rz.signoftheunicorn-第18部分

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r。　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　tracing　of　that　cosmic　version　of　the　Pattern　I　had　followed　earlier　in　the　day。　As　I　doubled　and　fell；　unable　to　think　but　still　for　a　moment　conscious；　it　came　clearer；　came　nearer；　the　design。　I　wanted　to　flee；　but　horse　my　body　stumbled。　I　was　thrown。
　
　
　Chapter　8
　
　Out　of　every　life　a　little　blood　must　spill。　Unfortunately；　it　was　my　turn　again；　and　it　felt　like　more　than　a　little。　I　was　lying；　doubled　up；　on　my　right　side；　both　arms　clutching　at　my　middle。　I　was　wet；　and　every　now　and　then　something　trickled　along　the　creases　of　my　belly。　Front；　lower　left；　just　above　the　beltline；　I　felt　like　a　casually　opened　envelope。　These　were　my　first　sensations　as　consciousness　came　around　again。　And　my　first　thought　was；　〃What　is　he　waiting　for？〃　Obviously；　the　coup　de　grace　had　been　withheld。　Why？
　I　opened　my　eyes。　They　had　taken　advantage　of　whatever　time　had　elapsed　to　adjust　themselves　to　the　darkness。　I　turned　my　head。　I　did　not　see　anyone　else　in　the　room　with　me。　But　something　peculiar　had　occurred　and　I　could　not　quite　place　it。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　let　my　head　fall　back　to　the　mattress　once　more。　Something　was　wrong；　yet　at　the　same　time　right。。。
　The　mattress。。。　Yes；　I　was　lying　on　my　bed。　I　doubted　my　ability　to　have　gotten　there　unassisted。　But　it　would　be　absurd　to　knife　me　and　them　help　me　to　bed。
　My　bed。。。　It　was　my　bed；　yet　it　was　not。
　I　squeezed　my　eyes　tight。　I　gritted　my　teeth。　I　did　not　understand。　I　knew　that　my　thinking　could　not　be　normal　there　on　the　fringes　of　shock；　my　blood　pooling　in　my　guts　and　then　leaking　out。　I　tried　to　force　myself　to　think　clearly。　It　was　not　easy。
　My　bed。　Before　you　are　fully　aware　of　anything　else；　you　are　aware　whether　you　are　awakening　in　your　own　bed。　And　I　was；　but　…　
　I　fought　down　an　enormous　impulse　to　sneeze；　because　I　felt　it　would　tear　me　apart。　I　pressed　my　nostrils　and　breathed　in　short　gasps　through　my　mouth。　The　taste；　smell　and　feel　of　dust　was　all　about　me。
　The　nasal　assault　subsided　and　I　opened　my　eyes。　I　knew　then　where　I　was。　I　did　not　understand　the　why　and　how　of　it；　but　I　had　e　once　more　to　a　place　I　had　never　expected　to　see　again。　I　lowered　my　right　hand；　used　it　to　raise　myself。
　It　was　my　bedroom　in　my　house。　The　old　one。　The　place　which　had　been　mine　back　when　I　was　Carl　Corey。　I　had　been　returned　to　Shadow；　to　that　world　heavy　with　dust。　The　bed　had　not　been　made　up　since　the　last　time　I　had　slept　in　it；　over　half　a　decade　before。　I　knew　the　state　of　the　house　fully；　having　looked　in　on　it　only　a　few　weeks　earlier。
　I　pushed　myself　further；　managed　to　slide　my　feet　out　over　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　down。　Then　I　doubled　up　again　and　sat　there。　It　was　bad。
　While　I　felt　temporarily　safe　from　further　assault；　I　knew　that　I　required　more　than　safety　just　then。　I　had　to　have　help；　and　I　was　in　no　position　to　help　myself。　I　was　not　even　certain　how　much　longer　I　might　remain　conscious。　So　I　had　to　get　down　and　get　out。　The　phone　would　be　dead；　the　nearest　house　was　not　too　close　by。　I　would　have　to　get　down　to　the　road；　at　least。　I　reflected　grimly　that　one　of　my　reasons　for　locating　where　I　had　was　that　it　was　not　a　well…traveled　road。　I　enjoy　my　solitude；　at　least　some　of　the　time。
　With　my　right　hand　I　drew　up　the　nearest　pillow　and　slipped　off　its　case。　I　turned　it　inside　out；　tried　to　fold　it；　gave　up；　wadded　it；　slipped　it　beneath　my　shirt；　and　pressed　it　against　my　wound。　Then　I　sat　there；　just　holding　it　in　place。　It　had　been　a　major　exertion　and　I　found　it　painful　to　take　too　deep　a　breath。
　After　a　time；　though；　I　drew　the　second　pillow　to　me；　held　it　across　my　knees　and　let　it　slip　out　of　its　case。
　I　wanted　the　pillowslip　to　wave　at　a　passing　motorist；　for　my　garments；　as　usual；　were　dark。　Before　I　could　draw　it　through　my　belt；　though；　I　was　confounded　by　the　behavior　of　the　pillow　itself。　It　had　not　yet　reached　the　floor。　I　had　released　it；　nothing　was　supporting　it；　and　it　was　moving。　But　it　was　moving　quite　slowly；　descending　with　a　dreamlike　deliberation。
　I　thought　of　the　fall　of　the　key　as　I　had　dropped　it　outside　my　room。　I　thought　of　my　unintended　quickness　on　mounting　the　stair　with　Random。　I　thought　of　Fiona's　words　and　of　the　Jewel　of　Judgment；　which　still　hung　about　my　neck　now　pulsating　in　time　with　the　throbbing　of　my　side。　It　might　have　saved　my　life；　at　least　for　the　moment；　yes；　it　probably　had；　if　Fiona's　notions　were　correct。　It　had　probably　given　me　a　moment　or　so　more　than　would　otherwise　have　been　my　due　when　the　assailant　struck；　letting　me　turn；　letting　me　swing　my　arm。　It　might；　somehow；　even　have　been　responsible　for　my　sudden　transportation。　But　I　would　have　to　think　about　such　things　at　another　time；　should　I　succeed　in　maintaining　a　meaningful　relationship　with　the　future。　For　now；　the　jewel　had　to　go　…　in　case　Fiona's　fears　concerning　it　were　also　correct　…　and　I　had　to　get　moving。
　I　tucked　away　the　second　pillow　cover；　then　tried　to　stand；　holding　on　to　the　footboard。　No　good！　Dizziness　and　too　much　pain。　I　lowered　myself　to　the　floor；　afraid　of　passing　out　on　the　way　down。　I　made　it。　I　rested。　Then　I　began　to　move；　a　slow　crawl。
　The　front　door；　as　I　recalled；　was　now　nailed　shut。　All　right。　Out　the　back；　then。
　I　made　it　to　the　bedroom　and　halted；　leaning　against　its　frame。　As　I　rested　there　I　removed　the　Jewel　of　Judgment　from　my　neck　and　wrapped　its　chain　about　my　wrist。　I　had　to　cache　it　someplace；　and　the　safe　in　my　study　was　too　far　out　of　the　way。　Besides；　I　believed　that　I　was　leaving　a　trail　of　blood。　Anyone　finding　and　following　it　might　well　be　curious　enough　to　investigate　and　spring　the　small　thing。　And　I　lacked　the　time　and　the　energy。。。
　I　made　my　way　out；　around；　and　through。　I　had　to　rise　and　exert　myself　to　get　the　back　door　open。　I　made　the　mistake　of　not　resting　first。
　When　I　regained　consciousness；　I　was　lying　across　the　threshold。　The　night　was　raw　and　clouds　filled　much　of　the　sky。　A　mean　wind　rattled　branches　above　the　patio。　I　felt　several　drops　of　moisture　on　the　back　of　my　outflung　hand。
　I　pushed　up　and　crawled　out。　The　snow　was　about　two　inches　deep。　The　icy　air　helped　to　revive　me。　With　something　near　panic；　I　realized　just　how　foggy　my　mind　had　been　during　much　of　my　course　from　the　bedroom。　It　was　possible　that　I　might　go　under　at　any　time。
　I　started　immediately　for　the　far　corner　of　the　house；　deviating　only　to　reach　the　post　heap；　tear　my　way　into　it；　drop　the　jewel；　and　reposition　the　clump　of　dead　grasses　I　had　broken　loose。　I　brushed　snow　over　it　and　continued　on。
　Once　I　made　it　about　the　corner；　I　was　shielded　from　the　wind　and　headed　down　a　slight　incline。　I　reached　the　front　of　the　house　and　rested　once　more。　A　car　had　just　passed　and　I　watched　its　taillights　dwindle。　It　was　the　only　vehicle　in　sight。
　Icy　crystals　stung　my　face　as　I　moved　again。　My　knees　were　wet　and　burning　cold。　The　front　yard　sloped；　gently　at　first；　then　dropped　sharply　toward　the　road。　There　was　a　dip　about　a　hundred　yards　to　the　right；　where　motorists　generally　hit　their　brakes。　It　seemed　that　this　might　give　me　a　few　moments　more　in　the　headlights　of　anyone　ing　from　that　direction…one　of　those　small　assurances　the　mind　always　seeks　when　things　get　serious；　an　aspirin　for　the　emotions。　With　three　rest　stops；　I　made　it　down　to　the　roadside；　then　over　to　the　big　rock　that　bore　my　house　number。　I　sat　on　it　and　leaned　back　against　the　icy　embankment。　I　hauled　out　the　second　pillow　case　and　draped　it　across　my　knees。
　I　waited。　I　knew　that　my　mind　was　fuzzy。　I　believe　that　I　drifted　into　and　out　of　consciousness　a　number　of　times。　Whenever　I　caught　myself　at　it；　I　attempted　to　impose　some　version　of　order　on　my　thoughts；　to　assess　what　had　happened　in　the　light　of　everything　else　that　had　just　happened；　to　seek　other　safety　measures。　The　former　effort　proved　too　much；　however。　It　was　simply　too　difficult　to　think　beyond　the　level　of　responding　to　circumstance。　With　a　sort　of　numb　enlightenment；　though；　it　occurred　to　me　that　I　was　still　in　possession　of　my　Trumps。　I　could　contact　someone　in　Amber；　have　him　transport　me　back。
　But　who？　I　was　not　so　far　gone　that　I　failed　to　realize　I　might　be　contacting　the　one　responsible　for　my　condition。　Would　it　be　better　to　gamble　that　way；　or　to　take　my　chances　here？　Still；　Random　or　Gerard　…　
　I　thought　that　I　heard　a　car。　Faint；　distant。。。　The　wind　and　my　pulsebeat　were　peting　with　perception；　though。　I　turned　my　head。　I　concentrated。
　There。。。　Again。　Yes。　It　was　an　engine。　I　got　ready　to　wave　the　cloth。
　Even　then；　my　mind　kept　straying。　And　one　thought　that　flitted　through　was　that　I　might　already　be　unable　to　muster　sufficient　concentration　to　manipulate　the　Trumps。
　The　sound　grew　louder。　I　raised　the　cloth。　Moments　later；　the　farthest　visible　point　along　the　road　to　my　right　was　touched　with　light。　Shortly　after；　I　saw　the　car　at　the　top　of　the　rise。　I　lost　sight　of　it　once　more　as　it　descended　the　hill。　Then　it　climbed　again　and　came　on；　snowflakes　flashing　through　its　headbeams。
　I　began　waving　as　it　approached　the　dip。　The　lights　caught　me　as　it　came　up　out　of　it；　and　the　driver　could　not　ha