epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第25部分

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　No　convulsions　this　time；　at　any　rate。　He　had　simply　seen　whatever　he　had　seen；　or　thought　he　had　seen；　and　fallen　down　before　it　in　this　destroying　rapture。　Cadfael　shook　him　by　the　shoulder　gently；　and　then　more　sharply；　but　he　was　rigid　and　unresponsive。　His　forehead　was　cool　and　smooth；　his　features；　very　dimly　seen；　yet　looked　serene；　posed；　if　anything；　in　a　gentle　and　joyful　peace。　But　for　the　rigidity　of　body　and　limbs；　and　that　unnatural　attitude　as　though　he　lay　stretched　on　a　cross；　he　might　have　been　asleep。　All　Cadfael　had　been　able　to　do　by　way　of　easing　him　was　to　turn　his　head　so　that　he　lay　on　his　right　cheek；　pillowed　on　the　draperies。　When　he　tried　to　bend　the　right　arm　and　turn　the　young　man　more　fortably　on　his　side；　the　joints　resisted　him；　so　he　let　well　enough　alone。
　And　now；　he　thought；　what　am　I　supposed　to　do？　Abandon　my　watch　and　go　down　and　fetch　the　prior　with　help　for　him？　What　could　they　do　for　him　that　I　cannot　do　here？　If　I　can't　rouse　him；　then　neither　could　they。　He'll　e　out　of　it　when　the　right　time　es；　and　not　before。　He's　done　himself　no　injury；　his　breathing　is　steady　and　deep。　His　heart　beats　strongly　and　regularly；　he　has　no　fever。　Why　interfere　with　a　man's　peculiar　pleasures；　if　they're　doing　him　no　harm？　It　isn't　cold　here；　and　he　can　have　one　of　these　altar…cloths　for　blanket；　a　fancy　that　ought　to　please　him。　No；　we　came　to　watch　out　the　night　together；　and　so　we　will；　I　here　on　my　knees　as　is　due；　and　he　wherever　he　may　be　at　this　moment　in　his　dreams。
　He　covered　Columbanus；　adjusted　the　cloths　to　cushion　his　head；　and　went　back　to　his　own　prie…dieu。　But　whatever　this　visitation　had　done　for　Columbanus；　it　had　shattered　all　possibility　of　thought　or　concentration　for　Cadfael。　The　more　he　tried　to　focus　his　mind　whether　upon　his　duty　of　prayer　and　meditation；　or　the　urgent　need　to　consider　where　Sioned　stood　now；　and　what　more　could　be　done；　the　more　was　he　drawn　to　look　again　at　the　prone　body；　and　listen　again　to　make　sure　it　still　breathed　as　evenly　as　ever。　What　should　have　been　a　profitable　night　hung　heavy　upon　him；　wasted　as　worship；　useless　as　thought；　as　long　and　dreary　and　tedious　a　night　as　he　had　ever　passed。
　The　first　dove…grey　softening　of　the　darkness　came　as　a　blessing；　bringing　release　at　least　within　sight。　The　narrow　space　of　sky　seen　through　the　altar　window　changed　from　grey　to　pale；　clear　green；　from　green　to　saffron；　from　saffron　to　gold；　a　cloudless　morning；　the　first　sunray　piercing　through　the　slit　and　falling　on　the　altar；　the　reliquary；　the　shrouded　body；　and　then　striking　like　a　golden　sword　across　the　chapel；　leaving　Columbanus　in　darkness。　Still　he　lay　rigid；　yet　breathing　deeply　and　softly；　and　no　touch　or　word　could　reach　him。
　He　was　in　the　same　condition　when　Prior　Robert　came　with　his　fellows；　and　Sioned　with　Annest　in　attendance；　and　all　the　people　from　the　village　and　the　nearby　holdings；　silent　and　watchful　as　before；　to　see　the　end　of　this　three…night　vigil。
　Sioned　was　the　first　to　enter；　and　the　dimness　within；　after　the　brightness　without；　made　her　blind　for　a　moment；　so　that　she　halted　in　the　doorway　until　her　eyes　should　grow　accustomed　to　the　change。　Prior　Robert　was　close　behind　her　when　she　saw　the　soles　of　Brother　Columbanus's　sandals　upturned　before　her；　just　touched　by　the　sunray　from　the　window；　while　the　rest　of　him　lay　still　in　shadow。　Her　eyes　widened　in　wonder　and　horror；　and　before　Cadfael　could　rise　and　turn　to　reassure　her　she　had　uttered　a　sharp　cry：　〃What　is　it？　Is　he　dead？〃
　The　prior　put　her　aside　quickly；　and　strode　past　her；　and　was　brought　up　short　with　his　foot　on　the　hem　of　Columbanus'　habit。
　〃What　happened　here？　Columbanus！　Brother！〃　He　stooped　and　laid　his　hand　upon　a　rigid　shoulder。　Columbanus　slept　and　dreamed　on；　unmoved　and　unmoving。　〃Brother　Cadfael；　what　does　this　mean？　What　has　befallen　him？〃
　〃He　is　not　dead；〃　said　Cadfael；　putting　first　things　first；　〃nor　do　I　think　he　is　in　any　danger。　He　breathes　like　a　man　peacefully　sleeping。　His　colour　is　good；　he　is　cool　to　the　touch；　and　has　no　injury。　Simply；　at　midnight　he　suddenly　stood　up　before　the　altar；　and　spread　out　his　arms　and　fell　forward　thus　in　trance。　He　has　lain　all　night　like　this；　but　without　distress　or　agitation。〃
　〃You　should　have　called　us　to　his　aid；〃　said　the　prior；　shaken　and　dismayed。
　〃I　had　also　a　duty；〃　said　Cadfael　shortly；　〃to　remain　here　and　keep　the　vigil　I　was　sent　to　keep。　And　what　could　have　been　done　for　him　more　than　I　have　done；　in　giving　him　a　pillow　for　his　head　and　a　cover　against　the　chill　of　the　night？　Nor；　I　think；　would　he　have　been　grateful　if　we　had　carried　him　away　before　the　appointed　time。　Now　he　has　kept　his　own　watch　faithfully；　and　if　we　cannot　rouse　him　we　may　bear　him　away　to　his　bed；　without　doing　violence　to　his　sense　of　duty。〃
　〃There　is　something　in　that；〃　said　Brother　Richard　earnestly；　〃for　you　know　that　Brother　Columbanus　has　several　times　been　visited　and　favoured　by　visions；　and　it　might　have　been　a　great　wrong　to　take　him　away　from　the　very　place　where　such　blessings　befell　him。　An　offence；　perhaps；　against　the　saint　herself；　if　she　was　pleased　to　reveal　herself　to　him。　And　if　that　is　so；　then　he　will　awake　when　the　time　is　right　that　he　should；　and　it　might　do　him　great　harm　to　try　and　hasten　the　hour。〃
　〃It　is　true；〃　said　the　prior；　a　little　reassured；　〃that　he　seems　at　peace；　and　has　a　good　colour；　and　no　sign　of　trouble　or　pain。　This　is　most　strange。　Is　it　possible　that　this　young　brother　will　be　the　occasion　of　another　such　prodigy　as　when　his　affliction　first　drew　us　to　Saint　Winifred？〃
　〃He　was　the　instrument　of　grace　once；〃　said　Richard；　〃and　may　be　so　again。　We　had　better　carry　him　down　to　his　bed　at　Cadwallon's　house；　and　keep　him　quiet　and　warm；　and　wait。　Or　had　we　not　better　take　him　to　Father　Huw's　parsonage；　so　that　he　may　be　close　to　the　church？　It　may　be　that　his　first　need　will　be　to　give　thanks。〃
　With　a　heavy　altar…cloth　and　their　girdles　they　made　a　sling　in　which　to　carry　Columbanus；　lifting　him　from　the　floor；　stiff　as　a　branch；　even　his　extended　arms　still　rigid。　They　laid　him　on　his　back　in　their　improvised　litter；　and　he　suffered　whatever　they　did　to　him；　and　made　no　sound　or　sign。　A　few　of　the　watching　natives；　moved　and　awed　by　the　spectacle；　came　forward　to　lend　a　hand　in　carrying　him　down　through　the　forest　to　Huw's　house。　Cadfael　let　them　go。　He　turned　to　look　at　Sioned；　as　she　was　looking　at　him；　with　dubious　and　speculative　eyes。
　〃Well；　I；　at　least；〃　he　said；　〃am　in　my　right　senses；　and　can　and　will　do　what　you　have　asked　of　me。〃　And　he　stepped　to　Rhisiart's　side；　and　laid　his　hand　upon　the　dead　man's　heart；　and　signed　his　forehead　with　a　cross。
　She　walked　beside　him　as　they　followed　the　slow　procession　down　towards　the　village。
　〃What　more　can　we　do？　If　you　know　of　anything；　only　tell　me。　We　have　not　been　favoured　so　far。　And　today　is　to　be　his　burial。〃
　〃I　know　it；〃　said　Cadfael；　and　brooded。　〃As　for　this　affair　in　the　night；　I'm　torn　two　ways。　I　should　think　it　possible　it　was　all　planned；　to　reinforce　our　cause　with　another　miracle；　but　for　two　things。　To　me　Prior　Robert's　amazement　and　concern；　however　I　look　at　them；　seem　to　be　true　and　not　false。　And　Columbanus　has　shown　these　strange　properties　before；　and　the　way　they　overtake　him　is　violent　and　perilous；　and　it's　hard　to　believe　he　is　feigning。　A　tumbler　at　a　fair；　making　his　living　by　playing　the　devil　with　his　own　body；　could　not　outdo　Columbanus　when　the　fit　es　on　him。　I　am　not　able　to　judge。　I　think　there　are　some　who　live　on　a　knife…edge　in　the　soul；　and　at　times　are　driven　to　hurl　themselves　into　the　air；　at　the　mercy　of　heaven　or　hell　which　way　to　fall。〃
　〃All　I　know；〃　said　Sioned；　burning　darkly　red　like　a　slow　torch；　〃is　that　my　father　whom　I　loved　is　murdered；　and　I　want　justice　on　the　murderer；　and　I　do　not　want　a　blood　price。　There　is　no　price　I　will　accept　for　Rhisiart's　blood。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know！〃　said　Cadfael。　〃I　am　as　Welsh　as　you。　But　keep　a　door　open　to　pity；　as　who　knows　when　you　or　I　may　need　it！　And　have　you　spoken　with　Engelard？　And　is　all　well　with　him？〃
　She　quivered　and　flushed　and　softened　beside　him；　like　a　frost…blighted　flower　miraculously　revived　by　a　southern　wind。　But　she　did　not　answer。　There　was　no　need。
　〃Ah；　you'll　live！〃　said　Brother　Cadfael；　satisfied。　〃As　he'd　want　you　to。　Even　if　he　did　set　his　face　against；　like　a　proper　Welsh　lord。　You'd　have　got　your　way　in　the　end；　you　were　right　about　that。　And　listen；　I　have　thought　of　two　things　you　should　yet　do。　We　must　try　whatever　we　can。　Don't　go　home　now。　Let　Annest　take　you　to　Bened's　smithy　to　rest；　and　the　both　of　you　e　to　Mass。　Who　knows　what　we　may　learn　once　our　half…fledged　saint　regains　his　senses？　And　then；　also；　when　you　bury　your　father；　make　certain　Peredur　es　with　his　father。　He　might　try　to　avoid　else；　if　he's　eluded　you　this　far；　but　if　you　ask　him；　he　cannot　refuse。　I　am　still　in　more　minds　than　one；　and　none　of　them　very　clear；　concerning　Master　Peredur。〃
　
　Chapter　Eight
　It　was　the　little　brazen　bell　ringing　for　Mass　that　penetrated　Brother　Columbanus'　enchanted　sleep　at　last。　It　could　not　be　said　that　it　awoke　him；　rather　it　caused　him　to　open　his　closed　eyes；　quiver　through　all　his　frozen　members；　flex　his　stiff　arms；　and　press　his　re…quickened　hands　together　over　his　breast。　Otherwise　his　face　did　not　change；　nor　did　he　seem　to　be　aware　of　those　who　were　gathered　anxiously　about　the　bed　on　which　he　lay。　They　might　not　have　been　there　at　all。　All　Brother　Columbanus　responded　to　was　the　bell；　the　first　call　to　worship。　He　stirred　and　sat　up。　He　rose　from　the　bed；　and　stood　firmly　on　his　feet。　He　looked　radiant；　but　still　private　and　apart。
　〃He　is　preparing　to　take　his　usual　place　with　us；〃　said　the　prior；　moved　and　awed。　〃Let　us　go；　and　make　no　attempt　yet　to　rouse　him。　When　he　has　given　thanks　he'll　e　back　to　us；　and　speak　out　what　he　has　experienced。〃
　And　he　led　the　way　to　the　church；　and　as　he　had　supposed；　Columbanus　fell　into　his　usual　place　as　the　youngest　in　the　attendant　brotherhood　now　that　John　was　disgraced；　and　followed　modestly；　and　modestly　took　part　in　the　service；　still　like　a　man　in　a　dream。
　The　church　was　full　as　it　would　hold；　and　the