amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第66部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　〃There　are　two　males　in　the　Bloodline；　aren't　there？〃　Lytol　asked；　supporting　Bargen　in　order　to　keep　to　the　agenda。
　　〃Vormital；　a　great　nephew　of　Sangel；〃　Sebell　said；　eyeing　Toric；　〃and　Warlow；　a　first　cousin。　Sangel's　sons　died　in　the　plague　and　there　is　no　other　male　issue　in　the　direct　Bloodline。〃
　　〃Never　heard　of　Vormital　or　Warlow；〃　Bargen　said。　〃There　has　to　be　more。〃
　　〃Not　surviving；〃　Sebell　said。　It　was　the　Harper　Hall's　duty　to　check。
　　〃There　was；　there　was。　I　knew　him　when　I　was　in　High　Reaches　Weyr。　Hillegel。　Big　man。　Half　brother　to　Sangel；〃　Bargen　insisted。
　　〃He　thought　he'd　go　south；〃　Toric　said；　grinning　smugly。　〃I　heard　he　went　down　one　of　the　rivers　and　never　a　word　since。〃
　　N'ton　got　to　his　feet。　〃When　approached　by　the　Weyr　to　help　evacuate　the　vulnerable　coast　from　the　Flood；　Vormital　informed　me　that　this　was　Sangel's　problem；　not　his。〃
　　〃Dismiss　him　from　consideration；〃　Groghe　said；　bringing　his　fist　down　on　the　table。　〃In　my　hearing；　on　five　separate　occasions；　Sangel　said　the　man　was　a　fool　and　couldn't　hold　a　cup　without　help。〃
　　〃Does　anyone　know　any　good　of　this　Vormital？〃　Sebell　asked。
　　〃If　anyone　does；　it　will　be　the　first　time；〃　Groghe　said　in　a　voice　meant　to　be　heard。
　　〃Who's　the　other　one？〃　Bargen　of　High　Reaches　said。　He　had　fought　hard　to　return　High　Reaches　to　his　Bloodline　after　Fax's　presumptive　holding　and　he　saw　nothing　wrong　with　fighting　to　claim　Bloodright…for　males；　of　course。
　　〃Warlow　is　the　child　of　Sangel's　youngest　sister。　He　has　a　small　farm　and　five　sons；　three　of　whom　have　served　Lady　Marella　in　minor　capacities。〃
　　〃If　his　sons　served；　and　he　hasn't　pushed　for　himself；　he'd　be　useless；〃　was　Bargen's　immediate　answer。　〃Are　we　left　with　the　girl？〃
　　〃Lady　Janissian　has　served　as　steward　to　her　grandfather　and　grandmother…〃　Sebell　began。
　　〃More　the　grandmother's　doing；　I'm　certain；〃　Langrell　of　Igen　remarked。
　　〃It's　more　important　that　she　was　doing；〃　Groghe　said；　scowling　at　Langrell。　〃And　she　is　of　the　Blood。〃
　　〃Oh；　confirm　her　and　let's　get　on　with　this　meeting；〃　Toric　demanded　impatiently。
　　〃In　that　case；　I　will　collect　your　votes；〃　Sebell　said。
　　〃Isn't　it　a　good　thing；〃　Lessa　murmured　to　F'lar　after　they　had　both　written　their　decisions；　〃that　Janissian　happens　to　be　well　qualified。〃
　　〃Hold　Blood's　getting　thin　after　twenty…five　hundred　Turns。　And；　with　the　end　of　Threadfall。。。〃　F'lar　murmured。
　　〃Holding　began　with　Fort；　with　Paul　Benden。　There's　nothing　wrong　with　Fort's　Bloodline。　But　that　form　of　inheritance　is　not　in　the　Charter；　you　know。〃
　　F'lar　regarded　her　in　mild　surprise。　〃No；　actually；　it　isn't。　Holders　and　all　those　traditions　came　later。〃　He　looked　at　Toric　who　was　impatiently　tapping　the　table　while　Sebell　was　sorting　through　the　slips。
　　Sebell　held　up　two　piles…one　thin；　one　fat。　Three　slips　remained　on　his　lectern。
　　〃Three　abstentions；　five　nays；　and　thirty…seven　yeas；〃　Sebell　said。　〃Harper　Hall　votes　yea。〃
　　Nothing　more　than　murmured　sounds　of　relief　were　expressed　but　Sebell　strode　quickly　to　the　big　doors；　opened　one　leaf　and　gestured。
　　〃Lady　Janissian　of　Southern　Boll；　the　Council　would　be　pleased　if　you　would　take　your　seat　as　Boll's　Lady　Holder！〃
　　There　was　cheering　from　outside　as　Janissian；　a　smiling　Menolly　giving　her　a　little　push；　stepped　in　and　the　door　was　closed　behind　her。　She　stood　there；　her　head　no　higher　than　Sebell's　shoulder；　and　her　dark　hair　fetchingly　arranged　around　her　pale；　handsome　face；　the　hem　of　her　red　gown　matched　the　white　shields　and　bright　chevrons　that　were　Boll's　insignia。　She　wore　the　heirloom　diamond　and　ruby　chevron　pendant　that　was　supposed　to　have　been　handed　down　from　Emily　Boll　and　she　gave　the　impression　of　great　dignity。　Sebell　took　her　hand；　and　while　everyone　stood…even　Toric；　though　he　took　his　time　getting　to　his　feet…he　walked　her　to　the　empty　chair　beside　Lord　Groghe。　The　old　Lord　Holder　was　red…faced　with　pleasure　and　kissed　her　on　both　cheeks　as　soon　as　she　was　seated。
　　Lessa　approved　of　her　calm　in　accepting　such　an　accolade　and　her　posed　nod　to　the　rest　of　the　Council。
　　〃Well；　then；　let's　to　real　business；〃　Toric　said；　remaining　on　his　feet　while　the　rest　of　the　Council　resumed　their　chairs。
　　〃It's　my　autonomy　that　has　been　abrogated；　Lord　Toric；〃　Kashman　cried；　standing　up；　his　thin　features　reddened　by　agitation。　〃Those　intruders　should　have　been　brought　to　my　Hold　for　my　judgment。　I　want　to　know　why　my　authority　was　ignored。〃
　　Before　the　Masterprinter　could　get　to　his　feet；　Lord　Lytol　leaned　toward　Kashman；　his　gaunt　face　serene。
　　〃Let　me　point　out；　Lord　Kashman；　a　fact　that　you　may　not　be　acquainted　with　yet；〃　he　said；　〃but　MasterCraftHalls　enjoy　autonomy　within　their　halls　and　may　set　punishment　or　fines；　depending　on　the　nature　of　any　offense　mitted　within　their　confines。〃
　　〃But…but　the　Printer　Hall's　new。。。〃　Kashman　began。
　　〃That　does　not；〃　Sebell　said；　〃interfere　with　its　autonomy　or　internal　discipline。〃
　　Tagetarl　spoke　up。　〃Let　me　remind　Lord　Kashman　that　the　intruders　refused…in　front　of　witnesses…to　name　either　hold　or　hall　to　which　they　could　be　taken　to　receive　a　hearing　from　another　authority。〃
　　〃It　just　happens。。。〃　and　Kashman　waved　his　arm　in　a　sarcastic　manner；　〃that　Lord　Jaxom　who　resides　in　Ruatha　and　N'ton　whose　Weyr　is　in　Fort　happened　to　be　present　in　Wide　Bay　at　such　an　unlikely　hour？〃
　　〃The　intruders　picked　the　hour；〃　Tagetarl　said。
　　〃The　dragons　responded　to　a　summons　for　support；〃　N'ton　added。
　　〃Who　summoned　them？〃　Kashman　demanded；　his　nostrils　flaring　with　irritation。
　　〃Beauty；　in　my　case；〃　Jaxom　said　and　turned　to　N'ton。
　　〃In　mine　as　well。〃
　　〃Beauty？〃　Kashman　echoed；　confounded　by　that　identification。
　　〃Beauty　is　the　queen　fire…lizard　that　often　conveys　urgent　messages　from　the　Harper　Hall；〃　N'ton　said。
　　〃You　responded　to　a　message　brought　by　a　fire…lizard？〃　Kashman　was　incredulous。　Toric　snorted　at　his　inexperience。
　　〃When　such　a　message　es　from　a　main　CraftHall；〃　Sebell　went　on；　〃it　is　not　wise　to　disregard　its　import；　especially　since　other　CraftHalls　have　bee　targets　for　vandalism。　Twelve　people　do　not　simultaneously　decide　to　sample　CraftHall　wares　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　armed　with　torches；　chisels；　hammers；　and　spikes；　Lord　Kashman。　They　were　discovered　inside　the　main　gates；　which　had　not　been　opened　to　them；　destroying　the　doors　to　the　Print　Hall　itself。　What　conclusion　would　you　have　e　to？〃
　　〃Yes；　Kashman；　what　conclusion　could　you　have　e　to？〃　Lord　Groghe　demanded。
　　〃Something's　got　to　be　done　about　such　impertinent　men　and　women；〃　Bargen　said　with　considerable　exasperation。　〃Wanton　destruction…when　it　takes　time　and　good　materials　to　make　anything　these　days…cannot　be　permitted。　If　we　have　already　decided　that　exile　would　be　a　deterrent；　then　whoever　sits　in　judgment…a　proper　court；　with　three　judges　and　witnesses…has　the　right；　indeed　the　duty　of　sentencing　them　to　exile。　Now；　let's　go　on　to　the　most　important　issue　before　this　Council。〃
　　Beyond　him；　Kashman　was　gaping；　infuriated　that　the　older　Lord　Holders　were　so　blithely　setting　aside　his　issue。
　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　preventing　fireballs　dropping　from　the　sky？〃　Bargen　asked；　surveying　the　Weyrleaders　with　a　critical　sweep。
　　〃We　have　several　remendations。。。　〃　F'lar　said；　rising　to　his　feet。
　　〃Don't　want　remendations；〃　Bargen　retorted。　〃I　want　positive　reassurance　that　such　displays　won't　be　repeated　in　the　near　future。〃
　　〃Nothing　in　the　near　future　has　so　far　been　discerned；〃　F'lar　said　and　found　he　had　everyone's　attention。
　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　Groghe　demanded。
　　〃Such　surveys　of　near　Pern　objects　as　Master　Erragon　has　been　able　to　plete　with　a　dedicated　band　of　sky…watchers　suggest　that　nothing　is　close　enough　to　descend　on　Pern's　surface　in　the　near　future。〃
　　〃And？〃　Bargen　prompted；　scowling。　〃In　the　further　future？〃
　　〃We　must　place　more　telescopes　in　strategic　positions　to　watch　our　skies；　mobilize　a　body　of　dedicated　people　to　support　at　least　five　major　observatories…〃
　　Toric　leaped　to　his　feet。　〃You　want　the　Council　to　support　five！　Tithes　are　already　in　full　use。　Where　would　more　marks　e　from　for　five　observatories？〃
　　Bargen　was　on　his　feet；　so　were　Langrell　and　Toronas；　shouting　against　such　major　projects。　Deckter　asked　for　details。　Even　Lord　Groghe　appeared　concerned。　F'lar　stood　still；　ignoring　the　shouts；　the　arguments　as　Sebell　struck　the　gavel　for　silence。
　　A　burst　of　thunder…dragons　shouting…penetrated　the　Great　Hall　and　deafened　everyone。
　　〃As　I　was　saying；　if　you　wish　to　avoid　more　problems　like　that　Fireball；　you　have　to　be　prepared；〃　F'lar　went　on　in　a　normal　tone　of　voice。　〃We　already　have　Cove　Hold　and　Honshu；〃　and　he　bowed　to　Lord　Lytol　and　the　Star　Master；　〃which　is　generously　maintained　by　Landing。〃
　　〃A　portion　of　our　tithes；〃　Lord　Lytol　said；　〃will　be　distributed　to　the　other　locations　as　well　as　to　pay　teachers。〃
　　〃The　SmithCraftHall　cannot　produce　the　telescopes　required　for　observatories。。。〃　Master　Fandarel　began。
　　〃There　are　four　in　the　Catherine　Caves；〃　Master　Erragon　said；　bowing　respectfully　to　the　Mastersmith　for　his　interruption。
　　〃Ah；　well；　in　that　case；〃　and　Fandarel　raised　a　thick　swollen　hand　in　agreement。
　　〃I　have　undertaken　to　supply　a　Star　Hold；〃　Jaxom　said；　rising　briefly；　〃with　appropriate　tithes；　and　the　cost　of　building　one　at　Ice　Lake　as　remended　by　Master　Erragon。〃
　　Toric's　frown　grew　deeper　when　Lord　Larad　rose　to　his　feet。
　　〃Telgar　does　the　same。　Weyrwoman　Palla　pleted　most　of　her　apprenticeship　with　Master　Wansor。〃
　　〃As　a　twenty…four…hour　coverage　of　our　skies　is　essential　to　its　overall　success；〃　F'lar　said；　but　Lessa　could　see　how　much　he　relished　the　shock　he　was　about　to　give　the　entire　Council；　〃an　observatory　must　be　constructed　as　soon　as　possible　on　a　site；　approved　by　Masters　Wansor；　Erragon；　and　Idarolan；　on　the　Western　Continent。〃
　　The　Council　was　in　an　uproar。　Even　the　usually　placid　MasterCraftsmen　were　excited；　demanding　details　and　plans　while　the　Lord　Holders　were　protesting　such　a　drain　on　tithe…marks　and　labor。　It　took　time　for　Sebell　to　reestablish　order。
　　〃But　it　was　the　Yokohama　that　saw　the　Fireball；〃　Groghe　exclaimed　as　the　din　abated。
　　〃Why　are　so　many　needed？〃　Langrell　asked　plaintively。
　　〃It's　a　big　sky；〃　K'van　remarked。
　　〃You　have　to　find　the　near　object　before　you　can　divert　it；〃　F'lar　put　in　almost　offhandedly。
　　〃Divert　it？〃　Groghe　exclaimed；　the　smile　that　had　been　growing　during　F'lar's　opening　sentences　turning　into　stunned　amazement。　〃But　there　are　no　more　engines　to　divert　anything　since　we　blew　the　Red　Star　up；　are　there？〃
　　〃No　engines；　Lord　Groghe；　but　dragons　and　their　riders！〃　Toric　leaped　to　his　feet；　face　suffused　with　blood；　stabbing　his　finger　at　the　Benden　Weyrleader；　and　shouted；　〃So　you　think　you　can　coerce　the　Holds　to　continue　to　support　you　forever？〃
　　〃Not　at　all；　Lord　Toric；〃　F'lar　replied　with　calm　pride。　〃You　cannot　perceive　how　deeply　every　Weyr…〃　He　paused　and　the　other　dragonriders　nodded　or　murmured　emphatic　agreement　with　that　statement。　〃…wishes　to　be　as　independent　as　any　other　person　on　this　planet。　N