tg.stone of tears-第190章

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　That’s　just　great；’　he　said　under　his　breath。
　
　‘Richard；’　she　said；　without　looking　to　him；　‘I　know　we　don’t　get　along。　We　could　look　at　the　same　thing　and　each　see　something　different。　We’re　from　different　worlds；　both　of　us　are　headstrong；　and　neither　of　us　likes　the　other　very　much。
　
　‘But　I　want　you　to　know　that　I’m　not　trying　to　be　obstinate　about　this。　You　spoke　the　truth　in　that　this　is　about　you　as　the　Seeker；　not　as　my　student。　In　a　way　I　don’t　understand；　it’s　also　bundled　up　with　prophecy。　You　are　riding　a　ripple　in　events。　I　am　but　a　bystander　in　this。　If　you　die；　however；　I　die；　too。’
　
　She　at　last　lifted　her　eyes　to　his。　‘I　don’t　know　how　to　help　you；　Richard。　There　are　people　closing　around　us；　to　watch　what　will　happen；　and　I　know　that　if　I　try　to　interfere；　I　will　be　killed　by　them。　This　is　about　prophecy；　you；　and　the　Baka　Ban　Mana。　I　play　no　part　in　it；　other　than　to　die；　if　you　do。
　
　‘I　don’t　know　what　the　prophecy　means；　and　I　realize　you　don’t　either；　but　keep　it　in　mind；　and　maybe　its　use　will　e　as　you　need　it。　Try　to　use　your　Han；　if　you　can。’
　
　Richard　stood　with　his　hands　on　his　hips。　‘All　right；　Sister；　I’ll　try。　I’m　just　sorry　I’m　no　good　at　riddles。　And　if　I’m　killed；　well；　thank　you　for　trying　to　help　me。’
　
　He　looked　up　at　the　sky；　at　the　thin　veil　of　clouds　that　dimmed　the　moon。　The　darkness　helped　hide　those　who　came。　There　was　no　reason　it　couldn’t　be　used　to　his　advantage；　too。
　
　Richard　was　a　woods　guide；　at　home　in　the　darkness　of　the　woods。　He　had　spent　countless　hours　at　games　like　this；　with　other　guides。　This　was　his　element；　too；　not　just　theirs。　He　didn’t　have　to　do　it　their　way。　Crouching；　he　moved　off；　away　from　the　Sister　and　their　horses；　and　became　one　with　the　moon　shadows。
　
　He　found　the　first　of　them　looking　the　wrong　way。　Still　and　silent；　he　watched　the　dark　form　wrapped　in　loose　clothes；　squatted　on　one　knee；　watching　the　Sister。　Clutched　tightly　in　one　fist　was　a　short　spear；　its　butt　planted　in　the　sand。　Two　more　spears　lay　on　the　ground。
　
　Richard　concentrated　on　controlling　his　breathing　to　keep　from　making　a　sound　as　he　glided　closer。　Moving；　stopping；　moving　again；　he　approached　ever　closer。　His　hand　reached　out。　Inches　from　the　spear；　he　froze　as　the　head　turned。
　
　The　figure　sprang　up；　but　Richard　was　close　enough。　He　snatched　the　spear　away。　As　the　man　whirled；　Richard　spun　the　spear　and　whacked　him　across　the　side　of　the　head。　He　went　down　before　he　had　a　chance　to　raise　an　alarm。
　
　One　down；　Richard　thought　as　he　straightened；　and　without　having　to　kill　him。　At　least；　he　hoped　he　hadn’t　killed　him。
　
　Slipping　out　of　the　darkness；　a　figure　appeared。　To　the　side；　another。　And　then　another。　Richard　turned　about　and　saw　more　appearing。　Before　he　could　move　away；　he　was　surrounded。
　
　The　forms　were　wrapped　in　bark…colored　loose　clothes　so　they　would　blend　in　with　the　surrounding　country。　Cloth　wound　around　their　heads　hid　all　but　their　dark　eyes；　which　shined　with　grim　determination。
　
　There　was　nowhere　to　run。　Richard　sidestepped　into　the　clearing　as　the　circle　of　forms　moved　with　him。　More　were　closing　in　all　about。　Richard　turned；　watching　them　as　they　formed　two　rings　around　him。
　
　Maybe　he　could　still　do　this　without　killing。　‘Who　speaks　for　you？’
　
　The　inner　ring　of　robed　figures　dropped　their　round　shields　and　cast　their　extra　spears　to　the　ground；　points　toward　Richard。　Each　clasped　their　remaining　spear　in　two　hands　like　a　staff。　Their　eyes　never　left　him。　The　outer　ring　of　warriors　cast　their　shields　and　all　their　spears　to　the　ground　and　put　their　hands　to　their　sword　hilts；　but　didn’t　draw　them。
　
　A　soft　rhythmic　chant　began；　and　the　two　circles　slowly　began　moving　in　opposite　directions。
　
　Richard　walked　backward　in　a　tight　circle；　trying　to　keep　watch　on　all　of　them。　‘Who　speaks　for　you！’
　
　The　slow　chant　continued　in　time　with　their　sideways　steps。
　
　A　figure　wrapped　from　head　to　foot　like　the　others　rose　up　on　a　rock　beyond　the　outer　circle。
　
　‘I　am　Du　Chaillu。　I　speak　for　the　Baka　Ban　Mana。’
　
　Richard　could　hardly　believe　this　was　happening。　rDu　Chaillu；　I　saved　your　life。　Why　would　you　want　to　murder　us？’
　
　The　Baka　Ban　Mana　are　not　here　to　murder　you。　We　are　here　to　execute　you　for　stealing　our　sacred　lands。’
　
　‘Du　Chaillu；　I’ve　never　even　seen　your　land　before。　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　whatever　happened。’
　
　‘Magic　men　took　our　lands　from　us。　They　laid　down　our　laws。　You　are　a　magic　man。　You　bear　the　sins　of　those　magic　men　before　you。　You　even　bear　their　mark；　to　prove　it。　You　must　do　as　all　before；　who　we　could　catch。　You　must　face　the　circle。　You　must　die。’
　
　‘Du　Chaillu；　I　told　you　the　killing　must　stop。’
　
　‘It　is　easy　to　proclaim　the　killing　must　end；　when　you　are　the　one　about　to　die。’
　
　‘How　dare　you　say　that　to　me！　I　risked　my　life　to　stop　the　killing！　I　risked　my　life　for　you！’
　
　She　spoke　softly。　‘I　know；　Richard。　For　that　I　will　always　honor　you。　I　would　have　borne　your　sons；　had　you　asked　it　of　me。　I　would　lay　my　life　down　for　you。　For　what　you　have　done；　you　will　live　on　as　a　hero　to　my　people。　I　will　tie　a　prayer　to　my　dress；　that　the　spirits　take　you　tenderly　to　their　hearts。
　
　‘But　you　are　a　magic　man。　The　old　law　says　that　we　must　practice　every　day；　and　be　better　with　a　blade　than　any　other　people　born。　We　have　been　told　that　we　must　kill　every　magic　man　we　can　catch；　or　the　Spirit　of　the　Dark　will　take　the　world　of　life　into　the　dark。’
　
　‘You　can’t　go　on　killing　magic　men；　or　anyone　else！　It　must　stop！’
　
　The　killing　cannot　end　because　of　what　you　have　done。　It　can　only　end　when　the　spirits　dance　with　us。’
　
　‘What　does　that　mean？’
　
　‘It　means　we　must　kill　you　or　what　has　been　spoken　will　be　brought　to　pass　…　the　Dark　Spirit　will　escape　his　prison。’
　
　Richard　pointed　with　the　spear。　‘Du　Chaillu；　I　don’t　want　to　kill　any　of　you；　but　I　will　defend　myself。　Please　stop　now；　before　anyone　else　is　hurt。　Don’t　make　me　kill　any　of　you。　Please。’
　
　‘Had　you　tried　to　run；　we　would　have　put　spears　in　your　back；　but　since　you　choose　to　stand；　you　have　earned　the　right　to　face　us。　You　will　die　anyway；　as　have　all　before　whom　we　have　caught。　If　you　do　not　fight　us；　it　will　be　made　quick；　and　you　will　not　suffer。　You　have　my　word。’
　
　She　turned　her　hand　in　the　air　and　the　chanting　started　again。　The　outer　ring　of　men　drew　their　swords　…　long；　black…handled　weapons；　each　with　a　ring　at　the　pommel　holding　a　cord　that　looped　around　the　swordsman’s　neck　to　keep　the　sword　from　being　lost　in　battle。　Each　blade　was　curved；　widening　toward　the　clipped　point。
　
　The　men　spun　the　swords；　passing　them　from　right　hand　to　left；　and　back　again。　The　blades　never　stopped　spinning。　The　two　rings　began　moving　in　opposite　directions　again。　The　inner　circle　of　men　began　twirling　the　spears　like　staffs。
　
　Richard　had　known　guides　who　carried　staffs。　No　one　ever　bothered　a　guide　with　a　staff。　These　people　were　better　than　any　guide　he　had　ever　seen。　The　shafts　of　wood　were　a　blur　in　the　moonlight；　the　steel　points　a　circle　of　dull　reflection。
　
　Richard　broke　the　spear　shaft　over　his　knee　and　drew　his　sword。　The　sound　of　steel　rang　above　the　sound　of　the　whistling　spears　and　blades。
　
　‘Don’t　do　this；　Du　Chaillu！　Stop　it　now；　before　anyone　else　is　hurt！’
　
　‘Do　not　fight　us；　witch　man；　and　we　will　grant　you　a　quick　death。　I　owe　you　at　least　that。’
　
　Richard’s　chest　heaved；　the　muscles　in　his　jaw　flexed　as　he　gritted　his　teeth。　The　chanting　increased　in　speed；　and　the　circles　of　men　moved　faster。
　
　Richard　glared　at　Du　Chaillu　as　she　stood　on　the　rock。　‘I　disavow　responsibility　for　what　is　to　happen；　Du　Chaillu。　It　is　you　who　presses　this。　What　happens　is　your　responsibility。　You　bring　it！’
　
　She　spoke　softly；　her　voice　filled　with　regret。　‘We　are　many。　You　are　but　one。　I　am　sorry；　Richard。’
　
　‘Only　a　fool　would　have　confidence　in　those　odds；　Du　Chaillu。　They　are　not　what　they　seem。　You　cannot　all　e　at　me　at　once。　You　can　only　attack　one；　or　two；　or　at　most　three　at　a　time。