rz.thegunsofavalon-第8部分

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vant；　it　will　know　that　much　more　about　my　strength。　Whichever　way　it　works　out；　the　horned　one　will　be　something　ahead。　So　why　should　it　risk　its　own　pronged　dome　at　this　stage　in　the　game？〃
　We　waited；　there　in　the　shadow…clad　chamber；　as　the　taper　burned　away　the　minutes。
　She　asked　me；　〃What　did　you　mean　when　you　said；　if　it　finds　you　and　names　you。。。？　Names　you　what？〃
　〃The　one　who　almost　did　not　e　here；〃　I　said。
　〃You　think　that　it　might　know　you　from　somewhere；　somehow？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　think　it　might；〃　I　said。　She　drew　away　from　me　then。
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　I　said。　〃I　won't　hurt　you。〃
　〃I　am　afraid；　and　you　will　hurt　me！〃　she　said。　〃I　know　it！　But　I　want　you！　Why　do　I　want　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。
　〃There　is　something　out　there　now！〃　she　said；　sounding　slightly　hysterical。　〃It's　near！　It's　very　near！　Listen！　Listen！〃
　〃Shut　up！〃　I　said；　as　a　cold；　prickly　feeling　came　to　rest　on　the　back　of　my　neck　and　coiled　about　my　throat。　〃Get　over　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　behind　the　bed！〃
　〃I'm　afraid　of　the　dark；〃　she　said。
　〃Do　it；　or　I'll　have　to　knock　you　out　and　carry　you。　You'll　be　in　my　way　here。〃
　I　could　hear　a　heavy　flapping　above　the　storm；　and　there　came　a　scratching　on　the　stone　of　the　wall　as　she　moved　to　obey　me。
　Then　I　was　looking　into　two　hot；　red　eyes　which　were　looking　back　into　my　own。　I　dropped　mine　quickly。　The　thing　stood　there　on　the　ledge　outside　the　window　and　regarded　me。
　It　was　well　over　six　feet　in　height；　with　great　branches　of　antlers　growing　out　of　its　forehead。　Nude；　its　flesh　was　a　uniform　ash…gray　in　color。　It　appeared　to　be　sexless；　and　it　had　gray；　leathery　wings　extending　far　out　behind　it　and　joining　with　the　night。　It　held　a　short；　heavy　sword　of　dark　metal　in　its　right　hand；　and　there　were　runes　carved　all　along　the　blade。　With　its　left　hand；　it　clutched　at　the　lattice。
　〃Enter　at　your　peril；〃　I　said　loudly；　and　I　raised　the　point　of　Grayswandir　to　indicate　its　breast。
　It　chuckled。　It　just　stood　there　and　chuckled　and　giggled　at　me。　It　tried　to　meet　my　eyes　once　more；　but　I　would　not　let　it。　If　it　looked　into　my　eyes　for　long；　it　would　know　me；　as　the　hellcat　had　known　me。
　When　it　spoke；　it　sounded　like　a　bassoon　blowing　words。
　〃You　are　not　the　one；〃　it　said；　〃for　you　are　smaller　and　older。　Yet。。。　That　blade。。。　It　could　be　his。　Who　are　you？〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃Strygalldwir　is　my　name。　Conjure　with　it　and　I　will　eat　your　heart　and　liver。〃
　〃Conjure　with　it？　I　can't　even　pronounce　it；〃　I　said；　〃and　my　cirrhosis　would　give　you　indigestion。　Go　away。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　it　repeated。
　〃Misli；　gammi　gra'dil；　Strygalldwir；〃　I　said；　and　it　jumped　as　if　given　a　hotfoot。
　〃You　seek　to　drive　me　forth　with　such　a　simple　spell？〃　it　asked　when　it　settled　again。　〃I　am　not　one　of　the　lesser　ones。〃
　〃It　seemed　to　make　you　a　bit　unfortable。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　it　said　again。
　〃None　of　your　business；　Charlie。　Ladybird；　Ladybird；　fly　away　home　…〃
　〃Four　times　must　I　ask　you　and　four　times　be　refused　before　I　may　enter　and　slay　you。　Who　are　you？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　standing。　〃e　on　in　and　burn！〃
　Then　it　tore　away　the　latticework；　and　the　wind　that　acpanied　it　into　the　chamber　extinguished　the　candle。
　I　lunged　forward；　and　there　were　sparks　between　us　when　Grayswandir　met　the　dark　rune…sword。　We　clashed；　then　I　sprang　back。　My　eyes　had　adjusted　to　the　half　dark；　so　the　loss　of　the　light　did　not　blind　me。　The　creature　saw　well　enough；　also。　It　was　stronger　than　a　man；　but　then　so　am　I。　We　circled　the　room。　An　icy　wind　moved　about　us；　and　when　we　passed　the　window　again；　cold　droplets　lashed　my　face。　The　first　time　that　I　cut　the　creature　…　a　long　slash　across　the　breast　…　it　remained　silent；　though　tiny　flames　danced　about　the　edges　of　the　wound。　The　second　time　that　I　cut　it　…　high　upon　the　arm　…　it　cried　out；　cursing　me。
　〃Tonight　I　will　suck　the　marrow　from　your　bones！〃　it　said。　〃I　will　dry　them　and　work　them　most　cunningly　into　instruments　of　music！　Whenever　I　play　upon　them；　your　spirit　will　writhe　in　bodiless　agony！〃
　〃You　burn　prettily；〃　I　said。
　It　slowed　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　and　my　opportunity　was　there。
　I　beat　that　dark　blade　aside　and　my　lunge　was　perfect。　The　center　of　its　breast　was　my　target。　I　ran　it　through。
　It　howled　then；　but　did　not　fall。　Grayswandir　was　torn　from　my　grasp　and　flames　bloomed　about　the　wound。　It　stood　there　wearing　them。　It　advanced　a　step　toward　me　and　I　picked　up　a　small　chair　and　held　it　between　us。
　〃I　do　not　keep　my　heart　where　men　do；〃　it　said。
　Then　it　lunged；　but　I　blocked　the　blow　with　the　chair　and　caught　it　in　the　right　eye　with　one　of　the　legs。　I　throw　the　chair　to　the　side　then；　and　stepping　forward；　seized　its　right　wrist　and　turned　it　over。　I　struck　the　elbow　with　the　edge　of　my　hand；　as　hard　as　I　could。　There　came　a　sharp　crack　and　the　runesword　clattered　to　the　floor。　Then　its　left　hand　struck　my　head　and　I　fell。
　It　leaped　for　the　blade；　and　I　seized　its　ankle　and　jerked。
　It　sprawled；　and　I　threw　myself　atop　it　and　found　its　throat。　I　turned　my　head　into　the　hollow　of　my　shoulder；　chin　against　my　breast；　as　it　clawed　for　my　face　with　its　left　hand。
　As　my　death　grip　tightened；　its　eyes　sought　mine；　and　this　time　I　did　not　avoid　them。　There　came　a　tiny　shock　at　the　base　of　my　brain；　as　we　both　knew　that　we　knew。
　〃You！〃　it　managed　to　gasp；　before　I　twisted　my　hands　hard　and　the　life　went　out　of　those　red　red　eyes。
　I　stood；　put　my　foot　upon　its　carcass；　and　withdrew　Grayswandir。
　The　thing　burst　into　flames　when　my　blade　came　free；　and　kept　burning　until　there　was　nothing　remaining　but　a　charred　spot　upon　the　floor。
　Then　Lorraine　came　over　and　I　put　my　arm　about　her　and　she　asked　me　to　take　her　back　to　her　quarters　and　to　bed。　So　I　did；　but　we　didn't　do　anything　but　lie　there　together　until　she　had　cried　herself　to　sleep。　That　is　how　I　met　Lorraine。
　
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　Lance　and　Ganelon　and　I　sat　atop　our　mounts　on　a　high　hill；　the　late　morning　sun　hitting　us　in　the　back；　and　we　looked　down　into　the　place。　Its　appearance　confirmed　things　for　me。
　It　was　akin　to　that　twisted　wood　that　filled　the　valley　to　the　south　of　Amber。
　Oh　my　father！　What　have　I　wrought？　I　said　within　my　heart；　but　there　was　no　answer　other　than　the　dark　Circle　that　lay　beneath　me　and　spread　for　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。
　Through　the　bars　of　my　visor；　I　looked　down　upon　it　…　charred…seeming；　desolate；　and　smelling　of　decay。　I　lived　inside　my　visor　these　days。　The　men　looked　upon　it　as　an　affectation；　but　my　rank　gave　me　the　right　to　be　eccentric。　I　had　worn　it　for　over　two　weeks；　since　my　battle　with　Strygalldwir。　I　had　put　it　on　the　following　morning　before　I　trounced　Harald　to　keep　my　promise　to　Lorraine；　and　I　had　decided　that　as　my　girth　increased　I　had　better　keep　my　face　concealed。
　I　weighed　perhaps　fourteen　stone　now；　and　felt　like　my　old　self　again。　If　I　could　help　clean　up　this　mess　in　the　land　called　Lorraine；　I　knew　that　I　would　have　a　chance　at　least　to　try　what　I　most　wanted；　and　perhaps　succeed。
　〃So　that's　it；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　see　any　troops　mustering。〃
　〃I　believe　we　will　have　to　ride　north；〃　said　Lance；　〃and　we　will　doubtless　only　see　them　after　dark。〃
　〃How　far　north？〃
　〃Three　or　four　leagues。　They　move　about　a　bit。〃
　We　had　ridden　for　two　days　to　reach　the　Circle。　We　had　met　a　patrol　earlier　that　morning　and　learned　that　the　troops　inside　the　thing　continued　to　muster　every　night。　They　went　through　various　drills　and　then　were　gone　…　to　someplace　deeper　inside　…　with　the　ing　of　morning。　A　perpetual　thunderhead；　I　learned；　rode　above　the　Circle；　though　the　storm　never　broke。
　〃Shall　we　breakfast　here　and　then　ride　north？〃　I　asked。
　〃Why　not？〃　said　Ganelon。　〃I'm　starved　and　we've　time。〃
　So　we　dismounted　and　ate　dried　meat　and　drank　from　our　canteens。
　〃I　still　do　not　understand　that　note；〃　said　Ganelon；　after　belching；　patting　his　stomach；　and　lighting　his　pipe。　〃Will　he　stand　beside　us　in　the　final　battle；　or　will　he　not？　Where　is　he；　if　he　intends　to　help？　The　day　of　conflict　draws　nearer　and　nearer。〃
　〃Forget　him；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　probably　a　joke。〃
　〃I　can't；　damn　it！〃　he　said。　〃There　is　something　passing　strange　about　the　whole　business！〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Lance；　and　for　the　first　time　I　realized　that　Ganelon　had　not　told　him。
　〃My　old　liege；　Lord　Corwin；　sends　an　odd　message　by　carrier　bird；　saying　he　is　ing。　I　had　thought　him　dead；　but　he　sent　this　message；〃　Ganelon　told　him。　〃I　still　do　not　know　what　to　make　of　it。〃
　〃Corwin？〃　said　Lance；　and　I　held　my　breath。　〃Corwin　of　Amber？〃
　〃Yes；　Amber　and　Avalon。〃
　〃Forget　his　message。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃He　is　a　man　without　honor；　and　his　promise　means　nothing。〃
　〃You　know　him？〃
　〃I　know　of　him。　Long　ago；　he　ruled　in　this　land。　Do　you　not　recall　the　stories　of　the　demon　lordling？　They　are　the　same。　That　was　Corwin；　in　days　before　my　days。　The　best　thing　he　did　was　abdicate　and　flee　when　the　resistance　grew　too　strong　against　him。〃
　That　was　not　true！　Or　was　it？
　Amber　casts　an　infinity　of　shadows；　and　my　Avalon　had　cast　many　of　its　own；　because　of　my　presence　there。　I　might　be　known　on　many　earths　that　I　had　never　trod；　for　shadows　of　myself　had　walked　them；　mimicking　imperfe