tg.wizardfirstrule-第44章

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　time　to　use　it　when　he　awakes　at　last。　We　could　lose　before　we　start。〃　He　looked　up　into　Kahlan's　green　eyes。　〃We　can't　wait。　We　can't　take　the　chance；　too　much　'is　at　risk。　We　must　leave　without　him。〃　Kahlan　gave　him　a　smile　of　reassurance。　〃I　wasn't　planning　on　letting　Chase　go　with　us　anyway。　I　have　a　more　important　job　for　him。〃
　
　Adie　reached　across　the　table　and　put　her　weathered　hand　on　his。　It　felt　soft　and　warm。　〃It　not　be　an　easy　choice　to　make。　It　not　be　easy　to　be　Seeker。　That　which　lies　ahead　be　difficult　beyond　your　worst　fears。〃
　
　He　forced　a　smile。　〃At　least　I　still　have　my　guide。〃
　
　The　three　of　them　sat　in　silence；　considering　what　must　be　done。
　
　〃You　both　will　have　a　good　sleep　tonight；〃　Adie　said。　〃You　will　need　it。　After　supper；　I　will　tell　you　what　you　will　need　to　know　to　get　through　the　pass。〃　She　looked　to　each　of　them　in　turn；　her　voice　became　even　raspier。　〃And　I　will　tell　you　how　I　lost　my　foot。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　17
　RICHARD　PLACED　THE　LAMP　on　the　side　of　the　table；　close　to　the　wall；　and　lit　it　with　a　stick　from　the　fire。　The　sound　of　gentle　rain　and　night　creatures　drifted　in　from　the　window。　The　chirps　and　calls　of　small　animals　going　about　their　nocturnal　lives　were　familiar　to　him；　forting　sounds　of　home。　Home。　His　last　night　in　his　homeland；　and　then　he　was　to　cross　into　the　Midlands。　As　his　father　had　done。　He　smiled　to　himself　at　the　irony。　His　father　had　brought　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　out　of　the　Midlands；　and　now　he　was　taking　it　back。
　
　He　sat　down　on　the　log　round；　across　from　Kahlan　and　Adie。　〃So；　tell　me；　how　do　we　find　the　pass？〃
　
　Adie　leaned　back　in　her　chair　and　swept　her　hand　through　the　air。　〃You　already　have。　You　be　in　the　pass。　The　mouth　of　it　anyway。〃
　
　〃And　what　do　we　need　to　know　to　get　through　it？〃
　
　〃The　pass　be　a　void　in　the　underworld；　but　it　still　be　a　land　of　the　dead。　You　be　living。　The　beasts　hunt　the　living　if　the　living　be　big　enough　to　be　of　interest。〃　Richard　looked　at　Kahlan's　impassive　face；　then　back　to　Adie。　〃What　beasts？〃
　
　Adie's　long　finger　pointed　to　each　wall　of　the　room　in　turn。　〃They　be　the　bones　of　the　beasts。　Your　friends　were　touched　by　things　of　the　underworld。　The　bones　confuse　their　powers。　That　be　why　I　said　your　friends　were　being　helped　from　the　moment　you　brought　them　in　here。　The　bones　cause　the　magic　poison　to　leave　their　bodies；　letting　the　death　sleep　lift。　The　bones　keep　the　evil　away　from　here。　The　beasts　cannot　find　me　because　they　feel　the　evil　of　the　bones　and　it　blinds　them；　makes　them　think　I　be　one　of　them。〃
　
　Richard　leaned　forward。　〃If　we　took　some　of　the　bones　with　us；　would　that　protect　us？〃
　
　Adie　smiled　her　little　smile；　making　her　eyes　wrinkle。　〃Very　good。　That　be　exactly　what　you　must　do。　These　bones　of　the　dead　have　the　magic　to　help　protect　you。　But　there　be　more。　Listen　carefully　to　what　I　tell　you。〃
　
　Richard　folded　his　fingers　together　and　nodded。
　
　〃You　cannot　take　your　horses；　the　trail　be　too　small　for　them。　There　be　places　they　cannot　fit。　You　must　not　wander　from　the　trail…it　be　very　dangerous　to　do　so。　And　you　must　not　stop　to　sleep。　It　will　take　one　day；　one　night；　and　most　of　the　next　day　to　cross。〃
　
　〃Why　can't　we　stop　to　sleep？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Adie　looked　to　each　of　them　with　her　white　eyes。　〃There　be　other　things；　besides　the　beasts；　in　the　pass。　They　will　get　you　if　you　stop　long　enough。〃
　
　〃Things？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　Adie　nodded。　〃I　go　into　the　pass　often。　If　you　are　careful；　it　be　safe　enough。　If　you　are　not　careful；　there　；be　things　that　will　get　you。〃　Her　raspy　voice　lowered　bitterly。　〃I　became　overconfident。　One　day　I　was　walking　a　long　time；　and　became　very　tired。　I　was　sure　of　myself；　sure　I　knew　the　dangers　well；　so　I　sat　against　a　tree　and　took　a　small　nap。　For　a　few　minutes　only。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　her　leg；　rubbing　it　slowly。　〃When　I　was　asleep；　a　gripper　fixed　itself　on　my　ankle。〃
　
　Kahlan　scrunched　up　her　features。　〃What's　a　gripper？〃
　
　Adie　regarded　her　in　silence　for　a　minute。　〃A　gripper　be　an　animal　that　has　armor　all　over　his　back；　spikes　all　around　the　bottom　edge。　Many　legs　underneath；　each　with　a　sharp；　hooked　claw　at　the　end；　a　mouth　like　a　leech　with　teeth　all　around。　He　wraps　himself　around；　so　only　his　armor　is　out。　With　his　claws　he　digs　into　the　flesh　to　hold　tight　so　you　cannot　pull　him　off；　and　then　he　fixes　his　mouth　to　you；　sucking　the　blood　from　you；　tightening　with　the　claws　all　the　time。〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　hand　reassuringly　on　Adie's　arm。　The　light　from　the　lamp　made　the　old　woman's　white　eyes　a　pale　shade　of　orange。　Richard　didn't　move；　his　muscles　tense。
　
　〃I　had　my　axe　with　me。〃　Kahlan　closed　her　eyes　as　her　head　lowered。　Adie　went　on。　〃I　tried　to　kill　the　gripper；　or　at　least　get　him　off　me。　I　knew　that　if　I　did　not；　he　would　suck　all　the　lifeblood　from　me。　His　armor　be　harder　than　the　axe。　I　was　very　angry　with　myself。　The　grippers　be　one　of　the　slowest　creatures　in　the　pass；　but　he　be　faster　than　a　sleeping　fool。〃　She　looked　into　Richard's　eyes。　〃There　be　only　one　thing　I　could　do　to　save　my　life。　I　could　stand　the　pain　no　longer；　his　teeth　were　scraping　into　the　bone。　I　tied　a　strip　of　cloth　tight　around　my　thigh；　and　laid　my　lower　leg　across　a　log。　I　used　the　axe　to　chop　off　my　foot　and　ankle。〃
　
　The　silence　in　the　small　house　was　brittle。　Only　Richard's　eyes　moved；　to　meet　Kahlan's。　He　saw　sorrow　there　for　the　old　woman；　saw　his　own　sorrow　reflected。　He　couldn't　imagine　the　resolve　it　would　take　to　use　an　axe　to　cut　off　your　own　foot。　His　stomach　felt　sick。　Adie's　thin　lips　spread　in　a　grim　smile。　With　one　hand　she　reached　across　the　table　to　take　Richard's　hand；　and　with　the　other　hand；　took　Kahlan's。　She　held　their　hands　in　a　firm　grip。
　
　〃I　tell　you　this　story　not　to　have　you　feel　sorry　for　me。　I　tell　you　only　so　you　two　will　not　bee　prey　to　something　in　the　pass。　Confidence　can　be　a　dangerous　thing。　Fear　can　keep　you　safe；　sometimes。〃
　
　〃Then　I　think　we　shall　be　very　safe；〃　Richard　said。
　
　Adie　continued　to　smile；　and　gave　a　single　nod。　〃Good。　There　be　one　more　thing。　There　be　a　place　halfway　through　the　pass；　where　the　two　walls　of　the　boundary　e　very　close　together；　almost　touching。　It　be　called　the　Narrows。　When　you　e　to　a　rock　the　size　of　this　house；　split　down　the　middle；　that　be　the　place。　You　must　pass　through　the　rock。　Do　not　go　around　it　even　though　you　may　want　to；　death　be　that　way。　And　then　beyond；　you　must　pass　between　the　walls　of　the　boundary。　It　be　the　most　dangerous　place　in　the　pass。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　Kahlan's　shoulder；　and　squeezed　Richard's　hand　tighter；　looking　to　each　in　turn。　〃They　will　call　to　you　from　the　boundary。　They　will　want　you　to　e　to　them。〃
　
　〃Who？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　Adie　leaned　closer　to　her。　〃The　dead。　It　could　be　anyone　you　know　who　be　dead。　Your　mother。〃
　
　Kahlan　bit　her　bottom　lip。　〃Is　it　really　them？〃
　
　Adie　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　know；　child。　But　I　do　not　believe　it　to　be。〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　so；　either；〃　Richard　said；　almost　more　to　reassure　himself。
　
　〃Good；〃　Adie　rasped。　〃Keep　thinking　so。　It　will　help　you　resist。　You　will　be　tempted　to　go　to　them。　If　you　do；　you　are　lost。　And　remember；　in　the　Narrows　it　be　even　more　important　to　keep　on　the　path　the　whole　way　through。　A　step　or　two　off　to　either　side　and　you　have　gone　too　far；　the　walls　of　the　boundary　be　that　close。　You　will　not　be　able　to　step　back。　Ever。〃
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath。　〃Adie；　the　boundary　is　failing。　Before　he　was　struck　down；　Zedd　told　me　he　could　see　the　change。　Chase　said　you　couldn't　see　into　it　before；　and　that　now　underworld　beings　were　getting　out。　Do　you　think　it　will　still　be　safe　to　go　through　the　Narrows？〃
　
　〃Safe？　I　never　said　it　be　safe。　It　never　be　safe　to　go　through　the　Narrows。　Many　who　were　keen　with　greed；　but　not　strong　of　will；　have　tried　to　go　through　and　never　e　out　the　other　side。〃　She　leaned　closer　to　him。　〃As　long　as　the　boundary　be　there　still；　so　too　must　be　the　pass。　Stay　on　the　trail。　Keep　in　mind　your　purpose。　Help　each　other　if　need　be；　and　you　will　get　across。〃
　
　Adie　studied　his　face。　Richard　turned　to　Kahlan's　green　eyes。　He　wondered　if　Kahlan　and　he　could　resist　the　boundary。　He　remembered　what　it　felt　like　to　want　to　go　into　it；　to　long　for　it。　In　the　Narrows；　it　would　be　on　both　sides　of　them。　He　knew　how　frightened　Kahlan　was　of　the　underworld；　with　good　reason；　she　had　been　in　it。　He　wasn't　anxious　to　go　anywhere　near　it　himself。
　
　Richard　frowned　in　thought。　〃You　said　the　Narrows　were　in　the　center　of　the　pass。　Won't　it　be　night？　How　will　we　see　to　stay　on　the　trail？〃
　
　Adie　put　her　hand　on　Kahlan's　shoulder　to　help　herself　up。　〃e；〃　she　said　as　she　put　the　crutch　under　her　arm。　They　followed　slowly　behind　as　she　worked　her　way　to　the　shelves。　Her　slender　fingers　clutched　a　leather　pouch。　She　loosened　the　drawstring　and　dumped　something　in　her　palm。
　
　She　turned　to　Richard。　〃Hold　out　your　hand。〃
　
　He　held　his　hand　palm　up　in　front　of　her。　She　put　her　hand　over　his；　and　he　felt　a　smooth　weight。　In　her　native　tongue　she　spoke　a　few　words　under　he；　breath。
　
　‘〃The　words　say　I　give　you　this　of　my　own　free　will。〃
　
　Richard　saw　that　in　his　palm　rested　a　rock　about　the　size　of　a　grouse　egg。　Smooth　and　polished；　it　was　so　dark　it　seemed　as　if　it　could　suck　the　light　from　the　room。　He　couldn't　even　discern　a　surface；　other　than　a　layer　of　gloss。　Beneath　that　was　a　void　of　blackness。
　
　〃This　be　a　night　stone；〃　she　said　in　a　measured　rasp。
　
　〃And　what　do　I　do　with　it？〃
　
　Adie　hesitated；　her　gaze　darting　briefly　to　the　window。　〃When　it　be　dark；　and　you　have　need　enough；　take　out　the　night　stone　and　it　will　give　off　light　so　you　may　find　your　way。　It　only　works　for　its　owner；　and　then　only　if　it　be　given　of　its　last　owner's　free　will。　I　will　tell　the　wizard　you　have　it。　He　has　magic　to　find　it；　so　he　will　be　able　to　find　you。〃
　
　Richard　hesitated。　〃Adie；　this　must　be　valuable。　I　don't　feel　right　accepting　it。〃
　
　〃Everything　is　valuable　under　the　right　conditions。　To　a　man　dying　of　thirst；　water　be　more　precious　than　gold。　To　a　drowning　man；　water　be　of　little　worth　and　great　trouble。　Right　now；　you　be　a　very　thirsty　man。　I　thirst　for　Darken　Rahl　to　be　stopped。　Take　the　night　stone。　If　you　feel　the　weight　of　obligation；　you　may　return　it　to　me　one　day。〃
　
　Richard　nodded；　slipped　the　stone　into　the　leather　pouch　and　then　into　his　pocket。　Adie　turned　to　the　shelf　once　more　and　retrieved　a　delicate　necklace；　holding　it　up　for　Kahlan　to　see。　A　few　red　and　yellow　beads　were　to　each　side　of　a　small　round　bone。　Kahlan's　eyes　brightened；　her　mouth　opened　in　surprise。
　
　〃It　is　just　like　my　mother's；〃　she　said　with　delight
　
　Adie　placed　it　over　her　head　while　Kahlan　lifted　clear　her　mass　of　dark　hair。　Kahlan　looked　down　at　the　necklace；　touching　it　between　her　finger　and　thumb；　smiling。
　
　〃For　now　it　will　hide　you　from　the　beasts　in　the　pass；　and　someday；　when　you　carry　a　child　of　your　own；　it　will　protect　her；　and　help　her　to　grow　strong　like　you。〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　arms　around　the　old　woman；　hugging　her　tight　for　a　long　time。　When　they　separated；　Kahlan's　face　bore　a　distressed　expression；　and　she　s