tg.stone of tears-第21部分

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　The　Bird　Man　looked　to　Kahlan　as　she　translated。　A　beaming　grin　spread　on　his　face。　‘We　wele　you　both　back　to　your　people　with　open　arms。’
　
　Women　and　children　were　gathering　among　the　ring　of　hunters；　their　dark；　mud…slicked　hair　framing　amazed　faces。　Scarlet　lowered　her　bulky　body　to　the　ground　and　Richard　slid　off　her　shoulder；　landing　on　his　boots　with　a　thump。　He　held　Siddin　in　one　arm　as　he　reached　up　with　the　other　and　helped　Kahlan　down。　She　was　quietly　joyful　to　have　her　feet　on　the　earth　again。
　
　Weselan　pushed　through　the　throng；　running　to　them；　Savidlin　right　at　her　heels。　She　wailed　her　son’s　name。　Siddin　held　his　arms　out　gleefully　and　practically　leapt　into　her　arms。　Weselan　alternated　between　crying　and　laughing　as　she　tried　to　hug　her　son　and　Richard　and　Kahlan　all　at　once。　Savidlin　rubbed　his　boy’s　back　and　looked　to　her　and　Richard　with　wet　eyes。
　
　‘He　was　brave　as　any　hunter；’　Kahlan　told　him。
　
　He　gave　a　single；　firm；　pride…filled　nod。　He　appraised　her　for　a　moment　and　then　stepped　closer；　giving　her　a　gentle　slap。　‘Strength　to　Confessor　Kahlan。’
　
　Kahlan　returned　the　slap　and　greeting；　and　then　he　threw　his　arms　around　her　and　squeezed　nearly　all　the　breath　out　of　her。　When　finished　with　hugging　her；　he　straightened　his　elder’s　coyote　hide　on　his　shoulders　and　looked　up　at　Richard。　He　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　And　then　he　gave　Richard　a　powerfully　hard　whack　across　the　jaw；　a　demonstration　of　his　heartfelt　respect　for　Richard’s　strength。
　
　‘Strength　to　Richard　With　The　Temper。’
　
　Kahlan　wished　he　hadn’t　done　that。　She　could　tell　by　Richard’s　eyes　that　he　had　a　headache。　He　had　had　it　since　yesterday；　and　she　had　hoped　it　would　be　better　after　a　good　sleep　the　night　before　in　Scarlet’s　cave。　Siddin　had　played　with　the　little　red　dragon　until　he　was　dead　tired；　and　then　had　cuddled　between　them　and　gone　to　sleep。
　
　Having　not　slept　for　days；　she　thought　she　would　have　no　trouble　sleeping；　but　she　found　she　didn’t　want　to　stop　looking　at　Richard。　She　had　finally　put　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　held　his　hand　in　both　of　hers；　and　fallen　asleep　smiling。　They　had　all　needed　the　rest。　Bad　dreams　had　caused　Richard　to　jerk　awake　several　times　in　a　cold　sweat；　and　even　though　he　had　said　nothing；　she　could　see　in　his　eyes　that　he　still　had　the　headache。　Richard　didn’t　let　it　bother　him；　though；　and　returned　Savidlin’s　slap　in　kind。
　
　‘Strength　to　Savidlin。　My　friend。’
　
　Properly　greeted；　souls　protected；　Savidlin　let　his　grins　and　backslaps　fly。　After　they　had　exchanged　greetings　with　the　Bird　Man；　Richard　addressed　the　crowd。
　
　‘This　brave　and　noble　dragon；　Scarlet；’　he　called　out　in　a　voice　for　all　to　hear；　even　though　they　couldn’t　understand　the　words；　‘has　helped　me　kill　Darken　Rahl　and　avenge　our　murdered　people。　She　has　brought　us　here　so　Siddin　could　be　returned　before　his　parents　could　fear　for　him　another　night。　She　is　my　friend；　a　friend　to　the　Mud　People。’
　
　Everyone　was　dumbfounded　as　Kahlan　translated。　The　hunters；　at　least；　puffed　up　at　hearing　that　an　enemy　of　the　Mud　People　had　been　killed　by　one　of　their　own　…　even　if　he　was　one　of　their　own　by　proclamation　and　not　by　birth。　The　Mud　People　honored　strength；　and　to　them　killing　one　who　harmed　their　people　meant　strength。
　
　Scarlet’s　head　swung　down；　her　ears　twitching。　One　yellow　eye　frowned　at　Richard。　‘Friend！　Red　dragons　are　friends　to　no　people！　We　are　feared　by　all！’
　
　‘You’re　my　friend。’　Richard　smiled。　‘I’m　a　person。’
　
　Scarlet　snorted　a　puff　of　smoke　at　him。　‘Paah。　I　will　eat　you　yet。’
　
　Richard’s　grin　widened。　He　pointed　at　the　Bird　Man。　‘You　see　this　man？　He　gave　me　the　whistle　that　I　used　to　save　your　egg。　If　not　for　that　whistle；　the　gars　might　have　eaten　your　little　one。’　He　stroked　a　hand　on　the　bright　red　snout。　‘And　a　wonderful　little　one　it　is。’
　
　Scarlet　tilted　her　head；　blinking　a　big　yellow　eye　at　the　Bird　Man。　‘I　guess　he　would　make　a　meager　snack。’　She　peered　back　at　Richard；　a　chuckle　rumbling　in　her　throat。　‘The　whole　of　the　village　wouldn’t　make　a　decent　meal。　More　trouble　than　it　would　be　worth。’　She　brought　her　head　closer　to　him。　‘If　they　are　your　friends；　Richard　Cypher；　they　are　my　friends；　too。’
　
　‘And　Scarlet；　this　one　is　called　the　Bird　Man　because　he　loves　creatures　that　fly。’
　
　Scarlet’s　scaly　eyebrows　lifted。　‘Really？’　She　swung　her　head　close　to　the　Bird　Man；　inspecting　him　anew。　The　proximity　of　Scarlet’s　big　head　caused　a　few　close　to　him　to　back　away　a　step　or　two。　The　Bird　Man　held　his　ground。　‘Thank　you；　Bird　Man；　for　helping　Richard。　He　has　saved　my　young　one。　The　Mud　People　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me。　On　my　dragon’s　honor。’
　
　The　Bird　Man　looked　to　Kahlan　as　she　translated；　smiled　to　Scarlet；　and　then　turned　to　his　people。　‘As　Richard　With　The　Temper　says；　this　noble　dragon；　Scarlet；　is　a　friend　to　the　Mud　People。　She　may　hunt　our　land；　and　we　will　bring　no　harm　to　her；　nor　her　to　us。’
　
　Cheering　erupted　from　the　crowd。　For　a　people　to　have　a　dragon　as　a　friend　was　taken　as　an　honor　to　their　strength。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　shouting　with　excitement。　They　waved　their　arms　in　the　air　and　stamped　around　in　little　dances。　Scarlet　joined　in　the　merriment　by　throwing　her　head　back　and　sending　a　roaring　column　of　flame　skyward。　The　people　cheered　louder。
　
　Kahlan　noticed　Richard　glancing　off　to　the　side。　She　followed　the　direction　of　his　gaze　to　a　small　band　of　hunters　standing　together。　None　of　them　were　cheering。　She　recognized　their　leader。　He　was　the　one　who　had　blamed　Richard　for　bringing　trouble　to　their　village　…　blamed　Richard　for　the　deaths　of　Mud　People　at　the　hands　of　Darken　Rahl。
　
　As　the　hooting　and　hollering　went　on；　Richard　motioned　Scarlet　toward　him。　When　she　lowered　her　head；　he　put　his　face　right　in　her　ear。　She　listened　to　whatever　he　was　saying　and　then　pulled　her　head　back；　regarding　him　with　a　big　yellow　eye。　She　nodded。
　
　Richard　held　out　the　carved　bone　whistle　hanging　from　a　leather　thong　at　his　neck　as　he　turned　to　the　Bird　Man。　‘You　gave　me　this　as　a　gift；　but　told　me　it　would　never　aid　me　because　I　could　only　call　all　the　birds　at　once。　I　think　maybe　the　good　spirits　wanted　it　that　way。　This　gift　helped　me　save　everyone　from　Darken　Rahl。　It　helped　me　save　Kahlan。　Thank　you。’
　
　The　Bird　Man　smiled　at　the　translation。　Richard　whispered　in　Kahlan’s　ear　that　he　would　be　back　in　a　short　time；　and　then　climbed　up　on　Scarlet。
　
　‘Honored　elder；　Scarlet　and　I　would　like　to　give　you　a　small　gift。　We　would　like　to　take　you　up　in　the　air；　so　you　may　see　where　your　beloved　birds　fly。’　He　extended　a　hand　to　the　Bird　Man。
　
　The　elder；　upon　hearing　the　translation；　looked　apprehensively　at　Scarlet。　Her　vibrant　red　scales　were　glossy　in　the　late…afternoon　sun；　undulating　with　her　breathing。　Her　tail　reached　nearly　to　the　mud…brick　homes　across　the　field。　The　dragon　unfolded　her　wings　and　lazily　stretched　them。　He　looked　at　Richard；　who　was　still　offering　his　hand　to　him。　A　little…boy　grin　lit　the　elder’s　face。　It　made　Kahlan　laugh。　He　clasped　Richard’s　arm　and　hoisted　himself　up。
　
　Savidlin　s