rz.signoftheunicorn-第9章

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s　not　the　monest　subject　of　conversation　for　a　woman；　and　the　way　in　which　she　said　it　led　me　to　believe　that　she　had　actually　been　quite　impressed　by　some　things　you　had　done。　I　drew　her　out　a　bit　and　realized　that　they　were　all　of　them　feats　of　which　you　were　capable。　That　eliminated　the　notion　of　it　being　a　double。　It　had　to　be　either　you　or　your　shadow。　This　in　mind；　even　if　Cordell　was　not　Corwin　he　was　a　clue；　a　clue　that　you　were　or　had　been　in　that　shady　neighborhood　…　the　first　real　clue　I　had　e　across　concerning　your　whereabouts。　I　had　to　pursue　it。　I　began　keeping　track　of　you　then；　checking　into　your　past。　The　more　people　I　questioned；　the　more　puzzling　it　became。　In　fact；　after　several　months　I　was　still　unable　to　decide。　There　were　enough　smudgy　areas　to　make　it　possible。　Things　were　resolved　for　me　the　following　summer；　though；　when　I　revisited　Amber　for　a　time。　I　mentioned　the　peculiar　affair　to　Eric。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Well。。。　he　was　…　somewhat　…　aware　…　of　the　possibility。〃
　She　paused　and　rearranged　her　gloves　on　the　seat　beside　her。
　〃Uh…huh；〃　I　said。　〃Just　what　did　he　tell　you？〃
　〃That　it　might　be　the　real　you；〃　she　said。　〃He　told　me　there　had　been　…　an　accident。〃
　〃Really？〃
　〃Well；　no；〃　she　admitted。　〃Not　an　accident。　He　said　there　had　been　a　fight　and　he　had　injured　you。　He　thought　you　were　going　to　die；　and　he　did　not　want　the　blame。　So　he　transported　you　off　into　Shadow　and　left　you　there；　in　that　place。　After　a　long　while；　he　decided　that　you　must　be　dead；　that　it　was　finally　all　over　between　you。　My　news　naturally　disturbed　him。　So　he　swore　me　to　secrecy　and　sent　me　back　to　keep　you　under　surveillance。　I　had　a　good　excuse　for　being　there；　as　I　had　already　told　everyone　how　much　I　liked　the　place。〃
　〃You　didn't　promise　to　keep　silent　for　nothing；　Flora。　What　did　he　give　you？〃
　〃He　gave　me　his　word　that　should　he　ever　e　into　power　here　in　Amber；　I　would　not　be　forgotten。〃
　〃A　little　risky；〃　I　said。　〃After　all；　that　would　still　leave　you　with　something　on　him　…　knowledge　of　the　whereabouts　of　a　rival　claimant；　and　of　his　part　in　putting　him　there。〃
　〃True。　But　things　sort　of　balanced　out；　and　I　would　have　to　admit　having　bee　an　acplice　in　order　to　talk　about　it。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Tight；　but　not　impossible；〃　I　agreed。　〃But　did　you　think　he　would　let　me　continue　living　if　he　ever　did　get　a　chance　at　the　throne？〃
　〃That　was　never　discussed。　Never。〃
　〃It　must　have　crossed　your　mind；　though。〃
　〃Yes；　later；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　decided　that　he　would　probably　do　nothing。　After　all；　it　was　beginning　to　seem　likely　that　you　had　been　deprived　of　your　memory。　There　was　no　reason　to　do　anything　to　you　so　long　as　you　were　harmless。〃
　〃So　you　stayed　on　to　watch　me；　to　see　that　I　remained　harmless？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃What　would　you　have　done　had　I　shown　signs　of　recovering　my　memory？〃
　She　looked　at　me；　then　looked　away。
　〃I　would　have　reported　it　to　Eric。〃
　〃And　what　would　he　have　done　then？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　I　laughed　a　little；　and　she　blushed。　I　could　not　remember　the　last　time　I　had　seen　Flora　blush。
　〃I　will　not　belabor　the　obvious；〃　I　said。　〃All　right；　you　stayed　on；　you　watched　me。　What　next？　What　happened？〃
　〃Nothing　special。　You　just　went　on　leading　your　life　and　I　went　on　keeping　track　of　it。〃
　〃All　of　the　others　knew　where　you　were？〃
　〃Yes。　I'd　make　no　secret　of　my　whereabouts。　In　fact；　all　of　them　came　around　to　visit　me　at　one　time　or　another。〃
　〃That　includes　Random？〃
　She　curled　her　lip。
　〃Yes；　several　times；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　the　sneer？〃
　〃It　is　too　late　to　start　pretending　I　like　him；〃　she　said。　〃You　know。　I　just　don't　like　the　people　he　associates　with　…　assorted　criminals；　jazz　musicians。。。　I　had　to　show　him　family　courtesy　when　he　was　visiting　my　shadow；　but　he　put　a　big　strain　on　my　nerves；　bringing　those　people　around　at　all　hours　…　jam　sessions；　poker　parties。　The　place　usually　reeked　for　weeks　afterward　and　I　was　always　glad　to　see　him　go。　Sorry。　I　know　you　like　him；　but　you　wanted　the　truth。〃
　〃He　offended　your　delicate　sensibilities。　Okay。　I　now　direct　your　attention　to　the　brief　time　when　I　was　your　guest。　Random　joined　us　rather　abruptly。　Pursuing　him　were　half　a　dozen　nasty　fellows　whom　we　dispatched　in　your　living　room。〃
　〃I　recall　the　event　quite　vividly。〃
　〃Do　you　recall　the　guys　responsible　…　the　creatures　we　had　to　deal　with？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Sufficiently　well　to　recognize　one　if　you　ever　saw　another？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃Good。　Had　you　ever　seen　one　before？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Since？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Had　you　ever　heard　them　described　anywhere？〃
　〃Not　that　I　can　remember。　Why？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃Not　yet。　This　is　my　inquisition；　remember？　Now　I　want　you　to　think　back　for　a　time　before　that　evening。　Back　to　the　event　that　put　me　in　Greenwood。　Maybe　even　a　little　earlier。　What　happened；　and　how　did　you　find　out　about　it？　What　were　the　circumstances？　What　was　your　part　in　things？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃I　knew　you　would　ask　me　that　sooner　or　later。　What　happened　was　that　Eric　contacted　me　the　day　after　it　occurred　…　from　Amber；　via　my　Trump。〃
　She　glanced　at　me　again；　obviously　to　see　how　I　was　taking　it；　to　study　my　reactions。　I　remained　expressionless。
　〃He　told　me　you　had　been　in　a　bad　accident　the　previous　evening；　and　that　you　were　hospitalized。　He　told　me　to　have　you　transferred　to　a　private　place；　one　where　I　could　have　more　say　as　to　the　course　of　your　treatment。〃
　〃In　other　words；　he　wanted　me　to　stay　a　vegetable。〃
　〃He　wanted　them　to　keep　you　sedated。〃
　〃Did　he　or　did　he　not　admit　to　being　responsible　for　the　accident？〃
　〃He　did　not　say　that　he　had　had　someone　shoot　out　your　tire；　but　he　did　know　that　that　was　what　had　happened。　How　else　could　he　have　known？　When　I　learned　later　that　he　was　planning　to　take　the　throne；　I　assumed　that　he　had　finally　decided　it　was　best　to　remove　you　entirely。　When　the　attempt　failed；　it　seemed　logical　that　he　would　do　the　next　most　effective　thing：　see　that　you　were　kept　out　of　the　way　until　after　the　coronation。〃
　〃I　was　not　aware　that　the　tire　had　been　shot　out；〃　I　said。
　Her　face　changed。　She　recovered。
　〃You　told　me　that　you　knew　it　was　not　an　accident　…　that　someone　had　tried　to　kill　you。　I　assumed　you　were　aware　of　the　specifics。〃
　I　was　treading　on　slightly　mucky　ground　again　for　the　first　time　in　a　long　while。　I　still　had　a　bit　of　amnesia；　and　I　had　decided　I　probably　always　would。　My　memories　of　the　few　days　prior　to　the　accident　were　still　spotty。　The　Pattern　had　restored　the　lost　memories　of　my　entire　life　up　until　then；　but　the　trauma　appeared　to　have　destroyed　recollection　of　some　of　the　events　immediately　preceding　it。　Not　an　unmon　occurrence。　Organic　damage　rather　than　simple　functional　distress；　most　likely。　I　was　happy　enough　to　have　all　the　rest　back；　so　those　did　not　seem　especially　lamentable。　As　to　the　accident　itself；　and　my　feelings　that　it　had　been　more　than　an　accident；　I　did　recall　the　gunshots。　There　had　been　two　of　them。　I　might　even　have　glimpsed　the　figure　with　the　rifle　…　fleetingly；　too　late。　Or　maybe　that　was　pure　fantasy。　It　seemed　that　I　had；　though。　I　had　had　something　like　that　in　mind　when　I　had　headed　out　for　Westchester。　Even　at　this　late　time。　though；　when　I　held　the　power　in　Amber；　I　was　loath　to　admit　this　single　deficiency。　I　had　faked　my　way　with　Flora　before　with　a　lot　less　to　go　on。　I　decided　to　stick　with　a　winning　bination。
　〃I　was　in　no　position　to　get　out　and　see　what　had　been　hit；〃　I　said。　〃I　heard　the　shots。　I　lost　control。　I　had　assumed　that　it　was　a　tire；　but　I　never　knew　for　sure。　The　only　reason　I　raised　the　question　was　because　I　was　curious　as　to　how　you　knew　it　was　a　tire。〃
　〃I　already　told　you　that　Eric　told　me　about　it。〃
　〃It　was　the　way　that　you　said　it　that　bothered　me。　You　made　it　sound　as　if　you　already　knew　all　the　details　before　he　contacted　you。〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　〃Then　pardon　my　syntax；〃　she　said。　〃That　sometimes　happens　when　you　look　at　things　after　the　fact。　I　am　going　to　have　to　deny　what　you　are　implying。　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　it　and　I　had　no　prior　knowledge　that　it　had　occurred。〃
　〃Since　Eric　is　no　longer　around　to　confirm　or　deny　anything；　we　will　simply　have　to　let　it　go；〃　I　said；　〃for　now；〃　and　I　said　it　to　make　her　look　even　harder　to　her　defense；　to　direct　her　attention　away　from　any　possible　slip；　either　in　word　or　expression；　from　which　she　might　infer　the　small　flaw　which　still　existed　in　my　memory。
　〃Did　you　later　bee　aware　of　the　identity　of　the　person　with　the　gun？〃　I　asked。
　〃Never；〃　she　said。　〃Most　likely　some　hired　thug。　I　don't　know。〃
　〃Have　you　any　idea　how　long　I　was　unconscious　before　someone　found　me；　took　me　to　a　hospital？〃
　She　shook　her　head　again。
　Something　was　bothering　me　and　I　could　not　quite　put　my　finger　on　it。
　〃Did　Eric　say　what　time　I　had　been　taken　into　the　hospital？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃When　I　was　with　you；　why　did　you　try　walking　back　to　Amber　rather　than　using　Eric's　Trump？〃
　〃I　couldn't　raise　him。〃
　〃You　could　have　called　someone　else　to　bring　you　through；〃　I　said。　〃Flora；　I　think　you　are　lying　to　me。〃
　It　was　really　only　a　test；　to　observe　her　reaction。　Why　not？
　〃About　what？〃　she　asked。　〃I　couldn't　raise　anyone　else。　They　were　all　otherwise　occupied。　Is　that　what　you　mean？〃
　She　studied　me。
　I　raised　my　arm　and　pointed　at　her　and　the　lightning　flashed　at　my　back；　just　outside　the　window。　I　felt　a　tingle；　a　mild　jolt。　The　thunderclap　was　also　impressive。　〃You　sin　by　omission；〃　I　tried。
　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands　and　began　to　weep。
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean！〃　she　said。　〃I　answered　all　your　questions！　What　do　you　want？　I　don't　know　where　you　were　going　or　who　shot　at　you　or　what　time　it　occurred！　I　just　know　the　facts　I've　given　you；　damn　it！〃
　She　was　either　sincere　or　unbreakable　by　these　means；　I　decided。　Whichever；　I　was　wasting　my　time　and　could　get　nothing　more　this　way。　Also；　I　had　better　switch　us　away　from　the　accident　before　she　began　thinking　too　much　about　its　importance　to　me。　If　there　was　something　there　that　I　was　missing；　I　wanted　to　find　it　first。
　〃e　with　me；〃　I　said。
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃
　〃I　have　something　I　want　you　to　identify。　I　will　tell　you　why　after　you　see　it。〃
　She　rose　and　followed　me。　I　took　her　up　the　hall　to　see　the　body　before　I　gave　her　the　story　on　Caine。　She　regarded　the　corpse　quite　dispassionately。　She　nodded。
　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　and；　〃Even　if　I　did　not　know　it　I　would　be　glad　to　say　that　I　did；　for　you。〃
　I　grunted　a　nonmittal。　Family　loyalty　always　touches　me；　somewhere。　I　could　not　tell　whether　she　believed　what　I　had　said　about　Caine。　But　things　sort　of　equal　to　equal　things　sort　of　being　equal　to　each　other；　it　didn't　much　seem　to　matter。　I　did　not　tell　her　anything　about　Brand　and　she　did　not　seem　to　possess　any　new　information　concerning　him。　Her　only　other　ment　when　everything　I'd　had　to　say　was　said；　was；　〃You　wear　the　jewel　well。　What　about　the　headpiece？〃
　〃It　is　too　soon　to　talk　of　such　things；〃　I　told　her。
　〃Whatever　my　support　may　be　worth。。。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。　〃I　know。〃
　
　***
　
　My　tomb　is　a　quiet　place。　It　stands　alone　in　a　rocky　declivity；　shielded　on　three　sides　against　the　elements；　surrounded　by　transported　soil　wherein　a　pair　of　scrubby　trees；　miscellane