fs.thesecondbookofswords-第25部分

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　　　〃Keys；〃　said　Doon　laconically；　supporting　his　victim　against　the　grill。　The　man　was　wearing　a　ring　of　them　on　his　belt。
　　　Mark　reached　in　through　the　bars；　detached　the　keys；　and　brought　them　out。　One　part　of　his　mind　was　protesting　that　this　had　been　cold　murder；　while　another　part　exulted　in　the　triumph；　the　demonstration　of　Doon's　proficiency。　War　required　capable　leaders；　and　this　was　war；　a　part　of　Sir　Andrew's　fight　against　the　Dark　King　and　the　cruel　Silver　Queen。　This　robbery　was　meant　as　a　stroke　of　war　against　the　allies　of　Sir　Andrew's　foes；　the　Temples　Red　and　Blue。
　　　The　grill…door　was　opened；　and　the　dead　man　propped　sitting　in　a　corner；　his　presence　made　as　inconspicuous　as　possible　in　the　restricted　space。　Apparently　none　of　the　other　Temple　people　had　noticed　anything　wrong　as　yet。　The　music　went　on　as　before；　behind　doors　in　the　distance。　Somewhere　nearby；　around　a　corner；　the　clashing　of　pots　and　the　slosh　of　water　told　of　a　kitchen　of　some　kind　functioning。
　　　Bundled　Wayfinder　in　hand　again；　the　Baron　led　his　small　troop　of　armed　men　down　the　corridor　lined　with　cells。　All　of　the　doors　were　closed。　The　Sword　paused。　〃This　one；　here。　Try　the　keys。〃
　　　The　ring　held　six　of　them。　Mark　fumbled　past　one　key　that　did　not　look　meant　to　fit　this　crude　lock；　tried　another　that　looked　as　if　it　might　but　didn't。　The　third　try　was　lucky；　and　the　brass…bound　oaken　door　swung　back。　The　space　behind　it　was　very　dark；　as　one　might　expect　the　interior　of　a　cell　to　be。
　　　Quick　reflexes　ducked　Mark　safely　under　an　onrushing　metal　blur。　He　recognized　the　missile　as　a　brass　chamber　pot；　as　it　clanged　and　spattered　on　the　opposite　wall　of　the　narrow　corridor。
　　　〃Keep　away　from　me！〃　The　voice　ing　out　of　the　dark　cell　was　certainly　a　woman's；　but　forceful　enough　to　have　served　an　infantry　sergeant。　〃You　putrid　collection　of　loadbeast　droppings；　do　you　know　who　I　am？　Do　you　know　what'll　happen　to　you　if　you　touch　me？〃
　　　Doon；　who　had　started　in　at　the　open　door；　recoiled　now；　swearing　by　several　demons；　as　another　missile　of　some　kind　flew　past　his　head。　The　cell's　sole　occupant　was　now　visible　in　the　light　from　the　open　door。　She　was　a　tall　young　woman；　sturdily　built；　her　pale　skin　streaked　with　dirt　and　her　red　hair　matted。　Her　clothing　was　rich；　or　had　been　once；　long　ago　before　it　approached　its　present　state　of　wear　and　dirtiness。　Her　height　overtopped　Doon；　who　now　moved　into　the　cell　again；　by　a　good　measure；　and　indeed　came　within　a　few　centimeters　of　matching　Mark's；　who　was　tallest　of　the　men　present。
　　　Doon；　murmuring　something　no　doubt　meant　either　to　frighten　or　reassure；　took　her　by　the　arm　and　tried　to　tug　her　from　the　cell。　She　would　have　none　of　it；　but　cursed　at　him　again。　Her　white　hands　and　arms；　emerging　from　torn　sleeves；　grabbed　at　him　and　fought　him　off。
　　　The　little　man；　unwilling　to　use　deadly　force；　struggled　ineffectually　in　the　grip　of　the　big　young　woman；　the　big　girl；　really；　Mark　realized；　for　she　was　very　young。　The　Baron's　momentary　predicament　would　perhaps　have　been　ic；　at　some　other　time。　It　was　not；　now。
　　　〃I　am　Ariane！〃　the　girl　was　shouting　at　them　all；　as　Mark　moved　forward　to　try　to　help　his　leader。　Her　cries　had　awakened　an　echoing　clamor　from　some　of　the　other　cells；　so　that　the　corridor　reverberated　with　unintelligible　noise。　The　girl　was　yelling：　〃I　am　the。。。〃
　　　Her　voice　faltered；　at　the　first　instant　when　she　looked　Mark　full　in　the　face。　And　when　it　came　back；　it　was　vastly　changed；　a　dreamer's　whisper　to　match　the　sudden　wonder　in　her　eyes。　〃My　brother；〃　she　breathed。　And　in　the　next　instant　Mark　saw　her　eyes　roll　up。　He　stepped　forward　just　in　time　to　help　Doon　catch　her　slumping　body。　She　apparently　had　fainted。
　　　Doon　was　supporting　her；　but　turning　his　head；　looking　for　his　wizard。　〃Indosuaros；　what。。？〃
　　　〃Not　my　doing；〃　said　the　magician；　incongruous　figure　of　power　against　the　shabby　background。
　　　Doon　was　not　going　to　puzzle　over　it　now。　Leaving　the　girl　to　Mark　to　hold；　he　had　his　Sword　in　hand　again。　〃It　points　us　back　the　way　we　came。。。　bring　her；　and　let's　get　out。〃
　　　Mark；　impeded　by　the　longbow　still　on　his　back；　had　to　struggle　in　the　narrow　corridor　to　carry　the　heavy　girl　along。　Ben　stopped　him　and　wordlessly　relieved　him　of　the　burden。　Without　effort　Ben　hoisted　her　body　over　one　shoulder　and　strode　on。　Long　red　hair；　even　matted　as　it　was；　still　fell　nearly　to　the　floor；　and　strong　white　forearms　dangled。
　　　As　they　tramped　past　the　dead　guard；　his　fixed　eyes　seemed　to　gaze　at　Mark。
Chapter　8
　　　The　Blue　Temple　furnished　itself　elegantly　here　on　the　upper　levels　of　the　central　office；　especially　in　the　chambers　where　the　members　of　the　Inner　Council　met　to　talk　business；　among　themselves　and　with　other　folk　of　parable　importance　in　the　world。　The　clerks　and　administrators　who　worked　on　the　lower　floors　might　have　to　make　do　with　worn　furniture　and　blank　paneled　walls；　but　up　here　there　was　no　stinting　on　slaves　and　fountains；　marble　and　gold；　tapestries　and　entertainment。
　　　Not　that　Radulescu　had　been　provided　with　any　entertainers　to　keep　him　pany　as　he　cooled　his　heels　in　the　High　Priest's　outer　office；　actually　an　anteroom　of　one　of　a　suite　of　offices。　But　he　could　hear　string　music　in　the　distance　somewhere。　He　could　distract　himself；　if　he　liked；　by　getting　up　from　the　luxuriously　padded　couch　from　time　to　time　to　pace　the　floor；　and　gaze　out　of　the　curtained　window。　That　window　overlooked　walls；　and　parapets；　and　some　lesser　towers　belonging　to　folk　of　somewhat　less　importance；　affording　a　clear　view　above　rooftops　all　the　way　to　the　inner　side　of　the　city　walls　themselves。　Those　walls　were　even　higher　…　designedly　so。　They　were　famed　for　their　height　and　strength；　and　this　city　for　its　impregnability　…　indeed；　many　people　believed　that　the　central　hoard　of　the　Blue　Temple　was　concealed　in　some　subterranean　vault　beneath　this　very　building。
　　　Radulescu　of　course　knew　better。　But　only　he；　the　High　Priest；　and　two　or　three　members　of　the　Inner　Council　…　Radulescu　was　not　sure　which　ones　…　were　the　only　people　on　the　surface　of　the　earth　who　knew　with　certainty　where　Benambra's　Gold　was　kept；　and　how　to　reach　it。
　　　It　was　generally　understood；　among　those　who　knew　anything　of　the　world；　that　the　present　High　Priest　was　the　de　facto　ruler　of　this　city　and　of　much　other　territory　besides；　to　which　he　laid　no　formal　claim。　But　cities；　no　matter　how　strongly　defended；　always　drew　the　attention　of　money…hungry　kings　and　other　potentates；　and　no；　the　Blue　Temple　was　not　going　to　put　its　treasure；　the　main　reason　for　its　existence；　in　any　such　obvious　place　as　that。
　　　The　whole　organization　appeared　so　straightforward　to　the　uninitiated；　and　it　was　really　so　devious。　Radulescu's　thoughts　were　on　that　fact；　as　it　related　to　his　own　career；　when　there　was　a　stir　at　a　curtained　doorway；　and　a　bald…headed；　gold…garbed　secretary　appeared。
　　　〃The　Chairman　will　see　you　now。〃
　　　And　Radulescu；　as　he　hurried　to　follow　the　aide　through　one　elaborate　office　after　another；　allowed　himself　a　small　sigh　of　relief。　When　the　chief　functionary　of　the　Blue　Temple　chose　to　use　that　title；　the　business　at　hand　was　more　likely　to　be　business　than　some　ecclesiastical　ritual　…　as；　for　example；　the　unfrocking　of　some　priest…officer　who　had　been　found　derelict　in　his　duty。
　　　The　final　door　opened　by　the　secretary　disclosed　a　large　room。　Among　its　other　luxurious　appointments　was　a　conference　table　large　enough　for　twenty　potentates　to　have　gathered　at　it。　There　was；　however；　only　one　other　person　in　the　room；　a　rather　small　man　with　a　rubicund　face　and　a　head　as　bald　as　that　of　the　secretary　who　served　him。　This　man　was　seated　at　the　far　end　of　the　table；　with　a　bundle　of　papers　spread　out　before　him　on　the　polished　wood。
　　　The　High　Priest　…　or　Chairman　…　raised　his　round；　red　face　at　Radulescu's　entrance。　The　chief　executive　looked　quite　jovial　…　but　then；　he　always　did；　at　least　in　Radulescu's　limited　experience。
　　　〃Colonel　Radulescu；　e　in；　be　seated。〃　The　Chairman　motioned　to　a　place　near　his　own。　〃How　are　you　getting　along　on　detached　duty？　Have　you　been　finding　eno