tg.stone of tears-第68章

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　Zedd　swallowed　a　mouthful　of　stew。　'Why　would　people　think　sorceresses　were　banelings？'
　
　'Because　it　be　easier　to　blame　a　woman　for　their　troubles　than　to　admit　the　truth；　and　more　satisfying　to　accuse　than　to　curse　the　unknown。　Those　with　the　gift　use　power　that　can　help　people；　but　it　can　also　be　used　to　harm　them。　Because　it　can　be　used　to　harm；　it　be　believed　the　power　must　be　given；　at　least　in　part；　by　the　Keeper。'
　
　'Superstitious　nonsense；'　he　growled。
　
　'As　you　well　know；　superstition　needs　no　grounding　in　truth；　but　once　rooted；　it　grows　a　strong　though　twisted　tree。'
　
　He　grunted　his　assent。　'So　no　sorceress　used　her　power？'
　
　Adie　shook　her　head。　'No。　Unless　it　be　for　some　mon　good；　and　they　went　before　the　king's　circle　of　their　town　first　and　asked　permission。　Every　sorceress　went　before　the　circle　of　their　town　or　district　and　swore　an　oath　to　the　people；　an　oath　on　her　soul；　to　abide　by　the　wishes　of　the　people。　Swore　a　solemn　oath　not　to　use　her　power　on　or　for　another　unless　asked　to　do　so　by　the　agreement　of　the　circle。'
　
　Zedd　put　his　spoon　down　in　disgust。　'But　they　had　the　gift。　How　could　they　not　use　it？'
　
　'They　used　it；　but　only　in　private。　Never　where　anyone　could　see；　and　never　on　another。'
　
　Zedd　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　shaking　his　head　in　silent　wonder　at　the　Wizard's　First　Rule；　at　the　things　people　would　believe；　while　Adie　went　on。
　
　'Grandmother　Lindel　be　a　stern　old　woman　who　lived　by　herself。　She　never　wanted　anything　to　do　with　teaching　me　about　using　the　gift。　She　told　me　only　to　let　it　be。　And　my　mother；　of　course；　could　teach　me　nothing。　So　I　learned　on　my　own　as　I　grew；　as　the　gift　grew；　but　I　knew　very　well　the　wickedness　of　using　it。　I　be　lectured　on　that　almost　every　day。　To　use　the　gift　in　a　manner　not　permitted　was　made　to　seem　like　touching　the　taint　of　the　Keeper　himself；　and　I　believed　it　so。　I　feared　greatly　going　against　what　I　be　taught。　I　be　a　fruit　of　the　tree　of　that　superstition。
　
　'One　day；　when　I　be　eight　or　nine；　I　be　in　the　town　square　with　my　mother　and　father；　on　market　day；　and　across　the　square；　a　building　caught　fire。　There　be　a　girl；　about　my　age；　on　the　second　floor；　trapped　by　the　flames。　She　screamed　for　help。　No　one　could　reach　her　because　the　fire　be　all　through　the　first　floor。　Her　screams　of　terror　burned　every　nerve　in　me。　I　started　to　cry。　I　wanted　to　help。　I　could　not　stand　the　screams。'　Adie　folded　her　hands　in　her　lap　and　looked　down　at　the　table。　'I　made　the　fire　to　go　out。　The　girl　be　saved。'
　
　Zedd　watched　her　placid　expression　as　she　stared　at　the　table。　'I　don't　suppose　anyone；　except　the　girl　and　her　parents；　were　happy？'
　
　Adie　shook　her　head。　'Everyone　knew　I　had　the　gift。　They　knew　it　be　me　who　had　done　it。　My　mother　stood　and　cried。　My　father　just　stood　looking　the　other　way。　He　would　not　look　at　me；　at　an　agent　of　the　Keeper's　evil。
　
　'Someone　went　for　Grandmother　Lindel；　she　was　respected　because　of　how　she　stood　by　the　oath。　When　Grandmother　Lindel　came；　she　took　me　and　the　girl　before　the　men　of　the　king's　circle。　Grandmother　Lindel　switched　the　girl　who　I　saved。　She　bawled　a　good　long　time。'
　
　Zedd　was　incredulous。　'She　beat　the　girl！　Why？'
　
　'For　letting　the　Keeper　use　her　to　bring　forth　the　use　of　the　gift。'　Adie　sighed。　The　girl　and　I　had　known　each　other；　had　been　friends；　of　a　sort。　She　never　spoke　to　me　again。'
　
　Adie　hugged　her　arms　across　her　stomach。　'And　then　Grandmother　Lindel　stripped　me　naked　in　front　of　those　men；　and　switched　me　until　I　was　covered　with　welts　and　blood。　I　screamed　more　than　the　girl　had　in　the　fire。　Then　she　marched　me；　naked　and　bloody；　through　the　town；　to　her　house。　The　humiliation　be　worse　than　the　beating。
　
　'When　we　got　to　her　house；　I　asked　how　she　could　be　so　of　hers　still　on　her　face。　And　then　she　said；　'Though　you　be　wild　of　spirit；　child；　you　have　worked　to　tame　it。　The　people　have　asked　for　your　oath；　and　you　have　given　it。　May　I　not　live　to　see　you　break　it。　You　owe　no　debt　beyond　that。　I　will　take　care　of　the　circle　and　see　to　Mathrin　Galliene。　You　will　wed　Pell。'　I　wept　into　the　hem　of　her　dress。'
　
　Adie　was　silent；　staring　into　the　fire；　lost　in　the　memories。　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　'Well；　did　you　wed　your　love？'
　
　'Yes；'　she　whispered　in　her　soft　rasp。　She　took　the　spoon　off　its　hook　and　stirred　the　stew　while　Zedd　watched　her。　At　last；　she　hung　it　back　at　its　place。　'For　three　months；　I　thought　life　be　beyond　bliss。'
　
　Her　mouth　worked　soundlessly　as　she　stared　into　nothingness。　Zedd　put　an　arm　around　her　shoulder　and　gently　led　her　back　to　the　table。　'Sit；　Adie。　Let　me　bring　you　a　cup　of　tea。'
　
　She　was　still　sitting；　her　hands　folded　together　on　the　table；　staring　off；　when　he　returned　with　the　steaming　cups。　He　placed　one　in　her　thin　hands　as　he　sat　opposite　her。　He　didn't　press　her　to　go　on　before　she　was　ready。
　
　At　last；　she　did。　'One　day；　the　day　of　my　birth　and　nineteen　years；　Pell　and　I　had　taken　a　walk　in　the　country。　I　be　with　child。'　She　lifted　the　cup　in　both　hands　and　took　a　sip。　'We　spent　the　day　walking　past　farms；　thinking　of　names　for　our　child；　holding　hands；　and　。。。　well；　you　know　the　foolishness　of　love　at　that　age。
　
　'On　our　way　back；　we　had　to　walk　past　the　Choora　mill；　just　outside　of　town。　I　thought　it　strange　no　one　be　there。　Someone　always　be　at　the　mill。'　Adie　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment　and　then　took　another　sip　of　tea。　'As　it　turned　out；　there　be　people　there。　The　Blood　of　the　Fold。　They　be　waiting　for　us。'
　
　Zedd　knew　of　them。　In　the　larger　cities　of　Nicobarese；　the　Blood　of　the　Fold　were　an　organized　corps　of　men　who　hunted　banelings；　rooted　out　evil；　as　they　saw　it。　In　other　lands；　there　were　men　like　them；　who　went　by　other　names；　but　they　were　the　same。　None　were　especially　picky　about　proof。　A　corpse　was　the　only　proof　they　need　show　of　their　job　well　done。　If　they　said　the　body　was　that　of　a　baneling；　then　it　was。　In　the　smaller　towns；　the　Blood　were　usually　selfappointed　toughs　and　thugs。　The　Blood　of　the　Fold　were　widely　feared。　With　good　reason。
　
　'They　took　us　。。。'　Her　voice　broke；　but　only　that　once。。。。　'into　separate　rooms　in　the　bottom　of　the　mill。　It　be　dark；　and　smelled　of　the　damp　stone　walls　and　grain　dust。　I　did　not　know　what　be　done　to　Pell。　I　be　almost　too　terrified　to　breathe。
　
　'Mathrin　Galliene　said　Pell　and　I　be　banelings。　He　said　I　would　not　wed　as　I　should　have　because　I　wished　to　bring　the　Keeper's　notice　to　Choora。　There　be　a　sickness；　a　fever；　in　the　country　that　summer；　and　it　brought　death　to　many　a　family。　Mathrin　Galliene　said　Pell　and　I　brought　the　sickness。　I　denied　it　be　so；　and　spoke　the　oath　to　show　proof。'　Adie　turned　the　cup　in　her　fingers　as　she　stared　at　it。
　
　Zedd　touched　her　hand。　'Drink；　Adie。　It　will　help　you。'　He　had　put　a　pinch　of　cloud　leaf　into　her　tea；　to　help　relax　her。
　
　She　took　a　long　swallow。　'Mathrin　Galliene　said　Pell　and　I　be　banelings；　and　the　graveyard　be　full　of　the　proof　of　that。　He　said　he　wanted　only　for　Pell　and　I　to　tell　the　truth；　to　confess。　The　other　men　of　the　Blood　be　growling　like　hounds　around　a　rabbit；　ready　to　tear　us　apart。　I　be　terrified　for　Pell。
　
　As　they　beat　me；　I　knew　they　would　be　doing　worse　to　him；　to　make　him　name　me　a　baneling。　Nothing　be　better　for　the　Blood　than　to　have　someone　name　a　loved　one　as　a　baneling。　They　would　not　listen　when　I　denied　it。'　She　looked　up　into　his　eyes。　'They　would　not　listen。'
　
　'Anything　you　said；'　Zedd　offered　quietly；　'would　have　made　no　difference；　Adie。　It　wouldn't　have　mattered。　When　you　are　in　a　leghold　trap；　reasoning　with　the　steel　does　no　good。'
　
　She　nodded。　'I　know。'　Her　face　was　a　calm　mask　over　a　thunderhead。　'I　could　have　stopped　it；　had　I　used　the　gift；　but　it　be　against　everything　I　be　taught；　believed。　It　be　as　if　using　the　gift　would　prove　to　myself　that　what　the　men　said　be　true。　I　felt　it　would　have　been　blasphemy　against　the　Creator。　I　be　as　helpless　while　the　men　beat　me　as　if　I　did　not　have　the　gift。'
　
　She　drained　the　tea　from　her　cup。　'Even　as　I　screamed；　I　could　hear　Pell's　screams　echoing　from　another　room。'
　
　Zedd　went　to　the　fire　and　brought　the　pot　back；　filling　her　cup　again。　'It　wasn't　your　fault；　Adie。　Don't　blame　yourself。'
　
　She　flicked　a　glance　up　at　him　as　he　poured　himself　another　cup。　They　wanted　me　to　name　Pell　as　a　baneling。　I　told　them　I　would　not；　that　they　could　kill　me；　but　they　could　not　make　me　say　that　it　be　so。
　
　'Mathrin　bent　close　to　me；　put　his　face　close　to　mine。　In　my　head；　I　can　still　see　his　smile。　He　said；　'I　believe　you；　girl。　But　it　doesn't　matter；　because　it　not　be　you　we　want　to　name　the　baneling。　It　be　Pell　we　want　to　speak　the　name　of　the　baneling。　It　be　you　we　want　Pell　to　name。　You　be　the　bane…ling。'
　
　Then　the　men　held　me　down。　Mathrin　tried　to　pour　something　down　my　throat。　It　burned　my　mouth。　He　held　my　nose。　It　be　swallow　or　drown。　I　wished　to　drown；　but　I　swallowed　without　wanting　to。　It　burned　my　throat　like　swallowing　fire。　I　could　not　speak。　I　could　not　make　a　sound。　I　could　not　even　scream。　No　sound　be　there。　Only　burning　pain。　More　pain　than　I　had　ever　known。'　She　took　a　sip　of　tea；　as　if　to　soothe　her　throat。
　
　Then　the　men　took　me　in　the　room　with　Pell　and　tied　me　to　a　chair　in　front　of　him。　Mathrin　held　me　by　my　hair　so　I　could　not　move。　It　broke　my　heart　to　see　what　they　had　done　to　my　Pell。　His　face　be　white　as　snow。　They　had　cut　off　most　of　his　fingers；　one　knuckle　at　a　time。'　Her　own　fingers　tightened　around　her　cup　as　she　stared　into　the　vision。
　
　'Mathrin　told　Pell　that　I　had　confessed　that　Pell　be　a　baneling。　Pell's　eyes　be　big；　looking　at　me。　I　tried　to　scream　that　it　not　be　true；　but　no　sound　came。　I　tried　to　shake　my　head　that　it　not　be　true；　but　Mathrin　held　me　so　I　could　not。
　
　'Pell　told　them　he　did　not　believe　them。　They　cut　off　another　finger。　They　told　him　they　only　do　it　because　I　named　him。　Only　do　it　on　my　word。　Pell　kept　his　eyes　on　me　as　he　shook；　and　kept　telling　them　he　did　not　believe　them。　They　told　Pell　I　had　told　them　I　wished　him　to　be　killed　because　he　be　a　baneling。　Still　Pell　said　he　did　not　believe　them。　He　said　he　loved　me。
　
　Then　he　told　Pell　I　had　named　him　a　baneling；　and　that　if　it　not　be　so；　I　could　deny　it　and　they　would　let　us　both　go　free。　He　told　Pell　that　I　had　promised　I　would　not　deny　it　because　he　be　a　baneling；　and　I　wanted　him　to　die　for　it。　Pell　screamed　for　me　to　tell　them。　Screamed　for　me　to　deny　it。　He　screamed　my　name；　screamed　for　me　to　say　something。
　
　'I　tried；　but　I　could　say　nothing。　My　throat　be　fire。　My　voice　did　not　work。　Mathrin　held　me　by　my　hair；　I　could　not　move。　Pell's　eyes　be　big　as　he　stared　at　me。　As　I　sat　silent。
　
　Then　Pell　spoke　to　me。　'How　could　you　do　that　to　me；　Adie？　How　could　you　name　me　a　baneling？'　Then　he　cried。
　
　'Mathrin　asked　him　to　name　me　a　baneling。　He　said　that　if　he　did；　they　would　believe　him　over　me；　because　I　had　the　gift；　and　he　would　be　freed。　Pell　whispered；　'I　will　not　say　that　of　her　to　save　my　life。　Even　though　she　has　betrayed　me。'　Those　words　broke　my　heart。'
　
　As　she　stared　off　at　nothing；　Zedd　noticed　a　candle　on　the　counter　behind　her　melt　into　a　puddle。　He　co