epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第22节
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child of Gwytherin in peril。 I am missioned； Father Prior； to tell you that they withdraw all opposition to your plans。 The relics of Saint Winifred are yours to take away with you。〃
Prior Robert drew a great breath of triumph and joy； and whatever will he might have had to deal even the lightest punishment left him in an instant。 It was everything he had hoped for。 Brother Columbanus； still kneeling； cast up his eyes radiantly towards heaven and clasped his hands in gratitude； and somehow contrived to look as though he had brought about this desired consummation himself； the deprivation caused by his unfaithfulness pensated in full by this reward of his penitence。 Brother Jerome； just as determined to impress prior and priest with his devotion； threw up his hands and uttered a reverent Latin invocation of praise to God and the saints。
〃I am certain；〃 said Prior Robert magnanimously； 〃that the people of Gwytherin never wished to offend； and that they have done wisely and rightly now。 I am glad； for them as for my abbey； that we may plete our work here and take our leave in amity with you all。 And for your part in bringing about this good ending； Father Huw； we are all grateful。 You have done well for your parish and your people。〃
〃I am bound to tell you；〃 said Huw honestly； 〃that they are not at all happy at losing the saint。 But none of them will hinder what you wish。 If you so will； we will take you to the burial place today。〃
〃We will go in procession after the next Mass；〃 said the prior； unwonted animation lighting up his severe countenance now that he had his own way； 〃and not touch food until we have knelt at Saint Winifred's altar and given thanks。〃 His eyes lit upon Brother Columbanus； patiently kneeling and gazing upon him with doglike eyes； still insistent upon having his sin recognised。 Robert looked faintly surprised for a moment； as if he had forgotten the young man's existence。 〃Rise； brother； and take heart； for you see that there is forgiveness in the air。 You shall not be deprived of your share in the delight of visiting the virgin saint and paying honour to her。〃
〃And my penance？〃 insisted the incorrigible penitent。
There was a good deal of iron in Brother Columbanus's meekness。
〃For penance you shall undertake the menial duties that fell to Brother John； and serve your fellows and their beasts until we return home。 But your part in the glory of this day you shall have； and help to bear the reliquary in which the saint's bones are to rest。 We'll carry it with us； and set it up before the altar。 Every move we make I would have the virgin approve plainly； in all men's sight。〃
〃And will you break the ground today？〃 asked Father Huw wearily。 No doubt he would be glad to have the whole episode over and forgotten； and be rid of them all； so that Gwytherin could settle again to its age…old business； though short of one good man。
〃No；〃 said Prior Robert after due thought。 〃I wish to show forth at every stage our willingness to be guided； and the truth of what we have claimed； that our mission was inspired by Saint Winifred herself。 I decree that there shall be three nights of vigil and prayer before the chapel altar； before ever we break the sod； to confirm to all that what we are doing is indeed right and blessed。 We are six here； if you will join us； Father Huw。 Two by two we will be watching nightlong in the chapel； and pray to be guided rightly。〃
They took up the silver…inlaid coffin made in implicit faith in Shrewsbury； and carried it in procession up through the woods； past Cadwallon's house； taking the right…hand path that led them obliquely away from the scene of Rhisiart's death； until they came to a small clearing on a hillside； ringed round on three sides by tall； thick clumps of hawthorn； then in snowy bloom。 The chapel was of wood； dark with age； small and shadowy within； a tiny bell…turret without a bell leaning over the doorway。 Round it the old graveyard lay spread like billowing green skirts； thick with herbs and brambles and tall grasses。 By the time they reached this place they had a silent and ever…growing pany of local inhabitants following them； curious； submissive； wary。 There was no way of telling whether they still felt resentment。 Their eyes were steady； observant and opaque； determined to miss nothing and give nothing away。
At the sagging wooden gate that still hung where the path entered； Prior Robert halted； and made the sign of the cross with large； grave gestures。 〃Wait here！〃 he said； when Huw would have led him forward。 〃Let us see if prayer can guide my feet； for I have prayed。 You shall not show me the saint's grave。 I will show it to you； if she will be my aid。〃
Obediently they stood and watched his tall figure advance with measured steps； as if he felt his way； the skirts of his habit sweeping through the tangles of grass and flowers。 Without hesitation and without haste he made his way to a little； overgrown mound aligned with the east end of the chapel； and sank to his knees at its head。
〃Saint Winifred lies here；〃 he said。
Cadfael thought about it every step of the way； as he went up through the woods that afternoon to Rhisiart's hall。 A man could count on Prior Robert to be impressive； but that little miracle had been a master…stroke。 The breathless hush； the rippling outbreak of ment and wonder and awe among the men of Gwytherin were with him still。 No question but the remotest villein hut and the poorest free holding in the parish would be buzzing with the news by now。 The monks of Shrewsbury were vindicated。 The saint had taken their prior by the hand and led him to her grave。 No； the man had never before been to that place； nor had the grave been marked in any way； by a belated attempt to cut the brambles from it； for instance。 It was as it had always been； and yet he had known it from all the rest。
No use at all pointing out； to a crowd swayed by emotion； that if Prior Robert had not previously been to the chapel； Brothers Jerome and Columbanus； his most faithful adherents； had； only the previous day； and with the boy Edwin to guide them； and what more probable than that one of them should have asked the child the whereabouts of the lady they had e all this way to find？
And now； with this triumph already establishing his claim； Robert had given himself three whole days and nights of delay； in which other； similar prodigies might well confirm his ascendancy。 A very bold step； but then； Robert was a bold and resourceful man； quite capable of gambling his chances of providing further miracles against any risk of contrary chance refuting him。 He meant to leave Gwytherin with what he had e for； but to leave it； if not fully reconciled； then permanently cowed。 No scuttling away in haste with his prize of bones； as though still in terror of being thwarted。
But he could not have killed Rhisiart； thought Cadfael with certainty。 That I know。 Could he have gone so far as to procure。。。 ？ He considered the possibility honestly； and discarded it。 Robert he endured； disliked； and in a fashion admired。 At Brother John's age he would have detested him； but Cadfael was old； experienced and grown tolerant
He came to the gatehouse of Rhisiart's holding； a wattle hut shored into a corner of the palisade fence。 The man knew him again from yesterday； and let him in freely。 Cai came across the enclosed court to meet him； grinning。 All grins here were somewhat soured and chastened now； but a spark of inward mischief survived。
〃Have you e to rescue your mate？〃 asked Cai。 〃I doubt he wouldn't thank you； he's lying snug； and feeding like a fighting cock； and no threats of the bailiff yet。 She's said never a word； you may be sure； and Father Huw would be in no hurry。 I reckon we've a couple of days yet； unless your prior makes it his business； where it's none。 And if he does； we have boys out will give us plenty of notice before any horseman reaches the gate。 Brother John's in good hands。〃
It was Engelard's fellow…worker speaking； the man who knew him as well as any in this place。 Clearly Brother John had established himself with his gaoler； and Cai's mission was rather to keep the threatening world from him； than to keep him from sallying forth into the world。 When the key was needed for the right purpose； it would be provided。
〃Take care for your own head；〃 said Cadfael； though without much anxiety。 They knew what they were doing。 〃Your prince may have a lawyer's mind； and want to keep in with the Benedictines along the border。〃
〃Ah； never fret！ An escaped felon can be nobody's fault。 And everybody's quarry and nobody's prize！ Have you never hunted zealously in all the wrong places for something you desired not to find？〃
〃Say no more；〃 said Cadfael； 〃or I shall have to stop my ears。 And tell the lad I never even asked after him； for I know there's no need。〃
〃Would you be wishing to have a gossip with him？〃 offered Cai generously。 〃He's lodged over yonder in a nice little stable that's clean and empty； and he gets his meals princely； I tell you！〃
〃Tell me nothing； for I might be asked；〃 said Cadfael。 〃A blind eye and a deaf ear can be useful sometimes。 I'll be glad to spend a while with you presently； but now I'm bound to her。 We have b
