rj.theshadowrising-第103章

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e；　or　hadn't　you　heard？〃
　　　　　　　The　tall　lord　blinked　as　though　he　had　not；　or　maybe　had　forgotten　in　his　eagerness　to　spring。　〃Exactly　what　is　it　you　do　propose；　then？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　turned　his　back　on　the　man　and　went　to　stand　in　front　of　the　fireplace。　He　did　not　mean　to　argue　with　Luc。　Let　everyone　listen。　They　were　certainly　all　looking　at　him。　He　would　say　what　he　thought　and　be　done　with　it。　〃You　have　to　depend　on　the　Whitecloaks；　have　to　hope　they'll　keep　the　Trollocs　down；　hope　they'll　e　in　time　if　the　Trollocs　attack。　Why？　Because　every　man　tries　to　hang　on　to　his　farm；　if　he　can；　or　to　stay　as　close　to　it　as　possible　if　he　can't。　You're　in　a　hundred　little　clusters；　like　grapes　ripe　for　picking。　As　long　as　you　are；　as　long　as　you　have　to　pray　the　Whitecloaks　can　keep　the　Trollocs　from　stomping　you　into　wine；　you've　no　choice　but　to　let　them　ask　any　questions　they　want；　demand　any　answers　they　want。　You　have　to　stand　by　and　watch　innocent　people　hauled　off。　Or　does　anyone　here　think　Haral　and　Alsbet　Luhhan　are　Darkfriends？　Natti　Cauthon？　Bodewhin　and　Eldrin？〃　Abell's　stare　around　the　room　dared　anyone　to　hint　at　a　yes；　but　there　was　no　need。　Even　Adine　Lewin's　attention　was　on　Perrin。　Luc　frowned　at　him　between　studying　the　reactions　of　the　people　crowding　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　they　shouldn't　have　arrested　Natti　and　Alsbet　and　all；〃　Wit　said；　〃but　that's　over。〃　He　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　bald　head；　and　gave　Abell　a　troubled　look。　〃Except　for　getting　them　to　let　everybody　go；　I　mean。　They　haven't　arrested　anyone　since；　that　I've　heard。　〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　that　means　it's　done？〃　Perrin　said。　〃Do　you　really　think　they'll　be　satisfied　with　the　Cauthons　and　the　Luhhans？　With　two　farms　burned？　Which　of　you　will　be　next？　Maybe　because　you　said　the　wrong　thing；　or　just　to　make　an　example。　It　could　be　Whitecloaks　putting　a　torch　to　this　house　instead　of　Trollocs。　Or　maybe　it'll　be　the　Dragon's　Fang　scrawled　on　your　door　some　night。　There　are　always　folk　who　believe　that　kind　of　thing。〃　A　number　of　eyes　darted　to　Adine；　who　shifted　her　feet　and　hunched　her　shoulders。　〃Even　if　all　it　means　is　having　to　tug　your　forelock　to　every　Whitecloak　who　es　along；　do　you　want　to　live　that　way？　Your　children？　You're　at　the　mercy　of　the　Trollocs；　the　mercy　of　the　Whitecloaks；　and　the　mercy　of　anybody　with　a　grudge。　As　long　as　one　has　a　hold　on　you；　all　three　do。　You're　hiding　in　the　cellar；　hoping　one　rabid　dog　will　protect　you　from　another；　hoping　the　rats　don't　sneak　out　in　the　dark　and　bite　you。〃
　　　　　　　Jac　exchanged　worried　looks　with　Flann　and　Wit；　with　the　other　men　in　the　room；　then。　said　slowly；　〃If　you　think　we're　doing　wrong；　what　is　it　you　suggest？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　was　not　expecting　the　question　…　he　had　been　sure　they　would　get　angry　…　but　he　went　right　on　telling　them　what　he　thought。　〃Gather　your　people。　Gather　your　sheep　and　your　cows；　your　chickens；　everything。　Gather　them　up　and　take　them　where　they　might　be　safe。　Go　to　Emond's　Field。　Or　Watch　Hill；　since　it's　closer；　thought　that　will　put　you　right　under　the　Whitecloaks'　eyes。　As　long　as　it's　twenty　people　here　and　fifty　there；　you　are　game　for　Trolloc　taking。　If　there　are　hundreds　of　you　together；　you　have　a　chance；　and　one　that　doesn't　depend　on　bowing　your　necks　for　the　Whitecloaks。〃　That　brought　the　explosion　he　expected。
　　　　　　　〃Abandon　my　farm　pletely！〃　Flann　shouted　right　on　top　of　Wit's　〃You're　mad！〃　Words　poured　out　on　top　of　one　another；　from　them；　and　from　brothers　and　cousins。
　　　　　　　〃Go　off　to　Emond's　Field？　I'm　too　far　away　to　do　more　than　check　the　fields　every　day　right　now！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　weeds　will　take　everything！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　how　I'm　going　to　harvest　as　it　is！〃
　　　　　　　〃。　。　。　if　the　rains　e。。。　！〃
　　　　　　　〃。　。　。　trying　to　rebuild。。。　！〃
　　　　　　　〃。　。　。　tabac　will　rot。。。　！〃
　　　　　　　〃。　。　。　have　to　leave　the　clip。　。　。！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　fist　smacking　the　lintel　of　the　fireplace　cut　them　short。　〃I　haven't　seen　a　field　trampled　or　fired；　or　a　house　or　barn　burned；　unless　there　were　people　there。　It's　people　the　Trollocs　e　for。　And　if　they　burn　it　anyway？　A　new　crop　can　be　planted。　Stone　and　mortar　and　wood　can　be　rebuilt。　Can　you　rebuild　that？〃　He　pointed　at　Laila's　baby；　and　she　clutched　the　child　to　her　breast；　glaring　at　him　as　though　he　had　threatened　the　babe　himself。　The　looks　she　gave　her　husband　and　Flann　were　frightened；　though。　An　uneasy　murmur　rose。
　　　　　　　〃Leave；〃　Jac　muttered；　shaking　his　head。　〃I　don't　know；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　your　choice；　Master　al'Seen。　The　land　will　still　be　here　when　you　e　back。　Trollocs　can't　carry　that　off。　Think　whether　the　same　can　be　said　for　your　family。〃
　　　　　　　The　murmur　grew　to　a　buzz。　A　number　of　women　were　confronting　their　husbands；　mostly　those　with　a　child　or　two　in　tow。　None　of　the　men　seemed　to　be　arguing。
　　　　　　　〃An　interesting　plan；〃　Luc　said；　studying　Perrin。　From　his　face　there　was　no　telling　whether　he　approved　of　it。　〃I　shall　watch　to　see　how　it　turns　out。　And　now；　Master　al'Seen；　I　must　be　on　my　way。　I　only　stopped　to　see　how　you　were　doing。〃　Jac　and　Elisa　saw　him　to　the　door；　but　the　others　were　too　busy　with　their　own　discussions　to　pay　much　attention。　Luc　left　tight…mouthed。　Perrin　had　the　feeling　his　departures　were　usually　as　grand　as　his　arrivals。
　　　　　　　Jac　came　straight　from　the　door　to　Perrin。　〃It's　a　bold　plan　you　have。　I　will　admit　I'm　not　keen　on　abandoning　my　farm；　but　you　talk　sense。　I　don't　know　what　the　Children　will　make　of　it；　though。　They　seem　a　suspicious　lot；　to　me。　They　might　think　we're　all　plotting　something　against　them　if　we　gather　together。〃
　　　　　　　〃Let　them　think　it；〃　Perrin　said。　〃A　village　full　of　people　can　take　Luc's　advice　and　tell　them　to　be　about　their　business　elsewhere。　Or　do　you　think　it's　better　to　stay　vulnerable　just　to　hold　the　Whitecloaks'　goodwill；　such　as　it　is？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　No；　I　see　your　point。　You've　convinced　me。　And　everybody　else；　too；　it　seems。〃
　　　　　　　It　did　appear　to　be　true。　The　murmur　of　discussion　was　dying　down；　but　only　because　everyone　looked　to　be　in　agreement。　Even　Adine；　who　was　marshaling　her　daughters　with　loud　orders　for　packing　immediately。　She　actually　gave　Perrin　a　grudgingly　approving　nod。
　　　　　　　〃When　do　you　mean　to　go？〃　Perrin　asked　Jac。
　　　　　　　〃As　soon　as　I　can　get　everybody　ready。　We　can　make　Jon　Gaelin's　place　on　the　North　Road　before　sunset。　I'll　tell　Jon　what　you　say；　and　everybody　down　to　Emond's　Field。　Better　there　than　Watch　Hill。　If　we　mean　to　be　out　from　under　the　Whitecloaks'　thumb　as　well　as　the　Trollocs'；　best　not　to　sit　under　their　noses。　〃　Jac　scratched　his　narrow　fringe　of　hair　with　one　finger。　〃Perrin；　I　don't　think　the　Children　would　actually　hurt　Natti　Cauthon　and　the　girls；　or　the　Luhhans；　but　it　worries　me。　If　they　do　think　we're　plotting；　who's　to　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　mean　to　get　them　free　as　soon　as　I　can；　Master　al'Seen。　And　anybody　else　the　Whitecloaks　arrest；　for　that　matter。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　bold　plan；〃　Jac　repeated。　〃Well；　I　had　better　get　people　moving　if　I'm　going　to　have　us　to　Jon's　by　sundown。　Go　with　the　Light；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　very　bold　plan；〃　Verin　said；　ing　up　as　Master　al'Seen　hurried　off　calling　orders　for　wagons　to　be　hauled　out　and　people　to　pack　what　they　could　carry。　She　studied　Perrin　interestedly；　head　tilted　to　one　side；　but　no　less　so　than　Faile；　at　her　side。　Faile　looked　as　though　she　had　never　seen　him　before。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　why　everybody　keeps　calling　it　that；〃　he　said。　〃A　plan；　I　mean。　That　Luc　was　talking　nonsense。　Defying　Whitecloaks　in　the　door。　Boys　on　the　roof　to　watch　for　Trollocs。　A　couple　of　open　gates　to　disaster。　All　I　did　was　point　it　out。　They　should　have　been　doing　this　from　the　start。　That　man。。。。　〃　He　stopped　himself　from　saying　Luc　irritated　him。　Not　with　Faile　there。　She　might　misunderstand。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Verin　said　smoothly。　〃I　have　not　had　the　opportunity　to　see　it　work　before　this。　Or　perhaps　I　have　and　did　not　know　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　See　what　work？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin；　when　we　arrived　these　people　were　ready　to　hold　on　here　at　all　costs。　You　gave　them　good　sense　and　strong　emotion；　but　do　you　think　the　same　from　me　would　have　shifted　them；　or　from　Tam；　or　Abell？　Of　any　of　us；　you　should　know　how　stubborn　Two　Rivers　people　can　be。　You　have　altered　the　course　events　would　have　followed　in　the　Two　Rivers　without　you。　With　a　few　words　spoken　in。。。　irritation？　Ta'veren　truly　do　pull　other　people's　lives　into　their　own　pattern。　Fascinating。　I　do　hope　I　have　an　opportunity　to　observe　Rand　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃Whatever　it　is；〃　Perrin　muttered；　〃it's　to　the　good。　The　more　people　together　in　one　place；　the　safer。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　Rand　does　have　the　sword；　I　take　it？〃
　　　　　　　He　frowned；　but　there　was　no　reason　not　to　tell　her。　She　knew　about　Rand；　and　she　knew　what　Tear　had　to　mean。　〃He　does。〃
　　　　　　　〃Watch　yourself　with　Alanna；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　The　Aes　Sedai's　quick　changes　of　topic　were　beginning　to　confuse　him。　Especially　when　she　started　telling　him　to　do　what　he　had　already　thought　of；　and　thought　to　keep　secret　from　her。　〃Why？〃
　　　　　　　Verin's　face　did　not　change；　but　her　dark　eyes　were　suddenly　bird　bright　and　sharp。　〃There　are　many。。。　designs　in　the　White　Tower。　Not　all　are　malignant；　by　far；　but　sometimes　it　is　difficult　to　say　until　it　is　too　late。　And　even　the　most　benevolent　often　allow　for　a　few　threads　snapped　in　the　weaving；　a　few　reeds　broken　and　discarded　in　making　a　basket。　A　ta'veren　would　make　a　useful　reed　in　any　number　of　possible　plans。〃　Just　as　suddenly　she　was　looking　a　little　confused　by　the　bustle　around　her；　more　at　home　in　a　book　or　her　own　thoughts　than　in　the　real　world。　〃Oh；　my。　Master　al'Seen　is　not　wasting　any　time；　is　he？　I'll　just　see　if　he　can　spare　someone　to　fetch　our　horses。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　shivered　as　the　Brown　sister　moved　away。　〃Sometimes　Aes　Sedai　make　me。。。　uneasy；〃　she　murmured。
　　　　　　　〃Uneasy？〃　Perrin　said。　〃Most　of　the　time　they　scare　me　half　to　death。〃
　　　　　　　She　laughed　softly　and　began　playing　with　a　button　on　his　coat；　peering　at　it　intently。　〃Perrin；　I。。。　have。。。　been　a　fool。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　She　glanced　up　at　him　…　she　was　about　to　twist　the　button　right　off　…　and　he　hastily　added；　〃You　are　one　of　the　least　foolish　people　I　know。〃　He　clamped　his　teeth　shut　before　he　could　add　〃most　of　the　time；〃　and　was　glad　he　had　when　she　smiled。
　　　　　　　〃That　is　very　nice　of　you　to　say；　but　I　was。〃　She　patted　the　coat　button　and　began　adjusting　his　coat　…　which　it　did　not　need　…　and　smoothing　his　lapels　…　which　they　did　not　need。　〃You　were　so　silly；〃　she　said；。　speaking　too　fast；　〃just　because　that　young　man　looked　at　me　…　really；　he　is　much　too　boyish；　not　at　all　like　you　…　that　I　thought　I　would　make　you　jealous　…　just　a　little　…　by　pretending　…　just　pretending　…　to　be　attracted　to　Lord　Luc。　I　should　not　have　done　it。　Will　you　forgive　me？〃
　　　　　　　He　tried　to　sort　through　the　jumbled　words。　It　was　good　she　thought　Wil　was　boyish　…　if　he　tried　to　grow　a　beard　it　would　probably　be　straggly　…　but　she　had　not　mentioned　the　way　she　returned　Wil's　look。　And　if　she　had　been　pretending　to　be　attracted　to　Luc；　why　had　she　blushed　that　way？　〃Of　course　I　forgive　you；〃　he　said。　A　dangerous　light　appeared　in　her　eyes。　〃I　mean；　there's　nothing　to　forgive。〃　If　anything；　the　light　spark