tg.stone of tears- 第185部分

　
　‘True；　Mother　Confessor。　You　have　put　him　beyond　any　help。　I　will　never　again　see　my　grandson。　You　will　never　again　see　him。　Richard　will　not　return　to　this　world　for　another　three　hundred　years。　Because　of　you。　Because　you　made　him　put　on　that　collar　to　prove　he　loves　you。’
　
　He　turned　his　back　to　her。　Kahlan　fell　to　her　knees。　‘Noooo！’　She　beat　her　fists　on　the　floor。　‘Dear　spirits；　why　have　you　done　this　to　me！’　She　cried　in　choking　sobs。　‘Richard；　my　Richard。’
　
　‘What　happened　to　your　hair；　Mother　Confessor？’　Zedd　asked　in　a　menacing　voice；　his　back　still　to　her。
　
　Kahlan　sat　back　on　her　heels。　What　did　it　matter　anymore。　‘The　council　convicted　me　of　treason。　I　have　been　sentenced　to　be　executed。　To　be　beheaded。　The　people　all　cheered　at　the　pronouncement　of　sentence。　They　all　wanted　to　see　it　done。　But　I　escaped。’
　
　Zedd　nodded。　‘The　people　shall　have　their　wish。’　He　grabbed　what　was　left　of　her　hair　in　his　fist　and　started　dragging　her　from　the　room。　‘For　what　you　have　done；　you　shall　be　beheaded。’
　
　‘Zedd！’　she　screamed。　‘Zedd！　Please；　don’t　do　this！’
　
　He　used　magic　to　drag　her　down　the　hall　like　a　sack　of　feathers。
　
　‘Tomorrow；　at　the　winter　solstice　festival；　the　people　shall　have　their　wish。　They　shall　see　the　Mother　Confessor　beheaded。　As　First　Wizard；　I　will　see　to　it。　I　shall　see　it　done。’
　
　Kahlan　went　limp。　What　did　it　matter？　The　good　spirits　had　abandoned　her。　They　had　stripped　her　of　everything　that　mattered。
　
　Worse；　she　herself　had　condemned　Richard　to　three　hundred　years　of　the　thing　he　feared　most。
　
　She　wanted　to　die。　Death　couldn’t　e　fast　enough　for　her。
　
　
　Richard　stood　with　his　hands　on　his　hips　as　he　watched　the　dark　clouds　made　by　spells　in　the　distance；　in　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　They　looked　beautiful　in　the　sunrise；　with　golden　edges　and　striations　of　glowing　rays。　But　he　knew　they　were　deadly。
　
　Du　Chaillu　put　an　affectionate　hand　to　his　arm。　‘My　husband　makes　me　proud　this　day。　He　returns　our　land　to　us；　as　the　old　words　have　foretold。’
　
　‘I’ve　explained　it　to　you　a　dozen　times；　Du　Chaillu；　I　am　not　your　husband。　You　have　simply　misinterpreted　the　old　words。　It　only　means　we　must　do　this　together。　And　we　haven’t　done　it　yet。　I　wish　you　would　have　e　with　me　without　bringing　everyone　else。　I　don’t　even　know　if　this　will　work。　We　could　be　killed。’
　
　She　patted　his　arm　reassuringly。　The　Caharin　has　e。　He　can　do　anything。　He　will　return　our　land。’　She　left　him　to　his　thoughts　and　started　back　to　the　camp。　‘All　our　people　should　be　with　us。　It　is　their　right。’　She　stopped　and　turned　back。　‘Will　we　be　leaving　soon；　Caharin？’
　
　‘Soon；’　Richard　said　absently。
　
　She　started　off　again。　‘I　will　be　with　our　people　when　you　are　ready　for　me。’
　
　The　entire　Baka　Ban　Mana　nation　was　camped　behind　them。　Thousands　upon　thousands　of　tents　were　spread　out　over　the　hills；　like　mushrooms　after　a　month　of　rain。　He　hadn’t　been　able　to　talk　them　out　of　ing；　to　convince　them　to　wait；　so　they　were　all　here；　with　him。
　
　Richard　sighed。　What　difference　did　it　make？　If　he　was　wrong；　and　this　failed；　he　had　no　reason　to　worry　about　all　the　Baka　Ban　Mana　being　disappointed　in　him。　He　would　be　dead。
　
　Warren　and　Sister　Verna　quietly　came　up　behind。
　
　‘Richard；’　Warren　said；　‘can　we　talk　to　you？’
　
　Richard　continued　to　stare　out　at　the　storms。　‘Of　course；　Warren。’　He　cast　a　glance　back。　‘What’s　on　your　mind？’
　
　Warren　pushed　his　hands　up　the　opposite　sleeves　of　his　robes。　Richard　thought　it　made　him　look　very　wizardlike　when　he　did　that。　Warren　was　going　to　someday　end　up　being　Richard’s　idea　of　what　a　wizard　ought　to　be：　wise；　passionate；　and　charged　with　knowledge　Richard　could　only　wonder　at。　If　they　didn’t　all　die；　that　was。
　
　‘Well；　Sister　Verna　and　I　were　talking。　About　what　happens　after　you　get　through　the　valley。　Richard；　I　know　what　you　want　to　do；　but　we　have　run　out　of　time。　There　never　was　enough　time　to　begin　with。　Tomorrow　is　winter　solstice。　It　can’t　be　done。’
　
　‘Just　because　you　don’t　know　how　to　do　something；　that　does　not　mean　it　can’t　be　done。’
　
　‘I　don’t　understand。’
　
　Richard　smiled　at　them。　‘You　will。　You　will　understand　in　a　few　hours。’
　
　Warren　looked　away　toward　the　valley。　He　idly　scratched　his　nose。　‘If　you　say　so；　Richard。’
　
　Sister　Verna　said　nothing。　Richard　was　still　trying　to　get　used　to　her　not　arguing　with　him　whenever　he　said　something　oblique。　He　wasn’t　sure　she　didn’t　want　to。
　
　‘Warren；　about　the　prophecy；　the　one　about　the　gateway　and　the　winter　solstice。　Are　you　sure　it’s　about　this　winter　solstice？’　Warren　nodded。　‘And　if　there　were　an　agent；　with　an　open　box　of　Orden；　and　the　skrin　bone；　are　those　the　only　elements　needed　to　open　the　gateway；　to　tear　the　veil？’
　
　A　hot　breeze　ruffled　Warren’s　hair。　‘Yes　。。。　but　you　told　me　Darken　Rahl　is　dead。　There　is　no　agent。’
　
　It　sounded　more　like　a　worried　question　than　a　statement。
　
　‘Must　the　agent　be　alive？’　Sister　Verna　asked。
　
　Warren　shifted　his　weight　to　the　other　foot。　‘Well；　not　in　principle；　I　guess。　If　he　were　somehow　called　back　into　this　world；　but　I　don’t　see　how　that　could　be　done；　but　if　it　were　done；　that　would　be　all　that　was　needed。’
　
　Richard　sighed　in　frustration。　‘And　then　this　spirit　agent　could　do　the　things　the　living　agent　would　have　done？’
　
　Suspicion　crept　onto　Warren’s　face。　‘Well；　yes　and　no。　It　would　require　another　element。　A　spirit　cannot　perform　the　physical　requirements　necessary　to　plete　the　covenant。　He　would　need　a　coadjutor。’
　
　‘You　mean　the　spirit　could　not　perform　certain　of　the　tasks　needed；　so　he　would　need　hands　that　would　work　in　this　world。’
　
　‘Yes。　With　a　helper；　a　spirit　could　do　what　was　needed。　But　how　could　an　agent　be　called　back　into　this　world？　I　don’t　see　how　that　could　be　acplished。’
　
　Sister　Verna　glanced　away。　‘You　had　better　tell　him。’
　
　Richard　pulled　his　shirt　up　and　showed　Warren　the　scar。　‘Darken　Rahl　burned　me　with　his　hand；　when　I　unintentionally　called　him　back　into　this　world。　He　said　he　was　here　to　tear　the　veil。’
　
　Warren’s　eyes　opened　wide。　His　worried　gaze　darted　to　the　Sister；　and　then　back　to　Richard。　‘If　Darken　Rahl　is　an　agent；　as　you　said；　and　he　has　someone　to　help　him；　then　we　are　only　one　element　away　from　destruction　…　the　skrin　bone。　We　need　to　know。’
　
　Richard　pushed　the　mriswith　cape　back　over　his　shoulder。　‘Sister　Verna；　would　you　help　me？’
　
　‘What　is　it　you　would　like　me　to　do？’
　
　The　first　time　you　told　me　how　to　try　to　touch　my　Han；　I　decided　to　concentrate　on　a　mental　image　of　my　sword。　But　that　time；　the　first　time；　I　used　a　background　to　put　it　against。　It　was　something　from　the　book　of　magic　I　told　you　about。　The　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。
　
　‘When　I　tried　to　touch　my　Han；　with　the　sword　on　that　background；　something　happened。　I　was　somehow　in　D’Hara；　in　the　People’s　Palace；　where　the　boxes　are。　I　saw　Darken　Rahl。　He　saw　me；　too；　and　spoke　to　me。　He　told　me　he　was　waiting　for　me。’
　
　Sister　Verna’s　eyebrows　lifted。　‘Did　this　ever　happen　again？’
　
　‘No。　It　frightened　the　wits　out　of　me。　I　never　used　that　background　again。　I　think　if　I　use　that　background　now；　I　may　be　able　to　see　what　is　happening　there。’
　
　She　folded　her　hands　together　before　herself。　‘I’ve　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。　But　it　may　have　something　to　do　with　the　Magic　of　Orden。　It　would　not　be　the　first　thing　about　you　that　astonished　me。　It　could　be　real；　or　just　a　fear；　like　a　dream。’
　
　‘I　need　to　try。　Would　you　sit　with　me？　I’m　afraid　of　not　being　able　to　pull　back。’
　
　‘Of　course；　Richard。’　She　sat　down　on　the　ground　and　held　up　a　hand。　‘e。　I　will　be　with　you。’
　
　Richard　pulled　the　mriswith　cape　around　himself　as　he　sat　down；　folding　his　legs。　‘This　thing　hides　my　Han；　maybe　it　will　work　to　keep　Darken　Rahl　from　seeing　me　this　time。’
　
　Richard　relaxed　himself　as　he　held　hands　with　Sister　‘Verna。　He　concentrated　on　the　mental　image　of　the　sword　against　the　black　square　with　a　white　border；　as　he　had　done　the　first　time。　As　he　concentrated；　seeking　the　calm　center；　something　began　to　happen。
　
　The　sword；　the　black　square；　and　the　white　border　all　began　to　shimmer　as　if　seen　through　heat　waves；　the　same　as　the　first　time。　The　solid　form　of　the　sword　softened；　being　transparent；　and　then　vanished。　The　background　dissolved。　Once　again；　Richard　was　looking　into　the　Garden　of　Life；　at　the　People’s　Palace。
　
　He　searched　the　filmy　image；　seeing　white　bones　where　before　he　had　seen　burned　bodies。　He　remembered　them　lying　over　the　short　walls；　in　bushes；　and　sprawled　on　the　grass。　They　were　much　as　he　remembered；　only　now　they　were　mostly　exposed　bones。
　
　Richard　saw　the　white；　glowing　figure　of　Darken　Rahl；　but　he　was　not　standing　before　the　stone　altar；　before　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。　He　was　near　the　circle　that　had　held　white　sand。　The　sand　had　not　been　there　the　last　time　he　had　seen　this　vision。
　
　A　woman　in　a　long；　brown　skirt　and　white　blouse　knelt　at　Darken　Rahl’s　feet；　bent　over　the　circle　of　sand。　Richard　willed　himself　closer。　She　was　drawing　lines　in　the　sparkling　sorcerer’s　sand。　Richard　remembered　some　of　the　symbols　she　was　drawing；　Darken　Rahl　had　drawn　them　before　when　he　had　opened　the　box。
　
　Richard　watched　her　hand　moving　slowly；　carefully；　as　she　drew　the　lines　of　spells。　Her　right　hand；　he　noticed；　was　missing　the　little　finger。
　
　In　the　center　of　the　circle；　in　the　center　of　the　sorcerer’s　sand；　sat　a　round　object。　Richard　went　closer。　It　was　carved　all　over　with　beasts；　just　as　the　Prelate　had　described。
　
　Richard　wanted　to　scream　with　rage。
　
　Just　then；　Darken　Rahl　lifted　his　face；　and　looked　right　into　Richard’s　eyes。　A　smile　slowly　spread　on　his　lips。
　
　Richard　didn’t　know　if　Darken　Rahl　was　really　looking　at　him　or　not；　but　he　didn’t　wait　to　find　out。　With　desperate　effort；　he　forced　the　image　of　the　sword　back　into　his　mind；　like　slamming　a　door；　at　the　same　time　banishing　the　black…and…white　background。
　
　With　a　gasp；　Richard　forced　his　eyes　open。　His　chest　heaved。
　
　Sister　Verna’s　eyes　came　open；　too。　‘Richard；　are　you　all　right？　You’ve　been　at　it　an　hour。　I　felt　you　trying　to　pull　back；　so　I　pulled　with　you。　What　happened？　What　did　you　see？’
　
　‘An　hour？’　Richard　was　still　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　‘I　saw　Darken　Rahl；　and　the　skrin　bone。　He　had　a　woman　there；　helping　him　draw　spells　in　the　sorcerer’s　sand。’
　
　Warren　leaned　over　Richard’s　shoulder。　‘Maybe　it　was　just　a　vision　of　a　fear。　It　may　not　have　been　real。’
　
　‘Warren　could　be　right；’　Sister　Verna　said。　She　drew　her　lower　lip　through　her　teeth　as　she　thought。　‘What　did　the　woman　look　like？’
　
　‘Wavy；　shoulder…length　brown　hair；　maybe　about　your　size。　She　was　bent　over；　drawing　in　the　sand；　so　I　couldn’t　see　her　eyes。’　Richard　pressed　his　fingers　to　his　forehead　as　he　thought。　‘Her　hand。　She　was　missing　the　little　finger　on　her　right　hand。’
　
　Warren　groaned。　Sister　Verna’s　eyes　slid　closed。
　
　‘What？　What’s　the　matter？’
　
　‘Sister　Odette；’