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！
〃Aye。〃 Doon studied the face of it to north and south。 〃Then you worked your way south along the shoreline； I suppose。。。 how'd you get across the fjord？〃
〃Swam。 Where it was narrower。〃
Doon nodded his acceptance。 And now； like some infantry mander about to set out on a dangerous patrol； he ordered all packs opened and the contents spread out。 In addition he checked the water bottles and skins； making sure all were full and fresh。 There was a coil of rope for each member of the expedition。 Food supplies were in order … Ben had heard the tale of the feast magically provided by Indosuaros at his headquarters； but there had been no indication of any such service being available on the road。 There were weapons； climbing and stonecutting tools。 Hubert appropriated a crossbow from Indosuaros' armory。 Ariane was given a pack as a matter of course； and； when she spoke to Doon； a knife and a sling to wear at her belt。 The magician and his aide had their own inventory to take； and Indosuaros certified that they were ready。
The ship； relieved of its passengers and their modest cargo； bobbed in the water a few score meters offshore； remaining in one spot just as if it had been anchored。
Dobn waded out a few steps； to question his magician； who was standing in calf…deep water； gesturing。 〃What about the djinn？〃
〃It must stay with the ship； to protect it； move it about as needed； and bring it back to us here when we call。〃
At another gesture from Indosuaros； the sails emptied； flapped； then bellied as they refilled themselves。 The vessel turned away from shore and toward the open sea。
〃Wait！〃 called Doon sharply。 When the ship's progress had been stayed by another gesture from the wizard； the Baron added： 〃I want to know something first； magician。 Suppose that when we return to this shore； loaded with treasure； neither you nor your worthy assistant happen to be with us。 How do we get the boat to e to us then？ And where will it be in the meantime？ We may well be gone for days。〃
〃It will be at sea；〃 said Indosuaros； looking down with dignity at the smaller man。 〃But close enough to be brought back here quickly。 And the djinn will maintain enough fog in the area to keep the ship from being very easily observed。〃
〃That's fine。 And how do we get it back？ There is some small chance； you know； that you will not be here。 The place we are going to visit is not without its dangers。〃
Tension held in the air for a long moment。 Then Indosuaros said； mildly enough： 〃I will give you some words to use for a summoning。 And your men should hear them too； just in case you are not here； when they e back。〃
If Doon had any objection； he bit it back。 The wizard devised a four…word mand； and let them； all repeat it aloud to be sure they had it memorized。 After a trial； in which Ariane successfully summoned the vessel back toward shore； it was dispatched at last； and disappeared into a looming patch of fog。
Doon drew Wayfinder。 To no ones surprise； it pointed the way for them straight up the cliff。
The climb began。 Doon led the way； as usual； with the monkbird fluttering on ahead and ing back frequently to Golok to report。
Once Doon turned to Ben； who was climbing just behind him。 〃This cliffside is more irregular than I thought； looking up at it from below。 There might be a dozen cave…mouths concealed around here。 Do you suppose there could be one； a side entrance to the cave we seek？ That would save us from having to face the dragon on the top。〃
〃There might indeed be a dozen such openings； for all I know。 It was night when I came down。 Your Sword should point out such an entrance if there is one。〃
〃I don't know。。。 sometimes I think that there are two ways； and it picks the way of higher risk deliberately。〃 And they climbed on。
At the brink they paused； peering cautiously over； while once more the monkbird was sent ahead to scout。 Wayfinder now pointed directly inland。
Across the rocky headland； a hundred stony hillocks rose； looking like choppy waves frozen in a sea of lava。 The thorny vegetation looked even sparser now to Ben than it had on the night of his great escape； when it had seemed to him that he stepped on thorns with almost every stride。 Indeed the whole scene； before his eyes now for the first time in daylight； looked unfamiliar。 His confidence declined in his ability to find the cave again without the aid of magic。
The monkbird came back to report the way was clear； and was promptly sent out again。 The humans climbed over the brink and moved cautiously inland； Doon in the lead。
The black flutterer returned almost at once。 Perching on Golok's shoulder； it gave him what sounded like a report of a landwalker inland； almost exactly in the same direction that they were heading。
〃How far？〃
It jabbered something to its master； something unintelligible to the others。
Golok explained。 〃Almost a kilometer； I think。 Horizontal distances are hard for it to estimate。 Dart seems to be telling me that the dragon's eating something。〃
The Sword was pointing in the same direction still。
Doon chewed at his mustache； a sign of nervousness that Ben had not observed in him before。 〃You tell me； big man； that it should not be nearly a kilometer from here to the cave。〃
〃Nothing like that far； no。〃
〃Then likely we'll be able to get in； before。。。 we'll chance it。〃 Again Doon led the way inland； advancing quickly。
Golok relaunched his airborne scout； and Dart flew inland at low altitude。 And returned in a few moments； this time chattering urgently。
〃The dragon's moving toward us；〃 Golok translated。 〃ing straight this way。〃 Then the youth ran ahead of Doon； who had paused to listen to the warning。 〃Let me get out in front of you；〃 Golok urged； 〃and try to manage it。 It's accustomed to being managed； from what you tell me。〃
〃Manage a dragon？〃 But Doon let Golok get out ahead； then led the others in a quick advance。
Ben； even as he trotted forward； drew Dragonslicer from its sheath。 Beside him he saw Mark pulling his longbow off his back and reaching for an arrow。 Hubert paused for a moment； to throw his weight on the crossbow； cock it； and set the trigger。
You had to hit a big landwalker right in the open mouth； Ben was thinking； or in the tiny target of its eye； to do yourself any good even with a crossbow bolt。。。 and now already he could hear the first chiming of the dragon。 It was out of sight behind hillocks； but no longer very far ahead。 It had to be ing on to meet them。
Ben scrambled up the nearest hillock to get a better look。 Golok had climbed another mound； some twenty five or thirty meters ahead； and from its top he was already talking and crooning and gesturing to the monster。
Not the same dragon I saw that night； thought Ben； this one's a little smaller。 Some twenty meters beyond Golok it had paused； leaning with one of its forearms on a mound three meters high； so that for a moment it made a parody of some irate proprietor behind a counter。 It was angry at Golok for being where he was； it was probably angered by his mere existence。 Ben could hear the anger in the near…musical chiming of its voice。 So far it did not appear to have noticed Ben； or any of the others。 It bowed its head once toward Golok； as if in some kind of formal acknowledgement of his existence； and then without further warning it came after him in a clumsy…looking charge。 Fire sighed and whistled in its nostrils。
People near Ben were scrambling wildly to and from among the rocks。 Golok abandoned the useless position of his mound in a surprisingly graceful leap。 A few long strides and he had scrambled up atop another； farther from the people and the dragon and a little closer to the cliffs。 He was still gesturing and singing； and something in his method took effect。 The dragon's movements slowed abruptly； the charge declining into a mere advance。 The monkbird was flying like a sparrow round the dragon's head； as if trying to distract it； but Dart received no attention。
Doon； near Ben's elbow； whispered fiercely： 〃Indosuaros？〃
The wizard's whispered answer was just as taut。 〃We must use no magic here； if we can possibly avoid it。 There will be traces of our passage； if we do。〃
Ben could sense Doon's indecision。 The Baron wanted to get his party into the cave as quickly as possible； and if possible without an open bat against the dragon。 Yet at the same time he did not want to lose Golok； or even to separate from him。
Golok made yet another sideways withdrawal； leading the dragon still farther out of their indicated path。 And again it lurched and lunged toward him； this time punctuating its advance with the sideways sweep of a clawed forelimb against a mound。 Rocks scattered； flying as if cast by some giant's sling。
That movement was enough for Mark。 His longbow twanged at a range of no more than twenty meters。 The straight shaft； driven； Ben knew； by a thirty…kilo pull； struck within a handsbreadth of the moving dragon's right eye。 The arrowhead broke on one of the small scales there； the shaft rebounded like a twig。 The dragon paid it not the least attention。
Doon was whispering again。 〃I don't want to lose my beastmaster before we even get below。 We'll need him there。 We've got to save him； kill the dragon if we must。〃
And if we can； thought Ben。 Still the creature was advancing； in fits and starts； toward Golok。 The youth with his best efforts was managing to blunt the edge of its wrath for seconds at a time； but not to turn it away。 He dodged； retreated； tried to stand his ground； and was forced back again。
Golok was gradually being driven back toward the edge of the cliffs； now only a few meters behind him。 Seven other people； working from one rock shelter to the next； were following as closely as they dared。
〃Go over the edge；〃 Ben called to him； trying to make his voice no louder than was necessary for the youth to hear； fearing to startle the beast into another forward rush。 〃Over the brink； and hang on。 It won't see you then。 Maybe it。。。〃
Again； abruptly； the dragon charged at Golok； this time with a thundering full roar。 The subtle nets of control； woven of beast…master's lore； had given way totally at last。
Both Mark and Hubert； meanwhile； had maneuvered away from Ben； so that the dragon was charging more or less in their direction and they had a good shot at the roof of the open mouth。 Ben； scrambling forward as fast as he could toward the dragon's flank with Dragonslicer gripped in both hands； thought that even so the chance was small that the bowmen could hit the brain； and that even if you hit the brain your problems with a landwalker were not over necessarily。。。 Already Dragonslicer's powers had awakened； and Ben could feel the Sword； hear it； shrilling as he ran。
Golok had fallen； scrambling； near the brink。 Longbow shaft and crossbow bolt； simultaneously； entered the open mouth that loomed above him。 There was an explosion of fire that gutted the dragon's left cheek outwards； the jolt of liquid hell that was to have been projected at Golok went spewing and sizzling away instead； some of it over the cliff's edge； some to spill upon the nearby rocks。 One of the missiles had burst a firegland in the cheek。
Ariane was yelling bravely； and slinging stones at the dragon； whether accurately or not made no difference in the least。 The two wizards were sensibly lying low。
Drooling flame； and certainly now aware of pain； the monster turned toward the other people who beset it。 Doon； scrambling desperately over and around rocks； behind the enemy now； struck with Wayfinder at one of its hind legs； aiming for a spot where there should be a tendon beneath the scales。 The heavy； razor…edged blade rebounded like a toy sword from an anvil。 The dragon did not see or feel him。
It saw Ben though； and it heard him。 The Sword of Heroes was in his hands； making its shrill sound； and now he felt the more…than…human power of the weapon flow into his arms。
As always； the great damned beasts were unpredictable。 At the last moment the dragon turned again away from Ben； and bent