epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第33节
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Cadwallon on one side and Peredur on the other stroked and patted and forted in vain。 As often as the father tried to assert himself she turned on him with wild reproaches； crying that he had no faith in his own son； or he could never have believed such a terrible thing of him； that the boy was bewitched； under some spell that forced false confession out of him； that he ought to have stood up for him before everybody and prevented the tale from being accepted so lightly； for somewhere there was witchcraft in it。 As often as Peredur tried to convince her he had told the truth； that he was willing to make amends； and she must accept his word； she rounded on him with fresh outbursts of tears； screaming that her own son had brought dreadful disgrace upon himself and her； that she wondered he dare e near her； that she would never be able to lift up her head again； that he was a monster。。。。
As for poor Father Huw； when he tried to assert his spiritual authority and order her to submit to the force of truth and accept her son's act with humility； as Peredur himself had done in making full confession and offering full submission； she cried out that she had been a God…fearing and law…abiding woman all her life； and done everything to bring up her child in the same way； and she could not now accept his guilt as reflecting upon her。
〃Mother；〃 said Peredur； haggard and sweating worse than when he faced Rhisiart's body； 〃nobody blames you； and nobody will。 What I did I did； and it's I who must abide the consequence； not you。 There isn't a woman in Gwytherin won't feel for you。〃
At that she let out a great wail of grief； and flung her arms about him； and swore that he should not suffer any grim penalties； that he was her own boy； and she would protect him。 And when he extricated himself with fading patience； she screamed that he meant to kill her； the unfeeling wretch； and went off into peals of ear…piercing； sobbing laughter。
Brother Cadfael took Peredur firmly by the sleeve； and hauled him away to the back of the room。 〃Show a little sense； lad； and take yourself out of her sight； you're fuel to her fire。 If nobody marked her at all she'd have stopped long ago； but now she's got herself into this state she's past doing that of her own accord。 Did our two brothers stop in here； do you know； or go on with the prior？〃
Peredur was shaking and tired out； but responded hopefully to this matter…of…fact treatment。 〃They've not been here； or I should have seen them。 They must have gone on to the church。〃
Naturally； neither Columbanus nor Jerome would dream of absenting himself from Vespers on such a momentous day。
〃Never mind； you can show me where they lodge。 Columbanus brought some of my poppy syrup with him； in case of need； the phial should be there with his scrip； he'd hardly have it on him。 And as far as I know； he's had no occasion to use it； his cantrips here in Wales have been of a quieter kind。 We can find a use for it now。〃
〃What does it do？〃 asked Peredur； wide…eyed。
〃It soothes the passions and kills pain…either of the body or the spirit。〃
〃I could use some of that myself；〃 said Peredur with a wry smile； and led the way out to one of the small huts that lined the stockade。 The guests from Shrewsbury had been given the best lodging the house afforded； with two low brychans； and a small chest； with a rush lamp for light。 Their few necessaries occupied almost no space； but each had a leather scrip to hold them； and both of these dangled from a nail in the timber wall。 Brother Cadfael opened first one； and then the other； and in the second found what he was seeking。
He drew it out and held it up to the light； a small phial of greenish glass。 Even before he saw the line of liquid in it； its light weight had caused him to check and wonder。 Instead of being full to the stopper with the thick； sweet syrup； the bottle was three…quarters empty。
Brother Cadfael stood stock…still for a moment with the phial in his hand； staring at it in silence。 Certainly Columbanus might at some time have felt the need to forestall some threatening spiritual disturbance but Cadfael could recall no occasion when he had said any word to that effect； or shown any sign of the rosy； reassuring calm the poppies could bring。 There was enough gone from the bottle to restore serenity three times over； enough to put a man to sleep for hours。 And now that he came to think back； there had been at least one occasion when a man had slept away hours of the day； instead of keeping the watch he was set to keep。 The day of Rhisiart's death Columbanus had failed of his duty； and confessed as much with heartfelt penitence。 Columbanus； who had the syrup in his possession； and knew its use。。。。
〃What must we do？〃 asked Peredur； uneasy in the silence。 〃If it tastes unpleasant you'll have trouble getting her to drink it。〃
〃It tastes sweet。〃 But there was not very much of it left； a little reinforcement with something else soothing and pleasant might be necessary。 〃Go and get a cup of strong wine； and we'll see how that goes down。〃
They had taken with them a measure of wine that day； he remembered； the ration for the two of them； when they set off for the chapel。 Columbanus had drawn and carried it。 And a bottle of water for himself； since he had made an act of piety of renouncing wine until their mission was acplished。 Jerome had done well； getting a double ration。
Brother Cadfael stirred himself out of his furious thoughts to deal with the immediate need。 Peredur hurried to do his bidding； but brought mead instead of wine。
〃She's more likely to drink it down before she minks to be obstinate； for she likes it better。 And it's stronger。〃
〃Good！〃 said Cadfael。 〃It will hide the syrup better。 And now； go somewhere quiet； and harden your heart and stop your ears and stay out of her sight； for it's the best thing you can do for her； and God knows the best for yourself； after such a day。 And leave agonising too much over your sins； black as they are； there isn't a confessor in the land who hasn't heard worse and never turned a hair。 It's a kind of arrogance to be so certain you're past redemption。〃
The sweet； cloying drink swirled in the cup； the syrup unwinding into it in a long spiral that slowly melted and vanished。 Peredur with shadowy eyes watched and was silent。
After a moment he said； very low： 〃It's strange！ I never could have done so shabbily by anyone I hated。〃
〃Not strange at all；〃 said Cadfael bluntly； stirring his potion。 〃When harried； we go as far as we dare； and with those we're sure of we dare go very far； knowing where forgiveness is certain。〃
Peredur bit his lip until it was biddable。 〃Is it certain？〃
〃As tomorrow's daylight； child！ And now be off out of my way； and stop asking fool questions。 Father Huw will have no time for you today； there's more important business waiting。〃
Peredur went like a docile child； startled and forted； and wherever he hid himself； he did it effectively； for Cadfael saw no more of him that evening。 He was a good lad at heart； and this wild lunge of his into envy and meanness had brought him up short against an image of himself that he did not like at all。 Whatever prayers Huw set him by way of penance were likely to hit heaven with the irresistible fervour of thunderbolts； and whatever hard labour he was given； the result was likely to stand solid as oak and last for ever。
Cadfael took his draught； and went back to where Dame Branwen was still heaving and quivering with uncontrollable sobs； by this time in genuine distress； exhausted by her efforts but unable to end them。 He took advantage of her sheer weariness to present the cup to her as soon as he reached her side； and with abrupt authority that acted on her before she could muster the fibre of stubbornness。
〃Drink this！〃 And automatically she drank it； half of it going down out of pure surprise； the second half because the first had taught her how dry and sore her throat was from all its exertions； and how smooth was the texture and how sweet the taste of this brew。 The very act of swallowing it broke the frightening rhythm of the huge sighs that had convulsed her almost worse than the sobbing。 Father Huw had time to mop his brow with a fold of his sleeve before she was able to resume her plaints。 Even then； by parison with what had gone before； they sounded half…hearted。
〃We women； we mothers； we sacrifice our lives to bringing up children； and when they're grown they reward us by bringing disgrace upon us。 What did I ever do to deserve this？〃
〃He'll do you credit yet；〃 said Cadfael cheerfully。 〃Stand by him in his penance； but never try to excuse his sin； and he'll think the better of you for it。〃
That went by her like the wind sighing at the time； though she may have remembered it later。 Her voice declined gradually from its injured self…justification； dwindled into a half…dreamy monologue of grief； and took on at length a tone of warm and drowsy placency； before it lapsed into silence。 Cadwallon breathed deep and cautiously； and eyed his advisers。
〃I shall call her women and get her to bed；〃 said Cadfael。 〃She'll sleep the night through； and it'll do her nothing but good。〃 And you more good still； he thought
