tg.wizardfirstrule-第54部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


d　her；　giving　off　an　odd；　acrid　smell。　The　elders　stared　fixedly　ahead　as　they　rhythmically　chanted　words　she　couldn't　understand。　The　Bird　Man's　far…off　eyes　came　up。　The　door　closed　of　its　own　accord。
　
　〃From　now；　until　we　are　finished；　near　dawn；　no　one　may　go　out；　no　one　may　e　in。　The　door　is　barred　by　the　spirits。　〃
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　swept　the　room；　but　saw　nothing。　A　shiver　ran　up　her　spine。　The　Bird　Man　took　a　woven　basket　sitting　near　him　and　reached　inside。　He　pulled　out　a　small　frog；　then　passed　the　basket　to　the　next　elder。　Each　took　a　frog　and　began　rubbing　its　back　against　the　skin　of　his　chest。　When　the　basket　reached　her；　she　held　it　between　her　hands　and　looked　up　at　the　Bird　Man。
　
　〃Why　do　we　do　this？〃
　
　〃These　are　red　spirit　frogs；　very　hard　to　find。　They　have　a　substance　on　their　backs　that　makes　us　forget　this　world；　and　allows　us　to　see　the　spirits。　〃
　
　〃Honored　elder；　1　may　be　one　of　the　Mud　People；　but　1　am　also　a　Confessor。　I　must　always　hold　back　my　power。　If　I　forget　this　world；　I　may　not　be　able　to　do　that。　〃
　
　〃It　is　too　late　to　back　out　now。　The　spirits　are　with　us。　They　have　seen　you；　seen　the　symbols　on　you　that　open　their　eyes。　You　may　not　leave。　If　one　is　here　who　is　blind　to　them；　they　will　kill　that　person；　and　steal　their　spirit。　I　understand　your　problem；　but　I　cannot　help　you。　You　will　just　have　to　do　your　best　to　hold　back　your　power。　If　you　cannot　do　so；　then　one　of　us　will　be　lost。　It　is　a　price　we　will　have　to　pay。　If　you　want　to　die；　then　leave　your　frog　in　the　basket。　If　you　want　to　stop　Darken　Rahl；　take　it　out。　〃
　
　She　stared　wide…eyed　into　his　grim　face；　then　reached　into　the　basket。　The　frog　wriggled　and　kicked　in　her　hand　as　she　passed　the　basket　to　Richard；　telling　him　what　to　do。　Swallowing　hard；　she　pushed　the　cold　slimy　back　of　the　frog　against　her　chest；　between　her　breasts；　to　the　one　place　on　her　where　there　were　no　symbols　painted；　pushed　it　around　in　circles　as　the　others　had　done。　Where　the　slime　touched　her　skin；　it　felt　tingly；　tight。　The　feeling　spread　through　her。　The　sounds　of　the　drums　and　the　boldas　grew　in　her　ears　until　it　seemed　as　if　the　sound　was　the　only　thing　in　the　world。　Her　body　vibrated　with　the　beat。　In　her　mind；　she　took　hold　of　her　power；　held　it　tightly；　concentrated　on　her　control　of　it；　then；　hoping　it　was　enough；　she　felt　herself　drift　away。
　
　Everyone　took　the　hand　of　the　person　to　each　side。　The　walls　of　the　room　swam　away　from　her　vision。　Her　consciousness　undulated；　like　ripples　on　a　pond；　floating；　bobbing；　pitching。　She　felt　herself　beginning　to　spin　in　a　circle　with　the　others；　around　and　around　the　skulls　in　the　center。　The　skulls　brightened；　lighting　the　faces　of　everyone　in　the　circle。　They　were　all　swallowed　into　a　soft　void　of　nothingness。　Shafts　of　light；　from　the　center；　spun　with　them。
　
　All　around；　shapes　closed　in。　In　terror；　she　recognized　what　they　were。
　
　Shadow　things。
　
　Unable　to　get　a　scream　out；　her　breath　caught　in　her　throat；　she　squeezed　Richard's　hand。　She　had　to　protect　him。　She　tried　to　get　up；　to　throw　herself　over　him　so　they　couldn't　touch　him。　But　her　body　wouldn't　move。　She　realized　with　horror　that　it　was　because　hands；　hands　of　the　shadow　things；　were　on　her。　She　struggled；　struggled　to　get　up；　to　protect　Richard。　Her　mind　raced　with　panic。　Had　they　already　killed　her？　Was　she　dead？　Was　she　no　more　than　a　spirit　now？　Unable　to　move？　The　shadow　things　stared　down　at　her。　Shadow　things　didn't　have　faces。　These　did。　Mud　People　faces。
　
　They　weren't　shadow　things；　she　realized　with　a　wave　of　relief；　the　were　the　ancestors'　spirits。　She　caught　her　breath；　eased　the　panic　back　down。　Relaxed　herself。；
　
　〃Who　calls　this　gathering？〃
　
　It　was　the　spirits　speaking。　All　of　them。　Together。　The　sound；　hollow；　flat；　dead；　almost　took　her　breath　away。　But　it　was　the　Bird　Man's　mouth　that　moved。
　
　〃Who　calls　this　gathering？〃　they　repeated。
　
　〃This　man　does；　〃　she　said；　〃this　man　beside　me。　Richard　With　The　Temper〃
　
　They　floated　between　the　elders；　gathering　into　the　center　of　the　circle。
　
　〃Release　his　hands。　〃
　
　Kahlan　and　Savidlin　let　go　of　Richard's　hands。　The　spirits　spun　in　the　center　of　the　circle；　then；　in　a　rush；　they　came　out　in　a　line；　passing　through　Richard's　body。
　
　He　inhaled　sharply；　threw　his　head　back；　and　screamed　in　agony　as　they　swept　through　him。
　
　Kahlan　jumped。　The　spirits　all　hovered　behind　him。　The　elders　all　closed　their　eyes。
　
　〃Richard！〃
　
　His　head　came　back　down。　〃It's　all　right。　I'm　all　right；〃　he　managed　in　a　hoarse　voice；　but　he　was　clearly　still　in　pain。
　
　The　spirits　moved　around　the　circle；　behind　the　elders；　then　settled　into　their　bodies；　both　spirit　and　man；　in　the　same　place　at　the　same　time。　It　gave　the　elders　a　soft；　indefinite　appearance　around　the　edges。　Their　eyes　e　open。
　
　〃Why　have　you　called　us？〃　the　Bird　Man　asked；　in　their　hollow；　harmonic　voices。
　
　She　leaned　a　little　toward　Richard；　keeping　her　eyes　on　the　Bird　Man。　〃They　want　you　to　say　why　you　called　this　gathering。〃
　
　Richard　took　a　few　deep　breaths；　recovering　from　what　they　had　done　to　him。
　
　〃I　called　this　gathering　because　I　must　find　an　object　of　magic　before　Darken　Rahl　finds　it。　Before　he　can　use　it。〃　Kahlan　translated　as　the　spirits　talked　to　Richard　through　the　elders。
　
　〃How　many　men　have　you　killed？〃　Savidlin　asked　with　spirit　voices。
　
　Richard　answered　without　hesitation。　〃Two。〃
　
　〃Why？〃　Hajanlet　asked　in　their　haunting　tones。
　
　〃To　keep　them　from　killing　me。〃
　
　〃Both？〃
　
　He　thought　a　moment。　〃The　first　one　I　killed　in　self…defense。　The　second　I　killed　in　defense　of　a　friend。〃
　
　'　〃Do　you　think　the　defense　of　a　friend　gives　you　the　right　to　kill？〃　Arbrin's　mouth　moved　this　time。
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃Suppose　he　was　going　to　kill　your　friend　only　to　defend　the　life　of　his　friend？〃
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath。　〃What's　the　point　of　the　question？〃
　
　〃The　point　is；　according　to　what　you　believe；　that　you　think　it　is　justified　to　kill　in　the　defense　of　a　friend；　then　if　he　was　killing　to　defend　a　friend；　he　had　the　right　to　kill　your　friend。　He　was　justified。　Since　he　was　justified；　that　would　void　your　right；　would　it　not？〃
　
　〃Not　all　questions　have　answers。〃
　
　〃Maybe　not　all　questions　have　answers　you　like。　〃
　
　〃Maybe。〃
　
　Kahlan　could　tell　by　his　tone　that　Richard　was　getting　angry。　All　the　eyes　of　the　elders；　the　spirits；　were　on　him。
　
　〃Did　you　enjoy　killing　this　man？〃
　
　〃Which　one？〃
　
　〃The　first。　〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　〃The　second。　〃
　
　Richard's　jaw　muscles　tightened。　〃What　is　the　point　of　these　questions？〃
　
　〃All　questions　have　a　different　reason　for　being　asked　〃
　
　〃And　sometimes　the　reasons　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　question？〃
　
　〃Answer　the　question。　〃　　_
　
　〃Only　if　you　first　tell　me　the　reason　for　it。〃　〃You　came　here　to　ask　us　questions。　Shall　we　ask　your　reasons？　〃
　
　〃It　would　seem　you　are。〃
　
　〃Answer　our　question　or　we　will　not　answer　yours。　〃
　
　〃And　if　I　answer　it；　will　you　promise　to　answer　mine？〃
　
　〃We　are　not　here　to　make　bargains。　We　are　here　because　we　were　called。　Answer　the　question　or　the　gathering　is　over。　〃
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly　as　he　stared　up　at　the　void。　〃Yes。　I　enjoyed　killing　him；　because　of　the　magic　of　the　Sword　of　Truth。　That　is　how　it　works。　If　I　had　killed　him　in　another　manner；　without　the　sword；　I　would　not　have　enjoyed　it。〃
　
　〃Irrelevant。　〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃　‘If'　is　irrelevant。　‘Did'　is　not。　So；　now　you　have　given　two　reasons　for　killing　the　second　man：　to　defend　a　friend；　and　because　you　enjoyed　it。　Which　is　the　true　reason？〃
　
　〃Both。　I　killed　him　to　protect　a　friend's　life；　and　because　of　the　sword；　I　enjoyed　it。〃
　
　〃What　if　you　did　not　need　to　kill　to　protect　your　friend？　What　if　you　were　wrong　in　your　assessment？　What　if　the　life　of　your　friend　was　not　in　fact　in　danger？〃
　
　Kahlan　tensed　at　this　question。　She　hesitated　a　moment　before　translating　it。
　
　〃In　my　mind；　the　deed　is　not　as　important　as　the　intent。　I　truly　believed　my　friend's　life　was　in　danger；　therefore　I　felt　justified　in　killing　to　protect　her。　I　had　only　a　moment　to　act。　In　my　mind；　indecision　would　have　resulted　in　her　death。
　
　〃If　the　spirits　think　I　was　wrong　in　killing；　or　that　the　one　I　killed　may　have　been　justified；　voiding　my　right；　then　we　have　a　disagreement。　Some　problems　have　no　clear　solution。　Some　problems　don't　provide　the　time　to　analyze　them。　I　had　to　act　with　my　heart。　As　a　wise　man　once　told　me；　every　murderer　thinks　he　is　justified　in　killing。　I　will　kill　to　prevent　myself　or　a　friend；　or　an　innocent；　from　being　killed。　If　you　feel　that　is　wrong；　tell　me　now　so　we　can　put　an　end　to　these　painful　questions；　and　I　may　go　in　search　of　the　answers　I　need。〃
　
　〃As　we　said；　we　are　not　here　to　make　bargains。　You　said　that　to　your　mind；　the　deed　is　not　as　important　as　the　intent。　Is　there　anyone　you　have　intended　to　kill；　but　have　not？〃
　
　The　sound　of　their　voices　was　painful；　Kahlan　felt　as　if　it　was　burning　her　skin。
　
　〃You　have　misinterpreted　the　context　of　what　I　said。　I　said　I　killed　because　I　thought　I　had　to；　that　I　thought　his　intent　was　to　kill　her；　therefore　I　thought　I　had　to　act　or　she　would　die。　Not　that　my　intent　equates　to　the　deed。　There　is　probably　a　long　list　of　people　who；　at　one　time　or　another；　I　have　wanted　to　kill。〃
　
　〃If　you　wanted　to；　why　have　you　not　done　so？〃
　
　〃Many　reasons。　For　some；　I　had　not　true　justification；　it　was　only　a　mind　game；　a　fantasy；　to　counter　the　sting　of　an　injustice。　For　some；　though　I　felt　justified；　I　was　able　to　escape　without　killing。　Some；　well；　it　just　turned　out　that　I　didn't　that's　all。〃
　
　〃The　five　elders？〃
　
　Richard　sighed。　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃But　you　intended　to。　〃
　
　Richard　didn't　answer。
　
　〃Is　this　a　case　where　the　intent　is　as　the　deed？〃
　
　Richard　swallowed　hard。　〃In　my　heart；　yes。　That　I　intended　it　wounds　me　almost　as　much　as　the　deed　would　have。〃
　
　〃So　then　we　have　not；　it　would　seem；　gotten　what　you　said　entirely　out　of　context。　〃
　
　Kahlan　could　see　tears　in　Richard's　eyes。　〃Why　are　you　asking　me　these　questions！〃
　
　〃Why　do　you　want　the　object　of　magic？〃
　
　〃To　stop　Darken　Rahl！〃
　
　〃And　how　will　getting　this　object　stop　him？〃
　
　Richard　leaned　back　a　little。　His　eyes　went　wide。　He　understood。　A　tear　ran　down　his　cheek。　〃Because；　if　I　can　get　the　object；　and　keep　it　from　him；〃　he　whispered；　〃he　will　die。　I　will　kill　him　in　that　way。〃
　
　〃What　you　are　really　asking　us；　then；　is；　for　our　aid　in　killing　another。〃　There　voices　echoed　around　her　in　the　darkness。
　
　Richard　only　nodded。
　
　〃That　is　why　we　are　asking　you　these　questions。　You　are　asking　for　our　aid　in　killing。　Do　you　not　think　it　fair　we　should　know　what　kind　of　person　it　is　we　would　be　helping　in　his　attempt　to　kill？〃　Sweat　was　rolling　off　Richard's　face。　〃I　guess　so。〃　He　closed　his　eyes。
　
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　kill　this　man？〃
　
　〃Many　reasons。〃
　
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　kill　this　man？〃
　
　〃Because　he　tortured　and　killed　my　father。　Because　he　has　tortured　and　killed　many　others。　Because　he　will　kill　me　if　I　don't　kill　him。　Because　he　will　torture　and　kill　many　more　if　I　don't　kill　him。　It　is　the　only　way　to　stop　him。　He　cannot　be　reasoned　with。　I　have　no　option　but　to　kill　him。〃
　
　〃Consider　the　next　question　carefully。　Answer　with　the　truth；　or　this　gathering　will　end。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。
　
　〃What　is　the　reason；　above　all　others；　why　you　want　to　kill　this　man？〃
　
　Richard　looked　down　and　closed　his　eyes　again。　〃Because；〃　he　whispered　at　last；　tears　running　down　his　face；　〃if　I　don't　kill　him；　he　will　kill　Kahlan。〃
　
　Kahlan　felt　as　if　she　had　been　hit　in　the　stomach。　She　could　barely　bring　herself　to　translate　the　words。　There　was　a　long　silence。　Richard　sat　naked；　in　more　ways　than　one。　She　was　angry　at　the　spirits　for　doing　this　to　him。　She　was　also　deeply　distraught　by　what　she　was　doing　to　him。　Shar　had　been　right。
　
　〃If　Kahlan　were　not　a　factor；　would　you　still　try　to　kill　this　man？　》；
　
　〃Absolutely。　You　asked　the　reason　above　all　others。　I　told　you。〃
　
　〃What　is　the　object　of　magic　you　seek？〃　they　asked　suddenly。
　
　〃Does　that　mean　you　agree　with　my　reasons　for　killing？〃
　
　〃No。　It　means　that　for　our　own　reasons；　we　have　decided　to　answer　your　question。　If　we　can。　What　is　the　object　of　magic　you　seek？　〃
　
　〃One　of　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。〃
　
　When　Kahlan　translated；　the　spirits　suddenly　howled　as　if　in　pain。　〃We　are　not　allowed　to　answer　that　question。　The　boxes　of　Orden　are　in　play。　This　gathering　is　over。　〃
　
　The　elders'　eyes　began　to　close。　Richard　jumped　to　his　feet。　〃You　would　let　Darken　Rahl　kill　all　those　people　when　you　have　the　power　to　help？〃　〃Yes。　〃
　
　〃You　would　let　him　kill　your　descendants？　Your　living　flesh　and　blood？　You　aren't　spirit　ancestors　to　our　people；　you　are　spirit　traitors！〃
　
　〃Not　true。　〃
　
　〃Then　tell　me！〃
　
　〃Not　allowed。　〃
　
　〃Please！　Don't　leave　us　without　your　help。　Let　me　ask　another　question？〃
　
　〃We　are　not　allowed　to　disclose　where　the　boxes　of　Orden　are。　It　is　forbidden。　Think；　and　ask　another　question。　〃
　
　Richard　sat　down；　pulling　his　knees　up。　He　rubbed　his　eyes　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers。　The　symbols　painted　all　over　him　made　him　look　like　some　kind　of　wild　creature。　He　put　his　face　in　his　hands；　thinking。　His　head　snapped　up。
　
　〃You　can't　tell　me　where　the　boxes　are。　Are　there　any　other　restrictions？〃
　
　〃Yes。　〃
　
　〃How　many　boxes　does　Rahl　already　have？〃
　
　〃Two。　〃
　
　He　looked　at　the　elders　evenly。　〃You　have　just　disclosed　where　two　of　the　boxes　are。　That　is　forbidden；〃　he　reminded　them。　〃Or　maybe　it　is　simply　a　gray　shade　of　intent？〃
　
　Silence。
　
　〃That　information　is　not　restricted。　Your　question？〃
　
　Richard　leaned　forward　like　a　dog　on　scent。　〃Can　you　tell　me　who　knows　where　the　last　box　is？〃
　
　Richard　already　knew　the　answer　to　this　question；　she　suspected。　She　recognized　his　manner　of　slicing　the　loaf　the　other　way。
　
　〃We　know　the　name　of　the　person　who　has　the　box；　and　the　names　of　several　other　people　nearby；　but　we　cannot　tell　you　the　names　because　that　would　be　the　same　as　telling　you　where　it　is。　That　is　forbidden。　〃
　
　〃Then；　can　you　tell　me　the　name　of　a　person；　other　than　Rahl；　who　is　not　in　possession　of　the　last　box；　who　is　not　near　it；　but　who　knows　where　it　is？〃
　
　〃There　is　one　we　can　name。　She　knows　where　the　box　is。　If　we　tell　you　her　name；　that　would　not　lead　you　to　the　box；　only　to　her　This　is　allowed。　It　will　be　up　to　you；　not　us；　to　get　whatever　information　you　might。　〃
　
　〃That　is　my　question；　then：　who　is　it？　Name　her。〃
　
　When　they　uttered　the　name；　Kahlan　froze　with　a　jolt。　She　didn't　translate。　The　elders　shook　at　the　mere　name；　spoken　aloud。
　
　〃Who　is　it？　What's　her　name'？〃　Richard　demanded　of　her。
　
　Kahlan　looked　up　at　him。
　
　〃We　are　as　good　as　dead；〃　she　whispered。
　
　〃Why？　Who；　is　it？〃
　
　Kahlan　sank　back；　into　herself。　〃It　is　the　witch　woman；　Shota。〃
　
　〃And　do　you　know　where　she　is？〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　her　brow　wrinkled　in　terr