tg.stone of tears-第144章

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　‘May　the　good　spirits　be　with　you。　Now　get　started。’
　
　The　men　all　began　moving；　the　air　ing　to　life　with　the　sound　of　feet　and　talking。　One　of　the　two　lieutenants　stood　near；　unbuttoning　his　coat；　giving　orders　to　some　men　around　him。
　
　‘Lieutenant　Sloan。’　He　looked　up　as　the　men　he　had　instructed　went　to　their　tasks。　‘See　to　the　sentries　and　lookouts　at　once。　I　want　any　of　your　men　who　know　how　to　make　white　paint　or　whitewash　to　assemble　the　supplies　they　need。　We　will　need　large　tubs　of　some　sort。　I　want　rocks　heated；　to　warm　the　insides　of　tents。’
　
　He　didn’t　question　her　strange　instructions。　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘See　that　the　small　wagons　with　the　ale　and　food　are　prepared；　but　hold　them　until　I　give　the　order　to　let　them　go。’
　
　He　put　his　fist　to　his　heart　without　ment　and　marched　off　to　see　to　it。
　
　Kahlan’s　legs　felt　as　if　they　would　give　out　at　any　second。　She　was　so　tired　from　having　had　no　sleep；　and　from　riding　the　better　part　of　the　night；　to　say　nothing　of　the　work　she　had　done　and　the　heart…pounding　fright；　that　she　could　hardly　focus　her　eyes　anymore。　Her　shoulder　hurt　where　the　lance　had　been　couched　when　it　was　shattered。　The　muscles　in　her　left　leg　jittered　with　the　effort　of　keeping　her　standing。
　
　She　was　also　mentally　exhausted。　Anxiety；　over　not　only　the　enormity　of　her　decision　to　take　it　upon　herself　to　call　all　the　Midlands　into　war；　but　also　over　her　impassioned　plea　for　these　men　to　lay　down　their　lives　on　her　word；　eroded　her　strength　further。　Despite　the　unusual　warmth　of　the　day；　she　shivered　inside　her　fur　mantle。
　
　Captain　Ryan　stepped　over　to　her。　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　were　standing　by　the　rear　of　the　wagon；　watching。
　
　Captain　Ryan　gave　her　a　sly　smile。　‘I　like　it。’
　
　He　jumped　down　and　held　his　hand　out　for　her。　She　ignored　the　hand　and　jumped　down　as　he　had　done；　and　by　luck　more　than　anything；　stayed　on　her　feet。　She　could　not　accept　his　offer　of　help；　not　now；　not　with　what　she　was　about　to　do。
　
　‘And　now；　Captain；　I　must　give　you　an　order　you　are　not　going　to　like。’　She　looked　to　his　blue　eyes。　‘I　want　you　to　send　men　after　Mosle　and　those　who　went　with　him。　Send　enough　to　be　sure　to　acplish　the　deed。’
　
　‘Deed？’
　
　They　must　be　killed。　Send　a　force　with　instructions　that　they　are　to　pretend　to　join　with　Mosle’s　men；　so　they　don’t　scatter　when　your　men　approach。　Send　your　cavalry　behind；　but　out　of　sight；　in　case　they’re　able　to　take　to　the　woods。　When　they　are　surrounded；　kill　them。　There　are　seventy…six。　Count　the　bodies　to　make　sure　they　are　all　dead。　I　will　be　very　displeased　if　even　one　escapes。’
　
　His　eyes　were　wide。　‘But　Mother　Confessor　。。。’
　
　‘I　take　no　pleasure　in　this；　Captain。　You　have　your　orders。’　She　turned　to　the　three　Mud　People。　‘Prindin；　go　with　the　men　he　picks。　Make　sure　those　who　departed　are　killed　to　a　man。’
　
　Prindin　gave　her　a　grim　nod。　He　understood　the　unpleasant　necessity　of　what　she　was　doing。
　
　Captain　Ryan　tensed　in　near　panic。　‘Mother　Confessor　。。。　I　know　those　men。　They’ve　been　with　us　a　long　time。　You　said　they　were　free　to　go！　We　can’t。。。’
　
　She　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm。　He　suddenly　recognized　the　threat　that　represented。　‘I　am　doing　what　I　must　to　save　your　lives。　You　have　given　your　word　to　follow　orders。’　She　leaned　a　little　closer。　‘Do　not　add　yourself　to　those　seventy…six。’
　
　He　at　last　gave　a　nod　and　she　removed　her　hand。　His　eyes　told　it　all。　Hate　radiated　from　him。
　
　‘I　didn’t　know　the　killing　was　to　start　with　our　own　men；’　he　whispered。
　
　‘It　does　not。　It　starts　with　the　enemy。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　pointed　angrily　up　the　pass。　‘They’re　going　in　the　opposite　direction　of　the　Order！’
　
　‘And　did　you　think　they　would　go　to　the　enemy　in　plain　sight　of　you？　They　intend　to　circle　around。’　She　turned　and　started　off　toward　a　tent　that　had　been　left　up　for　her。
　
　Captain　Ryan；　trailed　by　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tos…sidin；　followed　her；　unwilling　to　concede。　‘If　you　were　so　concerned；　why　did　you　let　them　go！　Why　didn’t　you　let　the　men　kill　them　when　they　would　have！’
　
　‘Because　I　had　to　give　all　those　who　would　renounce　us　and　abandon　their　fellows　the　chance　to　do　so。’
　
　‘What　makes　you　think　all　the　‘traitors’　departed？　There　could　be　spies；　or　assassins；　among　us。’
　
　‘Yes；　there　could　be。　But　I　have　no　evidence　of　that　at　the　moment。　If　I　find　there　are；　I　will　have　to　deal　with　them　then。’
　
　Kahlan　came　to　a　stop　before　the　tent。　‘If　you　think　I　may　be　making　a　mistake　about　those　men；　I　assure　you；　I　am　not。　But　even　if　I　were；　it　is　a　price　that　must　be　paid。　If　we　let　them　go；　and　even　one　of　them　betrays　us；　we　could　all　be　killed　in　a　trap　tonight。　If　we　die；　there　will　be　none　to　stop　the　Order　for　a　long　time。　How　many　thousands　would　die　then；　Captain？　If　those　men　are　innocent；　I’ll　have　made　a　terrible　mistake；　and　seventy…six　innocent　men　will　die。　If　I’m　right；　I　will　be　saving　the　lives　of　untold　thousands　of　innocent　people。
　
　‘You　have　your　orders。　Carry　them　out。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　shook　with　rage。　‘I　hope　you　don’t　expect　me　to　ever　forgive　you　for　this。’
　
　‘No；　I　don’t。　I　expect　only　that　you　follow　my　orders。　I　don’t　care　if　you　hate　me；　Captain。　I　care　only　that　you　live　to　do　so。’
　
　He　gritted　his　teeth　in　mute　frustration。
　
　Kahlan　gripped　the　tent　flap。　‘Captain；　I’m　so　tired　I　can　hardly　stand。　I　need　to　get　a　couple　of　hours’　sleep。　I　want　a　guard　posted　around　this　tent　while　I　rest。’
　
　He　glared　at　her。　‘And　how　can　you　be　sure　one　of　them　might　not　be　an　enemy？　They　could　kill　you　in　your　sleep。’
　
　That’s　a　possibility。　But　if　that　happens；　one　of　these　three　men　would　avenge　my　murder。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　flinched　and　glanced　at　the　three　Mud　People。　In　his　anger；　he　had　forgotten　they　were　there。
　
　Chandalen　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘I　will　first　put　sticks　in　his　eyes；　to　hold　them　open；　to　be　sure　he　sees　what　I　do。’
　
　Lieutenant　Hobson　rushed　up；　holding　a　bowl　out　in　his　hands。　‘Mother　Confessor；　I　brought　you　some　stew。　I　thought　you　would　like　something　to　eat。　Something　hot。’
　
　Kahlan　forced　herself　to　smile　at　him。　‘Thank　you；　Lieutenant；　but　I’m　so　tired　I’m　afraid　I　wouldn’t　be　able　to　keep　it　down。　Could　you　keep　it　warm；　until　after　I’ve　rested？’
　
　‘Of　course；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　Captain　Ryan’s　glare　slid　to　his　grinning　lieutenant。　‘I　have　a　job　for　you；　Hobson。’
　
　Two　hours；’　Kahlan　said；　‘and　then　wake　me。　You　should　all　have　enough　to　keep　you　busy　in　the　meantime。’
　
　She　pulled　the　flap　aside　and　went　into　the　tent；　nearly　collapsing　onto　the　cot。　She　drew　a　blanket　over　her　legs；　and　lifted　the　fur　mantle　over　her　head；　shutting　out　the　light。　In　her　small；　private　darkness；　she　shook。
　
　She　would　have　given　her　life；　right　then；　to　have　Richard　hold　her　for　just　five　minutes。
　
　
　CHAPTER　41
　
　She　was　kissing　Richard；　holding　him　tightly　in　her　arms；　her　mind　filled　with　no　thought　but　peace　and　joy；　when　she　started　at　the　sound　of　shouting。　Richard　was　gone。　Her　heavy　arms　were　empty。
　
　She　sat　up；　pushing　the　blanket　away；　frantic　for　an　instant；　not　knowing　where　she　was；　and　then　she　remembered。　She　felt　as　if　she　might　vomit。
　
　She　wished　she　could　have　a　hot　bath。　She　couldn’t　remember　her　last　bath。　She　rubbed　her　eyes　as　Captain　Ryan　stuck　his　head　inside　the　tent。
　
　‘How　long？’　Kahlan　mumbled。　‘How　long　have　I　slept？’　She　threw　the　blanket　aside。
　
　‘A　couple　hours；　just　about。　There　is　someone　out　here　for　you。’
　
　Directly　outside　her　tent　waited　a　group　of　men；　an　ashen…faced　Lieutenant　Hobson　among　them。　In　their　midst　stood　Mosle；　bound　and　gagged　and　held　at　each　arm　by　soldiers。　His　eyes　darted　about　in　panic。　He　tried　to　shout　through　the　gag；　but　couldn’t　make　himself　understood。
　
　Kahlan　glowered　over　at　Captain　Ryan。
　
　He　stood　with　one　thumb　hooked　in　his　belt。　‘I　thought；　Mother　Confessor；　that　you　would　want　to　execute　this　man　yourself。　Since　he　seems　to　have　personally　offended　you　so。’　He　held　his　knife　out　toward　her；　handle　first。
　
　Kahlan　ignored　the　knife　and　turned　instead　to　the　men　holding　Mosle。　‘Release　him；　and　stand　away。’
　
　She　felt　as　if　she　were　still　in　a　sleep；　still　in　a　dream。　But　she　wasn’t。　There　was　no　option。
　
　As　they　stepped　back；　she　reached　out　and　snatched　Mosle　by　his　arm。　He　froze　in　fright　for　an　instant；　and　then　tried　to　back　away。
　
　But　he　had　no　time　to　escape。　She　was　touching　him　now。　He　was　hers。　Her　sleepiness　vanished　in　a　sucking　rush　as　her　power　ignited。　She　gave　no　thought　to　what　she　was　about　to　do；　there　was　no　choice。　She　was　mitted。　She　gave　herself　over　to　it。
　
　The　sounds　of　the　camp　…　the　jangle　of　tack；　the　grating　of　wooden　boxes　being　skidded　across　wagon　beds；　the　splintering　of　other　boxes　being　pried　open；　the　squeak　of　wheels；　the　whinnies　of　horses；　the　sound　of　thousands　of　feet　shuffling；　men　talking；　the　clop　of　hooves；　the　sound　of　steel　being　sharpened；　the　popping　of　wood　in　fires；　and　the　sound　of　her　own　heart　beatin