rz.thegunsofavalon-第31章

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t　when　it　has　been　tuned　to　operate。　It　came　from　the　midst　of　the　largest　body　of　defenders；　dug　in　near　the　base　of　a　high　cliff。
　I　stared　and　studied；　focusing　on　the　wearer　of　the　gem。　Yes；　there　could　be　no　doubt。　It　was　Eric。
　On　my　belly　now；　I　crawled　even　farther。　I　saw　the　leader　of　the　nearest　party　of　defenders　behead　a　landing　wyvern　with　a　single　sword　stroke。　With　his　left　hand；　he　seized　the　harness　of　its　rider　and　hurled　him　over　thirty　feet；　out　beyond　the　lip…like　brink　of　the　place。　As　he　turned　then　to　shout　an　order；　I　saw　that　it　was　Gerard。　He　appeared　to　be　leading　a　flanking　assault　on　a　mass　of　the　attackers　who　were　assailing　the　forces　at　the　foot　of　the　cliff。　On　its　far　side；　a　similar　body　of　troops　was　doing　likewise。　Another　of　my　brothers？
　I　wondered　how　long　the　battle　had　been　in　progress；　both　in　the　valley　and　here　above。　Quite　a　while；　I　guessed；　considering　the　duration　of　the　unnatural　storm。
　I　moved　to　the　right；　turning　my　attention　to　the　west。　The　battle　in　the　valley　continued　unabated。　From　this　distance；　it　was　impossible　to　tell　who　was　who；　let　alone　who　was　winning。　I　could　see；　though；　that　no　new　forces　were　arriving　from　out　of　the　west　to　supplement　the　attackers。
　I　was　perplexed　as　to　my　own　best　course　of　action。　Clearly；　I　could　not　attack　Eric　when　he　was　engaged　in　anything　this　crucial　to　the　defense　of　Amber　herself。　Waiting　to　pick　up　the　pieces　afterward　might　be　wisest。　However；　I　could　already　feel　the　rat　teeth　of　doubt　at　work　on　that　idea。
　Even　without　reinforcements　for　the　attackers；　the　oute　of　the　encounter　was　by　no　means　clear…cut。　The　invaders　were　strong；　numerous。　I　had　no　idea　as　to　what　Eric　might　have　in　reserve。　At　that　moment；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　gauge　whether　war　bonds　for　Amber　would　be　a　good　investment。　If　Eric　lost；　it　would　then　be　necessary　for　me　to　take　on　the　invaders　myself；　after　much　of　Amber's　manpower　had　been　wasted。
　If　I　were　to　move　in　now　with　automatic　weapons；　there　was　little　doubt　in　my　mind　that　we　would　crush　the　wyvern…riders　quickly。　For　that　matter；　one　or　more　of　my　brothers　had　to　be　down　in　the　valley。　A　gateway　for　some　of　my　troops　could　be　set　up　by　means　of　the　Trumps。　It　would　surprise　whatever　was　down　there　for　Amber　suddenly　to　e　up　with　riflemen。
　I　returned　my　attention　to　the　conflict　nearer　at　hand。　No；　it　was　not　going　well。　I　speculated　as　to　the　results　of　my　intervening。　Eric　would　certainly　be　in　no　position　to　turn　on　me。　Besides　any　sympathy　that　might　be　mine　for　what　he　had　put　me　through；　I　would　be　responsible　for　pulling　his　nuts　out　of　the　fire。　While　he　would　be　grateful　for　the　relief；　he　would　not　be　too　happy　over　the　general　sentiment　this　would　arouse。　No；　indeed。　I　would　be　back　in　Amber　with　a　very　deadly　personal　bodyguard　and　a　lot　of　goodwill　going　for　me。　An　intriguing　thought。　It　would　provide　a　far　smoother　route　to　my　objective　than　the　brutal　frontal　assault　culminating　in　regicide　that　I　had　had　in　mind。
　Yes。
　I　felt　myself　smiling。　I　was　about　to　bee　a　hero。
　I　must　grant　myself　a　small　measure　of　grace；　however。　Given　the　choice　only　between　Amber　with　Eric　on　the　throne　and　Amber　fallen；　there　is　no　question　but　that　my　decision　would　have　been　the　same；　to　attack。　Things　were　not　going　well　enough　to　be　certain；　and　while　it　would　work　to　my　advantage　to　save　the　day；　my　own　advantage　was　not；　ultimately；　essential。　I　could　not　hate　thee；　Eric；　so　much；　loved　I　not　Amber　more。
　I　withdrew　and　hurried　back　down　the　slope；　flashes　of　lightning　hurling　my　shadow　in　every　which　direction。
　I　halted　at　the　periphery　of　my　encampment。　At　its　farther　edge；　Ganelon　stood　in　shouting　converse　with　a　lone　horseman；　and　I　recognized　the　horse。
　I　advanced；　and　at　a　sign　from　its　rider　the　horse　moved　forward；　winding　its　way　among　the　troops；　heading　in　my　direction。　Ganelon　shook　his　head　and　followed。
　The　rider　was　Dara。　As　soon　as　she　was　within　earshot；　I　shouted　at　her。
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　here？〃
　She　dismounted；　smiling；　and　stood　before　me。
　〃I　wanted　to　e　to　Amber；〃　she　said。　〃So　I　did。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃
　〃I　followed　Grandpa；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　easier　to　follow　someone　through　Shadow；　I　discovered；　than　to　do　it　yourself。〃
　〃Benedict　is　here？〃　She　nodded。
　〃Down　below。　He　is　directing　the　forces　in　the　valley。　Julian　is　there；　too。〃
　Ganelon　came　up　and　stood　near。
　〃She　said　that　she　followed　us　up　here；〃　he　shouted。　〃She　has　been　behind　us　for　a　couple　days。〃
　〃Is　that　true？〃　I　asked。
　She　nodded　again；　still　smiling。　〃It　was　not　hard　to　do。〃
　〃But　why　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃To　get　into　Amber；　of　course？　I　want　to　walk　the　Pattern！　That　is　where　you　are　going；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Of　course　it　is。　But　there　happens　to　be　a　war　in　the　way！〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃
　〃Win　it；　of　course！〃
　〃Good。　I'll　wait。〃
　I　cursed　for　a　few　moments　to　give　myself　time　to　think；　then；　〃Where　were　you　when　Benedict　returned？〃　I　asked。
　The　smile　went　away。
　〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　out　riding　after　you　left；　and　I　stayed　away　the　entire　day。　I　wanted　to　be　alone　to　think。　When　I　returned　in　the　evening；　he　was　not　there。　I　rode　again　the　following　day。　I　traveled　quite　a　distance；　and　when　it　grew　dark　I　decided　to　camp　out。　I　do　that　often。　The　next　afternoon；　as　I　was　returning　home；　I　came　to　the　top　of　a　hill　and　saw　him　passing　below；　heading　to　the　east。　I　decided　to　follow　him。　The　way　led　through　Shadow；　I　understand　that　now　…　and　you　were　right　about　it　being　easier　to　follow。　I　do　not　know　how　long　it　took。　Time　got　all　mixed　up。　He　came　here；　and　I　recognized　it　from　the　picture　on　one　of　the　cards。　He　met　with　Julian　in　a　wood　to　the　north；　and　they　returned　together　to　that　battle　below。〃　She　gestured　toward　the　valley。　〃I　remained　in　the　forest　for　several　days；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　I　was　afraid　of　getting　lost　if　I　tried　to　backtrack。　Then　I　saw　your　force　climbing　the　mountains。　I　saw　you　and　I　saw　Ganelon　at　their　head。　I　knew　that　Amber　lay　that　way；　and　I　followed。　I　waited　until　now　to　approach；　because　I　wanted　you　to　be　too　near　to　Amber　to　send　me　back　when　I　did。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you　are　telling　me　the　whole　truth；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　haven't　the　time　to　care。　We　are　going　ahead　now；　and　there　will　be　fighting。　The　safest　thing　for　you　will　be　to　remain　here。　I　will　assign　you　a　couple　of　bodyguards。〃
　〃I　do　not　want　them！〃
　〃I　don't　care　what　you　want。　You　are　going　to　have　them。　When　the　fighting　is　over　I　will　send　for　you。〃　I　turned　then　and　selected　two　men　at　random；　ordering　them　to　remain　behind　and　guard　her。　They　did　not　seem　overjoyed　at　the　prospect。
　〃What　are　those　weapons　your　men　bear？〃　Dara　asked。
　〃Later；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　busy。〃　I　relayed　a　sketchy　briefing　and　ordered　my　squads。
　〃You　seem　to　have　a　very　small　number　of　men；〃　she　said。
　〃They　are　sufficient；〃　I　replied。　〃I　will　see　you　later。〃　I　left　her　there　with　her　guards。
　We　moved　back　along　the　route　I　had　taken。　The　thunder　ceased　as　we　advanced；　and　the　silence　became　less　a　thing　of　relief　than　of　suspense　to　me。　The　twilight　resettled　about　us；　and　I　perspired　within　the　damp　blanket　of　the　air。
　I　called　a　halt　before　we　reached　the　first　point　from　which　I　had　observed　the　action。　I　returned　to　it　then；　acpanied　by　Ganelon。
　The　wyvern…riders　were　all　over　the　place　and　their　beasts　fought　along　with　them。　They　were　pressing　the　defenders　back　against　the　cliff　face。　I　sought　for　but　could　not　locate　Eric　or　the　glow　of　his　jewel。
　〃Which　ones　are　the　enemy？〃　Ganelon　asked　me。
　〃The　beast…riders。〃
　They　were　all　of　them　landing　now　that　heaven's　artillery　had　let　up。　As　soon　as　they　struck　the　solid　surface；　they　charged　forward。　I　searched　among　the　defenders；　but　Gerard　was　no　longer　in　sight。
　〃Bring　up　the　troops；〃　I　said；　raising　my　rifle。　〃Tell　them　to　get　the　beasts　and　the　riders　both。〃
　Ganelon　withdrew；　and　I　took　aim　at　a　descending　wyvern；　fired；　and　watched　its　swoop　turn　into　a　sudden　flurry　of　pinions。　It　struck　against　the　slope　and　began　to　flop　about。　I　fired　again。
　The　beast　began　to　burn　as　it　died。　Soon　I　had　three　bonfires　going。　I　crawled　up　to　my　second　previous　position。　Secure；　I　took　aim　and　fired　once　more。
　I　got　another；　but　by　then　some　of　them　were　turning　in　my　direction。　I　fired　the　rest　of　my　ammo　and　hastened　to　reload。　Several　of　them　had　begun　moving　toward　me　by　then。　They　were　quite　fast。
　I　managed　to　stop　them　and　was　reloading　again　when　the　first　rifle　squad　arrived。　We　put　down　a　heavier　fire；　and　began　to　advance　as　the　others　came　up。
　It　was　all　over　within　ten　minutes。　Within　the　first　five　they　had　apparently　realized　that　they　hadn't　a　chance；　and　they　began　to　flee　back　toward　the　ledge；　launching　themselves　into　space；　being　airborne　again。　We　shot　them　down　as　they　ran；　and　burning　flesh　and　smoldering　bones　lay　everywhere　about　us。
　The　moist　rock　rose　sheer　to　our　left；　its　summit　lost　in　the　clouds；　so　that　it　seemed　as　if　it　might　tower　endlessly　above　us。　The　winds　still　whipped　the　smoke　and　the　mists；　and　the　rocks　were　smeared　and　splotched　with　blood。　As　we　had　advanced；　firing；　the　forces　of　Amber　quickly　realized　that　we　represented　assistance　and　began　to　push　forward　from　their　position　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。　I　saw　that　they　were　being　led　by　my　brother　Caine。　For　a　moment　our　eyes　locked　together　across　the　distance；　then　he　plunged　ahead　into　the　fray。
　Scattered　groups　of　Amberites　united　into　a　second　force　as　the　attackers　fell　back。　Actually；　they　limited　our　field　of　fire　when　they　attacked　the　far　flank　of　the　wizened　beast…men　and　their　wyverns；　but　I　had　no　way　of　getting　word　of　this　to　them。　We　drew　closer；　and　our　firing　was　accurate。
　A　small　knot　of　men　remained　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。　I　had　a　feeling　they　were　guarding　Eric；　and　that　he　had　possibly　been　wounded；　since　the　storm　effects　had　ceased　abruptly。　I　worked　my　own　way　off　in　that　direction。
　The　firing　was　already　beginning　to　die　down　as　I　drew　near　the　group；　and　I　was　hardly　aware　of　what　happened　next　until　it　was　too　late。
　Something　big　came　rushing　up　from　behind　and　was　by　me　in　an　instant。　I　hit　the　ground　and　rolled；　bringing　my　rifle　to　bear　automatically。　My　finger　did　not　tighten　on　the　trigger；　however。　It　was　Dara；　who　had　just　plunged　past　me　on　horseback。　She　turned　and　laughed　as　I　screamed　at　her。
　〃Get　back　down　there！　Damn　you！　You'll　be　killed！〃
　〃I'll　see　you　in　Amber！〃　she　cried；　and　she　shot　on　across　the　grisly　rock　and　made　it　up　the　trail　that　lay　beyond。
　I　was　furious。　But　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　about　it　just　then。　Snarling；　I　got　back　to　my　feet　and　continued　on。
　As　I　advanced　upon　the　group；　I　heard　my　name　spoken　several　times。　Heads　turned　in　my　direction。　People　moved　aside　to　let　me　pass。　I　recognized　many　of　them；　but　I　paid　them　no　heed。
　I　think　that　I　saw　Gerard　at　about　the　same　time　that　he　saw　me。　He　had　been　kneeling　in　their　midst；　and　he　rose　to　his　feet　and　waited。　His　face　was　expressionless。
　As　I　drew　nearer；　I　saw　that　it　was　as　I　had　suspected。　He　had　been　kneeling　to　tend　an　injured　man　who　rested　upon　the　ground。　It　was　Eric。