tg.wizardfirstrule-第98章

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uying　goods　from　the　merchants；　spending　silver　and　gold　with　abandon。〃　She　pointed　back　at　the　rows　of　lumber　under　tarps。　〃The　missionaries　were　as　good　as　their　word；　orders　came　down　for　lumber。　A　lot　of　lumber。　To　build　new　towns　where　people　would　live　in　prosperity　under　the　glowing　rule　of　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　〃Then　what？〃
　
　〃Word　spread；　there　was　more　work　here　than　the　town　people　could　handle。　Work　for　Father　Rahl。　More　people　came　in　to　work　the　orders　for　lumber。　While　all　this　was　going　on；　the　missionaries　told　the　people　of　the　threat　to　them　from　Westland。　The　threat　to　Father　Rahl　from　Westland。〃
　
　〃From　Westland！〃　Richard　was　incredulous。
　
　She　nodded。　〃Then　the　People's　Peace　Army　moved　out；　saying　they　were　needed　to　fight　the　Westland　forces；　to　protect　the　other　towns　that　had　sworn　allegiance　to　D'Hara。　The　people　begged　for　some　to　stay；　for　protection。　In　return　for　their　loyalty　and　devotion；　a　small　detachment　was　left　behind。〃
　
　Richard　ushered　her　back　onto　the　trail　ahead　of　him　as　he　gave　one　last　puzzled　glance　over　his　shoulder。　〃So　it　。wasn't　Rahl's　army　that　did　this？〃
　
　The　trail　was　wide　enough；　so　she　waited　until　he　was　next　to　her　before　she　went　on。　〃No。　They　said　everything　was　fine　for　a　while。　Then；　about　a　week　ago；　at　sunrise；　a　military　unit　of　the　Westland　army　swept　in；　killing　the　D'Hara　detachment　to　a　man。　After　that；　they　went　on　a　rampage；　killing　people　indiscriminately；　and　sacking　the　town。　As　the　Westland　soldiers　killed；　they　yelled　that　this　was　what　happens　to　anyone　following　Rahl；　to　anyone　who　resists　Westland。　Before　the　sun　set；　they　were　gone。〃
　
　Richard　grabbed　a　fistful　of　shirt　at　her　shoulder；　jerking　her　to　face　him。
　
　〃That's　not　true！　Westlanders　wouldn't　do　this！　It　wasn't　them！　It　couldn't　be！〃
　
　She　blinked　at　him。　〃Richard；　I　did　not　say　it　was　true。　I　am　merely　telling　you　what　I　was　told；　what　those　people　back　there　believe。〃
　
　He　released　his　grip　of　her　shirt；　his　face　having　a　second　reason　for　its　flush。　He　couldn't　help　himself　from　adding；　〃No　Westland　army　did　this。〃　He　started…to　turn　back　to　the　trail；　but　she　took　his　arm；　halting　him。
　
　〃That　is　not　the　end　of　it。〃
　
　By　her　eyes；　he　knew　he　didn't　want　to　hear　the　end　of　it。　He　nodded　for　her　to　go　on。
　
　〃Those　left　alive　began　leaving　at　once；　taking　what　they　could　carry。　More　left　the　next　day；　some　after　burying　members　of　their　families。　That　night；　a　detachment　of　Westlanders　came　back；　maybe　fifty　men。　There　were　only　a　handful　of　townspeople　left　by　that　time。　The　people　were　told　that　resisters　to　Westland　are　not　allowed　to　be　buried；　that　they　are　to　be　left；　for　animals　to　pick　clean；　as　a　reminder　to　all　of　what　will　happen　to　any　who　resist　the　rule　of　Westland。　To　make　their　point；　they　collected　all　the　men　still　left；　even　the　boys；　and　executed　them。〃　By　Kahlan's　inflection　of　the　word　executed；　and　making　no　mention　of　the　manner；　he　knew　he　didn't　want　to　know。　〃The　little　boy　and　the　old　man　back　there　were　somehow　overlooked　or　they　would　have　been　killed　too。　The　women　were　made　to　watch。〃　She　paused。
　
　〃How　many　women　were　left？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　know；　not　many。〃　She　peered　back　up　the　trail；　staring　off　toward　the　。　town　a　moment　before　her　intensely　angry　eyes　returned　to　his。　〃The　soldiers　raped　the　women。　And　the　girls。〃　Her　eyes　burned　into　his。　〃Each　one　of　those　girls　you　saw　back　there　was　raped　by　at　least　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Westlanders　did　not　do　this！〃
　
　She　studied　his　face。　〃I　know。　But　who？　Why？〃　Her　expression　cooled　back　to　calm。
　
　He　stared　back　at　her　in　frustration。　〃Isn't　there　anything　we　can　do　for　them？〃
　
　〃Our　job　is　not　to　protect　a　few　people；　or　the　dead；　it　is　to　protect　the　living；　by　stopping　Darken　Rahl。　We　do　not　have　the　time　to　give；　we　must　get　to　Tamarang。　Whatever　trouble　is　about；　we　had　best　stay　off　the　roads。〃
　
　〃You're　right；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly。　〃But　I　don't　like　it。〃
　
　〃Nor　do　L〃　Her　features　softened。　〃Richard；　I　think　they　will　be　safe。　Whatever　army　it　was　that　did　this　is　not　likely　to　return　for　a　couple　of　women　and　children；　they　will　be　off　to　hunt　bigger　game。〃
　
　Some　solace　that　was；　that　the　killers　would　be　off　to　hunt　larger　groups　of　people　to　hurt；　in　the　name　of　his　homeland。　Richard　thought　about　how　he　hated　all　this；　and　remembered　how　when　he　was　back　in　Hartland；　his　biggest　trouble　was　his　brother　always　telling　him　what　to　do。
　
　〃A　group　of　soldiers　that　big　isn't　going　to　be　traveling　by　trail　through　a　thick　wood　such　as　this；　they'll　stay　to　the　roads；　but　I　think　it　best　if　we　start　looking　for　wayward　pines　at　night。　No　telling　who　could　be　watching。〃
　
　She　nodded　her　agreement。　〃Richard；　many　people　of　my　homeland　have　joined　with　Rahl；　and　done　unspeakable　crimes。　Does　that　make　you　think　less　of　me？〃
　
　He　frowned。　〃Of　course　not。〃
　
　〃And　I　would　think　no　less　of　you　were　it　Westland　soldiers。　It　is　no　crime　upon　you；　to　have　your　countrymen　do　things　you　abhor。　We　are　at　war。　We　are　trying　to　do　as　our　ancestors　have　done　in　the　past；　Seekers　and　Confessors　alike；　dethrone　a　ruler。　In　this；　there　are　only　two　we　can　count　on。　You　and　me。〃　She　studied　him　with　an　intense；　timeless　expression。　He　realized　he　was　gripping　the　hilt　of　his　sword　tightly。　〃A　time　may　e　when　it　is　only　you。　We　all　do　as　we　must。〃　It　was　not　Kahlan　who　had　spoken；　it　was　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　It　was　a　hard；　unfortable　moment　before　she　released　his　eyes；　turning　at　last　and　starting　off。　He　pulled　his　cloak　tight；　chilled　from　without；　and　within。
　
　〃It　was　not　Westlanders；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath；　following　behind　her。
　
　…＋
　
　〃Light　for　me；〃　Rachel　said。　The　little　pile　of　sticks　with　rocks　all　around　burst　into　flame；　lighting　the　inside　of　the　wayward　pine　with　a　bright　red　glow。　She　put　the　fire　stick　back　in　her　pocket　and　with　a　shiver　warmed　her　hands　at　the　fire　as　she　looked　down　at　Sara　lying　in　her　lap。
　
　〃We'll　be　safe　here　tonight；〃　she　told　her　doll。　Sara　didn't　answer…she　hadn't　talked　since　the　night　they　ran　away　from　the　castle…so　Rachel　just　pretended　the　doll　was　talking；　telling　her　she　loved　her。　She　gave　Sara's　silent　words　an　answering　hug。
　
　She　pulled　some　berries　from　her　pocket；　eating　them　one　at　a　time；　warming　her　hands　in　between　each　one。　Sara　didn't　want　any　berries。　Rachel　nibbled　on　the　piece　of　hard　cheese；　all　the　other　food　she　had　brought　from　the　castle　was　gone。　Except　the　loaf　of　bread；　of　course。　But　she　couldn't　eat　that；　the　box　was　hidden　inside　it。
　
　Rachel　missed　Giller　something　fierce；　but　she　had　to　do　as　he　had　said；　she　had　to　keep　running　away；　finding　a　new　wayward　pine　every　night。　She　didn't　know　how　far　she　was　from　the　castle；　she　just　kept　going　while　it　was　day；　the　sun　at　her　back　in　the　morning　and　in　her　face　at　evening。　She　had　learned　that　from　Brophy。　He　called　it　traveling　by　the　sun。　She　guessed　that　was　what　she　was　doing。　Traveling。
　
　A　pine　bough　moved　by　itself；　making　her　start。　She　saw　a　big　hand　holding　it　back：　Then　the　shiny　blade　of　a　long　sword。　She　stared；　her　eyes　wide。　She　couldn't　move。
　
　A　man　stuck　his　head　in。　〃What　have　…we　here？〃　He　smiled。
　
　Rachel　heard　a　whine；　and　realized　it　was　ing　from　her　own　throat。　Still；　she　couldn't　move。　A　woman　pushed　her　head　in　beside　the　man's。　She　pulled　the　man　back　behind　her。　Rachel　clutched　Sara　to　her　chest
　
　〃Put　the　sword　away；〃　the　woman　scolded；　〃you're　scaring　her。〃
　
　Rachel　pulled　the　partly　unbundled　loaf　of　bread　close　to　her　hip。　She　wanted　to　run；　but　her　legs　didn't　work。　The　woman　pushed　into　the　wayward　pine；　came　close　and　knelt　down；　sitting　back　on　her　heels；　the　man　right　behind　her。　Rachel's　eyes　looked　up　at　her　face；　then　she　saw　the　woman's　long　hair；　lit　by　the　firelight。　Her　eyes　went　even　wider；　and　another　cry　came　from　her　throat。　At　last　her　legs　worked；　at　least　a　little：　they　scooted　her　backward　against　the　trunk　…of　the　tree；　pulling　the　bread　with　her。　Women　with　long　hair　were　always　trouble。　She　bit　down　on　Sara's　foot；　panting；　a　whine　ing　with　each　breath。　She　squeezed　Sara　with　all　her　strength。　She　tore　her　eyes　from　the　woman's　hair；　she　darted　glances　to　the　sides；　looking　for　a　place　to　run。
　
　〃I'm　not　going　to　hurt　you；〃　the　woman　said。　Her　voice　sounded　nice；　but　Princess　Violet　said　the　same　thing；　sometimes；　just　before　she　slapped　her。
　
　The　woman　reached　out　and　touched　Rachel's　arm。　She　jumped　with　a　cry；　pulling　back。
　
　〃Please；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　filling　with　tears；　〃don't　burn　Sara　up。'
　
　〃Who's　Sara？〃　the　man　asked。
　
　The　woman　turned　and　made　him　hush。　She　turned　back；　her　long　hair　falling　from　her　shoulder；　Rachel's　eyes　fixed　on　it。　〃I　won't　burn　Sara；〃　she　said　in　a　nice　voice。　Rachel　knew　that　when　a　woman　with　long　hair　talked　in　a　nice　voice；　it　meant　she　was　probably　lying。　Still；　her　voice　did　sound　like　it　was　really　nice。
　
　〃Please；〃　she　whined；　〃can't　you　just　leave　us　be？〃
　
　〃Us？〃　The　woman　glanced　around。　She　looked　back；　right　to　Sara。　〃Oh。　I　see。　So　this　is　Sara？〃　Rachel　nodded；　biting　down　harder　on　Sara's　foot。　She　knew　she　would　get　a　hard　slap　if　she　didn't　answer　a　woman　with　long　hair。　〃She's　a　very　nice　looking　doll。〃　She　smiled。　Rachel　wished　she　wouldn't　smile。　When　women　with　long　hair　smiled；　it　usually　meant　there　was　going　to　be　trouble。
　
　The　man　stuck　his　head　around　the　woman。　〃My　name's　Richard。　What's　yours？〃　She　liked　his　eyes。　〃Rachel。〃
　
　〃Rachel。　That's　a　pretty　name。　But　I　have　to　tell　you；　Rachel；　you　have　the　ugliest　hair　I've　ever　seen。〃
　
　〃Richard！〃　the　woman　squawked。　〃How　could　you　say　such　a　thing！〃
　
　〃Well；　it's　true。　Who　cut　it　all　crooked　like　that；　Rachel；　some　old　witch？〃
　
　Rachel　giggled。
　
　〃Richard！〃　the　woman　squawked　again。　〃You're　going　to　frighten　her。〃
　
　〃Oh；　nonsense。　Rachel；　I　have　a　little　scissors　here　in　my　pack；　and　I'm　pretty　good　at　cutting　hair。　Would　you　like　me　to　fix　your　hair　for　you？　At　least　I　could　make　it　straight。　If　you　leave　it　like　that；　you　might　scare　a　dragon　or　something。〃
　
　Rachel　giggled　again。　〃Yes；　please。　I　would　like　to　have　my　hair　straight。〃
　
　〃All　right　then；　e　over　here　and　sit　on　my　lap　and　we'll　fix　it　right　up。〃
　
　Rachel　got　up　and　walked　around　the　woman；　watching　her　hands；　keeping　far　away；　at　least　as　far　away　as　she　could　inside　the　wayward　pine。　Richard　picked　her　up　with　a　big　hand　on　each　side　of　her　waist　and　set　her　on　his　lap。　He　pulled　some　strands　of　hair　out。　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　what　we　have　here。〃
　
　Rachel　kept　an　eye　toward　the　woman；　fearing　a　slap。　He　looked　over；　too。　He　pointed　with　the　scissors。
　
　〃This　is　Kahlan。　She　scared　me　at　first；　too。　She's　awfully　ugly；　isn't　she。〃
　
　〃Richard！　Where　did　you　learn　to　speak　to　children　like　this！〃
　
　He　smiled。　〃Picked　it　up　from　a　boundary　warden　I　know。〃
　
　Rachel　giggled　at　him；　she　couldn't　help　it。　〃I　don't　think　she's　ugly；　I　think　she's　the　prettiest　lady　I　ever　saw。〃　That　was　the　truth。　But　Kahlan's　long　hair　scared　her　something　fierce。