gc.shadowslinger-第4部分

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　　The　tall；　thin　man　came　out　of　his　shadows。　Calmly；　he　began　despatching　guerrillas　with　a　fourteen…inch；　silvery　blade。　He　spared　those　customers　we　had　not　bound　to　their　chairs。
　　He　signed；　〃It's　safe　to　breathe　now。〃
　　〃Watch　the　door；〃　Candy　told　me。　He　knew　I　had　an　aversion　to　this　kind　of　slaughter。　〃Otto；　you　take　the　kitchen。　Me　and　Pawnbroker　will　help　Silent。〃
　　The　Rebel　outside　tried　to　get　us　by　speeding　arrows　through　the　doorway。　He　had　no　luck。　Then　he　tried　firing　the　place。　Madle　suffered　paroxysms　of　rage。　Silent；　one　of　the　three　wizards　of　the　pany；　who　had　been　sent　into　Tally　weeks　earlier；　used　his　powers　to　squelch　the　fire。　Angrily；　the　Rebel　prepared　for　a　siege。
　　〃Must　have　brought　every　man　in　the　province；〃　I　said。
　　Candy　shrugged。　He　and　Pawnbroker　were　piling　corpses　into　defensive　barricades。　〃They　must　have　set　up　a　base　camp　near　here。〃　Our　intelligence　about　the　Tally　guerrillas　was　extensive。　The　Lady　prepares　well　before　she　sends　us　in。　But　we　hadn't　been　told　to　expect　such　strength　available　at　short　notice。
　　Despite　our　successes；　I　was　scared。　There　was　a　big　mob　outside；　and　it　sounded　like　more　were　arriving　regularly。　Silent；　as　an　ace　in　the　hole；　hadn't　much　more　value。
　　〃You　send　your　bird？〃　I　demanded；　assuming　that　had　been　the　reason　for　his　trip　upstairs。　He　nodded。　That
provided　some　relief。　But　not　much。
　　The　tenor　changed。　They　were　quieter　outside。　More　arrows　zipped　through　the　doorway。　It　had　been　ripped　off　its　hinges　in　the　first　rush。　The　bodies　heaped　in　it　would　not　slow　the　Rebel　long。　〃They're　going　to　e；〃　I　told
Candy。
　　〃All　right。〃　He　joined　Otto　in　the　kitchen。　Pawnbroker　joined　me。　Silent；　looking　mean　and　deadly；　stationed　himself　in　the　center　of　the　mon　room。　A　roar　went　up　outside。　〃Here　they　e！〃
　　We　held　the　main　rush；　with　Silent's　help；　but　others　began　to　batter　the　window　shutters。　Then　Candy　and　Otto　had　to　concede　the　kitchen。　Candy　killed　an　overzealous　attacker　and　spun　away　long　enough　to　bellow；　〃Where　the　hell　are　they；　Silent？〃
　　Silent　shrugged。　He　seemed　almost　indifferent　to　the　proximity　of　death。　He　hurled　a　spell　at　a　man　being　boosted　through　a　window。
　　Trumpets　brayed　in　the　night。　〃Ha！〃　I　shouted。　〃They're　ing！〃　The　last　gate　of　the　trap　had　closed。
　　One　question　remained。　Would　the　pany　close　in　before　our　attackers　finished　us？
　　More　windows　gave。　Silent　could　not　be　everywhere。　〃To　the　stair！〃　Candy　shouted。　〃Fall　back　to　the　stair。〃　We　raced　for　it。　Silent　called　up　a　noxious　fog。　It　was　not　the　deadly　thing　he　had　used　before。　He　could　not　do　that　again；　now。　He　hadn't　time　to　prepare。
　　The　stair　was　easily　held。　Two　men；　with　Silent　behind　them；　could　hold　it　forever。
　　The　Rebel　saw　that。　He　began　setting　fires。　This　time　Silent　could　not　extinguish　all　the　flames。
　　
　　　Chapter　Seven：　JUNIPER：　KRAGE
　　
　　The　front　door　opened。　Two　men　shoved　into　the　Lily；　stamped　their　feet　and　beat　the　ice　off　themselves。　Shed　scuttled　over　to　help。　The　bigger　man　pushed　him　away。　The　smaller　crossed　the　room；　kicked　Asa　away　from　the　fire；　squatted　with　his　hands　extended。　Shed's　guests　stared　into　the　flames；　seeing　and　hearing　nothing。
　　Except　Raven；　Shed　noted。　Raven　looked　interested；　and　not　particularly　disturbed。
　　Shed　sweated。　Krage　finally　turned　around。　〃You　didn't　stop　by　yesterday；　Shed。　I　missed　you。〃
　　〃I　couldn't；　Krage。　I　didn't　have　anything　to　bring　you。　Look　in　my　coin　box。　You　know　I'll　pay　you。　I　always　do。　I　just　need　a　little　time。〃
　　〃You　were　late　last　week；　Shed。　I　was　patient。　I　know　you're　having　problems。　But　you　were　late　the　week　before　that；　too。　And　the　week　before　that。　You're　making　me　look　bad。　I　know　you　mean　it　when　you　say　you'll　pay　me。　But　what　will　people　think？　Eh？　Maybe　they　start　thinking　it's　all　right　for　them　to　be　late；　too。　Maybe　they　start　thinking　they　don't　have　to　pay　at　all。〃
　　〃Krage；　I　can't。　Look　in　my　box。　As　soon　as　business　picks　up。　。　。　。〃
　　Krage　gestured。　Red　reached　behind　the　counter。　〃Business　is　bad　everywhere；　Shed。　I　got　problems；　too。　I　got　expenses。　I　can't　meet　mine　if　you　don't　meet　yours。〃　He　ambled　around　the　mon　room；　examining　the　furnishings。　　Shed　could　read　his　mind。　　He　wanted　the　Lily。　Wanted　Shed　in　a　hole　so　deep　he　would　have　to　give　the　place　up。
　　Red　handed　Shed's　box　to　Krage。　Krage　made　a　face。　〃Business　really　is　bad。〃　He　gestured。　The　big　man；　Count；　seized　Shed's　elbows　from　behind。　Shed　nearly　fainted。　Krage　grinned　wickedly。　〃Pat　him　down；　Red。　See　if　he's　holding　out。〃　He　emptied　the　coin　box。　〃On　account；　Shed。〃
　　Red　found　the　silver　leva　Raven　had　given　Shed。
　　Krage　shook　his　head。　〃Shed；　Shed；　you　lied　to　me。〃　Count　pressed　his　elbows　together　painfully。　　〃That　isn't　mine；〃　Shed　protested。　〃That　belongs　to　Raven。　He　wanted　me　to　buy　wood。　That's　why　I　was　headed　for　Latham's。〃　Krage　eyed　him。　Shed　knew　Krage　knew　he　was　telling　the　truth。　He　didn't　have　the　guts　to　lie。　　Shed　was　scared。　
　　Krage　might　bust　him　up　just　so　he　would　give　up　the　Lily　to　buy　his　life。　　What　then？　He　would　be　without　a　hearth；　and　in　the　street　with　an　old　woman　to　look　after。
　　Shed's　mother　cursed　Krage。　Everyone　ignored　her；　including　Shed。　She　was　harmless。　Darling　stood　in　the　kitchen　doorway；　frozen；　one　hand　fisted　before　her　mouth；　eyes　full　of　appeal。　She　watched　Raven　more　than　Krage　and　Shed。
　　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　break；　Krage？〃　Red　asked。　Shed　cringed。　Red　enjoyed　his　work。　〃You　shouldn't　hold　out　on　us；　Shed。　You　shouldn't　lie　to　Krage。〃　He　unleashed　a　vicious　punch。　Shed　gagged；　tried　to　fall　forward。　Count　held　him　upright。　Red　hit　him　again。
　　A　soft；　cold　voice　said；　〃He　told　the　truth。　I　sent　him　for　wood。〃
　　Krage　and　Red　shifted　formation。　Count　did　not　relax　his　grip。　〃Who　are　you？〃　Krage　demanded。
　　〃Raven。　Let　him　be。〃
　　Krage　exchanged　glances　with　Red。　Red　said；　〃I　think　maybe　you'd　better　not　talk　that　way　to　Mister　Krage。〃
　　Raven's　gaze　rose。　Red's　shoulders　tightened　defensively。　Then；　aware　of　his　audience；　he　stepped　over　and　threw　an　open…palmed　punch。　Raven　plucked　his　hand　out　of　the　air；　twisted。　Red　went　to　his　knees；　grinding　his　teeth　on　a　whimper。　Raven　said；　〃That　was　stupid。〃
　　Astonished；　Krage　replied；　〃Smart　is　as　smart　does；　mister。　Let　him　go　while　you're　healthy。〃
　　Raven　smiled　for　the　first　time　in　Shed's　recollection。　〃That　wasn't　smart。〃　There　was　an　audible　pop。　Red　screamed。
　　〃Count！〃　Krage　snapped。
　　Count　hurled　Shed　aside。　He　was　twice　Red's　size；　quick；　strong　as　a　mountain；　and　barely　as　smart。　Nobody　survived　Count。
　　A　wicked　nine…inch　dagger　appeared　in　Raven's　hand。　Count　stopped　so　violently　his　feet　tangled。　He　fell　forward；　rolling　off　the　edge　of　Raven's　table。
　　〃Oh；　shit；〃　Shed　groaned。　Somebody　was　going　to　get　killed。　Krage　wouldn't　put　up　with　this。　It　would　be　bad　for　business。
　　But　as　Count　rose；　Krage　said；　〃Count；　help　Red。〃　His　tone　was　conversational。
　　Count　obediently　turned　to　Red；　who　had　dragged　himself　away　to　nurse　his　wrist。
　　〃Maybe　we　had　a　little　misunderstanding　here；〃　Krage　said。　〃I'll　put　it　plain；　Shed。　You've　got　one　week　to　pay　me。　The　big　and　the　nut　both。〃
　　〃But。　。　。　。〃
　　〃No　buts；　Shed。　That's　according　to　terms。　Kill　somebody。　Rob　somebody。　Sell　this　dump。　But　get　the　money。〃　The　or…elses　did　not　have　to　be　explained。
　　I'll　be　all　right；　Shed　promised　himself。　He　won't　hurt　me。　I'm　too　good　a　customer。
　　How　the　hell　would　he　e　up　with　it？　He　couldn't　sell　out。　Not　with　winter　closing　in。　The　old　woman　couldn't　survive　in　the　street。
　　Cold　air　gusted　into　the　Lily　as　Krage　paused　at　the　door。　He　glared　at　Raven。　Raven　did　not　bother　looking　back。
　　〃Some　wine　here；　Shed；〃　Raven　said。　〃I　seem　to　have　spilled　mine。〃
　　Shed　hustled　despite　his　pain。　He　could　not　help　fawning。　〃I　thank　you；　Raven；　but　you　shouldn't　have　interfered。　He'll　kill　you　for　that。〃
　　Raven　shrugged。　〃Go　to　the　wood…seller　before　somebody　else　tries　to　take　my　money。〃
　　Shed　looked　at　the　door。　He　did　not　want　to　go　outside。　They　might　be　waiting。　But　then　he　looked　at　Raven　again。　The　man　was　cleaning　his　nail