rj.eyeoftheworld-第123章

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at's　purring　was　a　strange　counterpoint　to　the　Aes　Sedai's　level　voice。　〃It　is　your　knowledge；　Loial。　The　Ways　are　the　only　path　to　safety　for　us；　the　only　path　to　forestalling　the　Dark　One；　if　only　for　a　time；　but　the　telling　is　yours。〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier　did　not　appear　forted　by　her　speech。　He　shifted　awkwardly　on　his　chair　before　beginning。　〃During　the　Time　of　Madness；　while　the　world　was　still　being　broken；　the　earth　was　in　upheaval；　and　humankind　was　being　scattered　like　dust　on　the　wind。　We　Ogier　were　scattered；　too；　driven　from　the　stedding；　into　the　Exile　and　the　Long　Wandering；　when　the　Longing　was　graven　on　our　hearts。〃　He　gave　Moiraine　another　sidelong　look。　His　long　eyebrows　drew　down　into　two　points。　〃I　will　try　to　be　brief；　but　this　is　not　a　thing　that　can　be　told　too　briefly。　It　is　of　the　others　I　must　speak；　now；　those　few　Ogier　who　held　in　their　stedding　while　around　them　the　world　was　tearing　apart。　And　of　the　Aes　Sedai〃　…　he　avoided　looking　at　Moiraine；　now　…　〃the　male　Aes　Sedai　who　were　dying　even　as　they　destroyed　the　world　in　their　madness。　It　was　to　those　Aes　Sedai　…　those　who　had　so　far　managed　to　avoid　the　madness　…　that　the　stedding　first　made　the　offer　of　sanctuary。　Many　accepted；　for　in　the　stedding　they　were　protected　from　the　taint　of　the　Dark　One　that　was　killing　their　kind。　But　they　were　cut　off　from　the　True　Source。　It　was　not　just　that　they　could　not　wield　the　One　Power；　or　touch　the　Source；　they　could　no　longer　even　sense　that　the　Source　existed。　In　the　end；　none　could　accept　that　isolation；　and　one　by　one　they　left　the　stedding；　hoping　that　by　that　time　the　taint　was　gone。　It　never　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　in　Tar　Valon；〃　Moiraine　said　quietly；　〃claim　that　Ogier　sanctuary　prolonged　the　Breaking　and　made　it　worse。　Others　say　that　if　all　of　those　men　had　been　allowed　to　go　mad　at　once；　there　would　have　been　nothing　left　of　the　world。　I　am　of　the　Blue　Ajah；　Loial；　unlike　the　Red　Ajah；　we　hold　to　the　second　view。　Sanctuary　helped　to　save　what　could　be　saved。　Continue；　please。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　nodded　gratefully。　Relieved　of　a　concern；　Rand　realized。
　　　　　　　〃As　I　was　saying；〃　the　Ogier　went　on；　〃the　Aes　Sedai；　the　male　Sedai；　left。　But　before　they　went；　they　gave　a　gift　to　the　Ogier　in　thanks　for　our　sanctuary。　The　Ways。　Enter　a　Waygate；　walk　for　a　day；　and　you　may　depart　through　another　Waygate　a　hundred　miles　from　where　you　started。　Or　five　hundred。　Time　and　distance　are　strange　in　the　Ways。　Different　paths；　different　bridges；　lead　to　different　places；　and　how　long　it　takes　to　get　there　depends　on　which　path　you　take。　It　was　a　marvelous　gift；　made　more　so　by　the　times；　for　the　Ways　are　not　part　of　the　world　we　see　around　us；　nor　perhaps　of　any　world　outside　themselves。　Not　only　did　the　Ogier　so　gifted　not　have　to　travel　through　the　world；　where　even　after　the　Breaking　men　fought　like　animals　to　live；　in　order　to　reach　another　stedding；　but　within　the　Ways　there　was　no　Breaking。　The　land　between　two　stedding　might　split　open　into　deep　canyons　or　rise　in　mountain　ranges；　but　in　the　Way　between　them　there　was　no　change。
　　　　　　　〃When　the　last　Aes　Sedai　left　the　stedding；　they　gave　to　the　Elders　a　key；　a　talisman；　that　could　be　used　for　growing　more。　They　are　a　living　thing　in　some　fashion；　the　Ways　and　the　Waygates。　I　do　not　understand　it；　no　Ogier　ever　has；　and　even　the　Aes　Sedai　have　forgotten；　I　am　told。　Over　the　years　the　Exile　ended　for　us。　As　those　Ogier　who　had　been　gifted　by　the　Aes　Sedai　found　a　stedding　where　Ogier　had　returned　from　the　Long　Wandering；　they　grew　a　Way　to　it。　With　the　stonework　we　learned　during　the　Exile；　we　built　cities　for　men；　and　planted　the　groves　to　fort　the　Ogier　who　did　the　building；　so　the　Longing　would　not　overe　them。　To　those　groves　Ways　were　grown。　There　was　a　grove；　and　a　Waygate；　at　Mafal　Dadaranell；　but　that　city　was　razed　during　the　Trolloc　Wars；　no　stone　left　standing　on　another；　and　the　grove　was　chopped　down　and　burned　for　Trolloc　fires。〃　He　left　no　doubt　which　had　been　the　greater　crime。
　　　　　　　〃Waygates　are　all　but　impossible　to　destroy；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃and　humankind　not　much　less　so。　There　are　people　at　Fal　Dara　still；　though　not　the　great　city　the　Ogier　built；　and　the　Waygate　yet　stands。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　did　they　make　them？〃　Egwene　asked。　Her　puzzled　look　took　in　Moiraine　and　Loial　both。　〃The　Aes　Sedai；　the　men。　If　they　couldn't　use　the　One　Power　in　a　stedding；　how　could　they　make　the　Ways？　Or　did　they　use　the　Power　at　all？　Their　part　of　the　True　Source　was　tainted。　Is　tainted。　I　don't　know　much　about　what　Aes　Sedai　can　do；　yet。　Maybe　it's　a　silly　question。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　explained。　〃Each　stedding　has　a　Waygate　on　its　border；　but　outside。　Your　question　is　not　silly。　You've　found　the　seed　of　why　we　do　not　dare　travel　the　Ways。　No　Ogier　has　used　the　Ways　in　my　lifetime；　and　before。　By　edict　of　the　Elders；　all　the　Elders　of　all　the　stedding；　none　may；　human　or　Ogier。
　　　　　　　〃The　Ways　were　made　by　men　wielding　Power　fouled　by　the　Dark　One。　About　a　thousand　years　ago；　during　what　you　humans　call　the　War　of　the　Hundred　Years；　the　Ways　began　to　change。　So　slowly　in　the　beginning　that　none　really　noticed；　they　grew　dank　and　dim。　Then　darkness　fell　along　the　bridges。　Some　who　went　in　were　never　seen　again。　Travelers　spoke　of　being　watched　from　the　dark。　The　numbers　who　vanished　grew；　and　some　who　came　out　had　gone　mad；　raving　about　Machin　Shin；　the　Black　Wind。　Aes　Sedai　Healers　could　aid　some；　but　even　with　Aes　Sedai　help　they　were　never　the　same。　And　they　never　remembered　anything　of　what　had　occurred。　Yet　it　was　as　if　the　darkness　had　sunken　into　their　bones。　They　never　laughed　again；　and　they　feared　the　sound　of　the　wind。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　there　was　silence　but　for　the　cat　purring　beside　Moiraine's　chair；　and　the　snap　and　crackle　of　the　fire；　popping　out　sparks。　Then　Nynaeve　burst　out　angrily；　〃And　you　expect　us　to　follow　you　into　that？　You　must　be　mad！〃
　　　　　　　〃Which　would　you　choose　instead？〃　Moiraine　asked　quietly。　〃The　Whitecloaks　within　Caemlyn；　or　the　Trollocs　without？　Remember　that　my　presence　in　itself　gives　some　protection　from　the　Dark　One's　works。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　settled　back　with　an　exasperated　sigh。
　　　　　　　〃You　still　have　not　explained　to　me；〃　Loial　said；　〃why　I　should　break　the　edict　of　the　Elders。　And　I　have　no　desire　to　enter　the　Ways。　Muddy　as　they　often　are；　the　roads　men　make　have　served　me　well　enough　since　I　left　Stedding　Shangtai。〃
　　　　　　　〃Humankind　and　Ogier；　everything　that　lives；　we　are　at　war　with　the　Dark　One；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃The　greater　part　of　the　world　does　not　even　know　it　yet；　and　most　of　the　few　who　do　fight　skirmishes　and　believe　they　are　battles。　While　the　world　refuses　to　believe；　the　Dark　One　may　be　at　the　brink　of　victory。　There　is　enough　power　in　the　Eye　of　the　World　to　undo　his　prison。　If　the　Dark　One　has　found　some　way　to　bend　the　Eye　of　the　World　to　his　use　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　wished　the　lamps　in　the　room　were　lit。　Evening　was　creeping　over　Caemlyn；　and　the　fire　in　the　fireplace　did　not　give　enough　light。　He　wanted　no　shadows　in　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃What　can　we　do？〃　Mat　burst　out。　〃Why　are　we　so　important？　Why　do　we　have　to　go　to　the　Blight？　The　Blight！〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　did　not　raise　her　voice；　but　it　filled　the　room；　pelling。　Her　chair　by　the　fire　suddenly　seemed　like　a　throne。　Suddenly　even　Morgase　would　have　paled　in　her　presence。　〃One　thing　we　can　do。　We　can　try。　What　seems　like　chance　is　often　the　Pattern。　Three　threads　have　e　together　here；　each　giving　a　warning：　the　Eye。　It　cannot　be　chance；　it　is　the　Pattern。　You　three　did　not　choose；　you　were　chosen　by　the　Pattern。　And　you　are　here；　where　the　danger　is　known。　You　can　step　aside；　and　perhaps　doom　the　world。　Running；　hiding；　will　not　save　you　from　the　weaving　of　the　Pattern。　Or　you　can　try。　You　can　go　to　the　Eye　of　the　World；　three　ta'veren；　three　centerpoints　of　the　Web；　placed　where　the　danger　lies。　Let　the　Pattern　be　woven　around　you　there；　and　you　may　save　the　world　from　the　Shadow。　The　choice　is　yours。　I　cannot　make　you　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　go；〃　Rand　said；　trying　to　sound　resolute。　However　hard　he　sought　the　void；　images　kept　flashing　through　his　head。　Tam；　and　the　farmhouse；　and　the　flock　in　the　pasture。　It　had　been　a　good　life；　he　had　never　really　wanted　anything　more。　There　was　fort　…　a　small　fort　…　hearing　Perrin　and　Mat　add　their　agreement　to　his。　They　sounded　as　dry…mouthed　as　he。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　there　isn't　any　choice　for　Egwene　or　me；　either；〃　Nynaeve　said。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　nodded。　〃You　are　part　of　the　Pattern；　too；　both　of　you；　in　some　fashion。　Perhaps　not　ta'veren　…　perhaps　…　but　strong　even　so。　I　have　known　it　since　Baerlon。　And　no　doubt　by　this　time　the　Fades　know　it；　too。　And　Ba'alzamon。　Yet　you　have　as　much　choice　as　the　young　men。　You　could　remain　here；　proceed　to　Tar　Valon　once　the　rest　of　us　have　gone。〃
　　　　　　　〃Stay　behind！〃　Egwene　exclaimed。　〃Let　the　rest　of　you　go　off　into　danger　while　we　hide　under　the　covers？　I　won't　do　it！〃　She　caught　the　Aes　Sedai's　eye　and　drew　back　a　little；　but　not　all　of　her　defiance　vanished。　〃I　won't　do　it；〃　she　muttered　stubbornly。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　that　means　both　of　us　will　acpany　you。〃　Nynaeve　sounded　resigned；　but　her　eyes　flashed　when　she　added；　〃You　still　need　my　herbs；　Aes　Sedai；　unless　you've　suddenly　gained　some　ability　I　don't　know　about。〃　Her　voice　held　a　challenge　Rand　did　not　understand；　but　Moiraine　merely　nodded　and　turned　to　the　Ogier。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　Loial；　son　of　Arent　son　of　Halan？〃
　　　　　　　Loial　opened　his　mouth　twice；　his　tufted　ears　twitching；　before　he　spoke。　〃Yes；　well。　The　Green　Man。　The　Eye　of　the　World。　They're　mentioned　in　the　books；　of　course；　but　I　don't　think　any　Ogier　has　actually　seen　them　in；　oh；　quite　a　long　time。　I　suppose　。。。　But　must　it　be　the　Ways？〃　Moiraine　nodded；　and　his　long　eyebrows　sagged　till　the　ends　brushed　his　cheeks。　〃Very　well；　then。　I　suppose　I　must　guide　you。　Elder　Haman　would　say　it's　no　less　than　I　deserve　for　being　so　hasty　all　the　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃Our　choices　are　made；　then；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃And　now　that　they　are　made；　we　must　decide　what　to　do　about　them；　and　how。〃
　　　　　　　Long　into　the　night　they　planned。　Moiraine　did　most　of　it；　with　Loial's　advice　concerning　the　Ways；　but　she　listened　to　questions　and　suggestions　from　everyone。　Once　dark　fell　Lan　joined　them；　adding　his　ments　in　that　iron…cored　drawl。　Nynaeve　made　a　list　of　what　supplies　they　needed；　dipping　her　pen　in　the　inkwell　with　a　steady　hand　despite　the　way　she　kept　muttering　under　her　breath。
　　　　　　　Rand　wished　he　could　be　as　matter…of…fact　as　the　Wisdom。　He　could　not　stop　pacing　up　and　down；　as　if　he　had　energy　to　burn　or　burst　from　it。　He　knew　his　decision　was　made；　knew　it　was　the　only　one　he　could　make　with　the　knowledge　he　had；　but　that　did　not　make　him　like　it。　The　Blight。　Shayol　Ghul　was　somewhere　in　the　Blight；　beyond　the　Blasted　Lands。
　　　　　　　He　could　see　the　same　worry　in　Mat's　eyes；　the　same　fear　he　knew　was　in　his　own。　Mat　sat　with　his　hands　clasped；　knuckles　white。　If　he　let　go；　Rand　thought；　he　would　be　clutching　the　dagger　from　Shadar　Logoth　instead。
　　　　　　　There　was　no　worry　on　Perrin's　face　at　all；　but　what　was　there　was　worse：　a　mask　of　weary　resignation。　Perrin　looked　as　though　he　had　fought　something　until　he　could　fight　it　no　longer　and　was　waiting　for　it　to　finish　him。　Yet　sometimes。