myth.conceptions-第19部分

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　In　response；　my　pet　flopped　on　his　side　with　a　thud　that　shook　the　ground。　His　serpentine　neck　was　long　enough　that　he　managed　to　perform　this　maneuver　without　moving　his　head　from　my　grasp。
　His　loyal　affection　brought　a　smile　to　my　face　for　the　first　time　since　I　had　taken　up　my　lonely　vigil。　It　was　…a　wele　antidote　to　my　nervous　insomnia。
　I　was　leaning　against　a　tree；　watching　the　pinpoints　of　light　that　marked　the　enemy's　encampment。　Even　though　the　day's　events　had　left　me　exhausted；　I　found　myself　unable　to　sleep；　my　mind　awash　with　fears　and　anticipation　of　tomorrow's　clash。　Not　wishing　to　draw　attention　to　my　disfort；　I　had　crept　to　this　place　to　be　alone。
　As　stealthy　as　I　had　attempted　to　be；　however；　apparently　Gleep　had　noted　my　movement　and　e　to　keep　me　pany。
　〃Oh；　Gleep；〃　I　whispered。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　For　his　answer；　he　snuggled　closer　against　me　and　laid　his　head　in　my　lap　for　additional　patting。　He　seemed　to　have　unshakable　faith　in　my　ability　to　handle　any　crisis　as　it　arose。　I　wished　with　all　my　heart　I　shared　his　confidence。
　〃Skeeve？〃　came　a　soft　voice　from　my　right。
　I　turned　my　head　and　found　Tanda　standing　close　beside　me。　The　disquieting　thing　about　having　an　Assassin　for　a　friend　is　that　they　move　so　silently。
　〃Can　I　talk　to　you　for　a　moment？〃
　〃Sure；　Tanda；〃　I　said；　patting　the　ground　next　to　me。　〃Have　a　seat。〃
　Instead　of　sitting　at　the　indicated　spot；　she　sank　to　the　ground　where　she　stood　and　curled　her　legs　up　under　her。
　〃It's　about　Ajax；〃　she　began　hesitantly。　〃I　hate　to　bother　you；　but　I'm　worried　about　him。〃
　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　asked。
　〃Well；　the　team's　been　riding　him　about　falling　asleep　today　when　he　was　supposed　to　be　covering　you；〃　she　explained。　〃He's　taking　it　pretty　hard。〃
　〃I　wasn't　too　wild　about　it　myself；〃　I　mented　bitterly。　〃It's　a　bad　feeling　to　realize　that　we　really　were　alone　out　there。　If　anything　had　gone　wrong；　we　would　have　been　cut　to　shreds　while　placidly　waiting　for　our　expert　bowman　to　intercede！〃
　〃I　know。〃　Tanda's　voice　was　almost　too　soft　to　be　heard。　〃And　I　don't　blame　you　for　feeling　like　that。　In　a　way；　I　blame　myself。〃
　〃Yourself？〃　I　blinked。　〃Why？〃
　〃I　vouched　for　him；　Skeeve；〃　she　whispered。　〃Don't　you　remember？〃
　〃Well；　sure；〃　I　admitted。　〃But　you　couldn't　have　known…〃
　〃But　I　should　have；〃　she　interrupted　bitterly。　〃I　should　have　realized　how　old　he　is　now。　He　shouldn't　be　here；　Skeeve。　That's　why　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about　doing　something。〃
　〃Me？〃　I　asked；　genuinely　startled。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃Send　him　back；〃　Tanda　urged。　〃It　isn't　fair　to　you　to　endanger　your　mission　because　of　him；　and　it　isn't　fair　to　Ajax　to　put　him　in　a　spot　like　this。〃
　〃That　isn't；　what　I　meant；〃　I　murmured；　shaking　my　head。　〃I　meant　why　are　you　talking　to　me？　Aahz　is　the　one…you　have　to　convince。〃
　〃That's　where　you're　wrong；　Skeeve；〃　she　corrected。　〃Aahz　isn't　leading　this　group；　you　are。〃
　〃Because　of　what　he　said　back　on　Deva？〃　I　smiled。　〃C'mon；　Tanda。　You　know　Aahz。　He　was　just　a　little　miffed。　You　noticed　he's　called　all　the　shots　so　far。〃
　The　moonlight　glistened　in　Tanda's　hair　as　she　shook　her　head。
　〃I　do　know　Aahz；　Skeeve。　Better　than　you　do；〃　she　said。　〃He's　a　stickler　for　chain　of　mand。　If　he　says　you're　the　leader；　you're　the　leader。〃
　〃But…〃
　〃Besides；〃　she　continued　over　my　protest；　〃Aahz　is　only　one　member　of　the　team。　What's　important　is　all　the　others　are　counting　on　you；　too。　On　you；　not　on　Aahz。　You　hired　'em；　and　as　far　as　they're　concerned；　you're　the　boss。〃
　The　frightening　thing　was　she　was　right。　I　hadn't　really　stopped　to　think　about　it；　but　everything　she　said　was　true。　I　had　just　been　too　busy　with　my　own　worries　to　reflect　on　it。　Now　that　I　realized　the　full　extent　of　my　responsibilities；　a　new　wave　of　doubts　assaulted　me。　I　wasn't　even　that　sure　of　myself　as　a　magician；　and　as　a　leader　of　men　。。。。
　〃I'll　have　to　think　about　it；〃　I　stalled。
　〃You　don't　have　much　time；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃You've　got　a　war　scheduled　to　start　tomorrow。〃
　There　was　a　crackling　in　the　brush　to　our　left；　interrupting　our　conversation。
　〃Boss？〃　came　Brockhurst's　soft　hail。　〃Are　you　busy？〃
　〃Sort　of；〃　I　called　back。
　〃Well；　this　will　only　take　a　minute。〃
　Before　I　could　reply；　two　shadows　detached　themselves　from　the　brush　and　drew　closer。　One　was　Brockhurst；　the　other　was　Gus。　I　should　have　known　from　the　noise　that　the　gargoyle　was　acpanying　Brockhurst。　Like　Tanda；　the　Imp　could　move　like　a　ghost。
　〃We　were　just　talking　about　Ajax；〃　Brockhurst　informed　me；　squatting　down　to　join　our　conference。
　The　gargoyle　followed　suit。
　〃Yeah；〃　Gus　confirmed。　〃The　three　of　us　wanted　to　make　a　suggestion　to　you。〃
　〃Right；〃　Brockhurst　nodded。　〃Gus　and　me　and　the　Gremlin。〃
　〃The　Gremlin？〃　I　asked。
　The　Imp　craned　his　neck　to　peer　around　him。
　〃He　must　have　stayed　back　at　camp；〃　he　shrugged。
　〃About　Ajax；〃　Tanda　prompted。
　〃We　think　you　should　pull　him　from　the　team；〃　Gus　announced。　〃Send　him　back　to　Deva　and　out　of　the　line　of　fire。〃
　〃It's　not　for　us；〃　Brockhurst　hastened　to　clarify。　〃It's　for　him。　He's　a　nice　old　guy；　and　we'd　hate　to　see　anything　happen　to　him。〃
　〃He　is　pretty　old；〃　I　murmured。
　〃Old！〃　Gus　exclaimed。　〃Boss；　the　Gremlin　says　he's　tailed　him　for　over　two　hundred　years　。　。　。　two　hundred！　According　to　him；　Ajax　was　old　when　their　paths　first　crossed。　It　won't　kill　him　to　miss　this　one　war；　but　it　might　kill　him　to　fight　in　it。〃
　〃Why　is　the　Gremlin　tailing　him；　anyway？〃　I　asked。
　〃I've　told　you　before；　kid；〃　a　voice　boomed　in　my　ear；　〃gremlins　don't　exist。〃
　With　that　pronouncement；　Aahz　sank　down　at　my　side；　between　me　and　Tanda。　As　I　attempted　to　restore　my　heartbeat　to　normal；　it　occurred　to　me　I　knew　an　awful　lot　of　light…footed　people。
　〃Hi；　Aahz；〃　I　said；　forcing　a　smile。　〃We　were　just　talking　about…〃
　〃I　know；　I　heard；〃　Aahz　interrupted。　〃And　for　a　change　I　agree。〃
　〃You　do？〃　I　blinked。
　〃Sure；〃　he　yawned。　〃It's　a　clear…cut　breach　of　contract。　He　hired　out　his　services　as　a　bowman；　and　the　first　assignment　you　give　him；　he　literally　lies　down　on　the　job。〃
　Actually；　it　had　been　the　second　assignment。　I　had　a　sudden　flash　recollection　of　Ajax　drawing　and　firing　in　a　smooth；　fluid　motion；　cutting　down　a　signal　standard　so　distant　it　was　barely　visible。
　〃My　advice　would　be　to　send　him　back；〃　Aahz　was　saying。　〃If　you　want　to　soothe　your　conscience；　give　him　partial　payment　and　a　good　remendation；　but　the　way　he　is；　he's　no　good　to　anybody。〃
　Perhaps　it　was　because　of　Tanda's　lecture；　but　I　was　suddenly　aware　that　Aahz　had　specifically　stated　his　suggestion　as　〃advice；〃　not　an　order。
　〃Heads　up；　boss；〃　Brockhurst　murmured。　〃We've　got　pany。〃
　Following　his　gaze；　I　saw　Ajax　stumbling　toward　us；　his　ghostlike　paleness　flickering　in　the　darkness　like　。　。　。　well；　like　a　ghost。　It　occurred　to　me　that　what　had　started　out　as　a　moment　of　solitude　was　being　awfully　crowded。
　〃Evenin'；　youngster；〃　he　saluted。　〃Didn't　mean　to　interrupt　nothin！　Didn't　know　you　folks　was　havin'　a　meetin'。〃
　〃We　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　we　were　just　talking；〃　I　explained；　suddenly　embarrassed。
　〃I　kin　guess　about　what；　too；〃　Ajax　sighed。　〃Well；　I　was　goin'　to　do　this　private…like；　but　I　suppose　the　rest　o'　you　might　as　well　hear　it；　too。〃
　〃Do　what；　Ajax？〃　I　asked。
　〃Resign；〃　he　said。　〃Seems　to　me　to　be　the　only　decent　thing　to　do　after　what　happened　today。〃
　〃It　could　have　happened　to　anyone；〃　I　shrugged。
　〃Nice　of　you　to　say　so；　youngster；〃　Ajax　smiled；　〃but　I　kin　see　the　handwriting　on　the　wall。　I'm　just　too　old　to　be　any　good　to　anybody　anymore。　'Bout　time　I　admitted　it　to　myself。〃
　I　found　myself　noticing　the　droop　in　his　shoulders　and　a　listlessness　that　hadn't　been　there　when　we　first　met　on　Deva。
　〃Don't　fret　about　payin'　me；〃　Ajax　continued。　〃I　didn't　do　nothin'；　so　I　figger　you　don't　owe　me　nothin'。　If　somebody'll　just　blip　me　back　to　Deva；　I'll　get　outta　your　way　and　let　you　fight　your　war　the　way　it　should　be　fought。〃
　〃Well；　Ajax；〃　Aahz　sighed；　rising　to　his　feet　and　extending　his　hand。　〃We're　going　to　miss　you。〃
　〃Just　a　minute！〃　I　found　myself　saying　in　a　cold　voice。　〃Are　you　trying　to　tell　me　you're　breaking　our　contract？〃
　Ajax's　head　came　up　with　a　snap。
　〃I　expected　better　from　a　genuine　Archer；〃　I　concluded。
　〃I　wouldn't　call　it　a　breach　of　contract；　youngster；〃　the　old　bowman　corrected　me　carefully。　〃More　like　a　termination　by　mutual　consent。　I'm　jes'　too　old…〃
　〃Old？〃　I　interrupted。　〃I　knew　you　were　old　when　I　hired　you。　I　knew　you　were　old　when　I　planned　my　strategy　for　tomorrow's　fight　around　that　bow　of　yours。　I　knew　you　were　old；　Ajax；　but　I　didn't　know　you　were　a　coward！〃
　There　was　a　sharp　intake　of　breath　somewhere　nearby；　but　1　didn't　see　who　it　was。　My　attention　was　focused　on　Ajax。　It　was　no　longer　a　defeated；　drooping　old　man；　but　a　proud；　angry　warrior　who　loomed　suddenly　over　me。
　〃Sonny；〃　he　growled；　〃I　know　I'm　old；　'cause　in　my　younger　days　I　would　have　killed　you　for　sayin'　that。　1　never　ran　from　a　fight　in　my　life；　and　1　never　broke　a　contract。　If　you　got　some　shootin'　fer　me　to　do　tomorrow；　I'll　do　it。　Then　maybe　you'll　see　what　havin'　a　genuine　Archer　on　your　side　is　all　about！〃
　With　that；　he　spun　on　his　heel　and　stalked　off　into　the　darkness。
　It　had　been　a　calculated　risk；　but　I　still　found　I　was　covered　with　cold　sweat　from　facing　the　old　man's　anger。　I　also　realized　the　rest　of　the　group　was　staring　at　me　in　silent　expectation。
　〃I　suppose　you're　all　wondering　why　I　did　that；〃　I　said；　smiling。
　I　had　hoped　for　a　response；　but　the　silence　continued。
　〃I　appreciate　all　your　advice；　and　hope　you　continue　to　give　it　in　the　future。　But　I'm　leading　this　force；　and　the　final　decisions　have　to　be　mine。〃
　Out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　Aahz　cock　his　eyebrow；　but　I　ignored　him。
　〃Everyone；　including　Ajax；　said　if　I　let　him　go；　if　I　sent　him　back　to　Deva；　there　would　be　no　harm　done。　I　disagree。　It　would　have　taken　away　the　one　thing　the　years　have　left　untouched　。　。　。　his　pride。　It　would　have　confirmed　to　him　his　worst　…fears；　that　he's　bee　a　useless　old　man。〃
　I　scanned　my　audience。　Not　one　of　them　could　meet　my　eye。
　〃So　he　might　get　killed。　So　what？　He's　accepted　that　risk　in　every　war　he'