rj.eyeoftheworld-第89节

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　　　　　　　〃Aye；〃　Domon　said　sourly。　〃You　think　on　it。　Too　bad　I　can　no　keep　Gelb　aboard　to　take　the　others'　anger；　but　I　do　what　I　say　I　will　do。　I　suppose　I　must　ease　up　now；　even　if　it　means　taking　three　times　as　long　to　reach　Illian　as　I　should。　Well；　mayhap　those　Trollocs　were　after　you　three。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　blinked　but　kept　silent；　but　Mat　was　not　so　cautious。
　　　　　　　〃Why　do　you　think　they　weren't？〃　he　demanded。　〃They　were　after　the　same　treasure　we　were　hunting。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mayhap；〃　the　captain　grunted；　sounding　unconvinced。　He　bed　thick　fingers　through　his　beard；　then　pointed　at　the　pocket　where　Thom　had　put　the　purse。　〃Twice　that　if　you　e　back　to　keep　the　men's　minds　off　how　hard　I　work　them。　Think　on　it。　I　sail　with　the　first　light　on　the　morrow。〃　He　turned　on　his　heel　and　strode　back　to　the　merchants；　arms　spreading　wide　as　he　began　an　apology　for　keeping　them　waiting。
　　　　　　　Thom　still　hesitated；　but　Rand　hustled　him　down　the　gangplank　without　giving　him　a　chance　to　argue；　and　the　gleeman　let　himself　be　herded。　A　murmur　passed　through　the　people　on　the　dock　as　they　saw　Thom's　patch…covered　cloak；　and　some　called　out　to　discover　where　he　would　be　performing。　So　much　for　not　being　noticed；　Rand　thought；　dismayed。　By　sundown　it　would　be　all　over　Whitebridge　that　there　was　a　gleeman　in　town。　He　hurried　Thom　along；　though；　and　Thom；　wrapped　in　sulky　silence；　did　not　even　try　to　slow　down　enough　to　preen　under　the　attention。
　　　　　　　The　carriage　drivers　looked　down　at　Thom　with　interest　from　their　high　perches；　but　apparently　the　dignity　of　their　positions　forbade　shouting。　With　no　idea　of　where　to　go　exactly；　Rand　turned　up　the　street　that　ran　along　the　river　and　under　the　bridge。
　　　　　　　〃We　need　to　find　Moiraine　and　the　others；〃　he　said。　〃And　fast。　We　should　have　thought　of　changing　Thom's　cloak。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　suddenly　shook　himself　and　stopped　dead。　〃An　innkeeper　will　be　able　to　tell　us　if　they're　here；　or　if　they've　passed　through。　The　right　innkeeper。　Innkeepers　have　all　the　news　and　gossip。　If　they　aren't　here　。。。〃　He　looked　back　and　forth　from　Rand　to　Mat。　〃We　have　to　talk；　we　three。〃　Cloak　swirling　around　his　ankles；　he　set　off　into　the　town；　away　from　the　river。　Rand　and　Mat　had　to　step　quickly　to　keep　up。
　　　　　　　The　broad；　milk…white　arch　that　gave　the　town　its　name　dominated　Whitebridge　as　much　close　up　as　it　did　from　afar；　but　once　Rand　was　in　the　streets　he　realized　that　the　town　was　every　bit　as　big　as　Baerlon；　though　not　so　crowded　with　people。　A　few　carts　moved　in　the　streets；　pulled　by　horse　or　ox　or　donkey　or　man；　but　no　carriages。　Those　most　likely　all　belonged　to　the　merchants　and　were　clustered　down　at　the　dock。
　　　　　　　Shops　of　every　description　lined　the　streets；　and　many　of　the　tradesmen　worked　in　front　of　their　establishments；　under　the　signs　swinging　in　the　wind。　They　passed　a　man　mending　pots；　and　a　tailor　holding　folds　of　cloth　up　to　the　light　for　a　customer。　A　shoemaker；　sitting　in　his　doorway；　tapped　his　hammer　on　the　heel　of　a　boot。　Hawkers　cried　their　services　at　sharpening　knives　and　scissors；　or　tried　to　interest　the　passersby　in　their　skimpy　trays　of　fruit　or　vegetables；　but　none　was　getting　much　interest。　Shops　selling　food　had　the　same　pitiful　displays　of　produce　Rand　remembered　from　Baerlon。　Even　the　fishmongers　displayed　only　small　piles　of　small　fish；　for　all　the　boats　on　the　river。　Times　were　not　really　hard　yet；　but　everyone　could　see　what　was　ing　if　the　weather　did　not　change　soon；　and　those　faces　that　were　not　fixed　into　worried　frowns　seemed　to　stare　at　something　unseen；　something　unpleasant。
　　　　　　　Where　the　White　Bridge　came　down　in　the　center　of　the　town　was　a　big　square；　paved　with　stones　worn　by　generations　of　feet　and　wagon　wheels。　Inns　surrounded　the　square；　and　shops；　and　tall；　red　brick　houses　with　signs　out　front　bearing　the　same　names　Rand　had　seen　on　the　carriages　at　the　dock。　It　was　into　one　of　those　inns；　seemingly　chosen　at　random；　that　Thom　ducked。　The　sign　over　the　door；　swinging　in　the　wind；　had　a　striding　man　with　a　bundle　on　his　back　on　one　side　and　the　same　man　with　his　head　on　a　pillow　on　the　other；　and　proclaimed　The　Wayfarers'　Rest。
　　　　　　　The　mon　room　stood　empty　except　for　the　fat　innkeeper　drawing　ale　from　a　barrel　and　two　men　in　rough　workman's　clothes　staring　glumly　into　their　mugs　at　a　table　in　the　back。　Only　the　innkeeper　looked　up　when　they　came　in。　A　shoulder…high　wall　split　the　room　in　two　from　front　to　back；　with　tables　and　a　blazing　fireplace　on　each　side。　Rand　wondered　idly　if　all　innkeepers　were　fat　and　losing　their　hair。
　　　　　　　Rubbing　his　hands　together　briskly；　Thom　mented　to　the　innkeeper　on　the　late　cold　and　ordered　hot　spiced　wine；　then　added　quietly；　〃Is　there　somewhere　my　friends　and　I　could　talk　without　being　disturbed？〃
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　nodded　to　the　low　wall。　〃The　other　side　that's　as　best　I've　got　unless　you　want　to　take　a　room。　For　when　sailors　e　up　from　the　river。　Seems　like　half　the　crews　got　grudges　against　the　other　half。　I　won't　have　my　place　broke　up　by　fights；　so　I　keep　them　apart。〃　He　had　been　eyeing　Thom's　cloak　the　whole　while；　and　now　he　cocked　his　head　to　one　side；　a　sly　look　in　his　eyes。　〃You　staying？　Haven't　had　a　gleeman　here　in　some　time。　Folks　would　pay　real　good　for　something　as　would　take　their　minds　off　things。　I'd　even　take　some　off　on　your　room　and　meals。〃
　　　　　　　Unnoticed；　Rand　thought　glumly。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　too　generous；〃　Thom　said　with　a　smooth　bow。　〃Perhaps　I　will　take　up　your　offer。　But　for　now；　a　little　privacy。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　bring　your　wine。　Good　money　here　for　a　gleeman。〃
　　　　　　　The　tables　on　the　far　side　of　the　wall　were　all　empty；　but　Thom　chose　one　right　in　the　middle　of　the　space。　〃So　no　one　can　listen　without　us　knowing；〃　he　explained。　〃Did　you　hear　that　fellow？　He'll　take　some　off。　Why；　I'd　double　his　custom　just　by　sitting　here。　Any　honest　innkeeper　gives　a　gleeman　room　and　board　and　a　good　bit　besides。〃
　　　　　　　The　bare　table　was　none　too　clean；　and　the　floor　had　not　been　swept　in　days　if　not　weeks。　Rand　looked　around　and　grimaced。　Master　al'Vere　would　not　have　let　his　inn　get　that　dirty　if　he　had　had　to　climb　out　of　a　sickbed　to　see　to　it。　
　　　　　　　〃We're　only　after　information。　Remember？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　here？〃　Mat　demanded。　〃We　passed　other　inns　that　looked　cleaner。〃
　　　　　　　〃Straight　on　from　the　bridge；〃　Thom　said；　〃is　the　road　to　Caemlyn。　Anyone　passing　through　Whitebridge　es　through　this　square；　unless　they're　going　by　river；　and　we　know　your　friends　aren't　doing　that。　If　there　is　no　word　of　them　here；　it　doesn't　exist。　Let　me　do　the　talking。　This　has　to　be　done　carefully。〃
　　　　　　　Just　then　the　innkeeper　appeared；　three　battered　pewter　mugs　gripped　in　one　fist　by　the　handles。　The　fat　man　flicked　at　the　table　with　a　towel；　set　the　mugs　down；　and　took　Thom's　money。　〃If　you　stay；　you　won't　have　to　pay　for　your　drinks。　Good　wine；　here。〃
　　　　　　　Thom's　smile　touched　only　his　mouth。　〃I　will　think　on　it；　innkeeper。　What　news　is　there？　We　have　been　away　from　hearing　things。〃
　　　　　　　〃Big　news；　that's　what。　Big　news。〃
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　draped　the　towel　over　his　shoulder　and　pulled　up　a　chair。　He　crossed　his　arms　on　the　table；　took　root　with　a　long　sigh；　saying　what　a　fort　it　was　to　get　off　his　feet。　His　name　was　Bartim；　and　he　went　on　about　his　feet　in　detail；　about　corns　and　bunions　and　how　much　time　he　spent　standing　and　what　he　soaked　them　in；　until　Thom　mentioned　the　news　again；　and　then　he　shifted　over　with　hardly　a　pause。
　　　　　　　The　news　was　just　as　big　as　he　said　it　was。　Logain；　the　false　Dragon；　had　been　captured　after　a　big　battle　near　Lugard　while　he　was　trying　to　move　his　army　from　Ghealdan　to　Tear。　The　Prophecies；　they　understood？　Thom　nodded；　and　Bartim　went　on。　The　roads　in　the　south　were　packed　with　people；　the　lucky　ones　with　what　they　could　carry　on　their　backs。　Thousands　fleeing　in　all　directions。
　　　　　　　〃None〃　…　Bartim　chuckled　wryly　…　〃supported　Logain；　of　course。　Oh；　no；　you　won't　find　many　to　admit　to　that；　not　now。　Just　refugees　trying　to　find　a　safe　place　during　the　troubles。〃
　　　　　　　Aes　Sedai　had　been　involved　in　taking　Logain；　of　course。　Bartim　spat　on　the　floor　when　he　said　that；　and　again　when　he　said　they　were　taking　the　false　Dragon　north　to　Tar　Valon。　Bartim　was　a　decent　man；　he　said；　a　respectable　man；　and　Aes　Sedai　could　all　go　back　to　the　Blight　where　they　came　from　and　take　Tar　Valon　with　them；　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。　He　would　get　no　closer　to　an　Aes　Sedai　than　a　thousand　miles；　if　he　had　his　way。　Of　course；　they　were　stopping　at　every　village　and　town　on　the　way　north　to　display　Logain；　so　he　had　heard。　To　show　people　that　the　false　Dragon　had　been　taken　and　the　world　was　safe　again。　He　would　have　liked　to　see　that；　even　if　it　did　mean　getting　close　to　Aes　Sedai。　He　was　halfway　tempted　to　go　to　Caemlyn。
　　　　　　　〃They'll　be　taking　him　there　to　show　to　Queen　Morgase。〃　The　innkeeper　touched　his　forehead　respectfully。　〃I've　never　seen　the　Queen。　Man　ought　to　see　his　own　Queen；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　　　　　Logain　could　do　〃things；〃　and　the　way　Bartim's　eyes　shifted　and　his　tongue　darted　across　his　lips　made　it　clear　what　he　meant。　He　had　seen　the　last　false　Dragon；　two　years　ago；　when　he　was　paraded　through　the　countryside；　but　that　was　just　some　fellow　who