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！
and invisible of Orissa and its people。 The ceremony went on to request； although I thought it sounded more like a demand； that just as all beings from and of this land were entitled to respect and honor and protection under the real and Evocatorial laws of Orissa； so our party 〃requested〃 equal justice and consideration。
I did not think such a ceremony wise at any time； and am grateful I have succeeded today in banning it from use when Orissans travel abroad。 I certainly did not think it apt in this strange country； with its sorcerous 〃waves；〃 its unknown people and customs； and most of all those spectral Watchers。 But neither Janos nor I could say anything。 If I ordered Cassini not to perform the ceremony here or elsewhere； he would unquestionably report me to the Council of Evocators when he returned。 And they would； without a doubt； put the most selfish and even treasonous interpretation on what an Antero meant by such a mand。 Since this was yet another problem I could not solve； I tried to put it from my mind。
Cassini's conceit； in spite of his performance with the counterspell； was annoying everyone。 He seemed to think he was in charge of the expedition； and that it was the duty of all members to make certain their Evocator was fortably fed； clothed； and kept safe。 As our journey grew wearisome； I found myself thinking how much I would be willing to take my chances without the purported benefits of an Evocator's cloak on my Finding； and how cheery I might bee if something incapacitating happened to Cassini。
The river shallowed； then became spotty pools and marshland。 We found ourselves standing around a rather picturesque pool from which a spring bubbled。
〃This is the first time I have ever followed a river from its outlet to the headwaters；〃 Janos observed。 〃Does this； O Evocator； entitle me to some special blessing？〃 Cassini smiled thinly； but said nothing。 If the other members of the party were not getting along with Cassini； he and Janos were almost to the point of open enmity。 Fortunately neither of them was foolish enough to spark a feud on this foreign shore； although I feared there would be some confrontation when we returned。
We camped at the spring that night。 Janos and I spent some time discussing how we would navigate from this point…the Watcher's relict showed little detail of what we surmised were the long； barren leagues ahead。 We used two landmarks behind us that also appeared on the Watcher's 〃map〃 and set a pass direction from there that we felt would lead us most directly to the next landmark。 I had discovered a hidden talent： I understood maps and liked drawing them。 I had been keeping careful track of the terrain thus far； and even if we were forced to double back I was sure we could quickly return to this spot； and not repeat our previous wanderings that sometimes had led us into marshes or up blind or torturous canyons。
After dinner the man who spoke for our drivers sought me out。 He said this was as far as the Shore People had contracted to go； and tomorrow they and their mounts would turn back toward the coast。 I started to lose my temper and was proud that I caught myself in time。 I told the man that he and his brothers had contracted for our entire journey； which had barely begun。 That was not true； he said。 They agreed they would travel with us to the end of the world。 This spring…this place where the river stopped…was the end。 So I asked； pointing into the distance： what then； is beyond the spring？ Or that grove of trees near the rise？ The man shrugged： the answer was obvious。 He said that must be another world； for it is known to all this one ends at the spring； and that world most certainly belongs to some other tribe。 He smiled and said he was sure that tribe would look with favor upon such good men as ourselves。 You will meet new friends； he said； and perhaps you can acquire new beasts of burden from them。
The argument began； and I quickly backed away from moral issues and concentrated on rewards。 There had been some sort of misunderstanding…my fault or theirs did not matter。 Now I offered them a chance not only for glory among their own people… glory that would travel back with me to my own homeland…but riches。 I had already promised gold and now I doubled the amount of that offer。 I told them that when we returned to the Pepper Coast； they could have their choice of any of our weapons or clothes； save only the most personal。 That interested the man； but it would be very difficult； he said sadly。 Very； very difficult。 I increased my offer： we would have L'ur and his skilled sailor/ shipwrights build new and superior huts for them before we left。 And； since I would swiftly return from Orissa to begin developing this new trading area； they would be rewarded with costly gifts from Orissa when I came back。 He still shook his head： very； very difficult。 Spices that would make their fish soar in flavor。 Ah？ A glimmer of interest； then： sorry； but it remains very； very difficult。 I took gold from the chest and gave each man two pieces as evidence of my intent。 We are very grateful。 But。。。 I must think 。。。 Perhaps。。。 if we did agree to continue 。。 。but； no； that would be very； very difficult。 New nets and even boats for their fishing。 Nice； but still； very difficult。 Imagine what your wives； your concubines； your daughters will have for clothing； colors and silks of the finest。 Ah？
It was after midnight when I finished。 The man； who'd been joined by the other Shore People； sat thinking。 Then he said； 〃You have honored me 。。。 you have honored us greatly。 Black Shark was very wise in deciding you are a valued friend。〃
〃Then you will continue with us？〃
〃The journey 。。。 it will be very； very difficult。〃 He smiled then and tapped me on the shoulder； a sign of respect for an equal。 〃But what is life without the very； very difficult 。。。〃
Exhausted； I went to bed； the campfire guttering into ashes； but I was elated； and perhaps the honeyed； diplomatic tongue of Paphos Karima Antero had also been granted to his increasingly respectful son。 I slept； feeling proud。 But I woke feeling a fool。 Sometime before dawn the Shore People had vanished。 Their tracks led west； back toward the coast and their homeland。 At first I was angry。 They had agreed； hadn't they？ Janos was trying to keep from laughing as he explained that there were certain peoples who could not say no； and they would use any evasion 。。。 to avoid it。
〃Such as 'very； very difficult；' 〃 I said bitterly。
〃Such as 'very； very difficult' to prevent having to reject someone bluntly and make them into an enemy；〃 Janos replied。
So much； I said； for my honeyed tongue； and so much for the gold pieces I'd given them。 〃Actually；〃 Janos said； 〃you did quite well。 I guess you did not notice； but they left the asses…and their harness。 Perhaps the gold paid for that。 Or perhaps it was your； ahem； honeyed tongue。〃
We could waste no more time on my embarrassment。 We laboriously loaded the asses； a task the Shore People had made appear simple but took us nearly half a day； we continued on； learning how to be drivers as we went。 For some time afterward it was mon for someone； just within my hearing； to look solemnly at a friend and announce； 〃Things are very； very difficult。〃 I pretended not to hear。
The land grew drier and drier： rolling grasslands were interspersed with rare copses of trees around increasingly muddy springs and then rivulets。 For a while we could use these groves to lead us to water； but then we saw more and more thorn trees with no moisture around them； their roots must have reached down into the underworld for moisture。 We were not； however； in jeopardy or danger； and that was due to Janos' experience。 He taught us to follow the antelope and to stake out their water holes at dawn and make clean； swift kills。 We ate the animals and then turned their stomachs into waterskins： the hides were green and smelled…but they held water。 The patient asses brayed； but accepted the additional burdens。 Our sandals and boots were wearing thin； so Janos announced that it was time for us to learn to walk as the gods intended…barefoot。 He said we must save the footwear for rougher terrain。 Cassini whined so much at this； we found it easier to make new soles for his boots from green skin every two or three days rather than force him to travel barefoot。 The lessons continued as we went： there was game to be speared or； better yet； netted； arrowheads were removed and replaced with hand…carved； blunt； fat tips of wood。 These were for the plump； flightless birds around us： the tip would stun a bird long enough for the hunter to wring its neck； yet the arrow would not travel through the quarry and be lost in the brush。 We were taught that it is generally unwise to eat a new fruit or berry if the sap is like milk； and also that red berries and fruit are sometimes dangerous。 If you think a plant or a fruit is edible； cut it and rub it on your arm； if your arm blisters； do not eat。 Besides water holes； we found that some tall trees have reservoirs in their hearts； saved from the annual rains。
If what I have just written implies that my Finding had suddenly been turned into a bleak fight for survival； that was not my intention。 Desp