"Amber Short Story 06 - Hall of Mirrors 1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

"One would need a reason for something like that."

"For all you know, one of them has a very good one."

"Possibly. But it doesn't seem likely. I've been away for some time, and
few know I'm free at last."

"Then question those few."

"We'll see."

"Just trying to be helpful."

"Don't stop. Say, what do you want to do after we get to Amber?"

"Haven't made up my mind yet. I've been something of a wanderer."

I laughed.

"You're a beast after my own heart. In that your sentiments are most
unbeastlike, how can I repay you for this transport?"

"Wait. I've a feeling the Fates will take care of that."

"So be it. In the meantime, though, if you happen to think of something
special, let me know."

"It's a privilege to help you, Lord Corwin. Let it go at that."

"All right. Thanks."

We passed through shadow after shadow. Suns ran backward and storms
assailed us out of beautiful skies. We toyed with night, which might have
trapped a less adroit pair than us, found a twilight, and took our rations
there. Shortly thereafter, Shask turned back to stone. Nothing attacked us
that night, and my dreams were hardly worth dreaming.

Next day we were on our way early, and I used every trick I knew to
shortcut us through Shadow on our way home. Home... It did feel good to be
headed back, despite Shask's comments on my relatives. I'd no idea I would
miss Amber as much as I had. I'd been away far longer on countless
occasions, but usually I had at least a rough idea as to when I might be
heading back. A prison in the Courts, though, was not a place from which one
might make such estimates.

So we tore on, wind across a plain, fire in the mountains, water down a
steep ravine. That evening I felt the resistance begin, the resistance which
comes when one enters that area of Shadow near to Amber. I tried to make it all
the way but failed. We spent that night at a place near to where the Black