rz.signoftheunicorn-第14章

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rlds；　for　example；　were　ineffectual　here。　On　the　other　hand；　our　personal　immunological　processes　appear　to　behave　differently　from　those　of　any　other　peoples　we　have　studied；　so　that　it　is　much　more　difficult　for　us　to　bee　infected　…　and　if　infected　we　deal　with　it　more　expeditiously。　Then；　too；　we　possess　profound　regenerative　abilities。
　All　of　which　is　as　it　must　be；　of　course；　the　ideal　necessarily　being　superior　to　its　shadows。　And　Amberites　that　we　are；　and　aware　of　these　facts　from　an　early　age；　all　of　us　obtained　medical　training　relatively　early　in　life。　Basically；　despite　what　is　often　said　about　being　your　own　physician；　it　goes　back　to　our　not　unjustified　distrust　of　virtually　everyone；　and　most　particularly　of　those　who　might　hold　our　lives　in　their　hands。　All　of　which　partly　explains　why　I　did　not　rush　to　shoulder　Gerard　aside　to　undertake　Brand's　treatment　myself；　despite　the　fact　that　I　had　been　through　a　med　school　on　the　shadow　Earth　within　the　past　couple　of　generations。　The　other　part　of　the　explanation　is　that　Gerard　was　not　letting　anyone　else　near　Brand。　Julian　and　Fiona　had　both　moved　forward；　apparently　with　the　same　thing　in　mind；　only　to　encounter　Gerard's　left　arm　like　a　gate　at　a　railway　crossing。
　〃No；〃　he　had　said。　〃I　know　that　I　did　not　do　it；　and　that　is　all　that　I　know。　There　will　be　no　second　chance　for　anyone　else。〃
　With　any　one　of　us　sustaining　that　sort　of　wound　while　in　an　otherwise　sound　condition；　I　would　say　that　if　he　made　it　through　the　first　half　hour　he　would　make　it。　Brand；　though。。。　The　shape　he　was　in。。。　There　was　no　telling。
　When　the　others　returned　with　the　materials　and　equipment；　Gerard　cleaned　Brand；　sutured　the　wound；　and　dressed　it。　He　hooked　up　the　IV；　broke　off　the　manacles　with　a　hammer　and　chisel　Random　had　located；　covered　Brand　with　a　sheet　and　a　blanket；　and　took　his　pulse　again。
　〃How　is　it？〃　I　asked。
　〃Weak；〃　he　said；　and　he　drew　up　a　chair　and　seated　himself　beside　the　couch。　〃Someone　fetch　me　my　blade　…　and　a　glass　of　wine。　I　didn't　have　any。　Also；　if　there　is　any　food　left　over　there；　I'm　hungry。〃
　Llewella　headed　for　the　sideboard　and　Random　got　him　his　blade　from　the　rack　behind　the　door。
　〃Are　you　just　going　to　camp　there？〃　Random　asked；　passing　him　the　weapon。
　〃I　am。〃
　〃What　about　moving　Brand　to　a　better　bed？〃
　〃He　is　all　right　where　he　is。　I　will　decide　when　he　can　be　moved。　In　the　meantime；　someone　get　a　fire　going。　Then　put　out　a　few　of　those　candles。〃
　Random　nodded。
　〃I'll　do　it；〃　he　said。　Then　he　picked　up　the　knife　Gerard　had　drawn　from　Brand's　side；　a　thin　stiletto；　its　blade　about　seven　inches　in　length。　He　held　it　across　the　palm　of　his　hand。
　〃Does　anyone　recognize　this？〃　he　asked。
　〃Not　I；〃　said　Benedict。
　〃Nor　I。〃　said　Julian。
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　The　girls　shook　their　heads。
　Random　studied　it。
　〃Easily　concealed　…　up　a　sleeve；　in　a　boot　or　bodice。　It　took　real　nerve　to　use　it　that　way。。。〃
　〃Desperation；〃　I　said。
　〃。。。　And　a　very　accurate　anticipation　of　our　mob　scene。　Inspired；　almost。〃
　〃Could　one　of　the　guards　have　done　it？〃　Julian　asked。　〃Back　in　the　cell？〃
　〃No；〃　Gerard　said。　〃None　of　them　came　near　enough。〃
　〃It　looks　to　be　decently　balanced　for　throwing；〃　Deirdre　said。
　〃It　is；〃　said　Random；　shifting　it　about　his　fingertips。　〃Only　none　of　them　had　a　clear　shot　or　the　opportunity。　I'm　positive。〃
　Llewella　returned；　bearing　a　tray　containing　slabs　of　meat；　half　a　loaf　of　bread；　a　bottle　of　wine；　and　a　goblet。　I　cleared　a　small　table　and　set　it　beside　Gerard's　chair。
　As　Llewella　deposited　the　tray；　she　asked；　〃But　why？　That　only　leaves　us。　Why　would　one　of　us　want　to　do　it？〃
　I　sighed。
　〃Whose　prisoner　do　you　think　he　might　have　been？〃　I　asked。
　〃One　of　us？〃
　〃If　he　possessed　knowledge　which　someone　was　willing　to　go　to　this　length　to　suppress；　what　do　you　think？　The　same　reason　also　served　to　put　him　where　he　was　and　keep　him　there。〃
　Her　brows　tightened。
　〃That　does　not　make　sense　either。　Why　didn't　they　just　kill　him　and　be　done　with　it？〃
　I　shrugged。
　〃Must　have　had　some　use　for　him；〃　I　said。　〃But　there　is　really　only　one　person　who　can　answer　that　question　adequately。　When　you　find　him；　ask　him。〃
　〃Or　her；〃　Julian　said。　〃Sister；　you　seem　possessed　of　a　superabundance　of　naivete；　suddenly。〃
　Her　gaze　locked　with　Julian's　own；　a　pair　of　icebergs　reflecting　frigid　infinities。
　〃As　I　recall；〃　she　said；　〃you　rose　from　your　seat　when　they　came　through；　turned　to　the　left；　rounded　the　desk；　and　stood　slightly　to　Gerard's　right。　You　leaned　pretty　far　forward。　I　believe　your　hands　were　out　of　sight；　below。〃
　〃And　as　I　recall；〃　he　said；　〃you　were　within　striking　distance　yourself；　off　to　Gerard's　left　…　and　leaning　forward。〃
　〃I　would　have　had　to　do　it　with　my　left　hand　…　and　I　am　right…handed。〃
　〃Perhaps　he　owes　what　life　he　still　possesses　to　that　fact。〃
　〃You　seem　awfully　anxious；　Julian；　to　find　that　it　was　someone　else。〃
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃All　right！　You　know　this　is　self…defeating。　Only　one　of　us　did　it；　and　this　is　not　the　way　to　smoke　him　out。〃
　〃Or　her；〃　Julian　added。
　Gerard　rose；　glowered；　glared。
　〃I　will　not　have　you　disturbing　my　patient；〃　he　said。　〃And；　Random；　you　said　you　were　going　to　see　to　the　fire。〃
　〃Right　away；〃　Random　said；　and　moved　to　do　it。
　〃Let　us　adjourn　to　the　sitting　room　off　the　main　hall；〃　I　said；　〃downstairs。　Gerard；　I　will　post　a　couple　of　guards　outside　the　door　here。〃
　〃No；〃　Gerard　said。　〃I　would　rather　that　anyone　who　wishes　to　try　it　get　this　far。　I　will　hand　you　his　head　in　the　morning。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Well；　you　can　ring　for　anything　you　need　…　or　call　one　of　us　on　the　Trumps。　We　will　fill　you　in　in　the　morning　on　anything　that　we　learn。〃
　Gerard　seated　himself；　grunted；　and　began　eating。　Random　got　the　fire　going　and　extinguished　some　lights。　Brand's　blanket　rose　and　fell；　slowly　but　regularly。　We　filed　quietly　from　the　room　and　headed　for　the　stairway；　leaving　them　there　together　with　the　flare　and　the　crackle；　the　tubes　and　the　bottles。
　
　
　Chapter　7
　
　Many　are　the　times　I　have　awakened；　sometimes　shaking；　always　afraid；　from　the　dream　that　I　occupied　my　old　cell；　blind　once　more；　in　the　dungeons　beneath　Amber。　It　is　not　as　if　I　were　unfamiliar　with　the　condition　of　imprisonment。　I　have　been　locked　away　on　a　number　of　occasions；　for　various　periods　of　time。　But　solitary；　plus　blindness　with　small　hope　of　recovery；　made　for　a　big　charge　at　the　sensory…deprivation　counter　in　the　department　store　of　the　mind。　That；　with　the　sense　of　finality　to　it　all；　had　left　its　marks。　I　generally　keep　these　memories　safely　tucked　away　during　waking　hours；　but　at　night；　sometimes；　they　e　loose；　dance　down　the　aisles　and　frolic　round　the　notions　counter；　one；　two；　three。　Seeing　Brand　there　in　his　cell　had　brought　them　out　again；　along　with　an　unseasonal　chill；　and　that　final　thrust　served　to　establish　a　more　or　less　permanent　residence　for　them。　Now；　among　my　kin　in　the　shield…hung　sitting　room；　I　could　not　avoid　the　thought　that　one　or　more　of　them　had　done　unto　Brand　as　Eric　had　done　unto　me。　While　this　capacity　was　in　itself　hardly　a　surprising　discovery；　the　matter　of　occupying　the　same　room　with　the　culprit　and　having　no　idea　as　to　his　identity　was　more　than　a　little　disturbing。　My　only　consolation　was　that　each　of　the　others；　according　to　his　means；　must　be　disturbed　also。　Including　the　guilty；　now　that　the　existence　theorem　had　shown　a　positive。　I　knew　then　that　I　had　been　hoping　all　along　that　outsiders　were　entirely　to　blame。　Now；　though。。。　On　the　one　hand　I　felt　even　more　restricted　than　usual　in　what　I　could　say。　On　the　other；　it　seemed　a　good　time　to　press　for　information；　with　everyone　in　an　abnormal　state　of　mind。　The　desire　to　cooperate　for　purposes　of　dealing　with　the　threat　could　prove　helpful。　And　even　the　guilty　party　would　want　to　behave　the　same　as　everyone　else。　Who　knew　but　that　he　might　slip　up　while　making　the　effort？
　〃Well；　have　you　any　other　interesting　little　experiments　you　would　care　to　conduct？〃　Julian　asked　me；　clasping　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　leaning　back　in　my　favorite　chair。
　〃Not　at　the　moment；〃　I　said。
　〃Pity；〃　he　replied。　〃I　was　hoping　you　would　suggest　we　go　looking　for　Dad　now　in　the　same　fashion。　Then；　if　we　are　lucky；　we　find　him　and　someone　puts　him　out　of　the　way　with　more　certainty。　After　that；　we　could　all　play　Russian　roulette　with　those　fine　new　weapons　you've　furnished　…　winner　take　all。〃
　〃Your　words　are　ill…considered；〃　I　said。
　〃Not　so。　I　considered　every　one　of　them；〃　he　answered。　〃We　spend　so　much　time　lying　to　one　another　that　I　decided　it　might　be　amusing　to　say　what　I　really　felt。　Just　to　see　whether　anyone　noticed。〃
　〃Now　you　see　that　we　have。　We　also　notice　that　the　real　you　is　no　improvement　over　the　old　one。〃
　〃Whichever　you　prefer；　both　of　us　have　been　wondering　whether　you　have　any　idea　what　you　are　going　to　do　next。〃
　〃I　do；〃　I　said。　〃I　now　intend　to　obtain　answers　to　a　number　of　questions　dealing　with　everything　that　is　plaguing　us。　We　might　as　well　start　with　Brand　and　his　troubles。〃
　Turning　toward　Benedict；　who　was　sitting　gazing　into　the　fire；　I　said；　〃Back　in　Avalon；　Benedict；　you　told　me　that　Brand　was　one　of　the　ones　who　searched　for　me　after　my　disappearance。〃
　〃That　is　correct；〃　Benedict　answered。
　〃All　of　us　went　looking；〃　Julian　said。
　〃Not　at　first；〃　I　replied。　〃Initially；　it　was　Brand；　Gerard；　and　yourself；　Benedict。　Isn't　that　what　you　told　me？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃The　others　did　have　a　go　at　it　later；　though。　I　told　you　that；　too。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Did　Brand　report　anything　unusual　at　that　time？〃　I　asked。
　〃Unusual？　In　what　way？〃　said　Benedict。
　〃I　don't　know。　I　am　looking　for　some　connection　between　what　happened　to　him　and　what　happened　to　me。〃
　〃Then　you　are　looking　in　the　wrong　place；〃　Benedict　said。　〃He　returned　and　reported　no　success。　And　he　was　around　for　ages　after　that；　unmolested。〃
　〃I　gathered　that　much；〃　I　said。　〃I　understand　from　what　Random　has　told　me；　though；　that　his　final　disappearance　occurred　approximately　a　month　before　my　own　recovery　and　return。　That　almost　strikes　me　as　peculiar。　If　he　did　not　report　anything　special　after　his　return　from　the　search；　did　he　do　so　prior　to　his　disappearance？　Or　in　the　interim？　Anyone？　Anything？　Say　it　if　you've　got　it！〃
　There　followed　some　mutual　glancing　about。　The　looks　seemed　more　curious　than　suspicious　or　nervous；　though。
　Finally；　then；　〃Well；〃　Llewella　said；　〃I　do　not　know。　Do　not　know　whether　it　is　significant；　I　mean。〃
　All　eyes　came　to　rest　upon　her。　She　began　to　knot　and　unknot　the　ends　of　her　belt　cord；　slowly；　as　she　spoke。
　〃It　was　in　the　interim；　and　it　may　have　no　bearing；〃　she　went　on。　〃It　is　just　something　that　struck　me　as　peculiar。　Brand　came　to　Rebma　long　ago　…　〃
　〃How　long　ago？〃　I　asked。
　She　furrowed　her　brow。
　〃Fifty；　sixty；　seventy　years。。。　I　am　not　certain。〃
　I　tried　to　summon　up　the　rough　conversion　factor　I　had　worked　out　during　my　long　incarceration。　A　day　in　Amber；　it　seemed；　constituted　a　bit　over　two　and　a　half　days　on　the　shadow　Earth　where　I　had　spent　my　exile。　I　wanted　to　relate　events　in　Amber　to　my　own　time…scale　whenever　possible；　just　in　case　any　peculiar　correspondences　turned　up。　So　Brand