rj.eyeoftheworld-第153节

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Chapter　44
The　Dark　Along　the　Ways
　
　　　　　　　In　the　darkness　just　before　dawn　Rand　followed　Moiraine　down　to　the　back　hall；　where　Master　Gill　and　the　others　were　waiting；　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　as　anxiously　as　Loial；　Perrin　almost　as　calm　as　the　Warder。　Mat　stayed　on　Rand's　heels　as　if　he　were　afraid　to　be　even　a　little　alone　now；　even　as　much　as　a　few　feet　away。　The　cook　and　her　helpers　straightened；　staring　as　the　party　passed　silently　into　the　kitchen；　already　brightly　lit　and　hot　with　preparations　for　breakfast。　It　was　not　usual　for　patrons　of　the　inn　to　be　up　and　out　at　that　hour。　At　Master　Gill's　soothing　words；　the　cook　gave　a　loud　sniff　and　slapped　her　dough　down　hard。　They　were　all　back　to　tending　griddles　and　kneading　dough　before　Rand　reached　the　stableyard　door。
　　　　　　　Outside；　the　night　was　still　pitch…black。　To　Rand；　everyone　else　was　only　a　darker　shadow　at　best。　He　followed　the　innkeeper　and　Lan　blindly；　blind　in　truth；　hoping　Master　Gill's　knowledge　of　his　own　stableyard　and　the　Warder's　instincts　would　get　them　across　it　without　someone　breaking　a　leg。　Loial　stumbled　more　than　once。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　see　why　we　can't　have　just　one　light；〃　the　Ogier　grumbled。　〃We　don't　go　running　about　in　the　dark　in　the　stedding。　I'm　an　Ogier；　not　a　cat。〃　Rand　had　a　sudden　image　of　Loial's　tufted　ears　twitching　irritably。
　　　　　　　The　stable　loomed　up　suddenly　out　of　the　night；　a　threatening　mass　until　the　stable　door　creaked　open；　spilling　a　narrow　stream　of　light　into　the　yard。　The　innkeeper　only　opened　it　wide　enough　for　them　to　go　in　one　at　a　time；　and　hastily　pulled　it　to　behind　Perrin；　almost　clipping　his　heels。　Rand　blinked　in　the　sudden　light　inside。
　　　　　　　The　stablemen　were　not　surprised　by　their　appearance；　as　the　cook　had　been。　Their　horses　were　saddled　and　waiting。　Mandarb　stood　arrogantly；　ignoring　everyone　but　Lan；　but　Aldieb　stretched　her　nose　out　to　nuzzle　Moiraine's　hand。　There　was　a　packhorse；　bulky　with　wicker　panniers；　and　a　huge　animal　with　hairy　fetlocks；　taller　even　than　the　Warder's　stallion；　for　Loial。　It　looked　big　enough　to　pull　a　loaded　haywain　by　itself；　but　pared　with　the　Ogier　it　seemed　a　pony。
　　　　　　　Loial　eyed　the　big　horse　and　muttered　doubtfully；　〃My　own　feet　have　always　been　good　enough。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　motioned　to　Rand。　The　innkeeper　was　lending　him　a　bay　almost　the　color　of　his　own　hair；　tall　and　deep　of　chest；　but　with　none　of　the　fire　in　his　step　that　Cloud　had　had；　Rand　was　glad　to　see。　Master　Gill　said　his　name　was　Red。
　　　　　　　Egwene　went　straight　to　Bela；　and　Nynaeve　to　her　long…legged　mare。
　　　　　　　Mat　brought　his　dun…colored　horse　over　by　Rand。　〃Perrin's　making　me　nervous；〃　he　muttered。　Rand　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃Well；　he's　acting　strange。　Don't　you　see　it；　too？　I　swear　it's　not　my　imagination；　or　。。。　or　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded。　Not　the　dagger　taking　hold　of　him　again；　thank　the　Light。　〃He　is；　Mat；　but　just　be　easy。　Moiraine　knows　about　。。。　whatever　it　is。　Perrin's　fine。〃　He　wished　he　could　believe　it；　but　it　seemed　to　satisfy　Mat；　a　little　at　least。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Mat　said　hastily；　still　watching　Perrin　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃I　never　said　he　wasn't。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　conferred　with　the　head　groom。　That　leathery…skinned　man；　with　a　face　like　one　of　the　horses；　knuckled　his　forehead　and　hurried　to　the　back　of　the　stable。　The　innkeeper　turned　to　Moiraine　with　a　satisfied　smile　on　his　round　face。　〃Ramey　says　the　way　is　clear；　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　The　rear　wall　of　the　stable　appeared　solid　and　stout；　lined　with　heavy　racks　of　tools。　Ramey　and　another　stableman　cleared　away　the　hayforks；　rakes；　and　shovels；　then　reached　behind　the　racks　to　manipulate　hidden　latches。　Abruptly　a　section　of　the　wall　swung　inward　on　hinges　so　well　concealed　that　Rand　was　not　sure　he　could　find　them　even　with　the　disguised　door　standing　open。　Light　from　the　stable　illuminated　a　brick　wall　only　a　few　feet　away。
　　　　　　　〃It's　only　a　narrow　run　between　buildings；〃　the　innkeeper　said；　〃but　nobody　outside　this　stable　knows　there's　a　way　into　it　from　here。　Whitecloaks　or　white　cockades；　there'll　not　be　any　watchers　to　see　where　you　e　out。〃
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　nodded。　〃Remember；　good　innkeeper；　if　you　fear　any　trouble　from　this；　write　to　Sheriam　Sedai；　of　the　Blue　Ajah；　in　Tar　Valon；　and　she　will　help。　I　fear　my　sisters　and　I　have　a　good　deal　to　put　right　already　for　those　who　have　helped　me。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　laughed；　not　the　laugh　of　a　worried　man。　〃Why；　Aes　Sedai；　you've　already　given　me　the　only　inn　in　all　of　Caemlyn　without　any　rats。　What　more　could　I　ask　for？　I　can　double　my　custom　on　that　alone。〃　His　grin　faded　into　seriousness。　〃Whatever　you're　up　to；　the　Queen　holds　with　Tar　Valon；　and　I　hold　with　the　Queen；　so　I　wish　you　well。　The　Light　illumine　you；　Aes　Sedai。　The　Light　illumine　you　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　illumine　you；　also；　Master　Gill；〃　Moiraine　replied　with　a　bow　of　her　head。　〃But　if　the　Light　is　to　shine　on　any　of　us；　we　must　be　quick。〃　Briskly　she　turned　to　Loial。　〃Are　you　ready？〃
　　　　　　　With　a　wary　look　at　its　teeth；　the　Ogier　took　the　reins　of　the　big　horse。　Trying　to　keep　that　mouth　the　length　of　the　reins　from　his　hand；　he　led　the　animal　to　the　opening　at　the　back　of　the　stable。　Ramey　hopped　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　impatient　to　close　it　again。　For　a　moment　Loial　paused　with　his　head　cocked　as　if　feeling　a　breeze　on　his　cheek。　〃This　way；〃　he　said；　and　turned　down　the　narrow　alley。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　followed　right　behind　Loial's　horse；　then　Rand；　and　Mat。　Rand　had　the　first　turn　leading　the　packhorse。　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　made　the　middle　of　the　column；　with　Perrin　behind　them；　and　Lan　bringing　up　the　rear。　The　hidden　door　swung　hastily　shut　as　soon　as　Mandarb　stepped　into　the　dirt　alleyway。　The　snick…snick　of　latches　locking；　shutting　them　off；　sounded　unnaturally　loud　to　Rand。
　　　　　　　The　run；　as　Master　Gill　had　called　it；　was　very　narrow　indeed；　and　even　darker　than　the　stableyard；　if　that　was　possible。　Tall；　blank　walls　of　brick　or　wood　lined　both　sides；　with　only　a　narrow　strip　of　black　sky　overhead。　The　big；　woven　baskets　slung　on　the　packhorse　scraped　the　buildings　on　both　sides。　The　panniers　bulged　with　supplies　for　the　journey；　most　of　it　clay　jars　filled　with　oil。　A　bundle　of　poles　was　lashed　lengthwise　down　the　horse's　back；　and　each　had　a　lantern　swinging　at　the　end　of　it。　In　the　Ways；　Loial　said；　it　was　darker　than　the　darkest　night。
　　　　　　　The　partially　filled　lanterns　sloshed　with　the　motion　of　the　horse；　and　clinked　against　each　other　with　a　tinny　sound。　It　was　not　a　very　loud　noise；　but　in　the　hour　before　dawn　Caemlyn　was　quiet。　Silent。　The　dull　metallic　clinks　sounded　as　if　they　could　be　heard　a　mile　away。
　　　　　　　When　the　run　let　out　into　a　street；　Loial　chose　his　direction　without　a　pause。　He　seemed　to　know　exactly　where　he　was　going；　now；　as　if　the　route　he　needed　to　follow　was　being　clearer。　Rand　did　not　understand　how　the　Ogier　could　find　the　Waygate；　and　Loial　had　not　been　able　to　explain　very　well。　He　just　knew；　he　said；　he　could　feel　it。　Loial　claimed　it　was　like　trying　to　explain　how　to　breathe。
　　　　　　　As　they　hurried　up　the　street　Rand　looked　back　toward　the　corner　where　The　Queen's　Blessing　lay。　According　to　Lamgwin；　there　were　still　half　a　dozen　Whitecloaks　not　far　down　from　that　corner。　Their　interest　was　all　on　the　inn；　but　a　noise　would　surely　bring　them。　No　one　was　out　at　this　hour　for　a　reputable　reason。　The　horseshoes　seemed　to　ring　on　the　paving　stones　like　bells；　the　lanterns　clattered　as　if　the　packhorse　were　shaking　them　deliberately。　Not　until　they　had　rounded　another　corner　did　he　stop　looking　over　his　shoulder。　He　heard　relieved　sighs　from　the　other　Emond's　Fielders　as　they　came　round　it；　too。
　　　　　　　Loial　appeared　to　be　following　the　most　direct　path　to　the　Waygate；　wherever　it　took　them。　Sometimes　they　trotted　down　broad　avenues；　empty　save　for　an　occasional　dog　skulking　in　the　dark。　Sometimes　they　hurried　along　alleys　as　narrow　as　the　stable　run；　where　things　squished　under　an　unwary　step。　Nynaeve　plained　softly　about　the　resulting　smells；　but　no　one　slowed　down。
　　　　　　　The　darkness　began　to　lessen；　fading　toward　a　dark　gray。　Faint　glimmers　of　dawn　pearled　the　sky　above　the　eastern　rooftops。　A　few　people　appeared　on　the　streets；　bundled　up　against　the　early　cold；　heads　down　while　they　yet　dreamed　of　their　beds。　Most　paid　no　mind　to　anyone　else。　Only　a　handful　even　glanced　at　the　line　of　people　and　horses　with　Loial　at　its　head；　and　only　one　of　those　truly　saw　them。
　　　　　　　That　one　man　flicked　his　eyes　at　them；　just　like　the　others；　already　sinking　back　into　his　own　thoughts　when　suddenly　he　stumbled　and　almost　fell；　turning　himself　back　around　to　stare。　There　was　only　light　enough　to　see　shapes；　but　that　was　too　much。　Seen　at　a　distance　by　himself；　the　Ogier　could　have　passed　for　a　tall　man　leading　an　ordinary　horse；　or　for　an　ordinary　man　leading　an　under…sized　horse。　With　the　others　in　a　line　behind　him　to　give　perspective；　Loial　looked　exactly　as　big　as　he　was；　half　again　as　tall　as　any　man　should　be。　The　man　took　one　look　and；　with　a　strangled　cry；　set　off　running；　his　cloak　flapping　behind　him。
　　　　　　　There　would　be　more　people　in　the　streets　soon　…　very　soon。　Rand　eyed　a　woman　hurrying　past　on　the　other　side　of　the　st