cacb.thefarkingdoms-第69节
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ed and reaching out。 I swear he but touched the other with his curled fingers in what might have been a lightning caress； but the man yowled agony； and doubled； shrilling； both hands clutching the angle of his jaw。 〃You will live；〃 my friend announced。 〃But the pain will remind you of me for a week。〃 The others helped their fellow away； and they found a refuge far across the cell。
〃Will they try again？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Janos said indifferently。 〃We will sleep but lightly anyway。 I can think of some words that will cause that straw underfoot to crackle like great trees being broken should anyone approach us。〃
Thus began the second phase of our imprisonment。 Somehow； as we dozed； the bodies of the men we had slain were removed from the cell without our hearing。 We were not bothered by the coterie of prisoners who ran the cell with their brutality。 I saw how they treated the weaker prisoners and wanted to intervene。 Janos forbade it。 〃We've carved our own niche in this little society of the damned。 They will leave us alone； so long as we don't interfere with their 。。。 interests。〃 I grudged the probable wisdom of what he said and tried not to listen to the sounds as they indulged themselves。 I found I could shut out those noises； just as my eyes could look out beyond the bars into the torture chamber and not see what agonies were being inflicted。 Twice prisoners from our cell were taken out and put on the rack。 Some of their fellows found this most entertaining。
We could not tell what was day nor what was night。 I tried to keep track by our meals； assuming we were fed the stinking gruel and rotten bread once a day。 Janos told me not to bother…another mon jailer's trick to weaken a prisoner was to feed him at irregular intervals。 He might eat three times in one day and think three days had passed； then not at all for three days and think the most interminable day of his life had just gone by。 I figured later we were in that foul cell almost a month。
We inquired about our fellow prisoners。 Some of them had offended the politics； such as they were； of the Archons or Lycanth； but most were mon criminals…of a particularly depraved nature； admittedly； but at least we weren't in the last citadel of the doomed。 This was confirmed when we saw one man released from the cell。 He babbled thanks； and tears； attempting to kiss the boot top of the guard who opened the cell door。
I knew we were being held here to further weaken our resolve。 I guessed that next would e the torture chamber。 〃Possibly；〃 Janos said。 〃Or possibly they will seclude us and smash at us with their full magical power。〃 I thought that reaffirmed that we were not in the worst part of the Archons' dungeons； but said nothing to Janos。 Neither of our spirits needed any further degradation。
Then came a lift。 A prisoner received a visitor！ It was a woman； a slattern who claimed to be his wife。 She was not only permitted to see him … the torture chamber's doors being； of course； shut during that time … but they were allowed to use the guardroom for a few minutes for their own purpose。 A few days later； if days they were； a man's brother came。 I noticed they spent most of their time drawing what looked to be plans of the inside of a building and talking in low tones。 We asked eagerly for details on visitation rights； and were told that with enough gold； any of the prisoners； except those imprisoned for their beliefs； might be allowed visitors。 Depending on the whims of the guard officer。 Sometimes there would be a price in addition to money； a prisoner said。 The slattern； he rather imagined； would have been required to attend to at least some of the guards' pleasures before seeing her 〃husband。〃
〃If someone from the outside can enter；〃 Janos mused softly； 〃then it might be possible for someone 。。。 two someones 。。。 from the inside to leave； might it not？ Before the third part of the Archons' plan is put into motion。〃
〃How？〃
〃I do not know；〃 he said。 〃Let me consider how we can cast for a visitor all our very own。〃 But we did not need a scheme。 Shortly afterward； our visitor came to us。 Two guards escorted a man into the chamber。 He was not tall； but very bulky and misshapen； shambling like a half man； half beast。 The guards bellowed for a prisoner； who grunted in surprise； then made his way to the bars。 I saw gold glint； and the guards left。 The misshapen one said a few words to the prisoner and then the man…a thug who'd been imprisoned for a particularly barbaric murder for hire…came over to us。
〃You。 He's for you。〃 I gasped； and then both Janos and I recognized the man outside the bars。 I should have known him earlier。 It was Greif； my nightmare warden and Janos' real…life procurer of sorcerous matter。 Again I heard that mellow bass voice curl out from the broken face。
〃Lord Antero。 Cap'n Greycloak。 Looks like th' wheel's e round 'gain； don't it？〃
〃How did you know that we were…〃 Janos began。
〃Seal it；〃 Greif said impatiently。 〃Greif gets all that's worth knowin' in Lycanth。 I heard； an' bought in； 'cause I know Rolfe； there； so there'll be no s'spicion a'terward。〃
〃Afterward？〃 I asked。
〃You too；〃 he said。 〃Keep it shut！ There ain't time！ Don't need t' be here； i' one a' th' Archons' Evocators has a spirit look…roun' down here。 An' I s'spec' Symeon's got his own wizards castin' warnin' spells aroun' you two； makin' sure you stay where b' put〃。
〃You can get us out？〃 Janos had figured out what Greif meant。 Greif smiled that twisted smile and nodded。
〃I can。 An' it'll cost； cost dear。 I know an Evocator a' my own。 Works th' dark side a' th' street； an' got read out for so doin'。 I'll need gold 。。。 gold eno' t' move me leagues beyond Lycanth； an' beyond th' reach a' th' wrath a' Symeon an' the Archons。〃
〃You'll have it；〃 I said。 〃And you'll have a new life。 In Orissa or wherever。 How much gold？〃
〃Half；〃 Greif announced firmly。 〃Half of all th' Antero gold。 Figure that for a headprice is cheap； there bein' no Antero's but th' sister with no interest in birthin'； an' brothers whose spawn won't stretch beyond th' countin' room。〃
〃You know a great deal about my family；〃 I said。
〃This'll be th' one chance I'll have；〃 Greif said。 〃Enough gold so there won't be no slut； nor boy neither； say nay t' what I pr'pose。 Gold so I can tell any watch officer t' shit in his hat； an' he'll do it； clap it on his head； claim it th' latest style； an' parade away with a smile！ Knowin' that； I done my studyin' afore I e to see you。〃
〃I have gold 。。。 a great deal of gold not far from Lycanth；〃 I said。 〃But it would take much time to convert half my holdings to cash； and then have the gold taken to where you want it。〃
〃And we don't have time either；〃 Janos put in。 〃The patience of the Archons is not known for being great。〃
〃Fact is；〃 Greif assented； 〃y're for th' Question； I heard； in a few days。 First over there…〃 And he nodded toward the closed doors to the torture chamber； and I realized he did； indeed； know a vast amount about this prison and our dilemma。 〃…then i' front a three Evocators； in triad。 Wi' th' Archons' full powers behin' them。 You'll break 。。。 an' there'll be nothin' left but a couple burned husks fitten for no more'n beggin' in th' streets after； assumin' they'll let you loose someyear。〃
〃So how do I make you rich； then？〃 I continued。 〃I don't expect you to trust me to make payment after we're out。 Speaking of that； just how will you be able to get us out； anyway？〃
〃You don't need t' be knowin' that；〃 Greif said。 〃As t' th' first； I do trust you。 Ain't never heard tale of any Antero breakin' his bond。 But I'll have gifts of y' both； t' ensure。 A bit a' blood； a bit a' hair； a bit a' skin； a bit a' y'r juices。 F'r insurance。〃
I looked at Janos。 He was expressionless。 What choice did we have？ Even if the escape attempt failed； what could be done to us？ They wouldn't kill 〃us； not until they found what they wanted。 So we'd most likely get no more than a beating； be returned to the cell； and our appointment with the inquisitors moved closer。 I stuck my hands through the bars； and Greif and I touched palms。
〃May m' eyes be stricken； may m' mouth be burned out； may m' ears seal'd； may m' life ended if I break this oath that I'll see y' both beyond this cell； an' walkin' free in th' world；〃 he said。 I repeated his oath； changing the last to 〃if I fail to reward this man as he deserves and heap him with the honor he shall have earned。〃
〃Now。 You wait。 You just wait；〃 and Greif went back down the corridor； shouting for the guards。
We did。 One bowl of gruel 。。。 another 。。。 and yet a third。 Janos stalked back and forth； unable to eat； unable to sleep。 I pretended calm； but wanted to follow his lead。
I woke to the sound of windroar； snapped awake； and saw Greif； pacing into the chamber。 He held； level with the ground； a staff of some sort。 I could hear him muttering as he approached。 The muttering…and windroar…stopped。 He whispered； and the bars slid open； the ancient rusted iron moving as smoothly as new…cast； greased steel。 Instantly Janos and I were out of the cell。 None of the other prisoners seemed to notice either the door opening； our exit； or the door closing。 Greif set the staff down； and took two hooded cloaks from
