epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第30部分

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urself　out　of　her　sight；　you're　fuel　to　her　fire。　If　nobody　marked　her　at　all　she'd　have　stopped　long　ago；　but　now　she's　got　herself　into　this　state　she's　past　doing　that　of　her　own　accord。　Did　our　two　brothers　stop　in　here；　do　you　know；　or　go　on　with　the　prior？〃
　Peredur　was　shaking　and　tired　out；　but　responded　hopefully　to　this　matter…of…fact　treatment。　〃They've　not　been　here；　or　I　should　have　seen　them。　They　must　have　gone　on　to　the　church。〃
　Naturally；　neither　Columbanus　nor　Jerome　would　dream　of　absenting　himself　from　Vespers　on　such　a　momentous　day。
　〃Never　mind；　you　can　show　me　where　they　lodge。　Columbanus　brought　some　of　my　poppy　syrup　with　him；　in　case　of　need；　the　phial　should　be　there　with　his　scrip；　he'd　hardly　have　it　on　him。　And　as　far　as　I　know；　he's　had　no　occasion　to　use　it；　his　cantrips　here　in　Wales　have　been　of　a　quieter　kind。　We　can　find　a　use　for　it　now。〃
　〃What　does　it　do？〃　asked　Peredur；　wide…eyed。
　〃It　soothes　the　passions　and　kills　pain…either　of　the　body　or　the　spirit。〃
　〃I　could　use　some　of　that　myself；〃　said　Peredur　with　a　wry　smile；　and　led　the　way　out　to　one　of　the　small　huts　that　lined　the　stockade。　The　guests　from　Shrewsbury　had　been　given　the　best　lodging　the　house　afforded；　with　two　low　brychans；　and　a　small　chest；　with　a　rush　lamp　for　light。　Their　few　necessaries　occupied　almost　no　space；　but　each　had　a　leather　scrip　to　hold　them；　and　both　of　these　dangled　from　a　nail　in　the　timber　wall。　Brother　Cadfael　opened　first　one；　and　then　the　other；　and　in　the　second　found　what　he　was　seeking。
　He　drew　it　out　and　held　it　up　to　the　light；　a　small　phial　of　greenish　glass。　Even　before　he　saw　the　line　of　liquid　in　it；　its　light　weight　had　caused　him　to　check　and　wonder。　Instead　of　being　full　to　the　stopper　with　the　thick；　sweet　syrup；　the　bottle　was　three…quarters　empty。
　Brother　Cadfael　stood　stock…still　for　a　moment　with　the　phial　in　his　hand；　staring　at　it　in　silence。　Certainly　Columbanus　might　at　some　time　have　felt　the　need　to　forestall　some　threatening　spiritual　disturbance　but　Cadfael　could　recall　no　occasion　when　he　had　said　any　word　to　that　effect；　or　shown　any　sign　of　the　rosy；　reassuring　calm　the　poppies　could　bring。　There　was　enough　gone　from　the　bottle　to　restore　serenity　three　times　over；　enough　to　put　a　man　to　sleep　for　hours。　And　now　that　he　came　to　think　back；　there　had　been　at　least　one　occasion　when　a　man　had　slept　away　hours　of　the　day；　instead　of　keeping　the　watch　he　was　set　to　keep。　The　day　of　Rhisiart's　death　Columbanus　had　failed　of　his　duty；　and　confessed　as　much　with　heartfelt　penitence。　Columbanus；　who　had　the　syrup　in　his　possession；　and　knew　its　use。。。。
　〃What　must　we　do？〃　asked　Peredur；　uneasy　in　the　silence。　〃If　it　tastes　unpleasant　you'll　have　trouble　getting　her　to　drink　it。〃
　〃It　tastes　sweet。〃　But　there　was　not　very　much　of　it　left；　a　little　reinforcement　with　something　else　soothing　and　pleasant　might　be　necessary。　〃Go　and　get　a　cup　of　strong　wine；　and　we'll　see　how　that　goes　down。〃
　They　had　taken　with　them　a　measure　of　wine　that　day；　he　remembered；　the　ration　for　the　two　of　them；　when　they　set　off　for　the　chapel。　Columbanus　had　drawn　and　carried　it。　And　a　bottle　of　water　for　himself；　since　he　had　made　an　act　of　piety　of　renouncing　wine　until　their　mission　was　acplished。　Jerome　had　done　well；　getting　a　double　ration。
　Brother　Cadfael　stirred　himself　out　of　his　furious　thoughts　to　deal　with　the　immediate　need。　Peredur　hurried　to　do　his　bidding；　but　brought　mead　instead　of　wine。
　〃She's　more　likely　to　drink　it　down　before　she　minks　to　be　obstinate；　for　she　likes　it　better。　And　it's　stronger。〃
　〃Good！〃　said　Cadfael。　〃It　will　hide　the　syrup　better。　And　now；　go　somewhere　quiet；　and　harden　your　heart　and　stop　your　ears　and　stay　out　of　her　sight；　for　it's　the　best　thing　you　can　do　for　her；　and　God　knows　the　best　for　yourself；　after　such　a　day。　And　leave　agonising　too　much　over　your　sins；　black　as　they　are；　there　isn't　a　confessor　in　the　land　who　hasn't　heard　worse　and　never　turned　a　hair。　It's　a　kind　of　arrogance　to　be　so　certain　you're　past　redemption。〃
　The　sweet；　cloying　drink　swirled　in　the　cup；　the　syrup　unwinding　into　it　in　a　long　spiral　that　slowly　melted　and　vanished。　Peredur　with　shadowy　eyes　watched　and　was　silent。
　After　a　moment　he　said；　very　low：　〃It's　strange！　I　never　could　have　done　so　shabbily　by　anyone　I　hated。〃
　〃Not　strange　at　all；〃　said　Cadfael　bluntly；　stirring　his　potion。　〃When　harried；　we　go　as　far　as　we　dare；　and　with　those　we're　sure　of　we　dare　go　very　far；　knowing　where　forgiveness　is　certain。〃
　Peredur　bit　his　lip　until　it　was　biddable。　〃Is　it　certain？〃
　〃As　tomorrow's　daylight；　child！　And　now　be　off　out　of　my　way；　and　stop　asking　fool　questions。　Father　Huw　will　have　no　time　for　you　today；　there's　more　important　business　waiting。〃
　Peredur　went　like　a　docile　child；　startled　and　forted；　and　wherever　he　hid　himself；　he　did　it　effectively；　for　Cadfael　saw　no　more　of　him　that　evening。　He　was　a　good　lad　at　heart；　and　this　wild　lunge　of　his　into　envy　and　meanness　had　brought　him　up　short　against　an　image　of　himself　that　he　did　not　like　at　all。　Whatever　prayers　Huw　set　him　by　way　of　penance　were　likely　to　hit　heaven　with　the　irresistible　fervour　of　thunderbolts；　and　whatever　hard　labour　he　was　given；　the　result　was　likely　to　stand　solid　as　oak　and　last　for　ever。
　Cadfael　took　his　draught；　and　went　back　to　where　Dame　Branwen　was　still　heaving　and　quivering　with　uncontrollable　sobs；　by　this　time　in　genuine　distress；　exhausted　by　her　efforts　but　unable　to　end　them。　He　took　advantage　of　her　sheer　weariness　to　present　the　cup　to　her　as　soon　as　he　reached　her　side；　and　with　abrupt　authority　that　acted　on　her　before　she　could　muster　the　fibre　of　stubbornness。
　〃Drink　this！〃　And　automatically　she　drank　it；　half　of　it　going　down　out　of　pure　surprise；　the　second　half　because　the　first　had　taught　her　how　dry　and　sore　her　throat　was　from　all　its　exertions；　and　how　smooth　was　the　texture　and　how　sweet　the　taste　of　this　brew。　The　very　act　of　swallowing　it　broke　the　frightening　rhythm　of　the　huge　sighs　that　had　convulsed　her　almost　worse　than　the　sobbing。　Father　Huw　had　time　to　mop　his　brow　with　a　fold　of　his　sleeve　before　she　was　able　to　resume　her　plaints。　Even　then；　by　parison　with　what　had　gone　before；　they　sounded　half…hearted。
　〃We　women；　we　mothers；　we　sacrifice　our　lives　to　bringing　up　children；　and　when　they're　grown　they　reward　us　by　bringing　disgrace　upon　us。　What　did　I　ever　do　to　deserve　this？〃
　〃He'll　do　you　credit　yet；〃　said　Cadfael　cheerfully。　〃Stand　by　him　in　his　penance；　but　never　try　to　excuse　his　sin；　and　he'll　think　the　better　of　you　for　it。〃
　That　went　by　her　like　the　wind　sighing　at　the　time；　though　she　may　have　remembered　it　later。　Her　voice　declined　gradually　from　its　injured　self…justification；　dwindled　into　a　half…dreamy　monologue　of　grief；　and　took　on　at　length　a　tone　of　warm　and　drowsy　placency；　before　it　lapsed　into　silence。　Cadwallon　breathed　deep　and　cautiously；　and　eyed　his　advisers。
　〃I　shall　call　her　women　and　get　her　to　bed；〃　said　Cadfael。　〃She'll　sleep　the　night　through；　and　it'll　do　her　nothing　but　good。〃　And　you　more　good　still；　he　thought　but　did　not　say。　〃Let　your　son　rest；　too；　and　never　say　another　word　about　his　trouble　but　by　the　way；　like　any　other　daily　business；　unless　he　speaks　up　first。　Father　Huw　will　take　care　of　him　faithfully。〃
　〃I　will；〃　said　Huw。　〃He's　worth　our　efforts。〃
　Dame　Branwen　went　amiably　where　she　was　led；　and　the　house　was　wonderfully　quiet。　Cadfael　and　Huw　went　out　together；　pursued　as　far　as　the　gate　by　Cadwallon's　distracted　gratitude。　When　they　were　well　away　from　the　holding；　at　the　end　of　the　stockade；　the　quietness　of　the　dusk　came　down　on　them　softly；　a　cloud　descending　delicately　upon　a　cloud。
　〃In　time　for　supper；　if　not　for　Vespers；〃　said　Huw　wearily。　〃What　should　we　have　done　without　you；　Brother　Cadfael？　I　have　no　skill　at　all　with　women；　they　confuse　me　utterly。　I　marvel　how　you　have　learned　to　deal　with　them　so　ably；　you；　a　cloistered　brother。〃
　Cadfael　thought　of　Bianca；　and　Arianna；　and　Mariam；　and　all　the　others；　some　known　so　briefly；　all　so　well。
　〃Both　men　and　women　partake　of　the　same　human　nature；　Huw。　We　both　bleed　when　we're　wounded。　That's　a　poor；　silly　woman；　true；　but　we　can　show　plenty　of　poor；　silly　men。　There　are　women　as　strong　as　any　of　us；　and　as　able。〃　He　was　thinking　of　Mariam…or　was　it　of　Sioned？　〃You　go　to　supper；　Huw；　and　hold　me　excused；　and　if　I　can　be　with　you　before　pline；　I　will。　I　have　some　business　fast　at　Bened's　smithy。〃
　The　empty　phial　swung　heavily　in　the　pocket　in　his　right　sleeve；　reminding　him。　His　mind　was　still　busy　with　the　implications。　Before　ever　he　reached　Bened's　croft　he　had　it　clear　in　his　mind　what　must　be　done；　but　was　no　nearer　knowing　how　to　set　about　it。
　Cai　was　with　Bened　on　the　bench　under　the　eaves；　with　a　jug　of　rough　wine　between　them。　They　were　not　talking；　only　waiting　for　him　to　appear；　and　there　could　be　no　reason　for　that；　but　that　Sioned　had　told　them　positively　that　he　would。
　〃A　fine　tangle　it　turns　out；〃　said　Bened；　shaking　his　grizzled　head。　〃And　now　you'll　be　off　and　leave　us　holding　it。　No　blame　to　you；　you　have　to　go　where　your　duty　is。　But　what　are　we　to　do　about　Rhisiart　when　you're　gone？　There's　more　than　half　this　parish　thinks　your　Benedictines　have　killed　him；　and　the　lesser　half　thinks　some　enemy　here　has　taken　the　chance　to　blame　you；　and　get　clean　away　into　cover。　We　were　a　peaceful　munity　until　you　came；　nobody　looked　for　murder　among　us。〃
　〃God　knows　we　never　meant　to　bring　it；〃　said　Cadfael。　〃But　there's　still　tonight　before　we　go；　and　I　haven't　shot　my　last　bolt　yet。　1　must　speak　with　Sioned。　We've　things　to　do；　and　not　much　time　for　doing　them。〃
　〃Drink　one　cup　with　us　before　you　go　in　to　her；〃　insisted　Cai。　〃That　takes　no　time　at　all；　and　is　a　powerful　aid　to　thought。〃
　They　were　seated　all　together；　three　simple；　honest　men；　and　the　wine　notably　lower　in　the　jug；　when　someone　turned　in　at　the　gate；　light　feet　came　running　in　great　haste　along　the　path；　and　suddenly　there　was　Annest　confronting　them；　skirts　flying　and　settling　about　her　like　wings　folding；　her　breath　short　and　laboured；　and　excitement　and　consternation　in　her　face。　And　ready　to　b