srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第11部分

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uch　like　blaming　me　for　being　a　leper。　It's　not　my　fault。　〃You　go　too　far。〃

　〃Ur…Lord；〃　Mhoram　replied；　articulating　each　word　distinctly；　〃there　is　peril　upon　the　Land。　Distance　will　not　restrain　me。〃
　〃That　isn't　what　I　meant。　I　meant　you're　taking　what　I　said　too　far。　I'm　not　the…the　shaper。　I'm　not　in　control。　I'm　just　another　victim。　All　I　know　is　what　you　tell　me。
　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　why　you　keep　trying　to　make　me　responsible。　What　makes　you　any　weaker　than　I　am？　You've　got　the　Staff　of　Law。　You've　got　the　rhadhamaerl　and　lillianrill。　What　makes　you　so　bloody　weak？〃
　The　heat　slowly　faded　from　the　Lord's　gaze。　Folding　his　arms　so　that　his　staff　was　clasped　across　his　chest；　he　smiled　crookedly。　〃Your　question　grows　with　each　asking。　If　I　require　you　to　ask　again；　I　fear　that　nothing　…less　than　a　Giant's　tale　will　suffice　for　answer。　Forgive　me；　my　friend。　I　know　that　our　peril　cannot　be　laid　on　your　head。　Dream　or　no…there　is　no　difference　for　us。　We　must　serve　the　Land。
　〃Now；　I　must　first　remind　you　that　the　rhadhamaerl　and　lillianrill　are　another　question；　separate　from　the　weakness　of　the　Lords。　The　。stone…lore　of　the　rhadhamaerl；　and　the　wood…lore　of　the　lillianrill；　have　been　preserved　from　past　ages　by　the　people　of　Stonedown　and　Woodhelven。　In　their　exile　after　the　Ritual　of　Desecration；　the　people　of　the　Land　lost　much　of　the　richness　of　their　lives。　They　were　sorely　bereft；　and　could　cling　only　to　that　lore　which　enabled　them　to　endure。　Thus；　when　they　returned　to　the　Land；　they　brought　with　them　those　whose　work　in　exile　was　to　preserve　and　use。　the　lore…Gravelingases　of　the　rhadhamaerl　；　and　Hirebrands　of　the　lillianrill。　It　is　the　work　of　Hirebrand　and　Gravelingas　to　make　the　lives　of　the　villages　bounteous…warm　in　winter　and　plentiful　in　summer；　true　to　the　song　of　the　Land。
　'Me　Lore　of　High　Lord　Kevin　Landwaster　is　another　matter。　That　knowledge　is　the　concern　of　the　Loresraat　and　the　Lords。
　〃The　age　of　the　Old　Lords；　before　Lord　Foul　broke　into　open　war　with　Kevin　son　of　Loric；　was　among　the　bravest　and　gladdest　and　strongest　of　all　the　times　of　the　Land。　Kevin's　Lore　was　mighty　with　Earthpower；　and　pure　with　Landservice。　Health　and　gaiety　flowered　in　the　Land；　and　the　bright　Earth　jewel　of　Andelain　bedizened　the　Land's　heart　with　precious　woods　and　stones。　That　was　a　time　〃Yet　it　came　to　an　end。　Despair　darkened　Kevin；　and　in　the　Ritual　of　Desecration　he　destroyed　that　which　he　loved；　intending　to　destroy　the　Despiser　as　well。　But　before　the　end；　he　was　touched　with　prophecy　or　foresight；　and　found　means　to　save　much　of　power　and　beauty。　He　warned　the　Giants　and　the　Ranyhyn；　so　that　they　might　flee。　He　ordered　the　Bloodguard　into　safety。　And　he　left　his　Lore　for　later　ages…hid　it　in　Seven　Wards　so　that　it　would　not　fall　into　wrong　or　unready　hands。　The　First　Ward　he　gave　to　the　Giants；　and　when　the　exile　was　ended　they　gave　it　to　the　first　of　the　new　Lords；　the　forebearers　of　this　Council。　In　turn；　these　Lords　conceived　the　Oath　of　Peace　and　carried　it　to　all　the　people　of　the　Land…an　Oath　to　guard　against　Kevin's　destroying　passion。　And　these　Lords；　our　forebearers；　swore　themselves　and　their　followers　in　fealty　and　service　to　the　Land　and　the　Earthpower。
　〃Now；　my　friend；　you　know　we　have　found　the　Second　Ward。　The　Two　contain　much　knowledge　and　much　power；　and　when　they　are　mastered　they　will　lead　us　to　the　Third　Ward。　In　this　way；　mastery　will　guide　us　until　all　Kevin's　Lore　is　ours。　But　we　fail　we　fail　to　penetrate。　How　can　I　say　it？　We　translate　the　speech　of　the　Old　Lords。　We　learn　the　skills　and　rites　and　songs　of　the　Lore。　We　study　Peace；　and　devote　ourselves　to　the　life　of　the　Land。　And　yet　something　lacks。　In　some　way；　we　misprehend…we　do　not　suffice。　Only　a　part　of　the　power　of　this　knowledge　answers　to　our　touch。　We　can　learn　nothing　of　the　other　Wards…and　little　of　the　Seven　Words　which　evoke　the　Earthpower。　Something…ur…Lord；　it　is　something　in　us　which　fails。　I　feel　it　in　my　heart。　We　lack。　We　have　not　the　stature　of　mastery。〃
　The　Lord　fell　silent；　musing　with　his　head　down　and　his　cheek　pressed　against　his　staff。　Covenant　watched　him　for　a　time。　The　warmth　of　the　sun　and　the　cool　breeze　seemed　to　underscore　Mhoram's　stern　self　judgment。　Revelstone　itself　dwarfed　the　people　who　inhabited　it。
　Yet　the　Lord's　influence　or　example　strengthened　Covenant。　At　last；　he　found　the　courage　to　ask　his　most　important　question。　〃Then　why　am　I　here？　Why　did　he　let　you　summon　me？　Doesn't　he　want　the　white　gold？〃
　Without　raising　his　head；　Mhoram　said；　〃Lord　Foul　is　not　yet　ready　to　defeat　you。　The　wild　magic　still　surpasses　him。　Instead；　he　strives　to　make　you　destroy　yourself。　I　have　seen　it。〃
　〃Seen　it？〃　Covenant　echoed　softly；　painfully；
　〃In　gray　visions　I　have　caught　glimpses　of　the　Despiser's　heart。　In　this　matter；　I　speak　from　sure　prehension。　Even　now；　Lord　Foul　believes　that　his　might　is　not　equal　to　the　wild　magic。　He　is　not　yet　ready　to　battle　you。
　〃Remember　that　forty　years　ago　Drool　Rockworm　held　both　Staff　and　Stone。　Desiring　still　more　power　desiring　all　power…he　exerted　himself　against　you　in　ways　which　the　Despiser　would　not　have　chosen　ways　which　were　wasteful　or　foolish。　Drool　was　mad。　And　Lord　Foul　had　no　wish　to　teach　him　wisdom。
　〃Matters　are　otherwise　now。　Lord　Foul　wastes　no　power；　takes　no　risks　which　do　not　gain　his　ends。　He　seeks　indirectly　to　make　you　do　his　bidding。　If　it　es　to　the　last；　and　you　are　still　unmastered；　he　will　fight　you…but　only　when　he　is　sure　of　victory。　Until　that　time；　he　will　strive　to　bend　your　will　so　that　you　will　choose　to　strike　against　the　Land…or　to　withhold　your　hand　from　our　defense；　so　that　he　will　be　free　to　destroy　us。
　〃But　he　will　make　no　open　move　against　you　now。　He　fears　the　wild　magic。　White　gold　is　not　bound　by　the　law　of　Time；　and　he　must　prevent　its　use　until　he　can　know　that　it　will　not　be　used　against　him。〃
　Covenant　heard　the　truth　of　Mhoram's　words。　The　Despiser　had　told　him　much　the　same　thing；　high　on　Kevin's　Watch；　when　he　had　first　appeared　in　the　Land。　He　shivered　under　the　livid　memory　of　Lord　Foul's　contempt…shivered　and　felt　cold；　as　if　behind　the　clean　sunlight　over　Revelstone　blew　the　dank　mist　of　Despite；　dampening　his　soul　with　the　smell　of　attar；　filling　his　ears　on　a　level　just　beyond　hearing　with　the　rumble　of　an　avalanche。　Looking　into　Mhoram's　eyes；　he　knew　that　he　had　to　speak　truly　as　well；　reply　as　honestly　as　he　could。

　〃I　don't　have　any　choice。〃　Even　this　made　him　want　to　duck　his　head　in　shame；　but　he　forced　himself　to　hold　the　Lord's　gaze。　〃I'll　have　to　do　it　that　way。　Even　if　that's　not　the　one　good　answer…even　if　madness　is　not　the　only　danger　in　dreams。　Even　if　I　believed　in　this　wild　magic。　I　haven't　got　one　idea　how　to　use　it。〃
　With　an　effort；　Mhoram　smiled　gently。　But　the　somberness　of　his　glance　overshadowed　his　smile。　He　met　Covenant's　eyes　unwaveringly；　and　when　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　sad。　〃Ah；　my　friend；　what　will　you　do？〃
　The　uncritical　softness　of　the　question　caught　Covenant　by　the　throat。　He　was　not　prepared　for　such　sympathy。　With　difficulty；　he　answered；　〃I'll　survive。〃
　Mhoram　nodded　slowly；　and　a　moment　later　he　turned　away；　back　toward　the　room。　As　he　reached　the　door；　he　said；　〃I　am　late。　The　Council　waits　for　me。　I　must　go。〃
　But　before　the　Lord　could　leave；　Covenant　called　after　him；　〃Why　aren't　you　the　High　Lord？〃　He　was　trying　to　find　some　way　to　thank　Mhoram。　〃Don't　they　appreciate　you　around　here？〃
　Over　his　shoulder；　Mhoram　replied　simply；　〃My　time　has　not　yet　e。〃　Then　he　left　the　room；　closing　the　door　carefully　behind　him。
　
　
　FIVE：　Dukkha
　
　COVENANT　turned　back　to　the　southward　view　from　Revelstone。　He　had　many　things　to　think　about；　and　no　easy　way　to　grasp　them。　But　already　his　senses　seemed　to　be　swinging　into　consonance　with　the　Land。　He　could　smell　the　crops　in　the　fields　east　of　him　they　were　nearly　ready　for　harvesting…and　see　the　inner　ripeness　of　the　distant　trees。　He　found　autumn　in　the　way　the　sunlight　stroked　his　face。　Such　sensations　accented　the　excitement　in　his　veins；　but　they　confused　his　efforts　to　deal　clearly　with　his　situation。　No　leper；　he　thought　painfully；　no　leper　should　be　asked　to　live　in　such　a　healthy　world。
　Yet　he　could　not　deny　it；　he　was　moved　by　Mhoram's　account　of　the　dilemmas　of　the　Lords。　He　was　moved　by　the　Land；　and　by　the　people　who
　served　it　though　they　made　him　look　so　small　to　himself。　Sourly；　he　left　the　balcony；　and　scanned　the　tray　of　food　which　had　been　set　for　him　on　a　stone　table　in　the　center　of　his　sitting　room。　The　soup　and
　stew　still　steamed；　reminding　him　how　hungry　he　was。
　No。　He　could　not　afford　to　make　any　more　concessions。　Hunger　was　like　nerve…health…illusion；　deception；　dream。　He　could　not　A　knock　at　the　door　interrupted　him。　For　a　moment；　he　stood　still；　irresolute。　He　did　not　want　to　talk　to　anyone　until　he　had　had　more　time　to　think。　But　at　the　same　time　he　did　not　want　to　be　alone。　The　threat　of　madness　was　always　at　its　worst　when　he　was　alone。
　Keep　moving；　don't　look　back；　he　muttered　bitterly　to　himself；　echoing　a　formula　which　had　served　him　ambiguously　at　best。
　He　went　to　open　the　door。
　Standing　in　the　outer　hallway　was　Hile　Troy。
　He　was　dressed　as　Covenant　had　seen　him　before；　with　his　sunglasses　firmly　in　place；　and　again　the　slight　smile　on　his　lips　looked　vaguely　mysterious　and　apologetic。　A　sharp　pang　of　anxiety　joined　the　tingling　of　Covenant's　blood。　He　had　been　trying　not　to　think　about　this　man。
　〃e　on；〃　Troy　said。　His　tone　was　full　of　the　power　of　mand。　〃The　Lords　are　doing　something　you　ought　to　see。〃
　Covenant　shrugged　to　disguise　a　tremor　in　his　shoulders。　Troy　was　an　adversary…Covenant　could　sense　it。　But　he　had　made　his　decision　when　he　had　opened　the　door。　Defiantly；　he　strode　out　into　the　hall。
　In　the　hallway；　he　found　Bannor　standing　watch　by　his　door。
　Hile　Troy　started　away　with　a　swift；　confident　stride；　but　Covenant　turned　toward　the　Bloodguard。　Bannor　met　his　look　with　a　nod；　for　a　moment　they　held　each　other's　eyes。　Bannor's　flat；　brown；　unreadable　face　had　not　changed　a　whit；　not　aged　a　day　that　Covenant　could　discern。　As　he　stood　relaxed　and　ready；　the　Bloodguard　radiated　a　physical　solidity；　a　p