cacb.thefarkingdoms-第36部分
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st laughed； for his gape at still being among the living must have been a twin of my own surprise。 I heard men crying out and turned to see how I could help。 Amazingly； Maeen and the soldiers seemed to have survived； and the number of seamen did not seem much fewer。
〃Over there；〃 Janos gasped； pointing。 Three of our seamen must have been flung from the ship when she struck。 They were wading through waist…high surf toward the rocky beach。 One of the men； I noted； was Crop Ear。 He seemed stronger than the others and strode vigorously forward。 One of his panions； weak and bleeding； grabbed him for help； but Crop Ear swatted him off and pushed on。
Janos gave a sudden groan。 〃Ah； the poor bastards。〃 I saw the reason for his lament。 Hundreds of dark figures scuttled along the beach toward the wading seamen。 They were waist high to a man and seemed to be posed of hard shell and sharp spines。 At that moment the sun broke through the stormy skies。 The figures were not creatures at all； they were miniature men； savages really； armed with tridents for spears and wearing shields and armor made of some species of thick…shelled beasts。 Scores of them plunged into the surf for the seamen。 Crop Ear bellowed alarm and tried to flee。 In moments they swarmed over him。 Soon they had Crop Ear and the other seamen spread…eagled on the shore。 One of the small warriors leaned in and cut a long strip of flesh from Crop Ear's wriggling； squealing body。
The savage held up the strip of bleeding hide。 He shouted a challenge at the ship； then raised his head and swallowed the flesh whole； like a cormorant taking a fish。 He whirled around and plunged back at Crop Ear for more。 There was nothing we could do but watch as the savages devoured our rades alive。
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Warrior in Amber
JANOS BELLOWED； 〃FOLLOW me。〃 I saw him grab a fishing net。 I could see it was snagged； and wondered why my friend wanted to go fishing when we were all about to be eaten by those fearsome folk on the shore。 He bellowed again； breaking my coward's death grip on the rail； and I stumbled to help。 The net came free； and Janos threw it over his shoulder and leaped onto the railing。 〃e on；〃 he shouted。 He plunged over the side。 I didn't think； but vaulted after him。 I followed him； splashing and bounding across the reef and into the shallows…knowing he was mad； but I was madder still。
Janos was screaming at the Shore People。 The words were unintelligible at first； then I realized they were in Trader's Tongue。 〃 'Ware the ghosts！〃 he was shouting。 〃 'Ware！ These be evil men。 'Ware the ghosts！ 'Ware！〃 Then we were among the enemy。 They must have thought we were mad as well； for instead of falling on us like sensible little savages； they stood back； gaping； shields and spears drooping。 〃Evil men 。。。 'Ware the ghosts！〃 Janos kept shouting； and they parted ranks and let us through。 I saw frightened faces； stunned faces； even a few grateful faces blur past。 Every stride we took and every shout Janos gave made them believe they faced a terrible threat； and we were not that threat。 As we sprinted for the knot dining on our rades； Janos unslung the net。 〃Back；〃 he shouted。 〃Get back。 'Ware the ghosts！〃
The little men leaped away in shock as Janos hurled the net into the air。 It spread its wings like a mountain bird and floated down and down。 The savages held their breaths； watching it fall； and I knew they were calling on their own gods to aid the net。 A sigh rose as it settled over the corpses。 They were safe from the ghosts。
Janos whirled about； and when he saw the warrior who had challenged us when we were aboard ship； he assumed the man was one of the leaders。 〃Thank the gods you slew these men；〃 he said with great emotion。 〃Please tell us what deities bless this place and we will make immediate sacrifice。 For we are men of Orissa； known to all the world for our piety。〃 I heard the word Orissa echo through the crowd。 There were gasps of recognition； but amazement as well。 The warriors had heard of our river kingdom； but we were evidently the first to e among them。
The warrior leader goggled at Janos。 His shell armor gave a dry rattle as he shifted； unsure。 〃These Lycanthians were your enemies？〃 he asked。 I heard more rattling as the other warriors crept closer。
'To be Lycanthian is to be an enemy of all civilized folk；〃 Janos chanced。 There were mutters of angry agreement。 〃But these men you killed were worse；〃 Janos said hotly。 〃They were either demons in men's skin； or possessed by demons。 It is because of them that we find ourselves wrecked on your shores； and begging your hospitality。〃
He half turned to me； still speaking in the tongue of the traders so all could understand。 〃We are most fortunate to e among these people； my lord。 I fear your aged father would soon be weeping for his youngest son if they had not witnessed our plight。 And joined in disposing of this； this…〃 Janos spat at the bodies。 〃…Lycanthian filth！〃 I looked at the net and saw Crop Ear grinning back at us。 But Janos was urging me to join in this desperate game quickly。 Most of the warriors seemed confused； open to suggestion。 But I still saw doubt。 A few were even eyeing us spec…ulatively。 If they were our rescuers； then what price could they exact for our salvation？
〃The crimes of the Lycanthians are known to all；〃 I said； then made my face solemn。 〃But not all these men were evil。 Do you not see； Captain Greycloak； who lies among our enemies？〃 I pointed at the only body that quickly caught attention…Crop Ear。
Janos caught my ploy。 He stared closer at the net； and all the warriors stared with him。 When he saw Crop Ear； he gave a low moan of sorrow。 〃Why it is our brother； the Holy Crop Ear。〃 He stifled a sob。 〃Poor Crop Ear。 And he was so kind to homeless children； and starving widows。〃
〃This man was not evil？〃 the warrior said； alarmed。 〃But 。。。 he is Lycanthian。 It is plain to see by his costume。〃
〃Yes； of course he is；〃 I said 〃But he is one the gods blessed with knowledge of his own people's foulness。 He came to Orissa many years ago； and performed so many acts of charity and other pious deeds he was purified by our greatest Evocators。 Since that time； he has bee a hero among us and an example for our children。〃
The warrior still wasn't convinced。 He pointed at the scarred reminders that Crop Ear was a felon many times over。 〃Why does he carry those marks？〃
〃They were self…inflicted；〃 I said。 〃The Holy Crop Ear wanted the gods to let him bear the burden of the sins of the innocent。〃
I heard sympathetic noises from the ranks。 The warrior chief was so crestfallen； Janos dared to step closer； shrinking his form…by craft； not wizardry…to not bulk large over the man。 〃Do not mourn； my friend。 You could not know。〃 He cast an arm out toward our wrecked ship on the reef。 〃These Lycanthians seized us at sea。 By sorcery； I assure you； not by arms； for our soldiers would have soon overpowered the pirates。 They plotted to use our ship； with us as their slaves； to spread their foul influence wherever they could。 For some reason； they chose to e here to mit their first black deeds。〃
The mutterings in the ranks grew louder； proving Janos had correctly guessed that pirates and Lycanthians had clashed with the Shore People more than once。 〃But our own Evocator； who was ill at the time； or else they could not have trifled with such a powerful wizard； joined with the Holy Crop Ear to thwart them。 For all of us had heard of the goodly folk of the Pepper Coast； and how you have suffered at the hands of the Lycanthians。 When the storm caught us； we thought we were blessed。 If we were to die； at least these demons would be stopped。 But the storm wrecked us on your shores； and those men〃…he jabbed a disdainful thumb at the bodies…〃tried to escape into your lands； where they could cause great misery。 The Holy Crop Ear tried to stop them。 But； alas 。。。〃 He shook his head。 〃It was an easy mistake to make； my friend。 I am sure he would forgive you。〃
The warrior chief removed his helmet and wiped a tear。 I heard a few soldierly noses being blown。 My merchant's instinct nudged。 It was time to close the sale。 〃Certainly； he would；〃 I said。 〃And I can see that great good will
