rz.thegunsofavalon-第26部分

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pinning。〃
　I　guided　us　on；　and　our　way　twisted　and　wound；　paralleling　that　black　road　for　a　time；　then　heading　in　closer　to　it。　Finally；　we　were　only　a　few　hundred　yards　away　from　it。
　Ganelon　studied　it　in　silence　for　a　long　while；　then　said；　〃It　reminds　me　too　much　of　that　other　place。　The　little　tongues　of　mist　that　lick　about　things；　the　feeling　that　something　is　always　moving　just　at　the　corner　of　your　eye。。。〃
　I　bit　my　lip。　I　began　to　perspire　heavily。　I　was　trying　to　shift　away　from　the　thing　now　and　there　was　some　sort　of　resistance。　It　was　not　the　same　feeling　of　monolithic　immovability　as　occurs　when　you　try　to　move　through　Shadow　in　Amber。　It　was　altogether　different。　It　was　a　feeling　of　…　inescapability。
　We　moved　through　Shadow　all　right。　The　sun　drifted　higher　in　the　heavens；　heading　back　toward　noonday　…　for　I　did　not　relish　the　thought　of　nightfall　beside　that　black　strip　…　and　the　sky　lost　something　of　its　blue　and　the　trees　shot　higher　about　us　and　mountains　appeared　in　the　distance。
　Was　it　that　the　road　cut　through　Shadow　itself？
　It　must。　Why　else　would　Julian　and　Gerard　have　located　it　and　been　sufficiently　intrigued　to　explore　the　thing？
　It　was　unfortunate；　but　I　feared　we　had　much　in　mon；　that　road　and　I。　Damn　it！
　We　moved　beside　it　for　a　long　while；　gradually　moving　closer　together；　also。　Soon；　only　about　a　hundred　feet　separated　us。　Fifty。。。
　。。。　And；　as　I　had　felt　they　eventually　must；　our　paths　finally　intersected。
　I　drew　rein。　I　packed　my　pipe　and　lit　it；　smoked　as　I　studied　the　thing。　Star　and　Firedrake　obviously　did　not　approve　of　the　black　area　that　cut　across　our　way。　They　had　whinnied　and　tried　to　pull　off　to　the　side。
　It　was　a　long；　diagonal　cut　across　the　black　place　if　we　wanted　to　keep　to　the　road。　Also；　part　of　the　terrain　was　hidden　from　our　sight　by　a　series　of　low；　stone　hills。　There　were　heavy　grasses　at　the　edge　of　the　black　and　patches　of　it；　here　and　there；　about　the　foot　of　the　hills。　Bits　of　mist　scudded　among　them　and　faint；　vaporous　clouds　hovered　in　all　the　hollows。　The　sky；　seen　through　the　atmosphere　that　hung　about　the　place；　was　several　shades　darker；　with　a　smeared；　sooty　tone　to　it。　A　silence　that　was　not　the　same　as　stillness　lay　upon　it；　almost　as　though　some　unseen　entity　were　poised；　holding　its　breath。
　Then　we　heard　a　scream。　It　was　a　girl's　voice。　The　old　lady　in　distress　trick？
　It　came　from　somewhere　to　the　right；　beyond　those　hills。　It　smelled　fishy。　But　hell！　It　could　be　real。
　I　tossed　the　reins　to　Ganelon　and　jumped　to　the　ground；　taking　Grayswandir　into　my　hand。
　〃I'm　going　to　investigate；〃　I　said；　moving　off　to　the　right　and　leaping　the　gulley　that　ran　beside　the　road。
　〃Hurry　back。〃
　I　plowed　through　some　brush　and　scrambled　up　a　rocky　slope。　I　pushed　my　way　through　more　shrubbery　on　its　down　side　and　mounted　another；　higher　slope。　The　scream　came　again　as　I　was　climbing　it；　and　this　time　I　heard　other　sounds　as　well。
　Then　I　reached　the　top　and　was　able　to　see　for　a　good　distance。
　The　black　area　began　about　forty　feet　below　me；　and　the　scene　I　sought　was　laid　about　a　hundred…fifty　feet　within　it。
　It　was　a　monochromatic　sight；　save　for　the　flames。　A　woman；　all　in　white；　black　hair　hanging　loose；　down　to　her　waist；　was　bound　to　one　of　those　dark　trees；　smoldering　branches　heaped　around　her　feet。　Half　a　dozen　hairy；　albino　men；　almost　pletely　naked　and　continuing　the　process　of　undressing　as　they　moved；　shuffled　about；　muttering　and　chuckling；　poking　at　the　woman　and　the　fire　with　sticks　that　they　carried　and　clutching　at　their　loins　repeatedly。　The　flames　were　high　enough　now　to　singe　the　woman's　garments；　causing　them　to　smolder。　Her　long　dress　was　sufficiently　torn　and　disarrayed　so　that　I　could　see　she　possessed　a　lovely；　voluptuous　form；　though　the　smoke　wrapped　her　in　such　a　manner　that　I　was　unable　to　see　her　face。
　I　rushed　forward；　entering　the　area　of　the　black　road；　leaping　over　the　long；　twining　grasses；　and　charged　into　the　group；　beheading　the　nearest　man　and　running　another　through　before　they　knew　I　was　upon　them。　The　others　turned　and　flailed　at　me　with　their　sticks；　shouting　as　they　swung　them。
　Grayswandir　ate　off　big　chunks　of　them；　until　they　fell　apart　and　were　silent。　Their　juices　were　black。
　I　turned；　holding　my　breath；　and　kicked　away　the　front　of　the　fire。　Then　I　moved　in　close　to　the　lady　and　cut　her　bonds。　She　fell　into　my　arms；　sobbing。
　It　was　only　then　that　I　noticed　her　face　…　or；　rather；　her　lack　of　one。　She　wore　a　full；　ivory　mask；　oval　and　curving；　featureless；　save　for　two　tiny　rectangular　grilles　for　her　eyes。
　I　drew　her　away　from　the　smoke　and　the　gore。　She　clung　to　me；　breathing　heavily；　thrusting　her　entire　body　against　me。　After　what　seemed　an　appropriate　period　of　time；　I　attempted　to　disentangle　myself。　But　she　would　not　release　me；　and　she　was　surprisingly　strong。
　〃It　is　all　right　now；〃　I　said；　or　something　equally　trite　and　apt；　but　she　did　not　reply。
　She　kept　shifting　her　grip　upon　my　body；　with　rough　caressing　movements　and　a　rather　disconcerting　effect。　Her　desirability　was　enhanced；　from　instant　to　instant。　I　found　myself　stroking　her　hair；　and　the　rest　of　her　as　well。
　〃It　is　all　right　now；〃　I　repeated。　〃Who　are　you？　Why　were　they　burning　you？　Who　were　they？〃
　But　she　did　not　reply。　She　had　stopped　sobbing；　but　her　breathing　was　still　heavy；　although　in　a　different　way。
　〃Why　do　you　wear　this　mask？〃
　I　reached　for　it　and　she　jerked　her　head　back。
　This　did　not　seem　especially　important；　though。　While　some　cold；　logical　part　of　me　knew　that　the　passion　was　irrational；　I　was　as　powerless　as　the　gods　of　the　Epicureans。　I　wanted　her　and　I　was　ready　to　have　her。
　Then　I　heard　Ganelon　cry　out　my　name　and　I　tried　to　turn　in　that　direction。
　But　she　restrained　me。　I　was　amazed　at　her　strength。
　〃Child　of　Amber；〃　came　her　half…familiar　voice。　〃We　owe　you　this　for　what　you　have　given　us；　and　we　will　have　all　of　you　now。〃
　Ganelon's　voice　came　to　me　again；　a　steady　stream　of　profanities。
　I　exerted　all　my　strength　against　that　grip　and　it　weakened。　My　hand　shot　forward　and　I　tore　away　the　mask。
　There　came　a　brief　cry　of　anger　as　I　freed　myself；　and　four　final；　fading　words　as　the　mask　came　away：
　〃Amber　must　be　destroyed！〃
　There　was　no　face　behind　the　mask。　There　was　nothing　there　at　all。
　Her　garment　collapsed　and　hung　limply　over　my　arm。　She　…　or　it　…　had　vanished。
　Turning　quickly；　I　saw　that　Ganelon　was　sprawled　at　the　edge　of　the　black；　his　legs　twisted　unnaturally。　His　blade　rose　and　fell　slowly；　but　I　could　not　see　at　what　he　was　striking。　I　ran　toward　him。
　The　black　grasses；　over　which　I　had　leaped；　were　twined　about　his　ankles　and　legs。　Even　as　he　hacked　at　them；　others　lashed　about　as　though　seeking　to　capture　his　sword　arm。　He　had　succeeded　in　partly　freeing　his　right　leg；　and　I　leaned　far　forward　and　managed　to　finish　the　job。
　I　moved　to　a　position　behind　him；　out　of　reach　of　the　grasses；　and　tossed　away　the　mask；　which　I　just　then　realized　I　was　still　clutching。　It　fell　to　earth　beyond　the　edge　of　the　black　and　immediately　began　to　smolder。
　Catching　him　under　the　arms；　I　strove　to　drag　Ganelon　back。　The　stuff　resisted　fiercely；　but　at　last　I　tore　him　free。　I　carried　him　then；　leaping　over　the　remaining　dark　grasses　that　separated　us　from　the　more　docile；　green　variety　beyond　the　road。
　He　regained　his　footing　and　continued　to　lean　heavily　against　me；　bending　forward　and　slapping　at　his　leggings。
　〃They're　numb；〃　he　said。　〃My　legs　are　asleep。〃　I　helped　him　back　to　the　wagon。　He　transferred　his　grip　to　its　side　and　began　stamping　his　feet。
　〃They're　tingling；〃　he　announced。　〃It's　starting　to　e　back。。。　Oow！〃
　Finally；　he　limped　to　the　front　of　the　wagon。　I　helped　him　climb　onto　the　seat　and　followed　him　up。　He　sighed。
　〃That's　better；〃　he　said。　〃They're　ing　along　now。　That　stuff　just　sucked　the　strength　out　of　them。　Out　of　the　rest　of　me；　too。　What　happened？〃
　〃Our　bad　omen　made　good　on　its　promise。〃
　〃What　now？〃　I　picked　up　the　reins　and　released　the　brake。
　〃We　go　across；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　to　find　out　more　about　this　thing。　Keep　your　blade　handy。〃
　He　granted　and　laid　the　weapon　across　his　knees。　The　horses　did　not　like　the　idea　of　going　on；　but　I　flicked　their　flanks　lightly　with　the　whip　and　they　began　to　move。
　We　entered　the　black　area；　and　it　was　like　riding　into　a　World　War　II　newsreel。　Remote　though　near　at　hand；　stark；　depressing；　grim。　Even　the　creaking　and　the　hoof　falls　were　somehow　muffled；　made　to　seem　more　distant。　A　faint；　persistent　ringing　began　in　my　ears。　The　grasses　beside　the　road　stirred　as　we　passed；　though　I　kept　well　away　from　them。　We　passed　through　several　patches　of　mist。　They　were　odorless；　but　our　breathing　grew　labored　on　each　occasion。　As　we　neared　the　first　hill；　I　began　the　shift　that　would　take　us　through　Shadow。
　We　rounded　the　hill。
　Nothing。
　The　dark；　miasmal　prospect　was　unaltered。
　I　grew　angry　then。　I　drew　the　Pattern　from　memory　and　held　it　blazing　before　my　mind's　eye。　I　essayed　the　shift　once　more。
　Immediately；　my　head　began　to　ache。　A　pain　shot　from　my　forehead　to　the　back　of　my　skull　and　hung　there　like　a　hot　wire。　But　this　only　fanned　my　anger　and　caused　me　to　try　even　harder　to　shift　the　black　road　into　nothingness。
　Things　wavered。　The　mists　thickened；　rolled　across　the　road　in　billows。　Outlines　grew　indistinct。　I　shook　the　reins。　The　horses　moved　faster。　My　head　began　to　throb；　felt　as　if　it　were　about　to　e　apart。　Instead；　momentarily；　everything　else　did。。。
　The　ground　shook；　cracking　in　places；　but　it　was　more　than　just　that。　Everything　seemed　to　undergo　a　spasmodic　shudder；　and　the　cracking　was　more　than　mere　fracture　lines　in　the　ground。
　It　was　as　though　someone　had　suddenly　kicked　the　leg　of　a　table　on　which　a　loosely　assembled　jigsaw　puzzle　lay。　Gaps　appeared　in　the　entire　prospect：　here；　a　green　bough；　there；　a　sparkle　of　water；　a　glimpse　of　blue　sky；　absolute　blackness；　white　nothingness；　the　front　of　a　brick　building；　faces　behind　a　window；　fire；　a　piece　of　star…filled　sky。。。
　The　horses　were　galloping　by　then；　and　I　had　all　I　could　do　to　keep　from　screaming　for　the　pain。
　A　babble　of　mixed　noises　…　animal；　human；　mechan