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！
e main stream； and rocky eyots topped with tufts of jungle began to dot the river。 When the pace of the Course grew sluggish； she used her staff to
propel the raft； she needed headway to navigate the channels。 By evening she was greatly weary。
Then four of the Bloodguard took up the poles and began thrusting the raft through twilight into night； where only their dark…familiar eyes could see well enough to keep the raft moving safely。 Lord Shetra ate the meal Hyrim prepared for her over a small lillianrill fire； then dropped into slumber despite the stink and spreading dampness of the river。
But at dawn she returned to work； plying the Defiles Course with her staff。
However； Lord Hyrin soon came to her aid。 Alternately they propelled the raft throughout the day； and at night they rested while the Bloodguard used their poles。 In this way； the mission traveled down the Defiles Course until the evening of the twelfth day。 During the days； the sky was clear； and the sunlight was full of butterflies。 The raft made good progress。
But that night dark clouds hid the moon； and rain soaked the Lords； damaging their sleep。 When Korik called to them in the last blackness before dawn； they both threw off their blankets at once and came to their feet。
Korik pointed into the night。 In the darkness of a jungled islet ahead of the raft； there was a faint light。 It flickered and waned like a weak fire on wet wood； but revealed nothing。
As the raft approached the eyot； the Lords stared at it。 Then Shetra whispered； 〃That is a made light。 It is not natural to the Sarangrave。〃
The Bloodguard agreed。 None of the Flat's lightbearing animals or insects were abroad in the rain。
〃Pull in to the islet；〃 Shetra breathed。 〃We must see the maker of this light。〃
Korik gave the orders。 The Bloodguard at the poles moved the raft so that it floated toward the head of the islet。 When it was within ten yards of the edge； Doar and Pren slipped into the water。 They swam to the eyot； then faded up into the underbrush。 The steersmen swung the raft so that it floated downstream within jumping distance of the bank。
The islet was long and narrow。 As the mission
floated by almost within reach of the low…hanging branches； the light came into clearer view。 It was a thin flame…a weak flickering like the burn of a torch。 But it revealed nothing around it except the tree shadows which passed between it and the raft。
When the raft was some distance past it； the light went out。 Both the Lords started； raised their staffs； but they said nothing。 The steering Bloodguard leaned on their poles until one side of the raft nudged the bank。 Almost at once； Doar and Pren leaped out onto the logs； bearing between them the battered form of a man。
Immediately； the steersmen sent the raft swinging out into the main channel。 Lord Hyrim bent to light a lillianrill rod。
In the rain the torch shone dimly； but it revealed the man。 His face and limbs were streaked with dirt and grime； clotted with the blood of numerous small wounds； cuts； and scratches。 Surrounded by dirt and blood； the whites of his eyes glistened。 His clothes； like the wounds and mud on him； spoke of a long struggle to survive the Flat。 The remains of a uniform hung about him in shreds。
Only one piece of his apparel was intact。 He wore a scarred metal breastplate； yellow under the filth； with one black diagonal insignia across it。
〃By the Seven！〃 Lord Shetra said。 〃A Warhaft！〃
She caught hold of the man's shoulders。 But then she recoiled as if the man had burned her。 〃Melenkurion！ Warhaft；〃 she cried； 〃what has been done to you？ Your flesh is ice！〃
The man gave no sign that he heard her。 He stood where Doar and Pren had placed him； and his head hung to one side。 His breathing was shallow。 He did not move in any way； except to blink his eyes at long intervals。
But Shetra did not wait for answers。 〃Hyrim；〃 she said； 〃this man is freezing！〃 She snatched up her blanket； threw it over him。 Lord Hyrim built his torch into a fire。 There he boiled a stoneware pot of water until it was clean； while Shetra seated the man by the
fire。 She took hold of his head to force some springwine between his lips。
The cold of his flesh blistered her fingers。
She and Hyrim wrapped their hands in blankets for protection； then laid the man down by the fire and stripped him of his rags。 They washed him with boiling water。 When he was clean； Lord Shetra drew a stone vial of hurtloam from her robe； and spread some of the healing mud over the worst of his wounds。
Dawn came through the rain。 In the light； the Bloodguard saw the result of the Lords' work。 The man's skin looked like the flesh of a corpse： On his wounds； the hurtloam lay impotent。 The cold in him was uneased。
Yet he breathed and blinked。 When the Lords covered him and lifted him into a sitting posture； he squeezed his eyes； and water began to run from them like tears。 It spread out over his cheeks and formed beads of ice in his beard。
〃By the Seven。 By the Seven！〃 Lord Shetra moaned。 〃He is dead； and yet he lives。 What has been done to him？〃
Lord Hyrim made no answer。
After a time； Korik spoke for the Bloodguard。 〃He is Hoerkin； a Warhaft of the Warward。 He manded the First Eoman of the Tenth Eoward。 The High Lord sent his mand to seek out the Giants in Seareach。〃
〃Yes；〃 Hyrim murmured。 〃I remember。 When his Eoman did not return； the High Lord sent Callindrill and Amatin to attempt the Sarangrave。 Twenty…one warriors…Warhaft Hoerkin and his mand…all lost。 Callindrill and Amatin found no trace。〃
Lord Shetra addressed herself to the man。 〃Hoerkin。 Warhaft Hoerkin。 Do you hear me？ Speak！ I am Shetra Verement…mate； Lord of the Council of Revelstone。 I adjure you to speak。〃
At first； Hoerkin did not respond。 Then his jaw moved； and a low noise came from his mouth。
〃I am ahamkara； the Door。 I am sent…〃
His voice trailed off into the flow of his tears。
〃Sent？ Door？〃 Shetra said。 〃Hoerkin； speak！〃
The Warhaft did not seem to hear。 He sat in silence； while his tears formed clusters of ice in his beard。
Then Lord Hyrim manded； 〃Ahamkara； answer！〃
Hoerkin swallowed； and spoke。
〃I am ahamkara； the Door。 I am sent to bear witness to…to…〃
He faltered； but resumed a moment later。
〃I am sent to bear witness to the downfall of Giants。〃
For all the Bloodguard； Korik said； 〃You lie！〃 And Lord Shetra sprang on Hoerkin。 Regardless of the pain； she gripped his face between her hands； and shouted； 〃Despiser！〃
He gave a cry and tore himself from her grasp。 Huddling with his face against the logs of the raft； he sobbed like a child。
Appalled； Shetra backed away from him。 At Lord Hyrim's side； she stopped and waited。 Long moments passed before Hoerkin moved。 Then he pushed himself up into his former posture。 Still his tears ran down into his beard。
〃…the downfall of Giants。 There were three； brothers of one birth。 Omen of the ；end。 They serve Satansheart Soulcrusher。〃
He stopped again。
After a moment； Korik said； 〃This cannot be。 It is impossible。 The Giants of Seareach are the Rockbrothers of the Land。〃
Hoerkin did not respond。 Staring at the logs of the raft； he sat like dead clay。 But soon he spoke again。
〃…crusher。 They are named Fleshharrower； Satans…fist…and one other not to be named。〃
He swallowed once more。
〃They are the three Ravers。〃
For a time； all the mission was silent。 Then both Hyrim and Shetra strove to pel Hoerkin to say more。 But he remained beyond their reach； unspeaking。
At last； Lord Shetra said to Hyrim； 〃How do you hear his words？ What meaning do you see？〃
〃I hear truth；〃 Lord Hyrim said。 〃Omen of the end。〃
Korik said； 〃No。 By the Vow； it is impossible。〃
Quickly Lord Hyrim said； 〃Do not swear by your Vow here。〃
His reproof was just。 The Bloodguard were not ignorant of his meaning。 Korik did not speak again。 But Lord Shetra said； 〃I agree with Korik。 It surpasses belief to think that a Raver could master any Giant。 If the Despiser's power extended so far； why did he not enslave Giants in the past？〃
Lord Hyrim answered her； 〃That is true。 The Ravers do not suffice。 They do not explain。 But now Lord Foul has possession of the Illearth Stone。 That was not so in the age of the Old Lords。 Perhaps the Ravers and the Stone together…〃
〃Hyrim； we are speaking of the Giants！ If such an ill had e upon them； they would have sent word to us。〃
〃Yes；〃 Lord Hyrim said。 〃How was it done？〃
〃Done？〃
〃How were they prevented？ What has been done to them？〃
〃To them？〃 said Lord Shetra。 〃Ask a more immediate question。 What has been done to Hoerkin？ What has been done to us？〃
〃It is the Despiser's way。 In the battle of Soaring Woodhelven…we are told…he damaged the Heer Llaura and the child Pietten so that they would help destroy what they loved。〃
〃They were used to bait a trap。 Hyrim； we are baited！〃
She did not wait for an answer。 She sprang to the rear of the raft； jammed her staff between the logs； began her song。 Strength ran through the ironwood； the raft moved forward through the rain。 〃Join me！〃 she called to Lord Hyrim。 〃We must flee this place！〃
Lord Hyrim climbed wearily to his feet。 〃At Soaring Woodhelven； the trap was plete witho