rj.eyeoftheworld-第43部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


om　Taren　Ferry　to　the　White　River；　but　Lan　always　said　it　was　just　a　short　journey　whenever　he　was　asked；　hardly　worth　calling　a　journey　at　all。　It　made　him　feel　lost。
　　　　　　　Lan　appeared　ahead　of　them　in　the　woods；　returning　from　one　of　his　forays。　He　reined　in　and　rode　beside　Moiraine；　his　head　bent　close　to　hers。
　　　　　　　Rand　grimaced；　but　he　did　not　ask　any　questions。　Lan　simply　refused　to　acknowledge　all　such　questions　aimed　at　him。
　　　　　　　Only　Egwene；　among　the　others；　even　appeared　to　notice　Lan's　return；　so　used　to　this　arrangement　had　they　bee；　and　she　kept　back；　too。　The　Aes　Sedai　might　have　begun　acting　as　if　Egwene　were　in　charge　of　the　Emond's　Fielders；　but　that　gave　her　no　say　when　the　Warder　made　his　reports。　Perrin　was　carrying　Mat's　bow；　wrapped　in　the　thoughtful　silence　that　seemed　to　take　them　all　more　and　more　as　they　got　further　from　the　Two　Rivers。　The　horses'　slow　walk　allowed　Mat　to　practice　juggling　three　small　stones　under　Thom　Merrilin's　watchful　eye。　The　gleeman　had　given　lessons　each　night；　too；　as　well　as　Lan。
　　　　　　　Lan　finished　whatever　he　had　been　telling　Moiraine；　and　she　twisted　in　her　saddle　to　look　back　at　the　others。　Rand　tried　not　to　stiffen　when　her　eyes　moved　across　him。　Did　they　linger　on　him　a　moment　longer　than　on　anyone　else？　He　had　the　queasy　feeling　that　she　knew　who　had　been　listening　in　the　darkness　that　night。
　　　　　　　〃Hey；　Rand；〃　Mat　called；　〃I　can　juggle　four！〃　Rand　waved　in　reply　without　looking　around。　〃I　told　you　I'd　get　to　four　before　you。　I　…　Look！〃
　　　　　　　They　had　topped　a　low　hill；　and　below　them；　a　scant　mile　away　through　the　stark　trees　and　the　stretching　shadows　of　evening；　lay　Baerlon。　Rand　gasped；　trying　to　smile　and　gape　at　the　same　time。
　　　　　　　A　log　wall；　nearly　twenty　feet　tall；　surrounded　the　town；　with　wooden　watchtowers　scattered　along　its　length。　Within；　rooftops　of　slate　and　tile　glinted　with　the　sinking　sun；　and　feathers　of　smoke　drifted　upward　from　chimneys。　Hundreds　of　chimneys。　There　was　not　a　thatched　roof　to　be　seen。　A　broad　road　ran　east　from　the　town；　and　another　west；　each　with　at　least　a　dozen　wagons　and　twice　as　many　ox…carts　trudging　toward　the　palisade。　Farms　lay　scattered　about　the　town；　thickest　to　the　north　while　only　a　few　broke　the　forest　to　the　south；　but　they　might　as　well　not　have　existed　so　far　as　Rand　was　concerned。　It's　bigger　than　Emond's　Field　and　Watch　Hill　and　Deven　Ride　all　put　together！　And　maybe　Taren　Ferry；　too。
　　　　　　　〃So　that's　a　city；〃　Mat　breathed；　leaning　forward　across　his　horse's　neck　to　stare。
　　　　　　　Perrin　could　only　shake　his　head。　〃How　can　so　many　people　live　in　one　place？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　simply　stared。
　　　　　　　Thom　Merrilin　glanced　at　Mat；　then　rolled　his　eyes　and　blew　out　his　moustaches。　〃City！〃　he　snorted。
　　　　　　　〃And　you；　Rand？〃　Moiraine　said。　〃What　do　you　think　of　your　first　sight　of　Baerlon？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　it's　a　long　way　from　home；〃　he　said　slowly；　bringing　a　sharp　laugh　from　Mat。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　further　to　go　yet；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Much　further。　But　there　is　no　other　choice；　except　to　run　and　hide　and　run　again　for　the　rest　of　your　lives。　And　short　lives　they　would　be。　You　must　remember　that；　when　the　journey　bees　hard。　You　have　no　choice。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　exchanged　glances　with　Mat　and　Perrin。　By　their　faces；　they　were　thinking　the　same　thing　he　was。　How　could　she　talk　as　if　they　had　any　choice　after　what　she　had　said？　The　Aes　Sedai's　made　our　choices。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　went　on　as　if　their　thoughts　were　not　plain。　〃The　danger　begins　again　here。　Watch　what　you　say　within　those　walls。　Above　all；　do　not　mention　Trollocs；　or　Halfmen；　or　any　such。　You　must　not　even　think　of　the　Dark　One。　Some　in　Baerlon　have　even　less　love　for　Aes　Sedai　than　do　the　people　of　Emond's　Field；　and　there　may　even　be　Darkfriends。〃　Egwene　gasped；　and　Perrin　muttered　under　his　breath。　Mat's　face　paled；　but　Moiraine　went　on　calmly。　〃We　must　attract　as　little　attention　as　possible。〃　Lan　was　exchanging　his　cloak　of　shifting　grays　and　greens　for　one　of　dark　brown；　more　ordinary；　though　of　fine　cut　and　weave。　His　color…changing　cloak　made　a　large　bulge　in　one　of　his　saddlebags。　〃We　do　not　go　by　our　own　names　here；〃　Moiraine　continued。　〃Here　I　am　known　as　Alys；　and　Lan　is　Andra。　Remember　that。　Good。　Let　us　be　within　the　walls　before　night　catches　us。　The　gates　of　Baerlon　are　closed　from　sundown　to　sunrise。〃
　　　　　　　Lan　led　the　way　down　the　hill　and　through　the　woods　toward　the　log　wall。　The　road　passed　half　a　dozen　farms…none　lay　close；　and　none　of　the　people　finishing　their　chores　seemed　to　notice　the　travelers…ending　at　heavy　wooden　gates　bound　with　wide　straps　of　black　iron。　They　were　closed　tight；　even　if　the　sun　was　not　down　yet。
　　　　　　　Lan　rode　close　to　the　wall　and　gave　a　tug　to　a　frayed　rope　hanging　down　beside　the　gates。　A　bell　clanged　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall。　Abruptly　a　wizened　face　under　a　battered　cloth　cap　peered　down　suspiciously　from　atop　the　wall；　glaring　between　the　cut…off　ends　of　two　of　the　logs；　a　good　three　spans　over　their　heads。
　　　　　　　〃What's　all　this；　eh？　It's　too　late　in　the　day　to　be　opening　this　gate。　Too　late；　I　say。　Go　around　to　the　Whitebridge　Gate　if　you　want　to　…　〃　Moiraine's　mare　moved　out　to　where　the　man　atop　the　wall　had　a　clear　view　of　her。　Suddenly　his　wrinkles　deepened　in　a　gap…toothed　smile；　and　he　seemed　to　quiver　between　speaking　and　doing　his　duty。　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　you；　mistress。　Wait。　I'll　be　right　down。　Just　wait。　I'm　ing。　I'm　ing。〃
　　　　　　　The　head　dipped　out　of　sight；　but　Rand　could　still　hear　muffled　shouts　for　them　to　stay　where　they　were；　that　he　was　ing。　With　great　creaks　of　disuse；　the　right…hand　gate　slowly　swung　outward。　It　stopped　when　open　just　wide　enough　for　one　horse　to　pass　through　at　a　time；　and　the　gatekeeper　poked　his　head　into　the　gap；　flashed　his　half…toothless　smile　at　them　again　and　darted　back　out　of　the　way。　Moiraine　followed　Lan　through；　with　Egwene　right　behind　her。
　　　　　　　Rand　trotted　Cloud　after　Bela　and　found　himself　in　a　narrow　street　fronted　by　high　wooden　fences　and　warehouses；　tall　and　windowless；　broad　doors　closed　up　tight。　Moiraine　and　Lan　were　already　on　foot；　speaking　to　the　wrinkle…faced　gatekeeper；　so　Rand　dismounted；　too。
　　　　　　　The　little　man；　in　a　much…mended　cloak　and　coat；　held　his　cloth　cap　crumpled　in　one　hand　and　ducked　his　head　whenever　he　spoke。　He　peered　at　those　dismounting　behind　Lan　and　Moiraine；　and　shook　his　head。　〃Downcountry　folk。〃　He　grinned。　〃Why；　Mistress　Alys；　you　taken　up　collecting　downcountry　folk　with　hay　in　their　hair？〃　His　look　took　in　Thom　Merrilin；　then。　〃You　ain't　a　sheepfarmer。　I　remember　letting　you　go　through　some　days　back；　I　do。　Didn't　like　your　tricks　downcountry；　eh；　gleeman？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　you　remembered　to　forget　letting　us　through；　Master　Avin；〃　Lan　said；　pressing　a　coin　into　the　man's　free　hand。　〃And　letting　us　back　in；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　need　for　that；　Master　Andra。　No　need　for　that。　You　give　me　plenty　when　you　went　out。　Plenty。〃　Just　the　same；　Avin　made　the　coin　disappear　as　deftly　as　if　he　were　a　gleeman；　too。　〃I　ain't　told　nobody；　and　I　won't；　neither。　Especially　not　them　Whitecloaks；〃　he　finished　with　a　scowl。　He　pursed　up　his　lips　to　spit；　then　glanced　at　Moiraine　and　swallowed；　instead。
　　　　　　　Rand　blinked；　but　kept　his　mouth　shut。　The　others　did；　too；　though　it　appeared　to　be　an　effort　for　Mat。　Children　of　the　Light；　Rand　thought　wonderingly。　Stories　told　about　the　Children　by　peddlers　and　merchants　and　merchants'　guards　varied　from　admiration　to　hatred；　but　all　agreed　the　Children　hated　Aes　Sedai　as　much　as　they　did　Darkfriends。　He　wondered　if　this　was　more　trouble　already。
　　　　　　　〃The　Children　are　in　Baerlon？〃　Lan　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃They　surely　are。〃　The　gatekeeper　bobbed　his　head。　〃Came　the　same　day　you　left；　as　I　recall。　Ain't　nobody　here　likes　them　at　all。　Most　don't　let　on；　of　course。〃
　　　　　　　〃Have　they　said　why　they　are　here？〃　Moiraine　asked　intently。
　　　　　　　〃Why　they're　here；　mistress？〃　Avin　was　so　astonished　he　forgot　to　duck　his　head。　〃Of　course；　they　said　why　…　Oh；　I　forgot。　You　been　downcountry。　Likely　you　ain't　heard　nothing　but　sheep　bleating。　They　say　they're　here　because　of　what's　going　on　down　in　Ghealdan。　The　Dragon；　you　know　…　well；　him　as　calls　himself　Dragon。　They　say　the　fellow's　stirring　up　evil　…　which　I　expect　he　is　…　and　they're　here　to　stamp　it　out；　only　he's　down　there　in　Ghealdan；　not　here。　Just　an　excuse　to　meddle　in　other　people's　business；　is　what　I　figure。　There's　already　been　the　Dragon's　Fang　on　some　people's　doors。〃　This　time　he　did　spit。
　　　　　　　〃Have　they　caused　much　trouble；　then？〃　Lan　said；　and　Avin　shook　his　head　vigorously。
　　　　　　　〃Not　that　they　don't　want　to；　I　expect；　only　the　Governor　don't　trust　them　no　more　than　I　do。　He　won't　let　but　maybe　ten　or　so　inside　the　walls　at　one　time；　and　ain't　they　mad　about　that。　The　rest　have　a　camp　a　little　ways　north；　I　hear。　Bet　they　got　the　farmers　looking　over　their　shoulders。　The　ones　that　do　e　in；　they　just　stalk　around　in　those　white　cloaks；　looking　down　their　noses　at　honest　folk。　Walk　in　the　Light；　they　say；　and　it's　an　order。　Near　e　to　blows　more　than　once　with　the　wagoneers　and　miners　and　smelters　and　all；　and　even　the　Watch；　but　the　Governor　wants　it　all　peaceful；　and　that's　how　it's　been　so　far。　If