tg.wizardfirstrule-第53章

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　alignment　that　only　she　could　see　or　understand。　Finally　she　had　him　stack　rib　bones　in　a　wagon…wheel　pattern　with　the　hub　centered　over　each　man's　chest。　When　he　finished；　she　plimented　him　on　doing　a　fine　job；　but　he　felt　no　pride；　because　she　had　directed　his　hand　at　each　turn。　Adie　looked　up　at　him　with　her　white　eyes。
　
　〃Can　you　cook？〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　the　time　Kahlan　had　told　him　that　his　spice　soup　was　like　hers；　and　that　their　two　lands　were　much　the　same。　Adie　was　from　the　Midlands；　maybe　she　would　like　something　from　her　homeland。　He　smiled　at　her。
　
　〃I　would　be　honored　to　make　you　some　spice　soup。〃
　
　She　put　her　hands　together　in　a　swoon。　〃That　would　be　wonderful。　I　have　not　had　a　proper　spice　soup　in　years。〃
　
　Richard　went　to　the　opposite　corner　of　the　room　and　sat　at　the　table；　cutting　up　vegetables　and　mixing　spices。　For　over　an　hour；　as　he　worked；　he　watched　the　two　women　sitting　on　the　floor；　talking　in　the　strange　language。　Two　women　catching　up　on　the　news　from　home；　he　thought　happily。　He　was　in　a　good　mood；　someone　was　finally　doing　something　to　help　Zedd　and　Chase。　Someone　who　knew　what　the　problem　was。　When　he　was　finished　and　had　the　soup　on　the　fire；　he　didn't　want　to　disturb　them…they　looked　like　they　were　enjoying　themselves…so　he　asked　Adie　if　he　could　cut　some　firewood　for　her。　She　seemed　pleased　by　the　idea。
　
　He　went　outside　and　removed　the　tooth　from　around　his　neck；　putting　it　in　his　pocket；　and　left　his　shirt　on　the　porch　to　keep　it　dry。　He　took　the　sword　with　him　to　the　back　of　the　house；　where　Adie　had　told　him　he　would　find　the　firewood　pile。　Placing　logs　on　the　sawbuck；　he　cut　off　pieces　to　length。　Most　of　the　wood　was　birch；　easiest　for　an　old　woman　to　cut。　He　picked　out　the　rock　maple；　excellent　firewood　but　tough　cutting。　The　woods　nearby　were　dark　and　dense；　but　they　didn't　feel　threatening
　
　They　felt。　weling；　enveloping；　safe。　Still；　there　was　the　last　man　of　the　quad　out　there　somewhere；　hunting　Kahlan。
　
　He　thought　about　Michael；　hoped　he　was　safe。　Michael　didn't　know　what　Richard　was　doing　and　probably　wondered　where　he　was。　He　was　probably　worried。　Richard　had　planned　on　going　to　Michael's　house　after　they　left　Zedd's　place；　but　there　had　been　no　time。　Rahl　had　almost　caught　them。　He　wished　he　had　been　able　to　get　word　to　his　brother。　Michael　was　going　to　be　in　great　danger　when　the　boundary　failed。
　
　When　he　tired　of　sawing；　he　split　what　he　had　cut。　It　felt　good　to　use　his　muscles；　to　sweat　from　labor；　to　do　something　that　didn't　require　him　to　think。　The　cool　rain　felt　good　on　his　hot　body；　making　the　work　easier。　To　amuse　himself；　he　imagined　the　wood　was　Darken　Rahl's　head　as　he　brought　the　axe　down。　For　variation　he　sometimes　imagined　it　to　be　a　gar。　When　the　piece　of　wood　was　particularly　tough；　he　imagined　it　to　be　the　red…haired　man's　head。
　
　Kahlan　came　out；　and　asked　him　if　he　was　ready　to　e　eat。　He　。hadn't　even　realized　it　was　getting　dark。　After　she　left；　he　went　to　the　well　and　poured　a　bucket　of　cold　water　over　himself；　washing　off　the　sweat。　Kahlan　and　Adie　were　sitting　at　the　table；　and　since　there　were　only　two　chairs；　he　brought　in　a　log　round　to　sit　on。　Kahlan　set　a　bowl　of　soup　in　front　of　him　as　he　sat　down；　and　handed　him　a　spoon。
　
　〃You　have　given　me　a　wonderful　gift；　Richard；〃　Adie　said。
　
　〃And　what　would　that　be？〃　He　blew　on　a　spoonful　of　soup　to　cool　it。
　
　She　looked　at　him　with　her　white　eyes。　〃Without　taking　offense；　you　have　given　me　the　time　to　talk　to　Kahlan　in　my　native　tongue。　You　cannot　know　what　joy　that　be　for　me。　So　many　years　it　has　been。　You　are　a　very　perceptive　man。　You　are　a　true　Seeker。〃
　
　Richard　beamed　at　her。　〃You　have　given　me　something　very　precious　too。　The　lives　of　my　friends。　Thank　you；　Adie。〃　〃
　
　〃And　your　spice　soup　be　wonderful；〃　she　added；　with　a　hint　of　surprise。
　
　〃Yes。〃　Kahlan　winked　at　him。　〃It's　as　good　as　I　make。〃
　
　〃Kahlan　has　told　me　about　Darken　Rahl；　and　about　the　boundary　failing；〃　Adie　said。　〃It　explains　much。　She　has　told　me　that　you　know　of　the　pass；　and　wish　to　cross　into　the　Midlands。　Now　you　must　decide　what　you　will　do。〃　She　took　a　spoonful　of　soup。
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　〃They　must　be　awakened　every　day　to　drink；　and　they　must　be　fed　a　gruel。　Your　friends　be　asleep　for　many　days；　five；　maybe　ten。　You　must　decide；　as　Seeker；　if　you　are　to　wait　for　them；　or　go　on。　We　cannot　help　you；　you　must　decide。〃
　
　〃That　would　be　a　lot　of　work　for　you　to　do　by　yourself。〃
　
　Adie　nodded。　〃Yes。　But　it　not　be　as　much　work　as　going　after　the　boxes；　as　stopping　Darken　Rahl。〃　She　ate　some　more　soup　as　she　watched　him。
　
　Richard　stirred　his　spoon　around　absently　in　his　bowl。　There　was　a　long　silence。　He　looked　to　Kahlan；　but　she　showed　nothing。　He　knew　she　didn't　want　to　interfere　with。　his　decision。　He　looked　back　down　at　his　soup。
　
　〃Every　day　that　passes；〃　he　said　quietly　at　last；　〃brings　Rahl　closer　to　the　last　box。　Zedd　told　me　he　has　a　plan。　That　does　not　mean　it　is　a　good　plan。　And　there　may　not　be　time　to　use　it　when　he　awakes　at　last。　We　could　lose　before　we　start。〃　He　looked　up　into　Kahlan's　green　eyes。　〃We　can't　wait。　We　can't　take　the　chance；　too　much　'is　at　risk。　We　must　leave　without　him。〃　Kahlan　gave　him　a　smile　of　reassurance。　〃I　wasn't　planning　on　letting　Chase　go　with　us　anyway。　I　have　a　more　important　job　for　him。〃
　
　Adie　reached　across　the　table　and　put　her　weathered　hand　on　his。　It　felt　soft　and　warm。　〃It　not　be　an　easy　choice　to　make。　It　not　be　easy　to　be　Seeker。　That　which　lies　ahead　be　difficult　beyond　your　worst　fears。〃
　
　He　forced　a　smile。　〃At　least　I　still　have　my　guide。〃
　
　The　three　of　them　sat　in　silence；　considering　what　must　be　done。
　
　〃You　both　will　have　a　good　sleep　tonight；〃　Adie　said。　〃You　will　need　it。　After　supper；　I　will　tell　you　what　you　will　need　to　know　to　get　through　the　pass。〃　She　looked　to　each　of　them　in　turn；　her　voice　became　even　raspier。　〃And　I　will　tell　you　how　I　lost　my　foot。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　17
　RICHARD　PLACED　THE　LAMP　on　the　side　of　the　table；　close　to　the　wall；　and　lit　it　with　a　stick　from　the　fire。　The　sound　of　gentle　rain　and　night　creatures　drifted　in　from　the　window。　The　chirps　and　calls　of　small　animals　going　about　their　nocturnal　lives　were　familiar　to　him；　forting　sounds　of　home。　Home。　His　last　night　in　his　homeland；　and　then　he　was　to　cross　into　the　Midlands。　As　his　father　had　done。　He　smiled　to　himself　at　the　irony。　His　father　had　brought　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　out　of　the　Midlands；　and　now　he　was　taking　it　back。
　
　He　sat　down　on　the　log　round；　across　from　Kahlan　and　Adie。　〃So；　tell　me；　how　do　we　find　the　pass？〃
　
　Adie　leaned　back　in　her　chair　and　swept　her　hand　through　the　air。　〃You　already　have。　You　be　in　the　pass。　The　mouth　of　it　anyway。〃
　
　〃And　what　do　we　need　to　know　to　get　through　it？〃
　
　〃The　pass　be　a　void　in　the　underworld；　but　it　still　be　a　land　of　the　dead。　You　be　living。　The　beasts　hunt　the　living　if　the　living　be　big　enough　to　be　of　interest。〃　Richard　looked　at　Kahlan's　impassive　face；　then　back　to　Adie。　〃What　beasts？〃
　
　Adie's　long　finger　pointed　to　each　wall　of　the　room　in　turn。　〃They　be　the　bones　of　the　beasts。　Your　friends　were　touched　by　things　of　the　underworld。　The　bones　confuse　their　powers。　That　be　why　I　said　your　friends　were　being　helped　from　the　moment　you　brought　them　in　here。　The　bones　cause　the　magic　poison　to　leave　their　bodies；　letting　the　death　sleep　lift。　The　bones　keep　the　evil　away　from　here。　The　beasts　cannot　find　me　because　they　feel　the　evil　of　the　bones　and　it　blinds　them；　makes　them　think　I　be　one　of　them。〃
　
　Richard　leaned　forward。　〃If　we　took　some　of　the　bones　with　us；　would　that　protect　us？〃
　
　Adie　smiled　her　little　smile；　making　her　eyes　wrinkle。　〃Very　good。　That　be　exactly　what　you　must　do。　These　bones　of　the　dead　have　the　magic　to　help　protect　you。　But　there　be　more。　Listen　carefully　to　what　I　tell　you。〃
　
　Richard　folded　his　fingers　together　and　nodded。
　
　〃You　cannot　take　your　horses；　the　trail　be　too　small　for　them。　There　be　places　they　cannot　fit。　You　must　not　wander　from　the　trail…it　be　very　dangerous　to　do　so。　And　you　must　not　stop　to　sleep。　It　will　take　one　day；　one　night；　and　most　of　the　next　day　to　cross。〃
　
　〃Why　can't　we　stop　to　sleep？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Adie　looked　to　each　of　them　with　her　white　eyes。　〃There　be　other　things；　besides　the　beasts；　in　the　pass。　They　will　get　you　if　you　stop　long　enough。〃
　
　〃Things？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　Adie　nodded。　〃I　go　into　the　pass　often。　If　you　are　careful；　it　be　safe　enough。　If　you　are　not　careful；　there　；be　things　that　will　get　you。〃　Her　raspy　voice　lowered　bitterly。　〃I　became　overconfident。　One　day　I　was　walking　a　long　time；　and　became　very　tired。　I　was　sure　of　myself；　sure　I　knew　the　dangers　well；　so　I　sat　against　a　tree　and　took　a　small　nap。　For　a　few　minutes　only。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　her　leg；　rubbing　it　slowly。　〃When　I　was　asleep；　a　gripper　fixed　itself　on　my　ankle。〃
　
　Kahlan　scrunched　up　her　features。　〃What's　a　gripper？〃
　
　Adie　regarded　her　in　silence　for　a　minute。　〃A　gripper　be　an　animal　that　has　armor　all　over　his　back；　spikes　all　around　the　bottom　edge。　Many　legs　unde