rj.thegreathunt-第145部分

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s　she　could。
　　　　　　　〃We　won't　hurt　you！〃　Elayne　called　after　her。　〃We　are　friends！〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　quiet！〃　Nynaeve　hissed。　She　produced　a　handful　of　rags　from　her　pocket　and　ruthlessly　stuffed　them　into　the　gaping　mouth　of　the　still　staggering　sul'dam。　Min　hastily　shook　out　the　sack　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　plunged　it　over　the　sul'dam's　head；　shrouding　the　woman　to　the　waist。　〃We　are　already　attracting　too　much　attention。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　true；　and　yet　not　entirely　true。　The　four　of　them　stood　in　a　rapidly　emptying　street；　but　the　people　who　had　decided　to　be　elsewhere　were　avoiding　looking　at　them。　Nynaeve　had　been　counting　on　that　…　people　doing　their　best　to　ignore　anything　that　had　to　do　with　Seanchan　…　to　gain　them　a　few　moments。　They　would　talk　eventually；　but　in　whispers；　it　might　take　hours　for　the　Seanchan　to　learn　anything　had　happened。
　　　　　　　The　hooded　woman　began　to　struggle；　making　rag…muffled　shouts　from　the　sack；　but　Nynaeve　and　Min　threw　their　arms　around　her　and　wrestled　her　toward　a　nearby　alley。　The　leash　and　collar　trailed　across　the　cobblestones　behind　them；　clinking。
　　　　　　　〃Pick　it　up；〃　Nynaeve　snapped　at　Elayne。　〃It　won't　bite　you！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　took　a　deep　breath；　then　gathered　the　silver　metal　gingerly；　as　if　she　feared　it　very　well　might。　Nynaeve　felt　some　sympathy；　but　not　much；　everything　rested　on　each　of　them　doing　as　they　had　planned。
　　　　　　　The　sul'dam　kicked　and　tried　to　throw　herself　free；　but　between　them；　Nynaeve　and　Min　forced　her　along；　down　the　alley　into　another；　slightly　wider　passage　behind　houses；　to　yet　another　alley　and　at　last　into　a　rough　wooden　shed　that　had　apparently　once　housed　two　horses；　by　the　stalls。　Few　could　afford　to　keep　horses　since　the　Seanchan　came；　and　in　a　day　of　Nynaeve's　watching；　no　one　had　gone　near　it。　The　interior　had　a　musty　dustiness　that　spoke　of　abandonment。　As　soon　as　they　were　inside；　Elayne　dropped　the　silver　leash　and　wiped　her　hands　on　some　straw。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　channeled　another　trickle；　and　the　bracelet　fell　to　the　dirt　floor。　The　sul'dam　squalled　and　hurled　herself　about。
　　　　　　　〃Ready？〃　Nynaeve　asked。　The　other　two　nodded；　and　they　yanked　the　sacking　off　their　prisoner。
　　　　　　　The　sul'dam　wheezed；　blue　eyes　teary　from　dust；　but　her　red　face　was　red　as　much　from　anger　as　from　the　sack。　She　darted　for　the　door；　but　they　caught　her　in　the　first　step。　She　was　not　weak；　yet　they　were　three；　and　when　they　were　done　the　sul'dam　was　stripped　to　her　shift　and　lying　in　one　of　the　stalls；　bound　hand　and　foot　with　stout　cord；　with　another　piece　of　cord　to　keep　her　from　forcing　the　gag　out。
　　　　　　　Soothing　a　puffy　lip；　Min　eyed　the　lightning…paneled　dress　and　soft　boots　they　had　laid　out。　〃It　might　fit　you；　Nynaeve。　It　won't　fit　Elayne　or　me。〃　Elayne　was　picking　straw　out　of　her　hair。
　　　　　　　〃I　can　see　that。　You　were　never　a　choice　anyway；　not　really。　They　know　you　too　well。〃　Nynaeve　hurriedly　removed　her　own　clothes。　She　tossed　them　aside　and　donned　the　sul'dam's　dress。　Min　helped　with　the　buttons。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　wiggled　her　toes　in　the　boots；　they　were　a　little　tight。　The　dress　was　tight；　too；　across　the　bosom；　and　loose　elsewhere。　The　hem　hung　almost　to　the　ground；　lower　than　sul'dam　wore　them；　but　the　fit　would　have　been　even　worse　on　any　of　the　others。　Snatching　up　the　bracelet；　she　took　a　deep　breath　and　closed　it　around　her　left　wrist。　The　ends　merged；　and　it　seemed　solid。　It　did　not　feel　like　anything　except　a　bracelet。　She　had　been　afraid　that　it　would。
　　　　　　　〃Get　the　dress；　Elayne。〃　They　had　dyed　a　pair　of　dresses　…　one　of　hers　and　one　of　Elayne's　…　to　the　gray　damane　wore；　or　as　close　as　they　could　manage；　and　hidden　them　here。　Elayne　did　not　move　except　to　stare　at　the　open　collar　and　lick　her　lips。　〃Elayne；　you　have　to　wear　it。　Too　many　of　them　have　seen　Min　for　her　to　do　it。　I　would　have　worn　it；　if　this　dress　had　fit　you　instead。〃　She　thought　she　would　have　gone　mad　if　she　had　had　to　wear　the　collar；　that　was　why　she　could　not　make　her　voice　sharp　with　Elayne　now。
　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃　Elayne　sighed。　〃I　just　wish　I　knew　more　of　what　it　does　to　you。〃　She　drew　her　red…gold　hair　out　of　the　way。　〃Min；　help　me；　please。〃　Min　began　undoing　the　buttons　down　the　back　of　her　dress。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　managed　to　pick　up　the　silver　collar　without　flinching。　〃There　is　one　way　to　find　out。〃　With　only　a　moment　of　hesitation；　she　bent　and　snapped　it　around　the　neck　of　the　sul'dam。　She　deserves　it　if　anyone　does；　she　told　herself　firmly。　〃She　might　be　able　to　tell　us　something　useful；　anyway。〃　The　blue…eyed　woman　glanced　at　the　leash　trailing　from　her　neck　to　Nynaeve's　wrist；　then　glared　up　at　her　contemptuously。
　　　　　　　〃It　doesn't　work　that　way；〃　Min　said；　but　Nynaeve　barely　heard。
　　　　　　　She　was　。。。　aware　。。。　of　the　other　woman；　aware　of　what　she　was　feeling；　cord　digging　into　her　ankles　and　into　her　wrists　behind　her　back；　the　rank　fish　taste　of　the　rags　in　her　mouth；　straw　pricking　her　through　the　thin　cloth　of　her　shift。　It　was　not　as　if　she；　Nynaeve；　felt　these　things；　but　in　her　head　was　a　lump　of　sensations　that　she　knew　belonged　to　the　sul'dam。
　　　　　　　She　swallowed；　trying　to　ignore　them　…　they　would　not　go　away　…　and　addressed　the　bound　woman。　〃I　won't　hurt　you　if　you　answer　my　questions　truthfully。　We　aren't　Seanchan。　But　if　you　lie　to　me　。。。〃　She　lifted　the　leash　threateningly。
　　　　　　　The　woman's　shoulders　shook；　and　her　mouth　curled　around　the　gag　in　a　sneer。　It　took　Nynaeve　a　moment　to　realize　the　sul'dam　was　laughing。
　　　　　　　Her　mouth　tightened；　but　then　a　thought　came　to　her。　That　bundle　of　sensation　inside　her　head　seemed　to　be　everything　physical　that　the　other　woman　felt。　Experimentally；　she　tried　adding　to　it。
　　　　　　　Eyes　suddenly　bulging　out　of　her　head；　the　sul'dam　gave　a　cry　that　the　gag　only　partially　stopped。　Fanning　her　hands　behind　her　as　if　trying　to　ward　off　something；　she　humped　through　the　straw　in　a　vain　effort　to　escape。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gaped；　and　hastily　rid　herself　of　the　extra　feelings　she　had　added。　The　sul'dam　sagged；　weeping。
　　　　　　　〃What　。。。　What　did　you　。。。　do　to　her？〃　Elayne　asked　faintly。　Min　only　stared；　her　mouth　hanging　open。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　answered　gruffly。　〃The　same　thing　Sheriam　did　to　you　when　you　threw　a　cup　at　Marith。〃　Light；　but　this　is　a　filthy　thing。
　　　　　　　Elayne　gulped　loudly。　〃Oh。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　an　a'dam　isn't　supposed　to　work　that　way；〃　Min　said。　〃They　always　claimed　it　won't　work　on　any　woman　who　cannot　channel。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　care　how　it　is　supposed　to　work；　so　long　as　it　does。〃　Nynaeve　seized　the　silver　metal　leash　right　where　it　joined　the　collar；　and　pulled　the　woman　up　enough　to　look　her　in　the　eyes。　Frightened　eyes；　she　saw。　〃You　listen　to　me；　and　listen　well。　I　want　answers；　and　if　I　don't　get　them；　I'll　make　you　think　I　have　had　the　hide　off　you。〃　Stark　terror　rolled　across　the　woman's　face；　and　Nynaeve's　stomach　heaved　as　she　suddenly　realized　the　sul'dam　had　taken　her　literally。　If　she　thinks　I　can；　it's　because　she　knows。　That　is　what　these　leashes　are　for。　She　took　firm　hold　of　herself　to　stop　from　clawing　the　bracelet　off　her　wrist。　Instead；　she　hardened　her　face。　〃Are　you　ready　to　answer　me？　Or　do　you　need　more　convincing？〃
　　　　　　　The　frantic　head…shaking　was　answer　enough。　When　Nynaeve　removed　the　gag；　the　woman　only　paused　to　swallow　once　before　babbling；　〃I　will　not　report　you。　I　swear　it。　Only　take　this　from　my　neck。　I　have　gold。　Take　it。　I　swear；　I　will　never　tell　anyone。〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　quiet；〃　Nynaeve　snapped；　and　the　woman　shut　her　mouth　immediately。　〃What　is　your　name？〃
　　　　　　　〃Seta。　Please。　I　will　answer　you；　but　please　take　…　it　…　off！　If　anyone　sees　it　on　me　。。。〃　Seta's　eyes　rolled　down　to　stare　at　the　leash；　then　squeezed　shut。　〃Please？〃　she　whispered。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　realized　something。　She　could　never　make　Elayne　wear　that　collar。
　　　　　　　〃Best　we　get　on　with　it；〃　Elayne　said　firmly。　She　was　down　to　her　shift；　too；　now。　〃Give　me　a　moment　to　put　this　other　dress　on；　and　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Put　your　own　clothes　back　on；〃　Nynaeve　said。
　　　　　　　〃Someone　has　to　pretend　to　be　a　damane；〃　Elayne　said；　〃or　we　will　never　reach　Egwene。　That　dress　fits　you；　and　it　cannot　be　Min。　That　leaves　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　put　your　clothes　on。　We　have　somebody　to　be　our　Leashed　One。〃　Nynaeve　tugged　at　the　leash　that　held　Seta；　and　the　sul'dam　gasped。
　　　　　　　〃No！　No；　please！　If　anyone　sees　me　…〃　She　cut　off　at　Nynaeve's　cold　stare。
　　　　　　　〃As　far　as　I　am　concerned；　you　are　worse　than　a　murderer；　worse　than　a　Darkfriend。　I　can't　think　of　anything　worse　than　you。　The　fact　that　I　have　to　wear　this　thing　on　my　wrist；　to　be　the　same　as　you　for　even　an　hour；　sickens　me。　So　if　you　think　there　is　anything　I'll　balk　at　doing　to　you；　think　again。　You　don't　want　to　be　seen？　Good。　Neither　do　we。　No　one　really　looks　at　a　damane；　though。　As　long　as　you　keep　your　head　down　the　way　a　Leashed　One　is　supposed　to；　no　one　will　even　notice　you。　But　you　had　better　do　the　best　you　can　to　make　sure　the　rest　of　us　aren't　noticed；　either。　If　we　are；　you　surely　will　be　seen；　and　if　that　is　not　enough　to　hold　you；　I　promise　you　I'll　make　you　curse　the　first　kiss　your　mother　ever　gave　your　father。　Do　we　understand　each　other？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Seta　said　faintly。　〃I　swear　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　had　to　remove　the　bracelet　in　order　for