amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第70部分

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ppily　reminded　Tai　of　Golanth's　eye。　But　suddenly　dolphins　arrived；　squeeing　and　clicking　in　great　sympathy　for　the　red　scars　on　Tai's　legs　and　the　black　scabbed　stripes　on　Zaranth's　body；　overjoyed　at　their　unexpected　arrival　and　scolding　them；　as　much　as　dolphins　scold；　for　staying　away　so　long。　And　when　were　Golly　and　Fless　ing　to　swim；　too？　Yes；　they　knew　they　had　been　hurt　but　seawater　was　good　for　all　hurts；　and　swimming　was　good　for　sores；　and　they　must　e　and　tell　them　about　the　furry　things。　All　these　questions　while　sleek　smooth　dolphin　bodies　provided　the　dragon　gentle　massage　and　unplicated　pany　for　the　rider。　The　moon　rose　as　Tai；　grasping　two　dorsal　fins；　was　taken　on　a　wild　ride　around　the　little　cove；　dolphins　leaping　high　in　escort　and　vying　to　take　the　place　of　any　who　lost　her　hand。
　　Indeed；　it　wasn't　until　Tai's　hands　slipped　several　times　from　fins　that　she　realized　she　was　tired。　So　much　unexpected　exercise。
　　〃You　rest；〃　the　dolphin　named　Afri　urged；　and　cheed　firmly　about　her；　an　order　for　the　others　to　calm　down。　Tai　was　surrounded　and　supported　by　dolphin　bodies；　the　light　waves　splashing　over　them；　lulling　her　until　she　was　all　but　asleep。
　　She　came　to　awareness　of　how　easy　it　would　have　been　for　them　to　just　succumb　to　such　blandishments　and　find　a　weyr　on　the　shore　and　forget　the　heartache　and　the　dismal　prospects　at　Honshu。　But　that　was　impossible；　no　matter　how　tempting。　She　had　chosen。
　　〃We've　had　our　respite；　Zaranth。　We　go　back　now。　Dawn's　not　far　away　and　you　know　that's　when　F'lessan　is　most　restless。〃
　　Resolutely；　she　turned　shoreward；　letting　Afri；　or　maybe　it　was　Dani；　tow　her　until　her　feet　touched　the　bottom。　She　walked　out；　found　her　towel；　dried　herself；　and　dressed。　Then　she　called　Zaranth　in　and　checked　to　be　sure　that　none　of　the　scabs　had　burst　during　all　that　diving　and　cavorting　about　in　the　water。
　　〃e　back；　e　back。　Good　for　you；〃　Afri　said；　walking　on　her　tail　as　she　spoke。　〃Bring　Golly。　Much　better　for　him。〃
　　It　would　be；　too；　Tai　thought；　except　possibly　for　his　eye。　Buoyed　by　water；　he　could　exercise　his　leg　and　his　tail…the　bone　had　healed　but　the　muscles　remained　flaccid。　He　might　also　be　able　to　spread　his　injured　wing；　ease　open　that　stiff　joint。　If　only　they　could　get　him　up　in　the　air　and　to　the　sea。　Golanth　had　a　much　wider　wingspan　than　Zaranth。　Falling　over　the　cliff　at　Honshu　as　she　had　done　could　have　fatal　consequences　for　the　bigger　dragon。　Tai　wondered　if　Ramoth　and　Mnementh　had　made　any　progress　in　refining　the　ability。　After　remending　trundlebugs；　Zaranth　had　not　heard　anything　from　Ramoth　except　that　she　and　Mnementh　were　practicing。
　　They　returned　to　moonlit　Honshu。　Where　shadows　would　mask　their　approach；　Zaranth　glided　toward　the　edge　of　the　lower　terrace。　All　was　peaceful　below　so　their　absence　was　unlikely　to　have　been　noticed。　Because　of　the　angle　of　their　approach；　facing　the　main　entrance；　Tai　saw　the　halting　figure　making　its　way　to　the　sleeping　bulk　of　bronze　dragon；　pausing　to　hold　the　edge　of　a　table。　F'lessan？
　　What　was　the　fool　doing？　He'd　walked　for　the　first　time　that　morning。　If　he　should　fall；　he　could　damage　all　the　healing　of　the　past　two　sevendays。　What　did　he　think　he　was　doing？　Fury　for　such　recklessness　dissolved　as　Tai　realized　what　he　needed　to　do：　be　with　Golanth。
　　e　in　slowly。　If　we　startle　him；　he　might　fall；　she　told　Zaranth。　D'you　think　you　could　support　him　if　he　falls？
　　I　could　try。　Zaranth's　tone　was　doubtful。　He　hurts。
　　Of　course　he　does；　Tai　said；　almost　glad　that　pain　was　slowing　him　down；　making　him　cautious。　Then；　she　could　hear　the　faint　click：　he　wasn't　being　entirely　reckless；　he　was　propping　himself　on　a　cane…hers；　no　doubt；　since　none　had　been　offered　him　yet。
　　He　was　concentrating　so　hard　on　his　goal；　reaching　his　dragon；　that　he　was　unaware　of　being　observed。　He　had　ten　more　meters　to　move；　painfully；　slowly。
　　Golanth　knows　Tai　es。　He　does　not　move。　Someone　might　hear　that。
　　But　I　can　hear　the　tap　of　the　cane。
　　They　may　think　it　is　you；　Tai；　checking　on　Golanth。
　　He　managed　another　painful　step　in　the　moonlight；　wobbling　for　a　moment；　uncertainly　balanced。
　　If　he　falls。　Oh；　shards；　Zaranth；　just　move　him；　as　you　did　the　trundlebugs。　Move　him　to　Golanth。
　　I…I。　He's　nearly　there。
　　Not　near　enough。　Just　move　him；　Zaranth。　Do　it！　You　know　how　you　moved　trundlebugs！
　　Tai　felt　Zaranth　gulp。　If　F'lessan　made　a　sound；　it　was　muffled　against　Golanth's　neck　as　Zaranth　plied。
　　Put　me　beside　him。
　　And　Tai…more　abruptly　than　she　had　ever　moved　without　Zaranth　beneath　her…was　standing　beside　F'lessan　who　clung　to　the　loose　skin　on　Golanth's　neck　for　balance。　Tai　put　her　hand　under　his　left　arm　for　support。
　　〃How　the　shard　did　I　get　here？〃　F'lessan　demanded　in　a　low　tense　voice。　〃Where　did　you　e　from？　There　was　no　one　else　awake！〃
　　〃Zaranth！〃　Tai　murmured　by　way　of　explanation。
　　F'lessan　buried　his　head　against　his　dragon's　neck；　gasping　for　breath。
　　〃You　could　have　opened　stitches！　You　could　have　fallen　and　hurt　yourself　more；〃　she　scolded　him；　speaking　low；　her　lips　to　his　ear。
　　〃Why　didn't　you　get　Zaranth　to　bring　me　to　Golly　before？〃　He　turned　his　head；　his　low　fierce　whisper　conveying　his　fury；　his　pain；　and　his　desperate　need　to　be　in　physical　contact　with　his　dragon。
　　Tai　grimaced。　〃Three　reasons：　one；　because　you've　been　badly　wounded　and　needed　to　heal　a　bit。　Two；〃　and　she　allowed　her　irritation　to　color　her　voice；　〃because　I　just　thought　of　it　when　I　saw　you　trying　to　undo　all　the　good　done　while　you　were　forcefully　kept　in　bed。　Three；　Zaranth　doesn't　really　know　how　to　control　herself。〃
　　〃Trundlebugs；　my　dear　green；　trundlebugs。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　pushed　upright；　steadied　himself　on　the　cane　before　raising　his　arm。　She　saw　the　knife　in　his　hand…one　of　the　sharp　ones　that　Crivellan　used　for　surgical　procedures。
　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　　He　gave　her　a　shove。　She　stumbled　and　hissed　as　the　imbalance　sent　a　jab　of　pain　through　her　half…healed　leg。　How　had　he　managed　to　walk　this　far　with　his　more　serious　wounds？　〃I　want　to　see　his　eye；　Tai。　I　want　to　see　it。〃
　　〃Why？〃　No　one　had　lied　to　him　about　Golanth's　condition。　Didn't　F'lessan　trust　her　to　tell　the　truth？
　　〃He　wants　me　to。〃　F'lessan's　reply　was　grim　and　Tai's　objections　ceased。　〃They've　got　it　patched　over　and　sewn　up　and；　despite　all　the　numbweed　and　fellis　juice；　it　upsets　him。　He　wants　his　eye　open。〃
　　F'lessan　quickly　severed　the　lower　strips　holding　the　patch　to　the　eye。　He　gasped　as　he　tried　to　pull　the　bandage　free；　the　effort　was　too　much。
　　〃Give　me　the　knife　before　you　make　a　mess　of　what's　left　of　his　eye。〃　Her　concern　for　him…and　Golanth…made　her　speak　more　brutally　than　she　meant。　The　dragonrider　in　her　knew　that　he　had　to　know　the　worst；　now；　tonight；　while　he　had　steeled　himself　to　accept。
　　Wordless；　he　passed　her　the　knife；　leaning　against　Golanth's　nose　and　breathing　raggedly。
　　Tai　reached　up　to　slice　through　the　final　straps　and　pulled　the　covering　free。　And　stared　at　the　dull　circle　where　a　bright　dragon　eye　should　shine。
　　Both　lids　are　sewn　shut；　Zaranth　said　encouragingly　from　the　shadows。　Nothing　to　be　seen　until　the　lids　are　unstitched。
　　That　won't　hurt；　Golanth　said。　They　always　coat　the　outer　lid　lightly　when　they　do　the　night　dressing。　It's　the　inner　one　that　itches　so。
　　Belior's　light　now　shone　on　that　blank　gray…white；　slightly　curved　circle。
　　〃Give　me　back　the　knife；〃　F'lessan　said。　He　shifted；　weight　on　his　good　leg；　took　a　deep　breath　and　carefully　pulling　the　knot　of　the　nearest　stitch　from　the　lid；　severed　it。
　　〃There're　a　lot　of　them；〃　Tai　murmured。　Here。　A　second　scalpel　clattered　to　the　stone　at　Tai's　feet。　Ooops！　Zaranth　said。　Small　things　are　actually　harder　to　move　than　large　ones。
　　Thanks；　Tai　said；　wondering　if　encouraging　her　dragon　to　spontaneous　kinesis　was　wise。　The　ethics　could　wait　until　later。　Zaranth　had　at　least　known　what　was　needed　and　where　to　get　it。　Tai　followed　F'lessan's　example　and；　since　she　was　able　to　work　quickly　and　stretch　more　easily；　the　stitches　were　soon　removed　from　the　vertically　opening　first　lid。　She　felt　Golanth　twitch。　Gently　she　caressed　his　neck。　F'lessan　should　not　stretch　so　high。　Help　him　open　the　lid。　I　cannot。　It　has　been　closed　a　long　time　and　is　dry。
　　They　did；　careful　to　ease　it　over　the　stitches　that　closed　the　horizontal　lid；　gently　pulling　it　to　the　rim　of　the　eye。　They　removed　the　stitches　from　the　second　lid。　Peeling　it　back　was　slow　and　disheartening。　The　first　facets　were　revealed；　the　inner　circles　scarred　black　by　the　pointed　claws　that　had　irreparably　damaged　them。　But；　as　Tai　worked　the　upper　lid；　and　F'lessan　the　lower；　they　could　see　that　not　all　the　facets　were　dark。　The　outer　band；　to　the　third　facet　in；　showed　a　cloudy　green；　on　the　upper　rank；　four　octagons　were　clearer。　Along　the　dragon's　nose；　six　more　were　brightening。　Golanth　had　lost　at　least　three…quarters　of　the　sight　in　that　eye。　He　might　see　directly　in　front　of　him　in　a　narrow　band　and　catch　motion　on　the　left　and　perhaps　make　out　objects　overhead。
　　Now；　slowly；　Golanth　turned　his　head　to　his　rider　and　Tai；　and　focused　on　them　what　remaining　vision　he　had。
　　I　see　you；　F'lessan。　I　see　you；　Tai。　I　see！
　　Dragons　do　not　weep。　F'lessan　did；　burrowing　into　his　dragon's　neck；　clasping　Tai's　hand　so　tightly　in　his　that　some　of　her　tears　were　for　pain　as　well　as　joy。
　　Neither　Wyzall　nor　Oldive；　nor　any　of　the　beastmasters　and　healers　they　had　consulted　had　thought　that　Golanth　would　have　any　use　of　the　left　eye。　Nor　did　they　know　if　the　undamaged　eye　could　pensate！　While　dragons　often　got　their　eyes　full　of　stinging　char　and　occasionally　a　direct　score；　the　nictitating　lids　could　close　so　quickly　that　rarely　had　more　than　a　few　facets　been　hurt。
　　I　do　not　see　much。　But　I　see　with　two　eyes。
　　Tai　began　to　hiccup　with　sobs。　F'lessan　was　gasping　and　hissing　more　than　sobbing；　sagging　against　his　dragon；　his　injured　leg　sticking　out　to　one　side。
　　〃I　had　to　see；　I　had　to　know；〃　he　murmured。
　　Tai　tried　to　support　him；　but　he　kept　slipping；　exhausted　by　his　efforts；　tears　running　down　his　face　in　a　quiet　despair　that　was　far　worse　to　hear　than　his　initial　sobs　of　relief。
　　Zaranth；　put　us　in　his　worn。
　　Where？
　　The　bed！
　　Being　moved　telekinetically　by　Zaranth　was　not　at　all　the　same　thing　as　going　between。　If　anything；　Tai　thought；　it　was　between　between。
　　Not…so…fast！　Tai　heard　Golanth　say；　like　a　tiny　distant　sound　deep　in　her　ear；　not　a　phrase　said　aloud。　And　the　breathless　propulsion　down　the　corridor　eased　somewhere　in　between　the　start　and　the　finish；　and　by　its　finish；　they　were　slowly　falling　onto　a　bed。　The　larger　bed　they　had　shared…a　logical　enough　destination　for　Zaranth；　who　would　have　recognized　from　Tai's　mind　that　this　bed　was　preferable　to　the　narrow　one　that　F'lessan　had　left。　Tai　was　able　to　ease　F'lessan's　descent　to　the　mattress。
　　As　she　hastily　checked　for　any　blood　seeping　from　his　bandages；　F'lessan　lay　there；　supine；　limp　arms　over　his　head；　gasping　for　breath；　his　face　pale　even　in　the　darkened　room；　his　left　leg　jutting　straight　out　over　the　end　of　the　bed。
　　〃A　bit　sudden；　isn't　it