tg.wizardfirstrule-第26部分

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ldn't　have　to　be　afraid　ever　again。　He　had　only　to　reach　his　father。　Then　he　would　be　safe。
　
　Safe。　Forever。
　
　Richard　tried　to　reach　out　to　his　father；　tried　to　go　to　him；　tried　to　step　through　the　wall。　Something　was　holding　his　arm。　Irritated；　he　pulled　harder。　Someone　held　him　from　his　father。　He　screamed　for　whoever　held　him　to　let　go。　His　voice　sounded　hollow；　empty。
　
　Then　he　was　being　pulled　away　from　his　father。
　
　His　anger　roared　to　life。　Someone　was　trying　to　drag　him　back　by　his　arm。　In　a　rage　he　grabbed　his　sword。　A　big　hand　clamped　over　his　with　an　iron　grip。　Screaming　in　unrestrained　fury；　he　struggled　mightily　to　free　the　sword；　but　the　big　hands　held　tight；　dragging　him；　stumbling；　from　his　father。　Richard　struggled；　but　was　hauled　away。
　
　The　green　wall　came　up　suddenly　in　place　of　the　darkness　as　he　was　pulled　back。　Chase　was　dragging　him　away　from　it；　through　the　green　light。　The　world　returned　with　a　sickening　jolt。　The　dry；　dead　bog　returned。
　
　Suddenly　aware；　Richard　was　appalled　at　what　he　had　almost　done。　Chase　released　his　sword　hand。　Shaking；　Richard　put　it　on　the　big　man's　shoulder　for　support；　struggling　to　catch　his　breath　as　they　stepped　out　of　the　green　light。　Relief　washed　over　him。
　
　Chase　leaned　over　a　little；　searching　his　eyes。　〃All　right？〃
　
　Richard　nodded；　too　overwhelmed　to　speak。　The　sight　of　his　father　had　brought　back　the　devastating　grief。　He　had　to　concentrate　just　to　breathe；　to　stand。　His　throat　hurt。　He　realized　he　had　been　choking；　but　hadn't　been　aware　of　it　at　the　time。
　
　Terror　raced　through　Richard's　mind　as　he　realized　how　close　he　had　e　to　stepping　through　the　wall；　to　death。　He　had　been　totally　unprepared　for　what　had　happened。　If　Chase　hadn't　been　there　holding　on　to　him；　he　would　be　dead　now。　He　had　tried　to　give　in　to　the　underworld。　He　felt　as　if　he　didn't　know　himself。　How　could　he　have　wanted　to　give　himself　over　to　it？　Was　he　that　weak？　That　frail？
　
　Richard's　head　swirled　with　pain。　He　couldn't　clear　the　vision　of　his　father's　face　from　his　mind；　the　way　his　father　longed　for　him；　called　to　him；　so　desperate。　He　ached　to　be　with　him。　It　would　have　been　so　easy。　The　image　haunted　his　mind；　refusing　to　let　go。　He　didn't　want　to　let　it　go；　he　wanted　to　go　back。　He　could　feel　the　pull；　even　as　he　resisted。
　
　Kahlan　was　there；　waiting　for　them；　at　the　edge　of　the　green　light　as　they　emerged。　She　swept　her　arm　protectively　around　his　waist　and　tugged　him　away　from　Chase。　With　her　other　hand　she　grabbed　hold　of　his　jaw；　turning　his　head；　making　him　look　at　her。
　
　〃Richard。　Listen　to　me。　Think　of　something　else。　Concentrate。　You　have　to　think　of　something　else。　I　want　you　to　remember　every　intersection　on　every　trail　in　the　Hartland。　Can　you　do　that　for　me？　Please？　Do　it　now。　Remember　every　one　for　me。〃
　
　He　nodded；　and　started　to　remember　the　trails。
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　Chase　in　a　fury；　slapping　him　across　his　face　as　hard　as　she　could。
　
　〃You　bastard！〃　she　screamed。　〃Why　would　you　do　that　to　him！〃　Throwing　all　her　weight　into　it；　she　slapped　him　again；　her　hair　tossing　across　her　face。　Chase　didn't　try　to　stop　her。　〃You　did　it　on　purpose！　How　could　you　do　that！〃　She　swung　at　him　a　third　time；　but　this　time；　he　grabbed　her　wrist　in　midswing。
　
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　tell　you　or　do　you　wish　to　go　on　hitting　me？〃
　
　She　jerked　her　hand　away；　glaring　at　him；　her　chest　heaving。　Some　of　her　hair　was　stuck　sideways　across　her　face。
　
　〃Going　through　Kings'　Port　is　dangerous。　It　isn't　straight　through；　it　twists　and　turns。　Some　places　it's　very　narrow；　the　two　walls　of　the　boundary　almost　touching。　One　step　either　way　and　you're　gone。　You've　been　through　the　boundary；　so　has　Zedd。　You　both　understand。　You　can't　see　it　until　you　start　in；　otherwise　you　don't　know　where　it　is。　I　only　know　because　I've　spent　my　life　out　here。　It's　even　more　dangerous　now　because　it's　failing；　even　easier　to　walk　through　it。　When　you　get　in　the　pass；　if　something　started　chasing　you；　Richard　could　run　into　the　underworld　without　even　knowing　what　it　was。〃
　
　〃That's　no　excuse！　You　could　have　warned　him！〃
　
　〃I've　never　had　a　child　yet　who　had　the　proper　respect　for　fire　until　they　put　their　hand　in　it　once。　No　amount　of　telling　is　worth　doing　it　once。　If　Richard　didn't　understand　what　it　was　like　be…　fore　he　went　into　Kings'　Port；　he　wouldn't　e　out　the　other　side。　Yes；　I　took　him　in　there　on　purpose。　To　show　him。　To　keep　him　alive。〃
　
　〃You　could　have　told　him！〃
　
　Chase　shook　his　head。　〃No。　He　had　to　see　it。〃
　
　〃Enough！〃　Richard　said；　his　head　clear　at　last。　They　all　turned　to　him。　〃A　day　has　yet　to　go　by　when　one　of　you　three　doesn't　scare　the　wits　out　of　me。　But　I　know　you　all　have　my　best　interests　at　heart。　Right　now　we　have　more　important　things　to　worry　about。　Chase；　how　do　you　know　the　boundary　is　failing？　What's　different？〃
　
　〃The　wall　is　breaking　down。　Before；　you　couldn't　see　through　the　green　into　the　darkness。　You　couldn't　see　anything　on　the　other　side。〃
　
　〃Chase　is　right；〃　Zedd　offered；　〃I　could　see　it　from　here。〃
　
　〃How　long　until　it　fails？〃　Richard　asked　the　wizard。
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃It's　hard　to　tell。〃
　
　〃Then　guess！〃　Richard　shot　back。　〃Give　me　some　kind　of　idea。　Your　best　guess。〃
　
　〃It　will　last　at　least　two　weeks。　But　not　more　than　six　or　seven。〃
　
　Richard　thought　a　minute。　〃Can　you　use　your　magic　to　strengthen　it？〃
　
　〃I　don't　have　that　kind　of　power。〃
　
　〃Chase；　do　you　think　Rahl　knows　about　Kings'　Port？〃
　
　〃How　should　I　know？〃
　
　〃Well；　has　anyone　e　through　the　pass？〃
　
　Chase　thought　about　the　question。　〃Not　that　I　know　of。〃
　
　〃I　doubt　it；〃　Zedd　added。　〃Rahl　can　travel　the　underworld；　he　doesn't　need　the　pass。　He's　bringing　the　boundary　down；　I　don't　think　he　cares　about　a　little　pass。〃
　
　〃Caring　is　different　from　knowing；〃　Richard　said。　〃I　don't　think　we　should　be　standing　here；　and　I'm　worried　he　might　know　where　we're　going。〃
　
　Kahlan　pulled　the　hair　off　her　face。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　sympathetic　look。　〃Do　you　think　it　was　your　mother　and　sister　you　saw　when　you　were　in　there？〃
　
　〃I　thought　it　was。　Do　you　think　otherwise？〃　〃I　don't　think　that　was　my　father。〃　He　looked　to　the　wizard。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　
　〃It's　impossible　to　say。　No　one　really　knows　all　that　much　about　the　underworld。〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　knows　about　it；〃　Richard　said　bitterly。　〃I　don't　think　my　father　would　want　me　in　that　manner。　But　I　know　Rahl　would；　so　despite　what　my　eyes　tell　me；　it's　more　likely　that　it　was　Darken　Rahl's　disciples　trying　to　take　me。　You　said　we　couldn't　go　through　the　boundary　because　they　were　waiting　for　us　to　do　so；　waiting　to　get　us。　I　think　that　was　what　I　saw；　his　followers　in　the　underworld。　And　they　know　right　where　I　touched　the　wall。　If　I'm　right　that　means　Rahl　will　soon　know　where　we　are。　I　don't　want　to　be　here　to　find　out　if　I'm　right。〃
　
　〃Richard　is　right；〃　Chase　said。　〃And　we　have　to　get　to　Skow　Swamp　before　nightfall；　before　the　heart　hounds　e　out。　'It's　the　only　safe　place　between　here　and　Southaven。　We'll　reach　Southaven　before　tomorrow　night　and　will　be　safe　from　the　hounds　there。　The　next　day　we　will　go　see　a　friend　of　mine；　Adie；　the　bone　woman。　She　lives　near　the　pass。　We　need　her　help　to　get　through。　But　tonight；　our　only　chance　is　the　swamp。〃
　
　Richard　was　about　to　ask　what　a　bone　woman　was；　and　why　they　needed　her　help　to　cross　the　boundary；　when　a　dark；　shadowy　form　suddenly　whipped　out　of　the　air；　striking　Chase　so　hard　it　threw　him　across　several　downed　trees。　With　shocking　speed　the　black　form　wrapped　around　Kahlan's　legs；　whip　like；　pulling　her　feet　from　under　her。　She　screamed　Richard's　name　as　he　dove；　grabbing　for　her。　They　locked　their　hands　around　each　other's　wrists。　Both　were　dragged　across　the　ground；　toward　the　boundary。
　
　Zedd's　fingers　threw　fire　over　their　heads。　It　shrieked　past　and　vanished。　Another　black　appendage　struck　out　at　the　wizard　with　lightning　speed；　knocking　the　old　man　through　the　air。　Richard　hooked　a　foot　around　a　branch　on　a　log。　Rotten；　it　tore　from　the　stump。　He　twisted　his　body　around；　trying　to　dig　his　heels　into　the　ground。　His　boots　slid　across　the　wet　bog　weed。　He　jammed　his　heels　into　the　earth；　but　wasn't　strong　enough　to　hold　the　two　of　them　from　being　dragged　across　the　ground。　He　needed　his　hands　free。
　
　〃Put　your　arms　around　my　waist！〃　he　yelled
　
　Kahlan　lunged；　throwing　her　arms　around　him；　holding　tight。　The　sinuous　black　thing　wrapped　around　her　legs　undulated；　getting　a　stronger　grip　on　her。　She　screamed　as　it　squeezed。　Richard　yanked　the　sword　free；　filling　the　air　with　its　ringing。
　
　The　green　light　began　to　glow　around　them　as　they　were　dragged　in。
　
　Anger　flooded　through　him。　Richard's　worst　fear　was　ing　to　pass；　something　was　trying　to　take　Kahlan。　The　green　light　brightened。　Being　hauled　across　the　ground；　he　couldn't　reach　the　thing　that　pulled　them。　Kahlan　held　him　hard　by　the　waist；　her　legs　were　too　far　away；　and　the　thing　that　held　her　legs　was　farther　still。
　
　〃Kahlan；　let　go　of　me！〃
　
　She　was　too　terrified　to　do　it。　She　clutched　him　tightly；　desperately；　panting　in　pain。　The　green　sheet　came　up　as　they　were　dragged　in。…　The　buzzing　was　loud　in　his　ears。
　
　〃Let　go！〃　he　yelled　again。
　
　He　tried　to　pry　her　hands　from　his　waist。　The　trees　of　the　bog　started　to　fade　into　darkness。　Richard　could　feel　the　pressure　of　the　wall。　He　couldn't　believe　how　strongly　she　held　him。　On　his　back；　sliding　across　the　ground；　he　tried　to　reach　behind　himself　to　pull　her　wrists　away　from　him；　but　could　not。　Their　only　chance　was　for　him　to　get　up。
　
　〃Kahlan！　You　have　to　let　go　or　we're　dead！　I　won't　let　them　get　you！　Trust　me！　Let　go！〃　He　didn't　know　if　he　was　telling　her　the　truth；　but　he　was　sure　it　was　their　only　chance。
　
　Her　head　pressed　against　his　stomach　as　she　clutched　his　body。　Kahlan　looked　up　at　him；　her　face　contorting　in　pain　as　the　black　thing　squeezed。　She　screamed；　then　let　go。
　
　In　a　blink　Richard　was　on　his　feet。　As　he　jumped　up；　the　dark　wall　materialized　abruptly　in　front　of　him。　His　father　reached　out。　He　unleashed　his　rage；　swinging　the　sword　with　every　fiber　of　violence　he　possessed。　The　blade　swept　through　the　barrier；　through　the　thing　he　knew　wasn't　his　father。　The　dark　shape　wailed；　exploding　into　a　cloud　of　nothingness。
　
　Kahlan's　feet　were　at　the　wall；　the　dark　thing　enfolded　tightly　around　her　legs；　pressing　and　pulling。　He　brought　the　sword　up。　Murderous　need　surged　through　him。
　
　〃Richard；　no！　It's　my　sister！〃　He　knew　it　wasn't；　just　as　it　wasn't　his　father。　He　gave　himself　over　pletely　to　the　hot　need　and　brought　the　sword　down　as　hard　as　he　could。　Again　it　swept　through　the　wall；　slashed　through　the　repulsive　thing　that　held　Kahlan。　There　was　a　confusion　of　flashes；　unearthly　wailing　and　keening。　Kahlan's　legs　were　free。　She　lay　sprawled　on　her　stomach。
　
　Without　looking　to　see　what　else　was　happening；　Richard　pushed　his　arm　under　her　waist　and　lifted　her　in　a　single　motion；　scooping　her　off　the　ground。　He　held　her　tight　against　himself　and　held　the　sword　toward　the　wall　as　he　retreated　from　the　boundary。　Backing　away　steadily；　he　watched　for　any　movement；　any　aggression。　They　left　the　green　light。
　
　He　kept　going　until　they　were　well　clear；　beyond　the　horses。　When　he　stopped　at　last　and　released　her；　Kahlan　turned　and　threw　her　arms　around　him；　shaking。　He　had　to　struggle　to　restrain　the　rage　that　urged　him　to　go　back　in　and　attack。　He　knew　he　would　have　to　put　the　sword　away　to　quell　the　anger；　the　need；　but　he　didn't　dare　to。
　
　〃The　others；　where　are　they？〃　she　asked　in　a　panic。　〃We　have　to　find　them。〃
　
　Kahlan　pushed　away　from　him　and　started　to　run　back。　Richard　snatched　her　by　the　wrist；　almost　yanking　her　from　her　feet。
　
　〃Stay　here！〃　he　yelled　far　more　angrily　than　required；　pushing　her　to　the　ground。
　
　Richard　found　Zedd　in　a　heap；　unconscious。　As　he　bent　to　the　old　man；　something　swept　out　in　a　rush　over　his　head。　His　anger　erupted。　He　spun　with　the　sword；　the　blade　sweeping　through　the　dark　form。　The　stump　reeled　back　into　the　boundary　with　a　shrill　screeching；　the　severed　part　vaporizing　in　midair。　Richard　picked　up　Zedd　with　one　arm；　threw　him　over　his　shoulder　like　a　sack　of　grain；　and　carried　him　to　Kahlan；　where　he　laid　him　gently　on　the　ground。　She　held　the　wizard's　head　in　her　lap；　inspecting　for　wounds。　Richard　ducked　low　as　he　ran　back；　but　the　expected　attack　didn't　e。　He　wished　it　would；　he　longed　for　the　fight；　hungered　to　strike。　He　found　Chase　jammed　partway　under　a　log。　Richard　seized　the　mail　and　pulled　him　over。　Blood　oozed　from　a　gash　on　the　side　of　Chase's　head。　Debris　was　stuck　to　the　wound。
　
　Richard's　mind　raced；　trying　to　think　what　to　do。　He　couldn't　lift　Chase　with　one　arm；　and　he　didn't　dare　to　put　the　sword　away。　He　did　know　he　didn't　want　Kahlan　to　e　help；　he　wanted　her　to　stay　safely　away。　Getting　a　good　grip　on　the　warden's　leather　tunic；　Richard　started　dragging　him。　The　slick　bog　weed　eased　the　effort　somewhat；　but　it　was　still　difficult；　because　he　had　to　go　around　several　fallen　trees。　Surprisingly；　nothing　attacked。　Maybe　he　had　hurt　it；　or　killed　it。　He　wondered　if　it　was　possible　to　kill　something　already　dead。　The　sword　had　magic。　Richard　wasn't　sure　what　it　was　capable　of；　he　wasn't　even　sure　if　the　things　in　the　boundary　were　dead。　He　finally　reached　Kahlan　and　Zedd；　and　dragged　Chase　close。　The　wizard　was　still　unconscious。
　
　Kahlan's　face　was　white　with　worry。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　
　Richard　scanned　around。　〃We　can't　stay　here；　and　we　can't　leave　them。　Let's　put　them　over　the　horses　and　get　out　of　here。　We'll　look　to　their　wounds　as　soon　as　we're　a　safe　distance　away。〃
　
　The　clouds　were　thicker　than　before；　and　mist　covered　everything　with　a　wet　sheen。　As　he　checked　in　every　direction；　Richard　put　the　sword　away　and　easily　lifted　Zedd　over　his　horse。　Chase　was　more　difficult。　He　was　big；　and　all　his　weapons　were　heavy。　Blood　throbbed　from　the　wound　on　the　side　of　his　forehead；　soaking　his　hair；　and　hanging　him　over　the　side　of　the　horse　made　it　bleed　more。　Richard　decided　he　couldn't　leave　it　untended。　He　quickly　retrieved　an　aum　leaf　and　a　strip　of　cloth　from　a　pack。　He　crumpled　the　leaf　to　make　it　seep　its　healing　fluid；　pressed　it　against　the　wound；　and　had　Kahlan　wrap　the　cloth　around　Chase's　head。　The　cloth　soaked　through　almost　immediately；　but　he　knew　the　aum　leaf　would　stop　the　bleeding　in　a　short　time。
　
　Richard　helped　Kahlan　up　onto　her　horse。　He　could　tell　that　her　legs　hurt　more　than　she　would　admit。　He　gave　her　the　reins　of　Zedd's　horse；　mounted　up；　took　Chase's　horse；　and　then　carefully　got　his　bearings。　He　knew　they　would　have　a　hard　time　finding　the　trail；　the　mist　was　getting　heavy；　visibility　limited。　There　seemed　to　be　ghosts　watching　from　the　shadows　in　every　direction。　He　didn't　know　if　he　should　lead　or　follow　Kahlan；　didn't　know　how　best　to　protect　her；　so　he　rode　beside　her。　Zedd　and　Chase　weren't　tied　down　and　could　easily　slip　off　the　horses；　so　they　had　to　take　it　slow。　The　dead　spruce　looked　the　same　in　every　direction；　and　they　couldn't　go　in　a　straight　line　because　they　had　to　cut　back　an