rz.signoftheunicorn-第27章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　and　we　mounted。
　We　had　e　by　way　of　a　trail　that　wound　about　Kolvir　to　the　south。　It　was　longer　but　less　rugged　than　the　route　across　the　crest。　I'd　a　humor　to　pamper　myself　so　long　as　my　side　protested。
　So　we　bore　to　the　right；　moving　single　file。　Random　in　the　lead；　Ganelon　to　the　rear。　The　trail　ran　gently　upward；　then　cut　back　down　again。　The　air　was　cool；　and　it　bore　the　aromas　of　verdure　and　moist　earth；　a　thing　quite　unusual　in　that　stark　place；　at　that　altitude。　Straying　air　currents；　I　reasoned；　from　the　forest　far　below。
　We　let　the　horses　pick　their　own　casual　pace　down　through　the　dip　and　up　the　next　rise。　As　we　neared　its　crest；　Random's　horse　whinnied　and　began　to　rear。　He　controlled　it　immediately；　and　I　glanced　about　but　saw　nothing　that　might　have　startled　it。
　When　he　reached　its　summit；　Random　slowed　and　called　back；　〃Take　a　look　at　that　sunrise　now；　will　you？〃
　It　would　have　been　rather　difficult　to　avoid　doing　so；　though　I　did　not　remark　on　the　fact。　Random　was　seldom　given　to　sentimentality　over　vegetation；　geology；　or　illumination。
　I　almost　drew　rein　myself　as　I　topped　the　rise；　for　the　sun　was　a　fantastic　golden　ball。　It　seemed　half　again　its　normal　size；　and　its　peculiar　coloration　was　unlike　anything　I　remembered　having　seen　before。　It　did　marvelous　things　to　the　band　of　ocean　that　had　e　into　view　above　the　next　rise；　and　the　tints　of　cloud　and　sky　were　indeed　singular。　I　did　not　halt；　though；　for　the　sudden　brightness　was　almost　painful。
　〃You're　right；〃　I　called　out；　following　him　down　into　the　next　declivity。　Behind　me；　Ganelon　snorted　an　appreciative　oath。
　When　I　had　blinked　away　the　aftereffects　of　that　display　I　noticed　that　the　vegetation　was　heavier　than　I　had　remembered　in　this　little　pocket　in　the　sky。　I　had　thought　there　were　several　scrubby　trees　and　some　patches　of　lichen；　but　there　were　actually　several　dozen　trees；　larger　than　I　recalled；　and　greener；　with　a　clutch　of　grasses　here　and　there　and　a　vine　or　two　softening　the　outlines　of　the　rocks。　However；　since　my　return　I　had　only　passed　this　way　after　dark。　And　now　that　I　thought　of　it；　it　was　probably　the　source　of　the　aromas　that　had　e　to　me　earlier。
　Passing　through；　it　seemed　that　the　little　hollow　was　also　wider　than　I　recalled　it。　By　the　time　we　had　crossed　and　were　ascending　once　more；　I　was　certain　of　it。
　〃Random；〃　I　called　out；　〃has　this　place　changed　recently？〃
　〃Hard　to　say；〃　he　answered。　〃Eric　didn't　let　me　out　much。　It　seems　to　have　grown　up　a　bit。〃
　〃It　seems　bigger　…　wider。〃
　〃Yes；　it　does。　I　had　thought　that　that　was　just　my　imagination。〃
　When　we　reached　the　next　crest　I　was　not　dazzled　again　because　the　sun　was　blocked　by　foliage。　The　area　ahead　of　us　contained　many　more　trees　than　the　one　we　had　just　departed　…　and　they　were　larger　and　closer　together。　We　drew　rein。
　〃I　don't　remember　this；〃　he　said。　〃Even　passing　through　at　night；　it　would　have　registered。　We　must　have　taken　a　wrong　turn。〃
　〃I　don't　see　how。　Still；　we　know　about　where　we　are。　I　would　rather　go　ahead　than　go　back　and　start　again。　We　should　keep　aware　of　conditions　around　Amber；　anyway。〃
　〃True。〃
　He　headed　down　toward　the　wood。　We　followed。
　〃It's　kind　of　unusual；　at　this　altitude　…　a　growth　like　this；〃　he　called　back。
　〃There　also　seems　to　be　a　lot　more　soil　than　I　recall。〃
　〃I　believe　you　are　right。〃
　The　trail　curved　to　the　left　as　we　entered　among　the　trees。　I　could　see　no　reason　for　this　deviation　from　the　direct　route。　We　stayed　with　it；　however；　and　it　added　to　the　illusion　of　distance。　After　a　few　moments　it　swung　suddenly　to　the　right　again。　The　prospect　on　cutting　back　was　peculiar。　The　trees　seemed　even　taller　and　were　now　so　dense　as　to　puzzle　the　eye　that　sought　their　penetration。　When　it　turned　once　more　it　broadened；　and　the　way　was　straight　for　a　great　distance　ahead。　Too　great；　in　fact。　Our　little　dell　just　wasn't　that　wide。
　Random　halted　again。
　〃Damn　it；　Corwin！　This　is　ridiculous！〃　he　said。　〃You　are　not　playing　games；　are　you？〃
　〃I　couldn't　if　I　would；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　never　been　able　to　manipulate　Shadow　anywhere　on　Kolvir。　There　isn't　supposed　to　be　any　to　work　with　here。〃
　〃That　has　always　been　my　understanding；　too。　Amber　casts　Shadow　but　is　not　of　it。　I　don't　like　this　at　all。　What　do　you　say　we　turn　back？〃
　〃I've　a　feeling　we　might　not　be　able　to　retrace　our　way；〃　I　said。　〃There　has　to　be　a　reason　for　this；　and　I　want　to　know　it。〃
　〃It　occurs　to　me　that　it　might　be　some　sort　of　a　trap。〃
　〃Even　so；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded　and　we　rode　on；　down　that　shaded　way；　under　trees　now　grown　more　stately。　The　wood　was　silent　about　us。　The　ground　remained　level；　the　trail　straight。　Half　consciously；　we　pushed　the　horses　to　a　greater　pace。
　About　five　minutes　passed　before　we　spoke　again。　Then　Random　said；　〃Corwin；　this　can't　be　Shadow。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃I　have　been　trying　to　influence　it　and　nothing　happens。　Have　you　tried？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Why　don't　you？〃
　〃All　right。〃
　A　rock　could　jut　beyond　the　ing　tree；　a　morning　glory　twine　and　bell　within　that　shrubby　stand。。。　There　ought　a　patch　of　sky　e　clear；　a　wispy　cloud　upon　it。。。　Then　let　there　be　a　fallen　limb；　a　stair　of　fungus　up　its　side。。。　A　scummed…over　puddle。。。　A　frog。。。　Falling　feather；　drifting　seed。。。　A　limb　that　twists　just　so。。。　Another　trail　upon　our　way；　fresh…cut；　deep…marked；　past　the　place　the　feather　should　have　fallen。。。
　〃No　good；〃　I　said。
　〃If　it　is　not　Shadow；　what　is　it？〃
　〃Something　else；　of　course。〃
　He　shook　his　head　and　checked　again　to　see　that　his　blade　was　loose　in　its　scabbard。　Automatically；　I　did　the　same。　Moments　later；　I　heard　Ganelon's　make　a　small　clicking　noise　behind　me。
　Ahead；　the　trail　began　to　narrow；　and　shortly　thereafter　it　menced　to　wander。　We　were　forced　to　slow　our　pace　once　again；　and　the　trees　pressed　nearer　with　branches　sweeping　lower　than　at　any　time　before。　The　trail　became　a　path。　It　jogged；　it　curved；　it　gave　a　final　twist　and　then　quit。
　Random　ducked　a　limb；　then　raised　his　hand　and　halted。　We　came　up　beside　him。　For　as　far　as　I　could　see　ahead　there　was　no　indication　of　the　trail's　picking　up　again。　Looking　back；　I　failed　to　locate　any　sign　of　it　either。
　〃Suggestions；〃　he　said；　〃are　now　in　order。　We　do　not　know　where　we　have　been　or　where　we　are　going；　let　alone　where　we　are。　My　suggestion　is　the　hell　with　curiosity。　Let's　get　out　of　here　the　fastest　way　we　know　how。〃
　〃The　Trumps？〃　Ganelon　asked。
　〃Yes。　What　do　you　say；　Corwin？〃
　〃Okay。　I　don't　like　it　either；　and　I　can't　think　of　anything　better　to　try。　Go　ahead。〃
　〃Who　should　I　try　for？〃　he　asked；　producing　his　deck　and　uncasing　it。
　〃Gerard？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　shuffled　through　his　cards；　located　Guard's；　stared　at　it。　We　stared　at　him。　Time　went　its　way。
　〃I　can't　seem　to　reach　him；〃　he　finally　announced。
　〃Try　Benedict。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　Repeat　performance。　No　contact。
　〃Try　Deirdre；〃　I　said；　drawing　forth　my　own　deck　and　searching　out　her　Trump。
　〃I'll　join　you。　We　will　see　whether　it　makes　a　difference　with　two　of　us　trying。〃
　And　again。　And　again。
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said　after　a　long　effort。
　Random　shook　his　head。
　〃Did　you　notice　anything　unusual　about　your　Trumps？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；　but　I　don't　know　what　it　is。　They　do　seem　different。〃
　〃Mine　seem　to　have　lost　that　quality　of　coldness　they　once　possessed；〃　he　said。
　I　shuffled　mine　slowly。　I　ran　my　fingertips　across　them。
　〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　I　said。　〃That's　it。　But　let　us　try　again。　Say；　Flora。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　The　results　were　the　same。　And　with　Llewella。　And　Brand。
　〃Any　idea　what　could　be　wrong？〃　Random　asked。
　〃Not　the　slightest。　They　couldn't　all　be　blocking　us。　They　couldn't　all　be　dead。。。　Oh；　I　suppose　they　could。　But　it　is　highly　unlikely。　Something　seems　to　have　affected　the　Trumps　themselves；　is　what　it　is。　And　I　never　knew　of　anything　that　could　do　that。〃
　〃Well；　they　are　not　guaranteed　one　hundred　percent；〃　Random　said；　〃according　to　the　manufacturer。〃
　〃What　do　you　know　that　I　don't？〃
　He　chuckled。
　〃You　never　forget　the　day　you　e　of　age　and　walk　the　Pattern；〃　he　said。　〃I　remember　it　as　though　it　were　last　year。　When　I　had　succeeded　…　all　flushed　with　excitement；　with　glory　…　Dworkin　presented　me　with　my　first　set　of　Trumps　and　instructed　me　in　their　use。　I　distinctly　recall　asking　him　whether　they　worked　everywhere。　And　I　remember　his　answer：　'No；'　he　said。　'But　they　should　serve　in　any　place　you　will　ever　be。'　He　never　much　liked　me；　you　know。〃
　〃But　did　you　ask　him　what　he　meant　by　that？〃
　〃Yes；　and　he　said；　'I　doubt　that　you　will　ever　achieve　a　state　where　they　will　fail　to　serve　you。　Why　don't　you　run　along　now？'　And　I　did。　I　was　anxious　to　go　play　with　the　Trumps　all　by　myself。〃
　〃'Achieve　a　state？'　He　didn't　say　'reach　a　place'？〃
　〃No。　I　have　a　very　good　memory　for　certain　things。〃
　〃Peculiar　…　though　not　much　help　that　I　can　see。　Smacks　of　the　metaphysical。〃
　〃I'd　wager　Brand　would　know。〃
　〃I've　a　feeling　you're　right；　for　all　the　good　that　does　us。〃
　〃We　ought　to　do　something　other　than　discuss　metaphysics；〃　Ganelon　mented。　〃If　you　can't　manipulate　Shadow　and　you　can't　work　the　Trumps；　it　would　seem　that　the　next　thing　to　do　is　determine　where　we　are。　And　then　go　looking　for　help。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Since　we　are　not　in　Amber；　I　think　it　is　safe　to　assume　that　we　are　in　Shadow　…　a　very　special　place；　quite　near　to　Amber；　since　the　changeover　was　not　abrupt。　In　that　we　were　transported　without　active　cooperation　on　our　part；　there　had　to　be　some　agency　and　presumably　some　intent　behind　the　maneuver。　If　it　is　going　to　attack　us；　now　is　as　good　a　time　as　any。　If　there　is　something　else　it　wants；　then　it　is　going　to　have　to　show　us；　because　we　aren't　even　in　a　position　to　make　a　good　guess。〃
　〃So　you　propose　we　do　nothing？〃
　〃I　propose　we　wait。　I　don't　see　any　value　in　wandering　about；　losing　ourselves　further。〃
　〃I　seem　to　remember　your　once　telling　me　that　adjacent　shadows　tend　to　be　somewhat　congruent；〃　Ganelon　said。
　〃Yes；　I　probably　did。　So　what？〃
　〃Then；　if　we　are　as　near　to　Amber　as　you　suppose；　we　need　but　ride　toward　the　rising　sun　to　e　to　a　spot　that　parallels　the　city　itself。〃
　〃It　is　not　quite　that　simple。　But　supposing　it　were；　what　good　would　it　do　us？〃
　〃Perhaps　the　Trumps　would　function　again　at　the　point　of　maximum　congruity。〃
　Random　looked　at　Ganelon；　looked　at　me。
　〃That　may　be　worth　trying；〃　he　said。　〃What　have　we　got　to　lose？〃
　〃Whatever　small　orientation　we　still　possess；〃　I　said。　〃Look；　it　is　not　a　bad　idea。　If　nothing　develops　here；　we　will　try　it。　However；　looking　back；　it　seems　that　the　road　behind　us　closes　in　direct　proportion　to　the　distance　we　advance。　We　are　not　simply　moving　in　space。　Under　these　circumstances；　I　am　loath　to　wander　until　I　am　satisfied　that　we　have　no　other　option。　If　someone　desires　our　presence　at　a　particular　location；　it　is　up　to　him　now　to　phrase　the　invitation　a　little　more　legibly。　We　wait。〃
　They　both　nodded。　Random　began　to　dismount；　then　froze；　one　foot　in　the　stirrup；　one　on　the　ground。
　〃After　all　these　years；〃　he　said；　and；　〃I　never　really　believed　it。。。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　I　whispered。
　〃The　option；〃　he　said；　and　he　mounted　again。
　He　persuaded　his　horse　to　move　very　slowly　forward。　I　follo