srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第37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！
The south way； Troy breathed to himself。 At once； his brain took hold of the information； concrete images of the Spoiled Plains and Landsdrop filled his mind。 He began to calculate Lord Foul's progress。
〃But some enemy knew my purpose。 We were pursued。 A black wind came upon us； and from it fearsome； abominable creatures fell like birds of prey。 My Cords were lost so that I might escape…yet I was driven far from my way； north into the mange of the Sarangrave。
〃I knew that the peril was great。 Yet I knew that there was no waiting army of friends or Lords on the Upper Land to help the Ranyhyn。 A shadow came over my heart。 Almost I turned aside from my purpose； and left the Lords to a fate of their own devising。 But I contended with the Sarangrave； so that the lives of my Cords would not have been lost in vain。
〃Over the ancient battleground； through the rich joy of Andelain； then across a stern plain south of a great forest like unto Morinmoss； but darker and more slumberous…thus I made my way； so that your idea might have its chance。 That is my message。 Ask what questions you will； and then release me； for I must rest。〃
With quiet dignity； the High Lord arose； holding the Staff of Law before her。 〃Manethrall Rue； the Land is measureless in your debt。 You have paid a grim price to bring your word to us； and we will do our uttermost to honor that cost。 Please hear me。 We could not turn away from the Ranyhyn and their Ramen。 To do so； we would cease to be what we are。 Only one belief has kept us from your side。 It is in our hearts that this is the final war against Fangthane。 If we fall； there will be none left to fight again。 And we have not the strength of the Old Lords。 What force we have we must use cunningly。 Please do not harden your heart against us。 We will pay many prices to match your own。〃 Holding the Staff at the level of her eyes； she bent forward in a Ramen bow。
A faint smile flickered across Rue's lips…amusement at Elena's approximation of the fluid Ramen salute…and she returned it to show how it should be done。 〃It is also said among the Ramen that the Lords are courteous。 Now I know it。 Ask your questions。 I will answer as I can。〃
The High Lord reseated herself。 Troy was eager to speak； but she did not give him permission。 To Manethrall Rue she said； 〃One question is first in my heart。 What of Andelain？ Our scouts report no evil there； but they have not your eyes。 Are the Hills free of wrong？〃
A surge of frustration bunched the muscles of Troy's shoulders。 He was eager； urgent； to begin probing the Manethrall。 But he recognized the tact of Elena's inquiry。 The Andelainian Hills rode through Ramen legend like an image of paradise； it would ease Rue's heart to speak of them。
In response； her grim bitterness relaxed for a moment。 Her eyes filled with tears that ran down over the slight smile on her lips。 〃The Hills are free；〃 she said simply。
A glad murmur ran through the Close； and several of the Lords nodded in satisfaction。 This was not something about which a Manethrall could be mistaken。 The High Lord sighed her gratitude。 When she freed the Warmark to begin his questions； she did so with a look that urged him to be gentle。
〃All right；〃 Troy said； rising to his feet。 His heart labored with anxiety； but he ignored it。 〃I understand that you don't know the size of Foul's army。 I accept that。 But I've got to know how much head start he has。 Exactly how many days ago did you see his army leave the Shattered Hills？〃
The Manethrall did not need to count back。 She replied promptly； 〃Twenty days〃
For an instant； the Warmark regarded her eyelessly from behind his sunglasses； stunned into silence。 Then he whispered； 〃Twenty days？〃 His brain reeled。 〃Twenty？〃 With a violence that wrenched his heart； his image of the Despiser's army surged forward thirty…five leagues…five days。 He had counted on receiving word of Lord Foul's movements in fifteen days。 He had studied the Ramen； he knew to a league how far a Manethrall could travel in a day。 〃Oh； my God。〃 Rue should have been able to reach Revelstone in fifteen days。
He was five days short。 Five days less in which to march over three hundred leagues…！ And Lord Foul's army would be in the Center Plains ten days from now。
Without knowing how he had reached that position； he found himself sitting with his face in his hands as if he could not bear to look at the ruin of all his fine strategy。 Numbly； as if it were a matter of no consequence； he realized that he had been right about one thing： Covenant's summons coincided with the start of Lord Foul's army。 That ploy …had triggered the Despiser's attack。 Or did it work the other 'way around？ Had Lord Foul somehow anticipated the call？
〃How…？〃 For a moment； he could not find what he wanted to ask； and he repeated stupidly； 〃How…？〃
〃Ask！〃 Rue demanded softly。
He heard the warning in her voice； the danger of offending her pride after an exhausting ordeal。 It made him raise his head； look at her。 She was glaring at him； and her hands twitched as if they yearned to snatch the fighting cord from her hair。 But he had to ask the question； had to be sure…〃What happened to you？ Why did it take so long？〃 His voice sounded small and lorn to himself。
〃I was driven from my way；〃 she said through her teeth； 〃north into the marge of the Sarangrave。〃
〃Dear God；〃 Troy breathed weakly。 He felt the way Rue looked at him； felt all the eyes in the Close on him。 But he could not think； his brain was inert。 Lord Foul was only a three…day march from Morinmoss。
The Manethrall snorted disdainfully； and turned away toward the High Lord。 〃Is this the man who leads your warriors？〃 she asked sourly。
〃Please pardon him；〃 Elena replied。 〃He is young in the Land； and in some matters does not see clearly。 But he has been chosen by the Ranyhyn。 In time he will show his true value。〃
Rue shrugged。 〃Do you have other questions？〃 she said wearily。 〃I would end this。〃
〃You have told us much。 We have no more doubt of Lord Foul's movements； and can guess his speed。 Only one question remains。 It concerns the position of Fangthane's army。 What manner of beings prise it？〃
Bitterness stiffened Rue's stance； and she said harshly； 〃I have spoken of the wind； and the evil in the air which felled my Cords。 In the army I saw urviles； Cavewights； a mighty host of kresh； great lionlike beasts with wings which both ran and flew； and many other ill creatures。 They wore shapes like dogs or horses or men； yet they were not what they seemed。 They shone with great wrong。 To my heart； they appeared as the people and beasts of the Land made evil by Fangthane。〃
〃That is the work of the Illearth Stone；〃 the High Lord murmured。
But Manethrall Rue was not done。 〃One other thing I saw。 I could not be mistaken； for it marched near the forefront； manding the movements of the horde。 It controlled the creatures with a baleful green light； and called itself Fleshharrower。 It was a Giant。〃
For an instant； a silence like a thunderclap broke over the Close。 It snatched Troy's attention erect； lit a fire of dread in his chest。 The Giants！ Had Lord Foul conquered them？ Already？
Then First Mark Morin came to his feet and said in a voice flat with certainty； 〃Impossible。 Rockbrother is another name for fealty and faith。 Do you rave？〃
At once； the chamber clamored in protest against the very idea that a Giant could join the Despiser。 The thought was too shocking to be admitted； it cast fundamental beliefs into hysteria。 The Hafts burst out lividly； and several of them shouted through the general uproar that Rue was lying。 Two Lorewardens took up Morin's question and made it an accusation： Rue was in the grip of a Raver。 Confusion overcame even the Lords。 Trevor and Loerya paled with fear； Verement barked at Mhoram； Elena and Callindrill were staggered； and Amatin burst into tears。
The noise aggravated swiftly in the clear acoustics of the Close； exacerbated itself； forced each voice to bee rawer and wilder。 There was panic in the din。 If the Giants could be made to serve Despite； then nothing was safe； sure； betrayal lurked everywhere。 Even the Bloodguard had an aspect of dismay in their flat faces。
Yet under the protesting and the abuse； Manethrall Rue stood firmly； holding up her head with a blaze of pride and fury in her eyes。
The next moment； Covenant reached her side。
Shaking his fists at the assembly； he howled； 〃Hellfire！ Can't you see that she's telling the truth？〃
His voice had no effect。 But something in his yell penetrated Hiltmark Quaan。 The old veteran knew the Ramen well； he had known Rue during her youth。 He jumped to his feet and shouted； 〃Order！ 1〃
Caught in their trained military reactions； the Hafts sprang to attention。
Then High Lord Elena seemed to realize what was happening around her。 She reasserted her control with a blast of blue fire from the Staff； and one hot cry：
〃I am ashamed！〃
A stung silence； writhing with fear and indignation； burned in answer to her shout。 But she met it passionately； sternly； as if something precious were in danger。 〃Melenkurion abatha！ Have we e to this？ Does fear so belittle us？ Look！ Look at her。 If you have not heard the truth in her voice； then look
