osc.am1.seventhson-第22节
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Plainly the preacher regarded this question as a test。 Taleswapper had no idea which answer the preacher thought was correct。 It hardly mattered； Taleswapper would answer truthfully； no matter what。 〃No；〃 he said。
It was the wrong answer。 The preacher smirked。 〃Just like that？ You can say that he has not？〃
Taleswapper thought for a moment that the preacher might believe his own ordained hands had left the marks of God's will。 He would lay that notion to rest at once。 〃Most preachers don't leave tracks of light on things they touch。 Only a few are ever holy enough。〃
But it wasn't himself the preacher had in mind。 〃You've said enough now；〃 said the preacher。 〃I know that you're a fraud。 Get out of my church。〃
〃I'm no fraud；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃I may be mistaken； but I never lie。〃
〃And I never believe a man who says he never lies。〃
〃A man always assumes that others are as virtuous as himself；〃 said Taleswapper。
The preacher's face flushed with anger。 〃Get out of here； or I'll throw you out。〃
〃I'll go gladly；〃 said Taleswapper。 He walked briskly to the door。 〃I never hope to return to a church whose preacher is not surprised to learn that Satan has touched his altar。〃
〃I wasn't surprised because I don't believe you。〃
〃You believed me；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃You also believe an angel has touched it。 That's the story you think is true。 But I tell you that no angel could touch it without leaving a trace that I could see。 And I see but one trace there。〃
〃Liar！ You yourself are sent by the devil； trying to do your necromancy here in the house of God！ Begone！ Out！ I conjure you to leave！〃
〃I thought churchmen like you didn't practice conjurings。〃
〃Out！〃 The preacher screamed the last word； the veins standing out in his neck。 Taleswapper put his hat back on and strode away。 He heard the door slam closed behind him。 He walked across a hilly meadow of dried…out autumn grass until he struck the track that led up toward the house that the woman had spoken of。 Where she was sure they'd take him in。
Taleswapper wasn't so sure。 He never made more than three visits in a place if he hadn't found a house to take him in by the third try； it was best to move on。 This time； the first stop had been unusually bad； and the second had gone even worse。
Yet his uneasiness wasn't just that things were going badly。 Even if at this last place they fell on their faces and kissed his feet； Taleswapper felt peculiar about staying around here。 Here was a town so Christian that the leading citizen wouldn't allow hidden powers in his house yet the altar in the church had the devil's mark on it。 Even worse was the pattern of deception。 The hidden powers were being used right under Armor's nose； and by the person he loved and trusted most； while in the church； the preacher was convinced that God； not the devil； had claimed his altar。 What could Taleswapper expect； in this place up the hill； but more madness； more deception？ Twisted people entwined each other； Taleswapper knew that much from the evidence of his own past。
The woman was right the brooks were bridged。 Even this； though； wasn't a good sign。 To bridge a river was a necessity； to bridge a broad stream； a kindness to travelers。 But why did they build such elaborate bridges over brooks so narrow that even a man as old as Taleswapper could leap them without wetting a foot？ The bridges were sturdy； anchored into the earth far to either side of the stream； and both had roofs； well thatched。 People pay money to stay in inns that aren't as tight and dry as these bridges； thought Taleswapper。
Surely this meant that the people at the end of the track were at least as strange as those he had met so far。 Surely he ought to turn away。 Prudence demanded that he leave。
But prudence was not strong in Taleswapper's character。 It was as Old Ben told him； years before。 〃You'll go into the mouth of hell someday； Bill； just to find out why the devil has such bad teeth。〃 There was a reason for the bridges； and Taleswapper sensed that it would mean a story worth remembering in his book。
It was only a mile； after all。 Just when it seemed the track was about to wander into impenetrable wood； it took a sharp northward turn and opened into as pretty a holding as Taleswapper had seen； even in the placid settled lands of New Orange and Pennsylvania。 The house was large and fine； with shaped logs； to show that they meant it to last； and there were barns and sheds and pens and coops that made it almost a village in itself。 A wisp of smoke rising a half mile on up the track told him that his guess wasn't all wrong。 There was another household nearby； sharing the road； which meant it was probably kin。 Married children； no doubt； and all farming together； for the better prosperity of all。 That was a good thing； Taleswapper knew； when brothers could grow up liking each other well enough to plow each other's fields。
Taleswapper always headed for the house best to announce himself at once； rather than skulking about and being taken for a robber。 Yet this time； when he meant to walk toward the house； he felt himself bee stupid all at once； unable to remember what it was he was about to do。 It was a warding so powerful that he did not realize he had been pushed away until he was halfway down the hill toward a stone building beside a brook。 He stopped abruptly； frightened； for no one had power enough； he thought； to back him off without him realizing what was happening。 This place was as strange as the other two； and he wanted no part of it。
Yet as he tried to turn back the way he had e； the same thing happened again。 He found himself going down the hill toward the stone…walled building。
Again he stopped； and this time muttered； 〃Whoever you are； and whatever you want； I'll go of my own free will or I'll not go at all。〃
All at once it was like a breeze behind him； pushing him toward the building。 But he knew he could go back if he wanted。 Against the breeze； yes； but he could do it。 That eased his mind considerably。 Whatever constraints had been placed upon him； they were not meant to enslave him。 And that； he knew； was one of the marks of a goodly spell not the hidden chains of a tormentor。
The path rounded to the left a bit； along the brook； and now he could see that the building was a mill； for it had a millrace and the frame of a tall wheel standing where the water would flow。 But no water flowed in the race today； and as he came close enough to see through the large barn…size door； he discovered why。 It wasn't just closed up for the winter。 It had never been used as a mill。 The gears were in place； but the great round millstone wasn't there。 Just a foundation of rammed cobbles； level and ready and waiting。
Waiting a long time。 This construction was at least five years old； from the vines and the mosses on the building。 It had been a lot of work to build this millhouse； and yet it was being used as a mon haybarn。
Just inside the large door； a wagon was rocking back and forth as two boys grappled together atop a half…load of hay。 It was a friendly bout； the boys were obviously brothers； the one about twelve years old； the other perhaps nine； and the only reason the young one wasn't thrown off the wagon and out the door was because the older boy couldn't keep himself from laughing。 They didn't notice Taleswapper； of course。
They also didn't notice the man standing at the edge of the loft； pitchfork in hand； looking down at them。 Taleswapper thought at first that the man was watching in pride； like a father。 Then he came close enough to see how he held the fork。 Like a javelin； ready to cast。 For a single moment； Taleswapper saw in his mind's eye just what would happen the fork thrown； burying itself in the flesh of one of the boys； surely killing him； if not immediately； then soon enough； with gangrene or belly bleeding。 It was murder that Taleswapper saw。
〃No！〃 he shouted。 He ran through the doorway； fetching up alongside the wagon； looking up at the man in the loft。
The man plunged the pitchfork into the hay beside him and heaved the hay over the edge onto the wagon； half…burying the two boys。 〃I brought you here to work； you two bearcubs； not to tie each other in knots。〃 The man was smiling； teasing。 He winked at Taleswapper。 Just as if there hadn't been death in his eyes a moment before。
〃Howdy； young feller；〃 said the man。
〃Not so young；〃 said Taleswapper。 He doffed his hat； letting his bare pate give away his age。
The boys dug themselves out of the hay。 〃What were you shouting at； Mister？〃 asked the younger one。
〃I was afraid someone might e to harm；〃 said Taleswapper。
〃Oh； we wrassle like that all the time；〃 said the older boy。 〃Put her there； friend。 My name's Alvin； same as my pa。〃 The boy's grin was contagious。 Scared as he'd been； with so much dark dealing going on today； Taleswapper had no choice but to smile back and take the proffered hand。 Alvin Junior had a handshake like a grown man； he was that strong。 Taleswapper mented on it。
〃Oh； he gave you his fish hand。 When he gets to wringing and wrenching on you； he like to pops your palm like a razzleberry。〃 The you
