rz.thegunsofavalon-第15章

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　〃East；〃　I　said。
　〃Did　you　meet　with　any　…　difficulty　…　recently？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Should　we　have？〃
　〃Hard　to　say；〃　he　decided。　〃Remove　your　weapons。　I'm　going　to　send　you　down　to　the　camp。　They　will　want　to　question　you　about　anything　you　may　have　seen　in　the　east　…　anything　unusual。〃
　〃We've　seen　nothing　unusual；〃　I　said。
　〃Whatever；　they　will　probably　feed　you。　Though　I　doubt　you　will　be　hired。　You　have　e　a　bit　late　for　the　fighting。　Remove　your　weapons　now。〃
　He　called　two　more　men　from　within　the　trees　while　we　unbuckled　our　sword　belts。　He　instructed　them　to　escort　us　below；　on　foot。　We　were　to　lead　our　horses。　The　men　took　our　weapons；　and　as　we　turned　to　go　our　interrogator　cried　out；　〃Wait！〃　I　turned　back　toward　him。
　〃You。　What　is　your　name？〃　he　asked　me。
　〃Corey〃　I　said。
　〃Stand　still。〃
　He　approached；　drawing　very　near。　He　stared　at　me　for　perhaps　ten　seconds。
　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　I　asked。
　Instead　of　replying；　he　fumbled　with　a　pouch　at　his　belt。　He　withdrew　a　handful　of　coins　and　held　them　close　to　his　eyes。
　〃Damn！　It's　too　dark；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　can't　make　a　light。〃
　〃For　what？〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　it　is　not　of　any　great　importance；〃　he　told　me。　〃You　struck　me　as　familiar；　though；　and　I　was　trying　to　think　why。　You　look　like　the　head　stamped　on　some　of　our　old　coins。　A　few　of　them　are　still　about。〃
　〃Doesn't　he？〃　he　addressed　the　nearest　bowman。
　The　man　lowered　his　crossbow　and　advanced。　He　squinted　at　me　from　a　few　paces'　distance。
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　then；　〃he　does。〃
　〃What　was　it　…　the　one　we're　thinking　of？〃
　〃One　of　those　old　men。　Before　my　time。　I　don't　remember。〃
　〃Me　neither。　Well。。。〃　He　shrugged。　〃No　importance。　Go　ahead；　Corey。　Answer　their　questions　honestly　and　you'll　not　be　harmed。〃
　I　turned　away　and　left　him　there　in　the　moonlight；　gazing　after　me　and　scratching　the　top　of　his　head。
　The　men　who　guarded　us　were　not　the　talkative　sort。　Which　was　just　as　well。
　All　the　way　down　the　hill　I　wondered　about　the　boy's　story　and　the　resolution　of　the　conflict　he　had　described；　for　I　had　achieved　the　physical　analogue　of　the　world　of　my　desire　and　would　now　have　to　operate　within　the　prevailing　situations。
　The　camp　had　the　pleasant　smell　of　man　and　beast；　wood　smoke；　roasting　meat；　leather　and　oil；　all　intermingled　in　the　firelight　where　men　talked；　honed　weapons；　repaired　gear；　ate；　gamed；　slept；　drank；　and　watched　us　as　we　led　our　mounts　through　their　midst；　escorted　in　the　direction　of　a　nearly　central　trio　of　tattered　tents。　A　sphere　of　silence　expanded　about　us　as　we　went。
　We　were　halted　before　the　second…largest　tent　and　one　of　our　guards　spoke　with　a　man　who　was　pacing　the　area。　The　man　shook　his　head　several　times　and　gestured　in　the　direction　of　the　largest　tent。　The　exchange　lasted　for　several　minutes；　then　our　guard　returned　and　spoke　with　the　other　guard　who　waited　at　our　left。　Finally；　our　man　nodded　and　approached　me　while　the　other　summoned　a　man　from　the　nearest　campfire。
　〃The　officers　are　all　at　a　meeting　in　the　Protector's　tent；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　going　to　hobble　your　horses　and　put　them　to　graze。　Unstrap　your　things　and　set　them　here。　You　will　have　to　wait　to　see　the　captain。〃
　I　nodded；　and　we　set　about　unstowing　our　belongings　and　rubbing　the　horses　down。　I　patted　Star　on　the　neck　and　watched　a　small　man　with　a　limp　lead　him　and　Ganelon's　mount　Firedrake　off　toward　the　other　horses。　We　sat　on　our　packs　then　and　waited。　One　of　the　guards　brought　us　some　hot　tea　and　accepted　a　pipeful　of　my　tobacco。　They　moved　then　to　a　spot　somewhat　to　our　rear。
　I　watched　the　big　tent；　sipped　my　tea；　and　thought　of　Amber　and　a　small　night　club　in　the　Rue　de　Char　et　Pain　in　Brussels；　on　the　shadow　Earth　I　had　so　long　inhabited。　Once　I　obtained　the　jewelers　rouge　I　needed　from　here；　I　would　be　heading　for　Brussels　to　deal　with　the　arms　merchants　of　the　Gun　Bourse　once　again。　My　order　would　be　plicated　and　expensive；　I　realized；　because　some　ammunition　manufacturer　would　have　to　be　persuaded　to　set　up　a　special　production　line。　I　knew　dealers　on　that　Earth　other　than　Interannco；　thanks　to　my　itinerant　military　background　in　that　place；　and　I　estimated　that　it　would　only　take　me　a　few　months　to　get　outfitted　there。　I　began　considering　the　details　and　time　passed　quickly　and　pleasantly。
　After　what　was　probably　an　hour　and　a　half；　the　shadows　stirred　within　the　large　tent。　It　was　several　minutes　after　that　before　the　entrance　flap　was　thrown　aside　and　men　began　to　emerge；　slowly；　talking　among　themselves；　glancing　back　within。　The　last　two　tarried　at　the　threshold；　still　talking　with　someone　who　remained　inside。　The　rest　of　them　passed　into　the　other　tents。
　The　two　at　the　entrance　edged　their　way　outside；　still　facing　the　interior。　I　could　hear　the　sounds　of　their　voices；　although　I　could　not　make　out　what　was　being　said。　As　they　drifted　farther　outside；　the　man　with　whom　they　were　speaking　moved　also　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　him。　The　light　was　at　his　back　and　the　two　officers　blocked　most　of　my　view；　but　I　could　see　that　he　was　thin　and　very　tall。
　Our　guards　had　not　yet　stirred；　indicating　to　me　that　one　of　the　two　officers　was　the　captain　mentioned　earlier。　I　continued　to　stare；　willing　them　to　move　farther　and　grant　me　a　better　look　at　their　superior。
　After　a　time　they　did；　and　a　few　moments　later　he　took　a　step　forward。
　At　first；　I　could　not　tell　whether　it　was　just　a　play　of　light　and　shadow。。。　But　no！　He　moved　again　and　I　had　a　clear　view　for　a　moment。　He　was　missing　his　right　arm；　from　a　point　just　below　the　elbow。　It　was　so　heavily　bandaged　that　I　guessed　the　loss　to　have　been　quite　recent。
　Then　his　large　left　hand　made　a　downward；　sweeping　gesture　and　hovered　a　good　distance　out　from　his　body。　The　stump　twitched　at　the　same　moment；　and　so　did　something　at　the　back　of　my　mind。　His　hair　was　long　and　straight　and　brown；　and　I　saw　the　way　that　his　jaw　jutted。。。
　He　stepped　outside　then；　and　a　breeze　caught　the　cloak　he　wore　and　caused　it　to　flare　to　his　right。　I　saw　that　his　shirt　was　yellow；　his　trousers　brown。　The　cloak　itself　was　a　flame…like　orange；　and　he　caught　its　edge　with　an　unnaturally　rapid　movement　of　his　left　hand　and　drew　it　back　to　cover　his　stump。
　I　stood　quickly；　and　his　head　snapped　in　my　direction。
　Our　gazes　met；　and　neither　of　us　moved　for　several　heartbeats　after　that。
　The　two　officers　turned　and　stared；　and　then　he　pushed　them　aside　and　was　striding　toward　me。　I　heard　Ganelon　grunt　and　climb　quickly　to　his　feet。　Our　guards　were　taken　by　surprise；　also。
　He　halted　several　paces　before　me　and　his　hazel　eyes　swept　over　me。　He　seldom　smiled；　but　he　managed　a　faint　one　this　time。
　〃e　with　me；〃　he　said；　and　he　turned　back　toward　his　tent。
　We　followed　him；　leaving　our　gear　where　it　lay。
　He　dismissed　the　two　officers　with　a　glance；　halted　beside　the　tent's　entrance　and　motioned　us　in。　He　followed　and　let　the　flap　fall　behind　him。　My　eyes　took　in　his　bedroll；　a　small　table；　benches；　weapons；　a　campaign　chest。　There　was　an　oil　lamp　on　the　table；　as　well　as　books；　maps；　a　bottle；　and　some　cups。　Another　lamp　flickered　atop　the　chest。
　He　clasped　my　hand　and　smiled　again。
　〃Corwin；〃　he　said；　〃and　still　alive。〃
　〃Benedict；〃　I　said；　smiling　myself；　〃and　breathing　yet。　It　has　been　devilish　long。〃
　〃Indeed。　Who　is　your　friend？〃
　〃His　name　is　Ganelon。〃
　〃Ganelon；〃　he　said；　nodding　toward　him　but　not　offering　to　clasp　hands。
　He　moved　to　the　table　then　and　poured　three　cups　of　wine。　He　passed　one　to　me；　another　to　Ganelon；　raised　the　third　himself。
　〃To　your　health；　brother；〃　he　said。
　〃To　yours。〃
　We　drank。
　Then；　〃Be　seated；〃　he　said；　gesturing　toward　the　nearest　bench　and　seating　himself　at　the　table；　〃and　wele　to　Avalon。〃
　〃Thank　you　…　Protector。〃
　He　grimaced。
　〃The　sobriquet　is　not　unearned；〃　he　said　flatly；　continuing　to　study　my　face。　〃I　wonder　whether　their　earlier　protector　could　say　the　same？〃
　〃It　was　not　really　this　place；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　believe　that　he　could。〃　He　shrugged。
　〃Of　course；〃　he　said。　〃Enough　of　that！　Where　have　you　been？　What　have　you　been　doing？　Why　have　you　e　here？　Tell　me　of　yourself。　It　has　been　too　long。〃
　I　nodded。　It　was　unfortunate；　but　family　et