tg.stone of tears-第75部分

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will　watch。　Forever。　The　Keeper　will　watch。　Forever。’
　
　‘Please；’　she　cried；　‘send　me　with　him。’
　
　A　finger　reached　out　and　touched　a　tear。　The　pain　of　the　touch　made　her　flinch。　‘Since　you　love　him　so　much；　I　will　give　you　a　gift。’　He　turned　and　drew　his　arm　smoothly　through　the　air　in　Richard’s　direction。　His　frightening　blue　eyes　returned　to　her。　‘I　will　let　him　live　a　short　time　longer。　Long　enough　for　you　to　watch　as　the　Keeper’s　mark　bleeds　the　life　from　him。　Bleeds　his　soul　from　him。　Time　is　nothing。　The　Keeper　will　have　him。　I　give　you　this　spark　of　time　in　forever　to　watch　the　one　you　love　die。’
　
　He　leaned　toward　her。　She　struggled　to　back　away；　but　couldn’t。　His　lips　left　a　kiss　on　her　cheek。　The　pain　of　it　sent　a　silent　shriek　through　her　and　filled　her　mind　with　a　vision　of　being　raped。　Luminous　fingers　lifted　her　hair　from　her　neck。　His　mouth　was　by　her　ear。
　
　‘Enjoy　my　gift；’　he　whispered　intimately。　‘In　time；　I　will　have　you；　too。　Forever。　Between　life　and　death。　Forever。　I　would　like　to　tell　you　how　much　you　will　suffer；　but　I　am　afraid　you　would　not　be　able　to　prehend　it。　Soon　enough；　I　will　show　you。’　He　gave　a　whispering　laugh　in　her　ear。　After　I　have　torn　the　veil　the　rest　of　the　way；　and　freed　the　Keeper。’
　
　As　she　stood　helpless；　he　left　another　kiss　on　her　neck。　The　horror　of　the　visions　it　seared　through　her　mind　left　her　feeling　defiled　beyond　anything　she　had　thought　possible。　‘Just　a　tiny　taste。　Good…bye；　for　now；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　As　he　turned　from　her；　she　was　able　to　move　again。　She　snatched　desperately　for　the　power。　It　wouldn’t　e。　She　cried　and　shook　as　she　watched　him　glide　through　the　doorway　of　the　spirit　house　and　disappear。
　
　And　then　she　collapsed　to　the　ground　with　a　wail　of　agony。　Convulsing　in　ragged　sobs；　she　clawed　across　the　dirt　to　Richard。
　
　He　lay　on　his　side；　away　from　her。　She　pulled　him　over　on　his　back。　His　arm　flopped　to　his　side；　limp。　His　head　rolled　toward　her。　He　looked　ashen；　dead。　On　his　chest　was　a　burned　handprint　…　the　Keeper’s　mark。　The　blackened　skin　was　cracked　and　bleeding。　His　life；　his　soul；　was　bleeding　away。
　
　She　fell　on　him；　clutched　at　him；　as　she　wept　and　shook　uncontrollably。
　
　Kahlan　gripped　her　fingers　into　a　fist　in　his　hair　and　pressed　her　face　against　his　cold　cheek。　‘Please；　Richard；’　she　cried　in　choking　sobs；　‘please　don’t　leave　me。　I　would　do　anything　for　you。　I　would　die　in　your　place。　Don’t　die。　Don’t　leave　me。　Please；　Richard。　Don’t　die。’
　
　She　crouched　against　him；　her　world　ending。　Dying。　She　could　think　of　nothing　to　do；　other　than　cry　that　she　loved　him。　He　was　dying；　and　she　could　do　nothing　to　stop　it。　She　could　feel　his　breathing　slow。
　
　She　willed　herself　to　die　with　him；　but　death　wouldn’t　e。　She　lost　all　sense　of　time。　She　didn’t　know　if　she　had　been　there　a　few　minutes；　or　a　few　hours。　She　didn’t　know　what　was　real　anymore。　It　all　felt　like　a　nightmare。　With　trembling　fingers；　she　stroked　his　face。　His　skin　was　dead　cold。
　
　‘You　would　be　Kahlan。’
　
　She　spun　around；　sitting　up；　at　the　sound　of　the　woman’s　voice　ing　from　behind　her。　The　door　to　the　spirit　house　was　closed　again。　In　the　darkness；　a　white；　spiritlike　glow　towered　over　her。　It　appeared　to　be　a　spirit；　a　woman；　her　hands　clasped　in　front　of　her。　She　watched　with　a　pleasant　smile。　Her　hair；　as　best　as　Kahlan　could　make　of　it；　was　plaited　in　a　single　braid。
　
　‘Who　are　you？’
　
　The　figure　sank　down　to　sit　in　front　of　her。　The　spirit　had　no　clothes　Kahlan　could　make　out；　but　didn’t　appear　to　be　naked　either。　The　woman　looked　at　Richard。　A　glaze　of　both　longing　and　anguish　came　over　her　fair　features。　The　spirit　turned　to　Kahlan。
　
　‘I　am　Denna。’
　
　The　shock　of　the　name；　and　her　proximity　to　Richard；　brought　Kahlan’s　fist　up　in　a　jerk。　Lightning　screamed　to　be　released。　Before　Kahlan　could　let　it　go；　Denna　spoke　again。
　
　‘He　is　dying。　He　needs　us。　Both　of　us。’
　
　Kahlan　hesitated。　‘You　can　help　him？’
　
　‘We　both　can；　maybe。　If　you　love　him　enough。’
　
　Kahlan’s　hopes　flared。　‘I　would　do　anything。　Anything。’
　
　Denna　nodded。　‘I　hope　so。’
　
　Denna　looked　back　to　Richard　and　tenderly　stroked　his　chest。　Kahlan　was　a　blink　away　from　releasing　the　power。　She　didn’t　know　if　Denna　was　trying　to　hurt　him；　or　help　him。　She　hoped　against　hope。　This　was　her　only　chance　to　save　Richard。　Richard　took　a　deep　breath。　Kahlan’s　heart　leapt。
　
　Denna　withdrew　her　hand　and　smiled。　‘He　is　still　with　you。’
　
　Kahlan　lowered　her　fist　a　little；　and　wiped　tears　from　her　cheek　with　the　fingers　of　her　other　hand。　She　didn’t　like　the　look　of　longing　Denna　had　as　she　watched　Richard。　Not　one　bit。　‘How　did　you　get　here？　Richard　couldn’t　have　called　you；　you　are　not　his　ancestor。’
　
　Denna　turned；　her　small；　dreamy　smile　fading。　‘It　would　be　impossible　to　relate　it　to　you　accurately；　but　perhaps　I　could　explain　it　enough　that　it　would　help　you　to　understand。　I　was　in　a　place　of　darkness　and　peace。　It　was　disturbed　as　Darken　Rahl　passed　through。　His　passing　through　is　something　that　is　not　supposed　to　happen。　As　he　neared；　I　sensed　that　Richard　had　somehow　called　him；　and　enabled　him　to　pass　from　where　he　was；　held　by　a　veil；　and　to　e　here。
　
　‘I　know　Darken　Rahl　all　too　well；　so　I　followed　him。　I　would　never　have　been　able　to　pass　through　my　own　veil；　but　by　latching　on　to　him；　I　was　able　to　e　through；　too；　to　follow　in　his　wake。　I　came　because　I　knew　what　Darken　Rahl　would　do　to　Richard。　I　don’t　know　how　to　explain　it　better。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　She　wasn’t　seeing　a　spirit；　she　was　seeing　a　woman　who　had　taken　Richard　as　her　mate。　The　power　boiled　angrily　inside　her。　She　struggled　to　put　it　down；　telling　herself　that　this　was　to　save　Richard。　She　didn’t　know　any　other　way；　she　had　to　let　Denna　help；　if　she　could。　Kahlan　had　said　she　would　do　anything；　and　she　meant　it。　Even　if　it　was　not　to　try　to　kill　someone　who　was　already　dead。　Someone　she　wanted　to　kill　a　thousand　times　and　then　another　thousand。
　
　‘Can　you　help　him？　Can　you　save　him？’
　
　‘The　Keeper’s　mark　has　been　placed　upon　him。　The　mark　will　take　the　holder　to　the　Keeper。　If　another’s　hand　is　placed　over　the　mark；　it　will　transfer　to　them；　and　take　them　instead；　in　his　place。　Richard　will　not　then　be　pulled　to　the　Keeper。　He　will　live。’
　
　Kahlan　knew　in　that　instant　what　she　must　do。　Without　hesitation；　she　leaned　over　Richard；　stretching　her　hand　out。　Then　I　will　take　the　mark。　I　will　go　in　his　place　so　that　he　will　live。’　She　spread　her　fingers　to　match　the　black　mark。　Her　hand　was　only　a　scant　inch　above　it。
　
　‘Kahlan；　don’t　do　that。’
　
　She　looked　over　her　shoulder。　‘Why？　If　it　will　save　him；　then　I　am　willing　to　go　in　his　place。’
　
　‘I　know　you　are；　but　it　is　not　that　simple。　We　must　talk　first。　It　will　not　be　easy；　for　either　of　us。　It　will　hurt　both　of　us　to　really　help　him。’
　
　Kahlan　reluctantly　sat　back　down　and　nodded。　She　would　have　agreed　to　anything；　paid　any　price；　even　talking　to　this　。。。　woman。　She　put　a　hand　protectively　on　Richard　as　she　sat　facing　Denna。　‘How　do　you　know　who　I　am？’