rj.thegreathunt-第135部分

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　door　on　the　right　and　pushed　in。
　　　　　　　A　slender；　dark…haired　girl　in　gray　sat　at　a　small　table　with　her　head　resting　on　folded　arms；　but　even　before　she　looked　up；　Nynaeve　knew　it　was　Egwene。　A　ribbon　of　shining　metal　ran　from　the　silver　collar　around　Egwene's　neck　to　a　bracelet　hanging　on　a　peg　on　the　wall。　Her　eyes　widened　at　the　sight　of　them；　her　mouth　working　silently。　As　Elayne　closed　the　door；　Egwene　gave　a　sudden　giggle；　and　pressed　her　hands　to　her　mouth　to　stifle　it。　The　tiny　room　was　more　than　crowded　with　all　of　them　in　it。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　I'm　not　dreaming；〃　she　said　in　a　quivering　voice；　〃because　if　I　was　dreaming；　you'd　be　Rand　and　Galad　on　tall　stallions。　I　have　been　dreaming。　I　thought　Rand　was　here。　I　couldn't　see　him；　but　I　thought　。。。〃　Her　voice　trailed　off。
　　　　　　　〃If　you'd　rather　wait　for　them　。。。〃　Min　said　dryly。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　no。　No；　you　are　all　beautiful；　the　most　beautiful　thing　I've　ever　seen。　Where　did　you　e　from？　How　did　you　do　it？　That　dress；　Nynaeve；　and　the　a'dam；　and　who　is　。。。〃　She　gave　an　abrupt　squeak。　〃That's　Seta。　How　。。。　？〃　Her　voice　hardened　so　that　Nynaeve　barely　recognized　it。　〃I'd　like　to　put　her　in　a　pot　of　boiling　water。〃　Seta　had　her　eyes　squeezed　shut；　and　her　hands　clutched　her　skirts；　she　was　trembling。
　　　　　　　〃What　have　they　done　to　you？〃　Elayne　exclaimed。　〃What　could　they　do　to　make　you　want　something　like　that？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　never　took　her　eyes　off　the　Seanchan　woman。　〃I'd　like　to　make　her　feel　it。　That's　what　she　did　to　me；　made　me　feel　like　I　was　neck　deep　in　。。。〃　She　shuddered。　〃You　do　not　know　what　it　is　like　wearing　one　of　these；　Elayne。　You　don't　know　what　they　can　do　to　you。　I　can　never　decide　whether　Seta　is　worse　than　Renna；　but　they're　all　hateful。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　I　know；〃　Nynaeve　said　quietly。　She　could　feel　the　sweat　soaking　Seta's　skin；　the　cold　tremors　that　shook　her　limbs：　The　yellow…haired　Seanchan　was　terrified。　It　was　all　she　could　do　not　to　make　Seta's　terrors　e　true　then　and　there。
　　　　　　　〃Can　you　take　this　off　of　me？〃　Egwene　asked；　touching　the　collar。　〃You　must　be　able　to　if　you　could　put　that　one　on　…　〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　channeled；　a　pinpoint　trickle。　The　collar　on　Egwene's　neck　provided　anger　enough；　and　if　it　had　not；　Seta's　fear；　the　knowledge　of　how　deserved　it　truly　was；　and　her　own　knowledge　of　what　she　wanted　to　do　to　the　woman；　would　have　done　it。　The　collar　sprang　open　and　fell　away　from　Egwene's　throat。　With　an　expression　of　wonder；　Egwene　touched　her　neck。
　　　　　　　〃Put　on　my　dress　and　coat；〃　Nynaeve　told　her。　Elayne　was　already　unbundling　the　clothes　on　the　bed。　〃We　will　walk　out　of　here；　and　no　one　will　even　notice　you。〃　She　considered　holding　her　contact　with　saidar　…　she　was　certainly　angry　enough；　and　it　felt　so　wonderful　…　but；　reluctantly；　she　let　it　go。　This　was　the　one　place　in　Falme　where　there　was　no　chance　of　a　sul'dam　and　damane　ing　to　investigate　if　they　sensed　someone　channeling；　but　they　would　certainly　do　so　if　a　damane　saw　a　woman　she　thought　was　a　sul'dam　with　the　glow　of　channeling　around　her。　〃I　don't　know　why　you　aren't　gone　already。　Alone　here；　even　if　you　could　not　figure　out　how　to　get　that　thing　off　you；　you　could　have　just　picked　it　up　and　run。〃
　　　　　　　As　Min　and　Elayne　hurriedly　helped　her　change　into　Nynaeve's　old　dress；　Egwene　explained　about　moving　the　bracelet　from　where　a　sul'dam　left　it；　and　how　channeling　made　her　sick　unless　a　sul'dam　wore　the　bracelet。　Just　that　morning　she　had　discovered　how　the　collar　could　be　opened　without　the　Power　…　and　found　that　touching　the　catch　with　the　intention　of　opening　it　made　her　hand　knot　into　uselessness。　She　could　touch　it　as　much　as　she　wanted　so　long　as　she　did　not　think　of　undoing　the　catch；　the　merest　hint　of　that；　though；　and　。。。Nynaeve　felt　sick　herself。　The　bracelet　on　her　wrist　made　her　sick。　It　was　too　horrible。　She　wanted　it　off　her　wrist　before　she　learned　more　about　a'dam；　before　she　perhaps　learned　something　that　would　make　her　feel　soiled　forever　for　having　worn　it。
　　　　　　　Unfastening　the　silver　cuff；　she　pulled　it　loose；　snapped　it　closed；　and　hung　it　on　one　of　the　pegs。　〃Don't　think　that　means　you　can　shout　for　help　now。〃　She　shook　a　fist　under　Seta's　nose。　〃I　can　still　make　you　wish　you　were　never　born　if　you　open　your　mouth；　and　I　do　not　need　that　bloody　。。。　thing。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　…　you　do　not　mean　to　leave　me　here　with　it；〃　Seta　said　in　a　whisper。　〃You　cannot。　Tie　me。　Gag　me　so　I　cannot　give　an　alarm。　Please！〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　a　mirthless　laugh。　〃Leave　it　on　her。　She　won't　call　for　help　even　without　a　gag。　You　had　better　hope　whoever　finds　you　will　remove　the　a'dam　and　keep　your　little　secret；　Seta。　Your　dirty　secret；　isn't　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Elayne　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　thought　about　it　a　great　deal；〃　Egwene　said。　〃Thinking　was　all　I　could　do　when　they　left　me　alone　up　here。　Sul'dam　claim　they　develop　an　affinity　after　a　few　years。　Most　of　them　can　tell　when　a　woman　is　channeling　whether　they're　leashed　to　her　or　not。　I　wasn't　sure；　but　Seta　proves　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Proves　what？〃　Elayne　demanded；　and　then　her　eyes　widened　in　sudden　realization；　but　Egwene　went　on。
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve；　a'dam　only　work　on　women　who　can　channel。　Don't　you　see？　Sul'dam　can　channel　the　same　as　damane。〃　Seta　groaned　through　her　teeth；　shaking　her　head　in　violent　denial。　〃A　sul'dam　would　die　before　admitting　she　could　channel；　even　if　she　knew；　and　they　never　train　the　ability；　so　they　cannot　do　anything　with　it；　but　they　can　channel。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you；〃　Min　said。　〃That　collar　shouldn't　have　worked　on　her。〃　She　was　doing　up　the　last　buttons　down　Egwene's　back。　〃Any　woman　who　couldn't　channel　would　be　able　to　beat　you　silly　while　you　tried　to　control　her　with　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　can　that　be？〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃I　thought　the　Seanchan　put　leashes　on　any　woman　who　can　channel。〃
　　　　　　　〃All　of　those　they　find；〃　Egwene　told　her。　〃But　those　they　can　find　are　like　you；　and　me；　and　Elayne。　We　were　born　with　it；　ready　to　channel　whether　anyone　taught　us　or　not。　But　what　about　Seanchan　girls　who　aren't　born　with　the　ability；　but　who　could　be　taught？　Not　just　any　woman　can　bee　a　…　a　Leash　Holder。　Renna　thought　she　was　being　friendly　telling　me　about　it。　It　is　apparently　a　feastday　in　Seanchan　villages　when　the　sul'dam　e　to　test　the　girls。　They　want　to　find　any　like　you　and　me；　and　leash　them；　but　they　let　all　the　others　put　on　a　bracelet　to　see　if　they　can　feel　what　the　poor　woman　in　the　collar　feels。　Those　who　can　are　taken　away　to　be　trained　as　sul'dam。　They　are　the　women　who　could　be　taught。〃
　　　　　　　Seta　was　moaning　under　her　breath。　〃No。　No。　No。〃　Over　and　over　again。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　she　is　horrible；〃　Elayne　said；　〃but　I　feel　as　if　I　should　help　her　somehow。　She　could　be　one　of　our　sisters；　only　the　Seanchan　have　twisted　it　all。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth　to　say　they　had　better　worry　about　helping　themselves；　and　the　door　opened。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　going　on　here？〃　Renna　demanded；　stepping　into　the　room。　〃An　audience？〃　She　stared　at　Nynaeve；　hands　on　hips。　〃I　never　gave　permission　for　anyone　else　to　link　with　my　pet；　Tuli。　I　do　not　even　know　who　you　…　〃　Her　eyes　fell　on　Egwene　…　Egwene　wearing　Nynaeve's　dress　instead　of　damane　gray。　Egwene　with　no　collar　around　her　throat　…　and　her　eyes　grew　as　big　as　saucers。　She　never　had　a　chance　to　yell。
　　　　　　　Before　anyone　else　could　move；　Egwene　snatched　the　pitcher　from　her　washstand　and　smashed　it　into　Renna's　midriff。　The　pitcher　shattered；　and　the　sul'dam　lost　all　her　breath　in　a　gurgling　gasp　and　doubled　over。　As　she　fell；　Egwene　leaped　on　her　with　a　snarl；　shoving　her　flat；　grabbing　for　the　collar　she　had　worn　where　it　still　lay　on　the　floor；　snapping　it　around　the　other　woman's　neck。　With　one　jerk　on　the　silver　leash；　Egwene　pulled　the　bracelet　from　the　peg　and　fitted　it　to　her　own　wrist。　Her　lips　were　pulled　back　from　her　teeth；　her　eyes　fixed　on　Renna's　face　with　a　terrible　concentration。　Kneeling　on　the　sul'dam's　shoulders；　she　pressed　both　hands　over　the　woman's　mouth。　Renna　gave　a　tremendous　convulsion；　and　her　eyes　bulged　in　her　face；　hoarse　sounds　came　from　her　throat；　screams　held　back　by　Egwene's　hands；　her　heels　drummed　on　the　floor。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　it；　Egwene！〃　Nynaeve　grabbed　Egwene's　shoulders；　pulling　her　off　of　the　other　woman。　〃Egwene；　stop　it！　That　isn't　what　you　want！〃　Renna　lay　gray…faced　and　panting；　staring　wildly　at　the　ceiling。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Egwene　threw　herself　against　Nynaeve；　sobbing　raggedly　at　her　breast。　〃She　hurt　me；　Nynaeve。　She　hurt　me。　They　all　did。　They　hurt　me；　and　hurt　me；　until　I　did　what　they　wanted。　I　hate　them。　I　hate　them　for　hurting　me；　and　I　hate　them　because　I　couldn't　stop　them　from　making　me　do　what　they　wanted。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Nynaeve　said　gently。　She　smoothed　Egwene's　hair。　〃It　is　all　right　to　hate　them；　Egwene。　It　is。　They　deserve　it。　But　it　isn't　all　right　to　let　them　make　you　like　they　are。〃
　　　　　　　Seta's　hands　were　pressed　to　her　face。　Renna　touched　the　collar　at　her　throat　disbelievingly；　with　a　shaking　hand。
　　　　　　　Egwene　straightened；　brushing　her　tears　away　quickly。　〃I'm　not。　I　am　not　like　them。〃　She　almost　clawed　the　bracelet　off　of　her　wrist　and　threw　it　down。　〃I'm　not。　But　I　wish　I　could　kill　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　deserve　it。〃　Min　was　staring　grimly　at　the　two　sul'dam。
　　　　　　　〃Rand　would　kill　someone　who　did　a　thing　like　that；〃　Elayne　said。　She　seemed　to　be　steeling　herself。　〃I　am　sure　he　would。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　they　do；〃　Nynaeve　said；　〃and　perhaps　he　would。　But　men　often　mistake　revenge　and　killing　for　justice。　They　seldom　have　the　stomach　for　justice。〃　She　had　often　sat　in　judgment　with　the　Women's　Circle。　Sometimes　men　came　before　them；　thinking　women　might　give　them　a　better　hearing　than　the　men　of　the　Village　Council；　but　men　always　thought　they　could　sway　the　decision　with　eloquence；　or　pleas　for　mercy。　The　Women's　Circle　gave　mercy　where　it　was　deserved；　but　justice　always；　and　it　was　the　Wisdom　who　pronounced　it。　She　picked　up　the　bracelet　Egwene　had　discarded　and　closed　it。　〃I　would　free　every　woman　here；　if　I　could；　and　destroy　every　last　one　of　these。　But　since　I　cannot。。。〃　She　slipped　the　bracelet　over　the　same　peg　that　held　the　other　one；　then　addressed　herself　to　the　sul'dam。　Not　Leash　Holders　any　longer；　she　told　herself。　〃Perhaps；　if　you　ar