gc.thewhiterose-第17章

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t　least　it　descended　before　forcing　them　off。
　　　They　were　walking　home。　The　menhirs　promised　to　shield　them　from　the　natural　wickedness　of　the　Plain。
　　　We　all　went　down　into　the　Hole　bickering。　There　is　nothing　like　failure　to　set　the　sparks　flying。
　　　Failure；　of　course；　can　be　relative。　The　damage　we　did　was　considerable。　The　repercussions　would　echo　a　long　time。　The　Taken　had　to　be　badly　rattled。　Our　capture　of　so　many　documents　would　force　a　restructuring　of　their　plan　of　campaign。　But　still　the　mission　was　unsatisfactory。　Now　the　Taken　knew　wind　whales　were　capable　of　ranging　beyond　traditional　bounds。　Now　the　Taken　knew　we　had　resources　beyond　those　they　had　suspected。
　　　When　you　gamble；　you　do　not　show　all　your　cards　till　after　the　final　bet。
　　　I　scrounged　around　and　found　the　captured　papers；　took　them　to　my　quarters。　I　did　not　feel　like　participating　in　the　conference　room　post…mortem。　It　was　sure　to　get　nasty…even　with　everyone　agreeing。
　　　I　shed　my　weapons；　lighted　a　lamp；　picked　one　of　the　document　bundles；　turned　to　my　worktable。　And　there　lay　another　of　those　packets　from　the　west。
　　　
　　　Chapter　Nineteen：BOMANZ'S　TALE
　　　
　　　Croaker：
　　　Bomanz　walked　his　dreams　with　a　woman　who　could　not　make　him　understand　her　words。　The　green　path　of　promise　led　past　moon…eating　dogs；　hanged　men；　and　sentries　without　faces。　Through　breaks　in　the　foliage　he　glimpsed　a　sky…spanning　et。
　　　He　did　not　sleep　well。　The　dream　invariably　awaited　him　when　he　dozed　off。　He　did　not　know　why　he　could　not　slide　down　into　deep　sleep。　As　nightmares　went；　this　was　mild。
　　　Most　of　the　symbolism　was　obvious；　and　most　of　it　he　refused　to　heed。
　　　Night　had　fallen　when　Jasmine　brought　tea　and　asked；　〃Are　you　going　to　lie　here　all　week？〃
　　　〃I　might。〃
　　　〃How　are　you　going　to　sleep　tonight？〃
　　　〃I　probably　won't　till　late。　I'll　work　in　the　shop。　What's　Stance　been　up　to？〃
　　　〃He　slept　a　while；　went　and　brought　a　load　from　the　site；　pottered　around　the　shop；　ate；　and　went　back　out　when　somebody　came　to　say　Men　fu　was　out　there　again。〃
　　　〃What　about　Besand？〃
　　　〃It's　all　over　town。　The　new　Monitor　is　furious　because　he　didn't　leave。　Says　he　won't　do　anything　about　it。　The　Guards　are　calling　him　a　horse's　ass。　They　won't　take　his　orders。　He's　getting　madder　and　madder。〃
　　　〃Maybe　he'll　learn　something。　Thanks　for　the　tea。　Is　there　anything　to　eat？〃
　　　〃Leftover　chicken。　Get　it　yourself。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃
　　　Grumbling；　Bomanz　ate　cold；　greasy　chicken　wings；　washing　them　down　with　tepid　beer。　He　thought　about　his　dream。　His　ulcer　gave　him　a　nip。　His　head　started　aching。　〃Here　we　go；〃　he　muttered；　and　dragged　himself　upstairs。
　　　He　spent　several　hours　reviewing　the　rituals　he　would　use　to　leave　his　body　and　slide　through　the　hazards　of　the　Barrowland　。　。　。　Would　the　dragon　be　a　problem？　Indications　were；　it　was　meant　for　physical　intruders。　Finally：　〃It'll　work。　As　long　as　that　sixth　barrow　is　Moondog's。〃　He　sighed；　leaned　back；　closed　his　eyes。
　　　The　dream　began。　And　midway　through　he　found　himself　staring　into　green　ophidian　eyes。　Wise；　cruel；　mocking　eyes。　He　started　awake。
　　　〃Pop？　You　up　there？〃
　　　〃Yeah。　e　on　up。〃
　　　Stancil　pushed　into　the　room。　He　looked　awful。
　　　〃What　happened？〃
　　　〃The　Barrowland　。　。　。　The　ghosts　are　walking。〃
　　　〃They　do　that　when　the　et　gets　close。　I　didn't　expect　them　so　soon。　Must　be　going　to　get　frisky　this　time。　That's　no　call　to　get　shook　up。〃
　　　〃Wasn't　that。　I　expected　that。　That　I　could　handle。　No。　It's　Besand　and　Men　fu。〃
　　　〃What？〃
　　　〃Men　fu　tried　to　get　into　the　Barrowland　with　Besand's　amulet。〃
　　　〃I　was　right！　That　little　。　。　。　Go　on。〃
　　　〃He　was　at　the　dig。　He　had　the　amulet。　He　was　scared　to　death。　He　saw　me　ing　and　headed　downhill。　When　he　got　near　where　the　moat　used　to　be；　Besand　came　out　of　nowhere；　screaming　and　waving　a　sword。　Men　fu　started　running。　Besand　kept　after　him。　It's　pretty　bright　out　there；　but　I　lost　track　when　they　got　up　around　the　Howler's　barrow。　Besand　must　have　caught　him。　I　heard　them　yelling　and　rolling　around　in　the　brush。　Then　they　started　screaming。〃
　　　Stancil　stopped。　Bomanz　waited。
　　　〃I　don't　know　how　to　describe　it；　Pop。　I　never　heard　sounds　like　that。　All　the　ghosts　piled　onto　the　Howler's　barrow。　It　went　on　a　long　time。　Then　the　screaming　started　getting　closer。〃
　　　Stancil；　Bomanz　concluded；　had　been　shaken　deeply。　Shaken　the　way　a　man　is　when　his　basic　beliefs　are　uprooted。　Odd。　〃Go　on。〃
　　　〃It　was　Besand。　He　had　the　amulet；　but　it　didn't　help。　He　didn't　make　it　across　the　moat。　He　dropped　it。　The　ghosts　jumped　him。　He's　dead；　Pop。　The　Guards　were　all　out　there　。　。　。　They　couldn't　do　anything　but　look。　The　Monitor　wouldn't　give　them　amulets　so　they　could　get　him。〃
　　　Bomanz　folded　his　hands　on　the　tabletop；　stared　at　them。　〃So　now　we　have　two　men　dead。　Three　counting　the　one　last　night。　How　many　will　we　have　tomorrow　night？　Will　I　have　to　face　a　platoon　of　new　ghosts？〃
　　　〃You're　going　to　do　it　tomorrow　night？〃
　　　〃That's　right。　With　Besand　gone　there's　no　reason　to　delay　it。　Is　there？〃
　　　〃Pop　。　。　。　Maybe　you　shouldn't。　Maybe　the　knowledge　out　there　should　stay　buried。〃
　　　〃What's　this？　My　son　parroting　my　misgivings？〃
　　　〃Pop；　let's　don't　fight。　Maybe　I　pushed　too　hard。　Maybe　I　was　wrong。　You　know　more　about　the　Barrowland　than　me。〃
　　　Bomanz　stared　at　his　son。　More　boldly　than　he　felt；　he　said；　〃I'm　going　in。　It's　time　to　put　doubts　aside　and　get　on　with　it。　There's　the　list。　See　if　there's　an　area　of　inquiry　that　I've　forgotten。〃
　　　〃Pop　。　。　。　〃
　　　〃Don't　argue　with　me；　boy。〃　It　had　taken　him　all　evening　to　shed　the　ingrained　Bomanz　persona　and　surface　the　wizard　so　long　and　artfully　hidden。　But　he　was　out　now。
　　　Bomanz　went　to　a　er　where　a　few　seemingly　innocuous　objects　were　piled。　He　stood　taller　than　usual。　He　moved　more　precisely；　more　quickly。　He　began　piling　things　on　the　table。　〃When　you　go　back　to　Oar；　you　can　tell　my　old　classmates　what　became　of　me。〃　He　smiled　thinly。　He　could　recall　a　few　who　would　shudder　even　now；　knowing　he　had　studied　at　the　Lady's　knee。　He'd　never　forgotten；　never　forgiven。　And　they　knew　him　that　well。
　　　Stancil's　pallor　had　disappeared。　Now　he　was　uncertain。　This　side　of　the　father　had　not　been　seen　since　before　the　son's　birth。　It　was　outside　his　experience。　〃Do　you　want　to　go　out　there；　Pop？〃
　　　〃You　brought　back　the　essential　details。　Besand　is　dead。　Men　Fu　is　dead。　The　Guards　aren't　going　to　get　excited。〃
　　　〃I　thought　he　was　your　friend。〃
　　　〃Besand？　Besand　had　no　friends。　He　had　a　mission　。　。　。　What're　you　looking　at？〃
　　　〃A　man　with　a　mission？〃
　　　〃Could　be。　Something　kept　me　here。　Take　this　stuff　downstairs。　We'll　do　it　in　the　shop。〃
　　　〃Where　do　you　want　it？〃
　　　〃Doesn't　matter。　Besand　was　the　only　one　who　could　have　separated　it　from　the　junk。〃
　　　Stancil　went　out。　Later；　Bomanz　finished　a　series　of　mental　exercises　and　wondered　what　had　bee　of　the　boy。　Stance　hadn't　returned。　He　shrugged；　went　on。
　　　He　smiled。　He　was　ready。　It　was　going　to　be　simple。
　　　The　town　was　in　an　uproar。　A　Guard　had　tried　to　assassinate　the　new　Monitor。　The　Monitor　was　so　bewildered　and　frightened　he　had　locked　himself　in　his　quarters。　Crazy　rumors　abounded。
　　　Bomanz　walked　through　it　with　such　calm　dignity　that　he　startled　people　who　had　known　him　for　years。　He　went　to　the　edge　of　the　Barrowland；　considered　his　long…time　antagonist。　Besand　lay　where　he　had　fallen。　The　flies　were　thick。　Bomanz　threw　a　handful　of　dirt。　The　insects　scattered。　He　nodded　thoughtfully。　Besand's　amulet　had　disappeared　again。
　　　Bomanz　located　Corporal　Husky。　〃If　you　can't　do　anything　to　get　Besand　out；　then　toss　dirt　in　on　him。　There's　a　mountain　around　my　pit。〃
　　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Husky　said；　and　only　later　seemed　startled　by　his　easy　acquiescence。
　　　Bomanz　walked　the　perimeter　of　the　Barrowland。　The　sun　shone　a　little　oddly　through　the　et's　tail。　Colors　were　a　trifle　strange。　But　there　were　no　ghosts　aprowl　now。　He　saw　no　reason　not　to　make　his　munication　attempt。　He　returned　to　the　village。
　　　Wagons　stood　before　the　shop。　Teamsters　were　busy　loading　them。　Jasmine　shrilled　inside；　cursing　someone　who　had　taken　something　he　shouldn't。　〃Damn　you；　Tokar；〃　Bomanz　muttered。　〃Why　today？　You　could　have　waited　till　it　was　over。〃　He　felt　a　fleeting　concern。　He　could　not　rely　on　Stance　if　the　boy　were　distracted。　He　shoved　into　the　shop。
　　　〃It's　grand！〃　Tokar　said　of　the　horse。　〃Absolutely　magnificent。　You're　a　genius；　Bo。〃
　　　〃You're　a　pain　in　the　butt。　What's　going　on　here？　Who　the　hell　are　all　these　people？〃
　　　〃My　drivers。　My　brother　Clete。　My　sister　Glory。　Stance's　Glory。　And　our　baby　sister　Snoopy。　We　called　her　that　because　she　was　always　spying　on　us。〃
　　　〃Pleased　to　meet　you　all。　Where's　Stance？〃
　　　Jasmine　said；　〃I　sent　him　to　get　something　for　supper。　With　this　crowd　I'll　have　to　start　cooking　early。〃
　　　Bomanz　sighed。　Just　what　he　needed；　this　night　of　nights。　A　house　full　of　guests。　〃You。　Put　that　back　where　you　got　it。　You。　Snoopy？　Keep　your　hands　off　of　stuff。〃
　　　Tokar　asked；　〃What's　with　you；　Bo？〃
　　　Bomanz　raised　one　eyebrow；　met　the　man's　gaze；　did　not　answer。　〃Where's　the　driver　with　the　big　shoulders？〃
　　　〃Not　with　me　anymore。〃　Tokar　frowned。
　　　〃Thought　not。　I'll　be　upstairs　if　something　critical　es　up。〃　He　stamped　through　the　shop；　went　up；　settled　in　his　chair；　willed　himself　to　sleep。　His　dreams　were　subtle。　It　seemed　he　could　hear　at　last；　but　could　not　recall　what　he　heard　。　。　。
　　　Stancil　entered　the　upstairs　room。　Bomanz　asked；　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？　That　crowd　is　gumming　up　the　works。〃
　　　〃How　long　do　you　need；　Pop？〃
　　　〃This　could　go　all　night　every　night　for　weeks　if　it　works　out。〃　He　was　pleased。　Stancil　had　recovered　his　courage。
　　　〃Can't　hardly　run　them　off。〃
　　　〃And　can't　go　anywhere　else；　either。〃　The　Guards　were　in　a　hard；　bitter　mood。
　　　〃How　noisy　will　you　be；　Pop？　Could　we　do　it　here；　on　the　quiet？〃
　　　〃Guess　we'll　have　to　try。　Going　to　be　crowded。　Get　the　stuff　from　the　shop。　I'll　make　room。〃
　　　Bomanz's　shoulders　slumped　when　Stancil　left。　He　was　getting　nervous。　Not　about　the　thing　he　would　challenge；　but　about　his　own　foresight。　He　kept　thinking　he　had　forgotten　something。　But　he　had　reviewed　four　decades　of　notes　without　detecting　a　flaw　in　his　chosen　approach。　Any　reasonably　educated　apprentice　should　be　able　to　follow　his　formulation。　He　spat　into　a　corner。　〃Antiquarian's　cowardice；〃　he　muttered。　〃Old…fashioned　fear　of　the　unknown。〃
　　　Stancil　returned。　〃Mom's　got　them　into　a　game　of　Throws。〃
　　　〃I　wondered　what　Snoopy　was　yelling　about。　Got　everything？〃
　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　〃Okay。　Go　down　and　kibbitz。　I'll　be　there　after　I　set　up。　We'll　do　it　after　they're　in　bed。〃
　　　〃Okay。〃
　　　〃Stance？　Are　you　ready？〃
　　　〃I'm　okay；　Pop。　I　just　had　the　jitters　last　night。　It's　not　every　day　I　see　a　man　killed　by　ghosts。〃
　　　〃Better　get　a　feel　for　that　kind　of　thing。　It　happens。〃
　　　Stancil　looked　blank。
　　　〃You're　sneaking　studies　on　Black　Campus；　aren't　you？〃　Black　Campus　was　that　hidden　side　of　the　university　on　which　wizards　learned　their　trade。　Officially；　it　did　not　exist。　Legally；　it　was　prohibited。　But　it　was　there。　Bomanz　was　a　laureate　graduate。
　　　Stancil　gave　one　sharp　nod　and　left。
　　　〃I　thought　so；〃　Bomanz　whispered；　and　wondered：　How　black　are　you