Chronicles of Amber: in 10 books. Book 3: The sign of the Unicorn: a novel

The Sign of the Unicorn is the third book in a series of novels by the American science-fiction writer Roger Zhelezna's The Chronicles of Amber.

For the first time in many years, the princes and princesses of the Real City come together to fight the dark forces, but there is a traitor among them… And is there one?

At the same time, the Unicorn appears in front of Corvinus…

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CHAPTER ONE

I ignored the questioning look in the groom's eyes when he was filming a terrible load and drove the horse to the stall to take care of him. Throwing a handful of intestines over his shoulder, he moved to the black entrance of the palace - the cloak could not hide its filling. Hell will soon demand retribution. I will still be noticed, but I will be able to avoid the problems that are inevitable on the main road, where there is always a lot of fuss. The devils would take it. Again, the devils would take it. It seemed that I still had a problem. But when you get a slide cup, drink it to the bottom. Probably, it is a spiritual analogue of compound interest. In the far corner of the garden near the fountain there were several lazy people. And two more guards wandered through the bushes along the path. They noticed me approaching, exchanged a few words, and then looked the other way. Caution.

I came back less than a week ago. Most of the problems are still unresolved. Amber's yard was filled with suspicion and anxiety. And now this: death, which will further complicate the precarious and unfortunate pre-throne rule of Corvinus I, is my domination.

But from the very beginning, there were so many problems that needed intervention. Not that I dozed off, contemplating such a reality. I set priorities and acted accordingly. And yet, now ...

After crossing the garden, I came out of the shadows under the oblique rays of the sun. Climbed a wide spiral staircase. The guard lined up as soon as I entered the palace. Moving to the back stairs, I went upstairs. Then on to the third.

On the right, my brother Random went out of his rooms into the corridor.

- Corwin! He exclaimed, looking at my face. - What happened? I saw you from the balcony and ...

- Inside, - I gestured to him. - We will hold a personal meeting. Just now. ”He hesitated, examining my burden.“ Let's go two rooms from here, ”Random said. "Okay?" This is Vialla.

- Of course.

He led me and opened the door. I went into the small living room and, finding the right place, threw the body there. Random stared at the roll. "So what do I do with it?" He asked, "Unpack the presents," I said. - And look.

He knelt down and untied his cloak. And then he rolled him back. "He's deader than the dead," said the brother. - What is the problem?

"You didn't look very carefully," I replied. "Raise his eyelids." Open your mouth and look at your teeth. Feel the appendages on the back of your palms. List the finger joints. And then explain to me what the problem is.

Random set out to do what he said. He had just looked at his hands when he froze and nodded. "All right," he said. "I remember." "Remember it out loud." "It happened in Flora's house ..." "That's when I first saw someone like that," I said. "However, they persecuted you." I didn't understand why. "" That's right, "said the brother. "I've never had a chance to tell you about it." We haven't seen each other for a long time. Strange ... Where did he come from?

I hesitated: should I extract his story from him, or tell my own? I decided to start with my own, because she is more urgent and, as it were, mine. ”Sighing, I sat down on a chair.“ We just lost another brother, ”I began. "Cain is dead." I got there late. This monster - a creature - killed him. For obvious reasons, I wanted to capture her alive. But she herself got into a fight. I had no choice. "He whistled softly, then sat down in the chair opposite me." I see, "he said, almost in a whisper." I looked at my brother's face. . Wasn't there an echo of a smile in the corners of his eyes, ready to appear every second, if only I smiled too? Quite likely.

"No," I said flatly. - Otherwise, I would have arranged everything so that there was much less doubt about my non-involvement. I'm telling you what really happened. ”“ Okay, ”Random agreed. "Where's Cain?"

- Under a layer of turf near the Unicorn Grove.

"This place seems suspicious," he said. - Or it will be published. For others.

I nodded.

- I know. And yet I had to hide the body and cover it for a while. I couldn't just bring him back and fight off questions. Not when I had important information in your head. "" All right, "said the brother. - I don't know how important it is, but I'll tell you everything. Just don't leave me suspended, okay? How did this happen?

"It all happened in the afternoon," I began. "Gerard and I ate in the harbor." Then Benedict took me to the ship through Trump. Then I returned to my room, where I found a note, which was apparently thrown at the door. It was a personal meeting, in the afternoon, in the Unicorn Grove. Signed - "Cain".

- Do you still have the note?

"Yes," I said, taking a piece of paper from my pocket and handing it to my brother. "Here." He inspected the sheet and shook his head. "I don't know," Random said. "Maybe it's his handwriting - if he's in a hurry - but I don't think so." I shrugged. Taking the note, he folded it and hid it.

- Anyway, I tried to reach him through Trump, so as not to go in vain. However, he did not answer. I thought that's how he kept his whereabouts a secret, since everything is so important. So I jumped on my horse and set off.
- Did you tell anyone where you were going?

- No soul. I decided to give the horse a chance to warm up, so I ran fast. He did not see how it all happened, but as soon as he entered the grove, he found his body. Cain's throat was cut, and there was a commotion in the nearby bushes. I caught up with that guy, intercepted him, fought and had to deal with him. While this was happening, we did not enter into a conversation.

- Are you sure you came across this guy?

- Sure, as far as it was possible under the circumstances. His trail led to Cain. Fresh blood glistened on his clothes.

- Maybe his own.

- Look again. No injuries. I broke his neck. Of course, I remembered when I saw someone like him, so I brought the dead man straight to you. And before you tell me about him, let me make a little remark. ”I pulled out a second note and handed it to Random. - The monster kept it with him. I think I took her to Cain. "Random read, nodded, and then handed the sheet back." From you, Cain. With a request for a meeting. Yes, I understand. Br>

- In fact, there is nothing to say, - I finished. - And the words are a bit like my handwriting - at least at first glance. - I wonder what would happen if you were the first to get there?

"Probably nothing," I replied. "I think they wanted to see me alive, but tainted." The thing was that we had to come to the place in turn. And I had to hurry just as much as necessary for the planned outcome. "He nodded."

"They planned the time so carefully," he said. "There must be another traitor here in the palace." Any ideas?

I giggled and reached for my cigarette. After lighting it, he giggled again.

- I just got back. And you have been sitting here for a long time, - I said. - And who hates me the most now? "It's a delicate matter, Corvinus," said the brother. - Everyone has a tooth for you for something. Of course, I would bet on Julian. However, this version does not hold a bunch.

- Why not?

- They had a wonderful relationship with Cain. And for many years. They took care of each other, always hanging out together. Nerozliyvoda. Julian is still as cold and petty as you remember. But if he loved anyone, it was Cain. I don't think Julian could do that to him, even to hurt you. After all, if he only needed that, he could find a hundred other ways to annoy you. "I sighed." Who's next?

- I don't know. I just don't know.

- Okay. How do you think everyone will react?

- You're trapped, Corvinus. Everyone will think you did it, no matter what you say. ”I nodded at the dead man. Random shook his head. "It could be some poor bastard you pulled out of the Shadow to put the blame on him." "I know," I said. "Strange, but I returned to Amber at the best time to show myself in the most decent way." "It's a perfect time," Random agreed. "You didn't even have to kill Eric to get what you wanted." The gift of fate.

- Yes. And yet, it is no secret that this is exactly what I intended to do. And it is only a matter of time before my troops - the aliens with strange weapons who have settled here - begin to cause irritation. At the moment, I am protected only by an external threat. And there are acts I was suspected of even before I returned, such as the murder of Benedict's servants. Now this too ...

"Yes," Random replied. "I felt it was as soon as you started talking." When you and Blaise attacked, Gerard positioned part of the flotilla so as not to stand in your way. Cain, on the other hand, attacked you with his ships and defeated you at sea. Now that he's gone, I suspect you'll put Gerard in command of the entire fleet.

- And who else? He is the only one suitable for such a service.

- And yet ...

- And yet. I confess. If I killed someone to strengthen my status, I would logically choose Cain. And this, damn it, is true. - And how do you plan to arrange everything?

- I will tell everyone what really happened and I will try to find out who is behind it all. Do you have better ideas?

- I tried to figure out how to provide you with an alibi, but so far nothing comes to mind.

I shook my head.

- You and I are too close. No matter how convincing everything sounds, we can achieve the opposite effect.

- Didn't you think to admit murder?

- Decreased, but self-defense disappears. A cut throat indicates an attack of excess. And I'm not eager to come up with alternative versions: to look for dubious evidence that he planned something bad, and then to claim that I killed him for the benefit of Amber. In such circumstances, I flatly refuse to take the blame. Yes, and the smell will remain rotten.

- But you will earn an iron reputation.

- I do not need such a reputation for the show I'm going to put. No, it is impossible.

- Then it solves everything - well almost.

- That is - "well almost"?

Random was looking through the cracks of his squinted eyes at the big toe of his left foot.

Thinking about it, I lit a cigarette.

- Not bad, but for now I can no longer scatter brothers. Even Julian. And, in any case, you can't just remove it. "" You don't have to touch someone in the family, "Random said. - Around many noble amberites with probable motives. Let's say, Sir Reginald ...

- Forget it, Random! There will be no sweeps.

- All right. Then my little gray cells are exhausted.

- I hope not the ones responsible for memory.

- Of course.

Sighing, Random straightened up. He got to his feet, stepped over someone else in the room, and then went to the window. He opened the curtains and stared into the distance for a long time. "Of course," he repeated. - I have a lot to tell ...

So Random began to remember aloud.