rj.eyeoftheworld-第99章
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n the deck shouting orders and cursing those who did not move fast enough to suit him。
Rand's attention was all for what lay ahead； ing plainly into sight as they rounded a slight bend of the Arinelle。 He had heard of it； in song and story and peddlers' tales； but now he would actually see the legend。
The White Bridge arched high over the wide waters； twice as high as the Spray's mast and more； and from end to end it gleamed milky white in the sunlight； gathering the light until it seemed to glow。 Spidery piers of the same stuff plunged into the strong currents； appearing too frail to support the weight and width of the bridge。 It looked all of one piece； as if it had been carved from a single stone or molded by a giant's hand； broad and tall； leaping the river with an airy grace that almost made the eye forget its size。 All in all it dwarfed the town that sprawled about its foot on the east bank； though Whitebridge was larger by far than Emond's Field； with houses of stone and brick as tall as those in Taren Ferry and wooden docks like thin fingers sticking out into the river。 Small boats dotted the Arinelle thickly； fishermen hauling their nets。 And over it all the White Bridge towered and shone。
〃It looks like glass；〃 Rand said to no one in particular。
Captain Domon paused behind him and tucked his thumbs behind his broad belt。 〃Nay； lad。 Whatever it be； it no be glass。 Never so hard the rains e； it no be slippery； and the best chisel and the strongest arm no make a mark on it。〃
〃A remnant from the Age of Legends；〃 Thom said。 〃I have always thought it must be。〃
The captain gave a dour grunt。 〃Mayhap。 But still useful despite。 Could be someone else built it。 Does no have to be Aes Sedai work； Fortune prick me。 It no has to be so old as all that。 Put your back into it； you bloody fool！〃 He hurried off down the deck。
Rand stared even more wonderingly。 From the Age of Legends。 Made by Aes Sedai； then。 That was why Captain Domon felt the way he did； for all his talk about the wonder and strangeness of the world。 Aes Sedai work。 One thing to hear about it； another to see it； and touch it。 You know that； don't you？ For an instant it seemed to Rand that a shadow rippled through the milk…white structure。 He pulled his eyes away； to the docks ing nearer； but the bridge still loomed in the corner of his vision。
〃We made it； Thom；〃 he said； then forced a laugh。 〃And no mutiny。〃
The gleeman only harrumphed and blew out his mustaches； but two sailors readying a cable nearby gave Rand a sharp glance； then bent quickly back to their work。 He stopped laughing and tried not to look at the two for the rest of the approach to Whitebridge。
The Spray curved smoothly in beside the first dock； thick timbers sitting on heavy； tar…coated pilings； and stopped with a backing of oars that swirled the water to froth around the blades。 As the oars were drawn in； sailors tossed cables to men on the dock； who fastened them off with a flourish； while other crewmen slung the bags of wool over the side to protect the hull from the dock pilings。
Before the boat was even pulled snug against the dock； carriages appeared at the end of the dock； tall and lacquered shiny black； each one with a name painted on the door in large letters； gold or scarlet。 The carriages' passengers hurried up the gangplank as soon as it dropped in place； smooth…faced men in long velvet coats and silk…lined cloaks and cloth slippers； each followed by a plainly dressed servant carrying his iron…bound moneybox。
They approached Captain Domon with painted smiles that slipped when he abruptly roared in their faces。 〃You！〃 He thrust a thick finger past them； stopping Floran Gelb in his tracks at the length of the boat。 The bruise on Gelb's forehead from Rand's boot had faded away； but he still fingered the spot from time to time as if to remind himself。 〃You've slept on watch for the last time on my vessel！ Or on any vessel； if I have my way of it。 Choose your own side … the dock or the river … but off my vessel now！〃
Gelb hunched his shoulders； and his eyes glittered hate at Rand and his friends； at Rand especially； a poisonous glare。 The wiry man looked around the deck for support； but there was little hope in that look。 One by one； every man in the crew straightened from what he was doing and stared back coldly。 Gelb wilted visibly； but then his glare returned； twice as strong as it had been。 With a muttered curse he darted below to the crew's quarters。 Domon sent two men after him to see he did no mischief and dismissed him with a grunt。 When the captain turned back to them； the merchants took up their smiles and bows as if they had never been interrupted。
At a word from Thom； Mat and Rand began gathering their things together。 There was not much aside from the clothes on their backs； not for any of them。 Rand had his blanketroll and saddlebags； and his father's sword。 He held the sword for a minute； and homesickness rolled over him so strongly that his eyes stung。 He wondered if he would ever see Tam again。 Or home？ Home。 Going to spend the rent of your life running； running and afraid of your own dreams。 With a shuddering sigh he slipped the belt around his waist over his coat。
Gelb came back on deck； followed by his twin shadows。 He looked straight ahead； but Rand could still feel hatred ing off him in waves。 Back rigid and face dark； Gelb walked stiff…legged down the gangplank and pushed roughly into the thin crowd on the dock。 In a minute he was gone from sight； vanished beyond the merchants' carriages。
There were not a great many people on the dock； and those were a plainly dressed mix of workmen； fishermen mending nets； and a few townspeople who had e out to see the first boat of the year to e downriver from Saldaea。 None of the girls was Egwene and no one looked the least bit like Moiraine； or Lan； or anyone else Rand was hoping to see。
〃Maybe they didn't e down to the dock；〃 he said。
〃Maybe；〃 Thom replied curtly。 He settled his instrument cases on his back with care。 〃You two keep an eye out for Gelb。 He will make trouble if he can。 We want to pass through Whitebridge so softly that nobody remembers we were here five minutes after we're gone。〃
Their cloaks flapped in the wind as they walked to the gangplank。 Mat carried his bow crossed in front on his chest。 Even after all their days on the boat； it still got a few looks from the crewmen； their bows were short affairs。
Captain Domon left the merchants to intercept Thom at the gangplank。
〃You be leaving me now； gleeman？ Can I no talk you into continuing on？ I be going all the way down to Illian； where folk have a proper regard for gleemen。 There be no finer place in the world for your art。 I'd get you there in good time for the Feast of Sefan。 The petitions； you know。 A hundred gold marks for the best telling of The Great Hunt of the Horn。〃
〃A great prize； Captain；〃 Thom replied with an elaborate bow and a flourish of his cloak that set the patches to fluttering； 〃and great petitions； which rightly draw gleemen from the whole world over。 But；〃 he added dryly； 〃I fear we could not afford the fare at the rates you charge。〃
〃Aye； well； as to that 。。。〃 The captain produced a leather purse from his coat pocket and tossed it to Thom。 It clinked when Thom caught it。 〃Your fares back； and a bit more besides。 The damage was no so bad as I thought； and you've worked your way and more with your tales and your harp。 I could maybe manage as much again if you stay aboard to the Sea of Storms。 And I would set you ashore in Illian。 A good gleeman can make his fortune there； even aside from the petitions。〃
Thom hesitated； weighing the purse on his palm； but Rand spoke up。 〃We're meeting friends here； Captain； and going on to Caemlyn together。 We'll have to see Illian another time。〃
Thom's mouth twisted wryly； then he blew out his long mustaches and tucked the purse into his pocket。 〃Perhaps if the people we are to meet are not here； Captain。〃
〃Aye；〃 Domon said sourly。 〃You think on it。 Too bad I can no keep Gelb aboard to take the others' anger； but I
