rz.thegunsofavalon-第44部分
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I held him for several moments； then lowered him into his former position。 His eyes were still open； and I reached out and closed them。 Almost automatically； I put his hands together atop the now lifeless gem。 I had no stomach to take it from him at that moment。 I stood then； removed my cloak； and covered him with it。
Turning； I saw that all of them were staring at me。 Familiar faces； many of them。 Some strange ones mixed in。 So many who had been there that night when I had e to dinner in chains。。。
No。 It was not the time to think of that。 I pushed it from my mind。 The shooting had stopped； and Ganelon was calling the troops back and ordering some sort of formation。
I walked forward。
I passed among the Amberites。 I passed among the dead。 I walked by my own troops and moved to the edge of the cliff。
In the valley below me； the fighting continued； the cavalry flowing like turbulent waters； merging； eddying； receding； the infantry still swarming like insects。
I drew forth the cards I had taken from Benedict。 I removed his own from the deck。 It shimmered before me； and after a time there was contact。
He was mounted on the same red and black horse on which he had pursued me。 He was in motion and there was fighting all about him。 Seeing that he confronted another horseman； I remained still。 He spoke but a single word。
〃Bide；〃 he said。
He dispatched his opponent with two quick movements of his blade。 Then he wheeled his mount and began to withdraw from the fray。 I saw that his horse's reins had been lengthened and were looped and tied loosely about the remainder of his right arm。 It took him over ten minutes to remove himself to a place of relative calm。 When he had； he regarded me； and I could tell that he was also studying the prospect that lay at my back。
〃Yes； I am on the heights；〃 I told him。 〃We have won。 Eric died in the battle。〃
He continued to stare； waiting for me to go on。 His face betrayed no emotion。
〃We won because I brought riflemen；〃 I said。 〃I finally found an explosive agent that functions here。〃 His eyes narrowed and he nodded。 I felt that he realized immediately what the stuff was and where it had e from。
〃While there are many things I want to discuss with you；〃 I continued； 〃I want to take care of the enemy first。 If you will hold the contact； I will send you several hundred riflemen。〃 He smiled。
〃Hurry；〃 he said。
I shouted for Ganelon； and he answered me from only a few paces away。 I told him to line the troops up； single file。 He nodded and went off； shouting orders。
As we waited； I said； 〃Benedict； Dara is here。 She was able to follow you through Shadow when you rode in from Avalon。 I want …〃
He bared his teeth and shouted： 〃Who the hell is this Dara you keep talking about？ I never heard of her till you came along！ Please tell me！ I would really like to know！〃
I smiled faintly。
〃It's no good；〃 I said； shaking my head。 〃I know all about her； though I have told no one else that you've a great granddaughter。〃
His lips parted involuntarily and his eyes were suddenly wide。
〃Corwin；〃 he said； 〃you are either mad or deceived。 I've no such descendant that I know of。 As for anyone following me here through Shadow； I came in on Julian's Trump。〃
Of course。 My only excuse for not tripping her up immediately was my preoccupation with the conflict Benedict would have been notified of the battle by means of the Trumps。 Why should he waste time traveling when an instant means of transport was at hand？
〃Damn！〃 I said。 〃She is in Amber by now！ Listen； Benedict！ I am going to get Gerard or Caine over here to handle the transfer of the troops to you。 Ganelon will e through； also。 Give them their orders through him。〃
I looked around； saw Gerard talking with several of the nobles。 I shouted for him with a desperate urgency。 His head turned quickly。 Then he began running in my direction。
〃Corwin！ What is it？〃 Benedict was shouting。
〃I don't know！ But something is very wrong！〃 I thrust the Trump at Gerard as he came up。
〃See that the troops get through to Benedict！〃 I said。 〃Is Random in the palace？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Free or confined？〃
〃Free … more or less。 There will be some guards about。 Eric still doesn't … didn't trust him。〃 I turned。
〃Ganelon；〃 I called out。 〃Do what Gerard here tells you。 He is going to send you to Benedict … down there。〃 I gestured。 〃See that the men follow Benedict's orders。 I have to get into Amber now。〃
〃All right；〃 he called back。
Gerard headed in his direction； and I fanned the Trumps once more。 I located Random's and began to concentrate。 At that moment； it finally began to rain。 I made contact almost immediately。
〃Hello； Random；〃 I said； as soon as his image came to life。 〃Remember me？〃
〃Where are you？〃 he asked。
〃In the mountains；〃 I told him。 〃We just won this part of the battle； and I am sending Benedict the help he needs to clean up in the valley。 Now； though； I need your help。 Bring me across。〃
〃I don't know； Corwin。 Eric …〃
〃Eric is dead。〃
〃Then who is in charge？〃
〃Who do you think？ Bring me across！〃
He nodded quickly and extended his hand。 I reached out and clasped it。 I stepped forward。 I stood beside him on a balcony overlooking one of the courtyards。 The railing was of white marble； and not much was blooming down below。 We were two stories up。 I swayed and he seized my arm。 〃You're hurt！〃 he said。
I shook my head； only just then realizing how tired I was。 I had not slept very much the past few nights。 That； and everything else。。。
〃No；〃 I said； glancing down at the gory mess that was my shirt front。 〃Just tired。 The blood is Eric's。〃
He ran a hand through his straw…colored hair and pursed his lips。
〃So you did finally nail him。。。〃 he said softly。 I shook my head again。
〃No。 He was already dying when I got to him。 e with me now！ Hurry！ It is important！〃
〃Where to？ What is the matter？〃
〃To the Pattern；〃 I said。 〃Why？ I am not certain； but I know that it is important。 e on！〃
We entered the palace； moving toward the nearest stairwell。 There were two guards at its head； but they came to attention as we approached and did not attempt to interfere with our passage。
〃I'm glad it's true about your eyes；〃 Random said as we headed down。 〃Do you see all right？〃
〃Yes。 I hear that you are still married。〃
〃Yes。 I am。〃
When we reached the ground floor； we hurried to the right。 There had been another pair of guards at the foot of the stair； but they did not move to stop us。
〃Yes；〃 he repeated； as we headed toward the center of the palace。 〃You are surprised； aren't you？〃
〃Yes。 I thought you were going to get the year over with and be done with it。〃
〃So did I；〃 he said。 〃But I fell in love with her。 I really did。〃
〃Stranger things have happened。〃
We crossed the marble dining hall and entered the long； narrow corridor that led far back through shadows and dust。 I suppressed a shudder as I thought of my condition the last time I had e this way。
〃She really cares for me；〃 he said。 〃Like nobody else ever has before。〃
〃I'm glad for you；〃 I said。
We reached the door that opened onto the platform hiding the long； spiral stairway down。 It was open。 We passed through and began the descent。
〃I'm not；〃 he said； as we hurried around and around。 〃I didn't want to fall in love。 Not then。 We've been prisoners the whole time； you know。 How can she be proud of that？〃
〃That is over now；〃 I said。 〃You became a prisoner because you followed me and tried to kill Eric； didn't you？〃
〃Yes。 Then she joined me here。〃
〃I will not forget；〃 I said。
We rushed on。 It was a great distance down； and there were only lanterns every forty feet or so。 It was a huge； natural cavern。 I wondered whether anyone knew how many tunnels and corridors it contained。 I suddenly felt myself overwhelmed with pity for any poor wretches rotting in its dungeons； for whatever reasons。 I resolved to release them all or find something better to do with them。
Long minutes passed。 I could see the flickering of the torches and the lanterns below。
〃There is a girl；〃 I said； 〃and her name is Dara。 She told me she was Benedict's great…granddaughter and gave me reason to believe it。 I tol
