rz.thehandofoberon-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　near　the　rocK　where　I'd　sat；　trying　to　flag　down　a　car　with　a　pillow　case。　The　memory　was　slightly　blurred；　but　I　still　recalled　the　ones　that　had　passed　me　by。
　I　crossed　the　road；　made　my　way　through　the　field　to　the　trees。　Unhitching　Drum；　I　mounted。
　〃We've　some　more　riding　ahead；〃　I　told　him。　〃Not　too　far　this　time。〃
　We　headed　back　to　the　road　and　started　along　it；　continuing　on　past　my　house。　If　I　had　not　told　Bill　to　go　ahead　and　sell　the　place；　the　post　heap　would　still　have　been　there；　the　Jewel　would　still　have　been　there。　I　could　be　on　my　way　back　to　Amber　with　the　ruddy　stone　hung　about　my　neck；　ready　to　have　a　try　at　what　had　to　be　done。　Now；　now　I　had　to　go　looking　for　it；　when　I'd　a　feeling　time　was　beginning　to　press　once　again。　At　least；　I　had　a　favorable　ratio　here　with　respect　to　its　passage　in　Amber。　I　clucked　at　Drum　and　shook　the　reins。　No　sense　wasting　it；　even　so。
　A　half　hour；　and　I　was　into　town；　riding　down　a　quiet　street　in　a　residential　area；　houses　all　about　me。　The　lights　were　on　at　Bill's　place。　I　turned　up　his　driveway。　I　left　Drum　in　his　back　yard。
　Alice　answered　my　knock；　stared　a　moment；　then　said。　〃My　God！　Carl！〃
　Minutes　later；　I　was　seated　in　the　living　room　with　Bill；　a　drink　on　the　table　to　my　right。　Alice　was　out　in　the　kitchen；　having　made　the　mistake　of　asking　me　whether　I　wanted　something　to　eat。
　Bill　studied　me　as　he　lit　his　pipe。
　〃Your　ways　of　ing　and　going　still　tend　to　be　colorful。〃　he　said。　I　smiled。
　〃Expediency　is　all；〃　I　said。
　〃That　nurse　at　the　clinic。。。　scarcely　anyone　believed　her　story。〃
　〃Scarcely　anyone？〃
　〃The　minority　I　refer　to　is；　of　course；　myself。〃
　〃What　was　her　story？〃
　〃She　claimed　that　you　walked　to　the　center　of　the　room；　became　two…dimensional；　and　just　faded　away；　like　the　old　soldier　that　you　are；　with　a　rainbowlike　acpaniment。〃
　〃Glaua　can　cause　the　rainbow　symptom。　She　ought　to　have　her　eyes　checked。〃
　〃She　did；〃　he　said。　〃Nothing　wrong。〃
　〃Oh。　Too　bad。　The　next　thing　that　es　to　mind　is　neurological。〃
　〃e　on；　Carl。　She's　all　right。　You　know　that。〃
　I　smiled　and　took　a　sip　of　my　drink。
　〃And　you；〃　he　said；　〃you　look　like　a　certain　playing　card　I　once　mented　on。　plete　with　sword。　What's　going　on；　Carl？〃
　〃It's　still　plicated；〃　I　said。　〃Even　more　than　the　last　time　we　talked。〃
　〃Which　means　you　can't　give　me　that　explanation　yet？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃You　have　won　an　all…expense　tour　of　my　homeland；　when　this　is　over；〃　I　said；　〃if　I　still　have　a　homeland　then。　Right　now；　time　is　doing　terrible　things。〃
　〃What　can　I　do　to　help　you？〃
　〃Information；　please。　My　old　house。　Who　is　the　guy　you　have　fixing　the　place　up？〃
　〃Ed　Wellen。　Local　contractor。　You　know　him；　I　think。　Didn't　he　put　in　a　shower　for　you；　or　something？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　he　did。。。　I　remember。〃
　〃He's　expanded　quite　a　bit。　Bought　some　heavy　equipment。　Has　a　number　of　fellows　working　for　him　now。　I　handled　his　incorporation。〃
　〃Do　you　know　who　he's　got　working　at　my　place　…　now？〃
　〃Offhand；　no。　But　I　can　find　out　in　just　a　minute。〃　He　moved　his　hand　to　rest　on　the　telephone　on　the　side　table。　〃Shall　I　give　him　a　ring？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃but　there　is　a　little　more　to　it　than　that。　There　is　only　one　thing　in　which　I　am　really　interested。　There　was　a　post　heap　in　the　back　yard。　It　was　there　the　last　time　I　passed　this　way。　It　is　gone　now。　I　have　to　find　out　what　became　of　it。〃
　He　cocked　his　head　to　the　right　and　grinned　around　his　pipe。
　〃You　serious？〃　he　finally　said。
　〃Sure　as　death；〃　I　said。　〃I　hid　something　in　that　heap　when　I　crawled　by；　decorating　the　snow　with　my　precious　bodily　fluids。　I've　got　to　have　it　back　now。〃
　〃Just　what　is　it？〃
　〃A　ruby　pendant。〃
　〃Priceless；　I　suppose。〃
　〃You're　right。〃
　He　nodded；　slowly。
　〃If　it　were　anyone　else；　I　would　suspect　a　practical　joke；〃　he　said。　〃A　treasure　in　a　post　heap。。。　Family　heirloom？〃
　〃Yes。　Forty　or　fifty　carats。　Simple　setting。　Heavy　chain。〃
　He　removed　his　pipe　and　whistled　softly。
　〃Mind　if　I　ask　why　you　put　it　there？〃
　〃I'd　be　dead　now　if　I　hadn't。〃
　〃Pretty　good　reason。〃
　He　reached　for　the　phone　again。
　〃We've　had　some　action　on　the　house　already；〃　he　remarked。　〃Pretty　good；　since　I　haven't　advertised　yet。　Fellow'd　heard　from　someone　who'd　heard　from　someone　else。　I　took　him　over　this　morning。　He's　thinking　about　it。　We　may　move　it　pretty　quick。〃
　He　began　to　dial。
　〃Wait；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　about　him。〃
　He　cradled　the　phone；　looked　up。
　〃Thin　guy；〃　he　said。　〃Redhead。　Had　a　beard。　Said　he　was　an　artist。　Wants　a　place　in　the　country。〃
　〃Son　of　a　bitch！〃　I　said；　just　as　Alice　came　into　the　room　with　a　tray。
　She　made　a　tsking　sound　and　smiled　as　she　delivered　it　to　me。
　〃Just　a　couple　hamburgers　and　some　leftover　salad；〃　she　said。　〃Nothing　to　get　excited　about。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I　was　getting　ready　to　eat　my　horse。　I'd　have　felt　bad　afterward。〃
　〃I　don't　imagine　he'd　have　been　too　happy　about　it　himself。　Enjoy；〃　she　said；　and　returned　to　the　kitchen。
　〃Was　the　post　heap　still　there　when　you　took　him　over？〃　I　asked。
　He　closed　his　eyes　and　furrowed　his　brow。
　〃No；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃The　yard　was　already　clear。〃
　〃That's　something；　anyway；〃　I　said；　and　I　began　eating。
　He　made　the　call；　and　he　talked　for　several　minutes。　I　got　the　drift　of　things　from　his　end　of　the　conversation；　but　I　listened　to　the　entire　thing　after　he　had　hung　up；　while　I　finished　the　food　and　washed　it　down　with　what　was　left　in　my　glass。
　〃He　hated　to　see　good　post　go　to　waste；〃　Bill　said。　〃So　he　pitched　the　heap　into　his　pickup　just　the　other　day　and　took　it　out　to　his　farm。　He　dumped　it　next　to　a　plot　he　intends　to　cultivate；　and　he　has　not　had　a　chance　to　spread　it　yet。　Says　he　did　not　notice　any　jewelry；　but　then　he　could　easily　have　missed　it。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃If　I　can　borrow　a　flashlight；　I　had　better　get　moving。〃
　〃Sure。　I　will　drive　you　out；〃　he　said。
　〃I　do　not　want　to　be　parted　from　my　horse　at　this　point。〃
　〃Well；　you　will　probably　want　a　rake；　and　a　shovel　or　a　pitchfork。　I　can　drive　them　out　and　meet　you　there；　if　you　know　where　the　place　is。〃
　〃I　know　where　Ed's　place　is。　He　must　have　tools；　though。〃
　Bill　shrugged　and　smiled。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃Let　me　use　your　bathroom；　and　then　we　had　better　get　moving。〃
　〃You　seemed　as　if　you　knew　the　prospective　buyer。〃
　I　put　the　tray　aside　and　rose　to　my　feet。
　〃You　heard　of　him　last　as　Brandon　Corey。〃
　〃The　guy　who　pretended　to　be　your　brother　and　got　you　mitted？〃
　〃'Pretended'　hell！　He　is　my　brother。　No　fault　of　mine；　though。　Excuse　me。〃
　〃He　was　there。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Ed's　place；　this　afternoon。　At　least　a　bearded　redhead　was。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃Said　he　was　an　artist。　Said　he　wanted　permission　to　set　up　his　easel　and　paint　in　one　of　the　fields。〃
　〃And　Ed　let　him？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。　Thought　it　was　a　great　idea。　That　is　why　he　told　me　about　it。　Wanted　to　brag。〃
　〃Get　the　stuff。　I　will　meet　you　there。〃
　〃Right。〃
　The　second　thing　I　took　out　in　the　bathroom　was　my　Trumps。　I　had　to　reach　someone　in　Amber　soonest；　someone　strong　enough　to　stop　him。　But　who？　Benedict　was　on　his　way　to　the　Courts　at　Chaos；　Random　was　off　looking　for　his　son；　I　had　just　parted　with　Gérard　on　somewhat　less　than　amicable　terms。　I　wished　that　I　had　a　Trump　for　Ganelon。　I　decided　that　I　would　have　to　try　Gérard。
　I　drew　forth　his　card；　performed　the　proper　mental　maneuvers。　Moments　later；　I　had　contact。
　〃Corwin！〃
　〃Just　listen；　Gérard！　Brand　is　alive；　if　that　is　any　consolation。　I'm　damn　sure　of　that。　This　is　important。　Life　and　death。　You've　got　to　do　something　…　fast！〃
　His　expressions　had　changed　rapidly　while　I　had　spoken　…　anger；　surprise；　interest。。。
　〃Go　ahead；〃　he　said。
　〃Brand　could　be　ing　back　very　soon。　In　fact；　he　may　already　be　in　Amber。　You　haven't　seen　him　yet；　have　you？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃He　must　be　stopped　from　walking　the　Pattern。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand。　But　I　can　post　a　guard　outside　the　chamber　of　the　Pattern。〃
　〃Put　the　guard　inside　the　chamber。　He　has　strange　ways　of　ing　and　going　now。　Terrible　things　may　happen　if　he　walks　the　Pattern。〃
　〃I　will　watch　it　personally　then。　What　is　happening？〃
　〃No　time　now。　Here　is　the　next　thing：　Is　Llewella　back　in　Rebma？〃
　〃Yes；　she　is。〃
　〃Get　hold　of　her　with　her　Trump。　She's　got　to　warn　Moire　that　the　Pattern　in　Rebma　has　to　be　guarded　also。〃
　〃How　serious　is　this；　Corwin？〃
　〃It　could　be　the　end　of　everything；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　to　go　now。〃
　I　broke　the　contact　and　headed　for　the　kitchen　and　the　back　door；　stopping　only　long　enough　to　thank　Alice　and　say　good　night。　If　Brand　had　got　hold　of　the　Jewel　and　attuned　himself　to　it；　I　was　not　certain　what　he　would　do；　but　I　had　a　pretty　strong　hunch。
　I　mounted　Drum　and　turned　him　toward　the　road。　Bill　was　already　backing　out　of　the　driveway。
　
　
　Chapter　11
　
　I　cut　through　fields　in　many　places　where　Bill　had　to　follow　the　roads；　so　I　was　not　all　that　far　behind　him。　When　I　drew　up；　he　was　talking　with　Ed；　who　was　gesturing　toward　the　southwest。
　As　I　dismounted；　Ed　was　studying　Drum。
　〃Nice　horse；　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃You've　been　away。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　We　shook　hands。
　〃Good　to　see　you　again。　I　was　just　telling　Bill　that　I　don't　really　know　how　long　that　artist　stayed　around。　I　just　figured　he　would　go　away　when　it　got　dark；　and　I　didn't　pay　too　much　attention。　Now；　if　he　was　really　looking　for　something　of　yours　and　knew　about　the　post　heap；　he　could　still　be　out　there　for　all　I　know。　I'll　get　my　shotgun；　if　you　like；　and　go　with　you。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　〃thanks。　I　think　I　know　who　it　was。　The　gun　will　not　be　necessary。　We'll　just　walk　over　and　do　a　little　poking　around。〃
　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　e　along　and　give　you　a　hand。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　do　that；〃　I　said。
　〃How　about　your　horse；　then？　What　say　I　give　him　a　drink　and　something　to　eat；　clean　him　up　a　bit？〃
　〃I'm　sure　he'd　be　grateful。　I　know　I　would。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　〃Drum。〃
　He　approached　Drum　and　began　making　friends　with　him。
　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　back　in　the　barn　for　a　while。　If　you　need　me　for　anything；　just　holler。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　I　got　the　tools　out　of　Bill's　car　and　he　carried　the　electric　lantern；　leading　me　off　to　the　southwest　where　Ed　had