第七十章
绳索吱呀作响，滑轮咯吱作声，帆布在风中猎猎翻飞。海鸥在摩根霍姆花岗岩铺就的码头上空盘旋。雨燕在巍峨船舶的索具间穿梭，水手们在码头上愉快地抽烟咒骂，装卸工正从来自已知世界各地的货船上卸货，这些货物将运往首都的商铺和窝点贩卖。
加里克站在一艘徐兰商船的阴影里，船舷上雕刻着嬉戏的裸体像，船首像则是普拉达普·泰特神像。附近，搬运工正往马车上装载四个大桶和十几个铁箍小桶，动作缓慢且极其谨慎。加里克思忖是否该站远些以防意外，但转念一想觉得无关紧要。若没有这批货物，横竖都是绝路。
卡塔特-阿兹如期交货，但这并不意外。徐兰人以信誉可靠著称，因为他们将声誉视作生死攸关之事。在这个将流言蜚语提升至兵法高度的文化里，人们对某人的评价比任何真相都重要。徐兰商人通过诚实可靠的行为来培育信誉，并据此收取相应费用。若有不满者，大可以去和卡萨尼亚人碰运气。
货物总算到位了。计划又推进一环。但在终结来临前，仍有太多环节需要顺利推进，更有无数可能出错的变数。他挥开这个念头。怀疑是他负担不起的奢侈。既已踏上这条路，无论后果如何都将坚持到底。
海斯之缘的莱恩，我敢发誓。"他肩旁响起一个声音。
笑面威尔汉是个瘦小男子，满脸雀斑的娃娃脸上顶着一头胡萝卜色的橙发。他挂着滑稽可怜又无害的纯真笑容。加里克从未见过外表与内在如此截然相反之人。
现在是加里克，你心知肚明。"加里克说，"莱恩早已死在盐岔。
与我们志同道合者多殁于彼处，"威尔汉答道，"皆因懦弱之辈畏其统治者而不敢反抗。"他低下头："那是次勇敢的尝试。如今敢行此等大胆之举者已寥寥无几。
愿承担代价者亦寥寥无几。"加里克回应道。
“变革的车轮需以鲜血浇灌，”威尔汉姆说道，“你我都明白这个道理。总有人天真地以为能不染血腥就赢得自由—这种想法每每令我讶异。”
加里克哼了一声。两人静立片刻，看着休兰人将木桶装进雇来的货车。若铁手帮前来搜查，他们也绝不会找到通往玛拉家的踪迹。
“据说达肯将军本人将出席婚礼，”威尔汉姆说着露出微笑。他常常面带笑容，即便无事可笑时也是如此。那笑容并非总意味着愉悦。
“我毫不怀疑。”加里克应道。
“正是三十年前从我们土地盗走余烬之剑的那个人，当时不过是个初出茅庐的上尉。如今他要将剑献给王子，真是莫大荣光。”他咧嘴笑着，眼缝里却透着精明，“你去铁锤堡办事时，能不能顺道宰了那杂碎？”这话半是玩笑半是认真。
“谁说这不是我去那儿的本意呢？”
威尔汉姆笑得更开了。“因为我了解你，加里克。杀达肯除了让你痛快外毫无意义。你向来谋虑深远。”
‘那我看该宰了王子。’
‘哈！你若能近得了他身倒好了。’
“我会下毒。”
“你最多毒死他的试毒侍从。不，你盯上的是余烬之剑，别不承认。不过你若真得手了，需要藏剑的地方……”他张开双臂，“没人比我更熟悉这座城。”
“我会记着，”加里克说，“莫根霍姆的斗争进展如何？”
‘相当顺利。我们截获一批运往驻军的武器，现在刀剑盔甲多到用不完。有个克罗丹法官滥用绞刑，最后纯粹为取乐绞杀奥西恩人—我们就用绞刑回报了他。还有那些告密者，总是阴魂不散。’
“告密者。”加里克厌恶地重复道。再没有比为了金钱权势出卖同胞的奥西恩人更卑劣的存在了。
‘Seems our current range of discouragements still aren’t getting through to some,’ said Wilham. ‘Reckon we need to up the ante. Target partners and families, too.’
‘Children?’ Garric said. That sat ill with him. ‘It’s a fine line you tread, Wilham.’
‘People have to learn. Lie with the Krodans and there are consequences. A man will risk his own neck if he thinks he can get away with it. He’ll think twice before risking those he loves.’
Garric said nothing. This was Wilham’s city, Wilham’s choice, and sacrifices had to be made. But he thought the smiling man should take care, if he went that route. Resistance was a dirty business, but it was all for nothing if they became worse than those they resisted.
‘When do we move?’ he said.
‘Tomorrow night. I have a man on the inside at the vintner’s yard who can let us in through the side gate.’
‘Good.’ Wilham was vicious, but he was clever and thorough. Garric had faith that the plan was sound.
‘We’ll collect the cart from Mara’s in the morning, with the fake Amberlyne barrels—’
‘They’re being delivered today.’
‘Perfect. Once we have everything ready, you’ll meet us shortly after seventh bell o’ dark. We’ll get you into the false compartment in the cart, then exchange it for a real one. In and out, quick as that. But you should be prepared. It won’t be comfortable, and you’ll be in there a long time. A night and day, at least.’
He’d planned for that. Water to drink. Towels to stuff into his underclothes for when he wet himself. Herbs to cause constipation. Maybe Vika could give him something for cramp if she woke in time; the corruption round her wound was almost gone.
It would be an undignified, painful ordeal, but when the odds were not in your favour, you had to be ready to do what other men wouldn’t. History would forget the sordid details, as long as he triumphed in the end.
‘I’m ready,’ Garric said. ‘And you’ll be too busy enjoying your stolen Amberlyne to worry about me.’
‘Ha! You think I’d drink them? Their sale will go towards the cause, my friend. I already have a buyer champing at the bit.’
‘你是个有原则且冷静的人，威廉。我一直很钦佩你—’他的眼睛惊恐地睁大。‘小心，你这傻瓜！’
一名徐兰搬运工被码头上的某事分散了注意力，撞到了身后的同伴—那人正捧着最后一个小桶跟上来。抱桶者踉跄了一下，惊慌地睁大眼睛，直到同伴扶住桶身帮他稳住。他退到一旁时，脸上交织着后怕与庆幸。同伴轻轻将木桶装车固定，在扣合尾板时投向对方一个杀气腾腾的眼神。
威廉狡黠地瞥了加里克一眼。‘说说桶里装的是什么？’
‘明晚见，威廉。’加里克说道。
威廉笑了。‘我已经等不及了。’