rz.thegunsofavalon-第43章
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followed。 I waited until now to approach； because I wanted you to be too near to Amber to send me back when I did。〃
〃I don't believe you are telling me the whole truth；〃 I said； 〃but I haven't the time to care。 We are going ahead now； and there will be fighting。 The safest thing for you will be to remain here。 I will assign you a couple of bodyguards。〃
〃I do not want them！〃
〃I don't care what you want。 You are going to have them。 When the fighting is over I will send for you。〃 I turned then and selected two men at random； ordering them to remain behind and guard her。 They did not seem overjoyed at the prospect。
〃What are those weapons your men bear？〃 Dara asked。
〃Later；〃 I said。 〃I'm busy。〃 I relayed a sketchy briefing and ordered my squads。
〃You seem to have a very small number of men；〃 she said。
〃They are sufficient；〃 I replied。 〃I will see you later。〃 I left her there with her guards。
We moved back along the route I had taken。 The thunder ceased as we advanced； and the silence became less a thing of relief than of suspense to me。 The twilight resettled about us； and I perspired within the damp blanket of the air。
I called a halt before we reached the first point from which I had observed the action。 I returned to it then； acpanied by Ganelon。
The wyvern…riders were all over the place and their beasts fought along with them。 They were pressing the defenders back against the cliff face。 I sought for but could not locate Eric or the glow of his jewel。
〃Which ones are the enemy？〃 Ganelon asked me。
〃The beast…riders。〃
They were all of them landing now that heaven's artillery had let up。 As soon as they struck the solid surface； they charged forward。 I searched among the defenders； but Gerard was no longer in sight。
〃Bring up the troops；〃 I said； raising my rifle。 〃Tell them to get the beasts and the riders both。〃
Ganelon withdrew； and I took aim at a descending wyvern； fired； and watched its swoop turn into a sudden flurry of pinions。 It struck against the slope and began to flop about。 I fired again。
The beast began to burn as it died。 Soon I had three bonfires going。 I crawled up to my second previous position。 Secure； I took aim and fired once more。
I got another； but by then some of them were turning in my direction。 I fired the rest of my ammo and hastened to reload。 Several of them had begun moving toward me by then。 They were quite fast。
I managed to stop them and was reloading again when the first rifle squad arrived。 We put down a heavier fire； and began to advance as the others came up。
It was all over within ten minutes。 Within the first five they had apparently realized that they hadn't a chance； and they began to flee back toward the ledge； launching themselves into space； being airborne again。 We shot them down as they ran； and burning flesh and smoldering bones lay everywhere about us。
The moist rock rose sheer to our left； its summit lost in the clouds； so that it seemed as if it might tower endlessly above us。 The winds still whipped the smoke and the mists； and the rocks were smeared and splotched with blood。 As we had advanced； firing； the forces of Amber quickly realized that we represented assistance and began to push forward from their position at the base of the cliff。 I saw that they were being led by my brother Caine。 For a moment our eyes locked together across the distance； then he plunged ahead into the fray。
Scattered groups of Amberites united into a second force as the attackers fell back。 Actually； they limited our field of fire when they attacked the far flank of the wizened beast…men and their wyverns； but I had no way of getting word of this to them。 We drew closer； and our firing was accurate。
A small knot of men remained at the base of the cliff。 I had a feeling they were guarding Eric； and that he had possibly been wounded； since the storm effects had ceased abruptly。 I worked my own way off in that direction。
The firing was already beginning to die down as I drew near the group； and I was hardly aware of what happened next until it was too late。
Something big came rushing up from behind and was by me in an instant。 I hit the ground and rolled； bringing my rifle to bear automatically。 My finger did not tighten on the trigger； however。 It was Dara； who had just plunged past me on horseback。 She turned and laughed as I screamed at her。
〃Get back down there！ Damn you！ You'll be killed！〃
〃I'll see you in Amber！〃 she cried； and she shot on across the grisly rock and made it up the trail that lay beyond。
I was furious。 But there was nothing I could do about it just then。 Snarling； I got back to my feet and continued on。
As I advanced upon the group； I heard my name spoken several times。 Heads turned in my direction。 People moved aside to let me pass。 I recognized many of them； but I paid them no heed。
I think that I saw Gerard at about the same time that he saw me。 He had been kneeling in their midst； and he rose to his feet and waited。 His face was expressionless。
As I drew nearer； I saw that it was as I had suspected。 He had been kneeling to tend an injured man who rested upon the ground。 It was Eric。
I nodded to Gerard as I came up beside him； and I looked down at Eric。 My feelings were quite mixed。 The blood from his several chest wounds was very bright and there was a lot of it。 The Jewel of Judgment； which still hung on a chain about his neck； was covered with it。 Eerily； it continued its faint； glowing pulsation； heart…like beneath the gore。 Eric's eyes were closed； his head resting upon a rolled…up cloak。 His breathing was labored。
I knelt； unable to take my eyes off that ashen face。 I tried to push my hate aside just a little； since he was obviously dying； so that I might have a better chance to understand this man who was my brother for the moments that remained to him。 I found that I could muster up something of sympathy by considering all that he was losing along with his life and wondering whether it would have been me lying there if I had e out on top five years earlier。 I tried to think of something in his favor； and all I could e up with were the epitaph…like words； He died fighting for Amber。 That was something； though。 The phrase kept running through my mind。
His eyes tightened； flickered； opened。 His face remained without expression as his eyes focused on mine。 I wondered whether he even recognized me。
But he said my name； and then； 〃I knew that it would be you。〃 He paused for a couple of breaths and went on； 〃They saved you some trouble； didn't they？〃 I did not reply。 He already knew the answer。
〃Your turn will e one day；〃 he continued。 〃Then we will be peers。〃 He chuckled and realized too late that he should not have。 He went into an unpleasant spasm of moist coughing。 When it passed； he glared at me。
〃I could feel your curse；〃 he said。 〃All around me。 The whole time。 You didn't even have to die to make it stick。〃
Then； as if reading my thoughts； he smiled faintly and said； 〃No I'm not going to give you my death curse。 I've reserved that for the enemies of Amber … out there。〃 He gestured with his eyes。 He pronounced it then； in a whisper； and I shuddered to overhear it。
He returned his gaze to my face and stared for a moment。 Then he plucked at the chain about his neck。
〃The Jewel。。。〃 he said。 〃You take it with you to the center of the Pattern。 Hold it up。 Very close … to an eye。 Stare into it … and consider it a place。 Try to project yourself … inside。 You don't go。 But there is … experience。。。 Afterward； you know how to use it。。。〃
〃How … ？〃 I began； but stopped。 He had already told me how to attune to it。 Why ask him to waste his breath on how he had figured it out？
But he caught it and managed； 〃Dworkin's notes。。。 under fireplace。。。 my …〃
Then he was taken with another coughing spell and the blood came out of his nose and his mouth。 He sucked in a deep breath and heaved himself into a sitting position； eyes rolling wildly。
〃Acquit yourself as well as I have … bastard！〃 he said； then fell into my arms and heaved out his final； bloody breath。
I held him for several moments； then lowered him into his former position。 His eyes were still open； and I reache
