tg.stone of tears-第34章

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Rahl　is　my　father　。。。’
　
　Shota　threw　her　arms　up　in　the　air。　‘What？　You　are　suddenly　going　to　start　acting　like　him？　You　are　going　to　spontaneously　start　doing　vile　things　because　you　now　know？　You　fear　you　will　go　out　and　kill　innocent　people　because　you　learned　your　real　father　is　Darken　Rahl？　You　will　ignore　the　things　you　learned　from　George　Cypher　because　you　find　your　name　is　Rahl？　And　you　call　yourself　the　Seeker。　I　am　disappointed　in　you；　Richard。　I　thought　you　were　your　own　man。　Not　the　reflection　of　others’　impressions　of　your　ancestors。’
　
　Richard　hung　his　head　as　Shota　frowned　angrily　and　watched　him　in　silence。　At　last　he　took　a　deep　breath。　‘I’m　sorry；　Shota。　Thank　you　for　not　letting　me　be　any　more　stupid　than　I　already　am。’　His　eyes　were　wet　as　he　turned　to　Kahlan。　‘Please；　Shota；　let　her　down。’
　
　Kahlan　felt　the　pressure　lift；　and　she　slid　down　the　wall；　her　boots　thumping　against　the　ground。　The　glare　Shota　gave　her　made　her　stay　where　she　was；　even　though　she　wanted　to　go　to　Richard。　He　stared　at　his　boots。
　
　Shota　put　her　fingers　under　his　chin　and　lifted　his　head。　‘You　should　be　happy；　your　father　was　not　ugly。　Some　of　his　looks　are　the　only　thing　of　his　you　have。　That；　and　a　bit　of　his　temper。　And　the　gift。’
　
　Richard　pulled　his　chin　away　from　her　fingers。　The　gift。　I　don’t　want　the　gift。　I　don’t　want　anything　to　do　with　it。　I　wouldn’t　call　anything　I　got　from　Darken　Rahl　a　gift。　I　hate　it！　I　hate　magic！’
　
　‘It　es　from　Zedd；　too；’　Shota　said　with　surprising　passion。　‘From　both　sides。　That　is　the　way　you　get　the　gift；　it　is　passed　down；　sometimes　skipping　one；　or　even　many　generations。　Sometimes　not。　You　received　it　from　both　sides。　In　you；　it　is　more　than　a　single　dimension。　It　is　a　very　dangerous　mix。’
　
　‘Passed　down。　Like　any　other　deformity。’
　
　With　a　sneer；　Shota　gripped　his　face　in　her　long　fingers。　‘Remember　that　before　you　lie　with　her。　From　Kahlan；　the　boy　would　be　a　Confessor。　From　you　…　he　would　have　the　gift。　Can　you　even　fathom　the　danger　of　that？　Can　you　conceive　of　a　Confessor　with　the　gift？　A　male　Confessor？　I　doubt　you　can。　You　should　have　killed　her　when　I　told　you　to；　you　ignorant　child；　before　you　found　a　way　to　be　with　her。　You　should　have　killed　her。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　her。　‘I’ve　heard　enough　of　that　talk。　I　intend　to　hear　no　more　of　it。　I　told　you　before；　it　is　through　Kahlan　I　defeated　Darken　Rahl。　Had　I　killed　her；　he　would　have　won。　I　hope　you　didn’t　waste　your　journey　here　just　to　repeat　this　nonsense。’
　
　‘No；’　Shota　said　quietly。　‘None　of　these　things　matter。　That　is　not　why　I　am　here。　I　came　because　of　what　you　have　done；　not　because　of　what　you　might　do　someday。　What　you　have　already　done；　Richard；　is　worse　than　anything　you　could　ever　do　with　this　woman。　No　monster　you　conceive　with　her　could　equal　the　monster　you　have　already　created。’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘I　stopped　Darken　Rahl　from　ruling　the　world。　I　killed　him。　I　created　no　monster。’
　
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　The　Magic　of　Orden　killed　him。　I　told　you；　he　mustn’t　open　a　box。　You　didn’t　kill　him；　you　let　him　open　one　of　the　boxes　of　Orden。　The　Magic　of　Orden　killed　him。　You　were　supposed　to　kill　him　before　he　opened　one　of　the　boxes。’
　
　‘I　couldn’t！　That　was　the　only　way！　There　was　no　other　way　to　kill　him！　And　what　difference　does　it　make　anyway？　He’s　dead！’
　
　‘It　would　have　been　better　if　you　had　let　him　win　than　let　him　open　the　wrong　box。’
　
　‘You’re　crazy！　What　could　be　worse　than　Darken　Rahl　gaining　the　Magic　of　Orden　and　ruling　the　world　unchallenged！’
　
　Her　eyebrows　lifted。　The　Keeper；’　she　whispered。　‘It　would　have　been　better　to　let　Darken　Rahl　rule　us；　or　behead　us；　or　even　torture　us　to　death；　than　what　you　have　allowed　to　happen。’
　
　‘What　are　you　talking　about？’
　
　The　Keeper　of　the　underworld　is　kept　in　his　place；　kept　from　the　world　of　the　living；　by　the　veil。　The　veil　holds　him　and　his　minions　back。　Holds　the　underworld　back。　It　keeps　the　dead　from　the　living。　What　you　have　done　has　torn　that　veil。　Already；　some　of　the　Keeper’s　assassins　have　been　loosed。’
　
　The　screelings　。。。’　Richard　whispered。
　
　Shota　nodded。　‘Yes。　By　freeing　the　Magic　of　Orden；　you　have　allowed　its　magic　to　somehow　tear　the　veil　to　the　underworld。　If　it　tears　enough；　the　Keeper　will　be　freed。　You　can’t　even　conceive　of　what　that　means。’　Shota　lifted　the　Agiel　at　his　neck。　‘It　will　make　what　was　done　to　you　with　this　seem　like　a　lover’s　kiss　pared　to　what　he　will　do。　To　everyone。　It　would　have　been　better　to　have　let　Darken　Rahl　win；　than　to　have　let　this　happen。　You　have　condemned　everyone　to　a　fate　beyond　horror。’
　
　She　gripped　the　Agiel　in　her　fist。　‘I　should　kill　you　for　what　you　have　done。　I　should　make　you　suffer　unspeakably。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　much　the　Keeper　would　like　to　settle　his　gaze　upon　one　with　the　gift？　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　much　he　wants　those　with　the　gift？　Or　how　much　he　wants　witch　women？’
　
　Kahlan　saw　tears　run　down　Shota’s　cheeks。　With　a　flush　of　understanding　that　sent　an　icy　ripple　of　panic　through　her；　Kahlan　realized　Shota　wasn’t　angry。　She　was　afraid。
　
　That　was　why　she　was　here：　not　because　she　was　angry　at　Kahlan　being　alive；　or　at　them　having　a　child。　She　was　here　because　she　was　terrified。　The　idea　of　Shota；　a　witch　woman；　being　afraid　was　worse　than　anything　her　own　mind　could　conjure。
　
　Richard　stared　at　her；　his　eyes　wide。　‘But　。。。　there　must　be　something　we　can　do；　some　way　to　stop　it。’
　
　‘We？’　she　screamed；　jabbing　her　finger　at　his　chest。　‘You！　Only　you；　Richard　Rahl！　Only　you！　Only　you　can　fix　it！’
　
　‘Me！　Why　me？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know；’　she　cried　through　gritted　teeth。　‘But　you　are　the　only　one　with　the　power。’　She　pounded　her　fist　against　his　chest。　‘You！’　She　kept　hitting　his　chest　as　he　just　stood　there。　‘You　are　the　only　one　who　has　a　chance！　I　don’t　know　why；　but　only　you　can　fix　it。　Only　you　can　repair　the　tear　in　the　veil。’　Shota　was　sobbing　now。　‘Only　you；　you　stupid；　foolish　child。’
　
　Kahlan　was　dazed　by　the　magnitude　of　what　was　happening。　The　idea　of　the　Keeper　being　loose　was　beyond　prehension。　The　dead　in　the　world　of　the　living；　she　couldn’t　imagine　the　horror　of　it；　but　seeing　Shota’s　fear　put　dimension　to　the　dread。
　
　‘Shota　。。。　I　don’t　know　anything　about　it。　I　don’t　have　any　idea　of　how　to　。。。’
　
　Shota　was　still　hitting　his　chest　as　she　cried。　‘You　must。　You　must　find　a　way。　You　have　no　idea　what　the　Keeper　would　do　to　me；　what　he’d　do　to　a　witch　woman。　If　you　won’t　do　it　for　me；　do　it　for　yourself。　He　would　be　no　easier　on　you　than　me。　And　if　you　won’t　do　it　for　yourself；　do　it　for　Kahlan。　He　would　have　her　for　an　eternity　of　pain　for　no　other　reason　than　that　you　love　her。　He　would　do　it　to　her　just　to　make　it　worse　for　you。　We　will　all　be　held　on　the　cusp　between　life　and　death　for　all　eternity；　twisting　in　anguish。’　She　was　sobbing　uncontrollably　now。　‘Our　souls　will　be　stripped　from　us　。。。　He　will　have　our　souls　。。。　forever。’
　
　Shota　hit　Richard’s　chest　again。　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　pulled　her　against　him；　forting　her　as　she　cried。　‘Forever；　Richard。　Soulless　minds　trapped　by　the　dead。　An　eternity　of　torment。　You　are　too　stupid　to　even　prehend　it。　You　could　never　even　imagine　the　horror　of　it；　until　it　happens。’
　
　Kahlan　stood　next　to　Richard；　putting　her　hand　reassuringly　on　his　shoulder。　She　felt　no　anger　at　the　sight　of　him　。　forting　Shota。　She　could　see　how　terrified　the　witch　woman　was。　Kahlan　couldn’t　share　the　same　level　of　terror；　because　she　didn’t　know　the　things　Shota　knew。　But　in　some　ways；　seeing　Shota’s　reaction　was　knowing　enough。
　
　‘Screelings　came　into　the　Reach；’　she　cried。
　
　Richard　looked　down　at　her。　‘Screelings！　In　Agaden　Reach？’
　
　‘Screelings；　and　a　wizard。　A　particularly　nasty　wizard。　Samuel　and　I　escaped　with　little　more　than　our　lives。’
　
　‘A　wizard！’　With　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　Richard　pushed　her　away。　‘What　do　you　mean　a　wizard？　There　are　no　other　wizards。’
　
　‘There　is　one　in　the　Reach。　The　Screelings　and　the　wizard　are　in　Agaden　Reach　now。　They　are　in　my　home。　My　home！’
　
　Kahlan　couldn’t　hold　her　tongue。　‘Shota；　are　you　sure　it　was　a　wizard？　Could　it　be　someone　pretending　to　be　a　wizard？　There　are　no　more　wizards。　Except　Zedd。　They　are　all　dead。’
　
　Shota　gave　a　tearful　frown。　‘Do　you　think　anyone　could　deceive　me　about　having　magic？　I　know　a　wizard　when　I　see　one；　and　I　know　a　wizard　with　the　gift。　I　know　wizard’s　fire。　This　one　is　a　wizard　with　the　gift；　young　though　he　is。　I　don’t　know　where　he　came　from；　or　why　no　one　knew　of　him。　But　he　was　with　screelings。　Screelings！
　
　‘That　can　mean　only　one　thing。　This　wizard　has　given　himself　over　to　the　Keeper。　He　is　doing　the　Keeper’s　bidding。　He　is　working　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way　for　the　Keeper。　It　means　the　Keeper　has　agents　in　this　world。　Darken　Rahl　was　probably　one　of　them。　That　is　why　he　was　able　to　use　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　Shota　turned　to　Richard。　‘That　the　Keeper　is　using　wizards　means　that　it　must　take　a　wizard　to　tear　the　veil。　You　have　the　gift。　You　are　a　wizard。　A　stupid　wizard；　but　a　wizard　nonetheless。　I　don’t　know　why；　but　you　are　the　only　one　with　a　chance　to　close　the　tear。’
　
　Richard　brushed　a　tear　from　Shota’s　cheek。　‘What　are　you　going　to　do？’
　
　The　fire　came　back　to　Shota’s　eyes。　Her　teeth　clenched。　‘I　am　going　back　to　the　Reach。　I　am　going　to　take　back　my　home。’
　
　‘But　they　chased　you　out。’
　
　They　took　me　by　surprise；’　she　snapped。　‘I　only　came　here　to　tell　you　how　stupid　you　are。　And　that　you　must　do　something　about　it。　You　must　close　the　tear；　or　we　are　all。。。’
　
　Shota　turned　her　back　to　them。　‘I　am　going　back　to　the　Reach。　The　Keeper　is　going　to　lose　his　agent。　I　am　going　to　take　the　gift　from　him。　Do　you　know　how　to　remove　the　gift　from　a　wizard？’
　
　‘No。’　Richard　looked　interested。　‘I　didn’t　know　it　could　be　done。’
　
　‘Oh　yes；　it　can　be　done。’　She　turned　and　arched　an　eyebrow。　‘If　you　rip　their　skin　off；　the　magic　bleeds　from　them。　That　is　the　only　way　to　remove　the　gift　from　a　wizard。　I　am　going　to　hang　him　up　by　his　thumbs；　and　then　I　am　going　to　skin　him　alive。　Every　inch　of　him。　Then　I　am　going　to　use　his　skin　to　cover　my　throne。　Then　I　am　going　to　sit　on　my　throne；　on　his　skin；　and　watch　him　scream　to　death　as　the　magic　bleeds　from　him。’　She　made　a　fist。　‘Or　I　am　going　to　die　trying。’
　
　‘Shota；　I　need　some　help。　I　don’t　know　anything　about　all　this。’
　
　Shota　stared　off　flexing　her　fists。　At　last　her　hands　relaxed　and　opened。　There　is　nothing　I　can　tell　you　that　will　help。’
　
　‘You　mean　there　is　something　you　can　tell　me；　but　it　won’t　help。’　Shota　nodded。　Richard　sighed。　‘What　is　it？’
　
　She　folded　her　arms　against　her　stomach。　Her　eyes　were　wet　again。　‘You　will　be　trapped　in　time。　Don’t　ask　what　that　means；　because　I　don’t　know。　You　will　have　no　chance　of　closing　the　veil　unless　you　escape　the　trap。　It　will　keep　you　locked　away；　and　the　Keeper　will　escape　unless　you　are　able　to　free　yourself。　Unless　you　learn　something　of　the　gift；　you　have　no　chance　fo