按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sposition upon the surface below。 I thought at first that it was inscribed in the rock； but as we drew nearer I saw that it was contained within it … gold…pink swirls； like veining in an exotic marble； natural…seeming despite the obvious purpose to the design。
I drew rein and the others came up beside me。 Random to my right； Ganelon to my left。
We regarded it in silence for a long while。 A dark； rough…edged smudge had obliterated an area of the section immediately beneath us； running from its outer rim to the center。
〃You know；〃 Random finally said； 〃it is as if someone had shaved the top off Kolvir； cutting at about the level of the dungeons。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。
〃Then … looking for congruence … that would be about where our own Pattern lies。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said again。
〃And that blotted area is to the south； from whence es the black road。〃
I nodded slowly as the understanding arrived and forged itself into a certainty。
〃What does it mean？〃 he asked。 〃It seems to correspond to the true state of affairs； but beyond that I do not understand its significance。 Why have we been brought here and shown this thing？〃
〃It does not correspond to the true state of affairs；〃 I said。 〃It is the true state of affairs。〃
Ganelon turned toward us。
〃On that shadow Earth we visited … where you had spent so many years … I heard a poem about two roads that diverged in a wood；〃 he said。 〃It ends； 'I took the one less traveled by； and that has made all the difference。' When I heard it； I thought of something you had once said … 'All roads lead to Amber' … and I wondered then； as I do now； at the difference the choice may make； despite the end's apparent inevitability to those of your blood。〃
〃You know？〃 I said。 〃You understand？〃
〃I think so。〃
He nodded； then pointed。
〃That is the real Amber down there； isn't it？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃Yes； it is。〃