epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第4章

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　〃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　dauntless　face；　〃broached　this　matter　to　Prior　Robert？〃
　〃No；　Father；〃　said　Brother　Cadfael　virtuously。　〃I　thought　it　wrong　to　charge　him　with　so　small　a　responsibility；　when　he　already　carries　one　so　great。〃
　〃Very　proper！〃　agreed　the　abbot　heartily。　〃It　would　be　ill…done　to　distract　his　mind　from　his　great　purpose　at　this　stage。　I　should　say　no　word　to　him　of　the　reason　for　adding　this　young　man　to　the　party。　Prior　Robert　in　his　own　unshaken　certainty　is　apt　to　take　an　austere　view　of　any　man　who　looks　back；　once　having　set　his　hand　to　the　plough。〃
　〃Yet；　Father；　we　were　not　all　cut　out　to　be　ploughmen。　Some　could　be　more　useful　labouring　in　other　ways。〃
　〃True！〃　said　the　abbot；　and　warily　smiled；　pondering　the　recurring　but　often　forgotten　riddle　of　Brother　Cadfael　himself。　〃I　have　wondered；　I　confess。。。　But　never　mind！　Very　well；　tell　me　this　young　brother's　name；　and　you　shall　have　him。〃
　
　Chapter　Two
　Prior　Robert's　fine；　frosty　face　momentarily　registered　displeasure　and　suspicion　when　he　heard　how　his　delegation　was　to　be　augmented。　Brother　Cadfael's　gnarled；　guileless…eyed　self…sufficiency　caused　him　disfort　without　a　word　amiss　or　a　glance　out　of　place；　as　though　his　dignity　were　somehow　under　siege。　Of　Brother　John　he　knew　no　particular　evil；　but　the　redness　of　his　hair；　the　exuberance　of　his　health　and　high　spirits；　the　very　way　he　put　live　blood　back　into　old　martyrdoms　with　his　extravagant　gusto　in　the　reading；　were　all　offensive　in　themselves；　and　jarred　on　the　prior's　aesthetic　sensibilities。　However；　since　Abbot　Heribert　had　innocently　decreed　that　they　should　join　the　party；　and　since　there　was　no　denying　that　a　fluent　Welsh　speaker　might　bee　an　urgent　necessity　at　some　stage；　Prior　Robert　accepted　the　fiat　without　demur；　and　made　the　best　of　it。
　They　set　out　as　soon　as　the　fine　reliquary　for　the　saint's　bones　was　ready；　polished　oak　ornamented　with　silver；　to　serve　as　a　proof　what　honours　awaited　Winifred　in　her　new　shrine。　In　the　third　week　of　May　they　came　to　Bangor；　and　told　their　story　to　Bishop　David；　who　was　sympathetic；　and　readily　gave　his　consent　to　the　proposed　translation；　subject　only　to　the　agreement　of　Prince　Owain；　who　was　regent　of
　Gwynedd　owing　to　the　illness　of　the　old　king；　his　father。　They　ran　the　prince　to　earth　at　Aber；　and　found　him　equally　obliging；　for　he　not　only　gave　the　desired　approval；　but　sent　his　one　English…speaking　clerk　and　chaplain　to　show　them　the　best　and　quickest　way　to　Gwytherin；　and　mend　them　and　their　errand　to　the　parish　priest　there。　Thus　episcopally　and　royally　blessed；　Prior　Robert　led　his　party　on　the　last　stage　of　their　journey；　a　little　too　easily　convinced　that　his　progress　was　being　divinely　smoothed；　and　would　be　so　to　its　triumphant　end。
　They　turned　aside　from　the　Conway　valley　at　Llanrwst；　climbing　away　from　the　river　into　forested　hill　country。　Beyond　the　watershed　they　crossed　the　Elwy　where　it　is　young　and　small；　and　moved　steadily　south…eastwards　through　thick　woods；　over　another　ridge　of　high　land；　to　descend　once　again　into　the　upland　valley　of　a　little　river；　that　provided　some　marshy　water…meadows　along　its　banks；　and　a　narrow　band　of　tilled　fields；　sloping　and　sturdy　but　protected　by　the　forests；　above　these　lush　pastures。　The　wooded　ridge　on　either　hand　ran　in　oblique　folds；　richly　green；　hiding　the　scattered　housesteads。　The　fields　were　already　planted；　and　here　and　there　orchards　flowered。　Below　them；　where　the　woods　drew　back　to　leave　an　amphitheatre　of　green；　there　was　a　small　stone　church；　whitewashed　and　shimmering；　and　a　little　wooden　house　beside　it。
　〃You　see　the　goal　of　your　pilgrimage；〃　said　the　chaplain　Urien。　He　was　a　pact；　neat；　well…shaven　personage；　handsomely　dressed　and　mounted；　more　of　an　ambassador　than　a　clerk。
　〃That　is　Gwytherin？〃　asked　Prior　Robert。
　〃It　is　the　church　and　priest's　house　of　Gwytherin。　The　parish　stretches　for　several　miles　along　the　river　valley；　and　a　mile　or　more　from　the　Cledwen　on　either　bank。