epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第12章

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　〃And　is　he　sensible　of　the　wrong…mindedness　of　his　resistance？　Will　he　withdraw　his　opposition？〃
　In　the　dimness　where　the　candle…light　barely　reached；　Brothers　Jerome　and　Columbanus　trembled　and　hoped；　for　while　doubt　remained　they　had　not　been　permitted　to　remove　to　their　rest　at　Cadwallon's　house。　Anxious　eyes　appealed；　reflecting　the　light。
　Father　Huw　hedged；　wanting　his　own　sleep。　〃He　offers　friendly　interest　and　faithful　consideration。　I　asked　no　more。〃
　Brother　Cadfael　said　bluntly：　〃You　will　need　to　be　persuasive；　and　sincere。　He　is　sincere。　I　am　no　way　convinced　that　he　can　be　lightly　persuaded。〃　He　was　tired　of　nursing　wounded　vanities；　he　spoke　out　what　was　in　his　mind。　〃Father　Prior；　you　made　your　mistake　with　him　this　morning。　You　will　need　a　change　of　heart；　his　or　yours；　to　undo　that　damage。〃
　Prior　Robert　made　his　dispositions　as　soon　as　Mass　was　over　next　morning；　and　with　some　care。
　〃Only　Brother　Sub…Prior　and　I；　with　Father　Huw；　and　Brother　Cadfael　as　interpreter；　will　sit　at　table　together。　You；　Brother　John；　will　make　yourself　useful　to　the　cooks；　and　do　whatever　is　needed；　and　you　may　also　see　to　Father　Huw's　cattle　and　chickens。　And　you　two；　Brother　Jerome；　Brother　Columbanus；　I　have　a　special　mission　for　you。　Since　we　are　about　Saint　Winifred's　business；　I　would　have　you　go　and　spend　the　hours　while　we　deliberate　in　vigil　and　prayer；　imploring　her　aid　to　bring　the　obdurate　to　reason；　and　our　errand　to　a　successful　conclusion。　Not　in　the　church　here；　but　in　her　own　chapel　in　the　old　graveyard　where　she　is　buried。　Take　your　food　and　your　measure　of　wine　with　you；　and　go　there　now。　The　boy　Edwin　will　show　you　the　way。　If　we　prevail　upon　Rhisiart；　as　with　her　aid　I　trust　we　may；　I　will　send　to　release　you。　But　continue　your　intercessions　until　I　do　send　word。〃
　They　scattered　dutifully；　John；　cheerfully　enough；　to　tend　the　fire　for　Marared；　and　fetch　and　carry　as　she　directed。　The　old　woman；　long　widowed　and　her　own　sons　grown；　preened　herself　at　having　a　strapping　young　fellow　to　keep　her　pany；　and　Cadfael　reflected　that　John　might　well　be　favoured　with　the　best　bits　before　the　meal　ever　came　to　table。　As　for　Jerome　and　Columbanus；　he　saw　them　set　out　with　the　boy；　bread　and　meat　wrapped　in　napkins　in　the　breasts　of　their　habits；　and　Columbanus　carrying　the　flask　with　their　ration　of　wine；　and　a　small　bottle　of　spring　water　for　himself。
　〃It　is　very　little　to　offer；〃　he　said　meekly；　〃but　I　will　touch　nothing　but　water　until　our　cause　has　prevailed。〃
　〃More　fool　he；〃　said　Brother　John　blithely；　〃for　he　may　well　be　swearing　off　wine　for　life！〃
　It　was　a　fine　spring　morning；　but　capricious　as　May　can　be。　Prior　Robert　and　his　attendants　sat　in　the　orchard　until　they　were　driven　indoors　by　a　sharp　and　sparkling　shower　that　lasted　almost　half　an　hour。　It　was　then　approaching　noon；　the　time　when　Rhisiart　should　join　them。　He　would　have　a　wet　walk　by　the　short　path　through　the　forest。　Or　perhaps　he　had　waited　for　the　sun's　return　at　Cadwallon's　house；　which　was　on　his　way。　Making　allowances　for　that；　they　thought　little　of　it　when　another　half…hour　passed；　and　he　did　not　put　in　an　appearance。　But　when　he　was　an　hour　late　for　the　meeting；　and　still　no　sign　of　him；　Prior　Robert's　face　grew　both　grim　and　cautiously　triumphant。
　〃He　has　heard　the　warning　I　issued　against　his　sin；　and　he　fears　to　e　and　face　me；〃　he　said。
　〃He　had　heard　the　warning；　indeed；〃　said　Father　Huw　heavily；　〃but　I　saw　no　signs　of　fear　in　him。　He　spoke　very　firmly　and　calmly。　And　he　is　a　man　of　his　word。　I　don't　understand　this；　it　is　not　like　him。〃
　〃We　will　eat；　but　frugally；〃　said　the　prior；　〃and　give　him　every　chance　of　keeping　his　promise；　if　something　has　happened　to　delay　him。　So　it　may；　to　any　man。　We　will　wait　until　it　is　time　to　prepare　for　Vespers。〃
　〃I'll　walk　as　far　as　Cadwallon's　house；〃　offered　Brother　Richard；　〃for　the　way　is　all　one　to　that　point；　and　see　if　I　can　meet　with　him；　or　get　word　if　he's　on　his　way。〃
　He　was　gone　more　than　an　hour　and　a　half；　and　came　back　alone。　〃I　went　beyond；　some　way　along　the　ride；　but　saw　no　sign　of　him。　On　my　way　back　I　asked　at　Cadwallon's　gate；　but　no　one　had　seen　him　pass。　I　feared　he　might　have　walked　by　the　short　path　while　I　was　taking　the　other　road。〃
　〃We'll　wait　for　him　until　Vespers；　and　no　longer；〃　said　the　prior；　and　by　then　his　voice　was　growing　grimly　confident；　for　now　he　did　not　expect　the　guest　to　e；　and　the　enemy　would　have　put　himself　in　the　wrong；　to　Prior　Robert's　great　gain。　Until　Vespers；　therefore；　they　waited；　five　hours　after　the　appointed　time。　The　people　of　Gwytherin　could　hardly　say　Rhisiart　had　been　written　off　too　hastily。
　〃So　it　ends；〃　said　the　prior；　rising　and　shaking　out　his　skirts　like　one　shaking　off　a　doubt　or　an　incubus。　〃He　has　turned　tail；　and　his　opposition　will　carry　no　weight　now　with　any　man。　Let　us　go！〃
　The　sunlight　was　still　bright　but　slanting　over　the　green　bowl　where　the　church　stood；　and　a　number　of　people　were　gathering　for　the　service。　And　out　of　the　deeper　green　shadow　where　the　forest　path　began；　came；　not　Rhisiart；　but　his　daughter；　sailing　gallantly　out　into　the　sunlight　in　a　green　gown；　with　her　wild　hair　tamed　and　braided；　and　a　linen　coif　over　it；　Sioned　in　her　church…going　person；　with　Peredur　on　her　heels；　his　hand　possessively　cupping　her　elbow；　though　she　paid　little　heed　to　that　attention。　She　saw　them　issuing　in　a　silent　procession　from　Huw's　gate；　and　her　eyes　went　from　person　to　person；　lingering　on　Cadfael　who　came　last；　and　again　looking　back　with　a　small　frown；　as　though　one　face　was　missing　from　the　expected　pany。
　〃Where　is　my　father？〃　she　asked；　her　wide　eyes　surprised　but　not　yet　troubled。　〃Is　he　not　still　here　with　you？　Have　I　missed　him？　I　rode　as　far　as　Cadwallon's　house；　and　he　was　on　foot；　so　if　he　has　left　more　than　an　hour　ago　he　may　well　be　home　by　now。　I　came　to　bear　him　pany　to　church　and　go　back　with　him　afterwards。〃
　Prior　Robert　looked　down　at　her　in　some　wonder；　the　first　flickering　uneasiness　twitching　his　nostrils。　〃What　is　she　saying？　Do　you　tell　me　that　the　lord　Rhisiart　set　out　to　e　to　our　meeting？〃
　〃Of　course！〃　said　Sioned；　amazed。　〃He　had　said　he　would。〃
　〃But　he　did　not　e；〃　said　Robert。　〃We've　waited　for　him　since　noon；　and　we've　seen　no　sign　of　him。　Brother　Sub…Prior　went　a　part　of　the　way　to　see　if　he　could　meet　with　him；　but　in　vain。　He　has　not　been　here。〃
　She　caught　the　meaning　of　that　without　Cadfael's　services。　Her　eyes　flashed　from　face　to　face；　distrustful　and　ready　for　anger。　〃Are　you　telling　me　truth？　Or　have　you　hidden　him　away　under　lock　and　key　until　you　can　get　Winifred　out　of　her　grave　and　away　to　Shrewsbury？　He　was　all　that　stood　in　your　way。　And　you　have　threatened　him！〃
　Peredur　closed　his　fingers　anxiously　on　her　arm；　and　drew　her　against　his　side。　〃Hush；　you　must　not　say　such　things。　These　brothers　would　not　lie　to　you。〃
　〃At　what　hour；〃　asked　Cadfael；　〃did　your　father　set　out　this　morning？〃
　She　looked　at　him；　and　was　a　little　reassured。　The　ring　of　silent　onlookers　drew　nearer；　listening　attentively；　ready　to　take　her　part　if　she　needed　an　army。
　〃A　good　hour　before　noon。　He　was　going　first　to　the　fields　in　the　clearing；　so　he　would　be　ing　here　by　the　shortest　way；　cutting　through　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of　forest　to　the　usual　path。　He　had　plenty　of　time　to　be　here　before　noon。　As　far　as　the　clearing　Engelard　would　be　with　him；　he　was　going　beyond；　to　the　byres　over　the　hill。　There　are　two　cows　there　ready　to　drop　their　calves。〃
　〃We　are　telling　you　truly；　child；〃　said　Father　Huw；　his　voice　as　grave　and　anxious　as　her　own；　〃we　waited　for　him；　and　he　never　came。〃
　〃What　can　have　happened　to　him？　Where　can　he　be？〃
　〃He　will　have　crossed　with　us　and　gone　home；〃　urged　Peredur；　hovering　unhappily　at　her　shoulder。　〃We'll　ride　back；　we　shall　surely　find　him　there　before　us。〃
　〃No！　Why　should　he　turn　back；　and　never　e　to　the　dinner？　And　if　he　did；　why　so　late？　He　would　have　been　home　long　before　I　dressed　my　hair　and　set　out　to　meet　him；　if　he　had　changed　his　mind。　And　besides；　he　never　would。〃
　〃I　think；〃　said　Father　Huw；　〃that　my　whole　parish　has　some　interest　in　this　matter；　and　we　had　better　put　off　everything　else；　even　the　services　of　the　church；　until　we　have　found　Rhisiart　and　assured　ourselves　that　all's　well　with　him。　Truly　this　may　be　no　more　than　a　tangle　of　mistiming　and　misunderstanding；　but　let's　resolve　it　first；　and　wonder　about　it　afterwards。　There　are　enough　of　us　here。　Let's　send　out　in　parties　along　all　the　roads　he　may　have　taken；　and　Sioned　shall　show　us　where　she　thinks　his　short　cut　from　the　upland　fields　would　bring　him　to　the　path。　He　could　not　well　meet　with　any　dangerous　beasts　in　these　woods；　but　he　may　have　had　a　fall；　an　injury　that　has　halted　or　slowed　him。　Father　Prior；　will　you　join　with　us？〃
　〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　〃and　so　will　we　all。〃
　The　less　active　among　them　were　sent　along　the　open　ride；　with　orders　to　scatter　on　either　side　and　b　the　surroundings　as　they　went；　while　the　more　athletic　took　the　narrow　footpath　beyond　Cadwallon's　stockade。　The　woods　here　were　not　yet　close…set；　mere　was　thick；　springy　grass　under　the　trees；　and　no　dense　undergrowth。　They　spread　out　into　a　half…circle；　moving　along　within　a　few　paces　of　one　another；　Sioned　pressing　purposefully　forward　up　the　path　with　set　lips　and　fixed　eyes；　Peredur　with　every　evidence　of　desperate　affection　following　close　and　murmuring　agitated　urgings　into　her　unheeding　ears。　Whether　he　believed　in　his　own　reassurances　or　not；　out　of　all　question　he　was　a　young　man　fathoms　deep　in　love；　and　ready　to　do　anything　to　serve　and　protect　Sioned；　while　she　saw　in　him　nothing　but　the　boy　from　the　next　holding；　and　tiresome　at　that。
　They　were　perhaps　half　a　mile　beyond　Cadwallon's　enclosure　when　Father　Huw　suddenly　plucked　at　Brother　Cadfael's　sleeve。
　〃We　have　forgotten　Brother　Jerome　and　Brother　Columbanus！　The　hill　of　the　chapel　is　off　to　the　right　here；　no　great　way。　Ask　Prior　Robert；　should　we　not　send　and　call　them　to　join　us？〃
　〃I　had　indeed　forgotten；〃　admitted　the　prior。　〃Yes；　by　all　means　send　someone。　Best　one　of　your　parishioners；　they'll　all　know　the　way。〃
　One　of　the　young　men　swerved　aside　obediently　between　the　trees；　and　ran。　The　slow…moving　scythe　swept　on　into　deeper　forest。
　〃About　here；〃　said　Sioned；　halting；　〃he　would　have　e　down　from　the　clearing。　If　we　go　obliquely　to　the　right　here；　and　spread　out　as　before；　we　shall　be　covering　his　likely　way。〃
　The　ground　rose；　the　trees　grew　closer；　the　undergrowth　thicker。　They　began　to　thread　the　encroaching　bushes；　having　to　part　pany　by　a　few　yards；　losing　sight　momentarily　of　their　neighbours。　They　had　gone　thus　only　a　short　way　when　Bened　the　smith；　crashing　through　bushes　at　Brother　Cadfael's　left　hand；　uttered　a　great　shout　of　discovery　and　dismay；　and　everyone　in　the　wavering　line　halted　and　shook　to　the　sound。
　Cadfael　turned　towards　the　cry；　thrusting　through　thorn…branches；　and　came　out　in　a　narrow　oval　of　grass　surrounded　every　way　with　thick　bushes；　through　which　a　used　track　no　wider　than　a　man's　shoulders　clove；　the　long　way　of　the　oval。　Just　where　he　must　have　brushed　through　into　the　clear　space；　Rhisiart　lay　on　his　back；　his　right　hip　hollo