rz.thegunsofavalon-第27部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　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；　mechanical　…　washed　over　us。　It　seemed　that　I　could　hear　Ganelon　cursing；　but　I　could　not　be　certain。
　I　thought　that　I　would　pass　out　from　the　pain；　but　I　determined；　out　of　sheer　stubbornness　and　anger；　to　persist　until　I　did。　I　concentrated　on　the　Pattern　as　a　dying　man　might　cry　out　to　his　God；　and　I　threw　my　entire　will　against　the　existence　of　the　black　road。
　Then　the　pressure　was　off　and　the　horses　were　plunging　wildly；　dragging　us　into　a　green　field。　Ganelon　snatched　at　the　reins；　but　I　drew　on　them　myself　and　shouted　to　the　horses　until　they　halted。　We　had　crossed　the　black　road。
　I　turned　immediately　and　looked　back。　The　scene　had　the　wavering　quality　of　something　seen　through　troubled　waters。　Our　path　through　it　stood　clean　and　steady；　however；　like　a　bridge　or　a　dam；　and　the　grasses　at　its　edge　were　green。
　〃That　was　worse；〃　Ganelon　said；　〃than　the　ride　you　took　me　on　when　you　exiled　me。〃
　〃I　think　so；　too；〃　I　said；　and　I　spoke　to　the　horses；　gently；　finally　persuading　them　to　return　to　the　dirt　road　and　continue　on　along　it。
　The　world　was　brighter　here；　and　the　trees　that　we　soon　moved　among　were　great　pines。　The　air　was　fresh　with　their　fragrance。　Squirrels　and　birds　moved　within　them。　The　soil　was　darker；　richer。　We　seemed　to　be　at　a　higher　altitude　than　we　had　been　before　the　crossing。　It　pleased　me　that　we　had　indeed　shifted　…　and　in　the　direction　I　had　desired。
　Our　way　curved；　ran　back　a　bit；　straightened。　Every　now　and　then　we　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　black　road。　It　was　not　too　far　off　to　our　right。　We　were　still　running　roughly　parallel　to　it。　The　thing　definitely　cut　through　Shadow。　From　what　we　saw　of　it；　it　appeared　to　have　settled　back　down　to　being　its　normal；　sinister　self　once　more。
　My　headache　faded　and　my　heart　grew　somewhat　lighter。　We　achieved　higher　ground　and　a　pleasant　view　over　a　large　area　of　hills　and　forest；　reminding　me　of　parts　of　Pennsylvania　I　had…enjoyed　driving　through　years　earlier。
　I　stretched；　then；　〃How　are　your　legs　now？〃　I　asked。
　〃All　right；〃　Ganelon　said；　looking　back　along　our　trail。　〃I　can　see　for　a　great　distance；　Corwin。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃I　see　a　horseman；　ing　very　fast。〃
　I　stood　and　turned。　I　think　I　might　have　groaned　as　I　dropped　back　into　the　seat　and　shook　the　reins。
　He　was　still　too　far　off　to　tell　for　certain　…　on　the　other　side　of　the　black　road。　But　who　else　could　it　be；　pushing　along　at　that　speed　on　our　trail？　I　cursed　then。
　We　were　nearing　the　crest　of　the　rise。　I　turned　to　Ganelon　and　said；　〃Get　ready　for　another　hellride。〃
　〃It's　Benedict？〃
　〃I　think　so。　We　lost　too　much　time　back　there。　He　can　move　awfully　fast　…　especially　through　Shadow　…　all　alone　like　that。〃
　〃Do　you　think　you　can　still　lose　him？〃
　〃We'll　find　out；〃　I　said。　〃Real　soon　now。〃
　I　clucked　to　the　horses　and　shook　the　reins　again。　We　reached　the　top　and　a　blast　of　icy　air　struck　us。　We　leveled　off　and　the　shadow　of　a　boulder　to　our　left　darkened　the　sky。　When　we　had　passed　it；　the　darkness　remained　and　crystals　of　fine…textured　snow　stung　our　faces　and　hands。
　Within　a　few　moments；　we　were　heading　downward　once　more　and　the　snowfall　became　a　blinding　blizzard。　The　wind　screamed　in　our　ears　and　the　wagon　rattled　and　skidded。　I　leveled　us　quickly。　There　were　drifts　all　about　by　then　and　the　road　was　white。　Our　breath　fumed　and　ice　glistened　on　trees　and　rocks。
　Motion　and　temporary　bafflement　of　the　senses。　That　was　what　it　took。。。
　We　raced　on；　and　the　wind　slammed　and　bit　and　cried　out。　Drifts　began　to　cover　the　road。
　We　rounded　a　bend　and　emerged　from　the　storm。　The　world　was　still　a　glazed…over　thing　and　an　occasional　flake　flitted　by；　but　the　sun　pulled　free　of　the　clouds；　pouring　light　upon　the　land；　and　we　headed　downward　once　more。。。
　。。。　Passing　through　a　fog　and　emerging　in　a　barren；　though　snowless　waste　of　rock　and　pitted　land。。。
　。。。　We　bore　to　the　right；　regained　the　sun；　followed　a　twisted　course　on　a　level　plain；　winding　among　tall；　featureless　stands　of　blue…gray　stone。。。
　。。。　Where　far　off　to　our　right　the　black　road　paced　as。
　Waves　of　heat　washed　over　us　and　the　land　steamed。　Bubbles　popped　in　boiling　stews　that　filled　the　craters；　adding　their　fumes　to　the　dank　air。　Shallow　puddles　lay　like　a　handful　of　old；　bronze　coins。
　The　horses　raced；　half…maddened　now；　as　geysers　began　to　erupt　along　the　trail。　Scalding　waters　spewed　across　the　roadway；　narrowly　missing　us；　running　in　steaming；　slick　sheets。　The　sky　was　brass　and　the　sun　was　a　mushy　apple。　The　wind　was　a　panting　dog　with　bad　breath。
　The　ground　trembled；　and　far　off　to　our　left　a　mountain　blew　its　top　toward　the　heavens　and　buried　fires　after　it。　An　ear…splitting　crash　temporarily　deafened　us　and　concussion　waves　kept　beating　against　our　bodies。　The　wagon　swayed　and　shimmied。
　The　ground　continued　to　shake　and　the　winds　slammed　us　with　near…hurricane　force　as　we　rushed　toward　a　row　of　black…topped　hills。　We　left　what　there　was　of　a　roadway　when　it　turned　in　the　wrong　direction　and　headed；　bumping　and　shuddering；　across　the　plain　itself。　The　hills　continued　to　grow；　dancing　in　the　troubled　air。
　I　turned　when　I　felt　Ganelon's　hand　on　my　arm。　He　was　shouting　something；　but　I　could　not　hear　him。　Then　he　pointed　back　and　I　followed　his　gesture。　I　saw　nothing　that　I　had　not　expected　to　see。　The　air　was　turbulent；　filled　with　dust；　debris；　ashes。　I　shrugged　and　returned　my　attention　to　the　hills。
　A　greater　darkness　occurred　at　the　base　of　the　nearest　hill。　I　made　for　it。
　It　grew　before　me　as　the　ground　slanted　downward　once　more；　an　enormous　cavern　mouth；　curtained　by　a　steady　fall　of　dust　and　gravel。
　I　cracked　the　whip　in　the　air　and　we　raced　across　the　final　five　or　six　hundred　yards　and　plunged　into　it。
　I　began　slowing　the　horses　immediately；　letting　them　relax　into　a　walk。
　We　continued　to　move　downward；　turned　a　corner；　and　came　into　a　wide；　high　grotto。　Light　leaked　down　from　holes　high　above；　dappling　stalactites　and　falling　upon　quivering　green　pools。　The　ground　continued　to　shake；　and　my　hearing　took　a　turn　for　the　better　as　I　saw　a　massive　stalagmite　crumble　and　heard　the　faint　tinkle　of　its　fall。
　We　crossed　a　black…bottomed　chasm　on　a　bridge　that　might　have　been　limestone；　which　shattered　behind　us　and　vanished。
　Bits　of　rock　rained　down　from　overhead　and　sometimes　large　stones　fell。　Patches　of　green　and　red　fungus　glowed　in　corners　and　cracks；　streaks　of　minerals　sparkled　and　bent；　large　crystals　and　flat　flowers　of　pale　stone　added　to　the　moist；　eerie　beauty　of　the　place。　We　wheeled　through　caverns　like　chains　of　bubbles　and　coursed　a　white…chested　torrent　until　it　vanished　into　a　black　hole。
　A　long；　corkscrew　gallery　took　us　upward　once　more；　and　I　heard　Ganelon's　voice；　faint　and　echoing；　〃I　thought　that　I　glimpsed　movement　…　that　might　be　a　rider　…　at　the　crest　of　the　mountain　…　just　for　an　instant　…　back　there。〃　We　moved　into　a　slightly　brighter　chamber。
　〃If　it　was　Benedict；　he's　got　a　hard　act　to　follow；〃　I　shouted；　and　there　came　the　tremors　and　muffled　crashings　as　more　things　collapsed　behind　us。
　We　proceeded　onward　and　upward；　until　finally　openings　began　to　occur　overhead；　giving　upon　patches　of　clear　blue　sky。　The　hoof　clicks　and　the　sounds　of　the　wagon　gradually　assumed　a　normal　volume　and　their　echoes　came　to　us　also。　The　tremors　ceased；　small　birds　darted　above　us；　and　the　light　increased　in　intensity。
　Then　another　twisting　of　the　way；　and　our　exit　lay　before　us；　a　wide；　low　opening　onto　day。　We　had　to　duck　our　heads　as　we　passed　beneath　the　jagged　lintel。
　We　bounced　up　and　over　a　jutting　lip　of　moss…covered　stone；　then　looked　upon　a　bed　of　gravel　that　lay　like　a　scythed　track　upon　the　hillside；　passing　among　gigantic　trees；　vanishing　within　them；　below。　I　made　a　clicking　noise　with　my　tongue；　encouraging　the　horses　on　their　way。
　〃They　are　very　tired　now；〃　Ganelon　remarked。
　〃I　know。　Soon　they　will　get　to　rest；　one　way　or　another。〃
　The　gravel　crunched　beneath　our　wheels。　The　smell　of　the　trees　was　good。
　〃Have　you　noticed　it？　Down　there；　off　to　the　right？〃
　〃What。。。？〃　I　began；　turning　my　head。　Then；　〃Oh；〃　I　finished。
　The　infernal　black　road　was　with　us　still；　perhaps　a　mile　distant。
　〃How　many　shadows　does　it　cut　across？〃　I　mused。
　〃All　of　them；　it　would　seem；〃　Ganelon　suggested。
　I　shook　my　head　slowly。
　〃I　hope　not；〃　I　said。
　We　proceeded　downward；　beneath　a　blue　sky　and　a　golden　sun　westering　in　a　normal　way。
　〃I　was　almost　afraid　to　e　out　of　that　cave；〃　Ganelon　said　after　a　time。　〃No　telling　what　would　be　on　this　side。〃
　〃The　horses　couldn't　take　much　more。　I　had　to　let　up。　If　that　was　Benedict　we　saw；　his　horse　had　better　be　in　very　good　condition。　He　was　pushing　it　hard。　Then　to　have　it　face　all　that。。。　I　think　he　would　fall　back。〃
　〃Maybe　it's　used　to　it；〃　Ganelon　said；　as　we　crunched　around　a　bend　to　the　right；　losing　sight　of　the　cave　mouth。
　〃There　is　always　that　possibility；〃　I　said；　and　I　thought　of　Dara　again；　wondering　what　she　was　doing　at　that　moment。
　We　wove　our　way　steadily　downward；　shifting　slowly　and　imperceptibly。　Our　trail　kept　drifting　to　the　right；　and　I　cursed　when　I　realized　we　were　nearing　the　black　road。
　〃Damn！　It's　as　persistent　as　an　insurance　salesman！〃　I　said；　feeling　my　anger　turn　to　something　like　hatred。　〃When　the　time　is　right；　I　am　going　to　destroy　that　thing！〃
　Ganelon　did　not　reply。　He　was　taking　a　long　drink　of　water。　He　passed　me　the　bottle　and　I　did；　too。
　At　length；　we　achieved　level　terrain；　and　the　trail　continued　to　twist　and　curve　at　the　least　excuse。　It　allowed　the　horses　to　take　it　easy　and　it　would　slow　a　mounted　pursuer。
　About　an　hour　later；　I　began　to　feel　fortable　and　we　stopped　to　eat。　We　had　just　about　finished　our　meal　when　Ganelon　…　who　had　not　removed　his　gaze　from　the　hillside　…　stood　and　shaded　his　eyes。
　〃No；〃　I　said；　leaping　to　my　feet。　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　A　lone　rider　had　emerged　from　the　mouth　of　the　cave。　I　watched　as　he　halted　for　a　moment；　then　continued　on　down　the　trail。
　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃　Ganelon　asked。
　〃Let's　pick　up　our　stuff　and　get　moving