rj.theshadowrising-第64部分

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our　head。〃　Difficult　to　do；　but　deadly　if　acplished。　He　did　not　think　he　would　ever　want　Loial　…　gentle；　fumbling　Loial　with　his　broad　nose　always　in　a　book　…　to　bee　angry　with　him。
　　　　　　　It　was　Loial　who　took　the　lead　once　they　reached　the　site　of　the　vanished　Ogier　grove；　bending　their　path　a　little　southward。　There　were　no　landmarks；　but　he　was　sure　of　his　direction；　surer　with　every　pace　of　the　horses。　Ogier　could　feel　a　Waygate；　sense　it　somehow；　find　it　as　certainly　as　a　bee　could　find　the　hive。　When　Loial　finally　dismounted；　the　grass　was　little　more　than　knee…high　on　him。　There　was　only　a　thick　clump　of　brush　to　be　seen；　taller　than　most；　leafy　shrubs　as　tall　as　the　Ogier。　He　ripped　it　all　away　almost　regretfully；　stacking　it　to　one　side。　〃Perhaps　the　boys　with　the　horses　can　use　it　for　firewood　when　it　dries。〃
　　　　　　　And　there　was　the　Waygate。
　　　　　　　Rearing　against　the　side　of　the　hill；　it　appeared　more　a　length　of　gray　wall　than　a　gate；　and　the　wall　of　a　palace　at　that；　thickly　carved　in　leaves　and　vines　so　finely　done　that　they　seemed　almost　as　alive　as　the　bushes　had　been。　Three　thousand　years　at　least　it　had　stood　there；　but　not　a　trace　of　weathering　marred　its　surface。　Those　leaves　could　have　rippled　with　the　next　breeze。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　they　all　stared　at　it　silently；　until　Loial　took　a　deep　breath　and　put　his　hand　on　the　one　leaf　that　was　different　from　any　other　on　the　Waygate。　The　trefoil　leaf　of　Avendesora；　the　fabled　Tree　of　Life。　Until　the　moment　his　huge　hand　touched　it；　it　seemed　as　much　a　part　of　the　carving　as　all　the　rest；　but　it　came　away　easily。
　　　　　　　Faile　gasped　loudly；　and　even　the　Aiel　murmured。　The　air　was　full　of　the　smell　of　unease；　there　was　no　saying　who　it　came　from。　All　of　them；　perhaps。
　　　　　　　The　stone　leaves　did　seem　to　stir　from　an　unfelt　breeze　now；　they　took　a　tinge　of　green；　of　life。　Slowly　a　split　appeared　down　the　middle；　and　the　halves　of　the　Waygate　opened　out；　revealing　not　the　hill　behind；　but　a　dull　shimmering　that　faintly　reflected　their　images。
　　　　　　　〃Once；　it　is　said；〃　Loial　murmured；　〃the　Waygates　shone　like　mirrors；　and　those　who　walked　the　Ways　walked　through　the　sun　and　the　sky。　Gone；　now。　Like　this　grove。〃
　　　　　　　Hastily　pulling　one　of　the　filled　pole…lanterns　from　his　pack…horse；　Perrin　got　it　alight。　〃It　is　too　hot　out　here；〃　he　said。　〃A　little　shade　would　be　good。〃　He　booted　Stepper　toward　the　Waygate。　He　thought　he　heard　Faile　gasp　again。
　　　　　　　The　dun　stallion　balked；　approaching　his　own　dim　reflection；　but　Perrin　heeled　him　onward。　Slowly；　he　remembered。　It　should　be　done　slowly。　The　horse's　nose　touched　its　image　hesitantly；　then　merged　in　as　though　walking　into　a　mirror。　Perrin　moved　closer　to　himself；　touched。。。　Icy　cold　slid　along　his　skin；　enveloping　him　hair　by　hair；　time　stretched　out。
　　　　　　　The　cold　vanished　like　a　pricked　bubble；　and　he　was　in　the　midst　of　endless　blackness；　the　light　of　his　pole…lantern　a　crushed　pool　around　him。　Stepper　and　the　packhorse　whickered　nervously。
　　　　　　　Gaul　stepped　through　calmly　and　began　preparing　another　lantern。　Behind　him　was　what　seemed　like　a　sheet　of　smoked　glass。　The　others　were　visible　out　there；　Loial　getting　back　on　his　horse；　Faile　gathering　her　reins；　all　of　them　creeping；　barely　moving。　Time　was　different　inside　the　Ways。
　　　　　　　〃Faile　is　upset　with　you；〃　Gaul　said　once　he　had　his　lantern　alight。　It　did　not　add　much　illumination。　The　darkness　drank　in　light；　swallowed　it。　〃She　seems　to　think　you　have　broken　some　sort　of　agreement。　Bain　and　Chiad。。。　Do　not　let　them　get　you　alone。　They　mean　to　teach　you　a　lesson；　for　Faile's　sake；　and　you　will　not　sit　on　that　animal　so　easily　if　they　manage　what　they　plan。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　agreed　to　nothing；　Gaul。　I　do　what　she's　forced　me　to　do　through　trickery。　We　will　have　to　follow　Loial　as　she　wants　soon　enough；　but　I　mean　to　take　the　lead　for　as　long　as　I　can。〃　He　pointed　to　a　thick　white　line　under　Stepper's　hooves。　Broken　and　heavily　pitted；　it　led　off　ahead；　vanishing　in　the　blackness　only　a　few　feet　away。　〃That　leads　to　the　first　guidepost。　We　will　need　to　wait　there　for　Loial　to　read　it　and　decide　which　bridge　to　take；　but　Faile　can　follow　us　that　far。〃
　　　　　　　〃Bridge；〃　Gaul　murmured　thoughtfully。　〃I　know　that　word。　There　is　water　in　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　It　isn't　exactly　that　kind　of　bridge。　They　look　the　same；　sort　of；　but。。。　Maybe　Loial　can　explain　it。〃
　　　　　　　The　Aielman　scratched　his　head。　〃Do　you　know　what　you　are　doing；　Perrin？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Perrin　admitted；　〃but　there's　no　reason　for　Faile　to　know　that。〃
　　　　　　　Gaul　laughed。　〃It　is　fun　to　be　so　young；　is　it　not；　Perrin？〃
　　　　　　　Frowning；　uncertain　whether　the　man　was　laughing　at　him；　Perrin　heeled　Stepper　on；　drawing　the　packhorse　behind。　The　lantern　light　would　not　be　visible　at　all　in　here　twenty　or　thirty　paces　from　its　edge。　He　wanted　to　be　pletely　out　of　sight　before　Faile　came　through。　Let　her　think　he　had　decided　to　go　on　without　her。　If　she　worried　for　a　few　minutes；　until　she　found　him　at　the　guidepost；　it　was　the　least　she　deserved。


　Chapter　19
（8…Pointed　Star　and　Birds）
The　Wavedancer

　　　　　　　With　the　golden　sun　barely　over　the　horizon；　the　shiny　black…lacquered　carriage　rocked　to　a　halt　at　the　foot　of　the　wharf　behind　a　team　of　four　matched　grays；　and　the　lanky　dark…haired　driver　in　his　black…and…gold　striped　coat　leaped　down　to　open　the　door。　No　sigil　adorned　the　door　panel；　of　course；　Tairen　nobles　gave　aid　to　Aes　Sedai　only　under　duress；　no　matter　how　effusive　the　smiles；　and　none　wanted　their　names　or　houses　linked　to　the　Tower。
　　　　　　　Elayne　got　down　gratefully　without　waiting　for　Nynaeve；　straightening　her　blue　linen　summer　traveling　cloak；　the　streets　of　the　Maule　were　rutted　by　carts　and　wagons；　and　the　carriage's　leather　springs　had　not　been　very　good。　A　breeze　slanting　across　the　Erinin　actually　seemed　cool　after　the　heat　of　the　Stone。　She　had　intended　to　show　no　effects　of　the　rough　ride；　but　once　upright　she　could　not　help　knuckling　the　small　of　her　back。　At　least　last　night's　rain　still　holds　the　dust　down；　she　thought。　She　suspected　that　they　had　been　given　a　carriage　without　curtains　on　purpose。
　　　　　　　North　and　south　of　her；　more　docks　like　wide　stone　fingers　stretched　into　the　river。　The　air　smelled　of　tar　and　rope；　fish　and　spices　and　olive　oil；　of　nameless　things　rotting　in　the　stagnant　water　between　the　piers　and　peculiar　long　yellow…green　fruits　in　huge　bunches　heaped　in　front　of　the　stone　warehouse　behind　her。　Despite　the　early　hour；　men　wearing　leather　vests　on　shiftless　shoulders　scurried　about；　toting　large　bundles　on　bent　backs　or　pushing　handcarts　piled　with　barrels　or　crates。　None　spared　her　more　than　a　passing　sullen　glance；　dark　eyes　falling　quickly；　forelock　touched　grudgingly；　most　did　not　raise　their　heads　at　all。　She　was　sad　to　see　it。
　　　　　　　These　Tairen　nobles　had　handled　their　people　badly。　Mishandled　them　was　more　like　it。　In　Andor　she　could　have　expected　cheerful　smiles　and　a　respectful　word　of　greeting；　freely　given　by　straight…backed　men　who　knew　their　worth　as　well　as　hers。　It　was　almost　enough　to　make　her　regret　leaving。　She　had　been　raised　to　lead　and　one　day　govern　a　proud　people；　and　she　felt　the　urge　to　teach　these　folk　dignity。　But　that　was　Rand's　job；　not　hers。　And　if　he　doesn't　do　it　properly；　I　will　give　him　a　piece　of　my　mind。　A　bigger　piece。　At　least　he　had　begun；　by　following　her　advice。　And　she　had　to　admit　he　knew　how　to　treat　his　people。　It　would　be　interesting　to　see　what　he　had　done　by　the　time　she　returned。　If　there's　a　point　to　ing　back。
　　　　　　　A　dozen　ships　were　clearly　visible　from　where　she　stood；　and　more　beyond；　but　one；　moored　across　the　end　of　the　dock　she　faced；　sharp　bow　upriver；　filled　her　eyes。　The　Sea　Folk　raker　was　easily　a　hundred　paces　long；　half　again　as　large　as　the　next　vessel　in　sight；　with　three　great　towering　masts　amidships；　and　one　shorter　on　the　raised　deck　at　the　stern。　She　had　been　on　ships　before；　but　never　one　so　big；　and　never　on　one　going　to　sea。　Just　the　name　of　the　ship's　owners　spoke　of　distant　lands　and　strange　ports。　The　Atha'an　Miere。　The　Sea　Folk。　Stories　meant　to　be　exotic　always　contained　the　Sea　Folk；　unless　they　were　about　the　Aiel。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　climbed　out　of　the　carriage　behind　her；　tying　a　green　traveling　cloak　at　her　neck　and　grumbling　to　herself　and　to　the　driver。　〃Tumbled　about　like　a　hen　in　a　windstorm！　Thumped　like　a　dusty　rug！　How　did　you　manage　to　find　every　last　rut　and　hole　between　here　and　the　Stone；　goodman？　That　took　true　skill。　A　pity　none　of　it　goes　into　handling　horses。〃　He　tried　to　hand　her　down；　his　narrow　face　sullen；　but　she　refused　his　aid。
　　　　　　　Sighing；　Elayne　doubled　the　number　of　silver　pennies　she　was　taking　from　her　purse。　〃Thank　you　for　bringing　us　safely　and　swiftly。〃　She　smiled　as　she　pressed　the　coins　into　his　hand。　〃We　told　you　to　go　fast；　and　you　did　as　we　asked。　The　streets　are　not　your　fault；　and　you　did　an　excellent　job　under　poor　conditions。〃
　　　　　　　Without　looking　at　the　coins；　the　fellow　gave　her　a　deep　bow；　a　grateful　look；　and　a　murmured　〃Thank　you；　my　Lady；〃　as　much　for　the　words　as　the　money；　she　was　sure。　She　had　found　that　a　kind　word　and　a　little　praise　were　usually　received　as　well　as　silver　was；　if　not　better。　Though　the　silver　itself　was　seldom　unappreciated；　to　be　sure。
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　send　you　a　safe　journey；　my　Lady；〃　he　added。　The　merest　flicker　of　his　eyes　toward　Nynaeve　said　that　wish　was　for　Elayne　alone。　Nynaeve　had　to　learn　how　to　make　allowances　and　give　consideration；　truly　she　did。
　　　　　　　When　the　driver　had　handed　their　bundles　and　belongings　out　of　the　carriage；　turned　his　team　and　started　away；　Nynaeve　said　grudgingly；　〃I　shouldn't　have　snapped　at　the　man；　I　suppose。　A　bird　could　not　make　an　easy　way　over　those　streets。　Not　in　a　carriage；　at　any　rate。　But　after　bouncing　about　all　the　way　here；　I　feel　as　if　I'd　been　on　horseback　a　week。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　his　fault　you　have　a　sore。。。　back；〃　Elayne　said；　with　a　smile　to　take　away　any　sting；　as　she　took　up　her　things。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　barked　a　wry　laugh。　〃I　said　that；　didn't　I？　You　will　not　expect　me　to　go　running　after　him　to　apologize；　I　hope。　That　handful　of　silver　you　gave　him　should　soothe　any　wounds　short　of　mortal。　You　really　must　learn　to　be　more　c