"Vance, Jack - Dying Earth 02 - The Eyes of the Overworld (Cugel the Clever) UCb" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

But Slaye mulishly shook his head. "The deficiencies of Derwe Coreme are known; why exchange them for the outlandish excesses of a vagabond?"
For his outspokenness Slaye received a buffet which sent him staggering. Cugel then proceeded along the shore. The sun wallowed low upon the sea; he hastened his steps, anxious to find shelter before dark.
He came at last to the end of the beach. The headland loomed above, with the tall dark trees standing still higher. A balustrade surrounding the gardens showed intermittently through the foliage; somewhat below, a colonnaded rotunda overlooked the ocean to the south. Grandeur indeed! thought Cugel, and he examined the amulet with a new attentiveness. His temporary heart's-desire, sovereignty over Cil, had become no longer felici-tious. And Cugel wondered if he should not fix upon a new heart's-desireЧan aspiration to master the lore of animal husbandry, for instance, or a compelling urge to excel at acrobatic feats . . . Reluctantly Cugel dismissed the scheme. In any event, the cogency of the shell-creature's curse was not yet certain.
A path left the beach, to wind up among bushes and odorous shrubs: dymphian, heliotrope, black quince, olus, beds of long-stemmed stardrops, shade ververica, flowering amanita. The beach became a ribbon fading into the maroon blur of sunset, and the headland at Benbadge Stull could no longer be seen. The path became level, traversed a dense grove of bay trees, and issued upon a weed-grown oval, at one time a parade ground or exercise field.
Along the left boundary was a tall stone wall, broken by a great ceremonial portico which held aloft a heraldic device of great age. The gates stood wide upon a marble-flagged promenade a mile in length leading to the palace: this a richly detailed structure of many tiers, with a green bronze roof. A terrace extended along the front of the palace; promenade and terrace were joined by a flight of broad steps. The sun had now disappeared; gloom descended from the sky. With no better shelter in prospect, Cugel set off toward the palace.
The promenade at one time had been a work of monu-
48
The Eyes of the Overworld
mental elegance, but now all was in a state of dilapidation which the twilight invested with a melancholy beauty. To right and left were elaborate gardens now untended and overgrown. Marble urns festooned with garlands of carnelian and jade flanked the promenade; down the center extended a line of pedestals somewhat taller than the height of a man. Each of these supported a bust, identified by an inscription in runes which Cugel recognized as similar to those carved on the amulet The pedestals were five paces apart, and proceeded the entire mile to the terrace. The carving of the first was softened by wind and rain until the faces were barely discernible; as Cugel proceeded the features became more keen. Pedestal after pedestal, bust after bust; each face stared briefly at Cugel as he marched toward the palace. The last of the series, obscure in the fading Jight, depicted a young woman. Cugel stopped short: this was the girl of the walking boat, whom he had encountered in the land to the north: Derwe Coreme, of the House of Domber, ruler of Cil!
Beset by misgivings, Cugel paused to consider the massive portal. He had not departed from Derwe Coreme hi amity; indeed she might be expected to harbor resentment. On the other hand, at their first encounter she had invited him to her palace, using language of unmistakable warmth; possibly her resentment had disappeared, leaving only the warmth. And Cugel, recalling her remarkable beauty, found the prospect of a second meeting stimulating.
But what if she were still resentful? She must be impressed by the amulet, provided she did not insist that Cugel demonstrate its use. If only he knew how to read the runes, all would be simplicity itself. But since the knowledge was not to be derived from Slaye, he must seek it elsewhere, which in practicality meant within the palace.
He stood before a reach of shallow steps leading up to the terrace. The marble treads were cracked; the balustrade along the terrace was stained by moss and lichen: a condition which the murk of twilight invested with a mournful grandeur. The palace behind seemed hi somewhat better repair. An extremely tali arcade rose from the terrace, with slender fluted columns and an elaborately carved entablature, the pattern of which Cugel could not
49
The Eyes of the Overworld
discern through the gloom. At the back of the arcade were tall arched windows, showing dim lights, and the great portal.
Cugel mounted the steps, beset by renewed doubts. What if Derwe Coreme laughed at his pretensions, defied him to do his worst? What then? Groans and outcries might not be enough. He crossed the terrace on lagging steps, optimism waning as he went, and halted under the arcade; perhaps after all, it might be wise to seek shelter elsewhere. But looking back over his shoulder, he thought to see a tall still shape standing among the pedestals. Cugel thought no more of seeking shelter elsewhere, and walked quickly to the tall door: if he presented himself in humble guise he might escape the notice of Derwe Coreme. There was a stealthy sound on the steps. With great urgency Cugel plied the knocker. The sound reverberated inside the palace.
A minute passed, and Cugel thought to hear further sounds behind him. He rapped again, and again the sound echoed within. A peephole opened and an eye inspected Cugel with care. The eye moved up; a mouth appeared. "Who are you?" spoke the mouth. "What do you wish?" The mouth slid away, to reveal an ear.
"I am a wayfarer, I wish shelter for the night, and with haste for a creature of dread approaches."
The eye reappeared, looked carefully across the terrace, then returned to focus on Cugel. "What are your qualities, where are your certifications?"
"I have none," said Cugel. He glanced over his shoulder. "I much prefer to discuss the matter within, since the creature step by step mounts to the terrace."
The peephole slammed shut. Cugel stared at the blank door. He banged on the knocker, peering back into the gloom. With a scrape and a creak the portal opened. A small stocky man wearing purple livery motioned to him. "Inside, with haste."
Cugel slipped smartly through the door, which the footman at once heaved shut and bolted with three iron pegs. Even as he did so there came a creak and a pressure upon the door.
The footman struck the door smartly with his fist. "I have thwarted the creature again," he said with satisfaction. "Had I been less swift, it would have been upon you,
50
The Eyes of the Overworld
to my distress as well as yours. This is now my chief amusement, depriving the creature of its pleasures."
"Indeed," said Cugel, breathing heavily. "What manner of being is it?"
The footman signified his ignorance. "Nothing definite is known. It has only appeared of late, to lurk by night among the statues. Its behavior is both vampirish and unnaturally lustful, and several of my associates have had cause to complain; in fact, all are dead by its odious acts. So now, to divert myself, I taunt the creature and cause it dissatisfaction." The footman stood back, to survey Cugel with attention. "What of yourself? Your manner, the tilt of your head, the swing of your eyes from side to side denotes recklessness and unpredictability. I trust you will hold this quality in abeyance, if indeed it exists."
"At this moment," said Cugel, "my wants are simple: an alcove, a couch, a morsel of food for my supper. If I am provided these, you will find me benevolence personified; indeed I will assist you hi your pleasures; together we will contrive stratagems to bait the ghoul."
The footman bowed. "Your needs can be fulfilled. Since you are a traveler from afar, our ruler will wish to speak to you, and indeed may extend a bounty far more splendid than your minimal requirements."
Cugel hurriedly disavowed any such ambition. "I am of low quality; my garments are soiled, my person reeks; my conversation consists of insipid platitudes. Best not to disturb the ruler of Cil."
"We will repair what deficiencies we may," said the footman. "Follow, if you will."
He took Cugel along corridors lit by cressets, finally turning into a set of apartments. "Here you may wash; I will brush your garments and find fresh linen."
Cugel reluctantly divested himself of his clothes. He bathed, trimmed the soft black mat of his hair, shaved his beard, rubbed his body with pungent oil. The footman brought fresh garments, and Cugel, much refreshed, dressed himself. Donning his jacket he chanced to touch the amulet at his wrist, pressing one of the carbuncles. From deep under the floor came a groan of the most profound anguish.
The footman sprang about in terror, and his eye fell
51
The Eyes of the Overworld
upon the amulet. He stared in gape-mouthed astonishment, then became obsequious. "My dear sir, had I realized your identity, I would have conducted you to apartments of state, and brought forth the finest robes."
"I make no complaints," said Cugel, "though for a fact the linens were a trifle stale." In jocular emphasis he tapped a carbuncle at his wrist, and the responsive groan caused the servitor's knees to knock together.
"I beseech your understanding," he quavered.
"Say no more," said Cugel. "Indeed it was my hope to visit the palace incognito, so to speak, that I might see how affairs were conducted."
"This is judicious," agreed the servitor. "Undoubtedly you wiU wish to discharge both Sarman the chamberlain and Bilbab the under-cook when their peccancies come to light. As for myself, when your lordship restores Cil to its ancient grandeur, perhaps there will be a modest sinecure for Yodo, the most loyal and cooperative of your servants."
Cugel made a gracious gesture. "If such an event comes to passЧand it is my heart's-desireЧyou shall not be neglected. For the present I shall remain quietly in this apartment. You may bring hither a suitable repast, with a variety of choice wines."
Yodo performed a sweeping bow. "As your lordship desires." He departed. Cugel relaxed upon the most comfortable couch of the chamber and fell to studying the amulet which had so promptly aroused Yodo's fidelity. The runes, as before, were inscrutable; the carbuncles produced only groans, which, while diverting, were of small practical utility. Cugel attempted every exhortation, compulsion, rigor and enjoinment his smattering of wizardry provided, to no avail.
Yodo returned to the apartment, but without the repast Cugel had ordered.
"Your lordship," stated Yodo, "I have the honor to convey to you an invitation from Derwe Coreme, erstwhile ruler of Cil, to attend her at the evening banquet."
"How is this possible?" demanded Cugel. "She has had no information of my presence; as I recall, I gave you specific instructions in this regard.'"
Yodo performed another sweeping bow. "Naturally I obeyed your lordship. The wiles of Derwe Coreme ex-
52
The Eyes of the Overworld