tg.wizardfirstrule-第29部分

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　Zedd　chuckled。　〃That　would　be　quite　the　magic！　Beyond　me；　I'm　afraid。　No；　dear　one；　I　only　tricked　them　into　thinking　I　had。　Simply　convinced　them　of　the　truth　of　it；　let　their　own　minds　do　the　work。〃
　
　Richard　turned　to　the　wizard。　〃A　trick？　It　was　just　a　trick？　I　thought　you　had　done　real　magic。〃　He　seemed　somehow　disappointed。
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃Sometimes　if　a　trick　is　done　properly；　it　can　work　better　than　magic。　In　fact；　I　would　go　so　far　as　to　say　a　good　trick　is　real　magic。〃
　
　〃But　still；　it　was　just　a　trick。〃
　
　The　wizard　held　up　a　finger。　〃Results；　Richard。　That's　what　counts。　Your　way；　those　men　would　have　all　lost　their　heads。〃
　
　Richard　grinned。　〃Zedd；　I　think　some　of　them　would　have　preferred　that　over　what　you　did　to　them。〃　Zedd　chuckled。　〃So　is　that　what　you　wanted　us　to　watch　and　learn？　That　a　trick　can　work　as　well　as　magic？〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　also　something　more　important。　As　I　said；　this　was　a　stew　stirred　by　a　hidden　hand；　the　hand　of　Darken　Rahl。　But　he　has　made　a　mistake　tonight；　it　is　a　mistake　to　use　insufficient　force　to　finish　the　job。　In　so　doing；　you　give　your　enemy　a　second　chance。　That　is　the　lesson　I　want　you　to　learn。　Learn　it　well；　you　may　not　get　a　second　chance　when　your　time　es。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃I　wonder　why　he　did　it　then？〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　because　he　doesn't　have　enough　power　in　this　land　yet；　but　then　it　also　was　a　mistake　to　try；　because　it　only　served　to　warn　us。〃
　
　They　started　toward　the　door。　There　was　a　lot　of　work　to　do　before　they　could　sleep。　Richard　began　going　through　the　list　in　his　head　but　was　distracted　by　an　odd　feeling。
　
　Suddenly；　realization　washed　over　him　like　cold　water。　Richard　inhaled　in　a　gasp。　He　spun　around；　eyes　wide；　and　grabbed　a　fistful　of　Zedd's　robes。
　
　〃We　have　to　get　out　of　here！　Right　now！〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Zedd！　Darken　Rahl…isn't　stupid！　He　wants　us　to　feel　safe；　to　feel　confident！　He　knew　we　were　smart　enough　to　beat　those　men；　one　way　or　another。　In　fact　he　wanted　us　to；　so　we　would　sit　around　congratulating　ourselves　while　he　es　for　us　himself。　He　doesn't　fear　you…you　said　he's　stronger　than　a　wizard…he　doesn't　fear　the　sword；　and　he　doesn't　fear　Kahlan。　He's　on　his　way　here　right　now！　His　plan　is　to　get　us　all　at　the　same　time；　right　now；　this　very　night！　He　hasn't　made　a　mistake；　this　was　his　plan。　You　said　it　yourself；　sometimes　a　trick　is　better　than　magic。　That's　what　he's　doing；　this　was　all　a　trick　to　distract　us！〃
　
　Kahlan's　face　went　white。　〃Zedd；　Richard　is　right。　This　is　how　Rahl　thinks；　the　mark　of　his　way。　He　likes　to　do　things　in　a　manner　you　do　not　expect。　We　have　to　get　out　of　here　this　very　minute。〃
　
　〃Bags！　I　have　been　an　old　fool！　You　are　right。　We　must　leave　now；　but　I　can't　leave　without　my　rock。〃　He　started　off　around　the　house。
　
　〃Zedd；　there's　no　time！〃
　
　The　old　man　was　already　running　up　the　hill；　robes　and　hair　flying；　off　into　the　darkness。　Kahlan　followed　Richard　into　the　house。　They　had　been　lulled　into　laziness。　He　couldn't　believe　how　foolish　he　had　been　to　underestimate　Rahl。　Snatching　up　his　pack　from　the　corner　by　the　hearth；　he　ran　into　his　room；　checking　under　his　shirt　for　the　tooth。　Finding　it　safe；　he　came　back　with　his　forest　cloak。　Richard　threw　it　around　Kahlan's　shoulders　and　took　a　quick　glance　around　to　see　if　there　was　anything　else　he　could　grab；　but　there　was　no　time　to　think；　nothing　worth　their　lives；　so　he　took　her　by　the　aim　and　headed　for　the　door。　Outside；　in　the　grass　in　front　of　the　house；　Zedd　was　already　back；　breathing　hard。
　
　〃What　about　the　rock？〃　Richard　asked。　There　was　no　way　Zedd　could　lift　it；　much　less　carry　it。
　
　〃In　my　pocket；〃　the　wizard　said　with　a　smile。　Richard　couldn't　spare　the　time　to　wonder　at　this。　The　cat　was　suddenly　there；　somehow　aware　of　their　urgency；　rubbing　up　against　their　legs。　Zedd　picked　it　up。　〃Can't　leave　you　here；　Cat。　There's　trouble　ing。〃　Zedd　lifted　the　flap　of　Richard's　pack　and　tucked　'the　cat　inside。
　
　Richard　had　an　uneasy　feeling。　He　looked　about；　scanning　the　darkness；　seeking　something　out　of　place；　something　hidden。　He　saw　nothing；　but　felt　eyes　watching。
　
　Kahlan　noticed　his　searching。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　
　Even　though　he　could　see　nothing；　he　felt　the　eyes。　It　must　be　his　fear；　he　decided。　〃Nothing。　Let's　go。〃
　
　Richard　led　them　through　a　sparsely　wooded　area　he　knew　well　enough　to　walk　blindfolded；　to　the　trail　he　wanted；　and　turned　south。　They　moved　along　quickly　in　silence；　with　the　exception　of　Zedd　muttering　occasionally　about　how　stupid　he　had　been。　After　a　while；　Kahlan　told　him　he　was　too　reproachful　of　himself。　They　had　all　been　fooled；　and　each　felt　the　sting　of　blame；　but　they　had　made　good　their　escape；　and　that　was　all　that　mattered。
　
　It　was　an　easy　trail；　almost　a　road；　and　the　pany　of　three　walked　side　by　side；　Richard　in　the　middle；　Zedd　to　his　left；　Kahlan　to　his　right。　The　cat　poked　his　head　up　from　Richard's　backpack　and　looked　about　as　they　walked。　It　was　a　mode　of　travel　he　had　enjoyed　since　he　was　a　kitten。　The　moonlight　was　enough　to　light　their　way。　Richard　saw　a　few　wayward　pines　looming　against　the　sky；　but　he　knew　there　could　be　no　stopping。　They　had　to　get　away　from　here。　The　night　was　cold　but　he　was　warm　enough　with　the　effort　of　their　rapid　pace。　Kahlan　wrapped　his　cloak　tightly　around　herself。
　
　After　about　a　half　hour　Zedd　brought　them　to　a　halt。　He　reached　into　his　robes　and　pulled　out　a　small　handful　of　powder。　He　threw　it　back　down　the　path；　the　way　they　had　e。　Silver　sparkles　shot　from　his　hand　and　followed　their　trail　back　into　the　darkness。　The　sparkles　tinkled　as　they　went；　disappearing　around　a　bend。
　
　Richard　started　back　up　the　trail。　〃What　was　that？〃
　
　〃Just　a　little　magic　dust。　It　will　cover　our　trail；　so　Rahl　won't　know　where　we　went。〃
　
　〃He　still　has　the　cloud　to　follow　us　with。〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　that　will　only　give　him　a　general　area。　If　we　keep　moving；　it　will　be　of　little　use　to　him。　It's　only　when　you　stop；　like　you　did　at　my　house；　that　he　can　hunt　you。〃
　
　They　continued　on　to　the　south；　the　trail　taking　them　through　sweet…smelling　pines　and　higher　into　the　hill　country。　At　the　top　of　a　rise　they　all　turned　suddenly　at　a　roaring　sound　behind。　Off　beyond　the　dark　expanse　of　the　forest；　in　the　distance；　they　saw　an　immense　column　of　flame　shooting　skyward；　yellows　and　reds　reaching　up　into　the　blackness。
　
　〃It's　my　house。　Darken　Rahl　is　there。〃　Zedd　smiled。　〃He　looks　1　to　be　angry。〃
　
　Kahlan　touched　his　shoulder。　〃I'm　sorry；　Zedd。〃
　
　〃Don't　be；　dear　one。　It's　just　an　old　house。　It　could　have　been　us。〃
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　Richard　as　they　started　out　again。　〃Do　you　know　where　we　are　going？〃
　
　Richard；　abruptly　realized　he　did。　〃I　do。〃　He　smiled　to　himself；　glad　to　be　telling　the　truth。
　
　The　three　figures　fled　into　the　dark　shadows　of　the　trail；　into　the　night。
　
　Overhead；　two　huge　winged　beasts　watched　with　hungry；　glowing　green　eyes；　and　then　pitched　themselves　into　steep；　silent　dives。　Wings　tucked　back　for　speed；　they　plummeted　toward　the　backs　of　their　prey
　
　CHAPTER　11
　IT　WAS　THE　CAT　that　saved　him。　He　yowled　and　leapt　over　Richard's　head　in　a　fright；　causing　him　to　duck；　not　enough　for　the　gar　to　miss　him；　but　enough　to　deflect　the　full　impact。　Still；　the　claws　raked　his　back　painfully　and　knocked　him　sprawling　facedown　into　the　dirt；　driving　the　wind　from　his　lungs　in　a　whoosh。　Before　he　could　take　a　breath　the　gar　pounced　on　his　back；　its　weight　preventing　him　from　breathing　or　reaching　his　sword。　Before　he　went　down　he　had　seen　Zedd　sent　tumbling　into　the　trees　by　a　second　gar；　and　now　it　went　crashing　through　the　brush　after　him。
　
　Richard　braced　himself　for　the　claws　he　knew　would　e。　Before　the　gar　could　rip　him　open；　Kahlan　heaved　rocks　at　it　from　the　side　of　the　path。　They　bounced　harmlessly　off　the　blast's　head；　but　it　was　distracted　momentarily。　The　gar　roared；　mouth　agape；　seeming　to　split　the　night　air　with　the　sound；　and　held　him　pinned　like　a　mouse　beneath　a　cat's　paw。　Richard　struggled　mightily　to　lift　himself；　his　lungs　burning　for　air。　Blood　flies　bit　his　neck。　He　reached　behind；　pulling　out　handfuls　of　fur；　trying　to　get　the　great　arm　off　his　back。　By　its　size　he　knew　it　had　to　be　a　short…tailed　gar；　it　was　much　bigger　than　the　long…tailed　gar　he　had　seen　before。　The　sword　was　under　him；　digging　painfully　into　his　abdomen。　He　couldn't　get　to　it。　It　felt　as　if　the　veins　in　his　neck　would　burst。
　
　Richard　was　beginning　to　black　out。　The　sounds　of　yelling　and　roars　from　the　gar　were　growing　fainter　as　he　struggled。　Kahlan　got　too　close　in　her　flurry　of　rock　throwing。　The　gar　reached　out　with　frightening　quickness　and　snatched　her　by　the　hair。　Doing　so　caused　the　beast　to　shift　its　weight　enough　to　let　Richard　gasp　desperately　for　air；　but　not　enough　to　allow　him　to　move。　Kahlan　screamed。
　
　Out　of　nowhere；　the　cat；　all　teeth　and　claws；　sprang　to　the　gar's　face。　The　cat　howled；　clawing　furiously　at　the　gar's　eyes。　With　one　arm　holding　Kahlan；　it　lifted　the　other　to　swipe　at　the　cat。
　
　When　it　did；　Richard　rolled　to　the　side　and　sprang　to　his　feet；　drawing　his　sword。　Kahlan　screamed　again。　Richard　swung　in　fury；　severing　the　arm　that　held　her。　She　tumbled　back；　free。　Howling；　the　gar　backhanding　him　before　he　could　bring　the　sword　up。　The　force　of　the　blow　sent　him　flying　through　the　air；　landing　on　his　back。
　
　Richard　sat　up；　the　world　spinning　and　tilting。　The　sword　was　gone；　thrown　into　the　brush　somewhere。　The　gar　was　in　the　center　of　the　trail；　wailing　in　pain　and　rage　as　blood　gushed　from　the　stump。　Glowing　green　eyes　searched　frantically　for　the　object　of　its　hate。　They　locked　on　Richard。　Ht　didn't　see　Kahlan　anywhere。
　
　Off　to　his　right；　in　the　trees；　there　was　a　sudden　blinding　flash；　illuminating　everything　with　intense；　white　light。　The　violent　sound　of　an　explosion　hammered　painfully　into　his　ears　as　the　concussion　from　the　blast　tumbled　him　against　a　tree　and　knocked　the　gar　from　its　feet。　Rolling　flames　whirled　through　gaps　in　the　trees。　Giant　splinters　and　other　debris　hurtled　past；　streaming　trailers　of　smoke。
　
　Richard　began　a　frantic　search　fo