tg.wizardfirstrule-第14部分

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　hairline　cracks　shooting　across　its　surface。　Its　trembling　bulk　struggled　against　the　force　being　applied。　The　granular　structure　of　the　stone　began　to　soften。　Unable　to　maintain　its　state　any　longer；　the　texture　of　the　rock　liquefied　enough　to　allow　its　mass　to　rotate　with　the　movement　of　the　finger　above　it。　Gradually　the　speed　of　Zedd's　stirring　increased　until　light　erupted　from　the　rotating　liquid　rock。
　
　The　light　built　in　intensity　with　the　speed　of　Zedd's　hand。　As　colors　and　sparkles　of　light　spun；　shadows　and　forms　came　into　the　center　of　the　light　and　vanished　as　the　fog　of　brightness　increased。　Light　threatened　to　ignite　the　air　about　him。　A　dull　roar；　like　the　sound　of　wind　rushing　through　a　fissure；　came　forth。　The　smells　of　autumn　changed　to　winter　clarity；　then　spring's　new　plowed　ground；　summer's　flowers；　and　back　to　autumn　again。　Clean；　pure　illumination　chased　the　colors　and　sparkles　away。
　
　The　rock　abruptly　solidified　and　Zedd　stepped　atop　it；　into　the　light。　The　brightness　faded　to　a　faint　glow　that　swirled　like　smoke。　Before　him　stood　two　apparitions；　mere　shadows　of　form。　Where　sharpness　should　have　been；　their　shapes　softened　like　a　dim　memory；　yet　they　were　still　recognizable；　and　the　sight　of　them　brought　a　quickness　to　Zedd's　heart。
　
　His　mother's　voice　came　hollow　and　distant。　〃What　troubles　you；　son？　Why　have　you　called　us　after　so　many　years？〃　Her　arms　stretched　out　to　him。
　
　Zedd's　arms　reached　out；　but　could　not　touch　her。　〃I　am　troubled　by　what　the　Mother　Confessor　tells　me。〃
　
　〃She　speaks　the　truth。〃
　
　He　closed　his　eyes　and　nodded　as　his　arms　lowered　with　hers。　〃It's　true；　then；　all　my　students；　save　Giller；　are　dead。〃
　
　〃You　are　the　only　one　left　to　protect　the　Mother　Confessor。〃　She　drifted　closer。　〃You　must　appoint　the　Seeker。〃
　
　〃The　High　Council　sowed　these　seeds；〃　he　protested；　frowning。　〃Now　you　want　me　to　help？　They　turned　my　advice　away。　Let　them　live　and　die　by　their　own　greed。〃
　
　Zedd's　father　floated　closer。　〃My　son；　why　were　you　angry　with　your　students？〃
　
　Zedd　scowled。　〃Because　they　put　themselves　before　their　duty　to　help　their　people。〃
　
　〃I　see。　And　how　is　this　different　from　what　you　do　now？〃　The　echo　of　his　voice　hung　in　the　air。
　
　Zedd's　fists　tightened。　〃My　help　was　offered；　but　turned　away。〃
　
　〃And　when　has　it　not　been　so；　that　there　would　be　those　who　were　blind；　or　foolish；　or　greedy？　Would　you　let　them　have　their　way　over　you　so　easily？　Would　you　let　them　so　simply　prevent　you　from　helping　those　who　would　be　helped？　Your　abandonment　of　the　people　may　have　a　reason　that　seems　just　to　you；　unlike　the　actions　of　your　students；　but　the　results　are　the　same。　In　the　end　they　saw　their　mistake；　and　did　the　right　things；　the　things　you　taught　them。　Learn　from　your　students；　son。〃
　
　〃Zeddicus；〃　his　mother　said；　〃would　you　let　Richard　die　too；　and　all　the　other　innocents？　Appoint　the　Seeker。〃
　
　〃He's　too　young。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃He　will　not　get　the　chance　to　grow　older。〃
　
　〃He　has　not　passed　my　final　test。〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　hunts　Richard。　The　cloud　that　shadows　him　was　sent　by　Rahl　to　track　him。　The　snake　vine　was　put　in　the　jar　by　Darken　Rahl；　in　the　expectation　that　Richard　would　search　for　it；　and　it　would　bite　him。　The　snake　vine　wasn't　meant　to　kill；　Rahl　sought　to　have　him　put　to　sleep　by　the　fever　until　he　could　e　for　him。〃　Her　form　drifted　closer；　her　voice　being　more　loving。　〃You　know　in　your　heart　you　have　been　watching　him；　hoping　he　would　show　himself　to　be　the　one。〃
　
　〃To　what　avail？〃　Zedd　closed　his　eyes；　his　chin　sinking　to　his　chest。　〃Darken　Rahl　has　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。〃
　
　〃No；〃　his　father　said；　〃he　has　only　two。　He　still　seeks　the　third。〃
　
　Zedd's　eyes　snapped　open；　his　head　jerked　up。　〃What！　He　doesn't　have　them　all？〃
　
　〃No；〃　his　mother　said；　〃but　he　soon　will。〃
　
　〃And　the　book？　Surely　he　must　have　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows？〃
　
　〃No。　He　searches　for　it。〃
　
　Zedd　put　a　finger　to　his　chin；　thinking。　〃Then　there's　a　chance；〃　he　whispered。　〃What　sort　of　fool　would　put　the　boxes　of　Orden　in　play　before　he　had　all　three；　and　the　book？〃
　
　His　mother's　features　sharpened　into　a　look　of　ice。　〃A　very　dangerous　one。　He　travels　the　underworld。〃　Zedd　stiffened；　and　his　breath　caught　in　his　throat。　His　mother's　eyes　seemed　to　pierce　him。　〃That　is　how　he　was　able　to　cross　the　boundary　and　recover　the　first　box：　by　traveling　the　underworld。　That　is　how　he　was　able　to　begin　the　undoing　of　the　boundary：　from　within　the　underworld。　He　mands　some　in　it；　more　with　his　every　ing。　If　you　choose　to　help；　be　warned：　do　not　go　through　the　boundary；　or　send　the　Seeker　through。　Rahl　expects　it。　If　you　enter；　he　will　have　you。　The　Mother　Confessor　came　through　only　because　he　did　not　expect　it。　He　will　not　make　the　same　mistake　again。〃
　
　〃But　then　how　am　I　to　get　us　to　the　Midlands？　I　can't　help　if　I　can't　get　to　the　Midlands。〃　Zedd's　voice　was　tense　with　frustration。
　
　〃We're　sorry；　but　we　don't　know。　We　believe　there　must　be　a　way；　but　it　is　not　known　to　us。　That　is　why　you　must　appoint　the　Seeker。　If　he　is　the　right　one；　he　will　find　a　way。〃　Their　forms　began　to　shimmer；　to　fade
　
　〃Wait！　I　must　have　the　answers　to　my　questions！　Please；　don't　leave　me！〃
　
　〃We're　sorry；　it　is　not　our　choice；　we　are　called　back　behind　the　veil。〃
　
　〃Why　is　Rahl　after　Richard？　Please　help　me。〃
　
　His　father's　voice　was　weak　and　distant。　〃We　don't　know。　You　must　search　for　the　answers　yourself。　We　have　trained　you　well。　You　are　more　talented　than　we　ever　were。　Use　what　you　were　taught　and　what　you　feel。　We　love　you；　son。　Until　this　is　settled；　one　way　or　the　other；　we　cannot　e　to　you　again。　With　Orden　in　play；　ing　again　could　tear　the　veil。〃
　
　His　mother　kissed　her　hand　and　held　it　out　to　him　as　he　did　the　same　in　return；　and　then　they　were　gone。
　
　Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander；　the　great　and　honorable　wizard；　stood　alone　on　the　wizard's　rock　his　father　had　given　him；　and　stared　out　into　the　night；　thinking　wizard's　thoughts。
　
　〃Nothing　is　ever　easy；〃　he　whispered
　
　CHAPTER　8
　RICHARD　CAME　AWAKE　WITH　a　start。　Warm　midday　light　filled　the　room；　and　the　wonderful；　tangy　aroma　of　spice　soup　filled　his　lungs。　He　was　in　his　room　at　Zedd's　house。　He　looked　up　at　the　familiar　knots　in　the　wood　walls；　and　the　faces　he　always　made　them　into　in　his　mind　stared　back。　The　door　to　the　front　room　stood　shut。　A　chair　waited　next　to　the　bed；　empty。　He　sat　up；　pushing　the　covers　down；　and　saw　that　he　still　wore　his　dirty　clothes。　He　felt　for　the　tooth　under　his　shirt　and　sighed　in　relief　when　he　found　it　still　there；　safe。　A　short　stick　held　the　window　open　a　few　inches；　letting　in　fresh　air　and　the　sound　of　Kahlan's　laughter。　Zedd　must　be　telling　stories；　he　thought。　Richard　looked　at　his　left　hand。　It　was　wrapped　but　no　longer　sore　when　he　flexed　his　fingers。　His　head　didn't　hurt　anymore；　either。　In　fact；　he　felt　wonderful。　Hungry；　but　wonderful。　He　amended　that　to　dirty；　in　filthy　clothes；　and　hungry；　but　wonderful。
　
　A　tub　of　bathwater；　soap；　and　clean　towels　sat　in　the　center　of　the　small　room。　A　clean　outfit　of　his　forest　garb　was　folded　and　stacked　neatly　on　the　chair。　The　bathwater　looked　deliciously　inviting。　He　dipped　his　hand　in　and　found　the　water　warm。　Zedd　must　have　known　when　he　would　wake。　Knowing　Zedd　as　well　as　he　did；　that　didn't　surprise　him。
　
　Richard　undressed　and　slipped　into　the　weling　water。　The　soap　smelled　almost　as　good　to　him　as　the　soup。　He　liked　to　stay　in　the　tub　for　a　good　long　soak；　but　he　felt　too　wide　awake　for　soaking；　and　was　eager　to　be　outside　with　the　other　two。　Unwrapping　the　hand；　he　was　surprised　to　find　how　much　it　had　healed　overnight。
　
　When　he　came　out；　Kahlan　and　Zedd　were　sitting　at　the　table　waiting　for　him。　Kahlan's　dress　was　freshly　washed；　he　noticed；　and　she　looked　bathed；　too。　Her　hair　was　clean　and　glistened　in　the　sunlight。　Green　eyes　sparkled　up　at　him。　A　big　bowl　of　soup　waited　for　him　next　to　her　at　the　table；　along　with　cheese　and　fresh　bread。
　
　〃I　wouldn't　have　expected　to　have　slept　until　noon；〃　he　said；　swinging　his　leg　over　the　bench。　They　both　laughed。　Richard　eyed　them　suspiciously。
　
　Kahlan　straightened　her　face。　〃This　is　the　second　noon　you　have　slept　to；　Richard。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Zedd　added；　〃you　slept　right　through　the　first。　How　do　you　feel？　How　is　your　hand？〃
　
　〃I'm　fine。　Thank　you；　Zedd；　for　helping　me。　Thank　you　both。〃　He　opened　and　closed　his　fingers　to　show　them　the　improvement。　〃The　hand　feels　much　better；　except　it　itches。〃
　
　〃My　mother　always　said　that　if　it　itched；　that　meant　it　was　getting　better。〃
　
　Richard　grinned　at　her。　〃Mine　too。〃　He　fished　a　piece　of　potato　and　a　mushroom　into　his　spoon　and　tasted　it。　〃It's　as　good　as　mine；〃　he　said　to　her　earnestly。
　
　She　sat　crosswise　on　the　bench；　facing　toward　him；　her　elbow　resting　on　the　table　with　the　side　of　her　jaw　nestled　in　the　heel　of　her　hand。　She　gave　him　a　knowing　smile。　〃Zedd　tells　it　differently。〃
　
　Richard　cast　a　reproachful　eye　at　Zedd；　who　looked　up　at　the　sky　in　an　exaggerated　manner。　〃Does　he　now？　I　will　have　to　remind　him　of　that　the　next　time　he　is　begging　me　to　make　it　for　him。〃
　
　〃Frankly；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　but　not　low　enough　that　Zedd　couldn't　hear；　〃from　what　I've　seen；　I　think　he　would　eat　dirt　if　someone　else　dished　it　up　for　him。〃
　
　Richard　laughed。　〃I　see　you've　gotten　to　know　him　well。〃
　
　〃I　tell　you；　Richard；〃　the　old　man　said；　pointing　a　bony　finger；　not　about　to　let　them　get　the　best　of　him；　〃she　could　make　dirt　taste　good。　You　would　do　well　to　take　lessons　from　her。〃
　
　Richard　broke　off　a　piece　of　bread　and　dunked　it　in　the　soup。　He　knew　the　joking　was　a　release　for　the　tension　he　sensed；　a　way　to　pass　the　time　while　they　both　waited　for　him　to　finish。　Kahlan　had　given　Richard　her　word　that　she　would　wait　for　him　to　ask　Zedd's　help；　it　was　apparent　that　she　had　kept　her　word。　And　Zedd's　way　was　to　play　ignorant　and　innocent；　and　wait　for　you　to　ask　something　first　so　he　could　better　judge　what　you　already　knew。　This　day；　Richard　could　not　allow　any　of　his　games。　This　day；　things　were　different。
　
　〃There　is　one　thing　I　don't　trust　about　her；　though。〃　Zedd's　tone　was　dark；　menacing。
　
　Richard　froze　in　mid…chew。　He　swallowed　and　waited；　not　daring　to　look　at　either　of　them；　while　the　other　paused。
　
　〃She　doesn't　like　cheese！　I　don't　think　I　could　ever　trust　anyone　who　doesn't　like　cheese。　It's　not　natural。〃
　
　Richard　relaxed。　Zedd　was　just　twiddling　with　his　mind；　as　he　always　called　it。　His　old　friend　seemed　to　have　a　knack　for　catching　him　off　guard；　and　he　delighted　in　it。　Richard　stole　a　glance　at　Zedd　to　see　him　sitting　there　with　an　innocent　smile　on　his　face。　Richard　smiled；　too；　in　spite　of　himself。　While　he　relished　the　bowl　of　soup；　Zedd　nibbled　on　a　piece　of　cheese　to　make　his　point。　Kahlan　nibbled　on　a　piece　of　bread　to　make　hers。　The　bread　tasted　delicious。　Kahlan　was　pleased　when　he　pointed　it　out。
　
　As　Richard　neared　the　end　of　his　meal　he　decided　it　was　time　to　change　the　tone　of　things　back　to　business。　〃The　next　quad？　Has　there　been　any　sign？〃
　
　〃No。　I　was　worried；　but　Zedd　did　a　cloud　reading　for　me　and　said　it　appeared　they　must　have　run　into　trouble　of　some　kind；　since　they　were　nowhere　to　be　found。〃
　
　He　gave　Zedd　a　sideways　glance。　〃Is　that　true？〃
　
　〃True　as　toasted　toads。〃　Zedd　had　used　the‘　expression　since　Richard　was　young；　to　win　him　over　with　humor　and　let　him　know　he　could　always　trust　the　old　man　to　be　truthful　with　him　above　all　else。　Richard　wondered　what　sort　of　trouble　a　quad　could　〃run　into。〃
　
　For　better　or　worse；　he　had　succeeded　in　changing　the　mood　at　the　table。　He　felt　Kahlan's　impatience　for　him　to　get　on　with　it；　and　he　'sensed　impatience　irk　Zedd；　too。　Kahlan　turned　back　to　the　table　and　put　both　hands　in　her　lap；　waiting。　Richard　feared　that　if　he　didn't　handle　things　properly；　she　would　do　whatever　it　was　she　was　here　to　do；　and　he　would　have　no　control　over　it。
　
　Richard　finished　his　meal　and　pushed　the　bowl　away　with　his　thumbs；　at　the　same　time　meeting　Zedd's　eyes。　His　friend's　humor　was　gone；　but　otherwise　he　showed　nothing　of　what　he　was　thinking。　He　simply　waited。　It　was　Richard's　turn　now；　and　once　he　began　there　could　be　no　going　back。
　
　〃Zedd；　my　friend；　we　need　your　help　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　〃
　
　〃I　know。　You　want　me　to　find　the　wizard　for　you。〃
　
　〃No；　that　won't　be　necessary。　I　have　already　found　him。〃　Richard　felt　Kahlan's　questioning　eyes　on　him；　but　he　continued　to　fix　his　gaze　on　Zedd。　〃You　are　the　great　wizard。〃
　
　Kahlan　began　to　rise　from　the　bench。　Without　taking　his　eyes　from　Zedd；　Richard　'reached　under　the　table　and　clutched　her　forearm；　forcing　her　to　sit　back　down。　Still　Zedd　showed　no　emotion。　His　voice　came　even　and　soft。
　
　〃And　what　makes　you　think　this；　Richard？〃
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath；　letting　it　out　slowly　as　he　put　his　hands　on　the　table；　intertwining　his　fingers。　He　watched　his　hands　as　he　spoke。　〃When　Kahlan　first　told　me　about　the　history　of　the　three　lands；　she　said　the　council　had　taken　actions　that　made　the　death　of　the　wizard's　wife　and　daughter　at　the　hands　of　a　quad　stand　for　nothing；　and　as　punishment　the　wizard　did　the　worst　thing　possible　to　them：　he　left　them　to　suffer　the　consequences　of　their　own　actions。
　
　〃That　sounded　like　the　very　thing　you　would　do；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure　then；　I　had　to　find　a　way　to　know。　When　you　first　saw　Kahlan；　and　were　angry　that　she　had　e　here　from　the　Midlands；　I　told　you　she　had　been　attacked　by　a　quad。　I　watched　your　eyes。　They　told　me　I　was　right。　Only　someone　who　had　suffered　a　loss　like　yours　would　have　had　that　look　in　his　eyes。　And；　you　changed　your　attitude　toward　her　after　I　told　you
　
　pletely。　Only　someone　who　had　known　the　terror　personally　would　have　that　kind　of　empathy。　But　still　I　didn't　trust　my　instinct。　I　waited。〃
　
　He　looked　up　at　Zedd　and　held　the　other's　gaze　while　he　spoke。　〃Your　biggest　mistake　was　when　you　told　Kahlan　she　was　safe　here。　You　would　not　lie；　especially　about　something　like　that。　And　you　know　what　a　quad　is。　How　could　an　old　man　make　it　safe　here；　against　a　quad；　without　magic？　He　couldn't；　but　one　old　wizard　could。　The　next　quad　is　nowhere　to　be　found；　you　said　so　yourself；　they　ran　into　some　trouble。　I　think　they　ran　into　some　wizard　trouble。　You　were　as　good　as　your　word。　You　always　are。〃
　
　Richard's　voice　turned　gentler。　〃I　have　always　known；　in　a　thousand　little　ways；　that　you　were　more　than　you　claimed　to　be；　that　you　were　a　special　person。　I　have　always　been　honored　to　have　you　as　my　friend。　And　I　know　that　as　my　friend；　you　would　do　anything；　anything　you　must；　to　help　me　if　my　life　were　in　danger；　just　as　I　would　do　anything　for　you。　I　trust　you　with　my　life；　and　it　is　now　in　your　hands。〃　Richard　hated　closing　the　trap　in　this　fashion；　but　all　their　lives　were　at　risk。　There　could　be　no　games。
　
　Zedd　put　his　hands　on　the　table　and　leaned　forward。　〃I　have　never　before　been　this　proud　of　you；　Richard。〃　His　eyes　told　that　he　meant　it。　〃You　got　it　all　right。〃　He　stood　and　came　around　the　table。　When　Richard　stood；　they　hugged。　〃I　have　also　never　been　this　sad　for