rj.eyeoftheworld-第45部分

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　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　the　bustle　around　them　and　tried　to　avoid　being　stepped　on；　though　none　of　the　help　really　seemed　to　be　in　any　danger　of　that。　He　kept　thinking　of　how　Master　al'Vere　and　his　wife　tended　the　Winespring　Inn　with　sometimes　a　little　assistance　from　their　daughters。
　　　　　　　Mat　and　Perrin　craned　their　necks　in　interest　toward　the　mon　room；　from　which　rolled　a　wave　of　laughter　and　singing　and　jovial　shouting　whenever　the　wide　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall　swung　open。　Muttering　about　finding　out　the　news；　the　Warder　grimly　disappeared　through　that　swinging　door；　swallowed　by　a　wave　of　merriment。
　　　　　　　Rand　wanted　to　follow　him；　but　he　wanted　a　bath　even　more。　He　could　have　done　with　people　and　laughing　right　then；　but　the　mon　room　would　appreciate　his　presence　more　when　he　was　clean。　Mat　and　Perrin　apparently　felt　the　same；　Mat　was　scratching　surreptitiously。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Fitch；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃I　understand　there　are　Children　of　the　Light　in　Baerlon。　Is　there　likely　to　be　trouble？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　never　you　worry　about　them；　Mistress　Alys。　They're　up　to　their　usual　tricks。　Claim　there's　an　Aes　Sedai　in　the　town。〃　Moiraine　lifted　an　eyebrow；　and　the　innkeeper　spread　his　plump　hands。　〃Don't　you　worry。　They've　tried　it　before。　There's　no　Aes　Sedai　in　Baerlon；　and　the　Governor　knows　it。　The　Whitecloaks　think　if　they　show　an　Aes　Sedai；　some　woman　they　claim　is　an　Aes　Sedai；　people　will　let　all　of　them　inside　the　walls。　Well；　I　suppose　some　would。　Some　would。　But　most　people　know　what　the　Whitecloaks　are　up　to；　and　they　support　the　Governor。　No　one　wants　to　see　some　harmless　old　woman　hurt　just　so　the　Children　can　have　an　excuse　for　whipping　up　a　frenzy。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　Moiraine　said　dryly。　She　put　a　hand　on　the　innkeeper's　arm。　〃Is　Min　still　here？　I　wish　to　talk　with　her；　if　she　is。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch's　answer　was　lost　to　Rand　in　the　arrival　of　attendants　to　lead　them　to　the　baths。　Moiraine　and　Egwene　vanished　behind　a　plump　woman　with　a　ready　smile　and　an　armload　of　towels。　The　gleeman　and　Rand　and　his　friends　found　themselves　following　a　slight；　dark…haired　fellow；　Ara　by　name。
　　　　　　　Rand　tried　asking　Ara　about　Baerlon；　but　the　man　barely　said　two　words　together　except　to　say　Rand　had　a　funny　accent；　and　then　the　first　sight　of　the　bath　chamber　drove　all　thoughts　of　talk　right　out　of　Rand's　head。　A　dozen　tall；　copper　bathtubs　sat　in　a　circle　on　the　tiled　floor；　which　sloped　down　slightly　to　a　drain　in　the　center　of　the　big　stonewalled　room。　A　thick　towel；　neatly　folded；　and　a　large　cake　of　yellow　soap　sat　on　a　stool　behind　each　tub；　and　big　black　iron　cauldrons　of　water　stood　heating　over　fires　along　one　wall。　On　the　opposite　wall　logs　blazing　in　a　deep　fireplace　added　to　the　general　warmth。
　　　　　　　〃Almost　as　good　as　the　Winespring　Inn　back　home；〃　Perrin　said　loyally；　if　not　exactly　with　a　great　attention　to　truth。
　　　　　　　Thom　barked　a　laugh；　and　Mat　sniggered；　〃Sounds　like　we　brought　a　Coplin　with　us　and　didn't　know　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shrugged　out　of　his　cloak　and　stripped　off　his　clothes　while　Ara　filled　four　of　the　copper　tubs。　None　of　the　others　was　far　behind　Rand　in　choosing　a　bathtub。　Once　their　clothes　were　all　in　piles　on　the　stools；　Ara　brought　them　each　a　large　bucket　of　hot　water　and　a　dipper。　That　done；　he　sat　on　a　stool　by　the　door；　leaning　back　against　the　wall　with　his　arms　crossed；　apparently　lost　in　his　own　thoughts。
　　　　　　　There　was　little　in　the　way　of　conversation　while　they　lathered　and　sluiced　away　a　week　of　grime　with　dippers　of　steaming　water。　Then　it　was　into　the　tubs　for　a　long　soak；　Ara　had　made　the　water　hot　enough　that　settling　in　was　a　slow　process　of　luxuriant　sighs。　The　air　in　the　room　went　from　warm　to　misty　and　hot。　For　a　long　time　there　was　no　sound　except　the　occasional　long；　relaxing　exhalation　as　tight　muscles　loosened　and　a　chill　that　they　had　e　to　think　permanent　was　drawn　out　of　their　bones。
　　　　　　　〃Need　anything　else？〃　Ara　asked　suddenly。　He　did　not　have　much　room　to　talk　about　people's　accents；　he　and　Master　Fitch　both　sounded　as　if　they　had　a　mouth　full　of　mush。　〃More　towels？　More　hot　water？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　Thom　said　in　his　reverberant　voice。　Eyes　closed；　he　gave　an　indolent　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Go　and　enjoy　the　evening。　At　a　later　time　I　will　see　that　you　receive　more　than　adequate　repense　for　your　services。〃　He　settled　lower　in　the　tub；　until　the　water　covered　everything　but　his　eyes　and　nose。
　　　　　　　Ara's　eyes　went　to　the　stools　behind　the　tubs；　where　their　clothes　and　belongings　were　stacked。　He　glanced　at　the　bow；　but　lingered　longest　over　Rand's　sword　and　Perrin's　axe。　〃Is　there　trouble　downcountry；　too？〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃In　the　Rivers；　or　whatever　you　call　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Two　Rivers；〃　Mat　said；　pronouncing　each　separate　word　distinctly。　〃It's　the　Two　Rivers。　As　for　trouble；　why　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　too？〃　Rand　asked。　〃Is　there　some　kind　of　trouble　here？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin；　enjoying　his　soak；　murmured；　〃Good！　Good！〃　Thom　raised　himself　back　up　a　little；　and　opened　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Here？〃　Ara　snorted。　〃Trouble？　Miners　having　fistfights　in　the　streets　in　the　dark　of　the　morning　aren't　trouble。　Or　。。。　〃　He　stopped　and　eyed　them　a　moment。　〃I　meant　the　Ghealdan　kind　of　trouble；〃　he　said　finally。　〃No；　I　suppose　not。　Nothing　but　sheep　downcountry；　is　there？　No　offense。　I　just　meant　it's　quiet　down　there。　Still；　it's　been　a　strange　winter。　Strange　things　in　the　mountains。　I　heard　the　other　day　there　were　Trollocs　up　in　Saldaea。　But　that's　the　Borderlands　then；　isn't　it？〃　He　finished　with　his　mouth　still　open；　then　snapped　it　shut；　appearing　surprised　that　he　had　said　so　much。
　　　　　　　Rand　had　tensed　at　the　word　Trollocs；　and　tried　to　hide　it　by　wringing　his　washcloth　out　over　his　head。　As　the　fellow　went　on　he　relaxed；　but　not　everyone　kept　his　mouth　shut。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs？〃　Mat　chortled。　Rand　splashed　water　at　him；　but　Mat　just　wiped　it　off　of　his　face　with　a　grin。　〃You　just　let　me　tell　you　about　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time　since　climbing　into　his　tub；　Thom　spoke。　〃Why　don't　you　not？　I　am　a　little　tired　of　hearing　my　own　stories　back　from　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　a　gleeman；〃　Perrin　said；　and　Ara　gave　him　a　scornful　look。
　　　　　　　〃I　saw　the　cloak。　You　going　to　perform？〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　a　minute；〃　Mat　protested。　〃What's　this　about　me　telling　Thom's　stories？　Are　you　all　…　？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　just　don't　tell　them　as　well　as　Thom；〃　Rand　cut　him　off　hastily；　and　Perrin　hopped　in。　〃You　keep　adding　in　things；　trying　to　make　it　better；　and　they　never　do。　〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you　get　it　all　mixed　up；　too；〃　Rand　added。　〃Best　leave　it　to　Thom。〃
　　　　　　　They　were　all　talking　so　fast　that　Ara　stared　at　them　with　his　mouth　hanging　open。　Mat　stared；　too；　as　if　everyone　else　had　suddenly　gone　crazy。　Rand　wondered　how　to　shut　him　up　short　of　jumping　on　him。
　　　　　　　The　door　banged　open　to　admit　Lan；　brown　cloak　slung　over　one　shoulder；　along　with　a　gust　of　cooler　air　that　momentarily　thinned　the　mist。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　the　Warder　said；　rubbing　his　hands；　〃this　is　what　I　have　been　waiting　for。〃　Ara　picked　up　a　bucket；　but　Lan　waved　it　away。　〃No；　I　will　see　to　myself。〃　Dropping　his　cloak　on　one　of　the　stools；　he　bundled　the　bath　attendant　out　of　the　room；　despite　the　fellow's　protests；　and　shut　the　door　firmly　after　him。　He　waited　there　a　moment；　his　head　cocked　to　listen；　and　when　he　turned　back　to　the　rest　of　them　his　voice　was　stony　and　his　eyes　stabbed　at　Mat。　〃It's　a　good　thing　I　got　back　when　I　did；　farmboy。　Don't　you　listen　to　what　you　are　told？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　do　anything；〃　Mat　protested。　〃I　was　just　going　to　tell　him　about　the　Trollocs；　not　about　。。。　〃　He　stopped；　and　leaned　back　from　the　Warder's　eyes；　flat　against　the　back　of　the　tub。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　talk　about　Trollocs；〃　Lan　said　grimly。　〃Don't　even　think　about　Trollocs。〃　With　an　angry　snort　he　began　filling　himself　a　bathtub。　〃Blood　and　ashes；　you　had　better　remember；　the　Dark　One　has　eyes　and　ears　where　you　least　expect。　And　if　the　Children　of　the　Light　heard　Trollocs　were　after　you；　they'd　be　burning　to　get　their　hands　on　you。　To　them；　it　would　be　as　much　as　naming　you　Darkfriend。　It　may　not　be　what　you　are　used　to；　but　until　we　get　where　we　are　going；　keep　your　trust　small　unless　Mistress　Alys　or　I　tell　you　differently。〃　At　his　emphasis　on　the　name　Moiraine　was　using；　Mat　flinched。
　　　　　　　〃There　was　something　that　fellow　wouldn't　tell　us；〃　Rand　said。　〃Something　he　thought　was　trouble；　but　he　wouldn't　say　what　it　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃Probably　the　Children；〃　Lan　said；　pouring　more　hot　water　into　his　tub。　〃Most　people　consider　them　trouble。　Some　don't；　though；　and　he　did　not　know　you　well　enough　to　risk　it。　You　might　have　gone　running　to　the　Whitecloaks；　for　all　he　knew。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head；　this　place　already　sounded　worse　than　Taren　Ferry　could　possibly　be。
　　　　　　　〃He　said　there　were　Trollocs　in　。。。　in　Saldaea；　wasn't　it？〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　Lan　hurled　his　empty　bucket　to　the　floor　with　a　crash。　〃You　will　talk　about　it；　won't　you？　There　are　always　Trollocs　in　the　Borderlands；　blacksmith。　Just　you　put　it　in　the　front　of　your　mind　that　we　want　no　more　attention　than　mice　in　a　field。　Concentrate　on　that。　Moiraine　wants　to　get　you　all　to　Tar　Valon　alive；　and　I　will　do　it　if　it　can　be　done；　but　if　you