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ested on his sword hilt。 〃I don't think … 〃 he began； and the door burst open； pieces of the iron lock spinning across the floor。
A figure filled the doorway； bigger than any man Rand had ever seen； a figure in black mail that hung to his knees； with spikes at wrists and elbows and shoulders。 One hand clutched a heavy； scythe…like sword； the other hand was flung up before his eyes as if to shield them from the fight。
Rand felt the beginnings of an odd sort of relief。 Whoever this was； it was not the black…cloaked rider。 Then he saw the curled ram's horns on the head that brushed the top of the doorway； and where mouth and nose should have been was a hairy muzzle。 He took in all of it in the space of one deep breath that he let out in a terrified yell as； without thinking； he hurled the hot kettle at that half…human head。
The creature roared； part scream of pain； part animal snarl； as boiling water splashed over its face。 Even as the kettle struck； Tam's sword flashed。 The roar abruptly became a gurgle； and the huge shape toppled back。 Before it finished falling； another was trying to claw its way past。 Rand glimpsed a misshapen head topped by spike…like horns before Tam struck again； and two huge bodies blocked the door。 He realized his father was shouting at him。
〃Run； lad！ Hide in the woods！〃 The bodies in the doorway jerked as others outside tried to pull them clear。 Tam thrust a shoulder under the massive table； with a grunt he heaved it over atop the tangle。 〃There are too many to hold！ Out the back！ Go！ Go！ I'll follow！〃
Even as Rand turned away； shame filled him that he obeyed so quickly。 He wanted to stay and help his father； though he could not imagine how； but fear had him by the throat； and his legs moved on their own。 He dashed from the room； toward the back of the house； as fast as he had ever run in his life。 Crashes and shouts from the front door pursued him。
He had his hands on the bar across the back door when his eye fell on the iron lock that was never locked。 Except that Tam had done just that tonight。 Letting the bar stay where it was； he darted to a side window； flung up the sash and threw back the shutters。 Night had replaced twilight pletely。 The full moon and drifting clouds made dappled shadows chase one another across the farmyard。
Shadows； he told himself。 Only shadows。 The back door creaked as someone outside； or something； tried to push it open。 His mouth went dry。 A crash shook the door in its frame and lent him speed； he slipped through the window like a hare going to ground； and cowered against the side of the house。 Inside the room； wood splintered like thunder。
He forced himself up to a crouch； made himself peer inside； just with one eye； just at the corner of the window。 In the dark he could not make out much； but more than he really wanted to see。 The door hung askew； and shadowed shapes moved cautiously into the room； talking in low； guttural voices。 Rand understood none of what was said； the language sounded harsh； unsuited to a human tongue。 Axes and spears and spiked things dully reflected stray glimmers of moonlight。 Boots scraped on the floor； and there was a rhythmic click； as of hooves； as well。
He tried to work moisture back into his mouth。 Drawing a deep； ragged breath； he shouted as loudly as he could。 〃They're ing in the back！〃 The words came out in a croak； but at least they came out。 He had not been sure they would。 〃I'm outside！ Run； father！〃 With the last word he was sprinting away from the farmhouse。
Coarse…voiced shouts in the strange tongue raged from the back room。 Glass shattered； loud and sharp； and something thudded heavily to the ground behind him。 He guessed one of them had broken through the window rather than try to squeeze through the opening； but he did not look back to see if he was right。 Like a fox running from hounds he darted into the nearest moon…cast shadows as if headed for the woods； then dropped to his belly and slithered back to the barn and its larger； deeper shadows。 Something fell across his shoulders； and he thrashed about； not sure if he was trying to fight or escape； until he realized he was grappling with the new hoe handle Tam had been shaping。
Idiot！ For a moment he lay there； trying to stop panting。 Coplin fool idiot！ At last he crawled on along the back of the barn； dragging the hoe handle with him。 It was not much； but it was better than nothing。 Cautiously he looked around the corner at the farmyard and the house。
Of the creature that had jumped out after him there was no sign。 It could be anywhere。 Hunting him； surely。 Even creeping up on him at that very moment。
Frightened bleats filled the sheep pen to his left； the flock milled as if trying to find an escape。 Shadowed shapes flickered in the lighted front windows of the house； and the clash of steel on steel rang through the darkness。 Suddenly one of the windows burst outward in a shower of glass and wood as Tam leaped through it； sword still in hand。 He landed on his feet； but instead of running away from the； house he dashed toward the back of it； ignoring the monstrous things scrambling after him through the broken window and the doorway。
Rand stared in disbelief。 Why was he not trying to get away？ Then he understood。 Tam had last heard his voice from the rear of the house。 〃Father！〃 he shouted。 〃I'm over here！〃
In mid…stride Tam whirled； not running toward Rand； but at an angle away from him。 〃Run； lad！〃 he shouted； gesturing with the sword as if to someone ahead of him。 〃Hide！〃 A dozen huge forms streamed after him； harsh shouts and shrill howls shivering the air。
Rand pulled back into the shadows behind the barn。 There he could not be seen from the house； in case any of the creatures were still inside。 He was safe for the moment； at least。 But not Tam。 Tam； who was trying to lead those things away from him。 His hands tightened on the hoe handle； and he had to clench his teeth to stop a sudden laugh。 A hoe handle。 Facing one of those creatures with a hoe handle would not be much like playing at quarterstaffs with Perrin。 But he could not let Tam face what was chasing him alone。
〃If I move like I was stalking a rabbit；〃 he whispered to himself； 〃they'll never hear me； or see me。〃 The eerie cries echoed in the darkness； and he tried to swallow。 〃More like a pack of starving wolves。〃 Soundlessly he slipped away from the barn； toward the forest； gripping the hoe handle so hard that his hands hurt。
At first； when the trees surrounded him； he took fort from them。 They helped hide him from whatever the creatures were that had attacked the farm。 As he crept through the woods； though； moon shadows shifted； and it began to seem as if the darkness of the forest changed and moved； too。 Trees loomed malevolently； branches writhed toward him。 But were they just trees and branches？ He could almost hear the growling chuckles stifled in their throats while they waited for him。 The howls of Tam's pursuers no longer filled the night； but in the silence that replaced them he flinched every time the wind scraped one limb against another。 Lower and lower he crouch