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ously 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 had stood up； holding on tight to the mast； to look at the land ahead。 〃Don't try； Sopli。〃
The Dyer scowled as if in rage or pain。 He looked at the mountains lying blue with distance before the boat； over the heaving； trembling plain of water； and said； 〃You took me as guide。 This is the place。 We must land here。〃
〃We'll land in any case； we must have water；〃 said Sparrowhawk； and went to the tiller。 Sopli sat down in his place by the mast； muttering。 Arren heard him say； 〃I swear by my name。 By my name；〃 many times； and each time he said it； he scowled again as if in pain。
They beat closer to the island on a north wind and coasted it seeking a bay or landing； but the breakers beat thunderous in the hot sunlight on all the northern shore。 Inland green mountains stood baking in that light； treeclothed to the peaks。
Rounding a cape； they came at last in sight of a deep crescent bay with white sand beaches。 Here the waves came in quietly； their force held off by the cape； and a boat might land。 No sign of human life was visible on the beach or in the forests above it； they had not seen a boat； a roof； a wisp of smoke。 The light breeze dropped as soon as Lookfar entered the bay。 It was still； silent； hot。 Arren took the oars； Sparrowhawk steered。 The creak of the oars in the locks was the only sound。 The green peaks loomed above the bay； closing in around。 The sun laid sheets of white…hot light on the water。 Arren heard the blood drumming in his ears。 Sopli had left the safety of the mast and crouched in the prow； holding onto the gunwales； staring and straining forward to the land。 Sparrowhawk's dark； scarred face shone with sweat as if it had been oiled； his glance shifted continually from the low breakers to the foliage…screened bluffs above。
〃Now；〃 he said to Arren and the boat。 Arren took three great strokes with the oars； and lightly Lookfar came up on the sand。 Sparrowhawk leapt out to push the boat clear up on the last impetus of the waves。 As he put his hands out to push； he stumbled and h