srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第29节

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　　　　Omens；　hell！　Covenant　muttered　to　himself。　Rape　and　betrayal。　He　sensed　that　Lena　was　gathering　herself　to　make　some　kind　of　avowal。　To　prevent　her；　he　pushed　glaring　to　his　feet。　〃That's　not　all；〃　he　grated。　〃Tamarantha　and　Prothall　and　Mhoram　and　who　knows　how　many　others　thought　that　I　was　chosen　for　this　by　the　Creator　or　whoever's　responsible　in　the　end。　Take　consolation　in　that　if　you　can。　Never　mind　that　it's　just　another　way　of　saying　I　chose　myself。　The　idea　itself　isn't　so　crazy。　Creators　are　the　most　helpless　people　alive。　They　have　to　work　through　unsufferable…they　have　to　work　through　tools　as　blunt　and　misbegotten　and　useless　as　myself。　Believe　me；　it's　easier　just　to　burn　the　world　down；　reduce　it　to　innocent　or　clean　or　at　least　dead　ash。　Which　may　be　what　I'm　doing。　How　else　could　I…？〃
　　　　With　an　effort；　he　stopped　himself。　He　had　already　iterated　often　enough　the　fundamental　unbelief　with　which　he　viewed　the　Land；　he　had　no　reason　to　repeat　that　it　was　a　delusion　spawned　by　his　abysmal　incapacity　for　life。　He　had　gone　beyond　the　need　for　such　assertions。　Now　he　had　to　face　their　consequences。　To　begin；　he　broached　a　tangent　of　what　was　in　his　heart。　〃Did　any　of　you　see　a　break　in　the　clouds…sometime…maybe　a　couple　nights　ago？〃
　　　　Triock　stiffened。　〃We　saw；〃　he　said　gruffly。
　　　　〃Did　you　see　the　moon？〃
　　　　〃It　was　full。〃
　　　　〃It　was　green！〃　Covenant　spat。　His　vehemence　cracked　his　swollen　lip；　and　a　trickle　of　blood　started　down　his　chin。　He　scrubbed　the　blood　away　with　his　numb　fingers；　steadied　himself　on　the　stone　visage　of　his　purpose。　Ignoring　the　stares　of　the　Stonedownors；　he　went　on；　〃Never　mind。　Never　mind　that。　Listen。　I'll　tell　you　what　we're　going　to　do。　I'll　tell　you　what　you're　going　to　do。〃
　　　　He　met　Triock's　gaze。　Triock's　lips　were　white　with　tension；　but　his　eyes　crouched　in　their　sockets　as　if　they　ached　to　flinch　away　from　what　they　beheld。　Covenant　scowled　into　them。　〃You're　going　to　find　some　way　to　let　Mhoram　know　I'm　here。〃
　　　　For　an　instant；　Triock　gaped　involuntarily。　Then　he　drew　himself　up　as　if　he　were　about　to　start　yelling　at　Covenant。　Seeing　this；　Foamfollower　interposed；　〃Ur…Lord；　do　you　know　what　you　ask？　Revelstone　is　three　hundred　leagues　distant。　In　the　best　of　times；　even　a　Giant　could　not　gain　the　high　halls　of　Lord's　Keep　in　less　than　fifteen　days。〃
　　　　〃And　the　Plains　are　a　swarm　with　marauders！''　barked　Triock。　〃From　here　to　the　joining　of　the　Black　and　Mithil　rivers；　a　strong　band　might　fight　and　dodge　its　way　in　twenty　days。　But　beyond…in　the　Center　Plains…are　the　fell　legions　of　the　Gray　Slayer。　All　the　Land　from　Andelain　to　the　Last　Hills　is　under　their　dominion。　With　twenty　thousand　warriors；　I　could　not　battle　my　way　even　to　the　Soulsease　River　in　twice　or　ten　times　fifty　days。''
　　　　Covenant　began；　〃I　don't　give　a　bloody　damn　what…〃
　　　　Flatly；　Quirrel　interrupted　him。　〃Further；　you　must　not　call　upon　the　Ranyhyn　for　aid。　The　creatures　of　the　Gray　Slayer　prize　Ranyhyn…flesh。　The　Ranyhyn　would　be　taken　and　eaten。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　care！〃　Covenant　fumed。　〃It　doesn't　matter　what　you　think　is　possible　or　impossible。　Everything　here　is　impossible。　If　we　don't　start　doing　the　impossible　now；　it'll　be　too　late。　And　Mhoram　has　got　to　know。''
　　　　〃Why？〃　Anger　still　crackled　in　Triock's　voice；　but　he　was　watching　Covenant　closely　now；　scrutinizing　him　as　if　he　could　see　something　malignant　growing　behind　Covenant's　belligerence。
　　　　Under　Triock's　gaze；　Covenant　felt　too　ashamed　to　admit　that　he　had　already　refused　a　summons　from　Mhoram。　He　could　taste　the　outrage　with　which　all　the　Stonedownors　would　greet　such　a　confession。　Instead；　he　replied；　〃Because　it　will　make　a　difference　to　him。　If　he　knows　where　I　am…if　he　knows　what　I'm　doing…it'll　make　a　difference。　He'll　know　what　to　do。〃
　　　　〃What　can　he　do？　Revelstone　is　besieged　by　an　army　as　unanswerable　as　the　Desert。　High　Lord　Mhoram　and　all　the　Council　are　prisoners　in　Lord's　Keep。　We　are　less　helpless　than　they。〃
　　　　〃Triock；　you're　making　a　big　mistake　if　you　ever　assume　that　Mhoram　is　helpless。〃
　　　　〃The　Unbeliever　speaks　truly；〃　Foamfollower　said。　〃The　son　of　Variol　is　a　man　of　many　resources。　Much　that　may　appear　impossible　is　possible　for　him。〃
　　　　At　this　Triock　looked　at　his　hands；　then　nodded　sharply。　〃I　hear　you。　The　High　Lord　must　be　told。　But　still　I　know　not　how　such　a　thing　may　be　acplished。　Much　which　may　appear　possible　to　Giants　and　white　gold　wielders　is　impossible　for　me。〃
　　　　〃You've　got　one　of　those　lomillialor　rods；〃　rasped　Covenant。　〃They　were　made　for　munication。〃
　　　　Triock　growled　in　exasperation。　〃I　have　told　you　that　I　lack　the　lore　for　such　work。　I　did　not　study　the　speaking　of　messages　in　the　Loresraat。''
　　　　〃Then　learn。　By　hell！　Did　you　expect　it　to　be　easy？　Learn！''　Covenant　knew　how　unfairly　he　was　treating　Triock；　but　the　exigency　of　his　purpose　countenanced　neither　consideration　nor　failure。
　　　　For　a　long　moment；　Triock　glared　miserably　at　Covenant；　and　his　hands　twitched　with　anger　and　helplessness。　But　then　Quirrel　whispered　to　him；　and　his　eyes　widened　hopefully。　〃Perhaps；　〃he　murmured。　〃Perhaps　it　may　be　done。''　He　made　an　effort　to　steady　himself；　forced　a　measure　of　calmness　into　his　face。　〃It　is　said''…he　swallowed　thickly…〃it　is　said　that　an　Unfettered　One　lives　in　the　mountains　which　protect　the　South　Plains　from　Garroting　Deep。　Uncertain　word　of　such　a　One　has　been　whispered　among　the　southron　villages　for…many　years。　It　is　said　that　he　studies　the　slow　breathing　of　the　mountains…or　that　he　gazes　constantly　across　Garroting　Deep　in　contemplation　of　Melenkurion　Skyweir…or　that　he　lives　in　a　high　place　to　learn　the　language　of　the　wind。　If　such　a　One　lives…if　he　may　be　found…perhaps　he　can　make　use　of　the　High　Wood　as　I　cannot。〃
　　　　A　rustle　of　excitement　ran　through　the　circle　at　this　idea。　Triock　took　a　deep　breath　and　nodded　to　his　panions。　〃I　will　make　this　attempt。〃　Then　a　sardonic　hue　colored　his　voice。　〃If　it　also　goes　astray；　I　will　at　least　know　that　I　have　striven　to　fulfill　your　choices。
　　　　〃Unbeliever；　what　word　shall　I　send　to　High　Lord　Mhoram　and　the　Council　of　Revelstone？〃
　　　　Covenant　looked　away；　raised　his　face　to　the　leaden　sky。　Snow　had　started　to　fall　in　the　valley；　a　scattering　of　flakes　drifted　on　the　breeze　like　instants　of　mist；　dimming　the　day　even　further。　They　had　an　early　look　about　them；　as　if　they　presaged　a　heavy　fall。　For　a　moment；　Covenant　watched　them　tumble　through　the　Stonedown。　He　was　acutely　conscious　of　Triock's　question。　It　confronted　him　starkly；　challenged　the　untried　mettle　of　his　purpose。　And　he　feared　to　answer　it。　He　feared　to　hear　himself　say　things　which　were　so　insane。　When　he　returned　his　gaze　to　the　waiting　Stonedownors；　he　replied　obliquely；　seeking　fuel　for　his　courage。
　　　　〃Foamfollower；　what　happened　to　your　people？〃
　　　　〃My　friend？〃
　　　　〃Tell　me　what　happened　to　the　Giants。〃
　　　　Foamfollower　squirmed　at　Covenant's　scowl。　〃Ah；　ur…Lord；　there　is　no　need　for　such　stories　now。　They　are　long　in　the　telling；　and　would　better　suit　another　time。　The　present　is　full。〃
　　　　〃Tell　me！〃　Covenant　hissed。　〃Bloody　hell；　Foamfollower！　I　want　to　know　it　all！　I　need…everything；　every　damned　despicable　thing　that
　　　　Foul…〃
　　　　Without　warning；　Triock　interrupted　him。　〃The　Giants　have　returned　to　their　Home　beyond　the　Sunbirth　Sea。〃
　　　　Covenant　whirled　toward　Triock。　The　lie　in　his　words　was　so　palpable　that　it　left　Covenant　gasping；　and　around　him　the　Stonedownors　gaped　at　Triock。　But　Triock　met　Covenant's　aghast　stare　without　flinching。　The　cut　along　his　jaw　emphasized　his　determination。　In　a　hard；　steady　voice　that　cut　through　Covenant's　superficial　ire　to　the　rage　growing　within　him；　Triock　said；　〃We　have　sworn　the　Oath　of　Peace。　Do　not　ask　us　to　feed　your　hate。　The　Land　will　not　be　served　by　such　passions。〃
　　　　〃It's　all　I've　got！〃　Covenant　answered　thickly。　〃Don't　you　understand？　I　don't　have　anything　else。　Nothing！　All　by　itself；　it　has　got　to　be　enough。〃
　　　　Gravely；　almost　sorrowfully；　Triock　said；　〃Such　a　foe　cannot　be　fought　with　hate。　I　know。　I　have　felt　it　in　my　heart。〃
　　　　〃Hellfire；　Triock！　Don't　preach　at　me。　I'm　sick　to　death　of　being　victimized。　I'm　sick　of　walking　meekly　or　at　least　quietly　and　just　putting　my　head　on　the　block。　I　am　going　to　fight　this。〃
　　　　〃Why？〃　Triock　asked　in　a　restrained　voice。　〃What　will　you　fight　for？〃
　　　　〃Are　you　deaf　as　well　as　blind？〃　Covenant　wrapped　his　arms　around　his　chest　to　steady　himself。　〃I　hate　Foul。　I've　had　all　I　can　stand　of…〃
　　　　〃No。　I　am　neither　deaf　nor　blind。　I　see　and　hear　that　you　intend　to　fight。　What　will　you　fight　for？　There　is　matter　enough　to　occupy　your　hate　in　your　own　world。　You　are　in　the　Land　now。　What　will　you　fight　for？〃
　　　　Hell　and　blood！　Covenant　shouted　silently。　How　much　of　me　do　you　want？　But　Triock's　question　threw　him　back　upon　himself。　He　could　have　replied：　I　hate　Foul　because　of　what　he's　doing　to　the　Land。　But　that　sounded　like　a　disclaimer　of　responsibility；　and　he　was　too　angry　to　deny　his　own　convictions。　He　was　too　angry；　also；　to　give　Triock　any　forting　answer。　In　a　brittle　voice；　he　said；　〃I'm　going　to　do　it　for　myself。　So　that　I　can　at　least　believe　in　me　before　I　lose