tg.wizardfirstrule-第26章

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hook　his　head　in　wonderment。　Worry　started　to　break　out　in　the　crowd。
　
　Zedd　went　on；　in　a　drawn…out；　monotonous　tone；　suggesting　the　things　a　warlock　could　do；　describing　in　great　detail　a　variety　of　deeds　from　the　frivolous　to　the　terrifying。　The　men　stood；　transfixed；　listening　in　rapt　attention。　He　went　on　and　on　for　a　good　half　hour。　Richard　and　Kahlan　listened；　shifting　their　weight　as　they　became　bored　and　tired。　The　eyes　of　the　mob　were　wide；　unblinking。　They　stood　like　statues；　the　dancing　flames　from　their　torches　the　only　motion　among　the　men。
　
　The　mood　had　changed。　There　was　no　longer　anger。　Now　there　was　fear。　The　wizard's　voice　changed；　too；　no　longer　kind　and　gentle；　or　even　dull；　it　was　harsh　and　threatening。
　
　〃And　so；　men；　what　do　you　think　it　is　we　should　do　now？〃
　
　〃We　think　you　should　let　us　go　home；　unharmed；〃　came　the　weak　reply。　The　others　nodded　with　agreement。
　
　The　wizard　waggled　a　long　finger　in　the　air　in　front　of　them。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　You　see；　you　men　came　here　to　kill　me。　My　life　is　the　most　precious　thing　I　have；　and　you　intended　to　take　it　from　me。　I　can't　let　that　go　unpunished。〃　Quaking　and　fear　swept　through　the　crowd。　Zedd　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　porch。　The　men　took　a　step　back。　〃As　punishment　for　trying　to　take　my　life；　I　take　from　you；　not　your　life；　but　that　which　is　most　precious；　most　dear；　most　valuable！〃　With　a　flourish；　he　swept　his　hand　dramatically　over　their　heads。　They　gasped。　〃There。　It　is　done；〃　he　declared。　Richard　and　Kahlan；　who　had　been　leaning　against　the　house；　stood　up　straight。
　
　For　a　moment　no　one。　moved；　then　a　fellow　in　the　midst　of　the　mob　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pocket　and　felt　around。　〃My　gold。　It's　gone。〃
　
　Zedd　rolled　his　eyes。　〃No；　no；　no。　I　said　the　most　precious；　the　most　dear。　That　which　you　pride　above　all　else。〃
　
　Everyone　stood　a　moment；　confused。　Then　a　few　eyebrows　went　up　in　alarm。　Another　man　suddenly　thrust　。his　hand　into　his　pocket　and　felt　around；　eyes　wide　in　fright。　He　moaned　and　then　fainted。　The　ones　near　by　drew　back　from　him。　Soon　others　were　putting　their　hands　in　their　pockets；　cautiously　feeling　around。　There　were　more　moans　and　wails；　and　soon　all　the　men　were　grabbing　at　their　crotches　in　a　panic。　Zedd　smiled　in　satisfaction。　Pandemonium　broke　out　among　the　mob。　Men　were　jumping　up　and　down；　crying；　grabbing　at　themselves；　running　around　in　little　circles；　asking　for　help；　falling　on　the　ground；　and　sobbing。
　
　〃Now；　you　men　get　out　of　here！　Leave！〃　Zedd　yelled。　He　turned　to　Richard　and　Kahlan；　an　impish　grin　on　his　face　wrinkled　his　nose。　He　winked　at　them　both。
　
　〃Please；　Zedd！〃　a　few　men　called　out。　〃Please　don't　leave　us　like　this！　Please　help　us！〃　There　were　pleas　all　around。　Zedd　waited　a　few　moments　and　turned　back　to　them。
　
　〃What's　this？　Do　you　men　think　I　have　been　too　harsh？〃　He　asked　with　mock　wonder　and　sincerity。　There　was　quick　agreement　that　he　had　been。　〃And　why　do　you　think　this？　Have　you　learned　something？〃
　
　〃Yes！〃　John　yelled。　〃We　realize　now　that　Richard　was　right。　You　have　been　our　friend。　You　have　never　done　anything　to　harm　any　of　us。〃　Everyone　shouted　their　agreement。　〃You　have　only　helped　us；　and　we　acted　stupidly。　We　want　to　ask　your　forgiveness。　We　know；　just　like　Richard　said；　that　we　were　wrong；　that　using　magic　doesn't　make　you　bad。　Please；　Zedd；　don't　stop　being　our　friend　now。　Please　don't　leave　us　like　this。〃　There　were　more　pleas　shouted　out。
　
　Zedd　tapped　a　finger　on　his　bottom　lip。　〃Well…〃　He　looked　up；　thinking。　〃…I　guess　I　could　put　things　back　to　the　way　they　were。〃　The　men　moved　closer。　〃But　only　if　you　all　agree　to　my　terms。　I　think　them　quite　fair；　though。〃　They　were　ready　to　agree　to　anything。　〃All　right；　then；　if　you　agree　to　tell　anyone　who　speaks　up；　from　now　on；　that　magic　doesn't　make　a　person　bad；　that　their　actions　are　what　count；　and　if　you　go　home　to　your　families　and　tell　them　you　almost　made　a　terrible　mistake　tonight；　and　why　you　were　wrong；　then　you　will　all　be　restored。　Fair？〃
　
　There　was　nodding　from　everyone。　〃More　than　fair；〃　John　said　〃Thank　you；　Zedd。〃　The　men　turned　and　began　to　leave；　quickly。　Zedd　stood　and　watched。
　
　〃Oh；　gentlemen；　one　more　thing。〃　They　froze。　〃Please　pick　up　your　tools　from　the　ground。　I'm　an　old　man。　I　could　easily　trip　and　hurt　myself。〃　They　kept　a　cautious　eye　to　him　as　they　reached　out　and　snatched　up　their　weapons；　then　turned　and　walked　a　ways　before　breaking　into　a　run：
　
　Richard　came　and　waited　to　one　side　of　Zedd；　Kahlan　to　the　other。　Zedd　stood　with　his　hands　on　his　bony　hips；　watching　the　men　go。　〃Idiots；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath。　It　was　dark。　The；　only　light　came　from　the　front　window　of　the　house　behind　them；　and　Richard　could　barely　see　Zedd's　face；　but　he　could　see　it　well　enough　to　see　he　wasn't　smiling。　〃My　friends；〃　the　old　man　said；　〃that　was　a　stew　stirred　by　a　hidden　hand。〃　〃Zedd；〃　Kahlan　asked；　diverting　her　eyes　from　his　face；　〃did　you　really　make　。　。　。　well；　you　know；　make　their　manhood　vanish？〃
　
　Zedd　chuckled。　〃That　would　be　quite　the　magic！　Beyond　me；　I'm　afraid。　No；　dear　one；　I　only　tricked　them　into　thinking　I　had。　Simply　convinced　them　of　the　truth　of　it；　let　their　own　minds　do　the　work。〃
　
　Richard　turned　to　the　wizard。　〃A　trick？　It　was　just　a　trick？　I　thought　you　had　done　real　magic。〃　He　seemed　somehow　disappointed。
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃Sometimes　if　a　trick　is　done　properly；　it　can　work　better　than　magic。　In　fact；　I　would　go　so　far　as　to　say　a　good　trick　is　real　magic。〃
　
　〃But　still；　it　was　just　a　trick。〃
　
　The　wizard　held　up　a　finger。　〃Results；　Richard。　That's　what　counts。　Your　way；　those　men　would　have　all　lost　their　heads。〃
　
　Richard　grinned。　〃Zedd；　I　think　some　of　them　would　have　preferred　that　over　what　you　did　to　them。〃　Zedd　chuckled。　〃So　is　that　what　you　wanted　us　to　watch　and　learn？　That　a　trick　can　work　as　well　as　magic？〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　also　something　more　important。　As　I　said；　this　was　a　stew　stirred　by　a　hidden　hand；　the　hand　of　Darken　Rahl。　But　he　has　made　a　mistake　tonight；　it　is　a　mistake　to　use　insufficient　force　to　finish　the　job。　In　so　doing；　you　give　your　enemy　a　second　chance。　That　is　the　lesson　I　want　you　to　learn。　Learn　it　well；　you　may　not　get　a　second　chance　when　your　time　es。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃I　wonder　why　he　did　it　then？〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　because　he　doesn't　have　enough　power　in　this　land　yet；　but　then　it　also　was　a　mistake　to　try；　because　it　only　served　to　warn　us。〃
　
　They　started　toward　the　door。　There　was　a　lot　of　work　to　do　before　they　could　sleep。　Richard　began　going　through　the　list　in　his　head　but　was　distracted　by　an　odd　feeling。
　
　Suddenly；　realization　washed　over　him　like　cold　water。　Richard　inhaled　in　a　gasp。　He　spun　around；　eyes　wide；　and　grabbed　a　fistful　of　Zedd's　robes。
　
　〃We　have　to　get　out　of　here！　Right　now！〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Zedd！　Darken　Rahl…isn't　stupid！　He　wants　us　to　feel　safe；　to　feel　confident！　He　knew　we　were　smart　enough　to　beat　those　men；　one　way　or　another。　In　fact　he　wanted　us　to；　so　we　would　sit　around　congratulating　ourselves　while　he　es　for　us　himself。　He　doesn't　fear　you…you　said　he's　stronger　than　a　wizard…he　doesn't　fear　the　sword；　and　he　doesn't　fear　Kahlan。　He's　on　his　way　here　right　now！　His　plan　is　to　get　us　all　at　the　same　time；　right　now；　this　very　night！　He　hasn't　made　a　mistake；　this　was　his　plan。　You　said　it　yourself；　sometimes　a　trick　is　better　than　magic。　That's　what　he's　doing；　this　was　all　a　trick　to　distract　us！〃
　
　Kahlan's　face　went　white。　〃Zedd；　Richard　is　right。　This　is　how　Rahl　thinks；　the　mark　of　his　way。　He　likes　to　do　things　in　a　manner　you　do　not　expect。　We　have　to　get　out　of　here　this　very　minute。〃
　
　〃Bags！　I　have　been　an　old　fool！　You　are　right。　We　must　leave　now；　but　I　can't　leave　without　my　rock。〃　He　started　off　around　the　house。
　
　〃Zedd；　there's　no　time！〃
　
　The　old　man　was　already　running　up　the　hill；　robes　and　hair　flying；　off　into　the　darkness。　Kahlan　followed　Richard　into　the　house。　They　had　been　lulled　into　laziness。　He　couldn't　believe　how　foolish　he　had　been　to　underestimate　Rahl。　Snatching　up　his　pack　from　the　corner　by　the　hearth；　he　ran　into　his　room；　checking　under　his　shirt　for　the　tooth。　Finding　it　safe；　he　came　back　with　his　forest　cloak。　Richard　threw　it　around　Kahlan's　shoulders　and　took　a　quick　glance　around　to　see　if　there　was　anything　else　he　could　grab；　but　there　was　no　time　to　think；　nothing　worth　their　lives；　so　he　took　her　by　the　aim　and　headed　for　the　door。　Outside；　in　the　grass　in　front　of　the　house；　Zedd　was　already　back；　breathing　hard。
　
　〃What　about　the　rock？〃　Richard　asked。　There　was　no　way　Zedd　could　lift　it；　much　less　carry　it。
　
　〃In　my　pocket；〃　the　wizard　said　with　a　smile。　Richard　couldn't　spare　the　time　to　wonder　at　this。　The　cat　was　suddenly　there；　somehow　aware　of　their　urgency；　rubbing　up　against　their　legs。　Zedd　picked　it　up。　〃Can't　leave　you　here；　Cat。　There's　trouble　ing。〃　Zedd　lifted　the　flap　of　Richard's　pack　and　tucked　'the　cat　inside。
　
　Richard　had　an　uneasy　feeling。　He　looked　about；　scanning　the　darkness；　seeking　something　out　of　place；　something　hidden。　He　saw　nothing；　but　felt　eyes　watching。
　
　Kahlan　noticed　his　searching。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　
　Even　though　he　could　see　nothing；　he　felt　the　eyes。　It　must　be　his　fear；　he　decided。　〃Nothing。　Let's　go。〃
　
　Richard　led　them　through　a　sparsely　wooded　area　he　knew　well　enough　to　walk　blindfolded；　to　the　trail　he　wanted；　and　turned　south。　They　moved　along　quickly　in　silence；　with　the　exception　of　Zedd　muttering　occasionally　about　how　stupid　he　had　been。　After　a　while；　Kahlan　told　him　he　was　too　reproachful　of　himself。　They　had　all　been　fooled；　and　each　felt　the　sting　of　blame；　but　they　had　made　good　their　escape；　and　that　was　all　that　mattered。
　
　It　was　an　easy　trail；　almost　a　road；　and　the　pany　of　three　walked　side　by　side；　Richard　in　the　middle；　Zedd　to　his　left；　Kahlan　to　his　right。　The　cat　poked　his　head　up　from　Richard's　backpack　and　looked　about　as　they　walked。　It　was　a　mode　of　travel　he　had　enjoyed　since　he　was　a　kitten。　The　moonlight　was　enough　to　light　their　way。　Richard　saw　a　few　wayward　pines　looming　against　the　sky；　but　he　knew　there　could　be　no　stopping。　They　had　to　get　away　from　here。　The　night　was　cold　but　he　was　warm　enough　with　the　effort　of　their　rapid　pace。　Kahlan　wrapped　his　cloak　tightly　around　herself。
　
　After　about　a　half　hour　Zedd　brought　them　to　a　halt。　He　reached　into　his　robes　and　pulled　out　a　small　handful　of　powder。　He　threw　it　back　down　the　path；　the　way　they　had　e。　Silver　sparkles　shot　from　his　hand　and　followed　their　trail　back　into　the　darkness。　The　sparkles　tinkled　as　they　went；　disappearing　around　a　bend。
　
　Richard　started　back　up　the　trail。　〃What　was　that？〃
　
　〃Just　a　little　magic　dust。　It　will　cover　our　trail；　so　Rahl　won't　know　where　we　went。〃
　
　〃He　still　has　the　cloud　to　follow　us　with。〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　that　will　only　give　him　a　general　area。　If　we　keep　moving；　it　will　be　of　little　use　to　him。　It's　only　when　you　stop；　like　you　did　at　my　house；　that　he　can　hunt　you。〃
　
　They　continued　on　to　the　south；　the　trail　taking　them　through　sweet…smelling　pines　and　higher　into　the　hill　count