rj.eyeoftheworld-第132部分

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round　them　itched。　They　would　be　pelled　to　seek　it。　It　should　have　drawn　them　to　it　as　a　magnet　draws　iron　filings。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　were　Darkfriends；〃　Rand　said；　〃more　than　once；　but　we　got　away　from　them。　And　a　Fade；　the　night　before　we　reached　Caemlyn；　but　he　never　saw　us。〃　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃There　are　rumors　of　strange　things　in　the　night　outside　the　city。　It　could　be　Trollocs。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　it's　Trollocs；　sheepherder；〃　Lan　said　wryly。　〃And　where　Trollocs　are；　there　are　Fades。〃　Tendons　stood　out　on　the　back　of　his　hand　from　the　effort　of　holding　Mat's　wrist；　but　there　was　no　strain　in　his　voice。　〃They've　tried　to　hide　their　passage；　but　I　have　seen　sign　for　two　days。　And　heard　farmers　and　villagers　mutter　about　things　in　the　night。　The　Myrddraal　managed　to　strike　into　the　Two　Rivers　unseen；　somehow；　but　every　day　they　e　closer　to　those　who　can　send　soldiers　to　hunt　them　down。　Even　so；　they　won't　stop　now；　sheepherder。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　we're　in　Caemlyn；〃　Egwene　said。　〃They　can't　get　to　us　as　long　as　…〃
　　　　　　　〃They　can't？〃　the　Warder　cut　her　off。　〃The　Fades　are　building　their　numbers　in　the　countryside。　That's　plain　enough　from　the　sign；　if　you　know　what　to　look　for。　Already　there　are　more　Trollocs　than　they　need　just　to　watch　all　the　ways　out　of　the　city；　a　dozen　fists；　at　least。　There　can　only　be　one　reason；　when　the　Fades　have　enough　numbers；　they　will　e　into　the　city　after　you。　That　act　may　send　half　the　armies　of　the　south　marching　to　the　Borderlands；　but　the　evidence　is　that　they're　willing　to　take　that　risk。　You　three　have　escaped　them　too　long。　It　looks　as　if　you've　brought　a　new　Trolloc　War　to　Caemlyn；　sheepherder。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　a　gasping　sob；　and　Perrin　shook　his　head　as　though　to　deny　it。　Rand　felt　a　sickness　in　his　stomach　at　the　thought　of　Trollocs　in　the　streets　of　Caemlyn。　All　those　people　at　one　another's　throats；　never　realizing　the　real　threat　waiting　to　e　over　the　walls。　What　would　they　do　when　they　suddenly　found　Trollocs　and　Fades　in　their　midst；　killing　them？　He　could　see　the　towers　burning；　flames　breaking　through　the　domes；　Trollocs　pillaging　through　the　curving　streets　and　vistas　of　the　Inner　City。　The　Palace　itself　in　flames。　Elayne；　and　Gawyn；　and　Morgase　。。。　dead。
　　　　　　　〃Not　yet；〃　Moiraine　said　absently。　She　was　still　intent　on　Mat。　〃If　we　can　find　a　way　out　of　Caemlyn；　the　Halfmen　will　have　no　more　interest　here。　If。　So　many　if's。〃
　　　　　　　〃Better　we　were　all　dead；〃　Perrin　said　suddenly；　and　Rand　jumped　at　the　echo　of　his　own　thoughts。　Perrin　still　sat　staring　at　the　floor　…　glaring　at　it　now　…　and　his　voice　was　bitter。　〃Everywhere　we　go；　we　bring　pain　and　suffering　on　our　backs。　It　would　be　better　for　everyone　if　we　were　dead。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　rounded　on　him；　her　face　half　fury　and　half　worried　fear；　but　Moiraine　forestalled　her。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　to　gain；　for　yourself　or　anyone　else；　by　dying？〃　the　Aes　Sedai　asked。　Her　voice　was　level；　yet　sharp。　〃If　the　Lord　of　the　Grave　has　gained　as　much　freedom　to　touch　the　Pattern　as　I　fear；　he　can　reach　you　dead　more　easily　than　alive；　now。　Dead；　you　can　help　no　one；　not　the　people　who　have　helped　you；　not　your　friends　and　family　back　in　the　Two　Rivers。　The　Shadow　is　falling　over　the　world；　and　none　of　you　can　stop　it　dead。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　raised　his　head　to　look　at　her；　and　Rand　gave　a　start。　The　irises　of　his　friend's　eyes　were　more　yellow　than　brown。　With　his　shaggy　hair　and　the　intensity　of　his　gaze；　there　was　something　about　him。。。　Rand　could　not　grasp　it　enough　to　make　it　out。
　　　　　　　Perrin　spoke　with　a　soft　flatness　that　gave　his　words　more　weight　than　if　he　had　shouted。　〃We　can't　stop　it　alive；　either；　now　can　we？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　time　to　argue　with　you　later；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃but　your　friend　needs　me　now。〃　She　stepped　aside　so　they　could　all　see　Mat　clearly。　His　eyes　still　on　her　with　a　rage…filled　stare；　he　had　not　moved　or　changed　his　position　on　the　bed。　Sweat　stood　out　on　his　face；　and　his　lips　were　bloodless　in　an　unchanging　snarl。　All　of　his　strength　seemed　to　be　pouring　into　the　effort　to　reach　Moiraine　with　the　dagger　Lan　held　motionless。　〃Or　had　you　forgotten？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　an　embarrassed　shrug　and　spread　his　hands　wordlessly。
　　　　　　　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃　Egwene　asked；　and　Nynaeve　added；　〃Is　it　catching？　I　can　still　treat　him。　I　don't　seem　to　catch　sick；　no　matter　what　it　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　it　is　catching；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃and　your。。。　protection　would　not　save　you。〃　She　pointed　to　the　ruby…hilted　dagger；　careful　not　to　let　her　finger　touch　it。　The　blade　trembled　as　Mat　strained　to　reach　her　with　it。　〃This　is　from　Shadar　Logoth。　There　is　not　a　pebble　of　that　city　that　is　not　tainted　and　dangerous　to　bring　outside　the　walls；　and　this　is　far　more　than　a　pebble。　The　evil　that　killed　Shadar　Logoth　is　in　it；　and　in　Mat；　too；　now。　Suspicion　and　hatred　so　strong　that　even　those　closest　are　seen　as　enemies；　rooted　so　deep　in　the　bone　that　eventually　the　only　thought　left　is　to　kill。　By　carrying　the　dagger　beyond　the　walls　of　Shadar　Logoth　he　freed　it；　this　seed　of　it；　from　what　bound　it　to　that　place。　It　will　have　waxed　and　waned　in　him；　what　he　is　in　the　heart　of　him　fighting　what　the　contagion　of　Mashadar　sought　to　make　him；　but　now　the　battle　inside　him　is　almost　done；　and　he　almost　defeated。　Soon；　if　it　does　not　kill　him　first；　he　will　spread　that　evil　like　a　plague　wherever　he　goes。　Just　as　one　scratch　from　that　blade　is　enough　to　infect　and　destroy；　so；　soon；　a　few　minutes　with　Mat　will　be　just　as　deadly。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　face　had　gone　white。　〃Can　you　do　anything？〃　she　whispered。
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　so。〃　Moiraine　sighed。　〃For　the　sake　of　the　world；　I　hope　I　am　not　too　late。〃　Her　hand　delved　into　the　pouch　at　her　belt　and　came　out　with　the　silk…shrouded　angreal　。　〃Leave　me。　Stay　together；　and　find　somewhere　you　will　not　be　seen；　but　leave　me。　I　will　do　what　I　can　for　him。〃

Chapter　42
Remembrance　of　Dreams
　
　　　　　　　It　was　a　subdued　group　that　Rand　led　back　down　the　stairs。　None　of　them　wanted　to　talk　to　him　now；　or　to　one　another。　He　did　not　feel　much　like　talking；　either。
　　　　　　　The　sun　was　far　enough　across　the　sky　to　dim　the　back　stairwell；　but　the　lamps　had　not　yet　been　lit。　Sunlight　and　shadow　striped　the　stairs。　Perrin's　face　was　as　closed　as　the　others；　but　where　worry　creased　everyone　else's　brow；　his　was　smooth。　Rand　thought　the　look　Perrin　wore　was　resignation。　He　wondered　why；　and　wanted　to　ask；　but　whenever　Perrin　walked　through　a　deeper　patch　of　shadow；　his　eyes　seemed　to　gather　in　what　little　light　there　was；　glowing　softly　like　polished　amber。
　　　　　　　Rand　shivered　and　tried　to　concentrate　on　his　surroundings；　on　the　walnut　paneled　walls　and　the　oak　stair　railing；　on　sturdy；　everyday　things　He　wiped　his　hands　on　his　coat　several　times；　but　each　time　sweat　sprang　out　on　his　palms　anew。　It'll　all　be　all　right；　now。　We're　together　again；　and　。。。　Light；　Mat。
　　　　　　　He　took　them　to　the　library　by　the　back　way　that　went　by　the　kitchens；　avoiding　the　mon　room。　Not　many　travelers　used　the　library；　most　of　those　who　could　read　stayed　at　more　elegant　inns　in　the　Inner　City。　Master　Gill　kept　it　more　for　his　own　enjoyment　than　for　the　handful　of　patrons　who　wanted　a　book　now　and　then。　Rand　did　not　want　to　think　why　Moiraine　wanted　them　to　keep　out　of　sight；　but　he　kept　remembering　the　Whitecloak　under…officer　saying　he　would　be　back；　and　Elaida's　eyes　when　she　asked　where　he　was　staying。　Those　were　reasons　enough；　whatever　Moiraine　wanted。
　　　　　　　He　took　five　steps　into　the　library　before　he　realized　that　everyone　else　had　stopped；　crowded　together　in　the　doorway；　openmouthed　and　goggling。　A　brisk　blaze　crackled　in　the　fireplace；　and　Loial　was　sprawled　on　the　long　couch；　reading；　a　small　black　cat　with　white　feet　curled　and　half　asleep　on　his　stomach。　When　they　entered　he　closed　the　book　with　a　huge　finger　marking　his　place　and　gently　set　the　cat　on　the　floor；　then　stood　to　bow　formally。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　so　used　to　the　Ogier　that　it　took　him　a　minute　to　realize　that　Loial　was　the　object　of　the　others'　stares。　〃These　are　the　friends　I　was　waiting　for；　Loial；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　Nynaeve；　the　Wisdom　of　my　village。　And　Perrin。　And　this　is　Egwene。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　Loial　boomed；　〃Egwene。　Rand　has　spoken　of　you　a　great　deal。　Yes。　I　am　Loial。〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　an　Ogier；〃　Rand　explained；　and　watched　their　amazement　change　in　kind。　Even　after　Trollocs　and　Fades　in　the　flesh；　it　was　still　astonishing　to　meet　a　legend　walking　and　breathing。　Remembering　his　own　first　reaction　to　Loial；　he　grinned　ruefully。　They　were　doing　better　than　he　had。
　　　　　　　Loial　took　their　gaping　in　his　stride。　Rand　supposed　he　hardly　noticed　it　pared　with　a　mob　shouting　〃Trolloc。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　Aes　Sedai；　Rand？〃　Loial　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Upstairs　with　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier　raised　one　bushy　eyebrow　thoughtfully。　〃Then　he　is　ill。　I　suggest　we　all　be　seated。　She　will　be　joining　us？　Yes。　Then　there's　nothing　to　do　but　wait。〃
　　　　　　　The　act　of　sitting　seemed　to　loosen　some　catch　inside　the　Emond's　Field　folk；　as　if　being　in　a　well…stuffed　chair　with　a　fire　in　the　fireplace　and　a　cat　now　curled　up　on　the　hearth　made　them　feel　at　home。　As　soon　as　they　were　settled　they　excitedly　began　asking　the　Ogier　questions。　To　Rand's　surprise；　Perrin　was　the　first　to　speak。
　　　　　　　〃The　stedding；　Loial。　Are　they　really　havens；　the　way　the　stories　say？〃　His　voice　was　intent；　as　if　he　had　a　particular　reason　for　asking。
　　　　　　　Loial　was　glad　to　tell　about　the　stedding；　and　how　he　came　to　be　at　The　Queen's　Blessing；　and　what　he　had　seen　in　his　travels。　Rand　soon　leaned　back；　only　partly　listening。　He　had　heard　it　all　before；　in　detail。　Loial　liked　to　talk；　and　talk　at　length　when　he　had　the　slightest　chance；　though　he　usually　seemed　to　think　a　story　needed　two　or　three　hundred　years　of　background　to　make　it　understood。　His　sense　of　time　was　very　strange；　to　him　three　hundred　years　seemed　a　reasonable　length　of　time　for　a　story　or　explanation　to　cover。　He　always　talked　about　leaving　the　stedding　as　if　it　were　just　a　few　months　before；　but　it　had　finally　e　out　that　he　had　been　gone　more　than　three　years。
　　　　　　　Rand's　thoughts　drifted　to　Mat。　A　dagger。　A　bloody　knife；　and　it　might　kill　him　just　from　carrying　it。　Light；　I　don't　want　any　more　adventure。　If　she　can　heal