srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第7章

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yone　turned　and　looked　toward　the　doors。　Forcing　himself　to　spend　some　of　his　waning　strength；　Covenant　twisted　around　to　see　who　was　ing。
　The　sight　struck　him　cruelly；　seemed　to　take　the　last　rigor　out　of　his　bones。
　He　watched　with　bloodied　eyes　as　two　Bloodguard　came　down　the　stairs；　holding　upright　between　them　a　green…gray　creature　that　oozed　with　fear。　Though　they　were　not　handling　it　roughly；　the　creature　trembled　in　terror　and　revulsion。　Its　hairless　skin　was　slick　with　sweat。　It　had　a　generally　human　outline；　but　its　torso　was　unusually　long；　and　its　limbs　were　short；　all　equal　in　length；　as　if　it　naturally　ran　on　four　legs　through　low　caves。　But　its　limbs　were　bent　and　useless…contorted　as　if　they　had　been　broken　many　times　and　not　reset。　And　the　rest　of　its　body　showed　signs　of　worse　damage。
　Its　head　was　its　least　human　feature。　Its　bald　skull　had　no　eyes。　Above　the　ragged　slit　of　its　mouth；　in　the　center　of　its　face；　were　two　wide；　wet　nostrils　that　quivered　fearfully　around　the　edges　as　the　creature　smelled　its　situation。　Its　small　pointed　ears　perched　high　on　its　skull。　And　the　whole　back　of　its　head　was　gone。　Over　the　gap　was　a　green　membrane　like　a　scar；　pulsing　against　the　remaining　fragment　of　a　brain。
　Covenant　knew　immediately　what　it　was。　He　had　seen　a　creature　like　it　once　before…whole　in　body；　but　dead；　lying　on　the　floor　of　its　Waymeet　with　an　iron　spike　through　its　heart。
　It　was　a　Waynhim。　A　Demondim…spawn；　like　the　ur…viles。　But　unlike　their　black　roynish　kindred；　the　Waynhim　had　devoted　their　lore　to　the　services　of　the　Land。
　This　Waynhim　had　been　lavishly　tortured。
　The　Bloodguard　brought　the　creature　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　Close；　and　held　it　opposite　Covenant。　Despite　his　deep　weakness；　he　forced　himself　to　his　feet；　and　kept　himself　up　by　leaning　against　the　wall　of　the　next　level。　Already；　he　seemed　to　be　regaining　some　of　the　added　dimension　of　sight　which　characterized　the　Land。　He　could　see　into　the　Waynhim　could　feel　with　his　eyes　what　had　been　done　to　it。　He　saw　torment　and　extravagant　painsaw　the　healthy　body　of　the　Waynhim　caught　in　a　fist　of　malice；　and　crushed　gleefully　into　this　crippled　shape。　The　sight　made　his　eyes　hurt。　He　had　to　lock　his　knees　to　brace　himself　up。　A　cold　mist　of　hebetude　and　despair　filled　his　head；　and　he　was；　glad　for　the　blood　which　clogged　his　eyes；　it　preserved　him　from　seeing　the　Waynhim。
　Through　his　fog；　he　heard　Elena　say；　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant；　it　is　necessary　to　burden　you　with　this　sight。　We　must　convince　you　of　our　need。　Please　forgive　such　a　wele　to　the　Land。　The　duress　of　our　plight　leaves　us　little　choice。
　〃Ur…Lord；　this　poor　creature　brought　us　to　the　decision　of　your　summoning。　For　years　we　have　known　that　the　Despiser　prepares　his　strength　to　march　against　the　Land…that　the　time　appointed　in　his　prophecy　grows　short　for　us。　You　delivered　that　prophecy　unto　us；　and　the　Lords　of　Revelstone　have　not　been　idle。　From　the　day　in　which　Lord　Mhoram　brought　to　Lord's　Keep　the　Staff　of　Law　and　the　Second　Ward　of　Kevin's　Lore；　we　have　striven　to　meet　this　doom。　We　have　multiplied　the　Warward；　studied　our　defenses；　trained　ourselves　in　all　our　skills　and　strengths。　We　have　learned　some　of　the　uses　of　the　Staff。　The　Loresraat　has　explored　with　all　its　wisdom　and　devotion　the　Second　Ward。　But　in　forty　years；　we　have　gained　no　clear　knowledge　of　Lord　Foul's　intent。　After　the　wresting　of　the　Staff　from　Drool　Rockworm；　the　Despiser's　presence　left　Kiril　Threndor　in　Mount　Thunder；　and　soon　reseated　itself　in　the　great　thronehall　of　Ridjeck　Thome；　Foul's　Creche；　the　Gray　Slayer's　ancient　home。　And　since　that　time；　our　scouts　have　been　unable　to　penetrate　Lord　Foul's　demesne。
　Power　has　been　at　work　there…power　and　ill…but　we　could　learn　nothing　of　it；　though　Lord　Mhoram　himself　assayed　the　task。　He　could　not　breach　the　Despiser's　forbidding　might。
　〃But　there　have　been　dim　and　dark　foreboding　movements　throughout　the　Land。　Kresh　from　the　east　and　ur…viles　from　Mount　Thunder；　griffins　and　other　dire　creatures　from　Sarangrave　Flat；　Cavewights；　little…known　denizens　of　Lifeswallower；　the　Great　Swamp…we　have　heard　them　all　wending　toward　the　Spoiled　Plains　and　Foul's　Creche。　They　disappear　beyond　the　Shattered　Hills；　and　do　not　return。　We　need　no　great　wisdom　to　teach　us　that　the　Despiser　prepares　his　army。　But　still　we　have　lacked　clear　knowledge。　Then　at　last　knowledge　came　to　us。　During　the　summer；　our　scouts　captured　this　creature；　this　broken　remnant　of　a　Waynhim；　on　the　western　edges　of　Grirrimerdhore　Forest。　It　was　brought　here　so　that　we　might　try　to　gain　tidings　from　it。〃
　〃So　you　tortured　it　to　find　out　what　it　knows。〃　Covenant's　eyes　were　sticky　with　blood；　and　he　kept　them　shut；　giving　himself　up　to　useless　rage　and　mist。
　〃Do　you　believe　that　of　us？〃　The　High　Lord　sounded　hurt。　〃No。　We　are　not　Despisers。　We　would　not　so　betray　the　Land。　We　have　treated　the　Waynhim　as　gently　as　we　could　without　releasing　it。　It　has　told　us　willingly　all　that　we　would　know。　Now　it　begs　us　to　kill　it。　Unbeliever；　hear　me。　This　is　Lord　Foul's　handiwork。　He　possesses　the　Illearth　Stone。　This　is　the　work　of　that　bane。〃
　Through　the　grayness　in　his　mind；　Covenant　heard　the　doors　open　again。　Someone　came　down　the　stairs　and　whispered　with　Lord　Mhoram。　Then　Mhoram　said；　〃High　Lord；　hurtloam　has　been　brought　for　the　Unbeliever。　I　fear　that　his　wound　extends　far　beyond　this　simple　cut。　There　is　other　ill　at　work　in　him。　He　must　be　tended　without　delay。〃
　〃Yes；　at　once；〃　High　Lord　Elena　responded　promptly。　〃We　must　do　all　that　we　can　to　heal　him。〃
　With　a　steady　stride；　Mhoram　came　toward　Covenant。
　At　the　thought　of　hurtloam；　Covenant　pushed　himself　away　from　the　wall；　rubbed　the　caked　blood　out　of　his　eyes。　He　saw　Mhoram　holding　a　small　stoneware　bowl　containing　a　light　mud　spangled　with　gold　gleams　that　seemed　to　throb　in　the　glow　of　the　Close。
　〃Keep　that　stuff　away　from　me；〃　he　whispered。
　Mhoram　was　taken　aback。　〃This　is　hurtloam；　ur…Lord。　It　is　the　healing　soil　of　the　Earth。　You　will　be　renewed　by　it。〃
　〃I　know　what　it　does！〃　Covenant's　voice　was　raw　from　all　the　shouting　he　had　done；　and　it　sounded　spectral　and　empty；　like　the　creaking　of　a　derelict。　〃I've　had　it　before。　You　put　that　stuff　on　my　head；　and　before　you　know　it　the　feeling　es　back　into　my　fingers　and　toes；　and　I　go　around　ra…〃　He　barely　caught　himself。　〃Hurting　people。〃
　He　heard　Elena。　say　softly；　〃I　know；〃　but　he　disregarded　her。
　〃That's　the　real　lie；〃　he　snarled　at　the　bowl；　〃that　stuff　there。　That's　what　makes　me　feel　so　healthy　I　can't　stand　it。〃　He　took　a　long　breath；　then　said　fervidly；　〃I　don't　want　it。〃
　Mhoram　held　Covenant　in　a　gaze　intense　with　questions。　And　when　Covenant　did　not　waver；　the　Lord　asked　in　a　low　voice；　a　tone　of　amazement；　〃My　friend；　do　you　wish　to　die？〃
　〃Use　it　on　that　poor　devil　over　there；〃　Covenant　replied　dully。　〃It's　got　a　right　to　it。〃
　Without　bending　the　straitness　of　his　look；　Mhoram　said；　〃We　have　made　the　attempt。　You　have　known　us；　Unbeliever。　You　know　that　we　could　not　refuse　the　plea　of　such　distress。　But　the　Waynhim　is　beyond　all　our　succor。　Our　Healers　cannot　approach　its　inner　wound。　And　it　nearly　died　at　the　touch　of　hurtloam；〃
　Still　Covenant　did　not　relent。
　Behind　him；　High　Lord　Elena　continued　what　Mhoram　had　been　saying。　〃Even　the　Staff　of　Law　cannot　match　the　power　which　has　warped　this　Waynhim。　Such　is　our　plight；　ur…Lord。　The　Illearth　Stone　surpasses　us。
　〃This　Waynhim　has　told　us　much。　Much　that　was　obscure　is　now　clear。　Its　name　was　dharmakshetra；　which　in　the　Waynhim　tongue　means；　‘to　brave　the　enemy。'　Now　it　calls　itself　dukkha…'victim。'　Because　its　people　desired　knowledge　of　the　Despiser's　plotting；　it　went　to　Foul's　Creche。　There　it　was　captured；　and…and　wronged…and　then　set　free…as　a　warning　to　its　people；　I　think。　It　has　told　us　much。
　〃Unbeliever；　we　know　that　when　you　first　delivered　the　Despiser's　prophecy　to　High　Lord　Prothall　son　of　Dwillian　and　the　Council　of　Lords　forty　years　ago；　many　things　were　not　understood　concerning　the　Gray　Slayer's　intent。　Why　did　he　warn　the　Lords　that　Drool　Rockworm　had　found　the　Staff　of　Law　under…　Mount　Thunder？　Why　did　he　seek　to　prepare　us　for　our　fate？　Why　did　he　aid　Drool's　quest　for　dark　might；　and　then　betray　the　Cavewight？　These　questions　are　now　answered。　Drool　possessed　the　Stag；　and　with　it　unearthed　the　buried　bane；　the　Illearth　Stone。　By　reason　of　these　powers；　the　Despiser　was　at　Drool's　mercy　while　the　Cavewight　lived。
　〃But　with　Lord　Mhoram　and　High　Lord　Prothall；　you　retrieved　the　Staff　and　brought　the　threat　of　Drool　Rockworm　to　an　end。　Thus　the　Stone　fell　into　Lord　Foul's　hands。　He　knew　that　the　Stone；　joined　with　his　own　lore　and　power；　is　a　greater　strength　than　the　Staff　of　Law。　And　he　knew　that　we　are　no　masters　for　even　that　little　might　which　we　possess。
　〃In　forty　years；　we　have　not　rested。　We　have　spoken　to　all　the　people　of　the　Land。　The　Loresraat　has　grown　greatly；　giving　us　warriors　and　Lorewardens　and　Lords　to　meet　our　need。　The　rhadhamaerl　and　lillianrill　have　labored　to　the　utmost。　And　all　have　given　themselves　to　the　study　of　the　Two　Wards；　and　of　the　Staff。　Gains　have　been　made。　Trothgard；　where　the　Lords　swore　their　promise　of　healing　to　the　Land；　has　flowered；　and　we　have　made　there　works　undreamed　by　our　forefathers。　The　Staff　meets　many　needs。　But　the　heart　of　our　failure　remains。
　〃For　all　our　lore；　all　our　knowledge　of　the　Staff　and　the　Earthpower；　es　to　us　from　Kevin；　High　Lord　of　the　Old　Lords。　And　he　was　defeated…yes；　and　worse　than　defeated。　Now　we　face　the　same　foe；　made　greatly　stronger　by　the　Illearth　Stone。　And　we　have　recovered　only　Two　of　the　Seven　Wards　in　which
　Kevin　left　his　Lore。　And　at　their　core　these　Two　are　beyond　us。　Some　weakness　of　wisdom　or　incapacity　of　spirit　prevents　our　grasp　of　their　mystery。　Yet　without　mastery　of　the　Two　we　cannot　gain　the　rest；　for　Kevin；　wise　to　the　hazards　of　unready　knowledge　and　power；　hid　his　Wards　each　in　its　turn；　so　that　the　prehension　of　one　would　lead　to　the　discovery　of　the　next。
　〃For　forty　years；　this　failure　has　clung　to　us。　And　now　we　have　learned　that　Lord　Foul；　too；　has　not　been　idle。　We　have　learned　from　this　Waynhim。　The　Land's　enemy　has　grown　power　and　armies　until　the　region　beyond　the　Shattered　Hills　teems　with　warped　life…myriads　of　poor　bent　creatures　like　dukkha；　held　by　the　power　of　the　Stone　in　soul　chattelry　to　Lord　Foul。　He　has　built　for　himself　a　force　more　ill　than　any　the　Land　has　known；　more　fell　than　any　we　can　hope　to　conquer。　He　has　gathered　his　three　Ravers；　the　servants　of　his　right　hand；　to　mand　his　armies。　It　may　be　that　his　hordes　are　already　afoot　against　us。
　〃So　it　is　that　we　have　called　you；　ur…Lord　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　white　gold　wielder。　You　are　our　hope　at　the　last。　We　summoned　you；　though　we　knew　it　might　carry　a　cost　hard　for　you　to　bear。　We　have　sworn　our　service　to　the　Land；　and　could　not　do　otherwise。　Thomas　Covenant！　Will　you　not　help　us？〃
　During　her　speech；　her　voice　had　grown　in　power　and　eloquence　until　she　was　almost　singing。　Covenant　could　not　refuse　to　listen。　Her　tone　reached　into　him；　and　made　vivid　all　his　memories　of　the　Land's　beauty。　He　recalled　the　bewitching　Dance　of　the　Celebration　of　Spring；　and　t