rj.theshadowrising-第38部分

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　　　　　　　〃The　others。〃　It　was　hard　to　speak；　his　throat　hurt。　〃Elayne；　Perrin；　the　rest？　Was　I　too　late　for　them；　too？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　were　not　too　late；〃　Moiraine　said　calmly。　But　she　had　e　no　closer；　and　Lan　looked　ready　to　dart　between　her　and　Rand。　〃You　must　not　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Are　they　still　alive？〃　Rand　shouted。
　　　　　　　〃They　are；〃　she　assured　him。
　　　　　　　He　nodded　in　weary　relief。　He　tried　not　to　look　at　the　girl's　body。　Three　days　waiting；　so　he　could　enjoy　a　few　stolen　kisses。　If　he　had　moved　three　days　ago。。。　But　he　had　learned　things　in　those　three　days；　things　he　might　be　able　to　use　if　he　could　put　them　together。　If。　Not　too　late　for　his　friends；　at　least。　Not　too　late　for　them。　〃How　did　the　Trollocs　get　in？　I　don't　think　they　climbed　the　walls　like　Aiel；　not　with　the　sun　still　up。　Is　it　still　up？〃　He　shook　his　head　to　dispel　some　of　the　fog。　〃No　matter。　The　Trollocs。　How？〃
　　　　　　　Lan　was　the　one　who　answered。　〃Eight　large　grain　barges　tied　up　at　the　Stone's　docks　late　this　afternoon。　Apparently　no　one　thought　to　question　why　laden　grain　barges　would　be　ing　downriver〃　…　his　voice　was　heavy　with　contempt　…〃or　why　they'd　dock　at　the　Stone；　or　why　the　crews　left　the　hatches　shut　until　nearly　sunfall。　Also；　a　train　of　wagons　arrived　…　about　two　hours　ago；　now　…　thirty　of　them；　supposedly　bringing　some　lord　or　other's　things　from　the　country　for　his　return　to　the　Stone。　When　the　canvas　was　thrown　back；　they　were　packed　with　Halfmen　and　Trollocs；　too。　If　they　came　in　any　other　way；　I　don't　know　of　it；　yet。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　again；　and　the　effort　buckled　his　knees。　Suddenly　Lan　was　there；　pulling　Rand's　arm　over　his　shoulder　to　hold　him　up。　Moiraine　took　his　face　in　her　hands。　A　chill　rippled　through　him；　not　the　blasting　cold　of　full　Healing；　but　a　chill　that　pushed　weariness　out　as　it　passed。　Most　of　the　weariness。　A　seed　remained；　as　if　he　had　worked　a　day　hoeing　tabac。　He　moved　away　from　the　support　he　no　longer　needed。　Lan　watched　him　warily；　to　see　if　he　could　really　stand　alone；　or　perhaps　because　the　Warder　was　not　certain　how　dangerous　he　was；　how　sane。
　　　　　　　〃I　left　some　apurpose；〃　Moiraine　told　him。　〃You　need　to　sleep　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　Sleep。　There　was　too　much　to　do　to　sleep。　But　he　gave　another　nod。　He　did　not　want　her　shadowing　him。　Yet　what　he　said　was　〃Lanfear　was　here。　This　was　not　her　doing。　She　said　so；　and　I　believe　her。　You　don't　seem　surprised；　Moiraine。〃　Would　Lanfear's　offer　surprise　her？　Would　anything？　〃Lanfear　was　here；　and　I　talked　with　her。　She　didn't　try　to　kill　me；　and　I　didn't　try　to　kill　her。　And　you　are　not　surprised。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　doubt　you　could　kill　her。　Yet。〃　Her　glance　at　Callandor　was　the　merest　flicker　of　dark　eyes。　〃Not　unaided。　And　I　doubt　she　will　try　to　kill　you。　Yet。　We　know　little　of　any　of　the　Forsaken；　and　least　of　all　Lanfear；　but　we　do　know　she　loved　Lews　Therin　Telamon。　To　say　you　are　safe　from　her　is　certainly　too　strong　…　there　is　a　good　deal　she　can　do　to　harm　you　short　of　murder　…　but　I　do　not　think　she　will　try　to　kill　as　long　as　she　thinks　she　might　win　Lews　Therin　back　again。〃
　　　　　　　Lanfear　wanted　him。　The　Daughter　of　the　Night；　used　by　mothers　who　only　half…believed　in　her　to　frighten　children。　She　certainly　frightened　him。　It　was　nearly　enough　to　make　him　laugh。　He　had　always　felt　guilty　for　looking　at　any　woman　besides　Egwene；　and　Egwene　did　not　want　him；　but　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor　wanted　to　kiss　him；　at　least；　and　one　of　the　Forsaken　claimed　to　love　him。　Nearly　enough　for　laughter；　but　not　quite。　Lanfear　seemed　jealous　of　Elayne；　that　pale…haired　milksop；　she　had　called　her。　Madness。　All　madness。
　　　　　　　〃Tomorrow。〃　He　started　away　from　them。
　　　　　　　〃Tomorrow？〃　Moiraine　said。
　　　　　　　〃Tomorrow；　I　will　tell　you　what　I　am　going　to　do。〃　Some　of　it；　he　would。　The　thought　of　Moiraine's　face　if　he　told　her　everything　made　him　want　to　laugh。　If　he　knew　everything　himself；　yet。　Lanfear　had　given　him　almost　the　last　piece；　without　knowing　it。　One　more　step；　tonight。　The　hand　holding　Callandor　by　his　side　trembled。　With　that；　he　could　do　anything。　I　am　not　mad　yet。　Not　mad　enough　for　that。　〃Tomorrow。　A　good　night　to　us　all；　the　Light　willing。〃　Tomorrow　he　would　begin　to　unleash　another　kind　of　lightning。　Another　lightning　that　might　save　him。　Or　kill　him。　He　was　not　mad　yet。


Chapter　11
（Dream　Ring）
What　Lies　Hidden

　　　　　　　Clad　in　her　shift；　Egwene　drew　a　deep　breath　and　left　the　stone　ring　lying　beside　an　open　book　on　her　bedside　table。　All　flecked　and　striped　in　brown　and　red　and　blue；　it　was　slightly　too　large　for　a　finger　ring；　and　shaped　wrong；　flattened　and　twisted　so　that　a　fingertip　run　along　the　edge　would　circle　both　inside　and　out　before　ing　back　to　where　it　had　started。　There　was　only　one　edge；　impossible　though　that　seemed。　She　was　not　leaving　the　ring　there　because　she　might　fail　without　it；　because　she　wanted　to　fail。　She　had　to　try　without　the　ring　sooner　or　later；　or　she　could　never　do　more　than　dabble　her　toes　where　she　dreamed　of　swimming。　It　might　as　well　be　now。　That　was　the　reason。　It　was。
　　　　　　　The　thick　leather　bound　book　was　A　Journey　to　Tarabon；　written　by　Eurian　Romavni；　from　Kandor　…　fifty　three　years　ago；　according　to　the　date　the　author　gave　in　the　first　line；　but　little　of　any　consequence　would　have　changed　in　Tanchico　in　that　short　a　time。　Besides；　it　was　the　only　volume　she　had　found　with　useful　drawings。　Most　of　the　books　only　had　portraits　of　kings；　or　fanciful　renderings　of　battles　by　men　who　had　not　seen　them。
　　　　　　　Darkness　filled　both　windows；　but　the　lamps　gave　more　than　adequate　light。　One　tall　beeswax　candle　burned　in　a　gilded　candlestick　on　the　bedside　table。　She　had　gone　to　fetch　that　herself；　this　was　no　night　to　be　sending　a　maid　for　a　candle。　Most　of　the　servants　were　tending　the　wounded　or　weeping　over　loved　ones；　or　being　tended　themselves。　There　had　been　too　many　for　Healing　any　but　those　who　would　have　died　without　it。
　　　　　　　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　waited　with　high　backed　chairs　pulled　to　either　side　of　the　wide　bed　with　its　tall；　swallow　carved　posts；　they　tried　to　hide　their　anxiety　with　differing　degrees　of　success。　Elayne　managed　a　passably　stately　calm；　and　only　spoiled　it　by　frowning　and　chewing　her　underlip　when　she　thought　Egwene　was　not　looking。　Nynaeve　was　all　brisk　confidence；　the　sort　that　made　you　feel　forted　when　she　tucked　you　into　a　sickbed；　but　Egwene　recognized　the　set　of　her　eyes；　they　said　Nynaeve　was　afraid。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　sat　cross…legged　beside　the　door；　her　browns　and　grays　standing　out　sharply　against　the　deep　blue　of　the　carpet。　This　time　the　Aiel　woman　had　her　long　bladed　knife　at　one　side　of　her　belt；　a　bristling　quiver　at　the　other；　and　four　short　spears　across　her　knees。　Her　round；　hide　buckler　lay　close　at　hand；　atop　a　horn　bow　in　a　worked　leather　case　with　straps　that　could　hold　it　on　her　back。　After　tonight；　Egwene　could　not　fault　her　for　going　armed。　She　still　wanted　to　hold　a　lightning　bolt　ready　to　fling　herself。
　　　　　　　Light；　what　was　that　Rand　did？　Burn　him；　he　frightened　me　almost　as　badly　as　the　Fades　did。　Maybe　worse。　It　isn't　fair　he　can　do　something　like　that　and　I　can't　even　see　the　flows。
　　　　　　　She　climbed　onto　the　bed　and　took　the　leather…bound　book　on　her　knees；　frowning　at　an　engraved　map　of　Tanchico。　Little　of　any　use　was　marked；　really。　A　dozen　fortresses；　surrounding　the　harbor；　guarding　the　city　on　its　three　hilly　peninsulas；　the　Verana　to　the　east；　the　Maseta　in　the　center；　and　the　Calpene　nearest　the　sea。　Useless。　Several　large　squares；　some　open　areas　that　seemed　to　be　parks；　and　a　number　of　monuments　to　rulers　long　since　dust。　All　useless。　A　few　palaces；　and　things　that　seemed　strange。　The　Great　Circle；　for　instance；　on　the　Calpene。　On　the　map　it　was　just　a　ring；　but　Master　Romavni　described　it　as　a　huge　gathering　place　that　could　hold　thousands　to　watch　horse　races　or　displays　of　fireworks　by　the　Illuminators。　There　was　also　a　King's　Circle；　on　the　Maseta　and　larger　than　the　Great　Circle；　and　a　Panarch's　Circle；　on　the　Verana；　just　a　little　smaller。　The　Chapter　House　of　the　Guild　of　Illuminators　was　marked　as　well。　They　were　all　useless。　The　text　certainly　had　nothing　of　use。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　certain　you　want　to　try　this　without　the　ring？〃　Nynaeve　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃Certain；〃　Egwene　replied　as　calmly　as　she　could。　Her　stomach　was　leaping　as　badly　as　it　had　when　she　saw　that　first　Trolloc　tonight；　holding　that　poor　woman　by　the　hair　and　slitting　her　throat　like　a　rabbit's。　The　woman　had　screamed　like　a　rabbit；　too。　Killing　the　Trolloc　had　done　her　no　good；　the　woman　was　as　dead　as　the　Trolloc。　Only　her　shrill　scream　would　not　go　away。　〃If　it　doesn't　work；　I　can　always　try　again　with　the　ring。〃　She　leaned　over　to　mark　the　candle　with　a　thumbnail。　〃Wake　me　when　it　burns　down　to　there。　Light；　but　I　wish　we　had　a　clock。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　laughed　at　her；　a　lighthearted　trill；　and　it　very　nearly　sounded　unforced。　〃A　clock　in　a　bedchamber？　My　mother　has　a　dozen　clocks；　but　I　never　heard　of　a　clock　in　a　bedchamber。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　my　father　has　one　clock；〃　Egwene　grumbled；　〃the　only　one　in　the　whole　village；　and　I　wish　I　had　it　here。　Do　you　think　it　will　burn　that　far　in　an　hour？　I　don't　want　to　sleep　longer　than　that。　You　must　wake　me　as　soon　as　the　flame　reaches　that　mark。　As　soon　as！〃
　　　　　　　〃We　will；〃　Elayne　said　soothingly。　〃I　promise　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　stone　ring；〃　Aviendha　said　suddenly。　〃Since　you　are　not　using　it；　Egwene；　could　not　someone　…　one　of　us　…　use　it　to　go　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Egwene　muttered。　Light；　I　wish　they　could　all　e　with　me。　〃Thank　you　for　the　thought；　though。〃
　　　　　　　〃Can　only　you　use　it；　Egwene？〃　the　Aiel　woman　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Any　of　us　might；〃　Nynaeve　replied；　〃even　you；　Aviendha。　A　woman　needn't　be　able　to　channel；　only　sleep　with　it　touching　her　skin。　A　man　might　be　able　to；　for　all　we　know。　But　we　do　not　know　Tel'aran'rhiod　as　well　as　Egwene；　or　the　rules　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　nodded。　〃I　see。　A　woman　can　make　mistakes　where　she　does　not　know　the　ways；　and　her　mistakes　can　kill　others　as　well　as　herself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Exactly；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃The　World　of　Dreams　is　a　dangerous　place。　That　much　we　do　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　Egwene　will　be　careful；〃　Elayne　added；　speaking　to　Aviendha　but　obviously　meaning　it　for　Egwene's　ears。　〃She　promised。　She　will　look　around　…　carefully！　…　and　no　more。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　concentrated　on　the　map。　Careful。　If　she　had　not　guarded　her　twisted　stone　ring　so　jealously　…　she　thought　of　it　as　hers；　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　might　not　agree；　but　they　did　not　know　she　had　it　…　if　she　had　been　willing　to　let　Elayne　or　Nynaeve　use　it　more　than　once　or　twice；　they　might　know　enough　to　e　with　her　now。　Yet　it　was　not　regret　that　made　her　avoid　looking　at　the　other　women。　She　did　not　want　them　to　see　the　fear　in　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　Tel'aran'rhiod。　The　Unseen　World。　The　World　of　Dreams。　Not　the　dreams　of　ordinary　people；　though　sometimes　they　touched　Tel'aran'rhiod　briefly；　in　dreams　that　seemed　as　true　as　life。　Because　they　were。　In　the　Unseen　World；　what　happened　was　real；　in　a　strange　way。　Nothing　that　happened　there　affected　what　was　…　a　door　opened　in　the　World　of　Dreams　would　still　be　shut　in　the　real　world；　a　tree　cut　down　there　still　stood　here　…　yet　a　woman　could　be　killed　there；　or　stilled。　〃Strange〃　barely　began　to　de