cb.imajica1-第62章
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er's pany； of course； to keep them from pletely forgetting their bodies and their purpose； but more reliable still were the beasts on whose shaggy backs they rode。 When the doeki grew hungry they simply stopped； and would not be bullied or coaxed into moving from whatever bush or piece of pasture they'd found until they were sated。 At first； this was an irritation； and the riders cursed as they slipped from their saddles on such occasions； knowing they had an idling hour ahead while the animals grazed。 But as the days passed and the air grew thinner； they came to depend upon the rhythm of the doekis' digestive tracts and made such stopping places mealtimes for themselves。
It soon became apparent that Pie's calculations as to the length of this journey had been hopelessly optimistic。 The only part of the mystif's predictions that experience was confirming was the hardship。 Even before they reached the snow line； both riders and mounts were showing signs of fatigue； and the track they were following became less visible by the mile as the soft earth chilled and froze； refusing the traces of those who had preceded them。 With the prospect of snowfields and glaciers ahead； they rested the doeki for a day and encouraged the beasts to gorge themselves on what would be the last available pasture until they reached the other side of the range。
Gentle had called his mount Chester； after dear old Klein； with whom it shared a certain ruminative charm。 Pie declined to name the other beast； however； claiming it was bad luck to eat anything you knew by name； and circumstances might very well oblige them to dine on doeki meat before they reached the borders of the Third Dominion。 That small disagreement aside； they kept their exchanges frictionless when they set off again； both consciously skirting any discussion of the events in Beatrix or their significance。 The cold soon became aggressive； the coats they'd been given barely adequate defense against the assault of winds that blew up walls of dusty snow so dense they often obliterated the way ahead。 When that happened Pie pulled out the pass…the face of which looked more like a star map to Gentle's untutored eye…and assessed their direction from that。 Only once did Gentle remark that he hoped the mystif knew what it was doing； earning such a withering glance for his troubles it silenced him utterly on the matter thereafter。
Despite weather that was worsening by the day…making Gentle think wistfully of an English January…good fortune did not entirely desert them。 On the fifth day beyond the snow line； in a lull between gusts； Gentle heard bells ringing； and following the sound they discovered a group of half a dozen mountain men； tending to a flock of a hundred or more cousins to the terrestrial goat； these shaggier by far and purple as crocuses。 The herders spoke no English； and only one of them； whose name was Kuthuss and who boasted a beard as shaggy and as purple as his beasts （leading Gentle to wonder what marriages of convenience had occurred in these lonely uplands）； had any words in his vocabulary that Pie could prehend。 What he told was grim。 The herders were bringing their herds down from the High Pass early because the snow had covered ground the beasts would have grazed for another twenty days in a normal season。 This was not； he repeated several times； a normal season。 He had never known the snow to e so early or fall so copiously； never known the winds to be so bitter。 In essence； he advised them not to attempt the route ahead。 It would be tantamount to suicide。 Pie and Gentle talked this advice over。 The journey was already taking far longer than they'd anticipated。 If they went back down below the snow line； tempting as the prospect of relative warmth and fresh food was； they were wasting yet more time。 Days when all manner of horrors could be unfolding： a hundred villages like Beatrix destroyed； and countless lives lost。
〃Remember what I said when we left Beatrix？〃 Gentle said。
〃No； to be honest； I don't。〃
〃I said we wouldn't die； and I meant it。 We'll find a way through。〃
〃I'm not sure I like this messianic conviction；〃 Pie said。 〃People with the best intentions die； Gentle。 e to think of it； they're often the first to go。〃
〃What are you saying？ That you won't e with me？〃
〃I said I'd go wherever you go； and I will。 But good intentions won't impress the cold。〃
〃How much money have we got？〃
〃Not much。〃
〃Enough to buy some goatskins off these men？ And maybe some meat？〃
A plex exchange ensued in three languages…with Pie translating Gentle's words into the language Kuthuss understood and Kuthuss in turn translating for his fellow herders。 A deal was rapidly struck； the herders seemed much persuaded by the prospect of hard cash。 Rather than give over their own coats； however； two of them got about the business of slaughtering and skinning four of the animals。 The meat； they cooked and shared among the group。 It was fatty and underdone； but neither Gentle nor Pie declined； and it was washed down 。with a beverage they brewed from boiled snow； dried leaves； and a dash of liquor which Pie understood Kuthuss to have called the piss of the goat。 They tasted it in spite of this。 It was potent； and after a shot of it…downed like vodka…Gentle remarked that if this made him a piss…drinker； so be it。
The neirt day； having been supplied with skins； meat； and the makings of several pots of the herders' beverage； plus a pan and two glasses； they made their inarticulate farewells and parted pany。 The weather closed in soon after； and once again they were lost in a white wilderness。 But their spirits had been buoyed up by the meeting； and they made steady progress for the next two and a half days； until； as twilight approached on the third； the animal Gentle was riding started to show signs of exhaustion； its head drooping； its hooves barely able to clear the snow they were trudging through。
〃I think we'd better rest him；〃 Gentle said。
They found a niche between boulders so large they were almost hills in themselves； and lit a fire to brew up some of the herders' liquor。 It； more than the meat； was what had sustained them through the most demanding portions of the journey so far； but try as they might to use it sparingly； they had almost consumed their modest supply。 As they drank they talked about what lay ahead。 Kuthuss' predictions were proving correct。 The weather was worsening all the time； and the chances of encountering another living soul up here if they were to get into difficulty were surely zero。 Pie took a moment to remind Gentle of his conviction that they weren't going to die； e blizzard； e hurricane； e the echo of Hapexamendios Himself； down from the mountain。
〃And 1 meant what I said；〃 Gentle replied。 〃But I can still fret about it； can't I？〃 He put his hands closer to the fire。 〃Any more in the piss pot？〃
〃I'm afraid not。〃
〃I tell you； when we e back this way〃…Pie made a wry face…〃we will； we will。 When we e back this way we've got to get the recipe。 Then we can brew it back on earth。〃
They'd left the doeki a little distance away and heard now a lowing sound。
〃Chester！〃 Gentle said； and went to the beasts。
Chester was lying on its side； its flank heaving。 Blood streamed from its mouth and nose； melting the snow it poured upon。
〃Oh； shit； Chester；〃 Gentle implored； 〃don't die。〃
But he'd no sooner put what he hoped was a forting hand on the doeki's flank than it turned its glossy brown eye towards him； let out one final moan； and stopped breathing。
〃We just lost fifty percent of our transport；〃 he said to Pie。
〃Look on the bright side。 We gained ourselves a week of meat。〃
Gentle glanced back towards the dead animal； wishing he'd taken Pie's advice and never named the beast。 Now when he sucked its bones he'd be thinking of Klein。
〃Will you do it or should I？〃 he said。 〃I suppose it should be me。 I named him； I should skin him。〃
The mystif didn't argue； only suggested that it should move the other animal out of sight of the scene； in case it too lost all will to live； seeing its rade disemboweled。 Gentle agreed； and watched while Pie led the fretting creature away。 Wielding the blade they'd been given as th
