epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第18部分

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her　proper；　vulnerable　girlhood　at　hearing　her　lover　thus　accepted。
　〃You've　said　no　word　in　wonder；〃　she　said；　〃mat　I　have　not　been　more　troubled　over　what　has　bee　of　Engelard；　and　where　he　is　gone　to　earth　now。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Cadfael；　and　smiled。　〃You　know　where　he　is；　and　how　to　get　in　touch　with　him　whenever　you　need。　I　think　you　two　have　two　or　three　places　better　for　secrecy　than　your　oak　tree；　and　in　one　of　them　Engelard　is　resting　now；　or　soon　will　be。　You　seem　to　think　he'll　be　safe　enough。　Tell　me　nothing；　unless　you　need　a　messenger；　or　help。〃
　〃You　can　be　my　messenger；　if　you　will；　to　another；〃　she　said。　They　were　emerging　from　the　forest　at　the　edge　of　Rhisiart's　home　fields；　and　Prior　Robert　stood　tall　and　grim　and　nonmittal　aside　from　their　path；　his　panions　discreetly　disposed　behind　him；　his　hands；　features；　and　the　angle　of　his　gently　bowed　head　all　disposed　to　convey　respect　for　death　and　passion　for　the　bereaved　without　actually　owning　to　forgiveness　of　the　dead。　His　prisoner　was　safely　lodged；　he　was　waiting　only　to　collect　the　last　stray　from　his　flock；　and　make　an　appropriately　impressive　exit。　〃Tell　Peredur　I　missed　him　from　among　those　my　father　would　have　liked　to　carry　him　home。　Tell　him　what　he　did　was　generous；　and　I　am　grateful。　I　am　sorry　he　should　ever　have　doubted　it。〃
　They　were　approaching　the　gate；　and　Uncle　Meurice；　the　steward；　came　out　to　meet　them　with　his　kindly；　soft…lined　face　quaking　and　shapeless　with　shock　and　distress。
　〃And　e　tomorrow；〃　said　Sioned　on　an　almost　soundless　breath；　and　walked　away　from　him　alone；　and　entered　the　gateway　after　her　father's　body。
　
　Chapter　Six
　Sioned's　message　might　not　have　been　delivered　so　soon；　for　it　would　not　have　been　any　easy　matter　to　turn　aside　at　Cadwallon's　house；　without　a　word　of　request　or　excuse　to　Prior　Robert；　but　in　the　dimness　of　the　woods；　a　little　above　the　holding；　Cadfael　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　figure　withdrawing　from　them；　with　evident　intent；　some　fifty　yards　into　cover；　and　knew　it　for　Peredur。　He　had　not　expected　to　be　followed；　for　he　went　only　far　enough　to　be　secure　from　actual　encounter　on　the　path；　and　there　sat　down　moodily　on　a　fallen　trunk；　his　back　against　a　young　tree　that　leaned　with　him；　and　kicked　one　foot　in　the　litter　of　last　year's　leaves。　Cadfael　asked　no　permission；　but　went　after　him。
　Peredur　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　other　feet　rustling　the　beech…mast；　and　rose　as　if　he　would　have　removed　further　to　avoid　speech；　but　then　gave　up　the　thought；　and　stood　mute　and　unweling；　but　resigned。
　〃I　have　a　word　to　you；〃　said　Brother　Cadfael　mildly；　〃from　Sioned。　She　bade　me　to　tell　you　that　she　missed　you　when　she　would　gladly　have　asked　you　to　lend　a　shoulder　for　her　father's　bier。　She　sends　you　word　that　what　you　did　was　generous；　and　she　is　grateful。〃
　Peredur　stirred　his　feet　uneasily；　and　drew　a　little　back　into　deeper　shadow。
　〃There　were　plenty　of　her　own　people　there；〃　he　said；　after　a　pause　that　seemed　awkward　rather　than　sullen。　〃She　had　no　need　of　me。〃
　〃Oh；　there　were　hands　enough；　and　shoulders　enough；〃　agreed　Cadfael；　〃nevertheless；　she　missed　you。　It　seems　to　me　that　she　looks　upon　you　as　one　having　a　forward　place　among　her　own　people。　You　have　been　like　a　brother　to　her　from　children；　and　she　could　do　well　with　a　brother　now。〃
　The　stiffness　of　Peredur's　young　body　was　palpable　even　in　the　green　dusk；　a　constraint　that　crippled　even　his　tongue。　He　got　out；　with　a　bitter　spurt　of　laughter：　〃It　was　not　her　brother　that　I　wanted　to　be。〃
　〃No；　that　I　understand。　Yet　you　behaved　like　one；　towards　her　and　towards　Engelard；　when　it　came　to　the　testing。〃
　What　was　meant　to　fort　and　pliment　appeared；　instead；　to　hurt。　Peredur　shrank　still　deeper　into　his　morose　stillness。　〃So　she　feels　she　has　a　debt　to　me；　and　wants　to　pay　it　but　not　for　my　sake。　She　does　not　want　me。〃
　〃Well；〃　said　Cadfael　equably；　〃I　have　delivered　her　message；　and　if　you'll　go　to　her　she'll　convince　you；　as　I　cannot。　There　was　another　would　have　wanted　you　there；　if　he　could　have　spoken。〃
　〃Oh；　hush！〃　said　Peredur；　and　jerked　his　head　aside　with　a　motion　of　sudden　pain。　〃Don't　say　more。。。。〃
　〃No；　pardon　me；　I　know　this　is　a　grief　to　you；　as　well　as　to　her。　She　said　so。　'He　was　a　favourite　with　him；'　she　said；　'and　fond　of　him…'〃
　The　boy　gave　a　sharp　gasp；　and　turning　with　blundering　haste；　walked　away　rapid　walked　away　rapidly　through　the　trees；　deeper　into　the　wood；　and　left　Brother　Cadfael　to　return　very　thoughtfully　to　his　panions；　with　the　feel　of　that　unbearably　tender　spot　still　wincing　under　his　probing　finger。
　〃You　and　I；〃　said　Bened；　when　Cadfael　walked　down　to　the　smithy　after　pline；　〃must　do　our　drinking　alone　tonight；　my　friend。　Huw　has　not　yet　e　down　from　Rhisiart's　hall；　and　Padrig　will　be　busy　singing　the　dead　man　till　the　small　hours。　Well　that　he　was　there　at　this　time。　A　man's　all　the　better　for　being　sung　to　his　grave　by　a　fine　poet　and　harpist；　and　it's　a　great　thing　for　his　children　to　remember。　And　Cai…Cai　we　shan't　be　seeing　down　here　much　for　a　while；　not　until　the　bailiff　es　to　take　his　prisoner　off　his　hands。〃
　〃You　mean　Brother　John　has　Cai　for　his　gaoler？〃　asked　Cadfael；　enlightened。
　〃He　volunteered　for　the　job。　I　fancy　that　girl　of　mine　ran　and　prompted　him；　but　he　wouldn't　need　much　prodding。　Between　them；　Brother　John　will　be　lying　snug　enough　for　a　day　or　two。　You　need　not　worry　about　him。〃
　〃Nothing　was　further　from　my　mind；〃　said　Cadfael。　〃And　it's　Cai　who　keeps　the　key　on　him？〃
　〃You　may　be　sure。　And　what　with　Prince　Owain　being　away　in　the　south；　as　I　hear　he　is；　I　doubt　if　sheriff　or　bailiff　will　have　much　time　to　spare　for　a　small　matter　of　insubordination　in　Gwytherin。〃　Bened　sighed　heavily　over　his　horn；　filled　this　time　with　coarse　red　wine。　〃It　grieves　me　now　that　ever　I　spoke　up　and　called　attention　to　the　blue　on　the　feathers；　at　least　in　front　of　the　lass。　But　someone　would　have　said　it。　And　it's　truth　that　now；　with　only　her　Uncle　Meurice　as　guardian；　she　could　have　got　her　own　way。　She　twists　him　round　her　finger；　he　wouldn't　have　stood　in　her　road。　But　now　I　misdoubt　me；　no　man　would　be　such　a　fool　as　to　leave　his　private　mark　on　a　dead　man　for　all　to　see。　Not　unless　he　was　disturbed　and　had　to　take　to　his　heels。　All　it　needed　was　the　corner　clipping；　how　long　does　that　take　if　you've　a　knife　on　you？　No；　it's　hard　to　understand。　And　yet　it　could　be　so！〃
　By　his　deep　gloom　there　was　more　on　Bened's　mind　than　that。　Somewhere　within；　he　was　in　abysmal　doubt　whether　he　had　not　spoken　up　in　the　hope　of　having　a　better　chance　with　Sioned　himself　if　his　most　favoured　rival　was　removed。　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　was　glad　when　he　broke　clear　as　he　did；　but　I'll　be　satisfied　if　he　makes　his　way　back　to
　Cheshire　after　this　alarm。　And　yet　it's　hard　to　think　of　him　as　a　murderer。〃
　〃We　might　give　our　minds　to　that；　if　you're　willing；〃　said　Cadfael；　〃for　you　know　the　people　of　these　parts　better　than　I　do。　Let's　own　it；　the　girl's　suspicion；　that　she　spoke　out　to　Prior　Robert's　face；　will　be　what　many　a　one　here　is　thinking；　whether　he　says　it　or　not。　Here　are　we　e　into　the　place　and　starting　a　great　contention；　chiefly　with　this　one　lord…no　need　to　argue　who's　in　the　right…and　there　he　stands　as　the　one　obstacle　to　what　we've　e　for；　and　suddenly　he's　dead；　murdered。　What's　more　natural　than　to　point　the　finger　at　us；　all　of　us？〃
　〃It's　blasphemy　even　to　consider　such　a　charge　against　such　reverend　brothers；〃　said　Bened；　shocked。
　〃Kings　and　abbots　are　also　men；　and　can　fall　to　temptation。　So　how　do　we　all　stand　in　regard　to　this　day's　doings？　All　six　of　us　were　together　or　close　within　sight　of　one　another　until　after　Mass。　Then　Prior　Robert；　Brother　Richard　and　I　were　with　Father　Huw；　first　in　the　orchard；　and　when　it　rained；　half　an　hour　before　noon；　in　the　house。　None　of　the　four　of　us　could　have　gone　into　the　forest。　Brother　John；　too；　was　about　the　house　and　holding；　Marared　can　vouch　for　him　as　well　as　we。　The　only　one　who　left；　before　we　all　came　forth　for　Vespers　and　set　off　to　search　for　Rhisiart；　was　Brother　Richard；　who　offered　to　go　and　see　if　he　could　meet　with　him　or　get　word　of　him；　and　was　gone　perhaps　an　hour　and　a　half；　and　came　back　empty…handed。　From　an　hour　after　noon　he　was　gone；　and　into　the　forest；　too；　for　what　it's　worth；　and　makes　no　claim　to　have　spoken　with　anyone　until　he　enquired　at　Cadwallon's　gate　on　his　way　back；　which　would　be　nearing　half　past　two。　I　must　speak　with　the　gate…keeper；　and　see　if　he　bears　that　out。　Two　of　us　are　left；　but　not　unaccounted　for。　Brother　Jerome　and　Brother　Columbanus　were　sent　off　to　keep　vigil　together　at　Saint　Winifred's　chapel；　to　pray　for　a　peaceful　agreement。　We　all　saw　them　set　off　together；　and　they'd　be　in　the　chapel　and　on　their　knees　long　before　ever　Rhisiart　came　down　towards　the　path。　And　there　they　stayed　until　Father　Huw's　messenger　went　to　fetch　them　to　join　us。　Each　of　them　is　warranty　for　the　other。〃
　〃I　said　so；〃　said　Bened；　reassured。　〃Holy　men　do　not　murder。〃
　〃Man；〃　said　Cadfael　earnestly；　〃there　are　as　holy　persons　outside　orders　as　ever　there　are　in；　and　not　to　trifle　with　truth；　as　good　men　out　of　the　Christian　church　as　most　I've　met　within　it。　In　the　Holy　Land　I've　known　Saracens　I'd　trust　before　the　mon　run　of　the　crusaders；　men　honourable；　generous　and　courteous；　who　would　have　scorned　to　haggle　and　jostle　for　place　and　trade　as　some　of　our　allies　did。　Meet　every　man　as　you　find　him；　for　we're　all　made　the　same　under　habit　or　robe　or　rags。　Some　better　made　than　others；　and　some　better　cared　for；　but　on　the　same　pattern　all。　But　there　it　is。　As　far　as　I　can　see；　only　one　of　us；　Brother　Richard；　had　any　chance　at　all　to　be　in　the　neighbourhood　when　Rhisiart　was　killed；　and　of　all　of　us　he　makes　the　least　likely　murderer。　So　we're　forced　to　look　if　the　ground　is　not　wide　open　for　others；　and　Saint　Winifred　only　an　opportunity　and　an　excuse。　Had　Rhisiart　any　enemies　around　Gwytherin？　Some　who　might　never　have　moved　against　him　if　we　had　not　blown　up　this　storm　and　put　the　temptation　in　their　way？〃
　Bened　considered　gravely；　nursing　his　wine。　〃I　wouldn't　say　there's　a　man　anywhere　who　has　not　someone　to　wish　him　ill；　but　it's　a　far　cry　from　that　to　murder。　Time　w