tg.wizardfirstrule-第107部分

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　lay　in　the　street　with　personal　belongings　and　broken　pieces　of　furniture。　Windows　in　every　building　were　shattered。　Some　of　the　buildings　were　nothing　more　than　cold；　charred　piles　of　beams　and　rubble。　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　held　their　cloaks　across　their　noses　and　mouths；　trying　to　shield　themselves　against　the　stench　as　their　eyes　were　pulled　to　the　dead。
　
　〃Rahl？〃　he　asked　her。
　
　She　studied　different　tumbled　bodies　from　a　distance。　〃No。　This　is　not　the　way　Rahl　kills。　This　was　a　battle。〃
　
　〃Looks　more　like　a　slaughter　to　me。〃
　
　She　nodded　her　agreement。　〃Remember　the　dead　among　the　Mud　People？　That　is　what　it　looks　like　when　Rahl　kills。　It　is　always　the　same。　This　is　different。〃
　
　They　walked　along　through　the　town；　staying　close　to　the　buildings；　away　from　the　center　of　the　street；　occasionally　having　to　step　over　the　gore。　Every　shop　was　looted；　and　what　wasn't　carried　off　was　destroyed。　From　one　shop；　a　bolt　of　pale　blue　cloth；　with　evenly　spaced　dark…　stains；　had　unwound　itself　across　the　road；　as　if　it　had　been　thrown　out　because　its　owner　had　ruined　it　in　death。　Kahlan　pulled　his　sleeve；　and　pointed。　On　the　wall　of　a　building　was　written　a　message…in　blood。　DEATH　TO
　
　ALL　WHO　RESIST　THE　WESTLAND。
　
　〃What　do　you　suppose　that　means？〃　she　whispered；　as　if　the　dead　might　hear　her。
　
　He　stared　at　the　dripping　words。　〃I　can't　even　imagine。〃　He　started　off　again；　turning　back　twice　to　frown　at　the　words　on　the　wall。
　
　Richard's　eye　was　caught　by　a　cart　sitting　in　front　of　a　grain　store。　The　cart　was　half　loaded　with　small　furniture　and　clothes；　the　wind　whipping　at　the　sleeves　of　little　dresses。　He　exchanged　a　glance　with　Kahlan。　Someone　was　left　alive；　and　it　looked　as　if　they　were　preparing　to　leave。
　
　He　stepped　carefully　through　the　empty　doorframe　of　the　grain　store；　Kahlan　close　at　his　back。　Streamers　of　sunlight　ing　through　the　door　and　window　sent　shafts　through　the　dust　inside　the　building；　falling　on　spilled　sacks　of　grain　and　broken　barrels。　Richard　stood　just　inside　the　doorway；　to　one　side；　with　Kahlan　to　the　other；　until　his　eyes　adjusted　to　the　dark。　There　were　fresh　footprints；　mostly　small　ones；　through　the　dust。　His　eyes　followed　them　behind　a　counter。　He　gripped　the　hilt　of　his　sword；　but　didn't　draw　it；　and　went　to　the　counter。　People　cowered　behind；　trembling。
　
　〃I'm　not　going　to　hurt　you；〃　he　said　in　a　gentle　voice；　〃e　out。〃
　
　〃Are　you　a　soldier　with　the　People's　Peace　Army；　here　to　help　us？〃　came　a　woman's　voice　from　behind　the　counter。
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　frowned　at　each　other。　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃We　are　。　。　。　just　travelers；　passing　through。〃
　
　A　woman　with　a　dirty；　tearstained　face　and　short；　dark；　matted　hair　pushed　her　head　up。　Her　drab　brown　dress　was　ragged　and　torn。　Richard　took　his　hand　away　from　his　sword　so　as　not　to　frighten　her。　Her　lip　quivered；　and　her　hollow　eyes　blinked　at　them　in　the　dim　light　as　she　motioned　others　to　e　out。　There　were　six　children…five　girls　and　one　boy…another　woman；　and　an　old　man。　Once　they　were　out；　the　children　clinging　woodenly　to　the　two　women；　the　three　adults　glanced　at　Richard；　then　stared　openly　at　'　Kahn。　Their　eyes　were　wide；　and　they　all　shrank　back　as　one　against　the　wall。　Richard　frowned　in　confusion；　then　he　realized　what　they　were　staring　at。　Her　hair。
　
　The　three　adults　collapsed　to　their　knees；　heads　bowed；　each　with　their　eyes　to　the　floor；　the　children　buried　their　faces　silently　in　the　women's　skirts。　With　a　sideways　glance　at　Richard；　Kahlan　quickly　motioned　with　her　hands　for　them　to　get　up。　They　had　their　eyes　fixed　on　the　floor　and　couldn't　see　her　frantic　gesturing。
　
　〃Get　up；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　no　need　for　that。　Get　up。〃
　
　Their　heads　came　up；　confused。　They　looked　at　her　hands；　urging　them　to　get　to　their　feet。　With　great　reluctance；　they　plied。
　
　〃By　your　mand；　Mother　Confessor；〃　one　woman　said　in　a　shaking　voice。　〃Forgive　us；　Mother　Confessor；　we　。　。　。　did　not　recognize　you　。　。　。　by　your　clothes；　at　first。　Forgive　us；　we　are　only　human　people。　Forgive　us　for　。　。　。〃　Kahlan　gently　cut　her　off。　〃What　is　your　name。〃
　
　The　woman　bowed　deeply　from　the　waist；　remaining　bent。　〃I　am　Regina　Clark；　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Kahlan　grabbed　her　by　her　shoulders　and　straightened　her。　〃Regina；　what　has　happened　here？〃
　
　Regina's　eyes　filled　with　tears；　and　she　cast　a　shrinking　glance　toward　Richard　as　her　lip　trembled。　Kahlan　looked　back　to　him。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　said　softly；　〃why　don't　you　take　the　old　man　and　the　children　outside？〃
　
　He　understood；　the　women　were　too　afraid　to　talk　in　front　of　him。　He　gave　a　helping　arm　to　the　stooped　old　man；　and　herded　four　of　the　children　out。　Two　of　the　youngest　girls　refused　to　leave　the　women's　skirts；　but　Kahlan　nodded　to　him　that　it　was　all　right。
　
　The　four　children　clung　together　in　a　clump　as　they　sat　on　the　step　outside；　eyes　empty　and　distant。　None　would　answer　when　he　asked　their　names；　or　even　look　at　him　except　with　frightened　peeks　to　make　sure　he　didn't　e　any　closer。　The　old　man　only　stared　blankly　ahead　when　Richard　asked　his　name。
　
　〃Can　you　tell　me　what　happened　here？〃　Richard　asked　him。
　
　His　eyes　widened　as　he　looked　out　over　the　street。　〃Westlanders　。　。　。
　
　Tears　welled　up　and　he　wouldn't　say　anything　else。　Fearing　to　get　any　more　forceful；　he　decided　to　let　the　old　man　be。　Richard　offered　him　a　piece　of　dried　meat　from　his　pack；　but　he　ignored　it。　The　children　shrank　back　from　his　hand　as　he　held　it　out　with　the　same　offer。　He　put　the　meat　back　in　his　pack。　The　oldest　girl；　just　nearing　womanhood；　looked　at　him　as　if　he　might　slay　them；　or　eat　them；　on　the　spot。　He　had　never　seen　anyone　so　terrified。　Not　wanting　to　frighten　her　or　the　other　children　more　than　they　were；　he　kept　his　distance；　smiled　reassuringly；　and　promised　he　wouldn't　hurt　them；　or　even　touch　them。　They　didn't　look　as　if　they　believed　him。　Richard　turned　toward　the　door　often；　he　was　unfortable　and　wished　Kahlan　would　e　out。
　
　At　last　she　did；　her　face　an　intense　mask　of　calmness；　a　spring　wound　too　tight。　Richard　stood　and　the　children　ran　back　into　the　building。　The　old　man　stayed　where　he　was。　She　took　Richard's　arm；　walking　him　away
　
　〃There　are　no　horses　here；〃　she　said；　watching　fixedly　ahead　as　she　walked　back　the　way　they　had　e。　〃I　think　it　best　if　we　stay　off　the　roads；　stay　to　the　less…traveled　trails。〃
　
　〃Kahlan；　what's　going　on？〃　He；　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃What　happened　here？〃
　
　She　glared　at　the　bloody　message　on　the　wall　as　they　went　past。　DEATH　TO　ALL　WHO　RESIST　THE　WESTLAND。
　
　〃Missionaries　came；　telling　the　people　of　the　glory　of　Darken　Rahl。　They　came　often；　telling　the　town　council　of　the　things　they　would　have　when　D'Hara　rules　all　the　lands。　Telling　everyone　of　Rahl's　love　for　all　the　people。〃
　
　〃That's　crazy！〃　Richard　whispered　harshly。
　
　〃Nonetheless；　the　people　of　Horners　Mill　were　won　over。　They　all　agreed　to　declare　the　town　a　territory　of　D'　Hara。　The　People's　Peace　Army　marched　in；　treating　everyone　with　the　utmost　respect；　buying　goods　from　the　merchants；　spending　silver　and　gold　with　abandon。〃　She　pointed　back　at　the　rows　of　lumber　under　tarps。　〃The　missionaries　were　as　good　as　their　word；　orders　came　down　for　lumber。　A　lot　of　lumber。　To　build　new　towns　where　people　would　live　in　prosperity　under　the　glowing　rule　of　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　〃Then　what？〃
　
　〃Word　spread；　there　was　more　work　here　than　the　town　people　could　handle。　Work　for　Father　Rahl。　More　people　came　in　to　work　the　orders　for　lumber。　While　all　this　was　going　on；　the　missionaries　told　the　people　of　the　threat　to　them　from　Westland。　The　threat　to　Father　Rahl　from　Westland。〃
　
　〃From　Westland！〃　Richard　was　incredulous。
　
　She　nodded。　〃Then　the　People's　Peace　Army　moved　out；　saying　they　were　needed　to　fight　the　Westland　forces；　to　protect　the　other　towns　that　had　sworn　allegiance　to　D'Hara。　The　people　begged　for　some　to　stay；　for　protection。　In　return　for　their　loyalty　and　devotion；　a　small　detachment　was　left　behind。〃
　
　Richard　ushered　her　back　onto　the　trail　ahead　of　him　as　he　gave　one　last　puzzled　glance　over　his　shoulder。　〃So　it　。wasn't　Rahl's　army　that　did　this？〃
　
　The　trail　was　wide　enough；　so　she　waited　until　he　was　next　to　her　before　she　went　on。　〃No。　They　said　everything　was　fine　for　a　while。　Then；　about　a　week　ago；　at　sunrise；　a　military　unit　of　the　Westland　army　swept　in；　killing　the　D'Hara　detachment　to　a　man。　After　that；　they　went　on　a　rampage；　killing　people　indiscriminately；　and　sacking　the　town。　As　the　Westland　soldiers　killed；　they　yelled　that　this　was　what　happens　to　anyone　following　Rahl；　to　anyone　who　resists　Westland。　Before　the　sun　set；　they　were　gone。〃
　
　Richard　grabbed　a　fistful　of　shirt　at　her　shoulder；　jerking　her　to　face　him。
　
　〃That's　not　true！　Westlanders　wouldn't　do　this！　It　wasn't　them！　It　couldn't　be！〃
　
　She　blinked　at　him。　〃Richard；　I　did　not　say　it　was　true。　I　am　merely　telling　you　what　I　was　told；　what　those　people　back　there　believe。〃
　
　He　released　his　grip　of　her　shirt；　his　face　having　a　second　reason　for　its　flush。　He　couldn't　help　himself　from　adding；　〃No　Westland　army　did　this。〃　He　started…to　turn　back　to　the　trail；　but　she　took　his　arm；　halting　him。
　
　〃That　is　not　the　end　of　it。〃
　
　By　her　eyes；　he　knew　he　didn't　want　to　hear　the　end　of　it。　He　nodded　for　her　to　go　on。
　
　〃Those　left　alive　began　leaving　at　once；　taking　what　they　could　carry。　More　left　the　next　day；　some　after　burying　members　of　their　families。　That　night；　a　detachment　of　Westlanders　came　back；　maybe　fifty　men。　There　were　only　a　handful　of　townspeople　left　by　that　time。　The　people　were　told　that　resisters　to　Westland　are　not　allowed　to　be　buried；　that　they　are　to　be　left；　for　animals　to　pick　clean；　as　a　reminder　to　all　of　what　will　happen　to　any　who　resist　the　rule　of　Westland。　To　make　their　point；　they　collected　all　the　men　still　left；　even　the　boys；　and　executed　them。〃　By　Kahlan's　inflection　of　the　word　executed；　and　making　no　mention　of　the　manner；　he　knew　he　didn't　want　to　know。　〃The　little　boy　and　the　old　man　back　there　were　somehow　overlooked　or　they　would　have　been　killed