tg.wizardfirstrule-第31节

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so　you　fellows　could　harvest　your　crops？〃　He　whipped　the　sword's　point　back　to　his　attacker。　〃And　John；　when　your　little　girl　was　lost　in　the　woods；　was　it　not　Zedd　who　read　the　clouds　all　night　and　then　went　out　himself　and　found　her　and　brought　her　back；　safe；　to　you　and　Sara？〃　John　and　a　few　others　cast　their　eyes　downward。　Richard　angrily　drove　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　〃Zedd　has　helped　most　of　the　men　here。　He　has　helped　heal　your　fevers；　find　lost　loved　ones；　and　freely　shared　anything　he　has　with　you。〃
　
　From　the　back　someone　yelled　out；　〃Only　a　witch　could　do　all　those　things！〃
　
　〃He　has　done　nothing　to　harm　a　single　one　of　you！〃　Richard　paced　back　and　forth　across　the　porch；　facing　the　men　down。　〃He　has　never　harmed　one　of　you！　He's　helped　most　of　you！　Why　would　you　want　to　harm　a　friend！〃
　
　There　was　some　confused　grumbling　for　a　few　minutes；　before　they　regained　their　conviction。　〃Most　of　the　things　he's　done　are　magic！〃　John　shouted。　〃A　witch's　magic！　None　of　our　families　are　safe　with　him　around！〃
　
　Before　Richard　could　answer；　Zedd　was　pulling　him　back　by　his　arm。　He　turned　to　the　old　man's　smiling　face。　Zedd　didn't　seem　to　be　bothered　in　the　least。　If　anything；　he　seemed　to　be　enjoying　himself。
　
　〃Very　impressive；〃　he　whispered；　〃both　of　you；　very　impressive。　If　you　would；　though；　let　me　handle　it　from　here？〃　He　lifted　an　eyebrow；　then　turned　to　the　men。　〃Gentlemen；　good　evening。　How　nice　to　see　you　all。〃　Some　of　the　men　gave　a　greeting　in　return。　A　few　lifted　their　hats　self…consciously。　〃If　you　would　be　so　kind；　before　you　dispatch　me；　let　me　talk　a　moment　with　my　two　friends　here？〃　There　were　nods　all　around。　Zedd　pulled　Kahlan　and　Richard　back　a　little　toward　the　house；　away　from　the　crowd；　and　bent　close。
　
　〃A　lesson　in　power；　my　friends。〃　He　put　a　sticklike　finger　on　Kahlan's　nose。　〃Too　little。〃　Next　he　put　the　finger　on　Richard's　nose。　〃Too　much。〃　He　put　the　finger　to　his　own　nose；　and　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eyes　said；　〃Just　right。〃　He　cupped　Kahlan's　chin　in　his　hand。　〃If　I　were　to　let　you　do　this；　dear　one；　there　would　be　graves　to　be　dug　this　night。　Our　three　would　be　among　them。　But　very　noble　nonetheless。　Thank　you　for　your　concern　for　me。〃　He　put　his　hand　on　Richard's　shoulder。　〃If　I　were　to　let　you　do　this；　there　would　be　a　great　many　graves　to　be　dug；　and　the　three　of　us　would　be　the　only　ones　left　to　do　the　digging。　I　am　too　old　to　dig　that　many　holes　in　the　ground；　and　we　have　more　important　things　to　do。　But　you　were　very　noble　too；　you　handled　yourself　honorably。〃　He　patted　Richard's　shoulder　and　then　put　a　finger　under　each　of　their　chins。
　
　〃Now；　I　want　you　two　to　let　me　handle　this　matter。　The　problem　is　not　what　you　are　telling　these　men。　The　problem　is　they　aren't　listening。　You　have　to　get　their　attention　before　they　will　hear　you。〃　He　lifted　an　eyebrow　and　looked　to　each　in　turn。　〃Watch　and　learn　what　you　can。　Listen　to　my　words；　but　they　will　have　no　effect　on　you。〃　He　removed　his　finger　and　shuffled　past　them；　smiling　and　waving　to　the　men。
　
　〃Gentlemen。　Oh；　John；　how　is　your　little　girl？〃
　
　〃She's　fine；〃　he　grumbled；　〃but　one　of　my　cows　had　a　two　headed　calf。〃
　
　〃Really？　And　how　do　you　think　that　happened？〃
　
　〃I　think　it　happened　because　you're　a　witch！〃
　
　〃There；　you　said　it　again。〃　Zedd　shook　his　head　in　confusion。　〃I　don't　understand。　Do　you　gentlemen　want　to　do　away　with　me　because　you　think　I　have　magic；　or　is　it　simply　your　intention　to　demean　me　by　calling　me　a　woman？〃
　
　There　was　some　confusion。　〃We　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　someone　said。
　
　〃Well；　it's　simple。　Girls　are　witches。　Boys　are　called　warlocks。　Do　you　see　my　point？　If　you　call　me　a　witch；　you　seem　to　be　calling　me　a　girl。　If　what　you　mean　is　that　you　think　me　a　warlock；　well；　that　is　an　altogether　different　insult。　So；　which　is　it？　Girl　or　warlock：〃
　
　There　was　more　confused　discussion；　then　John　spoke　up；　angry。　〃We　mean　to　say　you're　a　warlock；　and　we　intend　to　have　your　hide　for　it！〃
　
　〃My；　my；　my；〃　Zedd　said；　tapping　his　lower　lip　thoughtfully　with　the　tip　of　his　finger。　〃Why；　I　had　no　idea　you　men　were　so　brave。　So　very　brave　indeed。〃
　
　〃How's　that？〃　John　asked。
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃Well；　what　is　it　you　think　a　warlock　capable　of？〃
　
　There　was　more　talk　among　themselves。　They　started　shouting　out　suggestions。　He　could　make　two…headed　cows；　make　the　rains　e；　find　people　who　were　lost；　make　children　be　stillborn；　make　strong　men　weak　and　make　their　women　leave　them。　Somehow　this　didn't　seem　to　be　sufficient；　so　more　ideas　were　shouted　out。　Make　water　burn；　turn　people　into　cripples；　change　a　man　into　a　toad；　kill　with　a　look；　call　upon　demons；　and　in　general；　everything　else。
　
　Zedd　waited　until　they　were　done；　and　then　held　his　arms　out　to　them。　〃There　you　have　it。　Just　as　I　said；　you　men　are　the　bravest　fellows　I　have　ever　seen！　To　think；　armed　only　with　pitchforks　and　axe　handles；　you　e　to　do　battle　with　a　warlock　who　has　these　kinds　of　powers。　My；　my；　how　brave。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。　Zedd　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　Worry　started　to　break　out　in　the　crowd。
　
　Zedd　went　on；　in　a　drawn…out；　monotonous　tone；　suggesting　the　things　a　warlock　could　do；　describing　in　great　detail　a　variety　of　deeds　from　the　frivolous　to　the　terrifying。　The　men　stood；　transfixed；　listening　in　rapt　attention。　He　went　on　and　on　for　a　good　half　hour。　Richard　and　Kahlan　listened；　shifting　their　weight　as　they　became　bored　and　tired。　The　eyes　of　the　mob　were　wide；　unblinking。　They　stood　like　statues；　the　dancing　flames　from　their　torches　the　only　motion　among　the　men。
　
　The　mood　had　changed。　There　was　no　longer　anger。　Now　there　was　fear。　The　wizard's　voice　changed；　too；　no　longer　kind　and　gentle；　or　even　dull；　it　was　harsh　and　threatening。
　
　〃And　so；　men；　what　do　you　think　it　is　we　should　do　now？〃
　
　〃We　think　you　should　let　us　go　home；　unharmed；〃　came　the　weak　reply。　The　others　nodded　with　agreement。
　
　The　wizard　waggled　a　long　finger　in　the　air　in　front　of　them。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　You　see；　you　men　came　here　to　kill　me。　My　life　is　the　most　precious　thing　I　have；　and　you　intended　to　take　it　from　me。　I　can't　let　that　go　unpunished。〃　Quaking　and　fear　swept　through　the　crowd。　Zedd　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　porch。　The　men　took　a　step　back。　〃As　punishment　for　trying　to　take　my　life；　I　take　from　you；　not　your　life；　but　that　which　is　most　precious；　most　dear；　most　valuable！〃　With　a　flourish；　he　swept　his　hand　dramatically　over　their　heads。　They　gasped。　〃There。　It　is　done；〃　he　declared。　Richard　and　Kahlan；　who　had　been　leaning　against　the　house；　stood　up　straight。
　
　For　a　moment　no　one。　moved；　then　a　fellow　in　the　midst　of　the　mob　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pocket　and　felt　around。　〃My　gold。　It's　gone。〃
　
　Zedd　rolled　his　eyes。　〃No；　no；　no。　I　said　the　most　precious；　the　most　dear。　That　which　you　pride　above　all　else。〃
　
　Everyone　stood　a　moment；　confused。　Then　a　few　eyebrows　went　up　in　alarm。　Another　man　suddenly　thrust　。his　hand　into　his　pocket　and　felt　around；　eyes　wide　in　fright。　He　moaned　and　then　fainted。　The　ones　near　by　drew　back　from　him。　Soon　others　were　putting　their　hands　in　their　pockets；　cautiously　feeling　around。　There　were　more　moans　and　wails；　and　soon　all　the　men　were　grabbing　at　their　crotches　in　a　panic。　Zedd　smiled　in　satisfaction。　Pandemonium　broke　out　among　the　mob。　Men　were　jumping　up　and　down；　crying；　grabbing　at　themselves；　running　around　in　little　circles；　asking　for　help；　falling　on　the　ground；　and　sobbing。
　
　〃Now；　you　men　get　out　of　here！　Leave！〃　Zedd　yelled。　He　turned　to　Richard　and　Kahlan；　an　impish　grin　on　his　face　wrinkled　his　nose。　He　winked　at　them　both。
　
　〃Please；　Zedd！〃　a　few　men　called　out。　〃Please　don't　leave　us　like　this！　Please　help　us！〃　There　were　pleas　all　around。　Zedd　waited　a　few　moments　and　turned　back　to　them。
　
　〃What's　this？　Do　you　men　think　I　have　been　too　harsh？〃　He　asked　with　mock　wonder　and　sincerity。　There　was　quick　agreement　that　he　had　been。　〃And　why　do　you　think　this？　Have　you　learned　something？〃
　
　〃Yes！〃　John　yelled。　〃We　realize　now　that　Richard　was　right。　You　have　been　our　friend。　You　have　never　done　anything　to　harm　any　of　us。〃　Everyone　shouted　their　agreement。　〃You　have　only　helped　us；　and　we　acted　stupidly。　We　want　to　ask　your　forgiveness。　We　know；　just　like　Richard　said；　that　we　were　wrong；　that　using　magic　doesn't　make　you　bad。　Please；　Zedd；　don't　stop　being　our　friend　now。　Please　don't　leave　us　like　this。〃　There　were　more　pleas　shouted　out。
　
　Zedd　tapped　a　finger　on　his　bottom　lip。　〃Well…〃　He　looked　up；　thinking。　〃…I　guess　I　could　put　things　back　to　the　way　they　were。〃　The　men　moved　closer。　〃But　only　if　you　all　agree　to　my　terms。　I　think　them　quite　fair；　though。〃　They　were　ready　to　agree　to　anything。　〃All　right；　then；　if　you　agree　to　tell　anyone　who　speaks　up；　from　now　on；　that　magic　doesn't　make　a　person　bad；　that　their　actions　are　what　count；　and　if　you　go　home　to　your　families　and　tell　them　you　almost　made　a　terrible　mistake　tonight；　and　why　you　were　wrong；　then　you　will　all　be　restored。　Fair？〃
　
　There　was　nodding　from　everyone。　〃More　than　fair；〃　John　said　〃Thank　you；　Zedd。〃　The　men　turned　and　began　to　leave