uleg.thefarthestshore-第31章

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ing　sea。
　
　The　Stone　of　Pain
　
　　When　Arren　woke；　a　grey　fog　hid　the　sea　and　the　dunes　and　hills　of　Selidor。　The　breakers　came　murmuring　in　a　low　thunder　out　of　the　fog　and　withdrew　murmuring　into　it　again。　The　tide　was　in；　and　the　beach　much　narrower　than　when　they　had　first　e　there；　the　last；　small　foam…lines　of　the　waves　came　and　licked　at　Ged's　outflung　left　hand　as　he　lay　face　down　on　the　sand。　His　clothes　and　hair　were　wet；　and　Arren's　clothes　clung　icily　to　his　body；　as　if　once　at　least　the　sea　had　broken　over　them。　Of　Cob's　dead　body　there　was　no　trace。　Maybe　the　waves　had　drawn　it　out　to　sea。　But　behind　Arren；　when　he　turned　his　head；　huge　and　dim　in　the　mist　the　grey　body　of　Orm　Embar　bulked　like　a　ruined　tower。
　　Arren　got　up；　shuddering　with　chill；　he　could　barely　stand；　for　cold　and　stiffness　and　a　dizzy　weakness　like　that　which　es　of　lying　a　long　time　unmoving。　He　staggered　like　a　drunken　man。　As　soon　as　he　could　control　his　limbs　he　went　to　Ged　and　managed　to　pull　him　a　little　way　up　the　sand　above　the　waves'　reach；　but　that　was　all　he　could　do。　Very　cold；　very　heavy；　Ged　seemed　to　him；　he　had　borne　him　over　the　boundary　from　death　into　life；　but　maybe　in　vain。　He　put　his　ear　to　Ged's　breast；　but　could　not　still　the　shaking　in　his　own　limbs　and　the　chattering　of　his　teeth　to　listen　for　the　heartbeat。　He　stood　up　again　and　tried　to　stamp　to　bring　some　warmth　back　into　his　legs　and　finally；　trembling　and　dragging　his　legs　like　an　old　man；　set　off　to　find　their　packs。　They　had　dropped　them　beside　a　little　stream　running　down　from　the　ridge　of　the　hills；　a　long　time　ago；　when　they　came　down　to　the　house　of　bones。　It　was　that　stream　he　sought；　for　he　could　not　think　of　anything　but　water；　fresh　water。
　　Before　he　expected　it；　he　came　to　the　stream；　as　it　descended　onto　the　beach　and　wandered　mazy　and　branching　like　a　tree　of　silver　to　the　seas　edge。　There　he　dropped　down　and　drank；　with　his　face　in　the　water　and　his　hands　in　the　water；　sucking　up　the　water　into　his　mouth　and　into　his　spirit。
　　At　last　he　sat　up；　and　as　he　did　so　he　saw　on　the　far　side　of　the　stream；　immense；　a　dragon。
　　Its　head；　the　color　of　iron；　stained　as　with　red　rust　at　nostril　and；　eye…socket　and　jowl；　hung　facing　him；　almost　over　him。　The　talons　sank　deep　into　the　soft；　wet　sand　on　the　edge　of　the　stream。　The　folded　wings　were　partly　visible；　like　sails；　but　the　length　of　the　dark　body　was　lost　in　the　fog。
　　It　did　not　move。　It　might　have　been　crouching　there　for　hours；　or　for　years；　or　for　centuries。　It　was　carven　of　iron；　shaped　from　rock…　but　the　eyes；　the　eyes　he　dared　not　look　into；　the　eyes　like　oil　coiling　on　water；　like　yellow　smoke　behind　glass；　the　opaque；　profound；　yellow　eyes　watched　Arren。
　　There　was　nothing　he　could　do；　so　he　stood　up。　If　the　dragon　would　kill　him；　it　would；　and　if　it　did　not；　he　would　try　to　help　Ged；　if　there　was　any　help　for　him。　He　stood　up　and　started　to　walk　up　the　rivulet　to　find　their　packs。
　　The　dragon　did　nothing。　It　crouched　unmoving　and　watched。　Arren　found　the　packs；　filled　both　the　skin　bottles　at　the　stream；　and　went　back　across　the　sand　to　Ged。　After　he　had　taken　only　a　few　steps　away　from　the　stream；　the　dragon　was　lost　in　the　thick　fog。
　　He　gave　Ged　water；　but　could　not　rouse　him。。　He　lay　lax　and　cold；　his　head　heavy　on　Arren's　arm。　His　dark　face　was　greyish；　the　nose　and　cheek…bones　and　the　old　scar　standing　out　harshly。　Even　his　body　looked　thin　and　burnt；　as　if　half…consumed。
　　Arren　sat　there　on　the　damp　sand；　his　panion's　head　on　his　knees。　The　fog　made　a　vague；　soft　sphere　about　them；　lighter　overhead。　Somewhere　in　the　fog　was　the　dead　dragon　Orm　Embar；　and　the　live　dragon　waiting　by　the　stream。　And　somewhere　across　Selidor　the　boat　Lookfar；　with　no　provisions　in　her；　lay　on　another　beach。　And　then　the　sea；　eastward。　Three　hundred　miles　to　any　other　land　of　the　West　Reach；　maybe；　a　thousand　to　the　Inmost　Sea。　A　long　way。　〃As　far　as　Selidor；〃　they　used　to　say　on　Enlad。　The　old　stories　told　to　children；　the　myths；　began；　〃As　long　ago　as　forever　and　as　far　away　as　Selidor；　there　lived　a　prince。。。〃
　　He　was　the　prince。　But　in　the　old　stories；　that　was　the　beginning；　and　this　seemed　to　be　the　end。
　　He　was　not　downcast。　Though　very　tired；　and　grieving　for　his　panion；　he　felt　not　the　least　bitterness　or　regret。　Only　there　was　no　longer　anything　he　could　do。　It　had　all　been　done。
　　When　his　strength　came　back　into　him；　he　thought；　he　would　try　surf…fishing　with　the　line　from　his　pack；　for　once　his　thirst　was　quenched　he　had　begun　to　feel　the　gnawing　of　hunger；　and　their　food　was　gone；　all　but　one　packet　of　hard　bread。　He　would　save　that；　for　if　he　soaked　and　softened　it　in　water　he　might　be　able　to　feed　some　of　it　to　Ged。
　　And　that　was　all　there　was　left　to　do。　Beyond　that　he　could　not　see；　the　mist　was　all　about　him。
　　He　felt　about　in　his　pockets　as　he　sat　there；　huddled　with　Ged　in　the　fog；　to　see　if　he　had　anything　useful。　In　his　tunic　pocket　was　a　hard；　sharp…edged　thing。　He　drew　it　forth　and　looked　at　it；　puzzled。　It　was　a　small　stone；　black；　porous；　hard。　He　almost　tossed　it　away。　Then　he　felt　the　edges　of　it　in　his　hand；　rough　and　searing；　and　felt　the　weight　of　it；　and　knew　it　for　what　it　was；　a　bit　of　rock　from　the　Mountains　of　Pain。　It　had　caught　in　his　pocket　as　he　climbed　or　when　he　crawled　to　the　edge　of　the　pass　with　Ged。　He　held　it　in　his　hand〃　the　unchanging　thing；　the　stone　of　pain。　He　closed　his　hand　on　it　and　held　it。　And　he　smiled　then；　a　smile　both　somber　and　joyous；　knowing；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　alone；　unpraised；　and　at　the　end　of　the　world；　victory。
　
　　The　mists　thinned　and　moved。　Far　out　through　them　he　saw　sunlight　on　the　open　sea。　The　dunes　and　hills　came　and　went；　colorless　and　enlarged　by　the　veils　of　fog：　Sunlight　struck　bright　on　the　body　of　Orm　Embar；　magnificent　in　death。
　　The　iron…black　dragon　crouched；　never　moving；　on　the　far　side　of　the　stream。
　　Past　noon　the　sun　grew　clear　and　warm；　burning　the　last　blur　of　mist　out　of　the　air。　Arren　threw　off　his　wet　clothes　and　let　them　dry；　and　went　naked　save　for　his　swordbelt　and　sword。　He　let　the　sun　dry　Ged's　clothing　likewise；　but　though　the　great；　healing；　fortable　flood　of　heat　and　light　poured　down　on　Ged；　yet　he　lay　still。
　　There　was　a　noise　as　of　metal　rubbing　against　metal；　the　grating　whisper　of　crossed　swords。　The　ironcolored　dragon　had　risen　on　its　crooked　legs。　It　moved　and　crossed　the　rivulet；　with　a　soft　hissing　sound　as　it　dragged　its　long　body　through　the　sand。　Arren　saw　the　wrinkles　at　the　shoulder　joints；　the　mail　of　the　flanks　scored　and　scarred　like　the　armor　of　Erreth…Akbe；　and　the　long　teeth　yellowed　and　blunt。　In　all　this；　and　in　its　sure；　ponderous　movements；　and　in　a　deep　and　frightening　calmness　that　it　had；　he　saw　the　sign　of　age：　of　great　age；　of　years　beyond　remembering。　So　when　the　dragon　stopped　some　few　feet　from　where　Ged　lay；　and　Arren　stood　up　between　the　two；　he　said；　in　Hardic　for　he　did　not　know　the　Old　Speech；　〃Art　thou　Kalessin？〃
　　The　dragon　said　no　word；　but　it　seemed　to　smile。　Then；　lowering　its　huge　head　and　sticking　out　its　neck；　it　looked　down　at　Ged；　and　spoke　his　name。
　　Its　voice　was　huge；　and　soft；　and　smelt　like　a　blacksmith's　forge。
　　Again　it　spoke；　and　once　more；　and　at　the　third　time；　Ged　opened　his　eyes。　After　a　while　he　tried　to　sit　up；　but　could　not。　Arren　knelt　by　him　and　supported　him。　Then　Ged　spoke。　〃Kalessin；〃　he　said；　〃senvanissai'n　ar　Roke！〃　He　had　no　more　strength　after　speaking；　he　leaned　his　head　on　Arren's　shoulder　and　shut　his　eyes。
　　The　dragon　made　no　reply。　It　crouched　as　before；　not　moving。　The　fog　was　ing　in　again；　dimming　the　sun　as　it　went　down　to　the　sea。
　　Arren　dressed　and　wrapped　Ged　in　his　cloak。　The　tide　which　had　drawn　far　out　was　ing　in　again；　and　he　thought　to　carry　his　panion　up　to　dryer　ground　on　the　dunes；　for　he　felt　his　strength　ing　back。
　　But　as　he　bent　to　lift　Ged　up；　the　dragon　put　out　a　great；　mailed　foot；　almost　touching　him。　The　talons　of　that　foot　were　four；　with　a　spur　behind　such　as　a　cock's　foot　has；　but　these　were　spurs　of　steel；　and　as　long　as　scythe…blades。
　　〃Sobriost；〃　said　the　dragon；　like　a　January　wind　through　frozen　reeds。
　　〃Let　my　lord　be。　He　has　saved　us　all；　and　doing　so　has　spent　his　strength　and　maybe　his　life　with　it。　Let　him　be！〃
　　So　Arren　spoke；　fiercely　and　with　mand。　He　had　been　overawed　and　frightened　too　much；　he　had　been　filled　up　with　fear；　and　had　got　sick　of　it　and　would　not　have　it　any　more。　He　was　angry　with　the　dragon　for　its　brute　strength　and　size；　its　unjust　advantage。　He　had　seen　death；　he　had　tasted　death；　and　no　threat　had　power　over　him。
　　The　old　dragon　Kalessin　looked　at　him　from　one　long；　awful；　golden　eye。　There　were　ages　beyond　ages　in　the　depths　of　that　eye；　the　morning　of　the　world　was　deep　in　it。　Though　Arren　did　not　look　into　it；　he　knew　that　it　looked　upon　him　with　profound　and　mild　hilarity。
　　〃Arw　sobriost；〃　said　the　dragon；　and　its　rusty　nostrils　widened　so　that　the　banked　and　stifled　fire　deep　within　them　glittered。
　　Arren　had　his　arm　under　Ged's　shoulders；　having　been　in　the　act　of　lifting　him　when　Kalessin's　movement　stopped　him；　and　now　he　felt　Ged's　head　turn　a　little　and　heard　his　voice：　〃It　means；　mount　here。〃
　　For　a　while　Arren　did　not　move。　This　was　all　folly。　But　there　was　the　great；　taloned　foot；　set　like　a　step　in　front　of　him；　and　above　it；　the　crook　of　the　elbow　joint；　and　above　that；　the　jutting　shoulder　and　the　musculature　of　the　wing　where　it　sprang　from　the　shoulder　blade：　four　steps；　a　stairway。　And　there　in　front　of　the　wings　and　the　first　great　iron　thorn　of　the　spine…armor；　in　the　hollow　of　the　neck　there　was　place　for　a　man　to　sit　astride；　or　two　men。　If　they　were　mad　and　past　hope　and　given　up　to　folly。
　　〃Mount！〃　said　Kalessin　in　the　speech　of　the　Making。
　　So　Arren　stood　up　and　helped　his　panion　to　stand。　Ged　held　his　head　erect；　and　with　Arren's　arms　to　guide　him；　climbed　up　those　strange　steps。　Both　sat　down　astride　in　the　rough…mailed　hollow　of　the　dragon's　neck；　Arren　behind；　ready　to　support　Ged　if　he　needed　it。　Both　felt　a　warmth　e　into　them；　a　wele　heat　like　the　sun's　heat；　where　they　touched　the　dragon's　hide：　life　burnt　in　fire　beneath　that　iron　armor。
　　Arren　saw　that　they　had　left　the　mage's　staff　of　yew　lying　half…buried　in　the　sand；　the　sea　was　creeping　in　to　take　it。　He　made　to　get　down　for　it；　but　Ged　stopped　him。　〃Leave　it。　I　spent　all　wizardry　at　that　dry　spring；　Lebannen。　I　am　no　mage　now。〃
　　Kalessin　turned　and　looked　at　them　sidelong；　the　ancient　laughter　was　in　its　eye。　Whether　Kalessin　was　male　or　female；　there　was　no　telling；　what　Kalessin　thought；　there　was　no　knowing。　Slowly　the　wings　lifted　and　unfurled。　They　were　not　gold　like　Orm　Embar's　wings　but　red；　dark　red；　dark　as　rust　or　blood　or　the　crimson　silk　of　Lorbanery。　The　dragon　raised　its　wings　carefully；　lest　it　unseat　its　puny　riders。　Carefully　it　gathered　in　the　spring　of　its　great　haunches；　and　leapt　like　a　cat　up　into　the　air；　and　the　wings　beat　down　and　bore　them　above　the　fog　that　drifted　over　Selidor。
　　Rowing　with　those　crimson　wings　in　the　evening　air；　Kalessin　wheeled　out　over　the　open　sea；　turned　to　the　east；　and　flew。
　
　　In　the　days　of　high　summer　on　the　island　of　Ul