tg.stone of tears-第277部分

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　‘I　don’t　think　that　happens　often　enough　to　be　a　problem。’
　
　‘I’m　trying　to　give　you　obvious　examples；　Richard；　so　you　will　be　better　able　to　extrapolate　to　more　difficult　problems；　and　understand　an　obscure　principle。
　
　‘Good　intentions；　being　kind；　can　encourage　the　lazy；　and　motivate　sound　minds　to　bee　indolent。　The　more　help　you　give　them；　the　more　help　they　need。　As　long　as　your　kindness　is　open…ended；　they　never　gain　discipline；　dignity；　or　self…reliance。　Your　kindness　impoverishes　their　humanity。
　
　‘If　you　give　a　coin　to　a　begger　because　he　says　his　family　is　hungry；　and　he　uses　it　to　get　drunk；　and　then　kills　someone；　is　it　your　fault？　No。　He　did　the　killing；　but　had　you　given　him　food　instead；　or　gone　and　given　his　family　food；　the　killing　would　not　have　happened。　It　was　a　good　intention　that　resulted　in　harm。
　
　‘Wizard’s　Second　Rule：　the　greatest　harm　can　result　from　the　best　intentions。　Violation　can　cause　anything　from　disfort；　to　disaster；　to　death。
　
　‘Some　leaders　have　preached　peace；　saying　that　even　self…defense　is　wrong。　It　seems　the　best　of　intentions　to　shun　violence。　In　the　end；　it　often　leads　to　a　slaughter；　where　their　threat　of　violence　in　the　beginning　would　have　prevented　attack；　and　resulted　in　no　violence。　They　put　their　good　intentions　above　the　realities　of　life。　They　accuse　warriors　of　being　bloodthirsty；　when　the　warriors　would　have　actually　prevented　bloodshed。’
　
　‘Are　you　trying　to　say　I　should　feel　no　shame　at　being　a　war　wizard？’
　
　‘It　does　the　sheep　no　good　to　preach　the　goodness　of　a　diet　of　grass；　if　the　wolves　are　of　a　different　mind。’
　
　Richard　felt　as　though　he　were　having　a　conversation　with　Zedd。　‘But　kindness　can’t　always　be　wrong。’
　
　‘Of　course　not。　That’s　where　wisdom　es　in。　You　must　be　wise　enough　to　foresee　the　consequences　of　your　actions。
　
　‘But　the　problem　with　the　Second　Rule　is　that　you　can’t　always　tell　for　sure　whether　you　are　violating　it；　or　simply　doing　right。　Worse；　magic　is　dangerous。　When　you　add　magic　to　the　good　intentions；　violation　of　the　Second　Rule　can　lead　to　catastrophe。
　
　‘Using　magic　is　easy。　Knowing　when　to　use　magic　is　the　hard　part。　Every　time　you　use　it；　you　can　bring　unexpected　ruin。
　
　‘Do　you　know；　Richard；　that　it’s　the　weight　of　one　flake　of　snow　that　is　one　too　many；　and　causes　an　avalanche？　Without　that　one；　last　flake；　the　catastrophe　would　not　happen。　When　using　magic；　you　must　know　which　is　the　one　snowflake　too　many　before　you　add　its　weight。　The　avalanche　will　be　out　of　all　proportion　to　what　you　think　the　weight　of　that　flake　could　invoke。’
　
　Richard　rubbed　his　thumb　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　‘Nathan；　I　think　I　may　have　torn　the　veil　because　I　violated　the　Wizard’s　Second　Rule。’
　
　‘You　did。’
　
　‘What　did　I　do？’
　
　‘You　used　your　magic；　through　the　Wizard’s　First　Rule；　to　win。　In　so　doing；　you　fed　magic　to　the　boxes；　the　gateway；　tearing　the　veil。　You　did　it　through　ignorance。　You　didn’t　know　that　the　unintended　results　of　doing　what　seemed　right　could　be　the　destruction　of　all　life。　One　snowflake　indeed。　Magic　is　dangerous。’
　
　‘How　can　I　fix　it？’
　
　The　Stone　of　Tears　must　be　put　back　on　the　Keeper。　The　lock；　the　seal；　must　be　restored。　The　Stone　of　Tears　must　be　sent　back　to　its　rightful　place；　in　the　underworld；　where　it　will　serve　to　restrain　the　Keeper’s　power　in　this　world。　To　do　that　requires　both　powers。
　
　‘The　key　must　then　be　turned　in　the　lock；　so　to　speak；　by　closing　the　gateway。　This　also　requires　both　Magics。　Doing　any　of　this　with　only　one　side　of　the　magic　would　rip　the　veil；　so　a　wizard　with　the　gift　for　only　the　Additive；　such　as　myself；　would　be　of　no　help。　Only　one　such　as　you　can　acplish　the　task。
　
　‘Until　it　is　done；　we　are　in　terrible　danger。　If　you　act　wrongly；　use　the　stone　for　your　own　reasons；　you　have　the　power　to　destroy　the　balance　and　tear　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way；　sending　us　all　into　eternal　night。’
　
　Richard　stared　at　the　table　while　he　thought。　‘Do　you　know　what　an　‘agent’　is？’
　
　‘Ah。　You　must　be　talking　about　the　trouble　with　the　uping　winter　solstice。　An　agent　is　one　who　trades　favors　with　the　Keeper；　favors　such　as　the　innocent　souls　of　children；　in　return　for　knowledge　of　the　use　of　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　He　gave　Richard　a　dark　look。　‘But　that　would　not　be　a　problem；　because　you　sent　Darken　Rahl　to　the　underworld；　where　he　has　no　power　here。　Darken　Rahl　is　in　the　underworld；　is　he　not？’
　
　Richard　felt　a　gnawing　pain　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。　He　had　not　only　torn　the　veil；　but　in　violating　the　Second　Rule　again；　by　trying　to　help　with　a　gathering；　he　had　brought　an　agent；　Darken　Rahl；　back　to　this　world　where　he　could　act　to　tear　the　veil。　It　was　all　Richard’s　fault。　He　felt　hot　and　dizzy。　He　thought　he　might　be　sick　at　any　moment。
　
　‘Nathan；　I　have　to　get　this　collar　off。’
　
　Nathan　shrugged。　‘I　can’t　help　with　that。’
　
　Richard　had　e　here　for　a　specific　reason。　He　decided　he　had　to　try　to　get　the　answer。　He　cleared　his　throat。
　
　‘Nathan；　there　is　someone　very　important　to　me。　She　is　in　danger；　and　I　must　help。　There　is　a　prophecy　about　her　that　is　written　down；　but　it　also　came　to　me　in　a　vision。’
　
　‘Which　prophecy？’
　
　‘Of　all　there　were；　but　a　single　one　born　of　the　magic　to　bring　forth　truth　will　remain　alive　when　the　shadow’s　threat　is　lifted。。。。’
　
　In　his　deep；　powerful　voice；　Nathan　finished　the　prophecy。　‘Therefore　es　the　greater　darkness　of　the　dead。　For　there　to　be　a　chance　at　life’s　bond；　this　one　in　white　must　be　offered　to　her　people；　to　bring　their　joy　and　good　cheer。’
　
　‘Then　you　know　of　it。　Nathan；　I　saw　the　meaning　of　the　prophecy。　I　was　told　not　to　speak　of　the　vision；　but　it’s　not　a　joyful　oute　as　far　as　I’m　concerned。’
　
　‘She　is　beheaded；’　Nathan　said　in　a　quiet　voice。　That　is　the　true　meaning　of　that　prophecy。’
　
　Richard　put　his　arm　across　his　churning　stomach。　That　was　what　he　had　seen　in　the　vision。　His　world　started　spinning　again。
　
　‘Nathan；　I　have　to　get　away　from　here。　I　have　to　stop　that　from　happening。’
　
　‘Richard；　look　at　me。’　Richard　looked　up；　managing　to　hold　the　tears　back。　‘Richard；　I　must　tell　you　the　truth。　If　this　prophecy　does　not　happen；　there　is　nothing　beyond。　We　all　die。　It　will　be　the　end　of　all　life。　The　Keeper　will　have　us。
　
　‘If　you　use　your　power　to　stop　it；　you　will　rip　the　veil　asunder　and　allow　the　Keeper　to　swallow　the　word　of　the　living。’
　
　Richard　shot　to　his　feet。　‘Why！　Why　would　she　have　to　die　to　save　the　living！　It　makes　no　sense！’　His　fist　tightened　around　the　hilt　of　the　sword。　‘I　have　to　stop　it！　It’s　just　a　stupid　riddle！　I　won’t　let　her　die　for　a　riddle！’
　
　‘Richard；　a　time　will　e　when　you　have　to　make　a　choice。　I　have　been　hoping　for　a　very　long　time　now　that　when　that　time　es；　you　will　be　wise　enough　to　make　the　right　choice。　You　have　the　power　to　destroy　us　all　if　you　choose　wrongly。’
　
　‘I　will　not　stand　here　while　you　tell　me　I　must　let　her　die。　The　good　spirits　have　done　nothing　to　help。　I　must。　I　will。’
　
　Richard　stormed　from　the　room。　Cracks　ran