bl.necroscope2-第11节
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messenger。 Before you pass this point； however； which is a boundary； my master must be sure that you e of your own free will。〃
Thibor had regained his self…control。 〃No one dragged me up here；〃 he snorted。
〃But you were sent。。。？〃
〃A strong man may only be 〃sent〃 where he wishes to go；〃 the Wallach answered。
〃And your men？〃
〃We're with Thibor；〃 said the hunched one。 〃Where he ventures； we venture…willingly！〃
〃Even to see one who sends out wolves to do his bidding；〃 Thibor's second panion； the apish one； added。
〃Wolves？〃 The stranger frowned and cocked his head on one side quizzically。 He glanced sharply all about； then smiled his amusement。 〃My master's dogs； you mean？〃
〃Dogs？〃 Thibor was certain he'd seen wolves。 Now； however； the idea seemed ridiculous。
〃Aye； dogs。 They came out to walk with me； for it's a fine night。 But they're not used to strangers。 See； they've run off home。〃
Thibor nodded； and eventually he said： 〃So； you've e to meet us half…way； then。 To walk with us and show us the way。〃
〃Not I；〃 the other shook his head。 〃Arvos can do that well enough。 I came only to greet you and to count your numbers…also to ensure that your presence here was not forced。 Which is to say； that you came of your own free mind and will。〃
〃I say again；〃 Thibor growled； 〃who could force me？〃
〃There are pressures and there are pressures；〃 the other shrugged。 〃But I see you are your own man。〃
〃You mentioned our numbers。〃
The man in the cape raised his eyebrows。 They peaked like gables。 〃For your acmodation；〃 he answered。 〃What else？〃 And before Thibor could reply： 〃Now I must go on ahead…to make preparation。〃
〃I'd hate to crowd your master's house；〃 said Thibor quickly。 〃Bad enough to be an unexpected guest； but worse far if others are obliged to vacate their rightful positions to make room for me。〃
〃Oh； there's room enough；〃 the other answered。 〃And
you were not entirely unexpected。 As for putting others out： my master's house is a castle； but it shelters fewer human souls than you have here。〃 It was as if he'd read Thibor's mind and answered the question he'd found there。
Now he inclined his head towards the old Szgany。 〃Be warned； however； that the path along the cliff is loose and the way a little perilous。 Be on your guard for rock falls！〃 And once more to Thibor he said； 〃Until later； then。〃
They watched him turn and make off after his master's 〃dogs〃 across the narrow； jumbled； boulder…strewn plain。
When he'd gone into the shadows； Thibor grabbed Arvos by the neck。 〃No retainers？〃 he hissed into the old gypsy's face。 〃No servants？ What； and are you a simple liar or a very great liar？ The Ferenczy could harbour an army up there！〃
Arvos tried to snatch himself back and found the Wallach's grip like iron on his throat。 〃A。。。 a manservant or two；〃 he choked。 〃How was。。。 was I to know？ It's been many a year。。。〃 Thibor released him； thrust him away。
〃Old man；〃 he warned； 〃if you'd see another day； just be sure you guide us carefully along this perilous cliff path。〃 And so they had crossed the stony depression to the cliff； and started up the narrow way carved in its sheer face。。。
Chapter Three
The path clung to the black rock of the cliffs like a silver snake under the moon。 Its surface was wide enough to take a small cart； no more； but in places the rim had fallen away； and then the track narrowed to little more than the width of a man。 And it was in just such narrow spots that the night breeze off the forests picked up to a bluster； seeming to tug at and threaten the men who toiled up like insects towards that unknown aerie which was their destination。
〃How long is this damned path； anyway？〃 Thibor snarled at the Gypsy； after maybe half a mile of slow； careful climbing。
〃The same distance again；〃 Arvos at once replied； 〃but steeper from now on。 Once they brought carts up here； I'm told； but that was a hundred years or more ago and the way has not been well kept。〃
〃Huh！〃 Thibor's apish aide snorted。 〃Carts？ I wouldn't bring goats up here！〃
At that the other Wallach； the hunched one； gave a start and pressed more closely to the cliff。 〃I wouldn't know about goats；〃 he whispered hoarsely； 〃but if I'm not mistaken we have pany of sorts： the Ferenczy's 〃dogs〃！〃
Thibor looked ahead to where the path vanished round the curve of the cliff。 Silhouetted against the starry void of space； hump…shouldered wolf…shapes stood with muzzles lifted； ears pointed and eyes ferally agleam。 But there were only two of them。 Gasping his shock； then a harsh curse； Thibor looked back into the deepest shadows…and saw the other two； or rather； he saw their triangular moon…silvered eyes。 〃Arvos！〃 he growled； gathering his wits； reaching for the old gypsy。 〃Arvos！〃
The sudden rumbling might well have been thunder； except the air was crisp and dry and what few clouds there were scudded rather than boiled； and thunder seldom makes the ground shudder beneath a man's feet。
Thibor's thin； hunched friend was hindmost； bringing up the rear at a point where the path was the merest ledge。 It required but a step to bring him to safety。 〃Rock fall！〃 he cried hoarsely； making to leap forward。 But as he sprang； so the boulders rained down and swept him away。 It was as quick as that： he was there…arms straining forward； face gaping white in the light of the moon…and he was gone。 He did not cry out： clubbed by boulders； doubtless he'd been unconscious or dead even as he fell。
When the last pebble and plume of dust had fallen and the rumbling was an echo； Thibor stepped to the rim and looked down。 There was nothing to see； just darkness and the glint of the moon on distant rocks。 Up and down the trail； of wolves there was no sign。
Thibor turned to where the old gypsy shivered and clung to the face of the cliff。
〃A rock fall！〃 The old man saw the look on his face。 〃You can't blame me for a rock fall。 If he'd jumped instead of shouting his warning。。。〃
Thibor nodded。 〃No；〃 he agreed； brows black as the night itself； 〃I can't blame you for a rock fall。 But from now on blame doesn't e into it。 From now on if there's any problem at all…from whatever cause or quarter…I'll just toss you off the cliff。 That way； if I'm to die； I'll know that you died first。 For let's have something clearly understood； old man。 I don't trust the Ferenczy； I don't trust his 〃dogs〃； and I trust you least of all。 There'll be no further warnings。〃 He jerked his thumb up the path。 〃Lead on； Arvos of the Szgany…and nimble about it！〃
Thibor did not think that his warning would carry much weight； even if it weighed on the gypsy； it certainly wouldn't weigh on his master in the mountain。 But neither was the Wallach a man to issue idle threats。 Arvos the Szgany belonged to the Ferenczy； no doubt of that。 And so； if more trouble was on the way from that quarter （Thibor was sure that the avalanche had been arranged） then he would see that it came to Arvos first。 And trouble was ing： it waited in the defile where the cliff was split by a deep chasm； at the back of which sat the castle of the Ferenczy。
This was the sight they saw； Thibor and his simian Wallach friend； and the now sinister gypsy Arvos； when they reached the cleft。 Back in the dim mists of time the mountains had convulsed； split apart。 Passes had been formed through the ranges； of which this might have been one。 Except that in this case the opening had not gone all the way through。 The cliff whose face they'd traversed had led finally to a high crest which reared now a half mile away。 The crest was split into twin peaks…like the ears of a bat or a wolf。 And there； straddling the defile where it narrowed to a fissure…clinging to both opposing faces and meeting centrally in a massive arch of masonry…there sat the manse of the Ferenczy。 As before； two windows were lighted； like eyes under the sharp black ears； and the fissure below seemed to form a gaping mouth。
〃No wonder he runs wolves； this one！〃 Thibor's squat panion grunted。 His words acted like an invocation。
They came down the cliff…hugging track from the castle； and not just four off them。 A flood of them； a wall of grey fur studded with yellow jewel eyes。 And they came at the lope； full of purpose。
〃A pack！〃 cried Thibor's friend。
〃Too many to fight off；〃 the Voevod shouted back。 Out of the corner of his eye he saw Arvos start forward； towards the oning wolves。 He reached out a leg； tripped the old gypsy。
〃Grab him！〃 Thibor manded； drawing his sword。
The squat Wallach lifted Arvos as easily as he would lift the dead； dry branch of a tree； swung him out over the abyss and held him there。 Arvos howled his terror。 The wolves； scant paces away； came to an uneasy halt。 Their leaders threw up pointed muzzles； howled mourn…fully。 It was for all the world as if they waited upon some mand。 But from whom？
Arvos stopped his yelling； turned his head and gazed wide…eyed at the distant castle。 His gullet bobbed spastically with his gulping。
The man who held him glanced from the wolves to Thibor。 〃What now？ Do I drop him？〃
The huge Wallach shook his head。 〃Only if they attack；〃 he answered。
〃You think the Ferenczy controls them； then？ But。。。 is it possible？〃
〃It seems our qua
