rj.eyeoftheworld-第177部分

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bling　run。　Leaves　and　flower　petals　showered　around　him　as　he　blundered　through　the　undergrowth。　Have　to　find　her。　Who　is　she？
　　　　　　　His　arms　and　legs　seemed　to　flail　about　more　like　long　blades　of　grass　than　go　as　he　wanted　them　to。　Tottering；　he　fell　against　a　tree；　slamming　against　the　trunk　so　hard　that　he　grunted。　Foliage　rained　on　his　head　while　he　pressed　his　face　to　the　rough　bark；　clutching　to　keep　from　falling。　Egwene。　He　pushed　himself　away　from　the　tree　and　hurried　on。　Almost　immediately　he　tilted　again；　falling；　but　he　forced　his　legs　to　work　faster；　to　run　into　the　fall　so　that　he　was　staggering　along　at　a　good　clip；　all　the　while　one　step　from　falling　flat　on　his　face。　Moving　made　his　legs　begin　to　obey　him　more。　Slowly；　he　found　himself　running　upright；　arms　pumping；　long　legs　pulling　him　down　the　slope　in　leaps。　He　bounded　into　the　clearing；　half…filled　now　by　the　great　oak　marking　the　Green　Man's　grave。　There　was　the　white　stone　arch　marked　with　the　ancient　symbol　of　the　Aes　Sedai；　and　the　blackened；　gaping　pit　where　fire　and　wind　had　tried　to　trap　Aginor　and　failed。
　　　　　　　〃Egwene！　Egwene；　where　are　you？〃　A　pretty　girl　looked　up　with　big　eyes　from　where　she　knelt　beneath　the　spreading　branches；　flowers　in　her　hair；　and　brown　oak　leaves。　She　was　slender　and　young；　and　frightened。　Yes；　that's　who　she　is。　Of　course。　〃Egwene；　thank　the　Light　you're　all　right。〃
　　　　　　　There　were　two　other　women　with　her；　one　with　haunted　eyes　and　a　long　braid；　still　decorated　with　a　few　white　morningstars。　The　other　lay　outstretched；　her　head　pillowed　on　folded　cloaks；　her　own　sky…blue　cloak　not　quite　hiding　her　tattered　dress。　Charred　spots　and　tears　in　the　rich　cloth　showed；　and　her　face　was　pale；　but　her　eyes　were　open。　Moiraine。　Yes；　the　Aes　Sedai。　And　the　Wisdom；　Nynaeve。　All　three　women　looked　at　him；　unblinking　and　intent。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　all　right；　aren't　you？　Egwene？　He　didn't　harm　you。〃　He　could　walk　without　stumbling；　now　…　the　sight　of　her　made　him　feel　like　dancing；　bruises　and　all　…　but　it　still　felt　good　to　drop　down　cross…legged　beside　them。
　　　　　　　〃I　never　even　saw　him　after　you　pushed　…　〃　Her　eyes　were　uncertain　on　his　face。　〃What　about　you；　Rand？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　fine。〃　He　laughed。　He　touched　her　cheek；　and　wondered　if　he　had　imagined　a　slight　pulling　away。　〃A　little　rest；　and　I'll　be　new　made。　Nynaeve？　Moiraine　Sedai？〃　The　names　felt　new　in　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　The　Wisdom's　eyes　were　old；　ancient　in　her　young　face；　but　she　shook　her　head。　〃A　little　bruised；〃　she　said；　still　watching　him。　〃Moiraine　is　the　only　。。。　the　only　one　of　us　who　was　really　hurt。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suffered　more　injury　to　my　pride　than　anything　else；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said　irritably；　plucking　at　her　cloak　blanket。　She　looked　as　if　she　had　been　a　long　time　ill；　or　hard　used；　but　despite　the　dark　circles　under　them　her　eyes　were　sharp　and　full　of　power。　〃Aginor　was　surprised　and　angry　that　I　held　him　as　long　as　I　did；　but　fortunately；　he　had　no　time　to　spare　for　me。　I　am　surprised　myself　that　I　held　him　so　long。　In　the　Age　of　Legends；　Aginor　was　close　behind　the　Kinslayer　and　Ishamael　in　power。〃
　　　　　　　〃'The　Dark　One　and　all　the　Forsaken；'〃　Egwene　quoted　in　a　faint；　unsteady　voice；　〃'are　bound　in　Shayol　Ghul；　bound　by　the　Creator　。。。　'〃　She　drew　a　shuddering　breath。
　　　　　　　〃Aginor　and　Balthamel　must　have　been　trapped　near　the　surface。〃　Moiraine　sounded　as　if　she　had　already　explained　this；　impatient　at　doing　so　again。　〃The　patch　on　the　Dark　One's　prison　weakened　enough　to　free　them。　Let　us　be　thankful　no　more　of　the　Forsaken　were　freed。　If　they　had　been；　we　would　have　seen　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　Rand　said。　〃Aginor　and　Balthamel　are　dead；　and　so　is　Shai'…〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Dark　One；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　cut　him　off。　Ill　or　not；　her　voice　was　firm；　and　her　dark　eyes　manding。　〃Best　we　still　call　him　the　Dark　One。　Or　Ba'alzamon；　at　least。〃
　　　　　　　He　shrugged。　〃As　you　wish。　But　he's　dead。　The　Dark　One's　dead。　I　killed　him。　I　burned　him　with　。。。〃　The　rest　of　memory　flooded　back　then；　leaving　his　mouth　hanging　open。　The　One　Power。　I　wielded　the　One　Power。　No　man　can　。。。　He　licked　lips　that　were　suddenly　dry。　A　gust　of　wind　swirled　fallen　and　falling　leaves　around　them；　but　it　was　no　colder　than　his　heart。　They　were　looking　at　him；　the　three　of　them。　Watching。　Not　even　blinking。　He　reached　out　to　Egwene；　and　there　was　no　imagination　in　her　drawing　back　this　time。　〃Egwene？〃　She　turned　her　face　
away；　and　he　let　his　hand　drop。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　flung　her　arms　around　him；　burying　her　face　in　his　chest。　〃I'm　sorry；　Rand。　I'm　sorry。　I　don't　care。　Truly；　I　don't。〃　Her　shoulders　shook。　He　thought　she　was　crying。　Awkwardly　patting　her　hair；　he　looked　at　the　other　two　women　over　the　top　of　her　head。
　　　　　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　Nynaeve　said　slowly；　〃but　you　are　still　Rand　al'Thor　of　Emond's　Field。　But；　the　Light　help　me；　the　Light　help　us　all；　you　are　too　dangerous；　Rand。〃　He　flinched　from　the　Wisdom's　eyes；　sad；　regretting；　and　already　accepting　loss。
　　　　　　　〃What　happened？〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Tell　me　everything！〃
　　　　　　　And　with　her　eyes　on　him；　pelling；　he　did。　He　wanted　to　turn　away；　to　make　it　short；　leave　things　out；　but　the　Aes　Sedai's　eyes　drew　everything　from　him。　Tears　ran　down　his　face　when　he　came　to　Kari　al'Thor。　His　mother。　He　emphasized　that。　〃He　had　my　mother。　My　mother！〃　There　was　sympathy　and　pain　on　Nynaeve's　face；　but　the　Aes　Sedai's　eyes　drove　him　on；　to　the　sword　of　Light；　to　severing　the　black　cord；　and　the　flames　consuming　Ba'alzamon。　Egwene's　arms　tightened　around　him　as　if　she　would　pull　him　back　from　what　had　happened。　〃But　it　wasn't　me；〃　he　finished。　〃The　Light　。。。　pulled　me　along。　It　wasn't　really　me。　Doesn't　that　make　any　difference？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　had　suspicions　from　the　first；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Suspicions　are　not　proof；　though。　After　I　gave　you　the　token；　the　coin；　and　made　that　bonding；　you　should　have　been　willing　to　fall　in　with　whatever　I　wanted；　but　you　resisted；　questioned。　That　told　me　something；　but　not　enough。　Manetheren　blood　was　always　stubborn；　and　more　so　after　Aemon　died　and　Eldrene's　heart　was　shattered。　Then　there　was　Bela。〃
　　　　　　　〃Bela？〃　he　said。　Nothing　makes　any　difference。
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　nodded。　〃At　Watch　Hill；　Bela　had　no　need　of　me　to　cleanse　her　of　tiredness；　someone　had　already　done　it。　She　could　have　outrun　Mandarb；　that　night。　I　should　have　thought　of　who　Bela　carried。　With　Trollocs　on　our　heels；　a　Draghkar　overhead；　and　a　Halfman　the　Light　alone　knew　where；　how　you　must　have　feared　that　Egwene　would　be　left　behind。　You　needed　something　more　than　you　had　ever　needed　anything　before　in　your　life；　and　you　reached　out　to　the　one　thing　that　could　give　it　to　you。　Saidin。〃
　　　　　　　He　shivered。　He　felt　so　cold　his　fingers　hurt。　〃If　I　never　do　it　again；　if　I　never　touch　it　again；　I　won't　。。。〃　He　could　not　say　it。　Go　mad。　Turn　the　land　and　people　around　him　to　madness。　Die；　rotting　while　he　still　lived。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃It　would　be　much　easier　if　there　was　someone　to　teach　you；　but　it　might　be　done；　with　a　supreme　effort　of　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can　teach　me。　Surely；　you　…　〃　He　stopped　when　the　Aes　Sedai　shook　her　head。
　　　　　　　〃Can　a　cat　teach　a　dog　to　climb　trees；　Rand？　Can　a　fish　teach　a　bird　to　swim？　I　know　saidar；　but　I　can　teach　you　nothing　of　saidin。　Those　who　could　are　three　thousand　years　dead。　Perhaps　you　are　stubborn　enough；　though。　Perhaps　your　will　is　strong　enough。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　straightened；　wiping　reddened　eyes　with　the　back　of　her　hand。　She　looked　as　if　she　wanted　to　say　something；　but　when　she　opened　her　mouth；　nothing　came　out。　At　least　she　isn't　pulling　away。　At　least　she　can　look　at　me　without　screaming。
　　　　　　　〃The　others？〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Lan　took　them　into　the　cavern；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃The　Eye　is　gone；　but　there's　something　in　the　middle　of　the　pool；　a　crystal　column；　and　steps　to　reach　it。　Mat　and　Perrin　wanted　to　look　for　you　first　…　Loial　did；　too　…　but　Moiraine　said　。。。〃　She　glanced　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　troubled。　Moiraine　returned　her　look　calmly。　〃She　said　we　mustn't　disturb　you　while　you　were　。。。〃
　　　　　　　His　throat　constricted　until　he　could　hardly　breathe。　Will　they　turn　their　faces　the　way　Egwene　did？　Will　they　scream　and　run　away　like　I'm　a　Fade？　Moiraine　spoke　as　if　she　did　not　notice　the　blood　draining　from　his　face。
　　　　　　　〃There　was　a　vast　amount　of　the　One　Power　in　the　Eye。　Even　in　the　Age　of　Legends；　few　could　have　channeled　so　much　unaided　without　being　destroyed。　Very　few。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　told　them？〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃If　everybody　knows　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Only　Lan；〃　Moiraine　said　gently。　〃He　must　know。　And　Nynaeve　and　Egwene；　for　what　they　are　and　what　they　will　bee。　The　others　have　no　need；　yet。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　not？〃　The　rasp　in　his　throat　made　his　voice　harsh。　〃You　will　be　wanting　to　gentle　me；　won't　you？　Isn't　that　what　Aes　Sedai　do　to　men　who　can　wield　the　Power？　Change　them　so　they　can't？　Make　them　safe？　Thom　said　men　who　have　been　gentled　die　because　they　stop　wanting　to　live。　Why　aren't　you　talking　about　taking　me　to　Tar　Valon　to　be　gentled？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　ta'veren；〃　Moiraine　replied。　〃Perhaps　the　Pattern　has　not　finished　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　sat　up　straight。　〃In　the　dreams　Ba'alzamon　said　Tar　Valon　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat　would　try　to　u