rj.eyeoftheworld-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　Mat　scowled。　〃I　was　thinking　about　。。。　about　what　happened　back　there。　About　those　words　I　。。。〃　Everybody　turned　to　look　at　him　then；　not　just　Rand；　and　he　shifted　uneasily。　〃Well；　you　heard　what　Moiraine　said。　It's　as　if　some　dead　man　was　speaking　with　my　mouth。　I　don't　like　it。〃　His　scowl　grew　deeper　when　Perrin　chuckled。
　　　　　　　〃Aemon's　warcry；　she　said　…　right？　Maybe　you're　Aemon　e　back　again。　The　way　you　go　on　about　how　dull　Emond's　Field　is；　I'd　think　you　would　like　that　…　being　a　king　and　hero　reborn。〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　say　that！〃　Thom　drew　a　deep　breath；　everybody　stared　at　him　now。　〃That　is　dangerous　talk；　stupid　talk。　The　dead　can　be　reborn；　or　take　a　living　body；　and　it　is　not　something　to　speak　of　lightly。〃　He　took　another　breath　to　calm　himself　before　going　on。　〃The　old　blood；　she　said。　The　blood；　not　a　dead　man。　I've　heard　that　it　can　happen；　sometimes。　Heard；　though　I　never　really　thought　。。。　It　was　your　roots；　boy。　A　line　running　from　you　to　your　father　to　your　grandfather；　right　on　back　to　Manetheren；　and　maybe　beyond。　Well；　now　you　know　your　family　is　old。　You　ought　to　let　it　go　at　that　and　be　glad。　Most　people　don't　know　much　more　than　that　they　had　a　father。〃
　　　　　　　Some　of　us　can't　even　be　sure　of　that；　Rand　thought　bitterly。　Maybe　the　Wisdom　was　right。　Light；　I　hope　she　was。
　　　　　　　Mat　nodded　at　what　the　gleeman　said。　〃I　suppose　I　should。　Only。。。　do　you　think　it　has　anything　to　do　with　what's　happened　to　us？　The　Trollocs　and　all？　I　mean　。。。　oh；　I　don't　know　what　I　mean。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　you　ought　to　forget　about　it；　and　concentrate　on　getting　out　of　here　safely。〃　Thom　produced　his　long…stemmed　pipe　from　inside　his　cloak。　〃And　I　think　I　am　going　to　have　a　smoke。〃　With　a　waggle　of　the　pipe　in　their　direction；　he　disappeared　into　the　front　room。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　all　in　this　together；　not　just　one　of　us；〃　Rand　told　Mat。
　　　　　　　Mat　gave　himself　a　shake；　and　laughed；　a　short　bark。　〃Right。　Well；　speaking　of　being　in　things　together；　now　that　we're　done　with　the　horses；　why　don't　we　go　see　a　little　more　of　this　city。　A　real　city；　and　no　crowds　to　jostle　your　elbow　and　poke　you　in　the　ribs。　Nobody　looking　down　their　long　noses　at　us。　There's　still　an　hour；　maybe　two；　of　daylight　left。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aren't　you　forgetting　the　Trollocs？〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　Mat　shook　his　head　scornfully。　〃Lan　said　they　wouldn't　e　in　here；　remember？　You　need　to　listen　to　what　people　say。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　remember；〃　Perrin　said。　〃And　I　do　listen。　This　city　…　Aridhol？　…　was　an　ally　of　Manetheren。　See？　I　listen。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aridhol　must　have　been　the　greatest　city　in　the　Trolloc　Wars；〃　Rand　aid；　〃for　the　Trollocs　to　still　be　afraid　of　it。　They　weren't　afraid　to　e　into　the　Two　Rivers；　and　Moiraine　said　Manetheren　was　…　how　did　she　put　it？　…　a　thorn　to　the　Dark　One's　foot。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　raised　his　hands。　〃Don't　mention　the　Shepherd　of　the　Night。　Please？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　say？〃　Mat　laughed。　〃Let's　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　should　ask　Moiraine；〃　Perrin　said；　and　Mat　threw　up　his　hands。
　　　　　　　〃Ask　Moiraine？　You　think　she'll　let　us　out　of　her　sight？　And　what　about　Nynaeve？　Blood　and　ashes；　Perrin；　why　not　ask　Mistress　Luhhan　while　you're　about　it？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded　reluctant　agreement；　and　Mat　turned　to　Rand　with　a　grin。　〃What　about　you？　A　real　city？　With　palaces！〃　He　gave　a　sly　laugh。　〃And　no　Whitecloaks　to　stare　at　us。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　gave　him　a　dirty　look；　but　he　hesitated　only　a　minute。　Those　palaces　were　like　a　gleeman's　tale。　〃All　right。〃
　　　　　　　Stepping　softly　so　as　not　to　be　heard　in　the　front　room；　they　left　by　the　alley；　following　it　away　from　the　front　of　the　building　to　a　street　on　the　other　side。　They　walked　quickly；　and　when　they　were　a　block　away　from　the　white　stone　building　Mat　suddenly　broke　into　a　capering　dance。
　　　　　　　〃Free。〃　He　laughed。　〃Free！〃　He　slowed　until　he　was　turning　a　circle；　staring　at　everything　and　still　laughing。　The　afternoon　shadows　stretched　long　and　jagged；　and　the　sinking　sun　made　the　ruined　city　golden。　〃Did　you　ever　even　dream　of　a　place　like　this？　Did　you？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　laughed；　too；　but　Rand　shrugged　unfortably。　This　was　nothing　like　the　city　in　his　first　dream；　but　just　the　same　。。。〃If　we're　going　to　see　anything；〃　he　said；　〃we　had　better　get　on　with　it。　There　isn't　much　daylight　left。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　wanted　to　see　everything；　it　seemed；　and　he　pulled　the　others　along　with　his　enthusiasm。　They　climbed　over　dusty　fountains　with　basins　wide　enough　to　hold　everybody　in　Emond's　Field　and　wandered　in　and　out　of　structures　chosen　at　random；　but　always　the　biggest　they　could　find。　Some　they　understood；　and　some　not。　A　palace　was　plainly　a　palace；　but　what　was　a　huge　building　that　was　one　round；　white　dome　as　big　as　a　hill　outside　and　one　monstrous　room　inside？　And　a　walled　place；　open　to　the　sky　and　big　enough　to　have　held　all　of　Emond's　Field；　surrounded　by　row　on　row　on　row　of　stone　benches？
　　　　　　　Mat　grew　impatient　when　they　found　nothing　but　dust；　or　rubble；　or　colorless　rags　of　wall　hangings　that　crumbled　at　a　touch。　Once　some　wooden　chairs　stood　stacked　against　a　wall；　they　all　fell　to　bits　when　Perrin　tried　to　pick　one　up。
　　　　　　　The　palaces；　with　their　huge；　empty　chambers；　some　of　which　could　have　held　the　Winespring　Inn　with　room　to　spare　on　every　side　and　above　as　well；　made　Rand　think　too　much　of　the　people　who　had　once　filled　them。　He　thought　everybody　in　the　Two　Rivers　could　have　stood　under　that　round　dome；　and　as　for　the　place　with　the　stone　benches　。。。　He　could　almost　imagine　he　could　see　the　people　in　the　shadows；　staring　in　disapproval　at　the　three　intruders　disturbing　their　rest。
　　　　　　　Finally　even　Mat　tired；　grand　as　the　buildings　were；　and　remembered　that　he　had　had　only　an　hour's　sleep　the　night　before。　Everyone　began　to　remember　that。　Yawning；　they　sat　on　the　steps　of　a　tall　building　fronted　by　row　on　row　of　tall　stone　columns　and　argued　about　what　to　do　next。
　　　　　　　〃Go　back；〃　Rand　said；　〃and　get　some　sleep。〃　He　put　the　back　of　his　hand　against　his　mouth。　When　he　could　talk　again；　he　said；　〃Sleep。　That's　all　I　want。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can　sleep　anytime；〃　Mat　said　determinedly。　〃Look　at　where　we　are。　A　ruined　city。　Treasure。〃
　　　　　　　〃Treasure？〃　Perrin's　jaws　cracked。　〃There　isn't　any　treasure　here。　There　isn't　anything　but　dust。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shaded　his　eyes　against　the　sun；　a　red　ball　sitting　close　to　the　rooftops。　〃It's　getting　late；　Mat。　It'll　be　dark　soon。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　could　be　treasure；〃　Mat　maintained　stoutly。　〃Anyway；　I　want　to　climb　one　of　the　towers。　Look　at　that　one　over　there。　It's　whole。　I'll　bet　you　could　see　for　miles　from　up　there。　What　do　you　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　towers　are　not　safe；〃　said　a　man's　voice　behind　them。
　　　　　　　Rand　leaped　to　his　feet　and　spun　around　clutching　his　sword　hilt；　and　the　others　were　just　as　quick。
　　　　　　　A　man　stood　in　the　shadows　among　the　columns　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　He　took　half　a　step　forward；　raised　his　hand　to　shield　his　eyes；　and　stepped　back　again。　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　smoothly。　〃I　have　been　quite　a　long　time　in　the　dark　inside。　My　eyes　are　not　yet　used　to　the　light。〃
　　　　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Rand　thought　the　man's　accent　sounded　odd；　even　after　Baerlon；　some　words　he　pronounced　strangely；　so　Rand　could　barely　understand　them。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？　We　thought　the　city　was　empty。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　Mordeth。〃　He　paused　as　if　expecting　them　to　recognize　the　name。　When　none　of　them　gave　any　sign　of　doing　so；　he　muttered　something　under　his　breath　and　went　on。　〃I　could　ask　the　same　questions　of　you。　There　has　been　no　one　in　Aridhol　for　a　long　time。　A　long；　long　time。　I　would　not　have　thought　to　find　three　young　men　wandering　its　streets。〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　on　our　way　to　Caemlyn；〃　Rand　said。　〃We　stopped　to　take　shelter　for　the　night。〃
　　　　　　　〃Caemlyn；〃　Mordeth　said　slowly；　rolling　the　name　around　his　tongue；　then　shook　his　head。　〃Shelter　for　the　night；　you　say？　Perhaps　you　will　join　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　still　haven't　said　what　you're　doing　here；〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　〃Why；　I　am　a　treasure　hunter；　of　course。〃
　　　　　　　〃Have　you　found　any？〃　Mat　demanded　excitedly。
　　　　　　　Rand　thought　Mordeth　smiled；　but　in　the　shadows　he　could　not　be　sure。　〃I　have；〃　the　man　said。　〃More　than　I　expected。　Much　more。　More　than　I　can　carry　away。　I　never　expected　to　find　three　strong；　healthy　young　men。　If　you　will　help　me　move　what　I　can　take　to　where　my　horses　are；　you　may　each　have　a　share　of　the　rest。　As　much　as　you　can　carry。　Whatever　I　leave　will　be　gone；　carried　off　by　some　other　treasure　hunter；　before　I　can　return　for　it。　〃
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　there　must　be　treasure　in　a　place　like　this；〃　Mat　exclaimed。　He　darted　up　the　stairs。　〃We'll　help　you　carry　it。　Just　take　us　to　it。〃　He　and　Mordeth　moved　deeper　into　the　shadows　among　the　columns。
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　at　Perrin。　〃We　can't　leave　him。〃　Perrin　glanced　at　the　sinking　sun；　and　nodded。
　　　　　　　They　went　up　the　stairs　warily；　Perrin　easing　his　axe　in　its　belt　loop。　Rand's　hand　tightened　on　his　sword。　But　Mat　and　Mordeth　were　waiting　among　the　columns；　Mordeth　with　arms　folded；　Mat　peering　impatiently　into　the　interior。
　　　　　　　〃e；〃　Mordeth　said。　〃I　will　show　you　the　treasure。〃　He　slipped　inside；　and　Mat　followed。　There　was　nothing　for　the　others　to　do　but　go　on。
　　　　　　　The　hall　inside　was　shadowy；　but　almost　immediately　Mordeth　turned　aside　and　took　some　narrow　steps　that　wound　around　and　down　through　deeper　and　deeper　dark　until　they　fumbled　their　way　in　pitch…blackness。　Rand　felt　along　the　wall　with　one　hand；　unsure　there　would　be　a　step　below　until　his　foot　met　it。　Even　Mat　began　to　feel　uneasy；　judging　by　his　voice　when　he　said；　〃It's　awfully　dark　down　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Mordeth　replied。　The　man　seemed　to　be　having　no　trouble　at　all　with　the　dark。　〃There　are　lights　below。　e。〃
　　　　　　　Indeed　the　winding　stairs　abruptly　gave　way　to　a　corridor　dimly　lit　by　scattered；　smoky　torches　set　in　iron　sconces　on　the　walls。　The　flickering　flames　and　shadows　gave　Rand　his　first　good　look　at　Mordeth；　who　hurried　on　without　pausing；　motioning　them　to　follow。
　　　　　　　There　was　something　odd　about　him；　Rand　thought；　but　he　could　not　pick　out　what　it　was；　exactly。　Mordeth　was　a　sleek；　somewhat　overfed　man；　with　drooping　eyelids　that　made　him　seem　to　be　hiding　behind　something　and　staring。　Short；　and　pletely　bald；　he　walked　as　if　he　were　taller　than　any　of　them。　His　clothes　were　certainly　like　nothing　Rand　had　ever　seen　before；　either。　Tight　black　breeches　and　soft　red　boots　with　the　tops　turned　down　at　his　ankles。　A　long；　red　vest　thickly　embroidered　in　gold；　and　a　snowy　white　shirt　with　wide　sleeves；　the　points　of　his　cuffs　hanging　almost　to　his　knees。　Certainly　not　the　kind　of　clothes　in　which　to　run　through　a　ruined　city　in　search　of　treasure。　But　it　was　not　that　which　made　him　seem　strange；　either。
　　　　　　　Then　the　corridor　ended　in　a　tile…walled　room；　and　he　forgot　about　any　oddities　Mordeth　might　have。　His　gasp　was　an　echo　of　his　friends。　Here；　too；　light　came　from　a　few　torches　staining　the　ceiling　with　their　smoke　and　giving　everyone　more　than　one　shadow；　but　that　light　was　reflected　a　thousand　times　by　the　gems　and　gold　piled　on　the　floor；　mounds　of　coins　and　jewelry；　goblets　and　plates　and　platters；　gilded；　gem…encrusted　swords　and　daggers；　all　heaped　together　carelessly　in　waist…high　mounds。
　　　　　　　With　a　cry　Mat　ran