tg.wizardfirstrule-第18部分

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ears。　After　that　time；　when　Richard　was　beyond　his　middle　teens；　they　returned　one　fall　day　and　his　father　said　if　Richard　could　write　the　whole　book；　without　a　single　mistake；　they　could　both　be　satisfied　it　was　learned　perfectly　and　they　would　burn　the　book。　Richard　wrote　without　hesitation　from　beginning　to　end。　It　was　perfect。
　
　Together　they　built　a　fire；　stacking　on　more　than　enough　wood；　until　the　heat　drove　them　back。　His　father　handed　him　the　book；　and　told　him　that　if　he　was　sure；　to　throw　the　book　into　the　fire。　Richard　held　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　in　the　crook　of　his　arm；　running　his　fingers　over　the　leather　cover。　He　held　his　father's　trust　in　his　arms；　held　the　trust　of　everyone　in　his　arms；　and　he　felt　the　weight　of　the　burden。　He　gave　the　book　to　the　fire。　In　that　moment；　he　was　no　longer　a　child。
　
　The　flames　swirled　around　the　book；　embracing；　caressing；　consuming。　Colors　and　forms　spiraled　up；　and　a　roaring　cry　came　forth。　Strange　beams　of　light　shot　skyward。　Wind　made　their　cloaks　flap　as　the　fire　sucked　leaves　and　twigs　into　itself；　adding　to　the　flames　and　heat。　Phantoms　appeared；　spreading　their　arms　as　if　being　fed　by　the　blaze；　their　voices　racing　away　on　the　wind。　The　two　of　them　stood　as　if　turned　to　stone；　unable　to　move；　unable　even　to　turn　away　from　the　sight。　Searing　heat　turned　to　wind　as　cold　as　the　deepest　winter　night；　sending　chills　up　their　spines；　taking　their　breath　from　them。　Then　the　cold　was　gone　and　the　fire　turned　to　a　white　light　that　consumed　everything　in　its　brightness；　as　if　they　were　standing　in　the　sun。　Just　as　suddenly；　it　was　gone。　In　its　place；　silence。　The　fire　was　out。　Wisps　of　smoke　rose　slowly　from　the　blackened　wood　into　the　autumn　air。　The　book　was　gone。
　
　Richard　knew　what　he　had　seen；　he　had　seen　magic。
　
　…＋
　
　Richard　felt　a　hand　resting　on　his　shoulder　and　opened　his　eyes。　It　was　Kahlan。　In　the　firelight　ing　through　the　doorway　he　could　see　she　was　sitting　in　a　chair　pulled　close　to　his　bed。　Zedd's　big　old　coon　cat　was　curled　up　sleeping　in　her　lap。
　
　〃Where's　Zedd？〃　he　asked；　sleepy…eyed。
　
　〃He　has　gone　to　find　the　root　you　need。〃　Her　voice　was　soft　and　calming。　〃It　has　been　dark　for　hours　now；　but　he　said　not　to　be　concerned　if　it　took　him　time　to　find　the　root。　He　said　that　you　would　go　in　and　out　of　sleep　but　would　be　safe　until　he　returned。　He　said　the　drink　he　gave　you　before　would　keep　you　safe　until　he　is　back。〃
　
　Richard　realized；　for　the　first　time；　that　she　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　he　had　ever　seen。　Her　hair　was　tumbled　down　around　her　face　and　shoulders；　and　he　wanted　very　much　to　touch　it；　but　didn't。　It　was　enough　to　feel　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；　to　know　she　was　there　and　that　he　was　not　alone。
　
　〃How　do　you　feel？〃　Her　voice　was　so　soft；　so　gentle；　that　he　couldn't　imagine　why　Zedd　had　been　afraid　of　her。
　
　〃I　would　rather　fight　another　quad　than　another　snake　vine。〃
　
　She　smiled　her　special　smile；　her　private　smile　of　sharing　
　
　something　with　him；　as　she　wiped　his　brow　with　the　cloth。　He　reached　up　and　grabbed　her　wrist。　She　stopped　and　looked　into　his　eyes。
　
　〃Kahlan；　Zedd　is　my　friend　of　many　years。　He　is　like　a　second　father　to　me。　Promise　me　you　won't　do　anything　to　hurt　him。　I　could　not　bear　it。〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　reassuringly。　〃I　like　him；　too。　Very　much。　He　is　a　good　man；　just　as　you　said。　I　have　no　desire　to　hurt　him。　Only　to　seek　his　help　in　finding　the　wizard。〃
　
　He　gripped　her　wrist　tighter。　〃Promise　me。〃
　
　〃Richard；　everything　will　be　fine。　He　will　help　us。〃
　
　He　remembered　her　fingers　on　his　throat　and　the　look　in　her　eyes　when　she　thought　he　was　trying　to　poison　her　with　an　apple。　〃Promise　me。〃
　
　〃I　have　already　made　promises；　to　others；　some　of　whom　have　given　their　lives。　I　have　responsibilities　to　the　lives　of　others。　Many　others。〃
　
　〃Promise　me。〃
　
　She　put　her　other　hand　on　the　side　of　his　face。　〃I　am　sorry；　Richard；　I　cannot。〃
　
　He　released　her　wrist；　turned；　and　closed　his　eyes　as　she　took　her　hand　from　his　face。　He　thought　about　the　book；　all　that　it　meant；　and　realized　he　was　making　a　selfish　request。　Would　he　trick　her　to　save　Zedd；　only　to　have　him　die　with　them？　Would　he　doom　all　the　others　to　death　or　slavery　just　to　see　his　friend　live　a　couple　more　months？　Could　he　condemn　her　to　death；　too；　for　nothing？　He　felt　ashamed　at　his　own　stupidity。　He　had　no　right　to　。ask　her　to　make　such　a　promise。　It　would　be　wrong　for　her　to　do　so。　He　was　glad　she　had　not　lied　to　him。　But　he　knew　that　just　because　Zedd　had　asked　about　the　trouble　they　were　in　did　not　mean　he　would　help　with　anything　to　do　from　across　the　boundary。
　
　〃Kahlan；　this　fever　is　making　me　foolish。　Please　forgive　me。　I　have　never　met　another　with　your　courage。　I　know　you　are　trying　to　save　us　all。　Zedd　will　help　us；　I　will　see　to　it。　Promise　me　only　that　you　will　wait　until　I　am　better。　Give　me　the　chance　to　convince　him。〃
　
　She　squeezed　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃That　is　a　promise　1　can　make。　I　know　you　care　about　your　friend；　I　would　despair　if　you　didn't。　That　does　not　make　you　foolish。　Rest　now。〃
　
　He　tried　not　to　close　his　eyes；　since　when　he　did；　everything　started　spinning　uncontrollably。　But　talking　had　sapped　his　strength；　and　soon　the　blackness　pulled　him　back　in。　His　thoughts　were　once　again　sucked　into　the　void。　Sometimes　he　came　partway　back　and　wandered　in　troubled　dreams；　sometimes　he　wandered　in　places　empty　even　of　illusion。
　
　…＋
　
　The　cat　came　awake；　his　ears　perking　up。　Richard　slept　on。　Sounds　that　only　the　cat　could　hear　made　him　jump　off　Kahlan's　lap；　trot　to　the　door；　and　sit　on　his　haunches；　waiting。　Kahlan　waited；　too；　and　since　the　cat　didn't　raise　his　fur；　she　stayed　by　Richard。　A　thin　voice　came　from　outside。
　
　〃Cat？　Cat！　Where　have　you　gotten　to？　Well；　you　can　just　stay　out　here　then。〃　The　door　squeaked　open。　〃There　you　are。〃　The　cat　ran　out　the　doorway。　〃Suit　yourself；〃　Zedd　called　after　him。　〃How　is　Richard？〃　he　called　to　her。
　
　When　he　came　into　the　room；　Kahlan　answered　from　the　chair。　〃He　came　awake　several　times；　but　he　is　sleeping　now。　Did　you　find　the　root　you　need？〃
　
　〃I　wouldn't　be　here　otherwise。　Did　he　have　anything　to　say　when　he　was　awake？〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　up　at　the　old　man。　〃Just　that　he　was　worried　about　you。〃
　
　He　turned　and　went　back　into　the　front　room；　grumbling。　〃Not　without　good　reason。〃
　
　Sitting　at　the　table；　he　peeled　the　roots；　cut　them　into　thin　wafers；　put　the　wafers　into　a　pot　with　some　water；　and　then　hung　the　pot　on　the　crane　over　the　fire。　He　threw　the　peels　and　then　two　sticks　of　wood　into　the　fire　before　going　to　the　cupboard　and　pulling　down　a　number　of　different…sized　jars。　Without　hesitation　he　selected　first　one　jar；　then　another；　pouring　different…colored　powders　into　a　black　stone　mortar。　With　a　white　pestle；　he　ground　the　reds；　blues；　yellows；　browns；　and　greens　together　until　it　was　all　the　color　of　dry　mud。　After　licking　the　end　of　his　finger；　he　dipped　it　in　the　mortar　to　collect　a　sample。　He　put　the　finger　to　his　tongue　for　a　taste　and　lifted　an　eyebrow　while　he　smacked　his　lips　and　pondered。　At　last　he　smiled　and　nodded　in　satisfaction。　He　poured　the　powder　into　the　pot；　blending　it　in　with　a　spoon　from　a　hook　at　the　side　of　the　fireplace。　He　stirred　slowly　while　watching　the　concoction　bubble。　For　nearly　two　hours　he　stirred　and　watched。　When　at　last　he　determined　that　the　work　was　done；　he　plunked　the　pot　on　the　table　to　cool。
　
　Zedd　collected　a　bowl　and　cloth　and　after　a　while　called　to　Kahlan　to　e　help　him。　She　came　quickly　to　his　side　and　he　instructed　her　how　to　hold　the　cloth　over　the　bowl　while　he　poured　the　mixture　through。
　
　He　spun　his　。finger　around　in　the　air。　〃Now　twist　the　cloth　around　and　around　to　squeeze　the　liquid　out。　When　it's　all　out；　throw　the　cloth　and　its　contents　in　the　fire。〃　She　looked　at　him；　puzzled。　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃The　part　left　in　there　is　poison。　Richard　should　be　awake　any　time　now；　then　we　give　him　the　liquid　in　the　bowl。　You　keep　squeezing。　I　will　check　on　him。〃
　
　Zedd　went　into　the　bedroom；　bent　over　Richard；　and　found　him　to　be　deeply　unconscious。　He　turned　and　saw　that　Kahlan's　back　was　to　him　as　she　worked　at　her　task。　He　bent　over；　placing　a　middle　finger　to　Richard's　forehead。　Richard's　eyes　snapped　open。
　
　〃Dear　one；〃　Zedd　called　into　the　other　room；　〃we　are　in　luck。　He　has　just　e　awake。　Bring　the　bowl。〃
　
　Richard　blinked。　〃Zedd？　Are　you　all　right？　Is　everything　all　right？〃
　
　〃Yes；　yes；　everything　is　fine。〃
　
　Kahlan　came　in　holding　the　bowl　carefully；　trying　not　to　spill　any。　Zedd　helped　Richard　sit　up　so　he　could　drink。　When　he　finished；　Zedd　helped　him　to　lie　back　down。
　
　〃That　will　make　you　sleep；　and　break　the　fever。　The　next　time　you　awake；　you　will　be　well；　you　have　my　word；　so　worry　no　more　as　you　rest。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Zedd　。　。　。　。〃　Richard　was　asleep　before　he　could　say　more。
　
　Zedd　left　and　then　returned　with　a　tin　plate；　insisting　that　Kahlan　take　the　chair。　〃The　thorn　will　not　be　able　to　stand　the　root；〃　he　explained。　〃It　will　have　to　leave　his　body。〃　He　put　the　plate　under　Richard's　hand　and　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　to　wait。　They　both　listened　to　Richard's　deep　breathing　and　the　crackling　of　the　fire　from　the　other　room；　otherwise　the　house　was　still。　It　was　Zedd　who　broke　the　silence　first。
　
　〃It　is　dangerous　for　a　Confessor　to　travel　alone；　dear　one。　Where　is　your　wizard？〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　him　with　tired　eyes。　〃My　wizard　sold　his　services　to　a　queen。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　a　disapproving　scowl。　〃He　abandoned　his　responsibilities　to　the　Confessors？　What　is　his　name？〃
　
　〃Giller。〃
　
　〃Giller。〃　He　repeated　the　name　with　a　sour　expression；　then　leaned　toward　her　a　bit。　〃So　why　did　another　not　e　with　you？〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　hard　look。　〃Because　they　are　all　dead；　at　their　own　hands。　Before　they　died；　they　all　gathered　and　cast　a　web　to　see　me　safely　through　the　boundary；　with　the　guidance　of　a　night　wisp。〃　Zedd　stood　at　this　news。　Sadness　and　concern　etched　his　face　as　he　rubbed　his　chin。　〃You　knew　the　wizards？〃　she　asked。
　
　〃Yes；　yes。　I　lived　in　the　Midlands　a　long　time。〃
　
　〃And　the　great　one？　You