tg.wizardfirstrule-第16节

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he　would　on　the　subject；　so　he　remained　still　to　let　her　feel　safe。　Without　looking　over；　he　put　his　hand　on　her　forearm；　and　she　put　her　other　hand　over　his。
　
　〃How　are　you　to　know　this　wizard？〃
　
　〃I　only　know　I　must　find　him；　and　soon；　or　we　are　all　lost。〃
　
　Richard　thought　in　silence。　〃Zedd　will　help　us；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃He's　a　cloud　reader。　Finding　lost　people　is　what　a　cloud　reader　does。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　him　a　suspicious　look。　〃That　sounds　like　magic。　There　is　not　supposed　to　be　any　magic　in　Westland。〃
　
　〃He　says　it's　not；　that　anyone　can　learn。　He's　always　trying　to　teach　me。　He　mocks　me　whenever　I　say　it　looks　like　it　will　rain。　His　eyes　get　real　big　and　he　says；　‘Magic！　You　must　have　magic；　my　boy；　to　read　the　clouds　and　know　the　future　so。'　〃
　
　Kahlan　laughed。　It　was　a　good　sound　to　hear。　He　didn't　want　to　press　her　further　even　though　the　weave　of　her　story　had　many　loose　threads；　there　was　much　she　wasn't　telling　him。　At　least　he　knew　more　than　he　did　before。　The　important　thing　was　to　find　the　wizard　and　then　get　away；　another　quad　would　be　ing　for　her。　They　would　have　to　go　west　while　the　wizard　did　whatever　it　was　he　had　to　do。
　
　She　opened　her　waist　pouch　and　pulled　something　out。　Untying　a　string；　she　laid　back　the　folds　of　a　waxed　cloth　that　held　a　tan　substance。　Dipping　her　finger　in　it；　she　turned　to　him。　〃This　will　help　the　fly　bites　heal。　Turn　your　head。〃
　
　The　ointment　soothed　the　sting。　He　recognized　the　fragrances　of　some　of　the　plants　and　herbs　it　was　made　from。　Zedd　had　taught　him　to　make　a　similar　ointment；　but　with　aum；　that　would　take　pain　from　flesh　wounds。　When　finished　with　him；　she　put　some　on　herself。　He　held　out　his　sore　red　hand。
　
　〃Here；　put　some　on　this；　too。〃
　
　〃Richard！　What　have　you　done？〃　〃I　was　stuck　by　a　thorn；　this　morning。〃
　
　She　dabbed　the　ointment　carefully　on　his　wound。　〃I　have　never　seen　a　thorn　do　this。〃
　
　〃It　was　a　big　thorn。　I'm　sure　I'll　be　better　by　morning。〃
　
　The　ointment　didn't　help　the　pain　as　much　as　he　had　hoped；　but　he　told　her　that　it　did；　not　wanting　to　worry　her。　His　hand　was　nothing　pared　to　the　things　she　had　to　worry　about。　He　watched　as　she　retied　the　string　around　the　little　package　and　replaced　it　in　her　waist　pouch。　Her　forehead　was　creased　in　thought。
　
　〃Richard；　are　you　afraid　of　magic？〃
　
　He　thought　carefully　before　answering。　〃I　was　always　fascinated　by　it；　it　sounded　exciting。　But　now　I　know　there　is　magic　to　fear。　But　I　would　guess　it's　like　people：　some　you　stay　clear　of　and　some　you　are　fortunate　to　know。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled；　apparently　satisfied　with　his　answer。　〃Richard；　before　I　can　sleep；　there　is　something　；l　must　tend　to。　It　is　a　creature　of　magic。　If　you　would　not　be　afraid；　I　will　let　you　see　it。　The　opportunity　is　a　rare　one。　Few　have　ever　seen　it；　and　few　ever　will。　But　you　must　promise　me　you　will　leave　and　take　a　walk　when　I　ask；　and　not　ask　me　any　more　questions　when　you　return。　I　am　very　tired　and　must　sleep。〃
　
　Richard　smiled　at　the　honor。　〃Promise。〃
　
　Opening　her　waist　pouch　once　more；　Kahlan　withdrew　a　small　round　bottle　with　a　stopper。　Blue　and　silver　lines　spiraled　around　the　fat　part。　There　was　light　inside。
　
　Her　green　eyes　came　to　his。　〃The　creature　is　a　night　wisp。　Her　name　is　Shar。　A　night　wisp　cannot　be　seen　in　the　day；　only　at　night。　Shar　is　part　of　the　magic　that　helped　me　cross　the　boundary；　she　was　my　guide。　Without　her；　I　would　have　been　lost。〃
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　filled　with　tears；　but　her　voice　remained　steady　and　calm。　〃Tonight；　she　dies。　She　can　live　no　longer　away　from　her　home　place　and　the　others　of　her　kind；　and　she　does　not　have　the　strength　to　cross　the　boundary　again。　Shar　has　sacrificed　her　life　to　help　me　because　if　Darken　Rahl　succeeds；　all　her　kind；　among　others；　will　perish。〃
　
　Pulling　the　stopper　free；　Kahlan　placed　the　little　bottle　in　the　flat　of　her　palm　and　held　it　out　between　them
　
　A　tiny　flare　of　light　lifted　clear　of　the　bottle；　floating　up　into　the　cool；　dim　air　of　the　wayward　pine；　giving　everything　a　silvery　cast。　The　light　softened　as　the　wisp　came　to　a　stop　in　the　air　between　them；　hovering。　Richard　was　astonished。　His　mouth　hung　open　as　he　watched；　transfixed。
　
　〃Good　evening；　Richard　Cypher；〃　it　said　in　a　tiny　little　voice。
　
　〃Good　evening　to　you；　Shar。〃　His　own　voice　was　not　much　more　than　a　whisper。
　
　〃Thank　you　for　helping　Kahlan　today。　In　so　doing　you　are　also　helping　my　kind。　If　you　ever　need　the　help　of　the　night　wisps；　say　my　name　and　they　will　help　you；　for　no　enemy　may　know　it。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Shar；　but　the　Midlands　are　the　last　place　I　would　want　to　go。　I'll　help　Kahlan　find　the　wizard；　but　then　I　must　take　us　west　and　get　us　safely　away　from　those　who　would　kill　us。〃
　
　The　night　wisp　seemed　to　turn　in　the　air　for　a　time；　considering。　The　silvery　light　felt　warm　and　safe　on　his　face。
　
　〃If　that　is　what　you　wish；　then　you　must　do　so；〃　Shar　said。　Richard　felt　relieved。　The　tiny　point　of　light　spun　in　the　air　before　them　again。
　
　Shar　spun　to　a　stop。　〃But　know　this；　Darken　Rahl　hunts　you　both。　He　will　not　rest。　He　will　not　stop。　If　you　run；　he　will　find　you。　There　is　no　doubt　of　that。　You　have　no　defense　against　him。　He　will　kill　you　both。　Soon。〃
　
　Richard's　mouth　was　so　dry　he　could　hardly　swallow。　At　least　the　gar　would　have　been　quick；　he　thought；　and　then　it　would　be　over。　〃Shar；　isn't　there　a　way　for　us　to　escape？〃
　
　The　light　spun　again；　making　flashes　on　his　face　and　the　branches　of　the　wayward　pine。
　
　Shar　stopped　again。　〃If　your　back　is　to　him；　your　eyes　will　not　be。　He　will　get　you。　He　enjoys　it。〃
　
　Richard　stared。　〃But　。　。　。　is　there　nothing　we　can　do？〃
　
　The　tiny　point　of　light　spun　again；　ing　closer　to　him　this　time　before　stopping。　〃Better　question；　Richard　Cypher。　The　answer　you　want　is　within　yourself。　You　must　seek　it。　You　must　seek　it　or　he　will　kill　you　both。　Soon。〃
　
　。　〃How　soon？〃　His　voice　turned　harder；　he　couldn't　help　him
　
　self。　The　light　backed　away　a　little　as　it　spun。　He　would　not　let　this　opportunity　pass　without　finding　out　at　least　something　he　could　hold　on　to。
　
　The　night　wisp　stopped。　〃The　first　day　of　winter；　Richard　Cypher。　When　the　sun　is　in　the　sky。　If　Darken　Rahl　does　not　kill　you　before　then；　and　if　he　is　not　stopped；　then　on　the　first　day　of　winter　when　the　sun　is　in　the　sky；　my　kind　will　all　die。　You　both　will　die。　He　will　enjoy　it。〃
　
　Richard　tried　to　decide　the　best　way　to　question　a　spinning　point　of　light。　〃Shar；　Kahlan　is　trying　to　save　the　others　of　your　kind。　I　am　trying　to　help　her。　You　are　giving　your　life　to　help　her。　If　we　fail；　everyone　dies；　you　just　said　so。　Please；　is　there　anything　you　can　tell　me　to　help　us　against　Darken　Rahl？〃
　
　The　light　spun　and　went　in　a　little　circle　around　the　inside　of　the　wayward　pine；　bringing　light　to　the　areas　it　went　near。　It　stopped　again　in　front　of　him。
　
　〃Already　told　you　the　answer。　It　is　in　you。　Seek　it　or　die。　Sorry；　Richard　Cypher。　Want　to　help。　Don't　know　the　answer。　Just　that　it　is　in　you。　Sorry　sorry。〃
　
　Richard　nodded；　running　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　He　didn't　know　who　was　more　frustrated；　Shar　or　himself。　Glancing　over；　he　saw　Kahlan　sitting　calmly；　watching　the　night　wisp。　Shar　spun　and　waited。
　
　〃All　right；　can　you　tell　me　why　he's　trying　to　kill　me？　Is　it　because　I　help　Kahlan；　or　is　there　another　reason？〃
　
　Shar　came　close。　〃Other　reasons？　Secrets？〃
　
　〃What！〃　Richard　jumped　to　his　feet。　The　night　wisp　followed　him　up。
　
　〃Don't　know　why。　Sorry。　Just　that　he　will。〃
　
　〃What's　the　wizard's　name？〃
　
　〃Good　question；　Richard　Cypher。　Sorry。　Don't　know。〃
　
　Richard　sat　back　down　and　put　his　face　in　his　hands。　Shar　spun；　throwing　off　shafts　of　light；　and　flew　in　slow　circles　around　his　head。　Somehow　he　knew　she　was　trying　to　fort　him；　and　that　she　was　near　her　end。　She　was　dying；　and　she　was　trying　to　fort　him。　He　tried　to　swallow　back　the　lump　in　his　throat；　so　he　could　talk。
　
　〃Shay；　thank　you　for　helping　Kahlan。　My　life；　as　short　as　it　seems　it　will　be；　has　already　been　made　longer　because　she　saved　me　from　doing　something　foolish　today。　My　life　is　also　better　for　knowing　her。　Thank　you　for　helping　bring　my　friend　safely　through　the　boundary。〃　His　vision　turned　watery。
　
　The　night　wisp　floated　to　him　and　touched　against　his　forehead。　Her　voice　seemed　to　be　as　much　in　his　head　as　in　his　ears。
　
　〃I　am　sorry；　Richard　Cypher。　I　do　not　know　the　answers　that　would　save　you。　If　I　did；　please　believe　I　would　give　them　eagerly。　But　I　know　the　good　in　you。　I　believe　in　you。　I　do　know　that　you　have　within　you　what　you　must　to　succeed。　There　will　be　times　when　you　doubt　yourself。　Do　not　give　up。　Remember　then　that　I　believe　in　you；　that　I　know　you　can　acplish　what　you　must。　You　are　a　rare　person；　Richard　Cypher：　Believe　in　yourself。　And　protect　Kahlan。〃
　
　He　realized　his　eyes　were　closed。　Tears　were　running　down　freely；　and　the　lump　in　his　throat　kept　catching　his　breath。
　
　〃There　are　no　gars　about。　Please　let　me　be　alone　with　Kahlan　now。　My　time　es。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　〃Good…bye；　Shar。　It　has　been　my　deep　honor　to　have　known　you。〃
　
　He　left