rz.nineprincesinamber-第8部分

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　I　did　the　same。
　〃Okay；〃　he　finally　said。　〃When's　the　last　time　you've　been　back？〃
　〃It's　been　so　damn　long；〃　I　told　him；　〃that　I'm　not　even　sure　I　remember　the　way。〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃then　we're　going　to　have　to　go　away　before　we　can　e　back。　How　much　gas　have　you　got？〃
　〃Three…quarters　of　a　tank。〃
　〃Then　turn　left　at　the　next　corner；　and　we'll　see　what　happens。〃
　I　did　this　thing；　and　as　we　drove　along　all　the　sidewalks　began　to　sparkle。
　〃Damn！〃　he　said。　〃It's　been　around　twenty　years　since　I've　taken　the　walk。　I'm　remembering　the　right　things　too　soon。〃
　We　kept　driving；　and　I　kept　wondering　what　the　hell　was　happening。　The　sky　had　grown　a　bit　greenish；　then　shaded　over　into　pink。
　I　bit　my　lip　against　the　asking　of　questions。
　We　passed　beneath　a　bridge　and　when　we　emerged　on　the　other　side　the　sky　was　a　normal　color　again；　but　there　were　windmills　all　over　the　place；　big　yellow　ones。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃it　could　be　worse。〃　I　noticed　that　the　people　we　passed　were　dressed　rather　strangely；　and　the　roadway　was　of　brick。
　〃Turn　right〃
　I　did。
　Purple　clouds　covered　over　the　sun；　and　it　began　to　rain。　Lightning　stalked　the　heavens　and　the　skies　grumbled　above　us。　I　had　the　windshield　wipers　going　full　speed；　but　they　weren't　doing　a　whole　lot　of　good。　I　turned　on　the　headlights　and　slowed　even　more。
　I　would　have　sworn　I'd　passed　a　horseman；　racing　in　the　other　direction；　dressed　all　in　gray；　collar　turned　high　and　head　lowered　against　the　rain。
　Then　the　clouds　broke　themselves　apart　and　we　were　riding　along　a　seashore。　The　waves　splashed　high　and　enormous　gulls　swept　low　above　them。　The　rain　had　stopped　and　I　killed　the　lights　and　the　wipers。　Now　the　road　was　of　macadam；　but　I　didn't　recognize　the　place　at　all。　In　the　rear…view　mirror　there　was　no　sign　of　the　town　we　had　just　departed。　My　grip　tightened　upon　the　wheel　as　we　passed　by　a　sudden　gallows　where　a　skeleton　was　suspended　by　the　neck；　pushed　from　side　to　side　by　the　wind。
　Random　just　kept　smoking　and　staring　out　of　the　window　as　our　road　turned　away　from　the　shore　and　curved　round　a　hill。　A　grassy　treeless　plain　swept　away　to　our　right　and　a　row　of　hills　climbed　higher　on　our　left。　The　sky　by　now　was　a　dark　but　brilliant　blue；　like　a　deep；　clear　pool；　sheltered　and　shaded。　I　did　not　recall　having　ever　seen　a　sky　like　that　before。
　Random　opened　his　window　to　throw　away　the　butt；　and　an　icy　breeze　came　in　and　swirled　around　inside　the　car　until　he　closed　the　window　again。　The　breeze　had　a　sea　scent　to　it；　salty　and　sharp。
　〃All　roads　lead　to　Amber；〃　he　said；　as　though　it　were　an　axiom。
　Then　I　recalled　what　Flora　had　said　the　day　before。　I　didn't　want　to　sound　like　a　dunce　or　a　withholder　of　crucial　information；　but　I　had　to　tell　him；　for　my　sake　as　well　as　his　own；　when　I　realized　what　her　statements　implied。
　〃You　know；〃　I　began；　〃when　you　called　the　other　day　and　I　answered　the　phone　because　Flora　was　out；　I've　a　strong　feeling　she　was　trying　to　make　it　to　Amber；　and　that　she　found　the　way　blocked。〃
　At　this；　he　laughed。
　〃The　woman　has　very　little　imagination；〃　he　replied。　〃Of　course　it　would　be　blocked　at　a　time　like　this。　Ultimately；　we'll　be　reduced　to　walking；　I'm　sure；　and　it　will　doubtless　take　all　of　our　strength　and　ingenuity　to　make　it；　if　we　make　it　at　all。　Did　she　think　she　could　walk　back　like　a　princess　in　state；　treading　on　flowers　the　whole　way？　She's　a　dumb　bitch。　She　doesn't　really　deserve　to　live；　but　that's　not　for　me　to　say；　yet。〃
　〃Turn　right　at　the　crossroads；〃　he　decided。
　What　was　happening？　I　knew　he　was　in　some　way　responsible　for　the　exotic　changes　going　on　about　us；　but　I　couldn't　determine　how　he　was　doing　it；　where　he　was　getting　us　to。　I　knew　I　had　to　learn　his　secret；　but　I　couldn't　just　ask　him　or　he'd　know　I　didn't　know。　Then　I'd　be　at　his　mercy。　He　seemed　to　do　nothing　but　smoke　and　stare；　but　ing　up　out　of　a　dip　in　the　road　we　entered　a　blue　desert　and　the　sun　was　now　pink　above　our　heads　within　the　shimmering　sky。　In　the　rear…view　mirror；　miles　and　miles　of　desert　stretched　out　behind　us；　for　as　far　as　I　could　see。　Neat　trick；　that。
　Then　the　engine　coughed；　sputtered；　steadied　itself；　repeated　the　performance。
　The　steering　wheel　changed　shape　beneath　my　hands。
　It　became　a　crescent；　and　the　seat　seemed　further　back；　the　car　seemed　closer　to　the　road；　and　the　windshield　had　more　of　a　slant　to　it。
　I　said　nothing；　though；　not　even　when　the　lavender　sandstorm　struck　us。
　But　when　it　cleared　away；　I　gasped。
　There　was　a　godawful　line　of　cars　all　jammed　up；　about　half　a　mile　before　us。　They　were　all　standing　still　and　I　could　hear　their　horns。
　〃Slow　down；〃　he　said。　〃It's　the　first　obstacle。〃
　I　did；　and　another　grist　of　sand　swept　over　us。
　Before　I　could　switch　on　the　lights；　it　was　gone；　and　I　blinked　my　eyes　several　times。
　All　the　cars　were　gone　and　silent　their　horns。　But　the　roadway　sparkled　now　as　the　sidewalks　had　for　a　time；　and　I　heard　Random　damning　someone　or　something　under　his　breath。
　〃I'm　sure　I　shifted　just　the　way　he　wanted　us　to；　whoever　set　up　that　block；〃　he　said。　〃and　it　pisses　me　off　that　I　did　what　he　expected　…　the　obvious。〃
　〃Eric？〃　I　asked；
　〃Probably。　What　do　you　think　we　should　do？　Stop　and　try　it　the　hard　way　for　a　while；　or　go　on　and　see　if　there　are　more　blocks？〃
　〃Let's　go　on　a　bit。　After　all；　that　was　only　the　first；〃
　〃Okay。〃　he　said；　but　added；　〃who　knows　what　the　second　will　be？〃
　The　second　was　a　thing　…　I　don't　know　how　else　to　describe　it。
　It　was　a　thing　that　looked　like　a　smelter　with　arms；　squatting　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　reaching　down　and　picking　up　cars；　eating　them。
　I　hit　the　brakes。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Random　asked。　〃Keep　going。　How　else　can　we　get　past　them？〃
　〃It　shook　me　a　bit；〃　I　said；　and　he　gave　me　a　strange；　sidelong　look　as　another　dust　storm　came　up。
　It　had　been　the　wrong　thing　to　say；　I　knew。
　When　the　dust　cleared　away；　we　were　racing　along　an　empty　road　once　more。　And　there　were　towers　in　the　distance。
　〃I　think　I've　screwed　him　up。〃　said　Random。　〃I　bined　several　into　one；　and　I　think　it　may　be　one　he　hasn't　anticipated。　After　all；　no　one　can　cover　all　roads　to　Amber。〃
　〃True；〃　I　said；　hoping　to　redeem　myself　from　whatever　faux　pas　had　drawn　that　strange　look。
　I　considered　Random。　A　little；　weak　looking　guy　who　could　have　died　as　easily　as　I　on　the　previous　evening。　What　was　his　power？　And　what　was　all　this　talk　of　Shadows？　Something　told　me　that　whatever　Shadows　were；　we　moved　among　them　even　now。　How？　It　was　something　Random　was　doing；　and　since　he　seemed　at　rest　physically；　his　hands　in　plain　sight；　I　decided　it　was　something　he　did　with　his　mind。　Again；　how？
　Well；　I'd　heard　him　speak　of　〃adding〃　and　〃subtracting；〃　as　though　the　universe　in　which　he　moved　were　a　big　equation。
　I　decided　…　with　a　sudden　certainty　…　that　he　was　somehow　adding　and　subtracting　items　to　and　from　the　world　that　was　visible　about　us　to　bring　us　into　closer　and　closer　alignment　with　that　strange　place；　Amber；　for　which　he　was　solving。
　It　was　something　I'd　once　known　how　to　do。　And　the　key　to　it；　I　knew　in　a　flash；　was　remembering　Amber。　But　I　couldn't。
　The　road　curved　abruptly；　the　desert　ended；　to　give　way　to　fields　of　tall；　blue；　sharp…looking　grass。　After　a　while；　the　terrain　became　a　bit　hilly；　and　at　the　foot　of　the　third　hill　the　pavement　ended　and　we　entered　upon　a　narrow　dirt　road。　It　was　hard…packed；　and　it　wound　its　way　among　greater　hills　upon　which　small　shrubs　and　bayonet　like　thistle　bushes　now　began　to　appear。
　After　about　half　an　hour　of　this；　the　hills　went　away；　and　we　entered　a　forest　of　squat；　big…boled　trees　with　diamond…shaped　leaves　of　autumn　orange　and　purple。
　A　light　rain　began　to　fall；　and　there　were　many　shadows。　Pale　mists　arose　from　mats　of　soggy　leaves。　Off　to　the　right　somewhere；　I　heard　a　howl。
　The　steering　wheel　changed　shape　three　more　times；　its　latest　version　being　an　octagonal　wooden　affair。　The　car　was　quite　tall　now；　and　we　had　somewhere　acquired　a　hood　ornament　in　the　shape　of　a　flamingo。　I　refrained　from　menting　on　these　things；　but　acmodated　myself　to　whatever　positions　the　seat　assumed　and　new　operating　requirements　the　vehicle　obtained。　Random；　however；　glanced　at　the　steering　wheel　just　as　another　howl　occurred；　shook　his　head；　and　suddenly　the　trees　were　much　higher；　though　festooned　with　hanging　vines　and　something　like　a　blue　veiling　of　Spanish　Moss；　and　the　car　was　almost　normal　again。　I　glanced　at　the　fuel　gauge　and　saw　that　we　had　half　a　tank。
　〃We're　making　headway；〃　my　brother　remarked；　and　I　nodded。
　The　road　widened　abruptly　and　acquired　a　concrete　surface。　There　were　canals　on　both　sides；　full　of　muddy　water。　Leaves；　small　branches；　and　colored　feathers　glided　along　their　surfaces。
　I　suddenly　became　lightheaded　and　a　bit　dizzy；　but　〃Breathe　slowly　and　deeply；〃　said　Random；　before　I　could　remark　on　it。　〃We're　taking　a　short　cut；　and　the　atmosphere　and　the　gravitation　will　be　a　bit　different　for　a　time。　I　think　we've　been　pretty　lucky　so　far；　and　I　want　to　push　it　for　all　it's　worth　…　get　as　close　as　we　can；　as　quickly　as　we　can。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　I　said。
　〃Maybe；　maybe　not；〃　he　replied；　〃but　I　think　it's　worth　the　gam　…　Look　out！〃
　We　were　climbing　a　hill　and　a　truck　topped　it　and　came　barreling　down　toward　us。　It　was　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road。　I　swerved　to　avoid　it；　but　it　swerved；　too。　At　the　very　last　instant；　I　had　to　go　off　the　road；　onto　the　soft　shoulder　to　my　left；　and　head　close　to　the　edge　of　the　canal　in　order　to　avoid　a　collision。
　To　my　right；　the　truck　screeched　to　a　halt。　I　tried　to　pull　off　the　shoulder　and　back　onto　the　road；　but　we　were　stuck　in　the　soft　soil。
　Then　I　heard　a　door　slam；　and　saw　that　the　driver　had　climbed　down　from　the　right　side　of　the　cab；　which　meant　that　he　probably　was　driving　on　the　proper　side　of　the　road　after　all；　and　we　were　in　the　wrong。　I　was　sure　that　nowhere　in　the　States　did　traffic　flow　in　a　British　manner；　but　I　was　certain　by　this　time　that　we　had　long　ago　left　the　Earth　that　I　knew。
　The　truck　was　a　tanker。　It　said　ZUNOCO　on　the　side　in　big；　blood…red　letters；　and　beneath　this　was　the　motto　〃Wee　covir　the　werld。〃　The　driver　covered