rz.signoftheunicorn-第17章

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e　more　than　he　hated　me　and　was　deploying　his　final　energies　as　strategically　as　possible；　for　Amber。　I　thought　then　of　the　partial　character　of　Dworkin's　notes；　as　I　had　recovered　them　from　the　hiding　place　Eric　had　indicated。　Could　it　be　that　Eric　had　acquired　them　intact　and　had　purposely　destroyed　that　portion　containing　the　cautions　so　as　to　damn　his　successor？　That　notion　did　not　strike　me　as　quite　adequate；　for　he　had　had　no　way　of　knowing　that　I　would　return　when　I　did；　as　I　did；　that　the　course　of　battle　would　run　as　it　had；　and　that　I　would　indeed　be　his　successor。　It　could　just　as　easily　have　been　one　of　his　favorites　that　followed　him　to　power；　in　which　case　he　would　certainly　not　have　wanted　him　to　inherit　any　booby　traps。　No。　As　I　saw　it；　either　Eric　was　not　really　aware　of　this　property　of　the　stone；　having　acquired　only　partial　instructions　for　its　use；　or　someone　had　gotten　to　those　papers　before　I　had　and　removed　sufficient　material　to　leave　me　with　a　mortal　liability。　It　may　well　have　been　the　hand　of　the　real　enemy；　once　again。
　〃Do　you　know　the　safety　factor？〃　I　asked。
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　give　you　only　two　pointers；　for　whatever　they　may　be　worth。　The　first　is　that　I　do　not　recall　Dad's　ever　wearing　it　for　long　periods　of　time。　The　second；　I　pieced　together　from　a　number　of　things　that　he　said；　beginning　with　a　ment　to　the　effect　that　'when　people　turn　into　statues　you　are　either　in　the　wrong　place　or　in　trouble。'　I　pressed　him　quite　a　bit　on　that；　over　a　long　period　of　time；　and　I　eventually　got　the　impression　that　the　first　sign　of　having　worn　it　too　long　is　some　sort　of　distortion　of　your　time　sense。　Apparently　it　begins　speeding　up　the　metabolism　…　everything　…　with　a　net　effect　that　the　world　seems　to　be　slowing　down　around　you。　This　must　take　quite　a　toll　on　a　person。　That　is　everything　that　I　know　about　it；　and　I　admit　that　a　large　part　of　the　last　is　guesswork。　How　long　have　you　been　wearing　it？〃
　〃A　while　now；〃　I　said；　taking　my　mental　pulse　and　glancing　about　to　see　whether　things　seemed　to　be　slowing　down　any。
　I　could　not　really　tell；　though　of　course　I　did　not　feel　in　the　best　of　shape。　I　had　assumed　it　was　totally　Gerard's　doing；　though。　I　was　not　about　to　yank　it　off；　however；　just　because　another　family　member　had　suggested　it；　even　if　it　was　clever　Fiona　in　one　of　her　friendlier　moods。　Perversity；　cussedness。。。　No；　independence。　That　was　it。　That　and　purely　formal　distrust。　I　had　only　put　it　on　for　the　evening　a　few　hours　before；　anyway。　I'd　wait。
　〃Well；　you　have　made　your　point　in　wearing　it；〃　she　was　saying。　〃I　simply　wanted　to　advise　you　against　prolonged　exposure　until　you　know　more　about　it。〃
　〃Thanks；　Fi。　I'll　have　it　off　soon；　and　I　appreciate　your　telling　me。　By　the　way；　whatever　became　of　Dworkin？〃
　She　tapped　her　temple。
　〃His　mind　finally　went；　poor　man。　I　like　to　think　that　Dad　had　him　put　away　in　some　restful　retreat　in　Shadow。〃
　〃I　see　what　you　mean；〃　I　said。　〃Yes；　let　us　think　that。　Poor　fellow。〃
　Julian　rose　to　his　feet；　concluding　a　conversation　with　Llewella。　He　stretched；　nodded　to　her；　and　strolled　over。
　〃Corwin；　have　you　thought　of　any　more　questions　for　us？〃　he　said。
　〃None　that　I'd　care　to　ask　just　now。〃
　He　smiled。
　〃Anything　more　that　you　want　to　tell　us？〃
　〃Not　at　the　moment。〃
　〃Any　more　experiments；　demonstrations；　charades？〃
　〃No。
　〃Good。　Then　I'm　going　to　bed。　Good　night。〃
　〃Night。〃
　He　bowed　to　Fiona；　waved　to　Benedict　and　Random；　nodded　to　Flora　and　Deirdre　as　he　passed　them　on　the　way　to　the　door。　He　paused　on　the　threshold；　turned　back　and　said；　〃Now　you　can　all　talk　about　me；〃　and　went　on　out。
　〃All　right；〃　Fiona　said。　〃Let's。　I　think　he's　the　one。〃
　〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　〃I'll　go　down　the　list；　subjective；　intuitive；　and　biased　as　it　is。　Benedict；　in　my　opinion；　is　above　suspicion。　If　he　wanted　the　throne；　he'd　have　it　by　now；　by　direct；　military　methods。　With　all　the　time　he　has　had；　he　could　have　managed　an　attack　that　would　have　succeeded；　even　against　Dad。　He　is　that　good；　and　we　all　know　it。　You；　on　the　other　hand；　have　made　a　number　of　blunders　which　you　would　not　have　made　had　you　been　in　full　possession　of　your　faculties。　That　is　why　I　believe　your　story；　amnesia　and　all。　No　one　gets　himself　blinded　as　a　piece　of　strategy。　Gerard　is　well　on　the　way　to　establishing　his　own　innocence。　I　almost　think　he　is　up　there　with　Brand　now　more　for　that　reason　than　from　any　desire　to　protect　Brand。　At　any　rate；　we　will　know　for　sure　before　long　…　or　else　have　some　new　suspicions。　Random　has　simply　been　watched　too　closely　these　past　years　to　have　had　the　opportunity　to　engineer　everything　that　has　been　happening。　So　he　is　out。　Of　us　more　delicate　sorts。　Flora　hasn't　the　brains；　Deirdre　lacks　the　guts；　Llewella　hasn't　the　motivations；　as　she　is　happy　elsewhere　but　never　here；　and　I；　of　course；　am　innocent　of　all　but　malice。　That　leaves　Julian。　Is　he　capable？　Yes。　Does　he　want　the　throne？　Of　course。　Has　he　had　time　and　opportunity？　Again；　yes。　He　is　your　man。〃
　〃Would　he　have　killed　Caine？〃　I　asked。
　〃They　were　buddies。〃
　She　curled　her　lip。
　〃Julian　has　no　friends；〃　she　said。　〃That　icy　personality　of　his　is　thawed　only　by　thoughts　of　himself。　Oh；　in　recent　years　he　seemed　closer　to　Caine　than　to　anyone　else。　But　even　that。。。　even　that　could　have　been　a　part　of　it。　Shamming　a　friendship　long　enough　to　make　it　seem　believable；　so　that　he　would　not　be　suspect　at　this　time。　I　can　believe　Julian　capable　of　that　because　I　cannot　believe　him　capable　of　strong　emotional　attachments。〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃His　friendship　with　Caine　is　something　that　occurred　during　my　absence；　so　everything　I　know　concerning　it　is　secondhand。　Still；　if　Julian　were　looking　for　friendship　in　the　form　of　another　personality　close　to　his　own；　I　can　see　it。　They　were　a　lot　alike。　I　tend　to　think　it　was　real；　because　I　don't　think　anybody　is　capable　of　deceiving　someone　about　his　friendship　for　years。　Unless　the　other　party　is　awfully　stupid；　which　is　something　Caine　was　not。　And　…　well；　you　say　your　reasoning　was　subjective；　intuitive；　and　biased。　So　is　mine；　on　something　like　this。　I　just　don't　like　to　think　anybody　is　such　a　miserable　wretch　that　he　would　use　his　only　friend　that　way。　That's　why　I　think　there　is　something　wrong　with　your　list。〃
　She　sighed。
　〃For　someone　who　has　been　around　for　as　long　as　you　have；　Corwin；　you　say　some　silly　things。　Were　you　changed　by　your　long　stay　in　that　funny　little　place？　Years　ago　you　would　have　seen　the　obvious；　as　I　do。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　have　changed；　for　such　things　no　longer　seem　obvious。　Or　could　it　be　that　you　have　changed；　Fiona？　A　trifle　more　cynical　than　the　little　girl　I　once　knew。　It　might　not　have　been　all　that　obvious　to　you；　years　ago。〃
　She　smiled　softly。
　〃Never　tell　a　woman　she　has　changed；　Corwin。　Except　for　the　better。　You　used　to　know　that；　too。　Could　it　be　that　you　are　really　only　one　of　Corwin's　shadows；　sent　back　to　suffer　and　intimidate　here　on　his　behalf？　Is　the　real　Corwin　somewhere　else；　laughing　at　us　all？〃
　〃I　am　here；　and　I　am　not　laughing；〃　I　said。　She　laughed。
　〃Yes；　that　is　it！〃　she　said。　〃I　have　just　decided　that　you　are　not　yourself！
　〃Announcement；　everybody！〃　she　cried；　springing　to　her　feet。　〃I　have　just　noticed　that　this　is　not　really　Corwin！　It　has　to　be　one　of　his　shadows！　It　has　just　announced　a　belief　in　friendship；　dignity；　nobility　of　spirit；　and　those　other　things　which　figure　prominently　in　popular　romances！　I　am　obviously　onto　something！〃
　The　others　stared　at　her。　She　laughed　again；　then　sat　down　abruptly。
　I　heard　Flora　mutter　〃drunk〃　and　return　to　her　conversation　with　Deirdre。
　Random　said；　〃Let's　hear　it　for　shadows；〃　and　turned　back　to　a　discussion　with　Benedict　and　Llewella。
　〃See？〃　she　said。
　〃What？〃
　〃You're　insubstantial；〃　she　said；　patting　my　knee。　〃And　so　am　I；　now　that　I　think　about　it。　It　has　been　a　bad　day；　Corwin。〃
　〃I　know。　I　feel　like　hell；　too。　I　thought　I　had　such　a　fine　idea　for　getting　Brand　back。　Not　only　that；　it　worked。　A　lot　of　good　it　did　him。〃
　〃Don't　overlook　those　bits　of　virtue　you've　acquired；〃　she　said。　〃You're　not　to　blame　for　the　way　it　turned　out。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃I　believe　that　Julian　might　have　had　the　right　idea；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　feel　like　staying　awake　any　longer。〃
　I　rose　with　her；　walked　her　to　the　door。
　〃I'm　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃Really。〃
　〃Sure？〃
　She　nodded　sharply。
　〃See　you　in　the　morning　then。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　she　said。　〃Now　you　can　talk　about　me。〃
　She　winked　and　went　out。
　I　turned　back；　saw　that　Benedict　and　Llewella　were　approaching。
　〃Turning　in？〃　I　asked。
　Benedict　nodded。
　〃Might　as　well；〃　Llewella　said；　and　she　kissed　me　on　the　cheek。
　〃What　was　that　for？〃
　〃A　number　of　things；〃　she　said。　〃Good　night。〃
　〃Good　night。〃
　Random　was　crouched　on　the　hearth；　poking　at　the　fire。　Deirdre　turned　to　him　and　said；　〃Don't　throw　on　more　wood　just　for　us。　Flora　and　I　are　going　too。〃
　〃Okay。〃　He　set　the　poker　aside　and　rose。　〃Sleep　well；〃　he　called　after　them。
　Deirdre　gave　me　a　sleepy　smile　and　Flora　a　nervous　one。　I　added　my　good　nights　and　watched　them　leave。
　〃Learn　anything　new　and　useful？〃　Random　asked。
　I　shrugged。
　〃Did　you？〃
　〃Opinions；　conjectures。　No　new　facts；〃　he　said。　〃We　were　trying　to　decide　who　might　be　next　on　the　list。〃
　〃And。。。？〃
　〃Benedict　thinks　it's　a　toss…up。　You　or　him。　Providing　you　are　not　behind　it　all；　of　course。　He　also　thinks　your　buddy　Ganelon　ought　to　watch　his　step。〃
　〃Ganelon。。。　Yes；　that's　a　thought　…　and　it　should　have　been　mine。　I　think　he　is　right　about　the　toss…up；　too。　It　may　even　be　slightly　weighted　against　him；　since　they　know　I'm　alert　because　of　the　attempted　frameup。〃
　〃I　would　say　that　all　of　us　are　now　aware　that　Benedict　is　alert　himself。　He　managed　to　mention　his　opinion　to　everyone。　I　believe　that　he　would　wele　an　attempt。〃
　I　chuckled。
　〃That　balances　the　coin　again。　I　guess　it　is　a　toss…up。〃
　〃He　said　that；　too。　Naturally；　he　knew　I　would　tell　you。〃
　〃Naturally；　I　wish　he　would　start　talking　to　me　again。　Well。。。　not　much　I　can　do　about　it　now；〃　I　said。　〃The　hell　with　everything。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃Look　under　it　first。〃
　We　left　the　room；　headed　up　the　hall。
　〃Corwin；　I　wish　you'd　had　the　foresight　to　bring　some　coffee　back　with　you；　along　with　the　guns；〃　he　said。　〃I　could　use　a　cup。〃
　〃Doesn't　it　keep　you　awake？〃
　〃No。　I　like　a　couple　of　cups　in　the　evening。〃
　〃I　miss　it　mornings。　We'll　have　to　import　some　when　this　mess　is　all　settled。〃
　〃Small　fort；　but　a　good　idea。　What　got　into　Fi；　anyhow？〃
　〃She　thinks　Julian　is　our　man。〃
　〃She　may　be　right。〃
　〃What　about　Caine？〃
　〃Supposing　it　was　not　a　single　individual；〃　he　said　as　we　mounted　the　stair。　〃Say　it　was　two；　like　Julian　and　Caine。　They　finally　had　a　falling　out；　Caine　lost；　Julian　disposed　of　him　and　used　the　death；　to　weaken　your　position　as　well。　Former　friends　make　the　worst　enemies。〃
　〃It's　no　use；〃　I　said。　〃I　get　dizzy　when　I　start　sorting　the　possibilities。　We　are　either　going　to　have　to　wait　for　something　more　to　happen；　or　make　something　happen。　Probably　the　latter。　But　not　tonight　…〃
　〃Hey！　Wait　up！〃
　〃Sorry。〃　I　paused　at　the　landing。　〃Don't　know　what　got　i