tg.wizardfirstrule-第65部分

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hel；　you　stay　away　from　him；　if　you　can。〃
　
　〃I　will；　for　sure。〃
　
　〃But　if　he　talks　to　you；　just　be　polite　right　back；　don't　let　him　know　that　you　know。　You　must　not　let　people　know　all　the　things　you　know。　That　keeps　you　safe。〃
　
　She　smiled。　〃Like　Sara。　I　don't　let　people　know　about　her　so　they　can't　take　her　away　from　me。　It　keeps　her　safe。〃
　
　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　gave　her　a　quick　hug。　〃The　spirits　be　praised；　you　are　a　smart　child。〃　It　made　her　feel　really　good　that　he　said　that。　No　one　ever　told　her　that　she　was　smart。　〃Now；　listen　close。　This　is　the　important　part。〃
　
　She　nodded　again。　〃I　will；　Gillen〃
　
　He　put　his　hand　back　on　the　box。　〃This　box　has　magic。　When　the　Queen　gives　it　to　Father　Rahl；　he　will　be　able　to　use　the　magic　to　hurt　even　more　people。　He　will　chop　off　a　lot　more　people's　heads。　The　Queen　is　a　mean　person；　and　wants　him　to　do　it；　so　she　is　going　to　give　him　the　box。〃
　
　Her　eyes　got　real　big。　〃Giller！　We　mustn't　let　her　give　him　the　box！　Or　all　those　people　will　get　their　heads　chopped　off！〃
　
　A　big　smile　spread　under　his　hook　nose。　He　held　her　chin　in　his　hand。　〃Rachel；　you　are　the　smartest　girl　I　have　ever　met。　You　truly　are。〃
　
　〃We　have　to　hide　it；　hide　the　box；　like　I　hide　Sara！〃
　
　〃And　that's　just　what　we　are　going　to　do。〃　He　pointed　up　at　the　box　he　had　put　on　the　stand。　〃That　is　a　fake。　That　means　it's　not　the　real　thing；　it's　just　pretend；　so　they　will　be　fooled　for　a　while；　and　we　can　get　away　before　they　find　out　the　real　one　is　gone。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　the　fake　box。　It　looked　just　like　the　real　one。　〃Giller；　you're　the　most　clever　man　I　ever　did　know。〃　His　smile　went　away　a　little。　〃I'm　afraid；　child；　that　I　am　too　clever　for　my　own　good。〃　His　smile　came　back。　〃Here　is　what　we　are　going　to　do。〃
　
　Giller　took　the　loaf　of　bread　she　had　stolen　from　the　kitchen　and　broke　it　in　half。　With　his　big　hands；　he　scooped　out　some　of　the　insides。　Part　of　it　he　stuffed　in　his　mouth；　his　cheeks　puffed　out；　there　was　so　much。　He　stuffed　some　in　her　mouth。　She　chewed　as　fast　as　she　could。　It　was　good；　still　warm。　When　they　finished　eating　the　middle；　he　took　the　real　box　and　pushed　it　into　the　middle　of　the　bread　and　put　the　two　halves　back　together。　He　held　it　up　for　her　to　look　at。
　
　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　
　She　made　a　face。　〃It's　all　cracked。　People　will　know　it's　been　broken。〃
　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Smart。　You　are　really　smart。　Well；　since　I'm　a　wizard；　perhaps　I　could　do　something　about　that。　What　do　you　think？〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃Maybe。〃
　
　He　put　the　bread　in　his　lap。　and　made　his　hands　go　all　around　in　the　air　over　it。　He　took　his　hands　away　and　held　the　bread　up　in　front　of　her　face　again。　The　cracks　were　gone！　It　looked　just　like　new！
　
　〃No　one　will　know　now　for　sure。〃　She　giggled。
　
　〃Let's　hope　you're　right；　child。　I　have　put　a　wizard's　web；　a　magic　spell；　in　the　bread；　to　be　sure　no　one　will　be　able　to　see　the　magic　of　the　box　inside　it。〃
　
　He　spread　the　cloth　out　on　top　of　the　stool　and　put　the　bread　on　it；　then　pulled　up　all　four　corners　and　tied　them　in　the　middle　on　top。　He　lifted　up　the　bundle　by　the　knots　and　put　it　in　the　palm　of　his　other　hand；　in　front　of　her。　He　looked　her　in　the　eyes　and　he　didn't　smile；　he　looked　almost　sad。
　
　〃Now；　here's　the　hard　part；　Rachel。　We　have　to　get　this　box　away　from　here。　We　can't　hide　it　in　the　castle；　or　it　might　be　found。　You　remember　where　I　hid　your　doll；　in　the　garden？〃
　
　She　smiled　proudly；　she　remembered。　〃Third　urn　on　the　right。〃
　
　He　nodded。　〃I　will　hide　this　there；　just　like　I　hid　your　doll。　You　must　go　and　get　it；　just　like　you　did　with　your　doll；　and　then　take　it　out　of　the　castle。〃　He　leaned　a　little　closer。　〃You　have　to　do　it　tonight。〃　She　started　twisting　her　finger　in　the　hem　of　her　dress。　She　started　to　get　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃Giller；　I'm　scared　to　touch　the　Queen's　box。〃
　
　〃I　know　you're　afraid；　child。　But　remember？　It's　not　the　Queen's　box。　You　do　want　to　help　keep　all　those　people　from　getting　their　heads　chopped　off；　don't　you？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　she　whined。　〃But；　couldn't　you　take　it　away　from　the　castle？〃
　
　〃If　I　could；　I　swear　to　you；　Rachel；　I　would。　But　I　can't。　There　are　some　who　watch　me；　and　don't　want　me　to　go　out　of　the　castle。　If　they　found　me　with　the　box；　then　Father　Rahl　would　get　it；　and　we　can't　have　that；　now；　can　we？〃
　
　〃No　。　。　。〃　Then　she　got　real　scared。　〃Giller；　you　said　you　were　going　to　run　away　with　me。　You　promised。〃
　
　〃And　I　mean　to　keep　that　promise；　believe　me。　But　it　may　take　a　couple　of　days　for　me　to　sneak　out　of　Tamarang。　It's　very　dangerous　for　the　box　to　be　here　another　day；　and　I　can't　get　it　out　myself。　You　must　get　it　away。　Take　it　to　your　secret　place；　your　wayward　pine。　You　wait　there　for　me；　until　I　can　cover　our　escape；　and　I　will　e　get　you。〃
　
　〃I　guess　I　can。　If　you　say　it's　important；　I'll　try。〃
　
　Giller　moved　up　and　sat　on　the　stool。　He　pulled　her　up　with　his　hands　around　her　waist；　and　set　her　on　his　knee。
　
　〃Rachel；　you　listen　to　me。　If　you　live　to　be　a　hundred　years　old；　you　will　never　again　do　anything　as　important　as　this。　You　must　be　brave；　braver　than　you　have　ever　been　before。　You　must　not　trust　anyone。　You　must　not　let　anyone　get　the　box。　I　will　e　get　you　in　a　few　days；　but　if　something　goes　wrong；　and　I　don't　e；　you　must　hide　with　the　box　until　winter。　Then　everything　will　be　all　right。　If　I　knew　of　anyone　else　to　help　you；　I　would　get　them　to　do　it。　But　I　don't。　You　are　the　only　one　who　can　do　this。〃
　
　She　watched　him　with　big　eyes。　〃I'm　just　little；〃　she　said。
　
　〃That　is　why　you　will　be　safe。　Everybody　thinks　you　are　a　nobody。　But　that　isn't　true。　You　are　the　most　important　person　in　the　world；　but　you　can　trick　them　because　they　don't　know。　You　must　do　this；　Rachel。　I　need　your　help　so　much；　and　so　does　everyone　else。　I　know　you're　smart　enough；　and　brave　enough　to　do　it。〃　She　could　see　that　his　eyes　were　wet。　〃I'll　try；　Giller。　I'll　be　brave　and　do　it。　You're　the　bestest　man　in　the　whole　world；　and　if　you　say　to　do　it；　I　will。〃
　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　have　been　a　very　foolish　man；　Rachel；　I　have　been　far　from　the　bestest　man　in　the　world。　If　only　I　had　been　wiser　before；　and　remembered　the　things　I　was　taught；　my　true　duty；　the　reason　I　became　a　wizard　in　the　first　place；　maybe　I　wouldn't　have　to　ask　you　to　do　this。　But　just　as　this　is　the　most　important　thing　you　will　ever　do；　it　is　also　the　most　important　thing　I　will　ever　do。　We　must　not　fail；　Rachel。　You　must　not。　No　matter　what　happens；　you　must　not　let　anyone　stop　you。　Not　anyone。〃
　
　He　put　a　finger　on　each　side　of　her　forehead　and　she　felt　a　safe　feeling　in　her　head。　She　knew　she　would　be　able　to　do　it　and　she　would　never　have　to　do　as　the　Princess　said　again。　She　would　be　free。　Giller　suddenly　pulled　his　fingers　away。
　
　〃Someone　es；〃　he　whispered。　He　kissed　her　head　real　quick。　〃Good　spirits　protect　you；　Rachel。〃
　
　He　stood　up　and　put　his　back　to　the　wall；　behind　the　door。　He　slipped　the　loaf　of　bread　into　his　robes；　and　put　his　finger　over　his　lips。　The　door　opened；　and　Rachel　jumped　to　her　feet。　It　was　Princess　Violet。　Rachel　curtsied：　When　she　came　back　up；　the　Princess　slapped　her；　then　laughed。　Rachel　looked　down　at　the　ground；　and　while　she　rubbed　her　cheek；　holding　back　the　tears；　she　saw　a　piece　of　bread　between　Princess　Violet's　feet。　She　took　a　quick　glance　at　Giller；　who　stood　pressed　against　the　wall　behind　the　door。　His　eyes　went　to　the　bread。　Quieter　than　a　cat；　he　bent　down　and　snatched　up　the　bread；　put　it　in　his　mouth；　then　slipped　out　the　door　behind　Princess　Violet's　back　without　her　ever　seeing　him。
　
　…＋
　
　Kahlan　held　her　arms　out　to　him；　hands　made　into　fists；　the　insides　of　her　wrists　pressed　together；　waiting　for　him　to　bind　them　with　the　rope。　Her　unblinking　eyes　stared　off　at　nothing。　She　had　said　she　wasn't　tired；　but　Richard　surely　was…his　head　pounded　so　hard　it　made　him　feel　sick…so　she　was　going　to　take　the　first　watch。　What　good　her　watch　was；　the　way　she　stared　blankly；　he　didn't　know。
　
　He　held　the　rope　taut　between　his　shaking　fist；　his　mind　feeling　the　last　of'　his　hope　finally　abandoning　him。　Nothing　was　changing；　nothing　was　getting　any　better；　as　he　had　hoped；　it　was　one　long　endless　battle　with　her…she　wanting　to　die；　he　trying　constantly　to　prevent　it。
　
　〃I　can't　do　this　anymore；〃　he　whispered；　looking　down　at　her　wrists　in　the　light　of　the　small　fire。　〃Kahlan；　you　may　be　the　one　who　wishes　to　die；　but　it　is　me　you　are　killing。〃
　
　Her　green　eyes　came　up　to　his；　the　firelight　flickered　in　them。　〃Then　let　me　go；　Richard。　Please；　if　you　care　at　all　for　me；　then　show　it。　Let　me　go。〃
　
　He　lowered　the　rope　and　let　it　drop。　With　trembling　hands；　he　slowly　pulled　her　knife　from　his　belt；　and　looked　at　it　for　a　minute　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。　The　glint　of　the　blade　was　blurred　in　his　vision。　He　clenched　the　handle　tightly　in　his　fist　and　jammed　the　knife　in　the　sheath　at　her　belt。
　
　〃You　win。　Get　out　of　here。　Get　out　of　my　sight。〃
　
　〃Richard　。　。　。
　
　〃I　said　get　out　of　here！〃　He　pointed　back　the　way　they　had　e。　〃Go　back　and　let　the　gars　do　the　job。　You　may　botch　it　with　that　knife！　I'd　hate　to　think　you　slipped　and　didn't　finish　it　properly。　I'd　hate　to　think　that　after　all　this；　you　might　not　be　dead。〃
　
　He　turned　his　back　to　her　and　sat　on　a　windfall　spruce　that　lay　in　front　of　the　fire。　She　stood　watching　him　in　silence；　then　moved　off　a　few　paces。
　
　〃Richard　。　。　。　after　all　we　have　been　through　together；　I　don't　want　it　to　be　finished　like　this。〃
　
　〃I　don't　care　what　you　want。　You　have　forfeited　that　right。〃　He　struggled　to　make　the　words　e　out。　〃Get　out　of　my　sight。〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　and　looked　down　at　the　ground。　Richard　leaned　over；　elbows　on　his　knees；　his　face　in　his　shaking　hands。　He　thought　he　might　throw　up。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　said　in　a　soft　voice；　〃when　this　is　all　ended；　I　hope　you　can　think　well　of　me；　remember　me　more　fondly　than　you　do　right　now。〃　That　was　it。　He　came　over　the　log　with　a　boost　of　one　boot　on　top。　In　a　blink　he　had　her　shirt　in　his　fists。
　
　〃I　will　only　remember　you　for　what　you　are！　A　traitor！　A　traitor　to　all　those　who　have　died；　all　those　who　will　die！〃　Her　eyes　were　wide　as　she　tried　to　back　away　from　him；　but　he　held　her　with　a　vengeance。　〃A　traitor　to　all　the　wizards　who　have　given　their　lives；　to　Shar；　to　Siddin　and　all　the　Mud　People　who　were　killed！　A　traitor　to　your　sister！〃
　
　〃That's　not　true　。　。　。　。〃
　
　〃A　traitor　to　all　those　and　more！　If　I　fail　and　Rahl　wins；　we　will　all　have　you　to　thank；　and　so　will　Darken　Rahl。　It　is　you　who　aids　him！〃
　
　〃I　do　this　to　help　you！　You　heard　what　Shota　said！〃　She　was　getting　angry　now；　too。
　
　〃That　won't　work。　Not　for　me。　Yes；　I　heard　what　Shota　said。　She　said　that　both　Zedd　and　you　would　turn　against　me　somehow。　She　did　not　say　you　both　would　be　wrong！〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean　。　。　。〃
　
　〃This　is　not　a　quest　for　me！　It's　to　stop　Rahl！　How　do　you　know　that　once　we　have　the　box　it　might　not　be　me　who　would　deliver　it　to　him？　What　if　it's　me　who　would　betray　us；　and　the　only　chance　to　keep　the　box　from　Rahl　is　for　you　and　Zedd　to　stop　me？〃
　
　〃That　doesn't　make　any　sense。〃
　
　〃Does　it　make　any　more　sense　that　both　you　and　Zedd　would　try　to　kill　me？　That　would　require　two　to　be　wrong；　this　would　require　only　one。　It's　just　the　stupid　riddle　of　a　witch　woman！　You're　letting　yourself　die　for　a　stupid　riddle！　We　can't　know　how　the　future　will　e　about。　We　can't　know　the　meaning　of　what　she　said；　how　it　will　be　true！　Or　if。　Not　until　it　happens！　Only　then　can　we　know　what　it　means；　and　deal　with　it。〃
　
　〃I　only　know　I　cannot　allow　myself　to　live　to　carry　out　the　prophecy。　You　are　the　thread　that　weaves　this　struggle　together。〃
　
　〃And　thread　can't　get　there　without　the　needle！　You're　my　needle。　Without　you　I　wouldn't　have　gotten　this　far。　At　every　turn；　1　needed　you。　Today；　at　the　inverted　fork；　I　would　have　chosen　wrong　without　you。　You　know　the　Queen；　I　don't。　Even　if　I　manage　to　get　the　box　without　you；　what　then？　Where　will　I　go？　I　don't　know　the　Midlands。　Where　will　I　go；　Kahlan；　tell　me？　How　will　I　know　where　it's　safe？　I　could　walk　right　into　Rahl's　hands；　carry　the　box　right　to　him。〃
　
　〃Shota　said　you　are　the　only　one　with　a　chance。　Without　you　all　is　lost。　Not　me。　You。　She　said　that　if　I　live　。　。　。　Richard；　I　can't　allow　that。　I　won't。〃
　
　〃You　are　a　traitor　to　us；〃　he　whispered　viciously。
　
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃Despite　what　you　think；　Richard；　I　do　this　for　you。〃
　
　Richard　screamed　and　threw　her　backward　as　hard　as　he　could。　She　fell　to　the　ground　on　her　back。　He　came　and　stood　above　her；　glaring　down；　dust　rising　around　his　boots。
　
　〃Don't　you　dare　say　that！〃　he　yelled；　both　hands　in　fists。　〃You　do　this　for　yourself；　because　you　haven't　got　the　stomach　for　what　victory　entails！　Don't　you　dare　to　say　you　do　this　for　me！〃
　
　She　came　to　her　feet；　keeping　her　eyes　on　him。　〃I　would　give　almost　anything；　Richard；　for　you　not　to　remember　me　in　this　way。　But　what　I　do；　I　do　because　I　must。　For　you。　For　you　to　have　a　chance。　I　have　sworn　to　protect　the　Seeker　with　my　life。　The　payment　has　e　due。〃　Tears　ran　down　her　face；　through　the　dust　on　her　cheeks。
　
　As　he　watched　her　turn　and　vanish　into　the　darkness；　Richard　felt　as　if　a　plug　inside　him　had　been　pulled　and　his　whole　self　was　draining　away。
　
　He　went　to　the　fire；　slid　his　back　down　the　log　until　he　sat　on　the　ground。　He　pulled　his　knees　up　with　his　arms　around　them；　put　his　face　against　them；　and　cried　as　he　had　never　cried
　
　CHAPTER　33
　RACHEL　SAT　ON　HER　little　chair　behind　the　Princess；　knocking　her　knees　together；　thinking　about　how　she　would　get　the　Princess　to　put　her　out　so　she　could　take　the　box　away　with　her　and　never　e　back。　She　kept　thinking　about　the　loaf　of　bread　with　the　box　in　it；　waiting　for　her　in　the　garden。　She　was　afraid；　but　excited；　too。　Excited　that　she　was　going　to　be　helping　all　those　people　so　they　wouldn't　get　their　heads　chopped　off。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　felt　like　an　important　person。　She　twisted　the　hem　of　her　dress。　She　could　hardly　wait　to　get　away。
　
　All　the　lords　and　ladies　were　drinking　their　special　drink。　They　all　seemed　happy　to　be　doing　it。　Giller　was　standing　behind　the　Queen　with　her　other　advisors。　He　was　talking　quietly　to　the　court　artist。　She　didn't　like　the　artist；　he　scared　her；　he　always　smiled　funny　at　her。　And　he　only　had　one　hand。　She　had　heard　the　servants　talking　before；　that　they　were　afraid　the　artist　would　draw　a　picture　of　them。
　
　The　people　started　getting　scared　looks　on　their　faces。　They　were　looking　at　the　Queen。　They　started　to　stand　up。　Rachel　looked　over　at　the　Queen　and　saw　that　the　people　weren't　looking　at　her；　they　were　looking　at　something　else；　behind　her。　Her　eyes　got　wide　when　she　saw　the　two　big　men。
　
　They　were　the　biggest　men　she　had　ever　seen。　Their　shirts　didn't　have　sleeves　but　their　arms　had　metal　bands　on　them；　with　sharp　things　sticking　out。　The　men　had　big　muscles　all　over；　and　yellow　hair。　They　looked　like　the　meanest　men　she　had　ever　seen；　meaner　even　than　any　of　the　dungeon　guards。　The　men　looked　around　the　room　at　the　people；　then　went　and　stood　on　eac