tg.stone of tears-第222章

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　The　driver　must　have　heard。　The　coach　slid　to　a　stop；　and　then　rocked　as　someone　climbed　down。　When　the　door　drew　open　and　he　saw　the　size　of　the　man　in　a　longcoat　sticking　his　windburned　face　in；　he　clutched　his　cane　and　slid　back。
　
　‘Who　are　you？’　he　asked；　brandishing　the　cane。
　
　‘Me？　I’m　just　a　big　fool；’　the　big　man　growled。　His　deeply　creased　face　softened　into　a　little　smile。　‘Name’s　Ahern。’
　
　‘Well；　Ahern；　what　are　you　doing　with　us？　Have　you　kidnapped　us？　Are　we　being　held　for　ransom？’
　
　Ahern　chuckled。　‘More　like　the　other　way　around；　I’d　say。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？　How　long　have　we　been　asleep？　And　who　are　we？’
　
　Ahern　looked　to　the　sky。　‘Dear　spirits；　how　do　I　get　myself　into　these　things？’　He　let　out　a　sigh。　‘You’ve　both　been　asleep　since　late　yesterday。　You’ve　slept　last　night；　and　all　day　today。　Your　name　is　Ruben。　Ruben　Rybnik。’
　
　‘Ruben？’　He　harrumphed。　‘Ruben。　Well；　that’s　a　fine　name。’
　
　And　who　be　I？’　the　woman　asked。
　
　‘You　are　Elda　Rybnik。’
　
　‘Her　name　is　Rybnik；　too？’　Ruben　asked。　Are　we　related？’
　
　Ahern　hesitated。　‘Yes　and　no。　You　two　are　husband　and　wife。　Sort　of。’
　
　Ruben　leaned　toward　the　big　man。　‘I　think　that　needs　explaining。’
　
　Ahern　gave　a　sigh；　and　a　nod。　‘Your　name’s　Ruben；　and　hers　is　Elda。　But　that’s　not　your　real　names。　You　told　me　that　for　now；　it　would　be　best　if　I　not　tell　you　your　real　names。’
　
　‘You　have　kidnapped　us！　You’ve　knocked　us　on　the　head　and　spirited　us　away！’
　
　‘Just　calm　down；　and　I’ll　explain。’
　
　‘Then　explain；　before　I　give　you　a　thrashing　with　my　cane。’
　
　‘It　isn’t　worth　it；’　Ahern　mumbled　to　himself。　‘How　did　I　ever　get　into　this？　Gold；　that’s　how；’　he　answered　himself。
　
　Ahern　pushed　into　the　coach；　sitting　next　to　Ruben。　He　pulled　the　door　closed　against　the　flying　snow。
　
　‘Well；　just　invite　yourself　right　in；’　Ruben　said。
　
　Ahern　cleared　his　throat。　All　right；　now；　you　two　listen　to　me。　You　both　were　sick。　You　had　me　take　you　to　see　three　women。’　He　leaned　closer　to　Ruben　and　scowled。　Three　sorceresses。’
　
　‘Sorceresses！’　Ruben　yelped。　‘No　wonder　we　don’t　know　who　we　are！　You　took　us　to　witches　and　had　a　spell　put　on　us！’
　
　Ahern　put　a　calming　hand　on　him。　‘Be　quiet　and　listen。　You　are　a　wizard。’　Ruben　gawked　at　Ahern。　Ahern　turned　to　Elda。　And　you　are　a　sorceress。’
　
　Ruben　waved　his　arms　around　with　a　flourish。　‘No　I’m　not；’　he　snapped；　at　last；　‘or　you’d　be　changed　to　a　toad。’
　
　Ahern　shook　his　head　with　a　grumble。　‘Your　power　is　gone。’
　
　‘Well；’　Ruben　asked　as　he　straightened　his　back；　‘was　I　a　talented　wizard？’
　
　‘You　were　good　enough　to　put　those　cursed　fingers　of　yours　to　the　side　of　my　thick　head　and　put　it　in　my　mind　to　help　you。　You　said　wizards　had　to　use　people　sometimes；　to　do　what　must　be　done。　The　burden　of　a　wizard　you　called　it。　You　said　helping　you　was　something　I　would　have　done　anyway；　that　you　were　only　calling　on　the　‘goodness’　within　me　to　hurry　my　thinking　along。　Anyway；　that；　and　more　gold　than　I’ve　ever　seen；　convinced　me　to　do　something　I　ought　to　know　better　than　to　get　tangled　in。　I　surely　don’t　like　anything　to　do　with　wizards　and　magic。’
　
　‘And　I　be　a　sorceress？’　Elda　asked。　‘A　blind　sorceress？’
　
　‘Well；　no；　ma’am。　You　were　blind；　but　you　could　use　your　gift　to　see　…　see　better　than　I　can　see　with　my　eyes。’
　
　‘Then　why　be　I　blind；　now？’
　
　‘Both　of　you　were　sick。　Sick　with　some　kind　of　evil　magic。　The　three　sorceresses　agreed　to　help　you；　but　in　order　to　cure　you；　they　had　to　。。。　well；　they　had　to　give　you　both　something　that　would　make　your　magic；　your　gift；　go　away。　You　made　me　wait　outside；　so　I　don’t　know　what　they　did。　I　just　know　what　you　told　me　before　you　went　back　in　for　the　last　time　to　have　it　done。’
　
　Ruben　leaned　in。　‘You’re　making　this　up。’
　
　Ahern　ignored　him　and　went　on。　‘The　sickness　you　two　had　was　feeding　on　your　good　magic。　I　don’t　know　the　way　magic　works；　and　the　spirits　know　I　don’t　want　to　know；　I　only　know　what　you　told　me；　the　way　you　explained　it　to　me；　when　you　came　out　and　convinced　me　to　help　you。　You　said　that　in　order　to　help　you；　the　three　sorceresses　had　to　give　you　something　to　make　your　magic　go　away。　Only　in　that　way　could　you　two　heal。　The　evil　magic　wouldn’t　wither　and　die；　and　your　wounds　heal；　as　long　as　it　had　the　good　magic　to　latch　on　to；　to　feed　on。’
　
　‘So　now　we　have　no　magic？’
　
　‘Well；　I　don’t　know　how　it　all　works；　but　as　I　understand　it；　you　can’t　really　get　rid　of　your　magic。　What　the　three　women　did　was　make　you　forget　everything　about　yourselves；　so　you　wouldn’t　know　you　had　any　magic；　so　the　evil　magic　wouldn’t　know；　either；　that　it　was　there。　So　that’s　why　neither　of　you　knows　who　you　are；　or　how　to　use　magic。　That’s　why　Elda　is　blind。’
　
　Ruben　squinted。　‘Why　would　the　sorceresses　agree　to　help　us？’
　
　‘Mostly　because　of　Elda。　They　said　she　was　a　legend　among　the　sorceresses　of　Nicobarese。　Something　about　what　she　did　when　she　was　younger　and　used　to　live　here。’
　
　Ruben　stared　at　the　big　man。　‘It　has　to　be　true。’　He　turned　to　Elda。　‘It　has　to　be　true。　No　one　could　invent　such　an　absurd　story。　What　do　you　think？’
　
　‘I　think　as　you。　I　think　he　be　telling　us　the　truth。’
　
　‘Good；’　Ahern　said。　‘Now　es　the　part　you　aren’t　going　to　like。’
　
　‘What　about　our　magic？　When　does　it　e　back？　When　do　we　remember　who　we　are？’
　
　Ahern　raked　his　meaty　fingers　through　his　shaggy；　gray　hair。　‘That’s　the　part　you　aren’t　going　to　like。　The　three　women　said　they　doubt　you　two　will　ever　get　it　back。　You　may　never　remember。　You　may　never　get　your　magic　back。’
　
　The　silence　echoed　in　the　coach。　Ruben　finally　spoke。　‘Why　would　we　agree　to　such　a　thing？’
　
　Ahern　picked　at　his　fingers。　‘Because　you　had　no　choice。　You　were　both　sick。　Mighty　sick；　Elda　more　than　you。　She　would　have　been　dead　by　now；　and　you　within　another　day　or　two；　at　most。　You　had　no　choice。　It　was　the　only　way。’
　
　Ruben　folded　his　hands　over　the　silver　head　of　his　cane。　‘Well；　if　that　is　so；　then　we　had　to。　If　we　never　remember；　we　will　just　learn　to　be　Ruben；　and　Elda；　and　start　our　lives　over。’
　
　Ahern　shook　his　head。　‘There’s　a　problem　about　that。　You　told　me　that　the　three　women　said　that　if　the　evil　magic　finally　left　you；　then　you　might　be　able　to　get　your　memory；　and　your　magic；　back。　You　told　me　that　it　was　imperative　that　you　get　it　back。　You　said　that　there　was　great　trouble　in　the　world　that　you　had　to　help　with。　You　said　that　it　was　a　matter　of　grave　importance　to　every　person　alive。　You　said　you　had　something　you　must　do。’
　
　‘What　trouble？　What　is　it　I　must　do？’
　
　‘You　didn’t　tell　me。　You　said　I　wouldn’t　understand。’
　
　‘Well；　how　do　we　get　our　memories；　our　magic；　back？’　Ahern　glanced　to　each。　‘It　may　not　e　back。　The　three　women　didn’t　know　if　it　ever　would；　but　if　it　is　to　e　back；　it　will　only　e　back　with　a　shock。　A　great　emotional　jolt；　or　shock。’
　
　‘An　emotional　shock？　Like　what？’
　
　‘Like　maybe　anger。　Maybe　if　you　are　angry　enough。’
　
　Ruben　frowned。　‘So　。。。　what？　You　are　to　slap　me；　to　make　me　angry？’
　
　‘No。　You　said　that　you　didn’t　know　how；　but　something　like　that　wouldn’t　work。　You　said　it　required　a　great　emotional　shock；　but　you　didn’t　know　what　it　could　be；　or　how　to　bring　it　about。　You　also　said　that　if　something　did　bring　on　the　anger；　it　would　be　violent；　and　terrible；　because　of　the　magic。　You　said　you　had　no　choice；　though；　because　you　would　die　if　you　didn’t　do　this。’
　
　Ruben　and　Elda　sat　in　silence　and　thought　while　Ahern　watched　them。　‘So；　where　are　you　taking　us？　Why　are　we　in　this　coach？’
　
　‘Aydindril。’
　
　‘Aydindril？　Never　heard　of　it。　Where　is　it？　How　far？’
　
　‘Aydindril　is　the　home　of　the　Confessors；　clear　on　the　other　side　of　the　Rang’Shada　Mountains。　It’s　a　long　journey：　weeks；　maybe　a　month。　It　will　be　close　to　winter　solstice；　the　longest　night　of　the　year；　before　we　get　there。’
　
　‘Seems　a　long　way　to　go；’　Ruben　said。　‘Why　did　I　want　you　to　take　us　there？’