fs.thesecondbookofswords-第21节
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es of a large Red Temple plex were standing open to receive it。
Doon gestured； slowing his troop's progress； that they might have a chance to look over the Temple plex as they approached it。 It was； as the first glimpse of it had suggested； of considerable size。 The walls surrounding it were not much more than head high； but armed with jagged projections along the top that would make a climbing entry difficult。 Within the walls were several large but low…built buildings。 Buildings and walls alike appeared to be constructed mainly of earthen bricks。 The colors of red and black were prominently displayed。
The main gate remained standing open after the caravan had entered it。 The entry was flanked by torches； that at dusk were just now being lighted。 A brief period of observation was enough to show that the flow of traffic in and out the gate was fairly high； as might be expected of a Red Temple near the intersection of two well…traveled roads。
〃A lot of customers；〃 Golok mented。 He had evidently got over his outrage now。 〃There must be a busy town or two nearby。 Maybe a large castle； too。〃
〃Aye。〃 Hubert chuckled。 〃Red Temple always does good business。〃
〃I think；〃 said Doon； 〃we're going to be able to ride right on in without being challenged。〃
〃And if we are challenged？〃 asked Indosuaros。 He had contrived a black…and…red cap for himself； suggesting a minor wizard working in Red Temple pay。
〃We'll see；〃 said Doon。 〃Be ready to take your cue from me … get that； everyone？ Let's go。〃
The guard post at the main gate was manned by a single sentry。 He was sitting with his head slumped； half asleep or perhaps entranced by drugs。 He paid little or no attention to the passage of what might well have been a mercenary patrol。
The pound seen from inside was as large and busy as its appearance at a distance had suggested。 This main portion of it； generally open to the public； was well lit by torches。 Spaces and hitching racks were provided to acmodate customers' vehicles and animals。 On three sides of this broad open courtyard were the several houses of pleasure that made up the usual Red Temple layout。 To the right； as Doon and his men rode in； were the Houses of Dancing and of Joy。 Gaming was on the left； and Drink and Food were straight ahead … music； like the smell of drugs； seemed to be everywhere once the main gate had been passed。
Passages led between buildings； to what would be the non…public parts of the pound。 Mark was able to catch just a glimpse of one of the caravan's litters； disappearing down one of these alleyways； before a closing gate cut off the sight。 The gangs of slaves who had been driven in on foot were probably already back there； in some kind of pens。
Doon drew his Sword briefly； and found that it guided him to the right。 A couple of passing customers looked at him curiously before he put the blade away again。
He turned right； then signed to his men to halt their animals and dismount。 They tied their riding beasts at one of the hitching racks nearest the entrance of the House of Dancing。 So far； no one else in the pound appeared to be paying them much attention。
〃Golok；〃 the Baron ordered quietly； 〃stay here and keep the animals quiet。 Be ready for a quick start when we e back。〃 Golok nodded； the hooded monk bird was resting behind his saddle now。
Doon left his Sword sheathed； but unbuckled the whole apparatus from his waist； and carried it in his hand； pausing now and then to feel his way forward with it； almost like a blind man with a cane。 It still looked odd behavior； thought Mark； but it was not going to draw as much attention as the Baron would have by waving a meter of bare blade。
The entrance to the House of Dance was watched inside by fee…collectors； who； as Mark had expected； let the red uniforms pass in free。 Red Temple mercenaries were probably not paid very much in coin； but there appeared to be certain pensations。 Inside the House of Dance； drum music throbbed in thick； warm air。 Most of the interior was a single vast； low room。 Scantily clad girls and young women； with a few boys and young men mixed among them； sat round the edges of the room。 These were slaves of the Temple； waiting for the personal attentions of some customer。 Some couples were dancing； and in the center of the large floor a professional group performed； dancers and musicians mingling。
Doon moved at first as if to cross the floor directly； then evidently thought better of interfering with the dance； and led his men around the edge。 Now； in the distant corners of the hall； Mark could recognize the traditional four Red Temple statues： Aphrodite； Bacchus； Dionysus； Eros。 Here at one side was a broad stairway； going up； probably municating on an upper level with the House of Joy next door。 A painted young man was just ascending； giggling； supported on either side by two customers； man and woman。 Meanwhile on the far side of the dance floor； four men were just emerging from some back room。 They were all uniformed in blue and gold； and though they paid attention to the dancers as they strolled； Mark thought that probably they were here on business rather than on pleasure only。 It was no secret that connections existed between the Blue Temple and the Red； particularly on the upper levels of organization。
In the corner of the dancehall farthest from the entrance； broad open steps led down。 As Doon led them down the steps； following the discreet guidance of the Sword； Mark began to realize that some large part of the whole Red Temple plex was probably underground。 Different musicians were playing down here； from somewhere out of view； and the sound they made was different； having a disconnected anguish in it。 The air was thicker too； with more torch…smoke in it； as well as heavier fumes of incense and of drugs。
For a few moments Doon and his followers tramped an empty corridor in silence。 Suddenly Mark thought that he knew where the Sword was taking them。 It was a part of the usual； Red Temple installation that he'd heard about； but had never seen on the few occasions when he'd visited other branches of the Temple as a customer。
The corridor branched。 And still the Sword of Wisdom led the way unhesitatingly。
〃Are we going to the worm…pit？〃 Hubert grumbled quietly。 〃What's in there； or who； that we could need？〃
No one had an answer for him。 Soon the Sword would tell。
Still the path chosen by Wayfinder led through the public precincts of the Temple； and they were not challenged。 It guided them at last through a heavily curtained doorway； into another large； low room； this one much darker and worse…smelling than the dance…hall above。
Here only a few candles were burning； to illuminate what looked at first glance like some barracks or dormitory。 Or perhaps a ward in some hospital…dungeon； if such a bination could be imagined。 The place was almost too long to be called a room； too wide for a corridor。 It was lined on both sides with bunks and couches； about half of which were occupied。 A few bent figures； those of male and female attendants； were moving about in the gloom。 As one of these passed before a candle； Mark could see that she was carrying a small saucer…shaped tray of earth； and tools that looked like a pair of tweezers and a large； fine…toothed b。
The light was a little better near the curtained doorway where Doon and his men had entered。 Here some of the customers were conversing from couch to couch； and sipping at winecups。 Men and women alike could be seen to be for the most part naked under their beds' sheets。 One or two were currently in the phase of ecstasy that the pleasure…worms induced。 These sobbed or groaned on their cots； executing jerky motions； kicking aside coverings； scratching at their skin with bs； now slowly and now in rapid frenzy。
As Doon； still trying to hold his sheathed Sword unobtrusively； led the way slowly forward between rows of beds； Mark saw the attendant with the tray of earth stop at the side of a recumbent customer。 From the saucer of earth the attendant lifted； in the tweezers； a tiny pale gray worm … weight for weight； Mark knew； worth more than gold。 The creature was inconspicuous； and would have been unnoticeable except for the attention that was focused on it。 The client； a stoutish woman with an obviously well cared for body； turned beneath her sheet； exposing her wide back in the candle's light。 The attendant applied the tweezers near the customer's shoulder with one hand； and quickly brought a candle closer with the other。 The small worm； released by the tweezers； promptly disappeared。 Mark knew； though he had not seen； that it was gone into the skin； driven by its burrowing instincts and the painful light。 Worm…pits were always underground； because the creatures had to be cultivated away from daylight。
An attendant approached Doon as he led the way forward； but the Baron shook his head in silence and pressed on； his men following him closely。 The attendant appeared momentarily puzzled； Mark thought； but then went on about his tasks。 Like the others working here he looked thin and vaguely unhealthy。
Here was another client；
