Zelazny, Roger The Second Chronicles of Amber 05 Prince of Chaos

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.Then she, too, was gone.Voices were still calling to me, from behind, from ahead.There wasweeping and laughter, and my name being repeated.I rushed ahead."Whatever happens," Bill Roth said, "if you need a good lawyer, I'llhandle it-even in Chaos."And then there was Dworkin, squinting at me from out of a tiny mirrorwith a twisted frame."Nothing to be alarmed about," he remarked, "but all sorts ofimponderables are hovering about you.""What am I to do?" I cried."You must become something greater than yourself.""I don't understand.""Escape the cage that is your life.""What cage?"He was gone.I ran, and their words rang around me.Near the end of the hall was a mirror like a piece of yellow silkstretched upon a frame.The Cheshire Cat grinned at me from within."It's not worth it.The hell with them all," he said."Come to theGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlcabaret,old chum.We'll tip a few brews and watch the man paint.""Nor" I cried."No!"And then there was only a grin.This time I faded, too.Merciful, blackoblivion and the sound of the wind, somewhere, passing.IIIHow long I slept, I do not know.I was awakened by Suhuy's repeating myname."Merlin, Merlin," he said."The sky is white." "And I've a busy day," Ianswered."I know.I'd a busy night, too.""It reached you, then.""What?""A small spell I sent, to open your mind to some enlightenment.I hopedto lead you to answers from within, rather than burden you with my guessworkand suspicions.""I was back in the Corridor of Mirrors.""I knew not what form it might take.""Was it real?""As such things go, it should have been.""Well, thanks-I guess.It reminds me that Gryll said something aboutyour wanting to see me before my mother did."Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"I wanted to see how much you knew before you faced her.I wanted toprotect your freedom of choice.""What are you saying?""I'm sure she wants to see you on the throne." I sat up and rubbed myeyes."I suppose that's possible," I said"I don't know how far she's willing to go to effect this.I wanted togive you a chance to know your own mind before you're exposed to her plans:Would you care for a cup of tea?""Yes, thanks."I accepted a mug he proffered and raised it to my lips."What are yousaying about her beyond a guess at her wishes?" I asked.He shook his head."I don't know how active her program might be," he said, "if that iswhat you mean.And whether she was connected with it or another, the spellyou came wearing has faded now.""Your doing?"He nodded.I took another swallow."I never realized how close I'd gotten to the head of the line," Iadded."Jurt is number four or five in the succession, isn't he?"He nodded."I've a feeling it's going to be a very busy day," I said."Finish your tea," he told me, "and follow me when you would."He walked away through a dragon tapestry on the far wall.As I raised the mug again, the bright bracelet on my left wrist cameGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlfree and drifted before me, losing its braided outline, becoming a circle ofpure light.It hovered above the steaming brew, as if enjoying its cinnamonyaroma."Hi, Ghost," I said."Why'd you weave yourself about my wrist thatway?""To look like that piece of rope you usually wear," came the reply."Ithought you must be fond of the effect.""I mean, what were you up to the whole time?" "Just listening, Dad.Seeing how I might be of help.These people are all your relatives, too?""The ones we've met so far, yes.""Is it necessary to go back to Amber to speak ill of them?""No, it works here in the Courts, too." I took another sip of tea."Anyspecial ill you have in mind? Or was that a general question?""I don't trust your mother or your brother Mandor, even if they are mygrandmother and uncle.I think they're setting you up for something.""Mandor's always been good to me."".And your uncle Suhuy-he seems eminently stable, but he reminds mea lot of Dworkin.Might he be sitting on all sorts of internal turmoils andready to flip out anytime?""I hope not," I said."He never has.""Oh-oh, it's been building, and this is a time of stress.""Where are you getting all this pop psychology, anyway?'Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"I've been studying the great psychologists of the Shadow Earth.It'spart of my ongoing attempt to understand the human condition.I realized itwas time I learned more about the irrational parts.""What brought all this on?""The higher order edition of the Pattern I encountered in the Jewel,actually.There were aspects of it I simply could not understand.This ledto considerations of chaos theory, then to Menninger and all the others forits manifestations in consciousness.""Any conclusions?""I am wiser therefor.""I mean, concerning the Pattern.""Yes.Either it possesses an element of irrationality itself, likeliving things, or it is an intelligence of such an order that some of itsprocesses only seem irrational to lesser beings.Either explanation amountsto the same thing from a practical standpoint.""I never had the opportunity to apply some of the tests I'd designed,but can you say from self-knowledge whether you fall into such a categoryyourself?""Me? Irrational? The notion never occurred to me.I can't see how itcould be."I finished my tea and swung my legs over the side of the bed."Too bad," I said."I think some measure of it is what makes us trulyhuman-that, and recognizing it in ourselves, of course.""Really?"I rose and began dressing myself."Yes, and controlling it within oneself may have something to do withGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlintelligence and creativity.""I'm going to have to study this very closely [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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