tg.stone of tears-第34章

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t　this　happen。　You　have　condemned　everyone　to　a　fate　beyond　horror。'
　
　She　gripped　the　Agiel　in　her　fist。　'I　should　kill　you　for　what　you　have　done。　I　should　make　you　suffer　unspeakably。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　much　the　Keeper　would　like　to　settle　his　gaze　upon　one　with　the　gift？　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　much　he　wants　those　with　the　gift？　Or　how　much　he　wants　witch　women？'
　
　Kahlan　saw　tears　run　down　Shota's　cheeks。　With　a　flush　of　understanding　that　sent　an　icy　ripple　of　panic　through　her；　Kahlan　realized　Shota　wasn't　angry。　She　was　afraid。
　
　That　was　why　she　was　here：　not　because　she　was　angry　at　Kahlan　being　alive；　or　at　them　having　a　child。　She　was　here　because　she　was　terrified。　The　idea　of　Shota；　a　witch　woman；　being　afraid　was　worse　than　anything　her　own　mind　could　conjure。
　
　Richard　stared　at　her；　his　eyes　wide。　'But　。。。　there　must　be　something　we　can　do；　some　way　to　stop　it。'
　
　'We？'　she　screamed；　jabbing　her　finger　at　his　chest。　'You！　Only　you；　Richard　Rahl！　Only　you！　Only　you　can　fix　it！'
　
　'Me！　Why　me？'
　
　'I　don't　know；'　she　cried　through　gritted　teeth。　'But　you　are　the　only　one　with　the　power。'　She　pounded　her　fist　against　his　chest。　'You！'　She　kept　hitting　his　chest　as　he　just　stood　there。　'You　are　the　only　one　who　has　a　chance！　I　don't　know　why；　but　only　you　can　fix　it。　Only　you　can　repair　the　tear　in　the　veil。'　Shota　was　sobbing　now。　'Only　you；　you　stupid；　foolish　child。'
　
　Kahlan　was　dazed　by　the　magnitude　of　what　was　happening。　The　idea　of　the　Keeper　being　loose　was　beyond　prehension。　The　dead　in　the　world　of　the　living；　she　couldn't　imagine　the　horror　of　it；　but　seeing　Shota's　fear　put　dimension　to　the　dread。
　
　'Shota　。。。　I　don't　know　anything　about　it。　I　don't　have　any　idea　of　how　to　。。。'
　
　Shota　was　still　hitting　his　chest　as　she　cried。　'You　must。　You　must　find　a　way。　You　have　no　idea　what　the　Keeper　would　do　to　me；　what　he'd　do　to　a　witch　woman。　If　you　won't　do　it　for　me；　do　it　for　yourself。　He　would　be　no　easier　on　you　than　me。　And　if　you　won't　do　it　for　yourself；　do　it　for　Kahlan。　He　would　have　her　for　an　eternity　of　pain　for　no　other　reason　than　that　you　love　her。　He　would　do　it　to　her　just　to　make　it　worse　for　you。　We　will　all　be　held　on　the　cusp　between　life　and　death　for　all　eternity；　twisting　in　anguish。'　She　was　sobbing　uncontrollably　now。　'Our　souls　will　be　stripped　from　us　。。。　He　will　have　our　souls　。。。　forever。'
　
　Shota　hit　Richard's　chest　again。　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　pulled　her　against　him；　forting　her　as　she　cried。　'Forever；　Richard。　Soulless　minds　trapped　by　the　dead。　An　eternity　of　torment。　You　are　too　stupid　to　even　prehend　it。　You　could　never　even　imagine　the　horror　of　it；　until　it　happens。'
　
　Kahlan　stood　next　to　Richard；　putting　her　hand　reassuringly　on　his　shoulder。　She　felt　no　anger　at　the　sight　of　him　。　forting　Shota。　She　could　see　how　terrified　the　witch　woman　was。　Kahlan　couldn't　share　the　same　level　of　terror；　because　she　didn't　know　the　things　Shota　knew。　But　in　some　ways；　seeing　Shota's　reaction　was　knowing　enough。
　
　'Screelings　came　into　the　Reach；'　she　cried。
　
　Richard　looked　down　at　her。　'Screelings！　In　Agaden　Reach？'
　
　'Screelings；　and　a　wizard。　A　particularly　nasty　wizard。　Samuel　and　I　escaped　with　little　more　than　our　lives。'
　
　'A　wizard！'　With　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　Richard　pushed　her　away。　'What　do　you　mean　a　wizard？　There　are　no　other　wizards。'
　
　'There　is　one　in　the　Reach。　The　Screelings　and　the　wizard　are　in　Agaden　Reach　now。　They　are　in　my　home。　My　home！'
　
　Kahlan　couldn't　hold　her　tongue。　'Shota；　are　you　sure　it　was　a　wizard？　Could　it　be　someone　pretending　to　be　a　wizard？　There　are　no　more　wizards。　Except　Zedd。　They　are　all　dead。'
　
　Shota　gave　a　tearful　frown。　'Do　you　think　anyone　could　deceive　me　about　having　magic？　I　know　a　wizard　when　I　see　one；　and　I　know　a　wizard　with　the　gift。　I　know　wizard's　fire。　This　one　is　a　wizard　with　the　gift；　young　though　he　is。　I　don't　know　where　he　came　from；　or　why　no　one　knew　of　him。　But　he　was　with　screelings。　Screelings！
　
　'That　can　mean　only　one　thing。　This　wizard　has　given　himself　over　to　the　Keeper。　He　is　doing　the　Keeper's　bidding。　He　is　working　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way　for　the　Keeper。　It　means　the　Keeper　has　agents　in　this　world。　Darken　Rahl　was　probably　one　of　them。　That　is　why　he　was　able　to　use　Subtractive　Magic。'
　
　Shota　turned　to　Richard。　'That　the　Keeper　is　using　wizards　means　that　it　must　take　a　wizard　to　tear　the　veil。　You　have　the　gift。　You　are　a　wizard。　A　stupid　wizard；　but　a　wizard　nonetheless。　I　don't　know　why；　but　you　are　the　only　one　with　a　chance　to　close　the　tear。'
　
　Richard　brushed　a　tear　from　Shota's　cheek。　'What　are　you　going　to　do？'
　
　The　fire　came　back　to　Shota's　eyes。　Her　teeth　clenched。　'I　am　going　back　to　the　Reach。　I　am　going　to　take　back　my　home。'
　
　'But　they　chased　you　out。'
　
　They　took　me　by　surprise；'　she　snapped。　'I　only　came　here　to　tell　you　how　stupid　you　are。　And　that　you　must　do　something　about　it。　You　must　close　the　tear；　or　we　are　all。。。'
　
　Shota　turned　her　back　to　them。　'I　am　going　back　to　the　Reach。　The　Keeper　is　going　to　lose　his　agent。　I　am　going　to　take　the　gift　from　him。　Do　you　know　how　to　remove　the　gift　from　a　wizard？'
　
　'No。'　Richard　looked　interested。　'I　didn't　know　it　could　be　done。'
　
　'Oh　yes；　it　can　be　done。'　She　turned　and　arched　an　eyebrow。　'If　you　rip　their　skin　off；　the　magic　bleeds　from　them。　That　is　the　only　way　to　remove　the　gift　from　a　wizard。　I　am　going　to　hang　him　up　by　his　thumbs；　and　then　I　am　going　to　skin　him　alive。　Every　inch　of　him。　Then　I　am　going　to　use　his　skin　to　cover　my　throne。　Then　I　am　going　to　sit　on　my　throne；　on　his　skin；　and　watch　him　scream　to　death　as　the　magic　bleeds　from　him。'　She　made　a　fist。　'Or　I　am　going　to　die　trying。'
　
　'Shota；　I　need　some　help。　I　don't　know　anything　about　all　this。'
　
　Shota　stared　off　flexing　her　fists。　At　last　her　hands　relaxed　and　opened。　There　is　nothing　I　can　tell　you　that　will　help。'
　
　'You　mean　there　is　something　you　can　tell　me；　but　it　won't　help。'　Shota　nodded。　Richard　sighed。　'What　is　it？'
　
　She　folded　her　arms　against　her　stomach。　Her　eyes　were　wet　again。　'You　will　be　trapped　in　time。　Don't　ask　what　that　means；　because　I　don't　know。　You　will　have　no　chance　of　closing　the　veil　unless　you　escape　the　trap。　It　will　keep　you　locked　away；　and　the　Keeper　will　escape　unless　you　are　able　to　free　yourself。　Unless　you　learn　something　of　the　gift；　you　have　no　chance　for　either。'
　
　Richard　walked　to　the　far　side　of　the　room。　He　stood　with　his　back　to　them；　one　hand　on　a　hip；　his　other　bing　through　his　hair。　Kahlan　didn't　look　at　Shota。　She　didn't　want　to　meet　the　witch　woman's　gaze　if　she　didn't　have　to。
　
　'Is　there　anything　else？'　Richard　called　over　his　shoulder。　'Anything　you　can　tell　me？　Anything？'
　
　'No。　And　believe　me；　if　there　was　I　would　be　more　than　anxious　to　offer　it。　I　don't　wish　to　meet　the　Keeper's　gaze。'
　
　Richard　thought　by　himself　for　a　time。　At　last；　he　came　back　and　stood　before　Shota。　'I　am　having　headaches。　Bad　headaches。'
　
　Shota　nodded。　The　gift。'
　
　Three　women　came。　They　call　themselves　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　They　said　I　have　to　e　with　them　to　learn　to　use　the　gift；　or　the　headaches　will　kill　me。'　Richard　studied　her　face。　'What　do　you　know　about　them？'
　
　'I　am　a　witch　woman。　I　don't　know　much　about　wizards。　But　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　have　something　to　do　with　wizards。　With　training　them。　That　is　all　I　know。　I　don't　even　know　where　they　are　from。　They　e　once　in　a　great　while；　when　they　find　one　has　been　born　with　the　gift。'
　
　'What　if　I　don't　go　with　them？　Will　I　die；　as　they　say？'
　
　'If　you　don't　learn　to　control　the　gift；　the　headaches　will　kill　you。　That　much　I　know。'
　
　'But　are　they　the　only　way？'
　
　Shota　shrugged。　'I　don't　know。　But　I　know　you　must　learn　to　use　the　gift；　or　you　will　not　escape　the　trap；　or　be　able　to　close　the　veil　…　or　even　survive　the　headaches。'
　
　'So　you　are　saying　you　think　I　should　go？'
　
　'No。　I　said　you　must　learn　to　use　the　gift。　There　may　be　another　way。'
　
　'What　way？'
　
　'I　don't　know；　Richard。　I　don't　even　know　if　there　is　another　way。　I'm　sorry；　but　I　can　be　of　no　help　in　this。　I　just　don't　know。　Only　a　fool　will　give　advice　about　something　she　doesn't　understand。　I　can　give　you　no　advice　in　this。'
　
　'Shota；'　Richard　pleaded；　'I'm　lost。　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　I　don't　understand　any　of　it；　the　Sisters；　the　gift；　or　the　Keeper。　Isn't　there　anything　you　can　tell　me　to　help　me？'
　
　'I　have　told　you　everything　I　know。　I　feel　as　lost　as　you。　Worse。　I　have　no　ability　to　influence　what　will　happen。　At　least　you　have　that。　Dim　as　the　chance　is。'　Shota's　eyes　glistened。　'I　fear　I　am　going　to　look　into　the　Keeper's　dead　eyes。　Forever。　I　haven't　been　able　to　sleep　since　I　learned　these　things。　If　I　knew　anything；　I　would　help。　I　just　don't　know　anything　about　the　world　of　the　dead。　It　is　not　something　the　living　have　faced　yet。'
　
　Richard　stared　at　the　ground。　'Shota；'　he　whispered。　'I　don't　have　any　idea　what　to　do。　I'm　afraid。　I'm　very　afraid。'
　
　She　nodded。　'So　am　I。'　She　reached　out　and　touched　his　face。　'Good…bye；　Richard　Rahl。　Don't　fight　who　you　are。　Use　it。'　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　'I　don't　know　if　you　can　help　him；　but　if　there　is　a　way；　I　know　you　will　do　your　best。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　That　I　will；　Shota。　I　hope　you　get　your　home　back。'
　
　Shota　gave　her　a　small　smile。　'Thank　you；　Mother　Confessor。'
　
　She　turned　and　glided　to　the　door；　her　wispy　dress　flowing　behind。　She　pushed　the　door　open。　Samuel　was　waiting　on　the　other　side；　his　yellow　eyes　shining。　Shota　stopped　in　the　doorway　and　stiffened。
　
　'Richard；　if　you　should　happen　to　somehow　close　the　veil；　and　save　me　from　the　Keeper；　save　everyone　from　the　Keeper；　I　will　be　forever　grateful　to　you。'
　
　'Thank　you；　Shota。'
　
　Her　back　was　still　to　them。　'But　know　this：　if　you　give　the　Mother　Confessor　a　child；　it　will　be　a　boy。　It　will　be　a　Confessor。　Neither　of　you　will　have　the　strength　to　kill　him；　even　though　you　know　the　consequences。'　She　paused　a　moment。　'My　mother　lived　in　the　dark　times。'　Her　voice　was　like　ice。　'I　have　the　strength。　And；　I　will　use　it。　You　have　my　word　on　that。　But　know　that　it　will　not　be　personal。'
　
　The　door　squeaked　closed　behind　her。　The　spirit　house　felt　suddenly　very　empty。　Very　quiet。
　
　Kahlan　felt　numb。　She　looked　down　at　her　hands。　They　were　shaking。　She　wanted　Richard　to　hug　her；　but　he　didn't　do　it。　He　was　staring　at　the　door。　His　face　was　white　as　snow。
　
　'I　don't　believe　this；'　he　whispered。　He　still　stared　at　the　door。　'How　can　this　be　happening？　Am　I　dreaming　all　this？'
　
　Kahlan　felt　as　if　her　knees　were　about　to　buckle。　'Richard；　what　are　we　going　to　do？'
　
　Richard　turned　to　her；　his　eyes　distant。　They　filled　with　tears。　'This　has　to　be　a　nightmare。'
　
　'If　it　is；　I'm　having　the　same　one。　Richard；　what　are　we　going　to　do？'
　
　'Why　does　everyone　ask　me　that？　Why　does　everyone　always　ask　me？　What　makes　everyone　think　I　am　the　one　who　knows？'
　
　Kahlan　stood　woodenly；　trying　to　make　her　mind　work。
　
　She　couldn't　seem　to　form　a　coherent　thought。　'Because