amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第52部分

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ide　among　those　ing　and　going　on　the　roofs；　but　she　was　as　sly　as　Pinch。　There　seemed　to　be　no　more　than　the　usual　wild　ones；　sunning　on　the　slates。　Or　were　they　wild？　Tagetarl　couldn't　tell　and　decided　it　didn't　make　any　difference。　Fire…lizards　were　volatile　creatures。
　　He　had　no　appetite　for　lunch　and　fretted　over　how　Rosheen　would　scold　him　for　not　letting　her　know　the　danger　the　Hall　was　in。　He　usually　told　her　everything。　But　why　should　she　spend　the　day　worrying；　too？　She　had　to　keep　her　mind　on　the　manual；　that　was　one　task　he　could　not　handle　today！　He　did　not　see　any　of　Pinch's　helpers；　nor　did　he　see　Pinch　again　in　any　guise。　He　didn't　know　whether　to　transfer　paper　from　storage　to　the　Hall　as　he　usually　did　at　the　end　of　a　day。　But　then　would　anyone　be　watching　to　see　that　he　kept　to　his　usual　routine？　He　kept　running　a　hand　over　the　wood　of　doors　and　frames　but　couldn't　really　feel　any　difference；　much　less　recognize　a　substance　that　could　retard　flame。
　　He　was　anxious　because　no　one　came　to　his　office　with　new　work；　but　also　relieved。　How　did　you　tell　an　Abominator　from　any　other　ordinary　man　or　woman？　It　was　the　set　of　their　minds：　their　self…appointed　mission　to　deny　choice　to　others；　to　neutralize　all　the　useful　things　that　were　already　in　operation。　Aivas　had　made　available　a　great　deal　of　knowledge；　some　of　it　information　miscopied　over　the　Turns　that　only　needed　careful　research　in　the　Archives　and　invaluable　to　all　the　Crafts　to　rectify。　Any　thinking　person　would　examine　what　was　sensible　to　add　to　what　Pern　already　had…like　printing；　but　he　required　no　one　to　read　or　buy　his　books：　that　was　their　decision。　For　all　the　amazing　diversity　of　processes　and　products　that　the　Ancients　had　known　and　used；　just　learning　how　to　faithfully　execute　some　of　the　designs　was　enough　to　discourage　making　the　unnecessary。　As　Master　Menolly　said…and　he　knew　Sebell　basically　agreed　with　her…not　everything　and　anything　new　meant　an　improvement。　But　people　should　make　that　decision　themselves；　not　have　it　arbitrarily　denied。
　　The　five…note　whistle　that　Pinch　said　was　a　warning　startled　Tagetarl：　it　seemed　to　float　across　the　court　from　nowhere。　He　wrenched　around　to　face　the　outer　gate；　trying　to　pose　himself。　He；　Master　Tagetarl；　who　had　never　flubbed　an　entrance　or　forgot　tune　or　words；　felt　himself　unnaturally　stiff　with　fear　and　apprehension。　What　should　he　say？　What　could　he　say　to　someone　who　had　decided　to　destroy　his　livelihood？　People　were　passing　by　the　Hall　on　the　road　outside。　Then　in　walked　the　man　of　Pinch's　sketch：　there　was　the　missing　joint　of　the　left　index　finger　and　the　zigzag　scar　on　the　forehead；　all　but　hidden　under　the　black　knit　cap。　The　man　stood　for　a　moment　looking　across　the　court　with　narrowed　eyes；　his　expression　disdainful　and　his　lips　twisted　scornfully…as　if；　Tagetarl　thought；　he　was　anticipating　the　changes　that　might　shortly　be　made　to　the　order　and　serenity　of　the　Printer　Hall。
　　〃Good　evening；〃　Tagetarl　said　as　affably　as　his　wariness　permitted。　He　reached　for　the　book　he　had　placed　on　one　of　the　barrels。
　　〃e　for　the　book。　You　said　a　sevenday；〃　the　man　said　as　if　he　had　no　faith　in　that　promise。　He　spoke　tonelessly；　as　if　ing　for　a　book　was　only　an　excuse。
　　He　kept　his　lips　over　his　teeth　as　if　hiding　them。　Pinch's　drawing　had　not　included　that　detail　or　the　smell　of　the　man：　stale　sweat；　campfires；　and　beast　dung。　Nor　was　he　wearing　hill…style　clothing。　In　fact；　the　black　leather　jacket　and　trousers　looked　barely　used；　his　boots　were　definitely　new；　if　road…stained。　The　man　sauntered　deeper　into　the　yard；　Tagetarl　following　him；　trying　to　give　him　the　book　and　get　him　out　of　his　Hall。
　　〃That'll　be　three　marks；〃　Tagetarl　said；　amazed　at　how　even　his　voice　sounded　in　his　ears。　Was　this　Scar…face　the　leader？　The　man　seemed　determined　to　make　a　final　close　assessment。　Tagetarl　intercepted　his　circuit；　pushing　the　book　at　him　and　holding　out　an　open　hand。　〃Three　marks。〃
　　Digging　in　one　pocket　of　his　jacket　he　wore；　Scar…face　dropped　two　full　marks　and　two　half　marks；　all　weaver　stamped；　into　Tagetarl's　hand。
　　〃Weaver　marks　good　enough　for　you；　Master　Harper？〃　he　asked　without　the　usual　inflection　of　a　question。
　　〃MasterPrinter；〃　Tagetarl　corrected　automatically。　〃Weaver　marks　are　well　guaranteed！〃　Shards；　did　the　man　want　to　provoke　a　fight？　Or　spread　word　that　the　Print　Hall　disdained　weaver　marks？
　　Scar…face　took　the　Ballads　from　Tagetarl's　hand　much　as　one　would　cautiously　grasp　something　dirty　or　repulsive。　Tagetarl；　loving　the　books　he　published　so　that　at　times　it　was　hard　to　sell　them　on；　had　to　grip　hard　on　the　worn　marks　to　prevent　himself　from　grabbing　the　volume　back。　The　man　shoved　it　roughly　into　a　pocket　of　his　jacket。
　　〃MasterPrinter；〃　the　man　said　with　a　queer　grin。　〃You're　kept　busy？〃　He　kept　darting　glances　to　the　Hall　and　around　the　courtyard　where　the　genuine　apprentices　were　sweeping　the　cobbles　and　tidying　up　in　the　Hall。　Then　his　eyes　settled　briefly　at　the　heavy　leaves　of　the　outer　gate　and　his　lips　twitched　across　his　teeth。
　　〃Busy　enough；〃　Tagetarl　admitted；　wondering　how　he　could　get　the　man　to　go。　He　heard　the　rumbling　of　a　cart　on　the　road　outside；　and　then　saw　one　being　pushed　through　the　outer　gate；　dropping　wisps　of　the　straw　that　cushioned　the　wineskins　inside。　Tagetarl　knew　very　well　that　he　hadn't　ordered　anything　from　his　local　supplier　and　was　about　to　protest　when　he　remembered　what　Pinch　had　said　and　turned　casually　about。
　　In　the　moment　he　had　looked　away；　Scar…face　departed。
　　〃Shipment　for　Master　Harper？〃　the　wineman　announced；　lifting　his　hand　for　attention。
　　〃MasterPrinter；〃　Tagetarl　corrected　for　the　second　time　in　a　few　minutes　and　wondered　why　no　one　could　give　him　his　proper　rank　today。
　　〃Ahem；　sorry；　sir；　MasterPrinter　Tagetarl？〃
　　〃I　am　he。〃　And　Tagetarl　hoped　that　Pinch　was　listening　somewhere。
　　〃Promised　to　deliver　this　myself；〃　the　stout　man　said　with　a　hearty　air。
　　〃Indeed；　and　who　might　have　required　extra　service　from　a　busy　man　like　yourself？〃　Tagetarl　asked；　noting　the　second　set　of　new　black　leather　jacket；　pants；　and　boots　of　the　day。　The　reek　from　this　man　was　sour　wine　but　no　improvement。　He　did　wear　the　proper　journeyman's　Craft　knot。　Tagetarl　admonished　himself　that　he　hadn't　noticed　which　knot；　if　any；　Scar…face　sported。
　　〃You　had　no　message　to　expect　this　delivery？〃　The　man　looked　shocked　and　pulled　up　his　paunch　as　if　the　waistband　of　the　pants　needed　easing。　〃Runners　are　getting　lazy。〃
　　Tagetarl　heard　a　muted　oath　and　spotted　the　shabby　drudge　collecting　the　straw　wisps。
　　〃As　you　can　see；　it's　a　fine　Benden　red；〃　and　the　wineman　turned　the　tag　for　Tagetarl　to　read。
　　〃Yes；　indeed；　it　is；〃　and　Tagetarl　was　impressed。　〃A　'forty…two！　Excellent　vintage。　I　shall　enjoy　that。　Whose　health　do　I　drink　tonight　since　the　donor's　message　is　overdue？〃
　　〃Why；　the　Lord　Holder's；　of　course；〃　the　man　replied　easily。
　　Tagetarl　beckoned　for　the　drudge　to　put　his　broom　down。　〃You　there；　take　this　into　the　kitchen　and　we'll　all　drink　the　health　of　the　Lord　Holder　tonight。　I　expect　he　must　be　pleased　with　my　latest　publications；〃　he　added　mendaciously。
　　〃Cellar　to　cellar　is　our　boast。　I'll　take　it　in　myself。　Wine　needs　to　be　handled　carefully。〃　The　wineman　held　an　arm　up　to　discourage　assistance。
　　〃Very　good　of　you；　I'm　sure；〃　Tagetarl　said；　sternly　motioning　the　drudge　to　obey；　ensuring　that　the　wineman　wouldn't　enter　the　hold。　〃I　see　you've　other　skins。　Would　you　happen　to　have　a　Benden　white　among　them；　of　a　good　vintage？〃　He　stepped　forward　to　look　at　the　labels　hung　from　the　neck　of　the　skins　in　the　cart。
　　〃No；〃　and　now　the　false　wineman　intercepted　Tagetarl…every　bit　as　good　as　a　Gather　play；　Tagetarl　thought；　experiencing　a　flash　of　amusement　and　stepping　back。　〃Nothing　as　good　as　what　I'm　delivering　to　you　now。〃
　　With　unexpected　agility；　the　drudge　had　deftly　got　under　the　wineskin　to　slip　it　to　his　shoulder　in　a　way　that　would　not　muddle　the　wine　unnecessarily　and；　straightening；　carried　it　to　the　steps　and　up　into　the　Hall。　There　was　an　unmistakable　air　of　disappointment　on　the　wineman's　face。　Wanted　to　have　a　good　look　inside；　had　he？　Tagetarl　thought。
　　〃Too　bad；〃　Tagetarl　said　heartily。　〃Had　some　marks　to　spend。〃　He　gripped　the　weaver　circles　tightly　in　his　hand。　〃Do　stop　by　again　if　you　should　have　a　good　white　'forty…five；〃　and　maliciously　Tagetarl　named　what　he　knew　had　been　an　inferior　year。
　　〃Good　choice；　Master…ah…Printer。〃
　　Tagetarl　escorted　him　to　the　outer　gate　in　firm　dismissal　and　watched　him　push　his　cart　away；　up　the　hill。　He　sprinted　back　to　the　hold　then；　to　see　what　Pinch…if　that　had　been　him　under　the　rags…had　done　with　the　wineskin。　He　was　not　in　the　kitchen；　which　was　as　well　since　he　could　see　that　Rosheen　was　busy　getting　supper。　She'd've　wanted　to　know　where　they　had　acquired　a　dirty　drudge　as　well　as　a　wineskin。　Hearing　footsteps　echo　on　the　steps　down　to　the　under…cellar；　Tagetarl　followed。　When　he　reached　that　level；　the　wineskin　had　been　deposited　into　one　of　the　flint　laundry　sinks　and　the　drudge　was　unwinding　his　holey　tunic　and　reaching　into　a　belt　pouch。
　　〃Carefully　pour　out　a　measure；　Tag；〃　Pinch　said；　drawing　out　a　small　vial　which　Tagetarl　knew　contained　one　of　those　invaluable　powders　that　most　long…distance　travelers　carried　to　check　the　potability　of　stream　water。
　　Taking　down　an　old　glass；　Tagetarl　unstoppered　the　skin　and　poured　a　sample。　Pinch　carefully　tapped　a　few　grains　of　the　powder　into　the　glass。　The　wine　slowly　began　to　froth。
　　〃You'd　have　beep　dead　asleep…or　maybe　even　dead；〃　Pinch　said。　He　replaced　the　bung　in　the　wineskin。　〃Definitely　a　malicious　attempt　to　render　you　incapable　of　defending　your　Hall。　Where　can　we　hide　it？〃　He　looked　around　the　room。
　　〃Underneath　the　sink；　behind　the　laundry　soaps；〃　Tagetarl　suggested　and　helped　Pinch　bestow　it；　with　a　final　glance　to　be　sure　the　bung　was　in　tight。　〃And　we　were　supposed　to　drink　a　whole　skin　tonight？〃
　　〃You　usually　drink　with　your　evening　meal。〃
　　〃Cider；〃　Tagetarl　said　in　protest。　〃Wine　only　on　special　occasions。　And　how　do　they　know　we　drink　at　dinner？〃
　　〃Probably　watching。　Your　kitchen　faces　the　road。　You　don't　close　the　shutters　until　you　go　to　bed。〃　Pinch　shrugged。　〃Then；　too；　most　people'll　drink　freely　of　free　wine；　you　know。　And　you　did　say　you'd　drink　the　Lord　Holder's　health。〃
　　〃It　couldn't　possibly　be　Lord　Kashman　he　meant？〃　Tagetarl　asked。
　　Pinch　twisted　his　chin　sideways　and　shrugged。　〃He　wasn't　specific；　was　he？　Or　do　they　intend　to　impugn　Lord　Toronas　since　it's　a　Benden　wine？　Or　implicate　Lord　Kashman？　Interesting。〃　Then　he　gave　a　delicate　sniff　of　the　savory　odors　drifting　down　from　the　kitchen　level。　〃When　did　you　say　dinner　is？　I　mean　to　join　you。　All　that　free　wine！〃
　　Rosheen　came　into　the　cellar。　〃I　thought　I　saw　someone　strange。　Pinch？〃　she　added；　staring　at　the　Harper　as　he　discarded　the　outer　layer　of　rags。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　〃I　perceive　you　haven't　told　her；〃　Pinch　said　with　a　long…suffering　sigh。
　　〃Told　me　what？〃　She　glared　at　both　of　them。
　　〃You　were　right；　Rosheen；〃　Tagetarl　said　with　a　sad　grimace。　〃There　is　trouble　ing　our　way。〃
　　〃Abominat