rj.theshadowrising-第39部分

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et　a　woman　could　be　killed　there；　or　stilled。　〃Strange〃　barely　began　to　describe　it。　In　the　Unseen　World　the　whole　world　lay　open；　and　maybe　other　worlds；　too；　any　place　was　attainable。　Or　at　least；　its　reflection　in　the　World　of　Dreams　was。　The　weave　of　the　Pattern　could　be　read　there　…　past；　present　and　future　…　by　one　who　knew　how。　By　a　Dreamer。　There　had　not　been　a　Dreamer　in　the　White　Tower　since　Corianin　Nedeal；　nearly　five　hundred　years　earlier。
　　　　　　　Four　hundred　and　seventy　three　years；　to　be　exact；　Egwene　thought。　Or　is　it　four…hundred　seventy…four　now？　When　did　Corianin　die？　If　Egwene　had　had　a　chance　to　finish　novice　training　in　the　Tower；　to　study　there　as　an　Accepted；　perhaps　she　would　know。　There　was　so　much　she　might　have　known；　then。
　　　　　　　A　list　lay　in　Egwene's　pouch　of　the　ter'angreal；　most　small　enough　to　slip　into　a　pocket；　that　had　been　stolen　by　the　Black　Ajah　when　they　fled　the　Tower。　They　all　three　had　a　copy。　Thirteen　of　those　stolen　ter'angreal　had　〃no　known　use〃　written　alongside；　and　〃last　studied　by　Corianin　Nedeal。〃　But　if　Corianin　Sedai　had　truly　not　discovered　their　uses；　Egwene　was　sure　of　one　of　them。　They　gave　entrance　to　Tel'aran'rhiod；　not　as　easily　as　the　stone　ring；　perhaps；　and　perhaps　not　without　channeling；　but　they　did　it。
　　　　　　　Two　they　had　recovered　from　Joiya　and　Amico：　an　iron　disc；　three　inches　across；　scribed　on　both　sides　with　a　tight　spiral；　and　a　plaque　no　longer　than　her　hand；　apparently　clear　amber　yet　hard　enough　to　scratch　steel；　with　a　sleeping　woman　somehow　carved　into　the　middle　of　it。　Amico　had　spoken　freely　of　them；　and　so　had　Joiya；　after　a　session　alone　in　her　cell　with　Moiraine　that　had　left　the　Darkfriend　pale…faced　and　almost　civil。　Channel　a　flow　of　Spirit　into　either　ter'angreal；　and　it　would　take　you　into　sleep　and　then　into　Tel'aran'rhiod。　Elayne　had　tried　both　of　them　briefly；　and　they　worked；　though　all　she　saw　was　the　inside　of　the　Stone；　and　Morgase's　Royal　Palace　in　Caemlyn。
　　　　　　　Egwene　had　not　wanted　her　to　try；　however　fleeting　the　visit；　but　not　from　jealousy。　She　had　not　been　able　to　argue　very　effectively；　though；　for　she　had　been　afraid　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　would　hear　what　was　in　her　voice。
　　　　　　　Two　recovered　meant　eleven　still　with　the　Black　Ajah。　That　was　the　point　Egwene　had　tried　to　make。　Eleven　ter'angreal　that　could　take　a　woman　to　Tel'aran'rhiod；　all　in　the　hands　of　Black　sisters。　When　Elayne　made　her　short　journeys　into　the　Unseen　World；　she　could　have　found　the　Black　Ajah　waiting　for　her；　or　walked　into　them　before　she　knew　they　were　there。　The　thought　made　Egwene's　stomach　writhe。　They　could　be　waiting　for　her　now。　Not　likely；　not　on　purpose　…　how　would　they　know　she　was　ing？　…　but　they　could　be　there　when　she　stepped　through。　One　she　could　face；　unless　she　was　caught　by　surprise；　and　she　did　not　mean　to　allow　that。　But　if　they　did　surprise　her？　Two　or　three　of　them　together？　Liandrin　and　Rianna；　Chesmal　Emry　and　Jeane　Caide　and　all　the　rest　at　once？
　　　　　　　Frowning　at　the　map；　she　made　her　hands　loosen　their　white　knuckled　grip。　Tonight　had　given　everything　urgency。　If　Shadowspawn　could　attack　the　Stone；　if　one　of　the　Forsaken　could　suddenly　appear　in　their　midst；　she　could　not　give　in　to　fear。　They　had　to　know　what　to　do。　They　had　to　have　something　besides　Amico's　vague　tale。　Something。　If　only　she　could　learn　where　Mazrim　Taim　was　in　his　caged　journey　to　Tar　Valon；　or　if　she　could　somehow　slip　into　the　Amyrlin's　dreams　and　speak　to　her。　Perhaps　those　things　were　possible　for　a　Dreamer。　If　they　were；　she　did　not　know　how。　Tanchico　was　what　she　had　to　work　with。
　　　　　　　〃I　must　go　alone；　Aviendha。　I　must。〃　She　thought　her　voice　was　calm　and　steady；　but　Elayne　patted　her　shoulder。
　　　　　　　Egwene　did　not　know　why　she　was　scrutinizing　the　map。　She　already　had　it　fixed　in　her　head；　everything　in　relation　to　everything　else。　Whatever　existed　in　this　world　existed　in　the　World　of　Dreams；　and　sometimes　more　besides；　of　course。　She　had　her　destination　chosen。　She　thumbed　through　the　book　to　the　only　engraving　showing　the　inside　of　a　building　named　on　the　map；　the　Panarch's　Palace。　It　would　do　no　good　to　find　herself　in　a　chamber　if　she　had　no　idea　where　it　was　in　the　city。　None　of　it　might　do　any　good　in　any　case。　She　put　that　out　of　her　mind。　She　had　to　believe　there　was　some　chance。
　　　　　　　The　engraving　showed　a　large　room　with　a　high　ceiling。　A　rope　strung　along　waist　high　posts　would　keep　anyone　from　going　too　close　to　the　things　displayed　on　stands　and　in　open　fronted　cabinets　along　the　walls。　Most　of　those　displays　were　indistinct；　but　not　what　stood　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　The　artist　had　taken　pains　to　show　the　massive　skeleton　standing　there　as　if　the　rest　of　the　creature　had　that　moment　disappeared。　It　had　four　thick　boned　legs；　but　otherwise　resembled　no　animal　Egwene　had　ever　seen。　For　one　thing；　it　had　to　stand　at　least　two　spans　high；　well　over　twice　her　height。　The　rounded　skull；　set　low　on　the　shoulders　like　a　bull's；　looked　big　enough　for　a　child　to　climb　inside；　and　in　the　picture　it　seemed　to　have　four　eye　sockets。　The　skeleton　marked　the　room　off　from　any　other；　there　was　no　mistaking　it　for　anything　but　itself。　Whatever　it　was。　If　Eurian　Romavni　had　known；　he　had　not　named　it　in　these　pages。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　a　panarch；　anyway？〃　she　asked；　laying　the　book　aside。　She　had　studied　the　picture　a　dozen　times。　〃All　of　these　writers　seem　to　think　you　know　already。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Panarch　of　Tanchico　is　the　equal　of　the　king　in　authority；〃　Elayne　recited。　〃She　is　responsible　for　collecting　taxes；　customs　and　duties；　he　for　spending　them　properly。　She　controls　the　Civil　Watch　and　the　courts；　except　for　the　High　Court；　which　is　the　king's。　The　army　is　his；　of　course；　except　for　the　Panarch's　Legion。　She　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　really　want　to　know。〃　Egwene　sighed。　It　had　only　been　something　to　say；　another　few　moments　to　delay　what　she　was　going　to　do。　The　candle　was　burning　down；　she　was　wasting　precious　minutes。　She　knew　how　to　step　out　of　the　dream　when　she　wanted；　how　to　wake　herself；　but　time　passed　differently　in　the　World　of　Dreams；　and　it　was　easy　to　lose　track。　〃As　soon　as　it　reaches　the　mark；〃　she　said；　and　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　murmured　reassurances。
　　　　　　　Settling　back　on　her　feather　pillows；　at　first　she　only　stared　at　the　ceiling；　painted　with　blue　sky　and　clouds　and　swooping　swallows。　She　did　not　see　them。
　　　　　　　Her　dreams　had　been　bad　enough　lately；　most　of　them。　Rand　was　in　them；　of　course。　Rand　as　tall　as　a　mountain；　walking　through　cities；　crushing　buildings　beneath　his　feet；　with　screaming　people　like　ants　fleeing　from　him。　Rand　in　chains；　and　it　was　he　who　was　screaming。　Rand　building　a　wall　with　him　on　one　side　and　her　on　the　other；　her　and　Elayne　and　others　she　could　not　make　out。　〃It　has　to　be　done；〃　he　was　saying　as　he　piled　up　stones。　〃I'll　not　let　you　stop　me　now。〃　These　were　not　the　only　nightmares。　She　had　dreamed　of　Aiel　fighting　each　other；　killing　each　other；　even　throwing　away　their　weapons　and　running　as　if　they　had　gone　mad。　Mat　wrestling　with　a　Seanchan　woman　who　tied　an　invisible　leash　to　him。　A　wolf　…　she　was　sure　it　was　Perrin；　though　…　fighting　a　man　whose　face　kept　changing。　Galad　wrapping　himself　in　white　as　though　putting　on　his　own　shroud；　and　Gawyn　with　his　eyes　full　of　pain　and　hatred。　Her　mother　weeping。　They　were　the　sharp　dreams；　the　ones　she　knew　meant　something。　They　were　hideous；　and　she　did　not　know　what　any　of　them　meant。　How　could　she　presume　to　think　she　could　find　any　meanings　or　clues　in　Tel'aran'rhiod！　But　there　was　no　other　choice。　No　other　choice　but　ignorance；　and　she　could　not　choose　that。
　　　　　　　Despite　her　anxiety；　going　to　sleep　was　no　problem；　she　was　exhausted。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　closing　her　eyes　and　taking　deep；　regular　breaths。　She　fixed　in　her　thoughts　the　room　in　the　Panarch's　Palace　and　the　huge　skeleton。　Deep；　regular　breaths。　She　could　remember　how　using　the　stone　ring　felt；　the　step　into　Tel'aran'rhiod。　Deep　…　regular　…　breaths。
　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Egwene　stepped　back　with　a　gasp；　one　hand　to　her　throat。　This　close；　the　skeleton　seemed　even　larger　than　she　had　thought；　the　bones　bleached　dull　and　dry。　She　stood　right　in　front　of　it；　inside　the　rope。　A　white　rope；　as　thick　as　her　wrist　and　apparently　silk。　She　had　no　doubt　this　was　Tel'aran'rhiod。　The　detail　was　as　fine　as　reality；　even　for　things　half　seen　from　the　corner　of　her　eye。　That　she　could　even　be　aware　of　the　differences　between　this　and　an　ordinary　dream　told　her　where　she　was。　Besides；　it　felt。。。　right。
　　　　　　　She　opened　herself　to　saidar。　A　nick　on　the　finger　in　the　World　of　Dreams　would　still　be　there　on　waking；　there　would　be　no　waking　from　a　killing　stroke　with　the　Power；　or　even　from　a　sword；　or　a　club。　She　did　not　intend　to　be　vulnerable　for　an　instant。
　　　　　　　Instead　of　her　shift；　she　wore　something　very　much　like　Aviendha's　Aiel　garb；　but　in　red　brocaded　silk；　even　her　soft　boots；　laced　to　the　knee；　were　supple　red　leather；　suitable　for　gloves；　with　gold　stitching　and　laces。　She　laughed　softly　to　herself。　Clothes　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　were　what　you　wanted　them　to　be。　Apparently　part　of　her　mind　wanted　to　be　ready　to　move　quickly；　while　another　part　wanted　to　be　ready　for　a　ball。　It　would　not　do。　The　red　faded　to　grays　and　browns；　the　coat　and　breeches　and　boots　became　exact　copies　of　the　Maidens'。　No　better；　really；　not　in　a　city。　Abruptly　she　was　in　a　copy　of　the　dresses　Faile　always　wore；　dark；　with　narrow　divided　skirts；　long　sleeves　and　a　high　snug　bodice。　Foolish　to　worry　about　it。　No　one　is　going　to　see　me　except　in　their　dreams；　and　few　ordinary　dreams　reach　here。　It　would　make　no　difference　if　I　were　naked。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　she　was　naked。　Her　face　colored　with　embarrassment；　there　was　no　one　there　to　see　her　bare　as　in　her　bath；　before　she　hastily　brought　the　dark　dress　back；　but　she　should　have　remembered　how　stray　thoughts　could　affect　things　here；　especially　when　you　had　embraced　the　Power。　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　thought　she　was　so　knowledgeable。　She　knew　a　few　of　the　rules　of　the　Unseen　World；　and　knew　there　were　a　hundred；　a　thousand　more　of　which　she　was　ignorant。　Somehow；　she　had　to　learn　them；　if　she　was　to　be　the　Tower's　first　Dreamer　since　Corianin。
　　　　　　　She　took　a　closer　look　at　the　huge　skull。　She　had　grown　up　in　a　country　village；　and　she　knew　what　animal　bones　looked　like。　Not　four　eye　sockets　after　all。　Two　seemed　to　be　for　tusks　of　some　kind　instead；　on　either　side　of　where　its　nose　had　been。　Some　sort　of　monstrous　boar；　perhaps；　though　it　looked　like　no　pig　skull　she　had　ever　seen。　It　had　a　feel　of　age；　though；　great　age。
　　　　　　　With　the　Power　in　her；　she　could　sense　things　like　that；　here。　The　usual　enhancement　of　senses　was　with　her；　of　course。　She　could　feel　tiny　cracks　in　the　gilded　plaster　bosses　covering　the　ceiling　fifty　feet　up；　and　the　smooth　polish　of　the　white　stone　floor。　Infinitesimal　cracks；　invisible　to　the　eye；　spread　across　the　floor　stones　as　well。
　　　　　　　The　chamber　was　huge；　perhaps　two　hundred　paces　long　and　nearly　half　as　wide；　with　rows　of　thin　white　columns；　and　that　white　rope　running　。all　the　way　around　except　where　there　were　doorways；　with　double　pointed　arches。　More　ropes　encircled　polished　wooden　stands　and　cabinets　holding　other　exhibits