rz.signoftheunicorn-第10章

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　My　tomb　is　a　quiet　place。　It　stands　alone　in　a　rocky　declivity；　shielded　on　three　sides　against　the　elements；　surrounded　by　transported　soil　wherein　a　pair　of　scrubby　trees；　miscellaneous　shrubs；　weeds；　and　great　ropes　of　mountain　ivy　are　rooted；　about　two　miles　down；　in　back　of　the　crest　of　Kolvir。　It　is　a　long；　low　building　with　two　benches　in　front；　and　the　ivy　has　contrived　to　cover　it　to　a　great　extent；　mercifully　masking　most　of　a　bombastic　statement　graven　on　its　face　beneath　my　name。　It　is；　understandably；　vacant　most　of　the　time。
　That　evening；　however；　Ganelon　and　I　repaired　thither；　acpanied　by　a　good　supply　of　wine　and　some　loaves　and　cold　cuts。
　〃You　weren't　joking！〃　he　said；　having　dismounted；　crossed　over；　and　parted　the　ivy；　able　to　read　by　the　moon's　light　the　words　that　were　rendered　there。
　〃Of　course　not；〃　I　said；　climbing　down　and　taking　charge　of　the　horses。　〃It's　mine　all　right。〃
　Tethering　our　mounts　to　a　nearby　shrub；　I　unslung　our　bags　of　provisions　and　carried　them　to　the　nearest　bench。　Ganelon　joined　me　as　I　opened　the　first　bottle　and　poured　us　a　dark；　deep　pair。
　〃I　still　don't　understand；〃　he　said；　accepting　his。
　〃What's　there　to　understand？　I'm　dead　and　buried　there；〃　I　said。　〃It's　my　cenotaph；　is　what　it　is　…　the　monument　that　gets　set　up　when　the　body　has　not　been　recovered。　I　only　just　learned　about　mine　recently。　It　was　raised　several　centuries　ago；　when　it　was　decided　I　wasn't　ing　back。〃
　〃Kind　of　spooky；〃　he　said。　〃What's　inside　then？〃
　〃Nothing。　Though　they　did　thoughtfully　provide　a　niche　and　a　casket；　just　in　case　my　remains　put　in　an　appearance。　You　cover　both　bets　that　way。〃
　Ganelon　made　himself　a　sandwich。
　〃Whose　idea　was　it？〃　he　asked。
　〃Random　thinks　it　was　Brand's　or　Eric's。　No　one　remembers　for　sure。　They　all　seemed　to　feel　it　was　a　good　idea　at　the　time。〃
　He　chuckled；　an　evil　noise　that　perfectly　suited　his　creased；　scarred；　and　red…bearded　self。
　〃What's　to　bee　of　it　now？〃
　I　shrugged。
　〃I　suppose　some　of　them　think　it's　a　shame　to　waste　it　this　way　and　would　like　to　see　me　fill　it。　In　the　meantime；　though；　it's　a　good　place　to　e　and　get　drunk。　I　hadn't　really　paid　my　respects　yet。〃
　I　put　together　a　pair　of　sandwiches　and　ate　them　both。　This　was　the　first　real　breather　I　had　had　since　my　return；　and　perhaps　the　last　for　some　time　to　e。　It　was　impossible　to　say。　But　I　had　not　really　had　a　chance　to　speak　with　Ganelon　at　any　length　during　the　past　week；　and　he　was　one　of　the　few　persons　I　trusted。　I　wanted　to　tell　him　everything。　I　had　to。　I　had　to　talk　with　someone　who　was　not　a　part　of　it　in　the　same　way　as　the　rest　of　us。　So　I　did。
　The　moon　moved　a　considerable　distance　and　the　shards　of　broken　glass　multiplied　within　my　crypt。
　〃So　how　did　the　others　take　it？〃　he　asked　me。
　〃Predictably；〃　I　answered。　〃I　could　tell　that　Julian　did　not　believe　a　word　of　it　even　though　he　said　that　he　did。　He　knows　how　I　feel　about　him；　and　he　is　in　no　position　to　challenge　me。　I　don't　think　Benedict　believes　me　either；　but　he　is　a　lot　harder　to　read。　He　is　biding　his　time；　and　I　hope　giving　me　the　benefit　of　the　doubt　while　he　is　about　it。　As　for　Gerard；　I　have　the　feeling　that　this　was　the　final　weight；　and　whatever　trust　he　had　left　for　me　has　just　collapsed。　Still；　he　will　be　returning　to　Amber　early　tomorrow；　to　acpany　me　to　the　grove　to　recover　Caine's　body。　No　sense　in　turning　it　into　a　safari；　but　I　did　want　another　family　member　present。　Deirdre　now　…　she　seemed　happy　about　it。　Didn't　believe　a　word；　I'm　sure。　But　no　matter。　She　has　always　been　on　my　side；　and　she　has　never　liked　Caine。　I'd　say　she　is　glad　that　I　seem　to　be　consolidating　my　position。　I　can't　really　tell　whether　Llewella　believed　me　or　not。　She　doesn't　much　give　a　damn　what　the　rest　of　us　do　to　one　another；　so　far　as　I　can　see。　As　to　Fiona；　she　simply　seemed　amused　at　the　whole　business。　But　then；　she　has　always　had　this　detached；　superior　way　of　regarding　things。　You　can　never　be　certain　what　represents　her　real　thinking。〃
　〃Did　you　tell　them　the　business　about　Brand　yet？〃
　〃No。　I　told　them　about　Caine　and　I　told　them　I　wanted　them　all　to　be　in　Amber　by　tomorrow　evening。　That　is　when　the　subject　of　Brand　will　be　raised。　I've　an　idea　I　want　to　try　out。〃
　〃You　contacted　all　of　them　by　means　of　the　Trumps？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃There　is　something　I　have　been　meaning　to　ask　you　about　that。　Back　on　the　shadow　world　we　visited　to　obtain　the　weapons；　there　are　telephones。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃I　learned　about　wiretaps　and　such　while　we　were　there。　Is　it　possible；　do　you　think；　that　the　Trumps　could　be　bugged？〃
　I　began　to　laugh；　then　caught　myself　as　some　of　the　implications　of　his　suggestion　sank　in。　Finally；　〃I　don't　really　know；〃　I　said。　〃So　much　concerning　Dworkin's　work　remains　a　mystery　…　the　thought　just　never　occurred　to　me。　I've　never　tried　it　myself。　I　wonder；　though。。。〃
　〃Do　you　know　how　many　sets　there　are？〃
　〃Well；　everyone　in　the　family　has　a　pack　or　two　and　there　were　a　dozen　or　so　spares　in　the　library。　I　don't　really　know　whether　there　are　any　others。〃
　〃It　seems　to　me　that　a　lot　could　be　learned　just　by　listening　in。〃
　〃Yes。　Dad's　deck。　Brand's；　my　original　pack；　the　one　Random　lost　…　Hell！　There　are　quite　a　number　unaccounted　for　these　days。　I　don't　know　what　to　do　about　it。　Start　an　inventory　and　try　some　experiments；　I　guess。　Thanks　for　mentioning　it。〃
　He　nodded　and　we　both　sipped　for　a　while　in　silence。
　Then；　〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Corwin？〃　he　asked。
　〃About　what？〃
　〃About　everything。　What　do　we　attack　now；　and　in　what　order？〃
　〃My　original　intention　was　to　begin　tracing　the　black　road　toward　its　origin　as　soon　as　things　were　more　settled　here　in　Amber；〃　I　said。　〃Now；　though；　I　have　shifted　my　priorities。　I　want　Brand　returned　as　soon　as　possible；　if　he　is　still　living。　If　not；　I　want　to　find　out　what　happened　to　him。〃
　〃But　will　the　enemy　give　you　the　breathing　time？　He　might　be　preparing　a　new　offensive　right　now。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。　I　have　considered　that。　I　feel　we　have　some　time；　since　they　were　defeated　so　recently。　They　will　have　to　pull　themselves　together　again；　beef　up　their　forces；　reassess　the　situation　in　light　of　our　new　weapons。　What　I　have　in　mind　for　the　moment　is　to　establish　a　series　of　lookout　stations　along　the　road　to　give　us　advance　warning　of　any　new　movements　on　their　part。　Benedict　has　already　agreed　to　take　charge　of　the　operation。〃
　〃I　wonder　how　much　time　we　have。〃
　I　poured　him　another　drink；　as　it　was　the　only　answer　I　could　think　of。
　〃Things　were　never　this　plicated　back　in　Avalon　…　our　Avalon；　I　mean。〃
　〃True；〃　I　said。　〃You　are　not　the　only　one　who　misses　those　days。　At　least；　they　seem　simpler　now。〃
　He　nodded。　I　offered　him　a　cigarette；　but　he　declined　in　favor　of　his　pipe。　In　the　flamelight；　he　studied　the　Jewel　of　Judgment　which　still　hung　about　my　neck。
　〃You　say　you　can　really　control　the　weather　with　that　thing？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃I've　tried　it。　It　works。〃
　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　〃That　storm　this　afternoon。　It　was　mine。〃
　〃I　wonder。。。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　wonder　what　I　would　have　done　with　that　sort　of　power。　What　I　would　do　with　it。〃
　〃The　first　thing　that　crossed　my　mind；〃　I　said；　slapping　the　wall　of　my　tomb；　〃was　to　destroy　this　place　by　lightning　…　strike　it　repeatedly　and　reduce　it　to　rubble。　Leave　no　doubt　in　anyone's　mind　as　to　my　feelings；　my　power。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you？〃
　〃Got　to　thinking　about　it　a　bit　more　then。　Decided　…　Hell！　They　might　really　have　a　use　for　the　place　before　too　long；　if　I'm　not　smart　enough　or　tough　enough　or　lucky　enough。　Such　being　the　case；　I　tried　to　decide　where　I　would　like　them　to　dump　my　bones。　It　caught　me　then　that　this　is　really　a　pretty　good　spot　…　up　high；　clean；　where　the　elements　still　walk　naked。　Nothing　in　sight　but　rock　and　sky。　Stars；　clouds；　sun；　moon；　wind；　rain。。。　better　pany　than　a　lot　of　other　stiffs。　Don't　know　why　I　should　have　to　lie　beside　anyone　I　wouldn't　want　next　to　me　now；　and　there　aren't　many。〃
　〃You're　getting　morbid；　Corwin。　Or　drunk。　Or　both。　Bitter；　too。　You　don't　need　that。〃
　〃Who　the　hell　are　you　to　say　what　I　need？〃
　I　felt　him　stiffen　beside　me；　then　relax。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　finally　said。　〃Just　saying　what　I　see。〃
　〃How　are　the　troops　holding　up？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　think　they　are　still　bewildered；　Corwin。　They　came　to　fight　a　holy　war　on　the　slopes　of　heaven。　They　think　that's　what　the　shooting　was　all　about　last　week。　So　they　are　happy　on　that　count；　seeing　as　we　won。　But　now　this　waiting；　in　the　city。。。　They　don't　understand　the　place。　Some　of　the　ones　they　thought　to　be　enemies　are　now　friends。　They　are　confused。　They　know　they　are　being　kept　ready　for　bat；　but　they　have　no　idea　against　whom；　or　when。　As　they　have　been　restricted　to　the　billets　the　whole　time；　they　have　not　yet　realized　the　extent　to　which　their　presence　is　resented　by　the　regulars　and　the　population　at　large。　They　will　probably　be　catching　on　fairly　soon；　though。　I　had　been　waiting　to　raise　the　subject；　but　you've　been　so　busy　lately。。。〃
　I　sat　smoking　for　a　time。
　Then；　〃I　guess　I　had　better　have　a　talk　with　them；〃　I　said。　〃Won't　have　a　chance　tomorrow；　though；　and　something　should　be　done　soon。　I　think　they　should　be　moved　…　to　a　bivouac　area　in　the　Forest　of　Arden。　Tomorrow；　yes。　I'll　locate　it　for　you　on　the　map　when　we　get　back。　Tell　them　it　is　to　keep　them　close　to　the　black　road。　Tell　them　that　another　attack　could　e　that　way　at　any　time　…　which　is　no　less　than　the　truth。　Drill　them；　maintain　their　fighting　edge。　I'll　e　down　as　soon　as　I　can　and　talk　to　them。〃
　〃That　will　leave　you　without　a　personal　force　in　Amber。〃
　〃True。　It　may　prove　a　useful　risk；　though；　both　as　a　demonstration　of　confidence　and　a　gesture　of　consideration。　Yes；　I　think　it　will　turn　out　to　be　a　good　move。　If　not。。。〃　I　shrugged。
　I　poured　and　tossed　another　empty　into　my　tomb。
　〃By　the　way；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃I　just　noticed　that　I　am　morbid　and　drunk　and　bitter。　I　don't　need　that。〃
　He　chuckled　and　clicked　his　glass　against　my　own。
　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃I　know。〃
　So　we　sat　there　while　the　moon　fell；　till　the　last　bottle　was　interred　among　its　fellows。　We　talked　for　a　time　of　days　gone　by。　At　length　we　fell　silent　and　my　eyes　drifted　to　the　stars　above　Amber。　It　was　good　that　we　had　e　to　this　place；　but　now　the　city　was　calling　me　back。　Knowing　my　thoughts；　Ganelon　rose　and　stretched；　headed　for　the　horses。　I　relieved　myself　beside　my　tomb　and　followed　him。
　
　
　Chapter　5
　
　The　Grove　of　the　Unicorn　lies　in　Arden　to　the　southwest　of　Kolvir；　near　to　that　jutting　place　where　the　land　begins　its　final　descent　into　the　valley　called　Garnath。　While　Garnath　had　been　cursed；　burned；　invaded；　and　fought　through　in　recent　years；　the　adjacent　highlands　stood　unmolested。　The　grove　where　Dad　claimed　to　have　seen　the　unicorn　ages　before　and　to　have　experienced　the　peculiar　events　which　led　to　his　adopting　the　beast　as　the　patron　of　Amber　and　placing　it　on　his　coat　of　arms；　was；　as　near　as　we　could　tell；　a　spot　now　but　slightly　screened　from　the　long　view　across　Garnath　to　the　sea　…　twenty　or　thirty　paces　in　from　the　upper　edge　of　things：　an　asymmetrical　glade　where　a　small　spring　tr