epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第13节
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〃Rhisiart is not an impious man…〃
〃Not impious！〃 fluted Brother Jerome； appealing to heaven with uplifted eyes。 〃Men have been exmunicated for less！〃
〃Then men have been exmunicated for no evil at all；〃 said Huw sturdily； 〃and truly I think they sometimes have。 No； I say he is a decent； devout man； open…handed and fair； and had a right to resent it when he was misunderstood and affronted。 If he is ever to withdraw his opposition； it must be you； Father Prior； who make the first approach to him； and upon a different footing。 Not in person first； I would not ask or advise it。 But if I were to go to him； perhaps with Brother Cadfael here； who is known to be a good Welshman himself； and ask him to forget all that has been said and done； and e with an open mind to begin the discussion over again； I think he would not refuse。 Moreover； the very act of seeking him out would disarm him； for he has a generous heart。 I don't say he would necessarily change his mind…it would depend on how he is handled this time…but I do say he would listen。〃
〃Far be it from me〃 said Prior Robert loftily 〃to pass over any means of saving a soul from perdition。 I wish the man no ill； if he tempers his offences。 It is not a humiliation to stoop to deliver a sinner。〃
〃O wondrous clemency！〃 intoned Brother Jerome。 〃Saintly generosity towards the ill…doer！〃
Brother John flashed a narrow； glittering glance； and shifted one foot uneasily； as if restraining an impulse to kick。 Father Huw； desperate to preserve his stock of goodwill with prince； bishop； prior and people alike； cast him a warning look； and resumed hurriedly： 〃I will go to Rhisiart tonight； and ask him to dine here at my house tomorrow Then if we can e to terms between us； another assembly can be called； so that all may know there is peace。〃
〃Very well！〃 said the prior； after consideration。 In that way he need never actually admit any guilt on his part； or apologise for any act of his； nor need he enquire too closely what Huw might have to say on his behalf。 〃Very well； do so； and I hope you may succeed。〃
〃It would be a mark of your status； and the importance of this gesture；〃 suggested Cadfael with an earnest face； 〃if your messengers went mounted。 It's not yet dark； and the horses would be better for exercise。〃
〃True；〃 said the prior； mildly gratified。 〃It would be in keeping with our dignity and lend weight to our errand。 Very well； let Brother John bring the horses。〃
〃Now that's that I call a friend！〃 said Brother John heartily； when they were all three in the saddle； and safely away into the early dusk under the trees； Father Huw and John on the two tall horses； Brother Cadfael on the best of the mules。 〃Ten more minutes； and I should have earned myself a penance that would have lasted a month or more； and now here we are in the best pany around； on a decent errand； and enjoying the quiet of the evening。〃
〃Did I ever say word of your ing with us？〃 said Cadfael slyly。 〃I said the horses would add lustre to the embassage； I never went so far as to say you would add any。〃
〃I go with the horses。 Did you ever hear of an ambassador riding without a groom？ I'll keep well out of the way while you confer； and play the dutiful servant。 And by the by； Bened will be doing his drinking up there at the hall tonight。 They go the rounds； and it's Cai's turn。〃
〃And how did you learn so much；〃 wondered Cadfael； 〃without a word of Welsh？〃
〃Oh； they knock their meaning into me somehow； and I into them。 Besides； I have several words of Welsh already； and if we're held up here for a while I shall soon learn a great many more； if I can get my tongue round them。 I could learn the smith's art； too。 I lent him a hand at the forge this morning。〃
〃You're honoured。 In Wales not everyone can be a smith。〃
Huw indicated the fence that had begun to run alongside them on the right。 〃Cadwallon's holding。 We have a mile of forest to go yet to Rhisiart's hall。〃
It was still no more than dusk when they emerged into a large clearing； with ploughed and planted strips surrounding a long stockade fence。 The smell of wood…smoke drifted on the air； and glimmer of torches lit the open doorway of the hall。 Stables and barns and folds clung to the inner side of the fence； and men and women moved briskly about the evening business of a considerable household。
〃Well； well！〃 said the voice of Cai the ploughman； from a bench under the eaves of one of the byres。 〃So you've found your way by nose to where the mead is tonight； Brother Cadfael。〃 And he moved up obligingly to make room； shoulder to shoulder with Bened。 〃Padrig's making music within； and from all I hear it may well be war music； but he'll be with us presently。 Sit yourself down； and wele。 Nobody looks on you as the enemy。〃
There was a third with them already； a long man seated in deeper shadow； his legs stretched well out before him at ease； and his hair showing as a primrose pallor even in the dimness。 The young outlander； Engelard； willingly gathered up his long limbs and also moved to share the bench。 He had a quick； open smile vivid with white teeth。
〃We've e expressly to halt the war；〃 said Brother Cadfael as they dismounted； and a groom of the household came running to take their bridles。 〃Father Huw has the peace in hand； I'm only an assessor to see fair play。 And； sadly； we'll be expected back with an answer as soon as we've spoken with your lord。 But if you'll take charge of Brother John while we deal； he'll be grateful。 He can speak English with Engelard； a man should practise his own tongue when he can。〃
But Brother John； it appeared； had at that moment pletely lost the use of his tongue in any language； for he stood at gaze； and let the reins be taken from his hands like a man in a dream。 Nor was he looking at Engelard； but towards the open doorway of the hall； from which a girl's figure had issued； and was crossing gaily towards the drinkers under the eaves； a large jug carried in both hands。 The lively brown eyes flickered over the visitors； took in Cadfael and the priest with easy friendliness； and opened wide upon Brother John； standing like a very lifelike statue； all thorny russet hair； weather…burned cheeks and wild； admiring eyes。 Cadfael looked where Annest's eyes were looking； and approved a very upstanding； ruggedly…built； ingenuous； ely young fellow； maybe two or three years older than the girl。 The Benedictine habit； kilted to the knee for riding and forgotten now； looked as much like a working Welsh tunic as made no matter； and the tonsure； however well a man （or a girl！） knew it was there； was invisible behind the burning bush of curls。
〃Thirsty people you are； then！〃 said Annest； still with one eye upon Brother John； and set down her pitcher on the bench beside Cai； and with a flick of her skirts and a wave of her light…brown mane； sat down beside it； and accepted the horn Bened offered her。 Brother John stood mute and enchanted。
〃e on； then； lad；〃 said Bened； and made a place for him between himself and Cai； only one remove from where the girl sat delicately sipping。 And Brother John； like a man walking in his sleep； though perhaps with rather more zestful purpose； strode forward towards the seat reserved for him。
〃Well； well！〃 said Cadfael silently to himself； and left the insoluble to the solver of all problems； and with Father Huw moved on into the hall。
〃I will e；〃 said Rhisiart； shut into a small chamber apart with his visitors。 〃Of course I will e。 No man should refuse another his say。 No man can be sure he will not belie himself and do himself less than justice； and God forbid I should refuse anyone his second chance。 I've often spoken in haste myself； and been sorry after； and said so； as your prior has said so now。〃 He had not； of course； nor had Huw claimed； in so many words； that he had。 Rather he had expressed his own shame and regret； but if Rhisiart attributed these to Prior Robert； Huw was desperate enough to let him continue in the delusion。 〃But I tell you this； I expect little from this meeting。 The gap between us is too wide。 To you I can say what I have not said to any who were not there； because I am ashamed。 The man offered me money。 He says now he offered it to Gwytherin； but how is that possible？ Am I Gwytherin？ I am a man like other men； I fill my place as best I can； but remain one only。 No； he offered the purse to me； to take back my voice against him。 To persuade my own people to go along with his wishes。 I accept his desire to talk to me again； to bring me to see this matter as he sees it。 But I cannot forget that he saw it as something he could buy with money。 If he wishes to change me； that must change； and be shown to be changed。 As for his threats； for threats they are； and I approve you for reporting them faithfully； they move me not at all。 My reverence for our little saint is the equal of his or any man's。 Do you think she does not know it？〃
〃I am sure she does；〃 said Father Huw。
〃And if all they want is to honour and adore her rightly； why can they not do so here； where she lies？ Even dress her grave； if that is what disturbs them； that we've let it run wild？〃
〃A good question；〃 said Brother Cadfael。 〃I have asked it myself。 The sleep of saints sho
