cacb.thefarkingdoms-第68部分
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imed like raindrops； as Jeneander cut the throat of a fat bullock。
The rain came on schedule…but it didn't stop。 Hour after hour it fell； and it came so thick you couldn't tell night from day； and all over Orissa we huddled in our homes and listened to the heavy drumming on our rooftops。 It was a cold rain； and we all had to keep fires burning constantly in our hearths； and it wasn't long before fuel became scarce。 A green mold flourished in the heavy rain； attacking our clothes and spoiling our food。 The Evocators rushed about casting spells to rid us of the mold； but no sooner had that abated than ants swarmed by the millions； pouring into our houses through every cranny； and driving us all mad with itching as we swept them off our walls； ourselves； and our children。
All these troubles were minor； however； pared to the sudden fright we all had when the river began to rise。 There was no one living who had known it to jump its banks； but there were old scars on the hillsides far from its bed that told an ancient tale of terror and destruction。 So when the river became a boiling mass of mud and debris that swept away one of the smaller docks； panic gripped the city。 After conferring with the Evocators； the Magistrates fetched a felon…who had slain his wife and children and then roasted them for a meal…from the cells。 The whole city was ordered out； and we all made a dreary parade down to the place of sacrifice。 We huddled in the rain； miserable and cold； as Jeneander and Cassini…along with a large contingent of Evocators…chanted river…taming spells for what seemed like an eternity。 Gamelan was absent； which said much to me。 Prevotant； that old thief； was present； which said even more。 The ceremony went badly： the incense pots wouldn't stay lighted； and when they tied the felon up； the knots kept undoing themselves。 The poor fellow shrieked and moaned and flung himself about； so we knew the numbing potion they'd fed him wasn't working。 People were frightened at all the mishaps； no one even laughed when Jeneander took a tumble in the mud while struggling with the sacrificial victim。 Some felt sorry for the man； there were mutterings that he'd only been driven mad by the rain； and wasn't that the fault of the Evocators； who should have known better than to order up so much？
Then Cassini stepped forward and clubbed him over the head with a log。 He and Jeneander grabbed him by the legs and arms； and without further ado； flung him into the water to drown。 Everyone went home unhappy and angry at the city's leadership。
To no one's surprise； the sacrifice failed…the river kept rising。 I rushed about with other men who made their living from the great stream。 We emptied the warehouses； hauled up the boats； and sent larger craft away。 When I went home late that night； the water was running into the warehouses。
Deoce shook me awake just before morning。 〃What is it？〃 I asked； ing up instantly…a habit I'd formed in my journey with Janos； and that I have kept to this day。 She stood by our bed in a white gown； Emilie clutched in her arms。 Deoce was pale and trembling。 Emilie's eyes were wide…in a moment she was certain to cry。
〃Listen；〃 was all Deoce said。
I heard a distant thundering…no； it was a roar。 Amidst that roar I could also hear the cracking and creaking sounds of large objects breaking up。 I jumped from the bed and flung open the window。 Even over the scudding rain； the sound was louder； but that rain was so thick； and the night so dark that I couldn't see what was happening。 I turned back to Deoce； knowing just the same。
〃It's the river。〃
〃Shall we flee？〃 Deoce's voice was shaking。 I had never seen her display fear before； then I realized she'd never lived by a river。
〃We're quite safe； here；〃 I assured her。 〃Besides the old embankment…which the river has rarely reached…there are many hills between us。〃
I was worried about the docks and warehouses； and I was more worried for the people who lived and worked by the river； but there was nothing I could do。 I was no god who could halt a flood。 So I pulled my wife and babe back into the bed and held them in my arms。 When the morning came； the rain had stopped； and when I awoke the first thought that came to my mind was that Emilie had never cried。
At the waterfront the river was back to near normal。 The damage was heavy…but not so bad as I had feared。 Some docks had been stripped away； warehouses crushed； boats and ships wrecked； but few lives had been lost。 As we gathered to aid our fellow Orissans and dig away the debris； I thought it could have been worse。 I looked at the marks the retreating waters had left； and they had reached only halfway to the old scars。
I was one of the few； however； who was grateful。 On the way home I heard bitter grumbling about the state of things in Orissa。 I was wearing rough clothing for the day's work and had a cap on my head to cover my red hair； so no one recognized me。
〃I hear in the Far Kingdoms the Evocators got spells that keep a river's temper sweet；〃 one man said。
〃Won't do us no good；〃 another replied。 〃You just watch。 When Cap'n Greycloak gets back； our lice…ridden lot will do him in。 They swear to Te…Date there ain't nothin' for us in the Far Kingdoms 。。。 No matter what the cap'n found。〃
〃Hang Greycloak；〃 an old woman barked。 〃He's the cause of our troubles。 He's nothin' but a blowhard。〃
〃Get out of here with your nastiness；〃 the first man shot back。 〃Greycloak's the only luck we still got。 Him and Lord Antero with all that lucky red hair。 Weren't for them we'd have no chance at all。〃
They began to squabble； and I moved on before I was spotted。 For the first time in months I began to worry。 I'd always known that much was hanging in the balance with the second expedition。 But I'd believed the goal was all but won with such a mighty force to overe the trials of that hard and distant land。 But now I thought of all the twists and turns that had arisen in that first journey。 Our sorcery failing； the mysterious Watchers； the deadly terrain； the tricks and traps any wizard who opposed us could lay； and I realized that failure was a definite possibility。
But when I returned home to Deoce's warm greeting and saw my infant daughter's smiling face； I brushed all doubt aside。 There had to be a future for such as them； a future much brighter than even my father had dreamed for me。 How could the gods fail such a pair…much less； all the mothers and babes of Orissa？ It will all be fine； I told myself 。。。 just fine。
The bleak mood deepened as we approached the Month of Harvest。 The heavy rains and floods had washed away much of the seed and tender plants that had been set out in the field。 Already we were facing lean times and rising food prices。 To add to this gloom； all news of Janos and the second expedition ceased。 It was as if they had simply disappeared。 But I assured everyone… myself included…that it was merely because they had traveled so far that news was much slower in reaching us。
Just at harvest time； no more than a few days before farmers customarily went into the fields…disaster struck again。 This time it came in the guise of an unseasonal wind； which swept down from the mountains。 It was hot and dry and unceasing。 It sucked all life from the furrows； killing most of what the rains had left for our tables。 The Magistrates ordered an emergency tax on all households； businesses； and goods to buy grain from abroad。 The Evocators took to the fields and chanted and cast endless spells。 Still the winds blew； and they kept blowing until one day they died of their own will。
The city was astonished by the Evocators' continued lack of success。 For all our lives they had protected us from the evils of the natural world； as well as the spiritual。 What had happened？ Why were we being so unlucky？ If things didn't change soon； the Lycanthians would begin to get notions not to our liking。
Some time later； part of the reason was provided indirectly by my friend； Malaren。 He came to me saying that one of the Magistrates wanted a private word。 The Magistrate's name was Ecco； he'd been a strong； but quiet supporter of our cause； so I agreed without hesitation。 We met the following night。 Ecco was an older
