rz.thegunsofavalon-第18部分

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　But　he　remained　alone。
　He　sat　there　unmoving　for　perhaps　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　and　when　he　finally　stirred　it　was　only　to　replace　the　cards　somewhere　in　his　chest　and　to　extinguish　the　lamps。
　The　guard　continued　on　his　monotonous　rounds　and　Ganelon　began　to　snore。
　I　emptied　my　pipe　and　rolled　over　onto　my　side。
　Tomorrow；　I　told　myself。　If　I　wake　up　here　tomorrow；　everything　will　be　all　right。。。
　
　
　Chapter　5
　
　I　sucked　on　a　blade　of　grass　and　watched　the　mill　wheel　turn。　I　was　lying　on　my　stomach　on　the　stream's　opposite　bank；　my　head　propped　in　my　hands。　There　was　a　tiny　rainbow　in　the　mist　above　the　froth　and　boil　at　the　foot　of　the　waterfall；　and　an　occasional　droplet　found　its　way　to　me。　The　steady　splashing　and　the　sound　of　the　wheel　drowned　out　all　other　noises　in　the　wood。　The　mill　was　deserted　today；　and　I　contemplated　it　because　I　had　not　seen　its　like　in　ages。　Watching　the　wheel　and　listening　to　the　water　were　more　than　just　relaxing。　It　was　somewhat　hypnotic。
　It　was　our　third　day　at　Benedict's　place；　and　Ganelon　was　off　in　town　seeking　amusement。　I　had　acpanied　him　on　the　previous　day　and　learned　what　I　wanted　to　know　at　that　time。　Now　I　had　no　time　for　sight…seeing。　I　had　to　think　and　act　quickly。　There　had　been　no　difficulty　at　the　camp。　Benedict　had　seen　us　fed　and　had　furnished　us　with　the　map　and　the　letter　he　had　promised。　We　had　departed　at　sunrise　and　arrived　at　the　manor　around　midday。　We　were　well　received；　and　after　settling　into　the　quarters　we　were　shown；　we　had　made　our　way　into　town；　where　we　had　spent　the　balance　of　the　day。
　Benedict　was　planning　to　remain　in　the　field　for　several　more　days。　I　would　have　to　be　done　with　the　task　I　had　set　myself　before　he　came　home。　So　a　hellride　was　in　order。　There　was　no　time　for　leisurely　journeying；　I　had　to　remember　the　proper　shadows　and　be　under　way　soon。
　It　would　have　been　refreshing；　being　in　this　place　that　was　so　like　my　Avalon；　except　that　my　thwarted　purposes　were　reaching　the　point　of　obsession。　Realizing　this　was　not　tantamount　to　controlling　it；　however。　Familiar　sights　and　sounds　had　diverted　me　only　briefly；　then　I　had　turned　once　more　to　my　planning。
　It　should　work　out　neatly；　as　I　saw　it。　This　one　journey　should　solve　two　of　my　problems；　if　I　could　manage　it　without　arousing　suspicion。　It　meant　that　I　would　definitely　be　gone　overnight；　but　I　had　anticipated　this　and　had　already　instructed　Ganelon　to　cover　for　me。
　My　head　nodding　with　each　creak　of　the　wheel；　I　forced　everything　else　from　my　mind　and　set　about　remembering　the　necessary　texture　of　the　sand；　its　coloration；　the　temperature；　the　winds；　the　touch　of　salt　in　the　air；　the　clouds。。。
　I　slept　then　and　I　dreamed；　but　not　of　the　place　that　I　sought。
　I　regarded　a　big　roulette　wheel；　and　we　were　all　of　us　on　it　…　my　brothers；　my　sisters；　myself；　and　others　whom　I　knew　or　had　known　…　rising　and　falling；　each　with　his　allotted　section。　We　were　all　shouting　for　it　to　stop　for　us　and　wailing　as　we　passed　the　top　and　headed　down　once　more。　The　wheel　had　begun　to　slow　and　I　was　on　the　rise。　A　fair…haired　youth　hung　upside　down　before　me；　shouting　pleas　and　warnings　that　were　drowned　in　the　cacophony　of　voices。　His　face　darkened；　writhed；　became　a　horrible　thing　to　behold；　and　I　slashed　at　the　cord　that　bound　his　ankle　and　he　fell　from　sight。　The　wheel　slowed　even　more　as　I　neared　the　top；　and　I　saw　Lorraine　then。　She　was　gesturing；　beckoning　frantically；　and　calling　my　name。　I　leaned　toward　her；　seeing　her　clearly；　wanting　her；　wanting　to　help　her。　But　as　the　wheel　continued　its　turning　she　passed　from　my　sight。
　〃Corwin！〃
　I　tried　to　ignore　her　cry；　for　I　was　almost　to　the　top。　It　came　again；　but　I　tensed　myself　and　prepared　to　spring　upward。　If　it　did　not　stop　for　me；　I　was　going　to　try　gimmicking　the　damned　thing；　even　though　falling　off　would　mean　my　total　ruin。　I　readied　myself　for　the　leap。　Another　click。。。
　〃Corwin！〃
　It　receded；　returned；　faded；　and　I　was　looking　toward　the　water　wheel　again　with　my　name　echoing　in　my　ears　and　mingling；　merging；　fading　into　the　sound　of　the　stream。
　I　blinked　my　eyes　and　ran　my　fingers　through　my　hair。　A　number　of　dandelions　fell　about　my　shoulders　as　I　did　so；　and　I　heard　a　giggle　from　somewhere　behind　me。
　I　turned　quickly　and　stared。
　She　stood　about　a　dozen　paces　from　me；　a　tail；　slender　girl　with　dark　eyes　and　close…cropped　brown　hair。　She　wore　a　fencing　jacket　and　held　a　rapier　in　her　right　hand；　a　mask　in　her　left。　She　was　looking　at　me　and　laughing。　Her　teeth　were　white；　even　and　a　trifle　long；　a　band　of　freckles　crossed　her　small　nose　and　the　upper　portions　of　her　well…tanned　cheeks。　There　was　that　air　of　vitality　about　her　which　is　attractive　in　ways　different　from　mere　eliness。　Especially；　perhaps；　when　viewed　from　the　vantage　of　many　years。　She　saluted　me　with　her　blade。
　〃En　garde；　Corwin！〃　she　said。
　〃Who　the　Devil　are　you？〃　I　asked；　just　then　noticing　a　jacket；　mask；　and　rapier　beside　me　in　the　grass。
　〃No　questions；　no　answers；〃　she　said。　〃Not　till　we've　fenced。〃
　She　fitted　her　mask　over　her　head　then　and　waited。
　I　rose　and　picked　up　the　jacket。　I　could　see　that　it　would　be　easier　to　fence　than　argue　with　her。　The　fact　that　she　knew　my　name　disturbed　me；　and　the　more　that　I　thought　of　it　the　more　she　seemed　somehow　familiar。　It　was　best　to　humor　her；　I　decided；　shrugging　into　the　jacket　and　buckling　it。　I　picked　up　the　blade；　pulled　on　the　mask。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said；　sketching　a　brief　salute　and　advancing。　〃All　right。〃
　She　moved　forward　then　and　we　met。　I　let　her　carry　the　attack。
　She　came　on　very　fast　with　a　beat…feint…feint…thrust。　My　riposte　was　twice　as　fast；　but　she　was　able　to　parry　it　and　e　back　with　equal　speed。　I　began　a　slow　retreat　then；　drawing　her　out。　She　laughed　and　came　on；　pressing　me　hard。　She　was　good　and　she　knew　it。　She　wanted　to　show　off。　She　almost　got　through　twice；　too；　in　the　same　way　…　low…line　…　which　I　did　not　like　at　all。　I　caught　her　with　a　stop…thrust　as　soon　as　I　could　after　that。　She　cursed　softly；　good…naturedly；　as　she　acknowledged　it　and　came　right　back　at　me。　I　do　not　ordinarily　like　to　fence　with　women；　no　matter　how　good　they　are；　but　this　time　I　discovered　that　I　was　enjoying　myself。　The　skill　and　grace　with　which　she　carried　the　attacks　and　bore　them　gave　me　pleasure　to　behold　and　respond　to；　and　I　found　myself　contemplating　the　mind　that　lay　behind　that　style。　At　first；　I　had　wanted　to　tire　her　quickly；　to　conclude　the　match　and　question　her。　Now　I　found　myself　desiring　to　prolong　the　encounter。
　She　did　not　tire　readily。　There　was　small　cause　for　concern　on　that　count。　I　lost　track　of　time　as　we　stamped　back　and　forth　along　the　bank　of　the　stream；　our　blades　clicking　steadily。
　A　long　while　must　have　passed；　though；　before　she　stamped　her　heel　and　threw　up　her　blade　in　a　final　salute。　She　tore　off　her　mask　then　and　gave　me　another　smile。
　〃Thank　you！〃　she　said；　breathing　heavily。
　I　returned　the　salute　and　drew　off　the　bird　cage。　I　turned　and　fumbled　with　the　jacket　buckles；　and　before　I　realized　it　she　had　approached　and　kissed　me　on　the　cheek。　She　had　not　had　to　stand　tiptoe　to　do　it　either。　I　felt　momentarily　confused；　but　I　smiled。　Before　I　could　say　anything；　she　had　taken　my　arm　and　turned　me　back　in　the　direction　from　which　we　had　e。
　〃I've　brought　us　a　picnic　basket；〃　she　said。
　〃Very　good。　I　am　hungry。　I　am　also　curious。。。〃
　〃I　will　tell　you　anything　that　you　want　to　hear；〃　she　said　merrily。
　〃How　about　telling　me　your　name？〃　I　said。
　〃Dara；〃　she　replied。　〃My　name　is　Dara；　after　my　grandmother。〃
　She　glanced　at　me　as　she　said　it；　as　though　hoping　for　a　reaction。　I　almost　hated　to　disappoint　her；　but　I　nodded　and　repeated　it；　then；　〃Why　did　you　call　me　Corwin？〃　I　asked。
　〃Because　that　is　your　name；〃　she　said。　〃I　recognized　you。〃
　〃From　where？〃　She　released　my　arm。
　〃Here　it　is；〃　she　said；　reaching　behind　a　tree　and　raising　a　basket　that　had　been　resting　upon　the　ridges　of　exposed　roots。
　〃I　hope　the　ants　didn't　get　to　it；〃　she　said；　moving　to　a　shaded　area　beside　the　stream　and　spreading　a　cloth　upon　the　ground。
　I　hung　the　fencing　gear　on　a　nearby　shrub。
　〃You　seem　to　carry　quite　a　few　things　around　with　you；〃　I　observed。
　〃My　horse　is　back　that　way；〃　she　said；　gesturing　downstream　with　her　head。
　She　returned　her　attention　to　weighing　down　the　cloth　and　unpacking　the　basket。
　〃Why　way　back　there？〃　I　asked。
　〃So　that　I　could　sneak　up　on　you；　of　course。　If　you'd　heard　a　horse　clomping　around　you'd　have　been　awake　sure　as　hell。〃
　〃You're　probably　right；〃　I　said。
　She　paused　as　though　pondering　deeply；　then　spoiled　it　with　a　giggle。
　〃But　you　didn't　the　first　time；　though。　Still。。。〃
　〃The　first　time？〃　I　said；　seeing　she　wanted　me　to　ask　it。
　〃Yes；　I　almost　rode　over　you　awhile　back；〃　she　said。　〃You　were　sound　asleep。　When　I　saw　who　it　was；　I　went　back　for　a　picnic　basket　and　the　fencing　gear。〃
　〃Oh。　I　see。〃
　〃e　and　sit　down　now；〃　she　said。　〃And　open　the　bottle；　will　you？〃
　She　put　a　bottle　beside　my　place　and　carefully　unwrapped　two　crystal　goblets；　which　she　then　set　in　the　center　of　the　cloth。
　I　moved　to　my　place　and　sat　down。
　〃That　is　Benedict's　best　crystal；〃　I