srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第70部分
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ries and boiled water which Sill forced into him kept him alive。
During the afternoon of the eighteenth day of the mission； the logs of the raft touched mud。 Though thin water still gleamed among the trees； the raft no longer floated。 The bog held it despite the best efforts of the steersmen； and drew it eastward deeper into the Swamp； moving with the slow current of the mire。
Korik could not see any hope。 But Sill disagreed。 He insisted that within Lord Hyrim's ill flesh an unquenched spirit survived。 He felt it with his hand on the Lord's brow； something in Hyrim still resisted the fever。 Through the long watch of the day； he nourished that spirit with treasure…berries and boiled； brackish water。 And in the evening the Lord rallied。 Some of the dry flush left his face； he began to sweat。 As his chills faded； his breathing became easier。 By nightfall he was sleeping quietly。
But it appeared that he had begun to recover too late。 Deep in the dark night； the grip of the mud bore the raft into an open flat devoid of trees。 There the current eddied； turned back on itself； formed a slow
whirlpool just broad enough to catch all four sides of the raft and start sucking it down。
And the Bloodguard could do nothing。 Here all strength and fidelity lost their worth； here no Vow had meaning。 The mission was in Lord Hyrim's hands； and he was weak。
But when Korik wakened him； the Lord's eyes were lucid。 He listened as Korik told him of the mission's plight。 Then after a time he said； 〃How far must we go to escape？〃
〃A league； Lord。〃 Korik indicated the direction with a nod。
〃So far？ Friend Korik； someday you must tell me how we came to these straits。〃 Sighing； he pulled himself close to the fire and began eating the mission's store of aliantha。 He made no attempt to rise until he had eaten it all。
Then； with Sill's help； he climbed to his feet on the slowly revolving raft； and moved into position。 Bracing himself against the Bloodguard； he thrust his staff between the logs into the mud。
A snatch of song broke through his teeth； the staff began to pulse in his hands。
For a time； his exertions had no effect。 Power mounted in his staff； grew higher at the mand of his uncertain strength； but the raft still sank deeper into the Swamp。 The stench of decay and death thickened。 Lord Hyrim groaned at the strain； and summoned more of his strength。 He began to sing aloud。
Blue sparks burst from the wood of his staff； ran down into the muck。 With a loud sucking noise； the raft pulled free of the eddy； lumbered away。 Swinging around the whirlpool； it started northward。
For a long time； Lord Hyrim kept the raft moving。 Then he reached the marshwaders on the north side of the eddy。 There the Bloodguard threw out clingor lines to the trees ahead； used the ropes to pull the raft along。 At once； Hyrim dropped his power and slumped forward。 Sill bore him back to the center of the raft。 As soon as he lay down by the embers of the fire； he was asleep。
But now the Bloodguard no longer needed his help。
They cast out the clingor ropes and heaved on them； hauled the raft between the trees。 Their progress was slow； but they did not falter。 And when the mud became so thick that their ropes broke under the strain； they strung lines between the trees and left the raft。 Sill carried Lord Hyrim lashed to his back； and moved through the mire by pulling himself along the lines while the other Bloodguard strung new ropes ahead and released the ones behind。 Then； at last； in the light of dawn； the mud changed to soft wet clay； the trees gave way to stands of cane and marshgrass； and the Bloodguard began to feel solid ground with their bare toes。
Thus they came out into the wide belt of marsh that bordered Lifeswallower。
In the distance ahead； they could see the steep hills which formed the southern edge of Seareach。
The mission had lost three days。
Yet the Bloodguard did not begrudge Lord Hyrim the time to cook a hot meal from the last supplies。 The Lord was worn and wasted； his once…round face had bee as lean as a wolfs。 He needed food and rest。 And the mission would make good speed across Seareach toward Coercri。 If necessary； the Bloodguard could carry Lord Hyrim。
When he had eaten； the Lord groaned to his feet； and started toward the hills。 He set a slow pace； he was forced to rest long and often。 The Bloodguard soon saw that at this rate they would need all day to cross the five leagues to the hills。 But the Lord refused their offer of aid。 〃Haste？〃 he said。 〃I have no heart for haste。〃 And his voice had a bitterness which surprised them until Korik reminded them of what they had heard from Warhaft Hoerkin； and of what the Lord's response had been。 Hyrim apparently believed Hoerkin's prophecy concerning the downfall of the Giants。
Yet the Lord labored throughout the day to reach the hills； and the next day he strove to climb the hills as if he had changed during the night； recovered his sense of urgency。 Rolling his eyes at the arduous
slope； he pushed himself； labored upward at the limit of his returning strength。
When at last… he crested the hill； he and all the Bloodguard paused to look at Seareach。
The land which the Old Lords had given to the Giants for a home was wide and fair。 Enclosed by hills on the south； mountains on the west； and the Sunbirth Sea on the east； it was a green haven for the shipwrecked voyagers。 But although they used the Land…cultivated the rolling countryside with crops of all kinds； planted immense vineyards； grew whole forests of the special redwood and teak trees from which they crafted their huge ships…they did not people it。 They were lovers of the sea； and。 preferred to make their dwelling places in the cliffs of the rocky coast； forty leagues east from where the mission now stood。
During the age of Damelon Giantfriend； when the Unhomed were more numerous； they had spread out along the coast； building homes and villages across the whole eastern side of Seareach。 But their numbers had slowly declined； until now they were only a third of what they had once been。 Yet they were a long…lived； story…loving； gay people and the lack of children hurt them cruelly。 Out of slow loneliness； they had left their scattered homes in the north and south of Seareach； and had formed one munity…a sea…cliff city where they could share their few children and their songs and their long tales。 Despite their ancient custom of long names…names which told the tale of the thing named…they called their city simply Coercri； The Grieve。 There they had lived since High Lord Kevin's youth。
Looking out over the land of the Giants； Lord Hyrim gave a low cry。 〃Korik！ Pray that Hoerkin lied！ Pray that his message was a lie！ Ah； my heart！〃 He clutched at his chest with both hands； and started down the soft slope into Seareach at a run。
Korik and Sill caught him swiftly； placed a hand under each of his arms。 They bore him up between them so that he could move more easily。 Thus the mission began its journey toward The Grieve。
Lord Hyrim ran that way for the rest of the day； resting only at moments when the pain in his chest became unendurable。 And the Bloodguard knew that he had good reason。 Lord Mhoram had said； Twenty days。 This was the twentieth day of the mission。
The next dawn； when Lord Hyrim arose from his exhausted sleep； he spurned Korik and Sill； and ran alone。
His pace soon brought the mission to the westmost of the Giants' vineyards。 Korik sent Doar and Shull through the rows； searching for some sign。 But they reported that the Giants who had been working this vineyard had left it together in haste。 The matter was clear。 Giantish hoes and rakes as tall as men lay scattered among the vines with their blades and teeth still in the marks of their work； and several of the leather sacks in which the Giants usually carried their food and belongings had been thrown to the ground and abandoned。 Apparently； the Unhomed had received some kind of signal； and had dropped their work at once to answer it。
Their footprints in the open earth of the vineyard ran in the direction of Coercri。
That day； the mission passed through vineyards； teak stands； fields。 In all of them； the scattered too
