tg.wizardfirstrule-第57部分

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hey　care　about　me？〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　fingers　and　smoothed　them　over　his　eyebrows　and　lips　before　he　turned　back　to　the　boy　and　sat　once　more　in　front　of　his　anxious　face。
　
　〃Carl〃…his　voice　was　so　soft　that　the　boy　had　to　strain　to　hear…〃do　you　have　a　dog？〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　he　nodded；　〃Tinker。　She's　a　fine　dog。　I　had　her　since　she　was　a　pup。〃
　
　〃Tinker；〃　Rahl　rolled　the　name　out　pleasantly。　〃And　has　Tinker　ever　been　lost；　or　run　away？〃
　
　Carl　scrunched　up　his　eyebrows；　thinking。　〃Well；　sure；　a　couple　times　before　she　was　grown。　But　she　came　back　the　next　day。〃
　
　〃Were　you　worried；　when　your　dog　was　gone？　When　she　was　missing？〃
　
　〃Well；　sure。〃
　
　Why？〃　〃Because　1　love　her。〃
　
　〃I　see。　And　so　then　when　Tinker　came　back　the　next　day；　what　did　you　do？〃
　
　〃I　picked　her　up　in　my　arms　and　I　hugged　her　and　hugged　her。〃
　
　〃You　didn't　beat　Tinker　with　your　belt？〃
　
　〃No！〃
　
　〃Why　not？〃
　
　〃Because　I　love　her！〃
　
　〃But　you　were　worried？〃。
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃So　you　hugged　Tinker　when　she　came　back　because　you　loved　her　and　you　were　worried　about　her。〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　Rahl　leaned　back　a　little；　his　blue　eyes　intense。　〃I　see。　And　if　you　had　beaten　Tinker　with　your　belt　when　she　came　back　to　you；　what　do　you　think　she　would　have　done？〃
　
　〃I　bet　she　might　not　have　e　back　the　next　time。　She　wouldn't　want　to　e　back　so　I　could　beat　her。　She'd　have　gone　somewhere　else　where　people　loved　her。〃
　
　〃I　see；〃　Rahl　said　meaningfully。
　
　Tears　streamed　down　Carl's　cheeks。　He　looked　away　from　Rahl's　eyes　as　he　cried。　At　last；　Rahl　reached　out；　stroking　back　the　boy's　hair。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Carl。　I　did　not　mean　to　upset　you。　But　I　want　you　to　know　that　when　this　is　all　over；　and　you　go　home　again；　that　if　you　ever　need　a　home；　you　will　always　be　wele　here。　You　are　a　fine　boy；　a　fine　young　man；　and　I　would　be　proud　to　have　you　stay　here；　with　me。　Both　you　and　Tinker。　And　I　want　you　to　know　I　trust　you　to　think　for　yourself；　and　you　may　e　and　go　as　you　please。〃
　
　Carl　looked　up　with　wet　eyes。　〃Thank　you；　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled　warmly。　〃Now；　how　about　some　food？〃
　
　Carl　nodded　his　approval。
　
　〃What　would　you　like？　We　have　anything　you　could　want。〃
　
　Carl　thought　a　minute；　and　a　smile　came　to　him。　〃I　like　blueberry　pie。　It's　my　favorite。〃　He　cast　his　eyes　down；　the　smile　fading。　〃But　I'm　not　allowed　to　have　it　for　breakfast。〃　A　big　grin　came　to　Darken　Rahl's　face。　He　stood。　〃Blueberry　pie　it　is；　then。　I'll　go　get　it　and　be　right　back。〃
　
　The　Master　walked　off　through　the　garden　to　a　small　vine　covered　door　at　the　side。　The　door　opened　for　him　as　he　approached；　the　big　arm　of　Demmin　Nass　holding　it　back　as　Rahl　passed　through　into　the　dark　room。　Foul…smelling　gruel　boiled　in　an　iron　kettle　hung　over　a　fire　in　a　small　forge。　The　two　guards　stood　silently　against　the　far　wall；　a　sheen　of　sweat　covering　them。
　
　〃Master　Rahl。〃　Demmin　bowed　his　head。　〃I　trust　the　boy　meets　with　your　approval。〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　finger　tips。　〃He　will　do　nicely。〃　He　smoothed　his　eyebrows　down。　〃Dish　me　out　a　bowl　of　that　slop　so　it　can　cool。〃
　
　Demmin　picked　up　a　pewter　bowl　and　started　ladling　gruel　into　it　with　the　wooden　spoon　from　the　kettle。
　
　〃If　everything　is　all　right〃…a　wicked　grin　came　over　his　pockmarked　face…〃then　I　will　be　off　to　pay　our　respects　to　Queen　Milena。〃
　
　〃Fine。　On　the　Way；　stop　and　tell　the　dragon　I　want　her。〃
　
　Demmin　stopped　ladling。　〃She　doesn't　like　me。〃
　
　〃She　doesn't　like　anyone；〃　Rahl　said　flatly。　〃But　don't　worry；　Demmin；　she　will　not　eat　you。　She　knows　what　I　will　do　if　she　stretches　my　patience。〃　'
　
　Demmin　started　ladling　again。　〃She　will　ask　how　soon　you　will　need　her。〃
　
　Rahl　glanced　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃That　is　none　of　her　concern；　and　tell　her　I　said　so。　She　is　to　e　when　I　ask；　and　wait　until　I　am　ready。〃　He　turned　and　looked　out　a　small　slit；　off　through　the　foliage；　at　the　side　of　the　boy's　head。　〃But　I　want　you　back　here　in　two　weeks。〃
　
　〃Two　weeks；　all　right。〃　Demmin　set　the　bowl　of　gruel　down。　〃But　does　it　really　need　to　take　that　long　with　the　boy？〃
　
　〃It　does　if　I　want　to　return　from　the　underworld。〃　Rahl　continued　to　look　out　the　slit。　〃It　may　take　longer。　Whatever　it　takes；　it　takes。　I　must　have　his　plete　trust；　the　freely　given　pledge　of　his　unconditional　loyalty。〃
　
　Demmin　hooked　a　thumb　in　his　belt。　〃We　have　another　problem。〃　Rahl　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Is　that　all　you　do；　Demmin？　Go　around　looking　for　problems？〃
　
　〃It　keeps　my　head　attached　to　my　shoulders。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled。　〃So　it　does；　my　friend；　so　it　does。〃　He　sighed。　〃Get　it　off　your　tongue；　then。〃
　
　Demmin　shifted　his　weight　to　his　other　foot。　〃Last　night　I　received　reports　that　the　tracer　cloud　has　vanished。〃
　
　〃Vanished？〃
　
　〃Well；　not　so　much　vanished；　as　hidden。〃　He　scratched　the　side　of　his　face。　〃They　said　clouds　moved　in　and　hid　it。〃
　
　Rahl　laughed。　Demmin　frowned　in　confusion。
　
　〃Our　friend；　the　old　wizard。　It　sounds　like　he　saw　the　cloud　and　has　been　up　to　his　little　tricks　to　vex　me。　It　was　to　be　expected。　This　one　is　not　a　problem；　my　friend。　It　is　not　important。〃
　
　〃Master　Rahl；　that　was　how　you　were　to　find　the　book。　Other　than　the　last　box；　what　could　be　more　important？〃
　
　〃I　did　not　say　the　book　was　unimportant。　I　said　the　cloud　was　unimportant。　The　book　is　very　important；　that　is　why　I　would　not　trust　it　only　to　a　tracer　cloud。　Demmin；　how　do　you　suppose　I　hooked　the　cloud　to　the　Cypher　boy？〃
　
　〃My　talents　lie　in　areas　other　than　magic；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　〃True　enough；　my　friend。〃　Rahl　licked　his　fingertips。　〃Many　years　ago；　before　my　father　was　murdered　by　that　evil　wizard；　he　told　me　of　the　boxes　of　Orden；　and　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　He　was　trying　to　recover　them　himself；　but　he　was　not　well　enough　studied。　He　was　too　much　a　man　of　action；　of　battle。〃　Rahl　looked　up　into　Demmin's　eyes。　〃Much　the　same　as　you；　my　big　friend。　He　didn't　have　the　necessary　knowledge。　But　he　was　wise　enough　to　teach　me　the　value　of　the　head　over　the　sword；　how　by　using　your　head；　you　could　defeat　any　number　of　men。　He　had　the　best　instructors　tutor　me。　Then　he　was　murdered。〃　Rahl　pounded　his　fist　down　on　the　table。　His　face　turned　red。　After　a　moment；　he　calmed　himself。　〃So　I　studied　harder；　for　many　years；　so　that　I　might　succeed　where　my　father　failed；　and　return　the　house　of　Rahl　to　its　rightful　place　as　rulers　of　all　the　lands。〃
　
　〃You　have　exceeded　your　father's　deepest；；　hopes；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled　his　slight　smile。　He　took　another　look　through　the　slit　as　he　went　on。　〃In　my　studies；　I　found　where　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　lay　hidden。　It　was　in　the　Midlands；　on　the　other　side　of　the　boundary；　but　I　was　not　yet　able　to　travel　the　underworld；　to　go　there　and　retrieve　it。　So　I　sent　a　guard　beast；　to　watch　over　it　for　me；　until　the　day　when　I　could　go　myself　and　liberate　it。〃
　
　He　stood　up　straight；　turning　back　to　Demmin；　a　dark　look　on　his　face。　〃Before　I　could　get　the　book；　a　man　named　George　Cypher　killed　the　guard　beast；　and　stole　the　book。　My　book。　He　took　a　tooth　from　the　beast　as　a　trophy。　A　very　stupid　thing　to　do；　as　the　beast　was　sent　by　magic；　my　magic〃…he　lifted　an　eyebrow…〃and　I　can　find　my　magic。〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　fingers；　stroking　them　over　his　lips；　staring　off　absently。　〃After　I　put　the　boxes　of　Orden　in　play；　I　went　to　get　the　book。　That's　when　I　found　it　had　been　stolen。　It　took　time；　but　I　found　the　man　who　stole　it。　Unfortunately；　he　no　longer　had　the　book；　and　would　not　tell　me　where　it　was。〃　Rahl　smiled　up　at　Demmin。　〃I　made　him　suffer　for　not　helping　me。〃　Demmin　smiled　back。　〃But　I　did　learn　that　he　had　given　the　tooth　to　his　son。〃
　
　〃So　that　is　how　you　know　the　Cypher　boy　has　the　book。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Richard　Cypher　has　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　And　he　also　wears　the　tooth。　That's　how　I　hooked　the　tracer　cloud　to　him；　by　hooking　it　to　the　tooth　his　father　gave　him；　the　tooth　with　my　magic。　I　would　have　recovered　the　book　before　now；　but　I　have　had　many　matters　to　attend　to。　I　only　hooked　the　cloud　to　him　to　help　me　keep　track　of　him　in　the　meantime。　It　was　a　mere　convenience。　But　the　matter　is　as　good　as　settled；　I　can　get　the　book　at　any　time　of　my　choosing。　The　cloud　is　of　little　importance。　I　can　find　him　by　the　tooth。〃
　
　Rahl　picked　up　the　bowl　of　gruel；　handing　it　to　Demmin。　〃Taste　this；　see　if　it　is　cool　enough。〃　He　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　hurt　the　boy。〃
　
　Demmin　sniffed　the　bowl；　his　nose　turning　up　in　distaste。　He　handed　it　to　one　of　the　guards；　who　took　it　without　objection　and　put　a　spoon　of　gruel　to　his　lips。　He　gave　a　nod。
　
　〃Cypher　could　lose　the　tooth；　or　simply　throw　it　away。　Then　you　would　not　be　able　to　find　him；　or　the　book。〃　Demmin　gave　a　submissive　bow　of　his　head　as　he　spoke。　〃Please　forgive　me　for　saying　so；　Master　Rahl　but　it　would　seem　to　rite　you　leave　a　lot　to　chance。〃
　
　〃Sometimes；　Demmin；　I　leave　things　to　fate；　but　never　to　chance。　I　have　other　ways　of　finding　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　Demmin　took　a　deep　breath；　relaxing　as　he　thought　about　Rahl's　words。　〃I　can　see　now　why　you　haven't　been　worried。　I　didn't　know　all　this。〃
　
　Rahl　frowned　up　at　his　loyal　mander。　〃We　have　scarcely　stroked　the　fur　of　what　you　do　not　know；　Demmin。　That　is　why　you　serve　me；　and　not　me　you。〃　His　expression　softened。　〃You　have　been　a　good　friend；　Demmin；　since　we　were　boys；　so　I　will　ease　your　mind　on　this　subject。　I　have　many　pressing　matters　that　require　my　time；　matters　of　magic　that　cannot　wait。　Like　this。〃　His　arm　went　out；　indicating　the　boy。　〃I　know　where　the　book　is；　and　I　know　my　own　talents。　I　can　get　the　book　at　a　time　of　my　convenience。　For　now；　I　look　upon　it　as　if　Richard　Cypher　is　simply　keeping　it　safe　for　me。〃　Rahl　leaned　closer。　〃Satisfied？〃
　
　Demmin　diverted　his　eyes　to　the　ground：　〃Yes；　Master　Rahl。〃　He　looked　back　up。　〃Please　know　that　I　only　bring　my　concerns　to　you　because　I　want　success　for　you。　You　are　rightfully　the　master　of　all　the　lands。　We　all　need　you　to　guide　us。　I　wish　only　to　be　part　of　delivering　you　victory。　I　fear　nothing　but　that　I　should　fail　you。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　put　his　arm　around　Demmi