〃I followed the undying one。 I lost my way。〃 The Summoner's voice was soft and dull； like that of a man who speaks in sleep。
〃Upward： toward the wall；〃 said Ged； pointing the way he and Arren had e； the long； dark； descending street。 At that there was a tremor in Thorion's face； as if some hope had entered into him like a sword； intolerable。
〃I cannot find the way；〃 he said。 〃My lord； I cannot find the way。〃
〃Maybe thou shalt；〃 Ged said； and embraced him； and then went forward。 Thorion stood still at the crossroads； behind him。
As they went on； it seemed to Arren that in this timeless dusk there was； in truth； neither forward nor backward； neither east nor west； no way to go。 Was there a way out？ He thought how they had e down the hill； always descending； no matter how they turned； and still in the dark city the streets went downward； so that to return to the wall of stones they need only climb； and at the hill's top they would find it。 But they did not turn。 Side by side； they went on。 Did he follow Ged？ Or did he lead him？
They came out of the city。 The country of the innumerable dead was empty。 No tree or thorn or blade of grass grew in the stony earth under the unsetting stars。 There was no horizon； for the eye could not see so far into the gloom； but ahead of them the small； still stars were absent from the sky over a long space above the ground； and this starless space was jagged and sloped like a chain of mountains。 As they went on； the shapes were more distinct： high peaks； weathered by no wind or rain。 There was no snow on them to gleam in starlight。 They were black。 The sight of them struck desolation into Arren's heart。 He looked away from them。 But he knew them； he recognized them； his eyes were drawn back to them。 Each time he looked at those peaks he felt a cold weight in his breast； and his nerve came near to failing。 Still he walked on； always downward； for the land fell away； descending toward the mountains' feet。 At last he said； 〃My lord； what are。。。〃 He pointed at the mountains； for he could not go on speaking； his throat was dry。
〃They border on the world of light；〃 Ged answered； 〃even as does the wall of stones。 They have no name but Pain。 There is a road across them。 It is forbidden to the dead。 It is not long。 But it is a bitter road。〃
〃I am thirsty；〃 Arren said； and his panion answered； 〃Here they drink dust。〃
They went on。
It seemed to Arren that his panion's gait had slowed somewhat； and sometimes he hesitated。 He himself felt no more hesitation； though the weariness had not ceased to grow in him。 They must go down； they must go on。 They went on。
Sometimes they passed through other towns of the dead； where the dark roofs made angles against the stars； which stood forever in the same place above them。 After the towns was the empty land again； where nothing grew。 As soon as they had e out of a town； it was lost in the darkness。 Nothing could be seen； before or behind； except the mountains that grew ever nearer； towering before them。 To their right the formless slope fell away as it had done； how long ago？ when they crossed the wall of stones。 〃What lies that way？〃 Arren murmured to Ged； for he craved the sound of speech； but the mage shook his head： 〃I do not know。 It may be a way without an end。〃
In the direction they went； the slope seemed to be growing less and always less。 The ground under their feet gritted harshly； like lava…dust。 Still they went on； and now Arren never thought of returning or of how they might return。 Nor did he think of stopping； though he was very weary。 Once he tried to lighten the numb darkness and weariness and horror within him by thinking of his home； but he could not remember what sunlight looked like or his mother's face。 There was nothing to do but to go on。 And he went on。
He felt the ground level under his feet； and beside him Ged hesitated。 Then he too stopped。 The long descent was over； this was the end； there was no way further； no need to go on。
They were in the valley directly under the Mountains of Pain。 There were rocks underfoot and boulders about them； rough to the touch like scoria。 It was as if this narrow valley might be the dry bed of a river of water that had once run here or the course of a river of fire； long since cold； from the volcanoes that reared their black； unmerciful peaks above。
He stood still； there in the narrow valley in the dark； and Ged stood still beside him。 They stood like the aimless dead； gazing at nothing； silent。 Arren thought； with a little dread but not much； 〃We have e too far。〃
It did not seem to matter much。
Speaking his thought； Ged said； 〃We have e too far to turn back。〃 His voice was soft； but the ring of it was not wholly muted by the great； gloomy hollowness around them； and at the sound of it Arren roused a little。 Had they not e here to meet the one they sought？
A voice in the darkness said； 〃You have e too far。〃
Arren answered it； saying； 〃Only too far is far enough。〃
〃You have e to the Dry River；〃 said the voice。 〃You cannot go back to the wall of stones。 You cannot go back to life。〃
〃Not that way；〃 said Ged； speaking into the darkness。 Arren could hardly see him； though they stood side by side； for the mountains under which they stood cut out half the starlight； and it seemed as if the current of the Dry River were darkness itself。 〃But we would learn your way。〃
There was no answer。
〃We meet as equals here。 If you are blind； Cob； yet we are in the dark。〃
There was no answer。
〃We cannot hurt you here； we cannot kill you。 What is there to fear？〃
〃I have no fear；〃 said the voice in the darkness。 Then slowly； glimmering a little as with that light that sometimes clung to Ged's staff； the man appeared； standing some way upstream from Ged and Arren； among the great； dim masses of the boulders。 He was tall； broad…shouldered and longarmed； like that figure which had appeared to them on the dune and on the beach of Selidor； but older； the hair was white and thickly matted over the high forehead。 So he appeared in the spirit； in the kingdom of death； not burnt by the dragon's fire； not maimed； but not whole。 The sockets of his eyes were empty。
〃I have no fear；〃 he said。 〃What should a dead man fear？〃 He laughed。 The sound of laughter rang so false and uncanny； there in that narrow； stony valley under the mountains； that Arren's breath failed him for a moment。 But he gripped his sword and listened。
〃I do not know what a dead man should fear；〃 Ged answered。 〃Surely not death？ Yet it seems you fear it。 Even though you have found a way to escape from it。〃
〃I have。 I live： my body lives。〃
〃Not well；〃 the mage said dryly。 〃Illusion might hide age； but Orm Embar was not gentle with that body。〃
〃I can mend it。 I know secrets of healing and of youth； no mere illusions。 What do you take me for？ Because you are called Archmage； do you take me for a village sorcerer？ I who alone among all mages found the Way of Immortality； which no other ever found！〃
〃Maybe we did not seek it；〃 said Ged。
〃You sought it。 All of you。 You sought it and could not find it； and so made wise words about acceptance and balance and the equilibrium of life and death。 But they were words …lies to cover your failure… to cover your fear of death！ What man would not live forever； if he could？ And I can。 I am immortal。 I did what you could not do and therefore I am your master； and you know it。 Would you know how I did it； Archmage？〃
〃I would。〃
Cob came a step closer。 Arren noticed that； though the man had no eyes； his manner was not quite that of the stoneblind； he seemed to know exactly where Ged and Arren stood and to be aware of both of them； though he never turned his head to Arren。 Some wizardly second…sight he might have； such as that hearing and seeing that sendings and presentments had： something that gave him an awareness； though it might not be true sight。
〃I was in Paln；〃 he said to Ged； 〃after you； in your pride； thought you had humbled me and taught me a lesson。 Oh； a lesson you taught me； indeed； but not the one you meant to teach！ There I said to myself： I have seen death now； and I will not accept it。 Let all stupid nature go its stupid course； but I am a man； better than nature； above nature。 I will not go that way； I will not cease to be myself！ And so determined； I took the Pelnish Lore again； but found only hints and smatterings of what I needed。 So I rewove it and remade it； and made a spell… the greatest spell that has ever been made。 The greatest and the last！〃
〃In working that spell； you died。〃
〃Yes！ I died。 I had the courage to die； to find what you cowards could never find … the way back from death。 I opened the door that had been shut since the beginning of time。 And now I e freely to this place and freely return to the world of the living。 Alone of all men in all time I am Lord of the Two Lands。 And the door I opened is open not only here； but in the minds of the living； in the depths and unknown places of their being； where we are all one in the darkness。 They know it； and they e to me。 And the dead too must e to me； all of them； for I have not lost the magery of the living： they must climb over th