rj.theshadowrising-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　〃Such　as　Rand　going　insane；　that's　what。　No；　you'd　not　have　had　to　ask　if　it　had。〃
　　　　　　　A　prickling　made　Thom　shift　his　shoulders；　but　he　blew　a　blue…gray　streamer　of　smoke　as　calmly　as　he　could　and　took　his　chair；　stretching　his　gimpy　leg　out　in　front　of　him。　〃What　happened？〃
　　　　　　　Mat　drew　a　deep　breath；　then　let　everything　out　in　a　rush。　〃The　playing　cards　tried　to　kill　me。　The　Amyrlin；　and　the　High　Lord；　and。。。。　I　didn't　dream　it；　Thom。　That's　why　those　puffed…up　jackdaws　don't　want　to　gamble　anymore。　They're　afraid　it　will　happen　again。　Thom；　I'm　thinking　of　leaving　Tear。〃
　　　　　　　The　prickling　felt　as　if　he　had　blackwasp　nettles　stuffed　down　his　back。　Why　had　he　not　left　Tear　himself　long　since？　Much　the　wisest　thing。　Hundreds　of　villages　lay　out　there；　waiting　for　a　gleeman　to　entertain　and　amaze　them。　And　each　with　an　inn　or　two　full　of　wine　to　drown　memories。　But　if　he　did；　Rand　would　have　no　one　except　Moiraine　to　keep　the　High　Lords　from　maneuvering　him　into　corners；　and　maybe　cutting　his　throat。　She　could　do　it；　of　course。　Using　different　methods　than　his。　He　thought　she　could。　She　was　Cairhienin；　which　meant　she　had　probably　taken　in　the　Game　of　Houses　with　her　mother's　milk。　And　she　would　tie　another　string　to　Rand　for　the　White　Tower　while　she　was　about　it。　Mesh　him　in　an　Aes　Sedai　net　so　strong　he　would　never　escape。　But　if　the　boy　was　going　mad　already。。。。
　　　　　　　Fool；　Thom　called　himself。　A　pure　fool　to　stay　mixed　in　this　because　of　something　fifteen　years　in　the　past。　Staying　would　not　change　that；　what　was　done　was　done。　He　had　to　see　Rand　face…to…face；　no　matter　what　he　had　told　him　about　keeping　clear。　Perhaps　no　one　would　think　it　too　odd　if　a　gleeman　asked　to　perform　a　song　for　the　Lord　Dragon；　a　song　especially　posed。　He　knew　a　deservedly　obscure　Kandori　tune；　praising　some　unnamed　lord　for　his　greatness　and　courage　in　grandiose　terms　that　never　quite　managed　to　name　deeds　or　places。　It　had　probably　been　bought　by　some　lord　who　had　no　deeds　worth　naming。　Well；　it　would　serve　him　now。　Unless　Moiraine　decided　it　was　strange。　That　would　be　as　bad　as　the　High　Lords　taking　notice。　I　am　a　fool！　I　should　be　out　of　here　tonight！
　　　　　　　He　was　roiling　inside；　his　stomach　churning　acid；　but　he　had　spent　long　years　learning　to　keep　his　face　straight　before　ever　he　put　on　a　gleeman's　cloak。　He　puffed　three　smoke　rings；　one　inside　the　other；　and　said；　〃You　have　been　thinking　of　leaving　Tear　since　the　day　you　walked　into　the　Stone。〃
　　　　　　　Perched　on　the　edge　of　the　stool；　Mat　shot　him　an　angry　look。　〃And　I　mean　to。　I　do。　Why　not　e　with　me；　Thom？　There　are　towns　where　they　think　the　Dragon　Reborn　hasn't　drawn　a　breath　yet；　where　nobody's　given　a　thought　to　the　bloody　Prophecies　of　the　bloody　Dragon　in　years；　if　ever。　Places　where　they　think　the　Dark　One　is　a　grandmother's　tale；　and　Trollocs　are　travelers'　wild　stories；　and　Myrddraal　ride　shadows　to　scare　children。　You　could　play　your　harp　and　tell　your　stories；　and　I　could　find　a　game　of　dice。　We　could　live　like　lords；　traveling　as　we　want；　staying　where　we　want；　with　no　one　trying　to　kill　us。〃
　　　　　　　That　hit　too　close　for　fort。　Well；　he　was　a　fool　and　there　it　was；　he　just　had　to　make　the　best　of　it。　〃If　you　really　mean　to　go；　why　haven't　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　watches　me；〃　Mat　said　bitterly。　〃And　when　she　isn't；　she　has　somebody　else　doing　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。　Aes　Sedai　don't　like　to　let　someone　go　once　they　lay　hands　on　them。〃　It　was　more　than　that；　he　was　sure；　more　than　what　was　openly　known；　certainly；　but　Mat　denied　any　such　thing；　and　no　one　else　who　knew　was　talking　either；　if　anyone　besides　Moiraine　did　know。　It　hardly　mattered。　He　liked　Mat　…　he　even　owed　him；　in　a　fashion　…　but　Mat　and　his　troubles　were　a　street…corner　fare　pared　to　Rand。　〃But　I　cannot　believe　she　really　has　someone　watching　you　all　the　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　good　as。　She's　always　asking　people　where　I　am；　what　I'm　doing。　It　gets　back　to　me。　Do　you　know　anybody　who　won't　tell　an　Aes　Sedai　what　she　wants　to　know？　I　don't。　As　good　as　being　watched。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　could　avoid　eyes　if　you　put　your　mind　to　it。　I've　never　seen　anyone　as　good　at　sneaking　about　as　you。　I　mean　that　as　a　pliment。〃
　　　　　　　〃Something　always　es　up；〃　Mat　muttered。　〃There's　so　much　gold　to　be　had　here。　And　there's　a　big…eyed　girl　in　the　kitchens　who　likes　a　little　kiss　and　tickle；　and　one　of　the　maids　has　hair　like　silk；　to　her　waist；　and　the　roundest。。。。〃　He　trailed　off　as　if　he　had　suddenly　realized　how　foolish　he　sounded。
　　　　　　　〃Have　you　considered　that　maybe　it's　because　…〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　mention　ta'veren；　Thom；　I'm　leaving。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　changed　what　he　had　been　going　to　say。　〃…　that　maybe　it's　because　Rand　is　your　friend　and　you　don't　want　to　desert　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃Desert　him！〃　The　boy　jumped　up；　kicking　over　the　stool。　〃Thom；　he　is　the　bloody　Dragon　Reborn！　At　least；　that's　what　he　and　Moiraine　say。　Maybe　he　is。　He　can　channel；　and　he　has　that　bloody　sword　that　looks　like　glass。　Prophecies！　I　don't　know。　But　I　know　I　would　have　to　be　as　crazy　as　these　Tairens　to　stay。〃　He　paused。　〃You　don't　think。。。。　You　don't　think　Moiraine　is　keeping　me　here；　do　you？　With　the　Power？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　believe　she　can；〃　Thom　said　slowly。　He　knew　a　good　bit　about　Aes　Sedai；　enough　to　have　some　idea　how　much　he　did　not　know；　and　he　thought　he　was　right　on　this。
　　　　　　　Mat　raked　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃Thom；　I　think　about　leaving　all　the　time；　but。。。。　I　get　these　strange　feelings。　Almost　as　if　something　was　going　to　happen。　Something。。。。　Momentous；　that's　the　word。　It's　like　knowing　there'll　be　fireworks　for　Sunday；　only　I　don't　know　what　it　is　I'm　expecting。　Whenever　I　think　too　much　about　leaving；　it　happens。　And　suddenly　I've　found　some　reason　to　stay　another　day。　Always　just　one　more　bloody　day。　Doesn't　that　sound　like　Aes　Sedai　work　to　you？〃
　　　　　　　Thom　swallowed　the　word　ta'veren　and　took　his　pipe　from　between　his　teeth　to　peer　into　the　smoldering　tabac。　He　did　not　know　much　about　ta'veren；　but　then　no　one　did　except　the　Aes　Sedai；　or　maybe　some　of　the　Ogier。　〃I　was　never　much　good　at　helping　people　with　their　problems。〃　And　worse　with　my　own；　he　thought。　〃With　an　Aes　Sedai　close　to　hand；　I'd　advise　most　people　to　ask　her　for　help。〃　Advice　I'd　not　take　myself。
　　　　　　　〃Ask　Moiraine！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　that　is　out　of　the　question　in　this　case。　But　Nynaeve　was　your　Wisdom　back　in　Emond's　Field。　Village　Wisdoms　are　used　to　answering　people's　questions；　helping　with　their　problems。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　gave　a　raucous　snort　of　laughter。　〃And　put　up　with　one　of　her　lectures　about　drinking　and　gambling　and。。。？　Thom；　she　acts　like　I'm　ten　years　old。　
　　　　　　　Sometimes　I　think　she　believes　I'll　marry　a　nice　girl　and　settle　down　on　my　father's　farm。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　men　would　not　find　it　an　objectionable　life；〃　Thom　said　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　I　would。　I　want　more　than　cows　and　sheep　and　tabac　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　I　want　…　〃　Mat　shook　his　head。　〃All　these　holes　in　memory。　Sometimes　I　think　if　I　could　just　fill　them　in；　I'd　know。。。。　Burn　me；　I　don't　know　what　I'd　know；　but　I　know　I　want　to　know　it。　That's　a　twisty　riddle；　isn't　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　certain　even　an　Aes　Sedai　can　help　with　that。　A　gleeman　surely　can't。〃〃I　said　no　Aes　Sedai！〃
　　　　　　　Thom　sighed。　〃Calm　yourself；　boy。　I　was　not　suggesting　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　leaving。　As　soon　as　I　can　fetch　my　things　and　find　a　horse。　Not　a　minute　longer。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　the　middle　of　the　night？　The　morning　will　do。〃　He　refrained　from　adding；　If　you　really　do　leave。　〃Sit　down。　Relax。　We'll　play　a　game　of　stones。　I　have　a　jar　of　wine　here；　somewhere。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　hesitated；　glancing　at　the　door。　Finally　he　jerked　his　coat　straight。　〃The　morning　will　do。〃　He　sounded　uncertain；　but　he　picked　up　the　overturned　stool　and　set　it　beside　the　table。　〃But　no　wine　for　me；〃　he　added　as　he　sat　down。　〃Strange　enough　things　happen　when　my　head　is　clear。　I　want　to　know　the　difference。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　was　thoughtful　as　he　put　the　board　and　the　bags　of　stones　on　the　table。　Just　that　easily　the　lad　was　diverted。　Pulled　along　by　an　even　stronger　ta'veren　named　Rand　al'Thor；　was　how　Thom　saw　it。　It　occurred　to　him　to　wonder　if　he　was　caught　in　the　same　way。　His　life　had　certainly　not　been　headed　toward　the　Stone　of　Tear　and　this　room　when　he　first　met　Rand；　but　since　then　it　had　been　twitched　about　like　a　kite　string。　If　he　decided　to　leave；　say　if　Rand　really　had　gone　mad；　would　he　find　reasons　to　keep　putting　it　off？
　　　　　　　〃What　is　this；　Thom？〃　Mat's　boot　had　encountered　the　writing　case　under　the　table。　〃Is　it　all　right　if　I　move　it　out　of　my　way？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　Go　right　ahead。〃　He　winced　inside　as　Mat　shoved　the　case　aside　roughly　with　his　foot。　He　hoped　he　had　corked　all　the　ink　bottles　tightly。　〃Choose；〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　fists。
　　　　　　　Mat　tapped　the　left；　and　Thom　opened　it　to　reveal　a　smooth　black　stone；　flat　and　round。　The　boy　chortled　at　having　the　first　go　and　placed　the　stone　on　the　crosshatched　board。　No　one　seeing　the　eagerness　in　his　eyes　would　have　suspected　that　only　moments　before　he　had　been　twice　as　eager　to　go。　A　greatness　he　refused　to　recognize　clinging　to　his　back；　and　an　Aes　Sedai　intent　on　keeping　him　for　one　of　her　pets。　The　lad　was　well　and　truly　caught。
　　　　　　　If　he　was　caught；　too；　Thom　decided；　it　would　be　worth　it　to　help　one　man；　at　least；　keep　free　of　Aes　Sedai。　Worth　it；　to　make　a　payment　on　that　fifteen…year…old　debt。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　and　strangely　content；　he　set　a　white　stone。　〃Did　I　ever　tell　you；〃　he　said　around　his　pipestem；　〃about　the　wager　I　once　made　with　a　Domani　woman？　She　had　eyes　that　could　drink　a　man's　soul；　and　an　odd…looking　red　bird　she　had　bought　off　a　Sea　Folk　ship。　She　claimed　it　could　tell　the　future。　This　bird　had　a　fat　yellow　beak　nearly　as　long　as　its　body；　and　it。。。。〃
　　　　　　　

Chapter　5
（Female　Silhouettes）
Questioners

　　　　　　　〃They　should　be　back　by　now。〃　Egwene　fluttered　the　painted　silk　fan　vigorously；　glad　the　nights　were　at　least　a　little　cooler　than　the　days。　Tairen　women　carried　the　fans　all　the　time　…　the　nobles；　at　least；　and　the　wealthy　…　but　as　far　as　she　could　see　they　did　no　good　at　all　except　when　the　sun　was　down；　and　not　much　then。　Even　the　lamps；　great　golden；　mirrored　things　on　silvered　wall　brackets；　seemed