lh.narcissusinchains-第74部分

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d　the　knife　carefully　between　the　cloth　and　Gregory's　hair。　One　quick　slice　downward　and　the　blindfold　eased　away　from　his　skin；　but　it　had　been　tied　so　tight　for　so　long　that　Richard　had　to　peel　it　away。
　Gregory　blinked　at　the　light　and　saw　Richard　and　screamed　more。　Something　died　on　Richard's　face　when　he　did　it；　like　it　had　killed　something　inside　him　to　have　anyone　be　that　terrified　of　him。
　I　leaned　over；　placing　my　hand　carefully　on　the　pile　of　bones　and　watched　Gregory's　eyes　finally　see　me。　He　stopped　screaming；　but　he　didn't　look　relieved　enough。　I　pulled　the　gag　out　of　his　mouth；　and　it　peeled　away；　taking　bits　of　lip　skin　with　it。　He　worked　his　mouth　slowly；　and　for　some　odd　reason　I　was　reminded　of　the　scene　from　The　Wizard　of　Oz　where　Dorothy　puts　oil　on　the　Tin　Man's　jaw　after　he'd　been　rusted。　The　image　should　have　made　me　smile；　but　it　didn't。
　There　was　a　padlock　on　the　chains　around　each　of　his　limbs。　Richard　crawled　around　me；　letting　me　stay　where　Gregory　could　see　me。　I　was　saying　over　and　over　again；　〃It's　going　to　be　alright。　It's　going　to　be　alright。〃　He　couldn't　hear　me；　but　it　was　the　best　I　knew　how　to　do。
　Richard　snapped　the　lock　on　one　wrist；　and　pain　showed　on　Gregory's　face　like　it　hurt　for　the　arm　to　move　at　all。　Richard　freed　both　wrists　and　then　began　to　slowly　uncurl　Gregory's　body。
　Gregory　screamed；　but　not　from　fear　this　time；　from　pain。　I　tried　to　cradle　him；　but　moving　at　all　seemed　to　hurt。　It　took　both　of　us　crawling　around　to　get　him　unbent　enough　to　lay　in　my　lap。　He　was　never　going　to　be　able　to　climb　the　ladder。
　The　bends　of　both　of　his　arms　were　covered　in　needle　marks；　none　of　them　had　healed。　〃The　needle　marks；　why　haven't　they　healed？〃
　〃Silver　needles　in　direct　contact　with　the　bloodstream。　A　sedative　to　keep　the　adrenaline　low　so　you　can't　change；　but　not　so　much　that　you　can't　feel；　or　know　where　you　are；　and　what's　happening。　That's　how　Raina　used　to　do　it。〃
　〃This　is　how　she　used　to　tie　them　up　and　exactly　what　she　used　to　do　to　them。　How　did　Jacob　know　that？〃　I　asked。
　〃One　of　my　people　told　him；〃　Richard　said。　He　stayed　on　his　knees　rather　than　stand　bent　over。　His　face　was　calm；　almost　serene。
　〃I　want　them　down　here。　Whoever　helped　Jacob。　Whoever　brought　out　those　damn　earplugs。　I　want　them　down　here。〃
　He　turned　those　calm　eyes　to　me；　and　I　saw　the　anger　at　the　bottom　of　that　calm。　〃Could　you　do　this　to　someone？　Could　you　plunge　these　things　in　their　ears？　Could　you　do　all　this　to　anyone？〃
　I　thought　about　that；　really　thought　about　it。　I　was　angry；　sickened。　I　wanted　to　punish　someone；　but　。。。　〃No；　no；　I　could　shoot　them；　kill　them；　but　I　couldn't　do　this。〃
　〃Neither　could　I；〃　he　said。
　〃You　knew　Gregory　was　in　the　oubliette；　but　you　didn't　know　what　they'd　done　to　him；　did　you？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　kneeling　on　the　bones；　still　staring　down　at　the　bloody　earplug；　like　it　held　answers　to　questions　too　hard　to　ask　out　loud。　〃Jacob　knew。〃
　〃You're　Ulfric；　Richard；　you　should　know　what's　done　in　your　pack's　name。〃
　The　anger　flared　so　hot　and　tight　that　it　filled　the　little　cave　like　water　just　this　side　of　boiling。　Gregory　whimpered　and　watched　Richard　with　fearful　eyes。
　〃I　know；　Anita；　I　know。〃
　〃So　you're　not　going　to　put　Jacob　down　here？〃
　〃I　am；　but　not　like　this。　He　can　stay　down　here；　but　not　chained；　not　tortured。〃　Richard　glanced　around　the　tiny　space。　〃Being　down　here　at　all　is　torture　enough。〃
　I　didn't　even　try　to　argue　that　one。　〃What　about　whoever　helped　him？〃
　Richard　looked　at　me。　〃I'll　find　out　who　helped　him。〃
　〃Then　what？〃
　He　closed　his　eyes；　and　it　wasn't　until　he　opened　his　hand　and　I　saw　the　flash　of　blood　that　I　realized　he'd　pressed　the　silver　point　into　his　palm。　He　pulled　it　out　and　stared　at　the　bright　flash　of　blood。
　〃You　just　keep　pushing；　don't　you；　Anita。〃
　〃The　pack　knows　you　well　enough；　Richard。　They　know　you　didn't　mean　for　anyone　to　be　put　down　here；　especially　not　with　all　Raina's　old　accoutrements。　Doing　this　at　all　was　a　challenge　to　your　authority。〃
　〃I　know　that。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　fight；　Richard；　but　you　have　to　punish　them　for　this。　If　you　don't；　then　you　lose　more　ground　to　Jacob。　Even　if　you　put　him　down　here；　it　won't　stop　things。　Everyone　that　touched　this　has　to　suffer。〃
　〃You're　not　angry　now；〃　he　said；　and　he　looked　puzzled。　〃I　thought　you　wanted　revenge；　but　you　seem　cold　about　it　all；　now。〃
　〃I　wanted　revenge；　but　you're　right；　I　couldn't　do　this　to　anyone；　and　I　can't　order　done　what　I　wouldn't　do　myself。　Just　a　rule　I've　got。　But　the　pack　is　a　mess；　and　if　you　want　to　stop　the　downward　slide　and　keep　them　from　a　civil　war；　werewolf　against　werewolf；　you　must　be　harsh。　You　must　make　it　clear　that　this　is　not　acceptable。〃
　〃It　isn't；〃　he　said。
　〃There's　only　one　way　for　them　to　know　that；　Richard。〃
　〃Punishment；〃　he　said；　and　he　made　the　word　sound　like　a　curse。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃I've　worked　for　months　　no；　years　　to　try　and　get　away　from　a　punitive　system。　You　want　me　to　throw　away　all　that　I've　worked　for　and　go　back　to　the　way　it　was。〃
　Gregory's　hand　came　up；　slowly；　painfully；　to　clutch　weakly　at　my　arm　I　stroked　his　matted　hair；　and　his　voice　came　out　hoarse；　abused；　as　if　even　through　the　gag；　he'd　been　screaming　for　days。　〃I　want　。。。　out　of　。。。　here。　Please。〃
　I　nodded　my　head　so　he　could　see　it；　and　a　relief　so　large　it　was　beyond　words　flashed　through　his　eyes。
　I　looked　up　at　Richard。　〃If　your　system　worked　better　than　the　old　one；　then　I'd　support　it；　but　it's　not　working。　I'm　sorry　that　it's　not　working；　Richard；　but　it's　not。　If　you　continue　this　。。。　experiment　in　democracy　and　gentler；　kinder　laws；　people　are　going　to　die。　Not　just　you；　but　Sylvie；　and　Jamil；　and　Shang…Da；　and　every　wolf　that　supports　you。　But　it's　worse　than　that；　Richard。　I　watched　the　pack。　They're　divided　almost　evenly。　It　will　be　civil　war；　and　they　will　tear　each　other　to　bits　　Jacob's　followers　and　the　ones　who　won't　follow　him。　Hundreds　will　die；　and　the　Thronnos　Rokke　Clan　may　die　with　it。　Look　at　the　throne　you're　sitting　on　as　Ulfric。　It's　ancient；　you　can　feel　it。　Don't　let　everything　that　it　stands　for　be　destroyed。〃
　He　stared　down　at　the　still…bleeding　wound　in　his　hand。　〃Let's　get　Gregory　out　of　here。〃
　〃You'll　punish　Jacob；　but　not　the　others；〃　I　said；　and　my　voice　was　tired。
　〃I'll　find　out　who　they　are　first；　then　we'll　see。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃I　love　you；　Richard。〃
　〃I　hear　a　'but；'　ing。〃
　〃But　I　value　the　people　who　count　on　me　for　their　safety　more　than　I　value　that　love。〃　It　felt　cold　and　awful　saying　it　out　loud；　but　it　was　true。
　〃What　does　that　say　about　your　love？〃　he　asked。
　〃Don't　go　all　sanctimonious　on　me；　Richard。　You　dropped　me　like　yesterday's　news　when　the　pack　voted　me　out。　You　could　have　said；　screw　it；　take　the　throne；　I　want　Anita　more；　but　you　didn't。〃
　〃You　really　think　Jacob　would　have　let　me　walk　away？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　but　you　didn't　make　the　offer。　It　didn't　even　occur　to　you　to　make　the　offer；　did　it？〃
　He　looked　away；　then　back；　and　his　eyes　held　such　sadness　that　I　wanted　to　take　it　back；　but　I　couldn't。　It　was　time　we　talked。　It　was　like　the　old　joke　about　the　elephant　in　the　living　room。　No　one　acknowledged　it　existed　until　the　shit　was　so　deep　they　couldn't　walk。　Glancing　down　at　Gregory；　I　knew　the　shit　was　too　deep　to　ignore。　We　were　out　of　options　except　for　the　truth；　no　matter　how　brutal。
　〃If　I'd　stepped　down　as　Ulfric；　even　if　Jacob　had　let　me　do　it；　it　would　still　have　been　civil　war。　He'd　have　still　executed　those　closest　to　me。　It　would　have　been　deserting　them。　I'd　rather　die；　than　just　walk　away　and　leave　them　to　be　slaughtered。〃
　〃If　that's　how　you　really　feel；　Richard；　then　I've　got　a　better　plan。　Make　an　example　of　Jacob　and　his　followers。〃
　〃It's　not　that　simple；　Anita。　Jacob's　got　enough　support　that　it　might　still　be　war。〃
　〃Not　if　it's　bloody　enough。〃
　〃What　are　you　saying？〃
　〃Make　them　fear　you；　Richard。　Make　them　fear　you。　Machiavelli　said　it　nearly　six　hundred　years　ago；　but　it's　still　true。　Every　ruler　should　strive　for　his　people　to　love　him。　But　if　they　cannot　love　you；　then　make　them　fear　you。　Love　is　better；　but　fear　will　do　the　job。〃
　He　swallowed　hard；　and　there　was　something　close　to　fear　in　his　eyes。　〃I　think　I　could　kill　Jacob；　and　even　execute　one　or　two　of　his　people；　but　you　don't　think　that's　enough；　do　you？〃
　〃Depends　on　how　you　execute　them。〃
　〃What　are　you　asking　me　to　do；　Anita？〃
　I　sighed　and　stroked　Gregory's　cheek。　〃I'm　asking　you　to　do　what　needs　doing；　Richard。　If　you　want　to　hold　this　pack　together　and　save　hundreds　of　lives；　then　I'm　telling　you　how　you　can　do　it　with　the　minimum　amount　of　bloodshed。〃
　〃I　can　kill　Jacob；　but　I　can't　do　what　you're　asking。　I　can't　do　something　so　terrible　that　the　entire　pack　would　fear　me。〃　He　looked　at　me；　and　there　was　a　wildness；　a　panic　in　his　face；　like　a　trapped　thing　that　finally　realizes　there　is　no　escape。
　I　could　feel　my　face　grow　calm；　and　I　felt　myself　sinking　into　that　place　where　there　is　nothing　but　white　noise　and　the　solid；　almost　forting　surety　that　I　felt　nothing。　I　said；　softly；　〃I　can。〃
　He　turned　away　from　me；　as　if　I　hadn't　spoken；　and　called　up　for　them　to　lower　the　ha