rj.eyeoftheworld-第76部分

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ed　back　from　the　raw…boned　man；　and　licked　her　lips；　and　stepped　back　again。　Before　Elyas　turned　away；　she　had　backed　all　the　way　to　Bela　and　scrambled　up　onto　the　mare's　back。　As　the　man　turned　to　lead　them　south；　Perrin　thought　his　grin　was　a　good　deal　like　a　wolf's；　too。
　　　　　　　For　three　days　they　traveled　in　that　manner；　walking　and　riding　south　and　east　all　day；　stopping　only　when　twilight　thickened。　Elyas　seemed　to　scorn　the　haste　of　city　men；　but　he　did　not　believe　in　wasting　time　when　there　was　somewhere　to　go。
　　　　　　　The　three　wolves　were　seldom　seen。　Each　night　they　came　to　the　fire　for　a　time；　and　sometimes　in　the　day　they　showed　themselves　briefly；　appearing　close　at　hand　when　least　expected　and　vanishing　in　the　same　manner。　Perrin　knew　they　were　out　there；　though；　and　where。　He　knew　when　they　were　scouting　the　path　ahead　and　when　they　were　watching　the　backtrail。　He　knew　when　they　left　the　pack's　usual　hunting　grounds；　and　Dapple　sent　the　pack　back　to　wait　for　her。　Sometimes　the　three　that　remained　faded　from　his　mind；　but　long　before　they　were　close　enough　to　see　again；　he　was　aware　of　them　returning。　Even　when　the　trees　dwindled　to　wide…scattered　groves　separated　by　great　swathes　of　winter…dead　grass；　they　were　as　ghosts　when　they　did　not　want　to　be　seen；　but　he　could　have　pointed　a　finger　straight　at　them　at　any　time。　He　did　not　know　how　he　knew；　and　he　tried　to　convince　himself　that　it　was　just　his　imagination　playing　tricks；　but　it　did　no　good。　Just　as　Elyas　knew；　he　knew。
　　　　　　　He　tried　not　thinking　about　wolves；　but　they　crept　into　his　thoughts　all　the　same。　He　had　not　dreamed　about　Ba'alzamon　since　meeting　Elyas　and　the　wolves。　His　dreams；　as　much　as　he　remembered　of　them　on　waking；　were　of　everyday　things；　just　as　he　might　have　dreamed　at　home　。。。　before　Baerlon　。。。　before　Winternight。　Normal　dreams　…　with　one　addition。　In　every　dream　he　remembered　there　was　a　point　where　he　straightened　from　Master　Luhhan's　forge　to　wipe　the　sweat　from　his　face；　or　turned　from　dancing　with　the　village　girls　on　the　Green；　or　lifted　his　head　from　a　book　in　front　of　the　fireplace；　and　whether　he　was　outside　or　under　a　roof；　there　was　a　wolf　close　to　hand。　Always　the　wolf's　back　was　to　him；　and　always　he　knew　…　In　the　dreams　it　seemed　the　normal　course　of　things；　even　at　Alsbet　Luhhan's　dinner　table　…　that　the　wolf's　yellow　eyes　were　watching　for　what　might　e；　guarding　against　what　might　e。　Only　when　he　was　awake　did　the　dreams　seem　strange。
　　　　　　　Three　days　they　journeyed；　with　Dapple；　Hopper；　and　Wind　bringing　them　rabbits　and　squirrels；　and　Elyas　pointing　out　plants；　few　of　which　Perrin　recognized；　as　good　to　eat。　Once　a　rabbit　burst　out　almost　from　under　Bela's　hooves；　before　Perrin　could　get　a　stone　in　his　sling；　Elyas　skewered　it　with　his　long　knife　at　twenty　paces。　Another　time　Elyas　brought　down　a　fat　pheasant；　on　the　wing；　with　his　bow。　They　ate　far　better　than　they　had　when　on　their　own；　but　Perrin　would　as　soon　have　gone　back　on　short　rations　if　it　had　meant　different　pany。　He　was　not　sure　how　Egwene　felt；　but　he　would　have　been　willing　to　go　hungry　if　he　could　do　it　without　the　wolves。　Three　days；　into　the　afternoon。
　　　　　　　A　stand　of　trees　lay　ahead；　larger　than　most　they　had　seen；　a　good　four　miles　across。　The　sun　sat　low　in　the　western　sky；　pushing　slanted　shadows　off　to　their　right；　and　the　wind　was　picking　up。　Perrin　felt　the　wolves　give　over　quartering　behind　them　and　start　forward；　not　hurrying。　They　had　smelled　and　seen　nothing　dangerous。　Egwene　was　taking　her　turn　on　Bela。　It　was　time　to　start　looking　for　a　camp　for　the　night；　and　the　big　copse　would　serve　the　purpose　well。
　　　　　　　As　they　came　close　to　the　trees；　three　mastiffs　burst　from　cover；　broad…muzzled　dogs　as　tall　as　the　wolves　and　even　heavier；　teeth　bared　in　loud；　rumbling　snarls。　They　stopped　short　as　soon　as　they　were　in　the　open；　but　no　more　than　thirty　feet　separated　them　from　the　three　people；　and　their　dark　eyes　kindled　with　a　killing　light。
　　　　　　　Bela；　already　on　edge　from　the　wolves；　whinnied　and　almost　unseated　Egwene；　but　Perrin　had　his　sling　whirling　around　his　head　in　an　instant。　No　need　to　use　the　axe　on　dogs；　a　stone　in　the　ribs　would　send　the　worst　dog　running。Elyas　waved　a　hand　at　him　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　stiff　legged　dogs。　〃Hssst！　None　of　that　now！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　him　a　puzzled　frown；　but　let　the　sling　slow　its　spin　and　finally　fall　to　his　side。　Egwene　managed　to　get　Bela　under　control；　she　and　the　mare　both　watched　the　dogs　warily。
　　　　　　　The　mastiffs'　hackles　stood　stiff；　and　their　ears　were　laid　back；　and　their　growls　sounded　like　earthquakes。　Abruptly　Elyas　raised　one　finger　shoulder　high　and　whistled；　a　long；　shrill　whistle　that　rose　higher　and　higher　and　did　not　end。　The　growls　cut　off　raggedly。　The　dogs　stepped　back；　whining　and　turning　their　heads　as　if　they　wanted　to　go　but　were　held。　Their　eyes　remained　locked　to　Elyas's　finger。
　　　　　　　Slowly　Elyas　lowered　his　hand；　and　the　pitch　of　his　whistle　lowered　with　it。　The　dogs　followed；　until　they　lay　flat　on　the　ground；　tongues　lolling　from　their　mouths。　Three　tails　wagged。
　　　　　　　〃See；〃　Elyas　said；　walking　to　the　dogs。　〃There's　no　need　for　weapons。〃　The　mastiffs　licked　his　hands；　and　he　scratched　their　broad　heads　and　fondled　their　ears。　〃They　look　meaner　than　they　are。　They　meant　to　frighten　us　off；　and　they　wouldn't　have　bitten　unless　we　tried　to　go　into　the　trees。　Anyway；　there's　no　worry　of　that；　now。　We　can　make　the　next　thicket　before　full　dark。〃
　　　　　　　When　Perrin　looked　at　Egwene；　her　mouth　was　hanging　open。　He　shut　his　own　mouth　with　a　click　of　teeth。
　　　　　　　Still　patting　the　dogs；　Elyas　studied　the　stand　of　trees。　〃There'll　be　Tuatha'an　here。　The　Traveling　People。〃　They　stared　at　him　blankly；　and　he　added；　〃Tinkers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tinkers？〃　Perrin　exclaimed。　〃I've　always　wanted　to　see　the　Tinkers。　They　camp　across　the　river　from　Taren　Ferry　sometimes；　but　they　don't　e　down　into　the　Two　Rivers；　as　far　as　I　know。　I　don't　know　why　not。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sniffed。　〃Probably　because　the　Taren　Ferry　folk　are　as　great　thieves　as　the　Tinkers。　They'd　no　doubt　end　up　stealing　each　other　blind。　Master　Elyas；　if　there　really　are　Tinkers　close　by；　shouldn't　we　go　on？　We　don't　want　Bela　stolen；　and　。。。　well；　we　do　not　have　much　else；　but　everybody　knows　Tinkers　will　steal　anything。〃
　　　　　　　〃Including　infants？〃　Elyas　asked　dryly。　〃Kidnap　children；　and　all　that？〃　He　spat；　and　she　blushed。　Those　stories　about　babies　were　told　sometimes；　but　most　often　by　Cenn　Buie　or　one　of　the　Coplins　or　Congars。　The　other　tales；　everybody　knew。　〃The　Tinkers　make　me　sick　sometimes；　but　they　don't　steal　any　more　than　most　folks。　A　good　bit　less　than　some　I　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　will　be　getting　dark　soon；　Elyas；〃　Perrin　said。　〃We　have　to　camp　somewhere。　Why　not　with　them；　if　they'll　have　us？〃　Mistress　Luhhan　had　a　Tinker…mended　pot　that　she　claimed　was　better　than　new。　Master　Luhhan　was　not　too　happy　about　his　wife's　praise　of　the　Tinker　work；　but　Perrin　wanted　to　see　how　it　was　done。　Yet　there　was　a　reluctance　about　Elyas　that　he　did　not　understand。　〃Is　there　some　reason　we　shouldn't？〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　shook　his　head；　but　the　reluctance　was　still　there；　in　the　set　of　his　shoulders　and　the　tightness　of　his　mouth。　〃May　as　well。　Just　don't　pay　any　mind　to　what　they　say。　Lot　of　foolishness。　Most　times　the　Traveling　People　do　things　any　which　way；　but　there's　times　they　set　a　store　by　formality；　so　you　do　what　I　do。　And　keep　your　secrets。　No　need　to　tell　the　world　everything。〃
　　　　　　　The　dogs　trailed　along　beside　them；　wagging　their　tails；　as　Elyas　led　the　way　into　the　trees。　Perrin　felt　the　wolves　slow；　and　knew　they　would　not　enter。　They　were　not　afraid　of　the　dogs　…　they　were　contemptuous　of　dogs；　who　had　given　up　freedom　to　sleep　by　a　fire　…　but　people　they　avoided。
　　　　　　　Elyas　walked　surely；　as　if　he　knew　the　way；　and　near　the　center　of　the　stand　the　Tinkers'　wagons　appeared；　scattered　among　the　oak　and　ash。
Like　everyone　else　in　Emond's　Field；　Perrin　had　heard　a　good　deal　about　the　Tinkers　even　if　he　had　never　seen　any；　and　the　camp　was　just　what　he　expected。　Their　wagons　were　small　houses　on　wheels；　tall　wooden　boxes　lacquered　and　painted　in　bright　colors；　reds　and　blues　and　yellows　and　greens　and　some　hues　to　which　he　could　not　put　a　name。　The　Traveling　People　were　going　about　work　that　was　disappointingly　everyday；　cooking；　sewing；　tending　children；　mending　harness；　but　their　clothes　were　even　more　colorful　than　the　wagons　…　and　seemingly　chosen　at　random；　sometimes　coat　and　breeches；　or　dress　and　shawl；　went　together　in　a　way　that　hurt　his　eyes。　They　looked　like　butterflies　in　a　field　of　wildflowers。
　　　　　　　Four　or　five　men　in　different　places　around　the　camp　played　fiddles　and　flutes；　and　a　few　people　danced　like　rainbow…hued　hummingbirds。　Children　and　dogs　ran　playing　among　the　cookfires。　The　dogs　were　mastiffs　just　like　those　that　had　confronted　the　travelers；　but　the　children　tugged　at　their　ears　and　tails　and　climbed　on　their　backs；　and　the　massive　dogs　accepted　it　all　placidly。　The　three　with　Elyas；　tongues　hanging　out；　looked　up　at　the　bearded　man　as　if　he　were　their　best　friend。　Perrin　shook　his　head。　They　were　still　big　enough　to　reach　a　man's　throat　while　barely　getting　their　front　feet　off　the　ground。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　the　music　stopped；　and　he　realized　all　the　Tinkers　were　looking　at　him　and　his　panions。　Even　the　children　and　dogs　stood　still　and　watched；　warily；　as　if　on　the　point　of　flight。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　there　was　no　sound　at　all；　then　a　wiry　man；　gray…haired　and　short；　stepped　forward　and　bowed　gravely　to　Elyas。　He　wore　a　highcollared　red　coat；　and　baggy；　bright　green　trousers　tucked　into　knee　boots。　〃You　are　wele　to　our　fires。　Do　you　know　the　song？〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　bowed　in　the　same　way；　both　hands　pressed　to　his　chest。　〃Your　wele　warms　my　spirit；　Mahdi；　as　your　fires　warm　the　flesh；　but　I　do　not　know　the　song。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　seek　still；〃　the　gray…haired　man　intoned。　〃As　it　was；　so　shall　it　be；　if　we　but　remember；　seek；　and　find。〃　He　swept　an　arm　toward　the　fires　with　a　smile；　and　his　voice　took　on　a　cheerful　lightness。　〃The　meal　is　almost　ready。　Join　us；　please。〃
　　　　　　　As　if　that　had　been　a　signal　the　music　sprang　up　again；　and　the　children　took　up　their　lau