rz.thegunsofavalon-第17章
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ese three。 Julian hated me。 Caine neither liked nor disliked me especially； and Gerard and I shared fond memories that went all the way back to my childhood。 I would have to find out who it was； quickly … and he was not yet ready to tell me； of course； knowing nothing of my present motives。 A liaison with Amber could be used to hurt me or benefit me in short order； depending upon his desire and the person on the other end。 It was therefore both sword and shield to him； and I was somewhat hurt that he had chosen to display these accoutrements so quickly。 I chose to take it that his recent injury had served to make him abnormally wary； for I had certainly never given him cause for distress。 Still； this caused me to feel abnormally wary also； a sad thing to know when meeting one's brother again for the first time in many years。
〃It is interesting；〃 I said； swirling the wine within my cup。 〃In this light； then； it appears that everyone may have acted prematurely。〃
〃Not everyone；〃 he said。
I felt my face redden。
〃Your； pardon；〃 I said。
He nodded curtly。
〃Please continue your telling。〃
〃Well； to continue my chain of assumptions；〃 I said； 〃when Eric decided that the throne had been vacant long enough and the time had e to make his move； he must also have decided that my amnesia was not sufficient and that it would be better to see my claim quitted entirely。 At this time； he arranged for me to have an accident off on that shadow Earth； an accident which should have proven fatal but did not。〃
〃How do you know this？ How much of it is guesswork？〃
〃Flora as much as admitted it to me … including her own plicity in the thing … when I questioned her later。〃
〃Very interesting。 Go on。〃
〃The bash on my head provided what even Sigmund Freud had been unable to obtain for me earlier；〃 I said。 〃There returned to me small recollections that grew stronger and stronger … especially after I encountered Flora and was exposed to all manner of things that stimulated my memory。 I was able to convince her that it had fully returned； so her speech was open as to people and things。 Then Random showed up； fleeing from something …〃
〃Fleeing？ From what？ Why？〃
〃From some strange creatures out of Shadow。 I never found out why。〃
〃Interesting；〃 he said； and I had to agree。 I had thought of it often； back in my cell； wondering just why Random had entered； stage left； pursued by Furies； in the first place。 From the moment we met until the moment we parted； we had been in some sort of peril； I had been preoccupied with my own troubles and he had volunteered nothing concerning his abrupt appearance。 It had crossed my mind； of course； at the time of his arrival； but I was uncertain as to whether it was something of which I might be expected to have knowledge； and I let it go at that。 Events then submerged it until later in my cell and again the present moment。 Interesting？ Indeed。 Also； troubling。
〃I managed to take in Random as to my condition；〃 I continued。 〃He believed I was seeking the throne； when all that I was consciously seeking was my memory。 He agreed to help me return to Amber； and he succeeded in getting me back。 Well； almost；〃 I corrected。 〃We wound up in Rebma。 By then； I had told Random my true condition； and he proposed my walking the Pattern again as a means of restoring it fully。 The opportunity was there； and I took it。 It proved effective； and I used the power of the Pattern to transport myself into Amber。〃 He smiled。
〃At this point。 Random must have been a very unhappy man；〃 he said。
〃He was not exactly singing with glee；〃 I said。 〃He had accepted Moire's judgment； that he wed a woman of her choosing … a blind girl named Vialle … and remain there with her for at least a year。 I left him behind； and I later learned that he had done this thing。 Deirdre was also there。 We had encountered her along the way； in flight from Amber； and the three of us had entered Rebma together。 She remained behind； also。〃
I finished my wine and Benedict nodded toward the bottle。 It was almost empty； though； so he fetched a fresh bottle from his chest and we filled our cups。 I took a long swallow。 It was better wine than the previous。 Must have been his private stock。
〃In the palace；〃 I went on； 〃I made my way to the library； where I obtained a pack of the Tarots。 This was my main reason for venturing there。 I was surprised by Eric before I could do much else and we fought； there in the library。 I succeeded in wounding him and believe I could have finished him； save that reinforcements arrived and I was forced to flee。 I contacted Bleys then； who gave me passage to him in Shadow。 You may have heard the rest from your own sources。 How Bleys and I threw in together； assaulted Amber； lost。 He fell from the face of Kolvir。 I tossed him my Tarots and he caught them。 I understand that his body was never found。 But it was a long way down … though I believe the tide was high by then。 I do not know whether he died that day or not。〃
〃Neither do I；〃 said Benedict。
〃So I was imprisoned and Eric was crowned。 I was prevailed upon to assist in the coronation； despite a small demurrer on my part。 I did succeed in crowning myself before that bastard … genealogically speaking … had it back and placed it on his own head。 Then he had me blinded and sent to the dungeons。〃
He leaned forward and studied my face。 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I had heard that。 How was it done？〃
〃Hot irons；〃 I said； wincing involuntarily and repressing an impulse to clutch at my eyes。 〃I passed out partway through the ordeal。〃
〃Was there actual contact with the eyeballs？〃
〃Yes〃 I said。 〃I think so。〃
〃And how long did the regeneration take？〃
〃It was close to four years before I could see again；〃 I said； 〃and my vision is just getting back to normal now。 So … about five years altogether； I would say。〃
He leaned back； sighed； and smiled faintly。
〃Good；〃 he said。 〃You give me some small hope。 Others of us have lost portions of their anatomy and experienced regeneration also； of course； but I never lost anything significant … until now。〃
〃Oh yes；〃 I said。 〃It is a most impressive record。 I reviewed it regularly for years。 A collection of bits and pieces； many of them forgotten I daresay； but by the principals and myself： fingertips； toes； ear lobes。 I would say that there is hope for your arm。 Not for a long while； of course。
〃It is a good thing that you are ambidextrous；〃 I added。
His smile went on and off and he took a drink of wine。 No； he was not ready to tell me what had happened to him。
I took another sip of my own。 I did not want to tell him about Dworkin。 I had wanted to save Dworkin as something of an ace in the hole。 None of us understood the man's full power； and he was obviously mad。 But he could be manipulated。 Even Dad had apparently e to fear him after a time； and had had him locked away。 What was it that he had told me back in my cell？ That Dad had had him confined after he had announced his discovery of a means for destroying all of Amber。 If this was not just the rambling of a psychotic and was the real reason for his being where he was； then Dad had been far more generous that I would have been。 The man was too dangerous to let live。 On the other hand； though； Dad had been trying to cure him of his condition。 Dworkin had spoken of doctors； men he had frightened away or destroyed when he had turned his powers against them。 Most of my memories of him were of a wise； kindly old man； quite devoted to Dad and the rest of the family。 It would be difficult readily to destroy someone like that if there was some hope。 He had been confined to what should have been inescapable quarters。 Yet when he had grown bored one day； he had simply walked out。 No man can walk through Shadow in Amber； the very absence of Shadow； so he had done something I did not understand； something involving the principle behind the Trumps； and had left his quarters。 Before he returned to them； I managed to persuade him to provide me with a similar exit from my own cell； one that transported me to the lighthouse of Cabra； where I recovered somewhat； then set out upon the voyage that took me to Lorraine。 Most likely he was still undetected。 As I understood it； ou
