tg.wizardfirstrule-第30部分

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eaming　trailers　of　smoke。
　
　Richard　began　a　frantic　search　for　the　sword　as　the　gar　came　to　its　feet　with　a　howl。　Richard　felt　around　on　the　ground；　desperate；　and　partially　blinded　from　the　flash　of　the　explosion。　He　had　enough　vision；　though；　to　see　the　gar　ing。　His　anger　flared。　He　could　feel　it　flare　in　the　sword；　too。　The　sword's　magic　reached　out　to　him；　beckoned　by　its　master。　He　called　it　forth；　summoned　it；　hungered　for　it。　It　was　there；　across　the　trail。　He　knew　it　as　surely　as　if　he　could　see　it。　He　knew　exactly　where　it　lay；　as　if　he　were　touching　it。　He　scrambled　across　the　trail。
　
　Halfway　there　the　gar　kicked　him　so　hard　he　saw　things　moving　past　but　couldn't　understand　what　they　were。　All　he　knew　for　sure　was　that　every　breath　caused　intense　pain　in　his　left　side。　He　didn't　know　where　the　trail　was　or　where　he　was　in　relation　to　it。　Blood　flies　were　bumping　into　his　face。　He　couldn't　get　his　bearings。　But　he　did　know　where　the　Sword　of　Truth　was。
　
　He　dove　for　it。
　
　For　an　instant　his　fingers　touched　it。　For　an　instant　he　thought　he　saw　Zedd。　Then　the　gar　had　him。　It　picked　him　up　by　his　right　arm　and　wrapped　its　repulsive；　warm　wings　about　him；　hugging　him　close；　his　feet　dangling　in　midair。　He　cried　out　from　the　sharp　pain　in　his　left　ribs。　Glowing　green　eyes　burned　into　his；　and　the　giant　mouth　snapped；　showing　him　his　fate。　The　immense　maw　split　open　for　him；　its　fetid　breath　on　his　face；　its　black　throat　waiting。　Wet　fangs　glistened　in　the　moonlight。
　
　With　all　his　strength；　Richard　kicked　his　boot　into　the…stump　of　the　gar's　arm。　It　threw　its　head　back；　howled　in　pain；　and　dropped　him。
　
　Zedd　emerged　at　the　edge　of　the　trees　a　dozen　yards　behind　the　gar。　Richard；　on　his　knees；　grabbed　the　sword。　Zedd　threw　his　hands　out；　fingers　extended。　Fire；　wizard's　fire；　shot　from　his　fingers　and　came　shrieking　through　the　air。　The　fire　grew　and　tumbled；　illuminating　everything　it　passed；　being　a　blue　and　yellow　ball　of　liquid　flame　that　wailed　and　expanded　as　it　came；　a　thing　alive。　It　hit　the　gar's　back　with　a　thud；　silhouetting　the　giant　beast　against　the　light。　Within　the　space　of　a　breath　the　blue…and…yellow　flames　washed　over　the　gar；　enveloping　it；　surging　through　it。　Blood　flies　sparked　into　nothingness。　Fire　sizzled　and　snapped　everywhere　on　the　creature；　consuming　it。　The　gar　disappeared　into　the　blue　heat　and　was　gone。　The　fire　swirled　a　moment　and　then　it；　too；　was　gone。　The　smell　of　burnt　fur；　and　a　hazy　smoke；　hung　in　the　air。　The　night　was　suddenly　quiet。
　
　Richard　collapsed；　exhausted　and　in　pain。　The　gashes　on　his　back　had　dirt　and　gravel　ground　into　them；　and　the　pain　in　his　left　side　seared　into　him　with　every　breath。　He　wanted　only　to　lie　there；　nothing　more。　The　sword　was　still　in　his　hand。　He　let　the　power　of　it　wash　through　him；　sustain　him。　He　allowed　the　anger　of　it　to　let　him　ignore　the　pain。
　
　The　cat　licked　Richard's　face　with　his　rough　tongue　and　nuzzled　the　top　of　his　head　against　Richard's　cheek。　〃Thank　you；　Cat；〃　he　managed。　Zedd　and　Kahlan　appeared　over　him。　Both　bent　down　to　take　his　arms　and　help　lift　him　up。
　
　〃No！　You'll　hurt　me　if　you　do　that。　Let　me　get　up　by　myself。〃
　
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Zedd　asked。
　
　〃The　gar　kicked　me　in　the　left　side。　It　hurts。〃
　
　〃Let　me　look。〃　The　old　man　bent　over　and　；gently　felt　Richard's　ribs。　Richard　winced　in　pain。　〃Well；　I　don't　see　any　bones　sticking　out。　Can't　be　that　bad。〃
　
　Richard　tried　not　to　laugh；　as　he　knew　it　would　hurt。　He　was　right。　〃Zedd；　that　was　no　trick。　This　time　it　was　magic。〃
　
　〃This　time　it　was　magic；〃　the　wizard　confirmed。　〃But　Darken　Rahl　may　have　seen　it　too；　if　he　was　looking。　We　have　to　get　out　of　here。　Lie　still；　let　me　see　if　I　can　help。〃
　
　Kahlan　knelt　on　his　other　side　and　cupped　her　hand　on　his；　on　the　hand　that　held　the　sword；　held　the　magic。　When　her　hand　touched　his；　he　felt　a　surge　of　power　from　the　sword　that　startled　him　and　nearly　took　his　breath　away。　Somehow；　he　felt　the　magic　was　warning　him；　and　trying　to　protect　him。
　
　Kahlan　smiled　down　at　him。　She　hadn't　felt　it。
　
　Zedd　put　one　hand　on　Richard's　ribs　and　a　finger　under　his　chin　as　he　spoke　in　a　soft；　calm；　reassuring　voice。　As　he　listened　to　Zedd；　Richard　dismissed　the　sword's　reaction　to　Kahlan's　touch　on　his　hand。　His　old　friend　told　him　that　three　of　his　ribs　were　injured　and　that　he　was　putting　magic　around　them　to　strengthen　and　protect　them　until　they　could　heal。　He　continued　to　talk　in　his　special　way；　telling　Richard　how　the　pain　would　be　reduced；　but　not　gone；　until　the　ribs　were　healed。　He　spoke　more；　but　the　words　seemed　somehow　not　to　matter。　When　Zedd　finished　at　last；　Richard　felt　as　if　he　were　waking　from　sleep。
　
　He　sat　up。　The　pain　had　lessened　greatly。　He　thanked　the　old　man　and　got　to　his　feet。　He　put　the　sword　away　and　picked　up　the　cat；　thanking　him　again。　He　handed　the　cat　to　Kahlan　for　her　to　hold　while　he　searched　for　his　pack　and　found　it　near　the　side　of　the　trail　where　it　had　been　thrown　in　the　fight。　The　gashes　on　his　back　were　painful；　but　he　would　worry　about　them　when　they　got　to　where　they　were　going。　When　the　other　two　weren't　looking；　he　slipped　the　tooth　from　his　neck　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。
　
　Richard　asked　the　other　two　if　they　were　hurt。　Zedd　seemed　insulted　by　the　question。　He　insisted　he　wasn't　as　frail　as　he　looked。　Kahlan　said　she　was　fine；　thanks　to　him。　Richard　told　her　he　hoped　never　to　get　in　a　rock…throwing　contest　with　her。　She　gave　him　a　big　smile　as　she　put　Cat　in　his　backpack。　He　watched　as　she　picked　up　the　cloak　and　put　it　around　her　shoulders；　wondering　at　the　way　the　sword's　magic　had　reacted　when　she　had　touched　his　hand。
　
　〃We　had　better　be　leaving；〃　Zedd　reminded　them。
　
　After　about　a　mile；　several　smaller　paths　intersected　theirs。　Richard　led　them　down　the　one　he　wanted。　The　wizard　spread　more　of　his　magic　dust　to　hide　their　trail。　Their　way　was　narrower　now；　so　they　walked　single　file；　with　Richard　in　the　lead；　Kahlan　in　the　middle；　and　Zedd　in　the　rear。　The　three　of　them　kept　a　wary　eye　to　the　sky　as　they　walked　along。　Even　though　it　was　unfortable　to　do　so；　Richard　walked　with　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword。
　
　…＋
　
　Shadows　in　the　moonlight　swept　back　and　forth　across　the　heavy　oak　door　and　its　iron　strap　hinges　as　the　wind　bowed　branches　close　to　the　house。　Kahlan　and　Zedd　didn't　want　to　climb　the　spiked　fence；　so　Richard　had　left　them　on　the　other　side　to　wait。　He　was　just　starting　to　reach　up　to　knock　on　the　door；　when　a　big　fist　grabbed　his　hair　and　a　knife　pressed　against　his　throat。　He　froze。
　
　〃Chase？〃　he　whispered　hopefully。
　
　The　hand　released　his　hair。　〃Richard！　What　are　you　doing　lurking　about　in　the　middle　of　the　night！　You　know　better　than　to　sneak　up　to　my　place。〃
　
　〃I　wasn't　sneaking。　I　didn't　want　to　wake　the　whole　house。〃
　
　〃There's　blood　all　over　you。　How　much　is　yours？〃
　
　〃Most　of　it；　I'm　sorry　to　say。　Chase；　go　unlock　your　gate。　Kahlan　and　Zedd　are　waiting　out　there。　We　need　you。〃　Chase；　cursing　as　he　stepped　on　twigs　and　acorns　with　his　bare　feet；　unlocked　the　gate；　and　shepherded　them　alt　into　the　house。
　
　Emma　Brandstone；　Chase's　wife；　was　a　kind；　friendly　woman；　always　wearing　a　smile　on　her　bright　face。　She　seemed　the　plete　opposite　of　Chase。　Emma　would　be　mortified　if　she　thought　she　had　intimidated　anyone；　while　Chase's　day　wouldn't　be　plete　unless　he　had。　Emma　was　like　Chase　in　one　respect；　though。　Nothing　ever　seemed　to　surprise　or　fluster　her。　She　was　typically　unruffled　at　this　late　hour　as　she　stood　in　her　long；　white　nightdress；　her　gray…streaked　hair　tied　back；　。making　tea　as　the　rest　of　them　sat　at　the　table。　She　smiled；　as　if　it　were　normal　；to　have　blood…streaked　guests　e　visiting　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　But　then；　with　Chase；　it　sometimes　was。
　
　Richard　hung　his　pack　over　the　back　of　his　chair；　taking　the　cat　out　and　handing　him　to　Kahlan。　She　put　him　in　her　lap；　where　he　immediately　began　purring　as　she　stroked　his　back。　Zedd　sat　to　his　other　side。　Chase　put　a　shirt　over　his　big　frame　and　lit　several　lamps　that　hung　from　heavy　oak　beams。　Chase　had　felled　the　trees；　hewed　the　beams　out；　and　placed　them　by　himself。　The　names　of　the　children　were　carved　along　the　side　of　one。　Behind　his　chair　at　the　table　was　a　fireplace　made　of　stones　he　had　collected　in　his　travels　over　the　years。　Each　had　a　unique　shape；　color；　and　texture。　Chase　would　tell　anyone　who　would　listen　where　each　had　e　from；　and　what　sort　of　trouble　he　had　encountered　in　retrieving　it。　A　simple　wooden　bowl；　full　of　apples；　sat　in　the　center　of　the　stout　pine　table。
　
　Emma　removed　the　bowl　of　apples　and　replaced　it　with　a　pot　of　tea　and　a　jar　of　honey；　then　passed　around　mugs。　She　told　Richard　to　remove　his　shirt　and　turn　his　chair　so　she　could　clean　his　wounds；　a　task　not　unfamiliar　to　her。　With　a　stiff　brush　and　hot　soapy　water　she　scrubbed　his　back　as　if　she　were　cleaning　a　dirty　kettle。
　
　Richard　bit　his　bottom　lip；　holding　his　breath　at　times；　and　scrunched　his　eyes　closed　in　pain　as　she　worked。　She　apologized　for　hurting　him；　but　said　she　had　to　get　all　the　dirt　out　or　it　would　be　worse　later。　When　she　was　finished　cleaning　the　gashes；　she　patted　his　back　dry　with　a　towel　and　applied　a　cool　salve　while　Chase　got　him　a　clean　shirt。　Richard　was　glad　to　put　the　shirt　on；　as　it　provided　him　at　least　a　symbol　of　protection　from　her　further　ministering：
　
　Emma　smiled　to　the　three　guests。　〃Would　anyone　like　something　to　eat？〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　a　hand。　〃Well；　I　wouldn't　mind　。　。　。〃　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　shot　him　a　withering　glare。　He　shrank　back　into　his　chair。　〃No。　Nothing　for　us。　Thank　you。〃
　
　Emma　stood　behind　Chase；　bing　her　fingers　affectionately　through　his　hair。　He　sat　in　undisguised　agony；　barely　able　to　tolerate　her　public　display　of　sentiment。　At　last　he　leaned　forward；　using　the　excuse　of　pouring　tea　to　put　a　stop　to　it。
　
　With　a　frown；　Chase　pushed　the　honey　across　the　table。　〃Richard；　for　as　long　as　I've　known　you；　you've　had　a　talent　for　sidestepping　trouble。　But　lately；　you　seem　to　be　losing　your　footing。〃
　
　Before　Richard　could　answer；　Lee；　one　of　their　daughters；　appeared　in　the　doorway；　rubbing　her　sleepy　eyes　wit