rj.eyeoftheworld-第66章

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　　　　　　　Elyas　chuckled　coldly。　〃I've　seen　a　pack　pull　down　one　of　the　Eyeless；　too。　Lost　half　the　pack；　but　they　wouldn't　give　up　once　they　had　its　scent。　Trollocs；　Myrddraal；　it's　all　one　to　the　wolves。　It's　you　they　really　want；　boy。　They've　heard　of　other　men　who　can　talk　to　wolves；　but　you're　the　first　they've　ever　met　besides　me。　They'll　accept　your　friend；　too；　though；　and　you'll　all　be　safer　here　than　in　any　city。　There's　Darkfriends　in　cities。〃
　　　　　　　〃Listen；〃　Perrin　said　urgently；　〃I　wish　you'd　stop　saying　that。　I　can't　do　that　。。。　what　you　do；　what　you're　saying。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；　boy。　Play　the　goat；　if　you've　a　mind　to。　Don't　you　want　to　be　safe？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　deceiving　myself。　There's　nothing　to　deceive　myself　about。　All　we　want　…〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　going　to　Caemlyn；〃　Egwene　spoke　up　firmly。　〃And　then　to　Tar　Valon。　〃
　　　　　　　Closing　his　mouth；　Perrin　met　her　angry　look　with　one　of　his　own。　He　knew　that　she　followed　his　lead　when　she　wanted　to　and　not　when　she　did　not；　but　she　could　at　least　let　him　answer　for　himself。　〃What　about　you；　Perrin？〃　he　said；　and　answered　himself。　〃Me？　Well；　let　me　think。　Yes。　Yes；　I　think　I'll　go　on。〃　He　turned　a　mild　smile　on　her。　〃Well；　Egwene；　that　makes　both　of　us。　I　guess　I'm　going　with　you；　at　that。　Good　to　talk　these　things　out　before　making　a　decision；　isn't　it？〃　She　blushed；　but　the　set　of　her　jaw　never　lessened。
　　　　　　　Elyas　grunted。　〃Dapple　said　that's　what　you'd　decide。　She　said　the　girl's　planted　firmly　in　the　human　world；　while　you〃　…　he　nodded　at　Perrin　…　〃stand　halfway　between。　Under　the　circumstances；　I　suppose　we'd　better　go　south　with　you。　Otherwise；　you'll　probably　starve　to　death；　or　get　lost；　or　…〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Burn　stood　up；　and　Elyas　turned　his　head　to　regard　the　big　wolf。　After　a　moment　Dapple　rose；　too。　She　moved　closer　to　Elyas；　so　that　he　also　was　meeting　Burn's　stare。　The　tableau　was　frozen　for　long　minutes；　then　Burn　whirled　and　vanished　into　the　night。　Dapple　shook　herself；　then　resumed　her　place；　flopping　down　as　if　nothing　had　happened。
　　　　　　　Elyas　met　Perrin's　questioning　eyes。　〃Dapple　runs　this　pack；〃　he　explained。　〃Some　of　the　males　could　best　her　if　they　challenged；　but　she's　smarter　than　any　of　them；　and　they　all　know　it。　She's　saved　the　pack　more　than　once。　But　Burn　thinks　the　pack　is　wasting　time　with　you　three。　Hating　Trollocs　is　about　all　there　is　to　him；　and　if　there　are　Trollocs　this　far　south　he　wants　to　be　off　killing　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　quite　understand；〃　Egwene　said；　sounding　relieved。　〃We　really　can　find　our　own　way　。。。　with　some　directions；　of　course；　if　you'll　give　them。　〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　waved　a　hand。　〃I　said　Dapple　leads　this　pack；　didn't　I？　In　the　morning；　I'll　start　south　with　you；　and　so　will　they。〃　Egwene　looked　as　if　that　was　not　the　best　news　she　could　have　heard。
　　　　　　　Perrin　sat　wrapped　in　his　own　silence。　He　could　feel　Burn　leaving。　And　the　scarred　male　was　not　the　only　one；　a　dozen　others；　all　young　males；　loped　after　him。　He　wanted　to　believe　it　was　all　Elyas　playing　on　his　imagination；　but　he　could　not。　Just　before　the　departing　wolves　faded　from　his　mind；　he　felt　a　thought　he　knew　came　from　Burn；　as　sharp　and　clear　as　if　it　were　his　own　thought。　Hatred。　Hatred　and　the　taste　of　blood。
　　　　　　　
Chapter　24
Flight　Down　the　Arinelle
　
　　　　　　　Water　dripped　in　the　distance；　hollow　splashes　echoing　and　reechoing；　losing　their　source　forever。　There　were　stone　bridges　and　tailless　ramps　everywhere；　all　sprouting　off　from　broad；　flat…topped　stone　spires；　all　polished　and　smooth　and　streaked　with　red　and　gold。　Level　on　level；　the　maze　stretched　up　and　down　through　the　murk；　without　any　apparent　beginning　or　end。　Every　bridge　led　to　a　spire；　every　ramp　to　another　spire；　other　bridges。　Whatever　direction　Rand　looked；　as　far　as　his　eye　could　make　out　in　the　dimness　it　was　the　same；　above　as　well　as　below。　There　was　not　enough　light　to　see　clearly；　and　he　was　almost　glad　of　it。　Some　of　those　ramps　led　to　platforms　that　had　to　be　directly　above　the　ones　below。　He　could　not　see　the　base　of　any　of　them。　He　pressed；　seeking　freedom；　knowing　it　was　an　illusion。　Everything　was　illusion。
　　　　　　　He　knew　the　illusion；　he　had　followed　it　too　many　times　not　to　know。　However　far　he　went；　up　or　down　or　in　any　direction；　there　was　only　the　shiny　stone。　Stone；　but　the　dankness　of　deep；　fresh…turned　earth　permeated　the　air；　and　the　sickly　sweetness　of　decay。　The　smell　of　a　grave　opened　out　of　its　time。　He　tried　not　to　breathe；　but　the　smell　filled　his　nostrils。　It　clung　to　his　skin　like　oil。
　　　　　　　A　flicker　of　motion　caught　his　eye；　and　he　froze　where　he　was；　half　crouched　against　the　polished　guardwall　around　one　of　the　spire　tops。　It　was　no　hiding　place。　From　a　thousand　places　a　watcher　could　have　seen　him。　Shadow　filled　the　air；　but　there　were　no　deeper　shadows　in　which　to　hide。　The　light　did　not　e　from　lamps；　or　lanterns；　or　torches；　it　was　simply　there；　such　as　it　was；　as　if　it　seeped　out　of　the　air。　Enough　by　which　to　see；　after　a　fashion；　enough　by　which　to　be　seen。　But　stillness　gave　a　little　protection。
　　　　　　　The　movement　came　again；　and　now　it　was　clear。　A　man　striding　up　a　distant　ramp；　careless　of　the　lack　of　railings　and　the　drop　to　nothing　below。　The　man's　cloak　rippled　with　his　stately　haste；　and　his　head　turned；　searching；　searching。　The　distance　was　too　far　for　Rand　to　see　more　than　the　shape　in　the　murk；　but　he　did　not　need　to　be　closer　to　know　the　cloak　was　the　red　of　fresh　blood；　that　the　searching　eyes　blazed　like　two　furnaces。
　　　　　　　He　tried　tracing　the　maze　with　his　eyes；　to　see　how　many　connections　Ba'alzamon　needed　before　reaching　him；　then　gave　it　up　as　useless。　Distances　were　deceiving　here；　another　lesson　he　had　learned。　What　seemed　far　away　might　be　reached　by　turning　a　corner；　what　appeared　close　could　be　out　of　reach　altogether。　The　only　thing　to　do；　as　it　had　been　from　the　beginning；　was　to　keep　moving。　Keep　moving；　and　not　think。　Thinking　was　dangerous；　he　knew。
　　　　　　　Yet；　as　he　turned　away　from　Ba'alzamon's　distant　form；　he　could　not　help　wondering　about　Mat。　Was　Mat　somewhere　in　this　maze？　Or　are　there　two　mazes；　two　Ba'alzamons？　His　mind　skittered　away　from　that；　it　was　too　dreadful　to　dwell　on。　Is　this　like　Baerlon？　Then　why　can't　he　find　me？　That　was　a　little　better。　A　small　fort。　fort？　Blood　and　ashes；　where's　the　fort　in　it？
　　　　　　　There　had　been　two　or　three　close　brushes；　though　he　could　not　remember　them　clearly；　but　for　a　long；　long　time　…　how　long？　…　he　had　run　while　Ba'alzamon　vainly　pursued。　Was　this　like　Baerlon；　or　was　it　only　a　nightmare；　only　a　dream　like　other　men's　dreams？
　　　　　　　For　an　instant；　then　…　just　for　the　length　of　time　it　took　to　take　a　breath　…　he　knew　why　it　was　dangerous　to　think；　what　it　was　dangerous　to　think　about。　As　it　had　before；　every　time　he　allowed　himself　to　think　of　what　surrounded　him　as　a　dream；　the　air　shimmered；　clouding　his　eyes。　It　turned　to　jell；　holding　him。　Just　for　an　instant。
　　　　　　　The　gritty　heat　prickled　his　skin；　and　his　throat　had　long　since　gone　dry　as　he　trotted　down　the　thorn…hedge　maze。　How　long　had　it　been　now？　His　sweat　evaporated　before　it　had　a　chance　to　bead；　and　his　eyes　burned。　Overhead　…　and　not　too　far　overhead；　at　that　…　boiled　furious；　steely　clouds　streaked　with　black；　but　not　a　breath　of　air　stirred　in　the　maze。　For　a　moment　he　thought　it　had　been　different；　but　the　thought　evaporated　in　the　heat。　He　had　been　here　a　long　time。　It　was　dangerous　to　think；　he　knew　that。
　　　　　　　Smooth　stones；　pale　and　rounded；　made　a　sketchy　pavement；　half　buried　in　the　bone…dry　dust　that　rose　in　puffs　at　even　his　lightest　step。　It　tickled　his　nose；　threatening　a　sneeze　that　might　give　him　away；　when　he　tried　to　breathe　through　his　mouth；　dust　clogged　his　throat　until　he　choked。
　　　　　　　This　was　a　dangerous　place；　he　knew　that；　too。　Ahead　of　him　he　could　see　three　openings　in　the　high　wall　of　thorns；　then　the　way　curved　out　of　sight。　Ba'alzamon　could　be　approaching　any　one　of　those　corners　at　that　very　moment。　There　had　been　two　or　three　encounters　already；　though　he　could　not　remember　much　beyond　that　they　had　happened　and　he　had　escaped　。。。　somehow。　Dangerous　to　think　too　much。
　　　　　　　Panting　in　the　heat；　he　stopped　to　examine　the　maze　wall。　Thickly　woven　thorn　bushes；　brown　and　dead…looking；　with　cruel　black　thorns　like　inch…long　hooks。　Too　tall　to　see　over；　too　dense　to　see　through。　Gingerly　he　touched　the　wall；　and　gasped。　Despite　all　his　care；　a　thorn　pierced　his　finger；　burning　like　a　hot　needle。　He　stumbled　back；　his　heels　catching　on　the　stones；　shaking　his　hand　and　scattering　thick　drops　of　blood。　The　burn　began　to　subside；　but　his　whole　hand　throbbed。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　he　forgot　the　pain。　His　heel　had　overturned　one　of　the　smooth　stones；　kicked　it　out　of　the　dry　ground。　He　stared　at　it；　and　empty　eye　sockets　stared　back。　A　skull。　A　human　skull。　He　looked　along　the　pathway　at　all　the　smooth；　pale　stones；　all　exactly　alike。　He　shifted　his　feet　hastily；　but　he　could　not　move　without　walking　on　them；　and　he　could　not　stay　still　without　standing　on　them。　A　stray　thought　took　vague　shape；　that　things　might　not　be　what　they　seemed；　but　he　pushed　it　down　ruthlessly。　Thinking　was　dangerous　here。
　　　　　　　He　took　a　shaky　hold　on　himself。　Staying　in　one　place　was　dangerous；　too。　That　was　one　of　the　things　he　knew　dimly　but　with　certainty。　The　flow　of　blood　from　his　finger　had　dwindled　to　a　slow　drip；　and　the　throb　was　almost　gone。　Sucking　his　fingertip；　he　started　down　the　path　in　the　direction　he　happened　to　be　facing。　One　way　was　as　good　as　another　in　here。
　　　　　　　Now　he　remembered　hearing　once　that　you　could　get　out　of　a　maze　by　always　turning　in　the　same　direction。　At　the　first　opening　in　the　wall　of　thorns　he　turned　right；　then　right　again　at　the　next。　And　found　himself　face…to…face　with　Ba'alzamon。
　　　　　　　Surprise　flitted　across　Ba'alzamon's　face；　and　his　blood…red　cloak　settled　as　he　stopped　short。　Flames　soared　in　his　eyes；　but　in　the　heat　of　the　maze　Rand　barely　felt　them。
　　　　　　　〃How　long　do　you　think　you　can　evade　me；　boy？　How　long　do　you　think　you　can　evade　your　fate？　You　are　mine！〃
　　　　　　　Stumbling　back；　Rand　wondered　why　he　was　fumbling　at　his　belt；　as　if　for　a　sword。　〃Light　help　me；〃　he　muttered。　〃Light　help　me。〃　He　could　not　remember　what　it　meant。
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　will　not　help　you；　boy；　and　the　Eye　of　the　World　will　not　serve　you。　You　are　my　hound；　and　if　you　will　not　course　at　my　mand；　I　will　strangle　you　with　the　corpse　of　the　Great　Serpent！〃
　　　　　　　Ba'alzamon　stretched　out　his　hand；　and　suddenly　Rand　knew　a　way　to　escape；　a　misty；　half…formed　memory　that　screamed　danger；　but　nothing　to　the　danger　of　being　touched　by　the　Dark　One。
　　　　　　　〃A　dream！〃　Rand　shouted。　〃This　is　a　dream！〃
　　　　　　　Ba'alzamon's　eyes　began　to　widen；　in　surprise　or　anger　or　both；　then　the　air　shimmered；　and　his　features　blurred；　and　faded。
　　　　　　　Rand　turned　about　in　one　spot；　staring。　Staring　at　his　own　image　thrown　back　at　him　a　thousandfold。　Ten　thousandfold。　Above　was　blackness；　and　blackness　below；　but　all　around　him　stood　mirrors；　mirrors　set　at　every　angle；　mirrors　as　far　as　he　could　see；　all　showing　him；　crouched　and　turning；　staring　wide…eyed　and　frightened。
　　　　　　　A　red　blur　drifted　across　the　mirrors。　He　spun；　trying　to　catch　it；　but　in　every　m