按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Whatever they were trying；〃 Ingtar snarled； 〃I'll have them now。 Mount！〃
Little more than an hour later； though； Hurin drew rein。 〃They changed again； my Lord。 South again。 And they killed someone else here。〃
There were no ashes there； in the gap between two hills； but a few minutes' search found the body。 A man curled up and stuffed under some bushes。 The back of his head was smashed in； and his eyes still bulged with the force of the blow。 No one recognized him； though he was wearing Shienaran clothes。
〃We'll waste no time burying Darkfriends；〃 Ingtar growled。 〃We ride south。〃 He suited his own words almost before they were out of his mouth。
The day was the same as the day before had been； though。 Uno studied tracks and droppings； and said they had gained a little ground on their quarry。 Twilight came with no sight of Trollocs or Darkfriends； and the next morning there was another abandoned camp … and another murder done； so Hurin said … and another change of direction； this time to the northwest。 Less than two hours on that track found another body； a man with his skull split open by an axe； and another change of direction。 South again。 Again gaining ground； by Uno's reading of the tracks。 Again seeing nothing but distant farms until nightfall。 And the next day was the same； changes in direction； murders and all。 And the next。
Every day brought them a little closer behind their prey； but Ingtar fumed。 He suggested cutting straight across when the trail changed direction of a morning … surely they would e on the trail heading south again； and gain more time … and before anyone could speak； he said it was a bad idea； in case this once the men they hunted did not turn south。 He urged everyone to greater speed； to start earlier and ride till full dark。 He reminded them of the charge the Amyrlin Seat had given them； to recover the Horn of Valere； and let nothing bar their way。 He spoke of the glory they would have； their names remembered in story and history； in gleemen's tales and bards' songs； the men who found the Horn。 He talked as if he could not stop； and he stared down the trail they followed as if his hope of the Light lay at the end of it。 Even Uno began to look at him askance。
And so they came to the River Erinin。
It could not properly be called a village at all； to Rand's mind。 He sat his horse among the trees； peering up at half a dozen small houses with wood…shingled roofs and eaves almost to the ground； on a hilltop overlooking the river beneath the morning sun。 Few people passed this way。 It was only a few hours since they had broken camp； but past time for them to have found the remains of the Darkfriends' resting place if the pattern held。 They had seen nothing of the sort； however。
The river itself was not much like the mighty Erinin of story； here so far toward its source in the Spine of the World。 Perhaps sixty paces of swift water to the far bank； lined with trees； and a barge…like ferry on a thick rope spanning the distance。 The ferry sat snugged against the other side。
For once the trail had led straight to human habitation。 Straight to the houses on the hill。 No one moved on the single dirt street around which the dwellings clustered。
〃Ambush； my Lord？〃 Uno said softly。
Ingtar gave the necessary orders； and the Shienarans unlimbered their lances； sweeping around to encircle the houses。 At a hand signal from Ingtar they galloped between the houses from four directions； thundering in with eyes searching； lances ready； dust rising under their hooves。 Nothing moved but them。 They drew rein； and the dust began to settle。
Rand returned to his quiver the arrow he had nocked； and slung his bow on his back again。 Mat and Perrin did the same。 Loial and Hurin had just waited there where Ingtar had left them； watching uneasily。
Ingtar waved； and Rand and the others rode up to join the Shienarans。
〃I don't like the smell of this place；〃 Perrin muttered as they came among the houses。 Hurin gave him a look； and he stared back until Hurin dropped his eyes。 〃It smells wrong。〃
〃Bloody Darkfriends and Trollocs went straight through； my Lord；〃 Uno said； pointing to a few tracks not chopped to pieces by the Shienarans。 〃Straight through to the goat…kissing ferry； which they bloody left on the other side。 Blood and bloody ashes！ We're flaming lucky they didn't cut it adrift。〃
〃Where are the people？〃 Loial asked。
Doors stood open； curtains flapped at open windows； but no one had e out for all the thunder of hooves。
〃Search the houses；〃 Ingtar manded。 Men dismounted and ran to ply； but they came back shaking their heads。
〃They're just gone； my Lord；〃 Uno said。 〃Just bloody gone； burn me。 Like they'd picked up and decided to flaming walk away in the middle of the bloody day。〃 He stopped suddenly； pointing urgently to a house behind Ingtar。 〃There's a woman at that window。 How I bloody missed her 。。。〃 He was running for the house before anyone else could move。
〃Don't frighten her！〃 Ingtar shouted。 〃Uno； we need information。 The Light blind you； Uno； don't frighten her！〃 The one…eyed man disappeared through the open door。 Ingtar raised his voice again。 〃We will not harm you； good lady。 We are Lord Agelmar's oathmen； from Fal Dara。 Do not be afraid！ We will not harm you。〃
A window at the top of the house flew up； and Uno stuck his head out； staring around wildly。 With an oath he pulled back。 Thumps and clatters marked his passage back； as if he were kicking things in frustration。 Finally he appeared from the doorway。
〃Gone； my Lord。 But she was there。 A woman in a white dress； at the window。 I saw her。 I even thought I saw her inside； for a moment； but then she was gone； and 。。。〃 He took a deep breath。 〃The house is empty； my Lord。〃 It was a measure of his agitation that he did not curse。
〃Curtains；〃 Mat muttered。 〃He's jumping at bloody curtains。〃 Uno gave him a sharp look； then returned to his horse。
〃Where did they go？〃 Rand asked Loial。 〃Do you think they ran off when the Darkfriends came？〃 And Trollocs； and a Myrddraal。 And Hurin's something worse。 Smart people； if they ran as hard as they could。
〃I fear the Darkfriends took them； Rand；〃 Loial said slowly。 He grimaced； almost a snarl with his broad nose like a snout。 〃For the Trollocs。〃 Rand swallowed and wished he had not asked； it was never pleasant to think on how Trollocs fed。
〃Whatever was done here；〃 Ingtar said； 〃our Darkfriends did it。 Hurin； was there violence here？ Killing？ Hurin！〃
The sniffer gave a start in his saddle and looked around wildly。 He had been staring across the river。 〃Violence； my Lord？ Yes： Killing； no。 Or not exactly。〃 He glanced sideways at Perrin。 〃I've never smelled anything exactly like it before； my Lord。 But there was hurting done。〃
〃Is there any doubt they crossed over？ Have they doubled back again？〃
〃They crossed； my Lord。〃 Hurin looked uneasily at the far bank。 〃They crossed。 What they did on the other side； though 。。。〃 He shrugged。
Ingtar nodded。 〃Uno； I want that ferry back on this side。 And I want the other side scouted before we cross。 Just because there was no ambush here doesn't mean there will not be one when we are split by the river。 That ferry does not look big enough to carry us all in one trip。 See to it。〃
Uno bowed； and in moments Ragan and Masema were helping each other out of their armor。 Stripped down to breechclouts； with a dagger stuck behind in the small of the back； they trotted to the river on horsemen's bowed legs and waded in； beginning to work their way hand over hand along the thick rope along which the ferry ran。 The cable sagged enough in the middle to put them in the river to their waists； and the current was strong； pulling them downstream； yet in less time than Rand expected they were hauling themselves over the slatted sides of the ferry。 Drawing their daggers； they disappeared into the trees。
After what seemed like forever； the two men reappeared and began pulling the ferry slowly across。 The barge butted against the bank below the village； and Masema tied it off while Ragan trotted up to where Ingtar waited。 His face was pale； the arrow scar on his cheek sharp； and he sounded shaken。
〃The far bank 。。。 There is no ambush on the far bank； my Lord； but 。。。〃 He bowed deeply； still wet and shivering from his excursion。 〃My Lord； you must see for yourself。 The big stoneoak； fifty paces south from the landing。 I cannot say the words。 You must see it yourself。〃
Ingtar frowned； looking from Ragan to the other bank。 Finally； he said； 〃You have done well； Ragan。 Both of you have。〃 His voice became more brisk。 〃Find these men something to dry themselves on from the houses； Uno。 And see if anybody left water on for tea。 Put something hot into them； if you can。 Then bring the second file and the pack animals over。〃 He turned to Rand。 〃Well； are you ready to see the south bank of the Erinin？〃 He did not wait for an answer； but rode down to the ferry with Hurin and half the lancers。
Rand hesitated only a moment before following。 Loial went with him。 T