uleg.thefarthestshore-第37部分
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！
But there is no good in killing a dead man； and Cob was dead； years dead。 The wound closed； swallowing its blood。 The blind man stood up very tall； groping out with his long arms at Arren； his face writhing with rage and hatred： as if he had just now perceived who his true enemy and rival was。
So horrible to see was this recovery from a deathblow； this inability to die； more horrible than any dying； that a rage of loathing swelled up in Arren； a berserk fury； and swinging up the sword he struck again with it； a full； terrible； downward blow。 Cob fell with skull split open and face masked with blood； yet Arren was upon him at once； to strike again； before the wound could close； to strike until he killed。。。
Beside him Ged； struggling to his knees； spoke one word。
At the sound of his voice Arren was stopped； as if a hand had grasped his sword…arm。 The blind man； who had begun to rise； also held utterly still。 Ged got to his feet； he swayed a little。 When he could hold himself erect； he faced the cliff。
〃Be thou made whole！〃 he said in a clear voice； and with his staff he drew in lines of fire across the gate of rocks a figure： the rune Agnen； the Rune of Ending； which closes roads and is drawn on coffin lids。 And there was then no gap or void place among the boulders。 The door was shut。
The earth of the Dry Land trembled under their feet； and across the unchanging； barren sky a long roll of thunder ran and died away。
〃By the word that will not be spoken until time's end I summoned thee。 By the word that was spoken at the making of things I now release thee。 Go free！〃 And bending over the blind man； who was crouched on his knees； Ged whispered in his ear； under the white； tangled hair。
Cob stood up。 He looked about him slowly； with seeing eyes。 He looked at Arren and then at Ged。 He spoke no word； but gazed at them with dark eyes。 There was no anger in his face； no hate； no grief。 Slowly he turned； went off down the course of the Dry River； and soon was gone to sight。
There was no more light on Ged's yew staff or in his face。 He stood there in the darkness。 When Arren came to him he caught at the young man's arm to hold himself upright。 For a moment a spasm of dry sobbing shook him。 〃It is done；〃 he said。 〃It is all gone。〃
〃It is done； dear lord。 We must go。〃
〃Aye。 We must go home。〃
Ged was like one bewildered or exhausted。 He followed Arren back down the river…course； stumbling along slowly and with difficulty among the rocks and boulders。 Arren stayed with him。 When the banks of the Dry River were low and the ground was less steep； he turned toward the way they had e； the long； formless slope that led up into the dark。 Then he turned away。
Ged said nothing。 As soon as they halted； he bad sunk down； sitting on a lava…boulder； forspent； his head hanging。
Arren knew that the way they had e was closed to them。 They could only go on。 They must go all the way。 〃Even too far is not far enough；〃 he thought。 He looked up at the black peaks； cold and silent against the unmoving stars； terrible； and once more that ironic； mocking voice of his will spoke in him； unrelenting： 〃Will you stop halfway； Lebannen？〃
He went to Ged and said very gently； 〃We must go on； my lord。〃
Ged said nothing； but he stood up。
〃We must go by the mountains； I think。〃
〃Thy way； lad；〃 Ged said in a hoarse whisper。 〃Help me。〃
So they set out up the slopes of dust and scoria into the mountains； Arren helping his panion along as well as he could。 It was black dark in the bes and gorges； so that he had to feel the way ahead； and it was hard for him to give Ged support at the same time。 Walking was hard； a stumbling matter； but when they had to climb and clamber as the slopes grew steeper； that was harder still。 The rocks were rough； burning their hands like molten iron。 Yet it was cold and got colder as they went higher。 There was a torment in the touch of this earth。 It seared like live coals： a fire burned within the mountains。 But the air was always cold and always dark。 There was no sound。 No wind blew。 The sharp rocks broke under their hands； and gave way under their feet。 Black and sheer； the spurs and chasms went up in front of them and fell away beside them into blackness。 Behind； below； the kingdom of the dead was lost。 Ahead； above； the peaks and rocks stood out against the stars。 And nothing moved in all the length and breadth of those black mountains； except the two mortal souls。
Ged often stumbled or missed his footing； in weariness。 His breath came harder and harder； and when his hands came hard against the rocks； he gasped in pain。 To hear him cry out wrung Arren's heart。 He tried to keep him from falling。 But often the way was too narrow for them to go abreast； or Arren had to go in front to seek out footing。 And at last； on a high slope that ran up to the stars； Ged slipped and fell forward； and did not get up。
〃My lord；〃 Arren said； kneeling by him； and then spoke his name： 〃Ged。〃
He did not move or answer。
Arren lifted him in his arms and carried him up that high slope。 At the end of it there was level ground for some way ahead。 Arren laid his burden down and dropped down beside him； exhausted and in pain； past hope。 This was the summit of the pass between the two black peaks； for which he had been struggling。 This was the pass and the end。 There was no way farther。 The end of the level ground was the edge of a cliff： beyond it the darkness went on forever； and the small stars hung unmoving in the black gulf of the sky。
Endurance may outlast hope。 He crawled forward； when he was able to do so； doggedly。 He looked over the edge of darkness。 And below him； only a little way below； he saw the beach of ivory sand； the white and amber waves were curling and breaking in foam on it； and across the sea the sun was setting in a haze of gold。
Arren turned back to the dark。 He went back。 He lifted Ged up as best he could and struggled forward with him until he could not go any farther。 There all things ceased to be： thirst； and pain； and the dark； and the sun's light； and the sound of the breaking sea。
The Stone of Pain
When Arren woke； a grey fog hid the sea and the dunes and hills of Selidor。 The breakers came murmuring in a low thunder out of the fog and withdrew murmuring into it again。 The tide was in； and the beach much narrower than when they had first e there； the last； small foam…lines of the waves came and licked at Ged's outflung left hand as he lay face down on the sand。 His clothes and hair were wet； and Arren's clothes clung icily to his body； as if once at least the sea had broken over them。 Of Cob's dead body there was no trace。 Maybe the waves had drawn it out to sea。 But behind Arren； when he turned his head； huge and dim in the mist the grey body of Orm Embar bulked like a ruined tower。
Arren got up； shuddering with chill； he could barely stand； for cold and stiffness and a dizzy weakness like that which es of lying a long time unmoving。 He staggered like a drunken man。 As soon as he could control his limbs he went to Ged and managed to pull him a little way up the sand above the waves' reach； but that was all he could do。 Very cold； very heavy； Ged seemed to him； he had borne him over the boundary from death into life； but maybe in vain。 He put his ear to Ged's breast； but could not still the shaking in his own limbs and the chattering of his teeth to listen for the heartbeat。 He stood up again and tried to stamp to bring some warmth back into his legs and finally； trembling and dragging his legs like an old man； set off to find their packs。 They had dropped them beside a little stream running down from the ridge of the hills； a long time ago； when they came down to the house of bones。 It was that stream he sought； for he could not think of anything but water； fresh water。
Before he expected it； he came to the stream； as it descended onto the beach and wandered mazy and branching like a tree of silver to the seas edge。 There he dropped down and drank； with his face in the water and his hands in the water； sucking up the water into his mouth and into his spirit。
At last he sat up； and as he did so he saw on the far side of the stream； immense； a dragon。
Its head； the color of iron； stained as with red rust at nostril and； eye…socket and jowl； hung facing him； almost over him。 The talons sank deep into the soft； wet sand on the edge of the stream。 The folded wings were partly visible； like sails； but the length of the dark body was lost in the fog。
It did not move。 It might have been crouching there for hours； or for years； or for centuries。 It was carven of iron； shaped from rock… but the eyes； the eyes he dared not look into； the eyes like oil coiling on water； like yellow smoke behind glass； the opaque； profound； yellow eyes watched Arren。
There was nothing he could do； so he stood up。 If the dragon would kill him； it would； and if it did not； he would try to help Ged； if there was any help for him。 He stood up and started to walk up the rivulet to find their packs。
The dragon did nothing。 It crouched unmoving and watched。 Arren found the packs； filled both the skin bottles at the stream； and went back across the
