rz.signoftheunicorn-第21部分

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n　the　other　hand；　have　made　a　number　of　blunders　which　you　would　not　have　made　had　you　been　in　full　possession　of　your　faculties。　That　is　why　I　believe　your　story；　amnesia　and　all。　No　one　gets　himself　blinded　as　a　piece　of　strategy。　Gerard　is　well　on　the　way　to　establishing　his　own　innocence。　I　almost　think　he　is　up　there　with　Brand　now　more　for　that　reason　than　from　any　desire　to　protect　Brand。　At　any　rate；　we　will　know　for　sure　before　long　…　or　else　have　some　new　suspicions。　Random　has　simply　been　watched　too　closely　these　past　years　to　have　had　the　opportunity　to　engineer　everything　that　has　been　happening。　So　he　is　out。　Of　us　more　delicate　sorts。　Flora　hasn't　the　brains；　Deirdre　lacks　the　guts；　Llewella　hasn't　the　motivations；　as　she　is　happy　elsewhere　but　never　here；　and　I；　of　course；　am　innocent　of　all　but　malice。　That　leaves　Julian。　Is　he　capable？　Yes。　Does　he　want　the　throne？　Of　course。　Has　he　had　time　and　opportunity？　Again；　yes。　He　is　your　man。〃
　〃Would　he　have　killed　Caine？〃　I　asked。
　〃They　were　buddies。〃
　She　curled　her　lip。
　〃Julian　has　no　friends；〃　she　said。　〃That　icy　personality　of　his　is　thawed　only　by　thoughts　of　himself。　Oh；　in　recent　years　he　seemed　closer　to　Caine　than　to　anyone　else。　But　even　that。。。　even　that　could　have　been　a　part　of　it。　Shamming　a　friendship　long　enough　to　make　it　seem　believable；　so　that　he　would　not　be　suspect　at　this　time。　I　can　believe　Julian　capable　of　that　because　I　cannot　believe　him　capable　of　strong　emotional　attachments。〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃His　friendship　with　Caine　is　something　that　occurred　during　my　absence；　so　everything　I　know　concerning　it　is　secondhand。　Still；　if　Julian　were　looking　for　friendship　in　the　form　of　another　personality　close　to　his　own；　I　can　see　it。　They　were　a　lot　alike。　I　tend　to　think　it　was　real；　because　I　don't　think　anybody　is　capable　of　deceiving　someone　about　his　friendship　for　years。　Unless　the　other　party　is　awfully　stupid；　which　is　something　Caine　was　not。　And　…　well；　you　say　your　reasoning　was　subjective；　intuitive；　and　biased。　So　is　mine；　on　something　like　this。　I　just　don't　like　to　think　anybody　is　such　a　miserable　wretch　that　he　would　use　his　only　friend　that　way。　That's　why　I　think　there　is　something　wrong　with　your　list。〃
　She　sighed。
　〃For　someone　who　has　been　around　for　as　long　as　you　have；　Corwin；　you　say　some　silly　things。　Were　you　changed　by　your　long　stay　in　that　funny　little　place？　Years　ago　you　would　have　seen　the　obvious；　as　I　do。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　have　changed；　for　such　things　no　longer　seem　obvious。　Or　could　it　be　that　you　have　changed；　Fiona？　A　trifle　more　cynical　than　the　little　girl　I　once　knew。　It　might　not　have　been　all　that　obvious　to　you；　years　ago。〃
　She　smiled　softly。
　〃Never　tell　a　woman　she　has　changed；　Corwin。　Except　for　the　better。　You　used　to　know　that；　too。　Could　it　be　that　you　are　really　only　one　of　Corwin's　shadows；　sent　back　to　suffer　and　intimidate　here　on　his　behalf？　Is　the　real　Corwin　somewhere　else；　laughing　at　us　all？〃
　〃I　am　here；　and　I　am　not　laughing；〃　I　said。　She　laughed。
　〃Yes；　that　is　it！〃　she　said。　〃I　have　just　decided　that　you　are　not　yourself！
　〃Announcement；　everybody！〃　she　cried；　springing　to　her　feet。　〃I　have　just　noticed　that　this　is　not　really　Corwin！　It　has　to　be　one　of　his　shadows！　It　has　just　announced　a　belief　in　friendship；　dignity；　nobility　of　spirit；　and　those　other　things　which　figure　prominently　in　popular　romances！　I　am　obviously　onto　something！〃
　The　others　stared　at　her。　She　laughed　again；　then　sat　down　abruptly。
　I　heard　Flora　mutter　〃drunk〃　and　return　to　her　conversation　with　Deirdre。
　Random　said；　〃Let's　hear　it　for　shadows；〃　and　turned　back　to　a　discussion　with　Benedict　and　Llewella。
　〃See？〃　she　said。
　〃What？〃
　〃You're　insubstantial；〃　she　said；　patting　my　knee。　〃And　so　am　I；　now　that　I　think　about　it。　It　has　been　a　bad　day；　Corwin。〃
　〃I　know。　I　feel　like　hell；　too。　I　thought　I　had　such　a　fine　idea　for　getting　Brand　back。　Not　only　that；　it　worked。　A　lot　of　good　it　did　him。〃
　〃Don't　overlook　those　bits　of　virtue　you've　acquired；〃　she　said。　〃You're　not　to　blame　for　the　way　it　turned　out。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃I　believe　that　Julian　might　have　had　the　right　idea；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　feel　like　staying　awake　any　longer。〃
　I　rose　with　her；　walked　her　to　the　door。
　〃I'm　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃Really。〃
　〃Sure？〃
　She　nodded　sharply。
　〃See　you　in　the　morning　then。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　she　said。　〃Now　you　can　talk　about　me。〃
　She　winked　and　went　out。
　I　turned　back；　saw　that　Benedict　and　Llewella　were　approaching。
　〃Turning　in？〃　I　asked。
　Benedict　nodded。
　〃Might　as　well；〃　Llewella　said；　and　she　kissed　me　on　the　cheek。
　〃What　was　that　for？〃
　〃A　number　of　things；〃　she　said。　〃Good　night。〃
　〃Good　night。〃
　Random　was　crouched　on　the　hearth；　poking　at　the　fire。　Deirdre　turned　to　him　and　said；　〃Don't　throw　on　more　wood　just　for　us。　Flora　and　I　are　going　too。〃
　〃Okay。〃　He　set　the　poker　aside　and　rose。　〃Sleep　well；〃　he　called　after　them。
　Deirdre　gave　me　a　sleepy　smile　and　Flora　a　nervous　one。　I　added　my　good　nights　and　watched　them　leave。
　〃Learn　anything　new　and　useful？〃　Random　asked。
　I　shrugged。
　〃Did　you？〃
　〃Opinions；　conjectures。　No　new　facts；〃　he　said。　〃We　were　trying　to　decide　who　might　be　next　on　the　list。〃
　〃And。。。？〃
　〃Benedict　thinks　it's　a　toss…up。　You　or　him。　Providing　you　are　not　behind　it　all；　of　course。　He　also　thinks　your　buddy　Ganelon　ought　to　watch　his　step。〃
　〃Ganelon。。。　Yes；　that's　a　thought　…　and　it　should　have　been　mine。　I　think　he　is　right　about　the　toss…up；　too。　It　may　even　be　slightly　weighted　against　him；　since　they　know　I'm　alert　because　of　the　attempted　frameup。〃
　〃I　would　say　that　all　of　us　are　now　aware　that　Benedict　is　alert　himself。　He　managed　to　mention　his　opinion　to　everyone。　I　believe　that　he　would　wele　an　attempt。〃
　I　chuckled。
　〃That　balances　the　coin　again。　I　guess　it　is　a　toss…up。〃
　〃He　said　that；　too。　Naturally；　he　knew　I　would　tell　you。〃
　〃Naturally；　I　wish　he　would　start　talking　to　me　again。　Well。。。　not　much　I　can　do　about　it　now；〃　I　said。　〃The　hell　with　everything。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃Look　under　it　first。〃
　We　left　the　room；　headed　up　the　hall。
　〃Corwin；　I　wish　you'd　had　the　foresight　to　bring　some　coffee　back　with　you；　along　with　the　guns；〃　he　said。　〃I　could　use　a　cup。〃
　〃Doesn't　it　keep　you　awake？〃
　〃No。　I　like　a　couple　of　cups　in　the　evening。〃
　〃I　miss　it　mornings。　We'll　have　to　import　some　when　this　mess　is　all　settled。〃
　〃Small　fort；　but　a　good　idea。　What　got　into　Fi；　anyhow？〃
　〃She　thinks　Julian　is　our　man。〃
　〃She　may　be　right。〃
　〃What　about　Caine？〃
　〃Supposing　it　was　not　a　single　individual；〃　he　said　as　we　mounted　the　stair。　〃Say　it　was　two；　like　Julian　and　Caine。　They　finally　had　a　falling　out；　Caine　lost；　Julian　disposed　of　him　and　used　the　death；　to　weaken　your　position　as　well。　Former　friends　make　the　worst　enemies。〃
　〃It's　no　use；〃　I　said。　〃I　get　dizzy　when　I　start　sorting　the　possibilities。　We　are　either　going　to　have　to　wait　for　something　more　to　happen；　or　make　something　happen。　Probably　the　latter。　But　not　tonight　…〃
　〃Hey！　Wait　up！〃
　〃Sorry。〃　I　paused　at　the　landing。　〃Don't　know　what　got　into　me。　Finishing　spurt；　I　guess。〃
　〃Nervous　energy；〃　he　said；　ing　abreast　of　me　once　more。　We　continued　on　up；　and　I　made　an　effort　to　match　his　pace；　fighting　down　a　desire　to　hurry。
　〃Well；　sleep　well；〃　he　said　finally。
　〃Good　night。　Random。〃
　He　continued　on　up　the　stair　and　I　headed　off　along　the　corridor　toward　my　quarters。　I　was　feeling　jittery　by　then；　which　must　be　why　I　dropped　my　key。
　I　reached　and　plucked　it　out　of　the　air　before　it　had　fallen　very　far。　Simultaneously；　I　was　struck　by　the　impression　that　its　motion　was　somewhat　slower　than　it　should　have　been。　I　inserted　it　in　the　lock　and　turned　it。
　The　room　was　dark；　but　I　decided　against　lighting　a　candle　or　an　oil　lamp。　I　had　gotten　used　to　the　dark　a　long　time　ago。　I　locked　and　bolted　the　door。　My　eyes　were　already　half　adjusted　to　the　gloom；　from　the　dim　hallway。　I　turned。　There　was　some　starlight　leaking　in　about　the　drapes；　too。　I　crossed　the　room；　unfastening　my　collar。
　He　was　waiting　in　my　bed　chamber；　to　the　left　of　the　entrance。　He　was　perfectly　positioned　and　he　did　nothing　to　give　himself　away。　I　walked　right　into　it。　He　had　the　ideal　station；　he　held　the　dagger　ready；　he　had　the　element　of　total　surprise　going　for　him。　By　rights　I　should　have　died　…　not　in　my　bed；　but　just　there　at　its　foot。
　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　movement；　realized　the　presence　and　its　significance　as　I　stepped　over　the　threshold。
　I　knew　that　it　was　too　late　to　avoid　the　thrust　even　as　I　raised　my　arm　to　try　to　block　it。　But　one　peculiarity　struck　me　before　the　blade　itself　did：　my　assailant　seemed　to　be　moving　too　slowly。　Quick；　with　all　the　tension　of　his　wait　behind　it；　that　is　how　it　should　have　been。　I　should　never　have　known　it　was　occurring　until　after　the　act；　if　then。　I　should　not　have　had　time　to　turn　partway　and　swing　my　arm　as　far　as　I　did。　A　ruddy　haze　filled　my　vision　and　I　felt　my　forearm　strike　the　side　of　the　outflung　arm　at　about　the　same　moment　as　the　steel　touched　my　belly　and　bit。　Within　the　redness　there　seemed　a　faint　tr