srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第53章
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！
。 You have no food and no skill。 Remain here； and you will be dead before I have gone a league。〃 Without waiting for answer； he turned and trotted away along the gully。
Covenant hesitated indecisively while contradictory fears clamored in him。 He did not want to trust Pietten。 His instincts shouted loudly： He drinks blood； Foul did something to him and he likes the taste of blood！ But he and Lena were too helpless。 They could not fend for themselves。 Abruptly； he took Lena's arm and started after Pietten。
The Ramen…trained Woodhelvennin allowed Covenant and Lena to catch up with him； but then he set a pace for them which kept Covenant from asking any questions。 Traveling swiftly； he guided them northward out of the arroyo into the open Plains； hastened them along like a man with a goal clearly visible before him。 When they showed signs of tiring； he irritably found aliantha for them。 But he revealed no weariness himself； he moved strongly； surely； reveling in the flow of his strides。 And from time to time he grinned jeeringly at Covenant and Lena； mocking them for their inability to match him。
They followed him as if they were entranced； spellbound to him by the harsh winter and their extreme need。 Covenant maintained the pace doggedly； and Lena labored at his side； spurning his every effort to help her。 Her new； grim independence seemed to sustain her； she covered nearly two leagues before she began to weaken。 Then； however； her strength rapidly deserted her。
Covenant was deeply tired himself； but he ached to aid her。 When she stumbled for the third time； and could hardly regain her feet； he demanded breathlessly across the wind； 〃Pietten； we've got to rest。 We need fire and shelter。〃
〃You are not hardy； Ringthane；〃 Pietten gibed。 〃Why do so many people fear you？〃
〃We can't go on like this。〃
〃You will freeze to death if you stop here。〃
Painfully； Covenant mustered the strength to shout； 〃 I know that！ Are you going to help us or not？〃
Pietten's voice sounded oddly cunning as he replied； 〃We will be safer…beyond the river。 It is not far。〃 He hurried on before Covenant could question him。
Covenant and Lena made the effort to follow him and found that he had spoken the truth。 Soon they reached the banks of a dark river flowing eastward out of the hills。 It lay forbiddingly across their way like a stream of black ice； but Pietten jumped into it at once and waded straight to the opposite bank。 The current was stiff； but did not reach above his knees。
Cursing； Covenant watched him go。 His weariness multiplied his distrust； his instinctive leper's caution was yowling inside him like a wounded animal。 He did not know this river； but he guessed it was the Roamsedge； Ra's northern boundary。 He feared that Bannor and Foamfollower would not expect him to leave the Plains…if they were still alive。
But he still had no choice。 The Woodhelvennin was their only chance。
〃Will you halt there？〃 Pietten scoffed at them from the far bank。 〃Halt and die。〃
Hellf ire！ Covenant snarled to himself。 He took Lena's arm despite her angry efforts to pull away； and went down the bank into the river。
His feet felt nothing of the cold； but it burned like numb fire into his lower legs。 Before he had waded a dozen yards； his knees hurt as if his calves were being shredded by the river。 He tried to hurry； but the speed of the current and the unevenness of the river bottom only made him trip and stagger brokenly。 He clung to Lena's arm and plowed onward with his gaze fixed on the bank ahead。
When he stumbled up out of the river； his legs ached as if they had been maimed。 〃Damn you； Pietten；〃 he muttered。 〃Now we have got to have a fire。〃
Pietten bowed sardonically。 〃Whatever you mand； Ringthane。〃 Turning on his heel； he ran lightly away into the low hills north of the river like a sprite enticing them to perdition。
Covenant lumbered in pursuit； and when he crested the hill； he saw that Pietten had already started a fire in the hollow beyond it。 Flames crackled in a dry patch of brambles and bushes。 As Covenant and Lena descended toward it； the fire spread； jumping fiendishly higher and higher as it ran through the dead wood。
They hastened fervidly to the blaze。 Lena's legs gave way at the last moment； and she fell to her knees as if that were the only way she could prevent herself from leaping into the flames。 And Covenant spread his arms to the heat； stood on the very verge of the fire and threw open his jacket like an acolyte embracing vision。 For long moments they neither spoke nor moved。
But when the warmth melted the ice to make itself felt against Covenant's forehead； started to draw the moisture in steam from his clothes； he stepped back a pace and looked about him。
Pietten was leering at him mercilessly。
He felt suddenly trapped； cornered； for reasons that he could not name； he knew he was in danger。 He looked quickly toward Lena。 But she was absorbed in the fire； oblivious。 Unwillingly he met Pietten's gaze again。 That stare held him like the eyes of a snake； trying to paralyze him。 He had to resist it。 Without thinking； he growled； 〃That was a damn stupid thing to do。〃 He indicated the fire with a jerk of one hand。 〃 A fire this big will throw light over the hill。 We'll be seen。〃
〃I know。〃 Pietten licked his lips。
〃You know；〃 Covenant muttered mordantly。 〃Did it occur to you that this could bring a pack of marauders down on us？〃 He snarled the words thoughtlessly； but as soon as he had spoken them； they sent a stammer of fear through him。
〃Are you not grateful？〃 Pietten grinned maliciously。 〃You mand fire…fire I provide。 Is that not how men show their devotion to the Ringthane？〃
〃What are we going to do if we're attacked？ She and I are in no condition to fight。〃
〃I know。〃
〃You know；〃 Covenant repeated。 The upsurge of his trepidation almost made him stutter。
〃But no marauders will e；〃 the Woodhelvennin went on immediately。 〃I hate them。 Pah！ They slay Ranyhyn。〃
〃What do you mean； they won't e？ You said〃…he searched his memory…〃you said they weren't far behind。 How in hell do you expect them to miss us in all this light？〃
〃I do not want them to miss us。〃
〃What？〃 The fear taking shape within him made him shout。 〃Hell…fire！ Make sense！〃
〃Ringthane；〃 Pietten shot back with sudden vehemence； 〃this night I will plete the whole sense of my life！〃
The next instant he had returned to scorn。 〃I desire them to find us； yes！ I desire them to see this blaze and e。 Land friends…horse servants…pah！ They torment the Ranyhyn in the name of faith。 I will teach them faith。〃 Covenant felt Lena jump to her feet behind him； he could sense the way she focused herself on Pietten。 In the warmth of the fire； he finally noticed what had caught her attention。 It was the smell of blood。 〃I desire the Giant my benefactor and Banner the Bloodguard to stand upon this hillside and witness my faith。〃
〃You said that they are dead！ 〃Lena hissed。 〃You said that we would not see them again。〃
At the same time； Covenant croaked； 〃It was you！〃 His apprehensions burst into clarity。 〃You did it。'' In the lurid light of the fire； he caught his first sure glimpse of his plight。 〃You're the one who betrayed all those coverts！〃
Lena's movement triggered him into movement。 He was one step ahead of her as she threw herself at Pietten。
But Pietten was too swift for them。 He aimed his spear and braced himself to impale the first attack。
Covenant leaped to a stop。 Grappling frantically； he caught Lena； held her from hurling herself onto Pietten's weapon。 She struggled for one mute； furious moment； then became still in his grasp。 Her bedraggled white hair hung across her face like a fringe of madness。 Grimly； he set her behind him。
He was trembling； but he forced himself to face Pietten。 〃You want them to watch while you kill us。〃
Pietten laughed sourly。 〃Do they not deserve it？〃 His eyes flashed as if a lightning of murder played in back of them。 〃If I could have my wish； I would place the entire Ramen nation around this hollow so that they might behold my contempt for t
