tg.wizardfirstrule-第31部分

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　Before　Richard　could　answer；　Lee；　one　of　their　daughters；　appeared　in　the　doorway；　rubbing　her　sleepy　eyes　with　her　fists。　Chase　scowled　at　her。　She　pouted　back。
　
　Chase　sighed。　〃You've　got　to　be　the　ugliest　child　I've　ever　seen。〃
　
　Her　pout　turned　to　a　beaming　grin。　Lee　ran　over　to　him；　threw　her　arms　around　his　leg；　put　her　head　on　his　knee；　and　hugged　it　tight。　He　mussed　her　hair。
　
　〃Back　to　bed　with　you；　little　one。〃
　
　〃Wait；〃　Zedd　spoke　up。　〃Lee；　e　here。〃　She　went　around　the　table。　〃My　old　cat　has　been　plaining　that　he　has　no　children　to　play　with。〃　Lee　stole　a　peek　toward　Kahlan's　lap。　〃Do　you　know　of　any　children　he　could　visit？〃　。
　
　The　girl's　eyes　widened。　〃Zedd；　he　could　stay　here！　He　would　have　fun　with　us！〃
　
　〃Really？　Well　then；　he　will　stay　here　for　a　visit。〃
　
　〃All　right；　Lee；〃　Emma　said；　〃off　to　bed　with　you。〃
　
　Richard　looked　up。　〃Emma；　could　you　do　me　a　favor？　Do　you　have　any　traveling　clothes　Kahlan　could　borrow？〃
　
　Emma　looked　Kahlan　over。　〃Well；　her　shoulders　are　too　big
　
　‘for　my　clothes；　and　her　legs　are　too　long；　but　the　older　girls　have　things　I　think　would　work　nicely。〃　She　smiled　warmly　at　Kahlan　and　held　out　a　hand。　〃e　on；　dear；　let's　see　what　we　can　find。〃　Kahlan　handed　Cat　to　Lee　and　took　her　other　hand。　〃I　hope　Cat　won't　be　a　bother。　He　insists　on　sleeping　on　your　bed　with　you。〃
　
　〃Oh；　no；〃　Lee　said　earnestly；　〃that　will　be　fine。〃
　
　As　they　left　the　room　Emma　knowingly　shut　the　door。
　
　Chase　took　a　sip　of　tea。　〃Well？〃
　
　〃Well；　you　know　the　conspiracy　my　brother　was　talking　about？　It's　worse　than　he　knows。〃
　
　〃That　so；〃　Chase　said　nonmittally。
　
　Richard　pulled　the　Sword　of　Truth　from　its　scabbard　and　laid　it　on　the　table　between　them。　The　polished　blade　gleamed。　Chase　leaned　forward　and　put　his　elbows　on　the　table；　lifting　the　sword　with　his　fingertips。　He　let　it　roll　into　his　palms；　inspecting　it　closely；　running　his　fingers　over　the　word　Truth　on　the　hilt　and　down　the　fuller　on　each　side　of　the　blade；　testing　the　sharpness　of　the　edge。　He　betrayed　nothing　more　than　mild　curiosity。
　
　〃Not。　unusual　for　a　sword　to　be　named；　but　typically　the　name　is　engraved　on　the　blade。　I've　never　seen　the　name　on　the　hilt。〃　Chase　was　waiting　for　someone　else　to　say　something　consequential。
　
　〃Chase；　you've　seen　this　sword　before；〃　Richard　admonished。　〃You　know　what　it　is。〃
　
　〃I　have。　But；　I've　never　seen　it　this　close。〃　His　eyes　came　up；　dark　and　intense。　〃The　point　is；　Richard；　what　are　you　doing　with　it？〃
　
　Richard　peered　back　with　equal　intensity。　〃It　was　given　to　me　by　a　great　and　noble　wizard。〃
　
　Chase's　forehead　wrinkled　into　a　sober　frown。　He　looked　to　Zedd。　〃What's　your　part　in　this；　Zedd？〃
　
　Zedd　leaned　forward；　a　small　smile　on　his　thin　lips。　〃I'm　the　one　who　gave　it　to　him。〃
　
　Chase　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　shaking　his　head　slowly。　〃The　spirits　be　praised；〃　he　whispered。　〃A　real　Seeker。　At　last。〃
　
　〃We　don't　have　much　time；〃　Richard　said。　〃I　need　to　know　some　things　about　the　boundary。〃
　
　Chase　let　out　a　deep　sigh　as　he　rose　and　went　to　the　hearth。　He　leaned　an　arm　on　the　mantel；　staring　into　the　flames。　The　other　two　waited　while　the　big　man　picked　at　the　rough　wood　of　the　mantel　as　if　trying　to　pick　his　words
　
　〃Richard；　do　you　know　what　my　job　is？〃
　
　Richard　shrugged。　〃Keeping　people　away　from　the　boundary；　for　their　own　good。〃
　
　Chase　shook　his　head。　〃Do　you　know　how　to　get　rid　of　wolves？〃
　
　〃Go　out　and　hunt　them；　I　guess。〃
　
　The　boundary　warden　shook　his　head　again。　〃That　might　get　a　few；　but　more　would　be　born；　and　in　the　end；　you　have　just　as　many。　If　you　really　want　to　have　fewer　wolves；　you　hunt　their　food。　You　trap　rabbits；　so　to　speak。　It's　easier。　If　there　is　less　food；　fewer　pups　will　be　born。　In　the　end　you　have　fewer　wolves。　That's　my　job。　I　hunt　rabbits。〃
　
　Richard　felt　a　wave　of　fright　ripple　through　him。
　
　〃Most　people　don't　understand　the　boundary；　or　what　we　do。　They　think　it's　just　some　stupid　law　we　enforce。　Many　are　afraid　of　the　boundary；　mostly　older　people。　Many　others　think　they　know　what's　best　and　go　up　there　to　poach。　They　aren't　afraid　of　the　boundary；　so　we　make　them　afraid　of　the　wardens。　That's　something　real　to　them；　and　we　keep　it　real。　They　don't　like　it；　but　out　of　fear　of　us；　they　stay　away。　To　a　few　it's　a　game；　to　see　if　they　can　get　away　with　it。　We　don't　expect　to　catch　them　all；　we　don't　really　care。　What　we　care　about　is　scaring　enough　of　them　so　the　wolves　in　the　boundary　won't　have　enough　rabbits　to　get　stronger。
　
　〃We　protect　the　people；　but　not　by　preventing　them　from　going　into　the　boundary。　Anyone　stupid　enough　to　do　that　is　beyond　our　'help。　Our　job　is　to　keep　most；　away；　keep　the　boundary　weak　enough　so　the　things　in　there　can't　e　out　and　get　everyone　else。　The　wardens　have　all　seen　things　that　have　gotten　loose。　We　all　understand；　others　don't。　Lately；　more　and　more　things　have　been　getting　loose。　Your　brother's　government　may　pay　us；　but　they　don't　understand；　either；　our　allegiance　is　not　to　them；　nor　to　any　rule　of　law。　Our　only　duty　is　to　protect　the　people　from　the　things　that　e　out　of　the　darkness。　We　consider　ourselves　sovereign。　We　take　orders　when　it　doesn't　hinder　our　job。　It　keeps　matters　friendly。　But　if　the　time　ever　es；　well；　we　follow　our　own　cause；　our　own　orders。〃
　
　He　sat　back　at　the　table；　leaning　forward　on　his　elbows。　〃Ultimately；　there　is　only　one　whose　orders　we　will　follow；　because　our　cause　is　a　part　of　his　larger　cause。　That　one　is　the　true　Seeker。〃　He　picked　up　the　sword　in　his　big　hands　and　held　it　out　to　Richard；　looking　him　in　the　eyes。　〃I　pledge　my　life　and　loyalty　to　the　Seeker。〃
　
　Richard　sat　back；　moved。　〃Thank　you；　Chase。〃　He　looked　to　the　wizard　a　moment；　then　back　to　the　boundary　warden。　〃Now　we'll　tell　you　what's　been　going　on；　and　then　I'll　tell　you　what　I　want。〃
　
　Richard　and　Zedd　both　shared　in　the　telling　of　all　that　had　happened。　Richard　wanted　Chase　to　know　it　all；　to　understand　that　there　could　be　no　half　efforts；　that　it　had　to　be　victory　or　death；　not　by　their　choice；　but　by　Darken　Rahl's。　Chase　looked　from　one　to　the　other　as　they　spoke；　understanding　the　seriousness　of　what　they　were　telling　him；　appearing　grim　at　the　telling　of　the　story　of　the　magic　of　Orden。　They　didn't　have　to　convince　him　of　the　truth　of　it；　he　was　a　man　who　had　seen　more　than　they　would　probably　ever　know。　He　asked　few　questions；　and　listened　carefully。
　
　He　did　enjoy　the　story　of　what　Zedd　had　done　to　the　mob。　His　booming　laugh　filled　the　room　until　his　laughter　dissolved　in　tears。
　
　The　door　opened；　and　Kahlan　and　Emma　stepped　into　the　light。　Kahlan　was　outfitted　in　fine　forest　garb；　dark　green　pants　with　a　wide　belt；　tan　shirt；　dark　cloak；　and　a　good　pack。　The　boots　and　waist　pouch　were　her　own。　She　looked　ready　to　live　a　life　in　the　woods。　Still；　her　hair；　her　face；　her　figure；　and　mostly　her　bearing；　spoke　that　she　was　more。
　
　Richard　introduced　her　to　Chase。　〃My　guide。〃
　
　Chase　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　
　Emma　saw　the　sword；　and　by　her　expression　Richard　knew　she　understood。　She　moved　behind　her　husband　again；　not　touching　his　hair；　but　simply　resting　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　wanting　to　be　near　him。　She　knew　trouble　visited　this　night。　Richard　sheathed　the　sword；　and　Kahlan　came　and　sat　next　to　him　as　he　finished　relating　the　rest　of　the　events　of　the　night。　When　he　was　done；　they　all　pat　in　silence　for　a　few　minutes。
　
　〃What　can　I　do　to　help　you；　Richard？〃　Chase　…finally　asked。
　
　Richard　spoke　softly；　but　firmly。　〃Tell　me　where　the　pass　is。〃　Chase's　eyes　came　up　sharply。　〃What　pass？〃　His　old　defensiveness　was　still　in　evidence。
　
　〃The　pass　across　the　boundary。　I　know　about　it；　I　just　don't　know　exactly　where　it　is；　and　I　don't　have　time　to　search。〃　Richard　didn't　have　time　to　play　these　games　and　felt　his　anger　rising。
　
　〃Who　told　you　this？〃　'
　
　〃Chase！　Answer　the　question！〃
　
　The　other　smiled　a　little。　〃One　condition。　I　take　you　there。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　the　children。　Chase　was　used　to　danger；　but　this　was　different。　〃That　isn't　necessary；〃
　
　Chase　gave　Richard　an　appraising　look。　〃It　is　to　me。　It's　a　dangerous　place。　You　three　don't　know　what　you're　getting　yourselves　into。　I　won't　send　you　there　alone。　And　the　boundary　is　my　responsibility。　If　you　want　me　to　tell　you；　then　I'm　going。〃
　
　Everyone　waited　while　Richard　considered　this　a　moment。　Chase　didn't　bluff；　and　time　was　dear。　Richard　had　no　choice。　〃Chase；　we　would　be　honored　to　have　you　with　us。〃
　
　〃Good。〃　He　slapped　his　hand　on　the　table。　〃The　pass　is　called　the　Kings'　Port。　It's　in　a　foul　place　called　Southaven。　Four；　maybe　five　days'　ride　on　horseback；　if　we　take　Hawkers　Trail。　Since　you're　in　a　hurry；　that's　the　way　you'll　want　to　be　going。　It　will　be　light　in　a　few　hours。　The　three　of　you　need　to　get　some　sleep。　Emma　and　I　will　get　the　provisions　together。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　12
　　IT　SEEMED　THAT　HE　had　just　fallen　asleep　when　Emma　woke　him　and　led　them　down　to　breakfast。　The　sun　wasn't　up　yet；　nor　was　anyone　else　in　the　house；　but　roosters　were　already　crowing　at　the　lightening　of　the　new　day。　The　aromas　of　cooking　made　him　instantly　hungry。　Emma；　smiling；　but　not　as　brightly　as　the　night　before；　dished　out　a　big　breakfast　and　said　Chase　had　already　eaten　and　was　loading　the　horses。　Richard　had　always　thought　Kahlan　looked　alluring　in　her　unusual　dress。　He　decided　her　new　outfit　didn't　lessen　her　appeal　in　the　least。　While　Kahlan　and　Emma　talked　about　the　children；　and　Zedd　gushed　pliments　about　the　food；　Richard's　mind　fretted　on。　what　lay　ahead。
　
　The　light　dimmed　a　little　as　Chase's　form　filled　the　doorway。　Kahlan　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　him。　He　was　wearing　a　chain　mail　shirt　over　a　tan　leather　tunic；　heavy　black　pants；　boots；　and　cloak。　Black　gauntlets　were　tucked　behind　a　wide　black　belt　set　with　a　large　silver　buckle　emblazoned　with　the　emblem　of　the　boundary　wardens。　Strapped　everywhere　were　enough　armaments　to　outfit　a　small　army。　On　an　ordinary　man　the　effect　would　have　been　silly；　on　Chase　it　was　frightening。　He　was　an　image　of　overt　threat；　deadly　with　every　weapon　he　carried。　Chase　had　two　basic　expres