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〃It is not quite that simple。 But supposing it were； what good would it do us？〃
〃Perhaps the Trumps would function again at the point of maximum congruity。〃
Random looked at Ganelon； looked at me。
〃That may be worth trying；〃 he said。 〃What have we got to lose？〃
〃Whatever small orientation we still possess；〃 I said。 〃Look； it is not a bad idea。 If nothing develops here； we will try it。 However； looking back； it seems that the road behind us closes in direct proportion to the distance we advance。 We are not simply moving in space。 Under these circumstances； I am loath to wander until I am satisfied that we have no other option。 If someone desires our presence at a particular location； it is up to him now to phrase the invitation a little more legibly。 We wait。〃
They both nodded。 Random began to dismount； then froze； one foot in the stirrup； one on the ground。
〃After all these years；〃 he said； and； 〃I never really believed it。。。〃
〃What is it？〃 I whispered。
〃The option；〃 he said； and he mounted again。
He persuaded his horse to move very slowly forward。 I followed； and a moment later I glimpsed it； white as I had seen it in the grove； standing； half hidden； amid a clump of ferns： the unicorn。
It turned as we moved； and seconds later flashed ahead； to stand partly concealed once more by the trunks of several trees。
〃I see it！〃 Ganelon whispered。 〃To think there really is such a beast。。。 Your family's emblem； isn't it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃A good sign； I'd say。〃
I did not answer； but followed； keeping it in sight。 That it was meant to be followed I did not doubt。
It had a way of remaining partly concealed the entire while … looking out from behind something； passing from cover to cover； moving with an incredible swiftness when it did move； avoiding open areas； favoring glade and shade。 We followed； deeper and deeper into the wood which had given up all semblance of anything to be found on Kolvir's slopes。 It resembled Arden now； more than anything else near Amber； as the ground was relatively level and the trees grew more and more stately。
An hour had passed； I guessed； and another had followed it； before we came to a small； clear stream and the unicorn turned and headed up it。 As we rode along the bank。 Random mented； 〃This is starting to look sort of familiar。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃but only sort of。 I can't quite say why。〃
〃Nor I。〃
We entered upon a slope shortly thereafter； and it grew steeper before very long。 The going became more difficult for the horses； but the unicorn adjusted its pace to acmodate them。 The ground became rockier； the trees smaller。 The stream curved in its splashing course。 I lost track of its twists and turns； but we were finally nearing the top of the small mount up which we had been traveling。
We achieved a level area and continued along it toward the wood from which the stream issued。 At this point I caught an oblique view … ahead and to the right； through a place where the land fell away … of an icy blue sea； quite far below us。
〃We're pretty high up；〃 Ganelon said。 〃It seemed like lowland； but … 〃
〃The Grove of the Unicorn！〃 Random interrupted。 〃That's what it looks like！ See！〃
Nor was he incorrect。 Ahead lay an area strewn with boulders。 Amid them a spring uttered the stream we followed。 This place was larger and more lush； its situation incorrect in terms of my internal pass。 Yet the similarity had to be more than coincidental。 The unicorn mounted the rock nearest the spring； looked at us； then turned away。 It might have been staring down at the ocean。
Then； as we continued； the grove； the unicorn； the trees about us； the stream beside us took on an unusual clarity； all； as though each were radiating some special illumination； causing it to quiver with the intensity of its color while at the same time wavering； slightly； just at the edges of perception。 This produced in me an incipient feeling like the beginning of the emotional acpaniment to a hellride。
Then； then and then； with each stride of my mount； something went out of the world about us。 An adjustment in the relationships of objects suddenly occurred； eroding； my sense of depth； destroying perspective； rearranging the display of articles within my field of vision； so that everything presented its entire outer surface without simultaneously appearing to occupy an increased area： angles predominated； and relative sizes seemed suddenly ridiculous。 Random's horse reared and neighed； massive； apocalyptic； instantly recalling Guernica to my mind。 And to my distress I saw that we ourselves had not been untouched by the phenomenon … but that Random； struggling with his mount； and Ganelon； still managing to control Firedrake； had； like everything else； been transfigured by this cubist dream of space。
But Star was a veteran of many a hellride； Firedrake； also； had been through a lot。 We clung to them and felt the movements that we could not accurately gauge。 And Random succeeded； at last； in imposing his will upon his mount； though the prospect continued to alter as we advanced。
Light values shifted next。 The sky grew black； not as night； but like a flat； nonreflecting surface。 So did certain vacant areas between objects。 The only light left in the world seemed to originate from things themselves； and all of it was gradually bleached。 Various intensities of white emerged from the planes of existence； and brightest of all； immense； awful； the unicorn suddenly reared； pawing at the air； filling perhaps ninety percent of creation with what became a slow…motion gesture I feared would annihilate us if we advanced another pace。
Then there was only the light。 Then absolute stillness。
Then the light was gone and there was nothing。 Not even blackness。 A gap in existence； which might have lasted an instant or an eternity。。。
Then the blackness returned； and the light。 Only they were reversed。 Light filled the interstices； outlining voids that must be objects。 The first sound that I heard was the rushing of water； and I knew somehow that we were halted beside the spring。 The first thing that I felt was Star's quivering。 Then I smelled the sea。
Then the Pattern came into view； or a distorted negative of it。。。
I leaned forward and more light leaked around the edges of things。 I leaned back； it went away。 Forward again； this time farther than before。。。
The light spread； introduced various shades of gray into the scheme of things。 With my knees then； gently； I suggested that Star advance。
With each pace； something returned to the world。 Surfaces； textures； colors。。。
Behind me； I heard the others begin to follow。 Below me； the Pattern surrendered nothing of its mystery； but it acquired a context which； by degrees； found its place within the larger reshaping of the world about us。
Continuing downhill； a sense of depth reemerged。 The sea； now plainly visible off to the right； underwent a possibly purely optical separation from the sky； with which it seemed momentarily to have been joined in some sort of Urmeer of the waters above and the waters below。 Unsettling upon reflection； but unnoted while in effect。 We were heading down a steep； rocky incline which seemed to have taken its beginning at the rear of the grove to which the unicorn had led us。 Perhaps a hundred meters below us was a perfectly level area which appeared to be solid； unfractured rock … roughly oval in shape； a couple of hundred meters along its major axis。 The slope down which we rode swung off to the left and returned； describing a vast arc； a parenthesis； half cupping the smooth shelf。 Beyond its rightward jutting there was nothing … that is to say the land fell away in steep descent toward that peculiar sea。
And； continuing； all three dimensions seemed to reassert themselves once more。 The sun was that great orb of molten gold we had seen earlier。 The sky was a deeper blue than that of Amber； and there were no clouds in it。 That sea was a matching blue； unspecked by sail or island。 I saw no birds； and I heard no sounds other than our own。 An enormous silence lay upon this place； this day。 In the bowl of my suddenly clear vision； the Pattern at last achieved its disposition upon the surface below。 I thought at firs