the path of the king-第14节

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re　strange　folk；　with　　eyes　like　pebbles　and　squat　frames　and　short；　broad　faces；　but　each　horse　　and　man　moved　in　unison　like　a　centaur。　

With　gestures　of　respect　the　Tartars　signalled　to　the　Christians　to　　follow；　and　led　them　for　a　day　and　a　night　southward　down　a　broad　valley；　　where　vines　and　fruit　trees　grew　and　peace　dwelt　in　villages。　They　passed　　encampments　of　riders　like　themselves；　and　little　scurries　of　horsemen　　would　ride　athwart　their　road　and　exchange　greetings。　On　the　second　　morning　they　reached　a　city；　populous　in　men　but　not　in　houses。　For　miles　　stretched　lines　of　skin　tents；　and　in　the　heart　of　them　by　the　river's　　edge　stood　a　great　hall　of　brick；　still　raw　from　the　builders。　

Aimery　sat　erect　on　his　weary　horse　with　the　hum　of　an　outlandish　host　　about　him；　himself　very　weary　and　very　sick　at　heart。　For　the　utter　folly　　of　it　all　had　come　on　him　like　the　waking　from　a　dream。　These　men　were　no　　allies　of　the　West。　They　were　children　of　the　Blue　Wolf；　as　the　Constable　　had　said；　a　monstrous　brood；　swarming　from　the　unknown　to　blight　the　　gardens　of　the　world。　A　Saracen　compared　to　such　was　a　courteous　knight。　。　　。　。　He　thought　of　Kublai；　the　greater　Khakan。　Perhaps　in　his　court　might　　dwell　gentlehood　and　reason。　But　here　was　but　a　wolf　pack　in　the　faraway　　guise　of　man。　

They　gave　the　strangers　food　and　drinkhalfcooked　fish　and　a　porridge　of　　rye　and　sour　spiced　milk；　and　left　them　to　sleep　until　sundown。　Then　the　　palace　guards　led　them　to　the　presence。　

The　hall　was　immense；　dim　and　shapeless　like　the　inside　of　a　hill；　not　　built　according　to　the　proportions　of　mankind。　Flambeaux　and　wicks　　floating　in　great　basins　of　mutton　fat　showed　a　dense　concourse　of　　warriors；　and　through　an　aisle　of　them　Aimery　approached　the　throne。　In　　front　stood　a　tree　of　silver；　springing　from　a　pedestal　of　four　lions　　whose　mouths　poured　streams　of　wine；　syrup；　and　mead　into　basins；　which　　were　emptied　by　a　host　of　slaves；　the　cup…bearers　of　the　assembly。　There　　were　two　thrones　side　by　side；　on　one　of　which　sat　a　figure　so　motionless　　that　it　might　have　been　wrought　of　jasper。　Weighted　with　a　massive　　head…dress　of　pearls　and　a　robe　of　gold　brocade；　the　little　grandchild　of　　Prester　John　seemed　like　a　doll　on　which　some　princess　had　lavished　wealth　　and　fancy。　The　black　eyelashes　lay　quiet　on　her　olive　cheeks；　and　her　　breathing　did　not　stir　her　stiff；　jewelled　bodice。　

〃I　have　seen　death　in　life；〃　thought　Aimery　as　he　shivered　and　looked　　aside。　

Houlagou；　her　husband；　was　a　tall　man　compared　with　the　others。　His　face　　was　hairless；　and　his　mouth　fine　and　cruel。　His　eyes　were　hard　like　　agates；　with　no　light　in　them。　A　passionless　power　lurked　in　the　low　broad　　forehead；　and　the　mighty　head　sunk　deep　between　the　shoulders；　but　the　　power　not　of　a　man；　but　of　some　abortion　of　nature；　like　storm　or　　earthquake。　Again　Aimery　shivered。　Had　not　the　prophets　foretold　that　one　　day　Antichrist　would　be　reborn　in　Babylon？　

Among　the　Ilkhan's　scribes　was　a　Greek　who　spoke　a　bastard　French　and　　acted　as　interpreter。　King　Louis'　letter　was　read；　and　in　that　hall　its　　devout　phrases　seemed　a　mockery。　The　royal　gifts　were　produced；　the　　tent…chapel　with　its　woven　pictures　and　the　sacred　utensils。　The　　half…drunk　captains　fingered　them　curiously；　but　the　eyes　from　the　throne　　scarcely　regarded　them。　

〃These　are　your　priests；〃　said　the　Khakan　〃Let　them　talk　with　my　priests　　and　then　go　their　own　way。　I　have　little　concern　with　priestcraft。〃　

Then　Aimery　spoke；　and　the　Greek　with　many　haltings　translated。　He　　reminded　Houlagou　of　the　Tartar　envoys　who　had　sought　from　his　King　　instruction　in　the　Christian　faith　and　had　proclaimed　his　baptism。　

〃Of　that　I　know　nothing；〃　was　the　answer。　〃Maybe　'twas　some　whim　of　my　　brother　Kublai。　I　have　all　the　gods　I　need。〃　

With　a　heavy　heart　Aimery　touched　on　the　proposed　alliance；　the　advance　on　　Bagdad；　and　the　pinning　of　the　Saracens　between　two　fires。　He　spoke　as　he　　had　been　ordered；　but　with　a　bitter　sense　of　futility；　for　what　kind　of　　ally　could　be　looked　for　in　this　proud　pagan？　

The　impassive　face　showed　no　flicker　of　interest。　

〃I　am　eating　up　the　Caliphs；〃　he　said；　〃but　that　food　is　for　my　own　table。　　As　for　allies；　I　have　need　of　none。　The　children　of　the　Blue　Wolf　do　not　　make　treaties。〃　

Then　he　spoke　aside　to　his　captains；　and　fixed　Aimery　with　his　agate　eyes。　　It　was　like　listening　to　a　voice　from　a　stone。　

〃The　King　of　France　has　sent　you　to　ask　for　peace。　Peace；　no　doubt；　is　　good；　and　I　will　grant　it　of　my　favour。　A　tribute　will　be　fixed　in　gold　　and　silver；　and　while　it　is　duly　paid　your　King's　lands　will　be　safe　from　　my　warriors。　Should　the　tribute　fail；　France　will　be　ours。　I　have　heard　　that　it　is　a　pleasant　place。〃　

The　Ilkhan　signed　that　the　audience　was　over。　The　fountains　of　liquor　　ceased　to　play；　and　the　drunken　gathering　stood　up　with　a　howling　like　　wild　beasts　to　acclaim　their　King。　Aimery　went　back　to　his　hut；　and　sat　　deep　in　thought　far　into　the　night。　

He　perceived　that　the　shadows　were　closing　in　upon　him。　He　must　get　the　　friars　away；　and　with　them　a　message　to　his　master。　For　himself　there　　could　be　no　return；　for　he　could　not　shame　his　King　who　had　trusted　him。　　In　the　bestial　twilight　of　this　barbaric　court　the　memory　of　Louis　shone　　like　a　star。　He　must　attempt　to　reach　Kublai；　of　whom　men　spoke　well；　　though　the　journey　cost　him　his　youth　and　his　life。　It　might　mean　years　of　　wandering；　but　there　was　a　spark　of　hope　in　it。　There；　in　the　bleak　hut；　　he　suffered　the　extreme　of　mental　anguish　A　heavy　door　seemed　to　have　　closed　between　him　and　all　that　he　held　dear。　He　fell　on　his　knees　and　　prayed　to　the　saints　to　support　his　loneliness。　And　then　he　found　comfort；　　for　had　not　God's　Son　suffered　even　as　he；　and　left　the　bright　streets　of　　Paradise　for　loneliness　among　the　lost？　

Next　morning　he　faced　the　world　with　a　clearer　eye。　It　was　not　difficult　　to　provide　for　the　Franciscans。　They；　honest　men；　understood　nothing　save　　that　the　Tartar　king　had　not　the　love　of　holy　things　for　which　they　had　　hoped。　They　explained　the　offices　of　the　Church　as　well　as　they　could　to　　ribald　and　uncomprehending　auditors；　and　continued　placidly　in　their　　devotions。　As　it　chanced；　a　convoy　was　about　to　start　for　Muscovy；　whence　　by　ship　they　might　come　to　Constantinople。　The　Tartars　made　no　objection　　to　their　journey；　for　they　had　some　awe　of　these　pale　men　and　were　glad　to　　be　quit　of　foreign　priestcraft。　With　them　Aimery　sent　a　letter　in　which　he　　told　the　King　that　the　immediate　errand　had　been　done。　but　that　no　good　　could　be　looked　for　from　this　western　Khakan。　〃I　go；〃　he　said；〃　to　Kublai　　the　Great；　in　Cathay；　who　has　a　heart　more　open　to　God。　If　I　return　not；　　know；　Sire；　that　I　am　dead　in　your　most　loving　service；　joyfully　and　　pridefully　as　a　Christian　knight　dies　for　the　Cross；　his　King；　and　his　　lady。〃　He　added　some　prayers　on　behalf　of　the　little　household　at　　Beaumanoir　and　sealed　it　with　his　ring。　It　was　the　ring　he　had　got　from　　his　father；　a　thick　gold　thing　in　which　had　been　cut　his　cognisance　of　　three　lions'　heads。　

This　done；　he　sought　an　audience　with　the　Ilkhan；　and　told　him　of　his　　purpose。　Houlagou　did　not　speak　for　a　little；　and　into　his　set　face　seemed　　to　creep　an　ill…boding　shadow　of　a　smile。　〃Who　am　I；〃　he　said　at　length；　　〃to　hinder　your　going　to　my　brother　Kublai？　I　will　give　you　an　escort　to　　my　eastern　borders。〃　

Aimery　bent　his　knee　and　thanked　him；　but　from　the　courtiers　rose　a　hubbub　　of　mirth　which　chilled　his　gratitude。　He　was　aware　that　he　sailed　on　very　　desperate　waters。　

Among　the　Tartars　was　a　recreant　Genoese　who　taught　them　metal　work　and　　had　once　lived　at　the　court　of　Cambaluc。　The　man　had　glimmerings　of　　honesty；　and　tried　hard　to　dissuade　Aimery　from　the　journey。　〃It　is　a　　matter　of　years；〃　he　told　him；　〃and　the　road　leads　through　deserts　greater　　than　all　Europe　and　over　mountains　so　high　and　icy　that　birds　are　frozen　　in　the　crossing。　And　a　word　in　your　ear；　my　lord。　The　Ilkhan　permits　few　　to　cross　his　eastern　marches。　Beware　of　treason；　I　say。　Your　companions　　are　the　blood…thirstiest　of　the　royal　guards。〃　

But　from　the　Genoese　he　obtained　a　plan　of　the　first　stages　of　the　road；　　and　one　morning　in　autumn　he　set　out　from　the　Tartar　city；　his　squire　from　　the　Boulonnais　by　his　side；　and　at　his　back　a　wild　motley　of　horsemen；　　wearing　cuirasses　of　red　leather　stamped　with　the　blue　wolf　of　Houlagou's　　house。　

October　fell　chill　and　early　in　those　uplands；　and　on　the　fourth　day　they　　came　into　a　sprinkling　of　snow。　At　night　round　the　fires　the　Tartars　made　　merry；　for　they　bad　strong　drink　in　many　skin　bottles；　and　Aimery　was　left　　to　his　own　cold　meditations。　If　he　had　had　any　hope；　it　was　gone　now；　for　　the　escort　made　it　clear　that　he　was　their　prisoner　Judging　from　the　chart　　of　the　Genoese；　they　were　not　following　any　road　to　Cambaluc；　and　the　　sight　of　the　sky　told　him　that　they　were　circling　round　to　the　south。　The　　few　Tartar　words　he　had　learned　were　not　enough　to　communicate　with　them；　　and　in　any　case　it　was　clear　that　they　would　take　no　orders　from　him。　He　　was　trapped　like　a　bird　in　the　fowler's　hands。　Escape　was　folly；　for　in　an　　hour　their　swift　horses　wo