amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第67部分

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o　be　as　independent　as　any　other　person　on　this　planet。　Necessity　has　required　our　dependence　on　the　holds　we　protect；　but；　by　the　end　of　this　Pass；　we　shall　all　have　holdings　or　crafts　with　which　to　support　ourselves。　We　shall　be　journeymen　and　…women；　attracting　apprentices　to　Star　Holds　and　learning　to　be　Masters　of　the　Star　Hall。　We　will　study　the　stars　and　watch　until　we　know　exactly　what　might　threaten　this　planet　again。〃
　　〃And　what　will　you　do　then？〃　Toric　bawled　the　question。
　　F'lar　regarded　Toric　with　a　smile　on　his　face。　〃We　will　divert　it。〃
　　〃How？　How？〃　Toric　pounded　the　table。　〃You　weren't　able　to　divert　the　Fireball。〃
　　〃Now　that；〃　and　F'lar　paused　significantly；　without　a　trace　of　apology；　〃won't　happen　again。〃　His　tone　was　so　confident；　his　manner　so　assured　that　the　other　dragonriders　proudly　straightened；　so　obviously　in　agreement　with　his　statement；　that　the　Southern　Holder　was　perplexed。
　　〃It　is　an　ability　that　Aivas　perceived　in　dragonkind；〃　Jaxom　remarked　as　one　chiding　his　audience　to　remember　something　they　had　not　previously　considered。
　　〃Indeed；　Lord　Jaxom；〃　F'lar　said　amiably。　〃The　dragons　have　always　had　the　ability。　We　have　been　busy　refining　it。〃
　　〃It　takes　time　and　practice；〃　N'ton　said。
　　〃The　older　the　dragon；　the　more　adept；　you　know；〃　K'van　put　in。
　　〃bined　with　observatories　and　a　sound　knowledge　of　the　Rukbat　system　and　our　skies；〃　F'lar　continued；　〃we'll　know　exactly　what's　around　us　and　what　else　the　Oort　Cloud　spawns。〃
　　〃As　you　all　have　reminded　us；〃　Lessa　added；　〃dragonriders　are　the　caretakers　of　Pern's　skies。　So　let　us　continue　to　undertake　that　responsibility。〃
　　〃Practicing　and　preparing　for　when　the　need　for　this　potent　ability　presents　itself；〃　F'lar　finished。
　　As　draconic　bellow　had　silenced　argument；　now　everyone　heard　the　carol　that　trilled　the　affirmative　response　of　the　dragons　gathered　on　the　cliffs　of　Telgar！
　　〃Well；　I　for　one；〃　Groghe　said；　beaming　at　F'lar　and　the　other　Weyrleaders；　〃am　deeply　relieved　to　hear　all　this。　Though　I　can't　remember　Aivas。。。〃
　　〃Naturally　Aivas　only　discussed　the　subject　with　dragonriders；〃　Jaxom　said　in　a　grave　manner。
　　〃Thank　you；　Weyrleaders；〃　Sebell　said。　〃You　have　relieved　our　fears　considerably　and　I　think　I　can　speak　for　all　the　Craftmasters　that　there　will　be　generous　Hall　support　to　match　that　already　guaranteed　new　observatories　by　Lord　Holders。〃　He　bowed　to　Jaxom　and　Larad。
　　〃Tillek　is　the　nearest　port；〃　Ranrel　said　to　Erragon　across　the　table；　〃we　will　donate　shipping。〃
　　〃Services　in　place　of　tithes？〃　Toric　cried；　infuriated。
　　〃Oh；　do　sit　down；　Toric；〃　Groghe　said。
　　〃There　hasn't　been　a　vote　about　approving　more　observatories；〃　Toric　plained。
　　〃I　can　take　a　vote　now；〃　Sebell　put　in　hopefully。
　　〃The　necessity　for　three　new　observatories　hasn't　been　properly　discussed；〃　Toric　shouted。
　　〃I　want　to　know　more　about　the　Western　Continent；〃　Master　Ballora　said　in　a　loud　voice。　〃We　don't　know　what　life…forms　are　there。　What　effect　contact　with　new　ones　would　have　with　our　indigenous　species。〃
　　〃Not　much　is　mentioned　about　it　in　Aivas　records；〃　Deckter　remarked。　〃Will　the　project　need　much　metal　ore？〃
　　〃Of　course　it　will；　Deckter；〃　Fandarel　said；　rubbing　his　big　hands　together　in　anticipation。
　　〃Shall　we　deal　with　some　of　the　minor　petitions　now？〃　Sebell　asked；　holding　up　a　slim　packet。
　　〃No；　no；　not　now；〃　Groghe　said。　〃Need　to　eat　now　and　be　refreshed　for　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　　〃What　about　the　Western　Continent？〃　Master　Ballora　objected。　〃I　want　to　know　more　about　thatl〃
　　〃We'll　talk；〃　Erragon　said　while　Sebell　used　the　gavel　to　end　the　morning　session。
　　So　many　questions　were　asked　about　where　exactly　the　observatories　would　be　placed；　the　form　they　would　take；　the　personnel　to　work　in　them；　the　training　required；　that　petitions　were　put　aside　for　the　next　day。　Toric　called　for　a　vote　about　any　new　observatories；　much　less　three；　none　of　which　were　evidently　to　be　placed　in　Southern。　He　voted　against　the　whole　idea　but　the　majority　was　in　favor　of　it。　Then　he　had　to　sit　through　talk　about　the　Western　Continent's　urgently　needed　observatory　and；　while　he　fumed；　everyone　else　seemed　so　enthusiastic　about　supplying　engineering；　construction；　transport；　labor；　materials…without　an　increase　in　overall　tithing；　which　he　would　have　vigorously　barred…the　Star　Masters　and　the　sharding　Weyrleaders　got　what　they　wanted。　It　never　occurred　to　him　that　he　had　only　himself　to　blame。　He'd　been　prepared　to　argue　about　petitions　and　object　to　some…on　principle…but　none　had　been　submitted　for　discussion。　If　he　didn't　stay；　the　Council　might　slip　something　new　in；　vote　it　into　law　and　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　gauge　any　new　plans。　He　ought　to　make　Besic　acpany　him。　He'd　be　good　for　something　then。　Bargen　had　a　son　with　him；　so　did　Groghe。　Such　representatives　were　permitted　to　stand　in　for　their　Lord　Holders　at　the　petitions　session：　Fandarel　had　put　Master　Jancis　in　as　his　agent。
　　In　the　evening；　Toric　wandered　outside；　down　into　the　Gather　grounds。　Dorse　was　supposed　to　find　him　so　he　had　to　be　available。　By　morning；　when　Dorse　didn't　appear　before　the　Council　convened；　Toric　asked　at　the　Telgar　Runner　Station　for　any　messages　for　him。　There　were　none　but　he　encountered　Kashman　and　had　to　walk　back　to　the　Hold　in　the　man's　pany。　Kashman　was　still　furious　with　the　trial　at　the　Print　Hall。　He　hadn't　been　in　Keroon　Hold　that　night　but　the　matter　could　have　waited　until　morning。　He　plained　bitterly　about　the　presence　of　N'ton；　a　Fort　Weyrleader；　far　away　from　Fort's　traditional　authority；　not　to　mention　Jaxom。　Who　was　not　a　subject　to　be　mentioned　in　Toric's　pany　under　the　best　of　circumstances！　Corman　had　kept　this　son　of　his　inadequately　informed　for　Lord　Holdership；　Toric　thought。
　　Late　that　evening；　Toric　wandered　aimlessly　among　the　Gather　tents　and　then　walked　the　perimeter；　keeping　to　the　shadows　to　give　Dorse　a　chance　to　approach　him　discreetly。　There　was　the　other　matter：　this　dragon　ability　that　Aivas　had　mentioned？　As　far　as　Toric　knew；　dragons　could　speak　to　their　riders；　go　between；　and　chew　a　rock　that　produced　the　flame　that　destroyed　Thread。　He　must　ask　Master　Esselin　to　trace　any　reference　to　what　Aivas　had　said　about　the　creatures。　Everything　Aivas　said　or　had　done　was　recorded。　Esselin　could　find　it　and　report。
　　He　was　halfway　around　the　tents　a　second　time　when　Toric　wondered　who　had　been　among　those　exiled　so　precipitously。　If　no　one　had　given　hold；　hall；　or　name；　who　were　they？　On　the　other　hand；　Jaxom　had　been　one　of　the　judges。　He　would　have　known　Dorse。　So　might　N'ton。　And　MasterPrinter　Tagetarl。　〃Lord　Toric！〃
　　His　name　was　spoken　softly　and　in　a　deep　voice。　Dorse　had　mentioned　that　Fifth　had　a　most　unusual　one。　A　most　eloquent　speaker；　Dorse　had　said；　effective　in　rousing　people。
　　〃Yes？〃　Toric　stepped　into　the　shadows。　He　had　very　much　wanted　to　meet　Fifth。　Dorse　had　told　him　about　the　man's　unusual　obsession　relating　to　the　fact　that　the　MasterHarper　had　been　found　dead　in　the　Aivas　chamber　at　the　same　approximate　time　that　the　Abomination　had　terminated　itself。　Was　it　possible　that　Master　Robinton　had　indeed　discovered　some　malign　aspect　of　the　Abomination　and　attempted　to　end　its　influence　on　Pern？　Or　had　Aivas；　suspecting　that　his　evil　designs　to　pollute　and　corrupt　the　planet　had　been　divined　by　the　human；　killed　the　MasterHarper？　It　was　well　documented　that　Aivas　had　hidden　defenses。
　　The　conundrum　had　fascinated　Toric　from　the　moment　Dorse　had　confided　it　in　him。　Now　he　could　question　the　source。
　　
HONSHU　WEYRHOLD…3。01。31
　　The　moment　Tai　woke　that　morning；　Sagassy　appeared　at　her　bedside。
　　〃D'you　need　the　necessary；　Rider　Tai？〃　she　asked　and　whipped　back　the　cover　without　waiting　for　an　answer。
　　〃Can't　I　walk　by　myself？〃　Tai　asked。　She　was　determined　to　put　weakness　and　dependency　behind　her　as　soon　as　possible。　Sagassy　had　been　so　practical　that　her　help　had　not　given　Tai　any　embarrassment。
　　〃I'll　just　put　an　arm　about　you　in　case。〃
　　Tai　did　need　help　getting　to　her　feet　but　she　tried　to　do　as　much　as　she　could　without　Sagassy's　help。
　　Her　ankles　and　knees　were　still　stiff；　her　calves　felt　more　like　blocks　but　they　weren't　painful；　the　left　leg　would　even　bear　weight　without　great　disfort。　So　that　brief　excursion　went　well　enough　and；　leaning　against　the　heavy　sink　top；　Tai　managed　to　wash　hands　and　face。　She　ate　all　the　breakfast　that　Sagassy　brought　and　then　asked；　as　she　did　every　time　someone　came　into　the　room；　when　she　could　see　Zaranth；　F'lessan；　and　Golanth。
　　Having　been　asked　that　question　frequently；　Sagassy　put　her　hands　on　her　hips　and　gave　her　head　a　little　shake。
　　〃Well；　I'm　one　as　says　it　don't　do　you　nor　them　any　good　not　to。　Leave　it　with　me。〃
　　Tai　wanted　to　burst　out　in　frustration　because　everyone　responded　with　〃leave　it　with　me。〃　So　far　it　was　left。　She　was　surprised　to　see　T'lion；　bronze　Gadareth's　rider；　enter　the　room；　Sagassy　behind　him；　grinning　with　smug　satisfaction。
　　〃Sagassy　says　I'm　strong　enough；　and　long　enough；〃　he　said。　〃You　look　much　better。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃　And　answered　herself。　〃Oh；　Gadareth　was　there　that　morning；　wasn't　he？〃
　　〃Indeed　he　was　and　has　been　extremely　smug　and　glowing　ever　since。　Now；　put　an　arm　around　my　neck。〃
　　〃I　can　walk；　I　can　walk！〃
　　〃I　doubt　it　and　I　came　to　carry　you　because　seeing　all　the　invalids…not　that　Zaranth　really　is　anymore…would　definitely　be　too　far　for　you　to　walk　today。〃　He　had　swooped　her　up　in　his　arms　before　she　could　protest　further　and　carried　her　out　of　the　room。　She'd　had　so　many　people　moving　her　places　that　such　intimacy　no　longer　bothered　her。　〃In　reverse　order　of　preference；　perhaps；　because　I　know　you　want　to　reassure　yourself　that　Zaranth　is　fine；　but　F'lessan's　just　in　here；　so　it's　on　your　way　to　her。〃
　　There　was　a　sudden　alteration　of　the　cheerfulness　in　his　voice　as　he　angled　her　into　the　largest　of　the　sleeping　quarters；　not　the　one　she　and　F'lessan　had　shared　so　often。　She　blinked　back　tears　as　she　saw　F'lessan's　white　face　turning　restlessly　on　the　pillow；　his　lips　twitching；　his　brows　creasing；　ricking　the　lines　that　now　scored　his　cheeks。　His　body　looked　unusually　bulky　under　the　cover…bandages；　she　thought；　snatching　back　the　hand　she　had　unconsciously　extended　toward　him。　He　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　thrash　so。　Manora　had　said　his　wounds　were　deep。　He　could　do　himself　more　injury　with　this　tossing。
　　T'lion　placed　her　in　the　chair　by　the　bed。　She　saw　that　F'lessan's　dark　hair　had　been　cut　back　on　the　right　side；　clearly　showing　the　stitches　on　his　scalp。　Holding　her　hand　a　scant　few　centimeters　above　his　face；　her　fingers　trembled　as　she　followed　the　path　of　the　other　facial　scars。　They　didn't　look　that　deep　but　they　were　terrible　to　see　on　his　handsome　face。
　　As　if　conscious　of　someone　watching　him；　he　moved　his　head　more　restlessly　from　side　to　side　and　tried　to　lift　first　one　hand；　and　then　the　other：　the　left　hand　slid　limply　to　dangle　beside　the　narrow　bed。　She　picked　it　up；　returning　it　to　his　side；　and　lightly　touched　his　shoulder。
　　〃Easy；　F'lessan；　lie　still。〃　She　pushed　behind　his　ear　the　strand　of　hair　that　had　fallen　across　the　stitched