srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第43部分

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nt…he　must　prove　himself。〃
　　　　〃I　hear　you；　Manethrall；〃　said　Foamfollower　quietly。　〃I　will　respect　your　distrust　as　best　I　can。〃
　　　　Kam　met　the　Giant's　look；　then　glanced　over　at　Bannor。　The　Blood…guard　shrugged　impassively。　Kam　nodded　and　led　the　way　farther　down　the　cleft。
　　　　Before　following；　Covenant　regained　his　grip　on　Lena's　hand。　She　did　not　raise　her　head；　and　in　the　gloom　he　could　see　nothing　of　her　eyes　but　the　bruises　under　them。　〃Be　brave；〃　he　said　as　gently　as　he　could。　〃Maybe　it　won't　all　be　this　bad。〃　She　made　no　response；　but　when　he　drew　her　forward　she　did　not　resist。　He　kept　her　at　his　side；　and　soon　they　stepped　together　out　the　far　end　of　the　passage。
　　　　The　cleft　opened　into　a　hidden　valley　which　seemed　spacious　after　the　constriction　of　its　approach。　Over　a　flat　floor　of　packed　dirt　the　sheer　walls　rose　ruggedly　to　a　narrow　swath　of　evening　sky。　The　valley　itself　was　long　and　deep；　its　crooked　length　formed　a　vague　S；　ending　in　another　crevice　in　the　hills。　Battered　rock　pillars　and　piles　stood　against　the　walls　in　several　places；　and　in　the　corners　and　crannies　around　these　immense　stones；　sheltered　from　any　snowfall　through　the　open　roof；　were　Ramen　tents…the　nomadic　homes　of　individual　families。　They　seemed　pitifully　few　in　the　canyon。
　　　　Manethrall　Kam　had　announced　himself　with　a　shout　as　he　entered　the　valley；　and　when　Covenant　and　Lena　caught　up　with　him；　dozens　of　Ramen　were　already　moving　toward　them　from　the　tents。　Covenant　was　struck　by　how　much　they　all　shared　Kam's　haunted　air。　In　sharp　contrast　to　the　Ranyhyn；　they　were　not　ill…fed。　The　Ramen　were　renowned　for　their　skill　as　hunters；　and　clearly　they　were　better　able　to　provide　more　meat　for　themselves　than　grass　for　the　horses。　Nevertheless　they　were　suffering。　Every　one　of　them　who　was　not　either　a　child　or　infirm　wore　the　apparel　of　a　Cord；　though　even　Covenant's　untrained　and　superficial　eyes　could　see　how　unready　some　were　for　the　work　and　risk　of　being　Cords。　This　fact　confirmed　his　earlier　guess　that　the　Ramen　population　had　been　dangerously　reduced；　by　winter　or　war。　And　they　all　had　Kam's　driven；　sleepless　aspect；　as　if　they　could　not　rest　because　their　dreams　were　fraught　with　horror。
　　　　Now　Covenant　knew　intuitively　what　it　was。　All　of　them；　even　the　children；　were　haunted　by　the　bloody　visage　of　Ranyhyn　extermination。　They　were　afraid　that　the　meaning；　the　reason；　of　their　entire　race　would　soon　be　eradicated　utterly　from　the　Land。　The　Ramen　had　always　lived　for　the　Ranyhyn；　and　now　they　believed　they　would　only　survive　long　enough　to　see　the　last　Ranyhyn　slaughtered。　As　long　as　the　great　horses　refused　to　leave　the　Plains；　the　Ramen　were　helpless　to　prevent　that　end。
　　　　Only　their　stubborn；　fighting　pride　kept　them　from　despair。
　　　　They　met　Covenant；　Lena；　and　the　Giant　with　silence　and　hollow　stares。　Lena　hardly　seemed　to　notice　them；　but　Foamfollower　gave　them　a　bow　in　the　Ramen　style；　and　Covenant　took　his　example；　though　the　salute　exposed　his　ring　for　all　to　see。
　　　　Several　Cords　murmured　at　the　sight　of　the　white　gold；　and　one　of　the　Manethralls　said　grimly；　〃It　is　true；　then。　He　has　returned。〃　When　Kam　told　them　what　the　wounded　Ranyhyn　had　done；　some　recoiled　in　pained　amazement；　and　others　muttered　angrily　under　their　breath。　Yet　they　all　bowed　to　Covenant；　the　Ranyhyn　had　reared　to　him；　and　the　Ramen　could　not　refuse　him　wele。
　　　　Then　the　Winhomes；　the　Ramen　who　were　too　young　or　too　old　or　too　crippled　to　be　Cords；　moved　away；　and　the　three　Manethralls　Kam　had　mentioned　earlier　came　forward　to　be　introduced。　When　they　had　given　their　names；　Manethrall　Jain；　the　grim　woman　who　had　just　spoken；　asked　Kam；　〃Was　it　necessary　to　admit　the　Giant？〃
　　　　〃He's　my　friend；〃　Covenant　said　at　once。　〃And　Bannor　knows　he　can　be　trusted；　even　if　the　Bloodguard　are　too　thickheaded　to　say　such　things　out　loud。　I　wouldn't　be　here　if　it　weren't　for　Saltheart　Foamfollower。〃
　　　　〃You　honor　me　too　much；〃　Foamfollower　said　wryly。
　　　　The　Manethralls　weighed　Covenant's　words　as　if　his　speech　had　more　than　one　meaning。　But　Bannor　said；　〃Saltheart　Foamfollower　shared　the　Quest　for　the　Staff　of　Law　with　High　Lord　Prothall；　ur…Lord　Covenant；　and　Manethrall　Lithe。　At　that　time；　he　was　worthy　of　trust。　But　I　have　seen　many　trusts　fall　into　Corruption。　Perhaps　nothing　of　the　old　Giantish　faith　remains。〃
　　　　〃You　don't　believe　that；〃　Covenant　snapped。
　　　　Bannor　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Have　you　seen　The　Grieve；　ur…Lord？　Has　Saltheart　Foamfollower　told　you　what　occurred　in　the　Seareach　home　of　the　Giants？〃
　　　　〃No。〃
　　　　〃Then　you　have　been　too　quick　with　your　trust。〃
　　　　Covenant　tightened　his　grip　on　himself。　〃Why　don't　you　tell　me　about　it？〃
　　　　〃That　is　not　my　place。　I　do　not　offer　to　guide　you　to　Ridjeck　Thome。
　　　　Covenant　started　to　protest；　but　Foamfollower　placed　a　restraining　hand　on　his　shoulder。　In　spite　of　the　conflicting　emotions　which　knotted　the　Giant's　forehead；　smoldered　dangerously　in　his　cavernous　eye…sockets；　his　voice　was　steady　as　he　said；　〃Is　it　the　Ramen　custom　to　keep　their　guests　standing　cold　and　hungry　after　a　long　journey？〃
　　　　Kam　spat　on　the　ground；　but　Manethrall　Jain　replied　tautly；　〃No；　that　is　not　our　custom。　Behold。〃　She　nodded　toward　the　head　of　the　canyon；　where　the　Winhomes　were　busy　around　a　large　fire　under　the　overhang　of　one　of　the　pillars。　〃The　food　will　be　prepared　soon。　It　is　kresh　meat；　but　you　may　eat　it　in　safety…it　has　been　cooked　many　times。〃　Then　she　took　Lena's　arm　and　said；　〃e。　You　have　suffered　at　the　sight　of　the　Ranyhyn。　Thus　you　share　our　pain。　We　will　do　what　we　can　to　restore　you。〃　As　she　spoke；　she　guided　Lena　toward　the　fire。
　　　　Covenant　was　seething　with　frustration　and　dread；　but　he　could　not　refuse　the　warmth　of　the　campfire；　his　flesh　needed　it　too　badly。　His　fingertips　and　knuckles　had　a　frostbitten　look　in　addition　to　their　sick　numbness；　and　he　knew　that　if　he　did　not　tend　his　feet　soon　he　would　be　in　danger　of　blood　poisoning　and　gangrene。　The　effort　of　self…mand　hurt　him；　yet　he　followed　Lena　and　Jain　to　the　fire。　As　quietly　as　he　could；　he　asked　one　of　the　Winhomes　for　hot　water　in　which　to　bathe　his　feet。
　　　　Despite　his　numbness；　the　soaking　of　his　feet　gave　him　relief。　The　hot　water　helped　the　fire's　warmth　thaw　out　his　bones。　And　his　feet　were　not　as　badly　damaged　as　he　had　feared　they　would　be。　Both　were　swollen　with　infection；　but　the　harm　was　no　worse　than　it　had　been　several　days　ago。　For　some　reason；　his　flesh　was　resisting　the　illness。　He　was　glad　to　discover　that　he　was　in　no　immediate　danger　of　losing　his　feet。
　　　　A　short　time　later；　the　food　was　ready。　Kam's　seven　Cords　sat　cross…legged　around　the　fire　with　the　four　Manethralls；　Banner；　Foamfollower；　Lena；　and　Covenant；　and　the　Winhomes　set　dry；　brittle　banana　leaves　in　front　of　them　as　plates。　Covenant　found　himself　positioned　between　Lena　and　Bannor。　A　lame　man　muttering　dimly　to　himself　served　the　three　of　them　stew　and　hot　winter　potatoes。　Covenant　did　not　relish　the　idea　of　eating　kresh…he　expected　to　find　the　meat　rank　and　stringy…but　it　had　been　cooked　so　long；　with　such　potent　herbs；　that　only　a　faint　bitterness　remained。　And　it　was　hot。　His　appetite　for　heat　seemed　insatiable。　He　ate　as　if　he　could　see　long　days　of　cold；　scarce　provender　ahead　of　him。
　　　　He　had　good　reason。　Without　help；　he　and　his　panions　would　not　be　able　to　find　enough　food　for　the　journey　to　Foul's　Creche。　He　seemed　to　remember　having　heard　somewhere　that　aliantha　did　not　grow　in　the　Spoiled　Plains。　The　hostility　of　the　Ramen　boded　ill　for　him　in　more　ways　than　one。
　　　　Though　he　was　afraid　of　it；　he　knew　he　would　have　to　penetrate　to　the　bottom　of　that　hostility。
　　　　He　looked　for　an　antidote　to　fear　in　food；　but　while　he　chewed　and　thought；　he　was　interrupted　by　a　strange　man　who　strode　unexpectedly　into　the　covert。　The　man　entered　at　the　far　end　of　the　canyon；　and　moved　directly；　deliberately；　toward　the　seated　men　and　women。　His　dress　vaguely　resembled　that　of　the　Ramen；　he　used　the　same　materials　to　make　his　thin　shirt　and　pants；　his　cloak。　But　he　wore　the　cloak　hanging　from　his　shoulders　in　a　way　that　affected　his　freedom　of　movement　more　than　any　Ramen　would　have　tolerated。　And　he　bore　no　cords　anywhere　about　him。　Instead　of　a　Ramen　garrote；　he　carried　a　short　spear　like　a　staff　in　one　hand；　and　under　his　belt　he　wore　a　sharp　wooden　stave。
　　　　Despite　the　directness　with　which　he　approached；　he　created　an　impression　of　unfortable　daring；　as　if　he　had　some　reason　to　believe　that　the　Ramen　might　jeer　at　him。　His　gaze　flicked　fearfully　about　him；　jumping　away　from　rather　than　toward　what　he　saw。
　　　　He　had　an　air　of　blood　about　him　that　Covenant　could　not　explain。　He　was　clean；　uninjured；　neither　spear　nor　spike　showed　recent　use。　Yet　something　in　him　spoke　of　blood；　of　killing　and　hunger。　As　the　man　reached　the　fire；　Covenant　realized　that　all　the　Ramen　were　sitting　stiffly　in　their　places…not　moving；　not　eating；　not　looking　at　the　stranger。　They　knew　this　man　in　a　way　that　gave　them　pain。
　　　　After　a　moment；　the　man　said　aggressively；　〃Do　you　eat　without　me？　I；　too；　need　food。〃
　　　　Manethrall　Jain's　eyes　did　not　raise　themselves　from　the　ground。　〃You　are　wele；　as　you　know