cacb.thefarkingdoms-第60部分

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rned　to　Janos。　〃Tell　me；　Janos；　is　it　always　this　crowded；　or　did　I　only　arrive　on　a　particularly　busy　day？〃　Janos　shook　his　head；　as　puzzled　as　I。
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　I　said。　〃Normally　we'd　barely　be　able　to　hear　one　another　over　the　babble。〃
　Deoce　laughed。　'There　he　goes　again；　trying　to　turn　the　head　of　the　pretty　barbarian　girl。〃　She　deepened　her　voice　to　mock　a　man's。　〃Yes；　my　dear；　I　am　a　great　man　in　my　own　country。　A　rich　man。　With　a　fine　villa　and　many　servants。　Now；　if　you'll　only　tarry　in　my　tent　a　moment　or　two　longer　。。。〃　She　pinched　me　for　the　frown　I　wore　on　my　brow。　〃There；　there。　Even　if　you　are　poor；　I'll　love　you　just　the　same。〃
　〃Believe　me；　Deoce；〃　Janos　said；　enjoying　her　joke；　〃our　friend　is　not　poor。　Take　my　word　for　it。〃
　〃Oh；　I　will；　Janos。　I　will；〃　Deoce　said。　〃But　in　future；　please　spare　me　descriptions　of…she　flung　out　her　hand　to　take　in　the　empty　riverfront…　〃teeming　harbors。〃
　I　leaped　from　the　ship　and　strode　over　to　the　old　fisherman。　〃Where　is　everyone；　grandfather？〃　I　asked。
　He　peered　up　with　rheumy　eyes；　his　gnarled　fingers　tying　knots　in　the　net　as　he　considered　me；　my　costume；　and　my　two　panions。　〃You're　in　bad　luck　if　you're　set　on　unloadin'　today；〃　he　said；　nodding　at　the　Kittiwake　Two。　〃Fact；　you'da　been　in　bad　luck　yesterday；　and　the　day　afore　yesterday；　and　the　day　afore　that　as　well。〃　He　shook　his　head　at　our　imagined　misfortune；　loving　every　moment　of　it。　〃And　mark　my　words；　tomorrow　it'll　be　just　the　same。　Maybe　after　that；　things'll　be　back　t'　normal。　Although　there's　lots　of　folks　bound　to　be　in　line　ahead　of　ya。　Lots　of　'em。〃
　〃We'll　be　fine；　grandfather；〃　I　said；　〃although　I　thank　you　for　your　concern。　I　only　want　to　know　what　has　happened？　Where　did　everyone　go？〃
　〃You　look　Orissan；〃　the　old　man　said；　〃so　I　guess　you　musta　been　away　a　long　time　if　you　don't　know。〃　He　eyed　Deoce；　letting　his　beady　gaze　linger　a　moment。　〃She　ain't　Orissan；〃　he　said。　His　gaze　jerked　away　just　as　Deoce's　temper　began　to　boil；　and　came　to　the　coin　I　held　out。　He　whisked　it　away　and　resumed　his　knot　tying。　〃Thankee　for　that；〃　he　said。　〃I　got　a　powerful　thirst　that　needs　tendin'。　Now；　for　your　question；　young　lord。　'N　my　answer。　There's　big　doin's。　Been　big　doin's；　four；　maybe　five　days；　now。　Most　folks've　got　sick　heads　from　all　the　celebratin'。　Only　reason　I　ain't　got　a　sick　head；　is　I　run　outa　coin。　Drank　my　purse　flat　empty；　I　did。〃
　〃And　what　are　these　big　doings　in　celebration　of；　my　friend？〃　Janos　asked。
　〃You　boys　musta　been　gone　for　a　spell；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃Didn'tcha　know　we　went　and　found　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃
　I　exchanged　glances　with　Janos　and　Deoce。　〃That　is　amazing　news；〃　I　said。
　The　old　man　wheezed　laughter。　〃Not　by　half；　it　ain't；〃　he　said。　〃Why；　us　Orissans're　on　top　all　the　way　now；　for　sure。　And　the　Lycanthians'll　be　swallowin'　our　wake。　'Course；　we　didn't　actually　set　foot　in　'em；　but　it's　close　as　dammit；　I　tell　you。　Close　as　dammit。〃
　〃And　who　is　the　hero　who　came　so　close？〃　I　asked；　barely　keeping　an　edge　out　of　my　tone。
　〃A　young　Evocator；〃　the　old　man　said；　〃Fella　wasn't　worth　much　before；　I　hear　tell。　But　he　sure　is　worth　somethin'　in　folks'　eyes　now。　His　name's　Cassini。　Maybe　you　heard　of　him？〃
　〃Yes。　I　have；〃　was　my　only　reply。
　〃Well；　Cassini　is　probably　the　biggest　hero　Orissa's　ever　had；〃　the　old　man　continued。　〃He　got　back　a　few　months　ago。　The　powers　that　be　kept　a　lid　on　it　for　a　while；　till　they'd　heard　the　whole　story。　But　it　weren't　no　use。　Whole　city　was　buzzin'　with　it。　I　mean；　we　all　thought　the　Far　Kingdoms　was　just　a　suckling's　story；　right？　But　now　we　know　it's　true。　Pretty　soon　we're　gonna　go　back；　and　we'll　be　shakin'　hands　with　the　folks　in　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Then　there　won't　be　nothin'　to　stop　us。　Yessir；　there's　glory　days　ahead　for　Orissa。　And　I'm　just　glad　I　lived　long　enough　to　see　it。　From　here　on　out；　we're　all　gonna　be　rollin'　in　gold　and　pleasures。〃
　The　old　man　grinned；　displaying　blue　gums。　〃Anyway；　they　decided　to　make　a　big　announcement。　Which　they　done。　And　the　Evocators　and　Magistrates　declared　a　whole　week　of　feastin'。　Which　we're　almost　at　the　end　of　right　now。　This　aft'noon；　in　fact；　every　citizen　who　ain't　too　drunk's　supposed　to　get　together　at　the　Great　Amphitheater。　Cassini's　gonna　get　some　big　honors。　Plus；　he's　probably　gonna　get　to　lead　the　next　expedition。　Which　they're　settin'　up　right　now。　And　they're　gonna　go　at　it　right；　this　time。　No　little　stuff；　with　just　a　coupla　soldiers。　But　a　big　force。　And　I　tell　ya；　nothin'll　stand　in　our　way。　Yessir；　it's　a　proud　time　to　be　an　Orissan。〃
　Sudden　urgency　hammered　at　my　temples。　〃We　had　better　hurry　to　my　father's　house；〃　I　said　to　Janos　and　Deoce。　They　did　not　question　me；　but　as　we　started　away　the　old　man　called；　〃Who　might　you　be；　young　lord？　Give　me　a　name　to　toast　when　I　cash　your　kind　gift　at　the　tavern。〃
　I　whirled　back；　the　game　playing　done。　〃I　am　Amalric　Emilie　Antero。　At　your　service。〃
　The　old　man　looked　at　me；　gaping。　Then　he　hooted。　〃Amalric　Antero。　That's　a　good　un。　But　I　wouldn't　try　it　on　anybody　else；　young　lord。　Because　the　Far　Kingdoms　was　his　Finding。　'Cept；　old　Amalric　never　made　it　back。　He　and　the　rest　are　deader'n　fish　stink。　Cassini　seen　'em　get　it。〃
　It　was　no　surprise　that　Cassini　had　declared　us　dead。　He'd　already　tested　his　lies　on　Sergeant　Maeen　and　Captain　L'ur；　and　he'd　had　many　weeks　to　rehearse　before　he　arrived　in　Orissa。　On　our　own　journey　home；　I'd　agonized　over　my　family's　reaction　to　his　grim　news。　Worry　had　put　wings　on　our　feet。　Loyalty　had　also　aided　our　speedy　return；　for　L'ur　had　given　Cassini's　tale　as　little　credence　as　Sergeant　Maeen。　When　Cassini　showed　up；　he　agreed　to　carry　the　Evocator　to　Redond…but　no　farther。　There　the　good　captain　had　waited；　keeping　the　bargain　I'd　struck　on　the　Pepper　Coast。
　〃It　didn't　ring　true　the　likes　of　Cassini　would　be　the　only　one　to　make　it；〃　he'd　said。　〃I　told　him；　I'll　stick　by　young　Antero；　sir。　And　Cap'n　Greycloak。'　Cassini　didn't　like　it；　but　there　weren't　much　he　could　do；　seein'　how　he　needed　me　to　get　him　a　berth　on　a　fast　ship　to　Orissa。〃
　Now；　as　I　rushed　to　my　father's　villa；　all　my　hatred　for　Cassini　came　to　a　boil。　The　hatred　proved　well…founded：　I　discovered　my　father　lingering　near　death；　and　my　sister；　Rali；　was　in　a　torment　when　she　saw　me；　fearing　the　shock　of　even　good　news　would　push　him　to　the　other　side。　She　went　in　to　prepare　him　for　my　resurrection；　and　in　a　while　she　returned　to　lead　me　to　his　room。　I　was　shocked　at　the　sight　of　him　lying　weak　and　ghastly　in　his　bed。　His　frame　had　shrunk　to　that　of　an　old　man's；　and　his　flesh　was　waxen　and　hung　loose　from　those　frail　bones。　But　his　eyes；　set　deep　in　that　death　mask；　were　alive　with　delight　when　he　saw　me。　〃Thank　Te…Date；　you　are　safe；〃　he　gasped。　I　was　so　overe；　I　flung　myself　to　my　knees　and　nearly　wept。　〃Do　not　cry；　Amalric；〃　my　father　forted。　〃An　hour　ago　I　felt　the　Dark　Seeker's　presence。　I　was　tempted　to　let　him　carry　me　away；　instead；　I　drove　him　off。　But　if　I　had　not…〃　He　put　a　shaky　hand　on　my　head。　〃…I　would　never　know　this　happiness。〃
　He　coaxed　me　up　and　patted　the　bed　beside　him。　I　saw　color　returning　to　those　pale　cheeks。　〃e；　tell　me　your　adventures；　son；〃　he　said。　〃Did　you　find　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　saw　the　black…fisted　mountains。　And　I　saw　passage　to　the　other　side。〃
　〃I　knew　it；〃　my　father　said。　〃All　those　years　I　dreamed。　Now　I　know　those　dreams　were　more　than　a　fool's　delight。〃
　I　sat　with　him　for　a　short　time；　giving　him　a　brief　account　of　our　adventures。　But　of　them　all；　he　was　most　delighted　by　the　news　that　I　had　returned　with　my　future　wife。　He　gripped　my　hand。　〃No　matter　what　lies　ahead；　Amalric；〃　he　said；　〃treasure　her　above　all　things。　And　you　will　die　a　happy　man。〃　His　grip　relaxed；　his　eyes　closed；　and　for　a　moment　I　feared　he　might　have　died。　But　I　saw　the　smile　on　his　face　and　a　gentle　fluttering　of　his　beard。　He　was　asleep。　I　crept　out　of　the　room　to　join　the　others。
　My　sister　was　torn　between　fury　at　Cassini　and　joy　at　our　safe　return。　〃The　bastard's　stolen　all　the　credit；〃　she　was　saying　as　I　entered。　〃It　is　you　who　is　the　hero；　Janos　Greycloak。　You；　and　my　brother。〃
　〃The　question；〃　Janos　said；　〃is　how　to　reply。　To　tell