tg.stone of tears-第106章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　She　tossed　the　grass　aside。　‘I’m　sure　you　were；　Richard。　But　that　was　only　a　vision。　If　it　were　real；　it　wouldn’t　have　turned　out　that　way。　You　would　not　have　been　able　to　do　what　you　did。’
　
　‘Who　are　you　trying　to　convince；　Sister？　Me；　or　yourself？’
　
　She　met　his　glare。　The　things　you　saw　were　not　as　they　are　in　the　real　world。　They　were　simply　illusions。’
　
　Richard　let　it　drop。　He　turned　the　stick　with　the　rabbit　to　cook　the　other　side；　and　slid　the　iron　plate　with　the　bannock　to　the　side　of　the　fire　to　let　it　cool。
　
　‘Anyway；　when　I　saw　you　again；　I　didn’t　know　if　you　were　a　vision；　or　real；　but　I　truly　hoped　you　were　alive。　I　didn’t　want　to　kill　you。’　He　looked　up　and　smiled。　‘Besides；　I　promised　you　that　you　would　get　through　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘Yes；　you　did。　More　desire　than　wisdom　indeed。’
　
　‘Sister；　I　was　only　doing　what　I　could　think　of　to　survive。　To　help　you　survive；　too。’
　
　She　sighed　and　shook　her　head。　‘Richard；　I　know　you’re　trying　to　do　your　best；　but　you　must　understand　that　what　you　think　is　best　is　not　necessarily　right。　You’re　calling　your　Han　without　knowing　what　you’re　doing；　or　even　realizing　you’re　doing　it。　In　so　doing；　you　tempt　danger　you　can’t　fathom。’
　
　‘How　was　I　using　my　Han？’
　
　‘Wizards　make　promises　that　their　Han　strives　to　keep。　You　promised　me　you　would　help　me　through　the　valley　…save　me。　But　in　so　doing；　you　have　invoked　prophecy。’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘I’ve　given　no　prophecy。’
　
　‘Not　only　given　it；　but　used　your　Han　without　realizing　it；　used　prophecy　without　knowing　its　form；　to　do　something　in　the　past　to　aid　you　in　the　future。’
　
　‘What　are　you　talking　about？’
　
　‘You　destroyed　the　horses’　bits。’
　
　‘I　told　you　at　the　time　why　I　did　that。　They’re　cruel。’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　That’s　what　I’m　talking　about。　You　think　you　did　it　for　one　reason；　but　it　served　another　purpose。　Your　conscious　mind　is　simply　seeking　to　rationalize　what　your　Han　is　doing。　When　we　were　running　from　the　valley；　I　didn’t　believe　in　what　you　were　doing；　and　I　tried　to　turn　my　horse。　Because　he　didn’t　have　a　bit；　I　was　unable　to。’
　
　‘So　what？’
　
　She　leaned　closer。　‘Destroying　the　bits　in　the　past　satisfied　a　need　of　a　promise　in　the　future。　That　was　using　prophecy。　You’re　swinging　the　axe　blindly。’
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　skeptical　expression。　‘That’s　a　stretch；　Sister。　Even　for　you。’
　
　‘I　know　how　the　gift　works；　Richard。’
　
　Richard　thought　about　it；　and　finally　decided　he　didn’t　believe　her；　but　decided；　too；　that　he　didn’t　want　to　argue　with　her　about　it。　There　were　other　things　he　wanted　to　know。
　
　‘Is　your　little　book　full？　I　haven’t　seen　you　writing　in　it。’
　
　‘I　sent　a　message　yesterday；　that　we　have　e　through　the　valley。　I　have　nothing　else　to　write；　that’s　all。　The　book　is　magic。　With　magic；　we　erase　old　messages。　I　erased　all　but　two　pages；　but　with　what　I　added　yesterday；　there　are　now　three　pages　full。’
　
　Richard　tore　off　a　corner　of　the　hot　bannock。　‘Who　is　the　Prelate？’
　
　‘She　charges　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　She　is　。。。’　Her　eyes　narrowed。　‘I’ve　never　mentioned　her。　How　do　you　know　of　her？’
　
　Richard　licked　the　crumbs　from　his　fingers。　‘I　read　it　in　your　book。’
　
　Her　hand　flew　to　her　belt；　groping　for　the　book。　It　was　there；　where　it　always　was。　‘You’ve　read　my　private　writing！　You　have　no　right！　I　will　。。。’
　
　‘You　were　dead　at　the　time。’　Her　mouth　snapped　shut；　and　he　went　on。　‘When　I　killed　you；　or　the　illusion　of　you；　the　book　fell　on　the　ground。　I　read　it。’
　
　The　tension　left　her　muscles。　‘Oh。　Well；　that’s　simply　part　of　the　illusion。　I　told　you；　it’s　not　as　things　are　in　life。’
　
　Richard　tore　off　another　corner　of　bannock。　‘There　were　only　two　pages　with　writing；　just　as　the　real　book。　Not　until　after　we　were　through　the　valley　did　you　add　the　third。　Back　then；　there　were　only　two。’
　
　She　watched　him　eating　the　bannock。　‘Illusion；　Richard。’
　
　He　looked　up。　‘One　page　said：　‘I　am　the　Sister　in　charge　of　this　boy。　These　directives　are　beyond　reason　if　not　absurd。　I　demand　to　know　the　meaning　of　these　instructions。　I　demand　to　know　upon　whose　authority　they　are　given。　…Yours　in　the　service　of　the　Light；　Sister　Verna　Sauventreen。’　The　second　page　said：　‘You　will　do　as　you　are　instructed；　or　suffer　the　consequences。　Do　not　presume　to　question　the　orders　of　the　palace　again。　…　In　my　own　hand；　The　Prelate。’’
　
　The　Sister’s　face　had　drained　of　color。　‘You　had　no　business　reading　something　belonging　to　another。’
　
　‘As　I　said；　you　were　dead　at　the　time。　What　instructions　did　they　give　you　about　me　that　made　you　so　angry？’
　
　The　color　came　back　to　her　face　in　a　rush。　‘It　has　to　do　with　a　technicality。　It’s　nothing　you　would　understand；　and　anyway；　it　is　not　your　business。’
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Not　my　business？　You　claim　you　are　only　trying　to　help　me；　yet　you’ve　taken　me　prisoner；　and　you　say　it’s　not　my　business？　I　have　this　collar　around　my　neck；　and　with　it　you　can　hurt　me；　perhaps　kill　me；　and　you　say　it　is　not　my　business？　You　tell　me　I　must　do　the　things　you　say；　that　I　must　take　them　on　faith；　even　though　that　faith　is　shaken　with　every　new　thing　I　discover；　yet　it’s　not　my　business？　You　tell　me　that　the　illusion　I　saw　was　not　as　things　are　in　the　real　world；　yet　I　find　it　was；　and　you　tell　me　it’s　not　my　business？’
　
　Sister　Verna　was　silent。　She　watched　him　without　emotion。　Watched　him；　he　thought；　as　if　he　were　a　bug　in　a　box。
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　will　you　tell　me　one　thing　I’ve　been　wondering　about？’
　
　‘If　I　can。’
　
　He　pulled　his　legs　up　tighter　under　himself。　He　tried　to　keep　any　hostility　out　of　his　tone。　‘When　you　first　saw　me；　you　were　surprised　that　I　was　grown。　You　thought　that　I　would　be　young。’
　
　That’s　right。　We　have　ones　at　the　palace　who　can　sense　one　born　with　the　gift。　But　you　were　hidden　from　us；　so　it　took　us　a　very　long　time　to　find　you。’
　
　‘But　you　told　me　just　the　other　day　that　you　had　spent　over　half　your　life　away　from　the　palace；　searching　for　me。　If　you’ve　spent　twenty…odd　years　looking　for　me；　how　could　you　expect　me　to　be　young？　You　would　have　expected　me　to　be　grown；　unless　you　didn’t　know　I　had　been　born；　and　started　searching　for　me　long　before　anyone　at　the　palace　sensed　me。’
　
　Her　answer　came　in　a　cautious；　quiet　voice。　‘It　is　as　you　say。　It　has　never　happened　this　way　before。’
　
　‘So　why　would　you　e　looking　for　me　before　any　of　you　sensed　that　one　with　the　gift　had　been　born？’
　
　She　chose　her　words　carefully。　‘We　didn’t　know　precisely　when　you　would　be　born；　but　we　knew　you　would　be；　so　we　were　sent　in　search。’
　
　‘How　did　you　know　I　would　be　born？’
　
　‘You　are　spoken　of　in　prophecy。’
　
　Richard　nodded。　He　wanted　to　know　about　this　prophecy　and　why　they　thought　he　was　so　important；　but　he　didn’t　want　to　stray　from　the　trail　he　was　following　at　the　moment。　‘So　you　knew　it　might　be　many　years　before　you　found　me？’
　
　‘Yes。　We　didn’t　know　when　you　would　be　born。　We　were　only　able　to　narrow　it　to　a　range　of　decades。’
　
　‘How　are　the　Sisters　who　are　to　be　sent　chosen？’
　
　‘We’re　selected　by　the　Prelate。’
　
　‘You　have　no　say　in　the　matter？’
　
　She　tensed；　as　if　suspicious　she　might　accidentally　be　slipping　her　neck　through　a　noose；　yet　was　unable　to　keep　from　voicing　her　faith。　‘We　work　in　the　service　of　the　Creator。　We　would　have　no　reason　to　object。　The　whole　purpose　of　the　palace　is　to　help　those　with　the　gift。　To　be　selected　to　save　one　with　the　gift　is　one　of　the　greatest　honors　a　Sister　may　receive。’
　
　‘So；　none　of　the　others　sent　have　ever　had　to　give　up　so　many　years　of　their　lives　to　rescue　one　with　the　gift？’
　
　‘No。　I’ve　never　heard　of　it　taking　more　than　a　year。　But　I　knew　this　assignment　could　last　for　decades。’
　
　Richard　smiled　to　himself　in　triumph。　He　leaned　back；　stretching　his　muscles。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　‘Now　I　understand。’
　
　Her　eyes　narrowed。　‘What　do　you　understand？’
　
　‘I　understand；　Sister　Verna；　why　you　treat　me　the　way　you　do。　I　understand　why　we’re　always　fighting；　why　we’re　always　at　each　other’s　throats。　I　understand　why　you　resent　me。　Why　you　hate　me。’
　
　She　looked　like　someone　waiting　for　the　trapdoor　to　fall　put　from　under　her。　‘I　don’t　hate　you；　Richard。’
　
　He　nodded；　and　pulled　the　catch　on　that　trapdoor。　‘Yes；　you　do。　You　hate　me。　And　I　don’t　blame　you。　I　understand。　You　had　to　give　up　Jedidiah　because　of　me。’
　
　She　flinched　as　if　a　noose　had　just　tightened　around　her　neck。　‘Richard！　You　will　not　speak　to　me　in　。。。’
　
　‘You　resent　me　because　of　that。　Not　because　of　what　happened　to　the　other　two　Sisters。　It’s　because　of　Jedidiah。　If　it　weren’t　for　me；　you　would　be　with　him。　You　would　have　been　with　him　for　the　last　twenty　years。　You　had　to　give　up　the　love　of　your　life　to　go　on　this　accursed　quest　to　find　me。　They　sent　you。　You　had　no　choice；　you　had　to　go。　It’s　your　duty；　and　it　cost　you　your　love；　and　the　children　you　might　have　had。　That’s　what　I’ve　cost　you；　why　you　hate　me。’
　
　Sister　Verna　sat　and　stared；　she　neither　spoke　nor　moved。　Finally；　she　said；　The　Seeker；　indeed。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Sister　Verna。’
　
　‘No　need　to　be；　Richard。　You　don’t　know　what　you　are　talking　about。’　She　slowly　lifted　the　rabbit　from　the　fire；　setting　it　on　the　iron　plate　with　the　bannock。　For　a　moment　she　stared　off　into　nothing。　‘We　had　better　finish　eating。　We　must　be　on　our　way。’
　
　‘Fine。　But　I　just　want　you　to　consider；　Sister；　that　it’s　not　by　my　choice。　I　didn’t　do　this　to　you。　The　Prelate　did。　You　should　either　be　angry　with　her；　or　if　you’re　so　devoted　to　your　duty；　to　your　Creator；　as　you　claim；　then　you　should　have　joy　in　His　service。　Either　way；　please　stop　blaming　me。’
　
　She　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　but　then　instead　fumbled　with　the　stopper　on　the　waterskin；　finally　getting　it　off；　and　took　a　long　drink。　Drawing　deep　breaths　when　she　finished；　she　dabbed　her　sleeve　to　her　wet　lips。
　
　Her　unwavering　gaze　locked　on　his。　‘Soon；　Richard；　we　will　be　to　the　palace；　but　first　we　have　to　pass　through　the　land　of　a　very　dangerous　people。　The　Sisters　have　an　arrangement　with　them；　to　be　allowed　to　pass。　You　will　have　to　do　a　task　for　them。　You　will　do　it；　or　there　will　be　great　trouble。’
　
　‘What　will　I　have　to　do？’
　
　‘You　will　have　to　kill　someone　for　them。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　I　promise　you；　I’m　not　going　to　。。。’
　
　Her　index　finger　rose　from　her　fist；　manding　silence。　‘Don’t　you　dare　swing　the　axe　this　time；　Richard；’　she　whispered。　‘You　have　no　idea　of　the　consequences。’
　
　She　rose　to　her　feet。　‘Get　the　horses　ready。　We　must　be　leaving。’
　
　Richard　stood。　‘Aren’t　you　going　to　have　your　breakfast？’
　
　She　ignored　his　question　and　stepped　close　to　him。
　
　‘It　takes　two　to　argue；　Richard。　You’re　always　angry　with　me；　with　everything　I　tell　you。　You　resent　me。　You　hate　me；　because　you　think　I　made　you　put　on　that　collar。　But　I　didn’t；　and　you　know　it。　Kahlan　made　you　put　it　on。　It’s　because　of　h