cacb.thefarkingdoms-第35节

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y　offense　we　mitted　would　not　be　blamed　on　the　Shore　People。　They　slipped　away　into　the　night。　Cassini　looked　after　them；　an　odd　gleam　in　his　eye。　〃The　whipping　will　do　no　good；〃　he　said；　voice　low；　〃if　those　wizards　are　powerful　as　he　says。〃　He　opened　the　pack　he　brought　with　him　and　drew　out　the　things　we　had　spent　all　day　preparing。
　'Then　you　give　credence　to　his　tale　of　the　curse？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　would　be　a　fool　if　I　didn't〃　was　his　only　answer。　Janos　grunted。　I　knew　he　believed。　The　description　of　the　Watchers　on　horseback　was　too　close　to　what　he　had　witnessed　as　a　child。　We　stripped　to　the　skin　and　blackened　ourselves　with　charcoal　dust　so　as　to　avoid　any　evil　eye　that　might　fall　upon　us。　Cassini　whispered　a　spell　to　further　trick　any　ghosts。　We　slung　the　bundles　of　grass　rope　over　our　shoulders　and　climbed　up　the　steep　slope　of　the　bluff。　I　was　proud　of　my　rades　that　night。　Janos　moved　ahead；　silent　as　a　panther；　marking　the　way。　Cassini　followed；　brave　as　you　please；　a　gold　disc　held　ready　to　turn　back　any　spell　hurled　our　way。　His　long　bout　with　seasickness　and　his　general　hateful…ness　had　made　me　forget；　in　our　days　at　the　gymnasium；　Cassini　had　a　well…earned　reputation　as　a　brave　man。　As　for　me；　I　won't　say　I　was　brave；　but　merely　too　young　and　stupid　to　know　fear。
　Atop　the　bluff　was　a　broad；　rocky　plain。　But　instead　of　a　jumble　of　boulders　and　sharp　stones　to　test　our　feet；　the　ground　under　us　seemed　as　smooth　as　wizard…cast　glass。　The　way　became　easy；　and　we　moved　at　a　faster　pace。　We　could　barely　see　a　hand　before　our　face；　but　we　could　sense　that　great　cliff　Black　Shark　had　described　bulking　near。　The　gods　must　have　smiled；　for　the　moon　suddenly　brightened　behind　its　cloudy　veil；　and　we　came　to　a　jerky　stop　with　the　abyss　yawning　at　our　very　feet。
　〃We　must　be　insane；〃　I　whispered；　〃to　attempt　this　at　night。〃
　〃Enter　darkness　from　darkness；〃　Cassini　whispered　back。　〃That　is　the　rule。〃
　〃At　any　rate；〃　Janos　said　in　a　normal　voice；　that　made　us　jump；　〃we'll　soon　settle　the　argument　over　whether　a　ghost　can　or　cannot　see　at　night。〃
　〃Shush；〃　Cassini　hissed。　〃He　might　hear。〃
　〃I'd　almost　rather　he　did；〃　Janos　said；　〃If　we　creep　up　on　him；　he's　sure　to　think　we're　his　enemy。〃　But　this　came　as　a　whisper　just　the　same。　Cassini　motioned　for　the　bulky　pack　I　carried。　I　upended　it；　and　a　thick　bunch　of　dry　weed　tumbled　out。　Cassini　uncorked　a　flask　he　carried　on　a　string　tied　about　his　naked　hips　and　slowly　poured　a　foul…smelling　liquid　on　the　weed。　He　whispered　an　enchantment；　and　I　saw　something　glow　deep　inside　the　mass　of　weed。　A　flame　flickered；　and　as　it　burst　into　a　roaring　flame；　Cassini　quickly　kicked　the　whole　mass　over　the　side。
　We　watched　it　fall；　but　instead　of　diminishing　from　our　view；　the　fire　grew　larger　until　it　seemed　to　fill　the　rift　from　side　to　side。　Then　it　bounced；　exploded　into　black；　greasy　smoke；　and　came　to　rest。　Apparently　the　abyss　was　not　so　bottomless　after　all。　I　peered　down。　My　stomach　gave　a　lurch；　for　bottomless　or　not；　it　was　still　a　great　distance。　Janos　uncoiled　his　rope。　〃I'll　go　first；〃　he　said；　to　my　relief。
　〃What　if　this　isn't　the　right　spot？〃　I　asked。　Janos　merely　pointed。　Beyond　the　fire　I　saw　my　answer　in　a　flash　of　metal。　It　must　be　the　warrior。
　Going　second　was　small　consolation。　We　had　to　tie　all　three　ropes　together；　and　it　was　still　short　by　at　least　the　height　of　three　men。　But　before　I　could　ment；　Janos　looped　our　lifeline　about　a　boulder　and　swung　over　the　side。　He　quickly　slid　down；　reached　the　end；　kicked　away　from　the　side；　and　dropped。　I　heard　him　whisper　a　chant　and　saw　the　glow　of　light　beads。　I　followed；　my　hands　slipping　on　the　sweat　Janos'　grip　had　left。　It　should　have　been　easy。　I　was　skilled　at　such　things；　as　I　mentioned　before；　but　I　was　no　more　than　a　third　of　the　way　down　when　hopelessness　struck　me。　I　looked　down；　and　suddenly　the　light　on　the　canyon　floor　seemed　immeasurably　far。　The　gap　of　three　men's　height　suddenly　became　twenty；　then　a　hundred。　The　surface　of　the　rope　turned　to　slime；　and　I　plunged　down　at　a　great　speed。　I　kicked　out　to　slow　my　fall；　but　the　rock　my　feet　shattered　into　pebbles　and　dust。
　Janos　shouted；　and　his　shout　gave　my　fingers　strength　until　they　bit　through　the　slime；　and　I　came　to　a　jolting　stop。　My　hands　burned　with　the　heat　of　the　fall；　and　my　body　felt　like　it　had　been　gripped　by　a　great　weight。　Then　I　realized　my　eyes　were　closed　and　opened　them。　First　I　saw　Cassini's　face　peering　down；　pale　in　the　moonlight；　eyes　wide。　Oddly；　his　face　did　not　seem　that　far　away。　Then　I　looked　down。　I　was　the　same　distance　from　the　bottom　as　I　had　been　before　the　fall。
　〃It's　only　in　your　mind；〃　Janos　called；　anxiously。　〃A　spell　left　by　the　warrior's　friends。〃
　I　wanted　to　cry　out：　What　do　I　do？　I　am　no　sorcerer。　Cassini　emptied　a　pouch　over　the　side；　and　I　saw　the　glitter　of　magic　dust　floating　toward　me。　Soon　I　will　be　safe；　I　thought；　but　as　the　dust　descended　I　knew　it　would　not　reach　me　until　it　was　too　late。　The　feeling　of　hopelessness　caught　at　my　gut　again；　and　I　felt　my　fingers　slipping。　I　heard　a　voice；　just　at　my　ear。　〃Amalric；〃　it　whispered。　〃Do　not　fear。〃
　〃Halab？〃　I　cried；　for　I　thought　it　was　my　brother。
　〃Light　as　the　air；〃　the　voice　said。　〃Quick　as　a　falcon；　on　the　hunt。〃
　The　helplessness　fled；　my　fingers　found　their　grip；　and　then　the　dust　was　falling　across　my　shoulders。　I　broke　out　of　the　spell　like　a　drowning　man　kicking　his　way　to　air。　I　swung　down　the　rope　as　easily　as　a　tree　dweller。　At　its　bitter　end　I　dropped　the　rest　of　the　way　and　came　lightly　to　my　feet。　Janos　put　a　hand　on　my　shoulder。　〃Are　you　all　right；　Amalric？〃　he　asked。　For　a　moment　I　thought　his　voice　was　the　one　that　had　whispered　in　my　ear。　'Take　a　care；〃　Janos　said。　〃Cassini's　ing　down。〃　And　now　there　seemed　to　be　no　similarity　at　all。　I　stepped　aside　as　Cassini　dropped　beside　us。　Now　it　didn't　matter　whose　voice　it　was；　for　the　spell　was　broken；　and　we　were　all　safe　on　the　floor　of　the　bottomless　abyss。　There　was　no　time　for　self…congratulation；　for　the　silence　was　broken　by　the　splash　of　falling　liquid。　A　long　moment　later　we　heard　another　splash；　then　another。　The　sound　came　from　where　the　ancient　warrior　had　fallen。　No　sooner　had　we　puzzled　this　out　than　a　most　wondrous　odor　arose；　sweeter　than　any　flower；　richer　than　any　courtesan's　perfume。　We　walked　tentatively　toward　the　sound　and　scent。
　The　warrior's　body　lay　broken　across　a　large；　flat　stone。　His　corpse　could　be　clearly　seen　in　the　light　of　Cassini's　purifying　fire。　Janos　muttered　something；　and　although　I　couldn't　make　out　his　words；　I　knew　he　was　reacting　to　the　shape　of　the　armor　and　helm　the　corpse　was　wearing。　It　was　exactly　as　he　had　described　the　horsemen　of　his　childhood。　The　warrior　had　been　a　large　man；　taller　even　than　Janos；　with　wide　shoulders　and　thick　chest。　He　had　a　beaked　face；　like　a　bird　of　prey；　with　deep…set；　still…open　eyes　that　seemed　permanently　set　to　peer　into　vast　distances。　There　was　a　sword　strapped　to　his　waist；　and　a　broken　spear　lay　to　one　side。　His　body　shone　a　deep；　earthen　brown；　as　if　he　had　been　daubed　with　many　layers　of　paint。
　Cassini　pointed　upward；　and　we　saw　a　thick　drop　of　heavy　liquid　form　on　a　rock　that　hung　above　the　corpse。　It　gathered　into　a　bead　and　splashed　down　on　the　warrior。　As　it　broke；　the　sweet　odor　rose　again；　and　we　watched　in　fascination　as　the　drop　spread　across　the　warrior；　leaving　a　brown　trail　like　heavy　oil。　Janos　motioned　us　closer；　and　we　could　see　that　the　body　had　been　covered　and　preserved　by　the　liquid　falling　over　many　generations。　The　man　grimaced　up　at　us；　his　look　as　painfully　fresh　as　the　moment　he'd　died。
　〃I've　seen　insects　preserved　like　this；〃　Janos　said；　〃but　only　in　old　forests。　The　local　people　said　they　were　trapped　in　the　sap　running　from　the　trees；　they　sell　them　as　talismans　when　the　liquid　dries。　It's　called　amber；　I　believe。〃　Janos　touched　the　preserved　body；　curious。　〃A　warrior　in　amber；〃　he　mused。
　〃I　don't　see　any　trees　here；〃　I　said。　〃Only　stone。〃
　〃It　is　obviously　a　spell　his　panions　cast；〃　Cassini　said；　〃to　preserve　their　rade　from　the　elements。　Since　he　could　not　be　properly　laid　to　rest；　they　did　what　they　could　to　fort　his　ghost。〃
　Cassini　filled　a　gourd　with　coals　from　his　purifying　fire　and　shook　it　over　the　corpse。　Sparks　and　smoke　showered　as　Cassini　moved　around　the　stone；　chanting　soothing　words　to　placate　the　warrior's　ghost。　He　promised　a　handsome　shrine；　with　many　gifts　from　the　Shore　People　to　honor　him。　In　the　shadows　I　heard　a　long　sigh。　The　warrior's　eyes　seemed　to　glitter；　then　went　blank。　We　took　this　as　acceptance；　and　the　three　of　us　lifted　the　corpse　free　of　the　killing　stone。　He　came　up　so　easily；　I　nearly　fell。　The　body　was　lighter　than　a　child's；　empty　of　all　the　fluids　and　flesh　that　give　a　living　thing　weight。　As　we　laid　the　warrior　on　the　canyon　floor；　a　purse　fell　and　shattered；　spilling　its　contents。　There　were　a　few　old　coins；　pierced　for　trading　stock；　a　whetstone　for　the　sword；　and　what　appeared　to　be　a　roll　of　writing　linen。　My　hand　reflexed　for　it。　〃Wait；〃　Janos　warned。　But　one　finger　touched　before　I　could　snatch　my　hand　back。　A　corner　of　the　linen　crumpled　into　dust。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。　No　one　heard　me。
　〃It　looks　l