rj.eyeoftheworld-第115节

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　surprise　while　lost　in　worry　about　Mat。　Mat　shielded　his　eyes　from　the　sun　with　his　hand；　weak　as　the　afternoon　light　was；　squinting　through　slitted　lids　even　so；　and　he　muttered　continually　about　how　bright　the　sun　was。　When　Rand　heard　the　rumble　of　the　haywain；　it　was　too　late　already。　The　sodden　road　deadened　sound；　and　the　wagon　with　its　two…horse　hitch　was　only　fifty　yards　behind　them；　the　driver　already　peering　at　them。
　　　　　　　To　Rand's　surprise　he　drew　up　and　offered　them　a　lift。　Rand　hesitated；　but　it　was　too　late　to　avoid　being　seen；　and　refusing　a　ride　might　fix　them　in　the　man's　mind。　He　helped　Mat　up　to　the　seat　beside　the　farmer；　then　climbed　up　behind　him。
　　　　　　　Alpert　Mull　was　a　stolid　man；　with　a　square　face　and　square　hands；　both　worn　and　grooved　from　hard　work　and　worry；　and　he　wanted　someone　to　talk　to。　His　cows　had　gone　dry；　his　chickens　had　stopped　laying；　and　there　was　no　pasture　worth　the　name。　For　the　first　time　in　memory　he　had　had　to　buy　hay；　and　half　a　wagon　was　all　〃old　Bain〃　would　let　him　have。　He　wondered　whether　there　was　any　chance　of　getting　hay　on　his　own　land　this　year；　or　any　kind　of　crop。
　　　　　　　〃The　Queen　should　do　something；　the　Light　illumine　her；〃　he　muttered；　knuckling　his　forehead　respectfully　but　absentmindedly。
　　　　　　　He　hardly　looked　at　Rand　or　Mat；　but　when　he　let　them　down　by　the　narrow；　rail…lined　track　that　led　off　to　his　farm；　he　hesitated；　then　said；　almost　as　if　to　himself；　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　running　from；　and　I　don't　want　to。　I　have　a　wife　and　children。　You　understand？　My　family。　It's　hard　times　for　helping　strangers。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　tried　to　stick　his　hand　under　his　coat；　but　Rand　had　his　wrist　and　he　held　on。　He　stood　in　the　road；　looking　at　the　man　without　speaking。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　was　a　good　man；〃　Mull　said；　〃I'd　offer　a　couple　of　lads　soaked　to　the　skin　a　place　to　dry　out　and　get　warm　in　front　of　my　fire。　But　it's　hard　times；　and　strangers　。。。　I　don't　know　what　you're　running　from；　and　I　don't　want　to。　You　understand？　My　family。〃　Suddenly　he　pulled　two　long；　woolen　scarves；　dark　and　thick；　out　of　his　coat　pocket。　〃It's　not　much；　but　here。　Belong　to　my　boys。　They　have　others。　You　don't　know　me；　understand？　It's　hard　times。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　never　even　saw　you；〃　Rand　agreed　as　he　took　the　scarves。　〃You　are　a　good　man。　The　best　we've　met　in　days。〃
　　　　　　　The　farmer　looked　surprised；　then　grateful。　Gathering　his　reins；　he　turned　his　horses　down　the　narrow　lane。　Before　he　pleted　the　turn　Rand　was　leading　Mat　on　down　the　Caemlyn　Road。
　　　　　　　The　wind　stiffened　as　dusk　closed　in。　Mat　began　to　ask　querulously　when　they　were　going　to　stop；　but　Rand　kept　moving；　pulling　Mat　behind　him；　searching　for　more　shelter　than　a　spot　under　a　hedge。　With　their　clothes　still　clammy　and　the　wind　getting　colder　by　the　minute；　he　was　not　sure　they　could　survive　another　night　in　the　open。　Night　fell　without　him　spotting　anything　useful。　The　wind　grew　icy；　beating　his　cloak。　Then；　through　the　darkness　ahead；　he　saw　lights。　A　village。
　　　　　　　His　hand　slid　into　his　pocket；　feeling　the　coins　there。　More　than　enough　for　a　meal　and　a　room　for　the　two　of　them。　A　room　out　of　the　cold　night。　If　they　stayed　in　the　open；　in　the　wind　and　cold　in　damp　clothes；　anyone　who　found　them　would　likely　as　not　find　only　two　corpses。　They　just　had　to　keep　from　attracting　any　more　notice　than　they　could　help。　No　playing　the　flute；　and　with　his　eyes；　Mat　certainly　could　not　juggle。　He　grasped　Mat's　hand　again　and　set　out　toward　the　beckoning　lights。
　　　　　　　〃When　are　we　going　to　stop？〃　Mat　asked　again。　The　way　he　peered　ahead；　with　his　head　stuck　forward；　Rand　was　not　sure　if　Mat　could　see　him；　much　less　the　village　lights。
　　　　　　　〃When　we're　somewhere　warm；〃　he　replied。
　　　　　　　Pools　of　light　from　house　windows　lit　the　streets　of　the　town；　and　people　walked　them　unconcerned　with　what　might　be　out　in　the　dark。　The　only　inn　was　a　sprawling　building；　all　on　one　floor；　with　the　look　of　having　had　rooms　added　in　bunches　over　the　years　without　any　particular　plan。　The　front　door　opened　to　let　someone　out；　and　a　wave　of　laughter　rolled　out　after　him。
　　　　　　　Rand　froze　in　the　street；　the　drunken　laughter　at　The　Dancing　Cartman　echoing　in　his　head。　He　watched　the　man　go　down　the　street　with　a　none…too…steady　stride；　then　took　a　deep　breath　and　pushed　the　door　open。　He　took　care　that　his　cloak　covered　his　sword。　Laughter　swept　over　him。
　　　　　　　Lamps　hanging　from　the　high　ceiling　made　the　room　bright；　and　right　away　he　could　see　and　feel　the　difference　from　Saml　Hake's　inn。　There　was　no　drunkenness　here；　for　one　thing。　The　room　was　filled　with　people　who　looked　to　be　farmers　and　townsmen；　if　not　entirely　sober；　not　too　far　from　it。　The　laughter　was　real；　if　a　bit　forced　around　the　edges。　People　laughing　to　forget　their　troubles；　but　with　true　mirth　in　it；　too。　The　mon　room　itself　was　neat　and　clean；　and　warm　from　a　fire　roaring　in　a　big　fireplace　at　the　far　end。　The　serving　maids'　smiles　were　as　warm　as　the　fire；　and　when　they　laughed　Rand　could　tell　it　was　because　they　wanted　to。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　was　as　clean　as　his　inn；　with　a　gleaming　white　apron　around　his　bulk。　Rand　was　glad　to　see　he　was　a　stout　man；　he　doubted　if　he　would　ever　again　trust　a　skinny　innkeeper。　His　name　was　Rulan　Allwine　…　good　omen；　Rand　thought；　with　so　much　of　the　sound　of　Emond's　Field　to　it　…　and　he　eyed　them　up　and　down；　then　politely　mentioned　paying　in　advance。
　　　　　　　〃Not　suggesting　you're　the　sort；　understand；　but　there's　some　on　the　road　these　days　aren't　too　particular　about　paying　up　e　morning。　Seems　to　be　a　lot　of　young　folks　headed　for　Caemlyn。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　was　not　offended；　not　as　damp　and　bedraggled　as　he　was。　When　Master　Allwine　mentioned　the　price；　though；　his　eyes　widened；　and　Mat　made　a　sound　as　if　he　had　choked　on　something。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper's　jowls　swung　as　he　shook　his　head　regretfully；　but　he　seemed　to　be　used　to　it。　〃Times　are　hard；〃　he　said　in　a　resigned　voice。　〃There　isn't　much；　and　what　there　is　costs　five　times　what　it　used　to。　It'll　be　more　next　month；　I'll　lay　oath　on　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　dug　his　money　out　and　looked　at　Mat。　Mat's　mouth　tightened　stubbornly。　〃You　want　to　sleep　under　a　hedge？〃　Rand　asked。　Mat　sighed　and　reluctantly　emptied　his　pocket。　When　the　reckoning　was　paid；　Rand　grimaced　at　the　little　that　remained　to　divide　with　Mat。
　　　　　　　But　ten　minutes　later　they　were　eating　stew　at　a　table　in　a　corner　near　the　fireplace；　pushing　it　onto　their　spoons　with　chunks　of　bread。　The　portions　were　not　as　large　as　Rand　could　have　wished；　but　they　were　hot；　and　filling。　Warmth　from　the　hearth　seeped　into　him　slowly。　He　pretended　to　keep　his　eyes　on　his　plate；　but　he　watched　the　door　intently。　Those　who　came　in　or　went　out　all　looked　like　farmers；　but　it　was　not　enough　to　quiet　his　fear。
　　　　　　　Mat　ate　slowly；　savoring　each　bite；　though　he　muttered　about　the　light　from　the　lamps。　After　a　time　he　dug　out　the　scarf　Alpert　Mull　had　given　him　and　wound　it　around　his　forehead；　pulling　it　down　until　his　eyes　were　almost　hidden。　That　got　them　some　looks　Rand　wished　they　could　have　avoided。　He　cleaned　his　plate　hurriedly；　urging　Mat　to　do　the　same；　then　asked　Master　Allwine　for　their　room。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　seemed　surprised　that　they　were　retiring　so　early；　but　he　made　no　ment。　He　got　a　candle　and　showed　them　through　a　jumble　of　corridors　to　a　small　room；　with　two　narrow　beds；　back　in　a　far　corner　of　the　inn。　When　he　left；　Rand　dropped　his　bundles　beside　his　bed；　tossed　his　cloak　over　a　chair；　and　fell　on　the　coverlet　fully　dressed。　All　of　his　clothes　were　still　damp　and　unfortable；　but　if　they　had　to　run；　he　wanted　to　be　ready。　He　left　the　sword　belt　on；　too；　and　slept　with　his　hand　on　the　hilt。
　　　　　　　A　rooster　crowing　jerked　him　awake　in　the　morning。　He　lay　there；　watching　dawn　lighten　the　window；　and　wondered　if　he　dared　sleep　a　little　longer。　Sleep　during　daylight；　when　they　could　be　moving。　A　yawn　made　his　jaws　crack。
　　　　　　　〃Hey；〃　Mat　exclaimed；　〃I　can　see！〃　He　sat　up　on　his　bed；　squinting　around　the　room。　〃Some；　anyway。　Your　face　is　still　a　little　blurry；　but　I　can　tell　who　you　are。　I　knew　I'd　be　all　right。　By　tonight　I'll　see　better　than　you　do。　Again。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　sprang　out　of　bed；　scratching　as　he　scooped　up　his　cloak。　His　clothes　were　wrinkled　from　drying　on　him　while　he　slept；　and　they　itched。　〃We're　wasting　daylight；〃　he　said。　Mat　scrambled　up　as　fast　as　he　had；　he　was　scratching；　too。
　　　　　　　Rand　did　feel　good。　They　were　a　day　away　from　Four　Kings；　and　none　of　Gode's　men　had　showed　up。　A　day　closer　to　Caemlyn；　where　Moiraine　would　be　waiting　for　them。　She　would。　No　more　worrying　about　Darkfriends　once　they　were　back　with　the　Aes　Sedai　and　the　Warder。　It　was　strange　to　be　looking　forward　so　much　to　being　with　an　Aes　Sedai。　Light；　when　I　see　Moiraine　again；　I'll　kiss　her！　He　laughed　at　the　thought。　He　felt　good　enough　to　invest　some　of　their　dwindling　stock　of　coins　in　breakfast　…　a　big　loaf　of　bread　and　a　pitcher　of　milk；　cold　from　the　springhouse。
　　　　　　　They　were　eating　in　the　back　of　the　mon　room　when　a　young　man　came　in；　a　village　youth　by　the　look　of　him；　with　a　cocky　spring　to　his　walk　and　twirling　a　cloth　cap；　with　a　feather　in　it；　on　one　finger。　The　only　other　person　in　the　room　was　an　old　man　sw