epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第21章

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ther。　And　if　Robert　graciously　gave　his　leave；　did　he　suppose　that　would　protect　him；　as　having　plainly　handed　on　the　guilt　and　the　threat　where　they　truly　belonged；　and　leave　him　free　to　touch　his　victim　with　impunity？　It　would　have　mattered　less　if　Cadfael　had　firmly　believed　that　the　murdered　bleed　when　the　murderer　touches；　but　what　he　believed　was　very　different；　simply　that　the　belief　was　general　among　most　people；　and　could　drive　the　guilty；　when　cornered；　to　terror　and　confession。　That　very　terror　and　stress　might　even　produce　some　small　effusion　of　blood；　though　he　doubted　it。　He　was　beginning　to　think　that　Jerome　doubted　it；　too。
　The　watching　eyes　had　changed　their　quarry；　and　hung　heavily　upon　the　prior。　He　frowned；　and　considered　gravely　for　some　moments；　before　he　gave　judgment。　〃You　may　do　what　she　wishes；　with　a　good　conscience。　She　is　asking　only　for　forgiveness；　which　is　every　man's　to　give；　not　for　absolution。〃
　And　Brother　Jerome；　gratefully　acknowledging　the　instruction；　stepped　readily　to　the　bier；　and　laid　his　hand　upon　the　swathed　heart　without　a　tremor。　No　spurt　of　red　showed　through　the　shroud　to　accuse　him。　placently　he　followed　Prior　Robert　out　of　the　chapel；　the　others　falling　in　behind；　and　the　silent；　staring　people　fell　back　from　the　doorway　and　let　them　pass。
　And　where；　thought　Cadfael　following；　does　that　leave　us？　Is　he　quite　hardy　about　the　ordeal；　not　believing　in　it　at　all；　or　does　he　feel　he　has　passed　the　guilt　to　the　guilty；　whatever　his　own　part　in　it；　and　is　therefore　out　of　danger？　Or　had　he　no　part　in　it　at　all；　and　was　all　this　to　no　purpose？　He　is　quite　narrow　enough　to　refuse　the　girl　a　kindness；　unless　he　could　turn　it　to　his　own　credit　and　advantage。
　Well；　we　shall　see　tomorrow；　reasoned　Cadfael；　what　Robert　will　do　when　he's　asked　for　his　own　forgiveness；　instead　of　being　generous　with　another　man's。
　However；　things　did　not　turn　out　quite　as　he　had　expected。　Prior　Robert　had　certainly　elected　to　take　that　night's　watch　himself；　along　with　Brother　Richard。　But　as　the　two　were　on　their　way　to　the　chapel；　and　passing　by　Cadwallon's　holding；　the　prior　was　hailed　by　the　gateman；　and　Cadwallon　himself　came　hastening　out　to　intercept　him；　with　a　burly；　handsomely…dressed　Welshman　in　a　short　riding　tunic　at　his　heels。
　The　first　Cadfael　knew　of　it　was　when　the　prior　came　striding　back　into　Huw's　garden　with　the　stranger　beside　him；　just　at　the　hour　when　he　should　have　been　sinking　to　his　knees　in　the　sombre　chapel　with　its　tiny　lights；　to　keep　nightlong　pany　with　his　dead　man；　in　a　confrontation　which　might　yet　produce　fruitful　evidence。　But　here　he　was；　just　in　time　to　prevent　Cadfael　from　slipping　away　to　Bened's　smithy　to　exchange　the　news　of　the　day；　and　share　a　cup　of　wine。　And　plainly　not　seriously　displeased　at　having　his　night's　vigil　disrupted；　either。
　〃Brother　Cadfael；　we　have　a　visitor；　and　I　shall　require　your　services。　This　is　Griffith　ap　Rhys；　Prince　Owain's　bailiff　in　Rhos。　Cadwallon　sent　to　him　concerning　the　death　of　the　lord　Rhisiart；　and　I　must　make　my　own　statement　to　him；　and　discuss　what　is　to　be　done。　He　will　be　enquiring　of　all　those　who　may　have　witness　to　deliver；　but　now　he　requires　that　I　shall　render　my　account　first。　I　have　had　to　send　Brother　Richard　on　to　the　chapel　without　me。〃
　Jerome　and　Columbanus　had　been　about　to　set　out　for　their　own　beds　in　Cadwallon's　house；　but　they　lingered　dutifully　at　hearing　this。　〃I　will　go　in　your　place；　Father　Prior；〃　offered　Jerome　devotedly；　certain　he　would　be　refused。
　〃No；　you　have　had　one　sleepless　night。〃　（Had　he？　In　that　dim　interior　there　was　no　being　sure；　even　if　Father　Huw　had　been　a　suspicious　man。　And　Jerome　was　not　the　kind　to　wear　himself　out　needlessly。）　〃You　must　get　your　rest。〃
　〃I　would　gladly　take　your　place；　Father　Prior；〃　offered　Columbanus　just　as　ardently。
　〃You　have　your　turn　tomorrow。　Beware；　brother；　of　taking　too　much　to　yourself；　of　arrogance　in　the　guise　of　humility。　No；　Brother　Richard　will　keep　the　vigil　alone　tonight。　You　may　wait；　both；　until　you　have　given　your　witness　as　to　what　you　did　and　saw　the　day　before　yesterday；　and　then　leave　us；　and　get　your　proper　sleep。〃
　That　was　a　long　tedious　session；　and　greatly　fretted　Brother　Cadfael；　who　was　obliged　to　fall　back　on　his　own　conception　of　truth；　not；　indeed；　by　translating　falsely；　but　by　adding　his　own　view　of　those　things　that　had　happened　in　the　forest　by　Rhisiart's　body。　He　did　not　suppress　anything　Robert　said；　but　he　severed　plain　fact　from　supposition；　the　thing　observed　from　the　conclusion　leaped　to；　on　his　own　authority。　Who　was　there　with　Welsh　enough　to　challenge　him；　except　Griffith　ap　Rhys　himself？　And　that　experienced　and　sceptical　officer　soon　proved　himself　not　only　a　quick　and　agile　listener；　but　a　very　shrewd　dissector　of　feelings　and　motives；　too。　He　was；　after　all；　Welsh　to　the　bone；　and　Welsh　bones　were　at　the　heart　of　this　tangle。　By　the　time　he　had　dealt　with　Columbanus　and　Jerome；　those　two　faithful　watchers　of　whom　one　had　turned　out　to　be　a　treasonous　sleeper…on…duty　（though　neither　they　nor　Prior　Robert　saw　fit　to　mention　that　lapse！）；　Cadfael　was　beginning　to　feel　he　could　rely　on　the　good　sense　of　the　prince's　bailiff；　and　need　not　have　gone　to　so　much　trouble　to　suppress　most　of　what　he　himself　knew　and　was　about。　Better　so；　though；　he　decided　finally；　for　what　he　most　needed　now　was　time；　and　a　day　or　two　saved　buy　sending　Griffith　all　round　the　parish　after　evidence　might　see　the　satisfactory　conclusion　of　his　own　enquiries。　Official　justice　does　not　dig　deep；　but　regards　what　es　readily　to　the　surface；　and　draws　conclusions　accordingly。　A　nagging　doubt　now　and　then　is　the　price　it　pays　for　speedy　order　and　a　quiet　land。　But　Cadfael　was　not　prepared　to　let　the　nagging　doubt　occur　in　the　person　of　either　Engelard　or　Brother　John。　No；　better　go　his　own　way　to　the　end；　and　have　a　finished　case　to　present　to　bailiff　and　prince。
　So　there　was　nothing　at　all　for　Sioned　to　do；　when　she　came　the　next　morning；　but　to　ask　Brother　Richard；　that　large；　lazy；　kindly　man　who　willed　peace　and　harmony　all　round　him；　for　his　personal　pity　towards　her　father；　and　his　benediction　in　the　laying　on　of　hands。　Which　he　gave　willingly　and　guilelessly；　and　departed　still　in　ignorance　of　what　he　had　done；　and　what　he　had　been　absolved　from　doing。
　〃I　missed　you；〃　said　Bened；　briefly　visited　between　Mass　and　dinner。　〃Padrig　came　down　for　a　while；　we　were　talking　over　the　old　days；　when　Rhisiart　was　younger。　Padrig's　been　ing　here　a　good　many　years　now。　He　knows　us　all。　He　asked　after　you。〃
　〃Tell　him　we'll　share　a　cup　one　of　these　days；　here　or　there。　And　say　I'm　about　Rhisiart's　business；　if　that's　any　fort。〃
　〃We're　getting　used　to　you；〃　said　Bened；　stooping　to　his　fire；　where　a　sinewy　boy　was　bending　into　the　bellows。　〃You　should　stay；　there'd　be　a　place　for　you。〃
　〃I've　got　my　place；〃　said　Cadfael。　〃Never　fret　about　me。　I　chose　the　cowl　with　both　eyes　open。　I　knew　what　I　did。〃
　〃There　are　some　I　can't　reconcile　with　you；〃　said　Bened；　with　the　iron　in　hand　for　the　shoe　that　waited。
　〃Ah；　priors　and　brothers　e　and　go；　as　mixed　as　the　rest　of　men；　but　the　cloister　remains。　Now；　there　are　some　who　did　lose　their　way；　I　grant　you；〃　said　Cadfael；　〃mostly　young　things　who　mistook　a　girl's　'no'　for　the　end　of　the　world。　Some　of　them　might　make　very　useful　craftsmen；　if　ever　they　broke　free。　Always　supposing　they　were　free　men；　and　could　get　entry　to；　say；　the　smith's　mystery。。。。〃
　〃He　has　a　good　arm　and　wrist　on　him；　that　one；〃　said　Bened　reflectively；　〃and　knows　how　to　jump　and　do　as　he's　bid　when　the　man　bidding　knows　his　business。　That's　half　the　craft。　If　he　hasn't　let　Rhisiart's　killer　loose　on　the　world；　then　there　isn't　an　outlander　would　be　more　wele　here。　But　that　I　don't　yet　know；　though　the　poor　girl　up　yonder　may　think　she　does。　How　if　she's　wrong？　Do　you　know？〃　〃Not　yet；〃　owned　Cadfael。　〃But　give　us　time；　and　we　shall　know。〃
　On　this　third　day　of　Brother　John's　nominal　captivity　he　found　himself　more　closely　confined。　The　word　had　gone　round　that　the　bailiff　was　in　the　parish　and　asking　questions　everywhere　concerning　the　circumstances　of　Rhisiart's　death；　and　it　was　known　that　he　had　had　a　lengthy　session　with　the　prior　at　Father　Huw's　parsonage；　and　must　certainly　have　been　urged　and　admonished　as　to　his　duty　to　take　action　also　in　the　matter　of　Brother　John's　crime。　Not　that　John　had　any　plaints　as　to　his　lodging；　his　food　or　his　pany；　he　had　seldom　been　so　pletely　content。　But　for　two　days；　with　brief　intervals　when　caution　had　seemed　advisable；　he　had　been　out　from　dawn　to　dusk　about　the　holding；　lending　a　hand　with　the　cattle；　replenishing　the　wood…pile；　fetching　and　carrying；　planting　out　in　the　vegetable　garden；　and　had　had　neither　time　nor　inclination　to　worry　about　his　situation。　Now　that　he　was　hustled　out　of　sight；　and　sat　idle　in　the　stable；　the　realities　fretted　even　John；　and　the　want　of　Welsh；　or　of　Brother　Cadfael　to　supply　the　want；　was　a　frustration　no　longer　so　easy　to　bear。　He　did　not　know　what　Cadfael　and　Sioned　were　up　to；　he　did　not　know　what　was　happening　to　Saint　Winifred；　or　to　Prior　Robert　and　his　fellows；　and　above　all　he　did　not　know　where　Engelard　was；　or　how　he　was　to　be　extricated　from　the　tangle　of　suspicion　roused　against　him。　Since　his　instinctive　gesture　of　solidarity；　John　took　a　proprietorial　interest　in　Engelard；　and　wanted　him　safe；　vindicated；　and　happy　with　his　Sioned。
　But　Sioned；　true　to　her　word；　did　not　e　near　him；　and　there　was　no　one　else　in　the　holding　who　could　talk　to　him　freely。　Simple　things　could　be　conveyed；　but　there　was　no　way　of　municating　to　him　everything　he　wanted　and　needed　to　know。　There　was　he；　willing　but　useless；　wondering　and　fretting　how　his　friends　were　faring；　and　quite　unable　to　do　anything　to　aid　them。
　Annest　brought　his　dinner；　and　sat　by　him　while　he　ate；　and　the　same　want　of　words　troubled　her。　It　was　all　very　well　teaching　him　simple　words　and　phrases　in　Welsh　by　touching　the　thing　she　meant；　but　how　to　set　about　pouring　out　to　him；　as　she　would　have　liked；　all　that　was　happening　at　the　chapel；　and　what　the　village　was　saying　and　thinking？　The　helplessness　of　talking　at　all　made　their　meetings　almost　silent；　but　sometimes　they　did　speak　aloud；　he　in　English；　she　in　Welsh；　saying　things　because　they　could　not　be　contained；　things　that　would　be　understood　by　the　other　only　in　some　future　day；　though　the　tone　might　convey　at　least　the　sense　of　friendship；　like　a　kind　of　restrained　caress。　Thus　they　conducted　two　little　monologues　which　yet　were　an　exchange　and　a　fort。
　Sometimes；　though　they　did　not　know　it；　they　were　even　answering　each　other's　questions。
　〃I　wonder　who　she　was；〃　said　Annest；　soft　and　hesitant；　〃that　one　who　drove　you　to　take　the　cowl？　Sioned　and　I；　we　can't　help　wondering　how　a　lad　like　you　ever　came　to　do　it。〃　Now　if　he　had　known　Welsh；　she　could　never　have　said　that　to　him。
　〃How　did　I　ever　e　to　think　that　Margery　such　a　beauty！〃　marvelled　John。　〃And　take　it　so　hard　when　she　turned　me　down？　But　I'd　never　really　seen　beauty　then…I'd　never　seen　you！〃
　〃She　did　us　all　a　bad　turn；〃　said　Annest；　sighing；　〃whoever　she　was；　driving　you　into　that　habit　for　life！〃
　〃Dear　God；〃　said　John；　〃to　thi