rj.eyeoftheworld-第76章

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　　　　　　　〃Just　remember　it！〃　Thom　snarled。　〃The　Queen's　Blessing。　Now。　RUN！〃
　　　　　　　He　gave　them　a　push；　one　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　each　of　them；　to　get　them　started；　and　Rand　stumbled　away　in　a　lurching　run　with　Mat　at　his　side。
　　　　　　　〃RUN！〃　Thom　sprang　into　motion；　too；　with　a　long；　wordless　roar。　Not　after　them；　but　toward　the　Myrddraal。　His　hands　flourished　as　if　he　were　performing　at　his　best；　and　daggers　appeared。　Rand　stopped；　but　Mat　pulled　him　along。
　　　　　　　The　Fade　was　just　as　startled。　Its　leisurely　pace　faltered　in　mid…stride。　Its　hand　swept　toward　the　hilt　of　the　black　sword　hanging　at　its　waist；　but　the　gleeman's　long　legs　covered　the　distance　quickly。　Thom　crashed　into　the　Myrddraal　before　the　black　blade　was　half　drawn；　and　both　went　down　in　a　thrashing　heap。　The　few　people　still　in　the　square　fled。
　　　　　　　〃RUN！〃　The　air　in　the　square　flashed　an　eye…searing　blue；　and　Thom　began　to　scream；　but　even　in　the　middle　of　the　scream　he　managed　a　word。　〃RUN！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　obeyed。　The　gleeman's　screams　pursued　him。
　　　　　　　Clutching　Thom's　bundle　to　his　chest；　he　ran　as　hard　as　he　could。　Panic　spread　from　the　square　out　through　the　town　as　Rand　and　Mat　fled　on　the　crest　of　a　wave　of　fear。　Shopkeepers　abandoned　their　goods　as　the　boys　passed。　Shutters　banged　down　over　storefronts；　and　frightened　faces　appeared　in　the　windows　of　houses；　then　vanished。　People　who　had　not　been　close　enough　to　see　ran　through　the　streets　wildly；　paying　no　heed。　They　bumped　into　one　another；　and　those　who　were　knocked　down　scrambled　to　their　feet　or　were　trampled。　Whitebridge　roiled　like　a　kicked　anthill。
　　　　　　　As　he　and　Mat　pounded　toward　the　gates；　Rand　abruptly　remembered　what　Thom　had　said　about　his　height。　Without　slowing　down；　he　crouched　as　best　he　could　without　looking　as　if　he　was　crouching。　But　the　gates　themselves；　thick　wood　bound　with　black　iron　straps；　stood　open。　The　two　gatetenders；　in　steel　caps　and　mail　tunics　worn　over　cheap…looking　red　coats　with　white　collars；　fingered　their　halberds　and　stared　uneasily　into　the　town。　One　of　them　glanced　at　Rand　and　Mat；　but　they　were　not　the　only　ones　running　out　of　the　gates。　A　steady　stream　boiled　through；　panting　men　clutching　wives；　weeping　women　carrying　babes　and　dragging　crying　children；　palefaced　craftsmen　still　in　their　aprons；　still　heedlessly　gripping　their　tools。
　　　　　　　There　would　be　no　one　who　could　tell　which　way　they　had　gone；　Rand　thought　as　he　ran；　dazed。　Thom。　Oh；　Light　save　me；　Thom。
　　　　　　　Mat　staggered　beside　him；　caught　his　balance；　and　they　ran　until　the　last　of　the　fleeing　people　had　fallen　away；　ran　until　the　town　and　the　White　Bridge　were　far　out　of　sight　behind　them。
　　　　　　　Finally　Rand　fell　to　his　knees　in　the　dust；　pulling　air　raggedly　into　his　raw　throat　with　great　gulps。　The　road　behind　stretched　empty　until　it　was　lost　to　sight　among　bare　trees。　Mat　plucked　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃e　on。　e　on。〃　Mat　panted　the　words。　Sweat　and　dust　streaked　his　face；　and　he　looked　ready　to　collapse。　〃We　have　to　keep　going。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom；〃　Rand　said。　He　tightened　his　arms　around　the　bundle　of　Thom's　cloak；　the　instrument　cases　were　hard　lumps　inside。　〃Thom。〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　dead。　You　saw。　You　heard。　Light；　Rand；　he's　dead！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　Egwene　and　Moiraine　and　the　rest　are　dead；　too。　If　they're　dead；　why　are　the　Myrddraal　still　hunting　them？　Answer　me　that？〃
　　　　　　　Mat　dropped　to　his　knees　in　the　dust　beside　him。　〃All　right。　Maybe　they　are　alive。　But　Thom　…　You　saw！　Blood　and　ashes；　Rand；　the　same　thing　can　happen　to　us。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　slowly。　The　road　behind　them　was　still　empty。　He　had　been　halfway　expecting　…　hoping；　at　least　…　to　see　Thom　appear；　striding　along；　blowing　out　his　mustaches　to　tell　them　how　much　trouble　they　were。　The　Queen's　Blessing　in　Caemlyn。　He　struggled　to　his　feet　and　slung　Thom's　bundle　on　his　back　alongside　his　blanketroll。　Mat　stared　up　at　him；　narrow…eyed　and　wary。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　go；〃　Rand　said；　and　started　down　the　road　toward　Caemlyn。　He　heard　Mat　muttering；　and　after　a　moment　he　caught　up　to　Rand。
　　　　　　　They　trudged　along　the　dusty　road；　heads　down　and　not　talking。　The　wind　spawned　dustdevils　that　whirled　across　their　path。　Sometimes　Rand　looked　back；　but　the　road　behind　was　always　empty。

Chapter　27
Shelter　From　the　Storm
　
　　　　　　　Perrin　fretted　over　the　days　spent　with　the　Tuatha'an；　traveling　south　and　east　in　a　leisurely　fashion。　The　Traveling　People　saw　no　need　to　hurry；　they　never　did。　The　colorful　wagons　did　not　roll　out　of　a　morning　until　the　sun　was　well　above　the　horizon；　and　they　stopped　as　early　as　midafternoon　if　they　came　across　a　congenial　spot。　The　dogs　trotted　easily　alongside　the　wagons；　and　often　the　children　did；　too。　They　had　no　difficulty　in　keeping　up。　Any　suggestion　that　they　might　go　further；　or　more　quickly；　was　met　with　laughter；　or　perhaps；　〃Ah；　but　would　you　make　the　poor　horses　work　so　hard？〃
　　　　　　　He　was　surprised　that　Elyas　did　not　share　his　feelings。　Elyas　would　not　ride　on　the　wagons；　he　preferred　to　walk；　sometimes　loping　along　at　the　head　of　the　column　…　but　he　never　suggested　leaving；　or　pressing　on　ahead。
　　　　　　　The　strange　bearded　man　in　his　strange　skin　clothes　was　so　different　from　the　gentle　Tuatha'an　that　he　stood　out　wherever　he　went　among　the　wagons。　Even　from　across　the　camp　there　was　no　mistaking　Elyas　for　one　of　the　People；　and　not　just　because　of　clothes。　Elyas　moved　with　the　lazy　grace　of　a　wolf；　only　emphasized　by　his　skins　and　his　fur　hat；　radiating　danger　as　naturally　as　a　fire　radiated　heat；　and　the　contrast　with　the　Traveling　People　was　sharp。　Young　and　old；　the　People　were　joyful　on　their　feet。　There　was　no　danger　in　their　grace；　only　delight。　Their　children　darted　about　filled　with　the　pure　zest　of　moving；　of　course；　but　among　the　Tuatha'an；　graybeards　and　grandmothers；　too；　still　stepped　lightly；　their　walk　a　stately　dance　no　less　exuberant　for　its　dignity。　All　the　People　seemed　on　the　point　of　dancing；　even　when　standing　still；　even　during　the　rare　times　when　there　was　no　music　in　the　camp。　Fiddles　and　flutes；　dulcimers　and　zithers　and　drums　spun　harmony　and　counterpoint　around　the　wagons　at　almost　any　hour；　in　camp　or　on　the　move。　Joyous　songs；　merry　songs；　laughing　songs；　sad　songs；　if　someone　was　awake　in　the　camp　there　was　usually　music。
　　　　　　　Elyas　met　friendly　nods　and　smiles　at　every　wagon　he　passed；　and　a　cheerful　word　at　any　fire　where　he　paused。　This　must　be　the　face　the　People　always　showed　to　outsiders　…　open；　smiling　faces。　But　Perrin　had　learned　that　hidden　beneath　the　surface　was　the　wariness　of　a　half…tame　deer。　Something　deep　lay　behind　the　smiles　directed　at　the　Emond's　Fielders；　something　that　wondered　if　they　were　safe；　something　that　faded　only　slightly　over　the　days。　With　Elyas　the　wariness　was　strong；　like　deep　summer　heat　shimmering　in　the　air；　and　it　did　not　fade。　When　he　was　not　looking　they　watched　him　openly　as　if　unsure　what　he　was　going　to　do。　When　he　walked　across　the　camp；　feet　ready　for　dancing　seemed　ready　for　flight；　as　well。
　　　　　　　Elyas　was　certainly　no　more　fortable　with　their　Way　of　the　Leaf　than　they　were　with　him。　His　mouth　wore　a　permanent　twist　when　he　was　around　the　Tuatha'an。　It　was　not　quite　condescension　and　certainly　not　contempt；　but　looked　as　though　he　would　rather　be　elsewhere　than　where　he　was；　almost　anywhere　else。　Yet　whenever　Perrin　brought　up　leaving；　Elyas　made　soothing　noises　about　resting；　just　for　a　few　days。
　　　　　　　〃You　had　hard　days　before　you　met　me；〃　Elyas　said；　the　third　or　fourth　time　he　asked；　〃and　you'll　have　harder　still　ahead；　with　Trollocs　and　Halfmen　after　you；　and　Aes　Sedai　for　friends。〃　He　grinned　around　a　mouthful　of　Ila's　dried…apple　pie。　Perrin　still　found　his　yelloweyed　gaze　disconcerting；　even　when　he　was　smiling。　Perhaps　even　more　when　he　was　smiling；　smiles　seldom　touched　those　hunter's　eyes。　Elyas　lounged　beside　Raen's　fire；　as　usual　refusing　to　sit　on　the　logs　drawn　up　for　the　purpose。　〃Don't　be　in　such　a　bloody　hurry　to　put　yourself　in　Aes　Sedai　hands。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　if　the　Fades　find　us？　What's　to　keep　them　from　it　if　we　just　sit　here；　waiting？　Three　wolves　can't　hold　them　off；　and　the　Traveling　People　won't　be　any　help。　They　won't　even　defend　themselves。　The　Trollocs　will　butcher　them；　and　it　will　be　our　fault。　Anyway；　we　have　to　leave　them　sooner　or　later。　It　might　as　well　be　sooner。〃
　　　　　　　〃Something　tells　me　to　wait。　Just　a　few　days。〃
　　　　　　　〃Something！〃
　　　　　　　〃Relax；　lad。　Take　life　as　it　es。　Run　when　you　have　to；　fight　when　you　must；　rest　when　you　can。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　something？〃
　　　　　　　〃Have　some　of　this　pie。　Ila　doesn't　like　me；　but　she　surely　feeds　me　well　when　I　visit。　Always　good　food　in　the　People's　camps。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　'something'？〃　Perrin　demanded。　〃If　you　know　something　you　aren't　telling　the　rest　of　us　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　frowned　at　the　piece　of　pie　in　his　hand；　then　set　it　down　and　dusted　his　hands　together。　〃Something；〃　he　said　finally；　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders　as　if　he　did　not　understand　it　pletely　himself。　〃Something　tells　me　it's　important　to　wait。　A　few　more　days。　I　don't　get　feelings　like　this　often；　but　when　I　do；　I've　learned　to　trust　them。　They've　saved　my　life　in　the　past。　This　time　it's　different；　somehow；　but　it's　important。　That's　clear。　You　want　to　run　on；　then　run　on。　Not　me。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　all　he　would　say；　no　matter　how　many　times　Perrin　asked。　He　lay　about；　talking　with　Raen；　eating；　napping　with　his　hat　over　his　eyes；　and　refused　to　discuss　leaving。　Something　told　him　to　wait。　Something　told　him　it　was　important。　He　would　know　when　it　was　time　to　go。　Have　some　pie；　lad。　Don't　lather　yourself。　Try　some　of　this　stew。　Relax。
　　　　　　　Perrin　could　not　make　himself　relax。　At　night　he　wandered　among　the　rainbow　wagons　worrying；　as　much　because　no　one　else　seemed　to　see　anything　to　worry　about　as　for　any　other　reason。　The　Tuatha'an　sang　and　danced；　cooked　and　ate　around　their　campfires　…　fruits　and　nuts；　berries　and　vegetables；　they　ate　no　meat　…　and　went　about　a　myriad　domestic　chores　as　if　they　had　not　a　care　in　the　world。　The　children　ran　and　played　everywhere；　hide…and…seek　among　the　wagons；　climbing　in　the　trees　around　the　camp；　laughing　and　rolling　on　the　ground　with　the　dogs。　Not　a　care　in　the　world；　for　anyone。
　　　　　　　Watching　them；　he　itched　to　get　away。　Go；　before　we　bring　the　hunters　down　on　them。　They　took　us　in；　and　we　repay　their　kindness　by　endangering　them。　At　least　they　have　reason　to　be　lighthearted。　Nothing　is　hunting　them。　But　the　rest　of　us　。。。
　　　　　　　It　was　hard　to　get　a　word　with　Egwene。　Either　she　was　talking　with　Ila；　their　heads　together　in　a　way　that　said　no　men　were　wele；　or　she　was　dancing　with　Aram；　swinging　round　and　round　to　the　flutes　and　fiddles　and　drums；　to　tunes　the　Tuatha'an　had　gathered　from　all　over　the　world；　or　to　the　sharp；　trilling　songs　of　the　Traveling　People　themselves；　sharp　whether　they　were　quick　or　slow。　They　knew　many　songs；　some　he　recognized　from　home；　though　often　under　different　names　than　they　were　called　in　the　Two　Rivers。　〃Three　Girls　in　the　Meadow；〃　for　instance；　the　Tinkers　named　〃Pretty　Maids　Dancing；〃　and　they　said　〃The　Wind　From　the　North〃　was　called　〃Hard　Rain　Falling〃　in　some　lands　and　〃Berin's　Retreat〃　in　others。　When　he　asked；　not　thinking；　for　〃The　Tinker　Has　My　P