rz.thegunsofavalon-第19章

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　displace　him　or　blackmail　him。
　〃I　sought　for　you　in　the　vicinity　of　Avalon；〃　he　continued；　〃and　I　found　this　place　and　was　taken　by　it。　It　was　in　a　pitiful　condition　in　those　days；　and　for　generations　I　worked　to　restore　it　to　its　former　glory。　While　I　began　this　in　memory　of　you；　I　developed　a　fondness　for　this　land　and　its　people。　They　came　to　consider　me　their　protector；　and　so　did　I。〃
　I　was　troubled　as　well　as　touched　by　this。　Was　he　implying　that　I　had　fouled　things　up　terribly　and　that　he　had　tarried　here　to　put　them　in　order　…　so　as　to　clean　up　after　his　kid　brother　this　one　last　time？　Or　did　he　mean　that　he　realized　I　had　loved　this　place　…　or　a　place　very　much　like　it　…　and　that　he　had　worked　to　set　it　in　good　order　as　something　I　might　have　wished　done？　Perhaps　I　was　being　oversensitive。
　〃It　is　good　to　know　that　I　was　sought；〃　I　said；　〃and　it　is　very　good　to　know　that　you　are　the　defender　of　this　land。　I　would　like　to　see　this　place；　for　it　does　remind　me　of　the　Avalon　that　I　knew。　Would　you　have　any　objections　to　my　visiting　here？〃
　〃That　is　all　that　you　wish　to　do？　Visit？〃
　〃That　is　all　that　I　had　in　mind。〃
　〃Know　then　that　what　is　remembered　of　the　shadow　of　yourself　that　once　reigned　here　is　not　good。　Children　are　not　named　Corwin　in　this　place；　nor　am　I　brother　to　any　Corwin　here。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　I　said。　〃My　name　is　Corey。　Can　we　be　old　friends？〃　He　nodded。
　〃Old　friends　of　mine　are　always　wele　to　visit　here；〃　he　said。
　I　smiled　and　nodded。　I　felt　insulted　that　he　would　entertain　the　notion　that　I　had　designs　upon　this　shadow　of　a　shadow：　I；　who　had　…　albeit　but　for　an　instant　…　felt　the　cold　fire　of　Amber's　crown　upon　my　brow。
　I　wondered　what　his　attitude　would　have　been　had　he　known　of　my　responsibility；　when　it　came　down　to　basics；　for　the　raids。　For　that　matter；　I　suppose；　I　was　also　responsible　for　the　loss　of　his　arm。　I　preferred　to　push　things　one　step　farther　back；　however；　and　hold　Eric　responsible。　After　all；　it　was　his　action　that　had　prompted　my　curse。
　Still；　I　hoped　that　Benedict　would　never　find　out。
　I　wanted　very　badly　to　know　where　he　stood　with　respect　to　Eric。　Would　he　support　him；　throw　his　weight　behind　me；　or　just　stay　out　of　the　way　when　I　made　my　move？　Conversely；　I　was　certain　that　he　wondered　whether　my　ambitions　were　dead　or　still　smoldering　…　and　if　the　latter；　what　my　plans　were　for　stoking　them。　So。。。
　Who　was　going　to　raise　the　matter？
　I　took　several　good　puffs　on　my　pipe；　finished　my　wine；　poured　some　more；　puffed　again。　I　listened　to　the　sounds　of　the　camp；　the　wind；　my　stomach。。。
　Benedict　took　a　sip　of　wine。
　Then；　〃What　are　your　long…range　plans？〃　he　asked　me；　almost　casually。
　I　could　say　that　I　had　not　made　up　my　mind　yet；　that　I　was　simply　happy　to　be　free；　alive；　seeing。。。　I　could　tell　him　that　that　was　enough　for　me；　for　now；　that　I　had　no　special　plans。。。
　。。。　And　he　would　know　that　I　lied　in　my　teeth。　For　he　knew　me　better　than　that。
　So；　〃You　know　what　my　plans　are；〃　I　said。
　〃If　you　were　to　ask　for　my　support；〃　he　said；　〃I　would　deny　it。　Amber　is　in　bad　enough　shape　without　another　power　grab。〃
　〃Eric　is　a　usurper。〃
　〃I　choose　to　look　upon　him　as　regent　only。　At　this　time；　any　of　us　who　claims　the　throne　is　guilty　of　usurpation。〃
　〃Then　you　believe　Dad　still　lives？〃
　〃Yes。　Alive　and　distressed。　He　has　made　several　attempts　to　municate。〃
　I　succeeded　in　keeping　my　face　from　showing　anything。　So　I　was　not　the　only　one；　then。　To　reveal　my　experiences　at　this　point　would　sound　hypocritical；　opportunistic；　or　a　flat　lie　…　since　in　our　seeming　contact　of　five　years　ago　he　had　given　me　the　go…ahead　to　take　the　throne。　Of　course；　he　could　have　been　referring　to　a　regency　then。。。
　〃You　did　not　lend　support　to　Eric　when　he　took　the　throne；〃　I　said。　〃Would　you　give　it　to　him　now　that　he　holds　it；　if　an　attempt　were　made　to　unseat　him？〃
　〃It　is　as　I　said；〃　he　told　me。　〃I　look　upon　him　as　regent。　I　do　not　say　that　I　approve　of　this；　but　I　desire　no　further　strife　in　Amber。〃
　〃Then　you　would　support　him？〃
　〃I　have　said　all　that　I　have　to　say　on　the　matter。　You　are　wele　to　visit　my　Avalon；　but　not　to　use　it　as　a　staging　area　for　an　invasion　of　Amber。　Does　that　clarify　matters　with　respect　to　anything　you　may　have　in　mind？〃
　〃It　clarifies　matters；〃　I　said。
　〃This　being　the　case；　do　you　still　wish　to　visit　here？〃
　〃I　do　not　know；〃　I　said。　〃Does　your　desire　to　avoid　strife　in　Amber　work　both　ways？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean　that　if　I　were　returned　to　Amber　against　my　will；　I　would　damn　well　create　as　much　strife　as　I　could　to　prevent　a　recurrence　of　my　previous　situation。〃
　The　lines　went　out　of　his　face　and　he　slowly　lowered　his　eyes。
　〃I　did　not　mean　to　imply　that　I　would　betray　you。　Do　you　think　that　I　am　without　feelings；　Corwin？　I　would　not　see　you　imprisoned　again；　blinded　…　or　worse。　You　are　always　wele　to　visit　here；　and　you　may　leave　your　fears　along　with　your　ambitions　at　the　border。〃
　〃Then　I　would　still　like　to　visit；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　no　army；　nor　did　I　e　here　to　recruit　one。〃
　〃Then　you　know　that　you　are　most　wele。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Benedict。　While　I　did　not　expect　to　find　you　here；　I　am　glad　that　I　did。〃
　He　reddened　faintly　and　nodded。
　〃It　pleases　me；　also；〃　he　said。　〃Am　I　the　first　of　us　you　have　seen　…　since　your　escape？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Yes；　and　I　am　curious　as　to　how　everyone　is　faring。　Any　major　reports？〃
　〃No　new　deaths；〃　he　said。
　We　both　chuckled；　and　I　knew　that　I　would　have　to　turn　up　the　family　gossip　on　my　own。　It　had　been　worth　the　attempt；　though。
　〃I　am　planning　on　remaining　in　the　field　for　a　time；〃　he　said；　〃and　continuing　my　patrols　until　I　am　satisfied　that　none　of　the　invaders　remain。　It　could　be　another　week　before　we　withdraw。〃
　〃Oh？　Then　it　was　not　a　total　victory？〃
　〃I　believe　that　it　was；　but　I　never　take　unnecessary　chances。　It　is　worth　a　little　more　time　to　be　certain。〃
　〃Prudent；〃　I　said；　nodding。
　〃。。。　So　unless　you　have　a　strong　desire　to　remain　here　in　camp；　I　see　no　reason　why　you　should　not　proceed　on　toward　town　and　get　near　the　center　of　things。　I　maintain　several　residences　about　Avalon。　I　have　in　mind　for　your　use　a　small　manor　house　that　I　have　found　pleasant。　It　is　not　far　from　town。〃
　〃I　look　forward　to　seeing　it。〃
　〃I　will　provide　you　with　a　map　and　a　letter　to　my　steward　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Benedict。〃
　〃I　will　join　you　there　as　soon　as　I　have　finished　here；〃　he　said；　〃and　in　the　meantime；　I　have　messengers　passing　that　way　daily。　I　will　keep　in　touch　with　you　through　them。〃
　〃Very　good。〃
　〃Then　find　yourselves　a　fortable　piece　of　ground；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　not　miss　the　breakfast　call；　I'm　sure。〃
　〃I　seldom　do；〃　I　said。　〃Is　it　all　right　if　we　sleep　at　that　spot　where　we　left　our　gear？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　he　said；　and　we　finished　the　wine。
　As　we　left　his　tent；　I　seized　the　flap　up　high　when　I　opened　it　and　was　able　to　squeeze　it　several　inches　to　the　side　when　I　cast　it　before　me。　Benedict　bade　us　good　night　and　turned　away　as　he　let　it　fall；　not　noticing　the　gap　of　several　inches　that　I　had　created　along　its　one　side。
　I　made　my　bed　up　a　good　distance　to　the　right　of　our　equipment；　facing　in　the　direction　of　Benedict's　tent；　and　I　moved　the　gear　itself　as　I　rummaged　through　it。　Ganelon　shot　me　a　quizzical　look；　but　I　simply　nodded　and　made　a　movement　with　my　eyes　toward　the　tent。　He　glanced　that　way；　returned　the　nod；　and　proceeded　to　spread　his　own　blankets　farther　to　the　right。
　I　measured　it　with　my　eyes；　walked　over；　and　said；　〃You　know；　I'd　much　rather　sleep　here。　Would　you　mind　switching　with　me？〃　I　added　a　wink　for　emphasis。
　〃Makes　no　difference　to　me；〃　he　said；　shrugging。
　The　campfires　had　died　or　were　dying；　and　most　of　the　pany　had　turned　in。　The　guard　only　paid　us　heed　a　couple　of　times　around。　The　camp　was　very　quiet　and　there　were　no　clouds　to　obscure　the　brilliance　of　the　stars。　I　was　tired；　and　the　smells　of　the　smoke　and　the　damp　earth　came　pleasantly　to　my　nostrils；　reminding　me　of　other　times　and　places　such　as　this　and　the　rest　at　the　day's　end。
　Instead　of　closing　my　eyes；　however；　I　fetched　my　pack　and　propped　my　back　against　it；　filled　my　pipe　again；　and　struck　it　to　life。
　I