tg.wizardfirstrule-第33章

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ills　people　to　get　my　name。　No　one　can　give　it；　but　he　continues　to　kill　in　the　hope　someone　will　finally　offer　it。　I　could　turn　myself　over　to　him　to　stop　the　killing；　but　then　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　help　defeat　him；　and　many　more　would　die。　It's　a　painful　choice；　let　a　few　die　horribly；　or　let　even　more　die　horribly。〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　my　friend。〃　Richard　wrapped　his　cloak　tighter　about　himself；　chilled　from　without　and　from　within。　He　looked　back　out　over　the　still　landscape；　then　back　at　Zedd。　〃I　met　the　night　wisp；　Shar；　before　she　died。　She　gave　her　life　to　get　Kahlan　here；　so　others　might　live。　Kahlan　also　bears　the　burden　of　letting　others　die。〃
　
　〃She　does；〃　Zedd　said　softly。　〃It　makes　my　heart　ache　to　know　the　things　that　girl's　eyes　have　seen。　And　the　things　your　eyes　may　have　to　see。〃
　
　〃Makes　my　problem　about　the　two　of　us　seem　pretty　small。〃
　
　Zedd's　expression　was　gentle　with　passion。　〃But　not　hurt　any　less。〃
　
　Richard　made　another　scan　of　the　countryside。　〃Zedd；　one　more　thing。　Before　we　reached　your　house；　I　offered　Kahlan　an　apple。〃　'
　
　Zedd　gave　a　surprised　laugh。　〃You　offered　a　red　fruit　to　someone　from　the　Midlands？　That's　tantamount　to　a　death　threat；　my　boy。　In　the　Midlands；　red　fruit　of　any　kind　is　deadly　poison。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　know　that　now；　but　I　didn't　at　the　time。〃
　
　Zedd　leaned　over；　lifting　an　eyebrow。　〃What　did　she　say？〃
　
　Richard　looked　at　him　sideways。　〃It　isn't　what　she　said；　it's　what　she　did。　She　grabbed　me　by　the　throat。　For　a　moment；　I　could　see　in　her　eyes　that　she　was　going　to　kill　me。　I　don't　know　how　she　was　going　to　kill　me；　but　I'm　sure　she　was　going　to　do　it。　She　hesitated　long　enough　for　me　to　explain。　The　point　is；　she　was　my　friend；　and　she　had　saved　my　life　several　times；　but　in　that　instant　she　was　going　to　kill　me。〃　Richard　paused。　〃That's　part　of　what　you　are　saying；　isn't　it？〃
　
　Zedd　let　out　a　long　breath　and　nodded。　〃It　is。　Richard；　if　you　suspected　I　was　a　traitor；　weren't　sure；　just　suspected；　and　you　knew　that　if　it　were　true；　our　cause　would　be　lost；　would　you　be　able　to　kill　me？　If　you　had　no　time　or　way　to　find　the　truth；　only　the　strong　belief　I　was　a　traitor；　and　only　you　knew；　could　you　kill　me　on　the　spot？　Could　you　e　at　me；　your　old　friend；　with　lethal　intent？　With　enough　violence　to　see　the　job　done？〃
　
　Zedd's　stare　burned　into　him。　Richard　was　stunned。　〃I　。　。　。　I　don't　know。〃　〃Well；　you　had　better　know　that　you　could；　or　you　have　no　business　going　after　Rahl。　You　won't　have　the　resolve　to　live；　to　win。　You　may　be　called　upon　to　make　a　life…and…death　decision　instantly。　Kahlan　knows　this；　she　knows　the　consequences　if　she　fails。　She　has　the　resolve。〃
　
　〃She　hesitated；　though。　From　what　you're　saying；　she　made　a　mistake。　I　could　have　overpowered　her。　She　should　have　killed　me　before　I　had　a　chance　to。〃　Richard　frowned。　〃And　she　would　have　been　wrong。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Don't　flatter　yourself；　Richard。　She　had　her　hand　on　you。　Anything　you　would　have　done　wouldn't　have　been　quick　enough。　All　it　would　have　taken　is　a　thought　on　her　part。　She　was　in　control　and　could　afford　to　give　you　the　chance　to　explain。　She　made　no　mistake。〃
　
　A　little　shaken；　Richard　still　wasn't　ready　to　concede　the　issue。　〃But　you　wouldn't；　you　couldn't　be　a　traitor　to　us；　just　as　I　would　never　hurt　her。　I　don't　see　the　point。〃
　
　〃The　point　is；　even　though　I　wouldn't；　if　I　did；　you　have　to　be　prepared　to　act。　You　have　to　have　the　strength　to　do　even　that；　if　necessary。　The　point　is　that　even　though　Kahlan　knew　you　were　her　friend；　and　wouldn't　hurt　her；　when　she　thought　you　were　trying　to；　she　was　prepared　to　act。　If　you　hadn't　quickly　made　her　believe　you；　she　would　have。〃
　
　Richard　sat　in　silence　for　a　moment；　watching　his　friend。　〃Zedd；　if　it　were　the　other　way　around；　if　you　thought　I　was　a　danger　to　our　cause；　well；　you　know；　could　you　。　。　。　？〃
　
　The　wizard　leaned　back；　frowning；　and　without　a　hint　of　emotion　in　his　voice；　said；　〃In　a　twinkling。〃
　
　The　answer　appalled　Richard；　but　he　understood　what　his　friend　was　telling　him；　even　if　the…whole　idea　seemed　farfetched；　anything　less　than　total　mitment　could　spell　their　failure。　If　they　faltered；　Rahl　would　not　be　merciful。　They　would　die。　It　was　that　simple。
　
　〃Still　want　to　be　Seeker？〃　Zedd　asked。
　
　Richard　stared　out　at　nothing。　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃Scared？〃
　
　〃To　the　bone。〃
　
　Zedd　patted　his　knee。　〃Good。　Me　too。　I　would　worry　only　if　you　were　not。〃　The　Seeker　gave　the　wizard　an　icy　glare。　〃I　intend　to　make　Darken　Rahl　afraid　too。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled　and　nodded。　〃You　are　going　to　make　a　good　Seeker；　my　boy。　Have　faith。〃
　
　Richard　gave　a　mental　shudder　at　the　thought　of　Kahlan　killing　him　just　for　offering　her　an　apple。　He　frowned。　〃Zedd？　Why　are　all　red　fruits　in　the　Midlands　deadly　poison？　It　isn't　natural。〃
　
　The　wizard　gave　a　sorrowful　shake　of　his　head。　〃Because；　Richard；　children　like　red　fruit。〃
　
　Richard's　frown　deepened。　〃That　doesn't　make　any　sense。〃
　
　Zedd　looked　down；　pushing　a　bony　finger　at　the　dirt　for　a　moment。　〃It　was　about　this　time　of　year；　in　the　last　war。　The　harvests　were　in。　I　had　found　a　constructed　magic。　That's　a　magic　made　by　wizards　of　long　ago。　Something　like　the　boxes　of　Orden。　It　was　a　poison　magic；　specific　to　color；　and　only　able　to　cast　one　spell；　one　time。　I　wasn't　sure　how　it　was　used；　but　I　knew　it　was　dangerous。〃　Zedd　took　a　deep　breath　and　put　his　hands　in　his　lap。　〃Anyway；　Panis　Rahl　got　his　hands　on　it；　and　figured　out　how　to　make　it　work。　He　knew　children　loved　fruit；　and　wanted　to　strike　a　blow　at　our　hearts。　He　used　the　magic　to　poison　all　red　fruit。　It's　a　little　like　the　poison　of　the　snake　vine。　Slow　at　first。　It　took　time　for　us　to　realize　what　caused　the　fever；　and　death。　Panis　Rahl　deliberately　chose　something　he　could　be　sure　children；　not　just　the　adults；　would　eat。〃　His　voice　was　barely　audible　as　he　looked　out　into　the　darkness。　〃A　lot　of　people　died。　A　lot　of　children。〃
　
　Richard's　。　eyes　were　wide。　〃If　you　found　it；　how　did　he　get　hold　of　it？〃
　
　Zedd　looked　into　Richard's　eyes　with　an　expression　that　could　have　frozen　a　summer　day。　〃I　had　a　student；　a　young　man　I　was　training。　One　day　I　chanced　upon　him　tinkering　with　something　he　shouldn't　have　been。　I　had　an　odd　doubt　about　him。　I　knew　something　was　wrong；　but　I　was　very　fond　of　him　and　so　I　didn't　act　upon　my　suspicion。　Instead；　I　decided　to　think　on　it　for　the　night。　The　next　morning；　he　was　gone；　and　so　was　the　constructed　magic　I　had　found。　He　had　been　a　spy　for　Panis　Rahl。　If　I　had　acted　when　I　should　have；　and　killed　him；　all　those　people；　all　those　children；　wouldn't　have　died。〃
　
　Richard　swallowed。　〃Zedd；　you　couldn't　have　known。〃　He　thought　that　maybe　the　old　man　was　going　to　yell；　or　cry；　or　storm　off；　but　instead　he　only　shrugged。　〃Learn　from　my　mistake；　Richard。　If　you　do；　then　all　those　lives　won't　have　been　lost　for　nothing。　Maybe　their　story　can　be　a　lesson　that　will　help　save　everyone　from　what　Darken　Rahl　will　do　if　he　wins。〃
　
　Richard　rubbed　his　arms；　trying　to　work　a　bit　of　warmth　back　into　them。　〃Why　isn't　the　red　fruit　in　Westland　poison？〃
　
　〃All　magic　has　limits。　This　had　a　limit　of　distance　from　where　it　was　used。　It　stretched　as　far　as　where　the　boundary　between　Westland　and　the　Midlands　went　up。　The　boundary　couldn't　be　put　up　where　any　of　the　poison　spell　was；　or　Westland　would　have　had　magic　in　it。〃
　
　Richard　sat　in　the　dark；　cold　silence　and　thought　for　a　time。　At　last　he　asked；　〃Is　there　any　way　to　get　rid　of　it？　To　make　the　red　fruit　no　longer　poison？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　Richard　thought　it　an　odd　thing　to　do；　but　he　was　glad　to　see　it：　〃Thinking　like　a　wizard；　my　boy。　Thinking　how　to　undo　magic。〃　He　frowned　in　thought　as　he　looked　out　into　the　night　again。　〃There　might　be　a　way　to　remove　the　spell。　I　would　have　to　study　it　and　see　what　I　could　do。　If　we　can　defeat　Darken　Rahl；　I　intend　to　put　my　mind　to　the　task。〃
　
　〃Good。〃　Richard　tugged　his　cloak　tighter。　〃Everyone　should　be　able　to　eat　an　apple　when　they　want。　Especially　children。〃　He　looked　over　at　the　old　man。　〃Zedd；　I　promise　I　will　remember　your　lesson。　I　won't　let　you　down。　I　won't　let　all　those　people　who　died　be　forgotten。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled　and　gave　Richard's　back　an　affectionate　rub。
　
　The　two　friends　sat　in　silence；　sharing　the　stillness　of　the　night　and　the　quiet　of　each　other's　understanding；　thinking　about　what　they　could　not　know：　what　was　to　e。
　
　Richard　thought　about　what　needed　to　be　done；　about　Panis
　
　Rahl；　and　about　Darken　Rahl。　He　thought　about　how　hopeless　everything　seemed。　Think　about　the　solution；　he　told　himself；　not　the　problem；　you　are　the　Seeker。
　
　〃I　need　you　to　do　something；　wizard。　I　think　it　is　time　for　us　to　disappear。　Rahl　has　followed　us　long　enough。　What　can　you　do　about　that　cloud？〃
　
　〃You　know；　I　think　you're　right。　I　only　wish　I　knew　how　it　was　hooked　to　you；　so　I　could　unhook　it；　but　I　can't　figure　it　out
　
　So；　I　will　have　to　do　something　else。〃　He　contemplatively　drew　his　finger　and　thumb　down　the　sharp　sides　of　his　jaw。　〃Has　it
　
　rained；　or　been　overcast　since　it　first　started　following　you？〃'
　
　Richard　thought　back；　trying　to　remember　every　day。　Most　of　the　time　he　had　been　in　a　fog　over　his　father's　murder。　It　seemed　so　long　ago。　〃The　night　before　I　found　the　snake　vine；　it　rained　in　the　Ven；　but　by　the　time　I　got　there；　it　had　cleared　off。　No；　no　rain。　I　don't　remember　it　being　cloudy　since　my　father's　murder。　At　least；　nothing　more　than　a　few　high；　thin　clouds。　What　does　that　mean？〃
　
　〃Well；　it　means　I　think　there　is　a　way　to　fool　the　cloud；　even　if　I　can't　unhook　it。　Since　the　sky　has　been　clear　all　that　time；　that　means　Rahl　probably　has　been　responsible。　He　has　moved　the　other　clouds　away　so　he　could　easily　find　this　one。　Simple；　but　effective。〃
　
　〃How　could　he　move　the　clouds　away？〃
　
　〃He　put　a　spell　on　this　one　to　repel　other　clouds；　and　somehow　hooked　this　one　to　you。〃
　
　〃Then　why　don't　you　put　a　stronger　spell　on　it　to　attract　other　clouds；　before　he　realizes　it；　it　will　be　lost；　and　he　won't　be　able　to　find　it　to　try　to　outdo　your　magic。　If　he　does　use　stronger　magic　to　move　the　clouds　away　to　find　this　one；　he　won't　know　what　you　have　done；　and　the　stronger　spell　that　pushes　the　clouds　away　will　break　the　hook。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　him　an　incredulous　look；　his　eyes　blinked。　〃Bags；　Richard；　you　have　gotten　it　exactly　right！　My　boy；　I　think　you　would　make　an　excellent　wizard。〃
　
　〃No；　thanks。　I　already　have　one　impossible　job。〃
　
　Zedd　drew　back　a　little　and　frowned；　but　didn't　say　anything。　His　thin　hand　reached　into　his　robes　and　pulled　out　a　rock；　tossing　it　on　the　ground　in　front　of　them。　He　stood　and　his　fingers　spun　around　in　a　circle　over　the　little　rock　until；　suddenly；　it　popped　into　a　large　rock。
　
　〃Zedd！　That's　your　cloud　rock！〃
　
　〃Actually；　my　boy；　it's　a　wizard's　rock。　My　father　gave　it　to　me；　long　ago。〃
　
　The　wizard's　finger　stirred　faster　and　faster　until　light　came　forth；　sparkles　and　colors；　swirling　around。　He　continued　to　stir；　mixing　and　blending　the　light。　There　was　no　sound；　only　the　pleasant　smell　of　a　spring　rain。　At　last　the　wizard　seemed　satisfied。