tg.wizardfirstrule-第107章

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one　in　the　woods　made　him　aware　when　he　was　being　followed；　tracked。　It　was　a　game　he　and　the　other　guides　had　played　sometimes　in　the　Hartland　Woods；　seeing　how　far　they　could　follow　each　other　without　being　detected。　Whatever　followed　now　was　good　at　the　game。　But　not　as　good　as　Richard。　Three　times　now；　he　had　seen　the　yellow　eyes；　when　no　one　else　would　have。
　
　He　knew　it　wasn't　Samuel；　the　yellow　was　different；　darker；　and　the　eyes　were　closer　together…and　it　was　smarter。　It　couldn't　be　a　heart　hound；　they　would　have　been　attacked　long　before　now。　Whatever　it　was；　it　only　watched。
　
　Richard　was　sure　Kahlan　hadn't　seen　it；　she　was　too　far　lost　in　her　own　dark　thoughts。　Sooner　or　later；　the　thing　would　make　itself　known；　and　Richard　would　be　ready。　But　with　Kahlan　the　way　she　was　right　now；　he　had　his　hands　full；　and　he　didn't　need　more　trouble。
　
　So　he　didn't　turn　and　look；　to　show　it　that　he　suspected；　didn't　backtrack；　and　didn't　snap　a　circle；　as　he　and　the　other　guides　had　called　the　maneuver；　but　rather；　he　let　his　eyes　catch　the　glimpses　when　they　did；　without　forcing　a　glance。　He　was　reasonably　sure　the　thing　that　followed　didn't　know　he　was　aware　of　it。　For　now；　that's　the　way　he　wanted　to　keep　it。　It　left　the　advantage　with　him。
　
　He　watched　Kahlan　as　she　walked　with　her　shoulders　slumped；　and　wondered　what　he　was　going　to　do　in　a　few　days；　when　they　reached　Tamarang。　Whether　he　liked　it　or　not；　she　was　winning　this　slow　battle；　simply　because　things　couldn't　go　on　like　this。　She　could　fail　time　and　again；　she　had　only　to　succeed　once。　He　had　to　win　every　time。　To　slip　just　once　would　let　her　end　her　life。　In　the　end；　he　knew　he　couldn't　win；　knew　he　was　going　to　lose；　and　could　think　of　nothing　to　change　that。
　
　…＋
　
　Rachel　sat　on　the　short　footstool　in　front　of　the　tall　chair　that　was　covered　with　red　velvet　and　buttons　and　gold　carving；　waiting；　knocking　her　knees　together。　Hurry；　Giller；　she　kept　saying　to　herself；　hurry；　before　the　Princess　es。　She　looked　up　at　the　Queen's　box。　She　hoped　that　when　Princess　Violet　came　to　try　on　jewelry；　she　didn't　touch　the　box　again。　Rachel　hated　it　when　she　did　that；　it　scared　her。
　
　The　door　opened　a…little。　Giller　poked　his　head　in。
　
　〃Hurry；　Giller；〃　she　whispered　loudly。
　
　The　rest　of　him　came　in。　He　stuck　his　head　back　out；　looking　up　and　down　the　hall；　then　he　shut　the　door。　He　looked　down　at　her。
　
　〃Did　you　get　the　bread？〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I　got　it　here。〃　She　pulled　the　bundle　out　from　under　the　chair　and　set　it　on　the　footstool。　〃I　took　a　towel　and　wrapped　it　around　the　bread　so　no　one　would　see。〃
　
　〃Good　girl。〃　He　smiled　as　he　turned　around；　away　from　her。
　
　She　smiled　up　at　him；　then　frowned。　〃I　had　to　steal　it。　I　never　stole　anything　before。〃
　
　〃I　assure　you；　Rachel；　it's　for　a　good　cause。〃　He　was　looking　at　the　box。
　
　〃Giller；　Princess　Violet　is　ing　here。〃
　
　He　turned　back；　his　eyes　big。　〃When？〃
　
　〃She　said　after　she　has　the　fitting　for　her　new　dress。　She's　pretty　fussy；　so　it　may　take　a　while；　but　maybe　not。　She　likes　to　try　jewelry　on　and　look　at　herself　in　the　mirror。〃
　
　〃Curse　the　spirits；〃　Giller　whispered；　〃nothing　is　ever　easy。〃　He　turned　around　again　and　snatched　the　Queen's　box　off　the　marble　stand。
　
　〃Giller！　You　mustn't　touch　that！　It's　the　Queen's！〃
　
　He　looked　a　little　mad　when　he　looked　down　at　her。　〃No！　It's　not！　Just　wait；　and　I　will　explain。〃
　
　He　set　the　box　down　on　the　stool　next　to　the　bread。　His　hand　reached　into　his　robes　and　pulled　out　another　box。　〃How's　it　look？〃　With　a　smile　on　one　side　of　his　mouth；　he　held　the　new　box　toward　her。
　
　〃It　looks　just　the　same！〃
　
　〃Good。〃　He　put　it　on　the　stand　where　the　real　one　had　been；　then　sat　down　on　the　floor　next　to　her　and　the　footstool。　〃Now　listen　to　me　very　carefully；　Rachel。　We　don't　have　much　time；　and　it　is　very　important　that　you　understand。〃
　
　She　could　tell　by　the　way　his　face　looked　that　he　meant　it。　She　nodded。　〃I　will；　Giller。〃
　
　He　laid　his　hand　on　the　box。　〃This　box　has　magic；　and　it　does　not　belong　to　the　Queen。〃
　
　She　frowned。　〃It　doesn't？　Who　does　it　belong　to？〃
　
　〃I　don't　have　time　to　explain　that　right　now。　Maybe　after　we　are　away　from　here。　The　important　thing　is　that　the　Queen　is　a　bad　person。〃　Rachel　nodded；　she　knew　that　was　true。　〃She　chops　off　people's　heads　just　because　she　wants　to。　She　doesn't　care　about　anyone　but　herself。　She　has　power。　Power　means　she　can　do　whatever　she　wants。　This　box　has　magic　and　it　helps　give　her　power。　That　is　why　she　took　it。〃
　
　〃I　understand。　Like　the　way　the　Princess　has　power；　so　she　can　slap　me；　and　chop　my　hair　crooked；　and　laugh　at　me。〃
　
　He　nodded。　〃That's　right。　Very　good；　Rachel。　Now。　There　is　a　man　who　is　even　meaner　than　the　Queen。　His　name　is　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Father　Rahl？〃　She　was　confused。　〃Everyone　say　he's　nice。　The　Princess　says　he　is　the　nicest　man　in　the　world。〃
　
　〃The　Princess　also　says　she　doesn't　spill　gravy　on　her　dresses。〃　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　
　〃That's　a　lie。〃
　
　Giller　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　real　soft。　〃You　listen　very　carefully。。　Darken　Rahl；　Father　Rahl；　is　the　meanest　man　that　ever　was。　He　hurts　more　people　than　the　Queen　could　even　think　of。　He　is　so　mean　that　he　even　kills　children。　Do　you　know　what　that　means；　to　kill　someone？〃
　
　She　felt　sad；　and　scared。　〃It　means　you　chop　off　their　head　or　something；　and　make　them　dead。〃
　
　〃Yes。　And　just　as　the　Princess　laughs　when　she　slaps　you；　Darken　Rahl　laughs　when　he　kills　people。　You　know　the　way　when　the　Princess　is　at　dinner　with　all　the　lords　and　ladies；　she　is　real　nice；　and　polite？　But　when　she　is　alone　with　you；　she　slaps　you？〃
　
　Rachel　nodded；　she　had　a　lump　in　her　throat。　〃She　doesn't　like　them　to　know　she's　really　mean。〃
　
　Giller　held　his　finger　up。　〃That's　right！　You're　a　very　bright　girl！　Well；　Father　Rahl　is　the　same　way。　He　doesn't　want　people　to　know　he　is　really　mean；　so　he　can　be　very　polite；　and　make　it　seem　like　he　is　the　nicest　man　in…the　world。　Whatever　you　do；　Rachel；　you　stay　away　from　him；　if　you　can。〃
　
　〃I　will；　for　sure。〃
　
　〃But　if　he　talks　to　you；　just　be　polite　right　back；　don't　let　him　know　that　you　know。　You　must　not　let　people　know　all　the　things　you　know。　That　keeps　you　safe。〃
　
　She　smiled。　〃Like　Sara。　I　don't　let　people　know　about　her　so　they　can't　take　her　away　from　me。　It　keeps　her　safe。〃
　
　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　gave　her　a　quick　hug。　〃The　spirits　be　praised；　you　are　a　smart　child。〃　It　made　her　feel　really　good　that　he　said　that。　No　one　ever　told　her　that　she　was　smart。　〃Now；　listen　close。　This　is　the　important　part。〃
　
　She　nodded　again。　〃I　will；　Gillen〃
　
　He　put　his　hand　back　on　the　box。　〃This　box　has　magic。　When　the　Queen　gives　it　to　Father　Rahl；　he　will　be　able　to　use　the　magic　to　hurt　even　more　people。　He　will　chop　off　a　lot　more　people's　heads。　The　Queen　is　a　mean　person；　and　wants　him　to　do　it；　so　she　is　going　to　give　him　the　box。〃
　
　Her　eyes　got　real　big。　〃Giller！　We　mustn't　let　her　give　him　the　box！　Or　all　those　people　will　get　their　heads　chopped　off！〃
　
　A　big　smile　spread　under　his　hook　nose。　He　held　her　chin　in　his　hand。　〃Rachel；　you　are　the　smartest　girl　I　have　ever　met。　You　truly　are。〃
　
　〃We　have　to　hide　it；　hide　the　box；　like　I　hide　Sara！〃
　
　〃And　that's　just　what　we　are　going　to　do。〃　He　pointed　up　at　the　box　he　had　put　on　the　stand。　〃That　is　a　fake。　That　means　it's　not　the　real　thing；　it's　just　pretend；　so　they　will　be　fooled　for　a　while；　and　we　can　get　away　before　they　find　out　the　real　one　is　gone。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　the　fake　box。　It　looked　just　like　the　real　one。　〃Giller；　you're　the　most　clever　man　I　ever　did　know。〃　His　smile　went　away　a　little。　〃I'm　afraid；　child；　that　I　am　too　clever　for　my　own　good。〃　His　smile　came　back。　〃Here　is　what　we　are　going　to　do。〃
　
　Giller　took　the　loaf　of　bread　she　had　stolen　from　the　kitchen　and　broke　it　in　half。　With　his　big　hands；　he　scooped　out　some　of　the　insides。　Part　of　it　he　stuffed　in　his　mouth；　his　cheeks　puffed　out；　there　was　so　much。　He　stuffed　some　in　her　mouth。　She　chewed　as　fast　as　she　could。　It　was　good；　still　warm。　When　they　finished　eating　the　middle；　he　took　the　real　box　and　pushed　it　into　the　middle　of　the　bread　and　put　the　two　halves　back　together。　He　held　it　up　for　her　to　look　at。
　
　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　
　She　made　a　face。　〃It's　all　cracked。　People　will　know　it's　been　broken。〃
　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Smart。　You　are　really　smart。　Well；　since　I'm　a　wizard；　perhaps　I　could　do　something　about　that。　What　do　you　think？〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃Maybe。〃
　
　He　put　the　bread　in　his　lap。　and　made　his　hands　go　all　around　in　the　air　over　it。　He　took　his　hands　away　and　held　the　bread　up　in　front　of　her　face　again。　The　cracks　were　gone！　It　looked　just　like　new！
　
　〃No　one　will　know　now　for　sure。〃　She　giggled。
　
　〃Let's　hope　you're　right；　child。　I　have　put　a　wizard's　web；　a　magic　spell；　in　the　bread；　to　be　sure　no　one　will　be　able　to　see　the　magic　of　the　box　inside　it。〃
　
　He　spread　the　cloth　out　on　top　of　the　stool　and　put　the　bread　on　it；　then　pulled　up　all　four　corners　and　tied　them　in　the　middle　on　top。　He　lifted　u