rj.eyeoftheworld-第68章

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。　If　you　find　yourself　a　fistful　of　gold；　or　some　dead　king's　jewels；　all　well　and　good；　but　it　be　the　strangeness　you　see　that　pulls　you　to　the　next　horizon。　In　Tanchico　…　that　be　a　port　on　the　Aryth　Ocean　…　part　of　the　Panarch's　Palace　were　built　in　the　Age　of　Legends；　so　it　be　said。　There　be　a　wall　there　with　a　frieze　showing　animals　no　man　living　has　ever　seen。〃
　　　　　　　〃Any　child　can　draw　an　animal　nobody's　ever　seen；〃　Rand　said；　and　the　captain　chuckled。
　　　　　　　〃Aye；　lad；　so　they　can。　But　can　a　child　make　the　bones　of　those　animals？　In　Tanchico　they　have　them；　all　fastened　together　like　the　animal　was。　They　stand　in　a　part　of　the　Panarch's　Palace　where　any　can　enter　and　see。　The　Breaking　left　a　thousand　wonders　behind；　and　there　been　half　a　dozen　empires　or　more　since；　some　rivaling　Artur　Hawkwing's；　every　one　leaving　things　to　see　and　find。　Lightsticks　and　razorlace　and　heartstone。　A　crystal　lattice　covering　an　island；　and　it　hums　when　the　moon　is　up。　A　mountain　hollowed　into　a　bowl；　and　in　its　center；　a　silver　spike　a　hundred　spans　high；　and　any　who　es　within　a　mile　of　it；　dies。　Rusted　ruins；　and　broken　bits；　and　things　found　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　things　not　even　the　oldest　books　know　the　meaning　of。　I've　gathered　a　few；　myself。　Things　you　never　dreamed　of；　in　more　places　than　you　can　see　in　ten　lifetimes。　That　be　the　strangeness　that　will　draw　you　on。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　used　to　dig　up　bones　in　the　Sand　Hills；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　〃Strange　bones。　There　was　part　of　a　fish　…　I　think　it　was　a　fish　…　as　big　as　this　boat；　once。　Some　said　it　was　bad　luck；　digging　in　the　hills。〃
　　　　　　　The　captain　eyed　him　shrewdly。　〃You　thinking　about　home　already；　lad；　and　you　just　set　out　in　the　world？　The　world　will　put　a　hook　in　your　mouth。　You'll　set　off　chasing　the　sunset；　you　wait　and　see　。。。　and　if　you　ever　go　back；　your　village'll　no　be　big　enough　to　hold　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　He　gave　a　start。　How　long　had　it　been　since　he　had　thought　of　home；　of　Emond's　Field？　And　what　of　Tam？　It　had　to　be　days。　It　felt　like　months。　〃I　will　go　home；　one　day；　when　I　can。　I'll　raise　sheep；　like。。。　like　my　father；　and　if　I　never　leave　again　it　will　be　too　soon。　Isn't　that　right；　Mat？　As　soon　as　we　can　we're　going　home　and　forget　all　this　even　exists。　〃
　　　　　　　With　a　visible　effort　Mat　pulled　away　from　staring　upriver　after　the　vanished　tower。　〃What？　Oh。　Yes；　of　course。　We'll　go　home。　Of　course。〃　As　he　turned　to　go；　Rand　heard　him　muttering　under　his　breath。　〃I'll　bet　he　just　doesn't　want　anybody　else　going　after　the　treasure。〃　He　did　not　seem　to　realize　he　had　spoken　aloud。
　　　　　　　Four　days　into　their　trip　downriver　found　Rand　atop　the　mast；　sitting　on　the　blunt　end　with　his　legs　wrapped　in　the　stays。　The　Spray　rolled　gently　on　the　river；　but　fifty　feet　above　the　water　that　easy　roll　made　the　top　of　the　mast　sway　back　and　forth　through　wide　arcs。　He　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　into　the　wind　that　blew　in　his　face。
　　　　　　　The　oars　were　out；　and　from　here　the　boat　looked　like　some　twelve…legged　spider　creeping　down　the　Arinelle。　He　had　been　as　high　as　this　before；　in　trees　back　in　the　Two　Rivers；　but　this　time　there　were　no　branches　to　block　his　view。　Everything　on　deck；　the　sailors　at　the　sweeps；　men　on　their　knees　scrubbing　the　deck　with　smoothstones；　men　doing　things　with　lines　and　hatchcovers；　looked　so　odd　when　seen　from　right　overhead；　all　squat　and　foreshortened；　that　he　had　spent　an　hour　just　staring　at　them　and　chuckling。
　　　　　　　He　still　chuckled　whenever　he　looked　down　at　them；　but　now　he　was　staring　at　the　riverbanks　flowing　by。　That　was　the　way　it　seemed；　as　if　he　were　still　…　except　for　the　swaying　back　and　forth；　of　course　…　and　the　banks　slid　slowly　by；　trees　and　hills　marching　along　to　either　side。　He　was　still；　and　the　whole　world　moved　past　him。
　　　　　　　On　sudden　impulse　he　unwrapped　his　legs　from　the　stays　bracing　the　mast　and　held　his　arms　and　legs　out　to　either　side；　balancing　against　the　sway。　For　three　plete　arcs　he　kept　his　balance　like　that；　then　suddenly　it　was　gone。　Arms　and　legs　windmilling；　he　toppled　forward　and　grabbed　the　forestay。　Legs　splayed　to　either　side　of　the　mast；　nothing　holding　him　to　his　precarious　perch　but　his　two　hands　on　the　stay；　he　laughed。　Gulping　huge　breaths　of　the　fresh；　cold　wind；　he　laughed　with　the　exhilaration　of　it。
　　　　　　　〃Lad；〃　came　Thom's　hoarse　voice。　〃Lad；　if　you're　trying　to　break　your　fool　neck；　don't　do　it　by　falling　on　me。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　down。　Thom　clung　to　the　ratlines　just　below　him；　staring　up　the　last　few　feet　grimly。　Like　Rand；　the　gleeman　had　left　his　cloak　below。　〃Thom；〃　he　said　delightedly。　〃Thom；　when　did　you　e　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃When　you　wouldn't　pay　any　attention　to　people　shouting　at　you。　Burn　me；　boy；　you've　got　everybody　thinking　you've　gone　mad。〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　down　and　was　surprised　to　see　all　the　faces　staring　up　at　him。　Only　Mat；　sitting　cross…legged　up　in　the　bows　with　his　back　to　the　mast；　was　not　looking　at　him。　Even　the　men　at　the　oars　had　their　eyes　raised；　letting　their　stroke　go　ragged。　And　no　one　was　berating　them　for　it。　Rand　twisted　his　head　around　to　look　under　his　arm　at　the　stern。　Captain　Domon　stood　by　the　steering　oar；　ham…like　fists　on　his　hips；　glaring　at　him　atop　the　mast。　He　turned　back　to　grin　at　Thom。　〃You　want　me　to　e　down；　then？〃
　　　　　　　Thom　nodded　vigorously。　〃I　would　appreciate　it　greatly。〃
　　　　　　　〃All　right。〃　Shifting　his　grip　on　the　forestay；　he　sprang　forward　off　the　mast　top。　He　heard　Thom　bite　off　an　oath　as　his　fall　was　cut　short　and　he　dangled　from　the　forestay　by　his　hands。　The　gleeman　scowled　at　him；　one　hand　half　stretched　out　to　catch　him。　He　grinned　at　Thom　again。　〃I'm　going　down　now。〃
　　　　　　　Swinging　his　legs　up；　he　hooked　one　knee　over　the　thick　line　that　ran　from　the　mast　to　the　bow；　then　caught　it　in　the　crook　of　his　elbow　and　let　go　with　his　hands。　Slowly；　then　with　increasing　speed；　he　slid　down。　Just　short　of　the　bow　he　dropped　to　his　feet　on　the　deck　right　in　front　of　Mat；　took　one　step　to　catch　his　balance；　and　turned　to　face　the　boat　with　arms　spread　wide；　the　way　Thom　did　after　a　tumbling　trick。
　　　　　　　Scattered　clapping　rose　from　the　crew；　but　he　was　looking　down　at　Mat　in　surprise；　and　at　what　Mat　held；　hidden　from　everyone　else　by　his　body。　A　curved　dagger　with　a　gold　scabbard　worked　in　strange　symbols。　Fine　gold　wire　wrapped　the　hilt；　which　was　capped　by　a　ruby　as　big　as　Rand's　thumbnail；　and　the　quillons　were　golden…scaled　serpents　baring　their　fangs。
　　　　　　　Mat　continued　to　slide　the　dagger　in　and　out　of　its　sheath　for　a　moment。　Still　playing　with　the　dagger　he　raised　his　head　slowly；　his　eyes　had　a　faraway　look。　Suddenly　they　focused　on　Rand；　and　he　gave　a　start　and　stuffed　the　dagger　under　his　coat。
　　　　　　　Rand　squatted　on　his　heels；　with　his　arms　crossed　on　his　knees。　〃Where　did　you　get　that？〃　Mat　said　nothing；　looking　quickly　to　see　if　anyone　else　was　close　by。　They　were　alone；　for　a　wonder。　〃You　didn't　take　it　from　Shadar　Logoth；　did　you？〃
　　　　　　　Mat　stared　at　him。　〃It's　your　fault。　Yours　and　Perrin's。　The　two　of　you　pulled　me　away　from　the　treasure；　and　I　had　it　in　my　hand。　Mordeth　didn't　give　it　to　me。　I　took　it；　so　Moiraine's　warnings　about　his　gifts　don't　count。　You　won't　tell　anybody；　Rand。　They　might　try　to　steal　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　tell　anybody；〃　Rand　said。　〃I　think　Captain　Domon　is　honest；　but　I　wouldn't　put　anything　past　the　rest　of　them；　especially　Gelb。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　anybody；〃　Mat　insisted。　〃Not　Domon；　not　Thom；　not　anybody。　We're　the　only　two　left　from　Emond's　Field；　Rand。　We　can't　afford　to　trust　anybody　else。　〃
　　　　　　　〃They're　alive；　Mat。　Egwene；　and　Perrin。　I　know　they're　alive。〃　Mat　looked　ashamed。　〃I'll　keep　your　secret；　though。　Just　the　two　of　us。　At　least　we　don't　have　to　worry　about　money　now。　We　can　sell　it　for　enough　to　travel　to　Tar　Valon　like　kings。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Mat　said　after　a　minute。　〃If　we　have　to。　Just　don't　tell　anybody　until　I　say　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　I　wouldn't。　Listen；　have　you　had　any　more　dreams　since　we　came　on　the　boat？　Like　in　Baerlon？　This　is　the　first　chance　I've　had　to　ask　without　six　people　listening。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　turned　his　head　away；　giving　him　a　sidelong　look。　〃Maybe。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　maybe？　Either　you　have　or　you　haven't。〃
　　　　　　　〃All　right；　all　right；　I　have。　I　don't　want　to　talk　about　it。　I　don't　even　want　to　think　about　it。　It　doesn't　do　any　good。〃
　　　　　　　Before　either　of　them　could　say　more　Thom　came　striding　up　the　deck；　his　cloak　over　his　arm。　The　wind　whipped　his　white　hair　about；　and　his　long　mustaches　seemed　to　bristle。　〃I　managed　to　convince　the　captain　you　aren't　crazy；〃　he　announced；　〃that　it　was　part　of　your　training。〃　He　caught　hold　of　the　forestay　and　shook　it。　〃That　fool　stunt　of　yours；　sliding　down　the　rope；　helped；　but　you　are　lucky　you　didn't　break　your　fool　neck。〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　eyes　went　to　the　forestay　and　followed　it　up　to　the　top　of　the　mast；　and　as　they　did　his　mouth　dropped　open。　He　had　slid　down　that。　And　he　had　been　sitting　on　top　of　。。。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　he　could　see　himself　up　there；　arms　and　legs　spread　wide。　He　sat　down　hard；　and　barely　caught　himself　short　of　ending　up　flat　on　his　back。　Thom　was　looking　at　him　thoughtfully。
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　know　you　had　such　a　good　head　for　heights；　lad。　We　might　be　able　to　play　in　Illian；　or　Ebou　Dar；　or　even　Tear。　People　in　the　big　cities　in　the　south　like　tightrope　walkers　and　slackwire　artists。〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　going　to　…〃　At　the　last　minute　Rand　remembered　to　look　around　for　anyone　close　enough　to　overhear。　Several　of　the　crew　were　watching　them；　including　Gelb；　glaring　as　usual；　but　none　could　hear　what　he　was　saying。　〃To　Tar　Valon；〃　he　finished。　Mat　shrugged　as　if　it　were　all　the　same　to　him　where　they　went。
　　　　　　　〃At　the　moment；　lad；〃　Thom　said；　settling　down　beside　them；　〃but　tomorrow　。。。　who　knows？　That's　the　way　with　a　gleeman's　life。〃　He　took　a　handful　of　colored　balls　from　one　of　his　wide　sleeves。　〃Since　I　have　you　down　out　of　the　air；　we'll　work　on　the　triple　crossover。〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　gaze　drifted　to　the　top　of　the　mast；　and　he　shivered。　What's　happening　to　me？　Light；　what？　He　had　to　find　out。　He　had　to　get　to　Tar　Valon　before　he　really　did　go　mad。

Chapter　25
The　Traveling　People
　
　　　　　　　Bela　walked　along　placidly　under　the　weak　sun　as　if　the　three　wolves　trotting　not　far　off　were　only　village　dogs；　but　the　way　she　rolled　her　eyes　at　them　from　time　to　time；　showing　white　all　the　way　around；　indicated　she　felt　nothing　of　the　sort。　Egwene；　on　the　mare's　back；　was　just　as　bad。　She　watched　the　wolves　constantly　from　the　corner　of　her　eye；　and　sometimes　she　twisted　in　the　saddle　to　look　around。　Perrin　was　sure　she　was　hunting　for　the　rest　of　the　pack；　though　she　denied　it　angrily　when　he　suggested　as　much；　denied　being　afraid　of　the　wolves　that　paced　them；　denied　worrying　about　the　rest　of　the　pack　or　what　it　was　up　to。　She　denied；　and　went　right　on　looking；　tight…eyed　and　wetting　her　lips　uneasily。
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　the　pack　was　far　distant；　he　could　have　told　her　that。　What　good；　even　if　she　believed　me？　Especially　if　she　did。　He　was　of　no　mind　to　open　that　basket　of　snakes　until　he　had　to。　He　did　not　want　to　think　about　how　he　knew。　The　fur…clad　man　loped　ahead　of　them；　sometimes　looking　almost　like　a　wolf　himself；　and　he　never　looked　around　when　Dapple；　Ho