rj.eyeoftheworld-第129节

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ing　he　thought　he　had　meant　nightmares。　The　Light　knew　it　all　sounded　like　a　nightmare；　or　enough　to　give　anyone　nightmares。　Maybe　Loial　would　just　think　he　was　going　mad。　Maybe。。。
　　　　　　　〃Ta'veren；〃　Loial　said。
　　　　　　　Rand　blinked。　〃What？〃
　　　　　　　〃Ta'veren。〃　Loial　rubbed　behind　a　pointed　ear　with　one　blunt　finger　and　gave　a　little　shrug。　〃Elder　Haman　always　said　I　never　listened；　but　sometimes　I　did。　Sometimes；　I　listened。　You　know　how　the　Pattern　is　woven；　of　course？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　never　really　thought　about　it；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃It　just　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃Um；　yes；　well。　Not　exactly。　You　see；　the　Wheel　of　Time　weaves　the　Pattern　of　the　Ages；　and　the　threads　it　uses　are　lives。　It　is　not　fixed；　the　Pattern；　not　always。　If　a　man　tries　to　change　the　direction　of　his　life　and　the　Pattern　has　room　for　it；　the　Wheel　just　weaves　on　and　takes　it　in。　There　is　always　room　for　small　changes；　but　sometimes　the　Pattern　simply　won't　accept　a　big　change；　no　matter　how　hard　you　try。　You　understand？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded。　〃I　could　live　on　the　farm　or　in　Emond's　Field；　and　that　would　be　a　small　change。　If　I　wanted　to　be　a　king；　though　。。。〃　He　laughed；　and　Loial　gave　a　grin　that　almost　split　his　face　in　two。　His　teeth　were　white；　and　as　broad　as　chisels。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　that's　it。　But　sometimes　the　change　chooses　you；　or　the　Wheel　chooses　it　for　you。　And　sometimes　the　Wheel　bends　a　life…thread；　or　several　threads；　in　such　a　way　that　all　the　surrounding　threads　are　forced　to　swirl　around　it；　and　those　force　other　threads；　and　those　still　others；　and　on　and　on。　That　first　bending　to　make　the　Web；　that　is　ta'veren；　and　there　is　nothing　you　can　do　to　change　it；　not　until　the　Pattern　itself　changes。　The　Web　…　ta'maral'ailen；　it's　called　…　can　last　for　weeks；　or　for　years。　It　can　take　in　a　town；　or　even　the　whole　Pattern。　Artur　Hawkwing　was　ta'veren。　So　was　Lews　Therin　Kinslayer；　for　that　matter；　I　suppose。〃　He　let　out　a　booming　chuckle。　〃Elder　Haman　would　be　proud　of　me。　He　always　droned　on；　and　the　books　about　traveling　were　much　more　interesting；　but　I　did　listen　sometimes。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　all　very　well；〃　Rand　said；　〃but　I　don't　see　what　it　has　to　do　with　me。　I'm　a　shepherd；　not　another　Artur　Hawkwing。　And　neither　is　Mat；　or　Perrin。　It's　just　。。。　ridiculous。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　say　you　were；　but　I　could　almost　feel　the　Pattern　swirl　just　listening　to　you　tell　your　tale；　and　I　have　no　Talent　there。　You　are　ta'veren；　all　right。　You；　and　maybe　your　friends；　too。〃　The　Ogier　paused；　rubbing　the　bridge　of　his　broad　nose　thoughtfully。　Finally　he　nodded　to　himself　as　if　he　had　reached　a　decision。　〃I　wish　to　travel　with　you；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　minute　Rand　stared；　wondering　if　he　had　heard　correctly。　〃With　me？〃　he　exclaimed　when　he　could　speak。　〃Didn't　you　hear　what　I　said　about　。。。　？〃　He　eyed　the　door　suddenly。　It　was　shut　tight；　and　thick　enough　that　anyone　trying　to　listen　on　the　other　side　would　hear　only　a　murmur；　even　with　his　ear　pressed　against　the　wooden　panels。　Just　the　same　he　went　on　in　a　lower　voice。　〃About　who's　chasing　me？　Anyway；　I　thought　you　wanted　to　go　see　your　trees。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　a　very　fine　grove　at　Tar　Valon；　and　I　have　been　told　the　Aes　Sedai　keep　it　well　tended。　Besides；　it　is　not　just　the　groves　I　want　to　see。　Perhaps　you　are　not　another　Artur　Hawkwing；　but　for　a　time；　at　least；　part　of　the　world　will　shape　itself　around　you；　perhaps　is　even　now　shaping　itself　around　you。　Even　Elder　Haman　would　want　to　see　that。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　hesitated。　It　would　be　good　to　have　someone　else　along。　The　way　Mat　was　behaving；　being　with　him　was　almost　like　being　alone。　The　Ogier　was　a　forting　presence。　Maybe　he　was　young　as　Ogier　reckoned　age；　but　he　seemed　as　unflappable　as　a　rock；　just　like　Tam。　And　Loial　had　been　all　of　those　places；　and　knew　about　others。　He　looked　at　the　Ogier；　sitting　there　with　his　broad　face　a　picture　of　patience。　Sitting　there；　and　taller　sitting　than　most　men　standing。　How　do　you　hide　somebody　almost　ten　feet　tall？　He　sighed　and　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　think　that　is　a　good　idea；　Loial。　Even　if　Moiraine　finds　us　here；　we'll　be　in　danger　all　the　way　to　Tar　Valon。　If　she　does　not　。。。〃　If　she　doesn't；　then　she's　dead　and　so　is　everyone　else。　Oh；　Egwene。　He　gave　himself　a　shake。　Egwene　was　not　dead；　and　Moiraine　would　find　them。
　　　　　　　Loial　looked　at　him　sympathetically　and　touched　his　shoulder。　〃I　am　sure　your　friends　are　well；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　his　thanks。　His　throat　was　too　tight　to　speak。
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　at　least　talk　with　me　sometimes？〃　Loial　sighed；　a　bass　rumble。　〃And　perhaps　play　a　game　of　stones？　I　have　not　had　anyone　to　talk　to　in　days；　except　good　Master　Gill；　and　he　is　busy　most　of　the　time。　The　cook　seems　to　run　him　unmercifully。　Perhaps　she　really　owns　the　inn？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；　I　will。〃　His　voice　was　hoarse。　He　cleared　his　throat　and　tried　to　grin。　〃And　if　we　meet　in　Tar　Valon；　you　can　show　me　the　grove　there。〃　They　have　to　be　all　right。　Light　send　they're　all　right。

Chapter　37
The　Long　Chase
　
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gripped　the　reins　of　the　three　horses　and　peered　into　the　night　as　if　she　could　somehow　pierce　the　darkness　and　find　the　Aes　Sedai　and　the　Warder。　Skeletal　trees　surrounded　her；　stark　and　black　in　the　dim　moonlight。　The　trees　and　the　night　made　an　effective　screen　for　whatever　Moiraine　and　Lan　were　doing；　not　that　either　of　them　had　paused　to　let　her　know　what　that　was。　A　low　〃Keep　the　horses　quiet；〃　from　Lan；　and　they　were　gone；　leaving　her　standing　like　a　stableboy。　She　glanced　at　the　horses　and　sighed　with　exasperation。
　　　　　　　Mandarb　blended　into　the　night　almost　as　well　as　his　master's　cloak。　The　only　reason　the　battle…trained　stallion　was　letting　her　get　this　close　was　because　Lan　had　handed　her　the　reins　himself。　He　seemed　calm　enough　now；　but　she　remembered　all　too　well　the　lips　drawing　back　silently　when　she　reached　for　his　bridle　without　waiting　for　Lan's　approval。　The　silence　had　made　the　bared　teeth　seem　that　much　more　dangerous。　With　a　last　wary　look　at　the　stallion；　she　turned　to　peer　in　the　direction　the　other　two　had　gone；　idly　stroking　her　own　horse。　She　gave　a　startled　jump　when　Aldieb　pushed　a　pale　muzzle　under　her　hand；　but　after　a　minute　she　gave　the　white　mare　a　pat；　too。
　　　　　　　〃No　need　to　take　it　out　on　you；　I　suppose；〃　she　whispered；　〃just　because　your　mistress　is　a　cold…faced　…　〃　She　strained　at　the　darkness　again。　What　were　they　doing？
　　　　　　　After　leaving　Whitebridge　they　had　ridden　through　villages　that　seemed　unreal　in　their　normality；　ordinary　market　villages　that　seemed　to　Nynaeve　unconnected　to　a　world　that　had　Fades　and　Trollocs　and　Aes　Sedai。　They　had　followed　the　Caemlyn　Road；　until　at　last　Moiraine　sat　forward　in　Aldieb's　saddle；　peering　eastward　as　if　she　could　see　the　whole　length　of　the　great　highway；　all　the　many　miles　to　Caemlyn；　and　see；　too；　what　waited　there。
　　　　　　　Eventually　the　Aes　Sedai　let　out　a　long　breath　and　settled　back。　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　she　murmured；　〃but　I　cannot　believe　it　weaves　an　end　to　hope。　I　must　first　take　care　of　that　of　which　I　can　be　certain。　It　will　be　as　the　Wheel　weaves。〃　And　she　turned　her　mare　north；　off　the　road　into　the　forest。　One　of　the　boys　was　in　that　direction　with　the　coin　Moiraine　had　given　him。　Lan　followed。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　a　long　last　look　at　the　Caemlyn　Road。　Few　people　shared　the　roadway　with　them　there；　a　couple　of　high…wheeled　carts　and　one　empty　wagon　in　the　distance；　a　handful　of　folk　afoot　with　their　belongings　on　their　backs　or　piled　on　pushcarts。　Some　of　those　were　willing　to　admit　they　were　on　their　way　to　Caemlyn　to　see　the　false　Dragon；　but　most　denied　it　vehemently；　especially　those　who　had　e　through　Whitebridge。　At　Whitebridge　she　had　begun　to　believe　Moiraine。　Somewhat。　More；　at　any　rate。　And　there　was　no　fort　in　that。
　　　　　　　The　Warder　and　the　Aes　Sedai　were　almost　out　of　sight　through　the　trees　before　she　started　after　them。　She　hurried　to　catch　up。　Lan　looked　back　at　her　frequently；　and　waved　for　her　to　e　on；　but　he　kept　at　Moiraine's　shoulder；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　had　her　eyes　fixed　ahead。
　　　　　　　One　evening　after　they　left　the　road；　the　invisible　trail　failed。　Moiraine；　the　unflappable　Moiraine；　suddenly　stood　up　beside　the　small　fire　where　the　tea　kettle　was　boiling；　her　eyes　widening。　〃It　is　gone；〃　she　whispered　at　the　night。〃He　is　。。。　？〃　Nynaeve　could　not　finish　the　question。　Light；　I　don't　even　know　which　one　it　is！
　　　　　　　〃He　did　not　die；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said　slowly；　〃but　he　no　longer　has　the　token。〃　She　sat　down；　her　voice　level　and　her　hands　steady　as　she　took　the　kettle　off　the　flames　and　tossed　in　a　handful　of　tea。　〃In　the　morning　we　will　keep　on　as　we've　been　going。　When　I　get　close　enough；　I　can　find　him　without　the　coin。〃
　　　　　　　As　the　fire　burned　down　to　coals；　Lan　rolled　himself　in　his　cloak　and　went　to　sleep。　Nynaeve　could　not　sleep。　She　watched　the　Aes　Sedai。　Moiraine　had　her　eyes　closed；　but　she　sat　upright；　and　Nynaeve　knew　she　was　awake。
　　　　　　　Long　after　the　last　glow　had　faded　from　the　coals；　Moiraine　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　at　her。　She　could　feel　the　Aes　Sedai's　smile　even　in　the　dark。　〃He　has　regained　the　coin；　Wisdom。　All　will　be　well。〃　She　lay　down　on　her　blankets　with　a　sigh　and　almost　at　once　was　breathing　deep　in　slumber。