tg.stone of tears-第40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！


　
　He　didn’t　care　if　this　sorceress　of　a　Sister　burned　him　to　a　cinder；　his　life　meant　nothing　to　him　anymore。　His　only　concern　was　Kahlan’s　safety。
　
　Sister　Verna’s　quizzical　frown　and　smile　returned。　‘Who　told　you　such　a　thing？’
　
　‘Shota；　a　witch　woman；　she　told　me　the　veil　was　torn。’　He　left　out　that　Shota　had　also　told　him　he　was　the　one　who　had　torn　it。　‘She　said　it　was　torn　and　if　it　wasn’t　fixed；　the　Kee　…the　Nameless　One　would　escape。’
　
　Sister　Verna　smiled。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　‘A　witch　woman。’　She　laughed　a　little。　‘And　you　believed　her？　You　believed　a　witch　woman？　You　think　witch　women　speak　the　truth　in　such　simple　fashion？’
　
　Fuming；　Richard　glanced　at　her　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　‘She　seemed　pretty　sure　of　it　to　me。　She　wouldn’t　lie　about　something　this　important。　I　believe　her。’
　
　Sister　Verna　seemed　to　think　the　whole　thing　amusing。　‘If　you　had　ever　had　occasion　to　deal　with　a　witch　woman　before；　Richard；　you　would　know　that　they　have　an　odd　view　of　the　truth。　They　can　be　well　intentioned　at　times；　but　witch　women　speak　in　words　that　rarely　e　to　pass　the　way　they　sound。’
　
　The　truth　of　that　took　some　of　the　steam　out　of　him。　Sister　Verna　certainly　seemed　to　know　about　witch　women。　In　fact；　she　seemed　to　share　his　own　view　of　them。　‘She　seemed　pretty　sure　of　what　she　was　saying。　She　was　afraid。’
　
　‘I　am　sure　she　was。　A　wise　person　is　always　afraid　of　the　Nameless　One。　But　I　wouldn’t　put　much　stock　in　what　she　says。’
　
　‘It’s　not　just　what　she　says。　Other　things　have　happened；　too。’
　
　She　looked　over　curiously。　‘Such　as？’
　
　‘A　screeling。’
　
　She　set　her　calm　brown　eyes　back　ahead。　‘A　screeling。　You　have　seen　a　screeling；　yes？’
　
　‘Seen　it！　It　attacked　me！　Screelings　are　from　the　underworld。　They　are　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。　It　was　sent　through　a　tear　in　the　veil；　to　kill　me！’
　
　Her　smile　returned。　‘You　have　quite　an　imagination；　Richard。　You　have　listened　to　too　many　children’s　songs。’
　
　He　restrained　his　renewed　anger。　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘Screelings　are　indeed　from　the　underworld；　as　are　other　beasts。　The　heart　hounds；　for　example。　But　they　are　not　‘sent。’　They　simply　escape。　We　live　in　a　world　that　lies　between　good　and　evil；　between　the　light　and　the　dark。　The　Creator　did　not　intend　this　to　be　a　perfect　world；　safe　from　all　harm。　We　cannot　understand　His　reasons；　always；　but　He　has　them；　and　He　is　perfect。　Perhaps　the　Screelings　are　meant　to　show　us　the　dark　side。　I　don’t　know。　But　I　do　know　they　are　simply　an　evil　that　sometimes　es。　I　have　seen　this　happen　before　to　ones　with　the　gift。　It　is　possible　that　the　gift　draws　them。　A　test　perhaps。　A　warning；　perhaps；　of　the　rancid　evil　that　awaits　those　who　stray　from　the　light。’
　
　‘But　。。。　there　are　prophecies　that　say　they　are　sent　when　the　veil　is　torn；　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。’
　
　‘How　could　that　be；　Richard？　Has　the　veil　ever　been　torn　before？’
　
　‘How　should　I　know？’　He　thought　a　minute。　‘But　I　don’t　see　how　it　could　have　been。　If　it　were；　how　could　it　have　been　mended？　And　it　wouldn’t　have　gone　unnoticed。　What　are　you　getting　at？’
　
　‘Well；　if　the　veil　has　never　been　torn；　how　could　the　screel…ings　have　been　sent　before？　How　would　we　know　what　they　were？　How　could　they　have　a　name　already　put　to　them？’
　
　It　was　Richard’s　turn　to　frown。　‘Maybe　we　only　know　them　as　screelings　because　they　have　been　named　in　the　prophecy。’
　
　‘You　have　read　this　prophecy？’
　
　‘Well；　no。　Kahlan　told　it　to　me。’
　
　‘And　she　read　it　herself；　with　her　own　eyes；　yes？’
　
　‘No。　She　learned　it　when　she　was　young。’　Richard’s　irritated　frown　deepened。　‘In　a　song。　She　learned　it　from　wizards。’
　
　‘In　a　song。’　Sister　Verna　didn’t　look　over；　but　her　smile　widened。　‘Richard；　I　do　not　mean　to　belittle　your　fears；　but　things　repeated；　over　and　over；　especially　in　a　song；　have　a　way　of　changing。
　
　‘As　for　prophecies；　well；　they　are　harder　to　understand　than　a　witch　woman。　We　have　vaults　full　of　them　at　the　palace。　As　part　of　your　studies；　perhaps　you　will　be　allowed　to　work　with　them。　I　have　read　all　of　them　we　have；　and　I　can　tell　you　that　they　are　beyond　the　minds　of　most。　If　you　aren’t　cautious；　you　can　find　a　prophecy　that　will　say　whatever　you　want　to　hear。　Or　at　least　you　will　think　it　is　what　you　want　to　hear。　Some　wizards　devote　their　lives　to　the　study　of　them；　and　yet　even　they　understand　only　a　tiny　fraction　of　their　truth。’
　
　‘This　is　a　danger　not　to　be　taken　so　lightly。’
　
　‘Do　you　think　the　veil　is　torn　that　simply？　Have　faith；　Richard。　The　Creator　placed　the　veil。　Have　faith　in　Him。’
　
　Richard　rode　in　silence　for　a　time。　Sister　Verna　did　seem　to　make　sense。　He　felt　as　if　his　understanding　of　the　world　was　tilting。
　
　But　it　was　difficult　for　him　to　think　too　hard　on　the　subject；　Kahlan　kept　creeping　back　into　his　mind。　His　anguish　at　her　wanting　him　to　put　on　a　collar　to　prove　his　love；　knowing　it　would　take　him　from　her；　tore　at　his　heart。　The　betrayal　burned　painfully　in　his　chest。
　
　He　picked　at　the　reins　with　his　thumbnail。　At　last　he　turned　once　more　to　the　Sister。　‘That’s　not　all。　I　haven’t　told　you　the　worst　of　it。’
　
　She　smiled　a　motherly　smile。　‘There　is　more？　Tell　me　then。　Perhaps　I　can　put　your　fears　to　rest。’
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　release　at　least　a　little　of　the　pain　with　it。　‘The　man　I　killed；　Darken　Rahl；　my　father；　well；　when　he　died；　he　was　sent　to　the　underworld。　To　the　Kee　。。。　the　Nameless　One。　Last　night；　he　escaped。　Escaped　through　the　tear　in　the　veil。　He　is　back　in　this　world；　back　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way。’
　
　‘And　you　know　he　was　sent　to　the　Nameless　One。　You　were　in　the　underworld　to　see　him　arrive　there；　at　the　side　of　the　Nameless　One；　yes？’
　
　The　woman　had　a　way　of　poking　his　temper　awake。　He　tried　to　ignore　the　sting　of　the　jab。　‘I　talked　to　him　when　he　came　back　to　this　world。　He　told　me。　He　told　me　he　was　here　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way。　He　said　the　Keeper　would　have　us　all。　A　dead　man；　e　back　to　this　world。　Do　you　see？　The　only　way　his　spirit　could　be　here　is　if　he　came　through　the　veil。’
　
　‘You　were　just　sitting　there；　and　this　dead　man　walked　up　and　spoke　to　you；　yes？’
　
　Richard　frowned　deeply　at　her；　but　she　didn’t　look　over　to　see　it。　‘It　was　at　a　gathering；　with　the　Mud　People。　I　was　trying　to　talk　to　their　ancestors’　spirits；　to　try　to　find　out　how　to　close　the　veil；　and　he　appeared。’
　
　‘Ahhh。’　She　nodded　in　satisfaction。　‘I　see。’
　
　‘What　does　that　mean！’
　
　Sister　Verna’s　face　set　into　an　expression　of　tolerance；　born　of　explaining　things　to　children。　‘Did　the　Mud　People　have　you　drink　or　eat　some　sacred　potion　before　you　saw　this　spirit？’
　
　‘No！’
　
　‘You　simply　sat　down　with　them　and　saw　spirits；　yes？’
　
　‘Well；　not　exactly。　There　is　a　banquet　first。　For　a　couple　of　days。　The　elders　eat　and　drink　special　things。　But　I　never　did。　Then　we　were　painted　with　mud；　and　then　I　went　into　the　spirit　house　with　the　seven　elders。　We　sat　in　a　circle；　and　they　chanted　awhile。　Then　they　passed　around　a　basket　and　we　took　out　a　spirit　frog；　and　rubbed　the　slime　from　its　back　onto　our　skin。　。。。’
　
　‘Frogs。’　Sister　Verna　looked　over。　‘Red　frogs；　yes？’
　
　‘Yes。　Red　spirit　frogs。’
　
　With　a　smile　she　looked　back　ahead。　‘I　know　of　them。　And　it　made　your　skin　tingle；　yes？　And　it　is　then　you　saw　spirits？’
　
　That’s　a　pretty　simplistic　version；　but　I　guess　you　could　distill　it　down　like　that。　What　are　you　trying　to　say？’
　
　‘You　have　traveled　the　Midlands　often？　You　have　seen　many　of　her　peoples？’
　
　‘No。　I’m　from　Westland。　I　don’t　know　much　about　the　people　of　the　Midlands。’
　
　She　nodded　to　herself　again。　There　are　many　peoples　in　the　Midlands；　unbelievers；　who　do　not　know　of　the　light　of　the　Creator。　They　worship　all　sorts　of　things。　Idols　and　spirits　and　such。　They　are　savages　who　hold　to　customs　of　worship　centered　around　these　false　beliefs。　They　mostly　have　one　thing　in　mon。　They　use　sacred　food　or　drink　to　help　them　‘see’　their　‘spirit　protectors。’’
　
　She　looked　over　to　make　sure　he　was　paying　attention。　The　Mud　People　apparently　use　the　substance　on　the　red　frogs　to　help　them　have　these　visions　of　what　they　wish　to　see。’
　
　‘Visions？’
　
　‘The　Creator　has　placed　many　plants　and　animals　in　our　world　for　us　to　use。　The　power　of　these　things　work　in　invisible　ways。　A　tea；　for　example；　of　the　bark　of　willow　can　help　reduce　a　fever。　We　can’t　see　it　work；　but　we　know　it　does。　There　are　many　things　that　if　eaten　will　make　us　sick；　even　kill　us。　The　Creator　gave　us　minds　to　learn　the　difference。　There　are　some　things　that　if　eaten；　or　in　the　case　of　the　red　frogs；　rubbed　into　our　skin；　will　make　us　see　things；　just　as　we　see　things　when　we　dream。
　
　‘Savages　who　don’t　know　better　think　the　things　they　see　are　real。　That　is　what　happened　to　you。　You　rubbed　the　slime　of　a　red　frog　into　your　skin　and　it　gave　you　visions。　Your　rightful　fear　of　the　Nameless　One　made　it　all　the　more　real　to　you。　If　these　‘spirits’　were　real；　why　would　you　need　to　use　some　special　plant；　or　food；　or　drink；　or　in　this　case；　red　frogs；　to　see　and　talk　to　them？
　
　‘Please　don’t　think　I　am　mocking　you；　Richard。　The　visions　can　seem　very　real。　When　you　are　under　their　influence；　they　can　seem　as　real　as　anything。　But　they　are　not。’
　
　Richard　was　reluctant　to　believe　the　Sister’s　explanation；　but　he　understood　what　she　was　talking　about。　From　a　young　age；　Zedd　had　taken　him　into　the　woods　to　find　special　plants　to　help　people：　aum　to　take　away　pain　and　help　minor　wounds　heal　faster；　and　wattle　root　to　ease　the　pain　of　deeper　wounds。　Zedd　had　showed　him　other　plants　that　would　help　fevers；　digestion；　the　pain　of　childbirth；　dizzy　spells；　and　he　had　also　told　him　about　plants　to　avoid；　plants　that　were　dangerous；　and　plants　that　would　make　people　see　things　that　weren’t　there：　visions。
　
　But　he　didn’t　think　he　had　imagined　Darken　Rahl。　‘He　burned　me。’　Richard　tapped　his　shirt　where　the　bandage　was。　‘I　couldn’t　have　been　having　visions。　Darken　Rahl　was　there；　he　reached　out　and　touched　me；　and　it　burned　my　skin。　Pm　not　imagining　that。’
　
　The　Sister　gave　a　little　shrug。　‘That　could…　be　one　of　two　things。　After　you　rubbed　the　frog　on　your　skin；　you　couldn’t　see　the　room　you　were　in；　could　you？’
　
　‘No。　It　just　seemed　to　disappear　into　a　dark　void。’
　
　‘Well；　see　it　or　not；　it　was　still　there。　And　I’m　sure　the　savages　would　have　had　a　fire　burning　when　you　had　this　gathering。　And　when　you　were　burned；　you　were　not　sitting　in　the　same　place；　but　you　were　standing；　moving　about；　yes？’
　
　‘Yes；’　he　admitted　reluctantly。
　
　She　pursed　her　lips。　‘In　the　deluded　state　you　were　in；　you　probably　fell　and　burned　yourself　on　a　stick　in　the　fire　and　imagined　that　it　was　this　spirit　doing　the　burning。’
　
　Richard　was　beginning　to　feel　decidedly　foolish。　Could　the　Sister　be　right？　Was　it　all　this　simple？　Was　he　really　this　gullible？
　
　‘You　said　it　could　be　two　things。　What　is　the　other？’
　
　The　Sister　rode　in　silence　for　a　moment。　When　her　voice　came；　it　came　lower；　darker；　than　it　had　before。　The　Nameless　One　always　seeks　to　have　us　side　with　him。　Though　he　is　locked　behind　the　veil；　his　tentacles　can　still　reach　into　this　world。　He　can　still　harm　us。　He　is　dangerous。　The　dark　side　is　dangerous。　When　ignorant　people　dabble　in　things　dark；　they　can　call　forth　danger；　call　forth　the　attention　of　the　Nameless　One　or　his　minions。　It　is　possible　you　really　were　touched；　burned；　by　one　of　the　evil　ones。’　She　glanced　over。　There　are　dangerous　things　people　are　too　foolish　to　avoid。　Sometimes；　those　things　can　kill。’
　
　Her　voice　brightened　a　bit。　That　is　one　of　our　jobs；　trying　to　teach　those　who　have　not　yet　seen　the　light　of　the　Creator　to　go　toward　that　light；　and　stay　away　from　the　things　dark；　and　dangerous。’
　
　Richard　couldn’t　think　of　anything　to　counter　the　Sister’s　explanations　of　events。　The　things　she　said　made　sense。　If　she　were　right；　that　would　mean　that　Kahlan　wasn’t　really　in　danger；　that　Kahlan　was　safe。　He　wanted　to　believe　that。　He　desperately　wanted　to　believe　that。　But　still　。。。
　
　‘I　will　admit　that　you　could　be　right；　but　I’m　not　sure。　There　seems　to　be　more　to　it　than　I　can　put　into　words。’
　
　‘I　understand；　Richard。　It’s　hard　to　admit　we　have　been　wrong。　No　one　wants　to　admit　they　have　been　tricked；　or　made　to　look　the　fool。　That　view　of　ourselves　hurts。　But　part　of　growing；　learning；　is　being　able　to　hold　the　truth　above　all　else；　even　when　it　means　we　must　admit　to　having　held　foolish　ideas。
　
　‘Please　believe　me；　Richard；　I　do　not　see　you　as　a　fool　for　having　believed　as　you　did。　Your　fear　was　understandable。　The　mark　of　a　wise　person　is　being　able　to　reach　beyond　for　the　truth；　to　admit　they　can　learn　more　than　they　already　know。’
　
　‘But　all　of　these　things　are　connected　。。。’
　
　‘Are　they？　A　wise　person　doesn’t　string　together　the　beads　of　unrelated　events　into　a　necklace　simply　to　have　something　they　wish　to　see。　A　wise　person　sees　the　truth　even　if　it　is　something　unexpected。　That　is　the　most　beautiful　necklace　to　wear　…　the　truth。’
　
　‘The　truth；’　he　muttered　to　himself。　He　was　the　Seeker。　The　truth　was　what　the　Seeker　was　all　about。　It　was　woven　in　gold　wire　into　the　hilt　of　his　sword：　the　Sword　of　Truth。　Something　about　the　things　that　had　happened　were　more　than　he　could　put　into　words　for　her。　Could　it　be　as　she　said？　Could　he　simply　be　fooling　himself？
　
　He　remembered　the　Wizard’s　First　Rule：　people　will　believe　anything；　either　because　they　want　it　to　be　true；　or　are　afraid　it　might　be。　He　knew　from　experience　that　he　was　as　susceptible　to　it　as　anyone　else。　He　wasn’t　above　believing　a　lie。
　
　He　had　believed　Kahlan　loved　him。　He　had　believed　she　would　never　do　anything　to　hurt　him。　And　she　had　sent　him　away。　Richard　felt　the　lump　rising　in　his　throat　again。
　
　‘I’m　telling　you　the　truth；　Richard。　I　am　here　to　help　you。’　He　didn’t　answer。　He　didn’t　believe　her。　As　if　to　answer　his　thoughts；　she　asked；　‘How　are　your　headaches？’
　
　The　question　stunned　him。　Not　the　question　so　much　as　the　realization。　‘They’re　。。。　gone。　The　headache　is　pletely　gone。’
　
　Sister　Verna　smiled　and　nodded　in　satisfaction。　‘As　I　promised　you；　the　Rada’Han　would　take　away　the　headache。　We　only　want　to　help　you；　Richard。’
　
　His　eyes　turned　to　watch　her。　‘You　also　said　the　collar　is　to　control　me。’
　
　‘So　we　may　teach　you；　Richard。　You　must　have　a　person’s　attention　to　teach　them。　That’s　all　it　is　for。’
　
　‘And　to　hurt　me。　You　said　it　is　to　give　me　pain。’
　
　She　shrugged；　opening　her　palms　to　the　sky；　the　reins　woven　through　her　fingers。　‘I　have　just　given　you　pain。　I　showed　you　how　you　were　believing　in　something　foolish。　Does　that　not　give　you　pain？　Does　it　not　hurt　you　to　learn　you　have　been　wrong？　But　isn’t　it　better　to　know　the　truth　than　to　believe　a　lie？　Even　if　it　hurts？’
　
　He　looked　away；　thinking　of　the　truth　of　Kahlan　making　him　put　on　a　collar；　sending　him　away。　That　truth　hurt　more　than　anything：　the　truth