fs.thesecondbookofswords-µÚ40²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡But¡¡we¡¡of¡¡the¡¡profession£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡we¡¡enter£»¡¡are¡¡engaged¡¡by¡¡the¡¡local¡¡powers¡¡in¡¡a¡¡continuous¡¡struggle¡£¡¡We¡¡undergo¡¡a¡¡ceaseless¡¡assault¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡specially¡¡developed¡¡senses¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡it¡£¡¡Regrettably£»¡¡my¡¡faithful¡¡helper¡¡here¡¡was¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡without¡¡me¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡¡to¡¡aid¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Doon¡¡demanded£º¡¡¡¨Why¡¡did¡¡you¡¡let¡¡him¡¡play¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡until¡¡now£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh¡¡yes£»¡¡that¡£¡¡As¡¡you¡¡must¡¡know£»¡¡Baron£»¡¡being¡¡a¡¡leader¡¡has¡¡its¡¡problems¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡its¡¡advantages¡£¡¡It¡¡elevates¡¡one£»¡¡but¡¡often¡¡as¡¡a¡¡target¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡at¡¡first¡¡about¡¡you¡¡and¡¡your¡¡men£»¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡you¡¡were¡¡really¡¡just¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡adventurers¡¡that¡¡you¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡whiff¡¡of¡¡something¡¡subtle¡¡and¡¡dangerous¡¡about¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡now¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Sword£»¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡£¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡Baron£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡it¡¡in¡¡your¡¡hand¡¡again¡£¡¡Are¡¡we¡¡going¡¡on£»¡¡or¡¡not£¿¡¡I¡¡am¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡follow£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will¡¡lead¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Doon£»¡¡looking¡¡half¡¡entranced¡¡himself£»¡¡inspected¡¡the¡¡weapon¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡it¡¡once¡¡or¡¡twice¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scabbard¡£¡¡Then¡¡like¡¡a¡¡sleep¡walker¡¡he¡¡raised¡¡it¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡moved¡¡it¡¡to¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left¡¡and¡¡back¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡what¡¡about¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡Ben£»¡¡looking¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡crumpled¡¡robes¡¡of¡¡Indosuaros£»¡¡began¡¡a¡¡protest¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡those¡¡garments¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡tenanted¡¡by¡¡any¡¡human¡¡form¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ariane£»¡¡reluctant¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that£»¡¡lifted¡¡the¡¡robes¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡them¡£¡¡A¡¡giant¡¡spider¡¡leaped¡¡out¡¡and¡¡went¡¡running¡¡away¡¡into¡¡the¡¡grass¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sword¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡real¡¡Sword£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sealing¡¡of¡¡magic¡¡¡¡¡directed¡¡Doon¡¡at¡¡an¡¡angle¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡curving¡¡stream¡£¡¡With¡¡haggard¡¡confidence¡¡he¡¡followed¡¡its¡¡guidance¡¡again¡£¡¡Mitspieler£»¡¡having¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡Indosuaros'¡¡rings£»¡¡and¡¡taken¡¡what¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡contents¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pack£»¡¡marched¡¡second¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shortened¡¡line¡£¡¡Ariane¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle£»¡¡with¡¡Mark¡¡just¡¡behind¡¡her¡¡and¡¡Ben¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡the¡¡rear¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡real¡¡Sword¡¡neither¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡nor¡¡kept¡¡to¡¡what¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡straight¡¡line¡¡among¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡Instead¡¡it¡¡subjected¡¡its¡¡users¡¡to¡¡sudden¡¡and¡¡apparently¡¡purposeless¡¡shifts¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡They¡¡walked¡¡fifty¡¡meters¡¡in¡¡a¡¡straight¡¡line£»¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡corner¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡straight¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡direction¡¡for¡¡forty¡¡meters¡¡more¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡another¡¡turn£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Mark¡¡that¡¡they¡¡moved¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arc¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡lefthanded¡¡circle£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡change£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡they¡¡walked¡¡a¡¡circle¡¡curving¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡£¡¡Mark¡¡was¡¡just¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡even¡¡the¡¡genuine¡¡Sword¡¡were¡¡now¡¡malfunctioning£»¡¡when¡¡through¡¡the¡¡treetops¡¡ahead¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡what¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡familiar¡¡line¡¡of¡¡cliffs¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡rock¡¡formation¡¡was¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡about¡¡fifty¡¡meters¡¡away¡¡when¡¡it¡¡first¡¡became¡¡visible£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡hiked¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡meters¡¡or¡¡so¡¡from¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡Indosuaros¡£¡¡Now¡¡the¡¡Sword¡¡guided¡¡them¡¡rapidly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡rocks£»¡¡though¡¡their¡¡course¡¡was¡¡still¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡straight¡¡line¡£¡¡Once¡¡more¡¡the¡¡inescapable¡¡stream¡¡appeared£»¡¡curving¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡explorers£»¡¡flowing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments¡¡they¡¡were¡¡close¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡Mark¡¡to¡¡see¡¡where¡¡the¡¡current¡¡tumbled¡¡precipitously¡¡into¡¡a¡¡cave¡¡that¡¡opened¡¡just¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cliffs'¡¡base¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Looking¡¡higher¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rocky¡¡wall£»¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡locate¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡through¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡e¡¡into¡¡this¡¡realm¡¡of¡¡magic£»¡¡at¡¡what¡¡now¡¡seemed¡¡like¡¡some¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡remote¡¡past¡£¡¡The¡¡cliffs¡¡looked¡¡very¡¡much¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡cave¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡here¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Doon¡¡now¡¡led¡¡them¡¡wading¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shallow¡¡water¡£¡¡They¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡bed¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cave£»¡¡before¡¡stepping¡¡out¡¡onto¡¡a¡¡dry¡¡path£»¡¡that¡¡switchbacked¡¡its¡¡way¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡stream¡£¡¡The¡¡water¡¡disappeared¡¡now¡¡into¡¡a¡¡jumble¡¡of¡¡rocks£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡tumbling¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡it¡¡stayed¡¡with¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡stream¡¡reappeared¡¡near¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡cliff£»¡¡its¡¡channel¡¡now¡¡bee¡¡a¡¡plex¡¡of¡¡artificial¡¡basins¡¡and¡¡waterfalls£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡paved¡¡ditch¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡false¡¡sunlight¡¡faded¡¡out¡¡pletely¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡expedition£»¡¡another¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡light¡¡came¡¡into¡¡view£»¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡them¡¡some¡¡time¡¡to¡¡get¡¡down¡¡near¡¡its¡¡source¡£
Chapter¡¡13
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡reddish¡¡light¡¡ahead¡¡emanated¡¡from¡¡fierce¡¡torch¡like¡¡flames£»¡¡flames¡¡that¡¡sprang¡¡from¡¡many¡¡vents¡¡high¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡another¡¡great¡¡cave¡£¡¡These¡¡torch¡flames¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡consume¡¡invisible¡¡fuel£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡fed¡¡on¡¡jets¡¡of¡¡gas¡¡flowing¡¡somehow¡¡from¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡So¡¡large¡¡was¡¡this¡¡cave¡¡that¡¡only¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡it¡¡were¡¡effectively¡¡illuminated¡¡by¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡light£»¡¡its¡¡size¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡estimate£»¡¡but¡¡certainly¡¡it¡¡was¡¡enormous¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡again¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡vanished¡£¡¡This¡¡time¡¡its¡¡disappearance¡¡had¡¡an¡¡air¡¡of¡¡permanence£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡dove¡¡into¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡pipe¡¡or¡¡conduit¡¡of¡¡what¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡ancient¡¡masonry£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡intake¡¡covered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡heavy£»¡¡rusted¡¡grill£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡this¡¡point¡¡on¡¡even¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡faded£»¡¡until¡¡soon¡¡it¡¡was¡¡altogether¡¡gone¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡here¡¡the¡¡path¡¡pleted¡¡its¡¡descent¡¡into¡¡this¡¡new¡¡cave£»¡¡across¡¡a¡¡fan¡¡of¡¡fallen¡¡rubble¡£¡¡Mark¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out¡¡sections¡¡of¡¡high¡¡wall¡¡still¡¡standing¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡path¡£¡¡It¡¡appeared¡¡that¡¡some¡¡defensive¡¡works¡¡had¡¡once¡¡stood¡¡here£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡breached¡¡by¡¡some¡¡powerful¡¡attack£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡repaired¡£¡¡And¡¡indeed¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡hillside¡¡that¡¡the¡¡party¡¡was¡¡now¡¡descending¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡headlamps'¡¡beams¡¡like¡¡some¡¡dream¡¡of¡¡an¡¡old¡¡battlefield£»¡¡with¡¡fragments¡¡of¡¡old¡¡bones¡¡and¡¡rusted¡¡weapons¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡stones¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡from¡¡somewhere¡¡ahead£»¡¡a¡¡new¡¡sound¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡audible¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡dull¡¡and¡¡thick£»¡¡heavy¡¡and¡¡rhythmic£»¡¡loud¡¡as¡¡a¡¡great¡¡slow¡¡drum£»¡¡ominous¡¡as¡¡a¡¡troubled¡¡heart¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Our¡¡presence¡¡has¡¡been¡¡noted£»¡¡I'm¡¡afraid£»¡¨¡¡Mitspieler¡¡mented¡¡on¡¡hearing¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡can£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡advise¡¡you¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡fight¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡twenty¡¡meters¡¡or¡¡so¡¡ahead£»¡¡the¡¡cave's¡¡illumination¡¡was¡¡somewhat¡¡brighter¡£¡¡There¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡narrowed¡¡in£»¡¡bringing¡¡the¡¡towering¡¡gas¡flames¡¡a¡¡little¡¡closer¡¡on¡¡either¡¡hand¡£¡¡At¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place£»¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rubbled¡¡hillside¡¡gentled£»¡¡until¡¡there¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡slope¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡drum£»¡¡if¡¡such¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡continued¡¡sounding¡¡somewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡acpanied¡¡now¡¡by¡¡other¡¡dull£»¡¡booming¡¡sounds£»¡¡that¡¡made¡¡Mark¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡lids¡¡of¡¡sarcophagi¡¡falling¡¡back¡£¡¡He¡¡wished¡¡that¡¡image¡¡had¡¡not¡¡e¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡distance£»¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡narrowing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cave£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡long¡¡rows¡¡of¡¡what¡¡might¡¡be¡¡couches£»¡¡or£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡light£»¡¡elevated¡¡coffins¡£¡¡He¡¡saw£»¡¡or¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡he¡¡saw£»¡¡draped¡¡human¡¡forms¡¡recumbent¡¡upon¡¡some¡¡of¡¡these£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡in¡¡them¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡or¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡forms¡¡were¡¡stirring¡¡into¡¡action¡¡as¡¡the¡¡great¡¡war¡¡drum¡¡quickened¡¡its¡¡beat¡¡slightly¡£¡£¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡but¡¡there¡¡were¡¡two¡¡drums£»¡¡Mark¡¡realized¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡probably¡¡no¡¡sarcophagi¡lids¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡focusing¡¡his¡¡lamp's¡¡beam¡¡into¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure£»¡¡but¡¡decided¡¡not¡¡to¡¡risk¡¡disturbing¡¡whoever¡¡might¡¡be¡¡there¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡light¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Doon¡¡and¡¡his¡¡four¡¡followers¡¡continued¡¡their¡¡advance¡£¡¡But¡¡now£»¡¡directly¡¡in¡¡their¡¡path£»¡¡just¡¡at¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡narrowed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡were¡¡brighter£»¡¡a¡¡limping¡¡human¡¡form¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡bar¡¡their¡¡way¡£¡¡This¡¡figure£»¡¡armed¡¡with¡¡shield¡¡and¡¡spear¡¡and¡¡helmet£»¡¡was¡¡quickly¡¡joined¡¡by¡¡another¡¡and¡¡another¡£¡¡More¡¡appeared£»¡¡until¡¡there¡¡were¡¡ten¡¡in¡¡all£»¡¡all¡¡in¡¡motley¡¡clothing¡¡and¡¡irregularly¡¡armed¡¡and¡¡armored¡£¡¡Unmatching¡¡uniforms£»¡¡faded¡¡or¡¡shredded£»¡¡hung¡¡upon¡¡unhealthy¡looking¡¡bodies£»¡¡some¡¡scrawny¡¡and¡¡some¡¡bloated¡£¡¡The¡¡thin¡¡men¡¡were¡¡so¡¡thin¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡Mark¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡panions¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡encounter¡¡skeletons¡¡animated¡¡by¡¡some¡¡new¡¡power¡¡of¡¡magic£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡impression¡¡passed¡¡as¡¡they¡¡drew¡¡closer¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡force¡¡assembled¡¡to¡¡oppose¡¡them¡¡acted¡¡more¡¡effectively¡¡than¡¡their¡¡first¡¡appearance¡¡had¡¡suggested¡£¡¡When¡¡their¡¡leader¡¡barked¡¡a¡¡short¡¡mand¡¡it¡¡was¡¡vigorously¡¡executed¡£¡¡Their¡¡weapons£»¡¡drawn¡¡and¡¡presented¡¡now£»¡¡were¡¡in¡¡some¡¡cases¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡bars¡¡of¡¡rust£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡held¡¡in¡¡firm¡¡readiness¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡who¡¡acted¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡their¡¡officer¡¡now¡¡slouched¡¡a¡¡step¡¡forward¡¡from¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡patchwork¡¡line¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡password£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡demanded£»¡¡facing¡¡toward¡¡Doon's¡¡advancing¡¡group¡£¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dry¡¡croak£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡throat¡¡that¡¡formed¡¡it¡¡might¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡used¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡£¡£¡¡¡¨Give¡¡me¡¡the¡¡password£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¨¡¡Doon¡¡called¡¡back£»¡¡quite¡¡calmly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡hav