tg.stone of tears-第152章

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　in　both　hands。　The　pot　had　a　small　opening　in　the　top　and　white　symbols　painted　around　the　sides。
　
　The　Queen　Mother　and　her　women　agreed；　and　sent　this　juka　so　you　may　call　the　spirits。　When　you　drink　this；　the　spirits　will　visit　you。’　He　set　the　pot　in　front　of　Richard　and　then；　pulling　a　knife　from　his　belt；　held　the　green　malachite　handle　out　to　him。　It　was　carved　with　figures　in　obscene　poses。　This　is　the　sacred　knife；　to　be　used　in　the　sacrifice。’　When　Richard　took　the　knife　and　slid　the　stout　blade　behind　his　belt；　the　man　joined　his　fellows　squatting　against　the　walls。
　
　The　man　closest　to　the　woman；　on　the　other　side；　seemed　pleased　that　the　Queen　Mother　had　sent　the　juka。　He　gave　Richard　a　knowing　wink。　Then　he　lifted　his　spearpoint　to　the　woman’s　face。
　
　The　magic　man　has　e　to　offer　you　to　the　spirits。’　He　smiled　encouragement　past　her；　to　Richard。　‘But　first；　he　would　like　to　give　you　the　spirits’　gift　of　his　seed。’　She　didn’t　move。　His　smile　transformed　into　a　sneer　as　he　thumped　the　butt　of　his　spear　to　the　dirt。　‘Do　not　insult　the　spirits！　You　will　take　their　offering！’　His　voice　lowered　to　a　growl。　‘Now。’
　
　Her　eyes　never　leaving　him；　she　uncoiled　herself　and　obediently　lay　down　on　the　dirt；　on　her　back。　She　opened　her　legs　and　cast　Richard　a　defiant　glance。　She　obviously　knew　the　consequence　of　denying　these　men　what　they　wished。
　
　The　man　sprang　forward　and　stabbed　his　spear　into　her　thigh　muscle。　She　screamed　out　and　flinched　back。
　
　‘You　know　better　than　that！　You　will　not　insult　us！　We　are　not　stupid！’　He　feigned　another　jab。　‘Do　it　properly！’
　
　Richard’s　fingers　curled　around　the　hilt　of　his　sword；　but　otherwise　he　did　not　move。　The　woman　made　no　effort　to　tend　the　bleeding　gash　on　her　leg；　but　instead　obediently　turned　over　onto　her　elbows　and　knees；　sticking　her　bottom　up　in　the　air。
　
　The　men　chuckled　to　Richard。
　
　‘You　would　not　like　to　lie　with　this　one　face…to…face；’　the　man　with　the　missing　tooth　said。　‘She　bites。’　The　others　nodded　their　certain　knowledge　of　that。　‘Mount　her　this　way；　and　hold　her　by　her　hair。　She　will　not　be　able　to　bite　you　this　way；　and　you　can　have　all　you　wish。’
　
　The　men　waited。　Neither　Richard　nor　the　woman　moved。
　
　‘Can　you　fools　not　see？’　the　woman　said。　‘He　does　not　wish　to　mount　me　like　a　dog　in　front　of　you！’　Her　face　lying　against　the　dirt；　she　gave　Richard　a　mocking　smile。　‘He　is　shy。　He　does　not　wish　you　to　see　how　little　his　magic　stick　is。’
　
　Every　eye　was　on　him。　Richard’s　knuckles　were　white　around　the　hilt。　He　strained　to　put　an　emotionless　face　over　the　rage　of　the　magic　searing　through　him　from　the　sword。　He　struggled　to　maintain　reason。
　
　Letting　the　magic　loose　in　here　would　acplish　nothing。
　
　One　of　the　men　gave　a　playful　elbow　to　another　and　laughed。　‘Perhaps　she　is　right。　He　is　a　young　one。　Maybe　he　is　not　used　to　others　watching　his　pleasure。’
　
　The　seams　around　his　control　were　strained　near　to　bursting。　Richard　concentrated　on　keeping　his　free　hand　steady　and　making　it　move　gracefully。　He　lifted　the　clay　pot　with　the　juka；　showing　it　to　them。　He　labored　mightily　to　keep　his　voice　even。　‘The　spirits　wish　to　speak　to　me　of　important　matters。’
　
　The　smiles　all　withered。　They　knew　him　as　a　magic　man；　but　not　a　young　one　as　they　were　used　to　seeing。　They　didn’t　have　any　idea　of　his　power；　but　were　obviously　worried　about　it；　worried　about　his　smoldering；　too　quiet　smoothness。
　
　‘We　must　leave　him　to　his　duty；’　one　of　the　men　said。　‘We　should　leave　him　to　be　with　the　spirits；　and　to　take　his　pleasure　from　the　savage　if　he　wishes　before　he　gives　the　spirits　this　offering。’　He　bowed　his　shiny　head　to　Richard。　‘We　will　leave　you　to　your　peace。　We　will　wait　in　the　room　where　you　saw　us　first。’
　
　Solemn…faced；　the　four　hurried　off。　After　they　were　gone；　and　she　could　be　sure　they　were　a　good　distance　away；　the　woman　spat　at　him。
　
　She　arched　her　back　like　a　cat　in　heat；　sticking　her　behind　higher　in　the　air。　‘You　may　mount　me　now；　like　the　dog　you　are。　e；　magic　man；　prove　you　can　mount　a　woman　when　she　is　held　for　you　by　a　chain。　You　can　do　no　worse　to　me　than　the　other　dogs。’　She　spat　at　him　again。　‘You　are　all　dogs。’
　
　Richard　extended　his　leg　and　shoved　a　foot　against　her　hip；　tipping　her　over。　‘I’m　not　like　those　men。’
　
　She　rolled　onto　her　back。　She　threw　her　arms　and　legs　open　and　gave　him　a　contemptuous　glare。　‘So。　You　wish　to　have　me　like　this；　to　prove　you　are　better　than　they？’
　
　Richard　gritted　his　teeth。　‘Stop　it。　I’m　not　here　for　that。’
　
　She　sat　up。　She　lifted　her　chin；　but　her　eyes　filled　with　sudden　terror。　‘So；　you　will　sacrifice　me　now？’
　
　Richard　realized　his　hand　was　still　gripping　the　hilt。　He　had　forgotten　to　maintain　a　calm　expression。　He　took　his　hand　away；　letting　the　magic　recede　and　his　rage　cool。　As　she　watched；　he　poured　the　juka　on　the　dirt　floor。
　
　‘I’m　going　to　get　you　out　of　this。　My　name　is　Richard。　What’s　yours？’
　
　Her　eyes　narrowed。　‘Why　do　you　wish　to　know？’
　
　‘Well；　if　I’m　going　to　take　you　out　of　here；　I　need　to　know　what　to　call　you。　I　can’t　call　you　‘woman。’’
　
　She　surveyed　him　silently　for　a　moment。　‘I　am　Du　Chaillu。’
　
　‘Do　I　call　you　Du？　Or　Chaillu？　Or　Du　Chaillu？’
　
　Puzzlement　wrinkled　her　brow。　‘Du　Chaillu。　That　is　my　name。’
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　smile　of　reassurance。　‘All　right；　then。　Du　Chaillu。　Who　are　your　people？　What　are　they　called？’
　
　‘We　are　Baka　Ban　Mana。’
　
　‘And　what　does　that　mean；　Baka　Ban　Mana？’
　
　Her　chin　came　up　again。　‘Those　without　masters。’
　
　Richard　smiled　to　himself。　‘I　think　you　are　worthy　of　your　people。　You　don’t　look　to　be　a　woman　to　be　mastered。’
　
　Chin　still　held　up；　she　studied　his　eyes。　‘You　say　these　words；　but　you　intend　to　mount　me　as　the　others。’
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　‘No。　I　told　you　I　wouldn’t　do　that。　I’m　going　to　try　to　get　you　out　of　here；　and　back　to　your　people。’
　
　‘None　of　my　people　captured　by　the　Majendie　ever　returns。’
　
　Richard　leaned　toward　her。　Then　you　shall　be　the　first。’
　
　Richard　drew　his　sword。　Du　Chaillu　scooted　back　against　the　wall；　drawing　her　knees　up　to　her　chest；　hiding　her　face。　He　realized　that　she　had　misinterpreted　his　action　and　expected　the　worst。
　
　‘It’s　all　right；　Du　Chaillu。　I’m　not　going　to　hurt　you。　I　simply　need　to　get　that　collar　off　you。’
　
　She　shrank　from　him；　then；　thinking　better　of　her　shameful　retreat；　she　lifted　her　head　and　spat　at　him。　‘Yes；　by　taking　off　my　head。　You　do　not　speak　the　truth。　You　wish　to　kill　me　now；　and　just　want　me　to　meekly　offer　you　my　neck。’
　
　With　his　sleeve；　Richard　wiped　the　spittle　off　the　side　of　his　forehead。　He　reached　out　and　put　a　forting　hand　to　her　shoulder。　‘No。　I’m　not　going　to　hurt　you。　I　simply　need　to　use　this　sword　to　get　the　collar　off。　How　else　can　I　get　you　out　of　here？　You　will　be　safe；　you’ll　see。　Let　me　get　it　off　you？’
　
　‘Swords　cannot　cut　iron！’
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Magic　can。’
　
　She　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　and　held　her　breath　as　he　gently　put　an　arm　around　her　shoulder　and　rolled　her　facedown　in　his　lap。　He　laid　the　sword’s　point　to　the　side　of　her　neck。　He　had　seen　the　Sword　of　Truth　cut　through　iron　before；　and　he　knew　the　sword’s　magic　could　do　the　job。　She　lay　dead　still　as　he　slid　the　sword　under　the　heavy　iron　band。
　
　And　then　she　lunged　at　him。　In　a　blink；　she　had　a　fierce　grip　on　his　left　arm。　Her　teeth　clamped　around　his　forearm；　pinching　the　nerves。
　
　Richard　froze。　He　knew　that　if　he　were　to　try　to　yank　his　arm　back；　her　teeth　would　probably　tear　the　muscle　from　the　bone。　He　still　had　his　right　hand　on　the　sword。　The　rage　of　the　magic　pounded　through　him。　He　used　the　anger　to　help　Slim　block　the　pain　and　remain　still。
　
　With　the　sword　under　the　collar　as　it　was；　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　to　give　it　a　twist　and　a　push。　It　would　cut　her　throat；　if　not　decapitate　her；　and　he　would　be　free　of　her　teeth。　The　pain　from　her　locking　bite　was　agonizing。
　
　‘Du　Chaillu；’　he　managed　through　gritted　teeth。　‘Let　go。　I’m　not　going　to　hurt　you。　If　it　were　my　intention　to　hurt　you；　I　could　cut　you　right　now　with　the　sword　to　make　you　let　go。’
　
　After　a　long　moment；　silent　of　everything　but　his　labored　。breathing；　she　relaxed　the　pressure　of　her　teeth；　but　didn’t　release　his　arm　from　her　grip。
　
　She　tilted　her　head　a　bit。　‘Why？’　Her　eyes　peered　up　at　him。　‘Why　do　you　wish　to　help　me？’
　
　Richard　stared　down　into　her　dark　eyes。　He　took　a　chance　and　removed　his　hand　from　the　sword。　He　brought　the　hand　up；　and　touched　his　fingers　to　the　cold　metal　collar　around　his　neck。
　
　‘I；　too；　am　a　prisoner。　I；　too；　know　what　it　is　to　be　held　by　a　collar。　I　don’t　like　collars。　Though　I　can’t　free　myself　in　this　way；　I　can　try　to　free　you。’
　
　Her　ferocious　grip　on　his　arm　relaxed。　She　cocked　her　head　to　the　side　as　she　frowned　up　at　him。
　
　‘But　you　are　a　magic　man。’
　
　That’s　why　I　was　taken　prisoner。　The　woman　I’m　with　is　taking　me　to　a　place　called　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　She　says　the　magic　will　kill　me　if