tg.wizardfirstrule-第14部分

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　〃One　time　Father　came　home　with　a　vase　that　had　these　little　figures　sculpted　around　the　top；　like　they　were　dancing　on　the　rim。　He　was　proud　of　it。　He　said　it　was　old；　and　he　thought　he　could　get　a　gold　piece　for　it。　Michael　said　he　could　get　more。　They　argued；　and　finally　Father　let　Michael　take　the　vase　to　sell。　Michael　came　back　and　threw　four　gold　pieces　on　the　table。　My　father　just　stared　at　them　for　the　longest　time。　Then　he　said；　in　a　real　quiet　voice；　that　the　vase　wasn't　worth　four　gold　pieces；　and　wanted　to　know　what　Michael　had　told　the　people。　Michael　said　he　told　them　what　they　wanted　to　hear。　Father　reached　out　to　pick　up　the　four　coins；　and　Michael　slapped　his　hand　over　them。　He　picked　up　three　and　said　only　one　was　for　my　father；　because　one　was　all　he　expected　to　get。　Then　he　said；　‘That　is　the　value　of　my　friends；　George。'
　
　〃Mat　was　the　first　time　Michael　called　him　'George。'　My　father　never　let　him　sell　anything　for　him　again。
　
　〃But　do　you　know　what　Michael　did　with　the　money？　The　next　time　my　father　left　on　a　trip；　he　paid　off　most　of　the　family　debts。　He　didn't　even　buy　anything　for　himself。
　
　〃Sometimes　Michael　is　crude　in　the　way　he　does　things；　like　today　when　he　told　everyone　about　our　mother；　and　pointed　at　me；　but　I　know　。　。　。　I　know　that　he　has　everyone's　best　interests　at　heart。　He　doesn't　want　anyone　hurt　by　fire。　That's　all；　he　just　doesn't　want　anyone　to　go　through　what　we　did。　He　is　only　trying　to　do　what　is　best　for　everyone。〃
　
　Kahlan　didn't　look　up。　She　pushed　at　the　dirt　a　moment　more　and　then　tossed　the　stick　in　the　fire。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard。　I　shouldn't　be　so　suspicious。　I　know　how　much　it　hurts　to　lose　your　mother。　I'm　sure　you're　right。〃　Finally；　she　looked　up。　〃Forgive　me？〃
　
　Richard　smiled　and　gave　her　a　nod。　〃Of　course。　I　guess　if　I　had　been　through　all　you　have；　I　would　be　quick　to　think　the　worst；　too。　I'm　sorry　I　jumped　on　you。　If　you　will　forgive　my　tone；　I'll　let　you　finish　the　soup。〃
　
　She　nodded　her　agreement　with　a　smile　as　he　handed　her　the　last　of　the　soup。
　
　He　wanted　to　hear　the　rest　of　her　story；　but　he　waited　and　watched　her　eat　for　a　while　before　he　asked；　〃So　have　the　D'Haran　forces　conquered　all　of　the　Midlands？〃
　
　〃The　Midlands　is　a　big　place；　the　People's　Peace　Army　occupies　only　a　few　of　the　larger　cities。　People　in　many　areas　ignore　the　alliance。　Rahl　does　not　really　care。　He　considers　it　a　petty　problem。　His　attention　has　been　diverted　to　something　else。　The　wizards　found　out　his　real　goal　was　the　magic　the　great　wizard　had　warned　the　council　about；　the　magic　they　had　mishandled　for　their　own　avarice。　With　the　magic　Darken　Rahl　seeks；　he　will　be　master　of　all；　without　having　to　fight　anyone。
　
　〃Five　of　the　wizards　realized　they　had　been　wrong；　that　the　great　wizard　was　right　after　all。　The　sought　to　gain　redemption　in　his　eyes；　and　save　the　Midlands；　and　Westland；　from　what　will　happen　if　Darken　Rahl　gains　the　magic　he　seeks。　So　they　searched　for　the　great　wizard；　but　Rahl　hunts　him　also。〃
　
　〃You　said　five　wizards。　How　many　are　there？〃
　
　〃There　were　seven：　the　great　wizard　and　his　six　students。　The　old　one　has　vanished；　one　of　the　others　sold　his　services　to　a　queen；　a　very　dishonorable　thing　for　a　wizard　to　do。〃　She　paused；　considering　that　a　moment。　〃And　as　I　told　you　before；　the　five　others　are　dead。　Before　they　died　they　had　the　whole　of　the　Midlands　searched；　but　the　great　one　was　not　to　be　found。　He　is　not　in　the　Midlands。〃
　
　〃So　they　believed　him　to　be　in　Westland？〃
　
　Kahlan　dropped　the　spoon　in　the　empty　pot。　〃Yes。　He　is　here。〃
　
　〃And　they　thought　this　great　wizard　could　stop　Darken　Rahl；　even　though　they　could　not？〃　Something　was　wrong　with　this　story；　and　Richard　wasn't　sure　he　wanted　to　know　what　was　ing　next。
　
　〃No；〃　she　said　after　a　pause；　〃he　does　not　have　the　power　to　go　against　Darkeh　Rahl　either。　What　they　wanted；　what　we　need　to　save　and　keep　us　all　from　what　will　be；　is　for　the　great　wizard　to　make　the　appointment　only　he　can　make。〃
　
　By　the　care　with　which　she　was　choosing　her　words；　he　knew　she　was　dancing　around　secrets　he　was　not　to　ask　about；　so　he　didn't；　and　instead　asked；　〃Why　didn't　they　e　after　him　themselves；　and　ask　him　to　do　it？〃
　
　〃Because　they　feared　he　would　say　no；　and　they　did　not　have　the　power　to　force　him。〃
　
　〃Five　wizards　did　not　have　the　power　of　this　one？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　sad　smile。　〃They　were　his　students；　ones　who　wanted　to　be　wizards。　They　were　not　born　wizards；　born　with　the　gift。　The　great　one　was　born　to　a　father　who　was　a　wizard　and　a　mother　who　was　a　sorceress。　It　is　in　his　blood；　not　just　his　head。　They　could　never　be　the　wizard　he　is。　They　simply　did　not　have　the　power　to　make　him　do　what　they　wanted。〃　She　fell　silent
　
　〃And　。　。　。〃　He　didn't　say　anything　else。　With　his　silence　he　let　her　know　his　next　question；　and　that　he　would　have　the　answer　to　it。
　
　At　last；　she　gave　him　the　answer　in　a　soft　whisper。
　
　〃And　so　they　sent　me；　because　I　do。〃
　
　The　fire　crackled　and　hissed。　He　could　feel　the　tension　in　her；　and　he　knew　she　had　gone　as　far　with　that　answer　as　she　would　on　the　subject；　so　he　remained　still　to　let　her　feel　safe。　Without　looking　over；　he　put　his　hand　on　her　forearm；　and　she　put　her　other　hand　over　his。
　
　〃How　are　you　to　know　this　wizard？〃
　
　〃I　only　know　I　must　find　him；　and　soon；　or　we　are　all　lost。〃
　
　Richard　thought　in　silence。　〃Zedd　will　help　us；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃He's　a　cloud　reader。　Finding　lost　people　is　what　a　cloud　reader　does。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　him　a　suspicious　look。　〃That　sounds　like　magic。　There　is　not　supposed　to　be　any　magic　in　Westland。〃
　
　〃He　says　it's　not；　that　anyone　can　learn。　He's　always　trying　to　teach　me。　He　mocks　me　whenever　I　say　it　looks　like　it　will　rain。　His　eyes　get　real　big　and　he　says；　‘Magic！　You　must　have　magic；　my　boy；　to　read　the　clouds　and　know　the　future　so。'　〃
　
　Kahlan　laughed。　It　was　a　good　sound　to　hear。　He　didn't　want　to　press　her　further　even　though　the　weave　of　her　story　had　many　loose　threads；　there　was　much　she　wasn't　telling　him。　At　least　he　knew　more　than　he　did　before。　The　important　thing　was　to　find　the　wizard　and　then　get　away；　another　quad　would　be　ing　for　her。　They　would　have　to　go　west　while　the　wizard　did　whatever　it　was　he　had　to　do。
　
　She　opened　her　waist　pouch　and　pulled　something　out。　Untying　a　string；　she　laid　back　the　folds　of　a　waxed　cloth　that　held　a　tan　substance。　Dipping　her　finger　in　it；　she　turned　to　him。　〃This　will　help　the　fly　bites　heal。　Turn　your　head。〃
　
　The　ointment　soothed　the　sting。　He　recognized　the　fragrances　of　some　of　the　plants　and　herbs　it　was　made　from。　Zedd　had　taught　him　to　make　a　similar　ointment；　but　with　aum；　that　would　take　pain　from　flesh　wounds。　When　finished　with　him；　she　put　some　on　herself。　He　held　out　his　sore　red　hand。
　
　〃Here；　put　some　on　this；　too。〃
　
　〃Richard！　What　have　you　done？〃　〃I　was　stuck　by　a　thorn；　this　morning。〃
　
　She　dabbed　the　ointment　carefully　on　his　wound。　〃I　have　never　seen　a　thorn　do　this。〃
　
　〃It　was　a　big　thorn。　I'm　sure　I'll　be　better　by　morning。〃
　
　The　ointment　didn't　help　the　pain　as　much　as　he　had　hoped；　but　he　told　her　that　it　did；　not　wanting　to　worry　her。　His　hand　was　nothing　pared　to　the　things　she　had　to　worry　about。　He　watched　as　she　retied　the　string　around　the　little　package　and　replaced　it　in　her　waist　pouch。　Her　forehead　was　creased　in　thought。
　
　〃Richard；　are　you　afraid　of　magic？〃
　
　He　thought　carefully　before　answering。　〃I　was　always　fascinated　by　it；　it　sounded　exciting。　But　now　I　know　there　is　magic　to　fear。　But　I　would　guess　it's　like　people：　some　you　stay　clear　of　and　some　you　are　fortunate　to　know。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled；　apparently　satisfied　with　his　answer。　〃Richard；　before　I　can　sleep；　there　is　something　；l　must　tend　to。　It　is　a　creature　of　magic。　If　you　would　not　be　afraid；　I　will　let　you　see　it。　The　opportunity　is　a　rare　one。　Few　have　ever　seen　it；　and　few　ever　will。　But　you　must　promise　me　you　will　leave　and　take　a　walk　when　I　ask；　and　not　ask　me　any　more　questions　when　you　return。　I　am　very　tired　and　must　sleep。〃
　
　Richard　smiled　at　the　honor。　〃Promise。〃
　
　Opening　her　waist　pouch　once　more；　Kahlan　withdrew　a　small　round　bottle　with　a　stopper。　Blue　and　silver　lines　spiraled　around　the　fat　part。　There　was　light　inside。
　
　Her　green　eyes　came　to　his。　〃The　creature　is　a　night　wisp。　Her　name　is　Shar。　A　night　wisp　cannot　be　seen　in　the　day；　only　at　night。　Shar　is　part　of　the　magic　that　helped　me　cross　the　boundary；　she　was　my　guide。　Without　her；　I　would　have　been　lost。〃
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　filled　with　tears；　but　her　voice　remained　steady　and　calm。　〃Tonight；　she　dies。　She　can　live　no　longer　away　from　her　home　place　and　the　others　of　her　kind；　and　she　does　not　have　the　strength　to　cross　the　boundary　again。　Shar　has　sacrificed　her　life　to　help　me　because　if　Darken　Rahl　succeeds；　all　her　kind；　among　others；　will　perish。〃
　
　Pulling　the　stopper　free；　Kahlan　placed　the　little　bottle　in　the　flat　of　her　palm　and　held　it　out　between　them
　
　A　tiny　flare　of　light　lifted　clear　of　the　bottle；　floating　up　into　the　cool；　dim　air　of　the　wayward　pine；　giving　everything　a　silvery　cast。　The　light　softened　as　the　wisp　came　to　a　stop　in　the　air　between　them；　hovering。　Richard　was　astonished。　His　mouth　hung　open　as　he　watched；　transfixed。
　
　〃Good　evening；　Richard　Cypher；〃　it　said　in　a　tiny　little　voice。
　
　〃Good　evening　to　you；　Shar。〃　His　own　voice　was　not　much　more　than　a　whisper。
　
　〃Thank　you　for　helping　Kahlan　today。　In　so　doing　you　are　also　helping　my　kind。　If　you　ever　need　the　help　of　the　night　wisps；　say　my　name　and　they　will　help　you；　for　no　enemy　may　know　it。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Shar；　but　the　Midlands　are　the　last　place　I　would　want　to　go。　I'll　help　Kahlan　find　the　wizard；　but　then　I　must　take　us　west　and　get　us　safely　away　from　those　who　would　kill　us。〃
　
　The　night　wisp　seemed　to　turn　in　the　air　for　a　time；　considering。　The　silvery　light　felt　warm　and　safe　on　his　face。
　
　〃If　that　is　what　you　wish；　then　you　must　do　so；〃　Shar　said。　Richard　felt　relieved。　The　tiny　point　of　light　spun　in　the　air　before　them　again。
　
　Shar　spun　to　a　stop。　〃But　k