tg.wizardfirstrule-第41部分

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d　copper…colored　splotches；　almost　invisible　in　the　gloomy　water；　and　barely　disturbed　the　surface　as　they　swam。　Richard　had　never　seen　snakes　this　big。　Kahlan　was　watching　the　island　and　hadn't　noticed　them　yet。　The　dry　land　was　too　far　away。　He　knew　they　weren't　going　to　make　it　before　the　snakes　reached　them。
　
　Richard　turned　and　looked　behind　to　see　if　they　could　make　it　back　to　high　ground。　Where　they　had　left　the　trail；　the　dark　shapes　of　the　heart　hounds　were　gathered；　snarling　and　growling。　Heads　held　low；　the　big　black　bodies　paced　back　and　forth；　wanting　to　enter　the　water；　to　reach　their　prey；　but　only　howling　instead。
　
　Richard　lowered　the　tip　of　the　sword　into　the　water；　letting　it　drag　a　small　wake　behind；　as　he　prepared　to　strike　at　the…first　snake　that　came　close　enough。　Then　a　surprising　thing　happened。　When　the　sword　dipped　into　the　water；　the　snakes　turned　suddenly　and　squirmed　away　as　fast　as　they　could　go。　Somehow；　the　magic　in　the　sword　frightened　them　away。　He　wasn't　sure　why　the　magic　would　function　this　way；　but　was　glad　it　did。
　
　They　worked　their　way　among　the　large　trunks　of　trees　that　stood　like　columns　in　the　mire。　Each　in　turn　brushed　aside　vines　and　streamers　of　moss　as　they　passed。　When　they　crossed　shallower　areas　of　water；　the　tip　of　his　sword　no　longer　reached　the　water。　The　snakes　returned　immediately。　He　leaned　lower；　the　sword's　tip　dipping　back　in　the　water；　and　the　snakes　turned　once　more；　wanting　nothing　to　do　with　them。　Richard　wondered　what　would　happen　when　they　reached　dry　land。　Would　the　snakes　follow　them　there？　Would　the　sword's　magic　work　to　keep　them　away　out　of　the　water？　The　snakes　might　be　as　much　trouble　as　the　heart　hounds。
　
　Water　ran　off　the　underside　of　Kahlan's　horse　as　it　climbed　up　onto　the　island。　There　were　a　few　poplar　trees　at　the　high　point　in　the　center　and　cedars　at　the　water's　edge　on　the　far　side　of　the　small　hump　of　dry　ground；　but　mostly　it　was　covered　with　reed　and　a　smattering　of　iris。　To　see　what　would　happen；　Richard　took　the　sword　from　the　water　before　he　needed　to。　The　snakes　began　to　e　for　him。　When　he　left　the　water；　some　turned　and　swam　away；　some　wandered　the　shoreline；　but　none　followed　onto　dry　land。
　
　In　near　darkness；　Richard　laid　Zedd　and　Chase　on　the　ground　beneath　the　poplars。　He　pulled　a　tarp　from　the　packs　and　strung　it　between　the　trees　to　make　a　small　shelter。　Everything　was　wet；　but　since　there　was　no　wind；　the　makeshift　structure　kept　most　of　the　rain　off　them：　There　was　no　chance　of　a　fire；　for　now；　since　all　the　wood　that　could　be　found　was　thoroughly　soaked。　At　least　the　night　wasn't　cold。　Frogs　kept　up　a　steady　chirping　from　the　wet　darkness。　Richard　placed　a　pair　of　fat　candles　on　a　piece　of　wood　so　they　could　have　some　light　under　their　shelter。
　
　Together　they　checked　Zedd。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　sign　of　an　injury；　but　he　remained　unconscious。　Chase's　condition　was　unchanged；　too。
　
　Kahlan　stroked　Zedd's　forehead。　〃It　is　not　a　good　sign　for　a　wizard's　eyes　to　be　closed　like　this。　I　don't　know　what　to　do　for　them。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃Neither　do　1。　We　can　be　glad　they　don't　have　a　fever。　Maybe　there's　a　healer　in　Southaven。　I'll　make　litters　the　horses　can　pull。　I　think　that　would　be　better　than　having　them　ride　again　the　way　they　did　today。〃
　
　Kahlan　retrieved　two　more　blankets　to　keep　their　friends　warm；　then　she　and　Richard　sat　together　by　the　candles；　the　water　dripping　around　them。　Glowing　pairs　of　yellow　eyes　waited　on　the　trail；　in　the　blackness　back　through　the　trees。　As　the　heart　hounds　paced；　the　eyes　moved　back　and　forth。　Occasionally；　Richard　and　Kahlan　heard　yelps　of　frustration。　The　two　of　them　watched　their　hunters　off　across　the　dark　water。
　
　Kahlan　stared　at　the　glowing　eyes。　〃I　wonder　why　they　didn't　follow　us。〃
　
　Richard　glanced　sideways　at　her。　〃I　think　they're　afraid　of　the　snakes。〃
　
　Kahlan　jumped。　to　her　feet；　quickly　scanning　around；　her　head　pushing　against　the　tarp。　〃Snakes；　what　snakes？　I　don't　like　snakes；〃　she　said　in　a　rush。
　
　He　looked　'up。　〃Some　kind　of　big　water　snakes。　They　swam　off　when　I　put　the　sword　in　the　water。　I　don't　think　we　have　to　worry；　they　didn't　e　up　on　the　dry　ground　when　we　did。　I　think　it's　safe。〃
　
　She　looked　around　cautiously　as　she　pulled　her　cloak　tight　and　then　sat　down；　closer　to　him　this　time。　〃You　could　have　warned　me　about　them；〃　she　said　with　a　frown。
　
　〃I　didn't　know　myself　until　I　saw　them；　and　the　hounds　were　right　behind　us。　I　didn't　think　we　had　much　choice　in　the　matter；　and　I　didn't　want　to　scare　you。〃
　
　She　didn't　say　anything　more。　Richard　got　out　a　sausage　and　a　loaf　of　hard　bread；　their　last　one。　He　tore　the　bread　in　half　and　cut　pieces　off　the　sausage；　handing　her　a　few。　They　each　held　a　tin　cup　under　the　rainwater　that　dripped　off　the　tarp。　They　ate　in　silence；　watching　all　around　for　any　sign　of　threat；　listening　to　the　rhythm　of　the　rain。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　asked　at　last；　〃did　you　see　my　sister；　in　the　boundary？〃　〃No。　Whatever　it　was　that　had　you　didn't　look　like　a　person　to　me；　and。　I　would　bet　that　the　thing　I　struck　down　at　first　didn't　look　like　my　father　to　you。〃　She　shook　her　head　that　it　didn't。　〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃they　just　appear　in　a　form　meant　to　re…create　a　person　you　want　to　see；　to　beguile　you。〃
　
　〃I　think　you're　right；〃　she　sighed；　taking　a　bite　of　sausage。　When　she　finished　chewing；　she　added；　〃I'm　glad。　I　would　hate　to　think　we　had　to　hurt　them。〃
　
　He　nodded　his　agreement　and　looked　over。　Her　hair　was　wet；　and　some　of　it　was　stuck　to　the　side　of　her　face。　〃There's　something　else；　though；　that　I　think　is　odd。　When　that　thing　from　the　boundary；　whatever　it　was；　struck　out　at　Chase；　it　was　fast　and　it　hit　him　square　the　first　time；　and　before　we　could　do　anything　it　grabbed　you　with　no　trouble。　Same　with　Zedd；　it　got　him　the　first　time。　But　when　I　went　back　for　them；　it　tried　for　me　and　missed；　then　it　didn't　even　try　again。〃
　
　〃I　noticed　that　when　it　happened；〃　she　said。　〃It　missed　you　by　a　good　distance。　It　was　as　if　it　didn't　know　where　you　were。　It　knew　right　where　the　three　of　us　were；　but　it　couldn't　seem　to　find　you。〃
　
　Richard　thought　a　moment。　〃Maybe　it　was　the　sword。〃
　
　Kahlan　shrugged。　〃Whatever　it　was；　I　am　happy　for　it。〃
　
　He　wasn't　at　all　sure　it　was　the　sword。　The　snakes　had　been　afraid　of　the　sword；　and　swam　away　from　it。　The　thing　in　the　boundary　had　shown　no　fear；　it　seemed　as　if　it　simply　couldn't　find　him。　There　was　one　other　thing　that　he　wondered　at。　When　he　had　struck　down　the　thing　in　the　boundary　that　looked　like　his　father；　he　had　felt　no　pain。　Zedd　had　told　him　there　would　be　a　price　to　pay　for　killing　with　the　sword；　and　that　he　would　feel　the　pain　of　what　he　had　done。　Maybe　there　was　no　pain　because　the　thing　was　already　dead。　Maybe　it　was　all　in　his　head；　none　of　it　was　real。　That　couldn't　be；　it　was　real　enough　to　strike　down　his　friends。　His　self…assurance　that　it　wasn't　his　father　he　had　cut　down　began　to　waver。
　
　They　ate　the　rest　of　the　meal　in　silence　while　he　thought　about　what　he　could　do　for　Zedd　and　Chase；　which　was　nothing。　Zedd　had　medicines　along；　but　only　Zedd　know　how　to　use　them。　Maybe　it　was　magic　from　the　boundary　that　had　struck　them　down。　Zedd　had　magic　along；　too；　but　he　was　also　the　only　one　who　knew　how　to　use　that。
　
　Richard　took　out　an　apple　and　cut　it　into　wedges；　removed　the　seeds；　and　gave　half　to　Kahlan。　She　moved　closer　and　leaned　her　head　on　his　arm　as　she　ate　it。
　
　〃Tired？〃　he　asked。
　
　She　nodded；　then　smiled。　〃And　I　am　sore　in　places　I　cannot　mention。〃　She　ate　another　wedge　of　apple。　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　Southaven？〃
　
　〃I've　heard　other　guides　mention　it　when　they've　passed　through　Hartland。　From　what　they　say；　it's　a　place　of　thieves　and　misfit；〃
　
　〃It　doesn't　sound　like　the　kind　of　place　that　would　have　a　healer。〃　Richard　didn't　answer。　〃What　will　we　do；　then？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know；　but　they'll　get　better；　they'll　be　all　right。〃
　
　〃And　if　not？〃　she　pressed。
　
　He　took　the　apple　away　from　his　mouth；　and　looked　at　her。　〃Kahlan；　what　are　you　trying　to　say？〃
　
　〃I　am　saying　that　we　have　to　be　prepared　to　leave　them。　To　go　on。〃
　
　〃We　can't；〃　he　answered　firmly。　〃We　need　them　both。　Remember　when　Zedd　gave　me　the　sword？　He　said　he　wanted　me　to　get　us　across　the　boundary。　He　said　he　had　a　plan。　He　hasn't　told　me　what　that　plan　is。〃　He　looked　out　over　the　water　at　the　hounds。　〃We　need　them；〃　he　repeated。
　
　She　picked　at　the　skin　of　the　apple　wedge。　〃What　if　they　were　to　die　tonight？　Then　what　would　we　do？　We　would　have　to　go　on。〃
　
　Richard　knew　she　was　looking　up　at　him；　but　he　didn't　look　back。　He　understood　her　need　to　stop　Rahl。　He　felt　the　same　hunger；　and　would　let　nothing　stop　them；　even　if　it　meant　leaving　his　friends；　but　it　hadn't　reached　that　point　yet。　He　knew　she　was　only　trying　to　reassure　herself　that　he　had　the　necessary　conviction；　the　required　determination。　She　had　given　up　much　to　her　mission；　lost　much　to　Rahl；　as　he　had。　She　wanted　to　know　he　had　the　ability　to　go　on；　at　any　cost；　to　lead。
　
　The　candles　lit　her　face　softly；　a　small　glow　in　the　darkness。　Reflections　of　the　flames　danced　in　her　eyes。　He　knew　she　didn't　like　saying　these　things　to　him
　
　〃Kahlan；　I'm　the　Seeker；　I　understand　the　weight　of　that　responsibility。　I　will　do　anything　required　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　Anything。　You　can　place　your　faith　in　that。　I　will　not；　however；　spend　the　lives　of　my　friends　easily。　For　now　we　have　enough　to　worry　about。　Let's　not　invent　new　things。〃
　
　Rain　dripped　into　the　water　from　trees；　sending　hollow　echoes　through　the　darkness。　She　put　her　hand　on　his　arm；　as　if　to　say　she　was　sorry。　He　knew　she　had　nothing　to　be　sorry　for；　she　was　only　trying　to　face　the　truth；　one　possible　truth；　anyway。　He　wanted　to　reassure　her。
　
　〃If　they　don't　get　better；〃　he　said；　holding　her　eyes　with　his；　〃and　if　there　is　a　safe　place　to　leave　them；　with　someone　we　can　trust；　then　we　will　do　so　and　go　on。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃That　is　all　I　meant。〃
　
　〃I　know。〃　He　finished　his　apple。　〃Why　don't　you　get　some　sleep。　I'll　keep　watch。〃
　
　〃I　couldn't　sleep；〃　she　said；　indicating　the　heart　hounds　wi