tg.stone of tears-第233章

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　She　placed　her　arm　in　his；　and　walked　him　through　the　open　doorway。　Outside；　in　the　moonlight；　was　a　grand；　expansive　courtyard；　with　trees；　paths；　flower　beds；　wild　areas；　and　a　lovely　pond。　The　beauty　of　the　garden　didn’t　register　in　Richard’s　mind。　He　had　hardly　been　able　to　eat　or　sleep　since　he　had　had　his　talk　with　Warren。　If　the　Keeper　escaped；　he　would　have　everyone；　including　Kahlan。　Richard　had　to　do　something。
　
　‘Ann；　there　is　great　trouble　in　the　world。　I　need　your　help。　I　need　this　collar　off　so　I　may　go　help。’
　
　That’s　what　I　am　here　for；　Richard。　To　help。　What　is　the　trouble？’
　
　The　Keeper　。。。’
　
　The　Nameless　One；’　she　corrected。
　
　‘What　difference　does　it　make？’
　
　‘Calling　him　by　his　name　calls　his　attention。’
　
　‘Ann；　it’s　just　a　word。　It’s　the　meaning　of　the　word　that　matters；　not　an　arrangement　of　letters。　Do　you　think　that　when　you　call　the　Keeper　the　Nameless　One；　instead；　that　he　would　be　fooled　into　thinking　you　weren’t　speaking　of　him？　It’s　a　mistake　to　assume　your　enemies　are　ignorant；　and　you　are　clever。’
　
　A　hearty　laugh　rose　from　in　her　chest。　‘I　have　been　waiting　for　a　very　long　time　for　someone　to　figure　that　out。’
　
　She　paused　with　him　at　the　edge　of　the　pond；　and　he　asked；　‘What　is　‘the　pebble　in　the　pond’？’
　
　She　gazed　out　over　the　water。　‘You　are　one；　Richard。’
　
　‘You　mean　there　are　more　than　one？’
　
　A　small　stone　floated　through　the　air；　up　into　her　hand。
　
　‘Everyone　has　an　effect　on　others。　Some　people　inspire　others　to　do　great　things。　Some　take　people　into　crime　with　them。　Those　with　the　gift　affect　those　around　them　even　more。　The　stronger　the　Han；　the　stronger　the　effect。’
　
　‘What　does　that　have　to　do　with　me？　What　does　that　have　to　do　with　a　pebble　in　a　pond？’
　
　‘You　see　all　the　duck　weed　floating　on　the　surface？　Say　that’s　the　other　people；　the　world　of　life；　and　this　pebble　is　you。’　She　tossed　the　stone　into　the　pond。　‘See　what　happens？　The　ripples　caused　by　you　affect　everyone　else。　Without　you；　all　those　ripples　would　not　have　happened。’
　
　‘So　they　float　up　and　down；　on　the　ripples。　But　the　stone　sank。’
　
　She　gave　him　a　humorless　grin。　‘Don’t　ever　forget　that。’
　
　The　answer　gave　him　pause。　‘I　think　you　invest　too　much　faith　in　me。　You　don’t　know　anything　about　me。’
　
　‘Perhaps　more　than　you　think；　child。　And　what　is　it　that　concerns　you　about　the　Keeper？’
　
　‘Something　must　be　done。　He’s　about　to　escape。　One　of　the　boxes　of　Orden　has　been　opened；　the　gateway　is　open。　The　Stone　of　Tears　is　in　this　world。　I　need　to　do　something。’
　
　‘Ahh。’　She　smiled　as　she　drifted　to　a　stop。　‘So　you；　who　was　just　thrown　up　against　a　wall　by　the　Han　of　a　mere　Sister；　wants　to　go　off　and　battle　the　Keeper　himself？’
　
　‘But　things　have　happened。　Something　must　be　done。’
　
　‘I　see　you　have　been　talking　to　Warren。　A　very　bright　young　man；　Warren。　He　is　still　young；　though。　Sometimes　he　needs　direction。　Guidance。’　She　tipped　a　branch　closer。　‘He　studies　hard；　and　loves　those　books。　I　think　he　must　know　every　smudge　on　them。’
　
　She　was　inspecting　a　flower　on　the　branch。　As　he　watched　her　in　the　moonlight；　he　decided　he　might　have　thought　himself　more　clever　than　he　was。　Warren；　too。
　
　‘So；　what　about　the　Keeper？　What　about　the　Stone　of　Tears？’
　
　She　put　her　arm　back　through　his　and　walked　him　on。　‘If　the　gateway　is　open　and　the　Stone　of　Tears　is　in　this　world；　Richard；　why　does　the　Keeper　not　have　us？　Hmm？’
　
　‘Maybe　he’s　about　to　swallow　us　all　at　any　moment。’
　
　‘Ahh。　So　you　think　that　maybe　he　is　busy　with　his　dinner；　and　when　he　is　finished；　and　wipes　his　chin　clean；　he　will　get　around　to　swallowing　the　world　of　the　living；　so　you　want　to　rush　off　and　close　the　gateway　before　he　picks　his　napkin　from　his　lap？　Is　this　the　way　you　think　the　worlds　beyond　ours　work？　In　the　same　terms　as　this　world？’
　
　Richard　nervously　raked　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　‘I　don’t　know。　I　don’t　know　how　it　all　works；　but　Warren　said　。。。’
　
　‘Warren　does　not　know　everything。　He　is　but　a　student。　He　has　a　talent　for　the　prophecies；　but　he　has　much　to　learn。
　
　‘Do　you　know　why　we　keep　the　prophecies　down　in　the　vaults；　and　restrict　who　may　read　them？　For　the　very　reason　we　are　having　this　discussion。　Because　prophecy　is　dangerous　to　the　untrained　mind；　and　sometimes　even　to　the　trained　mind。　There　is　more　to　things　than　you　see；　or　the　Keeper　would　have　us　already。’
　
　‘Are　you　saying　we’re　not　in　danger？’
　
　She　smiled　a　sly　smile。　‘We　are　always　in　danger；　Richard。　As　long　as　there　is　a　world　of　the　living；　there　will　be　danger。　All　life　is　mortal。’
　
　She　patted　his　arm　again。　‘You　are　an　important　person；　a　person　in　prophecy；　but　if　you　go　off　foolishly；　you　can　cause　more　harm　than　good。　The　Stone　of　Tears　being　in　this　world　cannot；　in　itself；　allow　the　Keeper　to　escape　through　the　gateway。　The　Stone　is　a　means　to　that　end。’
　
　‘I　hope　you’re　right；’　he　said　as　they　walked　on。
　
　She　glanced　up。　‘How　is　your　mother　doing？’
　
　Richard　looked　off　into　the　darkness。　‘She　died　when　I　was　young。　In　a　fire。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard。　And　your　father？’
　
　‘Which　one；’　he　muttered。
　
　‘Your　stepfather；　George。’
　
　Richard　cleared　his　throat。　‘He　was　killed　by　Darken　Rahl。’　He　darted　her　a　sidelong　glance。　‘How　do　you　know　my　stepfather？’
　
　She　gave　him　one　of　those　timeless　looks　that　he　had　seen　from　others　before；　from　Adie；　Shota；　Sister　Verna；　Du　Chaillu；　and　Kahlan。　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard。　I　didn’t　know　he　had　died。　George　Cypher　was　quite　a　man。’
　
　He　came　to　a　stop；　his　flesh　atingle。　‘You；’　he　whispered。　‘You　are　how　my　father　got　that　book。’　He　left　the　statement　vague　enough　that　she　would　have　to　fill　in　the　details　to　confirm　it。
　
　A　little　of　her　smile　came　back。　‘Afraid　to　say　it　out　loud？　The　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　that　is　the　book　you　are　speaking　of　She　gestured　to　a　stone　bench。　‘Sit　down；　Richard；　before　you　fall　down。’
　
　Richard　slumped　to　the　bench。　He　looked　up　as　she　stood　before　him。　‘You？　You　gave　that　book　to　my　father？’
　
　Actually；　I　helped　him　get　it。　You　see；　Richard；　as　I　told　you；　you　and　I　are　old　acquaintances。　Of　course；　the　last　time　I　saw　you；　you　were　bawling　your　head　off。　Only　a　few　months　old；　you　were。’
　
　She　smiled　distantly。　‘If　your　mother　could　see　you　now。　She　was　bursting　with　pride　over　you。　She　said　your　were　the　blessing　to　balance　the　curse。　You　see；　Richard；　balance　is　what　the　world　of　the　living　is　all　about。　You　are　a　child　of　balance。　I　have　much　invested　in　you。’
　
　Richard’s　tongue　seemed　stuck　to　the　top　of　his　mouth。　‘Why？’
　
　‘Because　you　are　a　pebble　in　the　pond。’　Her　eyes　seemed　to　go　out　of　focus。　‘Over　three　thousand　years　ago；　wizards　had　Subtractive　Magic。　None　since　has　been　born　with　it。　We　have　been　hoping；　but　none；　until　now；　has　e　into　this　life。　A　few　have　had　the　calling；　but　not　the　gift　of　it。　You　have　the　gift　for　both　Additive　and　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　Richard　shot　to　his　feet。　‘What！　Are　you　mad！’
　
　‘Sit　down；　Richard。’
　
　The　quiet　power　of　her　voice；　her　penetrating　gaze；　her　presence；　made　him　sink　to　the　bench。　For　some　reason；　she　seemed　suddenly　very　big　to　him。　She　was　the　same　size　as　before；　but　it　felt　as　if　she　towered　over　him。　Her　voice　became　imposing；　too。
　
　‘Now；　you　listen　to　me。　You　are　causing　me　a　great　deal　of　trouble。　You　are　like　a　bull　that　keeps　knocking　down　fences　and　trampling　the　crops。　Too　much　is　at　stake　to　have　you　acting　without　knowing　what　you　are　doing。　I　know　you　think　you　are　doing　right；　but　so　does　the　bull。　Your　problem　is　lack　of　knowledge。　I　intend　to　give　you　an　education。
　
　Though　you　will　not　believe　some　of　what　I　have　to　tell　you；　you　had　better　e　to　accept　it；　or　you　will　be　in　that　collar　a　good　long　time；　because　it　cannot　e　off　until　you　accept　the　truth。’
　
　‘I　was　told　the　Sisters　took　the　collar　off。’
　
　The　look　in　her　eyes　made　him　wish　he　had　kept　his　mouth　closed；　or　that　he　could　trade　places　with　the　two　Sisters