¡¶srdonaldson.theillearthwar¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

srdonaldson.theillearthwar- µÚ7½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡¡After¡¡that£»¡¡he¡¡set¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡pace¡¡for¡¡himself¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡spurred¡¡on¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cries¡¡that¡¡rushed¡¡after¡¡him£»¡¡Berek£¡¡¡Berek£¡¡¡When¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡long¡¡miles¡¡later£»¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡driveway¡¡into¡¡Haven¡¡Farm£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡running£»
¡¡In¡¡the¡¡sanctuary¡¡of¡¡his¡¡house£»¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡all¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡and¡¡locked¡¡the¡¡doors¡£¡¡The¡¡organized¡¡chastity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡living¡¡space¡¡surrounded¡¡him¡¡with¡¡its¡¡unconsoling¡¡dogma¡£¡¡A¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡clock¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡time¡¡was¡¡just¡¡past¡¡midnight¡£¡¡A¡¡new¡¡day£»¡¡Sunday¡¡¡­a¡¡day¡¡when¡¡other¡¡people¡¡worshiped¡£¡¡He¡¡started¡¡some¡¡coffee£»¡¡threw¡¡off¡¡his¡¡jacket£»¡¡tie£»¡¡and¡¡dress¡¡shirt£»¡¡then¡¡carried¡¡his¡¡steaming¡¡cup¡¡into¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡£¡¡There¡¡he¡¡took¡¡a¡¡position¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sofa£»¡¡adjusted¡¡Joan's¡¡picture¡¡on¡¡the¡¡coffee¡¡table¡¡so¡¡that¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡straight¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡braced¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡weather¡¡the¡¡crisis¡£
¡¡He¡¡needed¡¡an¡¡answer¡£¡¡His¡¡resources¡¡were¡¡spent£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡go¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡was¡£
¡¡Berek£¡
¡¡The¡¡girl's¡¡shout£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡raw¡¡applause¡¡of¡¡her¡¡audience£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡trucker's¡¡outrage£»¡¡reverberated¡¡in¡¡him¡¡like¡¡muffled¡¡earth¡¡tremors¡£¡¡Suicide¡¡loomed¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡trapped¡¡between¡¡mad¡¡delusion¡¡and¡¡the¡¡oppressive¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fellow¡¡human¡¡beings¡£
¡¡Leper¡¡outcast¡¡unclean£¡
¡¡He¡¡gripped¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡hugged¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡still¡¡the¡¡gasping¡¡of¡¡his¡¡heart¡£
¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡stand¡¡it£¡¡¡Somebody¡¡help¡¡me£¡
¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡the¡¡phone¡¡rang¡­cut¡¡through¡¡him¡¡as¡¡stridently¡¡as¡¡a¡¡curse¡£¡¡Disjointedly£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡loose¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡broken¡¡bones£»¡¡he¡¡jumped¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡move¡£¡¡He¡¡lacked¡¡the¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡face¡¡more¡¡hostility£»¡¡indemnification¡£
¡¡The¡¡phone¡¡shrilled¡¡again¡£
¡¡His¡¡breath¡¡shuddered¡¡in¡¡his¡¡lungs¡£¡¡Joan¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡reproach¡¡him¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡frame¡£
¡¡Another¡¡ring£»¡¡as¡¡insistent¡¡as¡¡a¡¡fist¡£
¡¡He¡¡lurched¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡phone¡£¡¡Snatching¡¡up¡¡the¡¡receiver£»¡¡he¡¡pressed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡his¡¡ear¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡steady¡£
¡¡¡¨Tom£¿¡¨¡¡a¡¡faint£»¡¡sad¡¡voice¡¡sighed¡£¡¡¡¨Tom¡­it's¡¡Joan¡£¡¡Tom£¿¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡wake¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡it's¡¡late£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡call¡£¡¡Tom£¿¡¨
¡¡Covenant¡¡stood¡¡straight¡¡and¡¡stiff£»¡¡at¡¡attention£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡knees¡¡locked¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡from¡¡falling¡£¡¡His¡¡jaw¡¡worked£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡made¡¡no¡¡sound¡£¡¡His¡¡throat¡¡felt¡¡swollen¡¡shut£»¡¡clogged¡¡with¡¡emotions£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡lungs¡¡began¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡for¡¡air¡£
¡¡¡¨Tom£¿¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡there£¿¡¡Hello£¿¡¡Tom£¿¡¡Please¡¡say¡¡something¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡so¡¡lonely¡£¡¡I¡¡¡­I¡¡miss¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡effort¡¡in¡¡her¡¡voice¡£
¡¡His¡¡chest¡¡heaved¡¡fiercely£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡choking¡£¡¡Abruptly¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡through¡¡the¡¡block¡¡in¡¡his¡¡throat£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡¡that¡¡sounded¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡between¡¡sobs¡£¡¡But¡¡still¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡force¡¡up¡¡words¡£
¡¡¡¨Tom£¡¡¡Please£¡¡¡What's¡¡happening¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡caught¡¡in¡¡a¡¡death¡¡grip¡£¡¡Desperate¡¡to¡¡shatter¡¡the¡¡hold£»¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡Joan£»¡¡cling¡¡to¡¡her¡¡voice£»¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡on¡¡the¡¡line£»¡¡he¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡phone¡¡and¡¡started¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡sofa¡­hoping¡¡that¡¡movement¡¡would¡¡ease¡¡the¡¡spasm¡¡that¡¡clenched¡¡him£»¡¡help¡¡him¡¡regain¡¡control¡¡of¡¡his¡¡muscles¡£
¡¡But¡¡be¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡way£»¡¡wrapping¡¡the¡¡phone¡¡cord¡¡around¡¡his¡¡ankle¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡jerked¡¡forward£»¡¡he¡¡tripped¡¡and¡¡pitched¡¡headlong¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡coffee¡¡table¡£¡¡His¡¡forehead¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table¡¡squarely¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡himself¡¡bounce¡£
¡¡Instantly£»¡¡his¡¡sight¡¡went¡¡blank¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡still¡¡had¡¡the¡¡receiver¡¡clutched¡¡to¡¡his¡¡ear¡£¡¡During¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡white¡¡stillness£»¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡Joan's¡¡voice¡¡clearly¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡being¡¡upset£»¡¡angry¡£
¡¡¡¨Tom£»¡¡I'm¡¡serious¡£¡¡Don't¡¡make¡¡this¡¡any¡¡harder¡¡for¡¡me¡¡than¡¡it¡¡already¡¡is¡£¡¡Don't¡¡you¡¡understand£¿¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡you¡£¡¡Say¡¡something¡£¡¡Tom¡£¡¡Tom£¡¡¡Damn¡¡you£»¡¡say¡¡something£¡¡¨
¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡roaring¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ears¡¡washed¡¡out¡¡her¡¡voice¡£¡¡No£¡¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡No£¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡helpless¡£¡¡The¡¡rush¡¡of¡¡sound¡¡came¡¡over¡¡him¡¡like¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡tide£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡him¡¡away¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡THREE£º¡¡The¡¡Summoning
¡¡
¡¡THE¡¡wide¡¡roar¡¡modulated¡¡slowly£»¡¡changing¡¡the¡¡void¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sight¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡surge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sound£»¡¡a¡¡swath¡¡of¡¡gray¡­green¡¡spread¡¡upward¡¡until¡¡it¡¡covered¡¡him¡¡like¡¡a¡¡winding¡¡sheet¡£¡¡The¡¡hue¡¡of¡¡the¡¡green¡¡was¡¡noxious¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡smothering¡¡in¡¡its¡¡close£»¡¡sweet£»¡¡fetid¡¡reek¡­the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡attar¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡note¡¡which¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡ears¡¡grew¡¡more¡¡focused£»¡¡scaled¡¡up¡¡in¡¡pitch¡£¡¡Droplets¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡bled¡¡into¡¡view¡¡through¡¡the¡¡green¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡turned¡¡softer¡¡and¡¡more¡¡plaintive£»¡¡higher¡¡still¡¡in¡¡pitch£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡it¡¡became¡¡a¡¡low¡¡human¡¡wail¡£¡¡The¡¡gold¡¡forced¡¡back¡¡the¡¡green¡£¡¡Soon¡¡a¡¡warm£»¡¡familiar¡¡glow¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡turned¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡into¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡song£»¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡spread¡¡and¡¡deepened¡­cradled¡¡him¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡carrying¡¡him¡¡gently¡¡along¡¡the¡¡flood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡voice¡£¡¡The¡¡melody¡¡wove¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡texture¡¡and¡¡shape£»¡¡solidity¡£¡¡Helpless¡¡to¡¡do¡¡otherwise£»¡¡he¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sound£»¡¡concentrated¡¡on¡¡it¡¡with¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡stretched¡¡open¡¡in¡¡protest¡£
¡¡Slowly£»¡¡the¡¡singing¡¡throat¡¡opened¡£¡¡Its¡¡harmonic¡¡pattern¡¡became¡¡sterner£»¡¡more¡¡demanding¡£¡¡Covenant¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡pulled¡¡forward¡¡now£»¡¡hurried¡¡down¡¡the¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡the¡¡song¡£¡¡Arching¡¡with¡¡supplication£»¡¡it¡¡took¡¡on¡¡words¡£
¡¡Be¡¡true£»¡¡Unbeliever¡­
¡¡Answer¡¡the¡¡call¡£¡¡
¡¡Life¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Giver£º¡¡
¡¡Death¡¡ends¡¡all¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡promise¡¡is¡¡truth£»¡¡
¡¡And¡¡banes¡¡disperse¡¡
¡¡With¡¡promise¡¡kept£º¡¡
¡¡But¡¡soul's¡¡deep¡¡curse¡¡
¡¡On¡¡broken¡¡faith
¡¡And¡¡faithless¡¡thrall£»
¡¡For¡¡doom¡¡of¡¡darkness¡¡
¡¡Covers¡¡all¡£¡¡
¡¡Be¡¡true£»¡¡Unbeliever¡­
¡¡Answer¡¡the¡¡call¡£¡¡
¡¡Be¡¡true¡£
¡¡The¡¡song¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡back¡¡into¡¡him£»¡¡stirring¡¡memories£»¡¡calling¡¡up¡¡people¡¡he¡¡had¡¡once£»¡¡in¡¡one¡¡fey¡¡mood£»¡¡thought¡¡had¡¡the¡¡right¡¡to¡¡make¡¡demands¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡resisted¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡kept¡¡silent£»¡¡held¡¡himself¡¡in¡£
¡¡The¡¡melody¡¡drew¡¡him¡¡on¡¡into¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡gold¡£
¡¡At¡¡last£»¡¡the¡¡light¡¡took¡¡on¡¡definition¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡locate¡¡its¡¡shape¡¡before¡¡him¡¡now£»¡¡it¡¡washed¡¡out¡¡his¡¡vision¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡staring¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sun¡£¡¡But¡¡on¡¡the¡¡last¡¡words¡¡of¡¡the¡¡song£»¡¡the¡¡light¡¡dimmed£»¡¡lost¡¡its¡¡brilliance¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡sang£»¡¡¡¨Be¡¡true£»¡¨¡¡it¡¡was¡¡seconded¡¡by¡¡many¡¡throats£º¡¡¡¨Be¡¡true£¡¡¨¡¡That¡¡adjuration¡¡stretched¡¡him¡¡like£º¡¡the¡¡tightening¡¡of¡¡a¡¡string¡¡to¡¡its¡¡final¡¡pitch¡£
¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡light¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡scale£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡beyond¡¡it¡£
¡¡He¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Close£»¡¡the¡¡council¡¡chamber¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡Revel¡­¡££º¡¡stone¡£¡¡Its¡¡tiers¡¡of¡¡seats¡¡reached¡¡above¡¡him¡¡on¡¡all¡¡sides¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡granite¡¡ceiling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡£
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡find¡¡himself¡¡standing¡¡erect¡¡on¡¡¡£¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Close¡£¡¡The¡¡stance¡¡confused¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡balance£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡stumbled¡¡forward¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡pit¡¡of¡¡graveling£»¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡light¡£¡¡The¡¡fire¡­stones¡¡burned¡¡there¡¡before¡¡him¡¡without¡¡consumption£»¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡newly¡¡broken¡¡earth¡£
¡¡Strong¡¡hands¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡by¡¡either¡¡arm¡£¡¡As¡¡his¡¡fall¡¡was¡¡halted£»¡¡drops¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡spattered¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡floor¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡graveling¡¡pit¡£
¡¡Regaining¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡hoarsely£»¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡touch¡¡me£¡¡¨
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡dizzy¡¡with¡¡confusion¡¡and¡¡rage£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡braced¡¡himself¡¡while¡¡he¡¡put¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡forehead¡£¡¡His¡¡fingers¡¡came¡¡away¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡blood¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡cut¡¡himself¡¡badly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡he¡¡gaped¡¡at¡¡his¡¡red¡¡hand¡£
¡¡Through¡¡his¡¡dismay£»¡¡a¡¡quiet£»¡¡firm¡¡voice¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Be¡¡wele¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Land£»¡¡ur¡­Lord¡¡Thomas¡¡Covenant£»¡¡Unbeliever¡¡and¡¡Ringthane¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡called¡¡you¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡Our¡¡need¡¡for¡¡your¡¡aid¡¡is¡¡great¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡called¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡croaked¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡Elena£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨High¡¡Lord¡¡by¡¡the¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Council£»¡¡and¡¡holder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡of¡¡Law¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡called¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡called¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡Slowly£»¡¡he¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡Thick¡¡wetness¡¡ran¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sockets¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡weeping¡¡blood¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡called¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡crumbling¡¡inside¡¡him¡¡like¡¡rocks¡¡breaking£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡hold¡¡over¡¡himself¡¡cracked¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡low¡¡anguish£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡Joan¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡dimly¡¡through¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡table¡¡on¡¡the¡¡level¡¡above¡¡him£»¡¡holding¡¡a¡¡long¡¡staff¡¡in¡¡her¡¡right¡¡hand¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡other¡¡people¡¡around¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡and¡¡behind¡¡them¡¡the¡¡gallery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Close¡¡held¡¡many¡¡more¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡all¡¡watching¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¨To¡¡Joan£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡understand£¿¡¡I¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡Joan¡£¡¡She¡¡called¡¡me¡£¡¡After¡¡all¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡needed¡­needed¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡no¡¡right¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡gathered¡¡force¡¡like¡¡a¡¡storm¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¨You've¡¡got¡¡no¡¡right£¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡loan£¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡shouted¡¡with¡¡all¡¡his¡¡might£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡enough¡£¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡could¡¡not¡¡do¡¡justice¡¡to¡¡his¡¡emotion¡£¡¡¡¨To¡¡Joan£¡¡¡to¡¡Joan£¡¡¡do¡¡you¡¡hear¡¡me£¿¡¡She¡¡was¡¡my¡¡wife£¡¡¨
¡¡A¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡standing¡¡near¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡hurried¡¡around¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡open¡¡C¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡down¡¡to¡¡Covenant¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡level¡£¡¡Covenant¡¡recog
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü