rz.thegunsofavalon-第24部分

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　〃But　he　is　your　brother。〃
　〃Few　are　more　aware　of　that　fact　than　he　and　I；　I　assure　you。〃
　〃How　soon　do　you　expect　to　acplish　…　your　objectives？〃
　〃As　I　said　the　other　day；　if　you　can　get　hold　of　the　Trumps；　contact　me　in　about　three　months。　If　you　cannot；　and　things　e　about　according　to　my　plans；　I　will　get　in　touch　with　you　fairly　early　in　my　reign。　You　should　have　your　chance　to　take　the　Pattern　before　another　year　passes。〃
　〃And　if　you　fail？〃
　〃Then　you　will　have　a　longer　wait　ahead　of　you。　Until　Eric　has　assured　the　permanency　of　his　own　reign；　and　until　Benedict　has　acknowledged　him　king。　You　see；　Benedict　is　not　willing　to　do　this。　He　has　remained　away　from　Amber　for　a　long　while；　and　for　all　Eric　knows；　he　is　no　longer　among　the　living。　Should　he　put　in　an　appearance　now；　he　is　going　to　have　to　take　a　position　either　for　or　against　Eric。　Should　he　e　out　for　him；　then　the　continuance　of　Eric's　reign　will　be　assured　…　and　Benedict　does　not　want　to　be　responsible　for　that。　Should　he　e　out　against　him；　there　will　be　strife　…　and　he　does　not　want　to　be　responsible　for　that　either。　He　has　no　desire　for　the　crown　himself。　Only　by　remaining　out　of　the　picture　entirely　can　he　assure　the　measure　of　tranquility　that　does　prevail。　Were　he　to　appear　and　refuse　to　take　either　position；　he　could　possibly　get　away　with　it；　but　it　would　be　tantamount　to　denying　Eric's　kingship　and　would　still　lead　to　trouble。　Were　he　to　appear　with　you；　he　would　be　surrendering　his　will；　for　Eric　would　put　pressure　on　him　through　you。〃
　〃Then　if　you　lose　I　might　never　get　to　Amber！〃
　〃I　am　only　describing　the　situation　as　I　see　it。　There　are　doubtless　many　factors　of　which　I　am　unaware。　I　have　been　out　of　circulation　for　a　long　while。〃
　〃You　must　win！〃　she　said。　Then；　suddenly；　〃Would　Grandpa　support　you？〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　But　the　situation　would　be　quite　different。　I　am　aware　of　his　existence；　and　of　yours。　I　will　not　ask　his　support。　So　long　as　he　does　not　oppose　me；　I　will　be　satisfied。　And　if　I　am　quick；　efficient；　and　successful；　he　will　not　oppose　me。　He　will　not　like　my　having　found　out　about　you；　but　when　he　sees　that　I　mean　you　no　harm　all　will　be　well　on　that　count。〃
　〃Why　would　you　not　use　me？　It　seems　the　logical　thing　to　do。〃
　〃It　is。　But　I've　discovered　I　like　you；〃　I　said；　〃so　that's　out　of　the　question。〃　She　laughed。
　〃I've　charmed　you！〃　she　said。　I　chuckled。
　〃In　your　own　delicate　way；　at　sword's　point；　yes。〃
　Abruptly；　she　sobered。
　〃Grandpa　is　ing　back　tomorrow；〃　she　said。　〃Did　your　man　Ganelon　tell　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　does　that　affect　whatever　you　are　about？〃
　〃I　intend　to　be　hell　and　gone　out　of　here　before　he　returns。〃
　〃What　will　he　do？〃
　〃The　first　thing　that　he　will　do　will　be　to　get　very　angry　with　you　for　being　here。　Then　he　will　want　to　know　how　you　managed　your　return　and　how　much　you　have　told　me　about　yourself。〃
　〃What　should　I　tell　him？〃
　〃Tell　him　the　truth　about　how　you　got　back。　That　will　give　him　something　to　think　about。　As　to　your　status；　your　woman's　intuition　cautioned　you　concerning　my　trustworthiness；　and　you　took　the　same　line　with　me　as　you　did　with　Julian　and　Gerard。　As　to　my　whereabouts；　Ganelon　and　I　borrowed　a　wagon　and　headed　into　town；　saying　that　we　would　not　be　back　until　quite　late。〃
　〃Where　will　you　really　be　going？〃
　〃Into　town；　briefly。　But　we　will　not　be　ing　back。　I　want　as　much　of　a　head　start　as　possible　because　he　can　track　me　through　Shadow；　up　to　a　point。〃
　〃I　will　delay　him　as　best　I　can　for　you。　Were　you　not　going　to　see　me　before　you　left？〃
　〃I　was　going　to　have　this　talk　with　you　in　the　morning。　You　got　it　ahead　of　time　by　being　restless。〃
　〃Then　I　am　glad　that　I　was　…　restless。　How　are　you　going　to　conquer　Amber？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No；　dear　Dara。　All　scheming　princes　must　keep　a　few　small　secrets。　That's　one　of　mine。〃
　〃I　am　surprised　to　learn　there　is　so　much　distrust　and　plotting　in　Amber。〃
　〃Why？　The　same　conflicts　exist　everywhere；　in　various　forms。　They　are　all　about　you；　always；　for　all　places　take　their　form　from　Amber。〃
　〃It　is　difficult　to　understand。。。〃
　〃One　day　you　will。　Leave　it　at　that　for　now。〃
　〃Then　tell　me　another　thing。　Since　I　am　able　to　negotiate　shadows　somewhat；　even　without　having　taken　the　Pattern；　tell　me　more　precisely　how　you　go　about　it。　I　want　to　get　better　at　it。〃
　〃No！〃　I　said。　〃I　will　not　have　you　fooling　with　Shadow　until　you　are　ready。　It　is　dangerous　even　after　you　have　taken　the　Pattern。　To　do　it　before　is　foolhardy。　You　were　lucky；　but　do　not　try　it　again。　I'll　even　help；　by　not　telling　you　anything　more　about　it。〃
　〃All　right！〃　she　said。　〃Sorry。　I　guess　I　can　wait〃
　〃I　guess　you　can。　No　hard　feelings？〃
　〃No。　Well　…〃　She　laughed。　〃They　wouldn't　do　me　any　good；　I　guess。　You　must　know　what　you　are　talking　about。　I　am　glad　that　you　care　what　happens　to　me。〃
　I　grunted；　and　she　reached　out　and　touched　my　cheek。　At　this；　I　turned　my　head　again　and　her　face　was　moving　slowly　toward　my　own；　smile　gone　and　lips　parting；　eyes　almost　closed。　As　we　kissed；　I　felt　her　arms　slide　about　my　neck　and　shoulders　and　mine　found　their　way　into　a　similar　position　around　her。　My　surprise　was　lost　in　the　sweetness；　gave　way　to　warmth　and　a　certain　excitement。
　If　Benedict　ever　found　out；　he　was　going　to　be　more　than　just　irritated　with　me。。。
　
　
　Chapter　7
　
　The　wagon　creaked；　monotonously；　and　the　sun　was　already　well　into　the　west；　though　it　still　poured　hot　streams　of　daylight　upon　us。　Back　among　the　cases；　Ganelon　snored；　and　I　envied　him　his　noisy　occupation。　He　had　been　sleeping　for　several　hours；　and　this　was　my　third　day　without　rest。
　We　were　perhaps　fifteen　miles　out　of　the　city；　and　heading　into　the　northeast。　Doyle　had　not　had　my　order　pletely　ready；　but　Ganelon　and　I　had　persuaded　him　to　close　up　his　shop　and　accelerate　its　production。　This　involved　several　additional　hours'　curse…worthy　delay。　I　had　been　too　keyed…up　to　sleep　then　and　was　unable　to　do　so　now；　as　I　was　edging　my　way　through　shadows。
　I　forced　back　the　fatigue　and　the　evening　and　found　some　clouds　to　shade　me。　We　moved　along　a　dry；　deeply　rutted；　clay　road。　It　was　an　ugly　shade　of　yellow；　and　it　cracked　and　crumbled　as　we　went。　Brown　grasses　hung　limply　on　either　side　of　the　way；　and　the　trees　were　short；　twisted　things；　their　barks　thick　and　shaggy。　We　passed　numerous　outcrops　of　shale。
　I　had　paid　Doyle　well　for　his　pounds；　and　had　also　purchased　a　handsome　bracelet　to　be　delivered　to　Dara　the　following　day。　My　diamonds　were　at　my　belt；　Grayswandir　near　to　my　hand。　Star　and　Firedrake　walked　steadily；　strongly。　I　was　on　my　way　to　having　it　made。
　I　wondered　whether　Benedict　had　returned　home　yet。　I　wondered　how　long　he　would　remain　deceived　as　to　my　whereabouts。　I　was　by　no　means　out　of　danger　from　him。　He　could　follow　a　trail　for　a　great　distance　through　Shadow；　and　I　was　leaving　him　a　good　one。　I　had　little　choice　in　the　matter；　though。　I　needed　the　wagon；　I　was　stuck　with　our　present　speed；　and　I　was　in　no　condition　to　manage　another　hellride。　I　handled　the　shifts　slowly　and　carefully；　very　conscious　of　my　dulled　senses　and　growing　weariness；　counting　on　the　gradual　accumulation　of　change　and　distance　to　build　up　a　barrier　between　Benedict　and　myself；　hoping　that　it　would　soon　bee　an　impenetrable　one。
　I　found　my　way　from　late　afternoon　back　to　noontide　within　the　next　two　miles；　but　kept　it　a　cloudy　noon；　for　it　was　only　its　light　that　I　desired；　not　its　heat。　Then　I　managed　to　locate　a　small　breeze。　It　increased　the　probability　of　rain；　but　it　was　worth　it。　You　can't　have　everything。
　I　was　fighting　back　drowsiness　by　then；　and　the　temptation　was　great　to　awaken　Ganelon　and　simply　add　more　miles　to　our　distance　by　letting　him　drive　while　I　slept。　But　I　was　afraid　to　try　it　this　early　in　the　journey。　There　were　still　too　many　things　to　do。
　I　wanted　more　daylight；　but　I　also　wanted　a　better　road；　and　I　was　sick　of　that　goddamned　yellow　clay；　and　I　had　to　do　something　about　those　clouds；　and　I　had　to　keep　in　mind　where　we　were　headed。。。
　I　rubbed　my　eyes；　I　took　several　deep　breaths。　Things　were　starting　to　jump　around　inside　my　head；　and　the　steady　clop…clop　of　the　horses'　hoofs　and　the　creaking　of　the　wagon　were　starting　to　have　a　soporific　effect。　I　was　already　numb　to　the　jolting　and　the　swaying。　The　reins　hung　loosely　in　my　hands；　and　I　had　already　nodded　and　let　them　slip　once。　Fortunately；　the　horses　seemed　to　have　a　good　idea　as　to　what　was　expected　of　them。
　After　a　time；　we　mounted　a　long；　easy　slope　that　led　down　into　mid…morning。　By　then；　the　sky　was　quite　dark；　and　it　took　several　miles　and　half　a　dozen　twistings　of　the　road　to　dissipate　the　cloud　cover　somewhat。　A　storm　could　turn　our　way　into　a　river　of　mud　quite　quickly。　I　winced　at　the　thought；　let　the　sky　alone　and　concentrated　on　the　road　once　more。
　We　came　to　a　dilapidated　bridge　leading　across　a　dry　stream　bed。　On　its　other　side；　the　road　was　smoother；　less　yellow。　As　we　proceeded；　it　grew　darker；　flatter；　harder；　and　the　grass　came　green　beside　it。　By　then；　though；　it　had　begun　raining。
　I　fought　with　this　for　a　time；　determined　not　to　surrender　my　grass　and　the　dark；　easy　road。　My　head　ached；　but　the　shower　ended　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile　and　the　sun　came　out　once　more。　The　sun。。。oh　yes；　the　sun。
　We　rattled　on；　finally　ing　to　a　dip　in　the　road　that　kept　twisting　its　way　down　among　brighter　trees。　We　descended　into　a　cool　valley；　where　we　eventually　crossed　another　small　bridge；　this　one　with　a　narrow　band　of　water　drifting　along　the　middle　of　the　bed　beneath　it。　I　had　wrapped　the　reins　about　my　wrist　by　then；　because　I　kept　nodding。　As　from　a　great　distance；　I　focused　my　concentration；　straightening；　sorting。。。
　Birds　queried　the　day；　tentatively；　from　within　the　woods　to　my　right。　Glistening　droplets　of　dew　clung　to　the　grass；　the　leaves。　A　chill　came　into　the　air；　and　the　rays　of　the　morning　sun　slanted　down　through　the　trees。。。
　But　my　body　was　not　fooled　by　the　awakening　within　this　shadow；　and　I　was　relieved　finally　to　hear　Ganelon　stir　and　curse。　If　he　had　not　e　around　before　much　longer　I　would　have　had　to　awaken　him。
　Good　enough。　I　tugged　gently　on　the　reins　and　the　horses　got　the　idea　and　halted。　I　put