fs.thesecondbookofswords-第18节

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e　if　I　e　nearer　to　you　with　it　drawn。〃
　　　And　Barbara：　〃As　long　as　you'll　pardon　us　for　holding　our　own　weapons　ready。〃
　　　Doon　now　rode　slowly　forward；　while　the　rest　of　his　group　stayed　where　they　were。　At　a　distance　of　no　more　than　three　or　four　meters　he　halted　again；　and　now　he　pointed　with　the　blade　in　his　hand　at　Mark；　Ben；　and　Barbara　in　turn。　Mark　could　see　the　tip　quivering；　lightly　and　rapidly；　when　it　was　aimed　at　himself　and　at　Ben。　But　it　remained　steady；　he　thought；　when　Doon　leveled　it　at　Barbara。
　　　Doon　told　the　two　young　men：　〃Your　young　piece　there　is　not　going　to　e　with　us。　Can　you　trust　your　lives　to　her　ability　to　hold　her　tongue？〃
　　　And　Ben　again：　〃Speak　of　the　lady　gently；　or　you　might　get　Dragonslicer　where　you　don't　want　it。〃
　　　Doon　raised　an　eyebrow；　a　signal　more　elegant　by　far　than　his　attire。　〃Your　pardon；　I'm　sure；　your　ladyship。　I　meant　only　that　I　decline　to　invite　you　to　take　part　in　this　enterprise。　And　I　most　strongly　advise　that　you　say　nothing　to　anyone　about　it。〃
　　　She　flared　back　at　him　fearlessly；　〃It's　well　that　you　decline　to　invite　me；　for　I'd　decline　to　go。　And　if　my　two　friends　are　going；　my　tongue'll　not　put　them　in　danger。〃　Her　manner　softened　just　a　little。　〃You　don't　know　me；　or　you'd　spare　yourself　the　worry。〃
　　　Doon　slid　his　Sword　back　into　its　poor　sheath。　Suddenly　he　appeared　somewhat　diminished；　though　still　vital　and　flamboyant。　He　sat　his　mount　in　silence　for　a　few　moments；　looking　over　a　people　who　faced　him。　Apparently　he　was　satisfied　by　what　he　saw；　for　he　smiled　suddenly；　it　was　a　better　smile　than　any　of　the　three　confronting　him　expected。
　　　〃If　there　are　any　farewells　to　be　said　among　you；〃　he　told　the　three；　〃say　them　now。　My　men　and　I　will　be　waiting　for　two　of　you　a　little　down　the　slope。〃　With　that　he　turned　his　back　and　slowly　rode　away；　signing　to　his　men　to　put　their　weapons　up。　They　fell　in　behind　him；　and　without　looking　back　proceeded　down　the　canyon。
　　　The　three　who　were　left　behind　looked　at　one　another。
　　　Ben　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　addressed　Mark。　〃Well；　then。　I　take　it　we　are　going？〃
　　　〃Benambra's　Gold；〃　Mark　marveled　softly；　shaking　his　head。
　　　〃And　Swords；〃　said　Ben；　〃for　Sir　Andrew。〃
　　　〃Aye；　you　tell　me　there's　a　Sword。〃
　　　〃Or　maybe　more　than　one。〃
　　　〃I'll　have　to　go；〃　said　Mark。　〃I'll　have　to　risk　it　then。〃
　　　〃And　I　know　you're　going　too；〃　said　Barbara　to　Ben。
　　　Mark　went　to　her；　and　put　his　golden　coin　into　her　hand。　〃What　do　you　have　to　say；〃　he　asked；　〃about　our　leaving　you？　I　see　no　way　around　it。〃
　　　〃Nor　do　I；　I　suppose。〃　If　Barbara　had　any　strong　feelings　in　the　matter　she　was　keeping　them　well　concealed。　〃There　are　some　pilgrims　moving　through　the　past；　and　I　expect　they'll　be　glad　to　have　someone　with　a　wagon　join　them；　for　a　time　at　least。〃　She　tossed　the　coin　once；　then　put　it　away　inside　her　garments。　〃I'll　keep　this　for　you。　It's　less　likely　that　I'll　lose　it　than　you　will；　where　you　seem　to　be　going。〃
　　　〃Spend　it　if　need　be　…　you　know　that。　It　won't　buy　you　a　shop　in　a　walled　city；　but　…　when　Ben　es　back；　perhaps　you　can。〃　Mark　paused；　aware　of　Ben　waiting　his　turn　to　say　goodbye。　〃Are　you　going　back　to　the　carnival；　then？〃
　　　〃I　didn't　think　so　when　I　left　it。　But　now　…　what　else？　First；　though；　I'm　going　to　watch　from　a　hilltop；　to　see　if　that　gang　tries　to　murder　you　both　right　off。〃
　　　〃We'll　scream　for　help；〃　said　Ben。　He　took　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her　roughly；　swinging　her　off　her　feet。　〃I'll　find　you　with　the　carnival；　then；　when　I　e　back　with　a　fortune。　And　listen。　Tell　that　strongman；　if　he's　still　there；　that。。。　that。。。〃　〃I　can　manage　him。　I　have　so　far。〃
　　　And　Mark　heard　no　more；　for　he　walked　apart　a　little；　to　let　the　two　of　them　say　goodbye　alone。　Presently；　looking　back；　he　saw　Ben　lifting　Barbara　into　the　wagon。　She　waved　her　arm　once　more　to　Mark；　and　then　drove　off。
　　　There　had　evidently　been　an　old　scabbard　in　the　wagon；　for　Ben　was　fitting　Dragonslicer　into　it；　and　belting　it　round　his　waist；　when　Mark　caught　up　to　him。
　　　〃Let's　go　get　our　treasure；　rade。〃
　　　Following　the　swiftly　driven　wagon　down　the　hill；　they　saw　Barbara　drive　past　the　place　where　Doon　and　his　men　were　loitering；　waiting　for　their　two　recruits。　Moments　later　they　saw　her　pause；　looking　back；　watching　from　a　small　hilltop　as　she　had　promised。
Chapter　6
　　　Doon　weled　the　two　of　them　briskly　when　they　came　striding　downhill　to　him；　and　the　bined　descent　to　the　main　road　got　under　way　without　delay。　Introductions　went　round　among　the　men　while　they　were　moving。
　　　When　they　reached　the　place　where　the　trail　from　the　side　canyon　rejoined　the　main　road　through　the　pass；　Doon　drew　and　consulted　his　Sword　again。　Barbara's　wagon　was　now　out　of　sight；　around　the　curve　of　the　main　road；　and　the　pilgrims'　chant　was　faintly　audible　from　that　direction。
　　　Doon's　Sword　pointed　back　to　the　north；　in　the　direction　from　which　Ben　and　Barbara　and　Mark　had　e。　Dismounted　now；　leading　his　animal；　the　Baron　set　the　pace　in　that　direction；　and　motioned　for　Mark　and　Ben　to　walk　close　beside　him。
　　　Now　Doon　began　a　conversation　by　posing　them　a　few　cautious　questions　about　their　background。　He　seemed　glad　to　hear　that　they　claimed　some　minor　experience　as　dragon　hunters。　Their　claim　was　more　readily　accepted；　thought　Mark；　because　they　made　it　modest。
　　　〃And　what　about　yourself；　sir？〃　Mark　countered。
　　　〃What　about　myself？〃
　　　〃How　do　you　e　to　be　leading　this　expedition？〃　Mark　asked　bluntly。　〃It　seems　to　me　that　qualifications　beyond　the　ordinary　are　required。〃
　　　Doon　did　not　appear　to　object　to　being　questioned　in　such　a　way；　but　smiled　at　them　graciously。　〃True；〃　he　agreed；　〃and　my　qualifications　have　already　been　tested；　in　more　ways　than　one。　But　it　is　chiefly　a　matter　of　will。〃
　　　〃How's　that？〃　Ben　wanted　to　know。
　　　Doon　smiled　again。　〃You　see　before　you；　gentlemen；〃　he　began；　〃a　man　almost　devoid　of　what　the　world　calls　wealth。　The　powers　that　rule　the　universe　have　determined；　for　what　reason　I　do　not　know；　that　pauperism　is　to　be　my　lot。　Whereas　I；　on　my　own　behalf；　have　made　a　different　determination。　I　will　have　wealth。〃　He　said　it　with　majestic　sincerity。
　　　〃I　am　impressed；〃　said　Mark。
　　　〃You　should　be；　young　man。　If　I　am　willing　to　defy　gods；　demons；　and　unguessed　…　at　powers；　think　how　little　likely　I　am　to　be　turned　aside　by　any　merely　human　obstacles。〃
　　　〃The　gods　must　favor　you　somewhat；〃　said　Ben；　〃or　you　would　not　have　a　Sword。〃
　　　〃They　can　never　all　agree　on　anything；　can　they？　Tell　me。。。〃　〃Yes。〃
　　　〃Why　were　both　of　you　disposed　to　believe　me　so　quickly；　when　I　mentioned　Benambra's　Gold？　Most　folk　of　any　wit　would　be　more　skeptical。〃
　　　〃I　was　a　minstrel　once；〃　said　Ben。　〃I　knew　the　old　song。〃
　　　〃More　than　that。〃
　　　〃Yes。〃　He　looked　at　Doon　steadily　as　they　trudged　along。　〃A　couple　of　months　ago；　I　helped　to　bury　part　of　it。　I've　seen　it　with　my　own　eyes。〃
　　　〃Ah。　What　have　you　seen；　exactly？〃　The　Baron's　question　was　calm；　reserving　judgement。
　　　〃The　gold　of　the　Blue　Temple；　I'm　telling　you。　Six　loadbeasts'　burden　of　it。　It　was　wrapped　up　in　bundles；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　what　it　was。〃
　　　〃You　helped　to　bury　it；　you　say。〃
　　　〃To　put　it　into　a　cave；　and　I　know　where　that　cave　is。〃
　　　〃What　I　have　heard；〃　said　Doon；　〃is　that　the　men　who　do　that　work　are　always　slain；　immediately　afterward。〃
　　　〃There　were　six　of　us；　and　I　think　five　were　killed。　I　didn't　wait　to　make　sure。〃
　　　〃Ah。〃
　　　The　wizard　was　riding　close　behind　the　three　of　them　and　doubtless　listening。　The　four　other　men　were　keeping　close　as　well；　taking　in　every　word。
　　　Doon　said：　〃Wayfinder　of　course　can　lead　me　to　the　site。　But　it　will　be　good　to　learn　the　location　from　you　in　advance；　so　we　can　begin　to　plan　more　carefully。〃
　　　Ben　squinted　up　at　the　sun　and　got　his　directions。　〃I'll　tell　you　this　much　now。　Your　Sword　is　taking　you　in　the　right　general　direction。〃
　　　〃Ah。　But　you　see；　for　the　past　month　it　has　been　leading　me　on　a　zigzag　path。　I　wondered　about　this　when　I　first　realized　it；　but　the　reason　quickly　became　clear。　When　I　began　I　was　alone；　and　I　have　been　gathering　the　necessary　tools　and　helpers。　The　Sword　has　led　me　to　different　people　…　as　to　you　…　and　to　other　necessities。　But　it　has　been　up　to　me　to　gain　them　for　my　cause；　by　one　means　or　another。〃
　　　〃I　see；〃　said　Mark。　〃And　when　will　your　expedition　be　finally　plete　and　ready？〃
　　　〃It　may　be　so　now；　for　all　I　know。　Your　friend　says　that　we　are　now　heading　toward　the　gold。〃
　　　〃There　are　a　few　more　things；〃　the　wizard　put　in　suddenly；　〃that　I　could　wish　we　had；　before　we　reach　the　hiding　place　and　try　to　breach　it。〃
　　　Mark　turned　to　look　at　him。　〃Such　as？〃
　　　〃You　…　or　your　friend　…　spoke　of　the　sealings；　back　there。　Do　you　truly　know　what　all　six　of　them　are？〃
　　　〃The　song　says　seven　…　doesn't　it；　Ben？　And　they　must　be　the　various　protections　of　the　treasure。〃
　　　Doon　meanwhile　was　looking　round；　and　appeared　to　be　considering　the　extent　of　the　train　of　men　and　beasts　he　now　had　following　him。　In　an　aside　to　himself；　he　muttered：　〃A　few　more；　a