tg.wizardfirstrule-第127章

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　Richard　couldn't　allow　the　chance　of　Zedd　knowing；　of　killing　Kahlan。
　
　He　wrapped　the　cord　around　the　piece　of　driftwood　and　jammed　the　tooth　into　a　long　crack；　wedging　it　into　the　wood　so　it　wouldn't　e　out。　Richard　wanted　the　tooth　as　far　away　from　him　as　he　could　get　it。
　
　〃Forgive　me；　Father；〃　he　whispered。
　
　Hard　as　he　could；　he　threw　the　wood　with　the　tooth　attached。　He　watched　it　arc　through　the　air；　and　splash　into　the　dark　water　with　a　distant　sound。　In　the　moonlight；　he　could　see　it　bob　to　the　surface。　He　stood　with　a　lump　in　his　throat　as　he　watched　it　being　carried　downriver。　Richard　felt　naked　without　the　tooth。
　
　When　it　was　no　longer　in　sight；　he　circled　the　camp；　his　mind　in　a　daze。　He　felt　empty。　Richard　sat　on　the　rock　outcropping　where　he　had　told　them　he　would　be；　and　watched　their　camp　below。
　
　He　hated　this。　Hated　having　to　lie　to　Zedd；　to　feel　that　he　couldn't　trust　him。　What　was　he　ing　to；　to　no　longer　be　able　to　trust　his　oldest　friend？　The　hand　of　Rahl　was　reaching　out　to　him；　even　at　this　distance；　and　making　him　do　things　he　didn't　want　to。
　
　When　this　was　ended；　and　Kahlan　was　safe；　and　if　he　lived；　he　could　go　home。
　
　Near　the　middle　of　his　watch；　he　became　suddenly　aware　again　of　the　thing　that　followed　them。　He　couldn't　see　its　eyes；　but　he　could　feel　them。　It　was　on　the　hill　opposite　the　camp；　watching。　He　felt　a　chill　run　through　him；　at　being　watched。
　
　A　distant　sound　made　him　sit　bolt　upright。　A　snarl；　a　growl；　followed　by　a　yelp。　Then　silence　again。　Something　had　died。　Richard's　eyes　were　wide；　trying　to　see；　but　he　saw　only　blackness。　The　thing　that　followed　had　killed　something：　Or　been　killed　itself　He　felt　an　odd　worry　for　it。　As　long　as　it　had　followed；　it　had　never　tried　to　hurt　them。　Of　course；　that　didn't　really　mean　anything。　It　could　simply　be　waiting　for　the　right　time。　For　some　reason；　though；　Richard　didn't　think　it　meant　them　any　harm。
　
　He　felt　the　eyes　again。　Richard　smiled；　it　was　still　alive。　He　had　the　urge　to　go　after　it；　to　find　out　what　it　was；　but　dismissed　the　idea。　This　was　not　the　time。　This　was　a　creature　of　the　dark。　Better　to　meet　it　on　his　own　terms。
　
　Once　more　on　his　watch；　he　heard　something　die。　Closer。
　
　Without　Richard　having　to　go　wake　him；　Zedd　appeared　for　his　watch；　looking　rested　and　refreshed；　eating　a　piece　of　dried　meat。　Zedd　came　and　sat　next　to　him；　offering　a　piece　of　meat。　Richard　declined。
　
　〃Zedd；　what　about　Chase；　is　he　all　right？〃
　
　〃He　is　well。　Far　as　I　know；　he　went　off　to　follow　your　instructions。〃
　
　〃Good。　I'm　glad　he's　well。〃　。Richard　hopped　down　off　the　rock；　ready　for　some　sleep。
　
　〃Richard；　what　did　Shota　tell　you？〃
　
　Richard　studied　his　friend's　face　in　the　dim　light　of　the　moon。　〃What　Shota　said　to　me　is　private。　It　is　not　for　others　to　hear。〃　The　edge　to　his　own　voice　surprised　him。　〃And　that　is　the　way　it　will　remain。〃
　
　Zedd　took　a　bite　while　he　watched　Richard。　〃The　sword　has　a　lot　of　anger　to　it。　I　see　you　are　having　trouble　controlling　it。〃
　
　〃All　right。　All　right；　I'll　tell　you　one　thing　Shota　said。　She　told　me　she　thought　I　ought　to　have　a　talk　with　you　about　Samuel！〃
　
　〃Samuel？〃
　
　Richard　gritted　his　teeth　and　leaned　closer。　〃My　predecessor！〃
　
　〃Oh。　That　Samuel。〃
　
　〃Yes；　that　Samuel。　Would　you　like　to　explain　that　to　me？　Would　you　like　to　tell　me　that's　the　way　I　too　will　end　up？　Or　had　you　planned　on　keeping　it　from　me　until　I　was　done　doing　wizard's　work　and　you　have　to　give　the　sword　to　some　other　fool！〃　Zedd　watched　calmly　as　Richard　became　more　and　more　upset。　He　grabbed　Zedd's　robes　and　pulled　his　face　close。　〃Wizard's　First　Rule！　Is　that　how　wizards　find　someone　to　take　the　sword？　Just　find　someone　stupid　enough　not　to　know　better　and　there　you　go！　A　new　Seeker！　Do　you　have　any　other　little　things　you　forgot　to　tell　me？　Any　other　little　unpleasant　things　I　ought　to　know！〃
　
　Richard　released　his　robes　with　a　shove。　He　had　to　resist　mightily　the　urge　to　draw　the　sword。　His　chest　heaved　with　his　anger。　Zedd　watched　calmly。
　
　〃I'm　truly　sorry；　my　boy；〃　he　whispered；　〃that　she　has　hurt　you　so。°〃
　
　Richard　stared　back；　everything　that　had　happened　pushing　in　on　him；　extinguishing　the　anger。　Everything　seemed　so　hopeless。　He　burst　into　tears　and　fell　against　Zedd；　throwing　his　arms　around　him。　He　cried　in　choking　sobs；　unable　to　control　himself。
　
　〃Zedd；　I　just　want　to　go　home。〃
　
　Zedd　held　him；　patted　his　back　gently；　spoke　tenderly。　〃I　know；　Richard。　I　know。〃
　
　〃I　wish　I　had　listened　to　you。　But　I　can't　help　myself。　I　can't　make　myself　stop　feeling　this　way；　no　matter　how　hard　I　try。　1　feel　like　I'm　drowning　and　can't　get　any　air。　I　want　this　nightmare　to　end。　I　hate　the　Midlands。　I　hate　the　magic。　I　just　want　to　go　home。　Zedd；　I　want　to　be　rid　of　this　sword　and　its　magic　I　never　want　to　hear　about　magic　again。〃
　
　Zedd　held　him　and　let　him　cry。　〃Nothing　is　ever　easy。〃　〃Maybe　it　wouldn't　be　so　bad　if　Kahlan　hated　me　or　something；　but　I　know　she　cares　for　me　too。　It's　the　magic。　The　magic　keeps　us　apart。〃
　
　〃Believe　me；　Richard；　I　know　how　you　feel。〃
　
　Richard　sank　to　the　ground；　leaned　against　the　rock；　crying。　Zedd　sat　next　to　him。
　
　〃What　is　to　bee　of　me？〃
　
　〃You　will　go　on。　There　is　nothing　else　you　can　do。〃
　
　〃I　don't　want　to　go　on。　And　what　of　Samuel？　Is　that　what　is　to　bee　of　me？〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard。　I　don't　know。　I　gave　you　the　sword　against　my　own　heart；　because　I　had　to；　for　everyone　else。　The　magic　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　does　that　to　a　Seeker；　in　the　end　The　prophecies　say　that　the　one　who　truly　masters　the　sword's　magic；　and　in　so　doing　makes　the　blade　turn　white；　will　be　protected　from　that　fate。　But　I　don't　know　how　it's　to　be　done。　I　don't　even　know　what　it　means。　I　didn't　have　the　courage　to　tell　you。　I'm　sorry。　If　you　want；　you　may　strike　me　dead　for　what　I've　done　to　you。　Only；　promise　me　first　that　you　will　go　on　and　stop　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　Richard　laughed　bitterly　through　the　tears。　〃Strike　you　dead。　That's　a　joke。　You're　all　I　have；　all　I'm　allowed　to　love。　How　could　I　kill　that？　It's　myself　I　should　kill。〃
　
　〃Don't　say　such　a　thing；〃　Zedd　whispered。　〃Richard；　I　know　how　you　feel　about　the　magic。　I　walked　away　from　it　too。　Sometimes　events　happen　that　you　have　to　deal　with。　You　are　all　I　have　left。　I　went　after　the　book　because　I　didn't　want　you　to　be　in　danger。　I　would　do　anything　to　spare　you　hurt。　But　I　cannot　spare　you　this。　We　must　stop　Darken　Rahl；　not　just　for　ourselves；　but　for　all　the　others　who　have　no　chance。〃
　
　Richard　scrubbed　his　eyes。　〃I　know。　I　won't　quit　until　it's　finished。　I　promise。　Then　maybe　I　can　give　up　the　sword；　before　it's　too　late　for　me。〃
　
　〃Go　and　get　some　sleep。　Each　day　will　get　a　little　better　for　you。　If　it's　any　consolation；　although　I　don't　know　why　Seekers　end　up　like　Samuel；　I　truly　don't　believe　it　will　happen　to　you。　But　if　it　does；　it　won't　happen　for　some　time；　and　therefore；　that　can　only　mean　you　have　defeated　Darken　Rahl；　and　all　the　people　of　the　lands　will　be　safe。　Know　that　if　it　happens　I　will　al…　ways　take　care　of　you。　If　we　can　stop　Rahl；　maybe　I　can　help　you　find　the　secret　to　turning　the　blade　white。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　and　rose　to　his　feet；　pulling　his　cloak　around　himself。　〃Thank　you；　my　friend。　Sorry　I've　been　so　hard　on　you　tonight。　I　don't　know　what's　gotten　into　me。　Maybe　the　good　spirits　have　deserted　me。　I'm　sorry　I　can't　tell　you　what　Shota　said。
　
　〃And　Zedd；　be　careful　tonight。　There's　something　out　there。　It's　been　following　us　for　days。　I　don't　know　what　it　is；　I　haven't　had　the　time　to　snap　a　circle　on　it。　But　I　don't　think　it　means　us　harm；　at　least　it　hasn't　so　far；　but　you　never　know　in　the　Midlands。〃
　
　〃I　will　be　careful。〃
　
　Richard　started　to　walk　away。　Zedd　called　his　name。　He　stopped　and　turned。
　
　〃Just　be　glad　she　cares　for　you　as　much　as　she　does。　If　she　didn't；　she　might　have　touched　you。〃
　
　Richard　stared　back　at　him　a　long　moment。　〃I'm　afraid；　in　a　way；　she　already　has。〃
　
　…＋
　
　Kahlan　picked　her　way　along　in　the　dark　among　the　rocks　and　trees；　and　found　Zedd　sitting　on　a　rock；　watching　her　e；　his　legs　crossed　under　him。
　
　〃I　would　have　e　and　woke　you　when　it　was　time；〃　he　said。
　
　She　went　and　sat　next　to　him；　hugging　her　cloak　around　herself。　〃I　know；　but　I　couldn't　sleep；　so　I　thought　I　would　e　and　sit　with　you。〃
　
　〃Did　you　bring　anything　to　eat？〃
　
　She　reached　in　her　cloak；　pulling　out　a　small　bundle。　〃Here。〃　She　smiled。　〃Some　rabbit　and　biscuits。〃
　
　While　Zedd　rubbed　his　hands　together　and　started　right　in；　she　watched　out　into　the　night；　thinking　how　to　put　the　question　she　had　e　to　ask　him。　It　didn't　take　him　long　to　finish　the　snack。
　
　〃Wonderful；　dear　one；　wonderful。　That's　all　you　brought？〃
　
　Kahlan　laughed。　〃I　also　brought　some　berries。〃　She　pulled　out　a　cloth　bundle。　〃I　thought　you　might　like　something　sweet。　Can　I　share　them　with　you？〃
　
　He　eyed　her　up　and　down。　〃I　guess　you're　small　enough；　you　couldn't　eat　that　many。〃
　
　She　laughed　again　and　took　a　small　handful　from　the　open　bundle　in　his　hands。　〃I　think　I　know　why　Richar