fs.thesecondbookofswords-第19部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


es　of　a　large　Red　Temple　plex　were　standing　open　to　receive　it。
　　　Doon　gestured；　slowing　his　troop's　progress；　that　they　might　have　a　chance　to　look　over　the　Temple　plex　as　they　approached　it。　It　was；　as　the　first　glimpse　of　it　had　suggested；　of　considerable　size。　The　walls　surrounding　it　were　not　much　more　than　head　high；　but　armed　with　jagged　projections　along　the　top　that　would　make　a　climbing　entry　difficult。　Within　the　walls　were　several　large　but　low…built　buildings。　Buildings　and　walls　alike　appeared　to　be　constructed　mainly　of　earthen　bricks。　The　colors　of　red　and　black　were　prominently　displayed。
　　　The　main　gate　remained　standing　open　after　the　caravan　had　entered　it。　The　entry　was　flanked　by　torches；　that　at　dusk　were　just　now　being　lighted。　A　brief　period　of　observation　was　enough　to　show　that　the　flow　of　traffic　in　and　out　the　gate　was　fairly　high；　as　might　be　expected　of　a　Red　Temple　near　the　intersection　of　two　well…traveled　roads。
　　　〃A　lot　of　customers；〃　Golok　mented。　He　had　evidently　got　over　his　outrage　now。　〃There　must　be　a　busy　town　or　two　nearby。　Maybe　a　large　castle；　too。〃
　　　〃Aye。〃　Hubert　chuckled。　〃Red　Temple　always　does　good　business。〃
　　　〃I　think；〃　said　Doon；　〃we're　going　to　be　able　to　ride　right　on　in　without　being　challenged。〃
　　　〃And　if　we　are　challenged？〃　asked　Indosuaros。　He　had　contrived　a　black…and…red　cap　for　himself；　suggesting　a　minor　wizard　working　in　Red　Temple　pay。
　　　〃We'll　see；〃　said　Doon。　〃Be　ready　to　take　your　cue　from　me　…　get　that；　everyone？　Let's　go。〃
　　　The　guard　post　at　the　main　gate　was　manned　by　a　single　sentry。　He　was　sitting　with　his　head　slumped；　half　asleep　or　perhaps　entranced　by　drugs。　He　paid　little　or　no　attention　to　the　passage　of　what　might　well　have　been　a　mercenary　patrol。
　　　The　pound　seen　from　inside　was　as　large　and　busy　as　its　appearance　at　a　distance　had　suggested。　This　main　portion　of　it；　generally　open　to　the　public；　was　well　lit　by　torches。　Spaces　and　hitching　racks　were　provided　to　acmodate　customers'　vehicles　and　animals。　On　three　sides　of　this　broad　open　courtyard　were　the　several　houses　of　pleasure　that　made　up　the　usual　Red　Temple　layout。　To　the　right；　as　Doon　and　his　men　rode　in；　were　the　Houses　of　Dancing　and　of　Joy。　Gaming　was　on　the　left；　and　Drink　and　Food　were　straight　ahead　…　music；　like　the　smell　of　drugs；　seemed　to　be　everywhere　once　the　main　gate　had　been　passed。
　　　Passages　led　between　buildings；　to　what　would　be　the　non…public　parts　of　the　pound。　Mark　was　able　to　catch　just　a　glimpse　of　one　of　the　caravan's　litters；　disappearing　down　one　of　these　alleyways；　before　a　closing　gate　cut　off　the　sight。　The　gangs　of　slaves　who　had　been　driven　in　on　foot　were　probably　already　back　there；　in　some　kind　of　pens。
　　　Doon　drew　his　Sword　briefly；　and　found　that　it　guided　him　to　the　right。　A　couple　of　passing　customers　looked　at　him　curiously　before　he　put　the　blade　away　again。
　　　He　turned　right；　then　signed　to　his　men　to　halt　their　animals　and　dismount。　They　tied　their　riding　beasts　at　one　of　the　hitching　racks　nearest　the　entrance　of　the　House　of　Dancing。　So　far；　no　one　else　in　the　pound　appeared　to　be　paying　them　much　attention。
　　　〃Golok；〃　the　Baron　ordered　quietly；　〃stay　here　and　keep　the　animals　quiet。　Be　ready　for　a　quick　start　when　we　e　back。〃　Golok　nodded；　the　hooded　monk　bird　was　resting　behind　his　saddle　now。
　　　Doon　left　his　Sword　sheathed；　but　unbuckled　the　whole　apparatus　from　his　waist；　and　carried　it　in　his　hand；　pausing　now　and　then　to　feel　his　way　forward　with　it；　almost　like　a　blind　man　with　a　cane。　It　still　looked　odd　behavior；　thought　Mark；　but　it　was　not　going　to　draw　as　much　attention　as　the　Baron　would　have　by　waving　a　meter　of　bare　blade。
　　　The　entrance　to　the　House　of　Dance　was　watched　inside　by　fee…collectors；　who；　as　Mark　had　expected；　let　the　red　uniforms　pass　in　free。　Red　Temple　mercenaries　were　probably　not　paid　very　much　in　coin；　but　there　appeared　to　be　certain　pensations。　Inside　the　House　of　Dance；　drum　music　throbbed　in　thick；　warm　air。　Most　of　the　interior　was　a　single　vast；　low　room。　Scantily　clad　girls　and　young　women；　with　a　few　boys　and　young　men　mixed　among　them；　sat　round　the　edges　of　the　room。　These　were　slaves　of　the　Temple；　waiting　for　the　personal　attentions　of　some　customer。　Some　couples　were　dancing；　and　in　the　center　of　the　large　floor　a　professional　group　performed；　dancers　and　musicians　mingling。
　　　Doon　moved　at　first　as　if　to　cross　the　floor　directly；　then　evidently　thought　better　of　interfering　with　the　dance；　and　led　his　men　around　the　edge。　Now；　in　the　distant　corners　of　the　hall；　Mark　could　recognize　the　traditional　four　Red　Temple　statues：　Aphrodite；　Bacchus；　Dionysus；　Eros。　Here　at　one　side　was　a　broad　stairway；　going　up；　probably　municating　on　an　upper　level　with　the　House　of　Joy　next　door。　A　painted　young　man　was　just　ascending；　giggling；　supported　on　either　side　by　two　customers；　man　and　woman。　Meanwhile　on　the　far　side　of　the　dance　floor；　four　men　were　just　emerging　from　some　back　room。　They　were　all　uniformed　in　blue　and　gold；　and　though　they　paid　attention　to　the　dancers　as　they　strolled；　Mark　thought　that　probably　they　were　here　on　business　rather　than　on　pleasure　only。　It　was　no　secret　that　connections　existed　between　the　Blue　Temple　and　the　Red；　particularly　on　the　upper　levels　of　organization。
　　　In　the　corner　of　the　dancehall　farthest　from　the　entrance；　broad　open　steps　led　down。　As　Doon　led　them　down　the　steps；　following　the　discreet　guidance　of　the　Sword；　Mark　began　to　realize　that　some　large　part　of　the　whole　Red　Temple　plex　was　probably　underground。　Different　musicians　were　playing　down　here；　from　somewhere　out　of　view；　and　the　sound　they　made　was　different；　having　a　disconnected　anguish　in　it。　The　air　was　thicker　too；　with　more　torch…smoke　in　it；　as　well　as　heavier　fumes　of　incense　and　of　drugs。
　　　For　a　few　moments　Doon　and　his　followers　tramped　an　empty　corridor　in　silence。　Suddenly　Mark　thought　that　he　knew　where　the　Sword　was　taking　them。　It　was　a　part　of　the　usual；　Red　Temple　installation　that　he'd　heard　about；　but　had　never　seen　on　the　few　occasions　when　he'd　visited　other　branches　of　the　Temple　as　a　customer。
　　　The　corridor　branched。　And　still　the　Sword　of　Wisdom　led　the　way　unhesitatingly。
　　　〃Are　we　going　to　the　worm…pit？〃　Hubert　grumbled　quietly。　〃What's　in　there；　or　who；　that　we　could　need？〃
　　　No　one　had　an　answer　for　him。　Soon　the　Sword　would　tell。
　　　Still　the　path　chosen　by　Wayfinder　led　through　the　public　precincts　of　the　Temple；　and　they　were　not　challenged。　It　guided　them　at　last　through　a　heavily　curtained　doorway；　into　another　large；　low　room；　this　one　much　darker　and　worse…smelling　than　the　dance…hall　above。
　　　Here　only　a　few　candles　were　burning；　to　illuminate　what　looked　at　first　glance　like　some　barracks　or　dormitory。　Or　perhaps　a　ward　in　some　hospital…dungeon；　if　such　a　bination　could　be　imagined。　The　place　was　almost　too　long　to　be　called　a　room；　too　wide　for　a　corridor。　It　was　lined　on　both　sides　with　bunks　and　couches；　about　half　of　which　were　occupied。　A　few　bent　figures；　those　of　male　and　female　attendants；　were　moving　about　in　the　gloom。　As　one　of　these　passed　before　a　candle；　Mark　could　see　that　she　was　carrying　a　small　saucer…shaped　tray　of　earth；　and　tools　that　looked　like　a　pair　of　tweezers　and　a　large；　fine…toothed　b。
　　　The　light　was　a　little　better　near　the　curtained　doorway　where　Doon　and　his　men　had　entered。　Here　some　of　the　customers　were　conversing　from　couch　to　couch；　and　sipping　at　winecups。　Men　and　women　alike　could　be　seen　to　be　for　the　most　part　naked　under　their　beds'　sheets。　One　or　two　were　currently　in　the　phase　of　ecstasy　that　the　pleasure…worms　induced。　These　sobbed　or　groaned　on　their　cots；　executing　jerky　motions；　kicking　aside　coverings；　scratching　at　their　skin　with　bs；　now　slowly　and　now　in　rapid　frenzy。
　　　As　Doon；　still　trying　to　hold　his　sheathed　Sword　unobtrusively；　led　the　way　slowly　forward　between　rows　of　beds；　Mark　saw　the　attendant　with　the　tray　of　earth　stop　at　the　side　of　a　recumbent　customer。　From　the　saucer　of　earth　the　attendant　lifted；　in　the　tweezers；　a　tiny　pale　gray　worm　…　weight　for　weight；　Mark　knew；　worth　more　than　gold。　The　creature　was　inconspicuous；　and　would　have　been　unnoticeable　except　for　the　attention　that　was　focused　on　it。　The　client；　a　stoutish　woman　with　an　obviously　well　cared　for　body；　turned　beneath　her　sheet；　exposing　her　wide　back　in　the　candle's　light。　The　attendant　applied　the　tweezers　near　the　customer's　shoulder　with　one　hand；　and　quickly　brought　a　candle　closer　with　the　other。　The　small　worm；　released　by　the　tweezers；　promptly　disappeared。　Mark　knew；　though　he　had　not　seen；　that　it　was　gone　into　the　skin；　driven　by　its　burrowing　instincts　and　the　painful　light。　Worm…pits　were　always　underground；　because　the　creatures　had　to　be　cultivated　away　from　daylight。
　　　An　attendant　approached　Doon　as　he　led　the　way　forward；　but　the　Baron　shook　his　head　in　silence　and　pressed　on；　his　men　following　him　closely。　The　attendant　appeared　momentarily　puzzled；　Mark　thought；　but　then　went　on　about　his　tasks。　Like　the　others　working　here　he　looked　thin　and　vaguely　unhealthy。
　　　Here　was　another　client；　a　man；　recently　infected　with　one　worm；　or　several；　and　now　crying　out　with　the　full　sensation。　His　trembling　hands　went　scratching　back　and　forth；　all　ten　fingernails　working　on　the　skin　over　his　left　ribs。　The　worms　followed　the　paths　of　nerve…tissue　in　their　hosts；　inducing　pleasure　in　exchange　for　food　and　shelter　inside　a　mammalian　body。　Sometimes　the　pleasure　shaded　into　unendurable　tickling；　hence　the　work　for　fingernails　and　bs。　Mark　had　even　heard　once　that　the　worms　were　used　in　Red　Temple　dungeons　as　tools　of　torture；　with　the　victims　simply　infected　and　kept　from　scratching。
　　　On　succeeding　couches；　people　tossed　and　scratched　and　moaned。　Attendants　were　at　work　on　some　of　them　with　bs。　As　he　got　farther　toward　the　rear　of　the　room；　Mark　decided　that　it　was　probably　arranged　by　classes　of　addicts；　with　beginners　or　occasional　users　near　the　front；　those　more　enslaved　by　the　habit　near　the　middle。　In　the　dimmer　reaches　of　the　rear；　where　Mark　and　his　panions　now　walked　among　them；　were　people