tg.wizardfirstrule-第46部分

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ce　was　a　concave　trough；　like　a　gutter；　the　other　half　along　rounded　hump。　He　hollowed　them　out　and　asked　the　women　who　worked　the　pottery　to　fire　them。
　
　Next；　he　attached　two　uniform　strips　of　wood　to　a　flat　board；　one　to　each　side；　and　put　a　lump　of　soft　clay　into　the　center。　Using　a　rolling　pin；　he　flattened　the　clay；　the　two　strips　of　wood　acting　as　a　thickness　gauge。　Slicing　off　the　excess　at　the　top　and　bottom　of　the　board；　he　ended　up　with　slabs　of　clay　of　a　uniform　thickness　and　size；　which　he　draped　and　smoothed　over　the　forms　the　women　had　fired　for　him。　He　used　a　stick　to　poke　a　hole　in　the　two　upper　corners。
　
　The　women　followed　him　around；　inspecting　his　work　closely；　so　he　enlisted　their　help。　Soon　he　had　a　whole　crew　of　smiling；　chatting　women　making　the　slabs　and　forming　them；　showing　him　how　to　do　it　better。　When　the　slabs　were　dry；　they　could　be　pulled　from　the　forms。　While　these　were　being　fired；　the　women；　by　then　buzzing　with　curiosity；　made　more。　When　they　asked　how　many　they　should　make；　he　said　to　just　keep　making　them。
　
　Richard　left　them　to　their　new　work　and　went　to　the　spirit　house　and　began　making　a　fireplace　out　of　the　mud　bricks　that　were　used　for　the　buildings。　Savidlin　followed　him　around；　trying　to　learn　everything。
　
　〃You're　making　clay　roofing　tiles；　aren't　you？〃　Kahlan　had　asked　him。
　
　〃Yes；〃　he　had　said　with　a　smile。
　
　〃Richard；　I　have　seen　thatched　roofs　that　do　not　leak。〃
　
　〃So　have　L〃
　
　〃Then　why　not　simply　make　their　grass　roofs　over　properly；　so　they　don't　leak？〃
　
　〃Do　you　know　how　to　thatch　roofs？〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　〃Neither　do　1。　But　I　know　how　to　make　tile　roofs；　so　that's　what　I　have　to　do。〃
　
　While　he　was　building　the　fireplace；　and　showing　Savidlin　how　to　do　it；　he　had　other　men　strip　the　grass　off　the　roof；　leaving　a　skeleton　of　poles　that　ran　the　length　of　the　building；　poles　that　had　been　used　to　tie　down　each　course　of　grass。　Now　they　would　be　used　to　secure　the　clay　tiles。
　
　The　tiles　spanned　from　one　row　of　poles　to　the　next；　the　bottom　edge　laid　on　the　first　pole；　the　top　edge　laid　on　the　second；　with　the　holes　in　the　tiles　used　to　lash　them　tight　to　the　poles。　The　second　course　of　tiles　was　laid　so　its　bottom　edge　overlapped　the　top　of　the　first；　covering　the　holes　that　tied　the　tiles　down；　and　owing　to　their　wavelike　form；　each　interlocked　with　the　one　before。　Because　the　clay　tiles　were　heavier　than　the　grass；　Richard　had　first　reinforced　the　poles　from　underneath　with　supports　running　up　the　pitch　of　the　roof；　with　cross　members　bracing　them。
　
　It　seemed　as　if　half　the　village　was　engaged　in　the　construction。　The　Bird　Man　came　by　from　time　to　time　to　watch　the　work；　pleased　with　what　he　saw。　Sometimes　he　sat　with　Kahlan；　saying　nothing；　sometimes　he　talked　with　her；　but　mostly　he　just　watched。　Occasionally　he　slipped　in　a　question　about　Richard's　character。
　
　Most　of　the　time　while　Richard　was　working；　Kahlan　was　alone。　The　women　weren't　interested　in　her　offers　of　help；　the　men　kept　their　distance；　watching　her　out　of　the　corners　of　their　eyes；　and　the　young　girls　were　too　shy　to　actually　bring　themselves　to　talk　to　her。　Sometimes　she　found　them　standing；　staring　at　her。　When　she　would　ask　their　names；　they　would　only　give　their　shy　smiles；　and　run　away。　The　little　children　wanted　to　approach；　but　their　mothers　kept　them　well　clear。　She　wasn't　allowed　to　help　with　the　cooking；　or　the　making　of　the　tiles。　Her　approaches　were　politely　turned　down　with　the　excuse　that　she　was　an　honored　guest。
　
　She　knew　better。　She　was　a　Confessor。　They　were　afraid　of　her。
　
　Kahlan　was　used　to　the　attitude；　the　looks；　the　whispers。　It　no　longer　bothered　her；　as　it　had　when　she　was　younger。　She　remembered　her　mother　smiling　at　her；　telling　her　it　was　just　the　way　people　were；　and　it　could　not　be　changed；　that　she　must　not　let　it　bring　her　to　bitterness；　and　that　she　would　e　to　be　above　it　someday。　She　had　thought　she　was　beyond　caring；　that　it　didn't　matter　to　her；　that　she　had　accepted　who　she　was；　the　way　life　was；　that　she　could　have　none　of　what　other　people　had；　and　that　it　was　all　right。　That　was　before　she　met　Richard：　before　he　became　her　friend；　accepted　her；　talked　to　her；　treated　her　like　a　normal　person。　Cared　about　her。
　
　But　then；　Richard　didn't　know　what　she　was。
　
　Savidlin；　at　least；　had　been　friendly　to　her。　He　had　taken　her　and　Richard　into　his　small　home　with　him；　his　wife；　Weselan；　and　their　young　boy；　Siddin；　and　had　given　them　a　place　to　sleep　on　the　floor。　Even　if　it　was　because　Savidlin　had　insisted；　Weselan　had　accepted　Kahlan　into　her　home　with　gracious　hospitality；　and　did　not　show　coldness　when　she　had　the　chance；　unseen　by　her　husband；　to　do　so。　At　night；　after　it　was　too　dark　to　work；　Siddin　would　sit　wide…eyed　on　the　floor　with　Kahlan　as　she　told　him　stories　of　kings　and　castles；　of　far…off　lands；　and　of　fierce　beasts。　He　would　crawl　into　her　lap　and　beg　for　more　stories；　and　give　her　hugs。　It　brought　tears　to　her　eyes　now　to　think　of　how　Weselan　let　him　do　that；　without　pulling　him　away；　how　she　had　the　kindness　not　to　show　her　fear。　When　Siddin　went　to　sleep；　she　and　Richard　would　tell　Savidlin　and　Weselan　some　of　the　stories　of　their　journey　from　Westland。　Savidlin　was　one　who　respected　success　in　struggle；　and　listened　with　eyes　almost　as　wide　as　his　son's　had　been。
　
　The　Bird　Man　had　seemed　pleased　with　the　new　roof。　Shaking　his　head　slowly；　he　had　smiled　to　himself　when　he　had　seen　enough　to　figure　out　how　it　would　work。　But　the　other　six　elders　were　less　impressed。　To　them；　a　little　rain　dripping　in　once　in　a　while　seemed　hardly　enough　to　bee　concerned　about；　it　had　done　so　their　whole　life。　and　they　were　resentful　of　an　outsider　ing　in　and　showing　them　how　stupid　they　had　been。　Someday；　when　one　of　the　elders　died；　Savidlin　would　bee　one　of　the　six。　Kahlan　wished　he　were　one　now；　for　they　could　use　such　a　strong　ally　among　the　elders。
　
　Kahlan　worried　about　what　would　happen　when　the　roof　was　finished；　about　what　would　happen　if　the　elders　refused　to　ask　to　have　Richard　named　one　of　the　Mud　People。　Richard　had　not　given　her　his　promise　that　he　wouldn't　hurt　them。　Even　though　he　was　not　the　kind　of　person　to　do　something　like　that；　he　was　the　Seeker。　More　was　at　stake　than　the　lives　of　a　few　of　these　people。　Much　more。　The　Seeker　had　to　take　that　into　account。　She　had　to　take　that　into　account
　
　Kahlan　didn't　know　if　killing　the　last　man　of　the　quad　had　changed　him；　made　him　harder。　Learning　to　kill　made　you　weigh　matters　differently；　made　it　easier　to　kill　again。　That　was　something　she　knew　all　too　well。
　
　Kahlan　wished　so　much　he　had　not　e　to　her　aid　when　he　had；　wished　he　had　not　killed　that　man。　She　didn't　have　the　heart　to　tell　him　it　was　unnecessary。　She　could　have　handled　it　herself。　After　all；　one　man　alone　was　hardly　a　mortal　danger　to　her。　That　was　why　Rahl　always　sent　four　men　after　Confessors：　one　to　be　touched　by　her　power；　the　other　three　to　kill　him　and　the　Confessor。　Sometimes　only　one　was　left；　but　that　was　enough　after　a　Confessor　had　spent　her　power。　But　one　alone？　He　had　almost　no　chance。　Even　if　he　was　big；　she　was　faster。　When　he　swung　his　sword；　she　would　have　simply　jumped　out　of　the　way。　Before　he　could　have　brought　it　up　again；　she　would　have　touched　him；　and　he　would　have　been　hers。　That　would　have　been　the　end　of　him。
　
　Kahlan　knew　there　was　no　way　she　could　ever　tell　Richard　that　there　had　been　no　need　for　him　to　kill。　What　made　it　doubly　bad　was　that　he　had　killed　for　her；　had　thought　he　was　saving　her。
　
　Kahlan　knew　another　quad　was　probably　already　on　its　way。　They　were　relentless。　The　man　Richard　had　killed　knew　he　was　going　to　die；　knew　he　didn't　stand　a　chance；　alone；　against　a　Confessor；　but　he　came　anyway。　They　would　not　stop；　did　not　know　the　meaning　of　it；　never　thought　of　anything　but　their　objective。
　
　And；　they　enjoyed　what　they　did　to　Confessors。
　
　Even　though　she　tried　not　to；　she　couldn't　help　remembering　Dennee。　Whenever　she　thought　of　the　quads；　she　couldn't　help　remembering　what　they　had　done　to　Dennee。
　
　Before　Kahlan　had　became　a　woman；　her　mother　had　been　stricken　with　a　terrible　sickness；　one　no　healer　was　able　to　turn　back。　She　had　died　all　too　quickly　of　the　awful　wasting　disease。　Confessors　were　a　close　sisterhood；　when　trouble　struck　one；　it　struck　all。　Dennee's　mother　took　in　Kahlan　and　forted　her。　The　two　girls；　best　friends；　had　been　thrilled　that　they　were　to　be　sisters；　as　they　called　themselves　from　then　on；　and　it　helped　ease　the　pain　of　losing　her　mother。
　
　Dennee　was　a　frail　girl；　as　frail　as　her　mother。　She　did　not　have　the　strength　of　power　that　Kahlan　did；　and　over　time；　Kahlan　became　her　protector；　guardian；　shielding　her　from　situations　that　required　more　force　than　she　could　bring　from　within。　After　its　use；　Kahlan　could　recover　the　strength　of　her　power　in　an　hour　or　two；　but　for　Dennee；　it　sometimes　took　several　days。
　
　On　one　fateful　day；　Kahlan　had　been　away　for　a　short　time；　taking　a　confession　from　a　murderer　who　was　to　be　hanged；　a　mission　that　was　to　have　been　Dennee's。　Kahlan　had　gone　in　her　sister's　place　because　she　wanted　to　spare　Dennee　the　torment　of　the　task。　Dennee　hated　taking　confessions；　hated　seeing　the　look　in　their　eyes。　Sometimes　she　would　cry　for　days　after。　She　never　asked　Kahlan　to　go　in　her　stead；　she　wouldn't；　but　the　look　of　relief　on　her　face　when　Kahlan　told　her　she　would　do　it　was　words　enough。　Kahlan；　too；　disliked　taking　confessions；　but　she　was　stronger；　wiser；　more　reflective。　She　understood；　and　accepted；　that　being　a　Confessor　was　her　power；　it　was　who　she　was；　and　so　it　didn't　hurt　her　the　way　it　did　Dennee。　Kahlan　had　always　been　able　to　place　her　head　before　her　heart。　And　she　would　have　done　any　dirty　job　in　Dennee's　place。
　
　On　the　trail　home；　Kahlan　heard　soft　whimpers　from　the　brush　at　the　side　of　the　road；　moans　of　mortal　pain。　To　her　horror；　she　discovered　Dennee；　thrown　there；　discarded。
　
　〃I　was　。。　。　ing　to　meet　you　。。。。　I　wanted　to　walk　back　with　you；〃　Dennee　had　said　as　Kahlan　cradled　the　girl's　head　in　her　lap。　〃A　quad　caught　me。　I'm　sorry。　I　got　one　of　them；　Kahlan。　I　touched　him。　I　got　one　of　them。　You　would　have　been　proud　of　me。〃
　
　In　shock；　Kahlan　held　Dennee's　head；　forted　her；　telling　her　it　would　be　all　right。
　
　〃Please；　Kahlan　。　。　。　pull　my　dress　down　for　me？〃　Her　voice　sounded　as　if　it　were　ing　from　a　faraway　place。　Wet　and　weak。　〃My　arms　don't　work。〃
　
　Past　panic；　Kahlan　saw　why。　Dennee's　arms　had　been　brutally　broken。　They　lay　useless　at　her　sides；　bent　in　places　where　they　shouldn't　be　bent。　Blood　trickled　from　one　ear。　Kahlan　pulled　what　was　left　of　the　blood…soaked　dress　over　her　sister；　covering　her　as　best　she　could。　Her　head　spun　with　the　horror　of　what　the　men　had　done。　The　choking　feeling　in　her　throat　wouldn't　let　words　e　out。　She　strained　to　hold　back　her　screams；　fearful　of　frightening　her　sister　any　more。　She　knew　she　had　to　be　strong　for　her　this　one　last　time。
　
　Dennee　whispered　Kahlan's　name；　beckoning　her　closer。　〃Darken　Rahl　did　this　to　me　。　。　。　he　wasn't　here；　but　he　did　this　to　me。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　Kahlan　said　with　all　the　tenderness　she　could　gather。　〃Lie　still；　it　will　be　all　right。　I　will　take　you　home。〃　She　knew　it　was　a　lie；　knew　Dennee　would　not　be　all　right。
　
　〃Please；　Kahlan；〃　she　whispered；　〃kill　him。　Stop　this　madness。　I　wish　I　were　strong　enough。　Kill　him　for　me。〃
　
　Anger　boiled　up　in　her。　It　was　the　first　time　Kahlan　had　ever　wanted　to　use　her。　power　to　hurt　someone；　to　kill　someone。　She　had　gone　to　the　brink　of　feeling　something　she　had　never　felt　before　or　since。　A　terrible　wrath；　a　force　from　deep　within；　a　frightening　birthright。　With　shaking　fingers；　she　stroked　Dennee's　bloody　hair。
　
　〃I　will；〃　she　promised。
　
　Dennee　relaxed　back　in　her　arms。　Kahlan　took　off　the　bone　necklace　and　placed　it　around　her　sister's　neck。
　
　〃I　want　you　to　have　this。　It　will　help　protect　you。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Kahlan。〃　She　smiled；　tears　rolling　from　her　wide　eyes；　down　the　pale　skin　of　her　cheeks。　〃But　nothing　can　protect　me　now。　Save　yourself。　Don't　let　them　get　you。　They　enjoy　it。　They　hurt　me　so　much　。　。　。　and　they　enjoyed　it。　They　laughed　at　me。〃
　
　Kahlan　closed　her　eyes　against　the　sickening　sight　of　her　sister's　pain；　rocked　her　in　her　arms；　and　kissed　her　forehead。
　
　〃Remember　me；　Kahlan。　Remember　the　fun　we　had。〃
　
　〃Bad　memories？〃
　
　Kahlan's　head　snapped　up；　jolted　out　of　her　thoughts。　The　Bird　Man　stood　beside　her；　having　e　up　silently；　unnoticed。　She　nodded；　looking　away　from　his　gaze。
　
　〃Please　forgive　me　for　showing　weakness；　〃　she　said；　clearing　her　throat　as　her　fingers　wiped　the　tears　from　her　face。
　
　He　regarded　her　with　soft　brown　eyes　and　sat　lightly　beside　her　on　the　short　bench。
　
　〃It　is　not　a　weakness；　child；　to　be　a　victim。〃
　
　She　wiped　her　nose　on　the　back　of　her　hand　and　swallowed　back　the　wail　that　was　trying　to　fight　its　way　out　of　her　throat
　
　She　felt　so　alone。　She　so　missed　Dennee。　The　Bird　Man　put　his　arm　tenderly　around　her　shoulder　and　gave　her　a　short；　fatherly　hug。
　
　〃I　was　thinking　of　my　sister；　Dennee。　She　was　murdered　by　order　of　Darken　Rahl。　I　found　her。　。　。　。　She　died　in　my　arms　。。。。　They　hurt　her　so　bad。　Rahl　is　not　content　to　kill。　He　must　see　to　it　that　people　suffer　before　they　die。　〃
　
　He　nodded　his　understanding。　〃Though　we　be　different　peoples；　we　hurt　the　same。　〃　With　his　thumb；　he　brushed　a　tear　from　her　cheek；　then　reached　into　his　pocket。　〃Hold　out　your　hand。　〃
　
　She　did　as　he　asked；　and　he　poured　some　small　seeds　in　it。　Surveying　the　sky；　he　blew　the　whistle　that　made　no　sound；　the　one　that　hung　from　his　neck；　and　shortly　a　small；　bright　yellow　bird　lit　with　a　flutter　upon　his　finger。　He　placed　his　hand　next　to　hers　so　it　could　climb　over　and　eat　the　seeds。　Kahlan　could　feel　its　tiny　little　feet　gripping　her　finger　while　it　pecked　away　at　the　seeds。　The　bird　was　so　bright　and　pretty　it　made　her　smile。　The　Bird　Man's　leathery　face　smiled　with　her。　When　it　finished　eating；　the　bird　fluffed　itself　up　and　sat　contentedly；　without　fear。
　
　〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　gaze　upon　a　small　vision　of　beauty　among　the　ugliness。　〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　〃　she　smiled。
　
　〃Do　you　wish　to　keep　him？〃
　
　Kahlan　watched　the　bird　a　moment　longer；　its　bright　yellow　feathers；　the　way　it　cocked　its　head；　and　then　cast　it　into　the　air。
　
　〃I　have　no　right；　〃　she　said；　watching　the　bird　flit　away。　〃It　should　be　free。　〃
　
　A　small　smile　brightened　the　Bird　Man's　face　as　he　gave　a　single　nod。　Leaning　forward　and　resting　his　forearms　on　his　knees；　he　looked　over　at　the　spirit　house。　The　work　was　almost　done；　maybe　one　more　day。　Long；　silver…gray　hair　slipped　off　his　shoulders　and　down　around　his　face；　hiding　his　expression　from　her。　Kahlan　sat　awhile　and　watched　Richard　working　on　the　roof。　She　ached　to　have　him　hold　her　right　now；　and　hurt　all　the　more　because　she　knew　she　couldn't　allow　it。
　
　〃You　wish　to　kill　him；　this　man；　Darken　Rahl？〃　he　asked　without　turning　to　her。
　
　〃Very　much。　〃
　
　〃And　is　your　power　enough？〃　〃No；〃　she　admitted。
　
　〃And　does　the　Seeker's　blade　have　enough　power　to　kill　him？〃
　
　〃No。　Why　do　you　ask