The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant — Book One
Chapter 13: Part One — 7. Companions in Flight
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden stands frozen on the riverbank, overwhelmed by the sight of Anele, who is writhing in pain despite the healing effects of hurtloam, a substance imbued with Earthpower. She realizes that his madness has twisted the loam’s restorative properties, causing him suffering instead of relief. Though she discerns Lord Foul’s presence within him, she understands that the Despiser does not fully control Anele but exploits vulnerabilities in his fractured mind. Linden’s health-sense reveals these truths, but delving deeper would require an invasive intrusion into Anele’s psyche—a costly act she has avoided since her past experiences.
Liand interrupts Linden’s thoughts, urging her to flee before the Haruchai Masters discover their escape. She barely registers his words, fixated on Anele’s condition and the lingering threat of Lord Foul. When she finally turns to Liand, she perceives his innate honesty and untested courage, noting his lack of awareness of the evil nearby. His horse, though sturdy, bears an old injury that limits its endurance. Above them, the sky’s purity is marred by a faint trace of Kevin’s Dirt, a reminder of the looming blindness it may yet impose.
Pressed by urgency, Linden agrees to flee, though she questions why the Masters haven’t already caught them. Liand helps Anele onto his horse, and as they ride south, Anele’s connection to Lord Foul abruptly vanishes, leaving him weakened but himself again. Linden, revitalized by hurtloam, runs alongside them, feeling a surge of strength and hope. However, the terrain grows treacherous, forcing them to slow. The mountains ahead loom ominously, and the thinning air leaves her breathless.
Pausing to regroup, Linden notes Anele’s exhaustion and the absence of the Despiser’s influence. Relieved, she prepares to discuss their next steps with Liand, aware that their escape remains precarious. The chapter ends with a sense of fleeting respite amid ongoing danger, as Linden balances her newfound energy with the relentless pursuit of the Masters and the ever-present threat of Lord Foul’s return.
FAQs
1. How does hurtloam affect Anele differently than expected, and what does this reveal about his condition?
Answer:
Hurtloam, a manifestation of Earthpower known for its healing properties, should have restored Anele to health. Instead, it causes him visible distress, with water pouring off his face “like tears” and him coughing as if “he had swallowed too much blood.” This unexpected reaction occurs because Anele’s inherent energies have become intertwined with his madness, actively opposing his restoration. Linden realizes that the hurtloam worked as intended, but Anele’s fractured psyche resists healing. This reveals the depth of his mental instability and suggests that his condition is not purely physical—it is a profound psychological and spiritual affliction tied to his exposure to Lord Foul’s influence.2. Analyze Linden’s heightened perception after using hurtloam. What new insights does she gain about Anele, Liand, and the environment?
Answer:
After applying hurtloam, Linden’s health-sense becomes acutely refined. She perceives Anele with startling clarity, recognizing that Lord Foul’s presence in him is not direct control but an exploitation of a flaw in Anele’s mental defenses. She also observes Liand in detail, noting his ordinary but robust health, his sincerity, and his lack of awareness of the Despiser’s proximity. Additionally, she detects faint traces of Kevin’s Dirt in the sky, a lingering threat to her perception. These insights underscore the duality of her enhanced senses: they grant her profound understanding but also reveal vulnerabilities, such as Anele’s instability and the persistent danger of Kevin’s Dirt.3. Why is Liand so insistent on fleeing immediately, and how does Linden’s response reflect her priorities?
Answer:
Liand urges haste because he fears the imminent pursuit by the Masters, who could reclaim Linden and Anele at any moment. His urgency stems from a practical understanding of their precarious situation. Linden, however, is initially distracted by her examination of Anele’s condition, reflecting her prioritization of understanding and healing over immediate survival. Only when Liand’s cries pierce her focus does she act, showing her ability to balance compassion with pragmatism. Her eventual decision to flee—despite her desire to help Anele—demonstrates her recognition that escape is necessary to protect them all.4. What does the sudden disappearance of Lord Foul’s presence in Anele suggest about the Despiser’s influence?
Answer:
The abrupt absence of Lord Foul’s presence when Anele falls asleep implies that the Despiser’s control is not absolute or constant. Linden discerns that Foul exploits “a flaw in the defenses” of Anele’s mind, which shifts with the old man’s mental state. This suggests that Foul’s power is opportunistic rather than omnipotent, dependent on Anele’s vulnerability at any given moment. The temporary reprieve also hints that Anele’s own resilience—or perhaps his unconscious defenses—can intermittently shut out the Despiser, offering hope that his possession is not irreversible.5. How does the chapter contrast Linden’s transformed physical state with her emotional and moral dilemmas?
Answer:
Hurtloam grants Linden seemingly boundless physical energy, enabling her to run with exhilaration and strength. Yet this physical transformation contrasts sharply with her emotional turmoil—her revulsion at sensing Lord Foul in Anele, her guilt over potentially harming him, and her anxiety about the Masters’ pursuit. The juxtaposition highlights the tension between external power and internal conflict. While Earthpower enhances her body, it does not simplify her moral choices, emphasizing that true challenges in the Land are often ethical and psychological rather than purely physical.
Quotes
1. “Hurtloam had given back to her the beauty of the Land.”
This quote marks a pivotal moment where Linden experiences the transformative power of Earthpower through hurtloam, symbolizing both physical healing and spiritual reconnection to the Land’s essence. It introduces the chapter’s central theme of restoration amid peril.
2. “She saw clearly that the Despiser did not control the phases of Anele’s condition; could not grasp possession of Anele at will. Instead he merely took advantage of a flaw in the defenses which the old man had erected to protect his deepest pain.”
A crucial insight into Anele’s torment, revealing Lord Foul’s parasitic relationship with madness rather than absolute control. This reframes the nature of evil’s influence in the narrative as opportunistic rather than omnipotent.
3. “If she truly wished to understand his sufferings, she would have to immerse herself in him utterly; intrude upon his fundamental relationship with himself. She had done such things before, long ago, and knew what they cost.”
This passage captures Linden’s moral dilemma about using her power invasively, echoing her past traumas. It underscores the chapter’s tension between compassion and violation, foreshadowing difficult choices ahead.
4. “While she ran, exaltation filled her heart. Buoyed by springy grass and soft soil, by the mountain tang of the air and the luxuriant quest of the river, and by hurtloam, she felt that she could run, and go on running, until she arrived at hope.”
A lyrical expression of Linden’s temporary transcendence through Earthpower, contrasting sharply with earlier despair. This euphoric moment encapsulates the chapter’s cyclical movement between depletion and renewal.
5. “The Despiser had not returned. For some reason, he could not.”
This terse observation carries significant implications about Lord Foul’s limitations and Anele’s resilience. Positioned near the chapter’s end, it leaves lingering questions about the nature of evil’s constraints in the Land’s cosmology.