rj.eyeoftheworld-第94节

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etched　arms　spread　her　shawl　behind　her；　her　hips　undulated　as　her　bare　feet　shuffled　to　the　beat　of　the　drums。　The　girl's　dark　eyes　fastened　on　Perrin；　and　her　smile　was　as　slow　as　her　dance。　She　turned　in　small　circles；　smiling　over　her　shoulder　at　him。
　　　　　　　He　swallowed　hard。　The　heat　in　his　face　was　not　from　the　fire。　A　second　girl　joined　the　first；　the　fringe　on　their　shawls　shaking　in　time　to　the　drums　and　the　slow　rotation　of　their　hips。　They　smiled　at　him；　and　he　cleared　his　throat　hoarsely。　He　was　afraid　to　look　around；　his　face　was　as　red　as　a　beet；　and　anyone　who　was　not　watching　the　dancers　was　probably　laughing　at　him。　He　was　sure　of　it。
　　　　　　　As　casually　as　he　could　manage；　he　slid　off　the　log　as　if　he　were　just　getting　fortable；　but　he　carefully　ended　up　looking　away　from　the　fire；　away　from　the　dancers。　There　was　nothing　like　that　in　Emond's　Field。　Dancing　with　the　girls　on　the　Green　on　a　feastday　did　not　even　e　close。　For　once　he　wished　that　the　wind　would　pick　up；　to　cool　him　off。
　　　　　　　The　girls　danced　into　his　field　of　view　again；　only　now　they　were　three。　One　gave　him　a　sly　wink。　His　eyes　darted　frantically。　Light；　he　thought。　What　do　I　do　now？　What　would　Rand　do？　He　knows　about　girls。
　　　　　　　The　dancing　girls　laughed　softly；　beads　clicked　as　they　tossed　their　long　hair　on　their　shoulders；　and　he　thought　his　face　would　burn　up。　Then　a　slightly　older　woman　joined　the　girls；　to　show　them　how　it　was　done。　With　a　groan；　he　gave　up　altogether　and　shut　his　eyes。　Even　behind　his　eyelids　their　laughter　taunted　and　tickled。　Even　behind　his　eyelids　he　could　still　see　them。　Sweat　beaded　on　his　forehead；　and　he　wished　for　the　wind。
　　　　　　　According　to　Raen　the　girls　did　not　dance　that　dance　often；　and　the　women　rarely　did；　and　according　to　Elyas　it　was　thanks　to　Perrin's　blushes　that　they　did　so　every　night　thereafter。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　thank　you；〃　Elyas　told　him；　his　tone　sober　and　solemn。　〃It's　different　with　you　young　fellows；　but　at　my　age　it　takes　more　than　a　fire　to　warm　my　bones。〃　Perrin　scowled。　There　was　something　about　Elyas's　back　as　he　walked　away　that　said　even　if　nothing　showed；　he　was　laughing　inside。
　　　　　　　Perrin　soon　learned　better　than　to　look　away　from　the　dancing　women　and　girls；　though　the　winks　and　smiles　still　made　him　wish　he　could。　One　would　have　been　all　right；　maybe　…　but　five　or　six；　with　everyone　watching　。。。　He　never　did　entirely　conquer　his　blushes。
　　　　　　　Then　Egwene　began　learning　the　dance。　Two　of　the　girls　who　had　danced　that　first　night　taught　her；　clapping　the　rhythm　while　she　repeated　the　shuffling　steps　with　a　borrowed　shawl　swaying　behind　her。　Perrin　started　to　say　something；　then　decided　it　was　wiser　not　to　crack　his　teeth。　When　the　girls　added　the　hip　movements　Egwene　started　laughing；　and　the　three　girls　fell　giggling　into　one　another's　arms。　But　Egwene　persevered；　with　her　eyes　glistening　and　bright　spots　of　color　in　her　cheeks。
　　　　　　　Aram　watched　her　dancing　with　a　hot；　hungry　gaze。　The　handsome　young　Tuatha'an　had　given　her　a　string　of　blue　beads　that　she　wore　all　the　time。　Worried　frowns　now　replaced　the　smiles　Ila　had　worn　when　she　first　noticed　her　grandson's　interest　in　Egwene。　Perrin　resolved　to　keep　a　close　eye　on　young　Master　Aram。
　　　　　　　Once　he　managed　to　get　Egwene　alone；　beside　a　wagon　painted　in　green　and　yellow。　〃Enjoying　yourself；　aren't　you？〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Why　shouldn't　I？〃　She　fingered　the　blue　beads　around　her　neck；　smiling　at　them。　〃We　don't　all　have　to　work　at　being　miserable；　the　way　you　do。　Don't　we　deserve　a　little　chance　to　enjoy　ourselves？〃
　　　　　　　Aram　stood　not　far　off　…　he　never　got　far　from　Egwene　…　with　his　arms　folded　across　his　chest；　a　little　smile　on　his　face；　half　smugness　and　half　challenge。　Perrin　lowered　his　voice。　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　get　to　Tar　Valon。　You　won't　learn　to　be　an　Aes　Sedai　here。　〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　tossed　her　head。　〃And　I　thought　you　didn't　like　me　wanting　to　bee　an　Aes　Sedai；　〃　she　said；　too　sweetly。
　　　　　　　〃Blood　and　ashes；　do　you　believe　we're　safe　here？　Are　these　people　safe　with　us　here？　A　Fade　could　find　us　anytime。〃
　　　　　　　Her　hand　trembled　on　the　beads。　She　lowered　it　and　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Whatever　is　going　to　happen　will　happen　whether　we　leave　today　or　next　week。　That's　what　I　believe　now。　Enjoy　yourself；　Perrin。　It　might　be　the　last　chance　we　have。〃
　　　　　　　She　brushed　his　cheek　sadly　with　her　fingers。　Then　Aram　held　out　his　hand　to　her；　and　she　darted　to　him；　already　laughing　again。　As　they　ran　away　to　where　fiddles　sang；　Aram　flashed　a　triumphant　grin　over　his　shoulder　at　Perrin　as　if　to　say；　she　is　not　yours；　but　she　will　be　mine。
　　　　　　　They　were　all　falling　too　much　under　the　spell　of　the　People；　Perrin　thought。　Elyas　is　right。　They　don't　have　to　try　to　convert　you　to　the　Way　of　the　Leaf。　It　seeps　into　you。
　　　　　　　Ila　had　taken　one　look　at　him　huddling　out　of　the　wind；　then　produced　a　thick　wool　cloak　out　of　her　wagon；　a　dark　green　cloak；　he　was　pleased　to　see；　after　all　the　reds　and　yellows。　As　he　swung　it　round　his　shoulders；　thinking　what　a　wonder　it　was　that　the　cloak　was　big　enough　for　him；　Ila　said　primly；　〃It　could　fit　better。〃　She　glanced　at　the　axe　at　his　belt；　and　when　she　looked　up　at　him　her　eyes　were　sad　above　her　smile。　〃It　could　fit　much　better。　〃
　　　　　　　All　the　Tinkers　did　that。　Their　smiles　never　slipped；　there　was　never　any　hesitation　in　their　invitations　to　join　them　for　a　drink　or　to　listen　to　the　music；　but　their　eyes　always　touched　the　axe；　and　he　could　feel　what　they　thought。　A　tool　of　violence。　There　is　never　any　excuse　for　violence　to　another　human　being。　The　Way　of　the　Leaf。
　　　　　　　Sometimes　he　wanted　to　shout　at　them。　There　were　Trollocs　in　the　world；　and　Fades。　There　were　those　who　would　cut　down　every　leaf。　The　Dark　One　was　out　there；　and　the　Way　of　the　Leaf　would　burn　in　Ba'alzamon's　eyes。　Stubbornly　he　continued　to　wear　the　axe。　He　took　to　keeping　his　cloak　thrown　back；　even　when　it　was　windy；　so　the　half…moon　blade　was　never　hidden。　Now　and　again　Elyas　looked　quizzically　at　the　weapon　hanging　heavy　at　his　side　and　grinned　at　him；　those　yellow　eyes　seeming　to　read　his　mind。　That　almost　made　him　cover　the　axe。　Almost。
　　　　　　　If　the　Tuatha'an　camp　was　a　source　of　constant　irritation；　at　least　his　dreams　were　normal　there。　Sometimes　he　woke　up　sweating　from　a　dream　of　Trollocs　and　Fades　storming　into　the　camp；　rainbow…colored　wagons　turning　to　bonfires　from　hurled　torches；　people　falling　in　pools　of　blood；　men　and　women　and　children　who　ran　and　screamed　and　died　but　made　no　effort　to　defend　themselves　against　slashing　scythe…like　swords。　Night　after　night　he　bolted　upright　in　the　dark；　panting　and　reaching　for　his　axe　before　he　realized　the　wagons　were　not　in　flames；　that　no　bloody…muzzled　shapes　snarled　over　torn　and　twisted　bodies　littering　the　ground。　But　those　were　ordinary　nightmares；　and　oddly　forting　in　their　way。　If　there　was　ever　a　place　for　the　Dark　One　to　be　in　his　dreams；　it　was　in　those；　but　he　was　not。　No　Ba'alzamon。　Just　ordinary　nightmares。
　　　　　　　He　was　aware　of　the　wolves；　though；　when　he　was　awake。　They　kept　their　distance　from　the　camps；　and　from　the　caravan　on　the　move；　but　he　always　knew　where　they　were。　He　could　feel　their　contempt　for　the　dogs　guarding　the　Tuatha'an。　Noisy　beasts　who　had　forgotten　what　their　jaws　were　for；　had　forgotten　the　taste　of　warm　blood；　they　might　frighten　humans；　but　they　would　slink　away　on　their　bellies　if　the　pack　ever　came。　Each　day　his　awareness　was　sharper；　more　clear。
　　　　　　　Dapple　grew　more　impatient　with　every　sunset。　That　Elyas　wanted　to　do　this　thing　of　taking　the　humans　south　made　it　worth　doing；　but　if　it　must　be　done；　then　let　it　be　done。　Let　this　slow　travel　end。　Wolves　were　meant　to　roam；　and　she　did　not　like　being　away　from　the　pack　so　long。　Impatience　burned　in　Wind；　too。　Hunting　was　worse　than　poor　here；　and　he　despised　living　on　field　mice；　something　for　cubs　to　stalk　while　learning　to　hunt；　fit　food　for　the　old；　no　longer　able　to　pull　down　a　deer　or　hamstring　a　wild　ox。　Sometimes　Wind　thought　that　Burn　had　been　right；　leave　human　troubles　to　humans。　But　he　was　wary　of　such　thoughts　when　Dapple　was　around；　and　even　more　so　around　Hopper。　Hopper　was　a　scarred　and　grizzled　fighter；　impassive　with　the　knowledge　of　years；　with　guile　that　more　than　made　up　for　anything　of　which　age　might　have　robbed　him。　For　humans　he　cared　nothing；　but　Dapple　wished　this　thing　done；　and　Hopper　would　wait　as　she　waited　and　run　as　she　ran。　Wolf　or　man；　bull　or　bear；　whatever　challenged　Dapple　would　find　Hopper's　jaws　waiting　to　send　him　to　the　long　sleep。　That　was　the　whole　of　life　for　Hopper；　and　that　kept　Wind　cautious；　and　Dapple　seemed　to　ignore　the　thoughts　of　both。
　　　　　　　All　of　it　was　clear　in　Perrin's　mind。　Fervently　he　wished　for　Caemlyn；　for　Moiraine　and　Tar　Valon。　Even　if　there　were　no　answers；　there　could　be　an　end　to　it。　Elyas　looked　at　him；　and　he　was　sure　the　yellow…eyed　man　knew。　Please；　let　there　be　an　end。
　　　　　　　The　dream　began　more　pleasantly　than　most　he　had　of　late。　He　was　at　Alsbet　Luhhan's　kitchen　table；　sharpening　his　axe　with　a　stone。　Mistress　Luhhan　never　allowed　forge　work；　or　anything　that　smacked　of　it；　to　be　brought　into　the　house。　Master　Luhhan　even　had　to　take　her　knives　outsid