rj.eyeoftheworld-第55部分

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　　　　　　　Mat　cleared　his　throat；　then　mumbled；　〃What　about　my　da？　What　did　he　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　afraid　you'll　try　your　tricks　with　outlanders　and　get　your　head　thumped。　He　seemed　more　afraid　of　that　than　of　。。。　Mistress　Alys；　here。　But　then；　he　was　never　much　brighter　than　you。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　seemed　unsure　how　to　take　what　she　had　said；　or　how　to　reply；　or　even　whether　to　reply。
　　　　　　　〃I　expect；〃　Perrin　began　hesitantly。　〃I　mean；　I　suppose　Master　Luhhan　was　not　too　pleased　about　my　leaving；　either。〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　expect　him　to　be？〃　Nynaeve　shook　her　head　disgustedly　and　looked　at　Egwene。　〃Maybe　I　should　not　be　surprised　at　this　harebrained　idiocy　from　you　three；　but　I　thought　others　had　more　judgment。　〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sat　back　so　she　was　shielded　by　Perrin。　〃I　left　a　note；〃　she　said　faintly。　She　tugged　at　the　hood　of　her　cloak　as　if　she　was　afraid　her　unbound　hair　showed。　〃I　explained　everything。〃　Nynaeve's　face　darkened。
　　　　　　　Rand　sighed。　The　Wisdom　was　on　the　point　of　one　of　her　tongue…lashings；　and　it　looked　as　if　it　might　be　a　first…rate　one。　If　she　took　a　position　in　the　heat　of　anger　…　if　she　said　she　intended　to　see　them　back　in　Emond's　Field　no　matter　what　anybody　said；　for　instance…she　would　be　nearly　impossible　to　budge。　He　opened　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃A　note！〃　Nynaeve　began；　just　as　Moiraine　said；　〃You　and　I　must　still　talk；　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　If　Rand　could　have　stopped　himself；　he　would　have；　but　the　words　poured　out　as　if　it　were　a　floodgate　he　had　opened　instead　of　his　mouth。　〃All　this　is　very　well；　but　it　doesn't　change　anything。　We　can't　go　back。　We　have　to　go　on。〃　He　spoke　more　slowly　toward　the　end；　and　his　voice　sank；　so　he　finished　in　a　whisper；　with　the　Wisdom　and　the　Aes　Sedai　both　looking　at　him。　It　was　the　sort　of　look　he　received　if　he　came　on　women　talking　Women's　Circle　business；　the　sort　that　said　he　had　stepped　in　where　he　did　not　belong。　He　sat　back；　wishing　he　was　somewhere　else。
　　　　　　　〃Wisdom；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃you　must　believe　that　they　are　safer　with　me　than　they　would　be　back　in　the　Two　Rivers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Safer！〃　Nynaeve　tossed　her　head　dismissively。　〃You　are　the　one　who　brought　them　here；　where　the　Whitecloaks　are。　The　same　Whitecloaks　who；　if　the　gleeman　tells　the　truth；　may　harm　them　because　of　you。　Tell　me　how　they　are　safer；　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　are　many　dangers　from　which　I　cannot　protect　them；〃　Moiraine　agreed；　〃any　more　than　you　can　protect　them　from　being　struck　by　lightning　if　they　go　home。　But　it　is　not　lightning　of　which　they　must　be　afraid；　nor　even　Whitecloaks。　It　is　the　Dark　One；　and　minions　of　the　Dark　One。　From　those　things　I　can　protect。　Touching　the　True　Source；　touching　saidar；　gives　me　that　protection；　as　it　does　to　every　Aes　Sedai。〃　Nynaeve's　mouth　tightened　skeptically。　Moiraine's　grew　tighter；　too；　with　anger；　but　she　went　on；　her　voice　hard　on　the　edge　of　patience。　〃Even　those　poor　men　who　find　themselves　wielding　the　Power　for　a　short　time　gain　that　much；　though　sometimes　touching　saidin　protects；　and　sometimes　the　taint　makes　them　more　vulnerable。　But　I；　or　any　Aes　Sedai；　can　extend　my　protection　to　those　close　by　me。　No　Fade　can　harm　them　as　long　as　they　are　as　close　to　me　as　they　are　right　now。　No　Trolloc　can　e　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile　without　Lan　knowing　it；　feeling　the　evil　of　it。　Can　you　offer　them　half　as　much　if　they　return　to　Emond's　Field　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　stand　up　straw　men；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃We　have　a　saying　in　the　Two　Rivers。　'Whether　the　bear　beats　the　wolf　or　the　wolf　beats　the　bear；　the　rabbit　always　loses。'　Take　your　contest　somewhere　else　and　leave　Emond's　Field　folk　out　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Egwene；〃　Moiraine　said　after　a　moment；　〃take　the　others　and　leave　the　Wisdom　alone　with　me　for　a　while。〃　Her　face　was　impassive；　Nynaeve　squared　herself　at　the　table　as　if　getting　ready　for　an　all…in　wrestling　match。
　　　　　　　Egwene　bounced　to　her　feet；　her　desire　to　be　dignified　obviously　warring　with　her　desire　to　avoid　a　confrontation　with　the　Wisdom　over　her　unbraided　hair。　She　had　no　difficulty　gathering　up　everyone　by　eye；　though。　Mat　and　Perrin　scraped　back　their　chairs　hurriedly；　making　polite　murmurs　while　trying　not　to　actually　run　on　their　way　out。　Even　Lan　started　for　the　door　at　a　signal　from　Moiraine；　drawing　Thom　with　him。
　　　　　　　Rand　followed；　and　the　Warder　shut　the　door　behind　them；　then　took　up　guard　across　the　hallway。　Under　Lan's　eyes　the　others　moved　on　down　the　hall　a　short　distance；　they　were　not　to　be　allowed　even　the　slightest　chance　of　eavesdropping。　When　they　had　gone　far　enough　to　suit　him；　Lan　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　Even　without　his　color…shifting　cloak；　he　was　so　still　that　it　would　be　easy　not　to　notice　him　until　you　were　right　on　him。
　　　　　　　The　gleeman　muttered　something　about　better　things　to　do　with　his　time　and　left　with　a　stern　〃Remember　what　I　said；〃　over　his　shoulder　to　the　boys。　No　one　else　seemed　inclined　to　leave。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　he　mean？〃　Egwene　asked　absently；　her　eyes　on　the　door　that　hid　Moiraine　and　Nynaeve。　She　kept　fiddling　with　her　hair　as　if　torn　between　continuing　to　hide　the　fact　that　it　was　no　longer　braided　and　pushing　back　the　hood　of　her　cloak。
　　　　　　　〃He　gave　us　some　advice；〃　Mat　said。
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃He　said　not　to　open　our　mouths　until　we　were　sure　what　we　were　going　to　say。　〃
　　　　　　　〃That　sounds　like　good　advice；〃　Egwene　said；　but　clearly　she　was　not　really　interested。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　engrossed　in　his　own　thoughts。　How　could　Nynaeve　possibly　be　part　of　it？　How　could　any　of　them　be　involved　with　Trollocs；　and　Fades；　and　Ba'alzamon　appearing　in　their　dreams？　It　was　crazy。　He　wondered　if　Min　had　told　Moiraine　about　Nynaeve。　What　are　they　saying　in　there？
　　　　　　　He　had　no　idea　how　long　he　had　been　standing　there　when　the　door　finally　opened。　Nynaeve　stepped　out；　and　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　Lan。　The　Warder　murmured　something　that　made　her　toss　her　head　angrily；　then　he　slipped　past　her　through　the　door。
　　　　　　　She　turned　toward　Rand；　and　for　the　first　time　he　realized　the　others　had　all　quietly　disappeared。　He　did　not　want　to　face　the　Wisdom　alone；　but　he　could　not　get　away　now　that　he　had　met　Nynaeve's　eye。　A　particularly　searching　eye；　he　thought；　puzzled。　What　did　they　say？　He　drew　himself　up　as　she　came　closer。
　　　　　　　She　indicated　Tam's　sword。　〃That　seems　to　fit　you；　now；　though　I　would　like　it　better　if　it　did　not。　You've　grown；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　a　week？〃　He　laughed；　but　it　sounded　forced；　and　she　shook　her　head　as　if　he　did　not　understand。　〃Did　she　convince　you？〃　he　asked。　〃It　really　is　the　only　way。〃　He　paused；　thinking　of　Min's　sparks。　〃Are　you　ing　with　us？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃ing　with　you！　Why　would　I　do　that？　Mavra　Mallen　came　up　from　Deven　Ride　to　see　to　things　till　I　return；　but　she'll　be　wanting　to　get　back　as　soon　as　she　can。　I　still　hope　to　make　you　see　sense　and　e　home　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　can't。〃　He　thought　he　saw　something　move　at　the　still…open　door；　but　they　were　alone　in　the　hallway。
　　　　　　　〃You　told　me　that；　and　she　did；　too。〃　Nynaeve　frowned。　〃If　she　wasn't　mixed　up　in　it　。。。　Aes　Sedai　are　not　to　be　trusted；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　sound　as　if　you　really　do　believe　us；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃What　happened　at　the　village　meeting？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　looked　back　at　the　doorway　before　answering；　there　was　no　movement　there　now。　〃It　was　a　shambles；　but　there　is　no　need　for　her　to　know　we　can't　handle　our　affairs　any　better　than　that。　And　I　believe　only　one　thing：　you　are　all　in　danger　as　long　as　you　are　with　her。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Something　happened；〃　he　insisted。　〃Why　do　you　want　us　to　go　back　if　you　think　there's　even　a　chance　we　are　right？　And　why　you；　at　all？　As　soon　send　the　Mayor　himself　as　the　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　grown。〃　She　smiled；　and　for　a　moment　her　amusement　had　him　shifting　his　feet。　〃I　can　think　of　a　time　when　you　would　not　have　questioned　where　I　chose　to　go　or　what　I　chose　to　do；　wherever　or　whatever　it　was。　A　time　just　a　week　ago。〃
　　　　　　　He　cleared　his　throat　and　pressed　on　stubbornly。　〃It　doesn't　make　sense。　Why　are　you　really　here？〃
　　　　　　　She　half　glanced　at　the　still…empty　doorway；　then　took　his　arm。　〃Let's　walk　while　we　talk。〃　He　let　himself　be　led　away；　and　when　they　were　far　enough　from　the　door　not　to　be　overheard；　she　began　again。　〃As　I　said；　the　meeting　was　a　shambles。　Everybody　agreed　someone　had　to　be　sent　after　you；　but　the　village　split　into　two　groups。　One　wanted　you　rescued；　though　there　was　considerable　argument　over　how　that　was　to　be　done　considering　that　you　were　with　a　。。。　the　likes　of　her。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　glad　she　was　remembering　to　watch　what　she　said。　〃The　others　believed　Tam？〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Not　exactly；　but　they　thought　you　shouldn't　be　among　strangers；　either；　especially　not　with　someone　like　her。　Either　way；　though；　almost　every　man　wanted　to　be　one　of　the　party。　Tam；　and　Bran　al'Vere；　with　the　scales　of　office　around　his　neck；　and　Haral　Luhhan；　till　Alsbet　made　him　sit　down。　Even　Cenn　Buie。　The　Light　save　me　from　men　who　think　with　the　hair　on　their　chests。　Though　I　don't　know　as　there　are　any　other　kind。〃　She　gave　a　hearty　sniff；　and　looked　up　at　him；　an　accusing　glance。　〃At　any　rate；　I　could　see　it　would　be　another　day；　perhaps　more；　before　they　came　to　any　decision；　and　somehow　。。。　som