tg.stone of tears-第127章

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　Sister　Verna　seemed　to　have　cooled；　or　at　least　put　a　mask　over　her　anger。　‘I　am　pleased　for　you；　Du　Chaillu；　that　you　did　not　have　to　die　this　day。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　glared。　Richard　knew　she　thought　of　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　as　witches。
　
　‘I　do　feel　sorrow；　however；’　the　Sister　added；　‘for　all　those　who　will　die　in　your　place。’
　
　‘You　are　not　pleased　for　me。　You　wish　me　dead。　You　wish　all　the　Baka　Ban　Mana　to　die。’
　
　‘That　is　not　true。　I　wish　no　one　to　die。　But　I　know　I　could　not　convince　you　of　that。　Think　what　you　will。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　took　the　sacrificial　knife　from　her　belt　and　held　the　handle　in　front　of　Sister　Verna’s　eyes。　‘They　kept　me　on　that　chain　for　three　moons。’　She　looked　to　the　green　‘handle　and　pointed　to　one　of　the　obscene　couplings　carved　on　it。　‘Those　dogs　did　this　to　me。’　Sister　Verna　glanced　to　the　knife　as　Du　Chaillu　tapped　a　finger　to　another　scene。　‘And　this。　And　this；　too。’
　
　Sister　Verna　watched　the　other’s　chest　heaving　in　ire。　‘There　is　no　way　I　could　convince　you；　Du　Chaillu；　how　much　I　abhor　what　they　did　to　you；　and　what　they　intended　to　do。　There　are　many　things　in　this　world　that　I　abhor；　but　can　do　nothing　about；　and　in　some　cases；　must　tolerate；　in　order　to　serve　a　greater　good。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　patted　her　belly。　‘I　have　lost　my　moon　flow。　Those　dogs　have　put　me　with　child！　Now　I　must　go　to　the　midwives　and　ask　them　for　herbs　to　shed　the　child　of　a　dog。’
　
　Sister　Verna　clasped　her　hands　before　herself。　‘Please；　Du　Chaillu；　don’t　do　that。　A　child　is　a　gift　from　the　Creator。　Please　don’t　reject　his　gift。’
　
　‘Gift！　This　great　Creator　has　a　wicked　way　of　bestowing　his　gifts！’
　
　‘Du　Chaillu；’　Richard　said；　‘up　until　now；　the　Majendie　have　killed　every　Baka　Ban　Mana　they　have　captured。　You　are　the　first　to　be　freed。　They　will　kill　no　more。　Think　of　this　child　as　symbol　of　the　new　life　between　your　peoples。　For　that　new　life；　for　all　your　children；　to　flourish；　the　killing　must　stop。　Let　the　child　live？　It　has　done　no　harm。’
　
　‘The　father　has　done　harm！’
　
　Richard　swallowed。　‘Children　are　not　necessarily　evil；　just　because　the　father　was。’
　
　‘If　the　father　is　evil；　then　the　child　will　be　as　he！’
　
　‘That　is　not　true；’　the　Sister　said。　‘Richard’s　father　was　an　evil　man　who　killed　many　people；　yet　Richard　seeks　to　preserve　life。　His　mother　knew　that　the　guilt　of　crimes　does　not　pass　beyond　the　one　who　mits　them。　She　did　not　spare　her　love　because　Richard’s　father　raped　her。　Richard　was　raised　by　good　people　who　taught　him　right。　Because　of　that；　you　are　alive　today。　You　can　teach　the　child　right。’
　
　Du　Chaillu’s　fury　faltered　as　she　looked　to　Richard。　‘Is　this　true？　Your　mother　was　treated　as　I；　by　an　evil　dog？’
　
　Richard　could　only　manage　a　nod。
　
　She　rubbed　her　belly。　‘I　will　consider　what　you　say　before　I　decide。　You　have　returned　my　life；　I　will　weigh　your　words。’
　
　Richard　squeezed　her　shoulder。　‘Whatever　you　decide；　I’m　sure　it　will　be　for　the　best。’
　
　‘If　she　lives　long　enough　to　decide；’　Sister　Verna　said。　‘You’ve　made　promises　and　threats　that　you　cannot　fulfill。　When　the　Majendie　plant　their　crops；　and　nothing　happens；　they　will　lose　their　fear　of　what　you　have　told　them　today。　What　you’ve　done　will　count　for　nothing　and　they　will　once　again　make　war　on　her　people。　To　say　nothing　of　mine。’
　
　Richard　pulled　the　leather　thong　with　the　Bird　Man’s　whistle　off　over　his　head。　‘I　wouldn’t　exactly　say　nothing　is　going　to　happen；　Sister。　Something　is　indeed　going　to　happen。’　He　hung　the　whistle　around　Du　Chaillu’s　neck。　This　was　a　gift　to　me；　and　now　my　gift　to　you；　so　that　you　can　stop　the　killing。’　He　held　the　carved　bone　up。　This　is　a　magic　whistle。　It　calls　birds。　More　birds　than　you’ve　ever　seen　in　one　place　before。　I’m　counting　on　you　to　fulfill　my　promise。
　
　‘You　are　to　go　to　their　planting　fields。　Keep　yourself　hidden。　Then；　at　sunset；　blow　on　this　magic　whistle。　You　will　hear　no　sound；　but　the　birds　will　be　called　by　the　magic。　In　your　mind；　keep　picturing　birds。　Think　of　all　the　birds　you　know　as　you　blow　on　the　whistle；　and　keep　blowing　until　they　e。’
　
　She　touched　the　carved　bone　whistle。　‘Magic？　The　birds　will　truly　e？’
　
　He　gave　her　a　one…sided　smile。　‘Oh；　yes；　they’ll　e。　There　is　no　doubt　of　that。　The　magic　will　call　them。　No　person　will　hear　the　sound；　but　the　birds　will。　The　Majendie　will　not　know　it’s　you　who　calls　the　birds。　The　birds　will　be　hungry　and　will　devour　all　the　seed。　Every　time　the　Majendie　plant　seeds；　you　call　the　birds　and　take　it　away　from　them。’
　
　She　grinned。　The　Majendie　will　starve　to　death！’
　
　Richard　put　his　face　close　to　hers。　‘No。　This　is　my　gift　to　you；　to　stop　the　killing；　not　a　gift　to　help　you　kill。　You　will　call　the　birds　to　steal　their　seed　until　the　Majendie　agree　to　live　in　peace　with　you。　When　they　have　fulfilled　their　part　of　the　bargain；　you　must　fulfill　your　part；　and　agree　to　live　in　peace　with　them。’
　
　He　put　his　first　finger　right　in　front　of　her　nose。　‘If　you　misuse　my　gift；　I　will　e　back　and　use　other　magic　against　your　people。　I’ve　placed　my　trust　in　you　to　do　right。　Do　not　fail　my　trust。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　averted　her　eyes。　She　gave　a　little　sniff。　‘I　will　do　right。　I　will　use　your　gift　as　you　say。’　She　tucked　the　whistle　into　her　dress。　Thank　you　for　helping　to　bring　peace　to　my　people。’
　
　That’s　my　greatest　hope。　Peace。’
　
　‘Peace；’　Sister　Verna　huffed。　She　directed　a　smoldering　glare　to　Richard。　‘You　think　it’s　so　simple？　You　think　that　after　three　thousand　years　you　can　simply　decree　that　the　killing　will　stop？　You　think　all　it　takes　is　your　mere　presence；　and　the　ways　of　people　will　change？　You　are　a　naive　child。　Though　the　crimes　of　the　father　do　not　pass　on　to　the　son；　you　have　a　simplistic　way　of　seeing　things　that　brings　harm　just　the　same。’
　
　‘If　you　think；　Sister；　that　I　would　be　a　party　to　human　sacrifices　for　any　reason；　you　are　seriously　mistaken。’　He　started　to　turn　away；　but　then　turned　back。　‘What　harm　have　I　brought？　What　killing　have　I　started？’
　
　She　leaned　toward　him。　‘Well；　for　one　thing；　if　we　don’t　help　ones　with　the　gift；　like　you；　it　will　kill　them；　as　it　would　kill　you。　How　do　you　propose　we　get　those　boys　to　the　palace？　We　can　no　longer　cross　the　Majendie’s　land。’　She　glanced　to　Du　Chaillu。　‘She　has　only　given　you　permission　to　pass　through　her　land。　She　has　not　said　we　may　bring　others　through。’　She　straightened。　Those　boys　will　die　because　of　what　you　have　done。’
　
　Richard　thought　about　it　a　moment。　He　was　exhausted。　Using　the　sword’s　magic　had　wearied　him　as　it　never　had　before。　He　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　sleep。　He　didn’t　feel　like　solving　problems；　or　arguing。　At　last；　he　looked　to　Du　Chaillu。
　
　‘When　you　make　peace　with　the　Majendie；　before　you　let　them　plant　once　again；　you　must　add　another　condition。　You　must　tell　them　that　in　honor　of　the　killing　being　brought　to　an　end；　in　honor　of　the　peace；　they　will　let　the　Sisters　cross　their　land。’　She　watched　his　eyes　a　moment　before　she　finally　nodded。　‘Your　people　will　do　the　same。’
　
　He　narrowed　his　eyes　at　the　Sister。　‘Satisfied？’
　
　‘In　the　valley；　when　you　struck　down　a　beast；　a　thousand　snakes　sprang　forth　from　its　corpse。　This　is　no　different。
　
　‘It　would　be　impossible；’　she　said；　‘for　me　to　accurately　recall　all　the　lies　you’ve　told　today。　I’ve　reprimanded　you　before　for　lying；　and　cautioned　you　not　to　do　it　again。　I　told　you　not　to　swing　the　axe　today；　and　you　did　it　anyway；　despite　my　warning。　I　can　scarcely　tally　all　the　mands　you’ve　managed　to　violate　in　this　one　day。　What　you’ve　done　has　not　finished　the　killing；　but　only　begun　it。’
　
　‘In　this；　Sister；　I　am　the　Seeker；　not　your　student。　As　Seeker；　I　have　no　tolerance　for　human　sacrifice。　None。　The　deaths　of　others　are　a　separate　issue。　You　cannot　use　it　as　a　link　to　justify　murder。　There　will　be　no　promise　in　this。　And　I　don’t　think　you　want　to　punish　me　for　stopping　something　I　would　wager　you　wish　had　been　stopped　long　ago。’
　
　The　muscles　in　her　face　relaxed。　‘As　a　Sister　of　the　Light；　I　have　no　power　to　change　things；　and　under　obligation　to　save　more　lives；　I　had　to　uphold　what　has　been　for　three　thousand　years。　But　I　admit　I　hated　it；　and　in　a　way　I’m　glad　you　have　taken　it　out　of　my　hands。　But　that　does　not　negate　the　trouble　it　will　cause；　or　the　deaths。　When　you　put　the　Ra…da’Han　on；　you　told　me　that　holding　the　leash　to　that　collar　would　be　worse　than　wearing　it。　Your　words　are　proving　true。’
　
　Her　lower　eyelids　filled　with　glistening　moisture。　‘You　have　made　my　greatest　love；　my　calling；　a　misery。
　
　‘I　am　past　wanting　to　punish　you　for　your　disobedience。　In　a　few　days　we　will　be　at　the　palace；　and　I　will　at　last　be　finished　with　you。　They　will　have　to　deal　with　you。
　
　‘We　shall　see　how　they　handle　you　when　you　displease　them。　I　believe　you　will　find　they　are　not　prepared　to　be　as　tolerant　as　I　have　been。　They　will　use　that　collar。　And　when　they　do；　I　also　think　they　will　e　to　regret　holding　your　leash　more　than　do　I。　I　think　they　will　e　to　regret　trying　to　help　you；　as　do　I。’
　
　Richard　put　his　hands　in　his　back　pockets　as　he　stared　off　at　the　thick　forest　of　oak　and　leather　leaf。　‘I’m　sorry　you　feel　that　way；　Sister；　but　I　guess　I　can　understand　it。　Although　I　admit　I　have　fought　being　your　prisoner；　what　happened　today　was　not　about　you　and　me。
　
　‘This　was　about　what　is　right。　As　one　who　would　wish　to　teach　me；　I　hoped　you　would　share　that　moral　stance。　I　hoped　the　Sisters　would　not　want　to　teach　the　use　of　the　gift　to　one　who　could　easily　bend　his　convictions　to　the　circumstance。
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　I　was　not　trying　to　displease　you。　I　simply　could　not　live　with　myself　if　I　had　allowed　a　murder　to　take　place　under　my　nose；　much　less　if　I　had　participated　in　it。’
　
　‘I　know；　Richard。　But　that　only　makes　it　worse；　because　it’s　all　one　and　the　same。’　She　unclasped　her　hands　and　peered　about　at　the　fire　and　their　supplies；　finally　pulling　a　cake　of　soap　from　a　saddlebag。　‘I’ll　make　a　stew；　and　bannock。’　She　tossed　the　cake　of　soap　to　him。　‘Du　Chaillu　needs　a　bath。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　folded　her　arms　in　a　huff。　‘While　I　was　chained　to　a　wall；　the　dogs　who　came　to　mount　me　did　not　offer　me　water　so　I　would　smell　pretty　for　you。’
　
　Sister　Verna　squatted　down；　pulling　supplies　out。　‘I　meant　no　offense；　Du　Chaillu。　I　simply　thought　you　would　want　to　wash　the　dirt　of　those　men　off　you。　If　it　were　me；　I　would　want　nothing　more　than　to　try　to　wash　the　feel　of　their　hands　from　my　flesh。’
　
　Du　Chaillu’s　indignation　faltered。　‘Well　of　course　I　would！’　She　snatched　the　soap　from　Richard。　‘You　smell　of　that　beast　you　ride。　You　will　wash　too；　or　I　will　not　want　to　be　near　you　and　will　send　you　off　to　eat　by　yourself。’
　
　Richard　chuckled。　‘If　it　will　keep　the　peace　with　you；　I’ll　wash；　too。’
　
　As　Du　Chaillu　marched　off　toward　the　pond；　Sister　Verna　called　quietly　to　him。　He　waited　next　to　her　while　she　pulled　a　pot　from　a　saddlebag。
　
　‘Her　people　have　been　killing　any　‘magic　man’　they　could　get　their　hands　on　for　the　last　three　thousan