srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第27部分

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nterval；　he　shook　red　mist　from　his　eyes；　and　got　gasping　to　his　feet。
　　　　The　marauders　whirled　their　weapons；　dropped　into　fighting　crouches。　But　when　they　saw　that　they　were　threatened　by　only　one　half…stunned　man；　some　of　them　spat　hoarse　curses　at　him　and　others　began　to　laugh　malevolently。　Sheathing　their　weapons；　several　of　them　moved　forward　with　an　exaggerated　display　of　caution　to　capture　Covenant　and　the　old　woman。　At　this；　other　creatures　jeered　harshly；　and　more　came　into　the　circle　to　see　what　was　happening。
　　　　Covenant's　gaze　dashed　in　all　directions；　hunting　for　a　way　of　escape。　But　he　could　find　nothing；　he　and　the　woman　were　alone　against　more　than　a　score　of　the　misborn　creatures。
　　　　The　marauders'　breathing　did　not　steam　in　the　cold　air。　Though　they　wore　nothing　to　protect　their　flesh　from　the　cold；　they　seemed　horribly　fortable　in　the　preternatural　winter。
　　　　They　approached　as　if　they　meant　to　eat　Covenant　and　the　woman　alive。
　　　　The　woman　hissed　at　them　in　revulsion；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　her。　All　of　him　was　concentrated　on　escape。　An　odd　memory　tugged　at　the　back　of　his　mind。　He　remembered　a　time　when　Mhoram　had　made　even　powerless　white　gold　useful。　As　the　creatures　crept　hooting　toward　him；　he　suddenly　brandished　his　ring　and　sprang　forward　a　step；　shouting；　〃Get　back；　you　bloody　bastards；　or　I'll　blast　you　where　you　stand！〃
　　　　Either　his　shout　or　the　sight　of　his　ring　startled　them；　they　jumped　back　a　few　paces；　grabbing　at　their　weapons。
　　　　In　that　instant；　Covenant　snatched　up　the　woman's　hand　and　fled。　Pulling　her　after　him；　he　raced　to　the　corner　of　the　house；　swung　sharply　around　it；　and　sped　as　fast　as　he　could　away　from　the　open　ground。　He　lost　his　hold　on　the　woman　almost　at　once；　he　could　not　grip　her　securely　with　his　half…fingerless　hand。　But　she　was　running　on　her　own　now。　In　a　moment；　she　caught　up　with　him　and　took　hold　of　his　arm；　helped　him　make　the　next　turn。
　　　　Roaring　with　fury；　the　marauders　started　in　pursuit。　But　when　they　entered　the　lane　between　the　houses；　Foamfollower　dove　from　a　rooftop　and　crashed　headlong　into　them　like　a　battering　ram。　Constricted　by　the　houses　on　either　side；　they　could　not　evade　him；　he　hit　them　squarely；　breaking　the　ones　nearest　him　and　bowling　the　others　back　into　the　center　of　the　Stonedown。
　　　　Then　Triock；　Quirrel；　and　Yeurquin　led　a　dozen　Stonedownors　into　the　village　across　the　roofs。　Amid　the　confusion　caused　by　the　Giant's　attack；　the　defenders　fell　onto　the　marauders　like　a　rain　of　swords　and　javelins。　Other　people　ran　forward　to　engage　the　creatures　that　were　still　hunting　among　the　houses。　In　moments；　fighting　raged　throughout　the　Stonedown。
　　　　But　Covenant　did　not　stop；　drawing　the　woman　with　him；　he　fled　until　he　was　past　the　last　buildings。　There　he　lengthened　his　stride；　intending　to　run　as　far　as　he　could　up　the　valley。　But　Slen　intercepted　him。　Panting　hoarsely；　Slen　snapped　at　the　woman；　〃Fool！　You　have　lost　sense　altogether。〃　Then　he　tugged　at　Covenant。　〃e。　e。〃
　　　　Covenant　and　the　woman　followed　him　away　from　the　river　along　an　unmarked　path　into　the　foothills。　A　few　hundred　yards　above　the　village；　they　came　to　a　jumble　of　boulders…the　ancient　remains　of　a　rockfall　from　the　mountains。　Slen　took　a　cunning　way　in　among　the　boulders　and　soon　reached　a　large；　hidden　cave。　Several　Stonedownors　stood　on　guard　at　the　cave　mouth；　and　within　it　the　children　and　the　ill　or　infirm　huddled　around　graveling　bowls。
　　　　Covenant　was　tempted　to　enter　the　cave　and　share　its　sanctuary。　But　near　its　mouth　was　a　high；　sloped　heap　of　rock　with　a　broad　crown。　He　turned　and　climbed　the　rocks　to　find　out　if　he　could　see　the　Stonedown　from　its　top。　The　white…haired　woman　ascended　lightly　behind　him；　soon　they　stood　together；　looking　down　at　the　battle　of　Mithil　Stonedown。
　　　　The　altitude　of　his　position　surprised　him。　He　had　not　realized　that　he　had　climbed　so　high。　Vertigo　made　his　feet　feel　suddenly　slippery；　and　he　recoiled　from　the　sight。　For　a　moment；　the　valley　reeled　around　him。　He　could　not　believe　that　a　short　time　ago　he　had　been　leaping　across　rooftops；　the　mere　thought　of　such　audacity　seemed　to　sweep　his　balance　away；　leaving　him　at　the　mercy　of　the　height。　But　the　woman　caught　hold　of　him；　　supported　him。　And　his　urgent　need　to　watch　the　fighting　helped　him　to　resist　his　dizziness。　Clinging　half　unconsciously　to　the　woman's　shoulder；　he　forced　himself　to　peer　downward。
　　　　At　first；　the　cloud…locked　dimness　of　the　day　obscured　the　battle；　prevented　him　from　being　able　to　distinguish　what　was　happening。　But　as　he　concentrated；　he　made　out　the　Giant。
　　　　Foamfollower　dominated　the　melee　in　the　Stonedown's　center。　He　waded　hugely　through　the　marauders；　heaved　himself　from　place　to　place。　Swinging　his　mighty　fists　like　cudgels；　he　chopped　creatures　down；　pounded　them　out　of　his　way　with　blows　which　appeared　powerful　enough　to　tear　their　heads　off。　But　he　was　sorely　outnumbered。　Though　his　movement　prevented　the　marauders　from　hitting　him　with　a　concerted　attack；　they　were　armed　and　he　was　not。　As　Covenant　watched；　several　of　the　creatures　succeeded　in　knocking　Foamfollower　toward　one　of　the　rock　destroyers。
　　　　The　soft；　glad　tone　of　the　woman's　voice　jarred　painfully　against　his　anxiety。　〃Thomas　Covenant；　I　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃My　life　is　yours。〃
　　　　Foamfollower！　Covenant　cried　silently。　〃What？〃　He　doubted　that　the　woman　had　actually　spoken。　〃I　don't　want　your　life。　What　in　hell　possessed　you　to　run　out　there；　anyway？〃
　　　　〃That　is　unkind；〃　she　replied　quietly。　〃I　have　waited　for　you。　I　have　ridden　your　Ranyhyn。〃
　　　　The　meaning　of　what　she　said　did　not　penetrate　him。　〃Foamfollower　is　getting　himself　killed　down　there　because　of　you。〃
　　　　〃I　have　borne　your　child。〃
　　　　What？
　　　　Without　warning；　her　words　hit　him　in　the　face　like　ice　water。　He　snatched　his　hand　from　her　shoulder；　jerked　backward　a　step　or　two　across　the　rock。　A　shift　in　the　wind　brought　the　clamor　of　battle　up　to　him　in　tatters；　but　he　did　not　hear　it。　For　the　first　time；　he　looked　at　the　woman。
　　　　She　appeared　to　be　in　her　mid…sixties…easily　old　enough　to　be　his　mother。　Lines　of　groundless　hope　marked　her　pale　skin　around　the　blue　veins　in　her　temples；　and　the　hair　which　plumed　her　head　was　no　longer　thick。　He　saw　nothing　to　recognize　in　the　open　expectancy　of　her　mouth；　or　in　the　bone…leanness　of　her　body；　or　in　her　wrinkled　hands。　Her　eyes　had　a　curious；　round；　misfocused　look；　like　the　confusion　of　madness。
　　　　But　for　all　their　inaccuracy；　they　were　spacious　eyes；　like　the　eyes　of　the　women　she　claimed　for　her　mother　and　daughter。　And　woven　into　the　shoulders　of　her　long　blue　robe　was　a　pattern　of　white　leaves。
　　　　〃Do　you　not　know　me；　Thomas　Covenant？〃　she　said　gently。　〃I　have　lot　changed。　They　all　wish　me　to　change…Triock　and　Trell　my　father　and　the　Circle　of　elders；　all　wish　me　to　change。　But　I　do　not。　Do　I　appear　changed？〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Covenant　panted。　With　sour　nausea　in　his　mouth；　he　understood　that　he　was　looking　at　Lena；　the　woman　he　had　violated　with　his　lust…mother　of　the　woman　he　had　violated　with　his　love…recipient　of　the　Ranyhyn…boon　he　had　instigated　when　he　had　violated　the　great　horses　with　his　false　bargains。　Despite　her　earlier　fury；　she　looked　too　old；　too　fragile；　to　be　touched。　He　forced　out　the　words　as　if　they　appalled　him。　〃No…change。〃
　　　　She　smiled　with　relief。　〃I　am　glad。　I　have　striven　to　hold　true。　The　Unbeliever　deserves　no　less。〃
　　　　〃Deserves；〃　Covenant　croaked　helplessly。　The　battle　noises　from　Mithil　Stonedown　taunted　him　again。　〃Hellfire。〃
　　　　He　coerced　himself　to　meet　her　gaze；　and　slowly　her　smile　turned　to　a　look　of　concern。　She　moved　forward；　reached　out　to　him。　He　wanted　to　back　away；　but　he　held　still　as　her　fingertips　lightly　touched　his　lip；　then　stroked　a　cool　line　around　the　wound　on　his　forehead。　〃You　have　been　harmed；〃　she　said。　〃Does　the　Despiser　dare　to　assault　you　in　your　own　world？〃
　　　　He　felt　that　he　had　to　warn　her　away　from　him；　the　misfocus　of　her　gaze　showed　that　she　was　endangered　by　him。　Rapidly；　he　whispered；　〃Atiaran's　judgment　is　ing　true。　The　Land　is　being　destroyed；　and　it's　my　fault。〃
　　　　Her　fingers　caressed　him　as　if　they　were　trying　to　smooth　a　frown　from　his　brow。　〃You　will　save　the　Land。　You　are　the　Unbeliever…the　new　Berek　Half　hand　of　our　age。〃
　　　　〃I　can't　save　anything…I　can't　even　help　those　people　down　there。　Foamfollower　is　my　friend；　and　I　can't　help　him。　Triock…Triock　has　earned　anything　I　can　do；　and　I　can't…〃
　　　　〃Were　I　a　Giant；''　she　interrupted　with　sudden　vehemence；　〃I　would　require　no　aid　in　such　a　battle。　And　Triock…〃　She　faltered　unexpectedly；　as　if　she　had　stumbled　over　an　unwonted　perception　of　what　Triock　meant　to　her。　〃He　is　a　Cattleherd…content。　He　wishes…　But　I　am　unchanged。　He…〃
　　　　Covenant　stared　at　the　distress　which　strained　her　face。　For　an　instant；　her　eyes　seemed　to　be　on　the　verge　of　seeing　clearly；　and　her　forehead　tightened　under　the　imminence　of　cruel　facts。　〃Covenant？〃　she　whispered　painfully。　〃Unbeliever？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Covenant　mumbled　in　spite　of　himself。　〃He　would　consider　himself　lucky　if　he　got　killed。〃　As　tenderly　as　he　could；　he　reached　out　and　drew　her　into　his　arms。
　　　　At　onc