rz.thegunsofavalon-第4部分

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ones　…〃
　〃How　is　Lance　feeling　today？〃　I　interrupted。
　〃I　had　to　place　a　guard　in　his　chamber　to　be　sure　he　rested。　The　muscle…bound　clod　wanted　to　get　up　and　walk　around。　He'll　stay　there　all　week；　though；　by　God！〃
　〃Then　he　must　be　feeling　better。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃Here's　to　his　health。〃
　〃I'll　drink　to　that。〃
　We　drank。　Then：　〃Had　I　an　army　of　men　like　you　and　Lance；〃　he　said；　〃the　story　might　have　been　different。〃
　〃What　story？〃
　〃The　Circle　and　its　Wardens；〃　he　said。　〃You've　not　heard　of　it？〃
　〃Lance　mentioned　it。　That's　all。〃
　One　boy　tended　an　enormous　chunk　of　beef　on　a　spit　above　a　low　fire。　Occasionally；　he　sloshed　some　wine　over　it　as　he　turned　the　shaft。　Whenever　the　odor　drifted　my　way；　my　stomach　would　rumble　and　Ganelon　would　chuckle。　The　other　boy　left　the　room　to　fetch　bread　from　the　kitchen。
　Ganelon　was　silent　a　long　while。　He　finished　his　wine　and　poured　himself　another　glass。　I　sipped　slowly　at　my　first。
　〃Have　you　ever　heard　of　Avalon？〃　he　finally　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　I　replied。　〃There　is　a　verse　I　heard　long　ago　from　a　passing　bard：　〃Beyond　the　River　of　the　Blessed；　there　we　sat　down；　yea；　we　wept；　when　we　remembered　Avalon。　Our　swords　were　shattered　in　our　hands　and　we　hung　our　shields　on　the　oak　tree。　The　silver　towers　were　fallen；　into　a　sea　of　blood。　How　many　miles　to　Avalon？　None；　I　say；　and　all。　The　silver　towers　are　fallen。'〃
　〃Avalon　fallen。。。？〃　he　said。
　〃I　think　the　man　was　mad。　I　know　of　no　Avalon。　His　verse　stayed　in　my　mind；　though。〃
　Ganelon　averted　his　face　and　did　not　speak　again　for　several　minutes。　When　he　did；　his　voice　was　altered。
　〃There　was；〃　he　said。　〃There　was　such　a　place。　I　lived　there；　years　ago。　I　did　not　know　it　was　fallen。〃
　〃How　came　you　here　from　that　place？〃　I　asked　him。
　〃I　was　exiled　by　its　sorcerer　Lord；　Corwin　of　Amber。　He　sent　me　through　darkness　and　madness　to　this　place；　that　I　might　suffer　and　die　here　…　and　I　have　suffered　and　e　near　to　the　final　lay　many　a　time。　I've　tried　to　find　the　way　back；　but　nobody　knows　it。　I've　spoken　with　sorcerers；　and　even　a　captured　creature　of　the　Circle　before　we　slew　the　thing。　But　none　knew　the　road　to　Avalon。　It　is　as　the　bard　said；　'No　miles；　and　all；'〃　he　misquoted　my　lyric。　〃Do　you　recall　the　bard's　name？〃
　〃I　am　sorry；　but　I　do　not。〃
　〃Where　is　this　Cabra　place　you　are　from？〃
　〃Far　to　the　east；　across　the　waters；〃　I　said。　〃Very　far。　It　is　an　island　kingdom。〃
　〃Any　chance　they　could　furnish　us　with　some　troops？　I　can　afford　to　pay　quite　a　bit。〃　I　shook　my　head。
　〃It　is　a　small　place　with　a　small　militia；　and　it　would　be　several　months'　travel　both　ways　…　sea　and　land。　They　have　never　fought　as　mercenaries；　and　for　that　matter　they　are　not　very　warlike。〃
　〃Then　you　seem　to　differ　a　great　deal　from　your　countrymen；〃　he　said；　looking　at　me　once　more。　I　sipped　my　wine。
　〃I　was　an　arms　instructor；〃　I　said；　〃to　the　Royal　Guard。〃
　〃Then　you　might　be　inclined　to　hire　out；　to　help　train　my　troops？〃
　〃I'll　stay　a　few　weeks　and　do　that；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded　a　tight…lipped　microsecond　of　a　smile；　then；　〃It　saddens　me　to　hear　this　indication　that　fair　Avalon　is　gone；〃　he　said。　〃But　if　it　is　so；　it　means　that　my　exiler　is　also　likely　dead。〃　He　drained　his　wineglass。　〃So　even　the　demon　came　to　a　time　when　he　could　not　defend　his　own；〃　he　mused。　〃That's　a　heartening　thought。　It　means　we　might　have　a　chance　here；　against　these　demons。〃
　〃Begging　your　pardon；〃　I　said；　sticking　my　neck　out　for　what　I　thought　good　reason；　〃if　you　were　referring　to　that　Corwin　of　Amber；　he　did　not　die　when　whatever　happened　happened。〃　The　glass　snapped　in　his　hand。
　〃You　know　Corwin？〃　he　said。
　〃No；　but　I　know　of　him；〃　I　replied。　〃Several　years　ago；　I　met　one　of　his　brothers　…　a　fellow　named　Brand。　He　told　me　of　the　place　called　Amber；　and　of　the　battle　in　which　Corwin　and　a　brother　of　his　named　Bleys　led　a　horde　against　their　brother　Eric；　who　held　the　city。　Bleys　fell　from　the　mountain　Kolvir　and　Corwin　was　taken　prisoner。　Corwin's　eyes　were　put　out　after　Eric's　coronation；　and　he　was　cast　into　the　dungeons　beneath　Amber；　where　he　may　yet　remain　if　he　has　not　since　died。〃
　Ganelon's　face　was　drained　of　color　as　I　spoke。
　〃All　those　names　you　mentioned　…　Brand；　Bleys；　Eric；〃　he　said。　〃I　heard　him　mention　them　in　days　long　gone　by。　How　long　ago　did　you　hear　of　this　thing？〃
　〃It　was　about　four　years　back。〃
　〃He　deserved　better。〃
　〃After　what　he　did　to　you？〃
　〃Well；〃　said　the　man；　〃I've　had　a　lot　of　time　to　think　about　it；　and　it　is　not　as　if　I　gave　him　no　cause　for　what　he　did。　He　was　strong　…　stronger　than　you　or　Lance；　even　…　and　clever。　Also；　he　could　be　merry　on　occasion。　Eric　should　have　killed　him　quickly；　not　the　way　that　he　did。　I've　no　love　for　him；　but　my　hate's　died　down　a　bit。　The　demon　deserved　better　than　he　got；　that's　all。〃
　The　second　boy　returned　with　a　basket　of　bread。　The　one　who　had　prepared　the　meat　removed　it　from　the　spit　and　set　it　on　a　platter　in　the　center　of　the　table。
　Ganelon　nodded　toward　it。
　〃Let's　eat；〃　he　said。
　He　rose　and　moved　to　the　table。
　I　followed。　We　did　not　talk　much　during　the　meal。
　
　***
　
　After　stuffing　myself　until　my　stomach　would　hold　no　more　and　soaking　down　its　contents　with　another　glass　of　too…sweet　wine；　I　began　to　yawn。　Ganelon　cursed　after　the　third　one。
　〃Damn　it；　Corey！　Stop　that！　It's　contagious！〃　He　stifled　a　yawn　of　his　own。
　〃Let's　take　some　air；〃　he　said；　rising。
　So　we　walked　out　along　the　walls；　passing　the　sentries　in　their　rounds。　They　would　e　to　attention　and　salute　Ganelon　as　soon　as　they　saw　who　it　was　approaching；　and　he　would　give　them　a　word　of　greeting　and　we　would　move　on。　We　came　to　a　battlement；　where　we　paused　to　rest；　seating　ourselves　on　the　stone；　sucking　in　the　evening　air；　cool　and　damp　and　full　of　the　forest；　and　noting　the　appearance　of　the　stars；　one　by　one；　in　the　darkening　sky。　The　stone　was　cold　beneath　me。　Far　off　in　the　distance；　I　thought　I　could　detect　the　shimmer　of　the　sea。　I　heard　a　night　bird；　from　somewhere　below　us。　Ganelon　produced　a　pipe　and　tobacco　from　a　pouch　he　wore　at　his　belt。　He　filled　it；　tamped　it；　and　struck　a　flame。　His　face　would　have　been　satanic　in　the　spark　light；　save　for　whatever　turned　his　mouth　downward　and　drew　the　muscles　in　his　cheeks　up　into　that　angle　formed　by　the　inner　corners　of　his　eyes　and　the　sharp　bridge　of　his　nose。　A　devil　is　supposed　to　have　an　evil　grin；　and　this　one　looked　too　morose。
　I　smelled　the　smoke。　After　a　time；　he　began　to　speak；　softly　and　very　slowly　at　first：
　〃I　remember　Avalon；〃　he　began。　〃My　birth　there　was　not　ignoble；　but　virtue　was　never　one　of　my　strong　points。　I　went　through　my　inheritance　quickly　and　I　took　to　the　roads　where　I　waylaid　travelers。　Later；　I　joined　with　a　band　of　other　men　such　as　myself。　When　I　discovered　I　was　the　strongest　and　most　fit　to　lead；　I　became　the　leader。　There　were　prices　on　all　our　heads。　Mine　was　the　highest。〃
　He　spoke　more　rapidly　now；　and　his　voice　grew　more　refined　and　his　choice　of　words　came　as　an　echo　from　out　of　his　past。
　〃Yes；　I　remember　Avalon；〃　he　said；　〃a　place　of　silver　and　shade　and　cool　waters；　where　the　stars　shone　like　bonfires　at　night　and　the　green　of　day　was　always　the　green　of　spring。　Youth；　love；　beauty　…　I　knew　them　in　Avalon。　Proud　steeds；　bright　metal；　soft　lips；　dark　ale。　Honor。。。〃
　He　shook　his　head。
　〃One　later　day；〃　he　said；　〃when　war　menced　within　the　realm；　the　ruler　offered　full　pardon　to　any　outlaws　who　would　follow　him　in　battle　against　the　insurgents。　This　was　Corwin。　I　threw　in　with　him　and　rode　off　to　the　wars。　I　became　an　officer；　and　then　…　later　…　a　member　of　his　staff。　We　won　the　battles；　put　down　the　uprising。　Then　Corwin　ruled　peacefully　once　more；　and　I　remained；　at　his　court。　Those　were　the　good　years。　There　later　came　some　border　skirmishes；　but　these　we　always　won。　He　trusted　me　to　handle　such　things　for　him。　Then　he　granted　a　Dukedom　to　dignify　the　House　of　a　minor　noble　whose　daughter　he　desired　in　marriage。　I　had　wanted　that　Dukedom；　and　he　had　long　hinted　it　might　one　day　be　mine。　I　was　furious；　and　I　betrayed　my　mand　the　next　time　I　was　dispatched　to　settle　a　dispute　along　the　southern　border；　where　something　was　always　stirring。　Many　of　my　men　died；　and　the　invaders　entered　into　the　realm。　Before　they　could　be　routed；　Lord　Corwin　himself　had　to　take　up　arms　once　more。　The　invaders　had　e　through　in　great　strength；　and　I　thought　they　would　conquer　the　realm。　I　hoped　they　would。　But　Corwin；　again；　with　his　foxy　tactics；　prevailed。　I　fled；　but　was　captured　and　taken　to　him　for　sentencing。　I　cursed　him　and　spat　at　him。　I　would　not　bow。　I　hated　the　ground　he　trod；　and　a　condemned　man　has　no　reason　not　to　put　up　the　best　front　he　can；　to　go　out　like　a　man。　Corwin　said　he　would　show　me　a　measure　of　mercy　for　favors　past。　I　told　him　to　shove　his　mercy；　and　then　I　realized　that　he　was　mocking　me。　He　ordered　me　released　and　he　approached　me。　I　knew　he　could　kill　me　with　his　hands。　I　tried　to　fight　with　him；　but　to　no　avail。　He　struck　me　once　and　I　fell。　When　I　awakened；　I　was　strapped　across　his　horse's　rump。　He　rode　along；　jibing　at　me　the　while。　I　would　not　reply　to　anything　he　said；　but　we　rode　through　wondrous　lands　and　lands　out　of　nightmare；　which　is　one　way　I　learned　of　his　sorcerous　power　…　for　no　traveler　I　have　ever　met　has　passed　through　the　places　I　saw　that　day。　Then　he　pronounced　my　exile；　released　me　in　this　place；　turned；　and　rode　away。〃
　He　paused　to　relight　his　pipe；　which　had　gone　out；　puffed　upon　it　for　a　time；　went　on：　〃Many　a　bruising；　cudgeling；　biting；　and　beating　did　I　take　in　this　place；　at　the　hands　of　man　and　beast；　only　barely　preserving　my　life。　He　had　left　me　in　the　wickedest　portion　of　the　realm。　But　then　one　day　my　fortunes　took　a　turn。　An　armored　knight　bade　me　depart　the　roadway　that　he　might　pass。　At　that　point；　I　cared　not　whether　I　lived　or　died；　so　I　called　him　a　pock…marked　whoreson　and　bade　him　go　to　the　Devil。　He　charged　me　and　I　seized　his　lance　and　pushed　its　point　into　the　ground；　so　unhorsing　him。　I　drew　him　a　smile　beneath　his　chin　with　his　own　dagger；　and　thus　obtained　me　mounting　and　weapons。　Then　did　I　set　about　paying　back　those　who　had　used　me　poorly。　I　took　up　my　old　trade　on　the　highways　on