ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第65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！


ught；　or　Ludus：　they　were　good　at　such　things。　She　hadn't　spotted　any　of　the　soldiers　yet。　She'd　know　Husari　at　a　distance；　of　course。　There　would　only　be　one　peacock　like　that　in　Ragosa　tonight。
　　She　was　approached　and　enveloped　by　a　brown　bear。　She　submitted；　good…humoredly；　to　the　bone…crushing　hug　and　a　smack　on　the　lips。
　　〃e　with　me！〃　the　bear　invited。　〃I　like　owls！〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Jehane　said；　gasping　for　breath。　〃It's　too　early　in　a　long　night　for　broken　ribs。〃
　　The　bear　laughed；　patted　her　on　the　head　with　gloved　hand；　and　lumbered　on。　Jehane　looked　around；　wondering　if　Ziri　was　somewhere　in　the　crowd　swirling　past　beneath　the　wavering　torches。　He　didn't　know　her　mask；　though；　and　she　had　exited　her　house　through　the　back　door　into　the　dark。
　　She　couldn't　have　said　why　it　was　so　important　to　her　to　be　alone　tonight。　Or　no；　she　probably　could　have　if　she　demanded　an　honest　answer　of　herself。　She　wasn't　about　to　do　that。　Carnival　wasn't　a　time　for　inward　searching；　Jehane　decided。　It　was　a　night　for　doing　the　things　one　only　dreamed　about　all　the　rest　of　the　year。　She　looked　around。　A　grey　she…wolf　and　a　horse　were　improbably　entwined　not　far　away。
　　A　stag；　seven…tined；　emerged　out　of　the　tumult　in　front　of　her。　He　was　holding　a　leather　flask。　He　offered　it　to　Jehane　with　a　slight　bow。　A　deeper　inclination　of　his　head　might　have　impaled　her。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Jehane　said　politely；　holding　out　a　hand　for　the　wine。
　　〃A　kiss？〃　The　voice　was　muffled；　soft。
　　〃Fair　enough；〃　said　Ishak　ben　Yonannon's　daughter。　It　was　Carnival。　She　stepped　forward；　kissed　him　lightly；　accepted　the　flask；　and　drank。
　　There　seemed　to　be　something　familiar　about　this　man；　but　Jehane　didn't　pursue　the　thought：　there　had　been　something　familiar　about　half　the　men　who'd　kissed　her　tonight。　Masks　and　imagination　and　too　much　wine　did　that　to　you。
　　The　stag　moved　on　without　speaking　again。　Jehane　watched　him　go；　then　realized　he'd　left　her　the　flask。　She　called　after　him　but　he　didn't　turn。　She　shrugged；　looked　at　the　flask；　drank　again。　This　wine　was　good；　and　scarcely　watered；　if　at　all。
　　〃I　am　going　to　have　to　start　being　careful；〃　she　said　aloud。
　　〃Tonight？〃　said　a　brown　rabbit；　laughing　beside　her。　〃How　absurd。　e　with　us　instead。　We're　going　down　to　the　boats。〃　There　were　four　of　them；　all　rabbits；　three　women　and　a　man　with　his　arm　around　two　of　them。
　　It　seemed　a　reasonable　thing　to　do。　As　reasonable　as　anything　else。　And　better；　after　all；　than　wandering　alone。　She　shared　the　leather　flask　with　them　on　the　way　to　the　lake。
　　
　　Behind　the　mask；　which　alone　made　tonight　possible；　eyes　watched　from　the　shadows　of　a　recessed　doorway　as　a　stag　was　briefly　kissed　by　a　white　owl　and　then　stalked　gracefully　away；　leaving　a　flask　of　wine　behind。
　　The　owl　hesitated　visibly；　drank　again　from　the　flask；　and　then　went　off　in　another　direction　with　a　quartet　of　rabbits。
　　The　rabbits　didn't　matter　at　all。　The　stag　and　the　owl　were　known。　The　watching　one…disguised；　on　a　whim；　as　a　lioness…left　the　shelter　of　the　doorway　and　followed　the　stag。
　　There　were　surviving　pagan　legends；　in　countries　now　worshipping　either　Jad　or　the　stars　of　Ashar；　about　a　man　changed　into　a　stag。　In　those　lands　conquered　by　the　followers　of　the　sun　god；　the　man　had　been　so　transmuted　for　having　abandoned　a　battlefield　for　a　woman's　arms。　In　the　east…in　Ammuz　and
　　Soriyya；　before　Ashar　had　changed　the　world　with　his　visions…the　ancient　tale　was　of　a　hunter　who　had　spied　upon　a　goddess　bathing　in　a　forest　pool　and　was　altered　on　the　spot。
　　In　each　tale；　the　stag…once　a　man…was　fair　game　for　the　hunting　dogs　and　was　torn　apart　in　the　heart　of　a　dark　wood　for　his　sin；　his　one　unforgivable　sin。
　　In　the　years　since　Ragosa's　Carnival　had　begun　a　number　of　traditions　had　emerged。　License；　of　course；　was　one…and　to　be　expected。　Art；　its　frequent　bedfellow；　was　another。
　　There　was　a　tavern…Ozra's…between　the　palace　and　the　River　Gate　to　the　south。　Here；　under　the　benevolent　eye　of　the　longtime　proprietor；　the　poets　and　musicians　of　Ragosa…and　those　who；　masked；　wished　to　be　numbered　among　them；　if　only　for　a　night…would　gather　to　offer　anonymous　verse　and　song　to　each　other　and　to　those　who　paused　in　their　torchlit　careen　to　listen　at　the　door。
　　Carnival　was　quieter　in　Ozra's；　though　not　the　less　interesting　for　that。　The　masks　led　people　to　perform　in　ways　they　might　never　have　ventured；　exposed　as　themselves。　Some　of　the　most　celebrated　artists　of　the　city　had；　over　the　years；　e　to　this　unassuming　tavern　on　Carnival　night　to　gauge　the　response　their　work　might　elicit　with　the　aura　of　fame　and　fashion　removed。
　　They　had　not　always　been　pleased　with　the　results。　Tonight's　was　a　difficult；　sophisticated　audience　and　they；　too；　were　masked。
　　Amusing　things　happened；　sometimes。　It　was　still　remembered　how；　a　decade　ago；　one　of　the　wadjis　had　taken　the　performer's　stool；　disguised　as　a　crow；　and　chanted　a　savage　lampoon　against　Mazur　ben　Avren。　An　attempt；　clearly；　to　take　their　campaign　against　the　Kindath　chancellor　to　a　different　level。
　　The　wadji　had　had　a　good　voice；　and　even　played　his　instrument　passably　well；　but　he'd　refused　the　customary　performer's　glass　of　wine　far　too　awkwardly；　and　he　had　also　neglected　to　remove　the　traditional　sandals　of　the　wadjis；　modeled　on　those　Ashar　had　worn　in　the　desert。　From　the　moment　he'd　sat　down　everyone　in　the　tavern　knew　exactly　what　he　was；　and　the　diversion　the　knowledge　offered　had　quite　removed　the　sting　from　the　lampoon。
　　The　next　year　three　crows　appeared　in　Ozra's；　and　each　of　them　wore　wadjis'　sandals。　They　drank　in　unison；　however；　and　then　performed　together　and　there　was　nothing　devout　about　that　performance。　The　satire；　this　time；　was　directed　at　the　wadjis…to　great　and　remembered　success。
　　Ragosa　was　a　city　that　valued　cleverness。
　　It　also　respected　the　rituals　of　this　night；　though；　and　the　performer　now　taking　his　place　on　the　stool　between　the　four　candles　in　their　tall　black　holders　was　granted　polite　attention。　He　was　effectively　disguised：　the　full…face　mask　of　a　greyhound　above　nondescript　clothing　that　revealed　nothing。　No　one　knew　who　he　was。　That　was；　of　course；　the　point。
　　He　settled　himself；　without　an　instrument；　and　looked　around　the　crowded　room。　Ozra　di　Cozari；　once　of　Eschalou　in　Jalona；　but　long　since　at　home　here　in　Al…Rassan；　watched　from　behind　his　bar　as　the　man　on　the　stool　appeared　to　notice　someone。　The　greyhound　hesitated；　then　inclined　his　head　in　a　greeting。　Ozra　followed　the　glance。　The　figure　so　saluted；　standing　by　the　doorway；　had　e　in　some　time　ago；　remaining　near　the　entranceway。　He　must　have　had　to　duck　his　head　to　enter；　because　of　the　branching　tines　of　his　horns。　Beneath　the　exquisite　stag　mask　that　hid　his　eyes　and　the　upper　part　of　his　face；　he　appeared　to　smile　in　return。
　　Ozra　turned　back　to　the　greyhound　between　the　candles；　and　listened。　As　it　happened；　he　knew　who　this　was。　The　poet　began　without　title　or　preamble。
Shall　we　linger　in　Ragosa　amid　spring　flowers；　
Between　the　white　diamond　of　the　lake　
And　the　blue　necklace　of　the　river　
Sliding　away　south　to　the　sea；　
As　pearls　run　through　a　woman's　fingers？　
Shall　we　linger　to　sing　the　praises　of　this　city？　
And　shall　we　not　remember　as　we　do　
Silvenes　in　the　time　of　lions？
In　the　fountains　of　the　Al…Fontina；　it　is　told；
Twenty　thousand　loaves　of　bread　fed　the　fish
Each　and　every　day。
In　Silvenes　of　the　khalifs；
In　the　fountains　of　the　Al…Fontina。
　　There　was　a　stir　in　the　tavern。　This　was　something　unexpected；　in　structure　and　in　tone。　The　poet；　whoever　he　was；　paused　and　sipped　from　the　glass　at　his　elbow。　He　looked　around　again；　waiting　for　stillness；　then　resumed。
Shall　we　linger　here　amid　this　fragile　beauty；　
Admiring　the　fall　of　light　on　ivory？　
Shall　we　ask　ourselves　
What　will　bee　of　Al…Rassan；　
Beloved　of　Ashar　and　the　stars？

What　has　bee　of　Silvenes？
Where　are　the　centers　of　wisdom　and　the　teachers？
Where　are　the　dancing　girls　with　slender　ankles；
And　where　the　music　beneath　the　almond　trees？
Where　is　the　palace　whence　the　khalifs　of　all…fame
Thundered　forth　with　armies？
What　wild　beasts　wander　now　at　will
Between　the　ruined　pillars？
Wolves　are　seen　by　white　moonlight　there。
　　Another　stir；　quickly　suppressed；　for　the　poet　had　not　paused　this　time。
Ask　in　stern…walled　Cartada　for　news　of　Silvenes；
but　ask　here　in　Ragosa　about　Al…Rassan。
Ask　of　ourselves；　between　river　and　lake；
if　we　will　suffer　the　stars　to　be　blotted　out。
Ask　of　the　river；　ask　of　the　lake；
ask　of　the　wine　that　flows　tonight
between　the　torches　and　the　stars。
　　The　poet　ended。　He　rose　without　ceremony　and　stepped　down　from　the　dais。　He　could　not　avoid　the　applause；　however；　the　sound　of　genuine　appreciation；　nor　the　speculative　glances　that　followed　him　to　the　bar。
　　Ozra；　following　tradition　here　as　well；　offered　him　a　glass　of　his　best　white　wine。　He　usually　made　a　quip　at　this　time；　but　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。
　　Ask　of　the　wine　that　flows　tonight。
　　Ozra　di　Cozari　was　seldom　moved　by　what　was　read　or　sung　in　his　tavern；　but　there　was　something　about　what　he　had　just　heard。　The　man　in　the　greyhound　disguise　lifted　the　glass　and　saluted　him　briefly；　before　drinking。　It　was　with　no　great　surprise　that　Ozra　noticed；　just　then；　that　the　stag　had　e　in　from　the　doorway　and　was　standing　beside　them。
　　The　greyhound　turned　and　looked　at　him。　They　were　of　a　height；　the　two　men；　though　the　horns　of　the　stag　made　him　seem　taller。
　　Very　softly；　so　that　Ozra　di　Cazari　was　almost　certain　he　was　the　only　other　man　to　hear；　the　seven…lined　stag　said；　〃　'Beloved　of　Ashar？'　〃
　　The　poet　laughed；　quietly。　〃Ah；　well。　What　would　you　have　me　do？〃
　　Ozra　didn't　understand；　but　he　hadn't　expected　to。
　　The　other　man　said；　〃Exactly　what　you　did　do；　I　suppose。〃　His　eyes　were　pletely　hidden　behind　his　mask。　He　said；　〃It　was　very　fine。　Dark　thoughts　for　a　Carnival。〃
　　〃I　know。〃　The　greyhound　hesitated。　〃There　is　a　darker　side　to　Carnivals；　in　my　experience。〃
　　〃In　mine；　as　well。〃
　　〃Are　we　to　have　a　verse　from　you？〃
　　〃I　think　not。　I　am　humbled　by　what　I　have　just　heard。〃
　　The　greyhound　inclined　his　head。　〃You　are　far　too　generous。　Are　you　enjoying　the　night？〃
　　〃A　pleasant　beginning。　I　gather　it　has　only　begun。〃
　　〃For　some。〃
　　〃Not　you？　Will　you　not　e　wandering？　With　me？〃
　　Another　hesitation。　〃Thank　you；　no。　I　will　drink　a　little　more　of　Ozra's　good　wine　and　listen　to　the　verses　and　the　music　a　while　before　bed。〃
　　〃Are　we　expecting　any　crows　tonight？〃
　　The　greyhound　laughed　again。　〃You　heard　about　that？　We　never　expect　anything　at　Carnival；　and　so　hope　never　to　be　disappointed　and　never　greatly　surprised。〃
　　The　stag　lifted　its　head。　〃We　differ　there；　at　least。　I　am　always；　endlessly；　hoping　to　be　surprised。〃
　　〃Then　I　wish　it　for　you。〃
　　They　exchanged　a　glance；　then　the　stag　turned　away　and　found　a　passage　to　the　doorway　and　out　into　the　street。　A　black　bull　had　taken　the　dais　now；　holding　a　small　harp。
　　〃I　think；〃　said　the　greyhound；　〃I　will　have　another　glass；　Ozra；　if　you　will。〃
　　〃Yes；　my　lord；〃　said　Ozra；　before　he　could　stop　himself。　He'd　said　it