rz.thegunsofavalon-第1部分

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　I　stood　there　on　the　beach　and　said；　〃Good…by；　Butterfly；〃　and　the　ship　slowly　turned；　then　headed　out　toward　deep　water。　It　would　make　it　back　into　port　at　the　lighthouse　of　Cabra；　I　knew；　for　that　place　lay　near　to　Shadow。
　Turning　away；　I　regarded　the　black　line　of　trees　near　at　hand；　knowing　that　a　long　walk　lay　ahead　of　me。　I　moved　in　that　direction；　making　the　necessary　adjustments　as　I　advanced。　A　pre…dawn　chill　lay　upon　the　silent　forest；　and　this　was　good。
　I　was　perhaps　fifty　pounds　underweight　and　still　occasionally　experienced　double　vision；　but　I　was　improving。　I　had　escaped　the　dungeons　of　Amber　and　recuperated　somewhat；　with　the　assistance　of　mad　Dworkin　and　drunken　Jopin；　in　that　order。　Now　I　had　to　find　me　a　place；　a　place　resembling　another　place　…　one　which　no　longer　existed。　I　located　the　path。　I　took　it。
　After　a　time；　I　stopped　at　a　hollow　tree　that　had　to　be　there。　I　reached　inside　and　drew　forth　my　silvered　blade　and　strapped　it　to　my　waist。　It　mattered　not　that　it　had　been　somewhere　in　Amber。　It　was　here　now；　for　the　wood　that　I　walked　was　in　Shadow。
　I　continued　for　several　hours；　the　unseen　sun　somewhere　behind　my　left　shoulder。　Then　I　rested　awhile；　then　moved　on。　It　was　good　to　see　the　leaves　and　the　rocks　and　the　dead　tree　trunks；　the　live　ones；　the　grass；　the　dark　earth。　It　was　good　to　smell　all　the　little　smells　of　life；　and　to　hear　its　buzzing/humming/chirping　sounds。　Gods！　How　I　treasured　my　eyes！　Having　them　back　again　after　nearly　four　years　of　blackness　was　a　thing　for　which　I　lacked　words。　And　to　be　walking　free。。。
　I　went　on；　my　tattered　cloak　flapping　in　the　morning　breeze。　I　must　have　looked　over　fifty　years　old；　my　face　creased；　my　form　sparse；　lean。　Who　would　have　known　me　for　what　I　was？
　As　I　walked；　walked　in　Shadow；　moved　toward　a　place；　I　did　not　reach　that　place。　It　must　be　that　I　had　grown　somewhat　soft。　Here　is　what　happened　…
　I　came　upon　seven　men　by　the　side　of　the　road；　and　six　of　them　were　dead；　lying　in　various　stages　of　red　dismemberment。　The　seventh　was　in　a　semi…reclined　position；　his　back　against　the　mossy　bole　of　an　ancient　oak。　He　held　his　blade　across　his　lap　and　there　was　a　large　wet　wound　in　his　right　side；　from　which　the　blood　still　flowed。　He　wore　no　armor；　though　some　of　the　others　did。　His　gray　eyes　were　open；　though　glassy。　His　knuckles　were　skinned　and　his　breathing　was　slow。　From　beneath　shaggy　brows；　he　watched　the　crows　eat　out　the　eyes　of　the　dead。　He　did　not　seem　to　see　me。
　I　raised　my　cowl　and　lowered　my　head　to　hide　my　face。　I　moved　nearer。
　I　knew　him；　or　someone　very　like　him；　once。　His　blade　twitched　and　the　point　rose　as　I　advanced。
　〃I'm　a　friend；〃　I　said。　〃Would　you　like　a　drink　of　water？〃　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then　nodded。
　〃Yes。〃　I　opened　my　canteen　and　passed　it　to　him。　He　drank　and　coughed；　drank　some　more。
　〃Sir；　I　thank　you；〃　he　said　as　he　passed　it　back。　〃I　only　regret　it　were　not　stronger。　Damn　this　cut！〃
　〃I've　some　of　that；　too。　If　you're　sure　you　can　handle　it。〃
　He　held　out　his　hand　and　I　unstoppered　a　small　flask　and　gave　it　to　him。　He　must　have　coughed　for　twenty　seconds　after　a　slug　of　that　stuff　Jopin　drinks。
　Then　the　left　side　of　his　mouth　smiled　and　he　winked　lightly。
　〃Much　better；〃　he　said。　〃Mind　if　I　pour　a　drop　of　this　onto　my　side？　I　hate　to　waste　good　whisky；　but　…〃
　〃Use　it　all；　if　you　have　to。　On　second　thought；　though；　your　hand　looks　shaky。　Maybe　I'd　better　do　the　pouring。〃
　He　nodded；　and　I　opened　his　leather　jacket　and　with　my　dagger　cut　away　at　his　shirt　until　I　had　exposed　the　wound。　It　was　nasty…looking；　deep；　running　from　front　to　back　a　couple　inches　above　the　top　of　his　hip。　He　had　other；　less　serious　gashes　on　his　arms；　chest；　and　shoulders。
　The　blood　kept　oozing　from　the　big　one；　and　I　blotted　it　a　bit　and　wiped　it　clean　with　my　kerchief。
　〃Okay；〃　I　said；　〃clench　your　teeth　and　look　away；〃　and　I　poured。
　His　entire　body　jerked；　one　great　spasm；　and　then　he　settled　down　to　shivering。　But　he　did　not　cry　out。　I　had　not　thought　he　would。　I　folded　the　kerchief　and　pressed　it　in　place　on　the　wound。　I　tied　it　there；　with　a　long　strip　I　had　torn　from　the　bottom　of　my　cloak。　〃Want　another　drink？〃　I　asked　him。
　〃Of　water；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I　fear　I　must　sleep。〃　He　drank；　then　his　head　leaned　forward　until　his　chin　was　resting　upon　his　breast。　He　slept；　and　I　made　him　a　pillow　and　covered　him　over　with　dead　men's　cloaks。
　Then　I　sat　there　at　his　side　and　watched　the　pretty　black　birds。
　
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　He　had　not　recognized　me。　But　then；　who　would？　Had　I　revealed　myself　to　him；　he　might　possibly　have　known　me。　We　had　never　really　met；　I　guess；　this　wounded　man　and　I。　But　in　a　peculiar　sense；　we　were　acquainted。
　I　was　walking　in　Shadow；　seeking　a　place；　a　very　special　place。　It　had　been　destroyed　once；　but　I　had　the　power　to　re…create　it；　for　Amber　casts　an　infinity　of　shadows。　A　child　of　Amber　may　walk　among　them；　and　such　was　my　heritage。　You　may　call　them　parallel　worlds　if　you　wish；　alternate　universes　if　you　would；　the　products　of　a　deranged　mind　if　you　care　to。　I　call　them　shadows；　as　do　all　who　possess　the　power　to　walk　among　them。　We　select　a　possibility　and　we　walk　until　we　reach　it。　So；　in　a　sense；　we　create　it。　Let's　leave　it　at　that　for　now。
　I　had　sailed；　had　begun　this　walk　toward　Avalon。
　Centuries　before；　I　had　lived　there。　It　is　a　long；　plicated；　proud　and　painful　story；　and　I　may　go　into　it　later　on；　if　I　live　to　finish　much　more　of　this　telling。
　I　was　drawing　nearer　to　my　Avalon　when　I　came　upon　the　wounded　knight　and　the　six　dead　men。　Had　I　chosen　to　walk　on　by；　I　could　have　reached　a　place　where　the　six　men　lay　dead　and　the　knight　stood　unwounded　…　or　a　place　where　he　lay　dead　and　they　stood　laughing。　Some　would　say　it　did　not　really　matter；　since　all　these　things　are　possibilities；　and　therefore　all　of　them　exist　somewhere　in　Shadow。
　Any　of　my　brothers　and　sisters　…　with　the　possible　exceptions　of　Gerard　and　Benedict　…　would　not　even　have　given　a　second　glance。　I　have　bee　somewhat　chickenhearted；　however。　I　was　not　always　that　way；　but　perhaps　the　shadow　Earth；　where　I　spent　so　many　years；　mellowed　me　a　bit；　and　maybe　my　hitch　in　the　dungeons　of　Amber　reminded　me　somewhat　of　the　quality　of　human　suffering。　I　do　not　know。　I　only　know　that　I　could　not　pass　by　the　hurt　I　saw　on　the　form　of　someone　much　like　someone　who　had　once　been　a　friend。　If　I　were　to　speak　my　name　in　this　man's　ear；　I　might　hear　myself　reviled；　I　would　certainly　hear　a　tale　of　woe。
　So；　all　right。　I　would　pay　this　much　of　the　price：　I　would　get　him　back　on　his　feet；　then　I　would　cut　out。　No　harm　done；　and　perhaps　some　small　good　within　this　Other。
　I　sat　there；　watching　him；　and　after　several　hours；　he　awakened。
　〃Hello；〃　I　said；　unstoppering　my　canteen。　〃Have　another　drink？〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　He　extended　a　hand。
　I　watched　him　drink；　and　when　he　handed　it　back　he　said；　〃Excuse　me　for　not　introducing　myself。　I　was　not　in　good　manner。。。〃
　〃I　know　you；〃　I　said。　〃Call　me　Corey。〃
　He　looked　as　if　he　were　about　to　say；　〃Corey　of　What？〃　but　thought　better　of　it　and　nodded。
　〃Very　well。　Sir　Corey；〃　he　demoted　me。　〃I　wish　to　thank　you。〃
　〃I　am　thanked　by　the　fact　that　you　are　looking　better；〃　I　told　him。　〃Want　something　to　eat？〃
　〃Yes；　please。〃
　〃I　have　some　dried　meat　here　and　some　bread　that　could　be　fresher；〃　I　said。　〃Also　a　big　hunk　of　cheese。　Eat　all　you　want。〃　I　passed　it　to　him　and　he　did。
　〃What　of　yourself；　Sir　Corey？〃　he　inquired。
　〃I've　already　eaten；　while　you　were　asleep。〃　I　looked　about　me；　significantly。　He　smiled。
　〃。。。　And　you　knocked　off　all　six　of　them　by　yourself？〃　I　said。　He　nodded。
　〃Good　show。　What　am　I　going　to　do　with　you　now？〃
　He　tried　to　see　my　face；　failed。　〃I　do　not　understand；〃　he　said。
　〃Where　are　you　headed？〃
　〃I　have　friends；〃　he　said；　〃some　five　leagues　to　the　north。　I　was　going　in　that　direction　when　this　thing　happened。　And　I　doubt　very　much　that　any　man；　or　the　Devil　himself；　could　bear　me　on　his　back　for　one　league。　And　I　could　stand。　Sir　Corey；　you'd　a　better　idea　as　to　my　size。〃
　I　rose；　drew　my　blade；　and　felled　a　sapling　…　about　two　inches　in　diameter　…　with　one　cut。　Then　I　stripped　it　and　hacked　it　to　the　proper　length。
　I　did　it　again；　and　with　the　belts　and　cloaks　of　dead　men　I　rigged　a　stretcher。
　He　watched　until　I　was　finished；　then　mented：
　〃You　swing　a　deadly　blade。　Sir　Corey　…　and　a　silver　one；　it　would　seem。。。〃
　〃Are　you　up　to　some　traveling？〃　I　asked　him。
　Five　leagues　is　roughly　fifteen　miles。
　〃What　of　the　dead？〃　he　inquired。
　〃You　want　to　maybe　give　them　a　decent　Christian　burial？〃　I　said。　〃Screw　them！　Nature　takes　care　of　its　own。　Let's　get　out　of　here。　They　stink　already。〃
　〃I'd　like　at　least　to　see　them　covered　over。　They　fought　well。〃
　I　sighed。
　〃All　right；　if　it　will　help　you　to　sleep　nights。　I　haven't　a　spade；　so　I'll　build　them　a　cairn。　It's　going　to　be　a　mon　burial；　though。〃
　〃Good　enough；〃　he　said。
　I　laid　the　six　bodies　out；　side　by　side。　I　heard　him　mumbling　something；　which　I　guessed　to　be　a　prayer　for　the　dead。
　I　ringed　them　around　with　stones。　There　were　plenty　of　stones　in　the　vicinity；　so　I　worked　quickly；　choosing　the　largest　so　that　things　would　go　faster。　That　is　where　I　made　a　mistake。　One　of　them　must　have　weighed　around　four　hundred　pounds；　and　I　did　not　roll　it。　I　hefted　it　and　set　it　in　place。
　I　heard　a　sharp　intake　of　breath　from　his　direction；　and　I　realized　that　he　had　noted　this。　I　cursed　then：
　〃Damn　near　ruptured　myself　on　that　one！〃　I　said；　and　I　selected　smaller　stones　after　that。
　When　I　had　finished；　I　said；　〃All　right。　Are　you　ready　to　move？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　I　raised　him　in　my　arms　and　set　him　on　the　stretcher。　He　clenched　his　teeth　as　I　did　so。
　〃Where　do　we　go？〃　I　asked。
　He　gestured。
　〃Head　back　to　the　trail。　Follow　it　to　the　left　until　it　forks。　Then　go　right　at　that　place。　How　do　you　propose　to。。。？〃
　I　scooped　the　stretcher　up　in　my　arms；　holding　him　as　you　would　a　baby；　cradle　and　all。　Then　I　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　trail；　carrying　him。
　〃Corey？〃　he　said。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃You　are　one　of　the　strongest　men　I　have　ever　met　…　and　it　seems　I　should　know　you。〃
　I　did　not　answer　him　immediately。　Then　I　said；　〃I　try