srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第43部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　crackled　in　a　dry　patch　of　brambles　and　bushes。　As　Covenant　and　Lena　descended　toward　it；　the　fire　spread；　jumping　fiendishly　higher　and　higher　as　it　ran　through　the　dead　wood。
　　　　They　hastened　fervidly　to　the　blaze。　Lena's　legs　gave　way　at　the　last　moment；　and　she　fell　to　her　knees　as　if　that　were　the　only　way　she　could　prevent　herself　from　leaping　into　the　flames。　And　Covenant　spread　his　arms　to　the　heat；　stood　on　the　very　verge　of　the　fire　and　threw　open　his　jacket　like　an　acolyte　embracing　vision。　For　long　moments　they　neither　spoke　nor　moved。
　　　　But　when　the　warmth　melted　the　ice　to　make　itself　felt　against　Covenant's　forehead；　started　to　draw　the　moisture　in　steam　from　his　clothes；　he　stepped　back　a　pace　and　looked　about　him。
　　　　Pietten　was　leering　at　him　mercilessly。
　　　　He　felt　suddenly　trapped；　cornered；　for　reasons　that　he　could　not　name；　he　knew　he　was　in　danger。　He　looked　quickly　toward　Lena。　But　she　was　absorbed　in　the　fire；　oblivious。　Unwillingly　he　met　Pietten's　gaze　again。　That　stare　held　him　like　the　eyes　of　a　snake；　trying　to　paralyze　him。　He　had　to　resist　it。　Without　thinking；　he　growled；　〃That　was　a　damn　stupid　thing　to　do。〃　He　indicated　the　fire　with　a　jerk　of　one　hand。　〃　A　fire　this　big　will　throw　light　over　the　hill。　We'll　be　seen。〃
　　　　〃I　know。〃　Pietten　licked　his　lips。
　　　　〃You　know；〃　Covenant　muttered　mordantly。　〃Did　it　occur　to　you　that　this　could　bring　a　pack　of　marauders　down　on　us？〃　He　snarled　the　words　thoughtlessly；　but　as　soon　as　he　had　spoken　them；　they　sent　a　stammer　of　fear　through　him。
　　　　〃Are　you　not　grateful？〃　Pietten　grinned　maliciously。　〃You　mand　fire…fire　I　provide。　Is　that　not　how　men　show　their　devotion　to　the　Ringthane？〃
　　　　〃What　are　we　going　to　do　if　we're　attacked？　She　and　I　are　in　no　condition　to　fight。〃
　　　　〃I　know。〃
　　　　〃You　know；〃　Covenant　repeated。　The　upsurge　of　his　trepidation　almost　made　him　stutter。
　　　　〃But　no　marauders　will　e；〃　the　Woodhelvennin　went　on　immediately。　〃I　hate　them。　Pah！　They　slay　Ranyhyn。〃
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　they　won't　e？　You　said〃…he　searched　his　memory…〃you　said　they　weren't　far　behind。　How　in　hell　do　you　expect　them　to　miss　us　in　all　this　light？〃
　　　　〃I　do　not　want　them　to　miss　us。〃
　　　　〃What？〃　The　fear　taking　shape　within　him　made　him　shout。　〃Hell…fire！　Make　sense！〃
　　　　〃Ringthane；〃　Pietten　shot　back　with　sudden　vehemence；　〃this　night　I　will　plete　the　whole　sense　of　my　life！〃
　　　　The　next　instant　he　had　returned　to　scorn。　〃I　desire　them　to　find　us；　yes！　I　desire　them　to　see　this　blaze　and　e。　Land　friends…horse　servants…pah！　They　torment　the　Ranyhyn　in　the　name　of　faith。　I　will　teach　them　faith。〃　Covenant　felt　Lena　jump　to　her　feet　behind　him；　he　could　sense　the　way　she　focused　herself　on　Pietten。　In　the　warmth　of　the　fire；　he　finally　noticed　what　had　caught　her　attention。　It　was　the　smell　of　blood。　〃I　desire　the　Giant　my　benefactor　and　Banner　the　Bloodguard　to　stand　upon　this　hillside　and　witness　my　faith。〃
　　　　〃You　said　that　they　are　dead！　〃Lena　hissed。　〃You　said　that　we　would　not　see　them　again。〃
　　　　At　the　same　time；　Covenant　croaked；　〃It　was　you！〃　His　apprehensions　burst　into　clarity。　〃You　did　it。''　In　the　lurid　light　of　the　fire；　he　caught　his　first　sure　glimpse　of　his　plight。　〃You're　the　one　who　betrayed　all　those　coverts！〃
　　　　Lena's　movement　triggered　him　into　movement。　He　was　one　step　ahead　of　her　as　she　threw　herself　at　Pietten。
　　　　But　Pietten　was　too　swift　for　them。　He　aimed　his　spear　and　braced　himself　to　impale　the　first　attack。
　　　　Covenant　leaped　to　a　stop。　Grappling　frantically；　he　caught　Lena；　held　her　from　hurling　herself　onto　Pietten's　weapon。　She　struggled　for　one　mute；　furious　moment；　then　became　still　in　his　grasp。　Her　bedraggled　white　hair　hung　across　her　face　like　a　fringe　of　madness。　Grimly；　he　set　her　behind　him。
　　　　He　was　trembling；　but　he　forced　himself　to　face　Pietten。　〃You　want　them　to　watch　while　you　kill　us。〃
　　　　Pietten　laughed　sourly。　〃Do　they　not　deserve　it？〃　His　eyes　flashed　as　if　a　lightning　of　murder　played　in　back　of　them。　〃If　I　could　have　my　wish；　I　would　place　the　entire　Ramen　nation　around　this　hollow　so　that　they　might　behold　my　contempt　for　them。　Ranyhyn　servants！　Pah！　They　are　vermin。''
　　　　〃Render！〃　Lena　spat　hoarsely。

　　　　With　his　left　hand；　Covenant　held　her　behind　him。　〃You　betrayed　those　coverts…you　betrayed　them　all。　You're　the　only　one　who　could　have　done　it。　You　killed　the　sentries　and　showed　those　marauders　how　to　get　in。　No　wonder　you　stink　of　blood。〃
　　　　〃It　pleases　me。〃
　　　　〃You　betrayed　the　Ranyhyn！〃　Covenant　raged。　〃Injured　Ranyhyn　got　slaughtered！〃
　　　　At　this；　Pietten　jerked　forward；　brandished　his　spear　viciously。　〃Hold　your　tongue；　Ringthane！〃　he　snapped。　〃Do　not　question　my　faith。　I　have　fought…I　would　slay　any　living　creature　that　raised　its　hands　against　the　Ranyhyn。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　call　that　faith？　There　were　injured　Ranyhyn　in　that　covert；　and　they　were　butchered！〃
　　　　〃They　were　murdered　by　Ramen！〃　Pietten　retorted　redly。　〃Vermin！　They　pretend　service　to　the　Ranyhyn；　but　they　do　not　take　the　Ranyhyn　to　the　safety　of　the　south。　I　hold　no　fealty　for　them。〃　Lena　tried　to　leap　at　Pietten　again；　but　Covenant　restrained　her。　〃They　are　like　you…and　that　Giant…and　the　Bloodguard！　Pah！　You　feast　on　Ranyhyn…flesh　like　jackals。〃
　　　　With　an　effort；　Covenant　made　Lena　look　at　him。　〃Go！〃　he　whispered　rapidly。　〃Run。　Get　out　of　here。　Get　back　across　the　river…try　to　find　Bannor　or　Foamfollower。　He　doesn't　care　about　you。　He　won't　chase　you。　He　wants　me。〃
　　　　Pietten　cocked　his　spear。　〃If　you　take　one　step　to　flee；''　he　grated；　〃I　will　kill　the　Ringthane　where　he　stands　and　hunt　you　down　like　a　wolf。〃
　　　　The　threat　carried　conviction。　〃All　right；〃　Covenant　groaned　to　Lena。　〃All　right。〃　Glowering　thunderously；　he　swung　back　toward　Pietten。　〃Do　you　remember　ur…viles；　Pietten？　Soaring　Woodhelven？　Fire　and　ur…viles？　They　captured　you。　Do　you　remember？〃
　　　　Pietten　stared　back　like　lightning。
　　　　〃They　captured　you。　They　did　things　to　you。　Just　as　they　did　to　Llaura。　Do　you　remember　her？　They　hurt　her　inside　so　that　she　had　to　help　trap　the　Lords。　The　harder　she　tried　to　break　free；　the　worse　the　trap　got。　Do　you　remember？　It's　just　like　that　with　you。　They　hurt　you　so　that　you　would…destroy　the　Ranyhyn。　Listen　to　me！　Foul　knew　when　he　started　this　war　that　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　crush　the　Ranyhyn　unless　he　found　some　way　to　betray　the　Ramen。　So　he　hurt　you。　He　made　you　do　what　he　wants。　He's　using　you　to　butcher　the　Ranyhyn！　And　he's　probably　given　you　special　orders　about　me。　What　did　he　tell　you　to　do　with　my　ring？〃　He　hurled　the　words　at　Pietten　with　all　his　strength。　〃How　many　bloody　times　have　you　been　to　Foul's　Creche　since　this　winter　started？〃
　　　　For　a　moment；　Pietten's　eyes　lost　their　focus。　Dimly；　he　murmured；　〃I　must　take　it　to　him。　He　will　use　it　to　save　the　Ranyhyn。〃　But　the　next　instant；　white　fury　flared　in　him　again。　''　You　lie！　I　love　the　Ranyhyn！　You　are　the　butchers；　you　and　those　vermin！〃
　　　　〃That　isn't　true。　You　know　it　isn't　true。〃
　　　　〃Is　it　not？〃　Pietten　laughed　desperately。　〃Do　you　think　I　am　blind；　Ringthane？　I　have　learned　much　in…in　my　journeys。　Do　you　think　the　Ramen　hold　the　Ranyhyn　here　out　of　love？〃
　　　　〃They　can't　help　it；〃　Covenant　replied。　〃The　Ranyhyn　refuse　to　go。〃
　　　　Pietten　did　not　hear　him。　〃Do　you　think　the　Bloodguard　are　here　out　of　love？　You　are　a　fool！　Banner　is　here　because　he　has　caused　the　deaths　of　so　many　Ranyhyn　that　he　has　bee　a　betrayer。　He　needs　to　betray；　as　he　did　the　Lords。　Oh；　he　fights…he　has　always　fought。　He　hungers　to　see　every　Ranyhyn　slain　in　spite　of　his　fighting　so　that　his　need　will　be　fed。　Pah！〃
　　　　Covenant　tried　to　interrupt；　protest；　but　Pietten　rushed　on：　〃Do　you　think　the　Giant　is　here　out　of　love？　You　are　anile…sick　with　trust。　Foamfollower　is　here　because　he　has　betrayed　his　people。　Every　last　Giant；　every　man；　woman；　and　child　of　his　kindred；　lies　dead　and　moldered　in　Seareach　because　he　abandoned　them！　He　fled　rather　than　defend　them。　His　very　bones　are　made　of　treachery；　and　he　is　here　because　he　can　find　no　one　else　to　betray。　All　his　other　panions　are　dead。〃
　　　　Foamfollower！　Covenant　cried　in　stricken　silence。　All　dead？　Foamfollower！
　　　　〃And　you；　Ringthane…you　are　the　worst　of　all。　You　surpass　my　contempt。　You　ask　what　I　remember。〃　His　spear　point　waved　patterns　of　outrage　at　Covenant's　chest。　〃I　remember　that　the　Ranyhyn　reared　to　you。　I　remember　that　I　strove　to　stop　you。　But　you　had　already　chosen　to　betray　them。　You　bound　them　with　promises…promises　which　you　knew　they　could　not　break。　Therefore　the　Ranyhyn　cannot　seek　the　safety　of　the　mountains。　They　are　shackled　by　mitments　which　you　forced　from　them；　you！　You　are　the　true　butcher；　Ringthane。　I　have　lived　my　life　for　the　chance　to　slay　you。〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Covenant　gasped。　〃I　didn't　know。〃　But　he　heard　the　truth　in　Pietten's　accusation。　Waves　of　crime　seemed　to　spread　from　him　in　all　directions。　〃I　didn't　know。〃
　　　　Bannor？　he　moaned。　Foamfollower？　A　livid　orange　mist　filled　his　sight　like　the　radiance　of　brimstone。　How　could　he　have　done　so　much　harm？　He　had　only　wanted　to　survive…had　only　wanted　to　extract　survival　from　the　raw　stuff　of　suicide　and　madness。　The　Giants！…lost　like　Elena。　And　now　the　Ranyhyn　were　being　driven　down　the　same　bloody　road。　Foamfollower？　Did　I　do　this　to　you？　He　knew　that　he　was　defenseless；　that　he　could　have　done　nothing　to　ward　off　a　spear　thrust。　But　he　was　staring　into　the　abyss　of　his　own　actions　and　could　not　look　away。
　　　　〃We're　the　same；''　he　breathed　without　knowing　what　he　was　saying。　〃Foul　and　I　are　the　same。〃
　　　　Then　he　became　aware　that　hands　were　pulling　at　him。　Lena　had　gripped　his　jacket　and　was　shaking　him　as　hard　as　she　could。　〃Is　it　true？〃　she　shouted　at　him。　〃Are　they　dying　because　you　made　them　promise　to　visit　me　each　year？〃
　　　　He　met　her　eyes。　They　were　full　of　firelight；　they　pelled　him　to　recognize　still　another　of　his　crimes。　In　spite　of　his　peril；　he　could　not　refuse　her　the　truth。
　　　　〃No。〃　His　throat　was　clogged　with　grief　and　horror。　〃That's　only　part…　Even　if　they　went　to　the　mountains；　they　could　still　reach　you。　I…I〃…his　voice　ached　thickly…〃I　made　them　promise　to　save　me…if　I　ever　called　them。　I　did　it　for　myse