epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第13章

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d　through　into　the　clear　space；　Rhisiart　lay　on　his　back；　his　right　hip　hollowing　the　grass　under　him；　shoulders　flattened　to　the　ground　and　arms　spread　wide。　His　legs　were　drawn　up　under　him　with　bent　knees；　the　left　leg　crossed　over　the　right。　His　short；　defiant　beard　pointed　at　the　sky。　So；　and　at　the　very　same　slanting　angle；　did　the　feathered　flight　of　the　arrow　that　jutted　out　from　under　the　cage　of　his　ribs。
　
　Chapter　Five
　From　both　sides　they　gathered；　drawn　to　the　smith's　call；　breaking　through　bushes　like　the　running　of　a　startled　herd　of　deer；　and　halting　appalled　round　the　oval　where　the　body　lay。　Cadfael　went　on　his　knees；　and　looked　for　any　sign　of　breath　within　the　drawnback　lips；　any　pulse　in　the　stretched　throat　or　rise　and　fall　of　the　pierced　breast；　but　there　was　none。　And　for　that　first　moment　he　was　the　only　one　who　moved　within　the　open　space　of　grass；　and　what　he　did　was　done　in　strange；　too…intense　silence；　as　though　everyone　round　him　held　his　breath。
　Then　everything　broke　out　at　once　in　noise　and　motion。　Sioned　clawed　through　the　screening　circle　and　saw　her　father's　body；　and　uttered　a　great　shriek　that　was　more　of　fury　even　than　of　grief；　and　flung　herself　forward。　Peredur　caught　her　by　the　wrist　and　pulled　her　round　into　his　arms；　one　hand　cupped　behind　her　head　to　press　her　face　into　his　shoulder；　but　she　shrieked　again；　and　struck　out　at　him　with　all　her　strength；　and　breaking　loose；　hurled　herself　to　her　knees　facing　Cadfael；　and　reached　out　to　embrace　her　father's　body。　Cadfael　leaned　across　to　ward　her　off；　his　hand　braced　into　the　grass　under　Rhisiart's　right　armpit。
　〃No！　Touch　nothing！　Not　yet！　Let　him　alone；　he　has　things　to　tell　us！〃
　By　some　intuitive　quickness　of　mind　that　had　not　deserted　her　even　at　this　moment；　she　obeyed　the　tone　first；　and　awakened　to　the　words　immediately　after。　Her　eyes　questioned　him；　widening；　and　slowly　she　sat　back　in　the　grass；　and　drew　her　hands　together　in　her　lap。　Her　lips　shaped　the　words　after　him　silently：　〃…things　to　tell　us！〃　She　looked　from　his　face　into　the　face　of　the　dead　man。　She　knew　he　was　dead。　She　also　knew　that　the　dead　speak；　often　in　thunder。　And　she　came　of　proud　Welsh　stock　to　which　the　blood…feud　is　sacred；　a　duty　transcending　even　grief。
　When　those　following　gathered　closer；　and　one　reached　to　touch；　it　was　she　who　spread　her　arm　protectively　over　the　body；　and　said　with　authority：　〃No！　Let　him　be！〃
　Cadfael　had　drawn　back　his　arm；　and　for　a　moment　wondered　what　troubled　him　about　the　palm　he　had　lifted　from　the　grass　beside　Rhisiart's　breast。　Then　he　knew。　Where　he　knelt　the　grass　was　perceptibly　damp　from　the　morning's　sharp　shower；　he　could　feel　the　cling　of　the　habit　when　he　shifted　his　knee。　Yet　under　the　outflung　right　arm　the　grass　was　dry；　his　hand　rose　from　it　with　no　hint　of　moisture；　no　scent　of　rain。　He　touched　again；　ran　his　fingers　up　and　down　alongside　Rhisiart's　right　flank。　He　was　down　to　the　knee　before　he　felt　the　dampness　and　stirred　the　green　fragrance。　He　felt　outwards；　the　width　of　the　body；　to　find　the　same　signs。　Strange！　Very　strange！　His　mind　recorded　and　forbore　to　wonder　then；　because　there　were　other　things　to　be　observed；　and　all　manner　of　dangers　were　falling　in　upon　all　manner　of　people。
　The　tall　shape　looming　at　his　back；　motionless　and　chill；　could　be　none　other　than　Prior　Robert；　and　Prior　Robert　in　a　curious　state　of　exalted　shock；　nearer　to　Brother　Columbanus'　ecstatic　fit　than　he　had　ever　been　before　or　would　ever　be　again。　The　high；　strained　voice　asked；　over　the　shuddering　quietness　of　Sioned's　tearless　sobs：　〃He　is　dead？〃
　〃Dead；〃　said　Cadfael　flatly；　and　looked　into　Sioned's　wide；　dry　eyes　and　held　them；　promising　something　as　yet　undefined。　Whatever　it　was；　she　understood　it　and　was　appeased；　for　he　was　Welsh；　too；　he　knew　about　the　blood…feud。　And　she　was　the　only　heir；　the　only　close　kin；　of　a　murdered　man。　She　had　a　task　far　above　sorrow。
　The　prior's　voice　soared　suddenly；　awed　and　exalted。　〃Behold　the　saint's　vengeance！　Did　I　not　say　her　wrath　would　be　wreaked　upon　all　those　who　stood　in　the　way　of　her　desire？　Tell　them　what　I　am　saying！　Tell　them　to　look　well　at　the　fulfilment　of　my　prophecy；　and　let　all　other　obdurate　hearts　take　warning。　Saint　Winifred　has　shown　her　power　and　her　displeasure。〃
　There　was　hardly　any　need　for　translation；　they　had　the　sense　of　it　already。　A　dozen　of　those　standing　close　shrank　warily　away；　a　dozen　voices　muttered　hurried　submission。　Not　for　worlds　would　they　stand　in　the　saint's　way。
　〃The　impious　man　reaps　what　he　sows；〃　declaimed　Robert。　〃Rhisiart　had　his　warning；　and　did　not　heed　it。〃
　The　most　timorous　were　on　their　knees　by　then；　cowed　and　horrified。　It　was　not　as　if　Saint　Winifred　had　meant　very　much　to　them；　until　someone　else　wanted　her；　and　Rhisiart　stated　a　prior　claim　on　behalf　of　the　parish。　And　Rhisiart　was　dead　by　violence；　struck　down　improbably　in　his　own　forests。
　Sioned's　eyes　held　Cadfael's；　above　her　father's　pierced　heart。　She　was　a　gallant　girl；　she　said　never　a　word；　though　she　had　words　building　up　in　her　ripe　for　saying；　spitting；　rather；　into　Prior　Robert's　pallid；　aristocratic；　alabaster　face。　It　was　not　she　who　suddenly　spoke　out。　It　was　Peredur。
　〃I　don't　believe　it！〃　He　had　a　fine；　clear；　vehement　voice　that　rang　under　the　branches。　〃What；　a　gentle　virgin　saint；　to　take　such　vengeance　on　a　good　man？　Yes；　a　good　man；　however　mistaken！　If　she　had　been　so　pitiless　as　to　want　to　slay…and　I　do　not　believe　it　of　her！…what　need　would　she　have　of　arrows　and　bows？　Fire　from　heaven　would　have　done　her　will　just　as　well；　and　shown　her　power　better。　You　are　looking　at　a　murdered　man；　Father　Prior。　A　man's　hand　fitted　that　arrow；　a　man's　hand　drew　the　bow；　and　for　a　man's　reason。　There　must　have　been　others　who　had　a　grudge　against　Rhisiart；　others　whose　plans　he　was　obstructing；　besides　Saint　Winifred。　Why　blame　this　killing　on　her？〃
　This　forthright　Welsh　sense　Cadfael　translated　into　English　for　Robert's　benefit；　who　had　caught　the　dissenting　tone　of　it；　but　not　the　content。　〃And　the　young　man's　right。　This　arrow　never　was　shot　from　heaven。　Look　at　the　angle　of　it；　up　from　under　his　ribs　into　the　heart。　Out　of　the　earth；　rather！　A　man　with　a　short　bow；　on　his　knee　among　the　bushes？　True；　the　ground　slopes；　he　may　even　have　been　lower　than　Rhisiart；　but　even　so。。。〃
　〃Avenging　saints　may　make　use　of　earthly　instruments；〃　said　Robert　overbearingly。
　〃The　instrument　would　still　be　a　murderer；〃　said　Cadfael。　〃There　is　law　in　Wales；　too。　We　shall　need　to　send　word　to　the　prince's　bailiff。〃
　Bened　had　stood　all　this　time　darkly　gazing；　at　the　body；　at　the　very　slight　ooze　of　blood　round　the　wound；　at　the　jutting　shaft　with　its　trimmed　feathers。　Slowly　he　said：　〃I　know　this　arrow。　I　know　its　owner；　or　at　least　the　man　whose　mark　it　bears。　Where　young　men　are　living　close　together　in　a　household；　they　mark　their　own　with　a　distinctive　sign；　so　that　there　can　be　no　argument。　See　the　tip　of　the　feathering　on　one　side；　dyed　blue。〃　It　was　as　he　said；　and　at　the　mention　of　it　several　there　drew　breath　hard；　knowing　the　mark　as　well　as　he　knew　it。
　〃It's　Engelard's；〃　said　Bened　outright；　and　three　or　four　hushed　voices　bore　him　out。
　Sioned　raised　her　stricken　face；　shocked　into　a　false；　frozen　calm　that　suddenly　melted　and　crumbled　into　dread　and　anger。　Rhisiart　was　dead；　there　was　nothing　she　could　do　now　for　him　but　mourn　and　wait；　but　Engelard　was　alive　and　vulnerable；　and　an　outlander；　with　no　kinship　to　speak　for　him。　She　rose　abruptly；　slender　and　straight；　turning　her　fierce　eyes　from　face　to　face　all　round　the　circle。
　〃Engelard　is　the　most　trustworthy　of　all　my　father's　men；　and　would　cut　off　his　own　drawing　hand　rather　than　loose　against　my　father's　life。　Who　dares　say　this　is　his　work？〃
　〃I　don't　say　so；〃　said　Bened　reasonably。　〃I　do　say　this　is　marked　as　his　arrow。　He　is　the　best　shot　with　the　short　bow　in　all　this　countryside。〃
　〃And　everybody　in　Gwytherin　knows；〃　spoke　up　a　voice　from　among　the　Welshmen；　not　accusing；　only　pointing　out　facts；　〃that　he　has　quarrelled　often　and　fiercely　with　Rhisiart；　over　a　certain　matter　at　issue　between　them。〃
　〃Over　me；〃　said　Sioned　harshly。　〃Say　what　you　mean！　I；　of　all　people；　know　the　truth　best。　Better　than　you　all！　Yes；　they　have　had　high　words　many　times；　on　this　one　matter；　and　only　this；　and　would　have　had　more；　but　for　all　that；　these　two　have　understood　each　other；　and　neither　one　of　them　would　ever　have　done　the　other　harm。　Do　you　think　the　prize　fought　over　does　not　get　to　know　the　risks　to　herself　and　both　the　batants？　Fight　they　did；　but　they　thought　more　highly　of　each　other　than　either　did　of　any　of　you；　and　with　good　reason。〃
　〃Yet　who　can　say；〃　said　Peredur　in　a　low　voice；　〃how　far　a　man　may　step　aside　even　from　his　own　nature；　for　love？〃
　She　turned　and　looked　at　him　with　measuring　scorn。　〃I　thought　you　were　his　friend！〃
　〃So　I　am　his　friend；〃　said　Peredur；　paling　but　steadfast。　〃I　said　what　I　believe　of　myself；　no　less　than　of　him。〃
　〃What　is　this　matter　of　one　Engelard？〃　demanded　Prior　Robert；　left　behind　in　this　exchange。　〃Tell　me　what　they　are　saying。〃　And　when　Cadfael　had　done　so；　as　tersely　as　possible：　〃It　would　seem　that　at　least　this　young　man　must　be　asked　to　account　for　his　movements　this　day；〃　decreed　Robert；　appropriating　an　authority　to　which　he　had　no　direct　right　here。　〃It　may　be　that　others　have　been　with　him；　and　can　vouch　for　him。　But　if　not。。。〃
　〃He　set　out　this　morning　with　your　father；〃　said　Huw；　distressfully　eyeing　the　girl's　fixed　and　defiant　face。　〃You　told　us　so。　They　went　together　as　far　as　the　cleared　fields。　Then　your　father　turned　to　make　his　way　down　to　us；　and　Engelard　was　to　go　a　mile　beyond；　to　the　byres　where　the　cows　were　in　calf。　We　must　send　out　and　ask　if　any　man　has　seen　your　father　since　he　parted　from　Engelard。　Is　there　any　who　can　speak　to　that？〃
　There　was　a　silence。　The　numbers　gathered　about　them　were　growing　steadily。　Some　of　the　slower　searchers　from　the　open　ride　had　made　their　way　up　here　without　news　of　their　own；　to　find　the　matter　thus　terribly　resolved。　Others；　hearing　rumours　of　the　missing　man；　had　followed　from　the　village。　Father　Huw's　messenger　came　up　behind　with　Brother　Columbanus　and　Brother　Jerome　from　the　chapel。　But　no　one　spoke　up　to　say　he　had　seen　Rhisiart　that　day。　Nor　did　any　volunteer　word　of　having　encountered　Engelard。
　〃He　must　be　questioned；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　〃and　if　his　answers　are　not　satisfactory；　he　must　be　held　and　handed　over　to　the　bailiff。　For　it's　clear　from　what　has　been　said　that　this　man　certainly　had　a　motive　for　wishing　to　remove　Rhisiart　from　his　path。〃
　〃Motive？〃　blazed　Sioned；　burning　up　abruptly　as　a　dark　and　quiet　fire　suddenly　spurts　flame。　Instinctively　she　recoiled　into　Welsh；　though　she　had　already　revealed　how　well　she　could　follow　what　was　said　around　her　in　English；　and　the　chief　reason　for　her　reticence　concerning　her　knowledge　had　been　cruelly　removed。　〃Not　so　strong　a　motive　as　you　had；　Father　Prior！　Every　soul　in　this　parish　knows　what　store　you　set　upon　getting　Saint　Winifred　away　from　us；　what　glory　it　will　be　to　your　abbey；　and　above　all；　to　you。　And　who　stood　in　your　way　but　my　father？　Yours；　not　the　saint's！　Show　me