rj.eyeoftheworld-第85节

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　no　doubt　end　up　stealing　each　other　blind。　Master　Elyas；　if　there　really　are　Tinkers　close　by；　shouldn't　we　go　on？　We　don't　want　Bela　stolen；　and　。。。　well；　we　do　not　have　much　else；　but　everybody　knows　Tinkers　will　steal　anything。〃
　　　　　　　〃Including　infants？〃　Elyas　asked　dryly。　〃Kidnap　children；　and　all　that？〃　He　spat；　and　she　blushed。　Those　stories　about　babies　were　told　sometimes；　but　most　often　by　Cenn　Buie　or　one　of　the　Coplins　or　Congars。　The　other　tales；　everybody　knew。　〃The　Tinkers　make　me　sick　sometimes；　but　they　don't　steal　any　more　than　most　folks。　A　good　bit　less　than　some　I　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　will　be　getting　dark　soon；　Elyas；〃　Perrin　said。　〃We　have　to　camp　somewhere。　Why　not　with　them；　if　they'll　have　us？〃　Mistress　Luhhan　had　a　Tinker…mended　pot　that　she　claimed　was　better　than　new。　Master　Luhhan　was　not　too　happy　about　his　wife's　praise　of　the　Tinker　work；　but　Perrin　wanted　to　see　how　it　was　done。　Yet　there　was　a　reluctance　about　Elyas　that　he　did　not　understand。　〃Is　there　some　reason　we　shouldn't？〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　shook　his　head；　but　the　reluctance　was　still　there；　in　the　set　of　his　shoulders　and　the　tightness　of　his　mouth。　〃May　as　well。　Just　don't　pay　any　mind　to　what　they　say。　Lot　of　foolishness。　Most　times　the　Traveling　People　do　things　any　which　way；　but　there's　times　they　set　a　store　by　formality；　so　you　do　what　I　do。　And　keep　your　secrets。　No　need　to　tell　the　world　everything。〃
　　　　　　　The　dogs　trailed　along　beside　them；　wagging　their　tails；　as　Elyas　led　the　way　into　the　trees。　Perrin　felt　the　wolves　slow；　and　knew　they　would　not　enter。　They　were　not　afraid　of　the　dogs　…　they　were　contemptuous　of　dogs；　who　had　given　up　freedom　to　sleep　by　a　fire　…　but　people　they　avoided。
　　　　　　　Elyas　walked　surely；　as　if　he　knew　the　way；　and　near　the　center　of　the　stand　the　Tinkers'　wagons　appeared；　scattered　among　the　oak　and　ash。
Like　everyone　else　in　Emond's　Field；　Perrin　had　heard　a　good　deal　about　the　Tinkers　even　if　he　had　never　seen　any；　and　the　camp　was　just　what　he　expected。　Their　wagons　were　small　houses　on　wheels；　tall　wooden　boxes　lacquered　and　painted　in　bright　colors；　reds　and　blues　and　yellows　and　greens　and　some　hues　to　which　he　could　not　put　a　name。　The　Traveling　People　were　going　about　work　that　was　disappointingly　everyday；　cooking；　sewing；　tending　children；　mending　harness；　but　their　clothes　were　even　more　colorful　than　the　wagons　…　and　seemingly　chosen　at　random；　sometimes　coat　and　breeches；　or　dress　and　shawl；　went　together　in　a　way　that　hurt　his　eyes。　They　looked　like　butterflies　in　a　field　of　wildflowers。
　　　　　　　Four　or　five　men　in　different　places　around　the　camp　played　fiddles　and　flutes；　and　a　few　people　danced　like　rainbow…hued　hummingbirds。　Children　and　dogs　ran　playing　among　the　cookfires。　The　dogs　were　mastiffs　just　like　those　that　had　confronted　the　travelers；　but　the　children　tugged　at　their　ears　and　tails　and　climbed　on　their　backs；　and　the　massive　dogs　accepted　it　all　placidly。　The　three　with　Elyas；　tongues　hanging　out；　looked　up　at　the　bearded　man　as　if　he　were　their　best　friend。　Perrin　shook　his　head。　They　were　still　big　enough　to　reach　a　man's　throat　while　barely　getting　their　front　feet　off　the　ground。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　the　music　stopped；　and　he　realized　all　the　Tinkers　were　looking　at　him　and　his　panions。　Even　the　children　and　dogs　stood　still　and　watched；　warily；　as　if　on　the　point　of　flight。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　there　was　no　sound　at　all；　then　a　wiry　man；　gray…haired　and　short；　stepped　forward　and　bowed　gravely　to　Elyas。　He　wore　a　highcollared　red　coat；　and　baggy；　bright　green　trousers　tucked　into　knee　boots。　〃You　are　wele　to　our　fires。　Do　you　know　the　song？〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　bowed　in　the　same　way；　both　hands　pressed　to　his　chest。　〃Your　wele　warms　my　spirit；　Mahdi；　as　your　fires　warm　the　flesh；　but　I　do　not　know　the　song。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　seek　still；〃　the　gray…haired　man　intoned。　〃As　it　was；　so　shall　it　be；　if　we　but　remember；　seek；　and　find。〃　He　swept　an　arm　toward　the　fires　with　a　smile；　and　his　voice　took　on　a　cheerful　lightness。　〃The　meal　is　almost　ready。　Join　us；　please。〃
　　　　　　　As　if　that　had　been　a　signal　the　music　sprang　up　again；　and　the　children　took　up　their　laughter　and　ran　with　the　dogs。　Everyone　in　the　camp　went　back　to　what　they　had　been　doing　just　as　though　the　newers　were　long　accepted　friends。
　　　　　　　The　gray…haired　man　hesitated；　though；　and　looked　at　Elyas。　〃Your　。。。　other　friends？　They　will　stay　away？　They　frighten　the　poor　dogs　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃They'll　stay　away；　Raen。〃　Elyas's　headshake　had　a　touch　of　scorn。　〃You　should　know　that　by　now。〃
　　　　　　　The　gray…haired　man　spread　his　hands　as　if　to　say　nothing　was　ever　certain。　As　he　turned　to　lead　them　into　the　camp；　Egwene　dismounted　and　moved　close　to　Elyas。　〃You　two　are　friends？〃　A　smiling　Tinker　appeared　to　take　Bela；　Egwene　gave　the　reins　up　reluctantly；　after　a　wry　snort　from　Elyas。
　　　　　　　〃We　know　each　other；〃　the　fur…clad　man　replied　curtly。
　　　　　　　〃His　name　is　Mahdi？〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　Elyas　growled　something　under　his　breath。　〃His　name's　Raen。　Mahdi's　his　title。　Seeker。　He's　the　leader　of　this　band。　You　can　call　him　Seeker　if　the　other　sounds　odd。　He　won't　mind。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　was　that　about　a　song？〃　Egwene　asked。
　　　　　　　〃That's　why　they　travel；〃　Elyas　said；　〃or　so　they　say。　They're　looking　for　a　song。　That's　what　the　Mahdi　seeks。　They　say　they　lost　it　during　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　and　if　they　can　find　it　again；　the　paradise　of　the　Age　of　Legends　will　return。〃　He　ran　his　eye　around　the　camp　and　snorted。　〃They　don't　even　know　what　the　song　is；　they　claim　they'll　know　it　when　they　find　it。　They　don't　know　how　it's　supposed　to　bring　paradise；　either；　but　they've　been　looking　near　to　three　thousand　years；　ever　since　the　Breaking。　I　expect　they'll　be　looking　until　the　Wheel　stops　turning。〃
　　　　　　　They　reached　Raen's　fire；　then；　in　the　middle　of　the　camp。　The　Seeker's　wagon　was　yellow　trimmed　in　red；　and　the　spokes　of　its　tall；　red…rimmed　wheels　alternated　red　and　yellow。　A　plump　woman；　as　gray　as　Raen　but　smooth…cheeked　still；　came　out　of　the　wagon　and　paused　on　the　steps　at　its　back　end；　straightening　a　blue…fringed　shawl　on　her　shoulders。　Her　blouse　was　yellow　and　her　skirt　red；　both　bright。　The　bination　made　Perrin　blink；　and　Egwene　made　a　strangled　sound。
　　　　　　　When　she　saw　the　people　following　Raen；　the　woman　came　down　with　a　weling　smile。　She　was　Ila；　Raen's　wife；　a　head　taller　than　her　husband；　and　she　soon　made　Perrin　forget　about　the　colors　of　her　clothes。　She　had　a　motherliness　that　reminded　him　of　Mistress　al'Vere　and　had　him　feeling　wele　from　her　first　smile。
　　　　　　　Ila　greeted　Elyas　as　an　old　acquaintance；　but　with　a　distance　that　seemed　to　pain　Raen。　Elyas　gave　her　a　dry　grin　and　a　nod。　Perrin　and　Egwene　introduced　themselves；　and　she　clasped　their　hands　in　both　of　hers　with　much　more　warmth　than　she　had　shown　Elyas；　even　hugging　Egwene。
　　　　　　　〃Why；　you're　lovely；　child；〃　she　said；　cupping　Egwene's　chin　and　smiling。　〃And　chilled　to　the　bone；　too；　I　expect。　You　sit　close　to　the　fire；　Egwene。　All　of　you　sit。　Supper　is　almost　ready。〃
　　　　　　　Fallen　logs　had　been　pulled　around　the　fire　for　sitting。　Elyas　refused　even　that　concession　to　civilization。　He　lounged　on　the　ground；　instead。　Iron　tripods　held　two　small　kettles　over　the　flames；　and　an　oven　rested　in　the　edge　of　the　coals。　Ila　tended　them。
　　　　　　　As　Perrin　and　the　others　were　taking　their　places；　a　slender　young　man　wearing　green　stripes　strolled　up　to　the　fire。　He　gave　Raen　a　hug　and　Ila　a　kiss；　and　ran　a　cool　eye　over　Elyas　and　the　Emond's　Fielders。　He　was　about　the　same　age　as　Perrin；　and　he　moved　as　if　he　were　about　to　begin　dancing　with　his　next　step。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　Aram〃　…　Ila　smiled　fondly　…　〃you　have　decided　to　eat　with　your　old　grandparents　for　a　change；　have　you？〃　Her　smile　slid　over　to　Egwene　as　she　bent　to　stir　a　kettle　hanging　over　the　cookfire。　〃I　wonder　why？〃
　　　　　　　Aram　settled　to　an　easy　crouch　with　his　arms　crossed　on　his　knees；　across　the　fire　from　Egwene。　〃I　am　Aram；〃　he　told　her　in　a　low；　confident　voice。　He　no　longer　seemed　aware　that　anyone　was　there　except　her。　〃I　have　waited　for　the　first　rose　of　spring；　and　now　I　find　it　at　my　grandfather's　fire。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　waited　for　Egwene　to　snicker；　then　saw　that　she　was　staring　back　at　Aram。　He　looked　at　the　young　Tinker　again。　Aram　had　more　than　his　share　of　good　looks；　he　admitted。　After　a　minute　Perrin　knew　who　the　fellow　reminded　him　of。　Wil　al'Seen；　who　had　all　the　girls　staring　and　whispering　behind　his　back　whenever　he　came　up　from　Deven　Ride　to　Emond's　Field。　Wil　courted　every　girl　in　sight；　and　managed　to　convince　every　one　of　them　that　he　was　just　being　polite　to　all　the　others。
　　　　　　　〃Those　dogs　of　yours；〃　Perrin　said　loudly；　and　Egwene　gave　a　start；　〃look　as　big　as　bears。　I'm　surprised　you　let　the　children　play　with　them。〃
　　　　　　　Aram's　smile　slipped；　but　when　he　looked　at　Perrin　it　came　back　again；　even　more　sure　than　before。　〃They　will　not　harm　you。　They　make　a　show　to　frighten　away　danger；　and　warn　us；　but　they　are　trained　according　to　the　Way　of　the　Leaf。　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Way　of　the　Leaf？〃　Egwene　said。　〃What　is　that？〃
　　　　　　　Aram　gestured　to　the　trees；　his　eyes　fastened　intently　on　hers。　〃The　leaf　lives　its　appointed　time；　and　does　not　struggle　against