uleg.thefarthestshore-第26章

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e　more　for　that　in　afterdays　than　for　any　thing　I　did　of　magery。。。　If　there　will　be　after…days。　For　first　we　two　must　stand　upon　the　balance…point；　the　very　fulcrum　of　the　world。　And　if　I　fall；　you　fall；　and　all　the　rest。。。　For　a　while；　for　a　while。　No　darkness　lasts　forever。　And　even　there；　there　are　stars。。。　Oh；　but　I　should　like　to　see　thee　crowned　in　Havnor；　and　the　sunlight　shining　on　the　Tower　of　the　Sword　and　on　the　Ring　we　brought　for　thee　from　Atuan；　from　the　dark　tombs；　Tenar　and　I；　before　ever　thou　wast　born！〃
　　He　laughed　then；　and　turning　to　face　the　north；　he　said　to　himself　in　the　mon　tongue；　〃A　goatherd　to　set　the　heir　of　Morred　on　his　throne！　Will　I　never　learn？〃
　　Presently；　as　he　sat　with　the　guide…rope　in　his　hand　and　watched　the　full　sail　strain　reddened　in　the　last　light　of　the　west；　he　spoke　again　softly。　〃Not　In　Havnor　would　I　be　and　not　in　Roke。　It　is　time　to　be　done　with　power。　To　drop　the　old　toys　and　go　on。　It　is　time　that　I　went　home。　I　would　see　Tenar。　I　would　see　Ogion　and　speak　with　him　before　he　dies；　in　the　house　on　the　cliffs　of　Re　Albi。　I　crave　to　walk　on　the　mountain；　the　mountain　of　Gont；　in　the　forests；　in　the　autumn　when　the　leaves　are　bright。　There　is　no　kingdom　like　the　forests。　It　is　time　I　went　there；　went　in　silence；　went　alone。　And　maybe　there　I　would　learn　at　last　what　no　act　or　art　or　power　can　teach　me；　what　I　have　never　learned。〃
　　The　whole　west　blazed　up　in　a　fury　and　glory　of　red；　so　that　the　sea　was　crimson　and　the　sail　above　it　bright　as　blood；　and　then　the　night　came　quietly　on。　All　that　night　long　the　boy　slept　and　the　man　waked；　gazing　forward　steadily　into　the　dark。　There　were　no　stars。
　
　Selidor
　
　　Waking　in　the　morning　Arren　saw　before　the　boat；　dim　and　low　along　the　blue　west；　the　shores　of　Selidor。
　　In　the　Hall　in　Berila　were　old　maps　that　had　been　made　in　the　days　of　the　Kings；　when　traders　and　explorers　had　sailed　from　the　Inner　Lands　and　the　Reaches　had　been　better　known。　A　great　map　of　the　North　and　West　was　laid　in　mosaic　on　two　walls　of　the　Prince's　throne…room；　with　the　isle　of　Enlad　in　gold　and　grey　above　the　throne。　Arren　saw　it　in　his　mind's　eye　as　he　had　seen　it　a　thousand　times　in　boyhood。　North　of　Enlad　was　Osskil；　and　west　of　it　Ebosskil；　and　south　of　that　Semel　and　Paln。　There　the　Inner　Lands　ended；　and　there　was　nothing　but　the　pale　blue…green　mosaic　of　the　empty　sea；　set　here　and　there　with　a　tiny　dolphin　or　a　whale。　Then　at　last；　after　the　corner　where　the　north　wall　met　the　west　wall；　there　was　Narveduen；　and　beyond　it　three　lesser　islands。　And　then　the　empty　sea　again；　on　and　on；　until　the　very　edge　of　the　wall　and　the　end　of　the　map；　and　there　was　Selidor；　and　beyond　it；　nothing。
　　He　could　recall　it　vividly；　the　curving　shape　of　it；　with　a　great　bay　in　the　heart　of　it；　opening　narrowly　to　the　east。　They　had　not　e　so　far　north　as　that；　but　were　steering　now　for　a　deep　cove　in　the　southernmost　cape　of　the　island；　and　there；　while　the　sun　was　still　low　in　the　haze　of　morning；　they　came　to　land。
　　So　ended　their　great　run　from　the　Roads　of　Balatran　to　the　Western　Isle。　The　stillness　of　the　earth　was　strange　to　them　when　they　had　beached　Lookfar　and　walked　after　so　long　on　solid　ground。
　　Ged　climbed　a　low　dune；　grass…crowned；　the　crest　of　it　leaning　out　over　the　steep　slope；　bound　into　cornices　by　the　tough　roots　of　the　grass。　When　he　reached　the　summit　he　stood　still；　looking　west　and　north。　Arren　stopped　at　the　boat　to　put　on　his　shoes；　which　he　had　not　worn　for　many　days；　and　he　took　his　sword　out　of　the　gear…box　and　buckled　it　on；　this　time　with　no　questions　in　his　mind　as　to　whether　or　not　he　should　do　so。　Then　he　climbed　up　beside　Ged　to　look　at　the　land。
　　The　dunes　ran　inland；　low　and　grassy；　for　half　a　mile　or　so；　and　then　there　were　lagoons；　thick　with　sedge　and　salt…reeds；　and　beyond　those；　low　hills　lay　yellow…brown　and　empty　to　the　end　of　sight。　Beautiful　and　desolate　was　Selidor。　Nowhere　on　it　was　there　any　mark　of　man；　his　work　or　habitation。　There　were　no　beasts　to　be　seen；　and　the　reedfilled　lakes　bore　no　flocks　of　gulls　or　wild　geese　or　any　bird。
　　They　descended　the　inland　side　of　the　dune；　and　the　slope　of　sand　cut　off　the　noise　of　the　breakers　and　the　sound　of　the　wind；　so　that　it　became　still。
　　Between　the　outmost　dune　and　the　next　was　a　dell　of　clean　sand；　sheltered；　the　morning　sun　shining　warm　on　its　western　slope。　〃Lebannen；〃　the　mage　said；　for　he　used　Arren's　true　name　now；　〃I　could　not　sleep　last　night；　and　now　I　must。　Stay　with　me　and　keep　watch。〃　He　lay　down　in　the　sunlight；　for　the　shade　was　cold；　put　his　arm　over　his　eyes；　sighed；　and　slept。　Arren　sat　down　beside　him。　He　could　see　nothing　but　the　white　slopes　of　the　dell；　and　the　dune…grass　bowing　at　the　top　against　the　misty　blue　of　the　sky；　and　the　yellow　sun。　There　was　no　sound　except　the　muted　murmur　of　the　surf；　and　sometimes　the　wind　gusting　moved　the　particles　of　sand　a　little　with　a　faint　whispering。
　　Arren　saw　what　might　have　been　an　eagle　flying　very　high；　but　it　was　not　an　eagle。　It　circled　and　stooped；　and　down　it　came　with　that　thunder　and　shrill　whistle　of　outspread　golden　wings。　It　alighted　on　huge　talons　on　the　summit　of　the　dune。　Against　the　sun　the　great　head　was　black；　with　fiery　glints。
　　The　dragon　crawled　a　little　way　down　the　slope　and　spoke。　〃Agni　Lebannen；〃　it　said。
　　Standing　between　it　and　Ged；　Arren　answered：　〃Orm　Embar。〃　And　he　held　his　bare　sword　in　his　hand。
　　It　did　not　feel　heavy　now。　The　smooth；　worn　hilt　was　fortable　in　his　hand；　it　fitted。　The　blade　had　e　lightly；　eagerly；　from　the　sheath。　The　power　of　it；　the　age　of　it；　were　on　his　side；　for　he　knew　now　what　use　to　make　of　it。　It　was　his　sword。
　　The　dragon　spoke　again；　but　Arren　could　not　understand。　He　glanced　back　at　his　sleeping　panion；　whom　all　the　rush　and　thunder　had　not　awakened；　and　said　to　the　dragon；　〃My　lord　is　weary；　he　sleeps。〃
　　At　that　Orm　Embar　crawled　and　coiled　on　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　dell。　He　was　heavy　on　the　ground；　not　lithe　and　free　as　when　he　flew；　but　there　was　a　sinister　grace　in　the　slow　placing　of　his　great；　taloned　feet　and　the　curving　of　his　thorny　tail。　Once　there　he　drew　his　legs　beneath　him；　lifted　up　his　huge　head；　and　was　still：　like　a　dragon　carved　on　a　warrior's　helm。　Arren　was　aware　of　his　yellow　eye；　not　ten　feet　away；　and　of　the　faint　reek　of　burning　that　hung　about　him。　This　was　no　carrion　stink；　dry　and　metallic；　it　accorded　with　the　faint　odors　of　the　sea　and　the　salt　sand；　a　clean；　wild　smell。
　　The　sun　rising　higher　struck　the　flanks　of　Orm　Embar；　and　he　burnt　like　a　dragon　made　of　iron　and　gold。
　　Still　Ged　slept；　relaxed；　taking　no　more　notice　of　the　dragon　than　a　sleeping　farmer　of　his　hound。
　　So　an　hour　passed；　and　Arren；　starting；　found　the　mage　had　sat　up　beside　him。
　　〃Have　you　got　so　used　to　dragons　that　you　fall　asleep　between　their　paws？〃　said　Ged；　and　laughed；　yawning。　Then；　rising；　he　spoke　to　Orm　Embar　in　the　dragons'　speech。
　　Before　Orm　Embar　answered；　he　too　yawned　=perhaps　in　sleepiness；　perhaps　in　rivalry…　and　that　was　a　sight　that　few　have　lived　to　remember：　the　rows　of　yellow…white　teeth　as　long　and　sharp　as　swords；　the　forked；　red；　fiery　tongue　twice　the　length　of　a　man's　body；　the　fuming　cavern　of　the　throat。
　　Orm　Embar　spoke；　and　Ged　was　about　to　answer；　when　both　turned　to　look　at　Arren。　They　had　heard；　clear　in　the　silence；　the　hollow　whisper　of　steel　on　sheath。　Arren　was　looking　up　at　the　lip　of　the　dune　behind　the　mage's　head；　and　his　sword　was　ready　in　his　hand。
　　There　stood；　bright　lit　by　sunlight；　the　faint　wind　stirring　his　garments　slightly；　a　man。　He　stood　still　as　a　carven　figure　except　for　that　flutter　of　the　hem　and　hood　of　his　light　cloak。　His　hair　was　long　and　black；　falling　in　a　mass　of　glossy　curls；　he　was　broad…shouldered　and　tall；　a　strong；　ely　man。　His　eyes　seemed　to　look　out　over　them；　at　the　sea。　He　smiled。
　　〃Orm　Embar　I　know；〃　he　said。　〃And　you　also　I　know；　though　you　have　grown　old　since　I　last　saw　you；　Sparrowhawk。　You　are　Archmage　now；　they　tell　me。　You　have　grown　great；　as　well　as　old。　And　you　have　a　young　servant　with　you：　a　prentice　mage；　no　doubt；　one　of　those　who　learn　wisdom　on　the　Isle　of　the　Wise。　What　do　you　two　here；　so　far　from　Roke　and　the　invulnerable　walls　that　protect　the　Masters　from　all　harm？〃
　　〃There　is　a　breach　in　greater　walls　than　those；〃　said　Ged；　clasping　both　hands　on　his　staff　and　looking　up　at　the　man。　〃But　will　you　not　e　to　us　in　the　flesh；　so　that　we　may　greet　one　whom　we　have　long　sought？〃
　　〃In　the　flesh？〃　said　the　man；　and　smiled　again。　〃Is　mere　flesh；　body；　butcher's　meat；　of　such　account　between　two　mages？　No；　let　us　meet　mind　to　mind；　Archmage。〃
　　〃That；　I　think；　we　cannot　do。　Lad；　put　up　your　sword。　It　is　but　a　sending；　an　appearance；　no　true　man。　As　well　draw　blade　against　the　wind。　In　Havnor；　when　your　hair　was　white；　you　were　called　Cob。　But　that　was　only　a　use…name。　How　shall　we　call　you　when　we　meet　you？〃
　　〃You　will　call　me　Lord；〃　said　the　tall　figure　on　the　dune's　edge。
　　〃Aye；　and　what　else？〃
　　〃King　and　Master。〃
　　At　that　Orm　Embar　hissed；　a　loud　and　hideous　sound；　and　his　great　eyes　gleamed；　yet　he　turned　his　head　away　from　the　man；　and　sank　crouching　in　his　tracks；　as　if　he　could　not　move。
　　〃And　where　shall　we　e　to　you　and　when？〃
　　〃In　my　domain　and　at　my　pleasure。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Ged；　and　lifting　up　his　staff　moved　it　a　little　toward　the　tall　man…　and　the　man　was　gone；　like　a　candleflame　blown　out。
　　Arren　stared；　and　the　dragon　rose　up　mightily　on　his　four　crooked　legs；　his　mail　clanking　and　the　lips　writhing　back　from　his　teeth。　But　the　mage　leaned　on　his　staff　again。
　　〃It　was　only　a　sending。　A　presentment　or　image　of　the　man。　It　can　speak　and　hear；　but　there's　no　power　in　it；　save　what　our　fear　may　lend　it。　Nor　is　it　even　true　in　seeming；　unless　the　sender　so　wishes。　We　have　not　seen　what　he　now　looks　like；　I　guess。〃
　　〃Is　he　near；　do　you　think？〃
　　〃Sendings　do　not　cross　water。　He　is　on　Selidor。　But　Selidor　is　a　great　island：　broader　than　Roke　or　Gont　and　near　as　long　as　Enlad。　We　may　seek　him　long。〃
　　Then　the　dragon　spoke。　Ged　listened　and　turned　to　Arren。　〃Thus　says　the　Lord　of　Selidor：　'I　have　e　back　to　my　own　land；　nor　will　I　leave　it。　I　will　find　the　Unmaker　and　bring　you　to　him；　that　together　we　may　abolish　him：　And　have　I　not　said　that　what　a　dragon　hunts；　he　finds？〃
　　Thereupon　Ged　went　down　on　one　knee　before　the　great　creature；　as　a　liegeman　kneels　before　a　king；　and　thanked　him　in　his　own　tongue。　The　breath　of　the　dragon；　so　close；　was　hot　on　his　bowed　head。
　　Orm　Embar　dragged　his　scaly　weight　up　the　dune　once　more；　beat　his　wings；　and　took　the　air。
　　Ged　brushed　the　sand　from　his　clothes　and　said　to　Arren；　〃Now　you　have　seen　me　kneel。　And　maybe　you'll　see　me　kneel　once　more；　before　the　end。〃
　　Arren　did　not　ask　what　he　meant；　in　their　long　panionship　he　had　learned　that　there　was　reason　in　the　mage's　reserve。　Yet　it　seemed　to　him　that　there　was　evil　omen　in　the　words。
　　They　crossed　over　the　dune　to　the　beach　once　more　to　make　sure　the　boat　lay　high　above　the　reach　of　tide　or　storm；　and　to　take　from　her　cloaks　for　the　night　and　what　food　they　had　left。　Ged　paused　a　minute　by　the　slender　prow　which　had　borne　him　over　strange　seas