tg.wizardfirstrule-第112部分

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　〃What！〃　Zedd　yelled　again；　jumping　to　his　feet。　〃Darken　Rahl　was　there！　I。　told　you；　stay　away　from　him！〃
　
　Richard　looked　up。　〃We　didn't　exactly　invite　him。〃
　
　〃He　killed　a　lot　of　them；〃　Kahlan　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　still　looking　down　at　her　plate；　chewing　slowly。
　
　Zedd　stared　at　the　top　of　her　head；　then　slowly　sank　back　down。　〃I'm　…sorry；〃　he　said　softly。　〃So；　what　did　the　ancestors'　spirits　tell　you？〃
　
　Richard　gave　a　shrug。　〃That　we　had　to　go　to　see　a　witch　woman。〃
　
　〃Witch　woman！〃　Zedd's　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　witch　woman？　Where？〃
　
　〃Shota。　In　Agaden　Reach。〃
　
　Zedd　winced；　almost　dropping　his　plate；　the　air　making　a　sound　going　through　his　bared；　gritted　teeth　as　he　drew　a　sharp　breath。　〃Shota！〃　He　looked　around　as　if　someone　might　hear。　He　lowered　his　voice；　directing　a　harsh　whisper　to　Kahlan　as　he　leaned　closer　to　her。　〃Bags！　What　would　possess　you　to　guide　him　into　Agaden　Reach！　You　are　sworn　to　protect　him！〃
　
　〃Believe　me；〃　she　said；　looking　him　in　the　eye；　〃I　did　not　want　to　do　it。〃
　
　〃We　had　to；〃　Richard　said；　ing　to　her　defense。
　
　Zedd　cast　an　eye　to　him。　〃Why？〃
　
　〃To　find　out　where　the　box　is。　And　we　did；　too；　Shota　told　us。〃
　
　〃Shota　told　you；〃　Zedd　mocked；　scowling　at　him。　〃And　what　else　did　she　tell　you？　Shota　tells　you　nothing　you　want　to　know　without　telling　you　something　you　don't。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　Richard　a　sidelong　glance。　He　didn't　return　it。　〃Nothing。　She　told　us　nothing　else。〃　He　held　Zedd's　eyes　without　backing　down。　〃She　told　us　that　Queen　Milena；　in　Tamarang；　has　the　last　box　of　Orden。　She　told　us　because　her　life　too　depends　on　this。〃　Richard　held　Zedd's　glare。　He　doubted　that　his　old　friend　believed　him；　but　he　didn't　want　to　tell　him　what　Shota　had　said。　How　could　he　tell　Zedd　that　one；　or　two；　of　them　might　end　up　being　traitors？　That　Zedd　would　use　wizard's　fire　against　him；　that　Kahlan　would　touch　him　with　her　power？　He　feared　that　maybe　it　would　be　justified；　after　all；　he　was　the　one　who　knew　about　the　book。　They　didn't。
　
　〃Zedd；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　told　me　you　wanted　me　to　get　us　to　the　Midlands；　and　that　you　had　a　plan　once　we　were　here。　You　were　struck　down　by　that　underworld　beast；　you　were　unconscious；　we　didn't　know　when；　or　if；　you　would　wake。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do；　I　didn't　know　what　your　plan　was。　Winter　is　ing。　We　have　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　His　voice　turned　harder　as　he　went　on。　〃I　have　been　doing　the　best　I　could　without　you。　I've　lost　track　of　the　number　of　times　we　have　nearly　been。　killed。　All　I　knew　to　do　was　try　to　find　the　box。　Kahlan　helped　me；　and　we　found　out　where　it　is。　It　has　cost　us　both　dearly。　If　you　don't　like　what　I　have　done；　then　take　your　cursed　Sword　of　Truth　back；　I　am　near　to　being　fed　up　with　it！　With　everything！〃
　
　He　threw　his　plate　on　the　ground；　walking　off　a　ways　into　the　dark；　standing　with　his　back　to　them；　a　lump　growing　in　his　throat。　The　dark　trees　in　front　of　him　became　watery。　It　surprised　him　the　way　the　anger　had　reached　up　and　taken　him。　He　had　wanted　to　see　Zedd　so　badly；　and　now　that　he　was　here；　he　was　angry　with　him。　He　let　the　ire　rage；　waiting　for　it　to　die　of　its　own　accord。
　
　Zedd　and　Kahlan　exchanged　a　look。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　softly　to　her；　〃I　can　see　that　you　have　indeed　told　him。〃　He　set　his　plate　on　the　ground；　stood；　and　gave　her　a　pat　on　the　shoulder。　〃I'm　sorry；　dear　one。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　move　when　he　felt　Zedd's　hand　on　his　shoulder。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　my　boy。　I　guess　you　have　been　having　a　hard　time　of　it。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　as　he　stared　into　the　darkness。　〃I　killed　a　man　with　the　sword。　With　the　magic。〃
　
　Zedd　waited　a　short　while　before　he　spoke。　〃Well；　I　know　you；　I'm　sure　you　had　to。〃　〃No；〃　Richard　said　in　a　painful　whisper。　〃I　didn't　have　to。　I　thought　I　was　protecting　Kahlan；　protecting　her　life。　I　didn't　know　she　was　a　Confessor；　that　she　needed　no　protection。　But　I　surely　wanted　to。　And　I　surely　enjoyed　it。〃
　
　〃You　only　thought　you　did。　That　was　the　magic。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　so　sure。　I'm　not　sure　what　is　being　of　me。〃
　
　〃Richard；　forgive　me　for　sounding　as　if　I　were　angry　with　you。　It　is　myself　I'm　angry　with。　You　have　done　well；　it　is　I　who　have　failed。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　Zedd　patted　his　shoulder。　〃e　and　sit。　I　will　tell　you　both　what　has　happened。〃
　
　They　walked　back　to　the　fire；　Kahlan　watching　them　together；　looking　lonely。　Richard　sat　next　to　her　again　and　gave　her　a　small　smile；　which　she　returned。
　
　Zedd　picked　up　his　plate；　gave　it　a　hard　look；　and　set　it　back　down。　〃I'm　afraid　we're　in　a　lot　of　trouble；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。
　
　A　sarcastic　remark　immediately　sprang　to　Richard's　mind；　but　he　stifled　it　and　asked　instead；　〃Why；　what's　happened？　What　of　your　plan？〃
　
　〃My　plan。〃　Zedd　gave　a　wry　smile；　drew　his　knees　up；　and　pulled　his　robes　over　his　legs；　making　a　little　tent　over　them。　〃My　plan　was　to　stop　Rahl　without　having　to　deal　with　him；　and　without　you　two　having　to　get　in　danger's　way。　My　plan　was　for　you　two　to　stay　out　of　trouble　while　I　dealt　with　this。　It　would　seem　as　if　your　own　plans　may　be　our　only　way　now。　I　have　not　told　you　all　there　is　to　know　of　the　boxes　of　Orden；　because　it　was　not　for　you　to　know。　It　was　none　of　your　business；　it　was　only。　for　me　to　know。〃　He　looked　at　each　of　them；　anger　flashing　in　his　eyes　for　an　instant　before　it　faded。　〃But　I　guess　it　doesn't　matter　now。〃
　
　〃What　was　not　for　us　to　know？〃　Kahlan　asked　with　a　frown；　her　own　anger　flashing　a　little。　Apparently；　she　didn't　like　it　any　more　than　Richard　did　that　they　were　in　danger　without　knowing　it　all。
　
　〃Well；　you　see；〃　Zedd　said；　〃the　three　boxes　work　just　as　I　said；　each　with　their　own　purpose；　but　you　have　to　know　which　to　open。　That　is　the　part　I　know。　It's　all　in　a　book；　called　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　The　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　is　an　instruction　book　for　the　boxes。　I'm　its　keeper。〃
　
　Richard　went　rigid。　The　tooth　felt　as　if　it　would　jump　right　off　his　chest。　He　couldn't　move　a　muscle；　could　hardly　breathe。
　
　　〃You　know　which　box　is　which？〃　Kahlan　asked。　〃You　know　which　he　must　open？〃
　
　〃No。　I'm　the　keeper　of　the　book。　That　information　is　all　in　the　book。　But　I've　never　read　it。　I　don't　know　which　box　is　which；　or　even　how　to　figure　it　out：　If　I　were　to　open　the　book；　it　would　risk　spreading　the　knowledge。　It　must　not　be　opened；　that　could　be　very　dangerous。　So　I　never　did。　I　am　the　keeper　of　many　books；　this　only　one　among　them；　but　a　very　important　one。〃　Richard　realized　that　his　eyes　were　open　wide　and　tried　to　relax　them　back　to　normal　with　a　few　blinks。　Almost　his　whole　life　he　had　been　looking　forward　to　the　day　he　would　find　the　keeper　of　the　book；　and　it　had　been　Zedd　the　whole　time。　The　shock　left　him　frozen。
　
　〃Where　was　it？〃　Kahlan　asked。　〃What　happened？〃
　
　〃It　was　in　my　Keep。　The　Wizard's　Keep。　In　Aydindril。〃
　
　〃You　went　to　Aydindril？〃　Kahlan　asked；　her　voice　anxious。
　
　〃How　is　Aydindril？　Is　it　safe？〃
　
　Zedd　averted　his　eyes。　〃Aydindril　has　fallen。〃
　
　Kahlan's　hand　went　to　her　mouth；　tears　filled　her　eyes。　〃No。〃
　
　Zedd　nodded。　〃I'm　afraid　so。〃　He　picked　at　his　robes。　〃It　is　not　going　well　for　them。　At　least　I　gave　the　occupiers　something　to　think　about；〃　he　added　under　his　breath。
　
　〃Captain　Riffkin？　Lieutenants　Delis　and　Miller？　The　Home　Guard？〃
　
　Zedd　kept　his　eyes　to　the　ground　and　shook　his　head　as　she　named　each　in　turn。　Kahlan　put　her　hands　to　her　breast　as　she　took　deep　breaths　and　bit　her　lip。　Whoever　these　men　were；　she　looked　to　be　pretty　upset　by　the　news。　Richard　thought　he　should　cover　his　own　shock　by　saying　something。　〃What's　this　Wizard's　Keep？〃
　
　〃It's　a　refuge；　a　place　where　the　wizards　preserve　important　things　of　magic；　such　as　the　books　of　prophecies；　and　books　of　even　more　importance…books　of　magic　and　instruction；　such　as　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　Some　of　the　books　are　used　to　teach　new　wizards；　some　are　used　as　reference；　and　some　are　used　as　weapons。　Other　items　of　magic　are　kept　there　also；　such　as　the　Sword　of　Truth；　between　Seekers。　The　Keep　is　sealed　by　magic；　none　can　enter　but　a　wizard。　At　least　none　but　a　wizard　was　supposed　to　be　able　to　enter。　But　someone　did。　How　they　did　without　being　killed　is　beyond　me。　It　must　have　been　Darken　Rahl。　He　must　have　the　book。〃
　
　〃Maybe　it　wasn't　Darken　Rahl；〃　Richard　managed；　his　back　straight　as　a　board。
　
　Zedd's　eyes　narrowed。　〃If　it　wasn't　Darken　Rahl；　then　it　was　a　thief。　A　very　clever　thief；　but　a　thief　nonetheless。〃
　
　Richard　swallowed　back　the　dryness　in　his　mouth。　〃Zedd　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　Do　you　think　this　book；　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　would　be　able　to　tell　us　how　to　stop　Rahl？　How　to　keep　him　from　using　the　boxes？〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged　his　bony　shoulders。　〃As　I　said；　I've　never　opened　the　cover。　But　from　what　I　know　from　other　books　of　instruction；　it　would　only　be　of　aid　to　the　person　with　the　boxes；　it's　designed　to　help　use　magic；　not　to　help　another　in　stopping　its　use。　In　all　likelihood；　it　wouldn't　have　helped　us。　My　plan　was　to　simply　get　the　book；　and　destroy　it；　to　keep　Rahl　from　getting　the　information。　Having　the　book　lost　to　us　leaves　us　with　no　alternative；　we　must　find　the　last　box：'
　
　〃But　without　the　book；　can　Rahl　still　open　the　boxes？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　〃With　as　much　as　he　knows；　I　am　sure　he　can。　But　he　still　wouldn't　know　which　one。〃
　
　〃Then；　with　or　without　the　book；　he's　going　to　open　a　box。〃　Richard　said。　〃He　has　to。　If　he　doesn't；　he　dies。　He　has　nothing　to　lose。　Even　if　you　had　recovered　the　book；　he　would　still　open　a　box…after　all；　there　is　a　chance　he　will　pick　right。〃
　
　〃Well；　if　he　has　the　book；　then　he　will　know　which　to　open。　I　was　hoping　that　if　we　couldn't　find　the　last　box；　at　least　I　could　destroy　the　book；　and　keep　it　from　Rahl；　give　us　at　least　that　one　chance。　The　chance　he　might　pick　right…for　us。〃　Zedd's　face　soured。　〃I　would　give　anything　to　destroy　that　book。〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　hand　on　Richard's　arm；　he　almost　jumped。　〃Then　Richard　has　done　as　the　Seeker　should；　he　has　found　where　the　box　is。　Queen　Milena　has　it。〃　She　gave　Richard　a　smile　of　reassurance。　〃The　Seeker　has　done　his　job　well。〃　His　mind　was　spinning　too　fast　to　retu