rj.theshadowrising-第75部分

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ondering　as　it　continued　whether　this　was　really　better　than　being　thrown　to　the　deck。
　　　　　　　Then；　finally；　it　was　over；　the　leaps　slowing；　growing　smaller。　Coine　scrambled　to　her　feet　and　raced　for　the　ladder；　Jorin　at　her　heels；　already　shouting　orders　to　look　for　damage　to　the　hull。


Chapter　20
（Waves）
Winds　Rising

　　　　　　　Elayne　struggled　to　open　the　latch　on　an　arm　of　her　chair　and　darted　after　them；　almost　colliding　with　Nynaeve　at　the　ladder。　The　ship　still　rocked；　if　not　as　violently　as　before。　Uncertain　whether　they　were　sinking；　she　pushed　Nynaeve　ahead　of　her；　prodding　her　to　climb　faster。
　　　　　　　On　the　deck　the　crew　dashed　about；　checking　the　rigging　or　peering　over　the　side　to　inspect　the　hull；　shouting　about　earthquakes。　The　same　shouts　were　rising　from　the　dockmen；　too；　but　Elayne　knew　better；　despite　the　tumbled　things　on　the　piers　and　the　ships　yet　pitching　at　their　moorings。
　　　　　　　She　stared　toward　the　Stone。　The　huge　fortress　was　still；　except　for　masses　of　startled　birds　swirling　about　and　that　pale　banner　waving；　almost　lazily；　in　an　isolated　breeze。　No　sign　that　anything　had　ever　touched　the　mountainous　mass。　That　had　been　Rand；　though。　She　was　sure　of　it。
　　　　　　　She　turned　to　find　Nynaeve　looking　at　her；　and　for　a　long　moment　their　eyes　met。　〃A　fine　pickling；　if　he's　damaged　the　ship；〃　Elayne　said　finally。　〃How　are　we　supposed　to　get　to　Tanchico　if　he　goes　tossing　all　the　ships　about？〃　Light；　he　has　to　be　all　right。　I　can　do　nothing　if　he　isn't。　He　is　all　right。　He　is。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　touched　her　arm　reassuringly。　〃No　doubt　that　second　letter　of　yours　touched　a　nerve。　Men　always　overreact　when　they　let　their　emotions　go；　it's　the　price　for　holding　them　in　the　way　they　do。　He　may　be　the　Dragon　Reborn；　but　he　must　learn；　man　to　woman；　that　…　What　are　they　doing　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃They〃　were　two　men　standing　amid　the　bustling　Sea　Folk　on　the　deck。　One　was　Thom　Merrilin；　in　his　gleeman's　cloak；　with　leather…cased　harp　and　flute　on　his　back　and　a　bundle　lying　at　his　feet　beside　a　battered　wooden　box　with　a　lock。　The　other　was　a　lean　handsome　Tairen　in　his　middle　years；　a　hard　dark　man　wearing　a　flat　conical　straw　hat　and　one　of　those　moner's　coats　that　fit　snugly　to　the　waist；　then　flared　like　a　short　skirt。　A　notched　sword…breaker　hung　at　a　belt　worn　over　his　coat；　and　he　leaned　on　a　pale　staff　of　nobbly；　jointed　wood　exactly　his　own　height　and　no　thicker　than　his　thumb。　A　square　tied　parcel　dangled　by　a　loop　from　his　shoulder。　Elayne　knew　him：　his　name　was　Juilin　Sandar。
　　　　　　　It　was　obvious　the　two　men　were　strangers　despite　standing　almost　side　by　side；　they　held　themselves　with　stiff　reticence。　Their　attentions　were　directed　the　same　way；　though；　split　between　following　the　Sailmistress's　progress　toward　the　stern　deck　and　peering　at　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　plainly　uncertain　and　masking　it　behind　a　brisk　show　of　confidence。　Thom　grinned　and　stroked　his　long　white　mustaches　and　nodded　every　time　he　looked　up　at　the　two　of　them；　Sandar　made　solemn；　self…assured　bows。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　not　damaged；〃　Coine　said；　climbing　the　ladder。　〃I　can　sail　within　the　hour；　if　it　pleases　you。　Well　within；　if　a　Tairen　pilot　can　be　found。　I　will　sail　without　him；　if　not；　though　it　means　never　returning　to　Tear。〃　She　followed　their　gaze　to　the　two　men。　〃They　ask　passage；　the　gleeman　to　Tanchico；　and　the　thief　catcher　to　wherever　you　travel。　I　cannot　refuse　them；　and　yet。。。。〃　Her　dark　eyes　came　back　to　Elayne　and　Nynaeve。　〃I　will　do　so；　if　you　ask　it。〃　Reluctance　to　break　custom　battled　in　her　voice　with。。。。　Desire　to　help　them？　To　serve　the　Coramoor？　〃The　thief　catcher　is　a　good　man；　even　considering　that　he　is　shorebound。　No　offense　to　you；　under　the　Light。　The　gleeman　I　do　not　know；　yet　a　gleeman　can　enliven　a　voyage　and　lighten　tired　hours。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　know　Master　Sandar？〃　Nynaeve　said。
　　　　　　　〃Twice　he　has　found　those　who　pilfered　from　us；　and　found　them　quickly。　Another　shoreman　would　have　taken　longer　so　he　might　ask　more　for　the　work。　It　is　obvious　that　you　know　him；　as　well。　Do　you　wish　me　to　refuse　passage？〃　Her　reluctance　was　still　there。
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　see　why　they　are　here　first；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　flat　voice　that　did　not　bode　well　for　either　man。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　I　should　do　the　talking；〃　Elayne　suggested；　gently　but　firmly。　〃That　way；　you　can　watch　to　see　if　they　are　hiding　anything。〃　She　did　not　say　that　that　way　Nynaeve's　temper　would　not　get　the　better　of　her；　but　the　wry　smile　the　other　woman　gave　her　said　she　had　heard　it　anyway。
　　　　　　　〃Very　well；　Elayne。　I　will　watch　them。　Perhaps　you　might　study　how　I　keep　calm。　You　know　how　you　are　when　you　bee　overwrought。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　had　to　laugh。
　　　　　　　The　two　men　straightened　as　she　and　Nynaeve　approached。　Around　them　the　crew　bustled；　swarming　into　the　rigging；　hauling　ropes；　lashing　some　things　down　and　unlashing　others；　to　orders　relayed　from　the　Sailmistress。　They　moved　around　the　four　shorepeople　with　barely　a　glance。
　　　　　　　Elayne　frowned　at　Thom　Merrilin　thoughtfully。　She　was　sure　she　had　never　seen　the　gleeman　before　his　appearance　in　the　Stone；　yet　even　then　she　had　been　struck　by　something　familiar　about　him。　Not　that　that　was　likely。　Gleemen　were　village　performers；　in　the　main；　her　mother　had　certainly　never　had　one　at　the　palace　in　Caemlyn。　The　only　gleemen　Elayne　could　remember　seeing　had　been　in　the　villages　near　her　mother's　country　estates；　and　this　white…haired　hawk　of　a　man　had　surely　never　been　there。
　　　　　　　She　decided　to　speak　to　the　thief…catcher　first。　He　insisted　on　that；　she　remembered；　what　was　a　thief…taker　elsewhere　was　a　thief…catcher　in　Tear；　and　the　distinction　seemed　important　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Sandar；〃　she　said　gravely。　〃You　may　not　remember　us。　I　am　Elayne　Trakand；　and　this　is　my　friend；　Nynaeve　al'Meara。　I　understand　that　you　wish　to　travel　to　the　same　destination　as　we。　Might　I　ask　why？　The　last　time　we　saw　you；　you　had　not　served　us　very　well。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　did　not　blink　at　the　suggestion　he　might　not　remember　them。　His　eyes　flickered　across　their　hands；　noting　the　absence　of　rings。　Those　dark　eyes　noted　everything；　and　recorded　it　indelibly。　〃I　do　remember；　Mistress　Trakand；　and　well。　But；　if　you　will　forgive　me；　the　last　time　I　served　you　was　in　the　pany　of　Mat　Cauthon；　when　we　pulled　you　both　out　of　the　water　before　the　silverpike　could　get　you。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　harrumphed；　but　not　loudly。　It　had　been　a　cell；　not　the　water；　and　the　Black　Ajah；　not　silverpike。　Nynaeve　in　particular　did　not　like　being　reminded　that　they　had　needed　help　that　time。　Of　course；　they　would　not　have　been　in　that　cell　without　Juilin　Sandar。　No；　that　was　not　entirely　fair。　True；　but　not　pletely　fair。
　　　　　　　〃That　is　all　very　well；〃　Elayne　said　briskly；　〃but　you　still　haven't　said　why　you　want　to　go　to　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　He　drew　a　deep　breath　and　eyed　Nynaeve　warily。　Elayne　was　not　sure　that　she　liked　him　being　more　careful　of　the　other　woman　than　of　her。　〃I　was　rousted　out　of　my　house　no　more　than　half　an　hour　gone；〃　he　said　carefully；　〃by　a　man　you　know；　I　think。　A　tall；　stone　faced　man　calling　himself　Lan。〃　Nynaeve's　eyebrows　rose　slightly。　〃He　came　on　behalf　of　another　man　you　know。　A。。。　shepherd；　I　was　told。　I　was　given　a　great　quantity　of　gold　and　told　to　acpany　you。　Both　of　you。　I　was　told　that　if　you　do　not　return　safely　from　this　journey。。。　Shall　we　just　say　it　would　be　better　to　drown　myself　than　e　back？　Lan　was　emphatic；　and　the。。。　shepherd　no　less　so　in　his　message。　The　Sailmistress　tells　me　I　cannot　have　passage　unless　you　agree。　I　am　not　without　certain　skills　that　can　be　useful。〃　The　staff　whirled　in　his　hands；　a　whistling　blur；　and　was　still。　His　fingers　touched　the　sword…breaker　on　his　hip；　like　a　short　sword　but　unsharpened；　its　slots　meant　to　catch　a　blade。
　　　　　　　〃Men　will　find　ways　to　get　'round　what　you　tell　them　to　do；〃　Nynaeve　murmured；　sounding　not　unpleased。
　　　　　　　Elayne　only　frowned　vexedly。　Rand　had　sent　him？　He　must　not　have　read　the　second　letter　before　he　did。　Burn　him！　Why　does　he　leap　about　so？　No　time　to　send　another　letter；　and　it　would　probably　only　confuse　him　more　if　I　did。　And　make　me　look　a　bigger　fool。　Burn　him！
　　　　　　　〃And　you；　Master　Merrilin？〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃Did　the　shepherd　send　a　gleeman　after　us；　too？　Or　the　other　man？　To　keep　us　amused　with　your　juggling　and　fire　eating；　perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　had　been　scrutinizing　Sandar　closely；　but　he　shifted　his　attentions　smoothly　and　made　an　elegant　bow；　only　spoiling　it　with　a　too…elaborate　flourish　of　that　patch…covered　cloak。　〃Not　the　shepherd；　Mistress　al'Meara。　A　lady　of　our　mutual　acquaintance　asked　…　asked　…　me　to　acpany　you。　The　lady　who　found　you　and　the　shepherd　in　Emond's　Field。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃　Nynaeve　said　suspiciously。
　　　　　　　〃I；　too；　have　useful　skills；〃　Thom　told　her　with　a　glance　at　the　thief…catcher。　〃Other　than　juggling；　that　is。　And　I　have　been　to　Tanchico　several　times。　I　know　the　city　well。　I　can　tell　you　where　to　find　a　good　inn；　and　what　districts　are　dangerous　in　daylight　as　well　as　after　dark；　and　who　must　be　bribed　so　the　Civil　Watch　does　not　take　too　close　an　interest　in　your　doings。　They　are　keen　on　watching　outlanders。　I　can　help　you　with　a　good　many　things。〃
　　　　　　　That　familiarity　tickled　at　Elayne's　mind　again。