tg.stone of tears-第53章

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ood。
　
　His　chest　ached　where　Darken　Rahl　had　burned　him。　When　he　reached　up　and　touched　the　bandage；　he　finally　noticed　that　the　snow　flurries　had　stopped。　The　low；　scudding　clouds　were　broken　in　places；　letting　shafts　of　sunlight　shine　through。　The　grassland　was　a　flat；　dead　brown；　and　the　clouds　a　dull；　dead　gray。　The　landscape　was　a　colorless；　empty　expanse。
　
　By　the　angle　of　the　sun　he　realized　it　was　getting　to　be　late　afternoon。　They　had　been　riding　for　a　long　time；　in　silence；　Sister　Verna　had　said　nothing　to　him。
　
　He　reached　up　and　experimentally　touched　the　collar　for　the　first　time。　It　was　smooth；　seamless；　cold。　He　had　said　he　would　never　wear　a　collar　again。　He　had　promised　himself。　Yet　here　he　was　wearing　one。　Worse；　he　had　put　it　on　himself；　put　it　on　because　Kahlan　had　asked　him　to。　Because　she　doubted　him。
　
　For　the　first　time　since　he　had　put　it　on；　he　forced　himself　to　think　of　something　else。　He　couldn't　think　about　Kahlan　anymore；　couldn't　stand　the　pain。　He　was　the　Seeker；　he　had　other　things　to　think　about；　important　things。　With　a　gentle　squeeze　of　his　lower　legs　to　the　horse's　girth；　he　urged　it　ahead；　pulling　it　close　beside　the　Sister's　chestnut　gelding。
　
　Richard　reached　up　to　push　back　the　hood　of　his　cloak；　and　realized　it　wasn't　even　up；　so　he　ran　his　fingers　through　his　wet　hair　instead。　He　looked　over　at　Sister　Verna。
　
　There　are　some　things　we　have　to　talk　about。　Important　things　you　don't　know　about。'
　
　She　glanced　over　without　emotion。　The　edge　of　her　hood　partially　blocked　her　face。　'And　what　would　those　things　be？'
　
　'I　am　the　Seeker。'
　
　She　looked　away；　returning　her　eyes　to　where　they　had　been。　'That　is　hardly　something　I　don't　know。'
　
　Her　calm；　unconcerned　attitude　annoyed　him。　'I　have　responsibilities。　I　told　you　before：　there　are　important　things　going　on　you　know　nothing　about。　Dangerous　things。'　She　didn't　respond。　It　was　as　if　he　hadn't　spoken。　He　decided　to　cut　right　to　the　heart　of　it。　'The　Keeper　is　trying　to　escape　the　underworld。'
　
　'We　do　not　speak　his　name。　You　are　not　to　speak　it　as　you　have　just　done。　It　brings　his　attention。　When　we　must　speak　of　him；　he　is　addressed　as　the　Nameless　One。'
　
　She　was　talking　to　him　as　if　he　were　a　child。　Kahlan's　life　was　in　danger　and　this　woman　was　treating　him　like　a　child。　'I　don't　care　what　you　call　him；　he's　trying　to　get　out。　And　I　assure　you；　I　already　have　his　attention。'
　
　At　last　she　looked　over；　unconcerned。　The　Nameless　One　is　always　trying　to　get　out。'
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　again。　The　veil　to　the　underworld　is　torn。　He　is　going　to　get　out。'
　
　Sister　Verna　turned　to　him　once　more；　this　time　pulling　the　edge　of　the　hood　back　to　get　a　better　look。　Curly　brown　hair　peeked　out　the　edge　of　the　dark；　heavy　hood。　She　had　an　odd　frown。　A　frown　of　amusement。　There　was　a　wisp　of　a　smile　at　the　corners　of　her　mouth。
　
　The　Creator　himself　put　the　Nameless　One　where　he　is。　The　Creator　himself　placed　the　veil　with　His　own　hand　to　keep　him　there。'　Her　smile　swelled　a　little　as　her　eyebrows　came　closer　together；　creasing　her　weathered　brow。　The　Nameless　One　cannot　escape　the　prison　the　Creator　has　placed　him　in。　Do　not　be　afraid；　child。'
　
　Exploding　in　rage；　Richard　wheeled　his　bay　mare　around　toward　the　Sister。　The　two　horses　jostled；　whinnying　and　tossing　their　heads。　Richard　firmly　snatched　the　reins　of　the　Sister's　surprised　horse　to　keep　it　from　rearing；　or　bolting。
　
　He　leaned　toward　her；　his　chest　heaving　in　fury。　'I　will　not　be　called　names！　I　will　not　have　names　put　to　me　because　I　wear　a　collar！　I　am　Richard！　Richard　Rahl！'
　
　Sister　Verna　didn't　flinch。　Her　voice　remained　calm　and　smooth。　'I'm　sorry；　Richard。　It　was　only　force　of　habit。　I　am　used　to　dealing　with　ones　much　younger　than　you。　I　meant　nothing　demeaning　by　it。'
　
　The　way　she　stared　at　him　made　him　feel　suddenly　foolish；　embarrassed。　Made　him　feel　like　a　child。　He　released　the　reins。　'I　apologize　for　yelling。　I'm　not　in　a　very　good　mood。'
　
　She　frowned　again。　'I　thought　your　name　was　Cypher。'
　
　He　tugged　his　cloak　over　his　chest　where　the　bandage　covered　his　burn。　'It's　a　long　story。　George　Cypher　raised　me　as　his　son。　I　only　found　out　a　short　time　ago　that　I　am　in　truth　the　son　of　Darken　Rahl。'
　
　Her　frown　deepened。　'Darken　Rahl。　The　one　with　the　gift　you　killed？　You　killed　your　father？'
　
　'Don't　look　at　me　like　that。　You　didn't　know　him。　You　have　no　idea　what　kind　of　man　he　was。　He　imprisoned　and　tortured　and　killed　more　people　than　you　or　I　could　imagine。　The　idea　of　him　being　with　my　mother　makes　me　sick。　But　that　is　the　truth　of　it。　I　am　his　son。　If　you　expect　me　to　be　sorry　I　killed　him；　you　will　have　longer　than　eternity　to　wait。'
　
　Sister　Verna　shook　her　head　with　what　seemed　genuine　concern。　'I'm　sorry；　Richard。　Sometimes　the　Creator　weaves　a　tangled　cloth　for　our　lives；　and　we　are　left　to　wonder　why。　But　I　am　sure　of　one　thing：　He　has　reasons　for　what　He　does。'
　
　Babble。　He　was　getting　babble　from　this　woman。　He　urged　his　horse　around　and　started　out　again。　'I'm　telling　you；　the　veil　is　torn；　and　the　Keeper　is　going　to　get　out。'
　
　Her　voice　lowered　dangerously。　'The　Nameless　One。'
　
　He　glanced　over；　annoyed。　Tine。　The　Nameless　One。　I　couldn't　care　less　what　you　want　to　call　him；　but　he　is　going　to　get　out。　We　are　all　in　great　danger。'
　
　Kahlan　was　in　great　danger。
　
　He　didn't　care　if　this　sorceress　of　a　Sister　burned　him　to　a　cinder；　his　life　meant　nothing　to　him　anymore。　His　only　concern　was　Kahlan's　safety。
　
　Sister　Verna's　quizzical　frown　and　smile　returned。　'Who　told　you　such　a　thing？'
　
　'Shota；　a　witch　woman；　she　told　me　the　veil　was　torn。'　He　left　out　that　Shota　had　also　told　him　he　was　the　one　who　had　torn　it。　'She　said　it　was　torn　and　if　it　wasn't　fixed；　the　Kee　…the　Nameless　One　would　escape。'
　
　Sister　Verna　smiled。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　'A　witch　woman。'　She　laughed　a　little。　'And　you　believed　her？　You　believed　a　witch　woman？　You　think　witch　women　speak　the　truth　in　such　simple　fashion？'
　
　Fuming；　Richard　glanced　at　her　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　'She　seemed　pretty　sure　of　it　to　me。　She　wouldn't　lie　about　something　this　important。　I　believe　her。'
　
　Sister　Verna　seemed　to　think　the　whole　thing　amusing。　'If　you　had　ever　had　occasion　to　deal　with　a　witch　woman　before；　Richard；　you　would　know　that　they　have　an　odd　view　of　the　truth。　They　can　be　well　intentioned　at　times；　but　witch　women　speak　in　words　that　rarely　e　to　pass　the　way　they　sound。'
　
　The　truth　of　that　took　some　of　the　steam　out　of　him。　Sister　Verna　certainly　seemed　to　know　about　witch　women。　In　fact；　she　seemed　to　share　his　own　view　of　them。　'She　seemed　pretty　sure　of　what　she　was　saying。　She　was　afraid。'
　
　'I　am　sure　she　was。　A　wise　person　is　always　afraid　of　the　Nameless　One。　But　I　wouldn't　put　much　stock　in　what　she　says。'
　
　'It's　not　just　what　she　says。　Other　things　have　happened；　too。'
　
　She　looked　over　curiously。　'Such　as？'
　
　'A　screeling。'
　
　She　set　her　calm　brown　eyes　back　ahead。　'A　screeling。　You　have　seen　a　screeling；　yes？'
　
　'Seen　it！　It　attacked　me！　Screelings　are　from　the　underworld。　They　are　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。　It　was　sent　through　a　tear　in　the　veil；　to　kill　me！'
　
　Her　smile　returned。　'You　have　quite　an　imagination；　Richard。　You　have　listened　to　too　many　children's　songs。'
　
　He　restrained　his　renewed　anger。　'What　do　you　mean？'
　
　'Screelings　are　indeed　from　the　underworld；　as　are　other　beasts。　The　heart　hounds；　for　example。　But　they　are　not　'sent。'　They　simply　escape。　We　live　in　a　world　that　lies　between　good　and　evil；　between　the　light　and　the　dark。　The　Creator　did　not　intend　this　to　be　a　perfect　world；　safe　from　all　harm。　We　cannot　understand　His　reasons；　always；　but　He　has　them；　and　He　is　perfect。　Perhaps　the　Screelings　are　meant　to　show　us　the　dark　side。　I　don't　know。　But　I　do　know　they　are　simply　an　evil　that　sometimes　es。　I　have　seen　this　happen　before　to　ones　with　the　gift。　It　is　possible　that　the　gift　draws　them。　A　test　perhaps。　A　warning；　perhaps；　of　the　rancid　evil　that　awaits　those　who　stray　from　the　light。'
　
　'But　。。。　there　are　prophecies　that　say　they　are　sent　when　the　veil　is　torn；　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。'
　
　'How　could　that　be；　Richard？　Has　the　veil　ever　been　torn　before？'
　
　'How　should　I　know？'　He　thought　a　minute。　'But　I　don't　see　how　it　could　have　been。　If　it　were；　how　could　it　have　been　mended？　And　it　wouldn't　have　gone　unnoticed。　What　are　you　getting　at？'
　
　'Well；　if　the　veil　has　never　been　torn；　how　could　the　screel…ings　have　been　sent　before？　How　would　we　know　what　they　were？　How　could　they　have　a　name　already　put　to　them？'
　
　It　was　Richard's　turn　to　frown。　'Maybe　we　only　know　them　as　screelings　because　they　have　been　named　in　the　prophecy。'
　
　'You　have　read　this　prophecy？'
　
　'Well；　no。　Kahlan　told　it　to　me。'
　
　'And　she　read　it　herself；　with　her　own　eyes；　yes？'
　
　'No。　She　learned　it　when　she　was　young。'　Richard's　irritated　frown　deepened。　'In　a　song。　She　learned　it　from　wizards。'
　
　'In　a　song。'　Sister　Verna　didn't　look　over；　but　her　smile　widened。　'Richard；　I　do　not　mean　to　belittle　your　fears；　but　things　repeated；　over　and　over；　especially　in　a　song；　have　a　way　of　changing。
　
　'As　for　prophecies；　well；　they　are　harder　to　understand　than　a　witch　woman。　We　have　vaults　full　of　them　at　the　palace。　As　part　of　your　studies；　perhaps　you　will　be　allowed　to　work　with　them。　I　have　read　all　of　them　we　have；　and　I　can　tell　you　that　they　are　beyond　the　minds　of　most。　If　you　aren't　cautious；　you　can　find　a　prophecy　that　will　say　whatever　you　want　to　hear。　Or　at　least　you　will　think　it　is　what　you　want　to　hear。　Some　wizards　devote　their　lives　to　the　study　of　them；　and　yet　even　they　understand　only　a　tiny　fraction　of　their　truth。'
　
　'This　is　a　danger　not　to　be　taken　so　lightly。'
　
　'Do　you　think　the　veil　is　torn　that　simply？　Have　faith；　Richard。　The　Creator　placed　the　veil。　Have　faith　in　Him。'
　
　Richard　rode　in　silence　for　a　time。　Sister　Verna　did　seem　to　make　sense。　He　felt　as　if　his　understanding　of　the　world　was　tilting。
　
　But　it　was　difficult　for　him　to　think　too　hard　on　the　subject；　Kahlan　kept　creeping　back　into　his　mind。　His　anguish　at　her　wanting　him　to　put　on　a　collar　to　prove　his　love；　knowing　it　would　take　him　from　her；　tore　at　his　heart。　The　betrayal　burned　painfully　in　his　chest。
　
　He　picked　at　the　reins　with　his　thumbnail。　At　last　he　turned　once　more　to　the　Sister。　'That's　not　all。　I　haven't　told　you　the　worst　of　it。'
　
　She　smiled　a　motherly　smile。　'There　is　more？　Tell　me　then。　Perhaps　I　can　put　your　fears　to　rest。'
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　release　at　least　a　little　of　the　pain　with　it。　'The　man　I　killed；　Darken　Rahl；　my　father；　well；　when　he　died；　he　was　sent　to　the　underworld。　To　the　Kee　。。。　the　Nameless　One。　Last　night；　he　escaped。　Escaped　through　the　tear　in　the　veil。　He　is　back　in　this　world；　back　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way。'
　
　'And　you　know　he　was　sent　to　the　Nameless　One。　You　were　in　the　underworld　to　see　him　arrive　there；　at　the　side　of　the　Nameless　One；　yes？'
　
　The　woman　had　a　way　of　poking　his　temper　awake