uleg.thetombsofatuan-第24部分

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　　He　was　one　whose　power　was　akin　to；　and　as　strong　as；　the　Old　Powers　of　the　earth；　one　who　talked　with　dragons；　and　held　off　earthquakes　with　his　word。　And　there　he　lay　asleep　on　the　dirt；　with　a　little　thistle　growing　by　his　hand。　It　was　very　strange。　Living；　being　in　the　world；　was　a　much　greater　and　stranger　thing　than　she　had　ever　dreamed。　The　glory　of　the　sky　touched　his　dusty　hair；　and　turned　the　thistle　gold　for　a　little　while。
　　The　light　was　slowly　fading。　As　it　did　so；　the　cold　seemed　to　grow　intenser　minute　by　minute。　Tenar　got　up　and　began　to　gather　dry　sagebrush；　picking　up　fallen　twigs；　breaking　off　the　tough　branches　that　grew　as　gnarled　and　massive；　in　their　scale；　as　the　limbs　of　oaks。　They　had　stopped　here　about　noon；　when　it　was　warm；　and　they　could　go　no　farther　for　weariness。　A　couple　of　stunted　junipers；　and　the　westward　slope　of　the　ridge　they　had　just　descended；　had　offered　shelter　enough；　they　had　drunk　a　little　water　from　the　flask；　and　lain　down；　and　gone　to　sleep。
　　There　was　a　litter　of　larger　branches　under　the　little　trees；　which　she　gathered。　Scooping　out　a　pit　in　an　angle　of　earth…embedded　rocks；　she　built　up　a　fire；　and　lit　it　with　her　flint　and　steel。　The　tinder　of　sage　leaves　and　twigs　caught　at　once。　Dry　branches　bloomed　into　rosy　flame；　scented　with　resin。　Now　it　seemed　quite　dark；　all　around　the　fire；　and　the　stars　were　ing　out　again　in　the　tremendous　sky。
　　The　snap　and　crack　of　the　flames　roused　the　sleeper。　He　sat　up；　rubbing　his　hands　over　his　grimy　face；　and　at　last　got　up　stiffly　and　came　close　to　the　fire。
　　〃I　wonder…〃　he　said　sleepily。
　　〃I　know；　but　we　can't　last　the　night　here　without　a　fire。　It　gets　too　cold。〃　After　a　minute　she　added；　〃Unless　you　have　some　magic　that　would　keep　us　warm；　or　that　would　hide　the　fire。。。〃
　　He　sat　down　by　the　fire；　his　feet　almost　in　it；　his　arms　round　his　knees。　〃Brr；〃　he　said。　〃A　fire　is　much　better　than　magic。　I've　put　a　little　illusion　about　us　here；　if　someone　es　by；　we　might　look　like　sticks　and　stones　to　him。　What　do　you　think？　Will　they　be　following　us？〃
　　〃I　fear　it；　yet　I　don't　think　they　will。　No　one　but　Kossil　knew　of　your　being　there。　Kossil；　and　Manan。　And　they　are　dead。　Surely　she　was　in　the　Hall　when　it　fell。　She　was　waiting　at　the　trapdoor。　And　the　others；　the　rest；　they　must　think　that　I　was　in　the　Hall　or　the　Tombs；　and　was　crushed　in　the　earthquake。〃　She　too　put　her　arms　round　her　knees；　and　shuddered。　〃I　hope　the　other　buildings　didn't　fall。　It　was　hard　to　see　from　the　hill；　there　was　so　much　dust。　Surely　all　the　temples　and　houses　didn't　fall；　the　Big　House　where　all　the　girls　sleep。〃
　　〃I　think　not。　It　was　the　Tombs　that　devoured　themselves。　I　saw　a　gold　roof　of　some　temple　as　we　turned　away；　it　still　stood。　And　there　were　figures　down　the　hill；　people　running。〃
　　〃What　will　they　say；　what　will　they　think。。。　Poor　Penthe！　She　might　have　to　bee　the　High　Priestess　of　the　Godking　now。　And　it　was　always　she　who　wanted　to　run　away。　Not　I。　Maybe　now　she'll　run　away。〃　Tenar　smiled。　There　was　a　joy　in　her　that　no　thought　nor　dread　could　darken；　that　same　sure　joy　that　had　risen　in　her；　waking　in　the　golden　light。　She　opened　her　bag　and　took　out　two　small；　flat　loaves；　she　handed　one　across　the　fire　to　Ged；　and　bit　into　the　other。　The　bread　was　tough；　and　sour；　and　very　good　to　eat。
　　They　munched　together　in　silence　awhile。
　　〃How　far　are　we　from　the　sea？〃
　　〃It　took　me　two　nights　and　two　days　ing。　It'll　take　us　longer　going。〃
　　〃I'm　strong；〃　she　said。
　　〃You　are。　And　valiant。　But　your　panion's　tired；〃　he　said　with　a　smile。　〃And　we　haven't　any　too　much　bread。〃
　　〃Will　we　find　water？〃
　　〃Tomorrow；　in　the　mountains。〃
　　〃Can　you　find　food　for　us？〃　she　asked；　rather　vaguely　and　timidly。
　　〃Hunting　takes　time；　and　weapons。〃
　　〃I　meant；　with；　you　know；　spells。〃
　　〃I　can　call　a　rabbit；〃　he　said；　poking　the　fire　with　a　twisted　stick　of　juniper。　〃The　rabbits　are　ing　out　of　their　holes　all　around　us；　now。　Evening's　their　time。　I　could　call　one　by　name；　and　he'd　e。　But　would　you　catch　and　skin　and　broil　a　rabbit　that　you'd　called　to　you　thus？　Perhaps　if　you　were　starving。　But　it　would　be　a　breaking　of　trust；　I　think。〃
　　〃Yes。　I　thought；　perhaps　you　could　just。。。
　　〃Summon　up　a　supper；〃　he　said。　〃Oh；　I　could。　On　golden　plates；　if　you　like。　But　that's　illusion；　and　when　you　eat　illusions　you　end　up　hungrier　than　before。　It's　about　as　nourishing　as　eating　your　own　words。〃　She　saw　his　white　teeth　flash　a　moment　in　the　firelight。
　　〃Your　magic　is　peculiar；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　dignity　of　equals；　Priestess　addressing　Mage。　〃It　appears　to　be　useful　only　for　large　matters。〃
　　He　laid　more　wood　on　the　fire；　and　it　flared　up　in　a　juniperscented　fireworks　of　sparks　and　crackles。
　　〃Can　you　really　call　a　rabbit？〃　Tenar　inquired　suddenly。
　　〃Do　you　want　me　to？〃
　　She　nodded。
　　He　turned　away　from　the　fire　and　said　softly　into　the　immense　and　starlit　dark；　〃Kebbo。。。　O　kebbo。。。〃
　　Silence。　No　sound。　No　motion。　Only　presently；　at　the　very　edge　of　the　flickering　firelight；　a　round　eye　like　a　pebble　of　jet；　very　near　the　ground。　A　curve　of　furry　back；　an　ear；　long；　alert；　upraised。
　　Ged　spoke　again。　The　ear　flicked；　gained　a　sudden　partner…ear　out　of　the　shadow；　then　as　the　little　beast　turned　Tenar　saw　it　entire　for　an　instant；　the　small；　soft；　lithe　hop　of　it　returning　unconcerned　to　its　business　in　the　night。
　　〃Ah！〃　she　said；　letting　out　her　breath。　〃That's　lovely。〃　Presently　she　asked；　〃Could　I　do　that？〃
　　〃Well…〃
　　〃It　is　a　secret；〃　she　said　at　once；　dignified　again。
　　〃The　rabbit's　name　is　a　secret。　At　least；　one　should　not　use　it　lightly；　for　no　reason。　But　what　is　not　a　secret；　but　rather　a　gift；　or　a　mystery；　do　you　see；　is　the　power　of　calling。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　have。　I　know！〃　There　was　a　passion　in　her　voice；　not　hidden　by　pretended　mockery。　He　looked　at　her　and　did　not　answer。
　　He　was　indeed　still　worn　out　by　his　struggle　against　the　Nameless　Ones；　he　had　spent　his　strength　in　the　quaking　tunnels。　Though　he　had　won；　he　had　little　spirit　left　for　exultation。　He　soon　curled　up　again；　as　near　the　fire　as　he　could　get；　and　slept。
　　Tenar　sat　feeding　the　fire　and　watching　the　blaze　of　the　winter　constellations　from　horizon　to　horizon　until　her　head　grew　giddy　with　splendor　and　silence；　and　she　dozed　off。
　　They　both　woke。　The　fire　was　dead。　The　stars　she　had　watched　were　now　far　over　the　mountains　and　new　ones　had　risen　in　the　east。　It　was　the　cold　that　woke　them；　the　dry　cold　of　the　desert　night；　the　wind　like　a　knife　of　ice。　A　veil　of　cloud　was　ing　over　the　sky　from　the　southwest。
　　The　gathered　firewood　was　almost　gone。　〃Let's　walk；〃　Ged　said；　〃it's　not　long　till　dawn。〃　His　teeth　chattered　so　that　she　could　hardly　understand　him。　They　set　out；　climbing　the　long　slow　slope　westward。　The　bushes　and　rocks　showed　black　in　starlight；　and　it　was　as　easy　to　walk　as　in　the　day。　After　a　cold　first　while；　the　walking　warmed　them；　they　stopped　crouching　and　shivering；　and　began　to　go　easier。　So　by　sunrise　they　were　on　the　first　rise　of　the　western　mountains；　which　had　walled　in　Tenar's　life　till　then。
　　They　stopped　in　a　grove　of　trees　whose　golden；　quivering　leaves　still　clung　to　the　boughs。　He　told　her　they　were　aspens；　she　knew　no　trees　but　juniper；　and　the　sickly　poplars　by　the　riversprings；　and　the　forty　apple　trees　of　the　orchard　of　the　Place。　A　small　bird　among　the　aspens　said　〃dee；　dee；〃　in　a　small　voice。　Under　the　trees　ran　a　stream；　narrow　but　powerful；　shouting；　muscular　over　its　rocks　and　falls；　too　hasty　to　freeze。　Tenar　was　almost　afraid　of　it。　She　was　used　to　the　desert　where　things　are　silent　and　move　slowly：　sluggish　rivers；　shadows　of　clouds；　vultures　circling。
　　They　divided　a　piece　of　bread　and　a　last　crumbling　bit　of　cheese　for　breakfast；　rested　a　little；　and　went　on。
　　By　evening　they　were　up　high。　It　was　overcast　and　windy；　freezing　weather。　They　camped　in　the　valley　of　another　stream；　where　there　was　plenty　of　wood；　and　this　time　built　up　a　sturdy　fire　of　logs　by　which　they　could　keep　fairly　warm。
　　Tenar　was　happy。　She　had　found　a　squirrel's　cache　of　nuts；　exposed　by　the　falling　of　a　hollow　tree：　a　couple　of　pounds　of　fine　walnuts　and　a　smooth…shelled　kind　that　Ged；　not　knowing　the　Kargish　name；　called　ubir。　She　cracked　them　one　by　one　between　a　flat　stone　and　a　hammerstone；　and　handed　every　second　nutmeat　to　the　man。
　　〃I　wish　we　could　stay　here；〃　she　said；　looking　down　at　the　windy；　twilit　valley　between　the　hills。　〃I　like　this　place。〃
　　〃This　is　a　good　place；〃　he　agreed。
　　〃People　would　never　e　here。〃
　　〃Not　often。。。　I　was　born　in　the　mountains；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　Mountain　of　Gont。　We　shall　pass　it；　sailing　to　Havnor；　if　we　take　the　northern　way。　It's　beautiful　to　see　it　in　winter；　rising　all　white　out　of　the　sea；　like　a　greater　wave。　My　village　was　by　just　such　a　stream　as　this　one。　Where　were　you　born；　Tenar？〃
　　〃In　the　north　of　Atuan；　in　Entat；　I　think。　I　can't　remember　it。〃
　　〃They　took　you　so　young？〃
　　〃I　was　five。　I　remember　a　fire　on　a　hearth；　and。。。　nothing　else。〃
　　He　rubbed　his　jaw；　which　though　it　had　acquired　a　sparse　beard；　was　at　least　clean；　despite　the　cold；　both　of　them　had　washed　in　the　mountain　streams。　He　r