rj.eyeoftheworld-第78部分

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e　they　came　on　a　stone　tower；　broken…topped　and　brown　with　old　moss；　leaning　on　the　huge　oak　whose　thick　roots　were　slowly　toppling　it。　But　they　found　no　place　where　men　had　breathed　in　living　remembrance。　Memories　of　Shadar　Logoth　kept　them　away　from　the　ruins　and　hurried　their　footsteps　until　they　were　once　more　deep　in　places　that　seemed　never　to　have　known　a　human　footstep。
　　　　　　　Dreams　plagued　Perrin's　sleep；　fearful　dreams。　Ba'alzamon　was　in　them；　chasing　him　through　mazes；　hunting　him；　but　Perrin　never　met　him　face…to…face；　so　far　as　he　remembered。　And　their　journey　had　been　enough　to　bring　a　few　bad　dreams。　Egwene　plained　of　nightmares　about　Shadar　Logoth；　especially　the　two　nights　after　they　found　the　ruined　fort　and　the　abandoned　tower。　Perrin　kept　his　own　counsel　even　when　he　woke　sweating　and　shaking　in　the　dark。　She　was　looking　to　him　to　lead　them　safely　to　Caemlyn；　not　share　worries　about　which　they　could　do　nothing。
　　　　　　　He　was　walking　at　Bela's　head；　wondering　if　they　would　find　anything　to　eat　this　evening；　when　he　first　caught　the　smell。　The　mare　flared　her　nostrils　and　swung　her　head　in　the　next　moment。　He　seized　her　bridle　before　she　could　whicker。
　　　　　　　〃That's　smoke；〃　Egwene　said　excitedly。　She　leaned　forward　in　the　saddle；　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃A　cookfire。　Somebody　is　roasting　dinner。　Rabbit。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe；〃　Perrin　said　cautiously；　and　her　eager　smile　faded。　He　exchanged　his　sling　for　the　wicked　half…moon　of　the　axe。　His　hands　opened　and　closed　uncertainly　on　the　thick　haft。　It　was　a　weapon；　but　neither　his　hidden　practice　behind　the　forge　nor　Lan's　teachings　had　really　prepared　him　to　use　it　as　one。　Even　the　battle　before　Shadar　Logoth　was　too　vague　in　his　mind　to　give　him　any　confidence。　He　could　never　quite　manage　that　void　that　Rand　and　the　Warder　talked　about；　either。
　　　　　　　Sunlight　slanted　through　the　trees　behind　them；　and　the　forest　was　a　still　mass　of　dappled　shadows。　The　faint　smell　of　woodsmoke　drifted　around　them；　tinged　with　the　aroma　of　cooking　meat。　It　could　be　rabbit；　he　thought；　and　his　stomach　grumbled。　And　it　could　be　something　else；　he　reminded　himself。　He　looked　at　Egwene；　she　was　watching　him。　There　were　responsibilities　to　being　leader。
　　　　　　　〃Wait　here；〃　he　said　softly。　She　frowned；　but　he　cut　her　off　as　she　opened　her　mouth。　〃And　be　quiet！　We　don't　know　who　it　is；　yet。〃　She　nodded。　Reluctantly；　but　she　did　it。　Perrin　wondered　why　that　did　not　work　when　he　was　trying　to　make　her　take　his　turn　riding。　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　he　started　for　the　source　of　the　smoke。
　　　　　　　He　had　not　spent　as　much　time　in　the　forests　around　Emond's　Field　as　Rand　or　Mat；　but　still　he　had　done　his　share　of　hunting　rabbits。　He　crept　from　tree　to　tree　without　so　much　as　snapping　a　twig。　It　was　not　long　before　he　was　peering　around　the　bole　of　a　tall　oak　with　spreading；　serpentine　limbs　that　bent　to　touch　the　ground　then　rose　again。　Beyond　lay　a　campfire；　and　a　lean；　sun…browned　man　was　leaning　against　one　of　the　limbs　not　far　from　the　flames。
　　　　　　　At　least　he　was　not　a　Trolloc；　but　he　was　the　strangest　fellow　Perrin　had　ever　seen。　For　one　thing；　his　clothes　all　seemed　to　be　made　from　animal　skins；　with　the　fur　still　on；　even　his　boots　and　the　odd；　flat…topped　round　cap　on　his　head。　His　cloak　was　a　crazy　quilt　of　rabbit　and　squirrel；　his　trousers　appeared　to　be　made　from　the　long…haired　hide　of　a　brown　and　white　goat。　Gathered　at　the　back　of　his　neck　with　a　cord；　his　graying　brown　hair　hung　to　his　waist。　A　thick　beard　fanned　across　half　his　chest。　A　long　knife　hung　at　his　belt；　almost　a　sword；　and　a　bow　and　quiver　stood　propped　against　a　limb　close　to　hand。
　　　　　　　The　man　leaned　back　with　his　eyes　closed；　apparently　asleep；　but　Perrin　did　not　stir　from　his　concealment。　Six　sticks　slanted　over　the　fellow's　fire；　and　on　each　stick　a　rabbit　was　skewered；　roasted　brown　and　now　and　then　dripping　juice　that　hissed　in　the　flames。　The　smell　of　them；　so　close；　made　his　mouth　water。
　　　　　　　〃You　done　drooling？〃　The　man　opened　one　eye　and　cocked　it　at　Perrin's　hiding　place。　〃You　and　your　friend　might　as　well　sit　and　have　a　bite。　I　haven't　seen　you　eat　much　the　last　couple　of　days。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　hesitated；　then　stood　slowly；　still　gripping　his　axe　tightly。　〃You've　been　watching　me　for　two　days？〃
　　　　　　　The　man　chuckled　deep　in　his　throat。　〃Yes；　I　been　watching　you。　And　that　pretty　girl。　Pushes　you　around　like　a　bantam　rooster；　doesn't　she？　Heard　you；　mostly。　The　horse　is　the　only　one　of　you　doesn't　trample　around　loud　enough　to　be　heard　five　miles　off。　You　going　to　ask　her　in；　or　are　you　intending　to　eat　all　the　rabbit　yourself？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　bristled；　he　knew　he　did　not　make　much　noise。　You　could　not　get　close　enough　to　a　rabbit　in　the　Waterwood　to　fetch　it　with　a　sling　if　you　made　noise。　But　the　smell　of　rabbit　made　him　remember　that　Egwene　was　hungry；　too；　not　to　mention　waiting　to　discover　if　it　was　a　Trolloc　fire　they　had　smelled。
　　　　　　　He　slipped　the　haft　of　his　axe　through　the　belt　loop　and　raised　his　voice。　〃Egwene！　It's　all　right！　It　is　rabbit！〃　Offering　his　hand；　he　added　in　a　more　normal　tone；　〃My　name　is　Perrin。　Perrin　Aybara。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　considered　his　hand　before　taking　it　awkwardly；　as　if　unused　to　shaking　hands。　〃I'm　called　Elyas；〃　he　said；　looking　up。　〃Elyas　Machera。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　gasped；　and　nearly　dropped　Elyas's　hand。　The　man's　eyes　were　yellow；　like　bright；　polished　gold。　Some　memory　tickled　at　the　back　of　Perrin's　mind；　then　fled。　All　he　could　think　of　right　then　was　that　all　of　the　Trollocs'　eyes　he　had　seen　had　been　almost　black。
　　　　　　　Egwene　appeared；　cautiously　leading　Bela。　She　tied　the　mare's　reins　to　one　of　the　smaller　branches　of　the　oak；　and　made　polite　sounds　when　Perrin　introduced　her　to　Elyas；　but　her　eyes　kept　drifting　to　the　rabbits。　She　did　not　seem　to　notice　the　man's　eyes。　When　Elyas　motioned　them　to　the　food；　she　fell　to　with　a　will。　Perrin　hesitated　only　a　minute　longer　before　joining　her。
　　　　　　　Elyas　waited　silently　while　they　ate。　Perrin　was　so　hungry　he　tore　off　pieces　of　meat　so　hot　he　had　to　juggle　them　from　hand　to　hand　before　he　could　hold　them　in　his　mouth。　Even　Egwene　showed　little　of　her　usual　neatness；　greasy　juice　ran　down　her　chin。　Day　faded　into　twilight　before　they　began　to　slow　down；　moonless　darkness　closing　in　around　the　fire；　and　then　Elyas　spoke。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing　out　here？　There　isn't　a　house　inside　fifty　miles　in　any　direction。〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　going　to　Caemlyn；〃　Egwene　said。　〃Perhaps　you　could　…〃　Her　eyebrows　lifted　coolly　as　Elyas　threw　back　his　head　and　roared　with　laughter。　Perrin　stared　at　him；　a　rabbit　leg　half　raised　to　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃Caemlyn？〃　Elyas　wheezed　when　he　could　talk　again。　〃The　path　you're　following；　the　line　you've　taken　the　last　two　days；　you'll　pass　a　hundred　miles　or　more　north　of　Caemlyn。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　were　going　to　ask　directions；〃　Egwene　said　defensively。　〃We　just　haven't　found　any　villages　or　farms；　yet。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　none　you　will；〃　Elyas　said；　chuckling。　〃The　way　you're　going；　you　can　travel　all　the　way　to　the　Spine　of　the　World　without　seeing　another　human。　Of　course；　if　you　managed　to　climb　the　Spine　…　it　can　be　done；　some　places　…　you　could　find　people　in　the　Aiel　Waste；　but　you　wouldn't　like　it　there。　You'd　broil　by　day；　and　freeze　by　night；　and　die　of　thirst　anytime。　It　takes　an　Aielman　to　find　water　in　the　Waste；　and　they　don't　like　strangers　much。　No；　not　much；　I'd　say。〃　He　set　off　into　another；　more　furious；　burst　of　laughter；　this　time　actually　rolling　on　the　ground。　〃Not　much　at　all；〃　he　managed。
　　　　　　　Perrin　shifted　uneasily。　Are　we　eating　with　a　madman？
　　　　　　　Egwene　frowned；　but　she　waited　until　Elyas's　mirth　faded　a　little；　then　said；　〃Perhaps　you　could　show　us　the　way。　You　seem　to　know　a　good　deal　more　about　where　places　are　than　we　do。〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　stopped　laughing。　Raising　his　head；　he　replaced　his　round　fur　cap；　which　had　fallen　off　while　he　was　rolling　about；　and　stared　at　her　from　under　lowered　brows。　〃I　don't　much　like　people；〃　he　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃Cities　are　full　of　people。　I　don't　go　near　villages；　or　even　farms；　very　often。　Villagers；　farmers；　they　don't　like　my　friends。　I　wouldn't　even　have　helped　you　if　you　hadn't　been　stumbling　around　as　helpless　and　innocent　as　newborn　cubs。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　at　least　you　can　tell　us　which　way　to　go；〃　she　insisted。　〃If　you　direct　us　to　the　nearest　village；　even　if　it's　fifty　miles　away；　surely　they'll　give　us　directions　to　Caemlyn。〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　still；〃　Elyas　said。　〃My　friends　are　ing。〃
　　　　　　　Bela　suddenly　whinnied　in　fear；　and　began　jerking　to　pull　her　reins　free。　Perrin　half　rose　as　shapes　appeared　all　around　them　in　the　darkening　forest。　Bela　reared　and　twisted；　screaming。
　　　　　　　〃Quiet　the　mare；〃　Elyas　said。　〃They　won't　hurt　her。　Or　you；　if　you're　still。〃
　　　　　　　Four　wolves　stepped　into　the　firelight；　shaggy；　waist…high　forms　with　jaws　that　could　break　a　man's　leg。　As　if　the　people　were　not　there　they　walked　up　to　the　fire　and　lay　down　between　the　humans。　In　the　darkness　among　the　trees　firelight　reflected　off　the　eyes　of　more　wolves；　on　all　sides。
　　　　　　　Yellow　eyes；　Perrin　thought。　Like　Elyas's　eyes。　That　was　what　he　had　been　trying　to　remember。　Carefully　watching　the　wolves　among　them；　he　reached　for　his　axe。