rz.thegunsofavalon-第39部分

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something　in　his　favor；　and　all　I　could　e　up　with　were　the　epitaph…like　words；　He　died　fighting　for　Amber。　That　was　something；　though。　The　phrase　kept　running　through　my　mind。
　His　eyes　tightened；　flickered；　opened。　His　face　remained　without　expression　as　his　eyes　focused　on　mine。　I　wondered　whether　he　even　recognized　me。
　But　he　said　my　name；　and　then；　〃I　knew　that　it　would　be　you。〃　He　paused　for　a　couple　of　breaths　and　went　on；　〃They　saved　you　some　trouble；　didn't　they？〃　I　did　not　reply。　He　already　knew　the　answer。
　〃Your　turn　will　e　one　day；〃　he　continued。　〃Then　we　will　be　peers。〃　He　chuckled　and　realized　too　late　that　he　should　not　have。　He　went　into　an　unpleasant　spasm　of　moist　coughing。　When　it　passed；　he　glared　at　me。
　〃I　could　feel　your　curse；〃　he　said。　〃All　around　me。　The　whole　time。　You　didn't　even　have　to　die　to　make　it　stick。〃
　Then；　as　if　reading　my　thoughts；　he　smiled　faintly　and　said；　〃No　I'm　not　going　to　give　you　my　death　curse。　I've　reserved　that　for　the　enemies　of　Amber　…　out　there。〃　He　gestured　with　his　eyes。　He　pronounced　it　then；　in　a　whisper；　and　I　shuddered　to　overhear　it。
　He　returned　his　gaze　to　my　face　and　stared　for　a　moment。　Then　he　plucked　at　the　chain　about　his　neck。
　〃The　Jewel。。。〃　he　said。　〃You　take　it　with　you　to　the　center　of　the　Pattern。　Hold　it　up。　Very　close　…　to　an　eye。　Stare　into　it　…　and　consider　it　a　place。　Try　to　project　yourself　…　inside。　You　don't　go。　But　there　is　…　experience。。。　Afterward；　you　know　how　to　use　it。。。〃
　〃How　…　？〃　I　began；　but　stopped。　He　had　already　told　me　how　to　attune　to　it。　Why　ask　him　to　waste　his　breath　on　how　he　had　figured　it　out？
　But　he　caught　it　and　managed；　〃Dworkin's　notes。。。　under　fireplace。。。　my　…〃
　Then　he　was　taken　with　another　coughing　spell　and　the　blood　came　out　of　his　nose　and　his　mouth。　He　sucked　in　a　deep　breath　and　heaved　himself　into　a　sitting　position；　eyes　rolling　wildly。
　〃Acquit　yourself　as　well　as　I　have　…　bastard！〃　he　said；　then　fell　into　my　arms　and　heaved　out　his　final；　bloody　breath。
　I　held　him　for　several　moments；　then　lowered　him　into　his　former　position。　His　eyes　were　still　open；　and　I　reached　out　and　closed　them。　Almost　automatically；　I　put　his　hands　together　atop　the　now　lifeless　gem。　I　had　no　stomach　to　take　it　from　him　at　that　moment。　I　stood　then；　removed　my　cloak；　and　covered　him　with　it。
　Turning；　I　saw　that　all　of　them　were　staring　at　me。　Familiar　faces；　many　of　them。　Some　strange　ones　mixed　in。　So　many　who　had　been　there　that　night　when　I　had　e　to　dinner　in　chains。。。
　No。　It　was　not　the　time　to　think　of　that。　I　pushed　it　from　my　mind。　The　shooting　had　stopped；　and　Ganelon　was　calling　the　troops　back　and　ordering　some　sort　of　formation。
　I　walked　forward。
　I　passed　among　the　Amberites。　I　passed　among　the　dead。　I　walked　by　my　own　troops　and　moved　to　the　edge　of　the　cliff。
　In　the　valley　below　me；　the　fighting　continued；　the　cavalry　flowing　like　turbulent　waters；　merging；　eddying；　receding；　the　infantry　still　swarming　like　insects。
　I　drew　forth　the　cards　I　had　taken　from　Benedict。　I　removed　his　own　from　the　deck。　It　shimmered　before　me；　and　after　a　time　there　was　contact。
　He　was　mounted　on　the　same　red　and　black　horse　on　which　he　had　pursued　me。　He　was　in　motion　and　there　was　fighting　all　about　him。　Seeing　that　he　confronted　another　horseman；　I　remained　still。　He　spoke　but　a　single　word。
　〃Bide；〃　he　said。
　He　dispatched　his　opponent　with　two　quick　movements　of　his　blade。　Then　he　wheeled　his　mount　and　began　to　withdraw　from　the　fray。　I　saw　that　his　horse's　reins　had　been　lengthened　and　were　looped　and　tied　loosely　about　the　remainder　of　his　right　arm。　It　took　him　over　ten　minutes　to　remove　himself　to　a　place　of　relative　calm。　When　he　had；　he　regarded　me；　and　I　could　tell　that　he　was　also　studying　the　prospect　that　lay　at　my　back。
　〃Yes；　I　am　on　the　heights；〃　I　told　him。　〃We　have　won。　Eric　died　in　the　battle。〃
　He　continued　to　stare；　waiting　for　me　to　go　on。　His　face　betrayed　no　emotion。
　〃We　won　because　I　brought　riflemen；〃　I　said。　〃I　finally　found　an　explosive　agent　that　functions　here。〃　His　eyes　narrowed　and　he　nodded。　I　felt　that　he　realized　immediately　what　the　stuff　was　and　where　it　had　e　from。
　〃While　there　are　many　things　I　want　to　discuss　with　you；〃　I　continued；　〃I　want　to　take　care　of　the　enemy　first。　If　you　will　hold　the　contact；　I　will　send　you　several　hundred　riflemen。〃　He　smiled。
　〃Hurry；〃　he　said。
　I　shouted　for　Ganelon；　and　he　answered　me　from　only　a　few　paces　away。　I　told　him　to　line　the　troops　up；　single　file。　He　nodded　and　went　off；　shouting　orders。
　As　we　waited；　I　said；　〃Benedict；　Dara　is　here。　She　was　able　to　follow　you　through　Shadow　when　you　rode　in　from　Avalon。　I　want　…〃
　He　bared　his　teeth　and　shouted：　〃Who　the　hell　is　this　Dara　you　keep　talking　about？　I　never　heard　of　her　till　you　came　along！　Please　tell　me！　I　would　really　like　to　know！〃
　I　smiled　faintly。
　〃It's　no　good；〃　I　said；　shaking　my　head。　〃I　know　all　about　her；　though　I　have　told　no　one　else　that　you've　a　great　granddaughter。〃
　His　lips　parted　involuntarily　and　his　eyes　were　suddenly　wide。
　〃Corwin；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　either　mad　or　deceived。　I've　no　such　descendant　that　I　know　of。　As　for　anyone　following　me　here　through　Shadow；　I　came　in　on　Julian's　Trump。〃
　Of　course。　My　only　excuse　for　not　tripping　her　up　immediately　was　my　preoccupation　with　the　conflict　Benedict　would　have　been　notified　of　the　battle　by　means　of　the　Trumps。　Why　should　he　waste　time　traveling　when　an　instant　means　of　transport　was　at　hand？
　〃Damn！〃　I　said。　〃She　is　in　Amber　by　now！　Listen；　Benedict！　I　am　going　to　get　Gerard　or　Caine　over　here　to　handle　the　transfer　of　the　troops　to　you。　Ganelon　will　e　through；　also。　Give　them　their　orders　through　him。〃
　I　looked　around；　saw　Gerard　talking　with　several　of　the　nobles。　I　shouted　for　him　with　a　desperate　urgency。　His　head　turned　quickly。　Then　he　began　running　in　my　direction。
　〃Corwin！　What　is　it？〃　Benedict　was　shouting。
　〃I　don't　know！　But　something　is　very　wrong！〃　I　thrust　the　Trump　at　Gerard　as　he　came　up。
　〃See　that　the　troops　get　through　to　Benedict！〃　I　said。　〃Is　Random　in　the　palace？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Free　or　confined？〃
　〃Free　…　more　or　less。　There　will　be　some　guards　about。　Eric　still　doesn't　…　didn't　trust　him。〃　I　turned。
　〃Ganelon；〃　I　called　out。　〃Do　what　Gerard　here　tells　you。　He　is　going　to　send　you　to　Benedict　…　down　there。〃　I　gestured。　〃See　that　the　men　follow　Benedict's　orders。　I　have　to　get　into　Amber　now。〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　called　back。
　Gerard　headed　in　his　direction；　and　I　fanned　the　Trumps　once　more。　I　located　Random's　and　began　to　concentrate。　At　that　moment；　it　finally　began　to　rain。　I　made　contact　almost　immediately。
　〃Hello；　Random；〃　I　said；　as　soon　as　his　image　came　to　life。　〃Remember　me？〃
　〃Where　are　you？〃　he　asked。
　〃In　the　mountains；〃　I　told　him。　〃We　just　won　this　part　of　the　battle；　and　I　am　sending　Benedict　the　help　he　needs　to　clean　up　in　the　valley。　Now；　though；　I　need　your　help。　Bring　me　across。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Corwin。　Eric　…〃
　〃Eric　is　dead。〃
　〃Then　who　is　in　charge？〃
　〃Who　do　you　think？　Bring　me　across！〃
　He　nodded　quickly　and　extended　his　hand。　I　reached　out　and　clasped　it。　I　stepped　forward。　I　stood　beside　him　on　a　balcony　overlooking　one　of　the　courtyards。　The　railing　was　of　white　marble；　and　not　much　was　blooming　down　below。　We　were　two　stories　up。　I　swayed　and　he　seized　my　arm。　〃You're　hurt！〃　he　said。
　I　shook　my　head；　only　just　then　realizing　how　tired　I　was。　I　had　not　slept　very　much　the　past　few　nights。　That；　and　everything　else。。。
　〃No；〃　I　said；　glancing　down　at　the　gory　mess　that　was　my　shirt　front。　〃Just　tired。　The　blood　is　Eric's。〃
　He　ran　a　hand　through　his　straw…colored　hair　and　pursed　his　lips。
　〃So　you　did　finally　nail　him。。。〃　he　said　softly。　I　shook　my　head　again。
　〃No。　He　was　already　dying　when　I　got　to　him。　e　with　me　now！　Hurry！　It　is　important！〃
　〃Where　to？　What　is　the　matter？〃
　〃To　the　Pattern；〃　I　said。　〃Why？　I　am　not　certain；　but　I　know　that　it　is　important。　e　on！〃
　We　entered　the　palace；　moving　toward　the　nearest　stairwell。　There　were　two　guards　at　its　head；　but　they　came　to　attention　as　we　approached　and　did　not　attempt　to　interfere　with　our　passage。
　〃I'm　glad　it's　true　about　your　eyes；〃　Random　said　as　we　headed　down。　〃Do　you　see　all　right？〃
　〃Yes。　I　hear　that　you　are　still　married。〃
　〃Yes。　I　am。〃
　When　we　reached　the　ground　floor；　we　hurried　to　the　right。　There　had　been　another　pair　of　guards　at　the　foot　of　the　stair；　but　they　did　not　move　to　stop　us。
　〃Yes；〃　he　repeated；　as　we　headed　toward　the　center　of　the　palace。　〃You　are　surprised；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　I　thought　you　were　going　to　get　the　year　over　with　and　be　done　with　it。〃
　〃So　did　I；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　fell　in　love　with　her。　I　really　did。〃
　〃Stranger　things　have　happened。〃
　We　crossed　the　marble　dining　hall　and　entered　the　long；　narrow　corridor　that　led　far　back　through　shadows　and　dust。　I　suppressed　a　shudder　as　I　thought　of　my　condition　the　last　time　I　had　e　this　way。
　〃She　really　cares　for　me；〃　he　said。　〃Like　nobody　else　ever　has　before。〃
　〃I'm　glad　for　you；〃　I　said。
　We　reached　the　door　that　opened　onto　the　platform　hiding　the　long；　spiral　stairway　down。　It　was　open。　We　passed　through