rz.nineprincesinamber-第21部分

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heel。　I　strapped　myself　in　place　and　held　it。　Eric　had　cut　loose　in　Amber；　that　was　for　damn　sure。
　One；　two；　three；　four；　and　there　was　no　letup。　Five　hours；　then。　How　many　men　had　we　lost？　I　dunno。
　Then　I　felt　and　heard　a　tingling　and　a　tinkling；　and　I　saw　Bleys　as　through　a　long　gray　tunnel。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked。　〃I've　been　trying　to　reach　you。〃
　〃Life　is　full　of　vicissitudes；〃　I　replied。　〃We're　riding　out　one　of　them。〃
　〃Storm？〃　he　said。
　〃You　bet　your　sweet　ass。　It's　the　granddaddy　of　them　all。　I　think　I　see　a　monster　off　to　port。　If　he　has　any　brains；　he'll　aim　for　the　bottom。。。　He　just　did。〃
　〃We　just　had　one　ourselves；〃　Bleys　told　me。
　〃Monster　or　storm？〃
　〃Storm；〃　he　replied。　〃Two　hundred　dead。〃
　〃Keep　the　faith；〃　I　said；　〃hold　the　fort；　and　talk　to　me　later。　Okay？〃
　He　nodded；　and　there　were　lightnings　at　his　back。
　〃Eric's　got　our　number；〃　he　added；　before　he　cut　off。
　I　had　to　agree。
　It　was　three　more　hours　before　things　let　up；　and　many　more　later　I　learned　that　we　had　lost　half　of　the　fleet　（and　on　my　vessel…the　flagship…we　had　lost　forty　of　the　crew　of　one　hundred　and　twenty）。　It　was　a　hard　rain　that　fell。
　Somehow；　to　the　sea　over　Rebma；　we　made　it。
　I　drew　forth　my　cards　and　held　Random's　before　me。
　When　he　realized　who　was　talking；　the　first　thing　he　said　was　〃Turn　back；〃　and　I　asked　him　why。
　〃　'Cause；　according　to　Llewella；　Eric　can　cream　you　now。　She　says　wait　a　while；　till　he　relaxes；　and　hit　him　then　…　like　a　year　from　now；　maybe。〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃Sorry；〃　said　I。　〃Can't。　Too　many　losses　involved　in　getting　us　this　far。　It's　a　now…or…never　situation。〃
　He　shrugged；　wearing　a　〃Like；　I　warned　you〃　expression。
　〃Why；　though？〃　I　asked　him。
　〃Mainly　because　I　just　learned　he　can　control　the　weather　around　here；〃　he　said。
　〃We'll　still　have　to　chance　it。〃
　He　shrugged　again。
　〃Don't　say　I　didn't　tell　you。〃
　〃He　definitely　knows　we're　ing？〃
　〃What　do　you　think？　Is　he　a　cretin？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　he　knows。　If　I　could　guess　it　in　Rebma；　then　he　knows　in　Amber　…　and　I　did　guess；　from　a　wavering　of　Shadow。〃
　〃Unfortunately；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　some　misgivings　about　this　expedition；　but　it's　Bleys'　show。〃
　〃You　cop　out　and　let　him　get　axed。〃
　〃Sorry；　but　I　can't　take　the　chance。　He　might　win。　I'm　bringing　in　the　fleet。〃
　〃You've　spoken　with　Caine；　with　Gerard？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　you　must　think　you　have　a　chance　upon　the　waters。　But　listen；　Eric　has　figured　a　way　to　control　the　Jewel　of　Judgment；　I　gather；　from　court　gossip　about　its　double。　He　can　use　it　to　control　the　weather　here。　That's　definite。　God　knows　what　else　he　might　be　able　to　do　with　it。〃
　〃Pity；〃　I　said。　〃We'll　have　to　suffer　it。　Can't　let　a　few　storms　demoralize　us。〃
　〃Corwin；　I'll　confess。　I　spoke　with　Eric　himself　three　days　ago。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃He　asked　me。　I　spoke　with　him　out　of　boredom。　He　went　into　great　detail　concerning　his　defenses。〃
　〃That's　because　he　learned　from　Julian　that　we　came　in　together。　He's　sure　it'll　get　back　to　me。〃
　〃Probably；〃　he　said。　〃But　that　doesn't　change　what　he　said。〃
　〃No；〃　I　agreed。
　〃Then　let　Bleys　fight　his　own　war；〃　he　told　me。　〃You　can　hit　Eric　later。〃
　〃He's　about　to　be　crowned　in　Amber。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know。　It's　as　easy　to　attack　a　king；　though；　as　a　prince；　isn't　it？　What　difference　does　it　make　what　he　calls　himself　at　the　time；　so　long　as　you　take　him？　It'll　still　be　Eric。〃
　〃True；〃　I　said；　〃but　I've　mitted　myself。〃
　〃Then　unmit　yourself；〃　he　said。
　〃　'Fraid　I　can't　do　that。〃
　〃Then　you're　crazy；　Charlie。〃
　〃Probably。〃
　〃Well；　good　luck；　anyhow。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃See　you　around。〃
　And　that　was　that；　and　it　troubled　me。
　Was　I　heading　into　a　trap？
　Eric　was　no　fool。　Perhaps　he　had　a　real　death…gig　lined　up。　Finally；　I　shrugged　and　leaned　out　over　the　rail；　the　cards　once　again　behind　my　belt。
　It　is　a　proud　and　lonely　thing　to　be　a　prince　of　Amber；　incapable　of　trust。　I　wasn't　real　fond　of　it　just　then；　but　there　I　was。
　Eric；　of　course；　had　controlled　the　storm　we'd　just　passed　through；　and　it　seemed　in　line　with　his　being　weather　master　in　Amber；　as　Random　had　told　me。
　So　I　tried　something　myself。
　I　headed　us　toward　an　Amber　lousy　with　snow。　It　was　the　most　horrible　blizzard　I　could　conjure　up。
　The　big　flakes　began　to　fall；　out　there　on　the　ocean。
　Let　him　stop　them　a　normal　enough　Shadow　offering；　if　he　could。
　And　he　did。
　Within　a　half　hour's　time　the　blizzard　had　died；　Amber　was　virtually　impervious　…　and　it　was　really　the　only　city。　I　didn't　want　to　go　off　course；　so　I　let　things　be。　Eric　was　master　of　the　weather　in　Amber。
　What　to　do？
　We　sailed　on；　of　course。　Into　the　jaws　of　death。
　What　can　one　say？
　The　second　storm　was　worse　than　the　first；　but　I　held　the　wheel。　It　was　electrified；　and　focused　only　on　the　fleet。　It　drove　us　apart。　It　cost　us　forty　vessels　more。
　I　was　afraid　to　call　Bleys　to　see　what　had　been　done　to　him。
　〃Around　two　hundred　thousand　troops　are　left；〃　he　said。　〃Flash　flood；〃　and　I　told　him　what　Random　had　told　me。
　〃I'll　buy　it；〃　he　said。　〃But　let's　not　dwell　on　it。　Weather　or　no；　we'll　beat　him。〃
　〃I　hope　so。〃
　I　lit　a　cigarette　and　leaned　across　the　bow。
　Amber　should　be　ing　into　sight　soon；　I　knew　the　ways　of　Shadow　now；　and　I　knew　how　to　get　there　by　walking。
　But　everyone　had　misgivings。
　There　would　never　be　a　perfect　day；　though。
　So　we　sailed　on；　and　the　darkness　came　upon　us　like　a　sudden　wave；　and　the　worst　storm　of　them　all　struck。
　We　managed　to　ride　out　its　black　lashings；　but　I　was　scared。　It　was　all　true；　and　we　were　in　northern　waters。　If　Caine　had　kept　his　word；　all　well　and　good。　If　he　was　getting　us　out；　he　was　in　an　excellent　position。
　So　I　assumed　he　had　sold　us　out。　Why　not？　I　prepared　the　fleet　…　seventy…three　vessels　remaining　…　for　battle；　when　I　saw　him　approach。　The　cards　had　lied　…　or　else　been　very　correct　…　when　they'd　pointed　to　him　as　the　key　figure。
　The　lead　vessel　headed　toward　my　own；　and　I　moved　forward　to　meet　it。　We　hove　to；　and　side　by　side　regarded　one　another。　We　could　have　municated　via　the　Trumps；　but　Caine　didn't　choose　to；　and　he　was　in　the　stronger　position。　Therefore；　family　etiquette　required　that　he　choose　his　own　means。　He　obviously　wanted　to　be　on　record　as　he　called　out；　through　an　amplifier：
　〃Corwin！　Kindly　surrender　mand　of　your　fleet！　I've　got　you　outnumbered。　You　can't　make　it　through！〃
　I　regarded　him　across　the　waves　and　raised　my　own　amplifier　to　my　lips。
　〃What　of　our　arrangement？〃　I　asked。
　〃Null　and　void；〃　he　said。　〃Your　force　is　far　too　weak　to　hurt　Amber；　so　save　lives　and　surrender　it　now。〃
　I　looked　over　my　left　shoulder　and　regarded　the　sun。
　〃Pray　hear　me；　brother　Caine；〃　said　I；　〃and　grant　me　this　then：　give　me　your　leave　to　confer　with　my　captains　till　the　sun　stands　in　high　heaven。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　he　replied；　without　hesitation。　〃They　appreciate　their　positions；　I'm　sure。〃
　I　turned　away　then　and　ordered　that　the　ship　be　turned　about　and　headed　back　in　the　direction　of　the　main　body　of　vessels。
　If　I　tried　to　flee；　Caine　would　pursue　me　through　the　Shadows　and　destroy　the　ships；　one　by　one。　Gunpowder　did　not　ignite　on　the　real　Earth；　but　if　we　moved　very　far　away；　it　too　would　be　employed　to　our　undoing。　Caine　would　find　some；　for　it　was　probable；　were　I　to　depart；　the　fleet　could　not　sail　the　Shadow　seas　without　me；　and　would　be　left　as　sitting　ducks　upon　the　real　waters　here。　So　the　crews　were　either　dead　or　prisoners；　whatever　I　did。
　Random　had　been　right。
　I　drew　forth　Bleys'　Trump　and　concentrated　till　it　moved。
　〃Yes？〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　was　agitated。　I　could　almost　hear　the　sounds　of　battle　about　him。
　〃We're　in　trouble；〃　I　said。　〃Seventy…three　ships　made　it　through；　and　Caine　has　called　on　us　to　surrender　by　noon。〃
　〃Damn　his　eyes！〃　said　Bleys。　〃I　haven't　made　it　as　far　as　you。　We're　in　the　middle　of　a　fight　now。　An　enormous　cavalry　force　is　cutting　us　to　pieces。　So　I　can't　counsel　you　fairly。　I've　got　my　own　problems。　Do　as　you　see　fit。　They're　ing　again！〃　And　the　contact　was　broken。
　I　drew　forth　Gerard's；　and　sought　contact。
　When　we　spoke　it　seemed　I　could　see　a　shore　line　behind　him。　I　seemed　to　recognize　it。　If　my　guess　was　correct；　he　was　in　southern　waters。　I　don't　like　to　remember　our　conversation。　I　asked　him　if　he　could　help　me　against　Caine；　and　if　he　would。
　〃I　only　agreed　to　let　you　by；〃　he　said。　〃That　is　why　I　withdrew　to　the　south。　I　couldn't　reach　you　in　time　if　I　wanted　to。　I　did　not　agree　to　help　you　kill　our　brother。〃
　And　before　I　could　reply；　he　was　gone。　He　was　right；　of　course。　He'd　agreed　to　give　me　an　opportunity；　not　to　fight　my　battle　for　me。
　What　then　did　that　leave　me？
　I　lit　a　cigarette。　I　paced　the　deck。　It　was　no　longer　morning。　The　mists　had　long　vanished　and　the　sun　warmed　my　shoulders。　Soon　it　would　be　noon。　Perhaps　two　hours。
　I　fingered　my　cards；　weighed　the　deck　in　my　hand。　I　could　try　a　contest　of　wills　through　them；　with　either　Eric　or　Caine。　There　was　that　power　present；　and　perhaps　even　others　of　which　I　knew　nothing。　They　had　been　so　designed；　at　the　mand　of　Oberon；　by　the　hand　of　the　mad　artist　Dworkin
　Barimen；　that　wild…eyed　hunchback　who　had　been　a　sorcerer；　priest；　or　psychiatrist　…　the　stories　conflicted　on　this　point　…　from　some　distant　Shadow　where　Dad　had　saved　him　from　a　disastrous　fate　he　had　brought　upon　himself。　The　details　were　unknown；　but　he　had　always　been　a　bit　off　his　rocker　since　that　time。　Still；　he　was　a　great　artist；　and　it　was　undeniable　that　he　possessed　some　strange　power。　He　had　vanished　ages　ago；　after　creating　the　cards　and　tracing　the　Pattern　in　Amber。　We　had　often　speculated　about　him；　but　no　one　seemed　to　know　his　whereabouts。　Perhaps　Dad　had　done　him　in；　to　keep　his　secrets　secret。
　Caine　would　be　ready　for　such　an　attack；　and　I　probably　couldn't　break　him；　though　I　might　be　able　to　hold　him。　Even　then；　though；　his　captains　had　doubtless　been　given　the　order　to　attack。
　Eric　would　surely　be　ready　for　anything；　but　if　there　was　nothing　else　left　to　do；　I　might　as　well　try　it。　I　had　nothing　to　lose　but　my　soul。
　Then　there　was　the　card　for　Amber　itself。　I　could　take　myself　there　with　it　and　try　an　assassination；　but　I　figured　t