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.I could notride the black road, and I had no idea what shadow she would travel to next on her way to Amber.When I awoke in the morning and realized she had gone, I thought for a time of visiting Amber myself.But I was still afraid.Perhaps some of the things she had said had reinforced my own fears.Whatever, Idecided to remain in Shadow.And so I traveled on, seeing things, trying to learn things-until Randomfound me and told me he wanted me to come home.He brought me here first though, to meet you,because he wanted you to hear my story before any of the others.He said that you knew Dara, that youwanted to learn more about her.I hope that I have helped.""Yes," I said."Thank you.""I understand that she did finally walk the Pattern.""Yes, she succeeded in that.""And afterward declared herself an enemy of Amber.""That, too.""I hope," he said, "that she comes to no harm from all this.She was kind to me.""She seems quite able to take care of herself," I said."But.yes, she is a likable girl.I cannot promiseyou anything concerning her safety, because I still know so little about her, so little of her part ineverything that is going on.Yet, what you have told me has been helpful.It makes her someone I wouldstill like to grant doubt's benefit, as far as I can."He smiled.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"I am glad to hear that."I shrugged."What are you going to do now?" I asked."I am taking him to see Vialle," Random said, "and then to meet the others, as time and opportunitypermit.Unless, of course, something new has developed and you need me now.""There have been new developments," I said, "but I do not really need you now.I had better bring youup to date, though.I still have a little time."As I filled Random in on events since his departure, I thought about Martin.He was still an unknownquantity so far as I was concerned.His story might be perfectly true.In fact, I felt that it was.On theother hand, I had a feeling that it was not complete, that he was intentionally leaving something out.Maybe something harmless.Then again, maybe not.He had no real reason to love us.Quite the contrary.And Random could be bringing home a Trojan Horse.Probably though, it was nothing like that.It is justthat I never trust anyone if there is an alternative available.Still, nothing that I was telling Random could really be used against us, and I strongly doubted thatMartin could do us much damage if that was his intention.No, more likely he was being as cagey as therest of us, and for pretty much the same reasons: fear and self preservation.On a sudden inspiration, Iasked him, "Did you ever run into Dara again after that?"He flushed."No," he said, too quickly."Just that time.That's all.""I see," I said, and Random was too good a poker player not to have noticed; so I had just bought us apiece of instant insurance at the small price of putting a father on guard against his long-lost son.I quickly shifted our talk back to Brand.It was while we were comparing notes on psychopathology thatI felt the tiny tingle and the sense of presence which heralds a Trump contact.I raised my hand andturned aside.In a moment the contact was clear and Ganelon and I regarded one another."Corwin," he said, "I decided it was time to check.By now, you have the Jewel, Brand has the Jewel, oryou are both still looking.Which one is it?""Brand has the Jewel," I said."More's the pity," he said."Tell me about it."So I did."Then Gerard had the story right," he said.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"He's already told you all this?""Not in such detail," Ganelon replied, "and I wanted to be sure I was getting it straight.I just finishedspeaking with him."He glanced upward."It would seem you had best be moving then, if my memories of moonrise serve me right."I nodded."Yes, I will be heading for the stairway shortly.It is not all that far from here.""Good.Now here is what you must be ready to do-""I know what I have to do," I said."I have to get up to Tir-na Nog'th before Brand does and block hisway to the Pattern.Failing that, I have to chase him through it again.""That is not the way to go about it," he said."You have a better idea?""Yes, I do.You have your Trumps with you?""Yes.""Good.First, you would not be able to get up there in time to block his way to the Pattern-""Why not?""You have to make the ascension, then you have to walk to the palace and make your way down to thePattern.That takes time, even in Tir-na Nog'th-especially in Tir-na Nog'th, where time tends to playtricks anyway.For all you know, you may have a hidden death wish slowing you down.I don't know.Whatever the case, he would have commenced walking the Pattern by the time you arrived.It may wellbe that he would be too far into it for you to reach him this time.""He will probably be tired.That should slow him some.""No.Put yourself in his place.If you were Brand, wouldn't you have headed for some shadow wherethe time flow was different? Instead of an afternoon, he could well have taken several days to rest up forthis evening's ordeal.It is safest to assume that he will be in good shape.""You are right," I said."I can't count on it.Okay.An alternative I had entertained but would rather nottry if it could be avoided, would be to kill him at a distance.Take along a crossbow or one of our riflesand simply shoot him in the midst of the Pattern.The thing that bothers me about it is the effect of ourblood on the Pattern [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]