amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第62部分

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hor…Tai　felt　the　pain　in　her　green's　mind。　As　one；　the　dragons　stretched　their　heads　and　bugled　in　fierce　triumph　at　something　she　did　not　understand。
　　They　live！　A　chorus　assured　her　with　such　conviction　that　the　devastated　Tai　collapsed；　wondering　and　grieving　at　that　response；　crawling　toward　F'lessan　before　she　lost　consciousness。
　　She　drifted　in　and　out；　aware　of　men　and　women；　conversing　in　urgent　whispers；　of　the　coolness　of　numbweed　easing　the　pain　in　her　legs　and　other　parts　of　her　that　had　just　started　to　be　sore。
　　〃No；　leave　him　here　until　he's　been　seen　by　Oldive　as　well　as　Wyzall。〃
　　〃Then　the　green　won't　leave。　But　we　should　move　her　rider。〃
　　〃It's　not　far　to　a　proper　bed　in　Honshu　after　all。〃
　　〃How　many　dragons　will　we　need　to　shift　him？　He　cannot　be　dumped　on　bare　rock；　you　know！〃
　　〃Do　we　need　all　these　people　here？〃　Tai　recognized　the　Benden　Weyrwoman's　caustic　tones。　〃At　least　the　dragons　have　the　good　sense　to　stay　out　of　the　way　until　they're　needed。〃
　　When　they　lifted　her；　to　bandage　her　clawed　legs；　pain　roused　her。
　　〃No；　no；　Tai；　don't　thrash　about。　An　artery　must　be　repaired。〃
　　She　thought　it　was　Sharra　who　spoke。
　　〃Golanth's　dead！　F'lessan？〃
　　〃No；　no；　they　live。〃
　　〃HOW？〃
　　〃They　do　live。　Zaranth；　tell　her！〃
　　They　live；　said　her　green　in　a　whispery　voice。　They　live！　You　live！　We　live！
　　She　felt　a　prick　in　her　arm　and　lost　consciousness　again。
　　When　she　woke；　the　chant…they　live！　they　live！…was　still　in　her　head　and　she　wanted　so　to　believe　it。　And　yes；　there　was　Zaranth's　mind；　as　close　to　hers　as　skin。
　　They　live。　The　green　sounded　so　very　tired。
　　Rest；　Zaranth。　You　can　rest　now；　too。
　　Yes；　Zaranth；　another　voice　said。　You　may　rest　now；　too。
　　A　cool　cloth　gently　bathed　Tai's　face　and　someone　was　holding　her　hand。
　　〃Now；　listen　to　me；　Tai。〃　The　green　rider　was　astonished　to　see　it　was　Benden's　Weyrwoman　who　sat　beside　her　bed；　holding　her　hand。　〃F'lessan　has　been　badly　wounded。　Oldive；　Crivellan；　Keita；　and　two　of　his　best　surgeons　have　put　him　rather　neatly　back　together。　Golanth　is　actually。。。　〃　Lessa's　hands　tightened　briefly　on　Tai's　fingers　and　she　gave　a　sort　of　hiccup　before　she　continued；　〃worse　off。　He'll　need　more　repair　work　when　he's　stronger。　He　will　live！　Oldive　and　our　best　Healers　have　promised　that　much。〃
　　A　memory　of　the　bronze　dragon；　scored　and　oozing　with　thick　green　ichor；　hunks　torn　out　of　tail　and　leg；　his　faceted　eye　blanked；　weeping　ichor；　and　that　final　leap　to　his　most　vulnerable　spot　flashed　through　Tai's　mind。
　　〃But　he　will　never　be　the　same；〃　Tai　said；　her　voice　breaking。
　　Lessa　tightened　her　hold。　〃Who　could　be　the　same　after　that　mauling？　But　he'll　fly　again。　With　F'lessan。〃
　　Tai　struggled　up　on　one　elbow　to　look　directly　into　the　gray　eyes　that　were　so　like　F'lessan's。　〃You　wouldn't　lie　to　me？〃　She　was　startled　to　see　the　fullness　of　tears　in　Lessa's　eyes；　the　Weyrwoman　irritably　blinked　them　away。　〃No；　green　rider；　I　would　not　lie　to　you。　Nor　would　that　incredible　dragon　of　yours。　Nor　will　Ramoth　or　any　other　dragon　on　Pern。　F'lessan　and　Golanth　will　require　a　great　deal　of　care　but　Master　Oldive　is　confident　that　they　are　physically　strong　enough　to　overe　their　injuries。〃
　　There　was　something　in　Lessa's　voice　that　fueled　the　fear　in　Tai。　She　tried　to　swing　her　legs　to　the　side　of　the　bed…she　had　to　see　F'lessan…but　her　legs　wouldn't　work　and　she　relived　that　hideous　moment　when　she　couldn't　get　free　of　the　blanket　to　help　F'lessan。
　　She　was　pushed　back；　flat　against　the　pillows。　〃You've　wounds　of　your　own　that　must　heal　before　you　go　bouncing　out　of　bed。〃
　　That　was　Sharra's　voice。
　　What　were　they　all　doing　here？　Where　was　she？
　　You　are　in　Honshu；　and　this　time　it　was　Ruth　speaking　to　her。　Where　else　would　you　be？
　　〃And　you　said　she　was　a　biddable　girl；〃　Lessa　said　with　characteristic　testiness。　She　gripped　Tai's　face　in　both　hands　and　forced　her　to　meet　her　eyes。　〃F'lessan's　in　a　fellis　sleep。　Zaranth；　by　the　way；　won't　leave　Golanth's　side。　It's　as　well。　She　wouldn't　fit　in　this　room　or　she　might　be　tempted　to　leave　her　weyrmate。〃
　　〃Where　are　they　then？〃　Tai　demanded。　Honshu's　main　Hall　would　not　be　big　enough　for　two　dragons。
　　〃The　terrace；〃　Lessa　replied　calmly。　〃There's　no　rain　in　this　season；　you　know；〃　She　turned　to　one　side　for　a　glass。　〃Sharra　will　lift　you　so　you　can　drink　this。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Tai　asked；　suspicious。　She　didn't　want　to　be　put　back　to　sleep。　She　wanted　to　check　her　brave　Zaranth；　to　see　F'lessan　and　Golanth　no　matter　how　badly　wounded　they　were。
　　〃Tell　me；　my　dear　green　rider；　how　will　you　be　able　to　care　for　F'lessan　and　Golanth　if　you　jeopardize　your　own　recovery？〃
　　It　was　the　phrase　〃my　dear　green　rider〃　and　the　very　kind　tone　in　which　Lessa　spoke　that　so　stunned　Tai　that　she　drank　down　the　potion　without　further　struggle。
　　〃I　think　she　did　believe　me；〃　Tai　heard　Lessa　murmuring　as　she　felt　the　fellis　juice　easing　the　rawness　of　her　throat；　radiating　through　her　body　and　mind。
　　〃I　knew　she'd　believe　you；〃　Sharra　answered　and　that　was　all　she　heard　before　she　fell　into　a　deep　sleep　that　was　therapeutic。
　　Lessa　had　told　Tai　the　truth　about　the　other　three　injured　in　the　felines'　attack；　but　not　the　whole　truth。　F'lessan　and　Golanth　were　critically　injured：　the　survival　of　one　depended　on　the　other。　The　experienced　Weyrhealer　Wyzall　had　been　entirely　honest　about　Golanth's　ghastly　wounds：　the　eye；　with　so　many　facets　pierced　by　claws；　might　never　function。　He'd　had　fair　results　with　a　gel；　which　healed　thread…char　in　dragon　eyes；　and　he　had　used　this　heavily　on　Golanth's　eye；　more　to　provide　surface　relief　than　with　any　real　hope　of　tissue　repair　or　regeneration。　He　had　repaired　the　wing　joint　as　well　as　he　could　and；　of　course；　the　sail　membrane　would；　in　time；　regenerate　most；　if　not　all；　the　torn　tissue。　There　was　the　possibility　that　the　joint；　with　judicious　exercise　and　manipulation；　might　regain　partial　flexion　but　〃normal〃　flight　was　unlikely。
　　Oldive　and　Crivellan　could　be　more　sanguine　about　F'lessan。　Physically　he　would　recover　from　his　wounds；　the　intestinal　puncture　had　been　repaired　although　the　loss　of　flesh　in　the　left　calf；　the　tearing　of　the　tendon　and　cartilage　would　almost　certainly　impair　the　full　use　of　the　leg。　Right　now；　suffering　from　shock　and　loss　of　blood；　they　doubted　he　would　survive　the　death　of　his　dragon。
　　Neither　would　I；　Lessa　thought；　grieving　within　the　calm　and　confidence　she　projected　publicly。
　　Both　F'lessan　and　Golanth　must　be　encouraged　that　the　other；　though　wounded；　would　survive。　Before　F'lessan　had　lost　consciousness；　he…as　Tai　briefly　had…may　well　have　thought　that　Golanth　was　dying　of　his　wounds　and；　had　he　taken　that　morbid　thought　with　him　into　his　fevered　state；　it　was　possible　that　he　would　slip　away　from　them！　They　must　also　reassure　Golanth；　drifting　in　and　out　of　consciousness　from　shock　and　weakness；　that　his　rider　was　not　mortally　injured。　Despite　her　own　distress　（numbweed　deadened　any　pain）；　Zaranth　kept　assuring　Golanth　that　F'lessan　was　alive；　that　his　rider　was　only　deeply　asleep　from　pain　and　the　exhaustion　of　their　fight。　Ramoth　had　given　the　bronze　dragon　the　same　reassurances　and　been　a　trifle　testy　when　it　seemed　that　Golanth　put　more　reliance　on　what　green　Zaranth　told　him…when　he　was　conscious　enough　to　hear　anything。
　　〃So　long　as　he　understands　that　F'lessan　lives；〃　Wyzall　told　Lessa；　〃it　doesn't　matter　who　he　believes　so　long　as　he　does。〃
　　〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；〃　she　agreed；　but　it　took　a　little　rearrangement　in　her　mind　that　her　Ramoth　should　take　second　place　to　a　green。
　　〃Why　not？　They're　weyrmates；〃　F'lar　told　her；　finding　brief　amusement　in　what　Lessa　had　apparently　not　understood。　〃Each　dragon　speaks　to　the　other's　rider。〃
　　She　gave　him　a　long　startled　look。　〃But　he's…〃　she　began　and　stopped　to　reconsider。　〃Well；　I　suppose　it's　about　time　his　human　emotions　were　involved。　I　mean；　he's　very　good　with　his　sons；　even　if　S'lan's　the　only　one　who　ever　lived　in　Benden。　I　just　thought…〃
　　F'lar　put　an　arm　around　her　shoulders。　〃Ramoth　approves；〃　he　murmured　in　her　ear。　〃Mnementh　does。　When　you　consider　what　that　green　did　today。。。〃
　　〃What　she　did　today…〃　Lessa　broke　off。　〃Well；　we　won't　bother　her　about　how　she　did　what　she　did　today。　She　did　it　and…and　I'm　more　grateful　than　I　can　ever　express。〃
　　〃Me；　too；〃　and　he　rolled　Lessa　more　firmly　into　his　arms；　holding　her　against　him；　forting　them　both。　It　would　be　a　long　sleepless　night。
　　Once　Oldive　and　Crivellan　had　left　the　unconscious　F'lessan　with　Keita　to　watch　him；　the　two　Masters　had　insisted　that　the　Weyrleaders　get　some　rest。　Sharra　showed　them　to　a　small　room；　just　down　the　hall　from　F'lessan　and　Tai。
　　Propping　pillows　behind　them；　since　both　knew　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　sleep；　they　kept　trying　to　figure　out　the　sequence　of　the　astonishing　events　of　the　attack　and　how　to　explain　the　extraordinary　actions　of　Ramoth。
　　〃I　don't　know　as　I　can　explain；〃　Lessa　told　F'lar；　〃and　she's　my　dragon。　I　linked　with　her　mind　the　moment　I　realized　she　had　gone　in　answer　to　Golanth's　alarm。　I　saw　what　she　saw；　and　that　was　too　many　of　those　wretched　predators　latched　on　to　him　and　the　green。　The　green　was…somehow…picking　them　up　and　flinging　them　off。　It　was　a…motion…that　Ramoth　imitated。　So　did　the　other　dragons。　Grabbing　the　felines　and　tossing　them　off　the　two　dragons。〃　She　rubbed　her　forehead　as　if　that　would　clear　the　confused　images　Ramoth　had　projected　to　her　rider。　〃F'lessan　was　on　the　ground；　being　viciously　attacked；　he'd　no　more　than　his　belt　knife；　you　know。　And…Tai…was　jumping　from　the　ledge　with　something　flaring　out　behind　her。
　　〃Then；〃　and　Lessa　paused；　frowning；　〃I　think　Golanth　shouted　'time　it'　and　Ramoth　saw　the　one　feline　Zaranth　hadn't　deflected　with　her　body。〃　Her　frown　deepened　and　she　spoke　slowly；　measuring　the　words　with　the　fleeting　moment　that　had　made　all　the　difference。　〃If　its　jump　had　connected；　the　beast　could　easily　have　severed　Golanth's　spinal　cord。〃　A　shudder　ran　down　Lessa's　body　and　F'lar　pulled　her　head　against　him　in　a　tight　embrace　as　if　he　could　press　the　horror　of　that　moment　out　of　her　mind…and　his。　〃It　had　to　have　been　Golanth。　Greens　don't　know　the　mechanics　of　timing　it　without　guidance；　and　Golanth　had　done　so　much　at　Monaco　and　Sunrise　Cliff；〃　Lessa　said　softly。　〃The　others　had　just　e。　Even　Ramoth　didn't　grasp　the　danger　immediately。　So　it　had　to　have　been　Golanth　who　said　'time　it。'　He　must　have　seen　his　peril　through　Zaranth's　eyes。　Or　Tai's。　And　Ramoth　perceived　what　action　was　imperative。　To　deflect　the　feline's　spring。　I　lost　touch　with　her…and　you　know　that　sense　of　blankness　that　is　between！〃　she　asked；　looking　up　at　him；　her　eyes　swimming　with　tears。　〃I　felt　that。　It's　unmistakable。　Ramoth　timed　it　back　to　push　the　feline　just　far　enough　off　balance　so　it　missed　its　target。　And　didn't　kill　Golanth。　Oh；　F'lar；　if　it　had；　F'lessan　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　survive　Golanth's　death。　Wouldn't　have　wanted　to。　We'd　have　lost　them　both！〃
　　She　crumpled　then；　having　been　calm；　steadfast；　and　efficient　for　the　past　few　hours。　She　burrowed　into　F'lar；　struggling　to　hold　him　closer；　closer；　to　dr