rz.signoftheunicorn-第16部分

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　As　he　was　clasping　his　big　belt　he　looked　up　at　me　and　looked　away　again。
　〃We'll　not　talk　about　it　any　more；〃　he　said。
　〃All　right。〃
　I　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　horses。　We　mounted　and　continued　on　down　the　trail。
　The　spring　made　its　small　music　in　the　grove。　Higher　now；　the　sun　strung　lines　of　light　through　the　trees。　There　was　still　some　dew　on　the　ground。　The　sod　that　I　had　cut　for　Caine's　grave　was　moist　with　it。
　I　fetched　the　spade　that　I　had　packed　and　opened　the　grave。　Without　a　word；　Gerard　helped　me　move　the　body　onto　a　piece　of　sailcloth　we　had　brought　for　that　purpose。　We　folded　it　about　him　and　closed　it　with　big；　loose　stitches。
　〃Corwin！　Look！〃
　It　was　a　whisper；　and　Gerard's　hand　closed　on　my　elbow　as　he　spoke。
　I　followed　the　direction　of　his　gaze　and　froze。　Neither　of　us　moved　as　we　regarded　the　apparition：　a　soft；　shimmering　white　enpassed　it；　as　if　it　were　covered　with　down　rather　than　fur　and　maning；　its　tiny；　cloven　hooves　were　golden；　as　was　the　delicate；　whorled　horn　that　rose　from　its　narrow　head。　It　stood　atop　one　of　the　lesser　rocks；　nibbling　at　the　lichen　that　grew　there。　Its　eyes；　when　it　raised　them　and　looked　in　our　direction；　were　a　bright；　emerald　green。　It　joined　us　in　immobility　for　a　pair　of　instants。　Then　it　made　a　quick；　nervous　gesture　with　its　front　feet；　pawing　the　air　and　striking　the　stone；　three　times。　And　then　it　blurred　and　vanished　like　a　snowflake；　silently；　perhaps　in　the　woods　to　our　right。
　I　rose　and　crossed　to　the　stone。　Gerard　followed　me。　There；　in　the　moss；　I　traced　its　tiny　hoofmarks。
　〃Then　we　really　did　see　it；〃　Gerard　said。
　I　nodded。
　〃We　saw　something。　Did　you　ever　see　it　before？〃
　〃No。　Did　you？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃Julian　claims　he　once　saw　it；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　distance。　Says　his　hounds　refused　to　give　chase。〃
　〃It　was　beautiful。　That　long；　silky　tail；　those　shiny　hooves。。。〃
　〃Yes。　Dad　always　took　it　as　a　good　omen。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　myself。〃
　〃Strange　time　for　it　to　appear。。。　All　these　years。。。〃
　I　nodded　again。
　〃Is　there　a　special　observance？　It　being　our　patron　and　all。。。　is　there　something　we　should　do？〃
　〃If　there　is；　Dad　never　told　me　about　it；〃　I　said。　I　patted　the　rock　on　which　it　had　appeared。　〃If　you　herald　some　turn　in　our　fortunes；　if　you　bring　us　some　measure　of　grace　…　thanks；　unicorn；〃　I　said。　〃And　even　if　you　do　not；　thanks　for　the　brightness　of　your　pany　at　a　dark　time。〃
　We　went　and　drank　from　the　spring　then。　We　secured　our　grim　parcel　on　the　back　of　the　third　horse。　We　led　our　mounts　until　we　were　away　from　the　place；　where；　save　for　the　water；　things　had　bee　very　still。
　
　
　Chapter　6
　
　Life's　incessant　ceremonies　leap　everlasting；　humans　spring　eternal　on　hope's　breast；　and　frying　pans　without　fires　are　often　far　between：　the　sum　of　my　long　life's　wisdom　that　evening；　tendered　in　a　spirit　of　creative　anxiety；　answered　by　Random　with　a　nod　and　a　friendly　obscenity。
　We　were　in　the　library；　and　I　was　seated　on　the　edge　of　the　big　desk。　Random　occupied　a　chair　to　my　right。　Gerard　stood　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　inspecting　some　weapons　that　hung　on　the　wall。　Or　maybe　it　was　Rein's　etching　of　the　unicorn　he　was　looking　at。　Whichever；　along　with　ourselves；　he　was　also　ignoring　Julian；　who　was　slouched　in　an　easy　chair　beside　the　display　cases；　right　center；　legs　extended　and　crossed　at　the　ankles；　arms　folded；　staring　down　at　his　scaley　boots。　Fiona　…　five…two；　perhaps；　in　height　…　green　eyes　fixed　on　Flora's　own　blue　as　they　spoke；　there　beside　the　fireplace；　hair　more　than　pensating　for　the　vacant　hearth；　smoldering；　reminded　me；　as　always；　of　something　from　which　the　artist　had　just　drawn　back；　setting　aside　his　tools；　questions　slowly　forming　behind　his　smile。　The　place　at　the　base　of　her　throat　where　his　thumb　had　notched　the　collarbone　always　drew　my　eyes　as　the　mark　of　a　master　craftsman；　especially　when　she　raised　her　head；　quizzical　or　imperious；　to　regard　us　taller　others。　She　smiled　faintly；　just　then；　doubtless　aware　of　my　gaze；　an　almost　clairvoyant　faculty　the　acceptance　of　which　has　never　deprived　of　its　ability　to　disconcert。　Llewella；　off　in　a　er；　pretending　to　study　a　book；　had　her　back　to　the　rest　of　us；　her　green　tresses　bobbed　a　couple　of　inches　above　her　dark　collar。　Whether　her　withdrawal　involved　animus；　self…conscious　in　her　alienation；　or　simple　caution；　I　could　never　be　certain。　Probably　something　of　all　these。　Hers　was　not　that　familiar　a　presence　in　Amber。
　。。。　And　the　fact　that　we　constituted　a　collection　of　individuals　rather　than　a　group；　a　family；　at　a　time　when　I　wanted　to　achieve　some　over…identity；　some　will　to　cooperate；　was　what　led　to　my　observations　and　Random's　acknowledgment。
　I　felt　a　familiar　presence；　heard　a　〃Hello；　Corwin〃　and　there　was　Deirdre；　reaching　toward　me。　I　extended　my　hand；　clasped　her　own；　raised　it。　She　took　a　step　forward；　as　if　to　the　first　strain　of　some　formal　dance；　and　moved　close；　facing　me。　For　an　instant　a　grilled　window　had　framed　her　head　and　shoulders　and　a　rich　tapestry　had　adorned　the　wall　to　her　left。　Planned　and　posed；　of　course。　Still；　effective。　She　held　my　Trump　in　her　left　hand。　She　smiled。　The　others　glanced　our　way　as　she　appeared　and　she　hit　them　all　with　that　smile；　like　the　Mona　Lisa　with　a　machine　gun；　turning　slowly。
　〃Corwin；〃　she　said；　kissing　me　briefly　and　withdrawing；　〃I　fear　I　am　early。〃
　〃Never；〃　I　replied；　turning　toward　Random；　who　had　just　risen　and　who　anticipated　me　by　seconds。
　〃May　I　fetch　you　a　drink；　sister？〃　he　asked；　taking　her　hand　and　nodding　toward　the　sideboard。
　〃Why；　yes。　Thank　you；〃　and　he　led　her　off　and　poured　her　some　wine；　avoiding　or　at　least　postponing；　I　suppose；　her　usual　clash　with　Flora。　At　least；　I　assumed　most　of　the　old　frictions　were　still　alive　as　I　remembered　them。　So　if　it　cost　me　her　pany　for　the　moment　it　also　maintained　the　domestic…tranquility　index；　which　was　important　to　me　just　then。　Random　can　be　good　at　such　things　when　he　wants　to。
　I　drummed　the　side　of　the　desk　with　my　fingertips；　I　rubbed　my　aching　shoulder；　I　uncrossed　and　recrossed　my　legs；　I　debated　lighting　a　cigarette。。。
　Suddenly　he　was　there。　At　the　far　end　of　the　room；　Gerard　had　turned　to　his　left；　said　something；　and　extended　his　hand。　An　instant　later；　he　was　clasping　the　left　and　only　hand　of　Benedict；　the　final　member　of　our　group。
　All　right。　The　fact　that　Benedict　had　chosen　to　e　in　on　Gerard's　Trump　rather　than　mine　was　his　way　of　expressing　his　feelings　toward　me。　Was　it　also　an　indication　of　an　alliance　to　keep　me　in　check？　It　was　at　least　calculated　to　make　me　wonder。　Could　it　have　been　Benedict　who　had　put　Gerard　up　to　our　morning's　exercise？　Probably。
　At　that　moment　Julian　rose　to　his　feet；　crossed　the　room；　gave　Benedict　a　word　and　a　handclasp。
　This　activity　attracted　Llewella。　She　turned；　closing　her　book　and　laying　it　aside。　Smiling　then；　she　advanced　and　greeted　Benedict；　nodded　to　Julian；　said　something　to　Gerard。　The　impromptu　conference　warmed；　grew　animated。　All　right　again；　and　again。
　Four　and　three。　And　two　in　the　middle。。。
　I　waited；　staring　at　the　group　across　the　room。　We　were　all　present；　and　I　could　have　asked　them　for　attention　and　proceeded　with　what　I　had　in　mind。　However。。。
　It　was　too　tempting。　All　of　us　could　feel　the　tension；　I　knew。　It　was　as　if　a　pair　of　magnetic　poles　had　suddenly　been　activated　within　the　room。　I　was　curious　to　see　how　all　the　filings　would　fall。
　Flora　gave　me　one　quick　glance。　I　doubted　that　she　had　changed　her　mind　overnight　…　unless；　of　course；　there　had　been　some　new　development。　No；　I　felt　confident　that　I　had　anticipated　the　next　move。
　Nor　was　I　incorrect。　I　overheard　her　mentioning　thirst　and　a　glass　of　wine。　She　turned　partway　and　made　a　move　in　my　direction；　as　if　expecting　Fiona　to　acpany　her。　She　hesitated　for　a　moment　when　this　did　not　occur；　suddenly　became　the　focus　of　the　entire　pany's　attention；　realized　this　fact；　made　a　quick　decision；　smiled；　and　moved　in　my　direction。
　〃Corwin；〃　she　said；　〃I　believe　I　would　like　a　glass　of　wine。〃
　Without　turning　my　head　or　removing　my　gaze　from　the　tableau　before　me；　I　called　back　over　my　shoulder；　〃Random；　pour　Flora　a　glass　of　wine；　would　y