rj.eyeoftheworld-第100部分

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the　ravens；　outrun　the　wolves；　but　above　all　Egwene's　eyes；　that　knew　him　now　for　what　he　was。　What　are　you？　Tainted；　the　Light　blind　me！　Cursed！
　　　　　　　His　throat　burned　as　it　never　had　from　breathing　the　smoke　and　heat　of　Master　Luhhan's　forge。　He　staggered　and　hung　on　to　Egwene's　stirrup　until　she　climbed　down　and　all　but　pushed　him　into　the　saddle　despite　his　protests　that　he　could　keep　going。　It　was　not　long；　though；　before　she　was　clutching　the　stirrup　as　she　ran；　holding　up　her　skirts　with　her　other　hand；　and　only　a　little　while　after　that　until　he　dismounted；　his　knees　still　wobbling。　He　had　to　pick　her　up　to　make　her　take　his　place；　but　she　was　too　tired　to　fight　him。
　　　　　　　Elyas　would　not　slow　down。　He　urged　them；　and　taunted　them；　and　kept　them　so　close　behind　the　searching　ravens　to　the　south　that　Perrin　thought　all　it　would　take　would　be　for　one　bird　to　look　back。　〃Keep　moving；　burn　you！　Think　you'll　do　any　better　than　that　fox　did；　if　they　catch　us？　The　one　with　its　insides　piled　on　its　head？〃　Egwene　swayed　out　of　the　saddle　and　vomited　noisily。　〃I　knew　you'd　remember。　Just　keep　going　a　little　more。　That's　all。　Just　a　little　more。　Burn　you；　I　thought　farm　youngsters　had　endurance。　Work　all　day　and　dance　all　night。　Sleep　all　day　and　sleep　all　night；　looks　like　to　me。　Move　your　bloody　feet！〃
　　　　　　　They　began　ing　down　off　the　hills　as　soon　as　the　last　raven　vanished　over　the　next　one；　then　while　the　last　trailers　still　flapped　above　the　hilltop。　One　bird　looking　back。　To　east　and　west　the　ravens　searched　while　they　hurried　across　the　open　spaces　between。　One　bird　is　all　it　will　take。
　　　　　　　The　ravens　behind　were　ing　fast。　Dapple　and　the　other　wolves　worked　their　way　around　them　and　were　ing　on　without　stopping　to　lick　their　wounds；　but　they　had　learned　all　the　lessons　they　needed　about　watching　the　sky。　How　close？　How　long？　The　wolves　had　no　notions　of　time　the　way　men　did；　no　reasons　to　divide　a　day　into　hours。　The　seasons　were　time　enough　for　them；　and　the　light　and　the　dark。　No　need　for　more。　Finally　Perrin　worked　out　an　image　of　where　the　sun　would　stand　in　the　sky　when　the　ravens　overran　them　from　behind。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　setting　sun；　and　licked　his　lips　with　a　dry　tongue。　In　an　hour　the　ravens　would　be　on　them；　maybe　less。　An　hour；　and　it　was　a　good　two　hours　to　sunset；　at　least　two　to　full　dark。
　　　　　　　We'll　die　with　the　setting　sun；　he　thought；　staggering　as　he　ran。　Slaughtered　like　the　fox。　He　fingered　his　axe；　then　moved　to　his　sling。　That　would　be　more　use。　Not　enough；　though。　Not　against　a　hundred　ravens；　a　hundred　darting　targets；　a　hundred　stabbing　beaks。
　　　　　　　〃It's　your　turn　to　ride；　Perrin；〃　Egwene　said　tiredly。
　　　　　　　〃In　a　bit；〃　he　panted。　〃I'm　good　for　miles；　yet。〃　She　nodded；　and　stayed　in　the　saddle。　She　is　tired。　Tell　her？　Or　let　her　think　we　still　have　a　chance　to　escape？　An　hour　of　hope；　even　if　it　is　desperate；　or　an　hour　of　despair？
　　　　　　　Elyas　was　watching　him　again；　saying　nothing。　He　must　know；　but　he　did　not　speak。　Perrin　looked　at　Egwene　again　and　blinked　away　hot　tears。　He　touched　his　axe　and　wondered　if　he　had　the　courage。　In　the　last　minutes；　when　the　ravens　descended　on　them；　when　all　hope　was　gone；　would　he　have　the　courage　to　spare　her　the　death　the　fox　had　died？　Light　make　me　strong！
　　　　　　　The　ravens　ahead　of　them　suddenly　seemed　to　vanish。　Perrin　could　still　make　out　dark；　misty　clouds；　far　to　the　east　and　west；　but　ahead　。。。　nothing。　Where　did　they　go？　Light；　if　we've　overrun　them　。。。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　a　chill　ran　through　him；　one　cold；　clean　tingle　as　if　he　had　jumped　into　the　Winespring　Water　in　midwinter。　It　rippled　through　him　and　seemed　to　carry　away　some　of　his　fatigue；　a　little　of　the　ache　in　his　legs　and　the　burning　of　his　lungs。　It　left　behind　。。。　something。　He　could　not　say　what；　only　he　felt　different。　He　stumbled　to　a　halt　and　looked　around；　afraid。
　　　　　　　Elyas　watched　him；　watched　them　all；　with　a　gleam　behind　his　eyes。　He　knew　what　it　was；　Perrin　was　sure　of　it；　but　he　only　watched　them。
　　　　　　　Egwene　reined　in　Bela　and　looked　around　uncertainly；　half　wondering　and　half　fearful。　〃It's　。。。　strange；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　feel　as　if　I　lost　something。〃　Even　the　mare　had　her　head　up　expectantly；　nostrils　flaring　as　if　they　detected　a　faint　odor　of　new…mown　hay。
　　　　　　　〃What　。。。　what　was　that？〃　Perrin　asked。
　　　　　　　Elyas　cackled　suddenly。　He　bent　over；　shoulders　shaking；　to　rest　his　hands　on　his　knees。　〃Safety；　that's　what。　We　made　it；　you　bloody　fools。　No　raven　will　cross　that　line　。。。　not　one　that　carries　the　Dark　One's　eyes；　anyways。　A　Trolloc　would　have　to　be　driven　across；　and　there'd　need　to　be　something　fierce　pushing　the　Myrddraal　to　make　him　do　the　driving。　No　Aes　Sedai；　either。　The　One　Power　won't　work　here；　they　can't　touch　the　True　Source。　Can't　even　feel　the　Source；　like　it　vanished。　Makes　them　itch　inside；　that　does。　Gives　them　the　shakes　like　a　seven…day　drunk。　It's　safety。〃
　　　　　　　At　first；　to　Perrin's　eyes；　the　land　was　unchanged　from　the　rolling　hills　and　ridges　they　had　crossed　the　whole　day。　Then　he　noticed　green　shoots　among　the　grass；　not　many；　and　they　were　struggling；　but　more　than　he　had　seen　anywhere　else。　There　were　fewer　weeds　in　the　grass；　too。　He　could　not　imagine　what　it　was；　but　there　was　。。。　something　about　this　place。　And　something　in　what　Elyas　said　tickled　his　memory。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Egwene　asked。　〃I　feel。。。　What　is　this　place？　I　don't　think　I　like　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　stedding；〃　Elyas　roared。　〃You　never　listen　to　stories？　Of　course；　there　hasn't　been　an　Ogier　here　in　three　thousand　odd　years；　not　since　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　but　it's　the　stedding　makes　the　Ogier；　not　the　Ogier　make　the　stedding。〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　a　legend；〃　Perrin　stammered。　In　the　stories；　the　stedding　were　always　havens；　places　to　hide；　whether　it　was　from　Aes　Sedai　or　from　creatures　of　the　Father　of　Lies。
　　　　　　　Elyas　straightened；　if　not　exactly　fresh；　he　gave　no　sign　that　he　had　spent　most　of　a　day　running。　〃e　on。　We'd　better　get　deeper　into　this　legend。　The　ravens　can't　follow；　but　they　can　still　see　us　this　close　to　the　edge；　and　there　could　be　enough　of　them　to　watch　the　whole　border　of　it。　Let　them　keep　hunting　right　on　by　it。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　wanted　to　stay　right　there；　now　that　he　was　stopped；　his　legs　trembled　and　told　him　to　lie　down　for　a　week。　Whatever　refreshment　he　had　felt　had　been　momentary；　all　the　weariness　and　aches　were　back。　He　forced　himself　to　take　one　step；　then　another。　It　did　not　get　easier；　but　he　kept　at　it。　Egwene　flapped　the　reins　to　get　Bela　moving　again。　Elyas　settled　into　an　effortless　lope；　only　slowing　to　a　walk　when　it　became　apparent　the　others　could　not　keep　up。　A　fast　walk。
　　　　　　　〃Why　don't　we　stay　here？〃　Perrin　panted。　He　was　breathing　through　his　mouth；　and　he　forced　the　words　out　between　deep；　wracking　breaths。　〃If　it's　really　…　a　stedding。　We'd　be　safe。　No　Trollocs。　No　Aes　Sedai。　Why　don't　we　just　stay　here　…　until　it's　all　over？〃　Maybe　the　wolves　won't　e　here；　either。
　　　　　　　〃How　long　will　that　be？〃　Elyas　looked　over　his　shoulder　with　one　eyebrow　raised。　〃What　would　you　eat？　Grass；　like　the　horse？　Besides；　there's　others　know　about　this　place；　and　nothing　keeps　men　out；　not　even　the　worst　of　them。　And　there　is　only　one　place　where　there's　still　water　to　be　found。〃　Frowning　uneasily；　he　turned　in　a　plete　circle；　scanning　the　land。　When　he　was　done；　he　shook　his　head　and　muttered　to　himself。　Perrin　felt　him　calling　to　the　wolves。　Hurry。　Hurry。　〃We　take　our　chances　on　a　choice　of　evils；　and　the　ravens　are　sure。　e　on。　It's　only　another　mile　or　two。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　would　have　groaned　if　he　had　been　willing　to　spare　the　breath。
　　　　　　　Huge　boulders　began　to　dot　the　low　hills；　irregular　lumps　of　gray；　lichen…coated　stone　half　buried　in　the　ground；　some　as　big　as　a　house。　Brambles　webbed　them；　and　low　brush　half　hid　most。　Here　and　there　amid　the　desiccated　brown　of　brambles　and　brush　a　lone　green　shoot　announced　that　this　was　a　special　place。　Whatever　wounded　the　land　beyond　its　borders　hurt　it；　too；　but　here　the　wound　did　not　go　quite　as　deep。
　　　　　　　Eventually　they　straggled　over　one　more　rise；　and　at　the　base　of　this　hill　lay　a　pool　of　water。　Any　of　them　could　have　waded　across　it　in　two　strides；　but　it　was　clear　and　clean　enough　to　show　the　sandy　bottom　like　a　sheet　of　glass。　Even　Elyas　hurried　eagerly　down　the　slope。
　　　　　　　Perrin　threw　himself　full　length　on　the　ground　when　he　reached　the　pool　and　plunged　his　head　in。　An　instant　later　he　was　spluttering　from　the　cold　of　water　that　had　welled　up　from　the　depths　of　the　earth。　He　shook　his　head；　his　long　hair　spraying　a　rain　of　drops。　Egwene　grinned　and　splashed　back　at　him。　Perrin's　eyes　grew　sober。　She　frowned　and　opened　her　mouth；　but　he　stuck　his　face　back　in　the　water。　No　questions。　Not　now。　No　explanations。　Not　ever。　But　a　small　voice　taunted　him。　But　you　would　have　done　it；　wouldn't　you？
　　　　　　　Eventually　Elyas　called　them　away　from　the　pool。　〃Anybody　wants　to　eat；　I　want　some　help。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　worked　cheerfully；　laughing　and　joking　as　they　prepared　their　scanty　meal。　There　was　nothing　left　but　cheese　and　dried　meat；　there　had　been　no　chance　to　hunt。　At　least　there　was　still　tea。　Perrin　did　his　share；　but　silently。　He　felt　Egwene'