tg.stone of tears-第31章

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　rest　of　us　were　standing　off　to　the　other　side；　watching　Richard　shoot。　The　things　he　was　doing　did　not　seem　possible。　He　nocked　an　arrow。　Suddenly；　he　spun　around　toward　Chandalen。　Before　we　could　even　shout；　Richard　shot　an　arrow　at　Chandalen　as　he　stood　there　with　his　arms　folded。　He　had　no　weapon　in　his　hand。　None　of　us　could　believe　Richard　would　do　this。
　
　‘As　the　arrow　was　still　flying　toward　Chandalen；　two　of　his　men；　who　had　arrows　nocked；　drew　their　bows。　The　first　one　shot　a　ten…step　arrow　at　Richard　before　his　own　arrow　even　reached　Chandalen。’
　
　Kahlan　was　incredulous。　‘He　shot　at　Richard；　and　missed？　Chandalen’s　men　don’t　miss。’
　
　Savidlin’s　voice　was　low；　and　trembled　slightly。　‘He　would　not　have　missed。　But　Richard　spun；　pulling　his　last　arrow　from　his　quiver；　a　bladed　arrow；　and　shot。　I　have　never　seen　anyone　do　such　a　thing　so　fast。’　He　hesitated；　as　if　he　didn’t　think　she　would　believe　him。　‘Richard’s　bladed　arrow　met　the　other　in　the　air　and　split　it　in　half。　Each　half　went　to　one　side　of　Richard。’
　
　Kahlan　halted　Savidlin　with　a　hand　on　his　arm。　‘Richard　hit　the　other　arrow　while　it　was　in　the　air？’
　
　He　nodded　slowly。　‘And　then　the　other　man　shot。　Richard　had　no　more　arrows。　He　stood；　his　bow　in　one　hand；　and　waited。　It　too　was　a　ten…step　arrow。　I　could　hear　it　ripping　the　air。’
　
　Savidlin　looked　around；　as　if　not　wanting　anyone　else　to　hear。　‘Richard　snatched　it　right　out　of　the　air　with　his　hand。　He　had　his　fist　around　its　middle。　He　put　the　man’s　arrow　in　his　own　bow　and　drew　it　on　Chandalen’s　men。　He　was　yelling　at　them。　We　couldn’t　understand　his　words；　but　they　dropped　their　bows　on　the　ground　and　put　their　arms　out　to　the　sides；　to　show　him　their　empty　hands。　We　all　thought　Richard　With　The　Temper　had　bee　crazy。　We　thought　he　might　kill　us　all。　We　were　all　very　afraid。
　
　‘Then　Prindin　called　out。　He　had　found　the　man　behind　Chandalen。　We　all　saw　then；　that　Richard　had　killed　a　trespasser　who　was　armed　with　a　spear。　We　realized　Richard　had　been　trying　to　kill　the　invader；　not　Chandalen。　Chandalen；　though；　was　not　so　certain。　He　thought　Richard　cut　him　with　his　arrow　on　purpose。　Chandalen　became　even　angrier　when　his　men　all　went　and　gave　Richard　slaps　of　respect。’
　
　Kahlan　stared　at　him。　She　couldn’t　believe　the　things　she　was　hearing。　Most　of　it　sounded　impossible。　‘Richard　wanted　me　to　tell　you　he　was　sorry　he　ruined　your　arrows。　What　was　he　talking　about？’
　
　‘Do　you　know　what　a　shaft　shot　is？’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　‘It’s　when　you　shoot　an　arrow　through　another　already　in　the　center　of　the　target；　and　split　the　shaft　of　the　first。　The　Home　Guard　in　Aydindril　gave　ribbons　for　doing　it。　I　have　seen　a　few　men　with　a　half　dozen　ribbons。　I　knew　one　with　ten。’
　
　Savidlin　reached　around　and　pulled　a　fat　bundle　from　his　quiver。　Every　arrow　was　split。　‘It　would　be　easier　to　give　Richard　With　The　Temper　a　ribbon　if　he　ever　missed。　He　would　have　no　ribbons。　He　ruined　over　a　hundred　arrows　today。　Arrows　take　time　to　make。　They　are　not　to　be　wasted；　but　the　men　kept　wanting　him　to　do　it　again；　because　they　had　never　seen　anything　like　it　before。　One　time；　he　put　six　arrows　through　the　first；　one　right　on　top　of　the　other。
　
　‘We　shot　rabbits；　and　cooked　them　over　a　fire。　Richard　sat　with　us；　and　then　when　we　started　eating；　he　wouldn’t　eat　with　us。　He　looked　sick；　and　went　off　and　shot　arrows　by　himself　until　we　were　finished。　Later；　after　we　ate；　is　when　he　killed　the　man。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘We　better　hurry　and　get　Nissel。’　She　glanced　over　as　they　walked　along。　‘Savidlin；　why　did　those　men　have　that　head？　How　can　they　be　so　gruesome？’
　
　‘Did　you　see　that　there　was　black　painted　over　the　eyes　of　the　dead　man？　That　was　to　hide　him　from　our　spirits；　so　he　could　sneak　up　on　us。　A　man　who　es　onto　our　land　with　black　over　his　eyes　es　for　only　one　reason：　to　kill。　Chandalen’s　men　put　the　heads　of　men　like　that　on　poles　at　the　edge　of　our　land　to　warn　others　who　would　paint　black　on　their　eyes。
　
　‘It　may　seem　gruesome　to　you；　but　in　the　end　it　makes　for　much　less　killing。　Do　not　think　less　of　Chandalen’s　men　for　taking　a　head。　They　do　it　today　not　because　they　like　it；　but　so　there　will　be　less　killing　tomorrow。’
　
　Kahlan　suddenly　felt　foolish。　‘I　guess　that；　just　as　Chandalen；　I　am　guilty　of　judging　too　quickly。　Forgive　me；　Elder　Savidlin；　for　thinking　things　about　your　people　that　were　wrong。’
　
　He　gave　her　a　one…arm　hug　around　her　shoulders。
　
　When　they　came　back　with　the　healer；　they　found　Richard　huddled　in　a　corner；　his　fingers　intertwined　over　his　head。　His　skin　was　white；　cold；　and　wet。　Nissel　gave　him　something　to　drink。　After　a　few　minutes；　she　gave　him　a　small　cube　of　something　to　swallow。　Richard　smiled　when　he　saw　it。　He　must　have　known　what　it　was。　Nissel　sat　on　the　floor　next　to　him　and　felt　his　pulse　for　a　long　time。　When　a　little　of　his　color　came　back；　she　made　him　put　his　head　back　and　open　his　mouth。　She　twisted　a　clove　of　something　over　his　mouth；　dripping　the　juice　in。　He　made　a　face。　Nissel　smiled　at　that　without　ment。
　
　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　‘I　think　these　things　will　help　him。　Tell　him　to　keep　chewing　the　leaves。　e　get　me　if　he　needs　me。’
　
　‘Nissel；　is　he　going　to　get　better　soon？　Shouldn’t　he　be　getting　better？’
　
　The　stooped　old　woman　glanced　down　at　Richard。　‘Spirit　has　a　mind　of　its　own。　It　doesn’t　always　listen。　I　think　his　does　not　want　to　listen。’　She　suddenly　brightened　at　seeing　the　stricken　look　on　Kahlan’s　face。　‘Don’t　worry；　child。　I　can　make　even　the　spirit　listen。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　Nissel　gave　her　a　warm　smile　and　a　pat　on　the　arm　before　she　went　on　her　way。
　
　Richard　looked　up　at　Kahlan　and　Savidlin。　‘Did　you　tell　him？　Did　you　tell　him　I’m　sorry　about　ruining　all　his　arrows？’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　a　little　to　Savidlin。　‘He　is　worried　about　ruining　so　many　arrows。’
　
　Savidlin　grunted。　‘It　is　my　own　fault。　I　made　your　bow　too　good。’　Richard　managed　a　laugh。　‘Weselan　is　off　making　bread。　I　must　go　see　to　some　things。　Rest　well。　We　will　be　back　when　it　is　time　to　eat。　We　will　eat　together。　It　smells　like　my　wife　has　made　some　good　stew。’
　
　
　After　Savidlin　left；　Kahlan　sat　on　the　floor；　tight　against　him。
　
　‘Richard；　what　happened　today？　Savidlin　told　me　how　you　shot　arrows　today。　You　haven’t　always　been　that　good；　have　you？’
　
　He　wiped　sweat　off　his　brow　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　‘No。　I’ve　split　arrows　before；　but　not　more　than　a　half　dozen　in　one　day。’
　
　‘You’ve　shot　that　many　in　one　day　before？’
　
　He　nodded。　‘On　a　good　day；　when　I　can　feel　the　target。　But　today　was　different。’
　
　‘How？’
　
　‘Well；　we　went　out　on　the　plain；　and　my　head　was　really　starting　to　hurt。　The　men　set　up　targets　of　bundled　grass。　I　didn’t　think　I　would　even　be　able　to　hit　a　target；　because　my　head　hurt　so　much。　But　I　didn’t　want　to　disappoint　Savidlin；　so　I　tried　anyway。　When　I　shoot；　I　call　the　target　to　me。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean；　you　call　the　target　to　you？’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘I　don’t　know。　I　used　to　think　everyone　did　it　when　they　shot。　But　Zedd　told　me　they　don’t。　I　look　at　the　target；　and　just　sort　of　pull　it　to　me。　When　I’m　doing　it　right；　it　blocks　out　everything　else。　It’s　only　me　and　the　target；　as　if　it　es　closer。　Somehow；　I　know　exactly　how　the　arrow　must　be　held　to　hit　the　target。　When　I’m　doing　it　right；　I　can　feel　that　the　arrow　is　in　the　right　place　before　I　release　the　bowstring。
　
　‘When　I　learned　that　I　always　hit　the　target　when　I　had　that　certain　feeling；　I　quit　shooting　arrows。　I　would　just　aim；　trying　to　bring　on　the　correct　feel。　I　knew　when　I　had　it　I　wouldn’t　miss；　so　I　didn’t　bother　shooting。　I　would　nock　another　arrow　and　try　for　the　feel　again。　Over　time；　I　learned　to　do　it　more　often。’
　
　‘How　was　it　different　today？’
　
　‘Well；　like　I　said；　my　head　really　hurt。　I　watched　some　of　the　other　men　shoot。　They　were　very　good。　Savidlin　started　slapping　me　on　the　back；　so　I　knew　it　was　my　turn。　I　figured　I　might　as　well　get　it　over。　My　head　felt　as　if　it　was　going　to　split　open。　I　drew　the　bow；　and　called　the　target　to　me。’