"Zelazny, Roger - Amber 03 - Sign Of The Unicorn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

аааааGanelon made himself a sandwich.
ааааа"Whose idea was it?" he asked.
ааааа"Random thinks it was Brand's or Eric's. No one remembers for sure. They all seemed to feel it was a good idea at the time."
аааааHe chuckled, an evil noise that perfectly suited his creased, scarred, and red-bearded self.
ааааа"What's to become of it now?"
аааааI shrugged.
ааааа"I suppose some of them think it's a shame to waste it this way and would like to see me fill it. In the meantime, though, it's a good place to come and get drunk. I hadn't really paid my respects yet."
аааааI put together a pair of sandwiches and ate them both. This was the first real breather I had had since my return, and perhaps the last for some time to come. It was impossible to say. But I had not really had a chance to speak with Ganelon at any length during the past week, and he was one of the few persons I trusted. I wanted to tell him everything. I had to. I had to talk with someone who was not a part of it in the same way as the rest of us. So I did.
аааааThe moon moved a considerable distance and the shards of broken glass multiplied within my crypt.
ааааа"So how did the others take it?" he asked me.
ааааа"Predictably," I answered. "I could tell that Julian did not believe a word of it even though he said that he did. He knows how I feel about him, and he is in no position to challenge me. I don't think Benedict believes me either, but he is a lot harder to read. He is biding his time, and I hope giving me the benefit of the doubt while he is about it. As for Gerard, I have the feeling that this was the final weight, and whatever trust he had left for me has just collapsed. Still, he will be returning to Amber early tomorrow, to accompany me to the grove to recover Caine's body. No sense in turning it into a safari, but I did want another family member present. Deirdre now--she seemed happy about it. Didn't believe a word, I'm sure. But no matter. She has always been on my side, and she has never liked Caine. I'd say she is glad that I seem to be consolidating my position. I can't really tell whether Llewella believed me or not. She doesn't much give a damn what the rest of us do to one another, so far as I can see. As to Fiona, she simply seemed amused at the whole business. But then, she has always had this detached, superior way of regarding things. You can never be certain what represents her real thinking."
ааааа"Did you tell them the business about Brand yet?"
ааааа"No. I told them about Caine and I told them I wanted them all to be in Amber by tomorrow evening. That is when the subject of Brand will be raised. I've an idea I want to try out."
ааааа"You contacted all of them by means of the Trumps?"
ааааа"That's right."
ааааа"There is something I have been meaning to ask you about that. Back on the shadow world we visited to obtain the weapons, there are telephones...."
ааааа"Yes?"
ааааа"I learned about wiretaps and such while we were there. Is it possible, do you think, that the Trumps could be bugged?"
аааааI began to laugh, then caught myself as some of the implications of his suggestion sank in. Finally, "I don't really know," I said. "So much concerning Dworkin's work remains a mystery--the thought just never occurred to me. I've never tried it myself. I wonder, though...."
ааааа"Do you know how many sets there are?"
ааааа"Well, everyone in the family has a pack or two and there were a dozen or so spares in the library. I don't really know whether there are any others."
ааааа"It seems to me that a lot could be learned just by listening in."
ааааа"Yes. Dad's deck. Brand's, my original pack, the one Random lost--Hell! There are quite a number unaccounted for these days. I don't know what to do about it. Start an inventory and try some experiments, I guess. Thanks for mentioning it."
аааааHe nodded and we both sipped for a while in silence.
аааааThen, "What are you going to do, Corwin?" he asked.
ааааа"About what?"
ааааа"About everything. What do we attack now, and in what order?"
ааааа"My original intention was to begin tracing the black road toward its origin as soon as things were more settled here in Amber," I said. "Now, though, I have shifted my priorities. I want Brand returned as soon as possible, if he is still living. If not, I want to find out what happened to him."
ааааа"But will the enemy give you the breathing time? He might be preparing a new offensive right now."
ааааа"Yes, of course. I have considered that. I feel we have some time, since they were defeated so recently. They will have to pull themselves together again, beef up their forces, reassess the situation in light of our new weapons. What I have in mind for the moment is to establish a series of lookout stations along the road to give us advance warning of any new movements on their part. Benedict has already agreed to take charge of the operation."
ааааа"I wonder how much time we have."
аааааI poured him another drink, as it was the only answer I could think of.
ааааа"Things were never this complicated back in Avalon--our Avalon, I mean."
ааааа"True," I said. "You are not the only one who misses those days. At least, they seem simpler now."
аааааHe nodded. I offered him a cigarette, but he declined in favor of his pipe. In the flamelight, he studied the Jewel of Judgment which still hung about my neck.
ааааа"You say you can really control the weather with that thing?" he asked.
ааааа"Yes," I said.
ааааа"How do you know?"
ааааа"I've tried it. It works."
ааааа"What did you do?"
ааааа"That storm this afternoon. It was mine."
ааааа"I wonder..."
ааааа"What?"
ааааа"I wonder what I would have done with that sort of power. What I would do with it."
ааааа"The first thing that crossed my mind," I said, slapping the wall of my tomb, "was to destroy this place by lightning--strike it repeatedly and reduce it to rubble. Leave no doubt in anyone's mind as to my feelings, my power."
ааааа"Why didn't you?"
ааааа"Got to thinking about it a bit more then. Decided--Hell! They might really have a use for the place before too long, if I'm not smart enough or tough enough or lucky enough. Such being the case, I tried to decide where I would like them to dump my bones. It caught me then that this is really a pretty good spot--up high, clean, where the elements still walk naked. Nothing in sight but rock and sky. Stars, clouds, sun, moon, wind, rain... better company than a lot of other stiffs. Don't know why I should have to lie beside anyone I wouldn't want next to me now, and there aren't many."
ааааа"You're getting morbid, Corwin. Or drunk. Or both. Bitter, too. You don't need that."
ааааа"Who the hell are you to say what I need?"
аааааI felt him stiffen beside me, then relax.