amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第9部分

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　　Lessa　gave　a　snort　and；　her　breath　misting　before　her；　quickened　her　steps。　Maybe　they　should　have　gone　south；　where　Turnover　could　be　conducted　on　sun…warmed　beaches　and　the　more　temperate　southern　night。　But　Benden　Weyr　had　been　home　to　her　for　thirty…five　Turns　now；　and　F'lar's　for　all　of　his　sixty…three。　Although　they　had　made　their　traditional　appearances　at　Benden　Hold　on　Turnover　First　Night　and　heard　marvelous　music　at　Ruatha　on　the　second；　they　preferred　to　end　the　celebration　here。　She　was　glad　enough　to　be　able　to　enjoy　some　quiet　time　after　the　frenetic　pace　of　this　Turnover　Past。
　　She　wondered　if；　at　the　end　of　this　Pass…〃After；〃　as　people　referred　to　it…he　would　want　to　leave　Benden。　Or　maybe；　if　he　could　not　bear　to　leave　the　splendor　of　the　Weyr；　at　least　spend　the　worst　of　the　cold　months　in　the　south。　Maybe　not　in　Honshu；　which　F'lessan　had　repeatedly　invited　them　to　share；　but　nearby。
　　She　understood；　on　one　level；　that　the　prospect　of　〃After〃　did　not　obsess　F'lar：　〃During〃　was　his　responsibility；　and　hers。　Finishing　this　Pass　honorably　and　still　as　Benden's　Weyrleader…even　knowing　Thread　would　no　longer　threaten　Pern…was　his　mitted　goal。　Especially　since　they　had　both　made　such　a　point　of　urging　their　younger　dragonriders　to　learn　an　alternative　skill；　Lessa　kept　trying　to　insinuate　After　in　their　private　conversations　to　see　what　he'd　really　like　to　do　then。　Idling　on　a　sandy　beach　in　Southern　would　quickly　bore　a　man　who'd　always　been　active。　And；　if　he　would　not　contemplate　the　options；　maybe　she'd　have　to　make　the　decision　for　both　of　them　for　where　they'd　live　After。　Only　where？
　　Suddenly　both　dragons　reared；　staring　up　into　the　night　sky；　the　color　of　their　eyes　briefly　reflecting　the　orange　of　alarm。　Startled；　Lessa　glanced　over　her　shoulder　and　grabbed　F'lar　tightly。
　　〃Oooh！〃　she　exclaimed。　The　night　cold　was　nothing　to　the　fear　that　surged　through　her；　making　her　heart　race　at　the　brief　trails　of　fire　in　the　north。　Then　she　was　disgusted　with　her　primitive　reaction　to　what　she　now　knew　were　meteorites　burning　up　in　the　atmosphere。　As　a　child　she'd　believed　her　nurse…that　those　flares　across　a　night　sky　were　the　Ghost　Dragons　of　the　First　Pass。
　　〃Erragon　said　we'd　have　a　lot　of　Ghosts　this　Turn。〃　F'lar　chuckled　at　the　old　explanation；　his　breath　puffing　white。　〃So　long　as　they　keep　their　distance。〃　Another　flare　caught　his　eye；　barely　a　finger　length　in　the　northern　sky。　His　sigh　drifted　white　in　the　frosty　air。
　　〃There　really　are　a　lot　more　of　them　this　Turn；　as　Toronas　plained　last　night　at　Benden。　They　certainly　are　bright。　Why　that　one…〃　She　pointed　her　finger；　following　the　arc　in　its　path　before　it　blinked　out。　〃…looked　like　it　might　land。〃
　　〃They　never　have。〃
　　〃Well；　you　heard　Toronas。　All　that　nonsense　about　it　is　all〃…she　altered　her　voice　to　mimic　the　Benden　Lord　Holder's　slightly　nasal　speech　pattern…〃because　we　let　Aivas　change　the　orbit　of　the　Red　Star　and　this　is　the　result　of　meddling　with　things　we　don't　know　enough　about。〃
　　F'lar　laughed；　because　her　imitation　of　the　Benden　Lord　Holder　was　so　accurate。　〃One　of　the　reasons　Aivas　delayed　the　blast　was　to　put　the　Red　Star　far　beyond　affecting　any　other　of　the　planets　in　this　system。　The　mathematics　was　accurate　to　the　tenth　decimal　point。　Or　so　Wansor　assured　me　at　the　time。　Or　ask　F'lessan。　He's　into　astronomy　with　that　old　telescope　in　Honshu。〃
　　〃I　might　indeed　ask　F'lessan；〃　she　said。　〃It's　something　like　this　that　would　agitate　the　Abominators　into　doing　more　harm　than　they've　already　done。〃
　　〃You　think　they're　behind　some　of　those　peculiar　incidents　of　vandalism　Sebell　reported？〃
　　〃Who　else　would　be　that　vindictive　and　destroy　only　new　medicines　or　materials；　or　waylay　traders　carrying　ponents　from　one　Smithcrafthall　to　another？〃
　　〃Let's　talk　about　it　in　the　weyr。　It's　far　too　cold　to　dawdle　out　here；　woman。〃
　　He　tugged　her　into　a　jog；　throwing　an　arm　about　her　shoulders　to　prevent　her　from　slipping　on　the　icy　ground；　and　they　quickly　reached　the　stairs　up　to　her　quarters。
　　Are　you　two　ing　in？　he　asked　the　two　dragons；　who　had　not　moved　from　their　ledges。
　　We　will　watch　the　Ghosts　until　they　leave；　Mnementh　said；　a　hint　of　amusement　in　his　voice。　As　you　wish；　F'lar　said。
　　〃Silly　beasts；〃　Lessa　murmured；　smiling　as　she　pushed　aside　the　entrance　curtain。　Sometimes　she　wished　she　had　a　hide　as　impervious　to　weather　as　a　dragon's。　Or　was　it　just　that　this　winter　was　unusually　cold？　Between　is　colder；　Ramoth　remarked。　Once　she　was　inside；　Lessa　swiftly　made　for　the　nearest　heater　unit；　putting　Manora's　basket；　still　warm；　on　the　table　as　she　passed　it　and　stripping　off　her　long　fur。　She　hung　it　on　the　hooks　to　the　left　of　their　sleeping　room。
　　〃I　didn't　think　we'd　have　to　worry　about　Abominators　again；〃　she　said　with　a　weary　sigh。
　　〃N'ton　checked　the　island　where　we　exiled　those　that　were　convicted　of　abducting　Robinton。〃　F'lar's　expression　was　austere；　his　lips　thinned。　He　kicked　the　heavy　curtain　rather　more　forcefully　than　was　needed　to　be　sure　that　the　hem　excluded　the　cold　drafts。　〃In　fact；〃　he　added；　his　face　altering　to　a　less　forbidding　look；　〃there　were　some　youngsters；　since　several　spouses　went　with　their　men。〃
　　〃Oh！〃　Lessa　paused。　〃And　the　earlier　group；　who　were　caught　damaging　other　Crafthalls？　The　ones　who　were　sentenced　to　the　Crom　mines？〃
　　〃Ah；　now；　there's　a　possibility。〃　He　shrugged　out　of　his　jacket　and　would　have　dropped　it　on　the　chair　but　Lessa　pointed　sternly　at　it　and　then　at　the　hooks　where　she　had　hung　her　fur。　He　grinned；　scooped　it　up；　and　hung　it　with　exaggerated　care。
　　〃Go　on；〃　she　urged　him；　knowing　he　was　going　to　tease　her　before　he　answered。
　　He　got　two　glasses　from　the　cabinet　and　deftly　poured　wine　from　one　of　Morilton's　elegantly　carved　glass　bottles。　He　handed　her　a　glass；　then　stepped　backward　until　he　was　close　enough　to　feel　the　heat　from　the　radiating　unit　on　his　legs。
　　〃That　meteorite…the　metallic　one　that　everyone　in　the　Smithcrafthall　is　going　on　about…smacked　a　good…sized　hole　in　the　prisoners'　quarters　and　broke　one　man's　leg。　It　wasn't　until　evening　that　a　count　was　taken。　One　was　missing。　One　of　those…〃　F'lar's　lips　thinned　with　remembered　anger。　〃…who　were　involved　in　that　attack　on　Aivas。　He　was　deafened。　Big　man。　Should　be　easy　to　find。　He's　missing　the　tip　of　his　first　finger　on　his　left　hand。〃
　　He　took　a　sip　of　his　wine；　savoring　it。　Lessa　allowed　him　that　enjoyment。
　　〃But　he　hasn't　been　found　yet；　has　he？〃　she　asked　at　length。
　　With　a　wave　of　his　wineglass；　F'lar　dismissed　the　problem。　〃Telgar；　High　Reaches；　and　Fort　Weyrs　have　been　alerted。　Runners　carried　the　news　along　their　traces　and　warned　the　traders。〃
　　Lessa　gave　a　cynical　snort。　〃Some　of　the　traders　are　not　above　harboring　a　holdless　man。〃
　　〃According　to　the　Mine　Master；　this　man　kept　himself　to　himself。　Seemed　to　dislike　new　things。〃
　　〃Made　by　Aivas；　of　course；〃　she　said　in　a　caustic　tone。
　　F'lar　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃By　Aivas；　of　course。〃
　　〃Do　you　think　this　one　man　is　responsible　for　all　those　thefts　and　vandalism？　Too　wide　a　spread。〃
　　〃Quite　right；　but　there　are　enough　people　with　petty　grievances　against　hold　and　hall　who　might　delight　in　causing　trouble　here　and　there。〃　He　rocked　back　and　forth　on　the　balls　of　his　feet；　relishing　the　warmth。　〃I　don't　consider　that　as　serious　a　problem　as　deciding　what　more　refinements〃…he　pointed　to　the　heating　unit…〃we　can　safely　introduce。〃
　　〃No　one　has　objected　to　having　better　lighting　and　heat；〃　Lessa　said。　〃After　all；　solar　panels　came　with　the　Ancients。　So　did　hydro…engineering　and　generators。　We　just　have　to　speed　up　the　education　process　to　produce　the　necessary　improvements　that　will　reduce　drudgery　After。〃
　　〃I　don't　approve　of　life　being　made　too　easy；〃　F'lar　remarked。
　　〃You　were　never　a　drudge；〃　she　said　caustically；　reminding　him　of　her　ten　Turns　spent　as　one。
　　〃Don't　forget　that　this　Weyr　was　scarcely　luxurious　until　Thread　started　falling　again。〃
　　〃How　could　I？〃　She　grinned　at　him；　her　eyes　alight　with　laughter。　〃But　that　doesn't　mean　an　indiscriminate　release　of　technology。　The　Crafthalls　are　the　worst　offenders　there。〃
　　〃You　mean；　you　object　to　what　Master　Oldive　is　doing　in　surgical　procedures　and　more　effective　medications？〃
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　she　said　with　a　scowl。　〃But　I　don't　think　everyone　agrees　with　some　of　the　surgical　stuff。〃　She　gave　a　little　shudder。
　　〃You　would　if　your　life　depended　on　correcting　an　internal　problem；　like　your　guts　protruding　out　of　your　belly　because　the　stomach　lining　had　ruptured；〃　F'lar　said　with　a　humorless　laugh。
　　〃Sharra　said　it's　called　a　hernia　and　is　not　life…threatening；〃　she　responded　in　a　brusque　tone。　Then；　in　an　abrupt　change；　she　exhaled。　〃I　take　the　point。　We　have　to　educate　others　to　do　so。〃
　　〃Agreed；　and　we　have　to　get　our　younger　riders　to　educate　themselves；　too；　for　After。〃
　　〃Well；　some　will　have　no　trouble；〃　she　said。　〃They　don't　consider　it　beneath　their　dignity　to　deliver　messages　or　transport　urgently　needed　bulk　items。　Tagetarl　sent　us　a　copy　of　the　dictionary　that　he　copied　from　Aivas's　files　with　definitions　of　technical　terms。　Far　more　current　than　anything　the　Harper　Hall　has。　Sebell　said　he's　got　orders　from　every　major　hold；　nearly　all　the　minor　ones；　and　most　of　the　halls。〃
　　〃Then　maybe　understanding　and　defining　a　technological　vocabulary　will　bee　wider　spread。〃
　　His　facetious　tone　caused　her　to　grin。　〃That　wouldn't　hurt。　But　it's　the　older　riders；　who　show　absolutely　no　interest　in　supporting　themselves　After；　who　worry　me。　Why　is　it　so　belittling　for　a　dragon　and　his　rider　to　extend　their　abilities　in　other　quite　respectable　pursuits？　They　know　that　living　in　Southern　is　not　a　matter　of　flinging　up　some　fronds　to　cover　a　hut　on　the　white　sands　and　picking　ripe　fruit　off　the　nearest　tree。　They　won't　even　consider　helping　the　beastherders　to　keep　the　feline　predators　from　causing　witless　stampedes　into　gorges　and　ravines　even　if　dragons　have　always　killed　their　own　food。　Dragons　don't　share　their　kills；　even　with　their　riders。〃
　　It　was　F'lar's　turn　to　chuckle　at　her　acerbic　remarks。　〃If　you're　hungry　enough；　I　suppose　roast　feline　can　be　tasty。〃
　　〃Sharra　said　it's　tough　and　often　tastes　more　of　fish　than　flesh。〃
　　〃We've　sixteen　more　Turns　of　Threadfall；　love；〃　he　said；　refilling　her　wineglass。
　　〃Now；〃　and　she　gave　him　a　sly　look；　〃if　Benden's　Weyrleader　should　make　a　decision　as　to　what　he　will　do　After？〃
　　He　chuckled　indulgently　as　he　held　Manora's　basket　of　delicacies　out　to　her。　The　spicy　odors　wafted　her　way。
　　〃What　is　Manora　tempting　us　with？〃　she　wondered；　unfolding　the　napkin。
　　〃They　certainly　smell　palatable。　You　take　your　pick。〃
　　She　did；　delighting　in　the　flaky　pastry　and　the　spicy　filling。　〃I　think；〃　Lessa　mumbled　through　her　full　mouth；　〃that　she　plans　to　go　from　one　end　to　the　other　of　the　recipes　she　had　us　download　from　the　Aivas　files。〃
　　〃It's　a　shame　she　never　got　down　to　speak　to　Aivas。　He'd've　liked　her。〃
　　Lessa　grimaced。　〃If　you　remember；　we　offered　to　take　her　many　times　and　she　refused。　There　was　always　too　much　to　do。〃　She　licked　the　last　of　the　pastry　flakes　from　her　fingers。