tg.wizardfirstrule-第42部分

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　She　nodded。　〃That　is　all　I　meant。〃
　
　〃I　know。〃　He　finished　his　apple。　〃Why　don't　you　get　some　sleep。　I'll　keep　watch。〃
　
　〃I　couldn't　sleep；〃　she　said；　indicating　the　heart　hounds　with　a　nod　of　her　head；　〃not　with　them　watching　us　like　that。　Or　with　snakes　all　around。〃
　
　Richard　smiled　at　her。　〃All　right；　then；　how　about　if　you　help　me　build　the　litters　for　the　horses　to　pull？　That　way　we　can　get　out　of　here　in　the　morning　as　soon　as　the　hounds　are　gone。〃
　
　She　returned　the　smile　and　got　up。　Richard　retrieved　a　wicked　looking　war　axe　from　Chase　and　found　it　worked　as　well　on　wood　as　on　flesh　and　bone。　He　wasn't　at　all　sure　Chase　would　approved　of　putting　one　of　his　prize　weapons　to　use　in　this　fashion；　in　fact；　he　knew　he　wouldn't。　He　smiled　to　himself。　He　couldn't　wait　to　tell　him。　In　his　mind　he　could　picture　his　big　friend's　disapproving　frown。　Of　course；　Chase　would　have　to　embellish　the　story　with　every　telling。　To　Chase；　a　story　without　embellishment　was　like　meat　without　gravy；　just　plain　dry。
　
　His　friends　had　to　get　better；　he　told　himself。　They　just　had　to。　He　couldn't　bear　it　if　they　died。
　
　It　was　several　hours　before　they　were　finished。　Kahlan　stayed　close　to　him；　as　she　was　afraid　of　the　snakes；　and　the　heart　hounds　watched　them　the　whole　time。　For　a　while　Richard　had　thought　to　use　Chase's　crossbow　to　try　to　get　some　of　the　hounds；　but　finally　decided　against　it：　Chase　would　be　angry　at　him　for　squandering　valuable　bolts　to　no　purpose。　The　hounds　couldn't　get　them；　and　would　be　gone　with　the　light。
　
　When　they　were　finished；　they　checked　the　other　two；　then　sat　down　together　again　by　the　candles。　He　knew　Kahlan　was　tired…he　could　hardly　keep　his　own　eyes　open…but　she　still　didn't　want　to　lie　down　to　sleep；　so　he　had　her　lean　against　him。　In　no　time　her　breathing　slowed　and　she　was　asleep。　It　was　a　fitful　sleep；　he　could　tell　she　was　having　bad　dreams。　When　she　started　whimpering　and　jerking；　he　woke　her。　She　was　breathing　rapidly；　and　almost　in　tears。
　
　〃Nightmares？〃　he　asked；　stroking　her　hair　reassuringly　with　the　backs　of　his　fingers。
　
　Kahlan　nodded　against　him。　〃I　was　dreaming　about　the　thing　from　the　boundary　that　was　around　my　legs。　I　dreamt　it　was　a　big　snake。〃
　
　Richard　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders　and　hugged　her　tight　against　him。　She　didn't　object；　but　pulled　her　knees　up　and　put　her　arms　around　them　as　she　nuzzled　against　him。　He　worried　that　she　could　hear　his　heart　pounding。　If　she　did；　she　didn't　say　anything　and　was　soon　fast　asleep　again。　He　listened　to　her　breathing；　to　the　frogs；　and　to　the　rain。　She　slept　peacefully。　He　closed　his　fingers　around　the　tooth　under　his　shirt。　He　watched　the　heart　hounds。　They　watched　back。
　
　She　woke　sometime　near　morning　when　it　was　still　dark。　Richard　was　so　tired　he　had　a　headache。　Kahlan　insisted　he　lie　down　and　sleep　while　she　kept　watch。　He　didn't　want　to；　he　wanted　to　continue　holding　her；　but　was　too　sleepy　to　argue。
　
　When　she　gently　shook　him　awake　it　was　morning。　Weak；　gray　light　filtered　through　the　dark　green　of　the　swamp　and　through　heavy　mist　that　made　the　world　seem　small　and　close。　The　water　around　them　looked　as　if　it　had　been　steeped　with　decayed　vegetation；　a　brew　that　rippled　occasionally　with　unseen　life　beneath　the　surface。　Unblinking　black　eyes　pushed　up　through　the　duckweed；　watching　them。
　
　〃The　heart　hounds　are　gone；〃　she　said。　She　looked　drier　than　she　had　last　night。
　
　〃How　long？〃　he　asked；　rubbing　the　cramps　out　of　his　arms。
　
　〃Twenty；　maybe　thirty　minutes。　When　it　got　light　they　suddenly　went　off　in　a　rush。〃　Kahlan　gave　him　a　tin　cup　of　hot　tea。　Richard　gave　her　a　questioning　look。
　
　She　smiled。　〃I　held　it　over　the　candle　until　it　was　hot。〃
　
　He　was　surprised　at　her　inventiveness。　She　gave　him　a　piece　of　dried　fruit　and　ate　some　herself。　He　noticed　the　war　axe　leaning　against　her　leg；　and　thought　to　himself　that　she　knew　how　to　stand　watch。
　
　It　was　still　raining　gently。　Strange　birds　called　out　sharply　in　rapid；　ragged　shrieks　from　across　the　swamp；　while　others　answered　in　the　distance。　Bugs　hovered　inches　above　the　water；　and　occasionally　there　was　an　unseen　splash。
　
　〃Any　change　in　Zedd　or　Chase？〃　he　asked。
　
　She　seemed　reluctant　to　answer。　〃Zedd's　breathing　is　slower。〃
　
　Richard　quickly　went　and　checked。　Zedd　seemed　hardly　alive。　His　face　had　a　sunken；　ashen　look。　He　put　an　ear　to　the　old　man's　chest　and　found　his　heart　to　be　beating　normally；　but　he　was　breathing　slower；　and　he　felt　cold　and　clammy。
　
　〃I　think　we　must　be　safe　from　the　hounds　now。　We　had　better　get　going；　and　see　if　we　can　find　them　some　help；〃　he　said。
　
　Richard　knew　she　was　afraid　of　the　snakes…he　was；　too；　and　told　her　so…but　she　didn't　let　it　interfere　with　that　they　had　to　do。　She　put　her　trust　in　what　he　said；　that　the　snakes　wouldn't　e　near　the　sword；　and　crossed　the　water　without　hesitation　when　he　told　her　to　go。　They　had　to　traverse　the　water　twice；　once　with　Zedd　and　Chase；　and　a　second　time　to　retrieve　the　parts　for　the　litters；　as　they　could　only　be　used　on　dry　land。
　
　They　hooked　up　the　poles　to　the　horses；　but　couldn't　use　them　yet　as　the　tangle　of　roots　on　the　swamp　trail　would…cause　too　jolting　a　ride。　They　would　have　to　wait　until　they　were　on　a　better　road；　once　they　were　clear　of　the　swamp。
　
　It　was　midmorning　before　they　reached　the　better　road。　They　stopped　long　enough　to　lay　their　two　fallen　friends　in　the　litters　and　cover　them　with　blankets　and　oilcloth。　Richard　was　pleased　to　discover　that　the　pole　arrangement　worked　well；　it　didn't　slow　them　at　all；　and　the　mud　helped　them　slide　along　nicely。　He　and　Kahlan　ate　lunch　on　their　horses；　passing　food　back　and　forth　as　they　rode　next　to　each　other。　They　stopped　only　to　check　on　Zedd　and　Chase；　and　continued　on　through　the　rain
　
　…＋
　
　Before　night　came　they　reached　Southaven。　The　town　was　little　more　than　a　collection　of　ramshackle　buildings　and　houses　fit　crookedly　in　among　the　oaks　and　beech；　almost　as　if　to　turn　themselves　away　from　the　road；　from　queries；　from　righteous　eyes。　None　looked　ever　to　have　seen　paint。　Some　had　tin　patches　that　drummed　in　the　steady　rain。　Set　in　the　center　of　the　huddle　was　a　supply　store；　and　next　to　it　a　two…story　building。　A　clumsily　carved　sign　proclaimed　it　to　be　an　inn；　but　offered　no　name。　Yellow　lamplight　ing　from　windows　downstairs　was　the　only　color　standing　out　from　the　grayness　of　the　day　and　the　building。　Heaps　of　garbage　leaned　drunkenly　against　the　side　of　the　building；　and　the　house　next　door　tilted　in　sympathy　with　the　rubbish　pile。
　
　〃Stay　close　to　me；〃　Richard　said　as　they　dismounted。　〃The　men　here　are　dangerous。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　oddly　with　one　side　of　her　mouth。　〃I'm　used　to　their　kind。〃
　
　Richard　wondered　what　that　meant；　but　didn't　ask。
　
　Talking　trailed　off　when　they　went　through　the　door；　and　all　faces　turned。　The　place　was　about　what　Richard　expected。　Oil　lamps　lit　a　room　filled　with　a　fog　of　pungent　pipe　smoke。　Tables；　all　arranged　in　a　haphazard　fashion；　were　rough；　some　no　more　than　planks　on　barrels。　There　were　no　chairs；　only　benches。　To　the　left　a　door　stood　closed；　probably　leading　to　the　kitchen。　To　the　right；　in　the　shadows；　leading　up　to　the　guest　rooms；　was　a　stairway　minus　a　handrail。　The　floor；　with　a　series　of　paths　through　the　litter；　was　mottled　with　dark　stains　and　spills。
　
　The　men　were　a　rough　collection　of　trappers　and　travelers　and　trouble。　Many　had　unkempt　beards。　Most　were　big。　The　place　smelled　of　ale　and　smoke　and　sweat。
　
　Kahlan　stood　tall　and　proud　next　to　him；　she　was　a　person　not　easily　intimidated。　Richard　reasoned　that　perhaps　she　should　be。　She　stuck　out　among　the　riffraff　like　a　gold　ring　on　a　beggar。　Her　bearing　made　the　room　even　more　of　an　embarrassment。
　
　When　she　pushed　back　the　hood　of　her　cloak；　grins　broke　out　all　around；　revealing　a　collection　of　crooked　and　missing　teeth。　The　hungry　looks　in　the　men's　eyes　didn't　fit　the　smiles。　Richard　wished　Chase　were　awake。
　
　With　a　sinking　feeling；　he　realized　there　was　going　to　be　trouble。
　
　A　stout　man　walked　over　and　halted。　He　wore　a　shirt　with　no　sleeves　and　an　apron　what　looked　like　it　could　never　have　been　white。　The　top　of　his　shiny；　shaved　head　reflected　the　lamplight；　and　the　curly　black　hair　on　his　thick　arms　seemed　in　petition　with　his　beard。　He　wiped　his　hands　on　a　filthy　rag　before　flopping　it　over　a　shoulder。
　
　〃Something　I　can　do　for　you？〃　the　man　asked　in　a　dry　voice。　His　tongue　rolled　a　toothpick　across　his　mouth　as　he　waited。
　
　With　his　own　tone　and　eyes　Richard　let　the　man　know　he　would　brook　no　trouble。　〃There　a　healer　in　this　town？〃
　
　The　proprietor　shifted　his　glance　to　Kahlan　and　then　back　to　Richard。　〃No。〃
　
　Richard　noted　the　way；　unlike　the　other　men；　the　man　kept　his　eyes　where　they　belonged　when　he　looked　at　Kahlan。　It　told　him　something　important。　〃Then　we　would　like　a　room。〃　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃We　have　two　friends　outside　who　are　hurt。〃
　
　Taking　the　toothpick　out　of　his　mouth；　the　man　folded　his　arms。　〃I　don't　need　any　trouble。〃
　
　〃Nor　do　I；〃　Richard　said　with　deliberate　menace。
　
　The　bald　man　looked　Richard　up　and　down；　his　eyes　snagging　for　an　instant　on　the　sword。　With　his　arms　still　folded；　he　appraised　Richard's　eyes。　〃How　many　rooms　you　want？　I'm　pretty　full。〃
　
　〃One　will　do　fine。〃
　
　In　the　center　of　the　room　a　big　man　stood。　From　a　mass　of　long　stringy　red　hair　he　looked　out　with　mean　eyes　that　were　set　too　close　together。　The　front　of　his　thick　beard　was　wet　with　ale。　He　wore　a　wolf　hide　over　one　shoulder。　His　hand　rested　on　the　handle　of　a　long　knife。
　
　〃Expensive…looking　whore　you　got　there；　boy；〃　the　red…haired　man　said。　〃I　don't　suppose　you'd　mind　if　we　came　up　to　your　room　and　passed　her　around　some？〃
　
　Richard　locked　his　glare　on　the　man。　He　knew　this　was　a　challenge　that　would　only　be　ended　with　blood。　His　eyes　didn't　move。　His　hand　did…slowly；　toward　the　sword。　His　rage　pounded；　fully　awake　even　before　his　fingers　reached　the　hilt。
　
　This　was　the　day　he　was　going　to　have　to　kill　other　men。
　
　A　lot　of　other　men。
　
　Richard's　grip　tightened　around　the　braided　wire　hilt　unt