tg.stone of tears- 第22部分

　
　Kahlan　smiled　at　the　memory　of　Mistress　Sanderholt。　It　was　long　months　since　she　had　been　home。
　
　‘Cooks；’　Richard　muttered　to　himself。　‘I’ve　never　had　anyone　cook　for　me。　I　always　cooked　for　myself。’　His　smile　returned。　‘Well；　I　guess　this　Mistress　Sanderholt　will　be　able　to　make　a　little　room　for　me　if　I　want　to　cook　you　something　special。’
　
　‘I　would　wager　that　you　will　soon　have　her　doing　whatever　it　is　you　wish。’
　
　He　squeezed　her　hand。　‘Will　you　promise　me　one　thing？　Promise　me　that　one　day　you　will　let　me　take　you　back　to　Westland　and　show　you　some　of　the　beautiful　places　in　the　Hartland　woods；　places　that　only　I　know　of。　I’ve　dreamed　of　taking　you　to　them。’
　
　‘I　would　like　that；’　Kahlan　whispered。　Richard　leaned　forward　to　kiss　her。　Before　his　lips　touched　hers；　before　his　arms　could　embrace　her；　he　winced　in　pain。　His　head　sagged　forward　against　her　shoulder　as　he　moaned。　Kahlan　clasped　him　to　her　in　fear；　then　laid　him　back　down　as　he　clamped　his　arms　to　his　head；　unable　to　breathe。　Panic　gripped　her。　He　pulled　his　knees　up　to　his　chest　as　he　rolled　onto　his　side。
　
　She　braced　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　as　she　leaned　over　him。　‘I’m　going　to　get　Nissel。　I’ll　go　fast　as　I　can。’
　
　He　could　only　nod　as　he　shook。
　
　Kahlan　ran　to　the　door；　pushing　it　open；　out　into　the　still　night。　She　could　see　her　ragged　breaths　in　the　frigid　air　as　she　pushed　the　door　closed。　Her　eyes　flicked　over　the　short　wall。　Moonlight　washed　the　top　of　it　with　a　silver　cast。
　
　The　chickens　were　gone。
　
　A　dark　shape　hunched；　still；　behind　the　wall。
　
　It　moved　a　little　in　the　moonlight；　and　there　was　a　quick　flash　of　shiny；　golden　eyes。
　
　
　CHAPTER　7
　
　The　dark　thing　rose　up；　claws　rasping　over　the　top　of　the　short　wall。　It　laughed　a　low　cackle　that　sent　goose　bumps　up　her　arms　to　the　base　of　her　neck。　Kahlan　froze。　Breath　caught　in　her　throat。　The　form　was　a　black　void　in　the　pale　moonlight。　After　the　brief　flash；　the　eyes　had　vanished　into　a　pool　of　night。
　
　Her　mind　raced；　trying　to　fit　what　she　knew　with　what　she　was　seeing。　She　wanted　to　run；　but　didn’t　know　which　way。　Toward　Richard；　or　away？
　
　Though　she　couldn’t　see　the　eyes；　she　could　feel　them；　like　cold　death。　The　tiniest　of　sounds　rose　from　her　throat。　With　a　howling　laugh；　the　dark　shape　leaped　to　the　top　of　the　wall。
　
　The　heavy　door　crashed　open　behind　her；　banging　against　the　wall　of　the　spirit　house。　At　the　same　time；　she　heard　the　distinctive　ring　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　being　drawn　in　anger。　The　black　head　snapped　toward　Richard；　the　eyes　flashing　golden　again　in　the　moonlight。　Richard　reached　out；　snatching　her　by　the　arm；　and　tossed　her　back　through　the　doorway。　As　the　door　rebounded　from　hitting　the　wall；　he　kicked　it　shut　behind　himself。
　
　From　beyond　the　door；　Kahlan　heard　a　howling　laugh；　and　then　there　was　a　crash　against　the　door。　She　came　to　her　feet；　pulling　her　knife。　Through　the　door　she　could　hear　the　sword　tip　whistle；　and　bodies　thudding　against　the　wall　of　the　spirit　house。　She　could　hear　the　screaming　howls　of　laughter。
　
　Kahlan　threw　her　shoulder　against　the　door　and　rolled　out　into　the　night。　As　she　sprang　to　her　feet　she　saw　a　small；　dark　form　hurtling　toward　her。　She　slashed　with　her　knife　and　missed。
　
　It　came　again；　but　before　it　was　on　her；　Richard　kicked　it；　slamming　it　back　against　the　short　wall。　In　the　moonlight　the　Sword　of　Truth　flashed　toward　the　shadow。　The　blade　caught　only　the　wall。　A　shower　of　mud…brick　fragments　and　plaster　exploded　into　the　air。　The　thing　howled　in　laughter。
　
　Richard　snatched　her　back　just　as　the　dark　shape　flew　past。　She　caught　it　with　her　blade；　ripping　through　something　hard　…　bone　hard。　A　claw　flashed　past　her　face；　the　sword　following；　missing。
　
　She　could　hear　Richard　panting　as　he　searched　the　darkness。　The　shadow　came　out　of　nowhere　and　knocked　him　to　the　ground。　Dark　forms　tumbled　across　the　dirt。　She　couldn’t　tell　which　was　Richard　and　which　was　the　attacker。　Claws　flung　dirt　into　the　air　as　it　flailed　at　him。
　
　With　a　grunt；　Richard　heaved　it　over　the　wall。　Instantly　it　sprang　to　the　top；　and　stood　there；　eyes　flashing　golden　in　the　moonlight；　cackling　that　awful　laugh　as　the　two　of　them　backed　away。　It　fell　silent　as　it　watched　them　walking　backward。
　
　The　air　was　suddenly　alive　with　the　zip　of　arrows。　Within　the　space　of　a　heartbeat；　a　dozen　thudded　into　the　black　body。　Not　one　missed。　A　breath　later　an　equal　number　followed。　The　thing　panted　in　laughter。　It　stood　on　the　wall　looking　like　a　black　pincushion。
　
　Kahlan’s　jaw　dropped　as　she　saw　it　snap　off　a　handful　of　arrows　that　stuck　out　of　its　chest。　The　thing　snarled　a　cackling　laugh　at　them；　then　blinked　as　it　watched　them　backing　away。　She　couldn’t　understand　why　it　just　stood　there。　Another　flight　of　arrows　thudded　into　the　black　body。　It　paid　no　attention；　but　dropped　from　the　wall　to　the　ground。
　
　A　dark　figure　ran　forward；　spear　in　hand。　From　the　shadow　of　the　wall；　the　thing　sprang　at　the　runner。　The　hunter　let　the　spear　fly。　With　impossible　speed；　the　black　form　ducked　to　the　side　and　with　its　teeth　snatched　the　spear　from　the　air。　Laughing；　it　bit　the　shaft　in　half。　The　hunter　who　had　thrown　it　backed　away；　and　the　thing　seemed　to　lose　interest；　turning　to　again　watch　her　and　Richard。
　
　‘What　in　the　world　is　it　doing？’　Richard　whispered。　‘Why　did　it　stop？　Why　is　it　just　watching　us？’
　
　With　a　cold　shock；　she　knew。
　
　‘It’s　a　screeling；’　Kahlan　whispered　more　to　herself　than　to　him。　‘Oh；　dear　spirits　protect　us；　it’s　a　screeling。’
　
　She　and　Richard　were　clutching　each　other’s　shirtsleeves　as　they　walked　backward；　watching　the　screeling。
　
　‘Get　away！’　she　yelled　at　the　hunters。　‘　Walk！　Don’t　run！’
　
　They　answered　with　another　useless　flight　of　arrows。
　
　‘This　way；’　Richard　said。　‘Between　the　buildings；　where　it’s　dark。’
　
　‘Richard；　that　thing　can　see　better　in　the　dark　than　we　can　see　in　the　light。　It’s　from　the　underworld。’
　
　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　screeling　standing　in　the　open；　in　the　moonlight。　‘I’m　listening。　What　else　can　we　do？’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　‘I　don’t　know。　But　don’t　run；　and　don’t　stand　still。　That　attracts　its　attention。　I　think　the　only　way　to　kill　it　may　be　to　hack　it　apart。’
　
　He　looked　over　to　her；　his　eyes　angry　in　the　moonlight。　‘What　do　you　think　I’ve　been　trying　to　do？’
　
　Kahlan　looked　around　at　the　small　passageway　they　were　entering。　‘Maybe　we　should　go　through　here　after　all。　Maybe　it　will　stay　there　and　we　can　get　away。　If　not；　at　least　we　can　lead　it　away　from　the　others。’
　
　The　screeling　watched　them　backing　away；　and　then　started　loping　after　them；　panting　a　wicked　laugh。
　
　‘Nothing　is　ever　easy；’　Richard　muttered。
　
　They　backed　through　the　narrow　passageway　of　smooth；　plastered　walls；　the　screeling　following。　Kahlan　could　see　the　dark　knot　of　hunters　following　it　in；　could　feel　the　pounding　of　her　heart。
　
　‘I　wanted　you　to　stay　in　the　spirit　house。　Why　didn’t　you　stay　there　where　you　were　safe？’
　
　She　recognized　the　tone　of　rage　from　the　sword’s　magic。　Her　hand　holding　his　shirtsleeve　felt　wet　and　warm。　She　looked　over　and　saw　blood　running　down　his　arm；　over　her　hand。　‘Because　I　love　you；　you　big　ox。　And　don’t　you　dare　do　anything　like　that　again。’
　
　‘If　we　get　out　of　this　alive；　I’m　going　to　put　you　over　my　knee。’
　
　They　kept　backing　down　the　twisting　passageway。　‘If　we　get　out　of　this　alive；　I　will　let　you。　What　happened　to　your　headache？’
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　‘I　don’t　know。　One　second　I　could　hardly　breathe；　and　the　next；　it　was　gone。　As　soon　as　it　was　gone；　I　could　feel　that　thing　on　the　other　side　of　the　door；　and　I　heard　it　make　that　awful　laugh。’
　
　‘Maybe　you　just　thought　you　could　sense　it　because　you　heard　it。’
　
　‘I　don’t　know。　That　could　be。　But　it　was　the　strangest　feeling。’
　
　She　pulled　him　by　his　shirtsleeve　down　a　side　passage。　It　was　darker。　Moonlight　fell　high　up　on　a　wall　to　their　left。　With　a　start；　she　saw　the　dark　shape　of　the　screeling　skittering　across　the　moonlit　wall；　like　some　huge；　black　bug。　Kahlan　had　to　force　herself　to　draw　a　breath。
　
　‘How　can　it　do　that？’　Richard　whispered。
　
　She　had　no　answer。　Behind　them；　torches　appeared。　Hunters　were　closing　in　around　them；　trying　to　bottle　up　the　attacker。
　
　Richard　looked　around。　‘If　these　people　try　to　get　this　thing；　its　going　to　kill　the　lot　of　them。’　They　stepped　into　a　moonlit　intersection　of　passageways。　‘Kahlan；　I　can’t　let　that　happen。’　He　looked　to　his　right；　down　toward　a　group　of　hunters　ing　with　torches。　‘Go　to　those　men。　Get　behind　them。’
　
　‘Richard；　I’m　not　leaving。　。。。’
　
　He　shoved　her。　‘Do　as　I　say！　Now！’
　
　His　tone　made　her　jump。　Involuntarily；　she　backed　away。　Richard　stood　still　in　the　moonlight；　holding　the　sword　in　both　hands；　the　tip　resting　on　the　ground。　He　looked　up　at　the　screeling　hanging　on　the　wall。　It　howled　a　laugh；　as　if　suddenly　recognizing　the　figure　standing　before　it。
　
　The　screeling　let　go　with　its　claws；　dropping　straight　down；　landing　in　the　darkness　with　a