amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第45部分

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　〃should　have　happened　to　you　before；　Tai。〃　He　couldn't　help　making　fists　and　driving　them　into　the　rumpled　furs　of　the　bed。　〃I'm　appalled　and　concerned　that　you　were　so　abused。　That's　not　the　way　dragonriders　should　behave　even　when　the　dragon's　in　control。　I'm。。。〃
　　〃Sssh；〃　she　said；　reaching　up　to　lay　her　palm　against　his　cheek；　her　face　calm；　the　hint　of　a　smile　on　her　kiss…roughened　lips。
　　He　wished　he　could　see　her　eyes　but　there　was　so　little　light　filtering　through　from　the　hall。
　　〃I'm　glad　it　was　you　I　could　choose；〃　she　said。
　　〃I…〃　He　started　to　protest；　stunned　that；　despite　his　best　efforts；　she　had　somehow　sensed　his　wile。
　　〃I　know　me　well　enough；　F'lessan；〃　she　said；　putting　both　hands　on　his　face　now。　〃I　am　so　very　grateful　to　you。〃
　　〃Gratitude　in　a　snake's　arse；〃　he　said；　incensed。　He　wrapped　his　arms　around　her；　wanting　very　much　to　take　her　again；　and　with　human　lust。　〃It's　not　bloody　gratitude　I　want　from　you；　my　dear　Tai！〃　He　loosened　his　hold　when　he　felt　her　resist　with　a　hint　of　the　panic　she　had　shown　on　the　terrace。　He　made　his　body　relax　beside　hers；　looked　down　into　her　eyes；　wishing　he　could　see　the　expression　in　them；　the　color　they　were　right　now。　〃I　liked　you　when　we　first　met。　In　the　Archives。　I　know　you　knew　who　I　was；　that　Mirrim　had　probably　prejudiced　you　against　me。　Had　probably　said　I　was　reckless。　I'm　not。　I'm　a　good　Wingleader。　Riders　trust　me。　So　do　their　dragons。　I　want　you　to　choose　me；　of　your　own　free　will；　Tai。　I'd　like　to　choose　you；　too；　as　a　person　I　want　to　know　better；　not　just　because　your　green　went　into　heat　and　Golanth　was　the　only　dragon　available。〃
　　She　looked　up　at　him　for　a　long　time　and　then；　tentatively；　curled　one　hand　around　his　bare　shoulder。
　　〃How　did　you　manage　it？〃　Her　voice　was　low；　even。
　　〃How　did　I　manage…？〃　His　voice　broke　in　surprise。　She　meant　Zaranth　challenging　Golanth。　〃Believe　me；　it　is　not　something　even　I　could　manage！〃　A　laugh　burst　from　him。　〃Your　dragon　wanting　mine！〃
　　And　then　he　wondered。　Dragons　could　be　very　cunning。
　　〃Wasn't　there　one　dragon　in　Monaco　Zaranth　liked？〃　he　asked　quickly。　〃Didn't　Mirrim　tell　you　to　decide　which　rider　you　preferred　and　latch　on　to　him？〃
　　Her　eyes　slid　from　his　and　she　swallowed　hard。　〃Don't　go　after　Mirrim；　F'lessan。　She　said…　something　like　that。　But　I　didn't…　didn't　prefer　any　of　them。〃
　　〃He　didn't　have　to　be　Monacan；　you　know。〃
　　〃You're　angry　with　me　again。〃　Her　body　was　stiff　beneath　him。
　　〃With　you？　Again？　When　have　I　been　angry　with　you；　Tai？〃
　　〃When　you　got　back　from　Fort。〃
　　He　blinked。
　　〃When　you　found　me　swimming　after…after…〃
　　〃When　you　were　injured；〃　and　he　stressed　that　word；　〃trying　to　stop　those　sharding　vandals。〃　He　got　angry　just　thinking　about　that　attack。
　　〃You're　angry　with　me　again。〃
　　〃No；　I'm…〃　He　closed　his　lips　on　〃not〃　and　saw　that；　unaccountably；　she　was　smiling　a　little；　that　her　body　had　relaxed；　that　both　her　hands　were　lying　loosely　on　his　back。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　made　taut　muscles　loosen。　〃I'm　not　angry　with　you；　my　dear　Tai；　I'm　angry　for　you。〃
　　〃I'll　have　to　get　accustomed　to　the　difference。〃
　　〃Will　you；　my　very　dear　green？〃　he　asked　very　gently。
　　〃Will　I　what？〃
　　〃Want　to　get　accustomed　to　the　difference？　To　me？〃　He　searched　her　face；　rubbing　his　thumbs　gently　from　her　temples　to　her　cheeks。　〃I　do　so　very　much　want　to　know　you　better。〃　He　kissed　her　lightly　at　the　corner　of　her　mouth；　felt　her　lips　twitch　under　his。　Then；　carefully；　he　moved　to　one　side　of　her　long　body　and　pulled　her　against　him；　pressing　her　head　against　his　chest。
　　〃They're　lying　just　like　this；　you　know；〃　she　murmured。
　　He　smoothed　her　hair　back　and　settled　his　cheek　against　it。　〃Hmm。　I　know。　On　the　ledge。　But　they're　almost　asleep。〃
　　〃Aren't　we？〃
　　〃We。〃　He　liked　the　sound　of　that　and　especially　the　idea　of　sleep。　Of　sleeping　with　her　in　his　arms。
　　I　told　you　I　would　hunt　well；　he　thought　he　heard　his　dragon　say。　Had　Golanth　been　planning　a　very　subtle　courtship　after　all？　Just　as　his　rider　had？
　　
HARPER　HALL…1。28。31
　　〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃
　　Sebell　gave　a　start。　Pinch　closed　the　door　that　he　had　opened　so　quietly　that　his　Masterharper　had　not　even　heard　it。　He　grinned。
　　〃Losing　the　old　skills；　are　you；　Sebell？〃
　　〃So　long　as　you　don't；〃　Sebell　said　and　flipped　a　piece　of　paper　across　the　table；　nodding　for　Pinch　to　read　it。　〃From　Crom's　harper。〃
　　〃Serubil？　Sensible　man。　Knows　endless　verses　to　that　dreadful　'Down　the　Shafts。'　〃　Pinch　gave　a　revolted　shudder　as　he　stepped　forward　to　take　the　note。　His　eyes　brightened　as　he　scanned　it。　〃So　if　the　body　was　never　found；　even　if　the　trackers　were　delayed　looking；　Serubil　says　the　man　must　have　escaped。　Possibly　taken　the　river　down　to　the　plains。〃
　　〃Read　on。　There's　bad　news；　too。〃
　　〃Oh。　The　prisoner　did　have　a　missing　finger　joint。　No　facial　scar　though。〃　Pinch　sighed。　〃Well；　he　could　have　got　the　scar　on　one　of　those　early　forays　the　Abominators　made。　Or　even　during　or　after　his　escape；　you　know；〃　and　Pinch　eased　his　butt　to　the　edge　of　Sebell's　desk；　not　quite　disturbing　the　piles　of　papers　as　he　continued　to　read。　〃Didn't　we　send　every　harper　a　copy　of　the　sketch　I　made？〃
　　〃Thought　we　had。〃
　　〃Ah！〃　Pinch's　somewhat　sleepy　expression　brightened　as　he　read　further。　〃The　prisoner…did　the　man　have　no　name　at　all？…was　sentenced　for　life　to　the　Crom　mines　with　several　others　for　attacking　Aivas。〃
　　〃While　I　was　waiting　for　you　to　arrive；〃　and　Sebell　adroitly　teased　Pinch　though；　indeed；　Master　Mekelroy　must　have　hurried　to　the　Masterharper's　door　before　pausing　to　slip　inside　in　a　stealthy　fashion。　That　was　often　how　Pinch　entered　this　office；　in　stealth　and　at　night　or　other　inconvenient　hours。　〃I　had　time　to　review　Master　Robinton's　report　of　that　incident。〃
　　Sebell　stroked　the　blue　leather　cover　of　the　journal　and　opened　it　with　gentle　fingers　to　the　place　where　he　had　left　a　slip　of　paper。　〃Aivas　thwarted　the　attack　with　what　he　called　a　'sonic　barrage'…a　noise　so　fierce　and　penetrating　that　it　rendered　the　intruders　unconscious。　Aivas　said　that　some　aural　damage　might　be　permanent。　When　we　expressed　amazement　that　he　would　retaliate；　he　remarked　that；　and　I　quote　him；　'These　units　are　programmed　with　industrially　and　politically　valuable　information。　Unauthorized　access　and/or　destructive　actions　must；　therefore；　be　actively　discouraged；　and　this　has　always　been　a　minor　function　of　an　Aivas　facility。'　〃
　　Sebell　looked　up　from　the　open　pages　to　regard　Pinch。
　　〃Well；　yes。〃　Pinch　scratched　the　back　of　his　head。　〃　'Some　aural　damage　might　be　permanent。'　According　to　Serubil…〃　and　Pinch　rattled　the　message　in　his　hand；　〃…this　prisoner　was　deaf。　Maybe　he　recovered　his　hearing？　Convenient　and　useful　to　pretend　not　to　hear　if　someone　wanted　to　escape。〃
　　〃Yes；　in　the　next　paragraph；　Serubil　says　this　wasn't　the　man's　first　attempt。　However…〃　Sebell　held　up　a　finger；　〃neither　this　one　or　the　others　ever　gave　their　names。〃
　　〃If　they　were　deaf；　how　would　they　hear　even　that　question？〃　Pinch　asked。
　　Sebell　grimaced。　〃Usually　there　are　ways　to　get　across　as　simple　a　question　as　that。　Me；〃　and　he　punched　his　chest　with　his　thumb；　〃Sebell。　You？〃　He　widened　his　eyes；　assumed　an　interrogatory　expression；　and　pointed　at　Pinch。
　　〃Having　failed　to　crash　or　crush　Aivas；　the　last　thing　I　would　want　to　tell　was　my　name。〃
　　〃Good　point；　but…〃　And　Sebell　looked　down　the　closely　written；　beautifully　inscribed　handwriting　to　the　paragraph　he　wanted；　planting　his　finger　on　the　margin。　〃…while　the　men　carried　no　identification　whatever　in　their　clothes；　one　of　them　had　been　a　glassblower；　judging　by　the　pipe　calluses　on　his　hands　and　burn　scars　on　his　arms。〃　He　regarded　Pinch　with　an　anticipatory　expression。
　　〃And　Master　Norist　was　one　of　the　most　outspoken　adversaries　of　Aivas　and　his　new　techniques。　He　was　also　exiled　for　his　part　in　the　abduction　of　our　Master　Robinton。〃　Pinch's　face　went　as　bleak　as　Sebell's　at　that　reminder　of　the　man　both　had　respected；　admired；　and　loved。
　　〃Three　of　Master　Norist's　sons　were　journeymen　in　the　Glasscrafthall。　All　were　very　much　under　their　father's　control。〃
　　Pinch　considered　this。　〃Mind　you；　after　thirteen　Turns　in　a　mine；　pipe　calluses　might　not　last　but　burn　scars　made　by　hot　glass　do　not　fade。〃　He　cocked　his　head　at　his　Craftmaster。　〃So　I　should　take　a　sketch　of　our　good　friend　up　to　Serubil　and　maybe　question　some　of　the　prison　guards　about　those　burn　scars。　Someone　must　have　noticed　them　in　thirteen　Turns。〃
　　〃And　if　he　regained　his　hearing。〃
　　Pinch　gave　a　snort。　〃He'd　have　to　be　able　to　talk　if　he's　been　plotting　raids　and　selective　booty。〃
　　〃Find　out；　too；　will　you；　Pinch；　in　your　delightfully　subtle　way；　how　long　it　was　before　they　went　after　the　escaped　prisoner？　I'd　heard　tell　the　Smithcraft　gave　them　twenty　marks　for　that　meteorite。〃
　　Pinch　gave　an　appreciative　whistle。　〃No　wonder　the　latest　ones　have　made　such　a　stir。〃
　　Sebell　shifted　uneasily；　his　mouth　pursed　with　annoyance。
　　〃No　matter　how　much　they're　worth；　they're　causing　more　trouble　than　they　could　possibly　be　worth　to　the　Smithcraft。〃
　　〃Oh？〃
　　Sebell　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃The　one　on　the　Keroon　plains　has　the　hillmen　certain　they'll　have　a　fireball　next　and　aren't　the　dragonriders　going　to　blast　it　out　of　the　sky　before　it　falls　on　them　and　burns　up　all　the　fodder。〃
　　〃I　thought　the　one　in　Paradise　River　Hold　only　fell　through　a　roof？〃
　　〃It　harmed　nothing　and　Jayge　got　fifteen　Smith　marks　for　it。　He　also　said；〃　and　the　expression　on　Sebell's　face　suggested　to　Pinch　that　the　Masterharper　wished　that　Jayge　had　not　been　so　garrulous；　〃that　the　dolphins　had　seen　several　'hissy　hot'　objects　sink　into　the　sea　and　they'd　be　happy　to　dive　for　them。〃
　　Pinch　gave　an　indifferent　shrug。　〃From　what　I　remember；　meteorites　are　more　often　apt　to　e　down　at　sea　than　on　land　since　we　have　so　much　more　water　on　Pern。〃
　　〃That's　not　the　problem。　Even　people　who　should　know　better　are　demanding　that　the　Weyrs　send　out　more　sweep…riders　to　prevent　more　objects　falling　out　of　the　sky。〃
　　Pinch　gave　a　bark　of　laughter。　〃Dragons　can　move　fast　but　not　as　fast　as　a　meteorite。　And　meteorites　are　so　hot　when　they　hit　the　atmosphere　that　however　hot　dragon　flame　is；　it　couldn't　stop　a　meteorite…even　if　a　dragon　could　match　its　speed。〃
　　〃I　know；　I　know。〃　Sebell　sighed　gustily。
　　〃Now…〃　Pinch　rattled　Serubil's　message。　〃Why　don't　I　do　something　useful；　like　go　to　Crom　Minehold？〃
　　〃I've　asked　N'ton　to　have　you　conveyed。　You've　about　time　to　get　your　sketch　of　that　Abominator　and　change　into　riding　gear。〃
　　〃Good。　Bista　loves　going　a…dragonback。〃　Pinch　neatly　folded　Serubil's　message　and　put　it　in　a　thigh　pocket。　〃I　shan't　be　long。〃
　　〃I　hope　not。〃
　　He　was　back　by　late　evening。　This　time　he　knocked　discreetly　at　Sebell's　office　door　and　entered；　carrying　a　tray　with　a　klah　pot；　cups；　and　a　plate　of　sweet　biscuits。
　　〃1　do　not　e　empty…handed；〃　he　said　and　strode　to　set　the　tray　down　on　Sebell's　desk。　He　gave　the　piles　of　papers　a　quick　appraisal：　Sebell　seemed　to　have　made　little　headway　with　the　stacks。　〃Did　you　do　nothing　today　about　all　those　petitions？〃