rz.nineprincesinamber-第12部分

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（He　wore　a　short；　burnished　one　himself。）　〃I　feel；　therefore；　that　it　is　perhaps　Eric's　will　that　we　have　advanced　to　this　point。　There　is　nothing　much　to　do　about　it　now；　but　now　we're　here；　I　wish　we'd　had　to　battle　for　every　inch　of　the　way。
　We　continued　for　another　mile　and　paused　for　cigarettes；　which　we　held　cupped　in　our　hands。
　〃It's　a　lovely　night；〃　I　said；　to　Random　and　the　cool　breeze。
　〃I　suppose。。。　What　was　that？〃
　There　was　a　soft　rustling　of　shrubbery　a　bit　of　a　way　behind　us。
　〃Some　animal；　maybe。〃
　His　blade　was　in　his　hand。　We　waited；　several　minutes；　but　nothing　more　was　heard。　So　he　sheathed　it　and　we　started　walking　again。
　There　were　no　more　sounds　from　behind　us；　but　after　a　time　I　heard　something　from　up　ahead。
　He　nodded　when　I　glanced　at　him；　and　we　began　to　move　more　cautiously。
　There　was　a　soft　glow；　as　from　a　campfire；　away；　far；　in　the　distance。
　We　heard　no　more　sounds；　but　his　shrug　showed　acquiescence　to　my　gesture　as　I　headed　toward　it；　into　the　woods；　to　the　right。
　It　was　the　better　part　of　an　hour　before　we　struck　the　camp。　There　were　four　men　seated　about　the　fire　and　two　sleeping　off　in　the　shadows。　The　girl　who　was　bound　to　a　stake　had　her　head　turned　away　from　us；　but　I　felt　my　heart　quicken　as　I　looked　upon　her　form。
　〃Could　that　be。。。？〃　I　whispered。
　〃Yes。〃　he　replied。　〃I　think　it　may。〃
　Then　she　turned　her　head　and　I　knew　it　was。
　〃Deirdre！〃
　〃I　wonder　what　the　bitch　has　been　up　to？〃　Random　said。　〃From　those　guys'　colors；　I'd　venture　they're　taking　her　back　to　Amber。〃
　I　saw　that　they　wore　black；　red；　and　silver；　which　I　remembered　from　the　Trumps　and　from　somewhere　else　to　be　the　colors　of　Eric。
　〃Since　Eric　wants　her；　he　can't　have　her；〃　I　said。
　〃I　never　much　cared　for　Deirdre；〃　Random　said；　〃but　I　know　you　do；　so。。。〃　and　he　unsheathed　his　blade。
　I　did　the　same。　〃Get　ready；〃　I　told　him；　rising　into　a　crouch。　And　we　rushed　them。　Maybe　two　minutes；　that's　about　what　it　took。
　She　was　watching　us　by　then；　the　firelight　making　her　face　into　a　twisted　mask。　She　cried　and　laughed　and　said　our　names；　in　a　loud　and　frightened　voice；　and　I　slashed　her　bonds　and　helped　her　to　her　feet。
　〃Greetings；　sister。　Will　you　join　us　on　the　Road　to　Amber？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Thanks　for　my　life；　but　I　want　to　keep　it。　Why　do　you　walk　to　Amber；　as　if　I　didn't　know。〃
　〃There　is　a　throne　to　be　won；〃　said　Random；　which　was　news　to　me；　〃and　we　are　interested　parties。〃
　〃If　you're　smart；　you'll　stay　away　and　live　longer；〃　she　said；　and　God！　she　was　lovely；　though　a　bit　tried…looking　and　dirty。
　I　took　her　into　my　arms　because　I　wanted　to；　and　squeezed　her。　Random　found　a　skin　of　wine　and　we　all　had　a　drink。
　〃Eric　is　the　only　Prince　in　Amber；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　troops　are　loyal　to　him。〃
　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　Eric；〃　I　replied；　and　I　knew　I　wasn't　certain　about　that　statement。
　〃He'll　never　let　you　into　Amber；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　a　prisoner　myself；　till　I　made　it　out　one　of　the　secret　ways　two　days　ago。　I　thought　I　could　walk　in　Shadows　till　all　things　were　done；　but　it　is　not　easy　to　begin　this　close　to　the　real　place。　So　his　troops　found　me　this　morning。　They　were　taking　me　back。　I　think　he　might　have　killed　me；　had　I　been　returned　…　though　I'm　not　sure。　At　any　rate；　I'd　have　remained　a　puppet　in　the　city。　I　think　Eric　may　be　mad；　but　again；　I'm　not　sure。〃
　〃What　of　Bleys？〃　Random　inquired。
　〃He　sends　things　out　of　the　Shadows；　and　Eric　is　greatly　disturbed。　But　he　has　never　attacked　with　his　real　force；　and　so　Eric　is　troubled；　and　the　disposition　of　the　Crown　and　Scepter　remains　uncertain；　though　Eric　holds　the　one　in　his　right　hand。〃
　〃I　see。　Has　he　ever　spoken　of　us？〃
　〃Not　of　you；　Random。　But　of　Corwin；　yes。　He　still　fears　the　return　of　Corwin　to　Amber。　There　is　relative　safety　for　perhaps　five　more　miles　…　but　beyond　that；　every　step　of　the　way　is　studded　with　peril。　Every　tree　and　rock　is　a　booby　trap　and　an　ambush。　Because　of　Bleys　and　because　of　Corwin。　He　wanted　you　to　get　at　least　this　far；　so　that　you　could　not　work　with　Shadows　nor　easily　escape　his　power。　It　is　absolutely　impossible　for　either　of　you　to　enter　into　Amber　without　falling　into　one　of　his　traps。〃
　〃Yet　you　escaped。。。〃
　〃That　was　different。　I　was　trying　to　get　out；　not　in。　Perhaps　he　did　not　guard　me　so　carefully　as　he　would　one　of　you；　because　of　my　sex　and　my　lack　of　ambition。　And　nevertheless；　as　you　can　see；　I　did　not　succeed。〃
　〃You　have　now；　sister；〃　I　said；　〃so　long　as　my　blade　is　free　to　swing　on　your　behalf；〃　and　she　kissed　my　brow　and　squeezed　my　hand。　I　was　always　a　sucker　for　that。
　〃I'm　sure　we're　being　followed；〃　said　Random；　and　with　a　gesture　the　three　of　us　faded　into　the　darkness。
　We　lay　still　beneath　a　bush；　keeping　watch　on　our　trail。
　After　a　time；　our　whispers　indicated　that　there　was　a　decision　for　me　to　make。　The　question　was　really　quite　simple：　What　next？
　The　question　was　too　basic；　and　I　couldn't　stall　any　more。　I　knew　I　couldn't　trust　them；　even　dear　Deirdre；　but　if　I　had　to　level　with　anybody；　Random　was　at　least　in　this　thing　with　me；　up　to　his　neck；　and　Deirdre　was　my　favorite。
　〃Beloved　relatives；〃　I　told　them；　〃I've　a　confession　to　make；〃　and　Random's　hand　was　already　on　the　hilt　of　his　blade。　That's　how　far　we　could　trust　one　another。　I　could　already　hear　his　mind　clicking：　Corwin　brought　me　here　to　betray　me；　he　was　saying　to　himself。
　〃If　you　brought　me　here　to　betray　me；〃　he　said；　〃you　won't　take　me　back　alive。〃
　〃Are　you　kidding？〃　I　asked。　〃I　want　your　help；　not　your　head。　What　I　have　to　say　is　just　this：　I　don't　know　what　the　hell's　going　on。　I've　made　some　guesses；　but　I　don't　really　know　where　the　devil　we　are；　what　Amber　is；　or　why　we're　crouched　here　in　the　bushes　hiding　from　his　troops；〃　I　told　him；　〃or　for　that　matter；　who　I　am；　really。〃
　There　was　an　awfully　long　silence；　and　then　Random　whispered；　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Deirdre。
　〃I　mean；〃　I　said；　〃that　I　managed　to　fool　you；　Random。　Didn't　you　think　it　strange　that　all　I　did　on　this　trip　was　drive　the　car？〃
　〃You　were　the　boss；〃　he　told　me；　〃and　I　figured　you　were　planning。　You　did　some　pretty　shrewd　things　along　the　way。　I　know　that　you're　Corwin。〃
　〃Which　is　a　thing　I　only　found　out　a　couple　of　days　ago；　myself；〃　I　said。　〃I　know　that　I　am　the　one　you　call　Corwin；　but　I　was　in　an　accident　a　while　back。　I　had　head　injuries　…　I'll　show　you　the　scars　when　we've　got　more　light　…　and　I　am　suffering　from　amnesia。　I　don't　dig　all　this　talk　about　Shadows。　I　don't　even　remember　much　about　Amber。　All　I　remember　is　my　relatives；　and　the　fact　that　I　can't　trust　them　much。　That's　my　story。　What's　to　be　done　about　it？〃
　〃Christ！〃　said　Random。　〃Yes；　I　can　see　it　now！　I　understand　all　the　little　things　that　puzzled　me　along　the　way。。。　How　did　you　take　Flora　in　so　pletely？〃
　〃Luck；〃　I　said；　〃and　subconscious　sneakiness；　I　guess。　No！　That's　not　it！　She　was　stupid。　Now　I　really　need　you；　though。〃
　〃Do　you　think　we　can　make　it　into　the　Shadows；〃　said　Deirdre；　and　she　was　not　speaking　to　me。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Random；　〃but　I'm　not　for　it。　I'd　like　to　see　Corwin　in　Amber；　and　I'd　like　to　see　Eric's　head　on　a　pole。　I'm　willing　to　take　a　few　chances　to　see　these　things；　so　I'm　not　turning　back　to　the　Shadows。　You　can　if　you　want。　You　all　think　I'm　a　weakling　and　a　bluff。　Now　you're　going　to　find　out。　I'm　going　to　see　this　through。〃
　〃Thanks；　brother；〃　I　said。
　〃Ill…met　by　moonlight。〃　said　Deirdre。
　〃You　could　still　be　tied　to　a　stake；〃　said　Random；　and　she　did　not　reply。
　We　lay　there　a　while　longer　and　three　men　entered　the　campsite　and　looked　about。　Then　two　of　them　bent　down　and　sniffed　at　the　ground。
　Then　they　looked　in　our　direction。
　〃Weir；〃　whispered　Random；　as　they　moved　in　our　direction。
　I　saw　it　happen；　though　only　in　shadow。　They　dropped　to　all　fours　and　the　moonlight　played　tricks　with　their　gray　garments。　Then　there　were　the　six　blazing　eyes　of　our　stalkers。
　I　impaled　the　first　wolf　on　my　silver　blade　and　there　was　a　human　howl。　Random　beheaded　one　with　a　single　blow；　and　to　my　amazement；　I　saw　Deirdre　raise　one　in　the　air　and　break　its　back　across　her　knee　with　a　brittle；　snapping　sound。
　〃Quick；　your　blade；〃　said　Random；　and　I　ran　his　victim　through；　and　hers；　and　there　were　more　cries。
　〃We'd　better　move　fast；〃　said　Random。　〃This　way！〃　and　we　followed。
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　asked　Deirdre；　after　perhaps　an　hour　of　furtive　movement　through　the　undergrowth。
　〃To　the　sea；〃　he　replied。
　〃Why？〃
　〃It　holds　Corwin's　memory。〃
　〃Where？　How？〃
　〃Rebma；　of　course。〃
　〃They'd　kill　you　there　and　feed　your　brains　to　the　fishes。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　the　full　distance。　You'll　have　to　take　over　at　the　shore　and　talk　with　your　sister's　sister。〃
　〃You　mean　for　him　to　take　the　Pattern　again？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃It's　risky。〃
　〃I　know。。。　Listen；　Corwin；〃　he　said；　〃you've　been　decent　enough　with　me　recently。　If　by　some　chance　you're　not　really　Corwin；　you're　dead。　You've　got　to　be；　though。　You　can't　be　someone　else。　Not　from　the　way　you've　operated；　without　memory　even。　No；　I'll　bet　your　life　on　it。　Take　a　chance　and　try　the　thing　called　the　Pattern。　Odds　are；　it'll　restore　your　memory。　Are　you　game？〃
　〃Probably；〃　I　said；　〃but　what　is　the　Pattern？〃
　〃Rebma　is　the　ghost　city；〃　he　told　me。　〃It　is　the　reflection　of　Amber　within　the　sea。　In　it；　everything　in　Amber　is　duplicated；　as　in　a　mirror。　Llewella's　people　live　there；　and　dwell　as　though　in　Amber。　They　hate　me　for　a　few　past　peccadilloes；　so　I　cannot　venture　there　with　you；　but　if　you　would　speak　them　fair　and　perhaps　hint　at　your　mission；　I　feel　they　would　let　you　walk　the　Pattern　of　Rebma；　which；　while　it　is　the　reverse　of　that　in　Amber；　should　have　the　same　effect。　That　is；　it　gives　to　a　son　of　our　father　the　power　to　walk　among　Shadows。〃
　〃How　will　this　power　help　me？〃
　〃It　should　make　you　to　know　what　you　are。〃
　〃Then　I'm　game。〃　I　said。
　〃Good　man。　In　that　case；　we'll　keep　heading　south。　It　will　take　several　days　to　reach　the　stairway。。。　You　will　go　with　him；　Deirdre？〃
　〃I　will　go　with　my　brother　Corwin。〃
　I　knew　she　would　say　that；　and　I　was　glad。　I　was　afraid；　but　I　was　glad。
　We　walked　all　that　night。　We　avoided　three　parties　of　armed　troops；　and　in　the　morning　we