amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第12部分

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left；　a　〃harper's　word　on　it〃　to　the　right；　and　〃let　me　through；　thank　you〃　as　he　made　his　way　forward　until　he　reached　the　notice　board。　He　handed　the　scroll　to　the　apprentice　in　harper　blue　and　held　it　flat　to　be　tacked　up。
　　The　days　of　laborious　copying　by　cramp…fingered　apprentices　were　now　well　gone。　Council　reports　were　printed　by　Masterprinter　Tagetarl's　speedy　presses　on　some　of　the　new　heavy　paper；　made　in　rolls　and　then　plastic…coated　so　the　notice　could　not　be　easily　defaced。　Copies　had　been　sent　to　every　major　and　minor　hold　to　be　read　on　this　day　of　Turnover。　Even　Toric　would　have　to　let　it　remain　displayed；　at　least　until　the　Turnover　crowd　had　all　departed　to　their　holds。
　　Which；　knowing　Toric's　ways；　would　be　as　soon　as　possible。　However；　judging　by　the　number　of　small　craft；　it　would　be　the　work　of　two　days；　at　least；　to　clear　the　harbor。
　　Not　that　Toric　was　a　bad　Holder。　Quite　rightly；　he　insisted　that　everyone　earn　his　or　her　right　to　hold　on　his　land。　The　man　had　had　to　put　up　with　the　vagaries　of　the　Oldtimers　as　well　as　incursions　by　thousands　of　folk　streaming　south；　hoping　for　easier　living。　For　all　the　tribulations　the　immigrants　left　behind；　they　acquired　as　many　new　ones　here…but　many　of　their　supposed　grievances　would　be　minor。
　　Sintary　left　most　of　the　eager　petitioners　behind　as　they　began　to　read　through　the　Report　or　went　to　look　for　shade；　food；　and　drink。　He　was　given　two　more　crumpled　sheets　on　his　way　down　to　the　Harper's　hall　and　slipped　into　a　small　entrance　when　he　spotted　Dorse　and　one　of　the　hard…faced　men　Toric　used　as　guards　hurrying　up　the　stairs。　They　were　busy　watching　their　feet；　but　he　particularly　didn't　like　the　obstinate　and　sly　expression　on　Dorse's　features。　Sintary　knew　that　Dorse　often　did　〃errands〃　for　his　Lord　Holder。
　　When　the　two　men　had　passed　around　the　bend　out　of　sight；　Sintary　continued　on　his　way。　That's　when　he　heard　the　crash　of　glassware　and　the　dull　sound　of　an　axe　hitting　wood。　But　Dorse　and　the　other　man　were　on　their　way　up。　So　who　was　throwing　things　about？
　　With　the　petitions　weighing　him　down；　he　decided　to　get　them　safely　to　his　hold　before　he　returned　to　investigate　the　noise。
　　
HEALER　HALL…1。1。31
　　Masterhealer　Oldive　eased　back　from　the　worktop；　closed　eyes　bleary　from　peering　so　long　into　the　microscope；　and　sighed　deeply。　So　similar　and　yet　the　samples　did　not　match　anything　from　Aivas's　pathology　files　sufficiently　to　call　them　the　same　virus。　Ah；　what　splendid；　and　frightening；　new　dimensions　for　learning…and　Healing。
　　Slowly；　aware　that　his　body　was　cramped　from　inactivity；　he　extended　one　leg　as　far　as　he　could　from　the　rung　of　his　stool。　Letting　it　hang　down；　and　gripping　the　seat　of　his　perch；　he　stretched　the　other　leg。　Then　he　raised　his　arms　as　far　as　his　deformity　allowed　before　rotating　his　neck　to　ease　those　aching　muscles。
　　〃Oldive？〃
　　〃Oh；　my　word；　Sharra！〃　He　swiveled　the　stool　so　that　he　could　face　her　in　the　corner　where　she；　too；　had　been　single…mindedly　peering　into　her　microscope。　〃I　didn't　realize　you　were　still　here。〃
　　This　laboratory　was　such　a　pleasure　to　work　in　and　today　he　and　Sharra　had　it　to　themselves；　since　anyone　with　any　sense　was　up　at　Fort　Hold's　Gather　Square　enjoying　themselves。　Through　the　wide　expanse　of　special　triple…plated　glass；　he　could　see　the　banners　displayed　from　the　windows　of　the　Hold　and　yet　not　feel　the　cold　that　was　gripping　the　northern　continent。　While　he　wished　he　could　be　in　two　places　at　once…and　right　now；　one　of　them　would　by　preference　be　the　large　sunlit　Landing　Healer　facility…he　was　still　luxuriating　in　the　new　headquarters　at　Fort。　〃Head　quarters〃…such　a　lovely　concept　and　such　splendid　〃quarters；〃…with　sufficient　teaching　rooms　and　airy　dormitories；　as　well　as　more　aspiring　healers　than　ever　before。　More　need　of　them；　too；　he　admitted。
　　〃We　do　get　involved；　don't　we？〃　Sharra　mented　with　a　tired　smile。　〃Have　you　been　able　to　identify　that　virus？〃
　　He　shook　his　tired　head。
　　〃Could　it　be　one　of　those　mutations　that　are　mentioned　in　Pathology　Records？〃　she　asked。　〃Considering　what　we've　learned　about　such　things；　there's　been　plenty　of　time　for　them　to　alter　from　the　specimens　Aivas　had。〃
　　〃And　that　would　account　for　the　fact　that　the　plague　can　decimate　otherwise　healthy　holds；〃　Oldive　said　sadly。　He　gave　himself　a　little　shake。　No　sense　being　morbid。　〃But　such　things　have　been　with　us　a　long　time　and　are；　fortunately；　not　upon　us　right　now。　While　this　is　the　last　day　of　Turnover；　and　you　should　be　with　Jaxom　and　your　children。〃
　　〃They　are　all　very　well　occupied　with　Ruatha's　festivities；〃　she　said　fondly。　〃Jaxom　had　to　read　the　Report　and　accept　petitions。　I　could　do　much　more　here　than　sit　there　and　be　bored；　you　know。〃　She　indicated　the　slides　that　she　had　been　studying。　She　kneaded　the　nape　of　her　neck；　arching　her　back　against　having　hunched　so　long　over　her　instrument。　〃Will　we　ever　have　one　of　those　electron　microscopes　that　Aivas　mentioned？〃
　　Oldive　permitted　himself　a　chuckle　as　he　carefully　descended　from　the　high　stool。　Had　his　spine　developed　normally；　he　would　have　been　tall；　his　legs　were　long。　They　were　the　same　length；　but　the　malformation　of　his　backbone　had　resulted　in　a　pelvic　slant。　With　a　slight　lift　in　one　shoe；　his　limp　was　barely　noticeable。
　　〃There　are　so　many　calls　on　Master　Morilton's　skills；〃　he　said　ruefully；　and　gestured　to　the　cabinets　filled　with　special　glass　products；　the　myriad　paraphernalia　that　had　been　created　by　the　GlassSmith　for　healer　use。
　　〃A　start；　of　course；　on　the　quantity　needed　to　equip　all　Healer　Halls；〃　Sharra　said　in　an　acid　tone；　〃especially　when　the　Council　unanimously…for　once…agreed　that　the　Healer　Hall　has　priority。　We　are　concerned　with　the　health　and　well…being　of　everybody；　not　just　new　gadgets　that　we've　done　without　for　twenty…five　hundred　Turns。〃
　　Though　Oldive　pletely　agreed　with　her；　he　raised　a　hand　in　gentle　rebuke　as　he　walked　across　the　airy　room　to　the　small　stove　where　the　klah　pot　was　kept　warm。　Someone　had　brought　in　a　tray　of　food。　He　flipped　back　the　napkins　and　saw　the　generous　servings。　When　had　these　been　brought？　The　meatrolls　were　still　warm。　He　oughtn't　to　concentrate　to　the　exclusion　of　everything　else。
　　〃Someone　brought　some　food；〃　he　informed　her。
　　〃Oh；　yes；　I　should　have　told　you；〃　she　said　contritely　as　she　slipped　off　her　stool　and　joined　him。　〃I　just　wanted　to　finish　that　tray　of　slides。〃　She　poured　klah　for　them　both。
　　〃Oh；　we　do　very　well；　my　dear　Sharra；〃　he　said；　talking　around　a　mouthful　of　roll。　〃We　have　achieved　all　this…〃　He　gestured　around　them。　〃…and　Morilton　is　considering　dedicating　one　Hall　to　nothing　but　Healer　requirements。〃　He　glanced　back　at　his　workstation　and　his　unidentifiable　virus　smear。　Then　held　up　his　hand　as　an　odd　sound　impinged　on　the　silence　of　the　laboratory。
　　Sharra　listened　hard。　〃Sounds　like　breaking　glass。　Breaking　glass！〃　She　repeated；　setting　down　the　mug　and　rushing　to　the　door。　As　soon　as　she'd　opened　it；　the　noise　was　far　more　audible；　and　far　too　close。
　　〃Meer；　Talla；〃　she　cried；　calling　for　her　two　fire…lizards。
　　〃What's　the　matter？　What's　going　on？　What　clumsy　apprentice　has　been　let　loose？〃　Oldive　cried。
　　Despite　his　physical　disability；　Oldive　could　move　swiftly；　but　Sharra；　after　one　startled　look　to　her　right；　hauled　him　back　from　the　threshold　and　closed　the　door；　throwing　the　latch。
　　Ruth！
　　The　white　dragon　might　be　asleep　on　Ruatha's　fire…heights；　but　he'd　respond　to　her　mental　call　from　any　place。　Meer　and　Talla　arrived；　midair；　mouths　open　to　shriek　panic；　but　Sharra's　stern　mand　aborted　that　instinct。
　　〃I　don't　know　who；　Oldive；〃　she　said；　dropping　her　voice　to　a　whisper；　〃but　there　are　people　crashing　about　in　the　still…room　as　if　they　thought　no　one　would　hear　them。〃
　　Once　again　the　intrepid　Masterhealer　attempted　to　leave　the　room　and　she　caught　him　by　the　arm。
　　〃There　shouldn't　be　anyone　else　here　but　us；〃　he　said　grimly。　He　had　given　leave　to　even　the　lowliest　apprentice　to　enjoy　this　last　day　of　Turn's　End。
　　〃But　there　are；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　sparkling　with　anger　as　she　opened　the　door　to　the　noise　of　considerable　destruction。　A　shadow　fell　across　the　long　window　of　the　laboratory　and　she　grinned；　pointing。　〃However；　we　shall　deal　with　it。〃
　　Oldive　gasped　at　the　sight　of　a　white　body；　wings　outstretched；　all　but　plastered　against　the　glass；　his　eyes　flashing　the　red　and　orange　of　alarm。
　　Ruth！　Sharra　said；　relieved　that　he　had　responded　so　quickly。　Tell　the　Hold's　fire…lizards　to　attack　the　intruders。　Fire…lizards　held　Ruth；　the　white　dragon；　in　awed　respect　and　would　obey　him　without　question。　She　gave　him　a　very　clear　mental　image　of　what　she　had　seen　in　her　brief　glimpse　down　the　hall。　Meer　and　Talla　cheeped　once　and　disappeared。　Scant　seconds　later；　both　she　and　Oldive　heard　loud　cries；　angry　fire…lizard　bugles；　shouts　of　pain；　and　more　banging　and　crashing。
　　Sharra　opened　the　door　wide　enough　to　see　down　the　hall。　A　mass　of　fire…lizards　was　trying　to　enter　the　stillroom。　Then　the　mass　split　into　several　groups；　which　zipped　off；　screeching　challenge；　swooping　down　the　stairwells　at　each　end　to　the　other　levels　of　the　hall。
　　There　are　several　groups　throwing　things　about　in　the　Hall；　Ruth　told　her。　That　is　wrong。　Fort　dragons　e。
　　She　and　Oldive　watched　as　the　fire…lizards　drove　four　people　out　of　the　stillroom。　They　could　hear　human　cries　echoing　from　other　points。　Oldive　groaned　in　dismay。
　　〃They'll　be　damned　sorry　they　ever　thought　of　this；〃　she　told　him　angrily　as　she　started　purposefully　down　the　hall。　〃Damned　sorry。〃
　　〃I　never　thought　of…intrusions…when　we　built　here；〃　Oldive　murmured；　shaking　his　head　in　bitter　denial　of　the　event　as　he　followed。　He'd　been　so　proud　of　this　new　Hall；　with　its　marvelous　equipment；　its　spacious　and　well…organized　facilities。　The　previous　quarters　had　been　better　protected　in　the　angle　between　the　Harper　Hall　and　Fort　Hold。　But　the　Healer　Hall　was　usually　so　busy　that；　on　a　normal　day；　no　unauthorized　persons　would　have　been　on　this　floor。
　　Sharra　reached　the　stillroom　first。　The　reek　of　spilled　liquids　and　wet　herbs　was　nothing　to　her　appalled　survey　of　empty　shelves；　cabinets　with　broken　doors；　glass　shards　everywhere。　Even　the　marble　worktops　had　been　cracked。　She　slammed　the　door　shut　to　spare　Oldive　the　sight。
　　〃Everything's　ruined；〃　she　said　tersely　and　pulled　him　toward　the　stairs；　dreadfully　certain　now　by　the　sounds　of　screams　and　shouts　from　the　lower　floors　that　there　would　be　more　damage　elsewhere。
　　Fire…lizards　drove　the　intruders　out　of　the　Hall　where　the　humans　were　halted　by　the　sight　of　a　dozen　dragons；　their　wings　spread　to　form　an　impregnable　wall；　their　eyes　whirling　red　with　anger。　More　dragons　hovered　overhead；　their　wings　casting　dark　shadows　on　the　scene　below。　Shouts　and　drumbeats　echoed　down　Fort's　rocky　canyon；　confirming　that　reinforcements　were　on　their　way。　The　cowering　vandals　were　herded　into　a　knot；　clothes　rent　by　fire…lizard　beaks　and　talons；　bloodied　hands　raised　to　protect　their　faces。　While　no　dragon　would　hurt　a　human；　the　fire…lizards　were　under　no　such　restraint　and　darted　in　to　peck　or　claw　when　anyone　in　that