srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第26章

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　He　reached　her　in　a　few　swift　strokes；　and　shoved　her　head　down。；
　She　reappeared　immediately；　laughing　almost　before　she　lifted　her　head　above　water。　He　lunged　at　her；　but　she　slipped　；past　him；　and　pushed　him　under　instead。　He　grappled　for　her　ankles　and　missed。　When　he　came　up；　she　was　out　of　sight。
　He　felt　her　tugging　at　his　feet。　Grabbing　a　deep　breath；　he　upended　himself　and　plunged　after　her。　For　the　first　time；　he　opened　his　eyes　underwater；　and　found　that　he　could　see　well。　Elena　swam　near　him；　grinning。　He　reached　her　in　a　moment；　and　caught　her　by　the　waist。
　Instead　of　trying　to　pull　away；　she　turned；　put　her　arms　around　his　neck；　and　kissed　him　on　the　mouth。
　Abruptly；　all　the　air　burst　from　his　lungs　as　if　she　had　kicked　his　sore　ribs。　He　thrust　away　from　her；　scrambled　back　to　the　surface。　Coughing　and　gasping；　he　thrashed　over　to　the　edge　of　the　pool　where　he　had　left　his　boots；　and　climbed　out　to　collapse　on　the　grass。
　His　chest　hurt　as　if　he　had　reinjured　his　ribs；　but　he　knew　he　had　not。　The　first　touch　of　Glimmermere's　potent　water　had　effaced　his　bruises；　simply　washed　them　away；　and　they　did　not　ache　now。　This　was　another　pain；　in　his　exertions　underwater　he　seemed　to　have　wrenched　his　heart。
　He　lay　panting　face　down　on　the　grass；　and　after　a　while；　his　breathing　relaxed。　He　became　aware　of　other　sensations。　The　cold；　tart　touch　of　the　water　left　his　whole　body　excited；　he　felt　cleaner　than　he　had　at　any　time　since　he　had　learned　of　his　leprosy。　The　sun　was　warm　on　his　back；　and　his　fingertips　tingled　vividly。　And　his　heart　ached　when…　Elena　joined　him　on　the　grass。
　He　could　feel　her　eyes　on　him　before　she　asked　quietly；　〃Are　you　happy　in　your　world？〃
　Clenching　himself；　he　rolled　over；　and　found　that　she　sat　close　to　him；　regarding　him　softly。　Unable　to　resist　the　sensation；　he　touched　a　strand　of　her　wet　hair；　rubbed　it　between　his　fingers。　Then　he　lifted　his　gray；　gaunt　eyes　to　meet　her　gaze。　The　way　he　held　himself　made　his　voice　unintentionally　harsh。　〃Happiness　has　got　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　don't　think　about　happiness。　I　think　about　staying　alive。〃
　〃Could　you　be　happy　here？〃
　〃That's　not　fair。　What　would　you　say　if　I　asked　you　that？〃
　〃I　would　say　yes。〃　But　a　moment　later　she　saw　what　he　meant；　and　drew　herself　up。　〃I　would　say　that　happiness　lies　in　serving　the　Land。　And　I　would　say　that　there　is　no　happiness　in　times　of　war。〃
　He　lay　back　on　the　grass　so　that　he　would　not　have　to　look　at　her。　Bleakly；　he　murmured；　〃Where　I　e　from；　there　is　no　Land。'　Just　ground。'　Dead。　And　there's　always　war。〃
　After　a　short　pause；　she　said　with　a　smile　in　her　voice；　〃If　I　have　heard　rightly；　it　is　such　talk　as　this　which　makes　Hiltmark　Quaan　angry　with　you。〃
　〃I　can't　help　it。　It's　the　simple　fact。〃
　〃You　have　a　great　respect　for　facts〃
　He　breathed　carefully　around　his　sore　heart　before　answering。　〃No。　I　hate　them。　They're　all　I've　got。〃
　A　gentle　silence　came　over　them。　Elena　reclined　beside　him；　and　they　lay　still　to　let　the　sunlight　dry　them。　The　warmth；　the　smell　of　the　grass；　seemed　to　offer　him　a　sense　of　well…being；　but　when　he　tried　to　relax　and　flow　with　it；　his　pulse　throbbed　unfortably　in　his　chest。　He　was　too　conscious　of　Elena's　presence。　But　gradually　he　became　aware　that　a　larger　silence　covered　Glimmermere。　All　the　birds　and　even　the　breeze　had　bee　quiet；　hushed。　For　a　time；　he　kept　his　breathing　shallow　and　explored　the　ambience　of　the　air　with　his　ears。
　Shortly；　Elena　said；　〃He　es；〃　and　went　to　retrieve　the　Staff。　Covenant　sat　up　and　looked　around。　Then　he　heard　it　a　soft；　clean　sound　like　a　flute；　spreading　over　Glimmermere　from　one　source　that　he　could　see；　as　if　the　air　itself　were　singing。　The　tune　moved；　came　closer。　Soon　he　could　follow　the　words。
　
　Free　
　Unfettered　
　Shriven　
　Free…
　Dream　that　what　is　dreamed　will　be：　
　Hold　eyes　clasped　shut　until　they　see；　
　And　sing　the　silent　prophecy…
　And　be　
　Unfettered　
　Shriven　
　Free。
　Lone　
　Unfriended　
　Bondless　
　Lone…
　Drink　of　loss　'til　it　is　done；　
　'Till　solitude　has　e　and　gone；　
　And　silence　is　munion…
　And　yet　
　Unfriended　
　Bondless　
　Lone。
　Deep　
　Unbottomed　
　Endless　
　Deep…
　Touch　the　true　mysterious　Keep　
　Where　halls　of　fealty　laugh　and　weep；　
　While　treachers　through　the　dooming　creep　
　In　blood
　Unbottomed　
　Endless　
　Deep。
　
　〃Stand　to　meet　him；〃　the　High　Lord　said　quietly。　〃He　is　One　of　the　Unfettered。　He　has　gone　beyond　the　knowledge　of　the　Loresraat；　in　pursuance　of　a　private　vision　open　to　him　alone。〃
　Covenant　arose；　still　listening　to　the　song。　It　had　an　entrancing　quality　which　silenced　his　questions　and　doubts。　He　stood　erect；　with　his　head　up　as　if　he　were　eager。　And　soon　the　Unfettered　One　came　into　sight　over　the　hills　north　of　Glimmermere。
　He　stopped　singing　when　he　saw　Covenant　and　Elena；　but　his　appearance　sustained　his　influence　over　them。　He　wore　a　long　flowing　robe　that　seemed　to　have　no　color　of　its　own；　instead　it　caught　the　shades　around　it；　so　that　it　was　grass…green　below　his　waist；　azure　on　his　shoulders；　and　the　rock　and　snow　of　the　mountains　flickered　on　his　right　side。　His　unkempt　hair　flared；　reflecting　the　sun。
　He　came　directly　toward　Covenant　and　Elena；　and　soon　Covenant　could　make　out　his　face…soft　androgynous　features　thickly　bearded；　deep　eyes。　When　he　stopped　before　them；　he　and　the　High　Lord　exchanged　no　rituals　or　greetings。　He　said　to　her　simply；　〃Leave　us；〃　in　a　high；　fluted　voice　like　a　woman's。　His　tone　expressed　neither　rejection　nor　mand；　but　rather　something　that　sounded　like　necessity；　and　she　bowed　to　it　without　question。
　But　before　she　left；　she　put　her　hand　again　on　Covenant's　arm；　looked　searchingly　into　his　face。　〃Thomas　Covenant；〃　she　said　with　a　low　quaver　in　her　voice　as　if　she　were　afraid　of　him　or　for　him。　〃UrLord。　When　I　must　leave　for　this　warwill　you　acpany　me？〃
　He　did　not　look　at　her。　He　stood　as　if　his　toes　were　rooted　in　the　grass；　and　gazed　into　the　Unfettered　One's　eyes。　When　after　a　time　he　failed　to　reply；　she　bowed　her　head；　squeezed　his　arm；　then　moved　away　toward　Revelstone。　She　did　not　look　back。　Soon　she　was　out　of　sight　beyond　the　hill。
　〃e；〃　said　the　Unfettered　One　in　the　same　tone　of　necessity。　Without　waiting　for　a　response；　he　started　to　return　the　way　he　had　e。
　Covenant　took　two　uncertain　steps　forward；　then　stopped　as　a　spasm　of　anxiety　clenched　his　features。　He　tore　his　eyes　off　the　Unfettered　One's　back；　looked　urgently　around　him。　When　he　located　his　socks　and　boots；　he　hurried　toward　them；　dropped　to　the　grass　and　pulled　them　onto　his　feet。　With　a　febrile　deliberateness；　as　if　he　were　resisting　the　tug　of　some　current　or　pulsion；　he　laced　his　boots　and　tied　them　securely。
　When　his　feet　were　safe　from　the　grass；　he　sprang　up　and　ran　after　the　interpreter　of　dreams。
　
　
　TEN：　Seer　and　Oracle
　
　LATE　the　next　evening；　Lord　Mhoram　answered　a　knock　at　the　door　of　his　private　quarters；　and　found　Thomas　Covenant　standing　outside；　silhouetted　darkly　like　a　figure　of　distress　against　the　light　of　the　glowing　floor。　He　had　an　aspect　of　privation　and　fatigue；　as　if　he　had　tasted　neither　food　nor　rest　since　he　had　gone　upland。　Mhoram　admitted　him　without　question　to　the　bare　room；　and　closed　the　door　while　he　went　to　stand　before　the　stone　table　in　the　center　of　the　chamber…the　table　Mhoram　had　brought　from　the　High　Lord's　rooms；　with　the　krill　of　Loric　still　embedded　and　burning　in　it。
　Looking　at　the　bunched　muscles　of　Covenant's　back；　Mhoram　offered　him　food　or　drink　or　a　bed；　but　Covenant　shrugged　them　away　brusquely；　despite　his　inanition。　In　a　flat　and　strangely　closed　tone；　he　said；　〃You've　been　beating　your　brains　out　on　this　thing　ever　since　it　started。　Don't　you　ever　rest？
　I　thought　you　Lords　rested　down　here…in　this　place。〃　Mhoram　crossed　the　room；　and　stood　opposite　his　guest。　The　krill　flamed　whitely　between　them。　He　was　uncertain　of　his　ground；　he　could　see　the　trouble　in　Covenant's　face；　but　its　causes　and　implications　were　confused；　obscure。　Carefully；　the　Lord　said；　〃Why　should　I　rest？　I　have　no　wife；　no　children。　My　father　and　mother　were　both　Lords；　and　Kevin's　Lore　is　the　only　craft　I　have　known。　And　it　is　difficult　to　rest　from　such　work。〃
　〃And　you're　driven。　You're　the　seer　and　oracle　around　here。　You're　the　one　who　gets　glimpses　of　the　future　whether　you　want　them　or　not；　whether　they　make　you　scream　in　your　sleep　or　not；　whether　you　can　stand　them　or　not。〃　Covenant's　voice　choked　for　a　moment；　and　he　shook　his　head　fiercely　until　he　could　speak　again。　〃No　wonder　you　can't　rest。　I'm　surprised　you　can　stand　to　sleep　at　all。〃
　〃I　am　not　a　Bloodguard；〃　Mhoram　returned　calmly。　〃I　need　sleep　like　other　men。〃
　〃What　have　you　figured　out？　Do　you　know　what　this　thing　is　good　for？　What　was　that　Amok　business　about？〃
　Mhoram　gazed　at　Covenant　across　the　krill；　then　smiled　softly。　〃Will　you　sit　down；　my　friend？　You　will　hear　long　answers　more　fortably　if　you　ease　your　weariness。〃
　〃I'm　not　tired；〃　the　Unbeliever　said　with　obvious　falseness。　The　next　moment；　he　dropped　straight　into　a　chair。　Mhoram　took　a　seat；　and　when　he　sat　down　he　found　that　Covenant　had　positioned　himself　directly　across　the　table；　so　that　the　krill　stood　between　their　faces。　This　arrangement　disturbed　Mhoram；　but　he　could　think　of　no　other　way　to　help　Covenant　than　to　listen　and　talk；　so　he　stayed　where　he　was；　and　focused　his　other　senses　to　search　for　what　was　blocked　from　his　sight　by　the　gem　of　the　krill。
　〃No；　I　do　not　prehend　Loric's　sword…and　I　cannot　draw　it　from　the　table。　I　might　free　it　by　breaking　the　stone；　but　that　would　serve　no　purpose。　We　would　gain　no　knowledge…only　a　weapon　we　could　not　touch。　If　the　krill　were　free；　it　would　not　help　us。　It　is　a　power　altogether　new　to　us。　We　do　not　know　its　uses。　And　we　do　not　like　to　break　wood　or　stone；　for　any　purpose。
　〃As　to　Amok…that　is　an　open　question。　Lord　Amatin　could　answer　better。〃
　〃I'm　asking　you。〃
　〃It　is　possible；〃　Mhoram。　said　steadily；　〃that　he　was　created　by　Kevin　to　defend　against　the　krill　itself。　Perhaps　the　power　here　is　so　perilous　that　in　unwise　hands；　or　ignorant　hands；　it　would　do　great　harm。　If　that　is　true；　then　it　may　be　that　Amok's　purpose　is　to　warn　us　from　any　unready　use　of　this　power；　and　to　guide　our　learning。〃
　〃You　shouldn't　sound　so　plausible　when　you　say　things　like　that。　That　isn't　right。　Didn't　you　hear　what　he　said？　‘I　have　misserved　my　purpose。〃'
　〃Perhaps　he　knows　that　if　we　are　too　weak　to　bring　the　krill　to　life；　we　are　powerless　to　use　it　in　any　way；　for　good　or　ill。〃
　〃All　right。　Forget　it。　Just　forget　that　this　is　something　else　I　did　to　you　without　any　idea　what　in　hell　I　was　doing。　Let　it　stand。　What　makes　you　think　that　good　old　Kevin　Landwaster　who　started　all　this　anyway　is　lurking　in　back　of　everything　that　happens　to　you　like　some　kind　of　patriarch；　making　sure　you　don't　do　the　wrong　thing　and　blow　yourselves　to　bits？　No；　forget　it。　I　know　better　than　that；　even　if　I　have　spent　only　a　few　weeks　going　crazy　over　this　and　not　forty　years　like　the　rest　of　you。　Tell　me　this。　What's　so　special　about　Kevin's　Lore？　Why　are　you　so　hot　to　follow　it？　If　you　need　power；　why　don't　you　go　out　and　find　it　for　yourselves；