rj.theshadowrising-第114章
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ng here； and that something is you。〃
〃As you say；〃 he said reluctantly。 〃We will care for what you have given into our charge until you want them again。〃
〃Of course。 The things we gave you。〃 She smiled at him and loosened her grip； smoothing his hair once more before folding her hands。 〃You will carry the。。。 things。。。 to safety； Jonai。 Keep moving； always moving； until you find a place of safety； where no one can harm you。〃
〃As you say； Aes Sedai。〃
〃What of Coumin； Jonai？ Has he calmed？〃
He did not know any way but to tell her； he would rather have bitten his tongue out。 〃My father is hiding somewhere in the city。 He tried to talk us into。。。 resisting。 He would not listen； Aes Sedai。 He would not listen。 He found an old shocklance somewhere； and。。。〃 He could not go on。 He expected her to be angry； but her eyes glistened with tears。
〃Keep the Covenant； Jonai。 If the Da'shain lose everything else； see they keep the Way of the Leaf。 Promise me。〃
〃Of course； Aes Sedai；〃 he said； shocked。 The Covenant was the Aiel； and the Aiel were the Covenant； to abandon the Way would be to abandon what they were。 Coumin was an aberration。 He had been strange since he was a boy； it was said； hardly Aiel at all； though no one knew why。
〃Go now； Jonai。 I want you far from Paaren Disen by tomorrow。 And remember … keep moving。 Keep the Aiel safe。〃
He bowed where he knelt； but she was already being drawn back into the argument。
〃Can we trust Kodam and his fellows； Solinda？〃
〃We must； Oselle。 They are young and inexperienced； but barely touched by the taint； and。。。 And we have no choice。〃
〃Then we will do what we must。 The sword must wait。 Someshta； we have a task for the last of the Nym； if you will do it。 We have asked too much of you； now we must ask more。〃
Jonai bowed his way out formally as the Nym rose； his head brushing the ceiling。 Already immersed in their plans； they were not looking at him； but he did them this last honor anyway。 He did not think he would ever see them again。
He ran from the Hall of the Servants； all the way out of the city to where the great gathering waited。 Thousands of wagons in ten lines stretching nearly two leagues； wagons loaded with food and water barrels； wagons loaded with the crated things the Aes Sedai had given into Aiel charge； angreal and sa'angreal and ter'angreal； all the things that had to be kept from the hands of men going mad while they wielded the One Power。 Once there would have been other ways to carry them； jo…cars and jumpers； hoverflies and huge sho…wings。 Now painfully assembled horses and wagons had to suffice。 Among the wagons stood the people； enough to populate a city but perhaps all the Aiel left alive in the world。
A hundred came to meet him； men and women； the representatives demanding word of whether the Aes Sedai had granted leave for some to stay。 〃No；〃 he told them。 Some frowned reluctantly； and he added； 〃We must obey。 We are Da'shain Aiel； and we obey the Aes Sedai。〃
They dispersed back to their wagons slowly； and he thought he heard Coumin's name mentioned； but he could not let it trouble him。 He hurried to his own wagon； at the head of one of the center lines。 The horses were all nervous with the ground shaking at intervals。
His sons were already up on the seat … Willim； fifteen； with the reins； and Adan； ten； beside him； both grinning with nervous excitement。 Little Esole lay playing with a doll on top of the canvas tied over their possessions … and； more important； their charges from the Aes Sedai。 There was no room for any to ride but the young and the very old。 A dozen rooted chora cuttings in clay pots sat behind the wagon seat； to be planted when they found a place of safety。 A foolish thing to carry； perhaps； but no wagon was without its potted cuttings。 Something from a time long gone； symbol of a better time to e。 People needed hope； and symbols。
Alnora waited beside the team； glossy black hair tumbling about her shoulders and reminding him of the first time he saw her as a girl。 But worry had etched lines around her eyes now。
He managed a smile for her； hiding the worry in his own heart。 〃All will be well； wife of my heart。〃 She did not answer； and he added； 〃Have you dreamed？〃
〃Of no time soon；〃 she murmured。 〃All will be well； all will be well； and all manner of thing will be well。〃 Smiling tremulously； she touched his cheek。 〃With you I know it will be so； husband of my heart。〃
Jonai waved his arms over his head； and the signal rippled down the lines。 Slowly the wagons began to move； the Aiel leaving Paaren Disen。
Rand shook his head。 Too much。 Memories crowding together。 The air seemed filled with sheet lightning。 The wind swirled gritty dust into dancing whirlwinds。 Muradin had clawed deep furrows in his face； he was digging at his eyes now。 Forward。
Coumin knelt at the edge of the plowed ground in his working clothes； plain brownish gray coat and breeches and soft laced boots； in a line with others like him that surrounded the field； ten men of the Da'shain Aiel at twice stretched arms' length and then an Ogier； all the way around。 He could see the next field； lined the same way； beyond the soldiers with their shocklances sitting atop armored jo…cars。 A hoverfly buzzed overhead in its patrol； a deadly black metal wasp containing two men。 He was sixteen； and the women had decided his voice was finally deep enough to join in the seed singing。
The soldiers fascinated him； men and Ogier； the way a colorful poisonous snake might。 They killed。 His father's greatfather； Charn； claimed there had been no soldiers once； but Coumin did not believe it。 If there were no soldiers； who would stop the Nightriders and the Trollocs from ing to kill everyone？ Of course； Charn claimed there had not been any Myrddraal or Trollocs then； either。 No Forsaken； no Shadowwrought。 He had many stories he claimed were from a time before soldiers and Nightriders and Trollocs； when he said the Dark Lord of the Grave had been bound away； and no one knew his name； or the word 〃war。〃 Coumin could not imagine such a world； the war had been old when he was born。
He enjoyed Charn's stories even if he could not make himself believe； but some earned the old man frowns and scoldings。 Like when he claimed to have served one of the Forsaken； once。 Not just any Forsaken； but Lanfear herself。 As well say he had served Ishamael。 If Charn had to make up stories； Coumin wished he could say he had served Lews Therin； the great leader himself。 Of course； everyone would ask why he was not serving the Dragon now； but that would be better than the way things were。 Coumin did not like the way citizens looked at Charn when he said that Lanfear had not always been evil。
A stir at the end of the field told him one of the Nym was approaching。 The great form； head and shoulders and chest taller than any Ogier； stepped out onto the seeded ground； and Coumin did not have to see to know he left footprints filled with sprouting things。 It was Someshta； surrounded by clouds of butterflies； white and yellow and blue。 Excited murmurs rose from the townspeople and the folk whose fields these were； gathered to watch。 Each field would have its Nym； now。
Coumin wondered if he could ask Someshta about Charn's stories。 He had spoken to him once； and Someshta was old enough to know if Charn was telling the truth； the Nym were older than anyone。 Some said the Nym never died； not so long as plants grew。 But this was no time to be thinking of questioning a Nym。
The Ogier began it； as was fitting； standing to sing； great bass rumbles like the earth singing。 The Aiel rose； men's voices lifting in their own song； even the deepest at a higher pitch than the Ogier's。 Yet the songs braided together； and Someshta took those threads and wove them into his dance； gliding across the field in swooping strides； arms wide； butterflies swirling about him； landing on his spread fingertips。
Coumin could hear the seed singing around the other fields； hear the women clapping to urge the men on； their rhythm the heartbeat of
