rj.eyeoftheworld-第34章

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ied。
　　　　　　　At　their　first　stop；　before　the　sun　sank；　Lan　began　teaching　the　boys　what　to　do　with　the　weapons　they　carried。　He　started　with　the　bow。　After　watching　Mat　put　three　arrows　into　a　knot　the　size　of　a　man's　head；　on　the　fissured　trunk　of　a　dead　leatherleaf；　at　a　hundred　paces；　he　told　the　others　to　take　their　turns。　Perrin　duplicated　Mat's　feat；　and　Rand；　summoning　the　flame　and　the　void；　the　empty　calm　that　let　the　bow　bee　a　part　of　him；　or　him　of　it；　clustered　his　three　where　the　points　almost　touched　one　another。　Mat　gave　him　a　congratulatory　clap　on　the　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃Now　if　you　all　had　bows；〃　the　Warder　said　dryly　when　they　started　grinning；　〃and　if　the　Trollocs　agreed　not　to　e　so　close　you　couldn't　use　them　。。。〃　The　grins　faded　abruptly。　〃Let　me　see　what　I　can　teach　you　in　case　they　do　e　that　close。〃
　　　　　　　He　showed　Perrin　a　bit　of　how　to　use　that　great…bladed　axe；　raising　an　axe　to　someone；　or　something；　that　had　a　weapon　was　not　at　all　like　chopping　wood　or　flailing　around　in　pretend。　Setting　the　big　apprentice　blacksmith　to　a　series　of　exercises；　block；　parry；　and　strike；　he　did　the　same　for　Rand　and　his　sword。　Not　the　wild　leaping　about　and　slashing　that　Rand　had　in　mind　whenever　he　thought　about　using　it；　but　smooth　motions；　one　flowing　into　another；　almost　a　dance。
　　　　　　　〃Moving　the　blade　is　not　enough；〃　Lan　said；　〃though　some　think　it　is。　The　mind　is　part　of　it；　most　of　it。　Blank　your　mind；　sheepherder。　Empty　it　of　hate　or　fear；　of　everything。　Burn　them　away。　You　others　listen　to　this；　too。　You　can　use　it　with　the　axe　or　the　bow；　with　a　spear；　or　a　quarterstaff；　or　even　your　bare　hands。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　him。　〃The　flame　and　the　void；〃　he　said　wonderingly。　〃That's　what　you　mean；　isn't　it？　My　father　taught　me　about　that。〃
　　　　　　　The　Warder　gave　him　an　unreadable　look　in　return。　〃Hold　the　sword　as　I　showed　you；　sheepherder。　I　cannot　make　a　mud…footed　villager　into　a　blademaster　in　an　hour；　but　perhaps　I　can　keep　you　from　slicing　off　your　own　foot。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　sighed　and　held　the　sword　upright　before　him　in　both　hands。　Moiraine　watched　without　expression；　but　the　next　evening　she　told　Lan　to　continue　the　lessons。
　　　　　　　The　meal　at　evening　was　always　the　same　as　at　midday　and　breakfast；　flatbread　and　cheese　and　dried　meat；　except　that　evenings　they　had　hot　tea　to　wash　it　down　instead　of　water。　Thom　entertained　them；　evenings。　Lan　would　not　let　the　gleeman　play　harp　or　flute　…　no　need　to　rouse　the　countryside；　the　Warder　said　…　but　Thom　juggled　and　told　stories。　〃Mara　and　the　Three　Foolish　Kings；〃　or　one　of　the　hundreds　about　Anla　the　Wise　Counselor；　or　something　filled　with　glory　and　adventure；　like　The　Great　Hunt　of　the　Horn；　but　always　with　a　happy　ending　and　a　joyous　homeing。
　　　　　　　Yet　if　the　land　was　peaceful　around　them；　if　no　Trollocs　appeared　among　the　trees；　no　Draghkar　among　the　clouds；　it　seemed　to　Rand　that　they　managed　to　raise　their　tension　themselves；　whenever　it　was　in　danger　of　vanishing。
　　　　　　　There　was　the　morning　that　Egwene　awoke　and　began　unbraiding　her　hair。　Rand　watched　her　from　the　er　of　his　eye　as　he　made　up　his　blanketroll。　Every　night　when　the　fire　was　doused；　everyone　took　to　their　blankets　except　for　Egwene　and　the　Aes　Sedai。　The　two　women　always　went　aside　from　the　others　and　talked　for　an　hour　or　two；　returning　when　the　others　were　asleep。　Egwene　bed　her　hair　out…one　hundred　strokes；　he　counted…while　he　was　saddling　Cloud；　tying　his　saddlebags　and　blanket　behind　the　saddle。　Then　she　tucked　the　b　away；　swept　her　loose　hair　over　her　shoulder；　and　pulled　up　the　hood　of　her　cloak。
　　　　　　　Startled；　he　asked；　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　She　gave　him　a　sidelong　look　without　answering。　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　spoken　to　her　in　two　days；　he　realized；　since　the　night　in　the　log　shelter　on　the　bank　of　the　Taren；　but　he　did　not　let　that　stop　him。　〃All　your　life　you've　waited　to　wear　your　hair　in　a　braid；　and　now　you're　giving　it　up？　Why？　Because　she　doesn't　braid　hers？〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai　don't　braid　their　hair；〃　she　said　simply。　〃At　least；　not　unless　they　want　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　aren't　an　Aes　Sedai。　You're　Egwene　al'Vere　from　Emond's　Field；　and　the　Women's　Circle　would　have　a　fit　if　they　could　see　you　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃Women's　Circle　business　is　none　of　yours；　Rand　al'Thor。　And　I　will　be　an　Aes　Sedai。　Just　as　soon　as　I　reach　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　He　snorted。　〃As　soon　as　you　reach　Tar　Valon。　Why？　Light；　tell　me　that。　You're　no　Darkfriend。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　Moiraine　Sedai　is　a　Darkfriend？　Do　you？〃　She　squared　around　to　face　him　with　her　fists　clenched；　and　he　almost　thought　she　was　going　to　hit　him。　〃　After　she　saved　the　village？　After　she　saved　your　father？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　what　she　is；　but　whatever　she　is；　it　doesn't　say　anything　about　the　rest　of　them。　The　stories　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Grow　up；　Rand！　Forget　the　stories　and　use　your　eyes。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　eyes　saw　her　sink　the　ferry！　Deny　that！　Once　you　get　an　idea　in　your　head；　you　won't　budge　even　if　somebody　points　out　you're　trying　to　stand　on　water。　If　you　weren't　such　a　Light　blinded　fool；　you'd　see　…　！〃
　　　　　　　〃Fool；　am　I？　Let　me　tell　you　a　thing　or　two；　Rand　al'Thor！　You　are　the　muliest；　most　wool…headed　…　！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　two　trying　to　wake　everybody　inside　ten　miles？〃　the　Warder　asked。
　　　　　　　Standing　there　with　his　mouth　open；　trying　to　get　a　word　in　edgewise；　Rand　suddenly　realized　he　had　been　shouting。　They　both　had。
　　　　　　　Egwene's　face　went　scarlet　to　her　eyebrows；　and　she　spun　away　with　a　muttered；　〃Men！〃　that　seemed　as　much　for　the　Warder　as　for　him。
　　　　　　　Warily；　Rand　looked　around　the　camp。　Everybody　was　looking　at　him；　not　just　the　Warder。　Mat　and　Perrin；　with　their　faces　white。　Thom；　tensed　as　if　ready　to　run　or　fight。　Moiraine。　The　Aes　Sedai's　face　was　expressionless；　but　her　eyes　seemed　to　bore　into　his　head。　Desperately；　he　tried　to　recall　exactly　what　he　had　said；　about　Aes　Sedai　and　Darkfriends。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　time　to　be　going；〃　Moiraine　said。　She　turned　to　Aldieb；　and　Rand　shivered　as　if　he　had　been　let　out　of　a　trap。　He　wondered　if　he　had　been。
　　　　　　　Two　nights　later；　with　the　fire　burning　low；　Mat　licked　the　last　crumbs　of　cheese　from　his　fingers　and　said；　〃You　know；　I　think　we've　lost　them　for　good。〃　Lan　was　off　in　the　night；　taking　a　last　look　around；　Moiraine　and　Egwene　had　gone　aside　for　one　of　their　conversations。　Thom　was　half　dozing　over　his　pipe；　and　the　young　men　had　the　fire　to　themselves。
　　　　　　　Perrin；　idly　poking　the　embers　with　a　stick；　answered。　〃If　we've　lost　them；　why　does　Lan　keep　scouting？〃　Nearly　asleep；　Rand　rolled　over；　his　back　to　the　fire。
　　　　　　　〃We　lost　them　back　at　Taren　Ferry。〃　Mat　lay　back　with　his　fingers　laced　behind　his　head；　staring　at　the　moon…filled　sky。　〃If　they　were　even　really　after　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　that　Draghkar　was　chasing　us　because　it　liked　us？〃　Perrin　asked。
　　　　　　　〃I　say；　stop　worrying　about　Trollocs　and　such；〃　Mat　went　on　as　if　Perrin　had　not　spoken；　〃and　start　thinking　about　seeing　the　world。　We're　out　where　the　stories　e　from。　What　do　you　think　a　real　city　is　like？〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　going　to　Baerlon；〃　Rand　said　sleepily；　but　Mat　snorted。
　　　　　　　〃Baerlon's　all　very　well；　but　I've　seen　that　old　map　Master　al'Vere　has。　If　we　turn　south　once　we　reach　Caemlyn；　the　road　leads　all　the　way　to　Illian；　and　beyond。〃
　　　　　　　〃What's　so　special　about　Illian？〃　Perrin　said；　yawning。
　　　　　　　〃For　one　thing；〃　Mat　replied；　〃Illian　isn't　full　of　Aes　Se　…〃
　　　　　　　A　silence　fell；　and　Rand　was　suddenly　wide　awake。　Moiraine　had　e　back　early。　Egwene　was　with　her；　but　it　was　the　Aes　Sedai；　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　firelight；　who　held　their　attention。　Mat　lay　there　on　his　back；　his　mouth　still　open；　staring　at　her。　Moiraine's　eyes　caught　the　light　like　dark；　polished　stones。　Abruptly　Rand　wondered　how　long　she　had　been　standing　there。
　　　　　　　〃The　lads　were　just　…　〃　Thom　began；　but　Moiraine　spoke　right　over　the　top　of　him。
　　　　　　　〃A　few　days　respite；　and　you　are　ready　to　give　up。〃　Her　calm；　level　voice　contrasted　sharply　with　her　eyes。　〃A　day　or　two　of　quiet；　and　already　you　have　forgotten　Winternight。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　haven't　forgotten；〃　Perrin　said。　〃It's　just　…　〃　Still　not　raising　her　voice；　the　Aes　Sedai　treated　him　as　she　had　the　gleeman。
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　the　way　you　all　feel？　You　are　all　eager　to　run　off　to　Illian　and　forget　about　Trollocs；　and　Halfmen；　and　Draghkar？〃　She　ran　her　eyes　over　them　…　that　stony　glint　playing　against　the　everyday　tone　of　voice　made　Rand　uneasy　…　but　she　gave　no　one　a　chance　to　speak。　〃The　Dark　One　is　after　you　three；　one　or　all；　and　if　I　let　you　go　running　off　wherever　you　want　to　so；　he　will　take　you。　Whatever　the　Dark　One　wants；　I　oppose；　so　hear　this　and　know　it　true。　Before　I　let　the　Dark　One　have　you；　I　will　destroy　you　myself。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　her　voice；　so　matter…of…fact；　that　convinced　Rand。　The　Aes　Sedai　would　do　exactly　what　she　said；　if　she　thought　it　was　necessary。　He　had　a　hard　time　sleeping　that　night；　and　he　was　not　the　only　one。　Even　the　gleeman　did　not　begin　snoring　till　long　after　the　last　coals　died。　For　once；　Moiraine　offered　no　help。
　　　　　　　Those　nightly　talks　between　Egwene　and　the　Aes　Sedai　were　a　sore　point　for　Rand。　Whenever　they　disappeared　into　the　darkness；　aside　from　the　rest　for　privacy；　he　wondered　what　they　were　saying；　what　they　were　doing。　What　was　the　Aes　Sedai　doing　to　Egwene？
　　　　　　　One　night；　he　waited　until　the　other　men　had　all　settled　down；　Thom　snoring　like　a　saw　cutting　an　oak　knot。　Then　he　slipped　away；　clutching　his　blanket　around　him。　Using　every　bit　of　skill　he　had　gained　stalking　rabbits；　he　moved　with　the　moon　shadows　until　he　was　crouched　at　the　base　of　a　tall　leatherleaf　tree；　thick　with　tough；　broad　leaves；　close　enough　to　hear　Moiraine　and　Egwene；　where　they　sat　on　a　fallen　log　with　a　small　lantern　for　light。
　　　　　　　〃Ask；〃　Moiraine　was　saying；　〃and　if　I　can　tell　you　now　I　will。　Understand；　there　is　much　for　which　you　are　not　yet　ready；　things　you　cannot　learn　until　you　have　learned　other　things　which　require　still　others　to　be　learned　before　them。　But　ask　what　you　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Five　Powers；〃　Egwene　said　slowly。　〃Earth；　Wind；　Fire；　Water；　and　Spirit。　It　doesn't　seem　fair　that　men　should　have　been　strongest　in　wielding　Earth　and　Fire。　Why　should　they　have　had　the　strongest　Powers？〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　laughed。　〃Is　that　what　you　think；　child？　Is　there　a　rock　so　hard　that　wind　and　water　cannot　wear　it　away；　a　fire　so　strong　that　water　cannot　quench　it　or　wind　snuff　it　out？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　silent　for　a　time；　digging　her　toe　into　the　forest　floor。　〃They　。。。　they　were　the　ones　who　。。。　who　tried　to　free　the　Dark　One　and　the　Forsaken；　weren't　they？　The　male　Aes　Sedai？〃　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　picked　up　speed。　〃The　women　were　not　part　of　it。　It　was　the　men　who　went　mad　and　broke　the　world。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　afraid；〃　Moiraine　said　grimly。　〃If　you　had　remained　in　Emond's　Field；　you　would　have　bee　Wisdom；　in　time。　That　was　Nynaeve's　plan；　was　it　not？　Or；　you　would　have　sat　in　the　Women's　Circle　and　managed　the　affairs　of　Emond's　Field　while　the　Village　Council　thought　it　was　doing　so。　But　you　did　the　unthinkable。　You　left　Emond's　Field；　left　the　Two　Rivers；　seeking　adventure。　You　wanted　to　do　it；　and　at　the　same　time　you　are　afraid　of　it。　And　you　are　stubbornly　refusing　to　let　your　fear　best　you