tg.stone of tears-第24部分

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　The　two　of　them　cut　up　tava；　some　other　rust…colored　roots　Kahlan　didn’t　recognize；　peppers；　beans；　some　nutty　kuru；　and　then　added　greens　and　dried　mushrooms　into　the　big　iron　kettle　hanging　over　the　little　fire　in　the　corner　cooking　hearth。　Weselan　pushed　a　few　sticks　of　hardwood　into　the　fire　as　she　told　Kahlan　the　men　probably　wouldn’t　be　back　until　dark。　She　suggested　they　go　to　the　mon　area　with　the　other　women　and　bake　some　tava　bread　in　the　ovens。
　
　‘I　would　like　that；’　Kahlan　said。
　
　‘We　will　talk　about　the　wedding　with　them。　Talk　of　weddings　always　makes　for　good　conversation。’　She　smiled。　‘Especially　when　there　are　no　men　around。’
　
　Kahlan　was　happy　to　find　that　the　young　women　talked　to　her　now。　In　the　past　they　had　always　been　too　shy。　The　older　women　wanted　to　talk　about　the　marriage。　The　younger　women　wanted　to　talk　about　faraway　places。　They　wanted　to　know　if　it　was　really　true　that　men　followed　her　orders；　that　they　did　as　she　said。
　
　Their　eyes　were　wide　as　Kahlan　told　them　about　the　Central　Council　and　how　she　protected　the　interests　of　peoples　like　the　Mud　People　from　the　threat　of　invasion　by　more　powerful　lands　so　the　Mud　People　and　others　in　small　munities　could　live　as　they　wished。　She　explained　that　although　she　was　able　to　mand　people；　she　did　so　only　because　she　was　the　servant　to　all　the　people。　When　they　asked　if　she　manded　armies　of　men　in　battle；　Kahlan　told　them　that　it　wasn’t　like　that；　that　what　she　did　was　try　to　help　the　different　lands　work　together　so　there　wouldn’t　be　fighting。　They　wanted　to　know　how　many　servants　she　had　and　what　sorts　of　fabulous　dresses　she　had。　The　questions　were　beginning　to　make　the　older　women　nervous；　and　to　frustrate　Kahlan。
　
　She　flopped　a　ball　of　dough　down　on　the　board；　sending　up　a　little　cloud　of　flour。　She　looked　the　younger　women　in　the　eye。
　
　‘The　prettiest　dress　I　will　ever　have　will　be　the　dress　Weselan　is　making　me；　because　she　is　doing　it　out　of　friendship；　and　not　because　I　manded　her　to　make　it　There　is　no　possession　to　pare　to　friendship。　I　would　give　up　everything　I　have；　and　live　in　rags；　and　grub　for　roots；　just　to　have　one　friend。’
　
　That　seemed　to　quiet　the　young　girls；　and　settle　the　older　women。　The　chatter　drifted　back　to　the　subject　of　the　wedding；　and　Kahlan　was　happy　to　let　it。　She　tried　to　keep　out　of　it；　to　let　the　older　women　lead　the　talk。
　
　
　Near　the　end　of　the　afternoon；　Kahlan　saw　a　motion　across　the　field。　She　saw　a　taller　figure；　Richard；　taking　long　strides　toward　Savidlin　and　Weselan’s　home。　Even　from　a　distance；　she　could　tell　he　was　angry。　A　throng　of　hunters　followed　in　his　wake；　trotting　at　times　to　keep　pace。
　
　Kahlan　wiped　her　flour…covered　hands　on　a　cloth。　She　threw　the　cloth　on　a　table　as　she　stepped　off　the　plank　floor　of　the　shelter　and　jogged　the　distance　to　the　men。　She　caught　them　as　they　went　down　a　wide　passageway。
　
　Pushing　through　the　hunters；　she　finally　caught　up　with　Richard　just　before　he　reached　Savidlin’s　doorway。　Chan…dalen　was　right　at　his　heels；　along　with　Savidlin。　Chandalen　had　blood　down　his　shoulder；　with　some　kind　of　mud　pack　over　a　wound　on　top。　He　looked　to　be　in　a　mood　to　chew　rocks。
　
　She　grabbed　Richard’s　sleeve。　He　spun　around　with　a　hot　expression　that　cooled　a　little　when　he　saw　it　was　her。　He　removed　his　hand　from　the　hilt　of　the　sword。
　
　‘Richard；　what’s　wrong？’
　
　He　glared　around　at　the　men；　mostly　Chandalen；　then　settled　his　gaze　back　on　her。　‘I　need　you　to　translate。　We　had　a　little　。。。　‘adventure’　。。。　this　afternoon。　I　haven’t　been　able　to　make　them　understand　what　happened。’
　
　‘I　want　to　know　how　he　could　dare　to　try　to　kill　me！’　Chandalen　was　saying　over　Richard’s　words。
　
　‘What’s　he　talking　about？　He　wants　to　know　why　you　tried　to　kill　him。’
　
　‘Kill　him！　I　saved　his　fool　life。　Don’t　ask　me　why！　I　should　have　let　him　get　killed！　The　next　time　I　will！’　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　‘My　head　is　killing　me。’
　
　Chandalen　pointed　angrily　at　the　wound　on　the　top　of　his　shoulder。　‘You　did　this　deliberately！　I　saw　how　you　shoot！　It　could　not　have　been　an　accident！’
　
　Richard　threw　his　hands　in　the　air。　‘Idiot！’　he　said　to　the　sky。　He　lowered　his　glare　to　Chandalen’s　fierce　eyes。　‘Yes；　you　saw　me　shoot！　Do　you　have　any　doubt　that　if　I　wanted　to　kill　you；　you　would　not　be　breathing　right　now！　Of　course　I　did　it　deliberately！　It　was　the　only　way　to　save　you！’　He　reached　over　her　shoulder；　putting　his　hand　close　to　Chandalen’s　face；　holding　his　first　finger　and　thumb　half　an　inch　apart。　This　is　all　the　room　I　had！　At　the　most！　If　I　didn’t　take　it；　you　would　be　dead！’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’　Chandalen　demanded。
　
　Kahlan　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　‘Calm　down；　Richard。　Just　tell　us　what　happened。’
　
　‘He　couldn’t　understand　me。　None　of　them　could。　I　couldn’t　explain　it　to　them。’　He　looked　at　her　in　frustration。　‘I　killed　a　man　today。’
　
　‘What！’　she　whispered。　‘You　killed　one　of　Chandalen’s　men？’
　
　‘No！　That’s　not　what　they’re　angry　about。　They’re　happy　I　killed　him。　I　was　saving　Chandalen’s　life！　But　they　think　。。。’
　
　She　collected　herself。　‘Just　calm　down。　I　will　explain　your　words　to　them。’
　
　Richard　nodded　and　rubbed　his　eyes　with　the　heels　of　his　hands。　He　looked　down　at　the　ground　as　he　bed　the　fingers　of　both　hands　through　his　hair。　He　looked　back　up。　‘I’m　only　going　to　explain　this　once；　Chandalen。　If　you　can’t　get　it　through　your　thick　head；　then　we　are　going　to　stand　at　opposite　ends　of　the　village　and　shoot　arrows　at　each　other　until　we　can’t　argue　anymore。　And　I　will　only　need　one　arrow。’
　
　Chandalen　lifted　an　eyebrow　and　folded　his　muscular　arms。　‘So　explain。’
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath。　‘You　were　standing　a　long　way　off。　For　some　reason；　I　knew　he　was　there；　behind　you。　I　spun　around。　All　I　could　see　of　him　。。。　here；　like　this。’　He　grabbed　Kahlan　by　her　shoulders　and　turned　her　around；　facing　Chandalen。　He　held　her　shoulders　and　ducked　down　behind　her。　‘Like　this。　I　couldn’t　see　any　of　him　but　the　top　of　his　head。　He　had　his　spear　ready。　In　one　second　more；　he　would　have　put　it　through　your　back。　I　had　only　one　chance　to　keep　him　from　killing　you。　Only　one　chance。　I　couldn’t　see　enough　of　him；　there　was　nothing　else　to　shoot　at　from　where　I　was。　Only　the　very　top　of　his　head。
　
　The　top　of　his　forehead　sloped　back。　If　I　hit　it　too　high；　the　arrow　would　have　deflected　off；　and　he　would　have　killed　you。　The　only　way　to　stop　him；　to　kill　him；　was　to　let　the　arrow　nick　the　top　of　your　shoulder。’
　
　He　held　his　finger　and　thumb　half　an　inch　apart　again。　This　is　all　I　had。　If　I　put　the　arrow　that　much　lower；　your　bone　would　have　deflected　the　arrow；　and　he　would　have　had　you。　If　I　would　have　put　it　that　much　higher；　just　enough　not　to　nick　you；　he　would　have　lived；　and　you　would　be　dead。　I　knew　Savidlin’s　bladed　arrow　could　pass　through　a　little　of　your　flesh　and　allow　me　to　kill　him。　There　was　no　time　for　anything　else。　I　had　to　shoot　instantly。　I　think　a　dozen　stitches　is　a　light　price　to　pay　for　your　life。’
　
　Chandalen’s　eyes　looked　a　little　less　sure。　‘How　do　I　know　you　are　telling　the　truth？’
　
　Richard　shook　his　head；　muttering。　He　suddenly　thought　of　something。　He　snatched　a　cloth　sack　from　one　of　Chandalen’s　men。　He　thrust　his　hand　in　the　sack　and　pulled　out　a　head；　lifting　it　by　blood…soaked；　matted　hair。
　
　Kahlan　gasped。　She　put　a　hand　over　her　mouth　as　she　turned　away。　But　before　she　did；　she　saw　an　arrow　jutting　from　the　center　of　the　forehead；　the　blade　end　sticking　from　the　back　of　the　head。
　
　Richard　held　the　head　behind　Chandalen’s　shoulder　and　laid　the　feathers　of　the　shaft　on　his　shoulder；　next　to　the　wound。
　
　This　is　all　I　saw。　If　it　were　not　as　I　say；　if　he　had　been　standing　straighter；　and　I　put　the　arrow　where　I　did；　it　would　not　have　touched　you。’
　
　The　hunters　all　started　nodding　and　whispering　among　themselves。　Chandalen　looked　down　at　the　shaft　of　the　arrow　lying　on　his　shoulder。　He　looked　back　at　the　head。　He　thought　about　it　a　minute　and　then　unfolded　his　arms　and　took　the　head；　stuffing　it　back　in　the　sack。
　
　‘I　have　been　stitched　before。　A　few　more　will　not　hurt　me。　I　will　take　your　words　as　true。　This　time。’
　
　Richard　put　his　fists　on　his　hips　as　he　watched　Chandalen　and　his　men　walking　away。　‘You’re　wele；’　he　called　after　them。
　
　Kahlan　didn’t　translate　that。　‘Why　do　they　have　that　head？’
　
　‘Don’t　ask　me。　It　wasn’t　my　idea。　And　you　don’t　want　to　know　what　they　did　with　the　rest　of　him。’
　
　‘Richard；　that　seems　a　risky　shot　to　me。　How　far　were　you　when　you　shot　that　arrow？’
　
　The　heat　left　his　voice。　‘Not　risky　at　all；　believe　me。　And　I　was　at　least　a　hundred　paces。’
　
　‘You　can　shoot　an　arrow　that　accurately　at　a　hundred　paces？’
　
　He　sighed。　‘I’m　afraid　I　could　have　done　it　at　twice　that　distance。　Three　times　that　distance。’　He　looked　down　at　the　blood　on　his　hands。　‘I　have　to　go　wash　this　off。　Kahlan；　in　about　two　minutes　my　head　is　going　to　explode。　I　have　to　sit　down。　Could　you　please　go　get　Nissel？　Yelling　at　that　idiot　was　the　only　thing　keeping　me　on　my　feet。’
　
　She　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　‘Of　course。　Go　on　inside；　I’ll　go　get　her。’
　
　‘I　think　Savidlin　is　angry　with　me　too。　Please　tell　him　that　I’m　sorry　I　ruined　so　many　of　his　arrows。’
　
　She　frowned　as　Richard　went　inside；　closing　the　door。　Savidlin　looked　as　if　he　was　about　to　speak　to　her。　She　took　him　by　the　arm。
　
　‘Richard　needs　Nissel。　e　with　me；　and　tell　me　what　happened。’
　
　Savidlin　cast　a　glance　over　his　shoulder　at　the　door　to　his　home　as　they　hurried　away。　‘Richard　With　The　Temper　seems　to　be　living　up　to　his　name。’
　
　‘He　is　upset　because　he　killed　a　man。　It　is　not　an　easy　thing　to　live　with。’
　
　‘He　didn’t　tell　you　all　of　the　story。　There　was　more　to　it。’
　
　‘So　tell　me。’
　
　He　looked　over　with　a　grave　expression。　‘We　were　shooting。　Chandalen　was　angry；　because　of　the　shots　Richard　was　making。　He　said　Richard　was　a　demon　and　went　off　and　stood　in　the　tall　grass　by　himself。　The　rest　of　us　were　standing　off　to　the　other