rz.thegunsofavalon-第31节
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〃What do we do now？〃 Ganelon asked。
〃Let's pick up our stuff and get moving again。 We can at least delay the inevitable a little longer。 I want more time to think。〃
We rolled once more； still moving at a moderate pace； though my mind was racing at full speed。 There had to be a way to stop him。 Preferably； without killing him。
But I couldn't think of any。
Except for the black road； which was edging nearer once more； we had e into a lovely afternoon in a beautiful place。 It was a shame to dampen it with blood； particularly if it might be my blood。 Even with his blade in his left hand； I was afraid to face him。 Ganelon would be of no use to me。 Benedict would barely notice him。
I shifted as we took another turning。 Moments later； a faint smell of smoke came to my nostrils。 I shifted slightly again。
〃He's ing fast！〃 Ganelon announced。 〃I just saw … There's smoke！ Flames！ The woods are on fire！〃
I laughed and looked back。 Half the hillside swam under smoke and an orange thing raced through the green； its crackling just then reaching my ears。 Of their own accord； the horses increased their pace。
〃Corwin！ Did you … ？〃
〃Yes！ If it were steeper and there were no trees； I'd have tried an avalanche。〃
The air was momentarily filled with birds。 We drew nearer the black way。 Firedrake tossed his head and whinnied。 There were flecks of foam on his muzzle。 He tried to bolt； then reared and pawed the air。 Star made a frightened noise and pulled to the right。 I fought a moment； regained control； decided to let them run a bit。
〃He's still ing！〃 cried Ganelon。
I cursed and we ran。 Eventually； our path brought us alongside the black road。 We were on a long straightaway； and a glance back showed me that the whole hillside was ablaze； the trail running like a nasty scar down its middle。 It was then that I saw the rider。 He was almost halfway down and moving like something in the Kentucky Derby。 God！ What a horse that had to be！ I wondered what shadow had borne him。
I drew on the reins； gently at first； then harder； until finally we began to slow。 We were only a few hundred feet from the black road by then； and I had seen to it that there was a place not too far ahead where the gap narrowed to thirty or forty。 I managed to rein in the horses when we reached it； and they stood there quivering。 I handed the reins to Ganelon； drew Grayswandir； and stepped down to the road。
Why not？ It was a good； clear； level area； and perhaps that black； blasted slice of land； contrasting with the colors of life and growth immediately beside it； appealed to some morbid instinct in me。
〃What now？〃 Ganelon asked。
〃We cannot shake him；〃 I said； 〃and if he makes it through the fire he will be here in a few minutes。 There is no sense to running any farther。 I'll meet him here。〃
Ganelon twisted the reins around a side bar and reached for his blade。
〃No；〃 I said。 〃You cannot affect the oute one way or the other。 Here is what I want you to do： Take the wagon on up the road and wait there with it。 If things are resolved to my satisfaction； we will be continuing on。 If they are not； surrender immediately to Benedict。 It is me that he wants； and he will be the only one left who can take you back to Avalon。 He will do it； too。 You will at least retire to your homeland that way。〃
He hesitated。
〃Go on；〃 I told him。 〃Do as I said。〃
He looked down at the ground。 He unwound the reins。 He looked at me。
〃Good luck；〃 he said； and he shook the horses forward。
I backed off the trail； moved to a position before a small stand of saplings； and waited。 I kept Grayswandir in my hand； glanced once at the black road； then fixed my eyes on the trail。
Before long； he appeared up near the flame line； smoke and fire all about him； burning branches falling。 It was Benedict all right； his face partly muffled； the stump of his right arm upraised to shield his eyes； ing like some ghastly escapee from hell。 Bursting through a shower of sparks and cinders； he came into the clear and plunged on down the trail。
Soon； I could hear the hoofbeats。 A gentlemanly thing to do would be to sheathe my blade while I waited。 If I did that； though； I might not have a chance to draw it again。
I found myself wondering how Benedict would be wearing his blade and what sort it would be。 Straight？ Curved？ Long？ Short？ He could use them all with equal facility。 He had taught me how to fence。。。
It might be smart as well as gentlemanly to sheathe Grayswandir。 He might be willing to talk first … and this way I was asking for trouble。 As the hoofbeats grew louder； though； I realized I was afraid to put it away。
I wiped my palm only once before he came into view。 He had slowed for the turn； and he must have seen me at the same instant I saw him。 He rode straight toward me； slowing。 But halting did not appear to be his immediate aim。
It was almost a mystical experience。 I do not know how else to put it。 My mind outran time as he neared； and it was as though I had an eternity to ponder the approach of this man who was my brother。 His garments were filthy； his face blackened； the stump of his right arm raised； gesturing anywhere。 The great beast that he rode was striped； black and red； with a wild red mane and tail。 But it really was a horse； and its eyes rolled and there was foam at its mouth and its breathing was painful to hear。 I saw then that he wore his blade slung across his back； for its haft protruded high above his right shoulder。 Still slowing； eyes fixed upon me； he departed the road； bearing slightly toward my left； jerked the reins once and released them； keeping control of the horse with his knees。 His left hand went up in a salute…like movement that passed above his head and seized the hilt of his weapon。 It came free without a sound； describing a beautiful arc above him and ing to rest in a lethal position out from his left shoulder and slanting back； like a single wing of dull steel with a minuscule line of edge that gleamed like a filament of mirror。 The picture he presented was burned into my mind with a kind of magnificence； a certain splendor that was strangely moving。 The blade was a long； scythe like affair that I had seen him use before。 Only then we had stood as allies against a mutual foe I had begun to believe unbeatable。 Benedict had proved otherwise that night。 Now that I saw it raised against me I was overwhelmed with a sense of my own mortality； which I had never experienced before in this fashion。 It was as though a layer had been stripped from the world and I had a sudden； full understanding of death itself。
The moment was gone。 I backed into the grove。 I had stood there so that I could take advantage of the trees。 I dropped back about twelve feet among them and took two steps to my left。 The horse reared at the last possible moment and snorted and whinnied； moist nostrils flaring。 It turned aside； tearing up turf。 Benedict's arm moved with near…invisible speed； like the tongue of a toad； and his blade passed through a sapling I'd guess at three inches in diameter。 The tree continued to stand upright for a moment； then slowly toppled。
His boots struck the earth and he strode toward me。 I had wanted the grove for this reason； also； to make him e to me in a place where a long blade would be hampered by branches and boles。
But as he advanced； he swung the weapon； almost casually； back and forth； and the trees fell about him as he passed。 If only he were not so infernally petent。 If only he were not Benedict。。。
〃Benedict；〃 I said； in a normal voice； 〃she is an adult now； and she is capable of making up her own mind about things。〃
But he gave no sign of having heard me。 He just kept ing； swinging that great blade from side to side。 It made an almost ringing sound as it passed through the air； followed by a soft thukk！ as it bit through another tree； slowing only slightly。 I raised Grayswandir to point at his breast。
〃e no farther； Benedict；〃 I said。 〃I do not wish to fight with you。〃
He moved his blade into an attack position and said one word：
〃Murderer！〃
His hand twitched then and my blade was almost simultaneously beaten aside。 I parried the ensuing thrust and he brushed my riposte aside and was at me again。
This time I did not even bother to riposte。 I simply parried； retreated； and stepped behind a tree。
〃I don't understand；〃 I said； beating down his blade as it slid by the trunk and nearly skewered me。 〃I have not murdered anyone recently。 Certainly not in Avalon。〃
Another thukk！ and the tree was falling toward me。 I got out of its way and retreated； parrying。
〃Murderer；〃 he said again。
〃I don't know what you are talking about； Benedict。〃
〃Liar！〃
I stood my ground then and held it。 Damn it！ It was senseless to die for the wrong reason！ I riposted as fast as I could； seeking openings everywhere。 There were none。
〃At least tell me！〃 I shouted。 〃Please！〃
But he seemed to be finished with talking。 He pressed forward and I had to fall back once more。 It was like trying to fence with a glacier。 I became convinced then that he was out of his mind； not that that helped me any。 With anybody else； an insane madness would cause the loss of some control in a fight。 But Benedict had ha
