rj.theshadowrising-第95部分

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　　　　　　　Bain　leaned　over　to　whisper　in　Chiad's　ear；　and　they　both　laughed。　From　the　way　they　looked　at　Gaul　and　him；　Perrin　did　not　think　he　would　like　hearing　what　the　women　found　so　funny。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　that　at　all；〃　Loial　rumbled；　ears　shifting　testily。　He　gave　Faile　an　accusing　look；　which　did　not　abash　her　at　all；　she　smiled　at　him　vaguely　and　went　back　to　her　gloves；　snugging　each　finger　all　over　again。　〃I　am　sorry；　Perrin。　She　insisted　on　being　the　one　to　call　you。　This　is　why。　We　are　there。〃　He　pointed　to　the　base　of　the　Guiding；　where　a　wide　pit…broken　white　line　ran　off；　not　to　bridge　or　ramp；　but　into　the　darkness。　〃The　Waygate　at　Manetheren；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded；　saying　nothing。　He　was　not　about　to　suggest　they　follow　the　line；　not　and　have　Faile　call　him　down　for　trying　to　take　over。　He　rubbed　his　nose　again　absently；　that　almost　imperceptible　scent　of　rankness　was　irritating。　He　was　not　going　to　make　even　the　most　sensible　suggestion。　If　she　wanted　to　lead；　let　her。　But　she　sat　her　saddle；　fooling　with　her　gloves；　obviously　waiting　for　him　to　speak　so　she　could　make　some　witty　remark。　She　liked　wittiness；　he　preferred　saying　what　he　meant。　Irritably；　he　turned　Stepper；　meaning　to　go　on　without　her　or　Loial。　The　line　led　to　the　Waygate；　and　he　could　pick　out　the　Avendesora　leaf　that　opened　it　himself。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　his　ear　caught　a　muffled　click　of　hooves　from　the　darkness；　and　the　fetid　smell　slammed　home　in　his　mind。　〃Trollocs！〃　he　shouted。
　　　　　　　Gaul　pivoted　smoothly　to　slide　a　spear　into　the　black…mailed　chest　of　a　wolf…snouted　Trolloc　dashing　into　the　light　with　scythe…like　sword　upraised；　in　the　same　effortless　motion　the　Aiel　pulled　his　spearpoint　free　and　sidestepped　to　let　the　huge　shape　fall。　More　came　behind　it；　though；　all　goatsnouts　and　boar's　tusks；　cruel　beaks　and　twisted　horns；　with　curved　swords　and　spiked　axes　and　hooked　spears。　The　horses　danced　and　screamed。
　　　　　　　Holding　his　pole…lantern　high　…　the　thought　of　facing　these　things　in　the　dark　gave　him　cold　sweat　…　Perrin　clawed　for　a　weapon；　swung　at　a　face　distorted　by　a　sharp　toothed　snout。　He　was　surprised　to　realize　he　had　pulled　the　hammer　free　of　its　lashings　on　his　saddlebags；　but　if　it　did　not　have　the　axe's　sharp　edge；　ten　pounds　of　steel　wielded　by　a　blacksmith's　arm　still　sent　the　Trolloc　staggering　back　shrieking　and　clutching　a　ruined　face。
　　　　　　　Loial　dashed　his　pole…lantern　against　a　goat…horned　head；　and　the　lantern　broke；　bathed　in　burning　oil；　the　Trolloc　ran　howling　into　the　dark。　The　Ogier　flailed　about　him　with　the　stout　pole；　a　switch　in　his　huge　hands；　but　one　that　landed　with　sharp　cracks　of　splintering　bone。　One　of　Faile's　knives　blossomed　in　an　all…too…human　eye　above　a　tusked　snout。　The　Aiel　danced　the　spears；　having　somehow　found　time　to　veil　themselves。　Perrin　struck；　and　struck；　and　struck。　A　whirlwind　of　death　that　lasted。。。　。　A　minute？　Five？　It　seemed　an　hour。　But　suddenly　the　Trollocs　were　down；　those　not　already　dead　kicking　in　their　death　throes。
　　　　　　　Perrin　sucked　air　into　his　lungs；　his　right　arm　felt　as　if　the　weight　of　the　hammer　might　pull　it　off。　There　was　a　burning　sensation　on　his　face；　a　wetness　trickling　down　his　side；　another　on　his　leg；　where　Trolloc　steel　had　gotten　through。　Each　of　the　Aiel　had　at　least　one　damp　patch　darkening　their　brown　and　gray　clothes；　and　Loial　wore　a　bloody　gash　down　his　thigh。　Perrin's　eyes　went　right　past　them；　seeking　Faile。　If　she　was　hurt。。。　She　sat　atop　her　black　mare；　a　knife　in　her　hand　ready　to　throw。　She　had　actually　managed　to　pull　off　her　gloves　and　tuck　them　neatly　behind　her　belt。　He　could　not　see　a　wound　on　her。　In　all　the　blood　smell　…　human；　Ogier；　Trolloc　…　he　could　not　have　picked　out　hers　if　she　were　bleeding；　but　he　knew　her　scent；　and　she　did　not　have　the　pained　smell　of　injury。　Bright　lights　hurt　Trolloc　eyes；　they　did　not　adapt　quickly。　Very　likely　the　only　reason　they　were　still　alive　and　the　Trollocs　dead　was　that　abrupt　entry　from　darkness　into　light。
　　　　　　　That　was　all　the　time　they　had；　a　moment's　respite；　long　enough　to　glance　around；　take　breath。　With　a　roar　like　a　hundred　pounds　of　bone　falling　into　a　huge　meat　grinder；　a　Fade　leaped　into　the　light；　eyeless　stare　a　stare　of　death；　black　sword　flickering　like　lightning。　The　horses　screamed；　trying　to　bolt。
　　　　　　　Gaul　barely　managed　to　turn　that　blade　with　his　buckler；　losing　a　slice　from　the　side　of　it　as　if　the　layers　of　cured　bullhide　were　only　paper。　He　stabbed；　eluded　a　thrust　…　barely　…　and　stabbed　again。　Arrows　sprouted　in　the　Myrddraal's　chest。　Bain　and　Chiad　had　thrust　their　spears　through　the　harness　holding　the　cased　bows　on　their　backs　and　were　using　those　curved　horn　bows。　More　arrows；　pincushioning　the　Halfman's　chest。　Gaul's　spear；　darting；　stabbing。　One　of　Faile's　knives　suddenly　stood　out　in　that　smooth　maggot　white　face。　The　Fade　would　not　fall；　would　not　stop　trying　to　kill。　Only　the　wildest　dodging　kept　its　sword　from　finding　flesh。
　　　　　　　Perrin　bared　his　teeth　in　an　unconscious　snarl。　He　hated　Trollocs　as　an　enemy　of　his　blood；　but　the　Neverborn。。。　？　It　was　worth　dying　to　kill　a　Neverborn。　To　put　my　teeth　in　its　throat。。。　！　Careless　of　whether　he　blocked　Bain　and　Chiad's　arrows；　he　guided　Stepper　closer　to　the　Neverborn's　back；　forcing　the　reluctant　dun　nearer　with　reins　and　knees。　At　the　last　instant；　the　creature　spun　away　from　Gaul；　seemingly　ignoring　a　spearpoint　that　thrust　between　its　shoulders　and　came　out　below　its　throat；　staring　up　at　Perrin　with　the　eyeless　gaze　that　sent　fear　into　every　man's　soul。　Too　late。　Perrin's　hammer　fell；　shattering　head　and　eyeless　gaze　alike。
　　　　　　　Even　down　and　virtually　headless；　the　Myrddraal　still　thrashed；　lashing　aimlessly　with　its　Thakan'dar…wrought　blade。　Stepper　danced　back；　whickering　nervously；　and　suddenly　Perrin　felt　as　if　he　had　been　doused　in　icy　water。　That　black　steel　made　wounds　even　Aes　Sedai　found　hard　to　Heal；　and　he　had　ridden　in　uncaring。　My　teeth　in　its。。。　Light；　I　have　to　keep　hold　of　myself。　I　have　to！
　　　　　　　He　could　still　hear　smothered　sounds　from　the　darkness　at　the　far　end　of　the　Island；　the　clatter　of　hoofed　feet；　the　scrape　of　boots；　harsh　breathing　and　guttural　murmurs。　More　Trollocs；　how　many　he　could　not　say。　A　pity　they　had　not　been　linked　to　the　Myrddraal；　yet　perhaps　they　might　hesitate　to　attack　without　it　to　drive　them。　Trollocs　were　usually　cowards　in　their　way；　preferring　strong　odds　and　easy　kills。　But　even　lacking　a　Myrddraal　they　could　work　themselves　up　to　e　again　eventually。
　　　　　　　〃The　Waygate；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　to　get　out　before　they　decide　what　to　do　without　that。〃　He　used　the　bloody　hammer　to　gesture　to　the　still　flailing　Fade。　
　　　　　　　Faile　reined　Swallow　around　immediately；　and　he　was　so　surprised；　he　blurted；　〃You　aren't　going　to　argue？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　when　you　speak　sense；〃　she　said　briskly。　〃Not　when　you　speak　sense。　Loial？〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier　took　the　lead　on　his　tall；　hairy　fetlocked　mount。　Perrin　backed　Stepper　after　Faile　and　Loial；　hammer　in　hand；　the　Aiel　siding　him；　all　with　bows　ready　now。　Shuffling　hooves　and　boots　followed　in　the　blackness；　and　harsh　mutters　in　a　language　too　rough　for　human　tongues。　Back　and　back；　with　the　mutters　edging　closer；　working　up　courage。
　　　　　　　Another　sound　floated　to　Perrin；　like　silk　sighing　across　silk。　It　sent　shivers　along　his　bones。　Louder；　a　distant　giant's　exhalation；　rising；　falling；　rising　higher。　〃Hurry！〃　he　shouted。　〃Hurry！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am；〃　Loial　barked。　〃I　…　That　sound！　Is　it　…？　The　Light　illumine　our　souls；　and　the　Creator's　hand　shelter　us！　It's　opening。　It　is　opening！　I　must　be　last。　Out！　Out！　But　not　too　…　No；　Faile！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　risked　a　glance　over　his　shoulder。　Twin　gates　of　apparently　living　leaves　were　swinging　open；　revealing　a　smoked　glass　view　of　mountainous　country。　Loial　had　dismounted　to　remove　the　Avendesora　leaf　to　unlock　the　gate；　and　Faile　had　their　pack　animals'　leads　and　his　huge　mount's　reins。　With　a　hasty　shout　of　〃Follow　me！　Quickly！〃　she　booted　Swallow's　ribs；　and　the　Tairen　mare　sprang　toward　the　opening。
　　　　　　　〃After　her；〃　Perrin　told　the　Aiel。　〃Hurry！　You　cannot　fight　this。〃　Wisely　they　hesitated　only　a　heartbeat　before　peeling　back；　Gaul　seizing　the　packhorse's　lead　line。　Stepper　came　abreast　of　Loial。　〃Can　you　lock　it　shut　some　way？　Block　it？〃　A　frantic　edge　had　entered　the　harsh　mutterings；　the　Trollocs　had　recognized　the　sound　too；　now。　Machin　Shin　was　ing。　Living　meant　getting　out　of　the　Ways。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Loial　said。　〃Yes。　But　go。　Go！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　reined　Stepper　back　quickly　toward　the　Gate；　yet　before　he　knew　what　he　was　doing　he　had　thrown　back　his　head　and　howled；　defiance　and　challenge。　Foolish；　foolish；　foolish！　Still；　he　kept　his　eyes　on　that　pitch　dark　and　backed　Stepper　into　the　Waygate。　An　icy　ripple　slid　across　him　hair　by　hair；　and　time　stretched　out。　The　jolt　of　leaving　the　Ways　hit　him；　as　if　he　had　gone　from　a　dead　gallop　to　a　stop　in　one　step。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　were　still　turning　to　face　the　Waygate；　spreading　out　across　the　slope　with　arrows　nocked；　among　low　bushes　and　stunted　mountain　trees；　wind…twisted　pine　and　fir　and　leatherleaf。　Faile　was　just　picking　herself　up　from　where　she　had　tumbled　from　Swallow's　saddle；　the　black　mare　nuzzling　her。　Galloping　out　of　a　Waygate　was　at　least　as　bad　as　galloping　in；　she　was　lucky　she　had　not　broken　her　neck；　and　her　horse's；　too。　Loial's　tall　horse　and　her　packhorses　were　trembling　as　though　hit　between　the　eyes。　Perrin　opened　his　mouth；　and　she　glared　at　him；　daring　him　to　make　any　ment　at　all；　maybe　a　sympathetic　one　least　of　all。　He　grimaced　wryly　and　wisely　kept　silent。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Loial　came　hurtling　out　of　the　Waygate；　leaping　out　of　a　dull　silvery　mirror　with　his　own　reflection　growing　behind　him；　and　rolled　across　the　ground。　Almost　on　his　heels；　two　Trollocs　appeared；　ram's　horns　and　snout；　eagle's　beak　and　feathered　crest；　but　before　they　were　more　than　halfway　out；　the　shimmering　surface　turned　dead　black；　bubbling　and　bulging；　clinging　to　them。
　　　　　　　Voices　whispered　in　Perrin's　head；　a　thousand　babbling　mad　voices　clawing　at　the　inside　of　his　skull。　Bitter　blood。　Blood　so　bitter。　Drink　the　blood　and　crack　the　bone。　Crack　the　bone　and　suck　the　marrow。　Bitter　marrow；　sweet　the　screams。　Sin