epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第17章

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her　road。　But　now　I　misdoubt　me；　no　man　would　be　such　a　fool　as　to　leave　his　private　mark　on　a　dead　man　for　all　to　see。　Not　unless　he　was　disturbed　and　had　to　take　to　his　heels。　All　it　needed　was　the　corner　clipping；　how　long　does　that　take　if　you've　a　knife　on　you？　No；　it's　hard　to　understand。　And　yet　it　could　be　so！〃
　By　his　deep　gloom　there　was　more　on　Bened's　mind　than　that。　Somewhere　within；　he　was　in　abysmal　doubt　whether　he　had　not　spoken　up　in　the　hope　of　having　a　better　chance　with　Sioned　himself　if　his　most　favoured　rival　was　removed。　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　was　glad　when　he　broke　clear　as　he　did；　but　I'll　be　satisfied　if　he　makes　his　way　back　to
　Cheshire　after　this　alarm。　And　yet　it's　hard　to　think　of　him　as　a　murderer。〃
　〃We　might　give　our　minds　to　that；　if　you're　willing；〃　said　Cadfael；　〃for　you　know　the　people　of　these　parts　better　than　I　do。　Let's　own　it；　the　girl's　suspicion；　that　she　spoke　out　to　Prior　Robert's　face；　will　be　what　many　a　one　here　is　thinking；　whether　he　says　it　or　not。　Here　are　we　e　into　the　place　and　starting　a　great　contention；　chiefly　with　this　one　lord…no　need　to　argue　who's　in　the　right…and　there　he　stands　as　the　one　obstacle　to　what　we've　e　for；　and　suddenly　he's　dead；　murdered。　What's　more　natural　than　to　point　the　finger　at　us；　all　of　us？〃
　〃It's　blasphemy　even　to　consider　such　a　charge　against　such　reverend　brothers；〃　said　Bened；　shocked。
　〃Kings　and　abbots　are　also　men；　and　can　fall　to　temptation。　So　how　do　we　all　stand　in　regard　to　this　day's　doings？　All　six　of　us　were　together　or　close　within　sight　of　one　another　until　after　Mass。　Then　Prior　Robert；　Brother　Richard　and　I　were　with　Father　Huw；　first　in　the　orchard；　and　when　it　rained；　half　an　hour　before　noon；　in　the　house。　None　of　the　four　of　us　could　have　gone　into　the　forest。　Brother　John；　too；　was　about　the　house　and　holding；　Marared　can　vouch　for　him　as　well　as　we。　The　only　one　who　left；　before　we　all　came　forth　for　Vespers　and　set　off　to　search　for　Rhisiart；　was　Brother　Richard；　who　offered　to　go　and　see　if　he　could　meet　with　him　or　get　word　of　him；　and　was　gone　perhaps　an　hour　and　a　half；　and　came　back　empty…handed。　From　an　hour　after　noon　he　was　gone；　and　into　the　forest；　too；　for　what　it's　worth；　and　makes　no　claim　to　have　spoken　with　anyone　until　he　enquired　at　Cadwallon's　gate　on　his　way　back；　which　would　be　nearing　half　past　two。　I　must　speak　with　the　gate…keeper；　and　see　if　he　bears　that　out。　Two　of　us　are　left；　but　not　unaccounted　for。　Brother　Jerome　and　Brother　Columbanus　were　sent　off　to　keep　vigil　together　at　Saint　Winifred's　chapel；　to　pray　for　a　peaceful　agreement。　We　all　saw　them　set　off　together；　and　they'd　be　in　the　chapel　and　on　their　knees　long　before　ever　Rhisiart　came　down　towards　the　path。　And　there　they　stayed　until　Father　Huw's　messenger　went　to　fetch　them　to　join　us。　Each　of　them　is　warranty　for　the　other。〃
　〃I　said　so；〃　said　Bened；　reassured。　〃Holy　men　do　not　murder。〃
　〃Man；〃　said　Cadfael　earnestly；　〃there　are　as　holy　persons　outside　orders　as　ever　there　are　in；　and　not　to　trifle　with　truth；　as　good　men　out　of　the　Christian　church　as　most　I've　met　within　it。　In　the　Holy　Land　I've　known　Saracens　I'd　trust　before　the　mon　run　of　the　crusaders；　men　honourable；　generous　and　courteous；　who　would　have　scorned　to　haggle　and　jostle　for　place　and　trade　as　some　of　our　allies　did。　Meet　every　man　as　you　find　him；　for　we're　all　made　the　same　under　habit　or　robe　or　rags。　Some　better　made　than　others；　and　some　better　cared　for；　but　on　the　same　pattern　all。　But　there　it　is。　As　far　as　I　can　see；　only　one　of　us；　Brother　Richard；　had　any　chance　at　all　to　be　in　the　neighbourhood　when　Rhisiart　was　killed；　and　of　all　of　us　he　makes　the　least　likely　murderer。　So　we're　forced　to　look　if　the　ground　is　not　wide　open　for　others；　and　Saint　Winifred　only　an　opportunity　and　an　excuse。　Had　Rhisiart　any　enemies　around　Gwytherin？　Some　who　might　never　have　moved　against　him　if　we　had　not　blown　up　this　storm　and　put　the　temptation　in　their　way？〃
　Bened　considered　gravely；　nursing　his　wine。　〃I　wouldn't　say　there's　a　man　anywhere　who　has　not　someone　to　wish　him　ill；　but　it's　a　far　cry　from　that　to　murder。　Time　was　when　Father　Huw　himself　came　up　against　Rhisiart　over　a　patch　of　land　both　claimed；　and　tempers　ran　high；　but　they　settled　it　the　proper　way；　by　witness　from　the　neighbours；　and　there's　been　no　malice　after。　And　there　have　been　lawsuits…did　you　ever　hear　of　a　Welsh　landholder　without　one　or　two　lawsuits　in　hand？　One　with　Rhys　ap　Cynan　over　a　disputed　boundary；　one　over　some　beasts　that　strayed。　Nothing　to　make　lasting　bad　blood。　We　thrive　on　suits　at　law。　One　thing's　true；　with　the　interest　you've　roused　here；　every　soul　for　miles　around　knew　that　Rhisiart　was　due　at　Father　Huw's　parsonage　at　noon。　No　limit　at　all；　there；　on　who　might　have　decided　to　waylay　him　on　the　road。〃
　That　was　as　far　as　they　could　get。　The　field　was　wide；　wide　enough　still　to　include　Engelard；　however　persuaded　Cadfael　might　be　that　he　was　incapable　of　such　an　act。　Wide　enough　to　enfold　even　neighbours　like　Cadwallon；　villeins　from　the　village；　servants　of　the　household。
　But　not；　surely；　thought　Brother　Cadfael；　making　his　way　back　to　Huw's　loft　in　the　green　and　fragrant　dark；　not　that　strange　young　man　who　had　been　a　favourite　of　Rhisiart；　and　fond　of　him；　and　in　and　out　of　his　house　like　a　son　from　childhood？　The　young　man　who　had　said　of　Engelard；　and　of　himself；　that　a　man　might　step　far　aside　even　from　his　own　nature；　for　love；　and　then；　presumably　for　love；　had　opened　a　way　for　Engelard　to　escape；　as　Cadfael　had　seen　for　himself。　And　who　was　now　avoiding　Sioned's　gratitude　and　affection；　either　because　it　was　not　love；　and　love　was　the　only　thing　he　wanted　from　her；　or　for　some　darker　reason。　When　he　flung　away　in　silence　into　the　forest　he　had　had　the　look　of　one　pursued　by　a　demon。　But　surely　not　that　demon？　So　far　from　furthering　his　chances；　Rhisiart's　death　robbed　him　of　his　most　staunch　ally；　who　had　waited　patiently　and　urged　constantly；　to　bring　his　daughter　to　the　desired　match　in　the　end。　No；　whichever　way　a　man　looked　at　him；　Peredur　remained　mysterious　and　disturbing。
　Father　Huw　did　not　e　back　from　Rhisiart's　house　that　night。　Brother　Cadfael　lay　alone　in　the　loft；　and　mindful　that　Brother　John　was　locked　up　somewhere　in　Sioned's　barns；　and　there　was　no　one　to　prepare　food；　got　up　in　good　time　and　went　to　do　it　himself；　and　then　set　off　to　Bened's　paddock　to　see　the　horses；　who　were　also　left　without　a　groom。　It　suited　him　better　to　be　out　and　working　in　the　fresh　morning　than　cooped　up　with　Prior　Robert；　but　he　was　obliged　to　return　in　time　for　chapter；　which　the　prior　had　decreed　should　be　held　daily　as　at　home；　however　brief　the　business　they　had　to　transact　here。
　They　met　in　the　orchard；　the　five　of　them；　Prior　Robert　presiding　in　as　solemn　dignity　as　ever。　Brother　Richard　read　out　the　saints　to　be　celebrated　that　day　and　the　following　day。　Brother　Jerome　posed　his　wiry　person　into　his　usual　shape　of　sycophantic　reverence；　and　made　all　the　appropriate　responses。　But　it　seemed　to　Cadfael　that　Brother　Columbanus　looked　unusually　withdrawn　and　troubled；　his　full　blue　eyes　veiled。　The　contrast　between　his　athletic　build　and　fine；　autocratic　head；　and　his　meek　and　anxious　devoutness　of　feature　and　bearing；　was　always　confusing　to　the　observer；　but　that　morning　his　extreme　preoccupation　with　some　inward　crisis　of　real　or　imagined　sin　made　it　painful　to　look　at　him。　Brother　Cadfael　sighed；　expecting　another　falling　fit　like　the　one　that　had　launched　them　all　on　this　quest。　Who　knew　what　this　badly…balanced　half…saint；　half…idiot　would　do　next？
　〃Here　we　have　but　one　business　in　hand；〃　said　Prior　Robert　firmly；　〃and　we　shall　pursue　it　as　in　duty　bound。　I　mean　to　press　more　resolutely　than　ever　for　our　right　to　take　up　the　relics　of　the　saint；　and　remove　them　to　Shrewsbury。　But　we　must　admit；　at　this　moment；　that　we　have　not　so　far　been　successful　in　carrying　the　people　with　us。　I　had　great　hopes　yesterday　that　all　would　be　resolved。　We　made　every　reverent　preparation　to　deserve　success。。。。〃
　At　this　point　he　was　interrupted　by　an　audible　sob　from　Brother　Columbanus；　that　drew　all　eyes　to　that　young　man。　Trembling　and　meek；　he　rose　from　his　place　and　stood　with　lowered　eyes　and　folded　hands　before　Robert。
　〃Father　Prior；　alas；　mea　culpa！　I　am　to　blame！　I　have　been　unfaithful；　and　I　desire　to　make　confession。　I　came　to　chapter　determined　to　cleanse　my　bosom　and　ask　penance；　for　my　backsliding　is　the　cause　of　our　continued　distresses。　May　I　speak？〃
　I　knew　there　was　something　brewing；　thought　Brother　Cadfael；　resigned　and　disgusted。　But　at　least　without　rolling　on　the　ground　and　biting　the　grass；　this　time！
　〃Speak　out；〃　said　the　prior；　not　unkindly。　〃You　have　never　sought　to　make　light　of　your　failings；　I　do　not　think　you　need　fear　our　too　harsh　condemnation。　You　have　been　monly　your　own　sternest　judge。〃　So　he　had；　but　that；　well　handled；　can　be　one　way　of　evading　and　forestalling　the　judgements　of　others。
　Brother　Columbanus　sank　to　his　knees　in　the　orchard　turf。　And　very　ely　and　aristocratic　he　looked；　Cadfael　admitted；　again　admiring　with　surprise　the　pact　grace　and　strength　of　his　body；　and　the　supple　flow　of　his　movements。
　〃Father；　you　sent　me　with　Brother　Jerome；　yesterday；　to　keep　vigil　in　the　chapel；　and　pray　earnestly　for　a　good　oute；　in　amity　and　peace。　Father；　we　came　there　in　good　time；　before　eleven；　as　I　judge；　and　having　eaten　our　meal；　we　went　in　and　took　our　places；　for　there　are　prayer…desks　within；　and　the　altar　is　kept　clean　and　well…tended。　Oh；　Father；　my　will　to　keep　vigil　was　good；　but　the　flesh　was　weak。　I　had　not　been　half　an　hour　kneeling　in　prayer；　when　I　fell　asleep　on　my　arms　on　the　desk；　to　my　endless　shame。　It　is　no　excuse　that　I　have　slept　badly　and　thought　much　since　we　came　here。　Prayer　should　fix　and　purify　the　mind。　I　slept；　and　our　cause　was　weakened。　I　must　have　slept　all　the　afternoon；　for　the　next　thing　I　remember　is　Brother　Jerome　shaking　me　by　the　shoulder　and　telling　me　there　was　a　messenger　calling　us　to　go　with　him。〃
　He　caught　his　breath；　and　a　frantic　tear　rolled　down　his　cheek；　circling　the　bold；　rounded　Norman　bone。　〃Oh；　do　not　look　askance　at　Brother　Jerome；　for　he　surely　never　knew　I　had　been　sleeping；　and　there　is　no　blame　at　all　to　him　for　not　observing　and　reporting　my　sin。　I　awoke　as　he　touched　me；　and　arose　and　went　with　him。　He　thought　me　as　earnest　in　prayer　as　he；　and　knew　no　wrong。〃
　Nobody；　probably；　had　thought　of　looking　askance　at　Brother　Jerome　until　then；　but　Cadfael　was　probably　the　quickest　and　most　alert；　and　the　only　one　who　caught　the　curious　expression　of　apprehension；　fading　rapidly　into　placency；　that　passed　over　Brother　Jerome's　normally　controlled　countenance。　Jerome　had　not　been　pursuing　the　same　studies　as　Cadfael；　or　he　would　have　been　far　from　placent。　For　Brother　Columbanus　in　his　self…absorbed　innocence　had　just　removed　all　certainty　that　Jerome　had　spent　the　previous　noon　and　afternoon　motionless　in　Saint　Winifred's　chapel；　praying　for　a　happy　solution。　His　only　guarantor　had　been　fast　asleep　throughout。　He　could　have　sauntered　out　and　gone　anywhere　he　chose。
　〃Son；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　in　an　indulgent　voice　he　would　certainly　neve