cacb.thefarkingdoms-第31节
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ow many peoples and many cultures。〃
〃How did you e to be free； then？〃 I asked。
〃The Lycanthians are an evil lot and I despise them all；〃 Janos answered。 〃But they have one custom in which they are superior to the Orissans。 Lycanthians allow slaves to buy their freedom。 From there they can advance to any point in society。 That is what I did。 I saved my coin； did all I could to earn 。。。 or steal more。 And finally I had enough to purchase my freedom。 I always intended to return to my mother's homeland。 But pride kept me away a few more years。 Pride； and more。〃
He fingered the dancing…girl necklace again。 〃This is what kept me from going mad all those years；〃 he said。 〃I dreamed of the Far Kingdoms on countless nights； imagining it to be a wondrous place； where all my suffering would cease。 I envisioned it a place set above the dwellings of the gods。 A place where no one is slave to another； and all words are spoken in kindness。 Wherever I went； whatever I did； the goal of finding the Far Kingdoms motivated my actions。 It was a boy's imaginings。 But it hardened into something much more。 I swore in my lifetime I would see it for myself。 So I stayed with the Lycanthians； and rose to captain in their ranks。 Once again I set aside funds； until I had enough to finally quit the city。〃
〃Dreams would not have kept me from going mad；〃 I said。 I spoke with great assurance； for I could not imagine myself a slave to another man。
〃You would be surprised； my friend；〃 Janos said； 〃what a person will do for just one more breath of life。 As for madness； perhaps I am。 But； as I said； any sanity I do possess I owe to my dream。 I studied languages。 I examined people so I could see them from every direction as well as into their hearts。 And you will not be amazed to know； for I have seen your looks when I practiced in my quiet corner of this ship； that I developed an unseemly interest in the Evocator's art。 I spoke with shamans in distant villages； studied the habits of barbarian priests。 I hope you will still call me friend when I confess I have a small knowledge of wizardry and have pored over ancient texts。〃
〃I guessed as much when you gave me the ferret's tooth；〃 I said。 〃And although I know the Evocators say it is evil for mon men to practice their skills； my own view of those whoresons is so dismal the sin you admit seems slight to me。〃 I said this boldly； but an honest shiver in my guts remembered Janos' lie when questioned by the Evocators。 I prayed there would be no discovery of that lie。
I covered my uneasiness with a laugh； and I refilled our goblets。 I toasted； 〃To new friends and old enemies；〃 I said。 Janos' cup clinked against mine。
〃What of the winds？〃 I asked； circling back to the beginning。 〃When do you think they will e？〃
Janos shrugged。 〃When we're the least ready；〃 he answered。 Then he turned over and slept。
The next morning we awoke to find the ship mired in a vast bed of seaweed。 It stretched beyond view in every direction。 When we saw how we were caught； some began to despair of ever escaping。 The smell of decay was overpowering。 But not so overpowering as the feeling that we were being watched。 The feeling grew into certainty when a sailor cried out； and we saw two huge eyes poking up from the seaweed。 The eyes were no more than a ship's length off our port bow。 We came to know those eyes well。 They were yellow and shot with roped veins of red。 As they observed； there was a constant bubble and moil beneath the surface； as if the creature were feeding。 The captain ordered one of the crewmen to climb atop the mast to see if he could make out more of the creature from the heights。 As he climbed； the creature's eyes rolled slowly back； following him。
Just before he reached the top； an enormous； purplish cable of flesh shot out of the water。 The sailor screamed as the tongue… for that's what it was； and covered with small； sharp teeth… wrapped around him and plucked him； howling with fear； from the mast。 He wriggled and fought as the tongue pulled him down into the water and to the still…unlimned creature。 There came one more burbling scream as he disappeared。 There was a small struggle； and blood welled。 The eyes went back to their task 。。。 watching us。
Night slashed down； as black a night as I had ever seen。 We could not see the creature's eyes； much less ourselves； but we knew we were still being watched。 I heard men weeping。 I heard frightened whisperings。 I heard someone shout； 〃It's the redhead the fiend wants！〃 Janos had Sergeant Maeen assemble the soldiers。 From their voices they were as frightened as the sailors。 Maeen calmed them； steeling them against the night。 But we did not know in which direction the most danger threatened…from the watcher in the sea； or from our own kind。
I fell into a troubled sleep。 It was a dream of strange voices； but no images。 There were constant whispers； whose nature I could not determine； but I knew they were discussing my fate。 A ghastly light crept in。 The light grew into blue flames that leaped higher and higher； as if fanned by wizardry。 I wanted to run； but my limbs were heavy stone columns。 There came a shout that hammered my soul； and the two Archons of Lycanth burst out of the flames。 〃Arise the winds；〃 one of them called； and his voice was thunder。
〃From the north and the south；〃 the other cried； 〃east and west。 Gather ye winds。 Gather。〃 His voice was lightning。
〃Seek the redheaded one；〃 the thunderer manded。 〃And the one known as Greycloak。 Find them on the seas where no wind blows。〃
〃Blow foul； blow fierce；〃 the other said。 〃Then fiercer and fouler still。 Blow； ye winds。 Blow。〃 A black cloud exploded out of the flames； and the Archons were gone。 The cloud was bristling with black forces； swirling this way and that。 Then I could see the Archons in the cloud。 They were pointing at me！ 〃Blow ye winds； blow！〃 came their great shout。 The black cloud howled toward me。
I bolted awake； dripping sour sweat。 It was morning。 I looked about； still shaken from my dream； and saw the other men were rising from the deck。 They were smiling。 I felt a cool breeze fan my cheek； the reason for their smiles。 Janos clapped me on the back。 〃Our luck has returned；〃 he cried。 〃The winds are back。〃 The seamen leaped to obey Captain L'ur's mands。 Soon the lateen stirred in the gathering breeze。 I ran to the side and saw that the watcher was gone…and the wind was parting the floating mass of seaweed。 There came a boom as the sail filled； and the Kittiwake leaped forward。 I heard the men cheer； but I did not feel the same joy。 For looming up on the horizon was the great cloud of my dream； if it was a dream and not a vision of our fate。 My answer came as the cloud turned black and fierce and filled the sky。 Janos shouted； but his words were whipped away as the wind went from stiff breeze to a demon storm that Sifted the seas and smashed them against the ship。 The cries of joy turned to screams。 A line snapped and lashed past； scarring the deck。 I dropped to the planks to escape the wind's blast。 A body slammed into mine； and I grabbed and held the man down as the wind fought to tear him away。 I saw； as he found a secure hold； the man was Janos。
A great hand lifted the ship and flung us forward。 The Kittiwake buried itself in a wave； and we all nearly drowned as the seas poured over us。 She struggled up； and I felt weightless as she flew across the waves。 We clung to whatever holds we had found for hour after hour as the storm raged without stop。 Many times we were underwater so long； I prayed to the gods for gills like a fish。 Somehow we always emerged； as the Kittiwake refused to surrender to the Archons' winds。 We were； Captain L'ur gasped in my ear； far beyond Redond； in unknown seas。 Ahead must lie the cursed Pepper Coast！ No one dared lower the sail； and perhaps this saved us。 Or perhaps the pig's blood Cassini had offered was enough to appease the local gods； because the lateen held as if woven by sorcerous threads and kept us flying across the seas。
A fist hammered my shoulder； and I turned to see Janos pointing。 I looked up； I heard a dry crack； and the mast split just above the step。 If it gave； all was lost。 Janos was pulling at me； screaming words I couldn't hear。 I knew their intent…somehow we had to save the mast。 We struggled forward。 I believed Janos had gone mad； for he seized a thick length of line and began wrapping it about the mast。 I thought it a useless reinforcement that would only hold for a moment or two。
This time I heard his shout； 〃Help； me； Amalric！〃 Thinking these were my last moments of life； I did as he indicated； wrapping lines around the growing split hi the mast。 Janos tore an iron marlinespike from a rack and pushed it through the rope。 He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out an object that dangled from the end of a string。 I realized that it was a ferret's tooth； the tooth meant for poor Eanes。 Janos wrapped the necklace about the spike； closed his eyes； and chanted mightily； stroking the tooth as he chanted。 The mast gave another crack； and the sail gave a terrible clatter。 But before it could give way； I felt the rope lines harden and tighten under my hands； until they became as strong as new forged steel； and the mast held f
