amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第39部分

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　　Thread　must　have　sharded　a　lot　of　the　colonists'　plans；　F'lessan　thought　to　himself。
　　To　identify　what　now　circled　in　Pern's　spatially　near　vicinity　would　need　more　than　however　many　apprentices　and　journeymen　currently　worked　at　Cove　Hold。　The　telescope　in　the　ingenious　observatory　that　old　Kenjo　had　contrived　was　the　type　that　required　a　puter　and　a　screen　to　display　what　it　saw。　The　l0x50mm　binoculars　he　had　wheedled　out　of　Jancis　worked　well　enough。　With　these　he　had　been　able　to　spot　what　were　marked　in　the　Aivas　charts　as　minor　planets　and　the　larger　objects　in　the　asteroid　belt。　But　to　have　an　instrument　that　would　produce　images　that　one　could　study　in　detail！　That　would　help　enormously　in　charting　the　skies。　He　grinned；　rubbing　his　cold　arms。　And　maybe　he'd　get　Tai　to　help　him。　Ah！
　　When　the　entire　furor　over　the　Flood　had　eased　down；　he　was　sure　he　could　now　get　authorization　from　Master　Wansor　to　withdraw　the　appropriate　boards　and　crystals　out　of　storage　at　Admin　to　be　able　to　focus　the　primary　mirror。　Aivas　had　taught　him　how　to　assemble　a　puter。　Benelek；　another　of　his　old　friends　and　now　Master　of　the　puter　Hall；　could　probably　be　talked　into　helping　him。　Screens　were　harder　to　e　by；　but　he　might　just　cajole　Stinar　into　giving　him　a　spare　one；　if　he　promised　regular　reports　of　what　the　ancient　Schmidt…type　telescope　detected。
　　Enough　stargazing。　He　had　a　tiring　day　ahead　of　him。　He　hadn't　had　a　chance　to　show　Tai　where　he　kept　the　binoculars　or　the　stand。　Much　less　the　glory　of　the　Honshu　observatory。　As　he　turned　on　his　heels　and　walked　quickly　back　into　his　weyr；　out　of　the　cold；　he　smiled　to　himself：　she'd　like　that！
　　
CIRCLE　RUNNER　STATION…1。18。31
　　〃Not　the　first　time　things　have　fallen　on　Pern　that　weren't　Thread！〃　Chesmic；　Circle's　garrulous　Stationmaster；　said　to　the　two　men　who　had　asked　for　a　night's　shelter。　Since　it　was　extremely　cold　and　there　was　enough　in　the　stew　pot　for　two　more；　Chesmic　allowed　them　in。　Besides；　he　could　use　a　new　audience。　Every　other　Runner　gathered　for　a　warm　meal　before　continuing　their　runs　had　already　heard　his　usual　tale。
　　〃Why　d'you　think　we　call　this　place　Circle？〃　he　went　on；　glancing　first　at　one　and　then　the　other。
　　〃Do　tell　us；〃　the　younger　man　said；　his　tone　so　close　to　downright　rudeness　that　Chesmic　almost　didn't　continue。
　　〃Do　tell　us。〃　The　older　man　with　the　scarred　face　spoke　more　courteously；　in　a　deep；　oddly　muffled　voice。　When　he　broke　off　a　piece　of　bread　from　the　big　loaf　in　the　center　of　the　table；　Chesmic　noticed　that　he　was　minus　the　top　joint　of　the　first　finger　on　his　left　hand。
　　〃Not　because　it's　built　round。〃　As　he　took　up　his　tale　again；　Chesmic's　penetrating　glare　included　everyone　at　his　table　and　their　quiet　conversations　stopped。　〃Which　it　ain't。　But；　'cos　o'　that　great　hole　out　there！〃　He　pointed　in　the　appropriate　direction。　〃Twenty　good　paces　from　the　front　door　and　twice　as　deep　as　the　tallest　man　ever　growed。　'Cos　that's　where　that…〃　and　now　he　pointed　to　the　twisted　black　fragment　displayed　in　a　niche　in　the　stone　wall；　〃…landed！〃
　　Of　the　two　guests；　only　the　older　man　looked　at　it。　His　panion　assumed　a　supercilious　smile　as　he　continued　to　spoon　stew　into　his　face。　At　least；　Chesmic　thought；　they　won't　plain　they　hadn't　been　well　fed　at　Circle。
　　〃Nothing　pared　to　what　the　Fireball　did；〃　the　younger　man　said；　openly　contemptuous。　〃Never　should　have　messed　with　the　Red　Star。〃
　　〃That…〃　Chesmic　waggled　his　hand　toward　the　crater；　〃fell　over　a　thousand　Turns　ago　before　Aivas　had　the　dragonriders　push　the　Red　Star　out　of　harm's　way。〃　He　rushed　on　before　the　arrogant　young　man　could　do　more　than　open　his　mouth。　〃So　it　stands　to　reason　there　ain't　no　connection　twixt　it　and　the　thing　what　plowed　through　Crom　Minehold。　Both　of　them　are　meteorites。〃　He　pronounced　each　syllable。　〃Ain't　the　first　that　have　fallen。　Fireball　was　a　different　thing　altogether。　Right？〃　he　asked　the　Runners。
　　They　murmured　agreement　with　him。
　　〃Does　Crom　Minehold　display　its　meteorite　as　you　do？〃　asked　the　older　man　in　his　odd　speech。
　　Chesmic　couldn't　quite　place　the　man's　accent。　He　was　certainly　not　from　Keroon；　Keroonians　drawled…that　is；　when　they　spoke　at　all。　Nor　was　he　from　the　eastern　coast。　Runners　bred　there　spoke　in　crisp　tones。　West　coasters　did；　too；　though　they　accented　some　words　differently。　That　was　it。　The　man　had　no　accent；　no　tone　to　his　words：　he　just　spoke　them　and　sometimes　blurred　the　t's　and　d's　and　n's。
　　〃Naw；　sold　it　to　the　SmithCraftHall　for　more　marks　than　the　mines've　earned　in　Turns。〃　Chesmic　did　not　wholly　approve　of　that　sale　but　it　had　been　their　meteorite。　Not　that　he　couldn't　have　sold　his　to　the　SmithCraftHall；　if　he　felt　like　it；　but　you　couldn't　sell　something　that　had　been　in　his　family　so　long。　Wouldn't　be　right！
　　〃I　heard　that　they　think　it's　part　of　the　Red　Star；〃　the　young　man　said；　a　sly　gleam　in　his　eyes。
　　〃That's　a　bundle　of　snake　wallop；〃　Chesmic　replied　contemptuously。　He　pointed　skyward。　〃Iffen　the　Red　Star　had　broke　up…which　Masters　Erragon　and　Stinar　and　Wansor　has　seen　through　Cove　Hold　that　it　hasn't…we'd　have　rocks　falling　down　all　over　the　planet。　And　we　don't。〃
　　〃That　Fireball　made　enough　trouble　for　us；〃　one　of　the　Runners　said。
　　〃It　was　wrong　to　move　the　Red　Star；〃　the　older　man　said；　his　face　somber　and　his　voice　forbidding。　〃It　has　circled　Pern　for　centuries　and　to　alter　its　course　is　a　bad　deed。〃
　　〃Oh；　it's　still　to　circle　Pern；〃　Chesmic　agreed。　〃Just　not　close　enough　to　drop　Thread　on　us　again。〃
　　〃Thread；　and　the　dragonriders　flaming　it　out　of　our　skies；　is　tradition。　So　many　have　been　broken。　So　much　has　Aivas　corrupted　our　way　of　life；　our　traditions。〃
　　There　was　something　about　the　man's　toneless　voice　that　caught　you　up　in　his　words　but　Chesmic　knew　about　traditions。　Runners　followed　ones　that　belonged　to　the　first　CraftHall　to　be　formed　at　Fort　Hold。
　　〃There　isn't　a　Runner　on　any　trace　on　Pern；　north　or　south；　that　does　not　follow　tradition。　And　since　you've　both　finished　eating；　you'd　best　make　use　of　the　beds　that　tradition…〃　Chesmic　paused　to　be　sure　these　strangers　understood　what　he　meant。〃…requires　us　to　offer　travelers　during　winter。〃　He　rose　and　gestured　toward　the　loft　steps。
　　The　older　one　rose　and　bowed。　So　did　the　younger　man；　but　his　expression　was　sullen　as　they　both　made　their　way　to　the　sleeping　loft。
　　Mulling　over　the　unease　he　had　felt　about　that　pair；　Chesmic　recalled　the　description　that　Prilla　had　given　of　the　man　who'd　stopped　her　on　the　trace　to　carry　a　message　onward。　Definitely　it　had　been　the　older　fellow；　for　Prilla　had　mentioned　his　odd　deep　voice。　He'd've　been　wearing　a　hat；　possibly；　so　the　scar　wouldn't've　been　so　noticeable。　Of　course　he'd　paid　his　mark　piece　for　the　service　or　Prilla　wouldn't　have　carried　it　a　stride　farther。　But　why'd　a　fellow　waylay　a　Runner　when　he　could　have　easily　brought　it　to　the　Station　and　had　it　logged　on　and　all　in　the　proper　manner？
　　
HARPER　HALL
　　Well　into　the　next　month；　as　the　flooded　coasts　drained　and；　in　most　cases；　resumed　their　previous　contours；　food　and　materials　were　sent　by　almost　every　inland　hold；　minor　or　major　on　both　continents；　to　sustain　and　rebuild　drowned　holds。　Messages　bulged　Runner　pouches　and　fire…lizards　carried　more；　finding　out　who　needed　what　and　where。　Shipmasters　volunteered　free　cargo　space　and；　on　the　days　between　Threadfalls；　riders　offered　the　services　of　their　dragons　and　themselves。　In　the　atmosphere　of　renewed　friendships　and　mutual　assistance；　the　unfortunate　occurrences　at　Turn's　End　faded　in　the　press　of　other　priorities。　The　general　movement　of　materiel　and　people　included　some　of　those　in　whom　Pinch　had　an　interest。　He　did　know　that　messages　were　sent；　but　not　to　whom　or　their　content。　None　of　the　people　he　watched　so　assiduously　had　fire…lizards；　which　proved　that　fire…lizards　wouldn't　e　to　just　anyone　who　fed　them。　He　could　never　quite　get　close　enough　to　hear　their　discreet　conferences。　He'd　e　back　to　Harper　Hall　to　report；　get　some　new　clothes　and　marks。
　　He　found　Sebell　in　his　office；　piles　of　odd…sized　papers　on　his　desk；　held　down　by　rocks。
　　〃Well；　e　to　do　your　share　of　petitions？〃　Sebell　asked；　gesturing　to　the　mess。
　　Pinch　groaned　and　looked　away。　〃Bad　timing　on　my　part。〃
　　Traditionally　all　petitions　presented　at　Turnover　were　forwarded　to　the　Harper　Hall　and　read　by　a　special　group　of　journeymen　and　masters　who　determined　which　were　urgent　enough　to　be　submitted　to　the　Council　at　Telgar　on　the　first　of　the　Third　month。　Some　of　the　petitions　should　have　been　handled　at　Hold　level。　However；　if　there　were　sufficient　plaints　brought　against　major　or　minor　Holders；　the　Council　was　the　best　place　to　decide　if　the　matter　should　be　investigated　further。　Pinch　was　often　assigned　to　get　specific　information。
　　〃I'll　do　my　share。　I　always　do。　I'll　look　at　any　in　Keroon；　Igen；　or　Bitra…I　know　most　of　the　troublemakers　there　anyhow。〃
　　Sebell　gave　a　little　smile。　〃Not　much　from　Bitra　so　far。　Sousmal　seems　to　be　taking　such　good　hold　that　everyone's　happy　with　him。〃
　　Pinch　widened　his　eyes；　moved　one　pile　of　papers　to　hitch　his　hip　up　onto　the　desk。　〃For　now！　How　about　those　sketches　I　sent　you？　Any　of　that　trio　known？〃
　　〃Woman's　from　Tillek；　rather　a　sour　contentious　sort；　apprenticed　to　local　healer　hall　but　released　prior　to　her　third　term　as　unsuitable　to　the　Craft。　Petitioned　Lord　Ranrel　to　be　given　her　father's　hold　in　preference　to　the　younger　brother　who　had　been　named　by　their　father；　evidently　with　a　specific　instruction　that　she　was　not　to　be　considered。　She　and　the　brother　had　a　huge　dispute　and　she　left。　Hasn't　been　seen　since　Tillek's　autumn　Gather　last　Turn。〃
　　〃So　she's　holdless？〃
　　Sebell　shrugged；　searching　briefly　in　the　wide　drawer　under　his　desk　and　finding　the　three　sketches。　〃One　of　the　Traders　through　here…a　Lilcamp…recognized　this　fellow。〃　He　tapped　the　one　with　the　missing　index　finger。　〃Travels　a　lot。　Does　his　share　when　asked；　can　put　his　hand　to　a　lot　of　jobs；　has　a　habit　of　asking　questions。　Funny　sort　of　voice；　too。〃　He　paused。　〃Young　Sev　mentioned　the　questions　were…how　do　I　put　it…provocative。〃
　　〃Provocative？　And　he　asked　Traders？〃　Pinch　was　mildly　surprised　by　such　gall。
　　〃They　see　a　lot　of　people　and　are　smart　enough　to　know　what's　going　on　where　and　how　folks　are　reacting。　Better　than　Runners　who　can't　stay　long　anywhere。〃
　　〃They're　helping　though；〃　Pinch　said。　〃Chesmic　up　at　Circle　Hold　says　he's　had　strangers　in；　sending　messages；　and　others　leaving　them　at　a　Runner　Halt；　a　half　mark　left　to　pay　carriage。〃
　　Sebell　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃Overpaying？　Bribing？〃
　　〃Not　when　Chesmic　tells　me。〃
　　〃Does　he　know　you're　Harper？〃
　　〃Doesn't　ask。〃　Pinch's　eyes　danced　with　amusement。　〃By　the　bye；〃　he　added；　his　grin　turning　malicious；　〃did　you　know　that　the　window　glass　that　broke　during　the　shock　wave　was　all　made　by　Master　Norist？　None　of　Master　Morilton's　shattered！　Another　point　for　our　new　technology。〃　Then　he　cocked　his　head。　〃Do　we　know；　officially　or　unofficially；　if　the…ah…exiles　survived　the　Flood？〃
　　Sebell　pursed　his　lips　and　regarded　his　panion。　〃Has　there　been　a　question　about　that？〃
　　〃Not　in　so　many　wo