srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第85部分
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em together here。〃
He paused to look over the warriors。 They stood squarely before him with expressions colored by every hue of grimness and fatigue and determination； and their very bones seemed to radiate mortality。 At the sight； he began to understand Mhoram's statement that they deserved to know the truth； they were serving his mands with their souls。 Roughly； he went on； 〃But there's one more thing。 Fleshharrower may be planning a surprise or two for us。 Many of you were with Hiltmark Quaan during that storm…you know what I'm talking about。 That Giant has power； and he
intends to use it。 We're going to give him a chance。 We're going to be a target； so that whatever he does will hit us instead of the rest of the Warward。 I think we can survive it…if we do things right。 But it's not going to be easy。〃
Abruptly； he turned to Amorine； and ordered her to deploy the Eoward in strategic positions throughout the east side of the masterplace。 〃Make sure of your lines of retreat。 I don't want people getting lost in this maze when it's time for us to pull out。〃 Then he spoke to the Bloodguard； asked them to scout beyond the city along the ridge。 〃I've got to know right away if Fleshharrower tries to surround us。〃
Terrel nodded； and a few of the Bloodguard rode away。
First Haft Amorine took her Eoward back across Doriendor Corishev。 They left all their horses； including the Ranyhyn； at the west gate under the care of several Bloodguard。
Acpanied by the rest of the Bloodguard； Troy and the two Lords made their way on foot to the east 。： wall。
While they passed through the ruins； Lord Mhoram n asked； 〃Warmark； do you believe that Fleshharrower …： will not attempt to surround us？ Why would he do
otherwise？〃'
〃Instinct；〃 Troy replied curtly。 〃I think he'll be very careful to let us escape on the west side。 You heard him laughback at Doom's Retreat…when he saw where we were going。 I think that what he really wants is to trap us against Garroting Deep。 He's a Raver。 He probably thinks the idea of using that Forest against us is hilarious。〃
Then he was grateful that Mhoram refrained from asking him what his… own ideas about Garroting Deep were。 He did not want to think about that。 Instead； he tried to concentrate on the layout of the city； so that he could find his way through it at night if necessary。 But his heart was not in the task。 Too many other anxieties occupied him。
When he reached the east wall； and climbed up on ‘
some rubble to peer over it； he saw Fleshharrower's army。
It approached like a great discoloration； a dark bruise； on the pale ground of the Wastes。 Its front stretched away both north and south of the ruins。 It was less than a league away。
And it was immense beyond prehension。 Troy could not imagine how Lord Foul had been able to create such an army。
It came forward until it reached the foot of the hill upon which Doriendor Corishev stood。
As he watched； Troy gripped the handle of his sword as if it were the only thing that kept him from panic。 Several times； he reached up to adjust the sunglasses he no lodger possessed。 The movement was like an involuntary prayer or appeal。 But neither of the Lords observed him。 Their faces were set toward Fleshharrower。
Troy almost shouted with elation when the GiantRaver stopped his army at the foot of the hill。 The halt ran through his hordes like a shock； as if the force which drove them had struck a wall。 The wolves smelled prey； they sent up a howl of frustration at the halt。 Ur…viles barked furiously。 Warped humans groaned； and Cavewights hopped hungrily from foot to foot。 But Fleshharrower's mand mastered them all。 They spread out until they formed a ready arc around the entire eastern side of the hill； then set themselves to wait。
When he was satisfied with the position of his army； the Raver took a few steps up the hill； placed his fists on his hips； and shouted sardonically； 〃Lords！ Warriors！ I know you hear me！ Listen to my words！ Surrender！ You cannot escape…you are ensnared between the Desert and the Deep。 I can eradicate you from the Earth with only a tenth of my strength。 Surrender！ If you join me； I may be merciful。〃 At the word merciful； a yammer of protest and hunger went up from his army。 He waited for the outcry to pass before he continued： 〃If not； I will destroy you！ I will burn and blast your homes。 I will make Revelwood a charnal； and use Revelstone for an offal ground。 I
will wreck and ravage the Land until Time itself breaks！ Hear me and despair！ Surrender or die！〃
At this； an irresistible impulse caught hold of the Warmark； frustration and rage boiled up in him。 Without warning； he leaped onto the wall。 He braced his feet to steady himself； and raised his fists defiantly。 〃Fleshharrower！〃 he shouted。 〃Vermin！ I am Warmark Hile Troy！ I mand here！ I spit in your face； Raver！ You're only a slave！ And your master is only a slave！ He's a slave to hunger； and he gnaws his worthlessness like an old bone。 Go back！ Leave the Land！ We're free people。 Despair has no power over us。 But I'll teach you despair if you dare to fight me！〃
Fleshharrower snapped an order。 A dozen bowstrings thrummed； shafts flew past Troy's head as Ruel snatched him down from the wall。 Troy stumbled as he landed； but Ruel upheld him。 When the Warmark regained his balance； Mhoram said； 〃You took a grave risk。 What have you gained？〃
〃I've made him mad；〃 Troy replied unsteadily。 〃This has got to be done right； and I'm going to do it。 The madder he gets； the better off we are。〃
〃Are you so certain of what he will do？〃
〃Yes。〃 Troy felt an odd confidence； a conviction
that he would not be proved wrong until the end。
〃He's already doing it he's stopped。 If he's mad
enough； he'll attack us first himself。 His army will stay
stopped。 That's what we want。〃
〃Then I believe that you have succeeded；〃 Lord Callindrill inserted quietly。 He was gazing over the wall as he spoke。 Mhoram and Troy joined him； and saw what he meant。
Fleshharrower had retreated until there was a flat space of ground between himself and the hill。 Around him； the army shifted。 Several thousand ur…viles moved to form wedges with their loremasters poised on both sides of the space。 There they waited while the Giant…Raver marked out a wide circle in the dirt； using the tip of one of the loremaster's staves。 Then Fleshharrower ordered all but the ur…viles away from the circle。
When the space was cleared； the loremasters began their work。
Chanting in arhythmic unison like a mesmerized chorus of dogs； the ur…viles bent their might forward； into the hands of their loremasters。 The loremasters thrust the points of their staves into the rim of Fleshharrower's circle； and began to rock the irons slowly back and forth。
A low buzzing noise became audible。 The ur…viles were singing in their own roynish tongue； and their song made the flat； hard ground vibrate。 Slowly； the buzz scaled upward； as if a swarm of huge； mad bees were emprisoned in the dirt。 And the earth in the circle began to pulse visibly。 A change like an increase of heat came over the rock and soil； hot； red gleams played through the circle erratically； and its surface seethed。 The buzz became fiercer； sharper。
The process was slow； but its horrible fascination made it seem swift to the onlookers。 As daylight started to fall out of the stricken sky； the buzz replaced it like a cry of pain from the ground itself。 The Raver's circle throbbed and boiled as if the dirt within it were molten。
The sound tormented Troy； it clawed at his ears； crawled like lice over his flesh。 Sweat slicked his eyeless brows。 For a time； he feared that he would be pelled to scream。 But at last the cry scaled past the range of his senses。 He was able to turn away； rest briefly。
When he looked back toward the circle； he found that the ur…viles had withdrawn from it。 Fleshharrower stood there alone。 A demonic look clenched his face as he stared into the hot； red； boiling soil。
In his hands； he held one of the loremasters。 It gibbered fearfully； clung to its stave； but it could not break his grip。
Laughing； Flesbharrower lifted the loremaster over his head and hurled it into the circle。 As it hit the gro
