rj.theshadowrising-第138部分

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　　　　　　　Throwing　off　the　blanket；　he　swung　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　bed；　wobbling　to　his　feet。　He　had　nothing　on；　he　realized；　not　even　his　smallclothes。　But　if　they　expected　to　keep　him　caged　under　a　blanket；　they　were　sadly　mistaken。　He　could　see　everything　folded　neatly　on　the　tall…backed　chair　by　the　door；　with　his　boots　beside　it　and　his　axe　hanging　by　its　belt　from　a　peg　on　the　wall。　Stumbling　to　his　clothes；　he　began　dressing　as　quickly　as　he　could。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Faile　demanded。　〃You　put　yourself　back　in　that　bed！〃　One　fist　on　her　hip；　she　pointed　mandingly；　as　if　her　finger　could　transport　him　there。
　　　　　　　〃They　can't　have　gotten　that　far；〃　he　told　her。　〃Not　afoot。　Gaul　won't　ride；　and　Loial　always　did　claim　he　trusted　his　own　feet　more　than　any　horse。　I　can　catch　them　up　on　Stepper　by　midday　latest。〃　Pulling　his　shirt　over　his　head　he　left　it　hanging　loose　over　his　breeches　and　sat　down…　dropped；　actually　…　to　draw　on　his　boots。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　mad；　Perrin　Aybara！　What　chance　you　can　even　find　them　in　that　forest？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　so　bad　at　tracking；　myself。　I　can　find　them。〃　He　smiled　at　her；　but　she　was　not　having　any。
　　　　　　　〃You　can　get　yourself　killed；　you　hairy　fool！　Look　at　you。　You　can　hardly　stand。　You　would　fall　out　of　the　saddle　before　you　had　gone　a　mile！〃
　　　　　　　Hiding　the　effort　involved；　he　stood　and　stamped　his　feet　to　settle　them　in　his　boots。　Stepper　would　do　all　the　work；　he　only　needed　to　hold　on。　〃Nonsense。　I'm　strong　as　a　horse。　Stop　trying　to　bully　me。〃　Shrugging　into　his　coat；　he　snatched　up　his　axe　and　belt。　Faile　caught　his　arm　as　he　opened　the　door；　and　was　pulled　along；　vainly　trying　to　haul　him　back。
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes　you　have　the　brains　of　a　horse；〃　she　panted。　〃Less！　Perrin；　you　must　listen　to　me。　You　must　…〃
　　　　　　　The　room　lay　only　a　few　steps　along　the　narrow　hallway　from　the　stairs　leading　down　to　the　empty　mon　room；　and　it　was　the　stairs　that　betrayed　him。　When　his　knee　bent　to　lower　him　that　first　step；　it　kept　right　on　bending；　he　toppled　forward；　vainly　trying　to　catch　the　banister；　pulling　a　yelling　Faile　with　him。　Rolling　over　and　over；　they　thumped　down　the　stairs　to　e　up　with　a　final　thud　against　the　barrel　at　the　bottom；　Faile　lying　stretched　full…length　atop　him。　The　barrel　teetered　and　spun；　rattling　the　swords　inside；　before　settling　with　a　final　clank。
　　　　　　　It　took　a　moment　for　Perrin　to　gather　enough　breath　to　speak。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　said　anxiously。　She　was　sprawled　limply　on　his　chest。　He　shook　her　gently。　〃Faile；　are　you　…？〃
　　　　　　　Slowly　she　raised　her　head　and　brushed　a　few　short　strands　of　dark　hair　from　her　face；　then　stared　at　him　intently。　〃Are　you　all　right？　Because　if　you　are；　I　may　very　well　do　something　violent　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　snorted；　she　was　probably　hurt　less　than　he。　Gingerly；　he　felt　at　where　the　arrow　had　been；　but　that　was　in　no　worse　shape　than　the　rest　of　him。　Of　course；　the　rest　of　him　seemed　bruised　from　head　to　toe。　〃Get　off　of　me；　Faile。　I　need　to　fetch　Stepper。〃
　　　　　　　Instead；　she　seized　his　collar　with　both　hands　and　leaned　very　close；　until　their　noses　almost　touched。　〃Listen　to　me；　Perrin；〃　she　said　urgently。　〃You　…　can　…　not　…　do　…　everything。　If　Loial　and　Gaul　have　gone　to　lock　the　Waygate；　you　must　let　them。　Your　place　is　here。　Even　if　you　were　strong　enough　…　and　you　are　not！　Do　you　hear　me？　You　are　not　strong　enough！　…　but　even　if　you　were；　you　must　not　go　after　them。　You　cannot　do　everything！〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　whatever　are　you　two　doing？〃　Marin　al'Vere　said。　Wiping　her　hands　on　her　long　white　apron；　she　came　from　the　back　door　of　the　mon　room。　Her　eyebrows　looked　to　be　trying　to　climb　into　her　hair。　〃I　expected　Trollocs　after　all　that　racket；　but　not　this。〃　She　sounded　half　scandalized；　and　half　amused。
　　　　　　　What　they　looked　like；　Perrin　realized；　with　Faile　lying　on　him　that　way；　their　heads　close　together；　was　a　couple　playing　kissing　games。　On　the　floor　of　the　mon　room。
　　　　　　　Faile's　cheeks　reddened　and　she　got　up　very　quickly；　dusting　her　dress。　〃He　is　as　stubborn　as　a　Trolloc；　Mistress　al'Vere。　I　told　him　he　was　too　weak　to　rise。　He　must　go　back　to　his　bed　immediately。　He　has　to　learn　he　cannot　do　everything　himself；　especially　when　he　cannot　even　walk　down　a　flight　of　steps。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　my　dear；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said；　shaking　her　head；　〃that　is　quite　the　wrong　way。〃　Leaning　close　to　the　younger　woman；　she　whispered　softly；　but　Perrin　heard　every　word。　〃He　was　an　easy　little　boy　to　manage　most　of　the　time；　if　you　handled　him　properly；　but　when　you　tried　to　push　him；　he　was　as　muley　as　any　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Men　don't　really　change　that　much；　only　grow　taller。　If　you　go　telling　him　what　he　must　and　musn't　do；　he　will　surely　lay　his　ears　back　and　dig　his　heels　in。　Let　me　show　you。〃　Marin　turned　a　beaming　smile　on　him；　ignoring　his　glare。　〃Perrin；　don't　you　think　one　of　my　good　goose…feather　mattresses　is　better　than　that　floor？　I'll　bring　you　some　of　my　kidney　pie　just　as　soon　as　we　have　you　tucked　in。　You　must　be　hungry；　after　no　supper　last　night。　Here。　Why　don't　let　me　help　you　up？〃
　　　　　　　Pushing　their　hands　away；　he　stood　on　his　own。　Well；　with　the　aid　of　the　wall。　He　thought　he　might　have　sprained　half　the　muscles　in　his　body。　Muley？　He　had　never　been　muley　in　his　life。　〃Mistress　al'Vere；　would　you　have　Hu　or　Tad　saddle　Stepper？〃
　　　　　　　〃When　you're　better；〃　she　said；　trying　to　turn　him　toward　the　stairs。　〃Don't　you　think　you　could　do　with　just　a　little　more　rest？〃　Faile　took　his　other　arm。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs！〃　The　cry　from　outside　came　muffled　through　the　walls；　echoed　by　a　dozen　voices。　〃Trollocs！　Trollocs！〃
　　　　　　　〃That　needn't　concern　you　today；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said；　firm　and　soothing　at　the　same　time。　It　made　him　want　to　grit　his　teeth。　〃The　Aes　Sedai　will　handle　things　nicely。　In　a　day　or　two　we'll　have　you　back　on　your　feet。　You　will　see。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　horse；〃　he　said；　trying　to　pull　free。　They　had　good　holds　on　his　coatsleeves；　all　he　acplished　was　swinging　them　back　and　forth。　〃For　the　love　of　the　Light；　will　you　stop　tugging　at　me　and　let　me　get　my　horse？　Let　go　of　me。〃
　　　　　　　Looking　at　his　face；　Faile　sighed　and　released　his　arm。　〃Mistress　al'Vere；　will　you　have　his　horse　saddled　and　brought　around？〃
　　　　　　　〃But　my　dear；　he　really　needs　…〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　please；　Mistress　al'Vere；〃　Faile　said　firmly。　〃And　my　horse；　too。〃　The　two　women　looked　at　each　other　as　if　he　did　not　exist。　At　last　Mistress　al'Vere　nodded。
　　　　　　　Perrin　frowned　at　her　back　as　she　hurried　across　the　mon　room　and　vanished　toward　the　kitchen；　and　the　stable。　What　had　Faile　said　different　from　what　he　had？　Turning　his　attention　to　her；　he　said；　〃Why　did　you　change　your　mind？〃
　　　　　　　Tucking　his　shirt　in　for　him；　she　muttered　under　her　breath。　Doubtless　he　was　not　supposed　to　hear　well　enough　to　understand。　〃I　musn't　say　must；　must　I？　When　he　is　too　stubborn　to　see　straight；　I　must　lead　him　with　honey　and　smiles；　must　I？〃　She　shot　him　a　glare　that　surely　had　no　honey　in　it；　then　abruptly　changed　to　a　smile　so　sweet　he　very　nearly　backed　away。　〃My　dear　heart；〃　she　almost　cooed；　pulling　his　coat　straight；　〃whatever　is　happening　out　there；　I　do　hope　you　will　stay　in　your　saddle；　and　as　far　from　Trollocs　as　you　can。　You　really　are　not　up　to　facing　a　Trolloc　just　yet；　are　you？　Maybe　tomorrow。　Please　remember　you　are　a　general；　a　leader；　and　every　bit　as　much　a　symbol　to　your　people　as　that　banner　out　there。　If　you　are　up　where　people　can　see　you；　it　will　lift　everyone's　heart。　And　it　is　much　easier　to　see　what　needs　doing　and　give　orders　if　you　aren't　in　the　fighting　yourself。〃　Picking　his　belt　off　the　floor；　she　buckled　it　around　his　waist；　settling　the　axe　carefully　on　his　hip。　She　also　batted　her　eyes　at　him！　〃Please　say　you　will　do　that。　Please？〃
　　　　　　　She　was　right。　He　would　not　last　two　minutes　against　a　Trolloc。　More　like　two　seconds　against　a　Fade。　And　much　as　he　hated　to　admit　it；　he　would　not　last　two　miles　in　the　saddle　chasing　after　Loial　and　Gaul。　Fool　Ogier。　You're　a　writer；　not　a　hero。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　A　mischievous　impulse　seized　him。　The　way　she　and　Mistress　al'Vere　had　been　talking　over　his　head；　and　batting　her　eyes　as　if　he　were　a　fool。　〃I　can't　refuse　you　anything　when　you　smile　so　prettily。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　glad。〃　Still　smiling；　she　brushed　at　his　coat；　picking　lint　he　could　not　see。　〃Because　if　you　don't；　and　you　manage　to　survive；　I'll　do　to　you　what　you　did　to　me　that　first　day　in　the　Ways。　I　don't　think　you　are　strong　enough　yet　to　stop　me。〃　That　smile　beamed　up　into　his　face；　all　springtime　and　sweetness。　〃Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　　　　　He　chuckled　in　spite　of　himself。　〃Sounds　as　if　I　had　better　let　them　kill　me。〃　She　did　not　seem　to　think　that　was　funny。
　　　　　　　Hu　and　Tad；　the　lanky　stablemen；　led　Stepper　and　Swallow　around　soon　after　they　stepped　outside。　Everyone　else　seemed　to　be　gathered　at　the　far　end　of　the　village；　beyond　the　Green　with　its　sheep　and　cows　and　geese；　and　that　crimson…and…white　wolfhead　banner　rippling　on　the　morning　breeze。　As　soon　as　he　and　Faile　were　up　on　their　horses；　the　stablemen　took　off　running　that　way；　too；　without　a　word。
　　　　　　　Whatever　was　going　on；　it　was　clearly　not　an　attack。　He　could　see　women　and　children　in　the　crowd；　and　the　shouts　of　〃Trolloc〃　had　died　down　to　a　murmur　like　an　echo　of　the　geese。　He　rode　slowly；　not　wanting　to　waver　in　his　saddle；　Faile　kept　Swallow　close；　watching　him。　If　she　could　change　her　mind　once　for　no　reason；　she　could　again；　and　he　did　not　want　any　arguments　about　whether　he　should　be　there。
　　　　　　　The　babbling　crowd　did　appear　to　contain　everyone　in　Emond's　Field；　villagers　and　farmers　alike；　all　jammed　shoulder　to　shoulder；　but　they　made　way　for　him　and　Faile　when　they　saw　who　he　was。　His　name　entered　the　murmurs；　usually　tagged　with　Goldeneyes。　He　picked　up　the　word　〃Trollocs；〃　too；　but　in　tones　more　wondering　than　frightened。　From　Stepper's　back　he　had　a　good　view　over　their　heads。
　　　　　　　The　knotted　mass　of　people　stretched　all　the　way　beyond　the　last　houses　to　the　hedge　of　sharpened　stakes。　The　edge　of　the　forest；　nearly　six　hundred　paces　off　across　a　field　of　stumps　nearly　level　with　the　ground；　was　quiet　and　empty　of　men　with　axes。　Those　men　made　a　sweaty；　bare…chested　ring　in　the　crowd　surrounding　Alanna　and　Verin　and　two　men。　Jon　Thane；　the　miller；　was　wiping　a　smear　of　blood　from　his　ribs；　lantern　jaw　on　his　chest　so　he　could　stare　at　what　his　hands　were　doing。　Alanna　straightened　from　the　other　man；　a　grizzle…haired　fellow　Perrin　did　not　know；　who　leaped　to　his　feet　and　danced　a　step　as　if　not　quite　believing　he　could。　He　and　the　miller　both　looked　at　the　Aes　Sedai　with　awe。
　　　　　　　The　tangle　around　the　Aes　Sedai　was　too　tight　for　anyone　to　shift　aside　for　Stepper　and　Swallow；　but　there　were　smaller　clear　pockets　around　Ihvon　and　Tomas；　off　to　either　side　on　their　war…horses。　Folk　did　not　want　to　e　too　near　those　fierce…eyed　animals；　both　looking　as　though　they　only　wanted　an　opportunity　to　bite　or　trample。
　　　　　　　Perrin　managed　to　reach　Tomas　without　too　much　trouble。　〃What　happened？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　Trolloc。　Only　one。〃　Despite　the　graying　Warder's　conversational　tone；　his　dark　eyes　did　not　rest　on　Perrin　and　Faile；　but　kept　an　almost　equal　watch　on　Verin　and　on　the　treeline。　〃They　usually　are　not