rj.eyeoftheworld-第120部分

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s　head；　it　shaded　his　eyes　a　little　less　this　morning。　〃You　think　we　might　get　something　to　eat　today？〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　stomach　rumbled　in　sympathy。　〃We　can　think　about　that　when　we're　on　the　road；〃　he　said。　Hastily　arranging　his　clothes；　he　dug　his　share　of　their　bundles　out　of　the　haystack。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　they　reached　the　fence；　Mat　had　noticed　the　people；　too。　He　frowned；　stopping　in　the　field　while　Rand　climbed　over。　A　young　man；　not　much　older　than　they；　glanced　at　them　as　he　passed。　His　clothes　were　dusty；　and　so　was　the　blanketroll　strapped　across　his　back。
　　　　　　　〃Where　are　you　bound？〃　Mat　called。
　　　　　　　〃Why；　Caemlyn；　for　to　see　the　Dragon；〃　the　fellow　shouted　back　without　stopping。　He　raised　an　eyebrow　at　the　blankets　and　saddlebags　hanging　from　their　shoulders；　and　added；　〃Just　like　you。〃　With　a　laugh　he　went　on；　his　eyes　already　seeking　eagerly　ahead。
　　　　　　　Mat　asked　the　same　question　several　times　during　the　day；　and　the　only　people　who　did　not　give　much　the　same　answer　were　local　folk。　If　those　answered　at　all；　it　was　by　spitting　and　turning　away　in　disgust。　They　turned　away；　but　they　kept　a　watchful　eye；　too。　They　looked　at　all　the　travelers　the　same　way；　out　of　the　corners　of　their　eyes。　Their　faces　said　strangers　might　get　up　to　anything　if　not　watched。
　　　　　　　People　who　lived　in　the　area　were　not　only　wary　of　the　strangers；　they　seemed　more　than　a　little　put　out。　Just　enough　people　were　on　the　road；　scattered　out　just　enough；　that　when　farmers'　carts　and　wagons　appeared　with　the　sun　peeking　over　the　horizon；　even　their　usually　slow　pace　was　halved。　None　of　them　was　in　any　mood　to　give　a　ride。　A　sour　grimace；　and　maybe　a　curse　for　the　work　they　were　missing；　were　more　likely。
　　　　　　　The　merchants'　wagons　rolled　by　with　little　hindrance　beyond　shaken　fists；　whether　they　were　going　toward　Caemlyn　or　away　from　it。　When　the　first　merchants'　train　appeared；　early　on　in　the　morning；　ing　at　a　stiff　trot　with　the　sun　barely　above　the　horizon　behind　the　wagons；　Rand　stepped　out　of　the　road。　They　gave　no　sign　of　slowing　for　anything；　and　he　saw　other　folk　scrambling　out　of　the　way。　He　moved　all　the　way　over　onto　the　verge；　but　kept　walking。
　　　　　　　A　flicker　of　motion　as　the　first　wagon　rumbled　close　was　all　the　warning　he　had。　He　went　sprawling　on　the　ground　as　the　wagon　driver's　whip　cracked　in　the　air　where　his　head　had　been。　From　where　he　lay　he　met　the　driver's　eyes　as　the　wagon　rolled　by。　Hard　eyes　above　a　mouth　in　a　tight　grimace。　Not　a　care　that　he　might　have　drawn　blood；　or　taken　an　eye。
　　　　　　　〃Light　blind　you！〃　Mat　shouted　after　the　wagon。　〃You　can't　…　〃　A　mounted　guard　caught　him　on　the　shoulder　with　the　butt　of　his　spear；　knocking　him　down　atop　Rand。
　　　　　　　〃Out　of　the　way；　you　dirty　Darkfriend！〃　the　guard　growled　without　slowing。
　　　　　　　After　that；　they　kept　their　distance　from　the　wagons。　There　were　certainly　enough　of　them。　The　rattle　and　clatter　of　one　hardly　faded　before　another　could　be　heard　ing。　Guards　and　drivers；　they　all　stared　at　the　travelers　heading　for　Caemlyn　as　if　seeing　dirt　walk。
　　　　　　　Once　Rand　misjudged　a　driver's　whip；　just　by　the　length　of　the　tip。　Clapping　his　hand　to　the　shallow　gash　over　his　eyebrow；　he　swallowed　hard　to　keep　from　vomiting　at　how　close　it　had　e　to　his　eye。　The　driver　smirked　at　him。　With　his　other　hand　he　grabbed　Mat；　to　stop　him　nocking　an　arrow。
　　　　　　　〃Let　it　go；〃　he　said。　He　jerked　his　head　at　the　guards　riding　alongside　the　wagons。　Some　of　them　were　laughing；　others　gave　Mat's　bow　a　hard　eye。　〃If　we're　lucky；　they'd　just　beat　us　with　their　spears。　If　we're　lucky。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　grunted　sourly；　but　he　let　Rand　pull　him　on　down　the　road。
　　　　　　　Twice　squadrons　of　the　Queen's　Guards　came　trotting　down　the　road；　streamers　on　their　lances　fluttering　in　the　wind。　Some　of　the　farmers　hailed　them；　wanting　something　done　about　the　strangers；　and　the　Guards　always　paused　patiently　to　listen。　Near　midday　Rand　stopped　to　listen　to　one　such　conversation。
　　　　　　　Behind　the　bars　of　his　helmet；　the　Guard　captain's　mouth　was　a　tight　line。　〃If　one　of　them　steals　something；　or　trespasses　on　your　land；〃　he　growled　at　the　lanky　farmer　frowning　beside　his　stirrup；　〃I'll　haul　him　before　a　magistrate；　but　they　break　no　Queen's　Law　by　walking　on　the　Queen's　Highway。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　they're　all　over　the　place；〃　the　farmer　protested。　〃Who　knows　who　they　are；　or　what　they　are。　All　this　talk　about　the　Dragon　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Light；　man！　You　only　have　a　handful　here。　Caemlyn's　walls　are　bulging　with　them；　and　more　ing　every　day。〃　The　captain's　scowl　deepened　as　he　caught　sight　of　Rand　and　Mat；　standing　in　the　road　nearby。　He　gestured　down　the　road　with　a　steel…backed　gauntlet。　〃Get　on　with　you；　or　I'll　have　you　in　for　blocking　traffic。〃
　　　　　　　His　voice　was　no　rougher　with　them　than　with　the　farmer；　but　they　moved　on。　The　captain's　eyes　followed　them　for　a　time；　Rand　could　feel　them　on　his　back。　He　suspected　the　Guards　had　little　patience　left　with　the　wanderers；　and　no　sympathy　for　a　hungry　thief。　He　decided　to　stop　Mat　if　he　suggested　stealing　eggs　again。
　　　　　　　Still；　there　was　a　good　side　to　all　the　wagons　and　people　on　the　road；　especially　all　the　young　men　heading　for　Caemlyn。　For　any　Darkfriends　hunting　them；　it　would　be　like　trying　to　pick　out　two　particular　pigeons　in　a　flock。　If　the　Myrddraal　on　Winternight　had　not　known　exactly　who　it　was　after；　maybe　its　fellow　would　do　no　better　here。
　　　　　　　His　stomach　rumbled　frequently；　reminding　him　that　they　had　next　to　no　money　left；　certainly　not　enough　for　a　meal　at　the　prices　charged　this　close　to　Caemlyn。　He　realized　once　he　had　a　hand　on　the　flute　case；　and　firmly　pushed　it　around　to　his　back。　Gode　had　known　all　about　the　flute；　and　the　juggling。　There　was　no　telling　how　much　Ba'alzamon　had　learned　from　him　before　the　end　…　if　what　Rand　had　seen　had　been　the　end　…　or　how　much　had　been　passed　to　other　Darkfriends。
　　　　　　　He　looked　regretfully　at　a　farm　they　were　passing。　A　man　patrolled　the　fences　with　a　pair　of　dogs；　growling　and　tugging　at　their　leashes。　The　man　looked　as　if　he　wanted　nothing　more　than　an　excuse　to　let　them　loose。　Not　every　farm　had　the　dogs　out；　but　no　one　was　offering　jobs　to　travelers。
　　　　　　　Before　the　sun　went　down；　he　and　Mat　walked　through　two　more　villages。　The　village　folk　stood　in　knots；　talking　among　themselves　and　watching　the　steady　stream　pass　by。　Their　faces　were　no　friendlier　than　the　faces　of　the　farmers；　or　the　wagon　drivers；　or　the　Queen's　Guards。　All　these　strangers　going　to　see　the　false　Dragon。　Fools　who　did　not　know　enough　to　stay　where　they　belonged。　Maybe　followers　of　the　false　Dragon。　Maybe　even　Darkfriends。　If　there　was　any　difference　between　the　two。
　　　　　　　With　evening　ing；　the　stream　began　to　thin　at　the　second　town。　The　few　who　had　money　disappeared　into　the　inn；　though　there　seemed　to　be　some　argument　about　letting　them　inside；　others　began　hunting　for　handy　hedges　or　fields　with　no　dogs。　By　dusk　he　and　Mat　had　the　Caemlyn　Road　to　themselves。　Mat　began　talking　about　finding　another　haystack；　but　Rand　insisted　on　keeping　on。
　　　　　　　〃As　long　as　we　can　see　the　road；〃　he　said。　〃The　further　we　go　before　stopping；　the　further　ahead　we　are。〃　If　they　are　chasing　you。　Why　should　they　chase　now；　when　they've　been　waiting　for　you　to　e　to　them　so　far？
　　　　　　　It　was　argument　enough　for　Mat。　With　frequent　glances　over　his　shoulder；　he　quickened　his　step。　Rand　had　to　hurry　to　keep　up。
　　　　　　　The　night　thickened；　relieved　only　a　bit　by　scant　moonlight。　Mat's　burst　of　energy　faded；　and　his　plaints　started　up　again。　Aching　knots　formed　in　Rand's　calves。　He　told　himself　he　had　walked　further　in　a　hard　day　working　on　the　farm　with　Tam；　but　repeat　it　as　often　as　he　would；　he　could　not　make　himself　believe　it。　Gritting　his　teeth；　he　ignored　the　aches　and　pains　and　would　not　stop。
　　　　　　　With　Mat　plaining　and　him　concentrating　on　the　next　step；　they　were　almost　on　the　village　before　he　saw　the　lights。　He　tottered　to　a　stop；　suddenly　aware　of　a　burning　that　ran　from　his　feet　right　up　his。　legs。　He　thought　he　had　a　blister　on　his　right　foot。
　　　　　　　At　the　sight　of　the　village　lights；　Mat　sagged　to　his　knees　with　a　groan。　〃Can　we　stop　now？〃　he　panted。　〃Or　do　you　want　to　find　an　inn　and　hang　out　a　sign　for　the　Darkfriends？　Or　a　Fade。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　other　side　of　the　town；〃　Rand　answered；　staring　at　the　lights。　From　this　distance；　in　the　dark；　it　could　have　been　Emond's　Field。　What's　waiting　there？　〃Another　mile；　that's　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃All！　I'm　not　walking　another　span！〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　legs　felt　like　fire；　but　he　made　himself　take　a　step；　and　then　another。　It　did　not　get　any　easier；　but　he　kept　on；　one　step　at　a　time。　Before　he　had　gone　ten　paces　he　heard　Mat　staggering　after　him；　muttering　under　his　breath。　He　thought　it　was　just　as　well　he　could　not　make　out　what　Mat　was　saying。
　　　　　　　It　was　late　enough　for　the　streets　of　the　village　to　be　empty；　though　most　houses　had　a　light　in　at　least　one　window。　The　inn　in　the　middle　of　town　was　brightly　lit；　surrounded　by　a　golden　pool　that　pushed　back　the　darkness。　Music　and　laughter；　dimmed　by　thick　walls；　drifted　from　the　building。　The　sign　over　the　door　creaked　in　the　wind。　At　the　near　end　of　the　inn；　a　cart　and　horse　stood　in　the　Caemlyn　Road　with　a　man　c