tg.stone of tears-第48部分

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　Sisters　hadn’t　moved；　but　now　somehow；　they　were　farther　away。　They　all　watched　her。　Margaret　looked　down　at　herself。
　
　Something　was　terribly　wrong。
　
　Below　her　ribs；　there　was　mostly　nothing　there。　Just　the　shredded；　wet　remains　of　her　insides；　and　then　nothing。　Where　the　rest　of　her　should　have　been；　there　was　nothing。　Where　had　her　legs　gone？　They　must　be　somewhere。　They　had　to　be　somewhere。
　
　There　they　were。　They　lay　a　little　distance　away；　where　she　had　been　standing。
　
　So。　That　was　why　she　couldn’t　take　a　breath。　Air　shouldn’t　have　been　able　to　do　that。　It　was　impossible。　At　least　air　wielded　by　a　Sister　shouldn’t　have　been　able　to　do　that。　It　was　a　wonder。
　
　Dear　Creator；　why　have　you　not　helped　me？　I　was　doing　your　work。　Why　have　you　let　this　be　done！
　
　It　should　hurt；　shouldn’t　it？　Shouldn’t　it　hurt　to　be　ripped　in　half？　But　it　didn’t。　It　didn’t　hurt　the　least　little　bit。
　
　Cold。　She　felt　only　cold。　But　the　warm　rope　of　her　guts　lying　against　her　face　felt　good。　Warm。　She　took　fort　in　the　warmth。
　
　Maybe　it　didn’t　hurt　because　the　Creator　was　helping　her。　That　must　be　it。　The　Creator　had　taken　her　pain。　Dear　Creator；　thank　you。　I　did　my　best。　I　am　sorry　I　failed　you。　Send　another。
　
　Boots　were　near：　Jedidiah。　Husband　Jedidiah；　monster　Jedidiah。
　
　‘I　tried　to　warn　you；　Margaret。　I　tried　to　keep　you　away。　You　can’t　say　I　didn’t　try。’
　
　Her　arms　lay　sprawled　out　to　her　sides。　In　her　right　hand　she　could　feel　the　little　gold　flower。　She　hadn’t　let　go　of　it。　Even　as　she　was　torn　in　half；　she　never　let　go。　She　tried　to　now；　but　she　couldn’t　make　her　hand　open。　She　wished　she　had　the　strength　to　open　her　hand。　She　didn’t　want　to　die　with　that　in　her　hand。　But　she　just　couldn’t　open　her　fingers。
　
　Dear　Creator；　I　have　failed　in　this；　too。
　
　Since　she　couldn’t　release　it；　she　did　the　only　other　thing　she　could　think　of。　She　sent　the　rest　of　her　power　into　it。　Maybe　someone　would　see；　and　ask　the　right　question。
　
　Tired。　She　was　so　very　tired。
　
　She　tried　to　close　her　eyes；　but　they　wouldn’t　close。　How　could　a　person　die；　if　they　couldn’t　close　their　eyes？
　
　There　were　a　lot　of　stars。　Pretty　stars。　There　seemed　to　be　fewer　than　she　remembered。　Hardly　any　at　all。　She　thought　her　mother　had　told　her　once　how　many　there　were。　But　she　couldn’t　remember。
　
　Well；　she　would　just　have　to　count　them。
　
　One　。。。　two　。。。
　
　
　CHAPTER　21
　
　‘How　long？’　Chase　asked。
　
　The　seven　fierce…looking　men　that　were　squatted　down　in　a　half　circle　before　her　and　Chase　just　stared　at　him　and　blinked。　None　of　the　seven　had　any　weapons　except　belt　knives；　and　one　didn’t　even　have　that。　But　there　were　a　lot　of　other　men　standing　behind　them；　and　they　all　had　bows　or　spears；　or　both。
　
　Rachel　tugged　her　thick；　brown；　woolen　cloak　tighter　around　herself　and　shifted　her　weight　as　she　squatted；　wiggling　her　toes；　wishing　her　feet　weren’t　so　cold。　They　were　starting　to　tingle。　She　stroked　her　fingers　over　the　big；　amber　stone　hanging　on　the　chain　from　her　neck。　Its　smooth　teardrop　shape　felt　warm　against　her　fingers。
　
　Chase　mumbled　something　Rachel　couldn’t　understand　as　he　pushed　his　heavy　black　cloak　back　over　his　shoulders　and　then　pointed　with　a　stick　at　the　two　people　drawn　in　the　dirt。　All　the　leather　belts　for　his　weapons　creaked　as　he　leaned　forward　on　boots　big　enough　for　any　of　the　other　men　to　fit　both　of　their　feet　into　just　one。　He　tapped　his　stick　on　the　ground　again；　then　turned　and　pushed　his　hand　out　toward　the　grassland。
　
　‘How　long？’　He　pointed　at　the　drawing　and　pushed　his　hand　out　a　few　more　times。　‘How　long　since　they　left？’
　
　They　chattered　something　Chase　and　she　couldn’t　understand；　and　then　the　man　with　long　silver　hair　falling　down　around　his　sun　brown　face；　the　one　who　didn’t　have　a　coyote　hide　around　his　shoulders　but　wore　only　simple　buckskin　clothes；　drew　another　picture　in　the　dirt。　She　could　tell　what　it　was　easy　this　time。　It　was　the　sun。　He　made　marks　under　it。　Chase　watched　as　the　man　drew　three　rows　of　marks　under　the　picture　of　the　sun。　He　stopped。
　
　Chase　stared　at　the　picture。　Three　weeks。’　He　looked　up　at　the　man　with　the　long　hair。　Three　weeks？’　He　pointed　at　the　sun　on　the　ground　and　held　up　most　of　his　fingers　three　times。　They’ve　been　gone　three　weeks？’
　
　The　man　nodded　and　made　some　more　of　those　funny　words。
　
　Siddin　handed　her　another　piece　of　flat　bread　with　honey。　It　tasted　wonderful。　She　tried　to　eat　it　slowly；　but　it　was　gone　before　she　knew　it。　She　had　tasted　honey　only　once　before；　back　at　the　castle　when　she　lived　there　as　the　Princess’s　playmate。　The　Princess　never　let　her　have　honey；　said　it　wasn’t　for　the　likes　of　her；　but　one　of　the　cooks　had　given　her　some　once。
　
　Her　stomach　fluttered　at　the　memory　of　how　mean　the　Princess　had　been　to　her。　She　never　wanted　to　live　in　a　castle　again。　Now　that　she　was　Chase’s　daughter；　she　would　never　have　to。　Every　night　she　lay　in　her　blankets；　before　she　went　to　sleep；　and　wondered　what　the　rest　of　her　new　family　was　like。
　
　Chase　said　she　would　have　sisters　and　brothers。　And　a　real　mother。　He　said　she　would　have　to　mind　her　new　mother。　She　could　do　that。　It　was　easy　to　mind　when　someone　loved　you。
　
　Chase　loved　her。　He　never　really　said　it；　but　it　was　easy　to　tell。　He　put　his　huge　arm　around　her；　and　stroked　her　hair；　when　she　was　afraid　of　sounds　in　the　dark。
　
　Siddin　smiled　at　her　as　he　licked　the　honey　off　his　fingers。　It　was　nice　to　see　him　again。　When　they　had　first　e　here　she　thought　there　was　going　to　be　trouble。　Scary　men；　all　painted　with　mud；　and　with　grass　stuck　all　over　themselves；　came　up　to　them　when　they　were　still　out　on　the　grassland。　She　didn’t　even　see　where　they　came　from。　They　were　just　there　all　of　a　sudden。
　
　Rachel　was　afraid　at　first；　because　the　men　pointed　arrows　at　them；　and　their　voices　sounded　scary　and　she　couldn’t　understand　what　they　said；　but　Chase　just　got　off　the　horse　and　held　her　in　his　arms　while　he　watched　them。　He　didn’t　even　draw　his　sword　or　anything。　She　didn’t　think　anything　scared　him。　He　was　the　bravest　man　she　ever　saw。　The　men　had　looked　at　her　as　she　stared　at　them；　and　Chase　stroked　her　hair　and　told　her　not　to　be　afraid。　The　men　stopped　pointing　the　arrows　at　them；　and　led　them　to　the　village。
　
　When　they　got　here；　she　saw　Siddin。　Siddin　knew　her　and　Chase；　from　before　when　Kahlan　had　saved　him　from　Queen　Milena　back　in　the　castle。　Zedd；　Kahlan；　Chase；　Siddin；　and　she　had　all　been　together　when　they　were　running　with　the　box。　She　couldn’t　speak　Siddin’s　language；　but　he　knew　them；　and　told　his　father　who　they　were。　After　that；　everyone　was　real　nice　to　them。
　
　Chase　pointed　with　one　finger　to　one　of　the　pictures　of　a　person；　the　finger　of　his　other　hand　to　the　other　picture；　and　then　held　the　fingers　together　and　pointed　away；　moving　his　hands　like　they　were　going　over　hills。　‘Richard　and　Kahlan　left　three　weeks　ago；　and　they　went　north？　To　Aydindril？’
　
　The　men　all　shook　their　heads　and　started　jabbering　again。　Siddin’s　father　held　up　his　hand　for　quiet。　He　pointed　at　himself　and　the　other　men　and　held　up　three　fingers；　then　he　pointed　at　the　picture　on　the　ground　that　had　a　dress　and　said　Kahlan’s　name；　and　then　he　pointed　north。
　
　Chase　pointed　at　the　picture　of　the　sun；　then　the　picture　of　Kahlan；　then　at　the　men；　holding　up　three　fingers；　then　north。　‘Three　weeks　ago；　Kahlan　and　three　of　your　men　went　north；　to　Aydindril？’
　
　The　men　all　nodded　and　said　‘Kahlan’　and　‘Aydindril。’
　
　Chase　put　a　knee　to　the　ground　as　he　leaned　forward；　tapping　the　picture　of　the　other　person。　‘But　Richard　went；　too。’　He　pointed　north　again。　‘Richard　went　to　Aydindril　too。　With　Kahlan。’
　
　The　men　all　turned　to　the　man　with　the　long　silver　hair。　He　looked　at　Chase　and　then　shook　his　head。　The　carved　piece　of　bone　hanging　from　a　leather　thong　around　his　neck　swung　back　and　forth。　He　pointed　down　at　the　picture　of　the　man　with　a　sword；　and　then　pointed　in　a　different　direction。
　
　Chase　stared　at　the　man　for　a　long　minute；　then　he　frowned；　as　if　he　didn’t　understand。　The　man　leaned　over　with　the　stick　and　drew　three　more　people；　each　with　a　dress。　He　looked　up　from　under　his　eyebrows　as　if　he　wanted　to　make　sure　Chase　was　watching；　and　then　he　drew　an　X　across　two　of　the　figures。　His　eyes　returned　to　Chase　again　as　he　folded　his　arms　over　his　knees；　waiting。
　
　‘What　does　that　mean？　Dead？　Is　that　what　you　mean；　they　are　dead？’　The　men　stared；　not　moving。　Chase　pulled　a　single　finger；　like　a　knife；　across　his　throat。　‘Dead？’
　
　The　man　with　the　silver　hair　gave　one　nod　and　said　‘dead；’　but　it　sounded　a　little　funny；　the　way　he　made　the　word　seem　longer　than　it　should。　He　pointed　with　his　stick　to　the　picture　of　the　sun；　then　the　picture　of　Kahlan；　and　then　he　pointed　over　his　shoulder　to　the　way　they　went。　He　pointed　to　the　sun　again；　then　at　the　picture　of　Richard；　then　at　the　picture　of　the　woman　without　the　X；　then　he　pointed　in　a　different　direction。
　
　Chase　stood。　His　chest　rose　and　then　fell　as　he　let　out　the　deep　breath。　He　was　awfully　tall。　He　stared　in　the　direction　the　man　with　the　silver　hair　said　Richard　had　gone。　‘East。　That’s　deeper　into　the　wilds；’　he　whispered　to　himself。　‘Why　isn’t　he　with　Kahlan？’　He　rubbed　his　chin。　Rachel　thought　he　looked　worried。　It　couldn’t　be　that　he　looked　scared。　Nothing　scared　Chase。　‘Dear　spirits；　why　would　Richard　go　deeper　into　the　wilds？　What　could　possess　Kahlan　to　let　that　boy　go　into　the　wilds？　And　who　is　he　with？’　The　men　all　glanced　at　each　other；　as　if　they　were　wondering　why　Chase　was　talking　to　the　air。
　
　Chase　squatted　back　down；　all　his　leather　creaking；　and　pointed　at　the　drawing　of　the　third　woman　and　frowned　and　shrugged　at　the　men。　He　pointed　at　the　picture　of　Richard　and　the　woman　and　pointed　east　again。　He　held　the　palms　of　his　hands　up　near　his　shoulders　as　he　shrugged　and　made　faces　to　show　he　didn’t　understand。
　
　The　man　with　the　long　silver　hair　gave　Chase　a　sad　look　as　he　let　out　a　long　breath。　He　pointed　at　the　third　woman；　the　one　without　an　X；　and　then　he　turned　and　took　a　rope　from　a　man　behind　him。　He　wrapped　the　rope　around　his　own　neck。　He　looked　to　Chase’s　frown　and　then　he　pointed　to　the　picture　of　Richard。　When　Chase　looked　up　and　their　eyes　met；　the　man　pulled　the　rope　tight　with　a　snap。　He　pointed　east。　He　touched　the　stick　to　the　picture　of　Kahlan　and　then　pulled　his　fingers　down　his　cheeks；　from　the　corners　of　his　eye；　like　tears；　then　pointed　north。
　
　Chase　stood。　It　was　almost　a　jump。　His　face　was　pale。　‘She　took　him；’　he　whispered。　‘This　woman　captured　Richard；　and　took　him　into　the　wilds。’
　
　Rachel　stood　next　to　him。　‘What　does　it　mean；　Chase？　Why　didn’t　Kahlan　go　with　him？’
　
　He　looked　down　at　her。　His　face　had　an　odd；　still　look　that　made　her　stomach　knot　up。　‘She　went　for　help。　She　went　to　Aydindril。　To　get　Zedd。’
　
　No　one　made　a　sound。　He　stared　back　out　to　the　east　as　he　hooked　a　thumb　behind　his　big　silver　belt　buckle。
　
　‘Dear　spirits；’　he　whispered　to　himself；　‘if　Richard　really　did　go　into　the　wilds；　turn　him　north。　Don’t　let　him　go　to　the　south；　or　even　Zedd　won’t　be　able　to　help　him。’
　
　Rachel　hugged　her　doll　tight。　‘What’s　the　wilds？’
　
　‘A　very　bad　place；　little　one。’　He　stared　out　unblinking　toward　the　darkening　sky。　‘A　very　bad　place。’
　
　The　way　he　said　it；　all　calm　and　quiet；　gave　her　goose　bumps。
　
　
　Zedd　could　feel　the　muscles　in　the　horse’s　back　flexing　under　him　as　he　ducked　beneath　a　branch　while　slowing　the　animal。　Zedd　favored　riding　bareback。　If　he　needed　to　ride　a　horse；　he　preferred　to　let　the　animal　feel　as　unencumbered　as　possible。　He　thought　it　only　fair。　Most　seemed　to　appreciate　his　consideration；　this　one　especially。　She　gave　him　more　than　she　ever　would　have　under　a　saddle；　and　he　had　taken　everything　she　had　given。
　
　He　had　proffered　his　saddle　and　the　rest　of　the　tack　to　a　man　named　Haff。　Haff　had　the　biggest　ears　Zedd　had　ever　seen。　How　a　man　with　ears　the　like　of　those　had　ever　found　a　wife　was　a　wonder。　But　have　a　wife　he　did；　and　four　children；　too；　and　he　looked　to　have　more　need　of　the　tack　than　Zedd。　Not　to　ride；　of　course；　but　to　sell。　His　crops　and　stores　had　been　carried　off　by　soldiers　of　the　D’Haran　army。
　
　It　was　the　least　Zedd　could　do。　After　all；　Rachel　was　soaked　to　the　bone；　and　Haff　offered　them　a　dry　place　to　sleep；　even　if　it　was　in　a　dilapidated　little　barn；　and　his　wife　offered　them　a　cabbage　soup；　thin　as　it　was；　asking　nothing　in　return。　It　was　worth　a　saddle　just　to　see　the　look　on　Chase’s　face　when　Zedd　said　he　wasn’t　hungry。
　
　The　big　man　ate　enough　for　three　men；　though；　and　he　should　have　known　better。　There　was　going　to　be　much　hunger　this　winter。　The　tack　wouldn’t　bring　its　worth；　not　with　hunger　spreading　like　a　dark　wind　before　a　thunder…head；　but　it　would　bring　something；　maybe　enough　to　take　the　hardest　edge　off　the　winter。
　
　Zedd　saw　Chase　put　a　coin　in　each　of　the　four　children’s　pockets；　when　he　thought　no　one　was　looking；　growling　at　them　in　a　tone　that　would　make　a　grown　man　blanch；　but　which　for　some　odd　reason　made　children　only　smile；　not　to　look　in　the　pocket　until　he　was　gone。　He　hoped　it　wasn’t　gold。　The　boundary　warden　could　smell　a　thief　open　a　window　in　the　next　town　and　probably　tell　you　his　name；　too；　but　he　had　no　wits　about　him　around　children。
　
　Haff　suspiciously　wanted　to　know　what　he　was　to　do　in　return　for　the　tack。　Zedd　told　him　he　was　to　swear　his　undying　loyalty　to　the　Mother　Confessor；　and　the　new　Lord　Rahl　of　D’Hara；　both　of　whom　had　put　a　stop　to　things　the　like　of　which　had　been　done　to　him。　The　man　had　stared　at　him；　his　big　ears　sticking　out　under　that　ridiculous　knit　hat　with　a　tassel　on　each　side　that　only　served　to　draw　attention　where　it　wasn’t　needed；　and　had　said；　‘Done；’　with　a　firm　nod。
　
　A　small　start：　one　loyal；　for　the　price　of　a　saddle。　That　it　would　all　be　so　easy。　But　that　was　weeks　ago。　Now；　he　was　alone。
　
　The　sweet　smell　of　a　birch　fire　drifted　to　him　through　the　thick　woods；　the　horse　lifting　her　nose　to　it　as　she　stepped　carefully　along　the　narrow　path。　In　the　still　air；　gathering　darkness　sent　deepening　shadows　across　the　way。　Even　before　the　small　house　came　into　view；　he　could　hear　the　racket：　the　sound　of　furniture　being　overturned；　the　crash　of　pots　and　pans；　and　demons　being　cursed。　The　horse’s　ears　pricked　toward　the　motion　as　they　rode　down　the　twisting　trail。　Zedd　gave　her　a　reassuring　pat　on　the　neck。
　
　The　little　house；　wood　walls　dark　with　age；　and　a　roof　thickly　layered　with　ferns　and　dry　pine　needles；　was　set　back　into　the　towering　trees；　nestled　among　rough　trunks　dark　in　the　day’s　end。　He　dismounted　to　the　side　of　the　brown；　dead　ferns　spreading　like　a　garden　in　front　of　the　house。　The　horse　rolled　her　eyes　toward　him　as　he　came　around　to　give　her　a　scratch　under　her　jaw。
　
　‘Be　a　good　girl　and　find　yourself　something　to　eat。’　He　put　a　finger　under　the　horse’s　chin；　forcing　her　head　up。　‘But　stay　close？’　The　horse　nickered。　With　a　smile；　Zedd　rubbed　her　gray　nose。　‘Good　girl。’
　
　From　inside　the　house　came　a　low　growl