myth.conceptions-第14部分

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　〃Take　your　order？〃　the　gargoyle　asked　politely；　the　smile　never　twitching。
　〃Um　。　。　。〃　I　said　taking　a　step　back。　〃I'll　have　to　think　about　it。　There's　so　much　to　choose　from〃
　In　actuality　I　couldn't　read　the　menu　。　。　。　if　that's　what　it　was。　There　was　something　etched　in　the　wall　behind　the　gargoyle　in　a　language　I　couldn't　decipher。　I　assume　it　was　a　menu　because　the　prices　weren't　etched　in　the　wall；　but　written　in　chalk　over　many　erasures。
　The　gargoyle　shrugged。
　〃Suit　yourself；〃　he　said　indifferently。　〃When　you　make　up　your　mind；　just　holler。　The　name's　Gus。〃
　〃I'll　do　that　。　。　。　Gus；〃　I　smiled；　backing　slowly　toward　the　door。
　Though　it　was　my　intent　to　exit　quietly　and　wait　outside　with　Gleep；　things　didn't　work　out　that　way。　Before　I　had　taken　four　steps；　a　hand　fell　on　my　shoulder。
　〃Skeeve；　isn't　it？〃　a　voice　proclaimed。
　I　spun　around；　or　started　to。　I　was　brought　up　short　when　my　sword　banged　into　a　table　leg。　My　head　kept　moving；　however；　and　I　found　myself　face　to　face　with　an　Imp。
　〃Brockhurst！〃　I　exclaimed；　recognizing　him　immediately。
　〃I　thought　I　recognized　you　when　you　。　。　。　hey！〃　The　Imp　took　a　step　backward　and　raised　his　hands　defensively。　〃Take　it　easy！　I'm　not　looking　for　any　trouble。〃
　My　hand　had　gone　to　my　sword　hilt　in　an　involuntary　effort　to　free　it　from　the　table　leg。　Apparently　Brockhurst　had　interpreted　the　gesture　as　an　effort　to　draw　my　weapon。
　That　was　fine　by　me。　Brockhurst　had　been　one　of　Isstvan's　lieutenants；　and　we　hadn't　parted　on　the　best　of　terms。　Having　him　a　little　afraid　of　my　〃ready　sword〃　was　probably　a　good　thing。
　〃I　don't　hold　any　grudges；〃　Brockhurst　continued　insistently。　〃That　was　just　a　job！　Right　now　I'm　between　jobs　。　。　。　permanently！〃
　That　last　was　added　with　a　note　of　bitterness　which　piqued　my　curiosity。
　〃Things　haven't　been　going　well？〃　I　asked　cautiously。
　The　Imp　grimaced。
　〃That's　an　understatement。　e　on；　sit　down。　I'll　buy　you　a　milkshake　and　tell　you　all　about　it。〃
　I　wasn't　certain　what　a　milkshake　was；　but　I　was　sure　I　didn't　want　one　if　they　were　sold　here。
　〃Um　。　。　。　thanks　anyway；　Brockhurst；〃　I　said；　forcing　a　smile；　〃but　I　think　I'll　pass。〃
　The　Imp　arched　an　eyebrow　at　me。
　〃Still　a　little　suspicious；　eh？〃　he　murmured。　〃Well；　can't　say　as　I　blame　you。　Tell　you　what　we'll　do。〃
　Before　I　could　stop　him；　he　strolled　to　the　counter。
　〃Hey；　Gus！〃　he　called。　〃Mind　if　I　take　an　extra　cup？〃
　〃Actually　。　。　。〃　the　gargoyle　began。
　〃Thanks！〃
　Brockhurst　was　already　on　his　way　back；　bearing　his　prize　with　him；　some　kind　of　a　thin…sided；　flimsy　cannister。　Plopping　down　at　a　nearby　table；　he　beckoned　to　me；　indicating　the　seat　opposite　him　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。
　There　was　no　gracious　course　for　me　to　follow　other　than　to　join　him；　though　it　would　later　occur　to　me　I　had　no　real　obligation　to　be　gracious。　Moving　carefully　to　avoid　knocking　anything　over　with　my　sword；　I　maneuvered　my　way　to　the　indicated　seat。
　Apparently；　Brockhurst　had　been　sitting　here　before；　as　there　was　already　a　cannister　on　the　table　identical　to　the　one　he　had　fetched　from　the　counter。　The　only　difference　was　that　the　one　on　the　table　was　three…quarters　full　of　a　curious　pink　liquid。
　With　great　ceremony；　the　Imp　picked　up　the　cannister　from　the　table　and　poured　half　its　contents　into　the　new　vessel。　The　liquid　poured　with　the　consistency　of　swamp　muck。
　〃Here！〃　he　said；　pushing　one　of　the　cannisters　across　the　table　to　me。　〃Now　you　don't　have　to　worry　about　any　funny　business　with　the　drinks。　We're　both　drinking　the　same　thing。〃
　With　that；　he　raised　his　vessel　in　a　mock　toast　and　took　a　healthy　swallow　from　it。　Apparently　he　expected　me　to　do　the　same。　I　would　have　rather　sucked　blood。
　〃Um　。　。　。　it's　hard　to　believe　things　aren't　going　well　for　you；〃　I　stalled。　〃You　look　well　enough。〃
　For　a　change；　I　was　actually　sincere。　Brockhurst　looked　good　。　。　。　even　for　an　Imp。　As　Aahz　had　said；　Imps　are　snappy　dressers；　and　Brockhurst　was　no　exception。　He　was　outfitted　in　a　rust…colored　velvet　jerkin　trimmed　in　gold；　which　set　off　his　pink　plexion　and　sleek　black　hair　superbly。　If　he　were　starving；　you　couldn't　tell　it　from　looking　at　him。　Though　still　fairly　slender；　he　was　as　well　muscled　and　adroit　as　when　I　had　first　met　him。
　〃Don't　let　appearances　fool　you；〃　Brockhurst　insisted；　shaking　his　head。　〃You　see　before　you　an　Imp　pushed　to　the　wall。　I've　had　to　sell　everything…my　crossbow；　my　pouch　of　magic　tricks…I　couldn't　even　raise　enough　money　to　pay　my　dues　to　the　Assassins　Guild。〃
　〃It's　that　hard　to　find　work？〃　I　sympathized。
　〃I'll　tell　you；　Skeeve；〃　he　whispered　confidentially；　〃I　haven't　worked　since　that　fiasco　with　Isstvan。〃
　The　sound　of　that　name　still　sent　chills　down　my　back。
　〃Where　is　Isstvan；　anyway？〃　I　asked　casually。
　〃Don't　worry　about　him；〃　Brochkurst　said　grimly。　〃We　left　him　working　concession　stands　on　the　Isle　of　Coney；　a　couple　of　dimensions　from　here。〃
　〃What　happened　to　the　others？〃
　I　was　genuinely　curious。　I　hadn't　had　much　of　a　chance　to　talk　with　Tanda　since　our　reunion。
　〃We　left　Frumple　under　a　cloud　of　birds　in　some　park　or　other　。　。　。　figured　he　looked　better　as　a　statue　than　he　did　alive。　The　demon　hunter　and　the　girl　took　off　for　parts　unknown　one　night　while　we　were　asleep。　My　partner；　Higgens；　headed　back　to　Imper。　He　figured　his　career　was　over　and　that　he　might　as　well　settle　down。　Me；　I've　been　looking　for　work；　ever　since；　and　I'm　starting　to　think　Higgens　was　right。〃
　〃e　on；　Brockhurst；〃　I　chided。　〃There　must　be　something　you　can　do。　I　mean；　this　is　the　Bazaar。〃
　The　Imp　heaved　a　sigh　and　took　another　sip　of　his　drink。
　〃It's　nice　of　you　to　say　that；　Skeeve；〃　he　smiled。　〃But　I've　got　to　face　the　facts。　There's　not　a　big　demand　for　Imps　anyway；　and　none　at　all　for　an　Imp　with　no　powers。〃
　I　knew　what　he　meant。　All　the　dimension　travelers　I　had　met　so　far…Aahz；　Isstvan；　Tanda；　and　even　the　Deveel　Frumple…seemed　to　regard　Imps　as　inferior　beings。　The　nicest　thing　I　had　heard　said　about　them　was　that　they　were　styleless　imitators　of　the　Deveels。
　I　felt　sorry　for　him。　Despite　the　fact　we　had　first　met　as　enemies；　it　wasn't　that　long　ago　I　had　been　a　loser　nobody　wanted。
　〃You've　got　to　keep　trying；〃　I　encouraged。
　〃Somewhere；　there's　someone　who　wants　to　hire　you。〃
　〃Not　very　likely；〃　the　Imp　grimaced。　〃The　way　I　am　now；　l　wouldn't　hire　me。　Would　you？〃
　〃Sure　I　would；〃　I　insisted。　〃In　a　minute。〃
　〃Oh；　well；〃　he　sighed。　〃I　shouldn't　dwell　on　myself。　How　have　things　been　with　you？　What　brings　you　to　the　Bazaar？〃
　Now　it　was　my　turn　to　grimace。
　〃Aahz　and　I　are　in　a　bad　spot；〃　I　explained。　〃We're　here　trying　to　recruit　a　force　to　help　us　out。〃
　〃You're　hiring　people？〃　Brockhurst　was　suddenly　intense。
　〃Yeah。　Why？〃　I　replied。
　Too　late；　I　realized　what　I　was　saying。
　〃Then　you　weren't　kidding　about　hiring　me！〃　Brockhurst　was　beside　himself　with　glee。
　〃Um　。　。　。〃　I　said。
　〃This　is　great；〃　the　Imp　chortled；　rubbing　his　hands　together。　〃Believe　me；　Skeeve；　you　won't　regret　this。〃
　I　was　regretting　it　already。
　〃Wait　a　minute；　Brockhurst；〃　I　interrupted　desperately。　〃There　are　a　few　things　you　should　know　about　the　job。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃Well　。　。　。　for　one　thing；　the　odds　are　bad；〃　I　said　judiciously。　〃We're　up　against　an　army。　That's　pretty　rough　fare　considering　how　low　the　pay　is。〃
　I　thought　I　would　touch　a　nerve　with　that　remark　about　the　pay。　I　was　right。
　〃How　low　is　the　pay？〃　the　Imp　asked　bluntly。
　Now　I　was　stuck。　I　didn't　have　the　vaguest　idea　how　much　mercenaries　were　normally　paid。
　〃We　。　。　。　um　。　。　。　we　couldn't　offer　you　more　than　one　gold　piece　for　the　whole　job；〃　I　shrugged。
　〃Done！〃　Brockhurst　proclaimed。　〃With　the　current　state　of　my　finances；　I　can't　turn　down　an　offer　like　that　no　matter　how　dangerous　it　is。〃
　It　occurred　to　me　that　sometime　I　should　have　Aahz　give　me　a　quick　course　in　rates　of　exchange。
　〃Um　。　。　。　there's　one　other　problem；〃　I　murmured　thoughtfully。
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Well；　my　partner；　you　remember　Aahz？〃
　The　Imp　nodded。
　〃Well；　he's　out　right　now　trying　to　hire　a　force；　and　he's　got　the　money；〃　I　continued。　〃There's　a　good　chance　that　if　he's　successful；　and　he　usually　is；　there　won't　be　enough　money　left　to　hire　you。〃
　Brockhurst　pursed　his　lips　for　a　moment；　then　shrugged。
　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　take　the　chance。　I　wasn't　going　anywhere　anyway。　As　I　said；　they　haven't　exactly　been　beating　my　door　down　with　job　offers。〃
　I　had　run　out　of　excuses。
　〃Well〃…I　smiled　lamely…〃as　long　as　you're　aware…〃
　〃Heads　up；　boss；〃　the　Imp's　murmur　interrupted　me。　〃We've　got　pany。〃
　I'm　not　sure　which　worried　me　more；　Brockhurst　calling　me　〃boss〃　or　the　specterlike　character　who　had　just　stepped　up　to　our　table。
　
　Chapter　Fourteen
　〃We're　looking　for　a　few　good　men。〃
　…B。　CASSIDY
　
　For　a　moment　I　thought　we　were　being　confronted　by　a　skeleton。　Then　I　looked　closer　and　realized　there　really　was　skin　stretched　over　the　bones；　though　its　dusty…white　color　made　it　seem　very　dead　indeed。
　The　figure's　paleness　was　made　even　more　corpselike　by　the　blue…black　hooded　robe　that　enshrouded　it。　It　wasn't　until　I　noted　the　wrinkled　face　with　a　short；　bristly　white　beard　that　I　realized　our　visitor　was　actually　a　very　old　man　。　。　。　very　old。
　He　looked　weak　to　the　point　of　near　collapse；　desperately　clutching　a　twisted　black　walking　staff　which　seemed　to　be　the　only　thing　keeping　him　erect。　Still；　his　eyes　were　bright　and　his　smile　confident　as…he　stood　regarding　us。
　〃Did　I　hear　you　boys　right？〃　he　asked　in　a　crackling　voice。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　Brockhurst　scowled　at　him。
　The　ancient　figure　sneered　and　raised　his　voice。
　〃I　said；　‘Did　I　hear　you　boys　right？'！〃　he　barked。
　〃What's　the　matter？　Are　you　deaf？〃
　〃Um　。　。　。　excuse　me；〃　I　interrupted　hastily。　〃Before　we　can　answer　you；　we　have　to　know　what　you　thought　we　said。〃
　The　old　man　thought　for　a　minute；　then　bobbed　his　head　in　a　sudden　nod。
　〃You　know；　yer　right！〃　he　cackled。　〃Pretty　smart；　young　fella。〃
　He　began　to　list；　but　caught　himself　before　he　fell。
　〃Thought　I　heard　you　tell　Pinko　here　you　were　looking　for　a　force　to　take　on　an　army；〃　he　pronounced；　jerking　a　thumb　at　Brockhurst。
　〃The　name's　Broc