fs.thethirdbookofswords-第17章
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！
rce ing downstream。 There were also some small fishing craft out on the river； and one or two light sailboats that appeared to be out purely for pleasure。 Here above the city there were no ships of ocean…going size； such as plied the reaches downstream from Tashigang to the sea。
Two kilometers upstream from the walls； Denis reached the first sharp upstream bend of the Corgo and looked back again； ceasing to paddle as he sought a last glimpse of the high towers。 Visible above the morning mist that still rose from the river； the lofty walls and battlements caught rays of the early morning sun。 Here and there upon the venerable masses of brown or gray stone； glass or bright metal sparkled； in windows； ornaments； or the weapons of the Watch。 On several high places the green and gray of the city's own colors were displayed。 Upon the highest pole； over the Lord Mayor's palace； a single pennant of black and silver acknowledged the ultimate sovereignty of Yambu。
As he paddled farther upstream； Denis's canoe passed between shores lined with the villas of those wealthy citizens who felt secure enough about the prospects of long…term peace to choose to live outside the city walls。 These were impressive houses； each fortified behind its own minor defenses； capable of holding off an occasional brigands' raid。
Independent villas soon gave way to suburbs of somewhat less impressive houses； built together behind modest walls； and these in turn to farms and vineyards。 These lands like Tashigang itself were tributary to the Silver Queen； though enjoying a great measure of independence。 Yambu in her years of domination had maintained general peace and order here； and had wisely been content to levy no more than moderate tribute and to allow the people to manage their own affairs for the most part。 Tribute flowed in regularly under such a regime； and the Queen built a fund of goodwill for herself。 Meanwhile she had been busy venting her aggressive energies elsewhere。
Pausing once to eat and rest； Denis made an uneventful first day's journey up the river。 By evening he was far enough from the city's center of population to have no trouble in locating a small island that offered him a good spot to camp。 He even succeeded in catching a suitable fish for his dinner； and was rather pleased with this success in outdoor skills。
On the second day he got an early start again。 He had a worker's calloused hands and did not mind the constant paddling overmuch； the healed wound in his forearm did not trouble him at all。 This day he kept a careful eye out for certain landmarks； as Ben had instructed him。 Around noon he was able to identify without any trouble the tributary stream he wanted； a small river that entered the Corgo on a winding course from the northeast。 This smaller river；。 here called the Spode； drained a portion of the Great Swamp … it did not； unfortunately； lead directly to the part where Sir Andrew and his army were likely to be found。 To reach that； Denis would have to make a portage later。
The voyager passed three or four more days in similarly pleasant journeying。 Each day he saw fewer people； and those he did see usually greeted the acolyte of Ardneh with friendly waves。 Some offered him food； some of which he graciously accepted。
Denis spent much of his mental time in wondering about his hidden cargo。 He knew something now at first hand about the Sword of Mercy。 But what exactly did the Sword of Justice do？ Denis had not wanted to ask； lest they believe he was pondering some scheme of running off with it。 （The treacherous thought had crossed his mind； in the guise of yet another delicious daydream。 So far … so far … his other； fiercer feelings had kept him from being really tempted by it。）
And Ben had not thought it necessary to discuss the qualities of the Sword of Justice with Denis at any length。 The master of the House of Courtenay had said only one thing on the subject。
〃Denis； if it does e down to your having to fight someone on the way； I'd remend you get Doomgiver out and use it； if you have the chance。 Don't try to fight with Woundhealer； though。 Not if your idea is to carve up someone instead of making him feel good。〃
But so far there had not been the remotest danger of a fight。 So far the journey's only physical excitement had been provided by occasional thunderstorms； threatening the traveler with lightning and drenching white robes that had not been waterproofed。
On Denis's fifth day out he passed through calm farm country； in lovely weather。 That night he again made camp on a small island。
And dreamed； as he often did； of women。 Kuan…yin； the governess he had embraced in real life； and thought of marrying； beckoned to him。 And tonight he dreamed also of the mistress of the House of Courtenay； who in real life had never touched him except to bind his wounded arm。 Denis dreamed that she who he had known as the Lady Sophie had e to visit him in his room beside the workshop。 She sat on his cot there and smiled； and held his hand； and thanked him for something he had done； or was perhaps about to do。 Her white robe was in disarray； hanging open； but incredibly she seemed not to notice。
The dream was just approaching its moment of greatest tension； when Denis awoke。 He lay in warm moonlight； with the sense that the world to which he had awakened was only a perfected dream。 There was a scent in the air … of riverside flowers？ … incredibly sweet and beautiful； too subtle to be called perfume。
And there was in the air also something else。 A fearless excitement。 Denis's blood throbbed with oneiric anticipation； of he knew not what。 Yet he knew that he was wide awake。
He looked along the river； his gaze caught by the path of reflected moonlight。 He saw a shadow； as of some drifting boat； enter upon that path。 It was some kind of craft … a barge； he thought … speckled with its own small lights； and moving in perfect silence。 Almost perfect。 A moment more； and Denis could hear the gentle splash and drip of oars。
As the barge drew closer； he could see that it was larger than he had thought at first； so large that he wondered how it managed to navigate the narrower places in this small river。 The lights along its low sides were softly glowing amber lamps； as steady as the Old World light that Denis was familiar with； but vastly subtler。
Denis was on his feet now。 He still had no doubts that he was awake； and he was conscious of being more or less his ordinary self。 Whatever was happening to him now was real； but he had no sense of danger； only of thrilling promise。 He moved a step closer to the bank； the water murmuring like lovers' laughter at his feet。 He stood there leaning on the upended bottom of the canoe that he had prudently pulled out of the river before retiring。
As the barge drew closer still； Denis could see that it bore amidships a small house or pavilion； covered by an awning of some fine cloth。 Just forward of this there was a throne…like chair or lounge； all centered between two rows of strangely silent and briefly costumed young women rowers。
A woman was reclining upon the lounge； in the middle of a mass of pillows。 With only the Moon behind her； and the dim lamps on her boat； Denis could see her at first only by hints and outlines。 At first his heated imagination assured him that she was wearing nothing at all。 But presently his eyes were forced to admit the fact of a garment； more shimmering mist and starlight； it seemed； than any kind of cloth。 Most of the woman's body was enclosed by this veil； though scarcely any of it was concealed。
Denis's heart lurched within him； and he understood。 A name sprang into his mind； and he might have spoken it aloud； but just at that moment he lacked the breath to say anything at all。 He had never seen a god or goddess in his life before； and had never really expected to see one before he died。
In response to some mand unseen and unheard by Denis； the inhumanly silent rowers stopped； in unison。 He was vaguely aware； even without looking directly at them for a moment； of how ely they all were； and how provocatively dressed。 With the Goddess of Love herself before his eyes； he could not have looked at any of them if he had tried。
The barge； under a control that had to be more than natural； came drifting very slowly and precisely toward Denis on the island。 From inside the cabin … he thought … there came a strain of music； lovely as the perfume； to waft across the small width of water that remained。 Every note was framed in perfect silence now that the silvery trickle from the oars had stopped。
With an undulating movement Aphrodite rose from her couch； to stand in a pose of unstrained grace。
〃Young man？〃 she called to Denis softly。 The voice of the goddess was everything that her appearance had suggested it might be。 〃I must speak with you。〃
Denis started toward her and stumbled。 He discovered that it was necessary to make his way around some large and unfamiliar object … oh yes； it was his canoe … that somehow happened to be right in his path。
〃Lady；〃 he choked out； 〃I am yours to mand。 What would you have of me？〃 At this point he became aware that he had just fallen on his knees with a loud squelching sound； right in the riverside mud。 This would not have mattered in the least； except that it might tend to make the goddess think that he was clumsy； and when he got up； she was sure to see how muddy his white robes had got； and he feared that she might laugh。
So far； thank all the gods and goddesses； she was not laughing at him。
〃Young man；〃 said Aphrodite； 〃I know that you are carrying two Swords with you。 I understand that one of them is the one that heals。 And the other。。。 well； I forget at the moment what they told me about the other。 But that doesn't matter just now。 I want you to hand both of them over to me at once。 If you are quick enough about it I will perhaps allow you to kiss me。〃 The goddess paused for just a moment； and gave Denis a tiny smile。 〃Who knows what I might allow； on such a romantic night as this？〃
〃Kiss me；〃 Denis echoed vacantly。 Then； giving a mad bound； he was up out of the mud and on his feet； stumbling and splashing about。 He had to find the two Swords she was talking about … where were they； anyway？ … and give them to her。 What else was he going to do with them； anyway？ They were in the canoe。。。 where was the canoe？
He tripped over it and almost tumbled himself back into the mud before he really saw it。 Then he broke a fingernail getting the craft turned rightside up。
Aphrodite encouraged him in a friendly way。 〃That's it。 They're hidden right in the bottom of your little boat or whatever it is there … but then I suppose you know that。〃 The goddess sounded mildly impatient with his clumsiness … how could she not be？ But she did not yet sound angry； Denis silently offered thanks。
He thought he was going to lose another finger…nail getting the trick board pried up。 Then he realized that he would do a lot better prying with a knife instead。
Aphrodite slowly approached the near side rail of her luxurious barge。 Gracefully she knelt there upon a small mound of silken cushions； between two of her inhumanly beautiful rowers。 They paid her no attention。
〃Be quick； young man！ I need wh
