rj.theshadowrising-第116部分
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The sun slid down as slowly as a bead in honey。 Abell brought some bread and cheese … over half those would…be heroes had not brought anything to eat after all … and they ate and waited。 Night came； lit by a moon already high but obscured by scurrying clouds。 Perrin waited。 Lights vanished in the Whitecloak camp； and in Watch Hill； too； leaving a sprinkling of glowing windows across the otherwise dark mound； and he gathered Tam and Faile and the Aiel around him。 Everyone's face was clear； to him。 Verin stood close enough to listen。 Abell and Tomas were with the other Two Rivers folk； keeping them quiet。
He felt a little odd giving instructions； so kept them simple。 Tam was to have everyone ready to ride the moment Perrin returned with the prisoners。 The Whitecloaks would be after them as soon as they discovered what was up； so a place to hide was needed。 Tam knew one； an empty farmhouse in the edge of the Westwood。
〃Try not to kill anybody； if you can manage it；〃 Perrin cautioned the Aiel。 〃The Whitecloaks will be hot enough at losing their prisoners。 They'll set the sun afire if they lose men； too。〃 Gaul and the Maidens nodded as if they looked forward to it。 Strange people。 They vanished into the night。
〃Have a care；〃 Verin told him softly as he slung his bow across his back。 Ta'veren does not mean immortal。〃
〃Tomas might be a help； you know。〃
〃Do you think one more would make a difference？〃 she said musingly。 〃Besides； I have other uses for him。〃
Shaking his head； he moved out from the thicket； going to elbows and knees； almost flat to the ground； as soon as he was beyond the brush。 Faile imitated him at his side。 The grass and wildflowers stood high enough to screen them。 He was glad she could not see his face。 He was desperately afraid。 Not for himself； but if anything happened to her。。。
Like two more shifting moonshadows they crawled across the open ground； stopping at Perrin's signal about ten paces from where guards paced up and down； cloaks gleaming in the moonlight； a little way out from the first row of tents。 Two came face…to…face almost in front of them； stomping to a halt。
〃All is well with the night；〃 one announced。 〃The Light illumine us； and protect us from the Shadow。〃
〃All is well with the night；〃 the other replied。 〃The Light illumine us； and protect us from the Shadow。
Turning on their heels； they marched away； looking neither left nor right。
Perrin let each take a dozen paces； then touched Faile's shoulder and rose； barely letting himself breathe。 He could hardly hear her breathing； either。 Almost tiptoeing； they hurried in among the tents； dropping low again as soon as they were past the first。 Men snored inside； or muttered in their sleep。 Except for that； the camp was silent。 The tramp of the guards' boots was plainly audible。 The smell of doused cook fires hung in the air； the scents of canvas and horses and men。
Silently he motioned for Faile to follow him。 Tent ropes made snares for unwary feet in the darkness。 They were clear to him； though； and he wove a path through for them。
He had the location of the prisoners' tent marked in his head； and he started toward it cautiously。 Near the center of the camp。 A long way there； and a long way back。
The crunch of boots on the ground and a grunt from Faile spun him around just in time to be knocked down by the rush of a big shape in a white cloak； a man as thick as Master Luhhan himself。 Iron fingers dug into his throat as the two of them rolled。 Perrin seized the man's chin with one hand； forcing his head back； trying to push him off。 Prying at the grip on his throat； he pounded at the fellow's ribs with his fist； producing grunts and no other effect he could tell。 Blood roared in his ears； his vision narrowed； black creeping in from the sides。 He fumbled for his axe； but his fingers felt numb。
Suddenly the man jerked and； collapsed atop him。 Perrin pushed the limp form off himself and drew in deep lungfuls of sweet night air。
Faile tossed aside a chunk of firewood and rubbed the side of her head。 〃He did not think I was worth worrying about； beyond knocking down；〃 she whispered。
〃A fool；〃 Perrin whispered back。 〃But a strong one。〃 He was going to have the feel of those fingers at his neck for days。 〃Are you all right？〃
〃Of course。 I am not a porcelain figurine。〃
He supposed she was not； at that。
Hastily dragging the unconscious man up against the side of a tent where he hoped no one would find him soon； he stripped off the fellow's white cloak and bound his hands and feet with spare bowstrings。 A kerchief found in the fellow's pocket served for a gag。 Not very clean； but that was his own fault。 Lifting his bow over his head； Perrin settled the cloak around his shoulders。 If anyone else saw them； maybe they would mistake him for one of their own。 The cloak had a golden knot of rank beneath the flaring sunburst。 An officer。 Even better。
He walked between the tents openly now； and quickly。 Hidden or not； that fellow could be found any moment and the alarm raised。 Faile scudded along beside him like his shadow； scanning the camp for signs of life as alertly as he did。 Shifting moonshadows obscured the spaces between the tents even for his eyes。
Approaching the prison tent； he slowed； so as not to excite the guards； a white…cloaked man stood at this end； and the gleaming lance point of another rose above the tent's peaked roof。
Suddenly that lance point vanished。 There was no sound。 It simply fell。。
A heartbeat later； two patches of darkness abruptly became veiled Aiel； neither tall enough for Gaul。 Before the guard could move； one of them leaped into the air； kicking him in the face。 He staggered to his knees； and the other Maiden spun； adding her own kick。 The guard dropped bonelessly。 Crouching； the Maidens looked around； spears ready； to see if they had roused anyone。
At the sight of Perrin in a white cloak； they nearly went for him； until they saw Faile。 One shook her head and whispered to the other； who appeared to laugh silently。
Perrin told himself he should not feel disgruntled； but first Faile saved him from being strangled； and now she saved him from a spear through his liver。 For somebody who was supposedly leading a rescue； he was making a fine showing so far。
Tossing the tent flap aside； he put his head into the interior； which was even darker than outside。 Master Luhhan lay asleep across the tent's entrance； with the women huddled together toward the back。 Perrin put a hand over Haral Luhhan's mouth and； when his eyes popped open； laid a finger across his own lips。 〃Wake the others；〃 Perrin said in a low voice。 〃Quietly。 We are taking you out of here。〃 Recognition dawned in Master Luhhan's eyes； and he nodded。
Backing out of the tent； Perrin stripped the cloak from the downed guard。 The man was still breathing … hoarsely； and bubbling through a thoroughly broken nose … but being manhandled did not wake him。 They had to hurry now。 Gaul was there； with the cloak from the other guard。 The three Aiel watched the other tents cautiously。 Faile practically danced with impatience。
When Master Luhhan brought his wife and the other women out； all of them peering about nervously in the moonlight； Perrin hurriedly put one of the cloaks around the blacksmith。 It was a poor fit … Haral Luhhan seemed to be made from tree trunks … but it had to do。 The other went around Alsbet Luhhan。 She was not so large as her husband； but still as big as most men。 Her round face looked surprised at first； but then she nodded； pulling the fallen guard's conical helmet from his head； she stuck it on her own； squashing it down atop her thick braid。 The two guards they bound and gagged with strips of blanket and laid inside the tent。
Sneaking out again the way they had e in was impossible； Perrin had known that from the start。 Even if Master and Mistress Luhhan could have moved quietly enough … which he doubted … Bode and Eldrin were clinging to each other in shocked disbelief at rescue。 Only their mother's soft murmurs kept them from breaking into relieved tears already。 He had planned for it。 Horses were needed； both for a quick burst of speed away from the camp and to carry everyone afterward。 There were horses at the picket lines。
The Aiel ghosting ahead； he followed behind with Faile and the Cauthons behind； Haral and Alsbet bringing up the rear。 To a casual glance； at least； they looked to be like three Whitecloaks escorting four women。
The picketed horses were guarded； but only on the side away from the tents。 After all； why guard them from the men who rode them？ It certainly made Perrin's job easier。 They simply walked up to the line of horses nearest the tents； each secured by a simple rope hackamore； and untied one apiece； except for the Aiel。 The hardest part was getting Mistress Luhhan up barebacked； it took Perrin and Master Luhhan both； and she kept trying to push her skirts down to cover her knees。 Natti and her girls scrambled up easily； and Faile； of course。 The guards supposedly watching the horses continued their measured rounds； calling to each other about all being well with the night。
〃When I give the word；〃 Perrin began； and someone in the camp shouted； then again； more loudly； a horn sounded； and shouting men poured out of the tents。 Whether they had found the prisoners gone； or the unconscious man who had attacked him； it made no difference。 〃Follow me！〃 Perrin cried； digging his heels into the dark gelding he had chosen。 〃Ride！〃
It was a madcap rush； but he tried to keep an eye on everyone。 Master Luhhan was almost as bad a rider as his wife； the pair of them bouncing around； nearly falling as their horses ran。 Either Bode or Eldrin was screaming at the top of her lungs； from excitement or terror。 Luckily the guards were not expecting trouble from inside the camp。 One white…cloaked man peering into the darkness turned just in time to throw himself out of the way of the charging horses with a cry almost as shrill as the Cauthon girl's。 More horns bayed behind them； and shouts with the definite s
