amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第4部分

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　　〃There　are　more　folk　than　you　might　think；〃　Fifth　said　in　his　pelling　voice；　〃who　have　genuine　doubts　about　improvements　from　all　this　Aivas　stuff。　Machine　oughtn't　to　know　more　than　a　human　being　does。〃
　　First　gave　another　emphatic　nod　of　his　head　and　rose。　〃Be　right　back　with　some　other　right…thinking　human　beings。〃
　　By　the　end　of　the　evening；　there　were　over　twenty　〃right…thinking〃　men　and　women；　discussing　in　low　voices　the　possibility　that　the　Aivas　machine…the　〃Abomination〃　seemed　as　appropriate　a　name　as　it　had　been　for　the　original　protestors…might　not　have　the　good　of　real　people　at　heart；　it　being　a　machine　and　all。
　　No　one　exchanged　names　and　hold　or　hall　affiliations；　but　they　all　agreed　to　meet　at　the　next　Gather；　if　they　could。　They　agreed　to　find　out　who　else　might　wish　to　organize　a　protest　about　undesirable　and　possibly　detrimental　changes　that　were　introduced　as　〃progress。〃
　　It　surprised　First　and　Second；　but　not　Third；　Fourth；　Sixth；　and　Seventh…and　especially　not　Fifth…who　continued　to　use　those　numbers　as　their　Gather　identities；　that　many　people　had　grievances；　small　and　large；　real　or　fancied；　that　needed　to　be　aired　and　perhaps　addressed。　Fifth　never　again　spoke　about　the　synchronicity　of　the　death　of　the　Masterharper　and　the　Abomination；　but　that　little　rumor　bound　many　to　the　cause　who　might　not　have　given　it　much　credence。　Master　Robinton　had　been　very　popular；　and　if…if…that　Abomination　had　been　responsible　in　any　way　for　the　Masterharper's　death；　then　that　was　cause　enough　to　ally　against　it。　If　devices　or　procedures　they　couldn't　understand　were　sponsored　or　suggested　by　the　Abomination；　distrust　or　fear…along　with　that　damaging　rumor　of　which　death　had　been　first…supplied　an　impetus　that　could　be　successfully　channeled　into　action。
　　There　were　those　who　found　fulfillment　within　the　group　and　in　the　planning；　and　with　a　certain　perverse　joy　in　subtly　thwarting　〃progress〃　with　minor　deeds　of　damage。　But　for　others；　such　〃minor〃　deeds…which　did　not　cause　real　alarm　in　Hold　and　Hall；　or　have　deeper　consequences　in　preventing　the　making　and　distribution　of　more　and　more　abominable　devices…were　not　enough。
　　Though　it　caused　some　distress　to　healers　to　find　the　latest　shipments　of　new　preparations　from　the　Healer　Hall　missing　from　their　shelves；　it　did　not　immediately　occur　to　them　that　none　of　the　older　remedies　were　ever　stolen。
　　If　a　Crafthall；　manufacturing　parts　for　new　devices；　found　work　damaged　by　〃accidents〃　or　acids　spilled　on　packing　crates；　they　put　stronger　locks　on　their　hall　doors　and　kept　eyes　open　for　strangers　visiting　in　the　area。
　　If　the　Printer　Hall　found　discarded　sheets　missing　from　the　bin　in　which　the　ruined　paper　had　been　placed　for　recycling；　none　of　the　apprentices　thought　to　report　the　matter。
　　Then　the　Lilcamp　traders；　who　were　transporting　some　valuable　ponents　from　one　Smith　Hall　to　another；　found　the　carefully　packed　crates　missing　one　morning　and　reported　it　to　Master　Fandarel　at　Telgar　Smithcrafthall。　Fandarel　sent　an　indignant　message　to　Masterharper　Sebell；　reminding　him　that　this　was　by　no　means　the　first　time　delicate　items　had　mysteriously　disappeared　on　the　way　to　Smith　Halls。　One　of　the　healer　journeymen　had　casually　plained　about　having　to　resupply　new　medications　to　a　rather　large　number　of　healers；　working　in　isolated　areas。　Fandarel；　Sebell；　and　Masterhealer　Oldive　began　to　notice　such　depredations。
　　It　was　Master　Harper　Mekelroy；　better　known　to　the　Masterharper　as　Pinch；　who　sifted　through　such　incidents　and　found　a　pattern　to　the　thefts　and　pillaging。
　　
PART　I…Turnover
TURNOVER　AT　LANDING…1。1。31　PRESENT　PASS　AIVAS…AIVAS　ADJUSTED　TURN　2553
　　Since　it　was　not　at　all　unusual　for　dragonriders　to　be　found　poring　over　the　volumes　in　the　extensive　Aivas　archives；　F'lessan；　rider　of　bronze　Golanth；　was　not　surprised　to　see　a　girl　wearing　the　shoulder　knots　of　a　green　rider　from　Monaco　Bay　deeply　engrossed　in　study。　What　did　strike　him　as　odd　was　that　anyone　at　all　was　here　in　the　main　archive　reading　room　during　Turnover。　Tonight　the　planet；　north　and　south　continents；　would　officially　celebrate　the　beginning　of　the　thirty…second　Turn　of　the　present　and；　hopefully；　final　Pass　of　Threadfall。　Even　through　the　thick　walls　of　the　building；　he　could　hear　drums　and　occasionally　the　sound　of　the　brass　instruments　from　Landing's　Gather　Square。
　　Why　wasn't　the　girl；　especially　a　green　rider；　out　dancing？　Why　wasn't　he？　He　grimaced。　He　was　still　trying　to　overe　the　carelessly　lustful　reputation　that　he　had　earned　early　in　this　Pass。　Not　that　he　was　any　different　from　many　bronze　and　brown　riders。　〃Just　more　noticeable；〃　Mirrim　had　told　him　in　her　candid　fashion。　Mirrim　had　astonished　everyone；　including　herself；　when　she　had　Impressed　green　Path　at　a　Benden　Weyr　Hatching。　Being　T'gellan's　weyrmate　had　mellowed　her　natural　assertiveness；　but　she　never　spared　him　her　blunt　opinions。
　　The　girl　was　engrossed　in　her　study　of　a　foldout　page　depicting　Rukbat's　planetary　system；　spread　across　the　tilted　reading　desk。　Not　everyone's　reading　choice　certainly；　F'lessan　thought。
　　Many　of　the　younger　riders；　who　would　see　the　end　of　this　Pass　in　sixteen　Turns；　were　studying　to　bee　proficient　in　another　craft。　In　that　way　they　would　be　able　to　support　themselves　once　the　traditional　tithe　to　the　Weyrs　ceased。　While　Thread　still　fell；　Hold　and　Hall　would　continue　to　support　the　dragonriders；　in　exchange　for　aerial　protection　against　the　voracious　organism　that　could　destroy　anything　but　metal　and　stone。　But　when　Thread　ceased；　so　would　that　support。　Those　riders　whose　families　owned　holds　or　halls　might　simply　be　reabsorbed；　but　weyrbred　dragonriders　like　F'lessan　had　to　find　another　way。　Fortunately　for　F'lessan；　he　had　discovered　Honshu；　in　the　foothills　of　the　great　Southern　mountain　range；　and　since　the　Weyrs　had　wrung　out　of　the　council　that　loosely　governed　the　planet　the　concession　that　dragonriders　might　claim　holdings　on　the　Southern　continent；　F'lessan　had　claimed　Honshu　as　his。　He　had　based　most　of　his　argument　on　the　fact　that　he　intended　to　restore　and　preserve　the　Ancient　habitation　and　its　splendors　for　everyone　to　enjoy。　He　had　used　every　ounce　of　his　considerable　charm　and　every　jot　of　guile　with　other　Weyrleaders；　Craftmasters；　and　Lord　Holders　in　order　to　secure　that　title　to　himself。　And　once　the　formidable　intelligence　of　the　Artificial　Intelligence　Voice　Address　System…Aivas…and　the　bined　might　of　all　the　Weyrs　of　Pern　had　diverted　the　orbit　of　the　menacing　Red　Star；　he　had　begun　to　spend　all　the　time　he　could　spare　from　his　duties　as　a　Benden　Wingleader　in　refurbishing　Honshu。
　　F'lessan　had　never　been　a　studious　youngster…his　interests　as　well　as　his　concentration　span　had　been　limited　to　escaping　lessons　whenever　he　could　and　having　the　greatest　amount　of　fun。　Impressing　bronze　Golanth　had　imposed　discipline　at　last；　because　there　was　no　way　he　would　neglect　his　dragon。　He　had　learned　a　determination　and　focus　that　had　resulted　in　his　being　one　of　the　most　adept　riders；　held　up　as　a　fine　example…at　least　of　riding…by　weyrlingmasters。
　　Honshu　had　bee　another　passion。　The　Ancient　holding；　with　the　splendid　murals　in　its　main　hall；　had　exerted　a　strange　pulsion　on　him　from　the　start：　to　preserve　the　ancient　treasures　found　there　and　to　discover　as　much　as　possible　about　its　founders　and　residents。　With　the　boyish　impudence　that　was　his　most　ingenuous　characteristic；　he　had　appointed　himself　Honshu's　guardian　and　caretaker。　He　had　worked　harder　than　anyone　else　in　clearing　out　the　muck　and　mold　and　restoring　the　fabric　of　the　place。　Tonight　he　had　a　puzzle　he　wanted　to　solve。　He　had　specifically　chosen　this　time　to　e　to　the　Aivas　facility；　hoping　to　be　its　sole　visitor。　He　preferred　not　to　share　his　research…his　fascination　with　Honshu　was　at　odds　with　his　reputation。
　　You　protect　Honshu。　I　like　being　there　very　much；　said　his　dragon；　Golanth；　from　where　he　had　settled　himself　in　the　hot　noontime　sun　among　the　dragons　who　had　brought　their　riders　to　Landing's　Turnover　festivities。　Good　sunning　places；　clear　water；　and　many　fat　herdbeasts。
　　Still　paused　quietly　on　the　threshold　of　the　reading　room；　F'lessan　grinned。　You　found　it。　We'll　keep　it。
　　Yes；　Golanth　agreed　amiably。
　　F'lessan　stuffed　his　riding　gloves　into　the　Turnover　gift　of　a　fine　carisak；　giving　the　wide　cuffs　a　good　push；　the　new　wherhide　leather　was　stiff；　despite　the　good　oiling　he　had　given　it　yesterday　evening。　The　carisak　had　been　presented　to　him　by　Lessa　and　F'lar。　He　rarely　thought　of　them　as　〃mother〃　or　〃father〃：　they　were　his　Weyrleaders；　and　that　was　more　relevant。　His　birthing　day；　his　Impression　Day…the　day　marking　the　advent　of　Golanth　into　his　life…and　Turnover　were；　however；　always　recognized　by　some　gift　from　them。　F'lessan　didn't　know　if　this　was　occasioned　by　their　need　to　remind　him　of　his　parents；　or　themselves　of　their　son。　Fostering　was　the　rule　in　a　weyr；　so　no　child　was　without　several　people；　not　necessarily　the　birth　parents；　who　took　special　interest　in　him　or　her。　As　F'lessan　grew　up　and　saw　how　easygoing　life　was　in　a　weyr；　and　the　conformity　required　of　children　in　the　holds；　he　was　as　glad　he'd　been　weyrbred。
　　He　gave　the　gloves　one　more　shove　to　store　them　pletely；　but　still　he　hesitated　to　enter　the　room。　He　didn't　want　to　disturb　the　single　reader　who　was　so　engrossed　in　her　study　that　she　was　unaware　of　him　standing　there。
　　No　one　has　ever　disliked　your　pany；　said　his　dragon。
　　I　don't　like　to　break　into　such　concentration；　F'lessan　replied。　How　do　we　know　she　isn't　studying　an　alternative　occupation　for　After？
　　Dragons　will　always　be　needed　on　Pern；　Golanth　said　stoutly。
　　Golanth　was　fond　of　making　that　observation。　Almost　as　if　Golanth；　too；　needed　to　reassure　himself。　Maybe　it　was　just　the　mindset　of　a　bronze　dragon…or　more　likely　Mnementh's　in　particular；　since　F'lar's　great　bronze　took　a　keen　interest　in　the　subtle　tuition　of　any　bronzes　hatched　on　Benden's　sands。　However；　succeeding　F'lar　as　Weyrleader　of　Benden　was　most　certainly　not　in　F'lessan's　future　plans。　F'lessan　earnestly　hoped　that　F'lar　would　lead　the　Weyr　out　of　this　Pass：　a　triumph　in　itself；　over　and　above　what　F'lar　had　done　at　its　beginning　with　the　slender　force　he'd　had　available　then。　Being　Wingleader　suited　F'lessan's　blithe　personality；　especially　now　that　he　had　claimed　Honshu　as　his　special　domain。　Now；　if　the　Weyrleaders…or　rather　F'lar…would　just　e　out　and　say　that　he　and　Lessa　would　retire　there；　no　one　would　dare　contest　his　claim。
　　Unlike　the　position　of　Lord　Holders；　the　Weyrleadership　was　not　hereditary。　A　good　example　was　the　recent　stepping　down　of　R'mart　and　Bedella　of　Telgar。　To　establish　the　new　leadership；　the　challenge　had　been　for　the　best　bronze　in　the　Weyr　to　fly　the　first　junior　queen　ready　to　mate。　J'fery；　rider　of　bronze　Willerth；　was　now　Telgar's　Weyrleader；　and　Palla；　golden　Talmanth's　rider；　was　Weyrwoman。　F'lessan　knew　them　both　well；　and　knew　they　would　lead　Telgar　Weyr　well　under　Threadfree　skies。
　　If　we　don't　make　the　arrogant　mistakes　that　the　Oldtimers　did；　F'lessan　added　to　himself；　and　expect　to　continue　receiving　the　perquisites　due　the　Weyrs　during　a　Pass；　once　ther