rj.thegreathunt-第47部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　bud　of　a　flower。　Only　that。　Only　the　bud。　You　can　see　it　in　every　detail。　You　can　smell　it。　You　can　feel　it。　Every　vein　of　every　leaf；　every　curve　of　every　petal。　You　can　feel　the　sap　pulsing。　Feel　it。　Know　it。　Be　it。　You　and　the　bud　are　the　same。　You　are　one。　You　are　the　bud。〃
　　　　　　　Her　voice　droned　on　hypnotically；　but　Egwene　no　longer　really　heard；　she　had　done　this　exercise　before；　with　Moiraine。　It　was　slow；　but　Moiraine　had　said　it　would　e　more　quickly　with　practice。　Inside　herself；　she　was　a　rosebud；　red　petals　curled　tightly。　Yet　suddenly　there　was　something　else。　Light。　Light　pressing　on　the　petals。　Slowly　the　petals　unfolded；　turning　toward　the　light；　absorbing　the　light。　The　rose　and　the　light　were　one。　Egwene　and　the　light　were　one。　She　could　feel　the　merest　trickle　of　it　seeping　through　her。　She　stretched　for　more；　strained　for　more。。。
　　　　　　　In　an　instant　it　was　all　gone；　rose　and　light。　Moiraine　had　also　said　it　could　not　be　forced。　With　a　sigh；　she　opened　her　eyes。　Nynaeve　had　a　grim　look　on　her　face。　Verin　was　as　calm　as　ever。
　　　　　　　〃You　cannot　make　it　happen；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　was　saying。　〃You　must　let　it　happen。　You　must　surrender　to　the　Power　before　you　can　control　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　is　plete　foolishness；〃　Nynaeve　muttered。　〃I　don't　feel　like　a　flower。　If　anything；　I　feel　like　a　blackthorn　bush。　I　think　I　will　wait　by　the　fire　after　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；〃　Verin　said。　〃Did　I　mention　that　novices　do　chores？　They　wash　dishes；　scrub　floors；　do　laundry；　serve　at　table；　all　sorts　of　things。　I　myself　think　the　servants　do　a　better　job　of　it　by　far；　but　it　is　generally　felt　that　such　labor　builds　character。　Oh；　you　are　staying？　Good。　Well；　child；　remember　that　even　a　blackthorn　bush　has　flowers　sometimes；　beautiful　and　white　among　the　thorns。　We　will　try　it　one　at　a　time。　Now；　from　the　beginning；　Egwene。　Close　your　eyes。〃
　　　　　　　Several　times　before　Verin　left；　Egwene　felt　the　flow　of　the　Power　through　her；　but　it　was　never　very　strong；　and　the　most　she　managed　with　it　was　to　produce　a　stir　in　the　air　that　made　the　tent　flap　stir　slightly。　She　was　sure　a　sneeze　could　have　done　as　much。　She　had　done　better　with　Moiraine；　sometimes；　at　least。　She　wished　it　was　Moiraine　doing　the　teaching。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　never　even　felt　a　glimmer；　or　so　she　said。　By　the　end　her　eyes　were　set　and　her　mouth　so　tight　that　Egwene　was　afraid　she　was　about　to　begin　berating　Verin　as　if　the　Aes　Sedai　were　a　village　woman　intruding　on　her　privacy。　But　Verin　simply　told　her　to　close　her　eyes　once　again；　this　time　without　Egwene。
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　sitting；　watching　the　other　two　between　her　yawns。　The　night　had　grown　late；　well　past　the　time　she　would　usually　be　asleep。　Nynaeve　wore　a　face　like　week…old　death；　her　eyes　clamped　shut　as　if　she　never　meant　to　open　them　and　her　hands　white…knuckled　fists　in　her　lap。　Egwene　hoped　the　Wisdom's　temper　did　not　break　loose；　not　after　she　had　held　it　this　long。
　　　　　　　〃Feel　the　flow　through　you；〃　Verin　was　saying。　Her　voice　did　not　change；　but　suddenly　there　was　a　gleam　in　her　eyes。　〃Feel　the　flow。　Flow　of　the　Power。　Flow　like　a　breeze；　a　gentle　stirring　in　the　air。〃　Egwene　sat　up　straight。　This　was　how　Verin　had　guided　her　each　time　she　had　actually　had　the　Power　flowing　through　her。　〃A　soft　breeze；　the　slightest　movement　of　air。　Soft。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　the　stacked　blankets　burst　into　flame　like　fatwood。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　eyes　with　a　yell。　Egwene　was　not　sure　if　she　screamed　or　not。　All　Egwene　knew　was　that　she　was　on　her　feet；　trying　to　kick　the　burning　blankets　outside　before　they　set　the　tent　on　fire。　Before　she　managed　a　second　kick；　the　flames　vanished；　leaving　wispy　smoke　rising　from　a　charred　mass　and　the　smell　of　burned　wool。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Verin　said。　〃Well。　I　did　not　expect　to　have　to　douse　a　fire。　Don't　faint　on　me；　child。　It's　all　right　now。　I　took　care　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　…　I　was　angry。〃　Nynaeve　spoke　through　trembling　lips　in　a　bloodless　face。　〃I　heard　you　talking　about　a　breeze；　telling　me　what　to　do；　and　fire　just　popped　into　my　head。　I　…　I　didn't　mean　to　burn　anything。　It　was　just　a　small　fire；　in　…　in　my　head。〃　She　shuddered。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　it　was　a　small　fire；　at　that。〃　Verin　barked　a　laugh　that　was　gone　with　another　look　at　Nynaeve's　face。　〃Are　you　all　right；　child？　If　you　feel　ill；　I　can　。。。〃　Nynaeve　shook　her　head；　and　Verin　nodded。　〃Rest　is　what　you　need。　Both　of　you。　I've　worked　you　too　hard。　You　must　rest。　The　Amyrlin　will　have　us　all　up　and　away　before　first　light。〃　Standing；　she　toed　the　charred　blankets。　〃I　will　have　some　more　blankets　brought　to　you。　I　hope　this　shows　both　of　you　how　important　control　is。　You　must　learn　to　do　what　you　mean　to　do；　and　nothing　more。　Aside　from　harming　someone　else；　if　you　draw　more　of　the　Power　than　you　can　safely　handle　…　and　you　cannot　handle　much；　yet；　but　it　will　grow　…　if　you　draw　too　much；　you　can　destroy　yourself。　You　can　die。　Or　you　can　burn　yourself　out；　destroy　what　ability　you　have。〃　As　if　she　had　not　told　them　they　were　walking　a　knife　edge；　she　added　a　cheerful　〃Sleep　well。〃　With　that；　she　was　gone。
　　　　　　　Egwene　put　her　arms　around　Nynaeve　and　hugged　her　tight。　〃It　is　all　right；　Nynaeve。　There　is　no　need　to　be　frightened。　Once　you　learn　to　control…〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　a　croaking　laugh。　〃I　am　not　frightened。〃　She　glanced　sideways　at　the　smoking　blankets　and　twitched　her　eyes　away。　〃It　takes　more　than　a　little　fire　to　frighten　me。〃　But　she　did　not　look　at　the　blankets　again；　even　when　a　Warder　came　to　take　them　away　and　leave　new。
　　　　　　　Verin　did　not　e　again；　as　she　had　said　she　would　not。　Indeed；　as　they　journeyed　on；　south　and　west；　day　by　day；　as　fast　as　the　footmen　could　move；　Verin　paid　the　two　women　from　Emond's　Field　no　more　mind　than　Moiraine　did；　than　did　any　of　the　Aes　Sedai。　They　were　not　precisely　unfriendly；　the　Aes　Sedai；　but　rather　distant　and　aloof；　as　if　preoccupied。　Their　coolness　heightened　Egwene's　unease；　and　brought　back　all　the　tales　she　had　heard　as　a　child。
　　　　　　　Her　mother　had　always　told　her　the　tales　about　Aes　Sedai　were　a　lot　of　fool　men's　nonsense；　but　neither　her　mother　nor　any　other　woman　in　Emond's　Field　had　ever　met　an　Aes　Sedai　before　Moiraine　came　there。　She　herself　had　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　with　Moiraine；　and　Moiraine　was　proof　to　her　that　not　all　Aes　Sedai　were　like　the　tales。　Cold　manipulators　and　merciless　destroyers。　Breakers　of　the　World。　She　knew　now　that　those；　at　least　…　the　Breakers　of　the　World　…　had　been　male　Aes　Sedai；　when　there　were　such；　in　the　Age　of　Legends；　but　it　did　not　help　a　great　deal。　Not　all　Aes　Sedai　were　like　the　tales；　but　how　many；　and　which？
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　who　came　to　the　tent　each　night　were　so　mixed　that　they　did　not　help　at　all　in　clearing　her　thoughts。　Alviarin　was　as　cool　and　businesslike　as　a　merchant　e　to　buy　wool　and　tabac；　surprised　that　Nynaeve　was　part　of　the　lesson　but　accepting；　sharp　in　her　criticisms　but　always　ready　to　try　again。　Alanna　Mosvani　laughed　and　spent　as　much　time　talking　about　the　world；　and　men；　as　she　did　teaching。　Alanna　showed　too　much　interest　in　Rand　and　Perrin　and　Mat　for　Egwene's　fort；　though。　Especially　Rand。　Worst　of　all　was　Liandrin；　the　only　one　who　wore　her　shawl；　the　others　had　all　packed　them　away　before　leaving　Fal　Dara。　Liandrin　sat　fingering　her　red　fringe　and　taught　little；　and　reluctantly　at　that。　She　questioned　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　as　if　they　had　been　accused　of　a　crime；　and　her　questions　were　all　about　the　three　boys。　She　kept　it　up　until　Nynaeve　threw　her　out　…　Egwene　was　not　sure　why　Nynaeve　did　so　…　and　then　she　left　with　a　warning。
　　　　　　　〃Watch　yourselves；　my　daughters。　You　are　in　your　village　no　longer。　Now　you　dabble　your　toes　where　there　are　things　to　bite　you。〃
　　　　　　　Finally　the　column　reached　the　village　of　Medo；　on　the　banks　of　the　Mora；　which　ran　along　the　border　between　Shienar　and　Arafel　and　so　into　the　River　Erinin。
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　sure　it　was　the　Aes　Sedai's　questions　about　Rand　that　had　made　her　start　dreaming　of　him；　that　and　worrying　about　him；　about　whether　he　and　the　others　had　had　to　follow　the　Horn　of　Valere　into　the　Blight。　The　dreams　were　always　bad；　but　at　first　they　were　just　the　ordinary　sort　of　nightmare。　By　the　night　they　reached　Medo；　the　dreams　had　changed；　though。
　　　　　　　〃Pardon；　Aes　Sedai；〃　Egwene　asked　diffidently；　〃but　have　you　seen　Moiraine　Sedai？〃　The　slender　Aes　Sedai　waved　her　away　and　hurried　on　down　the　crowded；　torch…lit　village　street；　calling　for　someone　to　be　careful　with　her　horse。　The　woman　was　of　the　Yellow　Ajah；　though　not　wearing　her　shawl　now；　Egwene　knew　no　more　of　her　than　that；　not　even　her　name。
　　　　　　　Medo　was　a　small　village…though　Egwene　was　shocked　to　realize　that　what　she　now　thought　of　as　a　〃small　village〃　was　as　big　as　Emond's　Field…and　it　was　overwhelmed　now　with　many　more　outsiders　than　there　were　inhabitants。　Horses　and　people　filled　the　narrow　streets；　jostling　to　the　docks　past　villagers　who　knelt　whenever　an　unseeing　Aes　Sedai　sped　by。　Harsh　torchlight　lit　everything。　The　two　docks　jutted　out　into　the　River　Mora　like　stone　fingers；　and　each　hosted　a　pair　of　small；　two…masted　ships。　There；　horses　were　being　hoisted　on　board　by　booms　and　cables　and　canvas　cradles　under　their　bellies。　More　of　the　ships　…　high…sided　and　stout；　with　lanterns　topping　their　masts　…　crowded　the　moon…streaked　river；　already　loaded　or　waiting　their　turn。　Rowboats　ferried　out　archers　and　pikemen；　the　raised　pikes　making　the　boats　look　like　gigantic　pricklebacks　swimming　on　the　surface。
　　　　　　　On　the　left…hand　dock　Egwene　found　Anaiya；　watching　the　loading　and　chivying　those　who　were　not　moving　fast　enough。　Though　she　had　never　said　more　than　two　words　to　Egwene；　Anaiya　seemed　different　from　the　others；　more　like　a　woman　from　home。　Egwene　could　picture　her　baking　in　her　kitchen；　she　could　not　see　any　of　the　others　so。　〃Anaiya　Sedai；　have　you　seen　Moiraine　Sedai？　I　need　to　talk　to　her。〃
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　looked　around　with　an　absent　frown。　〃What？　Oh；　it's　you；　child。　Moiraine　is　gone。　And　your　friend；　Nynaeve；　is　already　out　on　the　River　Queen。　I　had　to　bundle　her　onto　a　boat　myself；　shouting　that　she　would　not　go　without　you。　Light；　what　a　scramble！　You　should　be　aboard；　yourself。　Find　a　boat　going　out　to　the　River　Queen。　You　two　will　be　t