tg.wizardfirstrule-第88章

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　The　next　day　was　windy　and　exceptionally　warm；　with　occasional　periods　of　driving　rain。　By　early　afternoon　a　crowd　had　gathered　at　the　spirit　house　as　the　roof　was　pleted　and　a　fire　started　in　the　new　fireplace。　Cries　of　excitement　and　wonder　rose　from　the　people　when　the　fist　wisps　of　smoke　emerged　from　the　chimney。　They　peeked　in　the　doorway　to　see　the　fire　burning　without　filling　the　room　with　smoke。　The　idea　of　living　without　smoke　in　their　eyes　seemed　as　thrilling　as　living　without　water　dripping　on　their　heads。　A　wind…driven　rain　like　this　was　the　worst。　It　went　right　through　the　grass　roofs。
　
　Everyone　watched　with　glee　as　water　ran　off　the　tiles　of　the　roof　and　none　went　inside。　Richard　was　in　a　good　mood　as　he　climbed　down。　The　roof　was　finished；　it　didn't　leak；　the　fireplace　drew　well；　and　everyone　was　joyous　because　of　what　he　had　done　for　them。　The　men　who　had　helped　were　proud　of　what　they　had　acplished；　what　they　had　learned。　They　acted　as　guides；　excitedly　showing　off　the　finer　points　of　the　construction。
　
　Ignoring　the　onlookers；　stopping　only　to　strap　on　his　sword；　Richard　headed　for　the　center　of　the　village；　where　the　elders　waited　under　one　of　the　open　pole　buildings。　Kahlan　fell　in　to　his　left；　Savidlin　to　the　right；　intending　to　stand　up　for　him。　The　crowd　watched　him　go；　then　swept　behind；　spilling　around　the　buildings；　laughing　and　shouting。　Richard's　jaw　was　set　tight。
　
　〃Do　you　think　you　need　to　take　the　sword？〃　she　asked。
　
　He　looked　to　her　as　he　continued　his　long　strides。　He　smiled　crookedly。　Rainwater　ran　from　his　wet；　matted　hair。　〃I　am　the　Seeker。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　disapproving　look。　〃Richard；　don't　play　games　with　me。　You　know　what　I　mean。〃
　
　His　smile　widened。　〃I'm　hoping　it　will　serve　as　a　reminder　of　why　they　should　do　the　right　thing。〃
　
　Kahlan　had　a　bad　feeling　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach；　that　things　were　spinning　beyond　her　control；　that　Richard　was　going　to　do　something　terrible　if　the　elders　turned　him　down。　He　had　been　working　hard；　from　when　he　woke　until　he　fell　into　bed；　the　whole　time　with　the　single　thought　that　he　would　win　them　over。　He　had　won　over　most　people；　but　they　were　not　the　people　who　counted。　She　was　afraid　he　hadn't　given　rational　thought　to　what　he　would　do　if　the　word　was　no。
　
　Toffalar　stood　tall　and　proud　at　the　center　of　the　leaking　pole　structure。　The　rain　dripping　around　him　splashed　in　little　puddles　on　the　floor。　Surin；　Caldus；　Arbrin；　Breginderin；　and　Hajanlet　stood　to　his　sides。　They　each　wore　their　coyote　hides；　something　Kahlan　had　learned　they　did　only　when　official　events　were　taking　place。　It　seemed　as　if　the　whole　village　was　out。　They　spread　around　the　open　area；　sitting　under　roofs　of　the　open　buildings；　filling　windows；　all　watching　as　work　stopped　and　they　waited　to　hear　the　elders　speak　of　their　future。
　
　Kahlan　caught　sight　of　the　Bird　Man　standing　among　some　armed　men　to　the　side　of　a　pole　that　held　up　the　roof　over　the　elders'　heads。　When　their　eyes　met；　her　heart　sank。　She　grabbed　the　sleeve　of　Richard's　shirt；　leaning　toward　him。
　
　〃Don't　forget；　no　matter　what　these　men　say；　we　must　get　out　of　here　if　we　are　to　have　a　chance　of　stopping　Rahl。　We　are　two；　they　are　many；　sword　or　no　sword。〃
　
　He　ignored　her。　〃Honored　elders；〃　he　started　in　a　loud；　clear　voice。　She　translated　as　he　spoke。　〃It　is　my　privilege　to　report　to　you　that　the　spirit　house　has　a　new　roof　that　does　not　leak。　It　has　also　been　my　privilege　to　teach　your　people　how　to　build　these　roofs　so　they　may　improve　the　other　buildings　of　your　village。　I　did　this　out　of　respect　for　your　people；　and　I　expect　nothing　in　return。　I　only　hope　you　are　pleased。〃
　
　The　six　stood　grim…faced　as　Kahlan　translated。　There　was　a　long　silence　when　she　finished。
　
　At　last　Toffalar　spoke　in　a　determined　voice。　〃We　are　not　pleased。　〃
　
　Richard's　expression　turned　dark　when　she　told　him　Toffalar's　words。　〃Why？〃
　
　〃A　little　rain　does　not　melt　the　strength　of　the　Mud　People。　Your　roof　may　not　leak；　but　only　because　it　is　clever。　Clever　as　the　ways　of　outsiders。　They　are　not　our　ways。　It　would　only　be　the　beginning　of　outsiders　telling　us　what　to　do。　We　know　what　you　want。　You　want　to　be　named　one　of　us　so　we　will　call　a　gathering　for　you。　Just　another　clever　trick　of　an　outsider　to　get　from　us　what　will　serve　you。　You　wish　to　draw　us　into　your　fight。　We　say　no！〃　He　turned　to　Savidlin。　〃The　roof　of　the　spirit　house　will　be　put　back　to　the　way　it　was。　The　way　our　honored　ancestors　wanted　it。〃
　
　Savidlin　was　livid；　but　he　did　not　move。　The　elder；　a　slight　smile　on　his　pinched　lips；　turned　back　to　Richard。
　
　〃Now　that　your　tricks　have　failed；　〃　he　said　with　disdain
　
　〃would　you　think　to　harm　our　people；　Richard　With　The　Temper？〃　It　was　a　taunt；　aimed　to　discredit　Richard。
　
　Richard　looked　as　dangerous　as　she　had　ever　seen　him。　His　glare　turned　briefly　to　the　Bird　Man；　then　back　to　the　six　under　the　shelter。　She　held　her　breath。　The　crowd　was　dead　quiet。　He　turned　slowly　to　them。
　
　〃I　will　not　harm　your　people；〃　he　said　in　an　even　voice。　There　was　a　collective　sigh　of　relief　when　Kahlan　spoke　his　words。　When　it　was　quiet　again；　he　went　on。　〃But　I　will　mourn　for　what　is　going　to　happen　to　them。〃　Without　turning　back　to　the　elders；　his　arm　slowly　lifted　as　he　pointed　to　them。　〃For　you　six；　I　will　not　mourn。　I　do　not　mourn　the　death　of　fools。〃　His　words　came　out　like　poison。　The　crowd　gasped。
　
　Toffalar's　face　twisted　into　bitter　rage。　Whispers　and　fear　spread　through　the　onlookers。　Kahlan　glanced　over　to　the　Bird　Man。　He　seemed　to　have　aged　years。　She　could　see　in　his　heavy　brown　eyes　how　sorry　he　was。　For　a　moment　their　eyes　locked　and　they　shared　the　grief　of　what　they　both　knew　was　going　to　sweep　over　all　their　lives；　then　his　gaze　sank　to　the　ground。
　
　In　a　sudden　flash　of　movement；　Richard　spun　toward　the　elders；　pulling　free　the　Sword　of　Truth。　It　was　so　fast　almost　everyone；　including　the　elders；　flinched　back　a　step　in　shock　and　then　froze　in　place；　the　six　faces　reflecting　the　fear　that　kept　them　paralyzed。　The　crowd　began　creeping　back；　the　Bird　Man　had　not　moved。　Kahlan　feared　Richard's　anger；　and　understood　it；　too。　She　decided　not　to　interfere；　but　to　do　what　was　necessary　to　protect　the　Seeker；　whatever　he　did　next。　Not　even　a　whisper　was　uttered；　the　only　sound　in　the　dead　silence　was　the　distinctive　ringing　of　steel。　With　his　teeth　gritted；　Richard　pointed　the　glinting　sword　at　the　elders；　its　tip　inches　from　their　faces。
　
　〃Have　the　courage　to　do　one　last　thing　for　your　people。〃　Richard's　tone　sent　a　chill　through　her。　Kahlan　translated　out　of　reflex；　too　transfixed　to　do　anything　else。　Then；　unbelievably；　he　turned　the　sword　around；　holding　it　by　the　point；　holding　the　hilt　out　to　the　elders。　〃Take　my　sword；〃　he　manded。　〃Use　it　to　kill　the　women　and　children。　It　will　be　more　merciful　than　what　Darken　Rahl　will　do　to　them。　Have　the　courage　to　spare　them　the　torture　they　will　suffer。　Give　them　the　charity　of　a　quick　death。〃　His　countenance　withered　their　expressions
　
　Kahlan　could　hear　women　starting　to　cry　softly　as　they　clutched　their　children。　The　elders；　in　the　grip　of　a　terror　they　hadn't　expected；　did　not　move。　At　last　their　eyes　fled　from　Richard's　glare。　When　it　was　clear　to　all　they　did　not　have　the　courage　to　take　the　sword；　Richard　painstakingly　slid　it　back　into　its　scabbard；　as　if　slowly　extinguishing　their　last　chance　at　salvation…an　unequivocal　gesture　that　the　elders　had　forfeited　forever　the　aid　of　the　Seeker。　The　finality　of　it　was　frightening。
　
　Then　at　last　he　broke　his　hot　glare　at　them　and　turned　to　her；　his　face　changing。　When　she　saw　the　look　in　his　eyes；　she　swallowed　hard。　It　was　a　look　of　heartache　for　a　people　he　had　e　to　love；　but　could　not　help。　All　eyes　stayed　on　him　as　he　closed　the　distance　between　them　and　took　her　gently　by　the　arm。
　
　〃Let's　collect　our　things　and　get　moving；〃　he　said　softly。　〃We've　wasted　a　lot　of　time。　I　only　hope　it　wasn't　too　much。〃　His　gray　eyes　were　wet。　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan　。。。　that　I　chose　wrong。〃
　
　〃You　did　not　choose　wrong；　Richard；　they　did。〃　Her　anger　at　the　elders　had　a　finality　to　it；　too；　a　d