rj.eyeoftheworld-第22节

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　　　　　　　Rand　only　half　heard。　He　was　concentrating　on　following　Egwene's　slender　shape。　He　had　pulled　himself　together　just　enough　to　wish　she　would　hurry；　though　in　truth　she　was　keeping　her　pace　to　what　the　two　men　could　manage　with　their　burden。　She　led　them　halfway　down　the　Green；　to　the　Calder　house。　Char　blackened　the　edges　of　its　thatch；　and　smut　stained　the　whitewashed　walls。　Of　the　houses　on　either　side　only　the　foundation　stones　were　left；　and　two　piles　of　ash　and　burned　timbers。　One　had　been　the　house　of　Berin　Thane；　one　of　the　miller's　brothers。　The　other　had　been　Abell　Cauthon's。　Mat's　father。　Even　the　chimneys　had　toppled。
　　　　　　　〃Wait　here；〃　Egwene　said；　and　gave　them　a　look　as　if　expecting　an　answer。　When　they　only　stood　there；　she　muttered　something　under　her　breath；　then　dashed　inside。
　　　　　　　〃Mat；〃　Rand　said。　〃Is　he　。。。　？〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　alive；〃　the　blacksmith　said。　He　set　down　his　end　of　the　litter　and　straightened　slowly。　〃I　saw　him　a　little　while　ago。　It's　a　wonder　any　of　us　are　alive。　The　way　they　came　after　my　house；　and　the　forge；　you'd　have　thought　I　had　gold　and　jewels　in　there。　Alsbet　cracked　one's　skull　with　a　frying　pan。　She　took　one　look　at　the　ashes　of　our　house　this　morning　and　set　out　hunting　around　the　village　with　the　biggest　hammer　she　could。　dig　out　of　what's　left　of　the　forge；　just　in　case　any　of　them　hid　instead　of　running　away。　I　could　almost　pity　the　thing　if　she　finds　one。〃　He　nodded　to　the　Calder　house。　〃Mistress　Calder　and　a　few　others　took　in　some　of　those　who　were　hurt；　the　ones　with　no　home　of　their　own　still　standing。　When　the　Wisdom's　seen　Tam；　we'll　find　him　a　bed。　The　inn；　maybe。　The　Mayor　offered　it　already；　but　Nynaeve　said　the　hurt　folk　would　heal　better　if　there　weren't　so　many　of　them　together。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　sank　to　his　knees。　Shrugging　out　of　his　blanket　harness；　he　wearily　busied　himself　with　checking　Tam's　covers。　Tam　never　moved　or　made　a　sound；　even　when　Rand's　wooden　hands　jostled　him。　But　he　was　still　breathing；　at　least。　My　father。　The　other　was　just　the　fever　talking。
　　　　　　　〃What　if　they　e　back？〃　he　said　dully。
　　　　　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　Master　Luhhan　said　uneasily。　〃If　they　e　back　。。。　Well；　they're　gone；　now。　So　we　pick　up　the　pieces；　build　up　what's　been　torn　down。〃　He　sighed；　his　face　going　slack　as　he　knuckled　the　small　of　his　back。　For　the　first　time　Rand　realized　that　the　heavyset　man　was　as　tired　as　he　was　himself；　if　not　more　so。　The　blacksmith　looked　at　the　village；　shaking　his　head。　〃I　don't　suppose　today　will　be　much　of　a　Bel　Tine。　But　we'll　make　it　through。　We　always　have。〃　Abruptly　he　took　up　his　axe；　and　his　face　firmed。　〃There's　work　waiting　for　me。　Don't　you　worry；　lad。　The　Wisdom　will　take　good　care　of　him；　and　the　Light　will　take　care　of　us　all。　And　if　the　Light　doesn't；　well；　we'll　just　take　care　of　ourselves。　Remember；　we're　Two　Rivers　folk。〃
　　　　　　　Still　on　his　knees；　Rand　looked　at　the　village　as　the　blacksmith　walked　away；　really　looked　for　the　first　time。　Master　Luhhan　was　right；　he　thought；　and　was　surprised　that　he　was　not　surprised　by　what　he　saw。　People　still　dug　in　the　ruins　of　their　homes；　but　even　in　the　short　time　he　had　been　there　more　of　them　had　begun　to　move　with　a　sense　of　purpose。　He　could　almost　feel　the　growing　determination。　But　he　wondered。　They　had　seen　Trollocs；　had　they　seen　the　black…cloaked　rider？　Had　they　felt　his　hatred？
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　appeared　from　the　Calder　house；　and　he　sprang　to　his　feet。　Or　rather；　he　tried　to　spring　to　his　feet；　it　was　more　of　a　stumbling　lurch　that　almost　put　him　on　his　face　in　the　dust。
　　　　　　　The　Wisdom　dropped　to　her　knees　beside　the　litter　without　giving　him　so　much　as　a　glance。　Her　face　and　dress　were　even　dirtier　than　Egwene's；　and　the　same　dark　circles　fined　her　eyes；　though　her　hands；　too；　were　clean。　She　felt　Tam's　face　and　thumbed　open　his　eyelids。　With　a　frown　she　pulled　down　the　coverings　and　eased　the　bandage　aside　to　look　at　the　wound。　Before　Rand　could　see　what　lay　underneath　she　had　replaced　the　wadded　cloth。　Sighing；　she　smoothed　the　blanket　and　cloak　back　up　to　Tam's　neck　with　a　gentle　touch；　as　if　tucking　a　child　in　for　the　night。〃
　　　　　　　〃There's　nothing　I　can　do；〃　she　said。　She　had　to　put　her　hands　on　her　knees　to　straighten　up。　〃I'm　sorry；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　he　stood；　not　understanding；　as　she　started　back　to　the　house；　then　he　scrambled　after　her　and　pulled　her　around　to　face　him。　〃He's　dying；〃　he　cried。
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　she　said　simply；　and　he　sagged　with　the　matter…of…factness　of　it。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　to　do　something。　You　have　to。　You're　the　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　Pain　twisted　her　face；　but　only　for　an　instant；　then　she　was　all　hollow…eyed　resolve　again；　her　voice　emotionless　and　firm。　〃Yes；　I　am。　I　know　what　I　can　do　with　my　medicines；　and　I　know　when　it's　too　late。　Don't　you　think　I　would　do　something　if　I　could？　But　I　can't。　I　can't；　Rand。　And　there　are　others　who　need　me。　People　I　can　help。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　brought　him　to　you　as　quickly　as　I　could；〃　he　mumbled。　Even　with　the　village　in　ruins；　there　had　been　the　Wisdom　for　hope。　With　that　gone；　he　was　empty。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　you　did；〃　she　said　gently。　She　touched　his　cheek　with　her　hand。　〃It　isn't　your　fault。　You　did　the　best　anyone　could。　I　am　sorry；　Rand；　but　I　have　others　to　tend　to。　Our　troubles　are　just　beginning；　I'm　afraid。〃
　　　　　　　Vacantly　he　stared　after　her　until　the　door　of　the　house　closed　behind　her。　He　could　not　make　any　thought　e　except　that　she　would　not　help。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　he　was　knocked　back　a　step　as　Egwene　cannoned　into　him；　throwing　her　arms　around　him。　Her　hug　was　hard　enough　to　bring　a　grunt　from　him　any　other　time；　now　he　only　looked　silently　at　the　door　behind　which　his　hopes　had　vanished。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　so　sorry；　Rand；〃　she　said　against　his　chest。　〃Light；　I　wish　there　was　something　I　could　do。〃
　　　　　　　Numbly　he　put　his　arms　around　her。　〃I　know。　I　。。。　I　have　to　do　something；　Egwene。　I　don't　know　what；　but　I　can't　just　let　him　。。。〃　His　voice　broke；　and　she　hugged　him　harder。
　　　　　　　〃Egwene！〃　At　Nynaeve's　shout　from　the　house；　Egwene　jumped。　〃Egwene；　I　need　you！　And　wash　your　hands　again！〃
　　　　　　　She　pushed　herself　free　from　Rand's　arms。　〃She　needs　my　help；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Egwene！〃
　　　　　　　He　thought　he　heard　a　sob　as　she　spun　away　from　him。　Then　she　was　gone；　and　he　was　left　alone　beside　the　litter。　For　a　moment　he　looked　down　at　Tam；　feeling　nothing　but　hollow　helplessness。　Suddenly　his　face　hardened。　〃The　Mayor　will　know　what　to　do；〃　he　said；　lifting　the　shafts　once　more。　〃The　Mayor　will　know。〃　Bran　al'Vere　always　knew　what　to　do。　With　weary　obstinacy　he　set　out　for　the　Winespring　Inn。
　　　　　　　Another　of　the　Dhurran　stallions　passed　him；　its　harness　straps　tied　around　the　ankles　of　a　big　shape　draped　with　a　dirty　blanket。　Arms　covered　with　coarse　hair　dragged　in　the　dirt　behind　the　blanket；　and　one　corner　was　pushed　up　to　reveal　a　goat's　horn。　The　Two　Rivers　was　no　place　for　stories　to　bee　horribly　real。　If　Trollocs　belonged　anywhere　it　was　in　the　world　outside；　for　places　where　they　had　Aes　Sedai　and　false　Dragons　and　the　Light　alone　knew　what　else　e　to　life　out　of　the　tales　of　gleemen。　Not　the　Two　Rivers。　Not　Emond's　Field。
　　　　　　　As　he　made　his　way　down　the　Green；　people　called　to　him；　some　from　the　ruins　of　their　homes；　asking　if　they　could　help。　He　heard　them　only　as　murmurs　in　the　background；　even　when　they　walked　alongside　him　for　a　distance　as　they　spoke。　Without　really　thinking　about　it　he　managed　words　that　said　he　needed　no　help；　that　everything　was　being　taken　care　of。　When　they　left　him；　with　worried　looks；　and　sometimes　a　ment　about　sending　Nynaeve　to　him；　he　noticed　that　just　as　little。　All　he　let　himself　be　aware　of　was　the　purpose　he　had　fixed　in　his　head。　Bran　al'Vere　could　do　something　to　help　Tam。　What　that　could　be　he　tried　not　to　dwell　on。　But　the　Mayor　would　be　able　to　do　something；　to　think　of　something。
　　　　　　　The　inn　had　almost　pletely　escaped　the　destruction　that　had　taken　half　the　village。　A　few　scorch　marks　marred　its　walls；　but　the　red　roof　tiles　glittered　in　the　sunlight　as　brightly　as　ever。　All　that　was　left　of　the　peddler's　wagon；　though；　were　blackened　iron　wheel…rims　leaning　against　the　charred　wagon　box；　now　on　the　ground。　The　big　round　hoops　that　had　held　up　the　canvas　cover　slanted　crazily；　each　at　a　different　angle。
　　　　　　　Thom　Merrilin　sat　cross…legged　on　the　old　foundation　stones；　carefully　snipping　singed　edges　from　the　patches　on　his　cloak　with　a　pair　of　small　scissors。　He　set　down　cloak　and　scissors　when　Rand　drew　near。　Without　asking　if　Rand　needed　or　wanted　help；　he　hopped　down　and　picked　up　the　back　of　the　litter。
　　　　　　　〃Inside？　Of　course；　of　course。　Don't　you　worry；　boy。　Your　Wisdom　will　take　care　of　him。　I've　watched　her　work；　since　last　night；　and　she　has　a　deft　touch　and　a　sure　skill。　It　could　be　a　lot　worse。　Some　died　last　night。　Not　many；　perhaps；　but　any　at　all　are　too　many　for　me。　Old　Fain　just　disappeared；　and　that's　the　worst　of　all。　Trollocs　will　eat　anything。　You　should　thank　the　Light　your　father's　still　here；　and　alive　for　the　Wisdom　to　heal。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　blotted　out　the　words　…　He　is　my　father！　…　reducing　the　voice　to　meaningless　sound　that　he　noticed　no　more　than　a　fly's　buzzing。　He　could　no