rz.nineprincesinamber-第3部分

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　She　leaned　her　head　to　one　side　and　narrowed　her　wonderful　eyes。
　〃Rash；〃　she　said；　〃but　possible。　Just　possible。　You　might　mean　it。　You　might。　I'll　pretend　that　you　do；　for　now。　In　that　case；　you　may　have　done　a　smart　safe　thing。　Let　me　think　about　it。〃
　I　drew　on　my　cigarette；　hoping　she'd　say　something　more。　But　she　didn't；　so　I　decided　to　seize　what　seemed　the　advantage　I'd　obtained　in　this　game　I　didn't　understand　with　players　I　didn't　know　for　stakes　I　had　no　inkling　of。
　〃The　fact　that　I'm　here　indicates　something；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　〃I　know。　But　you're　smart；　so　it　could　indicate　more　than　one　thing。　We'll　wait　and　see。〃
　Wait　for　what？　See　what？　Thing？
　Steaks　then　arrived　and　a　pitcher　of　beer；　so　I　was　temporarily　freed　from　the　necessity　of　making　cryptic　and　general　statements　for　her　to　ponder　as　subtle　or　cagey。　Mine　was　a　good　steak；　pink　inside　and　full　of　juice；　and　I　tore　at　the　fresh　tough…crested　bread　with　my　teeth　and　gulped　the　beer　with　a　great　hunger　and　a　thirst。　She　laughed　as　she　watched　me；　while　cutting　off　tiny　pieces　of　her　own。
　〃I　love　the　gusto　with　which　you　assail　life；　Corwin。　It's　one　of　the　reasons　I'd　hate　to　see　you　part　pany　with　it。〃
　〃Me；　too；〃　I　muttered。
　And　while　I　ate；　I　pondered　her。　I　saw　her　in　a　low…cut　gown；　green　as　the　green　of　the　sea；　with　full　skirts。　There　was　music；　dancing；　voices　behind　us。　I　wore　black　and　silver　and　。　。　。　The　vision　faded。　But　it　was　a　true　piece　of　my　memory；　I　knew；　and　inwardly　I　cursed　that　I　lacked　it　in　its　entirety。　What　had　she　been　saying；　in　her　green；　to　me　in　my　black　and　silver；　that　night；　behind　the　music；　the　dancing　and　the　voices？
　I　poured　us　more　beer　from　the　pitcher　and　decided　to　test　the　vision。
　〃I　remember　one　night；〃　I　said；　〃when　you　were　all　in　green　and　I　in　my　colors。　How　lovely　things　seemed　…　and　the　music。。。〃
　Her　face　grew　slightly　wistful；　the　cheeks　smoothing。
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Were　not　those　the　days？。。。You　really　have　not　been　in　touch？〃
　〃Word　of　honor；〃　I　said；　for　whatever　that　was　worth。
　〃Things　have　grown　far　worse；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　Shadows　contain　more　horrors　than　any　had　thought。。。〃
　〃And。。。？〃　I　inquired。
　〃He　still　has　his　troubles；〃　she　finished；
　〃Oh。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　went　on；　〃and　he'll　want　to　know　where　you　stand。〃
　〃Right　here；〃　I　said；
　〃You　mean。。。〃
　〃For　now；〃　I　told　her；　perhaps　too　quickly；　for　her　eyes　had　widened　too　much；　〃since　I　still　don't　know　the　full　state　of　affairs；〃　whatever　that　meant。
　〃Oh。〃
　And　we　finished　our　steaks　and　the　beer；　giving　the　two　bones　to　the　dogs。
　We　sipped　some　coffee　afterward；　and　I　came　to　feel　a　bit　brotherly　but　suppressed　it。　I　asked；　〃What　of　the　others？〃　which　could　mean　anything；　but　sounded　safe。
　I　was　afraid　for　a　moment　that　she　was　going　to　ask　me　what　I　meant。　Instead；　though；　she　leaned　back　in　her　chair；　stared　at　the　ceiling；　and　said；　〃As　always；　no　one　new　has　been　heard　from。　Perhaps　yours　was　the　wisest　way。　I'm　enjoying　it　myself。　But　how　can　one　forget　…　the　glory？〃　I　lowered　my　eyes；　because　I　wasn't　sure　what　they　should　contain。　〃One　can't；〃　I　said。　〃One　never　can。〃
　There　followed　a　long；　unfortable　silence；　after　which　she　said：　〃Do　you　hate　me？〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　I　replied。　〃How　could　I　…　all　things　considered？〃
　This　seemed　to　please　her；　and　she　showed　her　teeth；　which　were　very　white。
　〃Good；　and　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃Whatever　else；　you're　a　gentleman。〃
　I　bowed　and　smirked。
　〃You'll　turn　my　head。〃
　〃Hardly；〃　she　said；　〃all　things　considered。〃
　And　I　felt　unfortable。
　My　anger　was　there；　and　I　wondered　whether　she　knew　who　it　was　that　I　needed　to　stay　it。　I　felt　that　she　did。　I　fought　with　the　desire　to　ask　it　outright；　suppressed　it。
　〃Well；　what　do　you　propose　doing？〃　she　finally　asked；　and　being　on　the　spot　I　replied；　〃Of　course；　you　don't　trust　me。。。〃
　〃How　could　we？〃
　I　determined　to　remember　that　we。
　〃Well；　then。　For　the　time　being。　I'm　willing　to　place　myself　under　your　surveillance。　I'll　be　glad　to　stay　right　here；　where　you　can　keep　an　eye　on　me。〃
　〃And　afterward？〃
　〃Afterward？　We'll　see。〃
　〃Clever；〃　she　said；　〃very　clever。　And　you　place　me　in　an　awkward　position。〃　（I　had　said　it　because　I　didn't　have　any　place　else　to　go。　and　my　blackmail　money　wouldn't　last　me　too　long。）　〃Yes；　of　course　you　may　stay。　But　let　me　warn　you〃　…　and　here　she　fingered　what　I　had　thought　to　be　some　sort　of　pendant　on　a　chain　about　her　neck　…　〃this　is　an　ultrasonic　dog　whistle。　Donner　and　Blitzen　here　have　four　brothers；　and　they're　all　trained　to　take　care　of　nasty　people　and　they　all　respond　to　my　whistle。　So　don't　start　to　walk　toward　any　place　where　you　won't　be　desired。　A　toot　or　two　and　even　you　will　go　down　before　them。　Their　kind　is　the　reason　there　are　no　wolves　left　in　Ireland；　you　know。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said；　realizing　that　I　did。
　〃Yes。〃　she　continued；　〃Eric　will　like　it　that　you　are　my　guest。　It　should　cause　him　to　leave　you　alone；　which　is　what　you　want；　n'est…ce　pas？〃
　〃Oui。〃　I　said。
　Eric！　It　meant　something！　I　had　known　an　Eric；　and　it　had　been　very　important；　somehow；　that　I　did。　Not　recently。　But　the　Eric　I　had　known　was　still　around；　and　that　was　important。
　Why？
　I　hated　him；　that　was　one　reason。　Hated　him　enough　to　have　contemplated　killing　him。　Perhaps　I'd　even　tried。
　Also；　there　was　some　bond　between　us；　I　knew。
　Kinship？
　Yes；　that　was　it。　Neither　of　us　liked　it　being　brothers。。。I　remembered；　I　remembered。。。
　Big；　powerful　Eric；　with　his　wet　curly　beard；　and　his　eyes　…　just　like　Evelyn's！
　I　was　racked　with　a　new　surge　of　memory；　as　my　temples　began　to　throb　and　the　back　of　my　neck　was　suddenly　warm。
　I　didn't　let　any　of　it　show　on　my　face；　but　forced　myself　to　take　another　drag　on　my　cigarette；　another　sip　of　beer；　as　I　realized　that　Evelyn　was　indeed　my　sister！　Only　Evelyn　wasn't　her　name。　I　couldn't　think　of　what　it　was；　but　it　wasn't　Evelyn。　I'd　be　careful；　I　resolved。　I'd　not　use　any　name　at　all　when　addressing　her；　until　I　remembered。
　And　what　of　me？　And　what　was　it　that　was　going　on　around　me？
　Eric；　I　suddenly　felt；　had　had　some　connection　with　my　accident。　It　should　have　been　a　fatal　one；　only　I'd　pulled　through。　He　was　the　one；　wasn't　he？　Yes；　my　feelings　replied。　It　had　to　be　Eric。　And　Evelyn　was　working　with　him；　paying　Greenwood　to　keep　me　in　a　a。　Better　than　being　dead；　but。。。
　I　realized　that　I　had　just　somehow　delivered　myself　into　Eric's　hands　by　ing　to　Evelyn；　and　I　would　be　his　prisoner；　would　be　open　to　new　attack；　if　I　stayed。
　But　she　had　suggested　that　my　being　her　guest　would　cause　him　to　leave　me　alone。　I　wondered。　I　couldn't　take　anything　at　face　value。　I'd　have　to　be　constantly　on　my　guard。　Perhaps　it　would　be　better　if　I　just　went　away；　let　my　memories　return　gradually。
　But　there　was　this　terrible　sense　of　urgency。　I　had　to　find　out　the　full　story　as　soon　as　possible　and　act　as　soon　as　I　knew　it。　It　lay　like　a　pulsion　upon　me。　If　danger　was　the　price　of　memory　and　risk　the　cost　of　opportunity；　then　so　be　it。　I'd　stay。
　〃And　I　remember；〃　Evelyn　said；　and　I　realized　that　she　had　been　talking　for　a　while　and　I　hadn't　even　been　listening。　Perhaps　it　was　because　of　the　reflective　quality　of　her　words；　not　really　requiring　any　sort　of　responses　…　and　because　of　the　urgency　of　my　thoughts。
　〃And　I　remember　the　day　you　beat　Julian　at　his　favorite　game　and　he　threw　a　glass　of　wine　at　you　and　cursed　you。　But　you　took　the　prize。　And　he　was　suddenly　afraid　he　had　gone　too　far。　But　you　laughed　then；　though；　and　drank　a　glass　with　him。　I　think　he　felt　badly　over　that　show　of　temper；　normally　being　so　cool；　and　I　think　he　was　envious　of　you　that　day。　Do　you　recall？　I　think　he　has；　to　a　certain　extent；　imitated　many　of　your　ways　since　then。　But　I　still　hate　him　and　hope　that　he　goes　down　shortly。　I　feel　he　will。。。〃
　Julian；　Julian；　Julian。　Yes　and　no。　Something　about　a　game　and　my　baiting　a　man　and　shattering　an　almost　legendary　self…control。　Yes；　there　was　a　feeling　of　familiarity；　and　no；　I　couldn't　really　say　for　certain　what　all　had　been　involved。
　〃And　Caine；　how　you　gulled　him！　He　hates　you　yet；　you　know。。。〃
　I　gathered　I　wasn't　very　well　liked。　Somehow；　the　feeling　pleased　me。
　And　Caine；　too；　sounded　familiar。　Very。
　Eric；　Julian；　Caine；　Corwin。　The　names　swam　around　in　my　head；　and　in　a　way；　it　was　too　much　to　hold　within　me。
　〃It's　been　so　long。。。〃　I　said；　almost　involuntarily；　and　it　seemed　to　be　true。
　〃Corwin；〃　she　said；　〃let's　not　fence。　You　want　more　than　security；　I　know　that。　And　you're　still　strong　enough　to　get　something　out　of　this；　if　you　play　your　hand　just　right。　I　can't　guess　what　you　have　in　mind；　but　maybe　we　can　make　a　deal　with　Eric。〃　The　we　had　obviously　shifted。　She　had　e　to　some　sort　of　conclusion　as　to　my　worth　in　whatever　was　going　on。　She　saw　a　chance　to　gain　something　for　herself；　I　could　tell。　I　smiled；　just　a　little。　〃Is　that　why　you　came　here？〃　she　continued。　〃Do　you　have　a　proposal　for　Eric；　something　which　might　require　a　go…between？〃
　〃I　may；〃　I　replied；　〃after　I've　thought　about　it　some　more。　I've　still　so　recently　recovered　that　I　have　much　pondering　to　do。　I　wanted　to　be　in　the　best　place；　though；　where　I　could　act　quickly；　if　I　decided　my　best　interests　lay　with　Eric。〃
　〃Take　care；〃　she　said。　〃You　know　I'll　report　every　word。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　I　said；　not　knowing　that　at　all　and　groping　for　a　quick　hedge；　〃unless　your　best　interests　were　conjoined　with　my　own。〃
　Her　eyebrows　moved　closer　together；　and　tiny　wrinkles　appeared　between　them。
　〃I'm　not　sure　what　you're　proposing。〃
　〃I'm　not　proposing　anything；　yet；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　just　being　pletely　open　and　honest　with　you　and　telling　you　I　don't　know。　I'm　not　positive　I　want　to　make　a　deal　with　Eric。　After　all。。。〃　I　let　the　words　trail　off　on　purpose；　for　I　had　nothing　to　follow　them　with；　though　I　felt　I　should。
　〃You've　been　offered　an　alternative？〃　She　stood　up　suddenly；　seizing　her　whistle。　〃Bleys！　Of　course！〃
　〃Sit　down；〃　I　said；　〃and　don't　be　ridiculous。　Would　I　place　myself　in　your　hands　this　calmly；　this　readily；　just　to　be　dog　meat　because　you　happen　to　think　of　Bleys？〃
　She　relaxed；　maybe　even　sagged　a　little；　then　reseated　herself。
　〃Possibly　not；〃