按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rd looked round him quickly； measuring chances。 Annest came forward silently； and took her stand beside Sioned。 Brother John's roused； anxious eyes followed her progress； and approved the loyalty which had no other way of expressing itself。
〃Engelard did not e home until half an hour ago；〃 she said stoutly。
〃Child；〃 said Father Huw wretchedly； 〃where he was not does not in any way confirm where he says he was。 Two calves may be delivered far more quickly than he claims； how can we know； who were not there？ He had time to slip back here and do this thing； and be back with his cattle and never noticed。 Unless we can find someone who testifies to having seen him elsewhere； at whatever time this deed may have been done； then I fear we should hold Engelard in safe…keeping until the prince's bailiff can take over the charge for us。〃
The men of Gwytherin hovered； murmuring； some convinced； many angry； for Rhisiart had been very well liked； some hesitant； but granting that the outlander ought to be held until his innocence was established or his guilt proved。 They shifted and closed； and their murmur became one of consent。
〃It is fair；〃 said Bened； and the growl of assent answered him。
〃One lone Englishman with his back to the wall； whispered Brother John indignantly in Cadfael's ear； 〃and what chance will he have； with nobody to bear out what he says？ And plain truth； for certain！ Does he act or speak like a murderer？〃
Peredur had stood like a stock all this while； hardly taking his eyes from Engelard's face but to gaze earnestly and unhappily at Sioned。 As Prior Robert levelled an imperious arm at Engelard； and the whole assembly closed in slowly in obedience； braced to lay hands on him； Peredur drew a little further back at the edge of the trees； and Cadfael saw him catch Sioned's eye； flash her a wild； wide…eyed look； and jerk his head as though beckoning。 Out of her exhaustion and misery she roused a brief； answering blaze； and leaned to whisper rapidly in Engelard's ear。
〃Do your duty； all of you；〃 manded Robert； 〃to your laws and your prince and your church； and lay hold of this man！〃
There was one instant of stillness； and then they closed in all together； the only gap in their ranks where Peredur still hung back。 Engelard made a long leap from Sioned's side； as though he would break for the thickest screen of bushes； and then； instead； caught up a dead； fallen bough that lay in the grass； and whirled it about him in a flailing circle； laying two unwary elders flat； and sending others reeling back out of range。 Before they could reassemble； he had changed direction； leaped over one of the fallen； and was clean through the midst of them； arming off the only one who almost got a grip on him； and made straight for the gap Peredur had left in their ranks。 Father Huw's voice； uplifted in vexed agitation； called on Peredur to halt him； and Peredur sprang to intercept his flight。 How it happened was never quite clear； though Brother Cadfael had a rough idea； but at the very moment when his outstretched hand almost brushed Engelard's sleeve； Peredur stepped upon a rotten branch in the turf； that snapped under his foot and rolled； tossing him flat on his face； half…blinded among the bushes。 And winded； possibly； for certainly he made no move to pick himself up until Engelard was past him and away。
Even then it was not quite over； for the nearest pursuers on either side； seeing how the hunt had turned； had also begun to run like hares； on courses converging with the fugitive's at the very edge of the clearing。 From the left came a long…legged villein of Cadwallon's； with a stride like a greyhound； and from the right Brother John； his habit flying； his sandalled feet pounding the earth mightily。 It was perhaps the first time Brother John had ever enjoyed Prior Robert's whole…hearted approval。 It was certainly the last。
There was no one left in the race but these three； and fleet though Engelard was； it seemed that the long…legged fellow would collide with him before he could finally vanish。 All three were hurtling together for a shattering collision； or so it seemed。 The villein stretched out arms as formidably long as his legs。 So； on the other side； did Brother John。 A great hand closed on a thin fold of Engelard's tunic from one side。 Brother John bounded exuberantly in from the other。 The prior sighed relief； expecting the prisoner to be enfolded in a double embrace。 And Brother John； diving； caught Cadwallon's villein round the knees and brought him crashing to the ground； and Engelard； plucking his tunic out of the enemy's grasp； leaped into the bushes and vanished in a receding susurration of branches； until silence and stillness closed over the path of his withdrawal。
Half the hunt； out of excitement rather than any real enmity； streamed away into the forest after the quarry； but half…heartedly now。 They had little chance of capturing him。 Probably they had no great desire to do anything of the kind； though once put to it； hounds must follow a scent。 The real drama remained behind in the clearing。 There； at least； justice had one clear culprit to enjoy。
Brother John unwound his arms from his victim's knees； sat up in the grass； fended off placidly a feeble blow the villein aimed at him； and said in robust but inprehensible English： 〃Ah； let well alone； lad！ What did he ever do to you？ But faith； I'm sorry I had to fetch you down so heavily。 If you think you're hard…done…to； take fort！ I'm likely to pay dearer than you。〃
He looked round him placently enough as he clambered to his feet and dusted off the debris of leaves and twigs that clung to his habit。 There stood Prior Robert； not yet unfrozen from the shock of incredulous disillusionment； tall and stiff and grey； a Norman lordling debating terrible penalties for treason。 But there； also； stood Sioned； tired； distraught； worn out with passion； but with a small； reviving glow in her eyes； and there was Annest at her elbow； an arm protectively round her waist； but her flower…face turned towards John。 Not much use Robert thundering and lightning； while she so smiled and blossomed； beaming her gratitude and admiration。
Brother Richard and Brother Jerome loomed like messengers of doom； one at either elbow。 〃Brother John； you are summoned。 You are in gross offence。〃
He went with them resignedly。 For all the threatening thunder…bolts he had never felt freer in his life。 And having now nothing to lose but his own self…respect； he was sturdily determined not to sacrifice that。
〃Unfaithful and unworthy brother；〃 hissed Prior Robert； towering in terrible indignation； 〃what have you done？ Do not deny what we have all witnessed。 You have not merely connived at the escape of a felon； you have frustrated the attempt of a loyal servant to arrest him。 You felled that good man deliberately； to let Engelard go free。 Traitor against church and law； you have put yourself beyond the pale。 If there is anything you can say in your defence； say it now。〃
〃I thought the lad was being harried beyond reason； on very suspect suspicion；〃 said Brother John boldly。 〃I've talked with Engelard； I've got my own view of him； a decent； open soul who'd never do violence