srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第77章

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tected　across　the　flat；　now　running　between　wide　gaps　in　the　ground；　now　throwing　himself　in　dizzy　fear　over　cracks　across　his　path。　When　at　last　he　reached　the　foot　of　the　rugged；　upraised　rock　which　led　to　the　towers；　he　dropped　into　the　shelter　of　a　boulder　and　lay　there；　gasping；　shivering　in　the　damp　cold；　dreading　the　sound　of　guards。
　　　　But　he　heard　no　alarms；　no　shout　or　rush　of　pursuit…nothing　but　his　own　hoarse　respiration；　the　febrile　pulse　of　his　blood；　the　pounding　of　the　waves。　Either　he　had　not　been　seen　or　the　guards　were　preparing　to　ambush　him。　He　mustered　the　vestiges　of　his　strength　and　began　to　clamber　up　through　the　rocks。
　　　　As　he　climbed；　he　grew　faint。　Weakness　like　vertigo　filled　his　head　made　his　numb　hands　powerless　to　grasp；　his　legs　powerless　to　thrust。　Yet　he　went　on。　Time　and　again；　he　stopped　with　his　heart　lurching　because　he　had　heard…or　thought　he　had　heard…some　clink　of　rock　or　rustle　of　apparel　which　said　that　he　was　being　stalked。　Still　he　forced　himself　to　continue。　Dizzy；　weak；　alone；　trembling；　vulnerable…he　was　engaged　in　a　struggle　that　he　could　understand。　He　had　e　too　far　for　any　kind　of　surrender。
　　　　Now　he　was　so　high　that　he　could　seldom　hide　pletely　from　the　towers。　But　the　angle　was　an　awkward　one　for　any　guards　that　might　have　been　at　the　windows。　So　as　he　gasped　and　scraped　up　the　last　ascents；　he　worried　less　about　concealment。　He　needed　all　his　attention；　energy；　just　to　move　his　hands　and　feet；　lift　his　body　upward；　upward。
　　　　At　last　he　neared　the　top。　Peering　through　a　gap　between　two　boulders；　he　caught　his　first　close　look　at　the　mouth　of　Foul's　Creche。
　　　　It　was　smooth　and　symmetrical；　unadorned；　perfectly　made。　The　round　opening　stood　in　a　massive　abutment　of　wrought　stone…a　honed　and　polished　fortification　which　cupped　the　entrance　as　if　it　led　to　a　sacred　crypt。　Its　sheen　echoed　the　clouded　sky　exactly；　reflected　the　immaculate　gray　image　of　the　parapets。
　　　　One　figure　as　tall　as　a　Giant　stood　before　the　cave。　It　had　three　heads；　three　sets　of　eyes　so　that　it　could　watch　in　all　directions；　three　brawny　legs　forming　a　tripod　to　give　it　stability。　Its　three　arms　were　poised　in　constant　readiness。　Each　held　a　gleaming　broadsword；　each　was　protected　with　heavy　leather　bands。　A　long　leather　buckler　girded　its　torso。　At　first；　Covenant　saw　no　movement　to　indicate　that　the　figure　was　alive。　But　then　it　blinked；　drew　his　attention　to　its　fetid　yellow　eyes。　They　roamed　the　hilltop　constantly；　searching　for　foes。　When　they　flicked　across　the　gap　through　which　he　peered；　he　recoiled　as　if　he　had　been　discovered。
　　　　But　if　the　figure　saw　him；　it　gave　no　sign。　After　a　moment；　he　calmed　his　apprehension。　The　warder　was　not　placed　to　watch　any　part　of　the　promontory　except　the　last　approaches　to　the　cave；　virtually　all　his　trek　from　Hotash　Slay　had　been　out　of　the　figure's　line　of　sight。　So　he　was　safe　where　he　crouched。　But　if　he　wanted　to　enter　Foul's　Creche；　he　would　have　to　pass　that　warder。
　　　　He　had　no　idea　how　to　do　so。　He　could　not　fight　the　creature。　He　could　not　think　of　any　way　to　trick　it。　And　the　longer　he　waited　for　some　kind　of　inspiration；　the　larger　his　fear　and　weakness　became。
　　　　Rather　than　remain　where　he　was　until　he　paralyzed　himself；　he　squirmed　on　his　belly　up　through　the　boulders　to　the　fortification　on　one　side　of　the　entrance。　Hiding　behind　the　parapet　almost　directly　below　and　between　the　twin　towers；　he　clenched　himself　to　quiet　his　breathing；　and　tried　to　muster　his　courage　for　the　only　approach　he　could　conceive…drop　over　the　parapet　into　the　entry　way　and　try　to　outrun　the　warder。　He　was　so　close　to　the　figure　now　that　he　felt　sure　it　could　smell　his　sweat；　hear　the　reel　of　his　dizziness　and　the　labor　of　his　heart。
　　　　Yet　he　could　not　move。　He　felt　utterly　exposed　to　the　towers；　though　he　was　out　of　sight　of　the　windows；　yet　he　could　not　make　himself　move。　He　was　afraid。　Once　he　showed　himself…once　the　warder　saw　him…　Foul's　Creche　would　be　warned。　All　Foamfollower's　effort　and　sacrifice；　all　the　aid　of　the　jheherrin；　would　be　undone　in　an　instant。　He　would　be　alone　against　the　full　defenses　of　Ridjeck　Thome。
　　　　Damnation！　he　panted　to　himself。　e　on；　Covenant！　You're　a　leper…you　ought　to　be　used　to　this　by　now。
　　　　Foul's　Creche　was　a　big　place。　If　he　could　get　past　the　warder；　he　might　be　able　to　avoid　capture　for　a　while；　might　even　be　able　to　find　the　secret　door　of　which　the　jheherrin　had　spoken。　This　was　no　greater　than　any　other。　He　was　trapped　between　mortal　inadequacy　and　irrefusable　need；　he　had　long　ago　lost　the　capacity　to　count　costs；　measure　chances。
　　　　He　braced　his　hands　on　the　stone；　breathed　deeply　for　a　moment。
　　　　Before　he　could　move；　something　crashed　into　him；　slammed　him　down。　He　struggled；　but　a　grip　as　hard　as　iron　locked　his　arms　behind　his　back。　Weight　pinned　his　legs。　In　fury　and　fear；　he　tried　to　yell。　A　hand　clamped　over　his　face。
　　　　He　was　helpless。　His　attacker　could　have　broken　his　back　with　one　swift　wrench。　But　the　hands　only　held　him　still…asserting　their　mastery　over　him；　waiting　for　him　to　relax；　submit。
　　　　With　an　effort；　he　forced　his　muscles　to　unclench。
　　　　The　hand　did　not　uncover　his　mouth；　but　he　was　suddenly　flipped　onto　his　back。
　　　　He　found　himself　looking　up　into　the　warm；　clean　face　of　Saltheart　Foamfollower。
　　　　The　Giant　made　a　silencing　gesture；　then　released　him。
　　　　At　once；　Covenant　flung　his　arms　around　Foamfollower's　neck；　hugged　him；　clung　to　his　strong　neck　like　a　child。　A　joy　like　sunrise　washed　the　darkness　out　of　him；　lifted　him　up　into　hope　as　if　it　were　the　pure；　clear　dawn　of　a　new　day。
　　　　Foamfollower　returned　the　embrace　for　a　moment；　then　disentangled　！t　and　moved　stealthily　away。　Covenant　followed；　though　his　eyes　were　so　full　of　tears　that　he　could　hardly　see　where　he　was　going。　The　Giant　led　him　from　the　abutment　to　the　far　side　of　one　of　the　towers。　There　they　were　hidden　from　the　warder；　and　the　rumble　of　the　waves　covered　their　voices　Grinning　happily；　Foamfollower　whispered；　〃Please　pardon　me。　I　hope　I　have　not　harmed　you。　I　have　been　watching　for　you；　but　did　not　see　you。　When　you　gained　the　parapet；　I　could　not　call　without　alerting　that　Foul…spawn。　And　I　feared　that　in　your　surprise；　you　might　betray　your　presence。〃
　　　　Covenant　blinked　back　his　tears。　His　voice　shook　with　joy　and　relief　as　he　said；　〃Pardon　you？　You　scared　me　witless。〃
　　　　Foamfollower　chuckled　softly；　hardly　able　to　contain　his　own　pleasure。　〃Ah；　my　friend；　I　am　greatly　glad　to　see　you　once　again。　I　feared　I　had　lost　you　in　Hotash　Slay…feared　you　had　been　taken　prisoner…　feared…ah！　I　had　a　host　of　fears。〃
　　　　〃I　thought　you　were　dead。''　Covenant　sobbed　once；　then　caught　hold　of　himself；　steadied　himself。　Brusquely；　he　wiped　his　eyes　so　that　he　could　look　at　the　Giant。
　　　　Foamfollower　appeared　beautifully　healthy。　He　was　naked…he　had　lost　his　raiment　in　the　fires　of　the　Slay…and　from　head　to　foot　his　flesh　was　clean　and　well。　The　former　extremity　of　his　gaze　had　been　replaced　by　something　haler；　something　serene；　his　eyes　gleamed　with　laughter　out　of　their　cavernous　sockets。　The　alabaster　strength　of　his　limbs　looked　as　solid　as　marble；　and　except　for　a　few　recent　scrapes　received　while　scrambling　from　Hotash　Slay　to　the　Creche；　even　his　old　battle…scars　were　gone；　effaced　by　a　fire　which　seemed　to　have　refined　him　down　to　the　marrow　of　his　bones。　Nothing　about　him　showed　that　he　had　been　through　agony。
　　　　Yet　Covenant　received　an　impression　of　agony；　of　a　transcending　pain　which　had　fundamentally　altered　the　Giant。　Somehow　in　Hotash　Slay；　Foamfollower　had　carried　his　most　terrible　passions　through　to　their　apocalypse。
　　　　Covenant　steadied　himself　with　sea　air；　and　repeated；　〃I　thought　you　were　dead。〃
　　　　The　Giant's　happiness　did　not　falter。　〃As　did　I。　This　oute　is　an　amazement　to　me；　just　as　it　is　to　you。　Stone　and　Sea！　I　would　have　sworn　that　I　would　die。　Covenant；　the　Despiser　can　never　triumph　entirely　over　a　world　in　which　such　things　occur。〃
　　　　That's　true；　Covenant　said　to　himself。　In　that　kind　of　world。　Aloud；　he　asked；　〃But　how…how　did　you　do　it？　What　happened？〃
　　　　〃I　am　not　altogether　certain。　My　friend；　I　think　you　have　not　forgotten　the　Giantish　caamora；　the　ritual　fire　of　grief。　Giantish　flesh　is　not　harmed　by　ordinary　fire。　The　pain　purges；　but　does　not　burn。　In　that　way　the　Unhomed　from　time　to　time　found　relief　from　the　extravagance　of　their
　　　　hearts。
　　　　〃In　addition…it　will　surprise　you　to　hear　that　I　believe　your　wild　magic　succored　me　in　some　degree。　Before　I　threw　you　from　my　shoulders；　j　feltsome　power　sharing　strength　with　me；　just　as　I　shared　strength　with
　　　　you。〃
　　　　〃Hellfire。〃　Covenant　gaped　at　the　blind　argent　band　on　his　finger。
　　　　Hellfire　and　bloody　damnation。　Again　he　remembered　Mhoram's　assertion；　You　are　the　white　gold。　But　still　he　could　not　grasp　what　the　High　Lord　had　meant。
　　　　〃And…in　addition；〃　the　Giant　continued；　〃there　are　mysteries　alive　in　the　Earth　of　which　Lord　Foul；　Satansheart　and　Soulcrusher；　does　not　dream。　The　Earthpower　which　spoke　to　befriend　Berek　Halfhand　is　not　silent　now。　It　speaks　another　tongue；　perhaps…perhaps　its　ways　have　been　forgotten　by　the　people　who　live　upon　the　Earth…but　it　is　not　quenched。　The　Earth　could　not　exist　if　it　did　not　contain　good　to　match　such　banes　as　the　lllearth　Stone。〃
　　　　〃Maybe；''　Covenant　mused。　He　hardly　heard　himself。　The　thought　of　his　ring　had　triggered　an　entirely　different　series　of　ideas　in　him。　He　did　not　want　to　recognize　them；　hated　to　speak　of　them；　but　after　a　moment　he　forced　himself　to　say；　〃Are　you…are　you　sure　you　haven't　been…　resurrected…like　Elena？〃
　　　　A　look　of　laughter　brightened　the　Giant's　face。　〃Stone　and　Sea！　That　has　the　sound　of　the　Unbeliever　in　it。〃
　　　　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　　　　〃No；　my　friend；〃　Foamfollower　chuckled；　〃I　am　not　sure。　I　neither　know　nor　care。　I　am　only　glad　that　I　have　been　given　one　more　chance　to　aid　you。〃
　　　　Covenant　consumed　Foamfollower's　answer；　then　found　his　response。　He　did　his　best　to　measure　up　to　the　Giant　as　he　said；　〃Then　let's　do　something　about　it　while　we　still　can。〃
　　　　''　Yes。''　Gravity　slowly　entered　Foamfollower's　expression；　but　it　did　not　lessen　his　aura　of　ebullience　and　pain。　〃We　must。　At　our　every　delay；　more　lives　are　lost　in　the　Land。〃
　　　　〃I　hope　you　have　a　plan。〃　Covenant　strove　to　repress　his　anxiety。　〃I　don't　suppose　that　warder　is　just　going　to　wave　us　through　if　we　ask　it　nicely。〃
　　　　〃I　have　given　some　thought　to　the　matter。''　Carefully；　Foamfollower　outlined　the　results　of　his　thinking。
　　　　Covenant　considered　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃That's　all　very　well。　But　what　if　they　know　we're　ing？　What　if　they're　waiting　for　us…inside　there？〃
　　　　The　Giant　shook　his　head；　and　explained　that　he　had　spent　some　time　listening　through　the　rock　of　the　towers。　He　had　heard　nothing　which　would　indicate　an　ambush；　nothing　to　show　that　the　towers　were　occupied　at　all。　〃Perhaps　Soulcrusher　truly　does　not　believe　that　he　can　be　approached　in　this　way。　Perhaps　this　warder　is　the　only　guard。　We　will　soon　know。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　Covenant　muttered。　〃Only　I　hate　surprises。　You　never　know　when　one　of　them　is　going　to　ruin　your　life。〃
　　　　Grimly；　Foamfollower　r