amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第51部分

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　this　mirror　was　hidden　within　the　opaque　cylinder。　Only　the　services　connecting　to　the　telescope　revealed　what　else　was　inside。　She　could　see　cooling　pipes　and　electrical　cables　feeding　through　the　cylinder　at　its　midpoint；　which　she　knew　led　to　the　camera　at　the　heart　of　the　telescope。　What　she　could　identify　as　the　finder　scope　was　attached　to　the　upper　surface　beside　two　other　anonymous　cylinders。　The　Cove's　instrument…one　of　the　Ancients'　classical　Cassegrains…was　half　again　as　long　as　this　one；　having　a　one…meter　lens；　its　optics　based　entirely　around　mirrors　and　enclosed　in　a　light　gray　posite　of　some　ancient　material。　Here；　too；　was　a　raised　wooden　floor；　to　keep　vibrations　from　being　transmitted　to　the　telescope　and　to　allow　people　to　walk　safely　around　while　observing。　Not　that　the　sheer　cliff　to　which　the　scope　was　attached　would　move：　Cove　Hold　had　a　cement　base　on　its　rocky　promontory；　high　above　the　sea。
　　Tentatively；　she　approached　the　cylinder；　saw　the　cover　at　the　top　and　controlled　her　impatience　to　see　it。　She　did；　however；　appreciate　F'lessan's　proprietary　feeling　for　the　scope。
　　That　he　was　willing　to　share　it　with　her　was　yet　one　more　unexpected　boon。
　　〃Now　watch！〃　he　said；　holding　up　his　left　hand；　grinning　with　anticipation。　With　the　fingers　of　his　right；　he　pressed　more　plates；　diverting　her　from　a　closer　inspection　of　telescope　and　mounting。
　　She　was　startled　when　a　crack　appeared　in　the　ceiling。　She　stepped　back；　close　to　him；　as　what　had　seemed　to　be　solid　rock　shifted。　Gears　whirred　and　the　halves　dropped　and　spread　slowly　apart；　continuing　to　sink　down；　out　of　the　way；　against　the　observatory　dome；　stopping　just　above　the　girdle　of　lights。
　　〃Full　range；〃　F'lessan　cried　in　a　proud　tone；　gesturing　to　the　opening　created　by　the　sliding　roof。　〃Golly　found　the　seam　in　the　rock　when　we　were　repairing　the　solar　panels。　No　rock　has　straight　seams；〃　he　said　with　a　snort。　〃Took　Jancis；　Piemur；　and　me　days　to　oil；　repair；　and　get　this　working　again。〃
　　Tai　knew　that　she　was　gawking　idiotically　at　the　superb　view　of　the　southern　night　sky　now　visible。　She　gasped　then；　when　two　dark　shadows　stealthily　loomed　down　into　the　opening。
　　Us；　said　Zaranth　and　gave　an　audible　chirp；　well　pleased　with　herself　for　scaring　her　rider。　She　had　kept　her　eyes　shut　and　now　opened　them；　happily　whirling　green。
　　You　meant　to　scare　me；　she　accused　her　dragon；　hand　still　at　her　throat。
　　Golanth　thought　it　would　be　all　right；　Zaranth　said　in　a　meek　tone；　cocking　her　head　slightly　at　her　rider；　eliciting　pardon。
　　Golanth　made　amused　sounds　of　his　own；　showing　his　white　teeth。
　　〃They're　a　right　pair　of　Gather　fools；〃　F'lessan　said；　giving　her　a　reassuring　squeeze　before　he　walked　over　to　where　Golanth　was　peering　down。　Then；　in　one　of　those　abrupt　changes　of　his；　F'lessan　turned　almost　brusque。　〃Golly；　take　care　not　to　step　on　those　solar　panels　when　you　swing　those　controls　down。　Tai；　can　you　manage　the　one　Zaranth　has　for　you？　I'd　like　to　get　this　system　up　and　running　before　dawn。〃
　　He　reached　up；　tall　enough　to　grasp　the　boxes　that　Golanth　dutifully　lowered　one　by　one　to　him　through　the　open　roof。　Tai　shook　off　the　moment　of　panic…too　astonished　by　the　open　sky　to　feel　her　dragon's　presence…and　took　hold　of　the　well…padded　square　that　Zaranth　dangled　down　to　her。
　　〃We'll　unpack　up　here；　Tai。　More　space。　The　control　room's　just　down　that　short　staircase。〃　He　pointed　to　the　far　wall　where　she　now　saw　the　well　of　the　other　stairs。
　　Did　I　really　scare　you；　Tai？　Zaranth　asked　penitently；　drawing　one　set　of　her　eyelids　across　in　apology。
　　〃Of　course　you　did；〃　Tai　replied　and　then　relented。　Is　Golanth　teaching　you　bad　habits？
　　None　I　don't　like；　her　dragon　answered　with　a　flirt　of　her　eyelids。
　　Tai　cleared　her　throat。　〃What　do　I　have　here；　F'lessan？〃　she　asked；　changing　the　subject。
　　He　spared　a　look　from　what　he　was　unpacking。　〃The　monitor！〃　he　replied　and　he　sprang　toward　her。　〃I'll　just　turn　the　lights　up　down　there；〃　he　said　and　strode　to　the　stairwell；　tapping　the　keypad。　〃Kenjo　must　have　been　a　security　freak　the　way　he　designed　this　observatory。　As　if　someone　could　steal　this　or　the　stars。〃
　　With　lighting；　Tai　had　no　trouble　taking　the　ten　straight　steps　down　into　the　control　room。　The　worktops　had　been　cleaned　recently　and　the　shelving　above　them　fitted　with　jacks　for　the　controls。　Two　wheeled　half…chairs　had　been　pushed　back　under　the　stairs。　An　enclosed　panel　ran　slantwise　from　the　jack　in　the　direction　of　the　base　of　the　telescope　on　the　floor　above。　She　settled　the　flat…screened　monitor　on　a　mounting　that　was　an　exact　fit。　Well；　no　doubt　the　long…dead　Kenjo　had　used　a　similar　unit　to　view　the　images　she　devoutly　hoped　the　scope　would　still　mirror。
　　F'lessan　clattered　down　with　the　keypad；　decoder　box；　and　storage　disks。　His　eyes　gleamed　with　anticipation。　With　no　wasted　effort　he　arranged　his　burdens　on　the　worktop　and　put　the　storage　disks　on　the　shelf　where　he　could　read　the　labels。　He　hauled　connectors　out　of　his　thigh　pocket　and　began　plugging　them　in；　murmuring　as　he　did　so；　reminding　himself　which　went　where　until　he　had　the　system　connected。　Standing　with　his　hands　on　his　belt；　he　let　out　a　long　breath。　Then　he　reached　toward　the　rank　of　storage　disks；　found　the　one　he　needed　for　the　calibration；　and　slipped　it　into　the　operating　slot。
　　〃Shall　we　see　if　it'll　light　up？　Ooops；〃　and　he　was　halfway　up　the　stairs；　〃got　to　uncover　its　eye；　first。〃
　　She　heard　the　thump　of　his　footsteps　on　the　wooden　flooring　and　his　admonition　to　the　two　dragons　to　find　themselves　fortable　places　to　stay　and　not　to　step　on　the　solar　panels。
　　He　ran　back　down；　rubbing　his　hands；　grabbed　both　seating　units　from　under　the　stairs；　swinging　one　over　to　her　while　he　planted　himself　on　the　second　and；　for　one　long　moment；　poised　his　hands　over　the　controls。
　　〃Now；〃　he　announced；　grinning　at　her；　his　eyes　glittering　with　high　spirits；　〃let　there　be　light！〃　He　tapped　out　several　sequences；　inhaled　deeply　when　the　monitor　came　to　life；　entered　another　series　of　mands；　and　then　folded　his　arms　on　his　chest。　〃Remember　to　breathe；　Tai！〃
　　She　did；　smiling　because　she　hadn't　realized　she'd　been　holding　her　breath。
　　The　monitor　cleared　and　they　had　an　image　of　the　skyscape　of　the　northern　horizon；　the　direction　in　which　the　telescope　had　pointed；　covered；　for　centuries。　〃So；〃　and　F'lessan　rubbed　his　hands　together；　〃let's　run　the　pointing　calibration。　I'll　use　Acrux　as　the　first　check。〃　His　eyes　crinkled　in　a　smile　as　he　reminded　her　of　the　stars　she　had　pointed　out　to　him　the　first　evening　she　was　at　Honshu。
　　Tai　caught　her　breath；　for　this　was　another　example　of　how　he　endeared　himself　to　her　without　really　trying。
　　〃I'll　allow　for　the　time　elapsed　since　we　last　checked　positions。〃　He　went　on　and　she　rose　to　stand　behind　him　as　he　tapped　in　the　mands；　daring　to　put　her　hands　lightly　on　his　shoulders。　〃Good　ones　to　start　with。〃　While　waiting　for　the　system　to　respond；　he　lifted　her　right　hand　to　his　lips　and　kissed　the　palm；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　screen　as　the　scope　began　to　shift　in　obedience　to　the　coordinates　for　Acrux。　〃When　we　have　a　chance；　we　can　automate　this　procedure　but　I　can't　resist　the　temptation　to　show　off　a　little。　You've　had　so　much　more　time　on　a　working　scope　than　I　have。〃
　　He　put　her　hand　back　on　his　shoulder；　giving　it　a　final　pat。　〃Ah；　here　we　are！〃　He　flourished　his　hand　as　the　winking　pulse　of　Acrux　appeared　on　the　monitor；　centered。　He　leaned　forward　as　the　calibration　came　up　to　one　side；　confirming　the　focus。　〃And　no　optical　aberrations　noticeable。〃
　　He　grinned　up　at　her；　his　gray　eyes　sparkling；　infecting　her　with　his　exuberant　enthusiasm。　He　was　so　boyishly　pleased　with　Honshu's　performance…as　if　it　were　all　his　doing…that　she　couldn't　resist　rumpling　his　thick　hair。　He　laughed　softly；　pleased　by　her　spontaneous　caress。
　　〃Now　Becrux；〃　he　said；　tapping　in　its　position　and　obediently　the　focus　altered。　〃Sudden　idea！〃　And　he　turned　to　her；　his　expression　one　of　recklessness；　〃Once　we've　done　enough　calibrations　to　be　sure　the　focus　is　accurate；　let's　dispense　with　the　rest　of　Honshu's　catalogue　and　focus　on　whatever　strikes　our　fancy。　Some　of　those　globular　clusters　I　was　just　studying　about。　Or　the　spiral　nebulas。　Or　something　that　isn't　anywhere　close　to　Pern！〃
　　She　gawped　at　him；　unaccountably　thrilled　at　such　a　suggestion。　She'd　often　wanted　to　just　〃look〃　beyond　this　dark　corner：　to　the　cloudy　canyons　with　dark　holes；　the　cartwheels　in　various　orientations；　ghostly　circular　shapes　of　planetary　nebulae；　wisps　of　gas　lit　up　by　newborn　stars。　She　did　so　want　to　see　the　eternal　and　changing　magic　of　the　universe。
　　〃And　we'll　take　some　images　of　the　ones　we　like　best；　shall　we？〃
　　She　grinned　back　at　him。　But；　before　he　did　anything　else；　he　kissed　the　dimples　in　her　cheeks。
　　　
NIGHT　AT　WIDE　BAY…2。9。31
　　Tagetarl　spent　a　terrible　day；　trying　to　conduct　himself　as　he　would　any　normal　day　in　front　of　apprentices　and　clients　alike；　all　the　while　wondering　what　〃normal〃　should　look　like。　For　instance；　on　a　normal　day；　he　wouldn't　have　made　so　many　pots　of　klah　before　dawn　nor　washed　so　many　cups。　He　did　have　a　fresh　pot　ready　at　the　usual　time　that　he　opened　the　outer　gates　for　his　apprentices　and　unlocked　the　double　doors　of　the　Hall。　He　noticed　that　there　was　a　slight　shine　to　the　wood　but；　though　he　sniffed　deeply…causing　his　oldest　apprentice；　Marley；　to　regard　his　Master　oddly…the　smell　was　posed　more　of　the　prevalent　odor　of　fish　and　toner　than　paint。　He　regained　some　of　his　usual　posure　by　assigning　the　day's　tasks。
　　He　heard　the　whistle；　had　to　think　for　a　moment；　and　then　saw　two　grimy　fellows　rolling　in　two　big　barrels。
　　〃Just　as　you　ordered　'em；　Master　Tawgurtall；〃　the　older　man　said；　chewing　his　words　as　he　deftly　shifted　his　cask　into　a　corner　by　the　right…hand　door。　How　like　Pinch　to　mangle　his　name；　so　Tagetarl　merely　nodded　at　the　shabbily　dressed　drudge。　His　equally　scruffy　associate　rolled　a　second　barrel　into　the　opposite　side。　〃As　required。〃　Then；　with　that　cryptic　statement；　they　both　left。
　　〃As　I　was　saying；　Marley；〃　Tagetarl　went　on；　tapping　the　copy　to　get　Marley's　full　attention。
　　He　tried　to　concentrate　on　the　usual　tasks　of　a　day；　making　up　a　new　order　for　different　weights　of　paper　from　Master　Bendarek…well；　he　could　delay　that　for　today。　He　checked　the　two　girls　stitching　bindings；　made　sure　Delart　was　cutting　the　leather　economically；　that　Wil　was　trimming　only　the　paper　edges　neatly　and　not　his　fingertips　with　the　extremely　sharp　edge　of　the　wide　blade。　Idly　Tagetarl　wondered　if　he　could　detach　that　broad　knife　and　use　it　against　the　Abominators　tonight；　or　whenever　they　attacked　his　Hall。
　　On　brief　trips　across　the　court；　he　did　notice　that　Ola　seemed　to　make　a　great　many　short　dashes　from　roof　to　kitchen　window；　checking　on　Rosheen　wherever　she　was。　He　hadn't　told　Rosheen　yet　because　she　seemed　happy　today；　and　had　possibly　forgotten　her　uneasy　presentiments。　She　also　had　a　plicated　SmithCraftHall　manual　to　proofread。　He　didn't　recognize　Bista's　pale　gold　hide　among　those　ing　and　going　on　the　roofs；　but　she　was　as　sly　as　Pinch。　There　seemed　to　be　no　more