　young；　and　there　are　years　ahead；　and　the　times　change。〃
　I　started　to　respond；　then　really　looked　into　the　glass。　At　the　moment　I　looked　anything　but　young：　my　face　was　lined　by　the　miles　and　the　pain　and　all　the　deaths；　my　hair　no　longer　flamed　as　red　as　it　had；　and　my　eyes　looked　beyond；　as　if　I'd　seen　too　much　and　my　soul　needed　time　to　recover　in　peace　and　green。　But　I　looked　like　a　swaddling　babe　pared　to　Janos。　He　was　but　a　few　years　older；　but　now；　in　this　light；　he　could　have　passed　for　the　father　of　the　man　who　had　rescued　me　from　that　dockfront　bar。　His　thinning　hair　and　beard　were　striped　with　gray…a　yellowed　gray；　as　if　Janos　had　recently　risen　from　a　sickbed。　Time's　scars　slashed　furrows　across　his　face；　his　plexion　was　jaundiced；　his　cheeks　had　begun　to　sag；　and　I　could　see　the　beginnings　of　wattles　where　his　beard　ended。　But　it　was　the　eyes　that　held　me。　They　were　red　rimmed　and　set　deep　in　their　sockets。　Their　haunted　gaze　had　experienced　。。。　and　weled；　horror。　I　had　seen　eyes　like　that　recently；　and　recalled　where：　at　Lord　Mortacious'　banquet。。。　when　I　first　met　the　wizard's　death　stare。　I　repressed　a　shudder　and　pulled　away；　angry　once　more。
　〃You　actually　believe　that　we　can　stand　against　a　man　who　can　create　a　nightmare　city　like　Wahumwa？〃　I　said。　〃Not　only　stand；　but　in　time　destroy　him　or　render　him　impotent？　Janos；　wake　up。　If　I　agree　to　his　plan；　he　will　permit　me　to　exist　just　so　long　as　I　follow　his　every　desire；　his　every　wish；　as　if　it　were　graven　on　my　soul。　Pawns　are　not　permitted　to　debate　with　the　master。　But　there　is　something　more　important　than　the　role　I　would　play　in　Raveline's　new　world。　Janos；　I　cannot　believe　you　think　you　can　somehow　subvert　this　man　to　your　ends。　Frankly；　I　am　not　entirely　sure　he　even　is　a　man。　Prince　Raveline　has　spent　his　entire　life　playing　royal　games　of　death　and　power。　He　will　eat　you　for　a　light　lunch！〃　My　voice　was　loud　in　the　postmidnight　silence。
　Janos；　too；　was　angry。　〃You　think　I　am　that　weak？〃
　〃I　think　you　are　that　foolish！〃　I　snapped。　〃You　are　dancing　attendance　on　Raveline；　just　as　I　did　on　that　whore　Melina。　Not　only　do　I　see　no　Captain　Greycloak　to　e　to　your　rescue；　but　in　the　end　you　will　prove　yourself　an　even　bigger　dunce　than　I　was。〃
　〃How　dare　you；〃　Janos　hissed。　〃You　。。。　a　merchant's　son；　barely　a　man；　who　never　had　to　fight　a　real　battle。　Whose　most　difficult　decision　was　the　markup　on　a　bolt　of　cloth。　You　。。。　preaching　wisdom　to　me；　Janos　Kether　Greycloak；　whose　line　has　led　a　people　since　the　beginning　of　history。　How　dare　you？〃
　My　fist　was　clenched　and　drawn　back　before　I　could　find　control。　Words　danced　on　my　lips　about　how　I　had　finally　learned　what　he　thought　of　me；　and　then　I　saw　myself　in　the　glass；　face　as　red　as　my　hair；　and　instead　of　striking　out　I　dug　my　nails　deep　into　my　palm。　I　was　panting　as　if　I　had　run　a　footrace。　Calm；　of　a　sort；　came　back。
　〃This　is　foolish　of　us　both；〃　I　managed。　〃And　produces　nothing。　We　will　continue　this　tomorrow。　When　we　have　both　learned　to　behave　ourselves。〃　Janos　managed　a　jerky　nod　of　agreement。　He　began　to　say　something　more；　then　clamped　his　mouth　shut。　Without　farewell；　I　turned　and　hurried　out　of　the　chamber　and　down　the　tower　steps。　In　the　courtyard　I　began　shouting　for　Gatra　and　a　gondola。
　It　was　very　late　when　I　returned　to　my　palace。　I　did　not　know　what　to　do。　I　shed　my　clothes　next　to　the　lotus　pool；　dived　into　the　cool　water；　and　swam　three　times　across　it；　trying　to　make　my　muscles　broaden　my　mind's　reach　as　they　themselves　stretched。　I　pulled　myself　out　of　the　pool；　the　before…dawn　wind　chill　on　my　skin。　I　felt　a　bit　better；　but　no　wiser。
　Politeness　dictated　I　should　have　waited；　but　I　could　not。　Something　told　me　that　every　moment　was　important。　I　must　discuss　this　with　the　one　who　appeared　the　only　person　in　this　land　who　was　still　sane。　I　went　to　a　kitchen　and　made　a　pot　of　tea　without　rousing　the　dozing　attendant。　I　took　it　to　our　chambers；　intending　to　wake　Omerye　gently　and　then　tell　her　what　had　happened。　But　she　was　fully　alert　and　standing　at　a　window。　I　set　the　tray　down　and　took　her　in　my　arms；　wanting　nothing　more　than　to　be　able　to　start　eternity　at　this　moment　and　never　have　to　leave　her　embrace。　After　a　while；　she　pushed　me　back。
　〃Was　it　that　bad？〃
　I　told　her　what　had　happened；　both　at　Raveline's　palace　and　with　Janos。　When　I　had　finished；　it　lacked　but　two　hours　before　dawn。　Omerye　poured　two　cups　of　the　now　cold　tea　and　drank。
　〃There　are　those　in　Vacaan；〃　she　began；　〃who　would　find　it　humorous；　and　no　more　than　what　should　be　expected　from　a　half…man　outlander；　that　a　musician　should　be　consulted　for　wisdom。〃
　〃There　is　no　one　else　who　knows　me　better；〃　I　said。　〃No　one　that　I　trust　as　much；　including　myself。〃
　Omerye　kissed　me；　then　she　said；　〃Very　well；　then。　Shall　we　start　with　your　friend？　Consider　this：　if　someone　came　to