rj.eyeoftheworld-第41部分

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　mush。　〃More　towels？　More　hot　water？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　Thom　said　in　his　reverberant　voice。　Eyes　closed；　he　gave　an　indolent　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Go　and　enjoy　the　evening。　At　a　later　time　I　will　see　that　you　receive　more　than　adequate　repense　for　your　services。〃　He　settled　lower　in　the　tub；　until　the　water　covered　everything　but　his　eyes　and　nose。
　　　　　　　Ara's　eyes　went　to　the　stools　behind　the　tubs；　where　their　clothes　and　belongings　were　stacked。　He　glanced　at　the　bow；　but　lingered　longest　over　Rand's　sword　and　Perrin's　axe。　〃Is　there　trouble　downcountry；　too？〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃In　the　Rivers；　or　whatever　you　call　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Two　Rivers；〃　Mat　said；　pronouncing　each　separate　word　distinctly。　〃It's　the　Two　Rivers。　As　for　trouble；　why　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　too？〃　Rand　asked。　〃Is　there　some　kind　of　trouble　here？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin；　enjoying　his　soak；　murmured；　〃Good！　Good！〃　Thom　raised　himself　back　up　a　little；　and　opened　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Here？〃　Ara　snorted。　〃Trouble？　Miners　having　fistfights　in　the　streets　in　the　dark　of　the　morning　aren't　trouble。　Or　。。。　〃　He　stopped　and　eyed　them　a　moment。　〃I　meant　the　Ghealdan　kind　of　trouble；〃　he　said　finally。　〃No；　I　suppose　not。　Nothing　but　sheep　downcountry；　is　there？　No　offense。　I　just　meant　it's　quiet　down　there。　Still；　it's　been　a　strange　winter。　Strange　things　in　the　mountains。　I　heard　the　other　day　there　were　Trollocs　up　in　Saldaea。　But　that's　the　Borderlands　then；　isn't　it？〃　He　finished　with　his　mouth　still　open；　then　snapped　it　shut；　appearing　surprised　that　he　had　said　so　much。
　　　　　　　Rand　had　tensed　at　the　word　Trollocs；　and　tried　to　hide　it　by　wringing　his　washcloth　out　over　his　head。　As　the　fellow　went　on　he　relaxed；　but　not　everyone　kept　his　mouth　shut。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs？〃　Mat　chortled。　Rand　splashed　water　at　him；　but　Mat　just　wiped　it　off　of　his　face　with　a　grin。　〃You　just　let　me　tell　you　about　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time　since　climbing　into　his　tub；　Thom　spoke。　〃Why　don't　you　not？　I　am　a　little　tired　of　hearing　my　own　stories　back　from　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　a　gleeman；〃　Perrin　said；　and　Ara　gave　him　a　scornful　look。
　　　　　　　〃I　saw　the　cloak。　You　going　to　perform？〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　a　minute；〃　Mat　protested。　〃What's　this　about　me　telling　Thom's　stories？　Are　you　all　…　？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　just　don't　tell　them　as　well　as　Thom；〃　Rand　cut　him　off　hastily；　and　Perrin　hopped　in。　〃You　keep　adding　in　things；　trying　to　make　it　better；　and　they　never　do。　〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you　get　it　all　mixed　up；　too；〃　Rand　added。　〃Best　leave　it　to　Thom。〃
　　　　　　　They　were　all　talking　so　fast　that　Ara　stared　at　them　with　his　mouth　hanging　open。　Mat　stared；　too；　as　if　everyone　else　had　suddenly　gone　crazy。　Rand　wondered　how　to　shut　him　up　short　of　jumping　on　him。
　　　　　　　The　door　banged　open　to　admit　Lan；　brown　cloak　slung　over　one　shoulder；　along　with　a　gust　of　cooler　air　that　momentarily　thinned　the　mist。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　the　Warder　said；　rubbing　his　hands；　〃this　is　what　I　have　been　waiting　for。〃　Ara　picked　up　a　bucket；　but　Lan　waved　it　away。　〃No；　I　will　see　to　myself。〃　Dropping　his　cloak　on　one　of　the　stools；　he　bundled　the　bath　attendant　out　of　the　room；　despite　the　fellow's　protests；　and　shut　the　door　firmly　after　him。　He　waited　there　a　moment；　his　head　cocked　to　listen；　and　when　he　turned　back　to　the　rest　of　them　his　voice　was　stony　and　his　eyes　stabbed　at　Mat。　〃It's　a　good　thing　I　got　back　when　I　did；　farmboy。　Don't　you　listen　to　what　you　are　told？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　do　anything；〃　Mat　protested。　〃I　was　just　going　to　tell　him　about　the　Trollocs；　not　about　。。。　〃　He　stopped；　and　leaned　back　from　the　Warder's　eyes；　flat　against　the　back　of　the　tub。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　talk　about　Trollocs；〃　Lan　said　grimly。　〃Don't　even　think　about　Trollocs。〃　With　an　angry　snort　he　began　filling　himself　a　bathtub。　〃Blood　and　ashes；　you　had　better　remember；　the　Dark　One　has　eyes　and　ears　where　you　least　expect。　And　if　the　Children　of　the　Light　heard　Trollocs　were　after　you；　they'd　be　burning　to　get　their　hands　on　you。　To　them；　it　would　be　as　much　as　naming　you　Darkfriend。　It　may　not　be　what　you　are　used　to；　but　until　we　get　where　we　are　going；　keep　your　trust　small　unless　Mistress　Alys　or　I　tell　you　differently。〃　At　his　emphasis　on　the　name　Moiraine　was　using；　Mat　flinched。
　　　　　　　〃There　was　something　that　fellow　wouldn't　tell　us；〃　Rand　said。　〃Something　he　thought　was　trouble；　but　he　wouldn't　say　what　it　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃Probably　the　Children；〃　Lan　said；　pouring　more　hot　water　into　his　tub。　〃Most　people　consider　them　trouble。　Some　don't；　though；　and　he　did　not　know　you　well　enough　to　risk　it。　You　might　have　gone　running　to　the　Whitecloaks；　for　all　he　knew。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head；　this　place　already　sounded　worse　than　Taren　Ferry　could　possibly　be。
　　　　　　　〃He　said　there　were　Trollocs　in　。。。　in　Saldaea；　wasn't　it？〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　Lan　hurled　his　empty　bucket　to　the　floor　with　a　crash。　〃You　will　talk　about　it；　won't　you？　There　are　always　Trollocs　in　the　Borderlands；　blacksmith。　Just　you　put　it　in　the　front　of　your　mind　that　we　want　no　more　attention　than　mice　in　a　field。　Concentrate　on　that。　Moiraine　wants　to　get　you　all　to　Tar　Valon　alive；　and　I　will　do　it　if　it　can　be　done；　but　if　you　bring　any　harm　to　her　。。。　〃
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　their　bathing　was　done　in　silence；　and　dressing　afterwards；　too。When　they　left　the　bath　chamber；　Moiraine　was　standing　at　the　end　of　the　hall　with　a　slender　girl　not　much　taller　than　herself。　At　least；　Rand　thought　it　was　a　girl；　though　her　dark　hair　was　cut　short　and　she　wore　a　man's　shirt　and　trousers。　Moiraine　said　something；　and　the　girl　looked　at　the　men　sharply；　then　nodded　to　Moiraine　and　hurried　away。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　now；〃　Moiraine　said　as　they　drew　closer；　〃I　am　sure　a　bath　has　given　you　all　an　appetite。　Master　Fitch　has　given　us　a　private　dining　room。〃　She　talked　on　inconsequentially　as　she　turned　to　lead　the　way；　about　their　rooms　and　the　crowding　in　the　town；　and　how　the　innkeeper　hoped　Thom　would　favor　the　mon　room　with　some　music　and　a　story　or　two。　She　never　mentioned　the　girl；　if　girl　it　had　been。
　　　　　　　The　private　dining　room　had　a　polished　oak　table　with　a　dozen　chairs　around　it；　and　a　thick　rug　on　the　floor。　As　they　entered；　Egwene；　freshly　gleaming　hair　bed　out　around　her　shoulders；　turned　from　warming　her　hands　at　the　fire　crackling　on　the　hearth。　Rand　had　had　plenty　of　time　for　thought　during　the　long　silence　in　the　bath　chamber。　Lan's　constant　admonitions　not　to　trust　anyone；　and　especially　Ara　being　afraid　to　trust　them；　had　made　him　think　of　just　how　alone　they　really　were。　It　seemed　they　could　not　trust　anyone　but　themselves；　and　he　was　still　not　too　sure　how　far　they　could　trust　Moiraine；　or　Lan。　Just　themselves。　And　Egwene　was　still　Egwene。　Moiraine　said　it　would　have　happened　to　her　anyway；　this　touching　the　True　Source。　She　had　no　control　over　it；　and　that　meant　it　was　not　her　fault。　And　she　was　still　Egwene。
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　mouth　to　apologize；　but　Egwene　stiffened　and　turned　her　back　before　he　could　get　a　word　out。　Staring　sullenly　at　her　back；　he　swallowed　what　he　had　been　going　to　say。　All　right；　then。　If　she　wants　to　be　like　that；　there's　nothing　I　can　do。
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch　bustled　in　then；　followed　by　four　women　in　white　aprons　as　long　as　his；　with　a　platter　holding　three　roast　chickens　and　others　bearing　silver；　and　pottery　dishes；　and　covered　bowls。　The　women　began　setting　the　table　immediately；　while　the　innkeeper　bowed　to　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　〃My　apologies；　Mistress　Alys；　for　making　you　wait　like　this；　but　with　so　many　people　in　the　inn；　it's　a　wonder　anybody　gets　served　at　all。　I　am　afraid　the　food　isn't　what　it　should　be；　either。　Just　the　chickens；　and　some　turnips　and　henpeas；　with　a　little　cheese　for　after。　No；　it　just　isn't　what　it　should　be。　I　truly　do　apologize。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　feast。〃　Moiraine　smiled。　〃For　these　troubled　times；　a　feast　indeed；　Master　Fitch。〃
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　bowed　again。　His　wispy　hair；　sticking　out　in　all　directions　as　if　he　constantly　ran　his　hands　through　it；　made　the　bow　ical；　but　his　grin　was　so　pleasant　that　anyone　who　laughed　would　be　laughing　with　him；　not　at　him。　〃My　thanks；　Mistress　Alys。　My　thanks。〃　As　he　straightened　he　frowned　and　wiped　an　imagined　bit　of　dust　from　the　table　with　a　corner　of　his　apron。　〃It　isn't　what　I　would　have　laid　before　you　a　year　ago；　of　course。　Not　nearly。　The　winter。　Yes。　The　winter。　My　cellars　are　emptying　out；　and　the　market　is　all　but　bare。　And　who　can　blame　the　farm　folk？　Who？　There's　certainly　no　telling　when　they'll　harvest　another　crop。　No　telling　at　all。　It's　the　wolves　get　the　mutton　and　beef　that　should　go　on　people's　tables；　and　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　he　seemed　to　realize　that　this　was　hardly　the　conversation　to　settle　his　guests　to　a　fortable　meal。　〃How　I　do　run　on。　Full　of　old　wind；　that's　me。　Old　wind。　Mari；　Cinda；　let　these　good　people　eat　in　peace。〃　He　made　shooing　gestures　at　the　women　and；　as　they　scurried　from　the　room；　swung　back　to　bow　to　Moiraine　yet　again。　〃I　hope　you　enjoy　your　meal；　Mistress　Alys。　If　there's　anything　else　you　need；　just　speak　it；　and　I　will　fetch　it。　Just　you　speak　it。　It　is　a　pleasure　serving　you　and　Master　Andra。　A　pleasure。〃　He　gave　one　more　deep　bow　and　was　gone；　closing　the　door　softly　behind　him。
　　　　　　　Lan　had　slouched　against　the　wall　through　all　of　this　as　if　half　asleep。　Now　he　leaped　up　and　was　at　the　door　in　two　long　strides。　Pressing　an　ear　to　a　door　panel；　he　listened　intently　for　a　slow　count　of　thirty；　then　snatched　open　the　door　and　stuck　his　head　into　the　hall。　〃They're　gone；〃　he　said　at　last；　closing　the　door。　〃We　can　talk　safely。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　you　say　not　to　trust　anyone；〃　Egwene　said；　〃but　if　you　suspect　the　innkeeper；　why　stay　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suspect　him　no　more　than　anyone　else；〃　Lan　replied。　〃But　then；　until　we　reach　Tar　Valon；　I　suspect　everyone。　There；　I'll　suspect　only　half。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　started　to　smile；　thinking　the　Warder　was　making　a　joke。　Then　he　realized　there　was　not　a　trace　of　humor　on　Lan's　face。　He　really　would　suspect　people　in　Tar　Valon。　Was　anywhere　safe？
　　　　　　　〃He　exaggerates；〃　Moiraine　told　them　soothingly。　〃Master　Fitch　is　a　good　man；　honest　and　trustworthy。　But　he　does　like　to　talk；　and　with　the　best　will　in　the　world　he　might　let　something　slip　to　the　wrong　ear。　And　I　have　never　yet　stopped　at