rj.eyeoftheworld-第102部分

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　the　farmer's　two　passengers。
　　　　　　　The　village　inn　moved　through　Rand's　field　of　vision。　It　was　whitewashed；　with　a　gray　slate　roof。　People　bustled　in　and　out；　nodding　casually　and　waving　to　one　another。　Some　of　them　stopped　to　speak。　They　knew　one　another。　Villagers；　mostly；　by　their　clothes　…　boots　and　trousers　and　coats　not　much　different　from　what　he　wore　himself；　though　with　an　inordinate　fondness　for　colorful　stripes。　The　women　wore　deep　bonnets　that　hid　their　faces　and　white　aprons　with　stripes。　Maybe　they　were　all　townsmen　and　local　farmfolk。　Does　that　make　any　difference？
　　　　　　　He　dropped　back　on　the　straw；　watching　the　village　dwindle　between　his　feet。　Fenced　fields　and　trimmed　hedges　lined　the　road；　and　small　farmhouses　with　smoke　rising　from　red　brick　chimneys。　The　only　woods　near　the　road　were　coppices；　well　tended　for　firewood；　tame　as　a　farmyard。　But　the　branches　stood　leafless　against　the　sky；　as　stark　as　in　the　wild　woods　to　the　west。
　　　　　　　A　line　of　wagons　heading　the　other　way　rumbled　down　the　center　of　the　road；　crowding　the　cart　over　onto　the　verge。　Master　Kinch　shifted　his　pipe　to　the　corner　of　his　mouth　and　spat　between　his　teeth。　With　one　eye　on　his　off…side　wheel；　to　make　sure　it　did　not　tangle　in　the　hedge；　he　kept　the　cart　moving。　His　mouth　tightened　as　he　glanced　at　the　merchants'　train。
　　　　　　　None　of　the　wagon　drivers　cracking　their　long　whips　in　the　air　above　eight…horse　teams；　none　of　the　hard…faced　guards　slouching　in　their　saddles　alongside　the　wagons；　looked　at　the　cart。　Rand　watched　them　go；　his　chest　tight。　His　hand　was　under　his　cloak；　gripping　his　sword　hilt；　until　the　last　wagon　lurched　by。
　　　　　　　As　that　final　wagon　rattled　away　toward　the　village　they　had　just　left；　Mat　turned　on　the　seat　beside　the　farmer　and　leaned　back　until　he　found　Rand's　eyes。　The　scarf　that　did　duty　for　dust；　when　need　be；　shaded　his　own　eyes；　folded　over　thickly　and　tied　low　around　his　forehead。　Even　so　he　squinted　in　the　gray　daylight。　〃You　see　anything　back　there？〃　he　asked　quietly。　〃What　about　the　wagons？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head；　and　Mat　nodded。　He　had　seen　nothing　either。
　　　　　　　Master　Kinch　glanced　at　them　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　then　shifted　his　pipe　again；　and　flapped　the　reins。　That　was　all；　but　he　had　noticed。　The　horse　picked　up　the　pace　a　step。
　　　　　　　〃Your　eyes　still　hurt？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　Mat　touched　the　scarf　around　his　head。　〃No。　Not　much。　Not　unless　I　look　almost　right　at　the　sun；　anyway。　What　about　you？　Are　you　feeling　any　better？〃
　　　　　　　〃Some。〃　He　really　was　feeling　better；　he　realized。　It　was　a　wonder　to　get　over　being　sick　so　fast。　More　than　that；　it　was　a　gift　of　the　Light。　It　has　to　be　the　Light。　It　has　to　be。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　a　body　of　horsemen　was　passing　the　cart；　heading　west　like　the　merchants'　wagons。　Long　white　collars　hung　down　over　their　mail　and　plate；　and　their　cloaks　and　undercoats　were　red；　like　the　gatetenders'　uniforms　in　Whitebridge；　but　better　made　and　better　fitting。　Each　man's　conical　helmet　shone　like　silver。　They　sat　their　horses　with　straight　backs。　Thin　red　streamers　fluttered　beneath　the　heads　of　their　lances；　every　lance　held　at　the　same　angle。
　　　　　　　Some　of　them　glanced　into　the　cart　as　they　passed　in　two　columns。　A　cage　of　steel　bars　masked　each　face。　Rand　was　glad　his　cloak　covered　his　sword。　A　few　nodded　to　Master　Kinch；　not　as　if　they　knew　him；　but　in　a　neutral　greeting。　Master　Kinch　nodded　back　in　much　the　same　way；　but　despite　his　unchanging　expression　there　was　a　hint　of　approval　in　his　nod。
　　　　　　　Their　horses　were　at　a　walk；　but　with　the　speed　of　the　cart　added；　they　went　by　quickly。　With　a　part　of　his　mind　Rand　counted　them。　Ten　。。。　twenty　。。。　thirty　。。。　thirty…two。　He　raised　his　head　to　watch　the　columns　move　on　down　the　Caemlyn　Road。
　　　　　　　〃Who　were　they？〃　Mat　asked；　half　wondering；　half　suspicious。
　　　　　　　〃Queen's　Guards；〃　Master　Kinch　said　around　his　pipe。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　road　ahead。　〃Won't　go　much　further　than　Breen's　Spring；　'less　they're　called　for。　Not　like　the　old　days。〃　He　sucked　on　his　pipe；　then　added；　〃I　suppose；　these　days；　there's　parts　of　the　Realm　don't　see　the　Guards　in　a　year　or　more。　Not　like　the　old　days。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　they　doing？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　The　farmer　gave　him　a　look。　〃Keeping　the　Queen's　peace　and　upholding　the　Queen's　law。〃　He　nodded　to　himself　as　if　he　liked　the　sound　of　that；　and　added；　〃Searching　out　malefactors　and　seeing　them　before　a　magistrate。　Mmmph！〃　He　let　out　a　long　streamer　of　smoke。　〃You　two　must　be　from　pretty　far　off　not　to　recognize　the　Queen's　Guard。　Where　you　from？〃
　　　　　　　〃Far　off；〃　Mat　said　at　the　same　instant　that　Rand　said；　〃The　Two　Rivers。〃　He　wished　he　could　take　it　back　as　soon　as　he　said　it。　He　still　was　not　thinking　clearly。　Trying　to　hide；　and　mentioning　a　name　a　Fade　would　hear　like　a　bell。
　　　　　　　Master　Kinch　glanced　at　Mat　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　and　puffed　his　pipe　in　silence　for　a　while。　〃That's　far　off；　all　right；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Almost　to　the　border　of　the　Realm。　But　things　must　be　worse　than　I　thought　if　there's　places　in　the　Realm　where　people　don't　even　recognize　the　Queen's　Guards。　Not　like　the　old　days　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　wondered　what　Master　al'Vere　would　say　if　someone　told　him　the　Two　Rivers　was　part　of　some　Queen's　Realm。　The　Queen　of　Andor；　he　supposed。　Perhaps　the　Mayor　did　know　…　he　knew　a　lot　of　things　that　surprised　Rand　…　and　maybe　others　did；　too；　but　he　had　never　heard　anyone　mention　it。　The　Two　Rivers　was　the　Two　Rivers。　Each　village　handled　its　own　problems；　and　if　some　difficulty　involved　more　than　one　village　the　Mayors；　and　maybe　the　Village　Councils；　solved　it　between　them。
　　　　　　　Master　Kinch　pulled　on　the　reins；　drawing　the　cart　to　a　halt。　〃Far　as　I　go。〃　A　narrow　cart　path　led　off　to　the　north；　several　farmhouses　were　visible　in　that　direction　across　open　fields；　plowed　but　still　bare　of　crops。　〃Two　days　will　see　you　in　Caemlyn。　Least；　it　would　if　your　friend　had　his　legs　under　him。〃Mat　hopped　down　and　retrieved　his　bow　and　other　things；　then　helped　Rand　climb　off　the　tail　of　the　cart。　Rand's　bundles　weighed　on　him；　and　his　legs　wobbled；　but　he　shrugged　off　his　friend's　hand　and　tried　a　few　steps　on　his　own。　He　still　felt　unsteady；　but　his　legs　held　him　up。　They　even　seemed　to　grow　stronger　as　he　used　them。
　　　　　　　The　farmer　did　not　start　his　horse　up　again　right　away。　He　studied　them　for　a　minute；　sucking　on　his　pipe。　〃You　can　rest　up　a　day　or　two　at　my　place；　if　you　want。　Won't　miss　anything　in　that　time；　I　suppose。　Whatever　sickness　you're　getting　over；　young　fellow　。。。　well；　the　old　woman　and　me；　we　already　had　about　every　sickness　you　can　think　of　before　you　were　born；　and　nursed　our　younglings　through　'em；　too。　I　expect　you're　past　the　catching　stage；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　Mat's　eyes　narrowed；　and　Rand　caught　himself　frowning。　Not　everyone　is　part　of　it。　It　can't　be　everybody。
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'm　all　right。　Really。　How　far　to　the　next　village？〃
　　　　　　　〃Carysford？　You　can　reach　it　before　dark；　walking。〃　Master　Kinch　took　his　pipe　from　between　his　teeth　and　pursed　his　lips　thoughtfully　before　going　on。　〃First　off；　I　reckoned　you　for　runaway　'prentices；　but　now　I　expect　it's　something　more　serious　you're　running　from。　Don't　know　what。　Don't　care。　I'm　a　good　enough　judge　to　say　you're　not　Darkfriends；　and　not　likely　to　rob　or　hurt　anybody。　Not　like　some　on　the　road　these　days。　I　got　in　trouble　a　time　or　two　myself　when　I　was　your　age。　You　need　a　place　to　keep　out　of　sight　a　few　days；　my　farm　is　five　miles　that　way〃　…　he　jerked　his　head　toward　the　cart　track　…　〃and　don't　nobody　ever　e　out　there。　Whatever's　chasing　you；　won't　likely　find　you　there。〃　He　cleared　his　throat　as　if　embarrassed　by　speaking　so　many　words　together。
　　　　　　　〃How　would　you　know　what　Darkfriends　look　like？〃　Mat　demanded。　He　backed　away　from　the　cart；　and　his　hand　went　under　his　coat。　〃What　do　you　know　about　Darkfriends？〃
　　　　　　　Master　Kinch's　face　tightened。　〃Suit　yourselves；〃　he　said；　and　clucked　to　his　horse。　The　cart　rolled　off　down　the　narrow　path；　and　he　never　looked　back。
　　　　　　　Mat　looked　at　Rand；　and　his　scowl　faded。　〃Sorry；　Rand。　You　need　a　place　to　rest。　Maybe　if　we　go　after　him　。。。〃　He　shrugged。　〃I　just　can't　get　over　the　feeling　that　everybody's　after　us。　Light；　I　wish　I　knew　why　they　were。　I　wish　it　was　over。　I　wish。。。〃　He　trailed　off　miserably。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　still　some　good　people；〃　Rand　said。　Mat　started　toward　the　cart　path；　jaw　clenched　as　if　it　were　the　last　thing　he　wanted　to　do；　but　Rand　stopped　him。　〃We　can't　afford　to　stop　just　to　rest；　Mat。　Besides；　I　don't　think　there　is　anywhere　to　hide。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　nodded；　his　relief　evident。　He　tried　to　take　some　of　Rand's　burdens；　the　saddlebags　and　Thom's　cloak　wrapped　around　the　cased　harp；　but　Rand　held　onto　them。　His　legs　really　did　feel　stronger。　Whatever's　chasing　us？　he　thought　as　they　started　off　down　the　road。　Not　chasing。　Waiting。　
　　　　　　　The　rain　had　continued　through　the　night　they　staggered　away　from　The　Dancing　Cartman；　hammering　at　them　as　hard　as　the　thunder　out　of　a　black　sky　split　by　lightning。　Their　clothes　became　sodden　in　minutes；　in　an　hour　Rand's　skin　felt　sodden；　too；　but　they　had　left　Four　Kings　behind　them。　Mat　was　all　but　blind　in　the　dark；　squinting　painfully　at　the　sharp　flashes　that　made　trees　stand　out　starkly　for　an　instant。　Rand　led　him　by　the　hand；　but　Mat　still　felt　out　each　step　uncertainly。　Worry　creased　Rand's　forehead。　If　Mat　did　not　regain　his　sight；　they　would　be　slowed　to　a　crawl。　They　would　never　get　away。
　　　　　　　Mat　seemed　to　sense　his　thought。　Despite　the　hood　of　his　cloak；　the　rain　had　plastered　Mat's　hair　across　his　face。　〃Rand；〃　he　said；　〃you　won't　leave　me；　will　you？　If　I　can't　keep　up？〃　His　voice　quavered。
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　leave　you。〃　Rand　tightened　his　grip　on　his　friend's　hand。　〃I　won't　leave　you　no　matter　what。〃　Light　help　us！　Thunder　crashed　overhead；　and　Mat　stumbled；　almost　falling；　almost　pulling　him　down；　too。　〃We　have　to　stop；　Mat。　If　we　keep　going；　you'll　break　a　leg。〃
　　　　　　　〃Gode。〃　Lightning　split　the　dark　right　above　them　as　Mat　spoke；　and　the　thunder　crack　pounded　every　other　sound　into　the　ground；　but　in　the　flash　Rand　could　make　out　the　name　on　Mat's　lips。
　　　　　　　〃He's　dead。〃　He　has　to　be。　Li