rj.eyeoftheworld-第102节

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〃
　　　　　　　〃You'll　use　it。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　raised　the　axe　to　throw　it　in　the　pool；　but　Elyas　caught　his　wrist。
　　　　　　　〃You'll　use　it；　boy；　and　as　long　as　you　hate　using　it；　you　will　use　it　more　wisely　than　most　men　would。　Wait。　If　ever　you　don't　hate　it　any　longer；　then　will　be　the　time　to　throw　it　as　far　as　you　can　and　run　the　other　way。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　hefted　the　axe　in　his　hands；　still　tempted　to　leave　it　in　the　pool。　Easy　for　him　to　say　wait。　What　if　I　wait　and　then　can't　throw　it　away？
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　mouth　to　ask　Elyas；　but　no　words　came　out。　A　sending　from　the　wolves；　so　urgent　that　his　eyes　glazed　over。　For　an　instant　he　forgot　what　he　had　been　going　to　say；　forgot　he　had　been　going　to　say　anything；　forgot　even　how　to　speak；　how　to　breathe。　Elyas's　face　sagged；　too；　and　his　eyes　seemed　to　peer　inward　and　far　away。　Then　it　was　gone；　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　It　had　only　lasted　a　heartbeat；　but　that　was　enough。
　　　　　　　Perrin　shook　himself　and　filled　his　lungs　deeply。　Elyas　did　not　pause；　as　soon　as　the　veil　lifted　from　his　eyes；　he　sped　toward　the　fire　without　any　hesitation。　Perrin　ran　wordlessly　behind　him。
　　　　　　　〃Douse　the　fire！〃　Elyas　called　hoarsely　to　Egwene。　He　gestured　urgently；　and　he　seemed　to　be　trying　to　shout　in　a　whisper。　〃Get　it　out！〃
　　　　　　　She　rose　to　her　feet；　staring　at　him　uncertainly；　then　stepped　closer　to　the　fire；　but　slowly；　clearly　not　understanding　what　was　happening。
　　　　　　　Elyas　pushed　roughly　past　her　and　snatched　up　the　tea　kettle；　cursing　when　it　burned　him。　Juggling　the　hot　pot；　he　upended　it　over　the　fire　just　the　same。　A　step　behind　him；　Perrin　arrived　in　time　to　start　kicking　dirt　over　the　hissing　coals　as　the　last　of　the　tea　splashed　into　the　fire；　hissing　and　rising　in　tendrils　of　steam。　He　did　not　stop　until　the　last　vestige　of　the　fire　was　buried。
　　　　　　　Elyas　tossed　the　kettle　to　Perrin；　who　immediately　let　it　fall　with　a　choked…off　yell。　Perrin　blew　on　his　hands；　frowning　at　Elyas；　but　the　fur…clad　man　was　too　busy　giving　their　campsite　a　hasty　look　to　pay　any　attention。
　　　　　　　〃No　chance　to　hide　that　somebody's　been　here；〃　Elyas　said。　〃We'll　just　have　to　hurry　and　hope。　Maybe　they　won't　bother。　Blood　and　ashes；　but　I　was　sure　it　was　the　ravens。〃
　　　　　　　Hurriedly　Perrin　tossed　the　saddle　on　Bela；　propping　the　axe　against　his　thigh　while　he　bent　to　tighten　the　girth。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Egwene　asked。　Her　voice　shook。　〃Trollocs？　A　Fade？〃
　　　　　　　〃Go　east　or　west；〃　Elyas　told　Perrin。　〃Find　a　place　to　hide；　and　I'll　join　you　as　soon　as　I　can。　If　they　see　a　wolf　。。。〃　He　darted　away；　crouching　almost　as　if　he　intended　to　go　to　all　fours；　and　vanished　into　the　lengthening　shadows　of　evening。
　　　　　　　Egwene　hastily　gathered　her　few　belongings；　but　she　still　demanded　an　explanation　from　Perrin。　Her　voice　was　insistent　and　growing　more　frightened　by　the　minute　as　he　kept　silent。　He　was　frightened；　too；　but　fear　made　them　move　faster。　He　waited　until　they　were　headed　toward　the　setting　sun。　Trotting　ahead　of　Bela　and　holding　the　axe　across　his　chest　in　both　hands；　he　told　what　he　knew　over　his　shoulder　in　snatches　while　hunting　for　a　place　to　go　to　ground　and　wait　for　Elyas。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　a　lot　of　men　ing；　on　horses。　They　came　up　behind　the　wolves；　but　the　men　didn't　see　them。　They're　heading　toward　the　pool。　Probably　they　don't　have　anything　to　do　with　us；　it's　the　only　water　for　miles。　But　Dapple　says。。。〃　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　The　evening　sun　painted　odd　shadows　on　her　face；　shadows　that　hid　her　expression。　What　is　she　thinking？　Is　she　looking　at　you　as　if　she　doesn't　know　you　anymore？　Does　she　know　you？　〃Dapple　says　they　smell　wrong。　It's　。。。　sort　of　the　way　a　rabid　dog　smells　wrong。〃　The　pool　was　lost　to　sight　behind　them。　He　could　still　pick　out　boulders　…　fragments　of　Artur　Hawkwing's　statue　…　in　the　deepening　twilight；　but　not　to　tell　which　was　the　stone　where　the　fire　had　been。　〃We'll　stay　away　from　them；　find　a　place　to　wait　for　Elyas。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　should　they　bother　us？〃　she　demanded。　〃We're　supposed　to　be　safe　here。　It's　supposed　to　be　safe。　Light；　there　has　to　be　some　place　safe。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　began　looking　harder　for　somewhere　to　hide。　They　could　not　be　very　far　from　the　pool；　but　the　twilight　was　thickening。　Soon　it　would　be　too　dark　to　travel。　Faint　light　still　bathed　the　crests。　From　the　hollows　between；　where　there　was　barely　enough　to　see；　it　seemed　bright　by　contrast。　Off　to　the　left　a　dark　shape　stood　sharp　against　the　sky；　a　large；　flat　stone　slanting　out　of　a　hillside；　cloaking　the　slope　beneath　in　darkness。
　　　　　　　〃This　way；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　He　trotted　toward　the　hill；　glancing　over　his　shoulder　for　any　sign　of　the　men　who　were　ing。　There　was　nothing　…　yet。　More　than　once　he　had　to　stop　and　wait　while　the　others　stumbled　after　him。　Egwene　was　crouched　over　Bela's　neck；　and　the　mare　was　picking　her　way　carefully　over　the　uneven　ground。　Perrin　thought　they　both　must　be　more　tired　than　he　had　believed。　This　had　better　be　a　good　hiding　place。　I　don't　think　we　can　hunt　for　another。
　　　　　　　At　the　base　of　the　hill　he　studied　the　massive；　flat　rock　outlined　against　the　sky；　jutting　out　the　slope　almost　at　the　crest。　There　was　an　odd　familiarity　to　the　way　the　top　of　the　huge　slab　seemed　to　form　irregular　steps；　three　up　and　one　down。　He　climbed　the　short　distance　and　felt　across　the　stone；　walking　along　it。　Despite　the　weathering　of　centuries　he　could　still　feel　four　joined　columns。　He　glanced　up　at　the　step…like　top　of　the　stone；　towering　over　his　head　like　a　huge　lean…to。　Fingers。　We'll　shelter　in　Artur　Hawkwing's　hand。　Maybe　some　of　his　justice　is　left　here。
　　　　　　　He　motioned　for　Egwene　to　join　him。　She　did　not　move；　so　he　slid　back　down　to　the　base　of　the　hill　and　told　her　what　he　had　found。
　　　　　　　Egwene　peered　up　the　hill　with　her　head　pushed　forward。　〃How　can　you　see　anything？〃　she　asked。
　　　　　　　Perrin　opened　his　mouth；　then　shut　it。　He　licked　his　lips　as　he　looked　around；　for　the　first　time　really　aware　of　what　he　was　seeing。　The　sun　was　down。　All　the　way　down；　now；　and　clouds　hid　the　full　moon；　but　it　still　seemed　like　the　deep　purple　fringes　of　twilight　to　him。　〃I　felt　the　rock；〃　he　said　finally。　〃That's　what　it　has　to　be。　They　won't　be　able　to　pick　us　out　against　the　shadow　of　it　even　if　they　e　this　far。〃　He　took　Bela's　bridle　to　lead　her　to　the　shelter　of　the　hand。　He　could　feel　Egwene's　eyes　on　his　back。
　　　　　　　As　he　was　helping　her　down　from　the　saddle；　the　night　broke　out　in　shouts　back　toward　the　pool。　She　laid　a　hand　on　Perrin's　arm；　and　he　heard　her　unspoken　question。
　　　　　　　〃The　men　saw　Wind；〃　he　said　reluctantly。　It　was　difficult　to　pick　out　the　meaning　of　the　wolves'　thoughts。　Something　about　fire。　〃They　have　torches。〃　He　pressed　her　down　at　the　base　of　the　fingers　and　crouched　beside　her。　〃They're　breaking　up　into　parties　to　search。　So　many　of　them；　and　the　wolves　are　all　hurt。〃　He　tried　to　make　his　voice　heartier。　〃But　Dapple　and　the　others　should　be　able　to　keep　out　of　their　way；　even　injured；　and　they　don't　expect　us。　People　don't　see　what　they　don't　expect。　They'll　give　up　soon　enough　and　make　camp。〃　Elyas　was　with　the　wolves；　and　would　not　leave　them　while　they　were　hunted。　So　many　riders。　So　persistent。　Why　so　persistent？
　　　　　　　He　saw　Egwene　nod；　but　in　the　dark　she　did　not　realize　it。　〃We'll　be　all　right；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　Light；　he　thought　wonderingly；　she's　trying　to　fort　me。
　　　　　　　The　shouts　went　on　and　on。　Small　knots　of　torches　moved　in　the　distance；　flickering　points　of　light　in　the　darkness。
　　　　　　　〃Perrin；〃　Egwene　said　softly；　〃will　you　dance　with　me　at　Sunday？　If　we're　home　by　then？〃
　　　　　　　His　shoulders　shook。　He　made　no　sound；　and　he　did　not　know　if　he　was　laughing　or　crying。　〃I　will。　I　promise。〃　Against　his　will　his　hands　tightened　on　the　axe；　reminding　him　that　he　still　held　it。　His　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper。　〃I　promise；〃　he　said　again；　and　hoped。
　　　　　　　Groups　of　torch…carrying　men　now　rode　through　the　hills；　bunches　of　ten　or　twelve。　Perrin　could　not　tell　how　many　groups　there　were。　Sometimes　three　or　four　were　in　sight　at　once；　quartering　back　and　forth。　They　continued　to　shout　to　one　another；　and　sometimes　there　were　screams　in　the　night；　the　screams　of　horses；　the　screams　of　men。
　　　　　　　He　saw　it　all　from　more　than　one　vantage。　He　crouched　on　the　hillside　with　Egwene；　watching　the　torches　move　through　the　darkness　like　fireflies；　and　in　his　mind　he　ran　in　the　night　with　Dapple；　and　Wind；　and　Hopper。　The　wolves　had　been　too　hurt　by　the　ravens　to　run　far　or　fast；　so　they　intended　to　drive　the　men　out　of　the　darkness；　drive　them　to　the　shelter　of　their　fires。　Men　always　sought　the　safety　of　fires　in　the　end；　when　wolves　roamed　the　night。　Some　of　the　mounted　men　led　strings　of　horses　without　riders；　they　whinnied　and　reared　with　wide；　rolling　eyes　when　the　gray　shapes　darted　among　them；　screaming　and　pulling　their　lead　ropes　from　the　hands　of　the　men　who　held　them；　scattering　in　all　directions　as　fast　as　they　could　run。　Horses　with　men　on　their　backs　screamed；　too；　when　gray　shadows　flashed　out　of　the　dark　with　hamstringing　fangs；　and　sometimes　their　riders　screamed　as　well；　just　before　jaws　tore　out　their　throats。　Elyas　was　out　there；　also；　more　dimly　sensed；　stalking　the　night　with　his　long　knife；