myth.conceptions-第13部分

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s。　Apparently　no　Deveel　would　bring　injury　or　allow　anyone　in　his　shop　to　bring　injury　to　a　potential　customer。　It　was　a　handy　fact　to　know。
　The　lightning　rings　brought　something　else　to　mind；　however。　The　last　time　we　parted　pany　with　Tanda；　Aahz　had　given　her　a　ring　that　shot　a　heat　ray　capable　of　frying　a　man…sized　target　on　the　spot。　That's　right　。　。　。　I　said　he　gave　it　to　her。　You　might　think　this　was　proof　of　the　depth　of　his　feelings　for　her。　It's　my　theory　he　was　sick。　Anyway；　I　was　reminded　of　the　ring　and　curious　as　to　what　had　bee　of　it。
　Increasing　my　pace　slightly；　I　closed　the　distance　between　myself　and　the　pair　in　the　lead；　only　to　find　they　were　already　deeply　engrossed　in　conversation。　The　din　that　prevails　at　the　Bazaar　stymies　any　attempt　at　serious　eavesdropping；　but　I　managed　to　catch　occasional　bits　and　pieces　of　the　conversation　as　we　walked。
　〃。　。　。　heard　。　。　。　awfully　expensive；　aren't　they？〃　Tanda　was　saying。
　〃。　。　。　lick　their　weight　in　。　。　。〃　Aahz　replied　smugly。
　I　moved　in　a　little　closer；　trying　to　hear　better。
　〃。　。　。　makes　you　think　they've　got　anyone　here？〃　Tanda　asked。
　〃With　the　number　of　bars　here？〃　Aahz　retorted。　〃The　way　I　hear　it；　this　is　one　of　their　main。　。　。〃
　I　lost　the　rest　of　that　argument。　A　knee…high；　tentacled　mass　suddenly　scuttled　across　my　boots　and　ducked　through　a　tent　flap；　closely　pursued　by　two　very　frustrated…looking　Deveels。
　I　ignored　the　chase　and　the　following　screams；　hurrying　to　catch　up　with　Aahz　and　Tanda　again。　Apparently　they　were　discussing　mercenaries；　and　I　wanted　to　hear　as　much　as　possible；　both　to　further　my　education；　and　because　I　might　have　to　lead　them　into　battle　eventually。
　〃。　。　。　find　them？〃　Tanda　was　asking。　〃All　we　have　is　a　general　area。〃
　〃。　。　。　easy；〃　Aahz　replied　confidently。　〃Just　listen　for　the　singing。〃
　〃Singing？〃　Tanda　was　skeptical。
　〃It's　their　trademark；〃　Aahz　pronounced。　〃It　also　lands　them　in　most　of　their。　。　。〃
　A　Deveel　stepped　in　front　of　me；　proudly　displaying　a　handful　of　seeds。　He　threw　them　on　the　ground　with　a　flourish；　and　a　dense　black　thornbush　sprang　up　to　block　my　path。　Terrific。　Normally；　I　would　have　been　fascinated；　but　at　the　moment　I　was　in　a　hurry。
　Without　even　pausing　to　upbraid　the　Deveel；　I　took　to　the　air；　desperation　giving　wings　to　my　feet　。　。　。　desperation　assisted　by　a　little　levitation。　I　cleared　the　thornbush　easily；　touched　down　lightly　on　the　far　side；　and　was　practically　trampled　by　Gleep　as　he　burst　through　the　barrier。
　〃Gleep？〃　he　said；　cocking　his　head　at　me　curiously。
　I　picked　myself　up　from　the　dust　where　I　had　been　knocked　by　his　enthusiasm　and　cuffed　him。
　〃Watch　where　you're　going　next　time；〃　I　ordered　angrily。
　He　responded　by　snaking　out　his　long　tongue　and　licking　my　face。　His　breath　was　devastating　and　his　tongue　left　a　trail　of　slime。　Obviously　my　admonishment　had　terrified　him。
　Heaving　a　deep　sigh；　I　sprinted　off　after　Aahz　with　Gleep　lumbering　along　in　hot　pursuit。
　I　was　just　overtaking　them　when　Aahz　stopped　suddenly　in　his　tracks　and　started　to　turn。　Unable　to　halt　my　headlong　sprint；　I　plowed　into　him；　knocking　him　sprawling。
　〃In　a　hurry；　handsome？〃　Tanda　asked；　eyeing　me　slyly。
　〃Gee；　Aahz；〃　I　stammered；　bending　over　him；　〃I　didn't　mean　to…〃
　From　a　half　sitting　position；　his　hand　lashed　out　in　a　cuff　that　spun　me　halfway　around。
　〃Watch　where　you're　going　next　time；〃　he　growled。
　〃Gleep！〃　said　the　dragon　and　licked　my　face。
　Either　my　head　was　spinning　more　than　I　thought；　or　I　had　been　through　this　scene　before。
　〃Now　quit　clowning　around　and　listen；　kid。〃
　Aahz　was　on　his　feet　again；　and　all　business。
　〃Here's　where　we　part　pany　for　a　while。　You　wait　here　while　I　go　haggle　with　the　mercenaries。〃
　〃Gee；　Aahz；〃　I　whined。　〃Can't　I…〃
　〃No；　you　can't！〃　he　said　firmly。　〃The　crew　I'm　going　after　is　sharp。　All　we　need　is　one　of　your　dumb　questions　in　the　middle　of　negotiations　and　they'll　triple　their　prices。〃
　〃But…〃　I　began。
　〃You　will　wait　here；〃　Aahz　ordered。　〃I　repeat；　wait。　No　fights；　no　window　shopping　for　dragons；　just　wait！〃
　〃I'll　stay　here　with　him；　Aahz；〃　Tanda　volunteered。
　〃Good；〃　Aahz　nodded。　〃And　try　to　keep　him　out　of　trouble；　okay？〃
　With　that；　he　turned　and　disappeared　into　the　crowd。　Actually；　I　wasn't　too　disappointed。　I　mean；　I　would　have　liked　to　have　gone　with　him；　but　I　liked　having　some　time　alone　with　Tanda　even　more　。　。　。　that　is；　if　you　can　consider　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　Bazaar　at　Deva　being　alone　with　someone。
　〃Well；　Tanda；〃　I　said；　flashing　my　brightest　smile。
　〃Later；　handsome；〃　she　replied　briskly。　〃Right　now　I've　got　some　errands　to　run。〃
　〃Errands？〃　I　blinked。
　〃Yeah。　Aahz　is　big　on　manpower；　but　I'd　just　as　soon　have　a　few　extra　tricks　up　my　sleeve　in　case　the　going　gets　rough；〃　she　explained。　〃I'm　going　to　duck　over　to　the　special　effects　section　and　see　what　they　have　in　stock。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。　〃Let's　go。〃
　〃No；　you　don't；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃I　think　I'd　better　go　this　one　alone。　The　kind　of　places　I　have　in　mind　aren't　fit　for　civilized　customers。　You　and　the　dragon　wait　here。〃
　〃But　you're　supposed　to　be　keeping　me　out　of　trouble！〃　I　argued。
　〃And　that's　why　I'm　not　taking　you　along；〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃Now；　what　do　you　have　along　in　the　way　of　weaponry？〃
　〃Well　。　。　。〃　I　said　hesitantly；　〃there's　a　sort　of　a　sword　in　one　of　Gleep's　packs。〃
　〃Fine！〃　she　said。　〃Get　it　out　and　wear　it。　It'll　keep　the　riffraff　at　a　distance。　Then　。　。　。　um　。　。　。　wait　for　me　in　there！〃
　She　pointed　at　a　strange…looking　stone　structure　with　a　peeling　sign　on　its　front。
　〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked；　peering　at　it　suspiciously。
　〃It's　a　‘Yellow　Crescent　Inn；'　〃　she　explained。　〃It's　sort　of　a　restaurant。　Get　yourself　something　to　eat。　The　food's　unappetizing；　but　vaguely　digestible。〃
　I　studied　the　place　for　a　moment。
　〃Actually；〃　I　decided　finally；　〃I　think　I'd　rather　。　。　。〃
　Right　about　there　I　discovered　I　was　talking　to　myself。　Tanda　had　disappeared　without　a　trace。
　For　the　second　time　in　my　life　I　was　alone　in　the　Bazaar　at　Deva。
　
　Chapter　Thirteen
　〃Hold　the　pickles；　hold　the　lettuce。〃
　…HENRY　VIII
　
　Fascinating　as　the　Bazaar　is；　facing　it　alone　can　be　rather　frightening。
　Being　particularly　susceptible　to　fear；　I　decided　to　follow　Tanda's　advice　and　entered　the　inn。
　First；　however；　I　took　the　precaution　of　tethering　Gleep　to　the　inn's　hitching　post　and　unpacking　the　sword。　We　had　one　decent　sword。　Unfortunately；　Aahz　was　currently　wearing　it。　That　left　me　with　Garkin's　old　sword；　a　weapon　which　has　been　sneered　at　by　demon　and　demon…hunter　alike。　Still；　its　weight　was　reassuring　on　my　hip；　though　it　might　have　been　more　reassuring　if　I　had　known　anything　about　how　to　handle　it。　Unfortunately；　my　lessons　with　Aahz　to　date　had　not　included　swordsmanship。　I　could　only　hope　it　would　not　be　apparent　to　the　casual　observer　that　this　was　my　first　time　to　wear　a　sword。
　Pausing　in　the　door；　I　surveyed　the　inn's　interior。　Unaccustomed　as　I　was　to　gracious　dining；　I　realized　in　a　flash　that　this　wasn't　it。
　One　of　the　few　pieces　of　advice　my　farmer　father　had　given　me　before　I　ran　away　from　home　was　not　to　trust　any　inn　or　restaurant　that　appeared　overly　clean。　He　maintained　the　cleaner　a　place　was；　the　more　dubious　the　quality　and　origin　of　their　food　would　be。　If　he　were　even　vaguely　right；　this　inn　must　be　the　bottom　of　the　barrel。　It　was　not　only　clean；　it　gleamed。
　I　do　not　mean　that　figuratively。　Harsh　overhead　lights　glinted　off　a　haphazard　arrangement　of　tiny　tables　and　unfortable…looking　chairs　constructed　of　shiny　metal　and　a　hard　white　substance　I　didn't　recognize。　At　the　far　end　of　the　inn　was　a　counter　behind　which　stood　a　large　stone　gargoyle；　the　only　decorative　feature　in　the　place。　Behind　the　gargoyle　was　a　door；　presumably　leading　into　the　kitchen。　There　was　a　small　window　in　the　door　through　which　I　caught　glimpses　of　the　food　being　prepared。　Preparation　consisted　of　passing　patties　of　meat　over　a　stove；　cramming　them　into　a　split　roll；　slopping　a　variety　of　colored　pastes　on　top　of　the　meat；　and　wrapping　the　whole　mess　in　a　piece　of　paper。
　Watching　this　process　confirmed　my　earlier　fears。　I　do　all　the　cooking　for　Aahz　and　myself；　as　I　did　before　that　for　Garkin　and　myself；　and　before　that　just　for　myself。　While　I　have　no　delusions　as　to　the　high　quality　of　my　cooking；　I　do　know　that　what　they　were　doing　to　that　meat　could　only　yield　a　meal　the　consistency　and　flavor　of　charred　glove　leather。
　Despite　the　obvious　low　quality　of　the　food；　the　inn　seemed　nearly　full　of　customers。　I　noticed　this　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye。　I　also　noticed　that　a　high　percentage　of　them　were　staring　at　me。　It　occurred　to　me　that　this　was　probably　because　I　had　been　standing　in　the　door　for　some　time　without　entering　while　working　up　my　courage　to　go　in。
　Feeling　slightly　embarrassed；　I　stepped　inside　and　let　the　door　swing　shut　behind　me。　With　fiendish　accuracy；　the　door　closed　on　my　sword；　pinning　it　momentarily　and　forcing　me　to　break　stride　clumsily　as　I　started　forward。　So　much　for　my　image　as　a　swordsman。
　Humiliated；　I　avoided　looking　at　the　other　customers　and　made…　my　way　hurriedly　to　the　inn's　counter。　I　wasn't　sure　what　I　was　going　to　do　once　I　got　there；　since　I　didn't　trust　the　food；　but　hopefully　people　would　stop　staring　at　me　if　I　went　through　the　motions　of　ordering。
　Still　trying　to　avoid　eye　contact　with　anyone；　I　made　a　big　show　of　studying　the　gargoyle。　There　was　a　grinding　noise；　and　the　statue　turned　its　head　to　return　my　stare。　If　wasn't　a　statue！　They　really　had　a　gargoyle　tending　the　counter！
　The　gargoyle　seemed　to　be　made　of　coarse　gray　stone；　and　when　he　flexed　his　wings；　small　pieces　of　crushed　rock　and　dust　showered　silently　to　the　floor。　His　hands　were　taloned；　and　there　were　curved　spikes　growing　out　of　his　elbows。　The　only　redeeming　feature　I　could　see　was　his　smile；　which　in　itself　was　a　bit　unnerving。　Dominating　his　wrinkled　face；　the　smile　seemed　permanently　etched　in　place；　stretching　well　past　his　ears　and　displaying　a　set　of　pointed　teeth　even　longer　than　Aahz's。
　〃Take　your　order？〃　the　gargoyle　asked　politely；　the　smile　never　twitching。
　〃Um　。　。　。〃　I　said　taking　a　step　back。　〃I'll