gc.thewhiterose-第32章
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〃This isn't smart；〃 I said as we approached a gate in Roses' pale red walls； toward sunset。 〃We've all been here before。 You two should be well…remembered； what with having robbed half the citizens。〃
〃Robbed？〃 One…Eye protested。 〃Who robbed？ 。 。 。 〃
〃Both of you clowns。 Selling those damned guaranteed…to…work amulets when we were after Raker。〃
Raker was a one…time Rebel general。 He had beaten the crap out of the Limper farther north； then the pany； with a little help from Soulcatcher； had sucked him into a trap in Roses。 Both Goblin and One…Eye had preyed on the populace。 One…Eye was an old hand at that。 Back when we were in the south； beyond the Sea of Torments； he had been involved in every shady scheme he could find。 Most of his ill…gotten gains he soon lost at cards。 He is the world's worst cardplayer。
You'd think by one…fifty he would learn to count them。
The plan was for us to lay up at some sleazy no…questions…asked inn。 Tracker and I would go out next day and buy a wagon and team。 Then we would head out the way we had e； pick up what gear we had been unable to carry； and circle the city by heading north。
That was the plan。 Goblin and One…Eye did not stick to it。
Rule Number One for a soldier： Stick to the mission。 The mission is paramount。
For Goblin and One…Eye all rules are made to be broken。 When Tracker and I returned； with Toadkiller Dog loafing along behind； it was late afternoon。 We parked。 Tracker stood by while I went upstairs。
No Goblin。 No One…Eye。
The proprietor told me they had left soon after I had； chattering about finding some women。
My fault。 I was in charge。 I should have foreseen it。 It had been a long； long； long time。 I paid for another two nights； just in case。 Then I turned animals and wagon over to the hostler's boy； had supper with a silent Tracker； and retreated to our room with several quarts of beer。 We shared it； Tracker； me； and Toadkiller Dog。
〃You going looking for them？〃 Tracker asked。
〃No。 If they haven't e back in two days or pulled the roof in on us； we'll go ahead without them。 I don't want to be seen around them。 There'll be people here who remember them。〃
We got pleasantly buzzed。 Toadkiller Dog seemed capable of drinking people under the table。 Loved his beer； that dog。 Actually got up and moved around when he didn't have to。
Next morning； no Goblin。 No One…Eye。 But plenty of rumors。 We entered the mon room late； after the morning crowd and before the noontime rush。 The hostler had no other ears to bend。
〃You guys hear about the ruckus over in the east end last night？〃
I groaned before he got to the meat of it。 I knew。
〃Yeah。 Regular wahoo war party。 Fires。 Sorcery。 Lynch mob。 Excitement like this old town hain't seen since that time they were after that General What's…it the Lady wanted。〃
After he went to pester another customer； I told Tracker； 〃We'd better get out now。〃
〃What about Goblin and One…Eye？〃
〃They can take care of themselves。 If they got themselves lynched； tough。 I'm not going poking around and getting myself a stretched neck； too。 If they got away； they know the plan。 They can catch up。〃
〃I thought the Black pany didn't leave its dead behind。〃
〃We don't。〃 I said it； but maintained my determination to let the wizards stew in what juice they had concocted。 I did not doubt that they had survived。 They had been in trouble before； a thousand times。 A good hike might have a salutary effect on their feel for mission discipline。
Meal finished； I informed the proprietor that Tracker and I were departing； but that our panions would keep the room。 Then I led a protesting Tracker to the wagon； put him aboard； and when the boy had the hitch ready； headed for the western gate。
It was the long way； through tortuous streets； over a dozen arched bridges spanning canals； but it led away from yesterday's silliness。 As we went I told Tracker how we had tricked Raker into a noose。 He appreciated it。
〃That was the pany's trademark；〃 I concluded。 〃Get the enemy to do something stupid。 We were the best when it came to fighting； but we only fought when nothing else worked。〃
〃But you were paid to fight。〃 Things were black…and…white to Tracker。 Sometimes I thought he had spent too much time in the woods。
〃We were paid for results。 If we could do the job without fighting； all the better。 What you do is； you study your enemy。 Find a weakness； then work on it。 Darling is good at that。 Though working on the Taken is easier than you would think。 They're all vulnerable through their egos。〃
〃What about the Lady？〃
〃I couldn't say。 She doesn't seem to have a handle。 A touch of vanity； but I don't see how to get hold of it。 Maybe through her drive to dominate。 By getting her to overextend herself。 I don't know。 She's cautious。 And smart。 Like when she sucked the Rebel in at Charm。 Killed three birds with one stone。 Not only did she eliminate the Rebel； she exposed the unreliable among the Taken and squashed the Dominator's attempt to use them to get free。〃
〃What about him？〃
〃He isn't a problem。 He's probably more vulnerable than the Lady； though。 He don't seem to think。 He's like a bull。 So damned strong that's all he needs。 Oh； a little guile； like at Juniper； but mostly just the hammer…strokes type。〃
Tracker nodded thoughtfully。 〃Could be something to what you say。〃
Chapter Twenty…Five：THE BARROWLAND
Corbie miscalculated。 He forgot that others beside Case were interested in his fate。
When he failed to show for work various places； people came looking for him。 They pounded on doors； tapped on windows； and got no response。 One tried the door。 It was locked。 Now there was genuine concern。
Some argued for kicking a break…in up the chain of mand； others for moving now。 The latter view prevailed。 They broke the lock and spread out inside。
They found a place obsessive in its neatness； spartan in its furnishings。 The first man upstairs yelped； 〃Here he is。 He's had a stroke or something。〃
The pack crowded into the little upstairs room。 Corbie sat at a table on which lay an oilskin packet and a book。 〃A book！〃 someone said。 〃He was weirder than we thought。〃
A man touched Corbie's throat； felt a feeble pulse； noted that Corbie was taking shallow breaths spaced far more widely than those of a man sleeping。 〃Guess he did have a stroke。 Like he was sitting here reading and it hit him。〃
〃Had an uncle went like that；〃 someone said。 〃When I was a kid。 Telling us a story and just went white and keeled over。〃
〃He's still alive。 We better do something。 Maybe he'll be all right。〃
A big rush downstairs； men tumbling over men。
Case heard when the group rushed into headquarters。 He was on duty。 The news put him in a quandary。 He had promised Corbie 。 。 。 But he could not run off。
Sweet's personal interest got the news bucked up the ladder fast。 The Colonel came out of his office。 He noted Case looking stricken。 〃You heard。 e along。 Let's have a look。 You men。 Find the barber。 Find the vet。〃
Made you reflect on the value of men when the army provided a vet but not a physician。
The day had begun auspiciously； with a clear sky。 That was rare。 Now it was cloudy。 A few raindrops fell； spotting the wooden walks。 As Case followed Sweet； and a dozen men followed him； he barely noted the Colonel's remarks about necessary improvements。
A crowd surrounded Corbie's place。 〃Bad news travels fast；〃 Case said。 〃Sir。〃
〃Doesn't it？ Make a hole here； men。 ing through。〃 He paused inside。 〃He always this tidy？〃
〃Yes； sir。 He was obsessive about order and doing things by the numbers。〃
〃I wondered。 He stretched the rules a bit with his night walks。〃
Case gnawed his lip and wondered if he ought to give the Colonel Corbie's message。 He decided it was not yet time。
〃Upstairs？〃 the Colonel asked one of the men who had found Corbie。
〃Yes； sir。〃
Case was up the stairs already。 He spied Corbie's oilskin packet； without thinking started to slide it inside his jacket。
〃Son。〃
Case turned。 Sweet stood in the doorway； frowning。
〃What are you doing？〃
The Colonel was the most intimidating figure Case could imagine。 More
