rh.theassassinsapprentice-第37部分

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ip's　biscuits　to　go　with　it；　and　a　sour　red　wine。　I　had　not　realized　how　hungry　I　was　until　the　food　was　before　me。　I　was　scraping　my　dish　with　a　bit　of　biscuit　when　Chade　asked　me；　〃Better？〃
　　　　　　　〃Much；〃　I　said。　〃How　about　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Better；〃　he　said；　and　looked　at　me　with　his　familiar　hawk's　glance。　To　my　relief；　he　seemed　totally　recovered。　He　pushed　my　dishes　to　one　side　and　slid　the　map　before　me。　〃By　evening；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　be　here。　It'll　be　a　nastier　landing　than　the　loading　was。　If　we're　lucky；　we'll　get　wind　when　we　need　it。　If　not；　we'll　miss　the　best　of　the　tide；　and　the　current　will　be　stronger。　We　may　end　up　swimming　the　horses　to　shore　while　we　ride　in　the　dory。　I　hope　not；　but　be　prepared　for　it；　just　in　case。　Once　we　land…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　smell　of　carris　seed。〃　I　said　it；　not　believing　my　own　words。　But　I　had　caught　the　unmistakable　sweet　taint　of　the　seed　and　oil　on　his　breath。　I'd　had　carris…seed　cakes；　at　Springfest；　when　everyone　does；　and　I　knew　the　giddy　energy　that　even　a　sprinkling　of　the　seed　on　a　cake's　top　could　bring。　Everyone　celebrated　Spring's　Edge　that　way。　Once　a　year；　what　could　it　hurt？　But　I　knew；　too；　that　Burrich　had　warned　me　never　to　buy　a　horse　that　smelled　of　carris　seed　at　all。　And　warned　me　further　that　if　anyone　were　ever　caught　putting　carris　seed　oil　on　any　of　our　horses'　grain；　he'd　kill　him。　With　his　bare　hands。
　　　　　　　〃Do　I？　Fancy　that。　Now；　I　suggest　that　if　you　have　to　swim　the　horses；　you　put　your　shirt　and　cloak　into　an　oilskin　bag　and　give　it　to　me　in　the　dory。　That　way　you'll　have　at　least　that　much　dry　to　put　on　when　we　reach　the　beach。　From　the　beach；　our　road　will…〃
　　　　　　　〃Burrich　says　that　once　you've　given　it　to　an　animal；　it's　never　the　same。　It　does　things　to　horses。　He　says　you　can　use　it　to　win　one　race；　or　run　down　one　stag；　but　after　that；　the　beast　will　never　be　what　it　was。　He　says　dishonest　horse　traders　use　it　to　make　an　animal　show　well　at　a　sale；　it　gives　them　spirit　and　brightens　their　eyes；　but　that　soon　passes。　Burrich　says　that　it　takes　away　all　their　sense　of　when　they're　tired；　so　they　go　on；　past　the　time　when　they　should　have　dropped　from　exhaustion。　Burrich　told　me　that　sometimes　when　the　carris　oil　wears　out；　the　horse　just　drops　in　its　tracks。〃　The　words　spilled　out　of　me；　cold　water　over　stones。
　　　　　　　Chade　lifted　his　gaze　from　the　map。　He　stared　at　me　mildly。　〃Fancy　Burrich　knowing　all　that　about　carris　seed。　I'm　glad　you　listened　to　him　so　closely。　Now　perhaps　you'll　be　so　kind　as　to　give　me　equal　attention　as　we　plan　the　next　stage　of　our　journey。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　Chade。。。〃
　　　　　　　He　transfixed　me　with　his　eyes。　〃Burrich　is　a　fine　horse　master。　Even　as　a　boy　he　showed　great　promise。　He　is　seldom　wrong　。。。　when　speaking　about　horses。　Now　attend　to　what　I　am　saying。　We'll　need　a　lantern　to　get　from　the　beach　to　the　cliffs　above。　The　path　is　very　bad；　we　may　need　to　bring　one　horse　up　at　a　time。　But　I　am　told　it　can　be　done。　From　there；　we　go　overland　to　Forge。　There　isn't　a　road　that　will　take　us　there　quickly　enough　to　be　of　any　use。　It's　hilly　country；　but　not　forested。　And　we'll　be　going　by　night；　so　the　stars　will　have　to　be　our　map。　I　am　hoping　to　reach　Forge　by　midafternoon。　We'll　go　in　as　travelers；　you　and　I。　That's　all　I've　decided　so　far；　the　rest　will　have　to　be　planned　from　hour　to　hour　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　And　the　moment　in　which　I　could　have　asked　him　how　he　could　use　the　seed　and　not　die　of　it　was　gone；　shouldered　aside　by　his　careful　plans　and　precise　details。　For　half　an　hour　more　he　lectured　me　on　details；　and　then　he　sent　me　from　the　cabin；　saying　he　had　other　preparations　to　make　and　that　I　should　check　on　the　horses　and　get　what　rest　I　could。
　　　　　　　The　horses　were　forward；　in　a　makeshift　rope　enclosure　on　deck。　Straw　cushioned　the　deck　from　their　hooves　and　droppings。　A　sour　faced　mate　was　mending　a　bit　of　railing　that　Sooty　had　kicked　loose　in　the　boarding。　He　didn't　seem　disposed　to　talk；　and　the　horses　were　as　calm　and　fortable　as　could　be　expected。　I　roved　the　deck　briefly。　We　were　on　a　tidy　little　craft；　an　inter…island　trader　wider　than　she　was　deep。　Her　shallow　draft　let　her　go　up　rivers　or　right　onto　beaches　without　damage；　but　her　passage　over　deeper　water　left　a　lot　to　be　desired。　She　sidled　along；　with　here　a　dip　and　there　a　curtsy；　like　a　bundle…laden　farm　wife　making　her　way　through　a　crowded　market。　We　seemed　to　be　the　sole　cargo。　A　deckhand　gave　me　a　couple　of　apples　to　share　with　the　horses；　but　little　talk。　So　after　I　had　parceled　out　the　fruit；　I　settled　myself　near　them　on　their　straw　and　took　Chade's　advice　about　resting。
　　　　　　　The　winds　were　kind　to　us；　and　the　captain　took　us　in　closer　to　the　looming　cliffs　than　I'd　have　thought　possible；　but　unloading　the　horses　from　the　vessel　was　still　an　unpleasant　task。　All　of　Chade's　lecturing　and　warnings　had　not　prepared　me　for　the　blackness　of　night　on　the　water。　The　lanterns　on　the　deck　seemed　pathetic　efforts；　confusing　me　more　with　the　shadows　they　threw　than　aiding　me　with　their　feeble　light。　In　the　end；　a　deckhand　rowed　Chade　to　shore　in　the　ship's　dory。　I　went　overboard　with　the　reluctant　horses；　for　I　knew　Sooty　would　fight　a　lead　rope　and　probably　swamp　the　dory。　I　clung　to　Sooty　and　encouraged　her；　trusting　her　mon　sense　to　take　us　toward　the　dim　lantern　on　shore。　I　had　a　long　line　on　Chade's　horse；　for　I　didn't　want　his　thrashing　too　close　to　us　in　the　water。　The　sea　was　cold；　the　night　was　black；　and　if　I'd　had　any　sense；　I'd　have　wished　myself　elsewhere；　but　there　is　something　in　a　boy　that　takes　the　mundanely　difficult　and　unpleasant　and　turns　it　into　a　personal　challenge　and　an　adventure。
　　　　　　　I　came　out　of　the　water　dripping；　chilled；　and　pletely　exhilarated。　I　kept　Sooty's　reins　and　coaxed　Chade's　horse　in。　By　the　time　I　had　them　both　under　control；　Chade　was　beside　me；　lantern　in　hand；　laughing　exultantly。　The　dory　man　was　already　away　and　pulling　for　the　ship。　Chade　gave　me　my　dry　things；　but　they　did　little　good　pulled　on　over　my　dripping　clothes。　〃Where's　the　path？〃　I　asked；　my　voice　shaking　with　my　shivering。
　　　　　　　Chade　gave　a　derisive　snort。　〃Path？　I　had　a　quick　look　while　you　were　pulling　in　my　horse。　It's　no　path；　it's　no　more　than　the　course　the　water　takes　when　it　runs　off　down　the　cliffs。　But　it　will　have　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　a　little　better　than　he　had　reported；　but　not　much。　It　was　narrow　and　steep　and　the　gravel　on　it　was　loose　underfoot。　Chade　went　before　with　the　lantern。　I　followed；　with　the　horses　in　tandem。　At　one　point　Chade's　bay　acted　up；　tugging　back；　throwing　me　off　balance　and　nearly　driving　Sooty　to　her　knees　in　her　efforts　to　go　in　the　other　direction。　My　heart　was　in　my　mouth　until　we　reached　the　top　of　the　cliffs。
　　　　　　　Then　the　night　and　the　open　hillside　spread　out　before　us　under　the　sailing　moon　and　the　stars　scattered　wide　overhead；　and　the　spirit　of　the　challenge　caught　me　up　again。　I　suppose　it　could　have　been　Chade's　attitude。　The　carris　seed　made　his　eyes　wide　and　bright；　even　by　lantern　light；　and　his　energy；　unnatural　though　it　was；　was　infectious。　Even　the　horses　seemed　affected；　snorting　and　tossing　their　heads。　Chade　and　I　laughed　dementedly　as　we　adjusted　harness　and　then　mounted。　Chade　glanced　up　to　the　stars　and　then　around　the　hillside　that　sloped　down　before　us。　With　careless　disdain　he　tossed　our　lantern　to　one　side。
　　　　　　　〃Away！〃　he　announced　to　the　night；　and　kicked　the　bay；　who　sprang　forward。　Sooty　was　not　to　be　outdone；　and　so　I　did　as　I　had　never　dared　before；　galloping　down　unfamiliar　terrain　by　night。　It　is　a　wonder　we　did　not　all　break　our　necks。　But　there　it　is；　sometimes　luck　belongs　to　children　and　madmen。　That　night　I　felt　we　were　both。
　　　　　　　Chade　led　and　I　followed。　That　night　I　grasped　another　piece　of　the　puzzle　that　Burrich　had　always　been　to　me。　For　there　is　a　very　strange　peace　in　giving　over　your　judgment　to　someone　else；　to　saying　to　them；　〃You　lead　and　I　will　follow；　and　I　will　trust　entirely　that　you　will　not　lead　me　to　death　or　harm。〃　That　night；　as　we　pushed　the　horses　hard；　and　Chade　steered　us　solely　by　the　night　sky；　I　gave　no　thought　to　what　might　befall　us　if　we　went　astray　from　our　bearing；　or　if　a　horse　were　injured　by　an　unexpected　slip。　I　felt　no　sense　of　accountability　for　my　actions。　Suddenly　everything　was　easy　and　clear。　I　simply　did　whatever　Chade　told　me　to　do；　and　trusted　to　him　to　have　it　turn　out　right。　My　spirit　rode　high　on　the　crest　of　that　wave　of　faith；　and　sometime　during　the　night　it　occurred　to　me：　This　was　what　Burrich　had　gotten　from　Chivalry；　and　what　he　missed　so　badly。
　　　　　　　We　rode　the　entire　night。　Chade　breathed　the　horses；　but　not　as　often　as　Burrich　would　have。　And　he　stopped　more　than　once　to　scan　the　night　sky　and　then　the　horizon　to　be　sure　our　course　was　true。　〃See　that　hill　there；　against　the　stars？　You　can't　see　it　too　well；　but　I　know　it。　By　light；　it's　shaped　like　a　butter　monger's　cap。　Keeffashaw；　it's　called。　We　keep　it　to　the　west　of　us。　Let's　go。〃
　　　　　　　Another　time　he　paused　on　a　hilltop。　I　pulled　in　my　horse　beside　his。　Chade　sat　still；　very　tall　and　straight。　He　could　have　been　carved　of　stone。　Then　he　lifted　an　arm　and　pointed。　His　hand　shook　slightly。　〃See　that　ravine　down　there？　We've　e　a　bit　too　far　t