rz.thegunsofavalon-第3部分

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　He　sat　at　a　heavy　wooden　table　near　a　wide　window　overlooking　the　courtyard。　He　wore　a　brown　leather　jacket　over　a　black　shirt；　and　his　trousers　were　also　black。　They　were　bloused　over　the　tops　of　his　dark　boots。　He　had　about　his　waist　a　wide　belt　which　held　a　hoof…hilted　dagger。　A　short　sword　lay　on　the　table　before　him。　His　hair　and　beard　were　red；　with　a　sprinkling　of　white。　His　eyes　were　dark　as　ebony。
　He　looked　at　me；　then　turned　his　attention　to　a　pair　of　guards　who　entered　with　the　stretcher。
　〃Put　him　on　my　bed；〃　he　said。　Then；　〃Roderick；　tend　to　him。〃
　His　physician；　Roderick；　was　an　old　guy　who　didn't　look　as　if　he　would　do　much　harm；　which　relieved　me　somewhat。　I　had　not　fetched　Lance　all　that　distance　to　have　him　bled。
　Then　Ganelon　turned　to　me　once　more。　〃Where　did　you　find　him？〃　he　asked。
　〃Five　leagues　to　the　south　of　here。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃They　call　me　Corey；〃　I　said。
　He　studied　me　too　closely；　and　his　worm…like　lips　twitched　toward　a　smile　beneath　his　mustache。　〃What　is　your　part　in　this　thing？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；〃　I　said。
　I　had　let　my　shoulders　sag　a　bit。　I　spoke　slowly；　softly；　and　with　a　slight　falter。　My　beard　was　longer　than　his；　and　lightened　by　dust。　I　imagined　I　looked　like　an　older　man。　His　attitude　on　appraisal　tended　to　indicate　that　he　thought　I　was。
　〃I　am　asking　you　why　you　helped　him；〃　he　said。
　〃Brotherhood　of　man；　and　all　that；〃　I　replied。
　〃You　are　a　foreigner？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Well；　you　are　wele　here　for　so　long　as　you　wish　to　stay。〃
　〃Thanks。　I　will　probably　move　on　tomorrow。〃
　〃Now　join　me　in　a　glass　of　wine　and　tell　me　of　the　circumstances　under　which　you　found　him。〃
　So　I　did。
　Ganelon　let　me　speak　without　interrupting；　and　those；　piercing　eyes　of　his　were　on　me　all　the　while。　While　I　had　always　felt　laceration　by　means　of　the　eyeballs　to　be　a　trite　expression；　it　did　not　feel　so　that　night。　He　stabbed　at　me　with　them。　I　wondered　what　he　knew　and　what　he　was　guessing　concerning　me。
　Then　fatigue　sprang　and　seized　me　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck。　The　exertion；　the　wine；　the　warm　room　…　all　of　these　worked　together；　and　suddenly　it　was　as　if　I　were　standing　off　in　the　corner　somewhere　and　listening　to　myself；　watching　myself；　feeling　dissociated。　While　I　was　capable　of　great　exertion　in　short　bursts；　I　realized　that　I　was　still　very　low　when　it　came　to　stamina。　I　also　noticed　that　my　hand　was　trembling。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　heard　myself　saying。　〃The　day's　labors　are　beginning　to　get　to　me。。。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　said　Ganelon。　〃I　will　talk　with　you　more　on　the　morrow。　Sleep　now。　Sleep　well。〃
　Then　he　called　in　one　of　the　guards　and　ordered　him　to　conduct　me　to　a　chamber。　I　must　have　staggered　on　the　way；　because　I　remember　the　guard's　hand　on　my　elbow；　steering　me。
　That　night　I　slept　the　sleep　of　the　dead。　It　was　a　big；　black　thing；　about　fourteen　hours　long。
　In　the　morning；　I　ached　all　over。
　I　bathed　myself。　There　was　a　basin　on　the　high　dresser；　and　soap　and　a　washcloth　someone　had　thoughtfully　set　beside　it。
　My　throat　felt　packed　with　sawdust　and　my　eyes　were　full　of　fuzz。　I　sat　down　and　assessed　myself。
　There　had　been　a　day　when　I　could　have　carried　Lance　the　entire　distance　without　going　to　pieces　afterward。　There　had　been　a　day　when　I　had　fought　my　way　up　the　face　of　Kolvir　and　into　the　heart　of　Amber　itself。
　Those　days　were　gone。　I　suddenly　felt　like　the　wreck　I　must　have　looked。
　Something　would　have　to　be　done。
　I　had　been　putting　on　weight　and　picking　up　strength　slowly。　The　process　would　have　to　be　accelerated。
　A　week　or　two　of　clean　living　and　violent　exercise　could　help　a　lot；　I　decided。　Ganelon　had　not　given　any　real　indication　of　having　recognized　me。　All　right。　I　would　take　advantage　of　the　hospitality　he　had　offered。
　With　that　resolve；　I　sought　out　the　kitchen　and　conned　a　hearty　breakfast。　Well；　it　was　really　around　lunchtime；　but　let's　call　things　by　their　proper　names。　I　had　a　strong　desire　for　a　smoke　and　felt　a　certain　perverse　joy　in　the　fact　that　I　was　out　of　tobacco。　The　Fates　were　conspiring　to　keep　me　true　to　myself。
　I　strolled　out　into　the　courtyard　and　a　brisk；　bright　day。　For　a　long　while；　I　watched　the　men　who　were　quartered　there　as　they　went　through　their　training　regime。
　There　were　bowmen　off　at　the　far　end；　thwanging　away　at　targets　fastened　to　bales　of　hay。　I　noted　that　they　employed　thumb　rings　and　an　oriental　grip　on　the　bowstring；　rather　than　the　three…fingered　technique　with　which　I　was　more　fortable。　It　made　me　wonder　a　bit　about　this　Shadow。　The　swordsmen　used　both　the　edges　and　points　of　their　weapons；　and　there　was　a　variety　of　blades　and　fencing　techniques　in　evidence。　I　tried　to　estimate；　and　guessed　there　were　perhaps　eight　hundred　of　them　about　…　and　I　had　no　idea　as　to　how　many　of　them　there　might　be　out　of　sight。　Their　plexions；　their　hair；　their　eyes；　varied　from　pale　to　quite　dark。　I　heard　many　strange　accents　above　the　thwanging　and　the　clanging；　though　most　spoke　the　language　of　Avalon；　which　is　of　the　tongue　of　Amber。
　As　I　stood　watching；　one　swordsman　raised　his　hand；　lowered　his　blade；　mopped　his　brow；　and　stepped　back。　His　opponent　did　not　seem　especially　winded。　This　was　my　chance　for　some　of　the　exercise　I　was　seeking。
　I　moved　forward；　smiled；　and　said；　〃I'm　Corey　of　Cabra。　I　was　watching　you。〃
　I　turned　my　attention　to　the　big；　dark　man　who　was　grinning　at　his　resting　buddy。
　〃Mind　if　I　practice　with　you　while　your　friend　rests？〃　I　asked　him。
　He　kept　grinning　and　pointed　at　his　mouth　and　his　ear。　I　tried　several　other　languages；　but　none　of　them　worked。　So　I　pointed　at　the　blade　and　at　him　and　back　to　myself　until　he　got　the　idea。　His　opponent　seemed　to　think　it　was　a　good　one；　as　the　smaller　fellow　offered　me　his　blade。
　I　took　it　into　my　hands。　It　was　shorter　and　a　lot　heavier　than　Grayswandir。　（That　is　the　name　of　my　blade；　which　I　know　I　have　not　mentioned　up　until　now。　It　is　a　story　in　itself；　and　I　may　or　may　not　go　into　it　before　you　learn　what　brought　me　to　this　final　pass。　But　should　you　hear　me　refer　to　it　by　name　again；　you　will　know　what　I　am　talking　about。）　I　swung　my　blade　a　few　times　to　test　it；　removed　my　cloak；　tossed　it　off　to　the　side；　and　struck　an　en　garde。
　The　big　fellow　attacked。　I　parried　and　attacked。　He　parried　and　riposted。　I　parried　the　riposte；　feinted；　and　attacked。　Et　cetera。　After　five　minutes；　I　knew　that　he　was　good。　And　I　knew　that　I　was　better。　He　stopped　me　twice　so　that　I　could　teach　him　a　maneuver　I　had　used。　He　learned　both　very　quickly。　After　fifteen　minutes；　though；　his　grin　widened。　I　guess　that　was　around　the　point　where　he　broke　down　most　opponents　by　virtue　of　sheer　staying　power；　if　they　were　good　enough　to　resist　his　attacks　up　until　then。　He　had　stamina；　I'll　say　that。　After　twenty　minutes；　a　puzzled　look　came　onto　his　face。　I　just　didn't　look　as　if　I　could　stand　up　that　long。　But　then；　what　can　any　man　really　know　of；　that　which　lies　within　a　scion　of　Amber？
　After　twenty…five　minutes；　he　was　sheathed　in　sweat；　but　he　continued　on。　My　brother　Random　looks　and　acts；　on　occasion；　like　an　asthmatic；　teen…age　hood　…　but　once　we　had　fenced　together　for　over　twenty…six　hours；　to　see　who　would　call　it　quits。　（If　you're　curious；　it　was　me。　I　had　had　a　date　lined　up　for　the　next　day　and　had　wanted　to　arrive　in　reasonably　good　condition。）　We　could　have　gone　on。　While　I　was　not　up　to　a　performance　like　that　just　then；　I　knew　that　I　could　outlast　the　man　I　faced。　After　all；　he　was　only　human。
　After　about　half　an　hour；　when　he　was　breathing　heavily　and　slowing　down　on　his　counterstrokes　and　I　knew　that　in　a　few　minutes　he　might　guess　that　I　was　pulling　mine；　I　raised　my　hand　and　lowered　my　blade　as　I　had　seen　his　previous　opponent　do。　He　ground　to　a　halt　also；　then　rushed　forward　and　embraced　me。　I　did　not　understand　what　he　said；　but　I　gathered　that　he　was　pleased　with　the　workout。　So　was　I。
　The　horrible　thing　was；　I　felt　it。　I　found　myself　slightly　heady。
　But　I　needed　more。　I　promised　me　I　would　kill　myself　and　exercise　that　day；　glut　myself　with　food　that　night；　sleep　deeply；　wake；　and　do　it　again。
　So　I　went　over　to　where　the　archers　stood。　After　a　time；　I　borrowed　a　bow；　and　in　my　three…fingered　style　unleashed　perhaps　a　hundred　arrows。　I　did　not　do　too　badly。　Then；　for　a　time；　I　watched　the　men　on　horseback；　with　their　lances；　shields；　maces。　I　moved　on。　I　watched　some　practice　in　hand…to…hand　bat。
　Finally；　I　wrestled　three　men　in　succession。　Then　I　did　feel　beat。　Absolutely。　Entirely。
　I　sat　down　on　a　bench　in　the　shade；　sweating；　breathing　heavily。　I　wondered　about　Lance；　about　Ganelon；　about　supper。　After　perhaps　ten　minutes；　I　made　my　way　back　to　the　room　I　had　been　given　and　I　bathed　again。
　By　then　I　was　ravenously　hungry；　so　I　set　forth　to　find　me　dinner　and　information。
　Before　I　had　gone　very　far　from　the　door；　one　of　the　guards　whom　I　recognized　from　the　previous　evening　…　the　one　who　had　guided　me　to　my　chamber　…　approached　and　said；　〃Lord　Ganelon　bids　you　dine　with　him　in　his　quarters；　at　the　ringing　of　the　dinner　bell。〃　I　thanked　him；　said　I　would　be　there；　returned　to　my　chamber；　and　rested　on　my　bed　until　it　was　time。　Then　I　made　my　way　forth　once　again。
　I　was　beginning　to　ache　deeply　and　I　had　a　few　additional　bruises。　I　decided　this　was　a　good　thing；　would　help　me　to　seem　older。　I　banged　on　Ganelon's　door　and　a　boy　admitted　me；　then　dashed　off　to　join　another　youth　who　was　spreading　a　table　near　to　the　fireplace。
　Ganelon　wore　a　green　shirt　and　trousers；　green　boots　and　belt；　sat　in　a　high…backed　chair。　He　rose　as　I　entered；　walked　forward　to　greet　me。
　〃Sir　Corey；　I've　heard　report　of　your　doings　this　day；〃　he　said；　clasping　my　hand。　〃It　makes　your　carrying　Lance　seem　more　believable。　I　must　say　you're　more　a　man　than　you　look　…　meaning　no　offense　by　that。〃
　I　chuckled。　〃No　offense。〃
　He　led　me　to　a　chair；　handed　me　a　glass　of　pale　wine　that　was　a　bit　too　sweet　for　my　taste；　then　said；　〃Looking　at　you。　I'd　say　I　could　push　you　over　with　one　hand　…　but　you　carried　Lance　five　leagues　and　killed　two　of　those　bastard　cats　on　the　way。　And　he　told　me　about　the　cairn　you　built；　of　big　stones　…〃
　〃How　is　Lance　feeling　today？〃　I　interrupted。
　〃I　had　t