amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第58部分

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　　〃Well；　well；　sky…watching　wouldn't　take　all　of　us；〃　G'dened　began；　fuming　with　indignation。
　　F'lessan　laughed　out　loud。　〃And　a　good　many　more；　G'dened；　if　we're　to　make　a　proper　job　of　it。〃　His　eyes　sparkled。　〃In　fact；　Honshu　already　has　images　of　the　asteroid　belt　from　its　initial　search　patterns。〃
　　〃Search　patterns？〃　G'dened　asked；　scowling。
　　With　a　glance　at　Erragon；　F'lessan　went　on；　〃We　know　which　stars　are　constant　in　our　skies。　What　we　search　for　is　something　moving　between　those　stars　and　us！　Look！〃　He　flipped　several　prints　to　the　table。　〃See　this　one？〃
　　〃I　see　a　streak　on　black　and　a　blur；〃　G'dened　replied；　dismissing　the　image。
　　〃We've　identified　the　streak　as　an　asteroid。　We're　calling　it　Aliana。〃　He　ducked　his　head　and　gave　the　almost　cheeky　smile　he　had　used　as　a　small　boy　when　he　was　hiding　deeper　feelings。　〃Tai　thought　we　should　give　them　names；　instead　of　numbers；　and　I　thought　that　perhaps　we'd　name　it　after　one　of　the　first　dragonriders。　We've　got　a　lot　of　those。〃
　　〃Which；　asteroids　or　dragonriders？〃　Lessa　asked；　smiling　to　show　that　she　liked　the　idea。　She　could　see　that　both　Wansor　and　Erragon　obviously　approved。
　　〃Both。〃
　　〃How'd　you　know　it's　an　asteroid？〃　G'dened　demanded　impatiently；　his　scowl　deepening。
　　〃F'lessan　cross…checked　it　with　Cove　Hold　and　Yoko。〃　Erragon　said。
　　〃This　blur；　as　you　call　it；　is　a　star　named　Acrux。　Acrux　is　fixed。。。　at　least　in　a　forty…minute　exposure。。。　while　the　asteroid　is　moving　fast　enough　to　create　the　blur。　By　considering　its　position　in　the　sky；　we　know　that　it　is　in　the　asteroid　belt。　By　getting　to　know　our　night　skies　and　taking　images…〃　F'lessan　tapped　the　print。　〃…we　will　find　ones　that　might　be　moving　dangerously　close　to　Pern。〃
　　〃One　just　did！〃　G'dened　objected；　feeling　insulted；　and　pushed　the　print　away。
　　F'lessan　laughed。　〃We've　had　more　than　one　near　miss。〃
　　〃Oh；　not　that　Runner　site　again！〃　And　the　Istan　Weyrleader　swiped　his　hand　in　dismissal。
　　〃If　I　may；〃　Tai　said　in　such　a　firm　voice　that　everyone　regarded　her　in　surprise；　〃the　Fireball　was　the　first　really　hazardous　impact　noted　in　the　Yoko's　records　as　far　back　as　it　kept　them。〃
　　〃Quite　right；　Tai。　And；　until　the　last　ten　minutes　of　its　descent；〃　Erragon　said；　〃we　weren't　even　certain　that　it　would　impact　on　Pern。　And　it　is　by　no　means　the　only　one　in　a　possibly　hazardous　orbit。〃
　　That　was　news　to　the　inland　Weyrleaders；　G'dened's　scowl　deepened。
　　Lessa　wondered　if　they　oughtn't　to　have　asked　M'rand　to　e　to　this　meeting。　Usually　he　had　balanced　G'dened's　pessimistic；　biased　attitudes。
　　〃We　have　now　had　a　chance　to　thoroughly　examine　the　Yoko's　records；〃　Lord　Lytol　said；　his　expression　doleful；　〃and　the　Fireball　was　a　visible　light　against　the　asteroid　belt　as　far　back　as　Turn's　End。〃
　　〃When　we　were　occupied　with　other　matters　entirely；〃　G'dened　said　wearily。
　　Lytol　gave　him　a　repressive　glare　and　continued。　〃The　Yoko　has　traced　its　inclination　and　now　suggests　that　it　was　probably　even　then　a　possibly　hazardous　object；　not　merely　one　near　Pern。〃
　　〃What's　the　difference；　Lytol？〃　Lessa　asked。
　　〃Oh；　between　100；000　and　400；000　kilometers；　Lady　Lessa；〃　Lytol　said　with　a　sad　smile。　〃If　Pern　had　been　farther　on　its　rotation　around　Rukbat；　the　etary　fragment　would　have　passed　us　by。〃
　　〃The　point　is；　Lady　Lessa；〃　Wansor　said；　leaning　toward　her　earnestly；　〃that　if　we　had　had　a　sky　watch　then；　we　would　have　known　to　track　it　more　carefully。〃
　　〃What　more　could　we　have　done　about　it　if　we　had　known？〃　T'gellan　asked　wearily。
　　A　depressed　silence　followed　that　heartfelt　query。
　　〃The　situation　for　dragonriders　was　once　much　worse　than　this；〃　F'lar　said　in　a　quiet　but　firm　voice；　〃when　Benden　had　only　a　handful　of　riders　to　fight　Thread；　and　you；〃　he　gestured　to　D'ram；　G'dened；　and　G'narish；　〃came　forward　in　time　to　support　us。　Now　we　have　access　to　the　Ancients'　exhaustive　records　and；　if　I　remember　Aivas's　lectures　at　the　time；　he　told　us　that　old　Earth　had　its　own　share　of　problems　in　near　space。　Erragon；　how　did　the　Ancients　handle　that　problem？〃
　　Erragon　gave　a　dry　chuckle。　〃They　watched　through　very　powerful　telescopes　augmented　by　a　dedicated　group　of　men　and　women　using　lesser　instruments。　Aivas　states　that　they　had　mapped　the　position　of　stars　in　their　part　of　the　galaxy…and　objects　in　the　Earth's　system…with　an　accuracy　measured　by　micro…arc…seconds。　Far　beyond　the　abilities　of　the　telescopes　we　have；　of　course。　But　we　need　only　concern　ourselves　about　Rukbat。〃
　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　G'dened　interrupted；　leaning　eagerly　in　his　direction；　〃but　what　did　they　do　to　things　that　came　too　close　to　Earth？〃
　　〃They　took…I　quote…'action　when　required　to　divert　a　possibly　hazardous　object。'　〃
　　〃With　what？　How？〃　demanded　G'dened。
　　〃That；〃　Erragon　said　ironically；　〃they　didn't　say。〃
　　〃But　they　must　have　done　something！〃　There　was　a　quaver　of　fear　in　G'dened's　tone。
　　〃They　did　have　a　sky　watch；〃　F'lessan　said　so　firmly　that　he　caught　everyone's　attention。　〃We　can　be　accurate　enough　and；　as　Erragon　says；　we　should　learn　what　should　be　in　our　skies　and　track　any　newers。〃
　　〃The　astronomy　files　I've　been　studying　clearly　state　that　such　destructive　impacts　are　rare；〃　Lytol　added。
　　〃Then　why　do　we　have　to　go　through　all　this　rigmarole　of　watching？〃　G'dened　asked；　more　impatient　than　ever。
　　〃In　the　first　place；　because　it　will　prove　to　the　Council　that　we　are　doing　something；〃　F'lar　said。　〃In　the　second　place；　we　would　know　if　Pern　would　be　in　danger。　Since　the　Weyrs　were　able　to　prevent　much　loss　of　life　and　property　to　reduce　the　damage　done　by　the　Fireball；　we　can　certainly　repeat　that　effort。　May　I　earnestly　remend　that　we　seriously　consider　D'ram's　second　suggestion…that　dragonriders　would　make　excellent　sky…watchers？　Especially　those　riders　who　haven't　yet　found　a　suitable　alternative。〃
　　Sky…watching；　Lessa　thought　sternly；　ought　to　be　congenial　to　the　less　flexible　bronze　and　brown　riders。　Blue　and　green　riders　were　not　so　prone　to　stand　on　dignity　and　tradition。
　　〃F'lar；〃　and　G'narish　rose　to　his　feet　so　suddenly　that　F'lar　motioned　for　him　to　go　ahead；　〃there've　been　rumors　in　Igen　that　the　Fireball　was　the　result　of　diverting　the　Red　Star！〃
　　〃Shards；　I　hope　you　stifled　such　idiocy；〃　F'lar　said；　disgusted。
　　〃By　Aivas；　there　is　absolutely　no　possibility　of　that；　G'narish；〃　Lytol　replied　in　vigorous　protest。　〃I　have　made　an　exhaustive　study　of　the　physics　and　mathematics　of　that　remarkable　effort。　Aivas　was　a　superb　astrophysicist。　He　was　especially　thorough　in　the　matter　of　possible　perturbations　and　every　single　equation　of　effect　was　faultlessly　accurate。　Waiting　until　the　planet　was　far　enough　from　Pern　to　assure　that　displacements　would　be　negligible　was　one　of　the　main　reasons　we　had　to　delay　the　blasts；　to　achieve　the　maximum　effect。〃
　　Abruptly　Jaxom　started　to　choke；　a　reflex　that　had　him　sputtering　until　Sharra　thumped　him　on　the　back　and　the　spasm　subsided。
　　〃Another　reason　being　that　we　had　to　learn　many　new　techniques　to　do　so；〃　D'ram　said；　his　tone　slightly　acerbic。
　　〃But　if　Aivas　knew　where　everything　else　around　us　was；〃　G'dened　began　in　his　rambling　way；　〃then　why　don't　we　just　use　his　records　and　not　have　to　bother　with　this　sky…watch。。。　rigmarole。〃
　　〃Because；〃　F'lessan　began　urgently　before　anyone　else；　〃ets　keep　ing　through；　from　the　Oort　cloud　or　beyond；　because　meteors　and　asteroids　collide　and　fragments…possibly　one　like　our　Fireball…can　spread　in　all　directions；　and　we　need　to　know　where　they　are　and　where　they're　going！　It　doesn't　matter　that　we　haven't　figured　out　how　to　stop　them；　but　we　certainly　can　learn　how　to　spot　them！〃
　　Jaxom；　N'ton；　and　D'ram　cheered　and　clapped　their　hands；
　　Wansor　positively　beamed；　Erragon　looked　immensely　relieved；　and　even　Lytol　managed　another　smile。
　　〃I　think　that　should　clarify　the　issue；　G'dened；〃　F'lar　said；　raising　his　hands　for　silence。
　　〃It's　certainly　the　plan　we　should　present　to　the　Council；〃　D'ram　said。　〃Put　some　heart　into　us；　too；　F'lessan！　Do　you　happen　to　have　any　more　prints　like　the　one　you　showed　G'dened？　Perhaps　a　little　clearer。〃
　　〃We　do；〃　and　he　included　Tai　in　his　gesture；　〃so　does　Erragon　from　both　Cove　Hold　and　Stinar's　link　with　the　Yoko。〃　Taking　the　prints　in　his　hand；　F'lessan　glanced　at　each　one　before　he　began　dealing　them　out　to　the　Weyrleaders。　〃These　are　some　that　Tai　has　taken　of　what　lies　beyond　our　system。〃　He　shot　a　glance　at　Erragon。　〃She　figured　out　how　to　do　this　'unsharp　masking'　from　her　watches　at　Cove　Hold。　The　technique　reduces　the　intensity　of　the　bright　parts；〃　he　leaned　over　to　tap　the　one　in　front　of　T'gellan；　〃and　brings　out　sharp　detail。　That's　a　nebulosity…looks　like　a　blob　but　there　are　stars　imbedded　in　it。　See？　Those　blurs　are　actually　stars。〃
　　〃Can　stars　be　pink　like　that？〃　T'gellan　asked；　amazed　and　intrigued；　holding　the　print　up　so　that　Mirrim　and　Talina　could　see　it。
　　F'lessan　chuckled。　〃Or　blue；　lavender；　and　white。〃　He　held　up　another　for　all　to　see。　〃We　took　this　when　we　got　the　monitor　up　on　the　Honshu　scope。　This　cartwheel　is　a　galaxy　far；　far　away。　Actually；　our　sky　is　rather　dark；　apart　from　what　Aivas　called　the　Milky　Way　and　the　Magellanic　Clouds。〃
　　〃And　these　spirals？〃　asked　Lessa；　peering　at　the　one　in　front　of　her。　〃There're　so　many。〃　She　was　awed。
　　〃Are　these　clusters　all　stars？〃　F'lar　asked　Tai；　showing　her　the　print　he　had　picked　up　from　the　table。
　　〃Global　clusters；〃　she　replied。
　　〃Good　work；〃　Erragon　said；　nodding　approval。　〃You've　made　notes　of　time　and　position？〃
　　〃Of　course；　though　these　were　random　shots　because　I　was　actually　experimenting　with　the　filters　Honshu　has；　trying　to　see　more　detail；〃　Tai　replied。
　　〃And　everyone　can　see　these？〃　Mirrim　regarded　Tai　with　obvious　respect。　〃You　star…gaze　for　a　reason？〃
　　〃That's　part　of　it；〃　Tai　said；　her　dusky　skin　flushed　with　both　pleasure　and　embarrassment。
　　〃Just　think　what　we　could　see　and　understand　about　the　cosmos；〃　F'lessan　said；　his　eyes　bright　with　such　a　visionary　gleam　that　Lessa　regarded　the　bronze　rider　with　admiration；　〃if　we　had　more　observatories　and　people　trained　to　watch。〃
　　G'dened　grunted；　unimpressed；　flicking　his　fingers　at　the　beautiful　starscapes；　and　glared　at　F'lessan。　〃You　said　those　were　far；　far　away。　Isn't　it　the　nearby　stuff　you're　supposed　to　be　watching？〃
　　〃Oh；　we　do　more　of　that。〃　F'lessan　splayed　out　another　set　of　prints　in　front　of　the　Oldtimer。
　　G'dened　recoiled　suspiciously。　〃Looks　like　a　bug…eaten　tuber。〃　He　picked　up　one；　studied　it　briefly　before　discarding　it　contemptuously。　〃More　holes　than　reef　rock。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　and　F'lessan　waggled　a　finger　at　him。　〃Those　asteroids　are　not　far　enough　away。　What　looks　bug…eaten　is　where　other　flying　bits　have　made　craters　in　the　surface。　Or　where　gases　that　were　once　in　the　asteroid　blew　out。〃　Then　F'lessan　added；　〃The　first　one　is　ten　kilometers　long　and　the　holey　one　is　fifty。　It's　big　enough　to　blow　Pern　apart。〃
　　G'dened　swallowed；　slowly　turning　his　eyes　to　Erragon　who　nodded　solemn　affirmation。
　　〃That's　the　whole　point　of　tonight's　meeting；〃　Wansor　said；　〃to　establish　a　sky　watch　and　train　those　who　will　keep　their　eyes　on　asteroids　like