rz.thehandofoberon-第19部分

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ail　…　green　and　yellow　and　purple　…　and　there　came　a　rumble　of　distant　thunders。　The　clearing　widened；　lengthened。　It　became　pletely　level。
　I　heard　once　again　the　sound　of　the　horn。　I　turned　for　another　look。
　It　bounded　into　view　then；　and　I　realized　at　that　instant　that　I　was　not　the　object　of　the　hunt；　that　the　riders；　the　dogs；　the　bird；　were　pursuing　the　thing　that　ran　behind　me。　Of　course；　this　was　a　rather　academic　distinction；　in　that　I　was　in　front；　and　quite　possibly　the　object　of　its　hunt。　I　leaned　forward；　shouting　to　Drum　and　digging　in　with　my　knees；　realizing　even　as　I　did　that　the　abomination　was　moving　faster　than　we　could。　It　was　a　panic　reaction。
　I　was　being　pursued　by　a　manticora。
　The　last　time　I　had　seen　its　like　was　on　the　day　before　the　battle　in　which　Eric　died。　As　I　had　led　my　troops　up　the　rearward　slopes　of　Kolvir；　it　had　appeared　to　tear　a　man　named　Rall　in　half。　We　had　dispatched　it　with　automatic　weapons。　The　thing　proved　twelve　feet　in　length；　and　like　this　one　it　had　worn　a　human　face　on　the　head　and　shoulders　of　a　lion；　it；　too；　had　had　a　pair　of　eaglelike　wings　folded　against　its　sides　and　the　long　pointed　tail　of　a　scorpion　curving　in　the　air　above　it。　A　number　of　them　had　somehow　wandered　in　from　Shadow　to　devil　our　steps　as　we　headed　for　that　battle。　There　was　no　reason　to　believe　all　of　them　had　been　accounted　for；　save　that　none　had　been　reported　since　that　time　and　no　evidence　of　their　continued　existence　in　the　vicinity　of　Amber　had　e　to　light。　Apparently；　this　one　had　wandered　down　into　Arden　and　been　living　in　the　forest　since　that　time。
　A　final　glance　showed　me　that　I　might　be　pulled　down　in　moments　if　I　did　not　make　a　stand。　It　also　showed　me　a　dark　avalanche　of　dogs　rushing　down　the　hill。
　I　did　not　know　the　intelligence　or　psychology　of　the　manticora。　Most　fleeing　beasts　will　not　stop　to　attack　something　which　is　not　bothering　them。　Self…preservation　is　generally　foremost　in　their　minds。　On　the　other　hand；　I　was　not　certain　that　the　manticora　even　realized　that　it　was　being　pursued。　It　might　have　started　out　on　my　trail　and　only　had　its　own　picked　up　afterward。　It　might　have　only　the　one　thing　on　its　mind。　It　was　hardly　a　time　to　pause　and　reflect　on　all　the　possibilities。
　I　drew　Grayswandir　and　turned　my　mount　to　the　left；　pulling　back　on　the　reins　immediately　as　he　made　the　turn。
　Drum　screamed　and　rose　high　onto　his　hind　legs。　I　felt　myself　sliding　backward；　so　I　jumped　to　the　ground　and　leaped　to　the　side。
　But　I　had；　for　the　moment；　forgotten　the　speed　of　the　storm…hounds；　had　also　forgotten　how　easily　they　had　once　overtaken　Random　and　myself　in　Flora's　Mercedes；　had　also　forgotten　that　unlike　ordinary　dogs　chasing　cars；　they　had　begun　tearing　the　vehicle　apart。
　Suddenly；　they　were　all　over　the　manticora；　a　dozen　or　more　dogs；　leaping　and　biting。　The　beast　threw　back　its　head　and　uttered　another　cry　as　they　struck　at　it。　It　swept　that　vicious　tail　through　them；　sending　one　flying；　stunning　or　killing　two　others。　It　reared　then　and　turned；　striking　out　with　its　forelegs　as　it　descended。
　But　even　as　it　did　this；　a　hound　attached　itself　to　its　left　foreleg；　two　more　were　at　its　haunches　and　one　had　scrambled　onto　its　back；　biting　at　its　shoulder　and　neck。　The　others　were　circling　it　now。　As　soon　as　it　would　go　after　one；　the　others　would　dart　in　and　slash　at　it。
　It　finally　caught　the　one　on　its　back　with　its　scorpion　sting　and　disembowled　the　one　gnawing　at　its　leg。　However；　it　was　running　blood　from　a　double　dozen　wounds　by　then。　Shortly；　it　became　apparent　that　the　leg　was　giving　it　trouble；　both　for　striking　purposes　and　for　bearing　its　weight　when　it　struck　with　the　others。　In　the　meantime；　another　dog　had　mounted　its　back　and　was　tearing　at　its　neck。　It　seemed　to　be　having　a　more　difficult　time　getting　at　this　one。　Another　came　in　from　its　right　and　shredded　its　ear。　Two　more　plied　its　haunches；　and　when　it　reared　again　one　rushed　in　and　tore　at　its　belly。　Their　barks　and　growls　also　seemed　to　be　confusing　it　somewhat；　and　it　began　striking　wildly　at　the　ever…moving　gray　shapes。
　I　had　caught　hold　of　Drum's　bridle　and　was　trying　to　calm　him　sufficiently　to　remount　and　get　the　hell　out　of　there。　He　kept　trying　to　rear　and　pull　away；　and　it　took　considerable　persuasion　even　to　hold　him　in　place。
　In　the　meantime；　the　manticora　let　out　a　bitter；　wailing　cry。　It　had　struck　wildly　at　the　dog　on　its　back　and　driven　its　sting　into　its　own　shoulder。　The　dogs　took　advantage　of　this　distraction　and　rushed　in　wherever　there　was　an　opening；　snapping　and　tearing。
　I　am　certain　the　dogs　would　have　finished　it；　but　at　that　moment　the　riders　topped　the　hill　and　descended。　There　were　five　of　them；　Julian　in　the　lead。　He　had　on　his　scaled　white　armor　and　his　hunting　horn　hung　about　his　neck。　He　rode　his　gigantic　steed　Morgenstern；　a　beast　which　has　always　hated　me。　He　raised　the　long　lance　that　he　bore　and　saluted　with　it　in　my　direction。　Then　he　lowered　it　and　shouted　orders　to　the　dogs。　Grudgingly；　they　dropped　away　from　the　prey。　Even　the　dog　on　the　manticora's　back　loosened　its　grip　and　leaped　to　the　ground。　All　of　them　drew　back　as　Julian　couched　the　lance　and　touched　his　spurs　to　Morgenstern's　sides。
　The　beast　turned　toward　him；　gave　a　final　cry　of　defiance；　and　leaped　ahead；　fangs　bared。　They　came　together；　and　for　a　moment　my　view　was　blocked　by　Morgenstern's　shoulder。　Another　moment；　however；　and　I　knew　from　the　horse's　behavior　that　the　blow　had　been　a　true　one。
　A　turning；　and　I　saw　the　beast　stretched　out；　great　gouts　of　blood　upon　its　breast；　flowering　about　the　dark　stem　of　the　lance。
　Julian　dismounted。　He　said　something　to　the　other　riders　which　I　did　not　overhear。　They　remained　mounted。　He　regarded　the　still…twitching　manticora；　then　looked　at　me　and　smiled。　He　crossed　and　placed　his　foot　upon　the　beast；　seized　the　lance　with　one　hand；　and　wrenched　it　from　the　carcass。　Then　he　drove　it　into　the　ground　and　tethered　Morgenstem　to　its　shaft。　He　reached　up　and　patted　the　horse's　shoulder；　looked　back　at　me；　turned；　and　headed　in　my　direction。
　When　he　came　up　before　me　he　said；　〃I　wish　you　hadn't　killed　Bela。〃
　〃Bela？〃　I　repeated。
　He　glanced　at　the　sky。　I　followed　his　gaze。　Neither　bird　was　now　in　sight。
　〃He　was　one　of　my　favorites。〃
　〃I　am　sorry；〃　I　said。　〃I　misunderstood　what　was　going　on。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃All　right。　I've　done　something　for　you。　Now　you　can　tell　me　what　happened　after　I　left　the　palace。　Did　Brand　make　it？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃and　you're　off　the　hook　on　that。　He　claimed　Fiona　stabbed　him。　And　she　was　not　around　to　question　either。　She　departed　during　the　night；　also。　It's　a　wonder　you　didn't　bump　into　one　another。〃
　He　smiled。
　〃I'd　have　guessed　as　much；〃　he　said。
　〃Why　did　you　flee　under　such　suspicious　circumstances？〃　I　asked。　〃It　made　it　look　bad　for　you。〃
　He　shrugged。
　〃It　would　not　be　the　first　time　I've　been　falsely　accused；　suspected。　And　for　that　matter；　if　intent　counts　for　anything；　I　am　as　guilty　as　our　little　sister。　I'd　have　done　it　myself　if　I　could。　In　fact；　I'd　a　blade　ready　the　night　we　fetched　him　back。　Only；　I　was　crowded　aside。〃
　〃But　why？〃　I　asked。
　He　laughed。
　〃Why？　I　am　afraid　of　the　bastard；　that's　why。　For　a　long　while；　I　had　thought　he　was　dead；　and　certainly　hoped　so　…　finally　claimed　by　the　dark　powers　he　dealt　with。　How　much　do　you　really　know　about　him；　Corwin？〃
　〃We　had　a　long　talk。〃
　〃And。。。？〃
　〃He　admitted　that　he　and　Bleys　and　Fiona　had　formed　a　plan　to　claim　the　throne。　They　would　see　Bleys　crowned；　but　each　would　share　the　real　power。　They　had　used　the　forces　you　referred　to；　to　assure　Dad's　absence。　Brand　said　that　he　had　attempted　to　win　Caine　to　their　cause；　but　that　Caine　had　instead　gone　to　you　and　to　Eric。　The　three　of　you　then　formed　a　similar　cabal　to　seize　power　before　they　could；　by　placing　Eric　on　the　throne。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃The　events　are　in　order；　but　the　reason　is　not。　We　did　not　want　the　throne；　at　least　not　that　abruptly；　nor　at　that　time。　We　formed　our　group　to　oppose　their　group；　because　it　had　to　be　opposed　to　protect　the　throne。　At　first；　the　most　we　could　persuade　Eric　to　do　was　to　assume　a　Protectorship。　He　was　afraid　he　would　quickly　turn　up　dead　if　he　saw　himself　crowned　under　those　conditions。　Then　you　turned　up；　with　your　very　legitimate　claim。　We　could　not　afford　to　let　you　press　it　at　that　time；　because　Brand's　crowd　was　threatening　out…and…out　war。　We　felt　they　would　be　less　inclined　to　make　this　move　if　the　throne　were　already　occupied。　We　could　not　have　seated　you；　because　you　would　have　refused　to　be　a　puppet；　a　role　you　would　have　had　to　play　since　the　game　was　already　in　progress　and　you　were　ignorant　on　too　many　fronts。　So　we　persuaded　Eric　to　take　the　risk　and　be　crowned。　That　was　how　it　happened。〃
　〃So　when　I　did　arrive　he　put　out　my　eyes　and　threw　me　in　the　dungeon　for　laughs。〃
　Julian　turned　away　and　looked　back　at　the　dead　manticora。
　〃You　are　a　fool；〃　he　finally　said。　〃You　were　a　tool　from　the　very　beginning。　They　used　you　to　force　our　hand；　and　either　way　you　lost。　If　that　half…assed　attack　of　Bleys's　had　somehow　succeeded；　you　wouldn't　have　lasted　long　enough　to　draw　a　deep　breath。　If　it　failed；　as　it　did；　Bleys　disappeared；　as　he　did；　leaving　you　with　your　life　forfeit　for　attempted　usurpation。　You　had　served　your　purpose　and　you　had　to　die。　They　left　us　small　choice　in　the　matter。　By　rights；　we　should　have　killed　you　…　and　you　know　it。〃
　I　bit　my　lip。　There　were　many　things　I　might　say。　But　if　he　was　telling　something　approximating　the　truth；　he　did　have　a　point。　And　I　did　want　to　hear　more。
　〃Eric；〃　he　said；　〃figured　that　your　eyesight　might　eventually　be　restored　…　knowing　the　way　we　regenerate　…　given　time。　It　was　a　very　delicate　situation。　If　Dad　were　to　return；　Eric　could　step　down　and　justify　all　of　his　actions　to　anyone's　satisfaction　…　except　for　killing　you。　That　would　have　been　too　patent　a　move　to　ensure　his　own　continued　reign　beyond　the　troubles　of　the　moment。　And　I　will　tell　you　frankly　that　he　simply　wanted　to　imprison　you　and　forget　you。〃
　〃Then　whose　idea　was　the　blinding？〃
　He　was　silent　again　for　a　long　while。　Then　he　spoke　very　softly；　almost　a　whisper：　〃Hear　me　out；　please。　It　w