srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第7节

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　He　was　surprised　to　find　himself　standing　erect　on　。　the　bottom　of　the　Close。　The　stance　confused　his　sense　of　balance；　and　he　stumbled　forward　toward　the　pit　of　graveling；　the　source　of　the　gold　light。　The　fire…stones　burned　there　before　him　without　consumption；　filling　the　air　with　the　smell　of　newly　broken　earth。
　Strong　hands　caught　him　by　either　arm。　As　his　fall　was　halted；　drops　of　blood　spattered　onto　the　stone　floor　at　the　edge　of　the　graveling　pit。
　Regaining　his　feet；　he　cried　hoarsely；　〃Don't　touch　me！〃
　He　was　dizzy　with　confusion　and　rage；　but　he　braced　himself　while　he　put　a　hand　to　his　forehead。　His　fingers　came　away　covered　with　blood。　He　had　cut　himself　badly　on　the　edge　of　the　table。　For　a　moment；　he　gaped　at　his　red　hand。
　Through　his　dismay；　a　quiet；　firm　voice　said；　〃Be　wele　in　the　Land；　ur…Lord　Thomas　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　Ringthane。　I　have　called　you　to　us。　Our　need　for　your　aid　is　great。〃
　〃You　called　me？〃　he　croaked。
　〃I　am　Elena；〃　the　voice　replied；　〃High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council；　and　holder　of　the　Staff　of　Law。　I　have　called　you。〃
　〃You　called　me？〃　Slowly；　he　raised　his　eyes。　Thick　wetness　ran　from　the　sockets　as　if　he　were　weeping　blood。　〃You　called　me？〃　He　felt　a　crumbling　inside　him　like　rocks　breaking；　and　his　hold　over　himself　cracked。　In　a　voice　of　low　anguish；　he　said；　〃I　was　talking　to　Joan。〃
　He　saw　the　woman　dimly　through　the　blood　in　his　eyes。　She　stood　behind　the　stone　table　on　the　level　above　him；　holding　a　long　staff　in　her　right　hand。　There　were　other　people　around　the　table；　and　behind　them　the　gallery　of　the　Close　held　many　more。　They　were　all　watching　him。
　〃To　Joan；　do　you　understand？　I　was　talking　to　Joan。　She　called　me。　After　all　this　time。　When　I　needed…needed。　You　have　no　right。〃　He　gathered　force　like　a　storm　wind。　〃You've　got　no　right！　I　was　talking　to　loan！〃　He　shouted　with　all　his　might；　but　it　was　not　enough。　His　voice　could　not　do　justice　to　his　emotion。　〃To　Joan！　to　Joan！　do　you　hear　me？　She　was　my　wife！〃
　A　man　who　had　been　standing　near　the　High　Lord　hurried　around　the　broad　open　C　of　the　table；　and　came　down　to　Covenant　on　the　lower　level。　Covenant　recognized　the　man's　lean　face；　with　its　rudder　nose　mediating　between　crooked；　humane　lips　and　acute；　gold　flecked；　dangerous　eyes。　He　was　Lord　Mhoram。
　He　placed　a　hand　on　Covenant's　arm；　and　said　softly；　〃My　friend。　What　has　happened　to　you？〃
　Savagely；　Covenant　threw　off　the　Lord's　hand。　〃Don't　touch　me！〃　he　raged　in　Mhoram's　face。　〃Are　you　deaf　as　well　as　blind？！　I　was　talking　to　Joan！　On　the　phone！〃　His　hand　jerked　convulsively；　struggling　to　produce　the　receiver　out　of　the　empty　air。　〃She　needed〃…abruptly　his　throat　clenched；　and　he　swallowed　roughly…〃she　said　she　needed　me。　Me！〃　But　his　voice　was　helpless　to　convey　the　crying　of　his　heart。　He　slapped　at　the　blood　on　his　forehead；　trying　to　clear　his　eyes。
　The　next　instant；　he　grabbed　the　front　of　Mhoram's　sky…blue　robe　in　his　fists；　hissed；　〃Send　me　back！　There's　still　time！　If　I　can　get　back　fast　enough！〃
　Above　them；　the　woman　spoke　carefully。　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant；　it　grieves　me　to　hear　that　our　summoning　has　done　you　harm。　Lord　Mhoram　has　told　us　all　he　could　of　your　pain；　and　we　do　not　willingly　increase　it。　But　it　is　our　doom　that　we　must。　Unbeliever；　our　need　is　great。　The　devastation　of　the　Land　is　nearly　upon　us。〃
　Pushing　away　from　Mhoram　to　confront　her；　Covenant　fumed；　〃I　don't　give　a　bloody　damn　about　the　Land！〃　His　words　came　in　such　a　panting　rush　that　he　could　not　shout　them。　〃I　don't　care　what　you　need。　You　can　drop　dead　for　all　I　care。　You're　a　delusion！　A　sickness　in　my　mind。　You　don't　exist！　Send　me　back！　You've　got　to　send　me　back。　While　there's　still　time！〃
　〃Thomas　Covenant。〃　Mhoram　spoke　in　a　tone　of　authority　that　pulled　Covenant　around。　〃Unbeliever。　Listen　to　me。〃
　Then　Covenant　saw　that　Mhoram　had　changed。　His　face　was　still　the　same…the　gentleness　of　his　mouth　still　balanced　the　promise　of　peril　in　his　gold　concentrated　irises…but　he　was　older；　old　enough　now　to　be　Covenant's　father。　There　were　lines　of　use　around　his　eyes　and　mouth；　and　his　hair　was　salted　with　white。　When　he　spoke；　his　lips　twisted　with　self…deprecation；　and　the　depths　of　his　eyes　stirred　uneasily。　But　he　met　the　fire　of　Covenant's　glare　without　flinching。
　〃My　friend；　if　the　choice　were　mine；　I　would　return　you　at　once　to　your　world。　The　decision　to　summon　you　was　painfully　made；　and　I　would　willingly　undo　it。　The　Land　has　no　need　of　service　which　is　not　glad　and　free。　But；　ur…Lord　he　gripped　Covenant's　arm　again　to　steady　him…〃my　friend；　we　cannot　return　you。〃
　〃Cannot？〃　Covenant　groaned　on　a　rising；　half　hysterical　note。
　〃We　have　no　lore　for　the　releasing　of　burdens。　I　know　not　how　it　is　in　your　world…you　appear　unchanged　to　my　eyes　but　forty　years　have　passed　since　we　stood　together　on　the　slopes　of　Mount　Thunder；　and　you　freed　the　Staff　of　Law　for　our　hands。　For　long　years　we　have　striven…〃
　〃Cannot？〃　Covenant　repeated　more　fiercely。
　〃We　have　striven　with　power　which　we　fail　to　master；　and　Lore　which　we　have　been　unable　to　penetrate。　It　has　taken　forty　years　to　bring　us　here；　so　that　we　may　ask　for　your　aid。　We　have　reached　the　limit　of　what　we　can　do。〃
　〃No！〃　He　turned　away　because　he　could　not　bear　the　honesty　he　saw　in　Mhoram's　face；　and　yelled　up　at　the　woman　with　the　Staff；　〃Send　me　back！〃
　For　a　moment；　she　looked　at　him　squarely；　measuring　the　extremity　of　his　demand。　Then　she　said；　〃I　entreat　you　to　understand。　Hear　the　truth　of　our　words。　Lord　Mhoram　has　spoken　openly。　I　hear　the　hurt　we　have　done　you。　I　am　not　unmoved。〃　She　was　twenty　or　thirty　feet　away　from　him；　beyond　the　pit　of　graveling　and　behind　the　stone　table；　but　her　voice　carried　to　him　clearly　through　the　crystal　acoustics　of　the　Close。　〃But　I　cannot　undo　your　summoning。　Had　I　the　power；　still　the　Land's　need　would　deny　me。　Lord　Foul　the　Despiser…〃
　Head　back；　arms　thrown　wide；　Covenant　howled；　〃I　don't　came！'
　Stung　into　sharpness；　the　High　Lord　said；　〃Then　return　yourself。　You　have　the　power。　You　wield　the　white　gold。〃
　With　a　cry；　Covenant　tried　to　charge　at　her。　But　before　he　could　take　a　step；　he　was　caught　from　behind。　Wrestling　around；　he　found　himself　in　the　grasp　of　Bannor；　the　unsleeping　Bloodguard　who　had　warded　him　during　his　previous　delusion。
　〃We　are　the　Bloodguard；〃　Bannor　said　in　his　toneless　alien　inflection。　〃The　care　of　the　Lords　is　in　our　hands。　We　do　not　permit　any　offer　of　harm　to　the　High　Lord。〃
　〃Bannor；〃　Covenant　pleaded；　〃she　was　my　wife。〃
　But　Bannor　only　gazed　at　him　with　unblinking　dispassion。
　Throwing　his　weight　wildly；　he　managed　to　turn　in　the　Bloodguard's　powerful　grip　until　he　was　facing　Elena　again。　Blood　scattered　from　his　forehead　as　he　jerked　around。　〃She　was　my　wife！〃
　〃Enough；〃　Elena　manded。
　〃Send　me　back！〃
　〃Enough！〃　She　stamped　the　iron　heel　of　the　Staff　of　Law　on　the　floor；　and　at　once　blue　fire　burst　from　its　length。　The　flame　roared　vividly；　like　a　rent　in　the　fabric　of　the　gold　light；　letting　concealed　power　shine　through；　and　the　force　of　the　flame　drove　Covenant　back　into　Bannor's　arms。　But　her　hand　where　she　held　the　Staff　was　untouched。　〃I　am　the　High　Lord；〃　she　said　sternly。　〃This　is　Revelstone　Lord's　Keep；　not　Foul's　Creche。　We　have　sworn　the　Oath　of　Peace。〃
　At　a　nod　from　her；　Bannor　released　Covenant；　and　he　stumbled　backward；　falling　in　a　heap　beside　the　graveling。　He　lay　on　the　stone　for　a　moment；　gasping　harshly。　Then　he　pried　himself　into　a　sitting　position　His　head　seemed　to　droop　with　defeat。　〃You'll　get　Peace；〃　he　groaned。　〃He's　going　to　destroy　you　all。：　Did　you　say　forty　years？　You've　only　got　nine　left。　Or　have　you　forgotten　his　prophecy？〃
　〃We　know；〃　Mhoram　said　quietly。　〃We　do　not　forget。〃　With　a　crooked　smile；　he　bent　to　examine　Covenant's　wound。
　While　Mhoram　did　this；　High　Lord　Elena　quenched　the　blaze　of　the　Staff；　and　said　to　a　person　Covenant　could　not　see；　〃We　must　deal　with　this　matter　now；　if　we　are　to　have　any　hope　of　the　white　gold。　Have　the　captive　brought　here。〃
　Lord　Mhoram　mopped　Covenant's　forehead　gently；　peered　at　the　cut；　then　stood　and　moved　away　to　consult　with　someone。　Left　alone；　with　most　of　the　blood　out　of　his　eyes；　Covenant　brought　his　throbbing　gaze　into　focus　to　take　stock　of　where　he　was。　Some　still…uncowed　instinct　for　self…preservation　made　him　try　to　measure　the　hazards　around　him。　He　was　on　the　lowest　level　of　the　tiered　chamber；　and　its　high　vaulted　and　groined　ceiling　arched　over　him；　lit　by　the　gold　glow　of　the　graveling；　and　by　four　large　smokeless　lillianrill　torches　set　into　the　walls。　Around　the　center　of　the　Close；　on　the　next　level；　was　the　three…quarters…round　stone　council　table　of　the　Lords；　and　above　and　behind　the　table　were　the　ranked　seats　of　the　gallery。　Two　Bloodguard　stood　at　the　high　massive　doors；　made　by　Giants　to　be　large　enough　for　Giants；　of　the　main　entryway；　above　and　opposite　the　High　Lord's　seat。
　The　gallery　was　diversely　filled　with　warriors　of　the　Wayward　of　Lord's　Keep；　Lorewardens　from　the　Loresraat；　several　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases　dressed　respectively　in　their　traditional　cloaks　and　tunics；　and　a　few　more　Bloodguard。　High　up　behind　the　High　Lord　sat　two　people　Covenant　though