srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第22章

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　　　　On　mand；　the　marauders　led　the　three　to　a　house　at　the　edge　of　the　circle。　They　were　positioned　around　the　building；　and　at　once　they　moved　close　to　the　walls；　spread　their　arms　to　their　fullest　extent；　gripped　the　flat　rock　with　their　suckers。
　　　　Hoarse；　growling　power　began　to　mount　between　them。　Their　might　reached　around　the　house　and　tightened　slowly　like　a　noose。
　　　　Covenant　watched　them　in　blank　dismay。　He　understood　the　marauders'　tactics　now；　the　band　attacked　as　it　did　to　protect　these　three。　With　a　stink　of　attar；　their　power　increased；　tightened；　growled；　until　he　could　see　a　hawser　of　green　force　running　through　them　around　the　house；　squeezing　it　in　implacable　fury。　He　thought　that　he　should　shout　to　the　Stonedownors；　warn　them　of　the　danger。　But　he　was　dry…mouthed　and　frozen　with　horror。　He　hardly　knew　that　he　had　risen　to　his　hands　and　knees　to　gain　a　better　view　of　what　was　happening。
　　　　Moments　passed。　Tension　crackled　in　the　air　as　the　stone　of　the　house　began　to　scream　silently　under　the　stress。　Covenant　gaped　at　it　as　if　the　mute　rock　were　crying　out　to　him　for　help。
　　　　Then　the　noose　exploded　in　a　flash　of　green　force。　The　house　crumbled　inward；　fell　into　itself　until　all　its　rooms　and　furnishings　were　buried　in　rubble。　Its　three　destroyers　stepped　back　and　searched　blindly　around　them　for　more　stone　to　crush。
　　　　Abruptly；　a　woman　screamed…a　raw　shout　of　outrage。　Covenant　heard　her　running　between　the　houses。　He　leaped　to　his　feet　and　saw　a　fleet；　white…haired　woman　dash　past　the　eaves　of　his　roof　with　a　long　knife　clenched　in　both　hands。　In　an　instant；　she　had　raced　beyond　him　toward　the　center　of　the　Stonedown。
　　　　At　once　he　went　after　her。　With　two　quick　steps；　he　threw　himself　like　a　bundle　of　disjointed　limbs　toward　the　next　roof。　He　landed　off　balance；　fell；　and　slid　through　the　snow　almost　to　the　edge　of　the　house。　But　he　picked　himself　up　and　moved　back　to　get　a　running　start　toward　the　next　roof。
　　　　From　that　position；　he　saw　the　woman　rush　into　the　open　circle。　Her　scream　had　alerted　the　marauders；　but　they　were　not　ready　for　the　speed　with　which　she　launched　herself　at　them。　As　she　sprang；　she　stabbed　the　long　knife　with　all　her　strength；　drove　it　hilt…deep　into　the　breast　of　the　three…armed　creature　which　had　been　manding　the　assault。
　　　　The　next　instant；　another　creature　grabbed　her　by　the　hair　and　flung　her　back。　She　lost　her　knife；　fell　out　of　Covenant's　sight　in　front　of　one　of　the　houses。　The　marauders　moved　after　her；　swords　upraised。
　　　　Covenant　leaped　for　the　next　roof。　He　kept　his　balance　as　he　landed　this　time；　ran　across　the　stone；　and　leaped　again。　Then　he　fell　skidding　on　the　roof　of　the　house　which　blocked　the　woman　from　his　sight。　He　had　too　much　momentum　now；　he　could　not　stop。　In　a　cloud　of　snow；　he　toppled　over　the　edge　and　slammed　heavily　to　the　ground　beside　the　woman。
　　　　The　impact　stunned　him。　But　his　sudden　appearance　had　surprised　the　attackers；　and　the　nearest　creature　recoiled　several　steps；　waving　its　sword　defensively　as　if　Covenant　were　a　group　of　warriors。　In　the　interval；　he　shook　red　mist　from　his　eyes；　and　got　gasping　to　his　feet。
　　　　The　marauders　whirled　their　weapons；　dropped　into　fighting　crouches。　But　when　they　saw　that　they　were　threatened　by　only　one　half…stunned　man；　some　of　them　spat　hoarse　curses　at　him　and　others　began　to　laugh　malevolently。　Sheathing　their　weapons；　several　of　them　moved　forward　with　an　exaggerated　display　of　caution　to　capture　Covenant　and　the　old　woman。　At　this；　other　creatures　jeered　harshly；　and　more　came　into　the　circle　to　see　what　was　happening。
　　　　Covenant's　gaze　dashed　in　all　directions；　hunting　for　a　way　of　escape。　But　he　could　find　nothing；　he　and　the　woman　were　alone　against　more　than　a　score　of　the　misborn　creatures。
　　　　The　marauders'　breathing　did　not　steam　in　the　cold　air。　Though　they　wore　nothing　to　protect　their　flesh　from　the　cold；　they　seemed　horribly　fortable　in　the　preternatural　winter。
　　　　They　approached　as　if　they　meant　to　eat　Covenant　and　the　woman　alive。
　　　　The　woman　hissed　at　them　in　revulsion；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　her。　All　of　him　was　concentrated　on　escape。　An　odd　memory　tugged　at　the　back　of　his　mind。　He　remembered　a　time　when　Mhoram　had　made　even　powerless　white　gold　useful。　As　the　creatures　crept　hooting　toward　him；　he　suddenly　brandished　his　ring　and　sprang　forward　a　step；　shouting；　〃Get　back；　you　bloody　bastards；　or　I'll　blast　you　where　you　stand！〃
　　　　Either　his　shout　or　the　sight　of　his　ring　startled　them；　they　jumped　back　a　few　paces；　grabbing　at　their　weapons。
　　　　In　that　instant；　Covenant　snatched　up　the　woman's　hand　and　fled。　Pulling　her　after　him；　he　raced　to　the　corner　of　the　house；　swung　sharply　around　it；　and　sped　as　fast　as　he　could　away　from　the　open　ground。　He　lost　his　hold　on　the　woman　almost　at　once；　he　could　not　grip　her　securely　with　his　half…fingerless　hand。　But　she　was　running　on　her　own　now。　In　a　moment；　she　caught　up　with　him　and　took　hold　of　his　arm；　helped　him　make　the　next　turn。
　　　　Roaring　with　fury；　the　marauders　started　in　pursuit。　But　when　they　entered　the　lane　between　the　houses；　Foamfollower　dove　from　a　rooftop　and　crashed　headlong　into　them　like　a　battering　ram。　Constricted　by　the　houses　on　either　side；　they　could　not　evade　him；　he　hit　them　squarely；　breaking　the　ones　nearest　him　and　bowling　the　others　back　into　the　center　of　the　Stonedown。
　　　　Then　Triock；　Quirrel；　and　Yeurquin　led　a　dozen　Stonedownors　into　the　village　across　the　roofs。　Amid　the　confusion　caused　by　the　Giant's　attack；　the　defenders　fell　onto　the　marauders　like　a　rain　of　swords　and　javelins。　Other　people　ran　forward　to　engage　the　creatures　that　were　still　hunting　among　the　houses。　In　moments；　fighting　raged　throughout　the　Stonedown。
　　　　But　Covenant　did　not　stop；　drawing　the　woman　with　him；　he　fled　until　he　was　past　the　last　buildings。　There　he　lengthened　his　stride；　intending　to　run　as　far　as　he　could　up　the　valley。　But　Slen　intercepted　him。　Panting　hoarsely；　Slen　snapped　at　the　woman；　〃Fool！　You　have　lost　sense　altogether。〃　Then　he　tugged　at　Covenant。　〃e。　e。〃
　　　　Covenant　and　the　woman　followed　him　away　from　the　river　along　an　unmarked　path　into　the　foothills。　A　few　hundred　yards　above　the　village；　they　came　to　a　jumble　of　boulders…the　ancient　remains　of　a　rockfall　from　the　mountains。　Slen　took　a　cunning　way　in　among　the　boulders　and　soon　reached　a　large；　hidden　cave。　Several　Stonedownors　stood　on　guard　at　the　cave　mouth；　and　within　it　the　children　and　the　ill　or　infirm　huddled　around　graveling　bowls。
　　　　Covenant　was　tempted　to　enter　the　cave　and　share　its　sanctuary。　But　near　its　mouth　was　a　high；　sloped　heap　of　rock　with　a　broad　crown。　He　turned　and　climbed　the　rocks　to　find　out　if　he　could　see　the　Stonedown　from　its　top。　The　white…haired　woman　ascended　lightly　behind　him；　soon　they　stood　together；　looking　down　at　the　battle　of　Mithil　Stonedown。
　　　　The　altitude　of　his　position　surprised　him。　He　had　not　realized　that　he　had　climbed　so　high。　Vertigo　made　his　feet　feel　suddenly　slippery；　and　he　recoiled　from　the　sight。　For　a　moment；　the　valley　reeled　around　him。　He　could　not　believe　that　a　short　time　ago　he　had　been　leaping　across　rooftops；　the　mere　thought　of　such　audacity　seemed　to　sweep　his　balance　away；　leaving　him　at　the　mercy　of　the　height。　But　the　woman　caught　hold　of　him；　　supported　him。　And　his　urgent　need　to　watch　the　fighting　helped　him　to　resist　his　dizziness。　Clinging　half　unconsciously　to　the　woman's　shoulder；　he　forced　himself　to　peer　downward。
　　　　At　first；　the　cloud…locked　dimness　of　the　day　obscured　the　battle；　prevented　him　from　being　able　to　distinguish　what　was　happening。　But　as　he　concentrated；　he　made　out　the　Giant。
　　　　Foamfollower　dominated　the　melee　in　the　Stonedown's　center。　He　waded　hugely　through　the　marauders；　heaved　himself　from　place　to　place。　Swinging　his　mighty　fists　like　cudgels；　he　chopped　creatures　down；　pounded　them　out　of　his　way　with　blows　which　appeared　powerful　enough　to　tear　their　heads　off。　But　he　was　sorely　outnumbered。　Though　his　movement　prevented　the　marauders　from　hitting　him　with　a　concerted　attack；　they　were　armed　and　he　was　not。　As　Covenant　watched；　several　of　the　creatures　succeeded　in　knocking　Foamfollower　toward　one　of　the　rock　destroyers。
　　　　The　soft；　glad　tone　of　the　woman's　voice　jarred　painfully　against　his　anxiety。　〃Thomas　Covenant；　I　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃My　life　is　yours。〃
　　　　Foamfollower！　Covenant　cried　silently。　〃What？〃　He　doubted　that　the　woman　had　actually　spoken。　〃I　don't　want　your　life。　What　in　hell　possessed　you　to　run　out　there；　anyway？〃
　　　　〃That　is　unkind；〃　she　replied　quietly。　〃I　have　waited　for　you。　I　have　ridden　your　Ranyhyn。〃
　　　　The　meaning　of　what　she　said　did　not　penetrate　him。　〃Foamfollower　is　getting　himself　killed　down　there　because　of　you。〃
　　　　〃I　have　borne　your　child。〃
　　　　What？
　　　　Without　warning；　her　words　hit　him　in　the　face　like　ice　water。　He　snatched　his　hand　from　her　shoulder；　jerked　backward　a　step　or　two　across　the　rock。　A　shift　in　the　wind　brought　the　clamor　of　battle　up　to　him　in　tatters；　but　he　did　not　hear　it。　For　the　first　time；　he　looked　at　the　woman。
　　　　She　appeared　to　be　in　her　mid…sixties…easily　old　enough　to　be　his　mother。　Lines　of　groundless　hope　marked　her　pale　skin　around　the　blue　veins　in　her　temples；　and　the　hair　which　plumed　her　head　was　no　longer　thick。　He　saw　nothing　to　recognize　in　the　open　expectancy　of　her　mouth；　or　in　the　bone…leanness　of　her　body；　or　in　her　wrinkled　hands。　Her　eyes　had　a　curious；　round；　misfocused　look；　like　the　confusion　of　madness。
　　　　But　for　all　their　inaccuracy；　they　were　spacious　eyes；　like　the　eyes　of　the　women　she　claimed　for　her　mother　and　daughter。　And　woven　into　the　shoulders　of　her　long　blue　robe　was　a　pattern　of　white　leaves。
　　　　〃Do　you　not　know　me；　Thomas　Covenant？〃　she　said　gently。　〃I　have　lot　changed。　They　all　wish　me　to　change…Triock　and　Trell　my　father　and　the　Circle　of　elders；　all　wish　me　to　change。　But　I　do　not。　Do　I　appear　changed？〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Covenant　panted。　With　sour　nausea　in　his　mouth；　he　understood　that　he　was　looking　at　Lena；　the　woman　he　had　violated　with　his　lust…mother　of　the　woman　he　had　violated　with　his　love…recipient　of　the　Ranyhyn…boon　he　had　instigated　when　he　had　violated　the　great　horses　with　his　false　bargains。　Despite　her　earlier　fury；　she　looked　too　old；　too　fragile；　to　be　touched。　He　forced　out　the　words　as　if　they　appalled　him。　〃No…change。〃
　　　　She　smiled　with　relief。　〃I　am　glad。　I　have　striven　to　hold　true。　The　Unbeliever　deserves　no　less。〃
　　　　〃Deserves；〃　Covenant　croaked　helplessly。　The　battle　noises　from　Mithil　Stonedown　taunted　him　again。　〃Hellfire。〃
　　　　He　coerced　himself　to　meet　her　gaze；　and　slowly　her　smile　turned　to　a　look　of　concern。　She　moved　forward；　reached　out　to　him。　He　wanted　to　back　away；　but　he　held　still　as　her　fingertips　lightly　touched　his　lip；　then　stroked　a　cool　line　around　the　wound　on　his　forehead。　〃You　have　been　harmed；〃　she　said。　〃Does　the　Despiser　dare　to　assault　you　in　your　own　world？〃
　　　　He　felt　that　he　had　to　warn　her　away　from　him；　the　misfocus　of　her　gaze　showed　that　she　was　endangered　by　him。　Rapidly；　he　whispered；　〃Atiaran's　judgment　is　ing　true。　The　Land　is　being　destroyed；　and　it's　my　fault。〃
　　　　Her