epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第6章

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itiative　from　Urien　at　this　point；　and　translated　with　the　large　declamation　of　the　bards。
　In　full　spate；　he　turned　his　eyes　away　from　the　distracting　faces；　to　light　upon　one　even　more　distracting。　The　girl　with　the　light…oak　sheen　on　her　hair　was　again　passing　the　fence；　and　had　been　so　charmed　by　what　she　heard；　and　the　vehemence　of　its　delivery；　mat　for　a　moment　she　forgot　to　keep　moving；　and　stood　there　at　gaze；　apple…blossom　face　radiant　and　rose…leaf　lips　laughing。　And　with　the　same　satisfaction　with　which　she　gazed　at　Cadfael；　Brother　John　gazed　at　her。　Cadfael　observed　both；　and　was　dazzled。　But　the　next　moment　she　caught　herself　up　in　a　hasty　alarm；　and　blushed　beautifully；　and　swept　away　out　of　sight。　Brother　John　was　still　gaping　long　after　she　had　vanished。
　〃It　is　hardly　important；　surely？〃　said　Prior　Robert　with　ominous　mildness。　〃Your　bishop　and　your　prince　have　made　their　views　plain。　The　parishioners　need　not　be　consulted。〃
　That；　too；　Cadfael　interpreted；　Urien　choosing　to　remain　neutral　and　mute。
　〃Impossible！〃　said　Huw　firmly；　knowing　himself　on　secure　ground。　〃In　such　a　grave　matter　affecting　the　whole　parish；　nothing　can　be　done　without　calling　together　the　assembly　of　the　free　men；　and　putting　the　case　to　them　fully　and　publicly。　Doubtless　the　will　of　prince　and　bishop　will　prevail；　but　even　so；　these　must　be　put　to　the　people　before　they　can　say　yes　or　no　to　them。　I　shall　call　such　an　assembly　tomorrow。　Your　case　can　only　be　vindicated　absolutely　by　public　acceptance。〃
　〃He　says　truly；〃　said　Urien；　holding　the　prior's　austere　and　half　affronted　eyes。　〃You　will　do　well　to　get　the　goodwill　of　Gwytherin；　however　many　blessings　you　already　have。　They　respect　their　bishop；　and　are　very　content　with　their　king　and　his　sons。　I　doubt　if　you　need　grudge　the　delay。〃
　Prior　Robert　accepted　both　the　warning　and　the　reassurance；　and　felt　the　need　of　a　period　of　quietude　in　which　to　review　his　strategy　and　prepare　his　persuasions。　When　Urien　rose　to　take　his　leave；　his　errand　punctiliously　pleted；　the　Prior　also　rose；　half　a　head　taller　than　the　tallest　there；　and　folded　his　long　white　hands　in　submissive　resignation。
　〃We　have　yet　two　hours　or　more　to　Vespers；〃　he　said；　eyeing　the　angle　of　the　sun。　〃I　should　like　to　withdraw　into　your　church　and　spend　some　while　in　meditation；　and　prayer　for　right　guidance。　Brother　Cadfael；　you　had　better　remain　with　Father　Huw；　and　help　him　in　any　arrangements　he　needs　to　make；　and　you；　Brother　John；　bestow　the　horses　as　he　directs；　and　see　them　cared　for。　The　rest　will　join　me　in　intercession；　that　we　may　conduct　this　enterprise　rightly。〃
　He　swept　away；　elongated　and　silvery　and　majestic；　and　had　to　stoop　his　head　to　enter　under　the　low　round　arch　of　the　church　door。　Brother　Richard；　Brother　Jerome；　Brother　Columbanus　vanished　within　on　his　heels。　Not　all　the　time　they　were　together　there　would　be　spent　in　prayer。　They　would　be　considering　what　arguments　would　be　most　likely　to　carry　the　day　with　Father　Huw's　free　assembly；　or　what　oblique　ecclesiastical　threats　daunt　them　into　submission。
　Brother　John　looked　after　the　lofty　silver　head　until　it　stooped　with　accurate　dignity　just　low　enough　to　pass　under　the　stone；　and　let　out　something　between　a　sigh　and　an　arrested　gurgle　of　laughter；　as　though　he　had　been　praying　for　a　miscalculation。　What　with　the　journey；　and　the　exercise；　and　the　outdoor　living；　he　looked　ruddier　and　healthier　and　more　athletic　than　ever。
　〃I've　been　hoping　all　this　while　for　a　chance　to　get　my　leg　over　that　dapple…gray；〃　he　said。　〃Richard　rides　him　like　a　badly…balanced　woolsack。　I　hope　Father　Huw's　stabling　is　a　mile　or　more　away。〃
　Father　Huw's　plans　for　them；　it　seemed；　involved　two　of　the　nearer　and　more　prosperous　members　of　his　flock；　but　even　so；　in　the　scattered　Welsh　way；　their　houses　were　dispersed　in　valley　and　forest。
　〃I　shall　give　up　my　own　house　to　the　prior　and　sub…prior；　of　course；〃　he　said；　〃and　sleep　in　the　loft　above　my　cow。　For　the　beasts；　my　grazing　here　is　too　small；　and　I　have　no　stable；　but　Bened　the　smith　has　a　good　paddock　above　the　water…meadows；　and　stabling　with　a　loft；　if　this　young　brother　will　not　mind　being　lodged　the　better　part　of　a　mite　from　his　fellows。　And　for　you　and　your　two　panions；　Brother　Cadfael；　there　is　open　house　half　a　mile　from　here　through　the　woods；　with　Cadwallon；　who　has　one　of　the　biggest　holdings　in　these　parts。〃
　Brother　Cadfael　considered　the　prospect　of　being　housed　with　Jerome　and　Columbanus；　and　found　it　unattractive。　〃Since　I　am　the　only　one　among　us　who　has　fluent　Welsh；〃　he　said　diplomatically；　〃I　should　remain　close　to　Prior　Robert's　side。　With　your　goodwill；　Huw；　I'll　share　your　loft　above　the　cow…byre；　and　be　very　fortable　there。〃
　〃If　that's　your　wish；〃　said　Huw　simply；　〃I　shall　be　glad　of　your　pany。　And　now　I　must　set　this　young　man　on　his　way　to　the　smithy。〃
　〃And　I；〃　said　Cadfael；　〃if　you　don't　need　me　along　with　you…and　yonder　boy　will　make　himself　understood　in　whatever　language；　or　none！…will　go　a　piece　of　the　way　back　with　Urien。　If　I　can　pick　up　an　acquaintance　or　so　among　your　flock；　so　much　the　better；　for　I　like　the　took　of　them　and　their　valley。〃
　Brother　John　came　out　from　the　tiny　paddock　leading　the　two　tall　horses；　the　mules　following　on　leading　reins。　Huw's　eyes　glowed　almost　as　bright　as　John's；　caressing　the　smooth　lines　of　neck　and　shoulder。
　〃How　long　it　is；〃　he　said　wistfully；　〃since　I　was　on　a　good　horse！〃
　〃e　on；　then；　Father；〃　urged　Brother　John；　understanding　the　look　if　not　the　words；　〃up　with　you！　Here's　a　hand；　if　you　fancy　the　roan。　Lead　the　way　in　style！〃　And　he　cupped　a　palm　for　the　priest's　lifted　foot；　and　hoisted　him；　dazed　and　enchanted；　into　the　saddle。　Up　himself　on　the　grey；　he　fell　in　alongside；　ready　if　the　older　man　should　need　a　steadying　hand；　but　the　brown　knees　gripped　happily　He　had　not　forgotten　how。　〃Bravely！〃　said　John；　hugely　laughing。　〃We　shall　get　on　famously　together；　and　end　up　in　a　race！〃
　Urien；　checking　his　girth；　watched　them　ride　away　out　or　the　gentle　bowl　of　the　clearing　〃There　go　two　happy　men；''　he　said　thoughtfully。
　〃More　and　more　I　wonder；〃　said　Cadfael；　〃how　that　youngster　ever　came　to　mit　himself　to　the　monastic　life。〃
　〃Or　you；　for　instance？〃　said　Urien；　with　his　toe　in　the　stirrup。　〃e；　if　you　want　to　view　the　ground；　we'll　take　the　valley　way　a　piece；　before　I　leave　you　for　the　hills。〃
　They　parted　at　the　crest　of　the　ridge；　among　the　trees　but　where　a　fold　of　the　ground　showed　them　the　ox…team　still　doggedly　labouring　at　a　second　strip；　continuing　the　line　of　the　first；　above　the　richer　valley　land。　Two　such　strips　in　one　day　was　prodigious　work。
　〃Your　prior　will　be　wise；〃　said　Urien；　taking　his　leave；　〃to　take　a　lesson　from　yonder　young　fellow。　Leading　and　coaxing　pays　better　than　driving　in　these　parts。　But　I　need　not　tell　you…a　man　as　Welsh　as　myself。〃
　Cadfael　watched　him　ride　away　gently　along　the　cleared　track　until　he　vanished　among　the　trees。　Then　he　turned　back　towards　Gwytherin；　but　went　steeply　downhill　towards　the　river；　and　at　the　edge　of　the　forest　stood　in　green　shadow　under　an　oak　tree；　gazing　across　the　sunlit　meadows　and　the　silver　thread　of　river　to　where　the　team　heaved　and　strained　along　the　last　furrow。　Here　there　was　no　great　distance　between　them；　and　he　could　see　clearly　the　gloss　of　sweat　on　the　pelts　of　the　oxen；　and　the　heavy　curl　of　the　soil　as　it　heeled　back　from　the　share。　The　ploughman　was　dark；　squat　and　powerful；　with　a　salting　of　grey　in　his　shaggy　locks；　but　the　ox…caller　was　tall　and　slender；　and　the　curling　hair　that　tossed　on　his　neck　and　clung　to　his　moist　brow　was　as　fair　as　flax。　He　managed　his　backward　walking　without　a　glance　behind；　feeling　his　way　light…footed　and　gracefully；　as　if　he　had　eyes　in　the　back　of　his　heels。　His　voice　was　hoarse　and　tired　with　long　use　now；　but　still　clear　and　merry；　more　effective　than　any　goad；　as　he　cajoled　his　weary　beasts　along　the　final　furrow；　calling　and　luring　and　praising；　telling　them　they　had　done　marvels；　and　should　get　their　rest　and　their　meed　for　it；　that　in　moments　now　they　would　be　going　home；　and　he　was　proud　of　them　and　loved　them；　as　if　he　had　been　talking　to　Christian　souls。　And　the　beasts　heaved　and　leaned；　throwing　their　weight　into　the　yokes　and　keeping　their　eyes　upon　him；　and　plainly　would　do　anything　in　their　power　to　please　him。　When　the　plough　curved　to　the　end　and　halted；　and　the　steaming　oxen　stood　with　lowered　heads；　the　young　man　came　and　flung　an　arm　over　the　neck　of　the　near　leader；　and　scrubbed　with　brisk　knuckles　in　the　curly　hair　on　the　other's　brow；　and　Cadfael　said　aloud：　〃Bravely！　But；　my　friend；　how　did　you　stray　into　Wales？〃
　Something　small；　round　and　hard　dropped　rustling　through　the　leaves　above　him；　and　hit　him　neatly　in　the　middle　of　his　weather…beaten　tonsure。　He　clapped　a　hand　to　his　crown；　and　said　something　unbeing　his　habit。　But　it　was　only　one　of　last　year's　oak…balls；　dried　out　by　a　winter's　weathering　to　the　hardness　of　a　pebble。　He　looked　up　into　the　foliage　above　his　head；　already　thick　and　turning　rich　green　from　its　early　gold；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　tremor　of　leaves　where　there　was　no　wind　required　more　explanation　than　the　accidental　fall　of　one　small　remnant　of　a　dead　year。　It　stilled　very　quickly；　and　even　its　stillness；　by　contrast；　seemed　too　careful　and　aware。　Cadfael　removed　himself　a　few　yards；　as　if　about　to　walk　on；　and　doubled　round　again　behind　the　next　barrier　of　bushes　to　see　if　the　bait　had　been　taken。
　A　small　bare　foot；　slightly　strained　with　moss　and　bark；　reached　down　out　of　the　branches　to　a　toe…hold　on　the　trunk。　Its　fellow；　stretched　at　the　end　of　a　long；　slim　leg；　swung　clear；　as　the　boy　prepared　to　drop。　Brother　Cadfael；　fascinated；　suddenly　averted　his　eyes　in　haste；　and　turned　his　back；　but　he　was　smiling；　and　he　did　not；　after　all；　withdraw；　but　circled　his　screen　of　bushes　and　reappeared　innocently　in　view　of　the　bird　that　had　just　flown　down　out　of　its　nest。　No　boy；　as　he　had　first　supposed；　but　a　girl；　and　a　most　personable　girl；　too；　now　standing　decorously　in　the　grass　with　her　skirts　nobly　disposed　round　her；　and　even　the　small　bare　feet　concealed。
　They　stood　looking　at　each　other　with　candid　curiosity；　neither　at　all　abashed。　She　might　have　been　eighteen　or　nineteen　years　old；　possibly　younger；　for　there　was　a　certain　erect　assurance　about　her　that　gave　her　the　dignity　of　maturity　even　when　newly　dropped　out　of　an　oak　tree。　And　for　all　her　bare　feet　and　mane　of　unbraided　dark　hair；　she　was　no　villein　girl。　Everything　about　her　said　clearly　that　she　knew　her　worth。　Her　gown　was　of　fine　homespun　wool；　dyed　a　soft　blue；　and　had　embroidery　at　neck　and　sleeves。　No　question　but　she　was　a　beauty。　Her　face　was　oval　and　firm　of　feature；　the　hair　that　fell　in　wild　waves　about　her　shoulders　was　almost　black；　but　black　with　a　tint　of　dark　and　brilliant　red　in　it　where　the　light　caught；　and　the　large；　blacklashed　eyes　that　considered　Brother　Cadfael　with　such　frank　interest　were　of　almost　the　same　colour；　dark　as　damsons；　bright　as　the　sparkles　of　mica　in　the　river　pebbles。
　〃You　are　one　of　the　monks　from　Shrewsbury；〃　she　said　with　certainty。　And　to　his　astonishment　she　said　it　in　fluent　and　easy　English。
　〃I　am；〃　s