amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第15部分

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that　were　caught。〃
　　〃The　Benden　Healer　was　not　as　lucky；〃　F'lar　said；　〃though　his　journeywoman　says　he'll　recover。　Our　wings　will　search　until　full　dark。〃
　　〃Sintary　got　just　a　glimpse　of　the　vandals；〃　K'van　said；　and　added　in　an　apologetic　tone；　〃The　jungle's　too　thick　to　hope　we'll　find　them　easily。〃
　　〃We've　got　this　lot；〃　Groghe　said　with　great　satisfaction　as　his　fist　came　down　on　the　table　in　emphasis。
　　〃That　leader　looked　an　obstinate　sort；〃　Sebell　remarked。　〃The　kind　who　might　die　for　a　principle。〃
　　〃I　doubt　the　others　are　of　similar　fortitude；〃　Sharra　said　wryly。　〃Scalp　Wound　is　a　moaner。〃
　　〃Itch's　rash　is　going　to　spread　all　over　her　body；〃　Keita　said；　passing　around　a　tray　of　tiny；　hot　Gather　rolls。
　　Sharra　tsked…tsked　in　mock　pity。　〃Let　them　get　thirsty；　too？〃
　　〃Thirsty；　Itchy；　Scalp　Wound？〃　Lessa　asked　pointedly。
　　Sebell　explained　and　Lessa's　grin　of　understanding　turned　into　a　wide　yawn。
　　〃My　apologies；　but　we　didn't　get　much　sleep　last　night；〃　she　said。
　　〃There　are　guest　quarters　here；　Lessa；〃　Oldive　offered　quickly。
　　〃We're　not　that　decrepit；〃　F'lar　said　stiffly。
　　〃Maybe　you're　not；　F'lar；〃　Lessa　said；　rising　slowly　to　her　feet；　〃but　I　was　looking　forward　to　a　good　night's　sleep　eight　hours　ago。　And　I　would　be　grateful　for　some　of　it。　Anywhere。〃
　　〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　Groghe　said。　〃You're　always　wele　at　Fort。〃
　　〃And　Ruatha；〃　Jaxom　and　Sharra　said　in　unison；　knowing　how　much　Lessa　liked　to　visit　at　her　birthplace。
　　The　Benden　Weyrwoman　shook　her　head　with　a　rueful　smile。
　　〃Ramoth　and　Mnementh　are　already　ensconced　in　the　sun　on　Fort's　fire…heights；〃　she　said；　rising。　〃I'm　for　a　quiet　room。　Here。〃　She　pointed　downward。　〃No　Gather　noise。〃
　　〃Shards！　I　have　to　get　back　to　the　Gather。　Explain　this　mess　and　collect　petitions；〃　Groghe　said；　getting　his　feet　under　him　to　stand。　〃Those　Abominators　can　bloody　wait。　Do　them　good。〃
　　〃If　anything　will　do　that　wretched　lot　any　good；〃　Sharra　added　bleakly。
　　Keita　hurried　forward；　to　escort　the　Benden　Weyrleaders　to　guestrooms。
　　〃I　must　return　to　report　to　Lord　Toric；〃　K'van　said　ruefully；　pushing　back　from　the　table。　〃I　doubt　he'll　appreciate　that　he's　only　one　of　many　targets。〃
　　〃Toric　does　indeed　prefer　to　be　singular；〃　F'lar　said；　lifting　a　hand　to　acknowledge　K'van's　uneasy　truce　with　the　Southern　Holder。
　　〃We'll　keep　him　informed；〃　Groghe　promised　with　a　curt　nod　of　his　head。　He　had　his　own　quarrel　with　the　testy　man。　〃Landing；　Benden；　Boll；　Southern？　How；　ah；　many　targets　could　there　be？〃
　　〃I　wonder　did　they　count　on　blizzards　at　High　Reaches？〃　Lessa　asked　drolly　and　followed　Keita　out　of　the　dining　hall。
　　F'lar　paused　briefly。　〃F'lessan；　are　you　ing　with　us？〃
　　〃No；　sir；　though　I'm　tempted。　I　want　to　see　if　that　green　rider's　all　right。　They　messed　her　about　before　her　dragon　arrived。〃
　　As　the　meeting　broke　up；　no　one　was　tactless　enough　to　voice　the　customary　Turnover　good　wishes。
　　Before　Groghe；　Sebell；　and　N'ton　reached　the　Gather　Square；　more　drum　messages　came　rolling　in。
　　〃Alert；〃　Sebell　said；　translating　the　initial　beat　and　setting　himself　to　hear　more　bad　news；　〃from　the　Smithcrafthall。〃
　　〃Not　Fandarel；　too？　He's　been　extraordinarily　conscientious　in　locking　his　Halls　and　stores　against　incursions。　Ah；　yes；　I　see。。。〃　Groghe's　face　relaxed　into　a　pleased　expression　as　the　drumrolls　ended。　〃They　tried！　I　wonder　what　he'll　find　out　from　them。　Oh；　shards；　everyone's　waiting！〃
　　They　could　all　hear　the　harpers　playing　a　sprightly　tune　to　a　sparsely　populated　dance　square。　Around　all　four　sides；　knots　of　people　were　warming　their　hands　at　the　braziers；　murmuring　among　themselves；　and　anxiously　watching　the　progress　of　their　Lord　Holder　on　his　big　mount。
　　〃Father！〃　Horon's　shout　reached　their　ears　as　he　came　down　the　wide　hold　steps　at　an　almost　dangerous　clip。　He　rushed　over；　waiting　till　Ke　was　close　before　he　gasped　out　his　message。　〃Father；　we've　found　something　you　have　to　see！〃
　　〃Later；　Horon；　later。〃
　　〃It's　extremely　important。〃
　　〃Sharding　Abominators！　Thought　we'd　seen　the　last　of　their　kind；〃　Groghe　said　impatiently。　〃Sebell；　go　see　what's　so　bloody　important。　I'd　better　deal　with　them。〃　His　gesture　indicated　the　waiting　Gatherers。　〃Damnable　way　to　start　Turnover。〃　With　that　he　kneed　his　mount　to　a　trot　all　the　way　to　the　harpers'　platform。　The　tune　was　brought　to　a　conclusion　with　a　flourish　that　Sebell　wryly　approved；　and　the　crowd　flowed　forward　to　hear　what　the　Lord　Holder　had　to　say。
　　Sebell　caught　the　eye　of　the　nearest　person　in　harper　blue；　an　apprentice　girl　who　rushed　up　to　him。
　　〃Worla；　I'll　be　at　the　Hold　with　Lord　Horon。　Bring　me　the　text　of　all　the　messages　ing　in。　I'll　send　any　replies　directly　to　the　Drummaster。〃　He　summoned　his　gold　fire…lizard；　Kimi。　Holding　her　to　his　shoulder；　he　and　Horon　jogged　up　the　wide　staircase　to　the　freezing　expanse　of　Fort's　upper　court。　He　heard　the　cheers　as　Lord　Groghe　stepped　up　on　the　harpers　platform。
　　〃So　what　is　so　important；　Horon？〃　Sebell　asked　once　they　were　out　of　the　wind。
　　Horon　gulped。　〃The　most　ghastly。。。　〃　His　face　contorted　with　revulsion。
　　〃Abominator　cant？〃　Sebell　was　surprised。
　　Horon　gave　a　shudder。　He　opened　the　door　into　the　Lord　Holder's　five…sided　office。　A　table　had　been　set　up　on　which　the　vandals'　gear　was　spread。　Grainger；　the　trusted　steward　of　Fort　Hold；　was　busy　searching　a　saddle　pack。
　　〃That！〃　Horon　pointed　to　a　thin　pamphlet　with　a　dirty　cover；　its　pages　roughly　fastened　by　crude　stitches。　His　nostrils　flared　and　it　was　plain　he　wanted　nothing　more　to　do　with　it。　Grainger's　expression　was　similarly　revolted。
　　Sebell　bent　over　to　examine　the　pamphlet：　obviously　a　very　amateurish　effort。　Why；　Tagetarl's　youngest　apprentice　could　have　done　a　neater　job。　In　bold　block　letters…similar　to　the　single　letter　on　the　vandal's　map…the　title　of　the　pamphlet　read　Tortures　of　the　Abomination。　Yes；　the　same　hand　had　made　the　B。
　　〃Just…just　look　inside；　Sebell！〃　Horon　flicked　his　fingers；　his　mouth　contorted　with　revulsion。
　　Sebell　lifted　the　cover　and　only　stern　self…control　kept　him　from　slapping　it　shut。　He　could　see　what　had　made　Horon　squeamish。　The　picture　was；　indeed；　revolting　to　look　at。　It　depicted　shapes；　indecently　colored；　of　unusual　appearance　and　what　looked　like　knives　holding　flesh　back　from　what　could　be　a　long　incision。　A　caption　had　been　blacked　out。　Underneath；　again　in　the　black　block　lettering：　〃A　body　laid　bare；　pulsing　in　torture。　It　could　be　yours。〃
　　〃It's　all　like　that。　Revolting　pictures；〃　Horon　said。　〃Where　could　they。。。　get　such　things？〃
　　Impassively；　Sebell　flipped　several　more　pages　and　found　one　picture　he　actually　recognized。　The　pound　fracture　of　a　human　tibia；　the　flesh　colored　an　unrealistic　pink　against　which　the　ivory　bone　nauseatingly　contrasted。　He'd　seen　such　an　injury　in　a　hill　hold；　Turns　before。　The　printed　caption　read　〃Shattered　by　blows。〃　Sebell　made　out　page　numbers；　almost　obscured　by　the　dirty　finger　marks；　and；　right　by　the　margin　of　the　picture；　〃Fig。　10〃　and　〃Fig。　112。〃　Checking；　he　found　none　of　the　pages　were　sequential　and　realized　that　the　pamphlet　was　prised　of　random　photographs；　undoubtedly　removed　from　a　perfectly　proper　medical　text　released　from　Aivas's　prehensive　records。
　　〃Kimi。〃　Sebell　turned　his　fire…lizard's　head　toward　him；　one　finger　stroking　her　neck　affectionately。　He　scribbled　a　quick　note　on　the　pad　he　kept　with　him　and　tucked　it　in　her　message　cylinder。　〃Take　this　to　Keita　at　Healer　Hall。　You　know　her。〃　He　projected　a　vivid　image　of　Oldive's　discreet　journeywoman。　The　little　queen　made　a　throaty　noise　and　disappeared　from　sight。
　　〃Revolting　to　us；　perhaps；〃　Sebell　said；　negligently　pushing　the　pamphlet　away　from　him；　〃but　instructive　to　a　Healer　when　not　used　as。。。　disinformation。〃
　　Horon　shuddered。
　　〃Those　photographs　are　quite　likely　of　surgical　procedures。　Those　are　not　well　understood　as　yet；〃　Sebell　went　on；　looking　directly　at　Horon。　〃Your　own　grandfather　died　of　a　burst　pendix　that　the　then　MasterHealer　could　have　removed。　Such　an　operation　was　known…and　successfully　performed。〃
　　Horon's　face　was　pale　as　he　nodded　his　understanding。
　　〃Healers　have　recovered　much　lost　or　imperfectly　understood　information；〃　Sebell　said。　〃Master　Oldive　has　been　training　his　most　skillful　men　and　women　to　perform　surgery　that　will　greatly　lengthen　life　and　improve　health。〃　He　gestured　disparagingly　at　the　pamphlet。　〃That　was　deliberately　produced　to　misinform　people。　To　undermine　one　of　the　most　basic　rights　of　the　Charter；　the　treatment　of　ills　and　wounds。　You　know；〃　he　said；　pointing　at　Horon；　〃that　when　Master　Oldive　offered　treatment；　that　stupid　female　rejected　him。　She's　been　well　schooled　in　the　delusion。　No　one　is　forced　to　accept　healer　help。　Certainly　no　one's　bones　are　broken　in　torture！　Not　by　Healers！〃　He　dismissed　the　pamphlet　with　contempt。
　　There　was　a　scratch　on　the　door；　which　swung　open。　The　burly　minor　holder　who'd　assisted　with　the　prisoners　peered　round　the　door。
　　〃MasterHarper；　Lord　Horon？〃　He　entered　at　Horon's　wave。　〃I　thought　you'd　like　to　know　that　they're　talking。〃
　　〃Talking？〃
　　〃The　prisoners。　Naming　each　other；　at　least。　I　thought　you　should　know。〃
　　〃Indeed　we　should；〃　Sebell　said。　〃That　could　be　most　useful。〃
　　The　half…open　door　hit　the　man　in　the　back　as　someone　else　tried　to　enter。
　　〃Master　Sebell？〃　A　man　in　proper　Healer　green　with　a　master's　knot　came　in；　breathless。
　　〃Ah；　Master　Crivellan；　just　the　person　to　explain　what　exactly　we　have　here！〃　And　Sebell　slapped　the　dirty　pamphlet　in　his　hand。　As　Crivellan　stared　down　at　it　with　some　apprehension；　Kimi　slipped　into　the　room　and　resumed　her　perch　on　Sebell's　shoulder。　〃Crivellan's　particular　skill　is　surgery。　Do　tell　us　what　these　pictures　actually　depict。〃
　　
BACK　AT　LANDING…1。2。31
　　As　soon　as　the　warm　air　of　Landing's　morning　hit　him；　F'lessan　realized　how　tired　he　was。
　　You　need　to　go　back　to　Honshu　and　sleep。　There　is　no　Fall　for　two　more　days；　Golanth　told　him　as　he　circled　above　the　panorama　of　Landing。
　　〃I　just　want　to　check　on　Tai。　They　kicked　her　around　a　lot。　Persellan　said　she'd　be　badly　bruised　but　the　gash　on　her　cheek　wouldn't　scar。〃
　　She's　not　here。　Golanth　stretched　his　head　skyward　and　stroked　his　great　wings　for　height。
　　〃Surely　she's　in　bed　in　her　weyr？〃　F'lessan　said。
　　Zaranth　is　sitting　by　the　sea。
　　〃Zaranth　is　by　the　sea？〃　F'lessan　echoed　in　amazement。
　　Tai　is　in　the　sea；　Golanth　informed　him。　Shall　we　go　there？
　　〃By　all　means。〃　Hearing　that　she　was　well　enough　to　go　swimming；　F'lessan　was　annoyed　with　himself　for　having　been　so　concerned。　So　concerned　that　he　had　left　what　would　have　been　a　fascinating　session　at　Fort。　He　wondered　if　T'gellan　had　had　better　luck　questioning　Landing's　captives。
　　Golanth　went　between　and　came　out　again；　circling；　skimming　the　brilliantly　turquoise　and　blue　sea。　Dolphins　immediately　tail…danced　to　greet　him；　squeeing　their　wele。　He　was　as　well　known　as　Ruth　was　to　the　various　pods　along　the　southern　continent。　Golanth　swung　shoreward　until　F'lessan　saw　the　swimmer：　a　black　spot　in　the　sea。
　　Swimming　is　good　for　aches；　Golanth　rema