amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第60部分

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g　lead。　Between　F'lessan　and　F'lar；　they　now　had　one　and　rose　to　their　feet；　cheering。　T'gellan's　dejection　noticeably　lightened　and；　if　Cosira　looked　confused；　at　least　G'narish　seemed　revitalized　by　F'lar's　stirring　words。
　　〃I　suppose　it's　best　to　show　a　united　front；〃　G'dened　muttered；　reluctantly　acquiescing　to　the　majority。
　　〃Well　now；　that's　most　encouraging；　most　encouraging；〃　Wansor　said；　nodding　around。　〃So；　let　us　summarize　our　plans。　Yoko；　Cove　Hold；　and　Honshu　will　continue　their　search　patterns　of　near…space；　we'll　request　the　Council　to　release　three　of　the　remaining　telescopes；　start　work　on　the　vitally　required　one　on　the　Western　Continent；　another　to　be　sited　at　Ice　Lake…thank　you　very　much；　Lord　Jaxom。　The　third　at　Telgar…if　Lord　Larad's　goodwill　and　assistance　can　be　obtained。　Good　of　you；　Lady　Palla；　Lord　J'fery；　to　offer　your　services。　Of　course；　we　shall　ask　the　invaluable　cooperation　of　Master　Fandarel。　We　shall　also　ask　for　volunteers…sky…watching　will　require　many　eyes　as　well　as　many　of　the　dark　hours…and　instigate　an　accelerated　training　program。　I'm　sure　the　Harper　Hall　will　encourage　this。　And　I'll　ask　Master　Tagetarl　to　print　up　one　of　his　notices。　The　entire　planet　will　know！〃　He　swung　his　arms　wide；　his　broad　smile　infectious。
　　〃I　think　that　does　about　summarize　what　the　dragonriders　will　do；〃　F'lar　said。　〃Now；　why　don't　we　relax　and　have　some　wine？　We　brought　some　Benden　with　us　for　those　who　might　like　it。〃
　　There　wasn't　a　person　in　the　hall；　save　perhaps　G'dened；　who　wasn't　quite　happy　to　take　a　glass。　Mirrim　bustled　out　to　the　kitchen　with　Talina；　Adrea；　and　Sharra　in　tow。　Tai　started　to　join　them　but　F'lessan　held　her　back；　to　help　him　explain　the　prints　to　Palla；　J'fery；　and　K'van。　Erragon　produced　old　Aivas　projections；　which　showed　how　much　currently　unobserved　sky　would　be　the　responsibility　of　the　Western　Continent　installation。
　　Relieved　that　this　meeting；　which　she　had　begun　with　little　hope　of　any　positive　support；　had　ended　on　such　a　high　note；　Lessa　felt　incredible　relief。　The　Weyrleaders　of　Pern　would　take　their　places　at　the　Council　with　considerably　more　confidence　and　that；　in　itself；　would　impress　the　Lord　Holders　and　Craftmasters。　She　especially　looked　forward　to　announcing　the　post…Thread　occupation　for　which　dragonriders　were　undeniably　suited。　She　smiled　to　herself。　Sharra　brought　her　a　glass　of　wine　and　a　small　dish　of　savories。　She　was　roused　from　her　private　thoughts　by　G'dened's　testy　question　to　Master　Wansor。
　　〃You　mentioned　three　other　dedicated　people？　Who　would　they　be？〃
　　〃Why；　Master　Stinar　is　one；　the　others　are　two　of　my　old　students　from　Telgar　who　are　now　masters　in　their　own　Halls；　Tippel　in　Crom　and　Murolin　in　Southern　Boll。　They　have　even　built　their　own　scopes…reflecting　telescopes；　only　one…hundred…millimeter…but　adequate　for　the　sky…watching。　It　is　to　Tippel's　everlasting　despair　that　he　missed　seeing　the　Fireball；　it　had　been　so　cold　he'd　gone　in　early。〃　Master　Wansor　made　a　ical　face　of　regret。　〃However；　I　do　have　a　suggestion　for　you；　Weyrleader　G'dened。　Have　a　look　at　the　sky　tonight　from　the　Cove　Hold　telescope。〃
　　Lessa　sat　straight　tip；　grinning　at　G'dened's　sudden　confusion。
　　〃Now；　why　didn't　one　of　us　think　of　that？〃　She　stood　up。　〃I　should　like　a　chance　to　see　myself。　Is　it　possible；　Erragon？〃　She　saw　the　brief　hesitation　on　the　Master's　face。　〃Or　would　we　be　interrupting　your　search　pattern？〃
　　〃All　in　a　good　cause；　Lady　Lessa。〃　Erragon　bowed　with　sincere　courtesy。
　　〃Who's　there　while　you're　here？〃　G'dened　wanted　to　know。
　　〃Lofton；　a　capable　journeyman；〃　he　replied　just　as　F'lessan　came　up　to　Lessa。
　　〃Tai　and　I　would　be　glad　to　demonstrate　Honshu's　scope；〃　F'lessan　said；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。　〃I've　got　K'van；　Adrea；　Palla；　and　J'fery　ing。〃
　　G'dened　and　Cosira　were　the　only　ones　who　did　not　care　to　go　on　to　view　the　stars；　either　at　Cove　Hold　Observatory　or　Honshu。　G'dened　did　agree　that　he　would　find　out　who　among　his　riders　would　wish　to　train　themselves　for　this　sky…watch　project。
　　〃You　did　say；　Erragon；〃　said　F'lar；　joining　Lessa；　〃that　you　have　more　prints　we　can　show　to　relieve　the　fears　of　the　Council？〃
　　〃And　the　majority　of　the　holders　and　crafters；〃　K'van　murmured；　adding　so　only　F'lessan　and　Tai　heard　him；　〃not　to　mention　the　dragonriders。〃
　　It　wasn't　until　Lessa　and　F'lar　got　back　to　their　weyr　that　she　remembered　she　hadn't　had　a　chance　to　speak　to　Jaxom；　who　had　slipped　out　with　Sharra　while　others　were　finishing　their　wine。　She　missed　a　moment　with　F'lessan；　as　he；　too；　left　more　ostentatiously　with　the　group　going　to　Honshu；　so　that　she　didn't　have　any　time　to　talk　to　this　green　rider　of　his。　She　had　never　seen　him　so　protective　of　anyone。　Tai　did　not　look　fragile。
　　〃She'll　do；〃　F'lar　murmured；　once　again　touching　her　very　thoughts　as　he　slipped　an　arm　about　her　shoulders　and　made　her　fortable　against　him　in　bed。
　　
PART　4…New　Dimensions
HONSHU　WEYRHOLD…2。26…27。31
　　After　the　cove　hold　meeting　that　Tai　had　dreaded；　she　was　as　exhilarated　as　F'lessan。　He　had　had　to　be　unusually　stern…for　him…to　get　her　to　attend　and　only　because　Erragon　had　been　equally　insistent　had　she　reluctantly　plied。　Then；　during　the　meeting；　both　men　had　made　so　many　references　to　her　assistance　that　she　had　been　embarrassed。　When　old　G'dened　had　proved　intransigent　and　supercilious；　so…so　stupid　about　the　dangers；　she　had　had　to　speak　up。　Erragon　and　even　Lord　Lytol；　who　often　took　the　opposite　side　of　any　argument；　had　supported　her　ment。　And　encouraged　her　to　speak。　It　had　been　a　high　and　totally　unexpected　moment　of　acceptance　for　her。　Neither　Benden　Weyrleader　had　taken　exception　to　or　even　seemed　surprised　by　F'lessan's　remarks。　She　had　been　almost　overe　with　pride　in　him。　When　Mirrim　would　have　marched　her　off　to　the　kitchen；　F'lessan　had　kept　her　by　his　side；　to　explain　to　the　younger　Weyrleaders　how　they　established　the　scan；　set　the　remote　imager　for　timed　exposures；　and　how　to　determine　the　significance　of　the　images　and　why　so　many　exposures　of　the　night　sky　were　required。　Palla　seemed　almost　as　overwhelmed　by　the　pany　she　was　in　as　Tai；　and　the　two　exchanged　sympathetic　glances。　Palla　was　the　only　other　young　dragonrider　who　understood　the　immediate　task。
　　Then　F'lessan　issued　the　invitation　for　those　interested　to　adjourn　to　Honshu。　And　eleven　riders　and　dragons　had　flown　to　the　weyrhold。　That　had　been　the　heady　part；　especially　with　Mirrim　present…showing　off　the　observatory　and　bringing　up　images　of　the　minor　planets　above　the　horizon。　When　F'lessan　and　Tai　realized　that　Palla　had　remembered　a　good　deal　of　her　apprentice　studies；　they　encouraged　her　to　explain　to　J'fery；　K'van；　and　T'gellan。　Talina　listened　in　the　way　she　had　of　being　of　a　group　but　not　part　of　it。　Mirrim　pretended　interest　but　Tai　was　aware　of　her　restlessness；　so　when　she　offered　to　find　out　what　there　was　to　eat　in　the　weyrhold；　F'lessan　told　her　by　all　means　to　find　out　and　serve　it　up。　He　snagged　Tai　by　the　hand。
　　〃She　knows　where　everything　is…〃　F'lessan　murmured　in　her　ear　and　paused　significantly；　〃in　the　kitchen。　Let　her。〃
　　Revived　by　baskets　of　bread；　cheese；　fruit；　cold　river　fish；　meat；　and　klah　that　Mirrim　served；　the　spontaneous　first　session　of　Astronomy　for　Weyrleaders…as　F'lessan　jokingly　called　it…went　on　till　well　after　Rigel　had　set。
　　Having　bid　farewell　to　their　guests；　Tai　began　to　clear　the　baskets；　sweeping　the　remnants　into　one　while　F'lessan　put　the　telescope　to　bed。　She　was　gathering　up　the　prints　when　he　caught　her　starting　to　file　them。
　　〃Just　make　a　neat　pile。　We　need　to　get　some　rest　tonight；　my　dear　green；〃　he　said；　curling　his　arms　about　her；　pulling　her　into　him　and　away　from　the　chore。　She　leaned　out　of　his　arms　to　snag　several　more　prints。　〃They'll　e　to　no　harm　and　filing　will　not　only　take　you　ages　but　you're　tired　enough　to　make　mistakes。〃　He　kissed　her　neck。　〃You　take　the　litter　down　with　Zaranth。　I'll　close　the　roof　and　meet　you　downstairs。〃
　　〃You　walked　up；　I'll　go　down；〃　she　said　firmly。
　　〃No；　I　will。　It's　easier　going　down；　and　that　way　you'll　have　enough　time　to　put　the　kitchen　to　rights　after　Mirrim's　been　messing　in　it　and　then　we'll　both　take　a　quick　swim　in　the　river　which　I　suddenly　feel　the　urge　to　do。〃
　　F'lessan　knew　exactly　how　to　manipulate　her；　Tai　thought　as　she　climbed　the　ladder　to　the　roof　and　took　the　baskets　that　F'lessan　handed　up　to　her；　grinning　with　his　success。　She　heard　the　machinery　that　closed　the　roof　begin　to　whir　as　she　mounted　Zaranth。　Golanth's　eyes　blinked　greenly　at　her。
　　I　e　with　you；　he　said　and　dropped　off　the　knob　of　stone　he'd　been　perched　on。
　　She　left　the　two　dragons　on　the　terrace　and　made　for　the　kitchen。　All　the　lights　were　on　and　most　of　the　cupboards　left　half　ajar。　There　was　rather　more　of　a　mess　to　clear　up　than　she'd've　thought。　Had　Mirrim　done　this　on　purpose？　No；　Talina　had　been　with　her；　Talina　might　be　indolent　but　she　wasn't　spiteful。　Mirrim　still　didn't　believe　her　about　the　pelts。　Although　Golanth　had　now　managed；　with　just　a　little　control　from　Zaranth；　to　alter　the　direction　of　trundlebugs　only　as　much　as　was　actually　required；　that　had　been　as　much　experimentation　as　they　had　had　time　for。　Images　had　had　to　be　selected　and　prepared　for　the　Weyrleaders'　meeting　and　that　had　taken　all　their　spare　time。　Well；　almost　all　their　spare　time。　Tai　blushed　as　she　cleared　and　wiped　the　worktops　and　decided　that　there　weren't　really　that　many　dishes　that　needed　more　than　a　quick　rinse。　There　was　enough　redfruit　to　make　a　pitcher　of　juice　and　she　suspected　that　F'lessan　would　be　thirsty。　Any　more　klah　and　they'd　never　get　to　sleep。　Maybe　she　wouldn't　rest　anyway；　with　so　much　of　that　meeting　to　review；　vivid　scenes　in　her　mind。　F'lessan　would　probably　want　to　talk；　and　he　always　insisted　that　she　have　opinions　and　share　them　with　him。
　　He　looked　tired　when　he　finally　got　to　the　kitchen　but　his　eyes　lit　up　at　the　sight　of　the　pitcher　of　juice。　He　had　towels　and　two　blankets　over　his　shoulder；　and　clean　clothes…for　both　of　them…neatly　folded　over　his　left　arm。
　　〃How　did　you　know　I'd　be　dry　as　a　bone；　my　dear　green？〃　He　poured　juice　into　the　two　glasses。
　　She　pointed　to　what　he　was　carrying。
　　〃Golanth　has　informed　me　that　he　now　needs　to　wash　the　brine　of　Cove　Hold　off　him　and　so　does　Zaranth；　only　she　thinks　we　should　all　go　to　sleep。　So　I　thought；　if　we　went　down　to　the　river；　they　could　get　a　good　wash　and　we　could　watch　the　stars　for　what　remains　of　the　night。　I　really；〃　and　somehow　he　managed　to　stretch　both　arms　out　in　a　very　dramatic　gesture；　〃feel　too　elated　to　be　cooped　up！　Drink！〃
　　She　did；　laughing　between　swallows；　because　F'lessan　in　this　mood　was　not　easy　to　gainsay。　And　she　did　feel　that　she'd　knocked　down　a　few　private　walls　tonight。　So　much　had　happened。　So　incredibly　much。　She'd　been　part　of　a　special　Weyrleader　meeting；　had　spoken　up　and　given　information；　shown　examples　of　star　images　she　herself　had　taken　on　the　Honshu　scope；　and　received　mendatory　glances　from　Erragon；　Lytol；　F'lar；　and　even　Lessa。　She　felt　for　the　first　time　that　she　was　really　a　dragonrider；　not　just　a　green　rider！
　　They　finished　the　juice；　mounted　their　dragons…F'lessan　tosse