rj.eyeoftheworld-第47节

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nd　dank；　and　somewhere　in　the　distance　water　dripped　with　a　steady；　hollow　plonk。　Wherever　this　was；　it　was　not　the　inn。　Frowning；　he　rubbed　at　his　forehead。　Inn？　His　head　hurt；　and　thoughts　were　hard　to　hold　on　to。　There　had　been　something　about　。。。　an　inn？　It　was　gone；　whatever　it　was。
　　　　　　　He　licked　his　lips　and　wished　he　had　something　to　drink。　He　was　awfully　thirsty；　dry…as…dust　thirsty。　It　was　the　dripping　sound　that　decided　him。　With　nothing　to　choose　by　except　his　thirst；　he　started　toward　that　steady　plonk…plonk…plonk。
　　　　　　　The　hallway　stretched　on；　without　any　crossing　corridor　and　without　the　slightest　change　in　appearance。　The　only　features　at　all　were　the　rough　doors　set　at　regular　intervals　in　pairs；　one　on　either　side　of　the　hall；　the　wood　splintered　and　dry　despite　the　damp　in　the　air。　The　shadows　receded　ahead　of　him；　staying　the　same；　and　the　dripping　never　came　any　closer。　After　a　long　time　he　decided　to　try　one　of　those　doors。　It　opened　easily；　and　he　stepped　through　into　a　grim；　stone…walled　chamber。
　　　　　　　One　wall　opened　in　a　series　of　arches　onto　a　gray　stone　balcony；　and　beyond　that　was　a　sky　such　as　he　had　never　seen。　Striated　clouds　in　blacks　and　grays；　reds　and　oranges；　streamed　by　as　if　storm　winds　drove　them；　weaving　and　interweaving　endlessly。　No　one　could　ever　have　seen　a　sky　like　that；　it　could　not　exist。
　　　　　　　He　pulled　his　eyes　away　from　the　balcony；　but　the　rest　of　the　room　was　no　better。　Odd　curves　and　peculiar　angles；　as　if　the　chamber　had　been　melted　almost　haphazardly　out　of　the　stone；　and　columns　that　seemed　to　grow　out　of　the　gray　floor。　Flames　roared　on　the　hearth　like　a　forge…fire　with　the　bellows　pumping；　but　gave　no　heat。　Strange　oval　stones　made　the　fireplace；　they　just　looked　like　stones；　wet…slick　despite　the　fire；　when　he　looked　straight　at　them；　but　when　he　glimpsed　them　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　they　seemed　to　be　faces　instead；　the　faces　of　men　and　women　writhing　in　anguish；　screaming　silently。　The　high…backed　chairs　and　the　polished　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room　were　perfectly　ordinary；　but　that　in　itself　emphasized　the　rest。　A　single　mirror　hung　on　the　wall；　but　that　was　not　ordinary　at　all。　When　he　looked　at　it　he　saw　only　a　blur　where　his　reflection　should　have　been。　Everything　else　in　the　room　was　shown　true；　but　not　him。
　　　　　　　A　man　stood　in　front　of　the　fireplace。　He　had　not　noticed　the　man　when　he　first　came　in。　If　he　had　not　known　it　was　impossible；　he　would　have　said　no　one　had　been　there　until　he　actually　looked　at　the　man。　Dressed　in　dark　clothes　of　a　fine　cut；　he　seemed　in　the　prime　of　his　maturity；　and　Rand　supposed　women　would　have　found　him　good…looking。
　　　　　　　〃Once　more　we　meet　face…to…face；〃　the　man　said　and；　just　for　an　instant；　his　mouth　and　eyes　became　openings　into　endless　caverns　of　flame。
　　　　　　　With　a　yell　Rand　hurled　himself　backwards　out　of　the　room；　so　hard　that　he　stumbled　across　the　hall　and　banged　into　the　door　there；　knocking　it　open。　He　twisted　and　grabbed　at　the　doorhandle　to　keep　from　falling　to　the　floor　and　found　himself　staring　wide…eyed　into　a　stone　room　with　an　impossible　sky　through　the　arches　leading　to　a　balcony；　and　a　fireplace。。。
　　　　　　　〃You　cannot　get　away　from　me　that　easily；〃　the　man　said。
　　　　　　　Rand　twisted；　scrambling　back　out　of　the　room；　trying　to　regain　his　feet　without　slowing　down。　This　time　there　was　no　corridor。　He　froze　half　crouched　not　far　from　the　polished　table；　and　looked　at　the　man　by　the　fireplace。　It　was　better　than　looking　at　the　fireplace　stones；　or　at　the　sky。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　a　dream；〃　he　said　as　he　straightened。　Behind　him　he　heard　the　click　of　the　door　closing。　〃It's　some　kind　of　nightmare。〃　He　shut　his　eyes；　thinking　about　waking　up。　When　he　was　a　child　the　Wisdom　had　said　if　you　could　do　that　in　a　nightmare；　it　would　go　away。　The　。。。　Wisdom？　What？　If　only　his　thoughts　would　stop　sliding　away。　If　only　his　head　would　stop　hurting；　then　he　could　think　straight。
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　eyes　again。　The　room　was　still　as　it　had　been；　the　balcony；　the　sky。　The　man　by　the　fireplace。
　　　　　　　〃Is　it　a　dream？〃　the　man　said。　〃Does　it　matter？〃　Once　again；　for　a　moment；　his　mouth　and　eyes　became　peepholes　into　a　furnace　that　seemed　to　stretch　forever。　His　voice　did　not　change；　he　did　not　seem　to　notice　it　happening　at　all。
　　　　　　　Rand　jumped　a　little　this　time；　but　he　managed　to　keep　from　yelling。　This　is　a　dream。　It　has　to　be。　All　the　same；　he　stepped　backwards　all　the　way　to　the　door；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　the　fellow　by　the　fire；　and　tried　the　handle。　It　did　not　move；　the　door　was　locked。
　　　　　　　〃You　seem　thirsty；〃　the　man　by　the　fire　said。　〃Drink。〃
　　　　　　　On　the　table　was　a　goblet；　shining　gold　and　ornamented　with　rubies　and　amethysts。　It　had　not　been　there　before。　He　wished　he　could　stop　jumping。　It　was　only　a　dream。　His　mouth　felt　like　dust。
　　　　　　　〃I　am；　a　little；〃　he　said；　picking　up　the　goblet。　The　man　leaned　forward　intently；　one　hand　on　the　back　of　a　chair；　watching　him。　The　smell　of　spiced　wine　drove　home　to　Rand　just　how　thirsty　he　was；　as　if　he　had　had　nothing　to　drink　in　days。　Have　I？
　　　　　　　With　the　wine　halfway　to　his　mouth；　he　stopped。　Whispers　of　smoke　were　rising　from　the　chairback　between　the　man's　fingers。　And　those　eyes　watched　him　so　sharply；　flickering　rapidly　in　and　out　of　flames。
　　　　　　　Rand　licked　his　lips　and　put　the　wine　back　on　the　table；　untasted。　〃I'm　not　as　thirsty　as　I　thought。〃　The　man　straightened　abruptly；　his　face　without　expression。　His　disappointment　could　not　have　been　more　plain　if　he　had　cursed。　Rand　wondered　what　was　in　the　wine。　But　that　was　a　stupid　question；　of　course。　This　was　all　a　dream。　Then　why　won't　it　stop？　〃What　do　you　want？〃　he　demanded。　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　　　　　　Flames　rose　in　the　man's　eyes　and　mouth；　Rand　thought　he　could　hear　them　roar。　〃Some　call　me　Ba'alzamon。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　found　himself　facing　the　door；　jerking　frantically　at　the　handle。　All　thought　of　dreams　had　vanished。　The　Dark　One。　The　doorhandle　would　not　budge；　but　he　kept　twisting。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　the　one？〃　Ba'alzamon　said　suddenly。　〃You　cannot　hide　it　from　me　forever。　You　cannot　even　hide　yourself　from　me；　not　on　the　highest　mountain　or　in　the　deepest　cave。　I　know　you　down　to　the　smallest　hair。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　turned　to　face　the　man…to　face　Ba'alzamon。　He　swallowed　hard。　A　nightmare。　He　reached　back　to　give　the　door…handle　one　last　pull；　then　stood　up　straighter。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　expecting　glory？〃　Ba'alzamon　said。　〃Power？　Did　they　tell　you　the　Eye　of　the　World　would　serve　you？　What　glory　or　power　is　there　for　a　puppet？　The　strings　that　move　you　have　been　centuries　weaving。　Your　father　was　chosen　by　the　White　Tower；　like　a　stallion　roped　and　led　to　his　business。　Your　mother　was　no　more　than　a　brood　mare　to　their　plans。　And　those　plans　lead　to　your　death。〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　hands　knotted　in　fists。　〃My　father　is　a　good　man；　and　my　mother　was　a　good　woman。　Don't　you　talk　about　them！〃
　　　　　　　The　flames　laughed。　〃So　there　is　some　spirit　in　you　after　all。　Perhaps　you　are　the　one。　Little　good　it　will　do　you。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　will　use　you　until　you　are　consumed；　just　as　Davian　was　used；　and　Yurian　Stonebow；　and　Guaire　Amalasan；　and　Raolin　Darksbane。　Just　as　Logain　is　being　used。　Used　until　there　is　nothing　left　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　。。。〃　Rand　swung　his　head　from　side　to　side。　That　one　moment　of　clear　thinking；　born　in　anger；　was　gone。　Even　as　he　groped　for　it　again　he　could　not　remember　how　he　had　reached　it　the　first　time。　His　thoughts　spun　around　and　around。　He　seized　one　like　a　raft　in　the　whirlpool。　He　forced　the　words　out；　his　voice　strengthening　the　further　he　went。　〃You　。。。　are　bound　。。。　in　Shayol　Ghul。　You　and　all　the　Forsaken　。。。　bound　by　the　Creator　until　the　end　of　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　end　of　time？〃　Ba'alzamon　mocked。　〃You　live　like　a　beetle　under　a　rock；　and　you　think　your　slime　is　the　universe。　The　death　of　time　will　bring　me　power　such　as　you　could　not　dream　of；　worm。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　bound…〃
　　　　　　　〃Fool；　I　have　never　been　bound！〃　The　fires　of　his　face　roared　so　hot　that　Rand　stepped　back；　sheltering　behind　his　hands。　The　sweat　on　his　palms　dried　from　the　heat。　〃I　stood　at　Lews　Therin　Kinslayer's　shoulder　when　he　did　the　deed　that　named　him。　It　was　I　who　told　him　to　kill　his　wife；　and　his　children；　and　all　his　blood；　and　every　living　person　who　loved　him　or　whom　he　loved。　It　was　I　who　gave　him　the　moment　of　sanity　to　know　what　he　had　done。　Have　you　ever　heard　a　man　scream　his　soul　away；　worm？　He　could　have　struck　at　me；　then。　He　could　not　have　won；　but　he　could　have　tried。　Instead　he　called　down　his　precious　One　Power　upon　himself；　so　much　that　the　earth　split　open　and　reared　up　Dragonmount　to　mark　his　tomb。
　　　　　　　〃A　thousand　years　later　I　sent　the　Trollocs　ravening　south；　and　for　three　centuries　they　savaged　the　world。　Those　blind　fools　in　Tar　Valon　said　I　was　beaten　in　the　end；　but　the　Second　Covenant；　the　Covenant　of　the　Ten　Nations；　was　shattered　beyond　remaking；　and　who　was　left　to　oppose　me　then？　I　whispered　in　Artur　Hawkwing's　ear；　and　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　land　Aes　Sedai　died。　I　whispered　again；　and　the　High　King　sent　his　armies　across　the　Aryth　Ocean；　across　the　World　Sea；　and　sealed　two　dooms。　The　doom　of　his　dream　of　one　land　and　one　people；　and　a　do