epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第25章

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ield；　and　grieved。
　〃Let　me　down　a　linen　sheet；〃　he　said；　〃and　some　bands　to　raise　it　smoothly。　She　shall　not　e　out　of　here　bone　by　bone；　but　whole　woman　as　she　went　in。〃
　〃They　handed　a　cloth　down　to　him；　and　he　spread　it　beside　the　slight　skeleton；　and　with　infinite　care　eased　her　free　of　the　loose　soil；　and　edged　her　by　inches　into　the　shroud　of　linen；　laying　the　disturbed　armbone　in　its　proper　place。　With　bands　of　cloth　slung　under　her　she　was　drawn　up　into　the　light　of　day；　and　laid　tenderly　in　the　grass　at　the　side　of　her　grave。
　〃We　must　wash　away　the　soil…marks　from　her　bones；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　gazing　in　reverent　awe　upon　the　prize　he　had　gone　to　such　trouble　to　gain；　〃and　wrap　them　afresh。〃
　〃They　are　dry　and　frail　and　brittle；　'　warned　Cadfael　impatiently。　〃If　she　is　robbed　of　this　Welsh　earth　she　may　very　well　crumble　to　Welsh　earth　herself　in　your　hands。　And　if　you　keep　her　here　in　the　air　and　the　sun　too　long；　she　may　fall　to　dust　in　any　case。　If　you　are　wise；　Father　Prior；　you'll　wrap　her　well　as　she　lies；　and　get　her　into　the　reliquary　and　seal　her　from　the　air　as　tight　as　you　can；　as　quickly　as　you　can。〃
　That　was　good　sense；　and　the　prior　acted　on　it；　even　if　he　did　not　much　relish　being　told　what　to　do　so　brusquely。　With　hasty　but　exultant　prayers　they　brought　the　resplendent　coffin　out　to　the　lady；　to　avoid　moving　her　more　than　they　must；　and　with　repeated　swathings　of　linen　bound　her　little　bones　carefully　together；　and　laid　her　in　the　coffin。　The　brothers　who　made　it　had　realised　the　need　for　perfect　sealing　to　preserve　the　treasure；　and　taken　great　pains　to　make　the　lid　fit　down　close　as　a　skin；　and　line　the　interior　with　lead。　Before　Saint　Winifred　was　carried　back　into　the　chapel　for　the　thanksgiving　Mass　the　lid　was　closed　upon　her；　the　catches　secured；　and　at　the　end　of　the　service　the　prior's　seals　were　added　to　make　all　fast。　They　had　her　imprisoned；　to　be　carried　away　into　the　alien　land　that　desired　her　patronage。　All　the　Welsh　who　could　crowd　into　the　chapel　or　cling　close　enough　to　the　doorway　to　catch　glimpses　of　the　proceedings　kept　a　silence　uncannily　perfect；　their　eyes　following　every　move；　secret　eyes　that　expressed　no　resentment；　but　by　their　very　attention；　fixed　and　unwavering；　implied　an　unreconciled　opposition　they　were　afraid　to　speak　aloud。
　〃Now　that　this　sacred　duty　is　done；〃　said　Father　Huw；　at　once　relieved　and　saddened；　〃it　is　time　to　attend　to　the　other　duty　which　the　saint　herself　has　laid　upon　us；　and　bury　Rhisiart　honourably；　with　full　absolution；　in　the　grave　she　has　bequeathed　to　him。　And　I　call　to　mind；　in　the　hearing　of　all；　how　great　a　blessing　is　thus　bestowed；　and　how　notable　an　honour。〃　It　was　as　near　as　he　would　go　to　speaking　out　his　own　view　of　Rhisiart；　and　in　this；　at　least；　he　had　the　sympathy　of　every　Welshman　there　present。
　That　burial　service　was　brief；　and　after　it　six　of　Rhisiart's　oldest　and　most　trusted　servants　took　up　the　bier　of　branches；　a　little　wilted　now　but　still　green；　and　carried　it　out　to　the　graveside。　The　same　slings　which　had　lifted　Saint　Winifred　waited　to　lower　Rhisiart　into　the　same　bed。
　Sioned　stood　beside　her　uncle；　and　looked　all　round　her　at　the　circle　of　her　friends　and　neighbours；　and　unclasped　the　silver　cross　from　her　neck。　She　had　so　placed　herself　that　Cadwallon　and　Peredur　were　close　at　her　right　hand；　and　it　was　simple　and　natural　to　turn　towards　them。　Peredur　had　hung　back　throughout；　never　looking　at　her　but　when　he　was　sure　she　was　looking　away；　and　when　she　swung　round　upon　him　suddenly　he　had　no　way　of　avoiding。
　〃One　last　gift　I　want　to　give　to　my　father。　And　I　would　like　you；　Peredur；　to　be　the　one　to　give　it。　You　have　been　like　a　son　to　him。　Will　you　lay　this　cross　on　his　breast；　where　the　murderer's　arrow　pierced　him？　I　want　it　to　be　buried　with　him。　It　is　my　farewell　to　him　here；　let　it　be　yours；　too。〃
　Peredur　stood　dumbstruck　and　aghast；　staring　from　her　still　and　challenging　face　to　the　little　thing　she　held　out　to　him；　in　front　of　so　many　witnesses；　all　of　whom　knew　him；　all　of　whom　were　known　to　him。　She　had　spoken　clearly；　to　be　heard　by　all。　Every　eye　was　on　him；　and　all　recorded；　though　without　understanding；　the　slow　draining　of　blood　from　his　face；　and　his　horror…stricken　stare。　He　could　not　refuse　what　she　asked。　He　could　not　do　it　without　touching　the　dead　man；　touching　the　very　place　where　death　had　struck　him。
　His　hand　came　out　with　aching　reluctance；　and　took　the　cross　from　her。　To　leave　her　thus　extending　it　in　vain　was　more　than　he　could　stand。　He　did　not　look　at　it；　but　only　desperately　at　her；　and　in　her　face　the　testing　calm　had　blanched　into　incredulous　dismay；　for　now　she　believed　she　knew　everything；　and　it　was　worse　than　anything　she　had　imagined。　But　as　he　could　not　escape　from　the　trap　she　had　laid　for　him；　neither　could　she　release　him。　It　was　sprung；　and　now　he　had　to　fight　his　way　out　of　it　as　best　he　could。　They　were　already　wondering　why　he　made　no　move；　and　whispering　together　in　concern　at　his　hanging　back。
　He　made　a　great　effort；　drawing　himself　together　with　a　frantic　briskness　that　lasted　only　a　moment。　He　took　a　few　irresolute　steps　towards　the　bier　and　the　grave；　and　then　baulked　like　a　frightened　horse；　and　halted　again；　and　that　was　worse；　for　now　he　stood　alone　in　the　middle　of　the　circle　of　witnesses；　and　could　go　neither　forward　nor　back。　Cadfael　saw　sweat　break　in　great　beads　on　his　forehead　and　lip。
　〃e；　son；〃　said　Father　Huw　kindly；　the　last　to　suspect　evil；　〃don't　keep　the　dead　waiting；　and　don't　grieve　too　much　for　them；　for　that　would　be　sin。　I　know；　as　Sioned　has　said；　he　was　like　another　father　to　you；　and　you　share　her　loss。　So　do　we　all。〃
　Peredur　stood　quivering　at　Sioned's　name；　and　at　the　word　〃father；〃　and　tried　to　go　forward；　and　could　not　move。　His　feet　would　not　take　him　one　step　nearer　to　the　swathed　form　that　lay　by　the　open　grave。　The　light　of　the　sun　on　him；　the　weight　of　all　eyes；　bore　him　down。　He　fell　on　his　knees　suddenly；　the　cross　still　clutched　in　one　hand；　the　other　spread　to　hide　his　face。
　〃He　cannot！〃　he　cried　hoarsely　from　behind　the　shielding　palm。　〃He　cannot　accuse　me！　I　am　not　guilty　of　murder！　What　I　did　was　done　when　Rhisiart　was　already　dead！〃
　A　great；　gasping　sigh　passed　like　a　sudden　wind　round　the　clearing　and　over　the　tangled　grave；　and　subsided　into　a　vast　silence。　It　was　a　long　minute　before　Father　Huw　broke　it；　for　this　was　his　sheep；　not　Prior　Robert's；　a　child　of　his　flock；　and　hitherto　a　child　of　grace；　now　stricken　into　wild　self…accusation　of　some　terrible　sin　not　yet　explained；　but　to　do　with　violent　death。
　〃Son　Peredur；〃　said　Father　Huw　firmly；　〃you　have　not　been　charged　with　any　ill…doing　by　any　other　but　yourself。　We　are　waiting　only　for　you　to　do　what　Sioned　has　asked　of　you；　for　her　asking　was　a　grace。　Therefore　do　her　bidding；　or　speak　out　why　you　will　not；　and　speak　plainly。〃
　Peredur　heard；　and　ceased　to　tremble。　A　little　while　he　kneeled　and　gathered　his　shattered　posure　about　him　doggedly；　like　a　cloak。　Then　he　uncovered　his　face；　which　was　pale；　despairing　but　eased；　no　longer　in　bat　with　truth　but　consenting　to　it。　He　was　a　young　man　of　courage。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　faced　them　squarely。
　〃Father　I　e　to　confession　by　constraint；　and　not　gladly；　and　I　am　as　ashamed　of　that　as　of　what　I　have　to　confess。　But　it　is　not　murder。　I　did　not　kill　Rhisiart。　I　found　him　dead。〃
　〃At　what　hour？〃　asked　Brother　Cadfael；　wholly　without　right；　but　nobody　questioned　the　interruption。
　〃I　went　out　after　the　rain　stopped。　You　remember　it　rained。〃　They　remembered。　They　had　good　reason。　〃It　would　be　a　little　after　noon。　I　was　going　up　to　the　pasture　our　side　of　Bryn；　and　I　found　him　lying　on　his　face　in　that　place　where　afterwards　we　all　saw　him。　He　was　dead　then；　I　swear　it！　And　I　was　grieved；　but　also　I　was　tempted；　for　there　was　nothing　in　this　world　I　could　do　for　Rhisiart；　but　I　saw　a　way。。。。〃　Peredur　swallowed　and　sighed；　bracing　his　forehead　against　his　fate；　and　went　on。　〃I　saw　a　means　of　ridding　myself　of　a　rival。　Of　the　favoured　rival。　Rhisiart　had　refused　his　daughter　to　Engelard；　but　Sioned　had　not　refused　him；　and　well　I　knew　there　was　no　hope　for　me；　however　her　father　urged　her；　while　Engelard　was　there　between　us。　Men　might　easily　believe　that　Engelard　should　kill　Rhisiart；　if…if　there　was　some　proof。。。。〃
　〃But　you　did　not　believe　it；〃　said　Cadfael；　so　softly　that　hardly　anyone　noticed　the　interruption；　it　was　accepted　and　answered　without　thought。
　〃No！〃　said　Peredur　almost　scornfully。　〃I　knew　him；　he　never　would！〃
　〃Yet　you　were　willing　he　should　be　taken　and　accused。　It　was　all　one　to　you　if　it　was　death　that　removed　him　out　of　your　way；　so　he　was　removed。〃
　〃No！〃　said　Peredur　again；　smouldering　but　aware　that　he　was　justly　lashed。　〃No；　not　that！　I　thought　he　would　run；　take　himself　away　again　into　England；　and　leave　us　alone；　Sioned　and　me。　I　never　wished　him　worse　than　that。　I　thought；　with　him　gone；　in　the　end　Sioned　would　do　what　her　father　had　wished；　and　marry　me。　I　could　wait！　I　would　have　waited　years。。。。〃
　He　did　not　say；　but　there　were　two　there；　at　least；　who　knew；　and　remembered　in　his　favour；　that　he　had　opened　the　way　for　Engelard　to　break　out　of　the　ring　that　penned　him　in；　and　deliberately　let　him　pass；　just　as　Brother　John；　with　a　better　conscience；　had　frustrated　the　pursuit。
　Brother　Cadfael　said　sternly：　〃But　you　went　so　far　as　to　steal　one　of　this　unfortunate　young　man's　arrows；　to　make　sure　all　eyes　turned　on　him。〃
　〃I　did　not　steal　it；　though　no　less　discredit　to　me　that　I　used　it　as　I　did。　I　was　out　with　Engelard　after　game；　not　a　week　earlier；　with　Rhisiart's　permission。　When　we　retrieved　our　arrows；　I　took　one　of　his　by　error　among　mine。　I　had　it　with　me　then。〃
　Peredur's　shoulders　had　straightened；　his　head　was　up；　his　hands；　the　right　still　holding　Sioned's　cross；　hung　gently　and　resignedly　at　his　sides。　His　face　was　pale　but　calm。　He　had　got　the　worst　of　it　off　his　back；　after　what　he　had　borne　alone　these　last　days　confession　and　penance　were　balm。
　〃Let　me　tell　the　whole　of　it；　all　the　thing　I　did；　that　has　made　me　a　monster　in　my　own　eyes　ever　since。　I　will　not　make　it　less　than　it　was；　and　it　was　hideous。　Rhisiart　was　stabbed　in　the　back；　and　the　dagger　withdrawn　and　gone。　I　turned　him　over　on　his　back；　and　I　turned　that　wound　back　to　front；　and　I　tell　you；　my　hands　burn　now；　but　I　did　it。　He　was　dead；　he　suffered　nothing。　I　pierced　my　own　flesh；　not　his。　I　could　tell　the　line　of　the　wound；　for　the　dagger　had　gone　right　through　him；　though　the　breast　wound　was　small。　I　took　my　own　dagger；　and　opened　the　way　for　Engelard's　arrow　to　follow；　and　I　thrust　it　through　and　left　it　standing　in　him　for　witness。　And　I　have　not　had　one　quiet　moment；　night　or　day；〃　said　Peredur；　not　asking　pity；　rather　grateful　that　now　his　silence　was　broken　and　his　infamy　known；　and　nothing　more　to　hide；　〃since　I　did　this　small；　vile　thing；　and　now　I　am　glad　it's　out；　whatever　bees　of　me。　And　at　least　grant　me　this；　I　did　not　make　my　trap　in　such　a　way　as　to　accuse　Engelard　of　shooting　a　man　in　the　back！　I　knew　him！　I　lived　almost　side　by　side　with　him　since　he　came　here　a　fugitive；　we　were　of　an　age；　we　could　match　each　other。　I　have　liked　him；　hunted　with　h