tg.wizardfirstrule-第63章

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mself　a　favor　to　listen；　and　learn　from　you。〃
　
　Carl　brightened。　〃Really？〃　Rahl　nodded。　〃Well；　that's　what　I　always　thought　too。〃　　‘
　
　〃If　you　truly　love　someone；　you　will　listen　to　them。〃
　
　〃My　father　always　says　for　me　to　keep　my　tongue　still。〃
　
　Rahl　shook　his　head　disapprovingly。　It　surprises　me　to　hear　this。　I　had　thought　they　loved　you　very　much。〃
　
　〃Well；　they　do。　Most　of　the　time　anyway。〃
　
　〃I'm　sure　you　are　right。　You　would　know　better　than　L〃
　
　The　Master's　long　blond　hair　glistened　in　the　morning　light；　his　white　robe　shone　brightly。　He　waited。　There　was　a　long　moment　of　awkward　silence。。
　
　〃But　I　do　get　pretty　tired　of　them　always　telling　me　what　to　do。〃
　
　Rahl's　eyebrows　went　up。　〃You　seem　to　me　to　be　of　the　age　where　you　can　think　and　decide　things　for　yourself。　A　fine　boy　like　you；　almost　a　man；　and　they　tell　you　what　to　do；〃　he　added；　half　to　himself；　shaking　his　head　again。　As　if　he　couldn't　believe　what　Carl　was　telling　him；　he　asked；　〃You　mean　they　treat　you　like　a　baby？〃
　
　Carl　nodded　his　earnest　confirmation；　then　thought　to　correct　the　impression。　〃Most　of　the　time；　though；　they're　good　to　me。〃
　
　Rahl　nodded；　somewhat　suspiciously。　〃That　is　good　to　hear。　It　is　a　relief　to　me。〃
　
　Carl　looked　up　at　the　sunlight。　〃But　I　can　tell　you　one　thing；　my　parents　are　going　to　be　madder　than　hornets　that　I've　been　gone　so　long。〃
　
　〃They　get　mad　because　of　when　you　e　home？〃
　
　〃Sure。　One　time；　I　was　playing　with　a　friend；　and　I　got　home　late；　and　my　mother　was　real　mad。　My　father　took　his　belt　to　me。　He　said　it　was　for　worrying　them　so。〃
　
　〃A　belt？　Your　father　hit　you　with　his　belt？〃　Darken　Rahl　hung　his　head；　then　came　to　his　feet；　turning　his　back　to　the　boy。　〃I'm　sorry；　Carl；　I　had　no　idea　it　was　like　this　with　them。〃
　
　〃Well；　it's　only　because　they　love　me；〃　Carl　hastened　to　add。　〃That's　what　they　said；　they　love　me　and　I　caused　them　to　worry。〃　Rahl　still　kept　his　back　to　the　boy。　Carl　frowned。　〃Don't　you　think　that　shows　they　care　about　me？〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　fingers　and　smoothed　them　over　his　eyebrows　and　lips　before　he　turned　back　to　the　boy　and　sat　once　more　in　front　of　his　anxious　face。
　
　〃Carl〃…his　voice　was　so　soft　that　the　boy　had　to　strain　to　hear…〃do　you　have　a　dog？〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　he　nodded；　〃Tinker。　She's　a　fine　dog。　I　had　her　since　she　was　a　pup。〃
　
　〃Tinker；〃　Rahl　rolled　the　name　out　pleasantly。　〃And　has　Tinker　ever　been　lost；　or　run　away？〃
　
　Carl　scrunched　up　his　eyebrows；　thinking。　〃Well；　sure；　a　couple　times　before　she　was　grown。　But　she　came　back　the　next　day。〃
　
　〃Were　you　worried；　when　your　dog　was　gone？　When　she　was　missing？〃
　
　〃Well；　sure。〃
　
　Why？〃　〃Because　1　love　her。〃
　
　〃I　see。　And　so　then　when　Tinker　came　back　the　next　day；　what　did　you　do？〃
　
　〃I　picked　her　up　in　my　arms　and　I　hugged　her　and　hugged　her。〃
　
　〃You　didn't　beat　Tinker　with　your　belt？〃
　
　〃No！〃
　
　〃Why　not？〃
　
　〃Because　I　love　her！〃
　
　〃But　you　were　worried？〃。
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃So　you　hugged　Tinker　when　she　came　back　because　you　loved　her　and　you　were　worried　about　her。〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　Rahl　leaned　back　a　little；　his　blue　eyes　intense。　〃I　see。　And　if　you　had　beaten　Tinker　with　your　belt　when　she　came　back　to　you；　what　do　you　think　she　would　have　done？〃
　
　〃I　bet　she　might　not　have　e　back　the　next　time。　She　wouldn't　want　to　e　back　so　I　could　beat　her。　She'd　have　gone　somewhere　else　where　people　loved　her。〃
　
　〃I　see；〃　Rahl　said　meaningfully。
　
　Tears　streamed　down　Carl's　cheeks。　He　looked　away　from　Rahl's　eyes　as　he　cried。　At　last；　Rahl　reached　out；　stroking　back　the　boy's　hair。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Carl。　I　did　not　mean　to　upset　you。　But　I　want　you　to　know　that　when　this　is　all　over；　and　you　go　home　again；　that　if　you　ever　need　a　home；　you　will　always　be　wele　here。　You　are　a　fine　boy；　a　fine　young　man；　and　I　would　be　proud　to　have　you　stay　here；　with　me。　Both　you　and　Tinker。　And　I　want　you　to　know　I　trust　you　to　think　for　yourself；　and　you　may　e　and　go　as　you　please。〃
　
　Carl　looked　up　with　wet　eyes。　〃Thank　you；　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled　warmly。　〃Now；　how　about　some　food？〃
　
　Carl　nodded　his　approval。
　
　〃What　would　you　like？　We　have　anything　you　could　want。〃
　
　Carl　thought　a　minute；　and　a　smile　came　to　him。　〃I　like　blueberry　pie。　It's　my　favorite。〃　He　cast　his　eyes　down；　the　smile　fading。　〃But　I'm　not　allowed　to　have　it　for　breakfast。〃　A　big　grin　came　to　Darken　Rahl's　face。　He　stood。　〃Blueberry　pie　it　is；　then。　I'll　go　get　it　and　be　right　back。〃
　
　The　Master　walked　off　through　the　garden　to　a　small　vine　covered　door　at　the　side。　The　door　opened　for　him　as　he　approached；　the　big　arm　of　Demmin　Nass　holding　it　back　as　Rahl　passed　through　into　the　dark　room。　Foul…smelling　gruel　boiled　in　an　iron　kettle　hung　over　a　fire　in　a　small　forge。　The　two　guards　stood　silently　against　the　far　wall；　a　sheen　of　sweat　covering　them。
　
　〃Master　Rahl。〃　Demmin　bowed　his　head。　〃I　trust　the　boy　meets　with　your　approval。〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　finger　tips。　〃He　will　do　nicely。〃　He　smoothed　his　eyebrows　down。　〃Dish　me　out　a　bowl　of　that　slop　so　it　can　cool。〃
　
　Demmin　picked　up　a　pewter　bowl　and　started　ladling　gruel　into　it　with　the　wooden　spoon　from　the　kettle。
　
　〃If　everything　is　all　right〃…a　wicked　grin　came　over　his　pockmarked　face…〃then　I　will　be　off　to　pay　our　respects　to　Queen　Milena。〃
　
　〃Fine。　On　the　Way；　stop　and　tell　the　dragon　I　want　her。〃
　
　Demmin　stopped　ladling。　〃She　doesn't　like　me。〃
　
　〃She　doesn't　like　anyone；〃　Rahl　said　flatly。　〃But　don't　worry；　Demmin；　she　will　not　eat　you。　She　knows　what　I　will　do　if　she　stretches　my　patience。〃　'
　
　Demmin　started　ladling　again。　〃She　will　ask　how　soon　you　will　need　her。〃
　
　Rahl　glanced　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃That　is　none　of　her　concern；　and　tell　her　I　said　so。　She　is　to　e　when　I　ask；　and　wait　until　I　am　ready。〃　He　turned　and　looked　out　a　small　slit；　off　through　the　foliage；　at　the　side　of　the　boy's　head。　〃But　I　want　you　back　here　in　two　weeks。〃
　
　〃Two　weeks；　all　right。〃　Demmin　set　the　bowl　of　gruel　down。　〃But　does　it　really　need　to　take　that　long　with　the　boy？〃
　
　〃It　does　if　I　want　to　return　from　the　underworld。〃　Rahl　continued　to　look　out　the　slit。　〃It　may　take　longer。　Whatever　it　takes；　it　takes。　I　must　have　his　plete　trust；　the　freely　given　pledge　of　his　unconditional　loyalty。〃
　
　Demmin　hooked　a　thumb　in　his　belt。　〃We　have　another　problem。〃　Rahl　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Is　that　all　you　do；　Demmin？　Go　around　looking　for　problems？〃
　
　〃It　keeps　my　head　attached　to　my　shoulders。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled。　〃So　it　does；　my　friend；　so　it　does。〃　He　sighed。　〃Get　it　off　your　tongue；　then。〃
　
　Demmin　shifted　his　weight　to　his　other　foot。　〃Last　night　I　received　reports　that　the　tracer　cloud　has　vanished。〃
　
　〃Vanished？〃
　
　〃Well；　not　so　much　vanished；　as　hidden。〃　He　scratched　the　side　of　his　face。　〃They　said　clouds　moved　in　and　hid　it。〃
　
　Rahl　laughed。　Demmin　frowned　in　confusion。
　
　〃Our　friend；　the　old　wizard。　It　sounds　like　he　saw　the　cloud　and　has　been　up　to　his　little　tricks　to　vex　me。　It　was　to　be　expected。　This　one　is　not　a　problem；　my　friend。　It　is　not　important。〃
　
　〃Master　Rahl；　that　was　how　you　were　to　find　the　book。　Other　than　the　last　box；　what　could　be　more　important？〃
　
　〃I　did　not　say　the　book　was　unimportant。　I　said　the　cloud　was　unimportant。　The　book　is　very　important；　that　is　why　I　would　not　trust　it　only　to　a　tracer　cloud。　Demmin；　how　do　you　suppose　I　hooked　the　cloud　to　the　Cypher　boy？〃
　
　〃My　talents　lie　in　areas　other　than　magic；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　〃True　enough；　my　friend。〃　Rahl　licked　his　fingertips。　〃Many　years　ago；　before　my　father　was　murdered　by　that　evil　wizard；　he　told　me　of　the　boxes　of　Orden；　and　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　He　was　trying　to　recover　them　himself；　but　he　was　not　well　enough　studied。　He　was　too　much　a　man　of　action；　of　battle。〃　Rahl　looked　up　into　Demmin's　eyes。　〃Much　the　same　as　you；　my　big　friend。　He　didn't　have　the　necessary　knowledge。　But　he　was　wise　enough　to　teach　me　the　value　of　the　head　over　the　sword；　how　by　using　your　head；　you　could　defeat　any　number　of　men。　He　had　the　best　instructors　tutor　me。　Then　he　was　murdered。〃　Rahl　pounded　his　fist　down　on　the　table。　His　face　turned　red。　After　a　moment；　he　calmed　himself。　〃So　I　studied　harder；　for　many　years；　so　that　I　might　succeed　where　my　father　failed；　and　return　the　house　of　Rahl　to　its　rightful　place　as　rulers　of　all　the　lands。〃
　
　〃You　have　exceeded　your　father's　deepest；；　hopes；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled　his　slight　smile。　He　took　another　look　through　the　slit　as　he　went　on。　〃In　my　studies；　I　found　where　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　lay　hidden。　It　was　in　the　Midlands；　on　the　other　side　of　the　boundary；　but　I　was　not　yet　able　to　travel　the　underworld；　to　go　there　and　retrieve　it。　So　I　sent　a　guard　beast；　to　watch　over　it　for　me；　until　the　day　when　I　could　go　myself　and　liberate　it。〃
　
　He　stood　up　straight；　turning　back　to　Demmin；　a　dark　look　on　his　face。　〃Before　I　could　get　the　book；　a　man　named　George　Cypher　killed　the　guard　beast；　and　stole　the　book。　My　book。　He　took　a　tooth　from　the　beast　as　a　trophy。　A　ve