tg.stone of tears- 第105节

　
　The　mark　was　also　a　constant　reminder　of　the　monster　he　really　was　…　the　monster　Kahlan　had　wanted　collared　and　sent　away。
　
　Richard　swatted　at　a　bug　buzzing　around　his　face。　He　looked　down。　They　were　buzzing　around　the　dead　woman；　too。　He　went　cold　with　a　jolt　of　fright　even　before　he　felt　the　sting　of　a　bite　on　his　neck。
　
　Blood　flies。
　
　He　drew　his　sword　in　a　rush　as　the　huge；　dark　shape　lunged　from　behind　the　rock。　The　ringing　sound　of　steel　was　drowned　out　by　a　roar。　Wings　spread　wide；　the　gar　dove　for　him。　For　an　instant；　he　thought　he　saw　a　second；　hunched　in　the　shadows　behind　the　first；　but　his　attention　was　immediately　seized　by　the　immense　thing　descending　on　him；　by　the　fierce；　glowing；　green　eyes　locked　on　him。
　
　It　was　too　big　to　be　a　long…tailed　gar；　and　by　the　way　it　anticipated　and　avoided　his　first　stab；　too　smart。　It　would　have　to　be　a　short…tailed　gar；　he　cursed　silently。　It　was　thinner　than　short…tailed　gars　he　had　seen　before；　probably　the　result　of　poor　hunting　in　this　desolate　land；　but　thin　or　not；　it　was　still　huge；　towering　half　again　as　tall　as　he。
　
　Richard　stumbled　and　fell　over　the　dead　woman　as　he　lurched　back　to　escape　the　swipe　of　a　massive　claw。　He　came　up　swinging　the　sword　in　fury；　letting　the　anger　of　the　sword’s　magic　surge　through　him。　The　tip　of　the　sword　sliced　a　gash　across　the　smooth；　taut；　pink　stomach。　The　gar　howled　in　rage　as　it　rushed　him　again；　unexpectedly　batting　him　to　the　ground　with　a　leathery　wing。
　
　Richard　rolled　to　his　feet；　whirling　the　sword　as　he　came　up。　The　blade　flashed　in　the　moonlight；　taking　off　a　wingtip　in　a　spray　of　blood。　That　only　enraged　the　gar　into　lunging　toward　him。　Long；　wet　fangs　ripped　at　the　night　air。　Its　eyes　were　ablaze　with　a　furious　green　glow。　The　howling　roar　hurt　his　ears。　Claws　swept　in　to　each　side　of　him。
　
　The　magic　pounded　through　him；　demanding　blood。　Instead　of　dodging　the　advance；　Richard　ducked。　He　sprang　up；　driving　the　sword　through　the　chest　of　the　great；　fur…covered　beast。　He　yanked　the　blade　back　with　a　twisting　cut　to　the　sound　of　a　scream　of　mortal　pain。
　
　Richard　pulled　the　sword　behind；　prepared　to　take　the　hideous　head　off　with　a　powerful　stroke；　but　the　gar　didn’t　e　at　him。　Claws　clutched　to　the　gushing　wound　at　its　chest；　it　teetered　a　moment；　and　then　toppled　heavily　onto　its　back；　bones　in　its　wings　snapping　as　it　fell　on　them。
　
　A　keening　wail　came　from　the　shadows。　Richard　retreated　a　few　paces。　A　small；　dark　form　darted　across　the　ground；　to　the　vanquished　monster；　falling　on　top　of　it。　Little　wings　wrapped　around　the　heaving　chest。
　
　Richard　stared　in　disbelief。　It　was　a　baby　gar。
　
　The　wounded　beast　lifted　a　shaking　claw　to　clutch　weakly　at　the　whimpering　form。　It　drew　a　gurgling　breath　that　lifted　the　little　gar　sprawled　atop　its　chest。　The　arm　dropped　to　the　side。　Faintly　glowing　green　eyes　drank　in　its　little　one；　and　then　looked　up　at　Richard　with　pleading　pain。　A　froth　of　blood　bubbled　as　it　expelled　its　last；　rattling　breath。　The　glow　in　its　eyes　waned；　and　then　it　was　still。　With　plaintive　cries；　the　little　creature　seized　small　fistfuls　of　fur。
　
　Little　or　not；　Richard　thought；　it　is　still　a　gar。　He　stepped　close。　He　had　to　kill　it。　The　rage　pounded　through　him。　He　lifted　the　sword　over　his　head。
　
　The　little　gar　drew　a　trembling　wing　over　its　head　as　it　shrank　back。　As　frightened　as　it　was；　it　would　not　leave　its　mother。　It　whimpered　in　anguish　and　fear。
　
　A　terrified　little　face　peered　over　the　trembling　wing。　Wide；　wet；　green　eyes　blinked　up　at　him。　Tears　ran　down　the　deep　creases　in　its　cheeks　as　it　sobbed　in　distress　with　a　purling　wail。
　
　‘Dear　spirits；’　Richard　whispered；　as　he　stood　paralyzed；　‘I　can’t　do　this。’
　
　The　little　gar　quivered　as　it　watched　the　sword’s　point　sink　to　the　ground。　Richard　turned　his　back　and　closed　his　eyes。　He　felt　sick；　both　from　the　sword’s　magic；　which　inflicted　upon　him　the　pain　of　his　vanquished　foe；　and　from　the　dreadful　prospect　of　what　he　had　been　ready　to　do。
　
　As　he　replaced　the　sword；　he　drew　a　deep　breath　to　steady　himself；　then　lifted　the　dead　woman　over　his　shoulder　and　started　off。　He　could　hear　the　choking　sobs　of　the　little　gar　as　it　clung　to　its　still　mother。　He　couldn’t　kill　it。　He　just　couldn’t。　Besides；　he　told　himself；　the　sword　wouldn’t　allow　it。　The　magic　only　worked　against　threat。　It　wouldn’t　allow　him　to　kill　the　little　gar。　He　knew　it　wouldn’t。
　
　Of　course；　it　would　work　if　he　turned　the　blade　white；　but　he　couldn’t　bear　that　pain。　He　would　not　subject　himself　to　that　agony；　not　for　no　more　purpose　than　to　kill　a　defenseless　pup。　He　carried　the　dead　woman’s　body　toward　the　next　rise　as　he　listened　to　the　whimpers　grow　faint。　Laying　the　body　down　again；　he　sat　to　catch　his　breath。　He　could　just　see　the　great　beast　in　the　moonlight；　a　dark　blotch　against　the　light…colored　rock；　and　the　small　form　atop　it。　He　could　hear　the　slow　sounds　of　anguish　and　confusion。　Richard　sat　a　long　time；　watching；　listening。
　
　‘Dear　spirits；　what　have　I　done？’
　
　The　spirits；　as　usual；　had　nothing　to　say。
　
　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　movement　caught　his　attention。　Two　distant　silhouettes　passed　in　front　of　the　big；　bright　moon。　They　banked　into　a　slow　turn；　and　began　to　descend。　Two　gars。
　
　Richard　came　to　his　feet。　Maybe　they　would　see　the　baby　and　help　it。　He　found　himself　cheering　them　on；　and　then　realized　how　absurd　it　was　to　hope　a　gar　would　live。　But　he　was　beginning　to　feel　an　odd　sympathy　for　monsters。
　
　Richard　ducked　down。　The　two　gars　overhead　came　close　to　him　as　they　swept　in　a　wide　circle　around　the　scene　on　the　next　hill。　Their　spiral　tightened。
　
　The　little　gar　fell　silent。
　
　The　dark　shapes　dove　down；　landing　a　ways　apart　with　a　flutter　of　wings。　They　moved　cautiously　around　the　dead　gar　and　its　offspring。　Wings　held　open；　they　suddenly　leapt　toward　the　silent　baby　gar。　It　broke　its　silence　with　a　scream。　There　was　a　flurry　of　wings；　vicious　roars；　and　frightened　shrieks。
　
　Richard　stood。　Many　animals　ate　the　young　of　another　of　their　own　kind。　Especially　males；　and　especially　if　food　was　scarce。　They　weren’t　going　to　save　it；　they　intended　to　eat　it。
　
　Before　he　even　realized　what　he　was　doing；　Richard　was　racing　down　the　hill。　He　ran　heedless　of　the　foolishness　he　intended。　He　pulled　the　sword　free　as　he　charged　up　the　hill　to　the　little　gar。　Its　terrified　wails　urged　him　on。　The　savage　snarls　of　its　attackers　ignited　the　wrath　of　the　sword’s　magic。
　
　Steel　first；　he　rushed　into　the　fur　and　claws　and　wings。　The　two　gars　were　bigger　than　the　one　he　had　killed；　confirming　his　suspicion　that　they　were　males。　His　blade　caught　only　air　as　they　leapt　back；　but　one　of　them　dropped　the　little　gar。　It　skittered　across　the　ground　and　clutched　its　mother’s　fur。　The　other　two　circled　him；　charging　and　darting　and　swiping　with　their　claws。　Richard　swung　and　stabbed　with　the　sword。　One　of　them　snatched　at　the　baby。　Richard　scooped　it　away　with　his　free　arm　and　quickly　retreated　a　dozen　paces。
　
　They　fell　on　the　dead　gar。　With　a　cry；　the　baby　stretched　its　arms　toward　its　mother；　its　wings　flapping　against　his　face　in　an　effort　to　free　itself。　In　a　frenzy；　the　two　gars　tore　at　the　carcass。
　
　Richard　made　a　calculated　decision。　As　long　as　the　dead　gar　was　there；　the　pup　wouldn’t　leave　it；　the　pup　would　have　a　better　chance　at　survival　if　it　had　nothing　to　hold　it　to　this　place。　It　squirmed　mightily　in　his　arm。　Though　fully　half　his　size；　at　least　it　was　lighter　than　he　would　have　thought。
　
　He　feigned　a　charge　to　hurry　the　two　along。　They　snapped　at　him；　too　hungry　to　be　frightened　off　without　a　meal。　They　fought　each　other。　Claws　slashed　and　pulled；　ripping　the　body　asunder。　Richard　charged　again　as　the　little　gar　tore　free；　running　ahead　of　him　with　a　shriek。　The　two　leapt　into　the　air；　each　with　half　a　prize。　In　a　moment　they　were　gone。
　
　The　little　gar　stood　where　its　mother　had　been；　keening　as　it　watched　the　two　disappear　into　the　dark　sky。
　
　Panting　and　weary；　Richard　returned　his　sword　to　its　scabbard　and　then　slumped　down　on　a　short　ledge；　trying　to　catch　his　breath。