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！
A sharp nausea of fear wrenched his guts； made him flinch。 But he did not back away。
After a moment； she said starkly； 〃You slew Elena my daughter。〃
〃Yes。〃
Her fingers tightened。 〃I could blind you。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are you not afraid？〃
〃I'm afraid。〃
Her fingers tightened again。 〃Then why do you not resist？'' Her nails drew blood from his left cheek。
〃Because I've got to talk to you…about what happened to Elena。 I've got to tell you what she did…and what I did…and why I did it。 You won't listen unless you decide…〃
〃I will not listen at all！〃 Her voice shook with weeping。 Savagely； she snatched back her hands and returned his blow； struck his cheek with all her strength。 The sting brought water to his eyes。 When he blinked them clear； he saw that she had clamped her hands to her face to keep herself from sobbing aloud。
Awkwardly； he put his arms around her。 She did not resist。 He held her firmly while she wept； and after a time she moved her head； pressed her face into his jacket。 But soon she stiffened and withdrew。 She wiped her eyes； averting her face as if she were ashamed of a momentary weakness。 〃I do not want your fort； Unbeliever。 You have not been her father。 It is a father's place to love his daughter； and you did not love her。 Do not mistake my frail grief…I will not forget what you have done。〃
Covenant hugged himself in an effort to contain his hurt。 〃I don't want you to forget。'' For that moment； he would have been willing to lose his eyes if the pain of blindness could have enabled him to weep。 〃I don't want anyone to forget。〃
But he was too barren for tears； the water which blurred his sight did not e from his heart。 Roughly； he forced himself to his feet。 〃e on。 We'll freeze to death if we don't get moving。〃
Before she could respond； he heard feet hit the ground behind him。 He whirled； waving his hands to ward off an attack。 A dark figure stood opposite him in the gully。 It was wrapped in a cloak； he could not discern its outlines。 But it carried a spear like a staff in its right hand。
〃Pah！〃 the figure spat。 〃You would be dead five times if I had not chosen to watch over you。〃
〃Pietten？〃 Covenant asked in surprise。 〃What're you doing here？〃 Lena was at his side； but she did not touch him。
'' You are stupid as well as unskilled；'' rasped Pietten。 〃 I saw at once that the Ramen would not defend you。 I took the task upon myself。 What folly made you deliver yourself into their hands？〃
〃What happened in the fight？〃 Questions rushed up in Covenant。 〃What happened to Banner and Foamfollower？ Where are they？〃
〃e！〃 the Woodhelvennin snapped。 〃Those wormspawn are not far behind。 We must move swiftly if you wish to live。〃
Covenant stared。 Pietten's attitude unnerved him。 For an instant； his jaw worked uselessly。 Then he repeated with a note of desperation in his voice； 〃What happened to Bannor and Foamfollower？〃
〃You will not see them again。〃 Pietten sounded scornful。 〃You will see nothing again unless you follow me now。 You have no food and no skill。 Remain here； and you will be dead before I have gone a league。〃 Without waiting for answer； he turned and trotted away along the gully。
Covenant hesitated indecisively while contradictory fears clamored in him。 He did not want to trust Pietten。 His instincts shouted loudly： He drinks blood； Foul did something to him and he likes the taste of blood！ But he and Lena were too helpless。 They could not fend for themselves。 Abruptly； he took Lena's arm and started after Pietten。
The Ramen…trained Woodhelvennin allowed Covenant and Lena to catch up with him； but then he set a pace for them which kept Covenant from asking any questions。 Traveling swiftly； he guided them northward out of the arroyo into the open Plains； hastened them along like a man with a goal clearly visible before him。 When they showed signs of tiring； he irritably found aliantha for them。 But he revealed no weariness himself； he moved strongly； surely； reveling in the flow of his strides。 And from time to time he grinned jeeringly at Covenant and Lena； mocking them for their inability to match him。
They followed him as if they were entranced； spellbound to him by the harsh winter and their extreme need。 Covenant maintained the pace doggedly； and Lena labored at his side； spurning his every effort to help her。 Her new； grim independence seemed to sustain her； she covered nearly two leagues before she began to weaken。 Then； however； her strength rapidly deserted her。
Covenant was deeply tired himself； but he ached to aid her。 When she stumbled for the third time； and could hardly regain her feet； he demanded breathlessly across the wind； 〃Pietten； we've got to rest。 We need fire and shelter。〃
〃You are not hardy； Ringthane；〃 Pietten gibed。 〃Why do so many people fear you？〃
〃We can't go on like this。〃
〃You will freeze to death if you stop here。〃
Painfully； Covenant mustered the strength to shout； 〃 I know that！ Are you going to help us or not？〃
Pietten's voice sounded oddly cunning as he replied； 〃We will be safer…beyond the river。 It is not far。〃 He hurried on before Covenant could question him。
Covenant and Lena made the effort to follow him and found that he had spoken the truth。 Soon they reached the banks of a dark river flowing eastward out of the hills。 It lay forbiddingly across their way like a stream of black ice； but Pietten jumped into it at once and waded straight to the opposite bank。 The current was stiff； but did not reach above his knees。
Cursing； Covenant watched him go。 His weariness multiplied his distrust； his instinctive leper's caution was yowling inside him like a wounded animal。 He did not know this river； but he guessed it was the Roamsedge； Ra's northern boundary。 He feared that Bannor and Foamfollower would not expect him to leave the Plains…if they were still alive。
But he still had no choice。 The Woodhelvennin was their only chance。
〃Will you halt there？〃 Pietten scoffed at them from the far bank。 〃Halt and die。〃
Hellf ire！ Covenant snarled to himself。 He took Lena's arm despite her angry efforts to pull away； and went down the bank into the river。
His feet felt nothing of the cold； but it burned like numb fire into his lower legs。 Before he had waded a dozen yards； his knees hurt as if his calves were being shredded by the river。 He tried to hurry； but the speed of the current and the unevenness of the river bottom only made him trip and stagger brokenly。 He clung to Lena's arm and plowed onward with his gaze fixed on the bank ahead。
When he stumbled up out of the river； his legs ached as if they had been maimed。 〃Damn you； Pietten；〃 he muttered。 〃Now we have got to have a fire。〃
Pietten bowed sardonically。 〃Whatever you mand； Ringthane。〃 Turning on his heel； he ran lightly away into the low hills north of the river like a sprite enticing them to perdition。
Covenant lumbered in pursuit； and when he crested the hill； he saw that Pietten had already started a fire in the hollow beyond it。 Flames crackled in a dry patch of brambles and bushes。 As Covenant and Lena descen