rj.eyeoftheworld-第44部分

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　let　me　get　to　it。　This　may　be　your　inn；　but　it's　my　kitchen。　Unless　you　want　to　do　the　cooking？〃　She　made　as　if　to　hand　the　apron　to　him。
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch　stepped　back　with　his　hands　spread　wide。　He　opened　his　mouth；　then　stopped；　looking　around　for　the　first　time。　The　kitchen　help　still　studiously　ignored　the　cook　and　the　innkeeper；　and　Rand　began　an　intensive　search　of　his　coat　pockets；　though　except　for　the　coin　Moiraine　had　given　him　there　was　nothing　in　them　but　a　few　coppers　and　a　handful　of　odds　and　ends。　His　pocket　knife　and　sharpening　stone。　Two　spare　bowstrings　and　a　piece　of　string　he　had　thought　might　be　useful。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure；　Sara；〃　Master　Fitch　said　carefully；　〃that　everything　will　be　up　to　your　usual　excellence。〃　With　that　he　took　one　last　suspicious　look　at　the　kitchen　help；　then　left　with　as　much　dignity　as　he　could　manage。
　　　　　　　Sara　waited　until　he　was　gone　before　briskly　tying　her　apron　strings　again；　then　fastened　her　eye　on　Rand。　〃I　suppose　you　want　something　to　eat；　eh？　Well；　e　on　in。〃　She　gave　him　a　quick　grin。　〃I　don't　bite；　I　don't；　no　matter　what　you　may　have　seen　as　you　shouldn't。　Ciel；　get　the　lad　some　bread　and　cheese　and　milk。　That's　all　there　is　right　now。　Sit　yourself；　lad。　Your　friends　have　all　gone　out；　except　one　lad　I　understand　wasn't　feeling　well；　and　I　expect　you'll　be　wanting　to　do　the　same。〃
　　　　　　　One　of　the　serving　maids　brought　a　tray　while　Rand　took　a　stool　at　the　table。　He　began　eating　as　the　cook　went　back　to　kneading　her　bread　dough；　but　she　was　not　finished　talking。
　　　　　　　〃You　mustn't　take　any　mind　of　what　you　saw；　now。　Master　Fitch　is　a　good　enough　man；　though　the　best　of　you　aren't　any　bargains。　It's　the　folk　plaining　as　has　him　on　edge；　and　what　do　they　have　to　plain　about？　Would　they　rather　find　live　rats　than　dead　ones？　Though　it　isn't　like　Cirri　to　leave　his　handiwork　behind。　And　over　a　dozen？　Cirri　wouldn't　let　so　many　get　into　the　inn；　he　wouldn't。　It's　a　clean　place；　too；　and　not　one　to　be　so　troubled。　And　all　with　backs　broken。〃　She　shook　her　head　at　the　strangeness　of　it　all。
　　　　　　　The　bread　and　cheese　turned　to　ashes　in　Rand's　mouth。　〃Their　backs　were　broken？〃
　　　　　　　The　cook　waved　a　floury　hand。　〃Think　on　happier　things；　that's　my　way　of　looking。　There's　a　gleeman；　you　know。　In　the　mon　room　right　this　minute。　But　then；　you　came　with　him；　didn't　you？　You　are　one　of　those　as　came　with　Mistress　Alys　last　evening；　aren't　you？　I　thought　you　were。　I　won't　get　much　chance　to　see　this　gleeman　myself；　I'm　thinking；　not　with　the　inn　as　full　as　it　is；　and　most　of　them　riffraff　down　from　the　mines。〃　She　gave　the　dough　an　especially　heavy　thump。　〃Not　the　sort　we'd　let　in　most　times；　only　the　whole　town　is　filled　up　with　them。　Better　than　some　they　could　be；　though；　I　suppose。　Why；　I　haven't　seen　a　gleeman　since　before　the　winter；　and　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　ate　mechanically；　not　tasting　anything；　not　listening　to　what　the　cook　said。　Dead　rats；　with　their　backs　broken。　He　finished　his　breakfast　hastily；　stammered　his　thanks；　and　hurried　out。　He　had　to　talk　to　someone。
　　　　　　　The　mon　room　of　the　Stag　and　Lion　shared　little　except　its　purpose　with　the　same　room　at　the　Winespring　Inn。　It　was　twice　as　wide　and　three　times　as　long；　and　colorful　pictures　of　ornate　buildings　with　gardens　of　tall　trees　and　bright　flowers　were　painted　high　on　the　walls。　Instead　of　one　huge　fireplace；　a　hearth　blazed　on　each　wall；　and　scores　of　tables　filled　the　floor；　with　almost　every　chair；　bench；　or　stool　taken。
　　　　　　　Every　man　among　the　crowd　of　patrons　with　pipes　in　their　teeth　and　mugs　in　their　fists　leaned　forward　with　his　attention　on　one　thing：　Thom；　standing　atop　a　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　his　many　colored　cloak　tossed　over　a　nearby　chair。　Even　Master　Fitch　held　a　silver　tankard　and　a　polishing　cloth　in　motionless　hands。
　　　　　　　〃　。。。　prancing；　silver　hooves　and　proud；　arched　necks；〃　Thom　proclaimed；　while　somehow　seeming　not　only　to　be　riding　a　horse；　but　to　be　one　of　a　long　procession　of　riders。　〃Silken　manes　flutter　with　tossed　heads。　A　thousand　streaming　banners　whip　rainbows　against　an　endless　sky。　A　hundred　brazen…throated　trumpets　shiver　the　air；　and　drums　rattle　like　thunder。　Wave　on　wave；　cheers　roll　from　watchers　in　their　thousands；　roll　across　the　rooftops　and　towers　of　Illian；　crash　and　break　unheard　around　the　thousand　ears　of　riders　whose　eyes　and　hearts　shine　with　their　sacred　quest。　The　Great　Hunt　of　the　Horn　rides　forth；　rides　to　seek　the　Horn　of　Valere　that　will　summon　the　heroes　of　the　Ages　back　from　the　grave　to　battle　for　the　Light　。。。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　what　the　gleeman　had　called　Plain　Chant；　those　nights　beside　the　fire　on　the　ride　north。　Stories；　he　said；　were　told　in　three　voices；　High　Chant；　Plain　Chant；　and　mon；　which　meant　simply　telling　it　the　way　you　might　tell　your　neighbor　about　your　crop。　Thom　told　stories　in　mon；　but　he　did　not　bother　to　hide　his　contempt　for　the　voice。
　　　　　　　Rand　closed　the　door　without　going　in　and　slumped　against　the　wall。　He　would　get　no　advice　from　Thom。　Moiraine　…　what　would　she　do　if　she　knew？
　　　　　　　He　became　aware　of　people　staring　at　him　as　they　passed；　and　realized　he　was　muttering　under　his　breath。　Smoothing　his　coat；　he　straightened。　He　had　to　talk　to　somebody。　The　cook　had　said　one　of　the　others　had　not　gone　out。　It　was　an　effort　not　to　run。
　　　　　　　When　he　rapped　on　the　door　of　the　room　where　the　other　boys　had　slept　and　poked　his　head　in；　only　Perrin　was　there；　lying　on　his　bed　and　still　not　dressed。　He　twisted　his　head　on　the　pillow　to　look　at　Rand；　then　closed　his　eyes　again。　Mat's　bow　and　quiver　were　propped　in　the　corner。
　　　　　　　〃I　heard　you　weren't　feeling　well；〃　Rand　said。　He　came　in　and　sat　on　the　next　bed。　〃I　just　wanted　to　talk。　I　。。。〃　He　did　not　know　how　to　bring　it　up；　he　realized。　〃If　you're　sick；〃　he　said；　half　standing；　〃maybe　you　ought　to　sleep。　I　can　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　if　I'll　ever　sleep　again。〃　Perrin　sighed。　〃I　had　a　bad　dream；　if　you　must　know；　and　couldn't　get　back　to　sleep。　Mat　will　quick　enough　to　tell　you。　He　laughed　this　morning；　when　I　told　them　why　I　was　too　tired　to　go　out　with　him；　but　he　dreamed；　too。　I　listened　to　him　for　most　of　the　night；　tossing　and　muttering；　and　you　can't　tell　me　he　got　a　good　night's　sleep。〃　He　threw　a　thick　arm　across　his　eyes。　〃Light；　but　I'm　tired。　Maybe　if　I　just　stay　here　for　an　hour　or　two；　I'll　feel　like　getting　up。　Mat　will　never　let　me　hear　the　end　of　it　if　I　miss　seeing　Baerlon　because　of　a　dream。　〃
　　　　　　　Rand　slowly　lowered　himself　to　the　bed　again。　He　licked　his　lips；　then　said　quickly；　〃Did　he　kill　a　rat？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　lowered　his　arm　and　stared　at　him。　〃You；　too？〃　he　said　finally。　When　Rand　nodded；　he　said；　〃I　wish　I　was　back　home。　He　told　me　。。。　he　said　。。。　What　are　we　going　to　do？　Have　you　told　Moiraine？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Not　yet。　Maybe　I　won't。　I　don't　know。　What　about　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　said　。。。　Blood　and　ashes；　Rand；　I　don't　know。〃　Perrin　raised　up　on　his　elbow　abruptly。　〃Do　you　think　Mat　had　the　same　dream？　He　laughed；　but　it　sounded　forced；　and　he　looked　funny　when　I　said　I　couldn't　sleep　because　of　a　dream。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　he　did；〃　Rand　said。　Guiltily；　he　felt　relieved　he　was　not　the　only　one。　〃I　was　going　to　ask　Thom　for　advice。　He's　seen　a　lot　of　the　world。　You　。。。　you　don't　think　we　should　tell　Moiraine；　do　you？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　fell　back　on　his　pillow。　〃You've　heard　the　stories　about　Aes　Sedai。　Do　you　think　we　can　trust　Thom？　If　we　can　trust　anybody。　Rand；　if　we　get　out　of　this　alive；　if　we　ever　get　back　home；　and　you　hear　me　say　anything　about　leaving　Emond's　Field；　even　to　go　as　far　as　Watch　Hill；　you　kick　me。　All　right？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　no　way　to　talk；〃　Rand　said。　He　put　on　a　smile；　as　cheerful　as　he　could　make　it。　〃Of　course　we'll　get　home。　e　on；　get　up。　We're　in　a　city；　and　we　have　a　whole　day　to　see　it。　Where　are　your　clothes？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　go。　I　just　want　to　lie　here　awhile。〃　Perrin　put　his　arm　back　across　his　eyes。　〃You　go　ahead。　I'll　catch　you　up　in　an　hour　or　two。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　your　loss；〃　Rand　said　as　he　got　up。　〃Think　of　what　you　might　miss。〃　He　stopped　at　the　door。　〃Baerlon。　How　many　times　have　we　talked　about　seeing　Baerlon　one　day？〃　Perrin　lay　there　with　his　eyes　covered　and　did　not　say　a　word。　After　a　minute　Rand　stepped　out　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
　　　　　　　In　the　hallway　he　leaned　against　the　wall；　his　smile　fading。　His　head　still　hurt；　it　was　worse；　not　better。　He　could　not　work　up　much　enthusiasm　for　Baerlon；　either；　not　now。　He　could　not　summon　enthusiasm　about　anything。
　　　　　　　A　chambermaid　came　by；　her　arms　full　of　sheets；　and　gave　him　a　concerned　look。　Before　she　could　speak　he　moved　off　down　the　hall；　shrugging　into　his　cloak。　Thom　would　not　be　finished　in　the　mon　room　for　hours　yet。　He　might　as　well　see　what　he　could。　Perhaps　he　could　find　Mat；　and　see　if　Ba'alzamon　had　been　in　his　dreams；　too。　He　went　downstairs　more　slowly　this　time；　rubbing　his　temple。
　　　　　　　The　stairs　ended　near　the　kitchen；　so　he　took　that　way　out；　nodding　to　Sara　but　hurrying　on　when　she　seemed　about　to　take　up　where　she　had　left　off。　The　stableyard　was　empty　except　for　Mutch；　standing　in　the　stable　door；　and　one　of　the　other　ostlers　carrying　a　sack　on　his　shoulder　into　the　stable。　Rand　nodded　to　Mutch；　too；　but　the　stableman　gave　him　a　truculent　look　and　went　inside。　He　hoped　the　rest　of　the　city　was　more　like　Sara　and　less　like　Mutch。　Ready　to　see　what　a　city　was　like；　he　picked　up　his　step。
　　　　　　　At　the　open　stableyard　gates；　he　stopped　and　stared。　People　packed　the　street　like　sheep　in　a　pen；　people　swathed　to　the　eyes　in　cloaks　and　coats；　hats　pulled　down　against　the　cold；　weaving　in　and　out　at　a　quick　step　as　though　the　wind　whistling　over　the　rooftops　blew　them　along；　elbowing　past　one　another　with　barely　a　word　or　a　glance。　All　strangers；　he　thought。　None　of　them　know　each　other。
　　　　　　　The　smells　were　strange；　too；　sharp　and　sour　and　sweet　all　mixed　in　a　hodgepodge　that　had　him　rubbing　his　nose。　Even　at　the　height　of　Festival　he　had　never　seen　so　many　people　so　jammed　together。　Not　even　half　so　many。　And　this　was　only　one　street。　Master　Fitch　and　the　cook　said　the　whole　city　was　full。　The　whole　city　。。。　like　this？
　　　　　　　He　backed　slowly　away　from　the　gate；　away　from　the　street　full　of　people。　It　really　was　not　righ