cacb.thefarkingdoms-第105部分

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ng。　And　if　once　I　saw　him：　if　only　he　would　listen。　And　if　he　listened：　if　only　he　would　find　favor　with　my　proposals。　And　if　he　finds　favor　if　only…〃
　〃I　take　the　point；〃　Janos　said　dryly。　〃Too　well；　in　fact。　The　word　will　haunt　my　dreams　。。。　if　I　should　ever　sleep　again。〃
　Laughter　returned　to　lighten　our　worry。　I　eased　back　in　my　soft；　gilded　pillows　and　wondered　again　at　the　Holy　Mountain。　I　thought　of　the　altars　of　the　Old　Ones　Utorian　had　mentioned；　and　the　ceremonies　they　once　held　to　honor　the　wisest　of　their　Evocators　after　the　Dark　Seeker　had　taken　his　due。　For　a　moment　I　imagined　the　smoke　rising　from　their　ashes　on　the　flaming　stone；　and　I　imagined　the　wind　carrying　the　smoke　away。　To　the　east；　Utorian　had　said。　〃Why　to　the　east？〃　I　murmured。
　〃East　of　what？〃　Janos　asked。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said；　embarrassed　by　my　rude　reverie。　〃A　bit　of　silliness；　which　forced　idleness　seems　to　encourage。〃
　Janos　had　other　things　on　his　mind　as　well。　He　waved　at　the　river；　which　flowed　past　in　manded　peacefulness　and　beauty。　〃They　think　they　are　such　a　superior　people；〃　he　said；　〃and　show　us　grand　marvels；　such　as　that　tame　river；　to　prove　it。〃
　〃It　seems　a　marvel　to　me；〃　I　said。
　Janos　snorted。　〃Only　the　scale　is　a　marvel。　The　principle　is　as　plain　as　honest　soap。　We　routinely　calm　small　areas　about　our　own　ships；　when　conditions　are　right；　just　as　we　call　winds　from　bags　we　buy　on　the　market　to　fill　our　sails。　It　is　only　a　bit　of　wind；　but　there　is　no　difference　between　the　logic　applied　to　that　wind；　and　what　they　surely　must　do　to　bend　the　weather　to　their　will。〃
　〃Could　you　do　it？〃　I　asked。
　Janos　shrugged。　〃With　experiment；　yes；　I　could　crack　their　methods。　But　I　would　also　have　to　figure　out　where　they　get　all　the　energy　required。　Even　with　a　thousand　Evocators　focusing　all　their　powers　on　a　single　purpose；　only　a　tenth　of　the　energy　needed　would　be　produced。〃
　〃But　our　Evocators　are　weaklings　next　to　theirs；〃　I　said。
　〃Nonsense；〃　Janos　replied。　〃Oh；　I　admit　these　fellows　have　more　knowledge；　and　a　few；　such　as　Raveline；　possess　great　natural　power　of　their　own。　But　I　have　as　much　as　he；　and　am　capable　of　far　more。〃　I　knew　he　was　not　boasting；　but　making　a　statement　of　fact。　〃Still；　even　if　all　of　their　wizards　were　as　great　as　Raveline；　the　power　would　still　be　lacking。　Therefore；　they　must　get　it　elsewhere。　And　when　I　know　where；　so　shall　I。〃
　〃But　we　have　seen　more　than　river　and　weather；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　wondrous　magic　wherever　we　look。〃
　'Toys　and　tavern　tricks；〃　Janos　scoffed。　〃Once　again　on　a　larger　scale。　There　are　written　rules　for　all　the　spells　we　have　seen。　If…that　damned　word　again…I　am　allowed　to　see　the　scrolls　of　the　ancient　wizards；　I　will　perform　those　tricks　as　well。〃
　〃Is　there　nothing　that　impresses　you？〃　I　asked　Janos。
　〃Oh；　to　be　sure；〃　he　said。　〃Otherwise　I　would　despair。　I　have　seen　many　things　that　I　ache　for　knowledge　of。　To　name　one：　did　you　know　they　can　transmute　mon　elements　into　gold？〃
　I　laughed。　〃What　do　you　care？　Gold　has　never　been　something　you　fancied；　except　as　a　means　to　an　end。〃
　Janos　remained　serious。　〃Forget　the　value。　Although　any　ordinary　element　will　do；　they　make　it　from　sand；　as　that　substance　is　the　most　plentiful；　and　they　do　it　with　such　ease　and　in　such　quantities；　they　use　gold　in　mon　construction。　They　even　prefer　jewelry　of　gold　alloy；　which　they　can　only　get　from　manufacture；　because　it　is　not　so　soft。　It　is　the　doing　that　excites　my　interest。〃
　〃I　saw　you　change　a　scorpion　into　a　mouse　once；〃　I　said。　〃And　Mortacious　made　the　mouse　a　gold　plate。　Why　is　sand　to　gold　a　greater　feat？〃
　Janos　thought　for　a　moment；　searching　for　a　means　to　explain　a　plicated　thing　to　a　man　who　was　less　than　a　novice。　〃I　did　not　change　that　scorpion　into　a　mouse；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　put　the　scorpion　away。　Into　another　。。。　place；　is　the　only　word　I　can　think　of　to　describe　it。　I　did　not　see　that　place；　but　I　felt　it　with　my　mind。　And　with　my　mind　I　fingered　an　opening；　then　。。。　put　the　scorpion　through　that　opening。　I　got　the　mouse　the　same　way。　Although　it　was　not　from　the　same　place。　Perhaps　it　was　in　Mortacious'　kitchen；　poor　thing。　Or　perhaps；　it　wasn't　even　of　this　。。。　world。〃　He　looked　at　me　to　see　if　I　understood。　I　was　ignorant　enough　to　think　I　did；　and　nodded。
　〃Good；〃　Janos　said。　〃So；　you　see　it　was　only　an　exchange　of　sorts。　The　gold　of　Irayas　is　a　different　matter。　They　actually　manipulate　the　sand；　somehow。　Actually；　they　manipulate　what　makes　the　sand；　sand。〃
　〃Why；　the　smallest　thing　that　goes　into　making　sand；〃　I　said；　〃is　a　grain　of　the　same　material。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Janos　said。　Then　he　stopped　himself。　〃I　shouldn't　sound　so　certain　when　I　am　not。　It　is　a　new　theory　I　have。　It　came　to　me　when　I　considered　what　they　had　acplished；　and　how　it　could　be　done。　I　think；　now；　that　all　we　see　about　us…the　table　we　sit　at；　the　balcony　it　rests　upon；　that　mountain　we　view；　even　our　own　bodies…is　made　of　particles　so　small　the　very　grain　of　sand　we　consider　is　a　mountain　itself　in　parison。　And　I　think　they　somehow　move　those　particles　about；　rearranging　them；　if　you　will；　until　they　have　the　same　form　as　gold。　In　fact；　it　is　gold；　and　no　longer　whatever　the　material　they　chose　to　make　it　from。〃
　I　blew　out　a　long　breath。　〃I　have　followed　you　as　far　as　I　can；　my　friend；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　fear　you　lost　me　where　a　single　grain　of　sand　was　revealed　to　be　not　one；　but　many　grains；　and　those　so　small　I　have　not　vision　enough　to　see　them。〃
　〃If　you　understand　only　that；〃　Janos　said　with　a　smile；　〃you　understand　all。　Right　now　that　makes　you　as　wise　as　me。〃　Gloom　returned　to　darken　his　features　and　make　him　worry　at　his　beard。　〃Do　not　misunderstand　my　scoffings　at　these　folk；〃　he　said。　〃I　did　not　mean　to　diminish　their　acplishments。　I　was　only　putting　them　into　perspective。　There　are　many　secrets　worth　having　here。　Many；　indeed。　And　I　am　sure　there　are　many　clever　fellows　about；　if　only　they　would　let　me　meet　them。〃
　I　exploded　laughter　as　that　fearful　if　raised　its　head　again。　Janos　caught　it　and　joined　in。　Then　he　looked　past　me；　and　I　heard　footsteps　pad　out　onto　the　balcony。　I　turned　to　see　one　of　my　servants；　a　message　fluttering　in　his　hand。　〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked；　reaching　for　it。
　The　servant　shook　his　head；　saying；　〃Pardon；　my　lord；　but　it　is　not　for　you。　It　is　for　Sir　Greycloak。〃
　Janos　frowned　as　he　grasped　the　message；　absently　muttering　thanks。　The　frown　turned　to　glee　as　he　read　the　message。　〃Who　is　it　from？〃　I　asked。
　Janos　waved　the　paper　at　me；　victorious。　〃Prince　Raveline；〃　he　cried。　〃And　he　wants　to　see　me　immediately！〃　He　jumped　up　and　gave　me　a　hug。　〃At　last；　one　of　those　clever　fellows。　Now　we　shall　see　what　we　shall　see。〃
　He　made　a　hasty　good…bye　and　rushed　out；　hurling　promises　over　his　shoulder　that　he　would　tell　all　when　he　was　done。　I　sat；　moody；　watching　as　Janos　ran　out　of　the　palace　and　rushed　across　the　sprawling　grounds　to　his　gondola　tied　to　my　palace's　main　dock。　My　mood　was　laced　with　jealousy　as　well　as　suspicion　of　Raveline's　intentions。　I　saw　no　humor　when　I　resumed　that　bitter　roundelay：　If　only　the　king　would　see　me。　And　if　he　should　see　me：　if　only　he　would…
　The　circle　broke　abruptly　as　I　saw　Janos'　boat　cross　paths　with　another。　This　boat　was　smoothing　toward　the　docks　he　had　just　left。　It　carried　the　royal　crest　on　its　sides。　When　it　stopped；　a　man　hopped　off　before　it　had　been　properly　tied　to　a　bollard。　I　leaned　over　the　rail；　anxious　for　a　better　view。　I　saw　a　little　man　with　a　most　unremarkable　appearance；　and　as　he　scampered　to　my　palace　door；　I　knew　he　was　Beemus；　ing　to　fetch　me　to　the　king。
　
　I　WAS　TAKEN　directly　to　the　king's　private　chambers。　I　noticed　little　grandeur　on　the　way；　my　mind　was　too　full　of　speeches　quickly　devised　and　just　as　quickly　discarded。　The　long　wait；　coupled　with　suspense；　had　scattered　my　previous　plans　into　confusion。　I　barely　noticed　the　huge　doors　we　stopped　before；　or　the　absence　of　guards。　I　only　saw　the　doors　as　an　obstacle　and　raised　a　hand　to　push　them　open。　A　whisper　from　Beemus　stayed　that　presumptuous　hand。　He　put　his　finger　to　his　lips　for　silence；　then　cupped　his　ear；　bidding　me　to　listen。　As　we　stood　there；　I　heard　the　strains　of　the　most　wonderful　m