tg.stone of tears-第41章

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　‘Why　are　you　calling　me　that？’　Richard　whispered。
　
　Shota　studied　his　pale　face。　‘Because　that　is　who　you　are。’
　
　‘I　am　Richard　Cypher。　George　Cypher　was　my　father。’
　
　‘You　were　raised　by　a　man　named　Cypher。　You　were　sired　by　one　named　Darken　Rahl。　He　raped　your　mother。’
　
　Richard’s　face　turned　whiter。　Kahlan　ached　for　him。　She　understood　now；　knew　it　was　true。　This　was　what　she　had　seen　in　him；　she　had　seen　the　face　of　his　father；　Darken　Rahl。　She　tried　desperately　to　free　herself；　to　go　to　him；　but　couldn’t。
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　‘No。　That’s　not　true。　It　just　isn’t　possible。’
　
　‘True；’　Shota　snapped。　‘Your　father　was　Darken　Rahl。　Your　grandfather　is　Zeddicus　Zu’l　Zorander。’
　
　‘Zedd？’　he　whispered。　‘Zedd　is　my　grandfather？’　He　straightened。　‘Darken　Rahl　。。。　No；　he　can’t　be。　It’s　not　true。’
　
　He　turned　and　looked　up　at　Kahlan。　He　saw　it　in　her　face；　saw　that　she　knew　it　was。　He　turned　back　to　Shota。　‘Zedd　would　have　told　me。　He　would　have。　I　don’t　believe　you。’
　
　‘I　don’t　care；’　she　said　in　a　flat　tone。　‘I　don’t　care　what　you　believe。　I　know　the　truth。’　Her　emotion　came　back。　‘And　the　truth　is　you　are　the　bastard　son　of　a　bastard　son　of　a　bastard　son！　And　each　one　of　those　bastard　sons；　all　the　way　back；　had　the　gift。　Worse；　Zedd　has　the　gift。　You　have　the　gift；　but　it　is　from　two　bloodlines　of　wizards。’　She　glared　at　his　wide　eyes。　‘You　are　a　very　dangerous　person；　Richard　Rahl。’　Richard　looked　like　he　might　fall　down。　‘You　have　the　gift。　In　this　case；　I　would　be　more　inclined　to　call　it　a　curse。’
　
　‘I　would　agree　with　you　about　that；’　Richard　whispered。
　
　‘You　know　you　have　the　gift？　We　are　going　to　have　no　argument　about　that？’　Richard　could　only　nod。　‘The　rest　of　it　I　could　not　care　less　about。　You　are　the　son　of　Darken　Rahl；　and　on　the　other　side；　the　grandson　of　Zeddicus　Zu’l　Zorander。　He　is　the　father　of　your　mother。　If　you　choose　to　ignore　the　truth　of　that；　I　don’t　care。　Believe　as　you　will。　Delude　yourself　as　you　will。　I　am　not　here　to　argue　your　ancestry。’
　
　Richard　leaned　back　until　the　wall　stopped　him。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　‘Go　away；　Shota。　Please；　go　away。’　His　voice　sounded　as　if　all　life　had　gone　out　of　him。　‘I　don’t　want　to　hear　anything　else　you　have　to　say。　Just　go　away。　Leave　me　alone。’
　
　‘I　am　disappointed　in　you；　Richard。’
　
　‘I　don’t　care。’
　
　‘I　didn’t　know　you　were　this　stupid。’
　
　‘I　don’t　care。’
　
　‘I　thought　George　Cypher　meant　something　to　you。　I　thought　you　had　some　kind　of　honor。’
　
　His　head　came　up。　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘George　Cypher　raised　you。　Gave　you　his　time；　his　love。　He　taught　you；　cared　for　you；　provided　for　you。　Shaped　you。　And　you　would　throw　that　away　because　someone　else　raped　your　mother？　That　is　what　is　important　to　you？’
　
　Richard’s　eyes　lit　with　fire。　His　hands　started　ing　up。　Kahlan　thought　he　was　going　to　try　to　strangle　Shota；　but　then　his　hands　sank　back　to　his　sides。　‘But　。。。　if　Darken　Rahl　is　my　father　。。。’
　
　Shota　threw　her　arms　up　in　the　air。　‘What？　You　are　suddenly　going　to　start　acting　like　him？　You　are　going　to　spontaneously　start　doing　vile　things　because　you　now　know？　You　fear　you　will　go　out　and　kill　innocent　people　because　you　learned　your　real　father　is　Darken　Rahl？　You　will　ignore　the　things　you　learned　from　George　Cypher　because　you　find　your　name　is　Rahl？　And　you　call　yourself　the　Seeker。　I　am　disappointed　in　you；　Richard。　I　thought　you　were　your　own　man。　Not　the　reflection　of　others’　impressions　of　your　ancestors。’
　
　Richard　hung　his　head　as　Shota　frowned　angrily　and　watched　him　in　silence。　At　last　he　took　a　deep　breath。　‘I’m　sorry；　Shota。　Thank　you　for　not　letting　me　be　any　more　stupid　than　I　already　am。’　His　eyes　were　wet　as　he　turned　to　Kahlan。　‘Please；　Shota；　let　her　down。’
　
　Kahlan　felt　the　pressure　lift；　and　she　slid　down　the　wall；　her　boots　thumping　against　the　ground。　The　glare　Shota　gave　her　made　her　stay　where　she　was；　even　though　she　wanted　to　go　to　Richard。　He　stared　at　his　boots。
　
　Shota　put　her　fingers　under　his　chin　and　lifted　his　head。　‘You　should　be　happy；　your　father　was　not　ugly。　Some　of　his　looks　are　the　only　thing　of　his　you　have。　That；　and　a　bit　of　his　temper。　And　the　gift。’
　
　Richard　pulled　his　chin　away　from　her　fingers。　The　gift。　I　don’t　want　the　gift。　I　don’t　want　anything　to　do　with　it。　I　wouldn’t　call　anything　I　got　from　Darken　Rahl　a　gift。　I　hate　it！　I　hate　magic！’
　
　‘It　es　from　Zedd；　too；’　Shota　said　with　surprising　passion。　‘From　both　sides。　That　is　the　way　you　get　the　gift；　it　is　passed　down；　sometimes　skipping　one；　or　even　many　generations。　Sometimes　not。　You　received　it　from　both　sides。　In　you；　it　is　more　than　a　single　dimension。　It　is　a　very　dangerous　mix。’
　
　‘Passed　down。　Like　any　other　deformity。’
　
　With　a　sneer；　Shota　gripped　his　face　in　her　long　fingers。　‘Remember　that　before　you　lie　with　her。　From　Kahlan；　the　boy　would　be　a　Confessor。　From　you　…　he　would　have　the　gift。　Can　you　even　fathom　the　danger　of　that？　Can　you　conceive　of　a　Confessor　with　the　gift？　A　male　Confessor？　I　doubt　you　can。　You　should　have　killed　her　when　I　told　you　to；　you　ignorant　child；　before　you　found　a　way　to　be　with　her。　You　should　have　killed　her。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　her。　‘I’ve　heard　enough　of　that　talk。　I　intend　to　hear　no　more　of　it。　I　told　you　before；　it　is　through　Kahlan　I　defeated　Darken　Rahl。　Had　I　killed　her；　he　would　have　won。　I　hope　you　didn’t　waste　your　journey　here　just　to　repeat　this　nonsense。’
　
　‘No；’　Shota　said　quietly。　‘None　of　these　things　matter。　That　is　not　why　I　am　here。　I　came　because　of　what　you　have　done；　not　because　of　what　you　might　do　someday。　What　you　have　already　done；　Richard；　is　worse　than　anything　you　could　ever　do　with　this　woman。　No　monster　you　conceive　with　her　could　equal　the　monster　you　have　already　created。’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘I　stopped　Darken　Rahl　from　ruling　the　world。　I　killed　him。　I　created　no　monster。’
　
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　The　Magic　of　Orden　killed　him。　I　told　you；　he　mustn’t　open　a　box。　You　didn’t　kill　him；　you　let　him　open　one　of　the　boxes　of　Orden。　The　Magic　of　Orden　killed　him。　You　were　supposed　to　kill　him　before　he　opened　one　of　the　boxes。’
　
　‘I　couldn’t！　That　was　the　only　way！　There　was　no　other　way　to　kill　him！　And　what　difference　does　it　make　anyway？　He’s　dead！’
　
　‘It　would　have　been　better　if　you　had　let　him　win　than　let　him　open　the　wrong　box。’
　
　‘You’re　crazy！　What　could　be　worse　than　Darken　Rahl　gaining　the　Magic　of　Orden　and　ruling　the　world　unchallenged！’
　
　Her　eyebrows　lifted。　The　Keeper；’　she　whispered。　‘It　would　have　been　better　to　let　Darken　Rahl　rule　us；　or　behead　us；　or　even　torture　us　to　death；　than　what　you　have　allowed　to　happen。’
　
　‘What　are　you　talking　about？’
　
　The　Keeper　of　the　underworld　is　kept　in　his　place；　kept　from　the　world　of　the　living；　by　the　veil。　The　veil　holds　him　and　his　minions　back。　Holds　the　underworld　back。　It　keeps　the　dead　from　the　living。　What　you　have　done　has　torn　that　veil。　Already；　some　of　the　Keeper’s　assassins　have　been　loosed。’
　
　The　screelings　。。。’　Richard　whispered。
　
　Shota　nodded。　‘Yes。　By　freeing　the　Magic　of　Orden；　you　have　allowed　its　magic　to　somehow　tear　the　veil　to　the　underworld。　If　it　tears　enough；　the　Keeper　will　be　freed。　You　can’t　even　conceive　of　what　that　means。’　Shota　lifted　the　Agiel　at　his　neck。　‘It　will　make　what　was　done　to　you　with　this　seem　like　a　lover’s　kiss　pared　to　what　he　will　do。　To　everyone。　It　would　have　been　better　to　have　let　Darken　Rahl　win；　than　to　have　let　this　happen。　You　have　condemned　everyone　to　a　fate　beyond　horror。’
　
　She　gripped　the　Agiel　in　her　fist。　‘I　should　kill　you　for　what　you　have　done。　I　should　make　you　suffer　unspeakably。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　much　the　Keeper　would　like　to　settle　his　gaze　upon　one　with　the　gift？　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　much　he　wants　those　with　the　gift？　Or　how　much　he　wants　witch　women？’
　
　Kahlan　saw　tears　run　down　Shota’s　cheeks。　With　a　flush　of　understanding　that　sent　an　icy　ripple　of　panic　through　her；　Kahlan　realized　Shota　wasn’t　angry。　She　was　afraid。
　
　That　was　why　she　was　here：　not　because　she　was　angry　at　Kahlan　being　alive；　or　at　them　having　a　child。　She　was　here　because　she　was　terrified。　The　idea　of　Shota；　a　witch　woman；　being　afraid　was　worse　than　anything　her　own　mind　could　conjure。
　
　Richard　stared　at　her；　his　eyes　wide。　‘But　。。。　there　must　be　something　we　can　do；　some　way　to　stop　it。’
　
　‘We？’　she　screamed；　jabbing　her　finger　at　his　chest。　‘You！　Only　you；　Richard　Rahl！　Only　you！　Only　you　can　fix　it！’
　
　‘Me！　Why　me？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know；’　she　cried　through　gritted　teeth。　‘But　you　are　the　only　one　with　the　power。’　She　pounded　her　fist　against　his　chest。　‘You！’　She　kept　hitting　his　chest　as　he　just　stood　there。　‘You　are　the　only　one　who　has　a　chance！　I　don’t　know　why；　but　only　you　can　fix　it。　Only　you　can　repair　the　tear　in　the　veil。’　Shota　was　sobbing　now。　‘Only　you；　you　stupid；　foolish　child。’
　
　Kahlan　was　dazed　by　the　magnitude　of　what　was　happening。　The　idea　of