gc.shadowslinger-第4节

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shed　him　away。　The　smaller　crossed　the　room；　kicked　Asa　away　from　the　fire；　squatted　with　his　hands　extended。　Shed's　guests　stared　into　the　flames；　seeing　and　hearing　nothing。
　　Except　Raven；　Shed　noted。　Raven　looked　interested；　and　not　particularly　disturbed。
　　Shed　sweated。　Krage　finally　turned　around。　〃You　didn't　stop　by　yesterday；　Shed。　I　missed　you。〃
　　〃I　couldn't；　Krage。　I　didn't　have　anything　to　bring　you。　Look　in　my　coin　box。　You　know　I'll　pay　you。　I　always　do。　I　just　need　a　little　time。〃
　　〃You　were　late　last　week；　Shed。　I　was　patient。　I　know　you're　having　problems。　But　you　were　late　the　week　before　that；　too。　And　the　week　before　that。　You're　making　me　look　bad。　I　know　you　mean　it　when　you　say　you'll　pay　me。　But　what　will　people　think？　Eh？　Maybe　they　start　thinking　it's　all　right　for　them　to　be　late；　too。　Maybe　they　start　thinking　they　don't　have　to　pay　at　all。〃
　　〃Krage；　I　can't。　Look　in　my　box。　As　soon　as　business　picks　up。　。　。　。〃
　　Krage　gestured。　Red　reached　behind　the　counter。　〃Business　is　bad　everywhere；　Shed。　I　got　problems；　too。　I　got　expenses。　I　can't　meet　mine　if　you　don't　meet　yours。〃　He　ambled　around　the　mon　room；　examining　the　furnishings。　　Shed　could　read　his　mind。　　He　wanted　the　Lily。　Wanted　Shed　in　a　hole　so　deep　he　would　have　to　give　the　place　up。
　　Red　handed　Shed's　box　to　Krage。　Krage　made　a　face。　〃Business　really　is　bad。〃　He　gestured。　The　big　man；　Count；　seized　Shed's　elbows　from　behind。　Shed　nearly　fainted。　Krage　grinned　wickedly。　〃Pat　him　down；　Red。　See　if　he's　holding　out。〃　He　emptied　the　coin　box。　〃On　account；　Shed。〃
　　Red　found　the　silver　leva　Raven　had　given　Shed。
　　Krage　shook　his　head。　〃Shed；　Shed；　you　lied　to　me。〃　Count　pressed　his　elbows　together　painfully。　　〃That　isn't　mine；〃　Shed　protested。　〃That　belongs　to　Raven。　He　wanted　me　to　buy　wood。　That's　why　I　was　headed　for　Latham's。〃　Krage　eyed　him。　Shed　knew　Krage　knew　he　was　telling　the　truth。　He　didn't　have　the　guts　to　lie。　　Shed　was　scared。　
　　Krage　might　bust　him　up　just　so　he　would　give　up　the　Lily　to　buy　his　life。　　What　then？　He　would　be　without　a　hearth；　and　in　the　street　with　an　old　woman　to　look　after。
　　Shed's　mother　cursed　Krage。　Everyone　ignored　her；　including　Shed。　She　was　harmless。　Darling　stood　in　the　kitchen　doorway；　frozen；　one　hand　fisted　before　her　mouth；　eyes　full　of　appeal。　She　watched　Raven　more　than　Krage　and　Shed。
　　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　break；　Krage？〃　Red　asked。　Shed　cringed。　Red　enjoyed　his　work。　〃You　shouldn't　hold　out　on　us；　Shed。　You　shouldn't　lie　to　Krage。〃　He　unleashed　a　vicious　punch。　Shed　gagged；　tried　to　fall　forward。　Count　held　him　upright。　Red　hit　him　again。
　　A　soft；　cold　voice　said；　〃He　told　the　truth。　I　sent　him　for　wood。〃
　　Krage　and　Red　shifted　formation。　Count　did　not　relax　his　grip。　〃Who　are　you？〃　Krage　demanded。
　　〃Raven。　Let　him　be。〃
　　Krage　exchanged　glances　with　Red。　Red　said；　〃I　think　maybe　you'd　better　not　talk　that　way　to　Mister　Krage。〃
　　Raven's　gaze　rose。　Red's　shoulders　tightened　defensively。　Then；　aware　of　his　audience；　he　stepped　over　and　threw　an　open…palmed　punch。　Raven　plucked　his　hand　out　of　the　air；　twisted。　Red　went　to　his　knees；　grinding　his　teeth　on　a　whimper。　Raven　said；　〃That　was　stupid。〃
　　Astonished；　Krage　replied；　〃Smart　is　as　smart　does；　mister。　Let　him　go　while　you're　healthy。〃
　　Raven　smiled　for　the　first　time　in　Shed's　recollection。　〃That　wasn't　smart。〃　There　was　an　audible　pop。　Red　screamed。
　　〃Count！〃　Krage　snapped。
　　Count　hurled　Shed　aside。　He　was　twice　Red's　size；　quick；　strong　as　a　mountain；　and　barely　as　smart。　Nobody　survived　Count。
　　A　wicked　nine…inch　dagger　appeared　in　Raven's　hand。　Count　stopped　so　violently　his　feet　tangled。　He　fell　forward；　rolling　off　the　edge　of　Raven's　table。
　　〃Oh；　shit；〃　Shed　groaned。　Somebody　was　going　to　get　killed。　Krage　wouldn't　put　up　with　this。　It　would　be　bad　for　business。
　　But　as　Count　rose；　Krage　said；　〃Count；　help　Red。〃　His　tone　was　conversational。
　　Count　obediently　turned　to　Red；　who　had　dragged　himself　away　to　nurse　his　wrist。
　　〃Maybe　we　had　a　little　misunderstanding　here；〃　Krage　said。　〃I'll　put　it　plain；　Shed。　You've　got　one　week　to　pay　me。　The　big　and　the　nut　both。〃
　　〃But。　。　。　。〃
　　〃No　buts；　Shed。　That's　according　to　terms。　Kill　somebody。　Rob　somebody。　Sell　this　dump。　But　get　the　money。〃　The　or…elses　did　not　have　to　be　explained。
　　I'll　be　all　right；　Shed　promised　himself。　He　won't　hurt　me。　I'm　too　good　a　customer。
　　How　the　hell　would　he　e　up　with　it？　He　couldn't　sell　out。　Not　with　winter　closing　in。　The　old　woman　couldn't　survive　in　the　street。
　　Cold　air　gusted　into　the　Lily　as　Krage　paused　at　the　door。　He　glared　at　Raven。　Raven　did　not　bother　looking　back。
　　〃Some　wine　here；　Shed；〃　Raven　said。　〃I　seem　to　have　spilled　mine。〃
　　Shed　hustled　despite　his　pain。　He　could　not　help　fawning。　〃I　thank　you；　Raven；　but　you　shouldn't　have　interfered。　He'll　kill　you　for　that。〃
　　Raven　shrugged。　〃Go　to　the　wood…seller　before　somebody　else　tries　to　take　my　money。〃
　　Shed　looked　at　the　door。　He　did　not　want　to　go　outside。　They　might　be　waiting。　But　then　he　looked　at　Raven　again。　The　man　was　cleaning　his　nails　with　that　wicked　knife。　〃Right　away。〃
　　It　was　snowing　now。　The　street　was　treacherous。　Only　a　thin　white　mask　covered　the　mud。
　　Shed　could　not　help　wondering　why　Raven　had　intervened。　To　protect　his　money？　Reasonable。　。　。　。　Only；　reasonable　men　stayed　quiet　around　Krage。　He　would　cut　your　throat　if　you　looked　at　him　wrong。
　　Raven　was　new　around　here。　Maybe　he　did　not　know　about　Krage。
　　He　would　learn　the　hard　way。　His　life　wasn't　worth　two　gersh　anymore。
　　Raven　seemed　well…heeled。　He　wouldn't　carry　his　whole　fortune　around　with　him；　would　he？　Maybe　he　kept　part　hidden　in　his　room。　Maybe　enough　to　pay　off　Krage。　Maybe　he　could　set　Raven　up。　Krage　would　appreciate　that。
　　〃Let's　see　your　money；〃　Latham　said　when　he　asked　for　wood。　Shed　produced　Raven's　silver　leva。　〃Ha！　Who　died　this　time？〃
　　Shed　reddened。　An　old　prostitute　had　died　at　the　Lily　last　winter。　Shed　had　rifled　her　belongings　before　summoning　the　Custodians。　His　mother　had　lived　warm　for　the　rest　of　the　winter。　The　whole　Buskin　knew　because　he　had　made　the　mistake　of　telling　Asa。
　　By　custom；　the　Custodians　took　the　personal　possessions　of　the　newly　dead。　Those　and　donations　supported　them　and　the　Catabs。
　　〃Nobody　died。　A　guest　sent　me。〃
　　〃Ha！　The　day　you　have　a　guest　who　can　afford　generosity。　。。。〃　Latham　shrugged。　〃But　what　do　I　care？　The　coin　is　good。　I　don't　need　its　provenance。　Grab　some　wood。　You're　headed　that　way。〃
　　Shed　staggered　back　to　the　Lily；　face　burning；　ribs　aching。　Latham　hadn't　bothered　to　hide　his　contempt。
　　Back　home；　with　the　fire　taking　hold　of　the　good　oak；　Shed　drew　two　mugs　of　wine　and　sat　down　opposite　Raven。　〃On　the　house。〃
　　Raven　stared　momentarily；　took　a　sip；　maneuvered　the　mug　to　an　exact　spot　upon　the　tabletop。　〃What　do　you　want？''
　　〃To　thank　you　again。〃
　　〃There's　nothing　to　thank　me　for。〃
　　〃To　warn　you；　then。　You　didn't　take　Krage　serious　enough。〃
　　Latham　tramped　in　with　an　armload　of　firewood；　grumbling　because　he　couldn't　get　his　wagon　out。　He　would　be　back　and　forth　for　a　long　time。
　　〃Go　away；　Shed。〃　And；　as　Shed　rose；　face　hot；　Raven　snapped；　〃Wait。　You　think　you　owe　me？　Then　someday　I'll　ask　a　favor。　You　do　it。　Right？〃
　　〃Sure；　Raven。　Anything。　Just　name　it。〃
　　〃Go　sit　by　the　fire；　Shed。〃
　　Shed　squeezed　in　between　Asa　and　his　mother；　joining　their　surly　silence。　That　Raven　really　was　creepy。
　　The　man　in　question　was　engaged　in　a　lively　exchange　of　signs　with　the　deaf　serving　girl。
　　
　　　Chapter　Eight：　TALLY：　CLOSE…UP
　　
　　I　let　the　tip　of　my　blade　drop　to　the　inn　floor。　I　slumped　in　exhaustion；　coughing　weakly　in　the　smoke。　I　swayed；　feebly　reached　for　the　support　of　an　overturned　table。　Reaction　was　setting　in。　I　had　been　sure　this　time　was　the　end。　If　they　hadn't　been　forced　to　extinguish　the　fires　themselves。　。　。　。
　　Elmo　crossed　the　room　and　threw　an　arm　around　me。　〃You　hurt；　Croaker？　Want　me　to　find　One…Eye？〃
　　〃Not　hurt。　Just　burned　out。　Been　a　long　time　since　I　been　so　scared；　Elmo。　Thought　I　was　a　goner。〃
　　He　righted　a　chair　with　a　foot　and　sat　me　down。　He　was　my　closest　friend；　a　wiry；　old　hardcase　seldom　given　to　moodiness。　Wet　blood　reddened　his　left　sleeve。　I　tried　to　stand。　〃Sit；〃　he　ordered。　〃Pockets　can　take　care　of　it。〃
　　Pockets　was　my　understudy；　a　kid　of　twenty…three。　The　pany　is　getting　older　…　at　least　at　its　core；　my　contemporaries。　Elmo　is　past　fifty。　The　Captain　and　Lieutenant　straddle　that　five…zero。　I　wouldn't　see　forty　again。　〃Get　them　all？〃
　　〃Enough。〃　Elmo　settled　on　another　chair。　〃One…Eye　and　Goblin　and　Silent　went　after　the　ones　who　took　off。〃　His　voice　was　vacant。　〃Half　the　Rebels　in　the　province；　first　shot。〃
　　〃We're　getting　too　old　for　this。〃　The　men　began　bringing　prisoners　inside；　sifting　them　for　characters　who　might　know　something　useful。　〃Ought　to　leave　this　stuff　to　the　kids。〃　
　　〃They　couldn't　handle　it。〃　He　stared　into　nothing；　at　long　ago　and　far　away。
　　〃Something　wrong？〃
　　He　shook　his　head；　then　contradicted　himself。　〃What　are　we　doing；　Croaker？　Isn't　there　any　end　to