fs.thesecondbookofswords-第9部分

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e　of　the　few　times　in　his　life　that　anyone　had　ever　called　him　a　minstrel；　and　he　felt　unreasonably　pleased。
　　　Tanakir　told　him：　〃You're　leaving　very　soon。〃
　　　Ben　blinked　at　him　again；　then　backed　up　carefully　and　sat　down　on　a　small　chest；　which　creaked　a　little　with　the　burden。　He　sat　in　a　position　that　left　his　hands　and　feet　ready　if　they　should　be　needed。　〃I　haven't　decided　about　that　yet。〃
　　　〃I'm　deciding　for　you。〃
　　　〃All　right；〃　said　Ben　mildly。　He　allowed　the　other　just　a　beat　in　which　to　begin　triumphant　relaxation；　before　he　added；　〃One　of　us　leaves　tonight；　if　you　feel　that　way。　Well；　maybe　in　the　morning。　No　one　wants　to　start　out　on　the　road　at　night。〃
　　　Ben　paused　briefly；　then　suggested：　〃Arm…wrestle　for　it？〃　It　was　impossible　not　to　notice　how　the　other's　god…like　arms　had　been　circled　with　bands　and　bracelets　to　make　them　look　still　thicker；　and　what　pains　had　been　taken　with　short；　tattered　sleeves；　that　they　might　be　best　revealed。　Ben's　own　arms；　if　they　had　not　been　hidden　in　his　long　pilgrim's　sleeves；　would　by　parison　have　looked　almost　as　chubby　as　they　did　strong。
　　　Tanakir；　after　having　been　kept　mentally　off…balance　for　a　few　moments；　now　looked　pleased。　All　strongmen；　thought　Ben；　are　certainly　not　bright。　And　this　particular　one　must　be　a　chronic　pain　to　have　around。
　　　〃Arm…wrestle；〃　Tanakir　repeated；　nodding。　〃All　right；　we'll　do　that。　Yeah。〃
　　　Barbara；　who　knew　them　both；　must　also　have　been　pleased　by　Ben's　suggestion；　for　she　made　no　objection　to　it。　When　Ben　saw　this　his　heart　dared　to　rise　again。　He　smiled　at　Barbara　as　she　moved　quickly　to　clear　the　little　table　for　their　contest；　and　he　got　the　briefest　of　smiles　from　her　in　return。
　　　Before　the　contest　could　get　started　there　was　an　outburst　of　whispering　from　outside　the　tent。　First；　it　sounded　like　some　conspiratorial　meeting　getting　too　loud；　and　then；　suddenly；　like　they　were　greeting　someone　in　surprise。
　　　Then　imperturbable　old　Viktor；　who　by　consent　and　diplomacy　ran　the　carnival；　put　his　head　into　the　tent。　There　was　an　unmon　smile　on　his　face。　Ben　understood　the　smile　when；　a　moment　later；　the　head　of　a　much　taller　and　younger　man　appeared　above　Viktor's；　grinning。
　　　Still　it　took　Ben　a　moment　to　make　the　recognition。　He　jumped　to　his　feet　then；　and　cried　out：　〃Mark！〃　It　had　been　two　years。　Ben　would　have　moved　forward；　but　Barbara　was　in　his　way。　She　had　already　darted　to　the　doorway　to　give　the　tall　young　man　a　great　hug　and　kiss。
　　　Tanakir　was　upset　all　over　again。　〃What　is　this？〃　he　roared　at　them。　〃e　on；　arm…wrestle；　or　just　get　out。〃
　　　Barbara　turned　to　him。　〃Don't　be　so　eager；　you've　never　managed　to　out…wrestle　me。〃　She　turned　back　to　Mark。　〃Look　at　you；　you're　taller　than　Ben。〃
　　　〃I　was　that　when　I　left。　Or　very　nearly。〃
　　　〃And　just　as　strong。〃
　　　Mark　had　to　grin　at　that。
　　　〃e　on！〃　This　was　Tanakir　again。　〃Whoever　that　clown　is；　he　can　wait　his　turn。〃
　　　So　the　rest　of　the　reunion　had　to　be　postponed。　Old　Viktor；　as　usual；　kept　things　moving　with　a　few　diplomatic　words　and　gestures。　Mark　remained　in　the　background；　smiling。　Viktor；　having　greeted　Ben；　nodded　sagely　when　he　saw　what　was　developing　in　Barbara's　tent。　Then　he　sent　one　of　his　wives　on　an　errand；　while　he　himself　stood　by；　authoritatively　twirling　his　gray　mustache。
　　　The　wife　was　back　promptly；　bringing　two　stubs　of　candles　into　the　darkening　tent；　along　with　a　burning　twig　to　light　them。　Ben　noticed　with　irrational　relief　that　the　candles　were　not　blue　beneath　their　golden　tongues　of　flame。　They　were　set　burning　on　the　small　table　to　the　right　and　left　of　the　two　contestants。
　　　Barbara　gave　up　her　single　folding　chair　to　Tanakir。　It　creaked　impressively　when　he　sat　down。　Ben　hitched　the　little　chest　around　and　sat　on　it；　so　that　he　faced　his　opponent　across　the　table。　He　noted　that　Barbara　and　Mark　together　were　now　finishing　off　his　sausage。　Fortunately　he；　Ben；　had　not　arrived　weak　with　hunger。　Mark　looked　good　…　but　there　was　something　that　had　to　be　taken　care　of　first；　before　he　could　enjoy　the　pany　of　friends。
　　　The　two　big　men　sat　facing　each　other；　their　noses　a　meter　apart。　The　carnival　strongman　made　a　show　of　getting　ready；　rolling　up　his　right　sleeve　a　trifle　more。　He　managed　to　ripple　the　muscles　of　his　arm　impressively　as　he　did　so。
　　　〃Don't　fear　the　flame；〃　said　Tanakir；　leaning　forward　to　put　his　elbow　on　the　table。　Ben's　elbow　was　already　there。　The　strongman's　fierce　scowl　emanated　onions。　〃I'll　not　burn　you　very　much。　Cry　out　once　and　I'll　let　you　go。〃
　　　〃Don't　fear　the　flame；〃　returned　Ben；　〃for　I'll　not　burn　you　at　all。〃　And　he　reached　forward；　ready　to　meet　the　all…out　surge　of　strength　that　the　other　was　certain　to　apply　as　soon　as　he　could　grab　Ben's　hand。
　　　〃Get　him；　Ben！〃　called　Mark。
　　　Their　grips　locked　in　the　surge；　the　table　quaked　beneath　their　elbows。
　　　And　Barbara；　with　a　greater　urgency　in　her　voice　than　merely　friendship：　〃Win；　Ben！　Win！〃
　　　Tanakir　cried　out；　but　not　with　victory；　nor　yet　with　candle…burn。　The　back　of　his　hand　descending　had　snuffed　the　flame　before　the　heat　could　even　scorch　the　hairs。　Snuffed　out　the　flame；　and　thudded　on　to　squash　the　wax　below。
Chapter　4
　　　The　small　man　rode　the　once…paved　road　upon　a　fine　but　almost　starving　riding　beast；　and　wore　at　his　side　a　poor　scabbard　that　had　the　hilt　of　a　fine　sword　protruding　from　it。　Some　things　about　this　man；　including　his　long；　carefully　trained　black　mustache；　suggested　that　he　might　be　castle…born。　But　most　of　his　clothing；　and　certain　other　indications；　argued　for　a　more　humble　origin。　He　was　bareheaded；　and　under　the　shock　of　wild　black　hair　his　lean；　elegant　face　was　grim。　He　was　mumbling　to　himself　as　he　rode　slowly　through　the　warm　spring　sunshine。
　　　Two　more　men；　on　foot；　were　following　the　mumbling　rider　across　the　grimly　peaceful　countryside；　past　abandoned　farmsteads　and　untilled　fields。　And　several　paces　behind　those　two　shuffled　along　a　lad　not　quite　full　grown；　though　already　tall。　On　the　right　shoulder　of　this　youth　there　rode　a　hooded　shape；　that　under　its　covering　of　green　cloth　had　to　be　that　of　some　trained　flying　creature；　bird　or　reptile　perhaps。
　　　Taken　as　a　group；　the　four　men　looked　like　the　token　representation　on　a　stage　of　some　defeated　army。　But　the　only　thing　their　various　costumes　had　in　mon　was　the　look　of　wear　and　poverty；　if　this　was　truly　an　army；　it　had　no　other　uniform。
　　　Of　the　two　who　were　walking　together；　one　carried　a　battle…hatchet　in　a　kind　of　holster　at　his　belt；　and　had　a　bow　slung　on　his　back。　His　taller　panion　wore　a　sword　on　one　side　of　his　own　belt；　with　a　sling　and　stone…pouch　on　the　other。　The　visible　hilt　of　this　man's　sword；　in　contrast　to　their　leader's；　was　dull　and　cracked。
　　　The　surface　of　the　road　they　traveled　had　once　been　paved　and　cared　for；　though　like　most　of　its　users　it　was　now　experiencing　hard　times。　And　the　land　through　which　the　road　passed　looked　as　if　it　might　once　have　been　well　tended。　A　feral　milkbeast；　lean　and　scarred；　stared　at　the　procession　as　if　it　might　never　have　seen　men　before；　then　leaped　a　broken　fence　to　bolt　into　a　thicket。　The　man　with　the　bow；　hunger　starting　in　his　eyes；　made　the　start　of　a　motion　to　get　the　weapon　off　his　back；　but　gave　up　before　pleting　it。　The　beast　was　already　out　of　sight。
　　　The　leader　appeared　to　be　paying　very　little　heed　to　any　of　this。　He　continued　to　mouth　words　to　himself　as　he　rode　on；　eyes　fixed　ahead。　One　of　the　two　men　following；　he　who　had　the　bow；　was　more　concerned　than　the　other　by　this　circumstance。　He　now　nudged　his　taller　panion；　and　signaled　that　they　should　lag　back　a　few　more　steps　behind　their　leader。
　　　As　soon　as　the　gap　between　the　two　men　and　the　rider　had　widened　enough　to　give　them　good　prospects　for　some　privacy；　the　shorter　man　whispered：　〃Why　does　he　mutter　so？〃
　　　The　taller　man　who　wore　the　battered　sword　had　a　long　face　with　an　habitually　grave　expression；　that　made　him　look　like　a　solemn　servant　dressed　up　as　a　soldier。　And　he　answered　gravely：　〃I　think　his　woes　have　driven　him　half　mad。〃
　　　〃Ha。　Woes？　If　that　would　do　it；　we'd　all　be　jabbering　and　snarling　as　we　moved　about。　I　wonder　now。。。　〃
　　　〃What？〃
　　　〃I　wonder　if　I　decided　wisely；　yesterday；　when　I　chose　to　follow　him。〃　The　shorter　man；　whose　name　was　Hubert；　paused　at　that　point；　as　if　expecting　to　receive　some　ment　from　his　panion。　When　none　was　immediately　forthing；　he　went　on。　〃He　spoke　me　fair　enough　…　well；　you　were　there；　you　heard。　I've　yet　to　hear；　though；　just　what　enterprise　he　plans　to　use　us　in。　And　you　say　he's　not　told　you；　either。　Well；　at　first　I　thought　there　was　no　need　to　ask。　There's　little　business　of　any　kind　to　be　transacted　on　these　roads；　except　for　robbery。　I've　not　done　that　before；　but　I　was　hungry　enough　to　try　anything。。。　and　there　you　were；　looking　sane　and　tolerably　well　fed；　following　him　already。　You　looked　as　if　you　might　know　where　you　were　going。　And　now　you　tell　me　he's　half　mad。〃
　　　〃Sh！〃
　　　〃You　said　it　first。〃
　　　〃But　not　so　loud。〃　The　taller；　grave…faced　man；　whose　name　was　Pu　Chou；　appeared　for　a　moment　to　be　annoyed。　Then　he　answered　thoughtfully：　〃I　followed　him　because；　as　you　say；　he　spoke　fair。　He's　fed　me；　so　far。　Not　a　lot；　but　better　than　nothing。　And　he　did　promise　when　I　joined　him　that　we　were　going　to　find　wealth。〃　…　Hubert　said；　flatly：　〃Wealth。　And　you　believed　him。〃
　　　〃You　said　you　believed　him；　when　he　spoke　to　you。　He　can　speak　convincingly。〃
　　　〃Aye。　Well；　we've　passed　travelers　who　I　thought　looked　like　easy　game；　and　not　tried　to　rob　them。　He　must　have　some　other　means　of　gaining　wealth　in　mind。　Well；　that　sword　he's　got　is　certainly　worth　a　coin　or　two；　even　if　the　sheath　is　poor。〃
　　　Pu　Chou　was　quietly　alarmed。　〃Don't　even　think　of　taking　it　from　him。　I've　seen　him　use　it　once。〃
　　　〃Once？　He　hauls　it　out　at　every　crossroad。　There's　some　fine　charm　of　magic　in　it；　or　at　least　he　thinks　there　is；　for　he　consults　it　to　choose　his　way。　Whether　it　works　or　not
　　　〃I　meant　I've　seen　him　use　it　as　a　sword。　When　I　was　his　only　follower；　and　still　unarmed　myself。　Three　bandits　thought　they　wanted　i