tg.stone of tears-第133章

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　She　clutched　her　skirt　in　a　fist。　‘I　don’t　know。’
　
　Richard　heard　a　scream。　The　familiar　voice　wrenched　his　attention　before　he　could　stop　himself。　Kahlan　was　standing　where　the　snakes　poured　from　the　ground。　They　slithered　up　and　over　her　as　if　she　were　a　rock　in　a　living　stream　of　snakes。　She　held　her　arms　out　to　him。
　
　‘Richard！　Help　me！　You　said　you　would　love　me　always！　Please；　Richard！　Don’t　leave　me　to　this！　Help　me！’
　
　His　own　voice　came　in　a　shaky　whisper。　‘Sister　Verna；　what　do　you　see？’
　
　‘Jedidiah；’　she　answered　quietly。　There　are　snakes　all　over　him。　He　wants　my　help。　May　the　Creator　have　mercy　on　us。’
　
　‘Why　should　he　start　now？’
　
　‘Do　not　speak　blasphemy。’
　
　He　forced　himself　to　turn　from　the　vision。　Gripping　the　Sister’s　arm；　he　led　her　away。　They　sidestepped　as　they　watched　the　forms　drifting　around　them。　They　avoided　the　snakes；　but　it　was　impossible　not　to　step　on　the　huge　bugs。
　
　He　knew　that　moving　anywhere　without　knowing　where　to　go　could　be　more　dangerous　than　standing　still；　now　that　the　magic　had　found　them。　Even　so；　he　couldn’t　make　his　feet　stop。　Finally　they　reached　ground　that　was　clear　of　snakes　and　bugs；　for　the　moment。
　
　‘We’re　running　out　of　time。　Do　you　feel　anything　yet？　Do　you　feel　the　way　yet？’
　
　‘Nothing。　I’m　sorry；　Richard。　I　have　failed　in　my　duty；　failed　the　Creator。　I’ve　killed　us　both。’
　
　‘Not　yet。’
　
　Richard　whistled　for　the　horses。　They　came　at　a　trot；　ignored　by　the　dark　forms。　Bonnie　nuzzled　her　head　against　him；　forcing　him　back　a　step。　Sister　Verna　took　up　the　lead　line　and　started　leading　Jessup　away。
　
　‘No！’　Richard　leapt　up　onto　Bonnie。　He　swatted　two　clicking　bugs　from　his　pant　leg。　‘Mount　up。　Hurry。’
　
　Sister　Verna　stared　at　him。　‘Richard；　we　can’t　ride　the　horses。　I　told　you　that。　They　are　just　dumb　animals。　They　will　be　spooked　and　take　us　into　a　storm　of　spells。　We　can’t　control　them　without　bits！’
　
　‘Sister；　you　told　me　you　read　The　Adventures　of　Bonnie　Day。　Do　you　remember　when　the　three　heroes　were　taking　the　injured　people　to　safety；　and　they　came　to　the　poison　river　that　couldn’t　be　crossed？　What　did　they　say？　They　said　that　the　people　just　had　to　have　faith　that　it　could　be　done。　Bonnie；　Geraldine；　and　Jessup　led　them　across　the　river。　Have　faith；　Sister。　Mount　up。　Hurry。’
　
　‘You　want　me　to　do　something　I　know　will　get　us　killed　because　of　some　fool　thing　you　read　in　a　book！　We　must　walk！’
　
　Bonnie　tossed　her　head　and　danced　about。　Richard　took　up　the　slack　in　the　reins　to　keep　her　in　place。　‘You　don’t　know　the　way。　I　don’t　know　the　way。　If　we　stay　we　die。’
　
　Then　what　good　is　riding　going　to　do！’　She　had　to　give　a　sharp　tug　to　keep　Jessup　still。　He　was　roused　by　Bonnie’s　excitement。
　
　‘Sister；　what　have　the　horses　been　doing　all　day；　whenever　we　let　them？’
　
　‘Browsing　on　grass　that　isn’t　there。　They’re　having　visions！’
　
　‘Are　they？　Do　you　know　that？　What　if　what　we’re　seeing　is　the　illusion？　Maybe　they　see　what’s　really　here。　Now　let’s　go！’
　
　The　dark　forms　were　closer；　their　eyes　glowing　a　brighter　red。　Sister　Verna　glanced　at　them；　and　then　pulled　herself　up　onto　the　saddle。　‘But　…’
　
　‘Have　a　little　faith；　Sister。’　Bonnie　pranced　sideways；　eager　to　be　off。　‘I　promised　you　I　would　save　you；　and　I　intend　to。　I’ll　lead。　Don’t　hold　back。’
　
　Richard　gave　his　horse　a　sharp　kick　in　the　ribs　with　his　heels　while　shouting　the　mand。　She　leapt　out　into　a　dead　run。　The　other　two　horses　sprang　to　follow。　He　leaned　forward　over　Bonnie’s　withers　as　she　stretched　into　the　gallop。　He　let　her　have　free　rein；　without　giving　her　any　hint　of　direction。　He　focused　on　her　ears；　instead　of　what　lay　ahead；　not　wanting　to　influence　her。
　
　‘Richard！’　Sister　Verna　screamed　from　behind。　‘In　the　name　of　the　Creator；　watch　where　you’re　going！　Don’t　you　see　what　you’re　leading　that　horse　into！’
　
　‘I’m　not　leading　her；’　he　called　out　over　the　sound　of　thundering　hooves。　‘She　is　picking　her　own　course。’
　
　The　Sister　galloped　up　beside　him；　her　eyebrows　knit　together　in　fury。　‘Are　you　insane？　Look　at　where　you’re　headed！’
　
　Richard　snatched　a　glance。　They　were　rushing　headlong　for　the　edge　of　a　cliff。
　
　‘Close　your　eyes；　Sister。’
　
　‘Have　you　lost　your　。。。’
　
　‘Close　your　eyes！　It’s　a　vision。　A　vision　of　a　fear　we　all　have　in　mon　…　falling。　Just　like　we　both　saw　snakes。’
　
　‘The　snakes　were　real！　If　you’re　wrong　we　will　be　killed！’
　
　‘Close　your　eyes。　If　it’s　really　there；　the　horses　won’t　run　over　the　edge　of　a　cliff。’　He　hoped　he　was　right　about　that。
　
　‘Unless　it’s　really　there；　and　the　magic　shows　them　a　vision　of　flat　ground　so　as　to　kill　us！’
　
　‘If　we　stay；　we　die！　We　have　no　choice！’
　
　He　heard　a　growled　curse　from　her　as　she　hauled　in　on　her　left　rein；　trying　to　turn　her　horse；　but　Jessup　stayed　with　Bonnie。　Bonnie　was　leading；　Jessup　and　Geraldine　wouldn’t　leave　her。
　
　‘I　told　you　destroying　those　bits　was　foolish！　We　can’t　control　them！　They’re　running　away　with　us！’
　
　‘I　told　you　I　would　save　you。　Destroying　those　bits　is　what　will　save　you。　My　eyes　are　closed。　If　you　want　to　live；　close　yours！’
　
　Sister　Verna　was　silent　as　the　three　horses　thundered　on。　Richard’s　eyes　were　squeezed　shut。　When　he　judged　they　should　be　at　the　brink；　he　held　his　breath。　He　prayed　that　the　good　spirits　would　be　with　him　this　time。
　
　His　legs　tingled　in　anticipation　of　plummeting　over　a　cliff。　He　tried　not　to　think　of　what　it　would　be　like　on　the　way　down。　Shared　fear；　that’s　all　it　was。　He　realized　he　was　holding　Bonnie’s　mane　in　a　death　grip。　He　relaxed　his　fingers　but　kept　his　eyes　closed。
　
　The　plunge　didn’t　e。
　
　The　three　horses　galloped　on。　He　did　nothing　to　slow　them；　but　let　them　run　as　they　would。　They　were　in　a　frisky　mood　from　grazing　all　day；　and　he　could　tell　they　were　enjoying　the　run。　They　were　running　for　the　sheer　joy　of　it。
　
　After　a　time；　Richard　realized　that　the　sound　of　their　hooves　was　changing。　It　wasn’t　as　sharp；　it　had　grown　softer。
　
　‘Richard！　We’re　out　of　the　valley！’
　
　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　to　see　the　wisp　of　dark　storm　clouds　boiling　at　the　edge　of　the　horizon。　The　golden　sun　hung　low　in　the　sky　over　the　grassy；　undulating　ground　beneath　them。　Their　horses　slowed　to　a　canter。
　
　‘Are　you　sure？　Are　you　sure　we’re　away　from　it？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘This　is　the　Old　World。　I　know　this　place。’
　
　‘But　it　could　still　be　an　illusion；　to　give　us　confidence；　and　trap　us　before　we’re　clear。’
　
　‘Must　you　always　question　what　I　tell　you？　I　can　feel　it　with　my　Han。　This　is　no　illusion。　We　are　safely　out　of　the　valley　and　away　from　its　magic。　It　cannot　reach　us　now。’
　
　Richard　wondered　briefly　if　she　could　still　be　an　illusion。　But　he；　too；　sensed　that　the　danger　was　no　longer　there。　He　leaned　forward　and　gave　Bonnie’s　warm　neck　a　big　hug。
　
　The　immense　hills　they　were　entering　were　barren　of　trees；　covered　with　clumps　of　grass　and　wildflowers；　the　low　places　sprinkled　throughout　with　sandy…colored　rocks。　The　sun　shined　warmly；　but　it　no　longer　scorched　the　land。　Richard　laughed　into　the　wind　at　his　face。
　
　He　grinned　at　Sister　Verna；　but　she　wasn’t　smiling。　Her　brow　was　creased　with　a　scowl　as　she　scanned　the　sweep　of　hills　before　them。
　
　‘Wipe　that　grin　off　your　face；’　she　snapped。
　
　‘I’m　just　happy　we　made　it。　I’m　happy　you’re　alive；　Sister。’
　
　‘If　you　had　any　idea　how　angry　I　am　with　you　right　now；　Richard；　you　would　not　be　quite　so　pleased　I　am　still　with　you。　Take　this　advice　seriously：　you　would　be　doing　yourself　a　great　favor；　right　now；　if　you　kept　that　tongue　of　yours　still。’
　
　He　could　only　shake　his　head。
　
　
　CHAPTER　33
　
　‘You　must　cut　off　my　arm。’
　
　Zedd　drew　the　sleeve　of　the　sky　blue；　satin　robe　down　her　arm；　covering　the　wound　that　wouldn’t　heal；　and　the　faint　green　glow　of　her　flesh。
　
　‘I’m　not　cutting　off　your　arm；　Adie。　How　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？’
　
　He　set　the　cut…glass　lamp　back　on　a　side　table　inlaid　with　silver　worked