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nd as a house； with no a mark on it and never an opening to be found。〃
〃I'll bet there's treasure inside；〃 Mat said。 He stood up and stared toward the far tower as the river carried the Spray beyond it。 〃A thing like that must have been made to protect something valuable。〃
〃Mayhap； lad；〃 the captain rumbled。 〃There be stranger things in the world than this； though。 On Tremalking； one of the Sea Folk's isles； there be a stone hand fifty feet high sticking out of a hill； clutching a crystal sphere as big as this vessel。 There be treasure under that hill if there be treasure anywhere； but the island people want no part of digging there； and the Sea Folk care for naught but sailing their ships and searching for the Coramoor； their Chosen One。〃
〃I'd dig；〃 Mat said。 〃How far is this 。。。 Tremalking？〃 A clump of trees slid in front of the shining tower； but he stared as if he could see it yet。
Captain Domon shook his head。 〃No； lad； it no be the treasure that makes for seeing the world。 If you find yourself a fistful of gold； or some dead king's jewels； all well and good； but it be the strangeness you see that pulls you to the next horizon。 In Tanchico … that be a port on the Aryth Ocean … part of the Panarch's Palace were built in the Age of Legends； so it be said。 There be a wall there with a frieze showing animals no man living has ever seen。〃
〃Any child can draw an animal nobody's ever seen；〃 Rand said； and the captain chuckled。
〃Aye； lad； so they can。 But can a child make the bones of those animals？ In Tanchico they have them； all fastened together like the animal was。 They stand in a part of the Panarch's Palace where any can enter and see。 The Breaking left a thousand wonders behind； and there been half a dozen empires or more since； some rivaling Artur Hawkwing's； every one leaving things to see and find。 Lightsticks and razorlace and heartstone。 A crystal lattice covering an island； and it hums when the moon is up。 A mountain hollowed into a bowl； and in its center； a silver spike a hundred spans high； and any who es within a mile of it； dies。 Rusted ruins； and broken bits； and things found on the bottom of the sea； things not even the oldest books know the meaning of。 I've gathered a few； myself。 Things you never dreamed of； in more places than you can see in ten lifetimes。 That be the strangeness that will draw you on。〃
〃We used to dig up bones in the Sand Hills；〃 Rand said slowly。 〃Strange bones。 There was part of a fish … I think it was a fish … as big as this boat； once。 Some said it was bad luck； digging in the hills。〃
The captain eyed him shrewdly。 〃You thinking about home already； lad； and you just set out in the world？ The world will put a hook in your mouth。 You'll set off chasing the sunset； you wait and see 。。。 and if you ever go back； your village'll no be big enough to hold you。〃
〃No！〃 He gave a start。 How long had it been since he had thought of home； of Emond's Field？ And what of Tam？ It had to be days。 It felt like months。 〃I will go home； one day； when I can。 I'll raise sheep； like。。。 like my father； and if I never leave again it will be too soon。 Isn't that right； Mat？ As soon as we can we're going home and forget all this even exists。 〃
With a visible effort Mat pulled away from staring upriver after the vanished tower。 〃What？ Oh。 Yes； of course。 We'll go home。 Of course。〃 As he turned to go； Rand heard him muttering under his breath。 〃I'll bet he just doesn't want anybody else going after the treasure。〃 He did not seem to realize he had spoken aloud。
Four days into their trip downriver found Rand atop the mast； sitting on the blunt end with his legs wrapped in the stays。 The Spray rolled gently on the river； but fifty feet above the water that easy roll made the top of the mast sway back and forth through wide arcs。 He threw back his head and laughed into the wind that blew in his face。
The oars were out； and from here the boat looked like some twelve…legged spider creeping down the Arinelle。 He had been as high as this before； in trees back in the Two Rivers； but this time there were no branches to block his view。 Everything on deck； the sailors at the sweeps； men on their knees scrubbing the deck with smoothstones； men doing things with lines and hatchcovers； looked so odd when seen from right overhead； all squat and foreshortened； that he had spent an hour just staring at them and chuckling。
He still chuckled whenever he looked down at them； but now he was staring at the riverbanks flowing by。 That was the way it seemed； as if he were still … except for the swaying back and forth； of course … and the banks slid slowly by； trees and hills marching along to either side。 He was still； and the whole world moved past him。
On sudden impulse he unwrapped his legs from the stays bracing the mast and held his arms and legs out to either side； balancing against the sway。 For three plete arcs he kept his balance like that； then suddenly it was gone。 Arms and legs windmilling； he toppled forward and grabbed the forestay。 Legs splayed to either side of the mast； nothing holding him to his precarious perch but his two hands on the stay； he laughed。 Gulping huge breaths of the fresh； cold wind； he laughed with the exhilaration of it。
〃Lad；〃 came Thom's hoarse voice。 〃Lad； if you're trying to break your fool neck； don't do it by falling on me。〃
Rand looked down。 Thom clung to the ratlines just below him； staring up the last few feet grimly。 Like Rand； the gleeman had left his cloak below。 〃Thom；〃 he said delightedly。 〃Thom； when did you e here？〃
〃When you wouldn't pay any attention to people shouting at you。 Burn me； boy； you've got everybody thinking you've gone mad。〃
He looked down and was surprised to see all the faces staring up at him。 Only Mat； sitting cross…legged up in the bows with his back to the mast； was not looking at him。 Even the men at the oars had their eyes raised； letting their stroke go ragged。 And no one was berating them for it。 Rand twisted his head around to look under his arm at the stern。 Captain Domon stood by the steering oar； ham…like fists on his hips； glaring at him atop the mast。 He turned back to grin at Thom。 〃You want me to e down； then？〃
Thom nodded vigorously。 〃I would appreciate it greatly。〃
〃All right。〃 Shifting his grip on the forestay； he sprang forward off the mast top。 He heard Thom bite off an oath as his fall was cut short and he dangled from the forestay by his hands。 The gleeman scowled at him； one hand half stretched out to catch him。 He grinned at Thom again。 〃I'm going down now。〃
Swinging his legs up； he hooked one knee over the thick line that ran from the mast to the bow； then caught it in the crook of his elbow and let go with his hands。 Slowly； then with increasing speed； he slid down。 Just short of the bow he dropped to his feet on the deck right in front of Mat； took one step to catch his balance； and turned to face the boat with arms spread wide； the way Thom did after a tumbling trick。
Scattered clapping rose from the crew； but he was looking down at Mat in surprise； and at what Mat held； hidden from everyone else by his body。 A curved dagger with a gold scabbard worked in strange symbols。 Fine gold wire wrapped the hilt； which was capped by a ruby as big as Rand's thumbnail； and the quillons were golden…scaled serpents baring their fangs。
Mat continued to slide the dagger in and out of its sheath for a moment。 Still playing with the dagger he raised his head slowly； his eyes had a faraway look。 Suddenly they focused on Rand； and he gave a start and stuffed the dagger under his coat。
Rand squatted on his heels； with his arms crossed on his knees。 〃Where did you get that？〃 Mat said nothing； looking quickly to see if anyone else was close by。 They were alone； for a wonder。 〃You didn't take it from Shadar Logoth； did you？〃
Mat stared at him。 〃It's your fault。 Yours and Perrin's。 The two of you pulled me away from the treasure； and I had it in my hand。 Mordeth didn't give it to me。 I took it； so Moiraine's warnings about his gifts don't count。 You won't tell anybody； Rand。 The