登陆注册
5388400000047

第47章

There is nothing tragical in death, Tydomin, nor in life. There is only right and wrong. What arises from right or wrong action does not matter. We are not gods, constructing a world, but simple men and women, doing our immediate duty. We may die in Sant - so you have seen it; but the truth will go on living.""Spadevil, why do you choose Sant to start your work in?" asked Maskull. "These men with fixed ideas seem to me the least likely of any to follow a new light.""Where a bad tree thrives, a good tree will flourish. But where no tree at all can be found, nothing will grow.""I understand you," said Maskull. "Here perhaps we are going to martyrdom, but elsewhere we should resemble men preaching to cattle."Shortly before sunset they arrived at the extremity of the upland plain, above which towered the black cliffs of the Sant Levels. Adizzy, artificially constructed staircase, of more than a thousand steps of varying depth, twisting and forking in order to conform to the angles of the precipices, led to the world overhead. In the place where they stood they were sheltered from the cutting winds.

Branchspell, radiantly shining at last, but on the point of sinking, filled the cloudy sky with violent, lurid colors, some of the combinations of which were new to Maskull. The circle of the horizon was so gigantic, that had he been suddenly carried back to Earth, he would by comparison have fancied himself to be moving beneath the dome of some little, closed-in cathedral. He realised that he was on a foreign planet. But he was not stirred or uplifted by the knowledge; he was conscious only of moral ideas. Looking backward, he saw the plain, which for several miles past had been without vegetation, stretching back away to Disscourn. So regular had been the ascent, and so great was the distance, that the huge pyramid looked nothing more than a slight swelling on the. face of the earth.

Spadevil stopped, and gazed over the landscape in silence. In the evening sunlight his form looked more dense, dark, and real than ever before. His features were set hard in grimness.

He turned around to his companions. "What is the greatest wonder, in all this wonderful scene?" he demanded.

"Acquaint us," said Maskull.

"All that you see is born from pleasure, and moves on, from pleasure to pleasure. Nowhere is right to be found. It is Shaping's world.""There is another wonder," said Tydomin, and she pointed her finger toward the sky overhead.

A small cloud, so low down that it was perhaps not more than five hundred feet above them, was sailing along in front of the dark wall of cliff. It was in the exact shape of an open human hand, with downward-pointing fingers. It was stained crimson by the sun; and one or two tiny cloudlets beneath the fingers looked like falling drops of blood.

"Who can doubt now that our death is close at hand?" said Tydomin.

"I have been close to death twice today. The first time I was ready, but now I am more ready, for I shall die side by side with the man who has given me my first happiness.""Do not think of death, but of right persistence," replied Spadevil.

"I am not here to tremble before Shaping's portents; but to snatch men from him."He at once proceeded to lead the way up the staircase. Tydomin gazed upward after him for a moment, with an odd, worshiping light in her eyes. Then she followed him, the second of the party. Maskull climbed last. He was travel stained, unkempt, and very tired; but his soul was at peace. As they steadily ascended the almost perpendicular stairs, the sun got higher in the sky. Its light dyed their bodies a ruddy gold.

They gained the top. There they found rolling in front of them, as far as the eye could see, a barren desert of white sand, broken here and there by large, jagged masses of black rock. Tracts of the sand were reddened by the sinking sun. The vast expanse of sky was filled by evil-shaped clouds and wild colors. The freezing wind, flurrying across the desert, drove the fine particles of sand painfully against their faces.

"Where now do you take us?" asked Maskull.

"He who guards the old wisdom of Sant must give up that wisdom to me, that I may change it. What he says, others will say. I go to find Maulger.""And where will you seek him, in this bare country?"Spadevil struck off toward the north unhesitatingly.

"It is not so far," he said. "It is his custom to be in that part where Sant overhangs the Wombflash Forest. Perhaps he will be there, but I cannot say."Maskull glanced toward Tydomin. Her sunken cheeks, and the dark circles beneath her eyes told of her extreme weariness.

"The woman is tired, Spadevil," he said.

She smiled, "It's but another step into the land of death. I can manage it. Give me your arm, Maskull."He put his arm around her waist, and supported her along that way.

"The sun is now sinking,,, said Maskull. "Will we get there before dark?""Fear nothing, Maskull and Tydomin; this pain is eating up the evil in your nature. The road you are walking cannot remain unwalked. We shall arrive before dark."The sun then disappeared behind the far - distant ridges that formed the western boundary of the Ifdawn Marest. The sky blazed up into more vivid colors. The wind grew colder.

They passed some pools of colourless gnawl water, round the banks of which were planted fruit trees. Maskull ate some of the fruit. It was hard, bitter, and astringent; he could not get rid of the taste, but he felt braced and invigorated by the downward-flowing juices.

No other trees or shrubs were to be seen anywhere. No animals appeared, no birds or insects. It was a desolate land.

A mile or two passed, when they again approached the edge of the plateau. Far down, beneath their feet, the great Wombflash Forest began. But daylight had vanished there; Maskull's eyes rested only on a vague darkness. He faintly heard what sounded like the distant sighing of innumerable treetops.

同类推荐
  • 咏物诗

    咏物诗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Donal Grant

    Donal Grant

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Light Princess

    The Light Princess

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲千金记

    六十种曲千金记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 张庄僖文集

    张庄僖文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 俏皮小毒妃:世子你别跑

    俏皮小毒妃:世子你别跑

    别人穿越那是金手指大开,要风得风,要雨得雨,生活要多惬意便多惬意,反观她,无靠山,无娘家,无身怀绝技,整一个的三无产品,日常生活没有金山银山,山珍海味,郎情妾意,有的只是生活的调味剂,招数没有最狠只有更狠。重活一世,只想安安静静的当一个小透明,不争不抢,偏偏天不遂人愿,各路人马明争暗斗,风云诡谲层出不穷。面对绝境应该怎么办?面对诸多猜疑又该如何脱身?且看她如何在这一世步步为营,细心筹谋,为自己赢的一片天地。
  • 天命毒妃

    天命毒妃

    原书名《医妃有毒:邪王追妻有点难》她是丞相府的七小姐,集万千宠爱有一身的千金小姐;他是金陵国五王爷,是金陵国战无不胜的战神王爷。她和他因一道圣旨走到了一起。她下山只为报仇,可他却缠着她说,她是他的媳妇;为了解自家亲哥所中的毒,她远仆南蛮,他却非要一路跟随…… 看着把俩娃丢出去的某人,苏潇灵嘴角抽了抽:“所以你是想干嘛?” “娘子!”某人眨了眨眼睛,抱着苏潇灵无良地卖起了萌:“娘子只能是我的!” 苏潇灵无语地翻了个白眼。拜托!那怎么说也是你家娃好吧!你说丢就丢!
  • 外科十法

    外科十法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我家王妃太调皮

    我家王妃太调皮

    预言成真,2012年真的穿了。为了两餐只好去当乞丐了,可是乞丐也不好当,为了致富,决定玩‘碰瓷’。而那个被碰的主居然是个王爷。而且居然一见面就说要娶她。不过自己刚来王府,就跟他的小妾们大干了一场群架。以后的日子不鸡飞狗跳就怪了。果然,娶了也就算了,却不给她饱饭吃。非要逼她使用非常手段,自己找吃的。王爷马上被灭了威风。那个女人居然把自己的宠物煮来吃,说是饥不择食。正当以为以后生活能走上轨道了,却有许多奇怪的人来跟她要那个黑曼花,怎么回事啊?
  • 上神追妻修远兮

    上神追妻修远兮

    虞青兮一觉起来,发现这个世界都变了……再也没有发现自己突然变成了男儿身还更刺激的,但好在这是假的;那再也没有发现自己的修为突然弱到爆了,但……这是真的。在人前疯疯癫癫三年,心中却早已盘算着早日重回那虚无之境,只是这凤凰遇难,倒还不至于被几只乌鸦给欺了去,她这群瀛洲之地的师兄弟们,可是各有各的秘密,所谓人艰不拆,但又偏生为何挑了她的事。这不知活了多少个年头,日日毒舌他人的孤寡,最后……也是尝到了众叛亲离的味道,这滋味……当真不好受。
  • 最后一案

    最后一案

    选自福尔摩斯探案故事集,包括《最后一案》《海军协定》《跳舞的小人》等多篇脍炙人口的短篇小说。小说结构严谨,情节离奇曲折、引人人胜。以跌宕起伏的情节、缜密的逻辑推理、细致的心理分析,给读者呈现一个冷静、智慧与勇气并存的神探福尔摩斯。
  • 发现 (吸血鬼日志系列#8)

    发现 (吸血鬼日志系列#8)

    在《发现》(《吸血鬼日志》#8)中,凯特琳和迦勒在公元三十三年的古代以色列醒来,并惊讶地发现他们身处在基督生活的时代。古代以色列是一个充满圣地、古犹太教堂和失落的遗址的地方。这里是当时世界上精神控制最严密的地方——而在公元三十三年,也就是耶稣受难的那一年,是精神控制最严密的一年。在以色列首都耶路撒冷的中心座落着所罗门的圣殿,在圣殿里安置着至圣所和神的约柜。而耶稣将最终走过这些街道,走向最后的十字架。在罗马士兵以及他们的总督——本丢·比拉多的严密统治下,耶路撒冷充满有各种宗教背景和信仰的人们。这座城市也有隐秘的一面,有着众多错综复杂的街道和迷宫般的巷道,通往不为人知的秘密和异教徒神庙。现在,凯特琳终于有了四把钥匙,但是,她仍然需要找到她的父亲。她的追寻将她带到拿撒勒、伽百侬,带到耶路撒冷,带她追随着耶稣行过的踪迹去寻找秘密和线索的神秘踪迹。追寻也同样将她带到古老的橄榄山上,带到艾登和他的家族那里,带着她找到更多她从未知道的更强大的秘密和圣物那里。每经过一处,她的父亲就只有一步之遥。但是时间紧迫——山姆,被转向黑暗的一面,也穿越到这个时代,而且和邪恶家族的领袖Rexius联手。他们急起直追要阻止凯特琳得到盾。Rexius将不惜一切代价毁灭凯特琳和迦勒——有山姆在旁相助,身后有一支新生的军队,他胜券在握。更糟糕的是,斯嘉丽和她的父母走散了,独自一人穿越到这个时代。她独自一人,和露丝流浪在耶路撒冷的大街上,她渐渐发现了自己的力量,并发现自己比以前处在更危险得多的境地中——特别是当她发现自己也持有一个秘密的时候。凯特琳找到她父亲了吗?她找到古老的吸血鬼之盾了吗?她和女儿重聚了吗?她的亲弟弟是不是企图杀死她?她和迦勒之间的爱能不能在这最后一场时光穿越中经受住考验?《发现》是《吸血鬼日志》系列的第八本书(之前有《转变》、《爱》、《背叛》、《命中注定》、《渴望》、《订婚》和《誓言》)。本书同时也可以作为一本独立的小说来读。《发现》共约有71,000字。《吸血鬼日志》#9-#10现在也有售!同时,摩根莱斯第一畅销书系列、反乌托邦、后启示录惊悚小说《幸存者三部曲》现也已有售;摩根莱斯第一畅销玄幻系列《魔法师戒指》(含10部,未完待续)现也已有售——此系列第一部《寻找英雄》,可免费下载!
  • 奉子闪婚:鲜妻不准逃

    奉子闪婚:鲜妻不准逃

    她意外怀上他的孩子,穷酸孤女一夜间成了人人艳羡的齐家少夫人。“为什么要娶我?”齐睿声音冰冷,“我需要一个妻子,还有继承人,而你正好适合。”婚后……“喂!你在做什么!”慕思玥忍无可忍朝床上男人踹了一脚。齐睿理所当然开口,“夫妻义务……”
  • 用胸膛行走西藏:英文

    用胸膛行走西藏:英文

    《用胸膛行走西藏》是一部反映武警交通部队官兵在西藏生活的作品,由一个又一个鲜为人知的故事的构成。电影《拯救大兵瑞恩》的故事,在阿里无人区演绎了一个真实的版本。
  • 别让坏心态害了你

    别让坏心态害了你

    我们每天都会整理自己的房间,可是我们也许很少想到过要整理自己的心情。整理房间,我们可以丢弃很多不需要的东西,同样,整理我们的心情,也可以丢弃对我们处理事情不利的坏情绪。本书不是教年轻人拼命地迎合别人、丢掉个性、忘记自我,而是告诉年轻人在处世方面,不但要善良、真诚、宽容,还要学会做事,灵活而圆融地做事,在保护自己和不伤害到他人的基础上做事。即从主观和客观因素一起出发,对你的性格死角进行一次全面的清扫,让你更好地了解自己,了解生活,为将来的幸福生活做好铺垫。