rj.theshadowrising-第108部分

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　　　　　　　〃If　she　has　not　returned　by　the　tenth　day；〃　Bair　replied；　〃she　will　not。　No　one　has　ever　returned　after　ten　days。〃
　　　　　　　Another　three　days；　maybe。　Three　more　days　when　he　had　already　lost　seven。　Let　them　e；　now。　I　will　not　fail！　He　barely　kept　a　snarl　from　his　face。　〃You　can　channel。　One　of　you　can；　anyway。　I　saw　how　you　flung　Couladin　about。　Will　you　Heal　Mat？〃
　　　　　　　Amys　and　Melaine　exchanged　looks　he　could　only　call　rueful。
　　　　　　　〃Our　paths　have　gone　other　ways；〃　Amys　said　regretfully。　〃There　are　Wise　Ones　who　could　do　what　you　ask；　after　a　fashion；　but　we　are　not　among　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　snapped　angrily。　〃You　can　channel　like　Aes　Sedai。　Why　can't　you　Heal　like　them？　You　did　not　want　him　to　go　to　Rhuidean　in　the　first　place。　Do　you　think　you　can　let　him　die　from　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　survive；〃　Mat　said；　but　his　eyes　were　tight　with　suffering。
　　　　　　　Egwene　put　a　hand　on　Rand's　arm。　〃Not　all　Aes　Sedai　can　Heal　very　well；〃　she　said　in　a　soothing　voice。　〃The　best　Healers　are　all　Yellow　Ajah。　Sheriam；　the　Mistress　of　Novices；　cannot　Heal　anything　much　more　serious　than　a　bruise　or　a　small　cut。　No　two　women　can　have　exactly　the　same　Talents　or　skills。
　　　　　　　Her　tone　irritated　him。　He　was　not　some　pettish　child　to　be　smoothed　down。　He　frowned　at　the　Wise　Ones。　Could　not　or　would　not；　Mat　and　he　would　have　to　wait　for　Moiraine。　If　she　had　not　been　killed　by　that　bubble　of　evil；　by　those　dust　creatures。　It　must　have　dissipated　by　now；　there　had　been　an　end　to　the　one　in　Tear。　They　wouldn't　have　stopped　her。　She　could　channel　her　way　through　them。　She　knows　what　she's　doing；　she　doesn't　have　to　figure　it　out　an　inch　at　a　time　the　way　I　do。　But　then　why　was　she　not　back？　Why　had　she　gone　in　the　first　place；　and　why　had　he　not　seen　her？　Foolish　question。　A　hundred　people　could　have　been　in　Rhuidean　without　being　seen。　Too　many　questions；　and　no　answers　until　she　did　return；　he　suspected。　If　then。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　herbs　and　ointments；〃　Seana　said。　〃e　out　of　the　sun；　and　we　will　tend　your　injuries。〃
　　　　　　　〃Out　of　the　sun；〃　Rand　muttered。　〃Yes。〃　He　was　being　boorish　but　he　did　not　care。　Why　had　Moiraine　gone　into　Rhuidean？　He　did　not　trust　her　to　stop　pushing　him　in　the　direction　she　thought　best；　and　the　Dark　One　take　his　opinions。　If　she　was　in　there；　could　she　have　affected　what　he　saw？　Changed　it　some　way？　If　she　even　suspected　what　he　planned。。。
　　　　　　　He　started　toward　the　Jindo　tents　…　Couladin's　people　were　not　likely　to　offer　him　a　resting　place　…　but　Amys　turned　him　toward　the　flat　farther　up　where　the　Wise　Ones'　tents　stood。　〃They　might　not　be　fortable　with　you　among　them　just；　yet；〃　she　said；　Rhuarc；　failing　in　beside　her；　nodded　agreement。
　　　　　　　Melaine　glanced　at　Lan。　〃This　is　no　business　of　yours；　Aan'allein。　You　and　Rhuarc　take　Matrim　and　…〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Rand　broke　in。　〃I　want　them　with　me。〃　Partly　it　was　because　he　wanted　answers　from　the　clan　chief；　and　partly　it　was　sheer　stubbornness。　These　Wise　Ones　were　all　set　to　guide　him　around　on　a　leash；　just　like　Moiraine。　He　was　not　about　to　put　up　with　it。　They　looked　at　one　another；　then　nodded　as　if　acceding　to　a　request。　If　they　thought　he　would　be　a　good　boy　because　they　gave　him　a　sweet；　they　were　mistaken。　〃I'd　have　thought　you　would　be　with　Moiraine；〃　he　said　to　Lan；　ignoring　the　Wise　Ones　and　their　nods。
　　　　　　　A　flash　of　embarrassment　crossed　the　Warder's　face。　〃The　Wise　Ones　managed　to　hide　her　going　until　nearly　sunset；〃　he　said　stiffly。　〃Then　they。。。　convinced　me　following　would　serve　no　purpose。　They　said　even　if　I　did；　I　could　not　find　her　until　she　was　already　on　her　way　out；　and　she　would　not　need　me；　then。　I　am　no　longer　certain　I　should　have　listened。〃〃Listened！〃　Melaine　snorted。　Her　gold　and　ivory　bracelets　clattered　as　she　adjusted　her　shawl　irritably。　〃Trust　a　man　to　make　himself　sound　reasonable。　You　would　almost　certainly　have　died；　and　very　likely　killed　her；　too。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Melaine　and　I　had　to　hold　him　down　half　the　night　before　he　would　listen；〃　Amys　said。　Her　small　smile　was　a　touch　amused；　a　touch　wry。
　　　　　　　Lan's　face　might　as　well　have　been　carved　from　thunderclouds。　Small　wonder；　if　the　Wise　Ones　had　used　the　Power　on　him。　What　was　Moiraine　doing　in　there？
　　　　　　　〃Rhuarc；〃　Rand　said；　〃how　am　I　supposed　to　unite　the　Aiel？　They　don't　even　want　to　look　at　me。〃　He　raised　his　bare　forearms　for　a　moment；　the　Dragons'　scales　glittered　in　the　harsh　sunlight。　〃These　say　I'm　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn；　but　everybody　practically　melted　away　as　soon　as　I　showed　the　things。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　one　thing　to　know　prophecy　will　be　fulfilled；　eventually；〃　the　clan　chief　said　slowly；　〃another　to　see　that　fulfillment　begun　before　your　eyes。　It　is　said　you　will　make　the　clans　one　people　again；　as　long　ago；　but　we　have　fought　one　another　almost　as　long　as　we　have　fought　the　rest　of　the　world。　And　there　is　more；　for　some　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　He　will　bind　you　together；　and　destroy　you。　Rhuarc　must　have　heard　that；　too。　And　the　other　clan　chiefs；　and　the　Wise　Ones；　if　they　also　had　entered　that　forest　of　shining　glass　columns。　If　Moiraine　had　not　arranged　a　special　vision　for　him。　〃Does　everyone　see　the　same　things　inside　those　columns；　Rhuarc？〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Melaine　snapped；　eyes　like　green　steel。　〃Be　silent；　or　send　Aan'allein　and　Matrim　away。　You　must　go；　too；　Egwene。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　permitted；〃　Amys　said　in　a　just　slightly　softer　voice；　〃to　speak　of　what　occurs　within　Rhuidean　except　with　those　who　have　been　there。〃　A　fraction　softer；　maybe。　〃Even　then；　few　speak　of　it；　and　seldom。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　mean　to　change　what　is　permitted　and　what　isn't；〃　Rand　told　them　levelly。　〃Bee　used　to　it。〃　He　caught　Egwene　muttering　about　him　needing　his　ears　boxed；　and　grinned　at　her。　〃Egwene　can　stay；　too；　since　she　asked　so　nicely。〃　She　stuck　her　tongue　out　at　him；　then　blushed　when　she　realized　what　she　had　done。
　　　　　　　〃Change；〃　Rhuarc　said。　〃You　know　he　brings　change；　Amys。　It　is　wondering　what　change；　and　how；　that　makes　us　like　children　alone　in　the　dark。　Since　it　must　be；　let　it　begin　now。　No　two　clan　chiefs　I　have　spoken　with　have　seen　through　the　exactly　same　eyes；　Rand；　or　exactly　the　same　things；　until　the　sharing　of　water；　and　the　meeting　where　the　Agreement　of　Rhuidean　was　made。　Whether　it　is　the　same　for　Wise　Ones；　I　do　not　know；　but　I　suspect　it　is。　I　think　it　is　a　matter　of　bloodlines。　I　believe　I　saw　through　the　eyes　of　my　ancestors；　and　you　yours。〃
　　　　　　　Amys　and　the　other　Wise　Ones　glowered　in　grimly　sullen　silence。　Mat　and　Egwene　wore　equally　confused　stares。　Lan　alone　seemed　not　to　be　listening　at　all；　his　eyes　looked　inward；　no　doubt　in　worry　over　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　Rand　felt　a　little　strange　himself。　Seeing　through　his　ancestors'　eyes。　He　had　known　for　some　time　that　Tam　al'Thor　was　not　his　real　father；　that　he　had　been　found　as　a　newborn　on　the　slopes　of　Dragonmount　after　the　last　major　battle　of　the　Aiel　War。　A　newborn　with　his　dead　mother；　a　Maiden　of　the　Spear。　He　had　claimed　Aiel　blood　in　demanding　admittance　to　Rhuidean；　but　the　fact　of　it　was　just　now　being　driven　home。　His　ancestors。　Aiel。
　　　　　　　〃Then　you　saw　Rhuidean　just　begun　building；　too；〃　he　said。　〃And　the　two　Aes　Sedai。　You。。。　heard　what　the　one　of　them　said。〃　He　will　destroy　you。
　　　　　　　〃I　heard。〃　Rhuarc　looked　resigned；　like　a　man　who　had　learned　his　leg　had　to　be　cut　off。　〃I　know。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　changed　the　subject。　〃What　was　'the　sharing　of　water'？〃
　　　　　　　The　clan　chief's　eyebrows　lifted　in　surprise。　〃You　did　not　recognize　it？　But　then；　I　do　not　see　why　you　should；　you　have　not　grown　up　with　the　histories。　According　the　oldest　stories；　from　the　day　the　Breaking　of　the　World　began　until　the　day　we　first　entered　the　Three…fold　Land；　only　one　people　did　not　attack　us。　One　people　allowed　us　water　freely　when　it　was　needed。　It　took　us　long　to　discover　who　they　were。　That　is　done　with；　now。　The　pledge　of　peace　was　destroyed；　the　treekillers　spat　in　our　faces。〃
　　　　　　　〃Cairhien；〃　Rand　said。　〃You're　talking　about　Cairhien；　and　Avendoraldera；　and　Laman　cutting　down　the　Tree。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Laman　is　dead　for　his　punishment；〃　Rhuarc；　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃The　oathbreakers　are　done　with。〃　He　looked　at　Rand　sideways。　〃Some；　such　as　Couladin；　take　it　for　proof　we　can　trust　no　one　who　is　not　Aiel。　That　is　a　part　of　why　he　hates　you。　A　part　of　it。　He　will　take　your　face　and　blood　for　lies。　Or　claim　he　does。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head。　Moiraine　sometimes　talked　of　the　plexity　of　Age　Lace；　the　Pattern　of　an　Age；　woven　by　the　Wheel　of　Time　from　the　thread　of　human　lives。　If　the　ancestors　of　the　Cairhienin　had　not　allowed　the　Aiel　to　have　water　three　thousand　years　ago；　then　Cairhien　would　never　have　been　given　the　right　to　use　the　Silk　Path　across　the　Waste；　with　a　cutting　from　Avendesora　for　a　pledge。　No　pledge；　and　King　Laman　would　have　had　no　Tree　to　cut　down；　there　would　have　been　no　Aiel　War；　and　he　could　not　have　been　born　on　the　side　of　Dragonmount　to　be　carried　off　and　raised　in　the　Two　Rivers。　How　many　more　points　like　that　had　there　been；　where　a　single　decision　one　way　or　another　affected　the　weave　of　the　Pattern　for　thousands　of　years？　A　thousand　times　a　thousand　tiny　branching　points；　a　thousand　times　that　many；　all　twitching　the　Pattern　into　a　different　design。　He　himself　was　a　walking　branching　point；　and　maybe　Mat　and　Perrin；　too。　What　they　did　or　did　not　do　would　send　ripples　ahead　through　the　years；　through　the　Ages。
　　　　　　　He　looked　at　Mat；　hobbling　up　the　slope　with　the　aid　of　his　spear；　head　down　and　eyes　squinted　in　pain。　The　Creator　could　not　have　been　thinking；　to　set　the　future　on　the　shoulders　of　three　farmboys。　I　can't　drop　it。　I　have　to　carry　the　load；　whatever　the　cost。
　　　　　　　At　the　Wise　Ones'　low；　wall…less　tents；　the　women　ducked　inside　with　murmurs　about　water　and　shade。　They　all　but　pulled　Mat　with　them；　as　evidence　of　how　his　head　and　throat　hurt；　he　not　only　obeyed；　he　did　so　silently。
　　　　　　　Rand　started　to　follow；　but　Lan　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃Did　you　see　her　in　there？〃　the　Warder　asked。
　　　　　　　〃No；　Lan。　I'm　sorry；　I　did　not。　She'll　e　out　safe　if　anyone　can。〃
　　　　　　　Lan　grunted　and　took　his　hand　away。　〃Watch　out　for　Couladin；　Rand。　I　have　seen　his　kind　before。　Ambition　burns　in　his　belly。　He　would　sacrifice　the　world　to　achieve　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aan'allein　speaks　the　truth；〃　Rhuarc　said。　〃The　Dragons　on　your　arms　will　not　matter　if　you　are　dead　before　the　clan　chiefs　learn　of　them。　I　will　make　sure　some　of　Heirn's　Jindo　are　always　near　you　until　we　reach　Cold　Rocks。　Even　then；　Couladin　will　probably　try　to　make　trouble；　and　the　Shaido；　at　least；　will　follow　him。　Perhaps　others；　too。　The　Prophecy　of　Rhuidean　said　you　would　be　raised　by　those　not　of　the　blood；　yet　Couladin　may　not　be　the　only　one　to　see　only　a　wetlander。　〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　try　to　watch　my　back；〃　Rand　said　dryly。　In　the　stories；　when　somebody　fulfilled　a　prophecy；　everyone　cried　〃Behold！〃　or　some　such；　and　that　was　that　except　for　dealing　with　the　villains。　Real　life　did　not　seem　to　work　that　way。
　　　　　　　When　they　entered　the　tent；　Mat　was　already　seated　on　a　gold…tasseled　red　cushion　with　his　coat　and　shirt　off。　A　woman　in　a　cowled　white　robe　had　finished　washing　the　blood　from　his　face　and　was　just　beginning　on　his　chest。　Amys　gripped　a　stone　mortar　between　her　knees；　blending