rj.thegreathunt-第151部分

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ddressed　herself　to　the　sul'dam。　Not　Leash　Holders　any　longer；　she　told　herself。　〃Perhaps；　if　you　are　very　quiet；　you　will　be　left　alone　here　long　enough　to　manage　to　remove　the　collars。　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；　and　it　may　be　that　you've　done　enough　good　to　counterbalance　the　evil　you　have　done；　enough　that　you　will　be　allowed　to　remove　them。　If　not；　you　will　be　found；　eventually。　And　I　think　whoever　finds　you　will　ask　a　great　many　questions　before　they　remove　those　collars。　I　think　perhaps　you　will　learn　at　first　hand　the　life　you　have　given　to　other　women。　That　is　justice；〃　she　added；　to　the　others。
　　　　　　　Renna　wore　a　fixed　stare　of　horror。　Seta's　shoulders　shook　as　she　sobbed　into　her　hands。　Nynaeve　hardened　her　heart　…　It　is　justice；　she　told　herself。　It　is　…　and　herded　the　others　out　of　the　room。
　　　　　　　No　one　paid　any　more　attention　to　them　going　out　than　they　had　ing　in。　Nynaeve　supposed　she　had　the　sul'dam　dress　to　thank　for　that；　but　she　could　not　wait　to　change　into　something　else。　Anything　else。　The　dirtiest　rag　would　feel　cleaner　on　her　skin。
　　　　　　　The　girls　were　silent；　walking　close　behind　her；　until　they　were　out　on　the　cobblestone　street　again。　She　did　not　know　if　it　was　what　she　had　done　or　the　fear　that　someone　might　stop　them。　She　scowled。　Would　they　have　felt　better　if　she　had　let　them　work　themselves　up　to　cutting　the　women's　throats？
　　　　　　　〃Horses；〃　Egwene　said。　〃We　will　need　horses。　I　know　the　stable　where　they　took　Bela；　but　I　don't　think　we　can　get　to　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　have　to　leave　Bela　here；〃　Nynaeve　told　her。　〃We　are　leaving　by　ship。〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　everybody？〃　Min　said；　and　suddenly　Nynaeve　realized　the　street　was　empty。
　　　　　　　The　crowds　were　gone；　not　a　sign　of　them　to　be　seen；　every　shop　and　window　along　the　street　were　shuttered　tight。　But　up　the　street　from　the　harbor　came　a　formation　of　Seanchan　soldiers；　a　hundred　or　more　in　ordered　ranks；　with　an　officer　at　their　head　in　his　painted　armor。　They　were　still　halfway　down　the　street　from　the　women；　but　they　marched　with　a　grim；　implacable　step；　and　it　seemed　to　Nynaeve　that　every　eye　was　fixed　on　her。　That's　ridiculous。　I　can't　see　their　eyes　inside　those　helmets；　and　if　anybody　had　given　an　alarm；　it　would　be　behind　us。　She　stopped　anyway。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　more　behind　us；〃　Min　murmured。　Nynaeve　could　hear　those　boots；　now。　〃I　don't　know　which　will　reach　us　first。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　took　a　deep　breath。　〃They　are　nothing　to　do　with　us。〃　She　looked　beyond　the　approaching　soldiers；　to　the　harbor；　filled　with　tall；　boxy　Seanchan　ships。　She　could　not　make　out　Spray；　she　prayed　it　was　still　there；　and　ready。　〃We　will　walk　right　past　them。〃　Light；　I　hope　we　can。
　　　　　　　〃What　if　they　want　you　to　join　them；　Nynaeve？〃　Elayne　asked。　〃You　are　wearing　that　dress。　If　they　start　asking　questions　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　not　go　back；〃　Egwene　said　grimly。　〃I'll　die　first。　Let　me　show　them　what　they've　taught　me。〃　To　Nynaeve's　eye；　a　golden　nimbus　suddenly　seemed　to　surround　her。
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　she　said；　but　it　was　too　late。
　　　　　　　With　a　roar　like　thunder；　the　street　under　the　first　ranks　of　Seanchan　erupted；　dirt　and　cobblestones　and　armored　men　thrown　aside　like　Spray　from　a　fountain。　Still　glowing；　Egwene　spun　to　stare　up　the　street；　and　the　thunderous　roar　was　repeated。　Dirt　rained　down　on　the　women。　Shouting　Seanchan　soldiers　scattered　in　good　order　to　shelter　in　alleys　and　behind　stoops。　In　moments　they　were　all　out　of　sight；　except　for　those　who　lay　around　the　two　large　holes　marring　the　street。　Some　of　those　stirred　feebly；　and　moans　drifted　along　the　street。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　threw　up　her　hands；　trying　to　look　in　both　directions　at　once。　〃You　fool！　We　are　trying　not　to　attract　attention！〃　There　was　no　hope　of　that　now。　She　only　hoped　they　could　manage　to　work　their　way　around　the　soldiers　to　the　harbor　through　the　alleys。　The　damane　must　know；　too；　now。　They　could　not　have　missed　that。
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　go　back　to　that　collar；〃　Egwene　said　fiercely。　〃I　won't！〃
　　　　　　　〃Look　out！〃　Min　shouted。
　　　　　　　With　a　shrill　whine；　a　fireball　as　big　as　a　horse　arched　into　the　air　over　the　rooftops　and　began　to　fall。　Directly　toward　them。
　　　　　　　〃Run！〃　Nynaeve　shouted；　and　threw　herself　into　a　dive　toward　the　nearest　alleyway；　between　two　shuttered　shops。
　　　　　　　She　landed　awkwardly　on　her　stomach　with　a　grunt；　losing　half　her　breath；　as　the　fireball　struck。　Hot　wind　washed　over　her　down　the　narrow　passage。　Gulping　air；　she　rolled　onto　her　back　and　stared　back　into　the　street。
　　　　　　　The　cobblestones　where　they　had　been　standing　were　chipped　and　cracked　and　blackened　in　a　circle　ten　paces　across。　Elayne　was　crouched　just　inside　another　alley　on　the　other　side　of　the　street。　Of　Min　and　Egwene；　there　was　no　sign。　Nynaeve　clapped　a　hand　to　her　mouth　in　horror。
　　　　　　　Elayne　seemed　to　understand　what　she　was　thinking。　The　Daughter…Heir　shook　her　head　violently　and　pointed　down　the　street。　They　had　gone　that　way。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　that　immediately　turned　to　a　growl。　Fool　girl！　We　could　have　gotten　by　them！　There　was　no　time　for　recriminations；　though。　She　scooted　to　the　corner　and　peered　cautiously　around　the　edge　of　the　building。
　　　　　　　A　head…sized　fireball　flashed　down　the　street　toward　her。　She　leaped　back　just　before　it　exploded　against　the　corner　where　her　own　head　had　been；　showering　her　with　stone　chips。
　　　　　　　Anger　had　her　awash　in　the　One　Power　before　she　was　aware　of　it。　Lightning　flashed　out　of　the　sky；　striking　somewhere　up　the　street　with　a　crash　near　the　origin　of　the　fireball。　Another　jagged　bolt　split　the　sky；　and　then　she　was　running　down　the　alley。　Behind　her；　lightning　lanced　the　mouth　of　the　alley。
　　　　　　　If　Domon　doesn't　have　that　ship　waiting；　I'll　。。。　Light；　let　us　all　reach　it　safely。
　
　　　　　　　Bayle　Domon　jerked　erect　as　lightning　streaked　across　the　slate…gray　sky；　striking　somewhere　in　the　town；　then　again。　There　do　no　be　enough　clouds　for　that！
　　　　　　　Something　rumbled　loudly　up　in　the　town；　and　a　ball　of　fire　smashed　into　a　rooftop　just　above　the　docks；　throwing　splintered　slates　in　wide　arcs。　The　docks　had　emptied　themselves　of　people　a　while　back；　except　for　a　few　Seanchan；　they　ran　wildly；　now；　drawing　swords　and　shouting。　A　man　appeared　from　one　of　the　warehouses　with　a　grolm　at　his　side；　running　to　keep　up　with　the　beast's　long　leaps　as　they　vanished　into　one　of　the　streets　leading　up　from　the　water。
　　　　　　　One　of　Domon's　crewmen　jumped　for　an　axe　and　swung　it　high　over　a　mooring　cable。
　　　　　　　In　two　strides；　Domon　seized　the　upraised　axe　with　one　hand　and　the　man's　throat　with　the　other。　〃Spray　do　stay　till　I　do　say　sail；　Aedwin　Cole！〃
　　　　　　　〃They're　going　mad；　Captain！〃　Yarin　shouted。　An　explosion　sent　echoes　rumbling　across　the　harbor；　sending　the　gulls　into　screaming　circles；　and　lightning　flickered　again；　crashing　to　earth　inside　Falme。　〃The　damane　will　kill　us　all！　Let　us　go　while　they're　busy　killing　one　another。　They　will　never　notice　us　till　we　are　gone！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　give　my　word；〃　Domon　said。　He　wrenched　the　axe　from　Cole's　hand　and　threw　it　clattering　onto　the　deck。　〃I　did　give　my　word。〃　Hurry；　woman；　he　thought；　Aes　Sedai　or　whatever　you　be。　Hurry！
　
　　　　　　　Geofram　Bornhald　eyed　the　lightning　flashing　over　Falme　and　dismissed　it　from　his　mind。　Some　huge　flying　creature　…　one　of　the　Seanchan　monsters；　no　doubt　…　flew　wildly　to　escape　the　bolts。　If　there　was　a　storm；　it　would　hinder　the　Seanchan　as　much　as　it　did　him。　Nearly　treeless　hills；　a　few　topped　by　sparse　thickets；　still　hid　the　town　from　him；　and　him　from　it。
　　　　　　　His　thousand　men　lay　spread　out　to　either　side　of　him；　one　long；　mounted　rank　rippling　along　the　hollows　between　hills。　The　cold　wind　tossed　their　white　cloaks　and　flapped　the　banner　at　Bornhald's　side；　the　wavy…rayed　golden　sun　of　the　Children　of　the　Light。
　　　　　　　〃Go　now；　Byar；〃　he　manded。　The　gaunt…faced　man　hesitated；　and　Bornhald　put　a　snap　into　his　voice。　〃I　said；　go；　Child　Byar！〃
　　　　　　　Byar　touched　hand　to　heart　and　bowed。　〃As　you　mand；　my　Lord　Captain。〃　He　turned　his　horse　away；　every　line　of　him　shouting　reluctance。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　put　Byar　out　of　his　mind。　He　had　done　what　he　could；　there。　He　raised　his　voice。　〃The　legion　will　advance　at　a　walk！〃
　　　　　　　With　a　creak　of　saddles　the　long　line　of　white…cloaked　men　moved　slowly　toward　Falme。
　
　　　　　　　Rand　peered　around　the　corner　at　the　approaching　Seanchan；　then　ducked　back　into　the　narrow　alley　between　two　stables　with　a　grimace。　They　would　be　there　soon。　There　was　blood　crusted　on　his　cheek。　The　cuts　he　had　from　Turak　burned；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　for　them　now。　Lightning　flashed　across　the　sky　again；　he　felt　the　rumble　of　its　plummet　through　his　boots。　What　in　the　name　of　the　Light　is　happening？
　　　　　　　〃Close？〃　Ingtar　said。　〃The　Horn　of　Valere　must　be　saved；　Rand。〃　Despite　the　Seanchan；　despite　the　lightning　and　strange　explosions　down　in　the　town　proper；　he　seemed　preoccupied　with　his　own　thoughts。　Mat　and　Perrin　and　Hurin　were　down　at　the　other　end　of　the　alley；　watching　another　Seanchan　patrol。　The　place　where　they　had　left　the　horses　was　close；　now；　if　they　could　only　reach　it。
　　　　　　　〃She's　in　trouble；〃　Rand　muttered。　Egwene。　There　was　an　odd　feeling　in　his　head；　as　if　piece