rz.signoftheunicorn-第4部分

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paqued　since　I　had　skewered　it　upstairs。
　I　sat　up。　I　got　to　my　knees。　I　tried　my　ankle；　couldn't　use　it。　Nothing　around　to　serve　as　a　crutch；　either。　Okay。　I　crawled　then。　Away。　What　else　was　there　to　do？　Gain　as　much　ground　as　I　could　and　think　hard　while　I　was　about　it。
　Salvation　was　a　rock　…　one　of　the　smaller；　slower　ones；　only　about　the　size　of　a　moving　van。　When　I　saw　it　approaching；　it　occurred　to　me　that　here　was　transportation　if　I　could　make　it　aboard。　Maybe　some　safety；　too。　The　faster；　really　massive　ones　appeared　to　get　the　most　abuse。
　This　in　mind；　I　watched　the　big　ones　that　acpanied　my　own；　estimated　their　paths　and　velocities；　tried　to　gauge　the　movement　of　the　entire　system；　readied　myself　for　the　moment；　the　effort。　I　also　listened　to　the　approach　of　the　beast；　heard　the　cries　of　the　troops　from　the　edge　of　the　bluff；　wondered　whether　anyone　up　there　was　giving　odds　on　me　and　what　they　might　be　if　they　were。
　When　the　time　came；　I　went。　I　got　past　the　first　big　one　without　any　trouble；　but　had　to　wait　for　the　next　one　to　go　by。　I　took　a　chance　in　crossing　the　path　of　the　final　one。　Had　to；　to　make　it　in　time。
　I　made　it　to　the　right　spot　at　the　right　moment　caught　on　to　the　holds　I　had　been　eyeing；　and　was　dragged　maybe　twenty　feet　before　I　could　pull　myself　up　off　the　ground。　Then　I　hauled　my　way　to　its　unfortable　top；　sprawled　there；　and　looked　back。
　It　had　been　close。　Still　was；　for　that　matter；　as　the　beast　was　pacing　me；　its　one　good　eye　following　the　spinning　big　ones。
　From　overhead　I　heard　a　disappointed　wail。　Then　the　guys　started　down　the　slope；　shouting　what　I　took　to　be　encouragement　to　the　creature。　I　menced　massaging　my　ankle。　I　tried　to　relax。　The　brute　crossed　over；　passing　behind　the　first　big　rock　as　it　pleted　another　orbit。
　How　far　could　I　shift　through　Shadow　before　it　reached　me？　I　wondered。　True；　there　was　constant　movement；　a　changing　of　textures。。。
　The　thing　waited　for　the　second　rock；　slithered　by　behind　it；　paced　me　again；　drew　nearer。
　Shadow；　Shadow；　on　the　wing　…　
　The　men　were　almost　to　the　base　of　the　slope　by　then。　The　beast　was　waiting　for　its　opening　…　the　next　time　around　…　past　the　inner　satellite。　I　knew　that　it　was　capable　of　rearing　high　enough　to　snatch　me　from　my　perch。
　　…　e　alive　and　smear　that　thing？
　As　I　spun　and　glided　I　caught　hold　of　the　stuff　of　Shadow；　sank　into　the　feel　of　it；　worked　with　the　textures；　possible　to　probable　to　actual；　felt　it　ing　with　the　finest　twist；　gave　it　that　necessary　flip　at　the　appropriate　moment。。。
　It　came　in　from　the　beast's　blind　side；　of　course。　A　big　mother　of　a　rock；　careening　along　like　a　semi　out　of　control。。。
　It　would　have　been　more　elegant　to　mash　it　between　two　of　them。　However；　I　hadn't　the　time　for　finesse。　I　simply　ran　it　over　and　left　it　there；　thrashing　in　the　granite　traffic。
　Moments　later；　however；　inexplicably；　the　mashed　and　mangled　body　rose　suddenly　above　the　ground　and　drifted　skyward；　twisting。　It　kept　going；　buffeted　by　the　winds；　dwindling；　dwindling；　gone。
　My　own　rock　bore　me　away；　slowly；　steadily。　The　entire　pattern　was　drifting。　The　guys　from　the　tower　then　went　into　a　huddle　and　decided　to　pursue　me。　They　moved　away　from　the　base　of　the　slope；　began　to　make　their　way　across　the　plain。　But　this　was　no　real　problem；　I　felt。　I　would　ride　my　stony　mount　through　Shadow；　leaving　them　worlds　away。　This　was　by　far　the　easiest　course　of　action　open　to　me。　They　would　doubtless　have　been　more　difficult　to　take　by　surprise　than　the　beast。　After　all；　this　was　their　land；　they　were　wary　and　unmaimed。
　I　removed　the　goggles　and　tested　my　ankle　again。　I　stood　for　a　moment。　It　was　very　sore；　but　it　bore　my　weight。　I　reclined　once　more　and　tamed　my　thoughts　to　what　had　occurred。　I　had　lost　my　blade　and　I　was　now　in　less　than　top　shape。　Rather　than　go　on　with　the　venture　under　these　conditions；　I　knew　that　I　was　doing　the　safest；　wisest　thing　by　getting　the　hell　out。　I　had　gained　enough　knowledge　of　the　layout　and　the　conditions　for　my　chances　to　be　better　next　time　around。　All　right。。。
　The　sky　brightened　above　me；　the　colors　and　shadings　lost　something　of　their　arbitrary；　meandering　habit。　The　flames　began　to　subside　about　me。　Good。　Clouds　started　to　find　their　ways　across　the　sky。　Excellent。　Soon　a　localized　glow　began　behind　a　cloudbank。　Superb。　When　it　went　away；　a　sun　would　hang　once　again　in　the　heavens。
　I　looked　back　and　was　surprised　to　see　that　I　was　still　being　pursued。　However；　it　could　easily　be　that　I　had　not　dealt　properly　with　their　analogues　for　this　slice　of　Shadow。　It　is　never　good　to　assume　that　you　have　taken　care　of　everything　when　you　are　in　a　hurry。　So。。。
　I　shifted　again。　The　rock　gradually　altered　its　course；　shifted　its　shape；　lost　its　satellites；　moved　in　a　straight　line　toward　what　was　to　bee　the　west。　Above　me；　the　clouds　dispersed　and　a　pale　sun　shone　down。　We　picked　up　speed。　That　should　have　taken　care　of　everything　right　there。　I　had　positively　e　into　a　different　place。
　But　it　had　not。　When　I　looked　again；　they　were　still　ing。　True；　I　had　gained　some　distance　on　them。　But　the　party　trooped　right　along　after　me。
　Well；　all　right。　Things　like　that　can　sometimes　happen。
　There　were　of　course　two　possibilities。　My　mind　still　being　more　than　a　little　disturbed　from　all　that　had　just　occurred；　I　had　not　performed　ideally　and　had　drawn　them　along　with　me。　Or；　I　had　maintained　a　constant　where　I　should　have　suppressed　a　variable　…　that　is；　shifted　into　a　place　and　unconsciously　required　that　the　pursuit　element　be　present。　Different　guys　then；　but　still　chasing　me。
　I　rubbed　my　ankle　some　more。　The　sun　brightened　toward　orange。　A　wind　out　of　the　north　raised　a　screen　of　dust　and　sand　and　hung　it　at　my　back；　removing　the　gang　from　my　sight。　I　raced　on　into　the　west；　where　a　line　of　mountains　had　now　grown　up。　Time　was　in　a　distortion　phase。　My　ankle　felt　a　little　better。
　I　rested　a　while。　Mine　was　reasonably　fortable；　as　rocks　go。　No　sense　turning　it　into　a　hellride　when　everything　seemed　to　be　proceeding　smoothly。　I　stretched　out；　hands　behind　my　head；　and　watched　the　mountains　draw　nearer。　I　thought　about　Brand　and　the　tower。　That　was　the　place　all　right。　Everything　was　just　as　it　had　been　in　the　glimpse　he　had　given　me。　Except　for　the　guards；　of　course。　I　decided　that　I　would　cut　through　the　proper　piece　of　Shadow；　recruit　a　cohort　of　my　own；　then　go　back　and　give　them　hell。　Yes；　then　everything　would　be　fine。。。
　After　a　time；　I　stretched；　rolled　over　onto　my　stomach；　and　looked　back。　Damned　if　they　weren't　still　following　me！　They　had　even　gained　some。
　Naturally；　I　got　angry。　To　hell　with　flight！　They　were　asking　for　it；　and　it　was　time　they　got　it
　I　rose　to　my　feet。　My　ankle　was　only　half　sore；　a　little　numb。　I　raised　my　arms　and　looked　for　the　shadows　I　wanted。　I　found　them。
　Slowly　the　rock　swung　out　from　its　straight　course　into　an　arc；　turning　off　to　the　right。　The　curve　tightened。　I　swung　through　a　parabola　and　headed　back　toward　them；　my　velocity　gradually　increasing　as　I　went。　No　time　to　raise　a　storm　at　my　back；　though　I　thought　that　would　have　been　a　nice　touch　if　I　could　have　managed　it。
　As　I　swept　down　upon　them　…　there　were　maybe　two　dozen　…　they　prudently　began　to　scatter。　A　number　of　them　didn't　make　it；　though。　I　swung　through　another　curve　and　returned　as　soon　as　I　could。
　I　was　shaken　by　the　sight　of　several　corpses　rising　into　the　air；　dripping　gore；　two　of　them　already　high　above　me。
　I　was　almost　upon　them　on　that　second　pass　when　I　realized　that　a　few　of　them　had　jumped　aboard　as　I　had　gone　through。　The　first　one　over　the　edge　drew　his　blade　and　rushed　me。　I　blocked　his　arm；　took　the　weapon　away　from　him；　and　threw　him　back　down。　I　guess　it　was　then　that　I　became　aware　of　those　spurs　on　the　backs　of　their　hands。　I　had　been　slashed　by　his。
　By　that　time　I　was　the　target　of　a　number　of　curiously　shaped　missiles　from　below；　two　more　guys　were　ing　over　the　edge；　and　it　looked　as　if　several　more　might　have　made　it　aboard。
　Well；　even　Benedict　sometimes　retreats。　I　had　at　least　given　the　survivors　something　to　remember。
　I　let　go　of　the　shadows；　tore　a　barbed　wheel　from　my　side；　another　from　my　thigh；　hacked　off　a　guy's　swordarm　and　kicked　him　in　the　stomach；　dropped　to　my　knees　to　avoid　a　wild　swing　from　the　next　one；　and　caught　him　across　the　legs　with　my　riposte。　He　went　over；　too。
　There　were　five　more　on　the　way　up　and　we　were　sailing　westward　once　again；　leaving　perhaps　a　dozen　live　ones　to　regroup　on　the　sand　at　my　back；　a　sky　full　of　oozing　drifters　above　them。
　I　had　the　advantage　with　the　next　fellow　because　I　caught　him　just　partway　over　the　edge。　So　much　for　him；　and　then　there　were　four。
　While　I　had　been　dealing　with　him；　though；　three　more　had　arisen；　simultaneously；　at　three　different　points。
　I　rushed　the　nearest　and　dispatched　him；　but　the　other　two　made　it　over　and　were　upon　me　while　I　was　about　it。　As　I　defended　myself　from　their　attack；　the　final　one　came　up　and　joined　them。
　They　were　not　all　that　good；　but　it　was　getting　crowded　and　there　were　a　lot　of　points　and　sharp　edges　straying　about　me。　I　kept　parrying　and　moving；　trying　to　get　them　to　block　one　another；　get　in　each　other's　way。　I　was　partly　successful；　and　when　I　had　the　best　lineup　I　thought　I　was　going　to　get；　I　rushed　them；　taking　a　couple　of　cuts　…　I　had　to　lay　myself　open　a　bit　to　do　it　…　but　splitting　one　skull　for　my　pains。　He　went　over　the　edge　and　took　the　second　one　with　him　in　a　tangle　of　limbs　and　gear。
　Unfortunately；　the　inconsiderate　lout　had　carried　off　my　blade；　snagged　in　some　bony　cleft　or　other　he　had　chosen　to　interpose　when　I　swung。　It　was　obviously　my　day　for　losing　blades；　and　I　wondered　if　my　horoscope　would　have　mentioned　it　if　I　had　thought　to　look　before　I'd　set　out。
　Anyhow；　I　moved　quickly　to　avoid　the　final　guy's　swing。　In　doing　so；　I　slipped　on　some　blood　and　went　skidding　toward　the　front　of　the　rock。　If　I　went　down　that　way；　it　would　plow　right　over　me；　leaving　a　very　flat　Random　there；　like　an　exotic　rug；　to　puzzle　and　delight　future　wayfarers。
　I　clawed　for　handholds　as　I　slid；　and　the　guy　took　a　couple　of　quick　steps　toward　me；　raising　his　blade　to　do　unto　me　as　I　had　his　b