tg.wizardfirstrule-第96部分

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ll　she　wanted　to　do　was　die；　and　he　knew　she　would　manage　it　if　he　didn't　watch　her　every…　move。
　
　She　looked　back　at　him　with　the　same　blank　expression　she　had　worn　for　days。　〃This　is　called　an　inverted　fork。　Up　ahead；　where　it's　hard　to　see　because　of　the　lay　of　the　land　and　the　heavy　woods；　the　roads　cross　over　each　other　and　switch　directions。　Because　of　the　thick　trees；　it's　hard　to　tell　where　the　sun　is；　which　direction　you　are　going。　If　we　take　the　right　fork　here；　we　will　end　up　with　the　gars。　This　one；　to　the　left；　goes　to　Tamarang。〃
　
　He　frowned。　〃Why　would　anyone　go　to　the　trouble　to　build　a　road　like　that？〃
　
　〃It's　just　one　little　way　the　old　rulers　of　Tamarang　used　to　help　confuse　invaders　from　the　Wilds。　Sometimes　it　slowed　them　down　a　little；　gave　the　defenders　time　to　retreat　and　regroup　if　they　needed　to；　then　to　fall　on　the　attackers　again。〃
　
　He　studied　her　face　a　moment；　trying　to　judge　if　she　was　telling　the　truth。　It　infuriated　him　that　he　had　to　worry　about　whether　Kahlan　was　telling　him　the　truth。
　
　〃You're　the　guide；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Lead　on。〃
　
　At　his　word；　she　turned　without　ment　and　walked　on。　Richard　didn't　know　how　much　more　of　this　he　could　take。　She　would　only　talk　when　it　was　required；　wouldn't　listen　when　he　tried　to　make　conversation；　and　backed　away　whenever　he　got　close。　She　acted　as　if　his　touch　would　be　poison；　but　he　knew　it　was　really　her　touch　she　worried　about。　He　had　hoped　that　the　way　she　was　talking　when　they　had　spotted　the　gars　signaled　a　change；　but　he　was　wrong。　She　had　quickly　reverted　to　her　dark　mood。
　
　She　had　reduced　herself　to　a　prisoner　on　a　forced　march；　had　reduced　him　to　a　reluctant　jailer。　He　kept　her　knife　in　his　belt。　He　knew　what　would　happen　if　he　gave　it　back　to　her。　With　every　step；　she　was　drifting　farther　and　farther　from　him。　He　knew　he　was　losing　her；　but　didn't　have　the　slightest　idea　what　to　do　about　it。
　
　At　night；　when　it　was　time　for　her　watch；　for　him　to　sleep；　he　had　to　tie　her　hands　and　feet　to　prevent　her　from　killing　herself　when　he　wasn't　watching。　When　he　bound　her；　she　endured　it　limply。　He　endured　it　with　great　pain。　Even　then；　he　had　to　sleep　with　one　eye　open。　He　slept　by　her　feet　so　if　she　saw　or　heard　something；　she　could　wake　him。　He　was　dead　tired　from　the　strain。
　
　He　wished　they　had　never　gone　to。　Shota。　The　idea　that　Zedd　would　turn　on　him　was　unthinkable；　the　idea　that　Kahlan　would　was　unbearable。
　
　Richard　took　out　some　food。　He　kept　his　voice　cheerful；　hoping　to　perk　her　up。　〃Here；　have　some　of　this　dried　fish？〃　He　smiled。　〃It's　really　awful。〃
　
　She　didn't　laugh　at　his　joke。　〃No；　thank　you。　I'm　not　hungry。〃
　
　Richard　struggled　to　keep　the　smile　on　his　face；　struggled　to　keep　his　voice　from　betraying　his　anger。　His　head　was　pounding。　〃Kahlan；　you've　hardly　eaten　for　days。　You　have　to　eat。〃
　
　〃I　said　I　don't　want　any。〃
　
　〃e　on；　for　me？〃　he　coaxed。
　
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　next？　Hold　me　down　and　force　it　in　my　mouth？〃
　
　The　calmness　in　her　voice　infuriated　him；　but　he　covered　it　as　best　he　could　with　his　tone；　if　not　his　words。　〃If　I　have　to。〃
　
　She　spun　at　him；　her　chest　heaving。　〃Richard；　please！　Just　let　me　go？　I　don't　want　to　be　with　you！　Just　let　me　go！〃　It　was　the　first　emotion　she　had　shown　since　leaving　Agaden　Reach。
　
　It　was　his　turn　to　hide　his　emotions。　〃No。〃
　
　She　glared　at　him　with　fire　in　her　green　eyes。　〃You　can't　watch　me　every　minute。　Sooner　or　later　。　。　。〃　〃Every　minute　。　。　。　if　I　have　to。〃
　
　They　stood　glaring　angrily　at　each　other；　then　the　emotion　on　her　face　was　gone；　and　she　turned　back　to　the　road；　walking　on。
　
　They　had　only　stopped　for　a　few　minutes；　but　it　had　been　enough　for　the　thing　that　followed　them　to　make　another　mistake；　a　rare　one。　It　had　let　its　guard　down　briefly；　and　let　itself　get　too　close…close　enough　for　Richard　to　see　its　fierce　yellow　eyes　again；　if　only　for　an　instant。
　
　He　had　been　aware　that　they　were　being　followed　since　the　second　day　out　of　the　Reach。　Years　spent　alone　in　the　woods　made　him　aware　when　he　was　being　followed；　tracked。　It　was　a　game　he　and　the　other　guides　had　played　sometimes　in　the　Hartland　Woods；　seeing　how　far　they　could　follow　each　other　without　being　detected。　Whatever　followed　now　was　good　at　the　game。　But　not　as　good　as　Richard。　Three　times　now；　he　had　seen　the　yellow　eyes；　when　no　one　else　would　have。
　
　He　knew　it　wasn't　Samuel；　the　yellow　was　different；　darker；　and　the　eyes　were　closer　together…and　it　was　smarter。　It　couldn't　be　a　heart　hound；　they　would　have　been　attacked　long　before　now。　Whatever　it　was；　it　only　watched。
　
　Richard　was　sure　Kahlan　hadn't　seen　it；　she　was　too　far　lost　in　her　own　dark　thoughts。　Sooner　or　later；　the　thing　would　make　itself　known；　and　Richard　would　be　ready。　But　with　Kahlan　the　way　she　was　right　now；　he　had　his　hands　full；　and　he　didn't　need　more　trouble。
　
　So　he　didn't　turn　and　look；　to　show　it　that　he　suspected；　didn't　backtrack；　and　didn't　snap　a　circle；　as　he　and　the　other　guides　had　called　the　maneuver；　but　rather；　he　let　his　eyes　catch　the　glimpses　when　they　did；　without　forcing　a　glance。　He　was　reasonably　sure　the　thing　that　followed　didn't　know　he　was　aware　of　it。　For　now；　that's　the　way　he　wanted　to　keep　it。　It　left　the　advantage　with　him。
　
　He　watched　Kahlan　as　she　walked　with　her　shoulders　slumped；　and　wondered　what　he　was　going　to　do　in　a　few　days；　when　they　reached　Tamarang。　Whether　he　liked　it　or　not；　she　was　winning　this　slow　battle；　simply　because　things　couldn't　go　on　like　this。　She　could　fail　time　and　again；　she　had　only　to　succeed　once。　He　had　to　win　every　time。　To　slip　just　once　would　let　her　end　her　life。　In　the　end；　he　knew　he　couldn't　win；　knew　he　was　going　to　lose；　and　could　think　of　nothing　to　change　that。
　
　…＋
　
　Rachel　sat　on　the　short　footstool　in　front　of　the　tall　chair　that　was　covered　with　red　velvet　and　buttons　and　gold　carving；　waiting；　knocking　her　knees　together。　Hurry；　Giller；　she　kept　saying　to　herself；　hurry；　before　the　Princess　es。　She　looked　up　at　the　Queen's　box。　She　hoped　that　when　Princess　Violet　came　to　try　on　jewelry；　she　didn't　touch　the　box　again。　Rachel　hated　it　when　she　did　that；　it　scared　her。
　
　The　door　opened　a…little。　Giller　poked　his　head　in。
　
　〃Hurry；　Giller；〃　she　whispered　loudly。
　
　The　rest　of　him　came　in。　He　stuck　his　head　back　out；　looking　up　and　down　the　hall；　then　he　shut　the　door。　He　looked　down　at　her。
　
　〃Did　you　get　the　bread？〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I　got　it　here。〃　She　pulled　the　bundle　out　from　under　the　chair　and　set　it　on　the　footstool。　〃I　took　a　towel　and　wrapped　it　around　the　bread　so　no　one　would　see。〃
　
　〃Good　girl。〃　He　smiled　as　he　turned　around；　away　from　her。
　
　She　smiled　up　at　him；　then　frowned。　〃I　had　to　steal　it。　I　never　stole　anything　before。〃
　
　〃I　assure　you；　Rachel；　it's　for　a　good　cause。〃　He　was　looking　at　the　box。
　
　〃Giller；　Princess　Violet　is　ing　here。〃
　
　He　turned　back；　his　eyes　big。　〃When？〃
　
　〃She　said　after　she　has　the　fitting　for　her　new　dress。　She's　pretty　fussy；　so　it　may　take　a　while；　but　maybe　not。　She　likes　to　try　jewelry　on　and　look　at　herself　in　the　mirror。〃
　
　〃Curse　the　spirits；〃　Giller　whispered；　〃nothing　is　ever　easy。〃　He　turned　around　again　and　snatched　the　Queen's　box　off　the　marble　stand。
　
　〃Giller！　You　mustn't　touch　that！　It's　the　Queen's！〃
　
　He　looked　a　little　mad　when　he　looked　down　at　her。　〃No！　It's　not！　Just　wait；　and　I　will　explain。〃
　
　He　set　the　box　down　on　the　stool　next　to　the　bread。　His　hand　reached　into　his　robes　and　pulled　out　another　box。　〃How's　it　look？〃　With　a　smile　on　one　side　of　his　mouth；　he　held　the　new　box　toward　her。
　
　〃It　looks　just　the　same！〃
　
　〃Good。〃　He　put　it　on　the　stand　where　the　real　one　had　been；　then　sat　down　on　the　floor　next　to　her　and　the　footstool。　〃Now　listen　to　me　very　carefully；　Rachel。　We　don't　have　much　time；　and　it　is　very　important　that　you　understand。〃
　
　She　could　tell　by　the　way　his　face　looked　that　he　meant　it。　She　nodded。　〃I　will；　Giller。〃
　
　He　laid　his　hand　on　the　box。　〃This　box　has　magic；　and　it　does　not　belong　to　the　Queen。〃
　
　She　frowned。　〃It　doesn't？　Who　does　it　belong　to？〃
　
　〃I　don't　have　time　to　explain　that　right　now。　Maybe　after　we　are　away　from　here。　The　important　thing　is　that　the　Queen　is　a　bad　person。〃　Rachel　nodded；　she　knew　that　was　true。　〃She　chops　off　people's　heads　just　because　she　wants　to。　She　doesn't　care　about　anyone　but　herself。　She　has　power。　Power　means　she　can　do　whatever　she　wants。　This　box　has　magic　and　it　helps　give　her　power。　That　is　why　she　took　it。〃
　
　〃I　understand。　Like　the　way　the　Princess　has　power；　so　she　can　slap　me；　and　chop　my　hair　crooked；　and　laugh　at　me。〃
　
　He　nodded。　〃That's　right。　Very　good；　Rachel。　Now。　There　is　a　man　who　is　even　meaner　than　the　Queen。　His　name　is　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Father　Rahl？〃　She　was　confused。　〃Everyone　say　he's　nice。　The　Princess　says　he　is　the　nicest　man　in　the　world。〃
　
　〃The　Princess　also　says　she　doesn't　spill　gravy　on　her　dresses。〃　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　
　〃That's　a　lie。〃
　
　Giller　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　real　soft。　〃You　listen　very　carefully。。　Darken　Rahl；　Father　Rahl；　is　the　meanest　man　that　ever　was。　He　hurts　more　people　than　the　Queen　could　even　think　of。　He　is　so　mean　that　he　even　kills　children。　Do　you　know　what　that　means；　to　kill　someone？〃
　
　She　felt　sad；　and　scared。　〃It　means　you　chop　off　their　head　or　something；　and　make　them　dead。〃
　
　〃Yes。　And　just　as　the　Princess　laughs　when　she　slaps　you；　Darken　Rahl　laughs　when　he　kills　people。　You　know　the　way　when　the　Princess　is　at　dinner　with　all　the　lords　and　ladies；　she　is　real　nice；　and　polite？　But　when　she　is　alone　with　you；　she　slaps　you？〃
　
　Rachel　nodded；　she　had　a　lump　in　her　throat。　〃She　doesn't　like　them　to　know　she's　really　mean。〃
　
　Giller　held　his　finger　up。　〃That's　right！　You're　a　very　bright　girl！　Well；　Father　Rahl　is　the　same　way。　He　doesn't　want　people　to　know　he　is　really　mean；　so　he　can　be　very　polite；　and　make　it　seem　like　he　is　the　nicest　man　in…the　world。　Whatever　you　do；　Rachel；　you　stay　away　from　him；　if　you　can。〃
　
　〃I　will；　for　sure。〃
　
　〃But　if　he　talks　to　you；