epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第20章

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　〃I　know　no　more　than　you；〃　said　Cadfael；　himself　shaken。　And　he　thought；　and　wished　he　had　not；　of　that　young　man　fretting　his　feet　tormentedly　among　the　leaves；　and　flinching　from　Sioned's　trust　as　from　a　death…wound。　〃Perhaps　whoever　it　was　did　the　deed；　and　slipped　away；　and　then　paused　to　think；　and　saw　how　easy　it　might　be　to　point　the　act　away　from　himself；　and　went　back　to　do　it。　All　we　are　sure　of　is　this；　and；　child；　thank　God　for　it。　Engelard　has　been　set　up　as　a　sacrificial　victim；　and　is　clear　of　all　taint。　Keep　that　at　heart；　and　wait。〃
　〃And　whether　we　discover　the　real　murderer　or　not；　if　ever　it　should　be　needful　you　will　speak　out　for　Engelard？〃
　〃That　I　will；　with　all　my　heart。　But　for　now；　say　nothing　of　this　to　anyone；　for　we　are　still　here；　the　troublers　of　Gwytherin's　peace；　and　never　think　that　I　have　set　us　apart　as　immaculate。　Until　we　know　the　guilty；　we　do　not　know　the　innocent。〃
　〃I　take　back　nothing；〃　said　Sioned　firmly；　〃of　what　I　said　concerning　your　prior。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　he　could　not　have　done　it。　He　was　not　out　of　my　sight。〃
　〃No；　that　I　accept。　But　he　buys　men；　and　he　is　utterly　set　upon　getting　his　saint；　and　now；　as　I　understand；　he　had　his　will。　It　is　a　cause。　And　never　forget；　Welshmen；　as　well　as　Englishmen　may　be　for　sale。　I　pray　not　many。　But　a　few。〃
　〃I　don't　forget；〃　said　Cadfael。
　〃Who　is　he？　Who？　He　knows　my　father's　movements。　He　knows　where　to　lay　hands　on　Engelard's　arrows。　He　wants　God　knows　what　from　my　father's　death；　but　certainly　he　wants　to　pin　murder　on　Engelard。　Brother　Cadfael；　who　can　this　man　be？〃
　〃That；　God　willing；〃　he　said；　〃you　and　I　between　us　will　find　out。　But　as　at　this　moment；　I　cannot　judge　nor　guess；　I　am　utterly　astray。　What　was　done　I　see；　but　why；　or　by　whom；　I　know　no　more　than　you。　But　you　have　reminded　me　how　the　dead　are　known　to　rebel　against　the　touch　of　those　who　struck　them　down；　and　as　Rhisiart　has　told　us　much；　so　he　may　tell　us　all。〃
　He　told　her；　then；　of　the　three　nights　of　prayer　and　vigil　Prior　Robert　had　decreed；　and　how　all　the　monks　and　Father　Huw；　by　turns；　would　share　the　duty。　But　he　did　not　tell　her　how　Columbanus；　in　his　single…minded　innocence　and　his　concern　for　his　own　conscience；　had　added　one　more　to　those　who　had　had　the　opportunity　to　lie　in　wait　for　her　father　in　the　forest。　Nor　did　he　admit　to　her；　and　hardly　to　himself；　that　what　they　had　discovered　here　lent　a　sinister　meaning　to　Columbanus's　revelation。　Jerome　out　hunting　his　man　with　bow　and　arrow　was　a　most　unlikely　conception；　but　Jerome　creeping　up　behind　a　man's　back　in　thick　cover；　with　a　sharp　dagger　in　hand。。。。
　Cadfael　put　the　thought　behind　him；　but　it　did　not　go　far。　There　was　a　certain　credibility　about　it　that　he　did　not　like　at　all。
　〃Tonight　and　for　two　nights　following；　two　of　us　will　be　keeping　watch　in　the　chapel　from　after　pline　in　the　evening　until　Prime　in　the　morning。　All　six　of　us　can　be　drawn　into　the　same　trial；　and　not　one　can　feel　himself　singled　out。　After　that；　we'll　see。　Now　this；〃　said　Brother　Cadfael；　〃is　what　you　must　do。。。。〃
　
　Chapter　Seven
　After　pline；　in　the　soft　evening　light；　with　the　slanting　sunset　filtering　through　young　viridian　leaves；　they　went　up；　all　six　together；　to　the　wooden　chapel　and　the　solitary　graveyard；　to　bring　their　first　pair　of　pilgrims　to　the　vigil。　And　there；　advancing　to　meet　them　in　the　clearing　before　the　gate；　came　another　procession；　eight　of　Rhisiart's　household　officers　and　servants；　winding　down　out　of　the　woods　with　their　lord's　bier　upon　their　shoulders；　and　their　lord's　daughter；　now　herself　their　lord；　walking　erect　and　dignified　before　them；　dressed　in　a　dark　gown　and　draped　with　a　grey　veil；　under　which　her　long　hair　lay　loose　in　mourning。　Her　face　was　calm　and　fixed；　her　eyes　looked　far。　She　could　have　daunted　any　man；　even　an　abbot。　Prior　Robert　baulked　at　sight　of　her。　Cadfael　was　proud　of　her。
　So　far　from　checking　at　sight　of　Robert；　she　gave　a　slight　spring　of　hope　and　purpose　to　her　step；　and　came　on　without　pause。　Face　to　face　with　him　at　three　paces　distance；　she　halted　and　stood　so　still　and　quiet　that　he　might　have　mistaken　this　for　submission；　if　he　had　been　fool　enough。　But　he　was　not　a　fool；　and　he　gazed　and　measured　silently；　seeing　a　woman；　a　mere　girl；　who　had　e　to　match　him；　though　not　yet　recognising　her　as　his　match。
　〃Brother　Cadfael；〃　she　said；　without　taking　her　eyes　from　Robert's　face；　〃stand　by　me　now　and　make　my　words　plain　to　the　reverend　prior；　for　I　have　a　prayer　to　him　for　my　father's　sake。〃
　Rhisiart　was　there　at　her　back；　not　coffined；　only　swathed　and　shrouded　in　white　linen；　every　line　of　the　body　and　face　standing　clear　under　the　tight　wrappings；　in　a　cradle　of　leafy　branches；　carried　on　a　wooden　bier。　All　those　dark；　secret　Welsh　eyes　of　the　men　who　bore　him　glowed　like　little　lamps　about　a　catafalque；　betraying　nothing；　seeing　everything。　And　the　girl　was　so　young；　and　so　solitary。　Prior　Robert；　even　in　his　assured　situation；　was　uneasy。　He　may　have　been　moved。
　〃Make　your　prayer；　daughter；〃　he　said。
　〃I　have　heard　that　you　intend　to　watch　three　nights　in　reverence　to　Saint　Winifred；　before　you　take　her　hence　with　you。　I　ask　that　for　the　ease　of　my　father's　soul；　if　he　has　offended　against　her；　which　was　never　his　intent；　he　may　be　allowed　to　He　those　three　nights　before　her　altar；　in　the　care　of　those　who　keep　watch。　I　ask　that　they　will　spare　one　prayer　for　forgiveness　and　rest　to　his　soul；　one　only；　in　a　long　night　of　prayer。　Is　that　too　much　to　ask？〃
　〃It　is　a　fair　asking；〃　said　Robert；　〃from　a　loyal　daughter。〃　And　after　all；　he　came　of　a　noble　family；　and　knew　how　to　value　the　ties　of　blood　and　birth；　and　he　was　not　all　falsity。
　〃I　hope　for　a　sign　of　grace；〃　said　Sioned；　〃all　the　more　if　you　approve　me。〃
　There　was　no　way　that　such　a　request　could　do　anything　but　add　lustre　and　glory　to　his　reputation。　His　opponent's　heiress　and　only　child　came　asking　his　countenance　and　patronage。　He　was　more　than　gratified；　he　was　charmed。　He　gave　his　consent　graciously；　aware　of　more　pairs　of　Gwytherin　eyes　watching　him　than　belonged　to　Rhisiart's　bearers。　Scattered　though　the　households　were；　apart　from　the　villein　munity　that　fanned　as　one　family；　the　woods　were　full　of　eyes　now　wherever　the　strangers　went。　A　pity　they　had　not　kept　as　close　a　watch　on　Rhisiart　when　he　was　man　alive！
　They　installed　his　green　bier　on　the　trestles　before　the　altar；　beside　the　reliquary　that　awaited　Saint　Winifred's　bones。　The　altar　was　small　and　plain；　the　bier　almost　dwarfed　it；　and　the　light　that　came　in　through　the　narrow　east　window　barely　illuminated　the　scene　even　by　morning　sunlight。　Prior　Robert　had　brought　altar…cloths　in　the　chest；　and　with　these　the　trestles　were　draped。　There　the　party　from　Rhisiart's　hall　left　their　lord　lying　in　state；　and　quietly　withdrew　on　the　way　home。
　〃In　the　morning；〃　said　Sioned；　before　she　went　with　them；　〃I　shall　e　to　say　my　thanks　to　those　who　have　asked　grace　for　my　father　during　the　night。　And　so　I　shall　do　each　morning；　before　we　bury　him。〃
　She　made　the　reverence　due　to　Prior　Robert；　and　went　away　without　another　word；　without　so　much　as　a　glance　at　Brother　Cadfael；　drawing　the　veil　close　round　her　face。
　So　far；　so　good！　Robert's　vanity　and　self…interest；　if　not　his　punction；　had　assured　her　of　her　chance；　it　remained　to　be　seen　what　would　e　of　it。　The　order　of　their　watches　had　been　decreed　by　Robert　himself；　in　consultation　with　no　one　but　Father　Huw；　who　wished　to　be　the　first　to　spend　the　night　opening　his　heart　to　the　saint's　influence；　if　she　pleased　to　make　her　presence　known。　His　partner　was　Brother　Jerome；　of　whose　obsequious　attendance　the　prior　occasionally　grew　weary；　and　Cadfael　was　thankful　for　the　accidental　choice　that　suited　him　best。　That　first　morning；　at　least；　no　one　would　know　what　to　expect。　After　that　the　rest　would　have　due　warning；　but　surely　no　way　of　evading　the　issue。
　In　the　morning；　when　they　went　to　the　chapel；　it　was　to　find　a　fair　number　of　the　inhabitants　of　Gwytherin　already　gathered　there；　though　unobtrusively；　lurking　in　the　edges　of　the　woods　and　under　the　fragrant　shadow　of　the　hawthorn　hedges。　Only　when　the　prior　and　his　panions　entered　the　chapel　did　the　villagers　emerge　silently　from　cover　and　gather　close；　and　the　first　of　them　to　draw　near　was　Sioned；　with　Annest　at　her　elbow。　Way　was　opened　for　the　two　girls；　and　the　people　of　Gwytherin　closed　in　after　them；　filling　the　doorway　of　the　chapel　and　blocking　off　the　early　light；　so　that　only　the　candles　on　the　altar　cast　a　pale　glow　over　the　bier　where　the　dead　man　lay。
　Father　Huw　got　up　from　his　knees　somewhat　creakily；　leaning　on　the　solid　wood　of　the　desk　till　he　could　get　his　old　legs　straightened　and　working　again。　From　the　other　desk　beside　him　Jerome　rose　briskly　and　supply。　Cadfael　thought　suspiciously　of　devout　watchkeepers　who　fell　asleep　as　fortably　as　possible　on　their　folded　arms；　but　at　the　moment　that　was　of　no　importance。　He　would　hardly　have　expected　heaven　to　open　and　rain　down　roses　of　forgiveness　at　Jerome's　request；　in　any　case。
　〃A　quiet　watch；〃　said　Huw；　〃and　all　most　calm。　I　was　not　visited　by　any　great　experience；　but　such　hardly　fall　to　humble　parish　priests。　We　have　prayed；　child；　and　I　trust　we　have　been　heard。〃
　〃I　am　grateful；〃　said　Sioned。　〃And　before　you　go；　will　you　do　one　more　kindness　for　me　and　mine？　As　you　have　all　been　sufferers　in　this　trouble　and　dissension；　will　you　show　your　own　will　to　mercy？　You　have　prayed　for　him；　now　I　ask　you　to　lay　your　hand；　each　of　you；　upon　my　father's　heart；　in　token　of　reassurance　and　forgiveness。〃
　The　people　of　Gwytherin；　still　as　trees　in　the　doorway；　but　live　as　trees；　too；　and　all　eyes　as　a　tree　is　all　leaves；　made　never　a　sound；　and　missed　never　a　move。
　〃Gladly！〃　said　Father　Huw；　and　stepped　to　the　bier　and　laid　his　rough　hand　gently　on　the　stilled　heart；　and　by　the　wagging　of　his　beard　his　lips　were　again　moving　in　silent　intercession。　All　eyes　turned　upon　Brother　Jerome；　for　Brother　Jerome　was　hesitating。
　He　did　not　look　greatly　disturbed；　but　he　did　look　evasive。　The　face　he　turned　upon　Sioned　was　benevolent　and　sweet；　and　having　bestowed　on　her　the　obligatory　glance　of　passion；　he　modestly　lowered　his　eyes　before　her　as　was　prescribed；　and　turned　to　look　trustfully　at　Prior　Robert。
　〃Father　Huw　holds　the　cure　of　this　parish；　and　is　subject　to　one　discipline；　but　I　to　another。　The　lord　Rhisiart　surely　carried　out　his　religious　duties　faithfully；　and　I　feel　with　him。　But　he　died　by　violence；　unconfessed　and　unshriven；　and　such　a　death　leaves　the　health　of　his　soul　in　doubt。　I　am　not　fit　to　pronounce　in　this　case。　I　have　prayed；　but　blessing　is　not　for　me　to　dispense　without　authority。　If　Prior　Robert　feels　it　is　justified；　and　gives　me　leave；　I　will　gladly　do　as　I　am　asked。〃
　Along　this　devious　path　Cadfael　followed　him　with　some　amazement　and　considerable　doubt。　If　the　prior　had　himself　authorised　the　death；　and　sent　his　creature　out　to　acplish　it；　Jerome　could　not　have　turned　the　threat　back　on　his　superior　more　neatly。　On　the　other　hand；　knowing　Jerome；　this　could　as　well　be　his　way　of　flattering　and　courting；　at　this　opportunity　as　at　every　other。　And　if　Robert　graciously　gave　his　leave；　did　he　suppose　that