srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第113章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　With　all　the　rage　of　his　will；　he　pressed　his　advantage。　He　pounced　like　a　hawk；　clenched　power　around　the　Despiser。　Whitely；　brutally；　he　began　to　penetrate　the　penumbra。
　　　　Lord　Foul's　aura　resisted　with　shrieks　and　showers　of　sparks。　It　was　tough；　obdurate；　it　shed　Covenant's　feral　bolts　as　if　they　were　mere　show；　incandescent　child's　play。　But　he　refused　to　be　denied。　The　dazzling　of　his　wild　magic　flung　shafts　and　quarrels　of　might　at　the　emerald　glister　of　the　aura　until　one　prodigious　blast　pierced　it。
　　　　It　ruptured　with　a　shock　which　jarred　the　thronehall　like　an　earth　tremor。　Waves　of　concussion　pealed　at　Covenant's　head；　hammered　at　his　sore　and　feverish　skull。　But　he　clung　to　his　power；　did　not　let　his　will　wince。
　　　　The　whole　penumbra　burst　into　flame　like　a　skin　of　green　tinder；　and　as　it　burned　it　tore；　peeled　away；　fell　in　hot　shreds　and　tatters　to　the　floor。
　　　　Within　Covenant's　clench；　Lord　Foul　the　Despiser　began　to　appear。
　　　　By　faint　degrees；　he　became　material；　drifted　from　corporeal　absence　to　presence。　Perfectly　molded　limbs；　as　pure　as　alabaster；　grew　slowly　visible…an　old；　grand；　leonine　head；　magisterially　crowned　and　bearded　with　flowing　white　hair…an　enrobed；　dignified　trunk；　broad　and　solid　with　strength。　Only　his　eyes　showed　no　change；　no　stern；　impressive　surge　of　incarnation；　they　lashed　constantly　at　Covenant　like　fangs　wet　with　venom。
　　　　When　he　was　fully　present；　Lord　Foul　folded　his　arms　on　his　chest　and　said　harshly；　〃Now　you　do　in　truth　see　me；　groveler。〃　His　tone　gave　no　hint　of　fear　or　surrender。　〃Do　you　yet　believe　that　you　are　my　master？　Fool！　I　grew　beyond　your　petty　wisdom　or　belief　long　before　your　world's　babyhood。　I　tell　you　plainly；　groveler…Despite　such　as　mine　is　the　only　true　fruit　of　experience　and　insight。　In　time　you　will　not　do　otherwise　than　I　have　done。　You　will　learn　contempt　for　your　fellow　beings…for　the　small　malices　which　they　misname　their　loves　and　beliefs　and　hopes　and　loyalties。　You　will　learn　that　it　is　easier　to　control　them　than　to　forbear…easier　and　better。　You　will　not　do　otherwise。　You　will　bee　a　shadow　of　what　I　am…you　will　be　a　despiser　without　the　courage　to　despise。　Continue；　groveler。　Destroy　my　work　if　you　must…slay　me　if　you　can…but　make　an　end！　I　am　weary　of　your　shallow　misperception。〃
　　　　In　spite　of　himself；　Covenant　was　moved。　Lord　Foul's　lordly　mien；　his　dignity　and　resignation；　spoke　more　vividly　than　any　cursing　or　defiance。　Covenant　saw　that　he　still　had　answers　to　find；　regardless　of　all　he　had　endured。
　　　　But　before　he　could　respond；　try　to　articulate　the　emotions　and　intuitions　which　Lord　Foul's　words　called　up　in　him；　a　sudden　clap　of　vehemence　splintered　the　silence　of　the　thronehall。　A　great　invisible　door　opened　in　the　air　at　his　back；　without　warning；　strong　presences；　furious　and　abhorring；　stood　behind　him。　The　violence　of　their　emanations　almost　broke　his　concentrated　hold　on　Lord　Foul。
　　　　He　clenched　his　will；　steadied　himself　to　face　a　shock；　and　turned。
　　　　He　found　himself　looking　up　at　tall　figures　like　the　one　he　had　seen　in　the　cave　of　the　EarthBlood　under　Melenkurion　Skyweir。　They　towered　above　him；　grisly　and　puissant；　he　seemed　to　see　them　through　the　stone　rather　than　within　the　chamber。
　　　　They　were　the　specters　of　the　dead　Lords。　He　recognized　Kevin　Landwaster　son　of　Loric。　Beside　Kevin　stood　two　other　livid　men　whom　he　knew　instinctively　to　be　Loric　Vilesilencer　and　Damelon　Giantfriend。　There　were　Prothall；　Osondrea；　a　score　of　men　and　women　Covenant　had　never　met；　never　heard　named。　With　them　was　Elena　daughter　of　Lena。　And　behind　and　above　them　all　rose　another　figure；　a　dominating　man　with　hot　prophetic　eyes　and　one　halfhand：　Berek　Earthfriend；　the　Lord…Fatherer。
　　　　In　one　voice　like　a　thunder　of　abomination…one　voice　of　outrage　that　shook　Covenant　to　the　marrow　of　his　bones…they　cried；　〃Slay　him！　It　is　within　your　power。　Do　not　heed　his　treacherous　lies。　In　the　name　of　all　Earth　and　health；　slay　him！〃
　　　　The　intensity　of　their　passion　poured　at　him；　flooded　him　with　their　extreme　desire。　They　were　the　sworn　defenders　of　the　Land。　Its　glory　was　their　deepest　love。　Yet　in　one　way　or　another；　Lord　Foul　had　outdone　them　all；　seen　them　all　taken　to　their　graves　while　he　endured　and　ravaged。　They　hated　him　with　a　blazing　hate　that　seemed　to　overwhelm　Covenant's　individual　rage。
　　　　But　instead　of　moving　him　to　obey；　their　vehemence　washed　away　his　fury；　his　power　for　battle。　Violence　drained　out　of　him；　giving　place　to　sorrow　for　them…a　sorrow　so　great　that　he　could　hardly　contain　it；　hardly　hold　back　his　tears。　They　had　earned　obedience　from　him；　they　had　a　right　to　his　rage。　But　their　demand　made　his　intuitions　clear　to　him。　He　remembered　Foamfollower's　former　lust　for　killing。　He　still　had　something　to　do；　something　which　could　not　be　done　with　rage。　Anger　was　only　good　for　fighting；　for　resistance。　Now　it　could　suborn　the　very　thing　he　had　striven　to　achieve。
　　　　In　a　voice　thick　with　grief；　he　answered　the　Lords；　〃I　can't　kill　him。　He　always　survives　when　you　try　to　kill　him。　He　es　back　stronger　than　ever　the　next　time。　Despite　is　like　that。　I　can't　kill　him。〃
　　　　His　reply　stunned　them。　For　a　moment；　they　trembled　with　astonishment　and　dismay。　Then　Kevin　asked　in　horror；　〃Will　you　let　him　live？〃
　　　　Covenant　could　not　respond　directly；　could　not　give　a　direct　answer。　But　he　clung　to　the　strait　path　of　his　intuition。　For　the　first　time　since　his　battle　with　the　Despiser　had　begun；　he　turned　to　Saltheart　Foamfollower。
　　　　The　Giant　stood　chained　to　the　wall；　watching　avidly　everything　that　happened。　The　bloody　flesh　of　his　wrists　and　ankles　showed　how　hard　he　had　tried　to　break　free；　and　his　face　looked　as　if　it　had　been　wrung　dry　by　all　the　things　he　had　been　forced　to　behold。　But　he　was　essentially　unharmed；　essentially　whole。　Deep　in　his　cavernous　eyes；　he　seemed　to　understand　Covenant'　s　dilemma。　''　You　have　done　well；　my　dear　friend；〃　he　breathed　when　Covenant　met　his　gaze。　〃　I　trust　whatever　choice　your　heart　makes。''
　　　　〃There's　no　choice　about　it；〃　Covenant　panted；　fighting　to　hold　back　his　tears。　〃I'm　not　going　to　kill　him。　He'11　just　e　back。　I　don't　want　that　on　my　head。　No；　Foamfollower…my　friend。　It's　up　to　you　now。　You…and　them。''　He　nodded　toward　the　livid；　spectral　Lords。　〃Joy　is　in　the　ears　that　hear…remember？　You　told　me　that。　I've　got　joy　for　you　to　hear。　Listen　to　me。　I've　beaten　the　Despiser…this　time。　The　Land　is　safe…for　now。　I　swear　it。　Now　I　want…Foamfollower！〃　Involuntary　tears　blurred　his　sight。　〃I　want　you　to　laugh。　Take　joy　in　it。　Bring　some　joy　into　this　bloody　hole。　Laugh！〃　He　swung　back　to　shout　at　the　Lords；　〃Do　you　hear　me？　Let　Foul　alone！　Heal　yourselves！〃
　　　　For　a　long　moment　that　almost　broke　his　will；　there　was　no　sound　in　the　thronehall。　Lord　Foul　blazed　contempt　at　his　captor；　the　Lords　stood　aghast；　unprehending；　Foamfollower　hung　in　his　chains　as　if　the　burden　were　too　great　for　him　to　bear。
　　　　〃Help　me！〃　Covenant　cried。
　　　　Then　slowly　his　plea　made　itself　felt。　Some　prophecy　in　his　words　touched　the　hearts　that　heard　him。　With　a　terrible　effort；　Saltheart　Foamfollower；　the　last　of　the　Giants；　began　to　laugh。
　　　　It　was　a　gruesome　sound　at　first；　writhing　in　his　fetters；　Foamfollower　spat　out　the　laugh　as　if　it　were　a　curse。　On　that　level；　the　Lords　were　able　to　share　it。　In　low　voices；　they　aimed　bursts　of　contemptuous　scorn；　jeering　hate；　at　the　beaten　Despiser。　But　as　Foamfollower　fought　to　laugh；　his　muscles　loosened。　The　constriction　of　his　throat　and　chest　relaxed；　allowing　a　pure　wind　of　humor　to　blow　the　ashes　of　rage　and　pain　from　his　lungs。　Soon　something　like　joy；　something　like　real　mirth；　appeared　in　his　voice。
　　　　The　Lords　responded。　As　it　grew　haler；　Foamfollower's　laugh　became　infectious；　it　drew　the　grim　specters　with　it。　They　began　to　unclench　their　hate。　Clean　humor　ran　through　them；　gathering　momentum　as　it　passed。　Foamfollower　gained　joy　from　them；　and　they　began　to　taste　his　joy。　In　moments；　all　their　contempt　or　scorn　had　fallen　away。　They　were　no　longer　laughing　to　express　their　outrage　at　Lord　Foul；　they　were　not　laughing　at　him　at　all。　To　their　own　surprise；　they　were　laughing　for　the　pu