epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第33章

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ne　exposed　eye。　No　Sioned；　no　Engelard；　no　Annest；　no　John。　Brother　Cadfael；　though　he　himself　had　given　the　orders；　felt　a　sudden　grievous　deprivation。
　Now　they　were　approaching　the　little　clearing；　the　woodlands　fell　back　from　them　on　either　side；　the　narrow　field　of　wild　grass　opened；　and　then　the　stone…built　wall；　green　from　head　to　foot；　of　the　old　graveyard。　Small；　shrunken；　black；　a　huddled　shape　too　tall　for　its　base；　the　chapel　of　Saint　Winifred　loomed；　and　at　its　eastern　end　the　raw；　dark　oblong　of　Rhisiart's　grave　scarred　the　lush　spring　green　of　the　grass。
　Prior　Robert　halted　at　the　gate；　and　turned　to　face　the　following　multitude　with　a　benign　and　almost　affectionate　countenance；　and　through　Cadfael　addressed　them　thus：
　〃Father　Huw；　and　good　people　of　Gwytherin；　we　came　here　with　every　good　intent；　led；　as　we　believed　and　still　believe；　by　divine　guidance；　desiring　to　honour　Saint　Winifred　as　she　had　instructed　us；　not　at　all　to　deprive　you　of　a　treasure；　rather　to　allow　its　beams　to　shine　upon　many　more　people　as　well　as　you。　That　our　mission　should　have　brought　grief　to　any　is　great　grief　to　us。　That　we　are　now　of　one　mind；　and　you　are　willing　to　let　us　take　the　saint's　relics　away　with　us　to　a　wider　glory；　is　relief　and　joy。　Now　you　are　assured　that　we　meant　no　evil；　but　only　good；　and　that　what　we　are　doing　is　done　reverently。〃
　A　murmur　began　at　one　end　of　the　crescent　of　watchers；　and　rolled　gently　round　to　the　other　extreme；　a　murmur　of　acquiescence；　almost　of　placency。
　〃And　you　do　not　grudge　us　the　possession　of　this　precious　thing　we　are　taking　with　us？　You　do　believe　that　we　are　doing　justly；　that　we　take　only　what　had　been　mitted　to　us？〃
　He　could　not　have　chosen　his　words　better；　thought　Brother　Cadfael；　astonished　and　gratified；　if　he　had　known　everything…or　if　I　had　written　this　address　for　him。　Now　if　there　es　an　equally　well…worded　answer；　I'll　believe　in　a　miracle　of　my　own。
　The　crowd　heaved；　and　gave　forth　the　sturdy　form　of　Bened；　as　solid　and　respectable　and　fit　to　be　spokesman　for　his　parish　as　any　man　in　Gwytherin；　barring；　perhaps；　Father　Huw；　who　here　stood　in　the　equivocal　position　of　having　a　foot　in　both　camps；　and　therefore　wisely　kept　silence。
　〃Father　Prior；〃　said　Bened　gruffly；　〃there's　not　a　man　among　us　now　grudges　you　the　relics　within　there　on　the　altar。　We　do　believe　they　are　yours　to　take；　and　you　take　them　with　our　consent　home　to　Shrewsbury；　where　by　all　the　omens　they　rightly　belong。〃
　It　was　altogether　too　good。　It　might　bring　a　blush　of　pleasure；　even　mingled　with　a　trace　of　shame；　to　Prior　Robert's　cheek；　but　it　caused　Cadfael　to　run　a　long；　considering　glance　round　all　those　serene；　secretive；　smiling　faces；　all　those　wide；　honest；　opaque　eyes。　Nobody　fidgeted；　nobody　muttered；　nobody；　even　at　the　back；　sniggered。　Cai　gazed　with　simple　admiration　from　his　one　visible　eye。　Padrig　beamed　benevolent　bardic　satisfaction　upon　this　total　reconciliation。
　They　knew　already！　Whether　through　some　discreet　whisper　started　on　its　rounds　by　Sioned；　or　by　some　earth…rooted　intuition　of　their　own；　the　people　of　Gwytherin　knew；　in　essence　if　not　in　detail；　everything　there　was　to　be　known。　And　not　a　word　aloud；　not　a　word　out　of　place；　until　the　strangers　were　gone。
　〃e；　then；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　deeply　gratified；　〃let　us　release　Brother　Columbanus　from　his　vigil；　and　take　Saint　Winifred　on　the　first　stage　of　her　journey　home。〃　And　he　turned；　very　tall；　very　regal；　very　silvery…fine；　and　paced　majestically　to　the　door　of　the　chapel；　with　most　of　Gwytherin　crowding　into　the　graveyard　after　him。　With　a　long；　white；　aristocratic　hand　he　thrust　the　door　wide　and　stood　in　the　doorway。
　〃Brother　Columbanus；　we　are　here。　Your　watch　is　over。〃
　He　took　just　two　paces　into　the　interior；　his　eyes　finding　it　dim　after　the　brilliance　outside；　in　spite　of　the　clear　light　pouring　in　through　the　small　east　window。　Then　the　dark…brown；　wood…scented　walls　came　clear　to　him；　and　every　detail　of　the　scene　within　emerged　from　dimness　into　parative　light；　and　then　into　a　light　so　acute　and　blinding　that　he　halted　where　he　stood；　awed　and　marvelling。
　There　was　a　heavy；　haunting　sweetness　that　filled　all　the　air　within；　and　the　opening　of　the　door　had　let　in　a　small　morning　wind　that　stirred　it　in　great　waves　of　fragrance。　Both　candles　burned　steadily　upon　the　altar；　the　small　oil…lamp　between　them。　The　prie…dieu　stood　centrally　before　the　bier；　but　there　was　no　one　kneeling　there。　Over　altar　and　reliquary　a　snowdrift　of　white　petals　lay；　as　though　a　miraculous　wind　had　carried　them　in　its　arms　across　two　fields　from　the　hawthorn　hedge；　without　spilling　one　flower　on　the　way；　and　breathed　them　in　here　through　the　altar　window。　The　snowy　sweetness　carried　as　far　as　the　prie…dieu；　and　sprinkled　both　it　and　the　crumpled；　empty　garments　that　lay　discarded　there。
　〃Columbanus！　What　is　this？　He　is　not　here！〃
　Brother　Richard　came　to　the　prior's　left　shoulder；　Brother　Jerome　to　the　right；　Bened　and　Cadwallon　and　Cai　and　others　crowded　in　after　them　and　flowed　round　on　either　side　to　line　the　dark　walls　and　stare　at　the　marvel；　nostrils　widening　to　the　drowning　sweetness。　No　one　ventured　to　advance　beyond　where　the　prior　stood；　until　he　himself　went　slowly　forward；　and　leaned　to　look　more　closely　at　all　that　was　left　of　Brother　Columbanus。
　The　black　Benedictine　habit　lay　where　he　had　been　kneeling；　skirts　spread　behind；　body　fallen　together　in　folds；　sleeves　spread　like　wings　on　either　side；　bent　at　the　elbow　as　though　the　arms　that　had　left　them　had　still　ended　in　hands　pressed　together　in　prayer。　Within　the　cowl　an　edge　of　white　showed。
　〃Look！〃　whispered　Brother　Richard　in　awe。　〃His　shirt　is　still　within　the　habit；　and　look！…his　sandals！〃　They　were　under　the　hem　of　the　habit；　neatly　together；　soles　upturned；　as　the　feet　had　left　them。　And　on　the　book…rest　of　the　prie…dieu；　laid　where　his　prayerful　hands　had　rested；　was　a　single　knot　of　flowering　may。
　〃Father　Prior；　all　his　clothes　are　here；　shirt　and　drawers　and　all；　one　within　another　as　he　would　wear　them。　As　though…as　though　he　had　been　lifted　out　of　them　and　left　them　lying；　as　a　snake　discards　its　old　skin　and　emerges　bright　in　a　new。。。。〃
　〃This　is　most　marvellous；〃　said　Prior　Robert。　〃How　shall　we　understand　it；　and　not　sin？〃
　〃Father；　may　we　take　up　these　garments？　If　there　is　trace　or　mark　on　them。。。。〃
　There　was　none；　Brother　Cadfael　was　certain　of　that。　Columbanus　had　not　bled；　his　habit　was　not　torn；　nor　even　soiled。　He　had　fallen　only　in　thick　spring　grass；　bursting　irresistibly　through　the　dead　grass　of　last　autumn。
　〃Father；　it　is　as　I　said；　as　though　he　has　been　lifted　out　of　these　garments　quite　softly；　and　let　them　fall；　not　needing　them　any　more。　Oh；　Father；　we　are　in　the　presence　of　a　great　wonder！　I　am　afraid！〃　said　Brother　Richard；　meaning　the　wonderful；　blissful　fear　of　what　is　holy。　He　had　seldom　spoken　with　such　eloquence；　or　been　so　moved。
　〃I　do　recall　now；〃　said　the　prior；　shaken　and　chastened　（and　that　was　no　harm！）；　〃the　prayer　he　made　last　night　at　pline。　How　he　cried　out　to　be　taken　up　living　out　of　this　world；　for　pure　ecstasy；　if　the　virgin　saint　found　him　fit　for　such　favour　and　bliss。　Is　it　possible　that　he　was　in　such　a　state　of　grace　as　to　be　found　worthy？〃
　〃Father；　shall　we　search？　Here；　and　without？　Into　the　woods？〃
　〃To　what　end？〃　said　the　prior　simply。　〃Would　he　be　running　naked　in　the　night？　A　sane　man？　And　even　if　he　ran　mad；　and　shed　the　clothes　he　wore；　would　they　be　thus　discarded；　fold　within　fold　as　he　kneeled；　here　in　such　pure　order？　It　is　not　possible　to　put　off　garments　thus。　No；　he　is　gone　far　beyond　these　forests；　far　out　of　this　world。　He　has　been　marvellously　favoured；　and　his　most　demanding　prayers　heard。　Let　us　say　a　Mass　here　for　Brother　Columbanus；　before　we　take　up　the　blessed　lady　who　has　made　him　her　herald；　and　go　to　make　known　this　miracle　of　faith。〃
　There　was　no　knowing；　Prior　Robert　being　the　man　he　was；　at　what　stage　his　awareness　of　the　use　to　be　made　of　this　marvel　thrust　his　genuine　faith　and　wonder　and　emotion　into　the　back　of　his　mind；　and　set　him　manipulating　events　to　get　the　utmost　glory　out　of　them。　There　was　no　inconsistency　in　such　behaviour。　He　was　quite　certain　that　Brother　Columbanus　had　been　taken　up　living　out　of　this　world；　just　as　he　had　wished。　But　that　being　so；　it　was　not　only　his　opportunity；　but　his　duty；　to　make　the　utmost　use　of　the　exemplary　favour　to　glorify　the　abbey　of　Saint　Peter　and　Saint　Paul　of　Shrewsbury；　and　not　only　his　duty；　but　his　pleasure；　to　make　use　of　the　same　to　shed　a　halo　round　the　head　of　Prior　Robert；　who　had　originated　this　quest。　And　so　he　did。　He　said　Mass　with　absolute　conviction；　in　the　cloud　of　white　flowers；　the　huddle　of　discarded　garments　at　his　feet。　Almost　certainly　he　would　also　inform　Griffith　ap　Rhys；　through　Father　Huw；　of　all　that　had　befallen；　and　ask　him　to　keep　an　alert　eye　open　in　case　any　relevant　information　surfaced　after　the　brothers　from　Shrewsbury　were　gone。　Brother　Prior　was　the　product　of　his　faith　and　his　birth；　his　training　for　sanctity　and　for　arbitrary　rule；　and　could　snake　off　neither。
　The　people　of　Gwytherin；　silent　and　observant；　crowded　in　to　fill　the　space　available；　made　no　sound；　expressed　no　opinion。　Their　presence　and　silence　passed　for　endorsement。　What　they　really　thought　they　kept　to　themselves。
　〃Now；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　moved　almost　to　tears；　〃let　us　take　up　this　blessed　burden；　and　praise　God　for　the　weight　we　carry。〃
　And　he　moved　forward　to　offer　his　own　delicate　hands　and　frail　shoulder；　first　of　the　devout。
　That　was　Brother　Cadfael's　worst　moment；　for　it　was　the　one　thing　he　had　overlooked；　But　Bened；　unwontedly　quick　at　the　right　moment；　called　aloud：　〃Shall　Gwytherin　be　backward；　now　peace　is　made？〃　and　rolled　forward　with　less　stateliness　and　greater　speed；　and　had　a　solid　shoulder　under　the　head　end　of　the　reliquary　before　the　prior　was　able　to　reach　it；　and　half　a　dozen　of　the　smith's　own　powerful　but　stocky　build　took　up　the　challenge　with　enthusiasm。　Apart　from　Cadfael；　the　only　monk　of　Shrewsbury　who　got　a　er　hoisted　into　his　neck　was　Jerome；　being　of　much　the　same　height；　and　his　was　the　sole　voice　that　cried　out　in　astonishment　at　the　weight；　and　sagged　under　it　until　Bened　shifted　nearer　and　hefted　most　of　the　load　from　him。
　〃Your　pardon；　Father　Prior！　But　who　would　have　thought　those　slender　little　bones　could　weigh　so　heavily？〃
　Cadfael　spoke　up　in　hasty　interpretation：　〃We　are　surrounded　here　by　miracles；　both　small　and　great。　Truly　did　Father　Prior　say　that　we　thank　God　for　the　weight　we　carry。　Is　not　this　evidence　of　singular　grace；　that　heaven　has　caused　the　weight　of　her　worthiness　to　be　so　signally　demonstrated？〃
　In　his　present　state；　at　once　humbled　and　exalted；　Prior　Robert　apparently　did　not　find　the　logic　of　this　nearly　as　peculiar　as　did　Brother　Cadfael　himself。　He　would　have　accepted　and　embraced　anything　that　added　to　his　own　triumph。　So　it　was　on　sturdy　Gwytherin　shoulders　that　the　reliquary　and　its　contents　were　hoisted　out　of　the　chapel　and　borne　in　procession　down　to　the　parsonage；　with　such　brisk　enthusiasm　that　it　almost　seemed　the　parish　could　hardly　wait　to　get　rid　of　them。　It　was　Gwytherin　men　who　fetched