srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第84章

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　〃Don't　you　see　it？　Foul　put　us　right　where　we　are。　He　released　dukkha　so　that　we　would　be　right　here　now。　He　must　have　a　reason。　He　likes　to　destroy　people　through　the　things　that　make　them　hope。　That　way　he　can　get　them　to　desecrate…　No　wonder　this　is　the　dark　of　the　moon。〃　He　was　poignantly　conscious　of　the　way　in　which　he　endangered　his　own　cause　as　he　concluded　softly；　〃Elena；　the　Seventh　Ward　might　be　the　worst　thing　that　has　happened　yet。〃
　But　she　had　her　answer　ready。　〃No；　beloved。　I　do　not　believe　it。　High　Lord　Kevin　formed　his　Wards　in　a　time　before　his　wisdom　fell　into　despair。　Fangthane's　hand　is　not　in　them。　It　may　be　that　the　Power　of　mand　is　perilous…but　it　is　not　ill。〃
　Her　statement　did　not　convince　him。　But　he　did　not　have　the　heart　to　protest。　The　echoes　placed　too　much　stress　on　even　his　simplest　words。　Instead；　he　sat　gazing　morosely　at　her　feet　while　he　scratched　at　the　itch　of　his　wedding　band。　As　the　echoes　died…as　the　boat　slid　gently　to　a　stop　in　the　water…he　felt　that　he　had　missed　a　chance　for　rectitude。
　For　a　time；　no　voice　arose　to　move　the　boat。
　Covenant　and　Elena　sat　in　silence；　studying　their　private　thoughts。　But　then　she　spoke　again。　Softly；　reverently；　she　recited　the　words　of　Lord　Kevin's　Lament。　The　boat　glided　onward　again。
　Shortly　the　craft　rounded　another　column；　and　Covenant　found　himself　staring　at　a　high；　sparkling；　silent　waterfall　ahead。　Its　upper　reaches　disappeared　into　the　shadows　of　the　cavern's　ceiling。　But　the　torrents　which　poured　noiselessly　down　its　ragged　surface　caught　the　fiery　rocklight　at　thousands　of　bright　points；　so　that　the　falls　looked　like　a　cascade　of　hot；　rich；　red　gems。
　The　boat　flowed　smoothly　on　Elena's　recitation　toward　a　rock　levee　at　one　side　of　the　waterfall；　and　slid　up　into　place。　At　once；　Amok　leaped　from　the　craft；　and　stood　waiting　for　his　panions　on　the　edge　of　Earthroot。　But　for　a　moment　they　did　not　follow　him。　They　sat　spellbound　by　the　splendor　and　silence　of　the　falls。
　〃e；　High　Lord；〃　the　youth　said。　〃The　Seventh　Ward　is　nigh。　I　must　bring　my　being　to　an　end。〃　His　tone　matched　the　unwonted　seriousness　of　his　countenance。
　Elena　shook　her　head　vaguely；　as　if　she　were　remembering　her　limitations；　her　weariness　and　lack　of　knowledge。　And　Covenant　covered　his　eyes　to　block　out　the　disconcerting　noiseless　tumble　and　glitter　of　the　falls。　But　then　Morin　stepped　up　onto　the　levee；　and　Elena　followed　him　with　a　sigh。　Gripping　the　gunwales　with　both　hands；　Covenant　climbed　out　of　the　craft。　When　Bannor　joined　them；　the　High　Lord's　party　was　plete。
　Amok　regarded　them　soberly。　He　seemed　to　have　aged　during　the　boat　ride。　The　cheeriness　had　faded　from　his　face；　leaving　his　ancient　bones　uncontradicted。　His　lips　moved　as　if　he　wished　to　speak。　But　he。　said　nothing。　Like　a　man　looking　for　support；　he　gazed　briefly　at　each　of　his　panions。　Then　he　turned　away；　went　with　an　oddly　heavy　step　toward　the　waterfall：　When　he　reached　the　first　wet　rocks；　he　；　scrambled　up　them；　and　stepped　into　the　plunging　‘　water。
　With　his　legs　widely　braced　against　the　weight　of　the　falls；　he　looked　back　toward　his　panions。　〃Do　not　fear；〃　he　said　through　the　silent　torrent。　〃This　is　merely　water　as　you　have　known　it。　Earthroot's　potency　springs　from　another　source。　e。〃　With　a　beckoning　gesture；　he　disappeared　under　the　falls。
　At　this；　Elena　stiffened。　The　nearness　of　the　Seventh　Ward　filled　her　face。　Discarding　her　fatigue；　she　hastened　behind　Morin　toward　the　waterfall。
　Covenant　followed　her。　Wracked；　weary；　full　of　unprehending　dread；　he　nevertheless　could　not　hang　back　now。　As　Elena　pushed　through　the　cascade　and　passed　out　of　sight；　he　thrust　himself　up　the　wet　jumble　of　rocks；　began　to　crouch　toward　the　falls。　Spray　dashed　into　his　face。　The　rocks　were　too　slick　for　him；　he　was　forced　to　crawl。　But　he　kept　moving　to　evade　Bannor's　help。　Holding　his　breath；　he　burrowed　into　the　water　as　if　it　were　an　avalanche。
　It　almost　flattened　him；　it　pounded　him　like　the　accumulated　weight　of　his　delusion。　But　as　he　propped　himself　up　against　it…as　the　falls　drenched　him；　filled　his　eyes　and　mouth　and　ears…he　felt　some　of　its　vitality。　It　attacked　him　like　an　involuntary　ablution；　a　cleansing　performed　as　the　last　prerequisite　of　the　Power　of　mand。　It　scrubbed　at　him　as　if　it　meant　to　peel　his　bones。　But　the　water　force　missed　his　face　and　chest。　It　laid　bare　all　his　nerves；　but　failed　to　purify　the　marrow　of　his　unfitness。　A　moment　later；　he　crawled　raw　and　untransmogrified　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　waterfall。
　Quivering；　he　shook　his　head；　blew　the　water　out　of　his　mouth　and　nose。　His　hands　told　him　that　he　was　on　flat　stone；　but　it　felt　strange；　both　dry　and　slippery。　It　resisted　solid　contact　with　his　palms。　And　he　could　see　nothing；　hear　no　scuffles　or　whispers　from　his　panions。　But　his　sense　of　smell　reacted　violently。　He　found　himself　in　an　air　so　laden　with　force　that　it　submerged　every　other　odor　of　his　life。　It　swamped　him　like　the　stink　of　gangrene；　burned　him　like　the　reek　of　brimstone；　but　it　bore　no　resemblance　to　these　or　any　other　smells　he　knew。　It　was　like　the　polished；　massive　expanse　of　Earthroot…like　the　immensity　of　the　rocklit　cavern…like　the　continual；　adumbrated　weight　of　the　waterfall…like　the　echoes…like　the　deathless　stability　of　Melenkurion　Skyweir。　It　reduced　his　restless　consciousness　to　the　scale　of　mere　brief　flesh。
　It　was　the　smell　of　Earthpower。
　He　could　not　stand　it。　He　was　on　his　knees　before　it；　with　his　forehead　pressed　against　the　cold　stone　and　his　hands　clasped　over　the　back　of　his　neck。
　Then　he　heard　a　low；　flaring　noise　as　Elena　lit　the　Staff　of　Law。　Slowly；　he　raised　his　head。　The　sting　of　the　air　filled　his　eyes　with　tears；　but　he　blinked　at　them；　and　looked　about　him。
　He　was　in　a　tunnel　which　ran　straight　and　lightless　away　from　the　falls。　Down　its　center…out　of　the　distance　and　into　the　falls…flowed　a　small　stream　less　than　a　yard　wide。　Even　in　the　Staffs　blue　light；　the　fluid　of　this　stream　was　as　red　as　fresh　blood。　This　was　the　source　of　the　smell…the　source　of　Earthroot's　dangerous　potency。　He　could　see　its　concentrated　might。
　He　pushed　to　his　feet；　scrambled　toward　the　tunnel　wall；　he　wanted　to　get　as　far　as　possible　from　the　stream。　His　boots　slipped　on　the　black　stone　floor　as　if　it　were　glazed　with　ice。　He　had　to　struggle　to　keep　his　balance。　But　he　reached　the　wall；　pressed　himself　against　it。　Then　he　looked　toward　Elena。
　She　was　gazing　as　if　with　bated　breath　down　the　tunnel。　A　rapt；　exultant　expression　filled　her　face；　and　she　seemed　taller；　elevated　in　stature　by　her　grasp　on　the　Staff　of　Law…as　if　the　Staffs　flame　fed　a　fire　within　her；　a　blaze　like　a　vision　of　victory。　She　looked　like　a　priestess；　an　enactor　of　hallowed　and　effective　rites；　approaching　the　occult　ground　of　her　strength。　The　very　gaps　of　her　elsewhere　gaze　were　crowded　with　exalted　and　savage　possibilities。　They　made　Covenant　forget　the　unfortable　power　of　the　air；　forget　the　tears　which　ran　from　his　eyes　like　weeping；　and　step　forward　to　warn　her。
　At　once；　he　lost　his　footing；　barely　managed　to　avoid　a　fall。　Before　he　could　try　again；　he　heard　Amok　say；　〃e。　The　end　is　at　hand。〃　The　youth's
　speech　sounded　as　spectral　as　an　invocation　of　the　dead；　and　High　Lord　Elena　started　down　the　tunnel　in　answer　to　his　summons。　Quickly　Covenant　looked　around；　found　Bannor　behind　him。　He　caught　hold　of　Bannor's　arm　as　if　he　meant　to　demand；　Stop　her！　Don't　you　see　what　she's　going　to　do？　But　he　could　not　say　it；　he　had　made　a　bargain。　Instead；　he　thrust　away；　tried　to　hurry　after　Elena。
　He　could　find　no　purchase　for　his　feet。　His　boots　skidded　off　the　stone；　he　seemed　to　have　lost　his　sense　of　balance。　But　he　scrabbled　grimly　onward。　With　an　intense　effort　of　will；　he　relaxed　the　force　of　his　strides；　pushed　less　sharply　against　the　ground。　As　a　result；　he　gained　some　control　over　his　movements；　contrived　to　keep　pace　with　the　High　Lord。
　But　he　could　not　catch　her。　And　he　could　not　watch　where　she　was　going；　his　steps　required　too　much　concentration。　He　did　not　look　up　until　the　assailing　odor　took　a　leap　which　almost　reduced　him　to　his　knees　again。　Tears　flooded　his　eyes　so　heavily　that　they　felt　irretrievably　blurred；　bereft　of　focus。　But　the　smell　told　him　that　he　had　reached　the　spring　of　the　red　stream。
　Through　his　tears；　he　could　see　Elena's　flame　guttering。
　He　squeezed　the　water　out　of　his　eyes；　gained　a　moment　in　which　to　make　out　his　surroundings。　He　stood　behind　Elena　in　a　wider　cave　at　the　tunnel's　end。　Before　him；　set　into　the　black　stone　end…wall　like　an　exposed　lode…facet；　was　a　rough；　sloping　plane　of　wet　rock。　This　whole　plane　shimmered；　its　emanations　distorted　his　ineffectual　vision；　gave　him　the　impression　that　he　was　staring　at　a　mirage；　a　wavering　in　the　solid　stuff　of　existence。　It　confronted　him　like　a　porous　membrane　in　the　foundation　of　time　and　space。　From　top　to　bottom；　it　bled　moisture　which　dripped　down　the　slope；　collected　in　a　rude　trough；　and　flowed　away　along　the　center　of　the　tunnel。
　〃Behold；〃　Amok　said　quietly。　〃Behold　the　Blood　of　the　Earth。　Here　I　fulfill　the　purpose　of　my　creation。　I　am　the　Seventh　Ward　of　High　Lord　Kevin's　Lore。　The　power　to　which　I　am　the　way　and　the　door　is　here。〃
　As　he　spoke；　his　voice　deepened　and　emptied；　grew　older。　The　weary　burden　of　his　years　bent　his　shoulders。　When　he　continued；　he　seemed　conscious　of　a　need　for　haste；　a　need　to　speak　before　his　old　immunity　to　time　ran　out。
　〃High　Lord；　attend。　The　air　of　this　place　unbinds　me。　I　must　plete　my　purpose　now。〃
　〃Then　speak；　Amok；〃　she　replied。　〃I　hear　you。〃
　〃Ah；　hear；〃　said　Amok　in　a　sad；　musing　tone；　as　if　her　answer　had　dropped　him　into　a　reverie。　〃Where　is　the　good　of　hearing；　if　it　is　not　done　wisely？〃　Then　he　recollected　himself。　In　a　stronger　voice；　he　said；　〃But　hear；　then；　for　good　or　ill。　I　fulfill　the　law　of　my　creation。　My　maker　can　require　no　more　of　me。
　〃High　Lord；　behold　the　Blood　of　the　Earth。　This　is　the　passionate　and　essential　ichor　of　the　mountain　rock…the　Earthpower　which　raises　and　holds　peaks　high。　It　bleeds　here…perhaps　because　the　great　weight　of　Melenkurion　Skyweir　squeezes　it　from　the　dense　rock…or　perhaps　because　the　mountain　is　willing　to　lay　bare　its　heart's…blood　for　those　who　need　and　can　find　it。　Whatever　the　cause；　its　result　remains。　Any　soul　who　drinks　of　the　EarthBlood　gains　the　Power　of　mand。〃
　He　met　her　intense　gaze；　and　went　on；　〃This　Power　is　rare　and　potent…and　full　of　hazard。　Once　it　has　been　taken　in　from　the　Blood；　it　must　be　used　swiftly　…lest　its　strength　destroy　the　drinker。　And　none　can　endure　more　than　a　single　draft…no　mortal　thew　and　bone　can　endure　more　than　a　single　swallow　of　the　Blood。　It　is　too　rare　a　fluid　for　any　cup　of　flesh　to　hold。
　〃Yet　such　hazards　do　not　explain　why　High　Lord　Kevin　himself　did　not　essay　the　Power　of　mand。　For　this　Power　is　the　power　to　achieve　any　desired　act…to　issue　any　mand　to　the　stone　and　soil　and　grass　and　wood　and　water　and　flesh　of　life；　and　see　that　mand　fulfilled。　If　any　drinker　were　to　say　to　Melenkurion　Skyweir；　‘Crumble　and　fall；'　the　great　peaks　would　instantly　obey。　If　any　drinker　were　to　say　to　the　Fire…Lions　of　Mount　Thunder；　‘Leave　your　bare　slopes；　attack　and　lay　waste　Ridjeck　Thome；