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[The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 10] • The Last Dark
Chapter 5: Part One — 4. “Try to Believe”
by R., Donaldson, StephenThomas Covenant awakens disoriented and in pain, realizing he is mounted on Mishio Massima, a horse provided by the Humbled, Clyme and Branl. Though his injuries from previous battles have healed somewhat, the jolting ride aggravates his discomfort. Covenant reflects on Brinn’s unexpected aid, which mended his wounds but also burdened him with a daunting task. Despite his exhaustion, he recognizes the urgency of his situation and forces himself to assess his surroundings, though his vision is blurred and his hands are numb, hinting at a deeper affliction.
Covenant struggles to clear his sight and free his arms, only to learn from Clyme that Kevin’s Dirt, a malevolent mist unleashed by Kastenessen, has overtaken them, worsening his condition. The Humbled explain that the mist aims to hinder Covenant and the Staff of Law, deepening his illness. Covenant’s numbness and fading vision alarm him, but he pushes through the discomfort to ask Branl about their location. Branl reveals they are retracing their path toward the Sunbirth Sea, where they hope to find nourishing aliantha, a small respite in their grim journey.
The group decides to pause, allowing Covenant to rest and regain his bearings. As he dismounts, his legs nearly give way, but he stubbornly forces himself to move, testing his body’s limits. The Humbled’s willingness to stop worries Covenant, as it suggests they may have abandoned Brinn’s counsel to pursue Linden and the Giants. Instead, they seem focused on reaching a safer route, though Covenant senses unresolved tension between the Humbled and their ak-Haru. The break offers a moment to regroup, but the underlying urgency of their mission looms large.
Covenant prepares to confront the Humbled, suspecting they harbor critical information about their plans and the looming threat of turiya Herem, who may possess the lurker of the Sarangrave. The chapter underscores Covenant’s physical and emotional strain, his reliance on allies whose motives remain unclear, and the ever-present danger of Kevin’s Dirt. As the group pauses, Covenant steels himself for the difficult choices ahead, aware that time is slipping away and his strength is fading.
FAQs
1. What physical and sensory challenges does Covenant face upon waking, and what do these reveal about his condition?
Answer:
Covenant wakes to intense soreness, a throbbing forehead, and bruises that suggest a beating rather than his previous life-threatening injuries. His vision is blurred, his hands are numb, and he struggles to perceive his surroundings clearly. These symptoms indicate two key developments: Brinn’s healing has addressed his most severe wounds (like broken ribs), but Kevin’s Dirt is rapidly worsening his leprosy by dulling his senses. The numbness in his extremities and blurred vision highlight the degenerative effects of Kastenessen’s malice, which targets Covenant’s vulnerability to sensory loss.2. How does Brinn’s intervention create both hope and conflict for Covenant and the Humbled?
Answer:
Brinn’s aid is a double-edged sword. On one hand, he heals Covenant’s injuries and offers companionship, reducing Covenant’s isolation and reinforcing his connection to the Land’s guardians. On the other, Brinn assigns Covenant a daunting task—implied to involve confronting turiya Raver—that fills him with dread. This creates tension with the Humbled, who must reconcile their duty to Covenant with their own judgment. The chapter hints at unresolved conflict, as Clyme and Branl’s anger suggests disagreement over whether to prioritize Brinn’s directive or their original mission.3. Analyze the significance of the Humbled’s decision to seek aliantha instead of pursuing turiya Raver immediately.
Answer:
The Humbled’s choice to head east toward aliantha (rather than northwest toward the Sarangrave) reflects pragmatic priorities. Covenant’s physical weakness and the effects of Kevin’s Dirt make sustenance critical, as aliantha could restore his strength and slow his sensory decline. This decision also implies a temporary alignment with Brinn’s counsel, though their compliance seems reluctant. The detour underscores the tension between urgency and survival—while turiya’s threat looms, Covenant’s ability to confront it depends on his capacity to endure the journey.4. How does the chapter use sensory descriptions to convey Covenant’s psychological state?
Answer:
The prose mirrors Covenant’s disorientation and vulnerability through tactile and visual imagery. The “jolts” of Mishio Massima’s gait, the “twilit smear” of his vision, and the numbness in his hands create a visceral sense of detachment, mirroring his fear of losing control. The “greying of the world” symbolizes both Kevin’s Dirt’s encroachment and Covenant’s existential dread. These details immerse the reader in his perspective, emphasizing his struggle to maintain agency amid physical and metaphysical threats.5. What broader thematic tension is highlighted by Covenant’s reliance on the Humbled and Brinn?
Answer:
The chapter explores the tension between individual agency and dependence on others. Covenant’s survival hinges on allies—Brinn’s healing, the Humbled’s guidance—yet their help comes with expectations (Brinn’s task) or resentment (the Humbled’s anger). This dynamic reflects Covenant’s recurring struggle in the series: to accept aid without surrendering autonomy. The unresolved question of whose counsel to follow (Brinn’s or the Humbled’s) amplifies this theme, positioning Covenant at a crossroads between trust and self-reliance.
Quotes
1. “The dying Guardian of the One Tree had given him a profound gift—But it was not an unalloyed blessing. True, Brinn had mended the worst of his injuries. But the Guardian had also given him a task which he feared to contemplate.”
This quote captures Covenant’s conflicted feelings about Brinn’s aid—both grateful for the healing but burdened by the responsibility it entails. It reflects the chapter’s theme of gifts carrying hidden costs.
2. “Kevin’s Dirt has overtaken us… Clearly Kastenessen now directs his malice over the Lower Land, doubtless seeking to harm you, and also to hinder the Staff of Law. In this, he succeeds. To our sight, it is plain that Kevin’s Dirt deepens your illness.”
This reveals the growing threat of Kastenessen’s power and its specific impact on Covenant, showing how the antagonist’s malice directly targets the protagonist’s vulnerabilities.
3. “He could not feel the horn at all, except with the nerves of his elbows and shoulders. His hands were numb.”
This physical description powerfully symbolizes Covenant’s recurring struggle with his leprosy and the creeping effects of Kevin’s Dirt, representing both his physical and existential vulnerabilities.
4. “The Ranyhyn are cunning. They eluded the snares of the skest and escaped the maze of the Shattered Hills well before the onset of Kevin’s Dirt.”
This highlights the intelligence and value of the Ranyhyn while also establishing the chapter’s setting and the characters’ movement through the landscape, showing their progress despite obstacles.