rj.thegreathunt-第61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！


outh　worked　slently。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　sat　up；　working　her　shoulders。　〃You　don't　know　everything　yet；　do　you；　child？　Not　the　hundredth　part　of　everything。　You　did　not　suspect　I　could　cut　you　off　from　the　True　Source。　You　can　still　feel　it　there；　but　you　can't　touch　it　any　more　than　a　fish　can　touch　the　moon。　When　you　learn　enough　to　be　raised　to　full　sisterhood；　no　one　woman　will　be　able　to　do　that　to　you。　The　stronger　you　bee；　the　more　Aes　Sedai　it　will　take　to　shield　you　against　your　will。　Do　you　think；　now；　you　want　to　learn？〃　Nynaeve　pressed　her　mouth　shut　in　a　thin　line　and　stared　her　in　the　eye　grimly。　The　Amyrlin　sighed。　〃If　you　had　a　hair　less　potential　than　you　do；　child；　I　would　send　you　to　the　Mistress　of　Novices　and　tell　her　to　keep　you　the　rest　of　your　life。　But　you　will　get　what　you　deserve。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　eyes　widened；　and　she　had　just　time　to　start　a　yell　before　she　dropped；　hitting　her　bed　with　a　loud　thud。　Egwene　winced；　the　mattresses　were　thin；　and　the　wood　beneath　hard。　Nynaeve's　face　stayed　frozen　as　she　shifted　the　way　she　sat；　just　a　fraction。
　　　　　　　〃And　now；〃　the　Amyrlin　said　firmly；　〃unless　you　would　like　further　demonstration；　we　will　get　on　with　your　lesson。　Continue　your　lesson；　we　might　say。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mother？〃　Egwene　said　faintly。　She　still　could　not　twitch　below　her　chin。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　looked　at　her　questioningly；　then　smiled。　〃Oh。　I　am　sorry；　child。　Your　friend　was　occupying　my　attention；　I'm　afraid。〃　Suddenly　Egwene　could　move　again；　she　raised　her　arms；　just　to　convince　herself　that　she　could。　〃Are　you　both　ready　to　learn？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　Egwene　said　quickly。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　raised　an　eyebrow　at　Nynaeve。
　　　　　　　After　a　moment；　Nynaeve　said　in　a　tight　voice；　〃Yes；　Mother。〃
Egwene　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief。
　　　　　　　〃Good。　Now；　then。　Empty　your　thoughts　of　everything　but　a　flower　bud。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　sweating　by　the　time　the　Amyrlin　left。　She　had　thought　some　of　the　other　Aes　Sedai　had　been　hard　teachers；　but　that　smiling；　plain…faced　woman　coaxed　out　every　last　drop　of　effort；　drew　it　out；　and　when　there　was　nothing　left；　she　seemed　to　reach　into　you　and　pulled　it　out。　It　had　gone　well；　though。　As　the　door　closed　behind　the　Amyrlin；　Egwene　raised　one　hand；　a　tiny　flame　sprang　to　life；　balanced　a　hairbreadth　above　the　tip　of　her　forefinger；　then　danced　from　fingertip　to　fingertip。　She　was　not　supposed　to　do　this　without　a　teacher　…　one　of　the　Accepted；　at　the　very　least　…　to　watch　over　her；　but　she　was　too　excited　at　her　progress　to　pay　any　mind　to　that。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　bounded　to　her　feet　and　threw　her　pillow　at　the　closing　door。　〃That　…　that　vile；　contemptible；　miserable　…　hag！　The　Light　burn　her！　I'd　like　to　feed　her　to　the　fish。　I'd　like　to　dose　her　with　things　that　would　turn　her　green　for　the　rest　of　her　life！　I　don't　care　if　she's　old　enough　to　be　my　mother；　if　I　had　her　in　Emond's　Field；　she　wouldn't　sit　down　fortably　for　。。。〃　Her　teeth　ground　so　loudly　that　Egwene　jumped。
　　　　　　　Letting　the　flame　die；　Egwene　put　her　eyes　firmly　on　her　lap。　She　wished　she　could　think　of　a　way　to　sneak　out　of　the　room　without　catching　Nynaeve's　eye。
　　　　　　　The　lesson　had　not　gone　well　for　Nynaeve；　because　she　had　held　her　temper　on　a　tight　lead　until　the　Amyrlin　was　gone。　She　never　could　do　very　much　unless　she　was　angry；　and　then　it　all　burst　out　of　her。　After　failure　upon　failure；　the　Amyrlin　had　done　everything　she　could　to　rouse　her　again。　Egwene　wished　Nynaeve　could　forget　she　had　been　there　to　see　or　hear　any　of　it。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stalked　stiffly　to　her　bed　and　stood　staring　at　the　wall　behind　it；　her　fist　clenched　at　her　side。　Egwene　looked　longingly　at　the　door。
　　　　　　　〃It　was　not　your　fault；〃　Nynaeve　said；　and　Egwene　gave　a　start。
〃Nynaeve；　I　…　〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　turned　to　look　down　at　her。　〃It　was　not　your　fault；〃　she　repeated；　sounding　unconvinced。　〃But　if　you　ever　breathe　one　word；　I'll　…　I'll　。。。〃Not　a　word；〃　Egwene　said　quickly。　〃I　don't　even　remember　anything　to　breathe　a　word　about。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stared　at　her　a　moment　longer；　then　nodded。　Abruptly　she　grimaced。　〃Light；　I　did　not　think　anything　tasted　worse　than　raw　sheepstongue　root。　I'll　remember　that；　the　next　time　you　act　the　goose；　so　watch　yourself。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　winced。　That　had　been　the　first　thing　the　Amyrlin　had　done　trying　to　rouse　Nynaeve's　anger。　A　dark　glob　of　something　that　glistened　like　grease　and　smelled　vile　had　suddenly　appeared　and；　while　the　Amyrlin　held　Nynaeve　with　the　Power；　had　been　forced　into　the　Wisdom's　mouth。　The　Amyrlin　had　even　held　her　nose　to　make　her　swallow。　And　Nynaeve　remembered　things；　if　she　had　seen　them　done　once。　Egwene　did　not　think　there　was　any　way　of　stopping　her　if　she　took　it　into　her　mind　to　do　it；　for　all　her　own　success　in　making　a　flame　dance；　she　could　never　have　held　the　Amyrlin　against　a　wall。　〃At　least　being　on　the　ship　isn't　making　you　sick　anymore。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　grunted；　then　gave　a　short；　sharp　laugh。　〃I'm　too　angry　to　be　sick。〃　With　another　mirthless　laugh；　she　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　too　miserable　to　be　sick。　Light；　I　feel　as　if　I've　been　dragged　through　a　knothole　backwards。　If　that　is　what　novice　training　is　like；　you　will　have　incentive　to　learn　quickly。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　scowled　at　her　knees。　pared　to　Nynaeve；　the　Amyrlin　had　only　coaxed　her；　smiled　at　her　successes；　sympathized　with　her　failures；　then　coaxed　again。　But　all　the　Aes　Sedai　had　said　things　would　be　different　in　the　White　Tower；　harder；　though　they　would　not　say　how。　If　she　had　to　go　through　what　Nynaeve　had；　day　after　day；　she　did　not　think　she　could　stand　it。
　　　　　　　Something　changed　in　the　motion　of　the　ship。　The　rocking　eased；　and　feet　thumped　on　the　deck　above　their　heads。　A　man　shouted　something　Egwene　could　not　quite　make　out。
　　　　　　　She　looked　up　at　Nynaeve。　〃Do　you　think　。。。　Tar　Valon？〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　only　one　way　to　find　out；〃　Nynaeve　replied；　and　determinedly　took　her　cloak　from　its　peg。
　　　　　　　When　they　reached　the　deck；　sailors　were　running　everywhere；　heaving　at　lines；　shortening　sail；　readying　long　sweeps。　The　wind　had　died　to　a　breeze；　and　the　clouds　were　scattering；　now。
　　　　　　　Egwene　rushed　to　the　rail。　〃It　is！　It　is　Tar　Valon！〃　Nynaeve　joined　her　with　an　expressionless　face。
　　　　　　　The　island　was　so　big　it　looked　more　as　if　the　river　split　in　two　than　contained　a　bit　of　land。　Bridges　that　seemed　to　be　made　of　lace　arched　from　either　bank　to　the　island；　crossing　marshy　ground　as　well　as　the　river。　The　walls　of　the　city；　the　Shining　Walls　of　Tar　Valon；　glistened　white　as　the　sun　broke　through　the　clouds。　And　on　the　west　bank；　its　broken　top　leaking　a　thin　wisp　of　smoke；　Dragonmount　reared　black　against　the　sky；　one　mountain　standing　among　flat　lands　and　rolling　hills。　Dragonmount；　where　the　Dragon　had　died。　Dragonmount；　made　by　the　Dragon's　dying。
　　　　　　　Egwene　wished　she　did　not　think　of　Rand　when　she　looked　at　the　mountain。　A　man　channeling。　Light；　help　him。
　　　　　　　The　River　Queen　passed　through　a　wide　opening　in　a　tall；　circular　wall　that　thrust　out　into　the　river。　Inside；　one　long　wharf　surrounded　a　round　harbor。　Sailors　furled　the　last　sails　and　used　sweeps　alone　to　move　the　ship　stern…first　to　its　docking。　Around　the　long　wharf；　the　other　ships　that　had　e　downriver　were　now　being　snugged　into　their　berths　among　the　ships　already　there。　The　White　Flame　banner　set　workers　scurrying　along　the　already　busy　wharf。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　came　on　deck　before　the　shore　lines　were　tied　off；　but　dockworkers　ran　a　gangplank　aboard　as　soon　as　she　appeared。　Leane　walked　at　her　side；　flame…tipped　staff　in　hand；　and　the　other　Aes　Sedai　on　the　ship　followed　them　ashore。　None　of　them　so　much　as　glanced　at　Egwene　or　Nynaeve。　On　the　wharf　a　delegation　greeted　the　Amyrlin…shawled　Aes　Sedai；　bowing　formally；　kissing　the　Amyrlin's　ring。　The　wharf　bustled；　between　ships　unloading　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat　arriving；　soldiers　formed　up　on　disembarking；　men　set　booms　for　cargo；　trumpet　flourishes　rang　from　the　walls；　peting　with　cheers　from　the　onlookers。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　a　loud　sniff。　〃It　seems　they've　forgotten　us。　e　along。　We'll　see　to　ourselves。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　reluctant　to　leave　her　first　sight　of　Tar　Valon；　but　she　followed　Nynaeve　below　to　gather　their　things。　When　they　came　back　topside；　bundles　in　their　arms；　soldiers　and　trumpets　were　gone　…　and　Aes　Sedai；　too。　Men　were　swinging　back　hatches　along　the　deck　and　lowering　cables　into　the　holds。
　　　　　　　On　the　deck；　Nynaeve　caught　a　dockman's　arm；　a　burly　fellow　in　a　coarse　brown　shirt　with　no　sleeves。　〃Our　horses；〃　she　began。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　busy；〃　he　growled；　pulling　free。　〃Horses'll　all　be　took　to　the　White　Tower。〃　He　looked　them　up　and　down。　〃If　you've　business　with　the　Tower；　best　you　take　yourselves　on。　Aes　Sedai　don't　hold　with　newlings　being　tardy。〃　Another　man；　wrestling　with　a　bale　being　swung　out　of　the　hold　on　a　cable；　shouted　to　him；　and　he　left　the　women　without　a　backwards　glance。
　　　　　　　Egwene　exchanged　looks　with　Nynaeve。　It　seemed　they　really　were　on　their　own。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stalked　off　the　ship　with　grim　determination　on　her　face；　but　Egwene　made　her　way　dejectedly　down　the　gangplank　and　through　the　tarry　smell　that　hung　over　the　wharf。　All　that　talk　about　wanting　us　here；　and　now　they　don't　seem　to　care。
　　　　　　　Broad　stairs　led　up　from　the　dock　to　a　wide　arch　of　dark　redstone。　On　reaching　it；　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　stopped　to　stare。
　　　　　　　Every　building　seemed　a　palace；　though　most　of　those　close　to　the　arch　seemed　to　contain　inns　or　shops；　from　the　signs　over　the　doors。　Fanciful　stonework　was　everywhere；　and　the　lines　of　one　structure　seemed　designed　to　plement　and　set　off　the　next；　leading　the　eye　along　as　if　everything　were　part　of　one　vast　design。　Some　structures　did　not　look　like　buildings　at　all；　but　like　gigantic　waves　breaking；　or　huge　shells；　or　fanciful；　windsculpted　cliffs。　Right　in　front　of　the　arch　lay　a　broad　square；　with　a　fountain　and　trees；　and　Egwene　could　see　another　square　further　on。　Above　everything　rose　the　towers；　tall　and　graceful；　some　with　sweeping　bridges　between　them；　high　in　the　sky。　And　over　all　rose　one　tower；　higher　and　wider　than　all　the　rest；　as　white　as　the　Shining　Walls　themselves。
　　　　　　　〃Fair　takes　the　breath　at　first　sight；〃　said　a　woman's　voice　behind　them。　〃At　tenth　s