tg.wizardfirstrule-第37章

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；　so　why　was　one　place　better　than　another？　The　box　they　sought　could　just　as　easily　be　in　the　south　as　farther　north。
　
　The　woods　were　getting　gloomier。　Richard　hadn't　been　able　to　see　the　sun　for　the　last　couple　of　hours；　but　there　was　no　doubt　it　was　setting。　He　didn't　like　the　idea　of　traveling　these　woods　at　night；　but　the　idea　of　sleeping　in　them　seemed　worse。　He　checked　to　make　sure　the　other　two　were　staying　close。
　
　The　sound　of　running　water　came　faintly　through　the　evening　stillness；　swelling　as　they　rode；　and　in　a　short　distance　they　came　to　a　small　river　with　a　wooden　bridge　over　it。　Just　before　they　crossed；　Richard　stopped。　He　didn't　like　the　look　of　it；　inexplicably；　something　felt　wrong。　Being　careful　couldn't　hurt。　He　led　his　horse　down　the　bank　and　peered　underneath。　The　support　beams　were　anchored　to　iron　rings　in　granite　blocks。　The　pins　were　missing。
　
　〃Someone　tampered　with　the　bridge。　It　will　support　the　weight　of　a　man；　but　not　a　horse。　Looks　like　we're　going　to　have　to　get　wet。〃
　
　Zedd　scowled。　〃I　don't　want　to　get　wet。〃
　
　〃Well；　do　you　have　a　better　idea？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Zedd　drew　his　finger　and　thumb　down　opposite　sides　of　his　smooth　chin。　〃Yes；〃　he　announced。　〃You　two　go　across；　I　will　hold　up　the　bridge。〃　Richard　looked　at　him　as　if　the　wizard　had　lost　his　senses。　〃Go　on；　it　will　be　all　right。〃
　
　Zedd　sat　up　tall　on　his　horse；　held　his　arms　out　straight　to　his　sides；　palms　up；　tilted　his　head　back；　breathed　deeply；　and　closed　his　eyes。　Reluctantly；　cautiously；　the　other　two　crossed　the　bridge。　On　the　other　side　they　turned　their　horses　and　looked　back。　The　wizard's　horse　began　walking　across　unprompted　while　Zedd　continued　to　hold　his　arms　out；　his　head　tilted　back　and　his　eyes　closed。　When　he　reached　their　side；　he　brought　his　arms　down　and　looked　at　the　other　two。　Richard　and　Kahlan　stared　at　him。
　
　〃Maybe　I　was　wrong；〃　Richard　said。　〃Maybe　the　bridge　would　hold　the　weight。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　〃Maybe　you　were。〃　Without　looking　back；　he　snapped　his　fingers。　The　bridge　collapsed　into　the　water　with　a　crash。　The　beams　groaned　as　they　were　torn　apart　from　one　another　in　the　current　and　swept　downstream。　〃Then　again；　maybe　you　weren't。　I　couldn't　leave　it　like　that。　Someone　might　e　across　and　be　hurt。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃Someday；　my　friend；　we　are　going　to　sit　down　and　have　a　long　talk。〃　He　turned　his　horse　and　started　off　again。　Zedd　looked　at　Kahlan　and　shrugged。　She　smiled　and　gave　him　a　wink；　then　turned　and　followed　after　Richard。
　
　They　continued　down　the　dismal　trail；　watching　the　woods　as　they　went。　Richard　wondered　what　else　Zedd　could　do。　He　let　his　horse　pick　its　own　way　in　the　gathering　darkness；　wondering　how　much　longer　this　dead　world　went　on；　or　if　the　road　would　ever　take　them　away　from　it。　The　night　was　bringing　life　to　the　place；　strange　calls　and　scraping　noises。　His　horse　whinnied　at　things　unseen。　He　patted　its　neck　reassuringly　and　checked　the　sky　for　gars。　It　was　hopeless；　he　couldn't　see　any　sky。　But　if　gars　came　they　would　have　a　hard　time　surprising　the　three　of　them；　as　the　canopy　of　twisted；　dead　limbs　and　branches　would　prevent　a　silent　approach。　Maybe　the　things　in　the　trees　were　more　of　a　threat　than　gars。　He　didn't　know　anything　about　them；　and　he　wasn't　sure　he　wanted　to。　He　realized　his　heart　was　pounding。
　
　After　about　an　hour；　he　caught　the　sound　of　something　ing　through　the　brush　in　the　distance　to　their　left。　It　was　breaking　branches　as　it　came。　He　urged　his　horse　into　a　canter；　and　checked　to　be　sure　Kahlan　and　Zedd　were　keeping　up。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　staying　with　them。　They　weren't　going　to　be　able　to　get　ahead　of　it。　They　were　going　to　be　cut　off。　Maybe　it　was　Chase；　。he　thought。　Then　again；　maybe　it　wasn't
　
　Richard　pulled　the　Sword　of　Truth　free　as　he　leaned　forward　and　pressed　his　legs　around　the　horse；　spurring　it　into　a　gallop。　His　muscles　tensed　as　his　horse　raced　down　the　road。　He　didn't　know　if　Zedd　and　Kahlan　were　keeping　up　with　him；　and　in　fact　he　never　gave　it　a　thought。　His　mind　focused　on　trying　to　see　ahead　in　the　darkness；　trying　to　see　anything　that　might　e　at　him。　Anger　was　slipping　its　bounds；　heat　and　need　ing　forth。　Jaw　set　tight；　he　charged　ahead　with　lethal　intent。　The　sound　of　his　horse's　hooves　on　the　road　prevented　him　from　hearing　the　thing　in　the　woods；　but　he　knew　it　was　there；　knew　it　was　ing。
　
　Then　he　saw　the　black　form　moving　against　the　barely　discernible　shapes　of　the　trees。　It　broke　from　the　woods　into　the　trail　a　dozen　yards　in　front　of　him。　He　raised　the　sword　and　went　for　it；　picturing　in　his　mind　what　he　would　do。　It　waited；　motionless。
　
　At　the　last　instant　he　realized　it　was　Chase；　holding　up　an　arm　to　halt　him；　the　silhouette　of　a　flanged　mace　in　his　fist。
　
　〃Glad　to　see　you're　keeping　alert；〃　the　boundary　warden　said。
　
　〃Chase！　You　scared　the　wits　out　of　me！〃
　
　〃You　gave　me　a　moment　of　concern　too。〃　Kahlan　and　Zedd　caught　up　with　them。　〃Follow　me；　stay　close。　Richard；　take　the　rear；　keep　your　sword　out。〃
　
　Chase　turned　his　horse　and　took　off　at　a　gallop；　the　rest　following。　Richard　didn't　know　if　something　was　after　them　or　not。　Chase　didn't　act　as　if　there　was　about　to　be　a　fight；　but　he　did　tell　him　to　keep　his　sword　out。　Richard　kept　a　wary　eye　over　his　shoulder。　They　all　hunched　their　heads　down　in　case　there　were　any　low　branches。　It　was　dangerous　to　run　the　horses　in　the　dark　like　this；　but　Chase　knew　that。
　
　They　came　to　a　fork　in　the　road；　the　first　one　all　day；　and　without　hesitation　the　boundary　warden　cut　to　the　right；　away　from　the　boundary。　Before　long　they　were　clear　of　the　woods；　moonlight　showing　an　open　country　of　rolling　hills　and　few　trees。　Chase　slowed　after　a　time；　letting　the　horses　walk。
　
　Richard　sheathed　his　sword　and　pulled　up　close　to　the　others。　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃
　
　Chase　hooked　the　mace　back　onto　his　belt。　〃Things　in　the　boundary　are　following　us。　When　they　came　out　of　the　boundary　for　you；　I　was　there　to　spoil　their　appetite。　Some　went　back　in。　The　ones　left　continue　to　follow　from　within　the　boundary；　where　I　can't　pursue　them。　That's　why　I　didn't　want　you　to　go　too　fast。　I　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　keep　up　through　the　woods；　they　would　have　gotten　ahead　of　me；　and　then　they　would　have　had　you。　I　took　us　away　from　the　boundary　now　because　I　wanted　to　get　our　scent　away　from　them　for　the　night。　It's　too　dangerous　to　travel　that　close　to　the　boundary　at　night。　We'll　camp　on　one　of　those　hills　up　there。〃　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　Richard。　〃By　the　way；　why　did　you　stop　back　there？　I　told　you　not　to。〃
　
　〃I　was　worried　about　you。　I　heard　the　howling。　I　was　going　to　e　and　help。　Zedd　and　Kahlan　talked　me　out　of　it。〃　Richard　thought　Chase　would　be　angry；　but　he　wasn't。
　
　〃Thanks；　but　don't　do　it　again。　While　you　were　standing　there　thinking　about　it；　they　almost　had　you。　Zedd　and　Kahlan　were　right。　Don't　argue　with　them　the　next　time。〃
　
　Richard　felt　his　ears　burning。　He　knew　they　were　right；　but　it　didn't　make　him　feel　any　better　about　not　helping　a　friend。
　
　〃Chase；〃　Kahlan　asked；　〃you　said　they　had　gotten　someone；　was　that　true？〃
　
　His　face　was　cold　stone　in　the　moonlight。　〃Yes。　One　of　my　men。　I　don't　know　which　one。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　trail　and　rode　on　in　silence。
　
　They　set　up　camp　on　a　high　hill　to　give　a　clear　view　of　anything　that　approached。　Chase　and　Zedd　tended　to　the　horses　while　Richard　and　Kahlan　started　the　fire；　unpacked　the　bread；　cheese；　and　dried　fruit；　and　began　cooking　a　simple　stew。　She　went　with　him　and　scouted　for　firewood　among　the　sparse　trees；　helping　carry　it　back。　He　told　her　the　two　of　them　made　a　good　team。　She　smiled　a　little　smile　and　turned　away。　He　took　her　arm　and　turned　her　back。
　
　〃Kahlan；　if　it　had　been　you；　I　would　have　e　after　you；〃　he　said；　meaning　more　than　the　words　he　spoke。
　
　She　studied　his　eyes。　〃Please；　Richard；　don't　even　say　that。〃　She　gently　pulled　her　arm　away　and　went　back　to　camp。
　
　When　the　other　two；　back　from　tending　the　horses；　came　into　the　firelight；　Richard　could　see　that　the　scabbard　strapped　over　Chase's　shoulder　was　empty；　the　short　sword　missing。　One　of　his　battle　axes　and　several　long　knives　were　gone；　too。　Not　that　this　left　him　defenseless…far　from　it。
　
　The　mace　hanging　from　his　belt　was　covered　in　blood　from　one　end　to　the　other；　his　gauntlets　were　soaked　with　it；　and　it　was　splattered　everywhere　on　him。　Without　ment　he　pulled　a　knife；　pried　a　three…inch　yellowish　tooth　from　the　mace　where　it　was　wedged　between　two　of　the　blades；　and　threw　the　tooth　over　his　shoulder　into　the　darkness。　After　wiping　the　blood　off　his　hands　and　face　he　sat　down　in　front　of　the　fire　with　the　others。
　
　Richard　tossed　a　stick　in　the　fire。　〃Chase；　what　were　those　creatures　that　were　after　us？　And　how　could　anything　go　in　and　out　of　the　boundary？〃
　
　Chase　picked　up　a　loaf　of　bread　and　tore　off　about　a　third。　He　met　Richard's　eyes。　〃They're　called　heart　hounds。　They're　about　twice　the　size　of　a　wolf；　big　barrel　chests；　heads　are　kind　of　flat；　big　snout　full　of　teeth。　Fierce。　I'm　not　sure　what　color　they　are。　They　only　prowl　at　night；　until　today；　that　is。　But　it　was