rz.thegunsofavalon-第10部分

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　Then　the　two　hundred　or　so　of　us　rode　on。。。
　Men。　It　was　men　that　we　slew；　that　slew　us　…　gray…faced；　dour…countenanced　men。　I　wanted　more。　One　more。。。
　Theirs　must　have　been　a　semi…metaphysical　problem　in　logistics。　How　much　could　be　diverted　through　this　Gateway？　I　was　not　sure。　Soon。。。
　We　topped　a　rise；　and　far　ahead　and　below　us　lay　a　dark　citadel。
　I　raised　my　blade。
　As　we　descended；　they　attacked。
　They　hissed　and　they　croaked　and　they　flapped。　They　meant；　to　me；　that　he　was　running　low　on　people。　Grayswandir　became　a　flame　in　my　hand；　a　thunderbolt；　a　portable　electric　chair。　I　slew　them　as　fast　as　they　approached；　and　they　burned　as　they　died。　To　my　right；　I　saw　Lance　draw　a　similar　line　of　chaos；　and　he　was　muttering　beneath　his　breath。　Prayers　for　the　dead；　no　doubt。　To　my　left；　Ganelon　laid　about　him；　and　a　wake　of　fires　followed　behind　his　horse's　tail。　Through　the　flashing　lightning；　the　citadel　loomed　larger。
　The　hundred　or　so　of　us　stormed　ahead；　and　the　abominations　fell　by　the　wayside。
　When　we　reached　the　gate；　we　were　faced　by　an　infantry　of　men　and　beasts。　We　charged。
　They　outnumbered　us；　but　we　had　little　choice。　Perhaps　we　had　proceeded　our　own　infantry　by　too　much。　But　I　thought　not。　Time；　as　I　saw　it；　was　all　important　now。
　〃I've　got　to　get　through！〃　I　cried。　〃He's　inside！〃
　〃He's　mine！〃　said　Lance。
　〃You're　both　wele　to　him！〃　said　Ganelon；　laying　about　him。　〃Cross　when　you　can！　I'm　with　you！〃
　We　slew　and　we　slew　and　we　slew；　and　then　the　tide　turned　in　their　favor。　They　pressed　us；　all　the　ugly　things　that　were　more　or　less　than　human；　mixed　in　with　human　troops。　We　were　drawn　up　into　a　tight　knot；　defending　ourselves　on　all　sides；　when　our　bedraggled　infantry　arrived　and　began　hacking。　We　pressed　for　the　gate　once　more　and　made　it　this　time；　all　forty　or　fifty　of　us。
　We　won　through；　and　then　there　were　troops　in　the　courtyard　to　be　slain。
　The　dozen　or　so　of　us　who　made　it　to　the　foot　of　the　dark　tower　were　faced　by　a　final　guard　contingent。
　〃Go　it！〃　cried　Ganelon；　as　we　leaped　from　our　horses　and　waded　into　them。
　〃Go　it！〃　cried　Lance；　and　I　guess　they　both　meant　me；　or　each　other。
　I　took　it　to　mean　me；　and　I　broke　away　from　the　fray　and　raced　up　the　stairs。
　He　would　be　there；　in　the　highest　tower；　I　knew；　and　I　would　have　to　face　him；　and　face　him　down。　I　did　not　know　whether　I　could；　but　I　had　to　try；　because　I　was　the　only　one　who　knew　where　he　really　came　from　…　and　I　was　the　one　who　put　him　there。
　I　came　to　a　heavy　wooden　door　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　I　tried　it；　but　it　was　secured　from　the　other　side。　So　I　kicked　it　as　hard　as　I　could。　It　fell　inward　with　a　crash。
　I　saw　him　there　by　the　window；　a　man…formed　body　dressed　in　light　armor；　goat　head　upon　those　massive　shoulders。
　I　crossed　the　threshold　and　stopped。
　He　had　turned　to　stare　as　the　door　had　fallen；　and　now　he　sought　my　eyes　through　steel。
　〃Mortal　man；　you　have　e　too　far；〃　he　said。　〃Or　are　you　mortal　man？〃　and　there　was　a　blade　in　his　hand。
　〃Ask　Strygalldwir；〃　I　said。
　〃You　are　the　one　who　slew　him；〃　he　stated。　〃Did　he　name　you？〃
　〃Maybe。〃
　There　were　footsteps　on　the　stairs　behind　me。　I　stepped　to　the　left　of　the　doorway。
　Ganelon　burst　into　the　chamber　and　I　called　〃Halt！〃　and　he　did。
　He　turned　to　me。
　〃This　is　the　thing；〃　he　said。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃My　sin　against　a　thing　I　loved；〃　I　said。　〃Stay　away　from　it。　It's　mine。〃
　〃You're　wele　to　it。〃　He　stood　stock　still。
　〃Did　you　really　mean　that？〃　asked　the　creature。
　〃Find　out；〃　I　said；　and　leaped　forward。
　But　it　did　not　fence　with　me。　Instead；　it　did　what　any　mortal　fencer　would　consider　foolish。
　It　buried　its　blade　at　me；　point　forward；　like　a　thunderbolt。　And　the　sound　of　its　passage　came　like　a　clap　of　thunder。　The　elements　outside　the　tower　echoed　it；　a　deafening　response。
　With　Grayswandir；　I　parried　that　blade　as　though　it　were　an　ordinary　thrust。　It　embedded　itself　in　the　floor　and　burst　into　flames。　Without；　the　lightning　responded。
　For　an　instant；　the　light　was　as　blinding　as　a　magnesium　flare；　and　in　that　moment　the　creature　was　upon　me。
　It　pinned　my　arms　to　my　sides；　and　its　horns　struck　against　my　visor；　once；　twice。。。
　Then　I　threw　my　strength　against　those　arms；　and　their　grip　began　to　weaken。
　I　dropped　Grayswandir；　and　with　a　final　heave　broke　the　hold　it　had　upon　me。
　In　that　moment；　however；　our　eyes　met。
　Then　we　both　struck；　and　we　both　reeled　back。
　〃Lord　of　Amber；〃　it　said　then；　〃why　do　you　strive　with　me？　It　was　you　who　gave　us　this　passage；　this　way。。。〃
　〃I　regret　a　rash　act　and　seek　to　undo　it。〃
　〃Too　late　…　and　this　a　strange　place　to　begin。〃
　It　struck　again；　so　quickly　that　it　got　through　my　guard。　I　was　slammed　back　against　the　wall。　Its　speed　was　deadly。
　And　then　it　raised　its　hand　and　made　a　sign；　and　I　had　a　vision　of　the　Courts　of　Chaos　e　upon　me　…　a　vision　that　made　my　hackles　rise；　made　a　chill　wind　blow　across　my　soul；　to　know　what　I　had　done。
　〃。。。　You　see？〃　it　was　saying。　〃You　gave　us　this　Gateway。　Help　us　now；　and　we　will　restore　to　you　that　which　is　yours。〃
　For　a　moment　I　was　swayed。　It　was　possible　that　it　could　do　just　what　it　had　offered；　if　I　would　help。
　But　it　would　be　a　threat　forever　after。　Allies　briefly；　we　would　be　at　each　other's　throats　after　we　got　what　we　wanted　…　and　those　dark　forces　would　be　much　stronger　by　then。　Still；　if　I　held　the　city。。。
　〃Do　we　have　a　bargain？〃　came　the　sharp；　near…bleat　of　the　question。
　I　thought　upon　the　shadows；　and　of　the　places　beyond　Shadow。。。
　Slowly；　I　reached　up　and　unbuckled　my　helm。。。
　Then　I　hurled　it；　just　as　the　creature　seemed　to　relax。　I　think　Ganelon　was　moving　forward　by　then。
　I　leaped　across　the　chamber　and　drove　it　back　against　the　wall。
　〃No！〃　I　cried。
　Its　manlike　hands　found　my　throat　at　about　the　same　instant　mine　wrapped　about　its　own。
　I　squeezed；　with　all　my　strength；　and　twisted。　I　guess　it　did　the　same。
　I　heard　something　snap　like　a　dry　stick。　I　wondered　whose　neck　had　broken。　Mine　sure　hurt。
　
　***
　
　I　opened　my　eyes　and　there　was　the　sky。　I　was　lying　on　my　back　on　a　blanket　on　the　ground。
　〃I'm　afraid　he's　going　to　live；〃　said　Ganelon；　and　I　turned　my　head；　slowly；　in　the　direction　of　his　voice。
　He　was　seated　on　the　edge　of　the　blanket；　sword　across　his　knees。　Lorraine　was　with　him。
　〃How　goes　it？〃　I　said。
　〃We've　won；〃　he　told　me。　〃You've　kept　your　promise。　When　you　killed　that　thing；　it　was　all　over。　The　men　fell　senseless；　the　creatures　burned。〃
　〃Good。〃
　〃I　have　been　sitting　here　wondering　why　I　no　longer　hate　you。〃
　〃Have　you　reached　any　conclusions？〃
　〃No；　not　really。　Maybe　it's　because　we're　a　lot　alike。　I　don't　know。〃　I　smiled　at　Lorraine。
　〃I'm　glad　you're　very　poor　when　it　es　to　prophecy。　The　battle　is　over　and　you're　still　alive。〃
　〃The　death　has　already　begun；〃　she　said；　not　returning　my　smile。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃They　still　tell　stories　of　how　the　Lord　Corwin　had　my　grandfather　executed　…　drawn　and　quartered　publicly　…　for　leading　one　of　the　early　uprisings　against　him。〃
　〃That　wasn't　me；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　one　of　my　shadows。〃
　But　she　shook　her　head　and　said；　〃Corwin　of　Amber；　I　am　what　I　am；〃　and　she　rose　and　left　me　then。
　〃What　was　it？〃　asked　Ganelon；　ignoring　her　departure。　〃What　was　the　thing　in　the　tower？〃
　〃Mine；〃　I　said；　〃one　of　those　things　which　was　released　when　I　laid　my　curse　upon　Amber。　I　opened　the　way　then　for　that　which　lies　beyond　Shadow　to　enter　the　real　world。　The　paths　of　least　resistance　are　followed　in　these　things；　through　the　shadows　to　Amber。　Here；　the　path　was　the　Circle。　Elsewhere；　it　might　be　some　different　thing。　I　have　closed　their　way　through　this　place　now。　You　may　rest　easy　here。〃
　〃That　is　why　you　came　here？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Not　really。　I　was　but　passing　on　the　road　to　Avalon　when　I　came　upon　Lance。　I　could　not　let　him　lie　there；　and　after　I　took　him　to　you　I　became　involved　in　this　piece　of　my　handiwork。〃
　〃Avalon？　Then　you　lied　when　you　said　it　was　destroyed？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃Not　so。　Our　Avalon　fell；　but　in　Shadow　I　may　find　its　like　once　more。〃
　〃Take　me　with　you。〃
　〃Are　you　mad？〃
　〃No；　I　would　look　once　again　on　the　land　of　my　birth；　no　matter　what　the　peril。〃
　〃I　do　not　go　to　dwell　there；〃　I　said；　〃but　to　arm　for　battle。　In　Avalon　there　is　a　pink　powder　the　jewelers　use。　I　ignited　a　sample　of　it　one　time　in　Amber。　I　go　there　only　to　obtain　it　and　to　build　guns　that　I　may　lay　siege　to　Amber　and　gain　the　throne　that　is　mine。〃
　〃What　of　those　things　from　beyond　Shadow　you　spoke　of。〃
　〃I　will　deal　with　them　afterwards。　Should　I　lose　this　time；　then　they　are　Eric's　problem。〃
　〃You　said　that　he　had　blinded　you　and　cast　you　into　the　dungeons。〃
　〃That　is　true。　I　grew　new　eyes。　I　escaped。〃
　〃You　are　a　demon。〃
　〃This　has　often　been　said。　I　no　longer　deny　it。〃
　〃You　will　take　me　with　you？〃
　〃If　you　really　wish　to　e。　It　will　differ　from　the　Avalon　you　knew；　however。〃
　〃To　Amber！〃
　〃You　are　mad！〃
　〃No。　Long　have　I　wished　to　look　upon　that　fabled　city。　After　I　have　seen　Avalon　once　again　I　will　want　to　turn　my　hand　to　something　new。　Was　I　not　a　good　general？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　you　will　teach　me　of　these　things　you　cal