rj.eyeoftheworld-第111部分

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　Mat　and　grinned。　Mat　did　have　his　hands　over　his　ears；　and　his　shoulders　were　hunched　up　as　if　he　wanted　to　cover　them　with　those；　too。
　　　　　　　〃How　are　we　going　to　hide　in　this？〃　he　demanded　loudly　when　he　saw　Rand　looking。　〃How　can　we　tell　who　to　trust　with　so　many？　So　bloody　many。　Light；　the　noise！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　at　Bunt　before　answering。　The　farmer　was　caught　up　in　staring　at　the　city；　with　the　noise；　he　might　not　have　heard　anyway。　Still；　Rand　put　his　mouth　close　to　Mat's　ear。　〃How　can　they　find　us　among　so　many？　Can't　you　see　it；　you　wool…headed　idiot？　We're　safe；　if　you　ever　learn　to　watch　your　bloody　tongue！〃　He　flung　out　a　hand　to　take　in　everything；　the　markets；　the　city　walls　still　ahead。　〃Look　at　it；　Mat！　Anything　could　happen　here。　Anything！　We　might　even　find　Moiraine　waiting　for　us；　and　Egwene；　and　all　the　rest。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　they're　alive。　If　you　ask　me；　they're　as　dead　as　the　gleeman。〃
　　　　　　　The　grin　faded　from　Rand's　face；　and　he　turned　to　watch　the　gates　e　nearer。　Anything　could　happen　in　a　city　like　Caemlyn。　He　held　that　thought　stubbornly。
　　　　　　　The　horse　could　not　move　any　faster；　flap　the　reins　as　Bunt　would；　the　closer　to　the　gates　they　came；　the　thicker　the　crowd　grew；　jostling　together　shoulder　to　shoulder；　pressing　against　the　carts　and　wagons　heading　in。　Rand　was　glad　to　see　a　good　many　were　dusty　young　men　afoot　with　little　in　the　way　of　belongings。　Whatever　their　ages；　a　lot　of　the　crowd　pushing　toward　the　gates　had　a　travel…worn　look；　rickety　carts　and　tired　horses；　clothes　wrinkled　from　many　nights　of　sleeping　rough；　dragging　steps　and　weary　eyes。　But　weary　or　not；　those　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　gates　as　if　getting　inside　the　walls　would　strip　away　all　their　fatigue。
　　　　　　　Half　a　dozen　of　the　Queen's　Guards　stood　at　the　gates；　their　clean　red…and…white　tabards　and　burnished　plate…and…mail　a　sharp　contrast　to　most　of　the　people　streaming　under　the　stone　arch。　Backs　rigid　and　heads　straight；　they　eyed　the　iners　with　disdainful　wariness。　It　was　plain　they　would　just　as　soon　have　turned　away　most　of　those　ing　in。　Aside　from　keeping　a　way　clear　for　traffic　leaving　the　city；　though；　and　having　a　hard　word　with　those　who　tried　to　push　too　fast；　they　did　not　hinder　anyone。
　　　　　　　〃Keep　your　places。　Don't　push。　Don't　push；　the　Light　blind　you！　There's　room　for　everybody；　the　Light　help　us。　Keep　your　places。〃
　　　　　　　Bunt's　cart　rolled　past　the　gates　with　the　slow　tide　of　the　throng；　into　Caemlyn。
　　　　　　　The　city　rose　on　low　hills；　like　steps　climbing　to　a　center。　Another　wall　encircled　that　center；　shining　pure　white　and　running　over　the　hills。　Inside　that　were　even　more　towers　and　domes；　white　and　gold　and　purple；　their　elevation　atop　the　hills　making　them　seem　to　look　down　on　the　rest　of　Caemlyn。　Rand　thought　that　must　be　the　Inner　City　of　which　Bunt　had　spoken。
　　　　　　　The　Caemlyn　Road　itself　changed　as　soon　as　it　was　inside　the　city；　being　a　wide　boulevard；　split　down　the　middle　by　broad　strips　of　grass　and　trees。　The　grass　was　brown　and　the　tree　branches　bare；　but　people　hurried　by　as　if　they　saw　nothing　unusual；　laughing；　talking；　arguing；　doing　all　the　things　that　people　do。　Just　as　if　they　had　no　idea　that　there　had　been　no　spring　yet　this　year　and　might　be　none。　They　did　not　see；　Rand　realized；　could　not　or　would　not。　Their　eyes　slid　away　from　leafless　branches；　and　they　walked　across　the　dead　and　dying　grass　without　once　looking　down。　What　they　did　not　see；　they　could　ignore；　what　they　did　not　see　was　not　really　there。
　　　　　　　Gaping　at　the　city　and　the　people；　Rand　was　taken　by　surprise　when　the　cart　turned　down　a　side　street；　narrower　than　the　boulevard；　but　still　twice　as　wide　as　any　street　in　Emond's　Field。　Bunt　drew　the　horse　to　a　halt　and　turned　to　look　back　at　them　hesitantly。　The　traffic　was　a　bit　lighter　here；　the　crowd　split　around　the　cart　without　breaking　stride。
　　　　　　　〃What　you're　hiding　under　your　cloak；　is　it　really　what　Holdwin　says？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　was　in　the　act　of　tossing　his　saddlebags　over　his　shoulder。　He　did　not　even　twitch。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　His　voice　was　steady；　too。　His　stomach　was　a　sour　knot；　but　his　voice　was　steady。
　　　　　　　Mat　stifled　a　yawn　with　one　hand；　but　he　shoved　the　other　under　his　coat　…　clutching　the　dagger　from　Shadar　Logoth；　Rand　knew　…　and　his　eyes　had　a　hard；　hunted　look　under　the　scarf　around　his　head。　Bunt　avoided　looking　at　Mat；　as　if　he　knew　there　was　a　weapon　in　that　hidden　hand。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　mean　nothing；　I　suppose。　Look；　now；　if　you　heard　I　was　ing　to　Caemlyn；　you　were　there　long　enough　to　hear　the　rest。　Was　I　after　a　reward；　I'd　have　made　some　excuse　to　go　in　the　Goose　and　Crown；　speak　to　Holdwin。　Only　I　don't　much　like　Holdwin；　and　I　don't　like　that　friend　of　his；　not　at　all。　Seems　like　he　wants　you　two　more　than　he　wants。。。　anything　else。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　what　he　wants；〃　Rand　said。　〃We've　never　seen　him　before。〃　It　might　even　be　the　truth；　he　could　not　tell　one　Fade　from　another。
　　　　　　　〃Uh…huh。　Well；　like　I　say；　I　don't　know　nothing；　and　I　guess　I　don't　want　to。　There's　enough　trouble　around　for　everybody　without　I　go　looking　for　more。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　was　slow　in　gathering　his　things；　and　Rand　was　already　in　the　street　before　he　started　climbing　down。　Rand　waited　impatiently。　Mat　turned　stiffly　from　the　cart；　hugging　bow　and　quiver　and　blanket　roll　to　his　chest；　muttering　under　his　breath。　Heavy　shadows　darkened　the　undersides　of　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　Rand's　stomach　rumbled；　and　he　grimaced。　Hunger　bined　with　a　sour　twisting　in　his　gut　made　him　afraid　he　was　going　to　vomit。　Mat　was　staring　at　him　now；　expectantly。　Which　way　to　go？　What　to　do　now？
　　　　　　　Bunt　leaned　over　and　beckoned　him　closer。　He　went；　hoping　for　advice　about　Caemlyn。
　　　　　　　〃I'd　hide　that　。。。〃　The　old　farmer　paused　and　looked　around　warily。　People　pushed　by　on　both　sides　of　the　cart；　but　except　for　a　few　passing　curses　about　blocking　the　way；　no　one　paid　them　any　attention。　〃Stop　wearing　it；〃　he　said；　〃hide　it；　sell　it。　Give　it　away。　That's　my　advice。　Thing　like　that's　going　to　draw　attention；　and　I　guess　you　don't　want　any　of　that。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　he　straightened；　clucking　to　his　horse；　and　drove　slowly　on　down　the　crowded　street　without　another　word　or　a　backward　glance。　A　wagon　loaded　with　barrels　rumbled　toward　them。　Rand　jumped　out　of　the　way；　staggered；　and　when　he　looked　again　Bunt　and　his　cart　were　lost　to　sight。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃　Mat　demanded。　He　licked　his　lips；　staring　wide…eyed　at　all　the　people　pushing　by　and　the　buildings　towering　as　much　as　six　stories　above　the　street。　〃We're　in　Caemlyn；　but　what　do　we　do？〃　He　had　uncovered　his　ears；　but　his　hands　twitched　as　if　he　wanted　to　put　them　back。　A　hum　lay　on　the　city；　the　low；　steady　drone　of　hundreds　of　shops　working；　thousands　of　people　talking。　To　Rand　it　was　like　being　inside　a　giant　beehive；　constantly　buzzing。　〃Even　if　they　are　here；　Rand；　how　could　we　find　them　in　all　of　this？〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　will　find　us；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　The　immensity　of　the　city　was　a　weight　on　his　shoulders；　he　wanted　to　get　away；　to　hide　from　all　the　people　and　noise。　The　void　eluded　him　despite　Tam's　teachings；　his　eyes　drew　the　city　into　it。　He　concentrated　instead　on　what　was　right　around　him；　ignoring　everything　that　lay　beyond。　Just　looking　at　that　one　street；　it　almost　seemed　like　Baerlon。　Baerlon；　the　last　place　they　had　all　thought　they　were　safe。　Nobody's　safe　anymore。　Maybe　they　are　all　dead。　What　do　you　do　then？
　　　　　　　〃They're　alive！　Egwene's　alive！〃　he　said　fiercely。　Several　passersby　looked　at　him　oddly。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe；〃　Mat　said。　〃Maybe。　What　if　Moiraine　doesn't　find　us？　What　if　nobody　does　but　the　。。。　the　。。。〃　He　shuddered；　unable　to　say　it。
　　　　　　　〃We'll　think　about　that　when　it　happens；〃　he　told　Mat　firmly。　〃If　it　happens。〃　The　worst　meant　seeking　out　Elaida；　the　Aes　Sedai　in　the　Palace。　He　would　go　on　to　Tar　Valon；　first。　He　did　not　know　if　Mat　remembered　what　Thom　had　said　about　the　Red　Ajah　…　and　the　Black　…　but　he　surely　did。　His　stomach　twisted　again。　〃Thom　said　to　find　an　inn　called　The　Queen's　Blessing。　We'll　go　there　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃How？　We　can't　afford　one　meal　between　the　two　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃At　least　it's　a　place　to　start。　Thom　thought　we　could　find　help　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can't　。。。　Rand；　they're　everywhere。〃　Mat　dropped　his　eyes　to　the　paving　stones　and　seemed　to　shrink　in　on　himself；　trying　to　pull　away　from　the　people　that　were　all　around　them。　〃Wherever　we　go；　they're　right　behind　us；　or　they're　waiting　for　us。　They'll　be　at　The　Queen's　Blessing；　too。　I　can't　。。。　I　。。。　Nothing's　going　to　stop　a　Fade。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　grabbed　Mat's　collar　in　a　fist　that　he　was　trying　hard　to　keep　from　trembling。　He　needed　Mat。　Maybe　the　others　were　alive　…　Light；　please！　…　but　right　then　and　there；　it　was　just　Mat　and　him。　The　thought　of　going　on　alone。。。　He　swallowed　hard；　tasting　bile。
　　　　　　　He　looked　around　quickly。　No　one　seemed　to　have　heard　Mat　mention　the　Fade；　the　crowd　pressed　past　lost　in　its　own　worries。　He　put　his　face　close　to　Mat's。　〃We've　made　it　this　far；　haven't　we？〃　he　asked　in　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃They　haven't　caught　us　yet。　We　can　make　it　all　the　way；　if　we　just　don't　quit。　I　won't　just　quit　and　wait　for　them　like　a　sheep　for　slaughter。　I　won't！　Well？　Are　you　going　to　stand　here　till　you　starve　to　death？　Or　until　they　e　pick　you　up　in　a　sack？〃
　　　　　　　He　let　go　of　Mat　and　turned　away。　His　fingernails　dug　into　his　palms；　but　his　hands　still　trembled。　Suddenly　Mat　was　walking　alongside　him；　his　eyes　still　down；　and　Rand　let　out　a　long　breath。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　Rand；〃　Mat　mumbled。
　　　　　　　〃Forget　it；〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　Mat　barely　looked　up　enough　to　keep　from　walking　into　people　while　the　words　poured　out　in　a　lifeless　voice。　〃I　can't　stop　thinking　I'll　never　see　home　again。　I　want　to　go　home。　Laugh　if　you　want；　I　don't　care。　What　I　wouldn't　give　to　have　my　mother　blessing　me　out　for　something　right　now。　It's　like　weights　on　my　brain；　hot　weights。　Strangers　all　around；　and　no　way　to　tell　who　to　trust；　if　I　can　trust　anybody。　Light；　the　Two　Rivers　is　so　far　away　it　might　as　well　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　We're　alone；　and　we'll　never　get　home。　We're　going　to　die；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　yet；　we　won't；〃　Rand　retorted。　〃Everybody　dies。　The　Wheel　turns。　I'm　not　going　to　curl　up