rj.eyeoftheworld-第134节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　He　plied　slowly；　still　half　lost　in　Dapple's　message；　until　Nynaeve　gasped。　Startled；　he　stared　at　her；　then　at　his　own　bare　chest。　It　was　a　mass　of　color；　the　newer；　purple　blotches　overlaying　older　ones　faded　into　shades　of　brown　and　yellow。　Only　thick　slabs　of　muscle　earned　by　hours　at　Master　Luhhan's　forge　had　saved　him　from　broken　ribs。　With　his　mind　filled　by　the　wolves；　he　had　managed　to　forget　the　pain；　but　he　was　reminded　of　it　now；　and　it　came　back　gladly。　Involuntarily　he　took　a　deep　breath；　and　clamped　his　lips　on　a　groan。
　　　　　　　〃How　could　he　have　disliked　you　so　much？〃　Nynaeve　asked　wonderingly。
　　　　　　　I　killed　two　men。　Aloud；　he　said；　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　　　　　　She　rummaged　in　her　bag；　and　he　flinched　when　she　began　spreading　a　greasy　ointment　over　his　bruises。　〃Ground　ivy；　five…finger；　and　sunburst　root；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　It　was　hot　and　cold　at　the　same　time；　making　him　shiver　while　he　broke　into　a　sweat；　but　he　did　not　protest。　He　had　had　experience　of　Nynaeve's　ointments　and　poultices　before。　As　her　fingers　gently　rubbed　the　mixture　in；　the　heat　and　cold　vanished；　taking　the　pain　with　them。　The　purple　splotches　faded　to　brown；　and　the　brown　and　yellow　paled；　some　disappearing　altogether。　Experimentally；　he　took　a　deep　breath；　there　was　barely　a　twinge。
　　　　　　　〃You　look　surprised；〃　Nynaeve　said。　She　looked　a　little　surprised　herself；　and　strangely　frightened。　〃Next　time；　you　can　go　to　her。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　surprised；〃　he　said　soothingly；　〃just　glad。〃　Sometimes　Nynaeve's　ointments　worked　fast　and　sometimes　slow；　but　they　always　worked。　〃What　。。。　what　happened　to　Rand　and　Mat？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　began　stuffing　her　vials　and　pots　back　into　her　bag；　jamming　each　one　in　as　if　she　were　thrusting　it　through　a　barrier。　〃She　says　they're　all　right。　She　says　we'll　find　them。　In　Caemlyn；　she　says。　She　says　it's　too　important　for　us　not　to；　whatever　that　means。　She　says　a　great　many　things。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　grinned　in　spite　of　himself。　Whatever　else　had　changed；　the　Wisdom　was　still　herself；　and　she　and　the　Aes　Sedai　were　still　far　from　fast　friends。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Nynaeve　stiffened；　staring　at　his　face。　Dropping　her　bag；　she　pressed　the　backs　of　her　hands　to　his　cheeks　and　forehead。　He　tried　to　pull　back；　but　she　caught　his　head　in　both　hands　and　thumbed　back　his　eyelids；　peering　into　his　eyes　and　muttering　to　herself。　Despite　her　small　size　she　held　his　face　easily；　it　was　never　easy　to　get　away　from　Nynaeve　when　she　did　not　want　you　to。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　she　said　finally；　releasing　him　and　settling　back　to　sit　on　her　heels。　〃If　it　was　yelloweye　fever；　you　wouldn't　be　able　to　stand。　But　you　don't　have　any　fever；　and　the　whites　of　your　eyes　aren't　yellowed；　just　the　irises。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yellow？〃　Moiraine　said；　and　Perrin　and　Nynaeve　both　jumped　where　they　sat。　The　Aes　Sedai's　approach　had　been　utterly　silent。　Egwene　was　asleep　by　the　fire；　wrapped　in　her　cloaks；　Perrin　saw。　His　own　eyelids　wanted　to　slide　closed。
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　anything；〃　he　said；　but　Moiraine　put　a　hand　under　his　chin　and　turned　his　face　up　so　she　could　peer　into　his　eyes　the　way　Nynaeve　had。　He　jerked　away；　prickling。　The　two　women　were　handling　him　as　if　he　were　a　child。　〃I　said　it　isn't　anything。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　was　no　foretelling　this。〃　Moiraine　spoke　as　if　to　herself。　Her　eyes　seemed　to　look　at　something　beyond　him。　〃Something　ordained　to　be　woven；　or　a　change　in　the　Pattern？　If　a　change；　by　what　hand？　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills。　It　must　be　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　know　what　it　is？〃　Nynaeve　asked　reluctantly；　then　hesitated。　〃Can　you　do　something　for　him？　Your　Healing？〃　The　request　for　aid；　the　admission　that　she　could　do　nothing；　came　out　of　her　as　if　dragged。
　　　　　　　Perrin　glared　at　both　the　women。　〃If　you're　going　to　talk　about　me；　talk　to　me。　I'm　sitting　right　here。　〃　Neither　looked　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃Healing？〃　Moiraine　smiled。　〃Healing　can　do　nothing　about　this。　It　is　not　an　illness；　and　it　will　not　。。。〃　She　hesitated　briefly。　She　did　glance　at　Perrin；　then；　a　quick　look　that　regretted　many　things。　The　look　did　not　include　him；　though；　and　he　muttered　sourly　as　she　turned　back　to　Nynaeve。　〃I　was　going　to　say　it　will　not　harm　him；　but　who　can　say　what　the　end　will　be？　At　least　I　can　say　it　will　not　harm　him　directly。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stood；　dusting　off　her　knees；　and　confronted　the　Aes　Sedai　eye　to　eye。　〃That's　not　good　enough。　If　there's　something　wrong　with　…〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is；　is。　What　is　woven　already　is　past　changing。〃　Moiraine　turned　away　abruptly。　〃We　must　sleep　while　we　can　and　leave　at　first　light。　If　the　Dark　One's　hand　grows　too　strong　。。。　We　must　reach　Caemlyn　quickly。〃
　　　　　　　Angrily；　Nynaeve　snatched　up　her　bag　and　stalked　off　before　Perrin　could　speak。　He　started　to　growl　an　oath；　but　a　thought　hit　him　like　a　blow　and　he　sat　there　gaping　silently。　Moiraine　knew。　The　Aes　Sedai　knew　about　the　wolves。　And　she　thought　it　could　be　the　Dark　One's　doing。　A　shiver　ran　through　him。　Hastily　he　shrugged　back　into　his　shirt；　tucking　it　in　awkwardly；　and　pulled　his　coat　and　cloak　back　on。　The　clothing　did　not　help　very　much；　he　felt　chilled　right　down　to　his　bones；　his　marrow　like　frozen　jelly。
　　　　　　　Lan　dropped　to　the　ground　cross…legged；　tossing　back　his　cloak。　Perrin　was　glad　of　that。　It　was　unpleasant；　looking　at　the　Warder　and　having　his　eyes　slide　past。
　　　　　　　For　a　long　moment　they　simply　stared　at　one　another。　The　hard　planes　of　the　Warder's　face　were　unreadable；　but　in　his　eyes　Perrin　thought　he　saw　something。　Sympathy？　Curiosity？　Both？
　　　　　　　〃You　know？〃　he　said；　and　Lan　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　some；　not　all。　Did　it　just　e　to　you；　or　did　you　meet　a　guide；　an　intermediary？〃
　　　　　　　〃There　was　a　man；〃　Perrin　said　slowly。　He　knows；　but　does　he　think　the　same　as　Moiraine？　〃He　said　his　name　was　Elyas。　Elyas　Machera。〃　Lan　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　Perrin　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃You　know　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　him。　He　taught　me　much；　about　the　Blight；　and　about　this。〃　Lan　touched　his　sword　hilt。　〃He　was　a　Warder；　before　。。。　before　what　happened。　The　Red　Ajah　。。。〃　He　glanced　to　where　Moiraine　was；　lying　before　the　fire。
　　　　　　　It　was　the　first　time　Perrin　could　remember　any　uncertainty　in　the　Warder。　At　Shadar　Logoth　Lan　had　been　sure　and　strong；　and　when　he　was　facing　Fades　and　Trollocs。　He　was　not　afraid　now　…　Perrin　was　convinced　of　that　…　but　he　was　wary；　as　if　he　might　say　too　much。　As　if　what　he　said　could　be　dangerous。
　　　　　　　〃I've　heard　of　the　Red　Ajah；〃　he　told　Lan。
　　　　　　　〃And　most　of　what　you've　heard　is　wrong；　no　doubt。　You　must　understand；　there　are　。。。　factions　within　Tar　Valon。　Some　would　fight　the　Dark　One　one　way；　some　another。　The　goal　is　the　same；　but　the　differences　。。。　the　differences　can　mean　lives　changed；　or　ended。　The　lives　of　men　or　nations。　He　is　well；　Elyas？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　so。　The　Whitecloaks　said　they　killed　him；　but　Dapple　…　〃　Perrin　glanced　at　the　Warder　unfortably。　〃I　don't　know。〃　Lan　seemed　to　accept　that　he　did　not；　reluctantly；　and　it　emboldened　him　to　go　on。　〃This　municating　with　the　wolves。　Moiraine　seems　to　think　it's　something　the　。。。　something　the　Dark　One　did。　It　isn't；　is　it？〃　He　would　not　believe　Elyas　was　a　Darkfriend。
　　　　　　　But　Lan　hesitated；　and　sweat　started　on　Perrin's　face；　chill　beads　made　colder　by　the　night。　They　were　sliding　down　his　cheeks　by　the　time　the　Warder　spoke。
　　　　　　　〃Not　in　itself；　no。　Some　believe　it　is；　but　they　are　wrong；　it　was　old　and　lost　long　before　the　Dark　One　was　found。　But　what　of　the　chance　involved；　blacksmith？　Sometimes　the　Pattern　has　a　randomness　to　it　…　to　our　eyes；　at　least　…　but　what　chance　that　you　should　meet　a　man　who　could　guide　you　in　this　thing；　and　you　one　who　could　follow　the　guiding？　The　Pattern　is　forming　a　Great　Web；　what　some　call　the　Lace　of　Ages；　and　you　lads　are　central　to　it。　I　don't　think　there　is　much　chance　left　in　your　lives；　now。　Have　you　been　chosen　out；　then？　And　if　so；　by　the　Light；　or　by　the　Shadow？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Dark　One　can't　touch　us　unless　we　name　him。〃　Immediately　Perrin　thought　of　the　dreams　of　Ba'alzamon；　the　dreams　that　were　more　than　dreams。　He　scrubbed　the　sweat　off　his　face。　〃He　can't。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rock…hard　stubborn；〃　the　Warder　mused。　〃Maybe　stubborn　enough　to　save　yourself；　in　the　end。　Remember　the　times　we　live　in；　blacksmith。　Remember　what　Moiraine　Sedai　told　you。　In　these　times　many　things　are　dissolving；　and　breaking　apart。　Old　barriers　weaken；　old　walls　crumble。　The　barriers　between　what　is　and　what　was；　between　what　is　and　what　will　be。〃　His　voice　turned　grim。　〃The　walls　of　the　Dark　One's　prison。　This　may　be　the　end　of　an　Age。　We　may　see　a　new　Age　born　before　we　die。　Or　perhaps　it　is　the　end　of　Ages；　the　end　of　time　itself。　The　end　of　the　world。〃　Suddenly　he　grinned；　but　his　grin　was　as　dark　as　a　scowl；　his　eyes　sparkled　merrily；　laughing　at　the　foot　of　the　gallows。　〃But　that's　not　for　us　to　worry　about；　eh；　blacksmith？　We'll　fight　the　Shadow　as　long　as　we　have　breath；　and　if　it　overruns　us；　we'll　go　under　biting　and　clawing。　You　Two　Rivers　folk　are　too　stubborn　to　surrender。　Don't　you　worry　whether　the　Dark　One　has　stirred　in　your　life。　You　are　back　among　friends；　now。　Remember；　the　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；　and　even　the　Dark　One　cannot　change　that；　not　with　Moiraine　to　watch　over　you。　Bu