amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第50部分

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　　She　noticed　how　his　eyes　darkened　with　the　knowledge　of　wasted　opportunity。　She　touched　his　cheek　in　a　brief　caress。　〃If　only　we　all　knew　then　what　we　know　now。〃
　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　and　his　lips　curved　with　a　touch　of　bitterness。
　　Once　again　she　was　amazed　that　F'lessan　was　willing　to　show　his　regrets。　He　always　appeared　so　self…confident。　Still　feeling　a　little　embarrassed　by　such　intimacy；　she　caught　sight　of　the　steaming　pot　on　the　range。
　　〃You　cooked？〃　And　looked　again。　〃That　isn't　a　Honshu　pot。〃
　　〃No；〃　and　he　chuckled；　giving　her　a　hug　as　he　guided　her　to　the　range。　〃I　stopped　off　at　Sagassy's　hold　on　the　way　back。　I'd　some　nails　for　them　from　Landing's　SmithCraftHall。　She　insisted　that　I　take　this　as　a　delivery　fee。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Remind　me　to　return　the　pot。〃
　　〃I　will；〃　she　replied。　〃After　I'm　sure　you've　washed　it　properly。〃　She　couldn't　resist　teasing　him　as　she　picked　up　the　wooden　spoon　to　stir　the　stew。　〃Oh；　you've　nearly　let　it　scorch！〃
　　〃Then　it's　hot　enough　to　eat。〃
　　F'lessan　pushed　her　out　of　the　way；　gesturing　her　to　sit　at　the　end　of　the　table　that　she　saw　had　been　set　for　two；　and　began　ladling　the　stew　into　the　wide；　deep　bowls。　Mirrim　would　never　believe　that　F'lessan　could　be　so　useful。　She　pinched　the　bread　loaf　and　it　was　fresh；　there　was　a　salad；　too；　as　greens　were　beginning　to　flourish　again　along　the　coast。　She　poured　wine　from　the　skin　into　glasses　while　F'lessan　brought　heaped　plates　to　the　table。
　　〃Sagassy　said　that　Riller；　Jubb；　and　Sparling　have　all　seen　signs　of　felines　creeping　back　into　the　valley；〃　he　said。　〃They　haven't　run　a　check　for　missing　stock　but　the　herds　have　been　spooky　lately。〃　He　blew　on　his　spoon　to　cool　the　gravy…soaked　meat。　〃Those　sharding　creatures　may　be　hunting　on　this　side　of　the　ridge　again。〃
　　Eight　families；　gradually　clearing　enough　land　to　grow　essential　crops　as　well　as　round　up　wild　herdbeasts；　had　settled　the　valley　that　spread　out　north　of　Honshu。　They　protected　their　cluster　of　buildings　and　beastholds　with　dragon　dung　and　firestone　mash；　the　best　deterrents　for　any　pests　in　the　south；　apart　from　trundlebugs。　Visiting　dragons…and　those　staying　at　Honshu　after　the　Fireball　had　added　considerably　to　the　perimeter…were　encouraged　to　donate。　Once　the　residues　dried；　there　was　little　smell　to　aggravate　human　sensitivities；　but　what　there　was　was　sufficient　to　put　off　all　but　the　hungriest　predators。
　　She　and　F'lessan　had　hunted　there　during　their　first　week　together。　She　and　Zaranth　had　just　missed　catching　one　of　the　cloudy…coats　that　wore　such　valuable　pelts。　There　was　so　much　else　to　do　that　they　hadn't　been　able　to　take　time　to　hunt　felines　again。
　　〃We'll　have　to　plan　to　swing　round　the　holds'　borders　and　re…discourage　the　carnivores；〃　he　said；　breaking　off　a　piece　of　bread　and　offering　it　to　her　before　taking　some　for　himself。　〃You've　about　finished　curing　the　last　pelts　we　got；　haven't　you？〃
　　〃Just　about。　Someone　else　must　have　pegged　skins　on　the　wall　I'm　using；〃　she　said。
　　〃Probably。　Hold　records　suggest　they　were　self…sufficient。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I've　never　understood　what　happened　to　the　people　who　were　doing　so　well　here。　Why　they　simply。。。〃　he　spread　out　his　hands　in　bewilderment；〃。。。　left？〃
　　She　felt　gravy　on　the　corner　of　her　mouth　and　used　a　bit　of　the　bread　to　remove　it；　right　past　her　lips。　〃Plague？〃　Disease　had　wiped　out　so　many　holdings　it　was　always　the　first　guess。
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　no　skeletons。〃
　　〃Vermin　would　have　scavenged　the　remains。〃
　　〃Their　effects　were　all　neatly　put　away。〃
　　〃As　if　they　meant　to　return？〃　she　asked；　surprised；　but　then　F'lessan　had　been　researching　the　history　of　this　weyrhold　of　his。
　　〃No；　as　if　that　was　the　way　they　took　care　of　tools　and　equipment。〃　He　gestured　to　the　kitchen　and　the　utensils　visible　on　the　work　surfaces。
　　〃As　they　did　in　the　workshop。〃　All　the　shelves　and　drawers　fascinated　Tai；　the　contents　neatly　packed　away　in　oil　or　grease　and　the　airless　plastic　envelopes　that　the　Ancients　had　had。　Even　the　flying　machine…a　sled；　F'lessan　called　it…had　been　cocooned。　She'd　never　had　the　opportunity　to　visit　the　Catherine　Caves　as　F'lessan　had；　but　he'd　said　that　these　weren't　thoroughly　explored　or　emptied　of　treasures。　Samples　of　the　things　the　Ancients　had　used　were　on　display　at　Landing；　some　still　encased　in　the　packing　used　for　the　voyage　to　the　Rukbat　system。　She…and　others…had　puzzled　over　the　use　of　some　items。　〃Why　would　they　leave　such　a　beautiful　place？〃
　　〃Once　this　Pass　is　over；　you　may　be　sure　I　won't　leave；〃　he　said　resolutely。　〃As　it　is；　I'm　here　more　than　I　should　be；〃　he　added　with　that　irrepressibly　engaging　grin　she　so　enjoyed。　〃Eat　up；　my　dear　green。〃
　　〃Shouldn't　have　eaten　so　much；〃　he　remarked　twenty　minutes　later　as　she　trudged　behind　him　up　the　steep　stairs　to　the　observation　room。　He　was　panting；　too；　she　noticed。　〃As　well　we　don't　have　to　lug　things　all　the　way　up　these　stairs。　Only　down　one　level　when　we　get　where　we're　going。〃
　　F'lessan　had　explained　the　almost　secretive　design　of　Honshu's　observatory；　not　all　the　secrets；　he'd　said；　grinning　with　a　boyish　delight；　but　Kenjo　had　made　sure　it　was　not　readily　accessible。　The　first　challenge　was　the　stairs　that　went　up　six　levels　inside　Honshu's　cliff。
　　〃Does　Golanth　watch　stars　with　you；　too？〃　she　asked。　Zaranth　affected　to　and　never　objected　when　Tai　spent　long　hours　on　her　green　back；　studying　the　night　sky。
　　〃He　pretends　to　be　interested；〃　F'lessan　said　in　a　mock…soft　voice；　turning　to　grin　down　the　metal　spiral　at　her。
　　I　hope　I　will　not　hurt　these　things　when　I　bring　them　to　you　so　high　up；　Golanth　said　facetiously。
　　〃Golanth；　you　will　carry　them　as　carefully　as　fire…lizard　eggs；〃　F'lessan　said；　his　voice　stern　as　he　winked　down　at　Tai。　〃When　I　found　the　place；　it　was　a　mess　and　outside　most　of　the　solar　panels　were　fouled　or　missing。　Worse　than　the　Admin　building。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath　before　the　next　step。　〃Golanth　was　very　good　about　helping　me　repair　and　reinstall　them。　He　doesn't　fit　in　the　observatory；　of　course；　but　he's　good　at　encouraging　me　to　work　hard。〃　He　chuckled　as　he　plodded　up　several　more　steps；　boots　clanking　on　the　metal。　She　could　feel　the　climb　pulling　at　her　muscles。　He　went　on。　〃Good　thing　the　cylinder　had　been　vacuum…wrapped…another　point　in　my　theory　that　they　intended　to　e　back！〃　She　could　see　that　he　was　using　the　handrail　to　pull　him　upward。　Good　idea！　She　followed　his　example。　〃So　we　cleaned　and　repaired　the　vents　and　solar　panels；　and　let　power　build　up。　I'd　the　finder　scope　to　use　to　see　if　the　instrument　still　worked。　It　did。〃　He　gave　a　deep　sigh　of　satisfaction。　〃We'll　have　to　run　a　pointing　recalibration　but　I've　got　the　files　for　the　stars　we　use。　Once　we've　hooked　up　the　puter　and　are　sure　it's　pointing　accurately；　we　can　proceed　to　search　whatever　part　of　the　sky　Erragon　wants　us　to　scan。　The　program　makes　it　possible　to　shift　the　primary　mirror。　We'll　get　pictures　on　the　monitor　and　decide　what　to　save。〃
　　He　paused；　taking　in　deep　breaths　before　he　started　upward　again。　She　wondered　that　he　didn't　save　his　breath　for　the　climb　but　F'lessan　loved　to　talk　and；　since　his　voice　was　very　pleasant　to　listen　to；　she　didn't　mind。　She　didn't　usually　have　much　to　say。
　　〃Got　the　generator　working；　too；　so　we　don't　have　to　limit　solar　panel　use。〃　He　had　breath　enough　for　a　chuckle。　〃Mighty　clever　those　Ancients　were　in　harnessing　renewable　energy。　When　we　told　Aivas　that　we'd　found　the　old　machinery；　I　swear　he　almost　laughed。〃
　　〃Laughed？〃　It　would　never　have　occurred　to　Tai　that　Aivas　had　been　endowed　with　a　sense　of　humor。　She　nearly　stumbled　on　the　steps　but　caught　herself　on　the　handrail。
　　〃Oh；　Aivas　had　a　powerful　sense　of　humor。　You　know　the　kind　of　pause　that　means　someone's　laughing　inside？　Well；　Aivas　would　pause；　wait　a　beat；　and　go　on　with　what　he　was　saying。　Piemur　was　sure　Aivas　laughed　to　himself　in　such　beats；　but　Jancis　was　horrified　by　the　mere　suggestion　of　a　machine　that　could　laugh。〃
　　Tai　couldn't　see　his　face　but；　though　sometimes　he　made　jokes　about　his　Turns　under　Aivas's　supervision；　his　voice　was　tinged　with　a　respect　that　he　didn't　accord　even　his　Weyrleaders。　She'd　been　so　young；　fresh　from　Keroonian　hills　when　her　mother　and　father　had　e　south　to　work　at　Landing；　and　painfully　naive。　Told　over　and　over　what　a　splendid　chance　she　was　getting　in　a　Landing　education；　she　had　concentrated　on　learning　as　much　as　she　could　to　avoid　disappointing　anyone；　including　Aivas。　She　had　never　questioned　anything　then。　Now；　and　in　the　presence　of　F'lessan；　she　felt　able　to　ask。
　　〃Why　would　Aivas　be　amused　that　you　had　discovered　this　valuable　instrument　and　a　power　generator？〃
　　〃I　suspect；〃　and　F'lessan　climbed　a　few　more　steps　before　answering；　〃because　Kenjo　had　been　very　clever　about　so　many　things。　Like　saving　fuel　in　sacks　each　trip　down　from　the　Yoko　so　he　could　fly　the　little　plane　he　built。　And　using　the　stone…cutters　far　more　extensively　than　any　other　colonist。　Yet　what　a　beautiful　place　he　designed…although；　e　to　think　of　it；　his　wife；　Ita；　was　artistic　and　it's　likely　she　did　the　murals　in　the　Hall　and　some　of　the　tapestries。〃
　　〃Here　we　are；〃　he　said　and　she　could　hear　the　relief　in　his　voice。　Dragonriders　were　more　accustomed　to　flying　heights　than　climbing　them。
　　She　didn't　mind　showing　that　the　narrow　winding　stairs　had　winded　her。　Her　thighs　felt　heavy；　and　she　had　an　ache　in　the　calf　of　her　left　leg。　She　gave　it　a　quick　massage　as　he　fiddled　a　key　into　the　locked　door　they　had　climbed　so　high　to　reach。
　　At　first；　Tai　saw　nothing　but　the　smooth　sides　of　the　vertical　shaft's　creamy　rock；　eerily　lit　from　small　guide　lights。　She　could　feel　a　light　breeze　sweeping　upward；　cooling　legs；　body；　and　even　the　sweat　on　her　forehead；　and　then　a　door　opened　just　above　her　eye　level。　F'lessan　lifted　himself　through；　for　a　moment　blocking　her　view。　He　moved　to　one　side　and；　in　the　light　from　the　shaft；　she　saw　more　creamy　rock。　She　clattered　up　the　last　few　steps　and　walked　into　such　a　splendid　space　that　she　just　stood；　looking　around　in　amazement。　A　large　dark　brooding　mass　dominated　the　center　of　a　wooden　floor。
　　F'lessan　pressed　plates　on　one　side　of　the　door　and　lights　blinked　on；　one　by　one；　girdling　the　room　about　F'lessan's　height　from　the　floor。　She　could　also　feel　more　fresh　air　circulating。
　　As　the　lights　came　up；　she　saw　the　long　barrel　of　Honshu's　telescope；　thicker　in　circumference　than　she　could　have　put　her　arms　about；　longer　than　F'lessan　was　tall。　A　U…shaped　fork　structure　held　the　barrel　and；　as　she　got　closer；　she　could　see　that　the　fork　was　itself　supported　by　a　heavy　metal　plate；　attached　to　a　metal　turntable。　This　tilted　arrangement　was　an　equatorial　mount　entirely　different　from　the　up…down；　left…right；　alt…azimuth　mounting　that　was　appropriate　for　Cove　Hold's　larger；　skeletal　type　scope　and　its　position　near　the　equator。　Honshu's　scope　was　a　dull　cream　of　a　posite　material；　slightly　longer　at　the　front；　with　a　blunt　rear　end　that　she　knew　sleekly　enclosed　the　620…millimeter　reflecting　mirror。　Unlike　the　Cove　Hold　scope；　where　the　mirror　was　clearly　visible　inside　the　supporting　skeleton；　this　mirror　was　hidden　within　the　opaq