srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第90部分

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　　　　〃That　is　true。〃　The　speaker　seemed　afraid　of　what　Foamfollower　might　say　next。
　　　　〃Surely　there　are　other　aids　which　you　can　give。〃
　　　　〃Yes…yes。　Of　Gorak　Krembal　we　do　not　speak…there　is　nothing。　But　we　know　the　ways　of　Kurash　Qwellinir。　And…and　in　the　Maker…place　also…there　is　something。　But…〃　The　speaker　faltered；　fell　silent。
　　　　〃But；〃　Foamfollower　said　steadily；　〃such　aid　is　not　the　reason　for　the　aid　you　have　already　given。　I　am　not　deaf　or　blind；　jheherrin。　Some　other　cause　has　led　you　to　this　peril。〃
　　　　〃The　legend…〃　gulped　the　speaker；　then　slithered　away　to　confer　with　the　creatures　behind　it。　An　intensely　whispered　argument　followed；　during　which　Covenant　tried　to　calm　his　sense　of　impending　crisis。　For　some　obscure　reason；　he　hoped　that　the　creatures　would　refuse　to　speak　of　their　legend。　But　when　the　crawler　returned　to　them；　Foamfollower　said　deliberately；　〃Tell　us。〃
　　　　A　silence　of　dread　echoed　in　the　cavern；　and　when　the　speaker　replied　fearfully；　〃We　will；〃　a　chorus　of　shrieks　pierced　the　air。　Several　score　of　the　jheherrin　fled；　unable　to　bear　the　risk。　〃We　must。　There　is　no　other　way。〃
　　　　The　crawler　approached　a　few　feet；　then　slumped　wetly　on　the　floor；　gasping　as　if　it　could　not　breathe。　But　after　a　moment；　it　lifted　up　its　quavering　voice　and　began　to　sing。　The　song　was　in　an　alien　tongue　that　Covenant　did　not　prehend；　and　its　pitches　were　made　so　uncertain　by　fear　that　he　could　not　discern　the　melody。　Yet…more　in　the　way　the　jheherrin　listened　than　in　the　song　itself…he　sensed　something　of　its　potency；　its　attractiveness　for　the　creatures。　Without　understanding　anything　about　it；　he　was　moved。
　　　　It　was　a　short　song；　as　if　long　ages　of　grim　or　abject　use　had　reduced　it　to　its　barest　bones。　When　it　was　done；　the　speaker　said　weakly；　〃The　legend。　The　one　hope　of　the　jheherrin…the　sole　part　of　our　lives　that　is　not　Maker…work；　the　sole　purpose。　It　tells　that　the　distant　forebearers　of　the　jheherrin；　the　un…Maker…made；　were　themselves　Makers。　But　they　were　not　seedless　as　he　is…as　we　are。　They　were　not　driven　to　breed　upon　the　flesh　of　others。　From　their　bodies　came　forth　young　who　grew　and　in　turn　made　young。　Thus　the　world　was　constantly　renewed；　in　firmness　and　replenishment。　Such　things　cannot　be　imagined。
　　　　〃But　the　Makers　were　flawed。　Some　were　weak；　some　blind；　others　incautious。　Among　them　the　Maker　was　born；　seedless　and　bitter；　and　they　did　not　see　or　fear　what　they　had　done。　Thus　they　fell　into　his　power。　He　captured　them　and　took　them　to　the　deep　fastnesses　of　his　home；　and　used　them　to　begin　the　work　of　forming　armies。
　　　　〃We　are　the　last　vestige　of　these　flawed　un…Maker…made。　Their　last　life　is　preserved　in　us。　In　punishment　for　their　flaws；　we　are　doomed　to　crawl　the　bs　in　misery　and　watchfulness　and　eternal　fear。　Mud　is　our　sun　and　blood　and　being；　our　flesh　and　home。　Fear　is　our　heritage；　for　the　Maker　could　bring　us　to　an　end　with　one　word；　living　as　we　do　in　the　very　shadow　of　his　home。　But　we　are　watchful　in　the　name　of　our　one　hope。　For　it　is　said　that　some　un…Maker…made　are　still　free　of　the　Maker…that　they　still　bring　forth　young　from　their　bodies。　It　is　said　that　when　the　time　is　ready；　a　young　will　be　birthed　without　flaw…a　pure　offspring　impervious　to　the　Maker　and　his　making…unafraid。　It　is　said　that　this　pure　one　will　e　bearing　tokens　of　power　to　the　Maker's　home。　It　is　said　that　he　will　redeem　the　jheherrin　if　they　prove…if　he　finds　them　worthy…that　he　will　win　from　the　Maker　their　release　from　fear　and　mud…if…if…''　The　crawler　could　not　go　on。　Its　voice　stumbled　into　silence；　left　the　cavern　aching　for　a　reply　to　fill　the　void　of　its　misery。
　　　　But　Covenant　could　not　bend　without　breaking。　He　felt　all　the　attention　of　the　jheherrin　focused　on　him。　He　could　feel　them　voicelessly　asking　him；　imploring；　Are　you　the　pure　one？　If　we　help　you；　will　you　free　us？　But　he　could　not　give　them　the　answer　they　wanted。　Their　living　death　deserved　the　truth　from　him；　not　a　false　hope。
　　　　Deliberately；　he　sacrificed　their　help。　His　voice　was　harsh；　he　sounded　angry　as　he　said；　〃Look　at　me。　You　know　the　answer。　Under　all　this　mud；　I'm　sick…diseased。　And　I've　done　things…　I'm　not　pure。　I'm　corrupt。〃
　　　　One　last　pulse　of　silence　met　his　denial…one　still　moment　while　the　intent；　tremulous　hope　around　him　shattered。　Then　a　shrill　wail　of　despair　tore　through　the　multitude　of　the　jheherrin。　All　the　light　vanished　at　once。　Shrieking　in　darkness　like　desolated　ghouls；　the　creatures　ran。
　　　　Foamfollower　caught　hold　of　Covenant　to　protect　him　against　an　attack。　But　the　jheherrin　did　not　attack；　they　fled。　The　sound　of　their　movement　rushed　through　the　cavern　like　a　loud　wind　of　loss；　and　died　away。　Soon　the　silence　returned；　fell　limp　at　the　feet　of　Covenant　and　Foamfollower　like　empty　cerements；　the　remains　of　a　violated　grave。
　　　　Covenant's　chest　shook　with　dry　spasms　like　sobs；　but　he　clenched　himself　into　union　with　the　silence。　He　could　not　bend；　he　would　break　if　the　rictus　of　his　determination　were　forced　to　bend。　Foul！　he　jerked。　Foul！　You're　too　cruel。
　　　　He　felt　the　attempted　consolation　of　the　Giant's　hand　on　his　shoulder。　He　wanted　to　respond；　wanted　to　utter　in　some　way　the　violence　of　his　resolve。　But　before　he　could　speak；　the　silence　seemed　to　flow　and　concentrate　itself　into　the　sound　of　soft　weeping。
　　　　The　sound　grew　on　him　as　he　listened。　Forlorn　and　miserable；　it　rose　up　into　the　darkness　like　irremediable　grief；　made　the　hollow　air　throb。　He　yearned　to　go　to　the　weeper；　yearned　to　fort　it　in　some　way。　But　when　he　moved；　it　found　words　to　halt　him；　desolate　accusation。　〃Despair　is　Maker…work。〃
　　　　〃Forgive　me；〃　Covenant　groaned。　〃How　could　I　lie　to　you？〃　He　searched　for　the　right　reply；　then　said　on　intuition；　〃But　the　legend　hasn't　changed。　I　haven't　touched　the　legend。　I　don't　deny　your　worth。　You　are　worthy。　I'm　just…not　the　pure　one。　He　hasn't　e　yet。　I　don't　have　anything　to　do　with　your　hope。〃
　　　　The　weeper　did　not　answer。　Its　sobs　ached　on　in　the　air；　having　started；　its　old　unanodyned　misery　could　not　stop。　But　after　a　moment　it　brought　up　a　glimmer　of　rocklight。　Covenant　saw　that　it　was　the　crawler　who　had　spoken　for　the　jheherrin。
　　　　〃e；〃　it　wept。　〃e。〃　Shaking　with　sorrow；　it　turned　and　crept　out　of　the　cavern。
　　　　Covenant　and　the　Giant　followed　without　hesitation。　In　the　presence　of　the　creature's　grief；　they　silently　accepted　whatever　it　intended　for　them。
　　　　It　led　them　back　into　the　bs…away　from　their　earlier　route；　upward　through　a　plex　chain　of　tunnels。　Soon　the　rock　walls　had　bee　cold　again；　and　the　air　began　to　smell　faintly　of　brimstone。　A　short　time　later…little　more　than　half　a　league　from　the　cavern…their　guide　halted。
　　　　They　kept　themselves　a　respectful　distance　from　the　creature　and　waited　while　it　tried　to　control　its　sobs。　Its　dim；　rocklit　struggle　was　painful　to　watch；　but　they　contained　their　own　emotions；　waited。　Covenant　was　prepared　to　allow　the　creature　any　amount　of　time。　Patience　seemed　to　be　the　only　thing　he　could　offer　the　jheherrin。
　　　　It　did　not　keep　them　waiting　long。　Forcing　down　its　grief；　it　said　thickly；　〃This　tunnel…it　ends　in　Kurash　Qwellinir。　At　every　turn　choose…the　way　toward　the　fire。　You　must　pass　a　passage　of　the　Maker。　It　will　be　guarded。　Beyond　it　take　each　turn　away　from　the　fire。　You　will　find　Gorak　Krembal。　You　cannot　cross…you　must　cross　it。　Beyond　it　is　the　rock　of　the　Maker…place。
　　　　〃Its　mouth　is　guarded；　but　has　no　gate。　Within　it　swarms…　But　there　are　secret　ways…the　Maker　has　secret　ways；　which　his　servants　do　not　use。　Within　the　mouth　is　a　door。　You　cannot　see　it。　You　must　find　it。　Press　once　upon　the　center　of　the　lintel。　You　will　find　many　ways　and　hiding　places。''
　　　　The　crawler　turned　and　began　to　shuffle　back　down　the　tunnel。　Its　light　flickered　and　went　out；　leaving　Covenant　and　Foamfollower　in　darkness。　Out　of　the　distance　of　the　hollow　b；　the　creature　moaned；　〃Try　to　believe　that　you　are　pure。''　Then　the　sound　of　its　grief　faded；　and　it　was　gone。
　　　　After　a　long　moment　of　silence；　Foamfollower　touched　Covenant's　shoulder。　〃My　friend…did　you　hear　it　well？　It　has　given　us　precious　aid。　Do　you　remember　all　it　said？〃
　　　　Covenant　heard　something　final　in　the　Giant's　tone。　But　he　was　too　preoccupied　with　the　bitter　rictus　of　his　own　intent　to　ask　what　that　tone　signified。　〃You　remember　it；〃　he　breathed　stiffly。　〃I'm　counting　on　you。　You　just　get　me　there。〃
　　　　〃My　friend…Unbeliever；〃　the　Giant　began　dimly；　then　stopped；　let　drop　whatever　he　had　been　about　to　say。　〃e；　then。〃　He　steered　Covenant　by　the　shoulder。　〃We　will　do　what　we　can。〃
　　　　They　climbed　on　up　the　tunnel。　It　made　two　sharp　turns　and　began　to　ascend　steeply；　narrowing　as　it　rose。　Soon　Covenant　was　forced　to　his　hands　and　knees　by　the　angle　of　the　cold　stone　slope。　With　Foamfollower　breathing　close　behind　him；　helping　him　with　an　occasional　shove；　he　pulled　and　scraped　upward；　kept　on　scrambling　while　the　rock　grew　more　and　more　constricted。
　　　　Then　the　tunnel　ended　in　a　blank　wall。　Covenant　searched　around　with　his　numb　hands。　He　found　no　openings…but　he　could　not　touch　the　ceiling。　When　he　looked　upward；　he　saw　a　faint　window　of　red　light　out　of　reach　above　his　head。