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Ganelon nodded toward it。
〃Let's eat；〃 he said。
He rose and moved to the table。
I followed。 We did not talk much during the meal。
***
After stuffing myself until my stomach would hold no more and soaking down its contents with another glass of too…sweet wine； I began to yawn。 Ganelon cursed after the third one。
〃Damn it； Corey！ Stop that！ It's contagious！〃 He stifled a yawn of his own。
〃Let's take some air；〃 he said； rising。
So we walked out along the walls； passing the sentries in their rounds。 They would e to attention and salute Ganelon as soon as they saw who it was approaching； and he would give them a word of greeting and we would move on。 We came to a battlement； where we paused to rest； seating ourselves on the stone； sucking in the evening air； cool and damp and full of the forest； and noting the appearance of the stars； one by one； in the darkening sky。 The stone was cold beneath me。 Far off in the distance； I thought I could detect the shimmer of the sea。 I heard a night bird； from somewhere below us。 Ganelon produced a pipe and tobacco from a pouch he wore at his belt。 He filled it； tamped it； and struck a flame。 His face would have been satanic in the spark light； save for whatever turned his mouth downward and drew the muscles in his cheeks up into that angle formed by the inner corners of his eyes and the sharp bridge of his nose。 A devil is supposed to have an evil grin； and this one looked too morose。
I smelled the smoke。 After a time； he began to speak； softly and very slowly at first：
〃I remember Avalon；〃 he began。 〃My birth there was not ignoble； but virtue was never one of my strong points。 I went through my inheritance quickly and I took to the roads where I waylaid travelers。 Later； I joined with a band of other men such as myself。 When I discovered I was the strongest and most fit to lead； I became the leader。 There were prices on all our heads。 Mine was the highest。〃
He spoke more rapidly now； and his voice grew more refined and his choice of words came as an echo from out of his past。
〃Yes； I remember Avalon；〃 he said； 〃a place of silver and shade and cool waters； where the stars shone like bonfires at night and the green of day was always the green of spring。 Youth； love； beauty … I knew them in Avalon。 Proud steeds； bright metal； soft lips； dark ale。 Honor。。。〃
He shook his head。
〃One later day；〃 he said； 〃when war menced within the realm； the ruler offered full pardon to any outlaws who would follow him in battle against the insurgents。 This was Corwin。 I threw in with him and rode off to the wars。 I became an officer； and then … later … a member of his staff。 We won the battles； put down the uprising。 Then Corwin ruled peacefully once more； and I remained； at his court。 Those were the good years。 There later came some border skirmishes； but these we always won。 He trusted me to handle such things for him。 Then he granted a Dukedom to dignify the House of a minor noble whose daughter he desired in marriage。 I had wanted that Dukedom； and he had long hinted it might one day be mine。 I was furious； and I betrayed my mand the next time I was dispatched to settle a dispute along the southern border； where something was always stirring。 Many of my men died； and the invaders entered into the realm。 Before they could be routed； Lord Corwin himself had to take up arms once more。 The invaders had e through in great strength； and I thought they would conquer the realm。 I hoped they would。 But Corwin； again； with his foxy tactics； prevailed。 I fled； but was captured and taken to him for sentencing。 I cursed him and spat at him。 I would not bow。 I hated the ground he trod； and a condemned man has no reason not to put up the best front he can； to go out like a man。 Corwin said he would show me a measure of mercy for favors past。 I told him to shove his mercy； and then I realized that he was mocking me。 He ordered me released and he approached me。 I knew he could kill me with his hands。 I tried to fight with him； but to no avail。 He struck me once and I fell。 When I awakened； I was strapped across his horse's rump。 He rode along； jibing at me the while。 I would not reply to anything he said； but we rode through wondrous lands and lands out of nightmare； which is one way I learned of his sorcerous power … for no traveler I have ever met has passed through the places I saw that day。 Then he pronounced my exile； released me in this place； turned； and rode away。〃
He paused to relight his pipe； which had gone out； puffed upon it for a time； went on： 〃Many a bruising； cudgeling； biting； and beating did I take in this place； at the hands of man and beast； only barely preserving my life。 He had left me in the wickedest portion of the realm。 But then one day my fortunes took a turn。 An armored knight bade me depart the roadway that he might pass。 At that point； I cared not whether I lived or died； so I called him a pock…marked whoreson and bade him go to the Devil。 He charged me and I seized his lance and pushed its point into the ground； so unhorsing him。 I drew him a smile beneath his chin with his own dagger； and thus obtained me mounting and weapons。 Then did I set about paying back those who had used me poorly。 I took up my old trade on the highways once again and I gained me another band of followers。 We grew。 When there were hundreds of us our needs were considerable。 We would ride into a small town and make it ours。 The local militia would fear us。 This； too； was a good life； though not so splendid as the Avalon I never shall know again。 All the roadside inns came to fear the thunder of our mounts； and travelers would soil their britches when they heard us ing。 Ha！ This lasted for several years。 Large parties of armed men were sent to track us and destroy us； but always we evaded them or ambushed them。 Then one day there was the dark Circle； and no one really knows why。〃
He puffed more vigorously on his pipe； stared off into the distance。
〃I am told it began as a tiny ring of toadstools； far to the west。 A child was found dead in its center； and the man who found her … her father … died of convulsions several days later。 The spot was immediately said to be accursed。 It grew quickly in the months that followed； until it was half a league across。 The grasses darkened and shone like metal within it； but did not die。 The trees twisted and their leaves blackened。 They swayed when there was no wind； and bats danced and darted among them。 In the twilight； strange shapes could be seen moving … always within the Circle； mind you … and there were lights； as of small fires； throughout the night。 The Circle continued to grow； and those who lived near it fled … mostly。 A few remained。 It was said that those who remained had struck some bargain with the dark things。 And the Circle continued to widen； spreading like the ripple from a rock cast into a pond。 More and more people remained； living； within it。 I have spoken with these people； fought with them； slain them。 It is as if there is something dead inside them all。 Their voices lack the thrust and dip of men chewing over their words and tasting them。 They seldom do much with their faces； but wear them like death masks。