srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第93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！


g　their　daughters；　and　on　his　right　was　Lord　Amatin。　All　of　them　seemed　solemnly　glad；　but　Mhoram's　serene　gaze　outshone　them；　testified　more　eloquently　than　they　could　to　the　Land's　victory。
　　　　Behind　the　Lords　stood　Warmark　Quaan　and　Hearthrall　Tohrm…　Quaan　with　the　Hafts　of　his　Warward；　and　Tohrm　with　all　the　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases　of　Lord's　Keep。　Covenant　saw　that　Trell　Atiaran…mate　was　not　among　them。　He　understood　intuitively；　Trell　had　carried　his　personal　dilemma　to　its　conclusion；　and　was　either　dead　or　gone。　Again；　the　Unbeliever　found　that　he　could　not　argue　away　his　guilt。
　　　　All　around　the　lake　beyond　the　Lords　were　Lorewardens　and　warriors。　And　behind　them　were　the　survivors　of　Revelstone…farmers；　Cattleherds；　horse…tenders；　cooks；　artisans；　Craftmasters…children　and　parents；　young　and　old…all　the　people　who　had　endured。　They　did　not　seem　many；　but　Covenant　knew　that　they　were　enough；　they　would　be　able　to　mence　the　work　of　restoration。
　　　　As　he　watched；　they　drew　close　to　Glimmermere　and　fell　silent。　High　Lord　Mhoram　waited　until　they　were　all　attentive；　ready。　Then　he　lifted　up　his　voice。
　　　　〃People　of　the　Land；〃　he　said　firmly；　〃we　are　gathered　here　in　celebration　of　life。　I　have　no　long　song　to　sing。　I　am　weak　yet；　and　none　of　us　is　strong。　But　we　live。　The　Land　has　been　preserved。　The　mad　riot　and　rout　of　Lord　Foul's　army　shows　us　that　he　has　fallen。　The　fierce　echo　of　battle　within　the　krill　of　Loric　shows　us　that　the　white　gold　has　done　bat　with　the　Illearth　Stone；　and　has　emerged　triumphant。　That　is　cause　enough　for　celebration。　Enough？　My　friends；　it　will　suffice　for　us　and　for　our　children；　while　the　present　age　of　the　Land　endures。
　　　　''In　token　of　this；　I　have　brought　the　krill　to　Glimmermere。''　Reaching　painfully　into　his　robe；　he　drew　out　the　dagger。　Its　gem　showed　no　light　or　life。　〃In　it；　we　see　that　ur…Lord　Thomas　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　white　gold　wielder；　has　returned　to　his　world；　where　a　great　hero　was　fashioned　for　our　deliverance。
　　　　〃Well；　that　is　as　it　must　be；　though　my　heart　regrets　his　passing。　Yet　let　none　fear　that　he　is　lost　to　us。　Did　not　the　old　legends　say　that　Berek　Halfhand　would　e　again？　And　was　not　that　promise　kept　in　the　person　of　the　Unbeliever？　Such　promises　are　not　made　in　vain。
　　　　〃My　friends…people　of　the　Land…Thomas　Covenant　once　inquired　of　me　why　we　so　devote　ourselves　to　the　Lore　of　High　Lord　Kevin　Landwaster。　And　now；　in　this　war；　we　have　learned　the　hazard　of　that　Lore。　Like　the　krill；　it　is　a　power　of　two　edges；　as　apt　for　carnage　as　for　preservation。　Its　use　endangers　our　Oath　of　Peace。
　　　　〃I　am　Mhoram　son　of　Variol；　High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council。　I　declare　that　from　this　day　forth　we　will　not　devote　ourselves　to　any　Lore　which　precludes　Peace。　We　will　gain　lore　of　our　own…we　will　strive　and　quest　and　learn　until　we　have　found　a　lore　in　which　the　Oath　of　Peace　and　the　preservation　of　the　Land　live　together。　Hear　me；　you　people！　We　will　serve　Earthfriendship　in　a　new　way。〃
　　　　As　he　finished；　he　lifted　the　krill　and　tossed　it　high　into　the　air。　It　arced　glinting　through　the　sunlight；　struck　water　in　the　center　of　Glimmermere。　When　it　splashed　the　potent　water；　it　flared　once；　sent　a　burn　of　white　glory　into　the　depths　of　the　lake。　Then　it　was　gone　forever。
　　　　High　Lord　Mhoram　watched　while　the　ripples　faded。　Then　he　made　an　exultant　summoning　gesture；　and　all　the　people　around　Glimmermere　began　to　sing　in　celebration：
　　　　Hail；　Unbeliever！　Keeper　and　Covenant；　Unoathed　truth　and　wicked's　bane；　Ur…Lord　Illender；　Prover　of　Life：　Hail！　Covenant！
　　　　Dour…handed　wild　magic　wielder；　Ur…Earth　white　gold's　servant　and　Lord…　Yours　is　the　power　that　preserves。
　　　　Sing　out；　people　of　the　Land…
　　　　Raise　obeisance！
　　　　Hold　honor　and　glory　high　to　the　end　of　days：
　　　　Keep　clean　the　truth　that　was　won！
　　　　Hail；　Unbeliever！
　　　　Covenant！
　　　　Hail！
　　　　They　raised　their　staffs　and　swords　and　hands　to　him；　and　his　vision　blurred　with　tears。　Tears　smeared　Glimmermere　out　of　focus　until　it　became　only　a　smudge　of　light　before　his　face。　He　did　not　want　to　lose　it。　He　tried　to　clear　his　sight；　hoping　that　the　lake　was　not　gone。　But　then　he　became　conscious　of　his　tears。　Instead　of　wetting　his　cheeks；　they　ran　from　the　corners　of　his　eyes　down　to　his　ears　and　neck。　He　was　lying　on　his　back　in　fort。　When　he　refocused　his　sight；　pulled　it　into　adjustment　like　the　resolution　of　a　lens；　he　found　that　the　smear　of　light　before　him　was　the　face　of　a　man。
　　　　The　man　peered　at　him　for　a　long　moment；　then　withdrew　into　a　superficial　haze　of　fluorescence。　Slowly；　Covenant　realized　that　there　were　gleaming　horizontal　bars　on　either　side　of　the　bed。　His　left　wrist　was　tied　to　one　of　them；　so　that　he　could　not　disturb　the　needle　in　his　vein。　The　needle　was　connected　by　a　clear　tube　to　an　IV　bottle　above　his　head。　The　air　had　a　faint　patina　of　germicide。
　　　　〃I　wouldn't　have　believed　it　if　I　hadn't　seen　it；〃　the　man　said。　〃That　poor　devil　is　going　to　live。〃
　　　　〃That's　why　I　called　you；　doctor；〃　the　woman　said。　〃Isn't　there　anything　we　can　do？〃
　　　　〃Do？〃　the　doctor　snapped。
　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　it　like　that；〃　the　woman　replied　defensively。　〃But　he's　a　leper！　He's　been　making　people　in　this　town　miserable　for　months。　Nobody　knows　what　to　do　about　him。　Some　of　the　other　nurses　want…they　want　overtime　pay　for　taking　care　of　him。　And　look　at　him。　He'　s　so　messed　up。　I　just　think　it　would　be　a　lot　better　for　everyone…if　he…〃
　　　　〃That's　enough。〃　The　man　was　angry。　〃Nurse；　if　I　hear　another　word　like　that　out　of　you；　you're　going　to　be　looking　for　a　new　job。　This　man　is　ill。　If　you　don't　want　to　help　people　who　are　ill；　go　find　yourself　some　other　line*　of　work。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　any　harm；〃　the　nurse　huffed　as　she　left　the　room。
　　　　After　she　was　gone；　Covenant　lost　sight　of　the　doctor　for　a　while；　he　seemed　to　fade　into　the　insensitive　haze　of　the　lighting。　Covenant　tried　to　take　stock　of　his　situation。　His　right　wrist　was　also　tied；　so　that　he　lay　in　the　bed　as　if　he　had　been　crucified。　But　the　restraints　did　not　prevent　him　from　testing　the　essential　facts　about　himself。　His　feet　were　numb　and　cold。　His　fingers　were　in　the　same　condition…numb；　chill。　His　forehead　hurt　feverishly。　His　lip　was　taut　and　hot　with　swelling。
　　　　He　had　to　agree　with　the　nurse；　he　was　in　rotten　shape。
　　　　Then　he　found　the　doctor　near　him　again。　The　man　seemed　young　and　angry。　Another　man　entered　the　room；　an　older　doctor　whom　Covenant　recognized　as　the　one　who　had　treated　him　during　his　previous　stay　in　the　hospital。　Unlike　the　younger　man；　this　doctor　wore　a　suit　rather　than　a　white　staff　jacket。　As　he　entered；　he　said；　〃I　hope　you've　got　good　reason　for　calling　me。　I　don't　give　up　church　for　just　anyone…especially　on　Easter。〃
　　　　〃This　is　a　hospital；〃　the　younger　man　growled；　〃not　a　bloody　revival。　Of　course　I've　got　good　reason。〃
　　　　〃What's　eating　you？　Is　he　dead？〃
　　　　〃No。　Just　the　opposite…he's　going　to　live。　One　minute　he's　in　allergic　shock；　and　dying　from　it　because　his　body's　too　weak　and　infected　and　poisoned　to　fight　back…and　the　next…　Pulse　firm；　respiration　regular；　pupillary　reactions　normal；　skin　tone　improving。　I'll　tell　you　what　it　is。　It's　a　goddamn　miracle；　that's　what　it　is。〃
　　　　〃e；　now；〃　the　older　man　murmured。　〃I　don't　believe　in　miracles…neither　do　you。〃　He　glanced　at　the　chart；　then　listened　to　Covenant's　heart　and　lungs　for　himself。　〃Maybe　he's　just　stubborn。〃　He　leaned　close　to　Covenant's　face。　〃Mr。　Covenant；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　can　hear　me。　If　you　can；　I　have　some　news　which　may　be　important　to　you。　I　saw　Megan　Roman　yesterday…your　lawyer。　She　said　that　the　township　council　has　decided　not　to　rezone　Haven　Farm。　The　way　you　saved　that　little　girl…well；　some　people　are　just　a　bit　ashamed　of　themselves。　It's　hard　to　take　a　hero's　home　away　from　him。
　　　　〃Of　course；　to　be　honest　I　should　tell　you　that　Megan　performed　a　little　legerdemain　for　you。　She's　a　sharp　lawyer；　Mr。　Covenant。　She　thought　the　council　might　think　twice　about　evicting　you　if　it　knew　that　a　national　news　magazine　was　going　to　do　a　human　interest　story　on　the　famous　author　who　saves　children　from　rattlesnakes。　None　of　our　politicians　were　very　eager　for　headlines　like　'Town　Ostracizes　Hero。'　But　the　point　is　that　you'll　be　able　to　keep　Haven　Farm。〃
　　　　The　older　man　receded。　After　a　moment；　Covenant　heard　him　say　to　the　other　doctor；　〃You　still　haven't　told　me　why　you're　in　such　high　dudgeon。〃
　　　　〃It's　nothing；''　the　younger　man　replied　as　they　left　the　room。　〃One　of　our　Florence　Nightingales　suggested　that　we　should　kill　him　off。〃
　　　　〃Who　was　it？　I'll　get　the　nursing　superintendent　to　transfer　her。　We'll　get　decent　care　for　him　from　somewhere。〃
　　　　Their　voices　drifted　away；　left　Covenant　alone　in　his　bed。
　　　　He　was　thinking　dimly；　A　miracle。　That's　what　it　was。
　　　　He　was　a　sick　man；　a　victim　of　Hansen's　disease。　But　he　was　not　a　leper…not　just　a　leper。　He　had　the　law　of　his　illness　carved　in　large；　undeniable　letters　on　the　nerves　of　his　body；　but　he　was　more　than　that。　In　the　end；　he　had　not　failed　the　Land。　And　he　had　a　heart　which　could　still　pump　blood；　bones　which　could　still　bear　his　weight；　he　had　himself。
　　　　Thomas　Covenant：　Unbeliever。
　　　　A　miracle。
　　　　Despite　the　stiff　pain　in　his　lip；　he　smiled　at　the　empty　room。　He　felt　the　smile　on　his　face；　and　was　sure　of　it。
　　　　He　smiled　because　he　was　alive。
　
　
　
　1