tg.wizardfirstrule-第108部分

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w。　〃The　little　boy　and　the　old　man　back　there　were　somehow　overlooked　or　they　would　have　been　killed　too。　The　women　were　made　to　watch。〃　She　paused。
　
　〃How　many　women　were　left？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　know；　not　many。〃　She　peered　back　up　the　trail；　staring　off　toward　the　。　town　a　moment　before　her　intensely　angry　eyes　returned　to　his。　〃The　soldiers　raped　the　women。　And　the　girls。〃　Her　eyes　burned　into　his。　〃Each　one　of　those　girls　you　saw　back　there　was　raped　by　at　least　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Westlanders　did　not　do　this！〃
　
　She　studied　his　face。　〃I　know。　But　who？　Why？〃　Her　expression　cooled　back　to　calm。
　
　He　stared　back　at　her　in　frustration。　〃Isn't　there　anything　we　can　do　for　them？〃
　
　〃Our　job　is　not　to　protect　a　few　people；　or　the　dead；　it　is　to　protect　the　living；　by　stopping　Darken　Rahl。　We　do　not　have　the　time　to　give；　we　must　get　to　Tamarang。　Whatever　trouble　is　about；　we　had　best　stay　off　the　roads。〃
　
　〃You're　right；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly。　〃But　I　don't　like　it。〃
　
　〃Nor　do　L〃　Her　features　softened。　〃Richard；　I　think　they　will　be　safe。　Whatever　army　it　was　that　did　this　is　not　likely　to　return　for　a　couple　of　women　and　children；　they　will　be　off　to　hunt　bigger　game。〃
　
　Some　solace　that　was；　that　the　killers　would　be　off　to　hunt　larger　groups　of　people　to　hurt；　in　the　name　of　his　homeland。　Richard　thought　about　how　he　hated　all　this；　and　remembered　how　when　he　was　back　in　Hartland；　his　biggest　trouble　was　his　brother　always　telling　him　what　to　do。
　
　〃A　group　of　soldiers　that　big　isn't　going　to　be　traveling　by　trail　through　a　thick　wood　such　as　this；　they'll　stay　to　the　roads；　but　I　think　it　best　if　we　start　looking　for　wayward　pines　at　night。　No　telling　who　could　be　watching。〃
　
　She　nodded　her　agreement。　〃Richard；　many　people　of　my　homeland　have　joined　with　Rahl；　and　done　unspeakable　crimes。　Does　that　make　you　think　less　of　me？〃
　
　He　frowned。　〃Of　course　not。〃
　
　〃And　I　would　think　no　less　of　you　were　it　Westland　soldiers。　It　is　no　crime　upon　you；　to　have　your　countrymen　do　things　you　abhor。　We　are　at　war。　We　are　trying　to　do　as　our　ancestors　have　done　in　the　past；　Seekers　and　Confessors　alike；　dethrone　a　ruler。　In　this；　there　are　only　two　we　can　count　on。　You　and　me。〃　She　studied　him　with　an　intense；　timeless　expression。　He　realized　he　was　gripping　the　hilt　of　his　sword　tightly。　〃A　time　may　e　when　it　is　only　you。　We　all　do　as　we　must。〃　It　was　not　Kahlan　who　had　spoken；　it　was　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　It　was　a　hard；　unfortable　moment　before　she　released　his　eyes；　turning　at　last　and　starting　off。　He　pulled　his　cloak　tight；　chilled　from　without；　and　within。
　
　〃It　was　not　Westlanders；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath；　following　behind　her。
　
　…＋
　
　〃Light　for　me；〃　Rachel　said。　The　little　pile　of　sticks　with　rocks　all　around　burst　into　flame；　lighting　the　inside　of　the　wayward　pine　with　a　bright　red　glow。　She　put　the　fire　stick　back　in　her　pocket　and　with　a　shiver　warmed　her　hands　at　the　fire　as　she　looked　down　at　Sara　lying　in　her　lap。
　
　〃We'll　be　safe　here　tonight；〃　she　told　her　doll。　Sara　didn't　answer…she　hadn't　talked　since　the　night　they　ran　away　from　the　castle…so　Rachel　just　pretended　the　doll　was　talking；　telling　her　she　loved　her。　She　gave　Sara's　silent　words　an　answering　hug。
　
　She　pulled　some　berries　from　her　pocket；　eating　them　one　at　a　time；　warming　her　hands　in　between　each　one。　Sara　didn't　want　any　berries。　Rachel　nibbled　on　the　piece　of　hard　cheese；　all　the　other　food　she　had　brought　from　the　castle　was　gone。　Except　the　loaf　of　bread；　of　course。　But　she　couldn't　eat　that；　the　box　was　hidden　inside　it。
　
　Rachel　missed　Giller　something　fierce；　but　she　had　to　do　as　he　had　said；　she　had　to　keep　running　away；　finding　a　new　wayward　pine　every　night。　She　didn't　know　how　far　she　was　from　the　castle；　she　just　kept　going　while　it　was　day；　the　sun　at　her　back　in　the　morning　and　in　her　face　at　evening。　She　had　learned　that　from　Brophy。　He　called　it　traveling　by　the　sun。　She　guessed　that　was　what　she　was　doing。　Traveling。
　
　A　pine　bough　moved　by　itself；　making　her　start。　She　saw　a　big　hand　holding　it　back：　Then　the　shiny　blade　of　a　long　sword。　She　stared；　her　eyes　wide。　She　couldn't　move。
　
　A　man　stuck　his　head　in。　〃What　have　…we　here？〃　He　smiled。
　
　Rachel　heard　a　whine；　and　realized　it　was　ing　from　her　own　throat。　Still；　she　couldn't　move。　A　woman　pushed　her　head　in　beside　the　man's。　She　pulled　the　man　back　behind　her。　Rachel　clutched　Sara　to　her　chest
　
　〃Put　the　sword　away；〃　the　woman　scolded；　〃you're　scaring　her。〃
　
　Rachel　pulled　the　partly　unbundled　loaf　of　bread　close　to　her　hip。　She　wanted　to　run；　but　her　legs　didn't　work。　The　woman　pushed　into　the　wayward　pine；　came　close　and　knelt　down；　sitting　back　on　her　heels；　the　man　right　behind　her。　Rachel's　eyes　looked　up　at　her　face；　then　she　saw　the　woman's　long　hair；　lit　by　the　firelight。　Her　eyes　went　even　wider；　and　another　cry　came　from　her　throat。　At　last　her　legs　worked；　at　least　a　little：　they　scooted　her　backward　against　the　trunk　…of　the　tree；　pulling　the　bread　with　her。　Women　with　long　hair　were　always　trouble。　She　bit　down　on　Sara's　foot；　panting；　a　whine　ing　with　each　breath。　She　squeezed　Sara　with　all　her　strength。　She　tore　her　eyes　from　the　woman's　hair；　she　darted　glances　to　the　sides；　looking　for　a　place　to　run。
　
　〃I'm　not　going　to　hurt　you；〃　the　woman　said。　Her　voice　sounded　nice；　but　Princess　Violet　said　the　same　thing；　sometimes；　just　before　she　slapped　her。
　
　The　woman　reached　out　and　touched　Rachel's　arm。　She　jumped　with　a　cry；　pulling　back。
　
　〃Please；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　filling　with　tears；　〃don't　burn　Sara　up。'
　
　〃Who's　Sara？〃　the　man　asked。
　
　The　woman　turned　and　made　him　hush。　She　turned　back；　her　long　hair　falling　from　her　shoulder；　Rachel's　eyes　fixed　on　it。　〃I　won't　burn　Sara；〃　she　said　in　a　nice　voice。　Rachel　knew　that　when　a　woman　with　long　hair　talked　in　a　nice　voice；　it　meant　she　was　probably　lying。　Still；　her　voice　did　sound　like　it　was　really　nice。
　
　〃Please；〃　she　whined；　〃can't　you　just　leave　us　be？〃
　
　〃Us？〃　The　woman　glanced　around。　She　looked　back；　right　to　Sara。　〃Oh。　I　see。　So　this　is　Sara？〃　Rachel　nodded；　biting　down　harder　on　Sara's　foot。　She　knew　she　would　get　a　hard　slap　if　she　didn't　answer　a　woman　with　long　hair。　〃She's　a　very　nice　looking　doll。〃　She　smiled。　Rachel　wished　she　wouldn't　smile。　When　women　with　long　hair　smiled；　it　usually　meant　there　was　going　to　be　trouble。
　
　The　man　stuck　his　head　around　the　woman。　〃My　name's　Richard。　What's　yours？〃　She　liked　his　eyes。　〃Rachel。〃
　
　〃Rachel。　That's　a　pretty　name。　But　I　have　to　tell　you；　Rachel；　you　have　the　ugliest　hair　I've　ever　seen。〃
　
　〃Richard！〃　the　woman　squawked。　〃How　could　you　say　such　a　thing！〃
　
　〃Well；　it's　true。　Who　cut　it　all　crooked　like　that；　Rachel；　some　old　witch？〃
　
　Rachel　giggled。
　
　〃Richard！〃　the　woman　squawked　again。　〃You're　going　to　frighten　her。〃
　
　〃Oh；　nonsense。　Rachel；　I　have　a　little　scissors　here　in　my　pack；　and　I'm　pretty　good　at　cutting　hair。　Would　you　like　me　to　fix　your　hair　for　you？　At　least　I　could　make　it　straight。　If　you　leave　it　like　that；　you　might　scare　a　dragon　or　something。〃
　
　Rachel　giggled　again。　〃Yes；　please。　I　would　like　to　have　my　hair　straight。〃
　
　〃All　right　then；　e　over　here　and　sit　on　my　lap　and　we'll　fix　it　right　up。〃
　
　Rachel　got　up　and　walked　around　the　woman；　watching　her　hands；　keeping　far　away；　at　least　as　far　away　as　she　could　inside　the　wayward　pine。　Richard　picked　her　up　with　a　big　hand　on　each　side　of　her　waist　and　set　her　on　his　lap。　He　pulled　some　strands　of　hair　out。　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　what　we　have　here。〃
　
　Rachel　kept　an　eye　toward　the　woman；　fearing　a　slap。　He　looked　over；　too。　He　pointed　with　the　scissors。
　
　〃This　is　Kahlan。　She　scared　me　at　first；　too。　She's　awfully　ugly；　isn't　she。〃
　
　〃Richard！　Where　did　you　learn　to　speak　to　children　like　this！〃
　
　He　smiled。　〃Picked　it　up　from　a　boundary　warden　I　know。〃
　
　Rachel　giggled　at　him；　she　couldn't　help　it。　〃I　don't　think　she's　ugly；　I　think　she's　the　prettiest　lady　I　ever　saw。〃　That　was　the　truth。　But　Kahlan's　long　hair　scared　her　something　fierce。
　
　〃Well；　thank　you；　Rachel；　and　you　are　very　pretty；　too。　Are　you　hungry？〃
　
　Rachel　wasn't　ever　supposed　to　tell　anyone　with　long　hair；　any　lord　or　lady；　that　she　was　hungry。　Princess　Violet　said　it　was　improper；　and　punished　her　one　time　for　telling　someone　she　was　hungry　when　she　was　asked。　She　looked　at　up　Richard's　face。　He　smiled；　but　still　she　was　too　afraid　to　tell　Kahlan　she　was　hungry
　
　Kahlan　patted　her　arm。　〃I　bet　you　are。　We　caught　some　fish；　and　if　you　let　us　share　your　fire；　we　would　share　some　fish　with　you。　What　do　you　say？〃　She　smiled　real　pretty。
　
　Rachel　looked　up　at　Richard　again。　He　gave　her　a　wink；　。then　sighed。　〃I'm　afraid　I　caught　more　than　we　can　eat。　If　you　don't　help　us；　we'll　just　have　to　throw　some　out。〃
　
　〃All　right　then。　If　you're　just　going　to　throw　them　out；　I'll　help　you　eat　them。〃
　
　Kahlan　started　taking　off　her　pack。　〃Where　are　your　parents？〃
　
　Rachel　told　the　truth　because　she　couldn't　think　of　anything　else　to　say。　〃Dead。〃
　
　Richard's　hands　stopped　working；　then　started　again。　Kahlan　got　a　look　like　she　was　sad；　but　Rachel　didn't　know　if　it　was　real　or　not。　She　gave　her　a　squeeze　on　her　arm　with　a　soft　hand　〃I'm　sorry；　Rachel。〃　Rachel　didn't　feel　too　sad；　she　didn't　remember　her　parents；　only　the　place　she　lived　with　the　other　children。
　
　Richard　snipped　at　her　hair　while　Kahlan　took　out　a　pan　and　started　to　fry　the　fish。　Richard　was　right；　there　were　a　lot　of　fish。　Kahlan　put　some　kind　of　spices　on　them　while　they　cooked；　as　Rachel　had　seen　cooks　doing。　It　smelled　so　good；　and　her　stomach　was　making　noises。　Little　pieces　of　hair　were　falling　down　around　her。　She　smiled　to　herself　at　how　mad　Princess　Violet　would　be　if　she　knew　Rachel's　hair　was　cut　straight。　Richard　snipped　off　one　of　the　longer　curls；　and　tied　a　thin　little　vine　around　one　end　of　it。　He　put　it　in　her　hand。　She　frowned　up　at　him。
　
　〃You're　supposed　to　keep　that。　Then　someday　if　you　like　a　boy；　you　can　give　him　a　lock　of　your　hair；　and　he　can　keep　it　in　his　pocket；　r