rj.thegreathunt-第24章

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the　Age　of　Legends。　And　Domani　claim　descent　from　those　who　made　the　Tree　of　Life　in　the　Age　of　Legends。　There　are　other　possibilities；　but　you　will　note；　Mother；　that　at　least　three　center　around　Almoth　Plain　and　Toman　Head。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin's　voice　became　deceptively　gentle。　〃Will　you　make　up　your　mind；　Daughter？　If　Artur　Hawkwing's　seed　is　not　returning；　then　this　is　not　prophecy　and　it　doesn't　matter　a　rotted　fish　head　what　ancient　tree　is　meant。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　only　give　you　what　I　know；　Mother；〃　Verin　said；　looking　up　from　her　notes；　〃and　leave　the　decision　in　your　hands。　I　believe　the　last　of　Artur　Hawkwing's　foreign　armies　died　long　ago；　but　because　I　believe　it　does　not　make　it　so。　The　Time　of　Change；　of　course；　refers　to　the　end　of　an　Age；　and　the　Great　Lord　…〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　slapped　the　tabletop　like　a　thunderclap。　〃I　know　very　well　who　the　Great　Lord　is；　Daughter。　I　think　you　had　better　go　now。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath；　and　took　hold　of　herself　visibly。　〃Go；　Verin。　I　do　not　want　to　bee　angry　with　you。　I　do　not　want　to　forget　who　it　was　had　the　cooks　leave　sweetcakes　out　at　night　when　I　was　a　novice。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mother；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃there　is　nothing　in　this　to　suggest　prophecy。　Anyone　with　a　little　wit　and　a　little　knowledge　could　put　together　as　much；　and　no　one　has　ever　said　Myrddraal　do　not　have　a　sly　wit。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　of　course；〃　Verin　said　calmly；　〃the　man　who　channels　must　be　one　of　the　three　young　men　traveling　with　you；　Moiraine。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　stared　in　shock。　Not　aware　of　the　world？　I　am　a　fool。　Before　she　realized　what　she　was　doing；　she　had　reached　out　to　the　pulsing　glow　she　always　felt　there　waiting；　to　the　True　Source。　The　One　Power　surged　along　her　veins；　charging　her　with　energy；　muting　the　sheen　of　Power　from　the　Amyrlin　Seat　as　she　did　the　same。　Moiraine　had　never　before　even　thought　of　wielding　the　Power　against　another　Aes　Sedai。　We　live　in　perilous　times；　and　the　world　hangs　in　the　balance；　and　what　must　be　done；　must　be　done。　It　must。　Oh；　Verin；　why　did　you　have　to　put　your　nose　in　where　it　does　not　belong？
　　　　　　　Verin　closed　her　book　and　slipped　it　back　behind　her　belt；　then　looked　from　one　woman　to　the　other。　She　could　not　but　be　aware　of　the　nimbus　surrounding　each　of　them；　the　light　that　came　from　touching　the　True　Source。　Only　someone　trained　in　channeling　herself　could　see　the　glow；　but　there　was　no　chance　of　any　Aes　Sedai　missing　it　in　another　woman。
　　　　　　　A　hint　of　satisfaction　settled　on　Verin's　face；　but　no　sign　that　she　realized　she　had　hurled　a　lightning　bolt。　She　only　looked　as　if　she　had　found　another　piece　that　fit　in　a　puzzle。　〃Yes；　I　thought　it　must　be　so。　Moiraine　could　not　do　this　alone；　and　who　better　to　help　than　her　girlhood　friend　who　used　to　sneak　down　with　her　to　snitch　sweetcakes。〃　She　blinked。　〃Forgive　me；　Mother。　I　should　not　have　said　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Verin；　Verin。〃　The　Amyrlin　shook　her　head　wonderingly。　〃You　accuse　your　sister　…　and　me？　…　of　。。。　I　won't　even　say　it。　And　you　are　worried　that　you've　spoken　too　familiarly　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat？　You　bore　a　hole　in　the　boat　and　worry　that　it's　raining。　Think　what　you　are　suggesting；　Daughter。〃
　　　　　　　It　is　too　late　for　that；　Siuan；　Moiraine　thought。　If　we　had　not　panicked　and　reached　for　the　Source；　perhaps　then　。。。　But　she　is　sure；　now。　〃Why　are　you　telling　us　this；　Verin？〃　she　said　aloud。　〃If　you　believe　what　you　say；　you　should　be　telling　it　to　the　other　sisters；　to　the　Reds　in　particular。〃
　　　　　　　Verin's　eyes　widened　in　surprise。　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　suppose　I　should。　I　hadn't　thought　of　that。　But　then；　if　I　did；　you　would　be　stilled；　Moiraine；　and　you；　Mother；　and　the　man　gentled。　No　one　has　ever　recorded　the　progression　in　a　man　who　wields　the　Power。　When　does　the　madness　e；　exactly；　and　how　does　it　take　him？　How　quickly　does　it　grow？　Can　he　still　function　with　his　body　rotting　around　him？　For　how　long？　Unless　he　is　gentled；　what　will　happen　to　the　young　man；　whichever　he　is；　will　happen　whether　or　not　I　am　there　to　put　down　the　answers。　If　he　is　watched　and　guided；　we　should　be　able　to　keep　some　record　with　reasonable　safety；　for　a　time；　at　least。　And；　too；　there　is　The　Karaethon　Cycle。〃　She　calmly　returned　their　startled　looks。　〃I　assume；　Mother；　that　he　is　the　Dragon　Reborn？　I　cannot　believe　you　would　do　this　…　leave　walking　free　a　man　who　can　channel　…　unless　he　was　the　Dragon。〃
　　　　　　　She　thinks　only　of　the　knowledge；　Moiraine　thought　wonderingly。　The　culmination　of　the　direst　prophecy　the　world　knows；　perhaps　the　end　of　the　world；　and　she　cares　only　about　the　knowledge。　But　she　is　still　dangerous；　for　that。
　　　　　　　〃Who　else　knows　of　this？〃　The　Amyrlin's　voice　was　faint；　but　still　sharp。　〃Serafelle；　I　suppose。　Who　else；　Verin？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　one；　Mother。　Serafelle　is　not　really　interested　in　anything　that　someone　hasn't　already　set　down　in　a　book；　preferably　as　long　ago　as　possible。　She　thinks　there　are　enough　old　books　and　manuscripts　and　fragments　scattered　about；　lost　or　forgotten；　to　equal　ten　times　what　we　have　gathered　in　Tar　Valon。　She　feels　certain　there　is　enough　of　the　old　knowledge　still　there　to　be　found　for　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough；　Sister；〃　Moiraine　said。　She　loosed　her　hold　on　the　True　Source；　and　after　a　moment　felt　the　Amyrlin　do　the　same。　It　was　always　a　loss　to　feel　the　Power　draining　away；　like　blood　and　life　pouring　from　an　open　wound。　A　part　of　her　wanted　to　hold　on；　but　unlike　some　of　her　sisters；　she　made　it　a　point　of　self…discipline　not　to　grow　too　fond　of　the　feeling。　〃Sit　down；　Verin；　and　tell　us　what　you　know　and　how　you　found　it　out。　Leave　out　nothing。〃
　　　　　　　As　Verin　took　a　chair　…　with　a　look　to　the　Amyrlin　for　permission　to　sit　in　her　presence　…　Moiraine　watched　her　sadly。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　unlikely；〃　Verin　began；　〃that　anyone　who　hasn't　studied　the　old　records　thoroughly　would　notice　anything　except　that　you　were　behaving　oddly。　Forgive　me；　Mother。　It　was　nearly　twenty　years　ago；　with　Tar　Valon　besieged；　that　I　had　my　first　clue；　and　that　was　only　。。。
　　　　　　　Light　help　me；　Verin；　how　I　loved　you　for　those　sweetcakes；　and　for　your　bosom　to　weep　on。　But　I　will　do　what　I　must　do。　I　will。　I　must。
　
　　　　　　　Perrin　peered　around　the　corner　at　the　retreating　back　of　the　Aes　Sedai。　She　smelled　of　lavender　soap；　though　most　would　not　have　scented　it　even　close　up。　As　soon　as　she　turned　out　of　sight；　he　hurried　for　the　infirmary　door。　He　had　already　tried　to　see　Mat　once；　and　that　Aes　Sedai　…　Leane；　he　had　heard　somebody；　call　her　…　had　nearly　snapped　his　head　off　without　even　looking　around　to　see　who　he　was。　He　felt　uneasy　around　Aes　Sedai；　especially　if　they　started　looking　at　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　Pausing　at　the　door　to　listen　…　he　could　hear　no　footsteps　down　the　corridor　either　way；　and　nothing　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　…　he　went　in　and　closed　it　softly　behind　him。
　　　　　　　The　infirmary　was　a　long　room　with　white　walls；　and　the　entrances　to　archers'　balconies　at　either　end　let　in　lots　of　light。　Mat　was　in　one　of　the　narrow　beds　that　lined　the　walls。　After　last　night；　Perrin　had　expected　most　of　the　beds　to　have　men　in　them；　but　in　a　moment　he　realized　the　keep　was　full　of　Aes　Sedai。　The　only　thing　an　Aes　Sedai　could　not　cure　by　Healing　was　death。　To　him；　the　room　smelled　of　sickness　anyway。
　　　　　　　Perrin　grimaced　when　he　thought　of　that。　Mat　lay　still；　eyes　closed；　hands　unmoving　atop　his　blankets。　He　looked　exhausted。　Not　sick　really；　but　as　if　he　had　worked　three　days　in　the　fields　and　only　now　laid　down　to　rest。　He　smelled。。。　wrong；　though。　It　was　nothing　Perrin　could　put　a　name　to；　just　wrong。
　　　　　　　Perrin　sat　down　carefully　on　the　bed　next　to　Mat's。　He　always　did　things　carefully。　He　was　bigger　than　most　people；　and　had　been　bigger　than　the　other　boys　as　long　as　he　could　remember。　He　had　had　to　be　careful　so　he　would　not　hurt　someone　accidentally；　or　break　things。　Now　it　was　second　nature　to　him。　He　liked　to　think　things　through；　too；　and　sometimes　talk　them　over　with　somebody。　With　Rand　thinking　he's　a　lord；　I　can't　talk　to　him；　and　Mat　certainly　isn't　going　to　have　much　to　say。
　　　　　　　He　had　gone　into　one　of　the　gardens　the　night　before；　to　think　things　through。　The　memory　still　made　him　a　little　ashamed。　If　he　had　not　gone；　he　would　have　been　in　his　room　to　go　with　Egwene　and　Mat；　and　maybe　he　could　have　kept　them　from　being　hurt。　More　likely；　he　knew；　he　would　be　in　one　of　these　beds；　like　Mat；　or　dead；　but　that　did　not　change　the　way　he　felt。　Still；　he　had　gone　to　the　garden；　and　it　was　nothing　to　do　with　the　Trolloc　attack　that　was　worrying　him　now。
　　　　　　　Serving　women　had　found　him　sitting　there　in　the　dark；　and　one　of　the　Lady　Amalisa's　attendants；　the　Lady　Timora。　As　soon　as　they　came　upon　him；　Timora　sent　one　of　the　others　running；　and　he　had　heard　her　say；　〃Find　Liandrin　Sedai！　Quickly！〃
　　　　　　　They　had　stood　there　watching　him　as　if　they　had　thought　he　might　vanish　in　a　puff　of　smoke　like　a　gleeman。　That　had　been　when　the　first　alarm　bell　rang；　and　everybody　in　the　keep　started　running。
　　　　　　　〃Liandrin；〃　he　muttered　now。　〃Red　Ajah。　About　all　they　do　is　hunt　for　men　who　channel。　You　don't　think　she　believes　I'm　one　of　those；　do　you？〃　Mat　did　not　answer；　of　course。　Perrin　rubbed　his　nose　ruefully。　〃Now　I'm　talking　to　myself。　I　don't　need　that　on　top　of　everything　else。〃
　　　　　　　Mat's　eyelids　fluttered。　〃Who　。。。　？　Perrin？　What　happened？〃　His　eyes　did　not　open　all　the　way；　and　his　voice　sounded　as　if　he　were　still　mostly　asleep。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　you　remember；　Mat？〃
　　　　　　　〃Remember？〃　Mat　sleepily　raised　a　hand　toward　his　face；　then　let　it　fall　again　with　a　sigh。　His　eyes　began　to　drift　shut。　〃Remember　Egwene。　Asked　me　。。。　go　down　。。。　see　Fain。〃　He　laughed；　and　it　turned　into　a　yawn。　〃She　didn't　ask。　Told　me　。。。　Don't　know　what　happened　after　。。。〃　He　smacked　his　lips；　and　resumed　the　deep；　even　breathing　of　sleep。
　　　　　　　Perrin　leaped　to　his　feet　as　his　ears　caught　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps；　but　there　was　nowhere　to　go。　He　was　still　standing　there　beside　Mat's　bed　when　the　door　opened　and　Leane　came　in。　She　stopped；　put　her　fists　on　her　hips；　and　looked　him　slowly　up　and　down。　She　was　nearly　as　tall　as　he　was。
　　　　　　　〃Now　you；〃　she　said；　in　tones　quiet　yet　brisk；　〃are　almost　a　pretty　enough　boy　to　make　me　wish　I　was　a　Green。　Almost。　But　if　you've　disturbed　my　patient　。。。　well；　I　dealt　with　brothers　almost　as　big　as　you　before　I　went　to　the　Tower；　so　you　needn't　think　those　shoulders　will　help　you　any。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　cleared　his　throat。　Half　the　time　he　did　not　understand　what　women　meant　when　they　said　things。　Not　like　Rand。　He　always　knows　what　to　say　to　the　girls。　He　realized　he　was　scowling　and　wiped　it　away。　He　did　not　want　to　think　about　Rand；　but　he　certainly　did　not　want　to　upset　an　Aes　Sedai；　especially　one　who　was　beginning　to　tap　her　foot　impatiently。　〃Ah　。。。　I　didn't　disturb　him。　He's　still　sleeping。　See？〃
　　　　　　　〃So　he　is。　A　good　thing　for　you。　Now；　what　are　you　doing　in　here？　I　remember　chasing　you　out　once；　you　needn't　think　I　don't。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　only　wanted　to　know　how　he　is。〃
　　　　　　　She　hesitated。　〃He　is　sleeping　is　how　he　is。　And　in　a　few　hours；　he　will　get　out　of　that　bed；　and　you'll　think　there　was　never　anything　wrong　with　him。〃
　　　　　　　The　pause　made　his　hackles　rise。　She　was　lying；　somehow。　Aes　Sedai　never　lied；　but　they　did　not　always　tel