srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第103节

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　　　　Covenant　did　not　answer　for　some　time。　Somewhere　in　his　half…forgotten　past；　he　had　heard　that　some　people　were　allergic　to　rattlesnake　antivenin。　Perhaps　the　doctors　at　the　hospital　should　have　tested　for　the　allergy　before　administering　the　full　dosage；　probably　he　had　been　so　far　gone　in　shock　that　they　had　not　had　time　for　medical　niceties。　For　a　moment；　he　considered　the　thought　of　dying　under　their　care　as　a　form　of　retribution。
　　　　But　he　rejected　the　idea；　rejected　the　self…pity　behind　it。　〃I'd　rather　survive；〃　he　murmured　dimly。　〃I　don't　want　to　die　like　that。〃
　　　　The　voice　smiled。　〃It　is　done。　You　will　live。〃
　　　　By　force　of　habit；　Covenant　said；　〃I'll　believe　it　when　I　see　it。〃
　　　　〃You　will　see　it。　But　there　is　first　one　other　thing　that　you　will　see。　You　have　not　asked　for　this　gift；　but　I　give　it　to　you　whether　or　not　you　wish　it。　I　did　not　ask　your　approval　when　I　elected　you　for　the　Land；　and　do　not　ask　now。〃
　　　　Before　Covenant　could　protest；　he　sensed　that　the　voice　had　left　him。　Once　again；　he　was　alone　in　the　darkness。　Oblivion　swaddled　him　so　fortably　that　he　almost　regretted　his　decision　to　live。　But　then　something　around　him　or　in　him　began　to　change；　modulate。　Without　sight　or　hearing　or　touch；　he　became　aware　of　sunlight；　low　voices；　a　soft　warm　breeze。　He　found　himself　looking　down　as　if　from　a　high　hill　at　Glimmermere。
　　　　The　pure　waters　of　the　lake　reflected　the　heavens　in　deep　burnished　azure；　and　the　breeze　smelled　gently　of　spring。　The　hills　around　Glimmer…mere　showed　the　scars　of　Lord　Foul's　preternatural　winter。　But　already　grass　had　begun　to　sprout　through　the　cold…seared　ground；　and　a　few　tough　spring　flowers　waved　bravely　in　the　air。　The　stretches　of　bare　earth　had　lost　their　gray；　frozen　deadness。　The　healing　of　the　Land　had　begun。
　　　　Hundreds　of　people　were　gathered　around　the　lake。　Almost　immediately；　Covenant　made　out　High　Lord　Mhoram。　He　stood　facing　east　across　Glimmermere。　He　bore　no　staff。　His　hands　were　heavily　bandaged。　On　his　left　were　the　Lords　Trevor　and　Loerya；　holding　their　daughters；　and　on　his　right　was　Lord　Amatin。　All　of　them　seemed　solemnly　glad；　but　Mhoram's　serene　gaze　outshone　them；　testified　more　eloquently　than　they　could　to　the　Land's　victory。
　　　　Behind　the　Lords　stood　Warmark　Quaan　and　Hearthrall　Tohrm…　Quaan　with　the　Hafts　of　his　Warward；　and　Tohrm　with　all　the　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases　of　Lord's　Keep。　Covenant　saw　that　Trell　Atiaran…mate　was　not　among　them。　He　understood　intuitively；　Trell　had　carried　his　personal　dilemma　to　its　conclusion；　and　was　either　dead　or　gone。　Again；　the　Unbeliever　found　that　he　could　not　argue　away　his　guilt。
　　　　All　around　the　lake　beyond　the　Lords　were　Lorewardens　and　warriors。　And　behind　them　were　the　survivors　of　Revelstone…farmers；　Cattleherds；　horse…tenders；　cooks；　artisans；　Craftmasters…children　and　parents；　young　and　old…all　the　people　who　had　endured。　They　did　not　seem　many；　but　Covenant　knew　that　they　were　enough；　they　would　be　able　to　mence　the　work　of　restoration。
　　　　As　he　watched；　they　drew　close　to　Glimmermere　and　fell　silent。　High　Lord　Mhoram　waited　until　they　were　all　attentive；　ready。　Then　he　lifted　up　his　voice。
　　　　〃People　of　the　Land；〃　he　said　firmly；　〃we　are　gathered　here　in　celebration　of　life。　I　have　no　long　song　to　sing。　I　am　weak　yet；　and　none　of　us　is　strong。　But　we　live。　The　Land　has　been　preserved。　The　mad　riot　and　rout　of　Lord　Foul's　army　shows　us　that　he　has　fallen。　The　fierce　echo　of　battle　within　the　krill　of　Loric　shows　us　that　the　white　gold　has　done　bat　with　the　Illearth　Stone；　and　has　emerged　triumphant。　That　is　cause　enough　for　celebration。　Enough？　My　friends；　it　will　suffice　for　us　and　for　our　children；　while　the　present　age　of　the　Land　endures。
　　　　''In　token　of　this；　I　have　brought　the　krill　to　Glimmermere。''　Reaching　painfully　into　his　robe；　he　drew　out　the　dagger。　Its　gem　showed　no　light　or　life。　〃In　it；　we　see　that　ur…Lord　Thomas　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　white　gold　wielder；　has　returned　to　his　world；　where　a　great　hero　was　fashioned　for　our　deliverance。
　　　　〃Well；　that　is　as　it　must　be；　though　my　heart　regrets　his　passing。　Yet　let　none　fear　that　he　is　lost　to　us。　Did　not　the　old　legends　say　that　Berek　Halfhand　would　e　again？　And　was　not　that　promise　kept　in　the　person　of　the　Unbeliever？　Such　promises　are　not　made　in　vain。
　　　　〃My　friends…people　of　the　Land…Thomas　Covenant　once　inquired　of　me　why　we　so　devote　ourselves　to　the　Lore　of　High　Lord　Kevin　Landwaster。　And　now；　in　this　war；　we　have　learned　the　hazard　of　that　Lore。　Like　the　krill；　it　is　a　power　of　two　edges；　as　apt　for　carnage　as　for　preservation。　Its　use　endangers　our　Oath　of　Peace。
　　　　〃I　am　Mhoram　son　of　Variol；　High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council。　I　declare　that　from　this　day　forth　we　will　not　devote　ourselves　to　any　Lore　which　precludes　Peace。　We　will　gain　lore　of　our　own…we　will　strive　and　quest　and　learn　until　we　have　found　a　lore　in　which　the　Oath　of　Peace　and　the　preservation　of　the　Land　live　together。　Hear　me；　you　people！　We　will　serve　Earthfriendship　in　a　new　way。〃
　　　　As　he　finished；　he　lifted　the　krill　and　tossed　it　high　into　the　air。　It　arced　glinting　through　the　sunlight；　struck　water　in　the　center　of　Glimmermere。　When　it　splashed　the　potent　water；　it　flared　once；　sent　a　burn　of　white　glory　into　the　depths　of　the　lake。　Then　it　was　gone　forever。
　　　　High　Lord　Mhoram　watched　while　the　ripples　faded。　Then　he　made　an　exultant　summoning　gesture；　and　all　the　people　around　Glimmermere　began　to　sing　in　celebration：
　　　　Hail；　Unbeliever！　Keeper　and　Covenant；　Unoathed　truth　and　wicked's　bane；　Ur…Lord　Illender；　Prover　of　Life：　Hail！　Covenant！
　　　　Dour…handed　wild　magic　wielder；　Ur…Earth　white　gold's　servant　and　Lord…　Yours　is　the　power　that　preserves。
　　　　Sing　out；　people　of　the　Land…
　　　　Raise　obeisance！
　　　　Hold　honor　and　glory　high　to　the　end　of　days：
　　　　Keep　clean　the　truth　that　was　won！
　　　　Hail；　Unbeliever！
　　　　Covenant！
　　　　Hail！
　　　　They　raised　their　staffs　and　swords　and　hands　to　him；　and　his　vision　blurred　with　tears。　Tears　smeared　Glimmermere　out　of　focus　until　it　became　only　a　smudge　of　light　before　his　face。　He　did　not　want　to　lose　it。　He　tried　to　clear　his　sight；　hoping　that　the　lake　was　not　gone。　But　then　he　became　conscious　of　his　tears。　Instead　of　wetting　his　cheeks；　they　ran　from　the　corners　of　his　eyes　down　to　his　ears　and　neck。　He　was　lying　on　his　back　in　fort。　When　he　refocused　his　sight；　pulled　it　into　adjustment　like　the　resolution　of　a　lens；　he　found　that　the　smear　of　light　before　him　was　the　face　of　a　man。
　　　　The　man　peered　at　him　for　a　long　moment；　then　withdrew　into　a　superficial　haze　of　fluorescence。　Slowly；　Covenant　realized　that　there　were　gleaming　horizontal　bars　on　either　side　of　the　bed。　His　left　wrist　was　tied　to　one　of　them；　so　that　he　could　not　disturb　the　needle　in　his　vein。　The　needle　was　connected　by　a　clear　tube　to　an　IV　bottle　above　his　head。　The　air　had　a　faint　patina　of　germicide。
　　　　〃I　wouldn't　have　believed　it　if　I　hadn't　seen　it；〃　the　man　said。　〃That　poor　devil　is　going　to　live。〃
　　　　〃That's　why　I　called　you；　doctor；〃　the　woman　said。　〃Isn't　there　anything　we　can　do？〃
　　　　〃Do？〃　the　doctor　snapped。
　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　it　like　that；〃　the　woman　replied　defensively。　〃But　he's　a　leper！　He's　been　making　people　in　this　town　miserable　for　months。　Nobody　knows　what　to　do　about　him。　Some　of　the　other　nurses　want…they　want　overtime　pay　for　taking　care　of　him。　And　look　at　him。　He'　s　so　messed　up。　I　just　think　it　would　be　a　lot　better　for　everyone…if　he…〃
　　　　〃That's　enough。〃　The　man　was　angry。　〃Nurse；　if　I　hear　another　word　like　that　out　of　you；　you're　going　to　be　looking　for　a　new　job。　This　man　is　ill。　If　you　don't　want　to　help　people　who　are　ill；　go　find　yourself　some　other　line*　of　work。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　any　harm；〃　the　nurse　huffed　as　she　left　the　room。
　　　　After　she　was　gone；　Covenant　lost　sight　of　the　doctor　for　a　while；　he　seemed　to　fade　into　the　insensitive　haze　of　the　lighting。　Covenant　tried　to　take　stock　of　his　situation。　His　right　wrist　was　also　tied；　so　that　he　lay　in　the　bed　as　if　he　had　been　crucified。　But　the　restraints　did　not　prevent　him　from　testing　the　essential　facts　about　himself。　His　feet　were　numb　and　cold。　His　fingers　were　in　the　same　condition…numb；　chill。　His　forehead　hurt　feverishly。　His　lip　was　taut　and　hot　with　swelling。
　　　　He　had　to　agree　with　the　nurse；　he　was　in　rotten　shape。
　　　　Then　he　found　the　doctor　near　him　again。　The　man　seemed　young　and　angry。　Another　man　entered　the　room；　an　older　doctor　whom　Covenant　recognized　as　the　one　who　had　treated　him　during　his　previous　stay　in　the　hospital。　Unlike　the　younger　man；　this　doctor　wore　a　suit　rather　than　a　white　staff　jacket。　As　he　entered；　he　said；　〃I　hope　you've　got　good　reason　for　calling　me。　I　don't　give　up　church　for　just　anyone…especially　on　Easter。〃
　　　　〃This　is　a　hospital；〃　the　younger　man　growled；　〃not　a　bloody　revival。　Of　course　I've　got　good　reason。〃
　　　　〃What's　eating　you？　Is　he　dead？〃
　　　　〃No。　Just　the　opposite…he's　going　to　live。　One　minute　he's　in　allergic　shock；　and　dying　from　it　because　his　body's　too　weak　and　infected　and　poisoned　to　fight　back…and　the　next…　Pulse　firm；　respiration　regular；　pupillary　reactions　normal