srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第14部分

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　　　　Covenant　thought　that　the　man　was　going　to　hit　him；　he　seemed　to　feel　the　blow　ing　at　him　from　a　great　distance。　Watching　it；　he　lost　his　balance；　stumbled　backward　a　step；　and　sat　down　heavily。　Red　pain　flooded　across　his　sight。　When　it　cleared；　he　was　vaguely　surprised　to　find　that　he　was　not　being　kicked。　But　the　man　had　stopped　a　dozen　feet　away；　he　stood　with　his　fists　clenched；　trying　not　to　show　that　he　was　afraid　to　e　closer。
　　　　Covenant　struggled　to　speak；　explain　that　the　child　still　needed　help。　But　a　long；　stunned　moment　passed　before　he　was　able　to　dredge　words　past　his　lips。　Then　he　said　in　a　tone　of　detachment　pletely　at　variance　with　the　way　he　looked　and　felt；　〃Snakebite。　Timber　rattler。　Help　her。〃
　　　　The　effort　exhausted　him；　he　could　not　go　on。　He　lapsed　into　silence；　and　sat　still　as　if　he　were　hopelessly　waiting　for　an　avalanche　to　fall　on　him。　The　man　and　woman　began　to　recede　from　him；　lose　solidity；　as　if　they　were　dissolving　in　the　acid　of　his　prostration。　Vaguely；　he　heard　the　child　moan；　〃The　snake　bit　me；　Mommy。　My　leg　hurts。〃
　　　　He　realized　that　he　still　had　not　seen　the　child's　face。　But　he　had　lost　his　chance。　He　had　exercised　too　strenuously　with　snake　venom　in　his　blood。　By　degrees；　he　was　slipping　into　shock。
　　　　〃All　right；　Mhoram；〃　he　mumbled　wanly。　〃e　and　get　me。　It's　over　now。〃
　　　　He　did　not　know　whether　he　had　spoken　aloud。　He　could　not　hear　himself。　The　ground　under　him　had　begun　to　ripple。　Waves　rolled　through　the　hillside；　tossing　the　small　raft　of　hard　soil　on　which　he　sat。　He　clung　to　it　as　long　as　he　could；　but　the　earthen　seas　were　too　rough。　Soon　he　lost　his　balance　and　tumbled　backward　into　the　ground　as　if　it　were　an　undug　grave。
　
　FOUR
　　Siege
　
　　　　Twelve　days　after　the　last　charred　trunks　of　Revelwood　were　consumed；　reduced　to　ashes　and　trampled　underfoot；　Satansfist　Raver；　the　right　hand　of　the　Gray　Slayer；　brought　his　vast；　dolorous　army　to　the　stone　gates　of　Lord's　Keep。　He　approached　slowly；　though　his　hordes　tugged　forward　like　leashed　wolves；　he　restrained　the　ravening　of　the　ur…viles　and　Cavewights　and　creatures　he　manded　so　that　all　the　inhabitants　of　Trothgard；　and　of　the　lands　between　Revelwood　and　the　North　Plains；　would　have　time　to　seek　safety　in　the　Keep。　This　he　did　because　he　wished　all　the　humans　he　meant　to　slay　to　be　gathered　in　one　place。　Every　increase　in　the　Keep's　population　would　weaken　its　endurance　by　eating　its　stores　of　food。　And　crowds　of　people　would　be　more　susceptible　than　trained　warriors　or　Lords　to　the　fear　he　bore。
　　　　He　was　sure　of　the　oute　of　his　siege。　His　army　was　not　as　immense　as　the　one　which　moksha　Fleshharrower　his　brother　had　lost　in　Garroting　Deep。　In　order　to　secure　his　hold　upon　the　regions　he　had　already　mastered；　he　had　left　scores　of　thousands　of　his　creatures　behind　along　the　Roams…edge　River；　throughout　the　valley　which　formed　the　south　border　of　Andelain；　and　across　the　Center　Plains。　But　the　Despiser　had　lost　little　more　than　a　third　of　his　forces　in　that　earlier　war。　And　instead　of　wolves　and　kresh　and　unwieldy　griffins；　Satansfist　had　with　him　more　of　the　lore…cunning；　roynish；　black；　eyeless　ur…viles；　and　more　of　the　atrocious　creatures　which　Lord　Foul　had　raised　up　from　the　Great　Swamp；　Lifeswallower；　from　Sarangrave　Flat；　from　the　Spoiled　Plains　and　the　bosk　of　the　Ruinwash…raised　up　and　demented　with　the　power　of　the　Illearth　Stone。　In　addition；　the　Giant…Raver　had　at　his　back　a　power　of　which　the　Lords　of　Revelstone　had　no　conception。　Therefore　he　was　willing　to　prolong　his　approach　to　the　Keep；　so　that　he　could　hasten　its　eventual　and　irreparable　collapse。
　　　　Then；　early　on　the　twelfth　day；　a　sky…shaking　howl　shot　through　his　hordes　as　they　caught　their　first　sight　of　the　mountain　plateau　of　Revel…stone。　Thousands　of　his　creatures　started　to　rush　madly　toward　it　through　the　foothills；　but　he　knocked　them　back　with　the　flail　of　his　power。　Ruling　his　army　with　a　green　scourge；　he　spent　the　whole　day　making　his　approach；　placing　his　forces　in　position。　When　daylight　at　last　drained　away　into　night；　his　army　was　wrapped　around　the　entire　promontory　of　Revel…stone；　from　the　westmost　edge　of　its　south　wall　to　the　cliffs　of　the　plateau　on　the　northwest。　His　encampment　locked　the　Keep　in　a　wide；　round　formation；　sealing　it　from　either　flight　or　rescue；　from　forages　for　food　or　missions　to　unknown　allies。　And　that　night；　Satansfist　feasted　on　the　flesh　of　prisoners　who　had　been　captured　during　his　long　march　from　Landsdrop。
　　　　If　any　eyes　in　Revelstone　had　been　able　to　penetrate　the　unbroken　mass　of　clouds　which　frowned　now　constantly　over　the　Land；　they　would　have　seen　that　this　night　was　the　dark　of　the　moon　on　the　middle　night　of　spring。　The　Despiser's　preternatural　winter　had　clenched　the　Land　for　forty…two　days。
　　　　Satansfist　had　followed　precisely　the　design　which　his　master　had　given　him　for　his　march　through　the　Upper　Land。
　　　　The　next　morning；　he　went　to　face　the　watchtower　which　fronted　the　long　walls　of　Revelstone　at　their　wedge　point。　He　paid　no　attention　to　the　intricate　Giantish　labor　which　had　produced　the　pattern　of　coigns　and　oriels　and　walks　and　battlements　in　the　smooth　cliff…walls；　that　part　of　him　which　could　have　responded　to　the　sight　had　long　ago　been　extinguished　by　the　occupying　Raver。　Without　a　second　glance　at　the　walls；　or　at　the　warriors　who　sentried　the　crenellated　parapets；　he　strode　around　the　promontory　until　he　stood　before　the　great　stone　gates　in　the　base　of　the　tower　on　its　southeast　side…the　only　entrance　into　Lord's　Keep。
　　　　He　was　not　surprised　to　find　that　the　gates　were　open。　Though　the　Giantish　passion　for　stonework　had　been　quelled　in　his　blood；　he　retained　his　knowledge　of　the　Keep。　He　knew　that　as　long　as　those　massive；　interlocking　gates　remained　intact；　they　could　close　upon　mand；　trapping　anyone　who　dared　enter　the　tunnel　under　the　tower。　While　in　the　tunnel；　attackers　would　be　exposed　to　counterattack　from　defensive　windows　built　into　the　roof　of　the　passage。　And　beyond　the　tunnel　was　nothing　but　a　courtyard；　open　only　to　the　sky；　and　then　another　set　of　gates　even　stronger　than　the　first。　The　tower　itself　could　not　be　entered　except　by　suspended　crosswalks　from　the　main　Keep；　or　through　two　small　doors　from　the　courtyard。　Lord's　Keep　had　been　well　made。　The　Giant…Raver　did　not　accept　the　dare　of　the　open　gates。
　　　　Instead；　he　placed　himself　just　close　enough　to　the　tower　to　taunt　skilled　archers；　and　shouted　up　at　the　stone　walls　in　a　voice　that　vibrated　with　malice　and　glee。　〃Hail；　Lords！　Worthy　Lords！　Show　yourselves；　Lordlings！　Leave　off　cowering　in　your　useless　warrens；　and　speak　with　me。　Behold！　I　e　courteously　to　accept　your　surrender！〃
　　　　There　was　no　answer。　The　tower；　only　half　as　high　as　the　main　Keep　behind　it；　stood　with　its　windows　and　battlements　as　silent　as　if　it　were　uninhabited。　A　whimpering　growl　passed　among　the　army　as　the　creatures　begged　for　a　chance　to　charge　through　the　open　gates。
　　　　〃Hear　me；　little　Lords！〃　he　shouted。　〃See　the　toils　of　my　strength　wrapped　around　you。　I　hold　your　last　lives　in　the　palm　of　my　hand。　There　is　no　hope　for　you　unless　you　surrender　yourselves　and　all　to　the　mercy　of　the　Despiser。〃　Jeering　barks　from　the　ur…viles　greeted　this；　and　Satansfist　grinned。　〃Speak；　Lordlings！　Speak　or　die！〃
　　　　A　moment　later　two　figures　appeared　atop　the　tower…one　a　warrior　and　the　other　a　blue…robed　Lord　whom　Satansfist　recognized。　At　first　they　ignored　the　Giant。　They　went　to　the　flagpole；　and　together　raised　High　Lord's　Furl；　the　azure　oriflamme　of　the　Council。　Only　after　it　was　fluttering　defiantly　in　the　gelid　wind　did　they　step　to　the　parapet　and　face　Satansfist。
　　　　〃I　hear　you！〃　the　Lord　snapped。　〃I　hear　you；　samadhi　Raver。　I　know　you；　Sheol　Satansfist。　And　you　know　me。　I　am　Mhoram　son　of　Variol；　High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council。　Depart；　Raver！　Take　your　ill　hordes　with　you。　You　have　touched　me。　You　know　that　I　will　not　be　daunted。〃
　　　　Fury　glinted　in　the　Giant's　eyes　at　the　memory　Mhoram　invoked；　but　he　placed　his　hand　over　the　livid　fragment　of　the　Stone　hidden　under　his　jerkin；　and　gave　Mhoram　a　sarcastic　bow。　〃I　know　you；　Mhoram；〃　he　replied。　〃When　I　placed　my　hand　upon　you　in　the　labyrinth　of　Kurash　Qwellinir；　I　knew　you。　You　were　too　blind　with　folly　and　ignorance　to　feel　a　wise　despair。　Therefore　I　permitted　your　life…so　that　you　would　live　to　better　knowledge。　Are　you　yet　blind？　Have　you　no　eyes　to　see　that　your　effectless　end　at　my　hand　is　as　sure　as　the　arch　of　Time？　Have　you　forgotten　the　Giants？　Have　you　forgotten　the　Bloodguard？　In　the　name　of　the　Despiser；　I　will　certainly　crush　you　where　you　cower！〃
　　　　〃Empty　words；〃　Mhoram　retorted。　〃Bravado　is　easily　uttered…but　you　will　find　it　difficult　of　proof。　Melenkurion　abatha！　Raver；　begone！　return　to　your　forsaken　master　before　the　Creator　forgets　restraint；　and　wreaks　a　timeless　vengeance　upon　you。〃
　　　　The　Giant　laughed　harshly。　〃Do　not　fort　yourself　with　lies；　lordling。　The　arch　of　Time　will　be　broken　if　the　Creator　seeks　to　strike　through　it…and　then　Lord　Foul　the　Despiser；　Satansheart　and　Soulcrusher；　Corruption　and　Render；　will　be　unloosed　upon　the　universe！　If　the　Creator　tries　to　lift　his　hand；　my　brothers　and　I　will　feast　upon　his　very　soul！　Surrender；　fool！　Learn　to　be　daunted　while　groveling　may　still　preserve　your　life。　Perhaps　you　will　be　permitted　to　serve　me　as　my　hand　slave。〃
　　　　〃Never！〃　High　Lord　Mhoram　cried　boldly。　〃We　will　never　bow　to　you　while　one　pulse　of　faith　still　beats　in　the　Land。　The　Earthpower　is　yet　strong　to　resist　you。　We　will　seek　it　until　we　have　found　the　means　to　cast　down　you　and　your　master　and　all　his　works。　Your　victories　are　hollow　while　one　soul　remains　with　breath　enough　to　cry　out　against　you！''　Raising　his　staff；　he　whirled　it　so　that　blue　fire　danced　in　the　air　about　his　head。　Begone；　samadhi　Raver！　Melenkurion　abatha！　Duroc　minas　mill　kha…wl！　We　will　never　surrender！〃
　　　　Below　him；　Satansfist　flinched　under　the　power　of　the　words。　But　an　instant　later；　he　sprang　forward；　snatching　at　his　jerkin。　With　his　piece　of　　Illearth　Stone　clenched　and　steaming　in　his　fist；　he　hurled　a　gout　of　emerald　force　up　at　the　High　Lord。　At　the　same　time；　hundreds　of　creatures　broke