srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第11节
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d out of the mountain promontory by the Giants many centuries ago； in the time of Old Lord Damelon Giantfriend。 Above the Keep was a plateau which went beyond it west and north； past Furl Falls for a distance of a league or two before rising up into the rugged Westron Mountains。 The Falls were too far away to be seen； but in the distance
the White River angled away south and slightly east from its head in the pool of Furl Falls。
Beyond the river to the southwest； Covenant made out the open plains and hills that led toward Trothgard。 In that direction； he saw no sign of cultivation or habitation； but eastward from him were ripe fields； stands of trees； streams； villages…all glowing under the sun as if they were smiling with health。 Looking over them； he sensed that the season was early autumn。 The sun stood in the southern sky； the air was not as warm as it seemed； and the breeze which blew gently up the face of Revelstone was flavored with the loamy lushness of fall。
The Land's season…so different from the spring weather from which he had been wrenched away gave him a renewed sense of discrepancy； of stark and impossible translation。 It reminded him of many things； but he forced himself to begin with the previous evening。 Stiffly； he said； 〃Has it occurred to you that Foul probably let that poor Waynhim go just to get you to call me here？〃
〃Of course；〃 Mhoram replied。 〃That is the Despiser's way。 He intends you to be the means of our destruction。〃
〃Then why did you do it？ Hellfire！ You know how I feel about this…I told you often enough。 I don't want…I'm not going to be responsible for what happens to you。〃
Lord Mhoram shrugged。 〃That is the paradox of white gold。 Hope and despair run together for us。 How could we refuse the risk？ Without every aid which we can find or make for ourselves； we cannot meet Lord Foul's might。 We trust that at the last you will not turn your back on the Land。〃
〃You've had forty years to think about it。 You ought to know by now how little I deserve or even want your trust。〃
〃Perhaps。 Warmark Hile Troy argues much that way…though there is much about you that he does not know。 He feels that faith in one who is so unwilling is folly。 And he is not convinced that we will lose this war。 He makes bold plans。 But I have heard the
Despiser laughing。 For better or worse； I am seer and oracle for this Council。 I hear…I approve the High Lord's decision of summoning。 For many reasons。
〃Thomas Covenant； we have not spent our years in seclusion here； dreaming sweet dreams of peace while Lord Foul grows and moves against us。 From your last moment in the Land to this day； we have striven to prepare our defense。 Scouts and Lords have ridden the Land from end to end； drawing the people together； warning them； building what lore we have。 I have braved the Shattered Hills； and fought on the mange of Hotash Slay…but of that I do not speak。 I brought back knowledge of the Ravens。 Dukkha alone did not move us to summon you。〃
Even in the direct beam of the sun； the word Ravens gave Covenant a chill he could not suppress。 Remembering the other Waynhim he had seen； dead； with an iron spike through its heart…killed by a Raven…he asked； 〃What about them？ What did you learn？〃
〃Much or little；〃 Mhoram sighed； 〃according to the uses of the knowledge。 The importance of this lore cannot be mistaken…and yet its value eludes us。
〃While you were last in the Land； we learned that the Ravens were still aboard…that like their master they had not been undone by the Ritual of Desecration； which Kevin Landwaster wreaked in his despair。 Some knowledge of these beings had e to us through the old legends； the Lore of the First Ward； and the teachings of the Giants。 We knew that they were named Sheol； Jehannum； and Herem； and that they lived without bodies； feeding upon the souls of others。 When the Despiser was powerful enough to give them strength； they enslaved creatures or people by entering into their bodies； subduing their wills； and using the captured flesh to enact their master's purposes。 Disguised in forms not their own； they were well hidden； and so could gain trust among their foes。 By that means； many brave defenders of the Land were lured to their deaths in the age of the Old Lords。
〃But I have learned more。 There near Foul's Creche； I was beaten…badly overmastered。 I fled through the Shattered Hills with only the staff of Variol my father between me and death； and could not prevent my foe from laying hands upon me。 I had thought that I was in battle with a supreme loremaster of the ur…viles。 But I learned…I learned otherwise。〃；
Lord Mhoram stared unseeing into the depths of the sky； remembering with grim； concentrated eyes what had happened to him。 After a moment； he continued： 〃It was a Raven I fought…a Raven in the flesh of an ur…vile。 The touch of its hand taught me much。 In the oldest time…beyond the reach of our most hoary legends； even before the dim time of the ing of men to the Land； and the cruel felling of the One Forest…the Colossus of the Fall had both power and purpose。 It stood on Landsdrop like a forbidding fist over the Lower Land； and with the might of the …' Forest denied a dark evil from the Upper Land。〃
Abruptly； he broke into a slow song like a lament； a quiet declining hymn which told the story of the Colossus as the Lords had formerly known it； before the son of Variol had gained his new knowledge。 In restrained sorrow over lost glory； the song described the Colossus of the Fallthe huge stone monolith； upraised in the semblance of a fist； which stood beside the waterfall where the River Landrider of the Plains of Ra became the Ruinwash of the Spoiled Plains。
Since a time that was ancient before Berek Lord
Fatherer lost half his hand； the Colossus had stood in …lone somber guard above the cliff of Landsdrop； and the oldest hinted legends of the Old Lords told of a ‘ time； during the ages of the One Forest's dominion in the Land； when that towering fist had held the power to forbid the shadow of Despite…held it； and did not wane until the felling of the Forest by that unsuspected enemy； man； had cut too deeply to be halted。 But then； outraged and weakened by the slaughter of the trees； the Colossus had unclasped its interdict； and let the shadow free。 From that time； from the moment of that offended capitulation； the Earth had slowly lost the power or the will or the chance to defend itself。 So the burden of resisting the Despiser had fallen to a race which had brought the shadow upon itself； and the Earth lay under the oute。
〃But it was not Despite which the Colossus resisted；〃 Mhoram resumed when his song was done。 〃Despite was the bane of men。 It came with them into the Land from the cold anguish of the north； and from the hungry kingdom of the south。 No； the Colossus of the Fall forbade another foe…three tree… and soil…hating brothers who were old in the Spoiled Plains before Lord Foul first cast his shadow there。 They were triplets； the spawn of one birth from the womb of their long forgotten mother； and their names were samadhi； moksha； and turiya。 They hated the Earth and all its growing things； just as Lord Foul hates all life and love。 When the Colossus eased its interdict； they came to the Upper Land； and in their lust for ravage and dismay fell swiftly under the mastery of the Despiser。 From that time； they have been his highest servants。 They have performed treachery for him when he could not show his hand； and have fought for him when he would not lead his armies。
〃It was samadhi； now named Sheol； who mastered the heart of Berek's liege…Sheol who slaughtered the champions of the Land； and drove Berek； halfunhanded and alone； to his extremity on the slopes of Mount Thunder。 It was turiya and moksha； Herem and Jehannum； who lured the powerful and austere Demondim to their breeding dens； and to the spawning of the ur…viles。 Now the three are united with Lord Foul again…united； and clamoring for the decimation of the Land。 But alas…alas for my ignorance and weakness。 I cannot foresee what they will do。 I can hear their voices； loud with lust for the ripping of trees and the scorching of soil； but their intent eludes me。 The Land is in such peril because its servants are weak。〃
The rough eloquence of Mhoram's tone carried Covenant along； and under its spell the brilliant sunlight seemed to darken in his eyes。 Grimly； unwillingly； he caught a sense of the looming and cruel ill which crept up behind the Land's spirit； defying its inadequate defenders。 And when he looked at himself； he saw nothing but omens of futility。 Other people who s had protested their weakness to him had suffered terribly at the hands of his own irreducible and immedicable impotence。 Harshly…more harshly than he intended…he asked； 〃Why？〃
Mhoram turned away from his private visions； and cocked an inquiring eyebrow at Covenant。
〃Why are you weak？〃
The Lord met this with a wry smile。 〃Ah； my friend …I had forgotten that you ask such questions。 You lead me into long speeches。 I think that if I could reply to you briefly； I would not need you so。〃 But Covenant did not relent； and after a pause Mhoram said； 〃Well； I cannot refuse to answer。 But e…there is food waiting。 Let us ea
