rj.eyeoftheworld-第79部分

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iss　across　his　cheek　and　hurried　past　him　before　he　could　speak。
　　　　　　　He　turned　to　watch　her。　Ila　rose　to　meet　her；　and　the　two　women　went　into　the　wagon　talking　quietly。　Rand　might　understand　it；　he　thought；　but　I　don't。
　　　　　　　In　the　distant　night　the　wolves　howled　the　first　thin　sliver　of　the　new　moon　toward　the　horizon；　and　he　shivered。　Tomorrow　would　be　time　enough　to　worry　about　the　wolves　again。　He　was　wrong。　They　were　waiting　to　greet　him　in　his　dreams。

Chapter　26
Whitebridge
　
　　　　　　　The　last　unsteady　note　of　what　had　been　barely　recognizable　as　〃The　Wind　That　Shakes　the　Willow〃　faded　mercifully　away；　and　Mat　lowered　Thom's　gold…and…silver…chased　flute。　Rand　took　his　hands　from　his　ears。　A　sailor　coiling　a　line　on　the　deck　nearby　heaved　a　loud　sigh　of　relief。　For　a　moment　the　only　sounds　were　the　water　slapping　against　the　hull；　the　rhythmic　creak　of　the　oars；　and　now　and　again　the　hum　of　rigging　strummed　by　the　wind。　The　wind　blew　dead　on　to　the　Spray's　bow；　and　the　useless　sails　were　furled。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　I　should　thank　you；〃　Thom　Merrilin　muttered　finally；　〃for　teaching　me　how　true　the　old　saying　is。　Teach　him　how　you　will；　a　pig　will　never　play　the　flute。〃　The　sailor　burst　out　laughing；　and　Mat　raised　the　flute　as　if　to　throw　it　at　him。　Deftly；　Thom　snagged　the　instrument　from　Mat's　fist　and　fitted　it　into　its　hard　leather　case。　〃I　thought　all　you　shepherds　whiled　away　the　time　with　the　flock　playing　the　pipes　or　the　flute。　That　will　show　me　to　trust　what　I　don't　know　firsthand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rand's　the　shepherd；〃　Mat　grumbled。　〃He　plays　the　pipes；　not　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　well；　he　does　have　a　little　aptitude。　Perhaps　we　had　better　work　on　juggling；　boy。　At　least　you　show　some　talent　for　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom；〃　Rand　said；　〃I　don't　know　why　you're　trying　so　hard。〃　He　glanced　at　the　sailor　and　lowered　his　voice。　〃After　all；　we　aren't　really　trying　to　bee　gleemen。　It's　only　something　to　hide　behind　until　we　find　Moiraine　and　the　others。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　tugged　at　an　end　of　his　mustache　and　seemed　to　be　studying　the　smooth；　dark　brown　leather　of　the　flute　case　on　his　knees。　〃What　if　you　don't　find　them；　boy？　There's　nothing　to　say　they're　even　still　alive。〃
　　　　　　　〃They're　alive；〃　Rand　said　firmly。　He　turned　to　Mat　for　support；　but　Mat's　eyebrows　were　pinched　down　on　his　nose；　and　his　mouth　was　a　thin　line；　and　his　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　deck。　〃Well；　speak　up；〃　Rand　told　him。　〃You　can't　be　that　mad　over　not　being　able　to　play　the　flute。　I　can't　either；　not　very　well。　You　never　wanted　to　play　the　flute　before。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　looked　up；　still　frowning。　〃What　if　they　are　dead？〃　he　said　softly。　〃We　have　to　accept　facts；　right？〃
　　　　　　　At　that　moment　the　lookout　in　the　bow　sang　out；　〃Whitebridge！　Whitebridge　ahead！〃
　　　　　　　For　a　long　minute；　unwilling　to　believe　that　Mat　could　say　something　like　that　so　casually；　Rand　held　his　friend's　gaze　amid　the　scramble　of　sailors　preparing　to　put　in。　Mat　glowered　at　him　with　his　head　pulled　down　between　his　shoulders。　There　was　so　much　Rand　wanted　to　say；　but　he　could　not　manage　to　get　it　all　into　words。　They　had　to　believe　the　others　were　alive。　They　had　to。　Why？　nagged　a　voice　in　the　back　of　his　head。　So　it　will　all　turn　out　like　one　of　Thom's　stories？　The　heroes　find　the　treasure　and　defeat　the　villain　and　live　happily　ever　after？　Some　of　his　stories　don't　end　that　way。　Sometimes　even　heroes　die。　Are　you　a　hero；　Rand　al'Thor？　Are　you　a　hero；　sheepherder？
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Mat　flushed　and　pulled　his　eyes　away。　Freed　from　his　thoughts；　Rand　jumped　up　to　move　through　the　hurly…burly　to　the　rail。　Mat　came　after　him　slowly；　not　even　making　an　effort　to　dodge　the　sailors　who　ran　across　his　path。
　　　　　　　Men　dashed　about　the　boat；　bare　feet　thumping　the　deck；　hauling　on　ropes；　tying　off　some　lines　and　untying　others。　Some　brought　up　big　oilskin　bags　stuffed　almost　to　bursting　with　wool；　while　others　readied　cables　as　thick　as　Rand's　wrist。　Despite　their　haste；　they　moved　with　the　assurance　of　men　who　had　done　it　all　a　thousand　times　before；　but　Captain　Domon　stumped　up　and　down　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　wa