epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


her　in　a　bear's　hug；　and　felt　at　her　as　tenderly　and　fervently　as　a　mother。
　〃For　God's　sake；　fool　daughter；　why　did　you　get　within　his　reach？　I　told　you；　keep　the　bier　between　you　and　him。。。！〃
　〃Get　after　him；〃　shouted　Sioned　wrathfully；　〃do　you　want　him　clean　away？　I'm　sound　enough；　go　get　him！　He　killed　my　father！〃
　They　headed　for　the　door　together；　but　Cadfael　was　out　of　it　first。　The　girl　was　strong；　vigorous　and　vengeful；　a　Welshwoman　to　the　heart；　barely　grazed；　he　knew　the　kind。　The　wind　of　action　blew　her；　she　felt　no　pain　and　was　aware　of　no　effusion　of　blood；　blood　she　wanted；　and　with　justification。　She　was　close　on　his　heels　as　he　rolled　like　a　thunderbolt　down　the　narrow　path　through　the　graveyard　towards　the　gate。　The　night　was　huge；　velvet；　sewn　with　stars；　their　veiled　and　delicate　light　barely　casting　shadows。　All　mat　quiet　space　received　and　smothered　the　sound　of　their　passage；　and　smoothed　the　stillness　of　the　night　over　it。
　Out　of　the　bushes　beyond　the　graveyard　wall　a　man's　figure　started；　tall；　slender　and　swift；　leaping　to　block　the　gateway。　Columbanus　saw　him；　and　baulked　for　a　moment；　but　Cadfael　was　running　hard　behind　him；　and　the　next　instant　the　fugitive　made　up　his　mind　and　rushed　on；　straight　at　the　shadow　that　moved　to　intercept　him。　Hard　on　Cadfael's　heels；　Sioned　suddenly　shrieked：　〃Take　care；　Engelard！　He　has　a　dagger！〃
　Engelard　heard　her；　and　swerved　to　the　right　at　the　very　moment　of　collision；　so　that　the　stroke　meant　for　his　heart　only　ripped　a　fluttering　ribbon　of　cloth　from　his　sleeve。　Columbanus　would　have　bored　his　way　past　at　speed；　and　run　for　the　cover　of　the　woods；　but　Engelard's　long　left　arm　swept　round　hard　into　the　back　of　his　neck；　sending　him　off…balance　for　a　moment；　though　he　kept　his　feet；　and　Engelard's　right　fist　got　a　tight　grip　on　the　flying　cowl；　and　twisted。　Half…strangled；　Columbanus　whirled　again　and　struck　out　with　the　knife；　and　this　time　Engelard　was　ready　for　the　flash；　and　took　the　thrusting　wrist　neatly　in　his　left　hand。　They　swayed　and　wrestled　together；　feet　braced　in　the　grass；　and　they　were　very　fairly　matched　if　both　had　been　armed。　That　unbalance　was　soon　amended。　Engelard　twisted　at　the　wrist　he　held；　ignoring　the　clawing　of　Columbanus'　free　hand　at　his　throat；　and　the　numbed　fingers　opened　at　last　and　let　the　dagger　fall。　Both　lunged　for　it；　but　Engelard　scooped　it　up　and　flung　it　contemptuously　aside　into　the　bushes；　and　grappled　his　opponent　with　his　bare　hands。　The　fight　was　all　but　over。　Columbanus　hung　panting　and　gasping；　both　arms　pinned；　looking　wildly　round　for　a　means　of　escape　and　finding　none。
　〃Is　this　the　man？〃　demanded　Engelard。
　Sioned　said：　〃Yes。　He　has　owned　to　it。〃
　Engelard　looked　beyond　his　prisoner　then　for　the　first　time；　and　saw　her　standing　in　the　soft　starlight　that　was　being　to　their　accustomed　eyes　almost　as　clear　as　day。　He　saw　her　dishevelled　and　bruised　and　gazing　with　great；　shocked　eyes；　her　left　arm　gashed　and　bleeding　freely；　though　the　cut　was　shallow。　He　saw　smears　of　her　blood　dabbling　the　white　sheet　in　which　she　was　swathed。　By　starlight　there　is　little　or　no　colour　to　be　seen　but　everything　that　Engelard　saw　at　that　moment　was　blood…red。　This　was　the　man　who　had　murdered　in　coward's　fashion　Engelard's　well…liked　lord　and　good　friend…whatever　their　differences！…and　now　he　had　tried　to　kill　the　daughter　as　he　had　killed　the　father。
　〃You　dared；　you　dared　touch　her！〃　blazed　Engelard　in　towering　rage。　〃You　worthless　cloister　rat！〃　And　he　took　Columbanus　by　the　throat　and　hoisted　him　bodily　from　the　ground；　shook　him　like　the　rat　he　had　called　him；　cracked　him　in　the　air　like　a　poisonous　snake；　and　when　he　had　done　with　him；　flung　him　down　at　his　feet　in　the　grass。
　〃Get　up！〃　he　growled；　standing　over　the　wreckage。　〃Get　up　now；　and　I'll　give　you　time　to　rest　and　breathe；　and　then　you　can　fight　a　man　to　the　death；　without　a　dagger　in　your　hand；　instead　of　writhing　through　the　undergrowth　and　stabbing　him　in　the　back；　or　carving　up　a　defenceless　girl。　Take　your　time；　I　can　wait　to　kill　you　till　you've　got　your　breath。〃
　Sioned　flew　to　him；　breast　to　breast；　and　held　him　fast　in　her　arms；　pressing　him　back。　〃No！　Don't　touch　him　again！　I　don't　want　the　law　to　have　any　hold　on　you；　even　the　slenderest。〃
　〃He　tried　to　kill　you…you're　hurt。。。。〃
　〃No！　It's　nothing。。。　only　a　cut。　It　bleeds；　but　it's　nothing！〃
　His　rage　subsided　slowly；　shaking　him。　He　folded　his　arms　round　her　and　held　her　to　him；　and　with　a　disdainful　but　restrained　jab　of　a　toe　urged　his　prostrate　enemy　again：　〃Get　up！　I　won't　touch　you。　The　law　can　have　you；　and　wele！〃
　Columbanus　did　not　move；　not　by　so　much　as　the　flicker　of　an　eyelid　or　the　twitching　of　a　finger。　All　three　of　them　stood　peering　down　at　him　in　sudden　silence；　aware　how　utterly　still　he　was；　and　how　rare　such　stillness　is　among　living　things。
　〃He's　foxing；〃　said　Engelard　scornfully；　〃for　fear　of　worse；　and　by　way　of　getting　himself　pitied。　I've　heard　he's　a　master　at　that。〃
　Those　who　feign　sleep　and　hear　themselves　talked　of；　usually　betray　themselves　by　some　exaggeration　of　innocence。　Columbanus　lay　in　a　stillness　that　was　perfectly　detached　and　indifferent。
　Brother　Cadfael　knelt　down　beside　him；　shook　him　by　the　shoulder　gently；　and　sat　back　with　a　sharp　sigh　at　the　broken　movement　of　the　head。　He　put　a　hand　inside　the　breast　of　the　habit；　and　stooped　to　the　parted　lips　and　wide　nostrils。　Then　he　took　the　head　between　his　hands；　and　gently　turned　and　tilted　it。　It　rolled　back；　as　he　released　it；　into　a　position　so　improbable　that　they　knew　the　worst　even　before　Cadfael　said；　quite　practically：　〃You'd　have　waited　a　long　time　for　him　to　get　his　breath　back；　my　friend。　You　don't　know　your　own　strength！　His　neck　is　broken。　He's　dead。〃
　Sobered　and　shocked；　they　stood　dumbly　staring　down　at　what　they　had　hardly　yet　recognised　for　disaster。　They　saw　a　regrettable　accident　which　neither　of　them　had　ever　intended；　but　which　was；　after　all；　a　kind　of　justice。　But　Cadfael　saw　a　scandal　that　could　yet　wreck　their　young　lives；　and　others；　too；　for　without　Columbanus　alive；　and　forced　by　two　respected　witnesses　to　repeat　his　confession；　how　strong　was　all　their　proof　against　him？　Cadfael　sat　back　on　his　heels；　and　thought。　It　was　startling　to　realise；　now　that　the　unmoved　silence　of　the　night　came　down　on　them　again；　how　all　this　violence　and　passion　had　passed　with　very　little　noise；　and　no　other　witnesses。　He　listened；　and　no　stirring　of　foot　or　wing　troubled　the　quiet。　They　were　far　enough　away　from　any　dwelling；　not　a　soul　had　been　disturbed。　That；　at　least；　was　time　gained。
　〃He　can't　be　dead；〃　said　Engelard　doubtfully。　〃I　barely　handled　him　at　all。　Nobody　dies　as　easily　as　that！〃
　〃This　one　did。　And　now　what's　to　be　done？　I　hadn't　bargained　for　this。〃　He　said　it　not　plainingly；　but　as　one　pointing　out　that　further　urgent　planning　would　now　be　necessary；　and　they　had　better　keep　their　minds　flexible。
　〃Why；　what　can　be　done？〃　To　Engelard　it　was　simple；　though　troublesome。　〃We　shall　have　to　call　up　Father　Huw　and　your　prior；　and　tell　them　exactly　what's　happened。　What　else　can　we　do？　I'm　sorry　to　have　killed　the　fellow；　I　never　meant　to；　but　I　can't　say　I　feel　any　guilt　about　it。〃
　Nor　did　he　expect　any　blame。　The　truth　was　always　the　best　way。　Cadfael　felt　a　reluctant　affection　for　such　innocence。　The　world　was　going　to　damage　it　sooner　or　later；　but　one　undeserved　accusation　had　so　far　failed　even　to　bruise　it；　he　still　trusted　men　to　be　reasonable。　Cadfael　doubted　if　Sioned　was　so　sure。　Her　silence　was　anxious　and　foreboding。　And　her　grazed　arm　was　still　oozing　blood。　First　things　first；　and　they　might　as　well　be　sensibly　occupied　while　he　thought。
　〃Here；　make　yourself　useful！　Help　me　get　this　carrion　back　into　the　chapel；　out　of　sight。　And；　Sioned；　find　his　dagger；　we　can't　leave　that　lying　about　to　bear　witness。　Then　let's　get　that　arm　of　yours　washed　and　bound　up。　There's　a　stream　at　the　back　of　the　hawthorn　hedge；　and　of　linen　we've　plenty。〃
　They　had　absolute　faith　in　him；　and　did　his　bidding　without　question；　though　Engelard；　once　he　had　assured　himself　that　Sioned　was　not　gravely　hurt；　and　had　himself　carefully　and　deftly　bandaged　her　scratch；　returned　to　his　dogged　opinion　that　their　best　course　was　to　tell　the　whole　story；　which　could　hardly　cast　infamy　upon　anyone　but　Columbanus。　Cadfael　busied　himself　with　flint　and　tinder　until　he　had　candles　lighted；　and　the　lamp　refilled；　from　which　he　himself　had　drained　a　judicious　quantity　of　oil　before　Sioned　took　her　place　under　the　draperies　of　the　saint's　catafalque。
　〃You　think；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃that　because　you've　done　nothing　wrong；　and　we've　all　of　us　banded　together　to　expose　a　wrong；　that　the　whole　world　will　be　of　the　same　opinion；　and　honestly　e　out　and　say　so。　Child；　I　know　better！　The　only　proof　we　have　of　Columbanus'　guilt　is　his　confession；　which　both　of　us　here　heard。　Or　rather；　the　only　proof　we　had；　for　we　no　longer　have　even　that。　Alive；　we　two　could　have　forced　the　truth　out　of　him　a　second　time。　Dead；　he's　never　going　to　give　us　that　satisfaction。　And　without　that；　our　position　is　vulnerable　enough。　Make　no　mistake；　if　we　accuse　him；　if　this　fearful　scandal　breaks；　to　smirch　the　abbey　of　Shrewsbury；　and　all　the　force　of　the　Benedictine　order；　backed　here　by　the　bishop　and　the　prince；　take　my　word　for　it；　all　the　forces　of　authority　will　band　together　to　avert　the　disaster；　and　nobody；　much　less　a　friendless　outlander；　will　be　allowed　to　stand　in　the　way。　They　simply　can't　afford　to　have　the　acquisition　of　Saint　Winifred　called　in　question　and　brought　to　disrepute。　Rather　than　that；　they'll　call　this　an　outlaw　killing　by　a　desperate　man；　a　fugitive　already；　wanted　for　another　crime；　and　trying　to　escape　both　together。　A　pity；〃　he　said；　〃I　ever　suggested　that　Sioned　should　call　you　in　to　wait　in　reserve；　in　case　we　had　trouble。　But　none　of　this　is　your　fault；　and　I　won't　have　you　branded　with　it。　I　made　the　plot；　and　I　must　unravel　it。　But　give　up　all　idea　of　going　straight　to　Father　Huw；　or　the　bailiff；　or　anyone　else；　with　the　true　story。　Far　better　use　the　rest　of　this　night　to　rearrange　matters　to　better　advantage。　Justice　can　be　arrived　at　by　more　routes　than　one。〃
　〃They　wouldn't　dare　doubt　Sioned's　word；〃　said　Engelard　stoutly。
　〃Fool　boy；　they'd　say　that　Sioned；　for　love's　sake；　might　go　as　far　aside　from　her　proper　nature　as　Peredur　did。　And　as　for　me；　my　influence　is　small　enough；　and　I　am　not　interested　in　protecting　only　myself；　but　as　many　of　those　in　this　coil　as　I　can　reach。　Even　my　prior；　who　is　arrogant　and　rigid；　and　to　tell　the　truth；　sometimes　rather　stupid；　but　not　a　murderer　and　not　a　liar。　And　my　order；　which　has　not　deserved　Columbanus。　Hush；　now；　and　let　me　think！　And　while　I　do；　you　can　be　clearing　away　the　remains　of　the　syrup　bottle。　This　chapel　must　be　as　neat　and　quiet　tomorrow　as　before　we　ever　brought　our　troubles　into　it。〃
　Obediently　they　went　about　removing　the　traces　of　the　night's　alarms；　and　let　him　alone　until　he　should　have　found　them　a　way　through　the　tangle。
　〃And　I　wonder；　now；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃what　made　you　improve　on　all　the　speeches　I　made　for　you；　and　put　such　fiery　words　into　Saint　Winifred's　mouth？　What　put　it　into　y