rj.eyeoftheworld-第124节

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eachings；　his　eyes　drew　the　city　into　it。　He　concentrated　instead　on　what　was　right　around　him；　ignoring　everything　that　lay　beyond。　Just　looking　at　that　one　street；　it　almost　seemed　like　Baerlon。　Baerlon；　the　last　place　they　had　all　thought　they　were　safe。　Nobody's　safe　anymore。　Maybe　they　are　all　dead。　What　do　you　do　then？
　　　　　　　〃They're　alive！　Egwene's　alive！〃　he　said　fiercely。　Several　passersby　looked　at　him　oddly。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe；〃　Mat　said。　〃Maybe。　What　if　Moiraine　doesn't　find　us？　What　if　nobody　does　but　the　。。。　the　。。。〃　He　shuddered；　unable　to　say　it。
　　　　　　　〃We'll　think　about　that　when　it　happens；〃　he　told　Mat　firmly。　〃If　it　happens。〃　The　worst　meant　seeking　out　Elaida；　the　Aes　Sedai　in　the　Palace。　He　would　go　on　to　Tar　Valon；　first。　He　did　not　know　if　Mat　remembered　what　Thom　had　said　about　the　Red　Ajah　…　and　the　Black　…　but　he　surely　did。　His　stomach　twisted　again。　〃Thom　said　to　find　an　inn　called　The　Queen's　Blessing。　We'll　go　there　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃How？　We　can't　afford　one　meal　between　the　two　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃At　least　it's　a　place　to　start。　Thom　thought　we　could　find　help　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can't　。。。　Rand；　they're　everywhere。〃　Mat　dropped　his　eyes　to　the　paving　stones　and　seemed　to　shrink　in　on　himself；　trying　to　pull　away　from　the　people　that　were　all　around　them。　〃Wherever　we　go；　they're　right　behind　us；　or　they're　waiting　for　us。　They'll　be　at　The　Queen's　Blessing；　too。　I　can't　。。。　I　。。。　Nothing's　going　to　stop　a　Fade。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　grabbed　Mat's　collar　in　a　fist　that　he　was　trying　hard　to　keep　from　trembling。　He　needed　Mat。　Maybe　the　others　were　alive　…　Light；　please！　…　but　right　then　and　there；　it　was　just　Mat　and　him。　The　thought　of　going　on　alone。。。　He　swallowed　hard；　tasting　bile。
　　　　　　　He　looked　around　quickly。　No　one　seemed　to　have　heard　Mat　mention　the　Fade；　the　crowd　pressed　past　lost　in　its　own　worries。　He　put　his　face　close　to　Mat's。　〃We've　made　it　this　far；　haven't　we？〃　he　asked　in　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃They　haven't　caught　us　yet。　We　can　make　it　all　the　way；　if　we　just　don't　quit。　I　won't　just　quit　and　wait　for　them　like　a　sheep　for　slaughter。　I　won't！　Well？　Are　you　going　to　stand　here　till　you　starve　to　death？　Or　until　they　e　pick　you　up　in　a　sack？〃
　　　　　　　He　let　go　of　Mat　and　turned　away。　His　fingernails　dug　into　his　palms；　but　his　hands　still　trembled。　Suddenly　Mat　was　walking　alongside　him；　his　eyes　still　down；　and　Rand　let　out　a　long　breath。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　Rand；〃　Mat　mumbled。
　　　　　　　〃Forget　it；〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　Mat　barely　looked　up　enough　to　keep　from　walking　into　people　while　the　words　poured　out　in　a　lifeless　voice。　〃I　can't　stop　thinking　I'll　never　see　home　again。　I　want　to　go　home。　Laugh　if　you　want；　I　don't　care。　What　I　wouldn't　give　to　have　my　mother　blessing　me　out　for　something　right　now。　It's　like　weights　on　my　brain；　hot　weights。　Strangers　all　around；　and　no　way　to　tell　who　to　trust；　if　I　can　trust　anybody。　Light；　the　Two　Rivers　is　so　far　away　it　might　as　well　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　We're　alone；　and　we'll　never　get　home。　We're　going　to　die；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　yet；　we　won't；〃　Rand　retorted。　〃Everybody　dies。　The　Wheel　turns。　I'm　not　going　to　curl　up　and　wait　for　it　to　happen；　though。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　sound　like　Master　al'Vere；〃　Mat　grumbled；　but　his　voice　had　a　little　spirit　in　it。
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　Rand　said。　〃Good。〃　Light；　let　the　others　be　all　right。　Please　don't　let　us　be　alone。
　　　　　　　He　began　asking　directions　to　The　Queen's　Blessing。　The　responses　varied　widely；　a　curse　for　all　those　who　did　not　stay　where　they　belonged　or　a　shrug　and　a　blank　look　being　the　most　mon。　Some　stalked　on　by　with　no　more　than　a　glance；　if　that。
　　　　　　　A　broad…faced　man；　nearly　as　big　as　Perrin；　cocked　his　head　and　said；　〃The　Queen's　Blessing；　eh？　You　country　boys　Queen's　men？〃　He　wore　a　white　cockade　on　his　wide…brimmed　hat；　and　a　white　armband　on　his　long　coat。　〃Well；　you've　e　too　late。〃
　　　　　　　He　went　off　roaring　with　laughter；　leaving　Rand　and　Mat　to　stare　at　one　another　in　puzzlement。　Rand　shrugged；　there　were　plenty　of　odd　folk　in　Caemlyn；　people　like　he　had　never　seen　before。
　　　　　　　Some　of　them　stood　out　in　the　crowd；　skins　too　dark　or　too　pale；　coats　of　strange　cut　or　bright　colors；　hats　with　pointed　peaks　or　long　feathers。　There　were　women　with　veils　across　their　faces；　women　in　stiff　dresses　as　wide　as　the　wearer　was　tall；　women　in　dresses　that　left　more　skin　bare　than　any　tavernmaid　he　had　seen。　Occasionally　a　carriage；　all　vivid　paint　and　gilt；　squeezed　through　the　thronged　streets　behind　a　four…　or　six…horse　team　with　plumes　on　their　harness。　Sedan　chairs　were　everywhere；　the　polemen　pushing　along　with　never　a　care　for　who　they　shoved　aside。
　　　　　　　Rand　saw　one　fight　start　that　way；　a　brawling　heap　of　men　swinging　their　fists　while　a　pale…skinned　man　in　a　red…striped　coat　climbed　out　of　the　sedan　chair　lying　on　its　side。　Two　roughly　dressed　men；　who　seemed　to　have　been　just　passing　by　up　till　then；　jumped　on　him　before　he　was　clear。　The　crowd　that　had　stopped　to　watch　began　to　turn　ugly；　muttering　and　shaking　fists。　Rand　pulled　at　Mat's　sleeve　and　hurried　on。　Mat　needed　no　second　urging。　The　roar　of　a　small　riot　followed　them　down　the　street。
　　　　　　　Several　times　men　approached　the　two　of　them　instead　of　the　other　way　around。　Their　dusty　clothes　marked　them　as　newers；　and　seemed　to　act　like　a　magnet　on　some　types。　Furtive　fellows　who　offered　relics　of　Logain　for　sale　with　darting　eyes　and　feet　set　to　run。　Rand　calculated　he　was　offered　enough　scraps　of　the　false　Dragon's　cloak　and　fragments　of　his　sword　to　make　two　swords　and　half　a　dozen　cloaks。　Mat's　face　brightened　with　interest；　the　first　time　at　least；　but　Rand　gave　them　all　a　curt　no；　and　they　took　it　with　a　bob　of　the　head　and　a　quick；　〃Light　illumine　the　Queen；　good　master；〃　and　vanished。　Most　of　the　shops　had　plates　and　cups　painted　with　fanciful　scenes　purporting　to　show　the　false　Dragon　being　displayed　before　the　Queen　in　chains。　And　there　were　Whitecloaks　in　the　streets。　Each　walked　in　an　open　space　that　moved　with　him；　just　as　in　Baerlon。
　　　　　　　Staying　unnoticed　was　something　Rand　thought　about　a　great　deal。　He　kept　his　cloak　over　his　sword；　but　that　would　not　be　good　enough　for　very　long。　Sooner　or　later　someone　would　wonder　what　he　was　hiding。　He　would　not　…　could　not　…　take　Bunt's　advice　to　stop　wearing　it；　not　his　link　to　Tam。　To　his　father。
　　　　　　　Many　others　among　the　throng　wore　swords；　but　none　with　the　heron…mark　to　pull　the　eye。　All　the　Caemlyn　men；　though；　and　some　of　the　strangers；　had　their　swords　wound　in　strips　of　cloth；　sheath　and　hilt；　red　bound　with　white　cord；　or　white　bound　with　red。　A　hundred　heron…marks　could　be　hidden　under　those　wrappings　and　no　one　would　see。　Besides；　following　local　fashion　would　make　them　seem　to　fit　in　more。
　　　　　　　A　good　many　shops　were　fronted　with　tables　displaying　the　cloth　and　cord；　and　Rand　stopped　at　one。　The　red　cloth　was　cheaper　than　the　white；　though　he　could　see　no　difference　apart　from　the　color；　so　he　bought　that　and　the　white　cord　to　go　with　it；　despite　Mat's　plaints　about　how　little　money　they　had　left。　The　tight…lipped　shopkeeper　eyed　them　up　and　down　with　a　twist　to　his　mouth　while　he　took　Rand's　coppers；　and　cursed　them　when　Rand　asked　for　a　place　inside　to　wrap　his　sword。
　　　　　　　〃We　didn't　e　to　see　Logain；〃　Rand　said　patiently。　〃We　just　came　to　see　Caemlyn。〃　He　remembered　Bunt；　and　added；　〃The　grandest　city　in　the　world。〃　The　shopkeeper's　grimace　remained　in　place。　〃The　Light　illumine　good　Queen　Morgase；〃　Rand　said　hopefully。
　　　　　　　〃You　make　any　trouble；〃　the　man　said　sourly；　〃and　there's　a　hundred　men　in　sound　of　my　voice　will　take　care　of　you　even　if　the　Guards　won't。〃　He　paused　to　spit；　just　missing　Rand's　foot。　〃Get　on　about　your　filthy　business。　〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　as　if　the　man　had　bid　him　a　cheerful　farewell；　and　pulled　Mat　away。　Mat　kept　looking　back　over　his　shoulder　toward　the　shop；　growling　to　himself；　until　Rand　tugged　him　into　an　empty　alleyway。　With　their　backs　to　the　street　no　passerby　could　see　what　they　were　doing。　Rand　pulled　off　the　sword　belt　and　set　to　wrapping　the　sheath　and　hilt。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　bet　he　charged　you　double　for　that　bloody　cloth；〃　Mat　said。　〃Triple。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　not　as　easy　as　it　looked；　fastening　the　strips　of　cloth　and　the　cord　so　the　whole　thing　would　not　fall　off。
　　　　　　　〃They'll　all　be　trying　to　cheat　us；　Rand。　They　think　we've　e　to　see　the　false　Dragon；　like　everybody　else。　We'll　be　lucky　if　somebody　doesn't　hit　us　on　the　head　while　we　sleep。　This　is　no　place　to　be。　There　are　too　many　people。　Let's　leave　for　Tar　Valon　now。　Or　south；　to　Illian。　I　wouldn't　mind　seeing　them　gather　for　the　Hunt　of　the　Horn。　If　we　can't　go　home；　let's　just　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　staying；〃　Rand　said。　〃If　they're　not　here　already；　they'll　e　here　sooner　or　later；　looking　for　us。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　not　sure　if　he　had　the　wrappings　done　the　way　everyone　else　did；　but　the　herons　on　scabbard　and　hilt　were　hidden　and　he　thought　it　was　secure。　As　he　went　back　out　on　the　street；　he　was　sure　that　he　had　one　less　thing　to　worry　about　causing　trouble。　Mat　trailed　along　beside　him　as　reluctantly　as　if　he　were　being　pulled　on　a　leash。
　　　　　　　Bit　by　bit　Rand　did　get　the　directions　he　wanted。　At　first　they　were　vague；　on　the　order　of　〃somewhe