epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第27章

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　〃Brother　Cadfael；　will　you　spare　some　minutes　for　this　afflicted　household？　You　have　some　skills　with　medicines；　you　may　be　able　to　advise。。。。〃
　〃His　mother！〃　whispered　Sioned　in　immediate　reassurance。　〃She　weeps　herself　into　a　frenzy　at　everything　that　crosses　her。　I　knew　this　would　set　her　off。　Poor　Peredur；　he　has　his　penance　already！　Shall　I　e？〃
　〃Better　not；〃　he　said　softly；　and　moved　to　meet　Father　Huw。　Sioned　was；　after　all；　the　innocent　cause　of　Peredur's　fall　from　grace；　she　would　probably　be　the　last　person　calculated　to　calm　his　mother's　anguish。　And　Sioned　understood　him　so；　and　went　on；　and　left　the　matter　to　him；　so　calmly　that　it　was　clear　she　expected　no　tragic　results　from　the　present　uproar。　She　had　known　Cadwallon's　wife　all　her　life；　no　doubt　she　had　learned　to　treat　her　ups　and　downs　as　philosophically　as　Cadfael　did　Brother　Columbanus'　ecstasies　and　excesses。　He　never　really　hurt　himself　in　his　throes；　either！
　〃Dame　Branwen　is　in　such　a　taking；〃　fluttered　Father　Huw　distractedly；　steering　Cadfael　in　haste　towards　the　open　door　of　the　hall。　〃I　fear　for　her　wits。　I've　seen　her　upset　before；　and　hard　enough　to　pacify；　but　now；　her　only　child；　and　such　a　shock。。。。　Really；　she　may　do　herself　an　injury　if　we　cannot　quiet　her。〃
　Dame　Branwen　was　indeed　audible　before　they　even　entered　the　small　room　where　husband　and　son　were　trying　to　soothe　her；　against　a　tide　of　vociferous　weeping　and　lamentation　that　all　but　deafened　them。　The　lady；　fat　and　fair　and　outwardly　fashioned　only　for　fortable；　shallow　placidity；　half…sat；　half…lay　on　a　couch；　throwing　her　substantial　person　about　in　extravagant　distress；　now　covering　her　silly；　fond　face；　now　throwing　her　arms　abroad　in　sweeping　gestures　of　desolation　and　despair；　but　never　for　one　moment　ceasing　to　bellow　her　sorrow　and　shame。　The　tears　that　flowed　freely　down　her　round　cheeks　and　the　shattering　sobs　that　racked　her　hardly　seemed　to　impede　the　flow　of　words　that　poured　out　of　her　like　heavy　rain。
　Cadwallon　on　one　side　and　Peredur　on　the　other　stroked　and　patted　and　forted　in　vain。　As　often　as　the　father　tried　to　assert　himself　she　turned　on　him　with　wild　reproaches；　crying　that　he　had　no　faith　in　his　own　son；　or　he　could　never　have　believed　such　a　terrible　thing　of　him；　that　the　boy　was　bewitched；　under　some　spell　that　forced　false　confession　out　of　him；　that　he　ought　to　have　stood　up　for　him　before　everybody　and　prevented　the　tale　from　being　accepted　so　lightly；　for　somewhere　there　was　witchcraft　in　it。　As　often　as　Peredur　tried　to　convince　her　he　had　told　the　truth；　that　he　was　willing　to　make　amends；　and　she　must　accept　his　word；　she　rounded　on　him　with　fresh　outbursts　of　tears；　screaming　that　her　own　son　had　brought　dreadful　disgrace　upon　himself　and　her；　that　she　wondered　he　dare　e　near　her；　that　she　would　never　be　able　to　lift　up　her　head　again；　that　he　was　a　monster。。。。
　As　for　poor　Father　Huw；　when　he　tried　to　assert　his　spiritual　authority　and　order　her　to　submit　to　the　force　of　truth　and　accept　her　son's　act　with　humility；　as　Peredur　himself　had　done　in　making　full　confession　and　offering　full　submission；　she　cried　out　that　she　had　been　a　God…fearing　and　law…abiding　woman　all　her　life；　and　done　everything　to　bring　up　her　child　in　the　same　way；　and　she　could　not　now　accept　his　guilt　as　reflecting　upon　her。
　〃Mother；〃　said　Peredur；　haggard　and　sweating　worse　than　when　he　faced　Rhisiart's　body；　〃nobody　blames　you；　and　nobody　will。　What　I　did　I　did；　and　it's　I　who　must　abide　the　consequence；　not　you。　There　isn't　a　woman　in　Gwytherin　won't　feel　for　you。〃
　At　that　she　let　out　a　great　wail　of　grief；　and　flung　her　arms　about　him；　and　swore　that　he　should　not　suffer　any　grim　penalties；　that　he　was　her　own　boy；　and　she　would　protect　him。　And　when　he　extricated　himself　with　fading　patience；　she　screamed　that　he　meant　to　kill　her；　the　unfeeling　wretch；　and　went　off　into　peals　of　ear…piercing；　sobbing　laughter。
　Brother　Cadfael　took　Peredur　firmly　by　the　sleeve；　and　hauled　him　away　to　the　back　of　the　room。　〃Show　a　little　sense；　lad；　and　take　yourself　out　of　her　sight；　you're　fuel　to　her　fire。　If　nobody　marked　her　at　all　she'd　have　stopped　long　ago；　but　now　she's　got　herself　into　this　state　she's　past　doing　that　of　her　own　accord。　Did　our　two　brothers　stop　in　here；　do　you　know；　or　go　on　with　the　prior？〃
　Peredur　was　shaking　and　tired　out；　but　responded　hopefully　to　this　matter…of…fact　treatment。　〃They've　not　been　here；　or　I　should　have　seen　them。　They　must　have　gone　on　to　the　church。〃
　Naturally；　neither　Columbanus　nor　Jerome　would　dream　of　absenting　himself　from　Vespers　on　such　a　momentous　day。
　〃Never　mind；　you　can　show　me　where　they　lodge。　Columbanus　brought　some　of　my　poppy　syrup　with　him；　in　case　of　need；　the　phial　should　be　there　with　his　scrip；　he'd　hardly　have　it　on　him。　And　as　far　as　I　know；　he's　had　no　occasion　to　use　it；　his　cantrips　here　in　Wales　have　been　of　a　quieter　kind。　We　can　find　a　use　for　it　now。〃
　〃What　does　it　do？〃　asked　Peredur；　wide…eyed。
　〃It　soothes　the　passions　and　kills　pain…either　of　the　body　or　the　spirit。〃
　〃I　could　use　some　of　that　myself；〃　said　Peredur　with　a　wry　smile；　and　led　the　way　out　to　one　of　the　small　huts　that　lined　the　stockade。　The　guests　from　Shrewsbury　had　been　given　the　best　lodging　the　house　afforded；　with　two　low　brychans；　and　a　small　chest；　with　a　rush　lamp　for　light。　Their　few　necessaries　occupied　almost　no　space；　but　each　had　a　leather　scrip　to　hold　them；　and　both　of　these　dangled　from　a　nail　in　the　timber　wall。　Brother　Cadfael　opened　first　one；　and　then　the　other；　and　in　the　second　found　what　he　was　seeking。
　He　drew　it　out　and　held　it　up　to　the　light；　a　small　phial　of　greenish　glass。　Even　before　he　saw　the　line　of　liquid　in　it；　its　light　weight　had　caused　him　to　check　and　wonder。　Instead　of　being　full　to　the　stopper　with　the　thick；　sweet　syrup；　the　bottle　was　three…quarters　empty。
　Brother　Cadfael　stood　stock…still　for　a　moment　with　the　phial　in　his　hand；　staring　at　it　in　silence。　Certainly　Columbanus　might　at　some　time　have　felt　the　need　to　forestall　some　threatening　spiritual　disturbance　but　Cadfael　could　recall　no　occasion　when　he　had　said　any　word　to　that　effect；　or　shown　any　sign　of　the　rosy；　reassuring　calm　the　poppies　could　bring。　There　was　enough　gone　from　the　bottle　to　restore　serenity　three　times　over；　enough　to　put　a　man　to　sleep　for　hours。　And　now　that　he　came　to　think　back；　there　had　been　at　least　one　occasion　when　a　man　had　slept　away　hours　of　the　day；　instead　of　keeping　the　watch　he　was　set　to　keep。　The　day　of　Rhisiart's　death　Columbanus　had　failed　of　his　duty；　and　confessed　as　much　with　heartfelt　penitence。　Columbanus；　who　had　the　syrup　in　his　possession；　and　knew　its　use。。。。
　〃What　must　we　do？〃　asked　Peredur；　uneasy　in　the　silence。　〃If　it　tastes　unpleasant　you'll　have　trouble　getting　her　to　drink　it。〃
　〃It　tastes　sweet。〃　But　there　was　not　very　much　of　it　left；　a　little　reinforcement　with　something　else　soothing　and　pleasant　might　be　necessary。　〃Go　and　get　a　cup　of　strong　wine；　and　we'll　see　how　that　goes　down。〃
　They　had　taken　with　them　a　measure　of　wine　that　day；　he　remembered；　the　ration　for　the　two　of　them；　when　they　set　off　for　the　chapel。　Columbanus　had　drawn　and　carried　it。　And　a　bottle　of　water　for　himself；　since　he　had　made　an　act　of　piety　of　renouncing　wine　until　their　mission　was　acplished。　Jerome　had　done　well；　getting　a　double　ration。
　Brother　Cadfael　stirred　himself　out　of　his　furious　thoughts　to　deal　with　the　immediate　need。　Peredur　hurried　to　do　his　bidding；　but　brought　mead　instead　of　wine。
　〃She's　more　likely　to　drink　it　down　before　she　minks　to　be　obstinate；　for　she　likes　it　better。　And　it's　stronger。〃
　〃Good！〃　said　Cadfael。　〃It　will　hide　the　syrup　better。　And　now；　go　somewhere　quiet；　and　harden　your　heart　and　stop　your　ears　and　stay　out　of　her　sight；　for　it's　the　best　thing　you　can　do　for　her；　and　God　knows　the　best　for　yourself；　after　such　a　day。　And　leave　agonising　too　much　over　your　sins；　black　as　they　are；　there　isn't　a　confessor　in　the　land　who　hasn't　heard　worse　and　never　turned　a　hair。　It's　a　kind　of　arrogance　to　be　so　certain　you're　past　redemption。〃
　The　sweet；　cloying　drink　swirled　in　the　cup；　the　syrup　unwinding　into　it　in　a　long　spiral　that　slowly　melted　and　vanished。　Peredur　with　shadowy　eyes　watched　and　was　silent。
　After　a　moment　he　said；　very　low：　〃It's　strange！　I　never　could　have　done　so　shabbily　by　anyone　I　hated。〃
　〃Not　strange　at　all；〃　said　Cadfael　bluntly；　stirring　his　potion。　〃When　harried；　we　go　as　far　as　we　dare；　and　with　those　we're　sure　of　we　dare　go　very　far；　knowing　where　forgiveness　is　certain。〃
　Peredur　bit　his　lip　until　it　was　biddable。　〃Is　it　certain？〃
　〃As　tomorrow's　daylight；　child！　And　now　be　off　out　of　my　way；　and　stop　asking　fool　questions。　Father　Huw　will　have　no　time　for　you　today；　there's　more　important　business　waiting。〃
　Peredur　went　like　a　docile　child；　startled　and　forted；　and　wherever　he　hid　himself；　he　did　it　effectively；　for　Cadfael　saw　no　more　of　him　that　evening。　He　was　a　good　lad　at　heart；　and　this　wild　lunge　of　his　into　envy　and　meanness　had　brought　him　up　short　against　an　image　of　himself　that　he　did　not　like　at　all。　Whatever　prayers　Huw　set　him　by　way　of　penance　were　likely　to　hit　heaven　with　the　irresistible　fervour　of　thunderbolts；　and　whatever　hard　labour　he　was　given；　the　result　was　likely　to　stand　solid　as　oak　and　last　for　ever。
　Cadfael　took　his　draught；　and　went　back　to　where　Dame　Branwen　was　still　heaving　and　quivering　with　uncontrollable　sobs；　by　this　time　in　genuine　distress；　exhausted　by　her　efforts　but　unable　to　end　them。　He　took　advantage　of　her　sheer　weariness　to　present　the　cup　to　her　as　soon　as　he　reached　her　side；　and　with　abrupt　authority　that　acted　on　her　before　she　could　muster　the　fibre　of　stubbornness。
　〃Drink　this！〃　And　automatically　she　drank　it；　half　of　it　going　down　out　of　pure　surprise；　the　second　half　because　the　first　had　taught　her　how　dry　and　sore　her　throat　was　from　all　its　exertions；　and　how　smooth　was　the　texture　and　how　sweet　the　taste　of　this　brew。　The　very　act　of　swallowing　it　broke　the　frightening　rhythm　of　the　huge　sighs　that　had　convulsed　her　almost　worse　than　the　sobbing。　Father　Huw　had　time　to　mop　his　brow　with　a　fold　of　his　sleeve　before　she　was　able　to　resume　her　plaints。　Even　then；　by　parison　with　what　had　gone　before；　they　sounded　half…hearted。
　〃We　women；　we　mothers；　we　sacrifice　our　lives　to　bringing　up　children；　and　when　they're　grown　they　reward　us　by　bringing　disgrace　upon　us。　What　did　I　ever　do　to　deserve　this？〃
　〃He'll　do　you　credit　yet；〃　said　Cadfael　cheerfully。　〃Stand　by　him　in　his　penance；　but　never　try　to　excuse　his　sin；　and　he'll　think　the　better　of　you　for　it。〃
　That　went　by　her　like　the　wind　sighing　at　the　time；　though　she　may　have　remembered　it　later。　Her　voice　declined　gradually　from　its　injured　self…justification；　dwindled　into　a　half…dreamy　monologue　of　grief；　and　took　on　at　length　a　tone　of　warm　and　drowsy　placency；　before　it　lapsed　into　silence。　Cadwallon　breathed　deep　and　cautiously；　and　eyed　his　advisers。
　〃I　shall　call　her　women　and　get　her　to　bed；〃　said　Cadfael。　〃She'll　sleep　the　night　through；　and　it'll　do　her　nothing　but　good。〃　And　you　more　good　still；　he　thought　but　did　not　say。　〃Let　your　son　rest；　too