rj.eyeoftheworld-第80章

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　　　　　　　Lan　spared　him　one　glance　and　snorted。　〃Militia。　Useless。〃
　　　　　　　The　soldier　looked　over　the　room；　letting　his　eyes　e　to　rest　on　them。　He　hesitated；　then　took　a　deep　breath　before　stomping　over　to　demand；　all　in　a　rush；　who　they　were；　what　their　business　was　in　Whitebridge；　and　how　long　they　intended　to　stay。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　leaving　as　soon　as　I　finish　my　ale；〃　Lan　said。　He　took　another　slow　swallow　before　looking　up　at　the　solider。　〃The　Light　illumine　good　Queen　Morgase。　〃
　　　　　　　The　red…uniformed　man　opened　his　mouth；　then　took　a　good　look　at　Lan's　eyes　and　stepped　back。　He　caught　himself　immediately；　with　a　glance　at　Moiraine　and　her。　She　thought　for　a　moment　that　he　was　going　to　do　something　foolish　to　keep　from　looking　the　coward　in　front　of　two　women。　In　her　experience；　men　were　often　idiots　that　way。　But　too　much　had　happened　in　Whitebridge；　too　much　uncertainty　had　escaped　from　the　cellars　of　men's　minds。　The　militiaman　looked　back　at　Lan　and　reconsidered　once　more。　The　Warder's　hard…planed　face　was　expressionless；　but　there　were　those　cold　blue　eyes。　So　cold。
　　　　　　　The　militiaman　settled　on　a　brisk　nod。　〃See　that　you　do。　Too　many　strangers　around　these　days　for　the　good　of　the　Queen's　peace。〃　Turning　on　his　heel　he　stomped　out　again；　practicing　his　stern　look　on　the　way。　None　of　the　locals　in　the　inn　seemed　to　notice。
　　　　　　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Nynaeve　demanded　of　the　Warder。　The　mood　in　the　room　was　such　that　she　kept　her　voice　low；　but　she　made　sure　it　was　firm；　too。　〃After　the　boat？〃
　　　　　　　Lan　looked　at　Moiraine；　who　shook　her　head　slightly　and　said；　〃First　I　must　find　the　one　I　can　be　sure　of　finding；　and　at　present　he　is　somewhere　to　the　north　of　us。　I　do　not　think　the　other　two　went　with　the　boat　in　any　case。〃　A　small；　satisfied　smile　touched　her　lips。　〃They　were　in　this　room；　perhaps　a　day　ago；　no　more　than　two。　Afraid；　but　they　left　alive。　The　trace　would　not　have　lasted　without　that　strong　emotion。〃
　　　　　　　〃Which　two？〃　Nynaeve　leaned　over　the　table　intently。　〃Do　you　know？〃　The　Aes　Sedai　shook　her　head；　the　slightest　of　motions；　and　Nynaeve　settled　back。　〃If　they're　only　a　day　or　two　ahead；　why　don't　we　go　after　them　first？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　they　were　here；〃　Moiraine　said　in　that　insufferably　calm　voice；　〃but　beyond　that　I　cannot　say　if　they　went　east　or　north　or　south。　I　trust　they　are　smart　enough　to　have　gone　east；　toward　Caemlyn；　but　I　do　not　know；　and　lacking　their　tokens；　I　will　not　know　where　they　are　until　I　am　perhaps　within　half　a　mile。　In　two　days　they　could　have　gone　twenty　miles；　or　forty；　in　any　direction；　if　fear　urged　them；　and　they　were　certainly　afraid　when　they　left　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Wisdom；　however　fearful　they　were；　in　whatever　direction　they　ran；　eventually　they　will　remember　Caemlyn；　and　it　is　there　I　will　find　them。　But　I　will　help　the　one　I　can　find　now；　first。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth　again；　but　Lan　cut　her　off　in　a　soft　voice。　〃They　had　reason　to　be　afraid。〃　He　looked　around；　then　lowered　his　voice。　〃There　was　a　Halfman　here。〃　He　grimaced；　the　way　he　had　in　the　square。　〃I　can　still　smell　him　everywhere。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　sighed。　〃I　will　keep　hope　until　I　know　it　is　gone。　I　refuse　to　believe　the　Dark　One　can　win　so　easily。　I　will　find　all　three　of　them　alive　and　well。　I　must　believe　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　want　to　find　the　boys；　too；〃　Nynaeve　said；　〃but　what　about　Egwene？　You　never　even　mention　her；　and　you　ignore　me　when　I　ask。　I　thought　you　were　going　to　take　her　off　to〃　…　she　glanced　at　the　other　tables；　and　lowered　her　voice　…　〃to　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　studied　the　tabletop　for　a　moment　before　raising　her　eyes　to　Nynaeve's；　and　when　she　did；　Nynaeve　started　back　from　a　flash　of　anger　that　almost　seemed　to　make　Moiraine's　eyes　glow。　Then　her　back　stiffened；　her　own　anger　rising；　but　before　she　could　say　a　word；　the　Aes　Sedai　spoke　coldly。
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　to　find　Egwene　alive　and　well；　too。　I　do　not　easily　give　up　young　women　with　that　much　ability　once　I　have　found　them。　But　it　will　be　as　the　Wheel　weaves。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　felt　a　cold　ball　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　Am　I　one　of　those　young　women　you　won't　give　up？　We'll　see　about　that；　Aes　Sedai。　The　Light　burn　you；　we'll　see　about　that！
　　　　　　　The　meal　was　finished　in　silence；　and　it　was　a　silent　three　who　rode　through　the　gates　and　down　the　Caemlyn　Road。　Moiraine's　eyes　searched　the　horizon　to　the　northeast。　Behind　them；　the　smoke…stained　town　of　Whitebridge　cowered。

Chapter　29
Eyes　Without　Pity
　
　　　　　　　Elyas　pushed　for　speed　across　the　brown　grass　flatland　as　if　trying　to　make　up　for　the　time　spent　with　the　Traveling　People；　setting　a　pace　southward　that　had　even　Bela　grateful　to　stop　when　twilight　deepened。　Despite　his　desire　for　haste；　though；　he　took　precautions　he　had　not　taken　before。　At　night　they　had　a　fire　only　if　there　was　dead　wood　already　on　the　ground。　He　would　not　let　them　break　so　much　as　a　twig　off　of　a　standing　tree。　The　fires　he　made　were　small；　and　always　hidden　in　a　pit　carefully　dug　where　he　had　cut　away　a　plug　of　sod。　As　soon　as　their　meal　was　prepared；　he　buried　the　coals　and　replaced　the　plug。　Before　they　set　out　again　in　the　gray　false　dawn；　he　went　over　the　campsite　inch　by　inch　to　make　sure　there　was　no　sign　that　anyone　had　ever　been　there。　He　even　righted　overturned　rocks　and　straightened　bent…down　weeds。　He　did　it　quickly；　never　taking　more　than　a　few　minutes；　but　they　did　not　leave　until　he　was　satisfied。
　　　　　　　Perrin　did　not　think　the　precautions　were　much　good　against　dreams；　but　when　he　began　to　think　of　what　they　might　be　good　against；　he　wished　it　were　only　the　dreams。　The　first　time；　Egwene　asked　anxiously　if　the　Trollocs　were　back；　but　Elyas　only　shook　his　head　and　urged　them　on。　Perrin　said　nothing。　He　knew　there　were　no　Trollocs　close；　the　wolves　scented　only　grass　and　trees　and　small　animals。　It　was　not　fear　of　Trollocs　that　drove　Elyas；　but　that　something　else　of　which　even　Elyas　was　not　sure。　The　wolves　knew　nothing　of　what　it　was；　but　they　sensed　Elyas's　urgent　wariness；　and　they　began　to　scout　as　if　danger　ran　at　their　heels　or　waited　in　ambush　over　the　next　rise。
　　　　　　　The　land　became　long；　rolling　crests；　too　low　to　be　called　hills；　rising　across　their　path。　A　carpet　of　tough　grass；　still　winter　sere　and　dotted　with　rank　weeds；　spread　before　them；　rippled　by　an　east　wind　that　had　nothing　to　cut　it　for　a　hundred　miles。　The　groves　of　trees　grew　more　scattered。　The　sun　rose　reluctantly；　without　warmth。
　　　　　　　Among　the　squat　ridges　Elyas　followed　the　contours　of　the　land　as　much　as　possible；　and　he　avoided　topping　the　rises　whenever　possible。　He　seldom　talked；　and　when　he　did　。。。
　　　　　　　〃You　know　how　long　this　is　taking；　going　around　every　bloody　little　hill　like　this？　Blood　and　ashes！　I'll　be　till　summer　getting　you　off　my　hands。　No；　we　can't　just　go　in　a　straight　line！　How　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？　You　have　any　idea；　even　the　faintest；　how　a　man　stands　out　on　a　ridgeline　in　country　like　this？　Burn　me；　but　we're　going　back　and　forth　as　much　as　forward。　Wiggling　like　a　snake。　I　could　move　faster　with　my　feet　tied。　Well；　you　going　to　stare　at　me；　or　you　going　to　walk？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　exchanged　glances　with　Egwene。　She　stuck　her　tongue　out　at　Elyas's　back。　Neither　of　them　said　anything。　The　one　time　Egwene　had　protested　that　Elyas　was　the　one　who　wanted　to　go　around　the　hills　and　he　should　not　blame　them；　it　got　her　a　lecture　on　how　sound　carried；　delivered　in　a　growl　that　could　have　been　heard　a　mile　off。　He　gave　the　lecture　over　his　shoulder；　and　he　never　even　slowed　to　give　it。
　　　　　　　Whether　he　was　talking　or　not；　Elyas's　eyes　searched　all　around　them；　sometimes　staring　as　if　there　were　something　to　see　except　the　same　coarse　grass　that　was　under　their　feet。　If　he　did　see　anything；　Perrin　could　not；　and　neither　could　the　wolves。　Elyas's　forehead　grew　extra　furrows；　but　he　would　not　explain；　not　why　they　had　to　hurry；　not　what　he　was　afraid　was　hunting　them。
　　　　　　　Sometimes　a　longer　ridge　than　usual　lay　across　their　path；　stretching　miles　and　miles　to　east　and　west。　Even　Elyas　had　to　agree　that　going　around　those　would　take　them　too　far　out　of　their　way。　He　did　not　let　them　simply　cross　over；　though。　Leaving　them　at　the　base　of　the　slope；　he　would　creep　up　to　the　crest　on　his　belly；　peering　over　as　cautiously　as　though　the　wolves　had　not　scouted　there　ten　minutes　before。　Waiting　at　the　bottom　of　the　ridge；　minutes　passed　like　hours；　and　the　not　knowing　pressed　on　them。　Egwene　chewed　her　lip　and　unconsciously　clicked　the　beads　Aram　had　given　her　through　her　fingers。　Perrin　waited　doggedly。　His　stomach　twisted　up　in　a　sick　knot；　but　he　managed　to　keep　his　face　calm；　managed　to　keep　the　turmoil　hidden　inside。
　　　　　　　The　wolves　will　warn　if　there's　danger。　It　would　he　wonderful　if　they　went　away；　if　they　just　vanished；　but　right　now　。。。　right　now；　they'll　give　warning。　What　is　he　looking　for？　What？
　　　　　　　After　a　long　search　with　only　his　eyes　above　the　rise；　Elyas　always　motioned　them　to　e　ahead。　Every　time　the　way　ahead　was　clear　…　until　the　next　time　they　found　a　ridge　they　could　not　go　around。　At　the　third　such　ridge；　Perrin's　stomach　lurched。　Sour　fumes　rose　in　his　throat；　and　he　knew　if　he　had　to　wait　even　five　minutes　he　would　vomit。　〃I　。。。〃　He　swallowed。　〃I'm　ing；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Keep　low；〃　was　all　Elyas　said。
　　　　　　　As　soon　as　he　spoke　Egwene　jumped　down　from　Bela。
　　　　　　　The　fur…clad　man　pushed　his　round　hat　forward　and　peered　at　her　from　under　the　edge。　〃You　expecting　to　make　that　mare　crawl？〃　he　said　dryly。
　　　　　　　Her　mouth　worked；　but　no　sound　came　out。　Finally　she　shrugged；　and　Elyas　turned　away　without　another　word　and　began　climbing　the　easy　slope。　Perrin　hurried　after　him。
　　　　　　　Well　short　of　the　crest　Elyas　made　a　downward　motion　and　a　moment　later　flattened　himself　on　the　ground；　wriggling　forward　the　last　few　yards。　Perrin　flopped　on　his　belly。
　　　　　　　At　the　top；　Elyas　took　off　his　hat　before　raising　his　head　ever　so　slowly。　Peering　through　a　clump　of　thorny　weeds；　Perrin　saw　only　the　same　rolling　plain　that　lay　behind　them。　The　downslope　was　bare；　though　a　clump　of　trees　a　hundred　paces　across　grew　in　the　hollow；　perhaps　half　a　mile　south　from　the　ridge。　The　wolves　had　already　been　through　it；　smelling　no　trace　of　Trollocs　or　Myrddraal。
　　　　　　　East　and　west　the　land　was　the　same　as　far　as　Perrin　could　see；　rolling　grassland　and　wide…scattered　thickets。　Nothing　moved。　The　wolves　were　more　than　a　mile　ahead；　out　of　sight；　at　that　distance　he　could　barely　feel　them。　They　had　seen　nothing　when　they　covered　this　ground。　What　it　he　looking　for？　There's　nothing　there。
　　　　　　　〃We're　wasting　time；〃　he　said；　starting　to　stand；　and　a　flock　of　ravens　burst　out　of　the　trees　below；　fifty；　a　hundred　black　birds；　spiraling　into　the　sky。　He　froze　in　a　crouch　as　they　milled　over　the　trees。　The　Dark　One's　Eyes。　Did　they　see　me？　Sweat　trickled　down　his　face。
　　　　　　　As　if　one　thought　had　suddenly　sparked　in　a　hundred　tiny　minds；　every　raven　broke　sharply　in　the　same　direction。　South。　The　flock　disappeared　over　the　next　rise；　already　descending。　To　the　east　another　thicket　disgorged　more　ravens。　The　black　mass　wheeled　twice　and　headed　south。
　　　　　　　Shaking；　he　lowered　himself　to　the　ground　slowly。　He　tried　to　speak；　but　his　mouth　was