tg.stone of tears-第147章

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　‘It　doesn’t　matter；’　Kahlan　said。　Prindin　looked　relieved　to　have　her　interrupt　Chandalen’s　questioning。　‘This　will　make　them　sick。　That　is　all　that　matters。’
　
　As　she　was　putting　it　in　the　barrels；　she　heard　men　in　the　distance　hailing　her。　When　she　had　swirled　the　poison　into　the　last　barrel；　she　looked　up　to　see　two　huge　draft　horses　trotting　toward　her。　She　frowned　at　seeing　men　riding　them　bareback；　and　calling　out　to　her。
　
　The　two　powerful　draft　horses　looked　shaggy　in　their　thick；　dun…colored　winter　coats；　with　heavy　white　feathering　on　their　legs。　They　wore　their　harnesses　and　neck　collars；　but　not　their　breeching。　Several　bends　of　chain　were　looped　over　the　inside　hame　of　each　collar。　The　men　about　all　stared　at　the　odd　sight。
　
　When　the　horses　came　to　a　halt　before　her；　the　riders　un…　hooked　the　loops　of　chain　and　dropped　them　to　the　ground。　She　realized　then　that　the　horses　were　connected　by　that　chain；　attached　to　the　hame　hooks　on　their　collars。　She　had　never　seen　such　a　thing。　The　two　riders　slid　to　the　ground。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor！’　Their　grins　made　their　salutes　look　a　little　silly。　The　both　of　them　were　gangly；　with　short…cropped　brown　hair。　Neither　looked　as　if　he　could　be　fifteen。　Their　wool　coats　were　unbuttoned　in　the　warming　day；　and　fit　them　like　gunnysacks　on　lapdogs。　They　both　looked　about　to　burst　with　excitement。　They　halted　before　getting　too　close；　but　even　their　fear　of　her　couldn’t　wither　their　breathless　excitement。
　
　‘What　are　your　names？’
　
　‘I’m　Brin　Jackson　and　this　is　Peter　Chapman；　Mother　Confessor。　We　had　an　idea；　and　we　wanted　to　show　you。　We　think　it’ll　do　the　job。　We’re　sure　it　will。　It’ll　work　some　clever　it　sure　will。’
　
　Kahlan　looked　from　one　beaming　face　to　the　other。　‘What　will　do　what　job？’
　
　Brin　almost　leapt　with　joy　at　being　asked。　He　hefted　the　chain　lying　in　the　snow　between　the　big　horses。　‘This！’　He　lugged　a　wad　of　chain　to　her　and　held　it　out。　‘This　will　do　it；　Mother　Confessor。　We　thought　of　it　ourselves！　Peter　and　me。’　He　dumped　the　heavy　chain　on　the　ground。　‘Show　her；　Peter。　Move　‘em　apart。’
　
　Peter’s　head　bobbed　as　he　grinned。　He　sidestepped　his　horse　until　the　heavy　chain　lifted　off　the　snow。　The　sag　of　chain　swung　to　and　fro　between　the　hame　hooks　on　the　collars。　Kahlan　and　all　the　men　with　her　frowned；　trying　to　understand　what　the　peculiar　rig　was　for。
　
　Brin　pointed　at　the　chain。　‘You　said　we　were　going　to　leave　the　wagons；　and　we　surely　didn’t　want　to　leave　Daisy　and　Pip　behind。　Them’s　our　horses　…　Daisy　and　Pip。　We’re　drivers。　We　wanted　to　help；　and　make　a　good　use　of　Daisy　and　Pip；　so　we　took　some　of　the　biggest　trace　chains　and　asked　Morvan；　he’s　the　blacksmith；　we　asked　Morvan　to　weld　a　couple　of　‘em　together　for　us。’　He　nodded　expectantly；　as　if　that　should　explain　it。
　
　Kahlan　dipped　her　head　toward　him　a　little。　‘And　now　that　he　has？’
　
　Brin　held　his　hands　open　in　excitement。　‘You　said　we　needed　to　take　out　their　horses。’　He　couldn’t　help　giggling。　That’s　what　this　is　for！　You　said　we’re　going　to　attack　at　night。　Their　horses　will　be　tethered　to　picket　lines。　We　gallop　Daisy　and　Pip　down　the　picket　line；　one　on　each　side；　and　the　chain’ll　break　their　legs　out　from　under　‘em！　We’ll　take　out　the　whole　line　in　one　sweep！’
　
　Kahlan　leaned　back　and　folded　her　arms。　She　looked　to　Peter。　He　nodded；　keen　on　the　idea；　too。　‘Brin；　having　horses　chained　together　like　that；　at　a　gallop；　and　dragging　a　chain　that　will　be　catching　things；　heavy　things；　sounds　to　me　very　dangerous。’
　
　He　wilted　only　a　little。　‘But　it　could　take　out　their　horses！　We　can　do　it！　We　can　get　them　for　you！’
　
　‘They　have　close　to　two　thousand　horses。’
　
　Peter　wilted　more。　Brin　scrunched　up　his　face　as　he　looked　at　the　ground　for　the　first　time。　He　scratched　his　shoulder。　Two　thousand；’　he　finally　whispered　in　disappointment。
　
　Kahlan　glanced　to　Captain　Ryan。　He　shrugged　as　if　to　say　he　didn’t　know　if　it　would　work　or　not。　The　other　men　standing　about　rubbed　their　chins　and　shuffled　their　feet　as　they　pondered　the　rig。
　
　‘It　will　never　do；’　Kahlan　said　at　last。　Brin’s　shoulders　slumped　more。　There　are　too　many　of　them　for　you。　You　will　need　more　horses　set　up　like　this。’　Brin　and　Peter’s　faces　came　up；　their　eyes　widening。　‘Since　you　two　know　how　to　do　it；　I　want　you　to　get　all　the　draft　horses　and　their　drivers　together。　This　will　be　the　best　use　of　their　skill。
　
　‘Use　all　the　equipment　off　the　wagons　or　breeching　you　need。　We’ll　not　be　taking　them　anyway。　Have　the　chains　made　up　at　once；　and　then　I　want　you　all　to　practice　the　rest　of　the　day。　I　want　you　to　set　up　things　to　drag　the　chains　through。　Heavy　thing；　so　the　horses　will　be　used　to　what　you’re　going　to　do。　You　need　to　practice　so　each　team　of　men　and　horses　can　work　together。’
　
　Peter　came　forward　and　stood　next　to　a　beaming　Brin。　‘We　will；　Mother　Confessor！　You’ll　see！　We　can　do　it！　You　can　count　on　us！’
　
　She　gave　them　each　a　sobering　look。　‘What　you　want　to　do　is　dangerous。　But　if　you　can　do　it；　it　will　be　a　great　benefit　to　us。　It　could　save　many　of　our　lives。　Their　cavalry　is　deadly。
　
　Take　your　gear　and　your　practice　seriously。　Men　will　be　trying　to　kill　you　when　you　do　it　for　real。’
　
　They　put　their　fists　to　their　hearts；　this　time　holding　their　chins　up。　‘We’ll　see　to　it；　Mother　Confessor。　You　can　count　on　the　drivers。　We　won’t　let　you　down。　We’ll　get　their　horses。’
　
　After　receiving　her　nod；　they　turned　to　their　horses。　Heads　together；　whispering　in　excitement；　they　went　to　their　task。　Kahlan　watched　a　lone　rider；　in　the　distance；　galloping　through　the　camp。　He　stopped　to　ask　a　group　of　men　something。　They　pointed　in　her　direction。
　
　They’ve　only　been　with　us　a　couple　months；’　Captain　Ryan　said。　They’re　just　boys。’
　
　Kahlan　raised　an　eyebrow　to　him。　They　are　men；　fighting　for　the　Midlands。　When　I　first　saw　you；　I　thought　of　you　in　much　the　same　way　you　see　them。　Now　I　think　you　look　a　little　older　to　me。’
　
　He　sighed。　‘I　guess　you’re　right。　If　they　really　can　do　the　job；　it　will　be　a　brilliant　achievement。’
　
　The　galloping　rider　approached　and　leapt　from　his　horse　before　it　came　fully　to　a　stop。　He　gave　a　perfunctory　salute。　‘Mother　Confessor。’　He　gulped　some　air。　‘I’m　Cynric；　with　the　sentries。’
　
　‘What　is　it；　Cynric？’
　
　‘You　said　you　wanted　to　know　about　everything；　so　I　thought　I　better　report。　We　were　just　setting　up　the　sentries　about　an　hour　out；　between　here　and　the　army　of　the　Order；　near　a　road　that　crosses　Jara　Pass；　and　a　coach　came　up　the　crossroad；　from　the　direction　of　Kelton。　We　knew　you　didn’t　want　anything　unusual　going　on；　so　we　stopped　the　coach。　I　thought　I　better　find　out　what　you　wanted　us　to　do。’
　
　‘Who’s　in　the　coach？’
　
　‘An　old　couple。　Wealthy　merchants　of　some　sort；　or　so　they　claim。　Something　about　orchards。’
　
　‘What　did　you　tell　them？　You　didn’t　tell　them　about　us；　did　you？　You　didn’t　tell　them　that　we　have　an　army　out　here；　did　you？’
　
　He　shook　his　head　vehemently。　‘No；　Mother　Confessor。　We　told　them　that　there　were　outlaws　in　the　neighborhood；　and　that　we　were　a　small　patrol　out　looking　for　them。　We　told　them　they　weren’t　allowed　to　pass　until　I　checked　with　my　mander。　I　said　they　had　to　wait　until　I　returned。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　That’s　quick　thinking；　Cynric。’
　
　The　driver’s　name　is　Ahern。　He　wanted　to　argue　with　us；　and　thought　to　give　his　team　reins；　until　we　showed　him　some　steel。　Then　the　old　man　came　flying　out　of　the　coach；　accusing　us　of　trying　to　rob　him。　He　started　to　swing　his　cane　around　at　us；　like　he　thought　that　would　drive　us　off　or　something。　Anyway；　we　drew　arrows　on　him；　and　he　decided　he　would　get　back　in　the　coach。’
　
　‘What　is　his　name？’
　
　Cynric　shifted　his　weight　to　the　other　foot　and　scratched　his　eyebrow。　‘Robin；　or　Ruben；　or　something　like　that。　Feisty　old　fellow。　Ruben；　I　think。　Ruben　Rybnik；　I　think　that’s　it。’
　
　Kahlan　sighed　as　she　shook　her　head。　They　don’t　sound　like　spies。　But　if　the　Order　catches　them；　and　they　know　anything；　they　will　tell　it　all　before　the　D’Harans　are　through　with　them。’　She　looked　up。　‘What　are　they　doing　out　here？’
　
　The　old　man　says　his　wife　is　sick；　and　they’re　taking　her　to　healers　in　Nicobarese。　She　didn’t　look　well　to　me。　Her　eyes　looked　to　be　all　rolled　back　in　her　head。’
　
　‘Well；　since　they’re　on　the　road　going　northwest；　going　across　Jara　Pass；　that　shouldn’t　take　them　anywhere　near　the　Order。’　She　pulled　some　of　her　long　hair　back　off　her　face。　‘But　before　I　dare　let　them　go；　I　best　go　speak　with　them。’
　
　Before　she　could　take　three　steps；　Sergeant　Frost　came　running　up　behind。　‘Mother　Confessor！　The　tubs　of　whitewash　are　ready。　The　tents　are　heated。’
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　noisy　breath。　She　looked　from　Sergeant　Frost；　to　sentry　Cynric；　to　other　men　waiting　patiently　to　talk　with　her　or　ask　instructions。　She　let　out　another　breath。　‘Look；　Cynric；　I　don’t　have　the　hour　to　ride　out　there；　and　another　to　ride　back。　I’m　sorry；　but　I　just　don’t　have　the　time。’
　
　He　nodded。　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor。　I　un