rj.theshadowrising-第154部分

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　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　do　anything；〃　he　protested。　〃I　just　sat　on　my　horse。　You　did　it。〃　Bran　listened　no　more　than　any　of　the　others。　Embarrassed；　Perrin　sat　up　straight；　pretending　to　survey　the　field；　and　after　a　while　they　left　him　alone。
　　　　　　　Tam　had　not　joined　in　the　celebrating；　he　stood　close　behind　the　stakes；　studying　the　Trollocs。　The　Warders　were　not　laughing；　either。　Black…mailed　shapes　littered　the　field　among　the　low　stumps。　There　could　be　five　hundred　of　them。　Maybe　less。　Some；　a　few；　might　have　made　it　back　to　the　trees。　None　lay　closer　than　fifty　paces　from　the　pointed　hedge。　Perrin　found　the　other　two　Fades；　writhing　on　the　ground。　That　accounted　for　all　three。　They　would　admit　they　were　dead　eventually。
　　　　　　　The　Two　Rivers　folk　raised　a　thunderous　cheer；　for　him。　〃Perrin　Goldeneyes！　Huzzah！　Huzzah！　Huzzah！〃
　　　　　　　〃They　had　to　know；〃　he　muttered。　Faile　looked　at　him　questioningly。　〃The　Halfmen　had　to　know　this　wouldn't　work。　Look　out　there。　Even　I　can　see　it；　now；　they　must　have　from　the　start。　If　this　was　all　they　had；　why　did　they　try？　And　if　there　are　more　Trollocs　out　there；　why　didn't　they　all　e？　Twice　as　many；　and　we'd　have　had　to　fight　them　at　the　stakes。　Twice　that；　and　they　might　have　broken　through　to　the　village。〃
　　　　　　　〃You've　a　good　natural　eye；〃　Tomas　said；　reining　in　beside　them。　〃This　was　a　test。　To　see　if　you　would　break　at　the　sight　of　a　charge；　perhaps　to　see　how　quickly　you　could　react；　or　how　your　defenses　are　organized；　or　maybe　something　I've　not　thought　of；　but　still　a　test。　Now　they　see。〃　He　pointed　to　the　sky；　where　a　lone　raven　winged　over　the　field。　A　natural　raven　would　have　lighted　to　feast　among　the　dead。　The　bird　pleted　a　last　circle　and　peeled　off　toward　the　forest。　〃The　next　attack　will　not　e　right　away。　I　saw　two　or　three　Trollocs　reach　the　forest；　so　word　of　this　will　spread。　The　Halfmen　will　have　to　make　them　remember　they're　more　afraid　of　Myrddraal　than　of　dying。　That　attack　will　e；　however；　and　it　will　certainly　be　stronger　than　this。　How　strong　depends　on　how　many　the　Faceless　have　brought　through　the　Ways。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　grimaced。　〃Light！　What　if　there　are　ten　thousand　of　them？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　likely；〃　Verin　said；　walking　up　to　pat　Tomas's　mount　on　the　neck。　The　warhorse　allowed　her　touch　as　meekly　as　a　pony。　〃At　least；　not　yet。　Not　even　a　Forsaken　could　move　a　large　party　through　the　Ways　safely；　I　think。　One　man　alone　risks　death　or　madness　between　the　closest　Waygates；　but。　。　。　say。。。　a　thousand　men；　or　a　thousand　Trollocs；　would　very　likely　draw　Machin　Shin　within　minutes；　a　monstrous　wasp　to　a　bowl　of　honey。　It　is　much　more　probable　that　they　travel　no　more　than　ten　or　twenty　together；　fifty　at　most；　and　the　groups　spaced　out。　Of　course；　the　questions　remain　of　how　many　groups　they　are　bringing；　and　how　much　time　they　allow　to　elapse　between。　And　they　would　lose　some　anyway。　It　might　be　that　Shadowspawn　attract　Machin　Shin　less　than　humankind；　but。。。　Hmmm。　Fascinating　thought。　I　wonder。。。〃　Patting　Tomas　on　the　leg　much　in　the　manner　she　had　patted　his　horse；　she　turned　away；　already　lost　in　study。　The　Warder　heeled　his　horse　after　her。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　ride　even　one　step　near　the　Westwood；〃　Faile　said　calmly；　〃I　will　haul　you　back　to　the　inn　by　your　ear　and　stuff　you　into　that　bed　myself。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wasn't　thinking　of　it；〃　Perrin　lied；　turning　Stepper　so　his　back　was　to　the　woods。　One　man　and　an　Ogier　might　escape　notice；　make　it　to　the　mountains　safely。　They　might。　The　Waygate　had　to　be　locked　permanently　if　Emond's　Field　was　to　have　any　chance。　〃You　talked　me　out　of　it；　remember？〃　Another　man　might　find　them；　knowing　they　were　there。　Three　sets　of　eyes　could　keep　sharper　watch　than　two；　especially　when　one　set　was　his；　and　he　was　certainly　not　doing　anything　here。　His　clothes　stuffed　with　straw　and　set　on　Stepper　could　do　as　much。
　　　　　　　Suddenly；　above　the　shouting　and　carrying　on　around　him；　he　heard　sharper　shouts；　a　clamor　from　the　south；　near　the　Old　Road。
　　　　　　　〃He　said　they　wouldn't　e　again　soon！〃　he　growled；　and　dug　his　heels　into　Stepper's　flanks。
　
Chapter　45
（Sunburst）
The　Tinker's　Sword

　　　　　　　Galloping　through　the　village　with　Faile　at　his　heels；　Perrin　found　the　men　on　the　south　side　in　a　cluster；　peering　out　over　the　cleared　fields　and　muttering；　some　with　bows　half…drawn。　Two　wagons　blocked　the　gap　the　Old　Road　made　in　the　sharp　stakes　The　nearest　low　stone　fence　still　standing；　bordering　a　field　of　tabac；　lay　five　hundred　paces　off；　with　nothing　between　taller　than　barley　stubble；　the　ground　short　of　it　sprouted　arrows　like　weeds。　Smoke　curled　up　in　the　far　distance；　a　dozen　or　more　thick　black　plumes；　some　wide　enough　to　be　fields　burning。
　　　　　　　Cenn　Buie　was　there；　and　Hari　and　Darl　Coplin。　Bili　Congar　had　an　arm　around　the　shoulders　of　his　cousin　Wit；　Daise's　bony　husband；　who　looked　as　if　he　wished　Bili　would　not　breathe　on　him。　None　smelled　of　fear；　only　excitement。　And　Bili　of　ale。　At　least　ten　men　at　once　tried　to　tell　him　what　had　happened；　some　were　louder　than　others。
　　　　　　　〃The　Trollocs　tried　us　here；　as　well；〃　Hari　Coplin　shouted；　〃but　we　showed　them；　didn't　we？〃　There　were　murmurs　of　agreement；　but　just　as　many　or　more　eyed　each　other　doubtfully　and　shifted　their　feet。
　　　　　　　〃We've　some　heroes　here；　too；〃　Darl　said　in　a　loud；　rough　voice。　〃Your　lot　up　at　the　wood　aren't　the　only　ones。〃　A　bigger　man　than　his　brother；　he　had　that　same　weasel…narrow　Coplin　face；　the　same　tight　mouth　as　if　he　had　just　bitten　a　green　persimmon。　When　he　thought　Perrin　was　not　looking；　he　shot　him　a　spiteful　look。　It　did　not　necessarily　mean　he　really　wished　he　had　been　up　facing　the　Westwood；　Darl　and　Hari　and　most　of　their　relatives　usually　found　a　way　to　see　themselves　being　cheated；　whatever　the　situation。
　　　　　　　〃This　calls　for　a　drink！〃　old　Bili　announced；　then　scowled　in　disappointment　when　no　one　echoed　him。
　　　　　　　A　head　lifted　above　the　distant　wall　and　hurriedly　ducked　back　down；　but　not　before　Perrin　saw　a　brilliant　yellow　coat。　〃Not　Trollocs；〃　he　growled　disgustedly。　〃Tinkers！　You　were　shooting　at　Tuatha'an。　Get　those　wagons　out　of　the　way。〃　Standing　in　his　stirrups；　he　cupped　hands　to　his　mouth。　〃You　can　e　on！〃　he　shouted。　〃It　is　all　right！　No　one　will　hurt　you！　I　said　move　those　wagons；〃　he　snapped　at　the　men　standing　around　staring　at　him。　Taking　Tinkers　for　Trollocs！　〃And　go　fetch　your　arrows；　you'll　have　real　need　for　them　sooner　or　later。〃　Slowly　some　moved　to　obey；　and　he　shouted　again；　〃No　one　will　harm　you！　It　is　all　right！　e　on！〃　The　wagons　rolled　to　either　side　with　the　creak　of　axles　that　needed　grease。
　　　　　　　A　few　brightly　garbed　Tuatha'an　climbed　over　the　fence；　then　a　few　more；　and　started　toward　the　village　in　a　hesitant；　footsore　half…run；　seeming　almost　as　afraid　of　what　lay　ahead　as　whatever　lay　behind。　They　huddled　together　at　the　sight　of　men　dashing　out　from　the　village；　balancing　on　the　edge　of　turning　back　even　when　the　Two　Rivers　folk　trotted　by；　looking　at　them　curiously；　to　begin　pulling　arrows　out　of　the　dirt。　Yet　they　did　stumble　on。
　　　　　　　Perrin's　insides　turned　to　ice。　Twenty　men　and　women；　perhaps；　some　carrying　small　children；　and　a　handful　of　older　children　running；　too；　their　dazzling　colors　all　torn　and　stained　with　dirt。　And　some　with　blood；　he　saw　as　they　came　closer。　That　was　all。　Out　of　how　many　in　the　caravan？　There　was　Raen；　at　least；　shuffling　as　though　half…dazed　and　being　guided　by　Ila；　one　side　of　her　face　a　dark；　swollen　bruise。　At　least　they　had　survived。
　　　　　　　Short　of　the　opening；　the　Tuatha'an　stopped；　staring　uncertainly　at　the　sharp　stakes　and　the　mass　of　armed　men。　Some　of　the　children　clutched　their　elders　and　hid　their　faces。　They　smelled　of　fear；　of　terror。　Faile　jumped　down　and　ran　to　them；　but　though　Ila　hugged　her；　she　did　not　take　another　step　nearer。　The　older　woman　seemed　to　be　drawing　fort　from　the　younger。
　　　　　　　〃We　won't　hurt　you；〃　Perrin　said。　I　should　have　made　them　e。　The　Light　burn　me；　I　should　have　made　them！　〃You　are　wele　to　our　fires。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tinkers。〃　Hari's　mouth　twisted　scornfully。　〃What　do　we　want　with　a　bunch　of　thieving　Tinkers？　Take　everything　that　isn't　nailed　down。〃
　　　　　　　Darl　open　his　mouth；　to　support　Hari　no　doubt；　but　before　he　could　speak　someone　in　the　crowd　shouted；　〃So　do　you；　Hari！　And　you'll　take　the　nails；　too！〃　Sparse　laughter　snapped　Darl's　jaws　shut。　Not　many　laughed；　though；　and　those　that　did　eyed　the　bedraggled　Tuatha'an　and　looked　down　in　disfort。
　　　　　　　〃Hari　is　right！〃　Daise　Congar　called；　bulling　through；　pushing　men　out　of　her　path。　〃Tinkers　steal；　and　not　just　things！　They　steal　children！〃　Shoving　her　way　to　Cenn　Buie；　she　shook　a　finger　as　thick　as　Cenn's　thumb　under　his　nose。　He　backed　away　as　much　as　he　could　in　the　press；　she　overtopped　him　by　a　head　and　outweighed　him　by　half。　〃You　are　supposed　to　be　on　the　Village　Council；　but　if　you　don't　want　to　listen　to　the　Wisdom；　I'll　bring　the　Women's　Circle　into　this；　and　we　will　take　care　of　it。〃　Some　of　the　men　nodded；　muttering。
　　　　　　　Cenn　scratched　his　thinning　hair；　eyeing　the　Wisdom　sideways。　〃Aaah。。。well。。。　Perrin；〃　he　said　slowly　in　that　scratchy　voice；　〃the　Tinkers　do　have　a　reputation；　you　know；　and　…〃　He　cut　off；　jumping　back　as　Perrin　whirled　Stepper　to　face　the　Two　Rivers　folk。
　　　　　　　A　good　many　scattered　before　the　dun；　but　Perrin　did　not　care。　〃We'll　not　turn　anyone　away；〃　he　said　in　a　tight　voice。　〃No　one！　Or　do　you　mean　to　send　children　off　for　the　Trollocs？〃　One　of　the　Tuatha'an　children　began　to　cry；　a　sharp　wailing；　and　he　wished　he　had　not　said　that；　but　Cenn's　face　went　red　as　a　beet；　and　even　Daise　looked　abashed。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　we'll　take　them　in；〃　the　thatcher　said　gruffly。　He　rounded　on　Daise；　all　puffed　up　like　a　banty　rooster　ready　to　fight　a　mastiff。　〃And　if　you　want　to　bring　the　Women's　Circle　into　it；　the　Village　Council　will　sit　the　whole　lot　of　you　down　sharp！　You　see　if　we　don't！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　always　were　an　old　fool；　Cenn　Buie；〃　Daise　snorted。　〃Do　you　think　we'd　let　you　send　children　back　out　there　for　Trollocs？〃　Cenn's　jaw　worked　furiously；　but　before　he　could　get　a　word　out　Daise　put　a　hand　on　his　narrow　chest　and　thrust　him　aside。　Donning　a　smile；　she　strode　out　to　the　Tuatha'an　and　put　a　forting　arm　around　Ila。　〃You　just　e　alon