amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第74部分

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pper　terrace；　Zaranth　and　Mnementh　to　one　side　on　the　cliff　face；　all　three　dragons　alert。　Gradually　Golanth　moved　with　assurance；　able　to　lift　his　tail　slightly；　which　was　another　improvement　in　his　mobility。　The　first　landing　was　more　than　wide　enough　for　him　to　make　the　turn。　When　he　and　F'lessan　reached　ground　level；　he　extended　his　head　upward　to　bugle　his　pleasure　and　began　to　stamp　round　on　the　soft　dirt。　That　was　when　the　bronze　dragon　saw　the　door　to　the　beasthold；　the　landing　above　and　to　one　side　of　it。
　　I　could　weyr　in　this　place；　he　told　his　rider。　It　is　wide　and　high　enough　for　me　to　enter。
　　F'lessan；　who　knew　every　plane　and　dimension　of　Honshu；　now　saw　that　the　doorway　was　wider　than　it　had　been。　Over　the　general　hammering；　sawing；　and　planing；　he　would　not　have　heard　the　noise　of　masons　making　the　enlargement。　He　knew…because　he　had　mucked　out　the　dirt　that　had　accumulated　over　the　centuries…that　the　interior　of　the　beasthold　was　larger　than　Golanth's　weyr　at　Benden。　The　ramp　now　gave　him　access　to　it　and　would　certainly　protect　him　from　the　winter　rains。
　　〃Rain；〃　F'lessan　thought　and　had　to　reach　for　one　of　the　supports　until　the　dizziness　that　had　abruptly　overe　him　passed。
　　〃What's　wrong；　F'lessan？〃　Tai　asked；　ing　to　see　what　had　attracted　Golanth's　interest。　Her　expression　altered　when　she　realized　that　he　had　had　some　kind　of　shock。
　　Rain！　The　silver　fall　of　Thread　was　like　rain！　Golanth　would　never　be　able　to　fly　Thread　again。　In　fact；　when　Thread　next　fell　over　Honshu；　Golanth　would　have　to　be　shut　into　the　beasthold；　to　keep　him　from　trying　to　fly：　the　most　powerful　instinct　of　dragons　was　to　fly　when　Thread　was　in　the　sky。　Was　that　why　the　ramp　had　been　pleted　so　quickly？　F'lessan　tried　to　remember　the　sequence　of　Fall　in　this　part　of　the　south。　He　couldn't　think。　The　realization　that　his　days　as　Wingleader　were　over　was　too　much　to　assimilate。　He　must　have　known　it　at　some　level。　And　denied　it　as　he　denied　that　Golanth　was　blind　in　one　eye　and　too　joint…stiff　to　work　the　left　wing。　As　he　had　diverted　such　thoughts　by　plunging　into　Erragon's　backlog　of　images。　And　Tai　had　encouraged　him。　Encouraged　him　to　swim。　To　do　other　things。　He　wanted　to　think　that　she　had　been　deceiving　him　but　deceit　was　not　a　facet　of　Tai's　personality。
　　Neither　Lessa　nor　F'lar　had　said　anything　during　their　last　visit。　He　should　have　noticed　the　avoidance；　the　talk　about　sky…watching　and　installing　remote　controls。　Hadn't　he　mentioned　it　casually？　Had　they　thought　he　was　making　the　adjustment　from　Wingleader　to　sky…watcher？　How　could　he　have　been　so　dense？　This　ramp　allowed　Golanth　more　freedom　of　movement…on　the　ground。　But　into　the　air！　Golanth　might　not　have　lost　his　ability　to　go　between　but　to　go　between　from　ground　level　presented　hazards　that　no　sensible　rider　would　ask　his　dragon　to　face。　What　about　an　unsensible　rider？
　　He　could　feel　Tai　beside　him。　He　could　hear　the　men　and　women　who　had　made　the　ramp　still　cheering　the　acplishment　and　encouraging　Golanth　to　show　how　easily　he　could　climb　back　up　to　the　weyrhold。　F'lessan　took　a　deep　breath　and　turned　around：　in　Tai's　eyes　he　could　see　she　knew　what　he'd　been　thinking。　Then；　the　second　shock　hit　him。
　　A　dragon　must　be　in　the　air　to　〃fly〃　his　mate。　He　could　not　suppress　his　anguish　at　that　realization。　Hard　enough　to　lose　his　right　to　lead；　but　to　lose　the　ecstasy；　too？
　　It　took　him　a　moment　to　realize　that　Tai　was　shaking　him；　her　green　eyes　intense　with　denial。
　　〃Nonsense；〃　he　heard　Tai　say　in　a　whisper　so　furious　it　stung　his　ears。　〃There'll　be　a　way。　There's　been　a　way　for　everything　else！　e。〃
　　He　grabbed　her；　pushing　her　against　one　of　the　thick　stanchions　at　the　base　of　the　ramp。
　　〃Did　you　know？　Do　they！〃　He　meant　his　Weyrleaders。　He　gave　her　a　shake　when　she　didn't　answer。
　　〃I　thought；〃　and　her　words　came　out　slowly；　〃that　you　realized　someone　would　have　to　take　over　your　wing…for　a　while。〃
　　〃It's　not　just　the　wing。。。〃　He　pushed　her　away　from　him。　〃I　thought　Honshu　was　my　refuge。　Now　I　realize　it's　Golly's　prison！〃　He　pointed　to　the　beasthold　and　its　widened　doors。　〃He'll　have　to　be　put　in　there　whenever　there's　Thread　above。　Not　being　able　to　fly　drives　a　dragon　crazy。　We　always　assist　an　injured　dragon　to　get　far　away　until　Thread　has　passed。　But　Golanth　can't　even　do　that！〃
　　〃You　don't　know　that　yet！〃　she　said；　whirling　to　stand　in　front　of　him。　〃We　haven't　even　tried　to　get　him　to　the　sea。〃
　　〃How　in　the　name　of　the　first　Egg　can　we　get　him　to　the　beach　when　he　can't　even　get　in　the　air？〃
　　〃Because；〃　Lessa　replied；　walking　in　under　the　ramp；　F'lar　beside　her；　〃we　know　how　he　can　get　into　the　air。　Once　he's　in　the　air；　he　can　go　between。　Did　you　think　Ramoth　and　Mnementh…and　other　dragons…had　forgotten　what　they　learned　that　day　at　Honshu？〃
　　F'lessan　stared　at　her。　She　was　almost　reproachful。　To　his　amazement；　his　father　was　more　amused　than　critical。　He　couldn't　quite　grasp　what　they　meant。　His　mind　was　tormented　by　the　crushing　revelations　he　had　been　too　cowardly　to　admit　to　himself。
　　〃The　ramp　is　a　good　idea；〃　F'lar　said。　〃That…〃　and　he　waved　toward　the　beasthold；　〃makes　a　fine　weyr。　Nothing　else。〃　His　amber　eyes　held　F'lessan's。　〃Certainly　not　a　prison　in　time　of　Thread。　By　the　time　the　Nine　Fall　is　over　Honshu；　we'll　have　mastered　lifting　that　bronze　dragon　of　yours。〃
　　〃But　how？〃
　　〃It　takes　control；　you　know；〃　Lessa　said；　walking　up　to　her　son　and　slipping　her　arm　in　his。　〃Which；　I　believe；　your　dragon　was　practicing　the　other　morning。〃
　　〃How　did　you　know　that？〃　F'lessan　asked；　startled　out　of　his　morbid　thoughts。
　　〃There's　not　much　Ramoth　doesn't　know　if　she　wants　to　find　out；〃　Lessa　said；　looking　up　at　him　and　giving　him　an　encouraging　little　smile。　〃Now；　there　is　a　celebration　going　on　around　us。　I　think　we've　inspected　Golanth's　weyr　sufficiently　to　know　it　will　suit　and　I　think　you'd　better　calm　him　down。〃
　　Golanth　was　bugling　and　his　happy　voice　did　not　mirror　the　anguish　of　F'lessan's　recent　numbing　thoughts。　None　had　leaked　to　his　dragon；　for　which　he　was　intensely　grateful。　Now　Golanth　was　happily　prancing　up　the　ramp。　His　mind　was　all　about　being　free　of　the　terrace。　F'lessan　concentrated　on　that　positive　thought；　reinforced　it　by　what　F'lar　had　just　said。　Practice？　Yes；　practice。　Zaranth　and　Golanth　hadn't　done　so　badly　in　the　two　movings　they'd　attempted　so　far。　They　could　practice。　He　could　feel　the　thud　of　Golanth's　feet　in　the　ground　under　his。
　　Lessa　gave　him　a　little　shake。　〃e；　F'lessan；　you've　other　things　to　do　now；〃　she　said　softly　and　then　pulled　his　arm。
　　In　the　few　steps　back　into　the　sunlight；　he　quenched　that　black　moment　of　anger　and　mind…numbing　despair；　forced　himself　through　them　to　grasp　what　hope　allowed。　He　joined　the　applause　as　Golanth　came　charging　back　to　the　foot　of　the　ramp；　limping　only　slight　on　his　left　hind　leg。　His　right　wing　was　fully　extended　and；　if　the　left　was　canted　downward；　it　was　straighter　than　it　had　been　now　the　dragon　didn't　have　to　worry　about　banging　into　Honshu's　wall。
　　Maybe　swimming　and　dolphin　massage　would　loosen　that　joint　just　enough…
　　〃Don't　consider　anything　else；　rider；〃　said　his　father　in　a　low　voice；　striding　past　him。
　　F'lessan　turned　back　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃Tai？〃　he　asked　hopefully。
　　She　came　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　ramp；　too；　and　took　his　hand。　They　walked　out　to　Golanth。　〃Remember；　F'lessan；　I　have　chosen　you。　I　now　reaffirm　it。〃　Her　hand　was　tight　on　his　as　they　began　the　walk　up　the　ramp。
　　
SOUTHERN　HOLD…3。23。31
　　Toric　was　overseeing　the　unloading　of　several　prime　breeding　pairs　of　canines：　big　strapping　animals；　deep　in　the　chest；　thick…necked；　well…set　teeth；　sturdy　legs；　dark　to　mid…brown　short…haired…a　necessary　trait　since　parasites　could　cling　to　long　fur　to　burrow　into　the　host　body。　Shrewd　calculating　eyes；　unafraid；　despite　a　journey　stuffed　in　a　cramped　forward　partment。
　　〃They　weren't　seasick；〃　the　handler　said　approvingly；　with　a　slight　emphasis　on　the　pronoun。　〃Name's　Pinch；　Lord　Toric。〃
　　〃Why　the　muzzles？〃　Toric　asked；　flicking　his　thick　fingers　in　acknowledgment　of　the　name。
　　〃One　of　the　females　is　near　her　heat。　Couldn't　have　them　biting；　fighting。〃
　　〃Aren't　they　trained？〃
　　The　handler；　a　medium…sized　man　with　an　angular　face　somewhat　marred　by　tar　stains　and　dirt；　brown　eyes；　serious　sort　of　expression；　gave　Toric　a　hard　stare。
　　〃If　they　wasn't　when　they　came　on　board；　they　are　now。　Sit！〃
　　All　six　dogs　instantly　obeyed；　heads　pointing　at　the　handler。　Though　they　didn't　move；　it　was　obvious　by　their　rolling　eyes　and　the　movements　of　their　nostrils　that　they　were　taking　in　such　sights　and　smells　as　they　could　at　the　sit　position。
　　〃Stand！〃　On　their　feet　in　a　shot。　They　took　advantage　and　glanced　about　in　every　direction。　One　of　them　whined　softly。
　　The　man　gave　a　sort　of　smug　smirk。　〃Voice　and　hand。〃　He　demonstrated　by　firmly　depressing　his　hand　to　the　ground　and　the　dogs　sat　down　again。　〃Make　sure　you　feed　'em　by　hand　yourself　and　they'll　be　yours。〃
　　Toric　had　no　time　to　feed　dogs　but　his　sons　did。
　　〃Here're　their　papers；〃　the　handler　said。　He　fumbled　in　a　clean　but　well…mended　jacket；　and　passed　Toric　a　sheaf。　〃Master　Ballora　guarantees　fertility　or　you　can　return　the　dogs。〃
　　〃Can　you　manage　to　get　them　to　my　hold？〃　Toric　asked；　eyeing　the　man。　Any　one　of　the　dogs　stood　higher　than　the　handler's　knee：　heavy　collars　as　well　as　choke　chains；　paired　up　on　three　thick　leather　leads。
　　〃Up　to　top；　turn　second　left；　up　the　wide　stairs　and　Lord　Toric's　Hold　is　directly　in　front；〃　the　man　said　in　quick　phrases　and　then　grinned；　showing　very　white　and　even　teeth。
　　〃Get　going　then；　and　you're　responsible　if　you　lose　one　or　any　get　damaged　or　do　damage。〃　Toric　gestured　him　to　be　off。
　　〃e！〃　The　dogs　followed　their　handler　down　the　gangplank；　shoving　a　little　with　their　shoulders　to　be　closest　behind　him。　At　his　order；　they　moved　in　front　of　him。
　　Toric　watched　as　the　dogs　led　the　man　up　the　stairs　without　pulling　at　him。　Toric　approved。　He　must　remember　to　oversee　his　sons　while　they　were　getting　accustomed　to　the　beasts。　Maybe；　he'd　keep　one　pair　by　him。　Might　be　prudent。　Ballora　had　offered　him　watchwhers。　He　couldn't　stand　the　look　of　the　creatures；　and　they　were　really　only　good　watchers　at　night。　They　had　to　be　blooded　at　birth　to　recognize　the　legitimate　members　of　a　Hold。
　　He　pretended　to　read　the　dogs'　papers　as　the　rest　of　the　passengers　began　filing　off　the　ship；　assessing　the　newest　arrivals　at　Southern。　More　ragged　ones　who　were　unlikely　to　devote　any　time　to　that　newest　fad；　sky…watching。　If　things　fell　out　of　the　sky；　they　fell；　and　there　was　more　water　on　Pern　than　land。　What　were　really　needed　in　the　sky　were　more　accurate　weather　satellites。　That　spaceship　had　only　its　southern　array　and　the　worst　winds　came　down　out　of　the　north；　which　was　what　had　happened　two　Turns　ago　and　his　coastline　had　been　sharding　ruined。　Dolphin　warning　hadn't　given　anyone　enough　time。
　　He　shifted　his　feet　and　glared　as　the　last　man　off　the　boat　led　a　small　girl　and　encouraged　three　boys　to　move　quickly　now。　Then　the　captain　and　the　Runner　Stationmaster　emerged；　the　latter　hefting　the　heavy　mess