rj.thegreathunt-第48部分

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　　　　　　　Rand　took　a　deep　breath　to　steady　his　stomach。　〃The　Fade　back　there　didn't　have　any　fun；　Ingtar。　What　could　nail　a　Myrddraal　to　a　door；　alive？〃
　　　　　　　Ingtar　hesitated；　shaking　his　head；　then　pushed　the　big　bundle　at　Rand。　〃Here。　Moiraine　Sedai　told　me　to　give　you　this　at　the　first　camp　south　of　the　Erinin。　I　don't　know　what　is　in　it；　but　she　said　you　would　need　it。　She　said　to　tell　you　to　take　care　of　it；　your　life　may　depend　on　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　took　it　reluctantly；　his　skin　prickled　at　the　touch　of　the　canvas。　There　was　something　soft　inside。　Cloth；　maybe。　He　held　it　gingerly。　He　doesn't　want　to　think　about　the　Myrddraal　either。　What　happened　in　that　room？　He　realized　suddenly　that　for　him；　the　Fade；　or　even　that　room；　was　preferable　to　thinking　about　what　Moiraine　might　have　sent　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　told　to　tell　you　at　the　same　time　that　if　anything　happens　to　me；　the　lances　will　follow　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Me！〃　Rand　gasped；　forgetting　the　bundle　and　everything　else。　Ingtar　met　his　incredulous　stare　with　a　calm　nod。　〃That's　crazy！　I've　never　led　anything　but　a　flock　of　sheep；　Ingtar。　They　would　not　follow　me　anyway。　Besides；　Moiraine　can't　tell　you　who　your　second　is。　It's　Uno。〃
　　　　　　　〃Uno　and　I　were　called　to　Lord　Agelmar　the　morning　we　left。　Moiraine　Sedai　was　there；　but　it　was　Lord　Agelmar　who　told　me。　You　are　second；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why；　Ingtar？　Why？〃　Moiraine's　hand　was　bright　and　clear　in　it；　hers　and　the　Amyrlin's；　pushing　him　along　the　path　they　had　chosen；　but　he　had　to　ask。
　　　　　　　The　Shienaran　looked　as　if　he　did　not　understand　it　either；　but　he　was　a　soldier；　used　to　odd　mands　in　the　endless　war　along　the　Blight。　〃I　heard　rumors　from　the　women's　apartments　that　you　were　really　a　。。。　〃　He　spread　gauntleted　hands。　〃No　matter。　I　know　you　deny　it。　Just　as　you　deny　the　look　of　your　own　face。　Moiraine　Sedai　says　you're　a　shepherd；　but　I　never　saw　a　shepherd　with　a　heron…mark　blade。　No　matter。　I'll　not　claim　I　would　have　chosen　you　myself；　but　I　think　you　have　it　in　you　to　do　what　is　needed。　You　will　do　your　duty；　if　it　es　to　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　wanted　to　say　it　was　no　duty　of　his；　but　instead　he　said；　〃Uno　knows　about　this。　Who　else；　Ingtar？〃
　　　　　　　〃All　the　lances。　When　we　Shienarans　ride；　every　man　knows　who　is　next　in　line　if　the　man　in　mand　falls。　A　chain　unbroken　right　down　to　the　last　man　left；　even　if　he's　nothing　but　a　horseholder。　That　way；　you　see；　even　if　he　is　the　last　man；　he　is　not　just　a　straggler　running　and　trying　to　stay　alive。　He　has　the　mand；　and　duty　calls　him　to　do　what　must　be　done。　If　I　go　to　the　last　embrace　of　the　mother；　the　duty　is　yours。　You　will　find　the　Horn；　and　you　will　take　it　where　it　belongs。　You　will。〃　There　was　a　peculiar　emphasis　in　Ingtar's　last　words。
　　　　　　　The　bundle　in　Rand's　arms　seemed　to　weigh　ten　stone。　Light；　she　could　be　a　hundred　leagues　off；　and　she　still　reaches　out　and　tugs　the　leash。　This　way；　Rand。　That　way。　You're　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Rand。　〃I　don't　want　the　duty；　Ingtar。　I　will　not　take　it。　Light；　I'm　just　a　shepherd！　Why　won't　anybody　believe　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　will　do　your　duty；　Rand。　When　the　man　at　the　top　of　the　chain　fails；　everything　below　him　falls　apart。　Too　much　is　falling　apart。　Too　much　already。　Peace　favor　your　sword；　Rand　al'Thor。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ingtar；　I　…　〃　But　Ingtar　was　walking　away；　calling　to　see　if　Uno　had　the　scouts　out　yet。
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　the　bundle　in　his　arms　and　licked　his　lips。　He　was　afraid　he　knew　what　was　in　it。　He　wanted　to　look；　yet　he　wanted　to　throw　it　in　a　fire　without　opening　it；　he　thought　he　might；　if　he　could　be　sure　it　would　burn　without　anyone　seeing　what　was　inside；　if　he　could　be　sure　what　was　inside　would　burn　at　all。　But　he　could　not　look　there；　where　other　eyes　than　his　might　see。
　　　　　　　He　glanced　around　the　camp。　The　Shienarans　were　unloading　the　pack　animals；　some　already　handing　out　a　cold　supper　of　dried　meat　and　flatbread。　Mat　and　Perrin　tended　their　horses；　and　Loial　sat　on　a　stone　reading　a　book；　with　his　long…stemmed　pipe　clenched　between　his　teeth　and　a　wisp　of　smoke　curling　above　his　head。　Gripping　the　bundle　as　if　afraid　he　might　drop　it；　Rand　sneaked　into　the　trees。
　　　　　　　He　knelt　in　a　small　clearing　sheltered　by　thick…foliaged　branches　and　set　the　bundle　on　the　ground。　For　a　time　he　just　stared　at　it。　She　wouldn't　have。　She　couldn't。　A　small　voice　answered；　Oh；　yes；　she　could。　She　could　and　would。　Finally　he　set　about　untying　the　small　knots　in　the　cords　that　bound　it。　Neat　knots；　tied　with　a　precision　that　spoke　loudly　of　Moiraine's　own　hand；　no　servant　had　done　this　for　her。　She　would　not　have　dared　let　any　servant　see。
　　　　　　　When　he　had　the　last　cord　unfastened；　he　opened　out　what　was　folded　inside　with　hands　that　felt　numb；　then　stared　at　it；　his　mouth　full　of　dust。　It　was　all　of　one　piece；　neither　woven；　nor　dyed；　nor　painted。　A　banner；　white　as　snow；　big　enough　to　be　seen　the　length　of　a　field　of　battle。　And　across　it　marched　a　rippling　figure　like　a　serpent　scaled　in　gold　and　crimson；　but　a　serpent　with　four　scaled　legs；　each　tipped　with　five　golden　claws；　a　serpent　with　eyes　like　the　sun　and　a　golden　lion's　mane。　He　had　seen　it　once　before；　and　Moiraine　had　told　him　what　it　was。　The　banner　of　Lews　Therin　Telamon；　Lews　Therin　Kinslayer；　in　the　War　of　the　Shadow。　The　banner　of　the　Dragon。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　that！　Look　what　he's　got；　now！〃　Mat　burst　into　the　clearing。　Perrin　came　after　him　more　slowly。　〃First　fancy　coats；〃　Mat　snarled；　〃and　now　a　banner！　We'll　hear　no　end　of　lording　it　now；　with　…　〃　Mat　got　close　enough　to　see　the　banner　clearly；　and　his　jaw　dropped。　〃Light！〃　He　stumbled　back　a　step。　〃Burn　me！〃　He　had　been　there；　too；　when　Moiraine　named　the　banner。　So　had　Perrin。
　　　　　　　Anger　boiled　up　in　Rand；　anger　at　Moiraine　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　pushing　him；　pulling　him。　He　snatched　up　the　banner　in　both　hands　and　shook　it　at　Mat；　words　boiling　out　uncontrollably。　〃That's　right！　The　Dragon's　banner！〃　Mat　took　another　step　back。　〃Moiraine　wants　me　to　be　a　puppet　on　Tar　Valon　strings；　a　false　Dragon　for　the　Aes　Sedai。　She's　going　to　push　it　down　my　throat　whatever　I　want。　But…I…will　…not…be…used！〃
　　　　　　　Mat　had　backed　up　against　a　tree　trunk。　〃A　false　Dragon？〃　He　swallowed。　〃You？　That　。。。　that's　crazy。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　had　not　retreated。　He　squatted　down　with　his　thick　arms　on　his　knees　and　studied　Rand　with　those　bright　golden　eyes。　In　the　evening　shadows　they　seemed　to　shine。　〃If　the　Aes　Sedai　want　you　for　a　false　Dragon　。。。〃　He　paused；　frowning；　thinking　things　through。　Finally；　he　said　quietly；　〃Rand；　can　you　channel？〃　Mat　gave　a　strangled　gasp。
　　　　　　　Rand　let　the　banner　drop；　he　hesitated　only　a　moment　before　nodding　wearily。　〃I　did　not　ask　for　it。　I　don't　want　it。　But　。。。　But　I　do　not　think　I　know　how　to　stop　it。〃　The　room　with　the　flies　came　back　unbidden　to　his　mind。　〃I　don't　think　they'll　let　me　stop。〃
　　　　　　　〃Burn　me！〃　Mat　breathed。　〃Blood　and　bloody　ashes！　They'll　kill　us；　you　know。　All　of　us。　Perrin　and　me　as　well　as　you。　If　Ingtar　and　the　others　find　out；　they　will　cut　our　bloody　throats　for　Darkfriends。　Light；　they'll　probably　think　we　were　part　of　stealing　the　Horn；　and　killing　those　people　in　Fal　Dara。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shut　up；　Mat；〃　Perrin　said　calmly。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　tell　me　to　shut　up。　If　Ingtar　doesn't　kill　us；　Rand　will　go　mad　and　do　it　for　him。　Burn　me！　Burn　me！〃　Mat　slid　down　the　tree　to　sit　on　the　ground。　〃Why　didn't　they　gentle　you？　If　the　Aes　Sedai　know；　why　didn't　they　gentle　you？　I　never　heard　of　them　letting　a　man　who　can　wield　the　Power　just　walk　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　don't　all　know；〃　Rand　sighed。　〃The　Amyrlin　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat！　She　knows？　Light；　no　wonder　she　looked　at　me　so　strange。〃
　　　　　　　〃　…　and　Moiraine　told　me　I'm　the　Dragon　Reborn；　and　then　they　said　I　could　go　wherever　I　wanted。　Don't　you　see；　Mat？　They　are　trying　to　use　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Doesn't　change　you　being　able　to　channel；〃　Mat　muttered。　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　be　halfway　to　the　Aryth　Ocean　by　now。　And　I　would　not　stop　until　I　found　someplace　where　there　were　no　Aes　Sedai；　and　never　likely　to　be　any。　And　no　people。　I　mean　。。。　well　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shut　up；　Mat；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Why　are　you　here；　Rand？　The　longer　you　stay　around　people；　the　more　likely　it　is　somebody　will　find　out　and　send　for　Aes　Sedai。　Aes　Sedai　who　won't　tell　you　to　go　on　about　your　business。〃　He　paused；　scratching　his　head　over　that。　〃And　Mat's　right　about　Ingtar。　I　don't　doubt　he　would　name　you　Darkfriend　and　kill　you。　Kill　all　of　us；　maybe。　He　seems　to　like　you；　but　he'd　still　do　it；　I　think。　A　false　Dragon？　So　would　the　others。　Masema　wouldn't　need　that　much　excuse；　for　you。　So　why　aren't　you　gone？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shrugged。　〃I　was　going；　but　first　the　Amyrlin　came；　and　then　the　Horn　was　stolen；　and　the　dagger；　and　Moiraine　said　Mat　was　dying；　and　。。。　Light；　I　thought　I　could　stay　with　you　until　we　found　the　dagger；　at　least；　I　thought　I　could　help　with　that。　Maybe　I　was　wrong。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　came　because　of　the　dagger？〃　Mat　said　quietly。　He　rubbed　his　nose　and　grimaced。　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　I　never　thought　you　wanted　to　。。。　Aaaah！　Are　you　feeling　all　right？　I　mean；　you　aren't　going　mad　already；　are　you？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　dug　a　pebble　out　of　the　ground　and　threw　it　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃Ouch！〃　Mat　rubbed　his　arm。　〃I　was　just　asking。　I