amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第3部分

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　because　three　old　engines　had　blown　up　in　a　crack　on　its　surface！　Especially　when　Thread　continued　to　fall　on　the　planet…as　indeed　it　should；　to　be　sure　that　all　Pern　was　united　against　the　menace　of　its　return；　century　after　century。
　　
AT　A　GATHER…6。15。30
　　〃I　don't　know　why　it　had　to　mess　up　time；〃　said　the　first　man；　morosely　fingering　a　pattern　in　the　spilled　gravy　in　front　of　him。
　　〃You're　messing　up　the　table；〃　the　second　man　said；　pointing。
　　〃He　had　no　call　to　mess　up　our　time；〃　the　first　man　insisted；　rather　more　vehemently。
　　〃Who？〃　Second　was　confused。　〃He？　It？〃
　　〃Aivas；　that's　who　or　it。〃
　　〃Whaddya　mean？〃
　　〃Well；　he　did；　didn't　he？　Back　in　'38…which　should　be　only　2524。〃　The　holder　scowled；　his　thick　black　brows　ing　together　across　the　wide　bridge　of　his　thick　nose。　〃Made　us　add　some　fourteen　Turns　allasudden。〃
　　〃He　was　regulating　time；〃　Second　corrected；　surprised　at　his　panion's　vehemence。　The　holder　had　seemed　a　pleasant　enough　panion；　knowledgeable　about　music　and　knowing　all　the　words　to　even　the　latest　songs　the　harpers　were　playing。　With　his　third　wineskin；　his　temper　had　deteriorated。　And　possibly　his　wits；　if　time　or　how　folk　numbered　Turns　was　bothering　him。
　　〃Made　me　older'n'　I　was。〃
　　〃Didn't　make　you　smarter；〃　Second　said　with　a　rude　snort。　〃　'Sides；　Masterharper　himself　said　it　was　all　right　on　account　there　were　dis…　ah；　disk…〃　He　paused　and　used　a　belch　as　an　excuse　while　he　recalled　the　exact　phrasing。　〃…there'd　been　inaccurate　timekeeping　because　of　Thread　falling　only　forty　Turns　once　instead　of　fifty；　like　it　usually　did；　and　people　forgetting　to　account　for　the　disk…〃
　　〃Discrepancies；〃　the　third　man　put　in；　regarding　them　superciliously。
　　Second　gave　a　snap　of　his　fingers　and　beamed　at　Third　for　finding　the　word　he　couldn't　recall。
　　〃The　problem　is　not　what　it　did；〃　First　went　on。　〃It's　what　it's　continuing　to　do。　To　all　of　us。〃　He　made　a　flourish　that　included　everyone　at　the　Gather；　all　laughing　and　singing；　oblivious　to　the　dangers　in　this　continuation。
　　〃Continuing　to　do？〃　A　woman　who　had　been　standing　nearby　slipped　into　a　seat　several　places　down　the　long　Gather　table；　on　the　opposite　side　from　First　and　Second。
　　〃Pushing　things　on　us　whether　we　want　'improvements'　or　not；〃　First　said　slowly；　eyeing　her　in　what　illumination　dimly　reached　their　side　table。　He　saw　a　thin　woman；　with　an　unattractive　face；　a　pinched　mouth；　a　recessive　lower　jaw；　and　huge　eyes　that　glowed　with　an　inner　anger　or　resentment。
　　〃Like　the　lights？〃　Second　asked；　gesturing　toward　the　nearest　one。　〃Very　useful。　Much　more　convenient　than　messing　with　glowbaskets。〃
　　〃Glowbaskets　are　traditional；〃　the　woman　said；　and　her　petulant　tone　carried　into　the　shadows　beyond　the　table。　〃Glows　were　put　here　for　us　to　cultivate　and　protect。〃
　　〃Glows　are　natural；　and　have　lighted　our　holds　and　halls　for　centuries；〃　said　a　deep；　censorious　voice。　Startled；　the　woman　gasped　and　put　her　hand　protectively　to　her　throat。
　　Certainly　First　and　Second；　who　had　thought　they　were　having　a　private　discussion；　were　annoyed　by　the　intrusion　until　the　big　man　stepped　out　of　the　shadows。　As　he　slowly　walked　to　the　table；　the　others　watched　his　deliberate　advance；　noting　the　size　of　him。　He　sat　down　by　Third；　bringing　the　number　seated　there　to　five。　He　wore　a　strangely　shaped　leathern　cap　that　hid　most　of　his　forehead　but　did　not　cover　the　scar　on　the　side　of　his　nose　and　cheek。　He　was　also　missing　the　top　joint　of　the　first　finger　on　his　left　hand。　Something　about　his　scarred　face　and　his　purposeful　manner　pelled　the　others　to　silence。
　　〃Pern　has　lost　much　lately　and　gained　little。〃　His　unmaimed　hand　lifted　to　point　to　the　light。　〃And　all　because　a　voice…〃　He　paused　contemptuously。　〃…said　to　do　so。〃
　　〃Got　rid　of　the　Red　Star；〃　Second　said；　shifting　uneasily。
　　Fifth　turned　his　head　toward　Second；　regarding　him　so　unblinkingly　that　his　scorn　was　nearly　palpable。
　　〃Thread　still　falls；〃　Fifth　said　in　that　deep；　disturbing　voice　that　seemed　to　use　no　inflection。
　　〃Well；　yes；　but　that　was　explained；〃　Second　said。
　　〃Perhaps　to　your　satisfaction；　but　not　to　mine。〃
　　Two　men　seated　at　a　table　opposite　the　group　looked　over　with　interest；　and　gestured　at　First　to　let　them　join　in。　First　nodded　his　head　at　the　two；　and　Sixth　and　Seventh　hastily　climbed　into　vacant　spaces　among　the　others。
　　〃The　voice　is　gone；〃　First　said；　when　the　two　newers　were　settled　and　he　was　guaranteed　the　group's　full　attention　once　again。　〃Terminated　itself。〃
　　〃As　it　should　have　been　terminated　before　it　was　allowed　to　pollute　and　corrupt　the　minds　of　so　many；〃　Fifth　went　on。
　　〃And　it　has　left　so　much　behind；〃　the　woman　said　in　a　despairing　tone；　〃so　much　that　can　be　misused。〃
　　〃You　mean　the　equipment　and　new　methods　for　manufacturing　all　kinds　of　things；　like　the　electricity　that　brightens　dark　places？〃　Third　could　not　resist　teasing　such　somber　and　humorless　people。
　　〃There　was　no　good　reason　for　that。。。　thing　to　turn　itself　off　like　that；　just　when　it　was　beginning　to　be　useful；〃　First　said　resentfully。
　　〃But　it　left　plans！〃　And　Fourth　sounded　as　if　that　was　suspicious。
　　〃Too　many　plans；〃　Fifth　agreed；　deepening　his　voice　to　a　lugubrious　and　ominous　level。
　　〃What？〃　Third　prompted　him。　Fourth's　eyes　rounded　with　fear　and　anxiety。
　　〃Surgery！〃　In　that　expressive　deep　voice　the　three　syllables　were　dramatically　drawn　out　as　if　he　spoke　of　something　immoral。
　　〃Surgery？〃　Sixth　frowned。　〃What's　that？〃
　　〃Ways　of　mucking　inside　a　body；〃　First　replied；　lowering　his　own　voice　to　match　Fifth's。
　　Sixth　shuddered。　〃Mind　you；　sometimes　we　gotta　cut　a　foal　out　of　its　dam　or　it　strangles。〃　When　the　others　regarded　him　suspiciously；　he　added；　〃Only　a　very　well…bred　foal　we　can't　afford　to　lose。　And　I　saw　the　healer　once　remove　a　pendix。　Woman　would've　died；　he　said。　She　didn't　feel　a　thing。〃
　　〃　'She　didn't　feel　a　thing；'　〃　Fifth　repeated；　investing　that　statement　with　sinister　import。
　　〃The　healer　could　have　done　anything　else　he　liked；〃　Fourth　said　in　a　shocked　whisper。
　　Second　dismissed　that　with　a　grunt。　〃Didn't　do　her　any　harm　and　she's　still　alive　and　a　good　worker。〃
　　〃I　mean；〃　First　went　on；　〃there's　a　lot　of　stuff　being　tried　in　the　Crafthalls；　not　just　the　Healers…and　when　they　make　mistakes；　it　can　cost　a　man's　life。　I　don't　want　them　fooling　around　with　me；　inside　or　out。〃
　　〃Your　choice；〃　Second　said。
　　〃But　is　it　always　'your'　choice？〃　Fourth　wanted　to　know；　leaning　forward　across　the　table　and　tapping　her　finger　to　stress　her　point。
　　Third　also　leaned　forward。　〃And　what　choices　are　we　being　given…to　decide　what　we　want　and　need…out　of　all　those　files　Aivas　is　supposed　to　have　left　us？　How　do　we　know　we　want　all　this　technology　and　advanced　gadgets？　How　do　we　know　it'll　do　what　they　say　it　will？　Lot　of　people　saying　we　got　to　have　that；　ought　to　have　this。　They're　making　the　decisions。　Not　us。　I　don't　like　it。〃　He　nodded　his　head　to　emphasize　his　distrust。
　　〃For　that　matter；　how　do　we　know　that　all　that　hard　work…and　I　had　to　work　my　arse　off　some　days　down　at　Landing…will　work？〃　Seventh　asked　with　some　rancor。　〃I　mean；　they　can　tell　us　that　it's　going　to　work；　but　none　of　us　will　be　alive　to　see　if　it　does；　will　we？〃
　　〃Neither　will　they；〃　Third　said　with　black　humor。　〃Then；　too；〃　he　went　on　quickly　before　Fifth　could　start　in　again；　〃not　all　of　the　Masters　and　Lords　and　Holders　are　keen　to　just　latch　on　to　all　this　new　junk。　Why　I　heard　Master　Menolly　herself。。。〃　Even　Fifth　regarded　him　with　interest。　〃She　said　that　we　ought　to　wait　and　go　carefully。　We　didn't　need　a　lot　of　the　things　that　that　Aivas　machine　talked　about。〃
　　〃What　we　do　have；〃　Fifth　said；　raising　his　deeper；　oddly　inflectionless　voice　above　Third's　light　tenor；　〃has　worked　well　enough　for　hundreds　of　Turns。〃
　　Third　held　up　a　cautionary　finger。　〃We　gotta　be　careful　what　new　junk　gets　made　just　because　it's　new　and　seems　to　make　things　easier。〃
　　〃But　you　have　electricity？〃　Sixth　said　enviously。
　　〃It's　done　naturally…we　use　sun　panels；　and　they've　been　around　forever。〃
　　〃Ancients　made　'em；〃　First　said。
　　〃Well；　as　I　said；〃　Third　went　on；　〃some　things　will　be　useful；　but　we've　got　to　be　very　careful　or　we'll　fall　into　the　same　trap　the　Ancients　did。　Too　much　technology。　It's　even　in　the　Charter。〃
　　〃It　is？〃　Second　asked；　surprised。
　　〃It　is；〃　Third　said。　〃And　we　can　do　something　to　keep　us　traditional　and　unsullied　by　stuff　we　aren't　even　sure　we　need。〃
　　〃What？〃　First　asked。
　　〃I'm　going　to　think　about　it；〃　Fourth　said。　〃I　don't　hold　with　someone　hurting　people；　but　devices…things　we　neither　want　nor　need…can　be　broken　or　spilled　or　got　rid　of。〃　She　looked　to　Fifth　to　see　his　reaction。
　　Third　guffawed。　〃Some　folks　tried　that。　Got　their　ears　deafened。。。〃
　　〃The　machine's　dead；〃　First　reminded　him。
　　Third　snarled　at　being　interrupted。　〃Got　exiled　for　hurting　the　Masterharper…〃
　　〃I　did　hear　that　the　Masterharper　died　in　its　chamber。　Perhaps　the　Masterharper　had　realized　how　insidious　that　Abomination　was。　Could　he　have　terminated　it？〃　asked　Fifth。
　　The　woman　gasped。
　　〃That's　a　very　interesting　idea；〃　Third　said　softly；　leaning　forward。　〃Is　there　any　proof？〃
　　〃How　could　there　be？〃　First　responded　in　a　horrified　voice。　〃The　Healers　said　Master　Robinton's　heart　gave　out。　From　being　bounced　around　during　his　abduction。〃
　　〃He　was　never　the　same　after；〃　agreed　Second；　who　had　grieved　as　sincerely　as　the　rest　of　the　planet　for　his　death。　〃Heard　tell　there　was　a　line　printed　on　the　screen。　Stayed　there　for　a　long　time　and　then　disappeared。〃
　　〃　'And　a　time　for　every　purpose　under　heaven；'　〃　murmured　Sixth。
　　〃Couldn't　have　been　Master　Robinton　that　put　up　that　message。　Had　to　have　been　Aivas；〃　Seventh　said；　scowling　at　Sixth。
　　〃Something　to　think　about；　though；　isn't　it？〃　Third　said。
　　〃Indeed　it　is；〃　Fourth　said；　eyes　blazing。
　　〃There　are　other　matters　to　think　about：　what　that。。。　Aivas　machine〃…though　Fifth's　odd　voice　had　no　inflection；　his　scorn　for　Aivas　rippled　down　the　table…〃has　insinuated　into　our　way　of　life；　corrupting　the　traditions　by　which　we　have　survived　so　long。〃　Fifth　had　no　trouble　dominating　the　conversation　again。　〃I　do　not…〃　He　paused。　〃…approve　of　harming　a　living　thing。〃　Again；　he　left　a　significant　pause　before　he　continued。　〃But　permanently　removing　items　that　can　have　dangerous　effects　on　innocent　people　is　another　thing。　It　would　be　wise　to　make　certain　that　such　new　materials　and　objects　should　never　see　the　light　of　day。〃
　　〃Much　less　glowbaskets　or　electricity；〃　Third　said　in　a　facetious　tone　that　was　not　well　received　even　by　Second。　Fifth　and　Fourth　glowered　so　repressively　that　he　recoiled。
　　〃I　go　along　with　removing　some　of　those　gadgets　and　new　junk；〃　Second　murmured；　but　he　didn't　sound　entirely　convinced。　〃It's　more　that　some　of　us；〃　he　added；　glancing　from　one　face　to　another；　〃never　seem　to　get　our　fair　share。〃
　　〃I　agree　wholeheartedly。　Like　dragonriders　getting　what　they　want　first；〃　Third　said。　〃Get　our　share。〃
　　〃There　are　more　folk　than　you　might　think；〃　Fifth　said　in　his　pelling　voice；　〃who　have　genuine　doubts　about　improvements