tg.wizardfirstrule-第74章

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　Kahlan　tensed　at　this　question。　She　hesitated　a　moment　before　translating　it。
　
　〃In　my　mind；　the　deed　is　not　as　important　as　the　intent。　I　truly　believed　my　friend's　life　was　in　danger；　therefore　I　felt　justified　in　killing　to　protect　her。　I　had　only　a　moment　to　act。　In　my　mind；　indecision　would　have　resulted　in　her　death。
　
　〃If　the　spirits　think　I　was　wrong　in　killing；　or　that　the　one　I　killed　may　have　been　justified；　voiding　my　right；　then　we　have　a　disagreement。　Some　problems　have　no　clear　solution。　Some　problems　don't　provide　the　time　to　analyze　them。　I　had　to　act　with　my　heart。　As　a　wise　man　once　told　me；　every　murderer　thinks　he　is　justified　in　killing。　I　will　kill　to　prevent　myself　or　a　friend；　or　an　innocent；　from　being　killed。　If　you　feel　that　is　wrong；　tell　me　now　so　we　can　put　an　end　to　these　painful　questions；　and　I　may　go　in　search　of　the　answers　I　need。〃
　
　〃As　we　said；　we　are　not　here　to　make　bargains。　You　said　that　to　your　mind；　the　deed　is　not　as　important　as　the　intent。　Is　there　anyone　you　have　intended　to　kill；　but　have　not？〃
　
　The　sound　of　their　voices　was　painful；　Kahlan　felt　as　if　it　was　burning　her　skin。
　
　〃You　have　misinterpreted　the　context　of　what　I　said。　I　said　I　killed　because　I　thought　I　had　to；　that　I　thought　his　intent　was　to　kill　her；　therefore　I　thought　I　had　to　act　or　she　would　die。　Not　that　my　intent　equates　to　the　deed。　There　is　probably　a　long　list　of　people　who；　at　one　time　or　another；　I　have　wanted　to　kill。〃
　
　〃If　you　wanted　to；　why　have　you　not　done　so？〃
　
　〃Many　reasons。　For　some；　I　had　not　true　justification；　it　was　only　a　mind　game；　a　fantasy；　to　counter　the　sting　of　an　injustice。　For　some；　though　I　felt　justified；　I　was　able　to　escape　without　killing。　Some；　well；　it　just　turned　out　that　I　didn't　that's　all。〃
　
　〃The　five　elders？〃
　
　Richard　sighed。　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃But　you　intended　to。　〃
　
　Richard　didn't　answer。
　
　〃Is　this　a　case　where　the　intent　is　as　the　deed？〃
　
　Richard　swallowed　hard。　〃In　my　heart；　yes。　That　I　intended　it　wounds　me　almost　as　much　as　the　deed　would　have。〃
　
　〃So　then　we　have　not；　it　would　seem；　gotten　what　you　said　entirely　out　of　context。　〃
　
　Kahlan　could　see　tears　in　Richard's　eyes。　〃Why　are　you　asking　me　these　questions！〃
　
　〃Why　do　you　want　the　object　of　magic？〃
　
　〃To　stop　Darken　Rahl！〃
　
　〃And　how　will　getting　this　object　stop　him？〃
　
　Richard　leaned　back　a　little。　His　eyes　went　wide。　He　understood。　A　tear　ran　down　his　cheek。　〃Because；　if　I　can　get　the　object；　and　keep　it　from　him；〃　he　whispered；　〃he　will　die。　I　will　kill　him　in　that　way。〃
　
　〃What　you　are　really　asking　us；　then；　is；　for　our　aid　in　killing　another。〃　There　voices　echoed　around　her　in　the　darkness。
　
　Richard　only　nodded。
　
　〃That　is　why　we　are　asking　you　these　questions。　You　are　asking　for　our　aid　in　killing。　Do　you　not　think　it　fair　we　should　know　what　kind　of　person　it　is　we　would　be　helping　in　his　attempt　to　kill？〃　Sweat　was　rolling　off　Richard's　face。　〃I　guess　so。〃　He　closed　his　eyes。
　
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　kill　this　man？〃
　
　〃Many　reasons。〃
　
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　kill　this　man？〃
　
　〃Because　he　tortured　and　killed　my　father。　Because　he　has　tortured　and　killed　many　others。　Because　he　will　kill　me　if　I　don't　kill　him。　Because　he　will　torture　and　kill　many　more　if　I　don't　kill　him。　It　is　the　only　way　to　stop　him。　He　cannot　be　reasoned　with。　I　have　no　option　but　to　kill　him。〃
　
　〃Consider　the　next　question　carefully。　Answer　with　the　truth；　or　this　gathering　will　end。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。
　
　〃What　is　the　reason；　above　all　others；　why　you　want　to　kill　this　man？〃
　
　Richard　looked　down　and　closed　his　eyes　again。　〃Because；〃　he　whispered　at　last；　tears　running　down　his　face；　〃if　I　don't　kill　him；　he　will　kill　Kahlan。〃
　
　Kahlan　felt　as　if　she　had　been　hit　in　the　stomach。　She　could　barely　bring　herself　to　translate　the　words。　There　was　a　long　silence。　Richard　sat　naked；　in　more　ways　than　one。　She　was　angry　at　the　spirits　for　doing　this　to　him。　She　was　also　deeply　distraught　by　what　she　was　doing　to　him。　Shar　had　been　right。
　
　〃If　Kahlan　were　not　a　factor；　would　you　still　try　to　kill　this　man？　》；
　
　〃Absolutely。　You　asked　the　reason　above　all　others。　I　told　you。〃
　
　〃What　is　the　object　of　magic　you　seek？〃　they　asked　suddenly。
　
　〃Does　that　mean　you　agree　with　my　reasons　for　killing？〃
　
　〃No。　It　means　that　for　our　own　reasons；　we　have　decided　to　answer　your　question。　If　we　can。　What　is　the　object　of　magic　you　seek？　〃
　
　〃One　of　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。〃
　
　When　Kahlan　translated；　the　spirits　suddenly　howled　as　if　in　pain。　〃We　are　not　allowed　to　answer　that　question。　The　boxes　of　Orden　are　in　play。　This　gathering　is　over。　〃
　
　The　elders'　eyes　began　to　close。　Richard　jumped　to　his　feet。　〃You　would　let　Darken　Rahl　kill　all　those　people　when　you　have　the　power　to　help？〃　〃Yes。　〃
　
　〃You　would　let　him　kill　your　descendants？　Your　living　flesh　and　blood？　You　aren't　spirit　ancestors　to　our　people；　you　are　spirit　traitors！〃
　
　〃Not　true。　〃
　
　〃Then　tell　me！〃
　
　〃Not　allowed。　〃
　
　〃Please！　Don't　leave　us　without　your　help。　Let　me　ask　another　question？〃
　
　〃We　are　not　allowed　to　disclose　where　the　boxes　of　Orden　are。　It　is　forbidden。　Think；　and　ask　another　question。　〃
　
　Richard　sat　down；　pulling　his　knees　up。　He　rubbed　his　eyes　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers。　The　symbols　painted　all　over　him　made　him　look　like　some　kind　of　wild　creature。　He　put　his　face　in　his　hands；　thinking。　His　head　snapped　up。
　
　〃You　can't　tell　me　where　the　boxes　are。　Are　there　any　other　restrictions？〃
　
　〃Yes。　〃
　
　〃How　many　boxes　does　Rahl　already　have？〃
　
　〃Two。　〃
　
　He　looked　at　the　elders　evenly。　〃You　have　just　disclosed　where　two　of　the　boxes　are。　That　is　forbidden；〃　he　reminded　them。　〃Or　maybe　it　is　simply　a　gray　shade　of　intent？〃
　
　Silence。
　
　〃That　information　is　not　restricted。　Your　question？〃
　
　Richard　leaned　forward　like　a　dog　on　scent。　〃Can　you　tell　me　who　knows　where　the　last　box　is？〃
　
　Richard　already　knew　the　answer　to　this　question；　she　suspected。　She　recognized　his　manner　of　slicing　the　loaf　the　other　way。
　
　〃We　know　the　name　of　the　person　who　has　the　box；　and　the　names　of　several　other　people　nearby；　but　we　cannot　tell　you　the　names　because　that　would　be　the　same　as　telling　you　where　it　is。　That　is　forbidden。　〃
　
　〃Then；　can　you　tell　me　the　name　of　a　person；　other　than　Rahl；　who　is　not　in　possession　of　the　last　box；　who　is　not　near　it；　but　who　knows　where　it　is？〃
　
　〃There　is　one　we　can　name。　She　knows　where　the　box　is。　If　we　tell　you　her　name；　that　would　not　lead　you　to　the　box；　only　to　her　This　is　allowed。　It　will　be　up　to　you；　not　us；　to　get　whatever　information　you　might。　〃
　
　〃That　is　my　question；　then：　who　is　it？　Name　her。〃
　
　When　they　uttered　the　name；　Kahlan　froze　with　a　jolt。　She　didn't　translate。　The　elders　shook　at　the　mere　name；　spoken　aloud。
　
　〃Who　is　it？　What's　her　name'？〃　Richard　demanded　of　her。
　
　Kahlan　looked　up　at　him。
　
　〃We　are　as　good　as　dead；〃　she　whispered。
　
　〃Why？　Who；　is　it？〃
　
　Kahlan　sank　back；　into　herself。　〃It　is　the　witch　woman；　Shota。〃
　
　〃And　do　you　know　where　she　is？〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　her　brow　wrinkled　in　terror。　〃In　the　Agaden　Reach。〃　She　whispered　the　name　as　if　even　the　words　tasted　of　poison。　〃Not　even　a　wizard　would　dare　to　go　into　the　Reach。〃
　
　Richard　studied　the　visage　of　fear　in　her　face；　and　looked　to　the　elders　as　they　shook。
　
　〃Then　we　go　to　Agaden　Reach；　to　this　witch　woman；　Shota；〃　he　said　in　an　even　voice；　〃and　find　out　where　the　box　is。〃
　
　〃We　wish　you　kind　fates；　〃　the　spirits　said；　through　the　Bird　Man。　〃The　lives　of　our　descendants　depend　upon　you。　〃
　
　〃Thank　you　for　your　help；　honored　ancestors；〃；　Richard　said。　〃I　will　do　my　best　to　stop　Rahl。　To　help　our　people。〃
　
　〃You　must　use　your　head。　That　is　Darken　Rahl's　way。　Meet　him　on　his　terms；　and　you　will　lose。　It　will　not　be　easy。　You　will　have　to　suffer；　as　will　our　people；　as　will　other　people；　before　you　have　even　a　chance　to　succeed。　And　in　all　probability；　you　will　still　fail。　Heed　our　warning；　Richard　With　The　Temper。　〃
　
　〃I　will　remember　the　things　you　say。　I　pledge　to　do　my　best。〃
　
　〃Then　we　will　test　the　truth　of　your　pledge。　There　is　something　else　we　would　tell　you。　〃　They　paused　for　a　moment。　〃Darken　Rahl　is　here。　He　looks　for　you。　〃
　
　Kahlan　translated　in　a　rush；　jumping　to　her　feet。　Richard　came　up　beside　her。
　
　〃What！　He　is　here　now？　Where　is　he；　what　is　he　doing'？〃
　
　〃He　is　in　the　center　of　the　village。　He　is　killing　people。　〃
　
　Fear　raged　through　Kahlan。　Richard　took　a　step　forward。　'‘I　have　to　get　out　of　here。　I　have　to　get　my　sword。　I　have　to　try　to　stop　him！〃
　
　〃If　you　wish。　But　hear　us　out　first。　Sit；　〃　they　manded。
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　sank　back　down；　looking　wide…eyed　at　each　other；　clutching　each　other's　hands。　Tears　welled　up　in　her　eyes。　〃Hurry；　then；〃　Richard　said。
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　wants　you。　Your　sword　cannot　kill　him。　Tonight；　the　balance　of　power　is　on　his　side。　If　you　go　out　there；　he　will　kill　you。　You　will　have　no　chance。　None。　In　order　to　win；　you　must　change　the　balance　of　power；　something　you　cannot　do　this　night。　The　people　he　kills　tonight　will　die　whether　or　not　you　go　out　to　fight　him。　If　you　do　go　out；　more　will　die　in　the　end。　Many　more。　If　you　are　to　succeed；　you　must　have　the　courage　to　let　these　die　tonight。　You　must　save　yourself　to　fight　at　another　time。　You　must　suffer　this　pain。　You　must　heed　your　head　rather　than　your　sword；　if　you　are　to　have　a　chance　to　win。　〃
　
　〃But　I　have　to　go　out　sooner　or　later！〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　has　loosed　many　dark　terrors。　He　must　balance　many　things；　including　his　time。　He　does　not　have　the　time　to　wait　all　night。　He　is　confident；　with　good　reason；　that　he　can　defeat　you　at　any　time　of　his　choosing。　He　has　no　reason　to　wait。　He　will　be　gone　soon；　to　tend　to　other　dark　matters；　to　look　for　you　another　day。
　
　〃The　。symbols　painted　upon　you　open　our　eyes　to　you；　so　we　may　see　you。　They　close　his　eyes　to　you；　he　cannot　see　you。　Unless　you　draw　your　sword。　That；　he　will　be　able　to　see；　then　he　would　nave　you。　As　long　as　the　symbols　are　upon　you；　and　the　magic　of　your　sword　remains　in　its　scabbard；　while　you　are　in　Mud　People　territory　he　cannot　find　you。　〃
　
　〃But　I　can't　stay　here！〃
　
　〃Not　if　you　wish　to　stop　him。　When　you　leave　our　territory；　the　power　of　the　symbols　will　be　gone；　and　he　will　be　able　to　see　you　again。　〃
　
　Richard's　clenched　fists　shook。　Kahlan　could　see　by　the　look　on　his　face　that　he　was　close　to　disregarding　the　warning；　close　to　going　out　to　fight。
　
　〃The　choice　is　yours；　〃　the　spirits　said。　〃Wait　in　here　while　he　kills　some　of　our　people；　and　when　he　is　gone；　go　after　the　box；　to　kill　him。　Or　go　out　now；　and　acplish　nothing。〃　Richard　closed　his　eyes　tight。　His　chest　rose　and　fell　with　his　labored　breathing。
　
　〃I　will　wait；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　she　could　barely　hear。
　
　Kahlan　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck；　putting　her　head　against　his；　as　they　both　cried。　The　circle　of　elders　began　spinning　around　again。
　
　That　was　the　last　thing　she　remembered　until　she　an