amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第77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！


humiliating　that　would　be。　He　was　still　incapacitated。　His　dragon　was　still　injured。　He　would　never　again　be　what　he　had　once　been：　the　carefree　self…indulgent　bronze　Wingleader　from　Benden　Weyr！
　　〃We　did　sort　of　leave　abruptly；〃　Tai　said　with　an　encouraging　chuckle　as　she　laid　his　bare　left　arm　across　her　shoulders　as　if　walking　that　way　was　customary。　〃Your　skin'll　be　dry　by　the　time　we　get　to　the　porch。〃
　　〃Give　me　that　shirt；　F'lessan；〃　the　old　bronze　rider　said；　taking　it　from　the　bronze　rider's　limp　hand。　〃You'll　want　to　be　out　of　those　wet　pants；　too。　e　along　to　the　house　now。　I'll　just　run　ahead　and　get　things　ready。〃
　　F'lessan　made　himself　match　his　stride　with　Tai's。　He　told　himself　that　walking　up　the　long　beach　to　Cove　Hold　was　really　just　another　step　on　his　way　to　recovery。　After　all；　he　and　Golanth　had　nearly　died　a　bare　four　sevendays　before。
　　〃What's　all　the　fuss？　Who　just　arrived？〃　Wansor　was　asking；　his　eyes　wide　in　his　sightless　face。　〃I　can't　hear　what　those　dolphins　are　screaming；　they're　so　excited。　Fless？　Fless；　they　say？　Surely　it　can't　be　F'lessan？　Didn't　you　tell　me；　Lytol；　that　he　and　his　dragon　were　badly　wounded？〃
　　〃Yes；　they　were　wounded；　Wansor；〃　Lytol　said；　ing　to　stand　beside　him。　〃They　are　here　together　to　see　you　and　discuss　the　Honshu　scope。〃
　　They　are　here　together。　Lytol's　sentence　reverberated　in　F'lessan's　mind　and　he　felt　tears　spring　to　his　eyes…not　of　pity；　but　for　his　new　perception　of　Lytol's　victory　over　the　loss　of　his　brown　Larth。　Lytol　had　re…created　his　life；　not　once；　but　three　times。
　　Between　one　careful　step　and　the　next；　the　staggering　concept　that　blossomed　in　detail　in　F'lessan's　mind　made　him　reel　against　Tai；　who　instantly　supported　him。
　　As　she　always　had；　as　she　always　would！　She　and　Zaranth！
　　You　are　all　right？　Golanth　asked　apprehensively；　halting　the　water　play　in　which　he；　Zaranth；　and　Tiroth　indulged　while　dolphins　leaped　and　played　around　them。
　　Quite　right。　Quite　all　right！　F'lessan　reassured　his　dragon。
　　Soon　Zaranth　would　be　practiced　enough　to　be　the　only　dragon　whom　Golanth　would　need　for　a　lift　to　safe　entry　between。　Tai　and　Zaranth　were　essential　parts　of　the　new　future　he　had　just　stunningly　envisioned　for　them…and　for　as　many　other　dragons　and　riders　who　wished　a　part　of　such　a　bright；　new　adventure。
　　With　such　inner　elation；　F'lessan　found　it　doubly　hard　to　walk　sedately　when　once　he　would　have　broken　into　a　run。　The　ache　in　his　left　leg　seemed　irrelevant；　even　if　he　couldn't　speed　up　their　pace　to　reach　Cove　Hold。
　　〃We're　nearly　there；〃　Tai　said；　sensing　the　surge　of　excitement　in　her　partner's　body。
　　As　he　took　hold　of　the　stair　post；　F'lessan　paused　and　grinned；　almost　reverently；　up　at　Lytol。　He　saw　surprise　in　Lytol's　expression；　then　D'ram　moved　past　Lytol；　gesturing　for　F'lessan　to　hurry　up　the　stairs。
　　〃e；　lad；　you're　not　so　pletely　recovered　that　you　can　run　around　in　wet　clothes　and　not　catch　a　chill。　This　way。〃　D'ram　beckoned　for　F'lessan　to　follow　him。
　　When　they　finally　settled　at　the　table　on　the　porch　where　the　three　dragonriders　could　keep　an　eye　on　their　water…sporting　dragons；　F'lessan　was　wearing　clothes　supplied　by　Erragon　while　his　dried。　They'd　had　fresh　klah　and　fruit。　Boxed　and　ready　for　transport　were　the　remote　units　that　would　control　the　Honshu　scope　from　the　main　level。　A　technician；　highly　remended　by　Master　Benelek；　would　install　these　and　the　circuitry　necessary　to　operate　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　observatory　roof。
　　〃What　I　want　to　know；　F'lessan；　Tai；〃　Master　Wansor　asked；　almost　testy　with　impatience；　〃is　what's　happened　to　the　feline　problem？〃
　　That　was　perhaps　the　last　question　the　two　dragonriders　expected；　and　they　stared　at　each　other。　Lytol　and　D'ram　flinched　at　their　blind　friend's　tactlessness。
　　〃Yes；　well；　Master　Wansor；〃　Tai　began；　recovering　more　quickly　than　F'lessan。　〃None　have　been　seen　around　Honshu　lately。　The　holders　protect　their　fields　with　dragon　dung　and　firestone　mash；　so　we've　spread　that　mixture　on　our　perimeter。　Seems　to　do　the　job。〃
　　〃I　understand；〃　Lytol　added；　shifting　in　his　chair　after　Wansor's　blunder；　〃that　Master　Ballora　sent　teams　to　investigate　the　habits　and　lairs　of　these　creatures　on　Southern。〃　He　paused。　〃She's　of　the　opinion　that　they　were　originally　developed　to　hunt　the　large　variety　of　tunnel　snakes　that　preyed　on　herdbeasts　in　the　early　colonial　days。　The　experiment　went　wrong；　the　creatures　escaped；　and；　with　no　predators　to　inhibit　their　numbers；　they　proliferated　unchallenged　after　the　Ancients　went　north。　It　would　be　an　impossible；　as　well　as　a　very　dangerous；　task　to　eradicate　them。　Master　Oldive　suggests　that　it　should　be　possible　to　decrease　their　numbers　by　using　bait　tainted　with　an　infertility　substance；　but　first　the　species　must　be　examined。　Master　Ballora　is　not　the　only　Council　member　who　is　adamant　that　we　may　not　do　away　with　any　species　that　inhabits　this　planet。〃
　　〃Except　Thread；〃　F'lessan　murmured；　his　sense　of　mischief　suddenly　dominant。
　　Lytol　gave　him　a　long；　almost　amused　look。　〃That　organism　is　not　indigenous。〃
　　〃No　more　than　the　felines；〃　D'ram　put　in；　〃since　they　were　developed　by　the　Ancients。〃　He　shuddered。
　　〃I　shouldn't　like　to　think　that　there　were　any　lurking　near；〃　Wansor　added；　his　face　furrowed。
　　〃Not　with　Tiroth　on　duty；〃　D'ram　said　stoutly；　patting　Wansor　on　the　hand。
　　Erragon　cleared　his　throat；　taking　charge　of　conversation。　〃Quite　true。　Quite　true。　Now　I　want　to　thank　you；　F'lessan　and　Tai；　for　the　work　you've　already　pleted；　analyzing　the　images　I　sent。　What　I'd　like　to　know　is…〃　and　the　Star　Master　hesitated。
　　〃If　we'd　be　willing　to　undertake　regular　reviews　of　the　southern　starscape；〃　F'lessan　finished。　〃I　think　from　T'gellan's　presence　here　today；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　Tai；　〃that　Tai　must　gradually　return　to　her　duties　with　Monaco　Weyr。　With　their　agility；　speed；　and　control；　greens　are　the　most　useful　dragon　in　any　Fall。〃
　　Lytol　bowed　his　scarred　face　in　acknowledgment　of　F'lessan's　tacit　allusion　to　the　fact　that　he　would　never　again　fly　a　fighting　wing。　
　　〃Perhaps　you　should　consider　spending　the　Nine　Fall　here　at　Cove　Hold　with　us；　bronze　rider；〃　Lytol　said。
　　〃I　shall　hope　to　be　able　to　land　more　gracefully　by　then；〃　F'lessan　replied　with　a　self…deprecating　grin。
　　〃Practice；　I　believe；〃　Lytol　murmured；　his　eyes　alive　with　understanding　and　passion；　〃always　improves　performance。〃
　　〃I　will；　however；〃　and　F'lessan　paused；　〃need　to　pursue　another　future　for　myself　and　my　dragon。〃
　　〃Well；　you've　already　proved　that　you　can　be　useful　as　a　star…watcher；〃　Master　Wansor　blurted　out。　〃You　don't　need　a　dragon　for　that。〃　His　plump　hand　covered　his　mouth　as　he　realized　what　he　had　said。　〃I　mean；　you　still　have　Golanth；　even　if　he。。。〃
　　〃Even　if　he　is　battered；〃　F'lessan　finished　for　him。　〃So；　I　entreat　you；　Master　Wansor；　Master　Erragon；　to　allow　me　to　study　astronomy　so　that　Honshu　can　bee　fully　operational　as　the　second　Pern　observatory。〃
　　〃Oh；　dear；　there　never　has　been　a　dragonrider　astronomer；〃　Wansor　said；　and　then　beamed　in　F'lessan's　direction。　〃But　then　there　wasn't　even　a　StarSmith　until　very　recently。〃
　　〃Tai's　already　trained　to　near　journeywoman　status；〃　F'lessan　said；　laying　his　hand　on　hers。　〃Isn't　she；　Erragon？〃
　　〃She　is；　indeed；〃　Erragon　agreed　with　hearty　approval。
　　〃We　work　well　as　a　team；〃　F'lessan　hurried　on；　〃and　she'll　need　a　profession；　too；　when　Threadfall　stops。〃
　　〃True；　very　true；〃　Erragon　said　enthusiastically；　slapping　his　hands　on　his　knees　in　emphasis。　〃Hope　you'll　be　the　first　of　many。〃　Then；　in　an　abrupt　change　of　mood；　he　said；　〃Do　tell　us；　F'lessan；　how　did　you　and　Golanth　get　here　today？〃
　　〃I　was　wondering　when　someone　would　ask；〃　F'lessan　replied。
　　〃This　new　ability　that　the　Weyrleaders　mentioned　in　Council？　Something。。。〃　Erragon　clicked　his　fingers；　impatient　with　his　memory　lapse。　〃。。。　about　the　ability　Aivas　perceived　in　dragons　that　has　some　bearing　on　averting　future　dangers？〃
　　〃Given　that　dragonriders　are　apparently　responsible　for　what　falls　out　of　the　sky；〃　F'lessan　said　with　a　touch　of　irony；　〃yes；　it　bears　directly　on　that；　and　on　my　very　keen　interest　in　astronomy。〃
　　〃What？　What　is　it？〃　Erragon　prompted。
　　〃Actually　you　all　witnessed　a　demonstration　of　that　ability　on　my　arrival。〃
　　Erragon；　Wansor；　and　D'ram　regarded　him　without　prehension；　but　a　smile　eased　across　Lytol's　seamed　face　and　he　nodded。
　　〃I　thought　so。〃　When　the　grinning　F'lessan　gestured　for　him　to　continue；　he　did。　〃Consider；　my　friends；　that　Golanth　sustained　terrible　injuries　to　eye　and　wing。　I　do　not　think　Golanth　could　have　launched　himself　from　even　the　topmost　terrace　of　Honshu　to　gain　sufficient　height　to　go　between。　Also；　he　arrives　in　the　pany　of　five　other　dragons。　He　falters　in　landing　and　is　righted…without　any　use　of　that　damaged　wing。　The　other　dragons　assisted　him。　Correct？〃
　　F'lessan　nodded。　〃While　it　doesn't　require　five　dragons　to　lift　Golanth；　it　does　require　a　good　deal　of　control　to　lift　and　land。　From　what　the　Monaco　riders　told　us；　it　appears　that　female　and　male　dragons　work　best　as　partners　in　such　telekinesis。〃
　　〃I　still　don't　understand；〃　Erragon　murmured；　shaking　his　head。　〃How　did　a　wing…injured　dragon　fly？〃
　　Beside　him；　D'ram　was　gaping　open…mouthed　at　F'lessan　and　Lytol。
　　〃Master　Wansor；　I　know　that　you；〃　and　F'lessan　nodded　toward　him；　〃remember　that　Aivas　was　fascinated　by　dragons；　by　a　species　that　municates　mentally　and　moves　freely　between　one　place　and　another。　He　called　these　abilities　telepathy　and　teleportation。　He　thought　they　should　have　a　third：　telekinesis。　He　very　much　wanted　dragons　to　have　that　facet。　They've　evidently　had　it　all　along　but…〃　F'lessan　paused　to　grin　at　a　speechless　D'ram。　〃…until　the　feline　attack　on　Golanth　and　Zaranth；　had　never　needed　to　use　it。〃
　　Turning　to　Erragon　then；　he　went　on。　〃What　you　saw　today　is　a　refinement　of　telekinesis。　Controlled！〃　He　paused　to　stress　that。　〃Golanth　can't…yet…use　the　damaged　wing　effectively。　So　the　dragons　lifted　him　vertically；　high　enough　above　Honshu　to　go　safely　between；　which　he　can　still　do　for　himself。〃　F'lessan　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　watching　the　reactions　to　his　explanation：　Lytol　nodding；　Wansor　agape；　Erragon　frowning；　and　D'ram　smiling　in　approval。　〃Today　was　the　first　attempt　at　a　controlled　lift　of　another　dragon。　It'll　take　more　practice　to　perfect　the　skill。　Especially　landing。　I'm　sure；　Lord　Lytol；　that　we'll　improve　with　practice。〃
　　Today　was　my　first　try；　after　all；　Golanth　remarked；　somewhat　irked。
　　Of　course　it　was；　Golly；　Tai　assured　him；　pinching　F'lessan's　bare　arm。
　　〃Just　as　he　did　with　trundlebugs。〃　F'lessan　shot　Tai　a　sly　glance。
　　〃Why　can't　Golanth　'lift'　himself？〃　Erragon　asked。　F'lessan　shrugged。　〃Perhaps　because　he's　too　accustomed　to　doing　it　the　usual　way。　It　is；　as　Lord　Lytol　knows；　very　dangerous　to　go　between　at　ground　level。　Golly　may　just　have　to　change　the　way　he　thinks。〃　He　paused；　a　thoughtful　expression　on　his　face。　〃There's　going　to　be　a　lot　of　that　soon…a　lot　of　traditional　thinking　altered　to　deal　with　our　imminent　future　as　aerial　defenders　of　a　planet　no　longer　requiring　protection　ag