rj.eyeoftheworld-第164章
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Egwene touched Rand's sword； fingering the red wrappings。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃Nothing；〃 he said。 〃Nothing important。 We're leaving for Tar Valon； remember？〃
Egwene gave him a look； but she removed her hand from the sword and took up where Perrin had left off。 〃Moiraine didn't look at anything any more than Lan did。 She led us back and forth through all those streets so many times； like a dog hunting a scent； that I thought you couldn't be here。 Then； all of a sudden； she took off down a street； and the next thing I knew we were handing the horses to the stablemen and marching into the kitchen。 She never even asked if you were here。 Just told a woman who was mixing batter to go tell Rand al'Thor and Mat Cauthon that someone wanted to see them。 And there you were〃 … she grinned …〃like a ball popping into the gleeman's hand out of nowhere。〃
〃Where is the gleeman？〃 Perrin asked。 〃Is he with you？〃
Rand's stomach lurched and the good feeling of having friends around him dimmed。 〃Thom's dead。 I think he's dead。 There was a Fade 。。。〃 He could not say any more。 Nynaeve shook her head； muttering under her breath。
The silence thickened around them； stifling the little chuckles； flattening the joy； until they reached the head of the stairs。
〃Mat's not sick； exactly；〃 he said then。 〃It's 。。。 You'll see。〃 He flung open the door to the room he shared with Mat。 〃Look who's here； Mat。〃
Mat was still curled up in a ball on the bed； just as Rand had left him。 He raised his head to stare at them。 〃How do you know they're really who they look like？〃 he said hoarsely。 His face was flushed； the skin tight and slick with sweat。 〃How do I know you're who you look like？〃
〃Not sick？〃 Nynaeve gave Rand a disdainful look as she pushed past him； already unslinging her bag from her shoulder。
〃Everybody changes；〃 Mat rasped。 〃How can I be sure？ Perrin？ Is that you？ You've changed； haven't you？〃 His laugh sounded more like a cough。 〃Oh； yes； you've changed。〃
To Rand's surprise Perrin dropped onto the edge of the other bed with his head in hands； staring at the floor。 Mat's hacking laughter seemed to pierce him。
Nynaeve knelt beside Mat's bed and put a hand to his face； pushing up his headcloth。 He jerked back from her with a scornful look。 His eyes were bright and glazed。 〃You're burning；〃 she said； 〃but you should not be sweating with this much fever。〃 She could not keep the worry out of her voice。 〃Rand； you and Perrin fetch some clean cloths and as much cool water as you can carry。 I'll bring your temperature down first； Mat； and …〃
〃Pretty Nynaeve；〃 Mat spat。 〃A Wisdom isn't supposed to think of herself as a woman； is she？ Not a pretty woman。 But you do； don't you？ Now。 You can't make yourself forget that you're a pretty woman； now； and it frightens you。 Everybody changes。〃 Nynaeve's face paled as he spoke； whether with anger or something else； Rand could not tell。 Mat gave a sly laugh； and his feverish eyes slid to Egwene。 〃Pretty Egwene；〃 he croaked。 〃Pretty as Nynaeve。 And you share other things now； don't you？ Other dreams。 What do you dream about now？〃 Egwene took a step back from the bed。
〃We are safe from the Dark One's eyes for the time being；〃 Moiraine announced as she walked into the room with Lan at her heels。 Her eyes fell on Mat as she stepped through the doorway； and she hissed as if she had touched a hot stove。 〃Get away from him！〃
Nynaeve did not move except for turning to stare at the Aes Sedai in surprise。 In two quick steps Moiraine seized the Wisdom by the shoulders； hauling her across the floor like a sack of grain。 Nynaeve struggled and protested； but Moiraine did not release her until she was well away from the bed。 The Wisdom continued her protests as she got to her feet； angrily straightening her clothes； but Moiraine ignored her pletely。 The Aes Sedai watched Mat to the exclusion of everything else； eyeing him the way she would a viper。
〃All of you stay away from him；〃 she said。 〃And be quiet。〃
Mat stared back as intently as she。 He bared his teeth in a silent； snarling rictus； and pulled himself into an ever tighter knot； but he never took his eyes from hers。 Slowly she put one hand on him； lightly； on a knee drawn up to his chest。 A convulsion shook him at her touch； a shudder of revulsion spasming through his entire body； and abruptly he pulled one hand out； slashing at her face with the ruby…hilted dagger。
One minute Lan was in the doorway； the next he was at the bedside； as if he had not bothered with the intervening space。 His hand caught Mat's wrist； stopping the slash as if it had struck stone。 Still Mat held himself in that tight ball。 Only the hand with the dagger tried to move； straining against the Warder's implacable grip。 Mat's eyes never left Moiraine； and they burned with hate。
Moiraine also did not move。 She did not flinch from the blade only inches from her face； as she had not when he first struck。 〃How did he e by this？〃 she asked in a steel voice。 〃I asked if Mordeth had given you anything。 I asked； and I warned you； and you said he had not。〃
〃He didn't；〃 Rand said。 〃He 。。。 Mat took it from the treasure room。〃 Moiraine looked at him； her eyes seeming to burn as much as Mat's。 He almost stepped back before she turned away again； back to the bed。 〃I didn't know until after we were separated。 I didn't know。〃
〃You did not know。〃 Moiraine studied Mat。 He still lay with his knees pulled up to his chest； still snarled soundlessly at her； and his hand yet fought Lan to reach her with the dagger。 〃It is a wonder you got this far； carrying this。 I felt the evil of it when I laid eyes on him； the touch of Mashadar； but a Fade could sense it for miles。 Even though he would not know exactly where； he would know it was near； and Mashadar would draw his spirit while his bones remembered that this same evil swallowed an army … Dreadlords； Fades； Trollocs； and all。 Some Darkfriends could probably feel it； too。 Those who have truly given away their souls。 There could not help but be those who would wonder at suddenly feeling this； as if the very air around them itched。 They would be pelled to seek it。 It should have drawn them to it as a magnet draws iron filings。〃
〃There were Darkfriends；〃 Rand said； 〃more than once； but we got away from them。 And a Fade； the night before we reached Caemlyn； but he never saw us。〃 He cleared his throat。 〃There are rumors of strange things in the night outside the city。 It could be Trollocs。 〃
〃Oh； it's Trollocs； sheepherder；〃 Lan said wryly。 〃And where Trollocs are； there are Fades。〃 Tendons stood out on the back of his hand from the effort of holding Mat's wrist； but there was no strain in his voice。 〃They've tried to hide their passage； but I have seen sign for two days。 And heard farmers and villagers mutter about things in the night。 The Myrddraal managed to strike into the Two Rivers unseen； somehow； but every day they e closer to those who can send soldiers to hunt them down。 Even so； they won't stop now； sheepherder。〃
〃But we're in Caemlyn；〃 Egwene said。 〃They can't get to us as long as …〃
〃They can't？〃 the Warder cut her off。 〃The Fades are building their numbers in the countryside。 That's plain enough from the sign； if you know what to look for。 Already there are more Trollocs than they need just to watch all the ways out of the city； a dozen fists； at least。 There can only be one reason； when the Fades have enough numbers； they will e into the city after you。 That act may send half the armies of the south marching to the Borderlands； but the evidence is that they're willing to take that risk。 You three have escaped them too long。 It looks as if you've brought a new Trolloc War to Caemlyn； sheepherder。〃
Egwene gave a gasping sob； and Perrin shook his head as though to deny it。 Rand felt a sickness in his stomach at the thought of Trollocs in the streets of Caemlyn。 All those people at one another's throats； never realizing the real threat waiting to e over the walls。 What would they do when they suddenly found Trollocs and Fades in their midst； killing them？ He could see the towers burni
