The Wounded Land

of affection or preference. But by long custom, the Graveller is given freedom. As recompense for the burden of his work.

'The choice of my heart fell upon Aimil daughter of Anest. Anest was sister to Kalina my mother. From childhood, Aimil and I were dear to each other. We were gladly wed, and gladly sought to vindicate our choosing with children.

“A son came to us, and was given the name Nelbrin, which is 'heart's child.'” His tone was as astringent as the terrain. 'He was a pale child, not greatly well. But he grew as a child should grow and was a treasure to us.

“For a score of turnings of the moon he grew. He was slow in learning to walk, and not steady upon his legs, but he came at last to walk with glee. Until-” He swallowed convulsively. 'Until by mischance Aimil my wife injured him in our home. She turned from the hearth bearing a heavy pot, and Nelbrin our son had walked to stand behind her. The pot struck him upon the chest.

“From that day, he sickened toward death. A dark swelling grew in him, and his life faltered.”

“Hemophilia,” Linden breathed almost inaudibly. “Poor kid.”

Sunder did not stop. “When his death was written upon his face for all to see, the Stonedown invoked judgment. I was commanded to sacrifice him for the good of the people.”

A rot gnawed at Covenant's guts. He looked up at the Graveller. The dryness in his throat felt like slow strangulation. He seemed to hear the ground sizzling.

In protest, Linden asked, “Your own son? What did you do?”

Sunder stared out into the Sunbane as if it were the story of his life. “I could not halt his death. The desert sun and the sun of pestilence had left us sorely in need. I shed his life to raise water and food for the Stonedown.”

Oh, Sunder! Covenant groaned.

Tightly, Linden demanded, “How did Aimil feel about that?”

“It maddened her. She fought to prevent me-and when she could not, she became wild in her mind. Despair afflicted her, and she-” For a moment, Sunder could not summon the words he needed. Then he went on harshly, “She committed a mortal harm against herself. So that her death would not be altogether meaningless, I shed her also.”

So that her-Hellfire! Covenant understood now why the thought of killing his mother had driven Sunder to abandon his home. How many loved ones could a man bear to kill?

Grimly, Linden said, “It wasn't your fault. You did what you had to do.” Passion gathered in her tone. “It's this Sunbane.”

The Graveller did not look at her. “All men and women die. It signifies nothing to complain.” He sounded as sun-tormented as the Plains. “What else do you desire to know of me? You need only ask. I have no secrets from you.”

Covenant ached to comfort Sunder; but he knew nothing about comfort. Anger and defiance were the only answers he understood. Because he could not ease the Stonedownor, he tried to distract him. “Tell me about Nassic.” The words were rough in his mouth. “How did he come to have a son?”

Linden glared at Covenant as if she were vexed by his insensitivity; but Sunder relaxed visibly. He seemed relieved by the question-glad to escape the futility of his mourning. “Nassic my father,” he said, with a weariness which served as calm, 'was like Jous his father, and like Prassan his father's father. He was a man of Mithil Stonedown.

'Jous his father lived in the place he named his temple, and from time to time Nassic visited Jous, out of respect for his father, and also to ascertain that no harm had befallen him. The Stonedown wed Nassic to Kalina, and they were together as any young man and woman. But then Jous fell toward his death. Nassic went to the temple to bear his father to Mithil Stonedown for sacrifice. He did not return. Dying, Jous placed his hands upon Nassic, and the madness or prophecy of the father passed into the son. Thus Nassic was lost to the Stonedown.

“This loss was sore to Kalina my mother. She was ill content with just one son. Many a time, she went to the temple, to give her love to my father and to plead for his. Always she returned weeping and barren. I fear-” He paused sadly. “I fear she hurled herself at Marid hoping to die.”

Gradually, Covenant's attention drifted. He was too weak to concentrate. Dimly, he noted the shifting angle of the sun. Noon had come, laying sunlight within inches of his feet. By mid-afternoon, the shade would be gone. By mid-afternoon -

He could not survive much more of the sun's direct weight.

The dark clump which he had passed near the shelf was still there. Apparently, it was not a mirage. He blinked at it, trying to make out details. If not a mirage, then what? A bush? What kind of bush could endure this sun, when every other form of life had been burned away?

The question raised echoes in his memory, but he could not hear them clearly. Exhaustion and thirst deafened his mind.

“Die?”

He was hardly aware that he had spoken aloud. His voice felt like sand rubbing against stone. What kind-? He strove to focus his eyes. “That bush.” He nodded weakly toward the patch of darkness. “What is it?”

Sunder squinted. “It is aliantha. Such bushes may be found in any place, but they are most common near the River. In some way, they defy the Sunbane.” He dismissed the subject. “They are a most deadly poison.”

“Poison?” Pain sliced Covenant's lips; the vehemence of his outcry split them. Blood began to run through the dust like a trail of fury cleaving his chin. Not aliantha!

The Graveller reached toward Covenant's face as if those dirty red drops were precious. Empowered by memories, Covenant struck Sunder's hand aside. “Poison?” he croaked. In times past, the rare aliment of aliantha had sustained him more often than he could recollect. If they had become poison-! He was abruptly giddy with violence. If they had become poison, then the Land had not simply lost its Earthpower. The Earthpower had been corrupted! He wanted to batter Sunder with his fists. “How do you know?”

Linden caught at his shoulder. “Covenant!”

“It is contained in the Rede of the na-Mhoram,” rasped Sunder. “I am a Graveller-it is my work to make use of that knowledge. I know it to be true.”

No! Covenant grated. “Have you tried it?”

Sunder gaped at him. “No.”

“Do you know anybody who ever tried it?”

“It is poison! No man or woman willingly consumes poison.”

“Hell and blood.” Bracing himself on the stone, Covenant heaved to his feet. “I don't believe it. He can't destroy the entire Law. If he did, the Land wouldn't exist anymore.”

The Graveller sprang erect, gripped Covenant's arms, shook him fiercely. “It is poison.”

Mustering all his passion, Covenant responded, “No!”

Sunder's visage knurled as if only the clench of his muscles kept him from exploding. With one wrench of his hands, he thrust Covenant to the ground. “You are mad.” His voice was iron and bitterness. “You seduced me from my home, asking my aid-but at every turn you defy me. You must seek for Marid. Madness! You must refuse all safety against the Sunbane. Madness! You must decline to raise water, nor permit me to raise it. Madness! Now nothing will content you but poison.” When Covenant tried to rise, Sunder shoved him back. “It is enough. Make any further attempt toward the aliantha, and I will strike you senseless.”

Covenant's gaze raged up at the Graveller; but Sunder did not flinch. Desperation inured him to contradiction; he was trying to reclaim some control over his doom.

Holding Sunder's rigid stare, Covenant climbed to his feet, stood swaying before the Graveller. Linden was erect behind Sunder; but Covenant did not look at her. Softly, he said, “I do not believe that aliantha is poisonous.” Then he turned, and began to shamble toward the bush.

A howl burst from Sunder. Covenant tried to dodge; but Sunder crashed into him headlong, carried him sprawling to the dirt. A blow on the back of his head sent lights across his vision like fragments of vertigo.

Then Sunder fell away. Covenant levered his legs under him, to see Linden standing over the Graveller. She