rz.thegunsofavalon-第11部分

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alon　…　quickly。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃He　was　a　foot　soldier　in　a　battle　that　took　place　there　two　nights　ago。　He　turned　coward　during　the　fighting　and　deserted。〃
　The　youth　began　to　mouth　a　denial　and　Ganelon　kicked　him。
　〃Silence！〃　he　said。　〃I'm　telling　it　now　…　as　you　told　me！〃
　The　boy　moved　sideways　like　a　crab　and　looked　at　me　with　wide；　pleading　eyes。
　〃Battle？　Who　was　fighting？〃　I　asked。
　Ganelon　smiled　grimly。
　〃It　sounds　somewhat　familiar；〃　he　said。　〃The　forces　of　Avalon　were　engaged　in　what　seems　to　have　been　the　largest　…　and　perhaps　final　…　of　a　long　series　of　confrontations　with　beings　not　quite　natural。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　I　studied　the　boy　and　his　eyes　dropped；　but　I　saw　the　fear　that　was　there　before　they　fell。
　〃。。。　Women；〃　Ganelon　said。　〃Pale　furies　out　of　some　hell；　lovely　and　cold。　Armed　and　armored。　Long；　light　hair。　Eyes　like　ice。　Mounted　on　white；　fire…breathing　steeds　that　fed　on　human　flesh；　they　came　forth　by　night　from　a　warren　of　caves　in　the　mountains　an　earthquake　opened　several　years　ago。　They　raided；　taking　young　men　back　with　them　as　captives；　killing　all　others。　Many　appeared　later　as　a　soulless　infantry；　following　their　van。　This　sounds　very　like　the　men　of　the　Circle　we　knew。〃
　〃But　many　of　those　lived　when　they　were　freed；〃　I　said。　〃They　did　not　seem　soulless　then；　only　somewhat　as　I　once　did　…　amnesiac。　It　seems　strange；〃　I　went　on；　〃that　they　did　not　block　off　these　caves　during　the　day；　since　the　riders　only　came　forth　by　night。。。〃
　〃The　deserter　tells　me　this　was　tried；〃　said　Ganelon；　〃and　they　always　burst　forth　after　a　time；　stronger　than　before。〃
　The　boy　was　ashen；　but　he　nodded　when　I　looked　toward　him　inquiringly。
　〃Their　General；　whom　he　calls　the　Protector；　routed　them　many　times；〃　Ganelon　continued。　〃He　even　spent　part　of　a　night　with　their　leader；　a　pale　bitch　named　Lintra　…　whether　in　dalliance　or　parlay；　I'm　not　certain。　But　nothing　came　of　this。　The　raids　continued　and　her　forces　grew　stronger。　The　Protector　finally　decided　to　mass　an　all…out　attack；　in　hopes　of　destroying　them　utterly。　It　was　during　that　battle　that　this　one　fled；〃　he　said；　indicating　the　youth　with　a　gesture　of　his　blade；　〃which　is　why　we　do　not　know　the　ending　to　the　story。〃
　〃Is　that　the　way　it　was？〃　I　asked　him。
　The　boy　looked　away　from　the　weapon's　point；　met　my　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　nodded　slowly。
　〃Interesting；〃　I　said　to　Ganelon。　〃Very。　I've　a　feeling　their　problem　is　linked　to　the　one　we　just　solved。　I　wish　I　knew　how　their　fight　turned　out。〃　Ganelon　nodded；　shifted　his　grip　on　his　weapon。
　〃Well；　if　we're　finished　with　him　now。。。〃　he　said。
　〃Hold。　I　presume　he　was　trying　to　steal　something　to　eat？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Free　his　hands。　Well　feed　him。〃
　〃But　he　tried　to　steal　from　us。〃
　〃Did　you　not　say　that　you　had　once　killed　a　man　for　a　pair　of　shoes？〃
　〃Yes；　but　that　was　different。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　〃I　got　away　with　it。〃
　I　laughed。　It　broke　me　up　pletely；　and　I　could　not　stop　laughing。　He　looked　irritated；　then　puzzled。　Then　he　began　laughing　himself。
　The　youth　regarded　us　as　if　we　were　a　pair　of　maniacs。
　〃All　right；〃　said　Ganelon　finally；　〃all　right；〃　and　he　stooped；　turned　the　boy　with　a　single　push；　and　severed　the　cord　that　bound　his　wrists。
　〃e；　lad；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　fetch　you　something　to　eat；〃　and　he　moved　to　our　gear　and　opened　several　food　parcels。
　The　boy　rose　and　limped　slowly　after　him。　He　seized　the　food　that　was　offered　and　began　eating　quickly　and　noisily；　not　taking　his　eyes　off　Ganelon。　His　information；　if　true；　presented　me　with　several　plications；　the　foremost　being　that　it　would　probably　be　more　difficult　to　obtain　what　I　wanted　in　a　war…ravaged　land。　It　also　lent　weight　to　my　fears　as　to　the　nature　and　extent　of　the　disruption　pattern。
　I　helped　Ganelon　build　a　small　fire。
　〃How　does　this　affect　our　plans？〃　he　asked。
　I　saw　no　real　choice。　All　of　the　shadows　near　to　what　I　desired　would　be　similarly　involved。　I　could　lay　my　course　for　one　which　did　not　possess　such　involvement；　but　in　reaching　it　I　would　have　achieved　the　wrong　place。　That　which　I　desired　would　not　be　available　there。　If　the　forays　of　chaos　kept　occurring　on　my　desire…walk　through　Shadow；　then　they　were　bound　up　with　the　nature　of　the　desire　and　would　have　to　be　dealt　with；　one　way　or　another；　sooner　or　later。　They　could　not　be　avoided。　Such　was　the　nature　of　the　game；　and　I　could　not　plain　because　I　had　laid　down　the　rules。
　〃We　go　on；〃　I　said。　〃It　is　the　place　of　my　desire。〃
　The　youth　let　out　a　brief　cry；　and　then　…　perhaps　from　some　feeling　of　indebtedness　for　my　having　prevented　Ganelon　from　poking　holes　in　him　…　warned；　〃Do　not　go　to　Avalon；　sir！　There　is　nothing　there　that　you　could　desire！　You　will　be　slain！〃
　I　smiled　to　him　and　thanked　him。　Ganelon　chuckled　then　and　said；　〃Let　us　take　him　back　with　us　to　stand　a　deserter's　trial。〃
　At　this；　the　youth　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　began　running。
　Still　laughing；　Ganelon　drew　his　dagger　and　cocked　his　arm　to　throw　it。　I　struck　his　arm　and　his　cast　went　wide　of　its　mark。　The　youth　vanished　within　the　wood　and　Ganelon　continued　to　laugh。
　He　retrieved　the　dagger　from　where　it　had　fallen　and　said；　〃You　should　have　let　me　kill　him；　you　know。〃
　〃I　decided　against　it。〃　He　shrugged。
　〃If　he　returns　and　cuts　our　throats　tonight　you　may　find　yourself　feeling　somewhat　different。〃
　〃I　should　imagine。　But　he　will　not；　you　know　that。〃
　He　shrugged　again；　skewering　a　piece　of　meat　and　warming　it　over　the　flames。
　〃Well；　war　has　taught　him　to　show　a　good　pair　of　heels；〃　he　acknowledged。　〃Perhaps　we　will　awaken　in　the　morning。〃
　He　took　a　bite　and　began　to　chew。　It　seemed　like　a　good　idea　and　I　fetched　some　for　myself。
　Much　later；　I　was　awakened　from　a　troubled　sleep　to　stare　at　stars　through　a　screen　of　leaves。　Some　omen　making　portion　of　my　mind　had　seized　upon　the　youth　and　used　us　both　badly。　It　was　a　long　while　before　I　could　get　back　to　sleep。
　
　***
　
　In　the　morning　we　kicked　dirt　over　the　ashes　and　rode　on。　We　made　it　into　the　mountains　that　afternoon　and　passed　through　them　the　following　day。　There　were　occasional　signs　of　recent　passage　on　the　trail　we　followed；　but　we　encountered　no　one。
　The　following　day　we　passed　several　farmhouses　and　cottages；　not　pausing　at　any　of　them。　I　had　opted　against　the　wild；　demonic　route　I　had　followed　when　I　had　exiled　Ganelon。　While　quite　brief；　I　knew　that　he　would　have　found　it　massively　disconcerting。　I　had　wanted　this　time　to　think；　so　much　a　journeying　was　not　called　for。　Now；　however；　the　long　route　was　nearing　its　end。　We　achieved　Amber's　sky　that　afternoon；　and　I　admired　it　in　silence。　It　might　almost　be　the　Forest　of　Arden　through　which　we　rode。　There　were　no　horn　notes；　however；　no　Julian；　no　Morgenstern；　no　stormhounds　to　harry　us；　as　there　had　been　in　Arden　when　last　I　passed　that　way。　There　were　only　the　bird　notes　in　the　great…boled　trees；　the　plaint　of　a　squirrel；　the　bark　of　a　fox；　the　plash　of　a　waterfall；　the　whites　and　blues　and　pinks　of　flowers　in　the　shade。
　The　breezes　of　the　afternoon　were　gentle　and　cool；　they　lulled　me　so　that　I　was　unprepared　for　the　row　of　fresh　graves　beside　the　trail　that　came　into　sight　when　we　rounded　a　bend。　Near　by；　there　was　a　torn　and　trampled　glen。　We　tarried　there　briefly　but　learned　nothing　more　than　had　been　immediately　apparent。
　We　passed　another　such　place　farther　along；　and　several　fire…charred　groves。　The　trail　was　well　worn　by　then　and　the　side　brush　trampled　and　broken；　as　by　the　passage　of　many　men　and　beasts。　The　smell　of　ashes　was　occasionally　upon　the　air；　and　we　hurried　past　the　partly　eaten　carcass　of　a　horse　now　well　ripened　where　it　lay。
　The　sky　of　Amber　no　longer　heartened　me；　though　the　way　was　clear　for　a　long　while　after　that。
　The　day　was　running　to　evening　and　the　forest　had　thinned　considerably　when　Ganelon　noted　the　smoke　trails　to　the　southeast。　We　took　the　first　side　path　that　seemed　to　lead　in　that　direction；　although　it　was　tangent　to　Avalon　proper。　It　was　difficult　to　estimate　the　distance；　but　we　could　tell　that　we　would　not　reach　the　place　until　after　nightfall。
　〃Their　army　…　still　encamped？〃　Ganelon　wondered。
　〃Or　that　of　their　conqueror。〃
　He　shook　his　bead　and　loosened　his　blade　in　its　scabbard。
　Toward　twilight；　I　left　the　trail　to　follow　a　sound　of　running　water　to　its　source。　It　was　a　clear；　clean　stream　that　had　made　its　way　down　from　the　mountains　and　still　bore　something　of　their　chill　within　it。　I　bathed　there；　trimming　my　new　bearding　and　cleaning　the　dust　of　travel　from　my　garments　as　well。　As　we　were　nearing　this　end　of　our　journeying；　it　was　my　wish　to　arrive　with　what　small　splendor　I　could　muster。　Appreciating　this；　Ganelon　even　splashed　water　over　his　face　and　blew　his　nose　loudly。
　Standing　on　the　bank；　blinking　my　rinsed　eyes　at　the　heavens；　I　saw　the　moon　resolve　itself　sharp　and　clear；　the　fuzziness　fading　from　its　edges。　This　was　the　first　time　it　had　happened。　My　breathing　jerked　to　a　halt　and　I　kept　staring。　Then　I　scanned　the　sky　for　early　stars；　traced　the　edges　of　clouds；　the　distant　mountains；　the　farthest　trees。　I　looked　back　at　the　moon；　and　it　still　held　clear　and　steady。　My　eyesight　was　normal　once　again。
　Ganelon　drew　back　at　the　sound　of　my　laughter；　and　he　never　inquired　as　to　its　cause。
　Suppressing　an　impulse　to　sing；　I　remounted　and　headed　back　toward　the　trail　once　again。　The　shadows　deepened　as　we　rode；　and　clusters　of　stars　bloomed　among　the　branches　overhead。　I　inhaled　a　big　piece　of　the　night；　held　it　a　moment；　released　it。　I　was　myself　once　again　and　the　feeling　was　good。
　Ganelon　drew　up　beside　me　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃There　will　doubtless　be　sentries。〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃Then　hadn't　we　better　leave　the　trail？〃
　〃No。　I　would　rather　not　seem　furtive。　It　matters　not　to　me　whether　we　arrive　with　an　escort。　We　are　simply　two　travelers。〃
　〃They　may　require　the　reason　for　our　travels。〃
　〃Then　let　us　be　mercenaries　who　have　heard　of　strife　in　the　realm　and　e　seeking　employment。〃
　〃Yes。　We　look　the　part。　Let　us　hope　they　pause　long　enough　to　notice。〃
　〃If　they　cannot　see　us　that　well；　then　we　are　poor　targets。〃
　〃True；　but　I　am　not　fully　forted　by　the　thought。〃
　I　listened　to　the　sounds