rj.thegreathunt-第10部分

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　　　　　　　Loial　was　watching　them　dice；　rubbing　his　chin　thoughtfully　with　a　finger　thicker　than　a　big　man's　thumb；　his　head　almost　reaching　the　rafters　nearly　two　spans　up。　None　of　the　dicers　gave　him　a　glance。　Ogier　were　not　exactly　mon　in　the　Borderlands；　or　anywhere　else；　but　they　were　known　and　accepted　here；　and　Loial　had　been　in　Fal　Dara　long　enough　to　excite　little　ment。　The　Ogier's　dark；　stiff…collared　tunic　was　buttoned　up　to　his　neck　and　flared　below　the　waist　over　his　high　boots；　and　one　of　the　big　pockets　bulged　and　sagged　with　the　weight　of　something。　Books；　if　Rand　knew　him。　Even　watching　men　gamble；　Loial　would　not　be　far　from　a　book。
　　　　　　　In　spite　of　everything；　Rand　found　himself　grinning。　Loial　often　had　that　effect　on　him。　The　Ogier　knew　so　much　about　some　things；　so　little　about　others；　and　he　seemed　to　want　to　know　everything。　Yet　Rand　could　remember　the　first　time　he　ever　saw　Loial；　with　his　tufted　ears　and　his　eyebrows　that　dangled　like　long　mustaches　and　his　nose　almost　as　wide　as　his　face…saw　him　and　thought　he　was　facing　a　Trolloc。　It　still　shamed　him。　Ogier　and　Trollocs。　Myrddraal；　and　things　from　the　dark　corners　of　midnight　tales。　Things　out　of　stories　and　legends：　That　was　how　he　had　thought　of　them　before　he　left　Emond's　Field。　But　since　leaving　home　he　had　seen　too　many　stories　walking　in　the　flesh　ever　to　be　so　sure　again。　Aes　Sedai；　and　unseen　watchers；　and　a　wind　that　caught　and　held。　His　smile　faded。
　　　　　　　〃All　the　stories　are　real；〃　he　said　softly。
　　　　　　　Loial's　ears　twitched；　and　his　head　turned　toward　Rand。　When　he　saw　who　it　was；　the　Ogier's　face　split　in　a　grin；　and　he　came　over。　〃Ah；　there　you　are。〃　His　voice　was　a　deep　bumblebee　rumble。　〃I　did　not　see　you　at　the　Wele。　That　was　something　I　had　not　seen　before。　Two　things。　The　Shienaran　Wele；　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　She　looks　tired；　don't　you　think？　It　cannot　be　easy；　being　Amyrlin。　Worse　than　being　an　Elder；　I　suppose。〃　He　paused；　with　a　thoughtful　look；　but　only　for　a　breath。　〃Tell　me；　Rand；　do　you　play　at　dice；　too？　They　play　a　simpler　game　here；　with　only　three　dice。　We　use　four　in　the　stedding。　They　won't　let　me　play；　you　know。　They　just　say；　'Glory　to　the　Builders；'　and　will　not　bet　against　me。　I　don't　think　that's　fair；　do　you？　The　dice　they　use　are　rather　small〃　…　he　frowned　at　one　of　his　hands；　big　enough　to　cover　a　human　head　〃but　I　still　think　…　〃
　　　　　　　Rand　grabbed　his　arm　and　cut　him　off。　The　Builders！　〃Loial；　Ogier　built　Fal　Dara；　didn't　they？　Do　you　know　any　way　out　except　by　the　gates？　A　crawl　hole。　A　drain　pipe。　Anything　at　all；　if　it's　big　enough　for　a　man　to　wiggle　through。　Out　of　the　wind　would　be　good；　too。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　gave　a　pained　grimace；　the　ends　of　his　eyebrows　almost　brushing　his　cheeks。　〃Rand；　Ogier　built　Mafal　Dadaranel；　but　that　city　was　destroyed　in　the　Trolloc　Wars。　This〃　…　he　touched　the　stone　wall　lightly　with　broad　fingertips　…〃was　built　by　men。　I　can　sketch　a　plan　of　Mafal　Dadaranel　…　I　saw　the　maps；　once；　in　an　old　book　in　Stedding　Shangtai　…　but　of　Fal　Dara；　I　know　no　more　than　you。　It　is　well　built；　though；　isn't　it？　Stark；　but　well　made。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　slumped　against　the　wall；　squeezing　his　eyes　shut。　〃I　need　a　way　out；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　gates　are　barred；　and　they　won't　let　anyone　pass；　but　I　need　a　way　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why；　Rand？〃　Loial　said　slowly。　〃No　one　here　will　hurt　you。　Are　you　all　right？　Rand？〃　Suddenly　his　voice　rose。　〃Mat！　Perrin！　I　think　Rand　is　sick。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　opened　his　eyes　to　see　his　friends　straightening　up　out　of　the　knot　of　dicers。　Mat　Cauthon；　long…limbed　as　a　stork；　wearing　a　half　smile　as　if　he　saw　something　funny　that　no　one　else　saw。　Shaggy…haired　Perrin　Aybara；　with　heavy　shoulders　and　thick　arms　from　his　work　as　a　blacksmith's　apprentice。　They　both　still　wore　their　Two　Rivers　garb；　plain　and　sturdy；　but　travel…worn。
　　　　　　　Mat　tossed　the　dice　back　into　the　semicircle　as　he　stepped　out；　and　one　of　the　men　called；　〃Here；　southlander；　you　can't　quit　while　you're　winning。〃
　　　　　　　〃Better　than　when　I'm　losing；〃　Mat　said　with　a　laugh。　Unconsciously　he　touched　his　coat　at　the　waist；　and　Rand　winced。　Mat　had　a　dagger　with　a　ruby　in　its　hilt　under　there；　a　dagger　he　was　never　without；　a　dagger　he　could　not　be　without。　It　was　a　tainted　blade；　from　the　dead　city　of　Shadar　Logoth；　tainted　and　twisted　by　an　evil　almost　as　bad　as　the　Dark　One；　the　evil　that　had　killed　Shadar　Logoth　two　thousand　years　before；　yet　still　lived　among　the　abandoned　ruins。　That　taint　would　kill　Mat　if　he　kept　the　dagger；　it　would　kill　him　even　faster　if　he　put　it　aside。　〃You'll　have　another　chance　to　win　it　back。〃　Wry　snorts　from　the　kneeling　men　indicated　they　did　not　think　there　was　much　chance　of　that。
　　　　　　　Perrin　kept　his　eyes　down　as　he　followed　Mat　across　to　Rand。　Perrin　always　kept　his　eyes　down　these　days；　and　his　shoulders　sagged　as　if　he　carried　a　weight　too　heavy　even　for　their　width。
　　　　　　　〃What's　the　matter；　Rand？〃　Mat　asked。　〃You're　as　white　as　your　shirt。　Hey！　Where　did　you　get　those　clothes？　You　turning　Shienaran？　Maybe　I'll　buy　myself　a　coat　like　that；　and　a　fine　shirt。〃　He　shook　his　coat　pocket；　producing　a　clink　of　coins。　〃I　seem　to　have　luck　with　the　dice。　I　can　hardly　touch　them　without　winning。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　don't　have　to　buy　anything；〃　Rand　said　tiredly。　〃Moiraine　had　all　our　clothes　replaced。　They're　burned　already　for　all　I　know；　all　but　what　you　two　are　wearing。　Elansu　will　probably　be　around　to　collect　those；　too；　so　I'd　change　fast　if　I　were　you；　before　she　takes　them　off　your　back。〃　Perrin　still　did　not　look　up；　but　his　cheeks　turned　red；　Mat's　grin　deepened；　though　it　looked　forced。　They　too　had　had　encounters　in　the　baths；　and　only　Mat　tried　to　pretend　it　did　not　matter。　〃And　I'm　not　sick。　I　just　need　to　get　out　of　here。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　is　here。　Lan　said　。。。　he　said　with　her　here；　it　would　have　been　better　for　me　if　I　were　gone　a　week。　I　need　to　leave；　and　all　the　gates　are　barred。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　said　that？〃　Mat　frowned。　〃I　don't　understand。　He'd　never　say　anything　against　an　Aes　Sedai。　Why　now？　Look；　Rand；　I　don't　like　Aes　Sedai　any　more　than　you　do；　but　they　aren't　going　to　do　anything　to　us。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　to　say　that；　and　looked　over　his　shoulder　to　see　if　any　of　the　gamblers　was　listening。　Feared　the　Aes　Sedai　might　be；　but　in　the　Borderlands；　they　were　far　from　being　hated；　and　a　disrespectful　ment　about　them　could　land　you　in　a　fight；　or　worse。　〃Look　at　Moiraine。　She　isn't　so　bad；　even　if　she　is　Aes　Sedai。　You're　thinking　like　old　Cenn　Buie　telling　his　tall　tales　back　home；　in　the　Winespring　Inn。　I　mean；　she　hasn't　hurt　us；　and　they　won't。　Why　would　they？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　eyes　lifted。　Yellow　eyes；　gleaming　in　the　dim　light　like　burnished　gold。　Moiraine　hasn't　hurt　us？　Rand　thought。　Perrin's　eyes　had　been　as　deep　a　brown　as　Mat's　when　they　left　the　Two　Rivers。　Rand　had　no　idea　how　the　change　had　e　about　…　Perrin　did　not　want　to　talk　about　it；　or　about　very　much　of　anything　since　it　happened　…　but　it　had　e　at　the　same　time　as　the　slump　in　his　shoulders；　and　a　distance　in　his　manner　as　if　he　felt　alone　even　with　friends　around　him。　Perrin's　eyes　and　Mat's　dagger。　Neither　would　have　happened　if　they　had　not　left　Emond's　Field；　and　it　was　Moiraine　who　had　taken　them　away。　He　knew　that　was　not　fair。　They　would　probably　all　be　dead　at　Trollocs'　hands；　and　a　good　part　of　Emond's　Field　as　well；　if　she　had　not　e　to　their　village。　But　that　did　not　make　Perrin　laugh　the　way　he　used　to；　or　take　the　dagger　from　Mat's　belt。　And　me？　If　I　was　home　and　still　alive；　would　I　still　be　what　I　am　now？　At　least　I　wouldn't　be　worrying　about　what　the　Aes　Sedai　are　going　to　do　to　me。
　　　　　　　Mat　was　still　looking　at　him　quizzically；　and　Perrin　had　raised　his　head　enough　to　stare　from　under　his　eyebrows。　Loial　waited　patiently。　Rand　could　not　tell　them　why　he　had　to　stay　away　from　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　They　did　not　know　what　he　was。　Lan　knew；　and　Moiraine。　And　Egwene；　and　Nynaeve。　He　wished　none　of　them　knew；　and　most　of　all　he　wished　Egwene　did　not；　but　at　least　Mat　and　Perrin　…　and　Loial；　too　…　believed　he　was　still　the　same。　He　thought　he　would　rather　die　than　let　them　know；　than　see　the　hesitation　and　worry　he　sometimes　caught　in　Egwene's　eyes；　and　Nynaeve's；　even　when　they　were　trying　their　best。
　　　　　　　〃Somebody's　。。。　watching　me；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Following　me。　Only。。。　Only；　there's　nobody　there。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　head　jerked　up；　and　Mat　licked　his　lips　and　whispered；　〃A　Fade？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Loial　snorted。　〃How　could　one　of　the　Eyeless　enter　Fal　Dara；　town　or　keep？　By　law；　no　one　may　hide　his　face　inside　the　town　walls；　and　the　lamplighters　are　charged　with　keeping　the　streets　lit　at　night　so　there　isn't　a　shadow　for　a　Myrddraal　to　hide　in。　It　could　not　happen。〃
　　　　　　　〃Walls　don't　stop　a　Fade；〃　Mat　muttered。　〃Not　when　it　wants　to　e　in。　I　don't　know　as　laws　and　lamps　will　do　any　better。〃　He　did　not　sound　like　someone　who　had　half　thought　Fades　were　only　gleemen's　tales　less　than　half　a　year　before。　He　had　seen　too　much；　too。
　　　　　　　〃And　there　was　the　wind；〃　Rand　added。　His　voice　hardly　shook　as　he　told　what　had　happened　on　the　tower　top。　Perrin's　fists　tightened　until　his　knuckles　cracked。　〃I　just　want　to　leave　here；〃　Rand　finished。　〃I　want　to　go　south。　Somewhere　away。　Just　somewhere　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　if　the　gates　are　barred；〃　Mat　said；　〃how　do　we　get　out？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　him。　〃We？〃　He　had　to　go　alone。　It　would　be　dangerous　for　anyone　near　him；　eventually。　He　would　be　dangerous；　and　even　Moiraine　could　not　tell　him　how　long　he　had。　〃Mat；　you　know　you　have　to　go　to　Tar　Valon　with　Moiraine。　She　said　that's　the　only　place　you　can　be　separated　from　that　bloody　dagger　without　dying。　And　you　know　what　will　happen　if　you　keep　it。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　touched　his　coat　over　the　dagger；　not　seeming　to　realize　what　he　was　doing。　〃'An　Aes　Sedai's　gift　is　bait　for　a　fish；'〃　he　quoted。　〃Well；　maybe　I　don't　want　to　put　the　hook　in　my　mouth。　Maybe　whatever　she　wants　to　do　in　Tar　Valon　is　worse　than　if　I　don't　go　at　all。　Maybe　she's　lying。　'The　truth　an　Aes　Sedai　tells　is　never　the　truth　you　think　it　is。'〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　any　more　old　sayings　you　want　to　rid　yourself　of？〃　Rand　asked。　〃'A　south　wind　brings　a　warm　guest；　a　north　wind　an　empty　house'？　'A　pig　painted　gold　is　still　a