srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第74章

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　Amok　walked　forward；　but　the　riders　halted。　Morin　studied　the　blockage　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃It　is　impassable。　It　breaks。　Perhaps　on　foot　we　might　attempt　it　at　its　edges。　But　the　weight　of　the　Ranyhyn　will　begin　a　new　fall。〃　Amok　reached　the　foot　of　the　slide；　and　beckoned；　but　Morin　said　absolutely；　〃We　must　find　another　passage。〃
　Covenant　looked　around　the　valley。　〃How　long　will　that　take？〃
　〃Two　days。　Perhaps　three。〃
　〃That　bad？　You　would　think　this　trip　wasn't　long　enough　already。　Are　you　sure　that　isn't　safe？　Amok　hasn't　made　any　mistakes　yet。〃
　〃We　are　the　Bloodguard；〃　Morin　said。
　And　Bannor　explained；　'This　fall　is　younger　than　Amok。〃
　〃Meaning　it　wasn't　here　when　he　learned　his　trail？　Damnation！〃　Covenant　muttered。　The　landslide　made　his　desire　for　haste　keener。
　Amok　came　back　to　them　with　a　shade　of　seriousness　in　his　face。　〃We　must　pass　here；〃　he　said　tolerantly；　as　if　he　were　explaining　something　to　a　recalcitrant　child。
　Morin　said；　〃The　way　is　unsafe。〃
　〃That　is　true；〃　Amok　replied。　〃There　is　no　other。〃　Turning　to　the　High　Lord；　he　repeated；　〃We　must　pass　here。〃
　While　her　panions　had　been　speaking；　Elena　had　gazed　speculatively　up　and　down　the　landfall。　When　Amok　addressed　her　directly；　she　nodded　her　head；　and　responded；　〃We　will。〃
　Morin　protested　impassively；　〃High　Lord〃
　〃I　have　chosen；〃　she　answered；　then　added；　〃It　may　be　that　the　Staff　of　Law　can　hold　the　fall　until　we　have　passed　it。〃
　Morin　accepted　this　with　an　emotionless。　nod。　He　took　his　mount　trotting　back　away　from　the　slide；　so　that　the　High　Lord　would　have　room　in　which　to　work。　Bannor　and　Covenant　followed。　After　a　moment；　Amok　joined　them。　The　four　men　watched　her　from　a　short　distance。
　She　made　no　plex　or　strenuous　preparations。　Raising　the　Staff；　she　sat　erect　and　tall　on　Myrha's　back　for　a　moment；　faced　the　slide。　From　Covenant's　point　of　view；　her　blue　robe　and　the　Ranyhyn's　glossy　coat　met　against　the　mottled　gray　background　of　scree　and　rubble。　She　and　Myrha　looked　small　in　the　deep　sheer　valley；　but　the　conjunction　of　their　colors　and　forms　gave　them　a　potent　iconic　appearance。　Then　she　moved。
　Singing　a　low　song；　she　advanced　to　the　foot　of　the　slide。　There　she　gripped　the　Staff　by　one　end；　and　lowered　the　other　to　the　ground。　It　appeared　to　pulse　as　she　rode　along　the　slide's　front；　drawing　a　line　in　the　dirt　parallel　to　the　fall。　She　walked　Myrha　to　one
　wall；　then　back　to　the　other。　Still　touching　the　ground　with　the　Staff；　she　returned　to　the　center。

　When　she　faced　the　slide　again；　she　lifted　the　Staff；　and　rapped　once　on　the　line　she　had　drawn。
　A　rippling　skein　of　verdigris　sparks　flowed　up　the　fall　from　her　line。　They　gleamed　like　interstices　of　power　on　every　line　or　bulge　of　rock　that　protruded　from　the　slope。　After　an　instant；　they　disappeared；　leaving　an　indefinite　smell　like　the　aroma　of　orchids　in　the　air。
　The　muffled　groaning　of　the　fall　faded　somewhat。
　〃e；〃　the　High　Lord　said。　〃We　must　climb　at　once。　This　Word　will　not　endure。〃
　Briskly；　Morin　and　Bannor　started　forward。　Amok　loped　beside　them。　He　easily　kept　pace　with　the　Ranyhyn。
　As　he　looked　upward；　Covenant　felt　nausea　like　a　presage　in　his　guts。　His　jaw　muscles　knotted　apprehensively。　But　he　slapped　his　mount　with　his　heels；　and　rode　at　the　moaning　fall。
　He　caught　up　with　the　Bloodguard。　They　took　positions　on　either　side　of　him；　followed　Elena　and　Amok　onto　the　slope。
　The　High　Lord's　party　angled　back　and　forth　up　the　slide。　Their　climbing　balanced　the　danger　of　delay　against　the　hazard　of　a　direct　attack　on　the　slope。　Covenant's　mustang　labored　strenuously；　and　its　struggles　contrasted　with　the　smooth　power　of　the　Ranyhyn。　Their　hooves　kicked　scuds　of　shale　and　scree　down　the　fail；　but　their　footing　was　secure；　confident。　There　were　…no　mishaps。　Before　long；　Covenant　stood　on　the　rounded　V　atop　the　slide。
　He　was　not　prepared　for　what　lay　beyond　the　blockage。　Automatically；　he　had　expected　the　south　end　of　the　valley　to　resemble　the　north。　But　from　the　ridge　of　the　landslide；　he　could　see　that　the　huge　scalloped　wounds　above　him　were　too　big　to　be　explained　by　the　slide　as　it　appeared　from　the　north。
　Somewhere　buried　directly　below　him；　the　valley　floor　plunged　dramatically。　The　two　avalanches　had　interred　a　precipice。　The　south　face　of　the　slide　was　three　or　four　times　longer　than　the　north。　Far　below
　him；　the　valley　widened　into　a　grassy　bottom　featured　by　stands　of　pine　and　a　stream　springing　from　one　of　the　walls。　But　to　reach　that　alluring　sight；　he　had　to　descend　more　than　a　thousand　feet　down　the　detonating　undulation　of　the　slide。
　He　swallowed　thickly。　〃Bloody　hell。　Can　you　hold　that？〃
　〃No；〃　Elena　said　bluntly。　〃But　what　I　have　done　will　steady　it。　And　I　can　take　other　action…if　the　need　arises。〃
　With　a　sharp　nod；　she　started　Amok　down　the　slope。
　Bannor　told　Covenant　to　stay　close　behind　him；　then　eased　his　Ranyhyn　over　the　edge　after　Amok。　For　a　moment；。　Covenant　felt　too　paralyzed　by　prophetic　trepidation　to　move。　His　dry；　constricted　throat　and　awkward　tongue　could　not　form　words。　Hellfire；　he　muttered　silently。　Hellfire。
　He　abandoned　himself；　pushed　his　mustang　after　Bannor。
　Part　of　him　knew　that　Morin　and　then　Elena　followed　him；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　them。　He　locked　his　eyes　on　Bannor's　back　and　tried　to　cling　there　for　the　duration　of　the　descent。
　Before　he　had　gone　a　hundred　feet；　the　skittishness　of　his　mount　drove　everything　else　from　his　mind。　Its　ears　flinched　as　if　it　were　about　to　shy　at　every　new　groan　within　the　fall。　He　heaved　and　sawed　at　the　reins　in　an　effort　to　control　the　horse；　but　he　only　aggravated　its　distress。　Faintly；　he　could　hear　himself　mumbling；　〃Help。　Help。〃
　Then　a　loud　boom　like　the　crushing　of　a　boulder　shivered　the　air。　A　swath　of　slide　jumped　and　shifted。　The　rubble　under　Covenant　began　to　slip。
　His　mount　tried　to　spring　away　from　the　shift。　It　shied　sideways；　and　started　straight　down　the　slope。
　Its　lunge　only　precipitated　the　slide。　Almost　at　once；　the　mustang　was　plunging　in　scree　that　poured　over　its　knees。
　It　struggled　to　escape　downward。　Each　heave　increased　the　weight　of　rubble　piling　against　it。
　Covenant　clung　frantically　to　the　clingor　saddle。　He
　fought　to　pull　the　horse's　head　aside；　make　his　mount　angle　out　of　the　slide's　main　force。　But　the　mustang　had　its　teeth　on　the　bit　now。　He　could　not　turn　it。
　Its　next　plunge　buried　it　to　its　haunches　in　the　quickening　rush　of　rubble。　Covenant　could　hear　Elena　shouting　stridently。　As　she　yelled；　Bannor's　Ranyhyn　sprang　in　front　of　him。　Plowing　through　the　scree；　it　threw　its　weight　against　his　mount。　The　impact　almost　unseated　him；　but　it　deflected　his　horse。　Guided　by　Bannor；　the　Ranyhyn　shoved　against　the　horse；　forced　it　to　fight　toward　the　cliff。
　But　the　avalanche　was　already　moving　too　heavily。　A　small　boulder　struck　the　mustang's　rump；　the　horse　fell。　Covenant　sprawled　down　the　slope　out　of　Bannor's　reach。　The　rubble　tumbled　him　over　and　over；　but　for　a　moment　he　managed　to　stay　above　it。　He　got　his　feet　under　him；　tried　to　move　across　the　slide。
　Through　the　gathering　roar　of　the　fall；　he　heard　Morin　shout；　〃High　Lord！〃　The　next　instant；　she　flashed　by　him；　riding　Myrha　straight　down　the　outer　edge　of　the　slide。　Fifty　feet　below　him；　she　swung　into　the　avalanche。　With　a　wild　cry；　she　whirled　the　Staff　of　Law　and　struck　the　fall。
　Fire　blazed　up　through　the　slide。　Like　a　suddenly　clenched　fist；　the　rubble　around　Covenant　stopped　moving。　His　own　momentum　knocked　him　backward；　but　he　jumped　up　again　in　time　to　meet　Bannor　as　the　Bloodguard　landed　his　Ranyhyn　on　the　small　patch　of　steady　ground。　Bannor　caught　Covenant　with　one　hand；　swung　him　across　the　Ranyhyn's　back；　charged　away　out　of　the　slide。
　When　they　reached　the　relatively　still　ground　against　the　cliff　wall；　Covenant　saw　that　Elena　had　saved　him　at　the　risk　of　herself。　The　stasis　which　she　had　applied　to　the　slipping　tons　of　the　avalanche　was　not　large　enough　to　include　her　own　position。　And　an　instant　later；　that　stasis　broke。　An　extra　breaker　of　rubble　dropped　toward　her。
　She　had　no　second　chance　to　wield　the　Staff。　Almost　at　once；　the　wave　of　scree　crashed　over　her　and　Myrha。
　An　instant　later；　she　appeared　downhill　from　Myrha。
　The　Ranyhyn's　great　strength　momentarily　sheltered　her。
　But　the　fall　piled　against　Myrha's　chest。　And　Covenant's　mustang；　still　madly　fighting　the　slide；　hurtled　toward　the　Ranyhyn。　Instinctively；　Covenant　tried　to　run　back　into　the　avalanche　to　help　Elena。　But　Bannor　held　him　back　with　one　hand。
　He　started　to　struggle；　then　stopped　as　a　long　clingor　rope　flicked　out　over　the　slide　and　caught　the　High　Lord's　wrist。　With　his　Ranyhyn　braced　against　the　wall　below　Covenant　and　Bannor；　First　Mark　Morin　flung　out　his　line；　and　the　adhesive　leather　snared　Elena。　She　reacted　immediately。　〃Flee！〃　she　yelled　to　Myrha；　then　clutched　the　Staff　and　heaved　against　the　waistdeep　flow　of　scree　as　Morin　pulled　her　to　safety。
　Though　the　great　mare　was　battered　and　bleeding；　she　had　other　intentions。　With　a　tremendous　exertion；　she　lunged　out　of　the　mustang's　path。　As　the　screaming　horse　tumbled　past；　she　turned　and　caught　its　reins　in　her　teeth。
　For　one　intense　moment；　she　held　the　mustang；　hauled　it　to　its　feet；　swung　it　in　the　direction　of　the　wall。
　Then　the　avalanche　swept　them　down　a　steep　bulge。　The　sudden　plunge　sank　her。　With　a　rushing　cry；　the　weight　of　the　landslide　poured　over　her。
　Somehow；　the　mustang　kept　its　feet；　struggled　on　down　the　slope。　But　Myrha　did　not　reappear。
　Covenant　hugged　his　stomach　as　if　he　were　about　to　retch。　Below　him；　Elena　cried；　〃Myrha！　Ranyhyn！〃　The　passion　in　her　voice　appalled　him。　Several　moments　passed　before　he　realized　that　his　rescue　had　carried　his　panions　more　than　two…thirds　of　the　way　down　the　slide。
　〃e；〃　Bannor　said　flatly。　〃The　balance　has　broken。　There　will　be　more　falls。　We　are　imperiled　here。〃　His　efforts　had　not　even　quickened　his　breathing。
　Numbly；　Covenant　sat　behind　Bannor　as　his　Ranyhyn　picked　its　way　along　the　wall　to　the　High　Lord　and　Morin。　Elena　looked　stricken；　astonished　with　grief。　Covenant　wanted　to　throw　his　arms　around　her；　but　the　Bloodguard　gave　him　no　chance。　Bannor　took　him　on
　down　the　slope；　and　Morin　followed　with　the　High　Lord　riding　emptily　at　his　back。
　They　found　Amok　awaiting　them　on　the　grass　at　the　bottom　of　the　valley。　His　eyes　held　something　that　resembled　concern　as　he　approached　the　High　Lord　and　helped　her　to　dismount。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　have　brought　you　pain。　What　could　I　do？　I　was　not　made　to　be　of　use　in　such　needs。〃
　〃Then　begone；〃　Elena　replied　harshly。　〃I　have　no　more　use　for　you　this　day。〃
　Amok's　gaze　constricted　as　if　the　High　Lord　had　hurt　him。　But　he　obeyed　tier　promptly。　With　a　bow　and　a　wave；　he　wiped　himself　out　of　sight。
　Dismissing　him　with　a　grimace；　Elena　turned　toward　the　landslide。　The　piled　rubble　creaked　and　retorted　more　fiercely　now；　promising　other　slides　at　any　moment；　but　she　ignored　the　hazard　to　kneel　at　the　foot　of　the　scree。　She　bent　forward　as　if　she　were　presenting　her　back　to　a　whip；　and　tears　streaked　her　voice　as　she　moaned；　〃Alas；　Ranyhyn！　Alas；　Myrha！　My　failure　has　slain　you。〃
　Covenant　hurried　to　her。　H