rz.signoftheunicorn-第13部分

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　thing　myself。
　While　I　waited　and　wondered　I　watched　the　others；　a　fruitless　yet　inevitable　exercise。　Simple　curiosity；　more　than　suspicion　even；　required　that　I　search　these　faces　for　reactions；　clues；　indications　…　the　faces　that　I　knew　better　than　any　others；　to　the　limits　of　my　understanding　such　things。　And　of　course　they　told　me　nothing。　Perhaps　it　is　true　that　you　really　only　look　at　a　person　the　first　time　you　see　him；　and　after　that　you　do　a　quick　bit　of　mental　shorthand　each　time　you　recognize　him。　My　brain　is　lazy　enough　to　give　that　its　likelihood；　using　its　abstracting　powers　and　a　presumption　of　regularity　to　avoid　work　whenever　possible。　This　time　I　forced　myself　to　see；　though；　and　it　still　did　not　help。　Julian　maintained　his　slightly　bored；　slightly　amused　mask。　Gerard　appeared　alternately　surprised；　angry；　and　wistful。　Benedict　just　looked　bleak　and　suspicious。　Llewella　seemed　as　sad　and　inscrutable　as　ever。　Deirdre　looked　distracted。　Flora　acquiescent；　and　Fiona　was　studying　everyone　else；　myself　included；　assembling　her　own　catalog　of　reactions。
　The　only　thing　that　I　could　tell；　after　some　time；　was　that　Random　was　making　an　impression。　While　no　one　betrayed　himself；　I　saw　the　boredom　vanish；　the　old　suspicion　abate；　the　new　suspicion　e　to　life。　Interest　rose　among　my　kin。　Fascination；　almost。　Then　everyone　had　questions。　At　first　a　few；　then　a　barrage。
　〃Wait；〃　I　finally　interrupted。　〃Let　him　finish。　The　whole　thing。　Some　of　these　will　answer　themselves。　Get　the　others　afterward。〃
　There　were　nods　and　growls；　and　Random　proceeded　through　to　the　real　end。　That　is；　he　carried　it　on　to　our　fight　with　the　beastmen　at　Flora's；　indicating　that　they　were　of　the　same　ilk　as　the　one　who　had　slain　Caine。　Flora　endorsed　this　part。
　Then；　when　the　questions　came；　I　watched　them　carefully。　So　long　as　they　dealt　with　the　matter　of　Random's　story；　they　were　all　to　the　good。　But　I　wanted　to　cut　things　short　of　speculation　as　to　the　possibility　of　one　of　us　being　behind　it　all。　As　soon　as　that　came　out；　talk　of　me　and　the　smell　of　red　herrings　would　also　drift　in。　This　could　lead　to　ugly　words　and　the　emergence　of　a　mood　I　was　not　anxious　to　engender。　Better　to　go　for　the　proof　first；　save　on　later　recriminations；　corner　the　culprit　right　now　if　possible；　and　consolidate　my　position　on　the　spot。
　So　I　watched　and　waited。　When　I　felt　that　the　vital　moment　had　ticked　its　way　too　near　I　stopped　the　clock。
　〃None　of　this　discussion；　this　speculation；　would　be　necessary；〃　I　said；　〃if　we　had　all　of　the　facts　right　now。　And　there　may　be　a　way　to　get　them　…　right　now。　That　is　why　you　are　here。〃
　That　did　it。　I　had　them。　Attentive。　Ready。　Maybe　even　willing。
　〃I　propose　we　attempt　to　reach　Brand　and　bring　him　home；〃　I　said；　〃now。〃
　〃How？〃　Benedict　asked　me。
　〃The　Trumps。〃
　〃It　has　been　tried；〃　said　Julian。　〃He　cannot　be　reached　that　way。　No　response。〃
　〃I　was　not　referring　to　the　ordinary　usage。〃　I　said。
　〃I　asked　you　all　to　bring　full　sets　of　Trumps　with　you。　I　trust　that　you　have　them？〃
　There　were　nods。
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃Let　us　shuffle　out　Brand's　Trump　now。　I　propose　that　all　nine　of　us　attempt　to　contact　him　simultaneously。〃
　〃An　interesting　thought；〃　Benedict　said。
　〃Yes；〃　Julian　agreed；　producing　his　deck　and　riffling　through　it。　〃Worth　trying；　at　least。　It　may　generate　additional　power。　I　do　not　really　know。〃
　I　located　Brand's　Trump。　I　waited　until　all　the　others　had　found　it。　Then；　〃Let　us　coordinate　things；〃　I　said。　〃Is　everyone　ready？〃
　Eight　assents　were　spoken。　〃Then　go　ahead。　Try。　Now。〃
　I　studied　my　card。　Brand's　features　were　similar　to　my　own；　but　he　was　shorter　and　slenderer。　His　hair　was　like　Fiona's。　He　wore　a　green　riding　suit。　He　rode　a　white　horse。　How　long　ago？　How　long　ago　was　that？　I　wondered。　Something　of　a　dreamer；　a　mystic；　a　poet；　Brand　was　always　disillusioned　or　elated；　cynical　or　wholly　trusting。　His　feelings　never　seemed　to　find　a　middle　ground。　Manic…depressive　is　too　facile　a　term　for　his　plex　character；　yet　it　might　serve　to　indicate　a　direction　of　departure；　multitudes　of　qualifications　lining　the　roadway　thereafter。　Pursuant　to　this　state　of　affairs；　I　must　admit　that　there　were　times　when　I　found　him　so　charming；　considerate；　and　loyal　that　I　valued　him　above　all　my　other　kin。　Other　times；　however；　he　could　be　so　bitter；　sarcastic；　and　downright　savage　that　I　tried　to　avoid　his　pany　for　fear　that　I　might　do　him　harm。　Summing　up；　the　last　time　I　had　seen　him　had　been　one　of　the　latter　occasions；　just　a　bit　before　Eric　and　I　had　had　the　falling　out　that　led　to　my　exile　from　Amber。
　。。。　And　those　were　my　thoughts　and　feelings　as　I　studied　his　Trump；　reaching　out　to　him　with　my　mind；　my　will；　opening　the　vacant　place　I　sought　him　to　fill。　About　me；　the　others　shuffled　their　own　memories　and　did　the　same。
　Slowly　the　card　took　on　a　dream…dust　quality　and　acquired　the　illusion　of　depth。　There　followed　that　familiar　blurring；　with　the　sense　of　movement　which　heralds　contact　with　the　subject。　The　Trump　grew　colder　beneath　my　fingertips；　and　then　things　flowed　and　formed；　achieving　a　sudden　verity　of　vision；　persistent；　dramatic；　full。
　He　seemed　to　be　in　a　cell。　There　was　a　stone　wall　behind　him。　There　was　straw　on　the　floor。　He　was　manacled；　and　his　chain　ran　back　through　a　huge　ring　bolt　set　in　the　wall　above　and　behind　him。　It　was　a　fairly　long　chain；　providing　sufficient　slack　for　movement；　and　at　the　moment　he　was　taking　advantage　of　this　fact；　lying　sprawled　on　a　heap　of　straw　and　rags　off　in　the　corner。　His　hair　and　beard　were　quite　long；　his　face　thinner　than　I　had　ever　before　seen　it。　His　clothes　were　tattered　and　filthy。　He　seemed　to　be　sleeping。　My　mind　went　back　to　my　own　imprisonment　…　the　smells；　the　cold；　the　wretched　fare；　the　dampness；　the　loneliness；　the　madness　that　came　and　went。　At　least　he　still　had　his　eyes；　for　they　flickered　and　I　saw　them　when　several　of　us　spoke　his　name；　green　they　were；　with　a　flat；　vacant　look。
　Was　he　drugged？　Or　did　he　believe　himself　to　be　hallucinating？
　But　suddenly　his　spirit　returned。　He　raised　himself。　He　extended　his　hand。
　〃Brothers！〃　he　said。　〃Sisters。。。〃
　〃I'm　ing！〃　came　a　shout　that　shook　the　room。
　Gerard　had　leaped　to　his　feet；　knocking　over　his　chair。　He　dashed　across　the　room　and　snatched　a　great　battle　ax　from　its　pegs　on　the　wall。　He　slung　it　at　his　wrist；　holding　the　Trump　in　that　same　hand。　For　a　moment　he　froze；　studying　the　card。　Then　he　extended　his　free　hand　and　suddenly　he　was　there；　clasping　Brand；　who　chose　that　moment　to　pass　out　again。　The　image　wavered。　The　contact　was　broken。
　Cursing；　I　sought　through　the　pack　after　Gerard's　own　Trump。　Several　of　the　others　seemed　to　be　doing　the　same　thing。　Locating　it；　I　moved　for　contact。　Slowly；　the　melting；　the　turning；　the　re…forming　occurred。　There！
　Gerard　had　drawn　the　chain　taut　across　the　stones　of　the　wall　and　was　attacking　it　with　the　ax。　It　was　a　heavy　thing；　however；　and　resisted　his　powerful　blows　for　a　long　while。　Eventually　several　of　the　links　were　mashed　and　scarred；　but　by　then　he　had　been　at　it　for　almost　two　minutes；　and　the　ringing；　chopping　sounds　had　alerted　the　jailers。
　For　there　were　noises　from　the　left　…　a　rattling　sound；　the　sliding　of　bolts；　the　creaking　of　hinges。　Although　my　field　of　perception　did　not　extend　that　far；　it　seemed　obvious　that　the　cell's　door　was　being　opened。　Brand　raised　himself　once　more。　Gerard　continued　to　hack　at　the　chain。
　〃Gerard！　The　door！〃　I　shouted。
　〃I　know！〃　he　bellowed；　wrapping　the　chain　about　his　arm　and　yanking　it。　It　did　not　yield。
　Then　he　let　go　of　the　chain　and　swung　the　ax；　as　one　of　the　horny…handed　warriors　rushed　him；　blade　upraised。　The　swordsman　fell；　to　be　replaced　by　another。　Then　a　third　and　a　fourth　crowded　by　them。　Others　were　close　on　their　heels。
　There　was　a　blur　of　movement　at　that　moment　and　Random　knelt　within　the　tableau；　his　right　hand　clasped　with　Brand's；　his　left　holding　his　chair　before　him　like　a　shield；　its　legs　pointing　outward。　He　sprang　to　his　feet　and　rushed　the　attackers；　driving　the　chair　like　a　battering　ram　amid　them。　They　fell　back。　He　raised　the　chair　and　swung　it。　One　lay　dead　on　the　floor；　felled　by　Gerard's　ax。　Another　had　drawn　off　to　one　side；　clutching　at　the　stump　of　his　right　arm。　Random　produced　a　dagger　and　left　it　in　a　nearby　stomach；　brained　two　more　with　the　chair；　and　drove　back　the　final　man。　Eerily；　while　this　was　going　on；　the　dead　man　rose　above　the　floor　and　slowly　drifted　upward；　spilling　and　dripping　the　while。　The　one　who　had　been　stabbed　collapsed　to　his　knees；　clutching　at　the　blade。
　In　the　meantime；　Gerard　had　taken　hold　of　the　chain　with　both　hands。　He　braced　one　foot　against　the　wall　and　menced　to　pull。　His　shoulders　rose　as　the　great　muscles　tightened　across　his　back。　The　chain　held。　Ten　seconds；　perhaps。　Fifteen。。。
　Then；　with　a　snap　and　a　rattle；　it　parted。　Gerard　stumbled　backward；　catching　himself　with　an　outflung　hand。　He　glanced　back；　apparently　at　Random；　who　was　out　of　my　line　of　sight　at　the　moment。　Seemingly　satisfied；　he　turned　away；　stooped　and　raised　Brand；　who　had　fallen　unconscious　again。　Holding　him　in　his　arms；　he　turned　and　extended　one　hand　from　beneath　the　limp　form。　Random　leaped　back　into　sight　beside　them；　sans　chair；　and　gestured　to　us　also。
　All　of　us　reached　for　them；　and　a　moment　later　they　stood　amid　us　and　we　crowded　around。
　A　sort　of　cheer　had　gone　up　as　we　rushed　to　touch　him；　to　see　him；　our　brother　who　had　been　gone　these　many　years　and　just　now　snatched　back　from　his　mysterious　captors。　And　at　last；　hopefully；　finally；　some　answers　might　also　have　been　liberated。　Only　he　looked　so　weak；　so　thin；　so　pale。。。
　〃Get　back！〃　Gerard　shouted。　〃I'm　taking　him　to　the　couch！　Then　you　can　look　all　you　…〃
　Dead　silence。　For　everyone　had　backed　off；　and　then　turned　to　stone。　This　was　because　there　was　blood　on　Brand；　and　it　was　dripping。　And　this　was　because　there　was　a　knife　in　his　left　side；　to　the　rear。　It　had　not　been　there　moments　before。　Some　one　of　us　had　just　tried　for　his　kidney　and　possibly　succeeded。　I　was　not　heartened　by　the　fact　that　the　Random…Corwin　Conjecture　that　it　was　One　Of　Us　Behind　It　All　had　just　received　a　significant　boost。　I　had　an　instant　during　which　to　concentrate　all　my　faculties　in　an　attempt　to　mentally　photograph　everyone's　position。　Then　the　spell　was　broken。　Gerard　bore　Brand　to　the　couch　and　we　drew　aside；　and　we　all　knew　that　we　all　realized　not　only　what　had　happened；　but　what　it　implied。
　Gerard　set　Brand　down　in　a　prone　position　and　tore　away　his　filthy　shirt。
　〃Get　me　clean　water　to　bathe　him；〃　he　said。　〃And　towels。　Get　me　saline　solution　and　glucose　and　something　to　hang　them　from。　Get　me　a　whole　medical　kit。〃
　Deirdre　and　Flora　moved　toward　the　door。
　〃My　quarters　are　closest；〃　said　Random。　〃One　of　you　will　find　a　medical　kit　there。　But　the　only　IV　stuff　is　in　the　lab　on　the　third　floor。　I'd　better　e　and　help。〃　They　departed　together。
　We　all　had　had　medical　training　somewhere　along　the　line；　both　here　and　abroad。　That　which　we　learned　in　Shadow；　though；　had　to　be　modified　in　Amber。　Most　antibiotics　from　the　shadow　worlds；　for　example；　were　ineffectual　here。　On　the　other　hand；　our　personal　immunological　processes　ap