• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • 2
    CommentGo Back
Download
 
GunsOfAvalonbyRogerZelaznyChapter1Istoodthereonthebeachandsaid,“Good-by,Butterfly,”andtheshipslowlyturned,thenheadedouttowarddeepwater.ItwouldmakeitbackintoportatthelighthouseofCabra,Iknew,forthat placelayneartoShadow.Turningaway,Iregardedtheblacklineoftreesnearathand,knowingthatalongwalklayaheadof me.Imovedinthatdirection,makingthenecessaryadjustmentsasIadvanced.Apre-dawnchilllayuponthesilentforest,andthiswasgood.Iwasperhapsfiftypoundsunderweightandstilloccasionallyexperienceddoublevision,butIwasimproving.IhadescapedthedungeonsofAmberandrecuperatedsomewhat,withtheassistanceof madDworkinanddrunkenJopin,inthatorder.NowIhadtofindmeaplace,aplaceresemblinganotherplace-onewhichnolongerexisted.Ilocatedthepath.Itookit.Afteratime,Istoppedatahollowtreethathadtobethere.Ireachedinsideanddrewforthmysilveredbladeandstrappedittomywaist.ItmatterednotthatithadbeensomewhereinAmber.Itwasherenow,forthewoodthatIwalkedwasinShadow.Icontinuedforseveralhours,theunseensunsomewherebehindmyleftshoulder.ThenIrestedawhile,thenmovedon.Itwasgoodtoseetheleavesandtherocksandthedeadtreetrunks,theliveones,thegrass,thedarkearth.Itwasgoodtosmellallthelittlesmellsoflife,andtohearits buzzing/humming/chirpingsounds.God!HowItreasuredmyeyes!Havingthembackagainafter nearlyfouryearsofblacknesswasathingforwhichIlackedwords.Andtobewalkingfree...Iwenton,mytatteredcloakflappinginthemorningbreeze.Imusthavelookedoverfiftyyearsold,myfacecreased,myformsparse,lean.WhowouldhaveknownmeforwhatIwas?AsIwalked,walkedinShadow,movedtowardaplace,Ididnotreachthatplace.ItmustbethatIhadgrownsomewhatsoft.Hereiswhathappened-Icameuponsevenmenbythesideoftheroad,andsixofthemweredead,lyinginvariousstagesof reddismemberment.Theseventhwasinasemi-reclinedposition,hisbackagainstthemossyboleof anancientoak.Heheldhisbladeacrosshislapandtherewasalargewetwoundinhisrightside,fromwhichthebloodstillflowed.Heworenoarmor,thoughsomeoftheothersdid.Hisgrayeyeswereopen,thoughglassy.Hisknuckleswereskinnedandhisbreathingwasslow.Frombeneathshaggybrows,hewatchedthecrowseatouttheeyesofthedead.Hedidnotseemtoseeme.Iraisedmycowlandloweredmyheadtohidemyface.Imovednearer.Iknewhim,orsomeoneverylikehim,once.HisbladetwitchedandthepointroseasIadvanced.“I’mafriend,”Isaid.“Wouldyoulikeadrinkofwater?”Hehesitatedamoment,thennodded.“Yes.”Iopenedmycanteenandpassedittohim.Hedrankandcoughed,dranksomemore.
Page1
 
“Sir,Ithankyou,”hesaidashepasseditback.“Ionlyregretitwerenotstronger.Damnthiscut!”“I’vesomeofthat,too.Ifyou’resureyoucanhandleit.”HeheldouthishandandIunstopperedasmallflaskandgaveittohim.Hemusthavecoughedfor twentysecondsafteraslugofthatstuffJopindrinks.Thentheleftsideofhismouthsmiledandhewinkedlightly.“Muchbetter,”hesaid.“MindifIpouradropofthisontomyside?Ihatetowastegoodwhisky, but-““Useitall,ifyouhaveto.Onsecondthought,though,yourhandlooksshaky.MaybeI’dbetterdothepouring.”Henodded,andIopenedhisleatherjacketandwithmydaggercutawayathisshirtuntilIhadexposedthewound.Itwasnasty-looking,deep,runningfromfronttobackacoupleinchesabovethetopofhiship.Hehadother,lessseriousgashesonhisarms,chest,andshoulders.Thebloodkeptoozingfromthebigone,andIblotteditabitandwipeditcleanwithmykerchief.“Okay,”Isaid,“clenchyourteethandlookaway,”andIpoured.Hisentirebodyjerked,onegreatspasm,andthenhesettleddowntoshivering.Buthedidnotcryout.Ihadnotthoughthewould.Ifoldedthekerchiefandpresseditinplaceonthewound.Itieditthere,withalongstripIhadtornfromthebottomofmycloak.“Wantanotherdrink?”Iaskedhim.“Ofwater,”hesaid.“ThenIfearImustsleep.”Hedrank,thenhisheadleanedforwarduntilhischinwasrestinguponhisbreast.Heslept,andImadehimapillowandcoveredhimoverwithdeadmen’scloaks.ThenIsatthereathissideandwatchedtheprettyblackbirds.Hehadnotrecognizedme.Butthen,whowould?HadIrevealedmyselftohim,hemightpossiblyhaveknownme.Wehadneverreallymet,Iguess,thiswoundedmanandI.Butinapeculiarsense,wewereacquainted.IwaswalkinginShadow,seekingaplace,averyspecialplace.Ithadbeendestroyedonce,butIhadthepowertore-createit,forAmbercastsaninfinityofshadows.AchildofAmbermaywalk amongthem,andsuchwasmyheritage.Youmaycallthemparallelworldsifyouwish,alternateuniversesifyouwould,theproductsofaderangedmindifyoucareto.Icallthemshadows,asdoallwhopossessthepowertowalkamongthem.Weselectapossibilityandwewalkuntilwereachit.So,inasense,wecreateit.Let’sleaveitatthatfornow.Ihadsailed,hadbegunthiswalktowardAvalon.Centuriesbefore,Ihadlivedthere.Itisalong,complicated,proudandpainfulstory,andImaygointoitlateron,ifIlivetofinishmuchmoreofthistelling.IwasdrawingnearertomyAvalonwhenIcameuponthewoundedknightandthesixdeadmen.HadIchosentowalkonby,Icouldhavereachedaplacewherethesixmenlaydeadandtheknightstoodunwounded-oraplacewherehelaydeadandtheystoodlaughing.Somewouldsayitdidnotreallymatter,sinceallthesethingsarepossibilities,andthereforeallofthemexistsomewhereinShadow.
Page2
 
Anyofmybrothersandsisters-withthepossibleexceptionsofGerardandBenedict-wouldnotevenhavegivenasecondglance.Ihavebecomesomewhatchickenhearted,however.Iwasnotalwaysthatway,butperhapstheshadowEarth,whereIspentsomanyyears,mellowedmeabit,andmaybemyhitchinthedungeonsofAmberremindedmesomewhatofthequalityofhumansuffering.Idonotknow.IonlyknowthatIcouldnotpassbythehurtIsawontheformofsomeonemuchlikesomeonewhohadoncebeenafriend.IfIweretospeakmynameinthisman’sear,Imighthearmyself reviled,Iwouldcertainlyhearataleofwoe.So,allright.Iwouldpaythismuchoftheprice:Iwouldgethimbackonhisfeet,thenIwouldcutout.Noharmdone,andperhapssomesmallgoodwithinthisOther.Isatthere,watchinghim,andafterseveralhours,heawakened.“Hello,”Isaid,unstopperingmycanteen.“Haveanotherdrink?”“Thankyou.”Heextendedahand.Iwatchedhimdrink,andwhenhehandeditbackhesaid,“Excusemefornotintroducingmyself.Iwasnotingoodmanner...”“Iknowyou,”Isaid.“CallmeCorey.”Helookedasifhewereabouttosay,“CoreyofWhat?”butthoughtbetterofitandnodded.“Verywell.SirCorey,”hedemotedme.“Iwishtothankyou.”“Iamthankedbythefactthatyonarelookingbetter,”Itoldhim.“Wantsomethingtoeat?”“Yes,please.”“Ihavesomedriedmeathereandsomebreadthatcouldbefresher,”Isaid.“Alsoabighunkof cheese.Eatallyouwant.”Ipassedittohimandhedid.“Whatofyourself,SirCorey?”heinquired.“I’vealreadyeaten,whileyouwereasleep.”Ilookedaboutme,significantly.Hesmiled.“...Andyouknockedoffallsixofthembyyourself?”Isaid.Henodded.“Goodshow.WhatamIgoingtodowithyounow?”Hetriedtoseemyface,failed.“Idonotunderstand,”hesaid.“Whereareyouheaded?”“Ihavefriends,”hesaid,“somefiveleaguestothenorth.Iwasgoinginthatdirectionwhenthisthinghappened.AndIdoubtverymuchthatanyman,ortheDevilhimself,couldbearmeonhisback foroneleague.AndIcouldstand.SirCorey,you’dabetterideaastomysize.”Irose,drewmyblade,andfelledasapling-abouttwoinchesindiameter-withonecut.ThenIstrippeditandhackedittotheproperlength.Ididitagain,andwiththebeltsandcloaksofdeadmenIriggedastretcher.HewatcheduntilIwasfinished,thencommented:
Page3
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
sdamitha

Guys why Don't we get the Download option in here??????????

reply05 / 30 / 2009
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...