epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第4部分

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t　knowing　how　to　fend　for　myself；　or　what　I　ought　to　do。　And　suddenly　I　was　like　a　man　awakened　out　of　that　nightmare　to　a　bright　morning　and　a　world　of　spring；　and　I　was　standing　naked　in　the　grass　beside　a　well；　and　these　good　brothers　were　pouring　water　over　me　that　healed　as　it　touched。　I　knew　myself　and　them；　and　only　marvelled　where　I　might　be；　and　how　I　came　there。　Which　they　willingly　told　me。　And　then　we　went；　all；　and　many　people　of　that　place　with　us；　to　sing　Mass　in　a　little　church　that　stands　close　by　the　well。　Now　I　know　that　I　owe　my　recovery　to　the　intervention　of　Saint　Winifred；　and　I　praise　and　worship　her　from　my　heart；　as　I　do　God　who　caused　her　to　take　pity　on　me。　The　rest　these　brothers　will　tell。〃
　The　lay…brother　was　large；　taciturn；　weary…having　done　all　the　work　throughout…and　by　this　time　somewhat　bored　with　the　whole　business。　He　made　the　appropriate　exclamations　where　needed；　but　left　the　narrative　in　the　able　hands　of　Brother　Jerome；　who　told　all　with　zest。　How　they　had　brought　their　patient　to　the　village　of　Holywell；　and　asked　the　inhabitants　for　directions　and　aid；　and　been　shown　where　the　saint　had　risen　living　after　her　martyrdom；　in　the　silver　fountain　that　still　sprang　in　the　same　spot；　furnished　now　with　a　stone　basin　to　hold　its　sacred　flow。　There　they　had　led　the　rambling　Columbanus；　stripped　him　of　habit；　shirt　and　drawers；　and　poured　the　sacred　water　over　him　and　instantly　he　had　stood　erect　and　lifted　his　hands　in　prayer；　and　given　thanks　for　a　mind　restored。　Afterwards　he　had　asked　them　in　wonder　how　he　came　there；　and　what　had　happened　to　him；　and　had　been　greatly　chastened　and　exalted　at　his　humbling　and　his　deliverance；　and　most　grateful　to　his　patroness；　by　whose　guidance　he　had　been　made　whole。
　〃And；　Father；　the　people　there　told　us　that　the　saint　is　indeed　buried　at　Gwytherin；　where　she　died　after　her　ministry；　and　that　the　place　where　her　body　is　laid　has　done　many　miracles。　But　they　say　that　her　tomb；　after　so　long；　is　neglected　and　little　thought　of；　and　it　may　well　be　that　she　longs　for　a　better　recognition；　and　to　be　installed　in　some　place　where　pilgrims　may　e；　where　she　may　be　revered　as　is　her　due；　and　have　room　to　enlarge　her　grace　and　blessing　to　reach　more　people　in　need。〃
　〃You　are　inspired；　having　been　present　at　this　miracle；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　tall　and　splendid　with　faith　rewarded；　〃and　you　speak　out　what　I　have　felt　in　listening　to　you。　Surely　Saint　Winifred　is　calling　us　to　rescue　as　she　came　to　the　rescue　of　Brother　Columbanus。　Many　have　need　of　her　goodness　as　he　had；　and　know　nothing　of　her。　In　our　hands　she　would　be　exalted　as　she　deserves；　and　those　who　need　her　grace　would　know　where　to　e　and　seek　it。　I　pray　that　we　may　mount　that　expedition　of　faith　to　which　she　summons　us。　Father　Abbot；　give　me　your　leave　to　petition　the　church；　and　bring　this　blessed　lady　home　to　rest　here　among　us；　and　be　our　proudest　boast。　For　I　believe　it　is　her　will　and　her　mand。〃
　〃In　the　name　of　God；〃　said　Abbot　Heribert　devoutly；　〃I　approve　that　project；　and　pray　the　blessing　of　heaven　upon　it！〃
　〃He　had　it　all　planned　beforehand；〃　said　Brother　John　over　the　bed　of　mint；　between　envy　and　scorn。　〃That　was　all　a　show；　all　that　wonder　and　amazement；　and　asking　who　Saint　Winifred　was；　and　where　to　find　her。　He　knew　it　all　along。　He'd　already　picked　her　out　from　those　he's　discovered　neglected　in　Wales；　and　decided　she　was　the　one　most　likely　to　be　available；　as　well　as　the　one　to　shed　most　lustre　on　him。　But　it　had　to　e　out　into　the　open　by　miraculous　means。　There'll　be　another　prodigy　whenever　he　needs　his　way　smoothed　for　him；　until　he　gets　the　girl　here　safely　installed　in　the　church；　to　his　glory。　It's　a　great　enterprise；　he　means　to　climb　high　on　the　strength　of　it。　So　he　starts　out　with　a　vision；　and　a　prodigious　healing；　and　divine　grace　leading　his　footsteps。　It's　as　plain　as　the　nose　on　your　face。〃
　〃And　are　you　saying；〃　asked　Brother　Cadfael　mildly；　〃that　Brother　Columbanus　is　in　the　plot　as　well　as　Brother　Jerome；　and　that　falling　fit　of　his　was　a　fake；　too？　I　should　have　to　be　very　sure　of　my　reward　in　heaven　before　I　volunteered　to　break　the　paving　with　my　forehead；　even　to　provide　Prior　Robert　with　a　miracle。
　Brother　John　considered　seriously；　frowning。　〃No；　that　I　don't　say。　We　all　know　our　meek　white　lamb　is　liable　to　the　horrors　over　a　penance　scamped；　and　ecstasies　over　a　vigil　or　a　fast；　and　pouring　ice…cold　water　over　him　at　Holywell　would　be　the　very　treatment　to　jolt　him　back　into　his　right　wits。　We　could　just　as　well　have　tossed　him　in　the　fish…pond　here！　But　of　course　he'd　believe　what　they　told　him；　and　credit　it　all　to　the　saint。　Catch　him　missing　such　a　chance！　No；　I　wouldn't　say　he　was　a　party　to　it…not　knowingly。　But　he　gave　them　the　opportunity　for　a　splendid　demonstration　of　grace。　You　notice　it　was　Jerome　who　was　set　to　take　care　of　him　overnight！　It　takes　only　one　man　to　be　favoured　with　a　vision；　but　it　has　to　be　the　right　man。〃　He　rolled　a　sprig　of　the　young　green　leaves　sadly　between　his　palms；　and　the　fragrance　distilled　richly　on　the　early　morning　air。　〃And　it　will　be　the　right　men　who'll　acpany　Prior　Robert　into　Wales；〃　he　said　with　sour　certainty。　〃You'll　see！〃
　No　doubt　about　it；　this　young　man　was　hankering　after　a　glimpse　of　the　world　again；　and　a　breath　of　air　from　outside　the　walls。　Brother　Cadfael　pondered；　not　only　with　sympathy　for　his　young　assistant；　but　also　with　some　pleasurable　stirrings　of　his　own。　So　momentous　an　event　in　the　otherwise　even　course　of　monastic　life　ought　not　to　be　missed。　Besides　the　undoubted　possibilities　of　mischief！
　〃True！〃　he　said　thoughtfully。　〃Perhaps　we　ought　to　take　some　steps　to　leaven　the　lump。　Wales　should　not　be　left　with　the　notion　that　Jerome　is　the　best　Shrewsbury　can　muster；　that's　very　true。〃
　〃You　have　about　as　much　chance　of　being　invited　as　I；〃　said　Brother　John　with　his　customary　bluntness。　〃Jerome　is　sure　of　his　place。　Prior　Robert　must　have　his　right　hand　with　him。　And　Columbanus；　fool　innocent；　was　the　instrument　of　grace；　and　could　be　made　to　serve　the　same　turn　again。　Brother　Sub…Prior　they　have　to　take　along；　for　form's　sake。　Surely　we　could　think　up　some　way　of　getting　a　foot　in　the　door？　They　can't　move　for　a　few　days　yet；　the　carpenters　and　carvers　are　working　hard　on　this　splendid　reliquary　coffin　they're　going　to　take　with　them　for　the　lady；　but　it　will　take　them　a　while　to　finish　it。　Get　your　wits　to　work；　brother！　There　isn't　anything　you　couldn't　do；　if　you've　a　mind！　Prior　or　no　prior！〃
　〃Well；　well；　did　I　say　you　had　no　faith？〃　wondered
　Brother　Cadfael；　charmed　and　disarmed。　〃I　might　worm　my　own　way　in；　there　could　be　ways；　but　how　am　I　to　remend　a　graceless　rogue　like　you？　What　are　you　good　at；　to　be　taken　along　on　such　an　errand？〃
　〃I'm　a　good　hand　with　mules；〃　said　Brother　John　hopefully；　〃and　you　don't　think　Prior　Robert　intends　to　go　on　foot；　I　suppose？　Or　to　do　the　grooming　and　feeding　and　watering　himself？　Or　the　mucking…out？　They'll　need　somebody　to　do　the　hard　work　and　wait　on　them。　Why　not　me？〃
　It　was；　indeed；　something　nobody　as　yet　seemed　to　have　thought　of。　And　why　take　a　lay…brother；　if　there　was　a　cloister…brother；　with　a　sweet　voice　in　the　Mass；　willing　to　do　the　sweating　into　the　bargain？　And　the　boy　deserved　his　outing；　since　he　was　willing　to　earn　it　the　hard　way。　Besides；　he　might　be　useful　before　the　end。　If　not　to　Prior　Robert；　to　Brother　Cadfael。
　〃We'll　see；〃　he　said；　and　with　that　drove　his　mutinous　protege　back　to　the　work　in　hand。　But　after　dinner；　in　the　somnolent　half…hour　of　sleep　for　the　elders　and　play　for　the　novices；　he　sought　out　Abbot　Heribert　in　his　study。
　〃Father　Abbot；　it　is　on　my　mind　that　we　are　undertaking　this　pilgrimage　to　Gwytherin　without　full　consideration。　First　we　must　send　to　the　bishop　of　Bangor；　in　whose　see　Gwytherin　lies；　for　without　his　approval　the　matter　cannot　proceed。　Now　it　is　not　essential　to　have　a　speaker　fluent　in　Welsh　there；　since　the　bishop　is　obviously　conversant　with　Latin。　But　not　every　parish　priest　in　Wales　has　that　tongue；　and　it　is　vital　to　be　able　to　speak　freely　with　the　priest　at　Gwytherin；　should　the　bishop　sanction　our　quest。　But　most　of　all；　the　see　of　Bangor　is　wholly　within　the　sovereignty　of　the　king　of　Gwynedd；　and　surely　his　goodwill　and　permission　are　essential　as　those　of　the　church。　The　princes　of　Gwynedd　speak　only　Welsh；　though　they　have　learned　clerks。　Father　Prior；　certainly；　has　a　smattering　of　Welsh；　but。。。〃
　〃That　is　very　true；〃　said　Abbot　Heribert；　easily　dismayed。　〃It　is　but　a　smattering。　And　the　king's　agreement　is　all…important。　Brother　Cadfael；　Welsh　is　your　first；　best　language；　and　has　no　mysteries　for　you。　Could　you。。。　？　The　garden；　I　am　aware。。。　But　with　your　aid　there　would　be　no　problem。〃
　〃In　the　garden；〃　said　Brother　Cadfael；　〃everything　is　well　forward；　and　can　manage　without　me　ten　days　or　more；　and　take　no　hurt。　I　should　be　glad　indeed　to　be　the　interpreter；　and　lend　my　skills　also　in　Gwytherin。〃
　〃Then　so　be　it！〃　sighed　the　abbot　in　heartfelt　relief。　〃Go　with　Prior　Robert；　and　be　our　voice　to　the　Welsh　people。　I　shall　sanction　your　errand　myself；　and　you　will　have　my　authority。〃
　He　was　old　and　human　and　gentle；　full　of　experience；　short　on　ambition；　self…righteousness　and　resolution。　There　could　have　been　two　ways　of　approaching　him　concerning　Brother　John。　Cadfael　took　the　more　honest　and　simple　way。
　〃Father；　there　is　a　young　brother　concerning　whose　vocation　I　have　doubts；　but　concerning　whose　goodness　I　have　none。　He　is　close　to　me；　and　I　would　that　he　might　find　his　true　way；　for　if　he　finds　it　he　will　not　forsake　it。　But　it　may　not　be　with　us。　I　beg　that　I　may　take　him　with　me；　as　our　hewer　of　wood　and　drawer　of　water　in　this　enterprise；　to　allow　him　time　to　consider。〃
　Abbot　Heribert　looked　faintly　dismayed　and　apprehensive；　but　not　unsympathetic。　Perhaps　he　remembered　long…ago　days　when　his　own　vocation　had　suffered　periods　of　storm。
　〃I　should　be　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃to　refuse　a　choice　to　any　man　who　may　be　better　fitted　to　serve　God　elsewhere。　Which　of　us　can　say　he　has　never　looked　over　his　shoulder？　You　have　not；〃　he　questioned　delicately；　approaching　the　aspect　that　really　daunted　him；　though　with　a　cautiously　dauntle