amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第6部分

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ff　to　ooze　down。
　　〃It's　easier　to　let　it　take　its　own　time；〃　he　remarked　idly；　all　too　aware　of　her　nervousness。　The　gouges　weren't　deep；　he　noticed；　but　went　from　knuckles　to　wrist。　She　should　have　taken　care　of　it　immediately。　It　was；　he　judged　from　long　experience　with　injuries；　several　hours　old。　Why　had　she　ignored　it？
　　She　gave　a　little　gasp　as　the　cool　numbweed　flowed。　Expertly；　F'lessan　tilted　her　fingers　and　they　both　watched　the　salve　slowly　cover　the　scratches。
　　〃At　Turnover　one　is　more　apt　to　require　fellis　for　overindulgence　than　numbweed。〃　That　wasn't　a　particularly　clever　remark；　F'lessan　said　to　himself　and　gave　his　head　a　little　shake。　〃There！　That'll　prevent　infection。〃
　　〃I　didn't　realize　it　was　quite　so　bad。　I　was　in　a　hurry；　you　see。〃　She　gave　the　reading　room　a　quick　glance。
　　〃Trying　to　work　without　interruption。〃　He　chuckled；　hoping　that　wouldn't　offend　her　as　much　as　his　smile　seemed　to。　〃That's　why　I'm　here。　No；　wait　a　few　moments　longer　to　let　the　numbweed　set；〃　he　added　when　she　started　to　move。
　　He　pulled　out　a　chair；　indicating　that　she　should　seat　herself　as　he　dragged　another　over　for　himself；　switching　it　around　so　he　could　straddle　it；　resting　his　arms　on　the　top。　She　propped　her　arm　on　the　table；　watching　as　the　numbweed　changed　from　clear　to　opaque　on　the　scrape。　Trying　to　appear　more　solicitous　than　overbearing；　he　let　the　silence　lengthen；　wondering　what　he　could　ask　without　giving　additional　offense。　He　didn't　usually　have　problems　striking　up　conversations。　He　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　he　should　have　just　left　her　alone　in　the　reading　room。　Just　then　the　significance　of　all　those　Yoko　records　made　sense。
　　〃May　I　ask　why　you're　interested　in　the　Ghosts？〃
　　She　stared　at　him　in　such　astonishment　that　her　mouth；　with　its　very　well　shaped　lips；　fell　slightly　open。　He　gestured。
　　〃Why　else　would　anyone　be　looking　over　Turns　of　the　end　of　the　thirteenth　month？　When　the　Ghost　Showers　occur？〃
　　She　looked　everywhere　but　at　him　and　then；　suddenly；　blurted　out；　〃I　often　do　some　research　for　Master　Wansor　and　he'd　heard　that　the　Ghosts…which　we　can't　see　down　here…but　you'd　know　about　them　since　you're　from　Benden…〃　she　stopped；　swallowing　as　if　she'd　said　something　untoward。
　　〃Yes；　I　know　that　they　are　not　visible　here　in　the　southern　hemisphere；　and　yes；　they　do　appear　extremely　bright　and　numerous　right　now。　I　did　notice。　In　fact；　many　people　have　noticed；〃　he　went　on　encouragingly；　〃but；　having　lived　in　Benden　Weyr　all　my　life；　I　remember　that　on　other　occasions；　they　have　been　as　bright　and　as　numerous。　I　have　studied　some　astronomy；　so　would　a　Benden　dragonrider　not　totally　untutored　in　his　local　starscape　be　any　help　to　you？〃
　　〃Personal　observations　are　always　admissible；〃　she　said　rather　primly。　〃Others　have　noted；〃　and　she　gave　him　the　ghost　of　a　smile；　pointing　to　several　of　the　volumes；　〃their　brightness　and　numbers　occur　in　cycles　of　seven　Turns。〃
　　〃That's　right；　because　I　was　three　when　I　saw　the　pretty　lights　and　asked　about　them；　and　this　is　the　fifth　time　I've　seen　them　so　brightly　in　their　hundreds。　Here；　I'll　help　you　put　those　heavy　books　away。　Spare　irritating　your　hand。〃
　　She　seemed　about　to　hesitate；　but　he　stacked　five　volumes　deftly　on　one　arm　and　walked　to　the　proper　shelf。　She　hastily　gathered　up　more。
　　〃Did　you　have　any　luck　with　your　research？〃　she　asked　when　they　had　finished　racking。
　　〃Actually；　no；〃　he　said。　〃But　there　may　not　be　a　source。〃
　　〃With　all　this？〃　She　indicated　the　full　ranks　of　shelving　around　them。
　　〃Aivas　didn't　know　everything；〃　he　said；　once　again　managing　to　startle　her。　〃That's　not　heretical；　you　realize；　because　he　couldn't　have　recorded　anything　after　the　Second　Crossing。〃
　　〃I　know。〃
　　There　was　an　odd　note　in　that　simple　agreement　that　he　didn't　dare　query。
　　〃The　answer　to　my　puzzle　probably　doesn't　even　exist；〃　he　added。
　　〃What　puzzle？〃　She　inclined　her　body　slightly　in　his　direction。
　　Ah；　she's　curious。　That's　good。　〃Initials。〃　He　reached　into　his　belt　and　found　the　slip　of　paper。　〃S。K。〃　He　smoothed　it　out　to　show　her。　She　frowned　slightly；　puzzled　but　not　totally　reserved。　〃I　believe　the　initials　are　Stev　Kimmer's；〃　he　said。
　　She　blinked。　〃Who？〃
　　〃A　real　villain…〃
　　〃Oh！　The　man　who　absconded　with　a　functional　sled　after　the　Tubberman　launch？〃
　　〃You　know　your　history。〃
　　She　flushed；　ducking　her　head。　〃I　was　very　fortunate　to　be　accepted　to　the　Landing　School。〃
　　〃You　were？　I　hope　you　were　a　better　student　than　I　was。〃
　　〃But　you　were　already　a　rider；〃　she　said；　startled　into　looking　directly　at　him。　Her　eyes　were　an　unusual　shade　of　green。
　　He　grinned。　〃That　didn't　necessarily　mean　I　was　a　good　student。　If　you're　still　studying；〃　and　he　gestured　at　the　shelving；　〃then　you　learned　good　habits。　Did　you　stay　on　here　when　you　finished　schooling？〃
　　She　glanced　away　from　him；　and　he　couldn't　imagine　what　he　had　said　to　alarm　her。
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃I　was　fortunate。　You　see；〃　she　explained　hesitantly；　〃my　father　brought　us　all　here。　From　Keroon。　He　was　a　Smithcraft　journeyman　and　helped…here。〃
　　〃Oh？〃　F'lessan　drawled　the　exclamation　out　encouragingly　when　she　faltered。
　　〃My　brothers　were　his　apprentices；　and　my　mother　took　my　sister　and　me　to　the　school；　in　case　we　were　lucky　enough　to　be　accepted。　My　sister　didn't　like　school。〃
　　〃Not　everyone　does；〃　F'lessan　said　with　a　self…deprecating　chuckle。　Her　quick　glance　gave　him　the　impression　that　she　had　taken　to　learning　as　a　fire…lizard　to　the　air。　〃So。。。　？〃　he　prompted。
　　〃Then；　during　the　last　Turn　when　everyone　at　Admin　was　so　busy；　Master　Samvel　sent　me　here　to　work。　My　father　was　anxious　to　find　a　good　place　to　hold　and　they　went　off。〃
　　And；　F'lessan　thought　from　the　sorrow　in　the　set　of　her　shoulders　and　dejected　attitude；　she　had　never　heard　from　them　again。
　　〃Did　anyone　look　for　them？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　said　quickly；　glancing　up。　〃T'gellan　sent　out　a　full　wing。〃　She　looked　away　again。
　　〃No　trace　at　all？〃　he　asked　gently。
　　〃None。　Everyone　was　very　kind。　I　was　apprenticed　to　Master　Wansor…I　read　for　him。　He　liked　my　voice。〃
　　〃I　don't　wonder　at　that；〃　F'lessan　said。　He　had　already　noticed　how　expressive　her　voice　could　be。
　　〃That's　how　I　came　to　be　at　the　Monaco　Bay　Hatching　and　Impressed　Zaranth。〃
　　〃Reading　to　Master　Wansor？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　in　an　amused　tone。　〃He　liked　to　have　someone　telling　him　what　was　going　on。　So　we　were　seated　to　one　side　of　the　Hatching　Ground。〃
　　F'lessan　chuckled。　〃Yes；　I　remember。　Master　Wansor　had　to　push　you　at　Zaranth。　You　didn't　know　what　to　do：　respond　to　the　hatchling　or　tell　Master　Wansor　what　was　happening。〃
　　The　smile　that　lit　her　face　and　her　green　eyes　was　evocative　of　the　sense　of　incredulity　and　wonder　that　overwhelmed　anyone　lucky　enough　to　Impress　a　dragon。　His　smile　answered　hers　and　both　were　silent　for　a　long　moment　in　fond　reminiscences　of　their　Impressions。
　　〃You're　still　keeping　up　with　your　studies？〃　F'lessan　asked；　indicating　the　old　tome　she'd　been　studying。
　　〃Why　not？〃　she　asked；　with　a　wry　grin。　〃It's　as　good　an　occupation　for　a　dragonrider　as　any。〃
　　After　a　pause；　she　asked；　〃Have　you　tried　the　Charter？〃
　　He　blinked。　〃The　Charter？〃
　　She　waved　toward　the　special　case　where　the　original　Charter　of　the　Pern　Colony　was　housed。
　　〃Kimmer　was　an　original　colonist；　wasn't　he？〃　she　said。　〃He'd've　had　to　sign　his　name　somewhere；　even　as　a　contractor；　wouldn't　he？〃
　　F'lessan　got　to　his　feet　so　fast　he　had　to　catch　the　chair　from　falling。　His　movement　startled　her。
　　〃Now；　why　didn't　I　think　of　that？〃　he　exclaimed　with　exaggerated　self…castigation。　He　strode　to　the　airtight　case　that　held　what　was　considered　the　most　valuable；　and　venerable；　document　on　the　planet。
　　Fort　Hold　had　ceremoniously　returned　the　Charter　to　Landing。　Indeed；　no　one　had　known　what　had　been　stored　in　the　thick　container　that　had　been　gathering　dust　with　other　Hold　treasures　until　Aivas　had　told　them　what　to　look　for。　Aivas　was　certainly　the　only　intelligence　that　had　known　the　bination　of　the　digital　lock。　Inside　its　airtight　case；　the　Charter　had　been　revealed　to　be　pristine。　Upon　close　examination；　Masterwoodsmith　Benelek　remarked　that　the　plastic…coated　pages　could　not　have　been　damaged　by　anything　short　of　being　chopped　into　little　pieces　by　very　sharp　blades。　Now　the　Charter　was　enshrined　behind　some　of　Master　Morilton's　clear　thick　panes；　mounted　on　a　mechanism…also　an　Aivas　design…that　turned　its　pages　to　the　one　required。
　　〃The　capital　letters　would　be　similar；　wouldn't　they？　Printed　or　written；〃　F'lessan　muttered。　〃Your　research　skills　are　better　honed　than　mine。〃　He　shot　her　an　appreciative　grin。　〃Let's　get　to　the　end。。。　Ah；　contractor；　contractor；〃　he　said　under　his　breath　as　the　pages　shifted　in　sequence　to　the　final　ones　containing　signatures；　many　of　them　mere　illegible　scrawls。　There　were　three　sections：　the　first；　of　the　Charterers；　the　second；　longer；　included　the　names　of　all　the　Contractors；　while　the　third　listed　all　minor　children　over　five　years　of　age　who　had　e　with　their　parents　on　this　momentous　venture。
　　〃There；〃　Tai　said；　her　right　index　finger　tapping　the　glass　so　that　he　could　find　the　bold　handwritten　Stev　Kimmer；　Eng。
　　With　careful　fingers；　F'lessan　smoothed　his　note　on　the　glass；　just　above　the　bold；　and　legible；　name。
　　〃Couldn't　be　anyone　else；〃　Tai　said。　She　ran　her　finger　down　the　listings。　〃No　other　S。K。〃
　　〃You're　right；　you're　right。　He's　here。　It's　him。〃　With　his　characteristic　exuberance；　F'lessan　grabbed　her　by　the　waist　and　spun　her　about；　forgetting　the　reserve　she　had　shown　any　of　his　overtures　of　friendliness。　〃Oops！〃　He　dropped　her；　staring　in　mute　apology。
　　She　staggered　a　little　off　balance　and　instantly　he　steadied　her。
　　〃Thank　you　very　much　for　finding　it　so　quickly。　I　was　looking　so　hard　I　couldn't　see；〃　he　said；　giving　her　a　quick　bow。
　　She　had　a　very　nice　smile；　he　thought；　as　the　corners　of　her　wide　mouth　curved　up；　showing　her　teeth；　white　and　even；　accented　by　a　tanned　plexion　that　was　as　much　heredity　as　exposure　to　southern　sun。
　　〃Why　was　it　so　important　to　you？〃
　　〃Do　you　really　want　to　know？〃　he　asked　with　the　ingenuousness　that　could　still　surprise　people。
　　Her　smile　deepened；　causing　two　dimples　to　appear　in　her　cheeks。　He　didn't　know　any　girls　with　dimples。
　　〃If　a　dragonrider　finds　it　more　important　than〃…she　tilted　her　head　toward　the　noise　of　very　loud　dance　music…〃Turnover　eating　and　dancing；　it　must　be　important。〃
　　He　chuckled；　〃You're　a　dragonrider　and　you're　here。〃
　　〃But　you're　F'lessan　and　a　bronze　rider。〃
　　〃And　you　are　Tai　and　a　green　rider；〃　he　countered。
　　The　dimples　disappeared　and　she　looked　away　from　him。
　　You　are　a　bronze　rider　and　you　are　F'lessan　and　she's　shy；　Golanth　said。　Zaranth　says　she　wants　to　make　something　of　herself　for　After。　She　never　wants　to　be　beholden　to　anyone　else　ever。
　　Like　all　dragonriders；　F'lessan　said　with　considerable　irony。
　　Not　even　to　other　dragonriders；　Golanth　added；　slightly　offended　by　Tai's　utter　independence。
　　〃We　were　getting　along　quite　well　when　you　found　Stev　Kimmer's　signature　for　me；〃　F'les