amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第38部分

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　　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　we'll　need　time　to　wind　down；〃　he　said；　ing　up　behind　her。　〃Sorry；〃　he　added　as　she　whirled　around；　spilling　some　of　her　wine。　〃Don't　waste　it。〃
　　〃You　startled　me。〃
　　〃So　I　see。　Again；　my　apologies。〃
　　She　flicked　her　hand　in　dismissal　and　seemed　hesitant。
　　〃So　you　noticed　it；　too；〃　he　said；　gesturing　to　the　northeast　where　a　silvery　glow　arched　in　the　general　direction　of　Monaco。
　　She　sighed　and　then　looked　up；　where　the　light　from　other　stars　was　undiminished。
　　〃Yes；　but　Rigel's　still　there。〃　She　pointed　at　the　first　magnitude　star　above　them。
　　〃Hard　to　miss；〃　he　said；　laughing　softly。　〃And　Betelgeuse；〃　he　said；　subtly　testing　her　knowledge　of　the　southern　night　sky。　She　looked　in　the　appropriate　direction　and　he　chuckled。
　　〃Also　Acrux；　and　Becrux；〃　she　quickly　added；　taking　up　his　challenge。　〃The　one　forty　degrees　away　is　Gacrux。　Erragon　said　there　was　a　fourth　star　in　what　the　Ancients　called　the　Southern　Cross　but　you　can't　find　it　with　the　naked　eye。〃
　　〃I'll　match　those　with　Shaula　and　Antares；〃　and　he　lightly　touched　her　shoulder　to　turn　her　toward　Adhara。
　　〃I　am　glad　that　you　retained　Honshu's　old　name；〃　she　said　softly；　her　voice　rough　with　fatigue。　〃I　think　it　is　honorable　that　we　use　the　names　the　Ancients　had　for　their　places；　and　their　stars。〃
　　〃Why　not？　They　brought　the　names　with　them。　The　stars　haven't　moved　that　much　and　there　are　bright　ones　in　our　skies　that　the　Ancients　saw　from　old　Earth　only　as　dim　ones。〃
　　〃It　isn't　the　stars　we　have　to　worry　about；〃　Tai　said；　her　voice　as　weary　as　the　sudden　slump　in　her　shoulders。
　　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　he　agreed　tiredly；　〃but　it's　good　to　see　they　don't　change。　I've　a　pair　of　binoculars；　you　know；　if　you'd　like　to　use　them　tomorrow　night。〃
　　〃You　do？〃　Excitement　briefly　sparkled　in　tired　eyes　and　then　she　sighed。　〃Tomorrow；　if　you'd　trust　me　with　them。　They're。。。　hard　to　e　by。〃
　　F'lessan　managed　a　wry　grin。　〃I've　known　Piemur　and　Jancis　a　long　time；　you　see；　so　I　snuck　to　the　top　of　the　list。　Besides；　they're　very　keen　to　get　the　Honshu　instrument　working。　A　bit　of　extortion！〃
　　〃Extortion？〃　That　startled　her。
　　〃It's　all　friendly。　A　dare　and　challenge　situation；〃　he　assured　her。　〃Tomorrow　night　then。　We　both　need　the　sleep　tonight。〃　He　put　his　hand　lightly　on　the　small　of　her　back　and　gave　a　push。
　　Quietly　they　left　the　Upper　terrace　and　separated　in　the　hall　inside。　For　this　one　night；　fire…lizards　would　stand　watch。　F'lessan　shared　his　room　with　the　last　to　arrive：　T'lion；　bronze　Gadareth's　rider；　and　his　brother；　K'drin；　brown　Buleth's　rider。　Fortunately；　neither　snored。
　　
PART　3…Aftermath
HONSHU…1。10。31　
　　F'lessan　found　himself　awake　at　Benden's　usual　dawn　hour　though　night　lingered　at　Honshu。
　　Ramoth　says　we　must　e　back　to　Benden；　Golanth　told　him。　The　brown　riders　will　visit　your　seaholders。　They　are　Monaco's　people；　not　Benden's。
　　F'lessan　quietly　gathered　his　clothing；　hoping　to　have　a　chance　to　bathe　and　change；　and　left　his　room　without　waking　the　others。　He　took　a　quick　shower；　there'd　be　many　people　wanting　one。　He　was　glad　he'd　fixed　the　cisterns。　As　he　padded　down　the　stairs；　past　many　sleepers；　the　pungent　and　irresistible　odor　of　fresh　klah　told　him　someone　else　was　awake。　He　heard　voices；　arguing　quietly　but　intensely。　Well；　that　was　their　problem；　whoever　it　was。　He　needed　klah。
　　He　slid　open　the　panel　into　the　kitchen　and　nearly　ducked　out　again　when　he　saw　that　it　was　Mirrim　and　Tai　who　were　bickering。　Or　rather；　Mirrim　was　ranting　at　Tai；　who　kept　saying　〃No；　I　didn't；〃　〃No；　the　children　came　first；〃　and　〃I　don't　know　how。〃
　　Zaranth　says；　Golanth　told　him；　that　Mirrim　thinks　Tai　deserted　the　Weyr's　children　to　save　her　skins。
　　Skins？
　　Her　pelts　from　the　Cardiff　felines。
　　She　saved　the　children。　I　sent　you　with　her。
　　Zaranth　says　she　got　the　skins。
　　How　could　she？　F'lessan　looked　from　Mirrim's　angry　face　to　Tai's　pale　one。　You　were　with　her。　She　came　and　went　with　you。
　　〃Golanth　says　Zaranth　was　with　him　all　the　time；　transporting　children；〃　F'lessan　said　and　strode　across　the　counter　to　the　huge　urn　of　klah。　He'd　have　a　cup　no　matter　what　the　argument　was。
　　Mirrim　whirled　toward　him。　〃She　didn't　have　the　skins　when　she　got　to　the　Weyr。　She　did　have　them　when　she　left。〃
　　〃I　didn't　get　them。〃
　　She's　telling　the　truth；　Golanth　said。
　　〃Golanth　says　Tai's　telling　the　truth；　Mirrim；　so　leave　her　alone。〃
　　〃Then　how　did　she　get　them？〃　Mirrim　demanded。
　　〃I　didn't！〃　Tai　was　taut　with　anger　and　frustration。　〃If　I'd　had　time　to　get　to　my　place；　I'd've　saved　my　books　and　notes。　Not　sharding　pelts。〃
　　〃Pelts　like　that　would　have　given　you　enough　credit　to　buy　new　books；〃　Mirrim　countered。
　　〃Ahha；　but　not　her　notes；　Mirrim。　Golanth　says　she's　telling　the　truth。　Now　leave　it！〃　F'lessan　rarely　spoke　in　such　a　tone。　Mirrim　gulped；　and　swallowed　whatever　she　had　been　about　to　say。　F'lessan　used　her　silence　to　drink　as　much　hot　klah　as　he　could。　〃Thanks；　whoever　brewed　the　klah。〃　He　looked　toward　the　pale；　tense　Tai　and　smiled；　indicating　he　was　certain　she'd　made　the　klah。
　　〃I　couldn't　sleep；〃　she　murmured。
　　〃And；　if　that　doesn't…〃　Mirrim　began。
　　〃I　told　you　to　leave　it；　Mirrim！〃　F'lessan　took　a　menacing　step　toward　Mirrim　who　unexpectedly　gave　ground。　He　saw　the　meatrolls　on　the　counter　behind　Tai　and；　stepping　around　her；　grabbed　a　handful。　〃Thanks；　Tai。　Besides　which；　Mirrim；　I　didn't　see　the　pelts　on　Zaranth's　saddle　until　Landing。〃
　　As　he　hurriedly　slid　the　door　open　to　leave；　he　heard　Mirrim　sputtering　behind　him。　He　bumped　into　T'gellan　who　looked　thin　and　haggard　despite　a　night's　sleep。
　　〃No　matter　what　Mirrim　says；　Gell；　Golanth　says　Tai's　not　lying。　Good　flying　today。〃
　　He　raced　down　the　stairs　and　out　the　wide　door　to　the　main　terrace　before　he　sat　down　to　put　on　boots　and　jacket；　allowing　Golanth　time　to　arrive　from　wherever　he　had　weyred　that　night。　Slits　of　blue　and　green　dragon　eyes　on　the　terraces　above　watched　him　mount　but　closed　again　before　Golanth　tilted　off　the　ledge　and　made　his　first　wingstroke。　Far　to　the　east　was　the　brightening　of　the　sky　on　a　new　day。
　　And　what　does　it　have　in　store　for　us？　F'lessan　wondered。
　　Tai　was　telling　the　truth。
　　I　know。
　　Zaranth　saved　the　pelts。
　　I　suppose；　F'lessan　said　facetiously；　because　she　didn't　know　which　books　and　notes　to　save。
　　Quite　likely。　Ramoth　calls　me。
　　With　that；　the　bronze　went　between。
　　Considering　what　filled　the　day；　it　was　not　at　all　surprising　F'lessan　did　not　dwell　on　that　exchange。　He　and　Golanth　conveyed　people　and　necessities　to　various　Benden　coastal　holdings；　reporting　on　how　the　flooded　areas　were　draining；　occasionally　using　dragon　strength　to　shift　wave…driven　debris；　and　everywhere　he　had　to　explain　that　the　dragons　could　not　have　stopped　the　Fireball　from　hitting　nor　held　back　the　tsunami。　He　was　repeatedly　asked　why　Thread　was　still　falling　now　that　the　Red　Star　was　supposed　to　be　gone。　Few　understood　that　the　Red　Star　had　only　shepherded　Thread　close　to　Pern　and　what　was　falling　now　was　what　the　Red　Star　had　dragged　in　behind　it。
　　At　first　he'd　used　diagrams　on　the　sand；　in　the　dirt；　or　on　a　piece　of　paper：　a　big　circle　for　the　Sun；　a　much　smaller　one　for　Pern；　tiny　ones　for　the　two　moons。　He'd　draw　the　orbit　of　the　Red　Star；　and　show　how　it　swooped　down　and　around　Pern；　then　out；　carrying　with　it　the　cloud　of　Thread。
　　〃Why　does　it　take　so　long？〃　he　was　asked。
　　〃Thread's　been　on　its　way　and　it　takes　between　forty…five　and　fifty　of　our　Turns　to　get　past　it　again。〃
　　Then　he'd　be　asked　why　the　Fireball　had　dropped。　He　answered　that　by　saying　it　had　been　a　leftover　fragment　from　the　Turnover　Ghosts；　lost　trying　to　follow　the　others。　（That　might　not　be　exactly　the　truth；　Masters　Wansor；　Idarolan；　and　the　newly　promoted　Master　Erragon　still　had　to　deliver　an　official　verdict；　but　at　least　most　people　had　seen　Ghosts　and　could　accept　the　little　fiction。）　He'd　drop　another　stone…the　Fireball…into　the　water　and　show　them　how　the　tsunami　was　like　the　ripples。　It　was；　he　knew；　an　explanation；　not　an　answer。　He　didn't　know　what　the　answer　was；　especially　for　those　who'd　lost　a　lot　to　〃ripples。〃
　　Back　at　Benden　Weyr；　no　one　had　the　energy　or　the　wish　to　settle　on　a　better　explanation。　Or　an　answer。　The　next　day　Benden　was　flying　Thread　so；　after　eating　quickly　and　checking　on　S'lan　to　be　sure　the　lad　was　holding　up　well；　he　retired　to　his　weyr；　checking　his　safety　harness　and　wondering　if　he　could　afford　new　leather　pants　to　replace　the　ones　the　last　few　days　had　split；　torn；　and　scraped。　F'lessan　remembered　Tai's　fine　pelts。　Well；　there　were　plenty　of　felines　to　be　hunted　near　Honshu。　He　could　probably　trade　such　pelts　for　wherhide　pants　from　the　Weyr's　tanner。　It'd　be　fun　to　hunt　with　Tai　and　Zaranth。　Golanth　agreed。　So　F'lessan　gave　the　drowsing　bronze　an　affectionate　rub　and　went　out　to　the　ledge　of　his　weyr。　He　clasped　his　arms　with　his　hands　against　the　chill。　During　those　earlier　lessons　with　Aivas；　he　had　made　himself　familiar　with　the　names　of　the　brightest　stars　to　be　seen　in　Benden's　wintry　skies。　Canopus　was　low　on　the　horizon；　Girtab　outshining　her。
　　He　really　ought　to　get　to　work　now；　to　make　Honshu　a　viable　part　of　what　dragonriders　could　〃do〃　to　protect　the　planet。　That　was　at　least　obvious　to　him。　He　had　no　idea　how　a　dragon；　or　all　the　dragons　of　Pern；　could　stop　another　fireball…they　didn't　have　any　more　antimatter　engines　to　drop　on　them；　he　thought　wryly…but　it　made　a　lot　of　good　sense　to　find　out　if　anything　else　was　likely　to　impact　any　time　soon。　From　some　scrap　of　those　nearly　disregarded　astronomy　lessons；　he　remembered　that　hazardous　impacts　were　infrequent。　There　were　a　few　documented；　like　the　Circle　Runner　Station　and　the　most　recent　meteorite　that　had　rammed　into　the　prison　yard　at　Crom　Minehold。
　　Wansor；　old　Lytol；　and　D'ram　were　certainly　working　all　out　on　updating　orbits　with　Erragon　down　at　Cove　Hold。　The　skies　currently　above　Pern　had　altered　within　Rukbat's　system　since　the　colonists　had　first　surveyed　it　twenty…five　hundred　and　fifty…three　Turns　ago。　Asteroids　had　collided；　broken　up　into　different　pieces；　spinning　into　new　orbits。　Perhaps　one　of　them　had　been　the　Fireball。　Others；　like　the　erratic　wanderer　inaccurately　called　the　Red　Star　had　entered　the　system　as　ets　or　fragments。　In　the　spare　moments　F'lessan　had　had；　he'd　reviewed　his　old　astronomy　notes　from　his　classes　with　Aivas。　A　long…forgotten　lesson　reminded　him　that　the　Yoko　got　its　information　from　what　the　Ancients　had　called　〃a　southern　array　of　satellites。〃　Aivas　had　once　mentioned　the　absence　of　a　northern　array；　which　would　have　given　a　much　clearer　picture　of　minor　planets；　ets；　and　other　orbiting　bodies。　He　remembered　that　there　were　more　telescopes　stored　in　the　Catherine　Caves；　which　probably　would　have　been　set　up　in　observatories　to　keep　track　of　such　objects。　Old　Earth　certainly　had　known　exactly　what　was　in　its　solar　system。　But　no　one　had　anticipated　the　Red　Star　and　Thread　falling　on　Pern。
　　Thread　m