srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第22部分

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〃He　said　dawn。〃
　　　　〃Yeurquin　reports　watch　fires　approaching　Mithil　Stonedown　from　the　South　Plains。　They　will　not　be　friendly…few　people　of　the　south　dare　show　light　at　night。　And　someone　climbs　toward　us　from　the　Stonedown　itself。　We　will　not　remain　here。　Arise。〃　He　lifted　Covenant　into　a　sitting　position；　then　thrust　a　flask　and　bowl　into　his　hands。　〃Eat。〃
　　　　Sleepily；　Covenant　drank　from　the　stone　flask；　and　found　that　it　contained　water　as　icy　as　melted　snow。　The　chill　draft　jolted　him　toward　wakefulness。　Shivering；　he　turned　to　the　bowl。　It　contained　unleavened　bread　and　treasure…berries。　He　began　to　eat　quickly　to　appease　the　cold　water　in　his　stomach。
　　　　Between　bites；　he　asked；　〃If　whatever　they　are…marauders…are　ing；　aren't　we　safe　here？〃
　　　　〃Perhaps。　But　the　Stonedownors　will　fight　for　their　homes。　They　are　Triock's　people…we　must　aid　them。〃
　　　　〃Can't　they　just　hide　in　the　mountains…until　the　marauders　go　away？〃
　　　　〃They　have　done　so　in　the　past。　But　Mithil　Stonedown　has　been　attacked　many　times。　The　Stonedownors　are　sick　at　the　damage　done　to　their　homes　in　these　attacks。　This　time；　they　will　fight。〃
　　　　Covenant　emptied　the　bowl；　and　forced　himself　to　drink　deeply　from　the　flask。　The　chill　of　the　water　made　his　throat　ache。
　　　　〃I'm　no　warrior。〃
　　　　〃I　remember；〃　Foamfollower　said　with　an　ambiguous　smile；　as　if　what　he　remembered　did　not　accord　with　Covenant's　assertion。　〃We　will　keep　you　from　harm。〃
　　　　He　took　the　flask　and　bowl　and　stowed　them　in　a　large　leather　sack。　Then　from　it　he　pulled　out　a　heavy　sheepskin　jacket；　which　he　handed　to　Covenant。　〃This　will　serve　you　well…though　it　is　said　that　no　apparel　or　blaze　can　wholly　refute　the　cold　of　this　winter。〃　As　Covenant　donned　the　jacket；　the　Giant　went　on；　〃I　regret　that　I　have　no　better　footwear　for　you。　But　the　Stonedownors　wear　only　sandals。〃　He　took　from　his　sack　a　pair　of　thick　sandals　and　passed　them　to　Covenant。
　　　　When　Covenant　pushed　back　his　blankets；　he　saw　for　the　first　time　the　damage　he　had　done　to　his　feet。　They　were　torn　and　bruised　from　toe　to　heel；　dry；　caked　blood　covered　them　in　blotches；　and　the　remains　of　his　socks　hung　from　his　ankles　like　the　ragged　frills　of　a　jester。　But　he　felt　no　pain；　the　deadness　of　his　nerves　reached　deeper　than　these　injuries。　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　he　rasped　as　he　pulled　the　socks　from　his　ankles；　〃it's　only　leprosy。〃
　　　　He　snatched　the　sandals　from　Foamfollower；　jammed　them　onto　his　feet；　and　tied　their　thongs　behind　his　heels。　〃One　of　these　days　I'll　figure　out　why　I　bother　to　protect　myself　at　all。〃　But　he　knew　why；　his　inchoate　purpose　demanded　it。
　　　　〃You　ought　to　visit　my　world；〃　he　growled　only　half　to　the　Giant。　〃It's　painless。　You　won't　feel　a　thing。〃
　　　　Then　Triock　hailed　them。　Foamfollower　got　swiftly　to　his　feet。　When　Covenant　climbed　from　the　blankets；　Foamfollower　picked　them　up　and　pushed　them　into　his　sack。　With　the　sack　in　one　hand　and　the　graveling　pot　in　the　other；　he　went　with　Covenant　toward　the　Stonedownor。
　　　　Triock　stood　with　three　panions　near　the　narrow　ravine　which　was　the　outlet　of　the　valley。　They　spoke　together　in　low；　urgent　tones　until　Foamfollower　and　Covenant　joined　them。　Then　Triock　said　rapidly；　〃Rockbrother；　our　scouts　have　returned　from　the　Plains。　Slen　reports　that…〃　Abruptly　he　stopped　himself。　His　mouth　bent　into　a　sardonic　smile；　and　he　said；　〃Pardon　me。　I　forget　my　courtesy。　I　must　make　introductions。〃
　　　　He　turned　to　one　of　his　panions；　a　stocky　old　man　breathing　hoarsely　in　the　cold。　〃Slen　Terass…mate；　here　is　ur…Lord　Thomas　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　white　gold　wielder。　Unbeliever；　here　is　Slen；　the　rarest　cook　in　all　the　South　Plains。　Terass　his　wife　stands　among　the　Circle　of　elders　of　Mithil　Stonedown。〃
　　　　Slen　gave　Covenant　a　salute　which　he　returned　awkwardly；　as　if　the　steaming　of　his　breath　and　the　numbness　of　his　hands　prevented　him　from　grace。　Then　Triock　turned　to　his　other　panions。　They　were　a　man　and　a　woman　who　resembled　each　other　like　twins。　They　had　an　embattled　look；　as　if　they　were　familiar　with　bloodshed　and　killing　at　night；　and　their　brown　eyes　blinked　at　Covenant　like　the　orbs　of　people　who　had　lost　the　capacity　to　be　surprised。　〃Here　are　Yeurquin　and　Quirrel；〃　said　Triock。　〃We　have　fought　together　from　the　first　days　of　this　attack　upon　the　Land。
　　　　〃Unbeliever；　when　the　Giant　and　I　heard　the　word　of　Revelstone's　siege；　we　were　at　work　harrying　a　large　band　of　the　Slayer's　creatures　in　the　center　of　the　South　Plains。　We　fled　from　them　at　once；　taking　care　to　hide　°ur　trail　so　that　they　would　not　follow。　And　we　left　scouts　to　keep　watch　on　the　band。　Now　the　scouts　have　returned　to　say　that　at　first　the　band　hunted　us　without　success。　But　two　days　ago　they　turned　suddenly　and　hastened　straight　toward　the　Mithil　valley。〃
　　　　Triock　paused　grimly；　then　said；　〃They　have　felt　the　power　of　our　work　upon　Kevin's　Watch。　Melenkurion！　Some　creature　among　them　has　eyes。〃
　　　　〃Therefore　we　are　not　safe　here；〃　Foamfollower　said　to　Covenant。　〃If　they　have　truly　seen　the　power　of　the　High　Wood；　they　will　not　rest　until　they　have　captured　it　for　Soulcrusher…and　slain　its　wielder。〃
　　　　Slen　coughed　a　gout　of　steam。　〃We　must　go。　We　will　be　assailed　at　daybreak。〃
　　　　With　a　sharp　nod；　Triock　agreed。　〃We　are　ready。〃　He　glanced　toward　Foamfollower　and　Covenant。　〃Unbeliever；　we　must　travel　afoot。　The　days　of　horseback　sojourning　are　gone　from　the　Land。　Are　you　able？〃
　　　　Covenant　shrugged　the　question　away。　〃It's　a　little　late　for　us　to　start　worrying　about　what　I　can　or　can't　do。　Foamfollower　can　carry　me　easily　enough…if　I　slow　you　down。〃
　　　　〃Well；　then。''　Triock　tightened　his　cloak；　then　picked　up　the　graveling　pot　and　held　it　over　his　head　so　that　it　lighted　the　ravine　ahead　of　him。　〃Let　us　go。〃
　　　　Quirrel　strode　briskly　ahead　of　them　into　the　darkness　of　the　ravine；　and　Triock　preceded　Slen　after　her。　At　a　gesture　from　the　Giant；　Covenant　followed　Slen。　Foamfollower　came　behind　him　with　the　other　graveling　pot；　and　Yeurquin　brought　up　the　rear　of　the　group。
　　　　Before　he　had　worked　his　way　twenty　yards　down　the　ravine；　Covenant　knew　that　he　was　not　yet　strong　enough　to　travel。　Lassitude　clogged　his　muscles；　and　what　little　energy　he　had　he　needed　to　defend　himself　from　the　penetrating　cold。　At　first　he　resolved　to　endure　despite　his　weakness。　But　by　the　time　he　had　hauled　himself　halfway　up　the　rift　which　led　to　the　mountainside　overlooking　Mithil　Stonedown；　he　understood　that　he　could　not　go　on　without　help。　If　he　were　to　acplish　the　purpose　which　grew　obscurely　in　the　back　of　his　mind；　he　would　have　to　learn　how　to　accept　help。
　　　　He　leaned　panting　against　the　stone。　〃Foamfollower。〃
　　　　The　Giant　bent　near　him。　〃Yes；　my　friend。〃
　　　　〃Foamfollower…I　can't　make　it　alone。〃
　　　　Chuckling　gently；　Foamfollower　said；　〃Nor　can　I。　My　friend；　there　is　fort…in　some　panionships。〃　He　lifted　Covenant　effortlessly　into　his　arms；　carried　him　in　a　half…sitting　position　so　that　Covenant　could　see　ahead。　Though　he　only　needed　one　arm　to　bear　Covenant's　weight；　he　put　the　graveling　pot　into　Covenant's　hands。　The　warm　light　revealed　that　Foamfollower　was　grinning　as　he　said；　〃This　is　hazardous　for　me。　It　is　possible　that　being　of　use　may　bee　a　dangerous　habit。〃
　　　　Gruffly；　Covenant　muttered；　〃That　sounds　like　something　I　might　say。〃
　　　　Foamfollower's　grin　broadened。　But　Triock　threw　back　a　warning
　　　　scowl；　and　the　Giant　made　no　other　response。
　　　　Moments　later；　Triock　covered　his　graveling　pot。　At　a　nod　from　Foamfollower；　Covenant　did　the　same。　The　Giant　placed　the　urn　in　his　sack。　Without　any　light　to　give　them　away；　the　group　climbed　out　of　the　rift　onto　the　exposed　mountainside　high　above　the　Mithil　valley。
　　　　Under　the　heavy　darkness；　they　could　see　nothing　below　them　but　the　distant　watch　fires　smoldering　like　sparks　in　cold　black　tinder。　Covenant　could　not　gauge　how　far　away　the　fires　were；　but　Foamfollower　said　tightly；　〃It　is　a　large　band。　They　will　gain　the　Stonedown　by　dawn…as　Slen　said。〃
　　　　〃Then　we　must　make　haste；''　snapped　Triock。　He　swung　away　to　the　left；　moving　swiftly　along　the　unlit　ledge。
　　　　The　Giant　followed　at　once；　and　his　long　strides　easily　matched　Triock's　trotting　pace。　Soon　they　had　left　the　ledge；　crossed　from　it　to　more　gradual　slopes　as　their　trail　worked　downward　into　the　valley。　Slowly；　Covenant　could　feel　the　air　thickening。　With　the　warmth　of　the　graveling　pot　resting　against　his　chest；　he　began　to　feel　stronger。　He　made　an　effort　to　remember　what　this　trail　had　looked　like　in　the　spring；　but　no　memories　came；　he　could　not　escape　the　impression　of　bare　bleakness　which　shone　through　the　night　at　him。　He　sensed　that　if　he　could　have　seen　the　unrelieved　rock　faces　of　the　mountains；　or　the　imposed　lifelessness　of　the　foothills；　or　the　blasted　tree　trunks；　or　the　Mithil　River　writhing　in　ice；　he　would　have　been　dismayed。　He　was　not　yet　ready　for　dismay。
　　　　Ahead　of　him；　Triock　began　to　run。
　　　　Foamfollower's　jogging　shook　other　thoughts　out　of　Covenant's　mind；　and　he　began　to　concentrate　in　earnest　on　the　gloomy　night。　By　squinting　grotesquely；　he　found　that　he　could　adjust　his　sight　somewhat　to　the　dark；　apparently　his　eyes　were　remembering　their　Land…born　penetration。　As　Foamfollower　hurried　him　down　the　trail；　he　made　out　the　high　loom　of　the　mountains　on　his　left　and　the　depth　of　the　valley　on　his　right。　After　a　while；　he　caught　vague；　pale　glimpses　of　the　ice…gnarled　river。　Then　the　trail　neared　the　end　of　the　valley；　and　swung　down　in　a　wide　arc　toward　the　Mithil。　When　Foamfollower　had　pleted　the　turn；　Covenant　saw　the　first　dim　lightening　of　dawn　behind　the　eastern　peaks。
　　　　Their　pace　became　more　urgent。　As　dawn　leaked　into　the　air；　Covenant　could　see　shadowy　clouts　of　snow　jumping　from　under　the　beat　of　Triock's　feet。　Foamfollower's　strong　respiration　filled　his　ears；　and　behind　it　at　odd　intervals　he　heard　the　river　straining　in　sharp　creaks　and　groans　against　the　weight　of　its　own　freezing。　He　began　to　feel　a　need　to　get　down　from　the　Giant's　arms；　either　to　separate　himself　from　this　urgency　or　to　run　toward　it　on　his　own。
　　　　Then　Quirrel　slowed　abruptly　and　stopped。　Triock　and　Foamfollower　caught　up　with　her；　found　her　with　another　Stonedowno