rz.thegunsofavalon-第13部分

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ghtfall。
　〃Their　army　…　still　encamped？〃　Ganelon　wondered。
　〃Or　that　of　their　conqueror。〃
　He　shook　his　bead　and　loosened　his　blade　in　its　scabbard。
　Toward　twilight；　I　left　the　trail　to　follow　a　sound　of　running　water　to　its　source。　It　was　a　clear；　clean　stream　that　had　made　its　way　down　from　the　mountains　and　still　bore　something　of　their　chill　within　it。　I　bathed　there；　trimming　my　new　bearding　and　cleaning　the　dust　of　travel　from　my　garments　as　well。　As　we　were　nearing　this　end　of　our　journeying；　it　was　my　wish　to　arrive　with　what　small　splendor　I　could　muster。　Appreciating　this；　Ganelon　even　splashed　water　over　his　face　and　blew　his　nose　loudly。
　Standing　on　the　bank；　blinking　my　rinsed　eyes　at　the　heavens；　I　saw　the　moon　resolve　itself　sharp　and　clear；　the　fuzziness　fading　from　its　edges。　This　was　the　first　time　it　had　happened。　My　breathing　jerked　to　a　halt　and　I　kept　staring。　Then　I　scanned　the　sky　for　early　stars；　traced　the　edges　of　clouds；　the　distant　mountains；　the　farthest　trees。　I　looked　back　at　the　moon；　and　it　still　held　clear　and　steady。　My　eyesight　was　normal　once　again。
　Ganelon　drew　back　at　the　sound　of　my　laughter；　and　he　never　inquired　as　to　its　cause。
　Suppressing　an　impulse　to　sing；　I　remounted　and　headed　back　toward　the　trail　once　again。　The　shadows　deepened　as　we　rode；　and　clusters　of　stars　bloomed　among　the　branches　overhead。　I　inhaled　a　big　piece　of　the　night；　held　it　a　moment；　released　it。　I　was　myself　once　again　and　the　feeling　was　good。
　Ganelon　drew　up　beside　me　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃There　will　doubtless　be　sentries。〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃Then　hadn't　we　better　leave　the　trail？〃
　〃No。　I　would　rather　not　seem　furtive。　It　matters　not　to　me　whether　we　arrive　with　an　escort。　We　are　simply　two　travelers。〃
　〃They　may　require　the　reason　for　our　travels。〃
　〃Then　let　us　be　mercenaries　who　have　heard　of　strife　in　the　realm　and　e　seeking　employment。〃
　〃Yes。　We　look　the　part。　Let　us　hope　they　pause　long　enough　to　notice。〃
　〃If　they　cannot　see　us　that　well；　then　we　are　poor　targets。〃
　〃True；　but　I　am　not　fully　forted　by　the　thought。〃
　I　listened　to　the　sounds　of　the　horses'　hoofs　on　the　trail。　The　way　was　not　straight。　It　twisted；　curved；　and　wandered　for　a　time；　then　took　an　upward　turn。　As　we　mounted　the　rise　it　followed；　the　trees　thinned　even　more。
　We　came　to　the　top　of　a　hill　then；　and　into　a　fairly　open　area。　Advancing；　we　achieved　a　sudden　view　that　covered　several　miles。　We　drew　rein　at　an　abrupt　drop　that　curved　its　way　into　a　gradual　slope　after　ten　or　fifteen　precipitous　meters；　sweeping　downward　to　a　large　plain　perhaps　a　mile　distant；　then　continuing　on　through　a　hilly；　sporadically　wooded　area。　The　plain　was　dotted　with　campfires　and　there　were　a　few　tents　toward　the　center　of　things。　A　large　number　of　horses　grazed　near　by；　and　I　guessed　there　were　several　hundred　men　sitting　beside　the　fires　or　moving　about　the　pound。
　Ganelon　sighed。
　〃At　least　they　seem　to　be　normal　men；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃。。。　And　if　they　are　normal　military　men；　we　are　probably　being　watched　right　now。　This　is　too　good　a　vantage　to　leave　unposted。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　There　came　a　noise　from　behind　us。　We　began　to　turn；　just　as　a　near　by　voice　said；　〃Don't　move！〃
　I　continued　to　turn　my　head；　and　I　saw　four　men。　Two　of　them　held　crossbows　trained　on　us　and　the　other　two　had　blades　in　their　hands。　One　of　these　advanced　two　paces。
　〃Dismount！〃　he　ordered。　〃On　this　side！　Slowly！〃
　We　climbed　down　from　our　mounts　and　faced　him；　keeping　our　hands　away　from　our　weapons。
　〃Who　are　you？　Where　are　you　from？〃　he　asked。
　〃We　are　mercenaries；〃　I　replied；　〃from　Lorraine。　We　heard　there　was　fighting　here；　and　we　are　seeking　employment。　We　were　headed　for　that　camp　below。　It　is　yours；　I　hope？〃
　〃。。。　And　if　I　said　no；　that　we　are　a　patrol　for　a　force　about　to　invade　that　camp？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃In　that　case；　is　your　side　interested　in　hiring　a　couple　of　men？〃
　He　spat。　〃The　Protector　has　no　need　for　your　sort；〃　he　said。　Then；　〃From　what　direction　do　you　ride？〃
　〃East；〃　I　said。
　〃Did　you　meet　with　any　…　difficulty　…　recently？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Should　we　have？〃
　〃Hard　to　say；〃　he　decided。　〃Remove　your　weapons。　I'm　going　to　send　you　down　to　the　camp。　They　will　want　to　question　you　about　anything　you　may　have　seen　in　the　east　…　anything　unusual。〃
　〃We've　seen　nothing　unusual；〃　I　said。
　〃Whatever；　they　will　probably　feed　you。　Though　I　doubt　you　will　be　hired。　You　have　e　a　bit　late　for　the　fighting。　Remove　your　weapons　now。〃
　He　called　two　more　men　from　within　the　trees　while　we　unbuckled　our　sword　belts。　He　instructed　them　to　escort　us　below；　on　foot。　We　were　to　lead　our　horses。　The　men　took　our　weapons；　and　as　we　turned　to　go　our　interrogator　cried　out；　〃Wait！〃　I　turned　back　toward　him。
　〃You。　What　is　your　name？〃　he　asked　me。
　〃Corey〃　I　said。
　〃Stand　still。〃
　He　approached；　drawing　very　near。　He　stared　at　me　for　perhaps　ten　seconds。
　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　I　asked。
　Instead　of　replying；　he　fumbled　with　a　pouch　at　his　belt。　He　withdrew　a　handful　of　coins　and　held　them　close　to　his　eyes。
　〃Damn！　It's　too　dark；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　can't　make　a　light。〃
　〃For　what？〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　it　is　not　of　any　great　importance；〃　he　told　me。　〃You　struck　me　as　familiar；　though；　and　I　was　trying　to　think　why。　You　look　like　the　head　stamped　on　some　of　our　old　coins。　A　few　of　them　are　still　about。〃
　〃Doesn't　he？〃　he　addressed　the　nearest　bowman。
　The　man　lowered　his　crossbow　and　advanced。　He　squinted　at　me　from　a　few　paces'　distance。
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　then；　〃he　does。〃
　〃What　was　it　…　the　one　we're　thinking　of？〃
　〃One　of　those　old　men。　Before　my　time。　I　don't　remember。〃
　〃Me　neither。　Well。。。〃　He　shrugged。　〃No　importance。　Go　ahead；　Corey。　Answer　their　questions　honestly　and　you'll　not　be　harmed。〃
　I　turned　away　and　left　him　there　in　the　moonlight；　gazing　after　me　and　scratching　the　top　of　his　head。
　The　men　who　guarded　us　were　not　the　talkative　sort。　Which　was　just　as　well。
　All　the　way　down　the　hill　I　wondered　about　the　boy's　story　and　the　resolution　of　the　conflict　he　had　described；　for　I　had　achieved　the　physical　analogue　of　the　world　of　my　desire　and　would　now　have　to　operate　within　the　prevailing　situations。
　The　camp　had　the　pleasant　smell　of　man　and　beast；　wood　smoke；　roasting　meat；　leather　and　oil；　all　intermingled　in　the　firelight　where　men　talked；　honed　weapons；　repaired　gear；　ate；　gamed；　slept；　drank；　and　watched　us　as　we　led　our　mounts　through　their　midst；　escorted　in　the　direction　of　a　nearly　central　trio　of　tattered　tents。　A　sphere　of　silence　expanded　about　us　as　we　went。
　We　were　halted　before　the　second…largest　tent　and　one　of　our　guards　spoke　with　a　man　who　was　pacing　the　area。　The　man　shook　his　head　several　times　and　gestured　in　the　direction　of　the　largest　tent。　The　exchange　lasted　for　several　minutes；　then　our　guard　returned　and　spoke　with　the　other　guard　who　waited　at　our　left。　Finally；　our　man　nodded　and　approached　me　while　the　other　summoned　a　man　from　the　nearest　campfire。
　〃The　officers　are　all　at　a　meeting　in　the　Protector's　tent；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　going　to　hobble　your　horses　and　put　them　to　graze。　Unstrap　your　things　and　set　them　here。　You　will　have　to　wait　to　see　the　captain。〃
　I　nodded；　and　we　set　about　unstowing　our　belongings　and　rubbing　the　horses　down。　I　patted　Star　on　the　neck　and　watched　a　small　man　with　a　limp　lead　him　and　Ganelon's　mount　Firedrake　off　toward　the　other　horses。　We　sat　on　our　packs　then　and　waited。　One　of　the　guards　brought　us　some　hot　tea　and　accepted　a　pipeful　of　my　tobacco。　They　moved　then　to　a　spot　somewhat　to　our　rear。
　I　watched　the　big　tent；　sipped　my　tea；　and　thought　of　Amber　and　a　small　night　club　in　the　Rue　de　Char　et　Pain　in　Brussels；　on　the　shadow　Earth　I　had　so　long　inhabited。　Once　I　obtained　the　jewelers　rouge　I　needed　from　here；　I　would　be　heading　for　Brussels　to　deal　with　the　arms　merchants　of　the　Gun　Bourse　once　again。　My　order　would　be　plicated　and　expensive；　I　realized；　because　some　ammunition　manufacturer　would　have　to　be　persuaded　to　set　up　a　special　production　line。　I　knew　dealers　on　that　Earth　other　than　Interannco；　thanks　to　my　itinerant　military　background　in　that　place；　and　I　estimated　that　it　would　only　take　me　a　few　months　to　get　outfitted　there。　I　began　considering　the　details　and　time　passed　quickly　and　pleasantly。
　After　what　was　probably　an　hour　and　a　half；　the　shadows　stirred　within　the　large　tent。　It　was　several　minutes　after　that　before　the　entrance　flap　was　thrown　aside　and　men　began　to　emerge；　slowly；　talking　among　themselves；　glancing　back　within。　The　last　two　tarried　at　the　threshold；　still　talking　with　someone　who　remained　inside。　The　rest　of　them　passed　into　the　other　tents。
　The　two　at　the　entrance　edged　their　way　outside；　still　facing　the　interior。　I　could　hear　the　sounds　of　their　voices；　although　I　could　not　make　out　what　was　being　said。　As　they　drifted　farther　outside；　the　man　with　whom　they　were　speaking　moved　also　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　him。　The　light　was　at　his　back　and　the　two　officers　blocked　most　of　my　view；　but　I　could　see　that　he　was　thin　and　very　tall。
　Our　guards　had　not　yet　stirred；　indicating　to　me　that　one　of　the　two　officers　was　the　captain　mentioned　earlier。