tg.wizardfirstrule-第23部分

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　would　sweep　the　land　if　Darken　Rahl　opened　the　correct　box。　He　knew；　also；　what　would　happen　if　one　of　the　other　boxes　was　opened；　but　he　couldn't　reveal　his　foreknowledge；　and　so　had　to　ask　anyway。　〃And　if　he　opens　one　of　the　others？〃
　
　Zedd　came　forward　against　the　table　in　a　blink。　He　had　expected　that　this　would　be　the　next　question。　〃Open　the　wrong　box；　and　the　magic　claims　him。　He's　dead。〃　Zedd　snapped　his　fingers。　〃Just　like　that。　We　are　all　safe；　the　threat　is　removed。〃　He　leaned　closer；　his　brow　furrowed；　and　gave　Richard　a　hard　look。　〃Open　the　other　wrong　box；　and　every　bug；　every　blade　of　grass；　every　tree；　every　man；　woman；　and　child；　every　living　thing；　is　incinerated　into　nothingness。　It　would　be　the　end　of　all　life。　The　magic　of　Orden　is　twin　to　the　magic　of　life　itself；　and　death　is　part　of　everything　that　lives；　so　the　magic　of　Orden　is　tied　to　death；　as　well　as　life。〃
　
　Zedd　sat　back；　seeming　to　be　overwhelmed　by　the　telling　of　the　choices　of　catastrophe。　Though　Richard　already　knew　it　all；　he　still　swallowed　hard　at　hearing　it　out　loud。　Somehow　it　seemed　more　real　to　him　like　this；　more　real　when　there　was　a　name　put　to　it。　When　he　had　learned　the　book；　it　was　all　so　abstract；　so　hypothetical；　that　he　had　never　given　any　thought　to　the　possibility　that　it　would　e　to　pass。　His　only　concern　had　been　that　the　knowledge　be　preserved　so　as　to　be　returned　to　its　keeper。　He　wished　he　could　tell　Zedd　what　he　knew；　but　his　oath　to　his　father　prevented　him　from　saying　anything。　It　also　required　him　to　keep　up　the　pretense　by　asking　another　question　to　which　he　already　knew　the　answer。
　
　〃How　will　Rahl　know　which　box　to　open？〃
　
　Zedd　rearranged　the　sleeves　of　his　robes　and　looked　down　at　the　table；　watching　his　hands　as　he　spoke。　〃Putting　the　boxes　in　play　imparts　to　the　person　certain　privileged　information。　It　must　be　that　this　information　tells　him　how　he　can　discover　which　box　is　which。〃
　
　That　made　sense。　No　one　knew　of　the　book　but　its　keeper；　and；　it　appeared；　the　person　who　put　the　boxes　in　play。　The　book　made　no　reference　to　this；　but　it　seemed　logical。　A　sudden　jolt　went　through　him：　Darken　Rahl　must　be　after　him　for　the　book。　He　almost　didn't　hear　Zedd　beginning　to　speak　again。
　
　〃Rahl　has　done　something　out　of　the　ordinary；　though。　He　has　put　the　boxes　in　play　before　he　has　all　three。〃
　
　　Richard　came　to　attention　immediately。　〃He　must　be　stupid；　or　very　　confident。〃
　
　〃Confident；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃When　I　left　the　Midlands；　it　was　for　two　main　reasons。　The　first　was　because　the　High　Council　took　the　naming　of　the　Seeker　upon　itself。　The　second　was　because　they　mishandled　the　boxes　of　Orden。　People　had　e　to　believe　that　the　power　of　the　boxes　was　just　a　legend。　They　thought　me　an　old　fool　for　telling　them　it　was　no　legend　but　the　truth。　They　refused　to　heed　my　warnings。〃
　
　He　pounded　his　fist　down　on　the　table；　causing　Kahlan　to　jump。　〃They　laughed　at　me！〃　His　face　was　red　with…anger；　making　it　stand　out　all　the　more　against　the　mass　of　his　white　hair。　〃I　wanted　the　boxes　kept　far　apart　from　each　other；　and　with　magic；　hidden　and　locked　away　so　as　to　never　be　found　again。　The　council；　instead；　wanted　them　given　to　important　people；　like　trophies　to　be　shown　off。　They　used　them　as　payments　for　favors　or　promises。　This　exposed　the　boxes　to　covetous　hands。　I　don't　know　what　happened　to　them　in　the　intervening　years。　Rahl　has　at　least　one；　but　not　all　three。　Not　yet　anyway。〃　Zedd's　eyes　flashed　with　fervor。　〃Do　you　see；　Richard？　We　don't　have　to　go　up　against　Darken　Rahl；　we　have　only　to　find　at　least　one　of　the　boxes　before　he　does。〃
　
　〃And　keep　it　from　him；　which　may　prove　considerably　harder　than　finding　it；〃　Richard　pointed　out；　letting　the　words　hang　in　the　air　a　moment。　He　had　a　sudden　thought。　〃Zedd；　do　you　think　one　of　the　boxes　could　be　here　in　Westland？〃
　
　〃Not　likely。〃
　
　〃Why　not？〃
　
　Zedd　hesitated。　〃Richard；　I　never　told　you　I　was　a　wizard；　but　you　never　asked　before；　so　I　didn't　really　lie　about　it。　I　did　tell　you　one　lie；　though。　I　told　you　I　came　here　before　the　boundary　went　up；　in　reality　I　didn't　e　here　before　it　went　up；　because　I　couldn't。　You　see；　in　order　to　create　a　Westland　free　of　magic；　there　could　be　none　here　when　the　boundary　went　up。　Magic　could　e　here　after　the　boundary　was　established；　but　not　be　here　before。　Since　I　have　magic；　my　presence　would　have　prevented　it　from　happening；　so　I　had　to　stay　in　the　Midlands　until　after；　and　only　then　was　I　able　to　e　through。〃
　
　〃Everyone　has　their　little　secrets。　I　don't　begrudge　you　yours。　But　what's　your　point？〃
　
　〃My　point　is；　we　know　none　of　the　boxes　could　have　been　here　before　the　boundary　went　up；　or　their　magic　would　have　prevented　it。　So　if　they　were　all　in　the　Midlands　before　the　boundary；　because　of　the　magic；　and　I　didn't　bring　one　with　me；　they　have　to　still　be　in　the　Midlands。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　this　awhile；　feeling　his　spark　of　hope　die。　He　turned　his　thoughts　back　to　the　matter　at　hand。
　
　〃You　still　have　not　told　me　what　a　Seeker　is。　Or　my　part　in　this。〃
　
　Zedd　folded　his　hands　together。　〃A　Seeker　is　a　person　who　answers　to　no　one　but　himself；　he　is　a　law　unto　himself。　The　Sword　of　Truth　is　his　to　wield　as　he　wishes；　and　within　the　limits　of　his　own　strength；　he　can　hold　anyone　to　answer　for　anything。〃　Zedd　held　up　his　hand　to　forestall　Richard's　objections　and　questions。　〃I　realize　this　is　vague。　The　problem　with　explaining　it　is　that　it　is　like　all　power。　As　I　told　you　before；　it's　how　the　person　uses　power　that　makes　it　what　it　is。　This　is　the　core　of　why　it　is　so　important　to　find　the　right　person；　a　person　who　will　use　the　power　wisely。　You　see；　Richard；　a　Seeker　does　exactly　as　the　name　implies；　he　seeks。　He　seeks　the　answers　to　things。　Things　of　his　own　choosing。　If　he　is　the　right　person；　he　will　seek　the　answers　that　will　help　others；　not　just　himself。　The　whole　purpose　of　a　Seeker　is　to　be　free　to　quest　on　his　own；　to　go　where　he　wants；　ask　what　he　wants；　learn　what　he　wants；　find　answers　to　what　he　wants　to　know；　and　if　need　be；　do　whatever　it　is　the　answers　demand。〃
　
　Richard　straightened；　his　voice　rising。　〃Are　you　telling　me　a　Seeker　is　an　assassin？〃　〃I　won't　lie　to　you；　Richard；　there　have　been　times　when　it　has　turned　out　that　way。〃
　
　Richard's　face　was　crimson。　〃I　will　not　be　an　assassin？〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃As　I　said；　a　Seeker　is　whatever　he　wants。　Ideally；　a　Seeker　is　the　standard…bearer　of　Justice。　I　can't　tell　you　much　more；　because　I've　never　been　one。　I　don't　know　what　goes　on　in　their　heads；　however；　I　know　the　proper　kind　of　person。〃
　
　Zedd　pushed　his　sleeves　up　again　while　he　watched　Richard。　〃But　I　don't　pick　a　Seeker；　Richard。　A　true　Seeker　picks　himself。　I　only　name　them。　You　have　been　a　Seeker　for　years　without　knowing　it。　I　have　watched　you；　and　that　is　what　you　do。　You　are　always　seeking　the　truth。　What　do　you　think　you　were　doing　in　the　high　Ven？　You　were　seeking　the　answer　to　the　vine；　to　your　father's　murder。　You　could　have　left　that　to　others；　others　more　qualified；　and　as　it　turned　out；　perhaps　you　should　have；　but　that　would　have　been　against　your　nature；　the　nature　of　a　Seeker。　They　don't　leave　it　to　others；　because　they　want　to　know　for　themselves。　When　Kahlan　told　you　she　was　looking　for　a　wizard　who　was　lost　since　before　she　was　born；　you　had　to　know　who　it　was；　and　you　found　him。〃
　
　〃But　that's　only　because　。　。　。〃
　
　Zedd　cut　him　off。　〃It　doesn't　matter。　It's　irrelevant。　Only　one　thing　matters：　that　you　did　it。　I　saved　you　with　the　root　I　found。　Does　it　matter　that　it　was　easy　for　me　to　find　the　root？　No。　Would　you　be　any　more　alive　if　it　had　been　extremely　difficult　for　me　to　find　the　root？　No。　I　found　the　root；　you　are　well。　That　is　all　that　matters。　Same　with　the　Seeker。　It's　of　no　importance　how　he　finds　an　answer；　only　that　he　does。　As　I　said；　there　are　no　rules。　Right　now　there　are　answers　you　must　find。　I　don't　know　how　you　will　do　so；　and　I　don't　care；　only　that　you　do。　If　you　say；　‘Oh；　that's　simple；'　all　the　better；　as　we　don't　have　much　time。〃
　
　Richard's　guard　went　up。　〃What　answers？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled；　and　his　eyes　sparkled。　〃I　have　a　plan；　but　you　must　first　find　a　way　to　get　us　across　the　boundary。〃
　
　〃What！〃　Richard　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　in　exasperation；　muttering　his　disbelief　under　his　breath。　He　looked　back　to　Zedd。　〃You're　a　wizard；　you　had　something　to　do　with　putting　the　boundary　there　in　the　first　place。　You　have　just　said　you　have　been　through　it　to　retrieve　the　sword。　Kahlan　has　e　through　the　boundary；　sent　by　wizards。　I　know　nothing　of　the　boundary！　If　you　expect　me　to　find　you　the　answer；　well；　here　it　is：　Zedd；　you　are　a　wizard；　send　us　through　the　boundary！〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head。　〃No。　I　said　across　the　boundary；　not　through　it。　I　know　how　to　go　through　it；　but　we　can't　do　that。　Rahl　waits　for　us　to　do　so。　If　we　try　to　go　through；　he　will　kill　us。　If　we　are　lucky。　We　must　instead　go　across　it；　without　going　through　it。　There　is　a　big　difference。〃
　
　〃Zedd；　I'm　sorry；　but　it's　impossible。　I　don't　know　anything　about　how　to　get　us　across。　I　don't　see　how　it　can　be　done。　The　boundary　is　the　underworld。　If　we　can't　go　through　it；　then　we　are　stuck　here。　The　whole　purpose　of　the　boundary　is　to　prevent　anyone　from　doing　just　what　you　are　asking　me　to　do。〃　Richard　felt　helpless。　They　were　depending　on　him；　and　he　didn't　have　any　answers。
　
　Zedd's　voice　was　kind　and　gentle。　〃Richard；　you　are　too　quick　to　criticize　yourself。　What　is　it　you　say　when　I　ask　how　you　must　solve　difficult　problems？〃
　
　Richard　knew　what　Zedd　was　talking　about；　but　was　reluctant　to　answer；　as　he　felt　answering　only　pulled　him　in　deeper。　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow；　waiting。　Richard　looked　down　at　the　table；　picking　at　the　wood　with　his　thumbnail。　〃Think　of　the　solution；　not　the　problem。〃
　
　〃And　right　now　you　are　doing　it　backwards。　You　are　only　concentrating　on　why　the　problem　is　impossible。　You　are　not　thinking　of　the　solution。〃
　
　Richard　knew　Zedd　was　right；　but　there　was　more　to　it。　〃Zedd；　I　don't　think　I'm　qualified　to　be　Seeker。　I　don't　know　anything　about　the　Midlands。〃
　
　〃Sometimes　it　is　easier　to　make　a　decision　if　you　aren