gc.shadowslinger-第6部分

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　　〃It's　the　customers；　son。　They　have　one　foot　in　the　Catabs　already。〃
　　Shed　spat。　〃I'd　better　send　for　the　Custodians。〃
　　A　voice　said；　〃He's　waited　this　long；　let　him　wait　a　little　longer。〃
　　Shed　whirled。　Raven　and　Darling　stood　behind　his　mother。
　　〃What？〃
　　〃He　might　be　the　answer　to　your　problems；〃　Raven　said。　And　immediately　Darling　began　flashing　signs　so　fast　Shed　could　not　catch　one　in　twenty。　Evidently　she　was　telling　Raven　not　to　do　something。　Raven　ignored　her。
　　Old　June　snapped；　〃Shed！〃　Her　voice　was　heavy　with　admonition。
　　〃Don't　worry；　Mom。　I'll　handle　it。　Go　ahead　with　your　work。〃　June　was　blind；　but　when　her　health　permitted；　she　dumped　the　slops　and　handled　what　passed　for　maid　service…　mainly　dusting　beds　between　guests　to　kill　fleas　and　lice。　When　her　health　confined　her　to　bed；　Shed　brought　in　his　cousin　Wally；　a　ne'er…do…well　like　Asa；　but　with　a　wife　and　kids。　Shed　used　him　out　of　pity　for　the　wife。
　　He　headed　downstairs。　Raven　followed；　still　arguing　with　Darling。　Momentarily；　Shed　wondered　if　Raven　was　diddling　her。　Be　a　damned　waste　of　fine　womanflesh　if　someone　wasn't。
　　How　could　a　dead　man　with　four　gersh　get　him　out　from　under　Krage？　Answer：　He　could　not。　Not　legitimately。
　　Raven　settled　onto　his　usual　stool。　He　scattered　a　handful　of　copper。　〃Wine。　Buy　yourself　a　mug；　too。〃
　　Shed　collected　the　coins；　deposited　them　in　his　box。　It's　contents　were　pitiful。　He　wasn't　making　expenses。　He　was　doomed。　His　debt　to　Krage　could　miraculously　be　discharged　and　still　he'd　be　doomed。
　　He　deposited　a　mug　before　Raven；　seated　himself　on　a　stool。　He　felt　old　beyond　his　years；　and　infinitely　weary。
　　〃Tell　me。〃
　　〃The　old　man。　Who　was　he？　Who　were　his　people？〃　Shed　shrugged。　〃Just　somebody　who　wanted　to　get　out
　　of　the　cold。　The　Buskin　is　full　of　them。〃
　　〃So　it　is。〃
　　Shed　shuddered　at　Raven's　tone。　〃Are　you　proposing　what　I　think？〃
　　〃What's　that？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　What　use　is　a　corpse？　I　mean；　even　the　Custodians　only　stuff　them　in　the　Catabs。〃
　　〃Suppose　there　was　a　buyer？〃
　　〃I've　been　supposing　that。〃
　　〃And？〃
　　〃What　would　I　have　to　do？〃　His　voice　barely　carried　across　the　table。　He　could　imagine　no　more　disgusting　crime。　Even　the　least　of　the　city's　dead　were　honored　above　the　living。　A　corpse　was　a　holy　object。　The　Enclosure　was　Juniper's　epicenter。
　　〃Very　little。　Late　tonight；　have　the　body　at　the　back　door。　You　could　do　that？''
　　Shed　nodded　weakly。
　　〃Good。　Finish　your　wine。〃
　　Shed　downed　it　in　a　gulp。　He　drew　another　mug；　polished　his　stoneware　industriously。　It　was　a　bad　dream。　It　would　go　away。
　　The　corpse　seemed　almost　weightless；　but　Shed　had　difficulty　negotiating　the　stairs。　He　had　drunk　too　much。　He　eased　through　the　shadowed　mon；　stepping　with　exaggerated　care。　The　people　clustered　near　the　fireplace　looked　demonic　in　the　sullen　red　of　the　last　coals。
　　One　of　the　old　man's　feet　toppled　a　pot　as　Shed　entered　the　kitchen。　He　froze。　Nothing　happened。　His　heartbeat　gradually　slowed。　He　kept　reminding　himself　that　he　was　doing　this　so　his　mother　would　not　have　to　freeze　on　winter　streets。
　　He　thumped　the　door　with　his　knee。　It　swung　inward　immediately。　A　shadow　hissed；　〃Hurry　up；〃　and　seized　the　old　man's　feet；　helped　Shed　heave　it　into　a　wagon。
　　Panting；　terrified；　Shed　croaked；　〃What　now？〃
　　〃Go　to　bed。　You　get　your　share　in　the　morning。〃
　　Shed's　relieved　sigh　nearly　became　tears。　〃How　much？〃　he　gasped。
　　〃A　third。〃
　　〃Only　a　third？〃
　　〃I'm　taking　all　the　risk。　You're　safe　already。〃
　　〃All　right。　How　much　would　it　be？〃
　　〃The　market　varies。〃　Raven　turned　away。　Shed　closed　the　door；　leaned　against　it　with　closed　eyes。　What　had　he
done？
　　He　built　up　the　fire　and　went　to　bed；　lay　listening　to　his　mother's　snores。　Had　she　guessed？　Maybe　she　wouldn't。　The　Custodians　often　waited　for　night。　He　would　tell　her　she　had　slept　through　everything。
　　He　could　not　sleep。　Who　knew　about　the　death？　If　word　got　out；　people　would　wonder。　They　would　begin　to　suspect　the　unsuspectable。
　　What　if　Raven　got　caught？　Would　the　Inquisitors　make　him　talk？　Bullock　could　make　a　stone　sing。
　　He　watched　his　mother　all　next　morning。　She　did　not　speak　except　in　monosyllables；　but　that　was　her　custom。
　　Raven　appeared　shortly　after　noon。　〃Tea　and　a　bowl　of　porridge；　Shed。〃　When　he　paid；　he　did　not　shove　copper　across　the　counter。
　　Shed's　eye　widened。　Ten　silver　leva　lay　before　him。　Ten？　For　one　dead　old　man？　That　was　a　third？　And　Raven　had　done　this　before？　He　must　be　rich。　Shed's　palms　grew　moist。　His　mind　howled　after　potential　crimes。
　　〃Shed？〃　Raven　said　softly　when　he　delivered　the　tea　and　porridge。　〃Don't　even　think　about　it。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Don't　think　what　you're　thinking。　You　would　end　up　in　the　wagon。〃
　　Darling　scowled　at　them　from　the　kitchen　doorway。　For　a　moment　Raven　seemed　embarrassed。
　　Shed　slunk　into　the　hostel　where　Krage　held　court。　From　the　outside　the　place　was　as　crummy　as　the　Lily。　Timidly；　he　looked　for　Count；　tried　to　ignore　Asa。　Count　would　not　torment　him　for　fun。　〃Count；　I　need　to　see　Krage。〃　Count　opened　big　brown　cow　eyes。　〃Why？〃
　　〃I　brought　him　some　money。　On　account。〃　Count　heaved　himself　upright。　〃All　right。　Wait　here。〃
　　He　stalked　off。
　　Asa　sidled　up。　〃Where'd　you　get　the　money。　Shed？〃
　　〃Where　do　you　get　yours；　Asa？〃　Asa　did　not　answer。
　　〃It　isn't　polite　to　ask。　Mind　your　own　business　or　stay　away　from　me。〃
　　〃Shed；　I　thought　we　were　friends。〃
　　〃I　tried　to　be　friends；　Asa。　I　even　let　you　have　a　place　to　sleep。　And　as　soon　as　you　hooked　up　with　Krage。　。。。〃
　　A　shadow　crossed　Asa's　face。　〃I'm　sorry；　Shed。　You　know　me。　I　don't　think　so　fast。　I　do　dumb　things。〃
　　Shed　snorted。　So　Asa　had　e　to　the　inevitable　conclusion：　Krage　would　dump　him　once　he　settled　with　Raven。
　　Shed　was　tempted　to　betray　Raven。　The　man　had　to　have　a　fortune　hidden。　But　he　was　afraid　of　a　thousand　things；　and　his　guest　stood　at　the　top　of　the　list。
　　Asa　said；　〃I　found　a　way　to　get　deadwood　from　the　Enclosure。〃　His　face　brightened　in　pathetic　appeal。　〃Mostly　pine；　but　it's　wood。〃
　　〃The　Enclosure？〃
　　〃It's　not　illegal；　Shed。　It　keeps　the　Enclosure　cleaned　up。〃
　　Shed　scowled　righteously。
　　〃Shed；　it's　less　wrong　than　going　through　somebody's。　。。。〃
　　Shed　controlled　his　anger。　He　needed　allies　inside　the　enemy　camp。　〃Firewood　could　be　like　money；　Asa。　No　provenance。〃
　　Asa　smiled　fawningly。　〃Thanks；　Shed。〃
　　Count　called；　〃Shed。〃
　　Shed　shook　as　he　crossed　the　room。　Krage's　men　smirked。
　　This　wouldn't　work。　Krage　wouldn't　listen。　He　was　going　to　throw　his　money　away。
　　〃Count　says　you've　got　something　to　give　me　on　account；〃　Krage　said。
　　〃Uhm。〃　Krage's　den　could　have　been　ripped　whole　from　a　mansion　high　up　the　wall　of　the　valley。　Shed　was　stunned。
　　〃Stop　gawking　and　get　on　with　it。　You'd　better　not　give　me　a　handful　of　copper　and　beg　for　an　extension；　either。　Picked　a　warm　doorway　yet？　Your　payments　are　a　joke；　Shed。〃
　　〃No　joke。　Mr。　Krage。　Honest。　I　can　pay　over　half　of　it。〃
　　Krage's　eyebrows　rose。　〃Interesting。〃　Shed　laid　nine　silver　leva　before　him。　〃Very　interesting。〃　He　fixed　Shed　with　a　penetrating　stare。
　　Shed　stammered；　〃That's　over　half；　counting　interest。　I　hoped　maybe　seeing　as　how　that　would　put　me　ahead。　。。。〃
　　〃Quiet。〃　　Shed　shut　up。　　〃You　think　I　should　forget　what　happened？〃
　　〃That　wasn't　my　fault；　Mr。　Krage。　I　didn't　tell　him　to。　。。。　You　don't　know　what　Raven　is　like。〃
　　〃Shut　up。〃　Krage　stared　at　the　coins。　〃Maybe　something　can　be　arranged。　I　know　you　didn't　put　him　up　to　it。　You　don't　have　the　guts。〃
　　Shed　stared　at　the　floor；　unable　to　deny　his　cowardice。　〃Okay；　　Shed。　　You're　a　regular　client。　　Back　to　the　regular　schedule。〃　He　eyed　the　money。　〃You're　ahead　three　weeks；　looks　like。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Krage。　Really。　You　don't　know　how　much　this　means。　。。。〃
　　〃Shut　up。　I　know　exactly　what　it　means。　Get　out。　Start　getting　another　payment　together。　This　is　your　last　reprieve。〃
　　〃Yes。　sir。〃　Shed　retreated。　Count　opened　the　door。
　　〃Shed！　I　may　want　something　sometime。　A　favor　for　a　favor。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃All　right。　Go。〃
　　Shed　left；　a　sinking　feeling　replacing　relief。　Krage　would　make　him　help　get　Raven。　He　almost　wept　as　he　tramped　homeward。　It　never　got　any　better。　He　was　always　in　a　trap。
　　
　　　Chapter　Ten：　TALLY　TURNAROUND
　　
　　Tome　was　typical　of　towns　we　had　garrisoned　recently。　Small；　dirty；　boring。　One　wondered　why　the　Lady　bothered。　What　use　were　these　remote　provinces？　Did　she　insist　they　bend　the　knee　merely　to　puff　her　ego？　There　was　nothing　here　worth　having；　unless　it　was　power　over　the　natives。
　　Even　they　viewed　their　country　with　a　certain　contempt。
　　The　presence　of　the　Black　pany　strained　the　resources　of　the　area。　Within　a　week　the　Captain　started　talking　about　shifting　a　pany　to　Heart　and　billeting　smaller　units　in　the　villages。　Our　patrols　seldom　encountered　the　Rebel；　even　when　our　wizards　helped　hunt。　The　engagement　at　Madle's　had　all　but　eliminated　the　infestation。
　　The　Lady's　spies　told　us　the　few　mitted　Rebels　left　had　fled　into　Tambor；　an　even　bleaker　kingdom　to　the　northeast。　I　supposed　Tambor　would　be　our　next　mission。
　　I　was　scribbling　away　at　these　Annals　one　day；　when　I　decided　I　needed　an　estimate　of　the　mileage　we'd　covered　in　our　progression　eastward。　I　was　appalled　to　learn　the　truth。　Tome　was　two　thousand　miles　east　of　Charm！　Far　beyond　the　bounds　of　the　empire　as　it　had　existed　six　years　ago。　The　great　bloody　conquests　of　the　Taken　Whisper　had　established　a　border　arc　just　this　side　of　the　Plain　of　Fear。　I　ran　down　the　line　of　city…states　forming　that　forgotten　frontier。　Frost　and　Ade；　Thud　and　Barns；　and　Rust；　where　the　Rebel　had　defied　the　Lady　successfully　for　years。　Huge　cities　all；　formidable；　and　the　last　such　we　had　seen。
　　I　still　shuddered；　recalling　the　Plain　of　Fear。
　　We　crossed　it　under　the　aegis　of　Whisper　and　Feather；　two　of　the　Taken；　the　Lady's　black　apprentices；　both　sorceresses　orders　of　magnitude　above　our　three　puny　wizards。　Even　so；　and　traveling　with　entire　armies　of　the　Lady's　regulars；　we　suffered　there。　It　is　a　hostile；　bitter　la