srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第109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！


ge　as　if　his　feet　were　trying　to　learn　again　the　solidity　of　the　stone。
　He　moved　parallel　to　the　cleft；　but　stayed　a　safe　distance　from　it。　As　soon　as　he　could　see　a　substantial　swath　of　Garroting　Deep　beyond　the　cliff　edge；　he　stopped。　There　he　remained；　hoping　both　that　Elena　would　e　to　him　and　that　she　would　not。
　The　prevailing　breeze　from　the　Forest　blew　into　his　face；　and　for　the　first　time　in　many　days　he　was　able　to　distinguish　the　tang　of　the　season。　He　found　that　the　autumn　of　the　Land　had　turned　its　corner；　traveled　its　annual　round　from　joy　to　sorrow。　The　air　no　longer　gleamed　with　abundance　and　fruition；　with　ripeness　either　glad　or　grim。　Now　the　breeze　tasted　like　the　leading　edge　of　winter…a　sere　augury；　promising　long　nights　and　barrenness　and　cold。
　As　he　smelled　the　air；　he　realized　that　Garroting　Deep　had　no　fall　color　change。　He　could　make　out　stark　black　stands　where　the　trees　had　already　lost　their　leaves；　but　no　blazonry　palliated　the　Deep's　darkness。　It　went　without　transition　or　adornment　from　summer　to　winter。　He　sensed　the　reason　with　his　eyes
　and　nose；　the　old　Forest's　angry　clench　of　consciousness　consumed　all　its　strength　and　will；　left　it　with　neither　the　ability　nor　the　desire　to　spend　itself　in　mere　displays　of　splendor。
　Then　he　heard　footsteps　behind　him；　and　recognized　Elena's　tread。　To　forestall　whatever　she　wanted　to　tell　him　or　ask　him；　he　said；　〃You　know；　where　I　e　from；　the　people　who　did　this　to　a　forest　would　be　called　pioneers…a　very　special　breed　of　heroes；　since　instead　of　killing　other　human　beings　they　concentrate　on　slaughtering　nature　itself。　In　fact；　I　know　people　who　claim　that　all　our　social　disfort　es　from　the　mere　fact　that　we've　got　nothing　left　to　pioneer。〃
　〃Beloved；〃　she　said　softly；　〃you　are　not　well。　What　is　amiss？〃
　〃Amiss？〃　He　could　not　bring　himself　to　look　at　her。　His　mouth　was　full　of　his　bargain；　and　he　had　to　swallow　hard　before　he　could　say；　〃Don't　mind　me。　I'm　like　that　Forest　down　there。　Sometimes　I　can't　seem　to　help　remembering。〃
　In　the　silence；　he　sensed　how　little　this　answer　satisfied　her。　She　cared　about　him；　wanted　to　understand　him。　But　the　rebirth　of　hope　had　restored　the　urgency　of　her　duty。　He　knew　that　she　could　not　spare　the　time　to　explore　him　now。　He　nodded　morosely　as　she　said；　〃I　must　go…the　Land's　need　bears　heavily　upon　me。〃　Then　she　added；　〃Will　you　remain　here　…await　my　return？〃
　At　last；　he　found　the　strength　to　turn　and　face　her。　He　met　the　solemn　set　of　her　face；　the　displaced　otherness　of　her　gaze；　and　said　gruffly；　〃Stay　behind？　And　miss　risking　my　neck　again？　Nonsense。　I　haven't　had　a　chance　like　this　since　I　was　in　Mount　Thunder。〃
　His　sarcasm　was　sharper　than　he　had　intended；　but　she　seemed　to　accept　it。　She　smiled；　touched　him　lightly　on　the　arm　with　the　fingers　of　one　hand。　〃e；　then；　beloved；〃　she　said。　〃The　Bloodguard　are　prepared。　We　must　depart　before　Amok　places　other　obstacles　in　our　way。〃
　He　tried　to　smile　in　return；　but　the　uncertain　muscles　of　his　face　treated　the　attempt　like　a　grimace。　Muttering　at　his　failure；　he　went　with　her　back　to
　ward　the　Bloodguard　and　Amok。　As　they　walked；　he　watched　her　sidelong；　assessed　her　covertly。　The　strain　of　the　past　three　days　had　been　pushed　into　the　background；　her　forthright　stride　and　resolute　features　expressed　new　purpose；　strength。　The　resurgence　of　hope　enabled　her　to　discount　mere　exhaustion。　But　her　knuckles　were　tense　as　she　gripped　the　Staff；　and　her　head　was　thrust　forward　at　a　hungry　angle。　She　made　Covenant's　bargain　lie　unquiet　in　him；　as　if　he　were　an　inadequate　and　unbinding　grave。
　In　his　mind；　he　could　still　feel　Rivenrock　heaving。　He　needed　steadier　footing；　nothing　would　save　him　if　he　could　not　keep　his　balance。
　Vaguely；　he　observed　that　the　First　Mark　and　Bannor　were　indeed　ready　to　travel。　They　had　bound　all　the　supplies　into　bundles；　and　had　tied　these　to　their　backs　with　clingor　thongs。　And　Amok　sparkled　with　eagerness；　visions　seemed　to　caper　in　his　gay　hair。　The　three　of　them　gave　Covenant　an　acute　pang　of　unpreparedness。　He　did　not　feel　equal　to　whatever　lay　ahead　of　the　High　Lord's　party。　A　pulse　of　anxiety　began　to　run　through　his　weary　mood。　There　was　something　that　he　needed　to　do；　he　needed　to　try　to　recover　his　integrity　in　some　way。　But　he　did　not　know　how。
　He　watched　as　the　High　Lord　bade　farewell　to　the　Ranyhyn。　They　greeted　her　gladly；　stamping　their　feet　and　nickering　in　pleasure　at　the　prospect　of　activity　after　three　days　of　patient　waiting。　She　embraced　each　of　the　great　horses；　then　stepped　back；　gripping　the　Staff；　and　saluted　them　in　the　Ramen　fashion。
　The　Ranyhyn　responded　by　tossing　their　manes。　They　regarded　her　with　proud；　laughing　eyes　as　she　addressed　them。
　〃Brave　Ranyhyn…first　love　of　my　life…I　thank　you　for　your　service。　We　have　been　honored。　But　now　we　must　go　on　foot　for　a　time。　If　we　survive　our　path；　we　will　call　upon　you　to　carry　us　back　to　Revelstone　in　victory　or　defeat；　we　will　need　the　broad　backs　of　your　strength。
　〃For　the　present；　be　free。　Roam　the　lands　your　hearts　and　hooves　desire。　And　if　it　should　e　to
　。k
　pass　that　we　do　not　call…if　you　return　unsummoned　to　the　Plains　of　Ra…then；　brave　Ranyhyn；　tell　all　your　kindred　of　Myrha。　She　saved　my　life　in　the　landslide；　and　gave　her　own　for　a　lesser　horse。　Tell　all　the　Ranyhyn　that　Elena　daughter　of　Lena；　High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council；　and　holder　of　the　Staff　of　Law；　is　proud　of　your　friendship。　You　are　the　Tail　of　the　Sky；　Mane　of　the　World。〃
　Raising　the　Staff；　she　cried；　〃Ranyhyn！　Hail！〃
　The　great　horses　answered　with　a　whinny　that　echoed　off　the　face　of　Melenkurion　Skyweir。　Then　they　wheeled　and　galloped　away；　taking　with　them　Covenant's　mustang。　Their　hooves　clattered　like　a　roll　of　fire　on　the　stone　as　they　swept　northward　and　out　of　sight　around　the　curve　of　the　mountain。
　When　Elena　turned　back　toward　her　panions；　her　sense　of　loss　showed　clearly　in　her　face。　In　a　sad　voice；　she　said；　〃e。　If　we　must　travel　without　the　Ranyhyn；　then　let　us　at　least　travel　swiftly。〃
　At　once；　she　turned　expectantly　to　Amok。　The　ancient　youth　responded　with　an　ornate　bow；　and　started　walking　jauntily　toward　the　place　where　the　Skyweir's　cliff　joined　the　cleft　of　the　plateau。
　Covenant　tugged　at　his　beard；　and　watched　hopelessly　as　Elena　and　Morin　followed　Amok。
　Then；　as　abruptly　as　gasping；　he　exclaimed；　〃Wait！〃　The　fingers　of　his　right　hand　tingled　in　his　beard。　〃Hang　on。〃　The　High　Lord　looked　questioningly　at　him。　He　said；　〃I　need　a　knife。　And　some　water。　And　a　mirror；　if　you've　got　one…I　don't　want　to　cut　my　throat。〃
　Elena　said　evenly；　〃Ur…Lord；　we　must　go。　We　have　lost　so　much　time…and　the　Land　is　in　need。〃
　〃It's　important；〃　he　snapped。　〃Have　you　got　a　knife？　The　blade　of　my　penknife　isn't　long　enough。〃
　For　a　moment；　she　studied　him　as　if　his　conduct　were　a　mystery。　Then；　slowly；　she　nodded　to　Morin。　The　First　Mark　unslung　his　bundle；　opened　it；　and　took　out　a　stone　knife；　a　leather　waterskin；　and　a　shallow　bowl。　These　be　handed　to　the　Unbeliever。　At　once；　Covenant　sat　down　on　the　stone；　filled　the　bowl；　and　began　to　wet　his　beard。
　He　could　feel　the　High　Lord's　presence　as　she　stood　directly　before　him…he　could　almost　taste　the　tension　with　which　she　held　the　Staff…but　he　concentrated　on　scrubbing　water　into　his　whiskers。　His　heart　raced　as　if　he　were　engaged　in　something　dangerous。　He　had　a　vivid　sense　of　what　he　was　giving　up。　But　he　was　impelled　by　the　sudden　conviction　that　his　bargain　was　false　because　it　had　not　cost　him　enough。　When　he　picked　up　the　knife；　he　did　so　to　seal　his　promise　with　his　fate。
　Elena　stopped　him。　In　a　low；　harsh　voice；　she　said；　〃Thomas　Covenant。〃
　The　way　she　said　his　name　forced　him　to　raise　his　head。
　〃Where　is　the　urgency　in　this？〃　She　controlled　her　harshness　by　speaking　quietly；　but　her　indignation　was　tangible　in　her　voice。　〃We　have　spent　three　days　in　delay　and　ignorance。　Do　you　now　mock　the　Land's　need？　Is　it　your　deliberate　wish　to　prevent　this　quest　from　success？〃
　An　angry　rejoinder　leaped　to　his　lips。　But　the　terms　of　his　bargain　required　him　to　repress　it。　He　bent　his　head　again；　splashed　more　water　into　his　beard。　〃Sit　down。　I'll　try　to　explain。〃