cacb.thefarkingdoms-第38部分

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！


　When　the　moon　went　down；　the　four　of　us　crept　out；　equipped　as　Janos　had　planned；　plus　we　each　carried　short；　thrusting　spears。　Sergeant　Maeen　had　chosen　the　hot…tempered　Lione　as　our　fourth；　saying　his　quickness　to　violence　was　exactly　what　we　needed　here。
　In　the　oasis　three　fires　still　burned；　indicating　the　nomads'　camp；　at　least　there　was　no　danger　of　our　being　lost。　We　circled　until　we　were　a　quarter　arc　away　from　our　camp；　then　we　struck　for　the　oasis。　The　place　was　parklike；　with　thick　brush　and　palms　stretching　up；　but　with　little　grass　or　vines　to　trip　and　snare。　We　found　one　of　the　winding　paths　that　travelers　had　worn　between　the　water　pools　and　the　open　areas　suitable　for　campsites；　and　padded　toward　the　nomads。　Janos　had　told　me　to　keep　my　gaze　away　from　their　fire；　to　avoid　losing　my　night　eyes；　but　it　was　hard。　It　also　became　difficult　to　see　objects　between　us　and　fireglow　the　closer　we　got　to　die　camp。　I　stumbled　in　mud　and　nearly　fell　into　one　of　the　pools；　but　the　sergeant　steadied　me。　Then　his　hand　forced　me　down；　into　a　kneel。　I　saw　a　bulk　ahead　of　us　that　was　not　one　of　the　palms　but　a　sentry。　Another　bulk　closed　on　it；　and　I　heard　a　〃Hunh！〃；　just　the　sound　of　a　man　who's　been　punched　below　his　lungs。　Janos　let　the　sentry　sag　down；　and　I　saw　steel　glitter　as　he　pulled　his　dagger　out　of　the　body。
　Now　we　were　on　the　fringes　of　their　camp。　Janos　waved　us　up。　We　crouched；　hidden　by　brush；　and　looked　at　the　camp。　There　were　two　tents　that　looked　as　if　they　could　hold　ten　men　or　so　each。　That　would　be；　I　guessed；　where　the　nomads　slept。　Stretched　out　on　the　ground；　between　the　banked　fire　and　the　tents；　were　sleeping　men　and　women。　I　saw　the　gleam　of　metal　and　followed　the　chains　from　person　to　person。　The　slavers　had　already　found　part　of　their　〃flock；〃　evidently。　There　was　a　half…awake　man　guarding　the　slaves；　and　another　guard　as　well；　who　stood　outside　a　small　conical　tent。　I　guessed　it　would　belong　to　the　nomads'　leader。
　I　shuddered　as　if　a　chill　wind　had　blown　across　my　soul　and　felt　my　invisible　being　wandering　in　a　dark　desert；　a　desert　filled　with　great　beasts　I　would　rather　have　slaughter　me　unknowing　than　show　their　ghastliness　openly　in　my　final　moment。　Cassini's　spell　was　working。
　Maeen　and　Janos　nocked　war　arrows；　while　Lione　and　I　uncovered　our　tinderboxes；　blew　sparks　into　a　low　flame；　and　held　our　tarred　arrows　into　them。　Flame　。。。　and　Janos　hissed。　Bowstrings　twanged　。。。　just　as　arrows　hit　with　that　solid　and　most　final　thunk。　The　sentries　dropped　without　cry。　Lione　and　I　loosed　our　fire　arrows　at　the　tents；　and　Maeen　and　Janos　quickly　followed　suit。　Then　we　rose　and　charged。
　Baldly　written　on　white　linen；　these　events　might　make　me　seem　guilty　of　being　either　suicidal　or　a　lie　maker。　Nothing　could　be　further　from　the　truth。　Imagine　yourself　a　desert　nomad；　sleeping　peacefully；　and　perhaps　dreaming　of　how　you　are　about　to　reap　a　rich　harvest　of　foolish　merchants　out　there　in　the　desert。　Then　screams　。。。　flames　。　。。　raw　fear　shatters　down　at　you　。。　。　you　seize　your　sword　。。。　and　stumble　out　of　your　tent。。。　and　are　confronted　with　four　howling　demons。　A　spearthrust　ing　out　of　the　night；　dropped；　then　blood…dripping　swords　slashing；　constantly　moving；　like　desert　dust　devils　with　deathsteel　in　one　hand；　gouting　fire　from　torches　taken　from　your　own　fire　setting　your　tents　ablaze。　Now；　with　those　terrible　facts　in　front　of　you；　might　you　not　do　as　those　slavers　did？　Might　you　not　also　drown　out　our　howls　with　your　own　screams　and　pelt　away　into　the　night？　And　might　not　the　gruesome　sight　of　six　of　your　rades'　disemboweled　corpses　lend　speed　to　your　feet　as　you　fled　into　the　desert？
　I　was　beside　that　conical　tent；　sword　ready　for　the　killing　lunge；　when　the　flaps　came　open；　I　thought　it　fitting　that　the　nomad　chieftain　meet　his　death　at　my　hands；　but　as　I　braced　to　strike；　a　woman　stumbled　out　into　the　firelight。　I　now　thank　the　gods　I　was　not　then　the　warrior　Janos　or　Maeen　were；　nor　die　warrior　I　myself　became　later。　I　was　slow　enough　in　launching　my　attack　to　catch　myself；　and　my　sword　tip　went　wide。　The　chief's　concubine；　I　thought；　and　then　I　saw；　in　the　fire　flicker；　the　silver　that　cuffed　each　of　her　wrists　and　stretched　between。　Another　poor　captured　being；　destined　for　slavery。
　The　woman　was　young；　and　she　wore　the　puffed　shirt　and　baggy　trousers　of　a　man。　Her　black　hair　dropped　in　waves　to　her　shoulders。　I　noticed；　as　if　we　were　standing　in　the　midday　sun　and　I　had　a　god's　time　to　appreciate；　that　she　wore　gold　and　the　sparkle　of　gems　at　her　throat。　She　was　also　quite　beautiful。
　〃Who　are…〃　we　each　asked　at　the　same　moment；　or　at　least　I　guessed　we　did；　because　the　woman　spoke　in　an　unknown　tongue。　I　said　something　about　〃rescuers；〃　and　she　seemed　to　understand。　She　looked　beyond　me；　I　turned　and　saw　the　rest　of　our　soldiers　run　into　the　firelight。　Among　them　was　Cassini。　The　slaves　were　on　their　feet　now；　and　Janos　and　Maeen　moved　among　them。　Maeen　had　found　keys　and　was　unlocking　their　chains。　Janos　preferred　the　direct　approach　and　used　his　great　blade　to　pry　the　chain　links　apart。
　The　woman　saw　something　and　walked　past　me；　paying　no　heed　to　the　bloody　sword　in　my　hand　She　walked　to　one　of　dead　nomad　bodies　that　lay　face　up　and　bent　over　it。　I　recognized　dead　man…he　was　the　band's　chieftain。　Very　deliberately　the　woman　spat　in　his　face；　laughed　harshly；　and　said　something　else　in　her　own　language。
　〃Janos！〃　He　freed　the　last　of　the　captives　and　came　to　me。　He　pulled　firewood　from　a　pile　and　tossed　it　into　the　flames；　they　roared　up。　The　captives　seemed　bewildered。
　Janos　tried　Trader's　Tongue。　Only　one　man　seemed　to　understand；　and　that　very　slightly；　so　Janos　began　motioning；　trying　to　make　his　signs　universal；　as　he　spoke。
　〃You　are　free〃…casting　aside　one　of　the　chains…〃we　must　go　on　。。。　we　travel　east〃…tapping　chest　and　indicating…〃you　must　e　with　us　。。。　slavers　will　return　。。。　tomorrow〃…motioning　to　the　other　darkness　and　arcing　his　hand　like　the　sun　rising…〃with　more　men　。。。　more　weapons〃…　again；　the　chain；　and　then　fingers　spread；　spread；　spread　again；　showing　numbers。　〃e　with　us　。。。　you　are　free。〃
　The　men　and　women　looked　at　each　other；　hesitant。　No　one　moved。　Finally；　the　beautiful　woman　stepped　forward；　she　walked　up　to　me　and　said　a　word　I　did　not　understand。　Then　she　repeated　it；　this　time　in　the　patois。　This　time　I　understood；　the　word　she　used　was　free。　She　said　it　with　great　relish。　Then　she　turned　back　to　the　others　and　shouted　a　few　sentences。　The　freed　captives　found　their　tongues　and　babbled。　Then　one；　then　two；　then　five　walked　to　Janos。　The　others　were　suddenly　silent。　They　looked　down　at　the　ground；　then　sat。　Janos　tried　again；　but　none　of　them　rose。　He　even　seized　one　man　by　the　arm　and　dragged　him　to　his　feet。　But　the　man　went　limp　and　let　himself　collapse。　Janos　was　angry；　seething　。。。　as　if　he　might　kill　someone　。。。　or　as　if　he　might　cry。
　Maeen　broke　his　building　rage。　〃Sir。　Captain　Greycloak。　It's　false　dawn。　We　must　be　moving。〃
　Janos　forced　calm。　〃I　should　have　remembered；〃　he　said　to　the　captives。　〃There　were　people　like　you　when　I　was　。。。　what　I　was。　Men　who　would　rather　live　in　chains　than　die　free。〃
　Then　it　was　as　if　they　did　not　exist。　He　shouted　us　into　motion。　We　must　return　to　our　camp　and　get　the　packs　onto　the　asses。　The　nomads　would　be　back…almost　certainly　with　reinforcements。　We　must　be　gone　when　they　came；　deeper　into　the　desert。　We　looted　the　camp；　leaving　only　foodstuffs　for　those　who　had　decided　to　remain　in　slavery。　All　else　we　burned。　We　drove　their　horses　out　in　a　different　direction；　hoping　to　provide　a　false　trail。　We　dared　not　take　them　with　us…the　nomads　might　know　exactly　where　every　water　source　was；　but　we　did　not。　And　we　did　not　want　to　landmark　our　direction　of　flight　with　a　line　of　carcasses。　Then　we　marched　out。　As　we　moved　out　of　the　oasis；　in　the　first　red　flush　of　real　dawn；　the　woman　caught　up　with　me　and　tapped　my　chest　and　asked　something。　It　took　a　moment　before　I　realized　what　she　wanted　to　know。
　〃Amalric；〃　I　answered。　She　touched　her　own　chest。
　〃Deoce。〃
　Then　we　went　on　into　the　desert；　the　last　flames　from　the　nomads'　camp　lost　in　the　glare　of　the　rising　sun。
　
　CHAPTER　TEN
　Deoce
　DURING　THE　NEXT　few　days；　Deoce　and　her　panions　had　cause　to　regret　their　rescue。　The　desert　nights　were　so　cold；　our　bones　ached；　and　the　days　so　opposite　we　begged　for　the　fort　of　night。　It　was　impossible　to　keep　the　fast　pace　Janos　desired；　so　we　were　grateful　the　slavers　had　evidently　decided　not　to　follow。　And　as　the　sun　beat　down　and　the　asses　bawled　their　misery；　and　we　wished　for　tears　enough　to　weep；　we　realized　only　a　fool　would　pursue　us。　For　we　were　all　clearly　doomed；　as　would　be　anyone　who　followed。　Still；　there　were　beasts　about…although　I　cannot　attest　they　were　of　this　world。　At　night　we　heard　them　howling　for　the　wetness　of　our　blood；　during　the　hot　day　we　could　sense　them　snuffling；　just　out　of　view；　on　our　scent。
　On　the　third　dusk　of　our　ordeal；　Cassini's　divining　rod　finally　gave　a　weak　twitch；　and　we　all　fell　to　the　sand　and　began　to　scrabble　and　dig　like　dogs。　I　growled　with　satisfaction　like　the　others　when　my　fingers　found　wet　sand。　I　scooped　up　the　wetness　and　stuffed　it　into　my　mouth；　sucking　eagerly　on　the　grit；　spitting　it　away　when　it　was　dry；　and　grabbing　up　another　handful。　When　I　was　nearly　satiated　I　looked　up；　munching　on　sand　as　if　it　were　sweet　sherbet；　and　saw　Deoce。　Her　face　was　filthy；　and　when　she　grinned　at　me；　sand　clung　to　her　teeth。　She　laughed　at　my　own　look；　and　when　I　laughed　back　at　her　own　poor　state；　she　found　greater　amusement；　laughing　even　louder。
　Deoce　had　a　lovely　laugh。　I　can　hear　it　now　as　I　write　these　words　and　struggle　for　descriptive　powers。　It　wasn't　musical　or　bell…like；　or　any　of　those　〃winds　in　a　sacred　grove〃　parisons。　She　laughed　from　the　toes　up；　a　deep；　heartfelt　laugh　that　tickled　the　spirit　of　anyone　in　her　pany。　Soon　we　were　all　laughing；　and　it　took　little　encouragement　from　Janos　to　get　the　men　busy　widening　and　deepening　the　hole　and　helping　the　animals　get　a　drink。
　I　am　not　saying　we　were　as　good　as　new　that　night；　or　even　refreshed；　but　our　spirits　were　much　lighter。　When　one　of　the　beasts　howled；　Lione　mocke