tg.wizardfirstrule- 第183节

　
　The　important　thing　was　to　stop　Rahl。　He　had　to　recover　the　last　box。　He　had　to　stop　wasting　his　energy　thinking　about　things　he　couldn't　know。　All　that　mattered　was　stopping　Rahl；　then　everything　else　would　fall　into　place。　He　had　found　the　box　once；　he　would　have　to　find　it　again。
　
　But　how？　There　was　no　time。　How　was　he　going　to　find　Zedd　and　Kahlan？　He　was　one　man　on　a　horse；　and　there　was　a　whole　country　to　search。　They　wouldn't　be　traveling　by　road；　not　if　Chase　was　with　them。　Chase　would　keep　them　off　the　roads；　well　hidden。　Richard　didn't　know　the　roads；　much　less　the　trails。
　
　This　was　a　fool's　task。　There　was　too　much　country　to　search。
　
　Darken　Rahl　had　planted　too　many　doubts　in　him。　Swirling　thoughts　twisted　on　themselves；　became　more　and　more　confusing；　hopeless。　He　felt　that　his　own　mind　was　his　worst　enemy　right　now。　Richard　cleared　his　mind　and　chanted　the　devotion　to　keep　himself　from　thinking。　He　smiled　at　the　stupidity　of　chanting　a　devotion　to　a　man　he　wanted　to　kill；　but　he　chanted　anyway　as　he　rode　on　into　the　night。　Master　Rahl　guide　us：　Master　Rahl　teach　us。　Master　Rahl　protect　us。　In　your　light　we　thrive。　In　your　mercy　we　are　sheltered。　In　your　wisdom　we　are　humbled　We　live　only　to　serve。　Our　lives　are　yours。
　
　Twice；　he　walked　the　horse　to　rest　it；　but　pushed　on　hard　the　rest　of　the　time。。　The　Azrith　Plains　seemed　endless。　The　flat　country；　devoid　of　almost　all　vegetation；　stretched　on　forever。　The　chanting　helped　him　keep　his　mind　clear　of　all　thoughts；　except　one：　the　horror　of　killing　Denna。　That　memory　he　couldn't　shake。　Those　tears　he　couldn't　keep　back。
　
　Dawn　brought　him　his　own　shadow　to　chase。　Boulders　appeared；　looking　out　of　place　on　the　flat　ground；　casting　long　shadows　of　their　own。　They　gathered　in　numbers　as　he　rode。　The　terrain　began　undulating；　opening　up　in　gullies；　rising　in　ridges。　He　rode　through　narrow　passes　and　rifts；　down　a　canyon　with　walls　of　crumbling　rock。　The　road　took…　a　bend　to　the　left；　with　a　narrower　road　to　the　right。　Richard　took　the　horse　to　the　left；　remembering　what　the　guard　had　told　him。
　
　Out　of　the　clearness　of　his　mind；　a　thought　came　to　him。　Richard　brought　the　horse　to　a　skidding　halt。　He　looked　off　down　the　right　road。　He　thought　about　it　a　minute；　then　pulled　the　reins　to　the　right；　urging　the　animal　on；　down　the　right…hand　road。
　
　Darken　Rahl　had　told　him　he　was　free　to　go　where　he　pleased
　
　He　had　even　let　him　have　a　horse　so　he　might　go　where　he　wished。　Maybe　Darken　Rahl　wouldn't　mind　if　Richard　borrowed　his　dragon。
　
　Letting　the　horse　pick　its　own　way；　he　watched　carefully　all　about；　resting　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword。　Surely　a　red　dragon　wouldn't　be　hard　to　spot。　There　was　no　sound　but　the　horse's　hooves　on　the　hard　ground。　Richard　didn't　know　how　far　it　was；　and　rode　for　a　long　time　among　the　rubble　of　boulders　on　the　canyon　floor。　He　began　to　worry　that　the　dragon　was　gone；　that　maybe　Rahl　himself　was　riding　it　somewhere。　Maybe　to　get　the　box。　He　didn't　know　if　his　present　course　was　a　good　idea；　but　it　was　the　only　idea　he　could　think　of。
　
　A　blinding　burst　of　fire　erupted　with　a　deafening　roar。　The　horse　reared。　Richard　leapt　off；　landed　on　his　feet；　and　scrambled　behind　a　boulder　as　the　air　was　filled　with　flying　stones　and　fire。　Shards　of　rock　ricocheted　past　his　head。　He　heard　the　horse　thud　to　the　ground　and　smelled　burnt　hair。　It　screamed　a　terrible　neigh　until　there　was　a　snapping　of　bones。　Richard　crouched　tighter　against　the　rock；　afraid　to　look。
　
　As　he　listened　to　the　periodic　roar　of　fire；　the　breaking　of　bones；　the　ripping　of　flesh；　Richard　decided　that　this　had　been　a　very　stupid　idea。　He　could　hardly　believe　the　dragon　was　so　well　hidden　that　he　hadn't　even　seen　it。　He　wondered　if　it　had　seen　him　dive　behind　the　boulder。　At　least　for　the　moment；　it　didn't　seem　so。　He　searched　about　for　a　way　to　escape；　but　the　terrain　was　too　open　to　run　without　being　seen。　The　sound　of　the　horse　being　eaten　made　his　stomach　turn。　At　last　it　ended。　He　wondered　if　dragons　took　naps　after　they　ate。　'There　were　a　few　snorts。　The　snorts　came　closer。　Richard　tried　to　make　himself　smaller。
　
　Talons　rasped　over　the　boulder　he　was　hiding　behind　and　lifted　it　right　off　the　ground；　tossing　it　aside。　Richard　looked　up　into　piercing　yellow　eyes：　Almost　everything　else　was　an　intense　red。　The　head；　with　flexible　black…tipped　spikes　around　the　base　of　the　jaw　and　on　the　back　of　its　skull　behind　the　ears；　was　at　the　end　of　a　long；　thick　neck　rising　from　an　immense　body。　The　sinewy　tail　terminated　in　black…tipped　spikes；　like　the　ones　on　the　head；　only　stiff　and　hard。　The　tail　swished　idly；　pushing　rocks　aside。　As　it　flexed　its　wings；　powerful　muscles　rippled　beneath　the　glossy；　red　interlocking　scales　on　its　shoulders。　Razor…sharp　teeth；　stained　red　from　its　recent　meal；　sprouted　just　inside　the　snarling　lips　and　lined　the　long　muzzle。　The　beast　snorted。　Smoke　rose　from　nostrils　at　the　end　of　the　tapered　snout。
　
　〃What　have　we　here？〃　came　a　decidedly　female　voice。　〃A　tasty　treat？〃
　
　Richard　sprang　to　his　feet　and　drew　the　sword；　sending　its　ring　into　the　air。
　
　〃I　need　your　help。〃
　
　〃Only　too　glad　to　help　you；　little　man。　But　not　until　after　I　eat　you。；；
　
　'I'm　warning　you；　stay　back！　This　sword　has　magic。〃
　
　〃Magic！〃　the　dragon　gasped　in　mock　fright。　It　put　a　claw　to　its　breast。　〃Oh；　please；　brave　man；　don't　slay　me　with　your　magic　sword！〃　It　made　a　smoky　rumble　that　Richard　took　for　laughter。
　
　Richard　kept　the　sword　out；　but　felt　suddenly　foolish。　〃You　intend　to　eat　me；　than？〃
　
　〃Well；　I　must　admit；　more　for　the　amusement　than　the　taste。〃
　
　〃I　had　heard　red　dragons　were　an　independent　sort；　but　that　you　are　little　more　than　a　lapdog　to　Darken　Rahl。〃　A　ball　of　flame　boiled　from　the　mouth；　rising　into　the　air。　〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　be　free　of　your　bonds；　and　be　independent　once　more。〃
　
　The　head；　bigger　than　he；　Richard　was　frightened　to　note；　came　closer；　to　within　a　few　yards。　Its　ears　swiveled　forward。　A　glossy　red　tongue；　split　at　the　end　like　a　snake's；　slithered　out　toward　him；　making　a　curious　investigation。　Richard　held　the　sword　out　of　the　way　as　the　tongue　raked　up　his　body　from　his　crotch　to　his　throat。　It　was　a　gentle　touch；　for　a　dragon；　yet　it　knocked　him　back　a　few　steps。
　
　〃And　how　would　a　little　man　like　you　be　able　to　do　that？〃
　
　〃I'm　trying　to　stop　Darken　Rahl；　kill　him。　If　you　helped　me；　then　you　would　be　free。〃
　
　The　dragon　threw　its　head　up；　smoke　puffing　from　its　nostrils　as　it　rumbled　in　laughter。　The　ground　shook。　It　looked　down　at　him；　blinked；　then　threw　its　head　back　again；　rumbling　in　laughter　once　more。
　
　The　rumbling　died　out　and　the　head　returned；　the　eyebrows　bunching　up　in　an　angry　frown。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I　don't　think　I　would　like　to　put　my　fate　in　a　little　man　like　you。　I　would　rather　put　my　future　in　continuing　to　serve　Master　Rahl。〃　It　made　a　grunt；　blowing　small　clouds　of　dust　away　to　the　sides　at　Richard's　feet。　〃The　entertainment　is　over。　Time　for　my　tasty　treat。〃
　
　〃All　right。　I'm　prepared　to　die。〃　Richard　had　to　think　of　a　stall；　to　give　himself　time　to　think。　Why　would　a　red　dragon　be　at　the　service　of　Darken　Rahl？　〃But　before　you　eat　me；　may　I　tell　you　something　first？〃
　
　〃Speak；〃　the　dragon　snorted。　〃But　make　it　short。〃
　
　〃I'm　from　Westland。　I've　never　seen　a　dragon　before。　I　always　thought　they　would　be　fearsome　creatures；　and　I　must　admit；　you　certainly　are　fearsome；　but　there　is　one　thing　I　wasn't　prepared　for。〃
　
　〃And　what　would　that　be？〃　；；
　
　〃You　are；　without　a　doubt；　the　most　stunningly　beautiful　creature　I　have　ever　seen。〃
　
　It　was　the　truth。　Despite　the　deadly　nature　of　it；　it　was　strikingly　beautiful。　The　neck　of　the　dragon　made　itself　into　an　S　shape　as　it　pulled　its　head　back；　blinking　in　surprise。　The　eyes　frowned　a　little；　doubting。
　
　〃It's　true；〃　Richard　said。　〃I'm　to　be　eaten。　I　have　no　reason　to　lie。　You　are　beautiful。　I　never　thought　I　would　see　anything　as　magnificent　as　you。　Do　you　have　a　name？〃
　
　〃Scarlet。〃
　
　〃Scarlet。　What　a　lovely　name。　Are　all　red　dragons　as　stunning　as　you；　or　are　you　special？〃
　
　Sca