rj.theshadowrising-第88部分

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　Two　inches　to　the　right；　and　he　would　not　have　left　that　Island。　Stamping　his　feet　in　his　boots；　he　reached　for　his　coat　…　and　she　flung　it　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　needn't　think　I　will　sew　that　up　for　you。　I've　done　all　the　sewing　for　you　I　mean　to！　Do　you　hear　me；　Perrin　Aybara？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　ask　〃
　　　　　　　〃You　needn't　think　it！　That's　all！〃　She　stalked　away　to　help　the　Aiel　tend　each　other　and　Loial。　That　was　an　odd　group；　the　Ogier　with　his　baggy　breeches　off；　Gaul　and　Chiad　eyeing　each　other　like　strange　cats；　Faile　spreading　her　ointment　and　wrapping　bandages　and　all　the　while　shooting　accusing　glares　at　him。　What　was　he　supposed　to　have　done　now？
　　　　　　　Perrin　shook　his　head。　Gaul　was　right；　he　decided；　as　well　try　to　understand　the　sun。
　　　　　　　Even　knowing　what　he　had　to　do　now；　he　was　reluctant；　especially　after　what　had　happened　in　the　Ways；　with　the　Fade。　Once　he　had　seen　a　man　who　had　forgotten　he　was　human。　The　same　could　happen　to　him。　Fool。　You　only　have　to　hold　out　a　few　more　days。　Just　till　you　find　the　Whitecloaks。　And　he　had　to　know。　Those　ravens。
　　　　　　　He　sent　his　mind　questing　across　the　valley　for　the　wolves。　There　were　always　wolves　where　men　were　not；　and　if　they　were　close；　he　could　talk　with　them。　Wolves　avoided　men；　ignored　them　as　much　as　possible；　but　they　hated　Trollocs　for　unnatural　things；　and　despised　Myrddraal　with　a　hatred　too　deep　to　hold。　If　Shadowspawn　were　in　the　Mountains　of　Mist；　the　wolves　could　tell　him。
　　　　　　　But　he　found　no　wolves。　None。　They　should　have　been　there；　in　this　wilderness。　He　could　see　deer　browsing　down　in　the　valley。　Perhaps　it　was　just　that　no　wolves　were　close　enough。　They　could　talk　over　some　distance；　but　even　a　mile　was　too　far。　Maybe　it　was　less　in　mountains。　That　could　be　it。
　　　　　　　His　gaze　swept　across　the　cloud…capped　peaks　and　settled　on　the　valley's　far　end；　where　the　ravens　had　e　from。　Maybe　he　would　find　wolves　tomorrow。　He　did　not　want　to　think　of　the　alternatives。


Chapter　28
（Wolf）
To　the　Tower　of　Ghenjei

　　　　　　　With　night　so　near；　they　had　no　choice　but　to　camp　there　on　the　mountain　near　the　Waygate。　In　two　camps。　Faile　insisted　on　it。
　　　　　　　〃That　is　done　with；〃　Loial　told　her　in　a　displeased　rumble。　〃We　are　out　of　the　Ways；　and　I　have　kept　my　oath。　It　is　finished。〃　Faile　put　on　one　of　her　stubborn　expressions；　with　chin　up　and　fists　on　hips。
　　　　　　　〃Leave　it　alone；　Loial；〃　Perrin　said。　〃I'll　camp　over　there　a　bit。〃　Loial　glanced　at　Faile；　who　had　turned　to　the　two　Aiel　women　as　soon　as　she　heard　Perrin　agree；　then　shook　his　huge　head　and　made　as　if　to　join　Perrin　and　Gaul。　Perrin　motioned　him　back；　with　a　small　gesture　he　hoped　none　of　the　women　noticed。
　　　　　　　He　made　it　a　small　bit；　less　than　twenty　paces。　The　Waygate　might　be　locked；　but　there　were　still　the　ravens；　and　whatever　they　might　presage。　He　wanted　to　be　near　if　needed。　If　Faile　plained；　she　could　just　plain。　He　was　so　set　to　ignore　her　protests　that　it　irked　him　when　she　made　none。
　　　　　　　Disregarding　twinges　from　his　leg　and　side；　he　unsaddled　Stepper　and　unloaded　the　packhorse；　hobbled　both　animals　and　fitted　them　with　nose　bags　with　a　few　handfuls　of　barley　and　some　oats。　There　was　certainly　no　grazing　up　here。　As　to　what　there　was；　though。。。　He　strung　his　bow　and　laid　it　across　his　quiver　near　the　fire；　slipped　the　axe　free　of　its　belt　loop。
　　　　　　　Gaul　joined　him　in　making　a　fire；　and　they　had　a　meal　of　bread　and　cheese　and　dried　beef；　eaten　in　silence　and　washed　down　with　water。　The　sun　slid　behind　the　mountains；　silhouetting　the　peaks　and　painting　the　undersides　of　the　clouds　red。　Shadows　blanketed　the　valley；　and　the　air　began　to　grow　crisp。
　　　　　　　Dusting　crumbs　from　his　hands；　Perrin　dug　his　good　green　wool　cloak　out　of　his　saddlebags。　Perhaps　he　had　grown　more　accustomed　to　Tear's　heat　than　he　had　thought。　The　women　were　certainly　not　eating　in　silence　around　their　shadow…shrouded　fire；　he　could　hear　them　laughing；　and　the　bits　of　what　they　said　that　he　picked　up　made　his　ears　burn。　Women　would　talk　about　anything；　they　had　no　restraint　at　all。　Loial　had　moved　as　far　away　from　them　as　he　could　and　still　be　in　the　light；　and　was　trying　to　bury　himself　in　a　book。　They　probably　did　not　even　realize　they　were　embarrassing　the　Ogier；　they　probably　thought　they　were　talking　quietly　enough　for　Loial　not　to　hear。
　　　　　　　Muttering　to　himself；　Perrin　sat　back　down　across　the　fire　from　Gaul。　The　Aiel　seemed　to　be　taking　no　notice　of　the　chill。　〃Do　you　know　any　funny　stories？〃
　　　　　　　〃Funny　stories？　I　cannot　think　of　one；　offhand。〃　Gaul's　eyes　half　turned　to　the　other　fire；　and　the　laughter。　〃I　would　if　I　could。　The　sun；　remember？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　laughed　noisily　and　made　his　voice　loud　enough　to　carry。　〃I　do。　Women！〃　The　hilarity　in　the　other　camp　faded　for　a　moment　before　rising　again。　That　should　show　them。　Other　people　could　laugh。　Perrin　stared　glumly　into　the　fire。　His　wounds　ached。
　　　　　　　After　a　moment；　Gaul　said；　〃This　place　begins　to　look　more　like　the　Three…fold　Land　than　most　of　the　wetlands。　Too　much　water；　still；　and　the　trees　are　still　too　big　and　too　many；　but　it　is　not　so　strange　as　the　places　called　forests。〃
　　　　　　　The　soil　was　poor　here　where　Manetheren　had　died　in　fire；　the　widely　scattered　trees　all　stunted　and　thick…boled；　odd　wind…bent　shapes；　none　as　much　as　thirty　feet　high。　Perrin　thought　it　about　as　desolate　a　spot　as　he　had　ever　seen。
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　I　could　see　your　Three…fold　Land　someday；　Gaul。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　you　will；　when　we　are　done　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。〃　Not　much　chance　of　it；　of　course。　None；　really。　He　could　have　told　the　Aielman　that；　but　he　did　not　want　to　talk　of　it　now；　or　think　of　it。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　where　Manetheren　stood？　You　are　of　Manetheren's　blood？〃
　　　　　　　〃This　was　Manetheren；〃　Perrin　replied。　〃And　I　suppose　I　am。〃　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　the　small　villages　and　quiet　farms　of　the　Two　Rivers　held　the　last　of　Manetheren's　blood；　but　that　was　what　Moiraine　had　said。　The　old　blood　runs　strong　in　the　Two　Rivers；　she　had　said。　〃That　was　a　long　time　ago；　Gaul。　We　are　farmers；　shepherds；　not　a　great　nation；　not　great　warriors。〃
　　　　　　　Gaul　smiled　slightly。　〃If　you　say　it。　I　have　seen　you　dance　the　spears；　and　Rand　al'Thor；　and　the　one　called　Mat。　But　if　you　say　it。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　shifted　unfortably。　How　much　had　he　changed　since　leaving　home？　Himself；　and　Rand；　and　Mat？　Not　his　eyes；　and　the　wolves；　or　Rand's　channeling；　he　did　not　mean　that。　How　much　of　what　was　inside　remained　unchanged？　Mat　was　the　only　one　who　still　seemed　to　be　just　himself；　only　more　so。　〃You　know　about　Manetheren？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　know　more　of　your　world　than　you　think。　And　less　than　we　believed。　Long　before　I　crossed　the　Dragonwall　I　had　read　books　brought　by　peddlers。　I　knew　of　'ships'　and　'rivers'　and　'forests；'　or　thought　I　did。〃　Gaul　made　them　sound　like　words　in　a　strange　tongue。　〃This　is　how　I　envisioned　a　'forest。'　〃　He　gestured　at　the　sparse　trees；　dwarfed　from　the　height　they　should　have　had。　〃To　believe　a　thing　is　not　to　make　it　true。　What　of　the　Nightrunner；　and　Leafblighter's　get？　Do　you　believe　it　just　coincidence　they　came　near　this　Waygate？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　Perrin　sighed。　〃I　saw　ravens；　down　the　valley。　Maybe　that's　all　they　were；　but　I　don't　want　to　take　the　chance；　not　after　the　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　Gaul　nodded。　〃They　could　have　been　Shadoweyes。　If　you　plan　for　the　worst；　all　surprises　are　pleasant。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　could　do　with　a　pleasant　surprise。〃　Perrin　felt　for　wolves　again；　and　again　found　nothing。　〃I　may　be　able　to　find　out　something　tonight。　Maybe。　If　anything　happens　here；　you　might　have　to　kick　me　to　wake　me。〃　That　sounded　odd；　he　realized；　but　Gaul　only　nodded　again。　〃Gaul；　you've　never　mentioned　my　eyes；　or　even　given　them　a　second　glance。　None　of　the　Aiel　have。〃　He　knew　they　were　glowing　golden　now；　in　the　firelight。
　　　　　　　〃The　world　is　changing；〃　Gaul　said　quietly。　〃Rhuarc；　and　Jheran；　my　own　clan　chief　…　the　Wise　Ones；　too　…　they　tried　to　hide　it；　but　they　were　uneasy　when　they　sent　us　across　the　Dragonwall　searching　for　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn。　I　think　perhaps　the　change　will　not　be　what　we　have　always　believed。　I　do　not　know　how　it　will　be　different；　but　it　will　be。　The　Creator　put　us　in　the　Three…fold　Land　to　shape　us　as　well　as　to　punish　our　sin；　but　for　what　have　we　been　shaped？〃　He　shook　his　head　suddenly；　ruefully。　〃Colinda；　the　Wise　One　of　Hot　Springs　Hold；　tells　me　I　think　too　much　for　a　Stone　Dog；　and　Bair；　the　eldest　Wise　One　of　the　Shaarad；　threatens　to　send　me　to　Rhuidean　when　Jheram　dies　whether　I　want　to　go　or　not。　Beside　all　of　that；　Perrin；　what　does　the　color　of　a　man's　eyes　matter？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　everybody　thought　that　way。〃　The　merriment　had　finally　stopped　at　the　other　fire。　One　of　the　Aiel　women　…　Perrin　could　not　tell　which　…　was　taking　the　first　watch；　her　back　to　the　light；　and　everyone　else　had　settled　down　for　sleep。　It　had　been　a　tiring　day。　Sleep　should　be　easy　to　find；　and　the　dream　he　needed。　He　stretched　out　beside　the　fire；　pulling　his　cloak　around　him。　〃Remember。　Kick　me　awake；　if　need　be。〃
　　　　　　　Sleep　enfolded　him　while　Gaul　was　still　nodding；　and　the　dream　came　at　once。　
　　　　　　　It　was　daylight；　and　he　stood　alone　near　the　Waygate；　which　looked　like　an　elegantly　carved　length　of　wall；　incongruous　on　the　mountainside。　Except　for　that　there　was　no　sign　any　human　had　ever　set　foot　on　that　slope。　The　sky　was　bright　and　fine；　and　a　soft　breeze　up　the　valley　brought　him　the　scent　of　deer　and　rabbits；　quail　and　dove；　a　thousand　distinct　smells；　of　water　and　earth　and　trees。　This　was　the　wolf　dream。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　the　sense　of　being　a　wolf　rolled　over　him。　He　had　paws；　and。。。　No！　He　ran　his　hands　over　himself；　relieved　to　find　only　his　own　body；　in　his　own　coat　and　cloak。　And　the　wide　belt　that　normally　held　his　axe；　but　with　the　hammer　haft　thrust　through　the　loop　instead。
　　　　　　　He　frowned　at　that；　and　surprisingly；　for　a　moment；　the　axe　flickered　there　instead；　insubstantial　and　misty。　Abruptly　it　was　the　hammer　again。　Licking　his　lips；　he　hoped　it　stayed　that　way。　The　axe　might　be　a　better　weapon；　but　he　preferred　the　hammer。　He　could　not　remember　anything　like　that　happening　before；　something　changing；　but　he　knew　little　of　this　strange　place。　If　it　could　be　called　a　place。　It　was　the　wolf　dream；　and　odd　things　happened　there；　surely　as　odd　as　in　any　ordinary　dream。
　　　　　　　As　though　thinking　of　the　oddities　triggered　one　of　them；　a　patch　of　sky　against　the　mountains　darkened　suddenly；　became　a　window　to　somewhere　else。　Rand　stood　amid　swirling　stormwinds；　laughing　wildly；　even　madly；　arms　upraised；　and　on　the　winds　rode　small　shapes；　gold　and　scarlet；　like　the　strange　figure　on　the　Dragon　banner；　hidden　eyes　watched　Rand；　and　there　was　no　telling　whether　he　knew　it。　The　odd　〃window〃　winked　out；　only　to　be　replaced　by　another　farther　over；　where　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　stalked　cautiously　through　a　demented　landscape　of　twisted；　shadowed　buildings；　hunting　some　dangerous　beast。　Perrin　could　not　have　said　how　he　knew　it　was　dangerous；　but　he　did。　That　vanished；　and　another　black　blotch　spread　across　the　sky。　Mat；　standing　where　a　road　forked　ahead　of　him。　He　flipped　a　coin；　started　down　one　branch；　and　suddenly　was　wearing　a　wide　brimmed　hat　and　walking　with　a　staff　bearing　a　short　sword　bla