tg.wizardfirstrule-第93节

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　〃Tell　you　what；　I　have　something　here　that　might　help。〃　A　thin　hand　reached　into　his　robes；　and　he　looked　up　into　the　air　while　his　hand　felt　around。…Then　his　hand　found　what　it　was　looking　for。　Her　eyes　went　wide　as　he　pulled　out　a　doll　with　short　hair　the　same　yellow　color　as　hers。　He　patted　the　doll's　tummy。　〃This　is　a　trouble　doll。〃
　
　〃Trouble　doll？〃　she　whispered。
　
　〃Yes。〃　He　nodded。　There　were　deep　wrinkles　at　the　ends　of　his　smile。　〃When　you　have　troubles；　you　tell　them　to　the　doll；　and　she　takes　them　away　for　you。　She　has　magic。　Here。　Try　it　out。〃　Rachel　could　hardly　take　a　breath　as　she　reached　out　with　both　hands；　her　fingers　carefully　clutching　the　doll。　She　pulled　it　to　her　chest　cautiously　and　hugged　it。　Then；　tentatively；　slowly；　she　held　it　out；　looking　at　its　face。　Her　eyes　got　all　watery。
　
　〃Princess　Violet　says　I'm　ugly；〃　she　confided　in　the　doll。
　
　The　face　on　the　doll　smiled。　Rachel's　mouth　dropped　open。
　
　〃I　love　you；　Rachel；〃　it　said　in　a　tiny　little　voice。
　
　Rachel　gasped　in　surprise；　she　giggled　in　glee；　she　hugged　the　doll　to　her　as　tight　as　she　could。　She　laughed　and　laughed；　swinging　her　body　back　and　forth　as　she　hugged　the　doll　to　her　chest。
　
　Then；　she　remembered。　She　pushed　the　doll　back　at　the　wizard；　turning　her　face　away。
　
　〃I'm　not　allowed　to　have　a　doll。　The　Princess　said　so。　She　would　throw　it　in　the　fire；　that's　what　she　said。　If　I　had　a　doll；　she　would　throw　it　in　the　fire。〃　She　could　hardly　speak；　because　of　the　lump　in　her　throat。
　
　〃Well；　let　me　think；〃　the　wizard　said；　rubbing　his　chin。　〃Where　do　you　sleep？〃
　
　〃Most　of　the　time；　I　sleep　in　the　Princess's　bedroom。　She　locks　me　in　the　box　at　night。　I　think　that's　mean。　Sometimes；　when　she　says　I've　been　bad；　she　makes　me　leave　the　castle　for　the　night；　so　I　have　to　sleep　outside。　She　thinks　that's　even　meaner；　but　I　really　like　it；　because　I　have　a　secret　place；　in　a　wayward　pine；　where　I　sleep。
　
　〃Wayward　pines　don't　have　locks　on　them；　you　know。　I　can　go　potty　whenever　I　have　to。　It's　pretty　cold　sometimes；　but　I　got　a　pile　of　straw；　and　I　climb　under　it　to　keep　warm。　I　have　to　e　back　in　the　morning；　before　she　sends　the　guards　to　look　for　me；　so　they　won't　find　my　secret　place。　I　don't　want　them　to　find　it。　They　would　tell　the　Princess　and　she　wouldn't　send　me　out　anymore。〃
　
　The　wizard　tenderly　cupped　his　hands　around　her　face。　It　made　her　feel　special。　〃Dear　child；〃　he　whispered；　〃that　I　could　have　been　a　party　to　this。〃　His　eyes　were　wet。　Rachel　didn't　know　wizards　could　get　tears。　Then　his　big　grin　came　back；　and　he　held　up　a　finger。　〃I　have　an　idea。　You　know　the　gardens；　the　formal　gardens？〃
　
　Rachel　nodded。　〃I　go　through　them　to　go　to　my　secret　place；　when　I'm　put　out　at　night。　The　Princess　makes　me　go　through　the　outer　wall　at　the　garden　gate。　She　doesn't　want　me　to　go　out　the　front；　past　the　shops　and　people。　She's　afraid　someone　might　take　me　in　for　the　night。　She　told　me　1　mustn't　go　to　the　town　or　the　farmland。　I　must　go　to　the　woods；　as　punishment。〃
　
　〃Well；　as　you　walk　down　the　central　path　of　the　garden；　there　are　short　urns；　on　both　sides；　with　yellow　flowers　in　them。〃　Rachel　nodded。　She　knew　where　they　were。　〃I　will　hide　your　doll　in　the　third　urn　on　the　right。　I　will　put　a　wizard's　web　over　it…that's　magic…so　no　one　but　you　will　find　it。〃　He　took　the　doll　and　carefully　tucked　it　away　back　in　his　robes　as　her　eyes　followed　it。　〃The　next　time　you　are　put　out　for　the　night；　you　go　there　and　you　will　find　your　doll。　Then　you　can　keep　it　at　your　place；　your　wayward　pine；　where　no　one　will　find　it；　or　take　it　from　you。
　
　〃And　I　will　also　leave　you　a　magic　fire　stick。　Just　build　a　little　stack　of　sticks；　not　too　big　now；　with　stones　around　it；　and　then　hold　the　magic　fire　stick　to　it　and　say　‘Light　for　me；'　and　it　will　burn；　so　you　can　keep　warm。〃
　
　Rachel　threw　her　arms　around　him；　hugging　and　hugging　him　as　he　patted　her　back。　〃Thank　you；　wizard　Giller。〃
　
　〃You　may　call　me　Giller　when　we　are　alone；　child；　just　Giller；　that　is　what　all　my　good　friends　call　me。〃
　
　〃Thank　you　so　much　for　my　doll；　Giller。　No　one　ever　gave　me　anything　so　nice　before。　I'll　take　the　bestest　care　of　her。　I　have　to　go　now。　I'm　to　scold　the　cooks　for　the　Princess。　Then　I　have　to　sit　and　watch　her　eat。〃　She　grinned。　〃Then　I　have　to　think　of　something　bad　to　do　so　the　Princess　will　put　me　out　tonight。〃
　
　The　wizard　laughed　a　deep　laugh　as　his　eyes　sparkled。　He　mussed　her　hair　with　his　big　hand。　Giller　helped　her　with　the　heavy　door　and　locked　it　for　her；　then　handed　the　key　back　to　her。
　
　〃I　so　hope　we　can　talk　again　sometime；〃　she　said；　looking　up　at　him。
　
　He　smiled　at　her。　〃We　will；　Rachel；　we　will。　I'm　sure　of　it。〃
　
　Waving　back　at　him；　she　ran　off　down　the　long；　empty　hall；　happier　than　she　had　been　since　she　first　came　to　live　at　the　castle。　It　was　a　long　way；　through　the　castle；　down　to　the　kitchen；　down　stone　stairs　and　halls　with　rugs　on　the　floors　and　paintings　on　the　walls；　through　big　rooms　with　tall　windows　hung　with　gold　and　red　drapery；　and　chairs　of　red　velvet　with　gold　legs；　long　carpets　with　pictures　on　them　of　men　fighting　on　horseback；　past　guards　who　stood　still　as　stone　at　some　of　the　big　fancy　doors　or　marched　in　twos；　and　by　servants　who　rushed　everywhere　carrying　linens；　trays；　or　brooms　and　rags　and　buckets　of　soapy　water。
　
　None　of　the　guards　or　servants　gave　her　a　second　look；　even　though　she　was　running。　They　knew　she　was　Princess　Violet's　playmate；　and　had　seen　her　running　through　the　castle　many　times　before　on　errands　for　the　Princess。
　
　She　was　winded　when　she　finally　reached　the　kitchens；　which　were　steamy　and　smoky　and　filled　with　noise。　Helpers　were　scurrying　around　carrying　heavy　sacks；　big　pots；　or　hot　trays；　all　trying　not　to　bump　into　one　another。　People　chopped　things　she　couldn't　see　on　the　high　tables　and　huge　chopping　blocks。　Pans　clanged；　cooks　yelled　orders；　helpers　took　pans　and　metal　bowls　off　hooks　overhead　and　put　others　back。　There　was　a　constant　rapping　of　spoons　mixing　and　whipping　food；　the　sharp　hiss　of　oil　and　garlic　and　butter　and　onions　and　spices　in　hot　pans；　and　everyone　seemed　to　be　yelling　at　the　same　time。　This　chaotic　place　smelled　so　good　it　made　her　head　spin。
　
　She　tugged　on　the　sleeve　of　one　of　the　two　head　cooks；　trying　to　tell　him　she　had　a　message　from　the　Princess；　but　he　was　arguing　with　another　cook　and　told　her　to　go　sit　and　wait　until　they　were　finished。　She　sat　down　nearby；　on　a　little　stool　by　the　ovens；　her　back　pressed　against　the　hot　brick。　The　kitchen　smelled　so　good；　and　she　was　so　hungry。　But　she　knew　she　would　get　in　trouble　if　she　asked　for　food。
　
　The　head　cooks　were　standing　over　a　big　crock；　waving　their　arms　around；　yelling　at　each　other。　Suddenly；　the　crock　fell　to　the　floor　with　a　big　thunk；　splitting　in　two；　sending　light　brown　liquid　flooding　all　over。　Rachel　jumped　up　on　the　stool　so　it　wouldn't　get　on　her　bare　feet。　The　cooks　stood　still；　their　faces　almost　as　white　as　their　coats。
　
　〃What're　we　going　to　do　now？〃　the　short　one　asked。　〃We　don't　have　any　more　of　the　ingredients　Father　Rahl　sent。〃　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　the　tall　one　said；　holding　his　hand　to　his　forehead。　〃Let　me　think。〃
　
　He　put　both　hands　to　his　face；　squishing　it　together。　Then　he　put　both　arms　in　the　air。
　
　〃All　right。　All　right。　I've　got　an　idea。　Get　me　another　crock；　and　just　keep　your　mouth　shut。　Maybe　we　can　keep　our　heads。　Get　me　some　other　ingredients。〃
　
　〃What　ingredients！〃　the　short　one　yelled；　red…faced。
　
　The　tall　cook　leaned　over　him。　〃Brown　ingredients！〃
　
　Rachel　watched　while　they　ran　around　snatching　up　things；　pouring　in　bottles　of　liquid；　adding　ingredients；　stirring；　tasting。　At　last　they　both　smiled。
　
　〃All　right；　all　right；　it'll　work。　I　think。　Just　let　me　do　the　talking；〃　the　tall　one　said。
　
　Rachel　stepped　tiptoed　across　the　wet　floor　and　tugged　on　his　sleeve　again。
　
　〃You！　You　still　here？　What　do　you　want？〃　he　snapped。
　
　〃Princess　Violet　said　not　to　make　her　roast　dry　again；　or　she　would　have　the　Queen　make　those　men　beat　you。〃　She　looked　down　at　the　ground。　〃She　made　me　say　that。〃
　
　He　looked　down　at　her　a　minute；　then　turned　to　the　short　cook；　shaking　his　finger。　〃I　told　you！　I　told　you！　This　time；　slice　hers　from　the　center；　and　don't　mix　up　the　plates　or　we'll　both　end　up　losing　our　heads！〃　He　looked　back　down　at　her。　〃And　you　didn't　see　any　of　this；〃　he　said；　stirring　his　finger　in　the　air　over　the　crock。
　
　〃Cooking？　You　don't　want　me　to　tell　anyone　I　saw　you　cooking？　All　right；〃　she　said；　a　little　confused；　and　started　tiptoeing　across　the　wet　floor　again。　〃I　won't　tell　anyone；　I　promise。　I　don't　like　to　see　people　getting　hurt　by　those　men　with　the　whips。　I　won't　tell。〃
　
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　called　after　her。　〃Rachel；　isn't　it？〃
　
　She　turned　and　nodded。
　
　〃e　back　here。〃
　
　She　didn't　want　to；　but　she　tiptoed　back　anyway。　He　took　out　a　big　knife　that　scared　her　at　first；　then　turned　to　a　platter　on　the　table　behind　him　and　cut　off　a　big；　juicy　piece　of　meat。　She　had　never　seen　such　a　piece　of　meat；　without　fat　and　gristle　all　over　it；　at　least　not　up　close。　It　was　a　p