gc.shadowslinger-第22部分

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　even　if　they　were　studying　the　castle　directly。　They　could　be　lying　back；　afraid　they　would　alert　the　Dominator　to　their　presence。
　　One　of　the　men　located　me　in　Elmo's　quarters。　〃Whisper　wants　you；　Croaker。〃
　　I　jumped　a　foot。　Guilty　conscience。　〃What　for？〃　I　had　not　seen　her　for　weeks。
　　〃You'll　have　to　go　see。　She　didn't　say。〃　He　sneered；　hoping　he　would　see　an　officer　in　the　soup。　He　figured　I　was　in　trouble。
　　He　figured　that；　so　did　I。　I　dawdled　as　much　as　I　dared；　but　eventually　had　to　present　myself。　Whisper　glared　at　me　as　I　entered。　〃You　people　haven't　found　a　damned　thing　down　there。　What　are　you　doing？　Dogging　it？　Taking　a　vacation？　Well；　say　something。〃
　　〃I。　。　。　。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　the　black　castle　stopped　growing　after　our　raid　on　the　Crater　group？　No？　Why　not？　You're　supposed　to　be　finding　out　these　things。〃
　　〃None　of　the　prisoners　accounted　for　the。　。。。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　I　know　none　of　them　knew　who　the　main　body　supplier　was。　But　that　supplier　must　have　known　them。　He　packed　up。　There　have　been　just　two　bodies　delivered　since。　The　latest　just　last　night。　Why　didn't　you　know　that？　Why　have　you　got　people　in　the　Buskin？　They　seem　incapable　of　learning　anything。〃
　　Oh；　she　was　in　a　mood。　I　said；　〃Is　the　deadline　close　or　something？　The　way　I　understood　it；　we　wouldn't　be　in　trouble　if　only　a　few　bodies　were　delivered。〃
　　〃True。　As　far　as　it　goes。　But　we've　reached　a　point　where　a　handful　might　make　all　the　difference。〃
　　I　bit　my　lower　lip；　tried　to　look　properly　chastised；　and　waited。
　　She　told　me：　〃The　Lady　is　pressing。　She's　very　nervous。　She　wants　something　to　happen　up　here。〃
　　So。　As　always；　the　shit　rolls　downhill。　The　normal　course　would　be　for　me　to　go　out　and　tromp　on　somebody　below　me。
　　〃Half　the　problem　is；　we　don't　know　what's　going　on。　If　you　claim　you　know　what　the　castle　is；　how　it's　growing　and　so　forth；　how　e　you　don't　go　over　and　kick　it　down？　Or　turn　it　into　grape　preserves　or　something？''
　　〃It's　not　that　simple。〃
　　It　never　is。　I　tend　to　overlook　political　ramifications。　I　am　not　politically　minded。
　　〃Maybe　once　the　rest　of　your　pany　gets　here。　The　city　will　have　to　be　controlled。　The　Duke　and　his　inpetents　couldn't　manage　that。〃
　　I　stood　there　looking　expectant。　Sometimes　that　will　con　people　into　telling　you　more　than　they　plan。
　　〃The　city　will　go　up　in　flames　if　it's　not　buttoned　up　tight　when　the　truth　es　out。　Why　do　you　think　the　Custodians　are　so　determined　to　keep　the　Catabs　thing　hushed？　Several　thousand　citizens　have　relatives　who　went　into　that　monstrosity。　That's　a　lot　of　people　who'll　get　very　irate　about　the　souls　of　loved　ones　being　lost。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　I　did　a　little。　It　took　a　certain　willing　suspension　of　reason；　though。
　　〃We're　going　at　this　from　a　different　angle；〃　she　told　me。　〃I'm　taking　charge　of　your　investigations。　Report　to　me　daily。　I'll　decide　what　you're　going　to　do；　and　how。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　Only　too　well。　It　was　going　to　get　that　much　more　difficult　to　keep　her　and　Raven　apart。
　　〃The　first　thing　you'll　do　is　set　a　watch　on　the　castle。　And　if　that　doesn't　shake　something　loose；　I'll　send　Feather　down　there。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　Again；　only　too　well。
　　I　wondered　if　Whisper　suspected　we　were　working　at　cross…purposes。
　　〃You　can　leave。　I'll　expect　you　back　tomorrow。　With　something　to　report。〃
　　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　　I　went　straight　back　to　Elmo；　fuming。　He　should　have　faced　her；　not　me。　Just　because　I'd　sort　of　taken　over。
　　I　was　with　Elmo　barely　long　enough　to　tell　him　what　had　happened　when　a　messenger　came　from　Bullock。　He　wanted　to　see　me　right　away。
　　Bullock　was　another　problem。　I'd　bee　convinced　he　was　smarter　than　he　put　on；　and　was　almost　as　sure　that　he　suspected　we　were　up　to　more　than　we　admitted。
　　I　eased　into　his　cubicle　in　the　secret　police　headquarters。　〃What's　up？〃
　　〃I've　made　a　little　headway　on　the　Catabs　raid。　Result　of　pure　stubborn　footwork。〃
　　〃Well？〃　I　felt　pretty　curt　about　then；　and　he　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Just　had　a　face…to…face　with　my　boss；〃　I　told　him；　which　was　as　near　an　apology　as　I　cared　to　e。　〃What　have　you　got？〃
　　〃A　name。〃
　　I　waited。　Like　Elmo；　Bullock　liked　to　be　coaxed。　I　was　in　no　mood　to　play　that　game。
　　〃I　followed　up　your　notion　about　rented　wagons。　Turned　up　the　name　Asa。　A　wood…gatherer　named　Asa　was；　probably；　working　through　the　hole　I　showed　you。　A　man　named　Asa　spent　a　number　of　old　coins；　but　before　the　raid　on　the　Catabs。　A　man　named　Asa　worked　for　Krage　before　he　and　his　men　disappeared。　Everywhere　I　go；　it's　Asa…this　or　Asa…that。〃
　　〃Anything　to　connect　him　with　the　black　castle？〃
　　〃No。　I　don't　think　he's　a　principal　in　anything。　But　he　must　know　something。〃
　　I　thought　back。　Bullock　had　mentioned　this　name　once　before；　referring　to　a　man　who　hung　around　the　same　place　as　Raven。　Maybe　there　was　a　connection。　Maybe　I　ought　to　find　this　Asa　before　anybody　else　did。
　　〃I'm　headed　down　to　the　Buskin；〃　I　said。　〃Direct　orders　from　her　holiness。　I'll　have　Goblin　round　the　guy　up。〃
　　Bullock　scowled。　There　had　been　some　ill　will　when　he　found　out　that　we　had　put　men　into　the　Buskin　without　consulting　him。　〃Ah　right。　But　don't　play　any　more　fast　shuffle　with　me；　eh？　Your　people　and　mine　aren't　after　the　same　things；　but　that's　no　reason　to　undermine　each　other；　eh？〃
　　〃You're　right。　We're　just　used　to　doing　things　different。　I'll　see　you　when　I　get　back。〃
　　〃I'd　appreciate　that。〃　He　eyed　me　in　a　way　that。said　he　did　not　trust　me　anymore。　If　ever　he　had。　I　left　thinking　the　pany　and　I　were　into　it　deep。　Trouble　on　every　hand。　Juggling　with　too　many　balls　in　the　air。　Only　we　were　juggling　knives　with　poisoned　edges。
　　I　hustled　on　down　and　looked　up　Goblin；　told　him　about　our　escalating　troubles。　He　was　no　happier　than　Elmo　or　I。
　　
　　　Chapter　Twenty…Three：　JUNIPER：　INTERROGATION
　　
　　Shed　had　no　more　trouble　with　extortionists。　Somebody　did　tell　the　Magistrate　that　he　had　killed　Wally。　The　Magistrate　did　not　believe　it；　or　did　not　care。
　　Then　Bullock's　sidekick　turned　up。　Shed　nearly　dropped　a　valuable　piece　of　crockery。　He　had　felt　safe　from　that。　The　only　people　who　knew　anything　were　far　away。　He　clamped　down　on　his　nerves　and　guilt；　went　to　the　man's　table。　〃How　may　we　serve　you；　Reverend　Sir？〃
　　〃Bring　me　a　meal　and　your　best　wine；　landlord。〃
　　Shed　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Sir？〃
　　〃I'll　pay。　Nobody　in　the　Buskin　can　afford　to　give　away　meals。〃
　　〃Ain't　it　the　truth；　sir。　Ain't　it　the　truth。〃
　　When　Shed　returned　with　the　wine；　the　Inquisitor　observed；　〃You　seem　to　be　doing　well；　landlord。〃
　　Shed　snorted。　〃We　live　on　the　edge；　Reverend　Sir。　On　the　ragged　edge。　One　bad　week　would　destroy　me。　I　spend　every　winter　borrowing　from　one　moneylender　to　pay　another。　This　summer　was　good；　though。　I　found　a　partner。　I　was　able　to　fix　a　few　things。　That　made　the　place　more　attractive。　Probably　my　last　dying　gasp　before　it　gets　away。〃　He　donned　his　sourest　face。
　　The　Inquisitor　nodded。　〃Leave　the　bottle。　Let　the　Brotherhood　contribute　to　your　prosperity。〃
　　〃I'll　ask　no　profit；　Reverend　Sir。〃
　　〃Why　be　foolish？　Charge　me　the　same　as　anyone　else。〃
　　Shed　mentally　upped　the　tab　twenty　percent　over　normal。　He　was　glad　to　be　rid　of　the　bottle。　Raven　had　left　him　stuck　with　several。
　　When　Shed　delivered　the　meal；　the　Inquisitor　suggested；〃Bring　a　mug　and　join　me。〃
　　Shed's　nerves　twisted　as　tight　as　a　bowstring。　Something　was　wrong。　They　had　caught　on。　〃As　you　wish；　Reverend　Sir。〃　He　dragged　over　and　collected　his　own　mug。　It　was　dusty。　He　had　not　done　much　drinking　lately；　afraid　his　tongue　would　wag。
　　〃Sit　down。　And　wipe　the　scowl　off　your　face。　You　haven't　done　anything。　Have　you？　I　don't　even　know　your
name。〃
　　〃Shed；　Reverend　Sir。　Marron　Shed。　The　Iron　Lily　has　been　in　my　family　for　three　generations。''
　　〃Admirable。　A　place　with　tradition。　Tradition　is　falling　by　the　wayside　nowadays。〃
　　〃As　you　say；　Reverend　Sir。〃
　　〃I　guess　our　reputation　has　preceded　me。　Won't　you　calm　down？〃
　　〃How　may　I　help　you；　Reverend　Sir？〃
　　〃I'm　looking　for　a　man　named　Asa。　I　hear　he　was　a　regular　here。〃
　　〃So　he　was；　sir；〃　Shed　admitted。　〃I　knew　him　well。　A　lazy　wastrel。　Hated　honest　work。　Never　a　copper　to　his　name；　either。　Yet　he　was　a　friend；　after　his　fashion；　and　generous　in　his　way。　I　let　him　sleep　on　the　mon　room　floor　during　the　winter；　because　in　the　days　of　my　hardship　he　never　failed　to　bring　wood　for　the　fire。〃
　　The　Inquisitor　nodded。　Shed　decided　to　tell　most　of　the　truth。　He　could　not　hurt　Asa。　Asa　was　beyond　the　reach　of　the　Custodians。
　　〃Do　you　know　where　he　acquired　the　wood？〃
　　Shed　pretended　acute　embarrassment。　〃He　collected　it　in　the　Enclosure；　Reverend　Sir。　I　debated　with　myself　about　using　it。　It　wasn't　against　the　law。　But　it　seemed　reprehensible　anyway。〃　　The　Inquisitor　smiled　and　nodded。　〃No　failing　on　your　part；　Marron　Shed。　The　Brotherhood　doesn't　discourage　gleaning。　It　keeps　the　Enclosure　from　being　too　seedy。〃
　　〃Why　are　you　looking　for　Asa；　then？〃
　　〃I　understand　he　worked　for　a　man　named　Krage。〃
　　〃Sort　of。　For　a　while。　He　thought　he　was　king　of　the　Buskin　when　Krage　took　him　on。　Strutting　and　bragging。　But　it　didn't　last。〃
　　〃So　I　heard。　It's　the　timing　of　their　falling…out　that　intrigues　me。〃
　　〃Sir？〃
　　〃Krage　and　some　of　his　friends　disappeared。　So　did　Asa；　about　the　same　time。　And　all　of　them　vanished　soon　after　somebody　got　into　the　Catabs　and　looted　several　thousand　passage　urns。〃
　　Shed　tried　to　look　properly　horrified。　〃Krage　and　Asa　did　that？〃
　　〃Possibly。　This　Asa　started　spending　old　money　after　he　began　gleaning　in　the　Enclosure。　Our　investigations　suggest　he　was　petty　at　his　grandest。　We　think　he　pilfered　a　few　urns　each　time　he　gathered　wood。　Krage　may　have　found　out　and　decided　to　plunder　in　a　big　way。　Their　falling…out　may　have　been　over　that。　Assuming　Asa　had　any　conscience。〃
　　〃Possibly；　sir。　I　understood　it　to　be　a　squabble　over　a　guest　of　mine。　A　man　named　Raven。　Krage　wanted　to　kill　him。　He　hired　Asa　to　spy　on　him。　Asa　told　me　that　himself。　Krage　decided　he　wasn't　doing　his　job。　He　never　did　anything　right。　Anyway；　he　never　did　anything　very　well。　But