tg.wizardfirstrule-第38部分

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　as　they　walked　along。　Even　though　it　was　unfortable　to　do　so；　Richard　walked　with　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword。
　
　…＋
　
　Shadows　in　the　moonlight　swept　back　and　forth　across　the　heavy　oak　door　and　its　iron　strap　hinges　as　the　wind　bowed　branches　close　to　the　house。　Kahlan　and　Zedd　didn't　want　to　climb　the　spiked　fence；　so　Richard　had　left　them　on　the　other　side　to　wait。　He　was　just　starting　to　reach　up　to　knock　on　the　door；　when　a　big　fist　grabbed　his　hair　and　a　knife　pressed　against　his　throat。　He　froze。
　
　〃Chase？〃　he　whispered　hopefully。
　
　The　hand　released　his　hair。　〃Richard！　What　are　you　doing　lurking　about　in　the　middle　of　the　night！　You　know　better　than　to　sneak　up　to　my　place。〃
　
　〃I　wasn't　sneaking。　I　didn't　want　to　wake　the　whole　house。〃
　
　〃There's　blood　all　over　you。　How　much　is　yours？〃
　
　〃Most　of　it；　I'm　sorry　to　say。　Chase；　go　unlock　your　gate。　Kahlan　and　Zedd　are　waiting　out　there。　We　need　you。〃　Chase；　cursing　as　he　stepped　on　twigs　and　acorns　with　his　bare　feet；　unlocked　the　gate；　and　shepherded　them　alt　into　the　house。
　
　Emma　Brandstone；　Chase's　wife；　was　a　kind；　friendly　woman；　always　wearing　a　smile　on　her　bright　face。　She　seemed　the　plete　opposite　of　Chase。　Emma　would　be　mortified　if　she　thought　she　had　intimidated　anyone；　while　Chase's　day　wouldn't　be　plete　unless　he　had。　Emma　was　like　Chase　in　one　respect；　though。　Nothing　ever　seemed　to　surprise　or　fluster　her。　She　was　typically　unruffled　at　this　late　hour　as　she　stood　in　her　long；　white　nightdress；　her　gray…streaked　hair　tied　back；　。making　tea　as　the　rest　of　them　sat　at　the　table。　She　smiled；　as　if　it　were　normal　；to　have　blood…streaked　guests　e　visiting　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　But　then；　with　Chase；　it　sometimes　was。
　
　Richard　hung　his　pack　over　the　back　of　his　chair；　taking　the　cat　out　and　handing　him　to　Kahlan。　She　put　him　in　her　lap；　where　he　immediately　began　purring　as　she　stroked　his　back。　Zedd　sat　to　his　other　side。　Chase　put　a　shirt　over　his　big　frame　and　lit　several　lamps　that　hung　from　heavy　oak　beams。　Chase　had　felled　the　trees；　hewed　the　beams　out；　and　placed　them　by　himself。　The　names　of　the　children　were　carved　along　the　side　of　one。　Behind　his　chair　at　the　table　was　a　fireplace　made　of　stones　he　had　collected　in　his　travels　over　the　years。　Each　had　a　unique　shape；　color；　and　texture。　Chase　would　tell　anyone　who　would　listen　where　each　had　e　from；　and　what　sort　of　trouble　he　had　encountered　in　retrieving　it。　A　simple　wooden　bowl；　full　of　apples；　sat　in　the　center　of　the　stout　pine　table。
　
　Emma　removed　the　bowl　of　apples　and　replaced　it　with　a　pot　of　tea　and　a　jar　of　honey；　then　passed　around　mugs。　She　told　Richard　to　remove　his　shirt　and　turn　his　chair　so　she　could　clean　his　wounds；　a　task　not　unfamiliar　to　her。　With　a　stiff　brush　and　hot　soapy　water　she　scrubbed　his　back　as　if　she　were　cleaning　a　dirty　kettle。
　
　Richard　bit　his　bottom　lip；　holding　his　breath　at　times；　and　scrunched　his　eyes　closed　in　pain　as　she　worked。　She　apologized　for　hurting　him；　but　said　she　had　to　get　all　the　dirt　out　or　it　would　be　worse　later。　When　she　was　finished　cleaning　the　gashes；　she　patted　his　back　dry　with　a　towel　and　applied　a　cool　salve　while　Chase　got　him　a　clean　shirt。　Richard　was　glad　to　put　the　shirt　on；　as　it　provided　him　at　least　a　symbol　of　protection　from　her　further　ministering：
　
　Emma　smiled　to　the　three　guests。　〃Would　anyone　like　something　to　eat？〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　a　hand。　〃Well；　I　wouldn't　mind　。　。　。〃　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　shot　him　a　withering　glare。　He　shrank　back　into　his　chair。　〃No。　Nothing　for　us。　Thank　you。〃
　
　Emma　stood　behind　Chase；　bing　her　fingers　affectionately　through　his　hair。　He　sat　in　undisguised　agony；　barely　able　to　tolerate　her　public　display　of　sentiment。　At　last　he　leaned　forward；　using　the　excuse　of　pouring　tea　to　put　a　stop　to　it。
　
　With　a　frown；　Chase　pushed　the　honey　across　the　table。　〃Richard；　for　as　long　as　I've　known　you；　you've　had　a　talent　for　sidestepping　trouble。　But　lately；　you　seem　to　be　losing　your　footing。〃
　
　Before　Richard　could　answer；　Lee；　one　of　their　daughters；　appeared　in　the　doorway；　rubbing　her　sleepy　eyes　with　her　fists。　Chase　scowled　at　her。　She　pouted　back。
　
　Chase　sighed。　〃You've　got　to　be　the　ugliest　child　I've　ever　seen。〃
　
　Her　pout　turned　to　a　beaming　grin。　Lee　ran　over　to　him；　threw　her　arms　around　his　leg；　put　her　head　on　his　knee；　and　hugged　it　tight。　He　mussed　her　hair。
　
　〃Back　to　bed　with　you；　little　one。〃
　
　〃Wait；〃　Zedd　spoke　up。　〃Lee；　e　here。〃　She　went　around　the　table。　〃My　old　cat　has　been　plaining　that　he　has　no　children　to　play　with。〃　Lee　stole　a　peek　toward　Kahlan's　lap。　〃Do　you　know　of　any　children　he　could　visit？〃　。
　
　The　girl's　eyes　widened。　〃Zedd；　he　could　stay　here！　He　would　have　fun　with　us！〃
　
　〃Really？　Well　then；　he　will　stay　here　for　a　visit。〃
　
　〃All　right；　Lee；〃　Emma　said；　〃off　to　bed　with　you。〃
　
　Richard　looked　up。　〃Emma；　could　you　do　me　a　favor？　Do　you　have　any　traveling　clothes　Kahlan　could　borrow？〃
　
　Emma　looked　Kahlan　over。　〃Well；　her　shoulders　are　too　big
　
　‘for　my　clothes；　and　her　legs　are　too　long；　but　the　older　girls　have　things　I　think　would　work　nicely。〃　She　smiled　warmly　at　Kahlan　and　held　out　a　hand。　〃e　on；　dear；　let's　see　what　we　can　find。〃　Kahlan　handed　Cat　to　Lee　and　took　her　other　hand。　〃I　hope　Cat　won't　be　a　bother。　He　insists　on　sleeping　on　your　bed　with　you。〃
　
　〃Oh；　no；〃　Lee　said　earnestly；　〃that　will　be　fine。〃
　
　As　they　left　the　room　Emma　knowingly　shut　the　door。
　
　Chase　took　a　sip　of　tea。　〃Well？〃
　
　〃Well；　you　know　the　conspiracy　my　brother　was　talking　about？　It's　worse　than　he　knows。〃
　
　〃That　so；〃　Chase　said　nonmittally。
　
　Richard　pulled　the　Sword　of　Truth　from　its　scabbard　and　laid　it　on　the　table　between　them。　The　polished　blade　gleamed。　Chase　leaned　forward　and　put　his　elbows　on　the　table；　lifting　the　sword　with　his　fingertips。　He　let　it　roll　into　his　palms；　inspecting　it　closely；　running　his　fingers　over　the　word　Truth　on　the　hilt　and　down　the　fuller　on　each　side　of　the　blade；　testing　the　sharpness　of　the　edge。　He　betrayed　nothing　more　than　mild　curiosity。
　
　〃Not。　unusual　for　a　sword　to　be　named；　but　typically　the　name　is　engraved　on　the　blade。　I've　never　seen　the　name　on　the　hilt。〃　Chase　was　waiting　for　someone　else　to　say　something　consequential。
　
　〃Chase；　you've　seen　this　sword　before；〃　Richard　admonished。　〃You　know　what　it　is。〃
　
　〃I　have。　But；　I've　never　seen　it　this　close。〃　His　eyes　came　up；　dark　and　intense。　〃The　point　is；　Richard；　what　are　you　doing　with　it？〃
　
　Richard　peered　back　with　equal　intensity。　〃It　was　given　to　me　by　a　great　and　noble　wizard。〃
　
　Chase's　forehead　wrinkled　into　a　sober　frown。　He　looked　to　Zedd。　〃What's　your　part　in　this；　Zedd？〃
　
　Zedd　leaned　forward；　a　small　smile　on　his　thin　lips。　〃I'm　the　one　who　gave　it　to　him。〃
　
　Chase　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　shaking　his　head　slowly。　〃The　spirits　be　praised；〃　he　whispered。　〃A　real　Seeker。　At　last。〃
　
　〃We　don't　have　much　time；〃　Richard　said。　〃I　need　to　know　some　things　about　the　boundary。〃
　
　Chase　let　out　a　deep　sigh　as　he　rose　and　went　to　the　hearth。　He　leaned　an　arm　on　the　mantel；　staring　into　the　flames。　The　other　two　waited　while　the　big　man　picked　at　the　rough　wood　of　the　mantel　as　if　trying　to　pick　his　words
　
　〃Richard；　do　you　know　what　my　job　is？〃
　
　Richard　shrugged。　〃Keeping　people　away　from　the　boundary；　for　their　own　good。〃
　
　Chase　shook　his　head。　〃Do　you　know　how　to　get　rid　of　wolves？〃
　
　〃Go　out　and　hunt　them；　I　guess。〃
　
　The　boundary　warden　shook　his　head　again。　〃That　might　get　a　few；　but　more　would　be　born；　and　in　the　end；　you　have　just　as　many。　If　you　really　want　to　have　fewer　wolves；　you　hunt　their　food。　You　trap　rabbits；　so　to　speak。　It's　easier。　If　there　is　less　food；　fewer　pups　will　be　born。　In　the　end　you　have　fewer　wolves。　That's　my　job。　I　hunt　rabbits。〃
　
　Richard　felt　a　wave　of　fright　ripple　through　him。
　
　〃Most　people　don't　understand　the　boundary；　or　what　we　do。　They　think　it's　just　some　stupid　law　we　enforce。　Many　are　afraid　of　the　boundary；　mostly　older　people。　Many　others　think　they　know　what's　best　and　go　up　there　to　poach