tw.thestoneoffarewell-第136部分

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I　don't　care。　But　I'm　going　downcoast　to　Kwanitupul　and　I'm　tired　of　asking　people　to　take　me。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　〃B…but　you　could　go　overland！〃　Sinetris　squeaked。　〃This　is　no　weather　to　be　on　the　water　。。。〃
　　 〃And　how　long　would　it　take　to　go　overland　from　here？〃　
　　〃A　day！　Two；　perhaps！　Not　long！〃
　　The　monk's　grip　on　his　arm　tightened　cruelly。　〃You　lie；　little　man。　In　this　weather；　through　that　marshy　ground；　it　would　take　me　a　solid　fortnight。　But　you're　rather　hoping　I'll　try；　though；　aren't　you？　Hoping　I'll　go　away　and　sink　into　the　mud　somewhere？〃　An　unpleasant　smile　flitted　across　the　monk's　broad　face。
　　 〃No；　Father！　No！　I　would　never　think　so　of　a　holy　man！〃　　　　　　　　1
　　〃That's　strange；　because　your　fellow　fishermen　tell　me　you've　cheated　everyone；　monks　and　priests　by　the　score　among　'em！　Well；　you　shall　live　your　chance　to　help　a　man　of　God…and　you　shall　have　your　just　and　more　than　ample　payment。〃
　　Sinetris　burst　into　tears；　impressing　even　himself。　〃But　Eminence！　We　truly　dare　not　go　out　in　such　weather！〃　As　he　said　it；　he　realized　that　for　once　he　was　telling　the　truth　and　not　merely　trying　to　raise　his　price。　This　was　weather　that　only　a　fool　would　brave。　His　pleading　took　on　a　note　of　greater　desperation。　〃We　will　drown…you；　God's　holiest　priest；　and　poor　Sinetris；　hard…working　husband　and　father　to　seven　lovely　children！〃
　　〃You　have　no　children；　and　pity　the　woman　who　will　ever　be　your　wife。　I　talked　to　your　fishing…fellows；　don't　you　remember？　You　are　the　scum　that　even　Perdruin　the　Mercenary　has　driven　from　her　shores。　Now；　name　your　price；　damn　you。　1　must　get　to　Kwanitupul　as　soon　as　possible。〃　
　　Sinetris　sniffled　a　bit　to　give　himself　time　to　think。　The　standard　ferrying　charge　was　one　quinis；　but　with　rough　weather…and　they　certainly　had　that　today；　with　no　exaggeration…three　or　even　four　quinis　would　not　be　out　of　line。
　　〃Three　gold　Imperators。〃　He　waited　for　the　bellow　of　anger。　When　none　came；　he　thought　for　a　delirious　moment　he　might　have　made　his　summer's　ine　in　two　days。　Then　he　saw　the　pink　face　drawing　close；　until　the　monk's　breath　was　hot　on　his　cheeks。
　　〃You　worm；〃　the　monk　said　softly。　〃There　is　a　difference　between　simple　robbery　and　rape。　I　think　I　should　just　fold　you　up　like　a　napkin　and　take　the　damnable　boat…leaving　a　gold　Imperator　for　your　imaginary　widow　and　seven　nonexistent　brats；　which　is　more　than　the　whole　leaky　thing　is　worth。〃
　　〃Two　gold　Imperators；　Eminence？　One　for　my　imag。。。　widow；　one　to　purchase　a　mansa　for　my　poor　soul　at　the　church？〃
　　〃One；　and　you　know　that　is　a　gross　overpayment。　It　is　only　because　I　am　in　a　hurry。　And　we　will　leave　now。〃
　　〃Now？　But　the　boat　is　not　fitted　out。。。　！　〃
　　〃I'll　watch。〃　The　monk　let　go　of　Sinetris'　throbbing　wrist　and　folded　his　arms　across　his　broad　chest。　〃Go　ahead；　now。　Hop　to　it！〃　
　　〃But　kind　Father；　what　about　my　gold　piece。。。　？　〃
　　〃When　we　get　to　Kwanitupul。　Do　not　fear　you　will　be　cheated；　as　you　have　cheated　others。　Am　I　not　a　man　of　God？〃　The　strange　monk　laughed。
　　Sinetris；　snuffling　quietly；　went　looking　for　his　oars。
　　
　　
　　〃You　said　you　had　more　gold！〃　Charystra；　the　proprietress　of　the　inn　known　as　Pelippa's　Bowl　put　on　a　practiced　look　of　disgust。　〃I　treated　you　like　a　prince…you；　a　little　marsh…man…and　you　lied　to　me！　I　should　have　known　better　than　to　trust　a　dirty　Wrannaman。〃
　　Tiamak　struggled　to　keep　his　temper。　〃I　think；　good　lady；　that　you　have　done　very　well　from　me。　I　paid　you　on　arrival　with　two　gold　Imperators。〃
　　She　snorted。　〃Well；　it's　all　spent。〃
　　〃In　a　fortnight？　You　accuse　me　of　lying；　Charystra；　but　that　might　as　well　be　theft。〃
　　〃How　dare　you　speak　that　way　to　me！　You　had　the　best　acmodations　and　the　services　of　the　best　healer　in　Kwanitupul。〃
　　The　ache　of　Tiamak's　wounds　only　added　to　his　anger。　〃If　you　are　referring　to　that　drunken　person　who　came　to　twist　my　leg　and　hurt　me；　I　am　sure　his　fee　was　scarcely　more　than　a　bottle　or　two　of　fem　beer。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　appeared　to　have　enjoyed　the　payments　of　a　few　other　victims　before　he　came　here。〃
　　The　irony！　To　think　that　Tiamak；　author　of　the　soon…to…be　definitive　revision　of　Sovran　Remedys　of　the　Wranna　Healers；　should　be　forced　into　the　care　of　a　dryland　butcher！
　　〃Anyway；　I　am　lucky　I　kept　my　leg；〃　he　growled。　〃Besides；　you　moved　me　out　of　the　best　acmodations　quickly　enough。〃　Tiamak　waved　his　thin　arm　at　the　nest　of　blankets　he　now　shared　with　Ceallio；　the　simpleminded　door　keeper。
　　The　innkeeper's　frown　turned　into　a　smirk。　〃Aren't　you　very　high　and　cocksure　for　a　marsh…man？　Well；　get　on　with　you；　then。　Go　to　some　other　inn　and　see　if　they'll　treat　a　Wrannaman　as　kindly　as　Charystra　has。〃
　　Tiamak　choked　back　a　furious　reply。　He　knew　he　must　not　let　his　anger　get　the　better　of　him。　He　was　being　dreadfully　cheated　by　this　woman；　but　that　was　how　things　always　went　when　Wrannamen　put　their　fortunes　in　the　hands　of　drylanders。　He　had　already　failed　his　tribe；　on　whose　behalf　he　had　sworn　to　go　to　Nabban　and　argue　their　case　against　higher　tribute。　If　he　were　thrown　out　of　Pelippa's　Bowl；　he　would　fail　Morgenes　as　well；　who　had　explicitly　asked　for　him　to　stay　at　this　inn　until　he　was　needed。
　　Tiamak　offered　a　short　prayer　for　patience　to　He　Who　Always　Steps　on　Sand。　If　his　staying　in　such　a　place　was　so　important　to　Dinivan　and　Morgenes；　couldn't　they　at　least　have　sent　him　money　with　which　to　pay　for　it？　He　took　a　deep　breath；　hating　to　grovel　before　this　red…faced　woman。
　　〃It　is　foolish　to　fight；　good　lady；〃　he　said　finally。　〃I　am　still　expecting　that　my　friend　will　show　up；　bringing　more　gold。〃　Tiamak　forced　himself　to　smile。　〃Until　then；　I　think　I　still　have　some　little　bit　of　my　two　Imperators　remaining。　Surely　it　is　not　all　spent　quite　yet？　If　I　have　to　leave；　someone　else　will　be　earning　gold　for　giving　their　best　acmodations　to　me　and　my　friend。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　weighing　the　advantages　of　throwing　him　out　against　the　possibility　of　future　money…gouging。　〃Well。。。〃　　she　said　grudgingly；　〃perhaps　out　of　the　goodness　of　my　heart　I　could　let　you　stay　another　three　days。　But　no　meals；　mind　you。　You'll　have　to　e　up　with　more　coins；　or　else　find　your　own　food。　I　set　a　lavish　table　for　my　guests　and　can't　afford　to　give　it　away。〃
　　Tiamak　knew　that　the　lavish　table　consisted　mostly　of　thin　soup　and　dried　bread；　but　also　knew　that　even　such　meager　fare　was　better　than　nothing。　He　would　have　to　feed　himself　somehow。　He　was　used　to　going　long　on　little　provender；　but　he　was　still　quite　weak　from　his　leg　wounds　and　resulting　illness。　How　he　would　love　to　bounce　a　sling…stone　off　this　woman's　mocking　face！
　　〃Very　fair；　my　lady。〃　He　gritted　his　teeth。　〃Very　fair。〃
　　〃My　friends　always　say　I'm　too　good。〃
　　Charystra　swaggered　back　into　the　mon　room；　leaving　Tiamak　to　cover　his　head　with　his　odoriferous　blanket　and　contemplate　the　grim　state　of　his　affairs。
　　
　　
　　Tiamak　lay　sleeplessly　in　the　dark。　His　mind　was　spinning；　but　he　could　think　of　no　solution　to　his　problems。　He　could　barely　walk。　He　was　stranded　without　resources　in　a　strange　place；　among　bandit　drylanders。　It　seemed　that　They　Who　Watch　and　Shape　had　conspired　to　torment　him。　
　　The　old　man　Ceallio　grunted　in　his　sleep　and　rolled　over；　his　long　arm　flopping　heavily　against　Tiamak's　face。　Painfully　thumped；　the　Wrannaman　moaned　and　sat　up。　It　was　no　use　being　upset　with　the　ancient　simpleton：　Ceallio　was　no　more　to　blame　for　their　unfortable　proximity　than　was　Tiamak　himself。　The　Wrannaman　wondered　if　Ceallio　was　upset　at　having　to　share　his　bed；　but　somehow　he　doubted　it。　The　cheerful　old　man　was　as　guileless　as　a　child；　he　seemed　to　accept　everything　that　came　his　way…　blows；　kicks；　and　curses　included…as　acts　of　fate；　unfathomable　and　unavoidable　as　thunderstorms。
　　　Thinking　of　evil　weather；　Tiamak　shivered。　The　hovering　storm　that　had　turned　the　air　of　the　Wran　and　all　the　southern　coast　hot　and　sticky　as　broth　had　fallen　at　last；　drenching　Kwanitupul　in　unseasonable　rains。　The　normally　placid　canals　had　turned　choppy　and　unpredictable。　Most　ships　rode　at　anchor；　slowing　the　business　of　the　thriving　port　city　to　a　crawl。　The　heavy　storm　had　also　nearly　choked　off　the　flow　of　new　visitors；　which　was　another　reason　for　Charystra's　unpleasantness。
　　Tonight　the　rain　had　stopped　for　the　first　time　in　several　days。　Not　long　after　Tiamak　had　crawled　into　his　insufficient　bed；　the　constant　rattle　on　the　roof　had　suddenly　gone　silent；　a　silence　so　deep　it　seemed　almost　like　another　noise。　Perhaps；　he　thought；　it　was　this　unaccustomed　silence　that　made　it　so　hard　to　sleep。
　　Shivering　again；　Tiamak　tried　to　pull　his　blanket　closer　about　him；　but　the　old　man　beside　him　had　caught　up　the　whole　tangle　in　a　death…grip。　Despite　his　advanced　age；　the　fool　seemed　to　be　a　great　deal　stronger　than　Tiamak；　who　even　before　his　unfortunate　brush　with　the　crocodile　had　never　been　robust；　even　by　the　standards　of　his　small…boned　people。　The　Wrannaman　ceased　struggling　for　the　covers；　Ceallio　gurgled　and　murmured　in　the　throes　of　some　dream　of　past　happiness。　Tiamak　frowned。　Why　had　he　ever　left　his　house　in　the　banyan　tree；　in　his　beloved；　familiar　swamp？　It　was　not　much；　but　it　was　his。　And　unlike　this　drafty；　damp　boat…house；　it　had　always　been　warm。　。　。　。
　　This　was　more　than　just　night…cold；　he　realized　suddenly；　wracked　by　more　shivers。　There　was　a　chill　in　the　air　that　pierced　the　chest　like　daggers。　He　initiated　another　doomed　struggle　for　blankets；　then　sat　up　again　in　despair。　Perhaps　the　door　had　been　left　open？
　　Giving　vent　to　a　full…throated　groan　of　anguish；　he　crawled　away　from　his　bed；　forcing　himself　to　stand。　His　leg　throbbed　and　burned。　The　tosspot　healer　had　said　that　his　poultices　would　take　the　pain　away　soon　enough；　but　Tiamak　had　little　faith　in　such　an　obvious　drunkard；　and　so　far　his　doubts　had　been　borne　out。　He　limped　slowly　across　the　rough　wood　floor；　doing　his　best　to　avoid　the　two　upended　boats　that　dominated　the　room。　He　managed　to　stay　near　the　wall　and　thus　evade　these　large　obstacles；　but　a　hard　stool　leaped　up　before　him　and　cruelly　battered　his　good　shin；　so　that　for　a　moment　Tiamak　had　to　stop　and　bite　his　li