amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第37部分

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　　〃There're　always　the　Catherine　Caves；〃　F'lessan　said；　trying　for　some　levity。
　　〃Too　small　for　our　dragons；〃　C'reel　said；　with　good…natured　condescension。
　　〃Move　on　there；　if　you're　loaded　up；〃　someone　yelled　at　them。
　　They　did。　Zaranth　following　F'lessan；　C'reel；　and　St'ven　out　of　the　line。
　　〃Have　you　ever　been　to　Honshu？〃　F'lessan　asked　Tai。
　　〃Got　taken　there　once。　Oh；　Zaranth　says　Golanth　just　made　sure　she　knows　the　landmark。　I'll　see　you！〃
　　Zaranth　trotted　away；　sacks　bouncing　on　her　back；　until　she　had　enough　clear　space　to　launch　herself。
　　Tell　her　good　flying；　Golanth。　F'lessan　experienced　an　unusual　sense　of　apprehension　for　the　green　rider。
　　She　is　strong。　Zaranth　is　strong。　The　sooner　we　go；　the　quicker　we　get　to　Honshu。　Honshu　is　quiet；　his　bronze　told　him　and　F'lessan　couldn't　agree　more。
　　St'ven　and　C'reel　mounted　over　the　supplies。　He　wondered　if　they　were　as　unfortable　as　he　felt；　perched　on　sacks　with　hard　things　prodding　into　his　legs。　He　latched　his　helmet；　made　sure　his　jacket　was　closed　and；　raising　his　arm　high；　pumped　it　to　direct　his　panions　upward。
　　Let's　not　make　shallow　jumps　a　habit；　brown　riders；　he　said；　waiting　until　they　were　well　above　the　surface。　Then　he　extended　his　arm　southward　to　their　destinations。　We　all　know　where　we're　going？
　　Riders　and　dragons　acknowledged。
　　Let's　go。
　　ing　out　above　an　almost　obscenely　quiet　sea　front　where　Sunrise　Cliff　Seahold　had　been　was　as　much　a　shock　to　F'lessan　as　to　the　other　riders：　he　could　hear　their　exclamations　above　the　sad　noises　all　three　dragons　made。
　　There　might　never　have　been　human　habitation　here。　Waves　splashed　idly　against　granite　cliffs　instead　of　wide　white　sands　in　grassy　dunes；　waters　draining　muddily　back　from　the　break　in　the　cliff　face　that　had　been　a　streambed。　From　the　flotsam　deposited；　piled　in　places；　they　could　see　how　far　inland　the　tsunami　had　coursed。　It　had　not　yet　pulled　back　far　enough　to　show　what　might　be　left　of　the　cotholds。　Whole　tree　trunks　floated　on　the　waves；　idly　being　pushed　in　by　the　high　water。　It　was　logical　to　assume　that　these　had　been　swept　from　the　islands　just　off　the　coast。　Most　were　craggy；　with　no　place　for　a　holding　of　any　sort；　except　near　the　summits；　but　they　had　supported　the　same　variety　of　fruit　and　timber　trees　that　grew　on　this　part　of　the　continent。　And　the　fish　would　return　to　an　area　rich　in　feed。
　　Mealth　sees　smoke；　Golanth　told　his　rider　and　turned　his　head。
　　F'lessan　let　out　his　breath。　He　hadn't　known　he'd　been　holding　it。　His　throat　ached。　He　hadn't　a　doubt　that　Lady　Medda　had　organized　everything　to　her　satisfaction。　Odd　that　there　was　still　light　in　the　sky…a　strange　sort　of　luminescence；　possibly　something　to　do　with　that　sharding　fragment。　After　today　he　was　going　to　review　his　old　astronomy　lessons　and　he　doubted　he'd　be　the　only　one。
　　Let's　see　where　the　fire　is。
　　Someone　is　waving　a　banner　near　the　forest；　Golanth　said；　and　picked　up　the　beat　of　his　wings；　angling　slightly　over　the　summit。
　　Why　were　his　binoculars　in　Benden　when　he　needed　them　here？　But　he　could　make　out　quite　a　few　figures；　several　waving　what　were　probably　the　shirts　from　their　backs。　He　hoped　they'd　saved　more　clothing　when　he　remembered　the　full　nets　that　had　been　conveyed　to　the　cliff　top。
　　She　is　there！　Golanth　said　and　F'lessan　looked　about　for　a　green　dragon　and　her　rider。　The　old　one。　In　her　chair。
　　And　so　she　was；　looking　dry；　her　hair　carefully　plaited；　her　rocking　motion　reflective。　It　stopped　at　the　sight　of　the　ining　trio　of　dragons。　They　were　cheered　as　they　landed　and　would　have　been　weled；　but　a　barked　mand　from　Binness　kept　all　at　their　chores。　A　circle　of　stones　acmodated　a　brisk　hot　fire　over　which　two　huge　kettles　had　been　set　on　tripods。　One　was　already　steaming。　At　the　forest　edge；　two　men　were　skinning　a　herdbeast；　fallen　fruit　had　been　gathered　and　lay　in　nets　to　one　side；　and　wood　was　stacked　under　an　oilskin。
　　Binness；　his　arms　bandaged　where　Golanth　had　seized　him；　came　to　meet　them；　limping　a　bit。　He　was　still　barefoot；　curling　his　toes　up　from　the　coarse　ground　cover。
　　〃Didn't　expect　you　back；　dragonrider；〃　Lady　Medda　said。
　　〃You　didn't　think　we'd　check　to　be　sure　you'd　survived；　Lady　Medda？〃　F'lessan　asked；　grinning。
　　Binness　shrugged。　〃Mostly　the　only　time　we　see　dragonriders　is　Threadfall　but　you　saved　us　from　far　worse　today。　And　three　boats。〃　He　nodded　solemnly　to　where　the　dories　had　been　propped　up　on　stout　branches　to　provide　shelter　for　sleeping　children。
　　〃Landing　has　sent　water；　bread；　klah；　glowbaskets；　hand　lights；　medical　supplies；　and　canvas　for　tenting；〃　F'lessan　said　cheerfully。
　　〃It's　warm　enough　these　nights；〃　Binness　said；　tilting　his　head　back。
　　〃I　believe　there're　wineskins；　too；　which　we　thought　you　might　be　in　need　of；〃　St'ven　added；　grinning。
　　〃Did　I　hear　him　say　'wine；'　Binness？〃　shouted　Lady　Medda。
　　〃Grand　dam　you　have；　Binness；〃　F'lessan　said。
　　〃Bring　him　and　the　wine　here；　Binness。　We've　only　herbal　leaves　to　serve　but　it's　my　own　recipe。　Puts　heart　in　man　or　beast。　Wine'll　increase　its　medicinal　value。〃
　　〃Anyone　wounded？　Sick？〃　F'lessan　asked　Binness　when　he　had　dismounted　with　one　wineskin　in　his　free　hand。
　　〃More　shocky　than　hurt。　May　I　have　your　name；　dragonrider？〃　Binness　asked　with　a　respectful　bow。　〃I　thought　I　was　dead；　between　that　wave　and　the　cliff。〃
　　〃F'lessan；　Golanth's　rider；　Benden　Wingleader。〃
　　They　had　reached　her　in　her　chair　which；　F'lessan　could　now　see；　rocked　on　a　square　of　worn　rug；　with　a　footstool　to　prop　her　swollen　feet。　The　dragonrider　bowed　respectfully　to　the　indomitable　old　woman。
　　〃Lady　Medda！〃
　　〃I'm　no　lady；〃　she　replied　with　vigor　but　she　smiled　at　him　coquettishly。　〃Not　but　what　I　haven't　had　a　dragonrider　or　two　warm　my　bed　at　night。〃
　　〃Granddam！〃　Binness　was　shocked。　〃That's　no　way　to　speak　to　the　man　who　saved　us。〃
　　〃Did　you　thank　him　for　saving　you？〃　Her　sharp　blue　eyes　pinned　her　son　before　she　turned　on　F'lessan。　〃He　thanked　you　proper？〃
　　〃He　did　and　Golanth　and　I　were　glad　to　be　in　time。〃
　　〃In　time？〃　She　gave　him　a　long　startled　glare。　〃Closest　run　thing　I　ever　saw。　An'　only　a　foolish　dragonrider　would've　risked　his　neck　and　his　dragon's　for　my　son。　Though　I'm　glad　you　did。　He's　my　eldest。〃　Then　she　flicked　her　hand；　dismissing　Binness；　and　peered　shrewdly　up　at　F'lessan。　〃How'd　they　fare　at　Monaco？　I　remember　it's　flattish　there。　Someone　bring　a　cup　for　the　dragonrider。　For　the　others；　too。〃
　　〃Monaco　is　flooded；〃　F'lessan　said；　quickly；　sparing　C'reel　and　St'ven　the　need　to　answer　such　a　painful　query。　He　waved　away　the　cup　that　a　girl　offered。　〃There　is　much　to　do。　We　can't　stay　long。　I'm　to　ask　what　supplies　you'll　need　to　rebuild。〃
　　〃Ach！〃　Lady　Medda　flipped　her　hand。　〃We'll　see　what's　left　us。　There'll　be　stone　enough　to　rebuild。　You　saved　some　of　the　dories。　S'all　we　need。〃
　　F'lessan　gave　her　another　respectful　bow。
　　〃We'll　be　back　in　a　day　or　so；〃　C'reel　said。　St'ven　reinforced　the　promise　with　a　quick　nod。
　　〃And　you；　young　F'lessan？〃　the　old　lady　asked；　pointing　her　stick　at　him　and　rocking　her　chair　forward　so　that　it　nearly　touched　him。
　　〃Would　that　I　could　match　you；　Lady　Medda；〃　he　said　with　his　most　charming　smile　and　backed　away。　As　he　strode　to　Golanth　and　vaulted　astride；　he　could　hear　her　laughter；　a　genuine　rippling　laugh；　not　an　auntie's　cackle。　He　gave　a　final　wave　to　all　before　asking　Golanth　to　launch。　Properly；　not　over　the　cliff　edge；　he　added。
　　They　reported　the　particulars　of　Sunrise　Cliff　Seahold　to　a　harried　archivist　who　had　set　up　a　temporary　office　in　a　tent　on　the　edge　of　Landing's　Gather　square。　When　they　were　done；　the　archivist　waved　them　in　the　direction　of　the　tables　on　the　other　side　where　food　was　being　served　and　remarked　that　they　would　doubtless　hear　from　their　Weyr　queen　when　and　where　they　would　be　needed。
　　〃You　wouldn't　happen　to　know　where　what's　left　of　Monaco　Weyr　is　being　acmodated？〃　C'reel　asked。
　　〃No；　no；　over　there。　She'll　know。〃　The　man　waved　his　pen　vaguely。
　　〃Well；　I　could　use　clean　clothes；〃　C'reel　said；　noticing　that　clothing　was　being　stacked　at　the　north　side　of　the　square。
　　〃Me；　too；〃　St'ven　said。　Although　F'lessan　kept　extra　clothing　at　Honshu；　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　supply　more　than　a　few。
　　All　at　once；　the　heat　of　the　square；　the　noise　of　those　thronging　about；　the　day's　exigencies　seemed　too　much　to　endure　a　moment　longer。
　　〃You　get　clothing；　C'reel；　St'ven；〃　he　said。　〃Find　out　where　the　rest　of　your　Weyr　is　quartered。　I'll　get　to　Honshu　and　make　ready　for　you。〃
　　To　F'lessan's　dismay；　Mirrim　was　already　there；　and　had　organized　the　couples　who　were　holding　a　little　north　of　the　Weyrhold。　He　had　thought　her　safely　stuck　at　Landing。　He　should　have　known　better。　He　should　also　be　grateful　to　her…or　try　to　act　as　if　he　were…though　she　still　tended　to　give　orders　to　him。　Very　soon　after　his　arrival；　he　was　genuinely　glad　she　had　e。　She　was　the　one　who　had　organized　food　and　there　was　succulent　meat　grilling　on　the　main　terrace　for　the　many　Monaco　Weyr　riders　who　had　taken　up　his　invitation。　Tai　was　one　of　them。　He　would　have　liked　to　be　able　to　show　her　around　Honshu；　especially　the　observatory　and　the　telescope。。。　one　of　his　most　treasured　possessions。
　　He　had　found　it　when　he　and　Golanth　had　been　repairing　solar　panels　on　the　Cliffside　and　discovered　the　thin；　straight　seams　on　what　appeared　to　be　solid　rock；　but　were　instead　halves　of　an　observatory　dome。　Getting　in　had　been　another　problem；　but　the　telescope；　covered　in　that　thin　film　that　the　Ancients　had　used…vacuum　packing；　Aivas　had　called　it…was　still　on　its　U…shaped　mounting。　Wansor　and　Erragon　had　been　excited　about　its　existence　but　warned　F'lessan　that　awakening　the　scope　would　require　a　great　deal　of　preparation：　it　required　a　puter　to　direct　and　focus　it；　and　a　screen　to　show　what　it　observed。
　　Tonight　he　didn't　have　the　energy　to　climb　that　long　spiral　staircase　and　he　was　reasonably　certain　Tai　didn't　either。
　　Honshu's　sprawling　precipice；　its　two　terraces　and　ledges；　were　so　covered　with　dragons　that　soon　others　had　to　find　space　on　the　rocky　terraces　down　by　the　river。　Their　numbers　would　be　sufficient　to　keep　away　the　herdbeasts　who　often　came　for　shelter　in　the　lower　cave　as　well　as　the　felines　who　hunted　them。　Even　in　the　early　days　of　its　discovery；　Honshu　had　never　had　so　many　human　guests。
　　Sitting　on　one　of　the　few　chairs　on　the　main　terrace；　F'lessan　airily　advised　each　new　arrival　to　dump　his　or　her　flying　gear　on　any　unoccupied　space　and　e　back　for　food。　T'gellan　had　brought　four　wineskins　and　St'ven　and　C'reel　added　two　kegs　of　the　light　beer　Landing　brewed。　From　Honshu's　deep　cellars；　F'lessan　sacrificed　some　of　the　good　Benden　he　had　put　aside　for　a　special　occasion；　surviving　this　day　could　be　considered　in　that　category。　There　was　enough　for　everyone　to　have　at　least　a　cup　of　beer　or　wine。　That　would　be　sufficient　for　men　and　women　who　had　served　double　the　hours　a　day　usually　spanned。
　　Unaccustomed　to　having　〃his〃　space　at　Honshu　so　overly　populated；　F'lessan　took　his　wine　up　to　the　second　terrace　and　was　delighted　to　find　Tai　there。
　　〃I　suppose　w