tg.wizardfirstrule-第8部分

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　Richard　tried　to　swallow　the　lump　in　his　throat　as　the　memory　of　that　horror　came　back　to　him。　A　man　who　had　imagined　their　father　had　cheated　him　lost　his　temper　and　knocked　a　lamp　off　the　table　as　Richard　and　his　brother　slept　in　the　back　bedroom。　While　the　man　dragged　his　father　outside；　beating　him；　his　mother　pulled　Richard　and　his　brother　from　the　burning　house；　then　ran　back　inside　to　save　something；　they　never　knew　what；　and　was　burned　alive。　Her　screams　brought　the　man　to　his　senses；　and　he　and　their　father　tried　to　save　her；　but　couldn't。　Filled　with　guilt　and　revulsion　at　what　he　had　caused；　the　man　ran　off　crying　and　yelling　that　he　was　sorry。
　
　That；　his　father　had　told　them　a　thousand　times；　was　the　result　of　a　man　losing　his　temper。　Michael　shrugged　it　off；　Richard　took　it　to　heart。　It　had　instilled　in　him　a　dread　of　his　own　anger；　and　whenever　it　threatened　to　e　out；　he　choked　it　off。
　
　Michael　was　wrong。　Fire　had　not　killed　their　mother；　anger　had。
　
　Arms　hanging　limply　at　his　side；　head　bowed；　Michael　spoke　softly　again。　〃What　can　we　do　about　the　danger　to　our　families　from　fire？〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　do　not　know；　my　friends。
　
　〃But；　I　am　forming　a　mission　on　the　problem；　and　I　urge　any　concerned　citizen　to　e　forward　with　suggestions。　My　door　always　stands　open。　Together　we　can　do　something。　Together　we　will　do　something。
　
　〃And　now　my　friends；　please　excuse　me；　and　allow　me　to　go　fort　my　brother；　as　I　am　afraid　bringing　out　our　personal　tragedy　was　a　surprise　to　him；　and　I　must　ask　his　forgiveness。〃
　
　He　hopped　down　off　the　stand；　the　crowd　parting　to　let　him　through。　A　few　hands　reached　out　to　touch　him　as　he　passed。　He　ignored　them。
　
　Richard　stood　and　glared　as　his　brother　strode　to　him。　The　crowd　moved　away。　Only　Kahlan　stayed　at　his　side；　her　fingers　lightly　touching　his　arm。　People　went　back　to　the　food　and　began　talking　excitedly　among　themselves；　about　themselves；　and　forgot　him。　Richard　stood　tall　and　choked　off　his　anger
　
　Smiling；　Michael　slapped　Richard　on　the　shoulder。　〃Great　speech！〃　he　congratulated　himself。　〃What　did　you　think？〃
　
　Richard　looked　down　at　the　patterns　on　the　marble　floor。　〃Why　did　you　bring　her　death　into　it？　Why　did　you　have　to　tell　everyone　about　it？　Why　did　you　use　her　like　that？〃
　
　Michael　put　an　arm　around　Richard's　shoulder。　〃I　know　it　hurts；　and　I　am　sorry；　but　it's　for　a　greater　good。　Did　you　see　the　tears　in　their　eyes？　The　things　I've　started　are　going　to　take　us　all　to　a　better　life；　and　help　Westland　grow　to　prominence。　I　believe　what　I　said；　we　have　to　look　to　the　challenge　of　the　future　with　excitement；　not　fear。〃
　
　〃And　what　did　you　mean　about　the　boundaries？〃
　
　〃Things　are　changing；　Richard。　I　have　to　stay　ahead　of　them。〃　The　smile　was　gone。　〃That's　all　I　meant。　The　boundaries　won't　last　forever。　I　don't　think　they　were　ever　meant　to。　We　all　have　to　be　ready　to　face　up　to　that。〃
　
　Richard　changed　the　subject。　〃What　have　you　found　out　about　Father's　murder？　Have　the　trackers　picked　up　anything？〃
　
　Michael　took　his　arm　back。　〃Grow　up；　Richard。　George　was　an　old　fool。　He　was　always　picking　up　things　that　didn't　belong　to　him。　He　probably　got　caught　with　something　that　belonged　to　the　wrong　person。　A　person　with　a　bad　temper；　and　a　big　knife。〃
　
　〃That's　not　true！　And　you　know　it！〃　Richard　hated　the　way　Michael　called　their　father　〃George。〃　〃lie　never　stole　anything　in　his　life！〃
　
　〃Just　because　the　person　you　take　it　from　is　long　dead；　that　doesn't　mean　you　have　any　right　to　it。　Someone　else　obviously　wanted　it　back。〃
　
　〃How　do　you　know　all　this？〃　Richard　demanded。　〃What　have　you　found　out？〃
　
　〃Nothing！　It's　mon　sense。　The　house　was　torn　apart！　Someone　was　looking　for　something。　They　didn't　find　it；　George　wouldn't　tell　them　where　it　was；　they　killed　him。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。　The　trackers　said　there　were　no　tracks。　We'll　probably　never　know　who　did　it。〃　Michael　glared。　〃You　had　better　learn　to　live　with　that　fact。〃
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath。　It　made　sense；　someone　was　looking　for　something。　He　shouldn't　be　angry　with　Michael　be…　cause　he　couldn't　find　out　who。　Michael　had　tried。　Richard　wondered　how　there　could　be　no　tracks。
　
　〃I'm　sorry。　Maybe　you're　right；　Michael。〃　Another　thought　struck　him。　〃So；　it　didn't　have　anything　to　do　with　this　conspiracy？　It　wasn't　those　men　trying　to　get　to　you？〃
　
　Michael　waved　his　hand。　〃No；　no；　no。　It　had　nothing　to　do　with　that。　That　problem　has　been　taken　care　of。　Don't　worry　about　me；　I'm　safe；　everything　is　all　right。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　Michael's　face　turned　to　a　look　of　annoyance。
　
　〃So；　little　brother；　how　e　you're　such　a　mess？　Couldn't　you　at　least　clean　yourself　up？　It's　not　like　you　didn't　have　notice。　You　have　known　about　this　party　for　weeks。〃
　
　Before　he　could　answer；　Kahlan　spoke　up。　Richard　had　forgotten　she　was　still　standing　next　to　him。
　
　〃Please　forgive　your　brother；　it　was　not　his　fault。　He　came　to　guide　me　into　Hartland　and　I　was　late　in　ing。　I　pray　he　is　not　dishonored　in　your　eyes　because　of　me。〃
　
　Michael's　eyes　glided　down　the　length　of　her　before　returning　to　her　face。　〃And　you　are？〃
　
　Her　back　stiffened　as　she　stood　tall。　〃I　am　Kahlan　Amnell。〃
　
　Michael　gave　a　slight　smile　and　a　small　bow　of　his　head。　〃So；　you　are　not　my　brother's　escort；　as　I　thought。　And　where　have　you　traveled　from？〃
　
　〃It　is　a　small　place；　far　away。　I　am　sure　you　would　not　know　of　it。〃
　
　Michael　didn't　challenge　the　answer；　but　turned　to　his　brother　instead。　〃You　will　stay　the　night？〃
　
　〃No。　I　have　to　go　see　Zedd。　He's　been　looking　for　me。〃
　
　Michael's　smile　melted。　〃You　should　find　better　friends。　No　good　can　e　of　spending　your　time　with　that　contrary　old　man。〃　He　turned　back　to　Kahlan。　〃You；　my　dear；　will　be　my　guest　tonight。〃
　
　〃I　have　other　arrangements；〃　she　said　warily。
　
　Michael　reached　around　her　with　both　arms；　cupped　both　hands　to　her　bottom　and　pulled　the　lower　half　of　her　body　hard　against　him。　His　leg　pressed　between　her　thighs。
　
　〃Change　them。〃　His　smile　was　as　cold　as　a　winter　night。
　
　〃Remove。　Your。　Hands。〃　Her　voice　was　hard　and　dangerous。　Each　stared　into　the　other's　eyes
　
　Richard　was　dumbfounded。　He　couldn't　believe　what　his　brother　was　doing。　〃Michael！　Stop　it！〃
　
　They　both　ignored　him　and　continued　to　confront　one　another；　faces　close；　eyes　locked　together。　Richard　stood　next　to　them；　feeling　helpless。　He　could　sense　that　both　wanted　him　to　stay　out　of　it。　His　body　tensed；　muscles　hard；　ready　to　disregard　the　feeling。
　
　〃You　feel　good；〃　Michael　whispered。　〃I　think　I　could　fall　in　love　with　you。〃
　
　Kahlan's　breathing　was　slow　and　restrained。　〃You　do　not　know　the　half　of　it。〃　Her　voice　was　even　and　controlled。　〃Now；　remove　your　hands。〃
　
　When　he　did　not；　she　slowly　placed　the　fingernail　of　her　first　finger　on　his　chest；　just　below　the　hollow　at　the　base　of　his　neck。　As　they　glared　at　each　other；　she　slowly；　ever　so　slowly；　began　to　drag　her　nail　downward；　ripping　his　flesh　open。　Blood　ran　down　skin　in　rivulets。　For　a　brief　moment；　Michael　didn't　move；　but　then　his　eyes　could　not　disguise　the　pain。　He　flung　open　his　arms　and　staggered　back　a　step。
　
　Without　looking　back；　Kahlan　stormed　out　of　the　house。
　
　Richard　gave　his　brother　an　angry　glare　he　could　not　suppress；　and　followed　her　out
　
　CHAPTER　4
　RICHARD　RAN　DOWN　THE　walkway　to　catch　up　with　her。　Kahlan's　dress　and　long　hair　flowed　behind　as　she　marched　along　in　the　late…afternoon　sunlight。　When　she　reached　a　tree；　she　stopped　and　waited。　For　the　second　time　that　day；　she　wiped　blood　off　her　hand。
　
　As　he　touched　her　shoulder；　she　turned；　her　calm　face　showing　no　emotion。
　
　〃Kahlan；　I'm　sorry　。　。。。
　
　She　cut　him　off。　〃Do　not　apologize。　What　your　brother　did；　he　was　not　doing　to　me；　he　was　doing　to　you。〃
　
　〃To　me？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　〃Your　brother　is　jealous　of　you。〃　Her　face　softened。　〃He　is　not　stupid；　Richard。　He　knew　I　was　with　you　and　he　was　jealous。〃
　
　Richard　took　her　arm　and　started　walking　down　the　road；　away　from　Michael's　house。　He　was　furious　with　Michael；　and　at　the　same　time　he　was　ashamed　of　his　anger。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　letting　his　father　down。
　
　〃That's　no　excuse。　He's　First　Councilor；　he　has　all　anyone　could　want。　I'm　sorry　I　didn't　put　a　stop　to　it。〃　〃I　did　not　want　you　to。　It　was　for　me　to　do。　What　he　wants　is　whatever　you　have。　If　you　had　stopped　him；　having　me　would　be　a　contest　he　would　have　to　win。　This　way　he　has　no　more　interest　in　me。　Besides；　what　he　did　to　you；　about　your　mother；　was　worse。　Would　you　have　wanted　me　to　have　stepped　in　on　your　behalf？〃
　
　Richard　put　his　eyes　back　to　the　road。　He　choked　off　his　anger。　〃No；　that　was　not　for　you　to　do。〃
　
　As　they　walked；　the　houses　became　smaller；　closer　together；　but　remained　clean　and　well　kept。　Some　of　their　owners　were　out　taking　advantage　of　the　good　weather　to　make　repairs　before　winter。　The　air　was　clean　and　crisp；　and　Richard　knew　by　the　dryness　of　it　that　it　would　be　a　cold　night；　the　right　kind　of　night　for　a　fire　of　birch　logs；　fragrant　but　not　too　hot。　The　white…fenced　yards　gave　way　to　larger　garden　plots　in　front　of　small　cottages　set　farther　back　from　the　road。　As　he　walked；　Richard　plucked　an　oak　leaf　from　a　branch　hanging　close　to　the　road。
　
　〃You　seem　to　know　a　lot　about　people。　You're　very　perceptive；　I　mean　about　why　they　do　what　they　do。〃
　
　She　shrugged。　〃I　guess。〃
　
　He　tore　little　pieces　off　the　leaf。　〃Is　that　why　they　hunt　you？〃
　
　She　looked　over　as　they　walked；　and　when　his　eyes　came　to　her；　she　answered。　〃They　hunt　me　because　they　fear　truth。　One　reason　I　trust　you　is　because　you　do　not。〃
　
　He　smiled　at　the　pliment。　He　liked　the　answer；　even　though　he　wasn't　sure　what　it　meant。　〃You　aren't　about　to　kick　me；　are　you？〃
　
　A　grin　came　to　her　face。　〃You　are　getting　close。〃　She　thought　a　moment；　the　smile　fading；　and　went　on。　〃I　am　sorry；　Richard；　but　for　now　you　must　trust　me。　The　more　I　tell　you；　the　greater　the　danger；　to　both　of　us。　Still　friends？〃
　
　〃Still　friends。〃　He　threw　the　skeleton　of　the　leaf　away。　〃But　someday　you　will　tell　me　all　of　it？〃
　
　She　n