rj.eyeoftheworld-第123部分

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s；　and　white　cockades。　Only　here　and　there　was　the　white　wall　broken　by　a　knot　of　red。　The　red…uniformed　guards　seemed　a　thin　barrier　against　all　that　white。
　　　　　　　Giving　up　on　making　his　way　closer　to　the　Palace；　he　sought　a　place　where　he　could　use　his　height　to　advantage。　He　did　not　have　to　be　in　the　front　row　to　see　everything。　The　crowd　shifted　constantly；　people　shoving　to　get　nearer　the　front；　people　hurrying　off　to　what　they　thought　was　a　better　vantage　point。　In　one　of　those　shifts　he　found　himself　only　three　people　from　the　open　street；　and　all　in　front　of　him　were　shorter　than　he；　including　the　pikemen。　Almost　everyone　was。　People　crowded　against　him　from　both　sides；　sweating　from　the　press　of　so　many　bodies。　Those　behind　him　muttered　about　not　being　able　to　see；　and　tried　to　wriggle　past。　He　stood　his　ground；　making　an　impervious　wall　with　those　to　either　side。　He　was　content。　When　the　false　Dragon　passed　by；　he　would　be　close　enough　to　see　the　man's　face　clearly。
　　　　　　　Across　the　street　and　down　toward　the　gates　to　the　New　City；　a　ripple　passed　through　the　tight…packed　crowd；　around　the　curve；　an　eddy　of　people　was　drawing　back　to　let　something　go　by。　It　was　not　like　the　clear　space　that　followed　Whitecloaks　on　any　day　but　today。　These　people　jerked　themselves　back　with　startled　glances　that　became　grimaces　of　distaste。　Pressing　themselves　out　of　the　way；　they　turned　their　faces　from　whatever　it　was；　but　watched　out　of　the　corners　of　their　eyes　until　it　was　past。
　　　　　　　Other　eyes　around　him　noted　the　disturbance；　too。　Keyed　for　the　ing　of　the　Dragon　but　with　nothing　to　do　now　but　wait；　the　crowd　found　anything　at　all　worthy　of　ment。　He　heard　speculation　ranging　from　an　Aes　Sedai　to　Logain　himself；　and　a　few　coarser　suggestions　that　brought　rough　laughter　from　the　men　and　disdainful　sniffs　from　the　women。
　　　　　　　The　ripple　meandered　through　the　crowd；　drawing　closer　to　the　edge　of　the　street　as　it　came。　No　one　seemed　to　hesitate　in　letting　it　go　where　it　wanted；　even　if　that　meant　losing　a　good　spot　for　viewing　as　the　crowd　flowed　back　in　on　itself　behind　the　passing。　Finally；　directly　across　from　Rand；　the　crowd　bulged　into　the　street；　pushing　aside　red…cloaked　pikemen　who　struggled　to　shove　them　back；　and　broke　open。　The　stooped　shape　that　shuffled　hesitantly　out　into　the　open　looked　more　like　a　pile　of　filthy　rags　than　a　man。　Rand　heard　murmurs　of　disgust　around　him。
　　　　　　　The　ragged　man　paused　on　the　far　edge　of　the　street。　His　cowl；　torn　and　stiff　with　dirt；　swung　back　and　forth　as　if　searching　for　something；　or　listening。　Abruptly　he　gave　a　wordless　cry　and　flung　out　a　dirty　claw　of　a　hand；　pointing　straight　at　Rand。　Immediately　he　began　to　scuttle　across　the　street　like　a　bug。
　　　　　　　The　beggar。　Whatever　ill　chance　had　led　the　man　to　find　him　like　this；　Rand　was　suddenly　sure　that；　Darkfriend　or　not；　he　did　not　want　to　meet　him　face…to…face。　He　could　feel　the　beggar's　eyes；　like　greasy　water　on　his　skin。　Especially　he　did　not　want　the　man　close　to　him　here；　surrounded　by　people　balanced　on　the　brink　of　violence。　The　same　voices　that　had　laughed　before　now　cursed　him　as　he　pushed　his　way　back；　away　from　the　street。
　　　　　　　He　hurried；　knowing　the　densely　packed　mass　through　which　he　had　to　shove　and　wriggle　would　give　way　before　the　filthy　man。　Struggling　to　force　a　path　through　the　crowd；　he　staggered　and　almost　fell　when　he　abruptly　broke　free。　Flailing　his　arms　to　keep　his　balance　he　turned　the　stagger　into　a　run。　People　pointed　at　him；　he　was　the　only　one　not　pressing　the　other　way；　and　running　at　that。　Shouts　followed　him。　His　cloak　flapped　behind　him；　exposing　his　red…clad　sword。　When　he　realized　that；　he　ran　faster。　A　lone　supporter　of　the　Queen；　running；　could　well　spark　a　white…cockaded　mob　to　pursuit；　even　today。　He　ran；　letting　his　long　legs　eat　paving　stones。　Not　until　the　shouts　were　left　far　behind　did　he　allow　himself　to　collapse　against　a　wall；　panting。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　know　where　he　was；　except　that　he　was　still　within　the　Inner　City。　He　could　not　remember　how　many　twists　and　turns　he　had　taken　along　those　curving　streets。　Poised　to　run　again；　he　looked　back　the　way　he　had　e。　Only　one　person　moved　on　the　street；　a　woman　walking　placidly　along　with　her　shopping　basket。　Almost　everyone　in　the　city　was　gathered　for　a　glimpse　of　the　false　Dragon。　He　can't　have　followed　me。　I　must　have　left　him　behind。
　　　　　　　The　beggar　would　not　give　up；　he　was　sure　of　it；　though　he　could　not　say　why。　That　ragged　shape　would　be　working　its　way　through　the　crowds　at　that　very　minute；　searching；　and　if　Rand　returned　to　see　Logain　he　ran　the　risk　of　a　meeting。　For　a　moment　he　considered　going　back　to　The　Queen's　Blessing；　but　he　was　sure　he　would　never　get　another　chance　to　see　a　Queen；　and　he　hoped　he　would　never　have　another　to　see　a　false　Dragon。　There　seemed　to　be　something　cowardly　in　letting　a　bent　beggar；　even　a　Darkfriend；　chase　him　into　hiding。
　　　　　　　He　looked　around；　considering。　The　way　the　Inner　City　was　laid　out；　buildings　were　kept　low；　if　there　were　buildings　at　all；　so　that　someone　standing　at　a　particular　spot　would　have　nothing　to　interrupt　the　planned　view。　There　had　to　be　places　from　where　he　could　see　the　procession　pass　with　the　false　Dragon。　Even　if　he　could　not　see　the　Queen；　he　could　see　Logain。　Suddenly　determined；　he　set　off。
　　　　　　　In　the　next　hour　he　found　several　such　places；　every　last　one　already　packed　cheek…to…cheek　with　people　avoiding　the　crush　along　the　procession　route。　They　were　a　solid　front　of　white　cockades　and　armbands。　No　red　at　all。　Thinking　what　the　sight　of　his　sword　might　do　in　a　crowd　like　that；　he　slipped　away　carefully；　and　quickly。
　　　　　　　Shouting　floated　up　from　the　New　City；　cries　and　the　blaring　of　trumpets；　the　martial　beat　of　drums。　Logain　and　his　escort　were　already　in　Caemlyn；　already　on　their　way　to　the　Palace。
　　　　　　　Dispirited；　he　wandered　the　all　but　empty　streets；　still　halfheartedly　hoping　to　find　some　way　to　see　Logain。　His　eyes　fell　on　the　slope；　bare　of　buildings；　rising　above　the　street　where　he　was　walking。　In　a　normal　spring　the　slope　would　be　an　expanse　of　flowers　and　grass；　but　now　it　was　brown　all　the　way　to　the　high　wall　along　its　crest；　a　wall　over　which　the　tops　of　trees　were　visible。
　　　　　　　This　part　of　the　street　had　not　been　designed　for　any　grand　view；　but　just　ahead；　over　the　rooftops；　he　could　see　some　of　the　Palace　spires；　topped　by　White　Lion　banners　fluttering　in　the　wind。　He　was　not　sure　exactly　where　the　curve　of　the　street　ran　after　it　rounded　the　hill　beyond　his　sight；　but　he　suddenly　had　a　thought　about　that　hilltop　wall。
　　　　　　　The　drums　and　trumpets　were　drawing　nearer；　the　shouting　growing　louder。　Anxiously　he　scrambled　up　the　slope。　It　was　not　meant　to　be　climbed；　but　he　dug　his　boots　into　the　dead　sod　and　pulled　himself　up　using　leafless　shrubs　as　handholds。　Panting　as　much　with　desire　as　effort；　he　scrambled　the　last　yards　to　the　wall。　It　reared　above　him；　easily　twice　his　height　and　more。　The　air　thundered　with　the　drumbeat；　rang　with　trumpet　blasts。
　　　　　　　The　face　of　the　wall　had　been　left　much　in　the　natural　state　of　the　stone；　the　huge　blocks　fitted　together　so　well　that　the　joins　were　nearly　invisible；　the　roughness　making　it　seem　almost　a　natural　cliff。　Rand　grinned。　The　cliffs　just　beyond　the　Sand　Hills　were　higher；　and　even　Perrin　had　climbed　those。　His　hands　sought　rocky　knobs；　his　booted　feet　found　ridges。　The　drums　raced　him　as　he　climbed。　He　refused　to　let　them　win。　He　would　reach　the　top　before　they　reached　the　Palace。　In　his　haste；　the　stone　tore　his　hands　and　scraped　his　knees　through　his　breeches；　but　he　flung　his　arms　over　the　top　and　heaved　himself　up　with　a　sense　of　victory。
　　　　　　　Hastily　he　twisted　himself　around　to　a　seat　on　the　flat；　narrow　top　of　the　wall。　The　leafy　branches　of　a　towering　tree　stuck　out　over　his　head；　but　he　had　no　thought　for　that。　He　looked　across　tiled　rooftops；　but　from　the　wall　his　line　of　sight　was　clear。　He　leaned　out；　just　a　little；　and　could　see　the　Palace　gate；　and　the　Queen's　Guards　drawn　up　there；　and　the　expectant　crowd。　Expectant。　Their　shouts　drowned　out　by　the　thunder　of　drums　and　trumpets；　but　waiting　still。　He　grinned。　I　won。
　　　　　　　Even　as　he　settled　in　place；　the　first　part　of　the　procession　rounded　the　final　curve　before　the　Palace。　Twenty　ranks　of　trumpeters　came　first；　splitting　the　air　with　peal　after　triumphant　peal；　a　fanfare　of　victory。　Behind　them；　as　many　drummers　thundered。　Then　came　the　banners　of　Caemlyn；　white　lions　on　red；　borne　by　mounted　men；　followed　by　the　soldiers　of　Caemlyn；　rank　on　rank　on　rank　of　horsemen；　armor　gleaming；　lances　proudly　held；　crimson　pennants　fluttering。　Treble　rows　of　pikemen　and　archers　flanked　them；　and　came　on　and　on　after　the　horsemen　began　passing　between　the　waiting　Guards　and　through　the　Palace　gates。
　　　　　　　The　last　of　the　foot　soldiers　rounded　the　curve；　and　behind　them　was　a　massive　wagon。　Sixteen　horses　pulled　it　in　hitches　of　four。　In　the　center　of　its　flat　bed　was　a　large　cage　of　iron　bars；　and　on　each　corner　of　the　wagonbed　sat　two　women；　watching　the　cage　as　intently　as　if　the　procession　and　the　crowd　did　not　exist。　Aes　Sedai；　he　was　certain。　Between　the　wagon　and　the　footmen；　and　to　either　side；　rode　a　dozen　Warders；　their　cloaks　swirling　and　tangling　the　eye。　If　the　Aes　Sedai　ignored　the　crowd；　the　Warders　scanned　it　as　if　there　were　no　other　guards　but　they。
　　　　　　　With　all　of　that；　it　was　the　man　in　the　cage　who　caught　and　held　Rand's　eyes。　He　was　not　close　enough　to　see　Logain's　face；　as　he　had　wanted　to；　but　suddenly　he　thought　he　was　as　close　as　he　cared　for。　The　false　Dragon　was　a　tall　man；　with　long；　dark　hair　curling　around　his　broad　shoulders。　He　held　himself　upright　against　the　sway　of　the　wagon　with　one　hand　on　the　bars　over　his　head。　His　clothes　seemed　ordinary；　a　cloak　and　coat　and　breeches　that　would　not　have　caused　ment　in　any　farming　village。　But　the　way　he　wore　them。　The　way　he　held　himself。　Logain　was　a　king　in　every　inch　of　him。　The　cage　might　as　well　not　have　been　there。　He　held　himself　erect；　head　high；　and　looked　over　the　crowd　as　if　they　had　e　to　do　him　honor。　And　wherever　his　gaze　swept；　there　the　people　fell　silent；　staring　back　in　awe。　When　Logain's　eyes　left　them；　they