tg.wizardfirstrule-第27部分

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the　same　in　every　direction；　and　they　couldn't　go　in　a　straight　line　because　they　had　to　cut　back　and　forth　around　fallen　trees。　Richard　spat　out　mosquitoes　that　kept　flying　into　his　mouth。
　
　The　sky　was　the　same　dark　steel　gray　everywhere；　there　was　no　chance　to　tell　where　the　sun　was；　to　get　oriented。　After　a　time；　Richard　wasn't　at　all　sure　they　were　going　in　the　right　direction；　it　seemed　they　should　have　reached　the　trail　already。　He　took　fixes　from　landmark　trees；　and　when　they　reached　each　one　he　would　pick　a　new　one　farther　ahead；　hoping　they　were　traveling　in　a　straight　line。　To　do　it　properly　he　knew　he　had　to　be　able　to　line　up　at　least　three　trees　to　make　sure　the　line　of　travel　was　straight；　but　he　couldn't　see　that　far　in　the　mist。　He　couldn't　be　sure　he　wasn't　leading　them　in　circles。　Even　if　he　was　going　in　a　straight　line；　he　wasn't　sure　the　direction　was　toward　the　trail。
　
　〃Are　you　sure　we're　going　the　right　way？〃　Kahlan　asked。　〃It　all　looks　the　same。〃
　
　〃No。　But　at　least　we　haven't　run　into　the　boundary。〃
　
　〃Do　you　think　we　should　stop　and　tend　to　them？〃
　
　〃We　don't　dare。　For　all　I　know　we　could　be　ten　feet　from　the　underworld。〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　around；　worried。　Richard　gave　thought　to　having　her　wait　with　the　other　two　while　he　went　ahead　and　scouted　for　the　trail；　but　dismissed　the　idea；　as　he　was　afraid　he　might　not　be　able　to　find　her　again。　They　had　to　stay　together。　He　started　to　wonder　what　they　would　do　if　they　couldn't　find　their　way　out　before　dark。　How　would　they　protect　themselves　against　the　heart　hounds？　If　there　were　enough　of　them；　even　the　sword　couldn't　hold　them　all　off　at　once。　Chase　had　said　they　had　to　get　to　the　swamp　before　nightfall。　He　hadn't　said　why；　or　how　the　swamp　could　protect　them。　The　brown　bog　weed　was　an　endless　sea　all　around；　with　hulks　of　trees　aground　in　it　everywhere。
　
　An　oak　appeared　off　to　their　left；　then　some　more；　some　with　leaves　shimmering　dark　green　and　wet　in　the　mist。　This　was　not　the　way　they　had　e　in。　Richard　turned　them　to　the　right　a　little；　following　the　edge　of　the　dead　bog；　hoping　it　would　lead　them　back　to　the　trail。
　
　Shadows　from　the　brush　among　the　oaks　watched　them。　He　told　himself　it　was　his　imagination　that　made　the　shadows　seem　to　have　eyes。　There　was　no　wind；　no　movement；　no　sound。　He　was　angry　with　himself　for　being　lost；　despite　how　easily　it　could　happen　in　this　place。　He　was　a　guide；　getting　lost　was　unforgivable。
　
　Richard　breathed　out　in　relief　when　he　saw　the　trail　at　last。　They　quickly　dismounted　and　checked　their　two　charges。　There　was　no　change　in　Zedd；　but　at　least　Chase's　wound　had　stopped　bleeding。　Richard　had　no　idea　what　to　do　for　them。　He　didn't　know　if　they　had　been　knocked　unconscious；　or　if　their　condition　was　caused　by　some　sort　of　magic　from　the　boundary。　Kahlan　didn't　know　either。
　
　〃What　do　you　think　we　should　do？〃　she　asked　him。
　
　Richard　tried　not　to　look　as　worried　as　he　really　was。　〃Chase　said　we　had　to　get　to　the　swamp　or　the　hounds　would　get　us。　It　won't　do　them　any　good　to　be　laid　out　here　and　tended　to　while　we　wait　for　them　to　wake；　only　to　have　the　hounds　get　'us　all。　As　I　see　it；　we　have　only　two　choices：　leave　them　here　or　take　them　with　us。　There　is　no　way　I'm　leaving　them。　Let's　tie　them　down　on　the　horses　so　they　don't　fall　off；　and　get　to　the　swamp。〃
　
　Kahlan　agreed。　They　worked　quickly　to　lash　their　friends　to　the　horses。　Richard　changed　Chase's　bandage；　and　cleaned　up　the　wound　a　little。　The　mist　was　changing　to　a　light　rain。　He　fished　around　in　the　packs；　finding　the　blankets；　and　removed　the　oilcloth　they　were　wrapped　in。　They　put　a　blanket　over　each　friend；　then　covered　them　with　the　oilcloth　to　keep　them　dry；　crisscrossing　rope　over　it　all　to　hold　it　in　place。
　
　When　they　were　finished；　Kahlan　unexpectedly　put　her　arms　around　him；　hugging　him　close　and　tight　for　a　moment；　separating　before　he　could　return　her　gesture。
　
　〃Thank　you　for　saving　me；〃　she　said　softly。　〃The　boundary　terrifies　me。〃　She　looked　sheepishly　up　at　him。　〃And　if　you　remind　me　what　I　said　about　not　ing　after　me；　I'll　kick　you。〃　She　smiled　as　she　looked　up　from　under　her　eyebrows。
　
　〃Not　a　word。　I　promise。〃
　
　He　smiled　back　at　her　and　pulled　up　the　hood　of　her　cloak；　stuffing　her　hair　into　it；　to　keep　her　dry　in　the　rain。　He　pulled　up　his　own　hood　and　they　started　off　down　the　road。
　
　The　woods　were　deserted。　Rain　dripped　down　through　the　tangle　overhead。　Branches　reached　around　the　trail　like　talons　reaching　to　snatch　both　people　and　horses。　Even　without　their　riders'　direction；　the　horses　trotted　their　way　carefully　down　the　center　of　the　road；　their　ears　pricking　from　one　side　to　the　other；　as　if　listening　to　the　shadows。　So　dense　was　the　thicket　to　each　side　that　there　was　no　chance　they　could　take　to　the　trees　if　they　had　to。　Kahlan　drew　her　cloak　tighter。　It　was　go　on；　or　go　back。　And　there　was　no　going　back。　They　rode　the　horses　hard　the　rest　of　the　afternoon　and　evening。
　
　When　the　day's　death　began　stealing　away　the　soft　gray　light；　they　still　had　not　reached　the　swamp；　and　there　was　no　way　to　tell　how　much　farther　it　was。　Off　through　the　tangled　woods；　they　caught　the　sound　of　howling。　Their　breath　caught　in　their　throats。
　
　The　heart　hounds　were　ing
　
　CHAPTER　15
　THE　HORSES　NEEDED　No　encouragement　to　run。　They　fled　down　the　road　at　full　speed；　their　riders　making　no　attempt　to　slow　them；　the　howls　of　the　heart　hounds　energizing　the　effort。　Water　and　mud　splashed　as　their　hooves　pounded　the　road；　and　rain　ran　in　rivulets　across　their　hides；　but　it　was　the　mud　that　won　out；　streaking　and　caking　on　their　legs　and　bellies。　When　the　hounds　shrieked；　the　horses　returned　a　snort　of　fear。
　
　Richard　let　Kahlan　take　the　lead；　wanting　to　stay　between　her　and　their　pursuers。　The　sounds　of　the　heart　hounds　were　still　distant；　off　toward　the　boundary；　but　he　knew　by　the　way　they　were　angling　in　from　the　left　that　it…　was　only　a　matter　of　time　until　they　would　be　overtaken。　If　they　could　turn　to　the　right　and　head　away　from　the　boundary；　there　was　a　chance　they　could　outrun　the　hounds；　but　the　woods　were　thick；　impenetrable；　it　would　be　slow　going　if　they　could　find　an　opening；　a　sure　death　if　they　tried。　Their　only　chance　was　to　stay　on　the　road　and　reach　the　swamp　before　they　were　caught。　Richard　didn't　know　how　far　it　was；　or　what　they　would　do　once　they　reached　it；　only　that　they　had　to
　
　The　colors　of　day　were　washing　out　into　a　sullen　gray　as　night　approached。　Rain　pelted　his　face　in　small；　cold　pricks；　heated　and　mingled　with　sweat；　and　ran　down　his　neck。　Richard　watched　the　bodies　of　his　two　friends　bounce　and　jostle　on　the　horses；　hoping　they　were　tied　down　securely　enough；　hoping　they　were　not　badly　hurt；　hoping　they　would　be　conscious　soon。　The　ride　couldn't　be　doing　them　any　good。　Kahlan　didn't　turn　or　look　back。　She　bent　to　her　task；　her　dark　form　hunched　forward　over　the　horse　as　it　ran。
　
　The　road　curved　back　and　forth　as　it　threaded　its　way　around　imposing　misshapen　oaks　and　rock　outcroppings。　Dead　trees　became　more　infrequent。　Leaves　of　the　oak；　ash；　and　maple　trees　sealed　the　riders　away　from　the　last　vestiges　of　the　sky；　darkening　the　trail　even　more。　The　hounds　were　getting　closer　when　the　road　began　to　descend　into　a　sodden　wood　of　cedar。　A　good　sign；　Richard　thought：　cedar　often　grew　where　the　ground　was　wet。
　
　Kahlan's　horse　disappeared　over　the　edge　of　a　drop。　Richard　reached　the　brink　of　the　sharp　slope　and　saw　her　again；　descending　into　a　bowl　in　the　earth。　The　tangled　tops　of　trees　spread　out　into　the　distance；　at　least　as　much　of　it　as　he　could　see　in　the　mist　and　dim　light。　It　was　the　Skow　Swamp；　at　last。
　
　The　smell　of　wet　and　rot　assailed　him　as　he　followed　her　in　a　rush；　down　through　swirling　trailers　of　mist　that　moved　and　spun　at　their　passing。　Sharp　calls　and　hoots　came　from　the　dense　vegetation。　The　howls　of　the　heart　hounds　came　from　behind；　closer　now。　Woody　vines　hung　from　slick　twisted　limbs　of　trees　that　stood　in　the　water　on　roots　looking　like　claws；　and　smaller　leafy　vines　spiraled　around　anything　strong　enough　to　hold　them。　Everything　seemed　to　be　growing　on　top　of　something　else；　seeking　to　gain　an　advantage。　Water；　dark　and　still；　sat　in　stagnant　expanses；　sneaking　in　under　clumps　of　bushes；　enveloping　stands　of　fat…bottomed　trees。　Duckweed　drifted　in　thick　mats　on　the　water；　looking　like　manicured　lawn。　The　lush　growth　seemed　to　swallow　the　sound　of　their　horse's　hooves；　allowing　only　the　native　calls　to　echo　across　the　waters。
　
　The　road　narrowed　into　a　trail　that　struggled　to　remain　above　the　black　water；　making　it　necessary　to　slow　the　horses　for　fear　they　would　break　a　leg　on　the　roots。　Richard　saw　that　as　Kahlan's　horse　passed；　the　surface　of　the　water　rolled　in　lazy　ripples　as　things　moved　under　it。　He　heard　the　hounds　at　the　top　of　the　bowl。　Kahlan　turned　at　the　howls。　If　they　stayed　on　the　trail；　the　hounds　would　be　at　them　in　a　matter　of　minutes。　As　Richard　looked　around　he　pulled　the　sword　free。　It　sent　its　distinctive　ringing　across　the　murky　water。　Kahlan　stopped　and　looked　back　to　him。
　
　〃There〃…he　pointed　with　the　sword　across　the　water　to　their　right　〃that　island。　It　looks　high　enough　to　be　dry。　Maybe　the　heart　hounds　can't　swim。〃
　
　He　thought　it　a　slim　hope；　but　could　think　of　nothing　else。　Chase　had　said　they　would　be　safe　from　the　hounds　in　the　swamp；　but　hadn't　told　them　how。　This　was　the　only　thing　he　could　think　of。　Kahlan　didn't　hesitate。　She　led　her　horse　right　in；　pulling　Zedd's　behind。　Richard　followed　close　after　with　Chase's；　watching　up　the　trail；　seeing　movement　through　gaps　in　the　trees。　The　water　seemed　to　be　no　more　than　three　or　four　feet　deep；　with　a　muddy　bottom。　Weed　broke　from　its　anchoring　and　floated　to　the　surface　as　Kahlan's　horse　waded　through　ahead　of　him；　making　steady　progress　to　the　island。
　
　Then　he　saw　the　snakes。
　
　Dark　bodies　wriggled　in　the　water；　just　below　the　surface；　heading　toward　them　from　every　direction。　Some　lifted　their　heads；　flicking　red　tongues　out　into　the　damp　air。　Their　dark　brown　bodies　had　copper…colored　splotches；　almost　invisible　in　the　gloomy　water；　and　barely　disturbed　the　surface　as　they　swam。　Richard　had　never　seen　snakes　this　big。　Kahlan　was　watching　the　island　and　hadn't　noticed　them　yet。　The　dry　land　was　too　far　away。　He　knew　they　weren't　going　to　make　it　before　the　snakes　reached　them。
　
　Richard　turned　and　looked　behind　to　see　if　they　could　make　it　back　to　high　ground。　Where　they　had　left　the　trail；　the　dark　shapes　of　the　heart　hounds　were　gathered；　snarling　and　growling。　Heads　held　low；　the　big　black　bodies　paced　back　and　forth；　wanting　to　enter　the　water；　to　reach　their　prey；　but　only　howling　instead。
　
　Richard　lowered　the　tip　of　the　sword　into　the　water；　letting　it　drag　a　small　wake　behind；　as　he　prepared　to　strike　at　the…first　snake　that　came　close　enough。　Then　a　surprising　thing　happened。　When　the　sword　dipped　into　the　water；　the　snakes　turned　suddenly　and　squirmed　away　as　fast　as　they　could　go。　Somehow；　the　magic　in　the　sword　frightened　them　away。　He　wasn't　sure　why　the　magic　would　function　this　way；　but　was　glad　it　did。
　
　They　worked　their　way　among　the　large　trunks　of　trees　that　stood　like　columns　in　the　mire。　Each　in　turn　brushed　aside　vines　and　streamers　of　moss　as　they　passed。　When　they　crossed　shallower　areas　of　water；　the　tip　of　his　sword　no　longer　reached　the　water。　The　snakes　returned　immediately。　He　leaned　lower；　the　sword's　tip　dipping　back　in　the　water；　and　the　snakes　turned　once　more；　wanting　nothing　to　do　with　them。　Richard　wondered　what　would　happen　when　they　reached　dry　land。　Would　the　snakes　follow　them　there？　Would　the　sword's　magic　work　to　keep　them　away　out　of　the　water？　The　snakes　might　be　as　much　trouble　as　the　heart　hounds。
　
　Water　ran　off　the　underside　of　Kahlan's　horse　as　it　climbed　up　onto　the　island。　There　were　a　few　poplar　trees　at　the　high　point　in　the　center　and　cedars　at　the　water's　edge　on　the　far　side　of　the　small　hump　of　dry　ground；　but　mostly　it　was　covered　with　reed　and　a　smattering　of　iris。　To　see　what　would　happen；　Richard　took　the　sword　from　the　water　before　he　needed　to。　The　snakes　began　to　e　for　him。　When　he　left　the　water；　some　turned　and　swam　away；　some　wandered　the　shoreline；　but　none　followed　onto　dry　land。
　
　In　near　darkness；　Richard　laid　Zedd　and　Chase　on　the　ground　beneath　the　poplars。　He　pulled　a　tarp　from　the　packs　and　strung　it　between　the　trees　to　make　a　small　shelter。　Everything　was　wet；　but　since　there　was　no　wind；　the　makeshift　structure　kept　most　of　the　rain　off　them：　There　was　no　chance　of　a　fire；　for　now；　since　all　the　wood　that　could　be　found　was　thoroughly　soaked。　At　least　the　night　wasn't　cold。　Frogs　kept　up　a　steady　chirping　from　the　wet　darkness。　Richard　placed　a　pair　of　fat　candles　on　a　piece　of　wood　so　they　could　have　some　light　under　their　shelter。
　
　Together　they　checked　Zedd。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　sign　of　an　injury；　but　he　remained　unconscious。　Chase's　condition　was　unchanged；　too。
　
　Kahlan　stroked　Zedd's　forehead。　〃It　is　not　a　good　sign　for　a　wizard's　eyes　to　be　closed　like　this。　I　don't　know　what　to　do　for　them。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃Neither　do　1。　We　can　be　glad　they　don't　have　a　fever。　Maybe　there's　a　healer　in　Southaven。　I'll　make　litters　the　horses　can　pull。　I　think　that　would　be　better　than　having　them　ride　again　the　way　they　did　today。〃
　
　Kahlan　retrieved　two　more　blankets　to　keep　their　friends　warm；　then　she　and　Richard　sat　together　by　the　candles；　the　water　dripping　around　them。　Glowing　pairs　of　yellow　eyes　waited　on　the　trail；　in　the　blackness　back　through　the　trees。　As　the　heart　hounds　paced；　the　eyes　moved　back　and　forth。　Occasionally；　Richard　and　Kahlan　heard　yelps　of　frustration。　The　two　of　them　watched　their　hunters　off　across　the　dark　water。
　
　Kahlan　stared　at　the　glowing　eyes。　〃I　wonder　why　they　didn't　follow　us。〃
　
　Richard　glanced　sideways　at　her。　〃I　think　they're　afraid　of　the　snakes。〃
　
　Kahlan　jumped。　to　her　feet；　quickly　scanning　around；　her　head　pushing　against　the　tarp。　〃Snakes；　what　snakes？　I　don't　like　snakes；〃　she　said　in　a　rush。
　
　He　looked　'up。　〃Some　kind　of　big　water　snakes。　They　swam　off　when　I　put　the　sword　in　the　water。　I　don't　think　we　have　to　worry；　they　didn't　e　up　on　the　dry　ground　when　we　did。　I　think　it's　safe。〃
　
　She　looked　around　cautiously　as　she　pulled　her　cloak　tight　and　then　sat　down；　closer　to　him　this　time。　〃You　could　have　warned　me　about　them；〃　she　said　with　a　frown。
　
　〃I　didn't　know　myself　until　I　saw　them；　and　the　hounds　were　right　behind　us。　I　didn't　think　we　had　much　choice　in　the　matter；　and　I　didn't　want　to　scare　you。〃
　
　She　didn't　say　anything　more。　Richard　got　out　a　sausage　and　a　loaf　of　hard　bread；　their　last　one。　He　tore　the　bread　in　half　and　cut　pieces　off　the　sausage；　handing　her　a　few。　They　each　held　a　tin　cup　under　the　rainwater　that　dripped　off　the　tarp。　They　ate　in　silence；　watching　all　around　for　any　sign　of　threat；　listening　to　the　rhythm　of　the　rain。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　asked　at　last；　〃did　you　see　my　sister；　in　the　boundary？〃　〃No。　Whatever　it　was　that　had　you　didn't　look　like　a　person　to　me；　and。　I　would　bet　that　the　thing　I　struck　down　at　first　didn't　look　like　my　f