rz.nineprincesinamber-第10部分

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y　arms　beneath　my　head；　staring　upward。　I　had　climbed　among　the　branches　of　some　of　those　giants　and　looked　down　upon　a　green　world；　constantly　shifting。
　〃I　love　this　place。〃　I　said；　only　half　realizing　I　had　said　it　aloud；　and　Random　replied。　〃You　always　did。〃　and　there　might　have　been　a　trace　of　amusement　in　his　voice。　I　couldn't　be　sure。
　Then　off　in　the　distance　I　heard　a　note　which　I　knew　to　be　the　voice　of　a　hunting　born。
　〃Drive　faster；〃　said　Random　suddenly。　〃That　sounds　to　be　Julian's　horn。〃
　I　obeyed。
　The　horn　sounded　again；　nearer。
　〃Those　damn　hounds　of　his　will　tear　this　car　to　pieces；　and　his　birds　will　feed　on　our　eyes！〃　he　said。　〃I'd　hate　to　meet　him　when　he's　this　well　prepared。　Whatever　he　hunts；　I　know　he'd　willingly　relinquish　it　for　quarry　such　as　two　of　his　brothers。〃
　〃'Live　and　let　live'　is　my　philosophy　these　days；〃　I　remarked。
　Random　chuckled。
　〃What　a　quaint　notion。　I'll　bet　it　will　last　all　of　five　minutes。〃
　Then　the　horn　sounded　again；　even　nearer；　and　he　remarked；　〃Damn！〃
　The　speedometer　said　seventy…five；　in　quaint；　runic　numerals；　and　I　was　afraid　to　go　any　faster　on　that　road；
　And　the　horn　sounded　again；　much　nearer　now；　three　long　notes；　and　I　could　hear　the　baying　of　hounds；　off　to　the　left。
　〃We　are　now　very　near　to　the　real　Earth；　though　still　far　from　Amber；〃　said　my　brother。　〃It　will　be　futile　to　run　through　adjacent　Shadows；　for　if　it　is　truly　us　that　he　follows；　he　will　pursue　us。　Or　his　shadow　will。〃
　〃What　shall　we　do！〃
　〃Speed；　and　hope　it　is　not　us　that　he　follows。〃
　And　the　horn　sounded　once　again；　almost　next　to　us　this　time。
　〃What　the　hell　is　he　riding；　a　lootive？〃　I　asked。
　〃I'd　say　he　is　riding　the　mighty　Morgenstern；　the　fastest　horse　he　has　ever　created。〃
　I　let　that　last　word　roll　around　in　my　head　for　a　while；　wondering　at　it　and　wondering　at　it。　Yes；　it　was　true；　some　inner　voice　told　me。　He　did　create　Morgenstern；　out　of　Shadows；　fusing　into　the　beast　the　strength　and　speed　of　a　hurricane　and　a　pile　driver。
　I　remembered　that　I　had　call　to　fear　that　animal；　and　then　I　saw　him。
　Morgenstern　was　six　hands　higher　than　any　other　horse　I'd　ever　seen；　and　his　eyes　were　the　dead　color　of　a　Weimaraner　dog's　and　his　coat　was　a　light　gray　and　his　hooves　looked　like　polished　steel。　He　raced　along　like　the　wind；　pacing　the　car；　and　Julian　was　crouched　in　his　saddle　…　the　Julian　of　the　playing　card；　long　black　hair　and　bright　blue　eyes；　and　he　had　on　his　scaled　white　armor。
　Julian　smiled　at　us　and　waved；　and　Morgenstern　tossed　his　head　and　his　magnificent　mane　rippled　in　the　wind；　like　a　flag。　His　legs　were　a　blur。
　I　recalled　that　Julian　had　once　had　a　man　wear　my　castoff　garments　and　torment　the　beast。　This　was　why　it　had　tried　to　trample　me　on　the　day　of　a　hunt；　when　I'd　dismounted　to　skin　a　buck　before　it。
　I'd　rolled　the　window　shut　once　more；　so　I　didn't　think　it　could　tell　by　scent　that　I　was　inside　the　car。　But　Julian　had　spotted　me；　and　I　thought　I　knew　what　that　meant。　All　about　him　ran　the　Storm　Hounds；　with　their　tough；　tough　bodies　and　their　teeth　like　steel。　They　too　had　e　out　of　Shadow；　for　no　normal　dog　could　run　like　that。　But　I　knew；　for　a　certainty；　that　the　word　〃normal〃　did　not　really　apply　to　anything　in　this　place。
　Julian　signaled　us　to　stop　then；　and　I　glanced　at　Random　and　he　nodded。　〃If　we　don't；　he'll　just　run　us　down；〃　he　said。　So　I　hit　the　brakes；　slowed；　stopped。
　Morgenstern　reared；　pawed　the　air；　struck　the　earth　with　all　four　hooves　and　cantered　over。　The　dogs　milled　about；　their　tongues　hanging　out　their　sides　heaving。　The　horse　was　covered　with　a　glistening　sheen　that　I　knew　to　be　perspiration。
　〃What　a　surprise！〃　said　Julian；　in　his　slow；　almost　impeded　way　of　speaking　and　a　great　hawk　that　was　black　and　green　circled　and　settled　upon　his　left　shoulder。
　〃Yes；　isn't　it；〃　I　replied。　〃How　have　you　been？〃
　〃Oh；　capital；〃　he　decided；　〃as　always。　What　of　yourself　and　brother　Random？〃
　〃I'm　in　good　shape；〃　I　said；　and　Random　nodded　and　remarked；　〃I　thought　you'd　be　indulging　in　other　sports　at　a　time　like　this。〃
　Julian　tipped　his　head　and　regarded　him　crookedly；　through　the　windshield。
　〃I　enjoy　slaughtering　beasts；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　think　of　my　relatives　constantly。〃
　A　slight　coldness　worked　its　way　down　my　back。
　〃I　was　distracted　from　my　hunt　by　the　sound　of　your　motor　vehicle；〃　he　said。　〃At　the　time；　I　did　not　expect　it　to　contain　two　such　as　you。　I'd　assume　you　are　not　simply　riding　for　pleasure；　but　have　a　destination　in　mind；　such　as　Amber。　True？〃
　〃True；〃　I　agreed。　〃May　I　inquire　why　you　are　here；　rather　than　there？〃
　〃Eric　set　me　to　watching　this　road；〃　he　replied；　and　my　hand　came　to　rest　upon　one　of　the　pistols　in　my　belt　as　he　spoke。　I　had　a　feeling　a　bullet　couldn't　breach　that　armor；　though。　I　considered　shooting　Morgenstern。
　〃Well；　brothers；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃I　wele　you　back　and　I　wish　you　a　good　journey。　I'll　doubtless　see　you　shortly　in　Amber。　Good　afternoon；〃　and　with　that　he　turned　and　rode　toward　the　woods。
　〃Let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here；〃　said　Random。　〃He's　probably　planning　an　ambush　or　a　chase；〃　and　with　this　he　drew　a　pistol　from　his　belt　and　held　it　in　his　lap。
　I　drove　on　at　a　decent　speed。
　After　about　five　minutes；　when　I　was　just　beginning　to　breathe　a　bit　easily；　I　heard　the　horn。　I　pushed　down　on　the　gas　pedal。　Knowing　that　he'd　catch　us　anyhow；　but　trying　to　buy　as　much　time　and　gain　as　much　distance　as　I　could。　We　skidded　around　corners　and　roared　up　hills　and　through　dales。　I　almost　hit　a　deer　at　one　point；　but　we　made　it　around　the　beast　without　cracking　up　or　slowing。
　The　horn　sounded　nearer　now；　and　Random　was　muttering　obscenities。
　I　had　the　feeling　that　we　still　had　quite　a　distance　to　go　within　the　forest；　and　this　didn't　hearten　me　a　bit。
　We　hit　one　long　straight　stretch；　where　I　was　able　to　floor　it　for　almost　a　minute。　Julian's　horn　notes　grew　more　distant　at　that　time。　But　we　then　entered　a　section　where　the　road　wound　and　twisted　and　I　had　to　slow　down。　He　began　to　gain　on　us　at　once　again。
　After　about　six　minutes；　he　appeared　in　the　rear…view　mirror；　thundering　along　the　road；　his　pack　all　around　him；　baying　and　slavering。
　Random　rolled　down　his　window；　and　after　a　minute　he　leaned　out　and　began　to　fire。
　〃Damn　that　armor！〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sure　I　hit　him　twice　and　nothing's　happened。〃
　〃I　hate　the　thought　of　killing　that　beast；〃　I　said；　〃but　try　for　the　horse。〃
　〃I　already　have；　several　times；〃　he　said；　tossing　his　empty　pistol　to　the　floor　and　drawing　the　other；　〃and　either　I'm　a　lousier　shot　than　I　thought；　or　it's　true　what　they　say：　that　it　will　take　a　silver　bullet　to　kill　Morgenstern。〃
　He　picked　off　six　of　the　dogs　with　his　remaining　rounds；　but　there　were　still　about　two　dozen　left。
　I　passed　him　one　of　my　pistols；　and　he　accounted　for　five　more　of　the　beasts。
　〃I'll　save　the　last　round；〃　he　said；　〃for　Julian's　head；　if　he　gets　close　enough！〃
　They　were　perhaps　fifty　feet　behind　me　at　that　point；　and　gaining；　so　I　slammed　on　the　brakes。　Some　of　the　dogs　couldn't　halt　in　time；　but　Julian　was　suddenly　gone　and　a　dark　shadow　passed　overhead。
　Morgenstern　had　leaped　over　the　car。　He　wheeled　then；　and　as　horse　and　rider　turned　to　face　us　I　gunned　the　engine　and　the　car　sped　forward。
　With　a　magnificent　leap；　Morgenstern　got　them　out　of　the　way。　In　the　rear…view　mirror；　I　saw　two　dogs　drop　a　fender　they'd　torn　loose　and　renew　the　pursuit。　Some　were　lying　in　the　road；　and　there　were　about　fifteen　or　sixteen　giving　chase。
　〃Good　show；〃　said　Random；　〃but　you're　lucky　they　didn't　go　for　the　tires。　They've　probably　never　hunted　a　car　before。〃
　I　passed　him　my　remaining　pistol；　and　〃Get　more　dogs；〃　I　said。
　He　fired　deliberately　and　with　perfect　accuracy；　accounting　for　six。
　And　Julian　was　beside　the　car　now；　a　sword　in　his　right　hand。
　I　blew　the　horn；　hoping　to　spook　Morgenstern；　but　it　didn't　work。　I　swerved　toward　them；　but　the　horse　danced　away。　Random　crouched　low　in　his　seat　and　aimed　past　me；　his　right　hand　holding　the　pistol　and　resting　upon　his　left　forearm。
　〃Don't　fire　yet；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　going　to　try　to　take　him。〃
　〃You're　crazy；〃　he　told　me；　as　I　hit　the　brakes　again。
　He　lowered　his　weapon；　though。
　As　soon　as　we　came　to　a　halt；　I　flung　open　my　door　and　leaped　out…barefooted　yet！　Damn　it。
　I　ducked　beneath　his　blade；　seized　his　arm；　and　hurled　him　from　the　saddle。　He　struck　me　one　on　the　head　with　his　mailed　left　fist；　and　there　were　Roman　candles　going　off　all　around　me　and　a　terrible　pain。
　He　lay　where　he　had　fallen；　being　groggy；　and　there　were　dogs　all　around　me；　biting　me；　and　Random　kicking　them。　I　snatched　up　Julian's　blade　from　where　it　lay　and　touched　his　throat　with　its　point。
　〃Call　them　off！〃　I　cried。　〃Or　I'll　nail　you　to　the　ground！〃
　He　screamed　orders　at　the　dogs　and　they　drew　back。　Random　was　holding　Morgenstern's　bridle　and　struggling　with　the　horse。
　〃Now；　dear　brother；　what　do　you　have　to　say　for　yourself？〃　I　asked。
　There　was　a　cold　blue　fire　within　his　eyes；　and　his　face　was　without　expression。
　〃If　you're　going　to　kill　me；　be　about　it；〃　he　said。
　〃In　my　own　good　time；〃　I　told　him；　somehow　enjoying　the　sight　of　dirt　on　his　impeccable　armor。　〃In　the　meantime；　what　is　your　life　worth　to　you？〃
　〃Anything　I've　got；　of　course。〃
　I　stepped　back。
　〃Get　up　and　get　into　the　back　seat　of　the　car〃；　I　told　him。
　He　did　this　thing；　and　I　took　away　his　dagger　before　he　got　in。　Random　resumed　his　own　seat；　and　kept　his　pistol　with　the　single　remaining　round　aimed　at　Julian's　head。
　〃Why　not　just　kill　him？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　think　he'll　be　useful；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　much　that　I　wish　to　know。　And　there　is　still　a　long　way　to　travel。〃
　I　began　to　drive。　I　could　see　the　dogs　milling　around。　Morgenstern　began　cantering　along　after　the　car。
　〃I'm　afraid　I　won't　be　worth　much　to　you　as　a　prisoner；〃　Julian　observed。　〃Although　you　will　torture　me；　I　can　only　tell　you　what　I　know；　and　that　isn't　much。〃
　〃Start　with　that　then；〃　I　said。
　〃Eric　looks　to　have　the　strongest　position；〃　he　told　us；　〃having　been　right　there　in　Amber　when　the　whole　thing　broke　loose。　At　least　this　is　the　way　I　saw　it；　so　I　offered　him　my　support。　Had　it　been　one　of　you；