[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
is the one withheld."
The other stared at him for a moment, blinking in astonishment. Finally he gritted out, "You mock me,
you little sneaklizard!" His hand went to his sword hilt.
Before he could draw, however, the old ferryman had his long oar out of the water and raised
threateningly over the man's head. "Not on my boat you don't, Ronin! And not with someone as is
rowing, either! Put that damn sticker away or I'll bash in your brains! We're coming to the bloody island
and the bars and I'll be needing help, not fighting. Besides, you fools wouldn't just kill each other. So
damn stupid you'd probably split half the innocent folks aboard. Pick your fights elsewhere, Ronin!"
Grumbling, his eyes narrowed, but afraid of the power of the raised oar, the swordsman complied.
"You young puppy," he addressed Edwyr. "I'll wager you're a fraud! You don't even know how to
use that sword. It's likely some rusty old blade you've strapped on to make yourself look big and get free
rides and food from stupid settlers. I challenge you, faker! I challenge you to fight me when we get to the
other side!"
Edwyr took his eyes off the water ahead long enough to meet the man's glare. He nodded briefly.
"Very well," he answered. "If you insist. On the other side. But please be quiet now. We have to
concentrate or we'll never get to the other side."
"Big log to the right up ahead!" sang out the boy in the bows.
"Damn!" muttered the old man. "Sand bars to the port by the island. We'll have to try and squeeze
through. Head for that area just off the starboard bow. And pull like hell!"
X
The trip to the other shore was difficult and filled with alarms. Robards was glad to have the young
Seeker of the Way of the Sword manning the other oar. He could have managed it all alone, of course.
He usually did. But the current was unusually strong today and he probably would have ended up a good
half-mile south of his regular landing place.
The lad seemed to be a decent sort and the ferryman was a little worried about the outcome of the
duel. At the same time, he knew there was nothing he could or should do about it. As long as they didn't
bother him, he figured it was none of his business.
As they approached the shallows, Edwyr shipped his oar and moved into the bow. As they touched
bottom, he jumped off and grabbed the bow line, pulling the craft firmly aground with a mighty heave. He
offered a steadying hand to each passenger as they left the boat. The swordsman sneered at his
assistance and leaped lightly ashore.
Although he pretended to be busy helping Robards unload and secure the ferry, Edwyr watched the
swordsman closely. As the man looked around, automatically checking the lay of the land and the crowd,
Edwyr noticed his gaze halted slightly in well-concealed surprise as it passed over one figure. Covertly,
the young Brother turned his attention to this individual. There was, he observed, a great deal of similarity
between the swordsman and this man he had obviously recognized. Not so much in their looks or clothes
as in the way they both stood and moved. They've both been trained in the use of the sword, Edwyr
concluded, and by the same master.
So, he thought as he helped the ferryman pull the empty boat higher on the shore, two of them! Yet
the first was surprised to see the second, so they weren't here together. Which meant they haven't
planned some kind of combined attack or ambush. Still, it would be prudent to avoid getting caught
between the two of them. Best to stand so he could keep his eye on both.
The passengers from the boat had immediately whispered to those waiting on shore about the
challenge and Edwyr's acceptance; Now they all stood, expectantly, waiting to see if the duel would
actually take place. As Edwyr turned from securing the ferry, the Swordsman stepped up to confront
him.
"Well, puppy," he snarled, "are you still brave enough to accept my challenge?"
Edwyr looked around at the crowd. No hostility there. Just ordinary faces filled with a mixture of
curiosity, expectation and a touch of fear. He smiled. Several smiled back, tentatively. He turned back to
the older man. "Yes. Certainly. But may I make a suggestion?"
"As long as you don't try to wiggle out of it."
Edwyr nodded. "It seems to me this is the wrong place to hold a fight." He indicated the crowd with
a sweep of his arm. "All these people would be endangered. Some innocent bystander might be
wounded or even killed." He saw the fear leap up in their eyes. His words were having the effect he'd
hoped for and he heard a dim murmur of agreement from several in the group.
"What are you suggesting?" asked the swordsman warily.
"Simply that we hold the duel someplace where we won't hurt anyone by mistake." He pointed out
into river to a sand bar that lay about fifty yards off shore. "I suggest we fight out there. Everyone can see
us from here, so no one will miss the show. And no one is endangered but you and I."
The other man followed his pointing finger. The sand bar was clear of all vegetation except for a few
clumps of harsh grass. The ground looked good and firm, well above the water level. The tiny island was
no more than fifteen yards wide by some thirty or forty long. There would be no place to hide and
nowhere to run.
His eyes flicked back to the young man and then quickly to the man who stood at the back of the
crowd watching him. Curse that damn Mitsuyama! He's sent someone to watch me, he raged silently.
Someone to report on how I handle this. Someone, he thought grimly, to relate what happens in case I
die. Perhaps, he mused, this lad is tougher than I was told.
He decided and nodded. "Fine. I can kill you there as easily as here. Who'll row us out?"
Edwyr bowed his head slightly. "I will. Provided the ferryman will lend us the small boat I saw
beached a little downstream, Robards grumbled forwards, annoyed at being involved, but pleased by the
way the young Seeker was handling things. Better to have them fight out in the river than here. Never
know what damage the two idiots might do. "Aye. I guess I can. But listen, you two fools. I want my
boat back! I fish in it every day. If the lad wins, I know he can row it back. Can you?" he glared at the
swordsman.
The man drew himself up haughtily and glared back coldly. "Don't worry, old man. You'll get your
boat back."
"Aye, to be sure," he grumbled again, "and probably two miles downstream! Provided, of course, the
two of you don't kill each other!"
Still mumbling under his breath, Robards led the two men down the beach to the little boat. It was
built on the same design as the ferryboat, though only big enough for three passengers at most. There was
a platform at the stern and room for one sweep oar. The ferryman pushed the craft into the river and held
it as the swordsman climbed in and moved to the bow seat. He settled himself, his sword arranged for a
quick draw," facing aft. Edwyr stepped onto the rowing platform and shoved off with the long oar.
For a few moments there was silence between them, filled with the gurgle and whisper of the river.
Then the young Brother spoke. "When we get to the island, I'll beach the boat. You jump out and move
to the middle of the island. It's the best place to fight and I can get off the boat without having to fear that
you will try to cut me down while I'm wading ashore." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
is the one withheld."
The other stared at him for a moment, blinking in astonishment. Finally he gritted out, "You mock me,
you little sneaklizard!" His hand went to his sword hilt.
Before he could draw, however, the old ferryman had his long oar out of the water and raised
threateningly over the man's head. "Not on my boat you don't, Ronin! And not with someone as is
rowing, either! Put that damn sticker away or I'll bash in your brains! We're coming to the bloody island
and the bars and I'll be needing help, not fighting. Besides, you fools wouldn't just kill each other. So
damn stupid you'd probably split half the innocent folks aboard. Pick your fights elsewhere, Ronin!"
Grumbling, his eyes narrowed, but afraid of the power of the raised oar, the swordsman complied.
"You young puppy," he addressed Edwyr. "I'll wager you're a fraud! You don't even know how to
use that sword. It's likely some rusty old blade you've strapped on to make yourself look big and get free
rides and food from stupid settlers. I challenge you, faker! I challenge you to fight me when we get to the
other side!"
Edwyr took his eyes off the water ahead long enough to meet the man's glare. He nodded briefly.
"Very well," he answered. "If you insist. On the other side. But please be quiet now. We have to
concentrate or we'll never get to the other side."
"Big log to the right up ahead!" sang out the boy in the bows.
"Damn!" muttered the old man. "Sand bars to the port by the island. We'll have to try and squeeze
through. Head for that area just off the starboard bow. And pull like hell!"
X
The trip to the other shore was difficult and filled with alarms. Robards was glad to have the young
Seeker of the Way of the Sword manning the other oar. He could have managed it all alone, of course.
He usually did. But the current was unusually strong today and he probably would have ended up a good
half-mile south of his regular landing place.
The lad seemed to be a decent sort and the ferryman was a little worried about the outcome of the
duel. At the same time, he knew there was nothing he could or should do about it. As long as they didn't
bother him, he figured it was none of his business.
As they approached the shallows, Edwyr shipped his oar and moved into the bow. As they touched
bottom, he jumped off and grabbed the bow line, pulling the craft firmly aground with a mighty heave. He
offered a steadying hand to each passenger as they left the boat. The swordsman sneered at his
assistance and leaped lightly ashore.
Although he pretended to be busy helping Robards unload and secure the ferry, Edwyr watched the
swordsman closely. As the man looked around, automatically checking the lay of the land and the crowd,
Edwyr noticed his gaze halted slightly in well-concealed surprise as it passed over one figure. Covertly,
the young Brother turned his attention to this individual. There was, he observed, a great deal of similarity
between the swordsman and this man he had obviously recognized. Not so much in their looks or clothes
as in the way they both stood and moved. They've both been trained in the use of the sword, Edwyr
concluded, and by the same master.
So, he thought as he helped the ferryman pull the empty boat higher on the shore, two of them! Yet
the first was surprised to see the second, so they weren't here together. Which meant they haven't
planned some kind of combined attack or ambush. Still, it would be prudent to avoid getting caught
between the two of them. Best to stand so he could keep his eye on both.
The passengers from the boat had immediately whispered to those waiting on shore about the
challenge and Edwyr's acceptance; Now they all stood, expectantly, waiting to see if the duel would
actually take place. As Edwyr turned from securing the ferry, the Swordsman stepped up to confront
him.
"Well, puppy," he snarled, "are you still brave enough to accept my challenge?"
Edwyr looked around at the crowd. No hostility there. Just ordinary faces filled with a mixture of
curiosity, expectation and a touch of fear. He smiled. Several smiled back, tentatively. He turned back to
the older man. "Yes. Certainly. But may I make a suggestion?"
"As long as you don't try to wiggle out of it."
Edwyr nodded. "It seems to me this is the wrong place to hold a fight." He indicated the crowd with
a sweep of his arm. "All these people would be endangered. Some innocent bystander might be
wounded or even killed." He saw the fear leap up in their eyes. His words were having the effect he'd
hoped for and he heard a dim murmur of agreement from several in the group.
"What are you suggesting?" asked the swordsman warily.
"Simply that we hold the duel someplace where we won't hurt anyone by mistake." He pointed out
into river to a sand bar that lay about fifty yards off shore. "I suggest we fight out there. Everyone can see
us from here, so no one will miss the show. And no one is endangered but you and I."
The other man followed his pointing finger. The sand bar was clear of all vegetation except for a few
clumps of harsh grass. The ground looked good and firm, well above the water level. The tiny island was
no more than fifteen yards wide by some thirty or forty long. There would be no place to hide and
nowhere to run.
His eyes flicked back to the young man and then quickly to the man who stood at the back of the
crowd watching him. Curse that damn Mitsuyama! He's sent someone to watch me, he raged silently.
Someone to report on how I handle this. Someone, he thought grimly, to relate what happens in case I
die. Perhaps, he mused, this lad is tougher than I was told.
He decided and nodded. "Fine. I can kill you there as easily as here. Who'll row us out?"
Edwyr bowed his head slightly. "I will. Provided the ferryman will lend us the small boat I saw
beached a little downstream, Robards grumbled forwards, annoyed at being involved, but pleased by the
way the young Seeker was handling things. Better to have them fight out in the river than here. Never
know what damage the two idiots might do. "Aye. I guess I can. But listen, you two fools. I want my
boat back! I fish in it every day. If the lad wins, I know he can row it back. Can you?" he glared at the
swordsman.
The man drew himself up haughtily and glared back coldly. "Don't worry, old man. You'll get your
boat back."
"Aye, to be sure," he grumbled again, "and probably two miles downstream! Provided, of course, the
two of you don't kill each other!"
Still mumbling under his breath, Robards led the two men down the beach to the little boat. It was
built on the same design as the ferryboat, though only big enough for three passengers at most. There was
a platform at the stern and room for one sweep oar. The ferryman pushed the craft into the river and held
it as the swordsman climbed in and moved to the bow seat. He settled himself, his sword arranged for a
quick draw," facing aft. Edwyr stepped onto the rowing platform and shoved off with the long oar.
For a few moments there was silence between them, filled with the gurgle and whisper of the river.
Then the young Brother spoke. "When we get to the island, I'll beach the boat. You jump out and move
to the middle of the island. It's the best place to fight and I can get off the boat without having to fear that
you will try to cut me down while I'm wading ashore." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]