tg.stone of tears-第29部分

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earned　has　been　done　at　a　great　distance。　We　don’t　have　all　the　answers。　The　matters　you　speak　of　are　not　important。　What　is　important　is　that　you　have　the　gift；　and　if　you　don’t　let　us　help　you；　you　will　die。
　
　‘One　reason　we　help　those　with　the　gift　when　they　are　young；　and　we　wanted　to　see　your　parents；　is　because　of　the　very　difficulty　we　are　having　right　now。　If　we　can　talk　to　the　parents；　we　can　help　them　see　what　is　best　for　their　son。　Parents　are　more　interested　in　the　well…being　of　their　children　than　one　of　your　age　is　in　himself。　Teaching　one　of　your　age　is　going　to　be　difficult。　People　are　more　easily　taught　when　they　are　young。’
　
　‘Before　they　are　able　to　think　for　themselves；　Sister　Verna？’　She　was　silent。　‘I　will　ask　again。　How　do　you　know　I　have　the　gift？’
　
　Sister　Grace　smoothed　her　straight　black　hair。　‘When　one　is　born　with　the　gift；　it　lies　dormant；　and　is　harmless。　We　strive　to　find　these　boys　when　they　are　young。　We　have　a　number　of　ways　of　knowing　who　they　are。　It　has　happened　that　one　with　the　gift　does　things　that　trigger　its　growth；　its　evolution。　When　that　happens　it　bees　a　threat　to　them。　How　you　managed　to　slip　by　our　knowledge　is　something　we　can’t　answer。
　
　‘Once　triggered；　the　power　begins　to　evolve。　It　cannot　be　stopped。　It　must　be　mastered　or　you　will　die。　This　is　what　has　happened　to　you。　It　is　exceedingly　rare　for　it　to　happen　this　way。　To　be　honest；　though　we　have　been　taught　it　has　happened　before；　none　of　us　has　personal　knowledge　of　it。
　
　Back　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　there　will　be　old　records　of　this　in　others；　and　we　will　look　into　it。　But　that　doesn’t　change　what　matters：　you　have　the　gift；　it　has　been　triggered；　and　the　evolution　has　begun。
　
　‘We　have　never　had　to　teach　one　of　your　age　before。　I　fear　the　trouble　it　is　going　to　cause　at　the　palace。　Teaching　the　gift　requires　discipline。　One　of　your　age　has　obvious　difficulty　with　this。’
　
　Richard　softened　his　tone；　but　his　gaze　hardened。　‘Sister　Grace；　I　will　ask　for　the　last　time。　How　do　you　know　I　have　the　gift？’
　
　She　stood　up　a　little　straighter　and　let　out　a　noisy　breath。　She　nicked　a　glance　to　Sister　Verna。　‘Tell　him。’
　
　Sister　Verna　gave　a　resigned　nod　and　pulled　a　small　black　book　from　behind　her　belt。　With　a　frown；　she　began　leafing　through　it。　Those　with　the　gift　have　some　use　of　it　throughout　their　life；　in　little　ways；　even　though　it　lies　dormant。　Perhaps　you　have　noticed　how　you　could　do　some　things　that　others　could　not；　yes？　The　evolution　of　the　gift　is　triggered　by　the　specific　use　of　the　magic。　Once　triggered；　it　cannot　be　undone。　This　is　what　you　have　done。’
　
　She　continued　turning　pages；　running　her　finger　down　them。　‘Ah。　Here　it　is。’　She　lowered　the　book　and　looked　up。　‘There　are　three　things　that　must　be　done；　in　a　specific　manner；　to　trigger　the　gift。　We　don’t　fully　understand　the　precise　nature　of　these　things；　but　we　understand　their　general　principles。　You　have　done　these　three　things。　First；　you　must　use　the　gift　to　save　another。　Second；　you　must　use　the　gift　to　save　yourself。　Third；　you　must　use　the　gift　to　kill　another　with　the　gift。　Perhaps　you　can　see　the　difficulty　in　acplishing　them；　and　why　we　haven’t　seen　this　before？’
　
　‘And　what　is　written　about　me　in　that　book？’
　
　She　looked　once　more　to　the　book；　then　glanced　up；　lifting　an　eyebrow；　to　make　sure　he　was　paying　attention　before　consulting　the　pages　as　she　spoke。　‘First；　you　used　the　gift　to　save　the　life　of　one　who　was　being　pulled　back　into　the　underworld。　Not　physically；　but　by　her　mind。　You　drew　her　back。　Without　you；　she　would　have　been　lost。’　She　looked　up　from　under　her　eyebrows。　‘You　understand；　yes？’
　
　Kahlan　looked　at　Richard。　They　both　understood。　She　was　the　one　he　had　saved。　‘In　the　wayward　pine；’　she　said；
　
　‘the　first　night　we　met。　When　you　kept　the　underworld　from　taking　me　back。’
　
　Richard　nodded　to　Sister　Verna。　‘Yes；　I　understand。’
　
　Sister　Verna　put　her　finger　back　to　the　book。　‘As　for　saving　yourself　with　the　gift　。。。　let’s　see　。。。　I　saw　it　here　a　minute　。。。　ah！　Yes；　here　it　is。’　She　looked　up　from　under　her　eyebrows　again。　‘Second；　you　used　the　gift　to　save　your　own　life。’　She　tapped　the　book　with　a　finger。　‘You　partitioned　your　mind。　You　understand；　yes？’
　
　Richard’s　eyes　closed。　‘Yes；　I　understand；’　he　said　in　a　weak　voice。　Kahlan　didn’t　understand　that　one。
　
　Sister　Verna　went　back　to　the　book。　‘Third；　you　used　the　gift　to　kill　a　wizard。　His　name　was　Darken　Rahl。　You　understand；　yes？’
　
　‘Yes。’　He　opened　his　eyes。　‘How　do　you　know　these　things？’
　
　The　things　you　have　done　used　magic；　specific　magic；　that　leaves　an　essence　because　of　who　you　are　and　because　you　are　untrained。　Were　you　trained；　it　would　not　leave　this　essence；　and　we　would　not　know。　We　have　ones　back　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　who　are　sensitive　to　such　events。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　her。　‘You　have　violated　my　privacy；　spied　on　me。　And　as　for　the　third　of　your　three　things；　I　didn’t　exactly　kill　Darken　Rahl。　Not　technically。’
　
　‘I　can　understand　how　you　feel；’　Sister　Grace　said　quietly。　‘But　it　is　only　done　to　help　you。　If　you　wish　to　stand　here　and　argue　with　us　about　whether　or　not　these　things　qualify　as　the　three　triggers；　I　will　put　your　doubts　at　ease。　Once　they　are　done；　you　begin　the　process　of　being　a　wizard。　You　may　not　believe　it；　or　choose　to　be　a　wizard；　but　there　is　no　doubt　it　has　happened。　We　do　not　place　this　burden　on　you。　We　are　only　here　to　help　you　deal　with　it。’
　
　‘But　。。。’
　
　‘But　nothing。　When　the　magic　is　triggered；　at　least　three　changes　e　about。　First；　you　begin　to　have　fetishes　about　food。　It　may　be　things　you　crave；　or　things　you　have　always　eaten　that　you　now　refuse　to　eat。　We　have　studied　this；　and　don’t　understand　its　cause；　but　it　has　something　to　do　with　influences　at　the　time　the　gift　es　to　life。
　
　‘Second；　you　begin　to　sleep；　at　least　some　of　the　time；　with　your　eyes　open。　All　wizards　do　this；　even　ones　who　only　have　the　calling。　It　has　something　to　do　with　learning　to　use　the　magic。　If　you　have　the　gift；　that　brings　it　about　as　you　use　it　to　do　these　three　things。　If　you　have　only　the　calling；　the　teaching　brings　it　on。
　
　‘Third；　the　headaches　e。　The　headaches　are　lethal。　There　is　no　cure　for　them　other　than　learning　to　control　the　magic。　If　you　don’t；　sooner　or　later；　they　will　kill　you。’
　
　‘How　soon？　How　much　time　do　I　have　if　I　refuse　your　help？’
　
　Kahlan　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　‘Richard　。。。’
　
　‘How　much　time！’
　
　Sister　Elizabeth　spoke。　‘It　is　said　that　one　lived　with　the　headaches　for　a　few　years　before　he　died。　It　is　also　said　that　another　was　dead　within　several　months。　We　believe　the　time　you　have　depends　upon　how　strong　your　power　is；　the　stronger　the　power；　the　stronger　the　headaches；　and　the　shorter　the　time。　But　possibly　within　as　little　as　a　month　they　will　begin　to　be　strong　enough　to　render　you　unconscious　at　times。’
　
　Richard　gave　her　an　even　look。　‘They　already　have　been　that　strong。’
　
　The　three　Sisters’　eyes　widened；　and　they　exchanged　the　look　again。
　
　‘We　began　looking　for　you　before　you　did　these　three　things。　Since　we　left　the　palace；　you　have　done　all　three；’　Sister　Verna　said。　‘This　book　is　magic。　When　messages　are　written　in　its　twin　back　at　the　palace；　they　appear　to　us　here。　That　is　how　we　know　you　have　done　them。　How　long　since　you　have　done　the　third　…　since　you　have　killed　this　Darken　Rahl？’
　
　‘Three　days。　But　I　was　unconscious　on　the　second　night　after　I　killed　him。’
　
　‘The　second　。。。！’　Again　they　gave　each　other　the　look。
　
　His　irritation　was　back。　‘Why　do　you　keep　looking　at　each　other　like　that？’
　
　Sister　Verna’s　voice　came　in　a　soft　tone。　‘Because　you　are　a　very　rare　person；　Richard。　In　many　ways。　We　have　never　encountered　so　many　unexpected　things　wrapped　up　in　one　person。’
　
　Kahlan　slipped　an　arm　around　his　waist。　‘You’re　right；　he　is　a　rare　person。　A　person　I　love。　What　can　you　do　to　help　him？’　She　was　worried　that　he　was　frightening　them　and　they　wouldn’t　want　to　help。
　
　There　are　specific　rules　he　must　follow。　We　all　must；　they　are　inviolate。　There　is　no　room　for　negotiation。　He　must　put　himself　in　our　hands　and　must　e　with　us　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’　Sister　Grace’s　eyes　were　sad　as　she　said；　‘Alone。’
　
　‘For　how　long？’　Richard　demanded。　‘How　long　does　it　take？’
　
　Sister　Grace’s　black　hair　shone　in　the　torchlight　as　she　turned　her　head　to　him。　‘It　depends　on　how　quickly　you　learn。　It　takes　as　long　as　it　takes。　You　have　to　stay　until　it　is　finished。’
　
　Kahlan　felt　a　tightness　in　her　chest　as　Richard　slipped　his　arm　around　her　waist。　‘Can　I　visit　him？’
　
　Sister　Grace　shook　her　head　slowly。　‘No。　And　there　is　more。’　Her　eyes　flicked　to　the　Agiel　for　an　instant。　She　reached　into　her　cloak　and　pulled　something　out。　It　was　a　ring　of　metal；　hardly　more　than　a　hand　across。　Even　though　it　seemed　unbroken；　Sister　Grace　did　something　and　it　unlatched；　opening　into　hinged　half　circles。　Its　dull　silver　color　reflected　the　firelight。　She　held　it　up　in　front　of　Richard。　This　is　called　the　Rada’Han。　It　is　a　collar。　You　must　wear　it。’
　
　Richard　took　a　step　back；　his　hand　ing　away　from　Kahlan’s　waist　and　going　to　his　throat。　His　face　paled　and　his　eyes　widened。　‘Why？’　he　asked　in　a　whisper。
　
　The　rules　begin。　Discussion　is　over。’　Sister　Verna　and　Sister　Elizabeth　moved　behind　Sister　Grace　as　she　spoke；　standing　with　their　hands　at　their　sides　as　the　black　haired　woman　held　the　collar　out　in　her　hands。　This　is　no　game。　From　now　on；　it　can　go　only　by　the　rules。　Listen　carefully；　Richard。
　
　‘You　will　be　offered　three　chances　to　take　the　Rada’Han；　three　chances　to　take　our　help；　a　Sister　for　each　chance。　There　are　three　reasons　for　the　Rada’Han；　a　Sister　to　reveal　each。　Before　each　offer；　and　chance　to　refuse；　a　different　Sister　will　give　you　one　of　the　reasons。　After　each　reason；　you　will　be　offered　the　chance　to　accept　or　refuse。
　
　‘After　the　third　refusal；　as　I　hope　you　never　learn；　there　are　no　more　chances。　You　will　receive　no　further　help　from　the　Sisters　of