tg.wizardfirstrule-第138章

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　Her　eyes　came　to　his　again。　〃Like　what？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know。〃　He　sighed。　〃But　it　has　something　to　do　with　that　loaf　'of　bread。〃
　
　〃The　bread？　Do　you　really　think　so？〃
　
　〃She　had　no　shoes；　no　cloak；　nothing　but　her　doll。　It's　her　most　precious　possession；　she's　devoted　to　it；　yet　she　let　us　touch　it。　But　she　wouldn't　let　us　get　within　an　arm's　length　of　that　loaf　of　bread。　I　don't　know　much　about　the　magic　in　the　Midlands；　but　where　I　e　from；　a　little　girl　will　not　value　a　loaf　of　bread　more　than　her　doll；　and　I　don't　think　it's　any　different　here。　Did　you　see　the　look　in　her　eyes　when　you　reached　for　the　bread；　and　she　snatched　it　away？　If　she　had　had　a　knife；　and　you　hadn't　backed　off；　she　would　have　used　it　on　you。〃
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　admonished；　〃you　can't　really　believe　that　about　a　little　girl。　A　loaf　of　bread　couldn't　be　that　important　to　her。〃
　
　〃No？　You　said　yourself　she　ate　as　much　as　both　of　us　put　together。　I　was　beginning　to　think　she　was　related　to　Zedd。　Explain　why　if　she　was　half　starved；　she　hadn't　even　nibbled　on　that　loaf　of　bread：〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃There　is　something　going　on；　and　that　loaf　of　bread　is　at　the　center　of　it。〃
　
　Kahlan　took　a　step　toward　him。　〃So；　we're　going　after　her？〃
　
　Richard　felt　the　weight　of　the　tooth　against　his　chest。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　letting　it　out　slowly。　〃No。　As　Zedd　is　fond　of　saying；　nothing　is　ever　easy。　How　can　we　justify　going　after　one　little　girl；　to　solve　the　riddle　of　her　loaf　of　bread；　while　Rahl　goes　after　the　box？〃
　
　She　took　his　hand　in　one　of　hers；　looked　down　at　it。　〃I　hate　what　Darken　Rahl　does　to　us；　the　way　he　twists　us。〃　She　squeezed　his　hand。　〃She　got　into　our　hearts　awfully　quick。〃
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　one…armed　hug。　〃That　she　did。　She's　one　special　little　girl。　I　hope　she　finds　what　she's　after；　and　that　she　is　safe。〃　He　let　go　…of　Kahlan　and　started　for　the　wayward　pine；　to　get　their　things。　〃Let's　get　moving。〃
　
　Neither　wanted　to　think　about　how　they　felt；　that　they　were　deserting　Rachel；　condemning　her　to　the　embrace　of　dangers　she　knew　nothing　about　and　was　defenseless　against；　and　so　both　set　their　minds　to　covering　as　much　ground　as　fast　as　they　could。　The　bright　day　wore　on　with　an　endless　expanse　of　rugged　forest；　and　with　their　exertion　they　didn't　notice　the　cold。
　
　Richard　was　always　glad　when　he　saw　a　spiderweb　stretched　across　the　trail；　he　had　begun　to　think　of　spiders　as　his　guardians。　When　he　had　been　a　guide；　he　had　always　been　annoyed　to　have　them　tickle　his　face。　Thank　you；　sister　spider；　he　said　to　himself　every　time　he　passed　one　now。
　
　Near　midday；　they　stopped　for　a　break　on　sunlit　rocks　in　an　icy　stream。　Richard　splashed　the　frigid　water　on　his　face；　trying　to　work　up　some　energy。　He　was　tired　already。　Lunch　was　cold；　too；　and　lasted　only　as　long　as　it　took　to　bolt　it　down。　They　both　stuffed　the　last　bites　in　their；　mouths；　brushed　their　hands　off　on　their　pants；　and　hopped　down　off　the　flat；　pink　rock。
　
　As　much　as　he　tried　not　to　think　about　Rachel；　he　found　himself　frowning　with　worry　before　he　realized　he　was　doing　it　again。　He　saw　Kahlan's　brow　wrinkle　sometimes　when　she　turned；　checking　to　the　sides。　One　time　he　asked　if　she　thought　he　had　made　the　right　decision。　She　didn't　have　to　ask　which　decision　he　was　talking　about。　She　asked　how　long　he　thought　it　would　have　taken　to　catch　her。　He　thought　two　days；　if　every…　thing　went　right；　at　least　one　to　catch　her　and　another　back。　Two　days；　she　had　told　him；　was　more　than　they　could　afford。　It　felt　reassuring　to　hear　her　say　it。
　
　Late　in　the　afternoon；　the　sun　slipped　behind　a　distant　peak　of　one　of　the　mountains　of　the　Rang'Shada；　muting　and　softening　the　colors　of　the　woods；　calming　the　wind；　and　settling　a　stillness　over　the　countryside。　Richard　was　able　to　set　aside　his　thought　of　Rachel　as　he　concentrated　on　what　they　would　do　when　they　reached　Tamarang。
　
　〃Kahlan；　Zedd　told　us　we　both　had　to　stay　away　from　Darken　Rahl；　that　we　have　no　power　against　him；　no　defense。〃
　
　She　gave　a　short　glance　over　her　shoulder。　〃That's　what　he　said。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃Well；　Shota　said　the　Queen　wouldn't　have　the　box　for　long。〃
　
　〃Maybe　when　she　said　that；　she　meant　we　would　get　it　soon。〃
　
　〃No；　it　was　a　warning；　that　the　Queen　wouldn't　have　it　long；　meaning　we　must　hurry。　So　what　if　Darken　Rahl　is　already　there？〃
　
　She　looked　over　her　shoulder；　then　slowed；　and　walked　next　to　him。　〃So　what　if　he　is？　There　is　no　other　way。　I'm　going　to　Tamarang。　Do　you　wish　to　wait　behind　for　me？〃
　
　〃Of　course　not！　I'm　only　saying　we　should　keep　in　mind　what　we　are　walking　into；　that　Darken　Rahl　might　be　there。〃
　
　〃I　have　had　that　thought　in　my　mind　for　a　long　time　now。〃
　
　He　walked　next　to　her　for　a　minute　without　saying　anything。　At　last　he　asked；　〃And　what　have　you　concluded？　What　will　we　do　if　he　is　there？〃
　
　She　stared　straight　ahead　as　she　spoke。　〃If　。Darken　Rahl　is　in　Tamarang；　and　we　go　there；　then　in　all　likelihood…we　will　die。〃
　
　Richard　lost　a　stride；　she　didn't　wait　for　him；　but　walked　on。
　
　As　the　woods　grew　darker；　a　few　small　clouds　glowed　red；　the　dying　embers　of　day。　The　trail　had　begun　following　the　Callisidrin　River；　sometimes　taking　them　close　enough　for　a　view　of　it；　and　even　when　it　didn't；　they　could　still　hear　the　rush　of　its　brown　waters。　Richard　hadn't　seen　a　wayward　pine　all　afternoon。　Glancing　about　at　the　treetops；　he　saw　no　sign　of　one　now；　either。　As　it　grew　dark；　he　gave　up　hope　of　finding　one　before　nightfall；　and　so　began　looking　for　other　shelter。　Off　the　trail　a　safe　distance；　he　found　a　short；　cleft　face　of　rock　at　the　bottom　of　a　rise。　Trees　were　sheltering　all　about；　and　he　felt　it　a　well　hidden　camp；　even　if　it　was　open　to　the　sky。
　
　The　moon　was　well　up　by　the　time　Kahlan　had　a　stew　cooking　on　the　fire；　and　by　a　bit　of　luck　that　surprised　him；　Richard　had　two　rabbits　in　the　snare　before　he　expected　to；　and　was　able　to　add　them　to　the　pot。
　
　〃I　think　we　have　enough　to　feed　Zedd；〃　she　said。
　
　As　if　bidden　by　her　words；　the　old　man；　white　hair　in　disarray；　strode　into　the　circle　of　light；　stopping　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire；　hands　on　his　hips；　his　robes　looking　a　little　tattered。
　
　〃I'm　starved！〃　he　announced。　〃Let's　eat。〃
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　blinked；　wide…eyed；　and　came　to　their　feet。　The　old　man　blinked；　too；　when　Richard　drew　the　sword。　In　a　heartbeat；　Richard　was　over　the　fire；　the　sword's　point　to　his　ribs。
　
　〃What's　this？〃　the　old　man　asked。
　
　〃Back　up；〃　Richard　ordered。　They　moved；　the　sword　between　them；　to　the　trees。　Richard　eyed　the　trees　carefully。
　
　〃Mind　if　I　inquire　as　to　what　we're　doing；　my　boy？〃
　
　〃I've　been　called　by　you　once；　and　seen　you　once；　yet　neither　was　you。　Third　time　tricked；　marks　the　fool；〃　Richard　quoted。　He　saw　what　he　was　looking　for。　〃I'll　not　be　tricked　the　third　time；　I'll　not　be　the　fool。　Over　there。〃　He　pointed　with　his　chin。　〃Walk。　between　those　two　trees。〃
　
　〃I　will　not！〃　the　old　man　protested。　〃Sheath　your　sword；　my　boy！〃
　
　〃If　you　don't　walk　between　those　two　trees；〃　Richard　said　through　gritted　teeth；　〃I'll　sheath　my　sword　in　your　ribs。〃
　
　The　old　man　lifted　his　elbows　in　surprise；　then　picked　up　his　robes　as　he　stepped　through　the　low　brush；　muttering　to　himself　while　Richard　prodded　him　along　with　the　sword。　He　took　only　a　quick　glance　back　before　stepping　between　the　trees。　Richard　watched　as　the　spiderweb　parted。　A　grin　spread　on　his　face。
　
　〃Zedd！　Is　it　truly　you？〃
　
　Zedd；　hands　on　his　hips；　peered　at　him　with　one　eye。　〃True　as　toasted　toads；　my　boy。〃
　
　Richard　sheathed　the。　sword　and　threw　his　arms　around　his　old　friend；　nearly　squeezing　the　life　out　of　him。　〃Oh；　Zedd！　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you！〃
　
　Zedd's　arms　flailed　as　he　tried　to　get　a　breath。　Richard　let　up；　looked　him　in　the　eye；　beaming；　then　squeezed　again。
　
　〃I　fear　what　would　have　happened　had　you　been　any　more　glad　to　see　me。〃
　
　Richard　walked　him　back　to　the　fire；　an　arm　around　his　shoulders。　〃Sorry　about　that；　but　I　had　to　know　for　sure。　I　can't　believe　you're　here！　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you！　I'm　so　happy　you're　all　right。　We　have　so　much　to　t