rj.theshadowrising-第106章

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。　Faile　scudded　along　beside　him　like　his　shadow；　scanning　the　camp　for　signs　of　life　as　alertly　as　he　did。　Shifting　moonshadows　obscured　the　spaces　between　the　tents　even　for　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　Approaching　the　prison　tent；　he　slowed；　so　as　not　to　excite　the　guards；　a　white…cloaked　man　stood　at　this　end；　and　the　gleaming　lance　point　of　another　rose　above　the　tent's　peaked　roof。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　that　lance　point　vanished。　There　was　no　sound。　It　simply　fell。。
　　　　　　　A　heartbeat　later；　two　patches　of　darkness　abruptly　became　veiled　Aiel；　neither　tall　enough　for　Gaul。　Before　the　guard　could　move；　one　of　them　leaped　into　the　air；　kicking　him　in　the　face。　He　staggered　to　his　knees；　and　the　other　Maiden　spun；　adding　her　own　kick。　The　guard　dropped　bonelessly。　Crouching；　the　Maidens　looked　around；　spears　ready；　to　see　if　they　had　roused　anyone。
　　　　　　　At　the　sight　of　Perrin　in　a　white　cloak；　they　nearly　went　for　him；　until　they　saw　Faile。　One　shook　her　head　and　whispered　to　the　other；　who　appeared　to　laugh　silently。
　　　　　　　Perrin　told　himself　he　should　not　feel　disgruntled；　but　first　Faile　saved　him　from　being　strangled；　and　now　she　saved　him　from　a　spear　through　his　liver。　For　somebody　who　was　supposedly　leading　a　rescue；　he　was　making　a　fine　showing　so　far。
　　　　　　　Tossing　the　tent　flap　aside；　he　put　his　head　into　the　interior；　which　was　even　darker　than　outside。　Master　Luhhan　lay　asleep　across　the　tent's　entrance；　with　the　women　huddled　together　toward　the　back。　Perrin　put　a　hand　over　Haral　Luhhan's　mouth　and；　when　his　eyes　popped　open；　laid　a　finger　across　his　own　lips。　〃Wake　the　others；〃　Perrin　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Quietly。　We　are　taking　you　out　of　here。〃　Recognition　dawned　in　Master　Luhhan's　eyes；　and　he　nodded。
　　　　　　　Backing　out　of　the　tent；　Perrin　stripped　the　cloak　from　the　downed　guard。　The　man　was　still　breathing　…　hoarsely；　and　bubbling　through　a　thoroughly　broken　nose　…　but　being　manhandled　did　not　wake　him。　They　had　to　hurry　now。　Gaul　was　there；　with　the　cloak　from　the　other　guard。　The　three　Aiel　watched　the　other　tents　cautiously。　Faile　practically　danced　with　impatience。
　　　　　　　When　Master　Luhhan　brought　his　wife　and　the　other　women　out；　all　of　them　peering　about　nervously　in　the　moonlight；　Perrin　hurriedly　put　one　of　the　cloaks　around　the　blacksmith。　It　was　a　poor　fit　…　Haral　Luhhan　seemed　to　be　made　from　tree　trunks　…　but　it　had　to　do。　The　other　went　around　Alsbet　Luhhan。　She　was　not　so　large　as　her　husband；　but　still　as　big　as　most　men。　Her　round　face　looked　surprised　at　first；　but　then　she　nodded；　pulling　the　fallen　guard's　conical　helmet　from　his　head；　she　stuck　it　on　her　own；　squashing　it　down　atop　her　thick　braid。　The　two　guards　they　bound　and　gagged　with　strips　of　blanket　and　laid　inside　the　tent。
　　　　　　　Sneaking　out　again　the　way　they　had　e　in　was　impossible；　Perrin　had　known　that　from　the　start。　Even　if　Master　and　Mistress　Luhhan　could　have　moved　quietly　enough　…　which　he　doubted　…　Bode　and　Eldrin　were　clinging　to　each　other　in　shocked　disbelief　at　rescue。　Only　their　mother's　soft　murmurs　kept　them　from　breaking　into　relieved　tears　already。　He　had　planned　for　it。　Horses　were　needed；　both　for　a　quick　burst　of　speed　away　from　the　camp　and　to　carry　everyone　afterward。　There　were　horses　at　the　picket　lines。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　ghosting　ahead；　he　followed　behind　with　Faile　and　the　Cauthons　behind；　Haral　and　Alsbet　bringing　up　the　rear。　To　a　casual　glance；　at　least；　they　looked　to　be　like　three　Whitecloaks　escorting　four　women。
　　　　　　　The　picketed　horses　were　guarded；　but　only　on　the　side　away　from　the　tents。　After　all；　why　guard　them　from　the　men　who　rode　them？　It　certainly　made　Perrin's　job　easier。　They　simply　walked　up　to　the　line　of　horses　nearest　the　tents；　each　secured　by　a　simple　rope　hackamore；　and　untied　one　apiece；　except　for　the　Aiel。　The　hardest　part　was　getting　Mistress　Luhhan　up　barebacked；　it　took　Perrin　and　Master　Luhhan　both；　and　she　kept　trying　to　push　her　skirts　down　to　cover　her　knees。　Natti　and　her　girls　scrambled　up　easily；　and　Faile；　of　course。　The　guards　supposedly　watching　the　horses　continued　their　measured　rounds；　calling　to　each　other　about　all　being　well　with　the　night。
　　　　　　　〃When　I　give　the　word；〃　Perrin　began；　and　someone　in　the　camp　shouted；　then　again；　more　loudly；　a　horn　sounded；　and　shouting　men　poured　out　of　the　tents。　Whether　they　had　found　the　prisoners　gone；　or　the　unconscious　man　who　had　attacked　him；　it　made　no　difference。　〃Follow　me！〃　Perrin　cried；　digging　his　heels　into　the　dark　gelding　he　had　chosen。　〃Ride！〃
　　　　　　　It　was　a　madcap　rush；　but　he　tried　to　keep　an　eye　on　everyone。　Master　Luhhan　was　almost　as　bad　a　rider　as　his　wife；　the　pair　of　them　bouncing　around；　nearly　falling　as　their　horses　ran。　Either　Bode　or　Eldrin　was　screaming　at　the　top　of　her　lungs；　from　excitement　or　terror。　Luckily　the　guards　were　not　expecting　trouble　from　inside　the　camp。　One　white…cloaked　man　peering　into　the　darkness　turned　just　in　time　to　throw　himself　out　of　the　way　of　the　charging　horses　with　a　cry　almost　as　shrill　as　the　Cauthon　girl's。　More　horns　bayed　behind　them；　and　shouts　with　the　definite　sound　of　orders　hammered　the　night；　well　before　they　reached　the　cover　of　the　thicket。　Not　that　it　was　much　cover　now。
　　　　　　　Tam　had　everyone　mounted；　as　Perrin　had　asked。　Or　ordered。　He　swung　straight　from　the　gelding　to　Stepper。　Verin　and　Tomas　were　the　only　ones　not　all　but　jumping　up　and　down　in　their　saddles；　their　horses　were　the　only　ones　not　dancing　with　their　riders'　nervousness。　Abell　was　trying　to　hug　his　wife　and　daughters　all　three　at　the　same　time；　all　of　them　laughing　and　crying。　Master　Luhhan　was　trying　to　shake　every　hand　he　could　reach。　Everybody　except　the　Aiel；　Verin　and　her　Warder　seemed　to　be　offering　everybody　else　congratulations；　as　though　it　were　all　done。
　　　　　　　〃Why；　Perrin；　it　is　you！〃　Mistress　Luhhan　exclaimed。　Her　round；　face　looked　peculiar　under　the　helmet；　sitting　askew　because　of　her　braid。　〃What　is　that　thing　on　your　face；　young　man？　I　am　more　than　grateful　to　you；　but　I　will　not　have　you　at　my　table　looking　like　a　…〃
　　　　　　　〃No　time　for　that；〃　he　told　her；　ignoring　the　shock　on　her　face。　She　was　not　a　woman　people　cut　off；　but　the　Whitecloak　horns　were　sounding　something　besides　an　alarm　now；　a　short　repetitive　cry；　sharp　and　insistent。　An　order　of　some　kind。　〃Tam；　Abell；　take　Master　Luhhan　and　the　women　to　that　hiding　place　you　know。　Gaul；　you　go　with　them。　And　Faile。〃　That　would　add　Bain　and　Chiad。　〃And　Hu　and　Haim。〃　That　should　be　enough　to　be　safe。　〃Move　quietly。　Quiet　is　better　than　speed；　for　a　little　while　anyway。　But　go　now。〃
　　　　　　　Those　he　named　wound　off　westward　with　no　argument；　though　Mistress　Luhhan；　holding　her　horse's　mane　with　both　hands；　gave　him　a　very　level　look。　It　was　the　lack　of　argument　from　Faile　that　stunned　him；　enough　that　it　took　him　a　moment　to　realize　he　had　called　Master　al'Thor　and　Master　Cauthon　by　their　first　names。
　　　　　　　Verin　and　Tomas　had　stayed　behind；　and　he　eyed　her　sharply。　〃Any　chance　of　a　little　help　from　you？〃'
　　　　　　　〃Not　the　way　you　mean；　perhaps；〃　she　replied　calmly；　as　though　the　Whitecloak　camp　were　not　in　turmoil　just　a　mile　off。　〃My　reasons　are　no　different　today　than　yesterday。　But　I　think　it　might　rain　in。。。　oh。。。　half　an　hour。　Maybe　less。　Quite　a　downpour；　I　expect。〃
　　　　　　　Half　an　hour。　Perrin　grunted　and　turned　to　the　remaining　Two　Rivers　lads。　Practically　quivering　with　the　desire　to　run；　they　held　their　bows　in　white…knuckled　grips。　He　hoped　they　had　all　remembered　to　bring　spare　bowstrings；　at　least；　since　it　was　going　to　rain。　〃We；〃　he　told　them；　〃are　going　to　draw　the　Whitecloaks　off　so　Mistress　Cauthon　and　Mistress　Luhhan　and　the　rest　can　get　away　safely。　We'll　take　them　south　along　the　North　Road　until　we　can　lose　them　in　the　rain。　If　anyone　wants　out；　he　had　best　ride　now。　〃　A　few　hands　shifted　on　their　reins；　but　they　all　sat　their　saddles　looking　at　him。　〃All　right；　then。　Shout　like　you've　gone　mad　so　they'll　hear　us。　Shout　until　we　reach　the　road。〃
　　　　　　　Bellowing；　he　wheeled　Stepper　and　galloped　for　the　road。　At　first　he　was　not　really　certain　they　would　follow；　but　their　wild　howls　drowned　his　roar　and　the　thunder　of　their　hooves。　If　the　Whitecloaks　did　not　hear　that；　they　were　deaf。
　　　　　　　Not　all　of　them　stopped　shouting　when　they　reached　the　hard…packed　dirt　of　the　North　Road　and　swung　south　at　a　dead　run　through　the　night。　Some　laughed　and　whooped。　Perrin　shrugged　out　of　the　white　cloak　and　let　it　fall。　The　horns　sounded　again；　a　little　fainter　now。
　　　　　　　〃Perrin；〃　Wil　called；　leaning　forward　on　the　neck　of　his　horse；　〃what　do　we　do　now？　What　do　we　do　next？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　hunt　Trollocs！　〃　Perrin　shouted　over　his　shoulder。　From　the　way　the　laughter　redoubled；　he　did　not　think　they　believed　him。　But　he　could　feel　Verin's　eyes　drilling　into　his　back。　She　knew。　Thunder　in　the　night　sky　echoed　the　horses'　hooves。


Chapter　34
（Dragon）
He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn

　　　　　　　The　dawn　shadows　shortened　and　paled　as　Rand　and　Mat　jogged　across　the　barren；　still…dark　valley　floor；　leaving　fog…shrouded　Rhuidean　behind。　The　dry　air　hinted　at　heat　to　e；　but　the　slight　breeze　actually　felt　cool　to　Rand；　with　no　coat。　That　would　not　last；　full　blistering　daylight　would　be　on　them　soon　enough；　They　hurried　as　best　they　could　in　the　hope　of　beating　it；　but　he　did　not　think　they　would。　Their　best　was　not　very　fast。
　　　　　　　Mat　trotted　in　a　pained　shamble；　a　dark　smear　fanned　across　half　his　face；　and　his　coat　hung　open；　revealing　his　unlaced　shirt　stuck　to　his　chest　by　more　drying　blood。　Sometimes　he　gingerly　touched　the　thick　weal　around　his　throat；　nearly　black　now；　growling　under　his　breath；　and　he　stumbled　often；　catching　himself　with　the　odd；　black…hafted　spear　and　clutching　at　his　head。　He　did　not　plain；　though；　which　was　a　bad　sign。　Mat　was　a　great　plainer　at　small　disforts；　if　he　was　silent　now；　it　meant　he　was　in　real　pain。
　　　　　　　The　old；　half…healed　wound　in　Rand's　side　felt　as　though　something　were　boring　into　it；　and　the　gashes　on　his　face　and　head　burned；　yet　lumbering　along；　half…hunched　over　his　aching　side；　he　hardly　thought　of　his　own　hurts。　He　was　all　too　conscious　of　the　sun　rising　behind　him　and　the　Aiel　waiting　on　the　bare　mountainside　ahead。　There　was　water　and　shade　up　there；　and　help　for　Mat。　The　rising　sun　behind；　and　the　Aiel　ahead。　Dawn　and　the　Aiel。
　　　　　　　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn。　That　Aes　Sedai　he　had　seen；　or　dreamed　he　had　seen；　before　Rhuidean　…　she　had　spoken　as　if　she　had　the　Foretelling。　He　will　bind　you　together。　He　will　take　you　back；　and　destroy　you。　Words　delivered　like　prophecy。　Destroy　them。　Prophecy　said　he　would　Break　the　World　again。　The　idea　horrified　him。　Perhaps　he　could　escape　that　part；　at　least；　but　war；　death　and　destruction　already　welled　up　in　his　footsteps。　Tear　was　the　first　place　in　what　seemed　a　very　long　time　where　he　had　not　left　chaos　behind；　men　dying　and　villages　burning。
　　　　　　　He　found　himself　wishing　he　could　climb　on　Jeade'en　and　run　as　fast　as　the　stallion　could　carry　him。　It　was　not　the　first　time。　But　I　can't　run；　he　thought。　I　have　it　to　do　because　there　isn't　anybody　else　who　can。　I　do　it；　or　the　Dark　One　wins。　A　hard　bargain；　but　the　only　one　there　was。　But　why　would　I　destroy　the　Aiel？　How？
　　　　　　　That　last　thought　chilled　him。