rz.nineprincesinamber-第20部分

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　Then　he；　too；　was　gone。
　So　Dad　lived。　That　was　interesting。　What　to　do　now？
　I　sipped　my　drink　and　thought　about　it。
　He　still　lived；　somewhere；　and　he　was　king　in　Amber。　Why　had　he　left？　Where　had　he　gone？　What　kind　of；　which；　and　how　many？　Like　that。
　Who　knew？　Not　I。　So　there　was　no　more　to　say；　for　now。
　However。。。
　I　couldn't　put　the　thing　down。　I　want　you　to　know　that　Dad　and　I　never　got　along　very　well。　I　didn't　hate　him；　like　Random　or　some　of　the　others。　But　I；　sure　as　hell；　had　no　reason　to　be　especially　fond　of　him。　He　had　been　big；　he　had　been　powerful；　and　he　had　been　there。　That　was　about　it。　He　was　also　most　of　the　history　of　Amber；　as　we　knew　it；　and　the　history　of　Amber　stretches　back　for　so　many　millennia　that　you　may　as　well　stop　counting。
　So　what　do　you　do？
　As　for　me；　I　finished　my　drink　and　went　to　bed。
　
　***
　
　The　following　morning　I　attended　a　meeting　of　Bleys's　general　staff。　He　had　four　admirals；　each　in　charge　of　roughly　a　quarter　of　his　fleet；　and　a　whole　mess　of　army　officers。　Altogether　there　were　about　thirty　of　the　high…ranking　brass　at　the　meeting；　big　and　red　or　small　and　hairy；　as　the　case　might　be。
　The　meeting　lasted　perhaps　four　hours；　and　then　we　all　broke　for　lunch。　It　was　decided　that　we　would　move　three　days　hence。　Since　it　would　require　one　of　the　blood　to　open　the　way　to　Amber；　I　was　to　lead　the　fleet　aboard　the　flagship；　and　Bleys　would　take　his　infantry　through　lands　of　Shadow。
　I　was　troubled　by　this；　and　I　asked　him　what　would　have　happened　had　I　not　shown　up　to　give　this　assistance。　I　was　told　two　things　in　reply：　one；　if　he　had　had　to　do　it　alone；　he　would　have　led　the　fleet　through　and　left　them　at　a　great　distance　from　shore；　returned　in　a　single　vessel　to　Avernus　and　led　his　foot　soldiers　forward　to　rendezvous　at　a　given　time；　and　two；　he　had　purposely　sought　for　a　Shadow　in　which　a　brother　would　appear　to　give　him　aid。
　I　had　some　misgivings　when　I　heard　about　the　latter；　though　I　knew　I　was　really　me。　The　former　smacked　of　being　a　bit　unworkable；　since　the　fleet　would　be　too　far　out　to　sea　to　receive　any　signals　from　the　shore；　and　the　chance　of　missing　the　date　…　allowing　for　mishaps　when　it　came　to　a　body　that　large　…　was　too　great；　as　I　saw　it；　to　encourage　a　whole　big　lot　of　faith　in　his　general　plan。
　But　as　a　tactician；　I　had　always　thought　him　brilliant；　and　when　he　laid　out　the　maps　of　Amber　and　the　outlying　Country　which　he　himself　had　drawn；　and　when　he　had　explained　the　tactics　to　be　employed　therein；　I　knew　that　he　was　a　prince　of　Amber；　almost　matchless　in　his　guile。
　The　only　thing　was；　we　were　up　against　another　prince　of　Amber；　one　who　occupied　what　was　definitely　a　stronger　position。　I　was　worried；　but　with　the　impending　Coronation；　it　seemed　about　the　only　course　available　to　us；　and　I　decided　to　go　along　for　the　whole　ride。　If　we　lost；　we　were　creamed；　but　he　held　the　biggest　threat　available　and　had　a　workable　time　schedule；　which　I　didn't。
　So　I　walked　the　land　called　Avernus　and　considered　its　foggy　valleys　and　chasms；　its　smoking　craters；　its　bright；　bright　sun　against　its　crazy　sky；　its　icy　nights　and　too　hot　days；　its　many　rocks　and　carloads　of　dark　sand；　its　tiny；　though　vicious　and　poisonous　beasts；　and　its　big　purple　plants；　like　spineless　cacti；　and　on　the　afternoon　of　the　second　day；　as　I　stood　on　a　cliff　overlooking　the　sea；　beneath　a　tower　of　massed　vermilion　clouds；　I　decided　that　I　rather　liked　the　place　for　all　that；　and　if　its　sons　would　perish　in　the　wars　of　the　gods；　I　would　immortalize　them　one　day　in　song　if　I　were　able。
　This　mild　balm　in　mind　for　what　I　feared；　I　joined　the　fleet　and　took　mand。　If　we　made　it；　they　would　be　feted　forever　in　the　halls　of　the　immortals。
　I　was　guide　and　opener　of　the　way。　I　rejoiced。
　So　we　set　sail　the　following　day；　and　I　directed　things　from　the　lead　ship。　I　led　us　into　a　storm；　and　we　emerged　that　much　nearer　our　destination。　I　led　us　past　an　enormous　whirlpool；　and　we　were　so　much　to　the　good。　I　led　us　through　a　shallow　rocky　place；　and　the　shade　of　the　waters　deepened　afterward。　Their　colors　began　to　approximate　those　of　Amber。　So　I　still　knew　how　to　do　it。　I　could　influence　our　fate　in　time　and　place。　I　could　take　us　home。　Home　for　me；　that　is。
　I　led　us　past　strange　islands　where　green　birds　cawed　and　green　apes　hung　like　fruit　in　the　trees；　swung；　sometimes　gibbered；　and　threw　rocks　into　the　sea。　Aimed；　doubtless；　at　us。
　I　took　us　far　out　to　sea；　and　then　nosed　the　fleet　around　back　in　the　direction　of　shore。
　Bleys　by　now　was　marching　across　the　plains　of　the　worlds。　Somehow；　I　knew　he　would　make　it；　past　whatever　defenses　Eric　had　set　up。　I　kept　in　touch　with　him　by　means　of　the　cards；　and　I　learned　of　his　encounters　along　the　way。　Like；　ten　thousand　men　dead　in　a　plains　battle　with　centaurs；　five　thousand　lost　in　an　earthquake　of　frightening　proportions。　Fifteen　hundred　dead　of　a　whirlwind　plague　that　swept　the　camps。　Nineteen　thousand　dead　or　missing　in　action　as　they　passed　through　the　jungles　of　a　place　I　didn't　recognize；　when　the　napalm　fell　upon　them　from　the　strange　buzzing　things　that　passed　overhead。　Six　thousand　deserting　in　a　place　that　looked　like　the　heaven　they　had　been　promised；　five　hundred　unaccounted　for　as　they　crossed　a　sand　flat　where　a　mushroom　cloud　burned　and　towered　beside　them。　Eighty…six　hundred　gone　as　they　moved　through　a　valley　of　suddenly　militant　machines　that　rolled　forward　on　treads　and　fired　fires；　eight　hundred　sick　and　abandoned；　two　hundred　dead　from　flash　floods；　fifty…four　dying　of　duels　among　themselves；　three　hundred　dead　from　eating　poisonous　native　fruits；　a　thousand　slain　in　a　massive　stampede　of　buffalo…like　creatures；　seventy…three　gone　when　their　tents　caught　fire；　fifteen　hundred　carried　away　by　the　floods；　two　thousand　slain　by　the　winds　that　came　down　from　the　blue　hills。
　I　was　pleased　that　I'd　lost　only　a　hundred　and　eighty…six　ships　in　that　time。
　To　sleep；　perchance　to　dream。。。　Yeah；　there's　a　thing　that　rubs。　Eric　was　killing　us　by　inches　and　hours。　His　proposed　coronation　was　only　a　few　weeks　away；　and　he　obviously　knew　we　were　ing　against　him；　because　we　died　and　we　died。
　Now；　it　is　written　that　only　a　prince　of　Amber　may　walk　among　Shadows；　though　of　course　he　may　lead　or　direct　as　many　as　he　chooses　along　such　courses。　We　led　our　troops　and　saw　them　die；　but　of　Shadow　I　have　this　to　say：　there　is　Shadow　and　there　is　Substance；　and　this　is　the　root　of　all　things。　Of　Substance；　there　is　only　Amber；　the　real　city；　upon　the　real　Earth；　which　contains　everything。　Of　Shadow；　there　is　an　infinitude　of　things。　Every　possibility　exists　somewhere　as　a　Shadow　of　the　real。　Amber；　by　its　very　existence；　has　cast　such　in　all　directions。　And　what　may　one　say　of　it　beyond？　Shadow　extends　from　Amber　to　Chaos；　and　all　things　are　possible　within　it。　There　are　only　three　ways　of　traversing　it；　and　each　of　them　is　difficult。
　If　one　is　a　prince　or　princess　of　the　blood；　then　one　may　walk；　crossing　through　Shadows；　forcing　one's　environment　to　change　as　one　passes；　until　it　is　finally　in　precisely　the　shape　one　desires　it；　and　there　stop。　The　Shadow　world　is　then　one's　own；　save　for　family　intrusions；　to　do　with　as　one　would。　In　such　a　place　had　I　dwelled　for　centuries。
　The　second　means　is　the　cards；　cast　by　Dworkin；　Master　of　the　Line；　who　had　created　them　in　our　image；　to　facilitate　munications　between　members　of　the　royal　family。　He　was　the　ancient　artist　to　whom　space　and　perspective　meant　nothing。　He　had　made　up　the　family　Trumps；　which　permitted　the　willer　to　touch　his　brethren　wherever　they　might　be。　I　had　a　feeling　that　these　had　not　been　used　in　full　accord　with　their　author's　intention。
　The　third　was　the　Pattern；　also　drawn　by　Dworkin；　which　could　only　be　walked　by　a　member　of　our　family。　It　initiated　the　walker　into　the　system　of　the　cards；　as　it　were；　and　at　its　ending　gave　its　walker　the　power　to　stride　across　Shadows。
　The　cards　and　the　Pattern　made　for　instant　transport　from　Substance　through　Shadow。　The　other　way；　walking；　was　harder。
　I　knew　what　Random　had　done　in　delivering　me　into　the　true　world。　As　we　had　driven；　he　kept　adding；　from　memory；　that　which　he　recalled　of　Amber；　and　subtracting　that　which　did　not　agree。　When　everything　corresponded；　he　knew　we　had　arrived。　It　was　no　real　trick；　for　had　he　the　knowledge；　any　man　could　reach　his　own　Amber。　Even　now；　Bleys　and　I　could　find　Shadow　Ambers　where　each　of　us　ruled；　and　spend　all　of　time　and　eternity　ruling　there。　But　this　would　not　be　the　same；　for　us。　For　none　would　be　the　true　Amber；　the　city　into　which　we　were　born；　the　city　from　which　all　others　take　their　shapes。
　So　we　were　taking　the　hardest　route；　the　walk　through　Shadow；　for　our　invasion　of　Amber　itself。　Anyone　knowing　this　and　possessing　the　power　could　interpose　obstacles。　Eric　had　done　so；　and　now　we　faced　them　as　we　died。　What　would　e　of　this？　No　one　knew。
　But　if　Eric　were　crowned　king；　it　would　be　reflected　and　shadowed　everywhere。
　All　the　surviving　brothers；　we　princes　of　Amber；　I　am　sure；　felt　it　much　better；　each　in　his　own　simple　way；　personally　to　achieve　this　status　and　thereafter　let　the　Shadows　fall　where　they　might。
　We　passed　ghost　fleets；　the　ships　of　Gerard；　as　we　sailed　…　the　Flying　Dutchmen　of　this　world/that　world；　and　we　knew　we　were　ing　near。　I　used　them　as　reference　points。
　On　the　eighth　day　of　our　voyaging　we　were　near　to　Amber。　That　is　when　the　storm　broke。
　The　sea　turned　dark；　the　clouds　collected　overhead；　and　the　sails　grew　slack　within　the　still　that　followed。　The　sun　hid　its　face　…　an　enormous　blue　one　…　and　I　felt　that　Eric　had　found　us　at　last。
　Then　the　winds　arose；　and　…　if　you'll　excuse　the　expression　…　broke　…　upon　the　vessel　I　rode。
　We　were　tempest…tossed　and　storm…torn；　as　the　poets　say；　or　said。　My　guts　felt　loose　and　watery　as　the　first　billows　hit　us。　We　were　hurled　from　side　to　side　like　dice　in　a　giant's　hand。　We　were　swept　over　the　waters　of　the　sea　and　the　waters　from　the　sky。　The　sky　turned　black；　and　there　was　sleet　mixed　in　with　the　glassy　bell　ropes　that　pulled　the　thunder。　Everyone；　I'm　sure；　cried　out。　I　know　I　did。　I　pulled　my　way　along　the　shifting　deck　to　seize　the　abandoned　wheel。　I　stra