tg.wizardfirstrule-第22部分

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undary。　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　yawned　as　they　rode。　The　forest　thinned；　with　open　patches　of　meadow；　bright　and　green　and　smelling　sweet　in　the　sunshine　as　they　traveled　through　the　hill　country　on　their　journey　south；　the　road　taking　them　temporarily　farther　from　the　mountains　of　the　boundary。　Occasionally　they　passed　small　farms；　their　owners　making　themselves　scarce　when　they　saw　Chase。
　
　The　land　became　less　familiar　to　Richard；　who　rarely　traveled　this　far　south。　He　kept　a　sharp　lookout；　making　note　of　the　landmarks　they　passed。　After　they　ate　a　cold　lunch　in　the　warm　sun；　the　road　began　angling　steadily　closer　to　the　mountains；　until　in　the　late　afternoon　they　were　so　close　to　the　boundary　that　they　began　encountering　the　gray　skeletons　of　trees　killed　by　the　snake　vine。　Even　the　sun　did　little　to　brighten　the　dense　woods。　Chase's　demeanor　became　distant；　harder；　as　he　observed　everything　carefully。　Several　times　he　dismounted；　walking　his　horse　as　he　studied　the　ground；　reading　tracks。
　
　They　crossed　a　stream　that　flowed　out　of　the　mountains；　the　water　churning　sluggish；　cold；　and　muddy。　Chase　stopped　and　sat；　watching　off　into　the　shadows。　The　rest　of　them　waited；　looking　at　one　another　and　toward　the　boundary。　Richard　recognized　the　dead　smell　of　the　vine　drifting　in　the　air。　The　boundary　warden　led　them　a　little　farther；　then　got　off　his　horse　and　squatted；　studying　the　ground。　When　he　rose；　he　handed　the　reins　of　his　horse　to　Zedd。　He　turned　to　them　and　said　simply；　〃Wait。〃　They　watched　him　disappear　into　the　trees　as　they　sat　quietly。　Kahlan's　big　horse　shivered　flies　off　its　hide　as　it　nibbled　grass。
　
　Chase　returned；　pulling　his　black　gauntlets　on；　and　took　the　reins　from　Zedd。　〃I　want　you　three　to　keep　going。　Don't　wait　for　me；　and　don't　stop。　Keep　to　the　road。〃
　
　〃What　is　it？　What　did　you　find？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Chase　turned　back　and　gave　him　a　dark　look。　〃The　wolves　have　been　feeding。　I'm　going　to　bury　what's　left；　and　then　I'm　going　cross…country；　between　the　boundary　and　you　three。　I　need　to　check　into　something。　Remember　what　I　said。　Don't　stop。　Don't　run　your　horses；　but　keep　up　a　good　pace；　and　keep　your　eyes　sharp。　If　you　think　I'm　gone　too　long；　don't　you　dare　to　think　to　e　back　looking　for　me。　I　know　what　I'm　doing；　and　you　would　never　find　me。　I'll　be　back；　with　you　when　I　can。　Keep　going　until　then；　and　stay　on　the　road。〃
　
　He　mounted；　turned　his　horse；　and　urged　it　into　a　run；　its　hooves　kicking　up　clumps　of　sod　〃Get　moving！〃　Chase　yelled　back　over　his　shoulder。　As　he　disappeared　through　the　trees　Richard　saw　him　reach　up　to　a　short　sword　strapped　over　his　shoulder　and　pull　it　free。　He　knew　Chase　was　lying。　He　wasn't　going　to　bury　anything。　Richard　didn't　like　to　let　his　friend　go　off　alone　like　this；　but　Chase　spent　most　of　his　life　alone　out　here　by　the　boundary；　and　knew　what　he　was　doing；　what　was　necessary　to　protect　them。　Richard　had　to　trust　his　judgment。
　
　〃You　heard　the　man；〃　the　Seeker　said；　〃let's　go。〃
　
　As　the　three　rode　on　through　the　boundary　woods；　rock　outcroppings　grew　in　size　and　twisted　their　route　one　way　and　then　the　other。　The　trees　became　so　thick　that　the　sunlight　was　all　but　banished　from　the　still　forest；　the　road　a　tunnel　through　the　thicket。　Richard　didn't　like　how　close　everything　felt；　and　as　they　moved　quickly　along　they　all　kept　watching　the　deep　shadows　to　their　left。　Branches　hung　across　the　road；　forcing　them　to　duck　under　as　they　passed。　He　couldn't　imagine　how　Chase　cold　travel　through　a　wood　this　thick。
　
　When　the　way　was　wide　enough；　Richard　rode　up　to　Kahlan's　left；　wanting　to　keep　himself　between　her　and　the　boundary。　He　kept　the　reins　in　his　left　hand　to　leave　his　sword　hand　free。　Her　cloak　was　wrapped　close　around　her；　but　he　saw　she　kept　a　hand　near　her　knife。
　
　Off　to　their　left；　in　the　distance；　came　howling；　something　like　a　；wolf　pack；　only　it　wasn't　wolves。　It　was　something　from　the　boundary。　
　
　The　three　jerked　their　heads　toward　the　sound。　The　horses　were　terrified　and　wanted　to　run。　They　had　to　keep　reining　in；　but　at　the　same　time　let　them　have　enough　freedom　to　trot。　Richard　understood　the　way　the　horses　felt。　He　felt　the　urge　to　let　them　go；　but　Chase　had　said　explicitly　not　to　let　them　run。　He　must　have　had　a　reason；　so　they　held　back。　When　the　howling　was　punctuated　with　bloodcurdling　shrieks　that　made　the　hair　on　his　neck　stand　on　end；　it　became　more　difficult　to　force　himself　to　prevent　the　horses　from　running。　The　shrieks　were　wild　cries；　cries　of　the　need　to　kill；　demanding；　desperate。　The　three　rode　at　a　trot　for　almost　an　hour；　but　the　sounds　seemed　to　follow　them。　There　was　nothing　they　could　do　but　continue；　listening；　as　they　went；　to　beasts　from　the　boundary。
　
　Unable　to　stand　it　any　longer；　Richard　pulled　his　horse　to　a　halt；　and　faced　the　woods。　Chase　was　out　there　alone　with　the　beasts。　He　couldn't　bear　any　longer　to　let　his　friend　face　it　alone。　He　had　to　help。
　
　Zedd　turned。　〃We　have　to　keep　moving；　Richard。〃
　
　〃He　may　be　in　trouble。　We　can't　let　him　do　this　alone。〃
　
　〃It's　his　job；　let　him　do　it。〃
　
　〃Right　now；　his　job　isn't　to　be　boundary　warden；　it's　to　get　us　to　the　pass！〃
　
　The　wizard　rode　back　and　spoke　softly。　〃That's　the　job　he's　doing；　Richard。　He's　sworn　to　protect　you　with　his　life。　That　is　what　he　is　doing；　seeing　to　it　you　get　to　the　pass。　You　have　to　get　it　through　your　head。　What　you　are　doing　is　more　important　than　one　man's　life。　Chase　knows　that。　That's　why　he　said　not　to　e　back　for　him。〃
　
　Richard　was　incredulous。　〃You　expect　me　to　let　a　friend　get　himself　killed　if　I　can　help　prevent　it？〃　The　sounds　of　howling　were　getting　closer；
　
　〃I　expect　you　not　to　let　him　die　for　nothing！〃
　
　Richard　stared　at　his　old　friend。　〃But　maybe　we　can　make　the　difference。〃
　
　〃And　maybe　not。〃　The　horses　stamped　about　skittishly。
　
　〃Zedd　is　right；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Going　after　Chase　is　not　the　brave　thing　to　do；　going　on　when　you　want　to　help　is。〃
　
　Richard　knew　they　were　right；　but　loathed　admitting　it。　He　looked　angrily　toward　Kahlan。　〃You　may　be　in　his　position　one　day！　Then　what　would　you　have　me　do？〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　evenly。　〃I　would　have　you　go　on。〃　…
　
　He　glared　at　her；　not　knowing　what　to　say。　The　shrieks　from　the　woods　were　closer。　Her　face　showed　no　emotion。
　
　〃Richard；　Chase　does　this　all　the　time；　he　will　be　all　right；〃　Zedd　offered　reassuringly。　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　he　was　having　a　good　time。　Later　on　he　will　have　a　good　tale　to　tell。　You　know　Chase。　Some　of　the　tale　might　even　be　true；〃
　
　Richard　was　angry　at　the　two　of　them；　and　at　himself。　He　kicked　his　horse　out　ahead；　taking　the　lead；　not　wanting　to　talk　anymore。　They　left　him　to　his　thoughts；　let　his　horse　trot　ahead。　It　made　him　angry　that　Kahlan　would　think　he　could　leave　her　like　this。　She　was　no　boundary　warden。　He　didn't　like　it　that　saving　them　might　mean　letting　them　get　killed。　It　didn't　make　any　sense。　At　least　he　didn't　want　it　to　make　any　sense。
　
　He　tried　to　ignore　the　shrieks　and　howls　off　in　the　woods。　After　a　time　the　cries　fell　farther　behind。　The　woods　seemed　devoid　of　life；　no　birds　or　rabbits　or　even　mice；　only　the　twisted　trees　and　bramble　and　shadows。　He　listened　carefully　to　make　sure　he　heard　the　other　two　following。　He　didn't　want　to　turn　and　look；　didn't　want　to　face　them。　After　a　while　he　realized　the　howls　had　stopped。　He　wondered　if　that　was　a　good　sign　or　not。
　
　He　wanted　to　tell　them　he　was　sorry；　that　he　was　just　afraid　for　his　friend；　but　he　couldn't。　He　felt　helpless。　Chase　would　be　all　right；　he　told　himself。　He　was　the　head　of　the　boundary　wardens；　not　a；　fool；　and　he　wouldn't　go　into　anything　he　couldn't　handle。　He　wondered　if　there　was　anything　Chase　couldn't　handle。　He　wondered　if　he　would　be　able　to　tell　Emma；　if　something　happened　to　her　husband。
　
　He　was　letting　his　imagination　run　away　with　him。　Chase　was　fine。　Not　only　was　he　fine；　but　he　would　be　furious　with　Richard　for　thinking　these　thoughts；　for　doubting　him。
　
　He　wondered　if　Chase　would　return　before　nightfall。　Should　they　stop　for　the　night　if　he　didn't？　No。　Chase　had　said　not　to　stop。　They　would　have　to　keep　going；　all　night　if　necessary；　until　he　rejoined　them。　He　felt　as　if　the　mountains　were　looming　over　them；　ready　to　pounce。　He　didn't　think　he　had　ever　been　this　close　to　the　boundary。　'　As　concerned　as　he　was　about　Chase；　his　anger　faded。　Richard　turned　and　looked　back　at　Kahlan。　She　gave　him　a　warm　smile；　and　he　returned　it；　feeling　better。　He　tried　to　imagine　what　the　woods　here　had　looked　like　before　so　many　trees　died。　It　might　have　been　a　beautiful　place；　green；　snug；　safe。　Maybe　his　father　had　e　this　way　when　he　had　crossed　the　boundary；　traveled　this　very　road　with　the　book。
　
　He　wondered　if　all　the　trees　near　the　other　boundary　died　before　it　fell。　Maybe　they　could　just　wait　until　this　one　fell；　too；　and　then　go　across。　Maybe　they　didn't　need　to　go　so　far　out　of　their　way　to　the　south；　to　Kings'　Port。　But　why　should　he　think　going　south　was　out　of　the　way？　He　didn't　know　where　to　go　in　the　Midlands；　so　why　was　one　place　better　than　another？　The　box　they　sought　could　just　as　easily　be　in　the　south　as　farther　north。
　
　The　woods　were　getting　gloomier。　Richard　hadn't　been　able　to　see　the　sun　for　the　last　couple　of　hours；　but　there　was　no　doubt　it　was　setting。　He　didn't　like　the　idea　of　traveling　these　woods　at　night；　but　the　idea　of　sleeping　in　them　seemed　worse。　He　checked　to　make　sure　the　other　two　were　staying　close。
　
　The　sound　of　running　water　came　faintly　through　the　evening　stillness；　swelling　as　they　rode；　and　in　a　short　distance　they　came　to　a　small　river　with　a　wooden　bridge　over　it。　Just　before　they　crossed；　Richard　stopped。　He　didn't　like　the　look　of　it；　inexplicably；　something　felt　wrong。　Being　careful　couldn't　hurt。　He　led　his　horse　down　the　bank　and　peered　underneath。　The　support　beams　were　anchored　to　iron　rings　in　granite　blocks。　The　pins　were　missing。
　
　〃Someone　tampered　with　the　bridge。　It　will　support　the　weight　of　a　man；　but　not　a　horse。　Looks　like　we're　going　to　have　to　get　wet。〃
　
　Zedd　scowled。　〃I　don't　want　to　get　wet。〃
　
　〃Well；　do　you　have　a　better　idea？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Zedd　drew　his　finger　and　thumb　down　opposite　sides　of　his　smooth　chin。　〃Yes；〃　he　announced。　〃You　two　go　across；　I　will　hold　up　the　bridge。〃　Richard　looked　at　him　as　if　the　wizard　had　lost　his　senses。　〃Go　on；　it　will　be　all　right。〃
　
　Zedd　sat　up　tall　on　his　horse；　held　his　arms　out　straight　to　his　sides；　palms　up；　tilted　his　head　back；　breathed　deeply；　and　closed　his　eyes。　Reluctantly；　cautiously；　the　other　two　crossed　the　bridge。　On　the　other　side　they　turned　their　horses　and　looked　back。　The　wizard's　horse　began　walking　across　unprompted　while　Zedd　continued　to　hold　his　arms　out；　his　head　tilted　back　and　his　eyes　closed。　When　he　reached　their　side；　he　brought　his　arms　down　and　looked　at　the　other　two。　Richard　and　Kahlan　stared　at　him。
　
　〃Maybe　I　was　wrong；〃　Richard　said。　〃Maybe　the　bridge　would　hold　the　weight。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　〃Maybe　you　were。〃　Without　looking　back；　he　snapped　his　fingers。　The　bridge　collapsed　into　the　water　with　a　crash。　The　beams　groaned　as　they　were　torn　apart　from　one　another　in　the　current　and　swept　downstream。　〃Then　again；　maybe　you　weren't。　I　couldn't　leave　it　like　that。　Someone　might　e　across　and　be　hurt。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃Someday；　my　friend；　we　are　going　to　sit　down　and　have　a　long　talk。〃　He　turned　his　horse　and　started　off　again。　Zedd　looked　at　Kahlan　and　shrugged。　She　smiled　and　gave　him　a　wink；　then　turned　and　followed　after　Richard。
　
　They　continued　down　the　dismal　trail；　watching　the　woods　as　they　went。　Richard　wondered　what　else　Zedd　could　do。　He　let　his　horse　pick　its　own　way　in　the　gathering　darkness；　wondering　how　much　longer　this　dead　world　went　on；　or　if　the　road　would　ever　take　them　away　from　it。　The　night　was　bringing　life　to　the　place；　strange　calls　and　scraping　noises。　His　horse　whinnied　at　things　unseen。　He　patted　its　neck　reassuringly　and　checked　the　sky　for　gars。　It　was　hopeless；　he　couldn't　see　any　sky。　But　if　gars　came　they　would　have　a　hard　time　surprising　the　three　of　them；　as　the　canopy　of　twisted；　dead　limbs　and　branches　would　prevent　a　silent　approach。　Maybe　the　things　in　the　trees　were　more　of　a　threat　than　gars。　He　didn't　know　anything　about　them；　and　he　wasn't　sure　he　wanted　to。　He　realized　his　heart　was　pounding。
　
　After　about　an　hour；　he　caught　the　sound　of　something　ing　through　the　brush　in　the　distance　to　their　left。　It　was　breaking　branches　as　it　came。　He　urged　his　horse　into　a　canter；　and　checked　to　be　sure　Kahlan　and　Zedd　were　keeping　up。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　staying　with　them。　They　weren't　going　to　be　able　to　get　ahead　of　it。　They　were　going　to　be　cut　off。　Maybe　it　was　Chase；　。he　thought。　Then　again；　maybe　it　wasn't
　
　Richard　pulled　the　Sword　of　Truth　free　as　he　leaned　forward　and　pressed　his　legs　around　the　horse；　spurring　it　into　a　gallop。　His　muscles　tensed　as　his　horse　raced　down　the　road。　He　didn't　know　if　Zedd　and　Kahlan　were　keeping　up　with　him；　and　in　fact　he　never　gave　it　a　thought。　His　mind　focused　on　trying　to　see　ahead　in　the　darkness；　trying　to　see　anything　that　might　e　at　him。　Anger　was　slipping　its　bounds；　heat　and　need　ing　forth。　Jaw　set　tight；　he　charged　ahead　with　lethal　intent。　The　sound　of　his　horse's　hooves　on　the　road　prevented　him　from　hearing　the　thing　in　the　woods；　but　he　knew　it　was　there；　knew　it　was　ing。
　
　Then　he　saw　the　black　form　moving　against　the　barely　discernible　shapes　of　the　trees。　It　broke　from　the　woods　into　the　trail　a　dozen　yards　in　front　of　him。　He　raised　the　sword　and　went　for　it；　picturing　in　his　mind　what　he　would　do。　It　waited；　motionless。
　
　At　the　last　instant　he　realized　it　was　Chase；　holding　up　an　arm　to　halt　him；　the　silhouette　of　a　flanged　mace　in　his　fist。
　
　〃Glad　to　see　you're　keeping　alert；〃　the　boundary　warden　said。
　
　〃Chase！　You　scared　the　wits　out　of　me！〃
　
　〃You　gave　me　a　moment　of　concern　too。〃　Kahlan　and　Zedd　caught　up　with　them。　〃Follow　me；　stay　close。　Richard；　take　the　rear；　keep　your　sword　out。〃
　
　Chase　turned　his　horse　and　took　off　at　a　gallop；　the　rest　following。　Richard　didn't　know　if　something　was　after　them　or　not。　Chase　didn't　act　as　if　there　was　about　to　be　a　fight；　but　he　did　tell　him　to　keep　his　sword　out。　Richard　kept　a　wary　eye　over　his　shoulder。　They　all　hunched　their　heads　down　in　case　there　were　any　low　branches。　It　was　dangerous　to　run　the　horses　in　the　dark　like　this；　but　Chase　knew　that。
　
　They　came　to　a　fork　in　the　road；　the　first　one　all　day；　and　without　hesitation　the　boundary　warden　cut　to　the　right；　away　from　the　boundary。　Before　long　they　were　clear　of　the　woods；　moonlight　showing　an　open　country　of　rolling　hills　and　few　trees。　Chase　slowed　after　a　time；　letting　the　horses　walk。
　
　Richard　sheathed　his　sword　and　pulled　up　close　to　the　others。　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃
　
　Chase　hooked　the　mace　back　onto　his　belt。　〃Things　in　the　boundary　are　following　us。　When　they　came　out　of　the　boundary　for　you；　I　was　there　to　spoil　their　appetite。　Some　went　back　in。　The　ones　left　continue　to　follow　from　within　the　boundary；　where　I　can't　pursue　them。　That's　why　I　didn't　want　you　to