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！
e flashes of blue fire in these sorties； Callindrill and Verement were alive。 But two Lords were not enough。 The riders were hopelessly outnumbered。 And they were already
well beyond the Mithil River in their race toward Doom's Retreat。 Even if they ran no faster； they would reach the Retreat before the marching Warward。
Quaan had been unable to gain the last day that the marchers needed。
Yet even that was not the most crushing sight。 Behind the wolves came the main body of Lord Foul's army。 This body was closer than the others to Kevin's Watch； and Troy could see it with appalling clarity。
The Giant striding at its head was the least of its horrors。 At the Giant's back marched immense ranks of Cavewights at least twenty thousand of the strong； ungainly rock delvers。 Behind them hurried an equal number of ur…viles； loping on all fours for better speed。 Through their ranks； hundreds of fearsome； lionlike griffins alternately trotted and flew。 And after the Demondim…spawn came a seething； grim army so huge that Troy could not even guess its numbers： humans； wolves； Waynhim； forest animals； creatures of the Flat； all radiating the fathomless blood…hunger which coerced them…many myriad of warped； rabid creatures； the perverted handiwork of Lord Foul and the Illearth Stone。
Most of this prodigious army had already crossed the Mithil in pursuit of Hiltmark Quaan and his mand。 It moved with such febrile speed that it was little more than three days from Doom's Retreat。 And it was so mighty that no ambush； however well conceived； could hope to stand against it。
But there would be no ambush。 The Warward did not know its peril； and would not reach the Retreat in time。
Like jagged hunks of rock； these facts beat Warmark Troy to his knees。 〃Dear God！〃 he breathed in anguish。 〃What have I done？〃 The avalanche of revelations battered him down。 〃Dear God。 Dear God。 What have I done？〃
Behind him； Lord Mhoram insisted with mounting urgency； 〃What is it？ What do you see？ Warmark； what do you see？〃 But Troy could not answer。 His world was reeling around him。 Through the vertigo of
his perceptions； his clutching mind could grasp only one thought： this was his fault； all of it was his fault。 The futility of Korik's mission； the end of the Giants； the inevitable slaughter of the Warward…everything was on his head。 He had been in mand。 And when the debacle of his mand was over； the Land would be defenseless。 He had served the Despiser from the start without knowing it； and what Atiaran Trellmate had given her life for was worse than nothing。
〃Worse；〃 he gasped。 He had condemned his warriors to death。 And they were only the beginning of the toll Lord Foul would exact for his misjudgment。 〃Dear God。〃 He wanted to howl； but his chest was too full of horror； it had no room for outcries。
He did not understand how the Despiser's army could be so big。 It surpassed his most terrible nightmares。
Wildly； he surged to his feet。 He tore at his breast； trying to wrest enough air from his unbreathable failure for just one cry。 But he could not get it； his lungs were clogged with ruin。 A sudden loud helplessness roared in his ears； and he pitched forward。
He did not realize that he had tried to jump until Terrel and Ruel caught his legs and hauled him back over the parapet。
Then he felt a burning in his cheeks。 Lord Mhoram was slapping him。 When he flinched； the Lord pulled close to him； shouted into his eyeless face； 〃Warmark！ Hile Troy！ Hear me！ I understand…the Despiser's army is great。 And the Warward will not reach Doom's Retreat in time。 I can help！〃
Dumbly； instinctively； Troy tried to straighten his sunglasses on his face； and found that they were gone。 He had lost them over the edge of Kevin's Watch。
〃Hear me！〃 Mhoram cried。 〃I can send word。 If either Callindrill or Verement lives； I can be heard。 They can warn Amorine。〃 He grabbed Troy's shoulders； and his fingers dug in； trying to gain a hold on Troy's bones。 〃Hear！ I am able。 But I must have reason； hope。 I cannot…if it is useless。 Answer！〃 he demanded through clenched teeth。 〃You are the Warmark。 Find hope！ Do not leave your warriors to diet〃
〃No；〃 Troy whispered。 He tried to break away from Mhoram's grip； but the Lord's fingers were too strong。 〃There's no way。 Foul's army is too big。〃
He wanted to weep； but Mhoram did not let him。 〃Discover a way！〃 the Lord raged。 〃They will be slain！ You must save them！〃
〃I can't！〃 Troy shouted in sudden anger。 The stark impossibility of Mhoram's demand touched a hidden resource in him； and he yelled； 〃Foul's army is too goddamn big！ Our forces are going to get there too late！ The only way they can stay alive just a little longer is to run straight through the Retreat and keep going until they drop！ There's nothing out there…just Wastes； and Desert； and a clump of ruins； and…！〃
Abruptly； his heart lurched。 Kevin's Watch seemed to tilt under him； and he grabbed at Mhoram's wrists to steady himself。 〃Sweet Jesus！〃 he whispered。 〃There is one chance。〃
〃Speak it！〃
〃There's one chance；〃 Troy repeated in a tone of wonder。 〃Jesus。〃 With an effort； he forced his attention into focus on Mhoram。 〃But you'll have to do it。〃
〃Then I will do it。 Tell me what must be done。〃
For a moment longer； the sweet sense of reprieve amazed Troy； outweighing the need to act； almost dumbfounding him。 〃It's going to be rough；〃 he murmured to himself。 〃God！ It's going to be rough。〃 But Mhoram's insistent grip held him。 Speaking slowly to help himself collect his thoughts； he said； 〃You're going to have to do it。 There's no other way。 But first you've got to get through to Callindrill or Verement。〃
Lord Mhoram's piercing gaze probed Troy。 Then Mhoram helped the Warmark to his feet。 Quietly； the Lord asked； 〃Do Callindrill and Verement live？〃
〃Yes。 I saw their fire。 Can you reach them？ They don't have any of that High Wood。〃
Mhoram smiled grimly。 〃What message shall I give？〃
Now Troy studied Mhoram。 He felt oddly vulnerable without his sunglasses； as if he were exposed to reproach； even to abhorrence； but he could see Mhoram acutely。 What he saw reassured him。 The
Lord's eyes gleamed with hazardous potentials； and the bones of his skull had an indomitable hue。 The contrast to his own weakness humbled Troy。 He turned away to look out over the Plains again。 The ponderous movement of Lord Foul's hordes continued as before； and at the sight he felt a resurgence of panic。 But he held onto his power of mand； gripped it to keep his shame at bay。 Finally； he said； 〃All right。 Let's get going。 Tull； you'd better go back to the Stonedown。 Have the Ranyhyn brought as far up the trail as possible。 We've got a long run ahead of us。〃
〃Yes； Warmark；〃 Tull left the Watch soundlessly。
〃Now； Mhoram。 You had the right idea。 Amorine has got to be warned。 She has got to get to the Retreat ahead of Quaan。〃 It occurred to him that Quaan might not be alive； but he forced that fear down。 〃I don't care how she does it。 She's got to have that ambush ready when the riders arrive。 If she doesn't…〃 He had to lock his jaw to keep his voice from shaking。 〃Can you municate that？〃 He shuddered to think of the warriors' plight。 After a twenty…five…day march； they would have to run the last fifty miles only to learn that their ordeal was not done。 Pushing himself around to face Mhoram； he demanded； 〃Well？〃
Mhoram had already taken the lomillialor rod from his robe； and was lashing it across his staff with a clingor thong。 As he secured the rod； he said； 〃My friend； you should leave the Watch。 You will be safer below。〃
Troy acquiesced without question。 He gazed at the armies once more to be sure that he had gauged their relative speeds accurately； then wished Lord Mhoram good luck； and started the descent。 The stairs felt slippery under his hands and feet； but he was reassured by Ruel's presence right below him。 Soon he stood on the ledge at the base of the Watch； and stared up into the blue sky toward Lord Mhoram。
After a pause that seemed unduly long to Troy's quickening sense of urgency； he heard snatches of song from atop the shaft。 The song mounted into the
air； then abruptly fell silent。 At once； flame erupted around Lord Mhoram。 It engulfed the whole platform of the Watch； and it filled the air with an impression of reverberation； as if the cliff face echoed a protracted and inaudible shriek。 The noiseless ululation made Troy's ears burn； made him ache to cover them and hide his head； but he forced himself to withstand it。 He did not take his gaze off the Watch。
The echoing was mercifully brief。 Moments after its last vibration had faded； Terrel came down the stair； half carrying Mhoram。
Troy was afraid that the Lord had damaged himself。 But Mhoram only suffered from a sudden exhaustion …the price of his exertion。 All his movements were weak； unsteady； and his face dripped with sweat； but he managed a faint smile for Troy。 〃I would not care to be Callindrill's foe；〃 he said wanly。 〃He is strong。 He sends riders to Amorine。〃
〃Good。〃 Troy's voice was gruff with affection and relief。 〃But if we don't get to Doom's Retreat before midafternoon tomorrow； it'll be wasted。〃
Mhoram nodded。 He braced himself on Terrel's shoulder