gc.shadowslinger-第31部分

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all。
　　The　one　called　Goblin　came　through　the　door。　He　began　to　beam　at　Asa　before　Pawnbroker　said　anything。　〃My；　my；　my；　my；　my；〃　he　said。　〃Is　this　who　I　think　it　is；　Pawn？〃
　　〃You　got　it。　The　infamous　Asa　himself；　home　from　the　wars。　And　does　he　have　stories　to　tell。〃
　　Goblin　seated　himself　opposite　Asa。　He　wore　a　big　frog　grin。　〃Such　as？〃
　　〃Mainly；　he　claims　Raven　is　dead。〃
　　Goblin's　smile　vanished。　In　an　eye's　blink　he　became　deadly　serious。　He　made　Asa　tell　his　story　again　while　staring　into　a　mug　of　wine。　When　he　finally　looked　up；　he　was　subdued。　〃Better　talk　this　over　with　Elmo　and　Croaker。　Good　job；　Pawnbroker。　
　　〃I'll　take　him。　Keep　your　eye　on　friend　Shed。〃
　　Shed　winced。　In　the　back　of　his　head　had　lain　the　small　hope　that　both　would　leave　with　Asa。
　　His　mind　was　made　up。　He　would　flee　at　the　first　opportunity。　Get　south；　change　his　name；　use　his　gold　pieces　to　buy　into　an　inn；　behave　himself　so　thoroughly　nobody　would　notice　him　ever　again。
　　Asa　showed　a　spark　of　rebellion。　〃Who　the　hell　do　you　guys　think　you　are？　Suppose　I　don't　want　to　go　anywhere？〃
　　Goblin　smiled　nastily；　muttered　something　under　his　breath。　Dark　brown　smoke　drifted　out　of　his　mug；　illuminated　by　a　bloody　inner　glow。　Goblin　stared　at　Asa。　Asa　stared　at　the　mug；　unnerved。
　　The　smoke　coalesced；　formed　a　small；　headlike　shape。　Points　began　glowing　where　eyes　might　be。　Goblin　said；　〃My　little　friend　wants　you　to　argue。　He　feeds　on　pain。　And　he　hasn't　eaten　for　a　long　time。　I've　had　to　keep　a　low　profile　in　Juniper。''
　　Asa's　eyes　kept　getting　bigger。　So　did　Shed's。　Sorcery！　He　had　sensed　it　in　the　thing　called　the　Taken；　but　that　had　not　upset　him　much。　It　had　been　removed；　not　experienced。　Something　that　had　happened　to　Lisa；　out　of　sight。　But　this。　。　。　。
　　It　was　a　minor　sorcery；　to　be　sure。　Some　slight　trick。　But　it　was　sorcery　in　a　city　which　saw　none　other　than　that　involved　in　the　slow　growth　of　the　black　castle。　The　dark　arts　hadn't　gained　any　following　in　Juniper。
　　〃All　right；〃　Asa　said。　〃All　right。〃　His　voice　was　high　and　thin　and　squeaky；　and　he　was　trying　to　push　his　chair　back。　Pawnbroker　prevented　him。
　　Goblin　grinned。　〃I　see　Raven　mentioned　Goblin。　Good。　You'll　behave。　e　along。〃
　　Pawnbroker　released　Asa's　chair。　The　little　man　followed　Goblin　docilely。
　　Shed　sidled　over　and　looked　into　Goblin's　mug。　Nothing。　He　frowned。　Pawnbroker　grinned。　〃Cute　trick；　eh？〃
　　〃Yeah。''　Shed　took　the　mug　to　his　sink。　When　Pawnbroker　was　not　looking；　he　dropped　it　into　the　trash。　He　was　more　scared　than　ever。　How　did　he　get　away　from　a　sorcerer？
　　His　head　filled　with　tales　he　had　heard　from　southern　sailors。　Bad　business；　wizards　were。
　　He　wanted　to　weep。
　　
　　　Chapter　Thirty…Two：　JUNIPER：　VISITORS
　　
　　Goblin　brought　me　the　man　Asa；　and　insisted　we　wait　for　Elmo　before　questioning　him。　He　had　sent　someone　to　dig　Elmo　out　of　Duretile；　where　he　was　trying　to　placate　Whisper。　Whisper　was　getting　goosed　by　the　Lady　regular　and　taking　it　out　on　anyone　handy。
　　Goblin　was　unsettled　by　what　he　had　learned。　He　did　not　play　the　usual　game　and　try　to　make　me　guess　what　was　going　on。　He　blurted；　〃Asa　says　him　and　Raven　had　a　run…in　with　Bullock。　Raven　is　dead。　He　lit　out。　Darling　is　on　her　own　down　there。〃
　　Excitement？　Better　believe　it。　I　was　ready　to　put　the　little　man　to　the　question；　then　and　there。　But　I　controlled
myself。
　　Elmo　was　a　while　showing　up。　Goblin　and　I　got　damned　antsy　before　he　did；　while　Asa　worked　himself　up　for　a　stroke。
　　The　wait　proved　worthwhile。　Elmo　did　not　e　alone。
　　The　first　hint　was　a　faint　but　sour　odor　that　seemed　to　e　from　the　fireplace；　where　I'd　had　a　small　fire　lighted。　Just　in　case；　you　know。　With　a　few　iron　rods　set　by；　ready　to　be　heated；　so　Asa　could　look　them　over　and　think；　and　maybe　convince　himself　he　ought　not　to　leave　anything　out。
　　〃What's　that　smell？〃　somebody　asked。　〃Croaker；　you　let　that　cat　in　again？〃
　　〃I　kicked　him　out　after　he　sprayed　my　boots；〃　I　said。
　　〃Like　halfway　down　the　hill。　Maybe　he　got　the　firewood　before　he　left。〃
　　The　odor　grew　stronger。　It　wasn't　really　obnoxious；　just　mildly　irritating。　We　took　turns　examining　the　firewood。　Nothing。
　　I　was　in　the　middle　of　a　third　search　for　the　source　when　the　fire　caught　my　eye。　For　a　second　I　saw　a　face　in　the　flames。
　　My　heart　nearly　stopped。　For　half　a　minute　I　was　in　a　panic；　nothing　but　the　face's　presence　having　registered。　I　considered　every　evil　that　could　happen：　Taken　watching；　the　Lady　watching；　the　things　from　the　black　castle；　maybe　the　Dominator　himself　peeking　through　our　fire。　。　。　。　Then　something　calm；　back　in　the　far　marches　of　mind；　reiterated　something　I　hadn't　noticed　because　I　had　no　reason　to　expect　it。　The　face　in　the　flames　had　had　only　one　eye。
　　〃One…Eye；〃　I　said　without　thinking。　〃That　little　bastard　is　in　Juniper。''
　　Goblin　spun　toward　me；　eyes　wide。　He　sniffed　the　air。　His　famous　grin　split　his　face。　〃You're　right；　Croaker。　Absolutely　right。　That　stink　is　the　little　skunk　himself。　Should　have　recognized　it　straight　off。〃
　　I　glanced　at　the　fire。　The　face　did　not　reappear。
　　Goblin　mused；　〃What　would　be　a　suitable　wele？〃
　　〃Figure　the　Captain　sent　him？〃
　　〃Probably。　Be　logical　to　send　him　or　Silent　ahead。〃
　　〃Do　me　a　favor；　Goblin。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Don't　give　him　no　special　wele。〃
　　Goblin　looked　deflated。　It　had　been　a　long　time。　He　did　not　want　to　miss　an　opportunity　to　refresh　his　acquaintance　with　One…Eye　with　a　flash　and　a　bang。
　　〃Look；〃　I　said。　〃He's　here　on　the　sneak。　We　don't　want　the　Taken　to　know。　Why　give　them　anything　to　sniff　out？〃
　　Bad　choice　of　words。　The　smell　was　about　to　drive　us　outside。
　　〃Yeah；〃　Goblin　grumbled。　〃Wish　the　Captain　had　sent
　　Silent。　I　was　all　worked　up　for　this。　Had　him　the　biggest　surprise　of　his　life。〃
　　〃So　get　him　later。　Meantime；　why　not　clear　this　smell　out？　Why　not　get　his　goat　by　just　ignoring　him？''
　　He　thought　about　it。　His　eyes　gleamed。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said；　and　I　knew　he　had　shaped　my　suggestion　to　his　own　warped　sense　of　humor。
　　A　fist　hammered　on　the　door。　It　startled　me　even　though　I　was　expecting　it。　One　of　the　men　let　Elmo　in。
　　One…Eye　came　in　behind　Elmo；　grinning　like　a　little　black　mongoose　about　to　eat　snake。　We　paid　him　no　heed。　Because　the　Captain　came　in　behind　him。
　　The　Captain！　The　last　man　I　expected　to　reach　Juniper　before　the　pany　itself。
　　〃Sir？〃　I　blurted。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　here？〃　He　lumbered　to　the　fire；　extended　his　hands。　Summer　had　begun　to　fade；　but　it　was　not　that　cold。　He　was　as　bear…like　as　ever；　though　he　had　lost　weight　and　aged。　It　had　been　a　hard　march　indeed。　〃Stork；〃　he　replied。
　　I　frowned；　looked　at　Elmo。　Elmo　shrugged；　said；　〃I　sent　Stork　with　the　message。〃
　　The　Captain　expanded；　〃Stork　didn't　make　any　sense。　What's　this　about　Raven？〃
　　Raven；　of　course；　had　been　his　closest　friend　before　deserting。　I　began　to　get　a　glimmer。
　　I　indicated　Asa。　〃This　guy　was　in　the　thick　of　it　from　the　beginning。　Been　Raven's　sidekick。　He　says　Raven　is　dead；　down。　。　。　
　　。　What's　the　name　of　that　place；　Asa？〃
　　Asa　stared　at　the　Captain　and　One…Eye　and　swallowed　about　six　times　without　being　able　to　say　anything。　I　told　the　Captain；　〃Raven　told　stories　about　us　that　turned　his　hair　grey。〃
　　〃Let's　hear　the　story；〃　the　Captain　said。　He　was　looking　at　Asa。
　　So　Asa　told　his　tale　for　the　third　time；　while　Goblin　hovered；　listening　for　the　clunk　of　untruth。　He　ignored　One…Eye　in　the　most　masterful　show　of　ignoring　I've　ever　seen。　And　all　for　nought。
　　The　Captain　dropped　Asa　pletely　the　moment　he　finished　his　tale。　A　matter　of　style；　I　think。　He　wanted　the　information　to　percolate　before　he　trotted　it　out　for　reexamination。　He　had　me　review　everything　I　had　experienced　since　arriving　in　Juniper。　I　presumed　he　had　gotten　Elmo's　story　already。
　　I　finished。　He　observed；　〃You're　too　suspicious　of　the　Taken。　The　Limper　has　been　with　us　all　along。　He　doesn't　act　like　there's　anything　up。〃　If　anyone　had　a　cause　for　malice　toward　us；　the　Limper　did。
　　〃Nevertheless；〃　I　said；　〃there're　wheels　within　wheels　within　wheels　with　the　Lady　and　the　Taken。　Maybe　they　didn't　tell　him　anything　because　they　figured　he　couldn't　keep　it　secret。〃
　　〃Maybe；〃　the　Captain　admitted。　He　shuffled　around；　occasionally　gave　Asa　a　puzzled　look。　〃Whatever；　let's　not　get　Whisper　wondering　any　more　than　she　is。　Play　it　close。　Pretend　you're　not　suspicious。　Do　your　job。　One…Eye　and　his　boys　will　be　around　to　back　you　up。〃
　　Sure；　I　thought。　Against　the　Taken？　〃If　the　Limper　is　with　the　pany；　how　did　you　get　away？　If　he　knows　you're　gone；　the　word　will　be　out　to　the　Lady；　won't　it？〃
　　〃He　shouldn't　find　out。　We　haven't　spoken　in　months。　He　stays　to　himself。　Bored；　I　think。〃
　　〃What　about　the　Barrowland？〃　I　was　primed　to　find　out　everything　that　had　happened　during　the　pany's　long　trek；　for　I　had　nothing　in　the　Annals　concerning　the　majority　of　my　rades。　But　it　was　not　yet　time　to　exhume　details。　Just　to　feel　for　high　points。
　　〃We　never　saw　it；〃　the　Captain　said。　〃According　to　the　Limper；　Journey　and　the　Lady　are　working　that　end。　We　can　expect　a　major　move　as　soon　as　we　have　Juniper　under　control。〃
　　〃We　haven't　done　squat　to　prepare；〃　I　said。　〃The　Taken　kept　us　busy　fussing　about　the　black　castle。〃
　　〃Ugly　place；　isn't　it？〃　He　looked　us　over。　〃I　think　you　might've　gotten　more　done　had　you　not　been　so　paranoid。〃
　　〃Sir？〃
　　〃Most　of　your　trail…covering　strikes　me　as　needless　and　a　waste　of　time。　The　problem　was　Raven's；　not　yours。　And　he　solved　it　in　typical　fashion。　Without　help。〃　He　glared　at　Asa。　
　　〃In　fact；　the　problem　seems　solved　for　all　time。〃
　　He　had　not　been　here　and　had　not　felt　the　pressures；　but　I　did　not　mention　that。　Instead；　I　asked；　〃Goblin；　you　figure　Asa　is　telling　the　truth？〃
　　Warily；　Goblin　nodded。
　　〃How　about　you；　One…Eye？　You　catch　any　false　notes？〃
　　The　little　black　man　responded　with　a　cautious　negative；　〃Asa。　Raven　should　have　had　a　bunch　of　papers　with　him。　He　ever　mention　them？〃
　　Asa　looked　puzzled。　He　shook　his　head。
　　〃He　have　a　trunk　or　something　that　he　wouldn't　let　anybody　near？〃
　　Asa　seemed　baffled　by　the　d