rj.theshadowrising-第125部分

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　　　　　　　The　two　men　bracketed　them　immediately；　without　any　instructions；　Juilin　taking　the　lead　with　his　bundle　on　his　back　and　his　pale；　thumb…thick　staff　held　in　both　hands；　dark　eyes　alert。　Thom　brought　up　the　rear；　somehow　managing　a　dangerous　look　despite　his　white　hair　and　his　limp　and　his　gleeman's　cloak。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　pursed　her　lips　for　a　moment　but　said　nothing；　which　Elayne　thought　wise。　Before　they　had　gone　fifty　paces　down　the　long　stone　dock　she　had　seen　as　many　slitty…eyed；　hungry…faced　men　studying　them；　and　Tanchicans　and　others　shifting　crates　and　bales　and　sacks　on　the　dock。　She　suspected　any　of　them　would　have　been　willing　to　cut　her　throat　in　the　hope　that　a　silk　dress　meant　money　in　her　purse。　They　did　not　frighten　her；　she　could　handle　any　two　or　three　of　them；　she　was　sure。　But　she　and　Nynaeve　had　their　Great　Serpent　rings　in　their　pouches；　and　it　would　be　useless　to　pretend　no　connection　with　the　White　Tower　if　she　channeled　in　front　of　a　hundred　men。　Best　if　Juilin　and　Thom　looked　as　fierce　as　they　could。　She　would　not　have　minded　having　ten　more　just　like　them。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　there　was　a　roar　from　the　deck　of　one　of　the　smaller　ships。　〃You！　It　do　be　you！〃　A　wide；　round…faced　man　in　a　green　silk　coat　leaped　onto　the　dock；　ignoring　Juilin's　raised　staff　to　stare　at　her　and　Nynaeve。　A　beard　with　no　mustache　marked　him　as　an　Illianer；　and　so　did　his　accent。　He　seemed　vaguely　familiar。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Domon？〃　Nynaeve　said　after　a　moment；　giving　her　braid　a　sharp　tug。　〃Bayle　Domon？〃
　　　　　　　He　nodded。　〃Aye。　I　did　never　think　to　see　you　again。　I。。。　did　wait　as　long　as　I　could　in　Falme；　but　the　time　did　e　when　I　must　sail　or　watch　my　ship　burn。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　knew　him　now。　He　had　agreed　to　carry　them　out　of　Falme；　but　chaos　had　seized　that　city　before　they　could　reach　his　vessel。　That　coat　said　he　had　done　well　since。
　　　　　　　〃A　pleasure　to　see　you　again；〃　Nynaeve　said　coolly；　〃but　if　you　will　excuse　us；　we　must　find　rooms　in　the　city。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　will　be　hard。　Tanchico　do　burst　its　caulking。　I　do　know　a　place　where　my　word　may　bring　something；　though。　I　could　no　remain　longer　in　Falme；　but　I　do　feel　I　owe　you　some　debt。〃　Domon　paused；　frowning　with　sudden　unease。　〃Your　being　here。　Will　the　same　happen　here　as　in　Falme；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　Master　Domon；〃　Elayne　said　when　Nynaeve　hesitated。　〃Of　course　not。　And　we　will　be　glad　to　accept　your　help。〃
　　　　　　　She　half…expected　some　protest　out　of　Nynaeve；　yet　the　older　woman　only　nodded　thoughtfully　and　made　introductions　among　the　men。　Thom's　cloak　made　Domon's　eyebrows　rise　…　for　an　instant　she　almost　thought　it　looked　as　though　he　recognized　the　gleeman　…　but　Juilin's　Tairen　garb　brought　a　frown　that　was　returned　in　kind。　Neither　man　said　anything；　though；　perhaps　they　could　keep　the　animosity　between　Tear　and　Illian　out　of　Tanchico。　If　they　could　not；　she　would　have　to　speak　firmly　with　them。
　　　　　　　Domon　talked　of　what　had　happened　with　him　since　Falme　as　he　acpanied　them　down　the　dock；　and　he　had　indeed　done　well。　〃A　dozen　good　coasting　ships　the　Panarch's　taxmen　do　know　about；〃　he　laughed；　〃and　four　deepwater　they　do　no。〃
　　　　　　　He　could　hardly　have　acquired　so　many　honestly　in　so　short　a　time。　It　shocked　her　to　hear　him　speak　so　openly　on　a　dock　full　of　men。
　　　　　　　〃Aye；　I　do　smuggle；　and　make　such　profits　as　I　did　never　believe。　A　tenth　the　amount　of　the　excise　in　the　customs　men's　pockets　do　turn　their　eyes　and　seal　their　mouths。〃
　　　　　　　Two　Tanchicans　in　those　veils　and　round　hats　strolled　past；　hands　clasped　behind　their　backs。　Each　wore　a　heavy　brass　key　dangling　from　a　thick　chain　about　his　neck；　it　had　the　look　of　a　mark　of　office。　They　nodded　to　Domon　in　a　familiar　way。　Thom　looked　amused；　but　Juilin　glared　at　Domon　and　the　two　Tanchicans　equally。　As　a　thief…catcher　he　had　a　proper　dislike　of　those　who　flouted　the　law。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　no　believe　it　will　last　much　longer　though；〃　Domon　said　when　the　Tanchicans　had　passed。　〃Things　do　be　even　worse　in　Arad　Doman　than　here；　and　it　do　be　bad　enough　here。　Perhaps　the　Lord　Dragon　does　no　Break　the　World　yet；　but　he　did　break　Arad　Doman　and　Tarabon。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　wanted　to　say　something　sharp　to　him；　but　they　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　dock；　and　she　watched　in　silence　while　he　hired　sedan　chairs　and　bearers；　and　a　dozen　men　with　stout　staves　and　hard　faces。　Guards　with　swords　and　spears　stood　at　the　end　of　the　dock；　with　the　look　of　hired　men；　not　soldiers。　From　across　the　wide　street　along　the　row　of　docks；　hundreds　of　defeated；　sunken　faces　stared　at　the　guards。　Sometimes　eyes　flickered　toward　the　ships；　but　mainly　they　fixed　on　the　men　holding　them　back　from　those　ships。　Remembering　what　Coine　had　said　about　people　here　mobbing　her　vessel；　desperate　to　buy　passage　anywhere　away　from　Tanchico；　Elayne　shivered。　When　these　hungry　eyes　looked　at　the　ships；　need　burned　in　them。　Elayne　sat　rigidly　in　her　chair　as　it　jounced　through　the　crowds　behind　prodding　staves；　and　tried　not　to　look　at　anything。　She　did　not　want　to　see　those　faces。　Where　was　their　king？　Why　was　he　not　taking　care　of　them？
　　　　　　　A　sign　above　the　gate　of　the　white…plastered　inn　Domon　took　them　to；　below　the　Great　Circle；　proclaimed　the　Three　Plum　Court。　The　only　court　Elayne　saw　was　the　high…walled　courtyard　paved　with　flagstones　in　front　of　the　inn；　which　was　three　square　stories　with　no　windows　near　the　ground　and　the　upper　windows　grilled　with　fanciful　ironwork。　Inside；　men　and　women　crowded　the　mon　room；　most　in　Tanchican　clothes；　and　the　buzz　of　voices　nearly　drowned　out　the　tune　of　a　hammered　dulcimer。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gasped　at　her　first　sight　of　the　innkeeper；　a　pretty　woman　not　much　older　than　herself　with　brown　eyes　and　pale　honey　braids；　her　veil　not　hiding　a　plump　rosebud　of　a　mouth。　Elayne　gave　a　start；　too；　but　it　was　not　Liandrin。　The　woman　…　her　name　was　Rendra　…　obviously　knew　Domon　well。　With　weling　smiles　for　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　and　making　much　over　Thom　being　a　gleeman；　she　gave　them　her　last　two　rooms　at　what　Elayne　suspected　might　be　less　than　the　going　rate。　
　　　　　　　Elayne　made　sure　she　and　Nynaeve　got　the　one　with　the　larger　bed；　she　had　shared　a　bed　with　Nynaeve　before；　and　the　woman　was　free　with　her　elbows。
　　　　　　　Rendra　also　provided　supper　in　a　private　room；　laid　out　by　two　veiled　young　serving　men。　Elayne　found　herself　staring　at　a　plate　of　a　roast　lamb　with　spiced　apple　jelly　and　some　sort　of　long　yellowish　beans　prepared　with　pinenuts。　She　could　not　touch　it。　All　those　hungry　faces。　Domon　ate　readily　enough；　him　and　his　smuggling　and　his　gold。　Thom　and　Juilin　showed　no　reticence　either。
　　　　　　　〃Rendra；〃　Nynaeve　said　quietly；　〃does　anyone　here　help　the　poor？　I　can　lay　my　hands　on　a　good　bit　of　gold　if　it　would　help。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　could　donate　to　Bayle's　kitchen；〃　the　innkeeper　replied；　giving　Domon　a　smile。　〃The　man　avoids　all　of　the　taxes；　yet　he　taxes　himself。　For　each　crown　he　gives　as　the　bribe；　he　gives　two　for　the　soup　and　the　bread　for　the　poor。　He　has　even　talked　me　into　giving；　and　I　pay　my　taxes。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　do　be　less　than　the　taxes；〃　Domon　muttered；　hunching　his　shoulders　defensively。　〃I　do　make　a　very　healthy　profit；　Fortune　prick　me　if　I　do　no。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　good　that　you　like　to　help　people；　Master　Domon；〃　Nynaeve　said　when　Rendra　and　the　servants　had　gone。　Thom　and　Juilin　both　get　up　to　see　they　really　had　gone。　With　a　half…bow；　Thom　let　Juilin　open　the　door；　the　hall　outside　was　empty。　Nynaeve　went　right　on。　〃We　may　need　your　help；　too。〃
　　　　　　　The　Illianer's　knife　and　fork　paused　in　cutting　a　piece　of　lamb。　〃How？〃　he　asked　suspiciously。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　know　exactly；　Master　Domon。　You　have　ships。　You　must　have　men。　We　may　need　ears　and　eyes。　Some　of　the　Black　Ajah　may　very　well　be　in　Tanchico；　and　we　must　find　them　if　they　are。〃　Nynaeve　lifted　a　forkful　of　beans　to　her　mouth　as　if　she　had　said　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。　She　seemed　to　be　telling　everyone　about　the　Black　Ajah　of　late。
　　　　　　　Domon　gaped　at　her；　then　stared　incredulously　at　Thom　and　Juilin　as　they　settled　back　in　their　chairs。　When　they　nodded；　he　pushed　his　plate　aside　and　put　his　head　down　on　his　arms。　He　very　nearly　earned　himself　a　thump　from　Nynaeve；　if　the　way　her　mouth　tightened　was　any　indication；　and　Elayne　would　not　have　blamed　her。　Why　should　he　need　them　to　confirm　her　word？
　　　　　　　Finally　Domon　roused　himself。　〃It　do　be　going　to　happen　again。　Falme　all　over。　Maybe　it　do　be　time　for　me　to　pack　up　and　go。　If　I　do　take　the　ships　I　have　back　to　Illian；　I　will　be　a　wealthy　man　there；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　doubt　you'd　find　Illian　congenial；〃　Nynaeve　told　him　in　a　firm　voice。　〃I　understand　that　Sammael　rules　there　now；　if　not　openly。　You　might　not　enjoy　your　wealth　under　one　of　the　Forsaken。〃　Domon's　eyes　nearly　came　out　of　his　head；　but　she　went　right　on。　〃There　are　no　safe　places　any　longer。　You　can　run　like　a　rabbit；　but　you　cannot　hide。　Is　it　not　better　to　do　what　you　can　to　fight　back　like　a　man？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　was　being　too　hard；　she　always　had　to　bully　people。　Elayne　smiled　and　leaned　over　to　put　a　hand　on　Domon's　arm。　〃We　do　not　mean　to　browbeat　you；　Master　Domon；　but　we　truly　may　need　your　help。　I　know　you　for　a　brave　man；　else　you　would　not　have　waited　for　us　as　long　as　you　did　at　Falme。　We　will　be　most　grateful。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　do　this　very　well；〃　Domon　muttered。　〃One　with　an　ox　driver's　stick；　the　other　with　a　queen's　honey。　Oh；　very　well。　I　will　help　as　I　can。　But　I　will　no　promise　to　remain　for　another　Falme。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　and　Juilin　set　in　to　question　him　closely　about　Tanchico　as　they　ate。　At　least；　Juilin　did　in　a　roundabout　manner；　suggesting　questions　to　Thom　about　what　districts　thieves　and　cutpurses　and　burglars　frequented；　what　wineshops　they　used；　and　who　bought　their　stolen　goods。　The　thief…catcher　maintained　that　such　people　often　knew　more　of　what　was　going　on　in　a　city　than　the　authorities　did。　He　did　not　seem　to　want　to　talk　to　the　Illianer　directly；　and　Domon　snorted　every　time　he　answered　one　of　the　Tairen's　questions　put　by　Thom。　He　did　not　answer　until　they　were　put　by　Thom。　Thom's　own　questions　made　no　sense；　at　least　not　ing　from　a　gleeman。　He　asked　of　nobles　and　factions；　of　who　was　allied　to　whom　and　who　opposed；　of　who　had　what　stated　aims；　and　what　their　actions　brought　about；　and　whether　the　results　were　different　from　what　they　supposedly　wanted。　Not　the　kind　of　questions　she　expected　from　him　at　all；　even　after　all　their　conversations　on　Wavedancer。　He　had　been　willing　enough　to　talk　with　her　…　he　even　seemed　to　enjoy　it　…　but　somehow　every　time　she　thought　she　might　dig　out　something　about　his　past；　that　was　just　when　he　managed　to　put　her　back　up　and　send　her　stalking　away。　Dornon　answered　Thom　with　more　alacrity　than　he　did　Juilin。　In　either　case；　though；　he　seemed　to　know　Tanchico　very　well；　both　its　lords　and　officials　and　its　dark　underbelly；　as　he　talked；　it　often　sounded　as　if　there　were　little　difference。
　　　　　　　Once　the　two　men　had　wrung　the　smuggler　dry；　Nynaeve　summoned　Rendra　to　bring　pen　and　ink　and　paper；　and　wrote　out　a　list　describing　each　of　the　Black　sisters。　Holding　the　sheets　gingerly　in　one　big　hand；　Domon　frowned　at　them　uneasily；　as　though　they　were　the　women　themselves；　but　he　promised　to　have　such　of　his　men　as　were　in　port　keep　their　eyes　open。　When　Ny