srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第23部分

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wer　brings　you　aliantha。〃
　　　　Covenant　heard　heavy　feet　moving　across　the　frozen　ground。　A　moment　later　Foamfollower　knelt　with　a　quiet　smile　beside　him。　Both　his　hands　were　full　of　viridian　treasure…berries。
　　　　Covenant　looked　at　the　aliantha。　He　felt　he　had　forgotten　what　to　do　with　them；　he　had　been　hungry　for　so　long　that　hunger　had　bee　a　part　of　him。　But　he　could　not　refuse　the　offer　behind　the　Giant's　kind　smile。　Slowly；　he　reached　out　a　numb　hand　and　took　one　of　the　treasure…berries。
　　　　When　he　slipped　it　past　his　lip　and　bit　into　it；　the　tangy　salt…peach　flavor　which　blossomed　in　his　mouth　seemed　to　refute　all　his　reasons　for　fasting。　And　as　he　swallowed；　he　could　feel　nourishment　rushing　eagerly　into　him。　He　spit　the　seed　into　his　palm；　as　if　he　were　pleting　a　ritual；　he　dropped　it　over　his　shoulder。　Then　he　began　to　eat　rapidly；　wolfishly。
　　　　He　did　not　stop　until　Foamfollower's　hands　were　empty。　Sighing　as　if　he　longed　for　more；　he　sowed　the　last　seed　behind　him。
　　　　The　Giant　nodded　approval　and　seated　himself　in　a　more　relaxed　position　near　the　graveling。　Triock　followed　his　example。　When　they　were　both　looking　at　him；　Covenant　said　softly；　〃　I　won'　t　forget　this。〃　He　could　not　think　of　any　other　way　to　express　his　thanks。
　　　　Triock　frowned　sharply。　He　asked　Foamfollower；　〃Does　he　threaten　us　now？〃
　　　　The　Giant's　cavernous　eyes　searched　Covenant's　face。　He　smiled　wanly　as　he　replied；　〃The　Unbeliever　has　a　mournful　turn　of　speech。　He　does　not　threaten…he　does　not　threaten　us。〃
　　　　Covenant　felt　a　surge　of　grim　gratitude　for　Foamfollower's　understanding。　He　tried　to　smile　in　return；　but　the　tightness　of　his　lip　prevented　him。　He　winced　at　the　effort；　then　pulled　his　blankets　more　closely　around　him。　He　sensed　a　depth　of　cold　answers　behind　the　questions　he　needed　to　ask。
　　　　But　he　did　not　know　how　to　ask　them。　Triock's　bitter　mouth　and　Foamfollower's　scars　intruded　between　him　and　his　summoners；　he　feared　that　he　was　to　blame　for　the　tales　they　might　tell　him　if　he　asked。　Yet　he　had　to　know　the　answers；　had　to　know　where　he　stood。　The　first　outlines　of　purpose　were　taking　shape　within　him。　He　could　not　forget　how　this　valley　had　looked　when　he　had　first　seen　it。　And　Mhoram　had　pleaded　with　him　for　help。
　　　　Lamely；　he　began；　〃I　didn't　expect　to　turn　up　here。　I　thought　Mhoram　was　going　to　call　me　back。　But　even　he　doesn't　have　the　Staff　of　Law。　How…how　did　you　do　it？〃
　　　　Triock　answered　in　stiff　tones；　〃Mhoram　son　of　Variol；　seer　and　oracle　to　the　Council　of　Lords；　came　to　Mithil　Stonedown　before　the　last　war…the　battle　against　Fleshharrower　Raver。　At　that　time；　he　gave　to　me　the　lomillialor　rod　which　I　have　used　today…and　for　the　past　three　days。　Because　of　his　gift；　I　journeyed　to　the　Loresraat；　to　study　the　uses　of　the　High　Wood。　There　I　learned　of　High　Lord　Elena's　fall…I…〃
　　　　He　paused　for　a　moment　to　lash　down　his　passion；　then　went　on。　〃In　the　years　which　followed；　I　waited　for　the　reason　of　High　Lord　Mhoram's　gift　to　be　made　plain。　During　that　time；　I　fought　with　my　people　against　the　marauders　of　the　Gray　Slayer。　Then　the　Giant　Saltheart　Foamfollower　joined　us；　and　we　fought　together　through　the　South　Plains。　While　winter　increased　upon　the　Land；　we　attacked　and　ran　and　attacked　again；　doing　what　damage　we　could　to　our　vast　foe。　But　at　last　word　came　to　us　that　Revelwood　had　fallen…that　great　Revelstone　itself　was　besieged。　We　left　our　battles；　and　returned　to　Mithil　Stonedown　and　Kevin's　Watch。　With　the　lomillialor　of　High　Lord　Mhoram；　and　the　strength　of　Saltheart　Foam…follower；　and　the　lore　I　brought　from　the　Loresraat；　we　labored　for　three　days；　and　in　the　end　brought　you　to　the　Land。　It　was　not　easily　done。〃
　　　　Triock's　flint　voice　sparked　visions　of　desperation　in　Covenant's　mind。　To　resist　them；　control　them　until　he　was　ready　for　them；　he　asked；　〃But　how？　I　thought　only　the　Staff　of　Law…〃
　　　　〃Much　has　been　broken　by　the　fall　of　High　Lord　Elena；〃　Triock　retorted。　〃The　Land　has　not　yet　tasted　all　the　consequences　of　that　evil。　But　the　Staff　made　possible　certain　expressions　of　power…and　limited　others。　Now　that　limit　is　gone。　Do　you　not　feel　the　malice　of　this　winter？〃
　　　　Covenant　nodded　with　an　ache　in　his　eyes。　His　responsibility　for　Elena's　end　stung　him；　goaded　him　to　ask　another　kind　of　question。　〃That　doesn't　tell　me　why　you　did　it。　After　Lena…and　Elena…and　Atiaran''…he　could　not　bring　himself　to　be　more　specific…〃and　everything…you've　got　less　reason　than　anyone　in　the　world　to　want　me　back。　Even　Trell…　Maybe　Foamfollower　here　can　forget；　but　you　can't。　If　you　were　thinking　it　any　louder；　I　could　taste　it。〃
　　　　Bitterness　clenched　Triock's　jaws；　but　his　reply　was　sharp　and　ready；　as　if　he　had　whetted　it　many　times。　〃Yet　Foamfollower　is　persuasive。　The　Land　is　persuasive。　The　importance　which　the　Lorewardens　see　in　you　is　persuasive。　And　Lena　daughter　of　Atiaran　still　lives　in　Mithil　Stonedown。　In　her　last　years；　Atiaran　Trell…mate　said　often　that　it　is　the　duty　of　the　living　to　make　meaningful　the　sacrifices　of　the　dead。　But　I　wish　to　find　meaning　for　the　sacrifices　of　those　who　live。　After…after　the　harm　which　you　wrought　upon　Lena…she　hid　herself　so　that　the　harm　would　not　be　known…so　that　you　would　be　left　free　to　bear　your　prophecy　to　the　Lords。　That　sacrifice　requires　meaning；　Unbeliever。〃
　　　　In　spite　of　himself；　in　spite　of　his　own　expectations　of　hostility　and　recrimination；　Covenant　believed　Triock。　Elena　had　warned　him；　she　had　described　the　size　of　Triock's　capabilities。　Now　he　wondered　where　Triock　found　his　strength。　The　man　had　been　an　unambitious　Cattleherd。　The　girl　he　loved　had　been　raped；　and　her　bastard　daughter　had　grown　up　to　love　the　rapist。　Yet　because　of　them　he　had　gone　to　the　Loresraat；　studied　dangerous　lore　for　which　he　had　no　desire　or　affinity。　He　had　bee　a　guerrilla　fighter　for　the　Land。　And　now　he　had　summoned　Covenant　at　the　mand　of　the　Land's　need　and　his　own　harsh　sense　of　mercy。　Thickly；　Covenant　muttered；　〃You've　kept　your　Oath。〃　He　was　thinking；　I　owe　you　for　this；　too；　Foul。
　　　　Abruptly；　Triock　got　to　his　feet。　The　lines　around　his　eyes　dominated　his　face　as　he　scrutinized　Covenant。　In　a　low　voice；　he　said；　〃What　will　you　do？〃
　　　　〃Ask　me　later。〃　Covenant　was　ashamed　that　he　could　not　match　Triock's　gaze。　〃I'm　not　ready　yet。〃　Instinctively；　he　clasped　his　right　hand　over　his　ring；　hiding　it　from　consideration。
　　　　〃There　is　time；〃　murmured　Foamfollower。　〃You　have　a　great　need　for　rest。〃
　　　　Triock　said；　〃Choose　soon。　We　must　be　on　our　way　at　dawn。〃　Then　he　moved　brusquely　away　through　the　mounting　snow　toward　his　two　panions　by　the　second　pot　of　graveling。
　　　　〃He　is　a　good　man；〃　Foamfollower　said　softly。　〃Trust　him。〃
　　　　Oh；　I　trust　him；　Covenant　thought。　How　can　I　help　it？
　　　　Despite　the　warmth　of　his　blankets；　he　began　to　shiver　again。
　　　　As　he　leaned　still　closer　to　the　glowing　fire…stones；　he　noticed　the　look　of　concern　on　Foamfollower's　face。　To　forestall　any　expression　of　anxiety　which　would　remind　him　how　little　he　deserved　the　Giant's　concern；　he　said　hastily；　〃I　still　don't　know　what's　happened　to　you。　The　Giants　Were…I　don't　know　what　happened　to　them。　And　you…　You've　been　outrageously　hacked　upon。〃　In　an　effort　to　probe　Foamfollower；　he　went　on：　〃I'd　tell　you　something　funny。　I　was　afraid　of　what　you　might　d°after　all　that　business　in　Treacher's　Gorge。　I　was　afraid　you　might　go　back　to　your　people　and…and　convince　them　to　stop　fighting；　give　it　up。
　　　　What　do　you　think？　Have　I　finally　succeeded　in　telling　you　a　story　you　can　laugh　at？〃
　　　　But　he　saw　poignantly　that　he　had　not。　Foamfollower　bowed　his　head；　covered　his　face　with　one　hand。　For　a　moment；　the　muscles　of　his　shoulders　tensed　as　if　with　his　fingers　he　were　squeezing　the　bones　of　his　countenance　into　an　attitude　which　he　could　not　achieve　in　any　other　way。　〃Joy　is　in　the　ears　that　hear；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　muffled　by　his　hand。　〃My　ears　have　been　too　full　of　the　noise　of　killing。〃
　　　　Then　he　raised　his　head；　and　his　expression　was　calm。　Only　a　smoldering　deep　within　the　caves　of　his　eyes　revealed　that　he　was　hurt。　〃I　am　not　yet　ready　to　laugh　over　this　matter。　Were　I　able　to　laugh；　I　would　not　feel　so…driven　to　slay　Soulcrusher's　creatures。〃
　　　　〃Foamfollower；〃　Covenant　murmured　again；　〃what's　happened　to　you？〃
　　　　The　Giant　gestured　helplessly　with　both　hands；　as　if　he　could　not　conceive　any　way　to　tell　his　story。　〃My　friend；　I　am　what　you　see。　Here　is　a　tale　which　lies　beyond　even　my　grasp；　and　I　am　a　Giant…though　you　will　remember　that　my　people　considered　me　unmonly　brief　of　speech。　Stone　and　Sea！　Covenant；　I　know　not　what　to　say。　You　know　how　I　fought　for　the　Quest　for　the　Staff　of　Law。　When　Damelon　Giantfriend's　prophecy　for　my　people　came　to　pass；　I　found　that　I　could　not　give　up　this　fighting。　I　had　struck　blows　which　would　not　stop。　Therefore　I　left　Seareach；　so　that　I　would　at　least　serve　the　Land　with　my　pulsion。
　　　　〃But　I　did　not　go　to　the　Lords。　In　my　thoughts；　the　great　rare　beauty　of　Revelstone；　Giant…wrought　Lord's　Keep；　daunted　me。　I　did　not　wish　to　stand　in　those　brave　halls　while　Soulcrusher's　creatures　raved　in　the　Land。　For　that　reason；　I　fight；　and　spend　my　days　with　people　who　fight。　From　the　Nort