rj.eyeoftheworld-第43章

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　Something　told　him　that　feeling　was　wrong；　that　it　was　dangerous；　but　he　smiled　in　anticipation　anyway。
　　　　　　　In　a　minute　Mat　appeared　above　him；　climbing　half　out　of　an　attic　window　onto　the　tile　roof　of　the　shop。　His　sling　was　in　his　hands；　already　beginning　to　whirl。　Rand's　eyes　went　back　to　the　cart。　Almost　immediately　there　was　a　sharp　crack；　and　the　stake　holding　the　barrels　broke　just　as　the　Whitecloaks　came　abreast　of　the　alley。　People　jumped　out　of　the　way　as　the　barrels　rolled　down　the　cart　shafts　with　an　empty　rumble　and　jounced　into　the　street；　splashing　mud　and　muddy　water　in　every　direction。　The　three　Children　jumped　no　less　quickly　than　anyone　else；　their　superior　looks　replaced　by　surprise。　Some　passersby　fell　down；　making　more　splashes；　but　the　three　moved　agilely；　avoiding　the　barrels　with　ease。　They　could　not　avoid　the　flying　mud　that　splattered　their　white　
cloaks；　though。
　　　　　　　A　bearded　man　in　a　long　apron　hurried　out　of　the　alley；　waving　his　arms　and　shouting　angrily；　but　one　look　at　the　three　trying　vainly　to　shake　the　mud　from　their　cloaks　and　he　vanished　back　into　the　alley　even　faster　than　he　had　e　out。　Rand　glanced　up　at　the　shop　roof；　Mat　was　gone。　It　had　been　an　easy　shot　for　any　Two　Rivers　lad；　but　the　effect　was　certainly　all　that　could　be　hoped　for。　He　couId　not　help　laughing；　the　humor　seemed　to　be　wrapped　in　wool；　but　it　was　still　funny。　When　he　turned　back　to　the　street；　the　three　Whitecloaks　were　staring　straight　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　find　something　funny；　yes？〃　The　one　who　spoke　stood　a　little　in　front　of　the　others。　He　wore　an　arrogant；　unblinking　look；　with　a　light　in　his　eyes　as　if　he　knew　something　important；　something　no　one　else　knew。
　　　　　　　Rand's　laughter　cut　off　short。　He　and　the　Children　were　alone　with　the　mud　and　the　barrels。　The　crowd　that　had　been　all　around　them　had　found　urgent　business　up　or　down　the　street。
　　　　　　　〃Does　fear　of　the　Light　hold　your　tongue？〃　Anger　made　the　Whitecloak's　narrow　face　seem　even　more　pinched。　He　glanced　dismissively　at　the　sword　hilt　sticking　out　from　Rand's　cloak。　〃Perhaps　you　are　responsible　for　this；　yes？〃　Unlike　the　others　he　had　a　golden　knot　beneath　the　sunburst　on　his　cloak。
　　　　　　　Rand　moved　to　cover　the　sword；　but　instead　swept　his　cloak　back　over　his　shoulder。　In　the　back　of　his　head　was　a　frantic　wonder　at　what　he　was　doing；　but　it　was　a　distant　thought。　〃Accidents　happen；〃　he　said。　〃Even　to　the　Children　of　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　The　narrow…faced　man　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃You　are　that　dangerous；　youngling？〃　He　was　not　much　older　than　Rand。
　　　　　　　〃Heron…mark；　Lord　Bornhald；〃　one　of　the　others　said　warningly。
　　　　　　　The　narrow…faced　man　glanced　at　Rand's　sword　hilt　again　…　the　bronze　heron　was　plain　…　and　his　eyes　widened　momentarily。　Then　his　gaze　rose　to　Rand's　face；　and　he　sniffed　dismissively。　〃He　is　too　young。　You　are　not　from　this　place；　yes？〃　he　said　coldly　to　Rand。　〃You　e　from　where？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　just　arrived　in　Baerlon。　〃　A　tingling　thrill　ran　along　Rand's　arms　and　legs。　He　felt　flushed；　almost　warm。　〃You　wouldn't　know　of　a　good　inn；　would　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　avoid　my　questions；〃　Bornhald　snapped。　〃What　evil　is　in　you　that　you　do　not　answer　me？〃　His　panions　moved　up　to　either　side　of　him；　faces　hard　and　expressionless。　Despite　the　mudstains　on　their　cloaks；　there　was　nothing　funny　about　them　now。
　　　　　　　The　tingling　filled　Rand；　the　heat　had　grown　to　a　fever。　He　wanted　to　laugh；　it　felt　so　good。　A　small　voice　in　his　head　shouted　that　something　was　wrong；　but　all　he　could　think　of　was　how　full　of　energy　he　felt；　nearly　bursting　with　it。　Smiling；　he　rocked　on　his　heels　and　waited　for　what　was　going　to　happen。　Vaguely；　distantly；　he　wondered　what　it　would　be。
　　　　　　　The　leader's　face　darkened。　One　of　the　others　drew　his　sword　enough　for　an　inch　of　steel　to　show　and　spoke　in　a　voice　quivering　with　anger。　〃When　the　Children　of　the　Light　ask　questions；　you　gray…eyed　bumpkin；　we　expect　answers；　or　…　〃　He　cut　off　as　the　narrow…faced　man　threw　an　arm　across　his　chest。　Bornald　jerked　his　head　up　the　street。
　　　　　　　The　Town　Watch　had　arrived；　a　dozen　men　in　round　steel　caps　and　studded　leather　jerkins；　carrying　quarterstaffs　as　if　they　knew　how　to　use　them。　They　stood　watching；　silently；　from　ten　paces　off。
　　　　　　　〃This　town　has　lost　the　Light；〃　growled　the　man　who　had　half　drawn　his　sword。　He　rinsed　his　voice　to　shout　at　the　Watch。　〃Baerlon　stands　in　the　Shadow　of　the　Dark　One！〃　At　a　gesture　from　Bornhald　he　slammed　his　blade　back　into　its　scabbard。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　turned　his　attention　back　to　Rand。　The　light　of　knowing　burned　in　his　eyes。　〃Darkfriends　do　not　escape　us；　youngling；　even　in　a　town　that　stands　in　the　Shadow。　We　will　meet　again。　You　may　be　sure　of　it！〃
　　　　　　　He　spun　on　his　heel　and　strode　away；　his　two　panions　close　behind；　as　if　Rand　had　ceased　to　exist。　For　the　moment；　at　least。　When　they　reached　the　crowded　part　of　the　street；　the　same　seemingly　accidental　pocket　as　before　opened　around　them。　The　Watchmen　hesitated；　eyeing　Rand；　then　shouldered　their　quarterstaffs　and　followed　the　white…cloaked　three。　They　had　to　push　their　way　into　the　crowd；　shouting；　〃Make　way　for　the　Watch！〃　Few　did　make　way；　except　grudgingly。
　　　　　　　Rand　still　rocked　on　his　heels；　waiting。　The　tingle　was　so　strong　that　be　almost　quivered；　he　felt　as　if　he　were　burning　up。
　　　　　　　Mat　came　out　of　the　shop；　staring　at　him。　〃You　aren't　sick；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　are　crazy！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　abruptly　it　was　all　gone　like　a　pricked　bubble。　He　staggered　as　it　vanished；　the　realization　of　what　he　had　just　done　flooding　in　on　him。　Licking　his　lips；　he　met　Mat's　stare。　〃I　think　we　had　better　go　back　to　the　inn；　now；〃　he　said　unsteadily。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Mat　said。　〃Yes。　I　think　we　better　had。〃
　　　　　　　The　street　had　begun　to　fill　up　again；　and　more　than　one　passerby　stared　at　the　two　boys　and　murmured　something　to　a　panion。　Rand　was　sure　the　story　would　spread。　A　crazy　man　had　tried　to　start　a　fight　with　three　Children　of　the　Light。　That　was　something　to　talk　about。　Maybe　the　dreams　are　driving　me　crazy。
　　　　　　　The　two　lost　their　way　several　times　in　the　haphazard　streets；　but　after　a　while　they　fell　in　with　Thom　Merrilin；　making　a　grand　procession　all　by　himself　through　the　throng。　The　gleeman　said　he　was　out　to　stretch　his　legs　and　for　a　bit　of　fresh　air；　but　whenever　anyone　looked　twice　at　his　colorful　cloak　he　would　announce　in　a　resounding　voice；　〃I　am　at　the　Stag　and　Lion；　tonight　only。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　Mat　who　began　disjointedly　telling　Thom　about　the　dream　and　their　worry　over　whether　or　not　to　tell　Moiraine；　but　Rand　joined　in；　for　there　were　differences　in　exactly　how　they　remembered　it。　Or　maybe　each　dream　was　a　little　different；　he　thought。　The　major　part　of　the　dreams　was　the　same；　though。
　　　　　　　They　had　not　gone　far　in　the　telling　before　Thom　started　paying　full　attention。　When　Rand　mentioned　Ba'alzamon；　the　gleeman　grabbed　them　each　by　a　shoulder　with　a　mand　to　hold　their　tongues；　raised　on　tiptoe　to　look　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd；　then　hustled　them　out　of　the　press　to　a　dead…end　alley　that　was　empty　except　for　a　few　crates　and　a　slat…ribbed；　yellow　dog　huddled　out　of　the　cold。
　　　　　　　Thom　stared　out　at　the　crowd；　looking　for　anyone　stopping　to　listen；　before　turning　his　attention　to　Rand　and　Mat。　His　blue　eyes　bored　into　theirs；　between　flickering　away　to　watch　the　mouth　of　the　alley。　〃Don't　ever　say　that　name　where　strangers　can　hear。〃　His　voice　was　low；　but　urgent。　〃Not　even　where　a　stranger　might　hear。　It　is　a　very　dangerous　name；　even　where　Children　of　the　Light　are　not　wandering　the　streets。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　snorted。　〃I　could　tell　you　about　Children　of　the　Light；〃　he　said　with　a　wry　look　at　Rand。
　　　　　　　Thom　ignored　him。　〃If　only　one　of　you　had　had　this　dream　。。。〃　He　tugged　at　his　mustache　furiously。　〃Tell　me　everything　you　remember　about　it。　Every　detail。〃　He　kept　up　his　wary　watch　while　he　listened。
　　　　　　　〃。。。　He　named　the　men　he　said　had　been　used；〃　Rand　said　finally。　He　thought　he　had　told　everything　else。　〃Guaire　Amalasan。　Raolin　Darksbane。〃
　　　　　　　〃Davian；〃　Mat　added　before　he　could　go　on。　〃　And　Yurian　Stonebow。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Logain；〃　Rand　finished。
　　　　　　　〃Dangerous　names；〃　Thom　muttered。　His　eyes　seemed　to　drill　at　them　even　more　intently　than　before。　〃Nearly　as　dangerous　as　that　other；　one　way　and　another。　All　dead；　now；　except　for　Logain。　Some　long　dead。　Raolin　Darksbane　nearly　two　thousand　years。　But　dangerous　just　the　same。　Best　you　don't　say　them　aloud　even　when　you're　alone。　Most　people　wouldn't　recognize　a　one　of　them；　but　if　the　wrong　person　overhears　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　who　were　they？〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　〃Men；〃　Thom　murmured。　〃Men　who　shook　the　pillars　of　heaven　and　rocked　the　world　on　its　foundations。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　doesn't　matter。　Forget　about　them。　They　are　dust　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　the　。。。　were　they　used；　like　he　said？〃　Mat　asked。　〃And　killed？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　might　say　the　White　Tower　killed　them。　You　might　say　that。〃　Thom's　mouth　tightened　momentarily；　then　he　shook　his　head　again。　〃But　used　。。。　？　No。　I　cannot　see　that。　The　Light　knows　the　Amyrlin　Seat　has　enough　plots　going；　but　I　can't　see　that。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　shivered。　〃He　said　so　many　things。　Crazy　things。　All　that　about　Lews　Therin　Kinslayer；　and　Artur　Hawkwing。　And　the　Eye　of　the　World。　What　in　the　Light　is　that　supposed　to　be？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　legend；〃　the　gleeman　said　slowly。　〃Maybe。　As　big　a　legend　as　the　Horn　of　Valere；　at　least　in　the　Borderlands。　Up　there；　young　men　go　hunting　the　Eye　of　the　World　the　way　young　men　from　Illian　hunt　the　Horn。　Maybe　a　legend。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　we　do；　Thom？〃　Rand　said。　〃Do　we　tell　her？　I　don't　want　any　more　dreams　like　that。　Maybe　she　could　do　something。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　we　wouldn't　like　what　she　did；〃　Mat　growled。
　　　　　　　Thom　studied　them；　considering　and　stroking　his　mustache　with　a　knuckle。　〃I　say　hold　your　peace；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Don't　tell　anyone；　for　the　time；　at　least。　You　can　always　change　your　mind；　if　you　have　to；　but　once　you　tell；　it's　done；　and　you're　tied　up　worse　than　ever　with　。。。　with　her。　〃Suddenly　he　straightened；　his　stoop　almost　disappearing。　〃The　other　lad！　You　say　he　had　the　same　dream？　Does　he　have　sense　enough　to　keep　his　mouth　shut？'
　　　　　　　〃I　think　so；〃　Rand　said　at　the　same　time　that　Mat　said；　〃We　were　going　back　to　the　inn　to　warn　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　send　we're　not　too　late！〃　Cloak　flapping　around　his　ankles；　patches　fluttering　in　the　wind；　Thom　strode　out　of　the　alley；　looking　back　over　his　shoulder　without　stopping。　〃Well？　Are　your　feet　pegged　to　the　ground？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　and　Mat　hurried　after　him；　but　he　did　not　wait　for　them　to　catch　up。　This　time　he　did　not　pause　for　people　who　looked　at　his　cloak；　or　those　who　hailed　him　as　a　gleeman；　either。　He　clove　through　the　crowded　streets　as　if　they　were　empty；　Rand　and　Mat　half　running　to　follow　in　his　wake。　In　much　less　time　than　Rand　expected　they　were　hurrying　up　to　the　Stag　and　Lion。
　　　　　　　As　they　started　in；　Perrin　came　speeding　out；　trying　to　throw　his　cloak　around　his　shoulders　as　he　ran。　He　nearly　fell　in　his　effort　not　to　carom　into　them。　〃I　was　ing　looking　for　you　two；〃　he　panted　when　he　had　caught　his　balance。
　　　　　　　Rand　grabbed　him　by　the　arm。　〃Did　you　tell　anyone　about　the　dream？〃
　　　　　　　〃Say　that　you　didn't；〃