cacb.thefarkingdoms-第13节
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never again have to dance attendance on fat old fools。 Then I would seek my Tradewind…to the east。 And if I lived； my Finding would not only make me rich； and give me knowledge and power beyond that held by the most hoary Evocator； but ensure my name would be remembered from this day to the ending of history。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said； grinning。 〃You would seek out the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃Just so。〃
I started to laugh； for I had thrown out the goal as a jest； I then saw his face was darkly serious。 〃You believe such a place exists？〃
〃I do not believe。 I know。〃
〃Oh。〃 I could feel the shutters of my mind close； just as it does when a respected tutor announces there are worlds beyond our own； or when a sage begins drooling like a goat in heat over an empty…headed strumpet。
As a boy I had eagerly listened to the tales of the greatness of the Far Kingdoms； located in the distant east； well beyond the ken of man。 Most tales agreed that it lay across the straits of the Narrow Sea； beyond the benighted Pepper Coast； in uncharted territory。 If a man could survive such a hazardous journey…which； all agreed； no one alive could； since we were a far cry from the giants of earlier days…he would find himself in a land of fabled wealth and wizardry。 I had always considered…even when I had told some of the tales myself as a sprat…the Far Kingdoms were suitable for philosophers' examples； peasant dreams； or the fictions of the bards。 In the past； hearing such a statement as Janos had just made； I would have politely smiled； chatted tin for a while； made my excuses； and then left…determined to find another officer to acpany me on my Finding。 But now； hard on my new course of honesty； I pressed on。
〃I have always believed； as did my father…and； for that matter； all the educated men I've encountered…that the Far Kingdoms was a dream。 Just as some peasants believe there was a Golden Age before us； when men were all heroes； women were all virgin…whore…mothers； all things were free for the asking； and so forth。〃
And Janos asked； 〃What would convince you a dream is； in fact； real？〃
His ment gave me a jolt； which I hid； as I suddenly remembered another dream： the dream of the man with one eye in the river cavern…the nightmare that had plagued me since meeting Melina。 It was as if the spring day had suddenly turned chill。 Then I forced my mind away from that dream and pondered Janos' question。 〃I don't know； really。 And I'm not trying to sound like some savant creaking about whether a man dreams he is a butterfly or a butterfly dreams he's a man。 Pain？ I've bled in dreams。 That they seem to continue on forever？ I've dreamed most of a life on occasion。〃
〃I will offer three arguments； but not as the logicians teach us to do；〃 Janos replied。 〃I'll start with the most crushing。 This。〃 He lifted a thin chain from around his neck and handed it to me。 A device dangled from it： a small； broken statuette of a dancing maiden； her arms stretched above her head； perhaps one of her hands had once held a twisting scarf or veil。 The statuette had been broken at the woman's hips。 It might have been made of silver or some other semiprecious metal； but it was badly tarnished now。 The workmanship； however； was exquisite： the maiden's face was alight in happiness； and； I thought； if I could put a jeweler's pane on the figurine； I would be able to distinguish every detail of her face and arms。 〃A pretty；〃 I finally said。 〃But I've seen equal craftsmanship in the shops of our metal…crafting masters。〃
〃Touch it。〃 I did…and the statue came to life。 The chain seemed to vanish； and the half woman danced on an invisible platform before my eyes。 Instead of tarnished silver； her skin was soft ivory and tipped with crimson； her hair was black； her sheer gown violet。 I took my finger away； and once more I was holding a dirty； shattered figurine。
〃That I have never seen or heard of；〃 I admitted。
〃Nor anyone else in these lands；〃 Janos said。 〃I have consulted priests and Evocators； and none of them know the spells necessary to make such a bauble。 In fact； one fool told me it violated all of the laws of thaumaturgy…so it must be black sorcery。 He ordered me to give it to him so that he could 'purify' it。 I took it back and told him what he might well face if he mentioned the statue to anyone。〃
〃Where did you get it？〃
〃My father gave it to me as a gift on my first birthing day。 It was not broken then。 When I was six he told me where it came from。 My mother said it had cost him three war mounts…stallions whose lineage went back to the Horsegod himself。〃
〃Your father said it came from the Far Kingdoms？〃 I guessed。
〃Yes。〃
I was silent； thinking again of those peasant tales of the mysterious eastern lands beyond。 How great sorcerers ruled and how they could even make battle magic that could stand against the strongest counterspells。 How the streets and statues were solid gold。 Here was hard evidence of some master wizard's work； something the most adept Evocator of Orissa would herald as his lifetime achievement and deem worthy of a king's wedding gift。
〃How was it broken； if I may ask？〃
Janos's face was still。 〃This is not the day for such a tale；〃 he said。
I changed the subject。 〃Your first premise carries weight；〃 I said； handing the maiden back to Janos。 〃But just to be stubborn I must bring up the counter that no one knows of every conjurer in the world。 Not just ones from still undiscovered cities； but those whose weird it is to live in solitary haunts…in jungles or mountains。〃
〃True。 But not that powerful a rejoinder。 My second and third arguments have less substance； and I cannot give you anything to hold in your hand。 But hear them out。 You've heard them call me a Lycanthian。 But I am not； even though I spent years in their service。 In truth I e from another land； across the Narrow Sea from Lycanth； in Valaroi。 A land of high mountains and small glens。 Kostroma。〃
〃I have never heard of it；〃 I confessed。
〃No。 You would not have。〃 He started to elaborate； then changed his mind。 〃Not far from my family's stronghold was a traders' route。 They paid tribute to my father； and he provided soldiery to keep them safe from those without law。 Where they paid tribute； they held a bazaar。 This would be twice； sometimes three times a year； and for us； those fairs were as big an excitement as the Day of Sowing。 My father would sometimes invite one of the traders to our home。 He would feed and guest the man lavishly。 Not just out of courtesy； but because this was the only means for our out…of…the…way land to learn of the world beyond。 Among the stories they told were of the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃I must interrupt you here；〃 I said。 〃Surely you aren't telling me you trust the word of traders？ We are renowned for swearing a yard of goods was custom…woven for a high priestess' mystery； if it means we can knock the price up a copper or two。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 Janos said； 〃it was most interesting listening to their tales。 And not one of them ever said he had visited the Far Kingdoms。 Nor did any claim to have even seen their border posts。 But all who had traveled to the east had seen their trade goods。 Luxury items that had passed from hand to hand； their price increasing at each step。 Sometimes they would even cautiously show such a bauble to us； something that would be well beyond the modest profit my father's herds earned： lutes that when strummed by a stable boy would make him seem a fine troubadour； a gown； or even a veil； that would turn the most coarse serving wench into a dazzling seductress。 And there were other things…like my little dancing maiden…that were even more marvelous。 Incantations beyond any we knew of； and to this day they are still beyond any I have ever encountered in my travels。〃
I said nothing： Janos may have thought this second premise but idle gossip； but it wasn't to the son of a merchant prince； We； too； had heard of…and sometimes seen…devices that struck wonder into our hearts； even if none were as exotic as Janos' tiny dancer。 And it would be claimed that they were from the Far Kingdoms； which always produced guffaws all around。 Since it was known that there were wizards of great power hidden in the lonely places； these goods were generally ascribed to one or another of them。 But why； I suddenly wondered； was it considered more logical to believe in a sorcerer hiding in a swamp； a conjuror in a jungle； an enchanter on another mountaintop； rather than to theorize there might be a single source for these fineries？
I asked Janos the same question。 〃That's easy to answer；〃 he said。 〃Since when does any man or woman like to think that there is a person or place more gifted； more civilized； than where they e from？〃
I nodded。 〃Yes。 Certainly my father has reminded me often enough that when I go afield I should not brag loudly on the wonders of Orissa。 Boasting like that； even if it's true； gets nothing but resentment from bumpkins； even if they pretend to be awed as you boast。 Your argument is doing better than I thought it would； Captain Greycloak。 What is your third premise？〃
〃Perhaps we should find another wineshop before I tell it to you； since it seems to slide more easily down the craw with lubrication。 And rightly the tale
