gc.thewhiterose-第31章
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Not too scared to observe； though。 After the manta showed us its bones it resumed its normal form； but grew。 As did a second when the boundary overtook it。 Did that mean a mon tendency toward growth on a storm's outward pulse？
The storm caught our windwhale； which was the slowest getting down。 Young it was； but conscientious about its burden。 The crackle in my hair peaked。 I thought my nerves would betray me pletely。 A glance at Tracker convinced me we were going to have a major case of panic。
Goblin or One…Eye； one； decided to be a hero and stay the storm。 Might as well have ordered the sea to turn。 The crash and roar of a major sorcery vanished in the rage of the storm。
There was an instant of utter stillness when the boundary reached me。 Then a roar out of hell。 The winds inside were ferocious。 I thought of nothing but getting down and hanging on。 Around me gear was flying about； changing shape as it flew。 Then I spied Goblin。 And nearly threw up。
Goblin indeed。 His head had swelled ten times normal size。 The rest of him looked inside out。 Around him swarmed a horde of the parasites that live on a windwhale's back； some as big as pigeons。
Tracker and Toadkiller Dog were worse。 The mutt had bee something half as big as an elephant； fanged； possessed of the most evil eyes I've ever seen。 He looked at me with a starved lust that chilled my soul。 And Tracker had bee something demonic； vaguely apelike yet certainly much more。 Both looked like creatures from an artist's or sorcerer's nightmares。
One…Eye was the least changed。 He swelled； but remained One…Eye。 Perhaps he is well…rooted in the world； being so damned old。 Near as I can tell； he is pushing a hundred fifty。
The thing that was Toadkiller Dog crept toward me with teeth bared 。 。 。 The windwhale touched down。 Impact sent everyone tumbling。 The wind screamed around us。 The strange lightning hammered earth and air。 The landing area itself was in a protean mood。 Rocks crawled。 Trees changed shape。 The animals of that part of the Plain were out and gamboling in revised forms； one…time prey turning upon predator。 The horror show was illuminated by a shifting； sometimes ghastly light。
Then the vacuum at the heart of the storm enveloped us。 Everything froze in the form it had at the last instant。 Nothing moved。 Tracker and Toadkiller Dog were down on the ground； thrown there after impact。 One…Eye and Goblin faced one another； in the first phase of letting their feud go beyond its customary gamesmanship。 The other windwhales lay nearby； not visibly affected。 A manta plunged out of the color above； crashed。
That stasis lasted maybe three minutes。 In the stillness sanity returned。 Then the change storm began to collapse。
The devolution of the storm was slower than its growth。 But saner； too。 We suffered it for several hours。 And then it was done。 And our sole casualty was the one manta that had crashed。 But damn； was it ever a shaking experience。
〃Damn lucky；〃 I told the others； as we inventoried our possessions。 〃Lucky we weren't all killed。〃
〃No luck to it； Croaker；〃 One…Eye replied。 〃The moment these monsters saw a storm ing they headed for safe ground。 A place where there would be nothing that could kill us。 Or them。〃
Goblin nodded。 They were doing a lot of agreeing lately。 But we all recalled how close they had e to murder。
I asked； 〃What did I look like？ I didn't feel any change； except a sort of nervous turmoil。 Like being drunk； drugged； and half…crazy all at the same time。〃
〃Looked like Croaker to me；〃 One…Eye said。 〃Only twice as ugly。〃
〃And dull；〃 Goblin added。 〃You made the most inspiring speech about the glories the Black pany won during the campaign against Chew。〃
I laughed。 〃e on。〃
〃Really。 You were just Croaker。 Maybe those amulets are good for something。〃
Tracker was going over his weaponry。 Toadkiller Dog was napping near his feet。 I pointed。 One…Eye signed； 〃Didn't see。〃
Goblin signed； 〃He grew up and got claws。〃
They did not seem concerned。 I decided I should not be。 After all； the whale lice were the nastiest thing after the mutt。
The windwhales remained grounded； for the sun was rising。 Their backs assumed the dun color of the earth； plete with sage…colored patches； and we waited for the night。 The mantas nested down on the other four whales。 None came near us。 You get the feeling humans make them unfortable。
Chapter Twenty…Four：THE WIDE WORLD
They never tell me anything。 But I should plain？ Secrecy is our armor。 Need to know。 All that crap。 In our outfit it is the iron rule of survival。
Our escort was not along just to help us break out of the Plain of Fear。 They had their own mission。 What I had not been told was that Whisper's headquarters was to be attacked。
Whisper had no warning。 Our panion windwhales dropped away slowly as the edge of the Plain approached。 Their mantas dropped with them。 They caught favorable winds and pulled ahead。 We climbed higher； into the pure shivers and gasp for breaths。
The mantas struck first。 In twos and threes they crossed the town at treelop level； loosing their bolts into Whisper's quarters。 Rock and timbers flew like the dust around stamping hooves。 Fires broke out。
The monsters of the upper air rolled in behind as soldiers and civilians hit the streets。 They unleashed bolts of their own。 But the real horror was their tentacles。
The windwhales gorged upon men and animals。 They ripped houses and fortifications apart。 They yanked trees out by their roots。 And they pounded away at Whisper with their bolts。
The mantas； meantime； rose a thousand feet and plunged again； in their pairs and threes； this time to strike at Whisper as she responded。
Her response； though it did set a broad patch of one windwhale's flank gruesomely aglow； pinpointed her for the mantas。 They slapped her around good； though she did bring one down。
We passed over； the flash and fires illuminating our monster's belly。 If anyone in the crucible spotted us； I doubt they guessed we were going on。 Goblin and One…Eye detected no interest in anything but survival。
It continued as we lost sight of the town。 Goblin said they had Whisper on the run； too busy saving her own ass to help her men。
〃Glad they never pulled any of this crap on us；〃 I said。
〃It's a one…shot；〃 Goblin countered。 〃Next time they'll be ready。〃
〃I'd have thought they'd be now； because of Rust。〃
〃Maybe Whisper has an ego problem。〃
No maybe about it。 I had dealt with her。 It was her weak spot。 She would have made no preparations because she believed we feared her too much。 She was； after all； the most brilliant of the Taken。
Our mighty steed ploughed the night； back brushing the stars； body gurgling； chugging； humming。 I began to feel optimistic。
At dawn we dropped into a canyon in the Windy Country； another big desert。 Unlike the Plain； though； it is normal。 A big emptiness where the wind blows all the time。 We ate and slept。 When night fell we resumed our journey。
We left the desert south of Lords； turned north over the Forest of Cloud； avoiding settlements。 Beyond the Forest of Cloud； though； the windwhale descended。 And we were on our own。
I wish we could have gone the whole way airborne。 But that was as far as Darling and the windwhales were willing to risk。 Beyond lay heavily inhabited country。 We could not hope to e down and pass the daylight hours unseen。 So from there on we would travel the old…fashioned way。
The free city of Roses was about fifteen miles away。
Roses has been free throughout history； a republican plutocracy。 Even the Lady did not see fit to buck tradition。 One huge battle took place nearby； during the northern campaigns； but the site was of Rebel choosing； not ours。 We lost。 For several months Roses lost its independence。 Then the Lady's victory at Charm ended Rebel dominion。 All in all； though unaligned； Roses is a friend of the Lady。
Crafty bitch。
We hiked。 Our journey was an all…day affair。 Neither I nor Goblin nor One…Eye were in good shape。 Too much loafing。 Getting too old。
〃This isn't smart；〃 I said as we approached a gate in Roses' pale red walls； toward sunset。 〃We've all
