amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第73部分

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e　had　never　thought　he　could　gain　entrance　to　the　facility　so　easily。
　　When　he　had　planned　Batim's　raid　on　the　main　Healer　Hall　they'd　thought　it　would　be　much　harder　to　enter。　Unfortunately　for　that　expedition；　it　had　been　much　harder　to　leave。
　　Should　he　prevail　on　Master　Esselin　to　acpany　him　on　his　next　visit　here？　The　fat　man's　clothes　would　hide　more　than　his　excess　weight。　But　first；　he　must　get　to　the　actual　chamber。　And　take　a　quick　look　at　what　was　in　the　room　to　the　left。　Light　spilled　out　into　the　hallway　and；　by　the　sounds　he　could　hear；　a　lot　of　machinery　was　being　used　and　quite　a　few　people　were　at　work。
　　Suddenly　a　big　man　stepped　from　that　room；　frowned　when　he　recognized　Esselin；　and　gave　Shankolin　the　briefest　glance。
　　〃Promised　him　just　a　look；　Tunge；〃　Esselin　said；　flapping　his　left　hand　to　dismiss　the　man。
　　Tunge　started　to　protest　but　by　then　Esselin　stopped　at　the　threshold　to　the　chamber。　He　turned　to　beckon　Shankolin　to　hurry　along。
　　〃There　isn't　much　to　see　now；　of　course；　since　Aivas　terminated。。。〃
　　Shankolin　ignored　him。　He　was　savoring　this　moment；　heart　pounding　in　anticipation　as　it　had　on　that　previous　occasion。　He　stiffened　with　remembered　fear　of　the　awful　noise　that　had　deafened　him。　But　Aivas　had　terminated　itself。　Impatient　to　view　the　site　that　he　would　soon　see　in　rubble；　Shankolin　shouldered　a　startled　Esselin　aside　and　strode　purposefully　over　the　threshold。
　　That　was　as　far　as　Shankolin　got。　From　the　opposite　wall　of　the　chamber　two　narrow　shafts　of　light　struck　him　on　the　chest　at　heart　height。　He　was　dead　before　he　fell　backward。
　　Master　Esselin　collapsed　in　hysterics；　trying　to　scramble　as　far　from　the　corpse　as　he　could。　Tunge　yelled　for　help　and　then　peered　down　at　the　dead　man；　scratching　his　head　in　perplexity。　When　he　pushed　back　the　cap　and　saw　the　scarred　face；　he　bent　down　and　picked　up　the　left　hand。　The　tip　of　the　first　finger　was　missing。　Tunge　dashed　to　the　main　hall；　rummaging　through　the　top　drawer　of　the　desk　until　he　found　the　harper　sketch　that　he　remembered　seeing。　Master　Stinar　was　now　in　the　hall；　to　find　out　who　was　screaming　hysterically　and　why。
　　Stinar　immediately　summoned　a　healer　to　attend　to　the　Master　Archivist。　When　Tunge　showed　him　the　harper　sketch；　Stinar　then　got　in　touch　with　D'ram　and　Lytol　at　Cove　Hold　and　dismissed　everyone　in　the　Admin　who　was　not　essential；　with　the　exception　of　the　rear　door　guard　who　was　mystified　and　kept　repeating　that　he　had　never　thought　to　question　Master　Esselin。　The　man　was　in　and　out　of　Admin　all　the　time；　wasn't　he？　When　D'ram　and　Lytol　arrived；　Stinar　escorted　them　to　the　body　and　requested　Tunge　to　tell　them　exactly　what　he　had　seen。　〃Like　I've　already　told　Master　Stinar；　I　saw　beams　of　light　e　out　of　two　spots　high　on　the　back　wall。〃　He　pointed　to　the　two　places；　not　wishing　to　cross　the　threshold　right　now　though　he　had　done　so　many　times　to　dust　and　keep　the　place　tidy。　〃Far's　I　ever　heard；　nothing　inside　has　been　operational　since　Aivas　and　Master　Robinton　died　in　there。〃
　　Both　Lytol　and　D'ram　looked　down　at　the　dead　man　for　a　long　time　before　they　looked　at　each　other。
　　〃He　got　this　far　once　before；　you　know；〃　Lytol　said　in　his　slow　sad　voice。　〃When　he　and　two　others　attacked　Aivas。　On　that　occasion；　what　Aivas　called　a　sonic　barrage　deafened　the　intruders。　Aivas　said　that　he　had　been　provided　with　self…defense　units。〃
　　Surprised；　Stinar　turned　from　one　to　the　other。　〃But　that　must　have　been　twelve　Turns　ago。〃
　　〃Thirteen；　give　or　take　a　sevenday　or　two；〃　Lytol　replied。　〃Once　a　person　entered　that　chamber；　Aivas　would　know　him　or　her　again。〃
　　〃You　mean　that　Aivas's　self…defense　system　is　still　operational？〃　Stinar　asked　in　awe。
　　Lytol　regarded　him　kindly。　〃I　would　hazard　the　opinion　that　some　internal　circuitry　was　never　turned　off。　A　system　as　sophisticated　as　Aivas's　would　have　recognized　this　man　as　a　previous　intruder。　puters；　as　you　should　know；　Master　Stinar；　have　long　as　well　as　accurate　memory　files。〃
　　The　Harper　Hall　was　informed　by　fire…lizard　message；　and　Pinch；　who　was　the　only　person　who　had　ever　seen　the　Abominator　leader；　was　conveyed　to　Landing　to　confirm　the　identification。
　　〃No　idea　who　he　was；　Master　Mekelroy？〃　Lytol　asked。
　　Pinch　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Fifth〃　was　only　a　convenient　designation。　He'd　been　called　〃Glass〃　at　Crom　Minehold　23；　but　that　was　no　more　the　man's　rightful　name　than　Fifth。　Pinch　hoped　it　took　a　long　while　before　Lord　Toric　realized　that　Fifth；　too；　was　no　longer　available。　Now；　if　he　could　just　find　Fourth　and　neutralize　her；　they　might　forget　about　Abominators。
　　Esselin　did　not　recover　from　the　shock　he　had　received　and　died　a　few　days　later　of　a　hemorrhage　in　the　brain。　Or　so　the　Healer　at　Landing　said。　The　incident　was　forgotten　as　quickly　as　possible　and　Tunge　soon　resumed　his　duty　of　keeping　the　Aivas　Chamber　neat　and　tidy。

HONSHU　WEYRHOLD…3。21。31
　　Once　he　started　swimming　daily；　F'lessan　improved　in　vigor；　was　able　to　concentrate；　and　asked　for　astronomy　texts　so　he　and　Tai　could　study。　He　even　sent　someone　up　to　the　observatory　office　to　examine　the　prints　they　had　taken　to　show　at　the　Dragonriders'　meeting；　that　now　seemed　another　lifetime　ago。　Perhaps　it　was…the　notion　passed　F'lessan's　mind　briefly…but　Tai　saw　a　streak　and　they　had　to　check　that。　Then　a　blur　caught　their　attention　and；　although　that　print　was　marked　as　a　time　exposure　and　it　took　them　all　morning　to　update　the　orbit；　it　turned　out　to　be　an　asteroid　among　the　minor　planets；　nothing　significant。　The　studying　passed　a　morning　and　gave　both　of　them　practice　in　configuring　orbits。　Tai　suggested　that　they　could　help　Erragon　by　asking　for　more　of　the　latest　prints　from　Cove　Hold。　The　Star　Master　might　not　have　time　to　review　prints　with　all　he　had　to　do　supervising　three　new　observatories…no　name　had　been　chosen　yet　for　the　Western　Continent　installation…and　classes　that　Cove　Hold　had　undertaken。
　　Golanth　walked；　limping　at　first　but　gradually　with　more　confidence　until　he　was　pacing　briskly　up　and　down　the　length　of　the　terrace。　He　kept　trying　to　extend　the　damaged　wing　but　it　moved　awkwardly；　despite　all　the　massage　and　smelly　unguents。　Sagassy's　holdermate；　arriving　with　fresh　food；　watched　him　for　a　long　moment。
　　〃Think　we　can　do　something　about　that。　Not　too　far　to　the　ground　on　the　step　side。〃
　　〃Golanth　couldn't　manage　the　hold　steps；〃　F'lessan　said。　〃He's　too　long。〃
　　〃Ramp'd　work。　Double　it；　make　it　wide；〃　Jubb　said；　rubbing　his　chin　thoughtfully。　〃Got　the　wood。　Make　it　strong。　How　much　does　your　dragon　weigh？〃
　　F'lessan　and　Tai　exchanged　glances；　and　F'lessan　burst　into　laughter。
　　〃What's　so　funny？〃
　　〃He　weighs　as　much　as　he　thinks　he　does；〃　F'lessan　managed　to　say　and　that　set　Tai　laughing。
　　Jubb　looked　from　him　to　Sagassy　to　Keita　and　the　others　and　shrugged。
　　〃No　one　ever　weighed　a　dragon　before？　We　weigh　herdbeasts　'n'　everything　all　the　time。〃　He　threw　his　hands　up　in　the　air。　〃Well；　thought　it　might　help。〃
　　〃It　does；　it　does；　it　does。〃　F'lessan　caught　Jubb　by　the　arm；　reassuring　him　and　controlling　his　amusement。　〃I'm　not　laughing　at　the　idea；　Jubb。　It's　an　excellent　one。　Golanth　is　tired　of　being　stuck　up　here　on　the　terrace。〃　F'lessan's　face　lost　all　merriment。　〃He　can't　just　take　off。〃
　　〃You　are　good　to　suggest　it；　Jubb；〃　Tai　said；　ing　to　his　rescue。　〃How　long　would　it　take？〃
　　Jubb　gave　them　a　long　speculative　look。　〃About　as　long　as　you　got　folk　handy　enough　to　build　it。〃　Then　he　grinned。
　　It　took　three　days；　with　dragons　flying　in　timber；　their　riders；　and　folk　who　just　〃heard〃　that　carpentry　was　needed；　including　the　three　dragons　who　flew　in　from　Telgar　Weyr　with　casks　of　nails；　screws；　new　hammers；　and　saws；　and　brought　whatever　other　equipment　might　be　needed　from　the　SmithCraftHall。　Jubb；　his　workmates；　Sparling　and　Riller；　two　Smithcrafters；　and　three　of　Lord　Asgenar's　best　timber　men　designed　a　switchback　ramp；　with　much　discussion　about　the　angle　of　incline；　the　size　and　bracing　of　the　structure；　the　width　and　depth　of　the　flooring；　while　men　and　women　sawed　and　cut；　and　others　hunted　or　flew　in　enough　food　to　feed　the　volunteers。　One　thing　F'lessan　made　clear：　even　for　his　dragon　he　would　not　mar　the　superb　facade　of　Honshu　Hold。
　　More　important；　F'lessan　was　immediately　involved　in　the　activity；　taking　time　off　only　to　swim；　toning　the　muscles　of　his　bad　leg　and　his　shoulder；　regaining　his　tan。　He　also　insisted　on　taking　over　as　much　of　Golanth's　treatment　as　possible　and　trusted　no　one　else；　not　even　Tai；　with　lubricating　the　eyelids。　He　seemed　to　ignore　his　own　injuries：　using　a　slower；　more　deliberate　step　to　disguise　his　limp　as　he　moved　around　with　the　cane。　He　was　more　his　old　self；　though　he　didn't　smile　or　laugh　quite　as　easily。　If　she　caught　a　darkness　in　his　eye　now　and　then；　she　knew　it　was　all　for　his　dragon；　not　himself。　Several　times；　she　saw　F'lessan　eyeing　the　drop　from　the　ledge；　measuring　it；　wondering　if　perhaps　Golanth　could　indeed　fall　off　its　edge　and　manage　a　strong　enough　downward　stroke　with　one　wing　to　bee　airborne。
　　Once　news　of　the　project　spread；　Lessa　and　F'lar　came　to　visit。　While　F'lar　was　looking　over　the　plans　with　Jubb；　the　Smiths；　and　the　Woodsmen；　Lessa　told　them　what　was　happening　at　Western…for　lack　of　a　better　name　that　had　stuck…and　Master　Erragon's　resurrection　of　the　telescopes　from　the　Catherine　Caves。
　　〃Before　he　gets　too　involved　with　that；〃　F'lessan　said　firmly；　〃we　need　him　to　rig　a　remote　control　console　for　the　scope　here　on　the　main　level。　There's　a　room　on　the　north　face　that　would　suit。〃　He　paused　briefly；　his　eyes　flickering。　〃There　must　be　a　way　to　trigger　the　dome　mechanism；　too。　That　spiral　stair　is　ridiculous。　Why　did　Kenjo　hide　everything　away？〃
　　〃Who　knows　why　the　Ancients　did　what　they　did？〃　Lessa　said；　shrugging。　〃Have　you　asked　Jancis　and　Piemur　to　help　you？　Didn't　you　persuade　them　to　do　the　initial　restoration　of　the　observatory？　Erragon's　already　grateful　you're　reducing　his　backlog　of　prints。　I　don't　know　how　he　fits　everything　in。〃
　　〃He　swears　he　needs　only　four　hours　of　sleep　a　night；〃　Tai　remarked；　incredulous。
　　〃Neither　of　you　can　match　him　yet；〃　Lessa　said　at　her　driest；　〃at　your　stage　of　convalescence；　but　as　I　understand　it；　there's　more　to　sky…watching　than　lying　on　your　back　and　looking　at　'em。　He　says　he　needs　references　from　Honshu。〃
　　Pausing；　she　looked　out　over　the　valley。　〃It　is　very　pleasant　here；　you　know；　but　we　can't　stay　long　today。〃
　　She　and　F'lar　left　shortly　afterward；　saying　they'd　be　back　when　the　ramp　was　finished。
　　They　were。　It　was　wide　enough　for　Ramoth；　the　largest　dragon　on　Pern；　who　demonstrated　by　walking　down　and　up　it　without　brushing　folded　wings　against　the　cliff　face。　Bravely；　Golanth　set　all　four　feet　on　it；　F'lessan　beside　him。
　　〃Now；　put　your　weight　down；　Golly；〃　F'lessan　said；　grinning　broadly　and　cocking　his　head　at　the　slight　sound　as　the　timbers　gave　a　little　under　him。　〃Don't　knock　me　off。〃
　　The　spectators　cheered　dragon　and　rider　as　they　proceeded　down。　Ramoth's　eyes　whirled　as　she　watched　from　the　upper　terrace；　Zaranth　and　Mnementh　to　one　side　on　the　cliff　face；　all　three　dragons　alert。　Gradually