rj.eyeoftheworld-第172部分

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　　　　　　　When　the　Green　Man　noticed；　he　said；　〃Flowers　are　meant　to　adorn。　The　plants　or　humans；　it　is　much　the　same。　None　mind；　so　long　as　you　don't　take　too　many。〃　And　he　began　plucking　one　from　this　plant　and　one　from　that；　never　more　than　two　from　any。　Soon　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　wore　caps　of　blossoms　in　their　hair；　pink　wildrose　and　yellowbell　and　white　morningstar。　The　Wisdom's　braid　seemed　a　garden　of　pink　and　white　to　her　waist。　Even　Moiraine　received　a　pale　garland　of　morningstar　on　her　brow；　woven　so　deftly　that　the　flowers　still　seemed　to　be　growing。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　not　sure　they　were　not　growing。　The　Green　Man　tended　his　forest　garden　as　he　walked；　while　he　talked　softly　to　Moiraine；　taking　care　of　whatever　needed　care　without　really　thinking　about　it。　His　hazelnut　eyes　caught　a　crooked　limb　on　a　climbing　wildrose；　forced　into　an　awkward　angle　by　the　blossom…covered　limb　of　an　apple　tree；　and　he　paused；　still　talking；　to　run　his　hand　along　the　bend。　Rand　was　not　sure　if　his　eyes　were　playing　tricks；　or　if　thorns　actually　did　bend　out　of　the　way　so　as　not　to　prick　those　green　fingers。　When　the　towering　shape　of　the　Green　Man　moved　on；　the　limb　ran　straight　and　true；　spreading　red　petals　among　the　white　of　apple　blossoms。　He　bent　to　cup　one　huge　hand　around　a　tiny　seed　lying　on　a　patch　of　pebbles；　and　when　he　straightened；　a　small　shoot　had　roots　through　the　rocks　to　good　soil。
　　　　　　　〃All　things　must　grow　where　they　are；　according　to　the　Pattern；〃　he　explained　over　his　shoulder；　as　if　apologizing；　〃and　face　the　turning　of　the　Wheel；　but　the　Creator　will　not　mind　if　I　give　just　a　little　help。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　led　Red　around　the　shoot；　careful　not　to　let　the　bay's　hooves　crush　it。　It　did　not　seem　right　to　destroy　what　the　Green　Man　had　done　just　to　avoid　an　extra　step。　Egwene　smiled　at　him；　one　of　her　secret　smiles；　and　touched　his　arm。　She　was　so　pretty；　with　her　unbound　hair　full　of　flowers；　that　he　smiled　back　at　her　until　she　blushed　and　lowered　her　eyes。　I　will　protect　you；　he　thought。　Whatever　else　happens；　I　will　see　you　safe；　I　swear　it。
　　　　　　　Into　the　heart　of　the　spring　forest　the　Green　Man　took　them；　to　an　arched　opening　in　the　side　of　a　hill。　It　was　a　simple　stone　arch；　tall　and　white；　and　on　the　keystone　was　a　circle　halved　by　a　sinuous　line；　one　half　rough；　the　other　smooth。　The　ancient　symbol　of　Aes　Sedai。　The　opening　itself　was　shadowed。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　everyone　simply　looked　in　silence。　Then　Moiraine　removed　the　garland　from　her　hair　and　gently　hung　it　on　the　limb　of　a　sweetberry　bush　beside　the　arch。　It　was　as　if　her　movement　restored　speech。
　　　　　　　〃It's　in　there？〃　Nynaeve　asked。　〃What　we've　e　for？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'd　really　like　to　see　the　Tree　of　Life；〃　Mat　said；　not　taking　his　eyes　off　the　halved　circle　above　them。　〃We　can　wait　that　long；　can't　we？〃
　　　　　　　The　Green　Man　gave　Rand　an　odd　look；　then　shook　his　head。　〃Avendesora　is　not　here。　I　have　not　rested　beneath　its　ungentle　branches　in　two　thousand　years。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Tree　of　Life　is　not　why　we　came；〃　Moiraine　said　firmly。　She　gestured　to　the　arch。　〃In　there；　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　not　go　in　with　you；〃　the　Green　Man　said。　The　butterflies　around　him　swirled　as　if　they　shared　some　agitation。　〃I　was　set　to　guard　it　long；　long　ago；　but　it　makes　me　uneasy　to　e　too　close。　I　feel　myself　being　unmade；　my　end　is　linked　with　it；　somehow。　I　remember　the　making　of　it。　Some　of　the　making。　Some。〃　His　hazelnut　eyes　stared；　lost　in　memory；　and　he　fingered　his　scar。　〃It　was　the　first　days　of　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　when　the　joy　of　victory　over　the　Dark　One　turned　bitter　with　the　knowledge　that　all　might　yet　be　shattered　by　the　weight　of　the　Shadow。　A　hundred　of　them　made　it；　men　and　women　together。　The　greatest　Aes　Sedai　works　were　always　done　so；　joining　saidin　and　saidar；　as　the　True　Source　is　joined。　They　died；　all；　to　make　it　pure；　while　the　world　was　torn　around　them。　Knowing　they　would　die；　they　charged　me　to　guard　it　against　the　need　to　e。　It　was　not　what　I　was　made　for；　but　all　was　breaking　apart；　and　they　were　alone；　and　I　was　all　they　had。　It　was　not　what　I　was　made　for；　but　I　have　kept　the　faith。〃　He　looked　down　at　Moiraine；　nodding　to　himself。　〃I　have　kept　faith；　until　it　was　needed。　And　now　it　ends。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　kept　the　faith　better　than　most　of　us　who　gave　you　the　charge；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said。　〃Perhaps　it　will　not　e　as　badly　as　you　fear。〃
　　　　　　　The　scarred；　leafy　head　shook　slowly　from　side　to　side。　〃I　know　an　ending　when　it　es；　Aes　Sedai。　I　will　find　another　place　to　make　things　grow。〃　Nutbrown　eyes　swept　sadly　over　the　green　forest。　〃Another　place；　perhaps。　When　you　e　out；　I　will　see　you　again；　if　there　is　time。〃　With　that　he　strode　away；　trailing　butterflies；　being　one　with　the　forest　more　pletely　than　Lan's　cloak　ever　could。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　he　mean？〃　Mat　demanded。　〃If　there's　time？〃
　　　　　　　〃e；〃　Moiraine　said。　And　she　stepped　through　the　arch。　Lan　went　at　her　heels。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　not　sure　what　he　expected　when　he　followed。　The　hair　stirred　uneasily　on　his　arms；　and　rose　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　But　it　was　only　a　corridor；　its　polished　walls　rounded　overhead　like　the　arch；　winding　gently　downward。　There　was　headroom　enough　and　to　spare　for　Loial；　there　would　have　been　room　enough　for　the　Green　Man。　The　smooth　floor；　slick　to　the　eye　like　oiled　slate；　yet　somehow　gave　a　sure　footing。　Seamless；　white　walls　glittered　with　uncounted　flecks　in　untold　colors；　giving　a　low；　soft　light　even　after　the　sunlit　archway　vanished　around　a　curve　behind。　He　was　sure　the　light　was　no　natural　thing；　but　he　sensed　it　was　benign；　too。　Then　why　is　your　skin　still　crawling？　Down　they　went；　and　down。
　　　　　　　〃There；〃　Moiraine　said　at　last；　pointing。　〃Ahead。〃
　　　　　　　And　the　corridor　opened　into　a　vast；　domed　space；　the　rough；　living　rock　of　its　ceiling　dotted　with　clumps　of　glowing　crystals。　Below　it；　a　pool　took　up　the　entire　cavern；　except　for　the　walkway　around　it；　perhaps　five　paces　wide。　In　the　oval　shape　of　an　eye；　the　pool　was　lined　about　its　rim　with　a　low；　flat　edging　of　crystals　that　glowed　with　a　duller；　yet　fiercer；　light　than　those　above。　Its　surface　was　as　smooth　as　glass　and　as　clear　as　the　Winespring　Water。　Rand　felt　as　if　his　eyes　could　penetrate　it　forever；　but　he　could　not　see　any　bottom　to　it。
　　　　　　　〃The　Eye　of　the　World；〃　Moiraine　said　softly　beside　him。
　　　　　　　As　he　looked　around　in　wonder；　he　realized　that　the　long　years　since　the　making…three　thousand　of　them…had　worked　their　way　while　no　one　came。　Not　all　the　crystals　in　the　dome　glowed　with　the　same　intensity。　Some　were　stronger；　some　weaker；　some　flickered；　and　others　were　only　faceted　lumps　to　sparkle　in　a　captured　light。　Had　all　shone；　the　dome　would　have　been　as　bright　as　noonday；　but　they　made　it　only　late　afternoon；　now。　Dust　coated　the　walkway；　and　bits　of　stone　and　even　crystal。　Long　years　waiting；　while　the　Wheel　turned　and　ground。
　　　　　　　〃But　what　is　it？〃　Mat　asked　uneasily。　〃That　doesn't　look　like　any　water　I　ever　saw。〃　He　kicked　a　lump　of　dark　stone　the　size　of　his　fist　over　the　edge。　〃It　…　〃
　　　　　　　The　stone　struck　the　glassy　surface　and　slid　into　the　pool　without　a　splash；　or　so　much　as　a　ripple。　As　it　sank；　the　rock　began　to　swell；　growing　ever　larger；　larger　and　more　attenuated；　a　blob　the　size　of　his　head　that　Rand　could　almost　see　through；　a　faint　blur　as　wide　as　his　arm　was　long。　Then　it　was　gone。　He　thought　his　skin　would　creep　right　off　his　body。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　he　demanded；　and　was　shocked　at　the　hoarse　harshness　of　his　own　voice。
　　　　　　　〃It　might　be　called　the　essence　of　saidin。〃　The　Aes　Sedai's　words　echoed　round　the　dome。　〃The　essence　of　the　male　half　of　the　True　Source；　the　pure　essence　of　the　Power　wielded　by　men　before　the　Time　of　Madness。　The　Power　to　mend　the　seal　on　the　Dark　One's　prison；　or　to　break　it　open　pletely。　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　shine　on　us　and　protect　us；〃　Nynaeve　whispered。　Egwene　clutched　her　as　if　she　wanted　to　hide　behind　the　Wisdom。　Even　Lan　stirred　uneasily；　though　there　was　no　surprise　in　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　Stone　thudded　into　Rand's　shoulders；　and　he　realized　he　had　backed　as　far　as　the　wall；　as　far　from　the　Eye　of　the　World　as　he　could　get。　He　would　have　pushed　himself　right　through　the　wall；　if　he　could　have。　Mat；　too；　was　splayed　out　against　the　stone　as　flat　as　he　could　make　himself。　Perrin　was　staring　at　the　pool　with　his　axe　half　drawn。　His　eyes　shone；　yellow　and　fierce。
　　　　　　　〃I　always　wondered；〃　Loial　said　uneasily。　〃When　I　read　about　it；　I　always　wondered　what　it　was。　Why？　Why　did　they　do　it？　And　how？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　one　living　knows。〃　Moiraine　no　longer　looked　at　the　pool。　She　was　watching　Rand　and　his　two　friends；　studying　them；　her　eyes　weighing。　〃Neither　the　how；　nor　more　of　the　why　than　that　it　would　be　needed　one　day；　and　that　that　need　would　be　the　greatest　and　most　desperate　the　world　had　faced　to　that　time。　Perhaps　ever　would　face。
　　　　　　　〃Many　in　Tar　Valon　have　attempted　to　find　a　way　to　use　this　Power；　but　it　is　as　untouchable　for　any　woman　as　the　moon　is　for　a　cat。　Only　a　man　could　channel　it；　but　the　last　male　Aes　Sedai　is　nearly　three　thousand　years　gone。　Yet　the　need　they　saw　was　a　desperate　one。　They　worked　through　the　taint　of　the　Dark　One　on　saidin　to　make　it；　and　make　it　pure；　knowing　that　doing　so　would　ki