TheOneTree(TheSecondChroniclesofThomasCovenanttheUnbeliever,Book2)isaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,andincidentseitherareproductsoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualpersons,livingordead,events,orlocalesisentirelycoincidental.

ADelReyeBookEdition

Copyright©1983byStephenR.

Donaldson

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PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyDelRey,animprintofTheRandomHousePublishingGroup,adivisionofRandomHouse,Inc.,NewYork.

OriginallypublishedinHardcoverin1983byDelRey,animprintoftheRandomHousePublishingGroup,adivisionofRandomHouse,Inc.,NewYork.

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eISBN:978-0-307-81921-5

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Contents

CoverTitlePageCopyright

WhatHasGoneBefore

PARTI:Risk1:Starfare’sGem2:BlackMood3:Relapse

4:TheNicoroftheDeep5:Father’sChild6:TheQuestsimoon7:Elemesnedene8:TheElohimfest9:TheGiftoftheForestal

PARTII:Betrayal10:EscapefromElohim11:AWarningofSerpents12:Sea-Harm13:BhrathairainHarbor14:TheSandhold15:“Don’ttouchme”

16:TheGaddhi’sPunishment17:Charade’sEnd18:Surrender

PARTIII:Loss19:TheThaumaturge20:FireinBhrathairealm21:Mother’sChild22:“Alsoloveintheworld”23:WithdrawalfromService24:TheIsle

25:TheArrivaloftheQuest26:Fruition27:TheLongGrief

GlossaryDedicationOtherBooksbyThisAuthor

WhatHasGoneBefore

The Wounded Land,Book One of The SecondChronicles of ThomasCovenant, describes thereturn of ThomasCovenant to the Land—arealm of magic and perilwhere, in the past, hefought a bitter battleagainst sin and madness,and prevailed. Using the

power of wild magic, heovercame Lord Foul theDespiser, the Land’sancient enemy, thuswinning peace for theLand and integrity forhimself.Ten years have passedfor Covenant, years thatrepresent many centuriesin the life of the Land;LordFoulhasregainedhisstrength.Confidentthathe

will succeed in his effortsto gain possession ofCovenant’swhitegoldring—the wild magic—LordFoulsummonsCovenanttothe Land. Covenant findshimself on Kevin’s Watch,where once before Foulprophesied that Covenantwould destroy the world.Now that prophecy isreaffirmed, but in a newandterribleway.

Accompanied by LindenAvery, a doctor who wasunwittingly drawn to theLand with him, Covenantdescendstotheoldvillageof Mithil Stonedown,where he first encountersthe heinous force that theDespiser has unleashed:theSunbane.TheSunbaneis a corruptionof theLawof Nature; it afflicts theLand with rain, drought,

fertility, and pestilence inmad succession. It hasalready slain the oldforests; as it intensifies itthreatens to destroy everyformoflife.Thepeopleofthe Land are driven tobloody sacrificial rites toappease the Sunbane fortheirownsurvival.Seeing the extremity of

their plight, Covenantbegins a quest for an

understanding of theSunbane,andforawaytoheal the Land. Guided bySunder,amanfromMithilStonedown,heandLindenfare northward towardRevelstone,wherelivestheClave, the lore-masterswho most clearlycomprehend and use theSunbane.But the travelersare pursued by Ravers,Lord Foul’s ancient

servants,whosepurposeisto afflict Covenant with astrange venom that willeventually drive him madwithpower.Surviving the perils ofthe Sunbane and theattacks of venom,Covenant, Linden, andSunder continuenorthward. As they nearAndelain, a once-beautifulregioninthecenterofthe

Land, they encounteranother village, CrystalStonedown, in which awoman named Hollian isbeing threatened by theClave because of herpower to foresee theSunbane. The travelersrescue her, and she joinsthemontheirquest.She informs Covenant

that Andelain, while stillbeautiful, has become a

place of horror. Dismayedby this desecration,Covenant enters Andelainalone to confront the eviltherein. He learns thatAndelain is not a place ofevil: rather, ithasbecomeaplaceofpowerwheretheDead gather around aForestal who defends thetrees.Covenantsoonmeetsthis Forestal, who wasonce a man named Hile

Troy, and several of hisformer friends—the LordsMhoram and Elena, theBloodguard Bannor, andthe Giant SaltheartFoamfollower. TheForestalandtheDeadgiveCovenant gifts of obscureknowledgeandadvice;andFoamfollower offersCovenant thecompanionship of astrange ebony creature

named Vain, who wascreated by the ur-viles oftheDemondim,andwhosepurposeishidden.With Vain behind him,

Covenant seeks to rejoinhis companions, who, inhis absence, have beencapturedbytheClave.Hissearch for them nearlycosts him his life, first inthe desperate village ofStonemight Woodhelven,

then among the Sunbanevictims of DuringStonedown.However,withthe aid of the Waynhim,he at lastwinshisway toRevelstone. There hemeets Gibbon, the leaderof the Clave, and learnsthat his friends have beenimprisoned so that theirblood can be used tomanipulatetheSunbane.Desperate to free his

friends and to gainknowledge of Lord Foul’satrocity,Covenantsubmitsto a soothtell, a ritual ofblood in which much ofthe truth is revealed. Hisvisions show him twocrucial facts: that thesourceof theSunbane liesin the destruction of theStaff of Law, a powerfultool that formerlysupported the natural

order; and that the Claveactually serves Lord Foulthrough the actions of theRaver that controlsGibbon.Unleashing the wild

magic, Covenant frees hisfriends from Revelstone;hethenresolvestofindtheOne Tree, fromwhich theoriginal Staff of Law wasmade, so that he canfashion a new one to use

againsttheSunbane.In this purpose he is

joinedbyBrinn,Cail,Ceer,and Hergrom: Haruchai,members of the race thatspawned the Bloodguard.With Linden, Sunder,Hollian, and Vain,Covenant turns eastwardtoward the sea, hopingthere to find the Giantswho name themselves theSearch.Oneofthem,Cable

Seadreamer, has had anEarth-Sight vision of theSunbane, and they havecome to the Land tocombat the peril. GuidingtheSearchtoSeareachandCoercri, the former homeof theGiants in the Land,Covenant uses hisknowledge of theirancestorstopersuadethemto commit their Giantshipto the service of his quest

fortheOneTree.Before his departure

from the Land, Covenantperforms a great act ofabsolution for theDeadofCoercri, the former Giantswho were damned by themanner of their death atthe hands of a Raver. Hethen sends Sunder andHollian back to the Land,hopingtheywillbeabletoinspire the villages to

resist the Clave, andprepares himself to beginthenextstageofhisquest.Here begins THE ONE

TREE, Book Two of TheSecond Chronicles ofThomasCovenant.

“Youaremine”

PARTI:Risk

ONE:Starfare’sGem

Linden Avery walkedbeside Covenant downthrough the ways ofCoercri. Below them, thestone Giantship, Starfare’sGem,camegliding towardthesoleintactleveeatthefoot of the ancient city;but shepaidnoheed to itEarlier she had witnessedtheway thedromond rode

the wind like a boon—atoncemassiveanddelicate,full-sailed and precise—avessel of hope forCovenant’s quest, and forher own. As she and theUnbeliever, with Brinn,Cail,andthenVainbehindthem, descended towardthe headrock and piers ofTheGrieve,shecouldhavestudied that craft withpleasure. Its vitality

offered gladness to hersenses.But Covenant had just

sent the twoStonedownors,SunderandHollian, back toward theUpper Land in the hopethattheywouldbeabletomuster resistance amongthe villages against thedepredations of the Clave.And that hope wasfoundedonthefactthathe

hadgiventhemLoric’skrillto use against theSunbane.Covenantneededthat blade, both as aweapon to take the placeof the wild magic whichdestroyed peace and as adefense against themystery of Vain, theDemondim-spawn.Yetthismorning he had given thekrill away. When Lindenhad asked him for an

explanation, he hadreplied, I’m already toodangerous.Dangerous. The word

resonated forher. Inwayswhich none but she couldperceive,hewassickwithpower. His native illness,his leprosy,wasquiescent,eventhoughhehadlostorsurrendered most of theself-protective disciplineswhich kept it slumberous.

But in its place grew thevenom that a Raver andthe Sunbane had afflictedupon him. That moralpoison was latent atpresent,butitcrouchedinhim like a predator,awaitingitstimetospring.To her sight, it underlaythehueofhis skinas if ithadblackenedthemarrowof his bones. With hisvenomandhiswhitering,

hewasthemostdangerousmanshehadeverknown.She desired that dangerin him. It denned for herthe quality of strengthwhich had originallyattracted her to him onHaven Farm. He hadsmiled for Joan when hehad sold his life for hers;and that smile hadrevealed more of hisstrange potency, his

capacity tooutwrestle fateitself, than any threat orviolence could have. Thecaamora of release he hadgiven to the Dead of TheGrieve had shown thelengths to which he wasable to go in the name ofhis complex guilts andpassions. He was aparadox,andLindenachedtoemulatehim.For all his leprosy and

venom, his self-judgmentand rage, he was anaffirmation—an assertionof life and a commitmenttotheLand,astatementofhimself in opposition toanything the Despisercould do. And what wasshe? What had she donewithherwhole lifeexceptfleefromherpast?Allherseverity, all her drivetoward medical

effectivenessagainstdeath,had been negative fromthe start—a rejection ofher own mortal heritageratherthananapprovalofthe beliefs she nominallyserved. She was like theLandunder the tyrannyoftheClaveandtheSunbane—aplaceruledbyfearandbloodshed rather thanlove.Covenant’s example had

taught her this aboutherself. Even when shehad not understood whyhewassoattractivetoher,she had followed himinstinctively.Andnowsheknew that she wanted tobelikehim.Shewantedtobe a danger to the forceswhich impelled people totheirdeaths.She studiedhimas they

walked, trying to imprint

the gaunt, prophetic linesofhisvisage,thestrictnessofhismouthand thewildtangle of his beard, uponher own resolve. Heemanated a straitanticipation that sheshared.Like him, she looked

forward to theprospectofa voyage of hope in thecompany of Giants.Although she had spent

only a few days withGrimmand Honninscrave,Cable Seadreamer,Pitchwife, and the First ofthe Search, she alreadycomprehendedthepangoflove which enteredCovenant’svoicewheneverhe spoke of the Giants hehad known. But she alsopossessed a privateeagerness, an anticipationofherown.

Almost from themoment when her health-sense had awakened, ithadbeen a source of painand dismay for her. Herfirst acute perception hadbeen of the ill of Nassic’smurder.Andthatsighthadlaunched a seeminglyendlesssequenceofRaversand Sunbane which haddriven her to the veryedges of survival. The

continuous onslaught ofpalpable evil—moral andphysicaldiseasewhichshewould never be able tocure—Had filled her withineffectuality,demonstrating herunworth at every touchand glance. And then shehad fallen into the handsof the Clave, into thepower of Gibbon-Raver.The prophecy which he

had uttered against her,the sabulous atrocitywhichhehadradiatedintoher, had crammed everycorner of her soul with aloathing and rejectionindistinguishablefromself-abhorrence.Shehadswornthatshewouldneveragainopen the doors of hersenses to any outwardappeal.But she had not kept

that vow. The obverse ofher sharp vulnerabilitywas a peculiar andnecessary usefulness. Thesamepercipiencewhichsoexposedhertodismayhadalso enabled her toprovide for her ownrecovery from Courser-poison and broken bones.Thatcapacityhadtouchedher medical instinctsdeeply,givingavalidation

to her identity which shehadthoughtlostwhenshehadbeentranslatedoutoftheworld she understood.In addition, she had beenable to serve hercompanions by helpingthem against themurderousillofthelurkeroftheSarangrave.And then the company

had escaped SarangraveFlat into Seareach, where

theSunbanedidnotreign.Surrounded by naturalhealth,byfallweatherandcolor as pristine as thebeginning of life, andaccompanied by Giants—especially by Pitchwife,whose irrepressible humorseemed a balm for everydarkness—shehad feltherankle heal under theeldritch influence ofdiamondraught. She had

tasted the tangibleloveliness of the world,had experienced keenlythe gift Covenant hadgiven to the Dead of TheGrieve. She had begun toknow in themost visceralway that her health-sensewas accessible to good aswell as to evil—and thatperhapsshecouldexercisesome choice over thedoom which Gibbon had

foretoldforher.That was her hope.Perhaps in that way if innoothershewouldbeabletotransformherlife.The oldmanwhose lifeshe had saved on HavenFarm had said, Be true.There is also love in theworld. For the first time,thosewordsdidnotfillherwithdread.She hardly looked away

from Covenant as theydescended the Giant-wrought stairs. Heappeared equal toanything.Butshewasalsoawareofotherthings.Theclear morning. The salt-rimedemptinessofCoercri.The intransigent blackperil of Vain. And at herback, the Haruchai. Theway they paced the stonebelied their characteristic

dispassion. They seemedalmostavid toexplore theunknown Earth withCovenant and the Giants.Linden concentrated onthese details as if theyformed the texture of thenewlifeshedesired.However, as the

companions moved outinto thedirect sunlightonthebaseofthecity,wheretheFirst, Seadreamer, and

PitchwifewaitedwithCeerand Hergrom, Linden’sgaze leaped outward as ifit were drawn by alodestone; and she sawStarfare’s Gem easing itswayintothelevee.The Giantship was acrafttoamazeherheart.Itrose above her,dominating the sky as hersight rushed to take it in.While its Master,

Grimmand Honninscrave,shouted orders from thewheeldeck which stoodhighoverthevessel’sheel,and Giants swarmed itsrigging to furl the canvasand secure the lines, itcoasted into itsberthwithdeft accuracy. The skill ofits crew and the cunningof its construction defiedthemassive tan-and-moiregranite of which it was

made. Seen from nearby,the sheer weight of thedromond’s seamless sidesand masts disguised theswiftness of its shape, thelong sweep of the decks,the jaunty angle of theprow, the just balance ofthe spars. But when herperceptionsadjustedtothescaleoftheship,shecouldsee that it was apt forGiants. Their size attained

aproperdimensionamongtheshrouds.Andthemoireof the stone sides rosefromthewater likeflamesofgraniteeagerness.That stone surprisedLinden. Instinctively shehad questioned the natureof theGiantship,believingthat granite would be toobrittle to withstand thestress of the seas. But asher vision sprang into the

ship, she saw her error.Thisgranitehadtheslightbutnecessary flexibilityofbone. Its vitality wentbeyond the limitations ofstone.And that vitality shonethrough the dromond’screw. They were Giants;butontheirshiptheyweremorethanthat.Theywerethe articulation andservice of a brave and

breathing organism, thehands and laughter of alife which exalted them.TogetherthestoneandtheGiantsgaveStarfare’sGemthe lookofavesselwhichcontended against thepowerful seas simplybecause no other testcould match its nativeexultation.Its three masts, each

risinghighenoughtocarry

three sails, aspired likecedarsoverthewheeldeck,whereHonninscravestood.He lolled slightlywith thefaintunevennessoftheSeaas if he had been bornwith combers underfoot,salt in his beard, masteryin every glance of hiscavernous eyes. His shoutin answer to Pitchwife’shailechoedoff the faceofCoercri,makingTheGrieve

resoundwithwelcome forthe first time in manycenturies. Then thesunlight and the shipblurred before Linden assuddentearsfilledhereyesas if she had never seenjoybefore.After a moment, sheblinkedhersightclearandlooked again at Covenant.Tautness had twisted hisface into a grin like a

contortion; but the spiritbehind that grimace wasclear to her. He waslooking at his means toachieve his quest for theOne Tree, for the survivalof the Land. And morethan that: he was lookingat Giants, the kindred ofSaltheart Foamfollower,whom he had loved. Shedid not need him toexplainthedesireandfear

which caused his grin tolook somuch like a snarl.His former victory overLord Foul had beencleansedofDespiteby thepersonal anodyne ofFoamfollower’s laughter.And the cost of thatvictory had been theGiant’s life.Covenantnowregarded the Giants ofStarfare’s Gem withyearning and memory: he

feared he would bringthem to Foamfollower’sfate.That also Linden

understood. Like hisobduracy, her ownstubbornness had beenborninlossandguilt.Sheknew what it meant todistrust the consequencesofherdesires.But the arrival of the

Giantship demanded her

attention. Noise bubbledout of the vessel like afroth of gaiety. Hawserswere thrown to Pitchwifeand Seadreamer, whosnubbed them taut to thelong-unusedbelaying-postsof thepier.Starfare’sGemrubbed its shouldersagainst the sides of thelevee, settled itself at rest.And as soon as thedromondhadbeensecured,

theMasterandhiscrewoftwo score Giants swungdown ropes and ladders,boundingtothepiers.There they saluted theFirst with affection,hugged Seadreamer,shouted their pleasure atPitchwife. The Firstreturned their respectsgravely:withherironhairand her broadsword, sheheld their familiarity at a

distance. But Pitchwifeexpressedenoughmirthtocompensate forSeadreamer’s muteresignation; and shortlythe Giants began to roilforwardtolookatthecityof the Unhomed, theirancient lost kindred.Linden found herselfsurrounded by weathered,brawny men and womentwice her height—sailors

built like oaks, and yet asfull of movement andwonder as saplings. All ofthemwere plainly dressedin thehabilimentsof theirwork—in sarks of mailformed of interlockingstone discs and heavyleather leggings—butnothing else about themwas drab. They werecolorful in language andexuberance and salt

humor. With a swirl ofactivity, they restored lifetoTheGrieve.Theirimpulsetoexplorethe city, investigate thehandiwork of their long-deadpeople,waspalpabletoLinden.AndCovenant’seyes shone in response—arecollectionofthecaamorabywhichhehadredeemedCoercri from anguish,earning the title the First

hadgivenhim,Giantfriend.But through the tumult,monolithic jests andlaughter to whichPitchwife ripostedgleefully, questions thatthe Haruchai answeredwith characteristic tersity,salutations which dazzledLinden and madeCovenant straighten hisbackas if he sought tobetaller, the First addressed

Honninscrave sternly,tellinghimofherdecisionto aid Covenant’s quest.Andshespokeofurgency,of the growing chancre ofthe Sunbane and of thedifficulty of locating theOne Tree, creating a newStaff of Law in time toprevent the Sunbane fromtearingtheheartoutoftheEarth. The Master’sexcitement sobered

rapidly. When she askedabout the state of theGiantship’s supplies, hereplied that theAnchormaster, his second-in-command, hadreprovisioned thedromondwhile waiting off thelittoral of the GreatSwamp. Then he begancalling his crew back totheship.Several of the Giants

protested good-naturedly,askingforthestoryofTheGrieve. But Covenant wasnoddingtohimselfasifhewere thinking of the waytheClave fed the Banefireand the Sunbane withblood. Honninscrave didnot hesitate. “Patience,sluggards!” he responded.“Are you Giants, that alittle patience eludes you?Letstoriesawaittheirturn,

to ease the labor of theseas. The First requireshaste!”His command gaveLinden a pang of regret.The ebullience of theseGiants was the happiestthing she had seen in alongtime.Andshethoughtthat perhaps Covenantmight want a chance tosavor what he hadachieved here. But she

understood him wellenough to know that hewouldnotaccepthonorforhimself withoutpersuasion. Moving closerto him, she thrust hervoice through the clamor.“Berek found the OneTree, and he didn’t haveany Giants to help him.Howfarawaycanitbe?”He did not look at her.Thedromondheldhisgaze.

Under his beard, hechewedamoodwhichwashalf excitement, halftrepidation.“SunderandHollianwill

do everything they can,”she went on. “And thoseHaruchai you freed aren’tgoingtositontheirhands.The Clave is already introuble. We can afford alittletime.”His eyes did not shift.

But she felt his attentionturn toward her. “Tellme,”hemurmured,barelyaudible through theinterchangesoftheGiants.TheyandtheHaruchaihadranged themselvesexpectantlyalongthepier.“Do you think I shouldhave tried to destroy theClave? While I had thechance?”The question struck a

nerve in her. It resembledtoo closely anotherquestion he would haveasked if he had knownenough about her. “Someinfections have to be cutout,” she replied severely.“If you don’t kill thediseasesomehow,youlosethe patient. Do you thinkthosefingersofyourswerecutoffoutofspite?”His brows flinched. He

regardedheras if shehadstartled him out of hispersonal concerns, madehimawareofherinawaywhich would not allowpeace between them. Themusclesofhis throatweretight as he asked, “Is thatwhat you would havedone?”Shecouldnotkeepfromwincing. Gibbon had saidtoher,Youhavecommitted

murder. Are you not evil?SuddenlyshefeltsurethatCovenant would haveagreed with the Raver.Fighting to conceal herself-betrayal, sheanswered, “Yes. Why elsedo you have all thatpower?”Shealreadyknewtoo well how much shewantedpower.“Not for that.” Aroundthem,theGiantshadfallen

silent, waiting for hisdecision. In theunanticipated quiet, hisvehemencerangout likeapromise over the lappingof theSea.Buthe ignoredhis audience. FacingLinden squarely, hearticulated, “I’ve alreadykilled twenty-oneof them.I’m going to find someotheranswer.”She thought he would

goon.Butamomentlaterhe seemed to see andrecognize her abashment,though he could not haveknown its cause. At once,he turned to the First.Softly he said, “I’d feelbetterifwegotstarted.”Shenodded,butdidnotmove. Instead she drewher falchion, gripped it inbothhandslikeasalute.“Giantfriend.” As she

spoke,therewasashoutinher words, though hervoice was quiet. “To allourpeopleyouhavegivenagiftwhichwewillrepay.This I say in the name ofthe Search, and of theEarth-Sight”—she glancedat Seadreamer—“whichguides us still, though Ihave chosen another pathto the same goal.”Seadreamer’s face knotted

around the white scarrunning under his eyesacross the bridge of hisnose; but he permittedhimselftoshownoprotest.The First concluded,“CovenantGiantfriend,weare yours while yourpurposeholds.”Covenant remained

silent, a man tangled ingratitude and self-doubt.But he bowed his head to

theleaderoftheSearch.The gesture touchedLinden. It became him, asifhehad found inhimselfthe grace, or perhaps thesense of worth, to accepthelp.Butatthesametimeshewasrelievedtoescapethehiddenconflictswhichhad surfaced in hisquestions. When the Firstsaid firmly, “Let us sail,”LindenfollowedtheGiants

without hesitation towardStarfare’sGem.The side of theGiantship leaned hugelyoverher;andwhenshesether hands and feet to theheavy thews of the rope-ladder which the crewheld for her, the ascentseemed to carry hersurprisinglyhigh,as if thevessel were even largerthanitappearedtobe.But

Cail climbed protectivelybehind her, and Giantssurged upward on allsides. As she stoopedthrough the railing ontothe foredeck, she forgother discomfiture. Thedromond reached out toher like an entrancement.Unaccustomed to suchstone,shecouldnotextendher percipience very fararound her; but all the

granite within her rangefeltasvitalaslivingwood.She half expected to tastesap flowing beneath thesurfaces of the Giantship.And that sensationintensified as hercompanions boarded thecraft. Because of hisvertigo and his half-hand,Covenant had difficultyclimbing; but Brinn soonhelped him past the rail.

Following either Covenantor Linden, Vain smoothlyascended the ladder, thenstoppedlikeastatueattheedge of the foredeck,smiling his black,ambiguoussmile.CeerandHergromappeared to flowuptheropes.Andaseverysetoffeettookholdofthestone, Starfare’s Gemradiated more bustlingenergy to Linden’s nerves.

Even through her shoes,the granite felt toobuoyant to be overbornebyanySea.Sunlight covered thepiers, spangled the gentlyheaving strip of wateralong the shipside, shoneinto the face ofCoercri asifthisdaymarkedthefirsttrue dawn since thedestruction of theUnhomed. Responding to

Honninscrave’scommands,some of the Giantspositioned themselves torelease the moorings.Others leaped into therigging, climbing theheavy cables as lightly aschildren. Still others wentbelow,whereLindencouldfeel them tending theinner life of the shipuntilthey passed beyond herinexperienced perceptions.

In moments, the lowersailsbegantorippleinthebreeze;andStarfare’sGemeasedouttoSea.

TWO:BlackMood

Linden tried to watcheverythingas thedromondslippedbackwardfromthelevee, then turned towardopen water. Shifting fromside to side, she saw theGiantsunfurling canvas asif the labor were done byincantation rather thaneffort. Under her feet, thedeckbegantoroll;butthe

seas were light, and theGiantship’s great weightmade it stable.She feltnodiscomfort. Her gazerepeatedly intersectedCovenant’s, and hisexcitement heightenedhers. His expression wasfree of darkness; even hisbeard seemed to bristlewith possibilities. After amoment, she becameaware that he was

breathingwords along thebreeze:

“Stone and Sea aredeepinlife,two unalterablesymbols of theworld:permanence at rest,and permanence inmotion;participants in thePower that

remains.”

They resonated in hermemory like an act ofhomage.When she changedpositions to look backtowardCoercri, the breezecaught her hair, flutteringit across her face. She ranher fingers into herwheatentresses,heldthemin place; and that simple

gesture gave her morepleasure in herself thanshe had felt for a longtime. Salt tanged the air,sharpening the verysunlightsothatTheGrievelooked like a place ofrebirth as it receded. Shebegan to think thatperhaps more things hadbeenreborntherethanshewouldhavedaredtohope.ThenPitchwifebeganto

sing. He stood somedistance away, but hisvoice carried like lightacross the dromond, risingstronglyfromhisdeformedchest over the slapping ofthewavesandthesnapofthecanvas.Histunewasaplain-song spiced withaccents and suggestionsofharmony; and the otherGiantsjoinedhim:

“Comeseaandwave—broad footpath ofthosewhoroamand gateway to theworld!All ways lead thewaytoHome.

“Come wind andspeed—sky-breath and thelifeofsail!

Lines and sheetsunfurled,our hearts coveteverygale.

“Come travel andquest!Discovery of theEarth:mysteriesunknurled:roaming withoutstintordearth:

“Risk and journeysavetheheartoflifefromlossandneed.We are the ocean’sguest,and we love thevastyworld!”

The Giants were joyfulsingers, and their voicesformed a counterpoint totherockingofthemasts,a

song punctuated by arising staccato as thebreeze knocked thecanvas. Starfare’s Gemappeared to ridemusic aswellaswind.And as the wind

stiffened, Coercri slidtoward the horizon withsurprising celerity whilethe sun rose into midday.Honninscraveandhiscrewexchanged comments and

jests as if they were allnegligent; but his eyesunder the bulwark of hisbrows missed nothing. Athis orders, the rest of thesails had been raised; andStarfare’s Gem strode intothe Sunbirth Sea with afleetness that fulfilled theprophecy of its moire-marked sides. Lindencould feel vibrancyrunning like a thrill

through the stone. In thehands of Giants, evengranite became a thing ofswiftness and gracefulpoise.Before long, her

sensationsbecamesosapidthat she could no longerremain still. Instinctivelyshe moved away to beginexploringtheship.Atonce,Cailwasather

shoulder. As she crossed

the foredeck, he surprisedher by asking if shewantedtoseeherquarters.She stopped to stare athim.Theimpassivewallofhis mien gave no hint ofhow he had come byenough knowledge of thedromond to make such anoffer. His short tunic lefthis brown limbs alwaysfree and ready; but hisquestionmadehimappear

notonlypreparedbutalsoprescient. However, heansweredhermuteinquiryby explaining that Ceerand Hergrom had alreadyspokentotheStoresmasterandhadobtainedfromherat least a skeletalunderstandingoftheship.For a moment, Linden

paused to consider thecontinuing providence oftheHaruchai.Butthenshe

realized that Cail hadoffered her exactly whatshe did want—a place ofherown;privacyinwhichto accustom herself to thesensations of theGiantship; a chance toclarifythenewthingsthatwere happening to her.And perhaps thehospitality of the Giantswould extend as far asbathwater?Hotbathwater?

Imagesof luxuriancefilledherhead.Howlonghaditbeen since she had lasttaken a hot bath? Sinceshe had felt genuinelyclean? She nodded toCailand followed him towardthesternofthedromond.Amidships stood a flat-

roofed structure thatseparated the fore- andafterdecks, completelyspanning the vessel from

sidetoside.WhenCailledher into the housingthrougha seadoorwithastorm-sill as high as herknees,shefoundherselfina long eating-hall with agalley on one side and awarren of storage-lockersontheother.Thestructurehad no windows, butlanterns made it brightand cheery. Their lightgleamed on the stone of

the midmast as it passedstraight through the halllike a rooftree. The shaftwas carved like ahatchmentwithpatternsatwhich shewas tempted tolookmoreclosely.ButCailmovedthroughthehallasif he already knew all itssecrets;andshewentwithhimouttotheafterdeck.Togethertheycrossedto

the Giantship’s stern. She

acknowledgedHonninscrave’ssalutefromthe wheeldeck, thenfollowed Cail throughanother sea door tostarboard below theMaster’s position. Thatentrance gave access to asmooth stone ladderleading downward. Theladder had been formedfor Giants, but she wasabletouseit.Andsheonly

had to descend one level.There, in apassageway litby more lanterns, shefound a series of doors—rooms, Cail explained,which had been set asidefor her, Vain, Ceer, andhimself.Covenant, Brinn, andHergrom were to besimilarly housed on theportsideofthevessel.When she entered her

cabin, she discovered thatit was a chamber whichwouldhavebeensmallforaGiantbutseemedalmostwastefully large forher.Along hammock hung nearone wall; two massivechairs and a tableoccupiedmostofthefloor.These furnishings outsizedher: the chair-seatsreached to her waist; andshe would have to stand

on the table to gain thehammock. But for thepresent those difficultiesdid not bother her. Thechamber was bright withsunshine reflectingthroughanopenport,anditofferedprivacy.Shewasgladtohaveit.But moments after Cail

left in search of the foodand bathwater sherequestedofhim,atension

whichhadbeennaggingather underneath herexcitement demanded hernotice. The withdrawal ofCail’s hard Haruchaipresence pulled aside aveilwithinher.Ahandofdarkness hiddensomewhere inside thedepths of the dromondreachedoutonedirefingertoward her heart. At itstouch, all her relief and

anticipation and newnesseroded and fell down likea sea-doused castle ofsand. An old and half-forgotten black moodbegan to seep back intoher.It stank of her parentsandGibbon.Afterall,whathadtrulychanged for her? Whatright or reason did shehavetobewhereshewas?

She was still the same—awomandrivenbytheneedtofleedeathratherthantopursue life. She did notknowhow tochange.Andthe na-Mhoram hadexplicitlydeniedherhope.Hehadsaid,Youarebeingforged as iron is forged toachieve the ruin of theEarth.BecauseyouareopentothatwhichnootherintheLand can discern, you are

open to be forged. Shewouldneverbefreeofhiseager cruelty, of the gelidill with which he haddesecrated her privateflesh—or of the way shehad responded. Themessageofhisdoomcameback tohernow, risingasif itgrewfromthekeelofStarfare’s Gem—as if thehealth of the dromondcontained a canker spot

which fed on the Giantsandtheirship.That blackness hadcontortedmuchofherlife.It was her parents, herfather andmother. And itwas here. It was withinher,andyetsheinhaleditas if theairwere fullof itas well. A fate she couldneither name nor endureseemed to lurk in ambushfor her, so that her cabin

feltmore likeacell in thehold of Revelstone than asun-washed chamber inthecompanyofGiants.For several longmoments, she fought theoppression, struggled todefine the strange way itappeared to spring fromoutside her. But her pastwas too strong; it blindedher percipience. Longbefore Cail could return,

she fled her cabin, rushedback up to the open air.Clinging to the starboardrail with hands thattrembled, she swallowedrepeatedly, heavily, at theold dread rising in herthroatlikearecognitionofGibbon’stouch.But gradually the

darkness lessened. Shecould think of no reasonwhy this should be true;

but she felt instinctivelythat she had put somedistance between herselfand the source of themood. Seeking to increasethat distance, she turnedtoward the neareststairwaytothewheeldeck.Ceer had appeared at

hersidetowardherwhileCail was away. She couldhardlyrefrainfromleaningagainst him, bracing her

frailtyonhisrectitude.Butshe hated that weakness.Striving to ignore it, denyit, she impelled herself upthestairsalone.On the wheeldeck, shefound Honninscrave, theFirst,Covenant,Brinn,andanother Giant who heldthe great wheel whichguided the ship. Thiswheelwasformedofstoneandstoodhalfagainastall

as Linden; but thesteerswoman turned itsspokes as lightly as if ithad been carved of balsawood. Honninscravegreeted the Chosen, andtheFirstgaveheranodofwelcome; yet Linden feltimmediately that she hadinterrupted a discussion.Covenant looked towardher as if he meant to askher opinion. But then he

closed his mouth andgazedathermoreintently.Beforeshecouldspeak,hesaid, “Linden, what’s thematter?”She frowned back at

him,vexedandshamedbythe transparency of heremotions. Clearly she hadnot changed in any waythat mattered. She stillcould not tell him thetruth—not here, under an

open sky and the eyes ofthe Giants. She tried todismisshisquestionwithashrug,smoothoutthelinesof her face. But hisattention did not lose itsacuity. In a careful voice,she said, “I was thinkingabout Gibbon.” With hereyes, she asked him to letthematterpass.“I’dratherthink about somethingelse.”

At that, his staresoftened.He looked like amanwhowaswillingtodoalmost anything for her.Clearing his throat, hesaid, “We were talkingabout Vain. He hasn’tmoved since he cameaboard. And he’s in theway. Interferes with someof the rigging. The crewasked him to move—butyouknowhowmuchgood

thatdid.”She knew. Time andagain, she had seen theDemondim-spawn in hisfamiliar relaxed stance,arms slightly bent, eyesfocused on nothing—asmotionlessasanobelisk.“So they tried to shifthim. Three of them. Hedidn’t budge.” Covenantshookhisheadattheideathat anyone could be

heavyorstrongenoughtodefeat three Giants. Thenhe concluded, “We weretryingtodecidewhattodoabout it. Honninscravewants to use a block-and-tackle.”Linden gave an inwardsighofrelief.Thedarknessretreated another step,pushed back by thischance to be of use. “Itwon’t do any good,” she

replied. Vain’s purposeswereamysterytoher;butshe had seen deeplyenough into him to knowthat he could becomedenser and less tractablethan the granite of theship.“Ifhedoesn’twanttomove,hewon’tmove.”Covenant nodded as ifshe had confirmed hisexpectations. The Firstmutteredsourlytoherself.

With a shrug,Honninscrave ordered hiscrew to work around theDemondim-spawn.Lindenwasgladoftheircompany. Her sense ofoppression was definitelyweaker now. The hugehealth of the Giantsseemed to shield her. AndCovenant’sconsideratenesseased her. She couldbreathe as if her lungs

were not clogged withmemories of death.Moving to the taffrail, shesat down against one ofthepostsandtriedtotuneherselftotheGiantship.Shortly Cail came totake Ceer’s place. Hisfeatures betrayed noreproach for the wastederrand on which she hadsent him. For thatforbearance also she was

grateful. She sensed thepresence of a fiercecapacity for judgmentbehind the impassivity oftheHaruchai. She did notwantitturnedagainsther.Almostwithoutvolition,her gaze returned toCovenant. But hisattention was elsewhere.Starfare’s Gem and itscrew had taken hold ofhim again. He was so

entrancedbythedromond,so moved by thecompanionship of Giants,that everything elsereceded. He askedHonninscraveandtheFirstquestions to start themtalking, then listened totheir responses with thehungerof amanwhohadfound no other answer tohisloneliness.Following his example,

Linden also listened andwatched.Honninscrave talked at

glad length about the lifeand workings of his craft.Thecrewwasdividedintothree watches under thecommand of the Master,theAnchormaster,andtheship’s third-in-command,the Storesmaster.However, like theirofficers,theGiantsdidnot

appear to rest when theywere off duty. Theiraffectionwouldnotpermitthem to leave Starfare’sGemalone,andtheyspenttheir time doing odd jobsaround the vessel. Butwhen Honninscrave begantodescribethesetasks,andthe purposes they served,Linden lost her way. Thecrew had Giantish namesfor every line and sheet,

every part of the ship,every implement; and shecould not absorb thebarrage of unfamiliarwords. Some stayed withher: Dawngreeter, thehighest sail on theforemast;Horizonscan,thelookout atop themidmast;Shipsheartthew, the greatwheel which turned therudder. But she did notknow enough about ships

and sailing to retain therest.This problem was

aggravatedbythefactthatHonninscrave rarelyphrasedhis instructions tohiswatchasdirectorders.More often, he shouted acomment about the stateofthesails,orthewind,orthe seas, and left thechoice of appropriateaction to any Giant who

happened to be near therightplace.Asaresult,thetackingoftheshipseemedto happen almostspontaneously—a reactionto the shifting air ratherthan to Honninscrave’smastery, or perhaps atheurgy enacted by thevivid and complexvibrations of the rigging.This beguiled Linden, butdid not greatly enhance

her grasp on the plethoraofnamestheMasterused.Later she was vaguelysurprised to see Ceer andHergromintheshroudsoftheaftermast.Theymoveddeftly among the lines,learning from and aidingthe Giants with an easyalacrity which seemedalmost gay. When sheaskedCailwhathispeopleweredoing,herepliedthat

theywere fulfilling anolddream of the Haruchai.During all the centuriesthattheUnhomedandtheBloodguard had knowneachotherbeforeandafterthe Ritual of Desecration,no Haruchai had ever setfoot on a Giantship. Ceerand Hergrom wereanswering a desire whichhadpangedtheirancestorsmore than three thousand

yearsago.Cail’s terse accounttouchedherobscurely,likea glimpse of anunsuspected and occultbeauty. The steadfastnessof his people transcendedall bounds. DuringCovenant’s previous visitsto the Land, theBloodguard had alreadybeen warding the Councilof Lords without sleep or

death for nearly twothousand years, soextravaganthadbeentheirVow of service. And now,millennia later, Cail andhis people still preservedthe memories andcommitments of thoseBloodguard.But the implications of

such constancy eventuallycast Linden back uponherself; and as the

afternoon waned, hergloomreturned.Hersenseswere growing steadilymore attuned to theGiantship. She could readthe movements and mirthof the Giants passingthrough the decks belowher;with effort, she couldestimate the number ofpeople in Foodfendhall,the midship housing. Thisshould have eased her.

Everythingsheconsciouslyfelt was redolent withclean strength and goodhumor. And yet herdarkness thickened alongthe slow expansion of herrange.Again she was troubledby the sensation that hermood grew from anexternal source—fromsomefatalflaworillintheGiantship. Yet she could

not disentangle thatsensation from herpersonalresponse.Shehadspent toomuchofher lifein thisoppression to thinkseriously that it could beblamed on anythingoutside herself. Gibbonhad not created herblackness: he had onlygiven her a glimpse of itsmeaning. But familiaritydid not make it more

bearable.Whenthecallforsuppercame, she resisted herdepression to answer it.Covenantdidnothesitate;and she meant to followhim to the ends of theEarth ifnecessary to learnthekindofcouragewhichmade him forever activeagainsthisdoom.Beneathhis surface, leprosy sleptand Lord Foul’s venom

awaitedtheopportunitytowork its intendeddesecration.Yetheseemedequal to his plight, morethanequaltoit.Hedidnotsuffer from the particularfear which had paralyzedher in the face of Joan’spossession, Marid’smonstrous ill, Gibbon-Raver’shorror.Butforthatvery reason she wasdetermined to accompany

him until she had foundhis answer. Hastening tohis side, she went withhimtowardFoodfendhall.However, as night

gathered over the decks,her uneasiness mounted.The setting of the sun lefther exposed to a stalkingperil. In the eating-hall,she was crowded amongGiants whose appetitesradiated vitality; but she

could barely force foodpastthethicknessofdefeatinherthroat,althoughshehad not had a meal sincethat morning. Steamingstew, cakes full of honey,driedfruit:herblackmoodmade such things vaguelynauseating.Soon afterward,Honninscrave ordered thesails shortened for thenight; and the time came

for tales. The Giantsresponded eagerly,gatheringon theafterdeckand in the shrouds of theaftermast so that the FirstandCovenant could speakto them from thewheeldeck. Their love oftaleswasplaininthem—alove which made themappear childlike, and yetalso gave them a preciousand encompassing

courage. And Covenantwent aft to meet them asthough this, too, weresomething he alreadyknew how to bear. ButLinden had reached thelimit of her endurance.Above themasts, the starsappeared disconsolate intheir immense isolation.Thenoisesoftheship—thecreak of the rigging, theuncertainty of the sails

wheneverthewindshifted,theprotestofthewavesasthe dromond shoulderedthrough them—soundedlikepre-echoesofangerorgrief.Andshehadalreadyheard many stories—thetales of the Earth’screation, of KevinLandwaster’s despair, ofCovenant’s victory. Shewas not ready for anymore.

Instead she forcedherself to go back to hercabin. Down into thedarkness rather thanawayfromit.She found that in her

absence the old furniturehad been replaced withchairsandatablemoretoher size; and a stepladderhadbeenprovided togiveher easier access to thehammock. But this

courtesy did not relieveher. Still the oppressionseeped into her from thestoneofthedromond.Evenafter she threw open theport, letting in the windand the sounds of the Seaunder the ship’s heel, thechamber’s ambienceremained viscid,comfortless. When shemustered the courage toextinguishher lantern,the

dark concentrated inwardonher,hintingatmalice.I’mgoing crazy.Despiteits special texture, thegranite around her beganto feel like the walls ofRevelstone, careless andunyielding. Memories ofherparentsgnawedat theedges of her brain. Havecommitted murder. Goingcrazy. The blood on herhands was as intimate as

any Covenant had evershed.She could hear the

Giants singing overhead,thoughthenoiseoftheSeaobscured their words. Butshe fought her impulse tofleethecabin,runbacktothe misleading security ofthe assemblage. Insteadshe followed the faintscent of diamondraughtuntil she found a flask of

the potent Giantish liquoron her table. Then shehesitated. Diamondraughtwasaneffectivehealerandroborant, as she knewfrom personal experience;but it was also stronglysoporific. She hesitatedbecause she was afraid ofsleep, afraid that slumberrepresented another flightfrom something sheneeded desperately to

confront and master. Butshehadfacedthesemoodsoften enough in the past,endured them until shehadwanted towail like alost child—and what hadshe ever accomplished byit?Estimatingtheeffectofthe diamondraught, shetook two small swallows.Then she climbed into thehammock,pulledablanketover herself to help her

nerves feel less exposed,and tried to relax. Beforeshewasabletounknothermuscles, the sea-sway ofthedromondliftedherintoslumber.Foratime,theworldof

her unconsciousness wasblissfully empty. She rodelongslowcombersofsleepon a journey fromnowhereintonowhereandsuffered no harm. But

gradually the nightbecame the night of thewoods behind HavenFarm, and ahead of herburned the fire ofinvocation to Lord Foul.Joan lay there, possessedby a cruelty so acute thatit stunned Linden to thesoul. Then Covenant tookJoan’s place, and Lindenbroke free, began runningdown the hillside to save

him,foreverrunningdownthe hillside to save himand never able to reachhim,neverabletostoptheastonishingviolencewhichdrove the knife into hischest. It pierced himwhitely, like an evil andtremendous fang. Whenshe reached him, bloodwas gushing from thewound—more blood thanshe had ever seen in her

life. Impossible that onebodyheld somuchblood!It welled out of him as ifanynumberofpeoplehadbeen slain with that oneblow.She could not stop it.Her hands were too smallto cover the wound. Shehadlefthermedicalbaginhercar.Feverishlyshetoreoff her shirt to try tostaunch the flow, leaving

herself naked anddefenseless;buttheflannelwas instantly soaked withblood, useless. Bloodslicked her breasts andthighsasshestrovetosavehis life and could not.Despite every exigency ofher training and self-mortification, she couldnot stop that red stream.The firelight mocked her.Thewoundwasgrowing.

In moments, it becameas wide as his chest. Itsviolence ate at his tissueslikevenom.Herhandsstillclutched the futile sop ofhershirt,stillmadlytryingto exert pressure to plugthe well; but it went onexpanding until her armswere lost in him to theelbows.Bloodpouredoverherthighsliketheichorofthe world. She was

hanging from the edge byher chest, with her armsextendedintotheredmawasifsheweredivingtoherdeath. And the woundcontinued to widen. Soonit was larger than thestone on which Covenanthad fallen, larger than thehollowinthewoods.Then with a shock of

recognition she saw thatthewoundwasmore than

aknife-thrust inhis chest:it was a stab to the veryheartoftheLand.Theholehad become a pit beforeher, and its edge was asodden hillside, and theblood spewing over herwas the life of the Earth.The Landwas bleeding todeath. Before she couldeven cry out, she wasswept away across themurdered body of the

ground.Shehadnowaytosave herself fromdrowning.Theturbulencebegantobuffet her methodically.The hot fluid made herthroat raw, burned hervoice out of her. She washelplessandlost.Hermereflesh could not endure oroppose such an atrocity.Better if she had nevertried to help Covenant,

never tried to staunch hiswound. This would neverhave happened if she hadacceptedherparalysisandsimplylethimdie.But the shaking of her

shoulders and the lightslapping across her faceinsisted that she had nochoice. The rhythmbecamemore personal; bydegrees, it dragged herfrom her diamondraught-

sopor.Whenshewrenchedher eyes open, themoonlight from the openport limned Cail’s visage.Hestoodonthestepladdersothathecouldreachherto awaken her.Her throatwas sore, and the cabinstillechoedherscreaming.“Cail!” she gasped. Oh

myGod!“Your sleep was

troubled.”Hisvoicewasas

flat as his mien. “TheGiants say theirdiamondraughtdoesnotactthus.”“No.” She struggled to

sit up, fought for self-possession. Images ofnightmare flared acrosshermind;butbehindthemthemoodinwhichshehadgonetosleephadtakenona new significance. “GetCovenant.”

“The ur-Lord rests,” herepliedinflectionlessly.Impelled by urgency,

Linden flung herself overthe edgeof thehammock,forced Cail to catch herandlowerhertothefloor.“Get him.” Before theHaruchai could respond,sherushedtothedoor.In the lantern-lit

companionway,shealmostcollided with Seadreamer.

The mute Giant wasapproachinghercabinasifhehadheardhercries.Foran instant, she wasstopped by the similaritybetween her nightmareand the vision which hadreft him of his voice—avision so powerful that ithad compelled his peopleto launchaSearch for thewound which threatenedthe Earth. But she had no

time. The ship was indanger! Sprinting pasthim, she leaped for theladder.When she reached openair,shewasintheshadowof the wheeldeck as themoonsanktowardsetting.Several Giants weresilhouetted above her.Heaving herself up thehighstairs, sheconfrontedthe Storesmaster, a Giant

holding Shipsheartthew,and two or threecompanions. Her cheststrainedtocontrolherfearasshedemanded,“GettheFirst.”The Storesmaster, a

woman named HeftGalewrath, had a bulkyframe tending toward fatwhich gave her anappearance of stolidity;butshewastednotimeon

questions or hesitancy.With a nod to one of hercompanions, she saidsimply, “Summon theFirst.AndtheMaster.”Thecrewmember obeyed atonce.As Linden regained her

breath, she became awarethat Cail was beside her.She did not ask him if hehad called Covenant. Thepalescarwhichmarkedhis

left arm from shoulder toelbowhadbeengivenhimbyaCourser-spuraimedather. It seemed to refuteanydoubtofhim.ThenCovenantcameup

thestairs,withBrinnathisback. He lookeddisheveled and groggy inthe moonlight; but hisvoice was tight as hebegan, “Linden—?” Shegestured him silent,

knotted her fists to retainher fragilegriponherself.He turned to Cail; butbefore Covenant couldphrase a question,Honninscravearrivedwithhis beard thrust forwardlike a challenge to anydanger threatening hisvessel.TheFirstwasclosebehindhim.Linden faced them all,forestalled anything they

might ask. Her voiceshook.“There’saRaveron thisship.”Her words stunned thenight. Everything wasstricken into silence. ThenCovenant asked, “Are yousure?” His questionappeared to make nosound.The First overrode him.“What is this ‘Raver?’ ”

Themetalofhertonewaslikeanupraisedsword.Oneofthesailsretorted

dully in its gear as thewindchangedslightly.Thedeck tilted. TheStoresmaster called softlyaloft foradjustmentstobemade in the canvas.Starfare’s Gem righted itstack. Linden braced herlegs against the ship’smovementandhuggedthe

distress in her stomach,concentrating onCovenant.“Of course I’m sure.”

Shecouldnotsuppresshertrembling. “I can feel it.”Themessageinhernerveswas as vivid as lightning.“At first I didn’t knowwhat it was. I’ve felt likethis before. Before wecame here.” She wasdismayed by the

implications of what shewas saying—by thesimilaritybetweenheroldblackmoods and the tasteof a Raver. But shecompelledherselftogoon.“But Iwas looking for thewrong thing. It’s on thisship. Hiding. That’swhy Ididn’t understand sooner.”As her throat tightened,her voice rose towardshrillness.“Onthisship.”

Covenantcameforward,grippedhershouldersasifto prevent her fromhysteria.“Whereisit?”Honninscrave cut off

Covenant’s question.“What is it? I am theMasterofStarfare’sGem.Imustknowtheperil.”Linden ignored

Honninscrave. She wasfocused on Covenant,clinchinghimforstrength.

“I can’t tell.” And todefend him. Gibbon-Raverhad said to her, You arebeing forged. She, notCovenant.Buteveryattackonherhadprovedtobeafeint.“Somewherebelow.”Atonce,heswungawayfrom her, started towardthe stairs. Over hisshoulder,hecalled,“Comeon.Helpmefindit.”“Are you crazy?”

Surprise and distresswrung the cry from her.“Why do you think it’shere?”He stopped, faced heragain. But his visage wasobscure in the moonlight.She could see only thewaves of vehemenceradiating from his bones.Hehadacceptedhispowerandmeanttouseit.“LindenAvery,”saidthe

First grimly. “We knownothingofthisRaver.Youmusttelluswhatitis.”Linden’s voice reached

out to Covenant insupplication, asking himnot to expose himself tothis danger. “Didn’t youtell them about TheGrieve? About the Giant-Raverwhokilledall those—?” Her throat knotted,silencingherinvoluntarily.

“No.”Covenantreturnedto stand near her, and agentler emanation camefromhiminanswertoherfear. “Pitchwife told thatstory. In Coercri I talkedabouttheGiant-Raver.ButI never described what itwas.”He turned to the First

and Honninscrave. “I toldyou about Lord Foul. TheDespiser.ButIdidn’tknow

Ineeded to tell youaboutthe Ravers. They’re histhree highest servants.They don’t have bodies oftheirown,sotheyworkbytaking over other beings.Possessing them.” Theblood in his tone smelledof Joan—and of otherpeople Linden did notknow.“The old Lords used to

say that no Giant or

Haruchai could bemastered by a Raver. Butturiya Herem had afragment of the IllearthStone. That gave it thepower to possess a Giant.It was the one we saw inCoercri. Butchering theUnhomed.”“Very well.” The Firstnodded. “Somuchat leastis known to us, then. Butwhy has this evil come

amongus?Does it seek toprevent our quest? Howcan it hold that hope,when so many of us areGiants and Haruchai? Hervoice sharpened. “Does itmean to possess you? OrtheChosen?”Before Linden couldutter her fears, Covenantgrated, “Something likethat.” Then he faced heroncemore.“You’reright.I

won’tgolookingforit.Butit’sgottobefound.We’vegot to get rid of itsomehow.” The force ofhis will was focused onher. “You’re the only onewho can find it.Where isit?”Her reply was muffled

by her efforts to stoptrembling. “Somewherebelow,”sherepeated.The First looked at

Honninscrave. Heprotested carefully,“Chosen, the underdecksaremanifoldandcunning.Much time will berequired fora true search.And we have not youreyes.IfthisRaverholdsnoflesh,howwillwediscoverit?”Linden wanted to cry

out. Gibbon had touchedher. She carried his evil

engraved in every part ofher body, would never beclean of it again. Howcouldshebeararepetitionofthattouch?But Honninscrave’s

question was just; and ananswering anger enabledher tomeethim.The shipwas threatened: Covenantwas threatened. And hereat least she had a chanceto show that she couldbe

adanger toLordFoulandhismachinations,notonlytoherfriends.Herfailureswith Joan, with Marid,with Gibbon had taughther to doubt herself. Butshehadnotcome this far,only to repeat thesurrender of her parents.Tightly she replied, “Iwon’t go down there. ButI’ll try to locate where itis.”

Covenant released hispent breath as if herdecisionwereavictory.The First andHonninscrave did nothesitate. Leaving thewheeldeck to theStoresmaster, they wentdown the stairs; and hesent a Giant hasteningaheadof him to rouse therest of the crew. Lindenand Covenant followed

more slowly. Brinn andCail, Ceer and Hergromformedaprotectivecordonaround them as theymoved forward to meetthe Giants who camespringingoutofhatchwaysfrom their hammocks inSaltroamrest below theforedeck. Shortly everycrewmemberwhocouldbesparedfromthecareofthedromond was present and

ready.Pitchwife and

Seadreamer were there aswell. But the First’sdemeanor checkedPitchwife’s naturalloquacity;andSeadreamerborehimselfwithanairofresignation.In a tone of constricted

brevity, forciblyrestraining his Giantishoutrageattheslayerofthe

Unhomed, Honninscravedetailed the situation tohis crew, described whathad to be done.When hefinished, the First addedsternly, “It appears thatthis peril is directedtoward CovenantGiantfriend and theChosen. They must bepreserved at any hazard.Forget not that he is theredeemer of our lost

kindredandholdsapowerwhichmustnotfalltothisRaver. And she is aphysicianofgreatskillandinsight, whose purpose inthis quest is yet to berevealed. Preserve themand rid the Search of thisill.”She might have said

more. She was aSwordmain; her desire tostrikeblowsinthenameof

theUnhomedwasplaininher voice. But Pitchwifeinterposed lightly, “It isenough. Are we notGiants? We require nourging to defend ourcomrades.”“Then make haste,” sheresponded. “The scouringof Starfare’s Gem is nosmallmatter.”Honninscrave promptlyorganized the Giants into

groups of two and sentthem below. Then heturned to Linden. “Now,Chosen.” The commandcame from him firmly, asif he were bred foremergencies.“Guideus.”She had been gropingfor a way to find theRaver, but had conceivedno other method than topace the ship, trying totrack down the intruder’s

presence. As severely asshe could, she said,“Forget everything underthewheeldeck.Mycabin’sdownthere.Ifitwerethatclose, I would’ve knownsooner.”Throughoneoftheopen

hatches, theAnchormasterrelayedthisinformationtothesearchpartiesbelow.As themoon set behind

Starfare’s Gem, Linden

Avery began to walk theafterdeck.Working her way

between the railings, shemoved deliberatelyforward.Ateverystep,shefought to overcome herdistinctive resistance,struggled to open herselfto the Raver’s ambience.Even through her shoes,her senses were alive tothe stone of the dromond.

The granite mapped itselfunder her: she could feelthe Giants hunting belowher until they descendedbeyondher range.But theevil remained hidden,vagueandfatal.Soon the muscles along

thebacksofherlegsbeganto cramp. Her nerveswinced at each step.Gibbon had taught everyinch of her body to dread

Ravers. But she did notstop.Dawn came not long

after moonset, though thetime felt long to her; andthesuncaughtherhalfwayup the afterdeck, nearlylevel with the midmast.She was shivering withstrain and could not becertain that she had notalready passed over theRaver’s covert.WhenCeer

offered her a drink ofwater, she paused toaccept it. But then shewent on, knurling herconcentration in both fistsso that she would notfalter.Covenant had seatedhimselfinacoilofhawseras large as a bed on onesideofFoodfendhall.BrinnandHergrom stoodpoisednear him. He was

watchingherwithaheavyscowl, radiating hisfrustration andhelplessness, his anger attheblindnessofhissenses.In fear that she wouldweaken, fail again, again,Lindenincreasedherpace.Before she reached thehousing, a sudden spasminher legsknockedher tothedeck.At once, Cail and Ceer

caughtherarms,liftedhererect.“Here,” she panted. A

fire of revulsion burnedthroughherkneesintoherhips. She could notstraightenherlegs.“Underhere.Somewhere.”The Anchormaster

shoutedworddowntothesearchparties.Honninscrave studied

herwith perplexity. “That

seems a strange hiding,”he muttered. “From decktokeelbelowyou lieonlygrainholds, foodlockers,waterchests. And all arefull. Sevinhand”—hereferred to theAnchormaster—“foundpure water, wild maize,and much good fruit onthe verges of the GreatSwamp.”Lindencouldnotlookat

him. She was thinkingabsurdly,ThevergesoftheGreat Swamp. Where allthe pollution ofSarangrave Flat drainedintotheSea.Gritting her teeth, she

felt the darkness gatherunder her like athunderhead.Foratime,itlay fragmented in thedepths of the ship—piecesof malice. Then it stirred.

Thrumminglikeanassaultthrough the granite, itbegan to swarm. Thesunlight filled her eyeswith recollections of bees,forcing her to duck herhead, huddle into herself.Somewhere above herhead, untended sailsflapped limply. Starfare’sGem had become still,bracedfortheonslaughtoftheRaver.

Itbegantorise.Abruptlyshoutsofangerand surprise echoed fromthe underdecks. Fightingfor breath, she gasped,“It’scoming!”Thenext instant, adarkgraytumultcamefloodingover the storm-sill out ofFoodfendhall.Rats.Huge rats: rodents withsick yellow fangs and

vicious eyes, hundreds ofthem. The Raver was inthem.Theirsavageryfilledtheairwithteeth.They poured straight

towardCovenant.Hestaggeredupright.At

the same time, Brinn andHergromthrewthemselvesbetween him and theattack. Ceer sped to theirassistance.Leaping like cats, the

rodents sprang for theHaruchai. Covenant’sdefenders seemed tovanish under the graywave.At once, Honninscrave

and Seadreamer chargedinto theassault.Their feetdrummedthedeckastheykicked and stamped aboutthem. Blood spattered inalldirections.More Giants surged out

of the housing in pursuit,pounded into the fray.Brinn and Ceer appearedamid the slashing moil,followed by Hergrom.With hands and feet, theychopped and kicked,crushing rats faster thanLinden’seyescouldfollow.Without warning, she

felt a concatenation ofintensity as Covenant’spower took fire within

him. But his defenderswere too close tohim.Hecouldnotunleashthewildmagic.Yet for a moment she

thought he would bepreserved. The Haruchaiweredervish-wild,flingingratsawayonall sides; theGiants trampled slaughterthrough the pack. The airbecame a scream whichonly she could hear—the

fury of the Raver. In herfear for Covenant, shethought that she wasrushingtohisdefense.Butshe had notmoved, couldnot move. The simpleproximity of the Raveroverwhelmed her. Itviolated her volition,affirmed everything shehad ever striven to denyabout herself; and thecontradiction held her.

Only her vision sweptforward as Covenantstumbled and fell,grapplingfranticallyathisrightleg.Then he rolled back tohis feet, snapped erectwith a rat writhingclenched in both hands.Whitefireguttedthebeastbefore he pitched itoverboard. Revulsiontwistedhisface.

He seemed unaware ofthe blood which stainedtheshinofhispants.In the confusion of the

struggle, no one noticedthat all the winds haddied.

THREE:Relapse

TheGiantshipwentdarkaround Linden. The bloodon Covenant’s pantsbecame the blood of hisknife-wound, the blood ofher nightmare: it blottedout the world. She couldtaste the venom she hadsucked from his forearmafter Marid had bittenhim. A moral poison. Not

justsick:evil.Ittastedlikethenauseousbreathofthestrange figure on HavenFarmwhohad toldher toBetrue.In spite of that man’sputrid halitus, she hadsaved his life when hishearthadstopped.Butshecould not save Covenant.The darkness wascomplete, and she couldnotmove.

But then the Raverdisappeared. Its presenceburst like an invisiblebubble;sunlightandvisionrushedbackovertheship.Covenantstoodmotionlessneartherail,asdistinctinher sight as if he wore apenumbra of fire. All therats that could still movewere scrabbling in hisdirection. But now theyweredrivenbytheirfears,

not by the Raver. Insteadof trying to harm him,theyranheadlongintotheSea.Linden had taken twosteps toward him beforeherkneesfailed.ThereliefoftheRaver’sflightturnedher muscles to water. IfCail had not caught her,shewouldhavefallen.As she started forwardagain, Covenant looked

down at his leg, saw theblood.Everyoneelsewassilent.

TheGiantshiplaystillasifit had been nailed to thewater. The atmosphereseemed to sweat asrealization whitened hisfeatures.Hiseyeswidened;his lips fumbled denials;his hands pleaded at theemptyair.Then she reached him.

Hestumbledbackward,satdown on the coiledhawser. At once, shestooped to his leg, pulledhispantsuptotheknee.The rat-bite had torn a

hunk out of his shinbetween the bones. Itwasnotalargewound,thoughit bled copiously. Foranyone else, the chiefdanger would have arisenfrom infection. Even

withoutherbag,shecouldhavetreatedthat.Butbeforeshecouldact,Covenant’s whole framesprang rigid. The force oftheconvulsiontoreacursefromhiscordedthroat.Hislegs scissored; theinvoluntaryviolenceofhismuscles knocked heraway.OnlyBrinn’sceleritykepthimfromcrackinghishead open as he tumbled

offthecoil.Impossible that any

venom could work soswiftly!Blood suffused his face

ashestruggledtobreathe.Spasmsthreatenedtorendthe ligatures of his chestand abdomen. His heelshammered the deck. Hisbeard seemed to bristlelike an excrudescence ofpain.

Already his rightforearm had begun todarkenasifanarterywerehemorrhaging.This was the way the

venom affected him.Whether it was triggeredby bee stings or spiderbites, it focused on hisforearm, where Marid’sfangs had first pierced hisflesh. And every relapsemultiplied the danger

horrendously.“Hellfire!” His

desperation sounded likefury.“Getback!”She felt the pressure

rising in him, poisonmounting toward power,but she did not obey.Around her, the Giantsretreated instinctively,mystified by what theywereseeing.ButBrinnandHergrom held Covenant’s

shoulders and ankles,tryingtorestrainhim.Cailtouched Linden’s arm inwarning.Sheignoredhim.Frantically she threw

her senses into Covenant,scrambledtocatchupwiththe venom so that shemight attempt to block it.Once before, she hadstriven to help him andhad learned that the newdimension of her

sensitivity worked bothways: it made her sovulnerable that sheexperiencedhisillnessasifitwere her own, as if shewere personally diseasedbytheSunbane;butitalsoenabledhertosuccorhim,shore up his life with herown. Now she raced toenterhim,fightingtodamthe virulence of thepoison. His sickness

flooded coruscations ofmalice through her; butshe permitted theviolation. The poundingalong his veinswas on itswaytohisbrain.She had to stop it.Without him, there wouldbe no Staff of Law—nomeaning for the quest; nohope for the Land; noescape for her from thismadworld.Hisillhurther

likearepetitionofGibbon-Raver’sdefilement;butshedidnothalt,didnot—Shewasalreadytoolate.

Evenwithyearsoftrainingin the use of her health-sense, she would havebeen no match for thispoison. She lacked thatpower. Covenant tried toshoutagain.Thenthewildmagic went beyond allrestraint.

A blast of white firesprang from his right fist.It shot crookedly into theskylikeahowlofpainandrage and protest, rove theair as if he were hurlinghisextremityatthesun.The concussion flung

Lindenawaylikeabundleof rags. It knocked Brinnback against the railing.Several of the Giantsstaggered.Before theblast

ended,ittorechunksfromthe roof of Foodfendhallandburnedthroughtwoofthe sails from bottom totop.It also caught Cail. But

he contrived to land in away which absorbedLinden’s fall. She wasunhurt. Yet for a momentthe sheer force of thedetonation—the violencesevering her from

Covenant—stunned her.White fire and diseaserecoiled through her,blinding her senses. TheentireGiantshipseemedtowhirl around her. Shecould not recover herbalance, could not stiflethenauseaflaminginher.But then her sight

veered back into focus,and she found herselfstaring at Vain. Sometime

during the confusion, theDemondim-spawn had lefthis position on theforedeck, come aft towatch. Now he stoodgazingatCovenantwithaghoulishgrinonhis teeth,as if he were near theheartofhissecretpurpose.Theironbandsonhisrightwrist and left ankle—theheelsoftheStaffofLaw—gleamed dully against his

blackskin.Cail liftedLinden toher

feet. He was saying, “Youare acquainted with thisill.Whatmustbedone?”Her nerves were raw

with power-burn, shrillwith anguish. Flameflushed across her skin.ShewrenchedfreeofCail’sgrasp. Another spasmshook Covenant. Hismusclestautenedalmostto

the ripping point. Hisforearmwasalreadyblackand swollen, fever-hot.Fire flickered on and offhis ring.And every flickerstruck at her exacerbatedheart.She did not know whattodo.No, that was not true.She knew. In the past, hehad been brought backfrom this death by

aliantha, by Hollian’ssuccor, by the roborant ofthe Waynhim. Perhapsdiamondraught would alsoserve. But he was alreadyin the grip of delirium.How could he be inducedtodrinktheliquor?Brinn tried to approachCovenant. A white blasttore half the rigging fromthe midmast, compellingBrinn to retreat. Its force

heatedLinden’scheekslikeshame.All the Haruchai were

looking ather.TheGiantswere looking at her. TheFirstheldhersilencelikeasword. They were waitingfor her to tell them whattodo.She knew the answer.

But she could not bear it.To possess him? Try totake over his mind, force

him to hold back hispower, acceptdiamondraught?AfterwhatshehadseeninJoan?His blast still wailed in

her, Gritting her teethagainst that cry, sherasped,“Ican’tdoit.”Without conscious

decision, she started toleave,toflee.The First stopped her.

“Chosen.” The

Swordmain’s tone washard. “We have noknowledge of this illness.That such harm shouldcome fromthebiteofonerat isbeyondourken.Yethemustbeaided.Werehemerely a man, he wouldrequire aid. But I havenamed him Giantfriend. Ihave placed the Searchintohishands.Hemustbegivensuccor.”

“No.”Lindenwasfulloffear and revulsion. Thehorror was too intimate:Gibbon had taught her tounderstand it too well.That she was powerless—thatallherlifehadbeenalie! Her eyes bled tearsinvoluntarily. Indesperation, she retorted,“He can take care ofhimself.”The First’s stare glinted

dangerously; andHonninscrave started toexpostulate.Lindendeniedthem.“Hecandoit.Whenwe

first showed up here, hehad a knife stuck in hischest, and he healed that.The Clave slit his wrists,andhehealedthat.Hecando it.” As she articulatedthem, thewords turned tofalsehood in her mouth.

But the alternative washeinous to her beyondbearing.Inshame,shethrustherway past the First towardFoodfendhall. Thecombinedincomprehension andanger of so many brave,valuable people pressedagainst her back. Topossess him? His powerhadcomeclosetoburning

through her as virulentlyas Gibbon’s touch. Wasthis how Lord Foulmeantto forge her fordesecration? Pressure andprotest sent her halfrunning through the halltotheemptyforedeck.

Afterimages of Covenant’sblast continued to dismayhersensesforalongtime.

Shehadbeenhuggingoneofthecross-supportsoftherailneartheprowforhalfthe morning before sherealized that the shipwasnotmoving.Its motionlessness was

not due to the damageCovenant had done. Thegear of themidmast hungin shambles still. Erraticbursts of wild magic hadthwarted every attempt at

repair. But even withwhole canvas on all threemasts, Starfare’s Gemwould have lain dead inthe water. There was nowind.NomovementintheSea at all. The ocean hadbecome a blank echo ofthe sky—deep azure andflat, as empty of life as amirror.Thedromondmighthave been fused to thesurface of the water. Its

sails hung like cerementsfrom the inanimate yards:lines and shrouds whichhad seemed alive in thewind now dangled likestricken things, shorn ofmeaning. And the heat—The sun was all thatmoved across the Sea.Shimmeringsrosefromthedecks as though Starfare’sGem were losingsubstance, evaporating off

thefaceofthedeep.Heat made the dulltrudge of Linden’sthoughts giddy. She halfbelieved that the Raverhad taken away thewind,that this calmwas part ofLord Foul’s design. Trapthe ship where it lay,impale the quest untilCovenant’svenomgnawedthrough the cords of hislife. And then what?

Perhaps inhisdeliriumhewould sink the dromondbeforehedied.Orperhapshe would be able towithhold that blow. Thenthe ring and the questwould be left to someoneelse.Toher?DearGod! sheprotested

vainly.Ican’t!Butshecouldnotrefute

that logic. Why else had

Marid feinted toward herbefore attacking Covenant—why else had Gibbonsparedher, spoken toher,touched her—if not toconfirm her in herparalyzing fear, the lessonof her own ill? And whyelse had the old man onHavenFarmtoldhertoBetrue? Why indeed, if bothhe and the Despiser hadnotknown that shewould

eventually inheritCovenant’sring?Whatkindofpersonhad

shebecome?At painful intervals,

blasts of wild magic senttremors of apprehensionthrough the stone.RepeatedlyCovenantcriedout, “Never! Never give ittohim!”hurlinghisrefusalat the blind sky. He hadbecome a man she could

not touch. After all heryears of evasion, she hadfinally received the legacyofherparents.Shehadnochoice but to possess himortolethimdie.When Cail came tospeakwithher,shedidnotturn her head, did not lethim see her forlornness,until he demanded,“LindenAvery,youmust.”At that, she rounded on

him. He was sweatingfaintly. Even his Haruchaiflesh was not immune tothis heat. But his mannerdeniedanydiscomfort.Heseemed so secure in hisrectitude mat she couldnot hold herself fromsnappingathim,“No.Youswore to protect him. Ididn’t.”“Chosen.” He used hertitle with a tinge of

asperity. “We have donewhatlieswithinourreach.But none can approachhim.His fire lashes out atall who draw near. Brinnhasbeenburned—butthatis nothing. Diamondraughtwill speed his healing.Consider instead theGiants. Though they canwithstandfire,theycannotbeartheforceofhiswhitering. When the First

sought to near him, shewasnigh thrown from thedeck. And theAnchormaster, Sevinhand,also assayed the task.When he regainedconsciousness, he namedhimself fortunate that hehadsufferednomorethanabrokenarm.”Burned, Linden thoughtdumbly. Broken. Herhands writhed against

each other. She was adoctor; she shouldalreadyhave gone to treat Brinnand Sevinhand. But evenatthisdistanceCovenant’sillnessassaultedhersanity.Shehadmadenodecision.Her legs would not takeone step in that direction.She could not help himwithoutviolatinghim.Shehad no other power. Thatwaswhatshehadbecome.

Whenshedidnotspeak,Cailwenton,“Itisacleanbreak, which theStoresmaster is able totend. I do not speak ofthat. I desire you tounderstand only that weare surpassed. We cannotapproachhim.Thusitfallsto you. You must succorhim.“Webelievethathewillnot strike at you. You are

his nearest companion—awoman of his world.Surelyeveninhismadnesshe will know you andwithholdhisfire.Wehaveseen that he holds you inhisheart.”In his heart? Lindenalmost cried out. But stillCailaddressedherasifhehad been charged with aspeech and meant todeliver it in the name of

hisduty.“Yet perhaps in thatwe

are misled. Perhaps hewould strike at you also.Yet you must make theattempt.Youarepossessedof a sight which noHaruchai or Giant canshare or comprehend.When the Sunbane-sickness came upon you,you perceived that vourewould restore you. When

youranklewasbeyondallother aid, you guided itssetting.” The demand inhis expressionless mienwas as plain as a fist.“Chosen, you must gazeupon him. You must findthemeanstosuccorhim.”“Must?” she returnedhuskily. Cail’s flatinsistence made her wild.“You don’t know whatyou’re saying. The only

way I can help him is gointo him and take over.Like the Sunbane. Or aRaver. It would be badenough if I were asinnocent as a baby. ButwhatdoyouthinkI’llturninto if I get that muchpower?”Shemighthavegoneon,might have cried at him,And he’ll hate me for it!He’llnevertrustmeagain!

Orhimself.But thesimpleuselessness of shouting atCail stopped her. Herintensity seemed to haveno purpose. Hisuncompromising visageleeched it away from her.Instead of protestingfurther, she murmureddimly, “I’m already toomuchlikeGibbon.”Cail’s gaze did not

waver from her face.

“Thenhewilldie.”I know. God help me.She turned from theHaruchai, hung her armsover the cross-supports ofthe rail to keep herselffromsaggingtoherknees.Possesshim?Afteramoment,shefeltCail withdrawing towardthe afterdeck. Her handstwisted against each otheras if their futility

threatened to drive themmad. She had spent somanyyears training them,teaching them to heal,trusting them. Now theyweregoodfornothing.Shecould not so much astouchCovenant.

Starfare’sGemremainedbecalmed throughout theday.Theheatbakeddown

until Linden thought thatherboneswouldmelt;butshe could not resolve thecontradictions in her.Around the ship, theGiants were strangelysilent. They seemed towaitwithbatedbreathforCovenant’s eruptions offire,hisrantingshouts.Nohint of wind stirred thesails.Attimes,shewantedto fall overboard—not to

immerse herself in theSea’s coolness, thoughanything cool would havebeen bliss to her achingnerves—but simply tobreak the unrelievedstillness of the water.Through the stone, shecould feel Covenant’sdeliriumworsening.At noon and again ateventide, Cail brought herfood. He performed this

task as if no conflictbetween them could alterhis duty; but she did noteat. Though she had nottaken one step towardCovenant, she shared hisordeal. The same rack ofvenom and madness onwhich he was stretchedtortured her as well. Thatwas her punishment forfailure—to participate inthe anguish she feared to

confront.The old man on HavenFarmhadsaid,Youwillnotfail, however he may assailyou.Thereisalsoloveintheworld. Not fail? she achedto herself. Good God! Asfor love, she had alreadydenied it. She did notknowhow to turnher lifearound.So the day ended, andlater the waxing moon

began to ascend over thelifeless Sea, and still shestoodat therailingonthelong foredeck, staringsightlessly into the blankdistance. Her handsknotted together andunknotted like a nest ofsnakes. Sweat darkenedthe hair at her temples,drew faint lines downthrough the erosionswhich marked her face;

but shepaidnoheed.Theblack water lay unmovingandbenighted,asemptyoflife as the air. The moonshone as if it wereengrossed in its ownthoughts;but its reflectionsprawled on the flatsurface like a stillborn.High above her, the sailshung limp among theirshrouds,untouchedbyanyrumororforetasteofwind.

Again and again,Covenant’s voice roseranting into thehotnight.Occasionalwhite lightningpaledthestars.Yetshedidnot respond, though sheknew he could not healhimself. The Despiser’svenom was a moralpoison, and he had nohealth-sense to guide hisfire.Evenifhispowerhadbeen hers to wield as she

willed,shemightnothavebeenabletoburnoutthatill without tearing up hislifebytheroots.Then Pitchwife cametoward her. She heard hisdetermination to speak inthe rhythm of his stride.But when she turned herhead to him, the sight ofher flagrant visagesilenced him. After amoment,heretreatedwith

adampsheenofmoonlightor tears in his misshapeneyes.She thought then that

she would be left alone.But soon she felt anotherGiant looming nearby.Without looking at him,sherecognizedSeadreamerby his knotted aura. Hehad come to share hismutenesswithher.Hewasthe only Giant who

suffered anythingcomparable to her vision,and thepervading sadnessof his mood held norecrimination. Yet after atimehis silenceseemedtopull at her, asking foranswers.“BecauseI’mafraid.”Hismuteness enabled her tospeak.“Itterrifiesme.“I can understand whatCovenant’sdoing.His love

fortheLand—”SheenviedCovenant his passion, hisaccessible heart. She hadnothing like it. “I’d doanythingtohelphim.ButIdon’t have that kind ofpower.”Thenshecouldnotstop;she had to try to explainherself. Her voice slippedout into thenightwithouttouchingtheairortheSea.But her companion’s

gentle presenceencouragedher.“It’s all possession. LordFoul possessed Joan tomake Covenant come totheLand.”Joan’sfacehadworn a contortion ofpredatory malice whichstill haunted Linden. Shecould not forget thewoman’s thirst forCovenant’s blood. “ARaver possessed Marid to

getthatvenomintohim.ARaver possessed the na-Mhoram of the Clave sothattheClavewouldservethe Sunbane. And theSunbane itself! Foul istrying to possess the Law.Hewants tomakehimselfthe natural order of theEarth. Once you startbelieving in evil, thegreatest evil there is ispossession. It’s a denial of

life—of humanity.Whateveryoupossessloseseverything. Just becauseyou think you’re doing itfor reasons like pity orhelp doesn’t change whatit is. I’m a doctor, not aRaver.”She tried to give her

insistence the force ofaffirmation;but itwasnottrueenoughforthat.“Heneedsmetogointo

him. Take over. Controlhim sohe candrink somediamondraught, stoprighting the people whowant to help him. Butthat’s evil. Even if I’mtrying to save him.”Strugglingtoputthetruthinto words, she said, “Todo it, I’d have to take hispowerawayfromhim.”She was pleading forSeadreamer’s

comprehension. “When Iwas inRevelstone,Gibbontouched me. I learnedsomething about myselfthen.”Thena-Mhoramhadtoldhershewasevil.Thatwas the truth. “There’s apart of me that wants todoit.Takeoverhim.Takehispower.Idon’thaveanyofmyown,andIwantit.”Want it. All her life, shehad striven for power, for

effectivenessagainstdeath.Forthemeanstotranscendherheritage—andtomakerestitution. If she hadpossessed Covenant’spower, she would havegladly torn Gibbon soulfrombody in the name ofher own crime. “That’swhat paralyzes me. I’vespent my life trying todeny evil. When it showsup, I can’t escape it.” She

did not know how toescape the contradictionbetween her commitmenttolifeandheryearningforthe dark might of death.Her father’s suicide hadtaught her a hunger shehad satisfied once anddreadedtofaceagain.Theconflict of her desires hadnoanswer.Initsownway,Gibbon-Raver’s touch hadbeen no more horrible

than her father’s death;and theblack forceofhermemoriesmadeher shiveronthevergeofcrying.“Yetyoumustaidhim.”The hard voice piercedLinden. She turnedsharply, found herselffacing the First of theSearch. She had been socaughtupinwhatshewassaying to Seadreamer, solocked into herself, that

shehadnot felt theFirst’sapproach.The First glared at her

sternly. “I grant that theburden is terrible to you.That is plain.” She boreherself like awomanwhohadmadeafiercedecisionof her own. “But theSearchhasbeengivenintohishands.Itmustnotfail.”With a brusque

movement, she drew her

broadsword,helditbeforeherasthoughshemeanttoenforce Linden’scompliancewithkeeniron.Linden pressed her backagainst the rail inapprehension;buttheFirstbent down, placed herglaive on the deckbetween them. Then shedrew herself erect, fixedLindenwiththedemandofher stare. “Have you the

strength to wield myblade?”Involuntarily Lindenlooked down at thebroadsword. Gleamingdensely in the moonlight,it appeared impossiblyheavy.“Have you the strengthto lift it from where itlies?”Linden wrenched hereyes back to the First in

dumbprotest.The Swordmain noddedas ifLindenhadgivenherthereplyshesought.“Norhave I the insight to actagainst the Giantfriend’sillness. You are LindenAverytheChosen.IamtheFirst of the Search. Wecannot bear each other’sburdens.”Her gaze shedmidnightinto Linden’s upturned

face. “Yet if you do notshoulderthelotwhichhasbefallen you, then I swearby my glaive that I willperform whatever act lieswithin my strength. Hewill not accept anyapproach. Therefore I willrisk my people, andStarfare’s Gem itself, todistracthim.Andwhilehestrikes at them, with thissword I will sever the

envenomed arm from hisbody.Iknownootherwayto ridhimof that ill—andus of the peril of hispower. If fortune smilesuponus,wewillbeabletostaunchthewounderehislifeislost.”Sever?Suddenweakness

flooded throughLinden. Ifthe first succeeded—! Inaflash of vision, she sawthat great blade hacking

like an execution atCovenant’s shoulder. Andblood. Dark under thewaxing moon, it wouldgush out almost directlyfrom his heart. If it werenot stopped in an instant,nothing could save him.She was a world awayfrom the equipment shewould need to give himtransfusions, suture thewound, keep his heart

beating until his bloodpressure was restored.Thatblowcouldbeasfatalas the knife-thrust whichhad once impaled hischest.The back of her headstruck thecross-supportofthe railing as she sank tothe deck; and for amoment pain labored inthe bones of her skull.Sever?Hehadalready lost

two fingers to surgeonswhoknewnootheranswertohis illness. Ifhelived—She groaned. Ah, if helived, how could she evermeet his gaze to tell himthatshehaddonenothing—thatshehadstoodbyinhercowardiceandallowedhisarmtobecutaway?“No.”Herhandscoveredher face. Her craven fleshyearned to denywhat she

wassaying.Hewouldhavereason to hate her if shepermitted the First’sattempt. And to hate herforeverifshesavedhislifeat the cost of hisindependentintegrity.Wasshe truly this hungry forpower?“I’lltry.”Then Cail was at her

side.Hehelpedher toherfeet. As she leaned on hisshoulder, he thrust a flask

into her hands. The faintsmell of diluteddiamondraught reachedher.Fumblingweakly, shepulled the flask to hermouthanddrank.Almost at once, she felt

the liquor exerting itsanalystic potency. Herpulsecarriedlifebackintoher muscles. The pain inher head withdrew to adull throbbing at the base

ofherneck.Themoonlightseemed to grow firmer ashervisioncleared.She emptied the flask,

striving to suck strengthfrom it—any kind ofstrength, anything whichmight help her withstandthe virulence of thevenom. Then she forcedherselfintomotiontowardtheafterdeck.Beyond Foodfendhall,

she came into the light oflanterns. They had beenplaced along the roof ofthe housing and aroundthe open deck so that theGiantsandHaruchai couldwatch Covenant from arelatively safe distance.They shed a yellowillumination which shouldhave comforted the starknight. But their lightreached upward to th