rj.eyeoftheworld-第146节

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eve　shook　her　head；　muttering　under　her　breath。
　　　　　　　The　silence　thickened　around　them；　stifling　the　little　chuckles；　flattening　the　joy；　until　they　reached　the　head　of　the　stairs。
　　　　　　　〃Mat's　not　sick；　exactly；〃　he　said　then。　〃It's　。。。　You'll　see。〃　He　flung　open　the　door　to　the　room　he　shared　with　Mat。　〃Look　who's　here；　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　was　still　curled　up　in　a　ball　on　the　bed；　just　as　Rand　had　left　him。　He　raised　his　head　to　stare　at　them。　〃How　do　you　know　they're　really　who　they　look　like？〃　he　said　hoarsely。　His　face　was　flushed；　the　skin　tight　and　slick　with　sweat。　〃How　do　I　know　you're　who　you　look　like？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　sick？〃　Nynaeve　gave　Rand　a　disdainful　look　as　she　pushed　past　him；　already　unslinging　her　bag　from　her　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃Everybody　changes；〃　Mat　rasped。　〃How　can　I　be　sure？　Perrin？　Is　that　you？　You've　changed；　haven't　you？〃　His　laugh　sounded　more　like　a　cough。　〃Oh；　yes；　you've　changed。〃
　　　　　　　To　Rand's　surprise　Perrin　dropped　onto　the　edge　of　the　other　bed　with　his　head　in　hands；　staring　at　the　floor。　Mat's　hacking　laughter　seemed　to　pierce　him。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　knelt　beside　Mat's　bed　and　put　a　hand　to　his　face；　pushing　up　his　headcloth。　He　jerked　back　from　her　with　a　scornful　look。　His　eyes　were　bright　and　glazed。　〃You're　burning；〃　she　said；　〃but　you　should　not　be　sweating　with　this　much　fever。〃　She　could　not　keep　the　worry　out　of　her　voice。　〃Rand；　you　and　Perrin　fetch　some　clean　cloths　and　as　much　cool　water　as　you　can　carry。　I'll　bring　your　temperature　down　first；　Mat；　and　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Pretty　Nynaeve；〃　Mat　spat。　〃A　Wisdom　isn't　supposed　to　think　of　herself　as　a　woman；　is　she？　Not　a　pretty　woman。　But　you　do；　don't　you？　Now。　You　can't　make　yourself　forget　that　you're　a　pretty　woman；　now；　and　it　frightens　you。　Everybody　changes。〃　Nynaeve's　face　paled　as　he　spoke；　whether　with　anger　or　something　else；　Rand　could　not　tell。　Mat　gave　a　sly　laugh；　and　his　feverish　eyes　slid　to　Egwene。　〃Pretty　Egwene；〃　he　croaked。　〃Pretty　as　Nynaeve。　And　you　share　other　things　now；　don't　you？　Other　dreams。　What　do　you　dream　about　now？〃　Egwene　took　a　step　back　from　the　bed。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　safe　from　the　Dark　One's　eyes　for　the　time　being；〃　Moiraine　announced　as　she　walked　into　the　room　with　Lan　at　her　heels。　Her　eyes　fell　on　Mat　as　she　stepped　through　the　doorway；　and　she　hissed　as　if　she　had　touched　a　hot　stove。　〃Get　away　from　him！〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　did　not　move　except　for　turning　to　stare　at　the　Aes　Sedai　in　surprise。　In　two　quick　steps　Moiraine　seized　the　Wisdom　by　the　shoulders；　hauling　her　across　the　floor　like　a　sack　of　grain。　Nynaeve　struggled　and　protested；　but　Moiraine　did　not　release　her　until　she　was　well　away　from　the　bed。　The　Wisdom　continued　her　protests　as　she　got　to　her　feet；　angrily　straightening　her　clothes；　but　Moiraine　ignored　her　pletely。　The　Aes　Sedai　watched　Mat　to　the　exclusion　of　everything　else；　eyeing　him　the　way　she　would　a　viper。
　　　　　　　〃All　of　you　stay　away　from　him；〃　she　said。　〃And　be　quiet。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　stared　back　as　intently　as　she。　He　bared　his　teeth　in　a　silent；　snarling　rictus；　and　pulled　himself　into　an　ever　tighter　knot；　but　he　never　took　his　eyes　from　hers。　Slowly　she　put　one　hand　on　him；　lightly；　on　a　knee　drawn　up　to　his　chest。　A　convulsion　shook　him　at　her　touch；　a　shudder　of　revulsion　spasming　through　his　entire　body；　and　abruptly　he　pulled　one　hand　out；　slashing　at　her　face　with　the　ruby…hilted　dagger。
　　　　　　　One　minute　Lan　was　in　the　doorway；　the　next　he　was　at　the　bedside；　as　if　he　had　not　bothered　with　the　intervening　space。　His　hand　caught　Mat's　wrist；　stopping　the　slash　as　if　it　had　struck　stone。　Still　Mat　held　himself　in　that　tight　ball。　Only　the　hand　with　the　dagger　tried　to　move；　straining　against　the　Warder's　implacable　grip。　Mat's　eyes　never　left　Moiraine；　and　they　burned　with　hate。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　also　did　not　move。　She　did　not　flinch　from　the　blade　only　inches　from　her　face；　as　she　had　not　when　he　first　struck。　〃How　did　he　e　by　this？〃　she　asked　in　a　steel　voice。　〃I　asked　if　Mordeth　had　given　you　anything。　I　asked；　and　I　warned　you；　and　you　said　he　had　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　didn't；〃　Rand　said。　〃He　。。。　Mat　took　it　from　the　treasure　room。〃　Moiraine　looked　at　him；　her　eyes　seeming　to　burn　as　much　as　Mat's。　He　almost　stepped　back　before　she　turned　away　again；　back　to　the　bed。　〃I　didn't　know　until　after　we　were　separated。　I　didn't　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　did　not　know。〃　Moiraine　studied　Mat。　He　still　lay　with　his　knees　pulled　up　to　his　chest；　still　snarled　soundlessly　at　her；　and　his　hand　yet　fought　Lan　to　reach　her　with　the　dagger。　〃It　is　a　wonder　you　got　this　far；　carrying　this。　I　felt　the　evil　of　it　when　I　laid　eyes　on　him；　the　touch　of　Mashadar；　but　a　Fade　could　sense　it　for　miles。　Even　though　he　would　not　know　exactly　where；　he　would　know　it　was　near；　and　Mashadar　would　draw　his　spirit　while　his　bones　remembered　that　this　same　evil　swallowed　an　army　…　Dreadlords；　Fades；　Trollocs；　and　all。　Some　Darkfriends　could　probably　feel　it；　too。　Those　who　have　truly　given　away　their　souls。　There　could　not　help　but　be　those　who　would　wonder　at　suddenly　feeling　this；　as　if　the　very　air　around　them　itched。　They　would　be　pelled　to　seek　it。　It　should　have　drawn　them　to　it　as　a　magnet　draws　iron　filings。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　were　Darkfriends；〃　Rand　said；　〃more　than　once；　but　we　got　away　from　them。　And　a　Fade；　the　night　before　we　reached　Caemlyn；　but　he　never　saw　us。〃　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃There　are　rumors　of　strange　things　in　the　night　outside　the　city。　It　could　be　Trollocs。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　it's　Trollocs；　sheepherder；〃　Lan　said　wryly。　〃And　where　Trollocs　are；　there　are　Fades。〃　Tendons　stood　out　on　the　back　of　his　hand　from　the　effort　of　holding　Mat's　wrist；　but　there　was　no　strain　in　his　voice。　〃They've　tried　to　hide　their　passage；　but　I　have　seen　sign　for　two　days。　And　heard　farmers　and　villagers　mutter　about　things　in　the　night。　The　Myrddraal　managed　to　strike　into　the　Two　Rivers　unseen；　somehow；　but　every　day　they　e　closer　to　those　who　can　send　soldiers　to　hunt　them　down。　Even　so；　they　won't　stop　now；　sheepherder。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　we're　in　Caemlyn；〃　Egwene　said。　〃They　can't　get　to　us　as　long　as　…〃
　　　　　　　〃They　can't？〃　the　Warder　cut　her　off。　〃The　Fades　are　building　their　numbers　in　the　countryside。　That's　plain　enough　from　the　sign；　if　you　know　what　to　look　for。　Already　there　are　more　Trollocs　than　they　need　just　to　watch　all　the　ways　out　of　the　city；　a　dozen　fists；　at　least。　There　can　only　be　one　reason；　when　the　Fades　have　enough　numbers；　they　will　e　into　the　city　after　you。　That　act　may　send　half　the　armies　of　the　south　marching　to　the　Borderlands；　but　the　evidence　is　that　they're　willing　to　take　that　risk。　You　three　have　escaped　them　too　long。　It　looks　as　if　you've　brought　a　new　Trolloc　War　to　Caemlyn；　sheepherder。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　a　gasping　sob；　and　Perrin　shook　his　head　as　though　to　deny　it。　Rand　felt　a　sickness　in　his　stomach　at　the　thought　of　Trollocs　in　the　streets　of　Caemlyn。　All　those　people　at　one　another's　throats；　never　realizing　the　real　threat　waiting　to　e　over　the　walls。　What　would　they　do　when　they　suddenly　found　Trollocs　and　Fades　in　their　midst；　killing　them？　He　could　see　the　towers　burning；　flames　breaking　through　the　domes；　Trollocs　pillaging　through　the　curving　streets　and　vistas　of　the　Inner　City。　The　Palace　itself　in　flames。　Elayne；　and　Gawyn；　and　Morgase　。。。　dead。
　　　　　　　〃Not　yet；〃　Moiraine　said　absently。　She　was　still　intent　on　Mat。　〃If　we　can　find　a　way　out　of　Caemlyn；　the　Halfmen　will　have　no　more　interest　here。　If。　So　many　if's。〃
　　　　　　　〃Better　we　were　all　dead；〃　Perrin　said　suddenly；　and　Rand　jumped　at　the　echo　of　his　own　thoughts。　Perrin　still　sat　staring　at　the　floor　…　glaring　at　it　now　…　and　his　voice　was　bitter。　〃Everywhere　we　go；　we　bring　pain　and　suffering　on　our　backs。　It　would　be　better　for　everyone　if　we　were　dead。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　rounded　on　him；　her　face　half　fury　and　half　worried　fear；　but　Moiraine　forestalled　her。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　to　gain；　for　yourself　or　anyone　else；　by　dying？〃　the　Aes　Sedai　asked。　Her　voice　was　level；　yet　sharp。　〃If　the　Lord　of　the　Grave　has　gained　as　much　freedom　to　touch　the　Pattern　as　I　fear；　he　can　reach　you　dead　more　easily　than　alive；　now。　Dead；　you　can　help　no　one；　not　the　people　who　have　helped　you；　not　your　friends　and　family　back　in　the　Two　Rivers。　The　Shadow　is　falling　over　the　world；　and　none　of　you　can　stop　it　dead。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　raised　his　head　to　look　at　her；　and　Rand　gave　a　start。　The　irises　of　his　friend's　eyes　were　more　yellow　than　brown。　With　his　shaggy　hair　and　the　intensity　of　his　gaze；　there　was　something　about　him。。。　Rand　could　not　grasp　it　enough　to　make　it　out。
　　　　　　　Perrin　spoke　with　a　soft　flatness　that　gave　his　words　more　weight　than　if　he　had　shouted。　〃We　can't　stop　it　alive；　either；　now　can　we？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　time　to　argue　with　you　later；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃but　your　friend　needs　me　now。〃　She　stepped　aside　so　they　could　all　see　Mat　clearly。　His　eyes　still　on　her　with　a　rage…filled　stare；　he　had　not　moved　or　changed　his　position　on　the　bed。　Sweat　stood　out　on　his　face；　and　his　lips　were　bloodless　in　an　unchanging　snarl。　All　of　his　strength　seemed　to　be　pouring　into　the　effort　to　reach　Moiraine　with　the　dagger　Lan　held　motionless。　〃Or　had　you　forgotten？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　an　embarrassed　shrug