rj.eyeoftheworld-第91节

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hese　people；　or　tried　to　hide　them　from　him。　Anyway；　I'll　tell　you　what　I　told　him。　I　haven't　seen　any　of　them；　nor　heard　tell　of　them；　and　that's　the　truth。　Not　any　of　them；〃　he　finished　pointedly。　Abruptly　he　slapped　Thom's　money　down　on　the　table。　〃Just　finish　your　wine　and　go。　All　right？　All　right？〃　And　he　trundled　away　as　fast　as　he　could；　looking　over　his　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃A　Fade；〃　Mat　breathed　when　the　innkeeper　was　gone。　〃I　should　have　known　they'd　be　looking　for　us　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　he'll　be　back；〃　Thom　said；　leaning　across　the　table　and　lowering　his　voice。　〃I　say　we　sneak　back　to　the　boat　and　take　Captain　Domon　up　on　his　offer。　The　hunt　will　center　on　the　road　to　Caemlyn　while　we're　on　our　way　to　Illian；　a　thousand　miles　from　where　the　Myrddraal　expect　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Rand　said　firmly。　〃We　wait　for　Moiraine　and　the　others　in　Whitebridge；　or　we　go　on　to　Caemlyn。　One　or　the　other；　Thom。　That's　what　we　decided。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　crazed；　boy。　Things　have　changed。　You　listen　to　me。　No　matter　what　this　innkeeper　says；　when　a　Myrddraal　stares　at　him；　he'll　tell　all　about　us　down　to　what　we　had　to　drink　and　how　much　dust　we　had　on　our　boots。〃　Rand　shivered；　remembering　the　Fade's　eyeless　stare。　〃As　for　Caemlyn　。。。　You　think　the　Halfmen　don't　know　you　want　to　get　to　Tar　Valon？　It's　a　good　time　to　be　on　a　boat　headed　south。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　Thom。　〃　Rand　had　to　force　the　words　out；　thinking　of　being　a　thousand　miles　from　where　the　Fades　were　looking；　but　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　managed　to　firm　his　voice。　〃No。〃
　　　　　　　〃Think；　boy。　Illian！　There　isn't　a　grander　city　on　the　face　of　the　earth。　And　the　Great　Hunt　of　the　Horn！　There　hasn't　been　a　Hunt　of　the　Horn　in　near　four　hundred　years。　A　whole　new　cycle　of　stories　waiting　to　be　made。　Just　think。　You　never　dreamed　of　anything　like　it。　By　the　time　the　Myrddraal　figure　out　where　you've　gone　to；　you'll　be　old　and　gray　and　so　tired　of　watching　your　grandchildren　you　won't　care　if　they　do　find　you。〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　face　took　on　a　stubborn　set。　〃How　many　times　do　I　have　to　say　no？　They'll　find　us　wherever　we　go。　There'd　be　Fades　waiting　in　Illian；　too。　And　how　do　we　escape　the　dreams？　I　want　to　know　what's　happening　to　me；　Thom；　and　why。　I'm　going　to　Tar　Valon。　With　Moiraine　if　I　can；　without　her　if　I　have　to。　Alone；　if　I　have　to。　I　need　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　Illian；　boy！　And　a　safe　way　out；　downriver　while　they're　looking　for　you　in　another　direction。　Blood　and　ashes；　a　dream　can't　hurt　you。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　kept　silent。　A　dream　can't　hurt？　Do　dream　thorns　draw　real　blood？　He　almost　wished　he　had　told　Thom　about　that　dream；　too。　Do　you　dare　tell　anybody？　Ba'alzamon　it　in　your　dreams；　but　what's　between　dreaming　and　waking；　now？　Who　do　you　dare　to　tell　that　the　Dark　One　is　touching　you？
　　　　　　　Thom　seemed　to　understand。　The　gleeman's　face　softened。　〃Even　those　dreams；　lad。　They　are　still　just　dreams；　aren't　they？　For　the　Light's　sake；　Mat；　talk　to　him。　I　know　you　don't　want　to　go　to　Tar　Valon；　at　least。〃
　　　　　　　Mat's　face　reddened；　half　embarrassment　and　half　anger。　He　avoided　looking　at　Rand　and　scowled　at　Thom　instead。　〃Why　are　you　going　to　all　this　fuss　and　bother？　You　want　to　go　back　to　the　boat？　Go　back　to　the　boat。　We'll　take　care　of　ourselves。〃
　　　　　　　The　gleeman's　thin　shoulders　shook　with　silent　laughter；　but　his　voice　was　anger　tight。　〃You　think　you　know　enough　about　Myrddraal　to　escape　by　yourself；　do　you？　You're　ready　to　walk　into　Tar　Valon　alone　and　hand　yourself　over　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat？　Can　you　even　tell　one　Ajah　from　another？　The　Light　burn　me；　boy；　if　you　think　you　can　even　get　to　Tar　Valon　alone；　you　tell　me　to　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃Go；〃　Mat　growled；　sliding　a　hand　under　his　cloak。　Rand　realized　with　a　shock　that　he　was　gripping　the　dagger　from　Shadar　Logoth；　maybe　even　ready　to　use　it。
　　　　　　　Raucous　laughter　broke　out　on　the　other　side　of　the　low　wall　dividing　the　room；　and　a　scornful　voice　spoke　up　loudly。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs？　Put　on　a　gleeman's　cloak；　man！　You're　drunk！　Trollocs！　Borderland　fables！〃
　　　　　　　The　words　doused　anger　like　a　pot　of　cold　water。　Even　Mat　half　turned　to　the　wall；　eyes　widening。
　　　　　　　Rand　stood　just　enough　to　see　over　the　wall；　then　ducked　back　down　again　with　a　sinking　feeling　in　his　stomach。　Floran　Gelb　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall；　at　the　table　in　the　back　with　the　two　men　who　had　been　there　when　they　came　in。　They　were　laughing　at　him；　but　they　were　listening。　Bartim　was　wiping　a　table　that　badly　needed　it；　not　looking　at　Gelb　and　the　two　men；　but　he　was　listening；　too；　scrubbing　one　spot　over　and　over　with　his　towel　and　leaning　toward　them　until　he　seemed　almost　ready　to　fall　over。
　　　　　　　〃Gelb；〃　Rand　whispered　as　he　dropped　back　into　his　chair；　and　the　others　tensed。　Thom　swiftly　studied　their　side　of　the　room。
　　　　　　　On　the　other　side　of　the　wall　the　second　man's　voice　chimed　in。　〃No；　no；　there　used　to　be　Trollocs。　But　they　killed　them　all　in　the　Trolloc　Wars。〃
　　　　　　　〃Borderland　fables！〃　the　first　man　repeated。
　　　　　　　〃It's　true；　I　tell　you；〃　Gelb　protested　loudly。　〃I've　been　in　the　Borderlands。　I've　seen　Trollocs；　and　these　were　Trollocs　as　sure　as　I'm　sitting　here。　Those　three　claimed　the　Trollocs　were　chasing　them；　but　I　know　better。　That's　why　I　wouldn't　stay　on　the　Spray。　I've　had　my　suspicions　about　Bayle　Domon　for　some　time；　but　those　three　are　Darkfriends　for　sure。　I　tell　you。。。〃　Laughter　and　coarse　jokes　drowned　out　the　rest　of　what　Gelb　had　to　say。
　　　　　　　How　long；　Rand　wondered；　before　the　innkeeper　heard　a　description　of　〃those　three〃？　If　he　had　not　already。　If　he　did　not　just　leap　to　the　three　strangers　he　had　already　seen。　The　only　door　from　their　half　of　the　mon　room　would　take　them　right　past　Gelb's　table。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　the　boat　isn't　such　a　bad　idea；〃　Mat　muttered；　but　Thom　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃Not　anymore。〃　The　gleeman　spoke　softly　and　fast。　He　pulled　out　the　leather　purse　Captain　Domon　had　given　him　and　hastily　divided　the　money　into　three　piles。　〃That　story　will　be　all　through　the　town　in　an　hour；　whether　anybody　believes　it　or　not；　and　the　Halfman　could　hear　any　time。　Domon　isn't　sailing　until　tomorrow　morning。　At　best　he'll　have　Trollocs　chasing　him　all　the　way　to　Illian。　Well；　he's　half　expecting　it　for　some　reason；　but　that　won't　do　us　any　good。　There's　nothing　for　it　but　to　run；　and　run　hard。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　quickly　stuffed　the　coins　Thom　shoved　in　front　of　him　into　his　pocket。　Rand　picked　his　pile　up　more　slowly。　The　coin　Moiraine　had　given　him　was　not　among　them。　Domon　had　given　an　equal　weight　of　silver；　but　Rand；　for　some　reason　he　could　not　fathom；　wished　he　had　the　Aes　Sedai's　coin　instead。　Stuffing　the　money　in　his　pocket；　he　looked　a　question　at　the　gleeman。
　　　　　　　〃In　case　we're　separated；〃　Thom　explained。　We　probably　won't　be；　but　if　it　does　happen　。。。　well；　you　two　will　make　out　all　right　by　yourselves。　You're　good　lads。　Just　keep　clear　of　Aes　Sedai；　for　your　lives。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　were　staying　with　us；〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　am；　boy。　I　am。　But　they're　getting　close；　now；　and　the　Light　only　knows。　Well；　no　matter。　It　isn't　likely　anything　will　happen。〃　Thom　paused；　looking　at　Mat。　〃I　hope　you　no　longer　mind　me　staying　with　you；〃　he　said　dryly。
　　　　　　　Mat　shrugged。　He　eyed　each　of　them；　then　shrugged　again。　〃I'm　just　on　edge。　I　can't　seem　to　get　rid　of　it。　Every　time　we　stop　for　a　breath；　they're　there；　hunting　us。　I　feel　like　somebody's　staring　at　the　back　of　my　head　all　the　time。　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　　　　　　　The　laughter　erupted　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall；　broken　again　by　Gelb；　trying　loudly　to　convince　the　two　men　that　he　was　telling　the　truth。　How　much　longer；　Rand　wondered。　Sooner　or　later　Bartim　had　to　put　together　Gelb's　three　and　the　three　of　them。
　　　　　　　Thom　eased　his　chair　and　rose；　but　kept　his　height　crouched。　No　one　looking　casually　toward　the　wall　from　the　other　side　could　see　him。　He　motioned　for　them　to　follow；　whispering；　〃Be　very　quiet。〃
　　　　　　　The　windows　on　either　side　of　the　fireplace　on　their　side　of　the　wall　looked　out　into　an　alleyway。　Thom　studied　one　of　the　windows　carefully　before　drawing　it　up　just　enough　for　them　to　squeeze　through。　It　barely　made　a　sound；　nothing　that　could　have　been　heard　three　feet　away　over　the　laughing　argument　on　the　other　side　of　the　low　wall。
　　　　　　　Once　in　the　alley；　Mat　started　for　the　street　right　away；　but　Thom　caught　his　arm。　〃Not　so　fast；〃　the　gleeman　told　him。　〃Not　till　we　know　what　we're　doing。〃　Thom　lowered　the　window　again　as　much　as　he　could　from　outside；　and　turned　to　study　the　alley。
　　　　　　　Rand　followed　Thom's　eyes。　Except　for　half　a　dozen　rain　barrels　against　the　inn　and　the　next　building；　a　tailor　shop；　the　alley　was　empty；　the　hardpacked　dirt　dry　and　dusty。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？〃　Mat　demanded　again。　〃You'd　be　safer　if　you　left　us。　Why　are　you　staying　with　us？〃
　　　　　　　Thom　stared　at　him　for　a　long　moment。　〃I　had　a　nephew；　Owyn；〃　he　said　wearily；　shrugging　out　of　his　cloak。　He　made　a　pile　with　his　blanketroll　as　he　talked；　carefully　setting　his　cased　instruments　on　top。　〃My　brother's　only　son；　my　only　living　kin。　He　got　in　trouble　with　the　Aes　Sedai；　but　I　was　too　busy　with　。。。　other　things。　I　don't　know　what　I　could　have　done；　but　when　I　finally　tried；　it　was　too　late。　Owyn　died　a　few　years　late