amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第78部分

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d　to　deal　with　our　imminent　future　as　aerial　defenders　of　a　planet　no　longer　requiring　protection　against　Thread。〃
　　〃Hmm；　yes。〃　Lytol　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully；　but　his　gaze　gleamed　with　anticipation　as　he　regarded　the　bronze　rider。　〃So；　today；　to　get　Golanth　aloft；　the　others　supplied　the　initial　lift　and　controlled　the　descent。〃
　　〃To　some　degree；〃　F'lessan　said　with　a　grin。　〃Have　you　any　idea；　bronze　rider；　what　use　Aivas　would　have　made　of　draconic　telekinesis？〃　Lytol　asked。　Had　the　shrewd　man　already　jumped　to　the　same　conclusion　F'lessan　had？
　　〃Surely　you　don't　mean　he　expected　the　dragons　to　alter　the　Red　Star's　orbit？〃　Erragon　demanded；　astounded。
　　F'lessan　chuckled。　〃I　don't　know　what　he　had　in　mind。　Dragonriders　did　get　the　antimatter　engines　onto　the　planet。　And　the　blast　achieved　an　orbital　shift。　I　have　another；　not　pletely　dissimilar　idea。〃
　　Erragon　slapped　both　hands　onto　the　table；　his　face　mirroring　plete　skepticism。　〃And　you　are　suggesting。。。　that　dragons　will　be　able　to　deflect　etary　fragments　or　asteroids？〃
　　F'lessan　gave　the　Star　Master　a　long　speculative　look；　amusement　sparkling　in　his　gray　eyes。　He　caught　a　similar　twinkle　in　Lytol's　hooded　gaze。　If　he　had　Lytol　on　his　side；　his　preposterous　notion　might　just　have　a　chance。
　　〃Togo's　records　showed　the　Fireball　on　an　approach　orbit　months　ago。　If　it　had　been　moved　then；　by　just　a　slight　tap；　if　I　can　put　it　that　way；〃　and　F'lessan　could　no　longer　suppress　a　broad　grin；　〃the　Fireball　would　not　have　impacted。　Maybe　it　might　not　even　have　grazed　the　surface　but　trundled…〃
　　He　chuckled　as　he　rotated　his　hand；　index　finger　circling　expressively。　〃…back　out　into　space。〃
　　D'ram；　Erragon；　and　Wansor　gawked　at　him。　Lytol's　lips　formed　a　smile　of　approval；　and　Tai　stifled　laughter　at　his　description。
　　F'lessan　went　on。　〃I'm　not　saying　that　we　can　perfect　this　ability　to　have　a　significant　effect　on　what's　in　our　skies。　But　that　doesn't　mean　we　shouldn't　try。〃
　　He　looked　around；　satisfied　by　the　thoughtful　expressions。　Lytol　was　nodding　with　prehension。　F'lessan　leaned　urgently　forward　across　the　table；　the　look　in　his　eyes　challenging　them　all。
　　〃We　already　know　that　dragons　can　go　into　space　without　harm。　They　can　manage　a　journey　of　fifteen　minutes'　duration　before　they　incur　oxygen　debt。　We　lifted　massive　engines　from　three　spaceships。　We　planted　them　on　a　dead　world。　The　Red　Star　was　much　farther　away　from　Pern　than　anything　in　the　asteroid　belt；　or　among　the　minor　planets。　What's　to　say　we　can't　do　more　in　our　own　space？　We　still　have　the　helmets；　suits；　and　the　oxygen　equipment。　I　think　we　should　keep　them　in　good　condition。　I　think　dragons　should　practice　telekinesis　and　control　their　use　of　it。
　　〃And　another　thing；〃　he　said；　still　noting　that　both　D'ram　and　Erragon　were　having　some　difficulty　in　absorbing　his　remarks；　〃the　Ancients　may　have　had　sleds。　We　have　dragons。　We　don't　have　to　waste　time；　or　reinvent　a　fuel；　to　lift　dragons　from　the　surface　of　this　planet。　If　a　dragon　knows　where　he's　to　go。。。〃　He　waved　his　hand　to　let　imagination　finish　the　sentence。
　　〃Just　a　minute；　F'lessan；〃　Erragon　began；　his　eyes　wide　with　confusion；　〃we　can't　afford　to　risk　dragons。。。〃
　　〃They're　risked　every　time　they　go　into　a　Fall；〃　Lytol　said；　having　no　difficulty　with　F'lessan's　suggestion。
　　F'lessan　nodded；　his　smile　still　in　place。　〃We　have　the　Yoko　in　its　permanent　orbit。　It　has　the　southern　array　of　weather　stations　reporting　to　it。　I　often　wondered　why　there　wasn't　a　northern　one。〃
　　〃Perhaps　because　the　southern　continent　was　chosen；　having　the　larger　landmass　and　more　temperate　weather；〃　Lytol　suggested。
　　Erragon　held　up　one　hand。　〃Now　don't　tell　me　there　are　plans　in　Aivas　records　for　weather　satellites。〃
　　〃There　are；〃　Lytol　said。
　　〃I　was　thinking　of　them　more　as　links　between　the　observatories；〃　F'lessan　put　in；　〃which　you　know　we'll　need　if　we're　to　do　a　proper　job　of　sky…watching。〃
　　With　an　exclamation　of　confused　aggravation；　Erragon　rocked　back　on　his　chair；　looking　from　Lytol　to　F'lessan　to　Tai；　hoping　for　more　explanation。
　　〃Doesn't　young　Jaxom　boast　that　his　Ruth　always　knows　where　and　when　he　is？〃　Wansor　asked；　twiddling　his　fingers　as　the　tension　in　the　room　increased。
　　〃Even　in　space？〃　Erragon's　baritone　voice　rose　to　tenor　levels　in　surprise。
　　〃Well；　not　today；　or　even　by　the　time　the　Western　Telescope　is　lit；〃　F'lessan　said；　〃but　we　evidently　have　a　way　of　putting　objects　up！〃　He　pointed　skyward。　〃Of　course；　it　will　take　practice。　Maybe；〃　and　he　threw　this　out　with　a　gleam　of　mischief　in　his　eyes；　〃there　is　a　prosaic　use　for　this　draconic　ability…apart　from　defending　themselves　against　felines。〃
　　〃May　we　never　have　to　do　that　again！〃　Tai　said　fervently。　Outside；　in　the　cove；　three　dragons　echoed　the　sentiment。
　　〃Meanwhile；〃　F'lessan　said　briskly；　gathering　up　the　reports　and　prints　that　Erragon　wanted　them　to　study；　〃we　have　much　to　occupy　us。　Studying　for　our　Mastery；〃　and　he　gave　Tai　a　sly　glance；　〃and　altering　our　ways。　We　must　do　as　much　as　we　can　to　make　Pern　fair　up　to　our　means；　to　make　it　the　world　our　Ancestors　hoped　to　create。〃
　　He　felt　his　chest　fill　with　determination　to　succeed　in　his　new　tasks。　He　could　feel　fears　ing　to　his　eyes　as　he　held　out　his　hand　to　Tai。　She　rose；　inclining　her　body　toward　him；　her　eyes　shining；　too。　He　saw　Lytol's　face　light　up　so　that　he　seemed　younger　and　more　vital　than　ever。　D'ram　and　Erragon　got　to　their　feet；　while　Master　Wansor　beamed　benignly　around　the　table。
　　The　dragons　continued　to　bugle　and；　m　his　head；　F'lessan　was　certain　that　their　call　reverberated　through　every　Weyr　on　the　planet。　He　had　the　dragons'　support。
　　〃Whatever　we　have　to　do；　we　shall；〃　he　said　in　a　choked　voice　〃There　will　always　be　dragons　in　the　skies　of　Pern！〃
　　
　　
THE　PHYSICS　OF　PERN
Anne　McCaffrey
　　Did　Anne　McCaffrey　plan　the　physics　of　Pern　or　did　it　develop　along　the　way？　Here's　her　response：
　　The　Physics　of　Pern…ah；　yes；　well；　they　have　been　developed　by　Dr。　Jack　Cohen　of　Warwick　University　in　Dragonsdawn　and　All　the　Weyrs　of　Pern。　They　are　basically　Newtonian　physics　and/or　biology　in　which　Jack　holds　both　a　Ph。D　and　a　D。Sc。　He　is　also　a　generalist；　and　was　able　to　correct　some　of　my　basic　errors；　which　were　legion。　I　satisfied　the　science　requirement　at　Radcliffe　by　taking　cartography。　Although　I　did　not　know　at　that　point　in　my　life　that　it　would　be　a　valuable　asset　in　my　life's　work；　being　able　to　develop　a　map　of　new　worlds　has　been　extremely　valuable。　Even　expert　Karen　Wynn　Fonstad；　whom　I　helped　with　details　in　the　Atlas　of　Pern；　remarked　that　most　of　my　suppositions　about　Pernese　terrain　jibed　well　with　what　was　geologically　possible。　It　was　a　case　of　the　subconscious　running　with　an　idea　in　the　best　of　possible　directions。
　　To　Jack　Cohen；　I　owe　the　biology　of　Pern；　especially　of　the　dragons　and　the　fire…lizards　who　supplied　the　genetic　material　used　to　create…by　a　special　and　now…unknown　process　of　the　alien　race…the　Eridani；　the　dragons　of　Pern。　（You　can't　just　breed　large　examples　of　a　species　to　other　large　examples　and　keep　increasing　the　size　in　a　few　generations。）　He　also　figured　out　how　to　decimate　the　malignant　and　possibly　dangerous　life…forms　that　inhabited　the　Oort　Cloud　with　the　zebedees　（his　name　and　creation；　a　creature　that　replicates　itself　despite　its　environment）。
　　I　had；　you　see；　backed　myself　into　a　corner　in　The　White　Dragon；　because　there　was　no　way　the　present　day　population　of　Pern　could　eradicate　the　mycorrhizoid　Thread　life　form　without　the　help　of　the　original　colonists。　It　was　my　notion　to　have　a　voice　address　artificial　intelligence　unit…AIVAS…as　part　of　the　settlers'　equipment；　and　for　the　present　day　Pernese　to　discover　this　device　and　learn　from　it。　I　might　have　been　ahead　of　the　game　in　suggesting　such　a　puter　in　1970；　but　current　puter　techniques　indicate　that　such　a　device　is　within　the　realm　of　possibility。　What　I　desperately　needed　was　a　system　by　which　the　Pernese　generation　could　access　the　technology　left　by　their　progenitors　so　that　they　could　actively　fight　Thread　and　honor　the　Weyrleader's　vow　to　end　the　Threat　of　the　Red　Star　forever。　Jack　was　ingenious　in　working　out　details　that　would　forward　this　ambition。　For　instance；　how　the　colony　ships　were　powered。　He　figured　out　that；　in　order　to　move　such　a　mass　as　a　planet；　there　would　need　to　be　several　attacks　on　it。　He　utilized　the　draconic　ability　to　move　between　time　and　place；　and　also　set　up　the　zebedees　to　be　sure　that　the　mycorrhizoid　spore　did　not　again　leave　the　Oort　Cloud。　According　to　the　Hoyle…Wickramansingh　theory　（to　which　Jack　does　not　personally　subscribe　but　was　willing　to　use　as　a　mechanism　in　the　story）　about　Oort　clouds；　many　organisms　might　lurk　within　such　astronomical　features；　as　well　as　embryonic　etary　masses；　and　it　would　be　as　well　to　disseminate　a　killer　virus　in　the　cloud　to　prevent　any　recurrence　of　Thread　or　similar　nebular　virii。
　　So；　as　far　as　the　physics　of　Pern　is　discussed　by　me　in　the　books；　it　is　legitimate　even　if　it　hasn't　happened　elsewhere。　Jack　was　adamant　that　I　give　a　logical　explanation　of　as　much　as　I　could；　because　then　people　would　be　more　apt　to　trust　the　improbable。　It's　much　easier　to　describe　Pern　as　earth…like；　and　that　is　quite　legitimate；　too；　especially　now　that　we　have　discovered　other　star　systems　do　have　earth…type　planets　around　their　primaries。　I　try　to　have　some　basis　for　even　the　most　drastic　suggestions　I　make。
　　However；　I　went　to　the　source；　as　it　were；　for　correct　astronomical　dates　for　the　latest　Pern　book；　The　Skies　of　Pern。　I　asked　Dr。　Steven　M。　Beard　of　Edinburgh　Observatory；　and　Scott　Manley　of　the　Armagh　Observatory　for　substantiating　facts　in　deploying　a　fireball　above　and　into　Pern。　I　went　up　to　Armagh；　also　meeting　Dr。　Bill　Napier；　author　of　Nemesis；　and　other　members　of　the　observatory　staff　to　see　Scott's　Cosmic　Impact　Program　from　which　he　directed　Pern's　fireball。　Coincidentally；　earth　itself　had　a　Near　Earth　Object　scare　about　the　time　I　finished　writing　the　manuscript；　and　many　concerned　scientists　were　watching　the　rather　busy　skies　near　our　planet　to　identify　and　forewarn　of　other　close　encounters　with　NEO's　and　PHA　（Possibly　Hazardous　Asteroids）。　Such　movies　as　Deep　Impact　and　Armageddon　gave　me　visual　evidences　of　such　a　disaster；　but　the　dragons　of　Pern　are　unusually　designed　to　help　mitigate　the　worst　effects　of　such　a　catastrophe。　The　thrust　of　The　Skies　of　Pern；　the　need　for　the　inhabitants　to　bee　more　aware　of　their　spatial　environment；　and　the　critical　need　to　set　up　additional　observatories　to　help　prevent　a　recurrence　of　such　a　cosmic　impact；　is　as　modern　and　timely　as　the　one　currently　in　operation　on　earth；　even　if　it　requires　the　dragons　of　Pern　to　implement。
　　So；　Did　I　plan　the　physics　of　Pern　or　did　it　develop　along　the　way？　The　answer　is；　I　didn't　plan。　It　developed　along　the　usual　lines　for　any　earth…type　planet；　and　I　dragged　in　whatever　experts　I　needed　to　substantiate　any　unusual　actions　or　positing。　People　want　Pern　to　be　believable：　I've　tried　to　make　it　logical　as　well。　I　also　hope　that　the　general　attitude　of　the　Pern　People　within　the　books　has　reflected　their　growing　awareness　of　science