tg.stone of tears-第174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　scrambled　awkwardly　up　onto　Geraldine。　The　sister　was　already　atop　Jessup。　Richard　vaulted　up　onto　Bonnie。
　
　With　a　last；　warning　look　at　the　men　gathered；　he　squeezed　his　horse’s　ribs　and　she　sprang　into　a　gallop。　The　other　two　horses　took　out　after　him。　The　men　swept　back　out　of　the　way。
　
　The　magic　hungered　for　blood；　raged　for　it。　Richard　wished　someone　would　try　to　stop　him。　No　one　did。
　
　
　‘Please；’　Du　Chaillu　said；　‘it　is　almost　dark。　May　we　please　stop；　or　at　least　allow　me　to　walk。　This　beast　is　hurting　me。’
　
　She　was　holding　on　for　dear　life；　bouncing　in　the　saddle　as　Geraldine　trotted　along。　The　little　strips　of　colored　cloth　on　her　dress　were　all　aflutter。　He　could　hear　Sister　Verna’s　horse　trotting　along　behind；　but　he　didn’t　look　back　at　her。
　
　Richard　glanced　up　at　the　sun　setting　beyond　the　thick　tangle　of　branches。　His　rage　was　finally　withering　with　the　light。　For　a　time；　it　had　seemed　as　if　he　would　never　be　able　to　put　it　down。
　
　Du　Chaillu　pointed　past　him　with　her　chin；　to　his　right；　afraid　to　lift　a　hand。　There　is　a　small　pond　there；　through　the　reeds；　and　a　grassy　place　before　it。’
　
　‘Are　you　sure　we　are　in　Baka　Ban　Mana　land？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘For　the　last　few　hours。　This　is　our　land。　I　know　this　place。’
　
　‘All　right。　We　will　stop　for　the　night。’
　
　He　held　her　horse　for　her　as　she　slid　off。　With　a　groan；　she　rubbed　the　flats　of　her　hands　on　her　bottom。　‘If　you　make　me　ride　that　beast　again　tomorrow；　I　will　bite　you！’
　
　For　the　first　time　since　they　had　left　the　Majendie；　he　was　able　to　smile。　As　Richard　went　about　unsaddling　the　horses；　he　sent　Du　Chaillu　to　get　water　in　a　canvas　bucket。　While　she　went　off　through　the　reeds　and　rushes　to　the　pond；　Sister　Verna　gathered　wood　and　used　her　magic　to　set　it　afire。　When　he　was　finished　caring　for　the　horses；　he　put　them　on　long　tethers　so　they　could　graze　on　the　grass。
　
　‘I　guess　introductions　are　in　order；’　Richard　said　when　Du　Chaillu　returned。　‘Sister　Verna；　this　is　Du　Chaillu。　Du　Chaillu；　this　is　Sister　Verna。’
　
　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　killin