rj.thegreathunt-第39章

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n；　anyway。Rand's　breath　caught。　Not　a　man。　Those　black　clothes；　blacker　than　black；　had　never　been　worn　by　any　human。　The　wind　flapped　an　end　of　the　cloak　caught　behind　the　body　…　which　it　did　not　always；　he　knew　too　well；　the　wind　did　not　always　touch　those　clothes　…　but　there　had　never　been　any　eyes　in　that　pale；　bloodless　face。
　　　　　　　〃Myrddraal；〃　he　breathed；　and　it　was　as　if　his　speaking　released　all　the　others。　They　began　to　move　again；　and　breathe。
　　　　　　　〃Who；〃　Mat　began；　and　had　to　stop　to　swallow。　〃Who　could　do　this　to　a　Fade？〃　His　voice　squeaked　at　the　end。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Ingtar　said。　〃I　do　not　know。〃　He　looked　around；　examining　faces；　or　perhaps　counting　to　be　sure　everyone　was　there。　〃And　I　do　not　think　we　will　learn　anything　here。　We　ride。　Mount！　Hurin；　find　the　trail　out　of　this　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　my　Lord。　Yes。　With　pleasure。　That　way；　my　Lord。　They're　still　heading　south。〃
　　　　　　　They　rode　away　leaving　the　dead　Myrddraal　where　it　hung；　the　wind　stirring　its　black　cloak。　Hurin　was　first　beyond　the　wall；　not　waiting　on　Ingtar　for　a　change；　but　Rand　came　close　behind　him。


Chapter　11
（Serpent　and　Wheel）
Glimmers　of　the　Pattern

　　　　　　　For　once；　Ingtar　called　a　halt　to　the　day's　march　with　the　sun　still　golden　above　the　horizon。　The　toughened　Shienarans　were　feeling　the　effects　of　what　they　had　seen　in　the　village。　Ingtar　had　not　stopped　so　early　before；　and　the　campsite　he　chose　had　the　look　of　a　place　that　could　be　defended。　It　was　a　deep　hollow；　almost　round；　and　big　enough　to　hold　all　the　men　and　horses　fortably。　A　sparse　thicket　of　scrub　oak　and　leatherleaf　covered　the　outer　slopes。　The　rim　itself　stood　more　than　high　enough　to　hide　anyone　in　the　campsite　even　without　the　trees。　The　height　nearly　passed　for　a　hill；　in　that　country。
　　　　　　　〃All　I'm　bloody　saying；〃　he　heard　Uno　tell　Ragan　as　they　dismounted；　〃is　that　I　bloody　saw　her；　burn　you。　Just　before　we　found　the　goat…kissing　Halfman。　The　same　flaming　woman　as　at　the　flaming　ferry。　She　was　there；　and　then　she　bloody　wasn't。　You　say　what　you　bloody　want　to；　but　you　watch　how　you　flaming　say　it；　or　I'll　bloody　skin　you　myself；　and　burn　the　goat…kissing　hide；　you　sheep…gutted　milk…drinker。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　paused　with　one　foot　on　the　ground　and　the　other　still　in　the　stirrup。　The　same　woman？　But　there　wasn't　any　woman　at　the　ferry；　just　some　curtains　blowing　in　the　wind。　And　she　couldn't　have　gotten　to　that　village　ahead　of　us　if　there　had　been。　The　village　。。。
　　　　　　　He　shied　away　from　the　thought。　Even　more　than　the　Fade　nailed　to　the　door；　he　wanted　to　forget　that　room；　and　the　flies；　and　the　people　who　were　there　and　not　there。　The　Halfman　had　been　real　…　everybody　had　seen　that　…　but　the　room　。。。　Maybe　I'm　finally　going　mad。　He　wished　Moiraine　was　there　to　talk　to。　Wishing　for　an　Aes　Sedai。　You　are　a　fool。　You're　well　out　of　that；　now　stay　out。　But　am　I　out？　What　happened　there？
　　　　　　　〃Packhorses　and　supplies　in　the　middle；〃　Ingtar　manded　as　the　lancers　went　about　setting　up　camp。　〃Rub　the　horses　down；　then　saddle　them　again　in　case　we　must　move　quickly。　Every　man　sleeps　by　his　mount；　and　there'll　be　no　fires　tonight。　Watch　changes　every　two　hours。　Uno；　I　want　scouts　out；　as　far　as　they　can　ride　and　return　before　dark。　I　want　to　know　what　is　out　there。〃
　　　　　　　He's　feeling　it；　Rand　thought。　It　isn't　just　some　Darkfriends　and　a　few　Trollocs　and　maybe　a　Fade　anymore。　Just　some　Darkfriends　and　a　few　Trollocs；　and　maybe　a　Fade！　Even　a　few　days　before　there　would　not　have　been　any　〃just〃　about　it。　Even　in　the　Borderlands；　even　with　the　Blight　less　than　a　day's　ride；　Darkfriends　and　Trollocs　and　Myrddraal　had　been　bad　enough　for　a　nightmare；　then。　Before　he　had　seen　a　Myrddraal　nailed　to　a　door。　What　in　the　Light　could　have　done　that？　What　not　in　the　Light？　Before　he　had　walked　into　a　room　where　a　family　had　had　their　supper　and　their　laughter　cut　off。　I　must　have　imagined　it。　I　must　have。　Even　in　his　own　head　he　did　not　sound　very　convincing。　He　had　not　imagined　the　wind　on　the　tower　top；　or　the　Amyrlin　saying…
　　　　　　　〃Rand？〃　He　jumped　as　Ingtar　spoke　at　his　shoulder。　〃Are　you　going　to　stay　all　night　with　one　foot　in　the　stirrup？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　put　his　other　foot　on　the　ground。　〃Ingtar；　what　happened　back　at　that　village？〃
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs　took　them。　The　same　as　the　people　at　the　ferry。　That　is　what　happened。　The　Fade　。。。〃　Ingtar　shrugged　and　stared　down　at　a　flat；　canvas…wrapped　bundle；　large　and　square；　in　his　arms；　he　stared　at　it　as　if　he　saw　hidden　secrets　he　would　rather　not　know。　〃The　Trollocs　took　them　for　food。　They　do　it　in　villages　and　farms　near　the　Blight；　too；　sometimes；　if　a　raid　gets　past　the　border　towers　in　the　night。　Sometimes　we　get　the　people　back；　and　sometimes　not。　Sometimes　we　get　them　back　and　almost　wish　we　hadn't。　Trollocs　don't　always　kill　before　they　start　butchering。　And　Halfmen　like　to　have　their　。。。　fun。　That's　worse　than　what　the　Trollocs　do。〃　His　voice　was　as　steady　as　if　he　were　talking　of　every　day；　and　perhaps　he　was；　for　a　Shienaran　soldier。
　　　　　　　Rand　took　a　deep　breath　to　steady　his　stomach。　〃The　Fade　back　there　didn't　have　any　fun；　Ingtar。　What　could　nail　a　Myrddraal　to　a　door；　alive？〃
　　　　　　　Ingtar　hesitated；　shaking　his　head；　then　pushed　the　big　bundle　at　Rand。　〃Here。　Moiraine　Sedai　told　me　to　give　you　this　at　the　first　camp　south　of　the　Erinin。　I　don't　know　what　is　in　it；　but　she　said　you　would　need　it。　She　said　to　tell　you　to　take　care　of　it；　your　life　may　depend　on　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　took　it　reluctantly；　his　skin　prickled　at　the　touch　of　the　canvas。　There　was　something　soft　inside。　Cloth；　maybe。　He　held　it　gingerly。　He　doesn't　want　to　think　about　the　Myrddraal　either。　What　happened　in　that　room？　He　realized　suddenly　that　for　him；　the　Fade；　or　even　that　room；　was　preferable　to　thinking　about　what　Moiraine　might　have　sent　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　told　to　tell　you　at　the　same　time　that　if　anything　happens　to　me；　the　lances　will　follow　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Me！〃　Rand　gasped；　forgetting　the　bundle　and　everything　else。　Ingtar　met　his　incredulous　stare　with　a　calm　nod。　〃That's　crazy！　I've　never　led　anything　but　a　flock　of　sheep；　Ingtar。　They　would　not　follow　me　anyway。　Besides；　Moiraine　can't　tell　you　who　your　second　is。　It's　Uno。〃
　　　　　　　〃Uno　and　I　were　called　to　Lord　Agelmar　the　morning　we　left。　Moiraine　Sedai　was　there；　but　it　was　Lord　Agelmar　who　told　me。　You　are　second；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why；　Ingtar？　Why？〃　Moiraine's　hand　was　bright　and　clear　in　it；　hers　and　the　Amyrlin's；　pushing　him　along　the　path　they　had　chosen；　but　he　had　to　ask。
　　　　　　　The　Shienaran　looked　as　if　he　did　not　understand　it　either；　but　he　was　a　soldier；　used　to　odd　mands　in　the　endless　war　along　the　Blight。　〃I　heard　rumors　from　the　women's　apartments　that　you　were　really　a　。。。　〃　He　spread　gauntleted　hands。　〃No　matter。　I　know　you　deny　it。　Just　as　you　deny　the　look　of　your　own　face。　Moiraine　Sedai　says　you're　a　shepherd；　but　I　never　saw　a　shepherd　with　a　heron…mark　blade。　No　matter。　I'll　not　claim　I　would　have　chosen　you　myself；　but　I　think　you　have　it　in　you　to　do　what　is　needed。　You　will　do　your　duty；　if　it　es　to　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　wanted　to　say　it　was　no　duty　of　his；　but　instead　he　said；　〃Uno　knows　about　this。　Who　else；　Ingtar？〃
　　　　　　　〃All　the　lances。　When　we　Shienarans　ride；　every　man　knows　who　is　next　in　line　if　the　man　in　mand　falls。　A　chain　unbroken　right　down　to　the　last　man　left；　even　if　he's　nothing　but　a　horseholder。　That　way；　you　see；　even　if　he　is　the　last　man；　he　is　not　just　a　straggler　running　and　trying　to　stay　alive。　He　has　the　mand；　and　duty　calls　him　to　do　what　must　be　done。　If　I　go　to　the　last　embrace　of　the　mother；　the　duty　is　yours。　You　will　find　the　Horn；　and　you　will　take　it　where　it　belongs。　You　will。〃　There　was　a　peculiar　emphasis　in　Ingtar's　last　words。
　　　　　　　The　bundle　in　Rand's　arms　seemed　to　weigh　ten　stone。　Light；　she　could　be　a　hundred　leagues　off；　and　she　still　reaches　out　and　tugs　the　leash。　This　way；　Rand。　That　way。　You're　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Rand。　〃I　don't　want　the　duty；　Ingtar。　I　will　not　take　it。　Light；　I'm　just　a　shepherd！　Why　won't　anybody　believe　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　will　do　your　duty；　Rand。　When　the　man　at　the　top　of　the　chain　fails；　everything　below　him　falls　apart。　Too　much　is　falling　apart。　Too　much　already。　Peace　favor　your　sword；　Rand　al'Thor。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ingtar；　I　…　〃　But　Ingtar　was　walking　away；　calling　to　see　if　Uno　had　the　scouts　out　yet。
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　the　bundle　in　his　arms　and　licked　his　lips。　He　was　afraid　he　knew　what　was　in　it。　He　wanted　to　look；　yet　he　wanted　to　throw　it　in　a　fire　without　opening　it；　he　thought　he　might；　if　he　could　be　sure　it　would　burn　without　anyone　seeing　what　was　inside；　if　he　could　be　sure　what　was　inside　would　burn　at　all。　But　he　could　not　look　there；　where　other　eyes　than　his　might　see。
　　　　　　　He　glanced　around　the　camp。　The　Shienarans　were　unloading　the　pack　animals；　some　already　handing　out　a　cold　supper　of　dried　meat　and　flatbread。　Mat　and　Perrin　tended　their　horses；　and　Loial　sat　on　a　stone　reading　a　book；　with　his　long…stemmed　pipe　clenched　between　his　teeth　and　a　wisp　of　smoke　curling　above　his　head。　Gripping　the　bundle　as　if　afraid　he　might　drop　it；　Rand　sneaked　into　the　trees。
　　　　　　　He　knelt　in　a　small　clearing　sheltered　by　thick…foliaged　branches　and　set　the　bundle　on　the　ground。　For　a　time　he　just　stared　at　it。　She　wouldn't　have。　She　couldn't。　A　small　voice　answered；　Oh；　yes；　she　could。　She　could　and　would。　Finally　he　set　about　untying　the　small　knots　in　the　cords　that　bound　it。　Neat　knots；　tied　with　a　precision　that　spoke　loudly　of　Moiraine's　own　hand；　no　servant　had　done　this　for　her。　She　would　not　have　dared　let　any　servant　see。
　　　　　　　When　he　had　the　last　cord　unfastened；　he　opened　out　what　was　folded　inside　with　hands　that　felt　numb；　then　stared　at　it；　his　mouth　full　of　dust。　It　was　all　of　one　piece；　neither　woven；　nor　dyed；　nor　painted。　A　banner；　white　as　snow；　big　enough　to　be　seen　the　length　of　a　field　of　battle。　And　across　it　marched　a　rippling　figure　like　a　serpent　scaled　in　gold　and　crimson；　but　a　serpent　with　four　scaled　legs；　each　tipped　with　five　golden　claws；　a　serpent　with　eyes　like　the　sun　and　a　golden　lion's　mane。　He　had　seen　it　once　before；　and　Moiraine　had　told　him　what　it　was。　The　banner　of　Lews　Therin　Telamon；　Lews　Therin　Kinslayer；　in　the　War　of　the　Shadow。　The　banner　of　the　Dragon。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　that！　Look　what　he's　got；　now！〃　Mat　burst　into　the　clearing。　Perrin　came　after　him　more　slowly。　〃First　fancy　coats；〃　Mat　snarled；　〃and　now　a　banner！　We'll　hear　no　end　of　lording　it　now；　with　…　〃　Mat　got　close　enough　to　see　the　banner　clearly；　and　his　jaw　dropped。　〃Light！〃　He　stumbled　back　a　step。　〃Burn　me！〃　He　had　been　there；　too；　when　Moiraine　named　the　banner。　So　had　Perrin。
　　　　　　　Anger　boiled　up　in　Rand；　anger　at　Moiraine　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　pushing　him；　pulling　him。　He　snatched　up　the　banner　in　both　hands　and　shook　it　at　Mat；　words　boiling　out　uncontrollably。　〃That's　right！　The　Dragon's　banner！〃　Mat　took　another　step　back。　〃Moiraine　wants　me　to　be　a　puppet　on　Tar　Valon　strings；　a　false　Dragon　for　the　Aes　Sedai。　She's　going　to　push　it　down　my　throat　whatever　I　want。　But…I…will　…not…be…used！〃
　　　　　　　Mat　had　backed　up　against　a　tree　trunk。　〃A　false　Dragon？〃　He　swallowed。　〃You？　That　。。。　that's　crazy。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　had　not