fs.thesecondbookofswords-第13节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


or　will　I　be　sent　hence　without　that　which　I　need。　Be　warned　also；　that　this　blade　when　in　my　hand　is　doubly　magic！〃
　　　The　monstrous　ape　retreated。　Hubert　could　not　tell　quite　how　it　managed　the　maneuver；　only　that　one　moment　the　midnight　bulk　still　filled　the　doorway；　and　the　next　moment　it　was　gone。
　　　There　was　a　faint　sound　from　the　closed　door　to　the　right。　As　one；　the　men　spun　in　that　direction；　to　watch　that　broad　door　creaking　open。。。
　　　。。。　pushed　by　a　skeletal　hand。　The　hanged　man　from　the　gallows　was　standing　just　inside　it。　Hubert　could　not　be　mistaken　about　that　face。
　　　Pu　Chou　uttered　a　sound　that　could　not　be　described　as　speech。　But　Doon；　wheeling　his　mount；　faced　this　apparition　as　coolly　as　he　had　the　other。　As　if　addressing　the　same　entity；　he　went　on　speaking。　〃I　tell　you；　trickery　will　not　move　me；　nor　will　threats。　Now　do　you　mean　to　fight　me；　or　listen　to　me？〃
　　　Again；　the　thing　that　he　confronted　disappeared。
　　　All　four　men　were　now　turning　about；　twisting　their　necks；　trying　to　keep　all　four　doorways　under　observation　at　the　same　time。　None　of　them　were　taken　by　surprise　by　the　next　appearance；　in　the　doorway　that　had　so　far　remained　unoccupied。　The　tall；　richly　robed　figure　that　stood　there　now　was　that　of　an　old　man；　gray　but　sturdy。　His　massive　bald　crown　was　surrounded　by　a　long　gray　fringe　that　matched　his　beard。　Great　blue　eyes；　with　something　in　them　as　innocent　as　infancy；　looked　out　from　under　white　bushy　brows。
　　　Facing　Doon；　this　man　asked　in　a　low；　impressive　voice：　〃What　seek　you　here？〃
　　　Doon　lowered　his　Sword　slowly。　He　started　to　speak；　then　looked　down　at　his　mount。　The　riding　beast　had　suddenly　relaxed。
　　　And　now　the　Baron　heaved　a　great　sigh；　as　if　he　too　felt　finally　able　to　allow　himself　the　luxury　of　weariness。　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　no　longer　as　taut　as　a　drawn　bowstring。　〃What　I　seek　is　simply　wealth。　No；　not　yours；　I　suppose　your　treasure　might　be　considerable；　but　even　so　it　won't　be　enough　for　me；　and　I　don't　purpose　to　take　it。　I　believe　that　the　treasure　I　want　is　elsewhere。　But　for　some　reason　the　pathway　to　it　leads　through　your　door。〃
　　　Now　Doon's　riding　beast　had　suddenly　turned　its　long；　gaunt　neck　aside；　and　was　beginning　to　graze　on　something　near　the　ground。　Hubert；　with　a　sensation　of　blurred　eyes；　saw　that　the　flowerbeds　were　still　active　after　all；　indeed　that　they　were　richly　grown　with　leaves　and　blossoms。　There　was　a　splash　from　the　fountain；　where　moments　ago　he　had　seen　a　cracked　and　dusty　basin。　Doon　turned　his　head　in　mild　bewilderment　of　this　new　sound；　then　shrugged　and　dismounted；　letting　his　animal　graze。　But　he　retained　his　Sword　in　his　right　hand。
　　　When　a　shadow　wavered　across　Hubert's　vision；　he　looked　up　to　see　that　a　bright　sun　in　a　clear　sky　had　been　intercepted　by　a　full…leaved　branch　of　a　tree　that　was　after　all　not　dead。
　　　The　tall　old　man　in　the　doorway　was　asking：　〃What　is　your　name？〃
　　　〃I　am　the　Baron　Doon。〃　The　words　were　a　quiet　distillation　of　pride。
　　　The　old　man　nodded。　〃And　I　am　known；　for　the　present；　as　Indosuaros。　Do　you　need　to　ask　my　profession？〃
　　　〃No；　I　think　not。〃
　　　〃Nor　I　yours。　Well。〃　A　songbird　twittered　in　one　of　the　trees；　and　the　monkbird；　Dart；　on　Golok's　shoulder　replied　in　happy　mockery。　Indosuaros　added：　〃I　am　pleased　to　offer　you　and　your　men　my　hospitality。　Though；　as　you　have　doubtless　deduced　by　now；　my　usual　habit　is　to　discourage　visitors。〃
　　　Doon　needed　only　a　moment　to　think　about　it。　〃And　we　are　pleased　to　accept；　with　thanks。〃　He　sheathed　his　Sword。
　　　Now　Hubert　was　aware　that　the　house　around　them　was　altering　even　more　swiftly　than　before。　Dust　and　dead　leaves　had　disappeared　from　the　courtyard；　as　had　the　cracks　from　the　cloisters　and　the　walls。　Beside　the　burbling　fountain　a　table　had　materialized；　flanked　by　benches　and　chairs　and　covered　in　snowy　linen。　Hubert　could　half…see　moving　forms；　whether　human　or　not　he　could　not　tell；　moving　through　the　air　around　the　table；　juggling　plates；　setting　and　arranging。　The　air　held　a　sudden　and　delicious　smell　of　food；　subtle；　yet　almost　staggering　to　the　hungry　senses。　And；　for　one　breath…catching　moment；　Hubert　was　sure　that　he　beheld　the　delicate　shape　of　a　young　servant　girl；　seductively　clad。　A　moment　later；　only　immaterial　powers　swirled　the　air　where　she　had　been。
　　　An　elderly　serving　man；　whose　drab　shape　seemed　real　and　solid　enough；　had　emerged　from　the　house　to　stand　with　bowed　head　at　the　side　of　Indosuaros。　The　tall　wizard　conferred　with　him　in　whispers；　then　made　a　gesture　of　dismissal。　Now　the　benches　that　had　been　placed　beside　the　table　were　whisked　away；　to　be　replaced　presently　by　carven　chairs。　Dishes　and　platters　of　substantial　food　began　to　appear；　and　flagons　of　wine。　The　settings　were　enhanced　by　cutlery　and　goblets　of　precious　stone。
　　　〃Pray　be　seated；〃　said　Indosuaros　courteously。　〃All　of　YOU。〃
　　　〃One　moment；　if　you　please；〃　said　Doon；　equally　polite。　With　a　nod　to　the　wizard　…　it　was　a　gesture；　Hubert　thought；　that　did　not　quite　ask　permission　the　Baron　drew　his　magic　blade　and　consulted　it　again。　It　pointed　him　directly　to　a　chair。　He　took　it。　At　his　gesture；　the　other　men　moved　to　seat　themselves；　with　little　ceremony。
　　　Indosuaros　took　his　place　at　the　table's　head；　in　a　chair　whose　carven　serpents；　Hubert　thought；　could　be　seen　from　time　to　time　to　move。　The　wizard　lounged　there；　nibbling　at　a　few　grapes　from　the　banquet；　watching　indolently　while　his　guests　satisfied　their　thirst　and　hunger。　　Delightful　soft　music　could　now　be　heard；　from　somewhere　in　the　background。　The　courtyard　was　now　certainly　a　pleasant　place；　with　the　trees　placed　just　right　to　shade　the　table。
　　　Doon　scarcely　relaxed。　In　businesslike　fashion　he　polished　off　a　plate　of　food；　and　a　single　cup　of　wine；　then　signified　politely　that　he　had　finished　eating。　Again　the　form　of　the　serving　girl　was　suggested　in　the　air；　and　plates　began　to　vanish　selectively。　Doon　scarcely　glanced　at　her。　He　was　watching　his　host　carefully。
　　　Indosuaros　helped　himself　to　one　more　grape。　Then　he　leaned　toward　his　principal　guest；　and　in　a　low　and　pleasant　voice　began　what　amounted　to　a　blunt　interrogation。
　　　〃We　all　want　gold；　don't　we？　But　what　makes　you　think　that；　as　you　put　it；　your　road　to　wealth　leads　through　my　door？　Speak　plainly；　please　…　as　I　believe　you　have；　so　far。〃
　　　〃Why；　I　intend　to　do　so；〃　Doon　answered　calmly。　〃But　first；　my　thanks　again　for　this　excellent　refreshment。〃
　　　〃You　are　wele。　By　the　way；　I　am　curious；　Baron。　You　ate　and　drank　with　no　sign　of　hesitancy　or　suspicion。　Did　it　never　cross　your　mind；　even　as　a　possibility；　that。。？〃
　　　Hubert；　who　had　just　mopped　up　some　delicious　gravy　with　a　morsel　of　soft　white　bread；　experienced　a　momentary　difficulty　in　swallowing。
　　　But　the　Baron　only　laughed。　It　seemed　almost　too　big　a　sound　to　e　out　of　his　small　frame。　〃Sir　Wizard；　ordinarily；　of　course；　if　someone　of　your　obvious　skill　were　minded　to　do　me　harm　with　poison；　I'd　have　little　hope　of　avoiding　it。　But　my　Sword　has　led　me　to　your　table；　and　I　trust　it　to　lead　me　well。〃
　　　〃Your　sword；　you　say。〃　The　old　man　sounded　skeptical。
　　　〃Indosuaros；　if　you　can　read　the　page　of　magic　a　tenth　as　well　as　I　believe　you　can；　you　already　know　which　Sword　it　is　I　wear。　Wayfinder。　The　Sword　of　Wisdom。　Forged；　along　with　its　eleven　fellows；　by　none　less　than　the　god　Vulcan　himself。〃
　　　Hubert　forgot　about　swallowing　altogether。
　　　Doon　had　pushed　his　chair　back　a　few　centimeters。　He　had　both　hands　resting　on　the　table's　edge　and　looked　ready　to　push　himself　back　farther　and　leap　up。　〃God…forged；　it　is。　And　not　even　your　powers；　Sir　Wizard；　I　think；　are　able　to　turn　it　away　from　true　service　to　its　owner。　No　magic　that　mere　humans　can　control　can　do　so。〃
　　　〃And　it　leads　you　where　you　mand　it？〃
　　　〃Where　my　wishes　mand　it。　Aye。　On　to　wealth。〃
　　　〃And　it　makes　you　immune　to　death？〃
　　　〃No。　Oh　no。　I　have　not　manded　it　to　seek　my　safety。　But；　you　see；　if　you　had　been　trying　to　poison　me；　that　would　have　been　certain　death；　and　certainly　not　wealth。　No；　the　Sword　of　Wisdom　would　not　have　led　me　into　that。〃
　　　The　old　wizard　appeared　to　be　giving　all　of　this　the　deepest　thought。　〃I　admit；〃　he　said　at　last；　softly；　〃that　I　recognized　Wayfinder　very　quickly。　But　I　was　not　sure　at　first　that　you　knew　what　you　were　carrying。。。　However；　Sir　Baron；　toward　what　sort　of　wealth　do　you　think　the　Sword　of　Wisdom　is　leading　you？〃
　　　〃Why；　no　less　wealth；〃　said　Doon；　〃than　the　greatest　in　the　world。　I　speak　of　the　main　hoard　of　the　Blue　Temple　itself。　And　you　may　be　sure；　Sir　Wizard；　that　I　know　what　sort　of　an　idea　I　am　carrying　when　I　speak　of　that。〃
　　　Hubert　could　behold　his　own　amazement　mirrored　in　Pu　Chows　face；　and　in　Golok's。　Rob　the　Blue　Temple？　Impossible！　was　his　own　first　reaction；　held　in　silence。　On　second　thought　he　had　to　admit　that　to　a　master　who　could　hold　his　own　amid　all　this　enchantment；　and　sit　bargaining　calmly　with　its　creator；　anything　in　the　world　might　well　be　possible。
　　　〃。。。　so　you；〃　Doon　was　saying　to　the　wizard；　〃ought　to　have　no　objection　to　my　plan。　If　you'll　provide　me　with　wh