amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第27部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　all　directions。　And　something　swirled　up　and　over　the　rainforest　island。　Then　the　view　retreated　to　show　a　new　aspect；　the　island　had　been　subsumed！　And　a　thick　line　of　debris：　the　lush　huge　trees；　some　thirty　meters　tall；　were　now　just　sea　wrack；　bobbing　until　finally　they　would　be　tossed　upon　beaches　as　jetsam。　The　dark　circle　continued　to　spread　outward；　westward。　East；　too；　F'lessan　now　realized；　though　the　cloud　obscured　that　fact。　He　checked　with　the　radar　screen　and　yes；　the　rings　were　heading　east　and　south；　right　at　unprotected　lowlands；　possibly　as　far　as　the　Hook　Islands；　and　certainly　speeding　right　toward　the　lovely　little　bays　that　dotted　the　Monaco　coast；　and　Monaco　Bay　itself；　the　Harbor；　the　busy　boatyard　with　sheds；　pier；　and　cotholds。　And　Cove　Hold？　Would　the　Kahrain　Cape　protect　it？
　　〃That's　what　a　tsunami　does　to　what's　in　its　way；〃　F'lessan　said；　pointing　to　the　wreckage；　the　shocking　disappearance　of　two　substantial　islands。　A　shaft　of　cold；　deep　fear　engulfed　his　bones。　He　urgently　signaled　Tai　to　join　him。
　　〃Tsunami？〃　Mirrim　echoed　in　a　surprise　tinged　with　denial；　fear；　and　resentment。　She　lifted　her　hand　to　stop　Tai　but　F'lessan　scowled　at　her　as　he　waved　the　green　rider　to　his　side。
　　〃I　thought　tsunami　occurred　with　sea　or　earthquakes；〃　T'gellan　said；　stunned。
　　〃Tsunami　can　also　occur　when　something　very　hot　and　heavy　falls　out　of　the　sky；〃　Erragon　said　in　the　tone　of　someone　who　wishes　he　did　not　have　to　announce　such　news。　〃And　a　et　just　did！〃　He　pointed　to　the　grim　Impactor　Summary　figures。
　　F'lessan　shook　his　head；　unable　to　deal　with　such　incredible　quantities　as　a　mass　of　17　million　tons　and　a　derived　impact　energy　of　29。7　exajoules。　Now　that　was　a　typically　esoteric　Aivas　word。　He　was　almost　relieved　to　see　Erragon　and　Stinar　were　also　struggling　to　put　such　terms　into　Pernese　contexts。
　　〃What　does　all　that　mean？〃　Mirrim　asked；　her　tanned　skin　pale。　In　all　the　Turns　he　had　known　her；　F'lessan　had　never　seen　this　confident　woman　so　scared。
　　Erragon　swiveled　on　his　heel；　giving　her　such　a　piercing　look　that　she　recoiled　slightly　against　T'gellan。　He　gave　his　head　a　final　shake；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　regarded　the　Monaco　Weyrleader。
　　〃I　don't　know　how　big　the　tsunami　will　be。　That　depends　on　the　shoreline　and　what　might　deflect　or　diffract　it；　but　Monaco…〃　He　pointed　to　the　map　still　up　in　the　right…hand　corner　of　the　big　screen。　〃…will　be　inundated；　flooded。〃　He　gestured　with　his　fingers；　west；　north；　and　east。　〃The　force　of　the　impact　will　send　the　tsunami　in　every　direction。〃　He　shook　his　head　again　as　much　in　denial　as　emphasis。　Then　he　took　F'lessan　by　the　sleeve　with　one　hand　as　he　reached　out　for　T'gellan　with　the　other；　giving　the　Weyrleader's　shoulder　a　resolute　shake；　his　expression　filled　with　passion。　〃You　must　evacuate　the　coastal　holds　to　the　hills；　to　high　ground。　The　harbor；　too！〃　He　put　a　hand　to　his　forehead；　obviously　marshalling　his　thoughts。　〃Stinar；　are　there　maps　of　the　coastlines　we　can　access？〃
　　〃There　are；〃　said　a　gruff　new　voice；　rising　above　the　stutter　of　printers　and　the　low　anxious　murmuring　of　frightened　people　in　the　office；　〃and　I　have　them。〃　Master　Idarolan　stood　in　the　doorway。
　　Mirrim　wasn't　the　only　one　to　stare　blankly　at　him。　F'lessan　felt　a　sense　of　relief。　They'd　need　the　retired　MasterFishman　more　right　now　than　at　any　time　in　his　resourceful　life。　Fleetingly　he　realized　that　the　captain　had　probably　been　taking　his　usual　morning　weather　scan：　the　deck　of　his　hold　in　Nerat　was　above　the　sea；　facing　east；　and　he　might　well　have　seen　the　et。　If　it　had　been　visible　at　Benden　Weyr；　it　had　probably　been　visible　to　anyone　looking　in　the　right　direction。　Master　Idarolan　could　have　seen　it　from　Nerat's　Ankle。
　　〃But　how。。。〃　F'lessan　stammered。
　　〃The　Weyrleaders　required　my　presence；〃　and　Idarolan　winked　at　F'lessan　before　turning　to　T'gellan。　〃You've　a　lot　to　do；　Weyrleader；　and　we　won't　stand　in　your　way。　You；　bronze　riders…。〃　He　paused　significantly。　〃You　will　need　to　make　good　time；〃　and　he　stressed　that　word；　〃to　get　all　acplished　or　so　the　Benden　Weyrleaders　inform　me　and　you！〃　He　made　a　sweeping　gesture　for　the　dragonriders　to　make　their　exits。　As　they　started　to　move；　he　added；　〃Warn　Portmaster　Zewe　to　ring　the　Dolphin　Bell　and　get　any　ships　in　harbor　out　to　sea。　It　won't　be　as　dangerous　offshore。〃
　　They　were　out　the　floor　by　then；　hearing　his　gruff　voice　saying；　〃And　I　need　your　best　mathematician　and　the　use　of　a　puter　that　isn't　talking　to　the　Yokohama！〃
　　〃Does　that　mean　we're　to　time　it？〃　Mirrim　asked　T'gellan　in　a　hushed　tone　as　soon　as　they　were　past　Tunge；　who　had　not　recovered　from　the　multiple　shocks。
　　〃What　else？〃　F'lessan　asked；　right　behind　her；　hauling　Tai　along　beside　him。
　　〃How　else　could　we　do　what　is　to　be　done？〃　T'gellan　added　as　he　dragged　his　weyrmate　into　a　near　run。　〃Yes；　Ramoth　just　confirmed　it　to　Monarth。〃
　　〃But　what　do　we　do　first？〃　Mirrim　demanded　in　a　scared　voice。
　　〃Monarth's　bespeaking　Talina's　Arwith。　I've　told　her　to　take　four　wings　at　once　to　Monaco　Bay；　to　warn　Portmaster　Zewe　and　to　start　moving　people　to　safety。〃
　　〃The　dolphins　will　be　safe？〃　Tai　asked。
　　Mirrim　shot　her　a　furious　look。　〃We　have　to　think　about　the　Weyr。　It's　spread　out　all　over！〃　Despair　made　her　flush。　〃So　many　people。〃
　　〃The　dolphins　will　know　what　to　do；〃　F'lessan　said；　taking　a　firmer　grip　on　Tai's　arm；　hurrying　her　along。　〃If　we　can　time　it；〃　and　he　couldn't　resist　grinning　at　the　permission；　〃we　will　make　the　time　we　need。〃
　　〃But　our　Weyr's　no　more　than　fifty　meters　from　the　sea；〃　and　Mirrim's　voice　rose　with　anxiety；　her　face　pale　under　her　tan。　〃On　low…lying　ground。〃
　　〃Weyrfolk　are　a　lot　better　at　taking　orders　than　holders　or　crafters；〃　Tai　said；　for　once　the　one　to　reassure。
　　〃And　all　those　seaholders？〃　Mirrim　gasped　at　the　enormity　of　the　task　ahead　of　them。
　　〃I've　maps　in　my　office　of　every　holding　that　looks　to　Monaco；〃　T'gellan　said　as　they　strode；　ever　faster　under　the　impetus　of　their　anxieties；　toward　the　back　door。　The　guards　at　the　front　entrance　were　now　shouting　that　there　was　an　emergency：　specialists　to　stand　right；　other　volunteers　muster　to　the　left。　Landing　itself　was　pletely　safe　here　in　the　foothills。　Except　from　the　shock　wave。　When　would　that　be　hitting　them？　〃We'll　warn　them　all。〃
　　〃How　long　ago　did　you　leave？〃　F'lessan　asked　as　T'gellan　straight…armed　the　door　open；　holding　it　for　the　others　to　exit。　〃We　can　go　back　as　soon　as　you've　left。　Get　a　bit　of　a　head　start。〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　T'gellan　said；　startled。　〃When　we　finally　made　it　into　the　office；　Time　Remaining　stood　at　4870。　I　remember　that！〃
　　〃An　hour　and　a　half　ago？　As　well　as　the　time　we　wasted　talking；〃　F'lessan　said。　Had　so　little　time　elapsed？　And　yet　it　had　seemed　so　long…watching　the　stunning　visuals　as　mere　curiosity　in　a　bright　point　in　Benden's　morning　sky　turned　into　a　planetary　disaster　at　midday　in　Landing。
　　Ramoth　says　only　bronze　riders　are　to　manage　the　timings；　Golanth　said；　his　tone　awed。
　　T'gellan　gave　a　sharp　bark　of　laughter；　glancing　over　his　shoulder　at　the　Benden　Wingleader。　〃So　which　of　us　has　more　experience　timing？〃
　　〃Not　a　point　to　argue；〃　F'lessan　said。　〃Let's　do　it。　All　we　need　are　our　dragons。〃
　　There　wasn't　enough　room　for　four　dragons；　even　if　two　were　green；　to　land　on　the　area　outside　the　rear　door；　and　the　guard　was　goggle…eyed　at　the　flurry　of　so　many　wings。
　　Next　avenue　over；　F'lessan　told　his　bronze。　Tell　Zaranth。　〃This　way；　Tai；　between　the　buildings。　Meetcha　there！〃　He　raised　his　voice　so　T'gellan　would　hear　over　the　noise　of　Monarth's　descent。　Path　crammed　herself　against　one　wall　to　drop　as　close　as　she　could　to　Mirrim。　He　glanced　at　his　watch　before　he　drove　his　fist　into　the　sleeve　of　his　flying　jacket。　〃Golanth！　See　the　et　as　we　saw　it　ing　in　to　land。〃
　　F'lessan　and　Tai　ran　through　the　space　between　buildings　that　had　bee　classrooms　for　the　many　youngsters　studying　at　Landing。　Golanth　was　in　the　act　of　putting　his　feet　down　when　F'lessan　leaped　to　his　forearm　and　vaulted　astride。　As　the　bronze　immediately　began　to　ascend；　F'lessan　caught　sight　of　Tai　astride　Zaranth's　back。
　　Golanth；　tell　Zaranth　to　take　her　coordinates　from　you；　F'lessan　said；　not　even　bothering　to　close　his　flying　jacket　or　jam　his　helmet　on　his　head。　Maybe　the　seconds　between　would　cool　him　down　from　the　heat　that　he　hadn't　even　noticed　in　the　Interface　office。　He　concentrated　on　timing　it　and　Golanth　took　them　between。
　　　
IN　THE　CONFERENCE　ROOM　AT　LANDING…1。9。31
　　Once　again　Landing　had　bee　a　mand　center；　Lessa　thought。　Though　she　could　wish　it　otherwise；　she　would　be　happier；　as　well　as　more　useful；　here　than　at　Benden　Weyr。　It　had　been　Ruth's　query　to　her　through　Ramoth　that　made　her　wonder　if　perhaps　that　bright　spark　in　the　sky；　still　hanging　overhead　at　Benden；　was　dangerous。　Tiroth　had　already　brought　Wansor；　Lytol；　and　D'ram　to　Landing。　Maybe　the　Benden　Weyrleaders　should　join　them；　if　only　to　see　what　the　old　Star　Master　had　to　say　about　this　intruder。　Stinar　was　quite　willing　to　turn　on　the　screen　in　the　conference　room　so　that　Lytol　and　D'ram　could　describe　what　was　happening　to　Wansor。　He　could　still　distinguish　light　from　dark　but　no　details。　Despite　his　blindness；　he　had　cultivated　an　uncanny　ability　to　locate　other　people　in　the　same　room　with　him；　sometimes　calling　them　by　name　when　they　came　near。
　　His　round　face　with　its　opaque　eyes　had　lit　up　with　an　extraordinary　smile　when　Lessa　and　F'lar　entered。　〃Lessa！〃
　　〃How　did　you　know？〃　Lessa　asked；　swiftly　moving　to　take　both　his　hands　in　hers。　She　had　half　a　mind　to　give　him　a　kiss　for　his　unqualified　wele。
　　〃My　dear　Lessa；　wherever　you　go　there　is　a　vibrancy　that　is　unmistakable。　And　then；〃　he　chuckled；　〃you　wear　a　fragrance　that　is　unique。〃　He　held　out　his　right　hand　toward　F'lar　and　returned　the　strong　grip。
　　Craggy…faced　Lytol　and　D'ram；　whose　weathered　skin　was　nearly　the　color　of　his　bronze's　hide；　had　risen　at　their　entry　and　now　Lytol　was　holding　a　chair　for　her；　one　facing　the　screen　with　its　view　of　what　the　Yoko　was　seeing。
　　〃Is　all　this　serious？〃　Lessa　asked；　taking　the　seat　and　noting　a　bewildering　amount　of　information　scrolling　down　one　side　of　the　monitor。　The　fireball　that　had　seemed　almost　directly　overhead　was　now　ing　straight　at　them；　even　from　Yoko's　altitude　above　the　surface。
　　〃It　could　be。〃　Wansor　said。　〃Erragon　is　watching　with　Stinar…and；　of　course；　we　now　have　you　here。〃　He　smiled。　〃Do　go　on；　Lytol。　Any　new　information　on　that　error　ellipse？〃
　　〃Some　of　this　will　be　very　technical；　Lessa；〃　Lytol　said　courteously；　reseating　himself　before　he　leaned　close　to　Wansor　to　describe　the　scene　and　recite　the　numbers　that　were　flowing　down　the　side　of　the　monitor。
　　Beside　her；　F'lar　gave　it　his　attention；　though　he；　too；　she　noticed；　scowled　subtly；　the　plicated　astronomical　data　was　beyond　him。　Someone　brought　in　a　tray　of　klah　and　meatrolls　and；　eyeing　the　screen　warily；　departed　as　quickly　as　possible。　There　was　a　degree　of　fear　in　the　girl's　manner　that　troubled　Lessa。　She　was　accustomed　to　listening　to　her　instincts。　As　she　served　D'ram　a　cup　of　klah；　she　bent　close　to　his　ear。
　　〃What　would　happen　if　that　f