rj.eyeoftheworld-第3部分

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ut　of　trouble。　Worst　of　all　were　those　who　paused　thoughtfully　at　about　that　point；　then　asked　with　elaborate　casualness　exactly　how　old　he　was　now。
　　　　　　　Like　most　Two　Rivers　folk；　Rand　had　a　strong　stubborn　streak。　Outsiders　sometimes　said　it　was　the　prime　trait　of　people　in　the　Two　Rivers；　that　they　could　give　mules　lessons　and　teach　stones。　The　goodwives　were　fine　and　kindly　women　for　the　most　part；　but　he　hated　being　pushed　into　anything；　and　they　made　him　feel　as　if　he　were　being　prodded　with　sticks。　So　he　walked　fast；　and　wished　Tam　would　hurry　Bela　along。
　　　　　　　Soon　the　street　opened　onto　the　Green；　a　broad　expanse　in　the　middle　of　the　village。　Usually　covered　with　thick　grass；　the　Green　this　spring　showed　only　a　few　fresh　patches　among　the　yellowish　brown　of　dead　grass　and　the　black　of　bare　earth。　A　double　handful　of　geese　waddled　about；　beadily　eyeing　the　ground　but　not　finding　anything　worth　pecking；　and　someone　had　tethered　a　milkcow　to　crop　the　sparse　growth。
　　　　　　　Toward　the　west　end　of　the　Green；　the　Winespring　itself　gushed　out　of　a　low　stone　outcrop　in　a　flow　that　never　failed；　a　flow　strong　enough　to　knock　a　man　down　and　sweet　enough　to　justify　its　name　a　dozen　times　over。　From　the　spring　the　rapidly　widening　Winespring　Water　ran　swiftly　off　to　the　east；　willows　dotting　its　banks　all　the　way　to　Master　Thane's　mill　and　beyond；　until　it　split　into　dozens　of　streams　in　the　swampy　depths　of　the　Waterwood。　Two　low；　railed　footbridges　crossed　the　clear　stream　at　the　Green；　and　one　bridge；　wider　than　the　others　and　stout　enough　to　bear　wagons。　The　Wagon　Bridge　marked　where　the　North　Road；　ing　down　from　Taren　Ferry　and　Watch　Hill；　became　the　Old　Road；　leading　to　Deven　Ride。　Outsiders　sometimes　found　it　funny　that　the　road　had　one　name　to　the　north　and　another　to　the　south；　but　that　was　the　way　it　had　always　been；　as　far　as　anyone　in　Emond's　Field　knew；　and　that　was　that。　It　was　a　good　enough　reason　for　Two　Rivers　people。
　　　　　　　On　the　far　side　of　the　bridges；　the　mounds　were　already　building　for　the　Bel　Tine　fires；　three　careful　stacks　of　logs　almost　as　big　as　houses。　They　had　to　be　on　cleared　dirt；　of　course；　not　on　the　Green；　even　sparse　as　it　was。　What　of　Festival　did　not　take　place　around　the　fires　would　happen　on　the　Green。
　　　　　　　Near　the　Winespring　a　score　of　older　women　sang　softly　as　they　erected　the　Spring　Pole。　Shorn　of　its　branches；　the　straight；　slender　trunk　of　a　fir　tree　stood　ten　feet　high　even　in　the　hole　they　had　dug　for　it。　A　knot　of　girls　too　young　to　wear　their　hair　braided　sat　cross…legged　and　watched　enviously；　occasionally　singing　snatches　of　the　song　the　women　sang。
　　　　　　　Tam　clucked　at　Bela　as　if　to　make　her　speed　her　pace；　though　she　ignored　it；　and　Rand　studiously　kept　his　eyes　from　what　the　women　were　doing。　In　the　morning　the　men　would　pretend　to　be　surprised　to　find　the　Pole；　then　at　noon　the　unmarried　women　would　dance　the　Pole；　entwining　it　with　long；　colored　ribbons　while　the　unmarried　men　sang。　No　one　knew　when　the　custom　began　or　why…　it　was　another　thing　that　was　the　way　it　had　always　been　…　but　it　was　an　excuse　to　sing　and　dance；　and　nobody　in　the　Two　Rivers　needed　much　excuse　for　that。
　　　　　　　The　whole　day　of　Bel　Tine　would　be　taken　up　with　singing　and　dancing　and　feasting；　with　time　out　for　footraces；　and　contests　in　almost　everything。　Prizes　would　be　given　not　only　in　archery；　but　for　the　best　with　the　sling；　and　the　quarterstaff。　There　would　be　contests　at　solving　riddles　and　puzzles；　at　the　rope　tug；　and　lifting　and　tossing　weights；　prizes　for　the　best　singer；　the　best　dancer　and　the　best　fiddle　player；　for　the　quickest　to　shear　a　sheep；　even　the　best　at　bowls；　and　at　darts。
　　　　　　　Bel　Tine　was　supposed　to　e　when　spring　had　well　and　truly　arrived；　the　first　lambs　born　and　the　first　crop　up。　Even　with　the　cold　hanging　on；　though；　no　one　had　any　idea　of　putting　it　off。　Everyone　could　use　a　little　singing　and　dancing。　And　to　top　everything；　if　the　rumors　could　be　believed；　a　grand　display　of　fireworks　was　planned　for　the　Green　…　if　the　first　peddler　of　the　year　appeared　in　time；　of　course。　That　had　been　causing　considerable　talk；　it　was　ten　years　since　the　last　such　display；　and　that　was　still　talked　about。
　　　　　　　The　Winespring　Inn　stood　at　the　east　end　of　the　Green；　hard　beside　the　Wagon　Bridge。　The　first　floor　of　the　inn　was　river　rock；　though　the　foundation　was　of　older　stone　some　said　came　from　the　mountains。　The　white…washed　second　story　…　where　Brandelwyn　al'Vere；　the　innkeeper　and　Mayor　of　Emond's　Field　for　the　past　twenty　years；　lived　in　the　back　with　his　wife　and　daughters…jutted　out　over　the　lower　floor　all　the　way　around。　Red　roof　tile；　the　only　such　roof　in　the　village；　glittered　in　the　weak　sunlight；　and　smoke　drifted　from　three　of　the　inn's　dozen　tall　chimneys。
　　　　　　　At　the　south　end　of　the　inn；　away　from　the　stream；　stretched　the　remains　of　a　much　larger　stone　foundation；　once　part　of　the　inn　…　or　so　it　was　said。　A　huge　oak　grew　in　the　middle　of　it　now；　with　a　bole　thirty　paces　around　and　spreading　branches　as　thick　as　a　man。　In　the　summer；　Bran　al'Vere　set　tables　and　benches　under　those　branches；　shady　with　leaves　then；　where　people　could　enjoy　a　cup　and　a　cooling　breeze　while　they　talked　or　perhaps　set　out　a　board　for　a　game　of　stones。
　　　　　　　〃Here　we　are；　lad。〃　Tam　reached　for　Bela's　harness；　but　she　stopped　in　front　of　the　inn　before　his　hand　touched　leather。　〃Knows　the　way　better　than　I　do〃；　he　chuckled。
　　　　　　　As　the　last　creak　of　the　axle　faded；　Bran　al'Vere　appeared　from　the　inn；　seeming　as　always　to　step　too　lightly　for　a　man　of　his　girth；　nearly　double　that　of　anyone　else　in　the　village。　A　smile　split　his　round　face；　which　was　topped　by　a　sparse　fringe　of　gray　hair。　The　innkeeper　was　in　his　shirtsleeves　despite　the　chill；　with　a　spotless　white　apron　wrapped　around　him。　A　silver　medallion　in　the　form　of　a　set　of　balance　scales　hung　on　his　chest。
　　　　　　　The　medallion；　along　with　the　full…size　set　of　scales　used　to　weigh　the　coins　of　the　merchants　who　came　down　from　Baerlon　for　wool　or　tabac；　was　the　symbol　of　the　Mayor's　office。　Bran　only　wore　it　for　dealing　with　the　merchants　and　for　festivals；　feastdays；　and　weddings。　He　had　it　on　a　day　early　now；　but　that　night　was　Winternight；　the　night　before　Bel　Tine；　when　everyone　would　visit　back　and　forth　almost　the　whole　night　long；　exchanging　small　gifts；　having　a　bite　to　eat　and　a　touch　to　drink　at　every　house。　After　the　winter；　Rand　thought；　he　probably　considers　Winternight　excuse　enough　not　to　wait　until　tomorrow。
　　　　　　　〃Tam；〃　the　Mayor　shouted　as　he　hurried　toward　them。　〃The　Light　shine　on　me；　it's　good　to　see　you　at　last。　And　you；　Rand。　How　are　you；　my　boy？〃
　　　　　　　〃Fine；　Master　al'Vere；〃　Rand　said。　〃And　you；　sir？〃　But　Bran's　attention　was　already　back　on　Tam。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　almost　beginning　to　think　you　wouldn't　be　bringing　your　brandy　this　year。　You've　never　waited　so　late　before。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　no　liking　for　leaving　the　farm　these　days；　Bran；〃　Tam　replied。　〃Not　with　the　wolves　the　way　they　are。　And　the　weather。〃
　　　　　　　Bran　harrumphed。　〃I　could　wish　somebody　wanted　to　talk　about　something　besides　the　weather。　Everyone　plains　about　it；　and　folk　who　should　know　better　expect　me　to　set　it　right。　I've　just　spent　twenty　minutes　explaining　to　Mistress　al'Donel　that　I　can　do　nothing　about　the　storks。　Though　what　she　expected　me　to　do　。。。　〃　He　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃An　ill　omen；〃　a　scratchy　voice　announced；　〃no　storks　nesting　on　the　rooftops　at　Bel　Tine。〃　Cenn　Buie；　as　gnarled　and　dark　as　an　old　root；　marched　up　to　Tam　and　Bran　and　leaned　on　his　walking　staff；　near　as　tall　as　he　was　and　just　as　gnarled。　He　tried　to　fix　both　men　at　once　with　a　beady　eye。　〃There's　worse　to　e；　you　mark　my　words。〃
　　　　　　　〃Have　you　bee　a　soothsayer；　then；　interpreting　omens？〃　Tam　asked　dryly。　〃Or　do　you　listen　to　the　wind；　like　a　Wisdom？　There's　certainly　enough　of　it。　Some　originating　not　far　from　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mock　if　you　will；〃　Cenn　muttered；　〃but　if　it　doesn't　warm　enough　for　crops　to　sprout　soon；　more　than　one　root　cellar　will　e　up　empty　before　there's　a　harvest。　By　next　winter　there　may　be　nothing　left　alive　in　the　Two　Rivers　but　wolves　and　ravens。　If　it　is　next　winter　at　all。　Maybe　it　will　still　be　this　winter。〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　what　is　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　Bran　said　sharply。
　　　　　　　Cenn　gave　them　a　sour　look。　〃I've　not　much　good　to　say　about　Nynaeve　al'Meara。　You　know　that。　For　one　thing；　she's　too　young　to　…　No　matter。　The　Women's　Circle　seems　to　object　to　the　Village　Council　even　talking　about　their　business；　though　they　interfere　in　ours　whenever　they　want　to；　which　is　most　of　the　time；　or　so　it　seems　to　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Cenn；〃　Tam　broke　in；　〃is　there　a　point　to　this？〃
　　　　　　　〃This　is　the　point；　al'Thor。　Ask　the　Wisdom　when　the　winter　will　end；　and　she　walks　away。　Maybe　she　doesn't　want　to　tell　us　what　she　hears　on　the　wind。　Maybe　what　she　hears　is　that　the　winter　won't　end。　Maybe　it's　just　going　to　go　on　being　winter　until　the　Wheel　turns　and　the　Age　ends。　There's　your　point。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　sheep　will　fly；〃　Tam　retorted；　and　Bran　threw　up　his　hands。　〃The　Light　protect　me　from　fools。　You　sitting　on　the　Village　Council；　Cenn；　and　now　you're　spreading　that　Coplin　talk。　Well；　you　listen　to　me。　We　have　enough　p