srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第13部分

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o　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　palpable　petence；　which　intimidated　or　belittled　Covenant；　and　yet　Covenant　sensed　something　extreme　and　sad　in　Bannor's　timeless　impenetrability。
　The　Bloodguard　were　said　to　be　two　thousand　years　old。　They　were　clenched　into　immutability　by　a　strait　and　consuming　Vow　of　service　to　the　Lords；　while　all　the　people　they　had　ever　known…including　the　long…lived　Giants；　and　High　Lord　Kevin；　who　had　inspired　them　to　their　Vow…fell　into　dust。
　Looking　now　at　Bannor；　with　his　alien　countenance　and　his　bare　feet　and　his　short　brown　tunic；　Covenant　received　a　sudden　intuitive　impression；　as　if　a　previous　subliminal　perception　had　crystallized。　How　many　times　had　Bannor　saved　his　life？　For　an　instant；　he　could　not　remember。　He　felt　unexpectedly　sure　that　the　Bloodguard　could　tell　him　what　he　needed　to　know；　that　from　the　extravagance　of　his　two　thousand…year　perspective；　bereft　by　the　unforeseen　power　of　his　Vow　of　home　and　sleep　and　death；　of　everyone　he　had　ever　loved；　he　had　gained　the　knowledge　Covenant　needed。
　〃Bannor…〃　he　began。
　〃Ur…Lord。〃　The　Bloodguard's　voice　was　as　passionless　as　time。
　But　Covenant　did　not　know　how　to　ask；　he　could　not　put　his　need　into　words　which　would　not　sound　like　an　attack　on　the　Bloodguard's　impossible　fidelity。　Instead；　he　murmured；　〃So　we're　back　to　this。〃
　〃The　High　Lord　has　chosen　me　to　keep　watch　over　you。〃
　〃e　on；〃　called　Troy　peremptorily。　〃You　should　see　this。〃
　Covenant　disregarded　him　for　a　moment　longer。　To
　Bannor；　he　said；　〃I　hope…I　hope　it　works　out　better　than　the　last　time。〃　Then　he　turned　and　moved　down　the　hall　after　Troy。　He　knew　that　Bannor　came　behind　him；　though　the　Bloodguard　walked　without　a　sound。
　Impatiently；　Hile　Troy　guided　Covenant　inward　through　the　levels　of　the　Keep。　They　passed　briskly　across　high　vaulted　halls；　along　connecting　corridors；　and　down　stairs　until　they　reached　a　place　that　Covenant　recognized：　the　long　circular　passage　around　the　sacred　enclosure；　where　the　inhabitants　of　Revelstone　worshipped。
　He　followed　Troy　in　through　one　of　the　many　doors　onto　a　balcony　which　hung　in　the　great　cavern。　The　cavity　was　cylindrical　in　shape；　with　seven　balconies　cut　into　the　walls；　a　flat　floor　with　a　dais　on　one　side；　and　a　domed　ceiling　too　high　above　the　balconies　to　be　seen　clearly。　The　enclosure　was　dim；　the　only　illumination　came　from　four　large　lillianrill　torches　set　around　the　dais。　Bannor　closed　the　door；　shutting　out　the　light　from　the　outer　hallway；　and　in　the　gloom　Covenant　clung　to　the　railing　for　security　against　the　depth　of　the　cavity。　He　was　several　hundred　feet　above　the　dais。
　The　balconies　were　nearly　empty。　Clearly；　whatever　ceremony　was　about　to　be　enacted　was　not　intended　for　the　general　population　of　Revelstone。
　The　nine　Lords　were　already　on　the　dais。　They　stood　in　a　circle　facing　each　other。　With　their　backs　to　the　torches；　their　faces　were　shadowed；　and　Covenant　could　not　make　out　their　features。
　〃This　is　your　doing；〃　said　Troy　in　an　intent　whisper。　〃They　have　tried　everything　else。　You　shamed　them　into　this。〃
　Two　Bloodguard　bearing　some　figure　between　them　moved　toward　the　dais。　With　a　start；　Covenant　identified　the　injured　Waynhim。　Dukkha　was　struggling　feebly；　but　it　could　not　prevent　the　Bloodguard　from　placing　it　within　the　circle　of　the　Lords。
　〃They're　going　to　try　to　break　the　hold　of　the　Illearth　Stone；〃　Troy　continued。　〃This　is　risky。　If　they　fail；　it　could　spread　to　one　of　them。　They'll　be　too　exhausted　to　fight　it。〃
　Clutching　the　railing　with　both　hands；　Covenant　watched　the　scene　below　him。　The　two　Bloodguard　left　dukkha　cowering　in　the　circle；　and　retreated　to　the　wall　of　the　enclosure。　For　a　long　moment；　the　Lords　stood　in　silent　concentration；　preparing　themselves。　Then　they　lifted　their　heads；　planted　their　staffs　firmly　before　them　on　the　stone；　and　began　to　sing。　Their　hymn　echoed　in　the　enclosure　as　if　the　domed　gloom　itself　were　resonating。　They　appeared　small　in　the　immense　chamber；　but　their　song　stood　up　boldly；　filling　the　air　with　authority　and　purpose。
　As　the　echoes　died；　Troy　whispered　in　Covenant's　ear；　〃If　something　goes　wrong　here；　you're　going　to　pay　for　it。〃
　I　know；　Covenant　said　like　a　prophet。　I'm　going　to　have　to　pay　for　everything。
　When　silence　at　last　refilled　the　enclosure；　High〃　Lord　Elena　said　in　a　clear　voice；　〃Dharmakshetra；　Waynhim；　if　you　can　hear　us　through　the　wrong　which　has　been　done　to　you；　listen。　We　seek　to　drive　the　power　of　the　Illearth　Stone　from　you。　Please　aid　us。　。　Resist　the　Despiser。　Dukkha；　head　Remember　health　and　hope；　and　resist　this　ill！〃
　Together；　the　Lords　raised　their　staffs。
　Troy's　fingers　reached　out　of　the　darkness　and　gripped　Covenant's　arm　above　the　elbow。
　Crying　in　one　voice；　〃Melenkurion　abatha！〃　the　Lords　struck　their　staffs　on　the　stone。　The　metal　rang　through　the　sacred　enclosure　like　a　clashing　of　shields；　and　blue　Lords…fire　burst　from　the　upheld　end　of　each　staff。　The　incandescent　flames　burned　hotly；　outshining　the　light　of　the　torches。　But　the　Staff　of　Law　dazzled　them　all；　flaring　like　a　tongue　of　lightning。　And　the　fire　of　the　staffs　made　a　low　sound　like　the　rush　of　distant　storm　winds。
　Slowly；　one　of　the　lesser　staffs　bent　toward　the　head　of　dukkha。　It　descended；　then　stopped　with　its　flame　well　above　the　Waynhim's　head；　as　if　at　that　point　the　fire　met　resistance。　When　the　wielding　Lord　pressed　down；　the　air　between　dukkha's　skull　and　the　staff　ignited；　the　whole　space　burned。　But　the　fire　there　was　as　green　as　cold　emerald；　and　it　devoured　the　Lords'　blue　power。
　Troy's　fingers　dug　like　claws　into　the　flesh　of　Covenant's　arm。　But　Covenant　hardly　felt　them。
　To　meet　the　green　flame；　the　Lords　broke　into　s　stern　antiphonal　chant；　using　words　that　Covenant　could　not　understand。　Their　voices　pounded　against　the　green；　and　the　rushing　wind　of　their　power　mounted。　Yet　through　it　could　be　heard　the　voice　of　dukkha　Waynhim；　gibbering。
　One　by　one；　the　Lords　added　their　fires　to　the　struggle　over　dukkha's　head；　until　only　the　Staff　of　Law　remained　unmitted。　As　each　new　power　touched　the　green；　a　sound　of　hunger　and　the　crushing　of　bones　multiplied　in　the　sir；　and　the　baleful　emerald　fire　blazed　up　more　mightily；　expanding　like　an　inferno　of　cruel　ice　to　bat　the　Lords'　strength。
　Abruptly；　the　lillianrill　torches　went　out；　as　if　extinguished　by　a　high　wind。
　Troy's　fingers　tightened。
　Then　High　Lord　Elena's　voice　sprang　out　over　the　song　of　the　Lords。　〃Melenkurion　abatha！　Duroc　minas　mill　khabaal！〃　With　a　sweeping　stroke；　she　swung　the　Staff　of　Law　into　the　fray。
　For　an　instant；　the　force　of　her　attack　drove　the　conflicting　fires　together。　Blue　and　green　became　one；　and　raged　up　over　the　circle　of　the　Lords；　ravening　and　roaring　like　a　holocaust。　But　the　next　moment；　dukkha　shrieked　as　if　its　soul　were　torn　in　two。　The　towering　flame　ruptured　like　a　thunderhead。
　The　detonation　blew　out　all　the　fire　in　the　enclosure。　At　once　a　darkness　as　plete　as　a　grave　closed　over　the　Lords。
　Then　two　small　torches　appeared　in　the　hands　of　the　Bloodguard。　The　dim　light　showed　dukkha　lying　on　the　stone　besid