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I suppose I became more sensitive to odors also； but I tried not to think about them too much。 Aside from the imaginable nauseating ones there was； for a long while； what I would swear to be the odor of decaying flesh。 I wondered； if I were to die； how long would it be before someone took notice？ How many chunks of bread and bowls of slop would go uneaten before the guard thought to check within after my continued existence？
The answer to that one could be very important。
The death odor was around for a long while。 I tried to think in terms of time again； and it seemed that it persisted for over a week。
Though I rationed myself carefully； resisting the pulsion； the handy temptation； for as long as I could； I finally found myself down to my final pack of cigarettes。
I tore it open and lit one。 I had had a carton of Salems and I had smoked eleven packs。 That was two hundred and twenty cigarettes。 I had once timed myself with one； and it had taken me seven minutes to smoke it。 That made for a total of one thousand five hundred and forty minutes spent smoking； or twenty…five hours and forty minutes。 I was sure I had spent at least an hour between cigarettes； more like an hour and a half。 Say an hour and a half。 Now figure that I was sleeping six to eight hours per day。 That left sixteen to eighteen waking hours。 I guessed I was smoking ten or twelve per day。 So that meant maybe three weeks had passed since Rein's visit。 He had told me it was four months and ten days since the coronation； which meant that it was now around five months。
I nursed my last pack； enjoying each one like a love affair。 When they were all gone； I felt depressed。
Then a lot more time must have passed。
I got to wondering about Eric。 How was he making out as liege？ What problems was he encountering？ What was he up to right now？ Why hadn't he been around to torment me？ Could I ever truly be forgotten in Amber； even by imperial decree？ Never； I decided。
And what of my brothers？ Why had none of them contacted me？ It would be so easy to draw forth my Trump and break Eric's decree。 None did； though。
I thought for a long while upon Moire； the last woman I had loved。 What was she doing？ Did she think of me ever？ Probably not。 Maybe she was Eric's mistress by now； or his queen。 Did she ever speak to him of me？ Again； probably not。
And what of my sisters？ Forget it。 Bitches all； they。
I had been blinded once before； by a cannon flashback in the eighteenth century on the Shadow Earth。 But it had only lasted for around a month and my sight had returned。 Eric had had a permanent thing in mind； however； when he had given his order。 I still perspired and shuddered； and sometimes woke up screaming； whenever memory of the white…hot irons returned to me … hung there before my eyes … and then the contact！
I moaned softly and continued to pace。
There was absolutely nothing I could do。 That was the most horrible part of the whole thing。 I was as helpless as an embryo。 To be born again into sight and fury was a thing for which I would give my soul。 Even for an hour； with a blade in my hand； to duel once again with my brother。
I lay back on my mat and slept。 When I awakened； there was food； and I ate once again and paced。 My fingernails and my toenails had grown long。 My beard was very long and my hair fell across my eyes； constantly。 I felt filthy； and I itched all the time。 I wondered whether I had fleas。
That a prince of Amber could be brought to this state drew a terrible emotion from the center of my being； wherever that may be。 I had been reared to think of us as invincible entities； clean and cool and diamond…hard； like our pictures on the Trumps。 Obviously； we were not。
At least； we were enough like other men to have our resources。
I played mental games； I told myself stories； I reviewed pleasant memories … there were many of these。 I recalled the elements： wind； rain； snow； the summer's warmth； and the spring's cool breezes。 I had had a small airplane on the Shadow Earth； and when I flew it I had enjoyed the sensation。 I recalled the glistening panoramas of color and distance； the miniaturization of cities； the broad blue sweep of sky； the herds of clouds （where were they now？） and the clean expanse of the ocean beneath my wings。 I remembered women I had loved； parties； military engagements。 And when all was done； and I could help it no longer； I thought of Amber。
One time； when I did so； my tear glands began to function again。 I wept。
After an interminable time； a time filled with blackness and many sleeps； I heard footsteps which paused before the door to my cell； and I heard the sound of a key within the lock。
It was a time so long after Rein's visit that I had forgotten the taste of the wine and the cigarettes。 I could not really estimate its span； but it had been long。
There were two men in the corridor。 I could tell this from their footsteps even before I heard the sounds of their voices。
One of the voices I recognized。
The door swung open and Julian said my name。
I didn't answer right away； and he repeated it。
〃Corwin？ e here。〃
Since I didn't have much choice in the matter； I drew myself erect and advanced。 I stopped when I knew I was near him。
〃What do you want？〃 I asked。
〃e with me。〃 And he took my arm。
We walked along the corridor； and he said nothing and I'd be damned if I'd ask him any questions。
From the echoes； I could tell when we entered the big hall。 Soon after； he guided me up the stair。
Up； and into the palace proper we went。
I was taken to a room and seated in a chair。 A barber set to work cutting my hair and my beard。 I didn't recognize his voice when he asked me if I wanted the beard trimmed or removed。
〃Cut it off；〃 I said； and a manicurist set to work on my nails； all twenty of them。
Then I was bathed； and someone helped me to dress in clean garments。 They hung loose on me。 I was loused also； but forget that。
Then I was led into another black place filled with music and the odors of good food and the sounds of many voices and some laughter。 I recognized it to be the dining room。
The voices subsided a bit as Julian led me in and seated me。
I sat there until the trumpet notes； to which I was forced to rise。
I heard the toast called out：
〃To Eric the First； King of Amber！ Long live the king！〃
I didn't drink to that； but no one seemed to notice。 It was Caine's voice that had called out the toast； from far up along the table。
I ate as much as I could； because it was the best meal I had been offered since the coronation。 I gathered from conversation overheard that today was the anniversary of Eric's coronation； which meant I had spent an entire year in the dungeons。
No one spoke to me； and I didn't make any overtures。 I was present as a ghost only。 To humiliate me； and to serve as a reminder to my brothers； no doubt； as to the price of defying our liege。 And everyone had been ordered to forget me。
It went on well into the night。 Someone kept me well provided with wine； which was something； and I sat there and listened to the music of all the dances。
The tables had been removed by this time； and I was seated off somewhere in a