gc.shadowslinger-第47部分

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　　Mind…reader。　I　had　been　examining　farmsteads　as　we　passed；　seeking　indications　that　the　lump　creatures　were　raiding　the　neighborhood。　The　farms　had　seemed　peaceful　and　active。　
　　I　suppose　the　creatures　confined　their　preda…tions　to　the　city；　where　they　would　cause　less　excitement。　Raven's　track　hit　the　Shaker　Road　a　half…mile　above　the　buildings　Otto　thought　an　inn。　I　checked　landmarks；　could　not　guess　how　far　south　of　the　twelfth　mile　we　were。　Silent　beckoned；　pointed。　Raven　had　indeed　turned　south。　We　followed　and　soon　passed　milestone　sixteen。
　　〃How　far　are　you　going　to　follow　him；　Croaker？〃　One…Eye　asked。　〃Bet　you　he　met　Darling　out　here　and　just　kept　hiking。〃
　　〃I　suspect　he　did。　How　far　to　Shaker？　Anybody　know？〃
　　〃Two　hundred　forty…seven　miles；〃　Kingpin　replied。　〃Rough　country？　Likely　to　have　trouble　along　the　way。　Bandits　and　such？〃
　　King　said；　〃Not　that　I　ever　heard　of。　There's　mountains；　though。　Pretty　rough　ones。　Take　a　while　to　get　through　them。〃
　　I　did　some　calculating。　Say　three　weeks　to　cover　that　distance；　not　pushing。　Raven　wouldn't　push；　what　with　Darling　along；　and　the　papers。　〃A　wagon。　He'd　have　to　have　a　wagon。〃
　　Silent；　too；　was　mounted　now。　We　reached　the　buildings　quickly。　Otto　proved　right。　Definitely　an　inn。　A　girl　came　outside　as　we　dismounted；　looked　at　us　with　wide　eyes；　raced　inside。　I　guess　we　were　a　rough…looking　lot。　Those　who　did　not　show　tough　looked　nasty。
　　A　worried　fat　man　came　out　strangling　an　apron。　His　face　could　not　decide　if　it　wanted　to　remain　ruddy　or　to　go　pallid。　〃Afternoon；〃　I　said。　〃We　get　a　meal　and　some　fodder　for　the　animals？〃
　　〃Wine；〃　One…Eye　called　out　as　he　loosened　his　cinch。　〃I　need　to　dive　into　a　gallon　of　wine。　And　a　feather　bed。〃
　　〃I　reckon；〃　the　man　said。　His　speech　proved　difficult　to　follow。　The　language　of　Meadenvil　is　a　dialect　of　that　spoken　in　Juniper。　In　the　city　it　wasn't　hard　to　get　along；　what　with　the　constant　intercourse　between　Meadenvil　and　Juniper。　But　this　fellow　spoke　a　country　dialect　with　an　altered　rhythm。　〃And　you　can　afford　it。〃
　　I　produced　two　of　Raven's　silver　pieces；　handed　them　over。　〃Let　me　know　when　we're　over　that　limit。〃　I　dropped　my　reins　over　the　hitching　rail；　climbed　the　steps；　patted　his　arm　as　I　passed。　〃Not　to　worry。　We're　not　bandits。　Soldiers。　Following　somebody　who　passed　this　way　a　while　back。〃
　　He　rewarded　me　with　a　frown　of　disbelief。　It　was　obvious　we　did　not　serve　the　Prince　of　Meadenvil。
　　The　inn　was　pleasant；　and　though　the　fat　man　had　several　daughters；　everyone　stayed　in　line。　After　we　had　eaten　and　most　had　gone　off　to　rest；　the　innkeeper　began　to　relax。　〃You　answer　me　some　questions？〃　I　asked。　I　placed　a　silver　piece　upon　my　table。　〃Might　be　worth　something。〃
　　He　settled　opposite　me；　regarded　me　narrowly　over　a　gigantic　beer　mug。　He　had　drained　the　thing　at　least　six　times　since　our　arrival；　which　explained　his　girth。　〃What　do　you　want　to　know？〃
　　〃The　tall　man　who　can't　talk。　He's　looking　for　his　daughter。''
　　〃Eh？〃
　　I　indicated　Silent；　who　had　made　himself　at　home　near　the　fire；　seated　on　the　floor；　folded　forward　in　sleep。　〃A　deaf　and　dumb　girl　who　passed　this　way　a　while　back。　Probably　driving　a　wagon。　Met　a　guy　here；　maybe。〃　I　described　Raven。
　　His　face　went　blank。　He　remembered　Raven。　And　did　not　want　to　talk　about　it。
　　〃Silent！〃
　　He　snapped　out　of　sleep　as　if　stung。　I　sent　a　message　with　finger　signs。　He　smiled　nastily。　I　told　the　innkeeper；　〃He　don't　look　like　much；　but　he's　a　sorcerer。　Here's　how　it　stands。　The　man　who　was　here　maybe　told　you　he'd　e　back　and　cut　your　throat　if　you　said　anything。　That's　a　remote　risk。　On　the　other　hand；　Silent　there　can　cast　a　few　spells　and　make　your　cows　go　dry；　your　fields　barren；　and　all　your　beer　and　wine　go　sour。　That's　a　present　risk。〃
　　Silent　did　one　of　those　nasty　little　tricks　which　amuse　him；　One…Eye　and　Goblin。　A　ball　of　light　drifted　around　the　mon　room　like　a　curious　puppy；　poking　into　things。
　　The　innkeeper　believed　me　enough　not　to　want　to　call　my　bluff。　〃All　right。　They　was　here。　Like　you　said。　I　get　a　lot　of　people　through　in　the　summer；　so　I　wouldn't　have　noticed　except　like　you　say；　the　girl　was　deaf　and　the　guy　was　a　hard　case。　She　e　in　in　the　morning；　like　she　traveled　all　night。　On　a　wagon。　He　e　in　the　evening；　walking。　They　stayed　off　in　the　corner。　They　left　next　morning。〃　He　looked　at　my　coin。　〃Paid　in　that　same　funny　coin；　e　to　think。〃
　　〃Yeah。〃
　　〃e　from　a　long　way　off；　eh？〃
　　〃Yeah。　Where'd　they　go？〃
　　〃South。　Down　the　road。　Questions　I　heard　the　guy　ask；　I　figure　they　was　headed　for　Chimney。''
　　I　raised　an　eyebrow。　I'd　never　heard　of　any　place　called　Chimney。
　　〃Down　the　coast。　Past　Shaker。　Take　the　Needle　Road　out　of　Shaker。　The　Tagline　Road　from　Needle。　Somewhere　south　of　Tagline　there's　a　crossroad　where　you　head　west。　Chimney　is　on　the　Salada　Peninsula。　I　don't　know　where　for　sure。　Only　what　I　heared　from　travelers。〃
　　〃Uhm。　Long　hike。　How　far；　you　think？〃
　　〃See。　Two　hundred　twenty…four　miles　to　Shaker。　Round　two　hundred　more　to　Needle。　Tagline　is　about　one　eighty　on　from　Needle；　I　think。　Or　maybe　it's　two　eighty。　I　don't　rightly　recollect。　That　crossroad　must　be　another　hundred　down　from　Tagline；　then　out　to　Chimney。　Don't　know　how　far　that　would　be。　Least　another　hundred。　Maybe　two；　three。　Seen　a　map　oncet；　that　a　fellow　showed　me。　Peninsula　sticks　way　out　like　a　thumb。〃
　　Silent　joined　us。　He　produced　a　scrap　of　paper　and　a　tiny；　steel…tipped　pen。　He　had　the　innkeeper　run　through　it　again。　He　drew　a　crude　map　that　he　adjusted　as　the　fat　man　said　it　did　or　did　not　resemble　the　map　he　had　seen。　Silent　kept　juggling　a　column　of　figures。　He　came　up　with　an　estimate　in　excess　of　nine　hundred　miles　from　Meadenvil。　He　knocked　off　the　last　digit；　then　wrote　the　word　days　and　a　plus　sign。　I　nodded。
　　〃Probably　a　four…month　trip　at　least；〃　I　said。　〃Longer　if　they　spend　much　time　resting　up　in　any　of　those　cities。〃
　　Silent　drew　a　straight　line　from　Meadenvil　to　the　tip　of　the　Salada　Peninsula；　wrote；　est。　600　mi。　a。　6　knots　=　100　hrs。
　　〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　〃Yeah。　That's　why　the　ship　never　left。　Had　to　give　him　a　head　start。　Think　we'll　have　a　talk　with　the　crew　tomorrow。　Thanks；　innkeeper。〃　I　pushed　the　coin　over。　〃Anything　odd　happened　around　here　lately？〃
　　A　weak　smiled　stretched　his　lips。　〃Not　till　today。〃
　　〃Right。　No；　I　mean　like　neighbors　disappearing；　or　what…not。〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃Nope。　Less　you　count　Moleskin。　Hain't　seen　him　in　a　while。　But　that　don't　make　no　never…mind。〃
　　〃Moleskin？〃
　　〃Hunter。　Works　the　forest　over　east。　Mainly　for　furs　and　hides；　but　brings　me　game　when　he　needs　salt　or　something。　He　don't　e　around　regular；　but　I　reckon　he's　overdue。　Usually　es　in　e　fall；　to　get　staples　for　the　winter。　Thought　it　was　him　when　your　friend　e　through　the　door。''
　　〃Eh？　Which　friend？〃
　　〃The　one　you're　hunting。　That　carried　off　this　feller's　daughter。''
　　Silent　and　I　exchanged　glances。　I　said；　〃Better　not　count　on　seeing　Moleskin　again。　I　think　he's　dead。〃
　　〃What　brings　you　to　say　that？〃
　　I　told　him　a　little　about　Raven　faking　his　own　death　and　leaving　a　body　that　had　been　confused　for　his。
　　〃Bad　thing；　that。　Yep。　Bad　thing；　doing　like　that。　Hope　you　catch　him　up。〃　His　eyes　narrowed　slightly；　cunning。　〃You　fellers　wouldn't　be　part　of　that　bunch　e　down　from　Juniper；　would　you？　Everybody　headed　south　talks　about　how。　。。。〃　Silent's　glower　shut　him　up。
　　〃I'm　going　to　get　some　sleep；〃　I　said。　〃If　none　of　my　men　are　up　yet；　roust　me　out　at　first　light。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　innkeeper　said。　〃And　a　fine　breakfast　we'll　fix　you；　sir。〃
　　
　　　Chapter　Forty…Six：　MEADENVIL：　TROUBLE
　　
　　And　a　fine　breakfast　we　had。　I　tipped　the　innkeeper　another　piece　of　silver。　He　must　have　thought　me　mad。
　　Half　a　mile　up　the　road　One…Eye　called　a　halt。　〃You　just　going　to　leave　them？〃　he　asked。
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Those　people。　First　Taken　es　down　this　way　is　going　to　find　out　everything　we　did。〃
　　My　heart　flip…flopped。　I　knew　what　he　was　getting　at。　I　had　thought　about　it　earlier。　But　I　could　not　order　it。　〃No　point；〃　I　said。　〃Everybody　in　Meadenvil　is　going　to　see　us　put　out。〃
　　〃Everybody　in　Meadenvil　don't　know　where　we're　headed。　I　don't　like　the　idea　any　better　than　you　do；　Croaker。　But　we　have　to　cut　the　trail　somewhere。　Raven　didn't。　And　we're　on　to　him。〃
　　〃Yeah。　I　know。〃　I　glanced　at　Asa　and　Shed。　They　were　not　taking　it　well。　Asa；　at　least；　figured　he　was　next。
　　〃Can't　take　them　with　us；　Croaker。〃
　　〃I　know。〃
　　He　swung　around；　started　back。　Alone。　Not　even　Otto　joined　him；　and　Otto　has　very　little　conscience。
　　〃What's　he　going　to　do？〃　Asa　asked。
　　〃Use　his　magic　to　make　them　forget；〃　I　lied。　〃Let's　move　along。　He　can　catch　up。〃
　　Shed　kept　giving　me　looks。　Looks　like　he　must　have　given　Raven　when　he　first　found　out　Raven　was　in　the　body　business。　He　did　not　say　anything。
　　One…Eye　caught　up　an　hour　later。　He　busted　out　laughing。　〃They　were　gone；〃　he　said。　〃Every　blessed　one；　with　all　their　dogs　and　cattle。　Into　the　woods。　Damned　peasants。〃　He　laughed　again；　almost　hysterically。　I　suspect　he　was　relieved。
　　〃We　got　two　days　and　some　gone；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　push　it。　The　bigger　head　start　we　have；　the　better。〃
　　We　reached　the　outskirts　of　Meadenvil　five　hours　later；　not　having　pressed　as　hard　as　I　wanted。　As　we　penetrated　the　city；　our　pace　lagged。　I　think　we　all　sensed　it。　Finally；　I　stopped。　〃King；　you　and　Asa　wander　around　and　see　what　you　hear。　We'll　wait　at　yonder　fountain。〃　There　were　no　children　in　the　streets。　The　adults　I　saw　seemed　dazed。　Those　who　passed　us　moved　by　as　widely　as　they　could　navigate。
　　King　was　back　in　two　minutes。　No　lollygagging。　〃Big　trouble；　Croaker。　The　Taken　got　here　this　morning。　Big　blowout　down　at　the　waterfront。〃
　　I　glanced　in　that　direction。　A　ghost　of　smoke　rose　there；　as　if　marking　the　aftermath　of　a　major　fire。　The　sky　to　the　west；　in　the　direction　the　wind　was　blowing；　had　a　dirty　look。
　　Asa　returned　a　minute　later　with　the　same　news　and　more。　〃They　got　in　a　big　fight　with　the　Prince。　Not　over　yet；　some　say。〃
　　〃Wouldn't　be　much　of　a　fight；〃　One…Eye　said。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　countered。　〃Even　the　Lady