rj.theshadowrising-第57部分

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　　　　　　　She　skimmed　across　the　Panarch's　Circle；　where　rows　of　stone　benches　slanted　down　from　the　high　wall　to　a　broad　field　of　packed　dirt　in　the　center。　Imagine　so　many　people　gathered；　and　to　watch　a　fireworks　display　by　the　Guild　of　Illuminators　themselves。　Back　home　fireworks　were　a　rare　treat。　She　could　remember　the　handful　of　times　in　her　life　Emond's　Field　had　had　them；　with　the　grownups　as　excited　as　the　children。
　　　　　　　She　sailed　over　rooftops　like　a　falcon；　over　palaces　and　mansions；　humble　dwellings　and　shops；　warehouses　and　stables。　She　slid　by　domes　topped　with　golden　spires　and　bronze　weathervanes；　by　towers　ringed　with　lacy　stone　balconies。　Carts　and　wagons　dotted　wagon　yards；　waiting。　Ships　crowded　the　great　harbor　and　the　fingers　of　water　between　the　city's　peninsulas；　they　lined　the　docks。　Everything　seemed　in　a　poor　state　of　repair；　from　the　carts　to　the　ships；　but　nothing　she　saw　pointed　to　the　Black　Ajah。　As　far　as　she　knew。
　　　　　　　She　considered　trying　to　envision　Liandrin　…　she　knew　that　doll's　face　all　too　well；　with　its　multitude　of　blond　braids；　its　self…satisfied　brown　eyes；　and　its　smirking　rosebud　mouth　…　picture　her　in　the　hopes　she　might　be　drawn　to　where　the　Black　sister　was。　But　if　it　worked；　she　might　find　Liandrin　in　Tel'aran'rhiod；　too；　and　maybe　others　of　them。　She　was　not　ready　for　that。
　　　　　　　It　suddenly　occurred　to　her　that　if　any　of　the　Black　Ajah　were　in　Tanchico；　in　the　Tanchico　of　Tel'aran'rhiod；　she　was　flaunting　herself　for　them。　Any　eye　looking　at　the　sky　would　notice　a　woman　flying；　one　who　did　not　vanish　after　a　few　moments。　Her　smooth　flight　staggered；　and　she　swooped　down　below　roof　level；　floating　along　the　streets　more　slowly　than　before　but　still　faster　than　a　horse　could　ran。　She　might　be　rushing　toward　them；　but　she　could　not　make　herself　stop　and　wait　for　them。
　　　　　　　Fool　she　called　herself　furiously。　Fool！　They　could　know　I'm　here　now。　They　could　be　laying　a　trap　already。　She　considered　stepping　out　of　the　dream；　back　to　her　bed　in　Tear；　but　she　had　found　nothing。　If　there　was　anything　to　find。
　　　　　　　A　tall　woman　was　suddenly　standing　in　the　street　ahead　of　her；　slim　in　a　bulky　brown　skirt　and　loose　white　blouse；　with　a　brown　shawl　around　her　shoulders　and　a　folded　scarf　around　her　forehead　to　hold　white　hair　that　spilled　to　her　waist。　Despite　her　plain　clothes　she　wore　a　great　many　necklaces　and　bracelets　of　gold　or　ivory　or　both。　Fists　planted　on　her　hips；　she　stared　straight　at　Egwene；　frowning。
　　　　　　　Another　fool　woman　who's　dreamed　herself　where　she　has　no　right　to　be　and　doesn't　believe　what　she's　seeing；　Egwene　thought。　She　had　the　description　of　every　woman　who　had　gone　with　Liandrin；　and　this　woman　certainly　matched　none　of　them。　But　the　woman　did　not　vanish　again；　she　stood　there　as　Egwene　approached　swiftly。　Why　doesn't　she　go？　Why。。。　？　Oh；　Light！　She's　really。。。　！　She　snatched　for　the　flows　to　weave　lightning；　to　tangle　the　woman　in　Air；　fumbling　in　startled　haste。
　　　　　　　〃Put　your　feet　on　the　ground；　girl；〃　the　woman　barked。　〃I　had　enough　trouble　finding　you　again　without　you　flying　off　like　some　bird　when　I　do。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Egwene　stopped　flying。　Her　feet　thumped　hard　on　the　pavement；　and　she　staggered。　It　was　the　Aiel　woman's　voice；　but　this　was　an　older　woman。　Not　as　old　as　Egwene　had　thought　at　first　…　in　fact；　she　looked　much　younger　than　her　white　hair　suggested　…　but　with　the　voice；　and　those　sharp　blue　eyes；　she　was　sure　it　was　the　same　woman。　〃You're。。。　different；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　〃You　can　be　what　you　wish　to　be；　here。〃　The　woman　sounded　embarrassed；　but　only　a　little。　〃At　times　I　like　to　remember。。。　That　is　not　important。　You　are　from　the　White　Tower？　It　has　been　long　since　they　had　a　dreamwalker。　Very　long。　I　am　Amys；　of　the　Nine　Valleys　sept　of　the　Taardad　Aiel。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　a　Wise　One？　You　are！　And　you　know　dreams；　you　know　Tel'aran'rhiod！　You　can。。。　My　name　is　Egwene。　Egwene　al'Vere。　I。。。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath；　Amys　did　not　look　a　woman　to　lie　to。　〃I　am　Aes　Sedai。　Of　the　Green　Ajah。〃
　　　　　　　Amys's　expression　did　not　change；　really。　A　slight　crinkling　of　her　eyes；　perhaps　in　skepticism。　Egwene　hardly　looked　old　enough　to　be　full　Aes　Sedai。　What　she　said；　though；　was　〃I　meant　to　leave　you　standing　in　your　skin　until　you　asked　for　some　proper　clothes。　Putting　on　cadin'sor　that　way；　as　though　you　were。。。　You　surprised　me；　pulling　free　as　you　did；　turning　my　own　spear　on　me。　But　you　are　still　untaught；　are　you　not；　however　strong。　Else　you　would　not　have　popped　into　the　middle　of　my　hunt　that　way；　where　you　obviously　did　not　wish　to　be。　And　this　flying　about？　Did　you　e　to　Tel'aran'rhiod　…　Tel'aran'rhiod！　…　to　stare　at　this　city；　wherever　it　is？〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　Tanchico；〃　Egwene　said　faintly。　She　didn't　know。　But　then　how　had　Amys　followed　her；　or　found　her？　It　was　obvious　she　knew　more　of　the　World　of　Dreams　than　Egwene　did；　by　far。　〃You　can　help　me。　I　am　trying　to　find　women　of　the　Black　Ajah；　Darkfriends。　I　think　they　are　here；　and　I　have　to　find　them　if　they　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　truly　exists；　then。〃　Amys　almost　whispered　it。　〃An　Ajah　of　Shadowrunners　in　the　White　Tower。〃　She　shook　her　head；　〃You　are　like　a　girl　just　wedded　to　the　spear　who　thinks　now　she　can　wrestle　men　and　leap　mountains。　For　her　it　means　a　few　bruises　and　a　valuable　lesson　in　humility。　For　you；　here；　it　could　mean　death。〃　Amys　eyed　the　white　buildings　around　them　and　grimaced。　〃Tanchico？　In。。。　Tarabon？　This　city　is　dying；　eating　itself。　There　is　a　darkness　here；　an　evil。　Worse　than　men　can　make。　Or　women。〃　She　looked　at　Egwene　pointedly。　〃You　cannot　see　it；　or　feel　it；　can　you？　And　you　want　to　hunt　Shadowrunners　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。〃
　　　　　　　〃Evil？〃　Egwene　said　quickly。　〃That　could　be　them。　Are　you　sure？　If　I　told　you　what　they　look　like；　could　you　be　certain　it　was　them？　I　can　describe　them。　I　can　describe　one　to　her　last　braid。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　child；〃　Amys　muttered；　〃demanding　a　silver　bracelet　from　her　father　this　minute　when　she　knows　nothing　of　trading　or　the　making　of　bracelets。　You　have　much　to　learn。　Far　more　than　I　can　begin　to　teach　you；　now。　e　to　the　Three…fold　Land。　I　will　have　the　word　spread　through　the　clans　that　an　Aes　Sedai　called　Egwene　al'Vere　is　to　be　brought　to　me　at　Cold　Rocks　Hold。　Give　your　name　and　show　your　Great　Serpent　ring；　and　you　will　have　safe　running。　I　am　not　there　now；　but　I　will　return　from　Rhuidean　before　you　can　arrive。〃
　　　　　　　〃Please；　you　must　help　me。　I　need　to　know　if　they　are　here。　I　have　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　I　cannot　tell　you。　I　do　not　know　them；　or　this　place；　this　Tanchico。　You　must　e　to　me。　What　you　do　is　dangerous；　far　more　dangerous　than　you　know。　You　must　…　Where　are　you　going？　Stay！〃
　　　　　　　Something　seemed　to　snatch　at　Egwene；　pulling　her　into　darkness。
　　　　　　　Amys's　voice　followed　her；　hollow　and　dwindling。　〃You　must　e　to　me　and　learn。　You　must。。。〃
　
Chapter　12
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
Tanchico　or　the　Tower

　　　　　　　Elayne　drew　a　ragged；　relieved　breath　as　Egwene　finally　stirred　and　opened　her　eyes。　At　the　foot　of　the　bed；　Aviendha's　features　lost　their　tinge　of　frustration　and　anxiety；　and　she　flashed　a　quick　smile　that　Egwene　returned。　The　candle　had　burned　past　the　mark　minutes　ago；　it　seemed　an　hour。
　　　　　　　〃You　would　not　wake　up；　〃Elayne　said　unsteadily。　〃I　shook　you　and　shook　you；　but　you　would　not　wake。〃　She　gave　a　small　laugh。　〃Oh；　Egwene；　you　even　frightened　Aviendha。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　put　a　hand　on　her　arm　and　squeezed　reassuringly。　〃I　am　back；　now。〃　She　sounded　tired；　and　she　had　sweated　her　shift　through。　〃I　suppose　I　had　reason　to　stay　a　little　longer　than　we　planned。　I　will　be　more　careful　next　time。　I　promise。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　returned　the　pitcher　of　water　to　the　washstand　vigorously；　sloshing　some　out。　She　had　been　on　the　point　of　throwing　it　in　Egwene's　sleeping　face。　Her　features　were　posed；　but　the　pitcher　rattled　the　washbowl；　and　she　let　the　spilled　water　drip　to　the　carpet。　〃Was　it　something　you　found？　Or　was　it。。。　？　Egwene；　if　the　World　of　Dreams　can　hold　on　to　you　in　some　way；　maybe　it　is　too　dangerous　until　you　learn　more。　Maybe　the　more　often　you　go；　the　harder　it　is　to　e　back。　Maybe。。。　I　don't　know。　But　I　do　know　we　cannot　risk　letting　you　bee　lost。〃　She　crossed　her　arms　under　her　br