rj.thegreathunt-第11部分

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　　　　　　　〃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　pig'？　What　about；　'talk　shears　no　sheep'？　'A　fool's　words　are　dust'？〃
　　　　　　　〃Easy；　Rand；〃　Perrin　said　softly。　〃There　is　no　need　to　be　so　rough。〃
　　　　　　　〃Isn't　there？　Maybe　I　don't　want　you　two　going　with　me；　always　hanging　around；　falling　into　trouble　and　expecting　me　to　pull　you　out。　You　ever　think　of　that？　Burn　me；　did　it　ever　occur　to　you　I　might　be　tired　of　always　having　you　there　whenever　I　turn　around？　Always　there；　and　I'm　tired　of　it。〃　The　hurt　on　Perrin's　face　cut　him　like　a　knife；　but　he　pushed　on　relentlessly。　〃There　are　some　here　think　I'm　a　lord。　A　lord。　Maybe　I　like　that。　But　look　at　you；　dicing　with　stablehands。　When　I　go；　I　go　by　myself。　You　two　can　go　to　Tar　Valon　or　go　hang　yourselves；　but　I　leave　here　alone。〃
　　　　　　　Mat's　face　had　gone　stiff；　and　he　clutched　the　dagger　through　his　coat　till　his　knuckles　were　white。　〃If　that　is　how　you　want　it；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃I　thought　we　were　。。。　However　you　want　it；　al'Thor。　But　if　I　decide　to　leave　at　the　same　time　you　do；　I'll　go；　and　you　can　stand　clear　of　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nobody　is　going　anywhere；〃　Perrin　said；　〃if　the　gates　are　barred。〃　He　was　staring　at　the　floor　again。　Laughter　rolled　from　the　gamblers　against　the　wall　as　someone　lost。
　　　　　　　〃Go　or　stay；〃　Loial　said；　〃together　or　apart；　it　doesn't　matter。　You　are　all　three　ta'veren。　Even　I　can　see　it；　and　I　don't　have　that　Talent；　just　by　what　happens　around　you。　And　Moiraine　Sedai　says　it；　too。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　threw　up　his　hands。　〃No　more；　Loial。　I　don't　want　to　hear　about　that　anymore。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　shook　his　head。　〃Whether　you　hear　it　or　not；　it　is　still　true。　The　Wheel　of　Time　weaves　the　Pattern　of　the　Age；　using　the　lives　of　men　for　thread。　And　you　three　are　ta'veren；　centerpoints　of　the　weaving。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　more；　Loial。〃
　　　　　　　〃For　a　time；　the　Wheel　will　bend　the　Pattern　around　you　three；　whatever　you　do。　And　whatever　you　do　is　more　likely　to　be　chosen　by　the　Wheel　than　by　you。　Ta'veren　pull　history　along　behind　them　and　shape　the　Pattern　just　by　being；　but　the　Wheel　weaves　ta'veren　on　a　tighter　line　than　other　men。　Wherever　you　go　and　whatever　you　do；　until　the　Wheel　chooses　otherwise　you　will　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃No　more！〃　Mat　shouted。　The　men　dicing　looked　around；　and　he　glared　at　them　until　they　bent　back　to　their　game。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sorry；　Mat；〃　Loial　rumbled。　〃I　know　I　talk　too　much；　but　I　did　not　mean　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　staying　here；〃　Mat　told　the　rafters；　〃with　a　bigmouthed　Ogier　and　a　fool　whose　head　is　too　big　for　a　hat。　You　ing；　Perrin？〃　Perrin　sighed；　and　glanced　at　Rand；　then　nodded。
　　　　　　　Rand　watched　them　go　with　a　stick　caught　in　his　threat。　I　must　go　alone。　Light　help　me；　I　have　to。
　　　　　　　Loial　was　staring　after　them；　too；　eyebrows　drooping　worriedly。　〃Rand；　I　really　didn't　mean　to　…　〃
　　　　　　　Rand　made　his　voice　harsh。　〃What　are　you　waiting　for？　Go　on　with　them！　I　don't　see　why　you're　still　here。　You　are　no　use　to　me　if　you　don't　know　a　way　out。　Go　on！　Go　find　your　trees；　and　your　precious　groves；　if　they　haven't　all　been　cut　down；　and　good　riddance　to　them　if　they　have。〃
　　　　　　　Loial's　eyes；　as　big　as　cups；　looked　surprised　and　hurt；　at　first；　but　slowly　they　tightened　into　what　almost　might　be　anger。　Rand　did　not　think　it　could　be。　Some　of　the　old　stories　claimed　Ogier　were　fierce；　though　they　never　said　how；　exactly；　but　Rand　had　never　met　anyone　as　gentle　as　Loial。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　wish　it　so；　Rand　al'Thor；〃　Loial　said　stiffly。　He　gave　a　rigid　bow　and　stalked　away　after　Mat　and　Perrin。

　　　　　　　Rand　slumped　against　the　stacked　sacks　of　grain。　Well；　a　voice　in　his　head　taunted；　you　did　it；　didn't　you。　I　had　to；　he　told　it。　I　will　be　dangerous　just　to　be　around。　Blood　and　ashes；　I'm　going　to　go　mad；　and　。。。　No！　No；　I　won't！　I　will　not　use　the　Power；　and　then　I　won't　go　mad；　and　。。。　But　I　can't　risk　it。　I　can't；　don't　you　see？　But　the　voice　only　laughed　at　him。
　　　　　　　The　gamblers　were　looking　at　him；　he　realized。　All　of　them；　still　kneeling　against　the　wall；　had　turned　to　stare　at　him。　Shienarans　of　any　class　were　almost　always　polite　and　correct；　even　to　blood　enemies；　and　Ogier　were　never　any　enemies　of　Shienar。　Shock　filled　the　gamblers'　eyes。　Their　faces　were　blank；　but　their　eyes　said　what　he　had　done　was　wrong。　Part　of　him　thought　they　were　right；　and　that　drove　their　silent　accusation　deep。　They　only　looked　at　him；　but　he　stumbled　out　of　the　storeroom　as　if　they　were　chasing　him。
　　　　　　　Numbly　he　went　on　through　the　storerooms；　hunting　a　place　to　secrete　himself　until　some　traffic　was　allowed　through　the　gates　again。　Then　he　could　hide　in　the　bottom　of　a　victualer's　cart；　maybe。　If　they　did　not　search　the　carts　on　the　way　out。　If　they　did　not　search　the　storerooms；　search　the　whole　keep　for　him。　Stubbornly　he　refused　to　think　about　that；　stubbornly　concentrated　on　finding　a　safe　place。　But　every　place　he　found　…　a　hollow　in　a　stack　of　grain　sacks；　a　narrow　alley　along　the　wall　behind　some　wine　barrels；　an　abandoned　storeroom　half　filled　with　empty　crates　and　shadows　…　he　could　imagine　searchers　finding　him　there。　He　could　imagine　that　unseen　watcher；　whoever　it　was　…　or　whatever…finding　him　there；　too。　So　he　hunted　on；　thirsty　and　dusty　and　with　cobwebs　in　his　hair。
　　　　　　　And　then　he　came　out　into　a　dimly　torch…lit　corridor；　and　Egwene　was　creeping　along　it；　pausing　to　peer　into　the　storerooms　she　passed。　Her　dark　hair；　hanging　to　her　waist；　was　caught　back　with　a　red　ribbon；　and　she　wore　a　goose…gray　dress　in　the　Shienaran　fashion；　trimmed　in　red。　At　the　sight　of　her；　sadness　and　loss　rolled　over　him；　worse　than　when　he　had　chased　Mat　and　Perrin　and　Loial　away。　He　had　grown　up　thinking　he　would　marry　Egwene　one　day；　they　both　had。　But　now。。。
　　　　　　　She　jumped　when　he　popped　out　right　in　front　of　her；　and　her　breath　caught　loudly；　but　what　she　said　was；　〃So　there　you　are。　Mat　and　Perrin　told　me　what　you　did。　And　Loial。　I　know　what　you're　trying　to　do；　Rand；　and　it　is　plain　foolish。〃　She　crossed　her　arms　under　her　breasts；　and　her　big；　dark　eyes　fixed　him　sternly。　He　always　wondered　how　she　managed　to　seem　to　be　looking　down　at　him　…　she　did　it　at　will　…　although　she　was　only　as　tall　as　his　chest；　and　two　years　younger　besides。
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　he　said。　Her　hair　suddenly　made　him　angry。　He　had　never　seen　a　grown　woman　with　her　hair　unbraided　until　he　left　the　Two　Rivers。　There；　every　girl　waited　eagerly　for　the　Women's　Circle　of　her　village　to　say　she　was　old　enough　to　braid　her　hair。　Egwene　certainly　had。　And　here　she　was　with　her　hair　loose　except　for　a　ribbon。　I　want　to　go　home　and　can't；　and　she　can't　wait　to　forget　Emond's　Field。　〃You　go　away　and　leave　me　alone；　too。　You　don't　want　to　keep　pany　with　a　shepherd　anymore。　There　are　plenty　of　Aes　Sedai　here　for　you　to　moon　around；　now。　And　don't　tell　any　of　them　you　saw　me。　They're　after　me；　and　I　don't　need　you　helping　them。〃
　　　　　　　Bright　spots　of　color　bloomed　in　her　cheeks。　〃Do　you　think　I　would　…　〃
　　　　　　　He　turned　to　walk　away；　and　with　a　cry　she　threw　herself　at　him；　flung　her　arms　around　his　legs。　They　both　tumbled　to　the　stone　floor；　his　saddlebags　and　bundles　flying。　He　grunted　when　he　hit；　sword　hilt　digging　into　his　side；　and　again　when　she　scrabbled　up　and　plopped　herself　down　on　his　back　as　if　he　were　a　chair。　〃My　mother；〃　she　said　firmly；　〃always　told　me　the　best　way　to　learn　to　deal　with　a　man　was　to　learn　to　ride　a　mule。　She　said　they　have　about　equal　brains　most　of　the　time。　Sometimes　the　mule　is　smarter。〃
　　　　　　　He　raised　his　head　to　look　over　his　shoulder　at　her。　〃Get　off　me；　Egwene。　Get　off！　Egwene；　if　you　don't　get　off〃　…　he　lowered　his　voice　ominously　…　〃I'll　do　something　to　you。　You　know　what　I　am。〃　He　added　a　glare　for　good　measure。
　　　　　　　Egwene　sniffed。　〃You　wouldn't；　if　you　could。　You　would　not　hurt　anybody。　But　you　can't；　anyway。　I　know　you　cannot　channel　the　One　Power　whenever　you　want；　it　just　happens；　and　you　cannot　control　it。　So　you　are　not　going　to　do　anything　to　me　or　anybody　else。　I；　on　the　other　hand；　have　been　taking　lessons　with　Moiraine；　so　if　you　don't　listen　to　some　sense；　Rand　al'Thor；　I　might　just　set　your　breeches　on　fire。　I　can　manage　that　much。　You　keep　on　as　you　are　and　see　if　I　cannot。〃　Suddenly；　for　just　a　moment；　the　torch　nearest　them　on　the　wall　flared　up　with　a　roar。　She　gave　a　squeak　and　stared　at　it；　startled。
　　　　　　　Twisting　around；　he　grabbed　her　arm；　pulled　her　off　his　back；　and　sat　her　against　the　wall。　When　he　sat　up　himself；　she　was　sitting　there　across　from　him；　rubbing　her　arm　furiously。　〃You　really　would　have；　wouldn't　you？〃　he　said　angrily。　〃You're　fooling　with　things　you　don't　understand。　You　could　have　burned　both　of　us　to　charcoal！〃
　　　　　　　〃Men！　When　you　cannot　win　an　argument；　you　either　run　away　or　resort　to　force。〃
　　　　　　　〃Hold　on　there！　Who　tripped　who？　Who　sat　on　who？　And　you　threatened　…　tried！　…　to　…　〃　He　raised　both　hands。　〃No；　you　don't。　You　do　this　to　me　all　the　time。　Whenever　you　realize　the　argument　isn't　going　the　way　you　want；　suddenly　we　are　arguing　about　something　else　pletely。　Not　this　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　arguing；〃　she　said　calmly；　〃and　I　am　not　changing　the　subject；　either。　What　is　hiding　except　running　away？　And　after　you　hide；　you'll　run　away　for　true。　And　what　about　hurting　Mat；　and　Perrin；　and　Loial？　And　me？　I　know　why。　You're　afraid　you　will　hurt　somebody　even　worse　if　you　let　them　stay　near　you。　If　you　don't　do　what　you　shouldn't；　then　you　do　not　have　to　worry　about　hurting　anybody。　All　this　running　around　and　striking　out；　and　you　don't　even　know　if　there's　a　reason。　Why　should　the　Amyrlin；　or　any　Aes　Sedai　but　Moiraine；　even　know　you　exist？〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　he　stared　at　her。　The　longer　she　spent　with　Moiraine　and　Nynaeve；　the　more　she　took　on　their　manner；　at　least　when　she　wanted　to。　They　were　much　alike　at　times；　the　Aes　Sedai　and　the　Wisdom；　distant　and　knowing。　It　was　disconcerting　ing　from　Egwene。　Finally　he　told　her　what　Lan　had　said。　〃What　else　could　he　mean？〃
　　　　　　　Her　hand　froze　on　her　arm；　and　she　frowned　with　concentration。　〃Moiraine　knows　about　you；　and　she　hasn't　done　anything；　so　why　should　she　now？　But　if　Lan。。。〃　Still　frowning；　she　met　hi