amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第49部分

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　　The　MasterPrinter　managed　one　sip　of　the　hot　liquid。　〃What　do　I　do？　I'll　need　guards。　My　apprentices　aren't　going　to　be　enough！〃
　　Pinch　raised　hands　to　silence　him。　〃Of　course　they　aren't。　Nice　enough　lads　but　not　trained；　though　I　suspect　Marley's　a　good　man　in　a　brawl；　but　my　reinforcements　here…〃　He　gestured　broadly　at　the　young　people　who　were　quietly　sipping　klah。　〃…have　a　few　tricks　and　they　know　one　end　of　a　brush　from　another。　We've　arrived　timely；　too；　since　Beauty　was　here　and　my　suspicions　have　been　confirmed　by　the　Runners。〃　He　grinned　brightly　at　Tagetarl。　〃Dragonriders　aren't　the　only　ones　who　can　be　where　they're　needed　when　they're　needed。〃
　　Tagetarl's　jaw　dropped　at　what　was　almost　a　profane　remark　from　a　harper。
　　〃Now　you've　finished　your　klah；　boys　and　girls；　we've　a　lot　to　do　before　daylight。　Smear　the　retardant　on　anything　wooden。　The　gloves　may　be　clumsy　but　they'll　save　your　skin。　Work　quietly；　if　you　please。　I　don't　want　even　to　hear　the　slap　of　brushes　on　the　wood。　You've　all　had　practice。〃
　　While　two　of　the　group　gathered　the　cups　and　set　them　in　the　sink；　the　others　went　out；　collecting　their　supplies　and　quietly　leaving　by　the　kitchen　porch。　Tagetarl　glanced　out　the　window　and；　in　the　dim　predawn　light；　could　barely　see　the　other　side　of　the　wide　court。
　　〃Stuff's　dark　going　on；　dries　transparent。　Don't　worry；〃　Pinch　said；　rising　to　refill　the　kettle　from　the　tap　at　the　sink　and　put　it　back　on　the　stove。　As　he　swung　his　leg　over　the　stool；　he　took　a　sheet　from　a　pocket　and　smoothed　it　on　the　table　in　front　of　Tagetarl。　〃Seen　him　around　here　lately？〃
　　Tagetarl　frowned。　〃That's　the　same　man　you　drew　the　last　time　you　were　here。　I　thought　he　looked　familiar。　I　thought　it　odd　of　him　to　ask　for　a　copy　of　Teaching　Ballads。　I'd　actually　filled　an　order　for　Lord　Kashman　and　had　none　in　stock。　Told　him　to　e　back　in　a　sevenday。〃
　　Pinch　nodded　as　if　that　wasn't　news　to　him。　〃Tomorrow。〃
　　〃You　mean；　he　plans　to　just　walk　in　here。。。〃　Tagetarl　was　appalled　when　he　remembered　the　incident。　〃I　showed　him　through　the　Hall。　It　seemed　only　courteous。〃
　　Pinch's　smile　was　sardonic。　〃I　hope　you　limited　it　to　the　Hall。〃
　　〃I　did；　but　I　also　mentioned　how　many　apprentices　I'm　training。〃　Tagetarl　slammed　his　forehead　with　his　hand。　How　naive　of　him！　Had　he　lost　all　his　Harper…trained　acuity？　He　had　seven　lads；　none　of　them　fully　grown　except　Marley；　and　three　girls；　who　were　all　of　them　light…boned；　hired　for　their　quick　fingers。　Add　in　the　eight　Pinch　had　brought…
　　〃Don't　fret；〃　Pinch　said　soothingly。　〃You'd　no　cause…then…to　suspect　anything。　No　reason　not　to　be　courteous。　You　are；　after　all；　offering　a　special　service。　Even　if　the　Abominators　don't　like　it。〃
　　Tagetarl　swallowed；　the　hot　klah　cooling　too　rapidly　in　his　belly　to　give　him　the　fort　it　usually　did。　〃How　many　were　there　in　that　attack　on　the　Healer　Hall？　Ten？　No；　fifteen。〃
　　〃I'd　say　there'd　have　to　be　at　least　ten　for　the　job　here；〃　Pinch　said　casually；　as　if　that　made　no　difference。　〃Had　any　other　'curious'　visitors　lately？〃
　　Tagetarl　buried　his　face　in　his　hands；　rubbing　it　and　then　scrubbing　his　scalp　with　his　knuckles。　〃Quite　likely　and　all　of　them　seemed　perfectly　reasonable　folk。〃
　　〃They　may　well　be；〃　Pinch　remarked　amiably；　〃except　those　who　get　a　notion　that　you're　a　wicked　tool　of　the　Abominator　because　you　can　turn　out　whole　books　in　days　instead　of　months。〃
　　Tagetarl　groaned。
　　Pinch　reached　over　and　patted　Tagetarl　on　the　shoulder。　〃But　we've　warning　and　I　know　who…and　what…to　be　looking　for。〃
　　〃The　three　sketches　you　showed　me？〃
　　〃I'm　hoping　all　three　will　e　to　this　party。〃　Pinch's　expression　turned　enigmatic。
　　〃Party？〃　Tagetarl　was　livid。
　　〃Evening　exercise；　if　you　prefer。　Since　they　expect　to　surprise　you；　we'll　just　prepare　a　few　of　our　own。〃　He　rose　and　Bista　glided　from　her　perch　on　the　windowsill　to　his　shoulder。　〃I'll　go　give　them　a　hand。〃　When　Tagetarl　started　to　rise；　throwing　off　the　last　of　this　infamous　shock；　Pinch　motioned　to　the　kettle。　〃We'll　need　a　lot　more　klah。　And　don't　notice　me　walking　about　today；　will　you？　The　others'll　hide　in　the　loft。　Just　don't　send　anyone　up　there；　will　you？　Fine。　We　brought　food　and　water　with　us。　No　one　will　know　we're　here。〃
　　He　started　to　leave；　and　then　stopped；　putting　up　a　hand　to　steady　his　gold　fire…lizard　on　his　shoulder。
　　〃There's　one　more　thing；　Tag；〃　he　went　on。　〃You　might　just　get　an　unexpected　gift；　like　a　skin　of　good　wine。　Don't　even　sample　it　out　of　courtesy。　Or　any　provisions　offered　in　kind　for　books　received。〃
　　〃What？〃　Tagetarl　bristled　at　that。　They　did　take　fresh　fruit　or　meat　in　return　for　printing。　Would　an　Abominator　stoop　to　poison？　Then　he　remembered　that　Master　Robinton　had　been　drugged　at　the　Ruatha　Gather　and　abducted　right　in　front　of　hundreds　of　people。　〃How　many　are　involved？〃
　　Pinch　gave　an　indolent　shrug。　〃Don't　know；　but　Abominators　seem　to　work　in　groups。　Since　they　intend　to　damage　the　Hall；　they'll　bring　enough　brawn　to　smash　stuff　around。　There　are　still　persons；〃　and　he　heaved　a　sigh　for　those　so　misguided；　〃who'll　do　any　job　that　drops　marks　in　their　pockets。〃
　　Tagetarl　shuddered；　he　had　a　vivid　picture　of　the　Hall；　paper　burning；　toner　powder　splotching　the　whitewashed　walls；　hammers　smashing　his　presses；　even　if　Pinch　seemed　certain　that　fire　could　be　prevented。
　　〃You　are　not　reassuring　me；　Pinch！〃　he　said　in　a　caustic　tone。
　　〃While　we　want　them　to　get　in；〃　Pinch　said；　〃to　show　that　they　had　evil　intentions；　we　want　to　keep　them　from　getting　out。〃　His　grin　was　malicious。　〃That'll　be　easier　to　do；　you　know。〃
　　〃No；　I　don't　know；　but　this　is　just　the　sort　of　adventure　you　enjoy！〃
　　〃You　used　to；　too；　in　your　younger　days；　Tag；〃　the　Harper　said　with　an　unrepentant　grin。　〃Until　you　got　your　Mastery　and　started　a　new　Hall。〃　He　rose　before　Tagetarl　could　marshal　a　stern　rebuttal。　〃By　the　way；　if　you　should　hear　someone　whistling；〃　and　he　provided　a　trill；　〃that's　me。　If　you　hear　this　one；〃　and　the　intervals　of　the　five　notes　in　the　next　warble　were　very　odd　indeed；　like　some　of　the　quartet　music　Menolly　liked　to　write　for　very　experienced　players；　〃that　means　someone　suspicious　close。　Got　'em？〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　Tagetarl　replied　with　some　heat。　〃I'm　a　Master　Harper。　Which　reminds　me：　where　did　you　so　handily　assemble　that　crew　of　yours？　One　of　the　Halls？〃　There　was　something　familiar　about　them　that　Tagetarl　couldn't　place。
　　〃Here　and　there；〃　Pinch　replied　enigmatically　but　added　with　uncharacteristic　candor。　〃Runners；　a　few　of　'em　are　seafolk　waiting　for　a　ship；　useful　types。　All　vouched　for；　I　assure　you。　Ran　me　ragged　getting　here　in　time。　Quick　over　the　roof；　too。〃　He　glanced　outside。　〃Experienced　with　brushes。。。　of　all　sorts。〃
　　Then　he　and　Bista　were　out　of　the　kitchen　before　Tagetarl　could　ask　anything　else。　Bewildered　by　Pinch　and　the　imminent　threat　to　his　Hall；　Tagetarl　looked　around；　wondering　how　he　was　going　to　break　this　news　to　Rosheen。　Well；　if　he　washed　the　cups　and　put　them　away；　she　wouldn't　know　at　first　glance　that　there　had　been　early　morning　visitors。
　　　
HONSHU　HOLD…2。9。31
　　〃e；　my　dear　Tai；〃　F'lessan　said　as　she　entered　the　kitchen　area　at　Honshu；　〃we　will　eat…and　get　down　to　business。〃　He　rose　and　came　to　meet　her。
　　She　gave　him　a　wary　smile。　He　had　a　tendency　to　jump　in　different　directions；　as　if　he　enjoyed　catching　her　off　balance。　He　probably　did。　She'd　thought　that；　once　Golanth　had　flown　Zaranth；　F'lessan　would　disengage　from　her；　perhaps　more　kindly　than　others　had。　On　the　contrary；　he　had　insisted　that　she　remain　at　Honshu；　that　she　choose　a　room　as　her　own…though　they　mainly　shared　the　large　one　he　preferred；　and　had　shown　her　every　part　of　an　installation　that　must　have　originally　been　designed　to　support　a　large　population。　She　hadn't　known　there　were　so　many　levels　in　the　stone　mountain。　She　loved　the　well…equipped　machine　and　tool　room；　just　off　the　ground　level　where　the　covered　hulk　of　an　Ancient's　sled　was　stored。　The　night　of　the　Fireball；　when　so　many　displaced　Monacans　had　found　shelter　at　Honshu；　had　probably　been　the　first　time　in　centuries　the　Weyrhold　had　been　even　half　full。
　　He　encouraged　her　to　talk　about　her　interest　in　astronomy　and　managed　to　bring　texts　from　the　Archives　that　she　was　certain　Master　Esselin　did　not　realize　he　had　borrowed。　He　was　very　conscientious　about　returning　them。
　　〃We've　put　it　off　long　enough；　I　think！〃
　　A　sparkle　in　his　eye　was　all　the　warning　she　had　before　he　swung　her　up　in　his　arms　and　twirled　around。　She　clung　to　his　shoulders；　not　fearing　that　he　would　drop　her；　but　so　she　had　this　excuse　to　touch　him。　She　wasn't　yet　accustomed　to　either　his　spontaneity　or　his　preference　for　touching　but　she　was　learning　to　wele　them。　His　gray　eyes　echoed　his　smile。　If　she　weren't　so　familiar　with　the　weather　and　worry　lines　on　his　face；　she'd've　thought　him　much　younger　than　she　knew　him　to　be　when　he　smiled　like　that。　Such　an　open；　merry　smile！
　　〃Put　what　off？〃　she　said；　humoring　his　mood。　He　wanted　to　surprise　her；　that　was　certain。
　　〃It's　a　beautiful　clear　night。〃　He　paused　tantalizingly；　and　then　she　knew　what　he　meant　and　could　not　suppress　a　gasp　of　excitement。　〃Yes；　tonight；　my　dear　green；　we　can　hook　up　the　scope。〃
　　Tai　couldn't　suppress　her　crow　of　delight。　〃You　got　a　monitor！〃
　　〃And　the　operating　disks。　Erragon　copied　them　for　us　and　supplied　fresh　blanks　for　the　imager。　He's　given　us　a　search　pattern　to　follow。　As　if　we'd　ever　get　enough　exposures　to　do　a　thorough　job。〃　His　eyes　flashed　with　determination。　〃All　we　need　is　the　right　one　at　the　right　time　of　night　or　piece　of　sky。〃
　　He　was　right；　of　course；　she　knew；　but　with　his　merry　grin　and　wide…open　eyes；　it　was　as　if　he　was　somehow　going　to　succeed　despite　the　odds　against　it。　His　was　a　personality　of　great　contrast。　She　was　fascinated　by　it　and　rebuked　herself　that　she　had　ever　considered　him　shallow。　Over　the　last　few　sevendays；　she　had　seen　how　seriously　he　took　responsibilities；　exuding　an　optimism　that　could　fire　those　around　him；　and　how　he　never　shirked　tasks；　like　the　Benini　Hold　planting；　which　he　could　have　delegated　to　another　rider。　He　was　certainly　not　the　casual　reckless　weyrbred　lad　Mirrim　had　described。
　　〃I　can　certainly　help　with　the　search　patterns；〃　she　said；　noticing　how　easily　he　involved　her　in　his　schemes。　〃Erragon　trusted　me　with　parisons　and　scannings。〃
　　〃I'd　prefer　scanning　just　you；　Tai　m'dear；〃　he　said；　kissing　the　hollow　in　her　throat；　his　teasing　lips　were　warm　against　flesh　still　chilled　from　her　trip　between。　〃But　we'll　have　to　show　Erragon　results　from　Honshu　or　he'll　insist　on　dragging　you　back　to　Cove　Hold。〃
　　Slowly　he　let　her　down。　She　liked　the　feel　of　his　body　against　hers；　F'lessan　was　so　vital；　so　energetic；　so…alive！　He　did　not　release　her　entirely；　affectionately　looping　one　arm　across　her　shoulders。
　　〃I　also　spent　my　day　doing　what　Aivas　used　to　call　a　refresher　course；〃　he　added　with　one　of　his　mischievous　grins。　〃I　don't　think　I　paid　as　much　attention　to　him　the　first　time　as　I　should　have。〃
　　She　noticed　how　his　eyes　darkened　with　the　knowledge　of　wasted　opportunity。　She　touched　his　cheek　in　a　brief　caress。　〃If　only　we　al