epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第34章

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t　it　almost　seemed　the　parish　could　hardly　wait　to　get　rid　of　them。　It　was　Gwytherin　men　who　fetched　the　horses　and　mules；　and　rigged　a　little　cart；　spread　with　cloths；　on　which　the　precious　casket　could　be　drawn　home。　Once　installed　on　this　vehicle；　which；　after　all；　cost　little　in　materials　or　labour；　given　the　smith's　benevolent　interest；　the　casket　need　not　be　unloaded　until　it　reached　Shrewsbury。　Nobody　wanted　anything　untoward　to　happen　to　it　on　the　way；　such　as　Brother　Jerome　crumpling　under　his　end；　and　starting　the　joints　by　dropping　it。
　〃But　you　we'll　miss；〃　said　Cai　regretfully；　busy　with　the　harness。　〃Padrig　has　a　song　in　praise　of　Rhisiart　you'd　have　liked　to　hear；　and　one　more　panionable　drinking　night　would　have　been　pleasant。　But　the　lad　sends　you　his　thanks　and　his　godspeed。　He's　only　in　hiding　until　the　pack　of　you　have　gone。　And　Sioned　told　me　to　tell　you　from　him；　look　out　for　your　pear　trees；　for　the　winter　moth's　playing　the　devil　with　some　of　ours　here。〃
　〃He's　a　good　helper　in　a　garden；〃　Cadfael　confirmed　judicially。　〃A　shade　heavy…handed；　but　he　shifts　the　rough　digging　faster　than　any　novice　I　ever　had　under　me。　I　shall　miss　him；　too。　God　knows　what　I　shall　get　in　his　place。〃
　〃A　light　hand's　no　good　with　iron；〃　said　Bened；　standing　back　to　admire　the　banded　wheels　he　had　contributed　to　the　cart。　〃Deft；　yes！　Not　light。　I　tell　you　what；　Cadfael！　I'll　see　you　in　Shrewsbury　yet。　For　years　I've　had　a　fancy　to　make　a　great　pilgrimage　across　England　some　day　and　get　to　Walsingham。　I　reckon　Shrewsbury　would　be　just　about　on　my　way。〃
　At　the　last；　when　all　was　ready　and　Prior　Robert　mounted；　Cai　said　in　Cadfael's　ear：　〃When　you're　up　the　hill；　where　you　saw　us　ploughing　that　day；　cast　a　look　the　other　way。　There's　a　place　where　the　woods　fall　away；　and　an　open　hillock　just　before　they　close　again。　We'll　be　there；　a　fair　gathering　of　us。　And　that's　for　you。
　Brother　Cadfael；　without　shame；　for　he　had　been　up　and　busy　all　night　and　was　very　tired；　annexed　the　gentler　and　cleverer　of　the　two　mules；　a　steady　pad　that　would　follow　where　the　horses　led；　and　step　delicately　on　any　ground。　It　had　a　high；　supporting　saddle；　and　he　had　not　lost　the　trick　of　riding　through　his　knees；　even　when　asleep。　The　larger　and　heavier　beast　was　harnessed　to　draw　the　cart；　but　the　carriage　was　narrow　yet　stable；　rode　well　even　on　a　forest　floor；　and　Jerome；　no　great　weight；　could　still　ride；　either　on　the　mule's　back　or　the　shafts　and　yoke。　In　any　case；　why　trouble　too　much　about　the　fort　of　Jerome；　who　had　concocted　that　vision　of　Saint　Winifred　in　the　first　place；　almost　certainly　knowing　that　the　prior's　searches　in　Wales　had　cast　up　this　particular　virgin　as　one　most　desirable；　and　most　available？　Jerome　would　have　been　courting　Columbanus　just　as　assiduously；　if　he　had　survived　to　oust　Robert。
　The　cortege　set　forth　ceremoniously；　half　of　Gwytherin　there　to　watch　it　go；　and　sigh　immense　relief　when　it　was　gone。　Father　Huw　blessed　the　departing　guests。　Peredur；　almost　certainly；　was　away　across　the　river；　planting　the　good　seed　in　the　bailiff's　mind。　He　deserved　that　his　errand　should　be　counted　to　his　own　credit。　Genuine　shiners　are　plentiful；　but　genuine　penitents　are　rare。　Peredur　had　done　a　detestable　thing；　but　remained　a　very　likeable　young　man。　Cadfael　had　no　serious　fears　for　his　future；　once　he　was　over　Sioned。　There　were　other　girls；　after　all。　Not　many　her　match；　but　some　not　so　very　far　behind。
　Brother　Cadfael　settled　himself　well　down　in　the　saddle；　and　shook　his　bridle　to　let　the　mule　know　it　might　conduct　him　where　it　would。　Very　gently　he　dozed。　It　could　not　yet　be　called　sleep。　He　was　aware　of　the　shifting　light　and　shadow　under　the　trees；　and　the　fresh　cool　air；　and　movement　under　him；　and　a　sense　of　something　pleted。　Or　almost　pleted；　for　this　was　only　the　first　stage　of　the　way　home。
　He　roused　when　they　came　to　the　high　ridge　above　the　river　valley。　There　was　no　team　ploughing；　even　the　breaking　of　new　ground；　was　done。　He　turned　his　head　towards　the　wooded　uplands　on　his　right；　and　waited　for　the　opening　vista　between　the　trees。　It　was　brief　and　narrow；　a　sweep　of　grass　soaring　to　a　gentle　crest　beyond　which　the　trees　loomed　close　and　dark。　There　were　a　number　of　people　clustered　there　on　the　rounded　hillock；　most　of　Sioned's　household；　far　enough　removed　to　be　nameless　to　anyone　who　knew　them　less　well　than　he。　A　cloud　of　dark　hair　beside　a　cap　of　flaxen；　Cai's　flaunting　bandage　shoved　back　like　a　hat　unseated　in　a　hot　noon；　a　light　brown　head　clasped　close　against　a　red　thorn…hedge　that　looked　very　like　Brother　John's　abandoned　tonsure。　Padrig；　too；　not　yet　off　on　his　wanderings。　They　were　all　waving　and　smiling；　and　Cadfael　returned　the　salute　with　enthusiasm。　Then　the　ambulant　procession　crossed　the　narrow　opening；　and　the　woods　took　away　all。
　Brother　Cadfael；　well　content；　subsided　into　his　saddle　fortable；　and　fell　asleep。
　Overnight　they　halted　at　Penmachmo；　in　the　shelter　of　the　church；　where　there　was　hospitality　for　travellers。　Brother　Cadfael；　without　apology　to　any；　withdrew　himself　as　soon　as　he　had　seen　to　his　mule；　and　continued　his　overdue　sleep　in　the　loft　above　the　stables。　He　was　roused　after　midnight　by　Brother　Jerome　in　delirious　excitement。
　〃Brother；　a　great　wonder！〃　bleated　Jerome；　ecstatic。　〃There　came　a　traveller　here　in　great　pain　from　a　malignant　illness；　and　made　such　outcry　that　all　of　us　in　the　hostel　were　robbed　of　sleep。　And　Prior　Robert　took　a　few　of　the　petals　we　saved　from　the　chapel；　and　floated　them　in　holy　water；　and　gave　them　to　this　poor　soul　to　drink；　and　afterwards　we　carried　him　out　into　the　yard　and　let　him　kiss　the　foot　of　the　reliquary。　And　instantly　he　was　eased　of　his　pain；　and　before　we　laid　him　in　his　bed　again　he　was　asleep。　He　feels　nothing；　he　slumbers　like　a　child！　Oh；　brother；　we　are　the　means　of　astonishing　grace！〃
　〃Ought　it　to　astonish　you　so　much？〃　demanded　Brother　Cadfael　censoriously；　malicious　half　out　of　vexation　at　being　awakened；　and　half　in　self…defence；　for　he　was　considerably　more　taken　aback　than　he　would　admit。　〃If　you　had　any　faith　in　what　we　have　brought　from　Gwytherin；　you　should　not　be　amazed　that　it　acplishes　wonders　along　the　way。〃
　But　by　the　same　token　he　thought　honestly；　after　Jerome　had　left　him　to　seek　out　a　more　appreciative　audience；　I　should！　I　do　believe　I　begin　to　grasp　the　nature　of　miracles！　For　would　it　be　a　miracle；　if　there　was　any　reason　for　it？　Miracles　have　nothing　to　do　with　reason。　Miracles　contradict　reason；　they　strike　clean　across　mere　human　deserts；　and　deliver　and　save　where　they　will。　If　they　made　sense；　they　would　not　be　miracles；　And　he　was　forted　and　entertained；　and　fell　asleep　again　readily；　feeling　that　all　was　well　with　a　world　he　had　always　know　to　be　peculiar　and　perverse。
　Minor　prodigies；　most　of　them　trivial；　some　derisory；　trailed　after　them　all　the　way　to　Shrewsbury；　though　how　many　of　the　crutches　discarded　had　been　necessary；　and　how　many；　even　of　those　that　were；　had　to　be　resumed　shortly　afterwards；　how　many　of　the　speech　impediments　had　been　in　the　will　rather　than　in　the　tongue；　how　many　feeble　tendons　in　the　mind　rather　than　in　the　legs；　it　was　difficult　to　judge；　not　even　counting　all　the　sensation…seekers　who　were　bound　to　bandage　an　eye　or　e　over　suddenly　paralytic　in　order　to　be　in　with　the　latest　cult。　It　all　made　for　a　great　reputation　that　not　only　kept　pace　with　them；　but　rushed　ahead；　and　was　already　bringing　in　awestruck　patronage　in　gifts　and　legacies　to　the　abbey　of　Saint　Peter　and　Saint　Paul；　in　the　hope　of　having　dubious　sins　prayed　away　by　a　grateful　saint。
　When　they　reached　the　outskirts　of　Shrewsbury；　crowds　of　people　came　out　to　meet　them；　and　acpany　the　procession　as　far　as　the　boundary　church　of　Saint　Giles；　where　the　reliquary　was　to　await　the　great　day　of　the　saint's　translation　to　the　abbey　church。　This　could　hardly　take　place　without　the　blessing　of　the　bishop；　and　due　notice　to　all　churches　and　religious　houses；　to　add　to　the　glory　accruing。　It　was　no　surprise　to　Brother　Cadfael　that　when　the　day　came　it　should　e　with　grey　skies　and　squally　rain；　to　leave　room　for　another　little　miracle。　For　though　it　rained　heavily　on　all　the　surrounding　fields　and　countryside；　not　a　drop　fell　on　the　procession；　as　they　carried　Saint　Winifred's　casket　at　last　to　its　final　resting…place　on　the　altar　of　the　abbey　church；　where　the　miracle…seekers　immediately　betook　themselves　in　great　numbers；　and　mostly　came　away　satisfied。
　In　full　chapter　Prior　Robert　gave　his　account　of　his　mission　to　Abbot　Heribert。　〃Father；　to　my　grief　I　must　own　it；　we　have　e　back　only　four；　who　went　out　from　Shrewsbury　six　brethren　together。　And　we　return　without　both　the　glory　and　the　blemish　of　our　house；　but　bringing　with　us　the　treasure　we　set　out　to　gain。〃
　On　almost　all　of　which　counts　he　was　in　error；　but　since　no　one　was　ever　likely　to　tell　him　so；　there　was　no　harm　done。　Brother　Cadfael　dozed　gently　behind　his　pillar　through　the　awed　eniums　on　Brother　Columbanus；　out　of　whom　they　would　certainly　have　wished　to　make　a　new　saint；　but　for　the　sad　fact　that　they　supposed　all　his　relics　but　his　discarded　clothes　to　be　for　ever　withdrawn　from　reach。　Letting　the　devout　voices　slip　out　of　his　consciousness；　Cadfael　congratulated　himself　on　having　made　as　many　people　as　possible　happy；　and　drifted　into　a　dream　of　a　hot　knife…blade　slicing　deftly　through　the　thick　wax　of　a　seal　without　ever　disturbing　the　device。　It　was　a　long　time　since　he　had　exercised　some　of　his　more　questionable　skills；　he　was　glad　to　be　confirmed　in　believing　that　he　had　forgotten　none　of　them；　and　that　every　one　had　a　meritorious　use　in　the　end。
　
　Chapter　Twelve
　It　was　more　than　two　years　later；　and　the　middle　of　a　bright　June　afternoon；　when　Brother　Cadfael；　crossing　the　great　court　from　the　fish…ponds；　saw　among　the　travellers　arriving　at　the　gate　a　certain　thickset；　foursquare；　powerful　figure　that　he　knew。　Bened；　the　smith　of　Gwytherin；　a　little　rounder　in　the　belly　and　a　little　greyer　in　the　hair；　had　found　the　time　ripe　for　realising　an　old　ambition；　and　was　on　his　way　in　a　pilgrim's　gown　to　the　shrine　of　Our　Lady　of　Walsingham。
　〃If　I'd　put　it　off　much　longer；〃　he　confided；　when　they　were　private　together　with　a　bottle　of　wine　in　a　er　of　the　herb…garden；　〃I　should　have　grown　too　old　to　relish　the　journey。　And　what　was　there　to　keep　me　now；　with　a　good　lad　ready　and　able　to　take　over　the　smithy　while　I'm　gone？　He　took　to　it　like　a　duck　to　water。　Oh；　yes；　they've　been　man　and　wife　eighteen　months　now；　and　as　happy　as　larks。　Annest　always　knew　her　own　mind；　and　this　time　I　will　say　she's　made　no　mistake。〃
　〃And　have　they　a　child　yet？〃　asked　Brother　Cadfael；　imagining　a　bold；　sturdy　boy…baby　with　a　bush　of　red　hair；　nibbed　away　by　his　pillow　in　an　infant　tonsure。
　〃Not　yet；　but　there's　one　on　the　way。　By　the　time　I　get　back　he'll　be　with　us。〃
　〃And　Annest　is　well？〃
　〃Blossoming　like　a　rose。〃
　〃And　Sioned　and　Engelard？　They　had　no　troubles　after　we　were　gone？〃
　〃None；　bless　you！　Griffith　ap　Rhys　let　it　be　known　that　all　was　well；　and　should　be　let　well　alone。　They're　married；　and　snug；　and　I'm　to　bring　you　their　warmest　greetings；　and　to　tell　you　they　have　a　fine　son…three　months　old；　I　r