The Wheel of Pooh.

It was a beginning--although it was not the beginning. Pooh, a bear of very little brains and his father Tam al'Thor Farstrider rode to the villiage. Here is Pooh now, coming down the mountain, bump, bump, bump on the back of his head. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming down the mountains, but sometimes he feels there is really another way, if only he could stop channeling for a moment and think of it. Pooh and Tam lived in the dark forest by themselves under the name of Sanders. But they were afraid of Trollocs.

What was a trolloc like?
Was it Fierce?
Did it come when you whistled? And *how* did it come? Through the ways?
Was it Fond of Poohs at all?
If it was Fond of Poohs, did it make any difference, *what sort of Pooh*? Supposing it was Fierce with Poohs, would it make any difference if the Pooh had a grandfather called Tresspassers William Farstrider? Pooh did not know the answers to any of these questions and he was going to see his first trolloc in about an hour from now!
"Pooh," said Egwene Rabbit, taking out a pencil and licking the end of it, "you haven't any pluck."
"It is hard to be brave," said Pooh, sniffing slightly, "when you are miscast as only a Very Small Animal."
Egwene, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said: "It is because you are a very small animal--or at least a powerful channeler that you will be Useful to us aes sedai in the adventure before us." Pooh was so excited at the idea of being Useful that he forgot to be frightened of the impending madness and corruption of Saidin. Rabbit went on to say that Myrrdraal were only Fierce during the winter months, being at other times of an Affectionate Disposition. That is, they only tortured their dinners a little. Pooh Al'Thor could hardly sit still, he was so eager to begin being useful at once. 

===========================ERICA SADUN================================
         Grep foo whilst ye may, oh daemons of the Spring...
                       erica@mindspring.com
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