cacb.thefarkingdoms-第22部分

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m　my　cellar。〃　My　gut　wrenched　as　Tegry　shot　a　nasty　look　in　my　direction　and　disappeared　to　do　as　he　was　told。
　My　father's　actions　were　very　puzzling。　What　he　said　to　me　next　was　more　puzzling　still。　〃For　once；　I　do　not　quarrel　with　the　pany　you　keep。　And　I　did　not　rely　alone　on　your　sister's　evaluation　of　Janos　Greycloak。　Captain　Greycloak　seems　to　be　an　excellent　soldier　to　mand　the　military　side　of　such　an　expedition　。。。　if　it　is　approved。　I　was　impressed　enough　with　him；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　to　invite　him　here　to　personally　tell　him　I　find　no　fault　in　his　character。　It　would　be　rude　to　do　otherwise。〃
　I　heard　Janos'　boot　steps　in　the　hallway；　and　I　wanted　to　slink　away　like　an　incontinent　mongrel　who　had　just　fouled　his　favorite　spot　by　the　fire。　〃e　in；　my　good　captain；〃　my　father　called　with　loud　cheer　when　Tegry　announced　Janos。　'Thank　you　for　being　so　prompt　in　answering　my　request。〃
　Janos　had　dressed　with　care　and　made　a　fine　impression　as　he　entered　and　bowed　low。　〃It　was　my　own　great　pleasure　in　your　kind　invitation　that　brought　me　so　swiftly；　Lord　Antero；〃　Janos　answered。
　〃Here；…　none　of　that；〃　my　father　said。　〃We　should　speak　as　equals；　if　you　are　to　lead　my　son's　expedition　to　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Call　me　Paphos；　sir　。。。　if　you　please。〃
　My　jaw　was　polishing　the　hardwood　floor。　My　head　was　spinning　with　first　confusion；　then　sheer　joy。　Tears　sprung　to　my　eyes；　and　I　felt　a　lump　in　my　throat　threatening　to　bee　a　great　sob　of　relief。　I　wanted　to　fling　myself　at　my　father's　feet　and　babble　my　thanks。
　My　father　smiled　and　gave　me　a　wink。　〃Pour　us　a　little　of　that　wine　that　Tegry　has　fetched；　Amalric；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　Janos'　opinion　of　it。〃
　I　poured　and　passed　the　goblets　around。　Janos　gave　me　an　odd　look；　but　I　turned　away　so　I　wouldn't　make　a　plete　ass　of　myself。　I　barely　heard　the　conversation　that　ensued　over　the　next　hour。　The　exchange　must　have　been　pleasant；　as　well　as　to　Janos'　credit；　for　there　was　much　laughter　at　my　father's　jests　and　respectful　silences　when　he　related　some　of　his　favorite　adventures。
　I　kept　wondering…what　had　I　missed？　A　moment　before　my　Finding　had　been　denied。　Now　it　had　been　heartily　approved　and　was　being　blessed　with　toasts　of　my　father's　best　wine。　In　other　words；　where　had　I　gone　right？　What　had　I　said　to　change　the　notoriously　stubborn　mind　of　one　Paphos　Karima　Antero？　Then　I　understood；　at　least　partly。　His　refusal　had　been　a　test。　It　wasn't　what　I　had　said　that　won　the　day；　but　the　heartfelt　passion　of　my　defense。　It　was　a　ploy　I　have　used　many　times　myself　since　that　day。　It　has　served　me　well。
　〃There　is　one　matter　we　need　to　be　absolutely　certain　of　from　the　beginning；〃　I　heard　my　father　tell　Janos。
　〃And　what　is　that；　sir？〃　Janos　asked。
　〃In　my　experience；　one　of　the　greatest　causes　for　an　expedition's　failure　is　that　a　clear　line　of　authority　and　responsibility　is　not　drawn。〃
　〃Your　wisdom　is　much　greater　than　mine；〃　Janos　said。　〃So　I　would　not　presume　to　argue　such　a　thing。　Especially　since　my　own　small　experience　bears　your　words　out　as　plete　and　total　truth。〃
　〃Good；〃　my　father　said。　〃Then　you　will　not　quarrel　with　my　first　and　only　rule。　In　all　matters　relating　to　the　safety　of　the　expedition；　you　will　be　in　charge。　My　son　will　in　no　way　interfere　with　your　dealings　with　the　soldiers。
　〃However　。。。　In　all　matters　of　business；　of　budget；　or　of　trade；　my　son's　word　is　law。　It　is　his　Finding。　His　expedition。　And　he　shall　answer　to　me　at　the　end　for　success　or　failure。　Is　this　agreed？〃
　〃Without　the　slightest　hesitation；　sir；〃　Janos　said。
　My　father　turned　to　me。　〃Amalric　。。。　If　there　is　to　be　argument　about　this；　NOW　is　the　time。　You　don't　want　to　leave　it　until　you're　in　the　desert　and　a　horde　of　demons　es　charging　over　the　dunes。　So　。。。　Do　you　agree　as　well？〃
　I　was　still　too　gripped　by　emotion　to　do　more　than　nod　vigorously　and　croak　my　acceptance。
　Janos　broke　in。　〃If　I　may　be　so　bold；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　a　small　proviso　of　my　own。〃
　His　words　rocked　me。　What　was　he　doing？　My　father　had　already　agreed。　Why　was　Janos　pressing　for　more？　I　was　certain　my　father　would　cancel　his　approval　on　the　spot。
　〃And　what　would　that　be；　Captain？〃　I　heard　my　father　answer；　amazed　at　the　jovial　tone　of　his　voice。
　〃I　only　want　to　know　your　own　opinion　of　our　ultimate　goal；　sir。　For　I　must　warn　you；　that　I　will　risk　anything　we　have　won；　once　we　near　that　destination。　But；　if　you　think　it　is　only　a　fable　we　seek　。。。　now　is　the　time　for　us　to　part　pany。〃
　That's　torn　it；　I　thought。　My　father　was　not　a　man　for　fables。　I　was　getting　my　way；　I　thought；　only　because　he　thought　there　was　a　good　chance　of　profit　in　the　voyage。　It　didn't　matter　what　the　goal　was；　as　long　as　there　was　a　chance　for　trade　along　the　way。　And　now　all　his　good　will　would　be　dashed　by　Janos'　ultimatum。　Still；　I　was　curious　how　he　would　react。　I　remembered　it　was　a　question　I　had　asked　。。。　and　gotten　no　answer。
　I　expected　to　see　fury　in　my　father's　face。　Instead；　it　was　gentle；　reflective　if　anything。　〃That's　fair；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　would　want　to　know　the　same　if　I　were　in　your　boots。〃　He　refilled　his　glass　and　sipped。　〃We　share　a　mon　dream；　Captain；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃The　Far　Kingdoms　have　held　me　in　their　spell　since　I　was　a　child。〃
　He　must　have　heard　me　gasp；　for　he　turned　his　head　and　gave　me　an　odd；　twisted　smile。　〃I've　never　told　anyone　this；〃　he　said　to　me。　〃But　I　once　sat　where　you　sit　now；　son。　Pleading　with　my　own　father　to　go　on　such　an　expedition　to　the　east。　He　refused　me。　And　I　have　regretted　it　every　day　since　that　moment。〃
　I　stumbled　for　words。　A　moment　ago；　in　my　thoughts；　I　was　accusing　my　father　of　being　a　profit…hungry　merchant；　with　a　soul　too　small　for　fables　or　dreams。　〃But　。。。　How　could　he？　Everyone　knows　you　were　a　great　voyager。　Why；　many　of　our　trade　routes　would　not　exist　if　it　weren't　for　you。〃
　My　father　waved　the　praise　away。　〃Anyone　could　have　done　the　same。　This　is　not　humility　speaking；　for　the　gods　know　I　am　not　a　humble　man。　The　fact　is；　few　young　men　set　out　on　really　important　Findings　in　my　day。　So　it　was　easy　to　stand　out　in　so　small　a　pany。　I　saw　then　Orissa's　world　was　shrinking；　not　expanding。　And　it　has　only　grown　worse　since　our　victory　over　Lycanth。　Now　it　takes　small　effort　to　be　a　rich　man。　We　only　have　to　ply　the　nice；　safe　ports　of　the　past。　Which　is　why　there　have　been　so　few　important　explorations　since　my　time。　And　this　is　the　reason　I　give　my　blessing。　If　Orissa　does　not　seek；　then　soon　it　will　not　exist。〃
　〃Then　you　do　believe　in　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃　I　asked。
　My　father　hesitated　for　a　long　moment。　Then；　〃Let　me　put　it　this　way　。。。　I　prefer　to　believe。　There　must　always　be　a　place　for　seekers　to　seek。　We　are　all　born　with　the　curse　of　a　yearning　heart。　And　if　the　answer　is　only　an　extra　crust　of　bread　snatched　from　our　brethren；　then　what　is　the　point　of　it　all？　So　I　give　you　my　blessing；　son。　And　you；　too；　good　captain。　Seek　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Find　them；　if　you　can。　By　the　gods；　if　the　Far　Kingdoms　do　exist；　I　will　go　to　my　grave　a　happy　man；　knowing　an　Antero　breathed　their　air。〃　He　raised　his　goblet　to　his　lips　and　drank　it　dry。　〃Is　that　answer　enough；　Captain？〃　he　asked；　briskly。
　〃More　than　I　could　have　ever　asked；　sir；〃　Janos　answered；　his　voice　as　respectful　as　I　would　ever　hear　it。　〃I　thank　you。〃
　〃No　thanks　required；〃　my　father　said。　He　turned　to　me。　〃It　is　settled；　then。　Now；　all　that　impedes　you　is　permission　from　the　Council　of　Evocators。〃
　My　heart　gave　a　jott。　I　had　forgotten　about　the　Evocators。　No　trading　expedition　was　permitted　without　their　approval；　and　that　approval　could　not　be　won　unless　money　and　promises　of　more　money　exchanged　hands。　Even　this　was　no　guarantee　that　the　omens　would　be　favorable。　Especially　for　a　venture　like　this；　a　venture　I　had　boasted　to　my　father　was　far　from　the　ordinary　Findings　of　my　peers。　There　would　be　a　casting。　How　the　Evocators　would　read　those　bones　was　always　in　doubt。　Especially　for　an　Antero。
　My　father　read　my　face　and　refilled　our　glasses。　〃Let　me　see　how　I　can　help　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　few　debts　owed　that　are　far　past　repayment。　Meanwhile　。。。〃　He　lifted　his　goblet。　'To　the　Far　Kingdoms！〃
　'To　the　Far　Kingdoms；〃　we　echoed。　As　we　drank