rj.thegreathunt-第40章

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　　　　　　　Mat　had　backed　up　against　a　tree　trunk。　〃A　false　Dragon？〃　He　swallowed。　〃You？　That　。。。　that's　crazy。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　had　not　retreated。　He　squatted　down　with　his　thick　arms　on　his　knees　and　studied　Rand　with　those　bright　golden　eyes。　In　the　evening　shadows　they　seemed　to　shine。　〃If　the　Aes　Sedai　want　you　for　a　false　Dragon　。。。〃　He　paused；　frowning；　thinking　things　through。　Finally；　he　said　quietly；　〃Rand；　can　you　channel？〃　Mat　gave　a　strangled　gasp。
　　　　　　　Rand　let　the　banner　drop；　he　hesitated　only　a　moment　before　nodding　wearily。　〃I　did　not　ask　for　it。　I　don't　want　it。　But　。。。　But　I　do　not　think　I　know　how　to　stop　it。〃　The　room　with　the　flies　came　back　unbidden　to　his　mind。　〃I　don't　think　they'll　let　me　stop。〃
　　　　　　　〃Burn　me！〃　Mat　breathed。　〃Blood　and　bloody　ashes！　They'll　kill　us；　you　know。　All　of　us。　Perrin　and　me　as　well　as　you。　If　Ingtar　and　the　others　find　out；　they　will　cut　our　bloody　throats　for　Darkfriends。　Light；　they'll　probably　think　we　were　part　of　stealing　the　Horn；　and　killing　those　people　in　Fal　Dara。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shut　up；　Mat；〃　Perrin　said　calmly。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　tell　me　to　shut　up。　If　Ingtar　doesn't　kill　us；　Rand　will　go　mad　and　do　it　for　him。　Burn　me！　Burn　me！〃　Mat　slid　down　the　tree　to　sit　on　the　ground。　〃Why　didn't　they　gentle　you？　If　the　Aes　Sedai　know；　why　didn't　they　gentle　you？　I　never　heard　of　them　letting　a　man　who　can　wield　the　Power　just　walk　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　don't　all　know；〃　Rand　sighed。　〃The　Amyrlin　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat！　She　knows？　Light；　no　wonder　she　looked　at　me　so　strange。〃
　　　　　　　〃　…　and　Moiraine　told　me　I'm　the　Dragon　Reborn；　and　then　they　said　I　could　go　wherever　I　wanted。　Don't　you　see；　Mat？　They　are　trying　to　use　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Doesn't　change　you　being　able　to　channel；〃　Mat　muttered。　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　be　halfway　to　the　Aryth　Ocean　by　now。　And　I　would　not　stop　until　I　found　someplace　where　there　were　no　Aes　Sedai；　and　never　likely　to　be　any。　And　no　people。　I　mean　。。。　well　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shut　up；　Mat；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Why　are　you　here；　Rand？　The　longer　you　stay　around　people；　the　more　likely　it　is　somebody　will　find　out　and　send　for　Aes　Sedai。　Aes　Sedai　who　won't　tell　you　to　go　on　about　your　business。〃　He　paused；　scratching　his　head　over　that。　〃And　Mat's　right　about　Ingtar。　I　don't　doubt　he　would　name　you　Darkfriend　and　kill　you。　Kill　all　of　us；　maybe。　He　seems　to　like　you；　but　he'd　still　do　it；　I　think。　A　false　Dragon？　So　would　the　others。　Masema　wouldn't　need　that　much　excuse；　for　you。　So　why　aren't　you　gone？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shrugged。　〃I　was　going；　but　first　the　Amyrlin　came；　and　then　the　Horn　was　stolen；　and　the　dagger；　and　Moiraine　said　Mat　was　dying；　and　。。。　Light；　I　thought　I　could　stay　with　you　until　we　found　the　dagger；　at　least；　I　thought　I　could　help　with　that。　Maybe　I　was　wrong。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　came　because　of　the　dagger？〃　Mat　said　quietly。　He　rubbed　his　nose　and　grimaced。　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　I　never　thought　you　wanted　to　。。。　Aaaah！　Are　you　feeling　all　right？　I　mean；　you　aren't　going　mad　already；　are　you？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　dug　a　pebble　out　of　the　ground　and　threw　it　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃Ouch！〃　Mat　rubbed　his　arm。　〃I　was　just　asking。　I　mean；　all　those　fancy　clothes；　and　all　that　talk　about　being　a　lord。　Well；　that　isn't　exactly　right　in　the　head。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　trying　to　get　rid　of　you；　fool！　I　was　afraid　I'd　go　mad　and　hurt　you。〃　His　eyes　dropped　to　the　banner；　and　his　voice　lowered。　〃I　will；　eventually；　if　I　don't　stop　it。　Light；　I　don't　know　how　to　stop　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　what　I'm　afraid　of；〃　Mat　said；　standing。　〃No　offense；　Rand；　but　I　think　I　will　just　sleep　as　far　away　from　you　as　I　can；　if　you　don't　mind。　That's　if　you　are　staying。　I　heard　about　a　fellow　who　could　channel；　once。　A　merchant's　guard　told　me。　Before　the　Red　Ajah　found　him；　he　woke　one　morning；　and　his　whole　village　was　smashed　flat。　All　the　houses；　all　the　people；　everything　but　the　bed　he　was　sleeping　in；　like　a　mountain　had　rolled　over　them。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　said；　〃In　that　case；　Mat；　you　should　sleep　cheek　by　jowl　with　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　may　be　a　fool；　but　I　intend　to　be　a　live　fool。〃　Mat　hesitated；　looking　sideways　at　Rand。　〃Look；　I　know　you　came　along　to　help　me；　and　I　am　grateful。　I　really　am。　But　you　just　are　not　the　same　anymore。　You　understand　that；　don't　you？〃　He　waited　as　if　he　expected　an　answer。　None　came。　Finally　he　vanished　into　the　trees；　back　toward　the　camp。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　you？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　Perrin　shook　his　head；　shaggy　curls　swinging。　〃I　don't　know；　Rand。　You　are　the　same；　but　then　again；　you　aren't。　A　man　channeling；　my　mother　used　to　frighten　me　with　that；　when　I　was　little。　I　just　do　not　know。〃　He　stretched　out　his　hand　and　touched　a　corner　of　the　banner。　〃I　think　I　would　burn　this；　or　bury　it；　if　I　were　you。　Then　I'd　run　so　far；　so　fast；　no　Aes　Sedai　would　ever　find　me。　Mat　was　right　about　that。〃　He　stood　up；　squinting　at　the　western　sky；　beginning　to　turn　red　with　the　sinking　sun。　〃Time　to　get　back　to　the　camp。　You　think　on　what　I　said；　Rand。　I'd　run。　But　maybe　you　can't　run。　Think　of　that；　too。〃　His　yellow　eyes　seemed　to　look　inward；　and　he　sounded　tired。　〃Sometimes　you　can't　run。〃　
　　　　　　　Then　he　was　gone；　too。
　　　　　　　Rand　knelt　there；　staring　at　the　banner　spread　out　on　the　ground。　〃Well；　sometimes　you　can　run；〃　he　muttered。　〃Only；　maybe　she　gave　me　this　to　make　me　run。　Maybe　she　has　something　waiting　for　me；　if　I　run。　I　won't　do　what　she　wants。　I　won't。　I'll　bury　it　right　here。　But　she　said　my　life　may　depend　on　it；　and　Aes　Sedai　never　lie　so　you　can　see　it　。。。　〃　Suddenly　his　shoulders　shook　with　silent　laughter。　〃Now　I'm　talking　to　myself。　Maybe　I　am　going　mad　already。〃
　　　　　　　When　he　returned　to　the　camp；　he　carried　the　banner　wrapped　in　the　canvas　once　more；　tied　with　knots　less　neat　than　Moiraine's　had　been。
　　　　　　　The　light　had　begun　to　fail　and　the　shadow　of　the　rim　covered　half　the　hollow。　The　soldiers　were　settling　in；　all　with　their　horses　by　their　sides；　lances　propped　to　hand。　Mat　and　Perrin　were　bedding　down　alongside　their　horses。　Rand　gave　them　a　sad　look；　then　fetched　Red；　standing　where　he　had　been　left　with　his　reins　dangling；　and　went　to　the　other　side　of　the　hollow；　where　Hurin　had　joined　Loial。　The　Ogier　had　given　over　reading　and　was　examining　the　half…buried　stone　on　which　he　had　been　sitting；　tracing　something　on　the　stone　with　the　long　stem　of　his　pipe。
　　　　　　　Hurin　stood　and　gave　Rand　something　just　short　of　a　bow。　〃Hope　you　don't　mind　me　making　my　bed　here；　Lord　…　uh　…　Rand。　I　was　just　listening　to　the　Builder　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　you　are；　Rand；〃　Loial　said。　〃You　know；　I　think　this　stone　was　worked　once。　See；　it's　weathered；　but　it　looks　as　if　it　was　a　column　of　some　kind。　And　there　are　markings；　also。　I　can't　quite　make　them　out；　but　they　look　familiar；　somehow。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　you'll　be　able　to　see　them　better　in　the　morning；〃　Rand　said。　He　pulled　the　saddlebags　from　Red。　〃I'll　be　glad　of　your　pany；　Hurin。〃　I'm　glad　of　anybody's　pany　who　isn't　afraid　of　me。　How　much　longer　can　I　have　it；　though？
　　　　　　　He　shifted　everything　into　one　side　of　the　saddlebags　…　spare　shirts　and　breeches　and　woolen　stockings；　sewing　kit；　tinder　box；　tin　plate　and　cup；　a　greenwood　box　with　knife　and　fork　and　spoon；　a　packet　of　dried　meat　and　flatbread　for　emergency　rations；　and　all　the　other　traveler's　necessaries　…　then　stuffed　the　canvas…wrapped　banner　into　the　empty　pocket。　It　bulged；　the　straps　barely　reaching　the　buckles；　but　then；　the　other　side　bulged　now；　too。　It　would　do。
　　　　　　　Loial　and　Hurin　seemed　to　sense　his　mood；　leaving　him　in　silence　while　he　stripped　saddle　and　bridle　from　Red；　rubbed　the　big　bay　down　with　tufts　of　grass　torn　from　the　ground；　then　resaddled　him。　Rand　refused　their　offer　of　food；　he　did　not　think　he　could　have　stomached　the　best　meal　he　had　ever　seen　just　then。　All　three　of　them　made　their　beds　there　beside　the　stone；　a　simple　matter　of　a　blanket　folded　for　a　pillow　and　cloak　to　cover。
　　　　　　　The　camp　was　silent　now；　but　Rand　lay　awake　past　the　fall　of　full　dark。　His　mind　darted　back　and　forth。　The　banner。　What　is　she　trying　to　make　me　do？　The　village。　What　could　kill　a　Fade　like　that？　Worst　of　all；　the　house　in　the　village。　Did　it　really　happen？　Am　I　going　mad　already？　Do　I　run；　or　do　I　stay？　I　have　to　stay。　I　have　to　help　Mat　find　the　dagger。
　　　　　　　An　exhausted　sleep　finally　came；　and　with　sleep；　unbidden；　the　void　surrounded　him；　flickering　with　an　uneasy　glow　that　disturbed　his　dreams。
　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Padan　Fain　stared　northward　out　into　the　night；　past　the　only　fire　in　his　camp；　smiling　a　fixed　smile　that　never　touched　his　eyes。　He　still　thought　of　himself　as　Padan　Fain　…　Padan　Fain　was　the　core　of　him　…　but　he　had　been　changed；　and　he　knew　it。　He　knew　many　things；　now；　more　than　any　of　his　old　masters　could　suspect。　He　had　been　a　Darkfriend　long　years　before　Ba'alzamon　summoned　him　and　set　him　on　the　track　of　the　three　young　men　from　Emond's　Field；　distilling　what　he　knew　of　them；　distilling　him；　and　feeding　the　essence　back　so　that　he　could　feel　them；　smell　where　they　had　been；　follow　wherever　they　ran。　Especially　the　one。　A　part　of　him　still　cringed；　remembering　what　Ba'alzamon　had　done　to　him；　but　it　was　a　small　part；　hidden；　suppressed。　He　was　changed。　Following　the　three　had　led　him　into　Shadar　Logoth。　He　had　not　wanted　to　go；　but　he　had　had　to　obey。　Then。　And　in　Shadar　Logoth。。。
　　　　　　　Fain　drew　a　deep　breath　and　fingered　the　ruby…hilted　dagger　at　his　belt。　That　had　e　from　Shadar　Logoth；　too。　It　was　the　only　weapon　he　carried；　the　only　one　he　needed；　it　felt　like　a　part　of　him。　He　was　whole　within　himself；　now。　That　was　all　that　mattered。
　　　　　　　He　cast　a　glance　to　either　side　of　his　fire。　The　twelve　Darkfriends　who　were　left；　their　once…fine　clothes　now　rumpled　and　dirty；　huddled　in　the　darkness　to　one　side；　staring　not　at　the　fire；　but　at　him。　On　the　other　squatted　his　Trollocs；　twenty　in　number；　the　all…too…human　eyes　in　those　animal…twisted　men's　faces　following　his　every　move　like　mice　watching　a　cat。
　　　　　　　It　had　been　a　struggle　at　first；　waking　each　morning　to　find　himself　not　pletely　whole；　to　find　the　Myrddraal　back　in　mand；　raging　and　demanding　they　go　north；　to　the　Blight；　to　Shayol　Ghul。　But　bit　by　bit　those　mornings　of　weakness　grew　shorter；　until　。。。　He　remembered　the　feel　of　the　hammer　in　his　hand；　driving　the　spikes　in；　and　he　smiled；　this　time　it　did　touch　his　eyes；　with　the　joy　of　sweet　memory。
　　　　　　　Weeping　from　the　dark　caught　his　ear；　and　his　smile　faded。　I　should　never　have　let　the　Trollocs　take　so　many。　An　entire　village　to　slow　them　down。　If　those　few　houses　at　the　ferry　had　not　been　deserted；　perhaps　。。。　But　Trollocs　were　greedy　by　nature；　and　in　the　euphoria　of　watching　the　Myrddraal　die；　he　had　not　paid　attention　as　he　should。
　　　　　　　He　glanced　at　the　Trollocs。　Any　one　of　them　was　nearly　twice　as　tall　as　he；　strong　enough　to　break　him　to　flinders　with　one　hand；　yet　they　edged　back；　still　crouching。　〃Kill　them。　All。　You　may　feed；　but　then　make　a　pile　of　everything　that　remains　…　for　our　friends　to　find。　Put　the　heads　on　top。　Neatly；　now。〃　He　laughed；　and　cut　it　off　short。　〃Go！〃
　　　　　　　The　Trollocs　scrambled　away；　drawing　scythe…like　swords　and　raising　spiked　axes。　In　moments　shrieks　and　bellows　rose　from　where　the　villagers　were　bound。　Pleas　for　mercy　and　children's　screams　were