gc.shadowslinger-第55部分

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　　〃All　right。〃　I　didn't　like　it；　but　he　was　the　man　who　made　the　decisions。　We　had　elected　him　to　do　that。　〃Hagop；　find　Kingpin。　We're　going　looking　for　Asa。〃
　　Hagop　hurried　away　like　his　tail　was　aflame。　He　brought　Kingpin　back　in　minutes；　King　crabbing　because　he　hadn't　yet　eaten；　hadn't　yet　gotten　his　eight　hours　of　sleep。
　　〃Shut　up；　King。　Our　ass　is　in　a　vise。〃　I　explained；　though　it　wasn't　necessary。　〃Grab　something　cold　and　eat　on　the　run。　We've　got　to　find　Asa。〃
　　Hagop；　Kingpin；　One…Eye　and　I　hit　the　street。　As　always；　we　drew　a　lot　of　attention　from　morning　marketers；　not　only　because　we　had　e　from　Juniper；　but　because　One…Eye　was　an　oddity。　They'd　never　seen　a　black　man　in　Meadenvil。　Most　people　hadn't　heard　of　blacks。
　　Kingpin　led　us　a　mile　through　twisting　streets。　〃I　figure　he'll　hole　up　in　the　same　area　as　before。　He　knows　it。　He's　not　very　bright；　either；　so　it　wouldn't　occur　to　him　to　move　because　you　guys　came　to　town。　Probably　just　plans　to　keep　his　head　down　till　we　pull　out。　He's　got　to　figure　we　have　to　keep　moving。〃
　　His　reasoning　seemed　sound。　And　so　it　proved。　He　interviewed　a　few　people　he　had　met　in　the　course　of　previous　poking　around；　quickly　discovered　that　Asa　was；　indeed；　hiding　out　in　the　area。　Nobody　was　sure　where；　though。　
　　〃We'll　take　care　of　that　in　a　hurry；〃　One…Eye　said。　He　parked　himself　on　a　doorstep　and　performed　a　few　cheap　magic　tricks　that　were　all　flash　and　show。　That　arrested　the　attention　of　the　nearest　urchins。　Meadenvil's　streets　are　choked　with　children　all　the　time。
　　〃Let's　fade；〃　I　told　the　others。　We　had　to　be　intimidating　to　small　eyes。　We　moved　up　the　street　and　let　One…Eye　draw　his　crowd。　
　　He　gave　the　kids　their　money's　worth。　Of　course。　And　fifteen　minutes　later　he　rejoined　us；　trailed　by　an　entourage　of　street　mites。　〃Got　it；〃　he　said。　〃My　little　buddies　will　show　us　where。〃
　　He　amazes　me　sometimes。　I　would　have　bet　he　hated　kids。　I　mean；　when　he　mentions　them　at　all；　which　is　about　once　a　year；　it　is　in　the　context　of　whether　they　are　tastier　roasted　or　boiled。
　　Asa　was　holed　up　in　a　tenement　typical　of　slums　the　world　over。　A　real　rat…　and　firetrap。　I　guess　having　e　into　money　hadn't　changed　his　habits。　Unlike　old　Shed；　who　had　gone　crazy　when　he　had　money　to　spend。
　　There　was　but　one　way　out；　the　way　we　went　in。　The　children　followed　us。　I　did　not　like　that；　but　what　could　I　do？
　　We　pushed　into　the　room　Asa　called　home。　He　was　lying　on　a　pallet　in　a　corner。　Another　man；　reeking　of　wine；　lay　nearby；　in　a　pool　of　vomit。　Asa　was　curled　into　a　ball；　snoring。　〃Time　to　get　up；　sweetheart。〃　I　shook　him　gently。
　　He　stiffened　under　my　hand。　His　eyes　popped　open。　Terror　filled　them。　I　pressed　down　as　he　tried　to　jump　up。　〃Caught　you　again；〃　I　said。　He　gobbled　air。　No　words　came　out。　〃Take　it　easy；　Asa。　Nobody's　going　to　get　hurt。　We　just　want　you　to　show　us　where　Raven　went　down。〃　I　withdrew　my　hand。　
　　He　rolled　over　slowly；　watched　us　like　a　cat　cornered　by　dogs。　〃You　guys　are　always　saying　you　just　want　something。〃
　　〃Be　nice；　Asa。　We　don't　want　to　play　rough。　But　we　will　if　we　have　to。　We　have　four　days　before　the　Lady　gets　here。　We're　going　to　find　Darling　before　then。　You're　going　to　help。　What　you　do　afterward　is　your　own　business。〃
　　One…Eye　snorted　softly。　He　had　visions　of　Asa　with　a　cut　throat。　He　figured　the　little　man　deserved　no　better。
　　〃You　just　go　down　the　Shaker　Road。　Turn　left　on　the　first　farm　road　past　the　twelfth　milestone。　Keep　heading　east　till　you　get　to　the　place。　It's　about　seven　miles。　The　road　turns　into　a　trail。　Don't　worry　about　that。　Just　keep　going　and　you'll　get　there。〃　He　closed　his　eyes；　rolled　over；　and　pretended　to　snore。
　　I　indicated　Hagop　and　Kingpin。　〃Get　him　up。〃
　　〃Hey！〃　Asa　yelped。　〃I　told　you。　What　more　do　you　want？〃
　　〃I　want　you　to　e　along。　Just　in　case。〃
　　〃In　case　what？〃
　　〃In　case　you're　lying　and　I　want　to　lay　hands　on　you　fast。〃
　　One…Eye　added；　〃We　don't　believe　Raven　died。〃
　　〃I　saw　him。〃
　　〃You　saw　something；〃　I　countered。　〃I　don't　think　it　was　Raven。　Let's　go。〃　We　grabbed　his　arms。　I　told　Hagop　to　see　about　rounding　up　horses　and　provisions。　I　sent　Kingpin　to　tell　the　Lieutenant　we　wouldn't　be　back　till　tomorrow。　Hagop　　gave　a　fistful　of　silver　from　Raven's　chest。　Asa's　eyes　widened　slightly。　He　recognized　the　mintage；　if　not　the　immediate　source。
　　〃You　guys　can't　push　me　around　here；〃　he　said。　〃You're　not　anything　more　than　I　am。　We　go　out　in　the　street；　all　I　have　to　do　is　yell　and　。。。〃
　　〃And　you'll　wish　you　hadn't；〃　One…Eye　said。　He　did　something　with　his　hands。　A　soft　violet　glow　webbed　his　fingers；　coalesced　into　something　serpent…like　that　slithered　over　and　under　his　digits。　〃This　little　fellow　here　can　crawl　into　your　ear　and　eat　out　your　eyes　from　behind。　You　can't　yell　loud　enough　or　fast　enough　to　keep　me　from　siccing　him　on　you。〃
　　Asa　gulped　and　became　amenable。
　　〃All　I　want　is　for　you　to　show　me　the　place；〃　I　said。　〃Quickly。　I　don't　have　much　time。〃
　　Asa　surrendered。　He　expected　the　worst　of　us；　of　course。　He　had　spent　too　much　time　in　the　pany　of　villains　nastier　than　us。
　　Hagop　had　the　horses　within　half　an　hour。　It　took　Kingpin　another　half…hour　to　rejoin　us。　Being　Kingpin；　he　dawdled；　and　when　he　appeared；　One…Eye　gave　him　such　a　look　he　blanched　and　half　drew　his　sword。
　　〃Let's　get　moving；〃　I　growled。　I　did　not　like　the　way　the　pany　was　turning　upon　itself；　like　a　wounded　animal　snapping　at　its　own　flank。　I　set　a　stiff　pace；　hoping　to　keep　everybody　too　tired　and　busy　to　fuss。
　　Asa's　directions　proved　sound　and　were　easily　followed。　I　was　pleased；　and　when　he　saw　that；　he　asked　permission　to　turn　back。
　　〃How　e　you're　so　anxious　to　stay　away　from　this　place？　What's　out　there　that's　got　you　scared？〃
　　It　took　a　little　pressure；　with　One…Eye　conjuring　his　violet　snake　again；　to　loosen　Asa's　jaw。
　　〃I　came　out　here　right　after　I　got　back　from　Juniper。　Because　you　guys　didn't　believe　me　about　Raven。　I　thought　maybe　you　were　right　and　he'd　fooled　me　somehow。　So　I　wanted　to　see　how　he　maybe　did　it。　And。　。。。〃
　　〃And？〃
　　He　checked　us　over；　estimating　our　mood。　〃There's　another　of　those　places　out　there。　It　wasn't　there　when　he　died。　But　it　is　now。〃
　　〃Places？〃　I　asked。　〃What　kind　of　places？〃
　　〃Like　the　black　castle。　There's　one　right　where　he　died。　Out　in　the　middle　of　the　clearing。〃
　　〃Tricky；〃　One…Eye　snarled。　〃Trying　to　send　us　into　that。　I'm　going　to　cut　this　guy；　Croaker。〃
　　〃No；　you're　not。　You　let　him　be。〃　Over　the　next　mile　I　questioned　Asa　closely。　He　told　me　nothing　more　of　importance。
　　Hagop　was　riding　point；　being　a　superb　scout。　He　threw　up　a　hand。　I　joined　him。　He　indicated　droppings　in　the　trail。　〃We're　following　somebody。　Not　far　behind。〃　He　swung　down；　poked　the　droppings　with　a　stick；　duck　walked　up　the　trail　a　way。　〃He　was　riding　something　big。　Mule　or　plowhorse。〃
　　〃Asa！〃
　　〃Eh？〃　the　little　man　squeaked。
　　〃What's　up　ahead？　Where　is　this　guy　headed？〃
　　〃Nothing's　up　there。　That　I　know　of。　Maybe　it's　a　hunter。　They　sell　a　lot　of　game　in　the　markets。〃
　　〃Maybe。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　One…Eye　said；　sarcastic；　playing　with　his　violet　snake。
　　〃How　about　you　put　a　little　silence　on　the　situation；　One…Eye？　No！　I　mean　so　nobody　can　hear　us　ing。　Asa。　How　far　to　go？〃
　　〃Couple　miles；　anyway。　Why　don't　you　guys　let　me　head　back　now？　I　can　still　get　to　town　before　dark。〃
　　〃Nope。　You　go　where　we　go。〃　I　glanced　at　One…Eye。　He　was　doing　as　I　had　requested。　We　would　be　able　to　hear　one　another　talk。　That　was　all。　〃Saddle　up；　Hagop。　He's　only　one　guy。〃
　　〃But　which　guy；　eh；　Croaker？　Suppose　it's　one　of　them　creepy　things？　I　mean；　if　that　place　in　Juniper　had　a　whole　battalion　that　came　out　of　nowhere；　why　shouldn't　this　place　have　some？〃
　　Asa　made　sounds　that　indicated　he　had　been　having　similar　thoughts。　Which　explained　why　he　was　anxious　to　get　back　to　town。
　　〃You　see　anything　when　you　were　there；　Asa？〃
　　〃No。　　But　I　seen　where　the　grass　was　trampled　like　something　was　ing　and　going。〃
　　〃You　pay　attention　when　we　get　there；　One…Eye。　I　don't　want　no　surprises。〃
　　Twenty　minutes　later　Asa　told　me；　〃Almost　there。　Maybe　two　hun