tg.stone of tears-第54章

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　He　leaned　toward　her；　his　chest　heaving　in　fury。　‘I　will　not　be　called　names！　I　will　not　have　names　put　to　me　because　I　wear　a　collar！　I　am　Richard！　Richard　Rahl！’
　
　Sister　Verna　didn’t　flinch。　Her　voice　remained　calm　and　smooth。　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard。　It　was　only　force　of　habit。　I　am　used　to　dealing　with　ones　much　younger　than　you。　I　meant　nothing　demeaning　by　it。’
　
　The　way　she　stared　at　him　made　him　feel　suddenly　foolish；　embarrassed。　Made　him　feel　like　a　child。　He　released　the　reins。　‘I　apologize　for　yelling。　I’m　not　in　a　very　good　mood。’
　
　She　frowned　again。　‘I　thought　your　name　was　Cypher。’
　
　He　tugged　his　cloak　over　his　chest　where　the　bandage　covered　his　burn。　‘It’s　a　long　story。　George　Cypher　raised　me　as　his　son。　I　only　found　out　a　short　time　ago　that　I　am　in　truth　the　son　of　Darken　Rahl。’
　
　Her　frown　deepened。　‘Darken　Rahl。　The　one　with　the　gift　you　killed？　You　killed　your　father？’
　
　‘Don’t　look　at　me　like　that。　You　didn’t　know　him。　You　have　no　idea　what　kind　of　man　he　was。　He　imprisoned　and　tortured　and　killed　more　people　than　you　or　I　could　imagine。　The　idea　of　him　being　with　my　mother　makes　me　sick。　But　that　is　the　truth　of　it。　I　am　his　son。　If　you　expect　me　to　be　sorry　I　killed　him；　you　will　have　longer　than　eternity　to　wait。’
　
　Sister　Verna　shook　her　head　with　what　seemed　genuine　concern。　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard。　Sometimes　the　Creator　weaves　a　tangled　cloth　for　our　lives；　and　we　are　left　to　wonder　why。　But　I　am　sure　of　one　thing：　He　has　reasons　for　what　He　does。’
　
　Babble。　He　was　getting　babble　from　this　woman。　He　urged　his　horse　around　and　started　out　again。　‘I’m　telling　you；　the　veil　is　torn；　and　the　Keeper　is　going　to　get　out。’
　
　Her　voice　lowered　dangerously。　‘The　Nameless　One。’
　
　He　glanced　over；　annoyed。　Tine。　The　Nameless　One。　I　couldn’t　care　less　what　you　want　to　call　him；　but　he　is　going　to　get　out。　We　are　all　in　great　danger。’
　
　Kahlan　was　in　great　danger。
　
　He　didn’t　care　if　this　sorceress　of　a　Sister　burned　him　to　a　cinder；　his　life　meant　nothing　to　him　anymore。　His　only　concern　was　Kahlan’s　safety。
　
　Sister　Verna’s　quizzical　frown　and　smile　returned。　‘Who　told　you　such　a　thing？’
　
　‘Shota；　a　witch　woman；　she　told　me　the　veil　was　torn。’　He　left　out　that　Shota　had　also　told　him　he　was　the　one　who　had　torn　it。　‘She　said　it　was　torn　and　if　it　wasn’t　fixed；　the　Kee　…the　Nameless　One　would　escape。’
　
　Sister　Verna　smiled。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　‘A　witch　woman。’　She　laughed　a　little。　‘And　you　believed　her？　You　believed　a　witch　woman？　You　think　witch　women　speak　the　truth　in　such　simple　fashion？’
　
　Fuming；　Richard　glanced　at　her　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　‘She　seemed　pretty　sure　of　it　to　me。　She　wouldn’t　lie　about　something　this　important。　I　believe　her。’
　
　Sister　Verna　seemed　to　think　the　whole　thing　amusing。　‘If　you　had　ever　had　occasion　to　deal　with　a　witch　woman　before；　Richard；　you　would　know　that　they　have　an　odd　view　of　the　truth。　They　can　be　well　intentioned　at　times；　but　witch　women　speak　in　words　that　rarely　e　to　pass　the　way　they　sound。’
　
　The　truth　of　that　took　some　of　the　steam　out　of　him。　Sister　Verna　certainly　seemed　to　know　about　witch　women。　In　fact；　she　seemed　to　share　his　own　view　of　them。　‘She　seemed　pretty　sure　of　what　she　was　saying。　She　was　afraid。’
　
　‘I　am　sure　she　was。　A　wise　person　is　always　afraid　of　the　Nameless　One。　But　I　wouldn’t　put　much　stock　in　what　she　says。’
　
　‘It’s　not　just　what　she　says。　Other　things　have　happened；　too。’
　
　She　looked　over　curiously。　‘Such　as？’
　
　‘A　screeling。’
　
　She　set　her　calm　brown　eyes　back　ahead。　‘A　screeling。　You　have　seen　a　screeling；　yes？’
　
　‘Seen　it！　It　attacked　me！　Screelings　are　from　the　underworld。　They　are　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。　It　was　sent　through　a　tear　in　the　veil；　to　kill　me！’
　
　Her　smile　returned。　‘You　have　quite　an　imagination；　Richard。　You　have　listened　to　too　many　children’s　songs。’
　
　He　restrained　his　renewed　anger。　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘Screelings　are　indeed　from　the　underworld；　as　are　other　beasts。　The　heart　hounds；　for　example。　But　they　are　not　‘sent。’　They　simply　escape。　We　live　in　a　world　that　lies　between　good　and　evil；　between　the　light　and　the　dark。　The　Creator　did　not　intend　this　to　be　a　perfect　world；　safe　from　all　harm。　We　cannot　understand　His　reasons；　always；　but　He　has　them；　and　He　is　perfect。　Perhaps　the　Screelings　are　meant　to　show　us　the　dark　side。　I　don’t　know。　But　I　do　know　they　are　simply　an　evil　that　sometimes　es。　I　have　seen　this　happen　before　to　ones　with　the　gift。　It　is　possible　that　the　gift　draws　them。　A　test　perhaps。　A　warning；　perhaps；　of　the　rancid　evil　that　awaits　those　who　stray　from　the　light。’
　
　‘But　。。。　there　are　prophecies　that　say　they　are　sent　when　the　veil　is　torn；　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。’
　
　‘How　could　that　be；　Richard？　Has　the　veil　ever　been　torn　before？’
　
　‘How　should　I　know？’　He　thought　a　minute。　‘But　I　don’t　see　how　it　could　have　been。　If　it　were；　how　could　it　have　been　mended？　And　it　wouldn’t　have　gone　unnoticed。　What　are　you　getting　at？’
　
　‘Well；　if　the　veil　has　never　been　torn；　how　could　the　screel…ings　have　been　sent　before？　How　would　we　know　what　they　were？　How　could　they　have　a　name　already　put　to　them？’
　
　It　was　Richard’s　turn　to　frown。　‘Maybe　we　only　know　them　as　screelings　because　they　have　been　named　in　the　prophecy。’
　
　‘You　have　read　this　prophecy？’
　
　‘Well；　no。　Kahlan　told　it　to　me。’
　
　‘And　she　read　it　herself；　with　her　own　eyes；　yes？’
　
　‘No。　She　learned　it　when　she　was　young。’　Richard’s　irritated　frown　deepened。　‘In　a　song。　She　learned　it　from　wizards。’
　
　‘In　a　song。’　Sister　Verna　didn’t　look　over；　but　her　smile　widened。　‘Richard；　I　do　not　mean　to　belittle　your　fears；　but　things　repeated；　over　and　over；　especially　in　a　song；　have　a　way　of　changing。
　
　‘As　for　prophecies；　well；　they　are　harder　to　understand　than　a　witch　woman。　We　have　vaults　full　of　them　at　the　palace。　As　part　of　your　studies；　perhaps　you　will　be　allowed　to　work　with　them。　I　have　read　all　of　them　we　have；　and　I　can　tell　you　that　they　are　beyond　the　minds　of　most。　If　you　aren’t　cautious；　you　can　find　a　prophecy　that　will　say　whatever　you　want　to　hear。　Or　at　least　you　will　think　it　is　what　you　want　to　hear。　Some　wizards　devote　their　lives　to　the　study　of　them；　and　yet　even　they　understand　only　a　tiny　fraction　of　their　truth。’
　
　‘This　is　a　danger　not　to　be　taken　so　lightly。’
　
　‘Do　you　think　the　veil　is　torn　that　simply？　Have　faith；　Richard。　The　Creator　placed　the　veil。　Have　faith　in　Him。’
　
　Richard　rode　in　silence　for　a　time。　Sister　Verna　did　seem　to　make　sense。　He　felt　as　if　his　understanding　of　the　world　was　tilting。
　
　But　it　was　difficult　for　him　to　think　too　hard　on　the　subject；　Kahlan　kept　creeping　back　into　his　mind。　His　anguish　at　her　wanting　him　to　put　on　a　collar　to　prove　his　love；　knowing　it　would　take　him　from　her；　tore　at　his　heart。　The　betrayal　burned　painfully　in　his　chest。
　
　He　picked　at　the　reins　with　his　thumbnail。　At　last　he　turned　once　more　to　the　Sister。　‘That’s　not　all。　I　haven’t　told　you　the　worst　of　it。’
　
　She　smiled　a　motherly　smile。　‘There　is　more？　Tell　me　then。　Perhaps　I　can　put　your　fears　to　rest。’
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　release　at　least　a　little　of　the　pain　with　it。　‘The　man　I　killed；　Darken　Rahl；　my　father；　well；　when　he　died；　he　was　sent　to　the　underworld。　To　the　Kee　。。。　the　Nameless　One。　Last　night；　he　escaped。　Escaped　through　the　tear　in　the　veil。　He　is　back　in　this　world；　back　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way。’
　
　‘And　you　know　he　was　sent　to　the　Nameless　One。　You　were　in　the　underworld　to　see　him　arrive　there；　at　the　side　of　the　Nameless　One；　yes？’
　
　The　woman　had　a　way　of　poking　his　temper　awake。　He　tried　to　ignore　the　sting　of　the　jab。　‘I　talked　to　him　when　he　came　back　to　this　world。　He　told　me。　He　told　me　he　was　here　to　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way。　He　said　the　Keeper　would　have　us　all。　A　dead　man；　e　back　to　this　world。　Do　you　see？　The　only　way　his　spirit　could　be　here　is　if　he　came　through　the　veil。’
　
　‘You　were　just　sitting　there；　and　this　dead　man　walked　up　and　spoke　to　you；　yes？’
　
　Richard　frowned　deeply　at　her；　but　she　didn’t　look　over　to　see　it。　‘It　was　at　a　gathering；　with　the　Mud　People。　I　was　trying　to　talk　to　their　ancestors’　spirits；　to　try　to　find　out　how　to　close　the　veil；　and　he　appeared。’
　
　‘Ahhh。’　She　nodded　in　satisfaction。　‘I　see。’
　
　‘What　does　that　mean！’
　
　Sister　Verna’s　face　set　into　an　expression　of　tolerance；　born　of　explaining　things　to　children。　‘Did　the　Mud　People　have　you　drink　or　eat　some　sacred　potion　before　you　saw　this　spirit？’
　
　‘No！’
　
　‘You　simply　sat　down　with　them　and　saw　spirits；　yes？’
　
　‘Well；　not　exactly。　There　is　a　banquet　first。　For　a　couple　of　days。　The　elders　eat　and　drink　special　things。　But　I　never　did。　Then　we　were　painted　with　mud；　and　then　I　went　into　the　spirit　house　with　the　seven　elders。　We　sat　in　a　circle；　and　they　chanted　awhile。　Then　they　passed　around　a　basket　and　we　took　out　a　spirit　frog；　and　rubbed　the　slime　from　its　back　onto　our　skin。　。。。’
　
　‘Frogs。’　Sister　Verna　looked　over。　‘Red　frogs；　yes？’
　
　‘Yes。　Red　spirit　frogs。’
　
　With　a　smile　she　looked　back　ahead。　‘I　know　of　them。　And　it　made　your　skin　tingle；　yes？　And　it　is　then　you　saw　spirits？’
　
　That’s　a　pretty　simplistic　version；　but　I　guess　you　could　distill　it　down　like　that。　What　are　you　trying　to　say？’
　
　‘You　have　traveled　the　Midlands　often？　You　have　seen　many　of　her　peoples？’
　
　‘No。　I’m　from　Westland。　I　don’t　know　much　about　the　people　of　the　Midlands。’
　
　She　nodded　to　herself　again。　There　are　many　peoples　in　the　Midlands；　unbelievers；　who　do　not　know　of　the　light　of　the　Creator。　They　worship　all　sorts　of　things。　Idols　and　spirits　and　such。　They　are　savages　who　hold　to　customs　of　worship　centered　around　these　false　beliefs。　They　mostly　have　one　thing　in　mon。　They　use　sacred　food　or　drink　to　help　them　‘see’　their　‘spirit　protectors。’’
　
　She　looked　over　to　make　sure　he　was　paying　attention。　The　Mud　People　apparently　use　the　substance　on　the　red　frogs　to　help　them　have　these　visions　of　what　they　wish　to　see。’
　
　‘Visions？’
　
　‘The　Creator　has　placed　many　plants　and　animals　in　our　world　for　us　to　use。　The　power　of　these　things　work　in　invisible　ways。　A　tea；　for　example；　of　the　bark　of　willow　can　help　reduce　a　fever。　We　can’t　see　it　work；　but　we　know　it　does。　There　are　many　things　that　if　eaten　will　make　us　sick；　even　kill　us。　The　Creator　gave　us　minds　to　learn　the　difference。　There　are　some　things　that　if　eaten；　or　in　the　case　of　the　red　frogs；　rubbed　into　our　skin；　will　make　us　see　things；　just　as　we　see　things　when　we　dream。
　
　‘Savages　who　don’t　know　better　think　the　things　they　see　are　real。　That　is　what　happened　to　you。　You　rubbed　the　slime　of　a　red　frog　into　your　skin　and　it　gave　you　visions。　Your　rightful　fear　of　the　Nameless　One　made　it　all　the　more　real　to　you。　If　these　‘spirits’　were　real；　why　would　you　need　to　use　some　special　plant；　or　food；　or　drink；　or　in