rz.thehandofoberon-第2部分
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d its beak and repeated the cawing sound。
At that moment we were distracted。
Iago had entered the Pattern； well to the side of the darkened area。 Five or six meters into it； standing obliquely across the lines of power； he was caught near one of the Veil points like an insect on a piece of flypaper。 He cried loudly as the sparks came up about him and his mane rose and stood erect。
Immediately； the sky began to darken directly overhead。 But it was no cloud of water vapor which had begun to coalesce。 Rather； it was a perfectly circular formation which had appeared； red at the center； yellow nearer the edges； turning in a clockwise direction。 A sound like a single bell chime followed by the growl of a bull…roarer suddenly came to our ears。
Iago continued his struggles； first freeing his right front foot； then entangling it again as he freed the left； neighing wildly the while。 The sparks were up to his shoulders by then； and he shook them like raindrops from his body and neck； his entire form taking on a soft； buttery glow。
The roaring increased in volume and small lightnings began to play at the heart of the red thing above us。 A rattling noise caught my attention at that moment； and I glanced downward to discover that the purple griffin had slithered past and moved to interpose itself between us and the loud red phenomenon。 It crouched like a gargoyle； facing away from us； watching the spectacle。
Just then； Iago freed both front feet and reared。 There was something insubstantial about him by then； what with his brightness and the spark…shot indistinctness of his outline。 He might have neighed at that moment； but all other sounds were submerged by the incessant roar from above。
A funnel descended from the noisy formation … bright； flashing； wailing now； and tremendously fast。 It touched the rearing horse； and for a moment his outline expanded enormously； being increasingly tenuous in direct proportion to this effect。 And then he was gone。 For a brief interval； the funnel remained stationary； like a perfectly balanced top。 Then the sound began to diminish。
The trunk raised itself； slowly； to a point but a small distance … perhaps the height of a man … above the Pattern。 Then it snapped upward as quickly as it had descended。
The wailing ceased。 The roaring began to subside。 The miniature lightnings faded within the circle。 The entire formation began to pale and slow。 A moment later； it was but a bit of darkness； another moment and it was gone。
No trace of Iago remained anywhere that I could see。
〃Don't ask me；〃 I said when Random turned toward me。 〃I don't know either。〃
He nodded； then directed his attention toward our purple panion； who was just then rattling his chain。
〃What about Charlie here？〃 he asked； fingering his blade。
〃I had the distinct impression he was trying to protect us；〃 I said； taking a step forward。 〃Cover me。 I want to try something。〃
〃You sure you can move fast enough？〃 he asked。 〃With that side。。。〃
〃Don't worry；〃 I said； a trifle more heartily than necessary； and I kept moving。
He was correct about my left side； where the healing knife wound still ached dully and seemed to exercise a drag on my movements。 But Grayswandir was still in my right hand and this was one of those occasions when my trust in my instincts was running high。 I had relied on this feeling in the past with good results。 There are times when such gambles just seem to be in order。
Random moved ahead and to the right。 I turned sidewise and extended my left hand as you would in introducing yourself to a strange dog； slowly。 Our heraldic panion had risen from its crouch and was turning。
It faced us again and studied Ganelon； off to my left。 Then it regarded my hand。 It lowered its head and repeated the ground…striking movement； cawed very softly … a small； bubbling sound … raised its head and slowly extended it。 It wagged its great tail； touched my fingers with its beak； then repeated the performance。 Carefully； I placed my hand on its head。 The wagging increased； its head remained motionless。 I scratched it gently about the neck and it turned its head slowly then； as if enjoying it。 I withdrew my hand and dropped back a pace。
〃I think we're friends；〃 I said softly。 〃Now you try it。 Random。〃
〃Are you kidding？〃
〃No； I'm sure you're safe。 Try it。〃
〃What will you do if you are wrong？〃
〃Apologize。〃
〃Great。〃
He advanced and offered his hand。 The beast remained friendly。
〃All right；〃 he said half a minute or so later； still stroking its neck； 〃what have we proved？〃
〃That he is a watchdog。〃
〃What is he watching？〃
〃The Pattern； apparently。〃
〃Offhand then；〃 said Random； moving back； 〃I would say that his work leaves something to be desired。〃 He gestured at the dark area。 〃Which is understandable； if he is this friendly to anyone who doesn't eat oats and whinny。〃
〃My guess is that he is quite selective。 It is also possible that he was set here after the damage was done； to defend against further unappreciated activity。〃
〃Who set him？〃
〃I'd like to know myself。 Someone on our side； apparently。〃
〃You can now test your theory further by letting Ganelon approach him。〃
Ganelon did not move。
〃It may be you have a family smell about you；〃 he finally said； 〃and he only favors Amberites。 So I will pass； thank you。〃
〃All right。 It is not that important。 Your guesses have been good so far。 How do you interpret events？〃
〃Of the two factions out for the throne；〃 he said； 〃that posed of Brand； Fiona； and Bleys was； as you said； more aware of the nature of the forces that play about Amber。 Brand did not supply you with particulars … unless you omitted some incidents he might have related … but my guess is that this damage to the Pattern represents the means by which their allies gained access to your realm。 One or more of them did that damage； which provided the dark route。 If the watchdog here responds to a family smell or some other identifying information you all possess； then he could actually have been here all along and not seen fit to move against the despoilers。〃
〃Possibly；〃 Random observed。 〃Any idea how it was acplished？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 he replied。 〃I will let you demonstrate it for me； if you are willing。〃
〃What does it involve？〃
〃e this way；〃 he said； turning and heading over to the edge of the Pattern。
I followed him。 Random did the same。 The watchgriffin slunk at my side。
Ganelon turned and extended his hand。
〃Corwin； may I trouble you for that dagger I fetched us？〃
〃Here；〃 I said； drawing it from my belt and passing it over。
〃I repeat； what does it involve？〃 Random inquired。
〃The blood of Amber；〃 Ganelon replied。
〃I am not so sure I like this idea；〃 Random said。
〃All you have to do is prick your finger with it；〃 he said； extending the blade； 〃and let a drop fall upon the Pattern。〃
〃What will happen？〃
〃Let's try it and see。〃
Random looked at me。
〃What do you say？〃 he asked。
〃Go ahead。 Let's find out。 I'm intrigued。〃
He nodded。
〃Okay。〃
He received the blade from Ganelon and nicked the tip of his left little finger。 He squeezed the finger then； holding it above the Pattern。 A tiny red bead appeared； grew larger； quivered； fell。
Immediately； a wisp of smoke rose from the spot where it struck； acpanied by a tiny crackling noise。
〃I'll be damned！〃 said Random； apparently fascinated。
A tiny stain had e into being； gradually spreading to about the size of a half dollar。
〃There you are；〃 said Ganelon。 〃That is how it was done。〃
The stain was indeed a miniature counterpart of the massive blot further to our right。 The watchgrifiin gave forth a small shriek and drew back； rapidly turning his head from one of us to the other。
〃Easy； fellow。 Easy；〃 I said； reaching out and calming him once more。
〃But what could have caused such a large … 〃 Random began； and then he nodded slowly。
〃What indeed？〃 said Ganelon。 〃I see no mark to show where your horse was destroyed。〃
〃The blood of Amber；〃 Random said。 〃You are just full of insights today； aren't you？〃
〃Ask Corwin to tell you of Lorraine； the place where I dwelled for so long；〃 he said； 〃the place where the dark circle grew。 I am alert to the effects of those powers； though I knew them then only at a distance。 These matters have bee clearer to me with each new thing I have learned from you。 Yes； I have insights now that I know more of these workings。 Ask Corwin of the mind of his general。〃
〃Corwin；〃 Random said； 〃give me the pierced Trump。〃
I withdrew it from my pocket and smoothed it。 The stains seemed more ominous now。 Another thing also struck me。 I did not believe that it had been executed by Dworkin； sage； mage； artist； and one…time mentor to the children of Oberon。 It had not occurred to me until that moment that anyone else might be capable of producing one。 While the style of this one did seem somehow familiar； it was not his work。 Where had I seen that deliberate line before； less spontaneous than the master's； as though every movement had been totally intellectualized before the pen touched the paper？ And there was something else wrong with it … a quality of idealization of a different order from that of our own Trumps； almost as if the artist had been working with old memories； glimpses； or descriptions rather than a living subject。
〃The Trump； Corwin。 If you please；〃 Random said。
There was that about the way in which he said it to make me hesitate。 It gave rise to the feeling that he was somehow a jump ahead of me on something important； a feeling which I did not like at all。
〃I've petted old ugly here for you； and I've just bled for the cause； Corwin。 Now let's have it。〃
I handed it over； my uneasiness increasing as he held it in his hand and furrowed his brow。 Why was I suddenly the stupid one？ Does a night in Tir…na Nog'th slow cerebration？ Why …
Random began to curse； a string of profanities unsurpassed by anything encountered in my long military career。
Then； 〃What is it？〃 I said。 〃I don't understand。〃
〃The blood of Amber；〃 he finally said。 〃Whoever did it walked the Pattern first； you see。 Then they stood there at the center and contacted him via this Trump。 When he responded and a firm contact
