tg.wizardfirstrule-第17部分

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　〃There　are　no　gars　about。　Please　let　me　be　alone　with　Kahlan　now。　My　time　es。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　〃Good…bye；　Shar。　It　has　been　my　deep　honor　to　have　known　you。〃
　
　He　left　without　looking　at　either　of　them。
　
　…＋
　
　After　he　was　gone；　the　night　wisp　floated　to　Kahlan　and　addressed　her　properly。
　
　〃Mother　Confessor；　my　time　passes　soon。　Why　have　you　not　told　him　what　you　are？〃
　
　Kahlan's　shoulders　were　slumped；　and　her　hands　nested　in　her　lap　as　she　stared　into　the　fire。　〃Shar；　I　cannot；　not　yet。〃
　
　〃Confessor　Kahlan；　that　is　not　fair。　Richard　Cypher　is　your　friend。〃
　
　Tears　began　rolling　down　her　face。　〃Don't　you　see？　That　is　why　I　cannot　tell　him。　If　I　tell　him；　he　will　no　longer　be　my　friend；　will　no　longer　care　for　me。　You　cannot　know　what　it　is　like　to　be　a　Confessor；　to　have　everyone　fear　you。　He　looks　into　my　eyes；　Shar。　Not　many　have　ever　dared　that。　No　one　could　ever　look　into　me　the　way　he　does。　His　eyes　make　me　feel　safe。　He　makes　my　heart　smile。〃　〃Others　might　tell　him　before　you　do；　Confessor　Kahlan。　That　would　be　worse。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　the　night　wisp；　her　eyes　wet。　〃I　will　tell　him　before　that　happens。〃
　
　〃You　play　a　dangerous　game；　Confessor　Kahlan；〃　Shar　warned。　〃He　could　fall　in　love　with。　you　first。　Then　your　telling　would　hurt　him　unforgivably。〃
　
　〃I　won't　let　that　happen。〃
　
　〃You　will　choose　him？〃
　
　〃No！〃
　
　The　night　wisp　spun　back　at　the　sound　of　Kahlan's　shriek；　then　slowly　came　back　by　her　face。　〃Confessor　Kahlan；　you　are　the　last　of　your　kind。　Darken　Rahl　has　killed　all　the　others。　Even　your　sister；　Dennee。　You　are　the　Mother　Confessor。　You　must　choose　a　mate。〃
　
　〃I　could　not　do　that　to　someone　I　cared　for。　No　Confessor　would；〃　she　sobbed。
　
　〃Sorry；　Mother　Confessor。　It　is　for　you　to　choose。〃
　
　Kahlan　pulled　her　legs　up；　wrapped　her　arms　around　them；　and　rested　her　forehead　against　her　knees。　Her　shoulders　heaved　as　she　cried；　her　thick　hair　cascading　down　to　encircle　her。　Shar　flew　slowly　around　her　head；　throwing　off　shafts　of　silvery　light；　forting　her　panion。　She　continued　to　circle　until　Kahlan's　weeping　slowed　and　finally　stopped。　When　it　did；　Shar　returned　to　hover　in　front　of　her。
　
　〃Hard　to　be　Mother　Confessor。　Sorry。〃
　
　〃Hard；〃　Kahlan　agreed。
　
　〃Much　on　your　shoulders。〃
　
　〃Much；〃　Kahlan　agreed　again。
　
　The　night　wisp　landed　lightly　on　the　woman's　shoulder　and　rested　there　quietly　while　Kahlan　watched　the　fire　glow　with　small　slow　flames。　After　a　time　the　night　wisp　rose　from　her　shoulder　and　floated　to　a　spot　in　the　air　in　front　of　her。
　
　〃Wish　to　stay　with　you　more。　Good　times。　Wish　to　stay　with　Richard　Cypher。　Asks　good　questions。　But　I　cannot　hold　on　longer。　Sorry。　I　die。〃
　
　〃You　have　my　word；　Shar；　that　I　will　give　my　own　life；　if　necessary；　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　To　save　your　kind　and　the　others。〃　〃I　believe　in　you；　Confessor　Kahlan。　Help　Richard。〃　Shar　came　closer。　〃Please。　Before　I　die。　Touch　me？〃
　
　Kahlan　pushed　herself　away　from　the　wisp　until　her　back　was　against　the　trunk　of　the　tree。　〃No　。　。　。　please　。　。　。　no；〃　she　implored；　shaking　her　head。　〃Don't　ask　me　to　do　that。〃　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears　again。　She　put　her　trembling　fingers　to　her　lips；　trying　to　hold　back　the　crying。
　
　Shar　came　forward。　〃Please；　Mother　Confessor。　I　feel　such　pain　of　aloneness　away　from　the　others。　I　will　never　share　their　pany　again。　It　hurts　so。　I　pass　now。　Please。　Use　your　power。　Touch　me　and　let　me　drink　in　the　sweet　agony。　Let　me　die　with　the　taste　of　love。　I　have　forfeited　my　life　to　help　you。　I　have　asked　nothing　else　of　you。　Please？〃
　
　Shar's　light　was　growing　dimmer；　fainter。　Kahlan；　crying；　held　her　left　hand　over　her　mouth。　At　last；　she　reached　out　with　her　right　hand；　until　her　trembling　fingers　touched　the　wisp。
　
　All　about　there　was　thunder　but　no　sound。　The　violent　impact　to　the　air　jolted　the　wayward　pine；　causing　a　rain　of　dead　needles；　some　flaring　when　they　touched　the　fire。　Shar's　dim　silvery　color　changed　to　a　pink　glow；　growing　in　intensity。
　
　Shar's　voice　was　faint。　〃Thank　you；　Kahlan。　Good…bye；　my　love。〃
　
　The　spark　of　light　and　life　faded　and　was　gone。
　
　…＋
　
　After　the　thunder　without　sound；　Richard　waited　for　a　time　before　he　returned　to　her。　Kahlan　sat　with　her　arms　around　her　legs　and　her　chin　resting　on　her　knees　as　she　stared　into　the　fire。
　
　〃Shar？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃She　is　gone；〃　came　the　answer　in　a　distant　voice。
　
　He　nodded　and；　taking　her　arm；　led　her　to　the　mat　of　dry　grass　and　laid　her　down。　She　went　without　resistance　or　ment。　He　put　the　blanket　over　her　and　piled　on　some　of　the　dry　grass　to　help　keep　her　warm　through　the　night；　then　burrowed　himself　into　it　next　to　her。　Kahlan　turned　on　her　side；　away　from　him；　and　pushed　her　shoulders　back　against　him　the　way　a　child
　
　74
　
　would　put　its　back　to　a　parent　when　peril　approached。　He　sensed　it；　too。　Something　was　ing　for　them。　Something　deadly。
　
　Already；　she　was　asleep。　He　knew　he　should　feel　cold；　but　he　didn't。　His　hand　throbbed。　He　felt　warm。　Richard　lay　there；　thinking　about　the　thunder　without　sound。　He　wondered　what　she　would　do　to　make　the　great　wizard　do　what　she　wanted。　The　idea　frightened　him。　Before　he　could　worry　more　he；　too；　was　asleep
　
　CHAPTER　6
　BY　NOON　THE　NEXT　day；　Richard　knew　the　bite　of　the　vine　was　bringing　on　a　fever。　He　had　no　appetite。　At　times　he　was　unbearably　hot；　sweat　making　his　clothes　stick　to　his　skin；　then　he　would　shiver　with　chills。　His　head　pounded　in　a　way　that　made　him　sick　to　his　stomach。　There　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　it；　except　seek　Zedd's　help；　and　since　they　were　nearly　there　he　decided　not　to　tell　Kahlan。　Dreams　had　troubled　his　sleep；　whether　from　the　fever　or　the　things　he　had　learned；　he　didn't　know。　What　Shar　had　told　him　was　the　most　disturbing：　seek　the　answer　or　die。
　
　The　sky　was　thinly　overcast；　the　cold　gray　light　foretelling　the　ing　of　winter。　Trees　grown　large　and　close　held　back　the　breeze　and　its　chill；　making　the　trail　a　quiet　sanctuary　filled　with　the　aromatic　fragrance　of　balsam　fir：　a　refuge　from　winter's　breath　above。
　
　Crossing　a　small　brook　near　a　beaver　pond；　they　came　upon　a　patch　of　late　wildflowers；　their　yellow　and　pale　blue　blossoms　blanketing　the　ground　in　a　sparsely　wooded　hollow。　Kahlan　stopped　to　pick　some。　Finding　a　scoop…shaped　piece　of　dead　wood；　she　started　arranging　the　flowers　within　the　hollow　of　the　wood。　Richard　thought　she　must　be　hungry。　He　found　an　apple　tree　he　knew　to　be　nearby　and　filled　his　pack　half　full　while　she　bent　to　her　task。　It　was　always　a　good　idea　to　bring　food　when　going　to　see　Zedd。
　
　Richard　finished　before　Kahlan；　and　waited；　leaning　against　a　log；　wondering　what　she　was　doing。　When　she　was　satisfied　with　the　arrangement；　she　lifted　the　hem　of　her　dress　and　knelt　beside　the　pond；　floating　the　wood　out　onto　the　water。　She　sat　back　on　her　boots　with　her　hands　folded　in　her　lap；　watching　for　a　time　as　the　small　raft　of　flowers　drifted　out　onto　the　quiet　water。　When　she　turned　and　saw　him　leaning　against　the　log；　she　stood　and　joined　him。
　
　〃An　offering　to　the　spirits　of　our　two　mothers；〃　she　explained。　〃To　ask　their　protection　and　help　in　finding　the　wizard。〃　Kahlan　looked　to　his　face；　and　concern　came　over　her　features。　〃Richard；　what's　wrong？〃
　
　He　held　out　an　apple。　〃Nothing。　Here；　eat　this。〃
　
　She　slapped　his　hand　away　and　in　a　blink　had　him　by　the　throat　with　her　other　hand。　Anger　flared　in　her　green　eyes。　〃Why　would　you　do　this？〃　she　demanded。
　
　Shock　raced　through　his　mind。　He　went　rigid。　Something　told　him　not　to　move。　〃Don't　you　like　apples？　I'm　sorry；　I'll　find　you　something　else　to　eat。〃
　
　The　fury　in…her　eyes　faltered；　changing　to　doubt。　〃What　did　you　call　them？〃
　
　〃Apples；〃　he　said；　still　not　moving。　〃Don't　you　know　what　apples　are？　They're　good　to　eat；　I　promise。　What　did　you　think　they　were？〃
　
　Her　hand　loosened　its　grip　a　little。　〃You　eat　these　。　。　。　apples？〃
　
　Richard　kept　himself　still。　〃Yes。　All　the　time。〃
　
　Embarrassment　replaced　her　anger。　She　released　his　throat　and　put　her　fingers　over　her　mouth。　Her　eyes　were　wide。　〃Richard；　I'm　so　sorry。　I　didn't　know　you　could　eat　these　things。　In　the　Midlands；　any　red　fruit　is　deadly　poison。　I　thought　you　meant　to　poison　me。〃
　
　Richard　laughed　as　the　tension　went　out　in　a　rush。　Kahlan　laughed；　too；　while　protesting　that　it　wasn't　funny。　He　took　a　bite　to　show　her；　then　offered　her　another。　This　time　she　took　it；　but　looked　at　it　long　and　hard　before　taking　a　bite。
　
　〃Umm；　these　things　are　good　to　eat。〃　Kahlan's　brow　wrinkled。　She　put　her　hand　on　his　forehead。　〃I　thought　there　was　something　wrong。　You　are　burning　with　fever。〃
　
　〃I　know；　but　there's　nothing　we　can　do　until　we　get　to　Zedd's。　We're　almost　there。〃
　
　Zedd's　squat　house　came　into　sight　a　short　distance　farther　up　the　trail。　A　single　plank　from　the　sod…covered　roof　served　as　a　ramp　for　his　old　cat；　who　was　better　at　getting　up　than　down。　White　lace　curtains　hung　on　the　inside　of　the　windows；　flower　boxes　on　the　outside。　The　flowers　had　dried　and　wilted　with　the　passing　of　the　season。　The　log　walls　were　dull　gray　with　age；　but　a　bright