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ever it is。 The first； Thom。〃
Thom's stick clicked hurriedly after him。 〃Slow down； boy。 What's your hurry？ There are plenty of ships； sailing day and night。 Slow down。 There aren't any footpads。〃
〃The first bloody ship； Thom！ If it's sinking； we'll be on it！〃 If they weren't footpads； what were they？ They had to be thieves。 What else could they be？
Chapter 32
（Waves）
The First Ship
Southharbor itself； the great Ogier…made basin； was huge and round； surrounded by high walls of the same silver…streaked white stone as the rest of Tar Valon。 One long wharf； most of it roofed； ran all the way around； except where the wide water gates stood open to give access to the river。 Vessels of every size lined the wharf； most moored by the stern； and despite the hour dockmen in coarse； sleeveless shirts hurried about loading and unloading bales and chests； crates and barrels； with ropes and booms； or on their backs。 Lamps hanging from the roof beams lit the wharfs and made a band of light around the black water in the middle of the harbor。 Small open boats scuttled through the darkness； the square lanterns atop their tall sternposts making it seem as if fireflies skittered across the harbor。 They were small only pared to the ships； though； some had as many as six pairs of long oars。
When Mat led a still…muttering Thom under an arch of polished redstone and down broad steps to the wharf； crewmen on one three…masted ship were unfastening the mooring lines not twenty paces away。 The vessel was larger than most Mat could see； between fifteen and twenty spans from sharp bow to squared stern； with a flat； railed deck almost level with the wharf。 The important thing was that it was casting off。 The first ship that sails。
A gray…haired man came up the wharf three lines of hemp rope sewn down the sleeves of his dark coat marked him as a dockmaster。 His wide shoulders suggested that he might have begun as a dockman hauling rope instead of wearing it。 He glanced casually in Mat's direction； and stopped； surprise on his leathery face。 〃Your bundles say what you're planning； lad； but you might as well forget it。 The sister showed me a drawing of you。 You'll board no ship in Southharbor； lad。 Go back up those stairs so I don't have to tell a man off to watch you。〃
〃What under the Light。。。？〃 Thom murmured。
〃That's all changed；〃 Mat said firmly。 The ship was casting off the last mooring line； the furled triangular sails still made thick； pale bundles on the long； slanted booms； but men were readying the sweeps。 He pulled the Amyrlin's paper out of his pouch and thrust it in the dockmaster's face。 〃As you can see； I'm on the business of the Tower； at the order of the Amyrlin Seat herself。 And I have to leave on that very vessel there。〃
The dockmaster read the words； then read them again。 〃I never saw such a thing in my life。 Why would the Tower say you couldn't go； then give you。。。 that？〃
〃Ask the Amyrlin； if you want；〃 Mat told him in a weary voice that said he did not think anyone could possibly be stupid enough to do that； 〃but she'll have my hide； and yours； if I do not sail on that ship。〃
〃You'll never make it；〃 the dockmaster said； but he was already cupping his hands to his mouth。 〃Aboard the Gray Gull there！ Stop！ The Light burn you； stop！〃
The shirtless fellow at the tiller looked back； then spoke to a tall panion in a dark coat with puffy sleeves。 The tall man never took his eyes off the crewmen just dipping the sweeps into the water。 〃Give way together；〃 he called； and sweepblades curled up froth。
〃I'll make it；〃 Mat snapped。 The first ship I said； and the first ship I meant！ 〃e on； Thom！〃
Without waiting to see if the gleeman followed； he ran down the wharf； dodging around men and barrows stacked with cargo。 The gap between the Gray Gull's stern and the wharf widened as the sweeps bit deeper。 Hefting his quarterstaff； he hurled it ahead of him toward the ship like a spear； took one more step； and jumped as hard as he could。
The dark water passing beneath his feet looked icy； but in a heartbeat he had cleared the ship's rail and was rolling across the deck。。 As he scrambled to his feet； he heard a grunt and a curse behind him。
Thom Merrilin hoisted himself up on the railing with another curse； and climbed over onto the deck。 〃I lost my stick；〃 he muttered。 〃I'll want another。〃 Rubbing his right leg； he peered down at the still widening strip of water behind the vessel and shivered。 〃I had a bath today already。〃 The shirtless steersman stared wide…eyed from him to Mat and back again； clutching the tiller as if wondering whether he could use it to defend himself from madmen。
The tall man seemed nearly as stunned。 His pale blue eyes bulged； and his mouth worked soundlessly for a moment。 His dark beard； cut to a point； seemed to quiver with rage； and his narrow face grew purple。 〃By the Stone！〃 he bellowed finally。 〃What is the meaning of this？ I've no room on this vessel for as much as a ship's cat； and I'd not take vagabonds who leap onto my decks if I did。 Sanor！ Vasa！ Heave this rubbish over the side！〃 Two extremely large men； barefoot and stripped to the waist； straightened from coiling lines and started toward the stern。 The men at the sweeps continued their work； bending to lift the blades； taking three long steps along the deck； then straightening and walking backwards； hauling the ship ahead on their blades。
Mat waved the Amyrlin's paper toward the bearded man … the captain； he supposed … with one hand； and fished a gold crown out of his pouch with the other； taking care even in his haste that the fellow saw there were more where that came from。 Tossing the heavy coin to the man； he spoke quickly； still waving the paper。 〃For the inconvenience of our boarding as we did； Captain。 More to e for passage。 On business of the White Tower。 Personal mand of the Amyrlin Seat。 Imperative we sail immediately。 To Aringill； in Andor。 Utmost urgency。 The blessings of the White Tower on all who aid us； the Tower's wrath on any who impede us。〃
Certain the man had seen the Flame of Tar Valon seal by that time … and little more； Mat hoped … he folded the paper again and thrust it back out of sight。 Eyeing the two big men uneasily as they came up on either side of the captain … Burn me； they both have arms like Perrin's！ … he wished he had his quarterstaff in hand。 He could see it lying where it had landed； further down the deck。 He tried to look sure and confident； the sort of man others had better not trifle with； a man with the power of the White Tower behind him。 A long way behind me； I hope。
The captain looked at Mat doubtfully； and even more so at Thom in his gleeman's cloak and none too steady afoot； but he motioned Sanor and Vasa to stop where they were。 〃I would not anger the Tower。 Burn my soul； for the time being the river trade takes me from Tear to this den of。。。 I e too often to anger。。。 anyone。〃 A tight smile appeared on his face。 〃But I spoke the truth。 By the Stone； I did！ Six cabins I have for passengers； and all full。 You can sleep on deck and eat with the crew for another gold crown。 Each