tg.wizardfirstrule-第46部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　She　stared　at　him。　〃One　be　true；　one　be　a　lie。　How　much　more　difference　could　there　be？〃
　
　Richard　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest　again；　frowning。　〃Chase　must　have　a　very　difficult　time　telling　you　the　stories　of　his　adventures。〃
　
　Adie's　small　smile　carne　back。　〃'True；〃　she　nodded。　She　leaned　a　little　closer；　motioning　with　her　hand。　〃Bring　your　friends　inside。〃
　
　She　turned；　put　the　crutch　back　under　her　arm；　and　worked　her　way　to　the　house。　Richard　anti　Kahlan　looked　at　each　other；　and　then　went　to　get　Chase；　putting　the　blankets　away　first。　He　had　Kahlan　take　the　boundary　warden's　feet；　he　took　the　heavy　half。　As　soon　as　they　lugged　Chase　through　the　door；　Richard　discovered　why。　she　was　called　the　bone　woman。
　
　Bones　of　every　kind　stood　out　in　stark　relief　against　the　dark　walls。　Every　wall　was　covered。　Against　one　were　shelves　that　held　skulls。　Skulls　of　beasts　Richard　didn't　recognize。　Most　were　fearsome…looking；　with　long；　curved　teeth。　At　least　none　were　human；　he　thought。　Some　of　the　bones　were　assembled　into　necklaces。　Some　were　decorated　into　objects　of　purpose　with　feathers　and　colored　beads；　chalk　circles　drawn　around　them　on　the　surface　of　the　wall。　There　were　stacks　of　bones　in　the　corner；　looking　unimportant　en　masse。　The　ones　on　the　wall　were　displayed　carefully；　with　space　around　them　to　signify　their　importance。　On　the　mantel　over　the　fireplace　was　a　rib　bone　as　thick　as　Richard's　arm；　as　long　as　he　was　tall；　with　symbols　he　didn't　recognize　carved　in　dark　lines　along　its　length。　There　were　so　many　bleached　bones　around　him　that　Richard　felt　as　if　he　were　in　the　belly　of　a　dead　beast。
　
　They　set　Chase　down　while　Richard's　head　swiveled　around；　looking。　Rainwater　dripped　off　Kahlan；　Chase；　and　himself。　Adie　towered　over　him。　She　was　as　dry　as　the　bones　around　her。　She　had　stood　outside　in　the　rain；　yet　she　was　dry。　Richard　reconsidered　the　wisdom　of　his　decision　to　e　here。　If　Chase　hadn't　told　him　Adie　was　his　friend；　he　would　not　be　doing　this。
　
　He　looked　to　Kahlan。　〃I'll　go　get　Zedd。〃　It　was　more　of　a　question　than　a　statement。
　
　〃I　will　help　carry　in　the　supplies；〃　she　offered；　casting　a　glance　at　Adie。
　
　Richard　gently　laid　Zedd　at　the　bone　woman's　feet。　Together；　he　and　Kahlan　stacked　the　supplies　on　the　table。　When　they　had　finished；　both　went　and　stood　next　to　their　friends；　in　front　of　Adie；　both　peering　at　the　bones。　Adie　watched　them。
　
　〃Who　be　this　one？〃　she　asked；　pointing　at　Zedd。
　
　〃Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander。　My　friend；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Wizard！〃　Adie　snapped。
　
　〃My　friend！〃　Richard　yelled；　his　anger　unhinged。
　
　Adie　calmly　looked　at　him　with　her　white　eyes　while　he　glared　back。　Zedd　was　going　to　die　if　he　didn't　get　help；　and　Richard　was　in　no　mood　to　allow　that　to　happen。　Adie　leaned　forward；　by　each。　They　measured　each　other　on　qualities　he　couldn't　see。　This　was　a　woman　who　could　bring　them　to　harm；　and　he　knew　the　sword　wasn't　going　to　protect　him。
　
　Adie　turned　back　to　Richard。　〃Put　words　to　your　need；　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　〃We　need　your　help。〃
　
　Adie's　head　bobbed。　〃True。〃
　
　〃Our　two　friends　are　hurt。　One；　Dell　Brandstone；　told　me　he　is　your　friend。〃
　
　〃True；〃　Adie　said　again　in　her　raspy　voice。
　
　〃Another　man；　in　Southaven；　told　us　you　may　be　able　to　help　them。　In　return　for　your　help；　we　brought　you　supplies。　We　thought　it　would　be　fair　to　offer　you　something。〃
　
　Adie　leaned　closer。　〃Lie！〃　She　thumped　her　crutch　once　on　the　ground。　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　jerked　back　a　little。
　
　Richard　didn't　know　what　to　say。　Adie　waited。　〃It's　true。　The　supplies　are　right　here。〃　He　turned　a　little；　indicating　Chase's　horse。　〃We　thought　it　would　be　fair　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Lie！〃　She　thumped　her　crutch　once　again。
　
　Richard　folded　his　arms；　his　temper　rising。　His　friends　were　dying　while　he　played　games　with　this　woman。　〃What　is　a　lie？〃
　
　〃　〃We'　be　a　lie。〃　She　thumped　her　crutch　again。　〃You　be　the
　
　one　who　thought　to　offer　supplies。　You　be　the　one　who　decided　to　bring　them。　Not　you　and　Kahlan。　You。　‘We'　be　a　lie。　‘I'　be　the　truth。〃
　
　Richard　unfolded　his　arms；　holding　them　out　to　his　sides。　〃What　…difference　does　that　make？　‘I；'　‘we；'　what　does　it　matter？〃
　
　She　stared　at　him。　〃One　be　true；　one　be　a　lie。　How　much　more　difference　could　there　be？〃
　
　Richard　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest　again；　frowning。　〃Chase　must　have　a　very　difficult　time　telling　you　the　stories　of　his　adventures。〃
　
　Adie's　small　smile　came　back。　〃True；〃　she　nodded。　She　leaned　a　little　closer；　motioning　with　her　hand。　〃Bring　your　friends　inside。〃
　
　She　turned；　put　the　crutch　back　under　her　arm；　and　worked　her　way　to　the　house。　Richard　and　Kahlan　looked　at　each　other；　and　then　went　to　get　Chase；　putting　the　blankets　away　first。　He　had　　Kahlan　take　the　boundary　warden's　feet；　he　took　the　heavy　half。　As　soon　as　they　lugged　Chase　through　the　door；　Richard　discovered　why。　she　was　called　the　bone　woman。
　
　Bones　of　every　kind　stood　out　in　stark　relief　against　the　dark　walls。　Every　wall　was　covered。　Against　one　were　shelves　that　held　skulls。　Skulls　of　beasts　Richard　didn't　recognize。　Most　were　fearsome　looking；　with　long；　curved　teeth。　At　least　none　were　human；　he　thought。　Some　of　the　bones　were　assembled　into　necklaces。　Some　were　decorated　into　objects　of　purpose　with　feathers　and　colored　beads；　chalk　circles　drawn　around　them　on　the　surface　of　the　wall。　There　were　stacks　of　bones　in　the　corner；　looking　unimportant　en　masse。　The　ones　on　the　wall　were　displayed　carefully；　with　space　around　them　to　signify　their　importance。　On　the　mantel　over　the　fireplace　was　a　rib　bone　as　thick　as　Richard's　arm；　as　long　as　he　was　tall；　with　symbols　he　didn't　recognize　carved　in　dark　lines　along　its　length。　There　were　so　many　bleached　bones　around　him　that　Richard　felt　as　if　he　were　in　the　belly　of　a　dead　beast。
　
　They　set　Chase　down　while　Richard's　head　swiveled　around；　looking。　Rainwater　dripped　off　Kahlan；　Chase；　and　himself。　Adie　towered　over　him。　She　was　as　dry　as　the　bones　around　her。　She　had　stood　outside　in　the　rain；　yet　she　was　dry。　Richard　reconsidered　the　wisdom　of　his　decision　to　e　here。　If　Chase　hadn't　told　him　Adie　was　his　friend；　he　would　not　be　doing　this。
　
　He　looked　to　Kahlan。　〃I'll　go　get　Zedd。〃　It　was　more　of　a　question　than　a　statement。
　
　〃I　will　help　carry　in　the　supplies；〃　she　offered；　casting　a　glance　at　Adie。
　
　Richard　gently　laid　Zedd　at　the　bone　woman's　feet。　Together；　he　and　Kahlan　stacked　the　supplies　on　the　table。　When　they　had　finished；　both　went　and　stood　next　to　their　friends；　in　front　of　Adie；　both　peering　at　the　bones。　Adie　watched　them。
　
　〃Who　be　this　one？〃　she　asked；　pointing　at　Zedd。
　
　〃Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander。　My　friend；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Wizard！〃　Adie　snapped。
　
　〃My　friend！〃　Richard　yelled；　his　anger　unhinged。
　
　Adie　calmly　looked　at　him　with　her　white　eyes　while　he　glared　back。　Zedd　was　going　to　die　if　he　didn't　get　help；　and　Richard　was　in　no　mood　to　allow　that　to　happen。　Adie　leaned　forward；　placing　her　wrinkled　hand　flat　against　his　stomach。　A　little　surprised；　he　stood　still　while　she　rubbed　her　hand　in　a　slow　circle；　as　if　seeking　to　discern　something。　She　took　her　hand　back；　carefully　folding　it　over　the　other　on　the　crutch。　Her　thin　lips　pulled　to　the　sides　in　a　slight　smile　as　she　looked　up。
　
　〃The　righteous　rage　of　a　true　Seeker。　Good。〃　She　looked　over　to　Kahlan。　〃You　have　nothing　to　fear　from　him；　child。　It　be　the　anger　of　truth。　It　be　the　anger　of　the　teeth。　The　good　need　not　fear　it。〃　With　the　aid　of　her　crutch；　she　took　a　few　steps　to　Kahlan。　Adie　placed　her　hand　on　Kahlan's　stomach　and　repeated　the　procedure。　When　she　was　finished；　she　laid　her　hand　over　the　crutch　and　nodded。　She　looked　to　Richard；
　
　〃She　has　the　fire。　The　anger　burns　in　her　too。　But　it　be　the　anger　of　the　tongue。　You　have　to　fear　it。　All　have　to　fear　it。　It　be　dangerous　if　she　ever　lets　it　out。〃
　
　Richard　gave　Adie　a　leery　look。　〃I　dislike　riddles；　they　leave　too　much　room　for　misinterpretation。　If　you　want　to　tell　me　something；　then　tell　me。〃
　
　〃Tell　me；〃　she　mocked。　Her　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　be　stronger；　teeth　or　tongue？〃
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath。　〃The　answer　is　obviously　teeth。　Therefore　I　choose　tongue。〃
　
　Adie　gave　him　a　disapproving　scowl。　〃Sometimes　your　tongue。　moves　when　it　shouldn't。　Make　it　be　still；〃　she　manded　in　a　dry　rasp。
　
　Somewhat　embarrassed；　Richard　kept　quiet。
　
　Adie　smiled　and　gave　a　nod。　〃See？〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃No。〃
　
　〃The　anger　of　teeth　be　force　by　contact。　Violence　by　touch。　bat。　The　magic　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　be　the　magic　of　the　anger　of　teeth。　Ripping。　Tearing。　The　anger　of　the　tongue　need　not　touch；　but　it　be　force　just　the　same。　It　cuts　just　as　quick。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　sure　what　you　mean；〃　Richard　said。
　
　Adie　reached　out；　her　long　finger　stretching　to　him　and　lightly　touching　his　shoulder。　His　head　was　suddenly　filled　with　a　vision；　a　vision　that　was　a　memory：　a　memory　of　the　night　before。　He　saw　the　men　at　the　inn。　He　was　standing　in　front　of　them　with　Kahlan；　and　the　men　were　ready　to　attack。　He　was　grasping　the　Sword　of　Truth；　ready　for　the　violence　necessary　to　stop　them；　knowing　that　nothing　short　of　blood　would　suffice。　Then　he　saw　Kahlan　next　to　him；　talking　to　the　mob；　stopping　them；　holding　them　with　her　words；　running　her　tongue　across　her　lip；　giving　meaning　without　speaking。　She　was　taking　the　fire　from　them；　disarming　the　depraved　without　touching　them；　doing　what　the　sword　could　not。　He　began　to　understand　what　Adie　meant。。
　
　Kahlan's　hand　swept　up　sharply　and　snatched　Adie's　wrist；　pulling　the　hand　away　from　Richard。　There　was　a　dangerous　look　in　her　eyes；　one　that　wasn't　lost　on　Adie。
　
　〃I　am　sworn　to　protect　the　life　of　the　Seeker。　I　do　not　know　what　you　are　doing。　You　will　forgive　me　if　I　overreact；　I　mean　no　disrespect；　but　I　could　not　forgive　myself　if　I　failed　in　my　task。　There　is　much　at　risk。〃
　
　Adie　looked　down　at　the　hand　around　her　wrist。　〃I　understand；　child。　Forgive　me　for　thoughtlessly　giving　you　cause　for　alarm。〃
　
　Kahlan　held　the　wrist　a　moment　longer　to　make　her　point；　then　released　it。　Adie　laid　the　hand　over　her　other　on　the　t