cacb.thefarkingdoms-第58节
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nue to toil； and so on。 Halab encountered the ultimate barrier when he tried to bee an Evocator。〃
〃It is a very difficult city for someone with dreams；〃 Deoce agreed。
〃You hit it square；〃 I said。 〃Dreams are not forbidden in Orissa； but they are certainly not encouraged。 Oh； we fool ourselves。 We delight in the saucy talk and sassing the mon folk give us lords and ladies。 But let that sass bee more than a charming eccentricity； and that man or woman is done。〃
〃What do you propose to do about it？〃 she asked。
〃I would start with the lowest of the low；〃 I said。 〃I would free the slaves。 Remove that barrier and the flood will start。 Then all the dams will give way as each class thunders downriver to e against the next； until 。。。 Well； who knows。 Perhaps someday even a slave could bee a lord or lady。〃
Deoce delighted me with a glowing smile of approval that gave me as much pleasure as any feeling I have had in my life。 She said； 〃Speaking as a woman who was almost a slave； and as a woman in Orissa I am all but a slave in every place except this house； I heartily agree。 Our bold friend； Janos Greycloak； is an example of what a slave can achieve。〃
〃Freeing our own would be a small start；〃 I said。 〃We would have to be quiet about it at the start； for I fear a loud public announcement would raise so many passions that it would jeopardize the plan。〃
〃That is wise；〃 she said。 〃If we let it be known to a few at a time； and let that news go from trickle to torrent； it will have a greater effect。〃
〃The only trouble is my brothers；〃 I said。 〃For the Anteros must free all their slaves to make the point。 There will be a great family fight。〃
〃Good。 It will get their blood going。 Your brothers need a shaking up。 They've lived off your father's and now your boldness far too long。〃
My brothers did not take it well。 The Antero family owned perhaps one hundred and fifty souls； most of whom were either very expensive household slaves； skilled dockside or farm laborers； or educated clerks and managers。 By freeing them we would reduce the value of our family's wealth by one fifth。 My oldest brother； Porcemus； was the most opposed。 He was twice my age and of all of us most closely resembled my father； but with weaker features。 〃Your plan is insane；〃 he said。 〃You will beggar us。 Who will take the slaves' places？ Think of the wages； man！ We simply cannot afford it。〃
I said； 〃Money is not the question here。 If a thing is right； then it should be done whatever the expense。 However； if you insist 。。。〃 I took a ledger from the stack before me。 〃Review the figures I have collected and you will see it is cheaper to employ a man than to enslave him。 A free man pays for his own keep。And he works harder； because he can improve his lot； whereas a slave will always be a slave； so why should he trouble himself？〃 I opened the document and tapped a column of figures。 〃See； here； Porcemus。 Your orchard production has remained at nearly the same level for fifteen years。 Only once did it change； and that season showed an increase。〃 He looked at the figures； frowning。 〃This was the year when the fever laid all your slaves low；〃 I continued。 〃We had to hire free men and women to do their work。 And the harvest was greater； wasn't it？ There was also less spoil； because they worked faster and harder to earn more money。〃
There were murmurs of surprise among my brothers。 Porcemus； however； was stubborn as only a small…minded man can be。 〃You can't make such a judgment examining only one season；〃 he said。
〃I didn't。〃 I pushed the stack of ledgers over for him to study if he wished。 〃I found many other instances where similar parisons can be drawn。 Over the years our profits are always greater when we pay a fair wage； instead of using a slave。 To be fair； I did not include the trade our ships carry； although that is the bulk of our earnings。 As you know； we rarely use slaves in the trading business 。。。 for the reasons I just gave。 Even the least skilled trader knows there is no greater motive than profit。〃
〃I still say a demon has invaded you；〃 Porcemus said。 〃Why； if everyone freed their slaves； we would immediately double the number of citizens。 Most of our people are already an ignorant and filthy lot。 Now； we would have nearly thirty thousand more。 Anarchy would reign。 It would be the end of Orissa as we know it。〃 He angrily shoved the books back at me。 〃Hasn't our family suffered enough？ First； Halab 。 。。 and now 。。。 you。〃
I had expected an attack on myself； I was prepared for it and planned to be calm and reasonable。 It was not strange that my brothers would be jealous that one so young as myself had been handed over the leadership of our family。 The attack on Halab caught me by surprise； and I acted foolishly； slamming up from the table； the chair crashing to the floor。 〃If you were not of my blood；〃 I said； 〃I would kill you where you sit。〃
Porcemus turned a ghastly white。 My other brothers tried to calm me。 But it was not their words that soothed me； it was the sight of Porcemus' frightened face。 I was strong in my anger； and I could feel the easy play of my muscles； which had been tempered and tuned for violence during my long journey。 What a helpless lot； I thought。 Then my anger fled。 Ah； well； I thought again。 They are a burden； but what of it？ They were a burden to your father as well； and he trusted you to shoulder it when he handed over responsibility。
I sighed； picked up the chair； and set it in place。 〃I am sorry for my anger； brother；〃 I said。 〃Now； I would like your agreement on my plan。 To ease your pain； I propose to repay you the value of your slaves from my own pocket。〃 I turned to the others。 〃Will that suffice？〃 There were noises of acceptance all around。 Porcemus became very friendly； hugged me； and apologized； and then they all left。
That is how I； Amalric Emilie Antero； became the first to free the slaves in Orissa。 It was not a proud moment； for it all still was measured by greed； but at least it was done。 I settled back and waited for the reaction。 The first was most unexpected。 It came from Tegry。
〃What have you done？〃 he thundered。
I was taken aback； slaves do not speak that way to their owners。 Then I remembered he was a slave no more。 This would take much getting used to； especially with someone I disliked as much as Tegry； whom I had only kept on because of my father。
〃Calm yourself； Tegry；〃 I said。 〃Explain my error； and I will do my best to correct it。〃
〃You 。。。 you 。。。 freed me！〃
I am sure my expression resembled a gaping fish。 〃What is wrong with that？〃 I sputtered。 〃I freed all of the slaves。〃
Tegry's eyes filled with hatred。 〃I have worked all my life to reach my present position；〃 he gritted。 〃And now it is gone。 You have stolen my pride。〃
〃How did I do this？ You still have your job； but at a salary。 And you are still master of the affairs that were in your domain before。〃
〃I 。。。 I 。。。 defecate on your salary！ I've stolen more in a day； as is my right； then you pay me in eight。 As for my position； I now have no authority over the servants。 No real authority。 You have freed them； you fool。 When I order them to work； they laugh in my face if they do not like my manner。 Only this moment I took a whip to a stable hand； and the bastard had the audacity to rip it from my hand。 And then he 。。。 he quit。 He left。 There is no way I can order him back； because he no longer is required to obey。〃
〃You'll just have to adopt an easier manner；〃 I answered。 〃If you are unhappy with your pay； why； I can raise it。 But not eight times。 That； Tegry； is more theft than is your right。 But I'll double it； and we'll let bygones be…〃
〃No； you won't；〃 Tegry shouted。 〃If I am free； then I will not work for such a man as yourself。 I warned your father。 But he wouldn't listen。 Very well； then； if a stable hand can do it 。。。 so can I。 Lord Antero； I resign my position。 I will be gone within the hour； and you will be a sorry man that you so abused me。〃 He turned on his heel and stalked out。
Although we did not announce my actions loudly； word spread quickly enough； and there was much hot talk about that 〃crazy Antero〃 who freed his slaves。 But soon others took my side； especially young businessmen； who could see my point about higher profits。 Some of them freed their slaves； and then the profit point took on a tone of morality and civic pride。
〃They are saying if barbarians like the Lycanthians can allow their slaves to purchase their freedom；〃 Janos reported with much laughter； 〃then Orissa can certainly go them one better。〃
〃I only hope it hasn't injured your cause；〃 I said。
〃Actually； it has improved it；〃 Janos said。 〃The same people who support me are the ones most likely to free their slaves。 So it turns out we are walking hand in hand again； as if we were back to our trek。〃 Not that all went perfectly。 Hot words turned to brawls now and then。 Many owners became angry when they were accosted on the street by former slaves who berated them for not freeing the people in their keep。
Then a public meeting was called at the Great Amphitheater。 It was announced that a second expedition to the Far Kingdoms had been approved； and there would be public discussion on who would lead it。 On
