rj.eyeoftheworld-第86节

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　　　　　　　〃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　the　wind　that　carries　it　away。　The　leaf　does　no　harm；　and　finally　falls　to　nourish　new　leaves。　So　it　should　be　with　all　men。　And　women。〃　Egwene　stared　back　at　him；　a　faint　blush　rising　in　her　cheeks。
　　　　　　　〃But　what　does　that　mean？〃　Perrin　said。　Aram　gave　him　an　irritated　glance；　but　it　was　Raen　who　answered。
　　　　　　　〃It　means　that　no　man　should　harm　another　for　any　reason　whatsoever。〃　The　Seeker's　eyes　flickered　to　Elyas。　〃There　is　no　excuse　for　violence。　None。　Not　ever。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　if　somebody　attacks　you？〃　Perrin　insisted。　〃What　if　somebody　hits　you；　or　tries　to　rob　you；　or　kill　you？〃
　　　　　　　Raen　sighed；　a　patient　sigh；　as　if　Perrin　was　just　not　seeing　what　was　so　clear　to　him。　〃If　a　man　hit　me；　I　would　ask　him　why　he　wanted　to　do　such　a　thing。　If　he　still　wanted　to　hit　me；　I　would　run　away；　as　I　would　if　he　wanted　to　rob　or　kill　me。　Much　better　that　I　let　him　take　what　he　wanted；　even　my　life；　than　that　I　should　do　violence。　And　I　would　hope　that　he　was　not　harmed　too　greatly。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　said　you　wouldn't　hurt　him；〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　would　not；　but　violence　harms　the　one　who　does　it　as　much　as　the　one　who　receives　it。〃　Perrin　looked　doubtful。　〃You　could　cut　down　a　tree　with　your　axe；〃　Raen　said。　〃The　axe　does　violence　to　the　tree；　and　escapes　unharmed。　Is　that　how　you　see　it？　Wood　is　soft　pared　to　steel；　but　the　sharp　steel　is　dulled　as　it　chops；　and　the　sap　of　the　tree　will　rust　and　pit　it。　The　mighty　axe　does　violence　to　the　helpless　tree；　and　is　harmed　by　it。　So　it　is　with　men；　though　the　harm　is　in　the　spirit。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough；〃　Elyas　growled；　cutting　Perrin　off。　〃Raen；　it's　bad　enough　you　trying　to　convert　village　younglings　to　that　nonsense　…　it　gets　you　in　trouble　almost　everywhere　you　go；　doesn't　it？　…　but　I　didn't　bring　this　lot　here　for　you　to　work　on　them。　Leave　over。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　leave　them　to　you？〃　Ila　said；　grinding　herbs　between　her　palms　and　letting　them　trickle　into　one　of　the　kettles。　Her　voice　was　calm；　but　her　hands　rubbed　the　herbs　furiously。　〃Will　you　teach　them　your　way；　to　kill　or　die？　Will　you　lead　them　to　the　fate　you　seek　for　yourself；　dying　alone　with　only　the　ravens　and　your　。。。　your　friends　to　squabble　over　your　body？〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　at　peace；　Ila；〃　Raen　said　gently；　as　if　he　had　heard　this　all　and　more　a　hundred　times。　〃He　has　been　weled　to　our　fire；　my　wife。〃
　　　　　　　Ila　subsided；　but　Perrin　noticed　that　she　made　no　apology。　Instead　she　looked　at　Elyas　and　shook　her　head　sadly；　then　dusted　her　hands　and　began　taking　spoons　and　pottery　bowls　from　a　red　chest　on　the　side　of　the　wagon。
　　　　　　　Raen　turned　back　to　Elyas。　〃My　old　friend；　how　many　times　must　I　tell　you　that　we　do　not　try　to　convert　anyone。　When　village　people　are　curious　about　our　ways；　we　answer　their　questions。　It　is　most　often　the　young　who　ask；　true；　and　sometimes　one　of　them　will　e　with　us　when　we　journey　on；　but　it　is　of　their　own　free　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　try　telling　that　to　some　farm　wife　who's　just　found　out　her　son　or　daughter　has　run　off　with　you　Tinkers；〃　Elyas　said　wryly。　〃That's　why　the　bigger　towns　won't　even　let　you　camp　nearby。　Villages　put　up　with　you　for　your　mending　things；　but　the　cities　don't　need　it；　and　they　don't　like　you　talking　their　young　folks　into　running　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　not　know　what　the　cities　allow。〃　Raen's　patience　seemed　inexhaustible。　He　certainly　did　not　appear　to　be　getting　angry　at　all。　〃There　are　always　violent　men　in　cities。　In　any　case；　I　do　not　think　the　song　could　be　found　in　a　city。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　mean　to　offend　you；　Seeker；〃　Perrin　said　slowly；　〃but　。。。　Well；　I　don't　look　for　violence。　I　don't　think　I've　even　wrestled　anybody　in　years；　except　for　feastday　games。　But　if　somebody　hit　me；　I'd　hit　him　back。　If　I　didn't；　I　would　just　be　encouraging　him　to　think　he　could　hit　me　whenever　he　wanted　to。　Some　people　think　they　can　take　advantage　of　others；　and　if　you　don't　let　them　know　they　can't；　they'll　just　go　around　bullying　anybody　weaker　than　they　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　people；〃　Aram　said　with　a　heavy　sadness；　〃can　never　overe　their　baser　instincts。〃　He　said　it　with　a　look　at　Perrin　that　made　it　clear　he　was　not　talking　about　the　bullies　Perrin　spoke　of。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　bet　you　get　to　run　away　a　lot；〃　Perrin　said；　and　the　young　Tinker's　face　tightened　in　a　way　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　Way　of　the　Leaf。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　it　is　interesting；〃　Egwene　said；　glaring　at　Perrin；　〃to　meet　someone　who　doesn't　believe　his　muscles　can　solve　every　problem。〃
　　　　　　　Aram's　good　spirits　returned；　and　he　stood；　offering　her　his　hands　with　a　smile。　〃Let　me　show　you　our　camp。　There　is　dancing。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　like　that。〃　She　smiled　back。
　　　　　　　Ila　straightened　from　taking　loaves　of　bread　from　the　small　iron　oven。　〃But　supper　is　ready；　Aram。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　eat　with　mother；〃　Aram　said　over　his　shoulder　as　he　drew　Egwene　away　from　the　wagon　by　her　hand。　〃We　will　both　eat　with　mother。〃　He　flashed　a　triumphant　smile　at　Perrin。　Egwene　was　laughing　as　they　ran。
　　　　　　　Perrin　got　to　his　feet；　then　stopped。　It　was　not　as　if　she　could　e　to　any　harm；　not　if　the　camp　followed　this　Way　of　the　Leaf　as　Raen　said。　Looking　at　Raen　and　Ila；　both　staring　dejectedly　after　their　grandson；　he　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　I　am　a　guest；　and　I　shouldn't　have　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　be　foolish；〃　Ila　said　soothingly。　〃It　was　his　fault；　not　yours。　Sit　down　and　eat。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aram　is　a　troubled　young　man；〃　Raen　added　sadly。　〃He　is　a　good　boy；　but　sometimes　I　think　he　finds　the　Way　of　the　Leaf　a　hard　way。　Some　do；　I　fear。　Please。　My　fire　is　yours。　Please？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　sat　back　down　slowly；　still　feeling　awkward。　〃What　happens　to　somebody　who　can't　follow　the　Way？〃　he　asked。　〃A　Tinker；　I　mean。〃
　　　　　　　Raen　and　Ila　exchanged　a　worried　look；　and　Raen　said；　〃They　leave　us。　The　Lost　go　to　live　in　the　villages。〃
　　　　　　　Ila　stared　in　the　direction　her　grandson　had　gone。　〃The　Lost　cannot　be　happy。〃　She　sighed；　but　her　face　was　placid　again　when　she　handed　out　the　bowls　and　spoons。
　　　　　　　Perrin　stared　at　the　ground；　wishing　he　had　not　asked；　and　there　was　no　more　talk　while　Ila　filled　their　bowls　with　a　thick　vegetable　stew　and　handed　out　thick　slices　of　her　crusty　bread；　nor　while　they　ate。　The　stew　was　delicious；　and　Perrin　finished　three　bowls　before　he　stopped。　Elyas；　he　noted　with　a　grin；　emptied　four。
　　　　　　　After　the　meal　Raen　filled　his　pipe；　and　Elyas　produced　his　own　and　stuffed　it　from　Raen's　oilskin　pouch。　When　the　lighting　and　tamping　and　relighting　were　done；　they　settled　back　in　silence。　Ila　took　out　a　bundle　of　knitting。　The　sun　was　only　a　blaze　of　red　above　the　treetops　to　the　west。　The　camp　had　settled　in　for　the　night；　but　the　bustle　did　not　slow；　only　changed。　The　musicians　who　had　been　playing　when　they　entered　the　camp　had　been　replaced　by　others；　and　even　more　people　than　before　danced　in　the　light　of　the　fires；　their　shadows　leaping　against　the　wagons。　Somewhere　in　the　camp　a　chorus　of　male　voices　rose。　Perrin　slid　down　in　front　of　the　log　and　soon　felt　himself　dozing。
　　　　　　　After　a　time　Raen　said；　〃Have　you　visited　any　of　the　Tuatha'an；　Elyas；　since　you　were　with　us　last　spring？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　eyes　drifted　open　and　half　shut　again。
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Elyas　replied　around　his　pipestem。　〃I　don't　like　being　around　too　many　people　at　once。〃
　　　　　　　Raen　chuckled。　〃Especially　people　who　live　in　a　way　so　opposite　to　your　own；　eh？　No；　my　old　friend；　don't　worry。　I　gave　up　years　ago　hoping　you　would　e　to　the　Way。　But　I　have　heard　a　story　since　last　we　met；　and　if　you　have　not　heard　it　yet；　it　might　interest　you。　It　interests　me；　and　I　have　heard　it　again　and　again；　every　time　we　meet　others　of　the　People。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　listen。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　begins　in　the　spring　two　years　ago；　with　a　band　of　the　People　who　were　crossing　the　Waste　by　the　northern　route。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　eyes　shot　open。　〃The　Waste？　The　Aiel　Waste？　They　were　crossing　the　Aiel　Waste？〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　people　can　enter　the　Waste　without　being　bothered；〃　Elyas　said。　〃Gleemen。　Peddlers；　if　they're　honest。　The　Tuatha'an　cross　the　Waste　all　the　time。　Merchants　from　Cairhien　used　to；　before　the　Tree；　and　the　Aiel　War。　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Aielmen　avoid　us；〃　Raen　said　sadly；　〃though　many　of　us　have　tried　to　speak　with　them。　They　watch　us　from　a　distance；　but　they　will　not　e　near　us；　nor　let　us　e　near　them。　Sometimes　I　worry　that　they　might　know　the　song；　though　I　suppose　it　isn't　likely。　Among　Aiel；　men　do　not　sing；　you　know。　Isn't　that　strange？　From　the　time　an　Aiel　boy　bees　a　man　he　will　not　sing　anything　but　battle　chants；　or　their　dirge　for　the　slain。　I　have　heard　them　singing　over　their　dead；　and　over　those　they　have　killed。　That　song　is　one　to　make　the　stones　weep。〃　Ila；　listening；　nodded　agreement　over　her　knitting。
　　　　　　　Perrin　did　some　quick　rethinking。　He　had　thought　the　Tinkers　must　be　afraid　all　the　time；　with　all　this　talk　of　running　away；　but　no　one　who　was　afraid　would　even　think　of　crossing　the　Aiel　Waste。　From　what　he　had　heard；　no　one　who　was　sane　would　try　crossing　the　Waste。
　　　　　　　〃If　this　is　some　story　about　a　song；〃　Elyas　began；　but　Rae