"Zelazny, Roger - Amber 05 - Courts Of Chaos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

"It is clear," he said. "I have cleared it."
I shook my head.
"I refrained from accusing her of something I have been thinking about for some time. There is a very good reason why I felt she cannot be trusted, despite her protests and your endorsement. Two reasons, in fact."
"I know, Corwin. But she did not kill Benedict's servants to manage her position at his house. I did it myself, to assure her getting to you as she did, at just the appropriate time."
"You? You were party to her whole plot? Why?"
"She will make you a good queen, son. I trust the blood of Chaos for strength. It was time for a fresh infusion. You will take the throne already provided with an heir. By the time he is ready for it. Merlin will long have been weaned from his upbringing."
We had come all the way around to the place of the black smear. I stopped. I squatted and studied it.
"You think this thing is going to kill you?" I finally asked.
"I know that it is."
"You are not above murdering innocent people to manipulate me. Yet you would sacrifice your life for the kingdom."
I looked at him.
"My own hands are not clean," I said, "and I certainly do not presume to judge you. A while back, though, when I made ready to try the Pattern, I thought how my feelings had changed--toward Eric, toward the throne. You do what you do, I believe, as a duty. I, too, feel a duty now, toward Amber, toward the throne. More than that, actually. Much more, I realized, just then. But I realized something else, also, something that duty does not require of me. I do not know when or how it stopped and I changed, but I do not want the throne, Dad. I am sorry it messes up your plans, but I do not want to be king of Amber. I am sorry."
I looked away then, back down at the smear. I heard him sigh.
Then, "I am going to send you home now," he said. "Saddle your horse and take provisions. Ride to a place outside Amber--any place, fairly isolated."
"My tomb?"
He snorted and chuckled faintly.
"That will do. Go there and wait my pleasure. I have some thinking to do."
I stood. He reached out and placed his right hand on my shoulder. The jewel was pulsing. He looked into my eyes.
"No man can have everything he wants the way that he wants it," he said.
And there was a distancing effect, as of the power of a Trump, only working in reverse. I heard voices, then about me I saw the room I had earlier departed. Benedict, Gйrard, Random and Dara were still there. I felt Dad release my shoulder. Then he was gone and I was among them once again.
"What is the story?" Random said. "We saw Dad sending you back. By the way, how did he do that?"
"I do not know," I said. "But he confirms what Dara has told us. He gave her the signet and the message."
"Why?" Gйrard asked.
"He wanted us to learn to trust her," I said.
Benedict rose to his feet.
"Then I will go and do as I have been bid."
"He wants you to attack, then fall back," Dara said. "After that, it will only be necessary to contain them."
"For how long?"
"He said only that this will become apparent."
Benedict gave one of his rare smiles and nodded. He managed his card case with his one hand, removed the deck, thumbed out the special Trump I had given him for the Courts.
"Good luck," Random said.
"Yes," Gйrard agreed.
I added my wishes and watched him fade. When his rainbow afterimage had vanished I looked away and noticed that Dara was crying silently. I did not remark on it.
"I, too, have orders now--of a sort," I said. "I had best be moving."
"And I will get back to the sea," said Gйrard.
"No," I heard Dara say as I was moving toward the door.
I halted.
"You are to remain here, Gйrard, and see to the safety of Amber herself. No attack will come by sea."
"But I thought Random was in charge of the local defense."
She shook her head.
"Random is to join Julian in Arden."
"Are you sure?" Random asked.
"I am certain."
"Good," he said. "It is nice to know he at least thought of me. Sorry, Gйrard. That's the breaks."
Gйrard simply looked puzzled.
"I hope he knows what he is doing," he said.
"We have been through that already," I told him. "Good-bye."
I heard a footfall as I left the room. Dara was beside me.
"What now?" I asked her.
"I thought I would walk with you, wherever you are going."