rj.eyeoftheworld-第48节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ross　the　World　Sea；　and　sealed　two　dooms。　The　doom　of　his　dream　of　one　land　and　one　people；　and　a　doom　yet　to　e。　At　his　deathbed　I　was　there　when　his　councilors　told　him　only　Aes　Sedai　could　save　his　life。　I　spoke；　and　he　ordered　his　councilors　to　the　stake。　I　spoke；　and　the　High　King's　last　words　were　to　cry　that　Tar　Valon　must　be　destroyed。
　　　　　　　〃When　men　such　as　these　could　not　stand　against　me；　what　chance　do　you　have；　a　toad　crouching　beside　a　forest　puddle。　You　will　serve　me；　or　you　will　dance　on　Aes　Sedai　strings　until　you　die。　And　then　you　will　be　mine。　The　dead　belong　to　me！〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Rand　muttered；　〃this　is　a　dream。　It　is　a　dream！〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　you　are　safe　from　me　in　your　dreams？　Look！〃　Ba'alzamon　pointed　mandingly；　and　Rand's　head　turned　to　follow；　although　he　did　not　turn　it；　he　did　not　want　to　turn。
　　　　　　　The　goblet　was　gone　from　the　table。　Where　it　had　been；　crouched　a　large　rat；　blinking　at　the　light；　sniffing　the　air　warily。　Ba'alzamon　crooked　his　finger；　and　with　a　squeak　the　rat　arched　its　back；　forepaws　lifting　into　the　air　while　it　balanced　awkwardly　on　its　hind　feet。　The　finger　curved　more；　and　the　rat　toppled　over；　scrabbling　frantically；　pawing　at　nothing；　squealing　shrilly；　its　back　bending；　bending；　bending。　With　a　sharp　snap　like　the　breaking　of　a　twig；　the　rat　trembled　violently　and　was　still；　lying　bent　almost　double。
　　　　　　　Rand　swallowed。　〃Anything　can　happen　in　a　dream；〃　he　mumbled。　Without　looking　he　swung　his　fist　back　against　the　door　again。　His　hand　hurt；　but　he　still　did　not　wake　up。
　　　　　　　〃Then　go　to　the　Aes　Sedai。　Go　to　the　White　Tower　and　tell　them。　Tell　the　Amyrlin　Seat　of　this　。。。　dream。〃　The　man　laughed；　Rand　felt　the　heat　of　the　flames　on　his　face。　〃That　is　one　way　to　escape　them。　They　will　not　use　you；　then。　No；　not　when　they　know　that　I　know。　But　will　they　let　you　live；　to　spread　the　tale　of　what　they　do？　Are　you　a　big　enough　fool　to　believe　they　will？　The　ashes　of　many　like　you　are　scattered　on　the　slopes　of　Dragonmount。　〃
　　　　　　　〃This　is　a　dream；〃　Rand　said；　panting。　〃It's　a　dream；　and　I　am　going　to　wake　up。〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　you？〃　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　the　man's　finger　move　to　point　at　him。　〃Will　you；　indeed？〃　The　finger　crooked；　and　Rand　screamed　as　he　arched　backwards；　every　muscle　in　his　body　forcing　him　further。　〃Will　you　ever　wake　again？〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　*　　　　*　　　　*
　　　　　　　Convulsively　Rand　jerked　up　in　the　darkness；　his　hands　tightening　on　cloth。　A　blanket。　Pale　moonlight　shone　through　the　single　window。　The　shadowed　shapes　of　the　other　two　beds。　A　snore　from　one　of　them；　like　canvas　ripping：　Thom　Merrilin。　A　few　coals　gleamed　among　the　ashes　on　the　hearth。
　　　　　　　It　had　been　a　dream；　then；　like　that　nightmare　in　the　Winespring　Inn　the　day　of　Bel　Tine；　everything　that　he　had　heard　and　done　all　jumbled　in　together　with　old　tales　and　nonsense　from　nowhere。　He　pulled　the　blanket　up　around　his　shoulders；　but　it　was　not　cold　that　made　him　shake。　His　head　hurt；　too。　Perhaps　Moiraine　could　do　something　to　stop　these　dreams。　She　said　she　could　help　with　nightmares。
　　　　　　　With　a　snort　he　lay　back。　Were　the　dreams　really　bad　enough　for　him　to　ask　the　help　of　an　Aes　Sedai？　On　the　other　hand；　could　anything　he　did　now　get　him　in　any　deeper？　He　had　left　the　Two　Rivers；　e　away　with　an　Aes　Sedai。　But　there　had　not　been　any　choice；　of　course。　So　did　he　have　any　choice　but　to　trust　her？　An　Aes　Sedai？　It　was　as　bad　as　the　dreams；　thinking　about　it。　He　huddled　under　his　blanket；　trying　to　find　the　calmness　of　the　void　the　way　Tam　had　taught　him；　but　sleep　was　a　long　time　returning。

Chapter　15
Strangers　and　Friends
　
　　　　　　　Sunlight　streaming　across　his　narrow　bed　finally　woke　Rand　out　of　a　deep　but　restless　sleep。　He　pulled　a　pillow　over　his　head；　but　it　did　not　really　shut　out　the　light；　and　he　did　not　really　want　to　go　back　to　sleep。　There　had　been　more　dreams　after　the　first。　He　could　not　remember　any　but　the　first；　but　he　knew　he　wanted　no　more。
　　　　　　　With　a　sigh　he　tossed　the　pillow　aside　and　sat　up；　wincing　as　he　stretched。　All　the　aches　he　thought　had　soaked　out　in　the　bath　were　back。　And　his　head　still　hurt；　too。　It　did　not　surprise　him。　A　dream　like　that　was　enough　to　give　anybody　a　headache。　The　others　had　already　faded；　but　not　that　one。
　　　　　　　The　other　beds　were　empty。　Light　poured　in　through　the　window　at　a　steep　angle；　the　sun　stood　well　above　the　horizon。　By　this　hour　back　on　the　farm　he　would　have　already　fixed　something　to　eat　and　been　well　into　his　chores。　He　scrambled　out　of　bed；　muttering　angrily　to　himself。　A　city　to　see；　and　they　did　not　even　wake　him。　At　least　someone　had　seen　that　there　was　water　in　the　pitcher；　and　still　warm；　too。
　　　　　　　He　washed　and　dressed　quickly；　hesitating　a　moment　over　Tam's　sword。　Lan　and　Thom　had　left　their　saddlebags　and　blanketrolls　behind　in　the　room；　of　course；　but　the　Warder's　sword　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Lan　had　worn　his　sword　in　Emond's　Field　even　before　there　was　any　hint　of　trouble。　He　thought　he　would　take　the　older　man's　lead。　Telling　himself　it　was　not　because　he　had　often　daydreamed　about　walking　the　streets　of　a　real　city　wearing　a　sword；　he　belted　it　on　and　tossed　his　cloak　over　his　shoulder　like　a　sack。
　　　　　　　Taking　the　stairs　two　at　a　time；　he　hurried　down　to　the　kitchen。　That　was　surely　the　quickest　place　to　get　a　bite；　and　on　his　only　day　in　Baerlon　he　did　not　want　to　waste　any　more　time　than　he　already　had。　Blood　and　ashes；　but　they　could　have　waked　me。
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch　was　in　the　kitchen；　confronting　a　plump　woman　whose　arms　were　covered　in　flour　to　her　elbows；　obviously　the　cook。　Rather；　she　was　confronting　him；　shaking　her　finger　under　his　nose。　Serving　maids　and　scullions；　potboys　and　spitboys；　hurried　about　their　tasks；　elaborately　ignoring　what　was　going　on　in　front　of　them。
　　　　　　　〃　。。。　my　Cirri　is　a　good　cat；〃　the　cook　was　saying　sharply；　〃and　I　won't　hear　a　word　otherwise；　do　you　hear？　plaining　about　him　doing　his　job　too　well；　that's　what　you're　doing；　if　you　ask　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　had　plaints；〃　Master　Fitch　managed　to　get　in。　〃plaints；　mistress。　Half　the　guests　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　hear　of　it。　I　just　won't　hear　of　it。　If　they　want　to　plain　about　my　cat；　let　them　do　the　cooking。　My　poor　old　cat；　who's　just　doing　his　job；　and　me；　we'll　go　somewhere　where　we're　appreciated；　see　if　we　don't。〃　She　untied　her　apron　and　started　to　lift　it　over　her　head。
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Master　Fitch　yelped；　and　leaped　to　stop　her。　They　danced　in　a　circle　with　the　cook　trying　to　take　her　apron　off　and　the　innkeeper　trying　to　put　it　back　on　her。　〃No；　Sara；〃　he　panted。　〃There's　no　need　for　this。　No　need；　I　say！　What　would　I　do　without　you？　Cirri's　a　fine　cat。　An　excellent　cat。　He's　the　best　cat　in　Baerlon。　If　anyone　else　plains；　I'll　tell　them　to　be　thankful　the　cat　is　doing　his　job。　Yes；　thankful。　You　mustn't　go。　Sara？　Sara！〃
　　　　　　　The　cook　stopped　their　circling　and　managed　to　snatch　her　apron　free　of　him。　〃All　right；　then。　All　right。〃　Clutching　the　apron　in　both　hands；　she　still　did　not　retie　it。　〃But　if　you　expect　me　to　have　anything　ready　for　midday；　you'd　best　get　out　of　here　and　let　me　get　to　it。　This　may　be　your　inn；　but　it's　my　kitchen。　Unless　you　want　to　do　the　cooking？〃　She　made　as　if　to　hand　the　apron　to　him。
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch　stepped　back　with　his　hands　spread　wide。　He　opened　his　mouth；　then　stopped；　looking　around　for　the　first　time。　The　kitchen　help　still　studiously　ignored　the　cook　and　the　innkeeper；　and　Rand　began　an　intensive　search　of　his　coat　pockets；　though　except　for　the　coin　Moiraine　had　given　him　there　was　nothing　in　them　but　a　few　coppers　and　a　handful　of　odds　and　ends。　His　pocket　knife　and　sharpening　stone。　Two　spare　bowstrings　and　a　piece　of　string　he　had　thought　might　be　useful。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure；　Sara；〃　Master　Fitch　said　carefully；　〃that　everything　will　be　up　to　your　usual　excellence。〃　With　that　he　took　one　last　suspicious　look　at　the　kitchen　help；　then　left　with　as　much　dignity　as　he　could　manage。
　　　　　　　Sara　waited　until　he　was　gone　before　briskly　tying　her　apron　strings　again；　then　fastened　her　eye　on　Rand。　〃I　suppose　you　want　something　to　eat；　eh？　Well；　e　on　in。〃　She　gave　him　a　quick　grin。　〃I　don't　bite；　I　don't；　no　matter　what　you　may　have　seen　as　you　shouldn't。　Ciel；　get　the　lad　some　bread　and　cheese　and　milk。　That's　all　there　is　right　now。　Sit　yourself；　lad。　Your　friends　have　all　gone　out；　except　one　lad　I　understand　wasn't　feeling　well；　and　I　expect　you'll　be　wanting　to　do　the　same。〃
　　　　　　　One　of　the　serving　maids　brought　a　tray　while　Rand　took　a　stool　at　the　table。　He　began　eating　as　the　cook　went　back　to　kneading　her　bread　dough；　but　she　was　not　finished　talking。
　　　　　　　〃You　mustn't　take　any　mind　of　what　you　saw；　now。　Master　Fitch　is　a　good　enough　man；　though　the　best　of　you　aren't　any　bargains。　It's　the　folk　plaining　as　has　him　on　edge；　and　what　do　they　have　to　plain　about？　Would　they　rather　find　live　rats　than　dead　ones？　Though　it　isn't　like　Cirri　to　leave　his　handiwork　behind。　And　over　a　dozen？　Cirri　wouldn't　let　so　many　get　into　the　inn；　he　wouldn't。　It's　a　clean　place；　too；　and　not　one　to　be　so　troubled。　And　all　with　backs　broken。〃　She　shook　her　head　at　the　strangeness　of　it　all。
　　　　　　　The　bread　and　cheese　turned　to　ashes　in　Rand's　mouth。