rz.signoftheunicorn-第16章

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　his　eyes　again。　〃Now　I　am　positive　he　was　wearing　the　Jewel　of　Judgment　that　night；　that　I　saw　it　on　him　then　as　plainly　as　I　see　it　on　you　now。　I　am　equally　certain　that　he　had　not　had　it　on　earlier　that　evening。　For　a　long　while　after；　I　thought　that　he　had　taken　it　along　with　him；　wherever　he　went。　There　was　no　indication　in　his　chambers　that　he　had　later　changed　his　clothing。　I　never　saw　the　stone　again　until　you　and　Bleys　were　defeated　in　your　assault　on　Amber。　Then；　Eric　was　wearing　it。　When　I　questioned　him　he　claimed　that　he　had　found　it　in　Dad's　chambers。　Lacking　evidence　to　the　contrary；　I　had　to　accept　his　story。　But　I　was　never　happy　with　it。　Your　question　…　and　seeing　you　wearing　it　…　has　brought　it　all　back。　So　I　thought　you　had　better　know　about　it。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said；　and　another　question　occurred　to　me　but　I　decided　against　asking　it　at　that　moment。　For　the　benefit　of　the　others；　I　closed　off　by　saying；　〃So　do　you　think　he　needs　any　more　blankets？　Or　anything　else？〃
　Gerard　raised　his　glass　to　me；　then　took　a　drink。
　〃Very　good。　Keep　up　the　good　work；〃　I　said；　and　I　passed　my　hand　over　his　card。
　〃Brother　Brand　seems　to　be　doing　all　right；〃　I　said；　〃and　Gerard　does　not　recollect　Dad's　saying　anything　that　would　directly　connect　Shadow　slippage　and　his　departure。　I　wonder　how　Brand　will　recall　things；　when　he　es　around？〃
　〃If　he　es　around；〃　Julian　said。
　〃I　think　that　he　will；〃　I　said。　〃We　have　all　taken　some　pretty　bad　beatings。　Our　vitality　is　one　of　the　few　things　we　have　e　to　trust。　My　guess　is　that　he　will　be　talking　by　morning。〃
　〃What　do　you　propose　doing　with　the　guilty　party；〃　he　asked；　〃if　Brand　names　him？〃
　〃Question　him；〃　I　said。
　〃Then　I　would　like　to　do　the　questioning。　I　am　beginning　to　feel　that　you　may　be　right　this　time；　Corwin；　and　that　the　person　who　stabbed　him　may　also　be　responsible　for　our　intermittent　state　of　siege；　for　Dad's　disappearance；　and　for　Caine's　killing。　So　I　would　enjoy　questioning　him　before　we　cut　his　throat；　and　I　would　like　to　volunteer　for　that　last　part　also。〃
　〃We　will　keep　it　in　mind；〃　I　said。
　〃You　are　not　excluded　from　the　reckoning；　Corwin。〃
　〃I　was　aware　of　that。〃
　〃I　have　something　to　say；〃　said　Benedict；　smothering　a　rejoinder　from　Julian。　〃I　find　myself　troubled　both　by　the　strength　and　the　apparent　objective　of　the　opposition。　I　have　encountered　them　now　on　several　occasions；　and　they　are　out　for　blood。　Accepting　for　the　moment　your　story　of　the　girl　Dara；　Corwin；　her　final　words　do　seem　to　sum　up　their　attitude：　'Amber　will　be　destroyed。'　Not　conquered；　subjugated；　or　taught　a　lesson。　Destroyed。　Julian；　you　wouldn't　mind　ruling　here；　would　you？〃　Julian　smiled。
　〃Perhaps　next　year　this　time；〃　he　said。　〃Not　today；　thank　you。〃
　〃What　I　am　getting　at　is　that　I　could　see　you　…　or　any　of　us　…　employing　mercenaries　or　obtaining　allies　to　effect　a　takeover。　I　cannot　see　you　employing　a　force　so　powerful　that　it　would　represent　a　grave　problem　itself　afterward。　Not　a　force　that　seems　bent　on　destruction　rather　than　conquest。　I　cannot　see　you；　me；　Corwin；　the　others　as　actually　trying　to　destroy　Amber；　or　willing　to　gamble　with　forces　that　would。　That　is　the　part　I　do　not　like　about　Corwin's　notion　that　one　of　us　is　behind　this。〃
　I　had　to　nod。　I　was　not　unaware　of　the　weakness　of　that　link　in　my　chain　of　speculations。　Still；　there　were　so　many　unknowns。。。　I　could　offer　alternatives；　such　as　Random　then　did；　but　guesses　prove　nothing。
　〃It　may　be；〃　Random　said；　〃that　one　of　us　made　the　deal　but　underestimated　his　allies。　The　guilty　party　may　now　be　sweating　this　thing　as　much　as　the　rest　of　us。　He　may　not　be　in　a　position　to　turn　things　off　now；　even　if　he　wants　to。〃
　〃We　could　offer　him　the　opportunity；〃　Fiona　said；　〃to　betray　his　allies　to　us　now。　If　Julian　could　be　persuaded　to　leave　his　throat　uncut　and　the　rest　of　us　were　willing　to　do　the　same；　he　might　e　around　…　if　Random's　guess　is　correct。　He　would　not　claim　the　throne；　but　he　was　obviously　not　about　to　have　it　before。　He　would　have　his　life　and　he　could　save　Amber　quite　a　bit　of　trouble。　Is　anyone　willing　to　mit　himself　to　a　position　on　this？〃
　〃I　am；〃　I　said。　〃I　will　give　him　life　if　he　will　e　across；　with　the　understanding　that　it　will　be　spent　in　exile。〃
　〃I　will　go　along　with　that；〃　Benedict　said。
　〃So　will　I；〃　said　Random。
　〃On　one　condition；〃　Julian　said。　〃If　he　was　not　personally　responsible　for　Caine's　death；　I　will　go　along　with　it。　Otherwise；　no。　And　there　would　have　to　be　evidence。〃
　〃Life；　in　exile；〃　Deirdre　said。　〃All　right。　I　agree。〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　said　Flora。
　〃And　I；〃　Llewella　followed。
　〃Gerard　will　probably　agree　too；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　really　wonder　whether　Brand　will　feel　the　same　as　the　rest　of　us。　I've　a　feeling　he　may　not。〃
　〃Let　us　check　with　Gerard；〃　Benedict　said。　〃If　Brand　makes　it　and　proves　the　only　holdout；　the　guilty　party　will　know　he　has　only　one　enemy　to　avoid　…　and　they　can　always　work　out　their　own　terms　on　that　count。〃
　〃All　right；〃　I　said；　smothering　a　few　misgivings；　and　I　recontacted　Gerard；　who　agreed　also。
　So　we　rose　to　our　feet　and　swore　that　much　by　the　Unicorn　of　Amber　…　Julian's　oath　having　an　extra　clause　to　it　…　and　swore　to　enforce　exile　on　any　of　our　own　number　who　violated　the　oath。　Frankly；　I　did　not　think　it　would　net　us　anything；　but　it　is　always　nice　to　see　families　doing　things　together。
　After　that；　everyone　made　a　point　of　mentioning　that　he　would　be　remaining　in　the　palace　overnight；　presumably　to　indicate　that　no　one　feared　anything　Brand　might　have　to　say　in　the　morning　…　and　especially　to　indicate　that　no　one　had　a　desire　to　get　out　of　town；　a　thing　that　would　not　be　forgotten；　even　if　Brand　gave　up　the　ghost　during　the　night。　In　that　I　had　no　further　questions　to　put　to　the　group　and　no　one　had　sprung　forward　to　own　up　to　the　misdeeds　covered　by　the　oath；　I　leaned　back　and　listened　for　a　time　after　that。　Things　came　apart；　falling　into　a　series　of　conversations　and　exchanges；　one　of　the　main　topics　being　an　attempted　reconstruction　of　the　library　tableau；　each　of　us　in　his　own　place　and；　invariably；　why　each　of　us　was　in　a　position　to　have　done　it；　except　for　the　speaker。　I　smoked；　I　said　nothing　on　the　subject。　Deirdre　did　spot　an　interesting　possibility；　however。　Namely；　that　Gerard　could　have　done　the　stabbing　himself　while　we　were　all　crowded　around；　and　that　his　heroic　efforts　were　not　prompted　by　any　desire　to　save　Brand's　neck；　but　rather　to　achieve　a　position　where　he　could　stop　his　tongue　…　in　which　case　Brand　would　never　make　it　through　the　night。　Ingenious；　but　I　just　couldn't　believe　it。　No　one　else　bought　it　either。　At　least；　no　one　volunteered　to　go　upstairs　and　throw　Gerard　out。　After　a　time　Fiona　drifted　over　and　sat　beside　me。
　〃Well；　I've　tried　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of；〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　some　good　es　of　it。〃
　〃It　may；〃　I　said。
　〃I　see　that　you　have　added　a　peculiar　piece　of　ornamentation　to　your　wardrobe；〃　she　said；　raising　the　Jewel　of　Judgment　between　her　thumb　and　forefinger　and　studying　it。
　Then　she　raised　her　eyes。
　〃Can　you　make　it　do　tricks　for　you？〃　she　asked。
　〃Some；〃　I　said。
　〃Then　you　knew　how　to　attune　it。　It　involves　the　Pattern；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　Eric　told　me　how　to　go　about　it；　right　before　he　died。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　She　released　it；　settled　back　into　her　seat；　regarded　the　flames。
　〃Did　he　give　you　any　cautions　to　go　along　with　it？〃　she　asked。
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃I　wonder　whether　that　was　a　matter　of　design　or　circumstance？〃
　〃Well；　he　was　pretty　busy　dying　at　the　time。　That　limited　our　conversation　considerably。〃
　〃I　know。　I　was　wondering　whether　his　hatred　for　you　outweighed　his　hopes　for　the　realm；　or　whether　he　was　simply　ignorant　of　some　of　the　principles　involved。〃
　〃What　do　you　know　about　it？〃
　〃Think　again　of　Eric's　death；　Corwin。　I　was　not　there　when　it　occurred；　but　I　came　in　early　for　the　funeral。　I　was　present　when　his　body　was　bathed；　shaved；　dressed　…　and　I　examined　his　wounds。　I　do　not　believe　that　any　of　them　were　fatal；　in　themselves。　There　were　three　chest　wounds；　but　only　one　looked　as　if　it　might　have　run　into　the　mediastinal　area　…　〃
　〃One's　enough；　if　…　〃
　〃Wait；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　difficult；　but　I　tried　judging　the　angle　of　the　puncture　with　a　thin　glass　rod。　I　wanted　to　make　an　incision；　but　Caine　would　not　permit　it。　Still；　I　do　not　believe　that　his　heart　or　arteries　were　damaged。　It　is　still　not　too　late　to　order　an　autopsy；　if　you　would　like　me　to　check　further　on　this。　I　am　certain　that　his　injuries　and　the　general　stress　contributed　to　his　death；　but　I　believe　it　was　the　jewel　that　made　the　difference。〃
　〃Why　do　you　think　this？〃
　〃Because　of　some　things　that　Dworkin　said　when　I　studied　with　him　…　and　things　that　I　noticed　afterward；　because　of　this。　He　indicated　that　while　it　conferred　unusual　abilities；　it　also　represented　a　drain　on　the　vitality　of　its　master。　The　longer　you　wear　it；　the　more　it　somehow　takes　out　of　you。　I　paid　attention　after　that；　and　I　noticed　that　Dad　wore　it　only　seldom　and　never　kept　it　on　for　long　periods　of　time。〃
　My　thoughts　returned　to　Eric；　the　day　he　lay　dying　on　the　slopes　of　Kolvir；　the　battle　raging　about　him。　I　remembered　my　first　look　at　him；　his　face　pale；　his　breath　labored；　blood　on　his　chest。。。　And　the　Jewel　of　Judgment；　there　on　its　chain；　was　pulsing；　heartlike；　among　the　moist　folds　of　his　garments。　I　had　never　seen　it　do　that　before；　or　since。　I　recalled　that　the　effect　had　grown　fainter；　weaker。　And　when　he　died　and　I　folded　his　hands　atop　it；　the　phenomenon　had　ceased。
　〃What　do　you　know　of　its　function？〃　I　asked　her。
　She　shook　her　head。
　〃Dworkin　considered　that　a　state　secret。　I　know　the　obvious　…　weather　control　…　and　I　inferred　from　some　of　Dad's　remarks　that　it　has　something　to　do　with　a　heightened　perception；　or　a　higher　perception。　Dworkin　had　mentioned　it　primarily　as　an　example　of　the　pervasiveness　of　the　Pattern　in　everything　that　gives　us　power　…　even　the　Trumps　contain　the　Pattern；　if　you　look　closely；　look　long　enough　…　and　he　cited　it　as　an　instance　of　a　conservation　principle：　all　of　our　special　powers　have　their　price。　The　greater　the　power；　the　larger　the　investment。　The　Trumps　are　a　small　matter；　but　there　is　still　an　element　of　fatigue　involved　in　their　employment。　Walking　through　Shadow；　which　is　an　exercise　of　the　image　of　the　Pattern　which　exists　within　us；　is　an　even　greater　expenditure。　To　essay　the　Pattern　itself；　physically；　is　a　massive　drain　on　one's　energies。　But　the　jewel；　he　said；　represents　an　even　higher　octave　of　the　same　thing；　and　its　cost　to　its　employer　is　exponentially　greater。〃
　Thus；　if　correct；　another　ambiguous　insight　into　the　character　of　my　late　and　least　favored　brother。　If　he　were　aware　of　this　phenomenon　and　had　donned　the　jewel　and　worn　it　overlong　anyhow；　in　the　defense　of　Amber；　it　made　him　something　of　a　hero。　But　then；　seen　in　this　light；　his　passing　it　along　to　me；　without　warnings；　became　a　deathbed　effort　at　a　final　piece　of　vengeance。　But　he　had　exempted　me　from　his　curse；　he'd　said；　so　as　to　spend　it　properly　on　our　enemies　in　the　field。　This；　of　course；　only　meant　that　he　hated　them　a　little　more　than　he　hated　me　and　was　deploying　his　final　energies　as　strategically　as　possible；　for　Amber