tp.lightfantastic-第23章

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。'
　'How　do　you　know？'　said　Twoflower。
　'Know　what？'　said　Rincewind。
　'What　you　just　said。　About　beaches　and　oceans。'
　'I　didn't　say　anything！'
　'Yes　you　did；　you　silly　man！'　yelled　Bethan。　'We　saw　your　lips　going　up　and　down　and　everything！'
　Rincewind　shut　his　eyes。　Inside　his　mind　he　could　feel　the　Spell　scuttling　off　to　hide　behind　his　conscience；　and　muttering　to　itself。
　'All　right；　all　right；'　he　said。　'No　need　to　shout。　I　…　I　don't　know　how　I　know；　I　just　know　…。'
　'Well；　I　wish　you'd　tell　us。'
　They　turned　the　corner。
　All　the　cities　around　the　Circle　Sea　had　a　special　area　set　aside　for　the　gods；　of　which　the　Disc　had　an　elegant　sufficiency。　Usually　they　were　crowded　and　not　very　attractive　from　an　architectural　point　of　view。　The　most　senior　gods；　of　course；　had　large　and　splendid　temples；　but　the　trouble　was　that　later　gods　demanded　equality　and　soon　the　holy　areas　were　sprawling　with　lean…to's；　annexes；　loft　conversions；　sub…basements；　bijou　flatlets；　ecclesiastical　infilling　and　trans…temporal　timesharing；　since　no　god　would　dream　of　living　outside　the　holy　quarter　or；　as　it　had　bee；　three…eighths。　There　were　usually　three　hundred　different　types　of　incense　being　burned　and　the　noise　was　normally　at　pain　threshold　because　of　all　the　priests　vying　with　each　other　to　call　their　share　of　the　faithful　to　prayer。
　But　this　street　was　deathly　quiet；　that　particularly　unpleasant　quiet　that　es　when　hundreds　of　frightened　and　angry　people　are　standing　very　still。
　A　man　at　the　edge　of　the　crowd　turned　around　and　scowled　at　the　newers。　He　had　a　red　star　painted　on　his　forehead。
　'What's…'　Rincewind　began；　and　stopped　as　his　voice　seemed　far　too　loud；　'what's　this？'
　'You're　strangers？'　said　the　man。
　'Actually　we　know　one　another　quite…'　Twoflower　egan；　and　fell　silent。　Bethan　pointed　up　the　street。
　Every　temple　had　a　star　painted　on　it。　There　was　a　particularly　big　one　daubed　across　the　stone　eye　outside　the　temple　of　Blind　Io；　leader　of　the　gods。
　'Urgh；'　said　Rincewind。　'Io　is　going　to　be　really　pissed　when　he　sees　that。　I　don't　think　we　ought　to　hang　around　here；　friends。'
　The　crowd　was　facing　a　crude　platform　that　had　been　built　in　the　centre　of　the　wide　street。　A　big　banner　had　been　draped　across　the　front　of　it。
　'I　always　heard　that　Blind　Io　can　see　everything　that　happens　everywhere；'　said　Bethan　quietly。　'Why　hasn't　…'
　'Quiet！'　said　the　man　beside　them。　'Dahoney　speaks！'
　A　figure　had　stepped　up　on　the　platform；　a　tall　thin　man　with　hair　like　a　dandelion。　There　was　no　cheer　from　the　crowd；　just　a　collective　sigh。　He　began　to　speak。
　Rincewind　listened　in　mounting　horror。　Where　were　the　gods？　said　the　man。　They　had　gone。　Perhaps　they　had　never　been。　Who；　actually；　could　remember　seeing　them？　And　now　the　star　had　been　sent　…
　It　went　on　and　on；　a　quiet；　clear　voice　that　used　words　like　'cleanse'　and　'scouring'　and　'purify'　and　drilled　into　the　brain　like　a　hot　sword。　Where　were　the　wizards？　Where　was　magic？　Had　it　ever　really　worked；　or　had　it　all　been　a　dream？
　Rincewind　began　to　be　really　afraid　that　the　gods　might　get　to　hear　about　this　and　be　so　angry　that　they'd　take　it　out　on　anyone　who　happened　to　have　been　around　at　the　time。
　But　somehow　even　the　wrath　of　the　gods　would　have　been　better　than　the　sound　of　that　voice。　The　star　was　ing；　it　seemed　to　say；　and　its　fearful　fire　could　only　be　averted　by　…　by　…　Rincewind　couldn't　be　certain；　but　he　had　visions　of　swords　and　banners　and　blank…eyed　warriors。　The　voice　didn't　believe　in　gods；　which　in　Rincewind's　book　was　fair　enough；　but　it　didn't　believe　in　people　either。
　A　tall　hooded　stranger　on　Rincewind's　left　jostled　him。　He　turned　…　and　looked　up　into　a　grinning　skuli　nder　a　black　hood。
　Wizards；　like　cats；　can　see　Death。
　pared　to　the　sound　of　that　voice；　Death　seemed　almost　pleasant。　He　leaned　against　a　wall；　his　scythe　propped　up　beside　him。　He　nodded　at　Rincewind。
　'e　to　gloat？'　whispered　Rincewind。　Death　shrugged。
　I　HAVE　E　TO　SEE　THE　FUTURE；　he　said。
　'This　is　the　future？'
　A　FUTURE；　said　Death。
　'It's　horrible；'　said　Rincewind。
　I'M　INCLINED　TO　AGREE；　said　Death。
　'I　would　have　thought　you'd　be　all　for　it　I'
　NOT　LIKE　THIS。　THE　DEATH　OF　THE　WARRIOR　OR　THE　OLD　MAN　OR　THE　LITTLE　CHILD；　THIS　I　UNDERSTAND；　AND　I　TAKE　AWAY　THE　PAIN　AND　END　THE　SUFFERING。　I　DO　NOT　UNDERSTAND　THIS　DEATH…OF…THE…MIND。
　'Who　are　you　talking　to？'　said　Twoflower。　Several　members　of　the　congregation　had　turned　around　and　were　looking　suspiciously　at　Rincewind。
　'Nobody；'　said　Rincewind。　'Can　we　go　away？　I've　got　a　headache。'
　Now　a　group　of　people　at　the　edge　of　the　crowd　were　muttering　and　pointing　to　them。　Rincewind　grabbed　the　other　two　and　hurried　them　around　the　corner。
　'Mount　up　and　let's　go；'　he　said。　'I've　got　a　bad　feeling　that　…'
　A　hand　landed　on　his　shoulder。　He　turned　around。　A　pair　of　cloudy　grey　eyes　set　in　a　round　bald　head　on　top　of　a　large　muscular　body　were　staring　hard　at　his　left　ear。　The　man　had　a　star　painted　on　his　forehead。
　'You　look　like　a　wizard；'　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　voice　that　suggested　this　was　very　unwise　and　quite　possibly　fatal。
　'Who；　me？　No；　I'm　…　a　clerk。　Yes。　A　clerk。　That's　right；'　said　Rincewind。
　He　gave　a　little　laugh。
　The　man　paused；　his　lips　moving　soundlessly；　as　though　he　was　listening　to　a　voice　in　his　head。　Several　ther　star　people　had　joined　him。　Rincewind's　left　ear　began　to　be　widely　regarded。
　'I　think　you're　a　wizard；'　said　the　man。
　'Look；'　said　Rincewind；　'if　I　was　a　wizard　I'd　be　able　to　do　magic；　right？　I'd　just　turn　you　into　something；　and　I　haven't；　so　I'm　not。'
　'We　killed　all　our　wizards；'　said　one　of　the　men。　'Some　ran　away；　but　we　killed　quite　a　lot。　They　waved　their　hands　and　nothing　came　out。'
　Rincewind　stared　at　him。
　'And　we　think　you're　a　wizard　too；'　said　the　man　holding　Rincewind　in　an　ever…tightening　grip。　'You've　got　the　box　on　legs　and　you　look　like　a　wizard。'
　Rincewind　became　aware　that　the　three　of　them　and　the　Luggage　had　somehow　bee　separated　from　their　horses；　and　that　they　were　now　in　a　contracting　circle　of　grey…faced；　solemn　people。
　Bethan　had　gone　pale。　Even　Twoflower；　whose　ability　to　recognise　danger　was　as　good　as　Rincewind's　ability　to　fly；　was　looking　worried。
　Rincewind　took　a　deep　breath。
　He　raised　his　hands　in　the　classic　pose　he'd　learned　years　before；　and　rasped；　'Stand　back！　Or　I'll　fill　you　full　of　magic！'
　'The　magic　has　faded；'　said　the　man。　'The　star　has　taken　it　away。　All　the　false　wizards　said　their　funny　words　and　then　nothing　happened　and　they　looked　at　their　hands　in　horror　and　very　few　of　them；　in　fact；　had　the　sense　to　run　away。'
　'I　mean　it！'　said　Rincewind。
　He's　going　to　kill　me；　he　thought。　That's　it。　I　can't　even　bluff　any　more。　No　good　at　magic；　no　good　at　bluffing；　I'm　just　a　…
　The　Spell　stirred　in　his　mind。　He　felt　it　trickle　into　his　brain　like　iced　water　and　brace　itself。　A　cold　tingle　coursed　down　his　arm。
　His　arm　raised　of　its　own　volition；　and　he　felt　his　own　mouth　opening　and　shutting　and　his　own　tongue　moving　as　a　voice　that　wasn't　his；　a　voice　that　sounded　old　and　dry；　said　syllables　that　puffed　into　the　air　like　steam　clouds。
　Octarine　fire　flashed　from　under　his　fingernails。　It　wrapped　itself　around　the　horrified　man　until　he　was　lost　in　a　cold；　spitting　cloud　that　rose　above　the　street；　hung　there　for　a　long　moment；　and　then　exploded　into　nothingness。
　There　wasn't　even　a　wisp　of　greasy　smoke。
　Rincewind　stared　at　his　hand　in　horror。
　Twoflower　and　Bethan　each　grabbed　him　by　an　arm　and　hustled　him　through　the　shocked　crowd　until　they　reached　the　open　street。　There　was　a　painful　moment　as　they　each　chose　to　run　down　a　different　alley；　but　they　hurried　on　with　Rincewind's　feet　barely　touching　the　cobbles。
　'Magic；'　he　mumbled　excitedly；　drunk　with　power。　'I　did　magic　。　。　。'
　'That's　right；'　said　Twoflower　soothingly。
　'Would　you　like　me　to　do　a　spell？'　said　Rincewind。　He　pointed　a　finger　at　a　passing　dog　and　said　'Wheeee！'　It　gave　him　a　hurt　look。
　'Making　your　feet　run　a　lot　faster'd　be　favourite；'　said　Bethan　grimly。
　'Sure！'　slurred　Rincewind。　'Feet！　Run　faster！　Hey；　look；　they're　doing　it！'
　'They've　got　more　sense　than　you；'　said　Bethan。　'Which　way　now？'
　Twoflower　peered　at　the　maze　of　alleyways　around　them。　There　was　a　lot　of　shouting　going　on；　some　way　off。
　Rincewind　lurched　6ut　of　their　grasp；　and　tottered　uncertainly　down　the　nearest　alley。
　'I　can　do　it！'　he　shouted　wildly。　'Just　you　all　watch　out　…'
　'He's　in　shock；'　said　Twoflower。
　'Why？'
　'He's　never　done　a　spell　before。'
　'But　he's　a　wiizard！'
　'It's　all　a　bit　plicated；'　said　Twoflower；　running　after　Rincewind。　'Anyway；　I'm　not　sure　that　was　actually　him。　it　certainly　didn't　sound　like　him。　e　along；　old　fellow。'
　Rincewind　looked　at　him　with　wild；　unseeing　eyes。
　'I'll　turn　you　into　a　rosebush；'　he　said。
　'Yes；　yes；　jolly　good。　Just　e　along；'　said　Twoflower　soothingly；　pulling　gently　at　his　arm。
　There　was　a　pattering　of　feet　from　several　alleyways　and　suddenly　a　dozen　star　people　were　advancing　on　them。
　Bethan　grabbed　Rincewind's　limp　hand　and　held　it　up　threateningly。
　'That's　far　enough！'　she　screamed。
　'Right！'　shouted　Twoflower。　'We've　got　a　wizard　and　we're　not　afraid　to　use　him！'
　'I　mean　it！'　screamed　Bethan；　spinning　Rincewind　around　by　his　arm；　like　a　capstan。
　'Right！　We're　heavily　armed！　What？'　said　Twoflower。
　'I　said；　where's　the　Luggage？'　hissed　Bethan　behind　Rincewind's　back。
　Twoflower　looked　around。　The　Luggage　was　missing。
　Rincewind　was　having　the　desired　effect　of　the　star　people；　though。　As　his　hand　waved　vaguely　around　they　treated　it　like　a　rotary　scythe　and　tried　to　hide　behind　one　another。
　'Well；　where's　it　gone？'
　'How　should　I　know？'　said　Twoflower。
　'It's　your　Luggage！'
　'I　often　don't　know　where　my　Luggage　is；　that's　what　being　a　tourist　is　all　about；'　said　Twoflower。　'Anyway；　it　often　wanders　off　by　itself。　It's　probably　best　not　to　ask　why。'
　It　began　to　dawn　on　the　mob　that　nothing　was　actually　happening；　and　that　Rincewind　was　in　no　condition　to　hurl　insults；　let　alone　magical　fire。　They　advanced；　watching　his　hands　cautiously。
　Twoflower　and　Bethan　backed　away。　Twoflower　looked　around。
　'Bethan？'
　'What？'　said　Bethan；　not　taking　her　eyes　off　the　advancing　figures。
　'This　is　a　dead　end。'
　'Are　you　sure？'
　'I　think　I　know　a　brick　wall　when　I　see　one；'　said　Twoflower　reproachfully。
　'That's　about　it；　then；'　said　Bethan。
　'Do　you　think　perhaps　if　I　explain　…　？'
　'No。'
　'Oh。'
　'I　don't　think　these　are　the　sort　of　people　who　listen　to　explanations；'　Bethan　added。
　Twoflower　stared　at　them。　He　was；　as　has　been　mentioned；　usually　oblivious　to　personal　danger。　Against　the　whole　of　human　experience　Twoflower　believed　that　if　only　people　would　talk　to　each　other；　have　a　few　drinks；　exchange　pictures　of　their　grandchildren；　maybe　take　in　a　show　or　something；　then　everything　could　be　sorted　out。　He　also　believed　that　people　were　basically　good　but　sometimes　had　their　bad　days。　What　was　ing　down　the　street　was　having　about　the　same　effect　on　him　as　a　gorilla　in　a　glass　factory。
　There　was　the　faintest　of　sounds　behind　him；　not　so　much　a　sound　in　fact　as　a　change　in　the　t