tg.wizardfirstrule-第49部分

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　〃Good；〃　Adie　rasped。　〃Keep　thinking　so。　It　will　help　you　resist。　You　will　be　tempted　to　go　to　them。　If　you　do；　you　are　lost。　And　remember；　in　the　Narrows　it　be　even　more　important　to　keep　on　the　path　the　whole　way　through。　A　step　or　two　off　to　either　side　and　you　have　gone　too　far；　the　walls　of　the　boundary　be　that　close。　You　will　not　be　able　to　step　back。　Ever。〃
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath。　〃Adie；　the　boundary　is　failing。　Before　he　was　struck　down；　Zedd　told　me　he　could　see　the　change。　Chase　said　you　couldn't　see　into　it　before；　and　that　now　underworld　beings　were　getting　out。　Do　you　think　it　will　still　be　safe　to　go　through　the　Narrows？〃
　
　〃Safe？　I　never　said　it　be　safe。　It　never　be　safe　to　go　through　the　Narrows。　Many　who　were　keen　with　greed；　but　not　strong　of　will；　have　tried　to　go　through　and　never　e　out　the　other　side。〃　She　leaned　closer　to　him。　〃As　long　as　the　boundary　be　there　still；　so　too　must　be　the　pass。　Stay　on　the　trail。　Keep　in　mind　your　purpose。　Help　each　other　if　need　be；　and　you　will　get　across。〃
　
　Adie　studied　his　face。　Richard　turned　to　Kahlan's　green　eyes。　He　wondered　if　Kahlan　and　he　could　resist　the　boundary。　He　remembered　what　it　felt　like　to　want　to　go　into　it；　to　long　for　it。　In　the　Narrows；　it　would　be　on　both　sides　of　them。　He　knew　how　frightened　Kahlan　was　of　the　underworld；　with　good　reason；　she　had　been　in　it。　He　wasn't　anxious　to　go　anywhere　near　it　himself。
　
　Richard　frowned　in　thought。　〃You　said　the　Narrows　were　in　the　center　of　the　pass。　Won't　it　be　night？　How　will　we　see　to　stay　on　the　trail？〃
　
　Adie　put　her　hand　on　Kahlan's　shoulder　to　help　herself　up。　〃e；〃　she　said　as　she　put　the　crutch　under　her　arm。　They　followed　slowly　behind　as　she　worked　her　way　to　the　shelves。　Her　slender　fingers　clutched　a　leather　pouch。　She　loosened　the　drawstring　and　dumped　something　in　her　palm。
　
　She　turned　to　Richard。　〃Hold　out　your　hand。〃
　
　He　held　his　hand　palm　up　in　front　of　her。　She　put　her　hand　over　his；　and　he　felt　a　smooth　weight。　In　her　native　tongue　she　spoke　a　few　words　under　he；　breath。
　
　‘〃The　words　say　I　give　you　this　of　my　own　free　will。〃
　
　Richard　saw　that　in　his　palm　rested　a　rock　about　the　size　of　a　grouse　egg。　Smooth　and　polished；　it　was　so　dark　it　seemed　as　if　it　could　suck　the　light　from　the　room。　He　couldn't　even　discern　a　surface；　other　than　a　layer　of　gloss。　Beneath　that　was　a　void　of　blackness。
　
　〃This　be　a　night　stone；〃　she　said　in　a　measured　rasp。
　
　〃And　what　do　I　do　with　it？〃
　
　Adie　hesitated；　her　gaze　darting　briefly　to　the　window。　〃When　it　be　dark；　and　you　have　need　enough；　take　out　the　night　stone　and　it　will　give　off　light　so　you　may　find　your　way。　It　only　works　for　its　owner；　and　then　only　if　it　be　given　of　its　last　owner's　free　will。　I　will　tell　the　wizard　you　have　it。　He　has　magic　to　find　it；　so　he　will　be　able　to　find　you。〃
　
　Richard　hesitated。　〃Adie；　this　must　be　valuable。　I　don't　feel　right　accepting　it。〃
　
　〃Everything　is　valuable　under　the　right　conditions。　To　a　man　dying　of　thirst；　water　be　more　precious　than　gold。　To　a　drowning　man；　water　be　of　little　worth　and　great　trouble。　Right　now；　you　be　a　very　thirsty　man。　I　thirst　for　Darken　Rahl　to　be　stopped。　Take　the　night　stone。　If　you　feel　the　weight　of　obligation；　you　may　return　it　to　me　one　day。〃
　
　Richard　nodded；　slipped　the　stone　into　the　leather　pouch　and　then　into　his　pocket。　Adie　turned　to　the　shelf　once　more　and　retrieved　a　delicate　necklace；　holding　it　up　for　Kahlan　to　see。　A　few　red　and　yellow　beads　were　to　each　side　of　a　small　round　bone。　Kahlan's　eyes　brightened；　her　mouth　opened　in　surprise。
　
　〃It　is　just　like　my　mother's；〃　she　said　with　delight
　
　Adie　placed　it　over　her　head　while　Kahlan　lifted　clear　her　mass　of　dark　hair。　Kahlan　looked　down　at　the　necklace；　touching　it　between　her　finger　and　thumb；　smiling。
　
　〃For　now　it　will　hide　you　from　the　beasts　in　the　pass；　and　someday；　when　you　carry　a　child　of　your　own；　it　will　protect　her；　and　help　her　to　grow　strong　like　you。〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　arms　around　the　old　woman；　hugging　her　tight　for　a　long　time。　When　they　separated；　Kahlan's　face　bore　a　distressed　expression；　and　she　spoke　in　the　language　Richard　didn't　understand。　Adie　simply　smiled　and　patted　her　shoulder　sympathetically。
　
　〃You　two　should　sleep　now。〃
　
　〃What　about　me？　Shouldn't　I　have　a　bone　to　hide　me　from　the　beasts？〃
　
　Adie　studied　his　face；　then　looked　down　at　his　chest。　Slowly；　she　reached　out。　Her　fingers　uncurled　and　touched　his　shirt　tentatively；　touched　the　tooth　underneath。　She　pulled　her　hand　back　and　looked　back　up　into　his　eyes。　Somehow　she　knew　about　the　tooth　being　there。　Richard　held　his　breath。
　
　〃You　need　no　bone；　Hartlander。　The　beasts　cannot　see　you。〃
　
　His　father　had　told　him　the　thing　guarding　the　book　had　been　an　evil　beast。　He　realized　the　tooth　was　the　reason　the　things　from　the　boundary　hadn't　been　able　to　find　him；　as　they　had　the　others。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　the　tooth；　he　would　have　been　struck　down　as　Zedd　and　Chase　were；　and　Kahlan　would　be　in　the　underworld　now。　Richard　tried　to　keep　his　face　from　betraying　any　emotion。　Adie　seemed　to　get　the　hint　and　remained　silent。　Kahlan　seemed　confused　but　didn't　ask。
　
　〃Sleep　now；〃　Adie　said。
　
　Kahlan　refused　Adie's　offer　of　her　bed。　She　and　Richard　laid　their　bedrolls　near　the　fire；　and　Adie　retired　to　her　room。　Richard　put　a　few　more　logs　in　the　fire；　remembering　how　Kahlan　liked　to　be　by　a　fire。　He　sat　by　Zedd　and　Chase　for　a　few　minutes；　smoothing　the　old　man's　white　hair；　listening　to　his　even　breathing。　He　hated　to　leave　his　friends　behind。　He　was　afraid　of　what　was　ahead。　He　wondered　if　Zedd　had　an　idea　of　where　to　look　for　one　of　the　boxes。　Richard　wished　he　knew　what　Zedd's　plan　was。　Maybe　it　was　some　sort　of　wizard's　trick　to　try　on　Darken　Rahl
　
　Kahlan　sat　on　the　floor　by　the　fire　with　her　legs　crossed；　watching　him。　When　he　came　back　to　his　blanket；　she　lay　down　on　her　back；　pulling　the　blanket　up　to　her　waist。　The　house　was　quiet　…and　felt　safe。　Rain　continued　to　fall　outside。　It　felt　good　being　by　the　fire。　He　was　tired。　Richard　turned　toward　Kahlan；　his　elbow　on　the　floor　and　his　head　propped　in　his　hand。　She　stared　up　at　the　ceiling；　turning　the　bone　on　the　necklace　between　her　finger　and　thumb。　He　watched　her　breast　rise　and　fall　with　her　breathing。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　whispered　while　continuing　to　stare　at　the　ceiling；　〃I'm　sorry　we　have　to　leave　them　behind。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　he　whispered　back。　〃Me　too。〃
　
　〃I　hope　you　do　not　feel　I　forced　you　to　do　it；　because　of　what　I　said　when　we　were　in　the　swamp。〃
　
　〃No。　It　was　the　right　decision。　Every　day　brings　winter　closer。　It　will　do　us　no　good　to　wait　with　them；　while　Rahl　gets　the　boxes。　Then　we　will　all　be　dead。　The　truth　is　the　truth。　I　can't　be　angry　at　you　for　saying　it。〃
　
　He　listened　to　the　fire　snap　and　hiss　as　he　watched　her　face；　the　way　her　hair　lay　across　the　floor。　He　could　see　a　vein　in　her　neck　pulsing　with　her　heartbeat。　He　thought　that　she　had　the　most　delicious…looking　neck　he　had　ever　seen。　Sometimes　she　looked　so　beautiful；　he　could　hardly　stand　to　look　at　her；　and　at　the　same　time；　could　not　look　away。　She　still　held　the　necklace　in　her　fingers。
　
　　〃Kahlan？〃　She　turned　to　his　eyes。　〃When　Adie　told　you　the　necklace　would　protect　you　and　someday　your　child；　what　did　you　say　to　her？〃
　
　She　gazed　at　him　a　long　moment。　〃I　thanked　her；　but　I　told　her　I　did　not　think　I　would　live　long　enough　to　have　a　child。〃
　
　Richard　felt　bumps　rise　on　the　skin　of　his　arms。　〃Why　would　you　say　that？〃
　
　Her　eyes　moved　in　little　flicks　as　she　studied　different　places　on　his　face。　〃Richard；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃madness　is　loose　in　my　homeland；　madness　you　cannot　imagine。　I　am　but　one。　They　are　many。　I　have　seen　people　better　than　me　go　against　it　and　be　slaughtered。　I。　am　not　saying　I　think　we　will　fail；　but　I　do　not　think　I　will　live　to　know。〃
　
　Even　if　she　wasn't　saying　it；　Richard　knew　she　didn't　think　he　would　live　either。　She　was　trying　not　to　frighten　him；　but　she　thought　he　would　die　in　the　effort；　too。　That　was　why　she　hadn't　wanted　Zedd　to　give　him　the　Sword　of　Truth；　to　make　him　Seeker。　He　felt　as　if　his　heart　were　ing　up　into　his　throat。　She　believed　she　was　leading　them　to　their　death。
　
　Maybe　she　was　right；　he　mused。　After　all；　she　knew　more　about　what　they　were　up　against　than　he　did。　She　must　be　terrified　to　go　back　to　the　Midlands。　But　then；　there　was　no　place　to　hide。　The　night　wisp　had　said　that　to　run　was　a　sure　death。
　
　Richard　kissed　the。　end　of　his　finger　and　then　touched　it　against　the　bone　on　the　necklace。　He　looked　back　up　into　her　soft　eyes。
　
　〃I　add　my　oath　of　protection　to　the　bone；〃　he　said　in　a　whisper。　〃To　you　now　and　to　any　child　you　may　bear　in　the　future。　I　would　trade　no　day　I　spend　with　you　for　a　life　of　safe　slavery。　I　accepted　the　post　of　Seeker　of　my　own　free　will。　And　if　Darken　Rahl　takes　the　whole　world　into　madness；　then　we　will　die　with　a　sword　in　our　hands；　not　chains　on　our　wings。　We　will　not　allow　it　to　be　easy　for　them　to　kill　us；　they　will　pay　a　high　price。　We　will　fight　with　our　last　breath　if　need　be；　and　in　our　death；　let　us　inflict　a　wound　on　him　that　will　fester　until　it　claims　him。〃
　
　A　smile　spread　across　her　face；　until　her　eyes　were　caught　up　in　it。　〃If　Darken　Rahl　knew　you　as　I　do；　he　would　have　reason　to　lose　sleep。　I　thank　the　good　spirits　the　Seeker　has　no　cause　to　e　after　me　in　anger。〃　She　laid　her　head　down　on　her　arm。　〃You　have　an　odd　talent　for　making　me　feel　better；　Richard　Cypher；　even　when　telling　me　of　my　death。〃
　
　He　smiled。　〃That's　what　friends　are　for。〃
　
　Richard　watched　her　for　a　while　after　she　closed　her　eyes；　until　sleep　gently　took　him。　His　last　thoughts　before　it　came；　were　of　her。
　
　…＋…
　
　The　first　hint　of　morning　was　damp　and　dreary；　but　the　rain　had　stopped。　Kahlan　had　given　Adie　a　parting　hug。　Richard　faced　the　old　woman；　looking　into　her　white　eyes。
　
　〃I　must　ask　you　to　do　an　important　task。　You　must　give　Chase　a　message　from　the　Seeker。　Tell　him　he　is　to　go　back　to　Hartland　and　warn　the　First　Councilor　that　the　boundary　will　be　down　soon。　Have　him　tell　Michael　to　gather　the　army　to