rj.eyeoftheworld-第42章
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galloping through a cold fog； with a Draghkar and the Light alone knew what else chasing you； sound thrilling。 Egwene might be feeling a thrill； he only felt cold and damp and glad to have a village around him again； even if it was Taren Ferry。
Abruptly he walked into something large and warm in the murk： Lan's stallion。 The Warder and Moiraine had stopped and the rest of the party did the same； patting their mounts much to fort themselves as the animals。 The fog was a little thinner here； enough for them to see one another more clearly than they had in a long while； but not enough to make out much more。 Their feet were still hidden by low billows like gray floodwater。 The houses seemed to have all been swallowed。
Cautiously Rand led Cloud forward a little way and was surprised to hear his boots scrape on wooden planks。 The ferry landing。 He backed up carefully； making the gray back as well。 He had heard that the Taren Ferry landing was like a bridge that led nowhere except to the ferryboat。 The Taren was supposed to be wide and deep； with treacherous currents that could pull under the strongest swimmer。 Much wider than Winespring Water； he supposed。 With the fog added in。。。 It was a relief when he felt dirt under his feet again。
A fierce 〃Hsst！〃 from Lan； as sharp as the fog。 The Warder gestured at them as he dashed to Perrin's side and threw back the stocky youth's cloak； exposing the great axe。 Obediently； but still not understanding； Rand tossed his own cloak over his shoulder to show his sword。 As Lan moved swiftly back to his horse； bobbing lights appeared in the mist； and muffled footsteps approached。
Six stolid…faced men in rough clothes followed Master Hightower。 The torches they carried burned away a patch of fog around them。 When they stopped； all of the party from Emond's Field could be plainly seen； the lot of them surrounded by a gray wall that seemed thicker for the torchlight reflected from it。 The ferryman examined them； his narrow head tilted； nose twitching like a weasel sniffing the breeze for a trap。
Lan leaned against his saddle with apparent casualness； but one hand rested ostentatiously on the long hilt of his sword。 There was an air about him of a metal spring； pressed； waiting。
Rand hurriedly copied the Warder's pose … at least insofar as putting his hand on his sword。 He did not think he could achieve that deadly…seeming slouch。 They'd probably laugh if I tried。
Perrin eased his axe in its leather loop and planted his feet deliberately。 Mat put a hand to his quiver； though Rand was not sure what condition his bowstring was in after being out in all this damp。 Thom Merrilin stepped forward grandly and held up one empty hand； turning it slowly。 Suddenly he gestured with a flourish； and a dagger twirled between his fingers。 The hilt slapped into his palm； and； abruptly nonchalant； he began trimming his fingernails。
A low； delighted laugh floated from Moiraine。 Egwene clapped as if watching a performance at Festival； then stopped and looked abashed； though her mouth twitched with a smile just the same。
Hightower seemed far from amused。 He stared at Thom； then cleared his throat loudly。 〃There was mention made of more gold for the crossing。〃 He looked around at them again； a sullen； sly look。 〃What you gave me before is in a safe place now； hear？ It's none of it where you can get at it。〃
〃The rest of the gold；〃 Lan told him； 〃goes into your hand when we are on the other side。〃 The leather purse hanging at his waist clinked as he gave it a little shake。
For a moment the ferryman's eyes darted； but at last he nodded。 〃Let's be about it； then；〃 he muttered； and stalked out onto the landing followed by his six helpers。 The fog burned away around them as they moved； gray tendrils closed in behind； quickly filling where they had been。 Rand hurried to keep up。
The ferry itself was a wooden barge with high sides； boarded by a ramp that could be raised to block off the end。 Ropes as thick as a man's wrist ran along each side of it； ropes fastened to massive posts at the end of the landing and disappearing into the night over the river。 The ferryman's helpers stuck their torches in iron brackets on the ferry's sides； waited while everyone led their horses aboard； then pulled up the ramp。 The deck creaked beneath hooves and shuffling feet； and the ferry shifted with the weight。
Hightower muttered half under his breath； growling for them to keep the horses still and stay to the center； out of the haulers' way。 He shouted at his helpers； chivvying them as they readied the ferry to cross； but the men moved at the same reluctant speed whatever he said； and he was half…hearted about it； often cutting off in mid…shout to hold his torch high and peel into the fog。 Finally he stopped shouting altogether and went to the bow； where he stood staring into the mist that covered the river。 He did not move until one of the haulers touched his arm； then he jumped； glaring。
〃What？ Oh。 You； is it？ Ready？ About time。 Well； man； what are you waiting for？〃 He waved his arms heedless of the torch and the way the horses whickered and tried to move back。 〃Cast off！ Give way！ Move！〃 The man slouched off to ply； and Hightower peered once more into the fog ahead； rubbing his free hand uneasily on his coat front。
The ferry lurched as its moorings were loosed and the strong current caught it； then lurched again as the guide…ropes held it。 The haulers； three to a side； grabbed hold of the ropes at the front of the ferry and laboriously began walking toward the back； muttering uneasily as they edged out onto the gray cloaked river。
The landing disappeared as mist surrounded them； tenuous streamers drifting across the ferry between the flickering torches。 The barge rocked slowly in the current。 Nothing except the steady tread of the haulers； forward to take hold of the ropes and back down again pulling； gave a hint of any other movement。 No one spoke。 The villagers kept as close to the center of the ferry as they could。 They had heard the Taren was far wider than the streams they were used to； the fog made it infinitely vaster in their minds。
After a time Rand moved closer to Lan。 Rivers a man could not wade or swim or even see across were nervous…making to someone who had never seen anything broader or deeper than a Waterwood pond。 〃Would they really have tried to rob us？〃 he asked quietly。 〃He acted more as if he were afraid we would rob him。〃
The Warder eyed the ferryman and his helpers … none appeared to be listening … before answering just as softly。 〃With the fog to hide them 。。。 well； when what they do is hidden； men sometimes deal with strangers in ways they wouldn't if there were other eyes to see。 And the quickest to harm a stranger are the soonest to think a stranger will harm them。 This fellow 。。。 I believe he might sell his mother to Trollocs for stew meat if the price was right。 I'm a little surprised you ask。 I heard the way people in Emond's Field speak of those from Taren Ferry。〃
〃Yes； but 。。。 Well； everyone says they 。。。 But I never thought they would。 Actually 。。。〃 Rand decided he had better stop thinking that he knew anything at all of what people were like beyond his own village。 〃He might tell the Fade we crossed on the ferry；〃 he said at last。 〃Maybe he'll bring the Trollocs over after us。〃
Lan chuckled dryly。 〃Robbing a stranger is one thing； dealing with a Halfman something else again。 Can you really see him ferrying Trollocs over； especially in this fog； no matter how much gold was offered？ Or even talking to a Myrddraal； if he had any choice？ Just the thought of it would keep him running for a month。 I don't think we have to worry very much about Darkfriends in Taren Ferry。 Not here。 We are safe for a time； at least。 From this lot； anyway。 Watch yourself。〃
Hightower had turned from peering into the fog ahead。 Pointed face pushed forward and torch held high； he stared at Lan and Rand as if seeing them clearly for the first time。 Deck…planks creaked under the haulers' feet and the occasional stamp of a hoof。 Abruptly the ferryman twitched as he realized they were
