bl.necroscope2-第41章

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　〃Faethor；　I'm　my　own　man。　Even　if　it　were　in　me　to　serve；　I　could　never　call　you　master。　You　must　know　that；　for　I　did　my　best　to　destroy　you。〃
　Thibor；　you　do　not　yet　understand；　but　I　have　given　you　many　things；　great　powers。　Ah；　but　I've　also　given　you　several　great　weaknesses。　mon　men；　when　they　die；　lie　in　peace。　Most　of　them。
　That　last　was　some　sort　of　threat　and　I　knew　it。　It　was　in　his　voice；　a　DOOM　delivered　in　a　whisper。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked　Only　defy　me　and　you　shall　find　out。　I　have　sworn。　And　for　now；　farewell！
　And　he　was　gone。
　The　mirror　twinkled　once　more；　like　a　brilliant　star　on　the　far　ridge；　and　then　it　too　was　gone　。
　
　I　had　had　enough　of　vampires；　male　and　female。　I　locked　my　bedmate　of　last　night　in　the　dungeon　with　her　sister；　Ehrig　and　the　burrowing　thing；　and　slept　in　a　chair　in　front　of　the　fire　in　Faethor's　apartments。　e　daybreak　and　there　was　nothing　to　hold　up　my　departure。　Except。。。　yes；　there　were　certain　things　I　must　do　before　leaving。　The　Ferenczy　had　made　threats；　and　I　was　never　one　to　suffer　threats　lightly。
　I　went　out　of　the　castle；　shot　two　fat　rabbits　with　my　crossbow；　and　took　them　down　to　the　dungeon。　I　showed　them　to　Ehrig；　told　him　what　I　wanted　and　that　he　must　help　me。　Together　we　tightly　bound　and　gagged　the　women；　dumping　them　in　one　corner　of　the　dungeon。　Then；　though　he　protested　loudly；　I　also　bound　and　gagged　Ehrig　and　put　him　with　the　women。　Finally；　I　cut　open　the　rabbits　and　threw　their　crimson　carcasses　down　on　the　black　soil　where　the　flags　were　torn　up。
　
　Then　it　was　a　matter　of　waiting；　but　not　for　long。　In　a　little　while　a　tentacle　of　leprous　flesh　came　to　explore　the　source　of　the　fresh　blood；　came　groping　up　through　the　crumbly　soil；　pushing　it　aside；　and　in　a　trice　I　took　what　I　wanted。　I　left　Ehrig　and　the　women　tied　up；　barred　the　door　on　them；　and　went　up　into　the　base　of　the　tower。　Above　the　dungeon　the　steps　wound　about　a　central　stone　pillar。　I　broke　up　furniture；　piled　the　pieces　around　this　pillar。　I　scavenged　through　the　castle；　breaking　furniture　wherever　I　found　it　and　sharing　the　wood　between　the　towers。　Then　I　poured　oil　on　all　the　timbers　of　the　battlements；　in　the　hall　and　rooms　where　they　spanned　the　gorge；　down　all　the　stairwells。　At　last　I　was　done；　and　the　work　had　taken　me　half…way　through　the　morning。
　I　left　the　castle　with　my　loot；　walked　out　a　little　way　from　it　and　looked　at　it　again；　one　last　time；　then　returned　and　set　a　fire　in　the　open　door　and　on　the　drawbridge。　And　never　looking　back；　I　started　out　to　retrace　my　steps　to　Moupho　Aide　Ferenc　Yaborov。
　At　midday　I　met　my　five　remaining　Wallachs　e　to　find　me。　They　saw　me　ing　down　the　cliff…hugging　path　and　waited　for　me　in　the　stony　depression　at　its　base。　〃Hallo；　Thibor！〃　the　senior　man　greeted　me　when　I　joined　them。　He　looked　beyond　me。　〃Ehrig　and　Vasily；　they　are　not　with　you？〃
　〃They　are　dead。〃　I　jerked　my　head　towards　the　peaks。　〃Back　there。〃　They　looked；　saw　the　column　of　white　smoke　reaching　like　some　strange　mushroom　into　the　sky。　〃The　house　of　the　Ferenczy；〃　I　told　them；　〃which　I　have　burned。〃
　Then　I　looked　at　them　more　sternly。　〃Why　did　you　wait　so　long　before　ing　to　look　for　me？　How　long　has　it　been；　five；　six　weeks？〃
　〃Those　damned　gypsies；　the　Szgany！〃　their　spokesman　growled。　〃When　we　awoke；　the　morning　after　the　three　of　you　left；　the　village　was　all　but　deserted。　Only　women　and　children　left。　We　tried　to　find　out　what　was　happening；　no　one　seemed　to　know；　or　they　weren't　saying。　We　waited　two　days；　then　set　out　after　you。　But　the　missing　Szgany　menfolk　were　waiting　along　the　way。　Five　of　us　and　more　than　fifty　of　them。　They　blocked　the　way；　and　they　had　the　advantage　of　good　positions　in　the　rocks。〃　He　shrugged　unfortably；　tried　not　to　look　embarrassed。　〃Thibor；　we'd　have　been　of　use　to　no　one　dead！〃
　I　nodded；　spoke　quietly：　〃And　yet　now　you　have　e？〃
　〃Because　they　are　gone。〃　He　shrugged　again。　〃When　they　stopped　us；　we　went　back　down　to　their　so…called　〃village〃。　Yesterday　morning；　the　women　and　kids　started　to　drift　off　in　ones　and　twos；　small　parties　here　and　there。　They　wouldn't　speak　and　looked　miserable　as　sin；　as　if　they　were　in　mourning；　or　something！　At　sun…up　today　the　place　was　empty；　except　for　one　old　grandad　chief…a　〃prince〃；　he　calls　himself…his　crone　and　a　couple　of　grandchildren。　He　wasn't　saying　anything；　and　anyway　he　looks　half　simple。　So；　I　came　up　the　trail　alone；　sticking　close　to　cover；　and　discovered　that　all　the　men　had　gone；　too。　Then　I　called　up　these　lads　to　e　and　look　for　you。　〃Truth　to　tell；　we'd　long　thought　you　were　a　goner！〃
　〃I　might　well　have　been；〃　I　answered；　〃but　I'm　not。　Here　…；　I　tossed　him　a　small　leather　sack；　〃carry　this。　And　you　…；　I　gave　my　loot　to　another；　〃you　burden　yourself　with　this。　It's　heavy　and　I've　carried　it　far　enough。　As　for　the　job　we　came　to　do：　it's　done。　Tonight　we　stay　in　the　village；　tomorrow　it's　back　to　Kiev　to　see　a　lying；　cheating；　scheming　Prince　Vladimir　Svyatoslavich！〃
　〃Ugh！〃　The　spokesman　held　out　his　sack　at　arm's　length。　〃There's　a　creature　in　here。　It　moves！〃

　I　chuckled　darkly。　〃Aye；　handle　it　carefully…and　tonight　put　it　in　a　box；　sack　and　all。　But　don't　sleep　with　it　next　to　you。　。
　
　Then　we　went　down　to　the　village。　On　the　way　down　I　heard　them　talking　among　themselves；　mainly　of　the　trouble　the　Szgany　had　given　them。　They　mentioned　putting　the　village　to　the　torch。　I　wouldn't　hear　of　it。　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃The　Szgany　are　loyal　in　their　way。　Loyal　to　their　own。　Anyway；　they've　moved　on；　gone　for　good。　What　profit　in　burning　an　empty　village？〃
　And　so　they　said　no　more　about　it。
　
　That　evening　I　went　to　the　ancient　Szgany　prince　in　his　hut　and　called　him　out。　He　came　out　into　the　coolness　of　the　clearing　and　saluted　me。　I　stepped　close　to　him　and　he　looked　hard　at　me；　and　I　heard　him　gasp。　〃Old　chief；〃　I　said；　〃my　men　said　burn　this　place；　but　I　stopped　them。　I've　no　quarrel　with　you　or　the　Szgany。〃
　He　was　brown　and　wrinkled　as　a　log；　toothless；　hunched。　His　dark　eyes　were　all　aslant　and　seemed　not　to　see　too　clearly；　but　I　was　sure　they　saw　me。　He　touched　me　with　a　hand　that　trembled；　gripped　my　arm　hard　above　the　elbow。　〃Wallach？〃　he　inquired。
　〃That　I　am；　and　I'll　return　there　soon；〃　I　answered。　He　nodded；　said；　〃Ferengi！…you。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　〃Thibor's　my　name；〃　I　told　him。　And　on　impulse：
　〃Thibor。。。　Ferenczy；　aye。〃
　Again　he　nodded。　〃You…Wamphyri！〃
　I　began　to　shake　my　head　in　denial；　then　stopped。　His　eyes　were　boring　into　mine。　He　knew。　And　so　did　I；　for　certain　now。　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Wamphyri。〃
　He　drew　breath　sharply；　let　it　out　slow。　Then：　〃Where　will　you　go；　Thibor　the　Wallach；　son　of　Old　One？〃
　〃Tomorrow　I　go　to　Kiev；〃　I　answered　grimly。　〃I've　business　there。　After　that；　home。〃
　〃Business？〃　He　laughed　a　cackling　laugh。　〃Ah；　business！〃
　

　He　released　my　arm；　grew　serious。　〃I　too　go　Wallachia。　Many　Szgany　there。　You　need　Szgany。　I　find　you　there。〃
　〃Good！〃　I　said。
　He　backed　away；　turned　and　went　back　into　his　hut。
　
　We　came　out　of　the　forest　into　Kiev　in　the　evening；　and　I　found　a　place　on　the　outskirts　to　rest　and　buy　a　skin　of　wine。　I　sent　four　of　my　five　into　the　city。　Soon　they　beganreturn；　bringing　with　them　prominent　members　of　my　peasant　army…what　was　left　of　it。　Half　had　been　lured　away　by　Vladimir　and　were　off　campaigning　against　the　I'echenegi；　the　rest　remained　faithful；　then　had　gone　into　hiding　and　waited　for　me。
　There　were　only　a　handful　of　the　Vlad's　soldiers　in　the　city；　even　the　palace　guard　were　away　fighting。　The　prince　tad　only　a　score　of　men；　his　personal　bodyguard；　at　court。　That　was　part　of　the　news；　and　this　was　the　rest：　thattonight　there　was　to　be　a　small　banquet　at　the　palace　in　honour　of　some　boot…licking　Boyar。　I　invited　myself　along。
　I　arrived　at　the　palace　alone；　or　that　is　the　way　it　musthave　appeared。　I　strode　through　the　gardens　to　the　soundof　laughter　and　merrymaking　from　the　great　hail。　Men　atarms　barred　my　way；　and　I　paused　and　looked　at　them。　Who　goes　there？〃　a　guardsmaster　challenged　me。
　I　showed　myself。　〃Thibor　of　Wallachia；　the　Prince's　Voevod。　He　sent　me　on　a　mission；　and　now　I　am　returned。〃　Along　the　way　I　had　walked　in　mire；　deliberately。　The　last　time　I　was　here；　the　Vlad　had　manded　that　I　e　in　my　finery；　unweaponed；　all　bathed　and　shining。　Now　I　was　weighed　down　with　arms；　I　wasunshaven；　dirty；　and　my　forelocks　all　awry。　I　stank　worse　than　a　peasant；　and　was　glad　of　it。
　You'd　go　in　there　like　that？〃　The　Guardsmaster　was　astonished。　He　wrinkled　his　nose。　〃Man；　wash　yourself；　put　on　fresh　robes；　cast　off　your　weapons！〃
　I　glowered　at　him。　〃Your　name？〃
　〃What？〃　He　stepped　a　pace　to　the　rear。
　〃For　the　Prince。　He'll　have　the　balls　of　any　man　who　impedes　me　this　night。　And　if　you've　none　of　those；　he'll　have　your　head　instead！　Don't　you　remember　me？　Last　time　I　came　it　was　to　a　church；　and　I　brought　a　sack　of　thumbs。〃　I　showed　him　my　leather　sack。
　He　went　pale。　〃I　remember　now。　I。。。　I'll　announce　you。　Wait　here。〃
　I　grabbed　his　arm；　dragged　him　close。　I　showed　him　my　teeth　in　a　wolf's　grin　and　hissed　through　them；　〃No；　you　wait　here！〃
　A　dozen　of　my　men　stepped　out　of　the　trees；　held　cautionary　fingers　to　their　lips；　and　bundled　the　Guards…master　and　his　men　away。
　I　went　on；　entering　the　palace　and　the　great　hall　unimpeded。　Oh；　true；　a　pair　of　royal　bully…boy　bodyguards　closed　on　me　at　the　door；　but　I　thrust　them　aside　so　hard　they　almost　fell；　and　by　the　time　they　were　organised　I　was　among　the　revellers。　I　strode　to　the　centre　of　the　floor。　I　stood　stock　still；　then　slowly　turned　and　gazed　all　about　from　under　lowered　brows。　The　noise　subsided。　There　came　an　uneasy　silence。　Somewhere　a　lady　laughed；　a　titter　which　was　quickly　stilled。
　Then　the　crowd　fell　away　from　me。　Several　ladies　looked　fit　to　faint。　I　smelled　of　ordure；　which　to　my　nostrils　was　fresh　and　clean　pared　to　the　scents　of　this　court。
　The　crowd　parted；　and　there　sat　the　Prince　at　a　table　laden　with　food　and　drink。　His　face　wore　a　frozen　smile；　which　fell　from　it　like　a　leaden　mask　when　he　saw　me。　And　at　last　he　recognised　me。　He　straightened　to　his　feet。　〃You！〃
　
　〃None　other；　my　Prince。〃　I　bowed；　then　stood　straight。
　He　couldn't　speak。　Slowly　his　face　went　purple。　Finally　he　said；　〃Is　this　your　idea　of　a　joke？　Get　out…out！〃　He　pointed　a　trembling　finger　at　the　door。　Men　were　closing　on　me；　hands　on　their　sword　hilts。　I　rushed　the　Vlad's　table；　sprang　up　onto　it；　drew　my　sword　and　held　it　on　his　breast。
　〃Tell　them　to　e　no　closer！〃　I　snarled。
　He　held　up　his　hands　and　his　bodyguard　fell　back。　I　kicked　aside　platters　and　goblets　and　made　a　space　before　him；　throwing　down　my　sack。　〃Are　your　Greek　Christian　priests　here？〃
　He　nodded；　beckoned。　In　their　priestly　robes；　they　came；　hands　fluttering；　jabbering　in　their　foreign　tongue。　Four　of　them。
　At　last　it　got　through　to　the　prince　that　he　was　in　danger　of　his　life。　He　glanced　at　my　sword's　point　lying　lightly　on　his　breast；　looked　at　me；　gritted　his　teeth　and　sat　down。　My　sword　followed　him。　Pale　now；　he　controlled　himself；　gulped；　and　said；　〃Thibor；　what　is　all　of　this？　Would　you　stand　accused　of　treason？　Now　put　up　your　sword　and　we'll　talk。〃
　〃My　sword　stays　where　it　is；　and　we've　time　only　f