rz.thegunsofavalon-第32节

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s　would　cause　the　loss　of　some　control　in　a　fight。　But　Benedict　had　hammered　out　his　reflexes　over　the　centuries；　and　I　seriously　believed　that　the　removal　of　his　cerebral　cortex　would　not　have　altered　his　movements　from　their　state　of　perfection。
　He　drove　me　steadily　back；　and　I　dodged　among　trees　and　he　cut　them　down　and　kept　ing。　I　made　the　mistake　of　attacking　and　barely　stopped　his　counterthrusts　inches　from　my　breast。　I　fought　down　the　first　wave　of　panic　that　came　to　me　when　I　saw　that　he　was　driving　me　back　toward　the　edge　of　the　grove。　Soon　he　would　have　me　in　the　open；　with　no　trees　to　slow　him。
　My　attention　was　focused　on　him　so　pletely　that　I　did　not　realize　what　was　then　to　occur　until　it　did。
　With　a　mightly　cry；　Ganelon　sprang　from　somewhere；　wrapping　his　arms　about　Benedict　and　pinning　his　sword　arm　to　his　side。
　Even　had　I　really　wanted　to；　though；　I　did　not　have　the　opportunity　to　kill　him　then。　He　was　too　fast；　and　Ganelon　was　not　aware　of　the　man's　strength。
　Benedict　twisted　to　his　right；　interposing　Ganelon　between　us；　and　at　the　same　time　brought　the　stump　of　his　arm　around　like　a　club；　striking　Ganelon　in　the　left　temple。　Then　he　pulled　his　left　arm　free；　seized　Ganelon　by　his　belt；　swept　him　off　his　feet；　and　threw　him　at　me。　As　I　stepped　aside；　he　retrieved　his　blade　from　where　it　had　fallen　near　his　feet　and　came　at　me　again。　I　barely　had　time　to　glance　and　see　that　Ganelon　had　landed　in　a　heap　some　ten　paces　to　my　rear。
　I　parried　and　resumed　my　retreat。　I　only　had　one　trick　remaining；　and　it　saddened　me　that　if　it　failed　Amber　would　be　deprived　of　its　rightful　liege。
　It　is　somewhat　more　difficult　to　fence　with　a　good　left…hander　than　a　good　right…hander；　and　this　worked　against　me　also。　But　I　had　to　experiment　a　bit。　There　was　something　I　had　to　learn；　even　if　it　meant　taking　a　chance。
　I　took　a　long　step　back；　moving　momentarily　out　of　range；　then　leaned　forward　and　attacked。　It　was　a　very　calculated　thing；　and　very　fast。
　One　unexpected　result；　which　I　am　certain　was　at　least　partly　luck；　was　that　I　got　through；　even　though　I　missed　my　target。　For　an　instant；　Grayswandir　rode　high　off　one　of　his　parries　and　nicked　his　left　ear。　This　slowed　him　slightly　for　a　few　moments；　but　not　enough　to　matter。　If　anything；　it　served　to　strengthen　his　defense。　I　continued　to　press　my　attack；　but　there　was　simply　no　getting　through　then。　It　was　only　a　small　cut；　but　the　blood　ran　down　to　his　ear　lobe　and　spattered　off；　a　few　drops　at　a　time。　It　could　even　be　distracting；　if　I　permitted　myself　to　do　more　than　take　note　of　it。
　Then　I　did　what　I　feared；　but　had　to　try。　I　left　him　a　small　opening；　just　for　a　moment；　knowing　that　he　would　e　right　through　it　toward　my　heart。
　He　did；　and　I　parried　it　at　the　last　instant。　I　do　not　like　to　think　about　how　close　he　came　that　time。　Then　I　began　to　yield　once　more；　giving　ground；　backing　out　of　the　grove。　Parrying　and　retreating；　I　moved　past　the　spot　where　Ganelon　lay。　I　fell　back　another　fifteen　feet　or　so；　fighting　defensively；　conservatively。
　Then　I　gave　Benedict　another　opening。
　He　drove　in；　as　he　had　before；　and　I　managed　to　stop　him　again。　He　pressed　the　attack　even　harder　after　that；　pushing　me　back　to　the　edge　of　the　black　road。
　There；　I　stopped　and　held　my　ground；　shifting　my　position　to　the　spot　I　had　chosen。　I　would　have　to　hold　him　just　a　few　moments　longer；　to　set　him　up。。。
　They　were　very　rough　moments；　but　I　fought　furiously　and　readied　myself。
　Then　I　gave　him　the　same　opening　again。
　I　knew　he　would　e　in　the　same　as　before；　and　my　right　leg　was　across　and　back　behind　my　left；　then　straightening；　as　he　did。　I　gave　his　blade　but　the　barest　beat　to　the　side　as　I　sprang　backward　onto　the　black　road；　immediately　extending　my　arm　full　length　to　discourage　a　balaestra。
　Then　he　did　what　I　had　hoped。　He　beat　at　my　blade　and　advanced　normally　when　I　dropped　it　into　quarte。。。
　。。。　causing　him　to　step　into　the　patch　of　black　grasses　over　which　I　had　leaped。
　I　dared　not　look　down　at　first。　I　simply　stood　my　ground　and　gave　the　flora　a　chance。
　It　only　took　a　few　moments。　Benedict　became　aware　of　it　the　next　time　that　he　tried　to　move。　I　saw　the　puzzled　expression　flash　across　his　face；　then　the　strain。　It　had　him；　I　knew。
　I　doubted；　though；　that　it　could　hold　him　very　long；　so　I　moved　immediately。
　I　danced　to　the　right；　out　of　range　of　his　blade；　rushed　forward　and　sprang　across　the　grasses；　off　the　black　road　once　again。　He　tried　to　turn；　but　they　had　twined　themselves　about　his　legs　all　the　way　up　to　his　knees。　He　swayed　for　a　moment；　but　retained　his　balance。
　I　passed　behind　him　and　to　his　right。　One　easy　thrust　and　he　was　a　dead　man；　but　of　course　there　was　no　reason　to　do　it　now。
　He　swung　his　arm　back　behind　his　neck　and　turned　his　head；　pointing　the　blade　at　me。　He　began　pulling　his　left　leg　free。
　But　I　feinted　toward　his　right；　and　when　he　moved　to　parry　it　I　slapped　him　across　the　back　of　the　neck　with　the　flat　of　Grayswandir。
　It　stunned　him；　and　I　was　able　to　move　in　and　punch　him　in　the　kidney　with　my　left　hand。　He　bent　slightly　and　I　blocked　his　sword　arm　and　struck　him　in　the　back　of　the　neck　again；　this　time　with　my　fist；　hard。　He　fell；　unconscious；　and　I　removed　his　blade　from　his　hand　and　cast　it　aside。　The　blood　from　his　left　ear　lobe　trailed　down　his　neck　like　some　exotic　earring。
　I　put　Grayswandir　aside；　seized　Benedict　under　the　armpits；　and　dragged　him　back　from　the　black　road。　The　grasses　resisted　mightily；　but　I　strained　against　them　and　finally　had　him　free。
　Ganelon　had　gotten　to　his　feet　by　then。　He　limped　up　and　stood　beside　me；　looking　down　at　Benedict。
　〃What　a　fellow　he　is；〃　he　said。　〃What　a　fellow　he　is。。。　What　are　we　going　to　do　with　him？〃
　I　picked　him　up　in　a　fireman's　carry　and　stood。
　〃Take　him　back　toward　the　wagon　right　now；〃　I　said。　〃Will　you　bring　the　blades？〃
　〃All　right。〃
　I　headed　up　the　road　and　Benedict　remained　unconscious　…　which　was　good；　because　I　did　not　want　to　have　to　hit　him　again　if　I　could　help　it。　I　deposited　him　at　the　base　of　a　sturdy　tree　beside　the　road　near　the　wagon。
　I　resheathed　our　blades　when　Ganelon　came　up；　and　set　him　to　stripping　ropes　from　several　of　the　cases。　While　he　did　this；　I　searched　Benedict　and　found　what　I　was　looking　for。
　I　bound　him　to　the　tree　then；　while　Ganelon　fetched　his　horse。　We　tethered　it　to　a　nearby　bush；　upon　which　I　also　hung　his　blade。
　Then　I　mounted　to　the　driver's　seat　of　the　wagon　and　Ganelon　came　up　alongside。
　〃Are　you　just　going　to　leave　him　there？〃　he　asked。
　〃For　now；〃　I　said。
　We　moved　on　up　the　road。　I　did　not　look　back；　but　Ganelon　did。
　〃He　hasn't　moved　yet；〃　he　reported。　Then；　〃Nobody　ever　just　took　me　and　threw　me　like　that。　With　one　hand　yet。〃
　〃That's　why　I　told　you　to　wait　with　the　wagon；　and　not　to　fight　with　him　if　I　lost。〃
　〃What　is　to　bee　of　him　now？〃
　〃I　will　see　that　he　is　taken　care　of；　soon。〃
　〃He　will　be　all　right；　though？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Good。〃
　We　continued　on　for　perhaps　two　miles　and　I　halted　the　horses。　I　climbed　down。
　〃Don't　be　upset　by　anything　that　happens；〃　I　said。　〃I　am　going　to　make　arrangements　for　Benedict　now。〃　I　moved　off　the　road　and　stood　in　the　shade；　taking　out　the　deck　of　Trumps　Benedict　had　been　carrying。　I　riffled　through　them；　located　Gerard；　and　removed　him　from　the　pack。　The　rest　I　returned　to　the　silk…lined；　wooden　case；　inlaid　with　bone；　in　which　Benedict　had　carried　them。
　I　held　Gerard's　Trump　before　me　and　regarded　it。
　After　a　time；　it　grew　warm；　real；　seemed　to　stir。　I　felt　Gerard's　actual　presence。　He　was　in　Amber。　He　was　walking　down　a　street　that　I　recognized。　He　looks　a　lot　like　me；　only　larger；　heavier。　I　saw　that　he　still　wore　his　beard。
　He　halted　and　stared。
　〃Corwin！〃
　〃Yes；　Gerard。　You　are　looking　well。〃
　〃Your　eyes！　You　can　see？〃
　〃Yes；　I　can　see　again。〃
　〃Where　are　you？〃
　〃e　to　me　now　and　I　will　show　you。〃　His　gaze　tightened。
　〃I　am　not　certain　that　I　can　do　that；　Corwin。　I　am　very　involved　just　now。〃
　〃It　is　Benedict；〃　I　said。　〃You　are　the　only　one　I　can　trust　to　help　him。〃
　〃Benedict？　He　is　in　trouble？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　why　does　he　not　summon　me　himself？〃
　〃He　is　unable　to。　He　is　restrained。〃
　〃Why？　How？〃
　〃It　is　too　long　and　involved　to　go　into　now。　Believe　me；　he　needs　your　help；　right　away。〃
　He　raked　his　beard　with　his　upper　teeth。　〃And　you　cannot　handle　it　yourself？〃
　〃Absolutely　not。〃
　〃And　you　think　I　can？〃
　〃I　know　you　can。〃
　He　loosened　his　blade　in　its　scabbard。
　〃I　would　not　like　to　think　this　is　some　sort　of　trick；　Corwin。〃
　〃I　assure　you　it　is　not。　With　all　the　time　I　have　had　to　think；　I　would　have　e　up　with　something　a　little　more　subtle。〃
　He　sighed。　Then　he　nodded。　〃All　right。　I'm　ing　to　you。〃
　〃e　ahead。〃
　He　stood　for　a　moment；　then　took　a　step　forward。
　He　stood　beside　me。　He　reached　out　and　clasped　my　shoulder。　He　smiled。
　〃Corwin；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　glad　you've　your　eyes　back。〃
　I　looked　away。
　〃So　am　I。　So　am　I。〃
　〃Who　is　that　in　the　wagon？〃
　〃A　friend。　His　name　is　Ganelon。〃
　〃Where　is　Benedict？　What　is　the　problem？〃　I　gestured。
　〃Back　there；〃　I　said。　〃About　two　miles　down　the　road。　He　is　bound　to　a　tree。　His　horse　is