cacb.thefarkingdoms-第121部分

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aced；　as　if　a　mason　had　chiseled　each　countenance　away　after　the　statues　were　brought　down。　The　statues　were　of　men；　but　men　not　as　we　know　them；　nor　had　the　models　been　giants　or　dwarfs。　I　do　not　quite　know　how　to　describe　them；　except　the　proportions　were　not　as　they　should　have　been。　I　had　no　more　time　for　observation；　as　the　first　of　the　creatures　broke　from　a　side　street　toward　me。　The　moonlight　delineated　him…it…well。　Imagine　a　large　man；　almost　a　giant；　running　on　his　hands　and　feet。　Further　conceive　that　this　man's　arms　and　legs　had　been　broken　repeatedly　and　reshaped　so　that　it　became　a　bit　easier　for　him　to　travel　in　this　fashion　than　it　would　for　a　normal　human。　Stretch　a　skull　face　until　it　is　twice　as　long　as　a　man's；　add　fangs；　elongate　and　slant　the　eyes　a　bit　like　a　wolf's；　although　that　noble　creature　should　not　be　pared　to　this　beast；　finish　with　a　pale；　rotted　skin　like　a　leper　hides　from　the　world；　and　you　have　a　fairly　accurate　picture。　Its　claws　clattered　against　the　stones　as　it　closed　on　me。　Its　baying　rose　into　triumph；　then　became　a　howl　of　surprise　as　I　scooped　up　a　fist…size　chunk　of　rubble　and　threw　it　with　all　my　strength　full　into　its　face。　The　creature　reared　and　fell；　writhing　in　blind　agony　and　astonishment。　Perhaps　the　prey　it　had　hunted　previously　had　never　struck　back。　I　fled　on。　Behind　me　I　heard　more　howling。　At　the　end　of　the　boulevard　I　looked　back。　The　monster's　packmates　had　joined　their　crippled　fellow。　But　they　were　not　chasing　me。　Instead；　they　took　the　moment　to　feed　on　their　crippled　brother。　I　chose　another　street　and　ran　toward　where　the　ruins；　and　the　highland；　should　e　to　an　end。
　Something　smashed　into　me；　knocking　me　spinning。　I　back　flipped　reflexively；　and　saw　yet　another　of　the　beasts；　just　as　it　landed；　spun　back　toward　me；　and　leaped。　Another　of　Janos'　trainings　flashed　to　mind；　and　as　the　beast's　jaws　gaped；　and　I　smelled　its　putrescent　breath；　I　fed　it　my　left　forearm；　smashing　the　limb　sideways　against　the　back　of　its　throat。　I　felt　the　fangs　tear　my　flesh　as　my　other　arm　went　behind　the　back　of　its　neck；　clenched；　and　I　brought　my　left　arm　sharply　upward　and　my　right　in　toward　me；　and　the　beast's　neck　broke　cleanly。　I　let　its　weight　turn　me；　and　brought　the　creature　down；　falling　with　my　knees　against　its　chest　and　heard　ribs　crack　like　withies。
　I　regained　my　feet　and　sped　on。　I　hoped　the　pack　would　appreciate　another　morsel；　and　that　the　beast's　fangs　had　not　been　poisoned。　Just　at　that　moment　my　second　wind　came；　and　pain　fell　away。　Now　I　could　run　all　night　if　it　were　necessary。　I　heard　a　roar　and　thought　it　to　be　the　river　below。　I　must　be　near　the　edge　of　the　plateau。　Ahead　of　me　the　ground　dipped　into　a　natural　amphitheater　the　builders　of　this　city　had　used　to　build　their　own　arena；　one　far　vaster　than　Orissa's　Great　Amphitheater。　Stone　steps　led　down　a　hillside　to　the　stage；　which　had　been　protected　with　a　stone　canopy。　Some　of　the　columns　that　had　supported　the　canopy　were　still　standing；　with　fragments　of　the　dome　hanging　on　their　capitals。　And　beyond　was　a　vertical　cliff　edge。　I　must　skirt　it　until　I　found　a　ravine　I　could　use　for　my　descent。
　In　that　moment　the　beasts　trapped　me。　The　pack　streamed　out　of　nowhere…from　the　earth　itself；　as　if　the　ground　were　vomiting　them。　I　ran　toward　the　stage；　leaping　from　step　to　step。　I　jumped　to　the　stage　and　put　my　back　to　a　column。　I　grabbed　two　more　chunks　of　stone　for　weapons。　The　creatures　encircled　me；　and；　snarling　and　yapping；　began　closing　the　ring。　I　knew　they　would　not　be　allowed　to　kill　me；　but　imagined　Raveline　would　permit　me　to　be　thoroughly　savaged　before　he　pulled　his　hounds　off。　One　creature　chanced　a　lunge；　and　I　crushed　his　skull　as　a　bravo's　reward。　Now　the　ring　was　tighter　as　the　pack　came　in　on　me。　I　ventured　a　look　behind　me；　and　confidence　flowed。　I　would　die　here；　I　knew。　But　I　would　not　perish　either　under　the　fangs　of　these　brutes　nor　from　Raveline's　magic。　When　the　end　became　inevitable；　I　would　choose　the　quick　clean　death　of　the　long　fall　to　the　river　and　rocks　below。
　And　then　my　ferret　returned。　I　did　not　know　what　he　was　at　first；　but　I　heard　a　hissing；　a　whistle；　and　liquid　death　flowed　through　the　amphitheater　toward　me。　It　was　almost　thirty　feet　long；　sleek　light…colored　fur；　and　red…glowing　eyes；　and　I　knew　not　its　nature　until　I　bethought　myself　of　a　mink；　and　then　knew　better；　seeing　the　black　mask　around　its　face　just　as　the　huge　ferret　took　the　first　of　the　creatures　from　the　rear；　nipped　once　delicately　at　its　spine；　and　cast　the　corpse　aside。　The　pack　howled　dismay　at　this　new　and　unexpected　attack　and　turned　to　savage　the　newer。　But　the　ferret　was　here；　there；　nowhere　and　everywhere；　and　every　time　its　fangs　snapped；　one　of　the　nightmares　yapped　its　last。　One　of　Raveline's　creatures　bounded　free　and　bayed　a　mand。　The　others　broke　away　from　the　battle　and　scuttled　up　the　steps；　trying　to　flee；　but　being　slaughtered　as　they　fled。　Then　they　were　gone；　and　the　great　animal　reared　back　on　its　haunches；　snakelike　head　seeking　new　quarry；　and　in　that　moment　I　knew　not　only　what；　but　who　the　being　was；　as　my　memory　cast　the　picture　of　my　long…dead　pet；　scenting　the　wind　just　before　it　slid　after　a　rabbit。　He　came　back　toward　me；　his　long　tail　whipping；　whistling　a　greeting　as　he　had　done　years　and　years　ago；　and　even　in　that　moment　of　the　greatest　danger　I　found　myself　choking　back　sobs。
　The　air　shimmered　next　to　my　pet；　and　a　manlike　form　appeared。　I　knew　it　to　be　Halab's　ghost　and　opened　my　mouth　for　a　greeting；　and　then　ferret　and　shade　were　gone。　As　was　the　moon；　the　stars；　and　all　of　the　amphitheater。　It　was　if　a　black　dome　had　been　dropped　down。　From　its　middle　shone　a　dim　ghost　light。　All　that　existed　in　this　world　was　the　stage；　the　columns　that　had　held　the　roof　。。。　and　Raveline。　He　held　his　dagger　ready。
　〃Most　clever；〃　he　snarled；　and　now　there　was　no　pretense　of　being　casual。　〃And　I　have　just　made　my　last　error　with　you；　when　I　estimated　you　had　but　little　of　the　talent。　I　did　not　sense　at　any　time　you　had　any　spirits　watchdogging　you。　Very　clever　indeed。　Why　did　you　not　call　on　your　brother　or　whatever　that　beast　is　for　rescue　back　in　Irayas　when　Greif　abducted　you？　Or　were　you　setting　a　trap　for　me？〃
　Raveline　stopped　and　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　〃The　double　cunning　that　sorcery　brings。　But　it　does　not　matter　whether　you　hunted　me；　or　I　you。　This　dome；　this　shield；　is　one　of　my　proudest　spells。　It　utterly　seals　us。　We　are　beyond　the　reach　of　any　power　I　know；　earthly　or　supernatural。　I　prepared　it　years　ago；　when　my　brother　and　I　were　first　struggling　over　which　one　our　father；　damned　may　his　soul　be；　would　choose　to　rule　over　Vacaan。　It　is；　perhaps；　the　ultimate　version　of　that　protective　spell　Janos　cast　and　then　lifted　over　you。　It　is　proof　against　all；　and　will　only　vanish　when　I　will　it　。。。　or　I　die。　Its　only　limitation　is　the　spell　disallows　the　use　of　magic　by　anyone；　including　myself；　under　the　dome。
　〃So　here　it　is；　Antero。　You　have　your　wrestling　skills　。。。　and　I　have　mine。　And　I　have　the　knife。　Now　without　the　powers　my　magic　gave　it；　but　still　razor　enough　to　cut　your　guts　out。　I　am　truly　sorry　your　skills　have　defeated　my　attempts　to　make　your　demise　more　plex；　but　so　be　it。　At　least　your　ghost　shall　never　be　avenged；　and　shall　never　know　peace　in　its　wanderings。　This　time；　Antero；　I　shall　e　to　you。〃　True　to　his　words；　he　shuffled　toward　me。
　I　have　never　considered　myself　either　a　fully　skilled　soldier　or　back…alley　brawler　and　know　little　about　knives　other　than　the　most　sensible　thing　is　to　flee　with　great　rapidity　anyone　waving　a　blade　about。　However；　Janos　had　tutored　us　what　to　do　when　faced　with　various　assailants　when　unarmed。　There　were　ways　to　disarm　and　destroy　a　man　who　held　his　knife　like　an　ice　pick；　like　a　candle；　or　one　who　waved　his　knife　wildly　in　front　of　him　as　if　a　blade　provided　a　magical　shield。　As　for　a　man　who　moved　like　Raveline；　who　shuffled　in　slowly；　moving　crablike　always　toward　your　weak　side；　keeping　his　blade　well　back；　against　his　thigh　or　nearly　touching　his　side；　with　his　other　hand　extended　for　a　block　。。。　Janos　had　smiled　grimly　and　told　us　there　were　but　two　options：　flight　or　death。
　I；　too；　shu