tg.stone of tears-第45部分

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　‘It’s　over。　That　is　what　matters。’　He　took　his　arm　from　his　eyes　and　at　last　smiled　up　at　her。　‘It’s　over　and　we　are　together。　In　some　ways；　it　was　good。　If　she　hadn’t　taught　me；　I　wouldn’t　be　able　to　deal　with　this　headache。　Maybe　Denna　has　helped　me。　Maybe　I　can　use　what　I　know　to　get　out　of　this。’
　
　She　winced　in　sympathy。　‘Is　it　really　bad　right　now？’
　
　He　nodded　a　little。　‘But　I’ll　die　before　I　ever　put　a　collar　around　my　neck　again。’
　
　She　understood　now；　though　she　wished　she　didn’t。　She　lay　down　snug　against　him。　The　fire　was　a　watery　blur。
　
　
　CHAPTER　11
　
　The　next　day　the　sky　was　a　cold　gray　and　the　wind　icy　as　the　two　of　them　went　out　alone　on　the　plain。　Richard　wanted　to　be　away　from　people；　away　from　buildings。　He　wanted　to　see　the　sky　and　the　earth；　he　said。　The　brown　grass　bowed　in　the　stiff　gusts　that　flapped　and　tugged　their　cloaks　as　they　walked　along　in　silence。　Richard　wanted　to　shoot　his　bow　to　make　the　headache　go　away　for　a　while。　Kahlan　just　wanted　to　be　with　him。
　
　It　seemed　that　the　eternity；　which　a　few　days　ago　she　had　felt　belonged　to　them；　was　slipping　through　her　fingers。　She　wanted　to　fight　back；　but　didn’t　know　how。　Everything　that　was　so　right　was　suddenly　going　wrong。
　
　She　didn’t　think　that　Richard　would　put　on　the　Rada’Han；　the　collar；　no　matter　what　the　Sisters　said。　He　might　accept　learning　to　use　the　gift；　but　she　didn’t　think　he　would　wear　a　collar。　And　if　he　didn’t；　he　would　die。　After　what　he　had　told　her　…　and　worse；　the　things　she　knew　he　hadn’t　…　how　could　she　expect　him　to　wear　it？　Or　ask　him　to？
　
　It　did　feel　good；　though；　to　be　away　from　the　village；　away　from　people　and　away　from　Chandalen’s　eyes　following　them　everywhere。　How　could　she　blame　him？　It　did　seem　as　if　the　two　of　them　kept　bringing　trouble；　but　it　irritated　her　that　he　acted　as　if　they　did　it　on　purpose。　She　was　tired　of　trouble。　It　seemed　as　if　it　would　never　end。　Well；　she　decided；　for　today；　at　least；　they　would　be　away　from　trouble；　and　just　enjoy　being　together。
　
　Kahlan　had　told　him　she　used　to　shoot　a　bow。　She　couldn’t　draw　his　because　it　was　too　heavy；　so　Richard　encouraged　her　to　borrow　one　and　bring　it　along　so　he　could　teach　her　how　to　shoot　better。　They　found　the　bundled　grass　targets　the　men　had　set　up　before；　standing　head　high　like　a　group　of　scarecrows　on　guard　over　the　vast；　flat　grassland。　A　few　even　had　balled　grass　for　heads。　Each　had　an　X　made　of　grass　for　a　target。　The　targets　with　heads　had　an　X　there　as　well。　Richard　thought　the　Xs　were　too　fat；　so　he　took　them　off　and　made　ones　of　single　grass　stalks。
　
　They　stood　a　long　way　off；　so　far；　in　fact；　that　she　could　hardly　see　the　bundled　grass；　much　less　the　Xs。　Richard　strapped　on　a　simple　leather　bracer　Savidlin　had　made　for　him　along　with　the　bow；　and　shot　arrows　until　his　headache　was　gone。
　
　Richard　was　a　picture　of　stillness；　of　smoothness；　he　was　one　with　the　bow。　She　smiled　at　how　good　he　looked；　and　that　he　was　hers。　It　made　her　heart　ache　with　joy　to　see　his　gray　eyes　sparkle　without　the　pain　of　the　headache　in　them。　They　moved　closer　so　she　could　shoot。
　
　‘Don’t　you　want　to　go　check　where　your　arrows　hit？’
　
　He　smiled。　‘I　know　where　they　hit。　You　shoot　now。’
　
　She　shot　a　few　arrows；　getting　the　feel　again。　He　set　one　end　of　his　bow　on　the　ground；　rested　both　hands　over　the　other　end；　and　watched　her。　She　had　been　a　girl　the　last　time　she　used　a　bow。　Richard　watched　her　shoot　a　few　more　times；　and　then　came　and　stood　behind　her。　His　arms　came　around　her；　and　he　adjusted　her　hand　on　the　bow　and　put　his　fingers　on　the　string。
　
　‘Here。　Do　this。　You　can’t　get　any　power　or　be　steady　enough　holding　the　arrow　with　your　thumb　and　the　knuckle　of　your　first　finger　that　way。　Hold　the　bowstring　back　with　your　first　three　fingers；　like　this；　nesting　the　arrow　between　the　first　two。　And　pull　with　your　shoulder　too。　You　don’t　need　to　pull　on　the　arrow；　just　concentrate　on　holding　back　the　string。　The　arrow　will　take　care　of　itself。　See？　Isn’t　that　better？’
　
　She　grinned。　‘It　is　with　your　arms　around　me。’
　
　‘Pay　attention　to　what　you’re　doing；’　he　scolded。
　
　Kahlan　took　aim　and　shot。　He　said　it　was　better　and　told　her　to　try　again。　She　shot　a　few　more　arrows；　and　thought　she　might　have　even　hit　the　bundled　grass　once。　She　drew　the　bowstring　again；　trying　to　hold　the　bow　steady。　Suddenly；　he　tickled　her　stomach。　She　doubled　over　squealing　and　laughing；　trying　to　get　his　fingers　off　her。
　
　‘Stop　it！’　She　laughed　breathlessly；　trying　to　twist　away　from　him。　‘Stop　it！　Richard！　I　can’t　shoot　when　you’re　doing　that！’
　
　He　put　his　fists　on　his　hips。　‘You　have　to　be　able　to。’
　
　She　frowned　up　at　him　as　she　panted。　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘Besides　being　able　to　hit　what　you　want；　you　have　to　be　able　to　shoot　no　matter　what　is　happening。　If　you　can’t　shoot　when　you’re　laughing；　how　can　you　shoot　when　you’re　afraid？　Just　you　and　the　target；　that’s　all　there　is。　Nothing　else　matters。　You　have　to　be　able　to　block　everything　else　out。
　
　‘If　a　wild　boar　is　charging　you；　you　can’t　think　about　how　afraid　you　are；　or　what　will　happen　if　you　miss。　You　have　to　be　able　to　make　the　shot　under　pressure。　Or　else　have　a　tree　close　by　you　can　climb。’
　
　‘But；　Richard；　you　can　do　it　because　you　have　the　gift。　I　can’t　do　that。’
　
　‘Nonsense。　The　gift　has　nothing　to　do　with　it。　It’s　simple　concentration。　Here；　I’ll　talk　you　through　it。　Nock　an　arrow。’
　
　He　stood　behind　her　again；　pulling　her　hair　off　her　neck；　leaning　close；　looking　over　her　shoulder；　and　whispering　in　her　ear　as　she　drew　the　bowstring　back。　He　whispered　what　she　should　feel；　how　she　should　breathe；　where　she　should　look；　what　she　should　see。　He　talked　in　a　way　that　made　the　words　melt　into　nothingness；　and　instead　made　images　form　in　her　head。　Only　three　things　existed：　the　arrow；　the　target；　and　his　words。　She　was　in　a　world　of　silence。
　
　When　everything　else　winked　out；　the　target　seemed　to　grow　larger　in　her　vision；　drawing　the　arrow　to　it。　His　words　made　her　feel　it；　made　her　do　things　without　understanding　them。　She　relaxed　and　exhaled；　holding　herself　still　without　taking　another　breath。　She　could　feel　it；　feel　the　target。　She　knew　when　it　was　time；　when　it　was　right。
　
　Lightly；　like　a　breath　of　air；　the　arrow　left　of　its　own　accord；　as　if　it　had　decided　to　go　on　its　own。　In　the　quiet；　she　could　see　the　feathers　clear　the　bow；　feel　the　string　hit　the　bracer；　she　could　see　the　target　pulling　the　arrow；　she　could　hear　the　arrow　hit　the　X。　She　felt　air　rush　back　into　her　lungs。
　
　It　was　almost　like　when　she　released　her　Confessor’s　power。　It　was　magic；　Richard’s　magic。　His　words　were　magic。　It　was　like　having　a　new　vision。
　
　She　felt　as　if　she　were　ing　awake　from　a　dream。　The　world　came　back。　She　almost　fell　against　him。
　
　Kahlan　turned　and　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck；　still　gripping　the　bow　in　one　hand。　‘Richard；　that　was　wonderful。　The　target　came　to　me！’
　
　‘See？　I　told　you　you　could　do　it。’
　
　She　kissed　his　nose。　‘I　didn’t　do　it；　you　did　it。　I　was　just　holding　the　bow　ins