uleg.thefarthestshore-第20部分
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o the right； forming a triangle。
〃Have they names？〃
〃The Master Namer did not know。 Maybe the men of Obehol and Wellogy have names for them。 I do not know。 We go now into strange seas； Arren； under the Sign of Ending。〃
The boy did not answer； looking with a kind of loathing at the bright； nameless stars above the endless water。
As they sailed westward day after day； the warmth of the southern spring lay on the waters； and the sky was clear。 Yet it seemed to Arren that there was a dullness in the light； as if it fell aslant through glass。 The sea was lukewarm when he swam； bringing little refreshment。 Their salt food had no savor。 There was no freshness or brightness in anything； unless it were at night； when the stars burned with a greater radiance than he had ever seen in them。 He would lie and watch them till he slept。 Sleeping； he would dream： always the dream of the moors or the pit or a valley hemmed round by cliffs or a long road going downward under a low sky； always the dim light； and the horror in him； and the hopeless effort to escape。
He never spoke of this to Sparrowhawk。 He did not speak of anything important to him； nothing but the small daily incidents of their sailing； and Sparrowhawk； who had always had to be drawn out； was now habitually silent。
Arren saw now what a fool he had been to entrust himself body and soul to this restless and secretive man； who let impulse move him and made no effort to control his life； nor even to save it。 For now the fey mood was on him； and that； Arren thought； was because he dared not face his own failure… the failure of wizardry as a great power among men。
It was clear now that to those who knew the secrets； there were not many secrets to that art magic from which Sparrowhawk and all the generations of sorcerers and wizards； had made much fame and power。 There was not much more to it than the use of wind and weather； the knowledge of healing herbs； and a skillful show of such illusions as mists and lights and shape…changes； which could awe the ignorant； but which were mere tricks。 Reality was not changed。 There was nothing in magery that gave a man true power over men； nor was it any use against death。 The mages lived no longer than ordinary men。 All their secret words could not put off for one hour the ing of their death。
Even in small matters magery was not worth counting on。 Sparrowhawk was always miserly about employing his arts； they went by the world's wind whenever they might； they fished for food； and they spared their water； like any sailors。 After four days of interminable tacking into a fitful headwind； Arren asked him if he would not speak a little following wind into the sail； and when he shook his head； said； 〃Why not？〃
〃I would not ask a sick man to run a race；〃 said Sparrowhawk； 〃nor lay a stone on an overburdened back。〃 It was not clear whether he spoke of himself or of the world at large。 Always his answers were grudging； hard to understand。 There； thought Arren； lay the very heart of wizardry： to hint at mighty meanings while saying nothing at all； and to make doing nothing at all seem the very crown of wisdom。
Arren had tried to ignore Sopli； but it was impossible； and in any case he soon found himself in a kind of alliance with the madman。 Sopli was not so mad； or not so simply mad； as his wild hair and fragmented talk made him appear。 Indeed the maddest thing about him was perhaps his terror of the water。 To e into a boat had taken desperate courage； and he never really got the edge worn off his fear； he kept his head down so much so that he would not have to see the water heaving and lapping about him。 To stand up in the boat made him giddy； he clung to the mast。 The first time Arren decided on a swim and dived off the prow； Sopli shouted out in horror； when Arren came climbing back into the boat； the poor man was green with shock。 〃I thought you were drowning yourself；〃 he said； and Arren had to laugh。
That afternoon； when Sparrowhawk sat meditating； unheeding and unhearing； Sopli came hitching cautiously over the thwarts to Arren。 He said in a low voice； 〃You don't want to die； do you？〃
〃Of course not。〃
〃He does；〃 Sopli said； with a little shift of his lower jaw toward Sparrowhawk。
〃Why do you say that？〃
Arren took a lordly tone； which indeed came naturally to him； and Sopli accepted it as natural； though he was ten or fifteen years older than Arren。 He replied with ready civility； though in his usual fragmentary way； 〃He wants to get to the secret place。 But I don't know why。 He doesn't want。。。 He doesn't believe in。。。 the promise。〃
〃What promise？〃
Sopli glanced up at him sharply； something of his ruined manhood in his eyes； but Arren's will was stronger。 He answered very low； 〃You know。 Life。 Eternal life。〃
A great chill went through Arren's body。 He remembered his dreams： the moor； the pit； the cliffs； the dim light。 That was death； that was the horror of death。 It was from death he must escape； must find the way。 And on the doorsill stood the figure crowned with shadow； holding out a little light no larger than a pearl； the glimmer of immortal life。
Arren met Sopli's eyes for the first time： light brown eyes； very clear； in them he saw that he had understood at last； and that Sopli shared his knowledge。
〃He；〃 the Dyer said； with his twitch of the jaw toward Sparrowhawk 〃he won't give up his name。 Nobody can take his name through。 The way is too narrow。〃
〃Have you seen it？〃
〃In the dark； in my mind。 That's not enough。 I want to get there； I want to see it。 In the world； with my eyes。 What if I… what if I died and couldn't find the way； the place？ Most people can't find it； they don't even know it's there。 There's only some of us have the power。 But it's hard； because you have to give the power up to get there。。。 No more words。 No more names。 It is too hard to do in the mind。 And when you… die； your mind… dies。〃 He stuck each time on the word。 〃I want to know I can e back。 I want to be there。 On the side of life。 I want to live； to be safe。 I hate… I hate this water。。。〃
The Dyer drew his limbs together as a spider does when falling； and hunched his wiry…red head down between his shoulders； to shut out the sight of the sea。
But Arren did not shun his conversation after that； knowing that Sopli shared not only his vision； but his fear； and that； if worse came to worst； Sopli might aid him against Sparrowhawk。
Always they sailed； slowly in the calms and fitful breezes； to the west； where Sparrowhawk pretended that Sopli guided them。 But Sopli did not guide them； he who knew nothing of the sea； had never seen a chart； never been in a boat； dreaded the water with a sick dread。 It was the mage who guided them and led them deliberately astray。 Arren saw this now and saw the reason of it。 The Archmage knew that they and others like them were seeking eternal life； had been promised it or drawn toward it； and might find it。 In his pride； his overweening pride as Archmage； he feared lest they might gain it； he envied them； and feared them； and would have no man greater than himself。 He meant to sail out onto the Open Sea beyond all lands until they were utterly astray and could never e back to the world； and there they would die of thirst。 For he would die himself； to prevent them from eternal life。
Every now and then there would e a moment when Sparrowhawk spoke to Arren of some small matter of managing the boat or swam with him in the warm sea or bade him good night under the great stars； when all these ideas seemed utter nonsense to the boy。 He would look at his panion and see him； that hard； harsh； patient face； and he would think； 〃This is my lord and friend。〃 And it seemed unbelievable to him that he had doubted。 But a little while later he would be doubting again； and he and Sopli would exchange glances； warning each other of their mutual enemy。
Every day the sun shone hot； yet dull。 Its light lay like a gloss on the slow…heaving sea。 The water was blue； the sky blue without change or shading。 The breezes blew and died； and they turned the sail to catch them and slowly crept on toward no end。
One afternoon they had at last a light following wind； and Sparrowhawk pointed upward； near sunset； saying； 〃Look。〃 High above the mast a line of seageese wavered like a black rune drawn across the sky。 The geese flew westward： and following； Lookfar came on the next day in sight of a great island。
〃That's it；〃 Sopli said。 〃That land。 We must go there。〃
〃The place you seek is there？〃
〃Yes。 We must land there。 This is as far as we can go。
〃This land will be Obehol。 Beyond it in the South Reach is another island； Wellogy。 And in the West Reach are islands lying farther west than Wellogy。 Are you certain； Sopli？'
The Dyer of Lorbanery grew angry； so that the wincing look came back into his eyes； but he did not talk madly； Arren thought； as he had when they first spoke with him many days ago on Lorbanery。 〃Yes。 We must land here。 We have gone far enough。 The place we seek is here。 Do you want me to swear that I know it？ Shall I swear by my name？〃
〃You cannot；〃 Sparrowhawk said； his voice hard； looking up at Sopli who was taller than he； Sopli h
