rz.nineprincesinamber-第16部分

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　The　bone　in　his　arm　had　broken　where　I'd　squeezed　it。
　He　pushed　me　away　with　his　left　hand　and　fell　to　his　knees；　weeping。　I　sat　upon　the　floor；　and　my　head　cleared　for　a　moment。
　〃I。。。　am。。。　staying　here；〃　I　said；　〃until　I　feel　better。　Get　out。　If　you　e　back　…　I'll　kill　you。〃
　〃You've　got　the　plague！〃　he　cried。　〃They'll　e　for　your　bones　tomorrow！〃　and　he　spat　then；　got　to　his　feet；　and　staggered　out。
　I　made　it　to　the　door　and　barred　it。　Then　I　crawled　back　to　the　bed　and　slept。
　If　they　came　for　my　bones　the　next　day；　they　were　disappointed。　For；　perhaps　ten　hours　later；　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　I　awoke　in　a　cold　sweat　and　realized　my　fever　had　broken。　I　was　weak；　but　rational　once　more。
　I　realized　I　had　lived　through　the　plague。　I　took　a　man's　cloak　I　found　in　the　wardrobe　and　took　some　money　I　found　in　a　drawer。　Then　I　went　forth　into　London　and　the　night；　in　a　year　of　the　plague；　looking　for　something。。。
　I　had　no　recollection　of　who　I　was　or　what　I　was　doing　there。
　That　was　how　it　had　started。
　I　was　well　into　the　Pattern　now；　and　the　sparks　flashed　continually　about　my　feet；　reaching　to　the　height　of　my　knees。　I　no　longer　knew　which　direction　I　faced；　or　where　Random　and　Deirdre　and　Moire　stood。　The　currents　swept　through　me　and　it　seemed　my　eyeballs　were　vibrating。　Then　came　a　pins…and…needle　feeling　in　my　cheeks　and　a　coldness　on　the　back　of　my　neck；　I　clenched　my　teeth　to　keep　them　from　chattering。
　The　auto　accident　had　not　given　me　my　amnesia。　I　had　been　without　full　memory　since　the　reign　of　Elizabeth　I。　Flora　must　have　concluded　that　the　recent　accident　had　restored　me。　She　had　known　of　my　condition。　I　was　suddenly　struck　by　the　thought　that　she　was　on　that　Shadow　Earth　mainly　to　keep　tabs　on　me。
　Since　the　sixteenth　century；　then？　That　I　couldn't　say。　I'd　find　out；　though。
　I　took　six　more　rapid　steps；　reaching　the　end　of　an　arc　and　ing　to　the　beginning　place　of　a　straight　line。
　I　set　my　foot　upon　it；　and　with　each　step　that　I　took；　another　barrier　began　to　rise　against　me。　It　was　the　Second　Veil。
　There　was　a　right…angle　turn；　then　another；　then　another。
　I　was　a　prince　of　Amber。　It　was　true。　There　had　been　fifteen　brothers　and　six　were　dead。　There　had　been　eight　Sisters；　and　two　were　dead；　possibly　four。　We　had　spent　much　of　our　time　in　wandering　in　Shadow；　or　in　our　own　universes。　It　is　an　academic；　though　valid　philosophical　question；　as　to　whether　one　with　power　over　Shadow　could　create　his　own　universe。　Whatever　the　ultimate　answer；　from　a　practical　point　we　could。
　Another　curve　began；　and　it　was　as　though　I　were　walking　in　glue　as　I　moved　slowly　along　it。
　One；　two；　three；　four。。。　I　raised　my　fiery　boots　and　let　them　down　again。
　My　head　throbbed　and　my　heart　felt　as　though　it　were　fibrillating　to　pieces。
　Amber！
　The　going　was　suddenly　easy　once　more；　as　I　remembered　Amber。
　Amber　was　the　greatest　city　which　had　ever　existed　or　ever　would　exist。　Amber　had　always　been　and　always　would　be；　and　every　other　city；　everywhere　every　other　city　that　existed　was　but　a　reflection　of　a　shadow　of　some　phase　of　Amber。　Amber；　Amber；　Amber。。。　I　remember　thee。　I　shall　never　forget　thee　again。　I　guess；　deep　inside　me；　I　never　really　did；　through　all　those　centuries　I　wandered　the　Shadow　Earth；　for　often　at　night　my　dreams　were　troubled　by　images　of　thy　green　and　golden　spires　and　thy　sweeping　terraces。　I　remember　thy　wide　promenades　and　the　decks　of　flowers；　golden　and　red。　I　recall　the　sweetness　of　thy　airs；　and　the　temples；　palaces；　and　pleasances　thou　containest；　contained；　will　always　contain；　Amber；　immortal　city　from　which　every　other　city　has　taken　its　shape；　I　cannot　forget　thee；　even　now；　nor　forget　that　day　on　the　Pattern　of　Rebma　when　I　remembered　thee　within　thy　reflected　walls；　fresh　from　a　meal　after　starvation　and　the　loving　of　Moire；　but　nothing　could　pare　with　the　pleasure　and　the　love　of　remembering　thee；　and　even　now；　as　I　stand　contemplating　the　Courts　of　Chaos；　telling　this　story　to　the　only　one　present　to　hear；　that　perhaps　he　may　repeat　it；　that　it　will　not　die　after　I　have　died　within；　even　now；　I　remember　thee　with　love；　city　that　I　was　born　to　rule。。。
　Ten　paces；　then　a　swirling　filigree　of　fire　confronted　me；　I　essayed　it；　my　sweat　vanishing　into　the　waters　as　fast　as　it　sprang　forth。
　It　was　tricky；　so　devilish　tricky；　and　it　seemed　that　the　waters　of　the　room　suddenly　moved　in　great　currents　which　threatened　to　sweep　me　from　the　Pattern。　I　struggled　on；　resisting　them。　Instinctively；　I　knew　that　to　leave　the　Pattern　before　I'd　pleted　it　would　mean　my　death。　I　dared　not　raise　my　eyes　from　the　places　of　light　that　lay　before　me；　to　see　how　far　I　had　e；　how　far　I　had　yet　to　go。
　The　currents　subsided　and　more　of　my　memories　returned；　memories　of　my　life　as　a　prince　of　Amber。。。　No；　they　are　not　yours　for　the　asking：　they　are　mine；　some　vicious　and　cruel；　others　perhaps　noble…memories　going　back　to　my　childhood　in　the　great　palace　of　Amber；　with　the　green　banner　of　my　father　Oberon　flaring　above　it；　white　unicorn　rampant；　facing　to　the　dexter。
　Random　had　made　it　through　the　Pattern。　Even　Deirdre　had　made　it。　Therefore；　I；　Corwin；　would　make　it；　no　matter　what　the　resistance。
　I　emerged　from　the　filigree　and　marched　along　the　Grand　Curve。　The　forces　that　shape　the　universe　fell　upon　me　and　beat　me　into　their　image。
　I　had　an　advantage　over　any　other　person　who　attempted　the　walk；　however。　I　knew　that　I　had　done　it　before；　so　I　knew　that　I　could　do　it。　This　helped　me　against　the　unnatural　fears　which　rose　like　black　clouds　and　were　gone　again；　only　to　return；　their　strength　redoubled。　I　walked　the　Pattern　and　I　remembered　all；　I　remembered　all　the　days　before　my　centuries　on　the　Shadow　Earth　and　I　remembered　other　places　of　Shadow；　many　of　them　special　and　dear　to　me；　and　one　which　I　loved　above　all；　save　for　Amber。
　I　walked　three　more　curves；　a　straight　line；　and　a　series　of　sharp　arcs；　and　I　held　within　me　once　again　a　consciousness　of　the　things　which　I　had　never　really　lost：　mine　was　the　power　over　Shadows。
　Ten　arcs　which　left　me　dizzy；　another　short　arc；　a　straight　line；　and　the　Final　Veil。
　It　was　agony　to　move。　Everything　tried　to　beat　me　aside。　The　waters　were　cold；　then　boiling。　It　seemed　that　they　constantly　pushed　against　me。　I　struggled；　putting　one　foot　before　the　other。　The　sparks　reached　as　high　as　my　waist　at　this　point；　then　my　breast；　my　shoulders。　They　were　into　my　eyes。　They　were　all　about　me。　I　could　barely　see　the　Pattern　itself。
　Then　a　short　arc；　ending　in　blackness。
　One；　two。。。　And　to　take　the　last　step　was　like　trying　to　push　through　a　concrete　wall。
　I　did　it。
　Then　I　turned　slowly　and　looked　back　over　the　course　I　had　e。　I　would　not　permit　myself　the　luxury　of　sagging　to　my　knees。　I　was　a　prince　of　Amber；　and　by　God！　nothing　could　humble　me　in　the　presence　of　my　peers。　Not　even　the　Pattern！
　I　waved　jauntily　in　what　I　thought　to　be　the　right　direction。　Whether　or　not　I　could　be　made　out　very　clearly　was　another　matter。
　Then　I　stood　there　a　moment　and　thought。
　I　knew　the　power　of　the　Pattern　now。　Going　back　along　it　would　be　no　trick　at　all。
　But　why　bother？
　I　lacked　my　deck　of　cards；　but　the　power　of　the　Pattern　could　serve　me　just　as　well。。。
　They　were　waiting　for　me；　my　brother　and　sister　and　Moire　with　her　thighs　like　marble　pillars。
　Deirdre　could　take　care　of　herself　from　here　on　out　…　after　all；　we'd　saved　her　life。　I　didn't　feel　obligated　to　go　on　protecting　her　on　a　day…by…day　basis。　Random　was　stuck　in　Rebma　for　a　year；　unless　he　had　guts　enough　to　leap　forward　and　take　the　Pattern　to　this　still　center　of　power　and　perhaps　escape。　And　as　for　Moire；　it　had　been　nice　knowing　her；　and　maybe　I'd　see　her　again　some　day；　and　like　that。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　bowed　my　head。
　Before　I　did　so；　though；　I　saw　a　fleeting　shadow。
　Random？　Trying　it？　Whatever；　he　wouldn't　know　where　I　was　headed。　No　one　would。
　I　opened　my　eyes　and　I　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　same　Pattern；　in　reverse。
　I　was　cold；　and　I　was　damn　tired；　but　I　was　in　Amber　…　in　the　real　room；　of　which　the　one　I　had　departed　was　but　an　image。　From　the　Pattern；　I　could　transfer　myself　to　any　point　I　wished　within　Amber。
　Getting　back　would　be　a　problem；　however。
　So　I　stood　there　and　dripped　and　considered。
　If　Eric　had　taken　the　royal　suite；　then　I　might　find　him　there。　Or　perhaps　in　the　throne　room。　But　then；　I'd　have　to　make　my　own　way　back　to　the　place　of　power；　I'd　have　to　walk　the　Pattern　again；　in　order　to　reach　the　escape　point。
　I　transferred　myself　to　a　hiding　place　I　knew　of　within　the　palace。　It　was　a　windowless　cubicle　into　which　some　light　trickled　from　observation　slits　high　overhead。　I　bolted　its　one　sliding　panel　from　the　inside；　dusted　off　a　wooden　bench　set　beside　the　wall；　spread　my　cloak　upon　it　and　stretched　out　for　a　nap。　If　anyone　came　groping　his　way　down　from　above；　I'd　hear　him　long　before　he　reached　me。
　I　slept。
　
　***
　
　After　a　while；　I　awakened。　So　I　arose；　dusted　off　my　cloak　and　donned　it　once　more。　Then　I　began　to　negotiate　the　series　of　pegs　which　laddered　their　way　up　into　the　palace。
　I　knew　where　it　was；　the　third　floor；　by　the　markings　on　the　walls。
　I　swung　myself　over　to　a　small　landing　and　searched　for　the　peephole。　I　found　it　and　gazed　through。　Nothing。　The　library　was　empty。　So　I　slid　back　the　panel　and　entered。
　Within；　I　was　stricken　by　the　multitudes　of　books。　They　always　do　that　to　me。　I　considered　everything；　including　the　display　cases；　and　finally　moved　toward　the　place　where　a　crystal　case　contained　everything　that　led　up　to　a　family　banquet…private　joke。　It　held　four　decks　of　the　family　cards；　and　I　sought　about　for　a　means　of　obtaining　one　without　setting　off　an　alarm　which　might　keep　me　from　using　it。
　After　maybe　ten　minutes；　I　succeeded　in　gimmicking　the　proper　case。　It　was　tricky。　Then；　pack　in　hands；　I　found　a　fortable　seat　for　the　consideration　thereof。
　The　cards　were　just　like　Flora's　and　they　held　us　all　under　glass　and　were　cold　to　the　touch。　Now；　too；　I　knew　why。
　So　I　shuffled　and　spread　them　all　out　before　me　in　the　proper　manner。　Then　I　read　them；　and　I　saw　that　bad　things　were　in　store　for　the　entire　family；　and　I　gathered　them