amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第30部分

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tsunami　will　strike　the　Foot　of　Nerat；　and　all　the　way　up　the　shore。〃　Lessa　sat　straight　up　as　she　saw　him　reddening　the　entire　eastern　coastline。
　　〃But　there's　time；〃　Erragon　assured　her。　〃Three　to　four　hours　after　impacting　on　the　southern　shores；　the　other　section　of　the　waves　will　reach　High　Shoal　in　front　of　Loscar　and　demolish　it…which；　I　understand　from　seamen；　might　reduce　the　dangerous　currents　the　Shoal　produces。　Loscar　will　definitely　need　to　be　evacuated　but　there's　time　enough　to　get　people　to　foothills。　Even　a　good　portion　of　their　belongings　and　herdbeasts。　You　see；　there's　not　much　to　stop　the　straight　line　of　the　tsunami　as　it　radiates　due　west　from　the　impact　site。〃
　　Lessa　stared；　disbelieving　the　extent　of　a　〃wave。〃
　　〃Ista；〃　Erragon　continued；　producing　a　tentative　smile；　〃will　only　get　ripples　produced　by　reflection　off　Nerat's　Toe。　They　did　suffer　far　more　damage　during　the　hurricane。〃　He　paused　briefly；　and　turned　to　the　other　side　of　the　Mercator　projection。　Lessa　gasped。
　　〃The　Western　Ring　of　islands　will　absorb　much　of　the　tsunami's　force；　though；　from　the　tip　of　Tillek　and　south　to　the　end　of　Southern　Boll；　they　can　expect　to　experience　tsunami　about　sixteen　hours　after　impact；　or　four…thirty　in　the　morning　their　local　time。　It　will　reach　the　west　coast　of　Fort；　much　of　which　is　rocky；　about　twenty…one　hours　after　impact；　seven　in　the　morning　their　time。　Tomorrow。〃
　　〃Tomorrow？〃　Lessa　echoed。
　　〃Yes；　it　takes　time　even　for　something　as　violent　as　a　tsunami　to　cross　that　much　sea。　The　farther　away　from　the　impact　point　or　the　secondary　points；　the　less　the　expected　effect　of　the　ining　wave。　It　will　spread　out　and　reduce　amplitude　until　it　encounters　an　obstacle。〃
　　〃Like　Monaco　Bay；〃　Lessa　murmured　bitterly。
　　〃For　instance；〃　Erragon　said；　trying　to　interject　a　positive　note；　〃the　west　coast　of　Southern；　from　lerne　Island　to　the　tip　on　the　east　side　of　Great　Bay；　will　feel　only　a　small　effect　from　the　eastward　wave。〃　Now　he　looked　closely　at　the　map　and；　checking　longitude　and　latitude；　made　a　little　X。　〃The　two　waves；　what's　left　of　them　after　losing　much　of　their　energy；　will　intersect　in　the　open　sea　at　about　Longitude　two　degrees　at　Latitude　fifteen　degrees；　but　I　don't　think　that'll　be　notable。〃
　　Lessa　regarded　him　blankly。　Erragon　continued。
　　〃The　worst　of　all　this　should　be　over　in　about　sixteen　to　seventeen　hours；〃　he　said　in　an　attitude　of　encouragement。
　　〃I　hope　you'll　be　able　to　repeat　this；　Erragon；〃　she　said　wearily。　〃We　are　obliged　to　inform　those　Lord　Holders　most　affected。　Now　that　we　know　who　they　are。〃
　　He　bowed　his　willingness。　She　closed　her　eyes　briefly　while　she　contacted　Ramoth　to　bespeak　the　dragons　at　the　various　Holds。　It　saved　some　time；　at　least；　that　Benden　had　the　right　to　convene　an　emergency　meeting　and　expect　those　invited　to　respond　speedily。　Even　as　speedily　as　that　sharding　wave　was　going　to　smash　along　both　coasts。
　　When　she　opened　her　eyes；　Erragon's　expression　showed　deep　concern。　He　was　rather　a　good　man；　she　thought；　and　not　like　some　who　could　thoroughly　enjoy　spreading　bad　news。
　　〃Sit　down；　man；　and　I'll　get　us　something　more　to　eat。　We'll　need　to　fortify　ourselves。〃　She　left　the　room；　giving　him　a　few　moments　alone。
　　Twenty　minutes　later；　Master　Idarolan　and　Erragon　had　contrived　to　red　mark　the　vulnerable　portions　of　coastline　along　both　continents；　including　some　quick　estimates　of　how　deep　inland　the　flood　would　surge。　To　Lessa's　intense　sorrow；　they　had　intricately　marked　the　projected　paths　of　the　five　different　assaults　on　Monaco。　F'lar　had　returned　with　F'nor。　No　sooner　had　the　two　Benden　riders　started　to　eat　a　hasty　luncheon　from　the　food　Lessa　had　found　than　Lords　Ciparis　and　Toronas　arrived。　Close　behind　them　came　Haligon；　representing　Lord　Groghe；　Jaxom；　and　Sharra；　Lord　Ranrel　of　Tillek　with　the　new　MasterFishman　Curran；　Fortine　of　Ista；　Langrell　of　Igen；　Kashman　of　Keroon；　Janissian　from　Southern　Boll　as　Lord　Sangel　was　too　old　to　travel　anywhere；　even　a…dragonback；　and　the　other　six　Weyrleaders。
　　〃What's　this　about　some　sharding　wave　going　to　destroy　the　coast？〃　demanded　Fortine。　〃Surely　it　can't　reach　from　the　Ring　Sea　all　the　way　to　my　coast？〃
　　〃e；　e；〃　Master　Idarolan　said；　gesturing　impatiently　to　the　newers。　〃All　of　you　be　seated。〃　He　waved　at　Haligon　to　distribute　chairs　from　those　stacked　in　one　corner。
　　〃It　had　better　be　good；〃　Toronas　of　Benden　said；　〃getting　us　up　and　down　here　so　precipitously。〃
　　〃Oh；　it　is；　I　assure　you；〃　Lessa　said　in　such　a　caustic　tone　that　no　one　else　spoke　as　they　hurried　to　get　settled　around　the　table。
　　〃At　least　it　was　already　morning　for　you；　Toronas；〃　Jaxom　said；　seating　Sharra；　who　was　blinking　to　clear　her　eyes　from　what　little　sleep　she　had　had。　〃Not　the　middle　of　the　night　and　yet　you　see　Ranrel；　Haligon；　and　Janissian　wide　awake　and　with　us。〃
　　Lord　Toronas　clearly　wanted　to　object　to　the　presence　of　Janissian；　who　looked　younger　than　she　was；　even　if　she　had　been　sent　to　represent　her　grandfather；　Lord　Sangel。
　　〃Sit　by　me；　Toronas；〃　Lessa　said；　smiling　encouragingly　at　Janissian　who　remained　close　to　Sharra　and　Jaxom。　The　Southern　Boll　girl　posed　herself　to　listen　but　her　eyes　were　darting　to　the　red…streaked　maps　and　then　back　to　the　other　members　of　this　emergency　meeting。　Ranrel　nodded　a　greeting　to　her　and　Kashman　stared　boldly。
　　〃If　you　will　begin　again；　Journeyman　Erragon；〃　Lessa　said　formally；　〃then　everyone　will　have　a　better　understanding　of　why　this　meeting　is　so　vital。　Some　of　us　have　less　time　than　others　and　none　of　us　have　time　to　waste。〃
　　Just　as　Erragon　was　about　to　explain　how　the　multiple　waves　would　inundate　the　southern　coastline；　a　rumbling　boom　made　him　stagger。　Lessa　clutched　at　the　arm　of　her　chair　as　the　awesome　noise　vibrated　through　the　soles　of　her　feet。
　　〃What　was　that？〃　she　cried。　They　could　both　hear　the　shouts　and　screams　from　the　hallway。
　　〃That；〃　Erragon　said　on　his　way　to　the　door；　〃was　the　ground　shock　wave　from　the　fireball　impact。〃　He　glanced　at　the　clock。　〃Right　on　time！　Excuse　me！〃　He　hauled　open　the　door。　〃It's　all　right！　That's　the　shock　wave　reaching　us！〃　He　shouted　to　those　milling　in　fright　in　the　hall　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　leaving　Lessa　to　contemplate　the　multiple　disasters　of　the　day。　
　　
　　SUNRISE　CLIFF　SEAHOLD…TIMED　BACK
　　The　three　dragons　arrived　at　Sunrise　Cliff　Seahold　circumspectly；　above　the　first　rank　of　dunes　that　marked　high　tides。　The　dunes　would　no　doubt　be　wiped　away；　dragged　back　by　the　tsunami；　F'lessan　thought。　The　dragons　glided　along　the　shore　to　where　the　granite　escarpment　had　been　broken　during　an　earthquake；　tumbling　boulders；　creating　the　wide　shallow　bay　and　a　defile　along　which　a　stream　now　found　its　way　to　the　sea。　Beyond　the　stream；　the　escarpment　began　to　rise　again；　ending　in　another　height　on　the　eastern　arm。　Along　the　white　sand　beach；　they　could　see　small　fishing　craft　pulled　up。　Don't　let　them　talk　you　into　rescuing　their　boats；　T'gellan　had　said；　but　maybe　they　could　somehow　sling。。。　
　　Not　before　people；　Golanth　told　him　sternly。　People　we　save　today。
　　It　looked　like　the　entire　population　of　the　Seahold　was　out；　standing　on　the　dunes；　gazing　northward。　White　sands　sloped　down　to　the　little　waves　lapping　serenely　up　the　wide　beach　with　a　picturesqueness　that　would　shortly　be　devastated。　They　had　barely　two　hours　to　evacuate。　F'lessan　sensed　that　was　not　going　to　be　easy。　Who　would　believe　his　tale　of　catastrophe　in　the　making？　Everyone　was　so　intent　on　the　fiery　ball　inclining　now　toward　its　impact。　The　air　was　so　crystalline　clear！
　　There　were　twelve　holds　leaning　up　against　the　orange　cliffs　where　the　granite　began　to　rise　from　the　sands。　These　seaholders　had　done　well　in　the　fifteen　or　so　Turns　since　they'd　settled　here；　F'lessan　thought。　They　wouldn't　abandon　their　prosperity　so　easily。　Babes　were　being　held　up　to　see　the　fireball；　and　a　scatter　of　children；　in　various　states　of　dress；　had　followed　their　parents　to　behold　the　wonder！　Near　to　a　hundred　people　in　all；　F'lessan　estimated　quickly。　Some　of　the　older　folk　would　have　a　hard　time　scrambling　up　the　switchback　way　to　the　safety　of　the　cliff　height。
　　Dolphins！　Golanth　said。　Startled；　F'lessan　switched　his　gaze　to　the　sea。　Scarcely　fifty　meters　offshore；　where　the　shallows　sloped　into　deeper；　bluer　water；　the　curving　bodies　of　eight　or　ten　dolphins　dove　in　and　out：　but　not　idly。　He　could　hear　their　high…pitched　screeing。　He　was　accustomed　enough　to　their　graceful　movements　to　realize　that　their　antics　today　were　frantic。　Three　rose；　tail…walking；　then　splashed　heavily　back　into　the　water；　their　dorsal　fins　cutting　the　waves　they　made。　Their　squeeing　was　shrill　though　he　couldn't　hear　what　they　might　be　saying。
　　So　they　know！　Relief　diminished　at　least　that　worry　from　F'lessan's　mind。　Natua　and　her　calf；　all　the　Monaco　Bay　pod；　would　be　somewhere　safe。　I　can't　hear　them　but　it's　obvious　this　pod　is　trying　to　warn　the　seaholders！
　　If　they　are；　no　one's　watching　them；　Golanth　said；　gliding　in　to　a　landing。　We　will　be　more　noticeable。
　　〃Look！〃　One　of　the　youngsters　had　noticed　the　dolphins。　〃Da；　da；　the　dolphins！　They're　squeaking　their　warning　calls。　But　there's　no　storm！　What's　wrong　with　them？〃　So　the　boy　was　the　first　to　see　the　dragons　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　heard　the　grunts　as　dragon　feet　made　contact　and　skidded　in　the　soft　sand；　backwinging　adroitly　to　a　halt。
　　〃They　are　warning　you；〃　F'lessan　shouted；　hands　cupped　about　his　mouth。　〃That　fireball　in　the　sky。　It　will　land　in　the　sea　and　cause　tidal　waves。　Worse　than　the　worst　storm　you　ve　ever　been　in。〃
　　〃We　can　hear　you；　dragonrider；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　turning　slightly　toward　F'lessan　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　fascinating　orange　ball　that　was　far　more　of　a　spectacle　than　three　dragons。
　　〃They've　gone！〃　cried　the　youngster　with　keen　disappointment。　He　whirled　at　the　dragonriders　as　if　their　appearance　had　frightened　the　dolphins。
　　F'lessan　was　intensely　relieved　that　not　a　single　dorsal　fin　remained　visible。　They　might　be　cutting　it　fine　to　reach　safe　depths；　but　they'd　kept　their　pact　with　humans　once　again　in　giving　an　alarm。
　　〃The　dolphins。。。　the　shipfish；〃　he　continued　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　reach　those　still　mesmerized　by　the　vision；　〃are　warning　you。　Surely　you　know　they　consider　that　their　duty　to　all　sea　folk。〃　He　pointed　at　the　man　who　had　challenged　him。
　　〃Yeyah；　they　let　us　know　where　fish　schools；　when　squalls're　ing；　but　never　seen　'em　act　like　that　before。〃　The　man　preferred　to　watch　the　sinking　fireball　than　attend　the　dragonrider。
　　〃Look；　man；　it's　not　just　Thread　that　falls　from　the　skies！〃
　　F'lessan　said。　〃We're　here　to　move　you　to　the　cliffs；　up　there；　high　enough　to　be　away　from　the　wave。〃
　　〃Wave？〃　Another　man　walked　toward　F'lessan；　his　expression　patronizingly　amiable。　〃We're　well　above　the　high　tide。。。〃
　　〃Not　this　one；〃　F'lessan　said。
　　〃Ah；　now；　bronze　rider；　I　can　see　you　ain't　even　wearing　Monaco's　badge。　What　call　have　you　to…〃
　　〃We're　Monaco！〃　C'reel　said　and　St'ven　nodded　emphatically。　〃Listen　to　F'lessan；　Golanth's　rider！〃
　　〃We're　evacuating　you；〃　St'ven　added。　〃All　the　coastal　holds。　Eve