tg.wizardfirstrule-第30节

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　His　father　had　found　a　pass；　gone　into　the　Midlands；　and　brought　the　book　back。　Richard　was　shocked　and　excited　at　the　same　time。　His　father　had　done　it！　He　had　gone　across　the　boundary。　Richard　was　elated。　Now　he　knew　there　Was　a　way　across；　it　could　be　done。　He　still　had　to　find　the　pass；　but　that　didn't　matter　for　now。　There　was　a　pass；　that　was　what　mattered。
　
　Richard　turned　back　to　the　other　two。　〃We　will　go　have　supper。〃
　
　〃I　put　a　stew　on；　just　before　you　awoke；　and　there　is　fresh　bread；〃　Kahlan　offered。
　
　〃Bags！〃　Zedd　threw　his　scarecrow　arms　up　into　the　air。　〃It's　about　time　someone　remembered　supper！〃
　
　Richard　gave　a　little　smile　in　the　dark。　〃After　we've　eaten；　we'll　make　preparations；　decide　what　we　need　to　take；　what　we；　can　carry；　get　our　provisions　together　and　packed　tonight。　We'll　need　to　get　a　good　night's　sleep。　We　leave　at　first　light。〃　He　turned　and　headed　for　the　house。　The　faint　glow　of　the　fire　ing　from　the　windows　offered　warmth　and　light。
　
　Zedd　held　up　an　arm。　〃Where　are　we　headed；　my　boy？〃
　
　〃The　Midlands；〃　Richard　called　back　over　his　shoulder。
　
　…＋
　
　Zedd　was　halfway　through　his　second　bowl　of　stew　before　he　could　bring　himself　to　stop　eating　long　enough　to　talk。　〃So；　what　have　you　Figured　out？　Is　there　truly　a　way　to　cross　the　boundary？〃
　
　〃There　is。〃
　
　〃Are　you　sure？　How　can　it　be？　How　can　we　cross　without　going　through？〃
　
　Richard　smiled　as　he　stirred　his　stew。　〃You　don't　have　to　get　wet　to　cross　…a　river。〃　The　lamp　light　flickered　on　their　faces　as　Kahlan　and　Zedd　frowned　in　puzzlement。　Kahlan　turned　and　threw　a　small　piece　of　meat　to　the　cat；　who　was　sitting　on　his　haunches；　waiting　for　any　handout。　Zedd　ate　another　slab　of　bread　before　he　was　able　to　ask　his　next　question。
　
　〃And　how　do…　you　know　there　is　a　way　across？〃
　
　〃There　is。　That's　all　that　matters。〃
　
　Zedd　had　an　innocent　look　on　his　face。　〃Richard。〃　He　ate　two　more　spoonfuls　of　stew。　〃We　are　your　friends。　There　are　no　secrets　among　us。　You　can　tell　us。〃
　
　Richard　looked　from　one　big　pair　of　eyes　to　the　other；　and　laughed　out　loud。　〃I've　had　strangers　tell　me　more　of　themselves。〃
　
　Zedd　and　Kahlan　both　backed　away　a　little　at　the　rebuff　and　looked　at　each　other；　but　neither　dared　repeat　the　question。
　
　They　talked　on　as　they　ate；　of　what　they　had　at　hand　to　take　with　them；　how　much　they　could　do　to　prepare　in　such　a　short　time；　and　what　their　priorities　should　be。　They　listed　everything　they　could　think　of；　each　offering　items　to　be　taken。　There　was　much　to　do　and　little　time。　Richard　asked　Kahlan　if　she　traveled　the　Midlands　often。　She　said　that　was　almost　all　she　ever　did。
　
　〃And　you　wear　that　dress　when　you　travel'
　
　〃I　do。〃　She　hesitated。　〃People　recognize　me　by　it。　I　don't　stay　in　the　woods。　Wherever　I　go；　I　am　always　provided　with　food　and　a　place　to　stay；　and　anything　else　I　might　require。〃
　
　Richard　wondered　why。　He　didn't　press；　but　he　knew　the　dress　she　wore　was　more　than　something　she　bought　in　a　shop。　〃Well；　with　the　three　of　us　being　hunted；　I　don't　think　we　want　people　to　recognize　you。　I　think　we　need　to　stay　away　from　people　as　much　as　possible；　keep　to　the　woods　when　we　can。〃　She　and　Zedd　both　nodded　their　agreement。　〃We　will　need　to　find　you　some　traveling　clothes；　forest　garb；　but　there　is　nothing　here　that　will　fit　you。　We'll　have　to　find　something　on　the　way。　I　have　a　hooded　cloak　here。　It　will　keep　you　warm　for　now。〃
　
　〃Good；〃　she　said　smiling；　〃I'm　tired　of　being　cold；　and　I　can　tell　you；　a　dress　is　not　right　for　the　woods。〃
　
　Kahlan　finished　before　the　men　and　put　her　half…full　bowl　on　the　floor　for　the　cat。　The　cat　seemed　to　have　the　same　appetite　as　Zedd　and　was　eating　out　of　the　bowl　before　she　could　set　it　down。
　
　They　discussed　each　item　they　would　take；　and　planned　how　they　would　do　without　others。　There　was　no　telling　how。　long　they　would　be　gone；　…but　Westland　was　a　big　place；　and　the　Midlands　bigger。　Richard　wished　they　could　go　to　his　house；　since　he　often　went　on　long　treks　and　had　the　right　kinds　of　provisions；　but　it　was　too　big　a　risk。　He　would　rather　find　the　things　they　needed　elsewhere；　or　go　without；　than　go　back　to　what　waited　there。　He　didn't　know　yet　where　they　were　going　to　cross　the　boundary；　but　he　wasn't　worried。　He　still　had　until　morning　to　think　about　it。　He　was　just　relieved　to　know　there　was　a　way。
　
　The　cat's　head　came　up。　He　crossed　half　the　distance　to　the　door　and　stopped；　back　and　fur　rising。　Everyone　noticed　and　fell　silent。　There　was　firelight　in　the　front　window；　but　it　wasn't　reflecting　from　the　hearth。　It　was　ing　from　outside。
　
　〃I　smell　burning　pitch；〃　Kahlan　said。
　
　In　an　instant　the　three　were　on　their　feet。　Richard　grabbed　the　sword　from　the　back　of　his　chair　and　had　it　on　almost　before　he　was　to　his　feet。　He　went　to　look　out　the　window；　but　Zedd　didn't　waste　the　time　and　went　through　the　door　in　a　rush　with　Kahlan　in　tow。　Richard　got　only　a　glimpse　of　torches　before　he　hurried　out　after　the　other　two。
　
　Spread　out　in　the　long　grass　in　front　of　the　house　was　a　mob　of　about　fifty　men；　some　carrying　torches；　but　most　carrying　crude　weapons；　axes；　pitchforks；　scythes；　or　axe　handles。　They　were　dressed　in　their　work　clothes。　；Richard　recognized　many　of　the　faces；　good　men；　honest；　hardworking　family　men。　They　didn't　look　like　good　men　this　night；　though。　They　looked　to　be　in　a　foul　mood；　their　faces　grim　and　angry。　Zedd　stood　in　the　center　of　the　porch；　hands　on　his　skinny　hips；　smiling　out　at　them；　the　red　light　from　the　torches　making　his　white　hair　pink。
　
　〃What's　this　then；　boys？〃　Zedd　asked。
　
　They　mumbled　among　themselves；　and　several　men　in　front　took　a　step　or　two　forward。　Richard　knew　the　one；　John；　who　spoke　for　the　rest。
　
　〃There's　trouble　about。　Trouble　caused　by　magic！　And　you're　at　the　bottom　of　it；　old　man！　You're　a　witch！〃
　
　〃A　witch？〃　Zedd　asked　in　bewilderment。　〃A　witch？〃　〃That's　what　I　said；　a　witch！〃　John's　dark　eyes　shifted　to　Richard　and　Kahlan。　〃This　doesn't　concern　you　two。　Our　business　is　with　the　old　man。　Leave　now　or　you'll　get　the　same　as　him。〃　Richard　couldn't　believe　the　men　he　knew　were　saying　this。
　
　Kahlan　came　forward；　stepping　in　front　of　Zedd；　the　folds　of　her　dress　swirling　around　her　legs　when　she　stopped。　She　held　her　fists　at　her　sides。　〃Leave　now；〃　she　warned　menacingly；　〃before　you　e　to　regret　what　you　have　chosen　to　do。〃
　
　The　mob　of　men　looked　around　at　each　other；　some　smirking；　some　making　crude　ments　under　their　breath；　some　laughing。　Kahlan　stood　her　ground　and　stared　them　down。　The　laughter　died　out。
　
　〃So；〃　John　said　with　a　sneer；　〃two　witches　to　take　care　of。〃　The　men　cheered　and　hollered；　brandishing　their　weapons。　John's　round；　heavyset　face　smiled　defiantly。
　
　Richard　stepped　slowly　and　deliberately　in　front　of　Kahlan；　putting　a　hand　behind　as　he　did　so；　forcing　her　and　Zedd　to　step　back。　He　kept　his　voice　calm；　friendly。　〃John。　How's　Sara？　I　haven't　seen　you　two　for　a　while。〃　John　didn't　answer。　Richard　surveyed　the　other　faces。　〃I　know　many　of　you；　know　you　to　be　good　men。　This　isn't　something　you　want　to　do。〃　He　looked　back　at　John。　〃Take　your　men　and　go　home　to　your　families。　Please；　John？〃
　
　John　pointed　an　axe　handle　at　Zedd。　〃That　old　man's　a　witch！　We're　going　to　put　an　end　to　him。〃　He　pointed　at　Kahlan。　〃And　her！　Unless　you　want　the　same；　Richard；　be　on　your　way！〃　The　mob　yelled　their　agreement。　The　torches　sizzled　and　popped　as　they　burned；　and　the　air　smelled　of　burning　pitch　and　sweat。　When　they　realized　that　Richard　wasn't　leaving；　the　rabble　started　to　push　forward。
　
　The　sword　was　free　in　a　blink。　The　men　took　a　step　back　as　the　metallic　ringing　filled　the　night　air。　John　stood　in　red…faced　anger。　The　ringing　died　out；　and　the　only　sound　was　from　the　burning　torches。　Grumbling　broke　out　about　Richard　being　in　with　the　witches。
　
　John　charged；　swinging　the　axe　handle　at。　Richard　as　he　came。　The　sword　flashed　through　the　air；　splintering　John's　weapon　with　a　loud　crack。　Only　two　ragged　inches　of　the　axe　handle　were　left　above　his　fist。　The　severed　piece　of　wood　spun　off　into　the　darkness；　landing　somewhere　with　a　hollow　thud。
　
　John　stood　frozen；　one　foot　on　the　ground；　one　on　the　porch；　and　the　point　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　pressed　to　the　underside　of　his　ample　chin。　The　polished　blade　glinted　in　the　torchlight。　Richard；　his　muscles　hard　with　restrained　need；　slowly　bent　forward　and　with　the　sword　point　tilted　John's　face　up　to　his　own。　In　a　voice　barely　more　than　a　whisper；　but　so　deadly　cold　it　make　John　stop　breathing；　he　said；　〃Another　step；　John；　and　your　head　follows。〃　John　didn't　move；　didn't　breathe。　〃Back　away；〃　Richard　hissed。
　
　The　man　did　as　he　was　ordered；　but　when　back　with　his　fellows；　regained　his　nerve。　〃You　can't　stop　us；　Richard；　we're　here　to　save　our　families。〃
　
　〃From　what！〃　Richard　yelled。　He　pointed　the　sword　at　one　of　the　other　men。　〃Frank！　When　your　wife　was　sick；　wasn't　it　Zedd　who　brought　her　a　potion　that　made　her　well？〃　He　pointed　the　sword　to　another。　〃And　Bill；　didn't　you　e　and　ask　Zedd　about　the　rains；　when　they　would　e　so　you　fellows　could　harvest　your　crops？〃　He　whipped　the