srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第85章

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lay　waste　Ridjeck　Thome；'
　they　would　at　once　strive　with　all　their　strength　to　obey。　This　Power　can　achieve　anything　which　lies　within　the　scope　of　the　manded。　Yet　High　Lord　Kevin　did　not　avail　himself　of　it。
　〃I　do　not　know　all　the　purposes　which　guided　his　heart　when　he　chose　to　leave　the　EarthBlood　untasted。　But　I　must　explain　if　I　can　the　deeper　hazards　of　the　Power　of　mand。〃
　Amok　spoke　in　a　tone　of　deepening；　spectral　hollowness；　and　Covenant　listened　desperately；　as　if　he　were　clinging　with　raw；　bruised　fingers　to　the　precipice　of　Amok's　words。　Hot　things　hammered　in　his　veins；　and　tears　like　rivulets　of　fire　ran　unstanchably　down　his　sweating　cheeks。　He　felt　that　he　was　suffocating　on　the　smell　of　EarthBlood。　His　ring　itched　horribly。　He　could　not　keep　his　balance；　his　footing　constantly　oozed　from　under　him。　Yet　his　perceptions　went　beyond　all　this。　His　flooded　senses　stretched　as　if　they　were　at　last　thrusting　their　heads　above　water。　As　Amok　spoke　of　deeper　hazards；　Covenant　became　aware　of　a　new　implication　in　the　cave。
　Through　the　brunt　of　the　Blood；　he　began　to　smell　something　wrong；　something　ill。　It　crept　insidiously　across　the　whelming　odor　like　an　oblique　defiance　which　seemed　to　succeed　in　spite　of　the　immense　force　which　it　opposed；　undercut；　betrayed。　But　he　could　not　locate　its　source。　Either　the　Power　of　mand　itself　was　in　some　way　false；　or　the　wrong　was　elsewhere；　making　itself　apparent　slowly　through　the　dense　air。　He　could　not　tell　which。
　No　one　else　appeared　to　notice　the　subtle　reek　of　ill。　After　a　short；　tired　pause；　Amok　continued　his　explication。
　〃The　first　of　these　hazards…first；　but　perhaps　not　foremost…is　the　one　great　limit　of　the　Power。　It　holds　no　sway　over　anything　which　is　not　a　natural　part　of　the　Earth's　creation。　Thus　it　is　not　possible　to　mand　the　Despiser　to　cease　his　warring。　It　is　not　possible　to　mand　his　death。　He　lived　before　the　arch　of　Time　was　forged…the　Power　cannot　pel　him。
　〃This　alone　might　have　given　Kevin　pause。　Perhaps　he　did　not　drink　of　the　Blood　because　he　could　not
　conceive　how　to　levy　any　mand　against　the　Despiser。　But　there　is　another　and　subtler　hazard。　Here　any　soul　with　the　courage　to　drink　may　give　a　mand…but　there　are　few　who　can　foresee　the　oute　of　what　they　have　enacted。　When　such　immeasurable　force　is　unleashed　upon　the　Earth；　any　acplishment　may　recoil　upon　its　acplisher。　If　a　drinker　were　to　mand　the　destruction　of　the　Illearth　Stone；　perhaps　the　Stone's　evil　would　survive　uncontained　to　blight　the　whole　Land。　Here　the　drinker　who　is　not　also　a　prophet　risks　self…betrayal。　Here　are　possibilities　of　Desecration　which　even　High　Lord　Kevin　in　his　despair　left　slumbering　and　untouched。〃
　The　stench　of　wrong　grew　in　Covenant's　nostrils；　but　still　he　could　not　identify　it。　And　he　could　not　concentrate　on　it；　he　had　a　question　which　he　fevered　to　ask　Amok。　But　the　tenebrous　atmosphere　clogged　his　throat；　stifled　him。
　While　Covenant　struggled　for　breath；　something　happened　to　Amok。　During　his　speech；　his　tone　had　bee　older　and　more　cadaverous。　And　now；　in　the　pause　after　his　last　sentence；　he　suddenly　lurched　as　if　some　taut　cord　within　him　snapped。　He　staggered　a　step　toward　the　trough　of　Blood。　A　moment　passed　before　he　could　straighten　his　stance；　raise　his　head　again。
　A　look　of　fear　or　pain　or　grief　widened　his　eyes；　and　around　them　lines　of　age　spread　visibly；　as　if　his　skin　were　being　crumpled。　The　soft　flesh　of　his　cheeks　eroded；　gray　ran　through　his　hair。　Like　a　dry　sponge；　he　soaked　up　his　natural　measure　of　years。　When　he　spoke　again；　his　voice　was　weak　and　empty。　〃I　can　say　no　more。　My　time　is　ended。　Farewell；　High　Lord。　Do　not　fail　the　Land。〃
　Convulsively；　Covenant　gasped　out　his　question。　〃What　shout　the　white　gold？〃
　Amok　answered　across　a　great　gulf　of　age；　〃White　gold　exists　beyond　the　arch　of　Time。　It　…cannot　be　manded。〃
　Another　inward　snapping　shook　him；　he　jerked　closer　to　the　trough。
　〃Help　him！〃　croaked　Covenant。　But　Elena　only　raised　the　Staff　of　Law　in　a　mute；　fiery　salute。
　With　an　age…palsied　exertion；　Amok　thrust　himself　erect。　Tears　ran　through　the　wrinkled　lattice　of　his　cheeks　as　he　lifted　his　face　toward　the　roof　of　the　cave；　and　cried　in　a　stricken　voice；　〃Ah；　Kevin！　Life　is　sweet；　and　I　have　lived　so　short　a　time！　Must　I　pass　away？〃
　A　third　snapping　shuddered　him　like　an　answer　to　his　appeal。　He　stumbled　as　if　his　bones　were　falling　apart；　and　tumbled　into　the　trough。　In　one　swift　instant；　the　Blood　dissolved　his　flesh；　and　he　was　gone。
　Covenant　groaned　helplessly；　〃Amok！〃　Through　the　blur　of　his　own　ineffectual　tears；　he　gaped　at　the　red；　flowing　rill　of　EarthBlood。　Imbalance　poured　into　him　from　the　stone；　mounted　in　his　muscles　like　vertigo。　He　lost　all　sense　of　where　he　was。　To　steady　himself；　he　reached　out　to　grasp　Elena's　shoulder。
　Her　shoulder　was　so　hard　and　intense；　so　full　of　rigid　purpose；　that　it　felt　like　naked　bone　under　the　fabric　of　her　robe。　She　was　poised　on　the　verge　of　her　own　climax；　her　passion　was　tangible　to　his　touch。
　It　appalled　him。　Despite　the　dizziness　which　unanchored　his　mind；　he　located　the　source　of　the　nameless　reek　of　wrong。
　The　ill　was　in　Elena；　in　the　High　Lord　herself。
　She　seemed　unconscious　of　it。　In　a　tone　of　barely　controlled　excitement；　she　said；　〃Amok　is　gone…his　purpose　is　acplished。　Now　there　must　be　no　more　delay。　For　the　sake　of　all　the　Earth；　I　must　drink　and　mand。〃　To　Covenant's　ears；　she　sounded　rife　with　hungry　conclusions…so　packed　with　needs　and　duties　and　intents　that　she　was　about　to　shatter。
　The　realization　caught　him　like　a　damp　hand　on　the　back　of　his　neck；　forced　him　inwardly　to　his　knees。　When　she　stepped　out　of　his　grasp；　moved　toward　the　trough　of　Blood；　he　felt　that　she　had　torn　away　his　last　defense。　Elena！　he　wailed　silently；　Elena！　His　cries　were　cries　of　abjection。
　For　a　moment；　he　knelt　within　himself　as　if　he　were　in　the　grip　of　a　vision。　Dizzily；　he　saw　all　the　manifest　ways　in　which　he　was　responsible　for　Elena…all　the
　ways　in　which　he　had　caused　her　to　be　who　and　what　and　where　she　was。　His　duplicity　was　the　cause…his　violence；　his　futility；　his　need。　And　he　remembered　the　apocalypse　hidden　in　her　gaze。　That　was　the　ill。　It　made　him　shudder　in　anguish。　He　watched　her　through　his　blur　of　tears。　When　he　saw　her　bend　toward　the　trough；　all　of　him　leaped　up　in　defiance　of　the　slick　rock；　and　he　cried　out　hoarsely；　〃Elena！　Don't！　Don't　do　it！〃
　The　High　Lord　stopped。　But　she　did　not　turn。　The　whole　rigor　of　her　back　condensed　into　one　question：　Why？
　〃Don't　you　see　it？〃　he　gasped。　〃This　is　all　some　plot　of　Foul's。　We're　being　manipulated…you're　being　manipulated。　Something　terrible　is　going　to　happen。〃
　For　a　time；　she　remained　silent　while　he　ached。　Then；　in　a　tone　of　austere　conviction；　she　said；　〃I　cannot　let　pass　this　chance　to　serve　the　Land。　I　am　forewarned。　If　this　is　Fangthane's　best　ploy　to　defeat　us；　it　is　also　our　best　means　to　strike　at　him。　I　do　not　fear　to　measure　my　will　against　his。　And　I　hold　the　Staff　of　Law。　Have　you　not　learned　that　the　Staff　is　unsuited　to　his　hands？　He　would　not　have　delivered　it　to　us　if　it　were　in　any　way　adept　for　his　uses。　No。　The　Staff　warrants　me。　Lord　Foul　cannot　contrive　my　vision。〃
　〃Your　vision！〃　Covenant　extended　his　hands　in　pleading　toward　her。　〃Don't　you　see　what　that　is？　Don't　you　see　where　that　es　from？　It　es　from　me…from　that　unholy　bargain　I　made　with　the　Ranyhyn。　A　bargain　that　failed；　Elena！〃
　〃Yet　it　would　appear　that　you　bargained　better　than　you　knew。　The　Ranyhyn　kept　their　promise　they　gave　in　return　more　than　you　could　either　foresee　or　control。〃　Her　answer　seemed　to　block　his　throat；　and　into　his　silence　she　said；　〃What　has　altered　you；　Unbeliever？　Without　your　help；　we　would　not　have　gained　this　place。　On　Rivenrock　you　gave　aid　without　stint　or　price；　though　my　own　anger　imperiled　you。　Yet　now　you　delay　me。　Thomas　Covenant；　you　are　not　so　craven。〃
　〃Craven？　Hellfire！　I'm　a　bloody　coward！〃　Some　of
　his　rage　returned　to　him；　and　he　sputtered　through　the　sweat　and　tears　that　ran　into　his　mouth；　〃All　lepers　are　cowards。　We　have　to　be！〃
　At　last；　she　turned　toward　him；　faced　him　with　the　focus；　the　blazing　holocaust；　of　her　gaze。　Its　force　ripped　his　balance　away　from　him；　and　he　sprawled　in　fragments　on　the　stone。　But　he　pushed　himself　up　again。　Driven　by　his　fear　of　her　and　for　her；　he　dared　to　confront　her　power。　He　stood　tenuously；　and　abandoned　himself；　took　his　plunge。
　〃Manipulation；　Elena；〃　he　rasped。　〃Pin　talking　about　manipulation。　Do　you　understand　what　that　means？　It　means　using　people。　Twisting　them　to　suit　purposes　they　haven't　chosen　for　themselves。　Manipulation。　Not　Foul's…mine！　I've　been　manipulating　you；　using　you。　I　told　you　rd　made　another　bargain　but　I　didn't　tell　you　what　it　is。　I've　been　using　you　to　get　myself　off　the　hook。　I　promised　myself　that　I　would　do　everything　I　could　to　help　you　find　this　Ward。　And　in　return　I　promised　myself　that　I　would　do　everything　I　could　to　make　you　take　my　responsibility。　I　watched　you　and　helped　you　so　that　when　you　got　here　you　would　look　exactly　like　that…so　you　would　challenge　Foul　yourself　without　stopping　to　think　about　what　you're　doingso　that　whatever　happens　to　the　Land　would　be　your　fault　instead　of　mine。　So　that　I　could　escape！　Hell　and　blood；　Elena！　Do　yon　hear　me？　Foul　is　going　to　get　us　for　sure！〃
　She　seemed　to　hear　only　part　of　what　he　said。　She　bent　her　searing　focus　straight　into　him；　and　said；　〃Was　there　ever　a　time　when　you　loved　me？〃
　In　as　agony　of　protest；　he　half　screamed；　〃Of　course　I　loved　you！〃　Then　he　mastered　himself；　put　all　his　strength　back　into　his　appeal。　〃It　never　even　occurred　to　me　that　I　might　be　able　to　use　you　until　until　after　the　landslide。　When　I　began　to　understand　what　you're　capable　of。　I　loved　you　before　that。　I　love　you　now。　I'm　just　an　unconscionable　bastard；　and　I　used　you；　that's　all。　Now　I　regret　it。〃　With　all　the　resources　of　his　voice；　he　beseeched　her；　〃Elena；　please　don't　drink　that　stuff。　Forget　the　Power　of
　mand　and　go　back　to　Revelstone。　Let　the　Council　decide　what　to　do　about　all　this。〃
　But　the　way　in　which　her　gaze　left　his　face　and　burned　around　the　walls　of　the　cave　told　him　that　he　had　not　reached　her。　When　she　spoke；　she　only　confirmed　his　failure。
　〃I　would　be　unworthy　of　Lordship　if　I　failed　to　act　now。　Amok　offered　us　the　Seventh　Ward　because　he　perceived　that　the　Land's　urgent　need　surpassed　the　conditions　of　his　creation。　Fangthane　is　upon　the　Land　now…he　wages　war　now　Land　and　life　and　all　are　endangered　now。　While　any　power　or　weapon　lies　within　my　grasp；　I　will　not　permit　him！〃　Her　voice　softened　as　she　added；　〃And　if　you　have　loved　me；　how　can　I　fail　to　strive　for　your　escape？　You　need　not　have　bargained　in　secret。　I　love　you。　I　wish　to　serve　you。　Your　regret　only　strengthens　what　I　must　do。〃
　Swinging　back　toward　the　trough；　she　raised　the　Staff's　guttering　flame　high　over　her　head；　and　shouted　like　a　war　cry；　〃Melenkurion　abatha！　Ward　yourself　well；　Fangthane！　I　seek　to　destroy　you！〃
　Then　she　stooped　to　the　EarthBlood。
　Covenant　struggled　frantically　in　her　direction；　but　his　feet　scattered　out　from　under　him　again；　and　he　went　down　with　a　crash　like　a　shock　of　incapacity。　As　she　lowered　h