tg.stone of tears-第99部分

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　could　trust；　confide　in；　but　she　didn’t　dare　trust　anyone。　Nathan　had　warned　her　not　to　trust　anyone。
　
　Even　though　she　wished　Jedidiah　were　home；　and　safe；　she　was　glad　to　have　him　with　her。　She　knew　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　to　help；　but　it　still　felt　good　to　have　him　to　confide　in。　Her　husband。　She　smiled　at　the　thought。　She　would　never　forgive　herself　if　anything　happened　to　him。　She　would　protect　him　with　her　life；　if　she　had　to。
　
　The　ground　pitched　into　a　descent。　Through　gaps　in　the　trees；　she　could　see　they　were　going　down　into　a　deep　bowl　in　the　earth。　The　edge　was　steep　and　they　had　to　move　slowly　so　as　not　to　send　any　rocks　tumbling　through　the　woods。　One　started　to　slide　as　her　foot　touched　it；　and　she　quickly　used　a　handful　of　air　to　stop　it；　and　then　push　it　firmly　into　the　ground。　She　sighed　in　relief。
　
　Jedidiah　followed　her；　a　silent；　forting　shadow。　Her　tension　relaxed　a　little　when　they　passed　from　the　loose　rock；　back　into　denser　woods　where　the　ground　was　mossy　and　silent　to　step　on。
　
　The　faint　sound　of　chanting　drifted　to　them　through　the　thick　woods；　carried　on　heavy；　fetid　air。　Low；　rhythmic；　guttural　tones　of　words　she　couldn’t　understand　resonated　in　her　chest。　Even　without　understanding　the　words；　she　felt　revulsion　at　them；　as　if　they　made　the　air　reek。
　
　Jedidiah　gripped　her　upper　arm；　dragging　her　to　a　halt。　He　put　his　mouth　close　to　her　ear。　‘Margaret；　please；’　he　whispered；　‘let’s　go　back　now；　before　it’s　too　late。　I’m　afraid。’
　
　‘Jedidiah！’　she　growled　as　she　reached　up　and　snatched　him　by　the　collar。　‘This　is　important！　I’m　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　You’re　a　wizard。　What　do　you　think　I’ve　been　training　you　for？　To　stand　on　a　street　down　in　the　market　and　perform　tricks？　To　have　people　throw　coins　at　you？　We　serve　the　Creator。　He　has　given　us　everything　we　have　so　we　may　use　it　to　help　others。　Others　are　in　danger。　We　must　help。　You’re　a　wizard。　Act　like　one！’
　
　She　could　just　see　his　wide　eyes　in　the　faint　light。　He　sagged　slightly　as　the　tension　went　out　of　his　muscles。　‘I’m　sorry。　You’re　right。　Forgive　me。　I　will　do　what　I　must；　I　promise。’
　
　Her　anger　cooled。　‘I’m　afraid；　too。　Touch　your　Han；　keep　a　firm　grip　on　it；　but　not　too　tight。　Hold　it　so　you　can　release　it　in　an　instant；　as　I’ve　taught　you。　If　anything　happens；　don’t　hold　back。　Don’t　be　afraid　of　how　much　you　might　hurt　them。　If　you　do　need　your　power；　anything　less　than　all　of　it　will　not　be　enough。　If　you　keep　your　head；　you’re　strong　enough　to　defend　yourself。　You　can　do　it；　Jedidiah。　Have　faith　in　what　I’ve　taught　you；　what　all　the　Sisters　have　taught　you。　Have　faith　in　the　Creator；　in　what　He　has　given　you。　You　have　it　for　a　reason；　we　all　do。　This　may　be　the　reason。　Tonight　may　be　what　you’ve　been　called　for。’
　
　He　nodded　again　and　she　turned　back　to　the　glowing　footprints；　following　them　into　the　thick　forest。　They　wandered　through　the　trees　toward　the　center　of　the　bowl；　toward　where　the　chanting　was　ing　from。　The　closer　they　got；　the　more　the　voices　made　her　skin　prickle。　The　voices　were　Sisters’。　She　thought　she　recognized　some　of　them。
　
　Dear　Creator；　she　prayed；　give　me　the　strength　to　do　what　I　must　to　help　you。　Give　Jedidiah　strength；　too。　Help　us　serve　you；　to　help　others。
　
　Little　flickers　of　light　came　through　the　leaves。　They　crept　closer。　The　trees　around　her　were　huge。　The　two　of　them　glided　from　one　trunk　to　another；　no　longer　following　the　footprints。　They　could　see　glimpses　now　of　something　through　openings　in　the　underbrush。　Slowly；　they　tiptoed　forward　across　the　open　forest　floor　beneath　large；　spreading　spruce　trees。　The　needles　were　soft　and　quiet　to　walk　on。　Shoulder　to　shoulder；　they　slid　behind　low；　heavy　brush　at　the　edge　of　woods。　It　was　as　close　as　they　could　go。　Beyond　lay　a　flat；　round；　open　area。
　
　At　least　a　hundred　candles　were　set　on　the　ground　in　a　ring；　like　a　fence；　or　boundary；　as　if　holding　back　the　dark　forest。　Inside　the　candles　was　a　circle　drawn　on　the　ground。　It　looked　to　be　made　of　white　sand　that　sparkled　with　little　points　of　prismatic　light。　It　looked　like　the　descriptions　of　sorcerer’s　sand　she　had　heard；　although　she　had　never　actually　seen　any。　It　stood　out　clearly　in　the　candlelight；　and　the　light　of　the　moon　overhead。
　
　Symbols　were　drawn　with　the　same　white　sand。　They　were　inside　the　circle；　points　of　them　touching　the　outer　boundary　of　the　circle　at　irregular　intervals。　Margaret　had　never　seen　the　symbols　before；　but　she　knew　some　of　the　elements　of　them　from　an　old　book。　They　spoke　to　the　underworld。
　
　About　halfway　in　from　the　outer　white　line　and　candles；　eleven　sisters　sat　in　a　circle。　Margaret　stared　harder；　trying　to　see　in　the　dim；　flickering　light。　It　looked　as　if　each　had　a　hood　over　her　head；　with　holes　cut　for　the　eyes。　They　chanted　in　unison。　Shadows　from　the　Sisters　extended　inward　to　a　point　in　the　center。
　
　In　the　center　lay　a　woman；　naked；　except　for　a　hood　like　the　others。　She　lay　on　her　back；　her　hands　crossed　over　her　breasts；　her　legs　pressed　together。
　
　Twelve。　With　the　one　in　the　center；　that　made　twelve。　She　searched　the　circle　of　Sisters　again。　Even　with　the　candles；　it　was　still　dark；　and　the　candles　were　to　the　Sisters’　backs。
　
　Her　eyes　stopped　on　a　form　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　circle。　Her　breath　caught　in　her　throat。　That　form　was　larger　than　the　rest。　It　was　hunched；　its　head　lowered；　and　without　a　hood。　It　sat　at　a　convergence　of　lines　in　the　symbols。
　
　It　was　not　a　Sister。　With　a　start；　she　saw　the　faint　orange　glow。　The　statue　with　the　quillion　was　resting　in　its　lap。
　
　She　and　Jedidiah　crouched；　frozen；　watching　the　circle　of　Sisters　as　they　chanted。　After　a　time；　one　of　them；　to　the　side　of　the　hunched　form；　stood。　The　chanting　stopped。　She　spoke　short；　sharp　words　in　a　language　Margaret　didn’t　know。　At　points　in　the　speech；　her　hand　shot　into　the　air；　flinging　sparkling　dust　over　the　naked　woman　in　the　center。　The　dust　ignited；　bathing　the　hooded　Sisters　with　brief；　harsh　light。　At　the　flash；　they　all　answered　with　odd；　rhyming　words。　She　and　Jedidiah　exchanged　looks；　her　own　confused；　frightened　feelings　reflected　in　his　eyes。
　
　The　standing　Sister　flung　both　hands　up；　calling　out　a　list　of　strange　words。　She　went　to　the　naked　woman；　stood　at　her　head；　and　threw　up　her　arms　again。　The　sparkling　dust　caught　fire　once　more。　This　time；　the　orange　glow　from　the　quillion　brightened。
　
　The　head　of　the　hunched　form　slowly　rose。　Margaret　made　a　silent　gasp　when　she　saw　the　face　of　the　beast。　Its　fanged　mouth　opened　with　a　low　growl。　The　Sister　drew　a　delicately　wrought　silver　scepter　from　her　cloak；　and　gave　it　sharp　shakes　as　she　chanted　again；　sprinkling　water　over　the　prone　woman。
　
　Something　was　happening　to　the　quillion。　It　brightened；　and　then　dimmed。　The　dark　eyes　of　the　beast　watched　the　naked　woman。　Margaret　stared；　wide…eyed。　Her　heart　pounded　so　hard　it　felt　as　if　it　would　tear　a　hole　in　her　chest。
　
　As　the　quillion　faded；　the　beast’s　eyes　began　to　glow　orange　…　the　same　color　orange　as　the　quillion。　As　the　quillion　dimmed；　the　glow　in　the　beast’s　eyes　intensified；　until　the　little