rj.eyeoftheworld-第85部分

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hat　she　wore　all　the　time。　Worried　frowns　now　replaced　the　smiles　Ila　had　worn　when　she　first　noticed　her　grandson's　interest　in　Egwene。　Perrin　resolved　to　keep　a　close　eye　on　young　Master　Aram。
　　　　　　　Once　he　managed　to　get　Egwene　alone；　beside　a　wagon　painted　in　green　and　yellow。　〃Enjoying　yourself；　aren't　you？〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Why　shouldn't　I？〃　She　fingered　the　blue　beads　around　her　neck；　smiling　at　them。　〃We　don't　all　have　to　work　at　being　miserable；　the　way　you　do。　Don't　we　deserve　a　little　chance　to　enjoy　ourselves？〃
　　　　　　　Aram　stood　not　far　off　…　he　never　got　far　from　Egwene　…　with　his　arms　folded　across　his　chest；　a　little　smile　on　his　face；　half　smugness　and　half　challenge。　Perrin　lowered　his　voice。　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　get　to　Tar　Valon。　You　won't　learn　to　be　an　Aes　Sedai　here。　〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　tossed　her　head。　〃And　I　thought　you　didn't　like　me　wanting　to　bee　an　Aes　Sedai；　〃　she　said；　too　sweetly。
　　　　　　　〃Blood　and　ashes；　do　you　believe　we're　safe　here？　Are　these　people　safe　with　us　here？　A　Fade　could　find　us　anytime。〃
　　　　　　　Her　hand　trembled　on　the　beads。　She　lowered　it　and　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Whatever　is　going　to　happen　will　happen　whether　we　leave　today　or　next　week。　That's　what　I　believe　now。　Enjoy　yourself；　Perrin。　It　might　be　the　last　chance　we　have。〃
　　　　　　　She　brushed　his　cheek　sadly　with　her　fingers。　Then　Aram　held　out　his　hand　to　her；　and　she　darted　to　him；　already　laughing　again。　As　they　ran　away　to　where　fiddles　sang；　Aram　flashed　a　triumphant　grin　over　his　shoulder　at　Perrin　as　if　to　say；　she　is　not　yours；　but　she　will　be　mine。
　　　　　　　They　were　all　falling　too　much　under　the　spell　of　the　People；　Perrin　thought。　Elyas　is　right。　They　don't　have　to　try　to　convert　you　to　the　Way　of　the　Leaf。　It　seeps　into　you。
　　　　　　　Ila　had　taken　one　look　at　him　huddling　out　of　the　wind；　then　produced　a　thick　wool　cloak　out　of　her　wagon；　a　dark　green　cloak；　he　was　pleased　to　see；　after　all　the　reds　and　yellows。　As　he　swung　it　round　his　shoulders；　thinking　what　a　wonder　it　was　that　the　cloak　was　big　enough　for　him；　Ila　said　primly；　〃It　could　fit　better。〃　She　glanced　at　the　axe　at　his　belt；　and　when　she　looked　up　at　him　her　eyes　were　sad　above　her　smile。　〃It　could　fit　much　better。　〃
　　　　　　　All　the　Tinkers　did　that。　Their　smiles　never　slipped；　there　was　never　any　hesitation　in　their　invitations　to　join　them　for　a　drink　or　to　listen　to　the　music；　but　their　eyes　always　touched　the　axe；　and　he　could　feel　what　they　thought。　A　tool　of　violence。　There　is　never　any　excuse　for　violence　to　another　human　being。　The　Way　of　the　Leaf。
　　　　　　　Sometimes　he　wanted　to　shout　at　them。　There　were　Trollocs　in　the　world；　and　Fades。　There　were　those　who　would　cut　down　every　leaf。　The　Dark　One　was　out　there；　and　the　Way　of　the　Leaf　would　burn　in　Ba'alzamon's　eyes。　Stubbornly　he　continued　to　wear　the　axe。　He　took　to　keeping　his　cloak　thrown　back；　even　when　it　was　windy；　so　the　half…moon　blade　was　never　hidden。　Now　and　again　Elyas　looked　quizzically　at　the　weapon　hanging　heavy　at　his　side　and　grinned　at　him；　those　yellow　eyes　seeming　to　read　his　mind。　That　almost　made　him　cover　the　axe。　Almost。
　　　　　　　If　the　Tuatha'an　camp　was　a　source　of　constant　irritation；　at　least　his　dreams　were　normal　there。　Sometimes　he　woke　up　sweating　from　a　dream　of　Trollocs　and　Fades　storming　into　the　camp；　rainbow…colored　wagons　turning　to　bonfires　from　hurled　torches；　people　falling　in　pools　of　blood；　men　and　women　and　children　who　ran　and　screamed　and　died　but　made　no　effort　to　defend　themselves　against　slashing　scythe…like　swords。　Night　after　night　he　bolted　upright　in　the　dark；　panting　and　reaching　for　his　axe　before　he　realized　the　wagons　were　not　in　flames；　that　no　bloody…muzzled　shapes　snarled　over　torn　and　twisted　bodies　littering　the　ground。　But　those　were　ordinary　nightmares；　and　oddly　forting　in　their　way。　If　there　was　ever　a　place　for　the　Dark　One　to　be　in　his　dreams；　it　was　in　those；　but　he　was　not。　No　Ba'alzamon。　Just　ordinary　nightmares。
　　　　　　　He　was　aware　of　the　wolves；　though；　when　he　was　awake。　They　kept　their　distance　from　the　camps；　and　from　the　caravan　on　the　move；　but　he　always　knew　where　they　were。　He　could　feel　their　contempt　for　the　dogs　guarding　the　Tuatha'an。　Noisy　beasts　who　had　forgotten　what　their　jaws　were　for；　had　forgotten　the　taste　of　warm　blood；　they　might　frighten　humans；　but　they　would　slink　away　on　their　bellies　if　the　pack　ever　came。　Each　day　his　awareness　was　sharper；　more　clear。
　　　　　　　Dapple　grew　more　impatient　with　every　sunset。　That　Elyas　wanted　to　do　this　thing　of　taking　the　humans　south　made　it　worth　doing；　but　if　it　must　be　done；　then　let　it　be　done。　Let　this　slow　travel　end。　Wolves　were　meant　to　roam；　and　she　did　not　like　being　away　from　the　pack　so　long。　Impatience　burned　in　Wind；　too。　Hunting　was　worse　than　poor　here；　and　he　despised　living　on　field　mice；　something　for　cubs　to　stalk　while　learning　to　hunt；　fit　food　for　the　old；　no　longer　able　to　pull　down　a　deer　or　hamstring　a　wild　ox。　Sometimes　Wind　thought　that　Burn　had　been　right；　leave　human　troubles　to　humans。　But　he　was　wary　of　such　thoughts　when　Dapple　was　around；　and　even　more　so　around　Hopper。　Hopper　was　a　scarred　and　grizzled　fighter；　impassive　with　the　knowledge　of　years；　with　guile　that　more　than　made　up　for　anything　of　which　age　might　have　robbed　him。　For　humans　he　cared　nothing；　but　Dapple　wished　this　thing　done；　and　Hopper　would　wait　as　she　waited　and　run　as　she　ran。　Wolf　or　man；　bull　or　bear；　whatever　challenged　Dapple　would　find　Hopper's　jaws　waiting　to　send　him　to　the　long　sleep。　That　was　the　whole　of　life　for　Hopper；　and　that　kept　Wind　cautious；　and　Dapple　seemed　to　ignore　the　thoughts　of　both。
　　　　　　　All　of　it　was　clear　in　Perrin's　mind。　Fervently　he　wished　for　Caemlyn；　for　Moiraine　and　Tar　Valon。　Even　if　there　were　no　answers；　there　could　be　an　end　to　it。　Elyas　looked　at　him；　and　he　was　sure　the　yellow…eyed　man　knew。　Please；　let　there　be　an　end。
　　　　　　　The　dream　began　more　pleasantly　than　most　he　had　of　late。　He　was　at　Alsbet　Luhhan's　kitchen　table；　sharpening　his　axe　with　a　stone。　Mistress　Luhhan　never　allowed　forge　work；　or　anything　that　smacked　of　it；　to　be　brought　into　the　house。　Master　Luhhan　even　had　to　take　her　knives　outside　to　sharpen　them。　But　she　tended　her　cooking　and　never　said　a　word　about　the　axe。　She　did　not　even　say　anything　when　a　wolf　entered　from　deeper　in　the　house　and　curled　up　between　Perrin　and　the　door　to　the　yard。　Perrin　went　on　sharpening；　it　would　be　time　to　use　it；　soon。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　the　wolf　rose；　rumbling　deep　in　its　throat；　the　thick　ruff　of　fur　on　its　neck　rising。　Ba'alzamon　stepped　into　the　kitchen　from　the　yard。　Mistress　Luhhan　went　on　with　her　cooking。
　　　　　　　Perrin　scrambled　to　his　feet；　raising　the　axe；　but　Ba'alzamon　ignored　the　weapon；　concentrating　on　the　wolf；　instead。　Flames　danced　where　his　eyes　should　be。　〃Is　this　what　you　have　to　protect　you？　Well；　I　have　faced　this　before。　Many　times　before。〃
　　　　　　　He　crooked　a　finger；　and　the　wolf　howled　as　fire　burst　out　of　its　eyes　and　ears　and　mouth；　out　of　its　skin。　The　stench　of　burning　meat　and　hair　filled　the　kitchen。　Alsbet　Luhhan　lifted　the　lid　on　a　pot　and　stirred　with　a　wooden　spoon。
　　　　　　　Perrin　dropped　the　axe　and　jumped　forward；　trying　to　beat　out　the　flames　with　his　hands。　The　wolf　crumpled　to　black　ash　between　his　palms。　Staring　at　the　shapeless　pile　of　char　on　Mistress　Luhhan's　clean…swept　floor；　he　backed　away。　He　wished　he　could　wipe　the　greasy　soot　from　his　hands；　but　the　thought　of　scrubbing　it　off　on　his　clothes　turned　his　stomach。　He　snatched　up　the　axe；　gripping　the　haft　until　his　knuckles　cracked。
　　　　　　　〃Leave　me　alone！〃　he　shouted。　Mistress　Luhhan　tapped　the　spoon　on　the　rim　of　the　pot　and　replaced　the　lid；　humming　to　herself。
　　　　　　　〃You　cannot　run　from　me；〃　Ba'alzamon　said。　〃You　cannot　hide　from　me。　If　you　are　the　one；　you　are　mine。〃　The　heat　from　the　fires　of　his　face　forced　Perrin　across　the　kitchen　until　his　back　came　up　against　the　wall。　Mistress　Luhhan　opened　the　oven　to　check　her　bread。　〃The　Eye　of　the　World　will　consume　you；〃　Ba'alzamon　said。　〃I　mark　you　mine！〃　He　flung　out　his　clenched　hand　as　if　throwing　something；　when　his　fingers　opened；　a　raven　streaked　at　Perrin's　face。
　　　　　　　Perrin　screamed　as　the　black　beak　pierced　his　left　eye　。。。
　　　　　　　。。。　and　sat　up；　clutching　his　face；　surrounded　by　the　sleeping　wagons　of　the　Traveling　People。　Slowly　he　lowered　his　hands。　There　was　no　pain；　no　blood。　But　he　could　remember　it；　remember　the　stabbing　agony。
　　　　　　　He　shuddered；　and　suddenly　Elyas　was　squatting　beside　him　in　the　predawn；　one　hand　outstretched　as　if　to　shake　him　awake。　Beyond　the　trees　where　the　wagons　lay；　the　wolves　howled；　one　sharp　cry　from　three　throats。　He　shared　their　sensations。　Fire。　Pain。　Fire。　Hate。　Hate！　Kill！
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Elyas　said　softly。　〃It　is　time。　Get　up；　boy。　It's　time　for　us　to　go。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　scrambled　out　of　his　blankets。　While　he　was　still　bundling　his　blanketroll；　Raen　came　out　of　his　wagon；　rubbing　sleep　from　his　eyes。　The　Seeker　glanced　at　the　sky　and　froze　halfway　down　the　steps；　his　hands　still　raised　to　his　face。　Only　his　eyes　moved　as　he　studied　the　sky　intently；　though　Perrin　could　not　understand　what　he　was　looking　at。　A　few　clouds　hung　in　the　east；　undersides　streaked　with　pink　from　the　sun　yet　to　rise；　but　there　was　nothing　else　to　see。　Raen　seemed　to　listen；　as　well；　and　smell　the　air；　but　there　was　no　sound　except　the　wind　in　the　trees　and　no　smell　but　the　faint　smoky　remnant　of　last　night's　campfires。
　　　　　　　Elyas　returned　with　his　own　scanty　belongings；　and　Raen　came　the　rest　of　the　way　down。　〃We　must　change　the　direction　we　travel；　my　old　friend。〃　The　Seeker　looked　uneasily　at　the　sky　again。　〃We　go　another　way　this　day。　Will　you　be　ing　with　us？〃　Elyas　shook　his　head；　and　Raen　nodded　as　if　he　had　known　all　along。　〃Well；　take　care；　my　old　friend。　There　is　something　about　today　。。。　〃　He　started　to　look　up　once　more；　but　pulled　his　eyes　back　down　before　they　rose　above　the　wagon　tops。　〃I　think　the　wagons　will　go　east。　Perhaps　all　the　way　to　the　Spine　of　the　World。　Perhaps　we'll　find　a　stedding；　and　stay　there　awhile。〃
　　　　　　　〃Trouble　never　enters　the　stedding；〃　Elyas　agreed。　〃But　the　Ogier　are　none　too　open　to　strangers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Everyone　is　open　to　the　Traveling　P