rz.signoftheunicorn-第20章

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o　the　country　club；　which　was　where　I　had　met　him。　I　had　known　him　for　over　a　year　without　our　exchanging　more　than　a　few　words。　Then　one　evening　I　happened　to　be　next　to　him　in　the　bar　and　it　had　somehow　e　out　that　he　was　hot　on　military　history；　particularly　the　Napoleonic　Wars。　The　next　thing　we　knew；　they　were　closing　up　the　place　around　us。　We　were　close　friends　from　then　on；　right　up　until　the　time　of　my　difficulties。　I　had　occasionally　wondered　about　him　since。　In　fact；　the　only　thing　that　had　prevented　me　from　seeing　him　the　last　time　I　had　passed　through　was　that　he　would　doubtless　have　had　all　sorts　of　questions　as　to　what　had　bee　of　me；　and　I　had　had　too　many　things　on　my　mind　to　deal　with　them　all　that　gracefully　and　still　enjoy　myself。　I　had　even　thought　once　or　twice　of　ing　back　and　seeing　him　if　I　could；　when　everything　was　finally　settled　in　Amber。　Next　to　the　fact　that　this　was　not　the　case；　I　regretted　not　being　able　to　meet　him　in　the　club　lounge。
　He　arrived　within　the　hour；　short；　heavy；　ruddy；　a　bit　grayer　on　the　sides；　grinning；　nodding。　I　had　propped　myself　up　by　then；　already　tried　a　few　deep　breaths　and　decided　they　were　premature。　He　clasped　my　hand　and　took　the　bedside　chair。　He　had　his　briefcase　with　him。
　〃You　scared　the　hell　out　of　me　last　night；　Carl。　Thought　I　was　seeing　a　ghost；〃　he　said。
　I　nodded。
　〃A　bit　later；　and　I　might　have　been　one；〃　I　said。　〃Thanks。　How　have　you　been？〃
　Bill　sighed。
　〃Busy。　You　know。　The　same　old　stuff；　only　more　of　it。〃
　〃And　Alice？〃
　〃She's　fine。　And　we've　got　two　new　grandsons　…　Bill　Jr。's　…　twins。　Wait　a　minute。〃　He　fished　out　his　wallet　and　located　a　photo。　〃Here。〃
　I　studied　it；　noted　the　family　resemblances。
　〃Hard　to　believe；〃　I　said。
　〃You　don't　look　much　worse　for　the　years。〃　I　chuckled　and　patted　my　abdomen。
　〃Subtracting　that；　I　mean；〃　he　said。　〃Where　have　you　been？〃
　〃God！　Where　haven't　I　been！〃　I　said。　〃So　many　places　I've　lost　count。〃
　He　remained　expressionless；　caught　my　eyes　and　stared。
　〃Carl；　what　kind　of　trouble　are　you　in？〃　he　asked。
　I　smiled。
　〃If　you　mean　am　I　in　trouble　with　the　law；　the　answer　is　no。　My　troubles　actually　involve　another　country；　and　I　am　going　to　have　to　go　back　there　shortly。〃
　His　face　relaxed　again；　and　there　was　a　small　glint　behind　his　bifocals。
　〃Are　you　some　sort　of　military　adviser　in　that　place？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Can　you　tell　me　where？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Sorry。〃
　〃That　I　can　sort　of　understand；〃　he　said。　〃Dr。　Roth　told　me　what　you　said　had　happened　last　night。　Off　the　record　now；　was　it　connected　with　whatever　you　have　been　doing？〃
　I　nodded　again。
　〃That　makes　things　a　little　clearer；〃　he　said。　〃Not　much；　but　enough。　I　won't　even　ask　you　which　agency；　or　even　if　there　is　one。　I　have　always　known　you　to　be　a　gentleman；　and　a　rational　one　at　that。　That　was　why　I　grew　curious　at　the　time　of　your　disappearance　and　did　some　investigating。　I　felt　a　bit　officious　and　self…conscious　about　it。　But　your　civil　status　was　quite　puzzling；　and　I　wanted　to　know　what　had　happened。　Mainly；　because　I　was　concerned　about　you。　I　hope　that　doesn't　disturb　you。〃
　〃Disturb　me？〃　I　said。　〃There　aren't　that　many　people　who　care　what　happens　to　me。　I'm　grateful。　Also；　curious　what　you　discovered。　I　never　had　the　time　to　look　into　it；　you　know；　to　straighten　things　out。　How　about　telling　me　what　you　learned？〃
　He　opened　the　briefcase　and　withdrew　a　manila　folder。　Spreading　it　across　his　knees；　he　shuffled　out　several　sheets　of　yellow　paper　covered　with　neat　handwriting。　Raising　the　first　of　these；　he　regarded　it　a　moment；　then　said；　〃After　you　escaped　from　the　hospital　in　Albany　and　had　your　accident；　Brandon　apparently　dropped　out　of　the　picture　and　…　〃
　〃Stop！〃　I　said；　raising　my　hand；　trying　to　sit　up。
　〃What？〃　he　asked。
　〃You　have　the　order　wrong；　also　the　place；〃　I　said。　〃First　came　the　accident；　and　Greenwood　is　not　in　Albany。〃
　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　referring　to　the　Porter　Sanitarium；　where　you　spent　two　days　and　then　escaped。　You　had　your　accident　that　same　day；　and　you　were　brought　here　as　a　result　of　it。　Then　your　sister　Evelyn　entered　the　picture。　She　had　you　transferred　to　Greenwood；　where　you　spent　a　couple　of　weeks　before　departing　on　your　own　motion　once　again。　Right？〃
　〃Partly；〃　I　said。　〃Namely；　the　last　part。　As　I　was　telling　the　doctor　earlier；　my　memory　is　shot　for　a　couple　of　days　prior　to　the　accident。　This　business　about　a　place　in　Albany　does　sort　of　seem　to　ring　a　bell；　but　only　very　faintly。　Do　you　have　more　on　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　he　said。　〃It　may　even　have　something　to　do　with　the　state　of　your　memory。　You　were　mitted　on　a　bum　order　…〃
　〃By　whom？〃　He　shook　the　paper　and　peered。
　〃'Brother；　Brandon　Corey；　attendant　physician；　Hillary　B。　Rand；　psychiatrist；〃　he　read。　〃Hear　any　more　bells？〃
　〃Quite　possibly；〃　I　said。　〃Go　ahead。〃
　〃Well；　an　order　got　signed　on　that　basis；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　duly　certified；　taken　into　custody；　and　transported。　Then；　concerning　your　memory。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃I　don't　know　that　much　about　the　practice　and　its　effects　on　the　memory；　but　you　were　subjected　to　electroshock　therapy　while　you　were　at　Porter。　Then；　as　I　said；　the　record　indicates　that　you　escaped　after　the　second　day。　You　apparently　recovered　your　car　from　some　unspecified　locale　and　were　heading　back　this　way　when　you　had　the　accident。〃
　〃That　seems　right；〃　I　said。　〃It　does。〃　For　a　moment；　when　he　had　begun　talking；　I　had　had　a　wild　vision　of　having　been　returned　to　the　wrong　shadow　…　one　where　everything　was　similar；　but　not　congruent。　Now；　though；　I　did　not　believe　this　to　be　the　case。　I　was　responding　to　this　story　on　some　level。
　〃Now；　about　that　order；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　based　on　false　evidence；　but　there　was　no　way　of　the　court's　knowing　it　at　the　time。　The　real　Dr。　Rand　was　in　England　when　everything　happened；　and　when　I　contacted　him　later　he　had　never　heard　of　you。　His　office　had　been　broken　into　while　he　was　away；　though。　Also；　peculiarly；　his　middle　initial　is　not　B。　He　had　never　heard　of　Brandon　Corey　either。〃
　〃What　did　bee　of　Brandon？〃
　〃He　simply　vanished。　Several　attempts　were　made　to　contact　him　at　the　time　of　your　escape　from　Porter；　but　he　could　not　be　found。　Then　you　had　the　accident；　were　brought　here　and　treated。　At　that　time；　a　woman　named　Evelyn　Flaumel；　who　represented　herself　as　your　sister；　contacted　this　place；　told　them　you　had　been　probated　and　that　the　family　wanted　you　transferred　to　Greenwood。　In　the　absence　of　Brandon；　who　had　been　appointed　your　guardian；　her　instructions　were　followed；　as　the　only　available　next　of　kin。　That　was　how　it　came　about　that　you　were　sent　to　the　other　place。　You　escaped　again；　a　couple　of　weeks　later；　and　that　is　where　my　chronology　ends。〃
　〃Then　what　is　my　legal　status　right　now？〃　I　asked。
　〃Oh；　you've　been　made　whole；〃　he　said。　〃Dr。　Rand　went　down　after　I　talked　with　him　and　gave　the　court　an　affidavit　reciting　these　facts。　The　order　was　vacated。〃
　〃Then　why　is　the　doctor　here　acting　as　if　I　might　be　a　psycho　case？〃
　〃Oh　my！　That　is　a　thought。　It　hadn't　occurred　to　me。　All　their　records　here　would　show　is　that　one　time　you　apparently　were。　I　had　better　see　him　on　the　way　out。　I　have　a　copy　of　the　journal　entry　in　here；　too。　I　can　show　it　to　him。〃
　〃How　long　was　it　after　I　left　Greenwood　that　things　were　set　right　with　the　court？〃
　〃The　following　month；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　several　weeks　before　I　could　bring　myself　to　get　nosy。〃
　〃You　couldn't　know　how　happy　I　am　that　you　did；〃　I　said。　〃And　you　have　given　me　several　pieces　of　information　I　think　are　going　to　prove　extremely　important。〃
　〃It　is　nice　to　be　able　to　help　a　friend　sometime；〃　he　said；　closing　the　folder　and　replacing　it　in　his　briefcase。　〃One　thing。。。　When　this　is　all　over　…　whatever　you　are　doing　…　if　you　are　permitted　to　talk　about　it；　I　would　like　to　hear　the　story。〃
　〃I　can't　promise；〃　I　said。
　〃I　know。　Just　thought　I'd　mention　it。　By　the　way；　what　do　you　want　to　do　about　the　house？〃
　〃Mine？　Do　I　still　hold　title　to　it？〃
　〃Yes；　but　it　will　probably　be　sold　this　year　for　back　taxes　if　you　don't　do　anything　about　it。〃
　〃I'm　surprised　that　hasn't　already　happened。〃
　〃You　gave　the　bank　power　of　attorney　for　paying　your　bills。〃
　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　I'd　just　set　it　up　for　utilities　and　my　charge　accounts。　Stuff　like　that。〃
　〃Well；　the　account　is　nearly　empty　now；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　talking　to　McNally　over　there　the　other　day。　That　means　the　house　will　go　next　year　if　you　don't　do　anything。〃
　〃I've　got　no　use　for　it　now；〃　I　said。　〃They　can　do　whatever　they　want　with　it。〃
　〃Then　you　might　as　well　sell　it　and　realize　what　you　can。〃
　〃I　won't　be　around　that　long。〃
　〃I　could　handle　it　for　you。　Send　the　money　wherever　you　want。〃
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　sign　anything　necessary。　Pay　my　hospital　bill　out　of　it　and　keep　the　rest。〃
　〃I　couldn't　do　that。〃
　I　shrugged。
　〃Do　whatever　you　think　best；　but　be　sure　and　take　a　good　fee。〃
　〃I'll　put　the　balance　in　your　account。〃
　〃All　right。　Thanks。　By　the　way；　before　I　forget；　would　you　look　in　the　drawer　of　that　table　and　see　if　there　is　a　deck　of　cards　there？　I　can't　reach　it　yet；　and　I'll　be　wanting　them　later。〃
　〃Surely。〃
　He　reached　over；　opened　it。
　〃A　big　brown　envelope；〃　he　said。　〃Kind　of　bulgy。　They　probably　put　whatever　was　in　your　pockets　in　it。〃
　〃Open　it。〃
　〃Yes；　here's　a　pack　of　cards；〃　he　said；　reaching　inside。　〃Say！　That's　a　beautiful　case！　May　I？〃
　〃I　…　〃　What　could　I　say？
　He　slipped　the　case。
　〃Lovely。。。〃　he　murmured。　〃Some　kind　of　tarots。。。　Are　they　antique？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Cold　as　ice。。。　I　never　saw　anything　like　these。　Say；　that's　you！　Dressed　up　like　some　kind　of　knight！　What's　their　purpose？〃
　〃A　very　plicated　game；〃　I　said。
　〃How　could　that　be　you　if　they　are　antique？〃
　〃I　didn't　say　it　was　me。　You　did。〃
　〃Yes；　so　I　did。　Ancestor？〃
　〃Sort　of。〃
　〃Now　that's　a　good…looking　gal！　But　so　is　the　redhead。。。〃
　〃I　think。。。〃
　He　squared　the　deck　and　replaced　it　in　the　case。　He　passed　it　to　me。
　〃Nice　unicorn；　too；〃　he　added。　〃I　shouldn't　have　looked　at　them；　should　I？〃
　〃That's　all　right。〃
　He　sighed　and　leaned　back　in　the　chair；　clasping　his　hands　behind　his　head。
　〃I　couldn't　help　it；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　just　that　there　is　something　very　strange　about　you；　Carl；　beyond　any　hush…hush　work　you　may　be　doing　…　and　mysteries　intrigue　me。　I've　never　been　this　close　to　a　real　puzzler　before。〃
　〃Because　you　just　slipped　yourself　a　cold　deck　of　tarots？〃　I　asked。
　〃No；　that　just　adds　atmosphere；〃　he　said。　〃While　what　you　have　been　doing　all　these　years　is　admittedly　none　of　my　business；　there　is　one　recent　incident　I　am　unable　to　prehend。〃
　〃What　is　that？〃
　〃After　I　brought　you　here　and　took　Alice　home　last　night；　I　went　back　to　your　place；　hoping　to　get　some　sort　of　idea　as　to　what　had　happened。　The　snow　had　let　up　by　then；　though　it　started　in　again　later；　and　your　track　was　still　clearly　visible；　going　around　the　house　and　down　the　front　yard。〃　I　nodded。
　〃But　there　were　no　tracks　going　in　…　nothing　to　indicate　your　arrival。　And　for　that　matter；　there　were　no　other　tracks　departing　…　nothing　to　show　the　flight　of　your　assailant。〃
　I　chuckled。
　〃You　think　the　wound　was　self…inflicted？〃
　〃No；　of　course　no