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〃We were ambushed。 He stayed behind…so that Lena and I could get away。〃
A harsh laugh spat between Triock's teeth。 〃Faithful to the last；〃 he gibed。 The next instant； a wild sob convulsed him as if his self…control had snapped…as if a frantic grief had burst the bonds which held it down。 But immediately he returned to sarcasm。 Showing Covenant a flash of his teeth； he sneered； 〃It is well that I have e。〃
〃Well？〃 Covenant breathed。 〃Triock； what happened to you？〃 〃Well； forsooth。'' The man sniffed as if he were fighting tears。 '' You have lost much time in that place of harm and seduction。 With each passing day； the Despiser grows mightier。 He straitly binds…'' His teeth grinned at Covenant under the shadow of his hood。 〃Thomas Covenant； your work must be no longer delayed。 I have e to take you to Ridjeck Thome。''
Covenant gazed intensely at the man。 A moment passed while he tested his hollow core and found that it remained sure。 Then he bent all his attention toward Triock； tried to drive his truncated sight past its limits； its superficiality； so that he might catch some glimpse of Triock's inner estate。 But the winter； and Triock's distraction； foiled him。 He saw the averted face； the rigid flex and claw of the fingers； the baring of the white wet teeth； the turmoil； but he could not penetrate beyond them。 Some stark travail was upon the Stonedownor。 In sympathy and bafflement and self…defense； Covenant said； 〃Triock； you've got to tell me what happened。〃
〃Must I？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do you threaten me？ Will you turn the wild magic against me if I refuse？〃 Triock winced as if he were genuinely afraid； and an oddly craven grimace flicked like a spasm across his lips。 But then he shrugged sharply and turned his back； so that he was facing straight into the wind。 〃Ask； then。〃
Threaten？ Covenant asked Triock's hunched shoulders。 No； no。 I don't want it to happen again。 I've done enough harm。
〃Ask！〃
〃Did you〃…he could hardly get the words through his clogged throat…〃did you find that Unfettered One？〃
〃Yes！〃
〃Did he contact Mhoram？〃
〃No！〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He did not suffice！〃
The bitterness of the words barked along the bitter wind； and Covenant could only repeat； 〃Triock； what happened？〃
〃The Unfettered One lacked strength to match the lomillialor。 He took it from me and could not match it。 Yeurquin and Quirrel were lost…more panions lost while you dally and falter！〃
Both lost。
〃I didn't… How did you find me？〃
〃This is expensive blood； Covenant。 When will it sate you？〃
Sate me？ Triock！ The question hurt him； but he endured it。 He had long ago lost the right to take umbrage at anything Triock might say。 With difficulty； he asked again； 〃How did you find me？〃
〃I waited！ Where else could you have gone？〃
〃Triock。〃 Covenant covered himself with the void of his calm and said； 〃Triock； look at me。〃
〃I do not wish to look at you。〃
〃Look at me！〃
〃I have no stomach for the sight。〃
〃Triock！〃 Covenant placed his hand on the man's shoulder。
Instantly； Triock spun and struck Covenant across the cheek。
The blow did not appear powerful； Triock swung shortly； as if he were trying to pull back his arm。 But force erupted at the impact； threw Covenant to the ground several feet away。 His cheek stung with a deep pain like vitriol that made his eyes stream。 He barely saw Triock flinch； turn and start to flee； then catch himself and stop； waiting across the distance of a dozen yards as if he expected Covenant to hurl a spear through his back。
The pain roared like a rush of black waters in Covenant's head； but he forced himself to sit up； ignored his burning cheek； and said quietly； 〃I'm not going to Foul's Creche。〃
〃Not？〃 Surprise spun Triock to face Covenant。
〃No。〃 Covenant was vaguely surprised by his own certitude。 〃I'm going to cross the river…I'm going to try to go south with the Ramen。 They might…''
〃You dare？〃 Triock yelled。 He seemed livid with fury； but he did not advance toward Covenant。 〃You cost me my love！ My rades！ My home！ You slay every glad face of my life！ And then you say you will deny the one promise which might repense？ Unbeliever！ Do you think I would not kill you for such treachery？〃
Covenant shrugged。 〃Kill me if you want to。 It doesn't make any difference。'' The pain in his face interfered with his concentration； but still he saw the self…contradiction behind Triock's threat。 Fear and anger were balanced in the Stonedownor； as if he were two men trapped between flight and attack； straining in opposite directions。 Somewhere amid those antagonists was the Triock Covenant remembered。 He resisted the roaring in his head and tried to explain so that this Triock might understand。
〃The only way you can kill me is if I'm dying in my own world。 You saw me…when you summoned me。 Maybe you could kill me。 But if I'm really dying； it doesn't matter whether you kill me or not。 I'll get killed somehow。 Dreams are like that。
〃But before you decide； let me try to tell you why…why I'm not going to Foul's Creche。〃
He got painfully to his feet。 He wanted to go to Triock； look deeply into the man's face； but Triock's conflicting passions kept him at a distance。
〃I'm not exactly innocent。 I know that。 I told you it was my fault； and it is。 But it isn't all my fault。 Lena and Elena and Atiaran…and Giants and Ranyhyn and Ramen and Bloodguard…and you…it isn't all my fault。 All of you made decisions for yourselves。 Lena made her own decision when she tried to save me from punishment…after I raped her。 Atiaran made her own decision when she helped me get to Revelstone。 Elena made her own decision when she drank the EarthBlood。 You made your own decision… you decided to be loyal to the Oath of Peace。 None of it is entirely my doing。〃
〃You talk as if we exist；〃 Triock growled bitterly。
〃As far as my responsibility goes； you do。 I don't control my nightmares。 Part of me…the part that's talking…is a victim； as you are。 Just less innocent。
〃But Foul has arranged it all。 He…or the part of me that does the dreaming…has been arranging everything from the beginning。 He's been manipulating me； and I finally figured out why。 He wants this ring…he wants the wild magic。 And he knows…knows！…that if he can get me feeling guilty and responsible and miserable enough I'll try to fight him on his own ground…on his own terms。
〃 I can' t win a fight like that。 I don' t know how to win it。 So he wants me to do it。 That way he ends up with everything。 And I end up like any other suicide。
〃Look at me； Triock！ Look！ You can see that I'm diseased。 I'm a leper。 It's carved into me so loud anybody could see it。 And lepers… mit suicide easily。 All they have to do is forget the law of staying alive。 That law is simple； selfish； practical caution。 Foul's done a pretty good job of making me forget it…that's why you might be able to kill me now if you want to。 But if I've got any choice left； the only way I can use it is by remembering who I am。 Thomas Covenant； leper。 I've got to give up these impossible ideas of trying to make restitution for what I've done。 I've got to give up guilt and duty； or whatever it is I'm calling responsibility these days。 I've got to give up trying to make myself innocent again。 It can't be done。 It's suicide to try。 And suicide for me is the only absolute； perfect way Foul can win。 Without it； he doesn't get the wild magic； and it's just possible that somewhere； somehow； he'll run into something that can beat him。
〃So I'm not going…I am not going to Foul's Creche。 I'm going to do something simple and selfish and practical and cautious instead。 I'm going to take care of myself as a leper should。 I'll go into the Plains…I'll find the Ramen。 They'll take me with them。 The Ranyhyn…the Ranyhyn are probably going south already to hide in the mountains。 The Ramen will take me with them。 Mhoram doesn't know I'm here； so he won't be expecting anything from me。
〃Please understand； Triock。 My grief for you is…it'll never end。 I loved Elena； and I love the Land。 But if I can just keep myself alive the way I should…Foul can't win。 He can't win。〃
Triock met this speech queerly across the distance between them。 His anger seemed to fade； but it was not replaced by understanding。 Instead； a mixture of cunning and desperation gained the upper hand on his desire to flee； so that his voice held a half…hysterical note of cajolery as he said； 〃e； Unbeliever…do not take this choice hastily。 Let us speak of it calmly。 Let me urge〃…he looked around as if in search of assistance； then went on hurriedly…〃you are hungry and worn。 That Forest has exacted a harsh penance…I see it。 Let us rest here for a time。 We are in no danger。 I will build a fire…prepare food for you。 We will talk of this choice while it may still be altered。〃
Why？ Covenant wanted to ask。 Why have you changed like this？ But he already knew too many explanations。 And Triock bustled away promptly in search of firewood as if to forestall any questions。 The land on this side of the Roamsedge had been wooded at one time； and before long he had collected a large pile of dea