amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第41部分

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　　〃Must　be　a　chip　off　the　old　block　if　he　can　wheedle　amenities　out　of　Toric；〃　he　said。
　　M'rand　nodded　enthusiastic　agreement。　〃Well；　Bargen　brought　'em　all　up　to　work　hard　so　that　he'd　have　a　choice　when　it　es　time　for　him　to　quit　holding。〃
　　〃Which　is　why　we're　here；　Lessa；　F'lar；〃　Pilgra　said；　sitting　forward　on　the　edge　of　her　seat。　〃We　want　to　step　down。〃
　　〃Four　good　Wingleaders　who　know　every　bit　as　much　as　I　do　about　Threadfall；〃　M'rand　added　in　a　rush。　〃Weyr'll　follow　any　one　of　them。　Three　good　strong　queens　and　a　young　one　not　yet　old　enough　to　mate。　So　we　want　to　go　south。　Found　a　place　down　there　in　Cathay；　when　we　were　helping　after　the　Flood。　Small　bay；　protected　east　and　west；　not　a　big　holding　but　don't　want　a　big　one。　Got　four　to　five　weyrfolk　want　to　warm　their　bones　along　with　us。　Wanted　to　ask　you；　can　we？〃
　　〃Can　you？〃　F'lar　regarded　him　with　surprise。　〃Of　course　you　can。　You　and　Pilgra　have　done　more　than　your　share　of　flying；　in　this　Turn　and　the　old　one。〃
　　〃You　don't　think　we're　deserting？〃　Pilgra　directed　her　question　to　Lessa；　her　face　screwed　with　anxiety。
　　〃By　the　Egg；　no。〃　Lessa　leaned　across　the　space　between　them　and　patted　Pilgra's　hand；　noticing　the　brown　spots　and　the　puffiness　of　her　fingers　holding　the　glass。
　　〃Segrith　hasn't　had　any　of　the　old　urgings　to　fly；〃　Pilgra　went　on；　adding；　〃though　she's　clutched　every　two　Turns　since　we　got　here。〃
　　〃With　at　least　fifteen　eggs　and　all　living　to　fly。　I　wonder　you've　any　space　left　in　the　Weyr。〃
　　〃Well；　it's　space　another　queen　can　fill　from　now　on；〃　Pilgra　said　with　a　touch　of　asperity。　〃M'rand　wants　to　see　the　Pass　out　but。。。〃　and　she　raised　one　hand　in　a　helpless　gesture。
　　M'rand　cleared　his　throat；　leaned　forward；　elbows　on　his　knees。　〃Did　hope　to；　F'lar；　not　many　get　the　chance；　you　know。〃　His　grin　was　a　brief　echo　of　his　former　vitality　and　charm。　〃But；　after　seeing　the　place　in　Cathay；　what　with　R'mart　stepping　down；　I　thought　maybe；　with　three　queens　available　and　I've　got　some　fine　bronze　riders；　we　might。。。　well。。。　go　south　and　get　warm！〃
　　〃You　don't　have　to　ask　our　permission；　you　know；〃　Lessa　said　gently；　smiling　with　genuine　gratitude。　〃You　didn't　have　to　e　Forward　from　your　own　time　to　help　F'lar　and　me　during　this　Pass。〃
　　〃　'That　was　twice　decided；'　〃　M'rand　murmured　softly；　quoting　the　old　Question　Song。　〃We　came　because　that　was　what　we'd　done；　had　to　do；　did。〃
　　〃And；　for　thirty…one　Turns；　we've　been　grateful　for　your　splendid　generosity；〃　Lessa　said。
　　M'rand　demurred　with　a　chuckle。　〃Wasn't　having　as　much　fun　in　the　Interval。　I　was　young　enough　to　accept　the　challenge。　Now　I'm　old　enough　to　think　R'mart　was　right。　We　got　you　started　and　now　we　can　retire　in　good　faith。　Of　course；　he　still　wants　to　be　in　a　Weyr。　Ourselves；　we've　been　in　one　too　long　and　Pilgra　and　I'd　like　to　be　by　ourselves。　Not；〃　and　he　held　up　a　hasty　hand；　〃that　you　can't　call　on　us　and　our　dragons　whenever　you　need　to！〃
　　〃Now；　if　you're　trying　to　get　us　to　argue　you　into　staying　in　that　cold　Weyr　of　yours；　you've　e　to　the　wrong　ledge；〃　F'lar　said；　with　an　amused　tilt　to　his　mouth。　He　flicked　one　hand　at　M'rand。　〃Go；　rider；　and　enjoy　a　well…deserved　rest。　May　it　take　you　into　the　next　Interval。〃
　　〃You　mean　that？〃　Pilgra　turned　to　Lessa；　eyes　wide。
　　〃Who　thinks　this　is　wrong？〃　Lessa　wanted　to　know。　And　when　both　exchanged　uncertain　glances；　she　went　on。　〃Let　me　guess：　G'dened。〃
　　〃Well；　he's　the　oldest　of　us；〃　Pilgra　said。
　　M'rand　cleared　his　throat。　〃Stubborn；　too；　won't　let　go　at　Ista　because　he's　been　at　that　Weyr…〃　He　paused　to　guffaw。　〃…a　half　a　hundred　Turns　and　he　knows　all　there　is　to　know　about　leadership　and　Fall。〃
　　〃One　can　appreciate　such　a　sense　of　loyalty；〃　Lessa　said　after　a　moment；　and　smiled。　〃Tenacity；　too；　and　dedication；　sense　of　purpose；　perfectionism。〃
　　F'lar　dropped　his　head；　looking　away　from　Lessa　who　was　being　outrageous　and　sounding　so　sincere。
　　Pilgra　caught　it　first；　blinking　with　astonishment　as　Lessa　found　a　few　more　similar　adjectives。　Then　M'rand　roared　with　laughter；　which　turned　into　the　hacking　cough。
　　〃Go　before　you　die　of　the　cough　and　get　done　out　of　your　ease；〃　Lessa　said　sternly。
　　〃But…but…〃
　　〃Four　good　bronze　Wingleaders？　Let　each　one　lead　in　turn　during　the　next　Falls　until　a　queen　rises；〃　F'lar　said　pragmatically。　〃You'll　be　available　for　any　problems。　In　fact；　it'll　take　you　time　to　step　down　even　after　you　have。　Now　where's　this　splendid　cove　in　Cathay？　Did　you　think　to　get…ah；　you　did；〃　he　went　on　as　M'rand　withdrew　a　folded　paper。
　　〃Got　Master　Idarolan　to　do　the　map　work　for　me。　He's　good　at　that。〃　M'rand　offered　it　to　F'lar；　once　again　the　decisive　leader；　and　a　very　relieved　man。　〃I　don't　know　which　is　better　to　have；　map　readings　or　your　dragon　knowing　where　to　go。〃
　　Lessa　had　had　a　woodsmith　make　a　cabinet　with　long；　deep　drawers　where　they　could　store　the　documents　and　charts　that　displayed　chosen　sites　in　the　southern　continent。　The　fact　that　the　Weyrleaders　controlled　such　dispositions　rankled　with　many　but；　after　heated　debate　in　the　Council；　that　had　been　agreed。　What　had　also　been　stipulated　was　that　each　new　holding　had　to　be　self…sufficient　and　had　to　have　instructions　about　the　dangers；　as　well　as　the　advantages；　of　life　in　the　south。
　　F'lar　found　the　chart；　flipped　it　to　the　worktop；　angled　M'rand's　map；　and　found　the　coordinates。
　　〃You're　not　asking　for　very　much。〃
　　〃Don't　need　much；　and　it's　one　in　the　eye　for　Toric；〃　M'rand　said。
　　Pilgra　and　Lessa　came　over　as　F'lar　was　outlining　the　new　hold　with　a　silver　marker；　reserved　for　dragonriders。
　　〃A　hundred　square　meters？〃　Lessa　exclaimed。　〃A　patch！〃
　　〃The　nicest　patch　you　could　imagine；〃　Pilgra　assured　her　stolidly　and　started　to　describe　the　amenities。　〃There　might　even　have　been　an　Original　Settlement　there。　Stones　piled；　like　they　finally　fell；　and　just　where　you'd　get　a　marvelous　view　of　the　sea　below。　All　kinds　of　frees　and　it　was　so　warm　for　First　Month。〃
　　〃There　really　aren't　that　many　holdings　allotted　there　yet；　are　there？〃　M'rand　said；　surprised。
　　〃More　than　there　were；〃　Lessa　said；　〃and　far　fewer　than　there　will　be　when　certain　folk　can　make　up　their　minds。〃　She　favored　her　mate　with　a　dour　look。
　　〃More　than　I　expected；〃　Pilgra　said　with　a　sweeping　glance　of　the　chart。　〃That　isn't　all　of　Southern　there　is。〃
　　〃No；　it's　not；〃　F'lar　said；　tapping　the　drawer。　〃That's　just　the　Cathay　area；　eight　degrees　to　ten　degrees　longitude；　fifty　to　twenty　latitude。　From　the　aerial　photos　on　the　Aivas　scale；　so　they're　big　enough　to　delineate　holds。　I'll　send　the　official　register　down　to　Admin。〃　He　opened　another　drawer　and　took　out　the　register　documents；　which　he　tossed　back　inside。　Opened　a　third；　smaller　one　and　took　out　a　form。　〃This'll　be　your　Deed。〃　He　riffled　the　side　to　show　there　were　several　pages。　〃I'll　just　fill　it　in；　Lessa　and　I　will　sign　it；　and　get　it　witnessed　by　the　Weyr　harper　and　perhaps　Manora　or　G'bol　and　the　holding's　yours。〃
　　M'rand　blinked。　〃Just　like　that？〃
　　F'lar　grinned。　〃You're　Weyrleaders。　You're　entitled　to　your　choice　and　require　no　further　Council　authorization。〃　He　leaned　over　the　worktop；　filling　in　the　form；　printing　quickly　but　legibly；　M'rand　watching　him。
　　〃But　it　takes　other　people　so　much　longer？〃　Pilgra　asked；　cocking　her　head　to　one　side；　her　expression　concerned。
　　〃Other　people　take　only　as　long　as　fulfilling　the　requirements　of　emigrating　do；〃　Lessa　said。　〃Proof　of　being　reliable　people　from　hold　or　hall；　with　sufficient　skills　to　survive　in　what　can　be　hazardous　terrain…where　predators　are　bigger　than　the　largest　tunnel　snakes　they'd　encounter　here　in　the　north…and　a　definite　area　where　they　will　establish　a　new　hall　or　hold。　It's　no　more　than　was　required　by　the　original　Charter；　and　that's　another　reason　why　it's　important　that　everyone　knows　what's　in　the　Charter。〃
　　〃I　did　remind　you　of　that；　Pilgra；〃　M'rand　said；　regarding　his　weyrmate　with　a　jaundiced　look。　〃People　can　get　some　ridiculous　notions；　listening　to　drunken　Gather　talk。〃
　　F'lar　accorded　that　a　grumble；　checking　from　map　to　form　to　be　sure　he　had　the　longitude　and　latitude　correct　to　minutes　and　seconds。　〃That's　why　the　harpers　keep…you'll　excuse　the　pun…harping　on　the　subject　of　reading　and　understanding　the　Charter。〃
　　M'rand　started　to　chuckle；　it　turned　into　a　hard　coughing　spasm。　Anxiously　Pilgra　handed　him　the　rest　of　his　liqueur　and　Lessa　rushed　into　her　room；　ing　back　with　a　dark　brown　bottle　and　a　spoon。
　　〃Here！　Take　a　dose　of　this。　It's　reinforced　with　something　Oldive　found　in　the　Aivas　files　to　reduce　just　the　sort　of　hacking　cough　you　have。〃　She　measured　and　gave　him　the　dose。　〃Not　that　getting　into　the　sun　won't　correct　it　in　short　order。〃
　　F'lar　finished　the　official　Deed；　separated　the　copies；　and　shoved　one　with　M'rand's　original　little　map　into　a　plastic　sleeve。　While　M'rand　was　recovering　his　breath；　the　Benden　Weyrleader　presented　the　Deed　to　Pilgra　with　a　bow。　〃Take　him　there　today。〃
　　〃Today？〃　Pilgra　was　as　breathless　as　M'rand；　Deed　clutched　in　her　hand。
　　〃Certainly。　What　else　were　you　going　to　do　on　such　a　miserable　day？　Get　your　weyrfolk　to　pack　up　what　you　need　for　a　few　days：　plan　there；　'in　the　warm；'　〃　and　Lessa　pointed　southward；　〃what　else　you'll　need。〃
　　〃Go？　Today？〃
　　〃Think　what　a　pleasant　surprise　it'll　be　to　your　Wingleaders　and　the　junior　queens；〃　Lessa　said；　eyes　bright　and　wide　and　far　too　innocent。　When　Pilgra　looked　unhappy；　she　added　more　solicitously；　〃Oh；　they'll　miss　you　because　you're　both　good…hearted　and　fair。　But　who　would　fault　you？〃　She　shook　her　as　Pilgra　took　a　breath。　〃And　don't　say　old　leather…face　G'dened。　Cosira　has　her　work　cut　out　soothing　his　injured　feelings。　D'ram's　not　likely　to　gripe。　Living　in　Cove　Hold　has　put　Turns　on　his　life。　You're　both　popular　leaders　but　I　cannot　imagine　anyone　faulting　you　for　going；　and　making　the　break　quick。〃
　　F'lar　says　if　we　go　with　them；　Mnementh　told　Lessa；　it　will　stifle　any　plaints　G'dened　might　make。　He　adds；　don't　think　you'll　get　him　to　retire　so　easily。
　　Not　when　he's　twenty　Turns　younger　than　M'rand　and　G'dened。　I　expect　your　rider　to　finish　the　Pass　with　me！　Lessa　replied　stoutly。
　　And　me！　Ramoth　said。
　　〃We'll　e　with　you；〃　Lessa　said　out　loud；　brightly；　as　if　she　had　just　thought　of　it。
　　〃That's　a　better　way　to　spend　a　miserable　evening　than　anything　you've　e　up　with；　Lessa；〃　F'lar　remarked；　knowing　perfectly　well　he　would　pay　her　a　forfeit　later　for　such　a　remark。
　　Taking　into　consideration　the　difference　of　time　between　western　High　Reaches　and　eastern　Ruatha；　the　Benden　Weyrleaders　had　plenty　of　time　to　assist　M'rand　and　Pilgra　in　their　hurried　departure　south　and　get　back　to　Benden　for　a　late　supper。　In　the　interval；　they　had　supported　M'rand　and　Pilgra　in　his　explanations　to　their　Wingleaders　and　queen　riders；　organized　the　men　and　women　who　were　to　acpany　them　south；　and　allowed　M'rand　a　hurried　conference　with　his　Wingleaders；　some　of　whom　had　trouble　concealing　relief　and　anticipation。　Pilgra；　too；　spoke　to　her　queen　riders　（the　youngest　one　obviously　upset　and　the　older　three　eyeing　each　other　speculatively；　since　the　first　one　to　fly　to　ma