kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第58部分

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s　in　Duncan's　mind；　feeling　what　he　felt；　seeing　what　he　saw。　The　impression　was　blurred　by　the　double　perception　of　Kelson　in　the　link　with　him；　also　one　with　Duncan　in　that　instant。
〃God　hath　made　thee　a　sharer　in　Christ's　priesthood；〃　Bradene　said；　pouring　the　holy　chrism　on　the　crown　of　Duncan's　head。　〃May　He　pour　upon　thee　this　oil　of　mystical　anointing　and　make　thee　fruitful　with　spiritual　blessing。〃
As　Bradene　cleansed　his　hands；　first　with　scraps　of　fine　white　bread　and　then　with　a　linen　napkin；　Morgan　basked　in　the　joy　welling　over　from　Duncan；　feeling　a　little　of　the　warmth　even　as　a　physical　thing。
〃Receive　thou　the　Gospel　and　preach　the　word　of　God；〃　Cardiel　said；　putting　the　great　book　briefly　in　Duncan's　hands；　〃always　teaching　with　the　greatest　of　patience。〃
The　book　was　taken　away；　to　be　replaced　by　a　silver　salver　bearing　the　ring。　As　Bradene　traced　a　cross　above　it；　Morgan　thought　he　saw　it　glint　from　more　than　candlelight。　It　flashed　with　a　fire　of　its　own　as　the　archbishop　held　it　briefly　before　Duncan's　extended　right　hand。
〃Take　thou　this　ring　as　a　seal　of　faith；　and　keeping　faith；　guard　and　protect　the　Holy　Church　which　is　the　bride　of　God；〃　Bradene　said。
Morgan　was　not　surprised；　as　Bradene　slid　it　onto　Duncan's　finger；　to　sense　reiteration　of　the　images　he　and　Duncan　had　seen　before：　the　placing　of　the　ring　on　another　hand；　in　days　gone　by　…　and　vague　impressions　of　a　ghostly　Other；　clad　in　priestly　vestments　of　a　deep；　royal　blue；　offering　up　the　ring　…　no；　a　cup　…　in　ritual　sacrifice　of　the　Mass。
But　there　was　more　…　a　misty　aureole　of　silver　shimmering　around　Duncan's　head　for　just　an　instant；　its　boundaries　contained　between　half…sensed　hands　which　Morgan　had　known　half　a　dozen　times　before；　and　Duncan　as　well。　It　vanished　as　Bradene　and　Cardiel　placed　the　mitre　on　Duncan's　head；　leaving　Morgan　to　blink　and　glance　at　Kelson　in　question；　wondering　whether　the　glimpsed　vision　had　been　only　his　imagination。
If　imagination；　however；　it　had　not　been　his　alone；　or　even　his　and　Kelson's。　From　the　king's　other　side　pulsed　a　more　discordant　note　of　shock　and　stark　panic：　Dhugal；　his　face　drained　of　color；　shoulders　rigid　with　blind　fear。　Kelson　caught　the　echo　of　Dhugal's　distress　in　the　same　instant　and　immediately　slipped　to　Dhugal's　other　side；　supporting　him　between　himself　and　Morgan。　Behind　them；　Nigel　half…rose　in　concern；　but　Kelson　shook　his　head。
〃It's　all　right。　Uncle；〃　he　whispered　lamely。　〃He's　a　little　ill；　is　all。　He'll　be　all　right。〃
As　Nigel　subsided；　shushing　Conall　and　the　curious　Pavne　and　Rory　and　no　doubt　suspecting　there　was　more　to　it　than　that；　Morgan　slid　his　arm　around　Dhugal's　shoulder　and　tried　to　shield　him　from　curious　eyes。
〃Are　you　in　pain；　Dhugal？〃　he　whispered。
Shuddering；　Dhugal　broke　his　rigid　stare　at　the　pageant　still　proceeding　before　the　altar　and　ducked　his　head。
〃What's　happening　to　me？〃　he　managed　to　gasp。　〃My　head　feels　like　it's　about　to　burst。〃
〃Take　a　deep　breath　and　try　to　let　go　what's　frightening　you；〃　Kelson　urged　softly。　〃Try　to　flow　with　it。〃
〃Oh；　God；　I　can't！　Didn't　you　see　it？〃
Alaric；　he　picked　up　the　same　thing　we　did！　Kelson　whispered　in　Morgan's　mind。　We've　got　to　get　him　out　of　here　…　and　I　can't　leave　until　it's　over。
His　thought　was　mixed　with　consternation；　caution；　and　even　a　little　joy；　but　Nigel　was　jostling　Morgan　from　behind；　gesturing　toward　the　altar。　With　the　consecration　itself　pleted；　the　bishops　had　rearranged　themselves　to　continue　with　the　Mass　…　and　Morgan　had　a　part　in　what　came　next。
It's　time　for　the　offertory；　Morgan　sent　back；　glancing　sidelong　at　Kelson　and　the　still　trembling　Dhugal　and　rising　as　the　choir　monks　began　the　hymn　which　was　his　cue。　If　I　don't　go　forward；　it　will　look　even　worse　than　this。　Keep　him　quiet　until　I　can　get　back。
With　eyes　averted　and　hands　folded　as　was　seemly；　Morgan　moved　down　into　the　aisle　and　paused　before　a　small；　white…draped　table；　gracefully　returning　the　solemn　bow　that　a　waiting　deacon　gave　as　he　handed　over　a　crystal　cruet　of　wine　and　a　lidded　chalice　of　gold。　The　crystal　was　cold　and　sleek　in　his　hand；　the　ciborium　seeming　oddly　light　for　all　its　contents　of　pale；　unconsecrated　hosts。　He　could　feel　Duncan　watching　him　as　he　slowly　passed　to　the　foot　of　the　altar　steps　and　knelt　before　him　and　the　two　archbishops；　aware　that　something　was　amiss。　The　sense　of　what　he　planned　passed　between　himself　and　Duncan　like　a　spark　as　he　offered　up　the　gifts　and　their　hands　touched。
Dhugal　Saw　something。　I'm　taking　him　to　your　old　study。　e　there　with　Kelson　as　soon　as　you　can　break　away；　Morgan　sent。
He　felt　Duncan's　startled　agreement　like　a　caress　as　he　rose　and　bowed　and　turned　to　go　back　to　his　place。　The　stark；　disruptive　pulse　of　Dhugal's　distress　welled　up　almost　like　a　wall　as　he　knelt　once　more　and　slipped　a　supporting　arm　under　Dhugal's　elbow。
〃Say　that　Dhugal　became　ill；〃　he　whispered　across　to　Kelson；　〃and　meet　us　afterward　in　Duncan's　old　study。　I'll　do　what　I　can　until　then。　I've　already　told　Duncan。〃
He　did　not　look　back　as　he　led　Dhugal　stumbling　from　the　choir。　The　words　of　Archbishop　Bradene's　prayer　chased　them　in　hollow　echo；　embracing　with　depths　of　meaning　which　neither　could　appreciate　at　the　time。
〃Lord；　accept　these　gifts　which　we　offer　for　Thy　chosen　servant；　Duncan；　Thy　chosen　priest。　Enrich　him　with　the　gifts　and　virtues　of　a　true　apostle；　for　the　good　of　Thy　people。　Amen。〃


CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
In　the　valley　of　vision。。。
Isaiah　22：5
With　Dhugal　clinging　dazedly　to　his　arm；　so　pale　that　his　freckles　seemed　painted　on　in　blood。　Morgan　managed　to　navigate　the　curved　aisle　around　the　back　of　the　cathedral　apse　without　arousing　any　more　attention　that　was　his　usual　wont。　Several　monks　not　involved　in　the　ceremonies　eyed　them　curiously；　but　Morgan's　grim　expression　precluded　any　offers　of　assistance。　Morgan　was　known　and　at　least　grudgingly　respected　even　by　most　clergy　after　three　years'　active　and　visible　service　with　the　new　young　king；　but　he　still　inspired　a　certain　amount　of　fear　in　some。
But　Dhugal's　fear　worried　Morgan　far　more　than　that　of　any　anonymous　monks　lurking　in　the　shadowy　aisle　…　　and　it　was　likely　to　get　worse　before　it　got　much　better。　He　could　feel　the　stark　terror　throbbing　just　beneath　the　surface　like　floodwaters　only　barely　held　in　check　by　a　failing　dam；　and　realized　Dhugal's　awareness　of　the　precarious　balance　was　only　adding　to　the　pressure。　The　only　way　Dhugal　was　managing　to　hold　his　panic　in　check　at　all　was　by　watching　his　feet；　concentrating　all　his　attention　on　the　simple　act　of　putting　one　foot　in　front　of　the　other。
〃We've　got　to　get　you　away　from　here；〃　Morgan　muttered；　guiding　Dhugal　toward　the　door　to　the　sacristy。　〃Can　I　trust　you　to　do　exactly　as　I　say？〃
Dhugal　stumbled　and　nearly　fell　as　he　gave　Morgan　an　odd；　pinched　look。
〃You're　…　assuming　I　have　a　choice；〃　he　managed　to　whisper；　as　Morgan　braced　him　and　reached　for　the　door　latch。　〃What's　happening　to　me？〃
〃That's　exactly　what　I'd　like　to　know。〃
Morgan　had　hoped　that　the　sacristy　might　be　unoccupied　during　the　ceremony；　but　the　presence　of　Saint　George's　elderly　sacristan　was　not　unexpected。　The　old　man　had　been　nodding　in　the　meager　sunshine　of　an　oriel　window　at　the　other　end　of　the　room　when　they　entered　and　woke　with　a　start　as　the　door　closed　behind　them。
〃Who's　that？〃
〃Ah；　Brother　Jerome；　is　that　you？〃　Morgan　said；　shifting　his　grip　on　the　tottering　Dhugal。　〃The　boy's　been　taken　ill。　He　needs　to　sit　down。〃
Frail　and　failing　of　eyesight；　the　old　monk　shuffled　closer　to　squint　quizzically　at　Morgan　and　his　obviously　ailing　panion。
〃Why；　'tis　the　Duke　o'Corwyn　…　an'　who's　this？〃　the　old　man　said；　his　tone　conveying　just　a　trace　of　wariness　along　with　surprised　respect。　〃Here；　laddie；　sit　ye　doon。　Ye　look　a　trifle　peaked。　What's　wrong　with　the　boy；　Yer　Grace？〃
〃Nothing　serious；　I　hope；〃　Morgan　replied；　letting　Jerome　help　him　seat　Dhugal　on　a　low　settle　next　to　a　vestment　press。　〃I　think　it　was　just　the　closeness　of　the　air　in　the　choir。　Maybe　the　incense　was　too　much　for　him。〃　He　ventured　a　sidelong　glance　at　Jerome　as　he　felt　for　the　pulse　in　Dhugal's　wrist。　〃I'm　sure　he'll　be　all　right　in　a　few　minutes。　Do　yo