rj.thegreathunt-第126部分

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ur　wash　water　for　three　days。　Once　I'd　thought　of　it　that　way；　I　not　only　had　to　stop　thinking　about　hitting　her　with　it；　I　had　to　convince　myself　I　would　never；　under　any　circumstances；　hit　her　with　it　before　I　could　touch　it　again。　She　knew　what　had　happened；　told　me　what　I　had　to　do；　and　would　not　let　me　wash　anywhere　except　with　that　pitcher　and　bowl。　You　are　lucky　it　happened　between　your　visiting　days。　Renna　made　sure　I　spent　those　days　sweating　from　the　time　I　woke　to　the　time　I　fell　asleep；　exhausted。　I　am　trying　to　fight　them；　but　they　are　training　me　as　surely　as　they're　training　Pura。〃　She　clapped　a　hand　to　her　mouth；　moaning　through　her　teeth。　〃Her　name　is　Ryma。　I　have　to　remember　her　name；　not　the　name　they've　put　on　her。　She　is　Ryma；　and　she's　Yellow　Ajah；　and　she　has　fought　them　as　long　and　as　hard　as　she　could。　It　is　no　fault　of　hers　that　she　hasn't　the　strength　left　to　fight　any　longer。　I　wish　I　knew　who　the　other　sister　is　that　Ryma　mentioned。　I　wish　I　knew　her　name。　Remember　both　of　us；　Min。　Ryma；　of　the　Yellow　Ajah；　and　Egwene　al'Vere。　Not　Egwene　the　damane；　Egwene　al'Vere　of　Emond's　Field。　Will　you　do　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃Stop　it！〃　Min　snapped。　〃You　stop　it　right　this　instant！　If　you　get　shipped　off　to　Seanchan；　I'll　be　right　there　with　you。　But　I　don't　think　you　will。　You　know　I've　read　you；　Egwene。　I　don't　understand　most　of　it　…　I　almost　never　do　…　but　I　see　things　I　am　sure　link　you　to　Rand；　and　Perrin；　and　Mat；　and　…　yes；　even　Galad；　the　Light　help　you　for　a　fool。　How　can　any　of　that　happen　if　the　Seanchan　take　you　off　across　the　ocean？〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　they're　going　to　conquer　the　whole　world；　Min。　If　they　conquer　the　world；　there's　no　reason　Rand　and　Galad　and　the　rest　could　not　end　up　in　Seanchan。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　ninny…headed　goose！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　being　practical；〃　Egwene　said　sharply。　〃I　don't　intend　to　stop　fighting；　not　as　long　as　I　can　breathe；　but　I　don't　see　any　hope　that　I'll　ever　have　the　a'dam　off　me；　either。　Just　as　I　don't　see　any　hope　that　anyone　is　going　to　stop　the　Seanchan。　Min；　if　this　ship　captain　will　take　you；　go　with　him。　At　least　then　one　of　us　will　be　free。〃
　　　　　　　The　door　swung　open；　and　Renna　stepped　in。
　　　　　　　Egwene　jumped　to　her　feet　and　bowed　sharply；　as　did　Min。　The　tiny　room　was　crowded　for　bowing；　but　Seanchan　insisted　on　protocol　before　fort。
　　　　　　　〃Your　visiting　day；　is　it？〃　Renna　said。　〃I　had　forgotten。　Well；　there　is　training　to　be　done　even　on　visiting　days。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　watched　sharply　as　the　sul'dam　took　down　the　bracelet；　opened　it；　and　fastened　it　again　around　her　wrist。　She　could　not　see　how　it　was　done。　If　she　could　have　probed　with　the　One　Power；　she　would　have；　but　Renna　would　have　known　that　immediately。　As　the　bracelet　closed　around　Renna's　wrist　a　look　came　onto　the　sul'dam's　face　that　made　Egwene's　heart　sink。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　been　channeling。〃　Renna's　voice　was　deceptively　mild；　there　was　a　spark　of　anger　in　her　eyes。　〃You　know　that　is　forbidden　except　when　we　are　plete。〃　Egwene　wet　her　lips。　〃Perhaps　I　have　been　too　lenient　with　you。　Perhaps　you　believe　that　because　you　are　valuable　now；　you　will　be　allowed　license。　I　think　I　made　a　mistake　letting　you　keep　your　old　name。　I　had　a　kitten　called　Tuli　when　I　was　a　child。　From　now　on；　your　name　is　Tuli。　You　will　go　now；　Min。　Your　visiting　day　with　Tuli　is　ended。〃
　　　　　　　Min　hesitated　only　long　enough　for　one　anguished　look　at　Egwene　before　leaving。　Nothing　Min　could　say　or　do　would　do　anything　except　make　matters　worse；　but　Egwene　could　not　help　looking　longingly　at　the　door　as　it　closed　behind　her　friend。
　　　　　　　Renna　took　the　chair；　frowning　at　Egwene。　〃I　must　punish　you　severely　for　this。　We　will　both　be　called　to　the　Court　of　the　Nine　Moons…you　for　what　you　can　do；　I　as　your　sul'dam　and　trainer…and　I　will　not　allow　you　to　disgrace　me　in　the　eyes　of　the　Empress。　I　will　stop　when　you　tell　me　how　much　you　love　being　damane　and　how　obedient　you　will　be　after　this。　And；　Tuli。　Make　me　believe　every　word。〃
　　　　　　　

Chapter　43
（A'dam）
A　Plan

　　　　　　　Outside　in　the　low…ceilinged　hallway；　Min　dug　her　nails　into　her　palms　at　the　first　piercing　cry　from　the　room。　She　took　a　step　toward　the　door　before　she　could　stop　herself；　and　when　she　did　stop；　tears　sprang　up　in　her　eyes。　Light　help　me；　all　I　can　do　it　make　it　worse。　Egwene；　I'm　sorry。　I'm　sorry。
　　　　　　　Feeling　worse　than　useless；　she　picked　up　her　skirts　and　ran；　and　Egwene's　screams　pursued　her。　She　could　not　make　herself　stay；　and　leaving　made　her　feel　a　coward。　Half　blind　with　weeping；　she　found　herself　in　the　street　before　she　knew　it。　She　had　intended　to　go　back　to　her　room；　but　now　she　could　not　do　it。　She　could　not　stand　the　thought　that　Egwene　was　being　hurt　while　she　sat　warm　and　safe　under　the　next　roof。　Scrubbing　the　tears　from　her　eyes；　she　swept　her　cloak　around　her　shoulders　and　started　down　the　street。　Every　time　she　cleared　her　eyes；　new　tears　began　trickling　along　her　cheeks。　She　was　not　accustomed　to　weeping　openly；　but　then　she　was　not　accustomed　to　feeling　so　helpless；　so　useless。　She　did　not　know　where　she　was　going；　only　that　it　had　to　be　as　far　as　she　could　reach　from　Egwene's　cries。
　　　　　　　〃Min！〃
　　　　　　　The　low…pitched　shout　brought　her　up　short。　At　first；　she　could　not　make　out　who　had　called。　Relatively　few　people　walked　the　street　this　close　to　where　the　damane　were　housed。　Aside　from　a　lone　man　trying　to　interest　two　Seanchan　soldiers　in　buying　the　picture　he　would　draw　of　them　with　his　colored　chalks；　everyone　local　tried　to　step　along　quickly　without　actually　appearing　to　run。　A　pair　of　sul'dam　strolled　by；　damane　trailing　behind　with　eyes　down；　the　Seanchan　women　were　talking　about　how　many　more　marath'damane　they　expected　to　find　before　they　sailed。　Min's　eyes　passed　right　over　the　two　women　in　long　fleece　coats；　then　swung　back　in　wonder　as　they　came　toward　her。　〃Nynaeve？　Elayne？〃
　　　　　　　〃None　other。〃　Nynaeve's　smile　was　strained；　both　women　had　tight　eyes；　as　if　they　fought　worried　frowns。　Min　thought　she　had　never　seen　anything　as　wonderful　as　the　sight　of　them。　〃That　color　bees　you；〃　Nynaeve　continued。　〃You　should　have　taken　up　dresses　long　since。　Though　I've　thought　of　breeches　myself　since　I　saw　them　on　you。〃　Her　voice　sharpened　as　she　drew　close　enough　to　see　Min's　face。　〃What　is　the　matter？〃
　　　　　　　〃You've　been　crying；〃　Elayne　said。　〃Has　something　happened　to　Egwene？〃
　　　　　　　Min　gave　a　start　and　looked　back　over　her　shoulder。　A　sul'dam　and　damane　came　down　the　steps　she　had　used　and　turned　the　other　way；　toward　the　stables　and　horse　yards。　Another　woman　with　the　lightning　panels　on　her　dress　stood　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　talking　with　someone　still　inside。　Min　grabbed　her　friends　by　the　arms　and　hurried　them　down　the　street　toward　the　harbor。　〃It's　dangerous　for　you　two　here。　Light；　it's　dangerous　for　you　to　be　in　Falme。　There　are　damane　everywhere；　and　if　they　find　you　。。。　You　do　know　what　damane　are？　Oh；　you　don't　know　how　good　it　is　to　see　you　both。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　imagine　about　as　half　as　good　as　it　is　to　see　you；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃Do　you　know　where　Egwene　is？　Is　she　in　one　of　those　buildings？　Is　she　all　right？〃
　　　　　　　Min　hesitated　a　fraction　before　saying；　〃She's　as　well　as　can　be　expected。〃　Min　could　see　it　all　too　well；　if　she　told　them　what　was　happening　to　Egwene　right　that　moment。　Nynaeve　was　as　likely　as　not　to　go　storming　back　in　an　attempt　to　stop　it。　Light；　let　it　be　over　by　now。　Light；　make　her　bend　her　stubborn　neck　just　once　before　they　almost　break　it　first。　〃I　don't　know　how　to　get　her　out；　though。　I　found　a　ship　captain　who　I　think　will　take　us　if　we　can　reach　his　ship　with　her　…　he　won't　help　unless　we　make　it　that　far；　and　I　cannot　say　I　blame　him　…　but　I　have　no　idea　how　to　do　even　that　much。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　ship；〃　Nynaeve　said　thoughtfully。　〃I　had　meant　to　simply　ride　east；　but　I　must　say　I've　worried　about　it。　As　nearly　as　I　can　make　out；　we　would　have　to　be　almost　off　Toman　Head　before　we　were　clear　of　Seanchan　patrols　pletely；　and　then　there's　supposed　to　be　fighting　of　some　sort　on　Almoth　Plain。　I　never　thought　of　a　ship。　We　have　horses；　and　we　do　not　have　money　for　passage。　How　much　does　this　man　want？〃
　　　　　　　Min　shrugged。　〃I　never　got　that　far。　We　don't　have　any　money；　either。　I　thought　I　could　put　off　paying　until　after　we　sail。　Afterwards　。。。　well；　I　don't　think　he'll　put　into　any　port　where　there　are　Seanchan。　Wherever　he　threw　us　off；　it　would　have　to　be　better　than　here。　The　problem　is　convincing　him　to　sail　at　all。　He　wants　to；　but　they　patrol　off　the　harbor；　too；　and　there　is　no　way　of　telling　if　there's　a　damane　on　one　of　their　ships　until　it's　too　late。　'Give　me　a　damane　of　my　own　on　my　deck；'　he　says；　'and　I　will　sail　this　instant。'　Then　he　starts　talking　about　drafts　and　shoals　and　lee　shores。　I　don't　understand　any　of　that；　but　as　long　as　I　smile　and　nod　every　now　and　then；　he　keeps　talking；　and　I　think　if　I　can　keep　him　talking　long　enough；　he'll　talk　himself　into　sailing。〃　She　drew　a　shuddering　breath；　her　eyes　started　stinging　again。　〃Only；　I　don't　think　there's　time　to　let　him　talk　himself　into　it　anymore。　Nynaeve；　they're　going　to　send　Egwene　back　to　Seanchan；　and　soon。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　gasped。　〃But；　why？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　is　able　to　find　ore；〃　Min　said　miserably。　〃A　few　days；　she　says；　and　I　don't　know　if　a　few　days　is　enough　for　this　man　to　convince　himself　to　sail。　Even　if　it　is；　how　do　we　take　that　Shadow…spawned　collar　off　her？　How　do　we　get　her　out　of　the　house？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　Rand　were　here。〃　Elayne　sighed；　and　when　they　both　looked　at　her；　she　blushed　and　quickly　added；　〃Well；　he　does　have　a　sword。　I　wish　we　had　somebody　with　a　sword。　Ten　of　them。　A　hundred。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　swords　or　brawn　we　need　now；〃　Nynaeve　said；　〃but　brains。　Men　usually　think　with　the　hair　on　their　chests。〃　She　touched　her　chest　absently；　as　if　feeling　something　through　her　coat。　〃Most　of　them　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　would　need　an　army；〃　Min　said。　〃A　large　army。　The　Seanchan　were　outnumbered　when　they　faced　the　Taraboners；　and　the　Domani；　and　they　won　every　battle　easily；　from　what　I　hear。〃　She　hurriedly　pulled　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　street　as　a　damane　and　sul'dam　climbed　past　them　on　the　other　side。　She　was　relieved　there　was　no　need　for　urging；　the　other　two　watched　the　linked　w