srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第30节

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！


he　said；　〃I'm　going　to　do　it　for　myself。　So　that　I　can　at　least　believe　in　me　before　I　lose　my　mind　altogether。〃
　　　　This　response　silenced　Triock；　and　after　a　moment　Foamfollower　asked　painfully；　　〃My　friend；　what　will　you　do　with　your　passion？〃
　　　　Snow　slowly　thickened　in　the　air。　The　flakes　danced　like　motes　of　obscurity　across　Covenant's　vision；　and　the　strain　of　his　fierce　stare　made　his　unhealed　forehead　throb　as　if　his　skull　were　crippled　with　cracks。　But　he　did　not　relent；　could　not　relent　now。　〃There's　only　one　good　answer　to　someone　like　Foul。〃　Yet　in　spite　of　his　anger；　he　found　that　he　could　not　meet　Foamfollower's　gaze。
　　　　〃What　answer？〃
　　　　Involuntarily；　Covenant's　fingers　bent　into　claws。　〃I'm　going　to　bring　Foul's　Creche　down　around　his　ears。〃
　　　　He　heard　the　surprise　and　incredulity　of　the　Stonedownors；　but　he　ignored　them。　He　listened　only　to　Foamfollower　as　the　Giant　said；　〃Have　you　learned　then　how　to　make　use　of　the　white　gold？〃
　　　　With　all　the　intensity　of　conviction　he　could　muster；　Covenant　replied；　〃I'll　find　a　way。〃
　　　　As　he　spoke；　he　believed　himself。　Hatred　would　be　enough。　Foul　could　not　take　it　from　him；　could　not　quench　it　or　deflect　its　aim。　He；　Thomas　Covenant；　was　a　leper；　he　alone　in　all　the　Land　had　the　moral　experience　or　training　for　this　task。　Facing　between　Foamfollower　and　Triock；　addressing　them　both；　he　said；　〃You　can　either　help　me　or　not。〃
　　　　Triock　met　him　squarely。　〃I　will　not　aid　you。　I　will　undertake　to　send　word　of　you　to　High　Lord　Mhoram…but　I　will　not　share　in　this　defamation　of　Peace。〃
　　　　〃It　is　the　wild　magic；　Triock；〃　Foamfollower　said　as　if　he　were　pleading　on　Covenant's　behalf；　〃the　wild　magic　which　destroys　Peace。　You　have　heard　the　song。　White　gold　surpasses　all　Oaths。〃
　　　　〃Yet　I　will　retain　my　own。　Without　the　Oath；　I　would　have　slain　the　Unbeliever　seven　and　forty　years　ago。　Let　him　accept　that；　and　be　content。〃
　　　　Softly；　the　Giant　said；　〃I　hear　you；　my　friend。　You　are　worthy　of　the　Land　you　serve。〃　Then　he　turned　to　Covenant。　〃Ur…Lord；　permit　me　to　acpany　you。　I　am　a　Giant…I　may　be　of　use。　And　I…I　yearn　to　strike　closer　blows　against　the　Soulcrusher　who　so　appalled　my　kindred。　And　I　know　the　peril。　I　have　seen　the　ways　in　which　we　bee　what　we　hate。　Permit　me。〃
　　　　Before　Covenant　could　reply；　Lena　jumped　to　her　feet。　〃Permit　me　also！〃　she　cried　excitedly。
　　　　〃Lena！〃　Triock　protested。
　　　　She　paid　no　attention　to　him。　〃I　wish　to　acpany　you。　I　have　waited　so　long。　I　have　striven　to　be　worthy。　I　have　mothered　a　High　Lord　and　ridden　a　Ranyhyn。　I　am　young　and　strong。　Ah；　I　yearn　to　share　with　you。　Permit　me；　Thomas　Covenant。〃
　　　　The　wind　hummed　softly　between　the　houses；　carrying　the　snow　like　haze　into　Covenant's　eyes。　The　flakes　flicked　cold　at　his　sore　lip；　but　still　he　nodded　his　approval　of　the　gathering　flurries。　A　good　snowfall　would　cover　his　trail。　The　snow　muffled　the　sounds　of　the　village；　and　he　seemed　to　be　speaking　to　himself　as　he　said；　〃Let's　get　going。　I've　got　debts　to　pay。〃
　
　SEVEN　
　Message　to　Revelstone
　
　　　　Though　his　jaws　ached　with　protests；　Triock　gave　the　orders　which　sent　several　of　his　rades　hurrying　to　collect　supplies　for　Covenant；　Foamfollower；　and　Lena。　In　that　moment；　the　giving　of　those　orders　seemed　to　be　the　hardest　thing　he　had　ever　done。　The　restraint　which　had　allowed　Covenant　to　live　seven　and　forty　years　ago　paled　by　parison。　The　exertions　which　had　brought　Covenant　to　the　Land　now　lost　their　meaning。　Lena　Atiaran…daughter's　desire　to　acpany　the　Unbeliever　turned　all　Triock's　long　years　of　devotion　to　dust　and　loss；　and　all　his　lavish　love　had　been　wasted。
　　　　Yet　he　could　not　refuse　her…could　not；　though　he　had　the　authority　to　do　so。　He　was　one　of　Mithil　Stonedown's　Circle　of　elders；　and　by　old　Stonedown　tradition；　even　marriages　and　long　journeys　were　subject　to　the　approval　of　the　Circle。　Furthermore；　he　was　the　acknowledged　leader　of　Mithil　Stonedown's　defense。　He　could　have　manded　Lena　to　stay　at　home；　and　if　his　reasons　were　valid；　all　the　Stonedown　would　have　fought　to　keep　her。
　　　　His　reasons　were　valid。　Lena　was　old；　half　confused。　She　might　hamper　Covenant's　movements；　she　might　even　risk　his　life　again；　as　she　had　so　recently。　She　would　be　in　danger　from　all　the　enemies　between　Mithil　Stonedown　and　Foul's　Creche。　Covenant　was　the　one　man　responsible　for　her　condition；　the　man　who　had　permanently　warped　the　channel　of　her　life。　And　he；　Triock　son　of　Thuler…he　loved　her。
　　　　Yet　he　gave　the　orders。　He　had　never　loved　Lena　in　a　way　which　would　have　enabled　him　to　control　her。　At　one　time；　he　had　been　ready　to　break　his　Oath　of　Peace　for　her；　but　throughout　most　of　his　life　now　he　had　kept　it　for　her。　He　had　done　his　utmost　to　raise　her　daughter　free　of　shame　and　outrage。　He　could　not　begin　now　to　refuse　the　cost　of　a　love　to　which　he　had　so　entirely　given　himself。
　　　　Once　that　ordeal　was　over；　he　grew　somewhat　calmer。　In　the　back　of　his　heart；　he　believed　that　if　there　were　any　hope　for　the　Land　in　Thomas　Covenant；　it　depended　upon　Covenant's　responses　to　Lena。　Then　his　chief　bitterness　lay　in　the　fact　that　he　himself　could　not　acpany　Covenant　could　not　go　along　to　watch　over　Lena。　He　had　his　own　work　to　do；　work　which　he　acknowledged　and　approved。　Through　the　yearning　clench　of　his　jaws；　he　told　himself　that　he　would　have　to　rely　on　Saltheart　Foamfollower。
　　　　With　a　brusque　movement；　he　pushed　the　gray　snow　out　of　his　eyes　and　looked　toward　the　Giant。　Foamfollower　met　his　gaze；　came　over　to　him；　and　said；　〃Be　easy　at　heart；　my　friend。　You　know　that　I　am　not　an　inconsiderable　ally。　I　will　do　all　I　can　for　both。〃
　　　　〃Take　great　care；〃　Triock　breathed　through　his　teeth。　〃The　eyes　which　saw　our　work　upon　Kevin's　Watch　are　yet　open。　We　did　not　close　them　in　this　battle。〃
　　　　Foamfollower　studied　this　thought　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃If　that　is　true；　then　it　is　you　who　must　take　the　greatest　care。　You　bear　your　High　Wood　into　the　hazard　of　the　South　Plains。〃
　　　　Triock　shrugged。　〃High　Wood　or　white　gold…we　must　all　tread　cunningly。　I　can　send　none　of　my　people　with　you。〃
　　　　With　a　nod　of　approval；　the　Giant　said；　〃I　would　refuse　if　they　were　offered。　You　will　need　every　sword。　The　mountains　where　you　will　seek　this　Unfettered　One　are　many　leagues　distant；　and　you　will　be　required　to　fight　much　of　your　way。〃
　　　　The　clench　of　Triock's　teeth　made　his　voice　rasp　harshly。　〃I　take　none　but　Quirrel　and　Yeurquin　with　me。〃
　　　　Foamfollower　started　to　protest；　but　Triock　cut　him　off。　〃I　need　the　speed　of　few　panions。　And　Mithil　Stonedown　stands　now　in　its　gravest　peril。　For　the　first　time；　we　have　given　open　battle　to　the　marauders。　With　the　power　we　revealed　on　Kevin's　Watch；　and　the　strength　of　our　victory　here；　we　have　declared　beyond　question　that　we　are　not　mere　vagabond　warriors；　seeking　refuge　in　lifeless　homes。　We　have　defended　our　Stonedown…we　are　an　unbeaten　people。　Therefore　the　enemy　will　return　against　us　with　a　host　to　dwarf　this　last　band。　No；　Rockbrother；〃　he　concluded　grimly；　〃every　war…ready　hand　must　remain　to　hold　what　we　have　won…lest　our　foes　break　upon　the　Stonedown　like　a　wave　and　leave　not　one　home　standing。〃
　　　　After　a　moment；　Foamfollower　sighed。　〃I　hear　you。　Ah；　Triock…　these　are　grave　times　indeed。　I　will　rest　easier　when　my　friend　Mhoram　son　Of　Variol　has　received　word　of　what　we　do。〃
　　　　〃You　believe　I　will　succeed？〃
　　　　〃Who　can　if　you　cannot？　You　are　hardy　and　knowledgeable；　familiar　with　plains　and　mountains…and　marauders。　You　have　accepted　the　need；　though　your　feet　yearn　to　follow　other　paths。　Those　who　pursue　their　heart's　desire　risk　more　subtle　failures　and　treacheries。　In　some　ways；　it　is　well　to　leave　your　soul　wish　in　other　hands。〃　He　spoke　musingly；　as　if　in　his　thoughts　he　were　paring　Triock's　position　with　his　own。　〃You　can　acplish　this　message　purely。〃
　　　　〃I　reap　one　other　blessing　also；〃　Triock　returned　through　a　mouthful　of　involuntary　gall。　〃The　burden　of　mercy　falls　on　your　shoulders。　Perhaps　you　will　bear　it　more　easily。〃
　　　　Foamfollower　sighed　again；　then　smiled　gently。　〃Ah；　my　friend；　I　know　nothing　of　mercy。　My　own　need　for　it　is　too　great。〃
　　　　The　sight　of　Foamfollower's　smiling　regret　made　Triock　wish　that　he　could　protest　against　what　the　Giant　said。　But　he　understood　only　too　well　the　plex　loss　and　rue　which　weighed　on　Foamfollower。　Instead；　he　returned　the　best　smile　he　could　manage　and　saluted　Foamfollower　from　the　bottom　of　his　heart。　Then　he　turned　away　to　make　his　own　preparations　for　travel。
　　　　In　a　short　time；　he　packed　blankets；　an　extra　cloak；　a　small　stoneware　pot　of　graveling；　supplies　of　dried　meat；　cheese；　and　fruit；　and　a　knife　to　replace　the　one　he　had　given　Covenant；　in　a　knapsack。　He　took　only　a　few　moments　to　whet　his　sword；　and　to　secure　his　lomillialor　rod　in　the　tunic　belt　under　his　cloak。　Yet　when　he　returned　to　the　open　center　of　the　Stonedown；　he　found　Covenant；　Foamfollower；　and　Lena　ready　to　depart。　Lena　carried　her　own　few　belongings　in　a　pack　like　his；　Foamfollower　had　all　the　supplies　for　the　three　of　them　in　his　leather　sack；　which　he　slung　easily　over　his　shoulder；　and　Covenant's　wounded　face　held　a　look　of　intentness　or　frustration；　as　if　only　the　hurt　on　his