Chapter 2 Chapter 2 To the Falcon's Nest

More than a year later, in the long hot days after the Long Dance celebration, a messenger came from the north and went down to the Mid Valley to find the widow Goha.The villagers led him to the trail, and he came to Oak Farm in the evening.He was a man with a thin face and sharp eyes.He looked at Geha and the flock of sheep in the sheepfold behind her, and said, "Not bad sheep. The mage of Reiyabai is looking for you." "He sent you?" Geha asked, skeptical and amused.When Ogion wanted her, there was a quicker and better messenger: the eagle who called, or just his voice quietly asking: Will you come?

The man nodded and said, "He's sick. Will you sell the ewe?" "Not necessarily. You can talk to the Shepherd if you want, over the fence. Would you like some supper? You can spend the night here if you want, but I'll be on my way later." "tonight?" There was no smile in her slightly contemptuous eyes this time: "I won't just sit here." She talked to the old shepherd Qingxi for a few words, then turned and walked into the house next to the oak bushes on the hill .The messenger followed her. In the kitchen on the slate floor, a child whom he glanced at and hurriedly looked away brought him milk, bread, cheese and green onions, and then walked out without a word.The child came back to the woman, both in walking shoes and carrying light leather pouches.The messenger followed them out, and the widow locked the gate of the village.They set off at the same time, because delivering Ogion's message was nothing more than buying more breeding sheep for the white lord of Reia.The woman and the burned child bid him farewell at the junction where the trail turned into the village.They followed the way he had come north, then turned west into the foothills of Mount Gont.

The two walked along the road until the afterglow of the long summer day began to darken.They left the narrow road and camped in a small valley under the shade of trees, beside the swift but quiet stream, reflecting the gray night sky among the willow bushes.Geha piled hay and willow leaves into a hare-like bed, hid in the bushes, then wrapped the child in a quilt and let her lie down.She said: "Now you are a chrysalis. In the morning, you will become a butterfly and break out of the chrysalis." She did not light a fire, but wrapped her cloak, and lay down beside the child, watching the stars gradually light up, listening Moaning to the creek until I fell asleep.

The two awoke to the cold before morning.Geha built a small fire, heated a pan of water, and prepared porridge for the two of them.Little broken butterflies trembled from their chrysalis, and Goha cooled the pan on the dewy grass so that the child could drink porridge from it.When they set out on the road again, the steep and dark eastern shoulder of the mountain was already lit up. Children get tired easily, so they walk slowly all day.A woman's heart longs to be fast, but her steps are slow.She couldn't hold the baby for long, so to make things easier for him, she told him stories.

"We are going to visit someone, an old man named Ogion." They walked wearily on the winding path through the forest. "He is extremely wise, and a wizard. Do you know what a wizard is, Therru?" Even if the child had a name, she either couldn't remember it or didn't want to say it.So Goha called her Therru. Therru shook his head. "Well, I don't know," said the woman, "but I know what they'll do. When I was young—older than you are now, but still small—Ogion was my father, as I It's like your mother now. He takes care of me and also tries to teach me things I need to know. Even though he'd rather roam alone, he's by my side. He loves to walk, on roads like we're walking now, and Forests, some moors. He walks all over the mountains, looking, listening. He's always listening, so people call him "The Silent One." But he talks to me. He tells me stories, not just everyone Stories he would have heard, like those of the hero-kings, or the old tales of the foreign lands, and some that only he knew." She went on, "I will now tell you one of them.

"One of the things wizards do is change into something else, take another form. They call it 'transfiguration.' Ordinary sorcerers can make themselves look like someone else, or like an animal, so you suddenly Wondering what he was seeing, it was almost like he was putting on a mask. But wizards and mages can do more than that, they can become the mask itself, and really become another creature. So, if a wizard wants to cross the sea and he doesn't have a boat, he may Turn yourself into a seagull and fly there. But he has to be careful. If he keeps being a bird, he will start to think like a bird, and then forget how people think, and finally become a real seagull, never turning back into a human. It is said that once There was a great wizard who liked to turn himself into a bear. After so many changes, he killed his young son. Others had to hunt him down and kill him. But Ogion always took it as a joke. One time a mouse came into his cupboard and gnawed at the cheese, and he caught one with a little mouse-trap charm, and just picked it up like that, looked into its eyes and said, "I told you, don't become a mouse!" For a moment, I thought he was serious...

"In short, the story is about transformation, but Ogion said that it has surpassed all transformations he understands, because it is two things, two lives, existing in one form at the same time. He said that this is beyond the power of wizards. He said in In a small village on the northwest coast of Gont, in a place called Kaime, I met such a life. There was a woman there, an old fisherwoman, who was neither a witch nor a magician, but she could make songs, and so was Ogion. Heard her. He roamed around there as usual, up the coast, listening. Then he heard someone singing, mending nets or boats perhaps, singing as he worked:

west of west the other side of the continent My family is flying ride the wind "Ogion heard the words and the music at the same time, and as he had heard neither, he asked where the song came from. A series of inquiries led him to a man, who said, 'Oh, this is the song written by the woman of Kame.' So he went to Kame, the small fishing port where the woman lived. He found her house by the port, and he knocked on the door with his wand. She came out and opened the door. "You know, remember when we talk about names, kids have baby names and everybody has a nickname and maybe a nickname. Different people call you different ways. You're my Therru when you're older , maybe you'll have a Hittite common name. Of course when you're an adult, if all goes well, you'll get your real name. Someone with real power will give you a name, probably a wizard or mage, because naming is theirs The ability to be. A name you may never tell others, because your true self lives in your real name. It is your ability, your power, which is both a danger and a burden to others, and only when absolutely necessary and You can only give to others if you trust it. But the great mage knows the true name of all things, and probably knows it without you telling him.

"So Ogion, the great mage, stood at the door of the little house by the sea wall, and the old woman opened the door. And Ogion stepped back, and he raised his oaken wand, and raised his hand, like this, as if to Dodging the hot fire. He shouted her real name out loud in horror and fear—"Dragon!" "He told me that at that moment, what he saw standing at the door was not a woman at all, but a cluster of dazzling fire and shining gold armor, sharp claws, and the big eyes of a dragon. It is said that you cannot look directly into a dragon's eyes . "Then it was all gone, and he saw no dragon, but an old woman standing in the doorway, a little stooped, a great fisherwoman. They looked at each other. And she said, 'Come in, Lord Ogion. .』

"He went in. She offered him fish soup, and the two of them ate together, then chatted by her fire. He thought she must be a shapeshifter, but he didn't know if she was the woman who could turn herself into a dragon." , or a dragon that can transform itself into a woman. He finally asked her, "Are you a woman or a dragon?" She didn't answer, but said, "I'll sing you a story." A small stone was caught in Therru's shoe.They stopped to clear, then continued on very slowly, as the rocky path between the bushes became steeper and steeper.In the bushes, cicadas sing in the hot summer.

"The story she sang to Ogion was this: "At the beginning of time, when Xi Guoyi raised the islands of the world from the sea, dragons were first born from the land and the wind that blows the land, so says the Song of Creation. But her song also says, In the origin of everything, dragons and humans are one. They are one people, one race, with wings and speaking the true language. "They were beautiful, strong, wise, and free. "But time will change everything. So among the dragon people, some love flying and the wilderness more and more, are less and less willing to participate in creation or study, and care less about houses and cities. They just want to fly Farther and farther, hunting and hunting, ignorance and meaninglessness, seeking unlimited freedom. "Some dragon people have become indifferent to flying, but like to collect treasures, wealth, creations, knowledge. They build houses and fortresses to store treasures, so that they can pass everything they get to their children. Their desires are endless, and they gradually fear that A swarm of savage draconians, as they may fly with all their ferocity, destroy all treasures and burn them all with fire. "The savage draconians fear nothing, they learn nothing. Because of their ignorance, the wingless draconians hunt them down like animals. When assassinated, they are completely powerless to save themselves, but the rest of the draconians Will fly to burn down beautiful houses, destroy, slaughter. Whether savage or wise, the strongest group of draconians are always the first to kill each other. "The most frightened ones avoided the fight, and when they could hide no more, they fled the fight. They built their ships with the skills of creation, and sailed eastward, away from the western isles and the Wings fighting among the fallen towers. "Thus, the race that used to be both dragons and humans changed into two races: the dragons became fewer and fewer, and became wilder, living in the remote islands of the West End, and were torn apart by endless ignorant greed and anger; while the humans gathered In the wealthy towns and cities, they occupy the inner ring islands and all the islands in the south and east. However, there are still a group of wizards who have saved the wisdom of the dragon—the true language of creation. "But, the song says, there are still some among us who know that they were once dragons, and there are dragons who know their relationship to humans. And when one race becomes two, some are still dragons and men , still with wings, but not to the east, but farther west, across the open sea, to the other end of the world, where they lived in peace, great winged races, both wild and wise, with the brain of a man and the heart of a dragon .so she sings: west of west the other side of the continent My family is flying ride the wind "And she ended with it. That's the story told in the ballad of the woman of Kaimei. "Then Ogion said to her, 'The first time I saw you, I saw your true form. The woman who sat by the fire facing me was but a garment that you were wearing. .』 "But she shook her head, smiled, and was willing to say, 'It would be as simple as that!' "After a while, Ogion came back to Riabai. When he told me the story, he said to me: 'From that day on, I wondered, Have men or dragons ever gone west of the West? Who are we? Where the hell are we, whole?"...Therru, are you hungry? Up there, that bend in the road, looks like a good place to sit and rest. Maybe we can see Gont farther away at the foot of the mountain from there Harbor. It's a big city, bigger than the mouth of the valley. We can sit and rest a while when we get to the bend." From the high road bends, they can indeed look from the vast forest slopes and rocky grasslands to the towns by the bay and the dangerous cliffs guarding the entrance of the bay; and the ships floating on the deep sea are like sawdust or water. beetle.In the distance far ahead of the path, there is a steep wall protruding from the side of the mountain: it is the Gaoling, and above it is the village of Rui Yabai, the nest of the falcon eagle. Therru didn't complain, but when Goha said, "We're on our way, shall we?" the child sitting on the path with his back on the sea and the sky shook his head.The sun was blazing, and they had come a long way since breakfast in the little valley. Geha took out the kettle, and the two drank some water again, then she took out a bag of raisins and walnuts and handed them to the child. "I can see my destination," she said, "and hopefully we'll get there before dark. I'd like to see Ogion. I know you're tired, but we'll go slowly, and we'll be there by night, safe and Warm. Pack the bag and tuck it under your belt, the raisins will give your legs strength. Would you like a wooden wizard's staff, like a wizard's, to help you walk?" Therru nodded as he chewed.Geha took out her knife, and cut off a strong hazel branch for the child; and seeing an alder tree lying on the road, she broke off a long branch, cut off the excess bark and leaves, and made a light branch for herself. crutch. They hit the road again.Inspired by the effectiveness of the raisin, the child also shuffled slowly.Geha sang for entertainment, including love songs, shepherd songs, and narrative poems learned in Zhonggu.Suddenly, the singing stopped abruptly.She stopped and held out her hand in warning. The four men on the road ahead had already seen her, and it was useless to hide in the woods and wait for them to leave or pass by. "It's a traveler," she whispered to Therru, and walked on, holding the alder staff tightly in her hand. Skylark's remarks about bandits and thieves are not just the complaints of the older generation that "the world is going down" and "the end is near".For the past few years, there has been a loss of peace and trust among the towns and villages of Gont.Young men treat their fellow countrymen like foreigners, spoiling their hospitality and goodwill, stealing and selling stolen goods.Begging, once rare, is now commonplace, and the dissatisfied beggar threatens violence.Women no longer enjoy walking the streets alone, and are very unhappy about the loss of this freedom.Young girls who join thieves and poachers often return home within a year, resentful, bruised and pregnant.And among the village warlocks and witches, there were rumors that something was wrong with their powers: spells that used to work no longer healed; into destructive jealousy.What's even more frightening is that some people don't understand the way, method, and limit of magic, and the evil consequences that will be incurred after exceeding it, but claim to have power, and promise unimaginable wealth, health, and even longevity to their followers. Yavi, the witch of Goha, spoke of the decline of spells, and so did Bi Teng, the sorcerer at the mouth of the valley.Bi Teng was a sensitive and humble man who had done his part for Therru's burns and pain.He said to Goha: "I thought that when such things happened, the age of destruction must have come, the end of the era. Has the throne of Havnor been vacant for hundreds of years? It can't go on like this, we must return to the center of origin , otherwise you will end up lost, islands and islands resent each other, everyone hates each other, children fight each other..." He glanced at her, a little timidly, but his eyes were still clear and sharp. "The Ring of Eriabah has returned to Havnotar," he said. "I know who brought it... It is a sign, it must be. The sign of a new age to come! But we have not done it Action. We have no king, we have no center. We must find our heart, our strength. Perhaps the Archmage will finally take action." He said confidently again, "After all, he was born of Gont." But there is no trace of the Archmage, or the heir to the throne of Havnor, and everything continues to fall apart. So Geha watched the four men in front of him split two by two, with fear and unyielding anger, forcing her and the child to pass between them. They walked on, Therru was close behind her, with his head bowed, but he didn't hold her hand. One of them, a rather burly man with a thick black long beard covering his lips, grinned slightly, ready to speak. "Hi!" he said.But Geha spoke at the same time, and said even more loudly, "Go away!" She held up her alder staff like a witch's staff. "I have something to talk to Ogion!" She strode through them, and Therru trotted beside her. .The men stood still, mistaking bravado for witchcraft.Ogion's name may still have power, or it may be Goha himself, or it may be the power within the child.Because after they passed by, one of them said: "Did you see it?" Then he spat on the ground, making a gesture to avoid evil. "The witch and her monster imp," said another, "let them go!" When the rest lazily left, a man wearing a fur hat and a vest stared at him for a while, his expression pale and shocked.But just as he seemed about to turn and follow the woman and child, the man with the long beard called to him, "Hanti, go." And he did as he was told. As soon as they turned the corner and out of their sight, Geha picked Therru up in his arms and hurried on until she had to put her down, panting.The child neither asked nor delayed.As soon as Goha could be on the road again, the boy walked forward as fast as he could, holding her hand. "You're red," she said, "like fire." She spoke little and not clearly, for her voice was very hoarse, but Goha understood. "Because I'm angry." Ge Ha said, as if laughing. "When I'm angry, I turn red. Like you red folk, savages of the west... You see, there's a town ahead, it must be Oak Springs. That's the only village on the road. We'll stop there , and maybe get some milk. Then, if you can hold on, if you think you can make it to the falcon's nest, hopefully we'll be there by sundown." The child nods.She opened the little bag of raisins and walnuts and ate a few.They continued walking wearily. The sun had already set when they passed through the village and reached Ogion's house on the cliff top.The first star shines on the thick clouds rising high over the western sea.The sea breeze blows and the short grass hangs low.A goat bleats on the lawn behind a low house.The only window was lit with a dim yellow light. Geha erected her and Therru's staff against the wall by the door, took the child's hand, and knocked on the door. no respond. She pushed open the door.The fire in the fireplace had long since been extinguished, leaving only ashes, but an oil lamp on the table gave off a thin, mustard-seed glow.From the mattress on the floor in the far corner, Ogion said, "Come in, Tenar."