rj.theshadowrising-第104部分

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　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　she　will；〃　Rand　replied　slowly。　Mat　had　to　be　hurting　badly　if　he　sought　the　Aes　Sedai's　help。　He　looked　at　the　dark　spear　shaft　again。　Most　of　the　script　was　hidden　by　Mat's　hand；　but　not　all。　Whatever　it　was；　he　had　no　idea　what　it　said。　How　had　Mat？　Rhuidean's　empty　windows　stared　at　him　mockingly。　We　hide　many　secrets　still；　they　seemed　to　say。　More　than　you　know。　Worse　than　you　know。　〃Let's　go　back　now；　Mat。　I　don't　care　if　we　have　to　cross　the　valley　in　the　night。　As　you　said；　it　will　be　cooler。　I　don't　want　to　stay　in　here　any　longer。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　sounds　just　fine　to　me；〃　Mat　said；　coughing。　〃As　long　as　we　can　get　another　drink　of　water　at　that　fountain。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　kept　his　pace　to　Mat's；　which　was　slow　at　first；　hobbling　along　using　the　odd　spear　as　a　walking　staff。　He　paused　once　to　look　at　the　two　figurines　of　a　man　and　a　woman　holding　crystal　spheres；　but　he　left　them　there。　Not　yet。　Not　for　a　long　time　yet；　if　he　was　lucky。
　　　　　　　When　they　left　the　square　behind；　the　unfinished　palaces　rearing　along　the　street　had　a　threatening　look；　their　jagged　tops　like　the　walls　of　great　fortresses。　Rand　embraced　saidin；　though　he　saw　no　real　threat。　But　he　felt　it；　as　though　murderous　eyes　were　boring　into　his　back。　Rhuidean　lay　peaceful　and　empty；　shadowless　in　the　blue　glow　of　its　fog　roof。　The　dust　in　the　streets　rippled　in　the　wind。。。　The　wind。　There　was　no　wind。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　burn　me；〃　Mat　muttered。　〃I　think　we're　in　trouble；　Rand。　It's　what　I　get　for　staying　around　you。　You　always　get　me　in　trouble。〃
　　　　　　　The　ripples　came　faster；　sliding　together　to　make　thicker　lines；　quivering　still。
　　　　　　　〃Can　you　walk　faster？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Walk？　Blood　and　ashes；　I　can　run。〃　Slanting　the　spear　across　his　chest；　Mat　suited　his　words　with　a　lurching　gallop。
　　　　　　　Running　alongside；　Rand　brought　his　sword　back；　uncertain　of　what　he　could　do　with　it　against　shivering　lines　of　dust；　uncertain　that　there　really　was　need。　It　was　only　dust。　No；　it　bloody　isn't。　It's　one　of　those　bubbles。　The　Dark　One's　evil；　drifting　along　the　Pattern；　seeking　out　bloody　ta'veren。　I　know　it　is。
　　　　　　　All　around　them　dust　rippled　and　shivered　ever　thicker；　bunching　and　gathering。　Suddenly；　right　in　front　of　them；　a　shape　reared　up　in　the　basin　of　a　dry　fountain；　a　solid　man　shape；　dark　and　featureless；　with　fingers　like　sharp　claws。　Silently　it　leaped　at　them。
　　　　　　　Rand　moved　instinctively　…　the　Moon　Rises　Over　Water　…　and　the　blade　of　Power　sliced　through　that　dark　figure。　In　a　twinkling　it　was　only　a　thick　cloud　of　dust；　drifting　toward　the　pavement。
　　　　　　　Others　replaced　it；　though；　black　faceless　shapes　rushing　in　from　all　sides；　no　two　alike；　but　all　with　reaching　claws。　Rand　danced　the　forms　among　them；　blade　weaving　intricate　patterns　in　the　air；　leaving　floating　motes　behind。　Mat　used　his　spear　like　a　quarterstaff；　a　spinning　blur；　but　bringing　the　sword　blade　into　it　as　if　he　had　always　used　the　weapon。　The　creatures　died　or　at　least　returned　to　dust　but　they　were　many；　and　quick。　Blood　poured　down　Rand's　face；　and　the　old　wound　in　his　side　burned　on　the　point　of　splitting　open。　Red　spread　across　Mat's　face；　too；　and　down　his　chest。　Too　many；　and　too　quick。
　　　　　　　You　do　not　do　the　tenth　part　of　what　you　are　capable　of　already。　That　was　what　Lanfear　had　told　him。　He　laughed　as　he　danced　the　forms。　Learn　from　one　of　the　Forsaken。　He　could　do　that；　if　not　the　way　she　intended。　Yes；　he　could。　He　channeled；　wove　strands　of　the　Power；　and　sent　a　whirlwind　into　the　middle　of　each　black　shape。　They　exploded　in　clouds　of　dust　that　left　him　coughing。　As　far　as　he　could　see；　dust　settled　from　the　air。
　　　　　　　Hacking　and　panting；　Mat　leaned　on　his　dark　shafted　spear。　〃Did　you　do　that？〃　he　wheezed；　wiping　blood　away　from　his　eyes。　〃About　time。　If　you　knew　how；　why　didn't　you　bloody　do　it　in　the　first　place？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　started　to　laugh　again　…　Because　I　didn't　think　of　it。　Because　I　didn't　know　how　until　I　did　it　…　but　it　froze　in　his　mouth。　Dust　drifted　out　of　the　air；　and　as　it　settled　on　the　ground；　it　began　to　ripple。　〃Run；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　to　get　out　of　here。　Run！〃
　　　　　　　Side　by　side　they　sped　for　the　fog；　slashing　at　any　lines　of　dust　that　seemed　to　be　thickening；　kicking　at　them；　anything　to　keep　them　from　coalescing。　Rand　sent　whirlwinds　swirling　wildly　in　every　direction。　Dispelled　dust　began　shivering　back　together　immediately；　even　before　it　reached　the　ground　now。　They　kept　running；　into　the　fog　and　through；　bursting　out　into　dim；　sharp…shadowed　light。
　　　　　　　Side　aching；　Rand　spun；　ready　to　try　lightning；　or　fire；　anything。　Nothing　came　through　the　fog　after　them。　Maybe　the　mist　was　a　wall　to　those　dark　shapes。　Maybe　it　held　them　in。　Maybe。。。。　He　did　not　know。　He　did　not　really　care；　so　long　as　the　things　could　not　follow。
　　　　　　　〃Burn　me；〃　Mat　muttered　hoarsely；　〃we　were　in　there　all　night。　It's　nearly　sunrise。　I　didn't　think　it　was　that　long。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　the　sky。　The　sun　had　not　topped　the　mountains　yet；　a　painfully　brilliant　nimbus　outlined　the　jagged　peaks。　Long　shadows　covered　the　valley　floor。　He　will　e　from　Rhuidean　at　dawn；　and　tie　you　together　with　bonds　you　cannot　break。　He　will　take　you　back；　and　he　will　destroy　you。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　go　back　up　the　mountain；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃They　will　be　waiting　for　us。〃　For　me。


Chapter　27
（Leaf）
Within　the　Ways

　　　　　　　The　darkness　of　the　Ways　pressed　the　light　of　Perrin's　pole…lantern　to　a　sharp…edged　pool　around　himself　and　Gaul。　The　creak　of　his　saddle；　the　gritty　click　of　hooves　on　stone；　seemed　to　reach　no　further　than　light's　rim。　There　was　no　smell　to　the　air；　nothing。　The　Aielman　strode　along　beside　Stepper　easily；　keeping　an　eye　on　the　dimly　seen　lanternglow　from　Loial's　party　ahead。　Perrin　refused　to　call　it　Faile's。　The　Ways　did　not　seem　to　bother　Gaul；　for　all　their　reputation。　Perrin　himself　could　not　help　listening；　as　he　had　for　nearly　two　days；　or　what　passed　for　days　in　this　lightless　place。　His　ears　would　be　first　to　catch　the　sound　that　meant　they　were　all　going　to　die　or　worse；　the　sound　of　wind　rising　where　no　wind　ever　blew。　No　wind　but　Machin　Shin；　the　Black　Wind　that　ate　souls。　He　could　not　help　thinking　that　traveling　the　Ways　was　slack…witted　folly；　but　when　need　called；　what　was　foolish　changed。
　　　　　　　The　faint　light　ahead　stopped；　and　he　drew　rein　in　the　middle　of　what　appeared　to　be　an　ancient　stone　bridge　arching　through　utter　blackness；　ancient　because　of　the　breaks　in　the　bridge　walls；　the　pits　and　shallow　ragged　craters　freckling　the　roadbed。　Very　likely　it　had　stood　close　to　three　thousand　years；　but　it　seemed　ready　to　fall；　now。　Maybe　right　now。
　　　　　　　The　packhorse　crowded　up　behind　Stepper：　the　animals　whickered　to　each　other　and　rolled　their　eyes　uneasily　at　the　surrounding　dark。　Perrin　knew　how　the　horses　felt。　A　few　more　people　for　pany　would　have　lifted　some　of　the　endless　night's　weight。　Still；　he　would　not　have　gone　any　closer　to　the　lanterns　ahead　even　had　he　been　alone。　Not　and　risk　a　repeat　of　what　happened　back　on　that　first　Island；　right　after　entering　the　Waygate　in　Tear。　He　scratched　his　curly　beard　irritably。　He　was　not　sure　what　he　had　expected；　but　not。。。
　　　　　　　The　pole　lantern　bobbed　as　he　stepped　down　from　his　saddle　and　led　Stepper　and　the　packhorse　to　the　Guiding；　a　tall　slab　of　white　stone　covered　with　cursive　silver　inlays　vaguely　reminiscent　of　vines　and　leaves；　all　pitted　as　if　splashed　with　acid。　He　could　not　read　it；　of　course　…　Loial　had　to　do　that；　it　was　Ogier　script　…　and　after　a　moment　he　walked　around　it；　studying　the　Island。　It　was　the　same　as　the　others　he　had　seen；　with　a　chest　high　wall　of　white　stone；　simple　curves　and　rounds　fitted　in　an　intricate　pattern。　At　intervals　bridges　pierced　the　wall；　arching　out　into　the　darkness；　and　rail　less　ramps　running　up　or　down　with　no　means　of　support　he　could　see。　There　were　cracks　everywhere；　ragged　pits　and　shallow　craters；　as　though　the　stone　were　rotting。　When　the　horses　moved　there　was　a　grainy　sound　of　stone　flaking　away　beneath　their　hooves。　Gaul　peered　into　the　dark　with　no　visible　nervousness；　but　then；　he　did　not　know　what　might　be　out　there。　Perrin　did；　too　well。
　　　　　　　When　Loial　and　the　others　arrived；　Faile　immediately　hopped　from　her　black　mare　and　strode　straight　to　Perrin；　eyes　intent　on　his　face。　He　was　already　regretting　making　her　worry；　but　she　did　not　look　worried　at　all。　He　could　not　have　said　what　her　expression　was；　besides　fixed。
　　　　　　　〃Have　you　decided　to　talk　to　me　instead　of　over　my　hea…？〃
　　　　　　　Her　full　armed　slap　made　spots　dance　in　front　of　his　eyes。　〃What　did　you　mean；〃　she　practically　spat；　〃charging　in　here　like　a　wild　boar？　You　have　no　regard。　None！〃
　　　　　　　He　took　a　slow；　deep　breath。　〃I　asked　you　before　not　to　do　that。〃　Her　dark；　tilted　eyes　widened　as　if　he　had　said　something　infuriating。　He　was　rubbing　his　cheek　when　her　second　slap　caught　him　on　the　other　side；　nearly　unhinging　his　jaw。　The　Aiel　were　watching　interestedly；　and　Loial　with　his　ears　drooping。
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　not　to　do　that；〃　he　growled。　Her　fist　was　not　very　big；　but　her　sudden　punch　to　his　shortribs　drove　most　of　the　air　from　his　lungs；　hunching　him　over　sideways；　and　she　drew　back　her　fist　again。　With　a　snarl；