tg.wizardfirstrule-第38部分

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　With　a　hand　in　the　air；　Chase　brought　them　to　a　halt。　〃This　is　the　place。〃
　
　Richard　looked　around；　there　were　still　in　the　middle　of　an　endless；　dead；　dried…up　bog。　He　didn't　see　any　boundary。　It　all　looked　the　same　in　every　direction。　They　tethered　their　horses　to　a　fallen　log　and　followed；　Chase　a　short　distance　farther　on　foot。
　
　〃The　boundary；〃　Chase　announced；　holding　his　arm　out　at　the　introduction。
　
　〃I　don't　see　anything；〃　Richard　said。
　
　Chase　smiled。　〃Watch。〃　He　walked　on；　steadily；　slowly。　As　he　went　forward；　a　green　glow　formed　around　him；　at　first　hardly　perceptible。　It　grew　stronger；　brighter；　until　after　another　twenty　steps　it　became　a　sheet　of　green　light　pressing　against　him　as　he　proceeded；　stronger　close　to　him　and　fading　away　about　ten　feet　to　the　sides　and　above；　growing　larger　with　every　step。　It　was　like　green　glass；　wavy　and　distorted；　but　Richard　could　see　through　it；　see　the　dead　trees　beyond。　Chase　stopped　and　returned。　The　green　sheet；　and　then　the　green　glow；　faded　and　vanished　as　he　came　back。　Richard　had　always　thought　the　boundary　would　be　a　wall　of　some　sort；　something　that　could　be　seen。
　
　〃That's　it？〃　Richard　felt　a　little　let　down。
　
　〃What　more　do　you　want？　Now；　watch　this。〃　Chase　searched　the　ground；　picking　up　branches；　testing　each　for　strength。　Most　were　rotten　and　broke　easily。　Finally　he　found　one；　about　a　dozen　；feet　long；　that　was　strong　enough　to　suit　him。　He　carried　it　back　into　the　glowing　light　until　he　reached　the　sheet　of　green。　Holding　the　branch　by　the　thick　end；　he　passed　the　rest　through　the　wall。　Six　feet　away；　the　end　of　the　stick　disappeared　as　he　pushed　it　forward；　until　he　was　holding　what　appeared　to　be　a　six…foot　stick　instead　of　a　twelve…foot　branch。　Richard　was　perplexed。　He　could　see　beyond　the　wall；　but　not　the　other　end　of　the　stick。　It　didn't　seem　possible。
　
　As　soon　as　Chase　had　pushed　the　stick　in　as　far　as　he　dared；　it　jumped　violently。　There　was　no　sound。　He　hauled　it　back　and　returned　to　the　others。　He　held　the　splintered　end　of　a　now　eight　foot　stick　toward　them。　The　end　was　covered　with　slaver。
　
　〃Heart　hounds；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。
　
　Zedd　seemed　bored。　Kahlan　was　not　amused。　Richard　was　astounded。　Since　he　seemed　to　have　an　audience　of　only　one；　Chase　grabbed　a　fistful　of　Richard's　shirt　and　dragged　him　off。　〃e　on；　I'll　show　you　what　it's　like。〃　Chase　locked　his　right　arm　together　with　Richard's　left　as　they　proceeded；　cautioning　Richard；　〃Go　slow；　I'll　let　you　know　when　we've　gone　far　enough。　Keep　hold　of　my　arm。〃　They　walked　ahead　slowly。
　
　Green　light　began。　With　each　step　it　became　more　intense；　but　it　was　different　from　when　Richard　had　watched　Chase　go　in　by　himself。　Then；　the　light　had　been　to　Chase's　sides　and　above　him；　now　it　was　all　about。　There　was　a　buzzing　sound；　like　a　thousand　bumblebees。　With　each　step　the　sound　became　deeper；　but　not　louder。　The　green　light　became　deeper；　too；　and　the　surrounding　wood　darker；　as　if　night　were　falling。　Then　the　sheet　of　green　was　in　front　of　them；　materializing　out　of　nothing；　with　the　green　glow　everywhere　else。　Richard　could　hardly　see　the　woods　anymore；　he　looked　back　and　couldn't　see　Zedd　or　Kahlan　at　all。
　
　〃Easy　now；〃　Chase　warned。　They　pushed　against　the　green　sheet　as　they　stepped　slowly　ahead。　Richard　could　feel。　the　pressure　of　it　against　his　body。
　
　Then　everything　else　blacked　out；　as　if　he　were　in　a　cave　at　night；　with　a　green　glow　around　Chase　and　himself。　Richard　held　Chase's　arm　tighter。　The　buzzing　felt　like　it　was　vibrating　his　chest。
　
　With　the　next　step　the　green　sheet　of　the　wall　changed　suddenly。　〃Far　enough；〃　Chase　said；　his　voice　echoing。　The　wall　had　bee　darkly　transparent；　as　if　Richard　were　looking　into　U　deep　pond　in　the　dark　woods。　Chase　stood　still；　watching　hire。
　
　There　were　forms　on　the　other　side。
　
　Inky　black　shapes　wavered　in　the　gloom　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall；　specters　floating　in　the　deep。
　
　The　dead　in　their　lair。
　
　Something　closer　and　faster　moved　nearer　to　them。　〃The　hounds；〃　Chase　said。
　
　Richard　felt　an　odd　sensation　of　longing。　Longing　for　the　blackness。　The　humming　wasn't　a　sound；　he　realized；　it　was　voices。
　
　Voices　that　murmured　his　name。
　
　Thousands　of　distant　voices　called　out　to　him。　The　black　shapes　were　gathering；　calling　to　him；　holding　their　arms　out　to　him。
　
　He　felt　a　sudden；　unexpected　stab　of　loneliness；　felt　the　solitude　of　his　life；　of　all　life。　Why　did　he　need　the　pain　when　they　were　waiting；　waiting　to　wele　him？　Never　alone　again。　The　black　shapes　drifted　closer　in　the　gloom；　calling　to　him；　and　he　began…　to　see　their　faces。　It　was　as　if　he　were　looking　through　murky　water。　They　came　closer。　He　longed　to　step　through。　To　be　there　with　them。
　
　And　then　he　saw　his　father。
　
　Richard's　heart　pounded。　His　father　called　out　to　him　mournfully　in　a　long　sorrowful　cry。　His　arms　thrust　out；　trying　desperately　to　clutch　for　his　son。　He　was　just　beyond　the　wall
　
　Richard's　heart　felt　as　if　it　were　going　to　rip　with　yearning。　It　had　been　so　long　since　he　had　seen　his　father。　He　wailed　for　him；　hungered　to　touch　him。　He　wouldn't　have　to　be　afraid　ever　again。　He　had　only　to　reach　his　father。　Then　he　would　be　safe。
　
　Safe。　Forever。
　
　Richard　tried　to　reach　out　to　his　father；　tried　to　go　to　him；　tried　to　step　through　the　wall。　Something　was　holding　his　arm。　Irritated；　he　pulled　harder。　Someone　held　him　from　his　father。　He　screamed　for　whoever　held　him　to　let　go。　His　voice　sounded　hollow；　empty。
　
　Then　he　was　being　pulled　away　from　his　father。
　
　His　anger　roared　to　life。　Someone　was　trying　to　drag　him　back　by　his　arm。　In　a　rage　he　grabbed　his　sword。　A　big　hand　clamped　over　his　with　an　iron　grip。　Screaming　in　unrestrained　fury；　he　struggled　mightily　to　free　the　sword；　but　the　big　hands　held　tight；　dragging　him；　stumbling；　from　his　father。　Richard　struggled；　but　was　hauled　away。
　
　The　green　wall　came　up　suddenly　in　place　of　the　darkness　as　he　was　pulled　back。　Chase　was　dragging　him　away　from　it；　through　the　green　light。　The　world　returned　with　a　sickening　jolt。　The　dry；　dead　bog　returned。
　
　Suddenly　aware；　Richard　was　appalled　at　what　he　had　almost　done。　Chase　released　his　sword　hand。　Shaking；　Richard　put　it　on　the　big　man's　shoulder　for　support；　struggling　to　catch　his　breath　as　they　stepped　out　of　the　green　light。　Relief　washed　over　him。
　
　Chase　leaned　over　a　little；　searching　his　eyes。　〃All　right？〃
　
　Richard　nodded；　too　overwhelmed　to　speak。　The　sight　of　his　father　had　brought　back　the　devastating　grief。　He　had　to　concentrate　just　to　breathe；　to　stand。　His　throat　hurt。　He　realized　he　had　been　choking；　but　hadn't　been　aware　of　it　at　the　time。
　
　Terror　raced　through　Richard's　mind　as　he　realized　how　close　he　had　e　to　stepping　through　the　wall；　to　death。　He　had　been　totally　unprepared　for　what　had　happened。　If　Chase　hadn't　been　there　holding　on　to　him；　he　would　be　dead　now。　He　had　tried　to　give　in　to　the　underworld。　He　felt　as　if　he　didn't　know　himself。　How　could　he　have　wanted　to　give　himself　over　to　it？　Was　he　that　weak？　That　frail？
　
　Richard's　head　swirled　with　pain。　He　couldn't　clear　the　vision　of　his　father's　face　from　his　mind；　the　way　his　father　longed　for　him；　called　to　him；　so　desperate。　He　ached　to　be　with　him。　It　would　have　been　so　easy。　The　image　haunted　his　mind；　refusing　to　let　go。　He　didn't　want　to　let　it　go；　he　wanted　to　go　back。　He　could　feel　the　pull；　even　as　he　resisted。
　
　Kahlan　was　there；　waiting　for　them；　at　the　edge　of　the　green　light　as　they　emerged。　She　swept　her　arm　protectively　around　his　waist　and　tugged　him　away　from　Chase。　With　her　other　hand　she　grabbed　hold　of　his　jaw；　turning　his　head；　making　him　look　at　her。
　
　〃Richard。　Listen　to　me。　Think　of　something　else。　Concentrate。　You　have　to　think　of　something　else。　I　want　you　to　remember　every　intersection　on　every　trail　in　the　Hartland。　Can　you　do　that　for　me？　Please？　Do　it　now。　Remember　every　one　for　me。〃
　
　He　nodded；　and　started　to　remember　the　trails。
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　Chase　in　a　fury；　slapping　him　across　his　face　as　hard　as　she　could。
　
　〃You　bastard！〃　she　screamed。　〃Why　would　you　do　that　to　him！〃　Throwing　all　her　weight　into　it；　she　slapped　him　again；　her　hair　tossing　across　her　face。　Chase　didn't　try　to　stop　her。　〃You　did　it　on　purpose！　How　could　you　do　that！〃　She　swung　at　him　a　third　time；　but　this　time；　he　grabbed　her　wrist　in　midswing。
　
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　tell　you　or　do　you　wish　to　go　on　hitting　me？〃
　
　She　jerked　her　hand　away；　glaring　at　him；　her　chest　heaving。　Some　of　her　hair　was　stuck　sideways　across　her　face。
　
　〃Going　through　Kings'　Port　is　dangerous。　It　isn't　straight　through；　it　twists　and　turns。　Some　places　it's　very　narrow；　the　two　walls　of　the　boundary　almost　touching。　One　step　either　way　and　you're　gone。　You've　been　through　the　boundary；　so　has　Zedd。　You　both　understand。　You　can't　see　it　until　you　start　in；　otherwise　you　don't　know　where　it　is。　I　only　know　because　I've　spent　my　life　out　here。　It's　even　more　dangerous　now　because　it's　failing；　even　easier　to　walk　through　it。　When　you　get　in　the　pass；　if　something　started　chasing　you；　Richard　could　run　into　the　underworld　without　even　knowing　what　it　was。〃
　
　〃That's　no　excuse！　You　could　have　warned　him！〃
　
　〃I've　never　had　a　child　yet　who　had　the　proper　respect　for　fire　until　they　put　their　hand　in　it　once。　No　amount　of　telling　is　worth　doing　it　once。　If　Richard　didn't　understand　what　it　was　like　be…　fore　he　went　into　Kings'　Port；　he　wouldn't　e　out　the　other　side。　Yes；　I　took　him　in　there　on　purpose。　To　show　him。　To　keep　him　alive。〃
　
　〃You　could　have　told　him！〃
　
　Chase　shook　his　head。　〃No。　He　had　to　see　it。〃
　
　〃Enough！〃　Richard　said；　his　head　clear　at　last。　They　all　turned　to　him。　〃A　day　has　yet　to　go　by　when　one　of　you　three　doesn't　scare　the　wits　out　of　me。　But　I　know　you　all　have　my　best　interests　at　heart。　Right　now　we　have　more　important　things　to　worry　about。　Chase；　how　do　you　know　the　boundary　is　failing？　What's　different？〃
　
　〃The　wall　is　breaking　down。　Before；　you　couldn't　see　through　the　green　into　the　darkness。　You　couldn't　see　anything　on　the　other　side。〃
　
　〃Chase　is　right