rz.signoftheunicorn-第7部分

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needed　him　when　they　hung　him　out　to　dry？〃
　〃Not　necessarily。　Though　I　suppose　that　is　possible；　too。　My　thinking　runs　more　like　this　…　and　I　don't　deny　my　prejudice　in　his　favor：　I　think　he　had　learned　enough　about　the　subject　so　that　he　was　able　to　detect　it　when　someone　did　something　peculiar　involving　the　Trumps；　the　Pattern；　or　that　area　of　Shadow　most　adjacent　to　Amber。　Then　he　slipped　up。　Perhaps　he　underestimated　the　culprit　and　confronted　him　directly；　rather　than　going　to　Dad　or　Dworkin。　What　then？　The　guilty　party　subdued　him　and　imprisoned　him　in　that　tower。　Either　he　thought　enough　of　him　not　to　want　to　kill　him　if　he　did　not　have　to；　or　he　had　some　later　use　of　him　in　mind。〃
　〃You　make　that　sound　plausible；　too；〃　I　said；　and　I　would　have　added；　〃and　it　fits　your　story　nicely〃　and　watched　his　poker　face　again；　except　for　one　thing。　Back　when　I　was　with　Bleys；　before　our　attack　on　Amber；　I　had　had　a　momentary　contact　with　Brand　while　fooling　with　the　Trumps。　He　had　indicated　distress；　imprisonment；　and　then　the　contact　had　been　broken。　Random's　story　did　fit；　to　that　extent。　So；　instead；　I　said；　〃If　he　can　point　the　finger；　we　have　got　to　get　him　back　and　set　him　to　pointing。〃
　〃I　was　hoping　you　would　say　that；〃　Random　replied。　〃I　hate　to　leave　a　bit　of　business　like　that　unfinished。〃
　I　went　and　fetched　the　bottle；　refilled　our　glasses。　I　sipped。　I　lit　another　cigarette。
　〃Before　we　get　into　that；　though；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　to　decide　on　the　best　way　of　breaking　the　news　about　Caine。　Where　is　Flora；　anyway？〃
　〃Down　in　town；　I　think。　She　was　here　this　morning。　I　can　find　her　for　you。　I'm　pretty　sure。〃
　〃Do　it；　then。　She　is　the　only　other　one　I　know　of　who　has　seen　one　of　these　guys；　back　when　they　broke　into　her　place　in　Westchester。　We　might　as　well　have　her　handy　for　that　much　corroboration　as　to　their　nastiness。　Besides；　I　have　some　other　things　I　want　to　ask　her。〃
　He　swallowed　his　drink　and　rose。
　〃All　right。　I'll　go　do　that　now。　Where　should　I　bring　her？〃
　〃My　quarters。　If　I'm　not　there；　wait。〃　He　nodded。
　I　rose　and　acpanied　him　into　the　hall。
　〃Have　you　got　the　key　to　this　room？〃　I　asked。
　〃It's　on　a　hook　inside。〃
　〃Better　get　it　and　lock　up。　We　wouldn't　want　a　premature　unveiling。〃
　He　did　that　and　gave　me　the　key。　I　walked　with　him　as　far　as　the　first　landing　and　saw　him　on　his　way。
　From　my　safe；　I　removed　the　Jewel　of　Judgment；　a　ruby　pendant　which　had　given　Dad　and　Eric　control　over　the　weather　in　the　vicinity　of　Amber。　Before　he　died；　Eric　had　told　me　the　procedure　to　be　followed　in　tuning　it　to　my　own　use。　I　had　not　had　time　to　do　it；　though；　and　did　not　really　have　the　time　now。　But　during　my　conversation　with　Random　I　had　decided　that　I　was　going　to　have　to　take　the　time。　I　had　located　Dworkin's　notes；　beneath　a　stone　near　Eric's　fireplace。　He　had　given　me　that　much　information　also；　that　last　time。　I　would　have　liked　to　know　where　he　had　e　across　the　notes　in　the　first　place；　though；　for　they　were　inplete。　I　fetched　them　from　the　rear　of　the　safe　and　regarded　them　once　again。　They　did　agree　with　Eric's　explanation　as　to　how　the　attunement　was　to　be　managed。
　But　they　also　indicated　that　the　stone　had　other　uses；　that　the　control　of　meteorological　phenomena　was　almost　an　incidental；　though　spectacular；　demonstration　of　a　plex　of　principles　which　underlay　the　Pattern；　the　Trumps；　and　the　physical　integrity　of　Amber　herself；　apart　from　Shadow。　Unfortunately；　the　details　were　lacking。　Still；　the　more　I　searched　my　memory；　the　more　something　along　these　lines　did　seem　indicated。　Only　rarely　had　Dad　produced　the　stone；　and　though　he　had　spoken　of　it　as　a　weather　changer；　the　weather　had　not　always　been　especially　altered　on　those　occasions　when　he　had　sported　it。　And　he　had　often　taken　it　along　with　him　on　his　little　trips。　So　I　was　ready　to　believe　that　there　was　more　to　it　than　that。　Eric　had　probably　reasoned　the　same　way；　but　he　had　not　been　able　to　dope　out　its　other　uses　either。　He　had　simply　taken　advantage　of　its　obvious　powers　when　Bleys　and　I　had　attacked　Amber；　and　he　had　used　it　the　same　way　this　past　week　when　the　creatures　had　made　their　assault　from　the　black　road。　It　had　served　him　well　on　both　occasions；　even　if　it　had　not　been　sufficient　to　save　his　life。　So　I　had　better　get　hold　of　its　power　myself；　I　decided；　now。　Any　extra　edge　was　important。　And　it　would　be　good　to　be　seen　wearing　the　thing；　too；　I　judged。　Especially　now。
　I　put　the　notes　back　into　the　safe；　the　jewel　in　my　pocket。　I　left　then　and　headed　downstairs。　Again；　as　before；　to　walk　those　halls　made　me　feel　as　if　I　had　never　been　away。　This　was　home；　this　was　what　I　wanted。　Now　I　was　its　defender。　I　did　not　even　wear　the　crown；　yet　all　its　problems　had　bee　my　own。　It　was　ironic。　I　had　e　back　to　claim　the　crown；　to　wrest　it　from　Eric；　to　hold　the　glory；　to　reign。　Now；　suddenly；　things　were　falling　apart。　It　had　not　taken　long　to　realize　that　Eric　had　behaved　incorrectly。　If　he　had　indeed　done　Dad　in；　he　had　no　right　to　the　crown。　If　he　had　not；　then　he　had　acted　prematurely。　Either　way；　the　coronation　had　served　only　to　fatten　his　already　obese　ego。　Myself；　I　wanted　it　and　I　knew　that　I　could　take　it。　But　it　would　be　equally　irresponsible　to　do　so　with　my　troops　quartered　in　Amber；　suspicious　of　Caine's　murder　about　to　descend　upon　me；　the　first　signs　of　a　fantastic　plot　suddenly　displayed　before　me；　and　the　continuing　possibility　that　Dad　was　still　alive。　On　several　occasions　it　seemed　we　had　been　in　contact；　briefly　…　and　at　one　such　time；　years　ago；　that　he　had　okayed　my　succession。　But　there　was　so　much　deceit　and　trickery　afoot　that　I　did　not　know　what　to　believe。　He　had　not　abdicated。　Also；　I　had　had　a　head　injury；　and　I　was　well　aware　of　my　own　desires。　The　mind　is　a　funny　place。　I　do　not　even　trust　my　own。　Could　it　be　that　I　had　manufactured　that　whole　business？　A　lot　had　happened　since。　The　price　of　being　an　Amberite；　I　suppose；　is　that　you　cannot　even　trust　yourself。　I　wondered　what　Freud　would　have　said。　While　he　had　failed　to　pierce　my　amnesia；　he　had　e　up　with　some　awfully　good　guesses　as　to　what　my　father　had　been　like；　what　our　relationship　had　been；　even　though　I　had　not　realized　it　at　the　time。　I　wished　that　I　could　have　one　more　session　with　him。
　I　made　my　way　through　the　marble　dining　hall　and　into　the　dark；　narrow　corridor　that　lay　behind。　I　nodded　to　the　guard　and　walked　on　back　to　the　door。　Through　it　then；　out　onto　the　platform；　across　and　down。　The　interminable　spiral　stairway　that　leads　into　the　guts　of　Kolvir。　Walking。　Lights　every　now　and　then。　Blackness　beyond。
　It　seemed　that　a　balance　had　shifted　somewhere　along　the　way；　and　that　I　was　no　longer　acting　but　being　acted　upon；　being　forced　to　move；　to　respond。　Being　herded。　And　each　move　led　to　another。　Where　had　it　all　begun？　Maybe　it　had　been　going　on　for　years　and　I　was　only　just　now　being　aware　of　it。　Perhaps　we　were　all　victims；　in　a　fashion　and　to　a　degree　none　of　us　had　realized。　Great　victuals　for　morbid　thought　Sigmund；　where　are　you　now？　I　had　wanted　to　be　king　…　still　wanted　to　be　king　…　more　than　anything　else。　Yet　the　more　I　learned　and　the　more　I　thought　about　what　I　had　learned；　the　more　all　of　my　movements　actually　seemed　to　amount　to　Amber　Pawn　to　King　Four。　I　realized　then　that　this　feeling　had　been　present　for　some　time；　growing；　and　I　did　not　like　it　at　all。　But　nothing　that　has　ever　lived　has　gotten　by　without　making　some　mistake；　I　consoled　myself。　If　my　feeling　represented　actuality；　my　personal　Pavlov　was　setting　closer　to　my　fangs　with　each　ringing　of　the　bell。　Soon　now；　soon；　I　felt　that　it　had　to　be　soon；　I　would　have　to　see　that　he　came　very　near。　Then　it　would　be　mine　to　see　that　he　neither　went　away　nor　ever　came　again。
　Turning；　turning；　around　and　down；　light　here；　light　there；　these　my　thoughts；　like　thread　on　a　spool；　winding　or　unwinding；　hard　to　be　sure。　Below　me　the　sound　of　metal　against　stone。　A　guard's　scabbard；　the　guard　rising。　A　ripple　of　light　from　a　lantern　raised。
　〃Lord　Corwin。。。〃
　〃Jamie。〃
　At　bottom；　I　took　a　lantern　from　the　shelf。　Putting　a　light　to　it；　I　turned　and　headed　toward　the　tunnel；　pushing　the　darkness　on　ahead　of　me；　a　step　at　a　time。
　Eventually　the　tunnel；　and　so　up　it；　counting　side　passages。　It　was　the　seventh　that　I　wanted。　Echoes　and　shadows。　Must　and　dust。
　ing　to　it；　then。　Turning　there。　Not　too　much　farther。
　Finally；　that　great；　dark；　metal…bound　door。　I　unlocked　it　and　pushed　hard。　It　creaked；　resisted；　finally　moved　inward。
　I　set　down　the　lantern；　just　to　the　right；　inside。　I　had　no　further　need　of　it；　as　the　Pattern　itself　gave　off　sufficient　light　for　what　I　had　to　do。
　For　a　moment　I　regarded　the　Pattern　…　a　shining　mass　of　curved　lines　that　tricked　the　eye　as　it　tried　to　trace　them　…　imbedded　there；　huge；　in　the　floor's　slick　blackness。　It　had　given　me　power　over　Shadow；　it　had　restored　most　of　my　memory。　It　would　also　destroy　me　in　an　instant　if　I　were　to　essay　it　improperly。　What　gratitude　the　prospect　did　arouse　in　me　was　therefore　not　untinged　with　fear。　It　was　a　splendid　and　cryptic　old　family　heirloom　which　belonged　right　where　it　was；　in　the　cellar。
　I　moved　off　to　the　corner　where　the　tracery　began。　There　I　posed　my　mind；　relaxed　my　body；　and　set　my　left　foot　upon　the　Pattern。　Without　pausing；　I　strode　forward　then　and　felt　the　current　begin。　Blue　sparks　outlined　my　boots。　Another　step。　There　was　an　audible　crackling　this　time　and　the　beginning　of　resistance。　I　took　the　first　curvelength；　striving　to　hurry；　wanting　to　reach　the　First　Veil　as　quickly　as　possible。　By　the　time　I　did；　my　hair　was　stirring　and　the　sparks　were　brighter；　longer。
　The　strain　increased。　Each　step　required　more　effect　than　the　previous　one。　The　crackling　grew　louder　and　the　current　intensified。　My　hair　rose　and　I　shook　off　sparks。　I　kept　my　eyes　on　the　fiery　lines　and　did　not　stop　pushing。
　Suddenly　the　pressure　abated。　I　staggered　but　kept　moving。　I　was　through　the　First　Veil　and　into　the　feeling　of　acplishment　that　that　entailed。　I　recalled　the　last　time　that　I　had　e　this　way；　in　Rebma；　the　city　under　the　sea。　The　maneuver　I　had　just　pleted　was　what　had　started　the　return　of　my　memories。　Yes。　I　pushed　ahead　and　the　sparks　grew　and　the　currents　rose　once　again；　setting　my　flesh　to　tingling。
　The　Second　Veil。。。　The　angles。。。　It　always　seemed　to　tax　the　strength　to　its　limits；　to　produce　the　feeling　that　one's　entire　being　was　transformed　into　pure　Will。　It　was　a　driving；　relentless　sensation。　At　the　moment；　the　negotiation　of　the　Pattern　was　the　only　thing　in　the　world　that　meant　anything　to　me。　I　had　always　been　there；　striving；　never　been　away；　always　would　be　there；　contending；　my　will　against　the　maze　of　power。　Time　had　vanished。　Only　the　tension　held。
　The　sparks　were　up　to　my　waist。　I　entered　the　Grand　Curve　and　fought　my　way　along　it。　I　was　continually　destroyed　and　reborn　at　every　step　of　its　length；　baked　by　the　fires　of　creation；　chilled　by　the　cold　at　entropy's　end。
　Out　and　onward；　turning。　Three　more　curves；　a　straight　line；　a　number　of　arcs。　Dizziness；　a　sensation　of　fading　and　intensifying　as　though　I　were　oscillating　into　and　out　of　existence。　Turn　after　turn　after　turn　after　turn。。。　A　short；　sharp　arc。。。　The　line　that　led　to