tg.wizardfirstrule-第34部分

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　would　e　across　something。　No　one　was　going　to　be　waiting　for　him；　waiting　to　tell　him　where　to　go　next
　
　They　reached　a　steep　jumble　of　rock。　The　trail　went　straight　up　the　face。　Richard　surveyed　the　terrain。　It　would　be　easier　to　go　around；　rather　than　climb　over　the　jut　of　rock；　but　he　finally　decided　against　it；　the　thought　that　the　boundary　could　be　anywhere　making　up　his　mind。　There　must　be　a　reason　the　trail　went　this　way。　He　went　first　and　took　Kahlan's　hand；　helping　to　pull　her　up。
　
　As　he　walked；　Richard's　thoughts　continued　nagging　at　him。　Someone　had　hidden　one　of　the　boxes；　or　Rahl　would　have　it　already。　If　Rahl　couldn't　find　it；　how　was　Richard　to？　He　didn't　know　anyone　in　the　Midlands；　he　didn't　know　where　to　look。　But　someone　knew　where　the　last　box　was；　and　that　was　how　they　had　to　find　it。　They　couldn't　look　for　the　box；　they　had　to　look　for　someone　who　would　be　able　to　tell　them　where　it　was。
　
　Magic；　he　thought　suddenly。　The　Midlands　was　a　land　of　magic。　Maybe　someone　with　magic　could　tell　where　the　box　was。　They　had　to　look　for　someone　with　the　right　kind　of　magic。　Adie　could　tell　things　about　him　without　ever　having　seen　him　before。　There　had　to　be　someone　with　the　kind　of　magic　that　could　tell　him　where　the　box　was　without　ever　having　seen　it。　Then；　of　course；　they　had　to　convince　that　person　to　tell　them。　But　maybe　if　someone　was　hiding　their　knowledge　from　Darken　Rahl；　he　would　be　glad　to　help　stop　him。　It　seemed　there　were　too　many　wishes　and　hopes　in　his　thoughts。
　
　But　there　was　one　thing　he　did　know：　even　if　Rahl　got　all　the　boxes；　without　the　book　he　wasn't　going　to　know　which　box　was　which。　As　they　walked　along；　Richard　recited　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　to　himself；　trying　to　find　a　way　to　stop　Rahl。　Since　it　was　an　instruction　book　for　the　boxes；　it　should　have　a　way　to　stop　their　use；　but　there　was　nothing　like　that　in　the　book。　The　actual　explanation　of　what　each　box　would　do；　directives　to　determine　which　box　was　which；　and　how　to　open　one；　took　up　only　a　relatively　small　portion　at　the　end　of　the　book。　Richard　understood　this　part　well；　as　it　was　clear　and　precise。　Most　of　the　book；　though；　was　taken　up　with　directions　for　countering　unforeseen　eventualities；　resolving　problems　that　could　prevent　the　holder　of　the　boxes　from　succeeding。　The　book　even　started　out　with　how　to　verify　the　truth　of　the　instructions。
　
　If　he　could　create　one　of　these　problems；　he　could　stop　Rahl；　since　Rahl　didn't　have　the　book　to　help　him。　But　most　of　the　problems　were　things　he　had　no　way　of　bringing　about；　problems　with　sun　angles　and　clouds　on　the　day　of　opening。　And　a　lot　of　it　made　no　sense　to　him。　It　spoke　of　things　he　had　never　heard　of。　Richard　told　himself　to　stop　thinking　of　the　problem；　and　to　think　of　the　solution。　He　would　go　through　the　book　again。　He　cleared　his　mind　and　started　at　the　beginning。
　
　Verification　of　the　truth　of　the　words　of　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　if　spoken　by　another；　rather　than　read　by　the　one　who　mands　the　boxes；　can　only　be　insured　by　the　use　of　a　Confessor　。　。　。　。　。
　
　By　late　afternoon；　Richard　and　Kahlan　were　sweating　freely　with　the　effort　of　the　hike。　As　they　crossed　a　small　stream；　Kahlan　stopped　and　dipped　a　cloth　in　the　water　and　used　it　to　wipe　her　face。　Richard　thought　it　was　a　good　idea。　When　they　came　to　the　next　stream；　he　stopped　to　do　the　same。　The　clear　water　was　shallow　as　it　ran　over　a　bed　of　round　stones。　He　balanced　on　a　flat　rock　as　he　squatted　to　soak　a　cloth　in　the　cold　water。
　
　When　he　stood　up；　Richard　saw　the　shadow　thing。　He　froze　instantly。
　
　Off　through　the　woods　there　was　something　standing　partly　behind　a　tree　trunk。　It　wasn't　a　person；　but　was　about　that　size；　with　no　definite　shape。　It　looked　like　a　person's　shadow　standing　up　in　the　air。　The　shadow　thing　didn't　move。　Richard　blinked　and　squinted　his　eyes　trying　to　tell　if　he　was　really　seeing　what　he　thought　he　was　seeing。　Maybe　it　was　just　a　trick　of　the　dim　afternoon　light；　a　shadow　of　a　tree　he　mistook　for　something　more。
　
　Kahlan　had　continued　to　walk　along　the　trail。　Richard　came　quickly　up　behind　her　and　put　his　hand　on　the　small　of　her　back；　below　her　pack；　so　she　wouldn't　stop。　He　leaned　over　her　shoulder　and　whispered　in　her　ear。
　
　〃Look　to　the　left；　off　through　the　trees。　Tell　me　what　you　see。〃
　
　He　kept　his　hand　on　her　back；　kept　her　walking　along　as　she　turned　her　head；　looking　off　to　the　trees。　Her　eyes　searched　as　she　held　her　hair　back；　out　of　the　way。　Then　she　saw　the　thing。
　
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　whispered；　looking　back　to　his　face。
　
　He　was　a　little　surprised。　〃I　don't　know。　I　thought　maybe　you　could　tell　me。〃　She　shook　her　head。　The　shadow　remained　motionless。　Maybe　it　was　nothing；　a　trick　of　the　light；　he　tried　to　tell　himself。　He　knew　that　wasn't　true。
　
　〃Maybe　it's　one　of　the　beasts　Adie　told　us　about；　and　it　can't　see　us；〃　he　offered。
　
　She　gave　him　a　sidelong　glance。　〃Beasts　have　bones。〃
　
　Kahlan　was　right；　of　course；　but　he　had　been　hoping　she　would　have　agreed　with　the　idea。　As　they　moved　quickly　down　the　trail；　the　shadow　thing　stayed　where　it　was　and　they　were　soon　out　of　sight　of　it。　Richard　breathed　easier。　It　appeared　that　the　bone　necklace　Kahlan　wore；　and　his　tooth；　had　hidden　them。
　
　They　ate　a　supper　of　bread；　carrots；　and　smoked　meat　as　they　walked。　Neither　enjoyed　the　meal。　Their　eyes　searched　off　into　the　deep　woods　as　they　ate。　Even　though　it　hadn't　rained　all　day；　everything　was　still　wet；　and　occasionally　water　dripped　from　the　trees。　The　rock　was　slick　with　slime　in　places；　needing　care　to　be　crossed　safely。　Both　watched　the　surrounding　forest　for　any　sign　of　danger。　They　saw　nothing。
　
　The　fact　that　they　saw　nothing　began　to　worry　Richard。　There　were　no　squirrels；　no　chipmunks；　no　birds；　no　animals　of　any　kind。　It　was　too　quiet。　Daylight　was　slipping　away。　Soon　they　would　be　at　the　Narrows。　He　worried　about　that；　too。　The　idea　of　seeing　the　things　from　the　boundary　again　was　frightening。　The　idea　of　seeing　his　father　again　was　terrifying。　His　insides　cringed　at　what　Adie　had　told　them；　that　those　in　the　boundary；　would　call　to　them。　He　remembered　how　seductive　their　calls　were。　He　had　to　be　prepared　to　resist。　He　had　to　harden　himself　against　it。　Kahlan　had　almost　been　pulled　back　into　the　underworld　when　they　were　in　the　wayward　pine；　the　first　night　he　knew　her。　When　they　were　with　Zedd　and　Chase；　something　had　tried　to　pull　her　in　again。　He　was　troubled　that　the　bone　might　not　protect　her　when　they　were　that　close。
　
　The　trail　leveled　out　and　widened；　allowing　them　to　walk　side　by　side　again。　He　was　tired　from　the　day's　hike；　and　it　would　be　another　night　and　day　before　they　could　rest。　Crossing　the　Narrows　in　the　dark　and　when　they　were　exhausted　sounded　like　a　bad　idea；　but　Adie　had　been　insistent　they　not　stop。　He　could　not　question　a　person　who　knew　the　pass　as　well　as　she。　He　knew　that　the　story　of　the　gripper　would　keep　him　wide　awake
　
　Kahlan　looked　around　at　the　woods；　turned　to　check　behind。　She　stopped　suddenly；　grabbing　his　arm。　In　the　trail；　not　ten　yards　behind；　stood　a　shadow。
　
　Like　the　other；　this　one　did　not　move。　He　could　see　through　it；　see　the　woods　behind；　as　if　it　were　made　of　smoke。　Kahlan　kept　a　firm　grip　on　his　arm　as　both　of　them　walked　ahead　in　a　sideways　fashion；　watching　the　shadow　thing。　They　rounded　a　turn　in　the　trail　and　were　away　from　it。　They　walked　on　faster。
　
　〃Kahlan；　do　you　remember　when　you　told　me　of　the　shadow　people　that　Panis　Rahl　sent　forth？　Could　those　be　shadow　people？〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　worried　look。　〃I　don't　know。　I　have　never　seen　one；　they　were　in　the　last　war；　before　I　was　born。　But　the　stories　were　always　told　the　same；　that　they　floated　along。　I　never　heard　anyone　say　they　stood　still　like　that。〃
　
　〃Maybe　it's　because　of　the　bones。　Maybe　they　know　we're　here；　but　can't　find　us；　so　they　stay　still　to　search。〃
　
　She　wrapped　her　cloak　tighter；　obviously　afraid　of　his　idea；　but　didn't　say　anything。　In　the　gathering　night　they　walked　along；　close　to　each　other；　sharing　the　same　troubling　thoughts。　Another　shadow　stood　at　the　side　of　the　trail。　Kahlan　gripped　his　arm　tight。　They　passed　slowly；　quietly；　keeping　their　eyes　on　it。　It　didn't　move。　Richard　felt　like　panicking；　but　knew　he　couldn't；　they　had　to　stay　on　the　trail；　had　to　use　their　heads。　Maybe　the　shadows　were　trying　to　make　them　bolt；　to　run　from　the　trail；　and　cross　over　accidentally　into　the　underworld。　They　looked　around；　behind；　as　they　went。　When　Kahlan　was　looking　the　other　way；　a　branch　brushed　her　face。　She　jumped　against　him　with　a　start。　She　looked　over　and　apologized。　Richard　gave　her　a　reassuring　smile。
　
　Pine　needles　held　droplets　from　the　rains　and　mist；　and　when　a　light　breeze　swayed　the　branches；　water　from　the　trees　above　rained　down。　In　the　near　darkness　they　had　a　hard　time　telling　if　there　were　shadow　things　around　them　or　if　it　was　just　the　dark　shapes　of　tree　trunks。　Twice；　they　had　no　trouble　telling；　they　were　close　to　the　trail　and　there　was　no　doubt　what　they　were。　Still　the　shadows　did　not　follow　or　move；　but　stood　as　if　watching；　even　though　they　had　no　eyes
　
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do　if　they　e　for　us？〃　Kahlan　asked　in　a　tense　voice。
　
　Her　grip　on　his　arm　was　being　painful；　so　he　pried　her　fingers　off　and　put　her　hand　in　his。　She　gave　his　hand　a　squeeze。　〃Sorry；〃　she　said　with　a　self…conscious　smile。
　
　〃If　they　e　for　us；　the　sword　will　stop　them；〃　he　answered　confidently。
　
　〃What　makes　you　so　sure？〃
　
　〃It　stopped　the　things　in　the　boundary。〃
　
　She　seemed　satisfied　with　the　answer…he　wished　he　were。　The　forest　was　dead　quiet；　except　for　a　soft　rasp　he　couldn't　quite　figure　out。　There　were　none　of　the　usual　night　sounds。　Dark　branches　swayed　near　them　with　the　breeze；　making　his　heart　race。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Kahlan　said　quietly；　〃don't　let　them　touch　you。　If　they　are　shadow　people；　their　touch　is　death。　Even　if　they　are　not　shadow　people；　we　don't　know　what　would　happen。　We　must　not　let　them　touch　us。〃
　
　He　gave　her　hand　a　squeeze　of　reassurance。
　
　Richard　resisted　the　temptation　to　pull　the　sword。　There　might　be　too　many　for　the　sword；　if　the　sword's　magic　even　worked　against　shadows。　If　there　was　no　other　choice　he　would　use　the　sword；　but　for　now；　his　instincts　told　him　not　to。
　
　The　woods　were　getting　darker。　Tree　trunks　stood　like　black　pillars　in　the　murk。　Richard　felt　as　if　there　were　eyes　everywhere；　watching。　The　trail　was　beginning　to　traverse　a　hillside；　and　he　could　see　dark　rocks　rising　up　to　their　left。　Runoff　from　the　rains　trickled　through　the　rock。　He　could　hear　it　bubbling　and　dripping　and　splashing。　The　ground　dropped　away　on　the　right。　The　next　time　they　looked　back；　there　were　three　shadows；　barely　visible　in　the　path　behind。　The　two　of　them　kept　moving。　Richard　heard　the　soft　scraping　sound　again；　off　in　the　woods　to　either　side。　It　wasn't　a　sound　he　was　familiar　with。　He　could　feel；　more　than　see；　that　there　were　shadow　things　on　each　side　and　behind　them。　A　few　were　close　enough　to　the　trail　that　there　was　no　doubt　what　they　were。　The　only　way　that　was　clear　was　ahead。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Kahlan　whispered；　〃do　you　think　you　should　take　out　the　night　stone？　I　can　hardly　see　the　path。〃　She　was　gripping　his　hand　tightly。
　
　Richard　hesitated。　〃I　don't　want　to　until　we　absolutely　need　it。　I'm　afraid　of　what　might　happen。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　〃Well；　those　shadows　haven't　e　for　us　yet。　Maybe　because　they　can't　see　us；　because　of　the　bones。〃　He　paused　a　moment。　〃But　what　if　they　can　see　the　light　from　the　night　stone？〃
　
　Kahlan　bit　her　bottom　lip　in　worry。　They　strained　to　pick　out　the　trail　as　it　twisted　to　go　around　trees　and　boulders；　over　rocks　and　roots；　cutting　its　way　across　the　hillside。　The　soft　scraping　sound　was　nearer；　all　around。　It　sounded　like　。　。　。　It　sounded　like　claws　on　rock；　he　thought。
　
　Two　shadows　stood　ahead；　close；　the　trail　between　them。　Kahlan　pressed　tight　against　him　and　held　her　breath　as　they　squeezed　past。　She　buried　her　face　against　his　shoulder　when　they　were　even　with　the　shadow　things。　Richard　put　his　arm　around　her；　holding　her　tight。　He　knew　how　she　felt。　He　was　terrified；　too。　His　heart　pounded。　It　seemed　they　were　going　too　far　with　each　step；　getting　in　too　deep。　He　looked　behind；　but　in　the　darkness　there　was　not　enough　light　to　see　if　the　shadows　were　standing　on　the　trail。
　
　Abruptly；　an　inky　black　shape　loomed　up　before　them。　It　was　an　enormous　boulder；　split　down　the　middle。
　
　The　Narrows。
　
　They　pressed　their　backs　up　against　the　boulder；　at　the　split。　It　was　too　dark　to　see　the　trail　anymore；　or　if　there　were　any　shadow　things　close。　They　couldn't　follow　the　trail　through　the　Narrows　without　the　light　of　the　night　stone；　it　was　far　too　dangerous。　One　wrong　step　in　the　Narrows　and　they　were　dead。　In　the　stillness　the　scraping　sound　was　closer；　and　all　around　them。　Richard　reached　into　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　leather　pouch。　He　loosened　the　drawstring　and　dumped　the　night　stone　into　his　palm。
　
　Warm　light　flared　into　the　night；　lighting　the　woods　around；　casting　eerie　shadows。　He　held　the　stone　out；　to　see　better。
　
　Kahlan　gasped。
　
　In　the　warm　yellowish　illumination；　they　could　see　a　wall　of　the　shadow　things；　hundreds　of　them；　not　an　inch　between　any　two。　They　formed　a　half　circle　less　than　twenty　feet　away。　On　the　ground　were　dozens　and　dozens　of　hump…shaped　creatures；　almost　looking　like　rocks　at　first。　But　they　weren't　rocks。　Gray　armor　bands　interlocked　across　their　backs；　jagged　spikes　poked　out　around　the　bottom　edge。
　
　Grippers。
　
　That　was　what　the　sound　was；　their　claws　on　the　rocks。　The　grippers　were　moving　with　an　odd；　waddling　gait；　their　humped　bodies　swaying　from　side　to　side　as　they　struggled　forward。　Not　fast；　but　steady。　Some　were　only　a　few　feet　away。
　
　For　the　first　time；　the　shadows　began　to　move；　floating；　drifting；　tightening　their　ring。
　
　Kahlan　stood　frozen；　her　back　against　the　boulder；　her　eyes　wide。　Richard　reached　across　the　split；　grabbed　a　fistful　of　her　shirt　and　pulled　her　into　the　opening。　The　walls　were　wet　and　slick。　The　tightness　of　the　space　made　him　feel　as　if　his　heart　were　ing　up　in　his　throat。　He　didn't　like　tight　places。　They　backed　through；　turning　occasionally　to　check　their　way。　He　held　the　night　stone　out；　lighting　the　shadow　things　as　they　came。　Grippers　crawled　into　the　split。
　
　Richard　could　hear　the　sound　of　Kahlan's　rapid　breathing　echoing　in　the　confining；　dank　space。　They　continued　backing　up；　their　shoulders　sliding　against　the　sides　of　the　rock。　Cold；　slimy　water　soaked　their　shirts。　In　one　spot　they　had　to　duck　down　and　turn　sideways　because　the　crack　narrowed；　almost　closing　together；　open　just　enough　for　them　to　pass　down　low。　Forest　debris　fallen　into　the　split　lay　in　the　dampness；　deposing。　The　place　smelled　of　sickening　rot。　They　continued　moving　sideways；　and　at　last　reached　the　other　side。　The　shadows　stopped　when　they　reached　the　opening　in　the　rock。　The　grippers　didn't。
　
　Richard　kicked　one　that　got　too　close；　sending　it　tumbling　through　the　leaves　and　sticks　on　the　floor　of　the　split。　Landing　on　its　back；　it　clawed　at　the　air；　snapping　and　hissing；　twisting