rj.eyeoftheworld-第84部分

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Chapter　25
The　Traveling　People
　
　　　　　　　Bela　walked　along　placidly　under　the　weak　sun　as　if　the　three　wolves　trotting　not　far　off　were　only　village　dogs；　but　the　way　she　rolled　her　eyes　at　them　from　time　to　time；　showing　white　all　the　way　around；　indicated　she　felt　nothing　of　the　sort。　Egwene；　on　the　mare's　back；　was　just　as　bad。　She　watched　the　wolves　constantly　from　the　corner　of　her　eye；　and　sometimes　she　twisted　in　the　saddle　to　look　around。　Perrin　was　sure　she　was　hunting　for　the　rest　of　the　pack；　though　she　denied　it　angrily　when　he　suggested　as　much；　denied　being　afraid　of　the　wolves　that　paced　them；　denied　worrying　about　the　rest　of　the　pack　or　what　it　was　up　to。　She　denied；　and　went　right　on　looking；　tight…eyed　and　wetting　her　lips　uneasily。
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　the　pack　was　far　distant；　he　could　have　told　her　that。　What　good；　even　if　she　believed　me？　Especially　if　she　did。　He　was　of　no　mind　to　open　that　basket　of　snakes　until　he　had　to。　He　did　not　want　to　think　about　how　he　knew。　The　fur…clad　man　loped　ahead　of　them；　sometimes　looking　almost　like　a　wolf　himself；　and　he　never　looked　around　when　Dapple；　Hopper；　and　Wind　appeared；　but　he　knew；　too。
　　　　　　　The　Emond's　Fielders　had　wakened　at　dawn　that　first　morning　to　find　Elyas　cooking　more　rabbit　and　watching　them　over　his　full　beard　without　much　expression。　Except　for　Dapple；　Hopper；　and　Wind；　no　wolves　were　to　be　seen。　In　the　pale；　early　daylight；　deep　shade　still　lingered　under　the　big　oak；　and　the　bare　trees　beyond　looked　like　fingers　stripped　to　the　bone。
　　　　　　　〃They're　around；〃　Elyas　answered　when　Egwene　asked　where　the　rest　of　the　pack　had　gone。　〃Close　enough　to　help；　if　need　be。　Far　enough　off　to　avoid　any　human　trouble　we　get　into。　Sooner　or　later　there's　always　trouble　when　there's　two　humans　together。　If　we　need　them；　they'll　be　there。〃
　　　　　　　Something　tickled　the　back　of　Perrin's　mind　as　he　ripped　free　a　bite　of　roast　rabbit。　A　direction；　vaguely　sensed。　Of　course！　That's　where　they　。。。　The　hot　juices　in　his　mouth　abruptly　lost　all　taste。　He　picked　at　the　tubers　Elyas　had　cooked　in　the　coals　…　they　tasted　something　like　turnips　…　but　his　appetite　was　gone。
　　　　　　　When　they　had　started　out　Egwene　insisted　that　everyone　take　a　turn　riding；　and　Perrin　did　not　even　bother　to　argue。
　　　　　　　〃First　turn　is　yours；〃　he　told　her。
　　　　　　　She　nodded。　〃And　then　you；　Elyas。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　own　legs　are　good　enough　for　me；〃　Elyas　said。　He　looked　at　Bela；　and　the　mare　rolled　her　eyes　as　if　he　were　one　of　the　wolves。　〃Besides；　I　don't　think　she　wants　me　riding　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　nonsense；〃　Egwene　replied　firmly。　〃There　is　no　point　in　being　stubborn　about　it。　The　sensible　thing　is　for　everybody　to　ride　sometimes。　According　to　you　we　have　a　long　way　still　to　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　no；　girl。〃
　　　　　　　She　took　a　deep　breath；　and　Perrin　was　wondering　if　she　would　succeed　in　bullying　Elyas　the　way　she　did　him；　when　he　realized　she　was　standing　there　with　her　mouth　open；　not　saying　a　word。　Elyas　was　looking　at　her；　just　looking；　with　those　yellow　wolf's　eyes。　Egwene　stepped　back　from　the　raw…boned　man；　and　licked　her　lips；　and　stepped　back　again。　Before　Elyas　turned　away；　she　had　backed　all　the　way　to　Bela　and　scrambled　up　onto　the　mare's　back。　As　the　man　turned　to　lead　them　south；　Perrin　thought　his　grin　was　a　good　deal　like　a　wolf's；　too。
　　　　　　　For　three　days　they　traveled　in　that　manner；　walking　and　riding　south　and　east　all　day；　stopping　only　when　twilight　thickened。　Elyas　seemed　to　scorn　the　haste　of　city　men；　but　he　did　not　believe　in　wasting　time　when　there　was　somewhere　to　go。
　　　　　　　The　three　wolves　were　seldom　seen。　Each　night　they　came　to　the　fire　for　a　time；　and　sometimes　in　the　day　they　showed　themselves　briefly；　appearing　close　at　hand　when　least　expected　and　vanishing　in　the　same　manner。　Perrin　knew　they　were　out　there；　though；　and　where。　He　knew　when　they　were　scouting　the　path　ahead　and　when　they　were　watching　the　backtrail。　He　knew　when　they　left　the　pack's　usual　hunting　grounds；　and　Dapple　sent　the　pack　back　to　wait　for　her。　Sometimes　the　three　that　remained　faded　from　his　mind；　but　long　before　they　were　close　enough　to　see　again；　he　was　aware　of　them　returning。　Even　when　the　trees　dwindled　to　wide…scattered　groves　separated　by　great　swathes　of　winter…dead　grass；　they　were　as　ghosts　when　they　did　not　want　to　be　seen；　but　he　could　have　pointed　a　finger　straight　at　them　at　any　time。　He　did　not　know　how　he　knew；　and　he　tried　to　convince　himself　that　it　was　just　his　imagination　playing　tricks；　but　it　did　no　good。　Just　as　Elyas　knew；　he　knew。
　　　　　　　He　tried　not　thinking　about　wolves；　but　they　crept　into　his　thoughts　all　the　same。　He　had　not　dreamed　about　Ba'alzamon　since　meeting　Elyas　and　the　wolves。　His　dreams；　as　much　as　he　remembered　of　them　on　waking；　were　of　everyday　things；　just　as　he　might　have　dreamed　at　home　。。。　before　Baerlon　。。。　before　Winternight。　Normal　dreams　…　with　one　addition。　In　every　dream　he　remembered　there　was　a　point　where　he　straightened　from　Master　Luhhan's　forge　to　wipe　the　sweat　from　his　face；　or　turned　from　dancing　with　the　village　girls　on　the　Green；　or　lifted　his　head　from　a　book　in　front　of　the　fireplace；　and　whether　he　was　outside　or　under　a　roof；　there　was　a　wolf　close　to　hand。　Always　the　wolf's　back　was　to　him；　and　always　he　knew　…　In　the　dreams　it　seemed　the　normal　course　of　things；　even　at　Alsbet　Luhhan's　dinner　table　…　that　the　wolf's　yellow　eyes　were　watching　for　what　might　e；　guarding　against　what　might　e。　Only　when　he　was　awake　did　the　dreams　seem　strange。
　　　　　　　Three　days　they　journeyed；　with　Dapple；　Hopper；　and　Wind　bringing　them　rabbits　and　squirrels；　and　Elyas　pointing　out　plants；　few　of　which　Perrin　recognized；　as　good　to　eat。　Once　a　rabbit　burst　out　almost　from　under　Bela's　hooves；　before　Perrin　could　get　a　stone　in　his　sling；　Elyas　skewered　it　with　his　long　knife　at　twenty　paces。　Another　time　Elyas　brought　down　a　fat　pheasant；　on　the　wing；　with　his　bow。　They　ate　far　better　than　they　had　when　on　their　own；　but　Perrin　would　as　soon　have　gone　back　on　short　rations　if　it　had　meant　different　pany。　He　was　not　sure　how　Egwene　felt；　but　he　would　have　been　willing　to　go　hungry　if　he　could　do　it　without　the　wolves。　Three　days；　into　the　afternoon。
　　　　　　　A　stand　of　trees　lay　ahead；　larger　than　most　they　had　seen；　a　good　four　miles　across。　The　sun　sat　low　in　the　western　sky；　pushing　slanted　shadows　off　to　their　right；　and　the　wind　was　picking　up。　Perrin　felt　the　wolves　give　over　quartering　behind　them　and　start　forward；　not　hurrying。　They　had　smelled　and　seen　nothing　dangerous。　Egwene　was　taking　her　turn　on　Bela。　It　was　time　to　start　looking　for　a　camp　for　the　night；　and　the　big　copse　would　serve　the　purpose　well。
　　　　　　　As　they　came　close　to　the　trees；　three　mastiffs　burst　from　cover；　broad…muzzled　dogs　as　tall　as　the　wolves　and　even　heavier；　teeth　bared　in　loud；　rumbling　snarls。　They　stopped　short　as　soon　as　they　were　in　the　open；　but　no　more　than　thirty　feet　separated　them　from　the　three　people；　and　their　dark　eyes　kindled　with　a　killing　light。
　　　　　　　Bela；　already　on　edge　from　the　wolves；　whinnied　and　almost　unseated　Egwene；　but　Perrin　had　his　sling　whirling　around　his　head　in　an　instant。　No　need　to　use　the　axe　on　dogs；　a　stone　in　the　ribs　would　send　the　worst　dog　running。Elyas　waved　a　hand　at　him　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　stiff　legged　dogs。　〃Hssst！　None　of　that　now！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　him　a　puzzled　frown；　but　let　the　sling　slow　its　spin　and　finally　fall　to　his　side。　Egwene　managed　to　get　Bela　under　control；　she　and　the　mare　both　watched　the　dogs　warily。
　　　　　　　The　mastiffs'　hackles　stood　stiff；　and　their　ears　were　laid　back；　and　their　growls　sounded　like　earthquakes。　Abruptly　Elyas　raised　one　finger　shoulder　high　and　whistled；　a　long；　shrill　whistle　that　rose　higher　and　higher　and　did　not　end。　The　growls　cut　off　raggedly。　The　dogs　stepped　back；　whining　and　turning　their　heads　as　if　they　wanted　to　go　but　were　held。　Their　eyes　remained　locked　to　Elyas's　finger。
　　　　　　　Slowly　Elyas　lowered　his　hand；　and　the　pitch　of　his　whistle　lowered　with　it。　The　dogs　followed；　until　they　lay　flat　on　the　ground；　tongues　lolling　from　their　mouths。　Three　tails　wagged。
　　　　　　　〃See；〃　Elyas　said；　walking　to　the　dogs。　〃There's　no　need　for　weapons。〃　The　mastiffs　licked　his　hands；　and　he　scratched　their　broad　heads　and　fondled　their　ears。　〃They　look　meaner　than　they　are。　They　meant　to　frighten　us　off；　and　they　wouldn't　have　bitten　unless　we　tried　to　go　into　the　trees。　Anyway；　there's　no　worry　of　that；　now。　We　can　make　the　next　thicket　before　full　dark。〃
　　　　　　　When　Perrin　looked　at　Egwene；　her　mouth　was　hanging　open。　He　shut　his　own　mouth　with　a　click　of　teeth。
　　　　　　　Still　patting　the　dogs；　Elyas　studied　the　stand　of　trees。　〃There'll　be　Tuatha'an　here。　The　Traveling　People。〃　They　stared　at　him　blankly；　and　he　added；　〃Tinkers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tinkers？〃　Perrin　exclaimed。　〃I've　always　wanted　to　see　the　Tinkers。　They　camp　across　the　river　from　Taren　Ferry　sometimes；　but　they　don't　e　down　into　the　Two　Rivers；　as　far　as　I　know。　I　don't　know　why　not。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sniffed。　〃Probably　because　the　Taren　Ferry　folk　are　as　great　thieves　as　the　Tinkers。　They'd　no　doubt　end　up　stealing　each　other　blind。　Master　Elyas；　if　there　really　are　Tinkers　cl