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t splendor to the envious gods。
Eventually we found ourselves on the Street of the Gods。 ing down the middle of the street； behaving as if there were no other traffic； was a Master Evocator…his name was Jeneander。 In front of him were staff…armed； naked servants； their bodies shaved bare； and behind him was his retinue of journeymen； adepts； and secretaries。 I turned away； not making obeisance； as if suddenly entranced by the shabby tabernacle that honored some fruit growers' deity。 From the corner of my eye I saw Janos knuckle a mark of respect； then he turned in the same direction I was facing。 He laughed； a barely audible chuckle。
〃Even here in Orissa；〃 he murmured； 〃superstition calls it the worst of luck for a Evocator to cross your path。 In some places I have visited； seeing such a man or woman would require you to return home and go immediately to bed…or face the worst of nameless fates。〃
I nodded and said something such as yes； I supposed even the most rational of us had some superstitions； but I did not tell him the real explanation。 It was not superstition at all； but cold hatred： for the Evocators and their magic had murdered my brother。
CHAPTER FOUR
Dance of the Far Kingdoms
WE WERE DAWDLING through a sculpture garden near my villa before I broached the subject again。 We had been talking of nothing； talking of everything； each taking the measure of the other。 Finally I was fortable enough with my new friend to ment on something that had been troubling me for a time。 〃I saw your look of disapproval when I said I would journey west in my Finding；〃 I said。
Janos stopped in his tracks； made a musing sound； and stroked his beard。 His actions gave me yet another reason to find the altar of the godlet who ruled over face hair： beard stroking seemed a wonderful device for a canny man to use to consider his words before they tumbled out。 〃My apologies；〃 he said。 〃I thought I was more capable at the graces of civility than I evidently am。 You appear to have some of the talents of a seer。〃
〃There's no magic to it；〃 I said。 〃I am only someone who grew tired of being thought a rich fool。 You should see all the flies that buzz about when you have a wealthy father； all saying how wise you are； how handsome； how your games are the best to be played； how you should be the captain of the team。 Even how your lovemaking is the most head…spinning they have ever encountered。 And could you spare a bit of your purse for a few days； Amalric； my friend？〃
Janos nodded。 〃The best way to live； and I wish it were possible； is to live honestly。 All we need do is find a world where everyone about us is equally as virtuous。 And thick…skinned。 I confess that I did disapprove of what you plan for the Finding of your Tradewind。 Because I was judging your actions by what I would do were I in your place。〃
〃What would you do； friend Janos？ If you were magically transformed into Amalric Antero？〃
〃First； I would endow a certain Janos Greycloak with riches to indulge himself beyond his wildest dreams； so he'd never again have to dance attendance on fat old fools。 Then I would seek my Tradewind…to the east。 And if I lived； my Finding would not only make me rich； and give me knowledge and power beyond that held by the most hoary Evocator； but ensure my name would be remembered from this day to the ending of history。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said； grinning。 〃You would seek out the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃Just so。〃
I started to laugh； for I had thrown out the goal as a jest； I then saw his face was darkly serious。 〃You believe such a place exists？〃
〃I do not believe。 I know。〃
〃Oh。〃 I could feel the shutters of my mind close； just as it does when a respected tutor announces there are worlds beyond our own； or when a sage begins drooling like a goat in heat over an empty…headed strumpet。
As a boy I had eagerly listened to the tales of the greatness of the Far Kingdoms； located in the distant east； well beyond the ken of man。 Most tales agreed that it lay across the straits of the Narrow Sea； beyond the benighted Pepper Coast； in uncharted territory。 If a man could survive such a hazardous journey…which； all agreed； no one alive could； since we were a far cry from the giants of earlier days…he would find himself in a land of fabled wealth and wizardry。 I had always considered…even when I had told some of the tales myself as a sprat…the Far Kingdoms were suitable for philosophers' examples； peasant dreams； or the fictions of the bards。 In the past； hearing such a statement as Janos had just made； I would have politely smiled； chatted tin for a while； made my excuses； and then left…determined to find another officer to acpany me on my Finding。 But now； hard on my new course of honesty； I pressed on。
〃I have always believed； as did my father…and； for that matter； all the educated men I've encountered…that the Far Kingdoms was a dream。 Just as some peasants believe there was a Golden Age before us； when men were all heroes； women were all virgin…whore…mothers； all things were free for the asking； and so forth。〃
And Janos asked； 〃What would convince you a dream is； in fact； real？〃
His ment gave me a jolt； which I hid； as I suddenly remembered another dream： the dream of the man with one eye in the river cavern…the nightmare that had plagued me since meeting Melina。 It was as if the spring day had suddenly turned chill。 Then I forced my mind away from that dream and pondered Janos' question。 〃I don't know； really。 And I'm not trying to sound like some savant creaking about whether a man dreams he is a butterfly or a butterfly dreams he's a man。 Pain？ I've bled in dreams。 That they seem to continue on forever？ I've dreamed most of a life on occasion。〃
〃I will offer three arguments； but not as the logicians teach us to do；〃 Janos replied。 〃I'll start with the most crushing。 This。〃 He lifted a thin chain from around his neck and handed it to me。 A device dangled from it： a small； broken statuette of a dancing maiden； her arms stretched above her head； perhaps one of her hands had once held a twisting scarf or veil。 The statuette had been broken at the woman's hips。 It might have been made of silver or some other semiprecious metal； but it was badly tarnished now。 The workmanship； however； was exquisite： the maiden's face was alight in happiness； and； I thought； if I could put a jeweler's pane on the figurine； I would be able to distinguish every detail of her face and arms。 〃A pretty；〃 I finally said。 〃But I've seen equal craftsmanship in the shops of our metal…crafting masters。〃
〃Touch it。〃 I did…and the statue came to life。 The chain seemed to vanish； and the half woman danced on an invisible platform before my eyes。 Instead of tarnished silver； her skin was soft ivory and tipped with crimson； her hair was black； her sheer gown violet。 I took my finger away； and once more I was holding a dirty； shattered figurine。
〃That I have never seen or heard of；〃 I admitted。
〃Nor anyone else in these lands；〃 Janos said。 〃I have consulted priests and Evocators； and none of them know the spells necessary to make such a bauble。 In fact； one fool told me it violated all of the laws of thaumaturgy…so it must be black sorcery。 He ordered me