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。 When the towering shape of the Green Man moved on； the limb ran straight and true； spreading red petals among the white of apple blossoms。 He bent to cup one huge hand around a tiny seed lying on a patch of pebbles； and when he straightened； a small shoot had roots through the rocks to good soil。
〃All things must grow where they are； according to the Pattern；〃 he explained over his shoulder； as if apologizing； 〃and face the turning of the Wheel； but the Creator will not mind if I give just a little help。〃
Rand led Red around the shoot； careful not to let the bay's hooves crush it。 It did not seem right to destroy what the Green Man had done just to avoid an extra step。 Egwene smiled at him； one of her secret smiles； and touched his arm。 She was so pretty； with her unbound hair full of flowers； that he smiled back at her until she blushed and lowered her eyes。 I will protect you； he thought。 Whatever else happens； I will see you safe； I swear it。
Into the heart of the spring forest the Green Man took them； to an arched opening in the side of a hill。 It was a simple stone arch； tall and white； and on the keystone was a circle halved by a sinuous line； one half rough； the other smooth。 The ancient symbol of Aes Sedai。 The opening itself was shadowed。
For a moment everyone simply looked in silence。 Then Moiraine removed the garland from her hair and gently hung it on the limb of a sweetberry bush beside the arch。 It was as if her movement restored speech。
〃It's in there？〃 Nynaeve asked。 〃What we've e for？〃
〃I'd really like to see the Tree of Life；〃 Mat said； not taking his eyes off the halved circle above them。 〃We can wait that long； can't we？〃
The Green Man gave Rand an odd look； then shook his head。 〃Avendesora is not here。 I have not rested beneath its ungentle branches in two thousand years。〃
〃The Tree of Life is not why we came；〃 Moiraine said firmly。 She gestured to the arch。 〃In there； is。〃
〃I will not go in with you；〃 the Green Man said。 The butterflies around him swirled as if they shared some agitation。 〃I was set to guard it long； long ago； but it makes me uneasy to e too close。 I feel myself being unmade； my end is linked with it； somehow。 I remember the making of it。 Some of the making。 Some。〃 His hazelnut eyes stared； lost in memory； and he fingered his scar。 〃It was the first days of the Breaking of the World； when the joy of victory over the Dark One turned bitter with the knowledge that all might yet be shattered by the weight of the Shadow。 A hundred of them made it； men and women together。 The greatest Aes Sedai works were always done so； joining saidin and saidar； as the True Source is joined。 They died； all； to make it pure； while the world was torn around them。 Knowing they would die； they charged me to guard it against the need to e。 It was not what I was made for； but all was breaking apart； and they were alone； and I was all they had。 It was not what I was made for； but I have kept the faith。〃 He looked down at Moiraine； nodding to himself。 〃I have kept faith； until it was needed。 And now it ends。〃
〃You have kept the faith better than most of us who gave you the charge；〃 the Aes Sedai said。 〃Perhaps it will not e as badly as you fear。〃
The scarred； leafy head shook slowly from side to side。 〃I know an ending when it es； Aes Sedai。 I will find another place to make things grow。〃 Nutbrown eyes swept sadly over the green forest。 〃Another place； perhaps。 When you e out； I will see you again； if there is time。〃 With that he strode away； trailing butterflies； being one with the forest more pletely than Lan's cloak ever could。
〃What did he mean？〃 Mat demanded。 〃If there's time？〃
〃e；〃 Moiraine said。 And she stepped through the arch。 Lan went at her heels。
Rand was not sure what he expected when he followed。 The hair stirred uneasily on his arms； and rose on the back of his neck。 But it was only a corridor； its polished walls rounded overhead like the arch； winding gently downward。 There was headroom enough and to spare for Loial； there would have been room enough for the Green Man。 The smooth floor； slick to the eye like oiled slate； yet somehow gave a sure footing。 Seamless； white walls glittered with uncounted flecks in untold colors； giving a low； soft light even after the sunlit archway vanished around a curve behind。 He was sure the light was no natural thing； but he sensed it was benign； too。 Then why is your skin still crawling？ Down they went； and down。
〃There；〃 Moiraine said at last； pointing。 〃Ahead。〃
And the corridor opened into a vast； domed space； the rough； living rock of its ceiling dotted with clumps of glowing crystals。 Below it； a pool took up the entire cavern； except for the walkway around it； perhaps five paces wide。 In the oval shape of an eye； the pool was lined about its rim with a low； flat edging of crystals that glowed with a duller； yet fiercer； light than those above。 Its surface was as smooth as glass and as clear as the Winespring Water。 Rand felt as if his eyes could penetrate it forever； but he could not see any bottom to it。
〃The Eye of the World；〃 Moiraine said softly beside him。
As he looked around in wonder； he realized that the long years since the making…three thousand of them…had worked their way while no one came。 Not all the crystals in the dome glowed with the same intensity。 Some were stronger； some weaker； some flickered； and others were only faceted lumps to sparkle in a captured light。 Had all shone； the dome would have been as bright as noonday； but they made it only late afternoon； now。 Dust coated the walkway； and bits of stone and even crystal。 Long years waiting； while the Wheel turned and ground。
〃But what is it？〃 Mat asked uneasily。 〃That doesn't look like any water I ever saw。〃 He kicked a lump of dark stone the size of his fist over the edge。 〃It … 〃
The stone struck the glassy surface and slid into the pool without a splash； or so much as a ripple。 As it sank； the rock began to swell； growing ever larger； larger and more attenuated； a blob the size of his head that Rand could almost see through； a faint blur as wide as his arm was long。 Then it was gone。 He thought his skin would creep right off his body。
〃What is it？〃 he demanded； and was shocked at the hoarse harshness of his own voice。
〃It might be called the essence of saidin。〃 The Aes Sedai's words echoed round the dome。 〃The essence of the male half of the True Source； the pure essence of the Power wielded by men before the Time of Madness。 The Power to mend the seal on the Dark One's prison； or to break it open pletely。 〃
〃The Light shine on us and protect us；〃 Nynaeve whispered。 Egwene clutched her as if she wanted to hide behind the Wisdom。 Even Lan stirred uneasily； though there was no surprise in his eyes。
Stone thudded into Rand's shoulders； and he realized he had backed as far as the wall； as far from the Eye of the World as he could get。 He would have pushed himself right through the wall； if he could have。 Mat； too； was splayed out against the stone as flat as he could make himself。 Perrin was staring at t