rz.signoftheunicorn-第5部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


nd　jacket　now；　my　wet　cloak　a　dry　scrape。　I　heard　an　owl　nearby；　and　from　a　great　distance　below　and　behind　came　what　might　have　been　the　yipyip…howl　of　a　coyote。　These　signs　of　a　more　familiar　place　made　me　feel　somewhat　secure；　exorcised　any　vestiges　of　desperation　that　remained　with　my　flight。
　An　hour　or　so　later；　I　yielded　to　the　temptation　to　play　with　Shadow　just　a　bit。　It　was　not　all　that　improbable　for　a　stray　horse　to　be　wandering　in　these　hills；　and　of　course　I　found　him。　After　ten　or　so　minutes　of　being　friendly；　I　was　mounted　bareback　and　moving　toward　the　top　in　a　more　congenial　fashion。　The　wind　sowed　frost　in　our　path。　The　moon　came　and　sparked　it　to　life。
　To　be　brief；　I　rode　all　night；　passing　over　the　crest　and　mencing　my　downward　passage　well　before　dawn。　As　I　descended；　the　mountain　grew　even　more　vast　above　me；　which　of　course　was　the　best　time　for　this　to　occur。　Things　were　green　on　this　side　of　the　range；　and　divided　by　neat　highways；　punctuated　by　occasional　dwellings。　Everything　therefore　was　proceeding　in　accordance　with　my　desire。
　Early　morning。　I　was　into　the　foothills　and　my　denim　had　turned　to　khaki　and　a　bright　shirt。　I　had　a　light　sport　jacket　slung　before　me。　At　a　great　height；　a　jetliner　poked　holes　in　the　air；　moving　from　horizon　to　horizon。　There　were　birdsongs　about　me；　and　the　day　was　mild；　sunny。
　It　was　about　then　that　I　heard　my　name　spoken　and　felt　the　touch　of　the　Trump　once　more。　I　drew　up　short　and　responded。
　〃Yes？〃
　It　was　Julian。
　〃Random；　where　are　you？〃　he　asked。
　〃Pretty　far　from　Amber；〃　I　replied。　〃Why？〃
　〃Have　any　of　the　others　been　in　touch　with　you？〃
　〃Not　recently；〃　I　said。　〃But　someone　did　try　to　get　hold　of　me　yesterday。　I　was　busy　though；　and　couldn't　talk。〃
　〃That　was　me；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　a　situation　here　that　you　had　better　know　about。〃
　〃Where　are　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃In　Amber。　A　number　of　things　have　happened　recently。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃Dad　has　been　gone　for　an　unusually　long　time。　No　one　knows　where。〃
　〃He's　done　that　before。〃
　〃But　not　without　leaving　instructions　and　making　delegations。　He　always　provided　them　in　the　past。〃
　〃True；〃　I　said。　〃But　how　long　is　'long'？〃
　〃Well　over　a　year。　You　weren't　aware　of　this　at　all？〃
　〃I　knew　that　he　was　gone。　Gerard　mentioned　it　some　time　back。〃
　〃Then　add　more　time　to　that。〃
　〃I　get　the　idea。　How　have　you　been　operating？〃
　〃That　is　the　problem。　We　have　simply　been　dealing　with　affairs　as　they　arise。　Gerard　and　Caine　had　been　running　the　navy　anyway；　on　Dad's　orders。　Without　him；　they　have　been　making　all　their　own　decisions。　I　took　charge　of　the　patrols　in　Arden　again。　There　is　no　central　authority　though；　to　arbitrate；　to　make　policy　decisions；　to　speak　for　all　of　Amber。〃
　〃So　we　need　a　regent。　We　can　cut　cards　for　it；　I　suppose。〃
　〃It　is　not　that　simple。　We　think　Dad　is　dead。〃
　〃Dead？　Why？　How？〃
　〃We　have　tried　to　raise　him　on　his　Trump。　We　have　been　trying　every　day　for　over　half　a　year　now。　Nothing。　What　do　you　think？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃He　may　be　dead；〃　I　said。　〃You'd　think　he　would　have　e　across　with　something。　Still；　the　possibility　of　his　being　in　some　trouble　…　say；　a　prisoner　somewhere　…　is　not　precluded。〃
　〃A　cell　can't　stop　the　Trumps。　Nothing　can。　He　would　call　for　help　the　minute　we　made　contact。〃
　〃I　can't　argue　with　that；〃　I　said。　But　I　thought　of　Brand　as　I　said　it。　〃Perhaps　he　is　deliberately　resisting　contact；　though。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea；　but　it　is　possible。　You　know　how　secretive　he　is　about　some　things。〃
　〃No；〃　Julian　said；　〃it　doesn't　hold　up。　He　would　have　given　some　operating　instructions；　somewhere　along　the　line。〃
　〃Well；　whatever　the　reasons；　whatever　the　situation；　what　do　you　propose　doing　now？〃
　〃Someone　has　to　occupy　the　throne；〃　he　said。
　I　had　seen　it　ing　throughout　the　entire　dialogue；　of　course　…　the　opportunity　it　had　long　seemed　would　never　e　to　pass。
　〃Who？〃　I　asked。
　〃Eric　seems　the　best　choice；〃　he　replied。　〃Actually；　he　has　been　acting　in　that　capacity　for　months　now。　It　simply　bees　a　matter　of　formalizing　it。〃
　〃Not　just　as　regent？〃
　〃Not　just　as　regent。〃
　〃I　see。。。　Yes；　I　guess　that　things　have　been　happening　in　my　absence。　What　about　Benedict　as　a　choice？〃
　〃He　seems　to　be　happy　where　he　is；　off　somewhere　in　Shadow。〃
　〃What　does　he　think　of　the　whole　idea？〃
　〃He　is　not　entirely　in　favor　of　it。　But　we　do　not　believe　he　will　offer　resistance。　It　would　disrupt　things　too　much。〃
　〃I　see；〃　I　said　again。　〃And　Bleys？〃
　〃He　and　Eric　had　some　rather　heated　discussions　of　the　issue；　but　the　troops　do　not　take　their　orders　from　Bleys。　He　left　Amber　about　three　months　ago。　He　could　cause　some　trouble　later。　But　then；　we　are　forewarned。〃
　〃Gerard？　Caine？〃
　〃They　will　go　along　with　Eric。　I　was　wondering　about　yourself。〃
　〃What　about　the　girls？〃　He　shrugged。
　〃They　tend　to　take　things　lying　down。　No　problem。〃
　〃I　don't　suppose　Corwin。。。〃
　〃Nothing　new。　He's　dead。　We　all　know　it。　His　monument　has　been　gathering　dust　and　ivy　for　centuries。　If　not；　then　he　has　intentionally　divorced　himself　from　Amber　forever。　Nothing　there。　Now　I　am　wondering　where　you　stand。〃
　I　chuckled。
　〃I　am　hardly　in　a　position　to　possess　forceful　opinions；〃　I　said。
　〃We　need　to　know　now。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃I　have　always　been　able　to　detect　the　quarter　of　the　wind；〃　I　said。　〃I　do　not　sail　against　it。〃
　He　smiled　and　returned　my　nod。
　〃Very　good；〃　he　said。
　〃When　is　the　coronation？　I　assume　that　I　am　invited。〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course。　But　the　date　has　not　yet　been　set。　There　are　still　a　few　minor　matters　to　be　dealt　with。　As　soon　as　the　affair　is　calendared；　one　of　us　will　contact　you　again。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Julian。〃
　〃Good…bye　for　now；　Random。〃
　And　I　sat　there　being　troubled　for　a　long　while　before　I　started　on　downward　again。　How　long　had　Eric　spent　engineering　it？　I　wondered。　Much　of　the　politicking　back　in　Amber　could　have　been　done　pretty　quickly；　but　the　setting　up　of　the　situation　in　the　first　place　seemed　the　product　of　long…term　thinking　and　planning。　I　was　naturally　suspicious　as　to　his　involvement　in　Brand's　predicament。　I　also　could　not　help　but　give　some　thought　to　the　possibility　of　his　having　a　hand　in　Dad's　disappearance。　That　would　have　taken　some　doing　and　have　required　a　really　foolproof　trap。　But　the　more　I　thought　of　it；　the　less　I　was　willing　to　put　it　past　him。　I　even　dredged　up　some　old　speculations　as　to　his　part　in　your　own　passing；　Corwin。　But；　offhand；　I　could　not　think　of　a　single　thing　to　do　about　any　of　it。　Go　along　with　it；　I　figured；　if　that's　where　the　power　was。　Stay　in　his　good　graces。
　Still。。。　One　should　always　get　more　than　one　angle　on　a　story。　I　tried　to　make　up　my　mind　as　to　who　would　give　me　a　good　one。　While　I　was　thinking　along　these　lines；　something　caught　my　eye　as　I　glanced　back　and　up；　appreciating　anew　the　heights　from　which　I　had　not　quite　descended。
　There　were　a　number　of　riders　up　near　the　top。　They　had　apparently　traversed　the　same　trail　I　had　taken。　I　could　not　get　an　exact　nose　count；　but　it　seemed　suspiciously　close　to　a　dozen　…　a　fairly　sizable　group　to　be　out　riding　at　just　that　place　and　time。　As　I　saw　that　they　were　proceeding　on　down　the　same　way　that　I　had　e；　I　had　a　prickly　feeling　along　the　base　of　my　neck。　What　if。。。？　What　if　they　were　the　same　guys？　Because　I　felt　that　they　were。
　Individually；　they　were　no　match　for　me。　Even　a　couple　of　them　together　had　not　made　that　great　a　showing。　That　was　not　it。　The　real　chiller　was　that　if　that's　who　it　was；　then　we　were　not　alone　in　our　ability　to　manipulate　Shadow　in　a　very　sophisticated　fashion。　It　meant　that　someone　else　was　capable　of　a　stunt　that　for　all　my　life　I　had　thought　to　be　the　sole　property　of　our　family。　Add　to　this　the　fact　that　they　were　Brand's　wardens；　and　their　designs　on　the　family　…　at　least　part　of　it　…　did　not　look　all　that　clement。　I　perspired　suddenly　at　the　notion　of　enemies　who　could　match　our　greatest　power。
　Of　course；　they　were　too　far　off　for　me　to　really　know　just　then　whether　that　was　truly　who　it　was。　But　you　have　to　explore　every　contingency　if　you　want　to　keep　winning　the　survival　game。　Could　Eric　have　found　or　trained　or　created　some　special　beings　to　serve　him　in　this　particular　capacity？　Along　with　you　and　Eric；　Brand　had　one　of　the　firmest　claims　on　the　succession。。。　not　to　take　anything　away　from　your　case；　damn　it！　Hell！　You　know　what　I　mean。　I　have　to　talk　about　it　to　show　you　how　I　was　thinking　at　the　time。　That's　all。　So；　Brand　had　had　the　basis　for　a　pretty　good　claim　if　he　had　been　in　a　position　to　press　it。　You　being　out　of　the　picture；　he　was　Eric's　chief　rival　when　it　came　to　adding　a　legal　touch　to　things。　Putting　that　together　with　his　plight　and　the　ability　of　those　guys　to　traverse　Shadow；　Eric　came　to　look　a　lot　more　sinister　to　me。　I　was　more　scared　by　that　thought　than　I　was　by　the　riders　themselves；　though　they　did　not　exactly　fill　me　with　delight。　I　decided　that　I　had　better　do　several　things　quickly：　talk　to　someone　else　in　Amber；　and　have　him　take　me　through　the　Trump。
　Okay；　I　decided　quickly。　Gerard　seemed　the　safest　choice。　He　is　reasonably　open；　neutral。　Honest　about　most　things。　And　from　what　Julian　had　said；　Gerard's　role　in　the　whole　business　seemed　kind　of　passive。　That　is；　he　was　not　going　to　resist　Eric's　move　actively。　He　would　not　want　to　cause　a　lot　of　trouble。　Didn't　mean　he　approved。　He　was　probably　just　being　safe　and　conservative　old　Gerard。　That　decided；　I　reached　for　my　deck　of　Trumps　and　almost　howled。　They　were　gone。
　I　searched　every　pocket　in　every　garment　about　me。　I　had　taken　them　along　when　I'd　left　Texorami。　I　could　have　lost　them　at　any　point　in　the　previous　days　action。　I　had　certainly　been　battered　and　thrown　about　a　lot。　And　it　had　been　a　great　day　for　losing　things。　I　posed　a　plicated　litany　of　curses　and　dug　my　heels　into　the　horse's　sides。　I　was　going　to　have　to　move　fast　and　think　faster　now。　The　first　thing　would　be　to　get　into　a　nice；　crowded；　civilized　place　where　an　assassin　of　the　more　primitive　sort　would　be　at　a　disadvantage。
　As　I　hurried　downhill；　heading　for　one　of　the　roads；　I　worked　with　the　stuff　of　Shadow　…　quite　subtly　this　time；　using　every　bit　of　skill　I　could　muster。　There　were　just　two　things　I　desired　at　the　moment：　a　final　assault　on　my　possible　trackers　and　a　fast　path　to　a　place　of　sanctuary。
　The　world　shimmered　and　did　a　final　jig；　being　the　California　I　had　been　seeking。　A　rasping；　growling　noise　reached　my　ears；　for　the　final　touch　I　had　intended。　Looking　back；　I　saw　a　section　of　cliff　face　e　loose；　almost　in　slow　motion；　and　slide　directly　toward　the　horsemen。　A　while　later；　I　had　dismounted　and　was　walking　in　the　direction　of　the　road；　my　garments　even　fresher　and　of　better　quality。　I　was　uncertain　as　to　the　time　of　year；　and　I　wondered　what　the　weather　was　like　in　New　York。
　Before　very　long；　the　bus　that　I　had　anticipated　approached　and　I　flagged　it　down。　I　located　a　window　seat；　smoked　for　a　while；　and　watched　the　countryside。　After　a　time；　I　dozed。
　I　did　not　wake　until　early　afternoon；　when　we　pulled　into　a　terminal。　I　was　ravenous　by　then；　and　decided　I　had　better　have　something　to　eat　before　getting　a　cab　to　the　airport。　So　I　bought　three　cheeseburgers　and　a　coup