mck.harpistinthewind-第26章

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！


　　　　　　　Morgon's　head　bowed。　〃I　didn't　think　of　them。〃　He　did　not　hear　Yrth　move　until　the　wizard's　dark　robe　brushed　the　wood　of　his　chair。　The　wizard's　hand　touched　his　shoulder；　very　gently；　as　he　might　have　touched　a　wild　thing　that　had　moved　fearfully；　tentatively；　toward　him　into　his　stillness。
　　　　　　　Something　drained　out　of　Morgon　at　the　touch：　confusion；　anger；　arguments；　even　the　strength　and　will　to　wrestle　with　all　the　wizard's　subtlety。　Only　the　silence　was　left；　and　a　helpless；　inprehensible　longing。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　find　the　High　One；〃　he　said。　He　added；　in　warning　or　in　promise；　〃Nothing　will　destroy　him。　I　swear　it。　Nothing。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　XIII
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　HE　SLEPT　FOR　TWO　DAYS　IN　THE　KING'S　　HOUSE；　waking　only　once　to　eat；　and　another　time　to　see　Raederle　sitting　beside　him；　waiting　patiently　for　him　to　wake　up。　He　linked　his　fingers　into　hers；　smiling　a　little；　then　rolled　over　and　went　back　to　sleep。　He　woke　finally；　clear…headed；　at　evening。　He　was　alone。　From　the　faint　chaos　of　voices　and　crockery　that　seeped　into　his　listening；　he　knew　that　the　household　was　at　supper；　and　Raederle　was　probably　with　Danan。　He　washed　and　drank　some　wine；　still　listening。　Beneath　the　noises　of　the　house；　he　heard　the　vast；　dark；　ageless　silence　forming　the　hollows　and　mazes　within　Isig　Mountain。
　　　　　　　He　stood　linked　to　the　silence　until　it　formed　channels　in　his　mind。　Then；　impulsively；　he　left　the　tower；　went　unobtrusively　to　the　hall；　where　only　Raederle　and　Bere　noticed　him；　falling　quiet　amid　the　noise　to　watch　his　passage。　He　followed　the　path　of　a　dream　then；　through　the　empty　upper　shafts。　He　took　a　torch　from　the　wall　at　the　mouth　of　a　dark　tunnel；　as　he　entered　it；　the　walls　blazed　around　him　with　fiery；　uncut　jewels。　He　moved　unhesitantly　through　his　memory；　down　a　honeyb　of　passageways；　along　the　sides　of　shallow　streams　and　deep　crevices；　through　unmined　caves　shimmering　with　gold；　moving　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　immensity　of　darkness　and　stone　until　he　seemed　to　breathe　its　stillness　and　age　into　his　bones。　At　last　he　sensed　something　older；　even；　than　the　great　mountain。　The　path　he　followed　dwindled　into　crumbled　stone。　The　torch　fire　washed　over　a　deep　green　slab　of　a　door　that　had　opened　once　before　to　the　sound　of　his　name。　There　he　stopped　incredulously。
　　　　　　　The　ground　floor　was　littered　with　the　shards　of　broken　rock。　The　door　to　the　Earth…Masters'　dead　was　split　open；　half　of　it　had　fallen　ponderously　back　into　the　cave。　The　tomb　itself　was　choked　with　great　chunks　of　jewelled　ceiling　stone；　the　walls　had　shrugged　themselves　together；　hiding　whatever　was　left　of　the　strange　pale　stones　within。
　　　　　　　He　picked　his　way　to　the　door；　but　he　could　not　enter。　He　crooked　one　arm　on　the　door；　leaned　his　face　against　it。　He　let　his　thoughts　flow　into　the　stone；　seep　through　marble；　amethyst；　and　gold　until　he　touched　something　like　the　remnant　of　a　half…forgotten　dream。　He　explored　farther；　he　found　no　names；　only　a　sense　of　something　that　had　once　lived。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　He　stood　for　a　long　time；　leaning　against　the　door　without　moving。　After　a　while；　he　knew　why　he　had　e　down　into　the　mountain；　and　he　felt　the　blood　beat　through　him；　quick；　cold；　as　it　had　the　first　time　he　had　brought　himself　to　that　threshold　of　his　destiny。　He　became　aware；　as　he　had　never　been　before；　of　the　mountain　settled　over　his　head；　and　of　the　king　within　it；　his　ancient　mind　shaped　to　its　mazes；　holding　all　its　peace　and　all　its　power。　His　thoughts　moved　once　again；　slowly；　into　the　door；　until　he　touched　at　the　core　of　the　stone；　the　sense　of　Danan's　mind；　shaped　to　that　tiny　fragment　of　mountain；　bound　to　it。　He　let　his　brain　bee　stone；　rich；　worn；　ponderous。　He　drew　all　knowledge　of　it　into　himself；　of　its　great　strength；　its　inmost　colors；　its　most　fragile　point　where　he　might　have　shattered　it　with　a　thought。　The　knowledge　became　a　binding；　a　part　of　himself；　deep　in　his　own　mind。　Then；　searching　within　the　stone；　he　found　once　more　the　wordless　awareness；　the　law　that　bound　king　to　stone；　land…ruler　to　every　portion　of　his　kingdom。　He　enpassed　that　awareness；　broke　it；　and　the　stone　held　no　name　but　his　own。
　　　　　　　He　let　his　own　awareness　of　the　binding　dwindle　into　some　dark　cave　deep　in　his　mind。　He　straightened　slowly；　sweating　in　the　cool　air。　His　torch　was　out；　he　touched　it；　lit　it　again。　Turning；　he　found　Danan　in　front　of　him；　massive　and　still　as　Isig；　his　face　expressionless　as　a　rock。
　　　　　　　Morgon's　muscles　tensed　involuntarily。　He　wondered　for　a　second　if　there　was　any　language　in　him　to　explain　what　he　was　doing　to　a　rock；　before　the　slow；　ponderous　weight　of　Danan's　anger　roused　stones　from　their　sleep　to　bury　him　beside　the　children's　tomb。　Then　he　saw　the　king's　broad　fist　unclench。
　　　　　　　〃Morgon。〃　His　voice　was　breathless　with　astonishment。　〃It　was　you　who　drew　me　down　here。　What　are　you　doing？〃　He　touched　Morgon　when　he　could　not　answer。　〃You're　frightened。　What　are　you　doing　that　you　need　to　fear　me？〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　moved　after　a　moment。　His　body　felt　drained；　cumbersome　as　stone。　〃Learning　your　land…law。〃　He　leaned　back　against　the　damp　wall　behind　him；　his　face　uplifted；　vulnerable　to　Danan's　searching。
　　　　　　　〃Where　did　you　get　such　power？　From　Ghisteslwchlohm？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　He　repeated　the　word　suddenly；　passionately；　〃No。　I　would　die　before　I　did　that　to　you。　I　will　never　go　into　your　mind。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　in　it。　Isig　is　my　brain；　my　heart。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　break　your　bindings　again。　I　swear　it。　I　will　simply　form　my　own。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why？　What　do　you　want　with　such　a　knowledge　of　trees　and　stones？〃
　　　　　　　〃Power。　Danan；　the　shape…changers　are　Earth…Masters。　I　can't　hope　to　fight　them　unless。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　king's　fingers　wound　like　a　tree　root　around　his　wrist。　〃No；〃　he　said；　as　Ghisteslwchlohm　had　said；　faced　with　the　same　knowledge。　〃Morgon；　that's　not　possible。〃
　　　　　　　〃Danan；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　have　heard　their　voices。　The　languages　they　spoke。　I　have　seen　the　power　locked　behind　their　eyes。　It　is　possible。〃
　　　　　　　Danan's　hand　slipped　away　from　him。　The　king　sat　down　slowly；　heavily；　on　a　pile　of　rock　shard。　Morgon；　looking　down　at　him；　wondered　suddenly　how　old　he　was。　His　hands；　calloused　with　centuries　of　work　among　stones；　made　a　futile　gesture。　〃What　do　they　want？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　High　One。〃
　　　　　　　Danan　stared　at　him。　'They'll　destroy　us。〃　He　reached　out　to　Morgon　again。　〃And　you。　What　do　they　want　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　their　link　to　the　High　One。　I　don't　know　how　I　am　bound　to　him；　or　why。　I　only　know　that　because　of　him　I　have　been　driven　out　of　my　own　land；　harried；　tormented　into　power；　until　now　I　am　driving　myself　into　power。　The　Earth…Masters'　power　seems　bound；　restrained　by　something。。。　perhaps　the　High　One；　which　is　why　they　are　so　desperate　to　find　him。　When　they　do；　whatever　power　they　unleash　against　him　may　destroy　us　all。　He　may　stay　bound　forever　in　his　silence；　it's　hard　for　me　to　risk　my　life　and　all　your　trust　for　someone　who　never　speaks。　But　at　least　if　I　fight　for　him；　I　fight　for　you。〃　He　paused；　his　eyes　on　the　flecks　of　fire　catching　in　the　rough；　rich　walls　around　him。　〃I　can't　ask　you　to　trust　me；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Not　when　I　don't　even　trust　myself。　All　I　know　is　where　both　logic　and　hunger　lead　me。〃
　　　　　　　He　heard　the　king's　weary　sigh　in　the　shadows。　〃The　ending　of　an　age。。。　That's　what　you　told　me　the　last　time　you　came　to　this　place。　Ymris　is　nearly　destroyed。　It　seems　only　a　matter　of　time　before　that　war　spills　into　An；　into　Herun；　then　north　across　the　realm。　I　have　an　army　of　miners；　the　Morgol　has　her　guard；　the　wolf…king。。。　has　his　wolves。　But　what　is　that　against　an　army　of　Earth…Masters　ing　back　into　their　power？　And　how　can　one　Prince　of　Hed；　even　with　whatever　knowledge　of　land…law　you　have　the　strength　to　acquire；　fight　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　find　a　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃How？〃
　　　　　　　〃Danan；　I'll　find　a　way。　It's　either　that　or　die；　and　I　am　too　stubborn　to　die。〃　He　sat　down　beside　the　king；　gazing　at　the　rubble　around　them。　〃What　happened　to　this　place？　I　wanted　to　go　into　the　minds　of　the　dead　children；　to　see　into　their　memories；　but　there　is　nothing　left　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　Danan　shook　his　head。　〃I　felt　it；　near　the　end　of　summer：　a　turmoil　somewhere　in　the　center　of　my　world。　It　happened　shortly　before　the　shape。。。　the　Earth…Masters　came　here　looking　for　you。　I　don't　know　how　this　place　was　destroyed；　or　by　whom　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　he　whispered。　〃Wind。　The　deep　wind　that　shatters　stone。。。　The　High　One　destroyed　this　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why？　It　was　their　one　final　place　of　peace。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　Unless。。。　unless　he　found　another　place　for　them；　fearing　for　their　peace　even　here。　I　don't　know。　Maybe　somehow　I　will　find　him；　hold　him　to　some　shape　that　I　can　understand；　and　ask　him　why。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　can　do　even　that　much　…　only　that　…　you　will　repay　the　land…rulers　for　whatever　power　you　take　from　the　realm。　At　least　we　will　die　knowing　why。〃　He　pushed　himself　up　and　dropped　a　hand　on　Morgon's　shoulder。　〃I　understand　what　you　are　doing。　You　need　an　Earth…Master's　power　to　fight　Earth…Masters。　If　you　want　to　take　a　mountain　onto　your　shoulders；　I'll　give　you　Isig。　The　High　One　gives　us　silence；　you　give　us　impossible　hope。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　king　left　him　alone。　Morgon　dropped　the　torch　to　the　ground；　watched　it　burn　away　into　darkness。　He　stood　up；　not　fighting　his　blindness；　but　breathing　the　mountain…blackness　into　himself　until　it　seeped　into　his　mind　and　hollowed　all　his　bones。　His　thoughts　groped　into　the　stone　around　him；　slid　through　stone　passages；　channels　of　air；　sluices　of　slow；　black　water。　He　carved　the　mountain　out　of　its　endless　night；　shaped　it　to　his　thoughts。　His　mind　pushed　into　solid　rock；　expanded　outward　through　stone；　hollows　of　silence；　deep　lakes；　until　earth　crusted　over　the　rock　and　he　felt　the　slow；　downward　groping　of　tree　roots。　His　awareness　filled　the　base　of　the　mountain；　flowed　slowly；　relentlessly　upward。　He　touched　the　minds　of　blind　fish；　strange　insects　living　in　a　changeless　world。　He　became　the　topaz　locked　in　a　stone　that　a　miner　was　chiseling　loose；　he　hung　upside　down；　staring　at　nothing　in　the　brain　of　a　bat。　His　own　shape　was　lost；　his　bones　curved　around　an　ancient　silence；　rose　endlessly　upward；　heavy　with　metal　and　jewels。　He　could　not　find　his　heart。　When　he　probed　for　it　within　masses　of　stone；　he　sensed　another　name；　another's　heart。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　disturb　that　name　bound　into　every　fragment　of　the　mountain。　Slowly；　as　hours　he　never　measured　passed；　he　touched　every　level　of　the　mountain；　groping　steadily　upward　through　mineshafts；　through　granite；　through　caves；　like　Danan's　secret　thoughts；　luminous　with　their　own　beauty。　The　hours　turned　into　days　he　did　not　count。　His　mind；　rooted　to　the　ground　floor　of　Isig；　shaped　to　all　its　rifts　and　channels；　broke　through　finally　to　peaks　buried　under　the　first　whiter　snows。
　　　　　　　He　felt　ponderous　with　mountain。　His　awareness　spanned　the　length　and　bulk　of　it。　In　some　minute　corner　of　the　darkness　far　beneath　him；　his　body　lay　like　a　fragment　of　rock　on　the　floor　of　the　mountain。　He　seemed　to　gaze　down　at　it；　not　knowing　how　to　draw　the　immensity　of　his　thoughts　back　into　it。　Finally；　wearily；　something　in　him　like　an　inner