cacb.thefarkingdoms-第60节
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ce； and I saw his head had fallen。 I plucked the tumbler of wine from his hand before it spilled； and as I crept out of the room I heard his first； weary snore。
One month later the expedition set forth。 Every craft that could be spared had been pressed into service to carry that mighty group to the sea。 The whole city turned out to see them off。 I stood on a hill near the bend as they passed； and am not ashamed to admit I felt a little regret I was not going with them。 But when the last ship had gone； and I turned toward home； I thought of Deoce and Emilie； and my step was suddenly very light。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Dark Seeker
WHAT I WRITE next is difficult。 I would pay almost any price if I could scrape this time from the scrolls of my life。 Orissa had been blessed by the gods for years。 Our sacrifices had been rewarded many times over： the harvest bountiful； the river quiescent； soldiers victorious； health excellent； and our children obedient。 Then the gods called in the debt。
For a short time after Janos left； my life was nothing but joy。 I spent every moment of free time…and robbed my business for more…with Deoce and Emilie。 My wife was all things to me： lover； partner； adviser； and friend。 She had a head for business and was beginning to e to the docks with me to help organize the trade to the lands Janos and I had opened up。 At home she was the delight of the servants…a much cheerier group now that they had been freed…for she relished diving into the work at hand； fearing no dark corners where cobwebs gather deep。 And sometimes she would surprise me at my desk and lure me away to a quiet； leafy bower where we made love as we had in the days of the valley of paradise。
Emilie proved to be as delightful a child as Deoce had predicted。 She was a merry little girl with plump cheeks； fair skin； and eyes alive with curiosity。 My heart ached when I heard her laugh； and the moment she came into my sight； she would cry out with delight and hug me with her chubby arms； and my senses would fill up to the overflowing as her laughter and milky perfume overwhelmed me。
〃You are clay in her hands；〃 Deoce would tease。 〃If there was ever a child who was her father's little girl； our Emilie is that toddler。 You had best be wary； my dear； or she will bee insufferably spoiled。〃
Of course； all was not blossoms under a spring sun。 There were problems： Deoce suffered a sprain； Emilie the colic； and a small cargo ship from the Northern Lands was lost。 Also when Janos set out； he left our enemies behind。 For a time； however； they were too fearful to do more than whisper foul charges。
There were things； however； that might have given us warning of what was about to e； but most of us had been lulled into sweet dreamings of the treasures that would soon pour forth from the Far Kingdoms。 The Kissing of the Stones had gone badly that season。 The criminal the Evocators crushed to bless the harvest was a starveling turned thief； who produced only a slender trickle of blood when he was ground between the two ancient stones。 Then we had many days of lightning storms that rent the air with their hot breath and set the dogs and lizards howling。 Afterward the dawning sun lighted the skies a fierce red； and thick black clouds swirled about making ghastly images。 The rumors also heated up。 There were stories that the second expedition had lost its way several times； that Janos was quarreling with his officers； and there was much immoral practicing of black magic whose only purpose was sexual。 And if the tales told on Janos weren't enough； we received travelers' reports that the Lycanthians were all astir； drilling their troops and talking of rebuilding the great wall we had torn down when we defeated them。 Still； except for idle tavern talk； we paid little mind； but just added it all to the general gossip； such as the odd lights and burning odors emanating from the citadel of the Evocators。 I did ask Rali about this； but her spy could only report that the Evocators were still feuding； except they were keeping their quarrel locked behind thick doors where even her presence would be suspect。
Then the first members of Janos' expedition returned home and put voice and person to the rumors attacking him。 They charged that he had bee a temperamental leader； who took no counsel other than his own and publicly humiliated those who opposed him。 They said not only had the expedition bee lost several times； but was still wandering about the countryside； losing baggage and treasure and victims to marauding tribes。 Most of this was believed to be nonsense； for the people who had returned were notorious sloths and cowards whom we all believed had only gone on the expedition to win easy glory。
Cassini； however； immediately seized this chance； and began making appearances again； berating Janos and doing his best to harm his reputation。 His supporters trickled out from under their rocks； and soon he became bold enough to participate in public rites。 In fact； he assisted Jeneander in the yearly rain ceremony； tinkling the silver bells that chimed like raindrops； as Jeneander cut the throat of a fat bullock。
The rain came on schedule…but it didn't stop。 Hour after hour it fell； and it came so thick you couldn't tell night from day； and all over Orissa we huddled in our homes and listened to the heavy drumming on our rooftops。 It was a cold rain； and we all had to keep fires burning constantly in our hearths； and it wasn't long before fuel became scarce。 A green mold flourished in the heavy rain； attacking our clothes and spoiling our food。 The Evocators rushed about casting spells to rid us of the mold； but no sooner had that abated than ants swarmed by the millions； pouring into our houses through every cranny； and driving us all mad with itching as we swept them off our walls； ourselves； and our children。
All these troubles were minor； however； pared to the sudden fright we all had when the river began to rise。 There was no one living who had known it to jump its banks； but there were old scars on the hillsides far from its bed that told an ancient tale of terror and destruction。 So when the river became a boiling mass of mud and debris that swept away one of the smaller docks； panic gripped the city。 After conferring with the Evocators； the Magistrates fetched a felon…who had slain his wife and children and then roasted them for a meal…from the cells。 The whole city was ordered out； and we all made a dreary parade down to the place of sacrifice。 We huddled in the rain； miserable and cold； as Jeneander and Cassini…along with a large contingent of Evocators…chanted river…taming spells for what seemed like an eternity。 Gamelan was absent； which said much to me。 Prevotant； that old thief； was present； which said even more。 The ceremony went badly： the incense pots wouldn't stay lighted； and when they tied the felon up； the knots kept undoing themselves。 The poor fellow shrieked and moaned and flung himself about； so we knew the numbing potion they'd fed him wasn't working。 People were frightened at all the mishaps； no one even laughed when Jeneander took a tumble in the mud while struggling with the sacrificial victim。 Some felt sorry for the man； there were mutterings that he'd only been driven mad by the rain； and wasn't that the fault of the Evocators； who should have known better than to order up so much？
Then Cassini stepped forward and clubbed him over the head with a log。 He and Jeneander grabbed him by the legs and arms； and without further ado； flung him into the water to drown。 Everyone went home unhappy and angry at the city's leadership。
To no one's surprise； the sacrifice failed…the river kept rising。 I rushed about with other men who made their living from the great stream。 We emptied the warehouses； hauled up the boats； and sent larger craft away。 When I went home late that night； the water was running into the warehouses。
Deoce shook me awake just before morning。 〃What is it？〃 I asked； ing up instantly…a habit I'd formed in my journey with Janos； and that I have kept to this day。 She stood by our bed in a white gown； Emilie clutched in her arms。 Deoce was pale and trembling。 Emilie's eyes were wide…in a moment she was certain to cry。
〃Listen；〃 was all Deoce said。
I heard a distant thundering…no； it was a roar。 Amidst that roar I could also hear the cracking and creaking sounds of large objects breaking up。 I jumped from the bed and flung open the window。 Even over the scudding rain； the sound was louder； but that rain was so thick； and the night so dark that I couldn't see what was happening。 I turned back to Deoce； knowing just the same。
〃It's the river。〃
〃Shall we flee？〃 Deoce's voice was shaking。 I had never seen her display fear before； then I realized she'd never lived by a river。
〃We're quite safe； here；〃 I assured her。 〃Besides the old embankment…which the river has rarely reached…there are many hills between us。〃
I was worried about the docks and warehouses； and I was more worried for the people who lived and worked by the river； but there was nothing I could do。 I was no god who could halt a flood。 So I pulled my wife and babe back into the bed and held them in my arms。 When the morning came； the rain
