tg.wizardfirstrule-第29节

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　Zedd　thrust　a　finger　in　the　air。　〃Aha！　Perception　is　what　makes　the　threat　even　more　dangerous。〃　The　wizard's　finger　came　down　and　jabbed　Richard's　chest　with　each　word。　〃Just　。　。　。　like　。　。　。　the　sword。〃
　
　Richard　hooked　a　thumb　under　the　baldric　and　let　out　a　deep　breath。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　standing　in　quicksand；　but　he　had　lived　with　Zedd　too　long　to　dismiss　the　things　he　said　simply　because　they　were　hard　to　fathom。　He　longed　for　simplicity；　though。　〃You　mean　that　it's　not　only　what　he　does　that　makes　him　dangerous；　but　also　what　he　feels　justified　in　doing？〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃Let　me　put　it　another　way。　Who　would　you　be　more　afraid　of；　a　two…hundred…pound　man　who　wants　to　steal　a　loaf　of　bread　from　you；　and　knows　he　is　doing　wrong；　or　a　one　hundred…pound　woman　who　believes；　wrongly；　but　believes　with　all　her　heart；　that　you　stole　her　baby？〃
　
　Richard　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　〃I　would　run　from　the　woman。　She　wouldn't　give　up。　She　wouldn't　listen　to　reason。　She　would　be　capable　of　anything。〃
　
　Zedd's　eyes　were　fierce。　〃So　is　Darken　Rahl。　Because　he　thinks　he　is　right；　he　is　that　much　more　dangerous。〃
　
　Richard　returned　the　fierce　expression。　〃I　am　in　the　right。〃
　
　Zedd's　expression　softened。　〃The　mice　think　they　are　in　the　right；　too；　but　my　cat　eats　them　just　。the　same。　I　am　trying　to　teach　you　something；　Richard。　I　don't　want　you　to　get　caught　in　his　claws。〃
　
　Richard　unfolded　his　arms　and　sighed。　〃I　don't　like　it；　but　I　understand。　As　I　have　heard　you　say；　nothing　is　ever　easy。　While　all　of　this　in　interesting；　it　isn't　going　to　frighten　me　away　from　doing　what　it　is　I　must；　what　I　believe　to　be　right。　So　what　is　this　business　about　a　price　to　using　the　Sword　of　Truth？〃
　
　Zedd　held　a　thin　finger　to　Richard's　chest。　〃The　payment　is　that　you　suffer　the　pain　of　seeing　in　yourself　all　your　own　evil；　all　your　own　shortings；　all　the　things　we　don't　like　to　see　in　ourselves；　or　admit　are　there。　And　you　see　the　good　in　the　one　you　have　killed；　suffer　the　guilt　for　having　done　so。〃　Zedd　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Please　believe　me；　Richard；　the　pain　es　not　only　from　yourself；　but　more　importantly；　from　the　magic；　a　very　powerful　magic；　a　very　powerful　pain。　Do　not　underestimate　it。　It　is　real；　and　it　punishes　your　body；　as　well　as　your　soul。　You　saw　it　in　Kahlan；　and　that　was　from　killing　a　tree。　If　it　had　been　a　man；　it　would　have　been　profound。　This　is　why　anger　is　so…important。　Rage　is　the　only　armor　you　have　against　the　pain；　it　gives'　a　measure　of　protection。　The　stronger　the　enemy；　the　stronger　the　pain。　But　the　stronger　the　rage；　the　stronger　the　shield。　It　makes　you　care　less　about　the　truth　of　what　you　have　done。　In　some　cases　enough　to　not　feel　the　pain。　This　is　why　I　said　the　terrible　things　I　did　to　Kahlan；　things　that　hurt；　and　filled　her　with　rage。　It　was　to　protect　her　when　she　used　the　sword。　You　see　why　I　wouldn't　have　allowed　you　to　take　the　sword；　if　you　weren't　able　to　use　your　anger？　You　would　be　naked　before　the　magic；　it　would　tear　you　apart。〃
　
　Richard　was　a　little　frightened　by　this；　by　the　look　in　Kahlan's　eyes　after　she　had　used　the　sword；　but　it　didn't　dissuade　him。　He　glanced　up　at　the　mountains　of　the　boundary。　They　stood　out；　pale　pink　in　the　light　of　the　setting　sun。　Behind　them；　from　the　east；　darkness　was　ing。　Darkness　ing　for　them。　He　had　to　find　a　way　across　the　boundary；　into　that　darkness。　The　sword　would　help　him；　that　was　what　mattered。　There　was　much　at　stake。　There　was　a　cost　to　everything　in　life；　he　would　pay　this　one。
　
　His　old　friend　placed　his　hands　on　Richard's　shoulders　and　looked　hard　into　his　eyes。　Zedd's　features　were　set　in　grim　warning。
　
　〃Now　I　have　to　tell　you　something　you　are　not　going　to　like。〃　His　fingers　tightened；　almost　painfully。　〃You　cannot　use　the　Sword　of　Truth　on　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　〃What！〃
　
　Zedd　gave　him　a　shake。　〃He　is　too　powerful。　The　magic　of　Orden　protects　him　during　the　year　of　search。　If　you　try　to　use　the　sword；　you　will　be　dead　before　it　reaches　him。〃
　
　〃This　is　crazy！　First　you　want　me　to　be　the　Seeker　and　take　the　sword；　now　you　tell　me　I　can't　use　it！〃　Richard　was　furious。　He　felt　cheated。
　
　〃Just　against　Rahl；　it　won't　work　against　him！　Richard；　I　didn't　make　the　magic；　I　only　know　how　it　works。　Darken　Rahl　knows　how　it　works　too。　He　may　try　to　make　you　use　the　sword　against　him。　He　knows　it　would　kill　you。　If　you　give　in　to　the　rage　and　use　the　sword　against　him；　he　will　win。　You　will　be　dead　and　he　will　have　the　boxes。〃
　
　Kahlan's　brow　wrinkled　in　frustration。　〃Zedd；　I　agree　with　Richard。　This　makes　it　impossible。　If　he　cannot　use　his　most　important　weapon；　then　。　。　。〃
　
　Zedd　cut　her　off。　〃No！　This〃…he　rapped　Richard　on　the　head　with　his　knuckles…〃this　is　a　Seeker's　most　important　weapon。〃　He　jabbed　his　long　finger　at　the　center　of　Richard's　chest。　〃And　this。〃
　
　Everyone　stood　in　silence　for　a　moment。
　
　〃The　Seeker　is　the　weapon；〃　Zedd　said　with　emphasis。　〃The　sword　is　just　a　tool。　You　can　find　another　way。　You　must。〃
　
　Richard　thought　he　should　be　upset；　that　he　should　feel　angry；　frustrated；　overwhelmed；　but　he　didn't。　His　first　view　of　his　options　lifted　from　him；　letting　him　see　beyond。　He　felt　strangely　calm　and　determined。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　my　boy。　I　wish　I　could　change　the　magic；　but　I　。。。〃
　
　Richard　put　his　hand　on　Zedd's　shoulder。　〃It's　all　right；　my　friend。　You're　right。　We　must　stop　Rahl。　That's　all　that　matters。　I　have　to　know　the　truth　to　succeed；　and　you　have　given　me　the　truth。　Now　it's　up　to　me　to　use　it。　If　we　gain　one　of　the　boxes；　justice　will　have　Rahl。　I　don't　need　to　see　it。　I　need　only　know　it　is　done。　I　said　I　wouldn't　be　an　assassin；　and　so　I　shall　not　be。　The　sword　will　be　invaluable；　I'm　sure；　but　as　you　said；　it's　only　a　tool；　and　that's　the　purpose　I　will　put　it　to。　The　magic　of　the　sword　isn't　an　end　in　itself。　I　can't　allow　myself　to　make　that　mistake；　or　I　will　be　only　a　pretend　Seeker。〃
　
　In　the　gathering　gloom；　Zedd　patted　Richard　affectionately　on　the　shoulder。　〃You　have　gotten　it　all　right；　my　boy。　All　of　it。〃　He　broke　into　a　broad　grin。　〃I　have　chosen　the　Seeker　well。　I　am　proud　of　myself。〃　Richard　and　Kahlan　laughed　at　Zedd's　self…congratulation。
　
　Kahlan's　smiled　faded。　〃Zedd；　I　cut　down　the　tree　you　planted　in　memory　of　your　wife。　That　bothers　me。　I'm　deeply　sorry　for　doing　it。〃
　
　〃Don't　be；　dear　one；　her　memory　has　aided　us。　She　has　helped　show　the　Seeker　the　truth；　there　could　be　no　more　fitting　tribute　to　her。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　hear　them　talking。　Already　he　was　looking　to　the　east；　to　the　massive　wall　of　mountains；　trying　to　think　of　solutions。　Cross　the　boundary；　he　thought；　cross　the　boundary　without　going　through　it。　How？　What　if　it　was　impossible？　What　if　there　was　no　way　across　the　boundary？　Would　they　be　stuck　here　while　Darken　Rahl　searched　for　the　boxes？　Were　they　to　die　without　a　chance？　He　wished　there　were　more　time　and　fewer　limitations。　Richard　reprimanded　himself　for　wasting　time　wishing。
　
　If　only　he　knew　it　could　be　done；　then　he　could　find　out　how。　Something　in　the　back　of　his　mind　nagged　at　him；　insisting　that　it　could　be　done；　insisting　he　knew　the　truth　of　it。　There　was　a　way；　there　had　to　be。　If　he　only　knew　that　it　was　possible。
　
　All　around　them；　the　night　was　ing　alive　with　sounds。　Frogs　called　from　the　ponds　and　streams；　night　birds　from　the　trees；　and　insects　from　the　grass。　From　the　distant　hills　came　the　cry　of　wolves；　mournful　and　plaintive…　against　the　dark　wall　of　mountains。　Somehow　they　had　to　cross　those　mountains；　cross　the　unknown。
　
　The　mountains　were　like　the　boundary；　he　thought。　You　couldn't　go　through　them；　but　you　could　cross　them。　You　had　only　to　find　a　pass。　A　pass。　Was　it　possible？　Could　there　be　one？
　
　Then　it　struck　him　like　a　bolt　of　lightning。
　
　The　book。
　
　Richard　spun　on　his　heels；　excited。　To　his　surprise　Zedd　and　Kahlan　were　both　standing　quietly；　watching　him；　as　if　waiting　for　a　pronouncement。
　
　〃Zedd；　have　you　ever　helped　anyone　other　than　yourself　go　through　the　boundary？〃
　
　〃Like　who？〃
　
　〃Anyone！　Yes　or　no！〃
　
　〃No。　No　one。〃
　
　〃Can　anyone　other　than　a　wizard　send　a　person　through　the　boundary？〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃None　but　a　wizard。　And　Darken　Rahl；　of　course。〃
　
　Richard　frowned　at　him。　〃Our　lives　depend　on　this；　Zedd。　Swear。　You　have　never；　ever；　sent　anyone　other　than　yourself　through　the　boundary。　True？〃
　
　〃True　as　a　boiling　bog　full　of　toasted　toads。　Why？　What　have　you　thought　of？　Do　you　have　a　way？〃
　
　Richard　ignored　the　question；　too　deep　in　his　own　stream　of　thought　to　answer；　and　instead　turned　back　to　the　mountains。　It　was　true；　there　was　a　pass　across　the　boundary！　His　father　had　found　it；　and　used　it！　That　was　the　only　way　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　could　have　been　in　Westland。　He　couldn't　have　brought　it　with　him　when　he　moved　here；　before　the　boundary；　and　he　couldn't　have　found　it　in　Westland；　the　book　had　magic。　The　boundary　wouldn't　have　worked　if　magic　had　been　here　then。　Magic　could　only　be　brought；　into　Westland　after　the　boundary　was　up。
　
　His　father　had　found　a　pass；　gone　into　the　Midlands；　and　brought　the　book