fs.thesecondbookofswords-第14节

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　　　〃。。。　so　you；〃　Doon　was　saying　to　the　wizard；　〃ought　to　have　no　objection　to　my　plan。　If　you'll　provide　me　with　whatever　it　is　the　Sword　has　brought　me　here　to　find；　why　then　I'll　be　pleased　to　share　the　treasure　with　you。　Or　help　you　in　whatever　other　way　I　can。〃
　　　〃And　if　I　do　not；〃　asked　the　wizard　softly；　〃choose　to　provide　you　with　this　help？〃
　　　Doon　considered　this；　drumming　his　fingers　on　the　table；　as　if　such　an　idea　had　never　crossed　his　mind　before。　〃Then；　by　all　the　gods；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I'll　find　some　way　to　hinder　you。〃
　　　Hubert；　listening　to　the　steady　voice；　thought　that　he　had　never　heard　a　more　truly　impressive　threat。
　　　The　old　man　at　the　head　of　the　table　was　silent　for　a　little　time；　as　if　he　too　might　have　been　impressed。　Then　he　gestured　with　one　large；　gnarled　hand；　its　fingers　heavy　with　ornate　rings；　and　Hubert　watching　felt　a　pang　of　apprehension。　But　the　gesture　evoked　nothing　stranger　than　the　old　manservant；　to　hold　another　whispered　conversation　with　his　master。　And　now　the　clearing　of　the　table　proceeded　more　rapidly。
　　　Hitching　his　chair　a　little　closer　to　the　table；　the　wizard　said　to　the　baron：　〃Let　us　talk。　When　you　say　you　mean　to　rob　the　Blue　Temple；　I　gather　that　you　mean　to　despoil　it　in　no　trivial　way。〃
　　　〃I　have　spoken　plainly；　as　you　wished。〃
　　　〃Indeed。。。　you　don't　mean；　I　suppose；　one　of　those　little　vaults；　that　all　local　Blue　Temples　have；　for　the　day…to…day　business。。。〃
　　　〃I've　told　you　what　I　mean；　wizard；　as　plainly　as　I　know　how。　And　I　understand　what　I　am　talking　about。〃
　　　〃Indeed。〃　Still　looking　doubtful；　Indosuaros　lounged　back　in　his　chair　again。　〃Well；　I　can　only　say　that；　ing　from　anyone　less　well…equipped　and　less　determined　than　yourself；　such　an　announcement　would　deserve　derision。〃
　　　〃But　ing　from　me；〃　Doon　answered　calmly；　〃the　announcement　is　to　be　taken　very　seriously。　I　am　glad　you　have　been　so　quick　to　grasp　that　essential　point。〃
　　　〃I　think　I　have。　But　let　me　restate　it　just　once　more；　so　there　can　be　no　ambiguity。　You　intend　to　carry　off　some　substantial　portion　of　Benambra's　Gold。〃
　　　〃A　substantial　portion；〃　Doon　agreed；　nodding　affably。　〃Yes；　that's　well　put。　I'd　try　to　take　it　all；　you　see；　if　I　thought　there　was　any　chance　that　my　men　and　I　could　carry　it。〃
　　　〃And　do　you　know；〃　asked　Indosuaros；　〃where　Benambra's　Gold　is　kept？〃
　　　〃Wayfinder　is　going　to　lead　me　to　it；〃　Doon　answered　simply。　〃And　now　you　know　the　bare　bones　of　my　plan。　Before　I　go　into　any　greater　detail；　let　me　know　whether　you　object　to　it。〃
　　　The　grizzled　manservant　was　still　standing　close　by　his　master's　chair；　and　the　two　of　them　now　exchanged　a　glance。　In　a　moment　the　old　wizard　began　to　make　a　peculiar　noise；　and　perform　little　lurching　motions　in　his　chair。　It　took　Hubert　a　little　while　to　realize　that　their　host　was　laughing。
　　　At　last　Indosuaros　said：　〃I？　Object　to　the　Blue　Temple's　being　robbed？〃　And　he　laughed　again；　and　waved　a　hand　about　him　in　a　gesture　that　seemed　to　take　in　his　whole　establishment。　〃I　have　secluded　myself　like　this　from　the　world　for　one　reason　only：　that　I　may　devise　the　most　terrible　vengeance　possible　upon　the　Blue　Temple　and　all　its　leaders。　For　the　past。。。　for　never　mind　how　many　years；　I　have　devoted　all　my　energies　to　that　one　object。　And　what　worse　vengeance　could　there　be；　upon　them；　than　to　rob　them　of　what　they　hold　dearer　than　life　itself。。。　hey；　Mitspieler？　Are　we　going　to　throw　open　those　vaults　of　theirs　or　not？〃　And　with　a　gesture　that　looked　somehow　out　of　character；　he　thumped　his　manservant　awkwardly　on　the　arm。
　　　The　servant　called　Mitspieler　looked；　if　not　quite　as　old　as　his　master；　somewhat　more　worn。　His　was　a　workman's　face；　beardless　and　lined。　His　stature　was　fairly　small；　his　build　sturdy；　his　arms　emerging　wiry　and　corded　from　short　sleeves。　His　hair；　short；　curly；　and　dark；　was　richly　mixed　with　gray。
　　　His　dark　eyes　gazed　off　into　the　distance　as　he　answered。　〃In　those　vaults　lies　treasure；　truly　beyond　price　and　beyond　pare。。。　aye；　we　can　open　them。　When　we　are　ready。　We　have　been　waiting　for　the　help　we　need。〃
　　　〃And　I　have　woven　spells；〃　said　Indosuaros；　〃that　the　needed　help　might　be　brought　to　me；　for　until　it　was；　a　robbery　on　the　requisite　scale　seemed　well…nigh　impossible。〃　He　smiled　at　Doon。　〃And　you　still　think　that　your　ing　here　was　a　matter　of　your　own　choosing？〃
　　　〃I　have　told　you　what　it　was　…　the　Sword's　guidance。　But　e；　I'm　interested。　Just　why　are　you　devoting　your　life　to　getting　back　at　the　moneybags？　Vengeance　for　what？〃
　　　〃It　is　a　long　story。〃
　　　〃I'll　hear　one；　if　necessary。〃
　　　〃Later；〃　said　Indosuaros；　vaguely。　〃Baron；　will　you　draw　your　Sword　once　more　if　I　request　it？　And　hold　it　up　for　me　to　see？〃
　　　Doon　pushed　his　chair　back　farther；　and　stood　up；　to　make　the　motion　easier。　And　yet　once　more　he　brought　Wayfinder　bright　out　of　its　sheath。　The　wizard　now　appeared　to　focus　his　full　attention　for　the　first　time　on　the　blade；　and　the　servant　standing　beside　his　chair　gazed　at　it　too。
　　　All　the　others　were　quietly　intent；　watching　Indosuaros。
　　　At　last　the　old　magician　looked　away；　frowning　lightly。　〃I　will　admit；〃　he　said；　〃that　your　Sword　is　genuine。　Considerable　power　rests　there　in　your　hand。〃
　　　〃Considerable？〃　Doon　came　near　to　being　outraged。　〃Is　that　the　best　word　that　you　can　find　for　it？〃
　　　Indosuaros　was　unruffled。　〃My　own　powers　are　also。。。　considerable。　And　I　tell　you　that　they　have　been　at　work　for　a　long　time　to　solve　the　problems　of　attacking　the　Blue　Temple。　I　have　set　them　to　bring　someone　well　qualified　…　perhaps　you　…　here　to　help　me。　So；　whether　your　presence　here　is　actually　due　to　the　Sword；　or。。。〃
　　　Doon　brandished　Wayfinder　once；　then　clapped　it　back　into　its　sheath；　as　if　to　save　it　from　the　gaze　of　disrespectful　eyes。　The　Baron　cried：　〃Forged　by　a　god！　By　Vulcan　himself！〃　It　appeared　that　he　could　not　credit　the　other's　attitude。　He　seated　himself　again；　banging　his　chair　on　the　pavement。
　　　〃I　have　admitted　that　your　Sword　has　worth。〃　Indosuaros　was　looking　at　his　guest　more　sternly　now。　〃My　chief　question　now　is；　what　do　you；　yourself；　bring　to　this　enterprise？　Apart；　that　is；　from　your　indisputable　greed；　and　courage　…　or　perhaps　foolhardiness。　Are　you　the　man　whose　help　I　need？　I　must　seek　an　answer　to　this　question　in　practical　terms。〃
　　　〃Then　seek　it。〃
　　　It　was　probably　Hubert　himself　who　unwittingly　gave　warning。　Doon　must　have　seen；　mirrored　in　Hubert's　face；　that　something　untoward　was　developing　behind　the　Baron's　chair。
　　　The　door　leading　into　that　wall　of　the　courtyard　had　swung　open；　to　show　blackness　gathered　behind　it；　an　interior　as　dark　as　ever。　And　the　ebony　ape　was　there　again；　as　silent　as　before。　As　soon　as　its　eyes　fell　upon　Doon；　it　came　hurtling　toward　him　from　behind。　The　rush　was　swift　and　noiseless；　and　made　with　log…sized　arms　uplifted　to　seize　the　man　or　deal　him　a　crushing　blow。
　　　Hubert　was　on　his　feet。　But　he　knew　he　was　too　late；　too　slow；　knew　it　even　as　he　stood　there　with　his　own　weapon　but　half…drawn；　his　chair　still　in　the　act　of　toppling　behind　him。　Doon　had　meanwhile　rolled　sideways　from　his　own　chair；　ing　out　of　the　movement　somehow　on　his　feet　even　as　the　great　ape's　fists　crashed　down　to　splinter　his　chair's　back。　Hubert　had　not　seen　Wayfinder　drawn　again；　but　now　it　flickered　in　its　master's　hand；　the　silver　tongue　of　some　swift　serpent。
　　　The　ape　turned　with　a　roar；　but　not　in　time。　Black　fur　gushing　red　that　was　not　wine　upon　white　linen；　it　sprawled　forward　among　the　remaining　winecups。　Gurgling　its　death；　it　slid　off　the　table　slowly；　dragging　cloth　and　cups　to　crash　down　with　it。
　　　Four　men　stood　around　the　table　armed；　ready　for　the　next　threat　…　but　there　was　none。　One　man　sat　smiling　at　the　tables　head。　Nothing　but　approval　glinted　in　the　eye　of　Indosuaros。
　　　Once　more　Doon　waved　the　Sword。　〃I　told　you；　wizard！〃　he　roared　in　triumph。　〃I　told　you！　In　my　hand；　doubly　magic！〃
Chapter　5
　　　The　three　of　them；　Mark；　Ben；　and　Barbara；　had　been　awake　most　of　the　night。　They　had　been　busy　packing；　swapping　histories　and　stories；　trading　off　to　the　other　carnival　people　things　that　they　weren't　going　to　need。　Then　they　had　left　the　carnival　at　sunrise；　driving　in　Barbara's　wagon；　one　item　she　hadn't　wanted　to　trade　just　yet。　Tanakir　had　bartered　them　some　food　and　a　little　coin　for　Barbara's　little　dragon　and　its　cage；　which　he　meant　to　incorporate　into　his　own　act。　He　was　staying　on　with　the　carnival；　seeing　that　she　and　her　friends　were　leaving。　Viktor　waved　goodbye　to　the　three　of　them　at　dawn；　and　shouted　his　hope　that　they'd　e　back　next　season。
　　　Mark　doubted　that　very　much。　One　way　or　another；　he　thought；　they　were　sure　to　be　somewhere　else。
　　　Purkinje　Town　and　the　carnival　encampment　were　a　couple　of　hours　behind　them　now。　The　road　ahead　had　already　straightened　out；　entering　a　long　rise　of　nearly　flat　and　mostly　empty　country　that　mounted　slowly　toward　distant　mountains　that　were　now　only　just　visible。　An　hour　ago　they　had　paused　for　breakfast；　and　Mark；　as　in　the　old　days；　had　used　his　bow　to　hunt　down　a　couple　of　rabbits。
　　　Now　they　wer