tg.stone of tears-第126章

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　Du　Chaillu　averted　her　eyes。　She　gave　a　little　sniff。　'I　will　do　right。　I　will　use　your　gift　as　you　say。'　She　tucked　the　whistle　into　her　dress。　Thank　you　for　helping　to　bring　peace　to　my　people。'
　
　That's　my　greatest　hope。　Peace。'
　
　'Peace；'　Sister　Verna　huffed。　She　directed　a　smoldering　glare　to　Richard。　'You　think　it's　so　simple？　You　think　that　after　three　thousand　years　you　can　simply　decree　that　the　killing　will　stop？　You　think　all　it　takes　is　your　mere　presence；　and　the　ways　of　people　will　change？　You　are　a　naive　child。　Though　the　crimes　of　the　father　do　not　pass　on　to　the　son；　you　have　a　simplistic　way　of　seeing　things　that　brings　harm　just　the　same。'
　
　'If　you　think；　Sister；　that　I　would　be　a　party　to　human　sacrifices　for　any　reason；　you　are　seriously　mistaken。'　He　started　to　turn　away；　but　then　turned　back。　'What　harm　have　I　brought？　What　killing　have　I　started？'
　
　She　leaned　toward　him。　'Well；　for　one　thing；　if　we　don't　help　ones　with　the　gift；　like　you；　it　will　kill　them；　as　it　would　kill　you。　How　do　you　propose　we　get　those　boys　to　the　palace？　We　can　no　longer　cross　the　Majendie's　land。'　She　glanced　to　Du　Chaillu。　'She　has　only　given　you　permission　to　pass　through　her　land。　She　has　not　said　we　may　bring　others　through。'　She　straightened。　Those　boys　will　die　because　of　what　you　have　done。'
　
　Richard　thought　about　it　a　moment。　He　was　exhausted。　Using　the　sword's　magic　had　wearied　him　as　it　never　had　before。　He　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　sleep。　He　didn't　feel　like　solving　problems；　or　arguing。　At　last；　he　looked　to　Du　Chaillu。
　
　'When　you　make　peace　with　the　Majendie；　before　you　let　them　plant　once　again；　you　must　add　another　condition。　You　must　tell　them　that　in　honor　of　the　killing　being　brought　to　an　end；　in　honor　of　the　peace；　they　will　let　the　Sisters　cross　their　land。'　She　watched　his　eyes　a　moment　before　she　finally　nodded。　'Your　people　will　do　the　same。'
　
　He　narrowed　his　eyes　at　the　Sister。　'Satisfied？'
　
　'In　the　valley；　when　you　struck　down　a　beast；　a　thousand　snakes　sprang　forth　from　its　corpse。　This　is　no　different。
　
　'It　would　be　impossible；'　she　said；　'for　me　to　accurately　recall　all　the　lies　you've　told　today。　I've　reprimanded　you　before　for　lying；　and　cautioned　you　not　to　do　it　again。　I　told　you　not　to　swing　the　axe　today；　and　you　did　it　anyway；　despite　my　warning。　I　can　scarcely　tally　all　the　mands　you've　managed　to　violate　in　this　one　day。　What　you've　done　has　not　finished　the　killing；　but　only　begun　it。'
　
　'In　this；　Sister；　I　am　the　Seeker；　not　your　student。　As　Seeker；　I　have　no　tolerance　for　human　sacrifice。　None。　The　deaths　of　others　are　a　separate　issue。　You　cannot　use　it　as　a　link　to　justify　murder。　There　will　be　no　promise　in　this。　And　I　don't　think　you　want　to　punish　me　for　stopping　something　I　would　wager　you　wish　had　been　stopped　long　ago。'
　
　The　muscles　in　her　face　relaxed。　'As　a　Sister　of　the　Light；　I　have　no　power　to　change　things；　and　under　obligation　to　save　more　lives；　I　had　to　uphold　what　has　been　for　three　thousand　years。　But　I　admit　I　hated　it；　and　in　a　way　I'm　glad　you　have　taken　it　out　of　my　hands。　But　that　does　not　negate　the　trouble　it　will　cause；　or　the　deaths。　When　you　put　the　Ra…da'Han　on；　you　told　me　that　holding　the　leash　to　that　collar　would　be　worse　than　wearing　it。　Your　words　are　proving　true。'
　
　Her　lower　eyelids　filled　with　glistening　moisture。　'You　have　made　my　greatest　love；　my　calling；　a　misery。
　
　'I　am　past　wanting　to　punish　you　for　your　disobedience。　In　a　few　days　we　will　be　at　the　palace；　and　I　will　at　last　be　finished　with　you。　They　will　have　to　deal　with　you。
　
　'We　shall　see　how　they　handle　you　when　you　displease　them。　I　believe　you　will　find　they　are　not　prepared　to　be　as　tolerant　as　I　have　been。　They　will　use　that　collar。　And　when　they　do；　I　also　think　they　will　e　to　regret　holding　your　leash　more　than　do　I。　I　think　they　will　e　to　regret　trying　to　help　you；　as　do　I。'
　
　Richard　put　his　hands　in　his　back　pockets　as　he　stared　off　at　the　thick　forest　of　oak　and　leather　leaf。　'I'm　sorry　you　feel　that　way；　Sister；　but　I　guess　I　can　understand　it。　Although　I　admit　I　have　fought　being　your　prisoner；　what　happened　today　was　not　about　you　and　me。
　
　'This　was　about　what　is　right。　As　one　who　would　wish　to　teach　me；　I　hoped　you　would　share　that　moral　stance。　I　hoped　the　Sisters　would　not　want　to　teach　the　use　of　the　gift　to　one　who　could　easily　bend　his　convictions　to　the　circumstance。
　
　'Sister　Verna；　I　was　not　trying　to　displease　you。　I　simply　could　not　live　with　myself　if　I　had　allowed　a　murder　to　take　place　under　my　nose；　much　less　if　I　had　participated　in　it。'
　
　'I　know；　Richard。　But　that　only　makes　it　worse；　because　it's　all　one　and　the　same。'　She　unclasped　her　hands　and　peered　about　at　the　fire　and　their　supplies；　finally　pulling　a　cake　of　soap　from　a　saddlebag。　'I'll　make　a　stew；　and　bannock。'　She　tossed　the　cake　of　soap　to　him。　'Du　Chaillu　needs　a　bath。'
　
　Du　Chaillu　folded　her　arms　in　a　huff。　'While　I　was　chained　to　a　wall；　the　dogs　who　came　to　mount　me　did　not　offer　me　water　so　I　would　smell　pretty　for　you。'
　
　Sister　Verna　squatted　down；　pulling　supplies　out。　'I　meant　no　offense；　Du　Chaillu。　I　simply　thought　you　would　want　to　wash　the　dirt　of　those　men　off　you。　If　it　were　me；　I　would　want　nothing　more　than　to　try　to　wash　the　feel　of　their　hands　from　my　flesh。'
　
　Du　Chaillu's　indignation　faltered。　'Well　of　course　I　would！'　She　snatched　the　soap　from　Richard。　'You　smell　of　that　beast　you　ride。　You　will　wash　too；　or　I　will　not　want　to　be　near　you　and　will　send　you　off　to　eat　by　yourself。'
　
　Richard　chuckled。　'If　it　will　keep　the　peace　with　you；　I'll　wash；　too。'
　
　As　Du　Chaillu　marched　off　toward　the　pond；　Sister　Verna　called　quietly　to　him。　He　waited　next　to　her　while　she　pulled　a　pot　from　a　saddlebag。
　
　'Her　people　have　been　killing　any　'magic　man'　they　could　get　their　hands　on　for　the　last　three　thousand　years。　There　is　no　time　to　give　you　history　lessons。'　She　looked　up　to　his　eyes。　'Old　habits　spring　to　hand　as　easily　as　a　knife。　Don't　turn　your　back　on　her。　Sooner　or　later；　she　is　going　to　try　to　kill　you。'
　
　Her　quiet　tone　unexpectedly　raised　bumps　on　his　flesh。　'I'll　try　to　keep　myself　alive；　Sister；　so　you　can　deliver　me　to　the　palace　and　at　last　be　free　of　your　onerous　charge。'
　
　Richard　hurried　toward　the　pond　and　caught　up　with　Du　Chaillu　as　she　was　walking　through　the　reeds。　'Why　did　you　call　that　your　prayer　dress？'
　
　Du　Chaillu　held　her　arms　out；　letting　the　breeze　ruffle　the　strips　of　cloth　on　her　dress。　'These　are　prayers。'
　
　'What　are　prayers？　You　mean　the　strips　of　cloth？'
　
　She　nodded。　'Each　is　a　prayer。　When　the　wind　blows；　and　they　fly；　each　sends　a　prayer　to　the　spirits。'
　
　'And　what　do　you　pray　for？'
　
　'Every　one　of　these　prayers　is　the　same；　from　the　heart　of　the　person　who　gave　me　their　prayer。　They　are　all　prayers　to　have　our　land　returned　to　us。'
　
　'Your　land？　But　you　are　in　your　land。'
　
　'No。　This　is　where　we　live；　but　it　is　not　our　land。　Many　ages　ago；　our　land　was　taken　by　the　magic　men。　They　banished　us　here。'
　
　They　reached　the　edge　of　the　pond。　Puffs　of　breeze　drew　up　ripples　in　dark　patches。　The　bank　was　grassy　with　thick　patches　of　rushes　to　each　side；　extending　out　into　the　water。
　
　The　magic　men　took　your　land？　What　land？'
　
　They　took　our　land　from　our　ancestors。'　She　pointed　in　the　direction　of　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　The　land　on　the　other　side　of　the　Majendie。　I　was　going　to　our　land；　with　our　prayers；　to　ask　the　spirits　if　they　would　help　our　land　be　returned　to　us。　But　the　Majendie　caught　me；　and　I　was　not　able　to　take　our　prayers　to　the　spirits。'
　
　'How　will　the　spirits　return　your　land　to　you？'
　
　She　shrugged。　The　old　words　say　only　that　we　must　send　one　every　year　to　our　land；　to　pray　to　the　spirits；　and　if　we　do；　our　land　will　be　returned。'　She　untied　her　belt　and　slipped　it　to　the　ground。　With　unsettling　grace；　she　tossed　the　green…handled　knife　aside；　sticking　it　in　the　round　end　of　a　branch　on　a　log。
　
　'How？'
　
　She　gave　him　a　curious　frown。　'By　sending　us　our　master。'
　
　'I　thought　you　were　the　Baka　Ban　Mana；　those　without　masters。'
　
　She　shrugged。　'Because　the　spirits　have　not　sent　us　one　yet。'
　
　While　Richard　was　puzzling　over　this；　she　reached　down；　took　hold　of　her　dress；　and　pulled　it　off　over　her　head。
　
　'What　do　you　think　you're　doing！'
　
　She　frowned。　'It　is　me　that　I　must　wash；　not　my　dress。'
　
　'Well；　not　in　front　of　me！'
　
　She　looked　down　at　herself。　'You　have　already　seen　me。　I　have　not　grown　any　different　since　this　morning。'　She　looked　up　at　him。　'Your　face　is　red　again。'
　
　'Over　there。'　He　pointed。　'Go　on　the　other　side　of　the　rushes。　You　on　one　side　and　me　on　the　other。'
　
　He　turned　his　back　to　her。
　
　'But　we　have　only　one　soap。'
　
　'Well；　you　can　throw　it　to　me　when　you're　through。'
　
　She　came　around　to　the　front　of　him。　He　tried　to　turn　again　but　she　followed　him　around；　grabbing　at　his　buttons。
　
　'I　cannot　scrub　my　own　back。　And　it　is　not　fair。　You　have　seen　me；　so　I　should　see　you。　That　is　why　you　are　turning　red；　because　you　have　not　been　fair。　This　will　make　you　feel　better。'
　
　He　slapped　her　hands　away。　'Stop　it。　Du　Chaillu；　where　I　e　from　this　is　not　proper。　Men　and　women　do　not　bathe　together。　It's　just　not　done。'　He　turned　his　back　to　her　again。
　
　'Not　even　my　third　husband　is　as　shy　as　you。'
　
　'Third！　You　have　had　three　husbands？'
　
　'No。　I　have　five。'
　
　Richard　stiffened。　'Have？'　He　turned　to　her。　'What　do　you　mean　'have'？'
　
　She　looked　at　him　as　if　he　had　asked　if　trees　grew　in　the　forest。　'I　have　five　husbands。　Five　husbands　and　my　children。'
　
　'And　how　many　of　those　do　you　have？'
　
　'Three。　Two　girls；　and　a　boy。'　A　wistful　smile　came　to　her。　'It　is　a　long　time　since　I　have　held　them。'　Her　smile　turned　sad。　'My　poor　babies　will　have　cried　every　night；　thinking　I　am　dead。　No　one　ever　returned　from　the　Majendie　before。'　She　grinned。　'My　husbands　will　be　anxious　to　draw　lots　to　see　who　will　be　the　first　to　try　to　give　me　another　child。'　Her　smile　faded　and　her　voice　trailed　off。　'But　I　guess　a　Majendie　dog　has　already　done　that。'
　
　Richard　handed　her　the　soap。　'It　will　all　turn　out　fine。　You'll　see。　Go　bathe。　I'll　go　on　the　other　side　of　the　rushes。'
　
　He　relaxed　in　the　cool　water；　listening　to　her　splash；　waiting　for　her　to　finish　with　the　soap。　A　mist　thickened　over　the　pond；　stealing　slowly；　silently；　into　the　surrounding　trees。
　
　'I've　never　heard　of　a　woman　having　more　than　one　husband。　Do　all　the　Baka　Ban　Mana　women　have　more　than　one　husband？'
　
　She　giggled。　'No。　Only　me。'
　
　'Why　you？'
　
　The　water　stopped　splashing。　'Because　I　wear　the　prayer　dress；'　she　said；　as　if　it　should　be　self…evident。
　
　Richard　rolled　his　eyes。　'Well；　what　does　。。。'
　
　She　came　swimming　through　the　rushes　toward　him。　'Before　you　can　have　the　soap；　you　must　wash　my　back。'
　
　Richard　let　out　an　aggravated　sigh。　'All　right；　if　I　wash　your　back；　will　you　then　go　back　on　your　side？'
　
　She　presented　her　back　to　him。　'If　you　do　a　proper　job。'
　
　When　she　was　satisfied；　she　finally　wen