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！
Dirk slapped his face lightly； quickly。 〃e out of it； man！ It's all over； you won！ e on； wake up！〃
DeCade's eyes opened； staring up at Dirk…and right on through him。 Suddenly his whole body stiffened； rigid as a board； muscle straining against muscle； as DeCade swung his staff high in both hands and brought it crashing down across his knee。
The broken halves of the staff fell clattering to the paving stones。 The huge body relaxed； and the giant leaned forward； resting his head in his hands。
Dirk hovered over him； almost frantic； not knowing what to do。 Finally he grasped the man's shoulder； and shook him。 〃What's the matter？ What happened？ Are you okay now？ Wake up…you won！〃
Slowly； then； the huge head rolled to the side； looking up at him with a queer； sad smile； 〃Yes； I won…but I've lost； too。〃
Dirk looked into his eyes and felt a ghostly wind pass through him； chilling him to the marrow。
The arrogance was substantially lessened； and the eyes were no longer pelling。 And the voice wasn't as deep and harsh any more。
Dirk nodded slowly。 〃Wele back。 Gar。〃
CHAPTER 16
The moon had risen； picking out the glints of metal and jewels in the clothing of the lordly prisoners who stood huddled together in the center of the courtyard again。 High above them； Lapin sat on a jury…rigged scaffold； hands flat on her knees。 Hugh and the Guildmaster stood to one side of her。 Now and again； they glanced furtively at the shadows of the northwest er； where Gar sat hunched over； staring at the broken fragments of the staff。
Dirk stood apart from both； with Captain Domigny and his officers。 From time to time； he glanced at Madelon where she sat at the foot of the scaffold with Father Fletcher and several other men and women whom Dirk had never seen。 He assumed they were other junior 〃officers〃 and provincial captains。
〃We cannot kill so many out of hand；〃 Lapin said with a flat finality that left nothing open to debate。 〃What； then； shall we do with them？〃
The Guildmaster growled； 〃There are some who do deserve death； Lapin…the slowest and most painful death we can devise。〃
〃Must we try them one by one？〃 Hugh demanded。 〃It will take a year； and； like as not； some with slick tongues will escape unscathed when they truly deserve some great punishment。〃
Captain Domigny stepped forward。 〃If I may speak here…〃
〃You may not；〃 the Guildmaster said curtly。
The Captain stared； speechless。 Then he scowled and started to speak again。
Lapin turned her head slowly toward him。 〃Do not misunderstand； sky…man…we are grateful for all you have done。 Indeed； we could have done nothing without you； and well we know it。 But you have not suffered as we have suffered； most of your lives you have been free； and away from this sink of misery。 You have not tried to feed a family beneath a Lord's heavy hand； you have not seen your wife or your daughter taken for a lordling's lust； nor your son taken to the arena。 You can not know how these things stand here； nor how the people feel…not truly。〃
〃I think I might have a halfway decent idea。〃 Dirk's voice crackled through the courtyard。 〃Just in the last week； I've e a hairsbreadth from death a dozen times。 I've been in the arena。 I've run and hidden like an outlaw。 And this isn't the first time。 I've served seven missions on this planet； and I've shaved death every time。 We all have。 And there's a little matter of the rest of my life…all our lives。〃 He gestured to his panions。 〃We've spent our lives for one thing only： to keep the line between Melange and the rest of the universe in churl hands so that； when this day came； the Wizard's tall towers could e dropping down from the skies。 Nice； safe； easy job…crammed cheek by jowl with twenty other men in a fragile shell of a ship； floating in emptiness； where any one of a hundred tiny things could go wrong and kill us。 Our dangers have been as great as yours； our trials as painful。 Pew of us have married…why do you think we always brought up new recruits？ We knew a wife and children would divide our loyalty； and we couldn't risk that…we devoted our lives pletely and solely to someday…someday…winning your freedom！ We condemned ourselves to lonely lives full of back…breaking work； for one purpose； and one purpose only…your freedom！〃
〃I know you have been tried； perhaps as sorely as we；〃 Lapin said judiciously； 〃but they were different trials； different pains…and； withal； you all were free。〃
Dirk's lips pressed into a thin； straight line。 〃Free！ Never a one of us was free！ We've been slaves to you； all of you； all our lives…and the lives of the men who came before us…for five hundred years！ Working for this day…the day when the churls would be free and we could e back to our home！
〃And now you tell us our home is not here for us to e back to！〃
〃We do。〃 He could hear the pain in Lapin's voice； nevertheless； she spoke the words。 〃For the fact remains； you have bee apart from us。 Dirk Dulain； you and all the sky…men。 You are no longer really of us； here。 The things you want are no longer the things we want。〃
Beside her； Hugh nodded。 〃We do not deny you home…you may settle among us； we will give you lands； and any aid that we can； and shares of the lordlings' loot to start merchant shops and workshops…we know； at least； that we need that； and that none but you can begin them。 We will build you schools where you may teach； we will give you honor and respect…〃
〃But you will not give us a voice in your government；〃 Domigny said grimly。
Hugh met his eyes and nodded。 〃We will not。〃
But Domigny wasn't looking at him。 He had stepped apart； arms folded； staring at Lapin。
She returned his stare； unwavering。
Dirk stepped up to him； hissing in his ear； 〃They can't do this。 Captain！ All our work； all our waiting…〃
〃They can do it；〃 Domigny ground out 〃They are the rightful government。〃
〃But we've got ships； we've got cannon！ Give the word； and well…〃
〃We will not kill our own；〃 Domigny said heavily； still watching Lapin。
〃Yes； and she knows it； too； she's taking advantage of our goodness！ There's no justice to it。 Captain…not after all our years； all our work； just for them！〃
Then Domigny turned； with a sardonic smile。 〃What did you expect； Dulain？ Gratitude？〃
Dirk could only stare at him。
〃And what of me？〃 demanded a rumbling voice from the shadows。
All eyes swung to the northwest corner。
Gar stood； the broken halves of the staff in his hands； glaring at Lapin。
He strode forward to the foot of the scaffold。 〃Me； what of me？ Shall I also have no voice here among you？〃
〃You are DeCade；〃 Madelon breathed； eyes shining and worshipful； and Lapin echoed her： 〃You are DeCade。 Your voice shall always be heard。〃 She rose with the majesty of a mountain； stepping to the side。 〃e； take the seat of judgment here among us； it is yours； as is the final voice in any decision of our affairs； if you wish it You are DeCade。〃
〃I am not；〃 Gar said harshly。
Total silence hit the courtyard。 Every eye fastened on the giant。
Slowly； he rai