rj.acrownofswords-第138节
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〃Sheepherder； you look like what the dogs fought over。 Now I understand why Alanna was so frantic； even if I don't see how she knew。 She practically begged me to speak to you； after the Maidens turned her away for about the fifth time。 Nandera wouldn't have let me in if she wasn't in a lather about you not eating； and even so； I had to do a little begging myself。 You owe me； country boy。〃
Rand flinched。 Images of himself flashed in his head； him tearing at her clothes； forcing himself on her like a mindless beast。 He owed her more than he could ever pay。 Raking a hand through his hair； he made himself turn to face her。 She had tucked her feet up so she sat cross…legged in the chair； leaning her fists on her knees。 How could she look at him so calmly？ 〃Min； there's no excuse for what I did。 If there was any justice I'd go to the gallows。 If I could； I'd put the rope around my neck myself。 On oath； I would。〃 The words tasted bitter。 He was the Dragon Reborn； and she would have to wait on justice until the Last Battle。 What a fool he had been to want to live past Tarmon Gai'don。 He did not deserve to。
〃What are you talking about； sheepherder？〃 she said slowly。
〃I'm talking about what I did to you；〃 he groaned。 How could he have done that； to anyone； but most of all to her？ 〃Min； I know how hard it is for you to be in the same room with me。〃 How could he recall the soft feel of her so； the silkiness of her skin？ After he had torn her clothes off。 〃I never thought I was an animal； a monster。〃 But he was。 He loathed himself for what he had done。 And loathed himself worse because he wanted to do it again。 〃The only excuse I have is madness。 Cadsuane was right。 I did hear voices。 Lews Therin's voice； I thought。 Can you …？ No。 No； I have no right to ask you to forgive me。 But you have to know how sorry I am； Min。〃 He was sorry。 And his hands ached to run down her bare back； over her hips。 He was a monster。 〃Bitterly sorry。 At least know that。〃
She sat there motionless； staring at him as if she never before had seen his like。 Now； she could stop pretending。 Now； she could say what she really thought of him； and however vile it was； it would not be half vile enough。
〃So that's why you've been keeping me away；〃 she said finally。 〃You listen to me； you wooden…headed numbskull。 I was ready to cry myself to dust because I'd seen one death too many； and you； you were about to do the same for the same reason。 What we did； my innocent lamb； was fort one another。 Friends fort one another at times like that。 Close your mouth； you Two Rivers hay…hair。〃
He did； but only to swallow。 He thought his eyes were going to fall onto the floorstones。 He nearly spluttered getting words out。 〃forted？ Min； if the Women's Circle back home heard what we did called forting； they'd be lining up to peel our hides if we were fifty！〃
〃At least it's 'we；' now； instead of 'I；' 〃 she said grimly。 Rising smoothly； she advanced toward him shaking a furious finger。 〃Do you think I'm a doll； farmboy？ Do you think I am too dimwitted to let you know if I didn't want your touch？ Do you think I couldn't let you know in no uncertain terms？〃 Her free hand produced a knife from under her coat； gave it a flourish and tucked it back without slowing the torrent。 〃I remember ripping your shirt off your back because you couldn't pull it over your head fast enough to suit me。 That's how little I wanted your arms around me！ I did with you what I've never done with any man … and don't you think I was never tempted！ … and you say it was all you！ As if I wasn't even there！〃
The back of his legs hit a chair； and he realized he had been backing away from her。 Frowning up at him； she muttered； 〃I don't think I like you looking down at me right now。〃 Abruptly she kicked him hard on the shin； planted both hands on his chest； and shoved。 He toppled into the chair so hard it nearly went over backward。 Ringlets swayed as she gave her head a toss and adjusted her brocaded coat。
〃That's as may be； Min； but … 〃
〃That's as is； sheepherder；〃 she cut in firmly； 〃and if you say different again； you had best shout for the Maidens and channel for all you're worth； because I'll thump you around this room till you squeal for mercy。 You need a shave。 And a bath。〃
Rand took a deep breath。 Perrin had such a serene marriage； with a smiling； gentle wife。 Why was it that he always seemed drawn to women who spun his head like a top？ If only he knew the tenth part of what Mat did about women； he would have known what to say to all that； but as it was； all he could do was blunder on。 〃In any case；〃 he said cautiously； 〃there's only one thing I can do。〃
〃And what might that be？〃 She folded her arms tight beneath her breasts； and her foot began tapping ominously； but he knew this was the right thing to do。
〃Send you away。〃 Just as he had Elayne； and Aviendha。 〃If I had any self…control； I wouldn't have … 〃 That foot started tapping faster。 Maybe better to leave that alone。 forted？ Light！ 〃Min； anyone close to me is in danger。 The Forsaken aren't the only ones who would harm somebody near me just on the chance it might harm me； too。 And now there's me； as well。 I can't control my temper anymore。 Min； I nearly killed Perrin！ Cadsuane was right。 I'm going mad； or there already。 I have to send you away so you'll be safe。〃
〃Who is this Cadsuane？〃 she said； so calmly that he gave a start at noticing that her foot was still tapping。 〃Alanna mentioned that name as if she was the Creator's sister。 No； don't tell me； I don't care。〃 Not that she gave him one hair of a gap to tell anything。 〃I don't care about Perrin； either。 You would hurt me as soon as him。 I think that great public fight of yours was a fake； is what I think。 I don't care about your temper； and I don't care whether you're mad。 You can't be very mad； or you'd not be worrying about it so。 What I do care about。。。 〃
She bent until those very big； very dark eyes were level with his； not a great distance away； and suddenly there was such a light glaring in them that he seized saidin； ready to defend himself。 〃Send me away to be safe？〃 she growled。 〃How dare you？ What right do you think you have to send me anywhere？ You need me； Rand al'Thor！ If I told you half the viewings I've had about you； half your hair would curl and the rest fall out！ You dare！ You let the Maidens face any risk they want； and you want to send me away like a child？〃
〃I don't love the Maidens。〃 Floating deep in the emotionless Void； he heard those words spring from his tongue； and shock shattered the emptiness and sent saidin flying。
〃Well；〃 Min said； straightening。 A small smile added more curve to her lips。 〃That's out of the way。〃 And she sat down on his lap。
She had said he would not hurt Perrin any more than he would her； but he had to hurt her now。 He had to； for her own good。 〃I love Elayne； too；〃 he said brutally。 〃And Aviendha。 You see what I am？〃 For some reason； that did not seem to faze her at all。
〃Rhuarc loves more than one woman；〃 she said。 Her smile seemed almost of Aes Sedai serenity。 〃So does Bael； and I never noticed any Trolloc's horns on either。 No； Rand； you love me； and you can't back out of that。 I ought to string you up on tenterhooks for what you've put me through； but。。。 Just so you'll know； I love you； too。〃 The smile faded in a frown of internal struggle； and finally she sighed。 〃Life would be a deal easier sometimes if my aunts hadn't brought me up to be fair；〃 she muttered。 〃And to be fair； Rand； I have to tell you that Elayne loves you； too。 So does Aviendha。 If both of Mandelain's wives can love him； I suppose three women can manage to love you。 But I'm here； and if you try to send me away； I'll tie myself to your leg。〃 Her nose wrinkled。 〃Once you start bathing again； anyway。 But I won't go； no matter what。〃
Just exactly like a top； his head spun。 〃You … love me？〃 he said incredulously。 〃How do you know what Elayne feels？ How you know anything about Aviendha？ Light！ Mandelain can do what he likes； Min； I'm not Aiel。〃 He frowned。 〃What was that you said about telling me half of what you see？ I thought you told me everything。 And I am too sending you somewhere safe。 And stop doing your nose like that！ I don't smell！〃 He jerked the hand he had been scratching with from under his coat。
Her arched eyebrow spoke volumes； but of course her tongue had to have its bit； too。 〃You dare take that tone？ Like you don't believe it？〃 Suddenly her voice began to rise by the word； and she augured a finger against his chest as though she meant to drive it through him。 〃Do you think I'd go to bed with a man I did not love？ Do you？ Or maybe you think you aren't worth loving？ Is that it？〃 She made a sound like a stepped…on cat。 〃So I'm some little bit of fluff without a brain in her head； falling in love with a worthless lout； am I？ You sit there gaping like a sick ox and slander my wits； my taste； my … 〃
〃If you don't quiet down and talk sense；〃 he growled； 〃I swear； I'll smack your bottom！〃 That leaped out of nowhere； out of sleepless nights and confusion； but before he could begin to form an apology； she smiled。 The woman smiled！
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