rj.eyeoftheworld-第80节

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　　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　Perrin　said　quickly。　〃All　right！〃　The　growling　cut　off；　sharp　and　sudden。　Egwene　unclenched　her　hands　and　nodded。　〃It　all　started　a　few　days　before　Winternight；〃　Perrin　began；　〃when　our　friend　Mat　saw　a　man　in　a　black　cloak　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　never　changed　his　expression　or　the　way　he　lay　on　his　side；　but　there　was　something　about　the　tilt　of　his　head　that　spoke　of　ears　pricking　up。　The　four　wolves　sat　down　as　Perrin　went　on；　he　had　the　impression　they　were　listening；　too。　The　story　was　a　long　one；　and　he　told　almost　all　of　it。　The　dream　he　and　the　others　had　had　in　Baerlon；　though；　he　kept　to　himself。　He　waited　for　the　wolves　to　make　some　sign　they　had　caught　the　omission；　but　they　only　watched。　Dapple　seemed　friendly；　Burn　angry。　He　was　hoarse　by　the　time　he　finished。
　　　　　　　〃。。。　and　if　she　doesn't　find　us　in　Caemlyn；　we'll　go　on　to　Tar　Valon。　We　don't　have　any　choice　except　to　get　help　from　the　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs　and　Halfmen　this　far　south；〃　Elyas　mused。　〃Now　that's　something　to　consider。〃　He　rooted　behind　him　and　tossed　Perrin　a　hide　waterbag；　not　really　looking　at　him。　He　appeared　to　be　thinking。　He　waited　until　Perrin　had　drunk　and　replaced　the　plug　before　he　spoke　again。　〃I　don't　hold　with　Aes　Sedai。　The　Red　Ajah；　those　that　like　hunting　for　men　who　mess　with　the　One　Power；　they　wanted　to　gentle　me；　once。　I　told　them　to　their　faces　they　were　Black　Ajah；　served　the　Dark　One；　I　said；　and　they　didn't　like　that　at　all。　They　couldn't　catch　me；　though；　once　I　got　into　the　forest；　but　they　did　try。　Yes；　they　did。　e　to　that；　I　doubt　any　Aes　Sedai　would　take　kindly　to　me；　after　that。　I　had　to　kill　a　couple　of　Warders。　Bad　business；　that；　killing　Warders。　Don't　like　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　talking　to　wolves；〃　Perrin　said　uneasily。　〃It　。。。　it　has　to　do　with　the　Power？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Elyas　growled。　〃Wouldn't　have　worked　on　me；　gentling；　but　it　made　me　mad；　them　wanting　to　try。　This　is　an　old　thing；　boy。　Older　than　Aes　Sedai。　Older　than　anybody　using　the　One　Power。　Old　as　humankind。　Old　as　wolves。　They　don't　like　that　either；　Aes　Sedai。　Old　things　ing　again。　I'm　not　the　only　one。　There　are　other　things；　other　folk。　Makes　Aes　Sedai　nervous；　makes　them　mutter　about　ancient　barriers　weakening。　Things　are　breaking　apart；　they　say。　They're　afraid　the　Dark　One　will　get　loose；　is　what。　You'd　think　I　was　to　blame；　the　way　some　of　them　looked　at　me。　Red　Ajah；　anyway；　but　some　others；　too。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　。。。　Aaaah！　I　keep　clear　of　them；　mostly；　and　clear　of　friends　of　Aes　Sedai；　as　well。　You　will；　too；　if　you're　smart。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'd　like　nothing　better　than　to　stay　away　from　Aes　Sedai；〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　He　hoped　she　would　not　burst　out　that　she　wanted　to　be　an　Aes　Sedai。　But　she　said　nothing；　though　her　mouth　tightened；　and　Perrin　went　on。
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　as　if　we　have　a　choice。　We've　had　Trollocs　chasing　us；　and　Fades；　and　Draghkar。　Everything　but　Darkfriends。　We　can't　hide；　and　we　can't　fight　back　alone。　So　who　is　going　to　help　us？　Who　else　is　strong　enough；　except　Aes　Sedai？〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　was　silent　for　a　time；　looking　at　the　wolves；　most　often　at　Dapple　or　Burn。　Perrin　shifted　nervously　and　tried　not　to　watch。　When　he　watched　he　had　the　feeling　that　he　could　almost　hear　what　Elyas　and　the　wolves　were　saying　to　one　another。　Even　if　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　Power；　he　wanted　no　part　of　it。　He　had　to　be　making　some　crazy　joke。　I　can't　talk　to　wolves。　One　of　the　wolves　…　Hopper；　he　thought　…　looked　at　him　and　seemed　to　grin。　He　wondered　how　he　had　put　a　name　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　could　stay　with　me；〃　Elyas　said　finally。　〃With　us。〃　Egwene's　eyebrows　shot　up；　and　Perrin's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃Well；　what　could　be　safer？〃　Elyas　challenged。　〃Trollocs　will　take　any　chance　they　get　to　kill　a　wolf　by　itself；　but　they'll　go　miles　out　of　their　way　to　avoid　a　pack。　And　you　won't　have　to　worry　about　Aes　Sedai；　either。　They　don't　often　e　into　these　woods。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃　Perrin　avoided　looking　at　the　wolves　to　either　side　of　him。　One　was　Dapple；　and　he　could　feel　her　eyes　on　him。　〃For　one　thing；　it　isn't　just　the　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　chuckled　coldly。　〃I've　seen　a　pack　pull　down　one　of　the　Eyeless；　too。　Lost　half　the　pack；　but　they　wouldn't　give　up　once　they　had　its　scent。　Trollocs；　Myrddraal；　it's　all　one　to　the　wolves。　It's　you　they　really　want；　boy。　They've　heard　of　other　men　who　can　talk　to　wolves；　but　you're　the　first　they've　ever　met　besides　me。　They'll　accept　your　friend；　too；　though；　and　you'll　all　be　safer　here　than　in　any　city。　There's　Darkfriends　in　cities。〃
　　　　　　　〃Listen；〃　Perrin　said　urgently；　〃I　wish　you'd　stop　saying　that。　I　can't　do　that　。。。　what　you　do；　what　you're　saying。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；　boy。　Play　the　goat；　if　you've　a　mind　to。　Don't　you　want　to　be　safe？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　deceiving　myself。　There's　nothing　to　deceive　myself　about。　All　we　want　…〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　going　to　Caemlyn；〃　Egwene　spoke　up　firmly。　〃And　then　to　Tar　Valon。　〃
　　　　　　　Closing　his　mouth；　Perrin　met　her　angry　look　with　one　of　his　own。　He　knew　that　she　followed　his　lead　when　she　wanted　to　and　not　when　she　did　not；　but　she　could　at　least　let　him　answer　for　himself。　〃What　about　you；　Perrin？〃　he　said；　and　answered　himself。　〃Me？　Well；　let　me　think。　Yes。　Yes；　I　think　I'll　go　on。〃　He　turned　a　mild　smile　on　her。　〃Well；　Egwene；　that　makes　both　of　us。　I　guess　I'm　going　with　you；　at　that。　Good　to　talk　these　things　out　before　making　a　decision；　isn't　it？〃　She　blushed；　but　the　set　of　her　jaw　never　lessened。
　　　　　　　Elyas　grunted。　〃Dapple　said　that's　what　you'd　decide。　She　said　the　girl's　planted　firmly　in　the　human　world；　while　you〃　…　he　nodded　at　Perrin　…　〃stand　halfway　between。　Under　the　circumstances；　I　suppose　we'd　better　go　south　with　you。　Otherwise；　you'll　probably　starve　to　death；　or　get　lost；　or　…〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Burn　stood　up；　and　Elyas　turned　his　head　to　regard　the　big　wolf。　After　a　moment　Dapple　rose；　too。　She　moved　closer　to　Elyas；　so　that　he　also　was　meeting　Burn's　stare。　The　tableau　was　frozen　for　long　minutes；　then　Burn　whirled　and　vanished　into　the　night。　Dapple　shook　herself；　then　resumed　her　place；　flopping　down　as　if　nothing　had　happened。
　　　　　　　Elyas　met　Perrin's　questioning　eyes。　〃Dapple　runs　this　pack；〃　he　explained。　〃Some　of　the　males　could　best　her　if　they　challenged；　but　she's　smarter　than　any　of　them；　and　they　all　know　it。　She's　saved　the　pack　more　than　once。　But　Burn　thinks　the　pack　is　wasting　time　with　you　three。　Hating　Trollocs　is　about　all　there　is　to　him；　and　if　there　are　Trollocs　this　far　south　he　wants　to　be　off　killing　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　quite　understand；〃　Egwene　said；　sounding　relieved。　〃We　really　can　find　our　own　way　。。。　with　some　directions；　of　course；　if　you'll　give　them。　〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　waved　a　hand。　〃I　said　Dapple　leads　this　pack；　didn't　I？　In　the　morning；　I'll　start　south　with　you；　and　so　will　they。〃　Egwene　looked　as　if　that　was　not　the　best　news　she　could　have　heard。
　　　　　　　Perrin　sat　wrapped　in　his　own　silence。　He　could　feel　Burn　leaving。　And　the　scarred　male　was　not　the　only　one；　a　dozen　others；　all　young　males；　loped　after　him。　He　wanted　to　believe　it　was　all　Elyas　playing　on　his　imagination；　but　he　could　not。　Just　before　the　departing　wolves　faded　from　his　mind；　he　felt　a　thought　he　knew　came　from　Burn；　as　sharp　and　clear　as　if　it　were　his　own　thought。　Hatred。　Hatred　and　the　taste　of　blood。
　　　　　　　
Chapter　24
Flight　Down　the　Arinelle
　
　　　　　　　Water　dripped　in　the　distance；　hollow　splashes　echoing　and　reechoing；　losing　their　source　forever。　There　were　stone　bridges　and　tailless　ramps　everywhere；　all　sprouting　off　from　broad；　flat…topped　stone　spires；　all　polished　and　smooth　and　streaked　with　red　and　gold。　Level　on　level；　the　maze　stretched　up　and　down　through　the　murk；　without　any　apparent　beginning　or　end。　Every　bridge　led　to　a　spire；　every　ramp　to　another　spire；　other　bridges。　Whatever　direction　Rand　looked；　as　far　as　his　eye　could　make　out　in　the　dimness　it　was　the　same；　above　as　well　as　below。　There　was　not　enough　light　to　see　clearly；　and　he　was　almost　glad　of　it。　Some　of　those　ramps　led　to　platforms　that　had　to　be　directly　above　the　ones　below。　He　could　not　see　the　base　of　any　of　them。　He　pressed；　seeking　freedom；　knowing　it　was　an　illusion。　Everything　was　illusion。
　　　　　　　He　knew　the　illusion；　he　had　followed　it　too　many　times　not　to　know。　However　far　he　went；　up　or　down　or　in　any　direction；　there　was　only　the　shiny　stone。　Stone；　but　the　dankness　of　deep；　fresh…turned　earth　permeated　the　air；　and　the　sickly　sweetness　of　decay。　The　smell　of　a　grave　opened　out　of　its　time。　He　tried　not　to　breathe；　but　the　smell　filled　his　nostrils。　It　clung　to　his　skin　like　oil。
　　　　　　　A　flicker　of　motion　caught　his　eye；　and　he　froze　where　he　was；　half　crouched　against　the　polished　guardwall　around　one　of　the　spire　tops。　It　was　no　hiding　place。　From　a　thousand　places　a　watcher　could　have　seen　him。　Shadow　filled　the　air；　but　there　were　no　deeper　shadows　in　which　to　hide。　The　light　did　not　e　from　lamps；　or　lanterns；　or　torches；　it　was　simply　there；　such　as　it　was；　as　if　it　seeped　out　of　the　air。　Enough　by　which　to　see；　after　a　fashion；　enough　by　which　to　be　seen。　But　stillness　gave　a　little　protection。
　　　　　　　The　movement　came　again；　and　now　it　was　clear。