amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第17部分

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　　〃If　there　hadn't　been　so　many；　and　such　emphasis　on　healer　halls；〃　Lessa　said；　frowning　slightly；　〃I　might　attempt　to　understand　their　reasons　for　such　attacks。　Especially　at　this　time　of　a　Turn　when　petitions　are　part　of　the　celebrations；　a　clearing　away　of　grievances　to　start　a　new　Turn　in　good　heart。　Nor　would　they　give　their　hold　and　hall　affiliations。　I　know　there　are　still　many　who　survive…quite　well…as　holdless。　But　that　doesn't　give　them　the　license　to　attack　halls　and　deny　such　services　to　others。　Did　I　understand　correctly；　Groghe；　that　the　prisoners　became　thirsty　enough　to　talk？〃
　　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking；　yes。〃　The　success　of　that　tactic　briefly　cheered　Groghe。　〃Not　having　anything　but　bottled　and　abominated　water　worked　well；　though　not　quite　as　I'd　thought。　Zalla；　the　Scalp…〃　Groghe　chuckled　at　the　nickname　she　had　acquired。　〃…was　terrified　that　tunnel　snakes　would　be　drawn　by　the　smell　of　blood　and　eat　her　alive。　She　got　everyone　else　so　worked　up　they　dropped　more　information　than　we　could　have　anticipated。　Isolating　their　leader　helped。　No　real　discipline　in　the　bunch。〃　He　harrumphed　at　such　moral　weakness　before　he　went　on。
　　〃The　'B'　on　the　map　stands　for　'Batim；'　the　leader's　name。　He　es　from　Crom；　evidently　served　as　a　guard　at　Crom　Hold；　but　he's　been　elsewhere；　too；　strictly　for　pay。　Three　are　from　Bitra；　five　from　Igen；　the　others　from　Keroon；　Ista；　and　Nerat。　All　have　one　thing　in　mon。〃　He　gave　an　apologetic　nod　to　Master　Crivellan。　〃They　have　what　they　think　are　good　reasons　to　mistrust　healers。　Viscula；　the　Itch；　blames　the　Craft　for　not　ridding　her　of　her　rash。　Lechi　is　missing　fingers　due；　he　claims；　to　healer　inpetence。　Another　blamed　healers　for　not　saving　his　family　from　fevers。　They　do　not〃…he　held　up　his　hand　to　forestall　an　obvious　question…〃know　from　whom　Batim　received　his　orders。〃
　　〃How；　or　if；　he　received　any　at　all　is　almost　as　important；〃　Lessa　said；　her　tone　cross。　〃He　can't　have　been　acting　independently。　There　were　too　many　other　such　incidents　to　consider　this　a　random　event。〃
　　〃Lady　Lessa；〃　Haligon　put　in；　raising　his　hand。　〃The　Runners　have　been　asked　to　tell　us　what　messages　have　been　delivered　to　Crom；　to　whom　and　sent　by　whom。　That　will　take　time。〃
　　She　gave　a　snort。　〃There're　always　fire…lizards　to　bring　messages　and　no　record　of　where　they　came　from　or　to　whom　they　belong。〃
　　〃Even　fire…lizards　have　scruples；　my　dear；〃　F'lar　said　dryly。　〃Also；　Turnover　is　a　very　good　time　to　move　freely。〃
　　〃Was　it　just　healer　and　glass　halls　that　were　attacked？〃　Jaxom　asked。
　　〃No；　some　of　Morilton's　were；〃　Sebell　said；　tapping　the　pile　of　drum　messages　in　front　of　him。　〃Those　who　specialize　in　making　equipment　for　healer　purposes。　Anyone　else　who　had　break…ins　would　have　drummed　in　by　now。　Only　Landing　and　Toric's　Hold　were　attacked　in　the　south。〃
　　〃Cove　Hold？〃　Lessa　asked　urgently。
　　〃Not　with　D'ram's　Tiroth　on　watch；　my　dear；〃　F'lar　reminded　her。　〃Has　T'gellan　made　any　progress　questioning　the　ones　he　caught？〃
　　〃Again；　all　three　men　had　grievances　with　healers。〃
　　〃By　destroying　medicines　and　equipment；　they　achieve　nothing　but　the　enmity　of　the　people　who　must　now　wait　to　be　treated；〃　Master　Crivellan　said；　his　tone　distressed。　〃And　delay　our　discovery　of　the　cause　and　the　cure　for　acute　rashes。　Or　learn　enough　to　repair　crushed　fingers。　There　is　so　much　we　don't　know　and　then　we're　damned　because　we　can't　remedy　all　conditions。〃　He　gave　his　head　a　quick　shake。　〃I　apologize。〃
　　〃No　need　to；　Crivellan；〃　Groghe　said　gruffly　reassuring。　〃Anyone　with　an　ounce　of　mon　sense　knows　how　dedicated　and　loyal　healers　are。　We　cannot　change　minds　and　attitudes　overnight　or　spread　knowledge　planetwide。　It　all　takes　time。〃
　　〃And　then　something　as　vile　as　that；〃　the　Master　added；　pointing　to　the　pamphlet　in　the　middle　of　the　table；　〃has　no　trouble　getting　spread　around。〃　He　was　still　obviously　shaken　by　the　perverted　use　of　the　medical　diagrams。
　　〃All　the　more　reason　to　be　sure　the　truth…〃　Lessa　paused　to　stress　the　word。　〃…is　circulated。　And　countered　when　such　perversions；〃　she　added；　waving　at　the　pamphlet；　〃are　discovered。〃
　　〃Such　damage　is　easy　to　do；〃　Sebell　remarked；　〃and　very　hard　to　undo。〃
　　〃Runners　listen　and　are　listened　to；〃　Haligon　put　in　hesitantly。　〃They　are　wele　everywhere；　too。〃　All　eyes　were　on　him　and　he　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　〃People　believe　what　they　say。〃
　　〃Harper　Hall　often　hears　of。。。　rumors；　inconsistencies；　minor　problems；〃　Sebell　said；　〃but　I　wouldn't　care　to　involve　Runners　too　much。　They　are　as　vulnerable　on　their　routes　as　healers。〃
　　〃But　faster　on　their　feet；〃　Haligon　said　with　a　little　smile。　〃And　able　to　deal　with　danger。〃
　　〃If　they　would　be　willing　just　to　listen　a　little　harder　right　now；〃　F'lar　suggested；　raising　an　eyebrow。
　　Haligon　nodded。　〃I'll　ask。〃
　　〃Anything　that　will　prevent　a　repetition　of　today's　attacks；〃　Lessa　said　firmly。
　　〃Any　assistance　would　be　wele；〃　Crivellan　added　urgently；　leaning　toward　Haligon。　〃Master　Oldive　is　going　to　be　terribly　upset　by　that　vileness。　He's　had　such　plans　for　the　extension　of　healer　services。　If　such　untruths　are　circulating；　healers　may　be　discredited；　or　endangered。　So　often　they　travel　alone　and　great　distances。〃
　　〃Any　healer　who　requires　the　assistance　of　the　Weyr　need　only　let　us　know；〃　F'lar　said；　looking　to　N'ton；　who　nodded　vigorously　in　agreement。
　　〃The　problem　often　is　that　we　can't　know　how　serious　an　injury　or　a　condition　is　when　we're　called　to　attend；〃　Crivellan　said。
　　〃How　many　healers　have　fire…lizards？〃　Sharra　asked；　acutely　aware　of　how　useful　hers　were。
　　〃Not　many　here　in　the　north；〃　Crivellan　replied　regretfully。
　　〃I　thought　healers　had　priority　on　Master　Bassage's　little　hand　units。〃　Lessa　turned　to　F'lar。
　　The　Weyrleader's　expression　was　rueful。　〃They　do　and　Master　Bassage　is　working　as　diligently　as　possible；　but　the　materials　e　from　various　sources　and　have　to　be　handmade。　Again；　it　all　takes　time。〃
　　〃Oh；　some　have　been　delivered；〃　Master　Crivellan　hastily　admitted；　〃but　not　enough；　and　even　then；〃　he　added　with　a　little　shrug；　〃the　things　don't　work　in　deep　valleys。〃
　　〃The　benefits　of　Aivas's　technology　are　often　ambivalent；〃　F'lar　remarked。
　　〃They　require　work；〃　Groghe　announced　bitingly；　〃determination；　and　application。　Too　few　of　this　generation　want　to　work。〃
　　〃We　know　the　problem；　it's　the　solution　that　eludes　us；〃　Sebell　said。　He　sounded　and　looked　tired。
　　〃Shall　we　deal　with　the　problem　of　this　Batim？〃　Groghe　asked；　regarding　Lessa　with　a　benevolent　eye。
　　〃For　all　the　good　it's　likely　to　do；〃　Jaxom　remarked；　hooking　one　arm　over　his　chair　back。
　　〃He　might　just　let　some　clue　drop；〃　F'lar　said　blandly。
　　Groghe　gave　a　sharp　nod　to　Haligon；　who　rose　and　left　the　room。　〃He's　been　cleaned　up。　He'll　undoubtedly　start　claiming　his　'rights。'　His　sort　usually　does。〃
　　〃And　the　rest　of　his　crew？〃　Lessa　asked；　frowning。
　　〃And　the…ah…Scalp's　injury？〃　Sharra　asked；　not　at　all　solicitous。
　　〃Oh；　you　heard　her　reject　Oldive's　offer？　Magnanimous　of　him　when　you　think　what　she'd　just　done。　However；〃　Groghe　continued　with　a　malicious　grin；　〃they've　been　fed；　and　washing　took　care　of　the　dried　blood　and　other　dirts。〃
　　〃You　had　them　washed？〃　Lessa　asked。
　　〃They　objected　strenuously　to　being　hosed　down；〃　Groghe　said；　〃and　Haligon　said　they　plained　that　the　food　they　were　given　was　too　salty。〃
　　Lessa　grinned　at　Sharra；　who　also　felt　that　some　deprivation　was　very　much　in　order；　but　Master　Crivellan　was　dismayed　by　the　news。
　　The　door　opened　to　admit　Haligon；　followed　by　the　prisoner；　propelled　into　the　room　by　two　guards。　No　longer　in　bogus　Healer　green；　he　was　clad　in　a　patched　shirt　and　too…short　trousers　from　which　his　hairy　legs　protruded。　His　feet　were　bare　and　his　lank　hair　was　still　damp。　His　expression　was　both　arrogant　and　sour；　expecting　the　worst　and　prepared　for　it。　When　Batim　realized　who　was　present；　he　twitched　his　shoulders　defiantly　and　strutted　right　up　to　the　table。　Involuntarily；　his　eyes　darted　to　the　bread；　cheese；　and　fruit　on　the　table　and　he　licked　thin；　dry　lips。
　　〃I　want　my　clothes。　I　demand　my　rights；〃　Batim　said　without　preamble。
　　〃Sorry　about　the　clothes；　Father；〃　Haligon　said；　clicking　his　tongue　apologetically。　〃I　really　couldn't　present　him　in　what　he　was　wearing。　Beyond　cleansing。〃
　　〃I　have　my　rights；〃　Batim　repeated。
　　〃Which　do　not；〃…Groghe's　fist　came　down　hard　on　the　table；　bouncing　plates　and　glasses…〃include　destroying　the　Healer　Hall。〃
　　〃Abominations！　We　destroyed　abominations！　I　have　rights。〃
　　〃Not　in　my　Hold　you　don't！〃
　　〃What　is　your　Hold？〃　Lessa　demanded；　almost　idly。
　　〃If　any　would　claim　you；〃　Groghe　continued　contemptuously。　〃We　know　you　came　down　from　Crom。〃
　　Batim　twitched　a　lip　derisively。
　　〃Sometimes　it's　what's　not　said　that　speaks　for　itself；〃　Sebell　remarked　across　the　table　to　Lessa；　who　shrugged　indifferently。
　　Batim　glared　at　the　Harper；　who　took　a　sip　of　wine；　ostentatiously　savoring　the　taste　in　his　mouth　before　swallowing。
　　〃Holdless　then；　are　you？〃　Groghe　remarked。　〃Viscula　left　a　Crom　hill　hold　to　follow　you；　didn't　she？　Minsom；　Gaiter；　and　Lechi　are　Bitran。　They're　often　so　gullible；　those　Bitrans。〃　He　gave　a　pitying　shake　of　his　head。　〃Small　wonder　Zalla　has　such　a　great　fear　of　tunnel　snakes；　ing　from　Igen　Caverns。　Bagalla；　Vikling；　and　Palol…〃　He　stopped　naming　the　other　prisoners　as　the　sneer　on　Batim's　face　deepened。　Leader　he　might　have　been；　but　he　had　no　loyalty　to　those　who　followed　him。　That　also　was　information…of　a　sort。　〃Ah；　well；　not　that　that　matters。　They　chose　to　follow　you。〃
　　F'lar　pushed　back　his　chair；　impatiently　cutting　through　the　air　with　one　hand。　〃This　is　such　a　waste　of　time；　Groghe。　Do　let　me　take　him　for　a　short　dragon　ride。　If　between　doesn't　loosen　his　tongue；　I'll　just　leave　him　there　and　that's　the　end　of　the　matter。〃
　　That　startled　the　prisoner。　Master　Crivellan　stared　in　shocked　astonishment　at　the　Benden　Weyrleader。
　　〃Why　bother　Mnementh；　F'lar？〃　Jaxom　mented；　flicking　an　indolent　hand。　〃When　we'll　know　by　morning　where　those　Runner　messages　originated？〃
　　〃Runners　don't　talk；〃　Batim　protested。
　　〃They　may　not；〃　Lessa　agreed　with　a　wickedly　innocent　smile；　〃but　they　keep　records　of　acceptance　and　delivery；　don't　they？　In　case　anyone　wishes　to　trace　the　progress　of。。。　important　messages。〃　Clearly　Batim　hadn't　considered　that　at　all：　she　could　see　his　impudence　wane。　〃Traders　would　remember　where　they　sold　enough　green　cloth　to　outfit　fifteen　people。〃　He　hadn't　considered　that　either。　〃I　hate　to　keep　thinking　that　so　much　evil　emanates　from　Bitra；〃　she　added　artlessly　and　was　not　the　only　one　who　caught　the　glitter　in　the　prisoner's　eye。　〃Though　I　rather　suspect；〃　she　said　on　the　end　of　sigh；　〃that　Nerat's　partly　responsible　this　time。〃　He　gave　an　involuntary　twitch　before　she　added　with　a　patient　smile；　〃and　Keroon。〃　No　one　missed　his　nervous　swallow。　〃They're　so　hidebound　in　Keroon！〃　She　sat　back；　smiling　with　satisfaction。　〃Really；　Sebell；　you　must　increase　your　efforts　there　to　show　the　hill　folk　how　to　improve　the　quality　of　their　lives。〃
　　Sebell　held　up　one　hand　in　a　rueful　gesture。　〃We　would　i