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！
Ben gave him directions。 You had to crouch down low in the boat at first； to keep from banging your head on the low ceiling of the secret waterway。 Then you moved the craft forward through the narrow channel by pushing and tugging on the stonework of the sides。 There was not far to go； obviously； to reach the river。
There were no markings on the white canoe； Denis observed as he lowered himself carefully aboard。 There was nothing in it； or on Denis； to connect the canoe or him to the House of Courtenay。 Once Denis was on his way； the plan called for him to play the role of a simple Ardneh…pilgrim； his White Temple experience would fit him well for that。 As a pilgrim； it was relatively unlikely that he'd be bothered by robbers。 Everyone had some interest in the availability of medical care； and therefore in the wellbeing of those who could provide it。 A second point was that Ardneh's people were less likely than most to be carrying much of value。 In the third place； Ardneh was still a respected god； even if the better…educated insisted that he was dead； and a good many people still feared what might happen to them if they offended him。
Last farewells were brief。 Only the mistress of the house； to Denis's surprise； appeared at the last moment； to press his hand at parting。 The warmth of her fingers stayed with his； like something sealed by magic。 He could not savor it now； nor get much of a last look at her； because it was time to crouch down in his canoe； to give his head the necessary clearance。 Somebody released the chain for him； and he began to pull the light craft forward； working hand over hand against the rough wall of the narrow subterranean passage。 He was propelling himself against the current； and away from the light。 Darkness deepened to totality as the floor…stone was lowered crunching back into place。
Denis pulled on。 Presently a ghost of watery light reached his eyes from somewhere ahead。 He managed to see a low stone lintel athwart his course； and to bend his head and body almost pletely down under the gunwales to get himself beneath the barrier。
His craft had now emerged into a larger chamber； and one not quite as pletely dark。 There was room enough for Denis to sit up straight。 In a moment he realized that there were timbers about him； rising out of the water in a broad framework； and supporting a flat wooden surface a meter of so above his head。 Denis realized that he was now directly underneath a riverside dock。
There were gaps between pilings large enough for the canoe to pass； and leading to the lesser darkness of the open； foggy night。 Emerging cautiously from underneath the dock； using his paddle freely now； Denis found himself afloat upon a familiar channel of the river。 Right there was the house he had just left； all windows darkened as if everyone inside were fast asleep。 If there was other traffic on the river tonight； he could not see or hear it in the fog。 At this hour； he doubted that there was。
Denis turned the prow of his canoe upstream； and paddled steadily。 The first gleams of daylight were already being visible in the eastern sky； and he wanted to reach the gate in the city walls at dawn； when it routinely opened for the day。 There would probably be a little ining traffic； produce barges and such； waiting outside； the watch ought to pass him out promptly； and most likely without paying much attention to him。
This channel of the river took him past familiar sights of the great city。 Most people Denis had met said that it was the greatest in the world； but who knew the truth of that？ Here on the right bank were the cloth…dyers； as usual starting their work early； already staining the water as they rinsed out the long banners of their product。 And on the other bank； one of the fish…markets was opening。
Now through thinning fog there came into Denis's sight the city walls themselves； taller than all but a very few of the buildings they protected； and thick as houses for most of their height。 They were build of almost indestructible stone； hardened； the stories had it； by the Old World magic called technology。 They were supported at close intervals by formidable towers of the same material。 Tested over five hundred years by scores of sieges （so it was said）； threatened again and again by ingenious engines of attack； and various attempts at undermining； they still stood guard over a city that since they were built had never fallen to military attack。 Kings and Queens and mighty generals had raged impotently outside those walls； and would…be conquerors had died there at the hands of their own rebellious troops。 Siege； starvation； massacre； all had been threatened against Tashigang； but all in vain。 The Corgo flowed year…round； and was always bountiful with fish。 The prudent burghers and Lords Mayor of the city had a tradition of keeping good supplies of other food on hand； and … perhaps most important of all … of choosing their outside enemies and allies with the greatest care。
Now the gate that closed the waterway was going up； opening this channel of the river for passage。 The river…gate was a portcullis built on a titanic scale； wrought by the same engineering genius as the city walls。 Its movement was assisted by great counterweights that rode on iron chains； supported by pulleys built into the guard…towers of the wall。 The raising made a familiar city…morning noise； and took some little time。
There was another huge iron chain spanning the channel underwater； as extra proof against the passage of any sizeable hostile vessel。 But Denis did not have to wait for that to be lowered into the bottom mud。 With a wave of his hand that was casually answered by the watch； he headed out； plying his paddle energetically。
He went on up the river； now and again looking back。 With the morning mist still mounting； the very towers of Tashigang seemed to be melting into it； like some fabric of enchantment。
Chapter 5
In Mark's ears was the endless sound of hard； hooflike footpads beating the earth； of moving animals and men。 Day after day in the sun and dust； night after night by firelight； there was not much in the way of human speech。 He and the patrol of the Dark King's troops escorting him entered and traversed lands heavily scarred by war and occupation； a region of burned…out villages and wasted fields。 With each succeeding day the devastation appeared more recent； and Mark decided that the army that had caused it could no longer be far away。 The only human inhabitants of this region clearly visible were the dead； those who had been impaled or hanged for acts of resistance perhaps； or perhaps only on a whim； for a conqueror's sport。
At first Mark had known faint doubts about where he was being taken。 These now disappeared。 It was his experience that all armies on the march caused destruction； but only the Dark King's forces moved with this kind of relentless savagery。 A few of the human victims on display wore clothing that had once been white； evidently not even Ardneh's people were being spared by Vilkata now。
Even animal life was scarce； except for the omni…present scavenger birds and reptiles。 As the patrol passed； these sometimes rose； hooting or cawing； from s