srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第35章
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heart to see you again。〃
They were looking down on a mountain lake； the headwater of the river which ran to Furl Falls。 For all the swiftness of the current rushing from it； it was a still pool； with no inflowing streams； all its water came from springs within it。 And its surface was as flat； clear； and reflective as polished glass。 It echoed the mountains and the sky with flawless fidelity； imaging the world in every detail。
〃e；〃 Elena said suddenly。 〃The Unfettered One will ask us to bathe in Glimmermere。〃 Throwing a quick smile at him； she ran lightly down the hill。 He followed her at a walk； but the springy grass seemed to urge him forward until he was trotting。 On the edge of the lake； she dropped the Staff as if she were discarding it； tightened the sash of her robe； and with a last wave toward him dove into the water。
When he reached Glimmermere； he was momentarily appalled to find that she had vanished。 From this range； the reflection was transparent； and behind it he could see the rocky bottom of the lake。 Except for a darkness like a deep shadow at its center； he could see the whole bottom in clear detail； as if the pool were only a few feet deep。 But he could not see Elena。 She seemed to have dived out of existence。
He leaned over the water to peer into it； then stepped back sharply as he noticed that Glimmermere did not reflect his image。 The noon sun was repeated through him as if he were invisible。
The next instant； Elena broke water twenty yards out in the lake。 She shook her head clear； and called for him to join her。 When she saw the wide gape of his astonishment； she laughed gaily。 〃Does Glimmermere surprise you？〃
He stared at her。 He could see nothing of her below the plane where she broke the water。 Her physical substance seemed to terminate at the waterline。 Above the surface； she bobbed as if she were treading water； below； the bottom of the pool was clearly visible through the space she should have occupied。 With an effort； he pulled his mouth shut； then called to her； 〃I told you to give me fair warning！〃
〃e！〃 she replied。 〃Do not be concerned。 There is no harm。〃 When he did not move； she continued； 〃This is water； like any other…but stronger。 There is Earthpower here。 Our flesh is too unsolid for Glimmermere。 It does not see us。 e！〃
Tentatively； he stooped and dipped his hand in the water。 His fingers vanished as soon as they passed below the surface。 But when he snatched them back； they were whole and wet； tingling with cold。
Impelled by a sense of surprise and discovery； he pulled off his boots and socks； rolled up his pant legs； and stepped into the pool。
At once； he plunged in over his head。 Even at its edges； the lake was deep； the clarity with which he could see the bottom had misled him。 But the cold； tangy water buoyed him up； and he popped quickly back to the surface。 Treading water and sputtering； he looked around until he located Elena。 〃Fair warning！〃 He tried to sound angry despite Glimmermere's fresh； exuberant chill。 〃I'll teach you fair warning！〃 He reached her in a few swift strokes； and shoved her head down。；
She reappeared immediately； laughing almost before she lifted her head above water。 He lunged at her； but she slipped ；past him； and pushed him under instead。 He grappled for her ankles and missed。 When he came up； she was out of sight。
He felt her tugging at his feet。 Grabbing a deep breath； he upended himself and plunged after her。 For the first time； he opened his eyes underwater； and found that he could see well。 Elena swam near him； grinning。 He reached her in a moment； and caught her by the waist。
Instead of trying to pull away； she turned； put her arms around his neck； and kissed him on the mouth。
Abruptly； all the air burst from his lungs as if she had kicked his sore ribs。 He thrust away from her； scrambled back to the surface。 Coughing and gasping； he thrashed over to the edge of the pool where he had left his boots； and climbed out to collapse on the grass。
His chest hurt as if he had reinjured his ribs； but he knew he had not。 The first touch of Glimmermere's potent water had effaced his bruises； simply washed them away； and they did not ache now。 This was another pain； in his exertions underwater he seemed to have wrenched his heart。
He lay panting face down on the grass； and after a while； his breathing relaxed。 He became aware of other sensations。 The cold； tart touch of the water left his whole body excited； he felt cleaner than he had at any time since he had learned of his leprosy。 The sun was warm on his back； and his fingertips tingled vividly。 And his heart ached when… Elena joined him on the grass。
He could feel her eyes on him before she asked quietly； 〃Are you happy in your world？〃
Clenching himself； he rolled over； and found that she sat close to him； regarding him softly。 Unable to resist the sensation； he touched a strand of her wet hair； rubbed it between his fingers。 Then he lifted his gray； gaunt eyes to meet her gaze。 The way he held himself made his voice unintentionally harsh。 〃Happiness has got nothing to do with it。 I don't think about happiness。 I think about staying alive。〃
〃Could you be happy here？〃
〃That's not fair。 What would you say if I asked you that？〃
〃I would say yes。〃 But a moment later she saw what he meant； and drew herself up。 〃I would say that happiness lies in serving the Land。 And I would say that there is no happiness in times of war。〃
He lay back on the grass so that he would not have to look at her。 Bleakly； he murmured； 〃Where I e from； there is no Land。' Just ground。' Dead。 And there's always war。〃
After a short pause； she said with a smile in her voice； 〃If I have heard rightly； it is such talk as this which makes Hiltmark Quaan angry with you。〃
〃I can't help it。 It's the simple fact。〃
〃You have a great respect for facts〃
He breathed carefully around his sore heart before answering。 〃No。 I hate them。 They're all I've got。〃
A gentle silence came over them。 Elena reclined beside him； and they lay still to let the sunlight dry them。 The warmth； the smell of the grass； seemed to offer him a sense of well…being； but when he tried to relax and flow with it； his pulse throbbed unfortably in his chest。 He was too conscious of Elena's presence。 But gradually he became aware that a larger silence covered Glimmermere。 All the birds and even the breeze had bee quiet； hushed。 For a time； he kept his breathing shallow and explored the ambience of the air with his ears。
Shortly； Elena said； 〃He es；〃 and went to retrieve the Staff。 Covenant sat up and looked around。 Then he heard it a soft； clean sound like a flute； spreading over Glimmermere from one source that he could see； as if the air itself were singing。 The tune moved； came closer。 Soon he could follow the words。
Free
Unfettered
Shriven
Free…
Dream that what is dreamed will be：
Hold eyes clasped shut until they see；
And sing the silent prophecy…
And be
Unfettered
Shriven
Free。
Lone
Unfriended
Bondless
Lone…
Drink of loss 'til it is done；
'Till solitude has e and gone；
And silence is munion…
And yet
Unfriended
Bondless
Lone。
Deep
Unbottomed
Endless
Deep…
Touch the true mysterious Keep
Where halls of fealty laugh and weep；
While treachers through the dooming creep
In blood
Unbottomed
Endless
Deep。
〃Stand to meet him；〃 the High Lord said quietly。 〃He is One of the Unfettered。 He has gone beyond the knowledge of the Loresraat； in pursuance of a private vision open to him alone。〃
Covenant arose； still listening to the song。 It had an entrancing quality which silenced his questions and doubts。 He stood erect； with his head up as if he were eager。 And soon the Unfettered One came into sight over the hills north of Glimmermere。
He stopped singing when he saw Covenant and Elena； but his appearance sustained his influence over them。 He wore a long flowing robe that seemed to have no color of its own； instead it caught the shades around it； so that it was grass…green below his waist； azure on his shoulders； and the rock and snow of the mountains flickered on his right side。 His
