rz.signoftheunicorn-第2部分

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。　I　mean；　ask　me　another　time　and　I　might　say　one　of　the　others。　Depends　on　what　you　want　most　at　the　moment。
　Anyway；　I　was　here　in　Amber　some　years　ago。　Not　doing　much　of　anything。　Just　visiting　and　being　a　nuisance。　Dad　was　still　around；　and　when　I　noticed　that　he　was　getting　into　one　of　his　grumpy　moods；　I　decided　it　was　time　to　take　a　walk。　A　long　one。　I　had　often　noticed　that　his　fondness　for　me　tended　to　increase　as　an　inverse　function　of　my　proximity。　He　gave　me　a　fancy　riding　crop　for　a　going…away　present　…　to　hasten　the　process　of　affection；　I　suppose。　Still；　it　was　a　very　nice　crop　…　silver…chased；　beautifully　tooled　…　and　I　made　good　use　of　it。　I　had　decided　to　go　looking　for　an　assemblage　of　all　my　simple　pleasures　in　one　small　nook　of　Shadow。
　It　was　a　long　ride　…　I　will　not　bore　you　with　the　details　…　and　it　was　pretty　far　from　Amber；　as　such　things　go。　This　time；　I　was　not　looking　for　a　place　where　I　would　be　especially　important。　That　can　get　either　boring　or　difficult　fairly　quickly；　depending　on　how　responsible　you　want　to　be。　I　wanted　to　be　an　irresponsible　nonentity　and　just　enjoy　myself。
　Texorami　was　a　wide　open　port　city；　with　sultry　days　and　long　nights；　lots　of　good　music；　gambling　around　the　clock；　duels　every　morning　and　in…between　mayhem　for　those　who　couldn't　wait。　And　the　air　currents　were　fabulous。　I　had　a　little　red　sail　plane　I　used　to　go　sky　surfing　in；　every　couple　of　days。　It　was　the　good　life。　I　played　drums　till　all　hours　in　a　basement　spot　up　the　river　where　the　walls　sweated　almost　as　much　as　the　customers　and　the　smoke　used　to　wash　around　the　lights　like　streams　of　milk。　When　I　was　done　playing　I'd　go　find　some　action；　women；　or　cards；　usually。　And　that　was　it　for　the　rest　of　the　night。　Damn　Eric；　anyway！　That　reminds　me　again。。。　He　once　accused　me　of　cheating　at　cards；　did　you　know　that？　And　that's　about　the　only　thing　I　wouldn't　cheat　at。　I　take　my　card　playing　seriously。　I'm　good　and　I'm　also　lucky。　Eric　was　neither。　The　trouble　with　him　was　that　he　was　good　at　so　many　things　he　wouldn't　admit　even　to　himself　that　there　were　some　things　other　people　could　do　better。　If　you　kept　beating　him　at　anything　you　had　to　be　cheating。　He　started　a　nasty　argument　over　it　one　night　…　could　have　gotten　serious　…　but　Gerard　and　Caine　broke　it　up。　Give　Caine　that。　He　took　my　part　that　time。　Poor　guy。。。　Hell　of　a　way　to　go；　you　know？　His　throat。。。　Well；　anyhow；　there　I　was　in　Texorami；　making　music　and　women；　winning　at　cards　and　jockeying　around　the　sky。　Palm　trees　and　night…blooming　wallflowers。　Lots　of　good　port　smells　…　spices；　coffee；　tar；　salt　…　you　know。　Gentlefolk；　merchants；　and　peons　…　the　same　straights　as　in　most　other　places。　Sailors　and　assorted　travelers　passing　in　and　out。　Guys　like　me　living　around　the　edges　of　things。　I　spent　a　little　over　two　years　in　Texorami；　happy。　Really。　Not　much　contact　with　the　others。　Sort　of　postcard　like　hellos　via　the　Trumps　every　now　and　then；　and　that　was　about　it。　Amber　was　pretty　much　off　my　mind。　All　this　changed　one　night　when　I　was　sitting　there　with　a　full　house　and　the　guy　across　from　me　was　trying　to　make　up　his　mind　whether　or　not　I　was　bluffing。
　The　Jack　of　Diamonds　began　talking　to　me。
　Yes；　that　is　how　it　started。　I　was　in　a　weird　frame　of　mind　anyway。　I　had　just　finished　a　couple　very　hot　sets　and　was　still　kind　of　high。　Also；　I　was　physically　strung　out　from　a　long　day's　gliding　and　not　much　sleep　the　night　before。　I　decided　later　that　it　must　be　our　mental　quirk　associated　with　the　Trumps　that　made　me　see　it　that　way　when　someone　was　trying　to　reach　me　and　I　had　cards　in　my　hand　…　any　cards。　Ordinarily；　of　course；　we　get　the　message　empty…handed；　unless　we　are　doing　the　calling。　It　could　have　been　that　my　subconscious　…　which　was　kind　of　footloose　at　the　time　…　just　seized　on　the　available　props　out　of　habit。　Later；　though；　I　had　cause　to　wonder。　Really；　I　just　don't　know。
　The　Jack　said；　〃Random。〃　Then　its　face　blurred　and　it　said；　〃Help　me。〃　I　began　getting　a　feel　of　the　personality　by　then；　but　it　was　weak。　The　whole　thing　was　very　weak。　Then　the　face　rearranged　itself　and　I　saw　that　I　was　right。　It　was　Brand。　He　looked　like　hell；　and　he　seemed　to　be　chained　or　tied　to　something。　〃Help　me；〃　he　said　again。
　〃I'm　here；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃。。。　prisoner；〃　he　said；　and　something　else　that　I　couldn't　make　out。
　〃Where？〃　I　asked。
　He　shook　his　head　at　that。
　〃Can't　bring　you　through；〃　he　said。　〃No　Trumps；　and　I　am　too　weak。　You　will　have　to　e　the　long　way　around。。。〃
　I　did　not　ask　him　how　he　was　managing　it　without　my　Trump。　Finding　out　where　he　was　seemed　of　first　importance。　I　asked　him　how　I　could　locate　him。
　〃Look　very　closely；〃　he　said。　〃Remember　every　feature。　I　may　only　be　able　to　show　you　once。　e　armed；　too。。。〃
　Then　I　saw　the　landscape　…　over　his　shoulder；　out　a　window；　over　a　battlement；　I　can't　be　sure。　It　was　far　from　Amber；　somewhere　where　the　shadows　go　mad。　Farther　than　I　like　to　go。　Stark；　with　shifting　colors。　Fiery。　Day　without　a　sun　in　the　sky。　Rocks　that　glided　like　sailboats　across　the　land。　Brand　there　in　some　sort　of　tower　…　a　small　point　of　stability　in　that　flowing　scene。　I　remembered　it；　all　right。　And　I　remembered　the　presence　coiled　about　the　base　of　that　tower。　Brilliant。　Prismatic。　Some　sort　of　watch…thing；　it　seemed　…　too　bright　for　me　to　make　out　its　outline；　to　guess　its　proper　size。　Then　it　all　just　went　away。　Instant　off。　And　there　I　was；　staring　at　the　Jack　of　Diamonds　again；　with　the　guy　across　from　me　not　knowing　whether　to　be　mad　at　my　long　distraction　or　concerned　that　I　might　be　having　some　sort　of　sick　spell。
　I　closed　up　shop　with　that　hand　and　went　home。　I　lay　stretched　out　on　my　bed；　smoking　and　thinking。　Brand　had　still　been　in　Amber　when　I　had　departed。　Later；　though；　when　I　had　asked　after　him；　no　one　had　any　idea　as　to　his　whereabouts。　He　had　been　having　one　of　his　melancholy　spells；　had　snapped　out　of　it　one　day　and　ridden　off。　And　that　was　that。　No　messages　either　…　either　way。　He　wasn't　answering；　he　wasn't　talking。
　I　tried　to　figure　every　angle。　He　was　smart；　damn　smart。　Possibly　the　best　mind　in　the　family。　He　was　in　trouble　and　he　had　called　me。　Eric　and　Gerard　were　more　the　heroic　types　and　would　probably　have　weled　the　adventure。　Caine　would　have　gone　out　of　curiosity；　I　think。　Julian；　to　look　better　than　the　rest　of　us　and　to　score　points　with　Dad。　Or；　easiest　of　all；　Brand　could　have　called　Dad　himself。　Dad　would　have　done　something　about　it。　But　he　had　called　me。　Why？
　It　occurred　to　me　then　that　maybe　one　or　more　of　the　others　had　been　responsible　for　his　circumstances。　If；　say；　Dad　was　beginning　to　favor　him。。。　Well。　You　know。　Eliminate　the　positive。　And　if　he　did　call　Dad；　he　would　look　like　a　weakling。
　So　I　suppressed　my　impulse　to　yell　for　reinforcements。　He　had　called　me；　and　it　was　quite　possible　that　I　would　be　cutting　his　throat　by　letting　anyone　back　in　Amber　in　on　the　fact　that　he　had　gotten　the　message　out。　Okay。　What　was　in　it　for　me？
　If　it　involved　the　succession　and　he　had　truly　bee　fair…haired；　I　figured　that　I　could　do　a　lot　worse　than　give　him　this　to　remember　me　by。　And　if　it　did　not。。。　There　were　all　sorts　of　other　possibilities。　Perhaps　he　had　stumbled　onto　something　going　on　back　home；　something　it　would　be　useful　to　know　about。　I　was　even　curious　as　to　the　means　he　had　employed　for　bypassing　the　Trumps。　So　it　was　curiosity；　I'd　say；　that　made　me　decide　to　go　it　alone　and　try　to　rescue　him。
　I　dusted　off　my　own　Trumps　and　tried　reaching　him　again。　As　you　might　expect；　there　was　no　response。　I　got　a　good　night's　sleep　then　and　tried　one　more　time　in　the　morning。　Again；　nothing。　Okay；　no　sense　waiting　any　longer。
　I　cleaned　up　my　blade；　ate　a　big　meal；　and　got　into　some　rugged　clothes。　I　also　picked　up　a　pair　of　dark；　polaroid　goggles。　Didn't　know　how　they　would　work　there；　but　that　warden…thing　had　been　awfully　bright　…　and　it　never　hurts　to　try　anything　extra　you　can　think　of。　For　that　matter；　I　also　took　a　gun。　I　had　a　feeling　it　would　be　worthless；　and　I　was　right。　But；　like　I　said；　you　never　know　till　you　try。
　The　only　person　I　said　good…bye　to　was　another　drummer；　because　I　stopped　to　give　him　my　set　before　I　left。　I　knew　he'd　take　good　care　of　them。
　Then　I　went　on　down　to　the　hangar；　got　the　sail　plane　ready；　went　aloft；　and　caught　a　proper　current。　It　seemed　a　neat　way　to　do　it。
　I　don't　know　whether　you've　ever　glided　through　Shadow；　but　…　No？　Well；　I　headed　out　over　the　sea　till　the　land　was　only　a　dim　line　to　the　north。　Then　I　had　the　waters　go　cobalt　beneath　me；　rear　up　and　shake　sparkly　beards。　The　wind　shifted。　I　turned。　I　raced　the　waves　shoreward　beneath　a　darkening　sky。　Texorami　was　gone　when　I　returned　to　the　rivermouth；　replaced　by　miles　of　swamp。　I　rode　the　currents　inward；　crossing　and　recrossing　the　river　at　new　twists　and　kinks　it　had　acquired。　Gone　were　the　piers；　the　trails；　the　traffic。　The　trees　were　high。
　Clouds　massed　in　the　west；　pink　and　pearl　and　yellow。　The　sun　phased　from　orange　through　red　to　yellow。　You　shake　your　head？　The　sun　was　the　price　of　the　cities；　you　see。　In　a　hurry；　I　depopulate　…　or；　rather；　go　the　elemental　route。　At　that　altitude　artifacts　would　have　been　distracting。　Shading　and　texture　bees　everything　for　me。　That's　what　I　meant　about　gliding　it　being　a　bit　different。
　So；　I　bore　to　the　west　till　the　woods　gave　way　to　surface　green；　which　quickly　faded；　dispersed；　broke　to　brown；　tan；　yellow。　Light　and　crumbly　then；　splotched。　The　price　of　that　was　a　storm。　I　rode　it　out　as　much　as　I　could；　till　the　lightnings　forked　nearby　and　I　feared　that　the　gusts　were　getting　to　be　too　much　for　the　little　glider。　I　toned　it　down　fast　then；　but　got　more　green　below　as　a　result。　Still；　I　pulled　it　out　of　the　storm　with　a　yellow　sun　firm　and　bright　at　my　back。　After　a　time；　I　got　it　to　go　desert　beneath　me　again；　stark　and　rolling。
　Then　the　sun　shrank　and　strands　of　cloud　whipped　past　its　face；　erasing　it　bit　by　bit。　That　was　the　shortcut　that　took　me　farther　from　Amber　than　I　had　been　in　a　long　while。
　No　sun　then；　but　the　light　remained；　just　as　bright　but　eerie　now；　directionless。　It　tricked　my　eyes；　it　screwed　up　perspective。　I　dropped　lower；　limiting　my　range　of　vision。　Soon　large　rocks　came　into　view；　and　I　fought　for　the　shapes　I　remembered。　Gradually；　these　occurred。
　The　buckling；　flowing　effect　was　easier　to　achieve　under　these　conditions；　but　its　production　was　physically　disconcerting。　It　made　it　even　more　difficult　to　judge　my　effectiveness　in　guiding　the　glider。　I　got　lower　than　I　thought　I　was　and　almost　collided　with　one　of　the　rocks。　Finally；　though；　the　smokes　rose　and　flames　danced　about　as　I　remembered　them　…　conforming　to　no　particular　pattern；　just　emerging　here　and　there　from　crevasses；　holes；　cave　mouths。　Colors　began　to　misbehave　as　I　recalled　from　my　brief　view。　Then　came　the　actual　motion　of　the　rocks　…　drifting；　sailing；　like　rudderless　boats　in　a　place　where　they　wring　out　rainbows。
　By　then；　the　air　currents　had　gone　crazy。　One　updraft　after　another；　like　fountains；　I　fought　them　as　best　I　could；　but　knew　I　could　not　hold　things　together　much　longer　at　that　altitude。　I　rose　a　considerable　distance；　forgetting　everything　for　a　time　whil