rj.eyeoftheworld-第52部分

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　streets。　Rand　made　an　effort　to　listen；　and　even　to　say　something　now　and　then；　but　it　was　an　effort。　He　was　not　tired；　he　did　not　want　to　sleep。　He　just　felt　as　if　he　were　drifting。　After　a　while　he　found　himself　telling　Mat　about　Min。
　　　　　　　〃A　dagger　with　a　ruby；　eh？〃　Mat　said。　〃I　like　that。　I　don't　know　about　the　eye；　though。　Are　you　sure　she　wasn't　making　it　up？　It　seems　to　me　she　would　know　what　it　all　means　if　she　really　is　a　soothsayer。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　didn't　say　she's　a　soothsayer；〃　Rand　said。　〃I　believe　she　does　see　things。　Remember；　Moiraine　was　talking　to　her　when　we　finished　our　baths。　And　she　knows　who　Moiraine　is。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　frowned　at　him。　〃I　thought　we　weren't　supposed　to　use　that　name。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Rand　muttered。　He　rubbed　his　head　with　both　hands。　It　was　so　hard　to　concentrate　on　anything。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　maybe　you　really　are　sick；〃　Mat　said；　still　frowning。　Suddenly　he　pulled　Rand　to　a　stop　by　his　coat　sleeve。　〃Look　at　them。〃
　　　　　　　Three　men　in　breastplates　and　conical　steel　caps；　burnished　till　they　shone　like　silver；　were　making　their　way　down　the　street　toward　Rand　and　Mat。　Even　the　mail　on　their　arms　gleamed。　Their　long　cloaks；　pristine　white　and　embroidered　on　the　left　breast　with　a　golden　sunburst；　just　cleared　the　mud　and　puddles　of　the　street。　Their　hands　rested　on　their　sword　hilts；　and　they　looked　around　them　as　if　looking　at　things　that　had　wriggled　out　from　under　a　rotting　log。　Nobody　looked　back；　though。　Nobody　even　seemed　to　notice　them。　Just　the　same；　the　three　did　not　have　to　push　through　the　crowd；　the　bustle　parted　to　either　side　of　the　white…cloaked　men　as　if　by　happenstance；　leaving　them　to　walk　in　a　clear　space　that　moved　with　them。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　suppose　they're　Children　of　the　Light？〃　Mat　asked　in　a　loud　voice。　A　passerby　looked　hard　at　Mat；　then　quickened　his　pace。
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded。　Children　of　the　Light。　Whitecloaks。　Men　who　hated　Aes　Sedai。　Men　who　told　people　how　to　live；　causing　trouble　for　those　who　refused　to　obey。　If　burned　farms　and　worse　could　be　called　as　mild　as　trouble。　I　should　be　afraid；　he　thought。　Or　curious。　Something；　at　any　rate。　Instead　he　stared　at　them　passively。
　　　　　　　〃They　don't　look　like　so　much　to　me；〃　Mat　said。　〃Full　of　themselves；　though；　aren't　they？〃
　　　　　　　〃They　don't　matter；〃　Rand　said。　〃The　inn。　We　have　to　talk　to　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　〃Like　Eward　Congar。　He　always　has　his　nose　in　the　air；　too。〃　Suddenly　Mat　grinned；　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。　〃Remember　when　he　fell　off　the　Wagon　Bridge　and　had　to　tramp　home　dripping　wet？　That　took　him　down　a　peg　for　a　month。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　that　have　to　do　with　Perrin？〃
　　　　　　　〃See　that？〃　Mat　pointed　to　a　cart　resting　on　its　shafts　in　an　alleyway　just　ahead　of　the　Children。　A　single　stake　held　a　dozen　stacked　barrels　in　place　on　the　flat　bed。　〃Watch。〃　Laughing；　he　darted　into　a　cutler's　shop　to　their　left。
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　after　him；　knowing　he　should　do　something。　That　look　in　Mat's　eyes　always　meant　one　of　his　tricks。　But　oddly；　he　found　himself　looking　forward　to　whatever　Mat　was　going　to　do。　Something　told　him　that　feeling　was　wrong；　that　it　was　dangerous；　but　he　smiled　in　anticipation　anyway。
　　　　　　　In　a　minute　Mat　appeared　above　him；　climbing　half　out　of　an　attic　window　onto　the　tile　roof　of　the　shop。　His　sling　was　in　his　hands；　already　beginning　to　whirl。　Rand's　eyes　went　back　to　the　cart。　Almost　immediately　there　was　a　sharp　crack；　and　the　stake　holding　the　barrels　broke　just　as　the　Whitecloaks　came　abreast　of　the　alley。　People　jumped　out　of　the　way　as　the　barrels　rolled　down　the　cart　shafts　with　an　empty　rumble　and　jounced　into　the　street；　splashing　mud　and　muddy　water　in　every　direction。　The　three　Children　jumped　no　less　quickly　than　anyone　else；　their　superior　looks　replaced　by　surprise。　Some　passersby　fell　down；　making　more　splashes；　but　the　three　moved　agilely；　avoiding　the　barrels　with　ease。　They　could　not　avoid　the　flying　mud　that　splattered　their　white　
cloaks；　though。
　　　　　　　A　bearded　man　in　a　long　apron　hurried　out　of　the　alley；　waving　his　arms　and　shouting　angrily；　but　one　look　at　the　three　trying　vainly　to　shake　the　mud　from　their　cloaks　and　he　vanished　back　into　the　alley　even　faster　than　he　had　e　out。　Rand　glanced　up　at　the　shop　roof；　Mat　was　gone。　It　had　been　an　easy　shot　for　any　Two　Rivers　lad；　but　the　effect　was　certainly　all　that　could　be　hoped　for。　He　couId　not　help　laughing；　the　humor　seemed　to　be　wrapped　in　wool；　but　it　was　still　funny。　When　he　turned　back　to　the　street；　the　three　Whitecloaks　were　staring　straight　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　find　something　funny；　yes？〃　The　one　who　spoke　stood　a　little　in　front　of　the　others。　He　wore　an　arrogant；　unblinking　look；　with　a　light　in　his　eyes　as　if　he　knew　something　important；　something　no　one　else　knew。
　　　　　　　Rand's　laughter　cut　off　short。　He　and　the　Children　were　alone　with　the　mud　and　the　barrels。　The　crowd　that　had　been　all　around　them　had　found　urgent　business　up　or　down　the　street。
　　　　　　　〃Does　fear　of　the　Light　hold　your　tongue？〃　Anger　made　the　Whitecloak's　narrow　face　seem　even　more　pinched。　He　glanced　dismissively　at　the　sword　hilt　sticking　out　from　Rand's　cloak。　〃Perhaps　you　are　responsible　for　this；　yes？〃　Unlike　the　others　he　had　a　golden　knot　beneath　the　sunburst　on　his　cloak。
　　　　　　　Rand　moved　to　cover　the　sword；　but　instead　swept　his　cloak　back　over　his　shoulder。　In　the　back　of　his　head　was　a　frantic　wonder　at　what　he　was　doing；　but　it　was　a　distant　thought。　〃Accidents　happen；〃　he　said。　〃Even　to　the　Children　of　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　The　narrow…faced　man　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃You　are　that　dangerous；　youngling？〃　He　was　not　much　older　than　Rand。
　　　　　　　〃Heron…mark；　Lord　Bornhald；〃　one　of　the　others　said　warningly。
　　　　　　　The　narrow…faced　man　glanced　at　Rand's　sword　hilt　again　…　the　bronze　heron　was　plain　…　and　his　eyes　widened　momentarily。　Then　his　gaze　rose　to　Rand's　face；　and　he　sniffed　dismissively。　〃He　is　too　young。　You　are　not　from　this　place；　yes？〃　he　said　coldly　to　Rand。　〃You　e　from　where？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　just　arrived　in　Baerlon。　〃　A　tingling　thrill　ran　along　Rand's　arms　and　legs。　He　felt　flushed；　almost　warm。　〃You　wouldn't　know　of　a　good　inn；　would　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　avoid　my　questions；〃　Bornhald　snapped。　〃What　evil　is　in　you　that　you　do　not　answer　me？〃　His　panions　moved　up　to　either　side　of　him；　faces　hard　and　expressionless。　Despite　the　mudstains　on　their　cloaks；　there　was　nothing　funny　about　them　now。
　　　　　　　The　tingling　filled　Rand；　the　heat　had　grown　to　a　fever。　He　wanted　to　laugh；　it　felt　so　good。　A　small　voice　in　his　head　shouted　that　something　was　wrong；　but　all　he　could　think　of　was　how　full　of　energy　he　felt；　nearly　bursting　with　it。　Smiling；　he　rocked　on　his　heels　and　waited　for　what　was　going　to　happen。　Vaguely；　distantly；　he　wondered　what　it　would　be。
　　　　　　　The　leader's　face　darkened。　One　of　the　others　drew　his　sword　enough　for　an　inch　of　steel　to　show　and　spoke　in　a　voice　quivering　with　anger。　〃When　the　Children　of　the　Light　ask　questions；　you　gray…eyed　bumpkin；　we　expect　answers；　or　…　〃　He　cut　off　as　the　narrow…faced　man　threw　an　arm　across　his　chest。　Bornald　jerked　his　head　up　the　street。
　　　　　　　The　Town　Watch　had　arrived；　a　dozen　men　in　round　steel　caps　and　studded　leather　jerkins；　carrying　quarterstaffs　as　if　they　knew　how　to　use　them。　They　stood　watching；　silently；　from　ten　paces　off。
　　　　　　　〃This　town　has　lost　the　Light；〃　growled　the　man　who　had　half　drawn　his　sword。　He　rinsed　his　voice　to　shout　at　the　Watch。　〃Baerlon　stands　in　the　Shadow　of　the　Dark　One！〃　At　a　gesture　from　Bornhald　he　slammed　his　blade　back　into　its　scabbard。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　turned　his　attention　back　to　Rand。　The　light　of　knowing　burned　in　his　eyes。　〃Darkfriends　do　not　escape　us；　youngling；　even　in　a　town　that　stands　in　the　Shadow。　We　will　meet　again。　You　may　be　sure　of　it！〃
　　　　　　　He　spun　on　his　heel　and　strode　away；　his　two　panions　close　behind；　as　if　Rand　had　ceased　to　exist。　For　the　moment；　at　least。　When　they　reached　the　crowded　part　of　the　street；　the　same　seemingly　accidental　pocket　as　before　opened　around　them。　The　Watchmen　hesitated；　eyeing　Rand；　then　shouldered　their　quarterstaffs　and　followed　the　white…cloaked　three。　They　had　to　push　their　way　into　the　crowd；　shouting；　〃Make　way　for　the　Watch！〃　Few　did　make　way；　except　grudgingly。
　　　　　　　Rand　still　rocked　on　his　heels；　waiting。　The　tingle　was　so　strong　that　be　almost　quivered；　he　felt　as　if　he　were　burning　up。
　　　　　　　Mat　came　out　of　the　shop；　staring　at　him。　〃You　aren't　sick；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　are　crazy！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　abruptly　it　was　all　gone　like　a　pricked　bubble。　He　staggered　as　it　vanished；　the　realization　of　what　he　had　just　done　flooding　in　on　him。　Licking　his　lips；　he　met　Mat's　stare。　〃I　think　we　had　better　go　back　to　the　inn；　now；〃　he　said　unsteadily。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Mat　said。　〃Yes。　I　think　we　better　had。〃
　　　　　　　The　street　had　begun　to　fill　up　again；　and　more　than　one　passerby　stared　at　the　two　boys　and　murmured　something　to　a　panion。　Rand　was　sure　the　story　would　spread。　A　crazy　man　had　tried　to　start　a　fight　with　three　Children　of　the　Light。　That　was　something　to　talk　about。　Maybe　the　dreams　are　driving　me　crazy。
　　　　　　　The　two　lost　their　way　several　times　in　the　haphazard　streets；　but　after　a　while　they　fell　in　with　Thom　Merrilin；　mak