tg.wizardfirstrule-第103部分

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　〃Zedd；〃　Richard　asked；　〃yesterday；　we　went　to　a　place　called　Homers　Mill。〃　Zedd　nodded。　〃I　saw　it。　And　I　have　seen　many　more　just　like　it。〃
　
　Richard　leaned　forward。　〃It　wasn't　Westlanders；　was　it？　It　couldn't　have　been　Westlanders。　I　told　Michael　to　get　the　army　together　and　protect　Westland。　I　didn't　tell　him　to　attack　anyone。　Certainly　not　helpless　people。　It　couldn't　have　been　Westlanders；　they　wouldn't　do　that。〃
　
　〃No；　it　wasn't　anyone　from　Westland。　I　haven't　seen　or　heard　from　Michael。〃
　
　〃Then　who？〃
　
　〃It　was　Rahl's　own　men　who　did　it；　by　his　mand。〃
　
　〃That　does　not　make　any　sense；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃The　town　was　loyal　to　D'Hara。　There　were　forces　of　the　People's　Peace　Army　there；　and　they　were　killed　to　a　man。〃
　
　〃That's　the　very　reason　he　did　it。〃
　
　They　both　gave　him　puzzled　looks。　〃That　doesn't　make　any　sense；〃　Kahlan　said。
　
　〃Wizard's　First　Rule。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃What？〃
　
　〃Wizard's　First　Rule：　people　are　stupid。〃　Richard　and　Kahlan　frowned　even　more。　〃People　are　stupid；　given　proper　motivation；　almost　anyone　will　believe　almost　anything。　Because　people　are　stupid；　they　will　believe　a　lie　because　they　want　to　believe　it's　true；　or　because　they　are　afraid　it　might　be　true。　People's　heads　are　full　of　knowledge；　facts；　and　beliefs；　and　most　of　it　is　false；　yet　they　think　it　all　true。　People　are　stupid；　they　can　only　rarely　tell　the　difference　between　a　lie　and　the　truth；　and　yet　they　are　confident　they　can；　and　so　are　all　the　easier　to　fool。
　
　〃Because　of　the　Wizard's　First　Rule；　the　old　wizards　created　Confessors；　and　Seekers；　as　a　means　of　helping　find　the　truth；　when　the　truth　is　important　enough。　Rahl　knows　the　Wizard's　Rules。　He　is　using　the　first　one。　People　need　an　enemy　to　feel　a　sense　of　purpose。　It's　easy　to　lead　people　when　they　have　a　sense　of　purpose。　Sense　of　purpose　is　more　important　by　far　than　the　truth。　In　fact；　truth　has　no　bearing　in　this。　Darken　Rahl　is　providing　them　with　an　enemy；　other　than　himself；　a　sense　of　purpose。　People　are　stupid；　they　want　to　believe；　so　they　do。〃
　
　〃But　they　were　his　own　people；〃　Kahlan　protested。　〃He　was　killing　his　supporters。〃　〃You　will　notice　not　all　the　people　were　killed；　some　were　raped；　tortured；　but　left　alive　to　flee；　to　spread　the　news。　You　will　also　note　how　none　of　the　soldiers　were　left　alive　to　dispute　the　story。　That　it　isn't　the　truth　doesn't　matter；　and　the　ones　hearing　the　story　will　believe　it　because　it　provides　them　with　a　sense　of　purpose；　an　enemy　to　rally　against。　The　survivors　will　spread　the　word　like　a　wildfire。　Even　though　Rahl　has　destroyed　a　few　towns　that　were　loyal　to　him；　and　a　few　of　his　soldiers；　he　has　gained　many　more　towns　to　his　side；　a　hundredfold　over。　Even　more　people　will　rally　around　him　and　support　him　because　he　has　told　them　he　wants　to　protect　them　from　this　enemy。　Truth　is　hard　to　sell；　it　gives　no　sense　of　purpose。　It　is　simply　truth。〃
　
　Richard　sat　back；　a　little　stunned。　〃But　it　isn't　true。　How　can　Rahl　get　away　with　it？　How　could　everyone　believe　it？〃
　
　Zedd　gave　him　a　stern　look。　〃You　knew　better；　you　knew　it　wasn't　Westlanders；　yet　even　you　doubted　your　knowledge。　You　were　afraid　it　was　true。　Being　afraid　something　is　true　is　accepting　the　possibility。　Accepting　the　possibility　is　the　first　step　to　believing。　At　least　you　are　smart　enough　to　question。　Think　of　how　easy　it　is　to　believe；　for　people　who　don't　question；　who　don't　even　know　how　to　question。　For　most　people；　it's　not　the　truth　that　is　important；　it's　the　cause。　Rahl　is　intelligent；　he　has　given　them　a　cause。〃　His　eyes　glinted　with　purpose。　〃It　is　the　Wizard's　First　Rule　because　it　is　the　most　important。　Remember　it。〃　。
　
　〃But　the　ones　who　did　the　killing；　they　knew。　It　was　murder。　How　could　they　do　it？〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃Sense　of　purpose。　They　did　it　for　the　cause。〃
　
　〃But　that　goes　against　nature。　Murder　goes　against　nature。〃
　
　The　wizard　smiled。　〃Murder　is　the　way　of　nature；　of　all　living　things。〃
　
　Richard　knew　Zedd　was　sucking　him　in…it　was　his　way　to　draw　you　in　with　an　outrageous　statement…but　his　blood　was　up　and　he　couldn't　help　protesting。　〃Only　some　of　nature。　Like　predators。　And　that's　only　to　survive。　Look　about　at　these　trees；　they　can't　even　think　of　murder。〃
　
　〃Murder　is　the　way　of　all　things；　the　way　of　nature；〃　Zedd　repeated。　〃Every　living　thing　is　a　murderer。〃　Richard　looked　to　Kahlan　for　support。　〃Don't　look　at　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　learned　a　long　time　ago　not　to　debate　with　wizards。〃
　
　Richard　looked　up；　at　the　beautiful　big　pine　spreading　over　them；　illuminated　in　the　firelight。　A　spark　of　understanding　lit　in　his　mind。　He　saw　the　branches；　stretched　out　with　murderous　intent；　in　a　years　long　struggle　to　reach　the　sunlight　and　dispatch　its　neighbors　with　its　shade。　Success　would　give　space　for　its　offspring；　many　of　which　would　also　shrivel　in　the　shade　of　the　parent。　Several　close　neighbors　of　the　big　pine　were　withered　and　weak；　victims　all。　It　was　true：　the　design　of　nature　was　success　by　murder。
　
　Zedd　watched　Richard's　eyes。　This　was　a　lesson；　the　way　the　old　man　had　taught　Richard　since　he　was　young。　〃You　have　learned　something；　my　boy？〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　〃Life　for　the　strongest。　There　is　no　sympathy　for　the　slain；　only　admiration　for　the　winner's　strength。〃
　
　〃But　people　don't　think　that　way；〃　Kahlan　said；　unable　to　hold　her　tongue。
　
　Zedd　gave　a　sly　smile。　〃No？〃　He　pointed　to　a　small；　withered　tree　near　them。　〃Look　at　this　tree；　dear　one。〃　He　pointed　to　the　big　pine。　〃And　this。　Tell　me　which　you　admire　more。〃
　
　〃This　one；〃　she　said；　pointing　at　the　big　pine。　〃It's　a　beautiful　tree。〃
　
　〃This　one。　You　see？　People　do　think　this　way。　It's　beautiful；　you　said。　You　chose　the　tree　that　murders；　not　the　one　murdered。〃　Zedd　smiled　triumphantly。　〃The　way　of　nature。〃
　
　Kahlan；　folded　her　arms。　〃I　knew　I　should　have　kept　my　mouth　shut。〃
　
　〃You　may　keep　your　mouth　closed　if　you　wish；　but　don't　close　your　mind。　To　defeat　Darken　Rahl；　we　must　understand　him　to　know　how　to　destroy　him。〃
　
　〃This　is　how　he's　winning　so　much　territory；〃　Richard　said；　tapping　his　finger　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　〃He's　letting　others　do　it　for　him；　giving　them　a　cause；　then　all　he　has　to　worry　about　is　going　after　the　boxes。　There　is　no　one　to　interfere。〃
　
　Zedd　nodded。　〃He　uses　the　Wizard's　First　Rule　to　do　most　of　the　work　for　him。　This　is　what　makes　our　job　so　hard。　He　gets　people　on　his　side　because　people　don't　care　about　the　truth；　they　do　his　bidding　because　they　believe　what　they　want　to；　and　fight　to　the　death　for　these　beliefs；　despite　how　false　they　are。〃
　
　Richard　slowly　stood；　looking　off　into　the　night。　〃All　this　time；　I　thought　we　were　fighting　evil。　Evil　on　the　loose；　run　amok。　But　that's　not　it　at　all。　What　we're　up　against　is　more　like　a　plague。　A　plague　of　fools。〃
　
　〃You　have　gotten　it　right；　my　boy。　A　plague　of　fools。〃
　
　〃Directed　by　Darken　Rahl；〃　Kahlan　noted。
　
　Zedd　peered　at　her　a　moment。　〃If　someone　digs　a　hole；　and　it　fills　with　rainwater；　where　is　the　fault？　Is　it　the　rain's　fault？　Or　is　it　the　fault　of　the　person　who　digs　the　hole？　Is　it　Darken　Rahl's　fault；　or　the　fault　of　those　who　dig　the　hole；　and　let　him　rain　in？〃
　
　〃Maybe　both；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃That　leaves　us　with　a　lot　of　Enemies。〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　a　finger。　〃And　very　dangerous　ones。　Fools　who　won't　see　the　truth　are　deadly。　As　a　Confessor；　perhaps　you　have　already　learned　this　lesson；　yes？〃　She　nodded。　〃They　don't　always　do　what　you　think　they　will；　or　should；　and　you　can　be　caught　off　guard。　People　you　don't　think　should　be　trouble　can　kill　you　quick。〃
　
　〃This　doesn't　change　anything；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃If　Rahl　gets　all　the　boxes；　and　opens　the　right　one；　he　is　the　one　who　will　kill　us　all。　He　is　still　the　head　to　the　snake；　it　is　still　this　head　we　must　remove。〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃You　are　correct。　But　we　must　stay　alive　to　have　a　chance　to　kill　this　snake；　and　there　are　plenty　of　small　snakes　that　can　kill　us　first。〃
　
　〃This　is　a　lesson　we　already　learned；〃　Richard　said。　〃But　as　Kahlan　said；　it　doesn't　change　anything。　We　must　still　get　the　box　to　kill　Rahl。〃　He　sat　down　again；　next　to　her。
　
　Zedd's　face　turned　deadly　serious。　〃Just　remember：　Darken　Rahl　can　kill　you；〃　he　pointed　a　bony　finger　at　Richard；　then　Kahlan；　〃and　you；〃　then　at　himself；　〃and　me…easy。〃
　
　Richard　sat　back　a　little。　〃Then；　why　hasn't　he？〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Do　you　go　around　a　room；　and　kill　all　the　flies　in　it？　No。　You　ignore　them。　They　don't　merit　your　attention。　Until　they　bite。　Then　you　swat　them。〃　He　leaned　closer　to　the　two　of　them。　〃We　are　about　to　bite　him。〃　Richard　and　Kahlan　gave　each　other　a　sideways　glance。
　
　〃Wizard's　First　Rule。〃　Richard　felt　a　trickle　of　sweat　run　down　his　back。　〃I'll　remember。〃
　
　〃And　don't　repeat　it　to　anyone；〃　the　wizard　admonished。　〃Wizard's　Rules　are　for　none　but　a　wizard　to　know。　The　Wizard's　Rules　may　seem　cynical　or　trivial　to　you；　but　they　are　powerful　weapons　if　you　know　how　to　use　them；　because　they　are　true。　Truth　is　power。　I　have　told　you　two　because　I'm　the　head　of　the　wizards；　and　I　think　it　important　for　you　to　understand。　You　must　know　what　Rahl　is　doing；　since　it　is　the　three　of　us　who　must　stop　him。〃
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　nodded　their　oath。
　
　〃It's　late。〃　Zedd　yawned。　〃I　have　been　traveling　a　long　time　to　reach　you。　We　will　talk　more　later。〃
　
　Richard　jumped　up。　〃I'll　take　first　watch。〃　He　had　something　to　do；　and　wanted　it　done　before　anything　else　happened。　〃Use　my　blankets；　Zedd。〃
　
　〃Done。　I'll　take　second　watch。〃　Second　watch　of　three　was　the　least　pleasant：　it　split　your　sleeping　in　two。　Kahlan　began　to　protest。　〃I　spoke　first；　dear　one。〃
　
　Richard　pointed　to　the　rock　outcropping　where　he　would　be；　after　he　scouted　the　area；　and　headed　off。　His　mind　churned　with　a　thousand　thoughts；　but　with　one　above　all　the　rest。　The　night　was　still；　and　cold；　yet　not　unfortably　so。　He　left　his　cloak　open　as　he　picked　his　way　through　the　trees；　intent　on　where　he　was　going。　Night　creatures　called　to　one　another；　but　he　hardly　noticed。　At　one　point；　he　scrambled　to　the　top　of　a　boulder　and　peered　back　through　the　gaps　in　the　trees；　watching　the　fire；　waiting　until　he　saw　the　other　two　roll　themselves　in　the　blankets；　then　he　slid　off　the　rock　and　continued　on　toward　the　sound　of　rushing　water。
　
　At　the　edge　of　the　river；　he　cast　about　until　he　found　a　chunk　of　driftwood　big　enough　for　his　purpose。　Richard　remembered　Zedd　telling　him　that　he　must　have　the　courage　to　do　what　was　necessary　for　their　goal；　and　he　must　be　prepared　to　kill　any　one　of　them　if　it　came　to　that。　Richard　knew　Zedd；　and　he　knew　that　Zedd　wasn't　just　making　a　point…he　meant　what　he　said。　He　。knew　that　Zedd　was　capable　of　killing　him；　or；　more　important；　Kahlan
　
　He　took　the　tooth　from　his　shirt；　pulling　the　leather　cord　over　his　head。　He　held　the　triangular　shaped　tooth　in　his　hand；　feeling　the　weight　of　it；　looking　at　it　in　the　moonlight；　and　thought　about　his　father。　The　tooth　was　the　only　way　for　Richard　to　prove　to　Zedd　that　his　father　wasn't　a　thief；　that　he　had　taken　the　book　to　keep　it　from　Darken　Rahl。　Richard　wanted　so　badly　to　tell　Zedd；　to　tel