rj.thegreathunt-第52章

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　　　　　　　Rand　was　relieved；　but　he　missed　her　presence；　too。　She　was　only　two　spans　away　…　he　twisted　in　his　saddle　to　stare　at　her；　riding　by　Loial's　side；　the　Ogier　was　bent　half　double　in　his　saddle　so　he　could　talk　with　her　…　but　that　was　not　the　same　as　being　right　there　beside　him；　close　enough　for　him　to　smell　her　heady　scent；　close　enough　to　touch。　He　settled　back　angrily。　It　was　not　that　he　wanted　to　touch　her；　exactly　…　he　reminded　himself　that　he　loved　Egwene；　he　felt　guilty　at　the　need　for　reminding　…　but　she　was　beautiful；　and　she　thought　he　was　a　lord；　and　she　said　he　could　be　a　great　man。　He　argued　sourly　with　himself　inside　his　head。　Moiraine　says　you　can　be　great；　too；　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Selene　is　not　Aes　Sedai。　That's　right；　she's　a　Cairhienin　noblewoman。　And　you're　a　shepherd。　She　doesn't　know　that。　How　long　do　you　let　her　believe　a　lie？　It's　only　till　we　get　out　of　this　place。　If　we　get　out。　If。　On　that　note；　his　thoughts　subsided　to　sullen　silence。
　　　　　　　He　tried　to　keep　a　watch　on　the　country　through　which　they　rode　…　if　Selene　said　there　were　more　of　those　things　。。。　those　grolm　。。。　about；　he　believed　her；　and　Hurin　was　too　intent　on　smelling　the　trail　to　notice　anything　else。　Loial　was　too　wrapped　up　in　his　talk　with　Selene　to　see　anything　until　it　bit　him　on　the　heel　…　but　it　was　hard　to　watch。　Turning　his　head　too　quickly　made　his　eyes　water；　a　hill　or　a　stand　of　trees　could　seem　a　mile　off　when　seen　from　one　angle　and　only　a　few　hundred　spans　when　seen　from　another。
　　　　　　　The　mountains　were　growing　closer；　of　that　much　he　was　sure。　Kinslayer's　Dagger；　looming　against　the　sky　now；　a　sawtooth　expanse　of　snow…capped　peaks。　The　land　around　them　already　rose　in　foothills　heralding　the　ing　of　the　mountains。　They　would　reach　the　edge　of　the　mountains　proper　well　before　dark；　perhaps　in　only　another　hour　or　so。　More　than　a　hundred　leagues　in　less　than　three　days。　Worse　than　that。　We　spent　most　of　a　day　south　of　the　Erinin　in　the　real　world。　Over　a　hundred　leaguer　in　less　than　two　days；　here。
　　　　　　　〃She　says　you　were　right　about　this　place；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　gave　a　start　before　he　realized　Loial　had　ridden　up　beside　him。　He　looked　for　Selene　and　found　her　riding　with　Hurin；　the　sniffer　was　grinning　and　ducking　his　head　and　all　but　knuckling　his　forehead　at　everything　she　said。　Rand　glanced　sideways　at　the　Ogier。　〃I'm　surprised　you　could　let　her　go；　the　way　you　two　had　your　heads　together。　What　do　you　mean；　I　was　right？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　is　a　fascinating　woman；　isn't　she？　Some　of　the　Elders　don't　know　as　much　as　she　does　about　history　…　especially　the　Age　of　Legends　…　and　about　…　oh；　yes。　She　says　you　were　right　about　the　Ways；　Rand。　The　Aes　Sedai；　some　of　them；　studied　worlds　like　this；　and　that　study　was　the　basis　of　how　they　grew　the　Ways。　She　says　there　are　worlds　where　it　is　time　rather　than　distance　that　changes。　Spend　a　day　in　one　of　those；　and　you　might　e　back　to　find　a　year　has　passed　in　the　real　world；　or　twenty。　Or　it　could　be　the　other　way　round。　Those　worlds　…　this　one；　all　the　others　…　are　reflections　of　the　real　world；　she　says。　This　one　seems　pale　to　us　because　it　is　a　weak　reflection；　a　world　that　had　
little　chance　of　ever　being。　Others　are　almost　as　likely　as　ours。　Those　are　as　solid　as　our　world；　and　have　people。　The　same　people；　she　says；　Rand。　Imagine　it！　You　could　go　to　one　of　them　and　meet　yourself。　The　Pattern　has　infinite　variation；　she　says；　and　every　variation　that　can　be；　will　be。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head；　then　wished　he　had　not　as　the　landscape　flickered　back　and　forth　and　his　stomach　lurched。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃How　does　she　know　all　that？　You　know　about　more　things　than　anybody　I　ever　met　before；　Loial；　and　all　you　knew　about　this　world　amounted　to　no　more　than　a　rumor。〃
　　　　　　　〃She's　Cairhienin；　Rand。　The　Royal　Library　in　Cairhien　is　one　of　the　greatest　in　the　world；　perhaps　the　greatest　outside　Tar　Valon。　The　Aiel　spared　it　deliberately；　you　know；　when　they　burned　Cairhien。　They　will　not　destroy　a　book。　Did　you　know　that　they　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　care　about　Aielmen；〃　Rand　said　hotly。　〃If　Selene　knows　so　much；　I　hope　she　read　how　to　get　us　home　from　here。　I　wish　Selene…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　wish　Selene　what？〃　The　woman　laughed　as　she　joined　them。
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　her　as　if　she　had　been　gone　months；　that　was　how　he　felt。　〃I　wish　Selene　would　e　ride　with　me　some　more；〃　he　said。　Loial　chuckled；　and　Rand　felt　his　face　burn。
　　　　　　　Selene　smiled；　and　looked　at　Loial。　〃You　will　excuse　us；　alantin。〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier　bowed　in　his　saddle　and　let　his　big　horse　fall　back；　the　tufts　on　his　ears　drooping　with　reluctance。
　　　　　　　For　a　time　Rand　rode　in　silence；　enjoying　Selene's　presence。　Now　and　again　he　looked　at　her　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　He　wished　he　could　get　his　feelings　about　her　straight。　Could　she　be　an　Aes　Sedai；　despite　her　denial？　Someone　sent　by　Moiraine　to　push　him　along　whatever　path　he　was　meant　to　follow　in　the　Aes　Sedai's　plans？　Moiraine　could　not　have　known　he　would　be　taken　to　this　strange　world；　and　no　Aes　Sedai　would　have　tried　to　fend　off　that　beast　with　a　stick　when　she　could　strike　it　dead　or　send　it　running　with　the　Power。　Well。　Since　she　took　him　for　a　lord　and　no　one　in　Cairhien　knew　different；　he　might　keep　on　letting　her　think　it。　She　was　surely　the　most　beautiful　woman　he　had　ever　seen；　intelligent　and　learned；　and　she　thought　he　was　brave；　what　more　could　a　man　ask　from　a　wife？　That's　crazy；　too。　I'd　marry　Egwene　if　I　could　marry　anyone；　but　I　can't　ask　a　woman　to　marry　a　man　who's　going　to　go　mad；　maybe　hurt　her。　But　Selene　was　so　beautiful。
　　　　　　　She　was　studying　his　sword；　he　saw。　He　readied　the　words　in　his　head。　No；　he　was　not　a　blademaster；　but　his　father　had　given　him　the　sword。　Tam。　Light；　why　couldn't　you　really　be　my　father？　He　squashed　the　thought　ruthlessly。
　　　　　　　〃That　was　a　magnificent　shot；〃　Selene　said。
　　　　　　　〃No；　I'm　not　a　…　〃　Rand　began；　then　blinked。　〃A　shot？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　A　tiny　target；　that　eye；　moving；　at　a　hundred　paces。　You've　a　wonderful　hand　with　that　bow。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shifted　awkwardly。　〃Ah　。。。　thank　you。　It's　a　trick　my　father　taught　me。〃　He　told　her　about　the　void；　about　how　Tam　had　taught　him　how　to　use　it　with　the　bow。　He　even　found　himself　telling　her　about　Lan　and　his　sword　lessons。
　　　　　　　〃The　Oneness；〃　she　said；　sounding　satisfied。　She　saw　his　questioning　look　and　added；　〃That　is　what　it　is　called　。。。　in　some　places。　The　Oneness。　To　learn　the　full　use　of　it；　it　is　best　to　wrap　it　around　you　continuously；　to　dwell　in　it　at　all　times；　or　so　I've　heard。〃
　　　　　　　He　did　not　even　have　to　think　about　what　lay　waiting　for　him　in　the　void　to　know　his　answer　to　that；　but　what　he　said　was；　〃I'll　think　about　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Wear　this　void　of　yours　all　the　time；　Rand　al'Thor；　and　you'll　learn　uses　for　it　you　never　suspected。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　I　will　think　about　it。〃　She　opened　her　mouth　again；　but　he　cut　her　off。　〃You　know　all　these　things。　About　the　void　…　the　Oneness；　you　call　it。　About　this　world。　Loial　reads　books　all　the　time；　he's　read　more　books　than　I've　ever　seen；　and　he's　never　seen　anything　but　a　fragment　about　the　Stones。〃
　　　　　　　Selene　drew　herself　up　straight　in　her　saddle。　Suddenly　she　reminded　him　of　Moiraine；　and　of　Queen　Morgase；　when　they　were　angry。
　　　　　　　〃There　was　a　book　written　about　these　worlds；〃　she　said　tightly。　〃Mirrors　of　the　Wheel。　You　see；　the　alantin　has　not　seen　all　the　books　that　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　this　alantin　you　call　him？　I've　never　heard　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Portal　Stone　beside　which　I　woke　is　up　there；〃　Selene　said；　pointing　into　the　mountains；　off　to　the　east　of　their　path。　Rand　found　himself　wishing　for　her　warmth　again；　and　her　smiles。　〃If　you　take　me　to　it；　you　can　return　me　to　my　home；　as　you　promised。　We　can　reach　it　in　an　hour。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　barely　looked　where　she　pointed。　Using　the　Stone　…　Portal　Stone；　she　called　it　…　meant　wielding　the　Power；　if　he　were　to　take　her　back　to　the　real　world。　〃Hurin；　how　is　the　trail？〃
　　　　　　　〃Fainter　than　ever；　Lord　Rand；　but　still　there。〃　The　sniffer　spared　a　quick　grin　and　bob　of　his　head　for　Selene。　〃I　think　it's　starting　to　angle　off　to　the　west。　There's　some　easier　passes　there；　toward　the　tip　of　the　Dagger；　as　I　recall　from　when　I　went　to　Cairhien　that　time。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　sighed。　Fain；　or　one　of　his　Darkfriends；　has　to　know　another　way　to　use　the　Stones。　A　Darkfriend　couldn't　use　the　Power。　〃I　have　to　follow　the　Horn；　Selene。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　do　you　know　your　precious　Horn　is　even　in　this　world？　e　with　me；　Rand。　You'll　find　your　legend；　I　promise　you。　e　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can　use　the　Stone；　this　Portal　Stone；　yourself；〃　he　said　angrily。　Before　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth　he　wanted　them　back。　Why　does　she　have　to　keep　talking　about　legends？　Stubbornly；　he　forced　himself　to　go　on。　〃The　Portal　Stone　didn't　bring　you　here　by　itself。　You　did　it；　Selene。　If　you　made　the　Stone　bring　you　here；　you　can　make　it　take　you　back。　I'll　take　you　to　it；　but　then　I　must　go　on　after　the　Horn。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　nothing　about　using　the　Portal　Stones；　Rand。　If　I　did　anything；　I　don't　know　what　it　was。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　studied　her。　She　sat　her　saddle；　straight…backed　and　tall；　just　as　regally　as　before；　but　somehow　softer；　too。　Proud；　yet　vulnerable；　and　needing　him。　He　had　put　Nynaeve's　age　to　her　…　a　handful　of　years　older　than　himself　…　but　he　had　been　wrong；　he　realized。　She　was　more　his　own　age；　and　beautiful；　and　she　needed　him。　The　thought；　just　the　thought；　of　the　void　flickered　through　his　head；　and　of　the　light。　Saidin。　To　use　the　Portal　Stone；　he　must　dip　himself　back　into　that　taint。
　　　　　　　〃Stay　with　me；　Selene；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　find　the　Horn；　and　Mat's　dagger；　and　we'll　find　a　way　back。　I　promise　you。　Just　stay　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　always　。。。〃　Selene　drew　a　deep　breath　as　if　to　calm　herself。　〃You　always　are　so　stubborn。　Well；　I　can　admire　stubbornness　in　a　man。　There　is　little　to　a　man　who's　too　easily　biddable。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　colored；　it　was　too　much　like　the　things　Egwene　sometimes　said；　and　they　had　all　but　been　promised　in　marriage　since　they　were　children。　From　Selene；　the　words；　and　the　direct　look　that　went　with　them；　were　a　shock。　He　turned　to　tell　Hurin　to　press　on　with　the　trail。
　　　　　　　From　behind　them　came　a　distant；　coughing　grunt。　Before　Rand　could　whirl　Red　to　look；　another　bark　sounded；　and　three　more　on　its　heels。　At　first　he　could　make　out　nothing　as　the　landscape　seemed　to　waver　in　his　eyes；　but　then　he　saw　them　through　the　widespread　stands　of　trees；　just　topping　a　hill。　Five　shapes；　it　seemed；　only　half　a　mile　distant；　a　bare　thousand　paces　at　most；　and　ing　in　thirty…foot　bounds。
　　　　　　　〃Grolm；〃　Selene　said　calmly。　〃A　small　pack；　but　they　have　our　scent；　it　seems。〃

Chapter　17
（Portal　Stone）
Choices

　　　　　　　〃We'll　run　for　it；〃　Rand　said。　〃Hurin；　can　you　gallop　and　still　follow　the　trail？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Lord　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　push　on。　We　will　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃It　won't　do　any　good；〃　Selene　said。　Her　white　mare　was　the　only　one　of　their　mounts　not　dancing　at　the　gruff　barks　ing　from　the　grolm。　〃They　don't　give　up；　not　ever。　Once　they　have　your　scent；　grolm　keep　ing；　day　and　night；　until　they　run　you　down。　You　must　kill　them　all；　or　find　a　way　to　go　elsewhere。　Rand；　the　Portal　Stone　can　take　us　elsewhere。〃
　　　　　　　〃No！　We