rj.eyeoftheworld-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hether or not the Trollops were still there。 If they were gone； he could simply walk up to the house and take what he needed。 If they were still there 。。。 In that case； there was nothing for it but to go back to Tam。 He did not like it； but he could do Tam no good by getting killed。
He peered toward the farm buildings。 The barn and the sheep pen were only dark shapes in the moonlight。 Light spilled from the front windows of the house； though； and through the open front door。 Just the candles father lit； or are there Trollocs waiting？
He jumped convulsively at a nighthawk's reedy cry； then sagged against a tree； shaking。 This was getting him nowhere。 Dropping to his belly； he began to crawl； holding the sword awkwardly before him。 He kept his chin in the dirt all the way to the back of the sheep pen。
Crouched against the stone wall； he listened。 Not a sound disturbed the night。 Carefully he eased up enough to look over the wall。 Nothing moved in the farmyard。 No shadows flickered against the lit windows of the house； or in the doorway。 Bela and the cart first； or the blankets and other things。 It was the light that decided him。 The barn was dark。 Anything could be waiting inside； and he would have no way of knowing until it was too late。 At least he would be able to see what was inside the house。
As he started to lower himself again； he stopped suddenly。 There was no sound。 Most of the sheep might have settled down already and gone back to sleep； though it was not likely； but a few were always awake even in the middle of the night； rustling about； bleating now and again。 He could barely make out the shadowy mounds of sheep on the ground。 One lay almost beneath him。
Trying to make no noise； he hoisted himself onto the wall until he could stretch out a hand to the dim shape。 His fingers touched curly wool； then wetness； the sheep did not move。 Breath left him in a rush as he pushed back； almost dropping the sword as he fell to the ground outside the pen。 They kill for fun。 Shakily he scrubbed the wetness from his hand in the dirt。
Fiercely he told himself that nothing had changed。 The Trollocs had done their butchery and gone。 Repeating that in his mind； he crawled on across the farmyard； keeping as low as he could； but trying to watch every direction； too。 He had never thought he would envy an earthworm。
At the front of the house he lay close beside the wall； beneath the broken window； and listened。 The dull thudding of blood in his ears was the loudest sound he heard。 Slowly he reared up and peered inside。
The stewpot lay upside down in the ashes on the hearth。 Splintered； broken wood littered the room； not a single piece of furniture remained whole。 Even the table rested at an angle； two legs hacked to rough stubs。 Every drawer had been pulled out and smashed； every cupboard and cabinet stood open； many doors hanging by one hinge。 Their contents were strewn over the wreckage； and everything was dusted with white。 Flour and salt； to judge from the slashed sacks tossed down by the fireplace。 Four twisted bodies made a tangle in the remnants of the furnishings。 Trollocs。
Rand recognized one by its ram's horns。 The others were much the same； even in their differences； a repulsive mйlange of human faces distorted by muzzles； horns； feathers； and fur。 Their hands； almost human； only made it worse。 Two wore boots； the others had hooves。 He watched without blinking until his eyes burned。 None of the Trollocs moved。 They had to be dead。 And Tam was waiting。
He ran in through the front door and stopped； gagging at the stench。 A stable that had not been mucked out in months was the only thing he could think of that might e close to matching it。 Vile smears defiled the walls。 Trying to breathe through his mouth； he hurriedly began poking through the mess on the floor。 There had been a waterbag in one of the cupboards。
A scraping sound behind him sent a chill to his marrow； and he spun； almost falling over the remains of the table。 He caught himself； and moaned behind teeth that would have chattered had he not had them clenched until his jaw ached。
One of the Trollocs was getting to its feet。 A wolf's muzzle jutted out below sunken eyes。 Flat； emotionless eyes； and all too human。 Hairy； pointed ears twitched incessantly。 It stepped over one of its dead panions on sharp goat hooves。 The same black mail the others wore rasped against leather trousers； and one of the huge； scythe…curved swords swung at its side。
It muttered something； guttural and sharp； then said； 〃Others go away。 Narg stay。 Narg smart。〃 The words were distorted and hard to understand； ing from a mouth never meant for human speech。 Its tone was meant to be soothing； he thought； but he could not take his eyes off the stained teeth； long and sharp； that flashed every time the creature spoke。 〃Narg know some e back sometime。 Narg wait。 You no need sword。 Put sword down。〃
Until the Trolloc spoke Rand had not realized that he held Tam's sword wavering before him in both hands； its point aimed at the huge creature。 It towered head and shoulders above him； with a chest and arms to dwarf Master Luhhan。
〃Narg no hurt。〃 It took a step closer； gesturing。 〃You put sword down。〃 The dark hair on the backs of its hands was thick； like fur。
〃Stay back；〃 Rand said； wishing his voice were steadier。 〃Why did you do this？ Why？〃
〃Vlja daeg roghda！〃 The snarl quickly became a toothy smile。 〃Put sword down。 Narg no hurt。 Myrddraal want talk you。〃 A flash of emotion crossed the distorted face。 Fear。 〃Others e back； you talk Myrddraal。〃 It took another step； one big hand ing to rest on its own sword hilt。 〃You put sword down。〃
Rand wet his lips。 Myrddraal！ The worst of the stories was walking tonight。 If a Fade was ing； it made a Trolloc pale by parison。 He had to get away。 But if the Trolloc drew that massive blade he would not have a chance。 He forced his lips into a shaky smile。 〃All right。〃 Grip tightening on the sword； he let both hands drop to his sides。 〃I'll talk。〃
The wolf…smile became a snarl； and the Trolloc lunged for him。 Rand had not thought anything that big could move so fast。 Desperately he brought his sword up。 The monstrous body crashed into him； slamming him against the wall。 Breath left his lungs in one gasp。 He fought for air as they fell to the floor together； the Trolloc on top。 Frantically he struggled beneath the crushing weight； trying to avoid thick hands groping for him； and snapping jaws。
Abruptly the Trolloc spasmed and was still。 Battered and bruised； half suffocated by the bulk on top of him； for a moment Rand could only lie there in disbelief。 Quickly he came to his senses； though； enough to writhe out from under the body； at least。 And body it was。 The bloodied blade of Tam's sword stood out from the center of the Trolloc's back。 He had gotten it up in time after all。 Blood covered Rand's hands； as well； and made a blackish smear across the front of his shirt。 His stomach churned； and he swallowed hard to keep from being sick。 He shook as hard as he had in the worst of his fear； but this time in relief at still being alive。
Others e back； the Trolloc had said。 The other Trollocs would be returning to the farmhouse。 And a Myrddraal； a Fade。 The stories said Fades were twenty feet tall； with eyes of fire； and they rode shadows like horses。 When a Fade turned sideways； it disappeared； and no wall could stop them。 He had to do what he had e for； and get away quickly。
Grunting with the effort he heaved the Trolloc's body over to get to the sword … and almost ran when open eyes stared at him。 It took him a minute to realize they were staring through the glaze of death。
He wiped his hands on a tattered rag … it had been one of Tam's shirts only that morning … and tugged the blade free。 Cleaning the sword； he reluctantly dropped the rag on the floor。 There was no time for neatness； he thought with a laugh that he had to clamp his teeth shut to stop。 He did not see how they could ever clean the house well enough for it to be lived in again。 The horrible stench had probably already soaked right into t
