rz.signoftheunicorn-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Suddenly　he　was　there。　At　the　far　end　of　the　room；　Gerard　had　turned　to　his　left；　said　something；　and　extended　his　hand。　An　instant　later；　he　was　clasping　the　left　and　only　hand　of　Benedict；　the　final　member　of　our　group。
　All　right。　The　fact　that　Benedict　had　chosen　to　e　in　on　Gerard's　Trump　rather　than　mine　was　his　way　of　expressing　his　feelings　toward　me。　Was　it　also　an　indication　of　an　alliance　to　keep　me　in　check？　It　was　at　least　calculated　to　make　me　wonder。　Could　it　have　been　Benedict　who　had　put　Gerard　up　to　our　morning's　exercise？　Probably。
　At　that　moment　Julian　rose　to　his　feet；　crossed　the　room；　gave　Benedict　a　word　and　a　handclasp。
　This　activity　attracted　Llewella。　She　turned；　closing　her　book　and　laying　it　aside。　Smiling　then；　she　advanced　and　greeted　Benedict；　nodded　to　Julian；　said　something　to　Gerard。　The　impromptu　conference　warmed；　grew　animated。　All　right　again；　and　again。
　Four　and　three。　And　two　in　the　middle。。。
　I　waited；　staring　at　the　group　across　the　room。　We　were　all　present；　and　I　could　have　asked　them　for　attention　and　proceeded　with　what　I　had　in　mind。　However。。。
　It　was　too　tempting。　All　of　us　could　feel　the　tension；　I　knew。　It　was　as　if　a　pair　of　magnetic　poles　had　suddenly　been　activated　within　the　room。　I　was　curious　to　see　how　all　the　filings　would　fall。
　Flora　gave　me　one　quick　glance。　I　doubted　that　she　had　changed　her　mind　overnight　…　unless；　of　course；　there　had　been　some　new　development。　No；　I　felt　confident　that　I　had　anticipated　the　next　move。
　Nor　was　I　incorrect。　I　overheard　her　mentioning　thirst　and　a　glass　of　wine。　She　turned　partway　and　made　a　move　in　my　direction；　as　if　expecting　Fiona　to　acpany　her。　She　hesitated　for　a　moment　when　this　did　not　occur；　suddenly　became　the　focus　of　the　entire　pany's　attention；　realized　this　fact；　made　a　quick　decision；　smiled；　and　moved　in　my　direction。
　〃Corwin；〃　she　said；　〃I　believe　I　would　like　a　glass　of　wine。〃
　Without　turning　my　head　or　removing　my　gaze　from　the　tableau　before　me；　I　called　back　over　my　shoulder；　〃Random；　pour　Flora　a　glass　of　wine；　would　you？〃
　〃But　of　course；〃　he　replied；　and　I　heard　the　necessary　sounds。
　Flora　nodded；　unsmiled；　and　passed　beyond　me　to　the　right。
　Four　and　four；　leaving　dear　Fiona　burning　brightly　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　Totally　self…conscious　and　enjoying　it；　she　immediately　turned　toward　the　oval　mirror　with　the　dark；　intricately　carved　frame；　hanging　in　the　space　between　the　two　nearest　tiers　of　shelves。　She　proceeded　to　adjust　a　stray　strand　of　hair　in　the　vicinity　of　her　left　temple。
　Her　movement　produced　a　flash　of　green　and　silver　among　the　red　and　gold　geometries　of　the　carpet；　near　to　the　place　where　her　left　foot　had　rested。
　I　had　simultaneous　desires　to　curse　and　to　smile。　The　arrant　bitch　was　playing　games　with　us　again。　Always　remarkable；　though。。。　Nothing　had　changed。　Neither　cursing　nor　smiling；　I　moved　forward；　as　she　had　known　I　would。
　But　Julian　too　approached；　and　a　trifle　more　quickly　than　I。　He　had　been　a　bit　nearer；　may　have　spotted　it　a　fraction　of　an　instant　sooner。
　He　scooped　it　up　and　dangled　it　gently。
　〃Your　bracelet；　sister；〃　he　said　pleasantly。　〃It　seems　to　have　forsaken　your　wrist；　foolish　thing。　Here　…　allow　me。〃
　She　extended　her　hand；　giving　him　one　of　those　lowered…eyelash　smiles　while　he　unfastened　her　chain　of　emeralds。　pleting　the　business；　he　folded　her　hand　within　both　of　his　own　and　began　to　turn　back　toward　his　corner；　from　whence　the　others　were　casting　sidelong　glances　while　attempting　to　seem　locally　occupied。
　〃I　believe　you　would　be　amused　by　a　witticism　we　are　about　to　share；〃　he　began。
　Her　smile　grew　even　more　delightful　as　she　disengaged　her　hand。
　〃Thank　you；　Julian；〃　she　replied。　〃I　am　certain　that　when　I　hear　it　I　will　laugh。　Last；　as　usual；　I　fear。〃　She　turned　and　took　my　arm。　〃I　find　that　I　feel　a　greater　desire；〃　she　said；　〃for　a　glass　of　wine。〃
　So　I　took　her　back　with　me　and　saw　her　refreshed。　Five　and　four。
　Julian；　who　dislikes　showing　strong　feelings；　reached　a　decision　a　few　moments　later　and　followed　us　over。　He　poured　himself　a　glass；　sipped　from　it；　studied　me　for　ten　or　fifteen　seconds；　then　said；　〃I　believe　we　are　all　present　now。　When　do　you　plan　to　proceed　with　whatever　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃I　see　no　reason　for　further　delay；〃　I　said；　〃now　that　everyone　has　had　his　turn。〃　I　raised　my　voice　then　and　directed　it　across　the　room。　〃The　time　has　e。　Let　us　get　fortable。〃
　The　others　drifted　over。　Chairs　were　dragged　up　and　settled　into。　More　wine　was　poured。　A　minute　later　we　had　an　audience。
　〃Thank　you；〃　I　said　when　the　final　stirrings　had　subsided。
　〃I　have　a　number　of　things　I　would　like　to　say；　and　some　of　them　might　even　get　said。　The　course　of　it　all　will　depend　on　what　goes　before；　and　we　will　get　into　that　right　now。　Random；　tell　them　what　you　told　me　yesterday。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　I　withdrew　to　the　seat　behind　the　desk　and　Random　moved　to　occupy　the　edge　of　it。　I　leaned　back　and　listened　again　to　the　story　of　his　munication　with　Brand　and　his　attempt　to　rescue　him。　It　was　a　condensed　version；　bereft　of　the　speculations　which　had　not　really　strayed　from　my　consciousness　since　Random　had　put　them　there。　And　despite　their　omission；　a　tacit　awareness　of　the　implications　was　occurring　within　all　the　others。　I　knew　that。　It　was　the　main　reason　I　had　wanted　Random　to　speak　first。　Had　I　simply　e　out　with　an　attempt　to　make　a　case　for　my　suspicions；　I　would　almost　certainly　have　been　assumed　to　be　engaged　in　the　time…honored　practice　of　directing　attention　away　from　myself　…　an　act　to　be　followed　immediately　by　the　separate；　sharp；　metallic　clicks　of　minds　snapping　shut　against　me。　This　way；　despite　any　thoughts　that　Random　would　say　whatever　I　wanted　him　to　say；　they　would　hear　him　out；　wondering　the　while。　They　would　toy　with　the　ideas；　attempting　to　foresee　the　point　of　my　having　called　the　assembly　in　the　first　place。　They　would　allow　the　time　that　would　permit　the　premises　to　take　root　contingent　upon　later　corroboration。　And　they　would　be　wondering　whether　we　could　produce　the　evidence。　I　was　wondering　that　same　thing　myself。
　While　I　waited　and　wondered　I　watched　the　others；　a　fruitless　yet　inevitable　exercise。　Simple　curiosity；　more　than　suspicion　even；　required　that　I　search　these　faces　for　reactions；　clues；　indications　…　the　faces　that　I　knew　better　than　any　others；　to　the　limits　of　my　understanding　such　things。　And　of　course　they　told　me　nothing。　Perhaps　it　is　true　that　you　really　only　look　at　a　person　the　first　time　you　see　him；　and　after　that　you　do　a　quick　bit　of　mental　shorthand　each　time　you　recognize　him。　My　brain　is　lazy　enough　to　give　that　its　likelihood；　using　its　abstracting　powers　and　a　presumption　of　regularity　to　avoid　work　whenever　possible。　This　time　I　forced　myself　to　see；　though；　and　it　still　did　not　help。　Julian　maintained　his　slightly　bored；　slightly　amused　mask。　Gerard　appeared　alternately　surprised；　angry；　and　wistful。　Benedict　just　looked　bleak　and　suspicious。　Llewella　seemed　as　sad　and　inscrutable　as　ever。　Deirdre　looked　distracted。　Flora　acquiescent；　and　Fiona　was　studying　everyone　else；　myself　included；　assembling　her　own　catalog　of　reactions。
　The　only　thing　that　I　could　tell；　after　some　time；　was　that　Random　was　making　an　impression。　While　no　one　betrayed　himself；　I　saw　the　boredom　vanish；　the　old　suspicion　abate；　the　new　suspicion　e　to　life。　Interest　rose　among　my　kin。　Fascination；　almost。　Then　everyone　had　questions。　At　first　a　few；　then　a　barrage。
　〃Wait；〃　I　finally　interrupted。　〃Let　him　finish。　The　whole　thing。　Some　of　these　will　answer　themselves。　Get　the　others　afterward。〃
　There　were　nods　and　growls；　and　Random　proceeded　through　to　the　real　end。　That　is；　he　carried　it　on　to　our　fight　with　the　beastmen　at　Flora's；　indicating　that　they　were　of　the　same　ilk　as　the　one　who　had　slain　Caine。　Flora　endorsed　this　part。
　Then；　when　the　questions　came；　I　watched　them　carefully。　So　long　as　they　dealt　with　the　matter　of　Random's　story；　they　were　all　to　the　good。　But　I　wanted　to　cut　things　short　of　speculation　as　to　the　possibility　of　one　of　us　being　behind　it　all。　As　soon　as　that　came　out；　talk　of　me　and　the　smell　of　red　herrings　would　also　drift　in。　This　could　lead　to　ugly　words　and　the　emergence　of　a　mood　I　was　not　anxious　to　engender。　Better　to　go　for　the　proof　first；　save　on　later　recriminations；　corner　the　culprit　right　now　if　possible；　and　consolidate　my　position　on　the　spot。
　So　I　watched　and　waited。　When　I　felt　that　the　vital　moment　had　ticked　its　way　too　near　I　stopped　the　clock。
　〃None　of　this　discussion；　this　speculation；　would　be　necessary；〃　I　said；　〃if　we　had　all　of　the　facts　right　now。　And　there　may　be　a　way　to　get　them　…　right　now。　That　is　why　you　are　here。〃
　That　did　it。　I　had　them。　Attentive。　Ready。　Maybe　even　willing。
　〃I　propose　we　attempt　to　reach　Brand　and　bring　him　home；〃　I　said；　〃now。〃
　〃How？〃　Benedict　asked　me。
　〃The　Trumps。〃
　〃It　has　been　tried；〃　said　Julian。　〃He　cannot　be　reached　that　way。　No　response。〃
　〃I　was　not　referring　to　the　ordinary　usage。〃　I　said。
　〃I　asked　you　all　to　bring　full　sets　of　Trumps　with　you。　I　trust　that　you　have　them？〃
　There　were　nods。
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃Let　us　shuffle　out　Brand's