tg.wizardfirstrule-第49部分

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　Richard　kept…　smiling；　and　patted　the　man's　back。　〃That　would　be　wrong。　I　won't　put　my　name　to　it。〃
　
　Breathing　out　with　a　sigh；　Bill　broke　into　a　big　grin。　〃So；　you　are　Chase's　friend。〃　He　nodded　to　himself。　〃Now　I　believe　you。　I　haven't　been　able　to　get　that　man　to　fatten　my　tally　book　in　all　the　time　I've　known　him。〃
　
　Richard　put　some　silver　in　the　man's　hand。　〃But　this　wouldn't　be　wrong。　I　appreciate　what　you're　doing　for　us。　I　would　also　appreciate　it　if　you　would　water　the　ale　tonight。　Drunken　men　die　too　easy。〃　Bill　gave　a　knowing　smile。　Then　Richard　added；　〃You　have　dangerous　customers。〃　The　man　studied　Richard's　eyes；　glanced　to　Kahlan；　then　back　again。　〃Tonight　I　do；〃　he　agreed。
　
　Richard　gave　him　a　hard　look。　〃If　anyone　es　through　that　door　tonight；　I　will　kill　them；　no　questions　asked。〃
　
　Bill　looked　at　him　for　a　long　moment。　〃I'll　see　what　I　can　do　to　keep　that　from　happening。　Even　if　I　have　to　knock　some　heads　together。〃　He　went　to　the　door。　〃Eat　your　supper　before　it　gets　cold。　And　take　care　of　your　lady；　she　has　a　good　head　on　her　shoulders。〃　He　turned　to　Kahlan　and　winked。　〃And　a　pretty　one；　too。〃
　
　〃One　more　thing；　Bill。　The　boundary　is　failing。　It　will　be　down　in　a　few　weeks。　Take　care　of　yourself。〃
　
　The　man's　chest　rose　as　he　took　a　deep　breath。　He　held　the　doorknob　as　he　looked　into　Richard's　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　〃I　think　the　council　named　the　wrong　brother　First　Councilor。　But　then；　they　didn't　get　to　be　councilors　because　they　worry　about　doing　right。　I'll　e　get　you　in　the　morning　when　the　sun　is　up　and　it's　safe。〃
　
　When　he　left；　Richard　and　Kahlan　sat　close　on　the　small　bench　and　ate　their　meal。　Their　room　was　at　the　back　of　the　building；　and　the　men　downstairs　were　at　the　front；　so　it　was　quieter　than　Richard　thought　it　would　be。　All　they　could　hear　from　the　crowd　was　a　muffled　hum。　The　food　was　better　than　Richard　expected；　or　maybe　it　was　just　that　he　was　famished。　The　bed　looked　wonderful　to　him；　too；　as　he　was　dead　tired。　Kahlan　noticed。
　
　〃You　only　had　an　hour　or　two　of　sleep　last　night。　I　will　stand　first　watch。　If　the　men　downstairs　decide　to　e　up　here；　it　will　not　be　until　later　that　they　work　up　the　courage。　If　they　e；　it　would　be　better　if　you　were　rested。〃
　
　〃Easier　to　kill　people　when　you're　well　rested？〃　He　was　immediately　sorry　it　came　out　the　way　it　did；　he　hadn't　meant　it　to　sound　harsh。　He…　realized　he　was　gripping　his　fork　as　if　it　were　a　sword。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard。　I　didn't　mean　it　that　way。　I　only　meant　I　don't　want　you　to　get　hurt。　If　you　are　too　tired　you　will　not　be　able　to　protect　yourself　as　well。　I'm　afraid　for　you。〃
　
　She　pushed　a　potato　around　the　plate　with　her　fork。　Her　voice　was　hardly　more　than　a　whisper。　〃I'm　so　sorry　you　had　to　be　pulled　into　this　mess。　I　don't　want　you　to　have　to　kill　people。　I　didn't　want　you　to　have　to　kill　those　men　downstairs。　That's　the　other　reason　I　did　what　I　did；　so　you　would　not　have　to　kill　them。〃
　
　He　looked　over　at　her　as　she　stared　down　at　her　plate。　It　hurt　his　heart　to　see　the　look　of　pain　on　her　face。　He　gave　her　a　playful　shove　with　his　shoulder。　'
　
　〃I　wouldn't　have　missed　this　journey　for　anything。　Gives　me　time　to　be　with　my　friend。〃　She　looked　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　as　he　smiled。
　
　She　smiled　back　and　put　her　head　against　the　side　of　his　shoulder　for　a　second　before　eating　the　potato。　Her　smile　warmed　him。
　
　〃Why　did　you　want　me　to　ask　the　boy　to　take　care　of　the　horses？〃
　
　〃Results。　That's　what　you　said　was　most　important。　The　poor　kid　is　hopelessly　in　love　with　you。　/Since　you　were　the　one　who　asked；　he　will　guard　the　horses　better　than　we　could　ourselves。〃　She　looked　at　him　as　if　she　didn't　believe　him。　〃You　have　that　effect　on　men；〃　he　assured　her。
　
　Her　smiled　faded　a　little；　taking　on　a　haunted　look。　Richard　knew　he　was　getting　too　close　to　her　secrets；　so　he　said　nothing　else。　When　they　finished　eating；　she　walked　to　the　basin；　dipped　the　end　of　a　towel　in　the　water；　and　went　to　Zedd。　She　wiped　his　face　tenderly；　then　looked　over　to　Richard。
　
　〃He　is　the　same；　no　worse。　Please；　Richard；　let　me　have　first　watch；　get　some　sleep？〃
　
　He　nodded；　rolled　himself　into　the　bed；　and　was　asleep　in　seconds。　Sometime　in　the　early　morning　she　woke　him　for　his　watch。　As　she　went　to　sleep　he　washed　his　face　with　the　cold　water；　trying　to　wake　up；　then　sat　on　the　bench；　leaning　against　the　wall；　waiting　for　any　sign　of　trouble。　He　sucked　on　a　piece　of　dried　fruit；　trying　to　get　the　bad　taste　out　of　his　mouth：
　
　An　hour　before　sunrise；　there　was　an　urgent　knock　at　the　door。
　
　〃Richard？〃　a　muffled　voice　called。　〃It's　Bill。　Unbolt　the　door。　There's　trouble。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　16
　KAHLAN　SPRANG　OUT　OF　bed；　rubbing　the　sleep　from　her　eyes　as　Richard　unbolted　the　door。　She　pulled　her　knife。　Bill；　breathing　hard；　squeezed　in　and　pushed　the　door　shut　with　his　back。　Beads　of　sweat　dotted　his　forehead。
　
　〃What　is　it？　What's　happened？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　〃Everything　was　pretty　quiet。〃　Bill　swallowed；　catching　his　breath。　〃Then　a　little　while　ago　these　two　fellows　showed　up。　Right　out　of　nowhere。　Big　men；　thick　necks；　blond　hair。　Good　looking。　Armed　to　the　teeth。　The　kind　of　men　you　try　not　to　look　in　the　eye。〃　He　took　a　few　deep　breaths。
　
　Richard　stole　a　quick　glance　at　Kahlan's　eyes。　There　was　no　doubt　in　them　as　to　who　the　men　were。　Apparently　the　wizard　trouble　the　quad　had　run　into　wasn't　trouble　enough。
　
　〃Two？〃　Richard　asked。　〃You're　sure　there　weren't　more？〃
　
　〃Only　saw　two　e　in；　but　that　was　enough。〃　Bill's　wide　eyes　looked　out　from　under　his　curly　eyebrows。　〃One　was　tore　up　pretty　good；　arm　in　a　sling；　big　claw　cuts　down　his　other　arm。　Didn't　seem　to　bother　him　any；　though。　Anyway；　they　started　asking　about　a　woman　that　sounded　a　lot　like　your　lady　here。　Except　she　isn't　wearing　a　white　dress　like　they　described。　They　started　for　the　stairs；　and　a　quarrel　broke　out　about　who　was　going　to　do　what　with　her。　Your　red…haired　friend　jumped　the　one　with　the　sling　and　slit　his　throat　from　ear　to　ear。　The　other　fellow　cut　down　a　bunch　of　my　customers　in　a　heartbeat。　I've　never　seen　anything　like　it。　Then　all　of　a　sudden　he　just　wasn't　there　anymore。　Vanished　into　nothing。　There's　blood　everywhere。
　
　〃The　rest　of　the　lot　are　down　there　right　now　arguing　about　who's　going　to　be　first　to　。　。　。　〃　He　glanced　at　Kahlan；　leaving　the　rest　unsaid。　He　wiped　his　forehead　with　the　back　of　his　arm。　〃Randy's　bringing　the　horses　to　the　back；　you　have　to　get　out　now。　Head　for　Adie's。　The　sun's　an　hour　away；　the　hounds　two；　so　you'll　be　all　right。　But　not　if　you　delay。〃
　
　Richard　grabbed　Chase's　legs；　Bill　his　shoulders。　He　told　Kahlan　to　bolt　the　door　and　get　their　things　together。　With　Chase　in　their　arms　they　trudged　down　the　back　stairs　and　out　into　the　darkness　and　rain。　Lamplight　ing　from　the　windows　reflected　in　the　puddles；　giving　the　wet；　black　forms　of　the　horses　yellow　highlights。　Randy　was　waiting；　looking　worried　as　he　held　the　horses。　They　dropped　Chase　in　a　litter　and　ran　as　quietly　as　possible　up　the　stairs。　Bill　scooped　Zedd　into　his　arms；　while　Richard　and　Kahlan　threw　on　their　cloaks　and　grabbed　the　packs。　The　three　of　them；　Bill；　Richard；　then　Kahlan；　raced　down　the　stairs　and　for　the　door。
　
　As　they　burst　out　the　door　they　almost　tripped　over　Randy；　sprawled　on　the　ground。　Richard　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　red…haired　man　lunging。　He　leapt　back；　narrowly　missing　the　sweep　of　the　long　knife。　The　man　went　face…first　into　the　mud。　With　surprising　quickness　he　came　to　his　knees；　enraged；　and　then　went　rigid；　the　sword　point　an　inch　from　his　nose。　The　air　rang　with　the　sound　of　steel。　The　man　looked　up　with　vicious；　black　eyes。　Water　and　mud　ran　from　the　strings　of　his　hair。　Richard　flicked　the　sword　a　quarter　turn　in　his　hand　and　whacked　him　hard　over　the　head　with　the　flat　of　the　blade。　He　went　down　in　a　limp　heap。
　
　Bill　laid　Zedd　in　the　litter　while　Kahlan　turned　Randy　over。　One　eye　was　swollen　shut。　Rain　splattered　on　his　face。　He　groaned。　When　he　saw　Kahlan　with　his　one　good　eye　he　broke　into　a　grin。　Relieved　that　he　wasn't　hurt　worse；　she　gave　him　a　quick　hug　and　helped　him　up。
　
　〃He　jumped　me；〃　Randy　said　apologetically。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　
　〃You　are　a　brave　young　man。　You　have　nothing　to　be　sorry　for。　Thank　you　for　helping　us。〃　She　turned　to　Bill。　〃You；　too。〃
　
　Bill　smiled　and　gave　a　nod。　Zedd　and　Chase　were　quickly　covered　with　blankets　and　oilcloth　and　the　packs　loaded。　Bill　told　them　that　Adie's　supplies　were　already　on　Chase's　horse。　Richard　and　Kahlan　mounted　their　horses。　She　flipped　the　silver　coin　to　Randy。
　
　〃Payment　on　delivery；　as　promised；〃　she　told　him。　He　caught　the　coin　and　grinned。
　
　Richard　bent　down　and　clasped　hands　with　Randy　and　thanked　him　earnestly；　then　pointed　angrily　at　Bill。
　
　〃You！　I　want　you　to　add　everything　to　your　tally　book。　Include　all　the　damage；　all　your　time　and　trouble；　even　the　grave　markers。　I　want　you　to　add　a　fair　fee　for　saving　our　lives。　If　the　council　doesn't　want　to　approve　payment；　you　tell　them　that　you　saved　the　life　of　the　brother　of　the　First　Councilor；　and　Richard　Cypher　said　if　they　don't　pay；　I'll