epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第29章

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f　the　accusation；　or　it　would　have　been　easier　to　ignore　it。
　There　was　no　one　on　duty　at　the　gate；　which　was　strange；　and　as　they　rode　in；　a　number　of　people　seemed　to　be　running　hither　and　thither　in　a　distracted　way；　as　if　something　unforeseen　had　happened；　and　confused　and　conflicting　orders　were　being　given　from　several　authorities　at　once。　No　groom　ran　to　attend　to　them；　either。　Prior　Robert　was　displeased。　Griffith　ap　Rhys　was　mildly　and　alertly　interested。　When　someone　did　take　notice　of　them；　it　was　a　very　handsome　young　person　in　a　green　gown；　who　came　running　with　her　skirts　gathered　in　her　hands；　and　her　light…brown　hair　slipping　out　of　its　glossy　coil　to　her　shoulders。
　〃Oh；　sirs；　you　must　excuse　us　this　neglect；　we've　been　so　disturbed！　The　gate…keeper　was　called　away　to　help；　and　all　the　grooms　are　hunting。。。。　But　I'm　ashamed　to　let　our　troubles　cast　a　shadow　over　our　hospitality。　My　lady's　resting；　and　can't　be　disturbed；　but　I'm　at　your　service。　Will　it　please　you　light　down？　Shall　I　have　lodgings　made　ready？〃
　〃We　don't　propose　to　stay；〃　said　Griffith　ap　Rhys；　already　suspecting　this　artless　goodwill；　and　approving　the　way　she　radiated　it。　〃We　came　to　relieve　you　of　a　certain　young　malefactor　you've　had　in　hold　here。　But　it　seems　you've　suffered　some　further　calamity；　and　we　should　be　sorry　to　add　to　your　troubles；　or　disturb　your　lady；　after　the　grievous　day　she's　endured。〃
　〃Madam；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　civilly　but　officiously；　〃you　are　addressing　the　prince's　bailiff　of　Rhos；　and　I　am　the　prior　of　Shrewsbury　abbey。　You　have　a　brother　of　that　abbey　in　confinement　here；　the　royal　bailiff　is　e　to　relieve　you　of　his　care。〃
　All　of　which　Cadfael　duly　and　solemnly　translated　for　Annest's　benefit；　his　face　as　guileless　as　hers。
　〃Oh；　sir！〃　She　opened　her　eyes　wide　and　curtseyed　deeply　to　Griffith　and　cursorily　to　the　prior；　separating　her　own　from　the　alien。　〃It's　true　we　had　such　a　brother　here　a　prisoner。。。。〃
　〃Had？〃　said　Robert　sharply；　for　once　detecting　the　change　of　tense。
　〃Had？〃　said　Griffith　thoughtfully。
　〃He's　gone；　sir！　You　see　what　confusion　he's　left　behind。　This　evening；　when　his　keeper　took　him　his　supper；　this　brother　struck　him　down　with　a　board　torn　loose　from　the　manger　in　this　prison；　and　dropped　the　bolt　on　him　and　slipped　away。　It　was　some　time　before　we　knew。　He　must　have　climbed　the　wall；　you　see　it　is　not　so　high。　We　have　men　out　now　looking　for　him　in　the　woods；　and　searching　everywhere　here　within。　But　I　fear　he's　clean　gone！〃
　Cai　made　his　entrance　at　the　perfect　time；　issuing　from　one　of　the　barns　with　shaky　steps；　his　head　wreathed　in　a　white　cloth　lightly　dabbled　with　red。
　〃The　poor　man；　the　villain　broke　his　head　for　him！　It　was　some　time　before　he　could　drag　himself　to　the　door　and　hammer　on　it；　and　make　himself　heard。　There's　no　knowing　how　far　the　fellow　may　have　got　by　now。　But　the　whole　household　is　out　hunting　for　him。〃
　The　bailiff；　as　in　duty　bound；　questioned　Cai；　but　gently　and　briefly；　questioned　all　the　other　servants；　who　ran　to　make　themselves　useful　and　succeeded　only　in　being　magnificently　confusing。　And　Prior　Robert；　burning　with　vengeful　zeal；　would　have　pressed　them　more　strenuously　but　for　the　bailiff's　presence　and　obvious　prior　right；　and　the　brevity　of　the　time　at　his　disposal　if　he　was　to　get　back　for　pline。　In　any　case；　it　was　quite　clear　that　Brother　John　was　indeed　over　the　wall　and　clean　gone。　Most　willingly　they　showed　the　place　where　he　had　been　confined；　and　the　manger　from　which　he　had　ripped　the　board；　and　the　board　itself；　artistically　spattered　at　one　end　with　spots　of　Cai's　gore；　though　it　may；　of　course；　have　been　pigment　borrowed　from　the　butcher。
　〃It　seems　your　young　man　has　given　us　all　the　slip；〃　said　Griffith；　with　admirable　serenity　for　a　man　of　law　who　has　lost　a　malefactor。　〃There's　nothing　more　to　be　done　here。　They　could　hardly　expect　such　violence　from　a　Benedictine　brother；　it's　no　blame　to　them。〃
　With　considerable　pleasure　Cadfael　translated　that　neat　little　stab。　It　kindled　a　spark　in　the　speaking　eyes　of　the　young　person　in　green；　and　Griffith　did　not　miss　it。　But　to　challenge　it　would　have　been　folly。　The　clear　brown　eyes　would　have　opened　wide　enough　and　deep　enough　to　drown　a　man　in　their　innocence。　〃We'd　best　leave　them　in　peace　to　mend　their　broken　mangers　and　broken　heads；〃　said　Griffith；　〃and　look　elsewhere　for　our　fugitive。〃
　〃The　wretch　pounds　his　offences；〃　said　Robert；　furious。　〃But　I　cannot　allow　his　villainy　to　disrupt　my　mission。　I　must　set　out　for　home　tomorrow；　and　leave　his　capture　to　you。〃
　〃You　may　trust　me　to　deal　properly　with　him；〃　said　Griffith　drily；　〃when　he　is　found。〃　If　he　laid　the　slightest　of　emphasis　on　the　〃when〃；　no　one　appeared　to　remark　it　but　Cadfael　and　Annest。　By　this　time　Annest　was　quite　satisfied　that　she　liked　this　princely　official；　and　could　trust　him　to　behave　like　a　reasonable　man　who　is　not　looking　for　trouble；　or　trying　to　make　it　for　others　as　harmless　as　himself。
　〃And　you　will　restore　him　to　our　house　when　he　has　purged　his　offences　under　Welsh　law？〃
　〃When　he　has　done　so；〃　said　Griffith；　decidedly　with　some　stress　this　time　on　the　〃when〃；　〃you　shall　certainly　have　him　back。〃
　With　that　Prior　Robert　had　to　be　content；　though　his　Norman　spirit　burned　at　being　deprived　of　its　rightful　victim。　And　on　the　ride　back　he　was　by　no　means　placated　by　Griffith's　tales　of　the　large　numbers　of　fugitive　outlaws　who　had　found　no　difficulty　in　living　wild　in　these　forests；　and　even　made　friends　among　the　country　people；　and　been　accepted　into　families；　and　even　into　respectability　at　last。　It　galled　his　orderly　mind　to　think　of　insubordination　mellowing　with　time　and　being　tolerated　and　condoned。　He　was　in　no　very　Christian　mood　when　he　swept　into　Father　Huw's　church；　only　just　in　time　for　pline。
　They　were　all　there　but　Brother　John；　the　remaining　five　brethren　from　Shrewsbury　and　a　good　number　of　the　people　of　Gwytherin；　to　witness　the　last　flowering　of　Brother　Columbanus'　devotional　gift　of　ecstasy；　now　dedicated　entirely　to　Saint　Winifred；　his　personal　patroness　who　had　healed　him　of　madness；　favoured　him　with　her　true　presence　in　a　dream；　and　made　known　her　will　through　him　in　the　matter　of　Rhisiart's　burial。　For　at　the　end　of　pline；　rising　to　go　to　his　self…chosen　vigil；　Columbanus　turned　to　the　altar；　raised　his　arms　in　a　sweeping　gesture；　and　prayed　aloud　in　a　high；　clear　voice　that　the　virgin　martyr　would　deign　to　visit　him　once　more　in　his　holy　solitude；　in　the　silence　of　the　night；　and　reveal　to　him　again　the　inexpressible　bliss　from　which　he　had　returned　so　reluctantly　to　this　imperfect　world。　And　more；　that　this　time；　if　she　found　him　worthy　of　translation　out　of　the　body；　she　would　take　him　up　living　into　that　world　of　light。　Humbly　he　submitted　his　will　to　endure　here　below；　and　do　his　duty　in　the　estate　assigned　him；　but　rapturously　he　sent　his　desire　soaring　to　the　timber　roof；　to　be　uplifted　out　of　the　flesh；　transported　through　death　without　dying；　if　he　was　counted　ready　for　the　assumption。
　Everyone　present　heard；　and　trembled　at　such　virtue。　Everyone　but　Brother　Cadfael；　who　was　past　trembling　at　the　arrogance　of　man；　and　whose　mind；　in　any　case；　was　busy　and　anxious　with　other；　though　related；　matters。
　
　Chapter　Ten
　Brother　Columbanus　entered　the　small；　dark；　woodscented　chapel；　heavy　with　the　odours　of　centuries；　and　closed　the　door　gently　behind　him；　without　latching　it。　There　were　no　candles　lighted；　tonight；　only　the　small　oil…lamp　upon　the　altar；　that　burned　with　a　tall；　unwavering　flame　from　its　floating　wick。　That　slender；　single　turret　of　light　cast　still　shadows　all　around；　and　being　almost　on　a　level　with　the　bier　of　Saint　Winifred；　braced　on　trestles　before　it；　made　of　it　a　black　coffin　shape；　only　touched　here　and　there　with　sparkles　of　reflected　silver。
　Beyond　the　capsule　of　soft　golden　light　all　was　darkness；　perfumed　with　age　and　dust。　There　was　a　second　entrance；　from　the　minute　sacristy　that　was　no　more　than　a　porch　beside　the　altar；　but　no　draught　from　that　or　any　source　caused　the　lamp…flame　to　waver　even　for　an　instant。　There　might　have　been　no　storms　of　air　or　spirit；　no　winds；　no　breath　of　living　creature；　to　disturb　the　stillness。
　Brother　Columbanus　made　his　obeisance　to　the　altar；　briefly　and　almost　curtly。　There　was　no　one　to　see；　he　had　e　alone；　and　neither　seen　nor　heard　any　sign　of　another　living　soul　in　the　graveyard　or　the　woods　around。　He　moved　the　second　prayer…desk　aside；　and　set　the　chosen　one　squarely　in　the　centre　of　the　chapel；　facing　the　bier。　His　behavior　was　markedly　more　practical　and　moderate　than　when　there　were　people　by　to　see　him；　but　did　not　otherwise　greatly　differ。　He　had　e　to　watch　out　the　night　on　his　knees；　and　he　was　prepared　to　do　so；　but　there　was　no　need　to　labour　his　effects　until　morning；　when　his　fellows　would　e　to　take　Saint　Winifred　in　reverent　procession　on　the　first　stage　of　her　journey。　Columbanus　padded　the　prie…dieu　for　his　knees　with　the　bunched　skirts　of　his　habit；　and　made　himself　as　fortable　as　possible　with　his　gowned　arms　broadly　folded　as　a　pillow　for　his　head。　The　umber　darkness　was　scented　and　heavy　with　the　warmth　of　wood；　and　the　night　outside　was　not　cold。　Once　he　had　shut　out　the　tiny；　erect　tower　of　light　and　the　few　bright　surfaces　from　which　it　was　reflected；　the　drowsiness　he　was　inviting　came　stealing　over　him　in　long；　lulling　waves　until　it　washed　over　his　head；　and　he　slept。
　It　seemed；　after　the　fashion　of　sleep；　no　time　at　all　before　he　was　startled　awake；　but　in　fact　it　was　more　than　three　hours；　and　midnight　was　approaching；　when　his　slumbers　began　to　be　strangely　troubled　with　a　persistent　dream　that　someone；　a　woman；　was　calling　him　by　name　low　and　clearly；　and　over　and　over　and　over　again：　〃Columbanus。。。。　Columbanus。。。〃　with　inexhaustible　and　relentless　patience。　And　he　was　visited；　even　in　sleep；　by　a　sensation　that　this　woman　had　all　the　time　in　the　world；　and　was　willing　to　go　on　calling　for　ever；　while　for　him　there　was　no　time　left　at　all；　but　he　must　awake　and　be　rid　of　her。
　He　started　up　suddenly；　stiff　to　the　ends　of　fingers　and　toes；　ears　stretched　and　eyes　staring　wildly；　but　there　was　the　enclosing　capsule　of　mild　darkness　all　about　him　as　before；　and　the　reliquary　dark；　too；　darker　than　before；　or　so　it　seemed；　as　if　the　flame　of　the　lamp；　though　steady；　had　subsided；　and　was　now　more　than　half　hidden　behind　the　coffin。　He　had　forgotten　to　check　the　oil。　Yet　he　knew　it　had　been　fully　supplied　when　last　he　left　it；　after　Rhisiart's　burial；　and　that　was　only　a　matter　of　hours　ago。
　It　seemed　that　all　of　his　senses；　hearing　had　been　the　last　to　return　to　him；　for　now　he　was　aware；　with　a　cold　crawling　of　fear　along　his　skin；　that　the　voice　of　his　dream　was　still　with　him；　and　had　been　with　him　all　along；　emerging　from　dream　into　reality　without　a　break。　Very　soft；　very　low；　very　deliberate；　not　a　whisper；　but　the　clear　thread　of　a　voice；　at　once　distant　and　near；　insisting　unmistakably：　〃Columbanus。。。　Columbanus。。。　Columbanus；　what　have　you　done？〃
　Out　of　the　reliquary　the　voice　came；　out　of　the　light　that　was　dwindling　even　as　he　stared　in　terror　and　unbelief。
　〃Columbanus；　Columbanus；　my　false　servant；　who　blasphemes　agains