srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第105章

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　The　Ranyhyn　were　eager　for　a　run　after　long　days　of　constricted　climbing；　and　they　cantered　out　onto　the　flat　rock。　With　surprising　fleetness；　Amok　kept　ahead　of　them。　He　laughed　as　he　ran；　and　even　increased　his　pace。　The　Ranyhyn　stretched　into　full　stride；　began　to　gallop　in　earnest；　leaving　Covenant's　mustang　behind。　But　still　Amok's　prancing　step　outran　them。　Gaily；　he　led　the　riders　east　and　then　south　down　the　center　of　the　plateau。
　Covenant　followed　at　a　more　leisurely　gait。　Soon　he　was　passing　along　the　face　of　the　first　peak。　The　plateau　here　was　several　hundred　yards　wide；　and　it　extended　southward　until　it　curved　west　out　of　sight　beyond　the　base　of　the　second　peak。　The　spires　joined　each　other　a　few　thousand　feet　above　the　plateau；　but　the　line　of　juncture　between　them　remained　clear；　as　if
　the　two　sides　differed　in　texture。　At　the　place　where　this　line　touched　the　plateau；　a　cleft　appeared　in　the　flat　rock。　This　crevice　ran　straight　across　the　plateau　to　its　eastern　edge。
　Ahead　of　Covenant；　the　Ranyhyn　had　ended　their　gallop　near　the　rim　of　the　crevice。　Now　Elena　trotted　down　its　length　toward　the　outer　edge　of　the　plateau。　Covenant　swung　his　mustang　in　that　direction；　and　joined　her　there。
　Together；　they　dismounted；　and　he　lay　down　on　his　stomach　to　peer　over　the　precipice。　Four　thousand　feet　below　the　sheer　cliff；　a　dark；　knotted　forest　spread　out　as　far　as　he　could　see。　The　woods　brooded　over　its　rumpled　terrain…a　thick…grown　old　blanket　of　trees　which　draped　the　foot　of　the　Westron　Mountains　as　if　to　conceal；　provide　the　solace　of　privacy　for；　a　rigid　and　immediate　anguish。　And　northeastward　across　this　covered　expanse　ran　the　red…black　line　of　the　river　which　spewed　from　the　base　of　the　cleft。　Inaudible　in　the　distance；　it　came　moiling　out　of　the　rock　and　slashed　away　through　the　heart　of　the　forest。　The　river　looked　like　a　weal　in　the　woods；　a　cut　across　the　glowering　green　countenance。　This　scar　gave　the　hurt；　rigid　face　an　expression　of　ferocity；　as　if　it　dreamed　of　rending　limb　from　limb　the　enemy　which　had　scored　it。
　Elena　explained　the　view　to　Covenant。　〃That　is　the　Black　River；〃　she　said　reverently。　She　was　the　first　new　Lord　ever　to　see　this　sight。　〃From　this　place；　it　flows　a　hundred　fifty　leagues　and　more　to　join　the　Mithil　on　its　way　toward　Andelain。　Its　spring　is　said　to　lie　deep　under　Melenkurion　Skyweir。　We　stand　on　Rivenrock；　the　eastern　porch　or　portal　of　the　great　mountain。　And　below　us　is　Garroting　Deep；　the　last　forest　in　the　Land　where　a　Forestal　still　walks　where　the　maimed　consciousness　of　the　One　Forest　still　holds　munion　with　itself。〃　For　a　moment；　she　breathed　the　brisk　air。　Then　she　added；　〃Beloved；　I　believe　that　we　are　not　far　from　the　Seventh　Ward。〃
　Pushing　himself　back　from　the　edge；　he　climbed　unsteadily　to　his　feet。　The　breeze　seemed　to　carry　vertigo　up　at　him　from　the　precipice。　He　waited　until　he　was　several　strides　from　the　edge　before　he　replied；　〃I　hope
　so。　For　all　we　know；　that　war　could　be　over　by　now。　If　Troy's　plans　didn't　work；　Foul　might　be　halfway　to　Revelstone。〃
　〃Yes。　I；　too；　have　felt　that　fear。　But　my　belief　remains　that　the　Land's　future　will　not　be　won　in　war。　And　that　battle　is　not　in　our　hands。　We　have　other　work。〃
　Covenant　studied　the　distance　of　her　eyes；　measuring　the　risk　of　offending　her；　then　said；　〃Has　it　occurred　to　you　that　you　might　not　be　able　to　unlock　Amok？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　returned　sharply。　〃I　am　not　blind。〃
　〃Then　what　will　you　do；　if　he　doesn't　talk？〃
　〃I　hold　the　Staff　of　Law。　It　is　a　potent　key。　When　Amok　has　guided　us　to　the　Seventh　Ward；　I　will　not　be　helpless。〃
　Covenant　looked　away　with　a　sour　expression　on　his　face。　He　did　not　believe　that　it　would　be　that　easy。
　At　Elena's　side；　he　walked　back　along　the　crevice　toward　the　two　Bloodguard　and　Amok。　The　afternoon　was　not　far　gone；　but　already　Melenkurion　Skyweir's　shadow　stretched　across　Rivenrock。　The　shadow　thickened　the　natural　gloom　of　the　cleft；　so　that　it　lay　like　a　fault　of　darkness　across　the　plateau。　At　its　widest；　it　was　no　more　than　twenty　feet　broad；　but　it　seemed　immeasurably　deep；　as　if　it　went　straight　down　to　the　buried　roots　of　the　mountain。　On　an　impulse；　Covenant　tossed　a　small　rock　into　the　cleft。　It　bounced　from　wall　to　wall　on　its　way　down；　he　counted　twentytwo　heartbeats　before　it　fell　beyond　hearing。　Instinctively；　he　kept　himself　a　safe　distance　from　the　crevice　as　he　went　on　toward　Bannor　and　Morin。
　The　two　Bloodguard　had　unpacked　the　food；　and　Covenant　and　Elena　made　a　light　meal　for　themselves。　Covenant　ate　slowly；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　postpone　the　next　phase　of　the　quest。　He　foresaw　only　three　alternatives…up　the　mountain；　down　the　crevice；　across　the　cleft…and　they　all　looked　bad　to　him。　He　did　not　want　to　do　any　kind　of　climbing　or　jumping；　the　simple　proximity　of　precipices　made　him　nervous。　But　when　he　saw　that　the　High　Lord　was　waiting　for　him；　he　recollected　the　terms　of　his　bargain。　He　finished　what　he
　was　eating；　and　tried　to　brace　himself　for　whatever　Amok　had　in　mind。
　Gripping　the　Staff　of　Law　firmly；　Elena　turned　to　her　guide。　〃Amok；　we　are　ready。　What　should　be　done　with　the　Ranyhyn？　Will　you　have　us　ride　or　walk？〃
　〃That　is　your　choice；　High　Lord；〃　said　Amok　with　a　grin。　〃If　the　Ranyhyn　remain；　they　will　not　be　needed。　If　they　depart；　you　will　be　forced　to　resummon　them。〃
　〃Then　we　must　walk　to　follow　you　now？〃
　〃Follow　me？　I　have　said　nothing　of　leaving　this　place。〃
　〃Is　the　Seventh　Ward　here？〃　she　asked　quickly。
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　it　is　elsewhere。〃
　〃Yes；　High　Lord。〃
　〃If　it　is　elsewhere；　we　must　go　to　it。〃
　〃That　is　true。　The　Seventh　Ward　cannot　be　brought　to　you。〃
　〃To　go　to　it；　we　must　walk　or　ride。〃
　〃That　also　is　true。〃
　〃Which？〃
　As　he　listened　to　this　exchange；　Covenant　felt　a　quiet　admiration　for　the　way　in　which　Elena　tackled　Amok's　vagueness。　Her　past　experience　appeared　to　have　taught　her　how　to　corner　the　youth。　But　with　his　next　answer　he　eluded　her。
　〃That　is　your　choice；〃　he　repeated。　〃Decide　and　go。〃
　〃Do　you　not　lead　us？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃I　act　according　to　my　nature。　I　do　what　I　have　been　created　to　do。〃
　〃Amok；　are　you　not　the　way　and　the　door　of　the　Seventh　Ward？〃
　〃Yes；　High　Lord。〃
　〃Then　you　must　guide　us。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　she　demanded　again。　〃Are　you　capricious？〃　Covenant　heard　a　hint　of　desperation　in　her　tone。
　Amok　replied　in　mild　reproof；　〃High　Lord；　I　have
　been　created　for　the　purpose　I　serve。　If　I　appear　willful；　you　must　ask　my　maker　to　explain　me。〃
　〃In　other　words；〃　Covenant　interjected　heavily；　〃we're　stuck　without　the　other　four　Wards。　This　is　Kevin's　way　of　protecting…whatever　it　is。　Without　the　clues　he　planted　with　such　cleverness　in　the　other　Wards；　we're　up　against　a　blank　wall。〃
　〃The　krill　of　Loric　came　to　life；〃　said　Amok。　〃That　is　the　appointed　word。　And　the　Land　is　in　peril。　Therefore　I　have　made　myself　accessible。　I　can　do　no　more。　I　must　serve　my　purpose。〃
　The　High　Lord　searched　him　for　a　moment；　then　said　sternly；　〃Amok；　are　my　panions　unsuitable　to　your　purpose　in　some　way？〃
　〃Your　panions　must　suit　themselves。　I　am　the　way　and　the　door。　I　do　not　judge　those　who　seek。〃
　　〃Amok〃…she　hung　fire；　and　her　lips　moved　silently　as　if　she　were　reciting　a　list　of　choices…〃are　there　conditions　to　be　met　before　you　can　guide　us　onward？〃
　Amok　bowed　in　recognition　of　her　question；　and　answered　with　a　chuckle；　〃Yes；　High　Lord。〃
　〃Will　you　guide　us　to　the　Seventh　Ward　when　the　conditions　are　met？〃
　〃That　is　the　purpose　of　my　creation。〃
　〃What　are　your　conditions？〃
　〃There　is　only　one。　If　you　desire　more；　you　must　conceive　them　without　my　aid。〃
　〃What　is　your　condition；　Amok？〃
　The　youth　gazed　impishly　askance　at　Elena。　〃High　Lord；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　of　soaring　glee；　〃you　must　name　the　power　of　the　Seventh　Ward。〃
　She　gaped　at　him　for　an　instant；　then　exclaimed；　〃Melenkurion！　You　know　I　lack　that　knowledge。〃
　He　was　unmoved。　〃Then　perhaps　it　is　well　that　the　Ranyhyn　have　not　departed。　They　can　bear　you　to　Revelstone。　If　you　gain　wisdom　there；　you　may　return。　You　will　find　me　here。〃　With　a　bow　of　infuriating　insouciance；　he　waved　his　arms　and　vanished。
　She　stared　after　him　and　clenched　t