rz.signoftheunicorn-第21章

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of　your　assailant。〃
　I　chuckled。
　〃You　think　the　wound　was　self…inflicted？〃
　〃No；　of　course　not。　There　wasn't　even　a　weapon　in　sight。　I　followed　the　bloodstains　back　to　the　bedroom；　to　your　bed。　I　had　only　my　flashlight　to　see　by；　of　course；　but　what　I　saw　gave　me　an　eerie　feeling。　It　seemed　as　if　you　had　just　suddenly　appeared　there　on　the　bed；　bleeding；　and　then　gotten　up　and　made　your　way　out。〃
　〃Impossible；　of　course。〃
　〃I　wonder　about　the　lack　of　tracks；　though。〃
　〃The　wind　must　have　blown　snow　over　them。〃
　〃And　not　the　others？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　I　just　want　to　go　on　the　record　as　interested　in　the　answer　to　that　one　too；　if　you　ever　do　want　to　tell　me　about　things。〃
　〃I　will　remember；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　wonder。。。　I've　a　peculiar　feeling　that　I　may　never　see　you　again。　It　is　as　if　I　were　one　of　those　minor　characters　in　a　melodrama　who　gets　shuffled　offstage　without　ever　learning　how　things　turn　out。〃
　〃I　can　appreciate　the　feeling；〃　I　said。　〃My　own　role　sometimes　makes　me　want　to　strangle　the　author。　But　look　at　it　this　way：　inside　stories　seldom　live　up　to　one's　expectations。　Usually　they　are　grubby　little　things；　reducing　down　to　the　basest　of　motives　when　all　is　known。　Conjectures　and　illusions　are　often　the　better　possessions。〃
　He　smiled。
　〃You　talk　the　same　as　always；〃　he　said；　〃yet　I　have　known　occasions　when　you　have　been　tempted　to　virtue。　Several　of　them。。。〃
　〃How　did　we　get　from　the　footprints　to　me？〃　I　said。　〃I　was　about　to　tell　you　that　I　suddenly　recalled　having　approached　the　house　by　exactly　the　same　route　as　I　left　it。　My　departure　obviously　obliterated　the　signs　of　my　arrival。〃
　〃Not　bad；〃　he　said。　〃And　your　attacker　followed　the　same　route？〃
　〃Must　have。〃
　〃Pretty　good；〃　he　acknowledged。　〃You　know　how　to　raise　a　reasonable　doubt。　But　I　still　feel　that　the　preponderance　of　evidence　indicates　the　weird。〃
　〃Weird？　No。　Peculiar；　perhaps。　A　matter　of　interpretation。〃
　〃Or　semantics。　Have　you　read　the　police　report　on　your　accident？〃
　〃No。　Have　you？〃
　〃Uh…huh。　What　if　it　was　more　than　peculiar？　Then　will　you　grant　me　my　word；　as　I　used　it：　'weird'？〃
　〃Very　well。〃
　〃。。。　And　answer　one　question？〃
　〃I　don't　know。。。〃
　〃A　simple　yes…or…no　question。　That's　all。〃
　〃Okay；　it's　a　deal。　What　did　it　say？〃
　〃It　said　that　they　received　report　of　the　accident　and　a　patrol　car　proceeded　to　the　scene。　There　they　encountered　a　strangely　garbed　man　in　the　process　of　giving　you　first　aid。　He　stated　that　he　had　pulled　you　from　the　wrecked　car　in　the　lake。　This　seemed　believable　in　that　he　was　also　soaking　wet。　Average　height；　light　build；　red　hair。　He　had　on　a　green　outfit　that　one　of　the　officers　said　looked　like　something　out　of　a　Robin　Hood　movie。　He　refused　to　identify　himself；　to　acpany　them　or　to　give　a　statement　of　any　sort。　When　they　insisted　that　he　do　so；　he　whistled　and　a　white　horse　came　trotting　up。　He　leaped　onto　its　back　and　rode　off。　He　was　not　seen　again。〃
　I　laughed。　It　hurt；　but　I　couldn't　help　it。
　〃I'll　be　damned！〃　I　said。　〃Things　are　starting　to　make　sense。〃
　Bill　just　stared　at　me　for　a　moment。　Then；　〃Really？〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　I　think　so。　It　may　well　have　been　worth　getting　stabbed　and　ing　back　for　what　I　learned　today。〃
　〃You　put　the　two　in　peculiar　order；〃　he　said；　massaging　his　chin。
　〃Yes；　I　do。　But　I　am　beginning　to　see　some　order　where　I　had　seen　nothing　before。　This　one　may　have　been　worth　the　price　of　admission；　all　unintended。〃
　〃All　because　of　a　guy　on　a　white　horse？〃
　〃Partly；　partly。。。　Bill；　I　am　going　to　be　leaving　here　soon。〃
　〃You　are　not　going　anywhere　for　a　while。〃
　〃Just　the　same　…　those　papers　you　mentioned。。。　I　think　I　had　better　get　them　signed　today。〃
　〃All　right。　I'll　get　them　over　this　afternoon。　But　I　don't　want　you　doing　anything　foolish。〃
　〃I　grow　more　cautious　by　the　moment；〃　I　said；　〃believe　me。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　he　said；　snapping　his　briefcase　shut　and　rising。　〃Well；　get　your　rest。　I'll　clear　things　up　with　the　doctor　and　have　those　papers　sent　over　today。〃
　〃Thanks　again。〃　I　shook　his　hand。
　〃By　the　way；〃　he　said；　〃you　did　agree　to　answer　a　question。〃
　〃I　did；　didn't　I？　What　is　it？〃
　〃Are　you　human？〃　he　asked；　still　gripping　my　hand；　no　special　expression　on　his　face。
　I　started　in　on　a　grin；　then　threw　it　away。
　〃I　don't　know。　I　…　I　like　to　think　so。　But　I　don't　really　…　Of　course　I　am！　That's　a　silly。。。　Oh　hell！　You　really　mean　it；　don't　you？　And　I　said　I'd　be　honest。。。〃
　I　chewed　my　lip　and　thought　for　a　moment。　Then；　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　I　said。
　〃Neither　do　I；〃　he　said；　and　he　smiled。　〃It　doesn't　make　any　real　difference　to　me；　but　I　thought　it　might　to　you　…　to　know　that　someone　knows　you　are　different　and　doesn't　care。〃
　〃I'll　remember　that；　too；〃　I　said。
　〃Well。。。　see　you　around。〃
　〃Right。〃
　
　
　Chapter　9
　
　It　was　just　after　the　state　patrolman　left。。。　Late　afternoon。　I　was　lying　there　feeling　better；　and　feeling　better　that　I　felt　better。　Lying　there；　reflecting　on　the　hazards　involved　in　living　in　Amber。　Brand　and　I　were　both　laid　up　by　means　of　the　family's　favorite　weapon。　I　wondered　who　had　gotten　it　worse。　Probably　he　had。　It　might　have　reached　his　kidney；　and　he　was　in　poor　condition　to　begin　with。
　I　had　stumbled　across　the　room　and　back　again　twice　before　Bill's　clerk　came　over　with　the　papers　for　me　to　sign。　It　was　necessary　that　I　know　my　limits。　It　always　is。　Since　I　tended　to　heal　several　times　faster　than　those　about　me　in　that　shadow；　I　felt　that　I　ought　to　be　able　to　stand　and　walk　some；　to　perform　in　the　same　fashion　as　one　of　these　after；　say；　a　day　and　a　half；　maybe　two。　I　established　that　I　could。　It　did　hurt；　and　I　was　dizzy　the　first　time；　less　dizzy　the　second。　That　was　something；　anyway。　So　I　lay　there　feeling　better。
　I　had　fanned　the　Trumps　dozens　of　times；　dealt　private　solitaires；　read　ambiguous　fortunes　among　familiar　faces。　And　each　time　I　had　restrained　myself；　suppressing　my　desire　to　contact　Random；　to　tell　him　what　had　happened；　to　inquire　after　new　developments。　Later；　I　kept　telling　myself。　Each　additional　hour　they　sleep　is　two　and　a　half　for　you；　here。　Each　two　and　a　half　for　you；　here；　is　the　equivalent　of　seven　or　eight　for　some　lesser　mortal；　here。　Abide。　Think。　Regenerate。
　And　so　it　came　to　pass　that　a　little　after　dinnertime；　just　as　the　sky　was　darkening　again；　I　was　beaten　to　the　punch。　I　had　already　told　a　well…starched　young　member　of　the　State　Patrol　everything　that　I　was　going　to　tell　him。　I　have　no　idea　whether　he　believed　me；　but　he　was　polite　and　he　did　not　stay　long。　In　fact；　it　was　only　moments　after　he　left　that　things　began　to　happen。
　Lying　there；　feeling　better；　I　was　waiting　for　Dr。　Bailey　to　stop　by　and　check　whether　I　was　still　oriented。　Lying　there；　assessing　all　of　the　things　Bill　had　told　me；　trying　to　fit　them　together　with　other　things　that　I　knew　or　had　guessed　at。。。
　Contact！　I　had　been　anticipated。　Someone　in　Amber　was　an　early　riser。　〃Corwin！〃　It　was　Random；　agitated。
　〃Corwin！　Get　up！　Open　the　door！　Brand's　e　around；　and　he's　asking　for　you。〃
　〃Have　you　been　pounding　on　that　door；　trying　to　get　me　up？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Are　you　alone？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good。　I　am　not　inside。　You　have　reached　me　in　Shadow。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃Neither　do　I。　I　am　hurt；　but　I　will　live。　I　will　give　you　the　story　later。　Tell　me　about　Brand。〃
　〃He　woke　up　just　a　little　while　ago。　Told　Gerard　he　had　to　talk　to　you　right　away。　Gerard　rang　up　a　servant；　sent　him　to　your　room。　When　he　couldn't　rouse　you；　he　came　to　me。　I　just　sent　him　back　to　tell　Gerard　I'd　be　bringing　you　along　shortly。〃
　〃I　see；〃　I　said；　stretching　slowly　and　sitting　up。　〃Get　in　some　place　where　you　can't　be　seen；　and　I'll　e　through。　I　will　need　a　robe　or　something。　I　am　missing　some　clothes。〃
　〃It　could　probably　be　best　if　I　went　back　to　my　rooms；　then。〃
　〃Okay。　Go　ahead。〃
　〃A　minute；　then。〃
　And　silence。
　I　moved　my　legs　slowly。　I　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　I　gathered　up　my　Trumps　and　replaced　them　in　their　case。　I　felt　it　important　that　I　mask　my　injury　back　in　Amber。　Even　in　normal　times　one　never　advertises　one's　vulnerability。
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　stood；　holding　on　to　the　bed　frame。　My　practice　had　paid　off。　I　breathed　normally　and　relaxed　my　grip。　Not　bad；　if　I　moved　slowly；　if　I　did　not　exert　myself　beyond　the　barest　essentials　required　for　appearances'　sake。。。　I　might　be　able　to　carry　it　until　my　strength　really　returned。
　Just　then　I　heard　a　footfall；　and　a　friendly　nurse　was　framed　in　the　doorway；　crisp；　symmetrical；　differing　from　a　snowflake　mainly　in　that　they　are　all　of　them　alike。
　〃Get　back　in　that　bed；　Mr。　Corey！　You　are　not　supposed　to　be　up！〃
　〃Madam；〃　I　said；　〃it　is　quite　necessary　that　I　be　up。　I　have　to　go。〃
　〃You　could　have　rung　for　a　pan；〃　she　said；　entering　the　room　and　advancing。
　I　gave　my　head　a　weary　shake　just　as　Random's　presence　reached　me　once　more。　I　wondered　how　she　would　report　this　one　…　and　if　she　would　mention　my　prismatic　afterimage　as　I　trumped　out。　Another　entry；　I　suppose；　for　the　growing　record　of　folklore　I　tend　to　leave　behind。
　〃Think　of　it　this　way；　my　dear；〃　I　told　her。　〃Ours　has　been　a　purely　physical　relationship　all　along。　There　will　be　others。。。　many　others。　Adieu！〃
　I　bowed　and　blew　her　a　kiss　as　I　stepped　forward　into　Amber；　leaving　her　to　clutch　at　rainbows　as　I　caught　hold　of　Random's　shoulder　and　staggered。
　〃Corwin！　What　the　hell　…　〃
　〃If　blood　be　the　price　of　admiralty；　I've　just　bought　me　a　naval　mission；〃　I　said。　〃Give　me　something　to　wear。〃
　He　draped　a　long；　heavy　cloak　about　my　shoulders　and　I　fumbled　to　clasp　it　at　my　throat。
　〃All　set；〃　I　said。　〃Take　me　to　him。〃
　He　led　me　out　the　door；　into　the　hall；　toward　the　stair。　I　leaned　on　him　heavily　as　we　went。
　〃How　bad　is　it？〃　he　asked　me。
　〃Knife；〃　I　said；　and　laid　my　hand　on　the　spot。　〃Someone　attacked　me　in　my　room　last　night。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Well；　it　couldn't　have　been　you；　because　I　had　just　left　you；〃　I　said；　〃and　Gerard　was　up　in　the　library　with　Brand。　Subtract　the　three　of　you　from　the　rest　and　start　guessing。　That　is　the　best　…〃
　〃Julian；〃　he　said。
　〃His　stock　is　definitely　bearish；〃　I　said。　〃Fiona　was　just　running　him　down　for　me　the　other　night；　and　of　course　it　is　no　secret　that　he　is　not　my　favorite。〃
　〃Corwin；　he's　gone。　He　cut　out　during　the　night。　The　servant　who　came　to　get　me　told　me　that　Julian　had　departed。　What　does　that　look　like　to　you？〃
　We　reached　the　stair。　I　kept　one　hand　on　Random　and　rested　there　briefly。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃It　can　sometimes　be　just　as　bad　to　extend　the　benefit　of　the　doubt　too　far　as　not　to　grant　it　at　all。　But　it　does　occur　to　me　that　if　he　thought　he　had　disposed　of　me；　he　would　look　a　lot　better　by　staying　here　and　acting　surprised　to　learn　of　it　than　by　getting　the　hell　out。　That　does　look　suspicious。　I　am　inclined　to　think　he　might　have　departed　because　he　was　afraid　of　what　Brand　would　have　to　say　when　he　came　around。〃
　〃But　you　lived；　Corwin。　You　got　away　from　whoever　attacked　you；　and　he　could　not　be　certain　he　had　done　you　in。　If　it　were　me；　I　would　be　worlds　away　by　now。〃
　〃There　is　that；〃　I　acknowledged；　and　we　started　on　down　again。　〃Yes；　you　might　well　be　right。　Let