tg.wizardfirstrule-第98章

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　Old　John　stopped　and　half　turned　at　the　sound　of　the　sword's　ringing。
　
　〃What　is　it；　my　boy？　See　something？〃　His　voice　came　like　the　hiss　of　a　snake。
　
　〃Indeed。〃　Richard　gripped　the　sword　in　both　hands；　his　legs　set　in　a　defensive　stance；　his　chest　heaving。　He　felt　the　anger　flooding　his　fear。　〃How　is　it　that　you　don't　break　spiderwebs　when　you　walk　through　them；　or　leave　footprints？〃
　
　Old　John　gave　a　slow；　sly　smile；　appraising　him　with　one　eye。　〃Did　you　not　expect　that　an　old　friend　of　a　wizard　would　have　special　talents？〃
　
　〃Maybe；〃　Richard　said；　his　eyes　darting　left　and　right；　checking。　〃But　tell　me；　Old　John；　what　is　your　old　friend's　name？〃
　
　〃Why；　it's　Zedd。〃　His　eyebrows　lifted。　〃How　else　would　I　know；　if　he　weren't　my　old　friend。〃　His　cloak　was　pulled　tightly　around　him。　His　head　had　sunken　into　his　shoulders。
　
　〃I'm　the　one　who　foolishly　told　you　his　name　was　Zedd。　Now；　you　tell　me　your　old　friend's　last　name。〃　Old　John　watched　him　with　a　dark　frown；　his　eyes　moving　slowly；　appraising；　measuring。　Eyes　of　an　animal。
　
　With　a　sudden　roar　that　made　Richard　flinch；　the　old　man　turned；　his　cloak　flinging　open。　In　the　time　it　took　to　plete　the　turn；　he　mushroomed　to　twice　his　previous　size。
　
　An　impossible　nightmare　came　to　life：　fur　and　claws　and　fangs；　where　an　old　man　had　been　an　instant　before。
　
　A　creature　of　snarl　and　snap。
　
　Richard　gasped　as　he　looked　up　at　the　gaping　maw　of　the　beast。　It　roared　and　abruptly　took　a　giant　step　forward。　Richard　took　three　back。　He　gripped　the　sword　so　hard　it　hurt。　The　woods　echoed　with　the　earsplitting　cry　of　the　thing；　deep；　savage；　vicious。　The　mouth　stretched　wide　with　each　roar。　It　leaned　over　him；　deep…set　red　eyes　glowing；　snapping　its　huge　teeth。　Richard　urgently　backed　up；　retreating　behind　the　sword。　He　took　a　quick　glance；　but　didn't　see　Kahlan　behind　him。
　
　All　at　once；　it　came　for　him。　Richard　didn't　have　a　chance　to　swing　the　sword。　He　tripped　on　a　root；　falling　backward；　sprawling　across　the　ground。　He　couldn't　get　his　breath。　Instinctively；　he　brought　the　sword　up　to　impale　the　thing；　expecting　it　to　fall　on　him。
　
　Sharp；　wet　teeth　reached　over　the　sword；　snapping　viciously　at　his　face。　He　drove　the　sword　up；　but　the　beast　stayed　clear。　Furious　red　eyes　glared　at　the　sword。　It　backed　away　and　looked　toward　the　woods　to　its　right。　Its　ears　lay　back　as　it　snarled　at　something。
　
　It　picked　up　a　rock　twice　the　size　of　Richard's　head；　put　its　blunt　snout　high　in　the　air；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　with　a　roar　squeezed　the　rock　in　its　claw。　Corded　muscles　tightened。　The　rock　split　with　a　loud　crack　that　reverberated　through　the　forest。　Dust　and　flakes　of　rock　tilled　the　air。　The　beast　looked　about；　turned；　and　swiftly　slipped　into　the　trees。
　
　Richard　lay　on　his　back；　panting；　watching　the　woods　with　wide　eyes；　expecting　the　beast　to　reappear。　He　called　out　Kahlan's　name。　She　didn't　answer。
　
　Before　he　could　scramble　fully　to　his　feet；　something　ashen；　with　long　arms；　leapt　on　him；　knocking　him　to　his　back　again。　It　screamed　with　rage。　Powerful　gnarled　hands　gripped　his；　trying　to　pry　the　sword　from　his　grip。　One　of　the　arms　backhanded　him　across　the　jaw；　nearly　slamming　him　senseless。　Bloodless　white　lips　curled　back；　exposing　sharp　teeth；　as　it　howled。　Bulging　yellow　eyes　snatched　glances　back　at　him。　It　tried　frantically　to　kick　his　face。　Richard　held　on　to　the　sword　with　all　his　strength；　trying　to　twist　away　from　the　painful　grip　of　the　long　fingers。
　
　〃My　sword；〃　it　snarled。　〃Gimme。　Gimme　my　sword。〃
　
　Locked　desperately　together；　the　two　of　them　rolled　across　the　ground；　leaves　and　sticks　flying。　One　of　the　powerful　hands　reached　back；　grabbing　Richard　by　the　hair；　whacking　his　head　on　the　ground；　aiming　for　a　rock。　With　a　grunt；　suddenly　it　reached　again　for　the　hilt；　pulling　one　of　Richard's　sweating　hands　from　the　sword；　slapping　its　own　hand　to　the　hilt　with　Richard's　other。　Its　shrill　screams　split　the　forest　quiet。　Sinewy　fingers　started　clawing　his　left　hand　off　the　hilt；　sharp　nails　dug　into　the　flesh。
　
　Richard　knew　he　was　losing。　The　wiry　little　creature；　despite　its　size；　was　stronger　than　he　was。　He　had　to　do　something　or　he　would　soon　lose　the　sword。
　
　〃Gimme；〃　it　hissed；　in　a　flash　turning　its　pallid　head　back　to　his；　snapping；　trying　to　bite　his　face。　Spaces　between　its　teeth　were　packed　with　spongy；　gray　debris。　Its　heavy　breath　reeked　of　rot。　Dark　splotches　covered　the　hairless；　waxy　head。
　
　The　next　time　they　rolled　across　the　ground；　Richard　desperately　reached　to　his　belt　and　pulled　his　knife。　In　a　rush　he　had　it　to　the　folds　of　the　thing's　neck。
　
　〃Please！〃　it　howled。　〃No　kill！　No　kill！〃
　
　〃Then　let　go　of　the　sword！　Now！〃
　
　The　thing　slowly；　reluctantly；　released　its　grip。　Richard　was　on　his　back；　the　putrid…smelling　creature　on　his　chest。　It　went　limp　against　him。
　
　〃Please；　no　kill　me；〃　it　repeated　in　a　whimper。
　
　Richard　untangled　himself　from　the　disgusting　creature；　laying　it　on　its　back。　He　put　the　point　of　the　sword　hard　against　its　chest。　Its　yellow　eyes　went　wide。
　
　The　anger　from　the　sword；　which　had　somehow　seemed　confused　and　lost；　at　last　charged　into　him。
　
　〃If　I　even　think　you're　about　to　do　something　I　don't　like〃　Richard　jabbed…〃I'll　push。　Understand？〃　It　nodded　vigorously。　Richard　leaned　closer。　〃Where　did　your　friend　go？〃　〃Friend？〃
　
　〃That　big　thing　that　almost　had　me　before　you　did！〃
　
　〃The　Calthrop。　Not　friend；〃　it　whined。　〃Lucky　man。　Calthrop　kills　at　night。　Was　waiting　till　night。　To　kill　you。　It　has　power　in　the　night。　Lucky　man。〃
　
　〃I　don't　believe　you！　You　were　with　it。〃
　
　〃No；〃　it　winced。　〃1…only　followed。　Till　it　kills　you。〃
　
　〃Why〃
　
　Bulging　eyes　went　to　the　sword。　〃My　sword。　Gimme。　Please？〃　〃No！〃
　
　Richard　looked　around　for　Kahlan。　Her　pack　lay　on　the　ground　a　short　distance　behind　him；　but　he　didn't　see　her。　Suddenly　Richard　was　cold　with　worry。　His　eyes　swept　the　area　in　quick　jerks。　He　knew　the　Calthrop　didn't　have　her；　it　had　gone　into　the　woods　alone。　He　continued　to　hold　the　point　of　the　sword　against　the　creature　on　the　ground　while　he　yelled　out　her　name；　hoping　she　would　return　his　desperate　calls。　No　answer。
　
　〃Mistress　has　the　pretty　lady。〃
　
　Richard's　face　snapped　back　to　the　yellow　eyes。　〃What're　you　talking　about？〃
　
　〃Mistress。　She　took　pretty　lady。〃　Richard　pushed　the　sword　harder；　indicating　that　he　wanted　to　hear　more；　and　right　now。　〃We　were　following　you。　Watching　the　Calthrop　play　with　you。　To　see　what　would　happen。〃　His　bulging　yellow　eyes　went　to　the　sword　again。
　
　〃To　steal　the　sword；〃　Richard　glared。
　
　〃Not　steal！　Mine！　Gimme！〃　Its　hands　started　to　go　for　it　again　until　Richard　pushed　the　sword　a　little；　making　the　creature　freeze。
　
　〃Who's　your　mistress！〃
　
　〃Mistress！〃　it　shook；　pleading　for　rescue。　〃Mistress　is　Shota。〃
　
　Richard's　head　twitched　back　a　little。　〃Your　mistress　is　the　witch　woman；　Shota？〃
　
　The　creature　nodded　vigorously。
　
　His　hand　tightened　on　the　hilt。　〃Why　did　she　take　the　pretty　lady'？〃
　
　〃Don't　know。　Maybe；　to　play　with　her。　Maybe；　to　kill　her。〃　The　thing　peered　up　at　him。　〃Maybe；　to　get　you。〃　〃Turn　over；〃　Richard　said。　The　creature　cringed。　〃Turn　over；　or　I'll　run　you　through！〃
　
　It　flipped　over；　trembling。　Richard　leaned　his　boot　into　the　small　of　its　back；　below　the　sharp；　raised　projections　of　its　spine。　He　reached　in　his　pack；　pulling　out　a　length　of　rope。　He　ran　a　loop　with　a　slip　knot　around　its　neck。
　
　〃Do　you　have　a　name？〃
　
　〃panion。　I　am　Mistress's　panion。　Samuel。〃
　
　Richard　pulled　him　to　his　feet；　leaves　stuck　to　the　gray　skin　of　his　chest。　〃Well；　Samuel；　we're　going　after　your　mistress。　You're　going　to　lead　the　way。　If　you　make　one　wrong　move；　I'll　snap　your　neck　with　this　rope。　Understand？〃
　
　Samuel　nodded　quickly；　then；　giving　a　sidelong　glance　at　the　rope；　nodded　slowly。　〃Agaden　Reach。　panion　take　you　there。　No　kill　me？〃
　
　〃If　you　take　me　there；　to　your　mistress；　and　if　the　pretty　lady　is　all　right；　I　won't　kill　you。〃
　
　Richard　put　tension　to　the　rope　to　let　Samuel　know　who　was　in　charge；　then　put　away　the　sword。
　
　〃Here；　you　carry　the　pretty　lady's　pack。〃
　
　Samuel　snatched　the　pack　out　of　Richard's　hands。　〃Mine！　Gimme！〃　Big　hands　started　rummaging　through　it。
　
　Richard　gave　a　sharp　tug　on　the　rope。　〃That　doesn't　belong　to　you。　Keep　your　hands　out　of　it！〃
　
　Bulging　yellow　eyes　filled　with　hate　looked　up　at　him。　〃When　Mistress　kills　you；　then　Samuel　eats　you。〃
　
　〃If　I　don't　eat　you　first；〃　Richard　sneered。　〃I'm　pretty　hungry。　Maybe　I'll　have　a　little　Samuel　stew　along　the　way？〃
　
　The　look　of　hate　changed　to　a　look　of　wide；　yellow…eyed　terror。　〃Please！　No　kill　me！　Samuel　take　you　to　Mistress；　to　pretty　lady。　Promise。〃　He　put　the　pack　to　his　shoulder　and　took　a　few　steps；　until　he　ran　out　of　slack。　〃Follow　Samuel。　Hurry；〃　he　said；　wanting　to　prove　his　worth　alive。　〃No　cook　Samuel；　please；〃　he　muttered　over　and　over　as　they　went　back　down　the　trail。
　
　Richard　couldn't　begin　to　imagine　what　sort　of　creature　Samuel　was。　There　was　something　familiar；　unsettling；　about　him。　He　wasn't