rj.thegreathunt-第52章
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ne of march。〃
Ingtar shook himself out of his brown study； but did not speak until they had reached the crest of a low ridge looking down on the village； and then it was only to mand a halt while he dug a looking glass from his saddlebags and raised it to peer at the village。
Rand studied the village with interest。 It was as big as Emond's Field； though that was not very big pared to some of the towns he had seen since leaving the Two Rivers； much less the cities。 The houses were all low and plastered with white clay； and they appeared to have grass growing on sloping roofs。 A dozen windmills； scattered through the village； turned lazily； their long； cloth…covered arms flashing white in the sun。 A low wall encircled the village； grassy dirt and chest high； and outside that was a wide ditch with sharpened stakes thick in the bottom。 There was no gate in the one opening he could see in the wall； but he supposed it could be blocked easily enough with a cart or wagon。 He could not see any people。
〃Not even a dog in sight；〃 Ingtar said； returning the looking glass to his saddlebags。 〃Are you sure they did not see you？〃 he asked the scouts。
〃Not unless they have the Dark One's own luck； my Lord；〃 one of the men replied。 〃We never crested the rise。 We didn't see anyone moving then either； my Lord。〃
Ingtar nodded。 〃The trail； Hurin？〃
Hurin drew a deep breath。 〃Toward the village； my Lord。 Straight to it； as near as I can tell from here。〃
〃Watch sharp；〃 Ingtar manded； gathering his reins。 〃And do not believe that they're friendly just because they smile。 If there is anyone there。〃 He led them down toward the village at a slow walk； and reached up to loosen his sword in its scabbard。
Rand heard the sounds of others behind him doing the same。 After a moment； he eased his； too。 Trying to stay alive was not the same as trying to be a hero； he decided。
〃You think these people would help Darkfriends？〃 Perrin asked Ingtar。 The Shienaran was slow in answering。
〃They have no great love for Shienarans；〃 he said finally。 〃They think we should protect them。 Us； or the Cairhienin。 Cairhien did claim this land； once the last King of Hardan died。 All the way to the Erinin； they claimed it。 They could not hold it； though。 They gave up the claim nearly a hundred years ago。 The few people who still live here don't have to worry about Trollocs this far south； but there are plenty of human brigands。 That's why they have the wall； and the ditch。 All their villages do。 Their fields will be hidden in hollows around here； but no one will live outside the wall。 They would swear fealty to any king who would give them his protection； but we have all we can do against the Trollocs。 They do not love us for it； though。〃 As they reached the opening in the low wall； he added again； 〃Watch sharp！〃
All the streets led toward a village square； but there was no one in the streets； no one peering from a window。 Not even a dog moved； not so much as a chicken。 Nothing living。 Open doors swung； creaking in the wired； counterpoint to the rhythmic squeak of the windmills。 The horses' hooves sounded loud on the packed dirt of the street。
〃Like at the ferry；〃 Hurin muttered； 〃but different。〃 He rode hunched in his saddle； head down as if he were trying to hide behind his own shoulders。 〃Violence done； but 。。。 I don't know。 It was bad here。 It smells bad。〃
〃Uno；〃 Ingtar said； 〃take one file and search the houses。 If you find anyone； bring them to me in the square。 Do not frighten them this time； though。 I want answers； not people running for their lives。〃 He led the other soldiers toward the center of the village as Uno got his ten dismounted。
Rand hesitated； looking around。 The creaking doors； the squealing windmills； the horses' hooves； all made too much noise； as if there were not another sound in the world。 He scanned the houses。 The curtains in an open window beat against the outside of the house。 They all seemed lifeless。 With a sigh he got down and walked to the nearest house； then stopped； staring at the door。
It's just a door。 What are you afraid of？ He wished he did not feel as if there was something waiting on the other side。 He pushed it open。
Inside was a tidy room。 Or had been。 The table was set for a meal； ladder…back chairs gathered around； some plates already served。 A few flies buzzed above bowls of turnips and peas； and more crawled on a cold roast sitting in its own congealed grease。 There was a slice half carved from the roast； the fork still standing stuck in the meat and the carving knife lying partway in the platter as if dropped。 Rand stepped inside。
Blink。
A smiling； bald…headed man in rough clothes laid a slice of meat on a plate held by a woman with a worn face。 She was smiling； too； though。 She added peas and turnips to the plate and passed it to one of the children lining the table。 There were half a dozen children； boys and girls； from nearly grown down to barely tall enough to look over the table。 The woman said something； and the girl taking the plate from her laughed。 The man started to cut another slice。
Suddenly another girl screamed； pointing at the door to the street。 The man dropped the carving knife and whirled； then he screamed； too； face tight with horror； and snatched up a child。 The woman grabbed another； and motioned desperately to the others； her mouth working frantically； silently。 They all scrabbled toward a door in the back of the room。
That door burst open； and …
Blink。
Rand could not move。 The flies buzzing over the table sounded louder。 His breath made a cloud in front of his mouth。
Blink。
A smiling； bald…headed man in rough clothes laid a slice of meat on a plate held by a woman with a worn face。 She was smiling； too； though。 She added peas and turnips to the plate and passed it to one of the children lining the table。 There were half a dozen children； boys and girls； from nearly grown down to barely tall enough to look over the table。 The woman said something； and the girl taking the plate from her laughed。 The man started to cut another slice。
Suddenly another girl screamed； pointing at the door to the street。 The man dropped the carving knife and whirled； then he screamed； too； face tight with horror； and snatched up a child。 The woman grabbed another； and motioned desperately to the others； her mouth working frantically； silently。 They all scrabbled toward the door in the back of the room。
That door burst open； and …
Blink。
Rand struggled； but his muscles seemed frozen。 The room was colder； he wanted to shiver； but he could not move even that much。 Flies crawled all over the table。 He groped for the void。 The sour light was there； but he did not care。 He had to…
Blink。
A smiling； bald…headed man in rough clothes laid a slice of meat on a plate held by a woman with a worn face。 She was smiling； too； though。 She added peas and turnips to the plate and passed it to one of the children lining the table。 There were half a dozen children； boys and girls； from nearly grown down to barely tall enough to look over the table。 The woman said something； and the girl taking the plate from her laughed。 The man started to cut another slice。
Suddenly another girl screamed； pointing at the door to the street。 The man dropped the carving knife and whirled； then he screamed； too； face tight with horror； and snatched up a child。 The woman grabbed another； and motioned desperately to the others； her mouth working frantically； silently。 They all scrabbled toward a door in the back of the room。
That door burst open； and …
Blink。
The room was freezing。 So cold。 Flies blackened the table； the walls were a shifting mass of flies； the floor； the ceiling； all black with them。 They crawled on Rand； covering him； crawled over his face； his eyes； into his nose； his mouth。 Light； help me。 Cold。 The flies buzzed like thunder。 Cold。 It penetrated the void； mocking the emptiness； encasing him in ice。 Desperately he reached for the flickering light。 His stomach twisted； but the light was warm。 Warm。
