rj.thegreathunt-第79部分

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　　　　　　　〃Where　should　they　be？〃　Rand　asked。　The　Cairhienin　officer　glared　at　him　and　spurred　his　horse　forward；　flogging　at　the　crowd　with　his　quirt。
　　　　　　　Hurin　touched　Rand's　arm。　〃It　was　the　Aiel　War；　Lord　Rand。〃　He　looked　to　make　sure　none　of　the　soldiers　were　close　enough　to　hear。　〃Many　of　the　farmers　were　afraid　to　go　back　to　their　lands　near　the　Spine　of　the　World；　and　they　all　came　here；　near　enough。　That's　why　Galldrian　has　the　river　full　of　grain　barges　up　from　Andor　and　Tear。　There's　no　crops　ing　from　farms　in　the　east　because　there　aren't　any　farms　anymore。　Best　not　to　mention　it　to　a　Cairhienin　though；　my　Lord。　They　like　to　pretend　the　war　never　happened；　or　at　least　that　they　won　it。〃
　　　　　　　Despite　Tavolin's　quirt；　they　were　forced　to　halt　while　a　strange　procession　crossed　their　path。　Half　a　dozen　men；　beating　tambours　and　dancing；　led　the　way　for　a　string　of　huge　puppets；　each　half　again　as　tall　as　the　men　who　worked　them　with　long　poles。　Giant　crowned　figures　of　men　and　women　in　long；　ornate　robes　bowed　to　the　crowd　amid　the　shapes　of　fanciful　beasts。　A　lion　with　wings。　A　goat；　walking　on　its　hind　legs；　with　two　heads；　both　of　which　were　apparently　meant　to　be　breathing　fire；　from　the　crimson　streamers　hanging　from　the　two　mouths。　Something　that　seemed　to　be　half　cat　and　half　eagle；　and　another　with　a　bear's　head　on　a　man's　body；　which　Rand　took　to　be　a　Trolloc。　The　crowd　cheered　and　laughed　as　they　pranced　by。
　　　　　　　〃Man　who　made　that　never　saw　a　Trolloc；〃　Hurin　grumbled。　〃Head's　too　big；　and　it's　too　skinny。　Likely　didn't　believe　in　them；　either；　my　Lord；　any　more　than　in　those　other　things。　The　only　monsters　these　Foregate　folk　believe　in　are　Aiel。〃
　　　　　　　〃Are　they　having　a　festival？〃　Rand　asked。　He　did　not　see　any　sign　of　it　other　than　the　procession；　but　he　thought　that　there　must　be　a　reason　for　that。　Tavolin　ordered　his　soldiers　forward　again。
　　　　　　　〃No　more　than　every　day；　Rand；〃　Loial　said。　Walking　alongside　his　horse；　the　blanket…wrapped　chest　still　strapped　to　his　saddle；　the　Ogier　drew　as　many　looks　as　the　puppets　had。　Some　even　laughed　and　clapped　as　they　had　for　the　puppets。　〃I　fear　Galldrian　keeps　his　people　quiet　by　entertaining　them。　He　gives　gleemen　and　musicians　the　King's　Gift；　a　bounty　in　silver；　to　perform　here　in　the　Foregate；　and　he　sponsors　horse　races　down　by　the　river　every　day。　There　are　fireworks　many　nights；　too。〃　He　sounded　disgusted。　〃Elder　Haman　says　Galldrian　is　a　disgrace。〃　He　blinked；　realizing　what　he　had　said；　and　looked　around　hurriedly　to　see　if　any　of　the　soldiers　had　heard。　None　seemed　to　have。
　　　　　　　〃Fireworks；〃　Hurin　said；　nodding。　〃The　Illuminators　have　built　a　chapter　house　here；　I've　heard；　the　same　as　in　Tanchico。　I　didn't　half　mind　seeing　the　fireworks；　when　I　was　here　before。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head。　He　had　never　seen　fireworks　elaborate　enough　to　require　even　one　Illuminator。　He　had　heard　they　only　left　Tanchico　to　put　on　displays　for　rulers。　It　was　a　strange　place　he　was　ing　to。
　　　　　　　At　the　tall；　square　archway　of　the　city　gate；　Tavolin　ordered　a　halt　and　dismounted　by　a　squat　stone　building　just　inside　the　walls。　It　had　arrowslits　instead　of　windows；　and　a　heavy；　iron…bound　door。
　　　　　　　〃A　moment；　my　Lord　Rand；〃　the　officer　said。　Tossing　his　reins　to　one　of　the　soldiers；　he　disappeared　inside。
　　　　　　　With　a　wary　look　at　the　soldiers　…　they　sat　their　horses　rigidly　in　two　long　files；　Rand　wondered　what　they　would　do　if　he　and　Loial　and　Hurin　tried　to　leave　…　he　took　the　opportunity　to　study　the　city　that　lay　before　him。
　　　　　　　Cairhien　proper　was　a　sharp　contrast　to　the　chaotic　bustle　of　the　Foregate。　Broad；　paved　streets；　wide　enough　to　make　the　people　in　them　seem　fewer　than　they　were；　crossed　each　other　at　right　angles。　Just　as　in　Tremonsien；　the　hills　had　been　carved　and　terraced　to　straight　lines。　Closed　sedan　chairs；　some　with　small　pennants　bearing　the　sigil　of　a　House；　moved　with　deliberateness；　and　carriages　rolled　down　the　streets　slowly。　People　went　silently　in　dark　clothes；　with　no　bright　colors　except　here　and　there　slashes　across　the　breast　of　coat　or　dress。　The　more　slashes；　the　more　proudly　the　wearer　moved；　but　no　one　laughed；　or　even　smiled。　The　buildings　on　their　terraces　were　all　of　stone；　and　the　ornamentation　was　straight…lined　and　sharp…angled。　There　were　no　hawkers　or　peddlers　in　the　streets；　and　even　the　shops　seemed　subdued；　with　only　small　signs　and　no　wares　displayed　outside。
　　　　　　　He　could　see　the　great　towers　more　clearly；　now。　Scaffolds　of　lashed　poles　surrounded　them；　and　workmen　swarmed　on　the　scaffolding；　laying　new　stones　to　push　the　towers　higher　still。
　　　　　　　〃The　Topless　Towers　of　Cairhien；〃　Loial　murmured　sadly。　〃Well；　they　were　tall　enough　to　warrant　the　name；　once。　When　the　Aiel　took　Cairhien；　about　the　time　you　were　born；　the　towers　burned；　and　cracked；　and　fell。　I　don't　see　any　Ogier　among　the　stonemasons。　No　Ogier　could　like　working　here　…　the　Cairhienin　want　what　they　want；　without　embellishment　…　but　there　were　Ogier　when　I　was　here　before。〃
　　　　　　　Tavolin　came　out；　trailing　another　officer　and　two　clerks；　one　carrying　a　large；　wood…bound　ledger　and　the　other　a　tray　with　writing　implements。　The　front　of　the　officer's　head　was　shaven　like　Tavolin's；　though　advancing　baldness　seemed　to　have　taken　more　hair　than　the　razor。　Both　officers　looked　from　the　Rand　to　the　chest　hidden　by　Loial's　striped　blanket　and　back　again。　Neither　asked　what　was　under　the　blanket。　Tavolin　had　looked　at　it　often　on　the　way　from　Tremonsien；　but　he　had　never　asked；　either。　The　balding　man　looked　at　Rand's　sword；　too；　and　pursed　his　lips　for　an　instant。
　　　　　　　Tavolin　gave　the　other　officer's　name　as　Asan　Sandair；　and　announced　loudly；　〃Lord　Rand　of　House　al'Thor；　in　Andor；　and　his　man；　called　Hurin；　with　Loial；　an　Ogier　of　Stedding　Shangtai。〃　The　clerk　with　the　ledger　opened　it　across　his　two　arms；　and　Sandair　wrote　the　names　in　a　round　hand。
　　　　　　　〃You　must　return　to　this　guardhouse　by　this　same　hour　tomorrow；　my　Lord；〃　Sandair　said；　leaving　the　sanding　to　the　second　clerk；　〃and　give　the　name　of　the　inn　where　you　are　staying。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　at　the　staid　streets　of　Cairhien；　then　back　at　the　liveliness　of　the　Foregate。　〃Can　you　tell　me　the　name　of　a　good　inn　out　there？〃　He　nodded　to　the　Foregate。
　　　　　　　Hurin　made　a　frantic　hsst　and　leaned　close。　〃It　would　not　be　proper；　Lord　Rand；〃　he　whispered。　〃If　you　stay　in　the　Foregate；　being　a　lord　and　all；　they'll　be　sure　you　are　up　to　something。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　could　see　the　sniffer　was　right。　Sandair's　mouth　had　dropped　open　and　Tavolin's　brows　had　risen　at　his　question；　and　they　were　both　still　watching　him　intently。　He　wanted　to　tell　them　he　was　not　playing　their　Great　Game；　but　instead　he　said；　〃We　will　take　rooms　in　the　city。　We　can　go　now？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；　my　Lord　Rand。〃　Sandair　made　a　bow。　〃But　。。。　the　inn？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　let　you　know　when　we　find　one。〃　Rand　turned　Red；　then　paused。　Selene's　note　crackled　in　his　pocket。　〃I　need　to　find　a　young　woman　from　Cairhien。　The　Lady　Selene。　She　is　my　age；　and　beautiful。　I　don't　know　her　House。〃
　　　　　　　Sandair　and　Tavolin　exchanged　looks；　then　Sandair　said；　〃I　will　make　inquiries；　my　Lord。　Perhaps　I　will　be　able　to　tell　you　something　when　you　e　tomorrow。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　and　led　Loial　and　Hurin　into　the　city。　They　attracted　little　notice；　though　there　were　few　riders。　Even　Loial　attracted　almost　none。　The　people　seemed　nearly　ostentatious　about　minding　their　own　business。
　　　　　　　〃Will　they　take　it　the　wrong　way；〃　Rand　asked　Hurin；　〃my　asking　after　Selene？〃
　　　　　　　〃Who　can　say　with　Cairhienin；　Lord　Rand？　They　seem　to　think　everything　has　to　do　with　Daes　Dae'mar。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shrugged。　He　felt　as　if　people　were　looking　at　him。　He　could　not　wait　to　get　a　good；　plain　coat　again；　and　stop　pretending　to　be　what　he　was　not。
　　　　　　　Hurin　knew　several　inns　in　the　city；　though　his　time　in　Cairhien　had　been　spent　mainly　in　the　Foregate。　The　sniffer　led　them　to　one　called　The　Defender　of　the　Dragonwall；　the　sign　bearing　a　crowned　man　with　his　foot　on　another　man's　chest　and　his　sword　at　the　man's　throat。　The　fellow　on　his　back　had　red　hair。
　　　　　　　A　hostler　came　to　take　their　horses；　darting　quick　looks　at　Rand　and　at　Loial　when　he　thought　he　was　not　observed。　Rand　told　himself　to　stop　having　fancies；　not　everyone　in　the　city　could　be　playing　this　Game　of　theirs。　And　if　they　were；　he　was　no　part　of　it。
　　　　　　　The　mon　room　was　neat；　with　the　tables　laid　out　as　strictly　as　the　city；　and　only　a　few　people　at　them。　They　glanced　up　at　the　newers；　then　back　to　their　wine　immediately；　Rand　had　the　feeling　they　were　still　watching；　though；　and　listening。　A　small　fire　burned　in　the　big　fireplace；　though　the　day　was　warming。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　was　a　plump；　unctuous　man　with　a　single　stripe　of　green　across　his　dark　gray　coat。　He　gave　a　start　at　his　first　sight　of　them；　and　Rand　was　not　surprised。　Loial；　with　the　chest　in　his　arms　under　its　striped　blanket；　had　to　duck　his　head　to　make　it　in　through　the　door；　Hurin　was　burdened　with　all　their　saddlebags　and　bundles；　and　his　own　red　coat　was　a　sharp　contrast　to　the　somber　colors　the　people　at　the　tables　wore。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　took　in　Rand's　coat　and　his　sword；　and　his　oily　smile　came　back。　He　bowed；　washing　his　smooth　hands。　〃Forgive　me；　my　Lord。　It　was　just　that　for　a　moment　I　took　you　for　…　Forgive　me。　My　brain　is　not　what　it　was。　You　wish　rooms；　my　Lord？〃　He　added　another；　lesser　bow　for　Loial。　〃I　am　called　Cuale；　my　Lord。〃
　　　　　　　He　thought　I　was　Aiel；　Rand　thought　sourly。　He　wanted　to　be　gone　from　Cairhien。　But　it　was　the　one　place　Ingtar　might　find　them。　And　Selene　had　said　she　would　wait　for　him　in　Cairhien。
　　　　　　　It　took　a　little　time　for　their　rooms　to　be　readied；　Cuale　explaining　with　too　many　smiles　and　bows　that　it　was　necessary　to　move　a　bed　for　Loial。　Rand　wanted　them　all　to　share　a　room　again；　but　between　the　innkeeper's　scandalized　looks　and　Hurin's　insistence　…　〃We　have　to　show　these　Cairhienin　we　know　what's　right　as　well　as　they　do；　Lord　Rand〃　…　they　ended　with　two；　one　for　him　alone；　with　a　connecting　door。
　　　　　　　The　rooms　were　much　the　same　except　that　theirs　had　two　beds；　one　sized　for　an　Ogier；　while　his　had　only　one　bed；　and　that　almost　as　big　as　the